Dragon Prince Yuan - Heavenly Silkworm Potato

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Table of Contents
Information
Chapter 1 Python and Sparrow Swallow the Dragon
Chapter 2 Genesis Runes
Chapter 3 Su Youwei
Chapter 4 The Power of Genesis Runes
Chapter 5 Qi Yue and Liu Xi
Chapter 6 The Ancestral Grounds Shrine
Chapter 7 A Mysterious Place
Chapter 8 Searching for the Eight Meridian Channels
Chapter 9 Emergence of the Eight Meridian Channels
Chapter 10 Tutelage of Destiny
Chapter 11 King Qi’s Appetite
Chapter 12 Genesis Food
Chapter 13 Unblocking the Meridian Channels
Chapter 14 Spirit
Chapter 15 Primal Chaos Divine Grindstone Visualisation Method
Chapter 16 Digging at a Corner of the Wall
Chapter 17 Lin Feng
Chapter 18 Culture and Martial
Chapter 19 Channel Opening
Chapter 20 Genesis Technique
Chapter 21 Dragon Step, Dragon Tablet Hand
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Chapter 22 Advent of the Newcomer Exam
Chapter 23 First Sign of the Excellence
Chapter 24 Show of Might
Chapter 25 Battling Lin Feng
Chapter 26 Rise
Chapter 27 End of the Newcomer Exam
Chapter 28 The A Class
Chapter 29 Jade Spirit Waterfall
Chapter 30 Opening the Third Meridian Channel
Chapter 31 Establishment of Power
Chapter 32 Ice and Fire Genesis Gathering Rune
Chapter 33 The Two Girls Meet
Chapter 34 Jade Spirit Waterfall Conspiracy
Chapter 35 Jade Spirit Waterfall Battle
Chapter 36 Underhanded Tactic
Chapter 37 Double Breakthrough
Chapter 38 Black Forest Mountain Range
Chapter 39 Enemy Encounter
Chapter 40 That’s All That’s Left
Chapter 41 Auraflare Technique
Chapter 42 Thirty Six Beast Channel Opening Rune
Chapter 43 Learning the Auraflare Technique
Chapter 44 Su Youwei’s Progress
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Chapter 45 Before the Class Ranking Exam
Chapter 46 Beginning of the Class Ranking Exam
Chapter 47 Strange
Chapter 48 Next
Chapter 49 Battling Liu Xi
Chapter 50 Breathtaking
Chapter 51 Zhou Yuan VS Qi Yue
Chapter 52 True Power
Chapter 53 I Know This Too
Chapter 54 Triumph
Chapter 55 Wei Canglan
Chapter 56 Wu Huang
Chapter 57 Ancestral Dragon Scripture
Chapter 58 Genesis Resources
Chapter 59 Mid Illusory Stage
Chapter 60 Journey
Chapter 61 Yin Yang Qi Dwelling
Chapter 62 Canglan County, Wei Qingqing
Chapter 63 Awe in a Single Move
Chapter 64 Master Ying
Chapter 65 Getting Rid of the Poison
Chapter 66 Exposed
Chapter 67 Thousand Poison Eroding Rune
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Chapter 68 Preparation
Chapter 69 Revelation of Skill
Chapter 70 Get
Chapter 71 Roped In
Chapter 72 Black Venom King
Chapter 73 Into Blackwater
Chapter 74 The Black Jade Tile
Chapter 75 The Eighth Meridian Channel
Chapter 76 Opening the Qi Dwelling
Chapter 77 Jade Infant Fruit
Chapter 78 Method to Reach the Island
Chapter 79 Fear
Chapter 80 Treasure Obtained
Chapter 81 Great Battle in the Valley
Chapter 82 Tuntun’s Show of Power
Chapter 83 Contest
Chapter 84 Tyrannical Dragon’s Resentment Poison
Chapter 85 Battling Qi Hao
Chapter 86 Erode
Chapter 87 Kill
Chapter 88 Fire Spirit Grain Obtained
Chapter 89 Surrender
Chapter 90 Left Behind Treasures
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Chapter 91 Underground Palace
Chapter 92 Treasure
Chapter 93 Silver Shadow
Chapter 94 Qi Manor’s Rebellion
Chapter 95 Dispute
Chapter 96 Five
Chapter 97 Declaration of War
Chapter 98 Omni Python Qi
Chapter 99 King Qi Besieges the City
Chapter 100 Seven Alpha-Origins
Chapter 101 Arrival of War
Chapter 102 Besieged City
Chapter 103 Activate
Chapter 104 Silver Shadow’s Power
Chapter 105 The Feelings Behind that Strike
Chapter 106 Zhou Yuan Slays an Alpha-Origin
Chapter 107 It’s Over
Chapter 108 King Wu’s Imperial Decree
Chapter 109 Destroying the Shadow
Chapter 110 End of the War
Chapter 111 The Old Man in Gray Robes
Chapter 112 Su Youwei’s Destiny
Chapter 113 A Gift
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Chapter 114 Saint Remains Domain
Chapter 115 Young Lady in Purple
Chapter 116 Gathering Clouds
Chapter 117 Magical Python Scales
Chapter 118 Gu Territory
Chapter 119 The Green Haired Girl
Chapter 120 Gu Lang
Chapter 121 Beast Heart Communicator
Chapter 122 Spirit Refining Tower?
Chapter 123 Small Fry
Chapter 124 Break the Sky
Chapter 125 Black Crystal Ball
Chapter 126 Escaping Unscathed
Chapter 127 Splitting the Treasure
Chapter 128 The Youth in Ash Robes
Chapter 129 Saint Remains City
Chapter 130 House of Geniuses
Chapter 131 Heavenly Luo Halberd
Chapter 132 Goods Get
Chapter 133 Little Heaven Genesis Technique
Chapter 134 Gu Ling
Chapter 135 Zuoqiu Qingyu
Chapter 136 First Encounter with Wu Huang
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Chapter 137 Advance Illusory Stage
Chapter 138 Barefoot Uncle
Chapter 139 Attack
Chapter 141 Enemies Inevitably Meet
Chapter 142 Perilous Situation
Chapter 143 String of White Qi
Chapter 144 The Third Rune
Chapter 145 Grade 4 Genesis Beast
Chapter 146 Saint Remains Squad
Chapter 147 Mysterious Heavy Mud
Chapter 148 Watching Tigers Fight
Chapter 149 The Fisherman Waits and Reaps
Chapter 150 Little Heaven Genesis Technique, Great Wind and Thunder
Chapter 151 Saint Tablet
Chapter 152 Qi Dashing out of the Heaven Gate
Chapter 153 Measure
Chapter 154 Golden Magical Python Scales
Chapter 155 Zhou Yuan VS Xiao Tianxuan
Chapter 156 Python Swallows Devil Halo
Chapter 157 Haul
Chapter 158 Cooperation
Chapter 159 Encirclement
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Chapter 160 Wind and Thunder Mastered, Yaoyao Injured
Chapter 161 Chase
Chapter 162 Qingyu’s Aid
Chapter 163 Chance Encounter
Chapter 164 Luluo Seeks the Golden Pool
Chapter 165 Dongxuan Attacks
Chapter 166 Zhu Ying
Chapter 167 Battling Zhu Ying
Chapter 168 Meeting Once More
Chapter 169 Wu Huang’s Killing Intent
Chapter 170 Interception
Chapter 171 The Mysterious Beast
Chapter 172 Tuntun’s Rage
Chapter 173 Leaving One’s Name on the Saint Tablet
Chapter 174 The Golden Pool
Chapter 175 Saint Rune
Chapter 176 Leap in Strength
Chapter 177 Saint Tower
Chapter 178 Gathered
Chapter 179 Entering the Saint Tower
Chapter 180 Green Flood
Chapter 181 Each with One’s Own Method
Chapter 182 Chase
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Chapter 183 Saving Each Other
Chapter 184 Saint Stairs Stone Stage
Chapter 185 Dragon Breath
Chapter 186 Green Wave Obstructs the Sacred Path
Chapter 187 Into the Clouds
Chapter 188 Two Dragons
Chapter 189 Python Devours Crow
Chapter 190 Risking One’s Life in Battle
Chapter 191 Heaven Genesis Technique
Chapter 192 Heavenly Tortoise Boundary
Chapter 193 The Saint Rune’s Power
Chapter 194 Dragon Transformation
Chapter 195 Scarlet Dragon Breath
Chapter 196 The First
Chapter 197 Battle Between the Two Dragons; Victory and Defeat
Chapter 198 Splitting the Sacred Dragon Blessing
Chapter 199 Lost Country Blessing
Chapter 200 Difference in Treatment
Chapter 201 Patriarch Cang Xuan
Chapter 202 Sacred Race
Chapter 203 Four Saint Runes
Chapter 204 A Step into Alpha-Origin
Chapter 205 End of the Saint Remains Domain Saga
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Chapter 206 Entering a Sect
Chapter 207 A Single Palm Strike
Chapter 208 Before Leaving
Chapter 209 Cangxuan Blessings, Shengzhou 60%
Chapter 210 Third Class Disciple
Chapter 211 Shen Wanjin
Chapter 212 Entering Cangxuan
Chapter 213 Luo Song
Chapter 214 First Class
Chapter 215 Accommodation
Chapter 216 Forming Factions
Chapter 217 Genesis Mountain
Chapter 218 One Punch is Enough
Chapter 219 Establishing One’s Might
Chapter 220 Alpha-Origin Heaven
Chapter 221 First Collection
Chapter 222 Genesis Qi Stars
Chapter 223 Importance of Genesis Jade
Chapter 224 Resolve
Chapter 225 Ethereal Form
Chapter 226 Zhu Yue
Chapter 227 Retribution
Chapter 228 Apertures
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Chapter 229 Earning Genesis Jade
Chapter 230 Persuasion
Chapter 231 Ability
Chapter 232
Chapter 233 Unbreakable
Chapter 234 Beating Up a Group
Chapter 235 Zhou Yuan’s Counterattack
Chapter 236 Sensational
Chapter 237 Before Everyone’s Eyes
Chapter 238 An Excellent Harvest
Chapter 239 The Elder in Gray
Chapter 240 Zhu Yue’s Methods
Chapter 241 Zong Ming
Chapter 242 Advent of the Match
Chapter 243 Ethereal Form Technique Match on the Green Mountain
Chapter 244 Fast as Lightning
Chapter 245 Corporeal Stage
Chapter 246 Obtaining Victory
Chapter 247 Nine Dragons Canon
Chapter 248 Conflict
Chapter 249 Allocation
Chapter 250 Dragon Type Genesis Beast Essence Blood
Chapter 251 Grade 5
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Chapter 252 Collecting Blood
Chapter 253 Refining the Essence Blood
Chapter 254 Response
Chapter 255 Method
Chapter 256 Trouble Knocking at the Door
Chapter 257 Suppressed
Chapter 258
Chapter 259 Guidance
Chapter 260 Secret
Chapter 261 Lu Xuanyin
Chapter 262 What Are We Playing
Chapter 263 Yaoyao Takes Action
Chapter 264 Shock and Awe
Chapter 265 Arrival of the Ceremony
Chapter 266 The Six Hegemons
Chapter 267 The Ceremony Begins
Chapter 268 Fight for the Top
Chapter 269 Hongyi’s Aid
Chapter 270 Wind Sea Technique
Chapter 271 Card after Card
Chapter 272 Evolution of the Heavenly Yuan Brush
Chapter 273 Fourth Rune, Million Whale
Chapter 274 Might of the Nine Dragons Canon
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Chapter 275 Breakthrough
Chapter 276 Champion of the Ceremony
Chapter 277 Choosing A Peak
Chapter 278 Reward
Chapter 279 End of the Ceremony
Chapter 280 Chosens Peak
Chapter 281 Caretaker of the Mountain
Chapter 282 The Sealed Main Peak
Chapter 283 Picking an Elder
Chapter 284 Gold Sash Disciple
Chapter 285 Purple Genesis Cave Dwelling
Chapter 286 Match for the Cave
Chapter 287 Cao Shi
Chapter 288 Gold Sash Third Seat
Chapter 289 Volunteer
Chapter 290 Match
Chapter 291 Chosens Challenge
Chapter 292 Alpha-Origin Wall
Chapter 293 All Time Number One
Chapter 294 Shocked by 6700 Breaths
Chapter 295 Reaction of the Two Factions
Chapter 296 Preparations
Chapter 297 The Match
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Chapter 298 Sumptuous Feast
Chapter 299 Everyone Awed
Chapter 300 Stir
Chapter 301 Arrival of the Baptism
Chapter 302 Genesis Dragon Vein
Chapter 303 Dragon Genesis Marrow
Chapter 304 The Genesis Reservoir Opens
Chapter 305 Something’s Not Right
Chapter 306 Chased
Chapter 307 Helper
Chapter 308 Perfect Teamwork
Chapter 309 Battle of the Chosens
Chapter 310 Out of the Water into Disaster
Chapter 311 Chased Again
Chapter 312 Face-off Between the Two Girls
Chapter 313 Mediation
Chapter 315 The Two Girls Allied
Chapter 316 Occupied
Chapter 317 Two Girls VS Two Chosens
Chapter 318 A Way
Chapter 319 Modifying the Genesis Rune Boundary
Chapter 320 Success
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Chapter 321 Offended
Chapter 322 Bait
Chapter 323 Get
Chapter 324 Baptism Begin
Chapter 325 Eight Dragons Appear Once More
Chapter 326 Helping One Another
Chapter 327 Six Dragons Zhou Tai
Chapter 328 The Meaning of Shock
Chapter 329 Third Layer Alpha-Origin
Chapter 330 Evaluation
Chapter 331 Stirring up a Commotion in Saint Genesis Peak
Chapter 332 Commotion over the Cave Match
Chapter 333 Cave Match Begins
Chapter 334 Genesis Breaker Hand
Chapter 335 Sixth Layer
Chapter 336 Get Down Here
Chapter 337 A Single Punch
Chapter 338 Zhou Yuan’s Strength
Chapter 339 Magical Dragon Scales
Chapter 340 Great Black Devil
Chapter 341 Ninth Dragon
Chapter 342 Ninth Dragon Exterminates Black Devil
Chapter 343 The Four Greater Stages
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Chapter 344 Creating a Stir
Chapter 345 Reward
Chapter 346 Purple Sash Selection
Chapter 347 Xu Yan’s Methods
Chapter 348 Genesis Star Pill
Chapter 349 In front of Spirit Rune Hall
Chapter 350 Challenging Spirit Rune Peak
Chapter 351 Entering the Boundary Together
Chapter 352 Two Guardians
Chapter 353 Jin Zhang and Xia Yu
Chapter 354 Genesis Rune Battle Part 1
Chapter 356 Yaoyao’s Tactic
Chapter 357 Spirit Suppressed
Chapter 358 Spirit Lifts Stamp
Chapter 359 Breakthrough, Mid Corporeal Stage!
Chapter 360 Breaking the Boundary
Chapter 361 Into the Hall
Chapter 362 Disadvantageous Praise
Chapter 363 Taoyao Wine
Chapter 364 Before the Selection
Chapter 365 It Begins
Chapter 366 Selection Battles
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Chapter 367 One Punch
Chapter 368 Hunted
Chapter 369 Sword Cometh Peak Locks Down the Valley
Chapter 370 Turning Ethereal To Hide
Chapter 371 Boundary
Chapter 372 Heavenly Lightning and Mystical Fire Cover the Valley
Chapter 373 Might of the Heavenly Lightning and Mystical Fire
Chapter 374 Sword Cometh Peak Team Wiped Out
Chapter 375 Beneath the Ten Peaks
Chapter 376 Top Ten
Chapter 377 The Championship Battle
Chapter 378 Strenuous Battle against Xu Yan
Chapter 379 Moonfall Technique
Chapter 380 Genesis Qi Clash
Chapter 381 Tyrannical Dragon’s Resent Poison
Chapter 382 Champion
Chapter 383 Sword Cometh Peak’s Punishment
Chapter 384 Reward
Chapter 385 The Child From Back Then
Chapter 386 Picking a Treasure
Chapter 387 Taiyi Green Wood Mark
Chapter 388 Heaven Credit
Chapter 389 Absorbing the Genesis Star Pill
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Chapter 390 Dragon’s Resentment Poison Erupts
Chapter 392 The Two Captains
Chapter 393 Heaven Task
Chapter 394 Protest
Chapter 395 Dispute
Chapter 396 One Move
Chapter 397 Great Golden Bell
Chapter 398 Spot Secured
Chapter 399 Setting Off
Chapter 400 Yaoyao Takes A Trip
Chapter 401 An Old Acquaintance
Chapter 402 Meeting Qingyu Again
Chapter 403 Allocation of Tasks
Chapter 404 Flame Rock Gambling
Chapter 405 Incentive
Chapter 406 Cheating
Chapter 407 Fireworks
Chapter 408 Flawless Victory
Chapter 409 Secluded Cultivation
Chapter 410 First Signs of Taiyi’s Power
Chapter 411 Essence Flame Vein
Chapter 412 A Hint of Evolution
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Chapter 413 Qingyu’s Warning
Chapter 414 Attack of the Beast Wave
Chapter 415 Evolution of the Heavenly Yuan Brush
Chapter 416 Might of the Heavenly Yuan Brush
Chapter 417 Fifth Rune: Genesis Breaker
Chapter 418 Sacred Palace Moves
Chapter 419 Yang Xuan
Chapter 420 One-sided
Chapter 421 Team Wiped?
Chapter 422 Want to Die?
Chapter 423 Zhou Yuan VS Yang Xuan
Chapter 424 Zhou Yuan’s Prowess
Chapter 425 The Tenaciously Troublesome Yang Xuan
Chapter 426 Eighth Layer?
Chapter 427 All Cards on the Table
Chapter 428 A Breath of Azure Fire Burns the Bone Armor
Chapter 429 Against All Odds
Chapter 430 Perfect
Chapter 432 Returning to the Sect
Chapter 433 Commotion
Chapter 434 Participating in the Chief Disciple Selection
Chapter 435 Cashing in the Heaven Credit
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Chapter 436 Little Mythic Saint Body
Chapter 437 Dragon Scale Chinese Scholar Tree
Chapter 438 Retrieving the Scales
Chapter 439 Yaoyao Returns
Chapter 440 Chu Qing
Chapter 441 Lively Cave Dwelling
Chapter 442 Confirmation
Chapter 443 Water and Fire Tempering Dragon Stage
Chapter 444 An Exchange of Words
Chapter 445 Discussions
Chapter 446 Discussion Hall
Chapter 447 Jade Skin Stage
Chapter 449 Wu Hai
Chapter 451 The Uncompromising Zhou Yuan
Chapter 452 Yuan Hong’s Strength
Chapter 453 Ripples
Chapter 454 Third Level
Chapter 455 Yaoyao’s Anger
Chapter 456 Chat
Chapter 457 Chief Disciple Peak
Chapter 458 The Ten Chosens
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Chapter 459 Start of the Chief Disciple Selection
Chapter 460 One Strike
Chapter 462 First Victory
Chapter 463 Three Left
Chapter 464 Gradually Turning the Tables
Chapter 465 Reversal
Chapter 466 Who is Finished?
Chapter 467 Tiger Obstructing the Path
Chapter 468 The Final Yuan Hong
Chapter 469
Chapter 470 Are You Done?
Chapter 471 Silver Bone Stage!
Chapter 472 Everyone Shocked
Chapter 473 Desperation
Chapter 474 Sword Feeding Technique
Chapter 475 Breakthrough!
Chapter 476 Fifth Layer!
Chapter 477 Aspiring for First
Chapter 479 Chief Disciple Seat
Chapter 480 The Seven Great Chief Disciples
Chapter 481 Omega Saint Spirit Art
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Chapter 482 Old Xuan Appears
Chapter 483 A Great Feast
Chapter 484 Subduing Zhao Zhu
Chapter 485 Sacred Palace’s Wu Huang
Chapter 486 Nine Divine Dwelling
Chapter 487 Challenging the Main Peak
Chapter 488 The Mountain Trial
Chapter 489 Strength of Heart
Chapter 490 The Tyrannical Divine Grindstone
Chapter 491 Golden Light Stream
Chapter 492 Heavenly Sun
Chapter 493 Third Trial Passed
Chapter 494 The Xuan Bell Rings
Chapter 495 The Green Jade Statue of the Patriarch
Chapter 496 Earth Saint Rune
Chapter 497 Genesis Reservoir Ceremony
Chapter 498 Search for the Stamp
Chapter 499 Master Faction
Chapter 500 Peak Meeting
Chapter 501 Discussion
Chapter 502 Conditions
Chapter 503 Appeal for Aid
Chapter 504 Saint Spirit Seed
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Chapter 505 Name List
Chapter 507 Countermeasure
Chapter 508 Heaven Disorienting Boundary
Chapter 509 Initial Stage Seed
Chapter 510 Scheme
Chapter 512 Hearing about the Mythic Utopia
Chapter 513 Genesis Reservoir Opens Once More
Chapter 514 Run!
Chapter 516 Sword Cometh Peak Surrounds the Island
Chapter 518 Sword Cometh Peak’s Rage
Chapter 519 Sword Cometh Peak’s Army
Chapter 520 Sword Cometh Peak Besieges the Island
Chapter 521 Boundary Open
Chapter 522 Heaven Disorientating Boundary Displays its Power
Chapter 523 Can’t Escape
Chapter 524 General Against General
Chapter 525 Battle Between the Two Peaks
Chapter 526 Heaven Frost Sealing Technique
Chapter 527 Genesis Breaker Blood Art
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Chapter 528 Spirit Breaks Sealing Technique
Chapter 529 Devil Sweeping Sword Orb
Chapter 530 You have your Sword Orb, I have my Saint Spirit!
Chapter 531 Shattering the Sword Orb
Chapter 532 Victory and Defeat
Chapter 533 Sword Cometh Peak at a Dead End
Chapter 534 Ten Thousand Feet
Chapter 535 Cooperation of the Seven Peaks
Chapter 536 Training
Chapter 537 Aquatic Beasts Attack the Island
Chapter 538 Chosens Battle the Ten Thousand Foot Aquatic Beast
Chapter 539 Dragon Saliva True Water
Chapter 540 Zhou Yuan Enters the Fray
Chapter 541 Neutralizing the Dragon Saliva True Water
Chapter 542 Collecting the Dragon Saliva True Water
Chapter 543 Destroying the Ten Thousand Foot Aquatic Beast
Chapter 544 Splitting the Genesis Essence
Chapter 545 Genesis Essence Light Pillar
Chapter 546 Nine Dragons Baptism
Chapter 547 Another Year, Another Peak Selection Ceremony
Chapter 548 Mu Xiaoman
Chapter 549 Genesis Qi Materializing into Stars
Chapter 550 Recruiting New Disciples
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Chapter 551 Harshness of the Ancestral Dragon Scripture
Chapter 552 Utopia Opens
Chapter 553 Divine Establishing Treasure
Chapter 554 Task
Chapter 557 Qin Ling
Chapter 558 Assignments
Chapter 559 Team
Chapter 560 Mythic Copper Worm Tree
Chapter 561 Gathering
Chapter 562 Lei Qinghai
Chapter 563 Swatted to Death in a Single Palm
Chapter 564 Thunder King Seal
Chapter 565 Steamrolled
Chapter 566 Six Color Treasure Location
Chapter 567 Urgent Assistance Token
Chapter 568 Besieged
Chapter 569 Ning Mo
Chapter 570 Blood for Blood
Chapter 571 Overwhelming
Chapter 572 Helpers
Chapter 573 Fan Yao
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Chapter 574 Encountering Hundred Flowers
Chapter 575 Gathering of Three Factions
Chapter 576 Treacherous
Chapter 577 Probing
Chapter 579 Six Color Lake
Chapter 580 Three-headed Spirit Ghost Python
Chapter 581 Locking up the Python
Chapter 582 Treasure Tree
Chapter 583 Fan Yao’s Viciousness
Chapter 584 Chaos
Chapter 585 Battling Fan Yao
Chapter 586 Hard Fight
Chapter 587 Saint Spirit VS Blood Demon
Chapter 588 Unscrupulous
Chapter 589 Earth Saint Rune Reveals its Power
Chapter 590 Not Even Bones Remain
Chapter 591 Shocking Everyone
Chapter 592 Reward
Chapter 593 Bottom of the Lake
Chapter 594 Secretly Returning
Chapter 595 Luluo’s Ability
Chapter 596 Spatial Domain at the Bottom of the Lake
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Chapter 597 Secret Treasure at the Bottom of the Lake
Chapter 598 Rushing Towards the Deeper Regions
Chapter 599 Golden Blood Stage
Chapter 600 Watched by All Parties
Chapter 601 Huo Tian, Zhao Jing
Chapter 602 Appear
Chapter 603 Thirty Percent Power
Chapter 604 Guardian Asura
Chapter 605 The Chosen Appear!
Chapter 606 Jin Chanzi
Chapter 607 Want Him Dead
Chapter 608 Yaoyao Appears
Chapter 609 Spirit Flame
Chapter 610 Defused
Chapter 611 Blessing of the Great Mythic Mountain Range
Chapter 612 Plan
Chapter 613 Mythic Token
Chapter 614 Seven-Color
Chapter 615 Guarding the Treasure Location
Chapter 616 War
Chapter 617 Jiang Taishen’s Methods
Chapter 618 Sacred Palace’s Sudden Entry
Chapter 619 Chu Lei, Chai Ying
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Chapter 620 Chief Disciple Against Chosen
Chapter 621 Conceit
Chapter 622 Limit
Chapter 623 Blue Serpent Destroys Golden Pill
Chapter 624 New Chosen of the Cangxuan Sect
Chapter 625 Sacred Palace Retreats
Chapter 626 Solely Occupying the Seven-Color Treasure Location
Chapter 627 Swallow in One Mouthful
Chapter 628 Flame Lotus
Chapter 629 Debt
Chapter 630 Worse
Chapter 631 Trap
Chapter 632 Revenge of Sacred Palace
Chapter 633 Friends
Chapter 634 One Against Two
Chapter 635 Ferocious Might
Chapter 636 Nine Underworlds Lightning Art
Chapter 637 Death in a Single Punch
Chapter 638 Extremely Daring
Chapter 639 Blessing Appears
Chapter 640 Mysterious Jade Disc
Chapter 641 Third Saint Rune
Chapter 642 The Great Battle Begins
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Chapter 643 Tactics
Chapter 644 Time has passed
Chapter 645 Chu Qing's Combat Form
Chapter 646 Two Women
Chapter 647 The third round
Chapter 648 Fierce Battle
Chapter 649 Disadvantage
Chapter 650 Turned around
Chapter 651 The Great Demon Toad Technique
Chapter 652 Ups and Downs
Chapter 653 Silver Shadow Reappears
Chapter 654 Killed
Chapter 656 Yaoyao’s Power
Chapter 657 Harvest
Chapter 658 Heavenly Punishment
Chapter 659 Overbearing
Chapter 660 Complete
Chapter 661 End
Chapter 662 Shocking results
Chapter 663 Angry Qin Ling
Chapter 664 Pseudo Law Domain
Chapter 665 Punishment
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Chapter 666 Return to the sect
Chapter 667 Second Chosen
Chapter 668 The Great Zhou
Chapter 669 Change in the First Position
Chapter 670 Strength Skyrocket
Chapter 671 Chosen competition battle!
Chapter 672 The Highest Honor
Chapter 673 First Choice
Chapter 674 Like a Hot Knife Slicing through Butter
Chapter 675 Celestial Shadow and Sword Orb
Chapter 676 Congratulating the Leader of the Chosen
Chapter 677 Agreement
Chapter 678 Three Jars of Taoyao Wine
Chapter 679 Yaoyao’s Gift
Chapter 680 Burying the Wine
Chapter 681 Mythic Saint Body Complete
Chapter 682 The Path Home
Chapter 683 Friends gather
Chapter 684 Encountering Wu Huang Again
Chapter 685 The Battle of Old Enemies
Chapter 686 With Your Life?
Chapter 687 The Soul of Blood Asura
Chapter 688 Compare Trump Cards
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Chapter 689 Asura Sacred Dragon Transformation vs Dragon’s Resentment Transformation
Chapter 690 Body as bait
Chapter 691 Obliterate
Chapter 692 Return
Chapter 693 Great Wu attacks Great Zhou
Chapter 694 Broken Dragon City
Chapter 695 King Wu!
Chapter 696 Halo of the Divine Dwelling
Chapter 697 Who isn’t?
Chapter 698 Chaos Halo
Chapter 699 Against King Wu
Chapter 700 The Middle of the Divine Dwelling Stage
Chapter 701 Kill King Wu
Chapter 702 Great Zhou’s Counterattack
Chapter 703 Astonishing Everyone
Chapter 704 Red Clothes
Chapter 705 Wu Yao part A
Chapter 706 Wu Yao part B
Chapter 707 Meeting of the Dragon and Phoenix
Chapter 708 Nine Heavens Divine Dwelling
Chapter 709 Yaoyao and Wu Yao
Chapter 710 Zhao Yunxiao
Chapter 711 Sheng Yuan’s Scheme
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Chapter 712 Hidden in the Land Bombarded by Lightning
Chapter 713 Divine Dwelling Medicine
Chapter 714 Outsiders
Chapter 715 Compensation
Chapter 716 A familiar place
Chapter 717 Exploring Blackwater
Chapter 718 Two-feet Law Domain
Chapter 719 Before the Saint Stamp
Chapter 720 Turmoil
Chapter 722 Lianyi
Chapter 723 Mole
Chapter 724 Jiang Lei Jun
Chapter 725 Saint Fire
Chapter 726 Igniting the Nascent Source
Chapter 727 Sheng Yuan’s Choice
Chapter 728 Earthshaking Battle
Chapter 729 Hall Master of the Heavenly Sacred Hall
Chapter 730 Seal Broken
Chapter 731 Yaoyao’s Power
Chapter 732 Terrifying Genesis Rune Mastery
Chapter 733 Life Executioner Painting
Chapter 734 The Heart of Saint
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Chapter 735 The Fourth Saint Rune
Chapter 736 Meeting the Patriarch again
Chapter 737 Change
Chapter 738 Beaten Back
Chapter 739 Cang Xuan Fights
Chapter 740 Receive
Chapter 741 Destroying the Stamp
Chapter 742 Self Destruct
Chapter 737 Shattering the Golden Lotuses
Chapter 744 Sheng Yuan Flees
Chapter 745 Yaoyao Sealed Away
Chapter 746 Mid Divine Dwelling Stage
Chapter 747 Articles of the Ancestral Dragon
Chapter 748 Separation
Chapter 749 Teleported
Chapter 750 The Yi Clan Sisters
Chapter 751 Qiu Ji
Chapter 752 Escort
Chapter 753 Request
Chapter 754 Zhao Yue
Chapter 755 Night Raid
Chapter 756 Wind Demon Bandits
Chapter 757 Zhou Yuan takes action
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Chapter 758 The Power of One Foot
Chapter 759 Resolved
Chapter 760 Chi Jing
Chapter 761 Divine Dwelling List
Chapter 762 Arriving in Xuanzhou City
Chapter 763 The Qiu Clan
Chapter 764 Prefecture Lord Battle
Chapter 765 External assistance
Chapter 766 Taken Advantage Of
Chapter 767 Refining the Sword Orb
Chapter 768 Heavenly Serpent Qi
Chapter 769 Mo Yuan
Chapter 770 The Battle Begins
Chapter 771 Yi Qiushui’s Secret
Chapter 772 Heavenly Serpent Reveals its Power
Chapter 773 Azure Serpent Against Demonic Ape
Chapter 774 Eight Million (Teaser)
Chapter 775 A Fierce Fight (Teaser)
Chapter 776 Azure Serpent Form
Chapter 777 Threaten
Chapter 778 Thigh
Chapter 779 Gu Xi
Chapter 780 Rejection
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Chapter 781 Tianyuan Utopia
Chapter 782 Senior Sister Chi Jing
Chapter 783 Deputy Pavilion Master of the Wind Pavilion
Chapter 784 Senior Sister
Chapter 785 Nine Regions Meeting
Chapter 786 Wind Pavilion
Chapter 787 Storm
Chapter 788 One Sword
Chapter 789 Serving as Deputy Pavilion Master
Chapter 790 The Division of Nine Dwellings
Chapter 791 Four Spirits Origin Tower
Chapter 792 Fifth Heaven
Chapter 793 Plot
Chapter 794 Wind District
Chapter 795 Strange Disturbance in the Wind Stratum
Chapter 796 Transformative Stage
Chapter 797 Break
Chapter 798 Insta-kill
Chapter 799 Punishment
Chapter 800 Swift as Thunder
Chapter 801 Commander position
Chapter 802 Commander Selection
Chapter 803 Mark Capturing Rune
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Chapter 804 Wind Island’s Situation
Chapter 805 Derive
Chapter 806 Divine Light
Chapter 807 Mother Wind Rune
Chapter 808 Shock
Chapter 809 Counterattack
Chapter 810 The Influence of the Mother Wind Rune
Chapter 811 Lu Xiao
Chapter 812 Crossing Swords with Lu Xiao
Chapter 813 The Eve of the Great Battle
Chapter 814 The Pavilion Master Selection
Chapter 815 Mu Liu
Chapter 816 80%
Chapter 817 Zhou Yuan appears on stage
Chapter 818 Is that enough?
Chapter 819 The Shock of a Complete wind spirit rune
Chapter 820 Counterattack and Counterattack
Chapter 821 Red Demonic Worm Sand
Chapter 822 That Sword Again
Chapter 823 Pavilion Master of Wind Pavilion
Chapter 824 Chief Pavilion Master Selection
Chapter 825 Newcomer Ceremony
Chapter 826 The Richest
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Chapter 827 Pavilion Master Conference
Chapter 828 Fang Ao
Chapter 829 Flexible
Chapter 830 Cream of the Crop
Chapter 831 Completely New Benefits
Chapter 832 Complete Defeat
Chapter 833 The Second Genesis Rune
Chapter 834 Sixth Divine Dwelling
Chapter 835 Sky Obscurer Beast Heart
Chapter 836 The Competent Great Manager
Chapter 837 Scheme
Chapter 838 Yu Prefecture
Chapter 839 Trap
Chapter 840 Fishermen become henchmen
Chapter 841 Spirit Devour
Chapter 842 Surpass you
Chapter 843 Spirit Burial
Chapter 844 Hall Master Xi Guang
Chapter 845 Assassination
Chapter 846 Law Domain takes action
Chapter 847 Distorting the Truth
Chapter 848 Heaven Flame Ritual
Chapter 849 Joint Suppression
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Chapter 850 Spirit Seizes Flame
Chapter 851 Spirit Training
Chapter 852 Mu Liu’s Visit
Chapter 853 Alliance
Chapter 854 Spirit Devour Genesis Mark
Chapter 855 Another Trump Card
Chapter 856 Prepared for Anything
Chapter 857 Opening the Cauldron
Chapter 858 Scarlet Copper Umbrella, Fire-Gathering Stage
Chapter 859 Eliminating Wang Chen
Chapter 860 To the Rescue
Chapter 861 Showdown between the Wind and Fire Pavilions
Chapter 862 Spirit Breaker Shuttle
Chapter 863 Spirit Devour Genesis Mark Displays its Power
Chapter 864 Spirit Lantern Art
Chapter 865 The Final Winner
Chapter 866 Prize
Chapter 867 Impact
Chapter 868 Preparing for War
Chapter 869 Closed-door cultivation
Chapter 870 Zuo Ya
Chapter 871 Gamble
Chapter 872 Advanced Divine Dwelling Stage
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Chapter 873 The Chief Pavilion Master Battle Begins
Chapter 874 Five Grand Elders
Chapter 875 Cloud Ladder
Chapter 876 Riding the Serpent Up
Chapter 877 Simultaneously Reaching the Summit
Chapter 878 Second Round
Chapter 879 Battle against Han Yuan
Chapter 880 Han Yuan’s Secret
Chapter 881 Black Sky Demon
Chapter 882 Lu Xiao wins
Chapter 883 The last round
Chapter 884 Zhou Yuan VS Lu Xiao
Chapter 885 Two Spirit Burial
Chapter 886 Lu Xiao’s Trump Card
Chapter 887 Nine-Headed Abyssal Python
Chapter 888 Dragon’s Resentment Appears
Chapter 889 Dragon’s Resentment Destroys Python
Chapter 890 Chief Pavilion Master
Chapter 891 Four Pavilions Awed into Submission
Chapter 892 Xuanji Region
Chapter 893 Zhao Mushen
Chapter 894 Wu Yao and Su Youwei
Chapter 895 Divide
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Chapter 896 Stick and Carrot
Chapter 897 Internal Chaos in the Fire Pavilion
Chapter 898 Thousand Technique Hall
Chapter 899 Law Domain Source
Chapter 900 Selecting a Little Saint Technique
Chapter 901 Yin Yang Lightning Rune
Chapter 902 Exposed
Chapter 903 Peacefully Cultivating the Four Spirit Runes
Chapter 904 Challenge Letter
Chapter 905 Accept
Chapter 906 Challenge Letter
Chapter 907 Attention from Various Parties
Chapter 908 Endless Crevice
Chapter 909 How
Chapter 910 Battling Chen Xuandong
Chapter 911 Four Runes Completed
Chapter 912 Four Spirits Origin Diagram
Chapter 913 Defeated the Ninth Place Again
Chapter 914 Stably in Ninth Position
Chapter 915 Great Rivals
Chapter 916 Alpha Spiritium
Chapter 917 Evolution of Silver Shadow
Chapter 918 Seek Assistance
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Chapter 919 Foundation skyrocket
Chapter 920 Curtain Lifted
Chapter 921 Fallen City
Chapter 922 Xu Ming
Chapter 923 Seeing Su Youwei Again
Chapter 924 What relationship?
Chapter 925 Beauty Brings Disaster
Chapter 926 Great
Chapter 927 Conversation at night
Chapter 928 Sever nine dragon
Chapter 929 Drawing Lots
Chapter 930 There’s Me
Chapter 931 Trial starts
Chapter 932 Trap
Chapter 934 Lu Hai’s counterattack
Chapter 935 Celestial Shadow Tricks the Five Geniuses
Chapter 936 Passed
Chapter 937 The Show Begins
Chapter 938 Split Into Teams
Chapter 939 Mini Domain
Chapter 940 Scheme
Chapter 941 Encounter
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Chapter 942 First Clash
Chapter 943 Withdraw
Chapter 944 Clash between Law Domain Experts
Chapter 945 Fallen Shadow
Chapter 946 Liu Qingshu, Zhao Yunxiao
Chapter 947 Negotiations Fall Through
Chapter 948 Wushen Hex and Six Dragon Circlets
Chapter 949 Swallow Everything
Chapter 950 Purification Jade Tablet
Chapter 951 Yuan Kun
Chapter 952 Zhou Yuan Against Yuan Kun
Chapter 954 Deduction
Chapter 955 Break Through Formation
Chapter 956 Jiu Gong attacks
Chapter 957 Top Battle
Chapter 958 Formation Destroyed
Chapter 959 Driven away
Chapter 960 Seventy Million
Chapter 961 Working Together
Chapter 962 Divide
Chapter 963 Super Domain
Chapter 964 Failure
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Chapter 965 Young Heroes Meet Once More
Chapter 966 Bully
Chapter 967 Zhou Yuan VS Xu Ming
Chapter 968 Heavenly Genesis Puppet Booster Art
Chapter 969 Can’t Hide Any Longer
Chapter 970 Invincible
Chapter 971 Occupying the Stone Statue
Chapter 972 Chaos in the Starry Space
Chapter 973 Rivals Move
Chapter 974 The Battle of Three Kings
Chapter 975 Joining Forces
Chapter 977 Reversal Art
Chapter 978 Taotie Blessing
Chapter 979 Wang Xi Moves Aside
Chapter 980 Just a Little More
Chapter 981 Zhou Yuan Against Zhao Mushen
Chapter 982 Self-harm
Chapter 983 Heavenly Punishment Law Domain
Chapter 984 Each Show Remarkable Ability
Chapter 985 Zhao Mushen's last resort
Chapter 986 Breakthrough?
Chapter 987 Past One Hundred Million!
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Chapter 988 One kick
Chapter 989 Zhao Mushen Eliminated
Chapter 990 Settled
Chapter 991 Supreme Sovereign
Chapter 992 Dust Settles
Chapter 993 Bountiful Harvest
Chapter 994 Change
Chapter 995 Rallying Together
Chapter 997 Identity
Chapter 998 Third Official Disciple
Chapter 999 Summoning Order
Chapter 1000 Qin Lian
Chapter 1001 Gather
Chapter 1002 War Credit
Chapter 1003 Heavenly Dragon Qi
Chapter 1004 All Parties Breakthrough
Chapter 1005 Mysterious Substance
Chapter 1006 Heavenly Sun Stage
Chapter 1007 Rumors
Chapter 1008 Scarlet Flame City
Chapter 1009 War Service Hall
Chapter 1010 Bounty List
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Chapter 1011 Accept
Chapter 1012 Team
Chapter 1013 Heavenly Fire Ancient Forest
Chapter 1015 A Very Strong Zhou Yuan
Chapter 1016 Crucial Information
Chapter 1017 So Strong?
Chapter 1018 Trouble
Chapter 1019 Crystal Tower
Chapter 1020 Sneaking In
Chapter 1021 Bottom of the Tower
Chapter 1022 Unexpected Surprise
Chapter 1023 Bluff
Chapter 1024 Beat Him
Chapter 1025 Challenging a Nascent Source Expert
Chapter 1026 Breaking Out of the Tower
Chapter 1027 Shocking Everyone
Chapter 1029 Law Domain Battle
Chapter 1030 Law Domain Battle Techniques
Chapter 1031 Wind God Orb
Chapter 1032 Memory
Chapter 1033 Open up
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Chapter 1034 Wind Rain Lake and Bottomless Golden Lightning Abyss
Chapter 1035 Twin Towers
Chapter 1036 Tower Competition
Chapter 1037 Promotion
Chapter 1038 Number of places
Chapter 1039 Heavenly Sun Top Three
Chapter 1040 Fragment
Chapter 1041 Cultivating the Purgatory Great Flame Devil
Chapter 1042 Huge Growth
Chapter 1043 Qualification
Chapter 1044 Convincing the Masses
Chapter 1045 The Battle Begins
Chapter 1046 Unexpected Outcome
Chapter 1047 Draw
Chapter 1048 Bad News
Chapter 1049 Zhou Yuan Appears
Chapter 1050 Swallow
Chapter 1051 Shock
Chapter 1052 Fighting Lu Qing
Chapter 1053 Power of the Flame Devil
Chapter 1054 Mystical Creature Obtained
Chapter 1055 Universe Prison
Chapter 1056 Escape
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Chapter 1057 Rambling Woman
Chapter 1058 Golden Pagoda
Chapter 1059 Destruction Descends
Chapter 1060 Sky Illuminating Eye
Chapter 1061 Last Resort
Chapter 1062 Traitor
Chapter 1063 Appear?
Chapter 1064 Congratulations, New Saint
Chapter 1065 World Congratulates
Chapter 1066 Matter ends
Chapter 1067 Blessing Battle of the Heavens
Chapter 1068 War Ends
Chapter 1069 Settling Scores
Chapter 1070 Ancestral Dragon Flesh
Chapter 1071 Prepare for Battle
Chapter 1072 Training in the Illuminating Sea
Chapter 1073 Recruitment
Chapter 1074 Nine-Claw Heavenly Sun
Chapter 1075 Phoenix Perch House
Chapter 1076 Shock
Chapter 1077 Subdued
Chapter 1079 Heaven Pillar Peak
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Chapter 1080 Meeting the Two Girls Again
Chapter 1081 Wang Xuanyang
Chapter 1082 Pact
Chapter 1083 Waiting
Chapter 1084 Grand Opening
Chapter 1085 Earth Disaster
Chapter 1086 Fragment Snatching
Chapter 1087 The First Battle
Chapter 1088 Search for Ancestral Qi
Chapter 1089 Capture the Vein
Chapter 1090 Rat Tide
Chapter 1091 Mysterious Treasure
Chapter 1092 Harvest
Chapter 1093 Toxic
Chapter 1094 Return to the City
Chapter 1095 Sharp Contrast
Chapter 1096 High-Class Areas
Chapter 1097 Qianhu
Chapter 1099 Impress with Power
Chapter 1100 One Month
Chapter 1101 Silver Shadow’s Transformation
Chapter 1102 Join forces
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Chapter 1103 Setting the Trap
Chapter 1104 Wang Xuanyang’s Backup
Chapter 1105 Two Against One?
Chapter 1106 Su Youwei’s Strength
Chapter 1107 Great Battle Against Li Zhu
Chapter 1108 Earth Saint Rune Appears Again
Chapter 1109 The Powerful Wang Xuanyang
Chapter 1110 Yin Yang Reversal
Chapter 1111 Natural Enemy
Chapter 1112 Schemed
Chapter 1113 Winner
Chapter 1114 Rainbow Sky Severing Gourd
Chapter 1115 Old Friends
Chapter 1116 A Little Face
Chapter 1117 Intimidate
Chapter 1118 Cangxuan Heaven’s Situation
Chapter 1119 Rescue
Chapter 1120 Night Talk
Chapter 1121 Blood Pill
Chapter 1122 Battle in the Canyon
Chapter 1123 The Plan
Chapter 1124 Rising Against the Tide
Chapter 1125 Cangxuan Sect’s Chosen
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Chapter 1126 Test
Chapter 1127 Expose
Chapter 1128 Abnormal Intermediate Heavenly Sun Stage
Chapter 1129 Sacred Pupil
Chapter 1130 Desperately Fighting
Chapter 1131 Each Show Remarkable Ability
Chapter 1132 Bluff
Chapter 1133 Forced to Retreat
Chapter 1134 Reminisce
Chapter 1135 Divide
Chapter 1136 Abnormal
Chapter 1137 Mystic Ruins
Chapter 1138 Return to Base
Chapter 1139 Members of Wanshou Heaven
Chapter 1140 News of Tuntun
Chapter 1141 Flexing
Chapter 1142 This guy's a Big Shot
Chapter 1143 The Mysterious Shengzu Heaven
Chapter 1144 Chaotic Battle
Chapter 1145 Apex Face-off
Chapter 1146 Battling Ji Mo Again
Chapter 1147 Sacred Sealing Art
Chapter 1148 Disaster for Guan Qinglong
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Chapter 1149 Killed
Chapter 1150 Facing Mi Shi
Chapter 1151 Ultimate Move
Chapter 1152 Two Rays of Sword Light
Chapter 1153 Zhao Mushen Sacrifices his Life
Chapter 1154 Can Destroy Stars
Chapter 1155 Victory
Chapter 1156 Divide
Chapter 1157 Stone Tablet
Chapter 1158 Lotus Platform
Chapter 1159 Grade Nine Lotus Platform
Chapter 1160 The Rear Wave Rises
Chapter 1161 Nine Main Veins Appear
Chapter 1162 Commander in Chief
Chapter 1163 Unacceptable
Chapter 1164 Bai Xiaolu
Chapter 1165 Untouchable Saint Glass Body
Chapter 1166 Shengzu Heaven’s Plan
Chapter 1167 Jia Tu
Chapter 1168 The Flawed Array
Chapter 1169 Finding the Vulnerabilities
Chapter 1170 Battle to Break the Array
Chapter 1171 The War Begins
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Chapter 1172 Amusement and Killing Intent
Chapter 1173 Sacred Heaven Pride
Chapter 1174 Heavenly Dragon Palm Seal
Chapter 1175 Xu Lei
Chapter 1176 Powerful Enemies Appear
Chapter 1177 Battling Xu Lei
Chapter 1178 King of Secret Arts
Chapter 1179 Destroy Lightning Palm in one Slash
Chapter 1180 Sacred Pupil Transforms into Tribulation Lightning
Chapter 1181 Strengthen Body with Tribulation Lightning
Chapter 1182 Saint Glass Light
Chapter 1183 Two People Died in Battle
Chapter 1184 Each Fight With Their Life
Chapter 1185 Live or Die
Chapter 1186 Powerful Jia Tu
Chapter 1187 Ancient God Scripture?
Chapter 1188 Four Rays of Sword Light
Chapter 1189 Starry River of Destruction
Chapter 1190 The Fourth Saint Rune
Chapter 1191 Saint Fire Destroys Everything
Chapter 1192 Reverse the situation
Chapter 1193 Boundary Reverse Swallows
Chapter 1194 Ancestral Dragon Flesh
53
Information
Destiny stolen at birth, the prince of the once mighty Great Zhou Empire, Zhou Yuan, has been plagued all
his life by a fatal poison, forced to suffer powerlessly until one day when fate draws him into a mysterious
domain where he meets a beautiful girl in green, a bizarre dog-like creature and an unfathomable old
man in black.
Join Zhou Yuan as he is thrust into the whirlpool of destiny while he seeks the pinnacle of cultivation.
Yeow's comments: Potato (the author) really has a way certain arcs that make you can't stop gushing on
and on about them for hours. It's one of the reasons why I enjoy his work so if you ever want to ramble on
endlessly into the night with excitement, bring a friend along and join me as we venture to discover such
yet uncovered gems.
(My personal highlights for WDQK and BTTH were the Yimo City arc and the alchemist competition arc
respectively :P)
54
Chapter 1 Python and Sparrow Swallow the
Dragon
The brightly lit inner palace was a dazzling yet imposing sight. Green smoke rose in spirals from the
green rock that burned within each oil lamp, and weaved about in the palace.
The green rocks were blue sandalwood. They gave off a rare fragrance when burnt that had a meditative
effect and was one of the necessities for cultivation. However, such items were not cheap. Hence, their
usage as fuel was enough to show the status of the palace’s owner.
A middle-aged man stood within the inner palace with his hand behind his back. Unwavering
determination decorated his face, and his eyes contained a dignified aura, evidence that he had occupied
a high ranking position for a long time. A faint aura appeared to rise behind him, which seemed to
fluctuate between fire and lightning as it emitted muffled rumbling sounds.
However, if one looked towards his right arm, one would find that there was nothing there. His right arm
had been severed.
At this man’s side was a beautiful woman in palace garments. Her lovely body was slim, and her features
were natural and pretty. However, her face appeared exceptionally pale and sickly.
At this current time, the man and woman, whom were clearly of substantial status, had a sliver of worry
on their faces, as they looked at the thirteen year old youngster seated on a bed in front of them. The
youngster’s body was rather frail and his eyes were tightly shut. However, a tendril of blood Qi circled on
a face that should have been brimming with youthful energy.
While the strange blood Qi roamed beneath his skin, the bitter and resentful howl of a dragon faintly
echoed.
As the dragon howl resounded, the veins on the youngster’s forehead squirmed, while his body shook
continuously. His face twisted as if he was bearing an indescribable pain.
By the youngster’s side was a white haired old man holding a copper mirror in his hand. Soft light shined
from the copper mirror onto the youngster’s body. Under this light, the strange blood Qi on the
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youngster’s face gradually began to calm down.
The blood Qi persisted for a single incense stick of time before finally retreating. In the end, it withdrew
into the youngster’s palm.
The white haired old man immediately breathed a sigh of relief as if he had been relieved of a great
burden. Subsequently, he turned around and bowed to the worriedly waiting middle-aged man and
beautiful woman in palace garments.
“Congratulations your majesties,” he said. “His highness has at long last passed this triennial ordeal.
There should be no problems in the following three years.”
Joy was revealed on the faces of the middle-aged man and woman in palace garments when they heard
this, and their tightly clenched fists gradually loosened.
The dignified man in bright yellow robes looked at the white haired elder in an expectant manner and
asked, “Master Qin, Yuan’er is already thirteen this year. Youngsters at this age usually have eight
meridian channels, and can start their cultivation. What about Yuan’er?”
Upon hearing this question, the white haired elder’s expression immediately dimmed somewhat, before
he lightly shook his head and replied, “Your majesty, I was still unable to find the eight meridian channels
in his highness’ body this time…”
The dignified man’s expression similarly dimmed when he heard this.
In this world, the Dao of cultivation started within one’s body. The body possessed countless meridian
channels, and most important amongst them were the eight great channels. With the exception of some
unique circumstances, an ordinary person’s eight channels would gradually form when they were about
thirteen years of age. It was at this time that these eight channels needed to be found. Only by finding the
eight channels would one be able to start cultivating; by taking in the Genesis energy of the land, and
opening the eight channels.
This was the Channel Opening stage, and was where all cultivation began.
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Through this, cultivators were able to take in the Genesis energy of the land, and completely transform
themselves. Hence, they were known as Genesis Masters.
Master Qin gazed at the disappointment on the middle-aged man’s face, and could not help but softly sigh,
“His highness was originally born with the sacred dragon blessing. He would have stunned the world and
looked down upon the heavens. Who could have foreseen that such a calamity would occur…”
The middle-aged man’s fists clenched tightly, while the beautiful lady’s eyes reddened. She covered her
mouth and violently coughed twice.
“My queen, please take care of yourself,” Master Qin hastily said upon seeing this. “You have lost a great
amount of essence blood from nourishing his highness. You cannot allow your emotions to run wild.”
However, the beautiful lady in palace garments merely waved her hand. Sorrow surfaced in her eyes, as
she looked at the youngster seated on the bed, “The poison in Yuan’er’s body erupts once every three
years. Each outbreak is more serious than the last. He can only rely on himself to eradicate the poison, yet
his eight meridian channels have yet to appear. What is to be done three years from now?”
Master Qin was silent for some time, before he slowly replied, “After three years, external suppression
will lose its effect, and if this situation persists, I’m afraid that his highness’ hopes are bleak.”
The moment these words were said, silence blanketed the inner palace. The middle-aged man’s fists
tightly clenched, as his body faintly shook, while sobbing noises were emitted through the covered mouth
of the lady in palace garments.
A rather young yet calm voice suddenly emerged within this silence.
“Does that mean… I only have three years left?”
The three people in the palace were stunned upon hearing this. They quickly looked up, only to find that
the youngster on the bed had opened his eyes at some unknown time, and was now staring at them.
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The three exchanged a look. It was evident that none of them had expected the youngster to awaken so
quickly. In the past, he had remained unconscious for two or three days before slowly awakening.
“Yuan’er…”
The name of this youngster, who had been called Yuan’er, was Zhou Yuan, and the middle-aged man and
lady before his eyes were the king and queen of the Great Zhou Empire, Zhou Qing and Qin Yu.
Zhou Yuan’s young face was rather pale, as he pursed his lips. Perhaps because his body had been frail
since young, he could only read books, and thus looked rather scholarly. After being silent for a moment,
he slowly extended his hand.
A dark blood-red lump could be seen at the center of his palm, which seemed to be embedded in the
deepest part of his flesh. It slowly wiggled and squirmed, looking just like a threatening blood dragon. A
faint yet extremely bitter and resentful aura seemed to rise from within it, causing one to shiver although
it was not cold.
“Father, Mother… I believe it is time to tell me exactly what is happening to me, right?”
Zhou Yuan involuntarily gritted his teeth, as he stared at the tiny blood-dragon-like-thing on his palm. It
was this very thing that made him feel what could be called pain beyond death.
Every three years, this thing would begin to act up. It brought with it an endless pain, that felt as if it was
devouring the flesh on his body inch by inch.
When they heard Zhou Yuan’s words, Zhou Qing and Qin Yu’s faces lost a substantial amount of color.
Zhou Qing in particular, tightly clenched his fists, as extreme remorse and self-blame surfaced on his face.
This silence lasted for a long time. Even the atmosphere seemed to grow rather heavy, before Zhou Qing
finally inhaled deeply, and said in a hoarse voice, “That is the Dragon’s Resentment Poison.”
“Dragon’s Resentment Poison?” Zhou Yuan’s eyebrows were tightly knitted together, failing to
comprehend.
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Zhou Qing’s hand trembled somewhat as he tousled Zhou Yuan’s hair and continued, “It is time for you to
know of these matters. Yuan’er, you should know that you are the sacred dragon of our Zhou Clan!”
Zhou Yuan could not help but let out a bitter laugh. Was there really such a miserable sacred dragon?
Even the eight channels in his body could not be found.
Zhou Qing sat down at Zhou Yuan’s side. His voice was low as he spoke, “Yuan’er, the current Great Zhou
Empire can perhaps only be considered a small and unimportant country, but what you do not know, is
that fifteen years ago, Great Zhou was a powerful nation. Every country came to pay homage to us, and
our might was overwhelming to all.”
Shock surfaced on Zhou Yuan’s small face. Amongst the numerous empires that dotted this boundless
continent, Great Zhou Empire was really not very noteworthy at all. How could he ever imagine that it
possessed such status in the past?
“Do you know of the Great Wu Empire?” Zhou Qing slowly spoke each word of this name, as if he intended
to carve it into his heart.
“The Great Wu Empire?” Zhou Yuan nodded. The Great Wu Empire was one of the top level empires of
this vast continent. It was a flourishing nation that contained countless Genesis Masters. In comparison,
Great Zhou was akin to a dwarf before a giant.
Zhou Qing’s eyes were dyed red bit by bit at this moment. Deep hatred was revealed within them, “Then
do you know that fifteen years ago, the current royal family of Great Wu was merely one of the subjects of
the Great Zhou Empire?”
A sliver of astonishment finally appeared in Zhou Yuan’s eyes. The Great Wu royal family was once a
subject of Great Zhou? Was Great Zhou actually so powerful fifteen years ago?
“Then… then how did things turn out like this?” Zhou Yuan could not help but inquire.
“When Great Zhou was established several hundred years ago, the Wu clan followed at our side, as we
waged war all over. They were loyal and devoted vassals. Later on, Great Zhou established a country, and
in recognition of their service, we conferred upon the Wu clan the hereditary title of king Wu, allowing
them to enjoy an endless amount of privilege and power. And so in the next hundred years, the Wu clan
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guarded the Great Zhou’s borders, intimidating anyone who saw them.”
Zhou Qing’s body faintly shook, as veins of blood climbed out in his eyes, “However, who could have
expected that the Wu clan would suddenly rebel fifteen years ago? Only then did our Zhou royal clan
realise that after hiding their strength and biding their time over the years, the Wu clan already
possessed extremely great power, and even the numerous conferred kings had been enticed to their side.
“In the short period of less than a year, our Zhou clan was utterly defeated, and could only escape
towards the south. We fled towards our Zhou clan’s ancestral land, which is also now the current Great
Zhou’s territory.
“I do not know why the Wu clan rebelled, the status they enjoyed in Great Zhou was not the least bit less
than the royal clan…
“It was only later, that a spy obtained some information from the Wu clan. A certain prophecy that had
been passed down in the inner circle of the Wu clan for several hundred years…”
“A prophecy?” Zhou Yuan was slightly stunned.
Zhou Qing gritted his teeth, as he spat out each word, “Python and sparrow swallow the dragon, and the
Great Wu will rise and flourish!”
“Python and sparrow swallow the dragon, and the Great Wu will rise and flourish?” Zhou Yuan softly
repeated these words, but he failed to understand the meaning behind them. “What does it mean?”
Zhou Qing’s eyes turned scarlet red at this moment. Incomparable grief flooded his eyes as he stared at
Zhou Yuan, “Back then, I too did not understand the exact meaning behind these words, until a certain
day…”
“After Great Zhou was completely defeated, I led what was left of our people, and continuously retreated.
The Wu clan tightly pursued us till we came to this Great Zhou City beneath our feet. However, the Wu
clan merely surrounded us and did not attack, as if they were waiting for something.”
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“What were they waiting for?” Zhou Yuan felt a sense of unease.
Zhou Qing stared at Zhou Yuan. From the expression on the former’s face, it was as if he was crying
inside. The mixture of such despair and anger made Zhou Yuan’s heart tremble.
“They were waiting for you to be born.”
Zhou Qing’s words caused Zhou Yuan’s heart to shudder violently. He had been caught completely off
guard.
By the side, Zhou Yuan’s mother, Qin Yu, was already covering her mouth. Sobs that had been suppressed
to the limit were emitted.
“Do you know what it was like when you were born?” Zhou Qing gazed at Zhou Yuan with red eyes.
“Yuan’er, the moment you were born, a mystical sign appeared in the heavens. Dragon Qi swirled around
you, and a dragon roar shook the land. It was the sign of the sacred dragon.”
“Your eight meridian channels naturally opened at birth, allowing you to skip the Channel Opening stage,
and reach the Qi nourishing level.”
“This is known as the legendary one-in-a-billion sacred dragon blessing, which bestows upon one the
potential to reach the greater cultivation stages. As our Zhou clan’s unprecedented sacred dragon, you
would have shined as brightly as the sun and moon, and have the longevity of the land!”
Zhou Qing’s voice was overflowing with emotion, while his entire body violently shook. One could
imagine just how emotionally moved he had been when Zhou Yuan was born. The heavens had not
forsaken the Zhou clan, and allowed them to welcome the birth of a sacred dragon during such a calamity.
Zhou Yuan’s eyes widened. It was clear that he was unable to believe that such a phenomenon had
appeared when he was born.
“Then… then why…?” His hands trembled slightly, as he touched his body. Since his eight meridian
channels were naturally open, why were they now unable to be found in his body?
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Zhou Qing’s emotional voice came to an abrupt halt. The brilliance in his eyes seemed to vanish
completely at this moment. There was only deep sadness within them, as he explained in a dejected
manner, “Because the moment you were born, king Wu’s wife also gave birth to a son and daughter
outside the city. Python Qi coiled around the baby boy, while spirit sparrow Qi was present around the
baby girl’s head. Both were also blessed by destiny!”
“Moreover, according to the information we obtained, king Wu’s wife had been pregnant for a whole
three years without giving birth, yet she suddenly gave birth that day…”
“I never understood why before, but it finally became clear at that moment. It is said that those born on
the same year, month, and day may devour each other’s destiny. It turns out that the many years of
plotting by the Wu clan was not simply targeted at Great Zhou, but at the dragon of our Zhou clan!”
Zhou Yuan’s mouth opened and closed. A chill swiftly spread from the soles of his feet to the top of his
head. “It was a scheme!”
How could there be such a coincidence. It was obvious that this plot had been brewing for a hundred
years, and was aimed at their Zhou clan… a grand scheme that was specifically aimed at him.
For this, they had even used all means to stop king Wu’s wife from giving birth for three years. It was all
done in wait for him!
Zhou Qing nodded his head, and continued in a hoarse voice, “It was indeed a scheme. The Wu clan had
patiently waited in Great Zhou for several hundred years. They had fought our battles for us, and gained
our full trust. However, who could have expected that their centuary long wait was all for your arrival!?”
“That day, king Wu entered the city and threatened us with the lives of hundreds and millions of Great
Zhou citizens. He wanted to seize your sacred dragon blessing in front of your mother and I…” At this
point, tears of blood flowed out from Zhou Qing’s eyes.
By the side, Master Qin also wore an expression of sorrow, as he continued in a low voice, “That day, to
protect your highness, his majesty fought king Wu on the Great Zhou mountain, but was no match for the
latter, and one of his arms was severed. If that king Wu was not afraid that the others would destroy his
highness’ sacred dragon blessing, it is likely that even his majesty would have died at the king Wu’s
hands.”
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“To smoothly seize his highness’ destiny, king Wu made an oath. Great Wu would not take even half a step
into Great Zhou for the next hundred years.”
As that frightening scene once again surged out from the depths of her mind, Qin Yu could no longer
restrain her emotions. She fell to her knees before Zhou Yuan, tightly hugging him, as she started to sob in
a heart wrenching manner.
“Yuan’er! My pitiful son! Mother has let you down!”
The cruel memories from that day were once again bloodily torn open. She clearly recalled how the
recently born Zhou Yuan was used as an array eye, and placed on the altar that king Wu had set up.
Joining him on the altar were king Wu’s recently born son and daughter.
However, one was being stolen from, while the other two were taking.
The stripping of fate was akin to peeling off one’s flesh. Such pain was unimaginable.
The Qin Yu at that time had been glowing with joy mere moments before. She could only helplessly watch
her child bear an endless amount of pain, so much so, that even his young cries became hoarse.
Such despair and powerlessness had caused her to faint.
Urgh.
Due to this sudden surge of emotions, Qin Yu’s face instantly paled. A mouthful of fresh blood was
involuntarily vomited, dyeing Zhou Yuan’s hair red.
“What’s wrong, mother?” Zhou Yuan was greatly alarmed. He hastily helped Qin Yu wipe the blood at the
corner of her mouth.
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Master Qin also rushed over from the side. Gentle energy spread from his palm, and poured into Qin Yu
through the top of her head, helping her steady the Qi and blood in her body. He looked at the pale Qin Yu,
before he sighed towards Zhou Yuan, “Your highness, please do not blame his majesty and her majesty for
being unable to protect you. Back then, his majesty had given his all, and almost died in battle.”
“As for her majesty, after your destiny was stolen, she infused her own essence blood into your body.
Subsequently, she gave you blood every year, allowing your highness to live till this day. However, her
majesty had to pay an extremely huge price. Every time she gave her blood, her lifespan would be cut by
three years. Over the past twelve years, her lifespan has already been shortened by thirty six years. This
is an enormous blow to her health, and she now has less than ten years to live.”
“What?! What did you say?!”
It was as if a lightning bolt had struck Zhou Yuan when he heard this. Veins of blood crazily climbed out in
his eyes. He had never reacted so strongly even previously when he heard that his destiny had been
stolen. After all, these events had occurred when he was still too young. Hence, he did not have overly
strong feelings towards the sacred dragon blessing. Even if it was seized, he would only feel somewhat
shocked.
Although the fact that he had been the target of the Wu clan’s century long plot had caused huge waves of
shock to rise in his heart, he was able to suppress them. However, when he found out that they had forced
his beloved mother to deplete her life force, an uncontrollable killing intent rose within Zhou Yuan’s
heart for the very first time.
Thus, when Zhou Yuan heard Master Qin’s words, he could no longer control his emotions. The blood in
his body frantically rushed towards his head, causing his face to turn blood red. That delicate and
immature face now appeared rather sinister.
“Wu clan, you dare to cause harm to my mother! You truly deserve to die!”
Zhou Yuan’s eyes were blood red. Overflowing rage and killing intent surged in his heart, while his entire
body shook.
Zhou Qing carried Qin Yu, and leaned her against a jade couch. His hair seemed to be a little whiter, and
his dignified aura had practically vanished as he numbly said, “It has been said that since the Wu clan’s
foundations were weak, sufficient destiny is needed for them to establish a country, allow their line to
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continue, and awe everyone with their power. With regards to all this, your sacred dragon blessing was
the ideal.”
“King Wu seized your destiny, and granted it to his son and daughter. Henceforth, Great Wu was
protected by the dragon and phoenix, allowing their country to prosper. The flourishing Great Wu Empire
owes everything to your stolen destiny.”
“Meanwhile, forcibly taking away your sacred dragon blessing naturally gave rise to intense resentment.
That king Wu purposely sealed this resentment in your body, thus creating the Dragon’s Resentment
Poison. It continuously strengthens itself by devouring your essence blood until a certain day where it
will finally mature. Then, it will erupt and completely devour your life force.”
“Meanwhile, your sacred dragon root was damaged, causing your naturally formed eight meridian
channels to disappear. Till now, your eight meridian channels have yet to show themselves, making your
journey of cultivation extremely difficult…”
Zhou Qing’s tone was rather bleak, and contained an endless feeling of powerlessness. It was difficult to
imagine how much despair that day had been to their Zhou clan.
On that day, the python and sparrow cried outside the city. Multi-colored lights had exploded, while they
seized the opportunity to transform.
On that day, the sacred dragon wailed inside the city, turning into green smoke that rose in spirals, before
fading away.
This was the python and sparrow swallowing the dragon.
65
Chapter 2 Genesis Runes
Silence covered the inner palace. The atmosphere was so stifling that it made one unable to breath.
Zhou Yuan gazed at Zhou Qing, who was seated beside him. The latter’s usually imposing face was listless
and filled with powerlessness at this moment. It was obvious that the events from back then had been a
huge blow to him.
His son’s destiny had been stolen by his enemy right in front of him, destroying the former’s foundations,
and he had been completely powerless. It was possible to imagine what kind of humiliation that had been
for any father.
Zhou Yuan bit into his lips. He understood Zhou Qing’s character. If it was not for the sake of protecting
the hundreds and millions Great Zhou subjects, it was likely that he would have chosen to go down
together with king Wu.
“So that is why my eight meridian channels have never appeared, making it difficult for me to start
cultivating. This king Wu’s methods are truly vicious.” Zhou Yuan gazed at the slowly squirming bundle of
dark red on his palm with anger in his eyes.
Taking his destiny and destroying the roots of his sacred dragon had not been enough. This king Wu even
intended to completely eliminate him by slowly forcing him to his death through the Dragon’s
Resentment Poison.
What infuriated Zhou Yuan the most, was that his queen-mother had suffered greatly because of this, and
she now had less than ten years to live.
With a deep breath, Zhou Yuan slowly pushed down the surging rage in his heart. It felt as if his heart had
been cut open by a blade when he looked towards the pale face of the sleeping Qin Yu by the side, and
asked, “Father, what can be done for mother? Her
remaining life span…”
Zhou Qing was silent for a while before he slowly replied, “In this world exists mystical treasures that can
extend one’s life. If we can obtain such an item, we will be able to prolong your queen mother’s life,
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however…”
When he reached this point, Zhou Qing bitterly smiled, before continuing, “Such mystical treasures are
extremely rare. I once used the humongous manpower of Great Zhou to search, but we were still unable
to find any.”
“Great Zhou is after all nothing compared to back then. Now, we can only hole up here. We barely have
the power to defend ourselves.”
Zhou Yuan’s hand tightly clenched. At this moment, he finally understood the advantages of having
power. If he had power, he would be able to search, even the most dangerous forbidden grounds, for
those mystical treasures that could extend one’s life span.
However, the seemingly never showing eight meridian channels of his body made it such that he did not
even have the power to protect himself.
Zhou Yuan gritted his teeth, and spoke in a low voice, “Father, am I truly unable to become a
Genesis Master?”
His mother had lost her essence blood for his sake, reducing her lifespan. As her son, how could he
possibly sit back and watch? Moreover… it might have been fine if he did not know of everything the Wu
clan had done to Great Zhou and himself, but since he now knew, such a debt would not be written off so
easily.
But all of this could only be established if he possessed sufficient power.
And in this world, the group of people with the greatest power were naturally Genesis Masters!
Upon hearing Zhou Yuan’s words, Zhou Qing’s deeply frowned, as if he was thinking about something. A
long while later, he finally replied in a soft voice, “Are you truly unwilling to give up?”
Zhou Yuan lightly nodded. Although he had his fill of suffering and torture over the years, it had also led
him to possess a maturity and determination that transcended those at his age.
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He knew that ever since the Wu clan rebelled and stole his destiny, there was already no way for both of
them to coexist.
The fact that Great Zhou was still alive today was all due to the vow that king Wu had made back then.
Once the hundred year vow was over, it was easy to imagine how the Wu Empire would be the first to
massacre Great Zhou, preventing any future potential troubles.
Hence, to change such an outcome, he needed to possess enough strength.
Zhou Qing was rather gratified by the determination Zhou Yuan had shown. After being silent for some
time, he roughly patted Zhou Yuan’s shoulder. “Good! Unwilling to easily give up. As expected of my son!
Since you are willing, father will naturally do all he can to help you!”
Upon hearing these words from Zhou Qing, Zhou Yuan’s eyes instantly brightened, pleasantly surprised
as he said, “Father has an idea?”
Zhou Yuan nodded. Soon after, he bitterly smiled and said, “You shouldn’t celebrate too early, because
even I am not certain if this method will work.”
“What method is it?” The liveliness of a youngster was finally seen from Zhou Yuan’s impatient
appearance.
“The ancestral offering ceremony is three days later. This time, you will follow me to the ancestral
grounds.”
Zhou Qing merely chuckled and did not explain in detail. Soon after, he paused before continuing,
“However I have one condition for you.”
“What condition?” Zhou Yuan was stunned and he curiously asked.
Zhou Qing sternly said, “Regardless of whether you are able to unlock your meridian channels, you
cannot give up on studying Genesis runes. You must know that if your eight meridian channels are not
unlocked, Genesis rune cultivation will be the final path you can take. If you are able to ascend to the peak
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of Genesis rune cultivation, it may be possible to suppress the Dragon’s Resentment Poison in your body.”
Genesis Masters were the most prevalent power in this world, however, it was not the only path. There
were many different styles and paths, and the path of Genesis runes was the most broad and deep
amongst them.
During the time where Zhou Yuan’s eight meridian channels had yet to appear, under Zhou Qing’s
instruction, Zhou Yuan studied the Dao of Genesis runes. As the saying went, having more skills will not
burden oneself. In fact, many Genesis Masters would also have some basic understand of Genesis runes.
Zhou Yuan lightly nodded his head upon hearing this. Truth be told, he understood the underlying
meaning behind Zhou Qing’s words. He was worried that Zhou Yuan would abandon himself to despair if
his eight meridian channels still did not appear, denying him from becoming a Genesis Master, and in the
end give up on that final path.
Zhou Qing nodded, as a happy smile formed on his face.
“Rest for today. You still have to go to the Great Zhou Institute to study. I will bring you to the ancestral
grounds three days later.”
“Okay!” The youngster’s voice was brimming with anticipation.
Zhou Qing chuckled as he tousled Zhou Yuan’s hair. Subsequently, he carried the unconscious Qin Yu and
walked out of the inner palace with Master Qin at his side.
Zhou Yuan gazed at Zhou Qing’s back. The usually dignified back currently gave off powerless and tired
aura that made one sad. He knew that there was a time when his father was filled with grand aspirations.
However, cruel reality had little by little whittled away these aspirations.
All of this was because of that king Wu.
Zhou Yuan’s lips tightly pursed as a chilling look surfaced on his rather scholarly and young face.
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“Wu clan, king Wu… I will make sure that these debts are paid back one by one in the future!”
...
The next day.
When early morning arrived, Zhou Yuan left the palace under the protection of a group of guards, heading
straight for the north-west district of Great Zhou City where the Great Zhou Institute was located.
Zhou Qing had personally given the command to establish the Great Zhou Institute years ago. At the same
time, he had gathered the experts in the army to become tutors. The Great Zhou Institute did not
discriminate when it came to accepting students, as long as one had enough talent, even the commoners
were allowed into the Great Zhou Institute to practice cultivation.
Over the years, the Great Zhou Institute had groomed several outstanding individuals, hence allowing its
status to grow greater and greater in the Great Zhou Empire. Thus, even his royal highness Zhou Yuan
would come here to study.
The gates of the Great Zhou Institute were tightly guarded. Guards in armor rigorously checked the
identities of all who entered. However, Zhou Yuan was naturally exempt from this procedure. After all,
everyone in Great Zhou City recognized the prince.
“Greetings your highness!”
Therefore, the guards respectfully bowed to Zhou Yuan when he appeared at the gates.
“Your highness.” Several Great Zhou Institute students came and went along the way. There was a some
respect in their expressions as they smiled at Zhou Yuan.
Zhou Yuan likewise returned their smiles and cupped his fists together in greeting. He knew that most of
these students were commoners, and the respect they had for him was mostly due to his father’s
establishment of the Great Zhou Institute. It had allowed commoners like them to raise their status, and
gave them the chance to change their destinies.
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West district of the Great Zhou Institute.
Desks were arranged in a orderly manner within a rather spacious and bright teaching hall. Numerous
youths were seated in a kneeling position before the desks. It was a tranquil atmosphere.
Zhou Yuan also quietly seated on the first desk of the first row. A bright and clean looking jade tablet,
while a dark red long brush lay by its side.
The body of this brush was made entirely of red jade, while the hairs of the brush head came from the
softest belly hair of a flame rat. Light glimmered on the fine hairs. It was a Genesis Rune Brush.
When it came to the most important item for drawing Genesis Runes, everyone would answer these three
same words; Genesis Rune Brush.
A Genesis Rune Brush was the medium for Genesis Runes. Only with a brush would one be able to draw
the mysterious and profound Genesis Runes, draw in the Genesis Qi of the land, and display great power.
Hence, nothing more needed to be said about the importance of the Genesis Rune Brush. Without it, no
matter how great one’s talent in Genesis Runes, the power of one’s Genesis Runes would suffer.
Zhou Yuan held the red jade Genesis Rune Brush, while he looked to the very front, where a middle-aged
lecturer was lecturing with a calm voice.
“Focus your soul into the tip of the brush to draw each stroke. Every line and stroke must be drawn with
one’s soul as the ink. Only then will the drawn Genesis Runes be able to utilise the Genesis Qi of the land.”
“You must remember that when drawing Genesis Runes, one’s heart must be akin to still water, and no
distractions can be present. Only by making the Genesis Rune Brush a part of your body, will you be able
to focus your soul into the tip of the brush, such that the brush and your will become one, allowing any
action to be smoothly completed with a single breath.”
“......”
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After finishing his explanations, the lecturer said, “Next, we will continue practising the three Genesis
Runes that I taught you last month. I hope that someone will be able to successfully
complete one of the three today.”
The moment these words were said, cries of grief rang could be heard in the lecture hall, and many
youths had pained looks on their faces. Though practising Genesis Runes might seem simple, every
practise session would exhaust one’s spirit, and make one feel extremely worn out.
When he heard their cries, the middle-aged lecturer spoke out in a stern and angry manner, “Humph, stop
your whining. The three runes that I taught you; Rampaging Bull Rune, Light Body Rune and Metal Skin
Rune are merely elementary level.”
His voice was brimming with resentment towards these students of his whom had failed to meet his
expectations.
The many youths shrunk back when they saw that their lecturer had been angered, and did not dare to
make any more noise. Afterwhich, all of them grabbed their Genesis Rune Brushes and started to draw on
the jade tablets before them.
Zhou Yuan smiled slightly. Brush in hand, he started to focus, and the surrounding noise was immediately
shut out. His heart was akin to a serene pond as he concentrated on the clean jade tablet. Rays of light
emerged between his brows, and the tip of the brush started to flicker with faint red light.
Zhou Yuan’s brush fell, and the brush tip slowly moved across the jade tablet, leaving behind several
complicated strokes. These strokes looked like the horns of an antelope, and gave off a certain charm.
When they were completely assembled together, they seemed to
possess a magical power.
Every Genesis Rune was made from numerous strokes and lines. In general, the more strokes and lines
there were, the greater the quality and might of the Genesis Rune formed.
The rune that Zhou Yuan was currently drawing was the Metal Skin Rune. It was merely an elementary
level rune, and had over a hundred strokes. However, a tremendous amount of practise was required to
perfectly draw the over hundred strokes.
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The tip of Zhou Yuan’s brush quietly flowed like water. There was no hesitation at all, and its movement
had a natural and a free flowing kind of beauty.
Due to the fact that the eight meridian channels in his body had not appeared in the past year, practically
all of Zhou Yuan’s time had been spent practising Genesis Runes. Thus, his foundations were far stronger
than the other students.
Of course, the most important factor was that he could sense that his soul was stronger than ordinary
people. Although his destiny had been seized, and his sacred dragon root damaged, it seemed that his
soul had fortunately not been hurt. It was likely that his soul had yet to fully form because he had been
too young, hence allowing it to avoid that disaster.
Several minutes later, Zhou Yuan’s slender hand made a light curving movement downwards, and a
radiance suddenly emerged from the jade tablet in front of him. One could only watch as a complex and
beautiful Genesis Rune slowly took shape.
“Good, good. The strokes are perfect and full of liveliness. This Metal Skin Rune can be considered a
successful masterpiece.” The moment Zhou Yuan completed his work, an exclamation of admiration was
suddenly heard from the side.
Zhou Yuan lifted his head, only to find that the lecturer had been standing beside him since some
unknown time, and was currently looking at the Genesis Rune on his jade tablet with a smile of
appreciation.
The other youths in the lecture hall raised their heads and looked towards Zhou Yuan. There was some
surprise in their eyes. They had yet to even start, while Zhou Yuan had already succeeded.
The lecturers mood was much better as he lamented towards the many students, “It would be nice if all of
you learned as well as him.”
The youths chuckled and shook their heads upon hearing this. His highness Zhou Yuan was clearly rather
talented in this area. How could the lecturer expect everyone to be so good?
However, a strange laughter suddenly rang out amongst the chuckles.
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“Hehe, lecturer’s words might be a little unfair. Most of our efforts are concentrated in opening our
meridian channels, hence we naturally cannot put our hearts and soul into the study of Genesis Runes
like his highness. Otherwise, would we not be putting the cart before the horse?”
This laughter was rather piercing, and immediately silenced the lecture hall, as numerous gazes shifted
over.
Zhou Yuan slightly raised his eyebrows and likewise cast his gaze over. Subsequently, he saw a youth in
embroidered clothes looking back at him with a superficial smile as the latter lazily twirled the Genesis
Rune Brush in his hand.
The corners of this smile had slight hints of mockery.
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Chapter 3 Su Youwei
The lecture hall was instantly quietened by the sudden words of the youth in embroidered clothes. All the
youths that looked towards the former silently withdrew their gazes, because the status of the one who
had spoken was not ordinary at all.
The youth in embroidered clothes name was Xu Lin. His father was a senior official of the Great Zhou
Empire’s western province. Of course, Xu Lin’s status was naturally far lower than the prince of the Great
Zhou Empire, Zhou Yuan. However, everyone knew that Xu Lin had the backing of the little prince of Qi
Manor, Qi Yue.
Zhou Yuan lightly tapped his fingers on the desk as he looked at Xu Lin, before indifferently withdrawing
his gaze. When it came to currying favor with Qi Yue, this fellow was truly unscrupulous.
“Since this Xu Lin fawns over Qi Yue so much… it is likely that his father has also thrown his lot in with
king Qi’s camp…”
Zhou Yuan’s eyes seemed to become somewhat deeper. He had once heard his father mention that this
king Qi was backed by the Great Wu Empire Therefore, he had constantly stirred up trouble behind the
scenes over the years. It was obvious that he intended to disrupt the peace of Great Zhou.
Moreover, because Zhou Qing was afraid of giving Great Wu an excuse to deal with the Great Zhou
Empire, he could not openly take action against king Qi, However, there was naturally a battle going on
between the two parties behind the scenes.
It was due to this relationship that there were similarly sparks between Qi Yue and Zhou Yuan in the
Great Zhou Institute.
Xu Lin’s mocking smile grew even wider when he saw that Zhou Yuan did not retort. Just as Xu Lin was
about to speak again, the lecturer suddenly glared at him in a stern manner, causing him to have no
choice but to shut his mouth.
After all, it would be a huge loss for him if he was expelled from the Great Zhou Institute.
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As the two parties became silent, the atmosphere in the lecture hall was gradually restored. The lecturer
continued to elaborate on the three Genesis Runes until two incense sticks of time later, when the bell
started to ring.
“Alright, I’ll have to stop here today. We will continue tomorrow.” The lecturer kept his belongings and
walked out of the lecture hall.
As the lecturer left, the tense atmosphere in the hall immediately became relaxed. The many youths
congregated together as lively laughter and noise erupted.
Zhou Yuan absent-mindedly tidied his desk in preparation to leave.
“Your highness.”
While he was tidying up, he suddenly heard a gentle voice. Zhou Yuan raised his head, and saw a girl
smiling at him in front of his desk.
This girl wore the uniform of the Great Zhou Institute. Although it was a little large on her, the contours of
her well developed curves could still be seen. That simple pair of pants truly made those long and slender
legs stand out.
Her fair skin, raised nose, shapely eyebrows and almond-like eyes were all evidence that she was a
beauty in the making. In particular, the tear-shaped birthmark at the corner of her eye gave her a sort of
unique charm.
Her rosy little lips were currently slightly pursed. Although she wore no costly jewelry and looked rather
plain, she had a strong look paired with a long pony-tail that bounced with vitality.
Merely standing there drew the coverted gazes of numerous boys in the lecture hall.
Zhou Yuan looked at the pretty girl as a smile emerged on his scholarly face. “Oh, it’s Youwei.”
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The girl’s family name was Su, and her name was Youwei.
Su Youwei’s pretty face reddened a little as she met Zhou Yuan’s gaze. Subsequently, she looked away and
her gaze fell upon Zhou Yuan’s messy desk as she knelt down and said, “Your highness, I had better help
you tidy up.”
Zhou Yuan chuckled and did not reject. After all, the relationship between the two of them was indeed not
ordinary.
Hence, the girl started to busy herself with Zhou Yuan’s study desk, helping him neatly tidy up everything.
This drew the gazes of numerous boys in the study hall. Their eyes seemed to be about to burn holes
through Zhou Yuan, and the envy within them was practically bursting out.
“Has your grandfather recovered from his illness?” As Zhou Yuan watched the busy girl, he propped up
his chin with his hand and asked.
Su Youwei slightly lifted her pretty face when she heard Zhou Yuan’s words as her fair hand pulled back a
stray strand of hair that had fallen in front of her eyes. Soon after, a smile emerged on her face.
“He has made a full recovery. Grandfather says he wants to invite your highness over if you have time, but
our house is just a little too unsightly, I’m afraid…”
Zhou Yuan smiled and said, “Alright, I’ll go during our next vacation period.”
Su Youwei gently bit the red lips of her little mouth when she heard Zhou Yuan reply without the slightest
hesitation. A glimmer of water seemed to flash in her eyes as she looked towards him, before she hastily
lowered her head, afraid that he would see it.
She still remembered the day she met Zhou Yuan a year ago.
It was perhaps the most despairing day of her life, but was also the same day that she started to welcome
hope once again.
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On that day, the grandfather whom she had relied on since young had fallen deathly ill, causing her
already broken family to completely fall apart. She had no choice but to brave the torrential rain with her
grandfather on her tiny back in search of help. Because they lacked money, she could only kneel before
each clinic, crying as she implored for their aid, hoping that a doctor would be able to save her
grandfather.
The her from back then had been drenched in mud, a sight that was miserable to the extreme.
In the end, every single clinic’s door remained coldly closed. Under the pouring rain, she felt the entire
sky darken as her heart grew cold as ice.
Just as her desperation was about to reach a numbing level, she sensed someone walk to her side and
place an umbrella in her hand, before walking forward and barbarically kicking open the tightly shut
doors of the clinic in front of her unfocused gaze.
At that time, a cold voice seem to have rang out.
“Open up and save this person!”
The one who had kicked open the doors of the clinic was naturally Zhou Yuan. Back then, Su Youwei
could only blankly gaze upon his back. In the past, the ones she had most hated were those children from
wealthy families, yet, at that very moment, she knew that she would never forget the back of the boy who
had kicked open those large doors...
It was from that very day that she came to be acquainted with Zhou Yuan. Later on, she discovered his
identity; the royal highness of the Great Zhou Empire.
Later on, Zhou Yuan had by chance discovered her talent for cultivation. Hence, he had recommended her
into the Great Zhou Institute. It was then that she started to undergo a magnificent transformation...
The very first month after she entered the Great Zhou Institute, she successfully opened the first meridian
channel, becoming the fastest channel opener ever since the Great Zhou Institute's establishment.
Henceforth, she also became the so-called genius that everyone in the Great Zhou Institute spoke of.
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This sudden change from being an existence no one took notice of to the center of attention felt rather
unnatural for Su Youwei. Moreover, there were times when people would find the relationship between
her and Zhou Yuan unsightly, and secretly say that Zhou Yuan had only helped her because he had taken
fancy to her looks.
However, Su Youwei merely smiled in response. Only she clearly knew what a dirty and malnourished
little girl she had been when she first met Zhou Yuan...
“Hey, how high are you going to stack my books?” Zhou Yuan helplessly looked at Su Youwei. The latter
was obviously a little out of it at the moment. She had stacked the books on his table into a giant pyramid
that reached the heavens.
“Ah?” Su Youwei returned to reality and saw her masterpiece. Her little face immediately turned beet-red
as she hurriedly unstacked the books. “Sorry your highness, I will redo it!”
This appearance of hers was clearly even more adorable, causing the gazes that were looking at Zhou
Yuan to instantly turn much fiercer. If not for Zhou Yuan status as a prince, it was likely that they would
have long rushed out to save their goddess.
Upon sensing their gazes, Zhou Yuan could only shake his head as he whispered, “Now that you’ve
become so pretty, I no longer dare to order you about.”
Su Youwei softly laughed when she heard this and said, “Then I’ll have to smear some dirt on my face in
future to make myself a little uglier.”
Zhou Yuan could only roll his eyes in response.
“Oh, that’s right…” Zhou Yuan pointed at the table as he continued, “How many meridian channels have
you opened so far?”
Su Youwei was slightly taken aback. She glanced at Zhou Yuan, before very cautiously replying, “I’ve
already opened the third meridian channel.”
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She knew that Zhou Yuan seemed to be unable to open his channels and cultivate for some unknown
reason. Thus, she would not voluntarily bring up the topic of opening channels when the two were
together, and never flaunted her progress. She was afraid that this sensitive topic would upset Zhou Yuan.
“The third already. At this rate, all eight channels will be fully opened in one or two years.” Zhou Yuan
sighed in admiration. Su Youwei’s talent in cultivation was obviously extremely outstanding. In less than
a year, she had already accomplished what others had worked years to achieve.
This made him exceptionally pleased. Looks like he had unintentionally picked up a treasure.
“There’s only two more months to this year's newcomer exam, so work hard, try to unblock your fourth
meridian channel, and aim for the top ten. I spent a great deal of effort to secure a slot for you. As long as
you are ranked amongst the top then, you will be able to receive personal guidance from the institute
head and the other instructors. This will be extremely beneficial for you.” said Zhou Yuan.
Su Youwei’s tiny hand suddenly stiffened as she was tidying up the table. She lowered her head and did
not dare to look at Zhou Yuan.
“What is it?” Zhou Yuan was rather puzzled when he sensed this change in her.
Su Youwei’s was practically burying her head in her chest as she replied in a tiny voice, “I, I no longer
have the participation token.”
Zhou Yuan was stunned. Soon after, his eyebrows tightly furrowed as he inquired, “What happened?”
His tone was not stern, but it caused Su Youwei’s heart to beat a little faster. Her pearly white teeth bit
into her red lips, and she did not speak for a long time. Instead, a girl who was rather close to Su Youwei
interjected from the side, “Who else but Xu Lin. A few days ago, he was spreading bad rumours about you
in the institute, causing Youwei to argued with him and demand an apology. That fellow said that he
would apologize if Youwei beat him in a match, but if she lost, she would have to give him her entry
token for the newcomer exam.”
Zhou Yuan’s brows were tightly furrowed. “That Xu Lin has only opened two meridian channels. He
should not have been able to beat Youwei, right?”
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The girl frowned and said, “Youwei only opened her third channel recently, while Xu Lin was also
extremely shameless. He had the advantage of a Genesis weapon, and eventually managed to beat Youwei
by some fluke.”
Zhou Yuan’s expression was rather ugly. He stared at Su Youwei’s lowered head and scolded, “Why did
you not tell me earlier?”
Su Youwei’s fair hands were clasped together as she softly said, “It’s me who is useless, I don’t want to
cause more trouble for your highness.”
Zhou Yuan felt a little sorry when he saw this appearance of hers. The stubbornness of this lass would
really give one a headache at times. Therefore, his cold gaze shifted towards the smilingly watching Xu
Lin inside the lecture hall.
“Setting a trap to bully a girl. Your methods are truly great huh?” Zhou Yuan sneered. This fellow clearly
had his eye on the newcomer exam entry token in Su Youwei’s hands. Thus, he had intentionally goaded
her into using it as a wager.
Xu Lin lazily replied, “I don’t know what your highness is talking about. There are many people who saw
me use my own strength to win. I will not return it even if your highness personally asks.”
Zhou Yuan coldly said, “Do you dare to wager it on another fight?”
Xu Lin chuckled. “Not interested.”
His previous victory had been mere luck. Moreover, Su Youwei had already opened her third meridian
channel, and he would definitely not be her match.
Zhou Yuan icily smiled as his eyes swept towards Xu Lin. “I don’t intend for you to fight Youwei. I’m
saying that you and I will fight!”
As he spoke, he fished out a glowing jade pendant and placed it on the study desk. “If you win, this
Genesis Gathering Jade will be yours.”
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A series of gasps immediately erupted in the hall as numerous gazes looked at the jade pendant with
longing. This Genesis Gathering Jade was very advantageous for cultivation. If worn long enough, it would
be able to increase the rate of opening one’s eight meridian channels. A rather pricey and precious item
indeed.
“Your highness!” Su Youwei was greatly alarmed.
It was not due to the Genesis Gathering Jade, but because Zhou Yuan wanted to personally deal with Xu
Lin. Zhou Yuan had not opened even a single meridian channel, how could he possibly be a match for Xu
Lin who had opened two?
Zhou Yuan waved his hand at Su Youwei to stop. He toyed with the jade pendant as he smiled at Xu Lin in
a mocking manner.
“Do you have the courage to fight now?”
Xu Lin’s eyes were burning with desire as he stared at the Genesis Gathering Jade and licked his lips. He
then coldly chuckled at Zhou Yuan and said, “Since your highness insists on gifting this Genesis Gathering
Jade to me, it will be rude to refuse.”
“However, as the saying goes, fists and feet have no eyes. Please do not blame me if your
highness is injured.”
Although Zhou Yuan’s actions baffled Xu Lin, he did not believe that a person like him, who had opened
two meridian channels, would be unable to defeat someone who had not even opened a single channel!
Zhou Yuan declined to comment and said, “I hope that you are as skilled as you say.”
Xu Lin laughed loudly, believing that Zhou Yuan was merely being sharp-tongued. With a swing of Xu
Lin’s sleeves, he walked out of the hall as laughter tinged with amusement and ridicule continued to
resound from outside.
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“Alright, I will wait for your highness at the practice grounds. I really want to see how your highness will
win back the newcomer exam participation token!”
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Chapter 4 The Power of Genesis Runes
Practice grounds of the Great Zhou Institute.
Many practice platforms stood in the practice grounds, while the numerous youths atop them yelled out
as they exchanged blows. Each punch and kick had the vigour and ferocity of a tiger, a rather imposing
sight. Below the platforms were crowd of spectators who would burst into cheers from time to time.
There was no lack of young and pretty girls amongst the crowds, and their pretty watching eyes made the
boys on the platforms fight with even more enthusiasm, hoping to show off their moves and thus bask in
the limelight.
It evident that this practice grounds was a rather popular location in the Great Zhou Institute.
When Xu Lin lazily walked onto a platform, news of his fight with Zhou Yuan had already been secretly
spread by the former to the entire practice grounds.
“What? His highness Zhou Yuan is going to fight with Xu Lin?!”
“How is that possible! His highness Zhou Yuan has yet to open even his first meridian channel, on the
other hand, Xu Lin had already opened two!”
“This Xu Lin is truly a bully, he surely used some despicable means to force Zhou Yuan.”
“......”
When the many students heard this news, cries of disbelief and surprise immediately erupted. Some of
the commoner students felt that such a fight was really a little too unfair for Zhou Yuan.
For any Channel Opening stage practitioner, the opening of every meridian channel would raise the
innate quality of one’s body. Strength, speed, reflexes etc. far surpassed those who had yet to open their
channels. To put it bluntly, a Channel Opening stage practitioner was able to effortlessly defeat dozens of
cultivators who had yet to open their channels.
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Atop the stage, Xu Lin merely chuckled when he heard these voices. No matter what they said, after today,
his vicious beating of Zhou Yuan would definitely spread to the entire Great Zhou Institute. Such news
would undoubtedly be a blow to Zhou Yuan’s reputation, thus making him a laughing stock.
While these malicious thoughts swirled in Xu Lin’s head, the black mass of a crowd around the practice
platform suddenly split apart. One could only watch as a thin youth slowly walked forward.
This thin youth had a scholarly face and gave off an aura of culture. He looked just like a weak and
delicate scholar.
Naturally, this was Zhou Yuan.
Under the many varied gazes, Zhou Yuan headed straight for the practice platform where Xu Lin was.
“Your highness.” Su Youwei’s little face was somewhat anxious as she followed closely behind him. It was
clear that she still wanted Zhou Yuan to give up on fighting Xu Lin.
Zhou Yuan gently smiled at Su Youwei and said, “I can no longer back off at this point. Or else, I will be
known as the prince who ran away just before the battle.”
Su Youwei’s footstops stopped as she tightly bit into her red lips. She knew that it would indeed be a huge
blow to his reputation.
Su Youwei lifted her pretty face and looked at Xu Lin, who was stop the practice platform. At this very
moment, her eyes slightly narrowed, and seemed to become a little ferocious.
“Your highness, it is my fault for not handling matters properly this time and causing trouble for your
highness. In future, I will no longer be careless nor merciful.” said Su Youwei in a soft voice.
Truth be told, she had lost to Xu Lin previously mainly because she was lacking in ruthlessness.
Otherwise, Xu Lin would not even have the chance to use his Genesis weapon. This lesson allowed her to
understand that if one does not give the snake a fatal blow, one would surely be bitten.
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Zhou Yuan was a little stunned. He blinked at Su Youwei and said, “We are friends. It is only right for a
friend to help settle another’s problems.”
By the time his words faded, he had already stopped onto the practice platform.
Su Youwei smiled a little as she gazed at his back. A warm feeling flowed within her heart. Soon after, her
eyes slightly lowered; she had already made a decision. If Xu Lin dared to hurt Zhou Yuan, she would let
the former know the meaning of a little girl’s grudge and vengeance.
“Oh? Your highness actually dared to come. I had believed that you would secretly run away to the
palace.” Xu Lin mocked with a smile as he watched Zhou Yuan, who had walked to his front.
Zhou Yuan gently arranged his sleeves as he said, “Looks like you are very confident in yourself.”
“I never imagined that even someone like your highness would act so rashly for a pretty girl. This seems
to be rather unwise.” Xu Lin shrugged his shoulders. It was clear that he believed Zhou Yuan’s rash
behaviour was to gain Su Youwei’s favor.
“Let’s begin.” Zhou Yuan had no intentions of continuing this nonsensical bantar. His legs slid away from
each other and seemed to tightly root themselves to the ground like an old tree, before he beckoned to Xu
Lin. “I’ll allow you to attack first.”
The moment these words were said, the numerous youths surrounding the platform looked to each other.
They did not understand what Zhou Yuan was thinking. He was clearly the weaker party, yet he still acted
so wantonly.
“Since your highness cannot wait to be humiliated, I’ll have to oblige.” Being looked down upon by Zhou
Yuan in this manner caused rage to rise in Xu Lin’s heart. With a sneer, his foot powerfully stamped on
the ground, and his body shot out like an arrow. Five fingers were tightly clenched into a fist as a punch
flew towards Zhou Yuan.
Xu Lin’s punch was full of power and accompanied by a stream of air. If it hit a rock, a crack would form.
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Zhou Yuan watched the powerful punch fly towards him and made no movements to dodge. He merely
crossed his arms before him in a defensive posture.
However, when the crowd below say this stance of his, they could not bear to continue watching. With Xu
Lin’s two channel opened body, this punch would likely break Zhou Yuan’s bones.
Under the nervous gazes of the crowd, Xu Lin was akin to fierce tiger. He held nothing back as his
overbearing punch heavily slammed into Zhou Yuan’s arms.
Dong!
A muffled sound rang out. Next, the crowd was unsurprised to see Zhou Yuan’s feet draw two several
meter long trails on the ground before he managed to stabilize his body.
Ah!
A miserable cry erupted.
However, the cry had not erupted from Zhou Yuan but Xu Lin.
Everyone was dumbstruck as they watched this scene. Xu Lin screamed miserably as he hugged his fist.
His fist was entire red, as if it had been smashed onto hard steel.
Xu Lin howled at Zhou Yuan, “You! What did you hide in your sleeves?! Despicable!” Xu Lin was in so
much pain that even tears were about to flow from his eyes.
The surrounding gazes looked towards Zhou Yuan in astonishment. Could his highness have used some
petty trick?
Under the crowd’s apprehensive gazes, Zhou Yuan slowly pulled back his sleeves. Subsequently, the
crowd discovered a complicated rune of light on his arms. The rune emitted faint black light that spread
and covered Zhou Yuan’s arms. At a glance, it seemed as if his skin had turned to incomparably hard black
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metal.
“This…”
Numerous students were shocked as they gazed at this complicated rune. In the end, some suddenly cried
out, “That is the Metal Skin Rune that the lecturer had taught previously!”
A flash of understanding struck everyone. It was a Genesis Rune!
Su Youwei’s tense heart relaxed at this moment. She breathed a sigh of relief as she said, “So his highness
is already able to draw a Genesis Rune on his body.”
Xu Lin came back to his senses as he stared at the black Genesis Runes on Zhou Yuan’s arms and said in
disbelief, “You, you actually drew a Genesis Rune on your body?!”
Although Xu lin had seen Zhou Yuan draw a Metal Skin Rune in the lecture hall previously, it had only
been drawn on a jade tablet. To draw it on the body, one needed to be proficient in the locations of the
acupuncture points and meridian channels of the body. Only then would one be able to prevent the
Genesis Rune from harming the body. Hence, drawing a Genesis Rune on the body was far more
challenging than drawing it on a jade tablet.
Yet, while they were still unable to draw Genesis Runes on jade tablets, Zhou Yuan had already started to
learn and even use it… this gap was not small.
“Did you really believe that I would be powerless just because I have not opened my channels?” said Zhou
Yuan with a smile.
Xu Lin’s face was steely green, and had a look of anger from being toyed with as he coldly said, “Do you
really believe that you will be able to beat me by relying on a Metal Skin Rune?”
“I’ll let you have a good look at the gap between a Channel Opening stage practitioner and one that has
yet to open any channels!”
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“Channel open!”
As Xu Lin roared, faint lines of flowing light emerged around his body. The dust under his feet swept
outwards as Genesis Qi poured into his body in sync with his breathing.
Huu huu.
Even his clothes started to flutter at this moment.
The surface of his skin began to glow, and everyone could feel Xu Lin’s aura rapidly soar at this moment.
The expressions of the many students slightly changed. There was now Genesis Qi flowing within Xu Lin’s
body. Genesis Qi circulating within his meridian channels would undoubtedly cause his power and speed
to rise sharply.
Under the numerous grim gazes of the students, Zhou Yuan stared at Xu Lin as he muttered to himself,
“Opening two channels huh…”
“Since I let you attack first, it is now my turn.”
The instant these words were spoken, Zhou Yuan’s foot had already stamped on the ground as his body
charged straight at Xu Lin.
“Arrogant. Your speed, power and the innate quality of your body is now not even a tenth of my own. You
still dare to attack?” Xu Lin sneered when he saw Zhou Yuan charging towards him.
“Is that so?”
The corners of Zhou Yuan’s mouth seemed to form a smile.
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In the next instant, faint light suddenly surfaced at his ankles, and one could vaguely see runes of light
spreading on them.
Rustle!
Zhou Yuan’s body seemed to become much lighter at this moment, and his speed sharply increased as he
pounced forward like a cheetah.
“That is… that is the Light Body Rune!” Someone with good eyesight immediately cried out when he saw
the light runes on Zhou Yuan’s ankles.
While this cry rang out, Zhou Yuan had already closed in on Xu Lin. With a sudden jerk of the former’s
shoulder, a faint glow emerged from inside his sleeves. Although it was not clear, everyone could clearly
feel that Zhou Yuan’s fist was now filled with rampaging power.
“Rampaging Bull Rune!” Another piercing cry was heard. As Zhou Yuan neared Xu Lin, the former’s arm
suddenly jerked as a faint glow spread from under his clothes. Although it was barely discernible,
everyone could clearly feel the rampaging power that filled Zhou Yuan’s flying fist.
Metal Skin Rune, Light Body Rune, Rampaging Bull Rune!
At this time, even Su Youwei could not help but cover her tiny mouth while disbelief filled her pretty face.
In a short span of several breaths, Zhou Yuan had activated three Genesis Runes in succession.
This also meant that the three Genesis Runes taught by the lecturer had already been mastered by Zhou
Yuan and even used on himself.
Bang!
Under both the watching eyes of the crowd and Xu Lin’s horrified eyes, a fist containing domineering
power had already slammed into Xu Lin’s body in an incomparably swift and violent manner.
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Dong!
With the aid of these three Genesis Runes, the current Zhou Yuan’s speed, power and innate body quality
was clearly not inferior to Xu Lin. Hence, when this punch landed, Xu Lin felt a giant surge of force. His
body was directly blown away, before smashing onto the ground outside the practice arena.
The originally noisy surroundings of the platform turned deathly silent at this moment. Numerous youths
stared at Zhou Yuan in disbelief.
No one could have imagined that the fight would end in such a way.
Atop the platform, Zhou Yuan slowly withdrew his fist. The runes of light on his arms swiftly faded as if
they had used up all their power.
He massaged his wrist, jumped off the platform and fished out a piece of jade from Xu Lin’s clothes. It was
the participation token for the newcomer exam.
“Can’t even beat a person who has yet to open a single meridian channel. It's best that you miss this year's
newcomer exam to avoid losing face.” Zhou Yuan merely smiled in response to Xu Lin’s death stare.
Upon hearing these words, Xu Lin once again felt the mocking gazes around him. A miserable feeling filled
his heart, and he could not help but vomit a mouthful of fresh blood. The scene before his eyes turned to
darkness as he fainted.
He knew that starting tomorrow, he would become the newest laughing stock of the many the Great Zhou
Institute students...
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Chapter 5 Qi Yue and Liu Xi
“Alright, the show is over, everyone can scatter now.” Zhou Yuan tossed and caught the jade piece in his
hand before smiling at the numerous spectators.
Upon hearing his words, the crowd smiled back and left. However, there was an additional trace of
amazement in their gazes when they took one final look at Zhou Yuan before they left. This was because
the fact that Zhou Yuan was unable to open his channels was long known by everyone in the Great Zhou
Institute. Thus, many people believed although this prince of theirs had a high status, he did not have any
power.
However, the scene today made them completely drop this belief.
Zhou Yuan was indeed temporarily unable to open his channels, but he wielded another kind of power;
Genesis Runes. With Genesis Runes, even someone like Xu Lin, who had opened two meridian channels,
was not the former’s match.
In this world, status was admittedly also a kind of power. However, the power that was most easily
acknowledged by others was undoubtedly still one’s own power that had been gained through the
culmination of one’s efforts. Because this kind of power would not be changed by one’s status or position.
“Hey, don’t lose it again alright.” Zhou Yuan tossed the jade piece at Su Youwei who had walked over. A
breeze blew past, causing her uniform to hug her body, accentuating the fine and exquisite curves of a
young lady that could cause one to have rather wild thoughts.
Su Youwei was a little embarrassed as she bit her red lips. Her clear eyes stared at Zhou Yuan as she said,
“Are you okay?”
Girls were after all very attentive. She could see how Zhou Yuan’s hand seemed to tremble slightly.
“Heh heh, you’ve discovered it huh.” Zhou Yuan chuckled. He lifted his hand, and one could see that it was
very red. This had been brought about by the ferocious punch from before.
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“Without any channels opened, the innate quality of the body is after all a little lower.” Zhou Yuan sighed.
Although he had borrowed the powers of the Metal Skin Rune, Light Body Rune and Rampaging Bull Rune
to temporarily boost his strength, speed and toughness of his skin, the interior of his body was still too
weak. A tiny bit of the backlash had invaded his body, causing him to feel rather terrible.
“Instructor has said that there are some Genesis Runes that can temporarily strengthen one’s entire body.
If you manage to learn them, you will not be hurt by the backlash of power.” Su Youwei said after mulling
for a while.
Zhou Yuan nodded. “The grade of such Genesis Runes is not low.”
It was said that Genesis Runes were divided into nine grades. However, the ones Zhou Yuan had used
were only of the elementary level and could not even be considered grade one. Hence, he was not able to
learn such Genesis Runes for the time being.
Su Youwei bit her red lips and said in a worried manner, “Then you’ll have to work hard. In the newcomer
exam next month, unless you are able to draw a grade one Genesis Rune, it is unlikely that you will be
able to achieve the top ten rankings.”
If Zhou Yuan did badly in the newcomer exam, bad rumors would surely spread.
Zhou Yuan massaged his hand as he replied, “Don’t worry, I know what I have to do.”
His eyes slightly narrowed. At this time, he could only hope that the trip to the ancestral grounds two
days later would be able to help him solve the major issue of his eight meridian channels not appearing. If
not, the only thing left would be to invest all of his energy into Genesis Rune study.
It was just that he really could not resign himself to solely studying Genesis Runes.
When Su Youwei saw Zhou Yuan fall silent, she knowingly changed the topic. Her eyes seemed to twist in
thought as she beamed. “Your highness, shall I help you apply some ointment?”
“Forget it, if I accept such a great gesture from a pretty girl, I’m afraid that someone would see and surely
employ some underhanded tactics against me.” Zhou Yuan playfully smiled in response. After all, Su
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Youwei was rather popular in the Great Zhou Institute.
Su Youwei unhappily rolled her eyes at him. “Since you are so timid, I’ll not bother with you any further. I
still have to go to the library to tidy up the books.”
This was a part-time job she had found for herself to earn a little income. After all, her family situation
was not good and she still had a grandfather to care for. Thus, she usually found some work to do in the
Great Zhou Institute during the school term.
Upon hearing this, Zhou Yuan hesitated a little before saying, “There is only a month left till the
newcomer exam, and time is of the essence. I feel that you should spend more time on opening your
meridian channels. If needed, I…”
Zhou Yuan was interrupted before he could finish. He looked towards Su Youwei. The girl’s red lips were
currently slightly pursed as she earnestly stared at him. Her voice was soft and gently, but it contained a
strength that could not be ignored. “You’ve already helped me a lot. You brought me to this place where I
can change my destiny, and I am grateful to you from the bottom of my heart. However… you’ve said
before that we are friends, right?”
Zhou Yuan was taken aback as he gazed at the girl before his eyes. The depths of her glistening eyes
seemed to hide something that would be difficult to sense for an outsider. It was that final shred of
dignity at the bottom of her heart that needed to be preserved.
She knew that as long as she opened her mouth, Zhou Yuan would settle everything that she needed.
However, if that happened, a certain change would occur in her relationship with him.
She had very carefully maintained the relationship between them since the beginning. Zhou Yuan was the
prince of the Great Zhou Empire, a status that was high as could be, while she on the other hand, was a
commoner. The gap between the two was too great, hence it very easily drew the criticism of others.
She was not afraid of such criticism, but she did not want to be looked down upon by Zhou Yuan.
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Therefore, she put in her greatest efforts after she entered the Great Zhou Institute such that she would
be able to become independent. She likewise worked hard in her cultivation to change the large
difference of status between them.
She had been very successful. As the fastest channel opening genius ever since the founding of the Great
Zhou Institute, everyone began to value her talent. So much so that even Zhou Yuan’s father, Zhou Qing,
started to hear of her name.
“Alright then.”
In the fact of the girl’s stubborn gaze, Zhou Yuan was defeated in the end and could only hold up his
hands in surrender as he bitterly smiled, “I will not interfere.”
Su Youwei’s eyes bent into a crescent moon when she heard this. Meanwhile, she secretly breathed a sigh
of relief in her heart. She knew that if Zhou Yuan were to insist, she would not be able to reject. It was
just, that would be a little disappointing.
At the very least, she knew that Zhou Yuan had respected her last bit of dignity till now. His choice to
concede made a glimmer flash in her eyes as her heart filled with a peculiar kind of gratefulness.
“Don’t worry your highness, I will not slack off in my training. I promise you that I will definitely obtain
one of the top ranks in the newcomer exam and enter the A class.” Su Youwei smiled sweetly. Her bright
and beautiful smile was filled with confidence.
There was a dozen classes in the Great Zhou Institute and the A class was naturally the strongest.
Zhou Yuan nodded. He pondered for a moment before suddenly taking out the Genesis Gathering Jade he
had used as a wager in the fight against Xu Lin previously. Subsequently, he lifted Su Youwei’s fair hand
and placed it on her palm.
“Don’t take this wrongly, I am not giving but lending this to you. I have yet to open any meridian channels
and can’t make use of it for now.” Zhou Yuan immediately said when he saw that Su Youwei was about to
reject it.
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When Su Youwei heard Zhou Yuan’s words, she swallowed the words that were about to exit her mouth
before giving him a glare. This fellow, how could he say it in such a manner!
“I’m leaving!” Su Youwei kept the Genesis Gathering Jade and with a soft snort, she brushed past Zhou
Yuan.
“So defiant yet lovable…”
Zhou Yuan watched the graceful and slim figure of the girl as she departed and shook his head. Just as he
was also about to leave, he suddenly sensed something. He raised his head and looked towards a building
in the distance, only to find a figure in white was currently looking back at him with a gaze that was as
sharp as a blade.
“Qi Yue.” As Zhou Yuan gazed at the figure in white, his eyebrows raised slightly.
The figure in white was the heir of Qi Manor, Qi Yue.
A slight smile surfaced on Qi Yue’s face when he felt Zhou Yuan’s gaze as the former cupped his fists
together towards the latter.
Zhou Yuan coldly chuckled in his heart, but maintained a smile as he nodded his head, before turning to
leave.
Atop the building, Qi Yue watched Zhou Yuan’s leaving figure. A playful look emerged on Qi Yue's face as
he mumbled to himself, “I never imagined that his highness would unknowingly attain some proficiency
in the Dao of Genesis Runes…”
A pretty figure walked out behind Qi Yue. It was a tall and slender girl whose looks were also very
beautiful. The only flaw was her slightly thin lips which made her look a little unkind. Compared to Su
Youwei, the former did lack some charm.
She disdainfully glanced in the direction Zhou Yuan had left in as she coldly snorted. “Genesis Runes are
after all a side path. No matter how great one’s attainments, one would still be unable to transform
oneself and there will remain a limit to one’s lifespan. Carelessness might even result in being killed by an
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ordinary person.”
She was known as Liu Xi and her father was a marquis of Great Zhou. People called him Marquis Liu, and
he was naturally one of the big shots. On this topic, there could be said to be some relation of sorts
between Liu Xi and Zhou Yuan.
Several years ago, Zhou Qing became aware of how powerful Qi Manor was growing. To keep them in
check, he planned to place a ‘weight’ on Marquis Liu. Thus, Zhou Qing proposed a marriage between their
factions; he intended for Zhou Yuan and Marquis Liu’s daughter, Liu Xi, to be married and strengthen the
ties between the two clans.
Marquis Liu was somewhat hesitant with regards to Zhou Qing’s proposal. After all, the royal family of
Great Zhou was in decline and the sole successor, Zhou Yuan, was unable to open his meridian channels.
In addition, Marquis Liu was extremely doting on Liu Xi, and thus asked her about her thoughts. Liu Xi
was an extremely proud girl and felt that Zhou Yuan was merely a crippled prince. Hence, she rejected the
proposal without any hesitation, and even spread word that his highness was a toad that wanted to dine
on a swan’s meat. It even became a popular joke back then.
Upon seeing her response, Marquis Liu use it as reason to reject Zhou Qing.
Although this matter had occurred long ago, Liu Xi naturally felt a little uncomfortable in her heart when
she now saw Zhou Yuan, the same Zhou Yuan whom she had once called a toad.
Qi Yue laughed and nodded upon hearing her words. “The highly ranked students partaking in this
newcomer exam have already cast their lot in with me. If our prince Zhou Yuan believes that he will be
able to make it through with just this teensy bit of proficiency in Genesis Runes, I can only make him lose
all face.”
At this point, he paused as his eyes narrowed. “However, that Su Youwei’s talent is indeed astonishing,
and her future prospects are very bright. If there is a chance, we need to do all we can to pull her over to
our side.”
A look of unhappiness flitted across Liu Xi’s face when she heard these words. She frowned and replied,
“She is merely a lowly lass who has opened three meridian channels. If we cannot win her over, we
should find an opportunity to cripple her.”
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Liu Xi’s was of a noble family and was also very talented. In the past, she was undoubtedly the most
dazzling pearl in the Great Zhou Institute. However, ever since Su Youwei’s appearance, the former’s
radiance had been suppressed. This undoubtedly caused Liu Xi to find this commoner girl Su Youwei
extremely distasteful.
Qi Yue was naturally able to hear Liu Xi’s dislike for Su Youwei. He chuckled and did not speak about it.
Instead, he merely stared at Zhou Yuan’s disappearing figure.
“Looks like this Zhou Yuan no longer has any confidence in himself. That is why he intends to support a
genius to rely on in future…”
“Zhou Yuan ah Zhou Yuan. The sacred dragon of the Zhou clan has truly become a crippled dragon.”
“Since that is so, your Zhou clan is going to be done for.”
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Chapter 6 The Ancestral Grounds Shrine
As the sun began its ascent, warm morning sunlight shined down on the City of Great Zhou, brightening
the place.
Great Zhou Royal Palace.
Zhou Yuan had been unable to sleep for the entire night. By the time he rushed to the palace gates, the
imperial guards were already respectfully standing there. The thousand strong imperial guards wore
heavy armour and wielded spears which flickered with cold light. It was a powerful military force.
Zhou Qing sat on a fine fiery-red horse. He smiled as he watched Zhou Yuan hurry over and asked, “Are
you ready?”
Today was Great Zhou’s ancestor offering ceremony.
Zhou Yuan forcefully nodded his head while hope surged in his eyes. He knew that whether or not the
eight meridian channels in his body would surface again, allowing him to begin channel opening
cultivation, would hinge upon this very day.
A guard led another fiery-red steed over. Flames burned at the tip of the horse’s tail, but its head was that
of a ferocious-looking lion.
This creature was known as the Fire Lion-Horse, and was a grade 1 Genesis Beast. It was able to gallop a
thousand miles without rest.
The originally irritable Fire Lion-Horse had long since been tamed. Thus, when Zhou Yuan mounted it, it
merely swung its flaming tail for a moment before calming down again.
Zhou Yuan pulled the horse reins. The youth’s pitch-black pupils seemed to burn as he opened his mouth
and said, “Let’s go father.”
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Zhou Qing chuckled and nodded his head, before waving his hand.
Woooo!
A horn sounded and the thousand-men force swiftly turned into a torrent that engulfed Zhou Qing and
Zhou Wei, protecting them within it. Next, they surged out of the royal palace with rumbling sounds of
movement, travelling along the city streets as they hurried towards the city exit.
...
The Great Zhou royal clan ancestral land was also where the Great Zhou royal tomb was located.
Although the royal tomb was about a hundred miles from Great Zhou city, given their pace, they would
reach their destination in four hours.
Under a lofty green mountain, Zhou Qing and Zhou Yuan got off their horses while the imperial guards
spread out and positioned themselves at the various entry points. Even a bird would be killed if it neared.
“This is where the tomb of our Great Zhou royal clan is located.”
Zhou Qing pointed at the majestic green mountain before their eyes. After being silent for some time, he
slowly said, “Back then, this was where our Zhou clan began and after much hard work, we eventually
created the Great Zhou Empire. I just never imagined that our forefathers’ efforts would be beaten back
to its original shape at my hands.”
Zhou Yuan looked at Zhou Qing’s somewhat dejected face and softly said, “Father should not blame
himself, the Wu clan were scheming and heartless and no one could have predicted that they would plot
for a hundred years. The fault does not lie with father.”
Zhou Qing bitterly laughed. He did not speak any further on the topic and merely walked towards the
stone steps. “Follow me.”
Zhou Yuan nodded and quickly caught up.
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The stone steps led to the peak. There were nine thousand and ninety nine steps which reached straight
into the clouds.
The two wore solemn expressions as they slowly ascended. An incense stick of time later, they finally
reached the peak where a black shrine stood. The shrine was ancient and seemed to have bathed in the
rays of countless moons.
These three mountain ranges snaked along the ground like hidden dragons. They surrounded and
protected the green mountain below Zhou Yuan’s feet like three dragons coiling around a pearl. A
majestic aura seemed to rise spontaneously when one watched them.
“What a powerful presence.” Zhou Yuan praised. Looks like their Zhou clan ancestral grounds had
excellent fengshui*. No wonder they had been able to establish an empire.
Zhou Qing smiled and said, “Luck exists in this world, and this land contains a part of it. The fact that our
Zhou clan was able to rise to power is mostly thanks to the fengshui* of our ancestral land.”
Zhou Yuan pursed his lips and replied, “The land’s fengshui* did play a part, but the greater part was still
due to our forefathers’ efforts. As the saying goes, the universe never stops so the nobleman must
ceaselessly strive. As long as one works hard to improve, there will be a chance to change one’s fortunes
no matter how bad the hand one is dealt.”
“Likewise, regardless of how great one’s hand, the one that reaps what others have sown will always be
in danger of being defeated.”
Although the youth’s voice sounded somewhat immature, the determination that faintly seeped out was
taken note of by Zhou Qing as the smile on his face grew even wider.
“Looks like the bitter experiences over the years were not completely bad.”
Zhou Qing tousled Zhou Yuan’s hair before walking into the shrine. As Zhou Yuan followed, he saw the
many memorial tablets within the large shrine amidst the lingering incense smoke, tablets which
belonged to the forefathers of the Great Zhou royal clan. Under Zhou Qing’s lead, Zhou Yuan offered joss
sticks and bowed at every tablet.
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In the end, Zhou Qing’s steps paused before a memorial tablet at the deepest part of the shrine. This was
the first emperor of their clan that had founded Great Zhou. After Zhou Qing paid his respects, he reached
out and lightly turned the tablet.
Rumble.
A rumbling noise was immediately heard when the tablet was turned. Zhou Yuan watched in
astonishment as as a thick and heavy set of secret stone doors slowly cracked open on the wall behind the
memorial tablet.
The interior of the stone doors were filled with a deep darkness, and appeared rather mysterious.
Zhou Qing’s expression was somewhat complicated as he gazed at the stone doors and said, “Whether or
not you will be able to open your meridian channels and start cultivating will depend on this place.”
Upon hearing this, Zhou Yuan’s expression grew nervous as his fists clenched tightly. No matter how
mature he was, he was after all still a child and was hence unable to maintain his calm before important
matters related to opening his meridian channels.
Zhou Qing glanced at Zhou Yuan before walking past the stone doors. Behind them was a long stone
corridor. Lamps burned on the floor of the corridor, giving the place a dusky lighting.
The two did not speak. Only the faint sound of footsteps filled the corridor.
After walking for about a dozen minutes, Zhou Qing’s and Zhou Yuan’s footsteps finally stopped. They had
reached the end of the corridor, and a vast ancient cavern had appeared before their eyes.
At the end of the cavern stood a stone platform.
Zhou Qing headed straight for the stone platform. Only at this moment did Zhou Yuan discover that the
numerous ancient Genesis Runes were carved onto the surface of the stone platform. These Genesis
Runes formed a certain picture.
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With Zhou Yuan’s current understanding of Genesis Runes, he was completely unable to recognize what
grade these Genesis Runes were. Just vaguely trying to picture them in his mind made his spirit greatly
exhausted, leaving him feeling a little light-headed. Hence, he immediately withdrew his gaze.
“Father…” Zhou Yuan looked towards Zhou Qing. Could the solution to the gordian knot of his missing
eight meridian channels be found here?
Zhou Qing’s expression grew more solemn as he gazed at the ancient Genesis Runes on the stone
platform and said, “A certain secret saying has been passed down in our Zhou clan. It says that a great
destiny is hidden in this secret room that can help our Zhou clan truly flourish for ten thousand years.”
“The key to this great destiny is the blood of our Zhou clan’s successor. However, although every
successive emperor has come here in an attempt to unlock the great destiny with his blood, every single
one of them ultimately failed.”
At this point, he looked towards Zhou Yuan before continuing. “That is why I have brought you here to
see if you are able to unlock this great destiny. If you are successful, solving the problem of your eight
meridian channels should not be hard.”
“Eh?”
Zhou Yuan gazed at the ancient stone platform in amazement. He had evidently never expected that such
a secret saying had been passed down in their Zhou clan.
“Go on.” Zhou Qing said as he patted Zhou Yuan’s shoulders.
Zhou Yuan took in a deep breath. His heart was thumping like a drum, but he still mustered his courage
and walked onto the stone platform before seating himself amongst the many ancient and mysterious
Genesis Runes.
He took out a small sharp knife and gritted his teeth as he moved it across his wrist. Fresh blood
immediately flowed out and spread along the groves of the Genesis Runes.
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In the short span of several breaths, the Genesis Runes on the stone platform had taken on the color of
fresh red blood.
Outside the stone platform, Zhou Qing watched this scene with eyes filled with anxiety as his fist
subconsciously clenched tightly.
As Zhou Yuan felt the flowing fresh blood, his young and somewhat scholarly face instantly turned even
paler. His unwavering gaze was fixed on the complicated Genesis Runes while his heart thunderously
beated.
“Is this my last chance…”
Zhou Yuan tightly gritted his teeth and endured the waves of dizziness that battered at this mind. At this
very moment, the scene of his mother, Qin Yu, vomiting blood once again surfaced before his eyes,
causing waves of piercing pain to spread in his heart.
“For my sake, mother’s health was greatly affected and her lifespan was cut!”
“For me, father lost an arm to king Wu!”
“My destiny was stolen, my sacred dragon root damaged and poison gnaws at my life!”
“Great Zhou is a mess inside while danger lurks outside. We risk being overthrown at any time!”
“Therefore, I want to change all of this. I want to help mother recover her lost lifespan and father regain
his aspirations. I want to ensure that my people no longer have to worry or be afraid. I want to take back
everything that I have lost!”
“... this great destiny is mine!”
Howls abruptly rang out in Zhou Yuan’s heart. In that split second, Zhou Yuan’s body seemed to shake
violently, as if a furious and unresigned dragon roar was echoing from the deepest recesses of his body.
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Buzz buzz!
It was at this very moment that blinding light exploded from the bloodied ancient Genesis Runes. The
light converged like silver water and rapidly swallowed Zhou Yuan.
This sudden turn of events caused Zhou Qing to be stunned. He hastily looked towards Zhou Yuan and
watched in shock as Zhou Yuan vanished into thin air...
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Chapter 7 A Mysterious Place
Blinding light flooded the eyes, followed by a barbaric pulling force. Zhou Yuan was hit by vertigo as if he
had fallen into a whirlpool.
Fortunately, the pulling sensation did not last for long. Zhou Yuan felt a huge force rush towards him and
his body was flung into the air.
Bang!
Zhou Yuan’s body landed heavily on the ground, causing him to eat a mouthful of soil in the process.
However, he was rather quick-witted. Ignoring the pain when he landed, Zhou Yuan swiftly rolled on the
ground, distancing himself from where he had originally landed.
At the same time, the Metal Skin Rune, that had been prepared in advance on his arms, started to flicker
with a faint glow, ready to activate at any moment.
Fortunately, the ambush he had expected did not come, and Zhou Yuan’s tense body gradually relaxed.
Only then did he leisurely inspect the surroundings.
“This is?”
Zhou Yuan was wide-eyed as he looked around him. The cavern had long since disappeared, and in its
place was a quiet and peaceful ancient forest. Giant trees thrust into the sky, while their dense leaves
covered the heavens.
A clear stream flowed by the side, emitting the sounds of running water. It was a tranquil sight.
“What is this place?” Zhou Yuan was completely baffled. He remembered being in the secret cavern inside
the shrine just moments ago. How had he come to this unfamiliar place in the blink of an eye?
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“Strange.” Zhou Yuan frowned slightly as he observed his surroundings. Could it be that the so-called
great destiny was this land?
“But there are no signs of any people.” Zhou Yuan mumbled to himself. As his gaze swept back and forth,
his pupils abruptly shrunk while the expression on his face froze as if he had seen a ghost.
It was because he had just discovered that a beautiful figure had unknowingly appeared under one of the
giant trees to his front.
At closer inspection, it was a girl in green. The girl’s body was slender and she was currently leaning with
her back against the tree trunk as a pair of bright eyes calmly observed him.
When Zhou Yuan’s gaze met her own, an indescribable feeling of numbness spread across his scalp.
However, Zhou Yuan’s mental resilience was after all pretty good, and he very quickly calmed himself. A
smile immediately emerged on his immature face, trying his best to appear harmless, as he cupped his
fists together and said, “Big sis, may I know where this is? I am Zhou Yuan and I did not mean to trespass.
Please forgive me if I have offended you in an manner.”
The girl before his eyes looked to be of similar age to himself. However, a little politeness at such a time
was never a bad thing.
However, the mysterious girl in green did not seem to take any notice of Zhou Yuan’s respectful
mannerisms. Her slim and fair hand pulled back a strand of black hair in front of her forehead, before she
walked towards Zhou Yuan.
When she walked out of the shade, light immediately sprinkled down on her body. As she approached,
Zhou Yuan was finally able to clearly see her, and a look of amazement involuntarily flitted across his
eyes.
The girl had snow-white skin. Her fine black hair was lightly bundled up, while her simple green clothes
outlined her wonderful curves. She had a very exquisite set of facial features. In particular, her bright
eyes seemed to contain a certain aura of mysteriousness, causing them to appear both unpredictable and
distant.
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At this very moment, the girl seemed to tread on shards of sunlight against the backdrop of towering
ancient trees. A gentle breeze blew past and lifted her fringe, allowing one to catch a glimpse of an
extremely ancient rune between her brows, a sight that gave off an aura of indescribable mysteriousness.
This scene was so beautiful that it made Zhou Yuan breathless for a moment.
“Big sis.” Zhou Yuan displayed a smile. Although this scene was breathtaking, he still maintained a little
cautiousness. After all, both this foreign environment and the mysterious girl before him were unknowns.
“Big sis?” The girl in green curled her lips slightly when she heard how Zhou Yuan addressed her as if it
was somewhat amusing.
She inquisitively sized-up Zhou Yuan for a moment before muttering, “Grandpa Hei was right, someone
really came here today.”
“What?” Zhou Yuan was unable to clearly catch what she had said.
However, the girl in green ignored him. She turned around and headed towards the ancient forest. As she
passed by the giant tree from before, the girl called out.
“Tuntun, time to go home.”
Upon hearing the girl in green’s call, Zhou Yuan immediately discovered the small gray creature lying
under the giant tree. The little creature looked like an unremarkable small dog.
“A pet doggy?” Zhou Yuan mumbled.
Ao ao!
As if it had heard Zhou Yuan’s mumbling, the small creature’s hair immediately bristled and it started to
bark at him. However, because its body was too small, the barks from it lacked any destructive power and
instead made it appear rather cute.
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The small creature seemed to have realised that its barking had not intimidated Zhou Yuan. Its tail stood
straight up as it jumped in front of a boulder, before opening its mouth and taking a vicious bite.
Crunch crunch!
As it continued to chomp down in this manner, one could only watch as the boulder rapidly shrank at an
alarming speed. In the short span of several breaths, the boulder had completely disappeared. All of the
hard pieces of rock had been swallowed into the little creature’s tiny stomach.
The expression on Zhou Yuan’s face turned rigid as he secretly gasped. He was a little dumbstruck as he
stared at the little dog-like creature. What exactly was this thing? To think that such a huge boulder
would be devoured in a few bites.
What strong teeth and healthy appetite!
Zhou Yuan wiped away the cold sweat on his head and no longer dared to look at this seemingly plain
little beast. The latter’s teeth had been able to easily chew threw rock, what hope could his frail body
have against it?
No wonder it was called Tuntun*. (Means swallow or devour)
Upon seeing the shock on Zhou Yuan’s face, the little creature called Tuntun happily swung its tail. It
rolled its eyes at him in an extremely human-like manner, before catching up to the girl in green while
still shaking its tail.
When the girl in green walked into the forest, she tilted her head back a little, slightly raising her snow-
white chin at Zhou Yuan.
“Come along if you want to find your great destiny.”
After speaking, she walked into the forest, her pretty figure flashing between the gaps in the trees.
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A contemplative look emerged on Zhou Yuan’s face as he watched the girl in green and small creature
grow smaller and smaller. All of this was very mysterious, and he could not make heads or tails of it. He
was clearly unable to understand why he had come to this foreign place from the stone platform in the
secret cavern of their ancestral shrine.
However, since he was already here, there was obviously no way to back out. After all, he did not plan on
returning empty handed.
Huu.
Zhou Yuan took in a deep breath. Without any further hesitation, he opened his stride and quickly caught
up to the girl and little beast.
A boy, girl and beast travelled within the ancient forest, a lush green forest that was full of life. From time
to time, ferocious beast howls could be heard in the distance. But every time that happened, the little
Tuntun at the girl in green’s side would emit a bark. Although the bark was not loud, the entire forest
seemed to fall silent, as if they were afraid of this small creature.
Zhou Yuan could not help but took another look at the mysterious little beast. The little gray-dog-like
creature seemed to be very special.
It was clear that the girl in green had not intentions of speaking with Zhou Yuan. Hence, Zhou Yuan could
only maintain his silence as he closely followed behind.
They advanced in this manner for an hour, before Zhou Yuan finally sensed the girl in green’s footsteps
come to a stop.
“We’re here.”
The girl’s voice echoed from the front. Zhou Yuan’s heart jumped slightly as he raised his head and
peered at through the greenery of the forest. A clearing had appeared within the forest where a cottage
peacefully stood.
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There were three fences around the cottage. Zhou Yuan’s gaze ultimately paused on a recliner in front of
the cottage where an old man in black was peacefully resting as he gently rocked back and forth.
As if he had sensed Zhou Yuan’s gaze, the old man opened his eyes and looked at the former.
Zhou Yuan’s heart faintly trembled when he saw the old man’s eyes. Those eyes were filled with an
indescribable ancientness, as if they had experienced countless eons.
At the same time, Zhou Yuan was able to feel a thick declining and decaying aura cloaking the old man.
However, the moment their gazes met, Zhou Yuan also felt the sensation of being seen through. It was as
if all of his secrets had been put on display before the old man’s eyes.
“Hehe, a little fellow who possess the sacred dragon blessing has indeed come.” The old man in black
slowly withdrew his gaze as a raspy voice was heard. However, the voice was akin to thunder when they
fell upon Zhou Yuan’s ears.
“However it’s a pity that the sacred dragon blessing has been stolen, and even the sacred dragon root has
been damaged. Oh, is this the Dragon’s Resentment Poison?”
“Tragic, truly tragic.”
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Chapter 8 Searching for the Eight Meridian
Channels
The old man’s voice was undoubtedly akin to a sudden clap of thunder when it landed in Zhou Yuan’s
ears, causing the seas of his heart to churn. All it had taken was a single look for this old man to discover
everything that had happened to him.
The girl in green walked to the old man’s back and glanced at the shocked Zhou Yuan. Tuntun started to
jump with the intent of throwing itself into her arms, but was instead ignored as she picked it up and
offhandedly threw it into a water jar.
Tuntun appeared a little upset, but since it knew of the girl’s obsession with cleanliness, it could only
obediently start to wash itself. It was an exceptionally comical scene.
However, Zhou Yuan was completely indifferent to this amusing scene. All he could do was stare in shock
at the mysterious old man in black. A long while later, his shock finally started to recede as a glimmer of
hope began to shine in its place.
Since this old man was able to discover the problems of his body in a single glance, the former was
definitely no ordinary individual. Perhaps, the predicament of his eight meridians would really be solved
in this place.
Zhou Yuan took in a deep breath, suppressing the intense emotions that were surging in his heart, before
he cupped his hands together and spoke in a respectful manner, “This junior one is known as Zhou Yuan.
Greetings elder.”
The old man nodded and replied, “It is indeed someone from the Zhou clan.”
The old man eyed Zhou Yuan, who seemed to desire to speak. It was as if the old man knew what Zhou
Yuan was thinking in his heart as the former smiled in a strange manner and said, “I know what you’re
thinking. You’re not wrong, I can indeed help you solve your eight meridians problem. However, why
should I help you?”
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Zhou Yuan was taken aback. After some silence, he seemed to consider what to say before he gave his
answer, “Junior neither knows where this place is nor who elder is. However, since my Zhou clan
forefathers left behind a secret cavern that led to this place, elder should have some relation to my Zhou
clan forefathers.”
The old man in black did not comment when he heard this.
By this time, Zhou Yuan had already completely regained his calm. He stared at the old man and slowly
continued, “Given junior’s current state, I have nothing that could possibly move elder. However, I can tell
that elder has likely been… waiting for me, right?”
In the split second that the elder had looked at him earlier, Zhou Yuan was able to ascertain with his
sharp senses that a strange light had flashed in the depths of the old man’s eyes.
The slowly rocking recliner finally slowed to a stop at this moment as the old man’s eyes faintly
narrowed. It was impossible to tell if he was furious or pleased as he stared at Zhou Yuan and said, “Little
child, your words are rather bold. Do you really believe that you have anything that is worth my waiting?”
In response to the old man’s words, Zhou Yuan merely smiled as he shook his head. “I do not know the
answer to this question, but elder might perhaps be aware?”
The old man in black stared at Zhou Yuan with eyes that were filled with
ancientness. Although the former did not give off a terrifying aura, a pressuring feeling had emerged,
causing the entire ancient forest to become deathly silent.
Outside the cottage, the tactful youth wore a slight smile as he looked straight at the old man without any
fear like a newborn calf.
He believed that the secret saying in his Zhou clan was not a shot in the dark. There surely must be a
reason as to why he was able to come here. In addition, he believed in his intuition.
The oppressive feeling akin to billowing thunderclouds lasted for a rather long time until a helpless smile
surfaced on the old man’s expressionless face. He lay on in the recliner and sighed, “Looks like I have
really grown old. Can’t even scare a little baby.”
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Behind the old man in black, the girl in green’s bright eyes swept across Zhou Yuan as her clear voice
sounded in an indifferent manner, “He’s acting. In fact, he’s very afraid.”
“Eh…”
Zhou Yuan’s face turned a little rigid. Soon after, he revealed an awkward smile. His back was indeed
already wet with cold sweat. After all, no matter how calm he was, he could not possibly fully keep his
composure in the face of his only hope.
“Elder…” Zhou Yuan anxiously looked towards the old man.
“Aih.” The old man withdrew his aura, looked towards Zhou Yuan and said, “I can solve the problem of
your eight meridians, however, I have one condition.”
“Condition?” Zhou Yuan was stunned, but he very quickly nodded his head in an earnest manner. “Please
tell me.”
The old man softly sighed, tilted his head and looked at the elegantly standing girl beside him as he slowly
said, “I want you to leave this place with Yaoyao, and protect her.”
“Yaoyao?” Zhou Yuan was stunned once again as he too looked towards the girl in green. This was
evidently her name and was a good match for her
pretty and tender look.
“Grandpa Hei.” The girl in green bit her red lips as a look of unwillingness and resistance was revealed on
her aloof and pretty face.
The old man lightly patted the girl’s hand as he gently said, “Yaoyao, grandpa Hei has something to do and
will have to leave for some time, I cannot continue staying by your side.”
The crystal clear eyes of the girl called Yaoyao dimmed. She looked at Zhou Yuan and softly said,
“Grandpa Hei, he is too weak.”
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An awkward expression filled Zhou Yuan’s face. It was indeed true that he was practically powerless as
someone who had yet to open even a single meridian channel.
The old man could not help but chuckle upon hearing this. His gaze swept over Zhou Yuan as he said,
“Although this kid is weak now, it is hard to say what he will become in future.”
“Grandpa Hei, will I still be able to see you in future?” Yaoyao asked in a low voice. As an intelligent girl,
how could she not sense that the old man’s actions was similar to entrusting her to someone else. It was
evident that he was going to do something extremely dangerous, so dangerous that he might even pay
with his life.
The old man in black did not reply, but instead gently patted Yaoyao’s little hands.
He then turned his head, looking towards Zhou Yuan as he smiled and said, “So how about it?”
A serious expression covered Zhou Yuan’s face. He respectfully bowed to the old man as he slowly said,
“Although I do not have any power now, I can promise elder that if anyone wants to hurt big sis Yaoyao,
he will have to first walk over my corpse.”
Although the youth’s voice sounded rather immature, it had an unquestionable tone that made one raise
one’s brows.
Upon hearing this, a satisfied smile was revealed on the old man’s face.
“Since that is so…” The old man chuckled as he stared at Zhou Yuan and said, “I’ll now solve the problem
of your eight meridian channels…”
Zhou Yuan immediately felt a surge of excitement as he eagerly gazed at the old man in black.
A strange smile emerged from the corners of the old man’s lips when he saw Zhou Yuan’s expectant gaze,
before the former suddenly waved his sleeve.
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Boom!
The earth shook and an enormous crack opened below Zhou Yuan’s feet, forming a deep abyss. With a
single gulp, it swallowed the pale and horrified Zhou Yuan.
Aaahh!
Zhou Yuan’s body frantically fell as a shriek emerged from his mouth. While this happened, a sticky and
viscous black liquid appeared from the darkness and wrapped around his hands and feet.
As the black liquid creeped up inch by inch, an intense pain washed over Zhou Yuan as if the skin of his
body was being melted away.
The most alarming thing was that the black liquid was invading his body through his pores and
destroying the inside of his body. Wherever the black liquid passed, everything; his blood, his flesh, his
channels, were being completely eroded away.
Along with the intense pain, fear invaded Zhou Yuan’s heart and he started to smell the scent of death.
He knew that he would really die if he allowed the black liquid to continue its destruction.
Zhou Yuan frantically struggled, activating the three Genesis Runes he had inscribed on his body without
any hesitation. However, the moment the three Genesis Runes started to glow, the black liquid surged
over and extinguished their light. In the end, even the three runes were wiped away by the black liquid...
Zhou Yuan’s heart turned completely ice-cold when the three runes were utterly destroyed.
The black liquid continued to spread and eventually covered Zhou Yuan’s eyes. Intense pain exploded and
seemed to erode even his eyes as the entire world faded into darkness.
In the darkness, Zhou Yuan could feel the intense pain that originated from inside his body as the black
liquid descended layer by layer.
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The smell of death grew increasingly strong.
This was no illusion. If he was unable to stop the black liquid, he would really die!
“I cannot die in this place!”
“I still need to help mother recover her lifespan! I still need to avenge father for the loss of his arm! And
there is still the sacred dragon blessing that was stolen from me!”
“How can I possibly die here without completing all of that?!”
“I cannot die!”
In the darkness, an angry and unresigned roar echoed in Zhou Yuan’s heart, a roar that contained the
deep desire to live.
Just as death approached, Zhou Yuan mind suddenly sank into his body. In that moment, he was barely
able to discern eight faint meandering paths of light in the deepest depths of his body.
These eight paths of light were akin to eight hidden dragons.
“Are these… the eight meridian channels of cultivation?!”
Zhou Yuan’s heart violently shuddered as he stared at the eight paths of light while comprehension
started to bubble forth within him. These eight paths were the eight meridian channels that had never
revealed themselves since the beginning!
Roar!
It was when death truly approached that they seemed to sense danger and immediately started to slowly
squirm while emitting low dragon roars.
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Buzz!
Dazzling light abruptly exploded from the deepest recesses of Zhou Yuan’s body. As the light unfurled, the
black liquid began to dissipate at a speed which could be detected by the naked eye.
In a short span of several breaths, the darkness had completely withdrawn.
Zhou Yuan’s tightly shut eyes also opened at this moment as bright light once again flooded them. He fell
down on his bottom, sweat flowing down his young face as if he had been fished out from a body of water.
*Pant* *Pant*
Zhou Yuan gasped for breath as his gaze darted all around him. He was currently still in front the cottage,
as if everything from before had been an illusion.
“Was what happened earlier a hallucination?” Zhou Yuan was taken aback.
“What do you think?” An elderly voice was transmitted from his front. The old man in black was currently
faintly smiling as he looked at Zhou Yuan.
Zhou Yuan’s expression fluctuated indeterminately. He had clearly felt how real death had been just
moments ago. He slowly lifted his hand as his pupils abruptly shrank.
He had seen something black stealthily fade away at his fingertips.
It was exactly the same as the black liquid from before.
“It was real?!” Zhou Yuan’s heart shuddered. He was now certain that everything that had happened
previously was real. This old man’s methods were just too unimaginable.
The old man chuckled and said, “Feel the interior of your body.”
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Upon hearing this, Zhou Yuan closed his eyes and concentrated. It was at this same moment that his heart
suddenly thudded like thunder and a look of disbelief emerged on his young and pale face.
It was because he could now clearly sense eight meridian channels in his body. They were akin to hidden
dragons that had flown out from the abyss.
These eight meridian channels were the very same meridian channels that marked the beginning of one’s
cultivation!
Zhou Yuan abruptly opened his eyes that were now filled with surging emotions. He stared at the old man
in black as he spoke in a trembling voice.
“My… my eight meridians have appeared?!”
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Chapter 9 Emergence of the Eight Meridian
Channels
In front of the cottage, the youth’s rather thin-looking face was currently filled with disbelief while
overwhelmed with emotions as his trembling hands touched his body. This feeling of rebirth made even
the mature Zhou Yuan involuntarily grin like a fool.
After all, this was far too important to him.
As he grew older, the other kids had all started to their channel opening cultivation, revealing their
varying aptitudes. Although Zhou Yuan had hid it very well, the depths of his heart was still filled with
envy.
He likewise desired to open his channels, step into the great Dao of Genesis Qi and wield the power that
filled this world.
He had deeply yearned for this day for a very long time.
The old man in black gazed at the emotionally overwhelmed Zhou Yuan as he chuckled and said, “You
were born with eight naturally open meridian channels. Unfortunately, you encountered a disaster at
birth. Sensing the external danger, the eight meridian channels in your body hid in the deepest recesses
of your body as a form of self-defence. That was why your eight meridian channels did not show
themselves even when you reached the normal age where they were suppose to appear.
“Though your eight meridian channels had hidden themselves, they were still able to sense danger. Thus,
the only way to bring them out once again was to place yourself at the doors of death. Only then would
the eight meridians be forced to reveal themselves.”
The eyelids of the old man raised as he continued in an indifferent tone, “Do not believe that the smell of
death from before was fake. If you were unable to rouse the eight meridian channels to protect yourself at
the final moment, you would have died.”
The still emotional Zhou Yuan felt a chill pass through his entire body when he heard this. His face paled
slightly as he dazedly stared at the old man in black. It was clear that Zhou Yuan was recalling the thick
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scent of death from before.
He even had a premonition that if he had roused his meridian channels just a split second later, he would
really have died.
It was obvious that the old man had used an extremely dangerous method to rouse the eight meridian
channels in his body.
The old man in black was all smiles as he asked, “Why? You blame me for not warning you beforehand?”
Zhou Yuan took in a deep breath, shook his head and slowly replied, “ I am willing to take even the
greatest risk as long as I can channel opening training. Hence, it is not important even if I did not know in
advance. I just feel some lingering fear when I recall it.”
Only then did the old man nod his head and speak with some admiration, “Little kid, you may be young,
but your mettle is rather decent.
“However, do not be too happy just because your eight meridian channels have reappeared. Although you
were originally born with naturally open meridian channels, due to the many years of concealment, your
eight meridian channels have once again been blocked and sealed. Therefore, if you want to begin your
cultivation, you will have to first completely unblock your eight meridian channels. Only then will you be
able to cross over from the Channel Opening stage to the Qi Nourishing stage.
“Moreover, unblocking your meridian channels will be even more difficult than normal. This is because
the eight channels in your body had sealed themselves back then to avoid disaster. The hardships you
will face when unblocking your meridian channels will be even greater than those faced by an ordinary
person.” The old man shook his head as he elaborated.
Zhou Yuan frowned slightly upon hearing this, but quickly came to accept it and said, “At the very least, I
now have more hope than before, isn’t that so?”
No matter how bad the current situation was, could it possibly be as bad as before when his eight
meridian channels were nowhere to be found? So what if it was more difficult to unblock or open his
meridian channels? There was now hope, wasn’t that right?
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Behind the old man in black, the girl in green lifted Tuntun out of the water jar and lightly shook it.
Specks of red light emerged from the little creature’s body, drying away all of the water. Only then did she
cradle it on her arms, satisfied.
Her fair hand gently stroke the little creature as she calm gazed at Zhou Yuan. It was obvious that the
latter’s dedication towards channel opening cultivation had surprised her a little.
Yaoyao’s red lips cracked opened slightly as she said in an unemotional voice, “Being incapable of channel
opening cultivation is nothing to be fret about. I too am unable to use Genesis Qi.”
The girl in green clearly belonged to the group of people who were a little more indifferent by nature.
They would not take even a second glance at people or things that they did not care about. Thus, these
words of hers were slightly meant as consolation.
Zhou Yuan was somewhat astonished as he stared at her. To think that this girl in green was also unable
to use Genesis Qi.
“Hehe, due to certain reasons, Yaoyao is indeed unable to utilise Genesis Qi.” The old man in black
chuckled, before he playfully said to Zhou Yuan, “However, don’t belittle her because of this as she has
received all of my teachings with regards to Genesis Runes. Although her age is similar to your own, she
has more than enough attainments in Genesis Runes to become your teacher.”
“Eh?”
Zhou Yuan’s eyes were filled with bewilderment. It was really unexpected that this girl in green would
have such great mastery over Genesis Runes.
“However, you should not undervalue yourself either. Though it is true that you will have great difficulty
in unblocking your meridian channels, as the saying goes, with great effort comes great reward. Thus, the
benefits you will obtain every time you open a meridian channel will be much greater than normal.” said
the old man with a smile.
Zhou Yuan’s eyes brightened slightly. He knew that the innate quality of one’s body would rise every time
a channel was opened. According to the old man in black, he would become much stronger than any
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ordinary person. As such, although unblocking channels would be harder, he was able to accept it.
A thought formed in Zhou Yuan’s head. He suddenly looked towards the old man in black and said in a
seemingly bitter manner, “Elder, although I am now able to begin my channel opening cultivation, my
starting point is already a step behind everyone else. I’m afraid that it will take quite some time before I
am able to reach the stage where I will be able to protect big sis Yaoyao.”
The old man in black seemed to smile as he looked back at Zhou Yuan. “Kid, what exactly do you want to
say?”
Zhou Yuan chuckled and replied, “Why not elder be a good samaritan till the end and bestow a little
destiny onto me?”
The old man before Zhou Yuan was obviously unfathomable. According to Zhou Yuan’s estimates, the old
man’s power had likely already reached an unimaginable level. At the very least, his father Zhou Qing,
could not compare at all.
Usually speaking, given Zhou Yuan’s current status, he would not be able to come into contact with such
an expert. Yet, since he had the fortune to meet this old man, Zhou Yuan naturally intended to make full
use of this opportunity.
This was also a kind of destiny.
The old man in black released a chuckle when he heard Zhou Yuan’s words and said, “Such a crafty kid, to
think that you would be so greedy.”
Zhou Yuan’s keen senses could detect that there was no anger in the old man’s words. Hence, he smiled
and replied, “Is junior’s request not for the sake of better accomplishing the task elder has entrusted me
with? Else if I really encounter some danger, with my small arms and legs, there will be nothing else I can
do but die in front of big sis Yaoyao.”
His seemingly pained appearance together with his immature face did seem somewhat amusing, causing
Yaoyao to involuntarily bend over slightly as her eyes seemed to swirl in thought. This fellow was really
interesting.
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Yaoyao gently stroked Tuntun as her red lips parted slightly, “Grandpa Hei, if you want him to protect me
and not become a burden, I think it will be better to accept his request.”
When Zhou Yuan heard this, he immediately gave her a look of gratitude. However, the girl remained
expressionless as if she had not seen it.
The old man gently stroked his beard as his eyes faintly flickered. He pondered in silence for some time,
before softly sighing in the end. “Yaoyao, you are right. If this kid is too weak, he will instead become an
inconvenience to you.”
The old man in black stared at Zhou Yuan with his seemingly bottomless eyes as he slowly said,
“However, my techniques are not to be passed on to an outsider.”
Zhou Yuan was a smart lad. Upon hearing these words, he immediately went on his knees and
respectfully said, “Disciple Zhou Yuan greets master!”
“Heh, brat, you are indeed quick-witted.” The old man in black clicked his tongue in response to Zhou
Yuan’s swift and direct actions. The former had only showed a slight opening in his words, and this kid
had straightaway acknowledged the old man as his master. As the saying went, when attacked with a
stick, the snake would immediately slither up. This kid was truly skillful at catching an opportunity.
The old man in black shook his head. Soon after, he sighed deeply and said, “Our meeting here can also be
considered destiny of sorts. Although you have come here for my techniques, I will still accept you as my
disciple for the time being.”
Zhou Yuan was overjoyed when he heard this and immediately bowed.
The old man’s eyes became a little gentler when he saw Zhou Yuan meticulously complete the traditional
rites of a disciple and said, “Since you are so willing, I cannot be stingy.”
“Now that your eight meridian channels have emerged, I will teach you a Qi drawing
method.”
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During the Channel Opening stage, the body was incapable of storing Genesis Qi and thus unable to learn
or use any real cultivation techniques. Hence, one could only learn a Qi drawing method. Only when all
eight meridian channels were opened and one reached the Qi Nourishing stage would one be able to truly
master and utilise cultivation techniques.
A faint glow appeared at the old man’s fingertip and there seemed to be tiny words flowing within it.
Subsequently, he suddenly touched Zhou Yuan’s forehead.
Boom!
When the finger touched Zhou Yuan’s forehead, he immediately felt his head start to swell. Next, a huge
amount of information poured in, causing him to become a little dizzy.
However, the dizzy spell passed quickly and Zhou Yuan proceeded to savor the information that had
appeared in his head.
Qi drawing method, Dragon Breathing?
This Qi drawing method was called Dragon Breathing, a name that sounded rather mighty. It was
unknown how effective it would be for cultivation, but it should be rather extraordinary since it was from
the old man in black.
The old man withdrew his finger, stared at Zhou Yuan and smiled, “I have seen the Genesis Runes
inscribed on your body earlier, are you interested in this path?”
Zhou Yuan nodded and earnestly replied, “The path of Genesis Runes is both broad and deep. It cannot be
underestimated.”
He had focused on Genesis Runes for the past two years and was faintly able to tell how formidable the
essence of Genesis Runes was. The path of Genesis Runes was somewhat similar to the butterfly effect.
Using a little power to construct mysterious runes would result in an extremely great force.
It was a pity that Genesis Runes could not allow the body to undergo a metamorphosis. Moreover, due to
its broadness and depth, one would have to invest a great deal of effort in order to attain some
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accomplishment in this path. Hence, the majority of Genesis Masters viewed it as a side path and did not
bother with it too much.
The old man in black nodded his head in approval when he heard Zhou Yuan’s words. “The people of the
world who view Genesis Runes as a side path are ignorant. They dislike it because it is difficult to master,
but what they do not know is that crux of the Dao of Genesis Runes is in the spirit. If mastered, it will
complement the Dao of Genesis Masters.”
Zhou Yuan felt a little proud while the old man in black talked about Genesis Runes. He
knew in his heart that the old man likely had extraordinary attainment in this path.
“I can see that your spirit is full of vigour and is indeed rather suited to Genesis Runes. I will also teach
you a spirit tempering method.”
The old man in black laughed. In the next instant, a bright light suddenly flew out from his eyes and shot
into Zhou Yuan’s eyes.
A loud sound suddenly boomed in Zhou Yuan’s head as if a great bell had been struck as countless ancient
characters circulated in his pupils. In the end, they gradually quietened down as information started to
flow in his mind.
‘Primal Chaos Divine Grindstone Visualisation Method’
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Chapter 10 Tutelage of Destiny
The sound of a loud bell continued to echo in Zhou Yuan’s head for quite some time before gradually
fading away. Amidst this, Zhou Yuan could feel the spirit tempering method, ‘Primal Chaos Divine
Grindstone Visualisation Method’, being branded into his mind.
However, this was not the time savour this new skill. Hence, Zhou Yuan opened his eyes and respectfully
bowed towards the smiling old man in black, “Thank you for this technique master.”
He could faintly feel that both the Qi drawing method and the spirit tempering method were no ordinary
techniques. Although the old man before his eyes was mysterious, he had indeed bestowed a huge
opportunity onto Zhou Yuan.
The old man in black waved his hand. After some hesitation, he suddenly reached into his sleeve and
retrieved a black foot-long brush. The black brush seemed to be made from bronze and was mottled with
bits of coloring, as if it had been marked by the long passage of time. It gave off an antique aura.
However, the black brush appeared to be rather dull and lacked the usual glossy luster as if it had lost its
innate spirit.
The old man in black seemed somewhat reluctant as he held the black brush, but in the end, he still
offered it to Zhou Yuan and said, “Let this be master’s gift to you of our first meeting.”
Zhou Yuan carefully accepted the black brush in a respectful manner. It felt rather weighty when it
entered his hands. As he observed the ancient patterns on the brush, he could faintly feel a kind of
formidable aura.
Zhou Yuan curiously asked, “Is this a Genesis Rune Brush?”
The old man in black replied, “It is both a Genesis Rune Brush and a Genesis Weapon.”
Zhou Yuan was taken aback, feeling a little confused. A Genesis Rune Brush was a unique medium for
inscribing Genesis Runes, while a Genesis Weapon was used for battle. The two described completely
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different things. How could they both be used on a single object?
Moreover, the black brush in his hand looked rather weak. How would it be used to hurt an enemy?
“Heh, looks like it’s been underestimated.” The old man in black could not help but chuckle when he saw
Zhou Yuan’s expression. “The name of this brush is Heavenly Yuan Brush. It was once a Sacred Genesis
Weapon.”
“Sacred Genesis Weapon?!” Zhou Yuan gasped and dumbly stared at the mottled black brush in his hand
with eyes filled with disbelief.
In this world, Genesis Weapons were more or less divided into different grades, namely Normal, Black,
Heaven and Sacred. According to what Zhou Yuan knew, the strongest Genesis Weapon of their Great
Zhou royal clan was the Nine Flames Spear wielded by his father, and it was only an upper tier Black
Genesis Weapon.
The Sacred Genesis Weapons spoken of in legend possessed indescribable power. Power so great that it
could burn mountains and evaporate the seas, a power that people both desired and feared.
Was the seemingly powerless mottled black brush in Zhou Yuan’s hand really a Sacred Genesis Weapon?
“I said that it was once a Sacred Genesis Weapon.” The old man in black softly snorted before continuing,
“This Heavenly Yuan Brush has accompanied me in countless battles. In one of these battles, it was
seriously damaged.”
Only then did Zhou Yuan understand. It was a damaged Sacred Genesis Weapon.
Upon seeing Zhou Yuan’s expression, the old man could not help but unhappily say, “Little brat, do you
really think that I would be so petty and give you a useless piece of rubbish? Although this Heavenly Yuan
Brush was heavily damaged, it is after all a Sacred Genesis Weapon and still retains some remnant
spiritual power. As long as you nourish it consistently, it might gradually recover.”
“Eh?” Zhou Yuan was amazed. To think that this Sacred Genesis Weapon was still able to be saved.
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The old man in black pointed at the black brush and said, “Do you see the nine runes on the brush?”
Zhou Yuan lowered his head, only to discover the faint outline of nine ancient and complicated runes on
the mottled black brush. They had been difficult to see because they
were a little too faded.
“These nine runes represent the power of the Heavenly Yuan Brush. When the day comes that you are
able to light all nine runes, the brush will recover its Sacred Genesis Weapon power.”
“How do I light them?” Zhou Yuan asked with interest. If he could help this Sacred Genesis Weapon regain
its power, it would undoubtedly become a huge aid to himself.
“Hehe, it’s simple. The Heavenly Yuan Brush has a spirit of its own. If you feed it the spirits of Genesis
Beasts, it will gradually regain its power.”
“Of course, the higher the quality of the Genesis Beast spirit, the better the effect.”
“As for how the Heavenly Yuan Brush will become a weapon to do battle with others, you will naturally
find out when you light the first rune.” The old man in black grinned as he explained.
Although Zhou Yuan knew that the recovery of the Heavenly Yuan Brush to the Sacred Genesis Weapon
level would surely not be simple, he still nodded in acknowledgement. The Heavenly Yuan Brush nimbly
spun once at his fingertips as he smiled at the old man in black again and said, “Many thanks to master for
giving me this brush. There is one thing though, till now, this disciple has yet to know of master’s name.”
The old man in black smiled faintly when he heard this and replied, “Cang Yuan. That is master’s name.
Master also has two other disciples, and they can be considered your senior brother disciples. If fate
allows it in future, you might be able to meet them and if not, then let it be.”
After Cang Yuan said these words, he shifted his attention away from Zhou Yuan, turning his head to look
at the girl in green. The latter’s pearly white teeth were gently biting into her moist lips, while her slightly
lowered eyes contained some sadness of their imminent separation.
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She had lived here with Cang Yuan ever since she could remember, and he was undoubtedly her closest
kin. Hence, she still felt rather sad despite her rather indifferent and aloof character.
“Aih, foolish girl. There is no such thing as a banquet that never ends.” Cang Yuan softly sighed. He was
silent for some time, before he suddenly fished out a jade pendant from his clothes. The jade pendant
glowed faintly, and there seemed to be a nine-petal fire lotus burning on it. Every petal was of a different
color.
“Yaoyao, I know that there are many things that you want to ask me, but this is not the time for it. Take it.
If there is a chance in future, you will perhaps come to understand.”
“Besides this, you must be very careful in the event that this jade pendant fire lotus starts to burn,
because they will be about to find you!”
Yaoyao urgently asked, “Who are they? Why are they searching for me?”
Her heart was full of questions. Who were they? Why was it that she had lived here alone with grandpa
Hei as if they were hiding from something.
Cang Yuan was silent. He did not reply Yaoyao’s questions, but merely gently placed the jade pendant in
her hands before looking towards Zhou Yuan and speaking in a deep voice, “Zhou Yuan, you must
remember this at all costs. Do not let Yaoyao undo the seal and use Genesis Qi. Else a calamity will surely
arrive.”
Zhou Yuan was slightly shaken and glanced at the faintly discernible rune of light between Yaoyao’s
brows. It turns out that it was a seal. So it was not that Yaoyao was unable to use Genesis Qi, but because
she had been sealed...
But why?
Zhou Yuan’s was rather puzzled. However, he sensibly chose to not probe any further. Both Cang Yuan
and Yaoyao were undoubtedly full of mystery. There was likely some kind of story behind them.
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In addition, given his current capabilities, he still did not have the qualifications to know such a story.
Zhou Yuan earnestly replied. “Don’t worry master, I will remember.”
Cang Yuan nodded before continuing, “You can seek out Yaoyao if you encounter any problems in your
training in future. After following me for so many years, she has long since learnt everything I know. But
of course, whether you will recieve help or not will depend on her mood.”
Upon hearing this, Zhou Yuan’s eyes seem to brighten slightly as he looked towards the big sis in green.
He had originally been worried about hiccups in his cultivation due to being alone, and would never have
anticipated that this big sis had concealed herself so deeply. Looks like he would need to curry favor with
her in future.
However, the big sis in green was still immersed in her sadness and did not pay any attention to him.
“Both of you should go.”
Cang Yuan patted the girl’s tiny hands as he slowly said.
“Now?” Zhou Yuan was stunned. Was this not a little too quick?
“Leave now!” There was an additional trace of sternness in Cang Yuan’s voice.
Zhou Yuan did not say anything else. He could feel that Cang Yuan was chasing them away and it was
likely that something was about to happen here.
Cang Yuan waved his sleeve and dust started to rise from the ground in front of the cottage as ancient
runes swiftly followed. If one took a closer look, one would discover that these were profound and
mysterious runes.
These runes were exactly the same as the runes on the stone platform from which Zhou Yuan had arrived
from.
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Zhou Yuan saw the look in Cang Yuan’s eyes and swiftly walked forward into the array formed by the
runes. Meanwhile, the girl in green hugged the little creature called Tuntun while she blankly stared at
Cang Yuan.
“Go, there may perhaps still be a day where we will meet again in future.” Cang Yuan waved his hand.
The girl in green’s eyes were slightly tinged with red, but she did not break out into tears in the end.
Instead, she bowed deeply to Cang Yuan before walking into the array and stood beside Zhou Yuan.
Cang Yuan’s finger immediately jabbed at the air when he saw this. Light exploded from the runes and
coverged together, swiftly enveloping both Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao.
“Zhou Yuan, remember the promise you made to master, you must protect her!”
Light flooded the eyes. When space began to distort, Zhou Yuan heard Cang Yuan’s deep voice, a voice
that seemed to contain a slightly pleading tone.
“Don’t worry master! Since I have undertaken your teachings, I will naturally protect her!”
Zhou Yuan closed his eyes and uttered in his heart.
Light blossomed before the cottage as a gale erupted. In the next instant, Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao vanished
into thin air, and only the flickering runes remained. The runes continued to flicker for some time before
being thoroughly extinguished, leaving no traces behind.
Cang Yuan gazed at the spot where the two had disappeared with some melonchany in his eyes as he
softly mumbled, “Zhou clan… it is indeed as that old fellow said, I was still able to take another disciple.
However, what the future holds will depend on his luck and destiny.”
He shook his head as he collected himself, slowly laying back on the chair as he gently started to rock
back and forth.
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The entire place was quiet and peaceful.
It was unknown how long this peace lasted when Cang Yuan suddenly opened his tightly shut eyes and
indifferently stared at the empty space.
Rumble!
A wild clap of thunder suddenly boomed across the area. It seemed as if lightning was pouring down in
the distant sky above, ripping open this domain in an extremely barbaric manner.
The ground started to collapse as patches of forests fell.
“So it has still come in the end.”
Cang Yuan watched the devastation, but his aged face remained expressionless as he mumbled to himself.
“Oh well, these old bones of mine are about to become rusty after recuperating for so many years, it is
indeed time for some exercise…” Cang Yuan grinned before slowly standing up from his chair.
Cang Yuan appeared hunchback, but the moment he stood up, his black robes slowly began to flutter as
an indescribably terrifying aura completely awakened like an angry dragon being roused from a deep
sleep.
Lightning seemed to cover the entire sky as it poured down, and three figures wrapped in lightning
slowly descended from within. When they appeared, three frightening auras unfurled from their bodies
and engulfed the land as if they were high ranking gods.
Their ice-cold gazes were thrown towards Cang Yuan’s far away body.
“Hehe, to think that the almighty emperor Hei will hide like a rat for so many years. Truly a tale that
brings tears to the eye…” An emotionless voice descended from the heavens. As it spread, the domain
began to show signs of rapidly falling apart.
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“Hand her over! Or this place will become your grave today!”
A mocking smile formed on Cang Yuan’s face when he heard the cold voice, and a thunderous laughter
echoed in response.
“Haha, come, come, come. I really want to see exactly whose grave this place will be today!”
Cang Yuan took a step forward and his clothes immediately disintegrated, revealing a thin and withered
body. This body was inscribed with numerous complicated ancient runes, every rune pulsing with
terrible power.
Buzz!
Blinding light erupted from the runes at this moment. The light was akin to the steadily rising scorching
sun, while Cang Yuan’s originally withered body suddenly started to swell.
In the short span of several breaths, a giant now towered on the ground as a torrential and tyrannical
aura unfurled.
He roared at the heavens, the wave of sound devastating the surroundings. In the next instance, his foot
stamped on the ground and a titanic body shot upwards, slamming into the endless sea of lightning that
descended from the sky with a loud bang.
Boom boom boom!
It was at this very moment that the entire domain started to fall apart.
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Chapter 11 King Qi’s Appetite
In a dusky cavern, light suddenly started to gather above a stone platform. Space vibrated as two figures
emerged from the light.
Zhou Yuan’s head was in a daze after once again experiencing the transfer. He massaged his forehead,
trying to alleviate the discomfort.
“Yuan’er?”
A happy and surprised voice could be heard from the front when the light scattered. Zhou Yuan raised his
head and saw Zhou Qing joyfully looking at him from in front of the stone platform.
Zhou Yuan smiled and said, “Father.”
“You really gave me a huge scare you stinking brat!” Zhou Qing’s eyes were filled with impatience as he
quickly walked forward. More than half a day prior, he had seen Zhou Yuan disappear on the stone
platform. That sight had alarmed him greatly and caused him to be at a loss.
When Zhou Yuan saw Zhou Qing’s expression, he understood that Zhou Qing had likely been worrying
himself to death here and felt somewhat sorry. Zhou Yuan scratched his head and promptly said, “Father,
my eight meridian channels have appeared!”
“What?!”
Zhou Qing’s body jerked as his hand hastily slapped onto Zhou Yuan’s shoulder. A stream of Genesis Qi
entered Zhou Yuan’s body to probe.
The outcome was known to Zhou Qing several breaths later as his hand involuntarily started to tremble.
He was overwhelmed with emotion as he heavily patted Zhou Yuan’s shoulders.
“Good, great, excellent. It is truly a blessing from our forefathers. The heavens have not closed their doors
to our Zhou clan!” Zhou Qing’s voice was slightly trembling, and his eyes had become moist. It was easy to
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imagine how emotional he currently was.
Zhou Yuan’s inability to begin channel opening cultivation had been a thorn in Zhou Qing’s heart. He had
felt that it was because of his powerlessness as a father back then that Zhou Yuan’s destiny would be
stolen by king Wu at birth, causing him to be in this miserable state.
Zhou Qing had seeked out every method, but none of them could find Zhou Yuan’s channels. Hence, Zhou
Qing could only place his final hope on the secret saying that had been passed down in their Zhou clan.
And now, it looked like the heavens was still looking after their Zhou clan.
A warm feeling flowed in Zhou Yuan’s heart when he saw such a look on the usually calm and dignified
Zhou Qing. The former reached out his arms and lightly patted Zhou Qing’s wide back as he gently smiled
and said, “Don’t worry father, we will make sure to take back everything our Zhou clan has lost!”
Zhou Qing collected himself a little as he forcefully nodded. It was at this same moment that he looked
behind Zhou Yuan and saw the girl in green standing there hugging a little gray creature, while her bright
eyes coolly watched them.
“Yuan’er?” Zhou Qing at a complete loss as he looked towards Zhou Yuan. It was obvious that he did not
know why Zhou Yuan would return with a mysterious girl.
Upon seeing this, Zhou Yuan started to describe everything he had seen and what had happened in the
mysterious domain.
After listening, Zhou Qing was silent for some time before he spoke, “Since our Zhou clan forefathers left
behind such a secret saying, they must have some relation to the elder in black. Moreover, having
received his gifts and blessings, you must naturally accomplish the task he left to you.”
Having said this, Zhou Qing revealed a warm smile to the girl in green and said, “Little miss, if you have
nowhere to go, you can stay in Great Zhou. We will definitely ensure your safety here.”
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Yaoyao’s small head lightly nodded when she heard this as her soft yet indifferent voice sounded, “I’ll
have to trouble you then.”
“It’s no trouble, no trouble at all.” Zhou Qing smiled as he waved his hand, before he turned to Zhou Yuan
and said, “Since your problem has already been solved, let us prepare to return to Great Zhou city. Your
mother has been waiting for news of you all this time.”
Zhou Yuan nodded. Likewise, he really wanted to tell this good news to Qin Yu.
The trio followed the secret passage out of the cavern and walked out of the shrine on the summit of the
mountain.
Zhou Qing went ahead to instruct the imperial guards to get ready while Yaoyao hugged Tuntun as she
stood at the edge of the cliff. Her pretty eyes were a little blank as she observed this foreign land.
A breeze brushed at her clothes, outlining her exquisite curves while also making the girl look rather
lonely and distant. There was only Tuntun in her arms making small noises to console her.
Zhou Yuan walked to Yaoyao’s side and softly said, “Big sister Yaoyao, you don’t need to worry. Master
possess great powers and will be alright. We will definitely see him again in future.”
He knew that no matter how much calmness and indifference Yaoyao displayed, there would still be some
unease in such a foreign place.
Yaoyao glanced at him and said in a small voice, “I know that grandpa Hei chased me away because
formidable enemies were coming.”
“These foes came for me, and grandpa Hei stopped them for me.”
Although Cang Yuan had never spoken of these matters to her, she was keenly able to
sense that these disasters had been drawn to them because of her.
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Zhou Yuan scratched his head. He did not know the identities and background of these two individuals.
Thus, he was unaware of the story that was hidden here.
Zhou Yuan slowly said, “Big sis Yaoyao, perhaps it is as you say. However, I feel that the current you
should not blame yourself, else, you will have betrayed master’s efforts, and everything that he has done
will lose its value.”
Yaoyao’s fair hand gently stroked Tuntun’s soft fur as she gazed into the distance. Soon after, she showed
a light-hearted smile to Zhou Yuan and nodded. “Relax, I am not that kind of person. I will make sure to
get to the bottom of this matter in future. When that time comes, if anything happens to grandpa Hei, I
will definitely avenge him. Not a single one of those people will be able to escape.”
Her calm and cool voice contained an iciness that made Zhou Yuan tremble a little.
This big sis looked like a little fairy, but when she became serious, it appeared that she would be able to
kill decisively.
Great Zhou royal palace.
The moment Qin Yu came to know of the news, she immediately hugged Zhou Yuan on the spot as she
cried, causing him to feel both touched and helpless.
Zhou Qing helplessly said from the side, “Alright, alright. Yuan’er being able to cultivate is good news,
there is no need to weep so much.”
“Don’t tell me that you did not cry?” Qin Yu wiped her eyes and glared at Zhou Qing.
Zhou Qing awkwardly rubbed his nose. He had likewise been on the brink of tears when he sensed Zhou
Yuan’s eight meridian channels in the cavern. However, these tears had been forcibly suppressed in the
end.
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Zhou Qing did not dare to speak any more and hastily changed the topic. “First help make arrangements
for Yaoyao.”
Only then did Qin Yu realise that there was someone else watching from the side. She was somewhat
embarrassed as she wiped away her tears and revealed a warm and gentle smile to Yaoyao. “Yaoyao, you
do not need to care about other things while staying here. We will definitely ensure that you will not face
even the slightest mistreatment.”
Qin Yu was extremely affectionate to Yaoyao. Although it was mostly out of gratitude for helping Zhou
Yuan, it was evident that she rather liked this girl. After all, anyone who saw such a pretty girl would
definitely be fond of her.
Yaoyao was a little unaccustomed to Qin Yu’s warmness. She had after all lived with Cang Yuan in that
isolated domain since young and had practically zero contact with any outsiders. Moreover, she was aloof
by nature and was not good at communicating with others.
However, she could feel the sincerity and gratitude from Qin Yu’s heart. Therefore, she was not overly
resistant and merely glanced at Zhou Yuan before allowing Qin Yu to drag her away.
While Qin Yu led Yaoyao away, Zhou Qing and Zhou Yuan exchanged a look and helplessly chuckled.
“Your majesty, headmaster Chu seeks an audience!” An imperial guard reported at this moment.
Headmaster Chu was the headmaster of Great Zhou Institute, Chu Tianyang, while also an important
general under Zhou Qing.
“Let him in.” Zhou Qing nodded before looking towards Zhou Yuan, who was about to leave, and said,
“Stay. In any case, you are the prince of Great Zhou and should know of certain matters.”
Zhou Yuan was slightly stunned. He did not reply but nodded his head in acknowledgement.
A well-built figure walked in from outside the great doors of the inner palace. It was a middle-aged man
wearing a purple jacket. He had a determined-looking face and wind seemed to accompany his steps with
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‘whoo whoo’ noises.
“Greetings your majesty.” The middle-aged man wearing a purple jacket bowed as he cupped his fists
together towards Zhou Qing, before he looked towards Zhou Yuan by the side and nodded with a smile,
“Headmaster.” Zhou Yuan did not dare to be the neglectful. Chu Tianyang was an important official who
had father’s deep trust and was also his right-hand man. In addition, he was the headmaster of the Great
Zhou Institute.
Zhou Qing waved his hand and smiled. “What is the matter?”
After hearing this, Chu Tianyang first glanced at Zhou Yuan.
Zhou Qing chuckled. “There is no problem. Let him hear it.”
Chu Tianyang nodded. He had a bitter smile on his face as he sighed and said, “Your majesty, Xu Hong is
currently eyeing my position as headmaster.”
Zhou Yuan’s heart shivered a little. Xu Hong was the current deputy-head of the Great Zhou Institute.
However, he was on king Qi’s side and blindly followed the latter. He often payed lip service to the Great
Zhou royal clan while opposing them in secret.
Zhou Yuan knew that king Qi had desired the Great Zhou Institute for a long time and wanted to take
control of it. Thus, he had secretly tried to sink his claws into the institute and Xu Hong’s current position
had been arranged by him through various means in an attempt to seize the position of headmaster.
“Your majesty, according to the information I have secretly obtained, that little prince Qi Yue has use an
extremely high price to continuously coerce or entice the outstanding students that emerge in the Great
Zhou Institute.”
“In this year's newcomer exam alone, more than half of the students that are able to enter the top ten
have been drawn to his side.
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“Moreover, once these students pass the newcomer exam, they will chose to enter Xu Hong’s B class. After
the newcomer exam comes the class ranking exam. In the past two years, the quality of the B class
students on a whole has been higher than my A class, and they have already obtained first place in the
class ranking exam twice. If they are allowed to succeed again this time, Xu Hong will take the
opportunity to rise up and seize the position of headmaster.”
Back when Zhou Qing established the Great Zhou Institute, to motivate the various classes, he had created
the rule that any class master that was able to take first place in the class ranking exam for three years in
a row would be able to run for the headmaster position.
Chu Tianyang’s A class was originally the strongest, but due to Xu Hong’s subsequent emergence and king
Qi’s strong financial support to continuously draw the outstanding students to their side, the originally
strongest A class had been suppressed by B class for the past two years.
It was evident that Xu Hong’s target was the headmaster position. Once he became headmaster, the Great
Zhou Institute would likely fall into king Qi’s hands and the flow of talented individuals would be taken
away by the latter. For the royal clan, this was practically cutting off their flesh.
Most importantly, if king Qi was allowed to get away with this, it would result in the many factions on the
sidelines thinking the royal clan was in the decline and no longer able to contest with king Qi. It would be
devastating if these factions chose to cast their lot in with the latter.
Zhou Yuan’s brows were tightly furrowed as he looked towards Zhou Qing. The latter’s eyebrows were
currently twitching a little. A long while later, a dark voice was slowly spat out from between his teeth.
“This king Qi truly has a huge appetite!”
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Chapter 12 Genesis Food
The atmosphere in the inner palace was somewhat stifling. Zhou Qing’s expression was dark while
murder surged in his eyes. It was clear that he was now full of killing intent due to king Qi’s actions.
However, Zhou Qing ultimately gritted his teeth and restraint his killing intent. This was because the
current king Qi was also very powerful. Moreover, the Great Wu Empire secretly supported him. If Zhou
Qing was to openly declare war, even if he won, their Great Zhou’s many years of recovery would be
wasted. When that happened, the internal troubles and outside hostility facing Great Zhou would cause it
to be wiped out.
King Qi needed to be eliminated, but this had to be done step by step. The current Great Zhou could not
afford too much turmoil.
Zhou Qing deeply breathed in and slowly said, “There is still half a year to the class ranking exam. Who
has the best chance of obtaining the top rank this time?”
Chu Tianyang was silent for a while before he replied, “There are indeed some pretty good saplings
amongst this batch of students, but I’m afraid that the most outstanding one is B class’ Qi Yue. He has
already opened his sixth meridian channel.”
“Qi Yue…” It was impossible to tell whether Zhou Qing was angry or happy as he said in a low voice, “King
Qi’s two sons are truly talented.”
Qi Yue was the second of king Qi’s two sons.
“So it looks like first place will land in Qi Yue’s hands?”
Chu Tianyang mumbled to himself a little after hearing this before he replied, “That might not be the case.
Our Great Zhou Institute still has a genius that is even more outstanding than Qi Yue. If she enters the A
class, there might be a possibility of contesting against Qi Yue half a year later.”
“Oh?” Zhou Qing was slightly taken aback. A student that was even more talented than Qi
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Yue in the Great Zhou Institute?
Chu Tianyang chuckled before looking to Zhou Yuan as he grinned and said, “Could your majesty have
forgotten his highness little girlfriend, Su Youwei?”
Zhou Yuan was somewhat embarrassed by Chu Tianyang’s teasing laughter. The former’s face was
slightly red as he replied, “Youwei is a friend, not a girlfriend!”
Zhou Qing also understood at this moment and suddenly said, “You mean the little lass that Yuan’er
recommended into the institute right?”
Chu Tianyang nodded and said, “Yes, she is called Su Youwei. However, she has already opened her third
meridian channel. Although she entered the institute a little later than usual,
she will surely be able to take one of the top spots in this year's newcomer exam.”
Zhou Qing exclaimed in surprise. “Already opened her third meridian channel?” This speed was indeed
rather quick. At this rate, she might open all eight meridian channels in a year and reach the Qi
Nourishing stage.
The little lass called Su Youwei was indeed rather talented and her prospects practically limitless.
“Looks like Yuan’er has unearthed a genius for Great Zhou.” Zhou Qing smiled at Zhou Yuan.
Chu Tianyang also smiled. Soon after however, he said in a somewhat worried manner, “But according to
the information I have gathered, Qi Yue has come into contact with Su Youwei in hopes of drawing her
over to their side. If he succeeds, I’m afraid that Su Youwei will join the B class after the newcomer exam.”
He then looked towards Zhou Yuan as he smiled and said, “Hence, another reason why I came here was to
ask for your highness help. At the minimum, I hope that you can help our A class get a stable hold on Su
Youwei.”
Zhou Yuan’s eyes suddenly became a little more imposing upon hearing this. To think that Qi Yue would
actually dare to target Youwei. Zhou Yuan fairly trusted Su Youwei, and felt that Qi Yue could not possibly
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entice her to their side, but he was worried that Qi Yue would try to hinder her.
“Don’t worry your highness, I have long since sent people to secretly protect Su Youwei. She will not be
hurt.” Said Chu Tianyang with a smile as if he knew what Zhou Yuan was thinking.
Only then did Zhou Yuan breath a small sigh of relief before he lightly nodded. “Headmaster also does not
need to worry. After the newcomer exam, Su Youwei and I will join the A class.”
Only then did Chu Tianyang nod as he smiled and said, “As long as your highness can bring Su Youwei
into the A class, I will bend the rules and also allow your highness in.”
According to the rules, only the top ten individuals had the qualifications to enter the A class. Despite
Zhou Yuan’s bit of skill in Genesis Runes, it was likely that he would still be unable to rank amongst the
top ten given that he had yet to open even a single meridian channel. Thus, from Chu Tianyang’s point of
view, Zhou Yuan needed certain special procedures in order to enter the A class.
Zhou Qing could not help but laugh as he remarked, “To make a stickler to the rules like you make such a
concession, looks like you think very highly of Su Youwei.”
Zhou Yuan also smiled as he looked at Chu Tianyang. “It is Youwei’s fortune to be so highly appraised by
headmaster. As for me, there is no need to make things difficult for headmaster with regards to opening a
backdoor for me. I will do my best to take one of the top ten spots in the newcomer exam.”
If it was before, where he was unable to open his meridian channels, Zhou Yuan would perhaps have no
better option than to rely on Genesis Runes. But now that his eight meridian channels had appeared, he
could formally begin his channel opening training and was naturally no longer worried that he would not
be able to catch up to those people.
Chu Tianyang was under the impression that the young Zhou Yuan wanted to maintain his dignity when
he heard this reply. Hence, Chu Tianyang planned to persuade the latter again.
“Hehe, let him try.” Zhou Qing waved his hand at Chu Tianyang while chuckling. “Yuan’er’s eight meridian
channels have emerged and can formally begin his cultivation training.”
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Chu Tianyang was initially stunned by these words. Happiness involuntarily surged on his face as he
cupped his fists together and said, “So that’s why. Then I’ll have to congratulate your majesty and your
highness.”
It was only now that he understood why Zhou Qing was so cheerful today. The cultivation problem that
had plagued Zhou Yuan for many years had finally been resolved.
“My A class awaits your highness’ grand arrival. Hehe, your highness will perhaps even be able to achieve
some glory for my A class in the class ranking exam in half a year.”
Of course, these words of his were mostly flattery. After all, from his point of view, although Zhou Yuan
was able to begin channel opening cultivation, his starting point was still rather late compared to others.
At the very least, it was likely that he would not be able to contest against the Great Zhou Institute’s top
students in the a short period of half a year.”
Chu Tianyang was clearly much more at ease after confirming the matter of Su Youwei. After discussing
some matters with Zhou Qing, the former bid his goodbyes and left.
Seeing that Chu Tianyang had left, Zhou Qing turned to Zhou Yuan and said, “Now that your eight
meridian channels have appeared, prepare to begin your training tomorrow.”
“Alright!”
Zhou Yuan nodded. Though his thin and immature face was calm, his eyes burned with impatience. He
could not wait to get started.
...
The next day.
Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao carrying Tuntun sat on the left side of a table, while Zhou Qing and Qin Yu sat on
the right.
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On the table was a porcelain bowl the size of a washbasin. It was filled with a brown soup-like liquid
which faintly glimmered with small specks of light. A strong fragrance rose from the bowl and a single
breath of it made one’s face flush red.
Zhou Qing smiled at Zhou Yuan and explained, “This is the Nine Beast Soup and is made from nine types
of tier 1 Genesis Beasts. The ingredients neutralize each other and it is a great supplement to a beginner
practitioner like yourself. The past you was unable to open your meridian channels and thus could not
drink this as your body might not be able to take it. But now, you can.”
Zhou Yuan nodded. He knew that this Nine Beast Soup was their royal clan’s secret recipe and a single
bowl was worth a fortune. Ordinary clans would likely not be able to afford it even with half a year of
earnings.
This was the so-called cultivation resource.
“Besides this, you shall no longer eat normal rice.” With a wave of Zhou Qing’s hand, a servant girl
brought in a silver bowl. It was a bowl of rice.
However, this rice was sparkled like crystal. Every grain was equally plump, while mystical patterns were
barely discernible on the each one. The rice emitted extremely gentle Genesis Qi undulations.
“This is the Mysterious Crystal Rice, a grade 2 Genesis Food. It contains extremely pure and gentle
Genesis Qi that is easy to absorb. If eaten in the long run, it will help speed up the rate of opening one’s
meridian channels.”
“So this is Mysterious Crystal Rice…” Zhou Yuan curiously observed the bowl of crystal-like rice. He had
long heard of this dish because it was practically considered Great Zhou’s strategic resource.
The medicinal effect of this Mysterious Crystal Rice was was perhaps incomparable to the earlier Nine
Beast Soup. However, the Mysterious Crystal Rice had the advantage of being gentle in nature and
consuming it in the long run would better the quality of one’s body, hence speeding up the rate of channel
opening.
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Thus, the cultivation method for the Mysterious Crystal Rice was controlled by the royal clan and was
used to both reward those who did good service and win over the hearts of the people.
Hence, though it was only a grade 2 Genesis Food, due to certain special reasons, its true value was
difficult to put in words.
Zhou Qing could not help but chuckle as he watched the excited Zhou Yuan. Zhou Qing knew that the
Zhou Yuan of the past coveted this Mysterious Crystal Rice, but because his eight meridian channels had
never appeared, he was unable to consume and utilise it.
“Our Great Zhou royal storage room originally had an extremely potent grade 4 Genesis Food, ‘Blood
Rain-Dragon Barley’. Long term consumption would strengthen one’s physical body and cause Blood
Rain-Dragon scales to grow. These scales possess great defensive power.” Said Zhou Qing with a sigh.
“Grade 4 Genesis Food, Blood Rain-Dragon Barley?” Zhou Yuan licked his lips. With the knowledge of how
awesome the grade 2 Mysterious Crystal Rice was already, just how crazy would that grade 4 Blood Rain-
Dragon Barley be?
Zhou Qing nodded in acknowledgement. Soon after however, his expression dimmed as he said, “It’s a
pity that these strategic treasures of our Great Zhou royal storage were taken by king Wu during the
chaos caused by Great Wu back then.”
Zhou Yuan was initially stunned before he involuntarily gritted his teeth. This wretched king Wu had
really cleaned out the treasures that originally belonged to Great Zhou.
Zhou Qing regained control of his feelings and said to Zhou Yuan, “Eat these first then prepare to start
training.”
Zhou Yuan forcefully nodded. Although king Wu was loathsome, what Zhou Yuan needed to do now was
to eat and work hard in his cultivation. Only when he became strong would he be able to take back what
Great Zhou had lost.
A bowl of Nine Beast Soup and Mysterious Crystal Rice were similarly placed in front of Yaoyao.
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“Yaoyao, you can try if these are to your liking. If you like them, they will be also be prepared for you in
future.” Qin Yu smiled warmly as she looked at Yaoyao.
Yaoyao could feel Qin Yu’s kindness and lightly nodded in response before she drank a mouthful of Nine
Beast Soup. However, it seemed that she was not too interested in the highly nutritious beast soup but
instead lifted the bowl of Mysterious Crystal Rice and ate one small mouthful at a time.
“Woo.”
Tuntun anxiously gazed at her from her lap, wagging its tail as it emitted pitiful-sounding ‘woo woo’
noises.
Yaoyao glanced at it and brought the Nine Beast Soup over to it after some thought.
Upon seeing this, Zhou Qing smiled and said, “Eh Yaoyao. The medicinal properties of the Nine Beast Soup
is too strong. Ordinary pets cannot drink it…”
Ao!
However, before he could finish his sentence, Tuntun had already widened its mouth and swallowed the
soup together with the bowl in a single gulp.
After wolfing down the Nine Beast Soup, Tuntun let out a belch. Its patted its stomach with its paw while
its eyes narrowed as if it was not sufficient.
Zhou Qing was astonished as he looked at the perfectly fine Tuntun.
“Father, Tuntun is a special creature.” Zhou Yuan could not help but grin after seeing this scene.
Tuntun could easily finish off a boulder in two to three bites, let alone a bowl of Nine Beast Soup.
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Zhou Qing could only show a forced smile as he nodded before he picked up a jade bottle at his side and
pour himself a cup of jadeite-color alcohol, causing the strong fragrance of alcohol to spread.
The smell of alcohol spread, causing the eyebrows of the silently eating Yaoyao to suddenly raise slightly
as her clear and bright eyes looked towards Zhou Qing.
“May I have some of that?” Zhou Yuan and Qin Yu stared at Yaoyao in shock. It was the first time that a
strong look of desire had appeared on her usually emotionless face.
Zhou Qing was also taken aback. In particular, he felt even more awkward when he saw the gaze of
reproach Qin Yu threw at him for absentmindedly drinking in front of the children as he said, “This is
Jadeite Brew. It is a strong alcoholic drink and not suitable for a young lady.”
However, Yaoyao continued to stare at him with bright and clear eyes, causing Zhou Qing to let out a
bitter laugh before he signalled for a servant girl to place a bottle of Jadeite Brew in front of Yaoyao.
Yaoyao raised the wine bottle and tilted her head slightly, revealing slender swan-white neck, before she
directly took a huge mouthful of the alcohol. A crimson flush immediately arose on her pretty jade-like
face.
“Good.” Yaoyao released a soft laughter, a laughter akin to the chime of a silver bell.
Qin Yu glared at Zhou Qing, causing him to rub his nose and drink his alcohol in a slightly depressed
manner. He would never have imagined that this mysterious girl, who always wore an uninterested look,
would be fond of drinking.
By the side, Zhou Yuan seemed to be full of interest. When Yaoyao drank, she undoubtedly appeared even
more breathtaking and full of life.
After downing an entire bottle of Jadeite Brew, Yaoyao’s clear eyes had become a little more watery. With
a soft chuckle, she reached into her sleeve as a flash of light shot out and landed before Qin Yu.
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Yaoyao smiled and said, “Auntie Qin, I can tell that your weak aura is most probably due to poor health.
This little gift shall be my payment for the alcohol.”
The light gradually receded and transformed into a green palm-sized lotus. Eight lotus seeds flickered
with green light within the flower like a jade masterpiece.
“This is?” Qin Yu blankly gazed at the green lotus.
Zhou Qing’s expression subconsciously changed as he said in astonishment, “Those are Green Jade Lotus
Seeds, a rare Genesis resource. It has lifeforce nursing properties and also moisturizes the body.”
With a complicated expression, Zhou Qing continued, “This item is enormously beneficial to you. Your
body is too weak and these Green Jade Lotus Seeds will be able to help you stop the loss of life energy.”
These Green Jade Lotus Seeds were very rare and an uncommon sight even in their Great Zhou royal
treasury.
Qin Yu hurriedly shook her head upon hearing this. “Yaoyao, a bottle of Jadeite Brew is not worth so
much.”
Yaoyao merely pursed her lips and smiled before carrying Tuntun and leisurely walking away, leaving
three wide-eyed people at the table.
Zhou Yuan scratched his head and said, “Accept it mother, we will find an opportunity to repay big sister
Yaoyao in future.”
He was rather grateful towards this act of Yaoyao’s. After all, he knew that the reason why Qin Yu’s body
was so weak was completely because of him.
Qin Yu exchanged a look with Zhou Qing, only to see a nod from the latter. She became a little more fond
of the girl.
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Zhou Yuan smiled before lifting the bowl of Nine Beast Soup and sending it straight towards his mouth.
‘Gulp gulp’. His throat continuously swallowed as he drained the entire bowl.
Having finished the Nine Beast Soup, he lifted the bowl of Mysterious Crystal Rice and swallowed each
mouthful after two to three rounds of chewing.
“Delicious!” Praised Zhou Yuan. This Mysterious Crystal Rice was full, soft and moist enough. Every grain
was very savory.
Phew.
After several minutes, Zhou Yuan put down the bowl and let out a drawn out breath. The breath of air
floated in front of him like white fog as he face flushed red. His body felt like a stove, a burning sensation
circulating all over within it.
As he felt the burning sensation in his body, Zhou Yuan licked his lips while his eyes flooded with
excitement. He was finally going to formally begin his training!
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Chapter 13 Unblocking the Meridian Channels
Hundreds of flowers contested with their fragrances in the flower park where a stone pavillion stood and
a little stream flowed. It was a refreshing and serene place.
Zhou Yuan’s eyes were closed as he sat inside the stone pavilion while instructions flowed in his mind. It
was the Qi drawing method, ‘Dragon Breathing’, that Cang Yuan had imparted to him previously.
One was unable to practice cultivation techniques during the Channel Opening stage, and could only
utilise Qi drawing methods to draw the natural Genesis Qi of the land into the body and attack the sealed
eight meridian channels to open them bit by bit.
Hence, there was no need to doubt the importance of a Qi drawing method to one at the Channel Opening
stage.
A high class Qi drawing method would allow a Channel Opening stage practitioner to achieve better
results with less effort.
There were also Qi drawing methods in the royal treasury. However, after Zhou Yuan gave it some
consideration, he still chose Cang Yuan’s ‘Dragon Breathing’. After all, Cang Yuan was an unfathomable
individual and the techniques that he imparted were likely extraordinary.
“Like its namesake, Dragon Breathing mimics the breathing of a dragon. Each breath has the power to
extinguish wind and clouds.”
“Extreme skill and practice is needed for a human to imitate a dragon’s breathing. Only when one is able
to achieve resonance of the flesh and blood and release a dragon roar would one be able to absorb
Genesis Qi.”
Zhou Yuan meticulously savoured the ‘Dragon Breathing method’ and eventually found the most
important instructions hidden within it.
“Ninety eight forms of the frolicking dragon.”
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Toughening the inner flesh was required for a human to mimic a dragon’s breathing, and this hidden
ninety eight forms of the frolicking dragon was the most important piece.
One by one, unusual forms flashed in Zhou Yuan’s mind. There were a total of ninety eight strange forms.
Together, they faintly resembled a frolicking dragon.
Zhou Yuan engraved these movements in his heart before walking out of the stone pavilion. He then lifted
his arms started to slowly mimic the first form.
His first round of practice undoubtedly appeared rather rough. By the time Zhou Yuan slowly completed
all ninety eight actions, he was already drenched in sweat and his body felt like a burning stove.
However, what caused Zhou Yuan to frown slightly was that although his body was burning after
completing all ninety eight movements, he did not absorb even the tiniest bit of Genesis Qi.
“It feels as if I’m still lacking a little something.” Zhou Yuan mumbled to himself before wiping his sweat
and continuing his practice of the frolicking dragon forms.
An incense stick of time later, Zhou Yuan was dripping with sweat as he finally stopped. He had
completed three whole cycles. However, he had yet to absorb any Genesis Qi, causing him to feel as if he
had been practising a fake technique.
“It is indeed a little inconvenient to fumble about on my own without a master’s guidance.” Zhou Yuan
helplessly shook his head. Looks like he needed to practice a few more times to try and grasp its essence.
Just as Zhou Yuan was planning to continue, he suddenly saw a beautiful figure standing in the flower
park from the corner of his eye. His eyes immediately brightened a little as he smiled and headed over.
“Big sis Yaoyao, you’ve come at the right time. I hope to seek some guidance from you.”
The beautiful figure was naturally Yaoyao. Upon hearing Zhou Yuan’s voice, she crooked her head and
looked at him while carrying Tuntun in her arms. Subsequently, a slight smile was revealed on her
exquisite and fair face as she extended five slender fingers. “Guarantee that I will be given five bottles of
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Jadeite Brew daily and I will teach you.”
Zhou Yuan was taken aback. Soon after, his eyebrows furrowed as he replied, “Five bottles is too many.
That alcohol is too fierce in nature and will harm your body. I can only give you one bottle a day.”
Yaoyao was about to speak again.
“Any more will be impossible, if not I will go mull over it myself.” However, Zhou Yuan was firm. If Cang
Yuan found out that Yaoyao became a heavy drinker mere days after following Zhou Yuan, the former
would likely kick Zhou Yuan out from his discipleship in rage.
Yaoyao could only wrinkle her nose and let out a soft snort after seeing Zhou Yuan’s resolve before she
threw Tuntun forward. “Take a good look.”
“What do I look at?” Asked Zhou Yuan in bewilderment. Yaoyao did not seem to have any intentions of
showing him the frolicking dragon forms.
Yaoyao pointed to the ground at Tuntun and said in a slightly unhappy manner, “Look at it!”
The corner’s of Zhou Yuan’s mouth twitched for a moment. However, before he could speak, his pupils
abruptly shrank, his face looking as if he had seen a ghost. On the ground, the short and stout Tuntun had
suddenly stood up on two legs and started to do a series of profound actions. It was the ninety eight
forms of the frolicking dragon.
“This… Tuntun can learn the frolicking dragon forms?!” Zhou Yuan was dumbstruck.
Under Zhou Yuan’s stupefied gaze, Tuntun smoothly completed all ninety eight movements. After the
final action was done, Tuntun’s body suddenly jolted as it opened its mouth wide and the faint roar of a
dragon could be heard.
Huuhuu!
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Genesis Qi surged over from the surroundings and transformed into a white line that poured into
Tuntun’s mouth.
After gulping down the vigorous Genesis Qi, Tuntun patted its stomach in satisfiction and turned its head
to look at the dumbstruck Zhou Yuan as it disdainfully rolled its eyes.
Zhou Yuan gradually came to his senses at this moment and oddly stared at the little fellow. Exactly what
kind of Genesis Beast was Tuntun? To think that it would actually be able to learn human techniques.
“Have you understood?” Yaoyao’s airy voice could be heard.
Zhou Yuan pushed down the shock in his heart and muttered to himself for a while. A long time later, he
slowly said, “It’s breathing! To master the frolicking dragon forms, one needs to maintain the tempo of
one’s breathing and allow one’s body and breathing to resonate.”
“Dragon Breathing imitates the breathing of a real dragon. A dragon’s breathing is drawn-out and
unbroken, Tuntun’s every action began with inhalation and ends with exhalation. Only when both are in
sync will Dragon Breathing be triggered.”
Yaoyao’s eyes flashed when she heard this as she stared in astonishment at Zhou Yuan. A rare sigh of
praise was emitted as she said, “Your comprehension ability is not bad.”
To realise the essence after merely watching Tuntun complete a set of frolicking dragon forms. It was no
wonder that he had caught grandpa Hei’s eye.
Zhou Yuan closed his eyes and recalled the rhythm of Tuntun’s breathing from before. A long while later,
his legs slowly stretched out as his fists were lifted and he once again started to perform the first action of
the dragon frolicking forms.
A youngster’s body swayed in the flower park. His chest heaved up and down as he breathing became
drawn-out. From a distance, it looked as if a young dragon was stretching its body.
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The ninety eight movements were tightly linked together, while Zhou Yuan’s eyes seemed to grow
increasingly brighter. He could feel the flesh and bones inside his body start to vibrate at this moment.
A breath climbed up along his flesh before finally dashing up his throat.
With this final movement, Zhou Yuan’s face flushed red as his tightly shut mouth abruptly opened.
Roar!
A faint dragon roar emerged through his throat from within his body.
At the same time, Zhou Yuan’s chest sunk inwards. Like a giant dragon breathing in water, the Genesis Qi
in the flower park was drawn towards him, directly turning into a white line that could be seen with the
naked eye, as it shot into Zhou Yuan’s body with a single gulp.
This influx of a single mouthful of Genesi Qi immediately caused Zhou Yuan’s skin to become scalding hot.
The Genesis Qi from the consumption of the Nine Beast Soup and Mysterious Crystal Rice from before
also rose at this moment and joined the pure Genesis Qi that had entered his body. Like a wave, the newly
merged Genesis Qi surged towards his first meridian channel.
The rush of Genesis Qi towards the sealed first channel caused intense pain to emerge, resulting in a
muffled groan from Zhou Yuan.
However, he fiercely gritted his teeth, enduring the intense pain as he controlled waves of Genesis Qi and
continually attacked the sealed first meridian channel.
Genesis Qi surged towards the first meridian channel in waves. This lasted for half an incense stick of
time before it finally ended due to the exhaustion of Genesis Qi.
Zhou Yuan’s face was covered in sweat, but his eyes were filled with surprise as he said, “What a
formidable technique.”
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Although he had never learnt any other Qi drawing methods, he knew that the higher the quality of a Qi
drawing method, the more abundant and powerful the Genesis Qi drawn into the body. According to his
knowledge, the Genesis Qi gathered by the ‘Yuan Strengthening Method’ in their royal treasury could only
last for half a finger-sized incense stick of time before being completely used up.
On the other hand, the Genesis Qi from the Dragon Breathing from before had lasted half a regular
incense stick of time. This was almost ten times more than the Yuan Strengthening Method.
Although it was true that the Nine Beast Soup and Mysterious Crystal Rice had played a part, this result
was enough to show how powerful the Dragon Breathing method was.
“You are only at the elementary stage of the Dragon Breathing method. If you become highly proficient,
you will no longer need the aid of the frolicking dragon forms. When that time comes, you will have
already become capable of doing it on instinct. Even if you do not activate Dragon Breathing, you will be
able to use Dragon Breathing to take in the Genesis Qi of the land at any time.” Yaoyao’s airy voice
sounded from the side.
Zhou Yuan was emotionally moved. To transform ordinary breathing into dragon breathing and endlessly
take in Genesis Qi. Given this effectiveness, just how crazy would that be?
“I managed to unblock a tiny portion of my first meridian when I attacked my meridian channels for the
first time earlier. At this rate, I will completely open my first meridian channel in less than a month.” Zhou
Yuan’s fists were tightly clenched while his heart seemed to surge.
This efficiency was thanks to the Dragon Breathing. Of course, the Nine Beast Soup and Mysterious
Crystal Rice also contributed a little.
“Time to continue training!”
After some rest, Zhou Yuan intended to begin practicing the frolicking dragon forms once again but was
stopped by Yaoyao. The latter’s eyes scanned him once as she said in a cool voice, “You’re really out of
your mind. Attacking one’s channels will damage them, thus most people only attempt it once a day. They
must wait till their channels recover on the second day before continuing to unblock the channels. If not,
they will end up injuring the meridian channels.”
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Zhou Yuan was stunned. It was not that he was unaware of this but… He felt the first meridian channel
inside his body and hesitated for a moment before he said, “But I feel that my meridian channel can still
take it.”
Now it was Yaoyao’s turn to be stunned. Her watery eyes stared at Zhou Yuan in doubt as she said, “Is
that true?”
Zhou Yuan earnestly nodded.
Upon seeing this, Yaoyao pondered a little before she said, “Could it be because you are someone born
with naturally open meridian channels. It is possible that although they were sealed up again, your
meridian channels are still much sturdier than an ordinary beginner.
“Then try again.”
Yaoyao placed her hands behind her back. With her clothes wrapped around her lovely figure, this
posture of hers propped up her chest slightly, revealing a very enticing sight. However, Zhou Yuan did not
dare to continue looking because Yaoyao’s bright eyes were currently staring at him.
“I do want to see exactly how many times you will be able to attack your meridian channel.”
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Chapter 14 Spirit
Under the attention of Yaoyao’s bright eyes, Zhou Yuan’s body started to move once again as the ninety
eight forms of the frolicking dragon were unhurriedly performed. It was done in a much more
experienced manner this time, and felt a little more natural with his now coordinated breathing.
Roar!
As the final action was done, Zhou Yuan once again opened his mouth as a faint dragon roar echoed from
within his body. His body immediately jerked while Genesis Qi converged towards him, transforming into
a white stream that was swallowed by Zhou Yuan with a single gulp.
Rumble!
As Genesis Qi entered, his body felt like a burning stove. With a thought from Zhou Yuan, the Genesis Qi
once again began to surge towards the first meridian channel in waves.
This lasted for another half an incense stick of time.
Zhou Yuan’s body glowed with red light as a wave of heat evaporated his sweat. He could feel the slightly
more loosened first meridian channel and a smile emerged from the corners of his lips. After some rest,
he started to do the ninety eight forms of the frolicking dragon again under Yaoyao’s watching eyes.
In the following period of time, two faint dragon roars sounded in succession. This meant that Zhou Yuan
had attacked his channels twice more.
In addition to the previous two times, the total number had reached four!
Four sets of meridian channel unblocking!
An ordinary practitioner that had yet to open his first meridian channel could only attempt to unblock his
meridian channels once a day before it would become somewhat unbearable to continue. Yet, Zhou Yuan
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had done it four times. Just how tough were these meridian channels of his?
As she stood by the side, ripples finally emerged in Yaoyao’s eyes.
However, Zhou Yuan was currently in no mood to pay any attention to Yaoyao’s expression. His burning
body was seated on the floor and he could feel a faint piercing pain pulsing from the meridian channels in
his body. This showed that his meridian channels were about to reach their limits after four sets.
A smile involuntarily formed on his lips as he felt his first meridian channel. The originally sealed channel
had clearly loosened even more after the fourth set.
“At this rate, I might not even need a month. In ten days, I will be able to completely unblock my first
meridian channel!”
Even with his mental fortitude, Zhou Yuan could not help but become rather emotional when he thought
of this. Cang Yuan had said back then that opening his chanels again would be even more difficult than
normal, so he had been prepared to wait several months before opening his first channel. Yet who could
have expected that the toughness of his meridian channels and the might of the Dragon Breathing
technique would shorten this time to such an extent.
Back then, Su Youwei had used a month to open her first meridian channel, an achievement that made
her the fastest channel opener in the Great Zhou Institute.
Just imagine what level his pace of ten day would be.
Of course, Zhou Yuan understood that Su Youwei’s achievement was solidly based on her own talent and
hardwork. After all, she had neither a high class Qi drawing method, Nine Beast Soup nor Mysterious
Crystal Rice.
Hence, it was really difficult to say who was better.
However, one point was certain. Due to the fact that it was his second time opening his meridian
channels, Zhou Yuan would be surely be more powerful than Su Youwei when she had opened her first
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meridian channel. As for how much stronger, he could only test it when the time came.
“Looks like even grandpa Hei has underestimated a second-time channel opener like you.” Yaoyao’s airy
voice was tinged with a sliver of shock.
Zhou Yuan chuckled. “Someone as pitiful as myself is probably quite rare.”
Yaoyao nodded in acknowledgement when she heard this as a faint smile started to show it self on her
face. “That is true. Born with naturally open meridian channels yet having them sealed later on. Such a
situation is indeed very rare.”
“Ch ch.” On the ground, Tuntun pointed at Zhou Yuan with mockery in its eyes.
Having been mocked by a little creature, Zhou Yuan grinded his teeth, grabbed a stone and threw it at
Tuntun.
Ao!
However, Tuntun ate the stone in a single gulp before giving a provocative and menacing look to Zhou
Yuan.
Zhou Yuan laughed. His eyes seemed to turn in thought as he fished out a piece of dried meat from his
clothes. It was Genesis Beast meat that had been roasted with the utmost care and was used to recover
his energy.
Tuntun’s eyes were immediately glued to the piece of dried meat the moment it appeared. Its pink tongue
peeked out while saliva dripped from the tip.
“Hehe.” Zhou Yuan evilly chuckled as he stuffed the meat in his mouth and started chewing. *Little
bastard, you dare to fight me.*
Ao ao!
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Tuntun was infuriated upon seeing this and released a few barks.
While Yaoyao watched Zhou Yuan tease Tuntun, she suddenly said, “If it really becomes angry, it will even
eat a human. Do you plan on seeing what the inside of its stomach looks like? I for one have never seen
anything come out alive from Tuntun’s stomach.”
Zhou Yuan’s chewing mouth suddenly froze. He carefully observed the now erect-tailed Tuntun that was
glaring at him before looking at Yaoyao with a forced smile. “You will stop it, right?”
Yaoyao’s red lips curved slightly as she seemingly smiled and replied, “Perhaps.”
“You’re good!” Zhou Yuan gritted his teeth and immediately took out all of the Genesis Beast dried meat
he had on him. With a smile plastered across his face, he offered them to Tuntun and said, “Come on, feel
free to eat till you’re full!”
Tuntun instantly pounced towards Zhou Yuan. It pulled all of the meat into its mouth with a single swipe
of its tongue and started chewing furiously. However, it looked as if it was very satisfied with the taste as
its tail was happily wagging from side to side.
After devouring the dried meat, Tuntun seemed to find Zhou Yuan a little more pleasing to the eye. It
stood up and lightly patted Zhou Yuan’s shoulder with a paw, as if saying ‘you’ve done a good job’...
Zhou Yuan’s mouth twitched a little. This little bastard was practically human.
“Big sis Yaoyao, exactly what rank Genesis Beast is Tuntun?” Zhou Yuan looked towards Yaoyao and
asked in curiosity. He had never seen such an intelligent Genesis Beast.
The origins of this seemingly little-dog-like Tuntun were surely extraordinary.
Yaoyao seemed to mull about it for a while, before ultimately shaking her head. “I too do not know.
Tuntun has been at my side ever since I can remember. However, grandpa Hei has said before that if
Tuntun fully matures, there will be practically nothing in this world that it cannot eat.”
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Zhou Yuan inwardly wet his lips. To think that Cang Yuan had given such a high evaluation of Tuntun.
Looks like this little bastard was really not simple at all...
“Big sis Yaoyao, master said before that you are pretty skilled in Genesis Runes?” Zhou Yuan pushed
Tuntun’s paw away from his shoulder before looking up at Yaoayo with a smile.
Yaoyao’s long shapely eyebrows raised slightly as she replied, “You want to learn Genesis Runes?”
“I’ve always been learning Genesis Runes. After all, if I was really unable to open my meridian channels,
that would have been my final hope.” Zhou Yuan honestly confessed.
Yaoyao bent down slightly as her slender fingers picked up Tuntun. She held it in her arms and she gently
stroked its fur while the now slightly arched Tuntun comfortably lay on her satin-like skin. This sight
made the corners of Zhou Yuan’s eyes twitch as he secretly cursed
the little bastard’s luck.
Yaoyao lightly stepped forward, walking in to the stone pavillion and elegantly seating herself on a stone
stool. She propped up her cheek with a hand as she languidly looked at Zhou Yuan and said, “It is too
tiring to teach. I don’t feel like it.”
Zhou Yuan also sat himself on another stone stool and quoted his offer. “Although the Jadeite Brew is a
fine liquor, there are plenty of things that are better than it. I will help you find them.”
A beautiful smile emerged on Yaoyao’s small face when she heard this. The brilliance of that moment
made even the hundreds of flowers in the flower park lose their color, while also causing Zhou Yuan’s
heart to beat a little faster.
She faintly smiled and said, “So understanding.”
Zhou Yuan also smiled. Soon after, he said, “But you may still only drink a bottle a day.”
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Yaoyao’s smile was withdrawn as she scowled at him.
However, Zhou Yuan did not concede. After all, interest was interest and should not be without control.
Cang Yuan had mentioned that Yaoyao was unable to utilise Genesis Qi. Thus too much excessive drinking
would harm her body.
Yaoyao could only grind her teeth when she saw that Zhou Yuan was unwilling yield, but she could
ultimately only give him a vicious glare.
“Since you’ve studied Genesis Runes before, you should naturally understand what is most important,
right?” Yaoyao put out the embers of rage in her heart as she spoke in a flat voice.
“The spirit.” Replied Zhou Yuan.
Yaoyao nodded as she slowly said, “Then do you know of how the different levels of Spirit are classified?”
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Chapter 15 Primal Chaos Divine Grindstone
Visualisation Method
“There are four levels to the Spirit, The Illusory stage, the Corporeal stage, the Materialization stage and
the Godroamer.”
“Only those who possess powerful Spirits will be able to draw high tier Genesis Runes. Your Spirit talent
is not bad, but it is not even at the Illusory stage.” A young girl’s airy voice echoed in the stone pavilion.
Sunlight sprinkled down on her fair and pretty face, making her appear exceptionally attractive.
“The Spirit is originally formless and only by continuously tempering it will one by able to allow the
formless Spirit to gain a form. This first stage with a form is called the illusory form, also known as the
Illusory stage.”
“There are two ways to strengthen the Spirit. One is to wait for one’s strength to rise and the Spirit will
follow suit and strengthen as well. However, this method is rather slow and there is an upper limit to how
strong the Spirit will grow. The second way is to practice a Spirit tempering method. However, there are
such techniques are very rare in this world and only a couple of the powerful factions possess them.”
At this point, Yaoyao glanced at Zhou Yuan before continuing, “The Primal Chaos Divine Grindstone
Visualisation Method that grandpa Hei imparted to you is an extremely high grade Spirit tempering
method. However, great courage to conquer great terror is needed to practice this method, something
that you will eventually come to know when you practice it.”
“Given the current level of your Spirit, you will not be able to draw grade 1 Genesis Runes. I advise you to
start early on your practice of the Primal Chaos Divine Grindstone Visualisation Method and raise the
level of your Spirit to the Illusory stage. When your Spirit steps into the Illusory stage, I will teach you
grade 1 Genesis Runes.”
Zhou Yuan nodded. He had long intended to try out the Primal Chaos Divine Grindstone Visualisation
Method. After taking a deep breath, he sat down cross-legged on the stone stool and slowly closed his
eyes.
Darkness descended as Zhou Yuan’s heartbeat gradually slowed, allowing his mind to enter a state of
absolute calm.
Dong! Dong!
The chirping and wind from the outside world stealthily faded. Only the sound of a beating heart echoed
in the darkness.
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Within the darkness, Zhou Yuan urged his Spirit to sense the brand that had been passed to him by Cang
Yuan, the brand that contained the Primal Chaos Divine Grindstone Visualisation Method.
As Zhou Yuan continued to reach out, a slowly spinning glimmer of light suddenly appeared within the
darkness. Its depths was immeasurable, as if it hid something terrifying.
However, while Zhou Yuan’s Spirit was hesitating, a powerful suction force suddenly exploded from the
glimmer of light and sucked Zhou Yuan’s Spirit inside.
A momentarily wave of dizziness washed over Zhou Yuan as he felt his surroundings begin to change.
Darkness receded as a formless void took its place. The primal chaos here had devoured time, space and
everything else, making it appear as if time had gone back to the place before everything had started.
Zhou Yuan’s formless Spirit stood within this vast nothingness as a feeling of insignificance overwhelmed
him.
Rumble!
While Zhou Yuan’s Spirit gazed upon this endless expanse of primal chaos, a loud sound suddenly
resounded from within it. Zhou Yuan’s Spirit looked towards the sound and a split second later, a
shuddering-like feeling madly surged over, causing his Spirit to shiver uncontrollably.
It was because he had seen an incomparably colossal shadow slowly appear. The shadow was akin to a
black hole that endlessly devoured everything.
However, it was not a black hole but a giant grindstone that seemed without end.
The giant grindstone was mottled and covered all over by the scars of time. The dark splotches
decorating it looked as if they were the remnant traces of the blood of pulverised gods and devils.
Rumble!
The giant grindstone loomed within the void as it slowly rotated. It could grind anything down
into nothingness.
Zhou Yuan’s Spirit stood before the giant grindstone like an insignificant grain of sand. It was at this very
moment that a mysterious piece of information flowed into his mind.
It was the cultivation instructions for the ‘Primal Chaos Divine Grindstone Visualisation Method’.
“The divine grindstone was born within the primal chaos, a single turn capable of annihilating gods and
devils…”
“Visualise the divine grindstone and feel it grind with the Spirit as your anchor…”
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“Nine rotations, every rotation a new realm…”
Zhou Yuan’s Spirit faintly trembled. It was at this very moment that he finally understood why Yaoyao
had said that the will to overcome great terror was needed to learn the Primal Chaos Divine Grindstone
Visualisation Method. Uncontrollable terror would swallow the Spirit of anyone who stood in an endless
expanse before the world-destroying divine grindstone...
Zhou Yuan’s Spirit shook as he stared at the divine grindstone within the primal chaos. Just standing here
required a great amount of courage. Let alone the fact that one needed to cast one’s Spirit onto the
grindstone and be grinded by it...
If Zhou Yuan did not have such great mental fortitude, he would have long turned around and run for his
life.
“If I die then so be it!”
Amidst his endless trembling, Zhou Yuan was ultimately able to maintain a sliver of rationality. He
fiercely gritted his teeth and drifted towards the divine grindstone, directly landing upon its infinite
mass.
Boom!
The instant Zhou Yuan’s Spirit landed on the titanic grindstone, he could only watch helplessly as a
shadow loomed towards him. Terror and pain swiftly exploded from his Spirit.
In the short span of several breaths, Zhou Yuan’s Spirit turned into nothingness under the grinding of the
divine grindstone.
Something faintly trembled within the primal chaos as an invisible ripple converged to a single spot. It
was Zhou Yuan’s Spirit. If a Spirit had a face, Zhou Yuan’s would be deathly pale, eyes overflowing with
terror.
In that very moment from before, the feeling of being destroyed was just too real.
Yet although he had been scared witless, between being pulverised into nothingness and the subsequent
reconstruction had seemed to make his Spirit become an eensy bit more coporeal.
“What an insane Spirit tempering method!”
Zhou Yuan’s heart shuddered. Anyone with a little less mettle would have long been destroyed by fear.
Once fear of the divine grindstone left its mark in one’s heart, Cang Yuan’s primal chaos divine grindstone
brand would fade and the ‘Primal Chaos Divine Grindstone Visualisation Method’ would fail.
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“This Primal Chaos Divine Grindstone Visualisation Method is to continuously cast one’s Spirit onto the
divine grindstone. Amidst the millions and millions of times of being obliterated into nothingness, the
endless destruction and reconstruction will allow one to undergo a metamorphosis and grow stronger…”
“According to the instructions, there are nine rotations to this Primal Chaos Divine Grindstone
Visualisation Method, and every rotation a new realm. This so-called nine rotations refer to the divine
grindstone completing a full round nine times. As long as the Spirit is able to persevere till an entire
round is complete, it will undergo a single transformation.”
Zhou Yuan looked towards the divine grindstone within the primal chaos. It was split into an upper layer
and a lower layer, while a vertical faint dark-gold line could be seen joining these two layers as if it was a
scale of sorts.
As the divine grindstone rotated, the upper part of the golden line would move. When it once again
returned to its original position and joined with the bottom part, an entire round would be completed.
However, Zhou Yuan’s Spirit had only managed to endure for several breaths before being destroyed.
Looks like it would not be easy to persist till an entire rotation was complete.
“The Primal Chaos Divine Grindstone Visualisation Method is indeed extraordinary, a single attempt has
made my Spirit a tiny bit stronger. As expected of the Spirit tempering method big sis Yaoyao praised as
one of the highest ranked.”
Zhou Yuan breathed in deeply in an effort to suppress the fear he had towards the primal chaos divine
grindstone. With a clench of his teeth, his Spirit flew forward again and landed on the slowly rotating
mottled divine grindstone.
Boom!
As the divine grindstone turned, Zhou Yuan’s Spirit was once again pulverised into nothingness.
An invisible ripple appeared and Zhou Yuan’s Spirit reformed once more. His Spirit violently shuddered,
but he was evidently still able to control his emotions. A long while later, he gritted his teeth again and
cast himself towards the divine grindstone.
Boom!
In the vast expense of primal chaos, the divine grindstone turned again and again, completely obliterating
the speck of dust that was cast into it over and over.
Each time it was destroyed, the continuously reconstructed Spirit gradually started slowly turn from
incomporeal to corporeal.
The eighty eighth time.
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Zhou Yuan finally stopped after his Spirit was destroyed and reforged for the eighty eighth time. He could
feel intense tiredness and pain gushing out from within his Spirit.
This allowed him to know that he had finally reached his limit today. If he forced himself any further, it
would instead do more harm than good.
Although his Spirit was exhausted, Zhou Yuan’s heart was overflowing with happiness. After over eighty
times of being destroyed, his originally formless Spirit had now taken on an illusory color.
The Illusory stage!
When the Spirit turned from formless to illusory, it meant that he had finally reached the Illusory stage!
“A down right awesome visualisation method.” Zhou Yuan praised with a sigh. The very first training
session had allowed his Spirit to reach the doorstep of the Illusory stage. Although he understood that
this was partly because his Spirit’s foundations were pretty solid, it was still enough for him to realise
how extraordinary the visualisation method was.”
In the stone pavilion, Zhou Yuan’s tightly shut eyes slowly opened. Although his face was as white as
sheet, the excitement in his eyes could not be hidden.
“I’ve reached the Illusory stage!”
Yaoyao was a little taken aback by Zhou Yuan’s words as she doubtfully asked, “So fast? How many times
did you endure the divine grindstone?”
“Eighty eight times.”
Yaoyao’s eyes narrowed a little as a peculiar look flashed within them. Ordinary people were only able to
endure a dozen or so times on their first attempt. Yet Zhou Yuan had endured eighty eight times, a far
from ordinary result.
“As expected of the one who once possessed the sacred dragon destiny. Compared to your wounded
body, your Spirit does not seem to have suffered any damage.” Yaoyao softly praised before continuing,
“Your Spirit is still too weak. When you recover, I will teach you a grade 1 Genesis Rune.”
She stood up carrying Tuntun as she glanced at the mottled black brush hanging at Zhou Yuan’s waist.
“You need to properly nourish the Heavenly Yuan Brush given to you by grandpa Hei and light the first
rune as quickly as possible.”
Zhou Yuan lowered his head and retrieved the Heavenly Yuan Brush hanging at his waist. It nimbly
twirled in his hand as he smiled and nodded his head.
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Cang Yuan had said that Genesis Beast Spirits could be used to recover the Heavenly Yuan Brush’s
spirituality. This was not difficult for him. His status as the prince of Great Zhou allowed him to easily
obtain several Genesis Beast Spirits.
Zhou Yuan really looked forward to the transformation after lighting the first rune. After all, he was very
interested to find out exactly how this foot-long Heavenly Yuan Brush would change for it to become a
Genesis Weapon...
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Chapter 16 Digging at a Corner of the Wall
Early morning the second day.
After Zhou Yuan drank a bowl of Nine Beast Soup and ate a bowl of Mysterious Crystal Rice, he continued
his practice of the ninety eight forms of the frolicking dragon, absorbing Genesis Qi to attack and unblock
his meridian channels.
A good part of the afternoon was spent on another four waves of attacks on the meridian channels.
Although Zhou Yuan’s channels ached and he dripped with sweat, he could feel his first meridian channel
loosening more and more, causing unconcealable excitement and anticipation to fill his heart.
A servant girl offered a towel from the side and waited till Zhou Yuan wiped clean his sweat before
respectfully saying, “Your highness, the items you wanted have already arrived.”
“Oh?”
Zhou Yuan was overjoyed when he heard this and swiftly walked into the room. Sure enough, he saw a
jade plate on the table where a dozen crystals of varying colors and lusters were neatly arranged.
On closer inspection, one would discover faint silhouettes within the crystals. These silhouettes were
shaped like various beasts and emitted a strange light.
These were Beast Spirit Crystals. After the death of a Genesis Beast, its beast spirit would be condensed
into a crystal form as a form of protection.
Evidently, Zhou Yuan wanted these Beast Spirit Crystals to nourish the Heavenly Yuan Brush.
“All grade 1 Beast Spirit Crystals.” With a glance, Zhou Yuan saw that these Beast Spirit Crystals came
from grade 1 Genesis Beasts. This was rather appropriate. It was likely that given the current state of the
Heavenly Yuan Brush, it would not be able to deal with too highly ranked Beast Spirit Crystals.
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Zhou Yuan retrieved the Heavenly Yuan Brush at his waist and stroked it with his hand. The mottled body
of the brush felt rather rough while the hairs at its tip appeared slightly dull. The mysterious and ancient
runes were the only evidence that this Heavenly Yuan Brush was once extraordinary.
Zhou Yuan fetched a small metal hammer and used it to strike one of the Beast Spirit Crystals, creating a
small hole. Subsequently, he placed the head of the Heavenly Yuan Brush into the hole.
The Heavenly Yuan Brush vibrated the moment it touched the beast spirit within the Beast Spirit Crystal.
Subsequently, the hairs at the tip of the brush reached out and swept up the beast spirit. With a sucking
sound, the beast spirit disappeared into the Heavenly Yuan Brush.
As the beast spirit disappeared, a faint glow emerged from the Heavenly Yuan Brush. The first ancient
rune on its body seemed to have become a little brighter.
“It is indeed effective.”
Zhou Yuan was pleased. Using the same method, he broke each Beast Spirit Crystal before using the
Heavenly Yuan Brush to suck out the beast spirit inside.
One by one, the beast spirits were absorbed by the Heavenly Yuan Brush and its glow grew
increasingly bright. In addition, the first ancient rune also began to give off a faint radiance.
However, the Heavenly Yuan Brush suddenly stopped after it absorbed the eighth beast spirit. It no
longer emitted a suction force no matter how Zhou Yuan fiddled with it, while its light also gradually
receded.
“It’s… full?” Zhou Yuan was stunned. He finally understood and let out a laugh due to annoyance. This
blasted Heavenly Yuan Brush. He had allowed it to absorb beast spirits to regain its spirituality and yet it
wilfully decided against overeating?!
However, the Heavenly Yuan Brush was stubborn and refused to eat after it was full. There was nothing
Zhou Yuan could do. He did not know whether to laugh or to cry as he kept the brush and prepared to
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continue nourishing it the next day.
If this was the situation, some time would be needed to light up the first rune.
However, Zhou Yuan was not too anxious. After placing the Heavenly Yuan Brush back on his hip, he
walked out of the room. He planned to visit the Great Zhou Institute today. Although he believed that Su
Youwei would not be enticed to Qi Yue’s side, Zhou Yuan needed to to be vigilant so as to ensure that Qi
Yue would not secretly cause trouble for her.
The Great Zhou Institute.
Zhou Yuan did not see Su Youwei after a stroll around the campus. Only after asking did he find out that
she was working in the library.
The library of the Great Zhou Institute used to be considerably deserted. However, ever since Su Youwei
started to work part-time there, it had become one of the popular spots in the institute. People would slip
over from time to time and feign borrowing books with the hopes of getting closer to Su Youwei.
Zhou Yuan did not see Su Youwei at the front desk when he walked into the library. Hence, he took a trip
around the place and paused before a large bookshelf.
A slim girl was standing on a tall stool, tidying the bookshelf as she very carefully wiped away the dust.
At this moment, a ray of sunlight shot in from outside the window. Dust danced within the light, while the
girl’s pretty face seemed to sparkle. Her long lashes gently fluttered as her small raised mouth softy
hummed a little tune, a scene filled with youthful vigour.
*Cough*.
Zhou Yuan’s soft cough heartlessly broke the beautiful scene.
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Su Youwei seemed come back to reality as she hastily lowered her head. Joy immediately surged onto her
pretty face when she saw Zhou Yuan.
Zhou Yuan walked under the tall stool and lifted his head, only to be stunned. It was because the bottom
half of the uniform Su Youwei wore was a skirt, resulting in two long and slender white legs being
imprinted in his eyes. They were as glossy as jade and made one have the urge to cop a feel.
“Your highness!”
Su Youwei immediately blushed when she felt Zhou Yuan’s gaze and cried out in an embarrassed and
angry manner. The thick book in her hand was jolted, causing a layer of dust to fall and obstruct Zhou
Yuan’s gaze.
“Waa, I’m blind.” Zhou Yuan hurriedly took advantage of this turn of events to cover his eyes.
Su Youwei gracefully hopped off the tall stool and placed the book back on the bookshelf. Her face was
red as she rolled her eyes at the acting Zhou Yuan and spit out, “Low-class.”
Zhou Yuan opened his eyes and helplessly replied, “It was an accident.”
Su Youwei softly snorted. “Why has the care-free and unambitious prince come here?”
“Heh heh, if I did not come, I’m afraid that my little Weiwei would be kidnapped by someone.” Zhou Yuan
chuckled.
“Eeih, so sickening! Don’t address me in such a way!”
Su Youwei’s pretty face was red as she resentfully glared at Zhou Yuan. Her little mouth stuck out slightly
as she said in a somewhat distressed manner, “You also know of this huh? That Qi Yue has approached
me quite a few times. So annoying.”
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“He request that you enter the B class after the newcomer exam?” Zhou Yuan’s eyes narrowed. This Qi
Yue was indeed determined, to think that he would dare to dig at the corners of Zhou Yuan’s wall!
Su Youwei nodded. She did not thoroughly understand the struggle for the position of headmaster, but
she knew that Zhou Yuan and Qi Yue did not get along. Hence, she made excuses whenever Qi Yue tried to
win her over to his side.
“What did he offer?”
Su Youwei rolled her eyes at Zhou Yuan again. His words were unpleasant to the ear, but she knew that
that was not what he meant. Hence, she replied, “Let’s not mention the wealth and power he guaranteed,
he even promised to give me a tier 3 Genesis Qi technique after I reach the Qi Nourishing stage.”
“So generous huh.” Zhou Yuan was somewhat amazed. A tier 3 Genesis Qi technique. The highest tier
Genesis Qi technique in their royal treasury was only tier 4.
“However, I still rejected his offer.” Water glimmered in Su Youwei’s eyes as she continued in a low voice,
“He was not too happy and asked what you gave me.”
“I told him that his highness did not give me anything. He merely helped me kick open a door.”
Her voice became softer and softer towards the end, but it still made Zhou Yuan chuckle bitterly. It had
been pure chance that he had passed by and seen a little girl braving the torrential rain as she kneeled
and begged before a clinic. He had only kicked open the tightly shut doors of the clinic due to a sudden
surge of anger at this injustice.
How could he know that his unintentional actions from back then would be deeply carved by Su Youwei
onto her heart.
Zhou Yuan said, “That fellow Qi Yue probably almost died from anger.”
“Well that has nothing to do with me.” Su Youwei covered her mouth as she softly chuckled.
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Zhou Yuan nodded but secretly thought to himself that he should also prepare a decent technique for Su
Youwei after she reached the Qi Nourishing stage. Else her talent would really be wasted.
“How has your channel opening been going recently?” Asked Zhou Yuan.
Su Youwei casually replied, “Not bad, unblocking the fourth meridian channel before the newcomer exam
should not be difficult.”
Zhou Yuan clicked his tongue in praise. Su Youwei’s talent was indeed outstanding. If she was under the
same conditions as himself; drinking Nine Beast Soup and eating Mysterious Crystal Rice daily, it was
likely that even Qi Yue would not be able to compare to her.
However, Zhou Yuan did not dare to mention giving Nine Beast Soup and Mysterious Crystal Rice to Su
Youwei. This lass was not only very sharp but also extremely stubborn. She definitely would not accept
such help from Zhou Yuan.
Zhou Yuan looked towards Su Youwei and said, “Headmaster Chu told me earlier that I must make sure
that you enter the A class.”
Su Youwei thought for a moment before she smiled and said, “You can tell him that I will enter the A class
if you are also allowed to enter.”
Although she had spoken in an off-handed manner, there was some worry in her eyes. The requirement
for entering the A class was placing top ten in the newcomer exam, and Zhou Yuan had not even
unblocked a single meridian channel. It was obviously an uphill task for him to achieve such results with
just his elementary level Genesis Runes.
According to what she knew, headmaster Chu was a person that felt strongly about the rules. If Zhou
Yuan was unable to take any of the top ten spots, headmaster Chu might not give the former face even if
he was the prince.
How could Zhou Yuan not know her thoughts. He was a little touched as he looked at her and smiled,
“Don’t worry about me. I will surely enter the A class.”
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When Su Youwei saw how serious Zhou Yuan was, there was really nothing much to say. She could only
nod her head.
The two happily chatted as they walked out away from the bookshelf. Just as they reached a turn, a figure
suddenly appeared before them.
It was a rather tall young man who was also rather handsome. His expression changed a little when he
saw Zhou Yuan and Su Youwei walk out together, but he quickly revealed a polite smile, “Your highness.”
Subsequently, his gaze turned towards Su Youwei as his eyes became much gentler. “Youwei, are you
finished with your work? Are you free today? May I ask you out for a meal?”
Zhou Yuan’s eyes slightly narrowed as he watched this handsome young man. He had recognized the
latter.
Lin Feng, another influential figure amongst the new batch of students. He was rumoured to be the most
promising individual in the newcomer exam.
But according to what Zhou Yuan knew, this fellow had already been pulled over to Qi Yue’s side.
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Chapter 17 Lin Feng
While Zhou Yuan’s eyes narrowed slightly, Su Youwei also eyed the confident and relaxed young man
before them. Her long and shapely eyebrows slightly knitted together before she displayed a smile and
said, “So it is young master Lin. However, I’m afraid that I do not have time today.”
Lin Feng was not the least bit dejected by So Youwei’s gentle rejection. Instead, he grinned as he nodded.
“Since that is so, maybe next time.”
He did not stubbornly insist but instead appeared rather polite.
However, it was this very attitude that made So Youwei helplessly sigh in her heart. Such individuals
were the most difficult to deal with.
Zhou Yuan did not say anything and merely smiled faintly at Lin Feng before walking away with Su
Youwei.
Lin Feng watched the two departing figures as his kind face turned somewhat darker.
“Hehe, looks like you do not have much of a chance.” A soft chuckle was suddenly heard from behind. Lin
Feng turned his head only to find Qi Yue wearing white clothes.
“Little prince.” Lin Feng controlled his expression and bowed slightly.
Qi Yue seemed to smile as he stood beside Lin Feng and he looked in the direction that Zhou Yuan and Su
Youwei had left in. “Although our prince is unable to start channel opening cultivation, he still has his
status. Moreover, Su Youwei owes a debt of gratitude towards him. I’m afraid that you don’t really have
much of a chance.”
Lin Feng’s eyes were somewhat dark while his lips were tightly pursed. It was clear that he was
extremely unresigned.
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“You’ve really fallen for Su Youwei?” Qi Yue could not help but smile and ask when he saw Lin Feng’s
appearance.
“Su Youwei might be a mere commoner but she has qualifications to change everything. She will surely
separate herself from the ordinary and become the focus of everyone’s attention in future.” Lin Feng
explained.
Qi Yue nodded and sighed. “That is true. It is only a matter of time given her talent. Prince Zhou Yuan is
really lucky, to think that any random person he picked up would become a genius.”
Lin Feng’s expression grew increasingly passionate as he slowly said, “Even more so why I will not give
up.”
Qi Yue grinned a little. “Honestly speaking, you are not weaker than his highness. The only thing he has
over you is his status as prince. Without it, he will not even have the qualifications of receiving a second
glance from you.”
Lin Feng did not reply, but a sliver of pride appeared in his eyes. From his point of view, if Zhou Yuan was
not the prince of Great Zhou, someone like him who was unable to open his meridian channels truly
would not even enter Lin Feng’s eyes.
“I do hope that you will be able to obtain Su Youwei. If that happens, there will be one less huge
inconvenience for me.” Qi Yue chuckled as he continued, “I went looking for her previously and made
many offers, but was still unable to convince her to enter the B class after the newcomer exam. From the
looks of it, she is really committed to his highness Zhou Yuan.”
Lin Feng’s expression became a little uglier.
“However, I do have an idea.” Qi Yue paused for moment. “There is still one more month till the
newcomer exam and Zhou Yuan is also participating. If he fails miserably, it will be a rather substantial
blow to someone of his status.”
Lin Feng’s eyes flickered. Cultivation was mainstream in Great Zhou and it was a nation established on
martial prowess. Even if Zhou Yuan was prince, if he did not produce any results, people would surely
start talking. At that time, Su Youwei should be able to clearly see that a crippled prince could not be
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relied upon.
“What are little prince’s intentions?”
Qi Yue faintly smiled as he said, “I will pull some strings during the exam and ensure that Zhou Yuan
bumps into you. When that happens, you should know what to do to dim his princely halo.”
Lin Feng was somewhat hesitant after hearing this. “But he is after all the prince, if we go too far…”
“In a match, fists and legs have no eyes. No one will say anything.” Qi Yue shook he head before
continuing, “Since your Lin clan is already standing on the side of my Qi Manor, we will protect you even
if something happens.”
Lin Feng’s eyes flickered. A short while later, he fiercely gritted his teeth and replied in a low voice,
“Alright, I understand. If I meet him in the newcomer exam, I will make sure that his highness will lose in
the most humiliating fashion.”
A venomous look flashed across his eyes as he lifted his head and looked at Zhou Yuan’s departing figure.
Since a crippled prince wanted to snatch away his woman, he could only make sure that this prince
suffered when the time came.
Qi Yue laughed softly. If Zhou Yuan was beaten into the mud, Qi Yue would go look for Su Youwei again.
This girl should be able to tell who was the stronger one. As long as she cast her lot in with the B class,
there would no longer be anyone who could threaten him in the class ranking exam and the Great Zhou
Institute would fall into the hands of Qi Manor.
Henceforth, the students that graduated from the Great Zhou Institute would be branded by Qi Manor.
When that happened, it would be time for the ruler of the Great Zhou Empire to change.
“I’m afraid that Lin Feng is already working together with Qi Yue.” Zhou Yuan conversed with Su Youwei
as they walked along the corridors of the institute. “This might even be Qi Yue’s scheme. Since he is
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unable to openly draw you to his side, he decided to use a handsome man to entice you.”
Su Youwei unhappily shook her head upon hearing this. “Don’t worry your highness, this tactic is useless
against me.”
She paused for a moment before asking in a somewhat worried manner, “However your highness needs
to be more careful. Most of the talented individuals amongst the new batch of students have been pulled
over by Qi Yue to his side. I worry that they will hinder you during the newcomer exam.”
Given Zhou Yuan’s strength, it was already very challenging to take one of the top ten spots in the
newcomer exam. If others were to hinder him, it would become even harder.
Zhou Yuan grinned and said, “Don’t worry, I have my own plans.”
He gently spat out a breath of air before slowly speaking again, “Qi Manor’s foundations are truly solid.”
Qi Yue’s offers were difficult to reject. Such wealth was no less than the royal clan. Looks like father was
right, the Great Wu was likely backing the Qi Manor.
At this point, a cold light flashed across Zhou Yuan’s eyes. Qi Manor was truly a tumor of the Great Zhou.
To think that they now even planned to dip their fingers into the pie that was the Great Zhou Institute.
Moreover, it was easy to imagine how great a blow it would be if the institute fell into Qi Manor’s control.
Thus… Zhou Yuan absolutely could not let them succeed.
Of course, the most important thing now was to quickly open his meridian channels to face the upcoming
newcomer exam.
In the following few days, Zhou Yuan stayed in the royal palace. He diligently practiced the ninety eight
forms of the frolicking dragon in the early morning and did four waves of attacks on his meridian
channels. At night, he practiced the ‘Primal Chaos Divine Grindstone Visualisation Method’ to train his
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spirit.
Zhou Yuan’s improvement over these few days was not small. The first meridian channel in his body grew
increasingly loose and opening it completely was in sight. Moreover, his spirit had also stabilized at the
initial Illusory stage.
This progress made Zhou Yuan very excited and put in even more effort into his training.
Another day.
Ding!
The small hammer in Zhou Yuan’s hand struck and broke open a hole in a Beast Spirit Crystal. He placed
the Heavenly Yuan Brush inside and the beast spirit within the crystal was absorb with a sweep of its
hairs.
Buzz!
Just as Zhou Yuan was preparing to break open a hole in the next Beast Spirit Crystal, a faint buzzing
noise was suddenly emitted from the Heavenly Yuan Brush. At the same time, a strange light slowly
emerged from the brush body.
Zhou Yuan was first stunned by this scene before joy broke out on his face.
It was because he had seen the first ancient rune on the Heavenly Yuan Brush completely light up at this
moment and give off a mysterious glow.
Evidently, after several days of nourishing it, the brush had finally recovered some of its spirituality and
power.
“Master and big sis Yaoyao said that I will come to know of its wonders once the first rune is lighted. I’m
really interested to find out the peculiarities of this once Sacred Genesis Weapon Heavenly Yuan Brush!”
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Zhou Yuan’s eyes lighted up as he stared at the Heavenly Yuan Brush in his hand.
He had long been filled with curiosity towards the Heavenly Yuan Brush.
While grasping the Heavenly Yuan Brush, Zhou Yuan’s eyes slowly closed. Light blossomed on the brush
as a cryptic message poured into his mind.
“First rune of the Heavenly Yuan Brush, Culture and Martial.”
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Chapter 18 Culture and Martial
“Culture and Martial?”
Zhou Yuan’s eyes flickered brightly after opening. At this very moment, he finally understood why Cang
Yuan had said that the Heavenly Yuan Brush was both a Genesis Weapon and a Genesis Rune Brush.
It was due to this rune known as ‘Culture and Martial’ that bestowed two different forms to the Heavenly
Yuan Brush.
“Martial form!”
Brush in hand, a thought flashed in Zhou Yuan’s mind as he softly called out.
Buzz!
Intense light exploded from the Heavenly Yuan Brush. Next, Zhou Yuan’s eyes were filled with
amazement as he watched the foot-long brush in his hand suddenly start to grow.
In the short span of several breaths, a roughly five foot long thick black brush appeared in Zhou Yuan’s
hand. This black brush was almost as tall as Zhou Yuan and its mottled body faintly flickered in a glossy
manner.
In particular, the soft snow-white hairs that were originally at the tip of the brush were now tightly
packed together and flickered with cold light. At a glance, it seemed like the sharp tip of a spear.
“It’s pretty heavy!”
Zhou Yuan gazed upon the rather enormous black brush in his hands. It was not light and even caused his
arms to sink a little.
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“I should test its power.”
Zhou Yuan left the room and walked into a spacious courtyard. With a thought, the Heavenly Yuan Brush
shook slightly as the surrounding Genesis Qi rippled and poured into the brush.
A Genesis Weapon was able to absorb Genesis Qi and release tremendous power.
As Genesis Qi poured into it, the brush gradually started to glow. In particular, light seemed to lengthen
and shorten indeterminately on the brush tip made from snow-white hairs as if it was a sharp tip of a
spear.
Zhou Yuan brandished the brush with both hands as if it was a heavy spear. He had never used such a
strange weapon before and naturally appeared rather untrained. However, the force generated by the
spear was not weak and was akin to a ferocious tiger as it swung about.
Ch!
The spear suddenly turned and ferociously thrust at a copper cauldron by the side. A clear and crisp
sound was immediately heard. One would look over only to find that the tip of the brush had pierced the
cauldron and exited from the opposite side.
“Not bad. It’s sharp enough.” Zhou Yuan’s eyebrows raised slightly when he saw this. This level of
sharpness would easily tear apart the body of a two channel practitioner.
“It should have barely reached the Normal mid tier Genesis Weapon level.”
Zhou Yuan was rather pleased with this outcome. If he continued to nourish it by allowing the Heavenly
Yuan Brush to absorb beast spirits, it would likely reach the Black tier pretty soon.
Zhou Yuan mumbled to himself, “It really is somewhat surprising for a brush to become a weapon.
Although it is a brush, it is similar to a spear. I should learn some spear techniques in future.”
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His gaze now burned a little hotter as he stared at the Heavenly Yuan Brush. To think that the first rune
had already caused such a transformation. Zhou Yuan wondered how formidable the brush would
become when all nine ancient runes completely recovered.
Zhou Yuan waved the martial form Genesis Rune Brush until he was satisfied before a thought flashed in
his mind. “Culture form!”
The tall as a human Heavenly Yuan Brush suddenly shrunk till it was a foot long and landed in Zhou
Yuan’s hand. The brush tip that was previously sharp enough to pierce metal also became soft, its brush
hairs gently swaying back and forth.
With a gently flick of his fingertips, the Heavenly Yuan Brush nimble spun a single time in his hand as
light emerged from the soft tip of the brush.
This form was called the Genesis Rune Brush and could be used to draw Genesis Runes.
“Such a magical Culture and Martial Genesis Rune.” Zhou Yuan sighed in praise. Genesis Runes that were
able to change the form of an object were certainly not ordinary. This ‘Culture and Martial’ rune was
surely very high grade.
“Finally activated the first rune?”
While Zhou Yuan was excitedly changing between the two forms in the courtyard, a somewhat surprised
voice was heard. Zhou Yuan raised his head and saw Yaoyao elegantly standing outside the courtyard,
while a whimpering Tuntun closely followed at her feet.
“Yea, just a while ago.” Zhou Yuan nodded. The Heavenly Yuan Brush turned into its culture form and
landed in his hand as he somewhat eagerly said, “Big sis Yaoyao, I now have a Genesis Rune Brush. When
will you teach me Genesis Runes?”
Yaoyao’s steps were light as she slowly walked over. She stood before Zhou Yuan as a
snow-white hand was outstretched.
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The corners of Zhou Yuan’s mouth turned downwards when he saw this. He had no choice but to instruct
a servant girl to bring over a jade bottle. “This is Red Tiger Liquor, an extremely strong alcohol that I stole
from father’s secret stash.”
Yaoyao received the jade bottle and tipped back her head slightly, revealing her slender swan-like neck,
as she took a small sip. Her pretty face immediately flushed red as her eyes sparkled. “Not bad, you did
not skimp on me.”
One could tell that she was very satisfied with the liquor Zhou Yuan had found.
Zhou Yuan breathed a sigh of relief when he saw this. Just as he was about to speak, he felt a tug a his
clothes and lowered his head only to find Tuntun biting at his trousers, before it stuck out its tongue and
extended a paw.
“You’re the same as your owner!”
The corners of Zhou Yuan’s eyes twitched as his cursed inside. However, he could only instruct a servant
girl to bring over a plate of dried Genesis Beast meat and place it at his foot.
Only then did Tuntun release Zhou Yuan, perfectly satisfied as it lay down and gobbled up each piece of
meat with a single gulp, its eyes narrowing in pleasure as it enjoyed the delicious dried Genesis Beast
meat.
Zhou Yuan squatted and stroked Tuntun’s soft fur as he gave it two forceful strokes. In response to this,
Tuntun glanced at the former. It decided not to pay much attention to that disrespectful fellow on the
grounds that he had brought it meat.
“Alright, I will teach you grade 1 Genesis Runes today.”
After a few mouthfuls of Red Tiger Liquor, Yaoyao nodded in contentment before walking into the stone
pavilion. Jade tablets for Genesis Rune practice had already been placed on the stone table within.
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Yaoyao elegantly stood before the table and shot a glance at Zhou Yuan as she said, “I’ll first write while
you watch.”
With a clench of her hand, a slender green Genesis Rune Brush appeared within it. This Genesis Rune
Brush gave off a faint green glow and numerous runes of light seemed to flutter within the glow, making
it appear extremely mystical.
Zhou Yuan’s heart was a little moved by this sight. This Genesis Rune Brush of Yaoyao’s was obviously
not ordinary.
Yaoyao’s pretty face immediately became serious as she held the brush. A distinct aura spread from her
body as the brush tip gently landed on a jade tablet and began to move as she desired.
Zhou Yuan stood by the side and watched Yaoyao’s gently moving hand as he could not help but praise in
his heart. “Such a pretty hand.”
Yaoyao’s small, slim and slender hand seemed to be suffused with jade light. It was so pretty that one
would find impossible to shift one’s eyes away.
However, Zhou Yuan did not dare to pay too much attention to it, and his gaze very quickly shifted to the
jade tablet.
Light immediate surfaced on the tablet the moment Yaoyao’s final stroke was complete. A complicated
rune seemed to have leapt onto the tablet as a tiger roar was faintly heard.
Yaoyao explained in an unenthusiastic voice, “This is known as the Tiger Roar Rune and is a grade 1
Genesis Rune. It can be inscribed on the throat and when activated, a tiger roar sound wave would erupt.
If used at close-range, it may even stun the enemy.”
“A sound wave type Genesis Rune?” Zhou Yuan was a little taken aback. This type of Genesis Rune was
rather rare and could save one’s life or even turn the tides of the battle if used at the opportune moment.
“Take a closer look. How many strokes are there in this Genesis Rune?” Said Yaoyao in a casual manner.
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When Zhou Yuan heard this, he understood that Yaoyao wanted to test his foundations in Genesis Runes.
After all, no matter how high grade a Genesis Rune was, it was still made from the combination of various
strokes. The ability to identify and recognize these strokes was the fundamentals of learning Genesis
Runes.
Zhou Yuan carefully observed the ‘Tiger Roar Rune’ on the jade tablet. A short period later, he slowly said,
“I can see four hundred and thirty seven strokes.”
Previously, when Zhou Yuan was studying elementary Genesis Runes, there would at most be
approximately a hundred strokes. This grade 1 Genesis Rune had more than four times that amount.
Yaoyao nodded and said, “To be more precise, there are four hundred and forty eight strokes. However,
the fact that you were able to see four hundred and thirty seven strokes is proof enough that your
fundamentals are rather decent.”
“In the following few days, you will practice copying this ‘Tiger Roar Rune’ and fully master this grade 1
Genesis Rune.”
A surge of eagerness surfaced in Zhou Yuan’s eyes when he heard this. If he was able to learn this grade 1
Genesis Rune, his strength would be greatly boosted.
Given how close the newcomer exam was, he needed to the strength of four channels to get into the top
ten. Thus, he would take any chance he could to grow stronger.
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Chapter 19 Channel Opening
To fully master a Genesis Rune was not easy at all. This was because it was not simply drawing the rune.
One needed to use one’s spirit as ink for every Genesis stroke. At times, when the spirit was just the
tiniest bit too strong when the brush landed, the Genesis stroke would be unable to withstand it and
become defective.
Moreover, a single defective stroke meant that the entire Genesis Rune would become a failed product.
Hence, a tremendous amount of practice was needed to reach perfection and ultimately allow the Genesis
Rune to form.
Therefore, in the following days, besides practicing the ninety eight forms of the frolicking dragon and the
Primal Chaos Divine Grindstone Visualisation Method, Zhou Yuan also took some time to practice the
‘Tiger Roar Rune’.
Meanwhile, Zhou Yuan also squeezed out some time to learn some basic spear techniques. This was for
the sake of familiarizing himself with the Heavenly Yuan Brush as a weapon so as to avoid the scenario
where he had zero fundamentals and no idea what to do when he wielded it.
This arrangement allowed Zhou Yuan’s time to be amply utilised. However, he knew that time was of the
essence and diligently worked hard every day.
Under his efforts, an important juncture swiftly approached.
On this day, the practicing Zhou Yuan in the flower park was solemn-face while a trace of excitement and
anticipation leaked from his eyes. He could feel that the first meridian channel in his body growing looser
and looser over the past few days. If nothing unexpected occurred, it was very possible for the channel to
be completely opened today.
“This day has come at last.”
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Zhou Yuan’s fists were tightly clenched. He had dreamt of the day he would open his meridian channel for
many years.
Zhou Yuan took in a deep breath, allowing his emotions to calm down a little. Subsequently, his fists were
raised and the ninety eight forms of the frolicking dragon were very naturally displayed.
Roar!
As the final form was completed, the Qi and blood in Zhou Yuan’s body boiled and his skeleton vibrated.
His back undulated up and down as a faint dragon roar emerged from within his body.
Huu!
Zhou Yuan sucked in and the surrounding Genesis Qi was immediately drawn towards him. It surged
over, transforming into a white mist that was swallowed into his body with a single gulp.
Once the Genesis Qi entered his body, Zhou Yuan directed it towards the final bit of blockage in the first
meridian channel and ferociously attacked.
Pop!
The last bit of blockage did not pose much of an obstruction. A faint sound was heard as if an invisible
membrane was broken.
At the same time, Zhou Yuan could feel that the first meridian channel in his body was completely opened
at this very moment!
Zhou Yuan felt as if the surroundings had become very quiet. The Qi and blood in his body boiled with
gurgling noises, while the first meridian channel seemed to have come alive, slowly squirming as it
continuously devoured the Genesis Qi that poured into the body as if it had been starved.
The meridian channel absorbed Genesis Qi and swiftly fed it to the flesh.
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Waves of piercing pain pulsed within Zhou Yuan’s body, but he did not panic. Instead, ecstacy overflowed
on his face.
Along with the piercing pain, a feeling of transparency filled his body. His entire body seemed to grow
lighter at this moment while a numbing sensation washed over his muscles, skeleton and skin.
It was an indicator that his physical body was strengthening!
This feeling lasted for a dozen minutes before Zhou Yuan’s eyes slowly cracked open. He immediately
smelled an odd odour from his body and lowered his head, only to find that his skin was covered in filth.
It was the impurities that had been expelled from his body when it had been strengthened earlier.
Zhou Yuan’s eyes seemed to become much brighter at this moment while the world around him also grew
much clearer.
“Is this channel opening?” Zhou Yuan’s five fingers slowly closed as he felt the increased power in his
body, while his eyes filled with happiness.
The scene he had yearned for even in his dreams had finally become reality.
“Go inform father and mother.” Zhou Yuan entered a room to wash his body while instructing a nearby
servant girl.
By the time Zhou Yuan had cleaned himself and reemerged, he saw that Zhou Qing and Qin Yu were
already waiting. Their faces were filled with both surprise and joy.
“Yuan’er, you’ve unblocked your first meridian channel?!” Upon seeing Zhou Yuan emerge, Qin Yu quickly
walked forward, emotions stirring on her gentle face.
Zhou Qing also walked over, flames seemingly burning within his eyes as he looked at Zhou Yuan.
Zhou Yuan’s heart warmed when he saw the emotions on their faces as he nodded his head. With a
thought, the first meridian channel in his body vibrated and a suction force was emitted. The surrounding
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Genesis Qi immediately flowed into Zhou Yuan’s body through his pores, causing the surface of his skin to
glow a little.
“Drawing Qi into the body. He has indeed opened his channel!” Zhou Qing’s eyes flickered brightly. Even
he seemed to have lost some self-control at this very moment as he heartily laughed and said, “Good,
good. As expected of the sacred dragon of our Zhou clan. You’ve opened your first meridian channel in the
short span of ten days. No one in Great Zhou has ever achieved such speed before!”
Qin Yu’s eyes were red as she hugged Zhou Yuan and choked out between sobs, “Yuan’er is able to
cultivate. The outbreak of Dragon’s Resentment Poison three years later will be suppressed!”
Zhou Yuan gently patted Qin Yu’s back as he consoled with a smile, “Don’t worry mother, your child will
definitely dispose of that Dragon’s Resentment Poison.”
“Come, Yuan’er. Let father see how strong your body has become.” Zhou Qing beckoned to Zhou Yuan.
Every time a channel was opened, the quality of the channel opener’s body would improve, allowing it to
far surpass an ordinary person’s.
Zhou Yuan eagerly nodded upon hearing this. Cang Yuan had said before that although opening his
channels for the second time would be far more difficult than normal, it would also benefit him much
more once they were opened.
Now, he wanted to test exactly how much more beneficial it was.
Zhou Qing casually stood on the spot and beckoned at Zhou Yuan. The former’s seemingly careless
posture and position rippled with a presence that made Zhou Yuan’s breathing stifle slightly.
“Father is indeed worthy having broken through the Heaven Gate and reaching the Alpha-Origin stage.”
For Genesis Masters, channel opening was the beginning. After all eight meridian channels were
unblocked, the Qi Dwelling could be opened, allowing one to advance to the Qi Nourishing stage. At the
perfect Qi Nourishing stage, Qi could be used to attack the Heaven Gate, and once broken, Genesis Qi will
be able to leave the body to move mountains and overturn the seas. A power that was unmeasurable.
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The Alpha-Origin stage was what came after the Heaven Gate stage.
Channel Opening, Qi Nourishing, Heaven Gate and Alpha-Origin. These were the first four greater stages
for Genesis Masters.
The current Zhou Yuan had only opened his first meridian channel. Thus, he was naturally awed by the
presence of an Alpha-Origin stage expert.
Zhou Qing extended his hand and said, “We’ll test your power first. Use all of your strength.”
Zhou Yuan nodded. His foot powerfully pushed off the ground as his body shot out like an arrow. With a
twist of his hip, power surged in his body and converged at his fist. Fist winds immediately emerged as a
punch filled with vigorous power heavily slammed into Zhou Qing’s extended hand.
The soil beneath Zhou Yuan’s feet was sent flying while Zhou Qing’s body remained unmoved. His hand
had likewise not budged a single inch, but an expression of surprise appeared in his eyes.
Zhou Yuan massaged his fist, a little dejected as he withdrew. His full power had not been able to move
Zhou Qing’s hand at all.
“How did I do father?” Zhou Yuan raised his head and looked towards Zhou Qing.
Zhou Qing did not respond but said, “Let’s test your speed.”
With a twirl of his hand, a dozen pebbles rose from the ground and revolved above his palm. A sudden
wave of his hand and the pebbles shot towards Zhou Yuan like a torrential rain storm.
Every pebble was akin to an arrow and the sound of rapidly speeding through the wind could be faintly
heard.
The tip of Zhou Yuan’s foot pushed off the ground as his body swiftly backed away, avoiding the majority
of the pebbles. However, several pebbles still shooting towards him at a crafty angle, making it impossible
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for him to dodge.
Zhou Yuan’s eyes faintly shivered. At this moment, the spirit between his brows jumped and his senses
instantly became extremely sharp, making the trajectories of the pebbles exceptionally clear.
As a result, he suddenly reached out and caught all of the pebbles with two soft ‘pluck’ sounds.
The force from the pebbles made Zhou Yuan’s hand hurt somewhat. He grinned as he swung his hand and
said to Zhou Qing, “Almost wasn’t able to catch them.”
“Father?”
Zhou Yuan sudden realised that Zhou Qing blankly staring at the hand which had caught the pebbles.
Zhou Qing came back to his senses upon hearing Zhou Yuan’s voice and looked at him in a strange
manner. Zhou Qing had intentionally increased the force of behind those few pebbles from before to
measure Zhou Yuan’s resistance to strikes, in other words, the toughness of his body.
However, he never imagined that Zhou Yuan’s eyes would be so sharp. He had seen through the
trajectories of the pebbles and caught all of them. Was this a coincidence, or something else?
Zhou Qing shook his head and shot a glance at Zhou Yuan. The former’s finger suddenly flicked and a red
bolt of lightning shot out. In the blink of an eye, it blasted Zhou Yuan’s chest.
Crash!
Zhou Yuan was sent flying and smashed into a tree. He covered his chest with a hand and cried out in
pain.
Qin Yu hastily walked over and helped him up before angrily looking towards Zhou Qing. “Why did you
use Flame-Lightning Qi?”
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After an awkward laugh, Zhou Qing walked forward and looked at Zhou Yuan’s chest. Although it was
bruised somewhat green, this was clearly a superficial wound. Zhou Qing’s eyelids immediately twitched.
How did someone who had only opened a single meridian channel be so sturdy?
“How was it?” Zhou Yuan massaged his chest and asked with a pained face.
Zhou Qing looked at Zhou Yuan oddly and replied, “Are you certain that you’ve only opened
one meridian channel?”
Zhou Yuan could not help but roll his eyes. Did his father think that you could really open two meridian
channels at one go?
Qin Yu also sensed that something was amiss and nervously asked, “What is it? Is there something wrong
with Yuan’er?”
“Something wrong?”
Zhou Qing bitterly chuckled. “Something is indeed wrong, because regardless of whether it is power,
speed or toughness, let alone a single channel opener, even a two channel opener cannot compare to this
child’s body.”
“This is the first time I’ve seen such a thing in many many years. To think that the body quality of a mere
single channel opener would be so great.”
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Chapter 20 Genesis Technique
“Better than a two channel opener?!”
Zhou Yuan’s and Qin Yu’s eyes involuntarily opened wide when they heard Zhou Qing’s words.
“Master Cang Yuan did not lie. Although it is more difficult to open my channels, the benefits are indeed
greater.” Excitement flooded Zhou Yuan’s eyes. From his father’s evaluation, it seemed that the quality of
his body was even higher than a two channel practitioner and far surpassed normal one channel
practitioners.
If he added in the Genesis Runes he knew, in terms of battle power, even a three channel practitioner
might not be able to defeat him.
“If I master the Tiger Roar Rune, victory will practically be ensured as long as I don’t encounter a four
channel practitioner.” Mumbled Zhou Yuan in his heart as a wave of happiness washed over him. His hard
work over this period had indeed achieved rather pleasing results.
Most importantly, this had given Zhou Yuan hope, a hope that he could continuously climb till the day
that he would be able to change everything.
Zhou Qing’s eyes seemed to sparkle as he looked at Zhou Yuan. The only arm he had was extended as he
heavily patted Zhou Yuan’s shoulder while the latter could see unconcealable excitement and hope in the
former’s eyes.
“Yuan’er, You’ve done very well!”
Zhou Qing’s voice was somewhat shaky at this moment, and even his eyes had become red. “King Wu
believed that stripping you of your sacred dragon blessing would plunge our Zhou clan’s sacred dragon
into an endless abyss, but from the looks of it, he has underestimated you!”
Zhou Yuan’s mood fluctuated somewhat as he gazed at the emotional Zhou Qing. The former knew that
the years where he had been unable to open his channels had caused his father’s lofty aspiration to be
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slowly and cruelly grinded away by reality, while his father’s heart had perhaps also started to despair.
Reality had made Zhou Qing unable to see even the slightest hope.
The Great Zhou Empire was at death’s door, while the Great Wu Empire grew increasingly prosperous
and powerful. He knew that once the deadline of king Wu’s vow arrived, Great Zhou would have to
welcome its end.
Now however, at the very moment when Zhou Yuan opened his meridian channel, the despairing Zhou
Qing had finally seen a glimmer of light.
Even if this glimmer was still extremely faint, Zhou Qing believed that there would eventually come a day
when this glimmer would transform into a great blazing sun. The fires of revenge would thoroughly
incinerate Great Wu, taking back everything that Great Zhou had once lost.
Currently, Great Wu was waging war against two other nearby empires and could not spare any attention
to Great Zhou. Hence, this was the best time for Zhou Yuan to grow.
Zhou Yuan took in a deep breath, pushing down the emotions in his heart. He knew that there was still an
immeasurable gap between him and Great Wu. Thus, he needed to pull back his sights from such a distant
place.
What he needed to do now was to enter the A class through the newcomer exam and ultimately ruin Qi
Manor’s scheme targeted at the position of Great Zhou Institute headmaster.
“Practically all of the hopefuls for the top ten spots in the newcomer exam have the strength of four
channels. I may be unafraid of any three channel practitioner, but my chances against a four channel
practitioner are not great.” Zhou Yuan’s eyes flickered. To make certain that no mishaps would occur, he
needed to improve again in the time before the newcomer exam and unblock his second channel.
As long as his second meridian channel was opened, Zhou Yuan would have nothing to fear. It was likely
that he would have some chance even if he encountered the one who was said to have the best odds at
first place, Lin Feng.
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“Looks like I can’t relax if I intend to enter the A class.” Zhou Yuan secretly thought.
“Yuan’er. Now that your first channel has been opened, you can learn some Genesis techniques and bring
out the full potential of your power.” Said Zhou Qing after regaining his calm.
Genesis techniques were techniques that utilised one’s Genesis Qi in a more powerful manner. In this
world, Genesis techniques were similar to Genesis Weapons and were divided into four tiers, Normal,
Black, Heaven and Sacred.
However, the higher the grade of the Genesis technique, the greater its requirement on the body. Most
Channel Opening stage practitioners could only learn Normal tier Genesis techniques.
“I’ll get someone to send you some suitable Genesis techniques from the royal treasury for you to try.”
Zhou Yuan nodded. Although he had now opened his channel, it could only be said that all he had was
power that he was unable to fully utilise. The root cause was that he had never learnt any Genesis
techniques.
Therefore, a new module was added to his daily cultivation routine from this day.
...
Zhou Qing was highly efficient. Thus, several Genesis techniques were swiftly sent into Zhou Yuan’s
hands.
In the stone pavilion, Zhou Yuan browsed through the Genesis techniques. The most formidable amongst
them were the Universe Origin Fist and the Bright Air-Shattering Fist. Both were mid grade Genesis
techniques.
Zhou Yuan was deep in thought as he stared at these two Genesis techniques. Although they were
naturally not too complicated, they were better than low grade Genesis techniques. Of course, the Genesis
Qi one had at the Channel Opening stage was not overly abundant, hence even if a more profound Genesis
technique was learnt, one would be unable to bring out its true power.
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While Zhou Yuan was immersed in the two mid grade Genesis techniques, he suddenly smelt a light
fragrance. His expression immediately changed a little as he lifted his head, only to find that Yaoyao was
standing beside him as she cast an indifferently glance at the two Genesis techniques in his hands.
“Very ordinary Genesis techniques.” Yaoyao quickly withdrew her gaze and heedlessly remarked.
Zhou Yuan helplessly smiled and said, “They’re only Normal mid grade Genesis techniques, how
complicated do you expect them to be?”
“You want to learn Genesis techniques?”
Zhou Yuan’s gaze remained on the manuals as he nodded and said, “Now that I’ve opened my first
meridian channel, I am able to use some Genesis Qi and naturally intend to learn Genesis techniques to
supplement my battle power.”
If one did not learn any Genesis techniques, there would be no other option than to clash with the quality
of one’s body in battle.
Yaoyao could not help but give Zhou Yuan a strange look when she heard this. “You already have superb
techniques on you, why do you still look through these ordinary ones?”
Zhou Yuan’s eyes suddenly focused. He lifted his head and looked at Yaoyao as his brows furrowed.
“What do you mean?”
Upon seeing this appearance of his, Yaoyao’s ruddy little mouth frowned slightly. “Stupid.”
Zhou Yuan clenched his jaw and said with a hateful tone, “Has all my good liquor been drunk in vain?”
Yaoyao placed her hand on her cheek and lazily replied, “Have you not realised anything after so many
days of frolicking dragon forms practice?”
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A look of thought emerged on Zhou Yuan’s face. After a long time, he suddenly stood up, walked out of the
stone pavilion, raised his fists and slowly started to do a set of ninety eight forms of the frolicking dragon.
He did not quickly complete the set this time. Every action and movement was done rather slowly.
Half an incense stick of time had already passed by the time he finished the entire set
He stood on the spot and seemed to immerse himself in each and every movement. A long while later, his
pupils suddenly shrunk as shock appeared on his immature face.
Subsequently, he raised his head and looked towards the stone pavilion at Yaoyao, his voice containing a
tone of disbelief.
“This… this frolicking dragon forms hides Genesis techniques?”
A small smirk emerged on Yaoyao’s exquisite as an autumn moon face. “Although you’re a somewhat
slow, you are not beyond redemption.”
Next, she extended two slender fingers and coolly said, “To be precise, there are two Genesis techniques
hidden in the ninety eight forms of the frolicking dragon.”
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Chapter 21 Dragon Step, Dragon Tablet Hand
“Two Genesis techniques?!”
Zhou Yuan’s heart shook, eyes full of excitement as he looked towards Yaoyao. The Dragon Breathing
method master Cang Yuan had imparted to him was deeply profound and obviously not ordinary at all.
Hence, the two Genesis techniques contained within it were likely not simple as well.
Yaoyao gently stroked the Tuntun and slowly said, “These two Genesis techniques are known as the
Dragon Step and the Dragon Tablet Hand.”
“Dragon Step? Dragon Tablet Hand?” A pensive look emerged on Zhou Yuan’s face.
He could faintly sense that there were indeed some mysteries within the ninety eight forms of the
frolicking dragon. However, he was incapable of clearly identifying them. After all, the only thing master
Cang Yuan had done was throw Dragon Breathing at him, and a disciple groping about in the dark by
himself would undoubtedly result in rather slow progress.
Thus, he begged with his eyes at Yaoyao.
Yaoyao displayed a very faint smile and winked at him.
Zhou Yuan knew what she meant. With a wave of his hand, a servant girl immediately sent over a bottle
of fine liquor. Only then did Yaoyao nod her head in satisfaction before lifting Tuntun and throwing it out
of the stone pavilion.
Upon seeing her actions, Zhou Yuan’s eyelids jumped as a feeling of unease bubbled within him. “Could it
be that Tuntun also knows?”
Yaoyao’s red lips curved slightly, displaying a playful expression as she replied, “Back then, grandpa Hei
would teach Tuntun whenever he had nothing to do. Strictly speaking, Tuntun can be considered your
senior brother disciple.”
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The corners of Zhou Yuan’s mouth twitched as he involuntarily howled in his heart, “Was Tuntun a
human wearing the skin of a beast? How the heck was it even able to learn Genesis techniques?! Exactly
what kind of beast was it?”
No matter how he howled in his heart however, he still had to learn what needed to be learnt. Hence, he
could only look towards Tuntun, gently rub its head and show an extremely kind smile. “Good Tuntun.
Show me the Dragon Step and Dragon Tablet Hand.”
However, Tuntun was currently in a bad mood due to being thrown by Yaoyao. Thus, it merely swept a
lazy glance at Zhou Yuan before laying down, refusing to move.
Zhou Yuan extended a finger and prodded Tuntun’s fat stomach, causing a wave of meat to ripple.
However, no matter how he poked and prodded, the latter did not respond at all as if it was dead.
Zhou Yuan raised an eyebrow when he saw that the little bastard was acting dead. Subsequently, he
beckoned with his hand and a servant girl immediately brought over a plate of dried Genesis Beast meat.
Tuntun’s eyes moved the moment its smelled the fragrance of food. It instantly got up and pounced at the
plate with a bark.
Zhou Yuan pulled the plate away, causing Tuntun to pounce at empty air. It immediately bared its teeth at
Zhou Yuan and snarled.
“Show me a first and I’ll let you eat.” Zhou Yuan was all smiles.
Tuntun looked at Zhou Yuan and then looked at the enticing Genesis Beast meat. In the end, it came to a
compromise before the delicious food and stood up on two legs. Its paw-feet slanted at an angle and it
began to display a series of bizarre footwork.
Each step was wide and bold but gave off a mist-like sensation. Its body quickly became somewhat blur
and it faintly seemed as if a real dragon was soaring within the mist, making it difficult to make out.
A small creature standing up on its hind legs and displaying complicated footwork was usually a rather
comical sight. However, Zhou Yuan’s expression was exceptionally serious while his eyes were
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unblinkingly fixed on Tuntun.
“This is known as the Dragon Step. A dragon hides within the clouds, barely visible. Dragon Step similarly
has a misty and illusory feeling, making others incapable of catching hold of you.” Yaoyao’s indifferent
voice echoed from the stone pavilion.
“You may try to attack Tuntun.”
Upon hearing this, Zhou Yuan clenched his hand and the Heavenly Yuan Brush landed within it. “Martial
form!”
The foot-long Heavenly Yuan Brush abruptly grew as Zhou Yuan grabbed it with both hands. Its body
swiftly shot forward, wind accompanying the tip of the brush as it pierced towards Tuntun in a tricky
manner.
Zhou Yuan had spent a substantial amount of time practicing basic spear techniques recently. Therefore,
the way he used the Heavenly Yuan Brush now looked a little imposing.
The brush tip ferociously shot forward. However, just as it was about to strike Tuntun, the latter’s feet
slanted and its body seemed to fade away, causing the brush tip to slide past.
Zhou Yuan could not believe his eyes. Power circulated in his arms as the Heavenly Yuan Brush fiercely
thrust forward with swishing sounds. It was a rather intimidating sight.
However, Tuntun continued to move, neither fast nor slow, as its body seemed to fade away from time to
time. Zhou Yuan was unable to even graze the former no matter how he attacked.
In the end, Zhou Yuan stopped, gasping for breath as light blossomed in his eyes. He had realized the
greatness of the Dragon Step. Such mist-like footwork could toy an enemy dizzy. It was clearly no
ordinary auxiliary Genesis technique.
Tuntun also slowed down when it saw that Zhou Yuan had stopped. Its little claw patted its fat stomach
and pointed Zhou Yuan with a sneer.
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“Once the Dragon Step is learnt, one’s Genesis Qi will vibrate with the air, creating a smokescreen-like
effect. That is how the fade-away effect comes about. In other words, others might see that an attack is
aimed at your throat but in reality, the attack has deviated three inches away from your real body. It is
these three inches of deviation in which the Dragon Step displays its greatness.”
“Next is the Dragon Tablet Hand.” Said Yaoyao in a drawn-out manner.
Zhou Yuan raised his head and looked towards Tuntun. It ferociously pounced, its paws swiping and
grabbing in a wild and free manner. This sight vaguely resembled a giant dragon reaching out its claws
and gave off a bold and powerful aura as if a giant dragon was smashing a mountain with a tablet.
Bang!
Claw shadows appeared and heavily slammed into a boulder, instantly shattering it, causing countless
pieces of shattered rock to be flung outwards.
Zhou Yuan’s pupils shrunk a little. The power behind this strike was truly domineering. Most importantly,
he could feel that Tuntun had not used powerful Genesis Qi. This meant that the power of this technique
would not be weak if he was the one to use it instead.
The Dragon Tablet Hand was clearly much stronger than the Universe Origin Fist and the Bright Air-
Shattering Fist.
Ao ao.
Tuntun hopped till it was right in front of Zhou Yuan, pointed its paw at the plate of dried Genesis Beast
meat and barked as if to hurry him.
Zhou Yuan put down the dried meat with a look of contemplation in his eyes. He considered himself to be
achieved basic mastery of the frolicking dragon forms after practicing for the past few days. Thus, he
could tell with a single glance that both the Dragon Step and Dragon Tablet Hand from earlier were
basically derived from the dragon frolicking forms.
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Zhou Yuan stood in silence for a long time before he suddenly lifted his foot and stepped forward at an
angle. His steps were abnormally eccentric, yet remarkable like a soaring dragon. Meanwhile, the first
meridian channel in his body began to absorb the surrounding Genesis Qi before diffusing it out from his
body.
The instant the circulation of Genesis Qi in his body aligned with his steps, Zhou Yuan shifted his feet
horizontally and his body blurred for a moment, unable to be found. It was rather bizarre.
In the stone pavilion, Yaoyao’s eyes faintly flashed when she saw this. Soon after, a smile of admiration
was revealed on her face.
Evidently, Zhou Yuan had grasped a little of the Dragon Step.
Zhou Yuan continued to practice. An incense stick of time later, his originally inexperienced steps had
grown much more practiced. He seemed to absent-mindedly shift his feet, causing his body to fade away
from time to time, becoming as difficult to discern as the mist.
Zhou Yuan eventually stopped, eyes filled with surprise and excitement. The Dragon Step was really
amazing. The moment one seemingly faded away was in fact due to a certain special reaction between
one’s Genesis Qi and the surrounding air. It hid one’s true location, making it hard to tell what was real or
fake, ultimately making it difficult for others to find.
After gaining some understanding of the Dragon Step, Zhou Yuan’s thoughts shifted to the Dragon Tablet
Hand.
This bold and powerful Genesis technique was akin to a giant dragon smashing a mountain with a tablet.
That instantaneous explosion of power was obviously rather shocking.
The technique was not overly complicated. One only needed to visualise the destructive feeling of a giant
dragon flinging a tablet while making Genesis Qi flow along one’s channels and brazenly attack.
Zhou Yuan’s fist seemed to flicker. It appeared to move in slow-motion but gave off a feeling of heaviness
as if dragging a heavy tablet while energy brewed within it.
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Meanwhile, Genesis Qi flowed along the meridian channel in his body and poured into his fist.
At a certain moment, Zhou Yuan’s eyes suddenly focused as his immature face became stern. His hand
abruptly moved, one pulling, the other guiding, as if he was a giant dragon smashing the stone tablet in
his claws at an unbroken mountain range.
Boom!
Zhou Yuan’s fist heavily smashed into a thick tree trunk. Berserk power exploded from the centre of his
fist, immediately causing wood splinters to fly as he pierced the entire trunk with a single punch.
Sweat flowed down Zhou Yuan’s face, but his eyes were exceptionally bright. He knew that his battle
power would jump with the Dragon Step and the Dragon Tablet Hand.
Next, once he unblocked his second meridian channel, he would no longer have anything to fear in the
newcomer exam.
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Chapter 22 Advent of the Newcomer Exam
As time flowed, the date of the newcomer exam grew increasingly near.
For the greater part of the month, Zhou Yuan had not relaxed even for a single moment. He practiced the
frolicking dragon forms daily, relentlessly attacking his meridian channels time and time again, while
every night was spent on the Primal Chaos Divine Grindstone Visualisation Method to temper his spirit.
In addition, the gaps in between were spent learning Genesis Runes from Yaoyao along with diligently
practicing the Dragon Step and Dragon Tablet Hand.
This enriching and highly intensive training made even Zhou Yuan’s body ache all over at the end of each
day, while his mind was even more exhausted. Fortunately, Zhou Yuan would become as lively as a tiger
and filled with energy after the night’s practice of the Primal Chaos Divine Grindstone Visualisation
Method.
It was then that Zhou Yuan finally felt the benefits brought by the Primal Chaos Divine Grindstone
Visualisation Method.
Although the training was tough, the results from persevering through it made Zhou Yuan jump with joy.
He had finally unblocked his second meridian channel just two days before the newcomer exam...
In the flower park.
Zhou Yuan’s foot shifted as his figure gave off a faint feeling of mist. He seemed to move carelessly, but his
speed was extremely quick, appearing a dozen feet away in a few steps.
At the same time, his fist seemed to flicker. Every punch was slow and heavy, but when he punched, the
faint sound of wind could be heard, making it clear that these punches contained great force.
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These were obviously the Dragon Step and Dragon Tablet Hand.
The Dragon Step was ungraspable as the mist, while the Dragon Tablet Hand gave off a weighty feeling.
Fast feet and slow fist. Contrary to expectation, the combination of the two was rather impressive.
Dong!
Zhou Yuan’s faintly flickering fist suddenly slammed into an artificially placed rock in the park. The rock
immediately shook as numerous cracks grew on it. In the end, the rock collapse with a loud boom.
Phew.
Zhou Yuan deeply exhaled, releasing a ball of white Qi. He looked towards the shattered rock in
satisfaction.
Zhou Yuan mumbled to himself, “The Dragon Tablet Hand has three levels, shatter the mountain, split the
earth and break the sky. With my two channel strength, I can only use shatter the mountain.”
After half a month of bitter training, he had gained an even greater understanding of the Dragon Tablet
Hand and now knew that there were three levels to this technique. Of course, the names of these levels
had come from Zhou Yuan himself for the sake of intimidating his opponents. After all, given his two
channel strength, he would not be able to shatter an entire mountain even if he obtained complete
mastery of the technique.
No matter how high grade a Genesis technique was, it needed the support of abundant and powerful
Genesis Qi to fully display its might. On this point, his current Genesis Qi was still much too sparse.
If he was to reach the Heaven Gate stage, his Genesis Qi would become so abundant that a mere breath
would be able to shatter a mountain.
Even so, Zhou Yuan was already very satisfied with the power of the Dragon Tablet Hand. After all, the
opponents he had to face at his current level were not so inconceivably powerful.
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“It is nearly time for the newcomer exam. I have to take one of the top ten spots and enter the A class, else
with just Youwei alone, it will be difficult to keep Qi Yue in check.” Zhou Yuan’s eyes flickered. Qi Yue was
the source of the confidence for Qi Manor to take the position of headmaster.
The headmaster position was too important. If it fell into Qi Manor’s hands, king Qi would definitely do a
clean sweep of the ranks and stealthily change the Great Zhou Institute into the Great Qi Institute.
This would be a fatal blow to the royal clan and Zhou Yuan absolutely could not let it happen. Thus, he
would do everything in his power to ensure that the number one spot of the year-end class rankingl exam
ended up with the A class.
Zhou Yuan inhaled as his eyes gradually turned sharp. Of course, before all of that, he had to first make
sure that he would successfully enter the A class through the imminent newcomer exam.
On the day of the newcomer exam, the fish-belly-white sun rose from the horizon as the atmosphere over
the Great Zhou Institute became extremely lively and filled with excitement.
Every new student who entered the institute would have to take part in the newcomer exam after a year
of training. They would subsequently be allocated to a class and continue on to more advanced training.
Therefore, there was no need to doubt the importance of the newcomer exam in the institute.
When Zhou Yuan arrived at the exam practice field, it was already a boiling cauldron of noise. Numerous
boys and girls gathered in groups as they chatted with each other, each and every one wearing
expressions of both nervousness and excitement.
Zhou Yuan saw Su Youwei in the biggest group. She was undoubtedly the group’s center of attention and
the sight of this appeared somewhat like a bunch of stars surrounding the brilliant moon. After all, not
only was she pretty, her talent was likewise amazing and she had a determined character. All these
factors undoubtedly made Su Youwei the focus amongst the newest batch of students.
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A faint smile emerged on Zhou Yuan’s face as he watched this scene. He could still recall the time when he
met Su Youwei a year before, back when she was only a little girl covered in grime. It was as if she had
undergone a complete metamorphosis. Not only was she enchantingly beautiful, she also gave off a glow
of confidence, causing numerous boys to adore her.
All of these changes originated from her own efforts. All Zhou Yuan had done was point out a road for her
to walk.
In the crowd, the faintly smiling and chatting Su Youwei seemed to have sensed something and lifted her
pretty face. Her gaze met Zhou Yuan’s and the smile on her lips fully blossomed. The brilliance in that
moment caused the eyes of the surrounding boys to brighten.
However, before they could redouble their efforts to be friendly, Su Youwei had already politefully smiled
at them and exited the crowd. With her small hands behind her back, she unhurriedly walked towards
Zhou Yuan, eyes like crescent moons and a smile on her lips.
Zhou Yuan stared at Su Youwei. He could faintly sense that the Genesis Qi surrounding her body seemed
to have grown stronger and immediately asked, “Opened your fourth meridian channel?”
“Opened it long ago. The reason why you do not know is because you’ve not come to the institute
recently.” Su Youwei’s bright eyes blinked a few times as she spoke in a somewhat grudging tone.
Zhou Yuan could not help but let out an awkward chuckle when he saw her gaze. “I was also working
hard in my training.”
“So are you confident in your chances?” Su Youwei’s eyes contained some worry. She did not know that
Zhou Yuan had already found his meridian channels and thus believed that he could only depend on
Genesis Runes.
Zhou Yuan grinned as he nodded. “Don’t worry, I will definitely enter the top ten.”
Su Youwei was somewhat relieved when she saw his confident smile and responded with a light nod.
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While Zhou Yuan was chatting with Su Youwei, several gazes habouring malicious intentions were staring
at them from a nearby platform.
“Looks like our prince does have the balls to take part in the newcomer exam.” A smile was plastered
across Qi Yue’s face though it contained a trace of mockery.
“To think that learning a few Genesis Runes would make him so conceited. He truly overestimates
himself.” At Qi Yue’s side was the girl called Liu Xi. She had a pretty appearance with thin red lips, and
was currently staring at Zhou Yuan in disdain. Her gaze would shift over to Su Youwei from time to time
as jealousy flitted across her eyes.
In the past, she, Liu Xi, was the most adored pearl in the Great Zhou Institute. However, all of this had
changed after Su Youwei appeared. Not only was she extremely popular amongst the newer students,
even the boys from the various classes would talk about her from time to time. Such popularity was
clearly not ordinary at all.
This made Liu Xi extremely furious. In her eyes, Su Youwei was merely a lowly commoner, someone
worlds apart in both status and nobility compared to herself. Yet, this commoner girl had obtained
popularity that surpassed her own, a fact that really infuriated her.
Lin Feng stood slightly behind Qi Yue. The former was expressionless as he watched the chatting Zhou
Yuan and Su Youwei, but a cold look flashed in his eyes.
When Qi Yue saw the look in Lin Feng’s eyes, he could not help but chuckle as he patted the latter’s
shoulders. “No need to worry, everything is already in place. I have prepared the most excellent
opponents for his highness for every match.”
He smiled superficially as he stared at Zhou Yuan and said, “Since he dares to come, I will let him receive
so much humiliation that he will no longer dare to show his face in the Great Zhou Institute ever again.”
Upon hearing these words, Lin Feng and Liu Xi exchanged a look and laughed. Looks like there was going
to be a good show during today’s newcomer exam.
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Chapter 23 First Sign of the Excellence
Clang! Clang!
As more and more new students gathered on the practice field, a loud sound spread from a tall platform.
Everyone raised their heads and saw an examiner standing there.
“For this newcomer exam, your opponents will be decided through drawing lots. Everyone come forward
and draw your lot, those with the same number will be matched with each other.” The examiner’s
powerful voice spread across the entire field.
Following this, the numerous new students went forward to draw their lots, causing the place to become
increasingly bustling.
The upper echelons of the Great Zhou Institute were gathered on a viewing platform west of the field.
Seated at the very centre was the current headmaster, Chu Tianyang.
Beside him was middle-aged man in purple robes. The man’s face was thin and he had deeply set eyes,
making him look rather stern. His was expressionless as he sat with his back against the chair, cup of tea
in hand.
This person was the vice-headmaster of the Great Zhou Institute, and the one in charge of the B class, Xu
Hong.
Xu Hong observed the field as he faintly smiled and said, “Headmaster Chu, I’m afraid that your A class
will only be able to select those ranked eleven and below this time.”
Chu Tianyang was expressionless. He naturally knew that most of the outstanding individuals of the new
batch had already been enticed to Qi Yue’s side and would undoubtedly enter the B class after the
newcomer exam.
Chu Tianyang coldly replied, “Vice-head Xu, acting so smug so soon might not be a good thing.”
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Xu Hong did not mind Chu Tianyang’s anger-filled response, the former’s lips curling into a mocking
smile. His B class had already obtained the top position in the class ranking exam for the past two years. If
they took first place again this year, he would be able to contest for the headmaster position in
accordance to the rules of the institute.
When that happened, the new headmaster of the Great Zhou Institute would be him, Xu Hong.
The other surrounding class masters could only maintain their silence as they watched the two parties
clash. They understood very well that behind this contest for the headmaster position was the battle
between the Great Zhou royal clan and Qi Manor.
Chu Tianyang was deeply enraged by Xu Hong, but there was nothing he could do. Even he could not
match majority of the promises Qi Yue had made to entice those students.
“The only thing I can do now is hope that Su Youwei will perform well. She is very talented. If she enters
the A class and is properly groomed, there might be a chance to for her to vie with Qi Yue during the year-
end class ranking exam.”
Chu Tianyang softly sighed in his heart. Soon after, his gaze suddenly shifted to Zhou Yuan’s location with
some worry in his eyes. Although Chu Tiangyang knew that Zhou Yuan was now able to unblock his
meridian channels, it had only been a month since then and even if Zhou Yuan’s talent was not less than
Su Youwei’s, he would have likely barely managed to unblock only one channel.
With such strength, top ten was certainly out of the question and it was likely that he would not even be
able to win a few matches today.
Zhou Yuann was the prince of Great Zhou, and the halo of this identity would surely draw the attention of
others. Hence, it would damage the Great Zhou royal clan’s reputation if he lost in an unsightly manner.
Chu Tianyang shook his head and mumbled in his heart, “I hope that his highness will be able to endure
for a few matches.”
At this current moment, Zhou Yuan and Su Youwei had already drawn their lots on the practice field.
Zhou Yuan had drawn eighteen while Su Youwei forty seven.
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“Thank goodness we did not draw the same number.” Zhou Yuan could not help but smile upon seeing
this.
Su Youwei softly laughed. Soon after, she said in a serious manner, “If you meet me, I will not go easy on
you.”
Zhou Yuan could only roll his eyes in response.
While they were conversing, the referees had already ascended each practice arena and loud shouts
sounded in succession.
“Number one, Qin Ya and Liu Ying!”
“Number two, Cheng Yu and Zhao Qingshan!”
“.…..”
As strong and healthy figures leapt onto each arena, the atmosphere of the entire practice field began to
boil. Each arena was surrounded by numerous boys and girls while various cheers and shouts could be
heard.
Zhou Yuan and Su Youwei did not join in the fun and merely observed from afar.
As time passed, the matches on these martial arenas quickly came to a close. The victors would rejoice
while the losers hung their heads in dejection.
However, the exam would not stop for anyone’s loss. Hence, intense battles continued to play out on the
arenas and Zhou Yuan’s turn quickly arrived.
“Number eighteen, Zhou Yuan and Pei Yun!”
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As this shout spread, the hearts of numerous youths skipped a beat. Their attention was drawn over from
all direction because everyone in the Great Zhou Institute knew of Zhou Yuan’s identity.
What shocked them even more was Zhou Yuan’s opponent, Pei Yun.
This individual was quite famous amongst the new batch of students. Not only had he already opened his
third meridian channel, he was also one of the more outstanding practitioners amongst the three
channels.
“His highness Zhou Yuan’s first match is against Pei Yun?!”
“That’s really unlucky. Pei Yun is one the stronger three channel practitioners…”
“Although prince Zhou Yuan is rather good in Genesis Runes, it is quite unlikely that he will be able to
defeat a three channel practitioner.”
“Is prince Zhou Yuan going to be eliminated in the first match?”
“.…..”
Whispers spread in the practice field. Zhou Yuan had a rather good reputation in the institute, hence
many people felt that this match-up was rather unfortunate for him.
“To think that it would be Pei Yun.” Su Youwei’s face was somewhat ugly. She had naturally heard of Pei
Yun and knew how powerful he was.
Zhou Yuan’s eyes narrowed slightly. He looked towards a nearby high platform as if he had sensed
something, only to see Qi Yue watching him with a strange smile. A thought flashed in Zhou Yuan’s mind
as he said to himself, “It is really too much of a coincidence for me to meet such an opponent in my first
match.”
His eyes faintly flickered with thought. It was likely that Qi Yue had a hand in this matter. However, the
fact that he could pull off such a thing was enough to show how deeply Qi Manor had infiltrated the
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institute.
“To think that he would not hesitate exposing some of Qi Manor’s secret pawns just to cause me
trouble…”
This thought flashed across Zhou Yuan’s mind before he smiled at Su Youwei, whose eyes were filled with
worry, and said, “Don’t worry, I’m afraid that a three channel practitioner is not enough to stop me.”
“I’ll be going.”
After speaking, Zhou Yuan waved his hand at Su Youwei and briskly walked towards the practice arena.
Qi Yue watched this scene from the high platform and could not help but grin at Lin Feng and Liu Yi. “The
show is about to start. I hope that our prince will be able to at least last for a while and let us properly
enjoy it.”
A gloating look flitted across Lin Feng’s and Liu Yi’s eyes when they heard this. Both of them also smirked
and looked towards the arena.
On the viewing platform to the west, Chu Tianyang frowned slightly when he saw this same scene and
helplessly sighed in his heart. With such an opponent, it likely going to be very difficult for Zhou Yuan to
achieve victory in his first match.
Under numerous pitying gazes, a calm-looking Zhou Yuan ascended the arena. He looked to his front, only
to find a boy in blue fearlessly standing there, a mocking look in the latter’s eyes.
Pei Yun had an odd look in his eyes as he smiled and said, “I really did not imagine that I will meet your
highness in the first match. Do forgive me if my blows are too heavy later on.”
“Did Qi Yue set this up?” Asked Zhou Yuan in an emotionless voice.
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Pei Yun’s eyes widened a little, before he smiled and replied, “I do not know what your highness is talking
about.”
Zhou Yuan adjusted his clothes. “I’m afraid that things will not end well for the one who volunteered to be
the first to test the waters.”
Pei Yun was a little angered and coldly replied, “It will be better for your highness to think about your
own situation. I pray that you will not be humiliated too greatly today.”
While they were talking, a referee sternly cried out, “Begin!”
Pei Yun’s eyes were filled with iciness. Hence, his figure bolted out like a panther the moment the
referee’s cry rang out, fingers tightly clenched into a powerful punch that was thrown at Zhou Yuan.
He did not hold back at all with regards to this punch. Three channels of power fully poured out, covering
the surface of his fist with Genesis Qi and even the sound of wind could be heard due to its momentum.
This was obviously an extremely domineering and powerful punch. Even a three channel practitioner
would not dare to underestimate it.
The crowd around the arena could not help but shake their heads. It was likely that Zhou Yuan would lose
when this punch landed.
Under the watching eyes of the crowd, intimidating fist winds pounced at Zhou Yuan’s face. He gazed at
the rather twisted look on his opponent as his hand suddenly shot out to catch the latter’s fist.
“Courting death!” Upon seeing this, Pei Yun’s anger transformed into laughter. Could Zhou Yuan have
been frightened silly? Pei Yun’s punch could shatter even rock and yet Zhou Yuan dared to catch it? Was
he not afraid of breaking his arm?
Thump!
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A sinister look filled Pei Yun’s eyes as he watched his deadly punch heavily smashed into Zhou Yuan’s
palm, causing a pleased smile to emerge from the corners of the former’s lips.
However, this smile immediately turned rigid a split second later.
He had seen that Zhou Yuan’s outreached hand had not budged at all. Wild power gushed out from Pei
Yun’s punch, but it was as all of this power was charging into a black hole. There was no response at all.
“How is this possible?!” A horrified cry sounded in Pei Yun’s heart, his expression suddenly changing, as a
feeling of unease rose within him.
The corners of Zhou Yuan’s mouth turned into a cold smile as he watched the changing expression on Pei
Yun’s face. Zhou Yun had already unblocked his second meridian channel, greatly strengthening his body.
Even a three channel practitioner could not compare to him now.
He held Pei Yun’s fist and slowly exerted force with a grip as solid as that of an eagle. The growing power
caused Pei Yun to feel as if his fist was about to be crushed.
“Three channels open!”
Pei Yun wore a horrified expression as he fiercely gritted his teeth and howled.
The three meridian channels in his body abruptly started to vibrate, pulling in the surrounding Genesis
Qi. Immediately, a powerful force exploded within his body.
However, just as he was able to free himself from Zhou Yuan’s grip, the latter suddenly made his move, or
more accurately swung his leg. Powerful kick-wind blew as a foot surrounded by slivers of swirling
Genesis Qi was swiftly flung at Pei Yun’s chest.
“Scram!”
Thump!
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A muffled sound was heard as Pei Yun felt an indescribably huge force slam into him. The force was so
great that he would not be able to match it even if he use all three meridian channels to take in Genesis Qi.
Thus, his body was sent miserably flying off the arena, before crashing into the ground as he vomited a
mouthful of blood.
The surroundings immediately turned silent. Everyone was dumbstruck as they watched this scene.
The exchange between Zhou Yuan and Pei Yun had been too quick. They had only seen Pei Yun charge at
Zhou Yuan, and before they could react, the aggressive Pei Yun had been kicked off the stage by Zhou
Yuan a millisecond later…
Just how much power was in that kick?!
Everyone looked at Zhou Yuan as if they had seen a ghost. They clearly knew that he had not used any
Genesis Runes this time.
Therefore, the kick from earlier was completely Zhou Yuan’s own power.
Even a three channel practitioner could not compare, right?!
Since when had this prince of theirs, whom was said to be unable to find his channels, become so strong?
Su Youwei’s hand covered her mouth, while her face filled with disbelief. She had not understood why
Zhou Yuan had been so confident before. Only now did she understand… Zhou Yuan had been hiding his
power all along!
On the tall platform, the smiles of the trio whom were originally ready to enjoy a good show also turned
rigid at this moment as their faces turned white with anger, disbelief and shock.
This turn of events had far exceeded their expectations.
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Chapter 24 Show of Might
“How is this possible?!”
Lin Feng’s and Liu Xi’s faces were filled with astonishment. Their eyes were glued to the slender figure on
the nearby arena as they said in shock, “He removed the three channel Pei Yun from the arena with a
single kick?!”
Qi Yue’s face twitched, his eyes like dark clouds as he said in a chilling voice, “It seems that we’ve been
tricked by Zhou Yuan. He used Genesis Qi in his previous kick, meaning he has already unblocked at least
one meridian channel!”
Lin Feng’s and Liu Xi’s pupils shrunk. They knew that Zhou Yuan’s eight meridians refused to show
themselves so why had they suddenly been unblocked now?
Zhou Yuan had concealed himself very deeply indeed!
Qi Yue inhaled deeply and darkly said, “He has likely unblocked his channels recently and cannot possibly
have opened too many. Pei Yun lost so quickly because he was caught off-guard and did not even have the
chance to use any Genesis techniques.”
“If he was prepared, Zhou Yuan might not have won.”
Upon hearing this analysis, Lin Feng and Liu Xi regained their calm and nodded in agreement. Zhou Yuan
had purposely hidden his strength, making his opponent careless before taking victory in a flash.
“Such craftiness.” Liu Xi sneered. “However, this method can only be used once. Let’s see how he fares in
the next match!”
Lin Feng slowly nodded. He had originally planned to wait for Zhou Yuan to be thoroughly humiliated in
front of Su Youwei. Lin Feng never imagined that Zhou Yuan would pull off something like this and it truly
angered him.
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Qi Yue’s eyes flickered as he darkly stared at Zhou Yuan’s figure. No one knew what the former was
thinking.
Meanwhile, on the observation platform, Chu Tianyang’s face was filled with shock as when he saw this
scene. Bewilderment fluctuated indeterminately in his eyes as he said, “How did prince Zhou Yuan
become so powerful?”
He clearly understood that Zhou Yuan had only been able to begin his channel opening training a month
ago. Yet, the power of that kick from before had been even greater than that of a three channel
practitioner!
He could not figure it out at all and could only inwardly shake his head. However, he also secretly sighed
in relief. Looks like Zhou Yuan did have some chance in this newcomer exam.
No wonder he had declared that he would enter the A class through the newcomer exam a month ago. It
turned out that he did have the ability to match his words.
Beside Chu Tianyang, Xu Hong frowned a little when he saw Zhou Yuan obtain victory, but did not say
anything. Although the power that Zhou Yuan had shown was astonishing, it was still rather optimistic
for him to take one of the top ten positions. Thus, there was no need to worry.
Under the gazes of astonishment from all around, Zhou Yuan hopped off the arena after hearing the
referee’s decision and walked towards Su Youwei.
“You’ve really concealed your abilities really well!” Su Youwei pouted a little as she looked at Zhou Yuan.
To think that she had been worrying all along because she was in the dark with regards to the fact that he
had already begun unblocking his channels.
Zhou Yuan hurriedly explained, “There was no time to tell you because I was training non-stop.”
Su Youwei softly snorted, a clearly unhappy look on her small face as she replied, “Then tell me truthfully,
how many channels have you opened?”
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“Two.” Zhou Yuan chuckled, not hiding anything. After all, everyone would know after today.
Su Youwei’s long and shapely eyebrows furrowed slightly as she shot a skeptical look at Zhou Yuan. “That
kick from earlier was not from a two channel practitioner.”
That attack had been able to kick even a three channel practitioner off the stage. Its power was
completely unlike something a two channel practitioner was capable of.
Zhou Yuan could only let out a helpless laugh. The quality of his two channel body was practically akin to
a four channel practitioner. Hence, sending Pei Yun flying with a kick was not difficult at all. However, he
naturally could not explain this so as to avoid drawing attention he could not afford.
Fortunately, Su Youwei did not dwell on this topic. Instead, her eyes contained joy as she said, “Two
channels. If you add in your Genesis Runes, you might even have a chance of charging into the top ten
rankings.”
Zhou Yuan nodded with a smile.
The newcomer exam went on while they talked. An unceasing string of intense battle on the various
arenas continued to incite cheers and shouts from the numerous surrounding boys and girls.
It soon came to Su Youwei’s turn.
Su Youwei’s opponent was a mere two channel new student. The latter’s face turned somewhat pale
when he realised he had been matched with her. After all, the gap between both parties was far too great.
Thus, there was no suspense at all in this match. After a few exchanges, Su Youwei’s opponent had been
completely defeated and he subsequently jumped off the stage.
After a few more rounds, Zhou Yuan’s turn came once again.
“Zhou Yuan, Shi Yu!”
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When this shout rang out in the field, numerous gazes were instantly drawn over. The first match had
ended way too quickly and many people did not understand how Zhou Yuan had won. Hence, they were
extremely curious about this next match.
Zhou Yuan walked onto the arena unde the attention of numerous gazes. The boy called Shi Yu facing him
had a rather well-built body. However, Shi Yu was currently full of vigilance as he stared at Zhou Yuan. It
was evident that this second opponent had learnt a lesson from his predecessor.
“Begin!”
Shi Yu made his move the instant the judge’s shout was heard. “Three channels open!”
Following Shi Yu’s roar, Genesis Qi flooded into his body. His clothes flapped about, while light that could
be seen with the naked eye swirled on the surface of his body. It was a rather imposing sight.
As he felt the explosion of power in his body, the wariness in his eyes receded substantially. Shi Yu tightly
stared at Zhou Yuan and a split second later, the former’s foot pushed off the ground as he shot forward.
His body appeared in front of Zhou Yuan, five fingers curling like an eagle’s claw while Genesis Qi light
flowed at his fingertips. The sharpness of this attack was enough to tear through rock.
Shi Yu’s attack was extremely swift and ferocious, reaching Zhou Yuan’s neck in the blink of an eye.
However, just as it was about to land, Zhou Yuan’s feet suddenly inclined as his body turned blurry.
The hand-claw surrounded by wisps of Genesis Qi light slashed downwards, but what made Shi Yu’s
pupils shrink was that his originally sure-hit attack had landed on empty air.
“Not good!” A chill rose in his heart.
However, a figure flashed before his eyes before he could pull back his hand and defend. Zhou Yuan
rapidly closed-in, a slim palm penetrating Su Yu’s defences and lightly landed on his chest. The palm
strike seemed to be a light blow, but it contained astonishing power.
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Thump!
Shi Yu was barely able to direct Genesis Qi light to his chest in defence before he quickly felt an
overbearing power pour onto his chest.
Shi Yu’s body was directly blown away by the power and his sorry figure landed on the arena.
He miserably steadied himself before hastily rolling away in hopes of avoiding Zhou Yuan’s follow-up
attack. However, the moment his body stopped, Shi Yu saw a flash from the corner of his eyes as a figure
closely followed him like a shadow, causing him to scared out of his skin.
However, before he could take any action, he felt a hand grab his forehead. Power surged at the center of
the hand, causing his body to freeze, no longer daring to make any movements.
If that power was released, his head would be crushed.
“I admit defeat!” Cold sweat drenched Shi Yu’s body as he loudly shouted without the slightest hesitation.
Upon hearing Shi Yu concede, Zhou Yuan released his hand and his gaze swept around him. The
surroundings of the arena were completely silent.
Everyone’s mouths were wide open having seen the swift and direct end to the match.
“Great!”
This silence lasted for a split second before countless cheers followed. The swiftness and ferocity Zhou
Yuan had shown earlier paired with his almost phantom-like speed was truly stunning.
Was this still the prince that was rumored to have been unable to begin channel opening cultivation?
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On the tall platform nearby, Qi Yue, Liu Xi and Lin Feng turned silent while their expressions fluctuated
indeterminately.
Lin Feng slowly said, “Very fast!”
A serious look had finally appeared in his eyes.
As an observer, he was naturally able to clearly see that Shi Yu had lost because of Zhou Yuan’s speed. No
matter how the former retreated at full speed, Zhou Yuan had followed behind like a shadow.
Liu Xi gritted her teeth as she angrily scolded Shi Yu, “What a useless piece of trash.”
Qi Yue was expressionless. His hands slowly stroked the railings as he said in a voice void of any warmth,
“The quality of his body is very high, practically able to match a four channel practitioner.”
His tone turned much icier as he looked towards Lin Feng. “Three channel practitioners are no match for
him. It seems that we can only rely on you.”
Cold light flowed in Lin Feng’s eyes as he nodded. “Relax. He will not pass me. I will let him know just how
powerful a true four channel practitioner is!”
On the viewing platform, shock was revealed on Chu Tianyang’s face as he mumbled to himself, “The
quality of his body is comparable to a four channel practitioner, but the Genesis Qi undulations are not as
strong as a four channel practitioner, strange…”
Zhou Yuan jumped off the stage. He could feel an additional trace of respect in the gazes that were cast at
him from all around, respect not because of his status or identity, but because of the power he had
displayed.
In a world where cultivation was the mainstream, even a prince like Zhou Yuan being unable to start
channel opening cultivation would make others feel sympathy and pity for him.
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Zhou Yuan did not like those gazes. That was why he had such a strong attachment to Genesis Qi
cultivation.
Now, these feelings were no longer present in the gazes that were directed at him.
“So powerful.” Su Youwei’s pretty face was filled with astonishment as she watched Zhou Yuan walk over.
As a four channel opener, she could naturally tell how formidable his attacks had been on the arena.
Especially that speed, even she did not dare to underestimate it.
Zhou Yuan chuckled before turning his head as he looked towards the tall platform nearby. Qi Yue’s gaze
coincidentally met Zhou Yuan’s, both seeing the frostiness in each other’s eyes.
Qi Yue stared at Zhou Yuan in a cold and dark manner as his lips cracked open into a smile, revealing a set
of sinisterly white teeth. Subsequently, he extended his hand and slid it across his throat, an action that
was filled with provocation.
Zhou Yuan merely let out a laugh in response as he softly said to himself.
“Still so lively. Just wait and see how I will beat you to death in the class ranking exam at the end of the
year…”
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Chapter 25 Battling Lin Feng
The field was over-saturated with people. The intense battles on each of the various arenas would cause
deafening cheers to erupt from the many boys and girls from time to time. It was a pretty explosive
atmosphere.
As time passed, more and more new students were eliminated. However, the remaining students were
becoming increasingly elite, causing the battles that followed to naturally become even more amazing.
Over this period, Zhou Yuan had another two matches. There were no surprises to the outcomes. His
three channel opponents were utterly defeated at his hands.
Hence, he entered the top twenty.
In front of a certain martial arena, Zhou Yuan gazed at the stage where two figures were criss-crossing at
high speeds. Genesis Qi light flowed around their bodies and every clash of fists and legs would cause the
air to make ear-piercing noises.
The one on the stage was naturally Su Youwei, and her opponent was similarly a four channel
practitioner.
If she won this match, Su Youwei would advance to the top ten and possess the qualifications to enter the
A class.
Su Youwei’s beautiful figure moved nimbly like a willow in the wind. Her opponent was a well-built youth
whose attacks were wild and free, extremely barbaric like a ferocious ape.
In response to her opponent’s wildness, Su Youwei chose to not meet him head-on. Instead, she borrowed
the force of her opponents punches and strikes to agilely dodge.
This went on for a long time until the strong youth’s ferocious attacks finally grew weary. Su Youwei’s
eyes flashed as she changed her strategy, her pretty figure abruptly closing in on her opponent.
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However, it was at this moment that a bright light flashed in the youth’s eyes. His originally somewhat
weary attacks were suddenly revived. With a loud shout, Genesis Qi light swirled around a hard fist
containing alarming force whilst accompanied by a faint sonic boom as it powerfully struck at Su Youwei.
Formidable fist-wind rushed over, causing Su Youwei’s fine black hair to fly. However, there was no trace
of panic in her eyes. Her two fingers jutted out like a sharp sword and violently thrust forward, beating
the youth by half a beat as it landed on his chest.
The fist-wind came to an abrupt halt. The youth’s eyes were wide with fury, his body faintly trembling
and his face flushed red as he said through gritted teeth, “You’ve actually mastered the Jade-Breaker
Finger?”
Su Youwei smiled faintly as her outstretched hand gently pushed and the well-built youth’s body
immediately fell to the ground with a loud thud. At the same time, the crowd finally saw a jade-like luster
on Su Youwei’s slender fingers. It sparkled in a translucent manner while giving off a formidable aura of
coldness.
The numerous watching boys and girls surround the arena exploded into cheers.
“That is the Jade-Breaker Finger, right? A mid grade Genesis technique said to be very difficult to master. I
never imagined that Su Youwei would actually succeed.”
“This technique concentrates power at a point to break through and has extremely great destructive
power. A moment ago, there was a gap in Zhao Feng’s powerful assault which was exploited by Su
Youwei’s finger attack, resulting in his defeat.”
“So awesome, as expected of the fastest channel opening genius of our Great Zhou Institute.”
“.…..”
Numerous boys lamented, their gazes turning even more passionate when they looked towards Su
Youwei. There was also thick adoration within their eyes.
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Under those passionate gazes, Su Youwei got off the stage and headed straight for Zhou Yuan. There was
no longer any trace of the decisiveness and ruthlessness from the recently ended fight in her current
smiling appearance.
“How was it?” Su Youwei lightly hoisted her snow-white chin like a young child showing off candy.
“Very formidable. The power of that Jade-Breaker Finger was fairly shocking. Even the body of a four
channel opener will not be able to withstand it.” Zhou Yuan sincerely praised. He would likely be unable
to take the might of that finger attack if it landed on his body.
Upon obtaining Zhou Yuan’s praise, the corners of Su Youwei’s ruddy little mouth turned upwards. Just as
she was about to speak, a referee’s shout was suddenly heard from a nearby arena.
“Zhou Yuan, Lin Feng!”
The moment this shout was heard, the originally noisy field instantly fell silent. Soon after, booming
cheers exploded as practically every person flooded towards that particular arena.
After winning the previous few matches, Zhou Yuan had undoubtedly become the most dazzling black
horse in the newcomer exam. However, the opponent he encountered this time was Lin Feng!
Lin Feng was hugely popular amongst the new batch of students and was rumoured to be the most likely
candidate for the number one position in the exam.
Amongst the new batch of students, Lin Feng was definitely one of the very best.
Would Zhou Yuan be a black horse till the end, or would he be stopped by Lin Feng just outside top ten?
Everyone was burning to find out.
Su Youwei’s expression also changed drastically at this moment. It was obvious that it had never occurred
to her that Zhou Yuan and Lin Feng would meet. One must know that even she would have prepare for a
hard fight against Lin Feng, what more the merely two channel Zhou Yuan?
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Zhou Yuan’s eyes narrowed slightly. He lifted his head and looked towards the nearby tall platform where
Qi Yue revealed a smile at him. Subsequently, the latter reached a hand and tapped Lin Feng’s shoulder.
Lin Feng also looked towards Zhou Yuan with an expressionless face. However, there was coldness and
disdain in those eyes of his.
Lin Feng seemed to smile and say something to Qi Yue before pushing off the ground with the tip of his
foot, causing his body to rise into the air. He landed on the arena in a confident manner that drew cheers
from the surrounding crowd.
A cold smile also emerged from the corners of Liu Xi’s lips when she saw this. “Let’s see how he will win
this time!”
Qi Yue also smiled and nodded. Lin Feng’s strength was top tier amongst four channel practitioners.
Dealing with a mere Zhou Yuan should not be too difficult.
On the viewing platform, Chu Tianyang frowned a little upon seeing that Zhou Yuan and Lin Feng had
been matched. Soon after, a cold glint flitted across his eyes as he beckoned to a guard and said in a flat
voice, “After today, fire the one who’s in-charge of the arrangements for this exam.”
He had already realised that it was rather strange for Zhou Yuan repeatedly encounter formidable
opponents. Now that even Lin Feng had been matched with the former, how could he possibly fail to
grasp what was going on. Fury instantly flooded his heart. To think that these people actually dared to
target Zhou Yuan in front of him.
By the side, Xu Hong’s expression remained unchanged as he asked, “Isn’t this a little too much?”
Chu Tianyang coldly chuckled and replied, “All of you know full well what you have done. Besides, I am
the headmaster and do not need the likes of you to teach me how to do things.”
There was a little anger in Xu Hong’s eyes, but in the end, he only snorted and did not speak any further.
Although Qi Yue had exposed some of Qi Manor’s men, it did not affect the the grand scheme of things.
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Under numerous gazes of pity from the field, Zhou Yuan also stepped onto the arena.
Lin Feng stood with his hands behind his back, looking rather tall and handsome. He looked at Zhou Yuan
and said with a superficial smile, “Your highness is truly surprising. To think that you were actually able
to come all the way here.”
Zhou Yuan glanced at Lin Feng and replied in an indifferent tone, “You will be even more surprised later
on.”
Lin Feng let out a cold laugh. “I look forward to it.”
Sparks were already flying in the exchange of words between the two like two needles clashing at their
tips.
“Match begin!” The referee’s shout rang out in the arena, breaking the exchange between the two.
On the arena, Zhou Yuan and Lin Feng stared at each other, cold light flashing in both of their eyes.
Bang!
In the next instant, Zhou Yuan’s and Lin Feng’s bodies shot out at practically the same moment.
With a stamp from Lin Feng’s foot, his body rose into the air. A whip-leg ripped through the air with a ‘chi
la’ sound, filled with astonishing force. Like a whip, it viciously snapped at Zhou Yuan’s head.
This kick could shatter even rock.
Zhou Yuan’s arm swept out horizontally, blocking the kick. The powerful force caused his arm to be
violently jolted, while his other arm had already thrust forward, five fingers curling into a fist as it headed
straight for Lin Feng’s chest.
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Pa!
Lin Feng’s body abruptly swivelled in mid-air as his five fingers also formed a fist that smashed against
Zhou Yuan’s like a javelin.
Thud thud thud!
In a short span of less than a dozen breaths, the two already exchanged a dozen blows. Each strike was
deadly and aimed at the vitals, causing the onlookers outside the arena to be greatly disturbed.
Strong winds unfurled on the arena, sweeping up the dirt as Zhou Yuan’s and Lin Feng’s bodies were
jerked back time and time again.
Waves of noise rippled from below the arena. The crowd now looked at Zhou Yuan in a new light. Both of
the participants had not used any Genesis Qi in their earlier exchanges and fully relied on the quality of
their respective bodies.
However, Lin Feng’s four channel body was not able to obtain even the slightest advantage over Zhou
Yuan.
This caused them to be rather shocked. No matter how much they racked their brains, they could not
understand why Zhou Yuan’s body would be so strong.
The commotion below the stage also caused Lin Feng’s expression to become somewhat ugly. The cold
light in his eyes immediately became colder as he took in a deep breath and no longer held anything back.
“Four channels open!”
The moment Lin Feng’s shout rang out, Genesis Qi surged over from all around and poured into his body.
Strands of Genesis Qi light swirled around Lin Feng’s body, and faint cracks started to grow on the stone
arena below his feet. It was very intimidating.
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Bang!
Lin Feng’s foot stomped, cracking the stone floor of the arena. His speed soared and he instantly appeared
in front of Zhou Yuan, palm-wind screaming as a strike powerfully swept towards Zhou Yuan.
The powerful wind that pounced towards Zhou Yuan caused his heart to shiver a little. The fact that Lin
Feng was able to become one of the top students amongst the new batch was definitely proof of his
strength.
Zhou Yuan’s steps inclined at an angle, activating the Dragon Step, as his figure turned mist-like and
blurry.
Lin Feng’s palm swept past but only managed to brush Zhou Yuan’s chest.
“What a strange body-type support skill!” Lin Feng’s pupils shrunk slightly. He had previously seen Zhou
Yuan’s bizarre auxiliary technique. When his body became blurry, it seemed as if any attack would land
on empty air.
“Mid grade Genesis technique, Demon Bull Stomp!”
Bright light flickered in Lin Feng’s eyes as his foot suddenly stamped on the ground. Stone was
immediately shattered as a ripple that could be seen with the naked eye unfurled.
Regardless of how amazing Zhou Yuan’s auxiliary technique was, he was still affected by the shockwave
area attack. His body immediately jerked, freezing for an instant.
“Time for you to get off the stage!” Lin Feng instantly grabbed ahold of this opening. With a loud shout,
his five fingers curled into a fist as he threw a punch at Zhou Yuan’s chest like an angry lion.
As wind whistled towards him, Zhou Yuan did not dare to tarry as his foot stamped on the ground. “Two
channels open!”
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Genesis Qi poured into Zhou Yuan’s body as flowing Genesis Qi light appeared on the surface of his body.
Zhou Yuan’s crossed his arms in a defensive posture.
Boom!
Lin Feng’s fist heavily landed on Zhou Yuan’s arms, power pouring out in torrents. Zhou Yuan’s feet shook
as his body rapidly slid backwards, only coming to a stop dangerously close to the edge of the arena.
Cries of alarm immediately exploded from below the arena. Su Youwei’s hand covered her mouth, her
pretty face filled with anxiety.
Lin Feng sneered, “You are really tenacious.”
Zhou Yuan lightly shook his numb arms as he replied, “The power of four fully open channels is indeed
formidable.”
If he had not braced his lower body earlier, the explosion of power would have likely thrown him off the
arena.
Lin Feng coldly said, “You’re going down next time!”
Zhou Yuan’s eyes narrowed slightly, the expression in his eyes gradually growing sharper as he stared at
Lin Feng. The former took a step forward, his body bending forward slightly, like a tiger that was about to
go all out and rip its prey to shreds.
A dangerous feeling spread from Zhou Yuan’s body as he grinned at Lin Feng, revealing a set of eerily
white teeth that made one’s heart beat a little faster.
“I feel that you will not have another chance!”
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The instant his voice rang out, Zhou Yuan’s figure had already shot forward!
His full power counter attack had begun.
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Chapter 26 Rise
Swish!
The moment Zhou Yuan’s words faded, his body had already swiftly lunged forward like a cheetah.
Threads of flowing Genesis Qi light swirled on the surface of his body, allowing his power and speed to
soar.
Ferocious!
“You’re courting death!”
Cold light seemed to overflow from Lin Feng’s eyes when he saw Zhou Yuan begin his counter attack. Lin
Feng was after all a four channel practitioner and this response from Zhou Yuan was really belittling this
four channel status.
“Since you are so confident, I will completely obliterate this confidence of yours in front of everyone!”
Lin Feng’s five fingers slowly clenched tightly as flowing Genesis Qi light emerged on the surface of his
body. His clothes flapped while the muscles beneath his skin vibrated as explosive power rapidly
converged.
An imposing aura spread from Lin Feng’s body. The power of four channels had been displayed to the
limit at this moment.
The crowd below the arena also felt Lin Feng’s aura, their expressions changing slightly in response. Even
Su Youwei’s pupils shrank slightly, her fair hands tightly clenched as a look of worry flitted across her
pretty face.
Lin Feng’s strength was top tier even amongst four channel openers.
Zhou Yuan was likewise able to feel his opponent’s presence. However, he had no intentions of
withdrawing and instead stamped his foot on the ground as the glow of a Genesis Rune emerged from the
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bare part of his leg.
“Light Body Rune!”
His speed instantly rose sharply once again.
“Metal Skin Rune!” His arms glowed with black light as if they were made from metal.
“Rampaging Bull Rune!” Zhou Yuan’s shoulder shook as a faint bull cry rang out, bringing with it
rampaging power.
Three Genesis Runes had been simultaneously activated, causing Zhou Yuan’s aura to surge. His ferocious
appearance let everyone know just how formidable his counter attack would be.
This sight also made the numerous boys and girls below the stage cry out in surprise.
On the tall platform however, the corners of Qi Yue’s and the girl called Liu Xi’s mouths lifted to form
mocking smiles when they saw this scene.
Qi Yue’s ten fingers were clasped together. He watched Zhou Yuan menacingly pounce towards Lin Feng
as he said in a mocking voice, “Looks like our prince does not know that Lin Feng’s specialty is not attack,
but defence…”
“Among those at the four channel level, no one has been able to break Lin Feng’s defence.”
“That’s why the more powerful his attacks, the more miserable his defeat will be. Hehe, I truly look
forward to it.”
Under the attention of numerous tense gazes from the crowd, Zhou Yuan and Lin Feng were practically
inches away when the corners of Lin Feng’s lips raised slightly. Suddenly, he took half a step forward as
he body leaned forward.
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“Mid grade Genesis technique, Metal Demon Wall!”
A roar abruptly emerged from Lin Feng’s mouth. One could only watch as the flowing Genesis Qi light on
the surface of his body whizzed out, forming a faint membrane of black light in front of him.
Although this light film was extremely thin, its dark luster gave off a feeling of indestructible solidness.
Upon seeing the black light membrane that had appeared on the surface of Lin Feng’s body, the
expression on Su Youwei’s pretty face immediately changed drastically. She knew that this Metal Demon
Wall was considered top tier amongst mid grade Genesis techniques. Not only did it possess extremely
strong defensive power, it was even able to reflect a portion of the enemy’s attacks.
In other words, if it was not instantly destroyed, the more powerful an attack, the greater the backlash on
the attacker.
In addition, even Su Youwei did not have absolute confidence in instantly destroying this Metal Demon
Wall.
“Making you lose to your own attacks, prince Zhou Yuan, your miserable appearance will spread
throughout the entire Great Zhou Institute.” A smile of disdain emerged from the corners of Lin Feng’s
mouth as he watched as Zhou Yuan grow closer and closer.
Under the numerous gazes of the crowd, Zhou Yuan’s eyes similarly detected the black light film that had
appeared on the surface of Lin Feng’s body. The power surging within it caused the former’s brows to
raise slightly.
“So he plans to rely on a tortoise shell…”
Zhou Yuan coldly chuckled as coldness surged in his eyes. “Since you are so confident in this tortoise
shell, I will have to insist on breaking it!”
His figure shot forth and appeared right in front of Lin Feng. In the next moment, he suddenly breathed in
and everyone saw a rune of light appear on his throat.
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“Another Genesis Rune?!” Lin Feng’s pupils shrunk when he saw this.
Roar!
While Lin Feng’s heart was in shock, Zhou Yuan’s mouth abruptly opened, and a deafening tiger roar
ferociously swept out in a wave like fashion.
“Grade 1 Genesis Rune, Tiger Roar Rune!”
The crowd around the arena hastily covered their ears. The feeling of Qi and blood in their bodies
churning about immediately caused them to turn pale with horror. The power of this Genesis Rune was
definitely not at the elementary level!
Even the bystanders had been affected. As the main target, Lin Feng’s head was buzzing. The black
membrane on the surface of his body rippled violently and seemed to freeze for an instant.
It was at this same instant that Zhou Yuan closed-in on Lin Feng. Zhou Yuan’s five fingers tightly grasped
together and swung forth in an incomparably heavy manner. Even the air seemed to explode in the face of
this punch.
“Dragon Tablet Hand, shatter the mountain!”
Genesis Qi swirled around his fist as it smashed into the black light membrane.
Buzz!
The light membrane pulsed violently as ripples frantically spread. It was at this moment that Lin Feng
finally recovered from the tiger roar sound wave and his expression immediately changed on the spot. He
could feel a frightening power surging towards him.
The source of that power was Zhou Yuan’s fist.
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“How can his strength be so terrifying?!” Lin Feng’s heart shook as terror appeared in his eyes.
“Break!”
Zhou Yuan’s icy roar rang out at this moment.
Bang!
The moment he roared, everyone was overwhelmed with shock to see the layer of black light on the
surface of Lin Feng’s body shatter in response.
“I admit…” Terror filled Lin Feng’s face as he hastily tried to cry out.
However, Zhou Yuan did not wait for him to finish. The fist containing all of his power heavily slammed
into Lin Feng’s chest.
Urgh!
A mouthful of fresh blood spurted out as Lin Feng’s body was sent flying backwards under many shocked
gazes. His body flew past several arenas before heavily landing on the ground, smearing a long scar in the
dirt before fainting on the spot.
Following Lin Feng’s fall to the ground, the entire field was blanketed in silence. Everyone was stupefied
as they watched this scene. Even Su Youwei’s eyes were wide open, her hand over her mouth.
“How…”
Everyone mumbled to themselves, their faces full of disbelief. Just moments ago, they had been admiring
Lin Feng’s solid defence and a split second later, that seemingly indestructible Metal Demon Wall had
been smashed to pieces by a single punch from Zhou Yuan…
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Just how powerful was that punch?
Was this really what a two channel opener was capable of?
“Excellent!”
Chu Tianyang burst out on the viewing platform. He quickly rose to his feet, his eyes flashing brightly, his
face filled with amazement. The power of Zhou Yuan’s earlier punch was definitely not that of a two
channel practitioner.
Looks like this prince of theirs had finally started reveal his extraordinariness after so many years of
silence. This was undoubtedly a tremendously joyful occasion for Great Zhou.
Meanwhile, Xu Hong’s face twitched slightly, bewilderment flickering indeterminately in his eyes as he
stared at Zhou Yuan.
On the tall platform, Qi Yue’s and Liu Xi’s smiles froze.
Crack.
Qi Yue’s hands suddenly clenched, crushing the railing in front of him. His handsome face had become
turned white with rage.
“How could he have broken Lin Feng’s Metal Demon Wall?!” A pale face Liu Xi spit out between gnashed
teeth.
The Metal Demon Wall that no four channel practitioner had been able to break had now been shattered
by a mere two channel Zhou Yuan. How could anyone not be stunned by this?
Was this still the same crippled prince they knew?
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Qi Yue’s gaze was tightly glued to the young figure on the nearby arena as murder surged in his eyes. In
the past, he had treated Zhou Yuan as a joke, yet at this very moment, Qi Yue could genuinely feel a very
faint feeling of threat.
Cracking sounds could be heard as Qi Yue’s five fingers tightened. His eyelids twitched as he muttered in
a low and raspy voice, “Could it be that the Zhou clan’s crippled dragon really intends to rise from the
ashes?”
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Chapter 27 End of the Newcomer Exam
The silence outside the arena continued for quite some time till it was eventually broken by thunderous
cheers. The eyes of numerous boys and girls were filled with fire as they gazed at the thin figure on the
stage. No one would have dreamt that this prince of theirs, who was rumoured to be incapable of opening
his channels, would give such a miraculous performance today…
By now, all of them clearly believed that the past Zhou Yuan had merely been concealing his strength.
Zhou Yuan merely smiled when he heard the cheers resounding below the stage. He cupped his hands
together towards the audience before leaving the stage and walking towards Su Youwei.
Upon seeing that Su Youwei had been unblinkingly staring at him all along, he could not help but chuckle
and say, “Oh? Have you been subdued by my charm?”
Su Youwei’s face turned slightly red. She made a soft ‘pshaw’ sound before snorting. “Your hiding skills
are top tier.”
She had previously been all kinds of worried when she found out that Zhou Yuan and Lin Feng had been
matched. Who could have expected that Zhou Yuan would have so many astonishing cards up his sleeve,
and that even Lin Feng would fall at his hands.
“It turns out that even Lin Feng is not your match. Looks like the number one position amongst the new
students belongs to you.”
Zhou Yuan gave a nonchalant smile in response. He did not have much interest in being number one
amongst the new batch of students. The reason for fighting this time was completely for the sake of
entering the A class and helping headmaster Chu stabilize his position.
After all, the Great Zhou Institute was of paramount importance to the Great Zhou royal clan.
His original goal had been to enter the top ten and now that it had been achieved, he did not have much
interest in the following matches. Moreover, even Lin Feng had been defeated by him. Hence, there was
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naturally nothing to worry about for the next few matches.
These thoughts were swirling in Zhou Yuan’s mind when he suddenly raised his head and looked towards
the nearby tall platform. He was just in time to see Qi Yue’s black to the maximum face, and immediately
showed a small smile to the latter.
Upon seeing Zhou Yuan’s smile, Qi Yue’s face grew even uglier. Power surged in his hands as the railing
was once again crushed. He had utilised all kinds of methods to make sure that Zhou Yuan’s face was to
be thoroughly smeared into the ground. Yet, who could have expected that everything he had done would
instead end up growing Zhou Yuan’s reputation. This undoubtedly made Qi Yue extremely furious.
By the side, Liu Xi hatefully said through gnashed teeth, “Truly someone who loses control due to joy.
Does he really believe that defeating Lin Feng gives him the right to do as he please in the Great Zhou
Institute?!”
Both she and her Liu clan belonged to the Qi Manor camp. Hence seeing Qi Yue thwarted naturally made
her angry at Zhou Yuan.
“It is just a newcomer exam. Even if he takes the number one position, he will only be considered average
amongst the various classes. Does he not know that even Lin Feng does not have the guts to make any
moves in front of you?” Liu Xi disdainfully glanced at Zhou Yuan as she consoled Qi Yue.
Qi Yue took in a deep breath, suppressing the rage in his heart. His face regained its cold and detached
look as he said, “Don’t worry. It will be useless even if he enters the A class. Once the end-of-year class
ranking exam comes, I will personally beat him into the mud once again. When that happens, the Great
Zhou Institute will also end up in Qi Manor’s hands.”
Upon seeing Qi Yue recover, Liu Xi also nodded. She did not doubt Qi Yue’s words. Even though the
strength Zhou Yuan had displayed today was astonishing, one must know that the current Qi Yue had
already opened six meridian channels, and would grow even stronger by the end of the year.
Thus, compared to Qi Yue, Zhou Yuan still substantially lacking.
Although she did not know why Zhou Yuan would suddenly spring up, from what Liu Xi could see, Qi Yue
was the true pride of the heavens. The crippled prince and the Great Zhou royal clan would ultimately be
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trampled under Qi Yue’s and Qi Manor’s feet.
With such thoughts in mind, she rather looked forward to their future confrontation. Would Zhou Yuan
still be able to smile in such a pleased manner when he was crushed under Qi Yue’s feet?
On the field, the exam continued. However, after Zhou Yuan’s and Lin Feng’s intense battle, the other
fights seemed rather lacklustre.
Fortunately, the exam finally came to an end after one last big battle.
On the viewing platform, Chu Tianyang watched the exam reach its end and nodded his head in
satisfaction. Both Zhou Yuan and Su Youwei had made it to the top ten, a fact that made him especially
happy.
After all, he had originally only placed his hopes in Su Youwei. Who would have imagined that Zhou Yuan
would suddenly become so ferocious that even Lin Feng would be defeated at his hands. Moreover, he
knew that Zhou Yuan’s had only been engaging in channel opening training for a month.
Two channels in a month of training and battle power that surpassed even the four channel Lin Feng.
Such talent was likely even greater than Su Youwei’s.
How could Chu Tianyang not be overjoyed by an unexpected haul like this. He now had a little confidence
in the originally completely hopeless year-end class ranking exam.
“Now that the newcomer exam has concluded, next up will be the class allocation. You may select your
class as long as you meet the conditions.” Chu Tianyang gazed at the numerous boys and girls on the field
as his powerful voice boomed in everyone’s ears.
His gaze first looked towards the top ten new students. “The top ten may enter the A class. Are any of you
willing?”
At this moment, Xu Hong walked to Chu Tianyang’s side and added in with a superficial smile, “If any of
you desire, you may enter my B class. You should also know that my B class has placed first in the Great
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Zhou Institute for the past two years.”
Anger rose in Chu Tianyang’s eyes, but what Xu Hong said was true and he could only let out a snort.
“I hope to enter the B class.”
“I shall also enter the B class.”
“.…..”
In the wake of Xu Hong’s words, several voices immediately rang out simultaneously. A total of seven
people amongst the top ten indicated that they wished to enter the B class. It was obvious that these
people had been bought over by Qi Yue’s generous promises long ago.
Although Chu Tianyang had anticipated this, his face could not help but turn somewhat green. After all,
practically every person who ranked amongst the top ten would chose the A class several years ago. Yet,
only two or three would make the same decision in the present.
Xu Hong let out two hearty chuckles when he saw Chu Tianyang’s ugly expression. “Alright, since that is
that case, all of you will be part of my B class from now on.”
“I’m entering the A class.” It was at this moment that Zhou Yuan calmly declared, interrupting Xu Hong’s
loud laughter.
“I will also enter the A class.” Said Su Youwei without any hesitation.
The final person hesitated for a moment before finally choosing the A class.
Upon seeing that the two most outstanding individuals of this newcomer exam had chosen to enter the A
class, Xu Hong’s pleased expression receded a little as he brushed his sleeves with an icy snort.
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Chu Tianyang’s expression seemed to ease somewhat as he turned towards Zhou Yuan, Su Youwei and
the third person. “Since that is so, you three will be part of my A class after today.”
“The rest of my fellow class masters may begin to recruit your members.”
Chu Tianyang looked towards the other class masters. After the ten best seedlings had been allocated, the
remaining students would be divided amongst the other classes.
The martial practice field was a abuzz with activity. Things only quietened down a long while later when
all the new students had been split into the various classes.
“Today’s newcomer exam is formally over. After today, everyone will enter their respective classes to
train. Do not slack off.” Headmaster Chu’s deep voice boomed.
On the field, the many boys and girls respectfully responded.
After all these matters were settled, headmaster Chu glanced in the direction of Zhou Yuan and Su
Youwei, giving them a slight nod before turning around to leave.
The field was bustling with noise and excitement. Numerous girls and boys were exceptionally happy.
After today, they would finally leave behind their new student status and become true members of the
After all, the treatment of new students and true students would be as different as black and white.
Zhou Yuan called out to Su Youwei, planning to leave, but suddenly raised his head as if sensing
something. On the tall platform nearby, an expressionless Qi Yue glanced at the former, his eyes flickering
with spookily cold light, before he turned and left.
Zhou Yuan watched him leave with eyes that were similarly frosty, while his five slender fingers curled
and unfurled. He knew that the war with Qi Yue was not over just because the newcomer exam had
ended. Instead, the struggle between them would grow even fiercer after he entered the A class.
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However, Zhou Yuan did not fear any of this. He knew that Qi Manor intended to take the headmaster
position and as the prince of Great Zhou, he naturally would not allow them to succeed.
He could not deal with the likes of king Qi for the time being, but Qi Yue on the other hand would be an
opponent Zhou Yuan would properly duel in the following days.
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Chapter 28 The A Class
Royal palace.
“Great, great, Yuan’er is truly the dragon of our Zhou clan!”
At the dining table, there was a healthy radiant glow on Zhou Qing’s face while his usually sterness was
replaced by unconcealable happiness. He beamed as he looked towards Zhou Yuan and chuckled, “You
might not know but Chu Tianyang specially made a trip to the palace and praised you a whole lot.”
Evidently, he was aware of Zhou Yuan’s performance in the newcomer exam today.
By the side, Qin Yu was practically glowing as she looked at Zhou Yuan, her eyes similarly filled with joy.
Zhou Yuan ate his food and merely smiled in response to Zhou Qing’s and Qin Yu’s praise as he said, “It’s
only a newcomer exam. The important one is the class ranking exam at the end of the year.”
Zhou Qing nodded upon hearing this and gleefully said, “No arrogance after victory. Brat, your years of
suffering have not been in vain.”
“The year-end class ranking exam is indeed very important.”
Zhou Qing slowly continued, “Qi Manor has been eyeing the Great Zhou Institute and have secretly
schemed for a long time. If they are allowed to take the number one spot in the year-end class ranking
exam again, I’m afraid that they will begin to make things difficult.”
Cold light flashed in Zhou Qing’s eyes. It was clear that he hated Qi Manor to the extreme.
Qin Yu tenderly looked at Zhou Yuan and said in a somewhat hesitant manner, “But that Qi Yue has
already opened six meridian channels and will likely become even stronger by the end of the year.
Yuan’er’s starting point is much later than his…”
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To make up for the gap between them, Zhou Yuan had to put in a tremendous amount of hard work.
Contrary to expectation, Zhou Yuan’s expression remained undisturbed. He smiled at Qin Yu and said,
“Don’t worry mother and father. I will not let them have their way.”
Due to being unable to locate his meridian channels, the past him could only hide beneath his father’s
wings. Now that he was able to cultivate, Zhou Yuan would naturally give his best effort to share some of
the pressure his father was facing.
He clearly understood how dangerous the current situation was for Great Zhou.
Zhou Qing and Qin Yu felt gratified when they saw Zhou Yuan’s sensibility. However, the feelings of self-
blame and heartache were greater. If they had realised king Wu’s plot in advance back then, Great Zhou
would not have fallen to such a state and Zhou Yuan would not have to shoulder these burdens at his
tender age.
Zhou Yuan sensed Zhou Qing’s and Qin Yu’s gloomy moods and immediately changed the topic.
“Truthfully speaking, my success in the exam is mostly thanks to big sis Yaoyao’s guidance.”
By the side, when the silently dining Yaoyao with Tuntun on her lap heard these words, her gaze lightly
swept across Zhou Yuan as if unhappy that he had shifted the attention to her.
Zhou Qing nodded upon hearing this and smiled. “Miss Yaoyao is indeed our benefactor. Come, I’ll toast a
cup to you.”
The moment he said this, Qin Yu’s displeased glare arrived. In her eyes, Yaoyao was still a young girl and
Zhou Qing’s actions were practically leading her astray.
However, before she could speak, the eyes of the originally silent Yaoyao brightened slightly as she raised
her wine cup and drained it in a single gulp.
Zhou Qing was stunned. He glanced at Qin Yu, seeing her displeased gaze and awkwardly laughed before
quickly finishing the wine in his cup. After which, he no longer dared to speak of toasting.
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…
Qi Manor.
An oil lamp burned within a study, spreading dusky yellow light.
A middle-aged man in yellow robes sat upright behind a desk, expressionless as he flipped through the
books. A cold and stern aura rose from between his brows, while a faint pressure spread outwards,
causing no one to dare to underestimate this individual.
Qi Yue stood in front of the desk, his hands hanging by his side while his face respectful.
“You say that crippled prince is now able to engage in channel opening cultivation?” After a long silence,
the middle-aged man in yellow finally shifted his gaze away from his books and dully said.
“Yes father. He has defeated the four channel Lin Feng with the strength of two channels.” Qi Yue
immediately responded.
This middle-aged man in yellow robes was king Qi of Great Zhou, Qi Yuan.
King Qi’s eyes narrowed slightly like a viper as he slowly said, “As expected of the one who once
possessed the sacred dragon blessing. He can still crawl up even after being crippled to such an extent.
Such tenacity.”
Killing intent flitted across Qi Yue’s eyes. “Father, do we send news of this to the Wu Empire?”
King Qi mumbled to himself for a while before shaking his head. “The Wu Empire is currently engaged in
war with two neighbouring empires. How could they possibly spare any time for a Great Zhou on the
verge of death. As for the crippled prince, his sacred dragon blessing was taken and he even received
backlash in the form of the Dragon’s Resentment Poison. It is not so easy for him to recover. His current
state is probably akin to the final radiance of a dying star.”
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Qi Yue nodded upon hearing this. Zhou Yuan had been crippled far too greatly back then. Clawing his way
back up would indeed be difficult.
“Moreover, even if he is really able to crawl back up, do you believe that I, Qi Yuan, will be afraid of a
hairless brat?” Qi Yuan coldly chuckled before continuing, “I’ve prepared for so many years, and even
Zhou Qing does not dare to do anything to me now. How can a mere two channel brat possibly alter the
grand scheme of things?”
“If we have to inform Great Wu of a mere crippled prince, it will instead make them look down on us. If
that happens, even if we take over Great Zhou in future, they will believe that we succeeded with little
effort.”
Qi Yuan threw the book in his hand onto the table as he continued, “As long as the B class takes the
number one position in the year-end class ranking exam, the Great Zhou Institute will be mine. That is
most important.”
“Therefore, you must take first place in the year-end class ranking exam.”
In response to Qi Yuan’s gaze, Qi Yue nodded without the slightest shred of hesitation and confidently
said, “Relax father. No one in the Great Zhou Institute will be able to compete with me in the year-end
class ranking exam.”
“As for Zhou Yuan, if he does not tactfully back down, I will crippled him again and see if he is still able to
crawl back up!”
As he spoke, a sinister smile emerged from the corners of his lips.
The next day.
In the early morning, Zhou Yuan continued his uninterrupted practice of the ninety eight frolicking
dragon forms before proceeding to the daily channel unblocking.
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After finishing, he washed his body and left the royal palace, heading straight for the Great Zhou Institute.
Now that he had entered the A class, he could no longer frequently miss classes like before.
Great Zhou Institute, A class courtyard.
A dozen figures were gathered in a spacious lecture yard, the atmosphere abuzz with noise and
excitement.
When Zhou Yuan, Su Youwei and the other new student entered, the dozen gazes in the yard turned
towards them, filled with curiosity and anticipation.
The Zhou Yuan trio were taken aback by such attention.
While they were stunned, two figures in the lecture yard walked over, one male, the other female. The
young man’s body looked strong and sturdy, and his skin was a little tanned. A smile decorated his rather
rough-looking face, making him appear like a straightforward individual.
The young lady was rather pretty. Although she could not compare to Su Youwei, her long and slender
legs were quite eye-catching.
The tanned and straightforward-looking youth smiled at the Zhou Yuan trio and said, “Hehe, welcome
you three. I am the class head of the A class, Yang Zai.”
“I am Song Qiushui.” The pretty girl winked at the trio, smiling happily as she continued, “We found out
yesterday that your highness Zhou Yuan and the rest of you chose the A class, so here we are today
waiting for you guys.”
She looked towards Su Youwei and pursed her smiling lips, “Of course, those fellows are more likely
looking forward to meeting the number one beauty of our Great Zhou Institute.”
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Upon hearing her teasing, Su Youwei’s fair face blushed a little. Her enchanting appearance drew the
dumbstruck stares of quite a few boys in the yard.
Yang Zai chuckled as he looked at Zhou Yuan and said, “Your highness’ performance in the newcomer
exam yesterday has already spread throughout the entire institute. With you three joining the A class, our
power and fame will definitely rise.”
Zhou Yuan cupped his hands together and smiled. “There is no ‘your highness’ here, call me Zhou Yuan.”
Yang Zai was a little taken aback by Zhou Yuan’s placid mannerisms, but quickly showed a simple-looking
smile as he nodded his head. “Since your highness says so, we will feel free to do so.”
The group introduced themselves to each other and the A class members were swiftly acquainted. These
older students were also youths and were both kind and friendly. Thus, there was no case of ‘putting the
new students in their place’ and the group quickly grew closer after getting to know each other.
It was in this time that Zhou Yuan came to know that Yang Zai was the number one individual in the A
class, hence his election as class head. He had opened five meridian channels and while Song Qiushui was
slightly weaker, she too had opened five meridian channels.
Such strength was indeed inferior to Qi Yue. No wonder Chu Tianyang constantly worried about the year-
end class ranking exam.
While the group was getting to know each other better, Chu Tianyang walked into the yard and coughed
softly, immediately causing the many noisy boys and girls to quieten down as they respectfully said,
“Greetings
class master.”
Chu Tianyang nodded in acknowledgement. “From today, there will be three more members in our A
class. You guys should have already acquainted yourselves with them right?”
The many boys and girls responded with a yes.
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“Good. From today, your training will be doubled.” Chu Tianyang indifferently declared with his hands
behind his back.
The moment these words were heard, a series of complaints and grumbling erupted.
Chu Tianyang coldly snorted, suppressing the various noises as he raised his voice. “The year-end class
ranking exam is not far off. If you guys still do not put in more effort in training and no one is able to
reach six channels by the end of the year, you won’t even have the qualifications to vie with others. When
that happens, the A class will become the B class. What face will you guys have left then?!”
Ashamed looked emerged on the students faces after being chided as they hastily lowered their heads,
while the strongest Yang Zai and Song Qiushui let out a bitter laugh. Though they had done all they could
to catch up, the momentum was currently with the B class and Qi Yue was just too formidable, firmly
suppressing them from start to end.
Upon seeing that everyone no longer dared to speak, Chu Tianyang’s expression relaxed as he said,
“Everyone make your preparations, the Jade Spirit Waterfall opens today. I hope that no one will delay
us.”
The moment these words were said, the eyes of the many boys and girls in the yard abruptly brightened
as their faces filled with excitement.
“Jade Spirit Waterfall…”
Zhou Yuan’s heart trembled slightly when he heard this as interest and curiosity was revealed in his eyes.
He had long heard father mention a cultivation treasure land in the Great Zhou Institute, which was the
‘Jade Spirit Waterfall’ that Chu Tianyang had spoken of.
This was also one of the main reasons why Zhou Yuan was unwilling to miss any classes after entering
the A class.
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Chapter 29 Jade Spirit Waterfall
In the mountains behind the Great Zhou Institute was a lush and verdant mountain peak where a silver-
river-like waterfall was located. The rumbling sounds of crashing water spread throughout the entire
mountain range. It was a very majestic sight indeed.
Zhou Yuan, Su Youwei and the rest of the A class students were currently standing below the waterfall
where a giant lake lay, its waters as clear as a mirror.
“So this is the Jade Spirit Waterfall?”
Su Youwei gazed at the falling torrent of water, curiosity all over her face. It was clear that She had heard
of it before.
Song Qiushui nodded from the side as she said with a grin, “This is the cultivation treasure land of our
Great Zhou Institute, the Jade Spirit Waterfall. It is said that there is a patch of purple spirit quartz
growing at the top of the waterfall, and the water that flows down contains a sliver of extremely gentle
quartz energy. When the powerful force of the waterfall strikes the body, the quartz energy within will be
pushed into the body which helps us unblock our meridian channels.”
“Of course, the most important aspect is that this extremely gentle quartz energy will not damage our
meridian channels. So even if our meridian channels have reached the daily limits of the usual unblocking
method, we will still be able to make use of the Jade Spirit Waterfall for channel opening training.”
Exceptional splendour instantly blossomed in Su Youwei’s eyes when she heard this. Due to the threshold
of the meridian channels, there was a limit to the number of daily channel unblocking sessions for each
individual. Yet, this Jade Spirit Waterfall before their eyes was able to help them unblock their channels
without harming them even after the channels had reached their limit. This point alone allowed one to
understand the value of the Jade Spirit Waterfall.
Zhou Yuan also smiled and nodded. This was why he regarded the Jade Spirit Waterfall as important.
After completing several rounds of channel unblocking sessions each day, his channels would reach their
limit, but with the aid of this Jade Spirit Waterfall, he would be able to continue unblocking his channels.
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There was no doubt that this would speed up his training.
“However, the Jade Spirit Waterfall needs to absorb the natural Genesis Qi of the land to provide a steady
stream of quartz energy. Hence, it only opens for use once every two days.”
Yang Zai chuckled at Zhou Yuan and Su Youwei before continuing, “You guys are pretty lucky to come
across such a chance the moment your enter the A class.”
Zhou Yuan seemed to ponder as he gazed at that waterfall that contained faint dashes of purple. “How is
the time allocated?”
There was only one Jade Spirit Waterfall after all, while the Great Zhou Institute had five classes and
several hundred students. It was evidently impossible for everyone to enter the Jade Spirit Waterfall
together for training. Thus, there was definitely some sort of allocation.
Yang Zai explained, “The Jade Spirit Waterfall is open for 16 hours. According to the rules, our A class is
allocated 6 hours, the B class 4 hours and the other classes 2 hours. Because we are the A class, both the
amount of time and our time slot is the best.”
Zhou Yuan nodded in understanding. Soon after, he clicked his tongue and said, “To think that we only
have 6 hours.”
Yang Zai let out a gentle chuckle. “6 hours is already a lot. Moreover, you might not be able to last that
long.”
“Eh?” Zhou Yuan was taken aback.
Yang Zai laughed mischievously but did not elaborate. He merely said, “You will find out later.”
“Alright, no more nonsense. Prepare to enter the rooms and get your Genesis Runes inscribed.” At the
front, Chu Tianyang clapped his hands together, interrupting everyone’s conversations. He pointed
towards the nearby lakeside where two large bamboo rooms where located.
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“We need to get Genesis Runes inscribed?” Zhou Yuan and Su Youwei were stunned upon hearing this.
Song Qiushui explained, “Yes. Every time we come to the Jade Spirit Waterfall to train, the institute will
dispatch teachers proficient in Genesis Runes to draw a Genesis Gathering Rune for every student. It is a
grade 1 Genesis Rune that increases the effectiveness of absorbing quartz energy from the waterfall,”
They arrived at the bamboo rooms while conversing. There were two bamboo rooms, one for the guys
and the other for the girls. Everyone lined up to enter, but while the male students were queuing up,
shifty gazes would shoot towards the girls room from time to time.
Zhou Yuan’s turn quickly arrived. He entered the room and saw an instructor holding a Genesis Rune
Brush waving at him, indicating for him to shed his clothes and lie on the bench provided. The tip of the
brush descended and gradually drew a Genesis Rune on Zhou Yuan’s back. In the wake of the final stroke,
a faint glow emerged from Zhou Yuan’s back before concealing itself. When the Genesis Rune was
complete, Zhou Yuan felt that he had become much more sensitive to the surrounding Genesis Qi.
“This Genesis Gathering Rune is not much different than the Genesis Gathering Jade other than the fact
that it lasts for only a short while.” Zhou Yuan put on his clothes and bowed towards the instructor before
walking out.
At the mention of the Genesis Gathering Jade, Zhou Yuan lowered his head to look at the warm jade
pendant hanging from his neck. Ever since Su Youwei found out that he was able to engage in channel
opening training, she had insisted on returning it to him, a matter he felt particularly helpless about.
However, he understood her stubborn character. Thus, Zhou Yuan did not push it.
After exiting the bamboo room, Zhou Yuan happened to see Su Youwei walking out. He walked over and
stealthily glanced at her back. Past her fair neck, he was able to see some portions of a faintly glowing
rune.
“Where do you think you are looking!” Su Youwei’s pretty face blushed a little as she glared at him when
she sensed his gaze.
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Zhou Yuan chuckled. He cast a glance at the stream of girls exiting the bamboo room one after another
and could not help but ask, “Is it also a male instructor over there?”
If that was the case, it would really be too huge of a loss!
Su Youwei lightly stamped on Zhou Yuan’s foot in a humiliated and angry manner as she bit down on her
teeth and said, “What nonsense are you saying! Of course it’s a lady!”
One’s clothes needed to be taken off when inscribing a Genesis Rune on the body. It would be too
outrageous if a male instructor was allowed to do this deed for the girls.
Zhou Yuan let out a hollow laugh. The banter between the two had drawn all of the other A class students
over. Chu Tianyang also shot a glance at them before turning around to lead everyone to the waterfall.
Rumble!
The enormous waterfall was akin to a roaring water dragon. Water pounded downwards into the lake,
causing huge waves to rise and vapor to fill the air.
Chu Tianyang took out a large incense stick and lit it before placing it in a crevice between the rocks
beside him. Next, he sternly looked towards the group and said, “Get ready. You only have 6 hours. I hope
that none of you will waste this chance.”
As he spoke, he looked towards Zhou Yuan, Su Youwei and the other new student before continuing, “You
three wait here first and observe.”
The Zhou Yuan trio nodded and looked towards Yang Zai, Song Qiushui and the rest. Their gazes were
both expectant and somewhat fearful as they looked at the Jade Spirit Waterfall. In the end, they took in a
deep breath, gritted their teeth and charged into the training platform in the middle of the waterfall.
Rumble!
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A boundless torrent roared as it fell. Yang Zai and gang dashed into the waterfall, their legs powerfully
gripping the rock below them as they allowed the water the pound onto their bodies.
The force from such a gigantic waterfall was undoubtedly tremendous. Therefore, the bodies of Yao Zai
and the rest shook even though they were using all of their strength.
They tightly gritted their teeth as torrents of water smashed into their bodies. It was akin to being
continuously slapped, causing their faces to distort somewhat in pain.
The Genesis Runes on their backs emitted a faint glow as wisps of purple energy seemed to flow into their
bodies while the water crashed down upon them.
Rumble!
Numerous students endured the battering of the waterfall. This lasted for about a ten minutes before
some began to waver. In the end, the students were washed into the lake below one after another with a
respective shriek.
Yang Zai and Song Qiushui persisted the longest, but were only able to last for slightly over twenty
minutes before falling into the lake.
When they crawled out from the lake, their skin was bruised black and green as if they had been beaten.
From their miserable grimacing appearances, it was obvious that their entire bodies were in pain.
Only now did Zhou Yuan understand why they both loved and hated the Jade Spirit Waterfall. Though the
quartz energy was admittedly able to help unblock their meridian channels, they would be bruised all
over by the water each time. It was akin to receiving a series of vicious beatings.
Chu Tianyang said to Zhou Yuan, Su Youwei and the other remaining student, “You three are up next.”
“Heh heh, good luck. The first time always ends rather quickly.” Yang Zai mischievously chuckled at Zhou
Yuan.
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Zhou Yuan exchanged a look with Su Youwei before they advanced, stopping in front of the waterfall as
they watched the thundering waters descend. In the end, they gritted their teeth and took a step in.
Zhou Yuan’s skin tensed the moment he entered the waterfall, while his feet were akin to the roots of a
great tree and tightly gripped the ground. A split second later, he felt an enormous force accompanied by
water slam down onto him from above and engulf his entire body.
“How painful!”
The boundless torrent viciously pummelled him, causing Zhou Yuan to gasp. Such power was really too
brutal and had almost swatted him into the lake
However, as the water pounded him, Zhou Yuan could faintly feel a suction force emerge from the
Genesis Gathering Rune on his back as an extremely gentle energy flowed into his body.
The appearance of the gentle energy slightly alleviated the intense pain.
“Is this quartz energy?” Zhou Yuan’s heart shook. He had indeed felt the third meridian channel in his
body loosen a little in that brief moment.
Upon sensing such a change, Zhou Yuan immediately braced himself, gritting his teeth as he endured the
battering water and greedily absorbed tiny bits of quartz energy from within.
AAHHH!
While Zhou Yuan was tenaciously holding on with gritted teeth, a cry was heard from the side. The new
student could endure no longer and had been swept into the lake by an enormous torrent of water.
Zhou Yuan sneaked a peak from the corner of his eye and saw the faint silhouette of Su Youwei’s lovely
figure tottering on the verge of collapse under the rampaging water. However, she bitterly persisted.
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“This quartz energy is indeed very effective! However it’s a pity that it’s somewhat sparse.” Thoughts
spun in Zhou Yuan’s head. If he was able to absorb more quartz energy, he should be able to fully alleviate
the physical pain due to the boundless flowing water. If that happened, he would be able to endure
longer.
However, the Jade Spirit Waterfall was wide and the water that crashed down onto his body would at
most contain a wisp of quartz energy. It was not likely for him to have more.
When his thoughts reached this point, Zhou Yuan could not help but shake his head. Soon after however,
an idea struck him. The other students might be unable to sense the quartz energy, but it may not be so
for himself. His Spirit had already reached the Illusory stage and it was likely that no one at the Channel
Opening stage could compare to him with regards to sensing ability.
“I’ll give it a try!”
Zhou Yuan closed his eyes without hesitation. The Spirit between his brows began to stir as his senses
spread outwards. The thundering sound of water became silent and Zhou Yuan was able to clearly sense
strands of purple energy swimming within the endlessly falling waterfall.
“I can indeed sense the quartz energy!”
Pleasant surprise rose in Zhou Yuan’s heart. He nudged his Spirit with a thought and a strange glow
appeared between his brows. One could faintly see a translucent figure seated there. It was Zhou Yuan’s
Spirit.
A suction force emerged from the illusory figure. This suction force was not strong, but it was focused and
only targeted the purple strands of flowing energy.
While Zhou Yuan was using his Spirit to absorb the purple energy, a faint purple glow emerged from the
water that was continuously battering his body and steadily tunnelled into his body.
Zhou Yuan’s slightly shut eyes suddenly opened at this moment as they filled with wild joy and
excitement. In that brief moment earlier, he had felt the amount of quartz energy flowing into his body
multiply a dozen fold!
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“To think that it actually works!”
As Zhou Yuan felt the increasingly loosening third meridian channel in his body, he could not help but
jump in excitement.
Crash!
However, this jump immediately separated himself from the ground. Water slammed into him and with a
crash, Zhou Yuan was viciously swatted into the lake below amidst a miserable yelp.
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Chapter 30 Opening the Third Meridian Channel
Plop!
Zhou Yuan’s excited face emerged from the lake waters. His eyes seemed to burn with passion as he look
at the giant Jade Spirit Waterfall. He never imagined that using the power of his Spirit would actually help
him absorb the nearby quartz energy.
Others were only able to absorb quartz energy from the water that hit their bodies, but he had the ability
to consciously absorb and his range was much greater. The difference between the two need not be said.
“At this rate, I will be able to unblock my third meridian channel in a few days!”
According to Zhou Yuan’s estimates, he would likely need half a month or so to unblock his third
meridian channel. Yet, that estimation had now been shortened by more than half. From this, one could
tell just how effective the Jade Spirit Waterfall was.
“This is the benefit brought by a Illusory stage Spirit.”
Zhou Yuan could not help but sigh. Other students did not know any Spirit tempering methods, hence,
their Spirit could not possibly be as strong as his which naturally led to being unable to sense the quartz
energy or consciously absorb it.
Plop!
While Zhou Yuan was happily sighing, a figure also fell into the water beside him. A head emerged,
revealing Su Youwei. Her pretty face was rather pale and bruises could be seen all over her fair wrist.
Zhou Yuan’s gaze continued its path downwards before it came to a point where he could no longer turn
away as a wave of heat seemed to surge up his nose.
Due to the water, Su Youwei’s clothes were wet and tightly hugged her lovely figure, causing her
exquisitely enchanting curves to show. He could even faintly see her fair skin that glowed with the
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radiance of youth.
Crash!
However, before Zhou Yuan could get a better look, water splashed into his face. His raised his gaze, only
to find Su Youwei glaring at him with a beet-red face.
Zhou Yuan gave a hollow laugh.
Su Youwei tightly gritted her pearly-white teeth. This fellow was really adept when it came to taking
advantage of others. If it was anyone else, she would have long sent a slap flying over. However, she could
not gather any hate for Zhou Yuan and only felt bashful and angry.
“Hooligan!”
Su Youwei pushed with her hands, causing a wave of water to crash into Zhou Yuan’s head. At the same
time, she used the resultant force to gracefully fly out of the water, nimbly landing at the edge of the lake
as Genesis Qi light flowed around her body, rapidly evaporating the water in her wet clothes.
An even more drenched Zhou Yuan helplessly shook his head before also leaving the lake, landing on an
empty spot nearby.
Happiness was revealed in Chu Tianyang’s eyes when he looked at the two of them as he praised, “Not
bad. The two of you persevered for about ten minutes. That’s a pretty good time for a first timer.”
With the exception of Yang Zai and Song Qiushui, the majority of the older class A members had only
managed to endure for roughly ten minutes. Thus, Zhou Yuan’s and Su Youwei’s performance was pretty
good for new students that had come into contact with the Jade Spirit Waterfall for the first time.
By the side, the faces of Yang Zai, Song Qiushui and the rest of the older students were filled with
amazement as they looked at the two. Though they were not too surprised by Su Youwei’s achievement
because she was after all a four channel practitioner, it was different for Zhou Yuan. The latter had only
opened two channels, yet his tolerance level was not any weaker than a four channel opener.
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“Hehe, if such a pathetic time can be considered pretty good, the Jade Spirit Waterfall has truly been
squandered.” While they were sighing in amazement, a sneer was suddenly heard, causing the
atmosphere to pause for a moment. Subsequently, angry gazes turned towards the direction of the sound
one by one.
However, they froze when they saw who had spoken.
Zhou Yuan’s brow furrowed slightly. He raised his head, only to find that a large group of people had
arrived at some unknown time. At the front of the group, a handsome Qi Yue stood straightly with his
hands behind his back, giving off a dignified aura. Beside him was the beautiful and eye-catching Liu Xi.
Disdain was currently visible on her face as she stared at the members of the A class. It was she who had
spoken earlier.
The rest of the B class students also showed contempt on their faces as if looking down upon the
performance of the many A class students.
“The B class.” Yang Zai’s face was riddled with fury while the others were also brimming with rage due to
the undeserved remark. To come and criticize them even during their training was a really intolerable
act.
Zhou Yuan’s eyes turned a little frosty as he swept a glance at Liu Xi and said in a flat voice, “May I ask
how long you lasted in the Jade Spirit Waterfall during your first time?”
Liu Xi’s pretty face turned rigid. She was clearly angered but was unable to reply.
Qi Yue smiled superficially as he interjected, “There’s no need for your highness to lower yourself to her
level. I’m not too clear on how long Liu Xi managed to endure during her first time, but I recall that I
persisted for 30 minutes for mine.”
Although they knew that Qi Yue was doing this on purpose, Yang Zai, Song Qiushui and the many A class
members were incapable of retorting and felt a little dejected. Qi Yue’s first time had already been 30
minutes, while they on the other hand were barely able to achieve a time of slightly over 20 minutes even
till now.
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With an abnormality like Qi Yue in the B class, will their A class ever be able to rise up again?
The morale of the A class was a little low for a time.
“Do you guys still intend to train?!” While they were silent, Chu Tianyang’s stern voice boomed through
the air. He looked towards Qi Yue and the rest and said with an expressionless face, “If it is not the B class’
turn, do not come here and disturb others’ training or you will be punished!”
The B class students shrunk back in response to Chu Tianyang’s chilly gaze. Only Qi Yue remained
unaffected as he replied with a nonchalant smile, “No need to get angry headmaster, we have only
assembled here in advance to wait for our turn at the Jade Spirit Waterfall. If just watching will interfere
with their training, the A class students would really be a little too delicate.”
The A class students hatefully gritted their teeth upon hearing the mockery hidden in his words.
Chu Tianyang swept a cold glance at Qi Yue before withdrawing his gaze and saying in a loud voice,
“Continue training!”
When they heard this, Yang Zai and the rest turned around and headed for the Jade Spirit Waterfall again.
However, there was now a rather depressed mood hanging around them.
“That guy is really loathsome.” Su Youwei muttered in a low voice. The originally pretty good atmosphere
had completely ruined by Qi Yue’s arrival.
Zhou Yuan gently tapped his fingers in the air as he looked towards Qi Yue and said, “Is half an hour
considered long?”
After speaking, he did not say anything else but instead turned around and walked towards the Jade
Spirit Waterfall. Since Qi Yue had decided to use such an underhanded tactic to lower the A class’ morale,
Zhou Yuan could not possibly allow him to get away with it.
“Tch, what a sharp tongue! Look at him, does he really believe he can compare to you?” Liu Xi could not
help but let out a laugh of contempt as she watched Zhou Yuan’s leaving figure. It was obvious that she
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had taken his words as a stubborn refusal to admit defeat.
Zhou Yuan’s performance in the exam was not bad, but he should see who he was competing him. Qi Yue
was after all currently the strongest student in the Great Zhou Institute.
Qi Yue smiled, a smile that was filled with a toying sensation. “Then I’ll have to take a good look later on.
However, I do hope that he tries to show off since he will be the one that suffers in the end.”
The other B class members agreed with a nod. Likewise, they did not know exactly what qualifications a
two channel practitioner like Zhou Yuan believed he had to entertain the notion that he could compete
with Qi Yue.
Under the expectant gazes of the B class group, Zhou Yuan once again arrived before the Jade Spirit
Waterfall. He gazed at the endlessly falling torrent of water and took a step in without the slightest shred
of hesitation.
Boom!
With his body now within the waterfall, Zhou Yuan’s legs bent slightly, tightly gripping the ground. The
raging water smashed down onto him as he closed his eyes and the Spirit between his brows began to
vibrate.
A suction force that was difficult to detect for ordinary individuals stealthily emerged. Wisps of quartz
energy immediately converged over from the curtain of water, slapping onto his body along with the
violent water.
The Genesis Gathering Rune on his back emitted a glow as it unceasingly absorbed each strand of quartz
energy into his body.
Strands of gentle and cooling energy shuttled within Zhou Yuan’s body, substantially relieving the intense
pain wherever it passed.
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Zhou Yuan’s originally somewhat wobbly body gradually grew stable. No matter how the waterfall
crashed down onto him, his body remained unmoving like a boulder.
At the same time, strands of quartz energy surged in his body, continuously attacking his third meridian
channel, causing it to become looser and looser.
Crash! Crash!
Students once again fell into the lake one after another. Perhaps because of their low morale, the
performance of many students was even worse than earlier, the time they were able to endure shorter.
At the lakeside, Chu Tianyang’s face turned stormy black as he watched this.
On the other hand, the smiles on the faces of Qi Yue, Liu Xi and the rest of the B class students grew wider
and wider.
Crash!
Su Youwei also fell into the water. She had endured for a whole 20 minutes this time, an achievement that
made the A class students exclaim in admiration. This timing was fast approaching Yang Zai’s and Song
Qiushui’s.
Su Youwei’s performance also made Chu Tianyang’s expression lighten a little.
Almost immediately after Su Youwei, Yang Zai and Song Qiushui also landed in the water with an inward
sigh. They were still unable to last 30 minutes.
The entire group was silent as they left the water, bathed in a rather stifling atmosphere. Suddenly, Su
Youwei’s slightly alarmed voice sounded, “Zhou Yuan is still up there?”
The group was stunned upon hearing this and their gazes turned towards the Jade Spirit Waterfall. Sure
enough, they saw the faint silhouette of a figure within.
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Song Qiushui covered her mouth with a hand as she cried out, “Zhou Yuan is about to reach 30
minutes?!”
Yang Zai scratched his head, a look of disbelief on his face.
Unlike them, Su Youwei’s eyebrows were knitted together, worry clouding her eyes. She was worried that
Zhou Yuan was purposely pushing himself over the limit and stubbornly holding on. If that was the case,
it would instead hurt his body and affect his channel opening.
“Interesting.” Qi Yue could not help but softly chuckle as he watched. The depths of his eyes were full of
disdain as he stared at the faint silhouette in the waterfall. From what he could see, Zhou Yuan’s
stubbornness would only hurt himself.
“I’m interested to see just how long he can continue acting tough!” Liu Xi sneered. Her pretty face had a
gloating look on it.
Hence, everyone’s gazes were directed at the figure in the waterfall. They were so fixated that Su Youwei
and the rest did not have the mood to climb up again and ended up standing there watching.
Under their tense gazes, time swiftly flowed.
30 minutes.
40 minutes.
An hour!
By the time it reached an hour, everyone at the bank of the lake had become silent. Even Qi Yue’s eyes had
started to flicker in uncertainty, slowly frowning as unease gradually crept up inside him.
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The B class students looked to each other. An hour. Besides Qi Yue, no one in their B class could
accomplish this. Furthermore, Qi Yue was a six channel practitioner!
What about Zhou Yuan? Only two channels!
Liu Xi tightly clenched her jaw and could not help but mumble, “Could something have happened?”
Boom!
Just as her words faded, a noise was heard from the waterfall. Everyone could only watch as Zhou Yuan’s
body finally fell, plunging head-first into the lake below.
His figure emerged on the lake, but his eyes were tightly shut.
Upon seeing this, Liu Xi immediately sneered. “Looks like his injuries are not light.”
The moment her sneer appeared, Zhou Yuan suddenly opened his eyes. Everyone could see a stream of
Genesis Qi light curl around his body, causing whirlpools to form in the surrounding lake waters.
His sleeves flapped as a faint rumble spread from his body. Streams of Genesis Qi rushed into him,
causing his aura to soar.
“This is?!” The pupils of Qi Yue, Liu Xi and the rest shrunk when they saw this.
Su Youwei, Yang Zai, Song Qiushui also gasped.
Chu Tianyang’s face trembled with emotion. His eyes seemed to shine as he stared at Zhou Yuan, pausing
between each word as he mumbled, “To think… he has actually unblocked his third meridian channel?!”
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Chapter 31 Establishment of Power
In the lake, Genesis Qi surged around Zhou Yuan’s body. Streams of light seemed to flow on his skin as
invisible undulations spread outwards, pushing back the surrounding lake waters such that they were
unable to flow back in.
On the lake bank, everyone was wide-eyed and opened-mouth as they stared at him. This scene was very
familiar to them. It was a scene that only appeared when one opened one’s meridian channel.
“Opened his third channel? How is that possible!” Green and white interlaced on Liu Xi’s attractive face as
a burning sensation washed over it. She had previously mocked Zhou Yuan for overdoing it. Who could
have anticipated that the latter would not only be uninjured, but even unblock his third meridian channel
on the very spot!
The expression in Qi Yue’s eyes turned ominously stormy at this moment. His five fingers were tightly
clenched as he stared at Zhou Yuan like a viper while rage boiled in his heart. He had similarly never
imagined such an outcome.
Moreover, what he could not fathom was how Zhou Yuan’s mere two channel body could possible endure
for an hour in the Jade Spirit Waterfall.
“How did he do it!”
The other B class members were speechless as they looked to each other, evidently both intimidated and
in awe of this scene.
In the lake, bright light flashed in Zhou Yuan’s tightly shut eyes as they slowly cracked open. He lowered
his head, looking at the swirling Genesis Qi light surging around his body. Unrestrained joy bubbled in his
heart as he felt the now completely unblocked third meridian channel.
He too never expected that he would actually open his third meridian channel.
According to his original estimate, he would need at least several days of training. However, he seemed to
have somewhat underestimated the quartz energy of the Jade Spirit Waterfall. The tremendous amount
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of quartz energy absorbed had allowed him to unblock his third meridian channel today.
“Unfortunately, the quartz energy was likely so effective because it was my first time absorbing it. Once
my body becomes accustomed to it, there will no longer be such quick and visible results.” Zhou Yuan
muttered to himself as joy was revealed in his eyes.
Even so, opening his third meridian channel made Zhou Yuan exceptionally happy. After all, it had only
been a few days since he had unblocked his second channel.
With a soft inward chuckle, the tip of Zhou Yuan’s foot pushed as his body flew to the lake bank. When he
raised his head, he found everyone staring at him in complete silence.
“Clap clap!”
Applause suddenly rang out. Chu Tianyang’s usually unsmiling and serious face was currently decorated
by a warm smile. His eyes filled with emotion as he stared at Zhou Yuan and clapped.
Su Youwei, Yang Zai, Song Qiushui and the rest came back to their senses and immediately started
clapping too as their faces flooded with excitement.
They had just earlier been intimidated by Qi Yue, causing their morale to plummet. Who could have
imagined that Qi Yue’s record would be broken by Zhou Yuan in the blink of an eye, even leaving the
former far far behind.
With a mere two channel body, he had persisted in the Jade Spirit Waterfall for an hour. This was
something that had never happened before in the Great Zhou Institute.
The crowd’s clapping first stunned Zhou Yuan, but he soon broke out into a smile. Next, he lifted his head
and his line of sight turned towards Qi Yue and the rest of the B class students.
Upon seeing Zhou Yuan look over, the B class members seemed to shrink back as their faces burned. After
all, they had been mocking him just moments ago and before they could even blink, their mockery had
now turned on them.
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Liu Xi’s steely-green face had twisted in an extremely ugly manner, but she could not utter even a single
word. All she could do was bite down forcefully on her teeth.
On the contrary, Qi Yue wore a dark expression as a sinister voice seeped out between the crevices of his
teeth, “Good, excellent. Your highness really surpasses one’s expectations.”
Zhou Yuan swept an indifferent glance at Qi Yue and replied with a faint smile, “Behave yourselves if you
want to watch and stop trying to hold a drama here, we really don’t have time to entertain you guys.”
The corners of Qi Yue’s eyes twitched, but he ultimately took in a deep breath, suppressing the rage in his
heart. However, the eyes that looked towards Zhou Yuan had become increasingly menacing and cold.
Zhou Yuan no longer bothered with Qi Yue after seeing this. He turned his head and smiled towards Su
Youwei, Yang Zai, Song Qiushui and the rest as he said, “Let’s continue. There’s not much time left.”
Of the 6 hours they had, almost half had passed.
“Alright!”
Responded all the A class students, their morale rapidly rising. The gazes that looked towards Zhou Yuan
were much different than before.
Before, there existed a tiny bit of the mentality of a senior student viewing a new student. However, not
only had Zhou Yuan’s accomplishment intimidated Qi Yue and the rest of the B class, it had also made
them, the A class students, feel more respect for the former.
By the side, Chu Tianyang secretly breathed a sigh of relief as he watched the A class students regain their
morale. The gaze with which he looked towards Zhou Yuan had subconsciously become increasingly
pleased.
Over the past year, Qi Yue was practically a boulder that weighed heavily in the hearts of all the A class
students, making them feel as if they would never be able to prevail over him. But Zhou Yuan had let
everyone know today that it was not impossible to beat Qi Yue.
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As the saying went, there was always someone better. No one had been able to keep Qi Yue in check
because that someone had yet to appear… but now…
That someone had perhaps finally appeared. Chu Tianyang secretly thought as he looked at Zhou Yuan.
Under the Jade Spirit Waterfall, the now spirited A class students continued their training once again.
While the thundering waterfall washed over them, the figures standing within seemed to have become
much more powerful.
In the following period of time, Zhou Yuan maintained his 1 hour timing during each attempt, a fact that
made everyone exclaim in admiration. No one could understand how he did it.
Most importantly, Zhou Yuan was still rather lively even after enduring for an hour, and few bruises could
be seen on his body. This appearance made it seem as if the waterfall was unable to damage him at all.
Hence, the gazes which looked towards Zhou Yuan grew increasingly respectful.
The 6 hour training session soon came to an end. Subsequently, the spirited A class students walked past
the B class students under Zhou Yuan’s lead.
The B class students were silent as they watched them leave.
Liu Xi hatefully gnashed her teeth and said, “Acting so pleased just because he was able to persist a short
while longer! Does he really think that opening his third meridian channel will allow him to fly?”
“Qi Yue, you cannot allow him to keep doing as he pleases!”
Qi Yue was expressionless as he coldly said, “What’s the rush.”
A cold luster pulsed in his eyes as he turned his head and looked towards the enormous Jade Spirit
Waterfall. Moments later, he icily chuckled and said, “Looks like this Jade Spirit Waterfall is rather useful
to him…”
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A frosty glint flashed in his eyes as he looked towards Liu Xi. “Don’t you think that 6 hours is a little too
much for the A class?”
Liu Xi’s eyes brightened upon hearing this. “What do you mean?”
Qi Yue chuckled as the ominous look on his face faded. “It just so happens that I previously heard class
master Xu mention how unfair the Jade Spirit Waterfall allocation was. The other class masters also have
some opinions with regards to this.”
“No one would say anything if the A class is able to tower above the other classes like before, but does the
current A class have such qualifications?”
“Do they still have the face to consider themselves the leader of the classes after two consecutive years of
being suppressed by our B class?”
Qi Yue looked towards the direction Zhou Yuan and the rest had left in, the cold glint in his eyes growing
even colder while the smile that hung from his lips overflowed with mockery.
“I feel… that it is indeed time to deal with this Jade Spirit Waterfall allocation problem.”
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Chapter 32 Ice and Fire Genesis Gathering Rune
Time in the Great Zhou Institute flowed extremely fast. In the blink of an eye, half a month had passed.
Over this half a month, Zhou Yuan gradually grew accustomed to the training lifestyle in the A class.
However, it was a pity that the Jade Spirit Waterfall training was no longer as effective after unblocking
his third meridian channel. Though this was the case, his fourth meridian channel was gradually being
unblocked with the aid of the quartz energy…
Completely opening the channel was only a matter of time.
On a certain day.
Zhou Yuan had just left the inner palace after finishing his breakfast when he caught sight of a certain
pretty silhouette in the nearby flower park, causing his heart to tremble slightly.
The Jade Spirit Waterfall in the Great Zhou Institute would be open again today. However, the
effectiveness of the Jade Spirit Waterfall had already fallen somewhat for Zhou Yuan as his body had
likely grown accustomed to the quartz energy.
Hence, Zhou Yuan had to think of other ways to grow stronger.
“A Genesis Gathering Rune is drawn on my body every time I enter the Jade Spirit Waterfall. Big sis
Yaoyao’s attainments in the art of Genesis Runes is extremely high and far surpasses the Genesis Rune
teachers of the institute. I wonder if she knows of a more effective grade 1 Genesis Gathering Rune. If she
does, my quartz energy absorption efficiency will rise to a higher level.” When his thoughts reached this
point, Zhou Yuan’s eyes subconsciously brightened slightly, his pace growing quicker as he walked into
the stone pavilion within the flower park.
Yaoyao gracefully stood in the stone pavilion. The tip of the Genesis Rune Brush in her hand moved to
and fro on the scroll that had been laid out on the tablet. Her gorgeous and fair face was currently fully
concentrated. This earnestly working appearance of hers gave off a special sort of charm.
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Zhou Yuan quietly arrived at Yaoyao’s side and looked towards the scroll, only to discover that it was a
landscape painting. The mountain range within weaved about like a snaking dragon, while the
meandering river gleamed like real water under the sunlight.
Zhou Yuan’s expression gradually became serious as he observed the majestic work of art. A trace of
amazement rose in his eyes when he realised that there were Genesis Rune strokes hidden within the
painting.
The picture hid a very profound Genesis Rune!
This was definitely no low grade Genesis Rune. An icy sensation soaked Zhou Yuan’s entire body while he
tried to feel the Genesis Rune as if he was facing some sort of terrible creature. Meanwhile, astonishing
undulations slowly pulsed from the painting.
Zhou Yuan was overwhelmed with shock as he cried out in his heart, “This Genesis Rune has likely
reached grade 3!”
Grade 3 Genesis Rune. Even Heaven Gate stage experts did not dare to underestimate one.
Moreover, the thing that shocked Zhou Yuan the most was that Yaoyao was able to blend the Genesis
Rune in her landscape painting. From this, one could see just how deep her mastery of Genesis Runes
went.
While Zhou Yuan was immersed in the Genesis Rune landscape painting, a small fair hand blocked his line
of sight, allowing him to come back to his senses.
“Your current mastery of Genesis Runes has yet to reach that level. Falling too deeply into it will hurt
your Spirit.” Yaoyao’s flat voice was transmitted into his ear.
Sure enough, Zhou Yuan felt a little dizzy after hearing this. He hastily turned away and sighed with
admiration. “Big sis Yaoyao’s attainments in Genesis Runes are indeed amazing.”
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He looked towards Yaoyao with eyes filled with curiosity. “May I ask what is the highest grade Genesis
Rune big sis Yaoayao can currently draw?”
Normally speaking, grade 3 Genesis Runes were comparable to a Heaven Gate practitioner. If it was grade
4, even Zhou Yuan’s father, Zhou Qing, would have to be somewhat vigilant.
Unfortunately, even in the entire Great Zhou, the most skilled person in Genesis Runes that Zhou Yuan
knew of was unable to draw a grade 4 Genesis Rune.
Yaoyao gently rolled up the painting in front of her as she offhandedly said, “For the time being, I can only
draw grade 3 Genesis Runes. But if I make ample preparations, it might be possible to try grade 4.”
Zhou Yuan could not help but grin.The power of grade 3 Genesis Runes was able to match a Heaven Gate
stage practitioner. In other words, Yaoyao might seem weak because she was unable to use Genesis Qi,
but in actual combat, armed with the power of Genesis Runes, even a Heaven Gate stage practitioner
would be unable to stop her.
“Can’t believe that master expects me to protect her. Just who exactly will be doing the protecting?” Zhou
Yuan could not help but laugh bitterly in his heart.
As if she knew what Zhou Yuan was thinking about, Yaoyao glanced at him and said, “Grandpa Hei is not
counting on the you of now. The one he hopes to rely on is the future you.”
Zhou Yuan’s heart shook slightly as he recalled the day Cang Yuan had sent Yaoyao and him away. Back
then, Cang Yuan had clearly given off a feeling of urgency, as if an imminent danger was approaching that
even he was not confident of dealing with.
Zhou Yuan probed, “Big sis Yaoyao, do you know of master’s origins?”
Cang Yuan possessed unfathomable strength. An unknown danger that even he was not sure he could
overcome would surely be an extreme terror. Thus, Zhou Yuan wanted to know more such that he could
prepare himself.
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A vacant look emerge in Yaoyao’s pretty eyes when she heard this and she retrieved an ancient jade
pendant from her clothes. A life-like seven-color fire lotus had been carved onto the pendant.
She stroked the pendant and gently shook her head as she replied in a tiny voice, “Grandpa Hei never told
me anything.”
Zhou Yuan let out a bitter laugh. Cang Yuan and Yaoyao were undoubtedly filled with mystery that he was
unable to investigate.
Seeing the somewhat depressed Yaoyao, Zhou Yuan did not dare to probe any further and hastily
changed the topic. “Big sis Yaoyao, do you know the Genesis Gathering Rune?”
Yaoyao replied in an absent-minded manner, “The Genesis Gathering Rune is a very common grade 1
Genesis Rune. There is practically no need to ask.”
“Then what is the most effective Genesis Gathering Rune that my body is able to support?” Zhou Yuan’s
eyes seemed to burn as he stared at Yaoyao.
Genesis Runes could not be carelessly inscribed. For example, if a grade 3 Genesis Rune was drawn on
someone like Zhou Yuan, even if he was able to someone activate it, it would only harm to his body.
Yaoyao pondered for a while before casually drawing a Genesis Qi in the air, “Is this the Genesis
Gathering Rune you used previously?”
Zhou Yuan nodded. The Genesis Rune Yaoyao had drawn was the most ordinary Genesis Gathering Rune.
It was the same one that the Great Zhou Institute instructors had inscribed on their bodies.
Yaoyao held her green-jade-like Genesis Rune Brush, gently pressing its tip on her chin as she thought
and said, “There are many kinds of Genesis Gathering Runes and I naturally know of those that are more
effective than this one.”
It was as if a surge of energy had suddenly flooded through Zhou Yuan as he anxiously looked at Yaoyao.
“Can you help me draw one?”
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Upon seeing Zhou Yuan’s gaze, Yaoyao’s little hand folded into a fist as she lowered her head, revealing a
thoughtful expression.
Zhou Yuan tacitly retrieved a jade bottle from his sleeves. “Hundred Flower Brew. I spent a great deal of
effort in order to get this.”
Yaoyao received the jade bottle and took a light sniff. Only then did she smile in satisfaction. Her fair hand
twirled the jade-green Genesis Rune Brush as she said, “Take off your clothes.”
Zhou Yuan shed his clothes without any hesitation. Having trained for quite some time, his body now
appeared much healthier and even had some muscle definition.
“This Genesis Rune of mine is called the Ice and Fire Genesis Gathering Rune and can be considered top
tier amongst the grade 1 Genesis Runes. However, you will have to suffer a little.”
“No problem. Bring it on.” Zhou Yuan did not seem to mind.
Yaoyao nodded. Without delay, the tip of the brush flickered with a faint luster as it landed on Zhou
Yuan’s back. As the brush tip flowed, Genesis strokes appeared one after another.
As the Genesis strokes on his back continued to appear, Zhou Yuan gradually started to feel a strange
sensation, as if fiery heat and icy coldness had appeared on his back. As fire and ice continuously
interweaved, an intense stabbing pain could be felt.
Hss!
Zhou Yuan gasped in a mouthful of cool air. The sensation of ice and fire was clearly unpleasant.
“It’s done.”
A short few minutes later, Yaoyao pulled back her hand, lifting the brush tip. One could see that the
Genesis strokes had come together to form a complicated Genesis Rune on Zhou Yuan’s back. Fire and ice
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seemed circulate on the Genesis Rune, a rather peculiar sight.
As the Genesis Rune took shape, Zhou Yuan felt the surrounding Genesis Qi begin to converge towards
him. This was far more effective than an ordinary Genesis Gathering Rune.
“It is indeed pretty awesome!”
An expression of surprise was revealed in Zhou Yuan’s eyes. This Ice and Fire Genesis Gathering Rune
was more than twice as effective as a normal Genesis Gathering Rune!
“With this Ice and Fire Genesis Gathering Rune, the amount of quartz energy I absorb during this trip to
the Jade Spirit Waterfall will increase again!” Excitement flooded Zhou Yuan’s heart. After all, their A class
was only allocated 6 hours of the Jade Spirit Waterfall. Since there was nothing he could change with
regards to the allocated time, the only thing left was to try and absorb more quartz energy during this
period.
Zhou Yuan regretfully said, “Such a pity, 6 hours is still too short. If it was a little longer, the time taken to
unblock my fourth meridian channel will be shorten.”
“The effectiveness of this Ice and Fire Genesis Gathering Rune is pretty good. If Su Youwei has one too,
she should be able to very quickly unblock her fifth meridian channel.” As his thoughts reached this point,
a certain idea hit him. Su Youwei’s cultivation talent was extremely high and he naturally did not desire
her progress to be delayed.
“Big sis Yaoyao…” Zhou Yuan shamelessly looked towards Yaoyao. “Is it possible for you to help my friend
draw one of these Ice and Fire Genesis Gathering Runes?”
Yaoyao’s shapely eyebrows knitted together upon hearing this as she said without the slightest
hesitation, “Don’t even think about it.”
She was obsessed with cleanliness and if it was not because she had been living with Zhou Yuan for so
long, she would not have helped him draw a Genesis Rune.
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Zhou Yuan hurriedly said, “She is a girl.”
Yaoyao’s pretty face eased slightly when she heard it was a girl.
“It is boring for big sis Yaoyao to spend all day in the palace. It just so happens that you can follow me to
the Great Zhou Institute for a stroll to relieve your boredom.” Zhou Yuan swiftly struck while the iron was
hot.
Yaoyao hesitated for a while. She had stayed in the palace for over a month and was indeed a little bored.
“Alright, I will go with you. However, I will only help one person.” Yaoyao gave a light nod. However, she
still took some precaution. If Zhou Yuan was to find ten or eight girls, she would really lose it.
Zhou Yuan hurriedly nodded as he breathed a sigh of relief in his heart. One was obviously enough as he
only wanted to help Su Youwei. As for the others, once he learnt this Ice and Fire Genesis Gathering Rune,
he would consider helping those whom he had a good relationship with.
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Chapter 33 The Two Girls Meet
When Zhou Yuan walked past with Yaoyao, he could clearly feel the surroundings grow silent as stunned
gazes continuously turned towards them from all directions.
Of course, these gazes were not directed at him but the leisurely strolling Yaoyao beside him.
She was currently still in her simple green clothes. Her figure lovely and tall, her long legs thin and
slender, and her supple little waist that was just too unreasonable. She carried a lazy Tuntun in her arms,
who could occasionally turn and twist its body, squeezing deeper into the slightly developed curves of
her chest. This caused countless people to secretly curse the little bastard, wishing they could replace it.
Above that fair graceful neck was an gorgeous yet aloof face that seemed to have been carved from ice. A
faint rune of light was faintly discernible on her forehead, giving her an air of mysteriousness, a
mysteriousness that could be admired but not be touched.
Based on face alone, Yaoyao and Su Youwei had their own individual charms, but Yaoyao possessed a
mysterious and ungraspable-as-mist presence. A feeling that made one understand that they could never
get to close to her yet could not help but want to chase her.
Thus, when Yaoyao appeared in the Great Zhou Institute, the youths she passed were all awed by her
beauty and presence. Although amazement and wonder emerged in the eyes that closely followed her, no
one dared to go up and talk to her.
Zhou Yuan ignored these gazes as he led Yaoyao straight to the A class.
As the two left, the Great Zhou Institute students exploded into whispers of curiosity.
“Such a pretty girl. Who is she? Is she also a student at our institute?”
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“I’ve never heard of such a person in the Great Zhou Institute.”
“With regards to prettiness, I’m afraid that only our Great Zhou Institute’s Su Youwei can compare.”
“I feel that this girl is more stunning,”
“Tch, I feel that Su Youwei is better. She’s pretty and easy to approach. This one is too cold and it seems
hard to get close to her.”
“.…..”
From a certain spot in the Great Zhou Institute, Qi Yue and Liu Xi were watching Zhou Yuan’s and
Yaoyao’s departing figures with different expressions.
As Liu Xi gazed at the backs of the now distant figures, she could not help but grit her teeth and say,
“Humph. This fellow is not strong, but his butterfly drawing ability is nothing to scoff at.”
Years ago, she had almost been betrothed to Zhou Yuan but ultimately managed to reject the marriage.
Hence, she had never given a second glance to him. Who could have imagined that the girls that appeared
at Zhou Yuan’s side would become more and more remarkable. This naturally made her feel extremely
uncomfortable.
A look of amazement flitted across Qi Yue’s eyes as he watched Yaoyao’s lovely figure. Although Yaoyao’s
and and Su Youwei’s faces had their own charms, someone of high status like himself had a preference for
girls an aura similar to Yaoyao, mysterious and an aloofness that made her seem so high up that she was
practically untouchable.
Those that others could never obtain was what Qi Yue wanted.
“But I’ve never heard of this girl. Why does she have such a close relation to Zhou Yuan? Where did she
come from?”
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Qi Yue’s eyes faintly narrowed. Soon after, he smiled and said, “However, this prince of ours seems to be
doing pretty well recently. He even has time to play with flowers.”
“Is there any update with regards to the matter you spoke of before?” Said Liu Xi through gritted teeth.
She did not wish to see Zhou Yuan have such a free and easy time.
The corners of Qi Yue’s mouth lifted slightly. “The preparations are almost done. The other three classes
also have some objections towards the A class’ 6 allocated hours. Today will be a good day to raise this
problem.”
As he spoke, he looked in the direction Zhou Yuan had left in, the smile on his lips filled with playfulness.
“Strolling with a beauty is indeed a fine thing. However, you chose the wrong time to do so. Be careful of
losing all your face.”
A class courtyard.
When Zhou Yuan brought Yaoyao in, every gaze immediately shifted over with a woosh, before becoming
stunned when they saw the girl in green at Zhou Yuan’s side.
Su Youwei was talking to Song Qiushui and the rest when she caught sight of Zhou Yuan. Just as she was
about to call out to him, her body froze momentarily as her pretty limpid eyes landed on Yaoyao.
Su Youwei’s heart shook faintly as her teeth bit into her red lips. It was obvious that she did not know
what the relationship between Zhou Yuan and this girl in green was.
“It seems that this prince of ours really likes to womanize.” Song Qiushui felt injustice for Su Youwei. Over
this period of time, Su Youwei had already become the most welcomed person in the A class. After all, she
was pretty, had amazing talent and there was not a single trace of the usual arrogance of a genius.
“Elder sister Qiushui, please do not speak such nonsense.” Su Youwei hastily pulled at Song Qiushui’s
sleeve.
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“You!” Song Qiushui helplessly glanced at Su Youwei and said in a low voice, “You’re hopeless. You are
definitely going to be thoroughly used for your entire life.”
“We are only friends.” Su Youwei explained with a blush.
“Tch.” Song Qiushui curled her lips.
“What are you guys talking about?” Zhou Yuan smiled as he walked over.
“Your highness.” Su Youwei smiled at Zhou Yuan before seemingly looking towards Yaoyao by accident as
she softly asked, “This person is?”
Zhou Yuan pondered for a while before he smiled and said, “This is my little senior sister disciple.”
Yaoyao glanced at him but did not refute. Zhou Yuan was Cang Yuan’s disciple, hence calling her little
senior sister disciple was considered appropriate.
Su Youwei was somewhat astonished. She had never heard of Zhou Yuan having a little senior sister
disciple. However, since Zhou Yuan had said so, she naturally chose to believe him.
“Come, follow me.” Zhou Yuan ignored everyone else’s gazes and beckoned towards Su Youwei as he led
Yaoyao to an empty room by the side.
Su Youwei’s pretty eyes were filled with doubt, but she still followed.
The three entered the room and Zhou Yuan closed the door before starting to remove his clothes.
“Your highness, what are you doing?!” Su Youwei’s face immediately turned beet-red when she saw this.
She stamped her foot in nervousness as her eyes drifted away, not knowing where she should look.
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Zhou Yuan awkwardly scratched his head and turned around, revealing the Ice and Fire Genesis
Gathering Rune on his back. “I want you to look at this.”
Only then did Su Youwei shift her gaze over, however, her face was still red as she stared at the rune on
Zhou Yuan’s back. Moments later, she gasped in surprise, “This is a Genesis Gathering Rune?”
Zhou Yuan put his clothes back on and nodded. “This is the Ice and Fire Genesis Gathering Rune inscribed
by my little senior sister disciple. It is even more effective than an ordinary Genesis Gathering Rune,
which is why I invited her over to help you draw one too. It will increase the effectiveness of your training
in the Jade Spirit Waterfall.”
Su Youwei was taken aback. She gazed at the quietly standing Yaoyao carrying Tuntun in a somewhat
amazed manner. It was obvious that the former never imagined that the latter would have such high
attainments in Genesis Runes.
One must know that the Genesis Rune teachers of the Great Zhou Institute were unable to inscribe such a
unique Genesis Gathering Rune.
However, while she was amazed, a warm feeling flowed in her heart due to Zhou Yuan’s actions.
Zhou Yuan smiled at Yaoyao and Su Youwei as he said, “There is a inner room here, you two go in. I will
stand guard outside.”
Yaoyao nodded and walked into the inner room. Su Youwei glanced at Zhou Yuan before quickly
following.
Inside the inner room, Yaoyao sized-up Su Youwei without batting an eyelid, but secretly praise in her
heart. The girl before her looked intelligent and enchanting. The spirited feeling given off by Su Youwei’s
eyes was akin to a beautiful embryo.
“You are called Su Youwei, right?” Yaoyao’s voice was a little gentler than usual. After all, anyone would
feel better in front of such a pretty and intelligent girl.
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Su Youwei nodded. She looked at Yaoyao and hesitated for a moment before asking, “What about you big
sis?”
“I am Yaoyao.”
“Then may I call you big sis Yaoyao?”
Yaoyao gave a light nod. “Take off your clothes.”
Su Youwei’s face turned red again when she heard this. Although they were both girls, it was still
embarrassing for her to undress in front of others.
However, she was ultimately not a procrastinator. With a clench of her jaw, she removed her clothes.
The moment her clothes fell, the entire inner room seemed to become somewhat brighter as a snow-
white body blessed with enticing curves appeared. Su Youwei’s face was dyed red as she turned around,
revealing a flawlessly bright and fair back. Her arms hugged her chest, faintly emphasizing a rather full
set of curves.
Any male would have a nosebleed at such an exhilarating sight.
“What a lovely girl.”
Yaoyao inwardly exclaimed in admiration before retrieving her green jade brush and cautioning, “It
might be a little painful.”
Su Youwei shyly nodded.
The jade brush descended, flickering with specks of light as it landed on Su Youwei’s back. The brush tip
swirled about, drawing stroke after stroke, each one pulsing with Spirit energy.
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The scorching and freezing sensation from Su Youwei’s back made her grit her teeth, but she did not
release even the slightest sound of pain.
Yaoyao nodded upon seeing this.
The inner room was silent for a long time before Yaoyao withdrew her brush. One would see a rune akin
to swirling ice and fire slowly emerge on Su Youwei’s back. It emitted a peculiar undulation and absorbed
the surrounding Genesis Qi.
“Eh?”
However, the moment the Ice and Fire Genesis Rune was formed, Yaoyao suddenly let out a cry of
surprise. Her pretty eyes stared at the Ice and Fire Genesis Gathering Rune, because in that brief moment
earlier, she had faintly sensed the effectiveness of this rune seem to grow substantially.
“Don’t move.” Yaoyao suddenly said before she reached out a fair hand and gently pressed it on Su
Youwei’s back. After sensing for a moment, a thoughtful look was revealed on her pretty face.
“There seems to be a feeling of Yin and Yang in the depths of her body and it appears to be a little similar
to the legendary Yin Yang Genesis root. But why is it so weak? It is because it has yet to fully mature?”
Yaoyao mumbled to herself in her heart.
This Yin Yang Genesis root was an extremely unique root. It was similar to the sacred dragon root Zhou
Yuan once possessed, giving one abilities that far surpassed the ordinary man.
However, Su Youwei’s Yin Yang Genesis root was very weak and may have yet to fully mature. Hence,
Yaoyao could not be certain for the moment.
“Big sis Yaoyao, what is it?” Su Youwei hurriedly asked as she looked at the pondering Yaoyao.
Yaoyao thought for some time before shaking her head. After all, there was no need to speak of it since
she was not sure. She only said, “The effect of this Ice and Fire Genesis Gathering Rune is even better on
you than Zhou Yuan.”
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Su Youwei was somewhat shocked when she heard this. However, she did not overthink things. After all,
the effectiveness of Genesis Runes would indeed vary depending on the person and a difference could be
considered normal.
After inscribing the Genesis Gathering Rune, the two girls walked out. Outside, the waiting Zhou Yuan
smiled when he saw them. “Finished?”
Yaoyao and SuYouwei nodded.
“That’s good.” Zhou Yuan breathed a sigh of relief before pushing open the room doors.
Once they left, Zhou Yuan immediately felt searing gazes shoot over. The many boys of the A class were
grinding their teeth. It was all because Zhou Yuan’s actions had drawn too much hate. To think that he
actually pulled two great beauties into a small room!
In response to their gazes, Zhou Yuan merely rolled his eyes.
It was at this moment that a figure hurriedly ran over from outside. It was profusely sweating Yang Zai.
Upon seeing everyone, he hastily shouted, “Headmaster Chu wants us to hurry over to the Jade Spirit
Waterfall. Something has happened!”
Zhou Yuan was stunned by the situation and asked, “What’s going on?”
The other A class members also cast puzzled gazes over.
Yang Zai wiped his sweat as he spoke through gritted teeth, “It’s that damned Qi Yue. Their B class has
united with the other classes and say that the cultivation allocation time for the Jade Spirit Waterfall is
unfair. They want to cut our A class’ time!”
*Uproar*!
The moment these words were said, an outburst instantly erupted as anger stirred in the crowd.
Everyone’s eyes seemed to be spitting fire. The Jade Spirit Waterfall was the cultivation treasure land of
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the Great Zhou Institute and was extremely important to them. If their allocated time was cut, it would
definitely cause everyone’s channel opening speed to slow.
Qi Yue’s actions was practically cutting off the path of their A class!
Zhou Yuan’s eyes faintly narrowed upon hearing this as a cold glint surfaced within them. This tactic of Qi
Yue’s was truly vicious...
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Chapter 34 Jade Spirit Waterfall Conspiracy
By the time Zhou Yuan, Yaoyao, Su Youwei and the rest rushed to the Jade Spirit Waterfall, it was already
flooded with people. All the students from the five classes of the Great Zhou Institute had gathered here.
For a time, it was a boiling cauldron of voices, bustling with noise and excitement.
Zhou Yuan’s group passed through the crowd and arrived at the very centre. Their gazes swept about,
only to find a steely-green-faced Chu Tianyang and Xu Hong standing in front of the former.
Behind Xu Hong was Qi Yue and Liu Xi.
When Qi Yue saw Zhou Yuan rush over, he could not help but reveal a slight smile towards the latter.
However, his smile was filled with a toying sensation.
Chu Tianyang also caught sight of Zhou Yuan but did not say anything. He merely stared at Xu Hong with
a steely-green face of anger, his fists clenching so hard that cracking noises could be heard as he said in
an icy voice, “Xu Hong, don’t go overboard. The Jade Spirit Waterfall time allocation has been decided
long ago. How can it possibly change at your whims?!”
“Hehe, what is headmaster Chu saying. The Jade Spirit Waterfall is the most important cultivation
treasure land of our Great Zhou Institute and we naturally want to utilise it as efficiently as possible.”
Xu Hong looked at Chu Tianyang and slowly said, “In the past, the A class was the strongest class of our
Great Zhou Institute and we naturally had nothing to say with regards to them using 6 hours of the Jade
Spirit Waterfall.”
“But what about now? The A class has already been suppressed by our B class for two consecutive years
and is no longer the leader of the classes. Since that is so, isn’t 6 hours a little unjustifiable?”
Cold light flashed in Chu Tianyang’s eyes as he retorted, “The Jade Spirit Waterfall allocation was
determined by his majesty back then. If you have any objections, go look for his majesty.”
Xu Hong did not seem to mind these words as he smiled and said, “Ever since the Great Zhou Institute
was established, we have been free to decide the matters of the institute and even his majesty will not
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interfere. Hence, there is no need for headmaster to use his majesty as a shield.”
He had long cast his lot in with king Qi, something that naturally substantially diminished his respect for
Zhou Qing.
“You!”
Chu Tianyang was furious. A ferocious look surged in his eyes as he suddenly took a step forward. His
body immediately shook as a crimson red aura soared from his the top of his head.
The crimson red aura was akin to a hundred foot long red cloud. Incomparably hot, it hovered in the sky
above Chu Tianyang as a crimson red glow spread, causing the air in the area to turn blistering hot.
A powerful pressure swept outwards at this moment, causing all of the students’ expressions to change
drastically as their legs began to tremble.
“So this is a Heaven Gate stage expert? It is indeed terrifying. Qi that breaks through the Heaven Gate is
powerful enough to move mountains and split the land!” Reverence emerged in the eyes of the many
students. The Genesis Qi they were able to use at the Channel Opening stage was akin to a drop in the
ocean when compared to a Heaven Gate stage practitioner like Chu Tianyang.
Behind Chu Tianyang, Zhou Yuan’s face was also filled with astonishment as he glanced at the
overbearing crimson red Qi. His heart shuddered as he thought, “Is this the Genesis Qi that Chu Tianyang
has cultivated, the grade 3 Crimson Sun Qi?”
There were 9 grades of Genesis Qi. The better the Genesis Qi cultivation technique, the higher the grade
of the cultivated Genesis Qi.
Currently, the highest level Qi cultivation technique in their Great Zhou royal treasury could only
cultivate grade 4 Genesis Qi.
“Humph, want to fight? Do you really think that I am afraid of you?!” Xu Hong’s eyes turned frostier when
he saw Chu Tianyang’s actions. The former also stepped forward as an equally powerful Genesis Qi burst
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out from the top his head like a shooting star.
This Genesis QI was akin to a silver torrent and was filled with bone-piercing coldness. An aura of
coldness unfurled, causing frost to grow on the surrounding ground.
Grade 3 Genesis Qi, Silver Frost Qi!
As the two Heaven Gate stage experts faced each other, a suffocating pressure spread, causing the
numerous students present to feel a surge of fear, afraid that they would be caught in the aftershocks.
After all, a battle between Heaven Gate practitioners was nothing like the childish fights of Channel
Opening stage practitioners. It was a stage where even the slightest move would cause mountains to
crumble and the earth to split.
“Headmaster Chu, class master Xu, this is not the place to fight!”
However, while Chu Tianyang and Xu Hong clashed with their auras, someone finally shouted, breaking
the confrontation between the two.
The one who had shouted was a man in a black robe. It was the C class master, Qin Xiao.
The other two class masters also hastily called out. After all, it would benefit neither party if they were to
battle here,
Following the interjection of the other class masters, Chu Tianyang and Xu Hong knew that they could not
really go at it. Both immediately let out a cold snort as the crimson red and silver-frost-like auras were
withdrawn, burrowing back into the top of their respective heads.
Chu Tianyang icily declared, “Humph, I definitely will not agree to changing the Jade Spirit Waterfall
allocation!”
Rage emerged in Xu Hong’s eyes. Just as he was about to speak, Qi Yue suddenly smiled and said,
“Headmaster Chu, our proposal is not aimed against the A class, but for all of the students of our Great
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Zhou Institute.”
“Headmaster should know how important the Jade Spirit Waterfall is to us students. In the past, the
allocation was based on how the A class stood above all the other classes. Hence none of us had any
dissent towards the A class having 6 hours.”
“But the current A class in the decline. If it is still allowed to occupy so much time, won’t it be a little too
unfair to the other students? Thus, reallocating the cultivation time is what everyone wants.”
Qi Yue’s voice sounded righteous and awe-inspiring, causing the numerous students around the Jade
Spirit Waterfall to secretly nod in agreement. Everyone knew that the Jade Spirit Waterfall was extremely
useful to those at the Channel Opening stage. If they were allocated a little more time, their channel
opening rate would rise.
With regards to obtaining benefits for oneself, everyone would always be a little selfish.
Qi Yue laughed inside when he saw the acknowledgement from the crowd. He gazed at the increasingly
ugly expression on Chu Tianyang’s face as he continued, “Headmaster Chu, although you are the class
master of the A class, do not forget that you are also the headmaster of the Great Zhou Institute. If you
cannot be fair, I’m afraid that you will lose the will of the people.”
Chu Tianyang’s expression changed completely, because these words of Qi Yue’s were practically putting
his head on the chopping block. If he dared to deny them, it would surely turn the other students against
him.
“You!” Chu Tianyang’s cheeks faintly twitched.
Behind Chu Tianyang, the numerous A class students were likewise speechless while their faces had also
turned rather ugly. After all, Qi Yue was doggedly grabbing onto the fact that the current results of their A
class was no good and did not have the qualifications to be the leader of the classes. This was a point that
they could not refute.
“According to the rules, if you want to take the A class’ place as the leader of the classes, you will have to
wait till the A class loses first place in the class ranking exam for three consecutive years. Since the year-
end class ranking exam has yet to arrive, isn’t kicking the A class down from their leader status being a
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little too impatient?” While the many A class students expressions were twisted, a calm voice suddenly
rang out. Numerous gazes converged towards the origin of the voice, only to find that it was a thin,
scholarly youth standing behind Chu Tianyang.
It was Zhou Yuan.
Qi Yue faintly smiled when he saw that Zhou Yuan had spoken. “Since the current A class has already lost
first place in the class ranking exam for two successive years, this year will naturally be no exception.
Therefore, being the leader of classes now only exists in name. There is no need for your highness to force
this point.”
“Rules are the rules. Moreover, I do not believe that our A class will lose first place this year.” Zhou Yuan
also smiled. His voice was flat and did not waver.
Qi Yue’s eyes narrowed as disdain emerged from the corners of his mouth, matching tit for tat as he
replied, “Your highness opinion seems to be rather naive. There are only a few months till the year-end
class ranking exam and the outcome is already more than obvious. Why should the A class still occupy 6
hours of Jade Spirit Waterfall training and waste this cultivation resource?”
Zhou Yuan shook his head. “I do not feel that our A class Jade Spirit Waterfall training is a waste of
cultivation resource.”
Qi Yue coldly chuckled. “Since you insist on being stubborn with words, do you dare to prove your words
with action?”
“Oh?” Zhou Yuan’s eyebrows raised slightly.
“Relax, I do not plan on having a match with you guys. That will be a little too unfair.” Qi Yue smiled
superficially. His tone was filled with both contempt and disdain, causing the faces of the numerous A
class students to turn steely-green with rage.
Qi Yue pointed at the flowing Jade Spirit Waterfall as a penetrating look surfaced in his eyes. “If you are
unconvinced, each of us will send one representative into the Jade Spirit Waterfall and see who lasts the
longest. This will naturally show exactly who is wasting this cultivation resource!”
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It was at this very moment that he finally revealed his plan.
Chu Tianyang said in a low voice, “You have long opened six meridian channels and the quality of your
body is very high. Who can possibly endure as long as you in the Jade Spirit Waterfall?”
Although Zhou Yuan’s performance in the Jade Spirit Waterfall was outstanding and the time he managed
to persist was growing longer and longer, one must know that Qi Yue could do the same with just the high
quality of his body.
Qi Yue indifferently said, “If headmaster Chu feels that this is not fair, you can only blame your A class for
having no one who is able to reach the six channels.”
Fury flooded Chu Tianyang’s eyes. Just as he was about to speak, Zhou Yuan said, “What are the stakes?”
Zhou Yuan could tell that Qi Yue had come prepared and would not let the matter drop so easily. Thus, it
was likely that they would have to go through with it no matter what.
“The stakes huh… if our B class wins, the A class will have to cough up 3 hours of training time. 2 hours
will end up with my B class and the remaining hour will be split amongst the other three classes. How
does that sound?” The corners of Qi Yue’s lips raised as he stared at Zhou Yuan as if the latter was prey
that was about to be caught.
“3 hours?!” Rage immediately covered the other A class students’ faces when they heard this. Practically
half of their A class 6 hours would be taken away. This would be a substantial blow indeed.
The students of the other classes did not remark. It was clear from the current situation that the A class
and B class were competing. However, they would be rather satisfied if they could ultimately get some
additional Jade Spirit Waterfall training time.
Hence, most of the students decided to wait and see from the sidelines with regards to Qi Yue’s
overbearingness.
Zhou Yuan’s eyes narrowed as he looked at the smiling Qi Yue. A brief moment later, the former slowly
said, “3 hours huh? Deal! However, if you lose, the B class also needs to pay 3 hours of Jade Spirit
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Waterfall cultivation time!”
If they were to face each other head-on, Zhou Yuan, who had yet to open his fourth meridian channel, did
not favor his chances against a six channel Qi Yue. But if they were to compete in Jade Spirit Waterfall
training, Zhou Yuan was confident that he did not need to fear any of the Great Zhou Institute students.
He knew the Qi Yue was prepared, but he should not look down on Zhou Yuan.
Moreover, similar to how Qi Yue was eyeing the 6 hours belonging to their A class, Zhou Yuan likewise
felt that these 6 hours were too short… He just never had any justification so far and was unable to
change anything. Since Qi Yue suddenly decided to send a big present over, Zhou Yuan did not have any
reason to reject.
Qi Yue’s expression turned a little rigid at this moment, evident unprepared for Zhou Yuan’s
straightforward agreement. However, he soon recalled his hidden trump and an eerily vicious look
involuntarily flitted across his eyes.
“Alright! If we lose, our B class will also lose 3 hours!”
As Qi Yue’s words faded, a commotion exploded from the numerous surrounding students as they swiftly
began to stir. From the looks of it, there was no need to wait till the year-end class ranking exam. The
clash between the A class and the B class would begin here…
However, it was obvious that they favored the B class, because the B class had Qi Yue. As the only six
channel student in the current Great Zhou Institute, he was an existence that towered over everyone else.
On the other hand, Zhou Yuan had only opened three meridian channels. How could he possibly match Qi
Yue?
Why had the usually calm and level-headed prince Zhou Yuan lost his cool today?
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Chapter 35 Jade Spirit Waterfall Battle
The atmosphere in front of the Jade Spirit Waterfall instantly fired up after Zhou Yuan and Qi Yue settled
on the bet. More and more Great Zhou Institute students came over after hearing the news, stuffing the
area until not even a drop of water could seep through.
After all, the stakes were far too great.
3 hours of Jade Spirit Waterfall training time. One must know that with the exception of the A class and
the B class, the other classes only had two hours.
“The fish has taken the bait.” The corners of Liu Xi’s mouth lifted to form a delighted smile the moment
she saw this, as if she was already able to see Zhou Yuan’s miserable appearance after he was defeated.
By the side, a dark and cold look flitted across Xu Hong’s eyes. Did Zhou Yuan really believe that he had
the ability to challenge Qi Yue just because his performance in the Jade Spirit Waterfall was rather
decent? Truly naive.
Although the numerous surrounding B class students were a little alarmed by Qi Yue’s acceptance of the
bet, these feelings were swiftly replaced by excitement. They knew how strong Qi Yue was and even if the
competition this time was not a clash of fists, it would not be too difficult for Qi Yue to achieve victory.
Hence, they felt as if the A class’ 3 hours were practically already in the bag.
In contrast to the feeling of certain victory that shrouded the B class students, the atmosphere of the A
class was rather heavy, and the expressions of many students were gloomy. After all, Qi Yue’s reputation
was just a little too overwhelming.
“Zhou Yuan, do you believe in your chances?” Asked Chu Tianyang in a low voice, worry in his eyes.
“I’ll try my best.” Zhou Yuan smiled in response.
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Chu Tianyang eased up somewhat when he saw Zhou Yuan’s relaxed smile. The other party was clearly
prepared and would not let up until their aim was achieved. Thus, agreeing to the bet was the only thing
they could do.
“You can do it!” Su Youwei waved her little fists with the intention of boosting Zhou Yuan’s morale.
“Zhou Yuan, the future of our A class rests on your shoulders!” Song Qiushui could only anxiously look
towards Zhou Yuan. Their A class were already in a rather disadvantageous position in the struggle with
the B class. If they were to lose 3 hours of Jade Spirit Waterfall training time, it was likely that no one in
their A class would be able to reach six channels when the class ranking exam arrived.
Hence, it was not too much to say that the futures of all the A class students hinged on this bet.
Zhou Yuan nodded in response when he saw the worry and hope in the many A class students eyes.
Under the attention of numerous gazes, Zhou Yuan and Qi Yue advanced towards the Jade Spirit
Waterfall.
“If your highness has started regret, you can admit defeat sooner so as to avoid suffering too much.” Qi
Yue’s smile was as light as a breeze.
“I’ll send those words back at you.” Zhou Yuan did not even look at Qi Yue as he replied in an indifferent
voice.
“Looks like it is as the saying goes, one does not cry till one sees the coffin. Since that is so, do not blame
me later.” A look of mockery surfaced from the corners of Qi Yue’s mouth. Without further ado, the tip of
his foot pushed off the ground and his body landed on the other side of the Jade Spirit Waterfall.
Zhou Yuan and Qi Yue stood on opposite ends of the waterfall as their gazes met. Each could feel the
coldness in the other’s eyes.
Huu!
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A split second later, the two took in a deep breath before stepping into the violent waters of the Jade
Spirit Waterfall under the attention of countless watching eyes.
A seemingly boundless torrent of water, along with an almighty force, viciously slammed into the two
individual’s bodies. However, their bodies were akin to boulders, their feet tightly gripping the ground,
unmoving as they allowed the water to crash onto them.
Zhou Yuan’s were shut, the Spirit between his brows throbbing as strands of Spirit sense spread
outwards, sucking over all of the nearby quartz energy within the flowing waters to ease the intense pain
brought about by the water striking his body.
Meanwhile, the Ice and Fire Genesis Gathering Rune on his body began to emit a faint glow. Cold and heat
interweaved as the quartz energy was swiftly absorbed.
The speed of absorption was far greater than an ordinary Genesis Gathering Rune.
“This Ice and Fire Genesis Gathering Rune is indeed effective!” Zhou Yuan praised in his heart as he felt
the difference.
Boundless water continued to descend, making Zhou Yuan’s and Qi Yue’s figures barely visible. Outside
the waterfall, everyone’s gazes were unblinkingly fixed on the duo.
“Zhou Yuan’s previous limit seems to be an hour while Qi Yue on the other hand can reach one hour fifty
minutes.” Liu Xi stared at the two silhouettes in the watercall as she coldly smiled, “So the victor will be
decided in an hour.”
It seems that Zhou Yuan’s ego had swelled somewhat after having such an easy time in the newcomer
exam. Did he truly believe that Qi Yue was in any way like the trash he had faced in the newcomer exam?
In Qi Yue’s eyes, there was probably no difference between Zhou Yuan and the trash he had defeated.
Xu Hong nodded. He was very confident in Qi Yue. After all, the quality of a six channel body was enough
to allow him to easily endure in the Jade Spirit Waterfall.
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The numerous students on the B class side also wore smiles and appeared rather relaxed. After all, Qi
Yue’s reputation in the Great Zhou Institute was just too great. He and Zhou Yuan were on completely
different levels.
In contrast to them, every one of the A class students wore looks of worry.
Yaoyao glanced at the tightly clenched fists of Su Youwei and consoled in a flat voice, “No need to worry.
Zhou Yuan will not lose.”
Her Spirit was powerful and it was likely that no one here could even hold a candle to her. Therefore, she
could naturally sense that Zhou Yuan was using the power of his Spirit to absorb large amounts of quartz
energy. Moreover, with the aid of the Ice and Fire Genesis Gathering Rune, Zhou Yuan was practically able
to endlessly endure in the Jade Spirit Waterfall without tiring.
On the other hand, Qi Yue was relying on his strong body. But no matter how strong the body, the
continuous damage from the Jade Spirit Waterfall would gradually erode at it until it reached its limit.
This was why the victor was clear from the start.
Although Su Youwei did not know why Yaoyao was so certain, the former felt a little more at ease.
However, her pretty eyes still unblinkingly stared at the waterfall.
Under everyone’s attention, time swiftly passed.
Ten minutes… half an hour… fifty minutes…
An hour rapidly approached. However, what puzzled the crowd was that Zhou Yuan’s figure remained
unmoving and had not started shaking, as if he was having an easy time. There was no indicator that he
had reached his limit at all.
Xu Hong’s brows faintly furrowed as he glanced at Liu Xi. She was biting down hard on her teeth as she
said, “It’s merely stubbornness. Let’s see how long he can continue acting!”
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And so, another ten minutes passed and an hour was reached.
Low gasps could be heard from the bank of the lake. They had realised that Zhou Yuan still showed no
signs of being washed away by the waterfall, remaining as steady as a rock.
Doubt began to fluctuate indeterminately in Xu Hong’s eyes, while Liu Xi felt her face burn. Her
expression also flickered in uncertainty, no longer daring to make irresponsible remarks because she
could already feel some of the B class students cast odd looks at her.
“That kid is still able to endure?”
In the Jade Spirit Waterfall, Qi Yue frowned as he sensed the still persisting Zhou Yuan. By this time,
intense pain had started to emerge in Qi Yue’s body, but it was still within his tolerance threshold.
“I’ll wait and see if he is acting tough.”
While Qi Yue waited, another half an hour passed.
However, there was still no signs of any movement from Zhou Yuan.
Qi Yue’s face was now rather ugly. He could feel that he was about to reach his limits.
“This brat. No wonder he agreed so easily. Turns out that he was holding back before.” Qi Yue’s eyes
darkened, a cold glint surfacing in his eyes as he glanced at Zhou Yuan.
“However, do you think that I did not make any preparations for this bet?”
Qi Yue’s eyes slowly shut as he waited for time to pass. Another twenty minutes passed in this manner
and the total time had now reached one hour and fifty minutes, which was also Qi Yue’s limit.
Qi Yue opened his eyes as a sinisterly cold light emerged within them.
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“Zhou Yuan. Since you cannot appreciate my kindness, don’t blame me for what happens next.”
The moment this thought was finish, he flipped his tongue and a dark red pill appeared in his mouth
before being swallowed in a single gulp.
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Chapter 36 Underhanded Tactic
As the dark red pill was swallowed into Qi Yue’s stomach, he immediately felt an icy sensation appear in
his body that headed straight towards his forehead.
This pill was known as the Spirit Strengthening Pill and could temporarily strengthen one’s Spirit.
However, there were repercussions. After usage, the Spirit would be depleted for a period of time.
It was obvious that Qi Yue no longer cared about such things at this point in time.
As his Spirit swelled, a faint ray of light emerged from the spot between Qi Yue’s brows and seemed to
transform into an illusory figure. It was his Spirit. Evidently, Qi Yue’s Spirit had stepped into the Illusory
stage with the aid of the Spirit Strengthening Pill.
With his Spirit now at the Illusory stage, Qi Yue immediately discovered what he had previously been
unaware of. He could sense strands of quartz energy in the Jade Spirit Waterfall continuously flowing
towards Zhou Yuan.
“So that’s what’s going on! To think that your ability to last so long in the Jade Spirit Waterfall is because
of your Spirit!” Qi Yue’s pupils shrank. He had finally discovered the secret to why Zhou Yuan was able to
endure even longer than himself.
“Humph. It is fortunate that I made preparations for this day. Else it would really be akin to capsizing on a
calm lake!”
Qi Yue’s expression darkened. Soon after, a Genesis Rune gradually appeared between his brows. This
rune was known as the ‘Spirit Needle Rune’, a grade 1 rune which he had specifically found someone to
help him inscribe. Its function was to condense the Spirit into the shape of a needle that could attack the
enemy.
Normally speaking, one needed to at least be at the advance Illusory stage to use Spirit based attacks. Qi
Yue was barely able to reach the initial Illusory stage with the help of the Spirit Strengthening Pill and
thus needed to rely on an external power in order to utilise Spirit attacks.
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Qi Yue could not attack directly in the waterfall. Hence, he could only choose a concealable method like
Spirit attacks.
Swish!
Following the activation of the ‘Spirit Needle Rune’, the spot between Qi Yue’s brows flashed as a long
needle made from a strand of Spirit shot out. The long Spirit needle pierced through the water and
headed straight for Zhou Yuan.
Zhou Yuan immediately sensed the Spirit needle the moment it shot towards him and the expression in
his eyes instantly sunk. “A Spirit attack? How can Qi Yue’s Spirit be so strong?!”
Even the current Zhou Yuan could not perform Spirit attacks.
Though he was bewildered, Zhou Yuan did not dare to tarry. Although the Spirit attack might not seem
imposing and was unable to do any damage to the body, its destructive power to the Spirit was extremely
great.
Once one’s Spirit was hurt, it would be even more difficult to recover than a physical wound.
Thus, Zhou Yuan immediately stopped absorbing quartz energy. His Spirit withdrew and entrenched
itself between his brows, creating multiple layers of defence.
Ch!
A faint sound was heard as a strand of Spirit power was directed to Zhou Yuan’s eye. Zhou Yuan could
now see a long Spirit needle drill its way out of the flowing water and shoot straight towards his head.
Ch ch!
Stabbing pain could be felt from between his brows as his expression grew increasingly grave. The Spirit
needle was sharp and had managed to penetrate the layers of his Spirit defence he had set-up.
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“Since you wish to seek death, I will have to oblige!” Zhou Yuan’s gaze flickered as the corners of his lips
lifted to form an icy smile. The current him might not be a match for Qi Yue in a battle of fists, but if it was
Spirit, Qi Yue was practically courting death!
Zhou Yuan used his Spirit to continuously grind away at the sharpness of the Spirit needle. A short while
later, he suddenly dispersed his defences with a thought.
“Success!”
An evil grin appeared on Qi Yue’s face when he sensed this.
Boom!
However, the moment this sinister smile emerged on his face, a loud sound was transmitted into his ear.
Subsequently, the scenery before his eyes rapidly changed as he found himself in an endless starry sky.
Rumble!
This sudden turn of events caused Qi Yue’s expression to change drastically as a rumbling sound
thundered. He raised his head and was swiftly overwhelmed by inconsolable terror when he saw an
infinitely stretching giant grindstone slowly appear. A shadow that could cover the heavens descended as
the behemoth hurled towards him.
Endless dread surged in Qi Yue’s heart.
The titanic grindstone crushed downwards and there was nothing he could do to resist as he felt his
Spirit being smashed to pieces.
Crack!
A faint cracking sound emerged from between Zhou Yuan’s brows, marking the shattering of Qi Yue’s
Spirit needle as an icy chuckle to left the former’s mouth. Between Zhou Yuan’s brows was the Primal
Chaos Divine Grindstone brand left by Cang Yuan. Hence, Zhou Yuan was not afraid of Spirit attacks. Any
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Spirit attack that entered would naturally be crushed by the Primal Chaos Divine Grindstone.
AAH!
When Zhou Yuan shattered the Spirit needle, a miserable shriek suddenly rang out nearby.
The shriek immediately draw the attention of everyone outside the waterfall. Subsequently, they were
appalled to see Qi Yue’s figure start to shake before ultimately being washed away by the boundless flow
of water, falling into the cold waters of the lake below.
“How is this possible?” Xu Hong’s expression abruptly changed. He face was steely-green as he stared at
the trembling Qi Yue that had fallen into the lake.
By the side, Liu Xi’s small mouth was wide open while disbelief filled her attractive face.
The other B class students were silently trembling, their faces white as sheet.
Of course, it was not just them. Even Chu Tianyang, Su Youwei and the other A class students had faces
overflowing with shock. It was obvious that this outcome had surpassed everyone’s expectations.
The surroundings of the Jade Spirit Waterfall was complete silence, as if everyone had just seen a ghost.
While a blanket of silence covered the crowd, a figure flew out from the Jade Spirit Waterfall, his foot
pushing off the surface of the water before confidently landing by the lake side. Tall and straight, who else
could it be but Zhou Yuan.
He looked at the ugly to the max expressions on Xu Hong, Liu Xi and the rest as he said in a flat voice, “The
victor is already clear. What else do you have to say?”
Some students fished out Qi Yue from the lake, only to find that his face was deathly pale while his eyes
were full of fear. His shivering appearance was extremely miserable.
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This baffled everyone. They were clearly unable to understand how he became like this.
“This is… Spirit injury?” Xu Hong’s expression immediately changed when he saw Qi Yue’s appearance.
When Liu Xi heard this, she immediately pointed at Zhou Yuan and shrieked, “Despicable! You cheated!”
The many students also looked towards Zhou Yuan in doubt.
“Cheated?” Zhou Yuan sneered and pointed towards Qi Yue’s head where the remains of a rune was
gradually fading, “If I am not wrong, that is the grade 1 Genesis Rune, Spirit Needle Rune, right?”
“If he did not attack me with a Spirit needle earlier, he would not have fallen into such a state.”
The moment these words were said, an uproar exploded from the crowd as their gazes turned towards Qi
Yue’s forehead. Sure enough, they found the fading remains of a rune and those proficient in Genesis
Runes immediately identified it.
“Qi Yue is clearly stronger than prince Zhou Yuan. To think that he still made use of such despicable
tactics!” Numerous students muttered while the gazes that looked at Qi Yue now had an additional trace
of despise.
Liu Xi’s face turned steely-green when she sensed these gazes, while fire practically spit from her eyes.
However, she could not say even a single word in rebuttal because the truth was already more than clear.
If Qi Yue had not done anything fishy, what was this Spirit Needle Rune for?
If she tried to explain, it was likely that even she would be drowned in the crowd’s spittle.
As they heard the voices from the crowd, the many B class students looked to each other with ugly
expressions. The respect from before was no longer present in their gazes when they looked towards Qi
Yue, instead, there was now blame.
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After all, Qi Yue had lost the bet, causing their B class to lose 3 hours of Jade Spirit Waterfall training time.
In other words, all they had left was a single hour…
This was a tremendous blow to their B class.
Someone could not help but mutter, “Challenging others without absolute confidence. Great job, there’s
now practically nothing left to lose.”
Liu Xi immediately swept her furious gaze over, but was unable to find who had spoken and could only
grind her teeth in anger.
“Hehe, class master Xu, our A class kindly accepts your B class’ 3 hours of Jade Spirit Waterfall training
time.” Chu Tianyang heartily laughed at this moment. It felt really awesome to look at Xu Hong’s steely-
green face.
Never in his wildest dreams would Xu Hong have ever expected that causing trouble for the A class would
instead result in such a huge loss for the B class.
Rage churned in Xu Hong’s stomach, but he not act out on his anger. He could only show a forced smile as
he looked at Chu Tianyang and Zhou Yuan and said, “Don’t celebrate too early. The class ranking exam is
fast approaching and as long as our B class takes first place again, whatever you’ve taken away now will
have to be spit out twice fold!”
After saying this, he flung his sleeves, turned around and left.
Liu Xi and the other B class students could only weakly follow. Their figures were an extremely sorry
sight.
As the left, thunderous cheers exploded from the A class as they surged forward, wishing they could
throw Zhou Yuan up into the air.
Zhou Yuan hurriedly put a stop to their crazed happiness and smiled towards the surrounding students
from the other classes as he said, “Of the 3 hours our A class has won, 1 hour will be split amongst the
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other three classes. Take it as thanks for cheering us on today.”
The moment these words were said, the students of the other three classes were taken aback. Soon after,
ashamed looks were revealed on their faces. The truth was that their three classes had been a little akin
to those who threw stones at someone who was already down. Who could have expected that not only
would Zhou Yuan not bear a grudge, he would even give them an hour of his winnings. This act of
requiting goodness for evil made them feel both shame and admiration.
“Then we’ll have to thank your highness!” Numerous students cupped their fists towards Zhou Yuan with
gratitude on their faces.
Praise involuntarily flitted across Chu Tianyang’s eyes when he saw this. This move of Zhou Yuan’s was
just too beautiful and had practically bought over the will of the students. From this day onwards, Zhou
Yuan’s popularity would likely surpass Qi Yue’s.
Moreover, after receiving such benefits from Zhou Yuan, no one would agree to whatever trickery the B
class tried in future.
The expressions of Qin Xiao and the other two class masters were complicated. Their hearts shivered as
they glanced at Zhou Yuan. It was at this very moment that they finally realised that this prince of theirs
was not simple at all. Looks like they definitely could not offend him in future...
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Chapter 37 Double Breakthrough
Smash!
In a certain room, Qi Yue’s eyes were entirely red as he smashed everything he could get his hands on. It
was a long time later before he finally stopped, panting for breath with a twisted face that was menacing
to the extreme.
Qi Yue violently punched a hole in the table as he snarled through gnashed teeth, “Zhou Yuan!”
By the side, Liu Xi waited till he finished venting before approaching as she consoled, “Qi Yue, there’s no
need to be angry. Zhou Yuan was just lucky this time. If it was a real fight, he would be no match for you.
He merely relied on his meagre attainments in the Spirit.”
Qi Yue’s jaw was clenched. Of course he knew that Zhou Yuan would not be nothing in a real fight, but he
did after all lose the bet. Moreover, he had lost in a such an unsightly manner in front of all of the Great
Zhou Institute students.
It was easy to imagine how his popularity and fame in the institute would be destroyed after this affair.
Especially when he had lost 3 of the 4 hours of Jade Spirit Waterfall training the B class had. One could
easily imagine how the B class students might not dare to openly say anything, but would surely blame
him in their hearts.
When he recalled those gazes, the proud Qi Yue felt so sullen that he almost vomited a mouthful of blood.
Liu Xi said, “The class ranking exam is fast approaching. During the class ranking exam, you will openly
defeat him and let him know exactly how great the gap between the both of you is. When that happens,
you will take everything back.”
Qi Yue took in a deep breath, suppressing the fury in his heart as he slowly nodded and said, “Don’t
worry. I will make sure that he returns everything to me in the class ranking exam!”
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“However, there’s something very odd about that brat so I can’t afford to relax. I need to redouble my
training and make sure that he will not even have the slightest chance to make a come back.”
Liu Xi nodded, gratified by Qi Yue’s words. In the end, he had not allowed his anger to overwhelm his
rationality and instead began to view Zhou Yuan as a rival. She believed that with Qi Yue’s talent, as long
as he no longer looked down on Zhou Yuan like before, it would be impossible for the latter to vie with Qi
Yue.
The most dazzling person in the year-end class ranking exam would be Qi Yue!
Additionally, she was not wrong to have called Zhou Yuan a toad back then!
Qi Yue’s fists gradually loosened as he eyes narrowed slightly, flickering maliciously.
“Zhou Yuan, you’d better remember this!”
The following ten days were exceptionally good for the A class members. The time they had to train in the
Jade Spirit Waterfall had grown from 6 to 8 hours, allowing the channel opening rate of many students to
rise and several were even attempting to unblock their next channel.
The formerly high and mighty students of the B class quickly made themselves scarce whenever they saw
an A class student and no longer mocked the latter. This made the A class members feel rather carefree.
As for the students from the other classes, they were extremely friendly to the A class students due to
Zhou Yuan’s actions. For a time, the morale of the A class members soared and they sincerely admired
Zhou Yuan in their hearts a little more than before.
Rumble!
In the Jade Spirit Waterfall, Zhou Yuan’s eyes were shut as he allowed the boundless water to wash over
him. Meanwhile, strands of quartz energy were continuously absorbed by his body.
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While Zhou Yuan was quietly training, he suddenly heard cheers from the lakeside.
“Wow! Youwei, you are really too awesome! You’ve unblocked your fifth meridian channel so quickly!”
Zhou Yuan was somewhat startled when he heard this. He opened his eyes and looked through the
curtain of water and was barely able to make out Su Youwei’s figure surrounded by numerous A class
students at the lake bank.
“Oh? Su Youwei has unblocked her fifth meridian channel? That’s really fast!” Zhou Yuan could not help
but sigh in admiration. Su Youwei’s talent was indeed superb. The fact that her achievements were so
outstanding even without much cultivation resources was truly amazing.
“Good job Youwei. Very well done indeed!” At the lake side, Chu Tianyang was all smiles as he looked at
Su Youwei with a joyful expression. With this, their A class now had three five channel students.
Su Youwei smiled faintly. Her pretty eyes looked towards the Jade Spirit Waterfall and saw a familiar
silhouette give her a thumbs-up.
The smile on her lips grew wider, making her even more attractive and enchanting.
“Youwei has even opened her fifth channel, I cannot fall too far behind. Fortunately, I’m almost there!”
Zhou Yuan very quickly calmed his heart as his senses peered into his body. The fourth meridian channel
had been growing increasingly loose over the past few days of training and he was extremely close to
being completely unblocked.
Zhou Yuan’s eyes slowly closed once again as he began to increase the rate of quartz energy absorption.
This lasted for two whole hours.
The sun gradually set, casting rays of light on the Jade Spirit Waterfall, making it turn a rather darkish
red.
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Within the waterfall, Zhou Yuan’s figure began to tremble at this moment while he tightly gritted his teeth
as if bearing tremendous pain.
Inside his body, waves of quartz energy were ruthlessly charging into the final sliver of blockage in his
fourth meridian channel under Zhou Yuan’s guidance.
Pop!
A tiny sound was heard. Almost immediately after, Zhou Yuan’s eyes abruptly opened as the surrounding
Genesis Qi surged over and poured into his body.
Cackle crack!
Genesis Qi rumbled and his flesh and blood seemed to boil while faint vibrations were emitted from his
skeleton. Like a set of firecrackers, the quality of Zhou Yuan’s body soared once again as waves of Genesis
Qi washed over it.
Surging heat flowed in his four limbs and skeleton.
The fourth meridian channel had finally been unblocked!
Strands of Genesis Qi light swirled on the surface of Zhou Yuan’s body, stopping even the torrential
waters from touching it. A carefree smile emerged from the corners of his lips as he felt the sharp rise of
power in his body.
After more than an entire month of tough training, his fourth meridian channel was now open!
Zhou Yuan mumbled to himself, “With my fourth meridian channel unblocked, I no longer have to fear a
direct clash against Qi Yue. However, at the very minimum, Qi Yue will definitely reach the seventh
channel by the year-end class ranking exam. Thus, the fourth channel is still not enough to take first
place.”
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The current him had at last began to catch up to Qi Yue, but Zhou Yuan was still not absolutely sure of
comfortably beating Qi Yue in the class ranking exam. After all, Qi Yue was not staying stagnant while
Zhou Yuan was growing stronger, and it was very possible that the former would soon unblock his
seventh meridian channel.
However, what made Zhou Yuan feel somewhat troubled was that as his fourth meridian channel was
unblocked, the effectiveness of the Jade Spirit Waterfall was growing worse and worse. It should be
because his body had absorbed too much quartz energy and had now become rather resistant to it.
Hence, it was likely that he could not count on the Jade Spirit Waterfall to open his fifth meridian channel.
Zhou Yuan was rather vexed as he massaged his head and mumbled to himself,
“Looks like I have to find other methods. Or else, I’m afraid that my fifth meridian channel will not be
open when the class ranking exam arrives…”
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Chapter 38 Black Forest Mountain Range
The sun rose into the sky as its rays enveloped the entire Great Zhou royal palace.
“Not bad. As expected of our Zhou clan’s sacred dragon, you’ve opened your fourth meridian channel in
such a short period of time.” At the dining table, Zhou Qing watched Zhou Yuan drain a bowl of Nine Beast
Soup with a face full of gratification.
Zhou Yuan cleaned out the entire bowl with a single gulp and began to feel a rising heat within his body.
He licked his lips as he picked up a bowl of Mysterious Crystal Rice and wolfed it down together with the
meticulously prepared Genesis Beast meat dish on the table.
As the quality of his body increased, more and more nutritious Genesis Beast meat was added to his diet
to make up for the energy used during his daily training.
Only after finishing his food did Zhou Yuan finally smile at Zhou Qing. A short while later, the former
regretfully shook his head and remarked, “However, the effectiveness of the Jade Spirit Waterfall is
growing worse and worse. I need to think of other methods to quickly unblock my fifth meridian
channel.”
The difficulty of opening his channels was far higher than an ordinary person and normal methods would
be far too time consuming, something that he obviously could not afford.
A thoughtful look appeared on Zhou Qing’s face when he heard this. By this point in time, he already
knew that it was way harder for Zhou Yuan because it was the second time he was opening his channels.
From the side, the quietly eating Yaoyao suddenly said, “I have an idea to more quickly open your
channels.”
“Eh?” Zhou Yuan and Zhou Qing looked towards her in shock.
In response to their gazes, Yaoyao’s face remained expressionless as she elaborated, “I know of a Genesis
Rune called the Thirty Six Beasts Channel Opening Rune. Using the blood of thirty six kinds of grade 1
Genesis Beasts as an anchor, it can be inscribed on a person’s body, allowing the person to borrow the
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savage energy within the Genesis Beasts’ blood to unblock his channels.”
“However, this method is somewhat dangerous. If one’s will is not strong, the savage energy contained
within the blood of the Genesis Beasts will sunder one’s mind.”
In simple terms, one would become nothing more than a simple fool.
The moment these words were said, Zhou Qing’s and Qin Yu’s expressions changed slightly.
In contrast, joy flitted across Zhou Yuan’s eyes. He was extremely confident in his willpower. After all, he
had survived even the torture of the Dragon’s Resentment Poison and there was thus no reason to be
afraid of the savagery of a few grade 1 Genesis Beasts.
Zhou Yuan said without hesitation, “Big sis Yaoyao, we’ll use this Thirty Six Beast Channel Opening
Rune!”
Qin Yu wanted to say something but Zhou Yuan smiled at her. “Don’t worry mother, I will be fine.”
There was nothing else Qin Yu could say upon hearing this and she could only slowly nod her head.
Zhou Qing also nodded as he slowly said, “I will not stop you since you are so determined. I will get
someone to gather the fresh blood of thirty six grade 1 Genesis Beasts.”
He was very happy with the determination that Zhou Yuan had shown.
After all, the road of cultivation was a hard one. If one did not have great courage and drive, it would be
difficult to travel very far on this road.
Yaoyao shook her head as she softly said, “It will be better to let him gather the blood himself. He
currently lacks actual combat experience and his battle awareness is not strong. If he continues to train in
this manner, he will become a barbarian that relies solely on brute force.”
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Zhou Yuan was stunned, but soon after, a look consideration surfaced in his eyes. Yaoyao was right, he
had far too little combat experience and his battle awareness was weak. This was the reason why he had
failed to make much progress with regards to the Dragon Tablet Hand for some time and was ultimately
still unable to master the second level of the technique.
If this situation persisted, even if he managed to raise his strength, it was very probable that he would
end up encountering an unexpected failure in a true life and death struggle.
As his thoughts reached this point, Zhou Yuan looked towards Zhou Qing and said, “Father, I will be
spending some time in the Black Forest Mountain Range.”
The Black Forest Mountain Range was a grand mountain range in the vicinity of Great Zhou City.
Countless Genesis Beasts lived within it and it was a rather dangerous zone. The ability to fight was
essential to survive there.
Zhou Qing fell silent for some time before he slowly nodded his head. “It is good that you have such
thoughts. One will ultimately appear rather immature without experiencing some life and death
struggles.”
“You may go, but I will get Lu Tieshan to follow you with some men. Don’t worry though, they will not
interfere and will be there purely for your safety.”
Lu Tieshan was a captain in the imperial guard, a Heavenly Gate stage expert and was deeply trusted by
Zhou Qing.
Zhou Yuan knew from Zhou Qing’s expression that he would not give in, hence, the former could only nod
his head.
The next day.
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Early in the morning, when Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao arrived at the palace gates, a tanned and muscular
metal-tower-like figure greeted them.
“Your highness!”
The welcomer’s face was cold and impassive like a block of ice. Faint wisps of a metallic bloody aura rose
around his body, evidence that he was a veteran of the battlefield. It was Lu Tieshan, a captain of the
Great Zhou palace imperial guard.
“We’ll be troubling captain Lu. Let’s set off.”
There was no delay as Zhou Yuan faintly smiled and nodded at Lu Tieshan.
Lu Tieshan nodded. With a wave of his hand, a dozen strong-looking figures rushed over and escorted
Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao out the palace gates. The group merged into the flow of the crowd and swiftly
disappeared.
The Black Forest Mountain Range was half a dozen miles from the city. The mountains that sprawled
across the land contained countless Genesis Beasts and various natural treasures. This was why the Black
Forest Mountain Range was one of the popular locations in the vicinity of Great Zhou City.
Numerous Genesis Masters gathered here from all over in hopes of chancing upon some luck in the
perilous mountain range, trying to see if they could change their destiny and become one who stood
above others.
At the entrance to the mountains, many Genesis Masters were seeking companions or groups to join.
However, Zhou Yuan’s entourage did not stop and headed straight into the mountain range. After all, with
a Heaven Gate stage expert like Lu Tieshan with them, there would not be much problems unless they
encountered grade 3 Genesis Beasts.
Zhou Yuan and gang stopped after venturing about fifteen miles into the mountain range. This was the
outer layer of the Black Forest Mountain range and majority of the Genesis Beasts here were grade 1.
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They set up two tents in a randomly chosen valley before Lu Tieshan withdrew with his men, leaving the
place to Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao.
As Lu Tieshan and the rest left, Zhou Yuan breathed out deeply as he gazed at the dark forest, smelling
the faint scent of blood in the air while his hand slowly closed around the Heavenly Yuan Brush at his hip.
He knew that he needed to train here in the following period of time and hoped that he would be able to
unblock his fifth meridian channel here.
...
Qi Manor.
In a certain room, Qi Yue’s gaze was chilly as he looked at the middle-aged man before him and slowly
asked, “Zhou Yuan has gone to the Black Forest Mountain Range?”
“Yes. Lu Tieshan personally escorted him and it’s likely that he plans to train there.” The middle-aged
man’s eyes were deep set and his skin a rock-like faded yellow.
This person was housekeeper of Qi Manor, Qi Ling.
Qi Yue could not help but let out an icy chuckle when he heard this. Cold light flickered in his eyes as he
mumbled to himself, “I won’t be able to do anything if you stayed in the city, but you’ve actually
voluntarily went to the Black Forest Mountain Range. You are truly reckless.”
“Does second young master intend to take action against him?” Qi Ling frowned as he continued, “If we
are discovered, the royal clan will surely retaliate.”
Qi Yue faintly smiled, “That’s why I need a very meticulous plan. Moreover, I do not intend on killing him.
Leaving him half dead to relieve some of this pent up anger is fine.”
He thought for a while before he said in an emotionless voice, “Get two people to fake a robbery at Qi
Manor. After which, you will lead some men and go after them, chasing them all the way to the area
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where Zhou Yuan is where you will find an opportunity to delay Lu Tieshan. As for the rest, leave it to our
two ‘robbers’.”
“If anything happens, those two will take the blame and it will have nothing to do with us. After all, Qi
Manor was the victim of robbery. Make sure to silence them as soon as possible so that no one will be
able to say anything.”
Qi Ling was stunned. Soon after, he smiled and said, “It’s a pretty good plan.”
Qi Yue let out an icy laugh as he retrieved a jade scroll form his clothes. A faint radiance was emitted by
the scroll as if ancient text had been carved onto it. “But we must ensure that everything is done properly
in order decrease suspicion. Hand this item to the two that will carry out this task.”
Qi Ling recieved the scroll and glanced at it, causing his expression to change drastically. “The Auraflare
technique? This is one of the most powerful Genesis techniques of Qi Manor and was obtained by master
from the Wu Empire.”
“I retrieved it from the treasury earlier. It is even more suitable because it is important. When the two
have completed their mission, you will assist Lu Tieshan to kill them and retrieve it.”
“This can be considered an explanation of sorts. After all, I expect that the royal clan will have nothing to
say since our Qi Manor narrowly lost such a treasure. As they saying goes, a mute that eats a bitter gourd
will be unable to complain. The royal clan will have no choice but to suffer in silence.”
Qi Yue’s voice was sinisterly cold. His vicious plan made even Qi Ling involuntarily nod in approval.
“Excellent. Second young master’s plan is very thorough.” Qi Ling grinned evilly. As a follower of king Qi,
he no longer cared about the Great Zhou royal clan and showed no fear even when they were plotting
against Zhou Yuan.
Qi Yue laughed and raised his head. There was a venomous look in his eyes as he looked towards the
direction of the Black Forest Mountain Range.
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“Zhou Yuan. Since you made me lose face in the Great Zhou Institute, I will take half your life!”
“Fight me? Humph, you are still too inexperienced!”
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Chapter 39 Enemy Encounter
Towering trees stood within the gloomy forest while dried yellow leaves carpeted the ground. Shadows
flashed within the dense foliage. The place was brimming with danger.
On a certain clearing in the forest, Zhou Yuan’s crouched body was stretched taunt while his eyes were
fixed straight ahead where a night-black Genesis Beast with a silver horn was staring back at him with
cold animal eyes.
It was a Silver Horn Beast, a grade 1 Genesis Beast.
Growl!
The Silver Horn Beast’s body slowly lowered before suddenly shooting forward a split second later like a
shadow. The pungent scent of blood was strong as it pounced at Zhou Yuan.
“Dragon Step!”
The Silver Horn Beast was swift and ferocious, hence Zhou Yuan did not dare to be negligent. His feet
immediately inclined at an angle and moved as his body turned blurry.
Sch!
The Silver Horn Beast’s sharp claws grazed past the skin of Zhou Yuan’s face.
Zhou Yuan’s five fingers clenched into a fist, Genesis Qi light swirling around it as he viciously punched at
the lower back of the Silver Horn Beast.
Thud!
The Silver Horn Beast let out a howl of grief as it slammed into the ground, creating a crater. However,
when it hit the ground, its tail whipped out like a metal whip and smashed into Zhou Yuan’s arm.
Zhou Yuan’s body was swept backwards, only managing to stabilize himself after a dozen steps.
Ignoring the burning pain from his arm, Zhou Yuan ferociously pounced forward again, his hand
sweeping out at a horizontal angle while all the Genesis Qi in his body surged through his meridian
channels and poured into his palm.
A low cry was followed by the sound of wind then A faint sonic boom.
Bang!
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Without waiting for the Silver Horn Beast to crawl up to its feet, Zhou Yuan’s hand powerfully swatted
onto its head, immediately causing its hard skull to shatter as its body fell to the ground with a loud thud.
Having killed the Silver Horn Beast with a palm strike, Zhou Yuan sighed in relief as his tense body began
to relax.
Ch!
However, the instant he relaxed, a shadow suddenly shot out from the shade of the tree behind him.
Sharp fangs flickered coldly as they viciously closed in on Zhou Yuan’s throat.
“Martial form!”
A shout suddenly rang out.
Light surged in Zhou Yuan’s hand as a mottled black brush appeared. The snow-white hairs of the brush
tip binded together tightly like a lotus flower shaped spear tip with unparallelled sharpness, while
strands of Genesis Qi swirled around it. With a swish, it pierced through the air, penetrating the shadow
through its bloody, wide-opened mouth and pinning it on the tree trunk.
With his hands grasped around the end of the Heavenly Yuan Brush, Zhou Yuan lifted his head, only to
find a thick black snake nailed to the trunk, fresh blood flowing from it.
It was a Shadow Python, another a grade 1 Genesis Beast.
“Come at me again?” Zhou Yuan grinned at the snake’s corpse. He had suffered quite a bit at the very
beginning. If his Spirit had not reached the Illusory stage, giving him keen senses, it was likely that he
would have been swallowed as food when he first encountered this particular creature.
Zhou Yuan retrieved the Heavenly Yuan Brush, transforming it back to its culture form and stuck it back
into his waistband. Subsequently, he hoisted up both the python and Silver Horn Beast corpses before
walking out of the forest.
After exiting the forest, he came to a valley after approximately a dozen minutes of walking. Yaoyao was
seated on a rock by the little stream, her bare feet dipping into the cool waters as she leisurely played in
the water. Meanwhile, Tuntun was shuttling up and down in the stream, catching the fish swimming
within.
Upon hearing some noise, Yaoyao turned her head and glanced at Zhou Yuan. “Not bad, at least you didn’t
get injured this time.”
Zhou Yuan threw the two Genesis Beast corpses onto the ground, feeling a little embarrassed when he
heard her words. It was already his fifth day in the Black Forest Mountain Range and he had just barely
gotten accustomed to the fighting and killing of Genesis Beasts.
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However, on his first day here, he had been riddled all over with injuries. In particular, the claw wound
on his chest had been so deep that bone could be seen. It was then that Zhou Yuan finally understood the
difference between practice fights and true life and death battles.
These Genesis Beasts had experienced numerous fights to survive, and every single one was both cunning
and ruthless. If Zhou Yuan treated them as easily slaughtered reared cattle, it was likely that he would not
be able to walk out of this mountain range.
Although the past few days had been extremely dangerous, it had also brought about a significant change
to Zhou Yuan. In the past, Zhou Yuan had a slight scholarly aura and looked like a weak scholar that
would be blown away by a gentle breeze.
Now however, he gave off a faint aura of danger when he entered battle mode.
Yaoyao threw over two bottles and instructed, “Collect the beasts’ blood. Remember to only take the
blood of the heart where the savage energy is the strongest.”
Zhou Yuan caught the bottles and nodded. He used a small knife to cut open the skin of the two Genesis
Beasts with ease, before collecting the heart blood in the bottles.
“Up till now, you’ve already killed fifteen Genesis Beasts. You still have twenty one more to go.” Yaoyao
rose, her bare feet stepping on the rock. The snow-white fairness made the surrounding light seem a little
dimmer.
Zhou Yuan nodded in acknowledgement. Thirty six different kinds of grade 1 Genesis Beasts were needed
for the Thirty Six Beast Channel Opening Rune. Thus, some time was required to gather the ingredients.
However, it was not urgent and in any case, he could use this period of time to temper himself.
He could feel that he was growing a little stronger each day, strength not of the body but of the mind. At
the very least, he was confident that the current him was able to effortlessly beat the him from before
entering the Black Forest Mountain Range.
While Zhou Yuan was killing Genesis Beasts in the Black Forest Mountain Range, certain events had
occurred in Great Zhou City. The most notable amongst them was that Qi Manor had been robbed and
was rumored to have lost something very important. The entire Qi Manor had practically been turned
inside out and the search for the thieves ultimately extended throughout the city, causing it to become
abuzz with activity.
However, this was after all an affair of Qi Manor. Therefore, everyone merely watched from the sidelines,
even gloating somewhat before no longer paying any attention.
Ta ta!
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On the second day after Qi Manor was burgled, the housekeeper of the manor, Qi Ling, led a group of men
out the city, heading straight for the Black Forest Mountain Range where some clues were said to have
been found.
Qi Ling stood with his hands behind his back at the entrance to the Black Forest Mountain Range. His
deep set eyes were fixed onto the mountain range like an eagle’s.
Someone reported from behind in a low voice, “Master Qi, the men have already entered the Black Forest
Mountain Range and are closing in on the target.”
Qi Ling nodded and said, “Prepare to search the mountains and make sure to cause a bigger disturbance.
We will be heading to where Lu Tieshan is.”
“Roger!” The person behind him responded before waving his hand as a dozen figures shot out and flew
towards the mountain range.
Half a day later.
At a certain location in the mountain range, Lu Tieshan was seated cross-legged in front a towering tree.
He suddenly opened his eyes, his gaze firmly fixed on the forests in front of him as he shouted in stern
voice, “Who?!”
Behind him, several figures grasped the weapons at their side as the Genesis Qi in their bodies began to
circulate.
“Hehe, no need to be nervous brother Lu, it’s me.” A chuckle emerged from the forests followed by Qi Ling
and his men.
“Qi Ling?” Lu Tieshan was stunned before he frowned and asked, “What are you doing here?”
Qi Ling helplessly replied, “The manor has been burgled and the thieves seem to have hidden themselves
in the Black Forest Mountain Range. Me and my men have chased them all the way here.”
Lu Tieshan’s furrowed brows relaxed a little. He had heard of the recent Qi Manor burglary. Though he
looked as large as a bear, he was very prudent and cautious, else he would not have become a captain of
the imperial guard. Thus, although he seemed to have relaxed his guard, he tilted his head and instructed
the imperial guards behind him, “Send two men to protect his highness.”
Two imperial guards immediately responded and stealthily withdrew.
Qi Ling was all smiles as he watched this happen. As he walked forward to greet Lu Tieshan, the hand
behind his back lightly waved as shadows seemed to retreat in the dark.
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In the valley, Yaoyao was seated on a rock, her long legs folded under her while Tuntun lay on her lap.
Her fine black hair draped over her shoulders, while the dried yellow leaves of an ancient cedar fell
behind her. This beautiful scene was akin to a painting.
Roar!
Suddenly, the lazy Tuntun on Yaoyao’s lap opened its eyes and looked towards the nearby darkness as a
roar was released from its throat.
Yaoyao’s brows knitted together slightly as she also raised her pretty face and looked in the same
direction.
“Heh heh. I never imagined that I would meet such an extremely gorgeous little lady in the deep
mountains.” A voice that was filled with evilness echoed from the darkness as two figures slowly walked
out.
Both figures had the back of a tiger and the waist of a bear. The one in front had a tattoo on his face, while
an ominous look brewed in his eyes. At this current moment, his gaze seemed to burn like magma as he
stared at the lovely figure nearby as if he was about to swallow the latter in the single gulp.
The man with a tattoo on his face said to his partner as he pointed towards the nearby woods, “Luo Tong,
you go deal with the target. He should be nearby.”
Although he was speaking, his eyes remained tightly glued to Yaoyao’s body.
“That kid should have only opened four meridian channels. You will be able to easily dispatch him with
your six channel strength.”
Although the man called Luo Tong was somewhat reluctant when he heard this, he did not dare to go
against the tattoo-face man’s words. After all, the latter had already stepped into the Qi Nourishing stage.
Luo Tong licked his lips and said, “Boss, you have to leave a bite of such a high quality good for me. I have
never seen such a pretty girl in my life.”
“Haha, don’t worry. I will definitely wait for you to return, but you must be quick.” The perverse light in
the tattoo-face man’s eyes blossomed as he grinned.
“Great.” Luo Tong nodded his head in a satisfied manner when he heard this before he quickly shot
towards the forest.
Upon seeing Luo Tong leave, the tattoo-face man beamed as he walked towards the Yaoyao, who had not
moved from the spot. He looked at the latter’s alluring hands and her beautiful breathtaking face as he
felt a fire burn in his body.
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“Little beauty, come have some fun with me. I will be very gentle with you.” The tattoo-face man did not
sense any Genesis Qi undulations from Yaoyao’s body and hence was not even the slightest bit wary. His
eyes wantonly swept across her figure as he grinned.
Yaoyao shot an indifferent look at him. Not even the slightest fluctuation could be seen in her bright eyes.
Her calm appearance caused the tattoo-face man to be stunned as he felt a tiny bit of unease.
“Tuntun.”
Before he could do anything else, Yaoyao’s red lips had already opened slightly. Her clear and sweet voice
was completely ice-cold.
As Yaoyao’s voice faded, the tattoo-face man’s pupils immediately shrank. He watched in horror as the
tiny body of the originally pet-like Tuntun lying on Yaoyao’s lap began to grow. Its fur receded and in its
place grew scarlet red scales. A pair of scarlet red animal eyes were brimming with endless ferocity,
while black light faintly emerged in the slightly opened mouth of the creature as if it could devour all
things.
In the blink of an eye, the originally cute little pet had become a mysterious and horrible beast. An
ominous aura dashed into the sky, while an alarming pressure slowly spread from its body.
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Chapter 40 That’s All That’s Left
Roar!
Moments after a tiger roar rang out in the forest, a fist surrounded by strands of swirling Genesis Qi
blasted through the air with violent power as it ruthlessly smashed into its head.
Phew.
Zhou Yuan watched the beast corpse before him gradually turn rigid and breathed a sigh of relief as if a
heavy burden had been lifted from his shoulders. Subsequently, he conveniently wiped his bloody fist on
its fur.
It was a Wind Tiger. An extremely quick Genesis Beast that was considerably difficult to deal with
amongst the grade 1 Genesis Beasts. Fortunately, Zhou Yuan had the Dragon Step. Its ability to make him
akin to the mist had just barely brought him victory.
“This is the thirty sixth grade 1 Genesis Beast…” Zhou Yuan smiled as he bent over to lift it up.
Swish!
It was at this moment that a flash of cold light suddenly shot out from the darkness, heading straight for
Zhou Yuan’s heart at a crafty angle.
However, just as the flash of cold light was about to hit Zhou Yuan, his arm jerked, causing the tiger
corpse to slant and block his heart. The flash of cold light pierced the corpse, the entire blade of the
dagger firmly lodging itself into its flesh. From this, one could see just how powerful the force behind it
had been.
“Eh?” A cry of surprise involuntarily echoed from the darkness when the hit missed.
“Who is it? Come out!” The sudden ruthless sneak attack caused Zhou Yuan’s expression to change. With
another jerk of his arm, the tiger corpse was sent smashing towards the darkness.
A figure swiftly shot out from the darkness, pushing off on the tiger corpse with a foot before landing in
front of Zhou Yuan like a feather.
Zhou Yuan frowned as he looked at the bulky man with an ominous look in his eyes and asked, “Who are
you?”
“The one who has come for your life.” The one who had come was naturally Luo Tong. He gazed at Zhou
Yuan, a look of contempt rising from the corners of his mouth as he icily said, “Kid, obediently receive
your death. The little beauty back there is still waiting for me to enjoy her!”
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Zhou Yuan expression immediately changed upon hearing this, but he quickly regained his calm.
Although Yaoyao might seem as powerless as a bound up chicken, Zhou Yuan knew how deceiving that
appearance was. Moreover, there was an enigmatic Tuntun at her side protecting her.
It was likely that Yaoyao would be fine even in the face of a Heaven Gate stage expert. Heaven Gate
experts were the most powerful practitioners in Great Zhou and would not appear so easily.
Although Zhou Yuan had calmed down, cold light flickered in his eyes. These bastards that dared to have
designs on Yaoyao truly deserved to die.
Zhou Yuan’s five fingers slowly clenched as he said, “I guarantee that you will not be able to walk out of
the Black Forest Mountain Range alive today.”
“You overestimate yourself brat! Watch how I kill you with a single punch!” Luo Tong grinned hideously
upon hearing this. In a flash, his figure had already charged forward, five fingers turning into a fist
surrounded by flowing Genesis Qi as a sonic boom rang out. Luo Tong had the strength of six channels
and the power of his punch was definitely astonishing.
However, Zhou Yuan’s expression was calm in the face of Luo Tong’s ferocious punch. The former’s
tightly clenched fist also ferociously thrust forward.
“A mere four channel dares to exchange fists with me?” Luo Tong’s hideous smile grew even wider when
he saw this, believing that Zhou Yuan was making a mistake due to his immaturity. Luo Tong immediately
put more power into his attack, intending to break Zhou Yuan’s arm with this punch.
Boom!
However, the hideous smile on Luo Tong’s face turned a little rigid when their fists collided. He could feel
that the power from Zhou Yuan’s fist was not any weaker than his own six channel power!
“How is this possible?”
Luo Tong’s heart shook slightly, knowing that he had encountered a tough foe. As such, he no longer
dared to show any more contempt. His fist abruptly changed into a claw, finger-winds ripping through
the air as an attack that seemed to flicker with cold light slashed at Zhou Yuan’s throat.
Zhou Yuan’s feet inclined at an angle and moved, displaying the Dragon Step, while his body seemed to
flicker, appearing somewhat blurry.
The formidable finger-winds missed Zhou Yuan’s body by three inches while he quickly followed up with
a powerful punch aimed at Luo Tong’s face. The attack was both fierce and direct, not showing even the
slightest mercy.
The rapidly growing fist reflected in Luo Tong’s eyes caused alarm to shoot through his heart as his body
suddenly jolted. “Six channels open!”
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Boom!
The surrounding Genesis Qi surged over and poured into Luo Tong’s body. His clothes immediately began
to flap about as Genesis light flowed out from his pores, covering him in a faint glow.
Boom!
Zhou Yuan’s fist slammed into the Genesis Qi light flowing on Luo Tong’s face, but was unable to advance
any further. Instead, Zhou Yuan was catapulted backwards by the threads of Genesis Qi.
“To have forced me to open six channels to deal with you, you can die with no regrets!” Luo Tong gnashed
his teeth in rage. The fact that he had almost suffered a lost against a four channel brat had made him
extremely angry.
Swish!
Luo Tong shot forward once again, his speed even greater this time. A night-black glow emerged from his
fingertips as the faint foul smell spread.
“Mid grade Genesis technique, Black Ghost Palm.”
Zhou Yuan’s eyes narrowed slightly and extended his hand in a slow and heavy manner as if he was
carrying a giant mountain. However, every tiny shift of his hand would cause piercing sounds to emerge
from the surrounding air.
“Four channels open!”
The meridian channels in Zhou Yuan’s body vibrated, emitting a suction force that continuously absorbed
the surrounding Genesis Qi into the body, turning it into surging power that poured into Zhou Yuan’s
hand.
A faint but imposing pressure spread from Zhou Yuan’s body.
“Dragon Tablet Hand, split the earth.” A soft voice was gently spat out from his mouth.
Over this period of fighting and killing Genesis Beasts, Zhou Yuan was finally able to use the second level
of the Dragon Tablet Hand.
Bang!
The ground beneath Zhou Yuan’s feet seemed to shake violently as his fist flew forward. The air in front
of it was ripped apart as an overwhelming force spurted out.
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“Genesis Qi leaving the body?!” Luo Tong was astonished. Such a phenomenon could only be done with
the strength of the Qi Nourishing stage or through a Black tier Genesis technique that far surpassed
ordinary Genesis techniques.
But how could a four channel brat possibly master a Black tier Genesis technique?
However, no matter how shocked he was, the faintly glowing deadly fist-winds had already surged over
and slammed into his chest without giving him any time to dodge.
Bang!
Luo Tong’s body was sent flying backwards like a cannonball as he wildly vomited a mouthful of fresh
blood. Ignoring his heavy injuries, he crawled up and started to run. After the previous exchange, he had
already realised that the battle power of the mere four channel youth was terrifying.
Iciness flashed in Zhou Yuan’s eyes when he saw Luo Tong run. A Genesis Rune emerged on his throat as
Zhou Yuan opened his mouth and roared.
Grade 1 Genesis Rune, Tiger Roar Rune!
A sound wave rippled outwards, causing Luo Tong’s body to stiffen momentarily. His head was spun
while the Qi and blood in his body churned.
By the time he regained his senses, it was too late to even cry out as Zhou Yuan’s hand slammed into his
head, knocking him unconscious.
Zhou Yuan glanced at the now unconscious Luo Tong, picked him up and started running towards the
valley. Although he knew that Yaoyao had many tricks up her sleeve, he was still worried that something
might happen.
He ran to the valley as if there was a fire under his feet while panting heavily, painting an extremely
miserable image.
When he arrived at the valley however, he was immediately stunned by the sight before him. It was still
peaceful and Yaoyao was seated on a rock, lightly tilting a jade bottle to sip from it while Tuntun yawned
as it lay on the ground beside her.
“This…”
Zhou Yuan was a little dazed. Not even the smallest traces of a battle could be seen.
Zhou Yuan walked over and asked through pants. “Big sis Yaoyao, are you alright?”
Yaoyao could not help but smile slightly when she saw the anxious eyes of the rather miserable looking
Zhou Yuan. There was a sliver of warmth in her smile as she shook her head and replied, “I’m fine.”
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She paused before continuing, “But a little accident happened to a rather unlucky fellow.”
Zhou Yuan hurriedly asked, “Where is he?”
Yaoyao extended a finger and pointed at Tuntun. In response, it wagged its tail and spit out a jade scroll.
She then pointed at the jade scroll and smiled, “That’s all that’s left.”
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Chapter 41 Auraflare Technique
“That’s all that’s left?”
Zhou Yuan blankly stared at the jade scroll Tuntun had spat out before he suddenly understood. That
unlucky fellow had been swallowed by Tuntun.
“What an unfortunate way to die.” The corners of Zhou Yuan’s lips twitched as he felt a huge amount of
sympathy. What a tragic fate, he wondered just how much mental damage the poor soul had suffered
towards the end.
Zhou Yuan bent over, picked up the jade scroll and took a look, only to be stunned. He had seen a glow
emerge from the jade scroll and was barely able to make out the numerous words contained within.
Yaoyao off-handedly said, “It’s probably used to record a Genesis technique.”
“Eh?” Zhou Yuan’s eyes brightened when he heard this. It was not worthwhile for ordinary Normal tier
Genesis techniques to be recorded in such a manner. Could those two thugs actually possess something
good?
Zhou Yuan poured Genesis Qi into the jade scroll, causing the light on it to flicker. A ray of light was
projected onto the air above as clear words began to flow downwards.
Zhou Yuan scanned it as his eyes narrowed slightly. “Low grade Black tier Genesis technique, Auraflare
technique?”
“It’s a Black tier Genesis technique?” Zhou Yuan was a little emotionally moved. A Black tier Genesis
technique was considered a treasure even to the royal treasury and was normally used to reward those
who did great services for the country.
“Why does this Auraflare technique sound a little familiar?” Zhou Yuan pondered. He had a faint feeling
that he had heard of it somewhere before.
“I remember! Qi Manor! This Auraflare Technique is one of best Genesis techniques of Qi Manor and it is
said to have been bestowed onto them by the Great Wu Empire.” Zhou Yuan’s expression fluctuated
indeterminately. Were these two thugs from Qi Manor? But given their strength, how could they possibly
be in possession of one of Qi Manor’s top Genesis techniques?
Zhou Yuan shook his head, unable to understand.
However, although he could not figure it out, Zhou Yuan still let out an icy laugh and shoved the jade
scroll into his clothes. He recalled that Zhou Qing had once told him that Qi Manor’s Auraflare technique
was extremely formidable. Although it was only a low grade Black tier Genesis technique, its power was
great enough to match techniques at the mid grade Black tier.
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Since such an item had landed in his hands, don’t even think about letting him spit it out.
“But why is captain Lu not here yet?” Zhou Yuan raised his head and peered into the distance as he
frowned. Given the sharp senses of a Heaven Gate stage expert, he should have felt that something was
wrong, right?
An hour earlier.
Lu Tieshan had dispatched two imperial guards to protect Zhou Yuan, but after a long time, he sensed
some activity in the nearby forest.
“Go!”
Lu Tieshan frowned and suddenly stood up. Without saying anything to Qi Ling, Genesis Qi surged around
his body as his transformed into a flash of light that shot towards the direction of the disturbance.
Several minutes later, Lu Tieshan’s figure appeared and gazed at an empty clearing to his front where
four people were fighting. Two of them were the guards he had sent to protect Zhou Yuan earlier.
“What are you doing?!” Lu Tieshan waved his sleeve as a torrent of Genesis Qi light burst forth, splitting
up the four people.
When the two imperial guards saw Lu Tieshan, they hastily said, “Sir, we were rushing to his highness
location when these two appeared and obstructed us.”
“Are you two seeking death?!” Lu Tieshan’s turned eerily cold when he heard this and immediately
looked towards the other two individuals.
“Please do not be angered captain Lu. They are from Qi Manor and I previously instructed them to search
for the thieves. They might have mistaken your men for the thieves.” Qi Ling rushed over from behind
with an apologetic face. He then turned towards the two individuals and scolded, “Still not going to
scram? You hindrances!”
Lu Tieshan’s eyes were ice-cold as he watched this, before his stare turned towards Qi Ling. “Qi Ling,
what exactly are you plotting?”
“Roar!”
Qi Ling chuckled. Just as he was about to speak, the roar of a tiger suddenly emerged from the nearby
forest.
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“Tiger Roar Rune?! Oh no! It’s his highness!” Lu Tieshan’s pupils abruptly shrank when he heard the tiger
roar. He suddenly seemed to understand something at this moment as his twisted face turned to Qi Ling.
“How ballsy of you Qi Ling!”
“Hehe, I do not know what captain Lu is talking about.” Qi Ling smiled. It was likely that those two thieves
had already succeeded by now, right?
Lu Tieshan thundered, “If anything happens to his highness, I will not let you off!” The Genesis Qi around
his body suddenly erupted as his foot stomped on the ground, splitting the earth as his figure rose into
the sky like a rainbow, heading straight for the valley.
Qi Ling watched Lu Tieshan’s hurrying figure as a sneer emerged from the corners of his lips. With a wave
of his hand, he swiftly followed with his men.
The group travelled as quickly as they could and reached the valley after some time.
Qi Ling was all smiles as he walked out of the forest and looked towards the valley. He believed the place
should be a mess and expected to see a half dead Zhou Yuan.
With such thoughts in mind, the smile on his lips grew even wider.
However, in the next moment, he suddenly saw something nearby. A thin youth was staring at him with a
smile.
Qi Ling’s smile froze.
“Zhou Yuan? Why is he fine?!” The corners of Qi Ling’s eyes twitched slightly as he cried out in both rage
and disbelief in his heart.
Meanwhile, Lu Tieshan sighed in relief as if a heavy burden had been lifted from his shoulders before he
kneeled on one knee and said, “Punish me for my late arrival your highness!”
“Please stand captain Lu, I am fine.” Zhou Yuan smiled.
Lu Tieshan stood up, his eyes brimming with an ominous light as he cast his gaze at the unconscious Luo
Tong and frostily said, “Is this the one who attacked your highness?”
“It’s the thief!”
However, before Zhou Yuan could speak, a furious howl emerged from behind Lu Tieshan. Qi Ling swiftly
walked forward, grabbed Luo Tong and sent a slap flying towards him.
“Speak! Where is the item you stole from Qi Manor?!”
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The unconscious Luo Tong was slapped awake. When he saw Qi Ling’s twisted face, he hastily struggled
as he tried to speak, “Qi…”
“Stubborn pig! Die!” However, before he could finish speaking, Qi Ling’s eyes turned frosty as a force
spurted out from his hand and crushed Luo Tong’s neck.
Luo Tong’s wide-opened eyes stared at Qi Ling as if he was unable to believe what had just happened.
Qi Ling ignored the dead man’s gaze and ripped apart the corpse’s clothes, searching all over for
something. Moments later, he stopped with an extremely ugly expression.
“Qi Ling, why does it seem that you are silencing the culprit?” Lu Teishan’s eyes were eerily dark. With a
wave of his hand, the dozen imperial guards stealthily encircled Qi Ling.
Qi Ling’s expression remained unchanged as he replied in an indifferent tone, “What is captain Lu saying.
The fact that this thief dared to touch his highness warrants a death sentence. What’s more, they even
stole Qi Manor’s Auraflare technique.”
“Auraflare technique?” Lu Tieshan was stunned. Qi Manor’s Auraflare technique had been stolen?
Qi Ling looked towards Zhou Yuan and cupped his hands together, “Your highness, there were two
thieves. Do you know where the other thief is? Qi Manor’s Auraflare technique should still be in his
hands.”
Zhou Yuan smiled upon hearing this. “That I have no idea. I only saw one person. The other one might
have escaped with the treasure.”
Qi Ling’s face twitched as he said in a certain manner, “Impossible!”
Zhou Yuan seemed to smile as he said, “Why is housekeeper Qi so certain that he did not escape?”
Qi Ling’s heart jumped, the expression in his eyes fluctuating indeterminately.
“I really have not seen the other person. Housekeeper Qi can continue to search for him.” Zhou Yuan
waved his hand as he continued in an indifferent voice, “It’s rather messy here so I shall not insist on
housekeeper Qi staying.”
Upon seeing that Zhou Yuan was chasing them away, Qi Ling’s expression turned extremely ugly. They
had originally planned on dealing with Zhou Yuan today, but not only was the latter safe and sound, the
Auraflare technique had even gone missing. This was practically a double whammy. King Qi would
definitely be enraged when he returned.
Although Qi Ling did not know exactly what had happened here, he had a feeling that the Auraflare
technique was now in Zhou Yuan’s hands. But what could he do? How could he possibly forcibly search
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Zhou Yuan? Did they think he was blind to how Lu Tieshan was eyeing him as if the latter wanted to
swallow him whole?
As these thoughts churned in his heart, Qi Ling could only clench his jaw and cup his fists together.
Without saying another word, he waved his hand, and led his men away in a dejected manner.
He knew that Qi Manor had suffered a truly huge loss this time.
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Chapter 42 Thirty Six Beast Channel Opening
Rune
Lu Tieshan watched Qi Ling depart. What had happened today was definitely related to Qi Manor, hence
he was rather unwilling to let them off so easily.
Zhou Yuan waved his hand and said, “They are very clever and have likely long prepared an excuse. In
addition, the two culprits are already dead and they will never admit to anything unless we declare war
on them now.”
Upon hearing Zhou Yuan’s words, Lu Tieshan’s heart shivered a little. Looks like the other thief had
indeed died here. However, there was something that puzzled him. The other thief was rumoured to have
the strength of the Qi Nourishing stage, but Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao, who gave off no Genesis Qi
undulations, were the only ones here. Just how did that Qi Nourishing stage thief die?
Lu Tieshan’s heart was filled with questions, but knew that it was no appropriate to ask. Hence, all he
could say was, “Your highness, I will send men to inform his majesty of this matter.”
Zhou Qing needed to know that such a thing had happened so as to take further precautions.
Zhou Yuan nodded and Lu Tieshan withdrew with his men. However, they did not station themselves too
far this time to be avoid being separated from the prince. Thus, they ended up standing guard just outside
the valley.
In the valley, Yaoyao looked at the thirty six bottles that had been placed in front of her, bottles that
contained the essence blood of thirty six different grade 1 Genesis Beasts. After checking them, she
nodded and said, “Not bad, all the ingredients have been gathered. Let me make some preparations first.
I’ll help you inscribe the Thirty Six Beast Channel Opening Rune tomorrow.”
Zhou Yuan nodded in a rather expectant manner. Soon after, he asked, “Big sis Yaoyao, what grade is the
Thirty Six Beast Channel Opening Rune?”
Zhou Yuan had never seen a Genesis Rune that could aid one in the unblocking of channels, and no one in
the entire Great Zhou knew of such a rune. From this, one could see just how precious the rune was.
Yaoyao off-handedly replied “It’s a grade 2 Genesis Rune. I will teach you when you reach the second level
of the Primal Chaos Divine Grindstone Visualisation Method.”
Zhou Yuan scratched his head as he asked, “May I teach it to others?”
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The Thirty Six Beast Channel Opening Rune was very valuable, especially to Great Zhou. Although there
was some risk, the success rate should be pretty decent if those with strong will power were selected.
Hence, if he could impart it to the army, it would definitely raise the strength of many Channel Opening
stage practitioners and make Great Zhou stronger.
However, the rune belonged to Yaoyao after all. Her permission was needed if he wanted to teach it to
others.
Yaoyao fiddled with the bottles as she indifferently said, “No need to ask me if you want to impart it to
others. Everything was taught to me by grandpa Hei. As his disciple, you naturally have the right to do
with them as you please.”
“Thank you big sis Yaoyao!”
Zhou Yuan was both delighted and grateful. A grade 2 Genesis Rune might be nothing to Yaoyao, but it
was extremely valuable to Great Zhou.
“Go rest. Tomorrow, we will try out the effect of this Thirty Six Beast Channel Opening Rune.”
“Okay.”
“What? The Auraflare technique has gone missing?!”
Qi Manor.
When Qi Yue heard Qi Ling’s words, he quickly stood up as his face turned ashen, fire practically spitting
out of his eyes.
Upon seeing Qi Yue’s man-eating appearance, Qi Ling could only brace himself as he nodded and said, “By
the time I rushed over, Luo Tong had already been captured, while not even Luo Hao’s shadow was to be
seen.”
Qi Yue gritted his teeth and said, “Luo Hao is at the Qi Nourishing stage and it is impossible for Zhou Yuan
to be his match, while the girl Yaoyao does not even give off any Genesis Qi undulations. Hence, Luo Hao
cannot possibly be dead!”
Qi Ling said with some hesitation, “Could he have run with the treasure?”
“Does that dog have the balls?” Cold light flowed in Qi Yue’s eyes as he continued, “Send out pictures of
him and spare no efforts in searching. We need to find the Auraflare technique at all costs!”
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One must know that the Auraflare technique was bestowed upon his father by the Great Wu Empire, and
was one of the strongest Genesis techniques of Qi Manor. Only those who have done great service to the
manor would obtain the right to learn it. Now that it had been lost by him, one could imagine just how
furious Qi Yuan would be when he returned.
Qi Yue felt his scalp grow numb when he imagined that scene.
Qi Yue’s face was warped as he deeply breathed in and lifted the tea cup by his side. However, he was
ultimately unable to calm the raging fire in his heart and the tea cup was viciously smashed into the
ground.
“Zhou Yuan, I will not let you off!”
In the room, Qi Yue’s voice was so full of fury that it sounded like the howl of a beast.
He had originally planned on teaching Zhou Yuan a lesson, but events had spiralled out of his control.
How could the prideful Qi Yue accept this?
Early morning. A chill blanketed the forest, covering the lush green leaves with a thin layer of frost.
Yaoyao lightly shook the transparent bottle in her hand, a bottle half filled with a thick and viscous red
liquid. As the bottle swayed back and forth, a savage aura gushed out and the faint howls of beasts could
be heard.
“Just this little from so much essence blood?” Zhou Yuan was shocked. A whole thirty six bottles of grade
1 Genesis Beast heart-blood and not even half a bottle was produced.
“Yes. I only collected the most quintessential part. The savage energy within the blood of thirty six
Genesis Beasts have been gathered in this bottle, causing the savage energy to multiply.”
“This half bottle about should be enough for five attempts.”
Yaoyao twirled the jade-green Genesis Rune Brush in her hand before beckoning to Zhou Yuan with her
chin, “Take off your clothes.”
Zhou Yuan did not delay. He shed his clothes, revealing a healthy-looking body. Although his muscles
were not huge, they were well defined and looked full of manliness.
“Your figure is not bad.”
Yaoyao’s expression was unperturbed but she still offhandedly praised.
Zhou Yuan felt a little embarrassed.
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The corners of Yaoyao’s small red mouth lifted slightly. Soon after, her face turned serious as she
instructed, “Closely guard your heart and do not allow the savage energy to invade your mind or your
Spirit will be wounded.”
Zhou Yuan took in a deep breath upon hearing this and steadied his heart as if he was about to face a
formidable foe.
When Yaoyao saw this, the brush in her hand dipped into some of the vicious essence blood before slowly
descending.
When brush tip moved, Zhou Yuan could not help but draw in a breath of cold air. It felt as if the brush
had been dipped into magma, bringing a burning sensation to his skin.
Cryptic Genesis strokes continuously appeared on Zhou Yuan’s back. This went on for several minutes
before Yaoyao’s snow-white hand shook gently and final stroke descended.
“The preparations are done!”
At the same time, her gentle sounding shout rang out by Zhou Yuan’s ear.
Buzz!
The instant her voice was heard, blood red light immediately blossomed on Zhou Yuan’s back as beast
roars rang out one after another.
Zhou Yuan pupils abruptly tightened at this moment. He could feel a ruthless to the extreme presence
maniacally pour into his back, charging into the interior of his body.
Roar roar roar!
Savage beast roars echoed in Zhou Yuan’s mind, causing him to feel a wave of dizziness as if his conscious
was being bitten by numerous beasts.
Fortunately, Zhou Yuan was prepared. The Spirit between his brows buzzed slightly as he began
visualising the Primal Chaos Divine Grindstone. The divine grindstone turned and the menacing beast
roars were pulverised till nothing remained.
His dazed consciousness gradually began to recover.
Subsequently, Zhou Yuan felt a stream of heat appear in his body, a barbaric scalding heat that charged
about in his body.
He knew that this stream of heat was the power of the Thirty Six Beast Channel Opening Rune.
With a thought, he directed the stream of heat towards the blocked fifth meridian channel.
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The stream of heat charged in, causing a faint loosening sensation to appear in the originally blocked fifth
channel.
Joy bubbled in Zhou Yuan’s heart when he felt this change. He focused even more on controlling the heat
to continuously attack the channel.
When the stream of heat finally dissipated a long time later, a small portion of the originally tightly
blocked fifth channel had been forced open. This progress made Zhou Yuan overjoyed. It was not less
effective than his first time in the Jade Spirit Waterfall.
Phew.
Zhou Yuan opened his eyes and spat out a breath that smelled of blood. He did not care about the stench,
his eyes shining brightly.
The effectiveness of the Thirty Six Beast Channel Opening Rune had exceeded his expectations.
At this rate, he was confident that he would be able to completely unblock his fifth meridian channel in a
month.
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Chapter 43 Learning the Auraflare Technique
In the following period of time, Zhou Yuan engaged in daily channel unblocking attempts with the help of
the Thirty Six Beast Channel Opening Rune. It must be said that although this channel opening rune was
rather dangerous, its effectiveness was astonishingly good.
In a mere few days, Zhou Yuan’s fifth meridian channel grew increasingly loose as the blocked portions
were continuously cleared.
At this rate, completely unblocking the fifth channel was practically just around the corner.
However, there was some slight delay due to the troublesome ingredient procurement process. The
heart-blood Zhou Yuan had painstakingly gathered for such a long time could only last for five uses.
Therefore, he had not choice but to spend the majority of each day hunting grade 1 Genesis Beasts and
acquire more heart-blood.
In the blink of an eye, ten days passed in the mountain forest.
...
Bang!
In the forest. An entirely blood-red giant of a creature charged at Zhou Yuan, who had just killed a Genesis
Beast. The former was extremely ferocious, leaving Zhou Yuan no choice but to jump onto the branches of
a tall tree with a push of his foot, avoiding the blood-red creature’s charge.
Having chased Zhou Yuan away, the giant beast ignored the former’s furious gaze as it lowered its head
and began to tear apart the Genesis Beast corpse Zhou Yuan had killed.
“This god damned bastard!”
Atop the tree, Zhou Yuan could not help but curse when he saw this. However, there was nothing he could
do as he had no way to deal with the giant blood-red creature.
This creature was known as the Flame Plate Rhino and was a grade 1 Genesis Beast. However, it was
extremely hard to deal with compared to other grade 1 Genesis Beasts. Its strength was comparable to a
six channel human practitioner, but its defence could match a seven channel expert, power that allowed it
to reign as the little tyrant of this particular zone.
Even Zhou Yuan’s Dragon Tablet Hand did not have much of an effect on the exceptional defensive
prowess of this Genesis Beast, while the Heavenly Yuan Brush could only leave bloody scratches but was
unable to do any real damage.
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Hence, Zhou Yuan chose to avoid the Flame Plate Rhino whenever he encountered it, but who could have
expected that the bastard would grow more and more unreasonable, even beginning to steal his kill
today.
It was clear that Zhou Yuan had now been targeted by the Flame Plate Rhino due to his frequent hunting
of Genesis Beasts in the area.
“I’m being bullied by a beast.”
Zhou Yuan did not know whether to laugh or to cry, but he knew that there was no point in lingering.
Thus, he decisively turned around and dashed forward, the tip of his feet pushing off one giant tree after
another as he rushed out of the forest, hurrying back to the valley.
In the valley, Yaoyao was a little surprised when she saw that Zhou Yuan had returned empty handed.
Zhou Yuan awkwardly explained when he saw Yaoyao’s gaze, “I was robbed by a Flame Plate Rhino.”
Yaoyao was unable to restrain her smile when she heard this. “The Flame Plate Rhino has strong
defensive ability and even a seven channel human practitioner will find it very troublesome to deal with.
You might be able to break through its defences if your Heavenly Yuan Brush reaches the upper tier
Genesis Weapon level.”
Zhou Yuan nodded. He had been feeding the Heavenly Yuan Brush daily but still had yet to light the
second ancient Genesis Rune.
The corners of Yaoyao’s mouth bent slightly as she said, “If you do not think of a way to deal with this
Flame Plate Rhino, I’m afraid that you will not be able to hunt anymore Genesis Beasts unless you change
location.”
The corners of Zhou Yuan’s mouth pulled downwards. Chased away by a rhino? He really could not afford
to be humiliated in this manner. Therefore, he had to think of some way to deal with it.
“Although the Dragon Tablet Hand is bold and unyielding, it is indeed a little lacking in the face of such a
highly defensive Genesis Beast.” A look of thought emerged in Zhou Yuan’s eyes. He needed to learn a
Genesis skill that could amplify his offensive power.
As his thoughts reached this point, something suddenly hit him as he reached into his clothes and
retrieved a jade scroll. It was the Auraflare technique he had obtained a few days ago.
“I should take a look at the technique that is so highly valued by Qi Manor.”
Zhou Yuan seated himself and poured Genesis Qi into the scroll. Light was immediately emitted, shining
on the air in front of him as words started to flow.
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Zhou Yuan focused on the words. They were the introduction and cultivation method for the Auraflare
technique.
“Oh, this Auraflare technique is somewhat peculiar.” While Zhou Yuan was immersed in the cultivation
method of the Auraflare technique, he suddenly heard a cry surprise. He turned his head, only to find that
Yaoyao was standing beside him. Her bright penetrating eyes were glued to the screen of light.
Zhou Yuan nodded in agreement. Having just looked through it, he now knew the theory behind the
Auraflare technique. Basically, this technique made use of a unique method to continuously compress the
Genesis Qi in the meridian channels, concentrating it.
After continuous compression, the Genesis Qi would become highly concentrated, giving it astonishing
force and piercing power.
Zhou Yuan exclaimed in admiration, “As expected of a Black tier Genesis technique. Its profoundness far
surpasses Normal tier Genesis techniques.”
A thoughtful look was revealed in Yaoyao’s eyes as she said, “This technique is rather interesting. It looks
simple but it takes a very extreme approach of compressing Genesis Qi to the limit.”
“The true rank of this Auraflare technique should not be merely low grade Black tier. However, it is
somewhat incomplete.”
“Incomplete?” Zhou Yuan’s heart trembled a little. “This Auraflare technique was given to king Qi by the
Great Wu Empire. They may not have given him the complete version.”
Yaoyao nodded. “You may try to learn this technique but you should know that high level compression of
Genesis Qi in the meridian channels will be a huge burden on them. After all, a lapse in concentration
might cause you to lose control and damage your meridian channels.”
However, Zhou Yuan smiled when he heard this. With regards to the toughness of meridian channels, it
was likely extremely difficult to find anyone who could better him amongst those at the same cultivation
level. After all, he was born with eight naturally open meridian channels and although they were
subsequently sealed, the strong foundations remained.
“Then I’ll give this Auraflare technique a go!” It was obvious that Zhou Yuan was extremely interested in
the Auraflare technique.
As the saying went, do what you plan to. After informing Yaoyao, Zhou Yuan sat down in a cross-legged
position. With a thought, a suction force was emitted from his channels, pulling strands of Genesis Qi into
his body.
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As Genesis Qi poured into his channels, Zhou Yuan followed the compression method recorded in the
Auraflare technique. He exerted control over each strand of Genesis Qi in his channels, making them
slowly revolve.
The compression method was called Spin Refining. One directed Genesis Qi to form a ‘whirlpool’ that
spun at high speed, continuously compressing the Genesis Qi until the ‘whirlpool’ finally dissipated and a
‘concentrated flare’ was created.
It seemed easy when described, but actually doing it was very difficult. After all, such level of control was
not easy to achieve. If too much power was used, the pulling force would grow too strong and hurt the
meridian channels.
On the other hand, if too little power was used, the ‘concentrated flare’ would not be created.
In the beginning, Zhou Yuan failed time and time again, the Genesis Qi whirlpools in his meridian
channels dissipating each time. On the bright side, his strong Spirit made him aware of even the smallest
details, allowing him to gradually learn from every failure.
Hence, Zhou Yuan was already able to somewhat successfully utilise the Spin Refining method after an
entire day.
This went on for another five days.
As the glorious sun rose into the sky, its scorching rays shined down upon the seemingly endless Black
Forest Mountain Range, covering it in a layer of golden gauze.
In a certain valley, Zhou Yuan was silently seated on a rock. The view within his meridian channels
however was completely different from the peacefulness on the outside. Genesis Qi whirlpools spun at
high speeds, emitting ‘ch ch’ noises as a pulling force spread, causing the channels to twitch.
This was only possible due to the toughness of Zhou Yuan’s meridian channels. The channels of any other
ordinary four channel practitioner would have been torn by this time. Even so, there was still a piercing
pain that Zhou Yuan had to endured.
Hummm!
Faint vibration sounds could be heard within his meridian channels.
Meanwhile, the whirlpools spun faster and faster, rapidly increasing the pulling force which in turn
caused the piercing pain to intensify.
Zhou Yuan’s brows tightly scrunched together, but he did not plan on giving up. Instead, he braced
himself and increased the rotation speed of the whirlpools.
Boom!
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As the rotation speed rose, the strands of Genesis Qi lingering above it were compressed to the very
center and in the next moment, the whirlpool exploded.
Zhou Yuan’s eyes abruptly opened. However, there was no disappointment on his face but instead
overflowing joy.
He extended his hand, making two fingers jut out. With a thought, a layer of extremely faint green light
slowly emerged from his fingertips.
The faint green light seemed to lengthen and shorten randomly and looked extremely feeble.
Zhou Yuan’s fingers suddenly slashed at the rock below him. One would only hear a ‘shlick’ sound as a
stupefied Zhou Yuan watched the boulder being cleanly sliced open as if it was tofu, the rock within
glossy as a mirror.
Zhou Yuan’s eyes shined while his breathing became a little ragged.
“So this is the Auraflare technique? Such frightening sharpness and shocking penetrating power.” Zhou
Yuan was full of praise. A single attack would likely seriously injure anyone who was less than seven
channels and even a seven channel expert would have no choice but to avoid such an attack.
“With this Auraflare technique, if that bastard dares to appear again, I will stab it dead with a single
finger!”
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Chapter 44 Su Youwei’s Progress
“There are two levels to the Auraflare technique, the green flare and the purple flare. What you have
currently has just barely reached the doorstep of the green flare level.” Yaoyao explained from the side
when she saw that Zhou Yuan had succeeded.
Zhou Yuan nodded. He looked at the faint pulsing green light at his fingertips and said, “The destructive
power of this Auraflare technique is astonishing indeed but there are some flaws. The Qi concentrating
process is troublesome and it uses too much Genesis Qi.”
If he had not activated the Dragon Breathing technique and sucked in a mouthful of Genesis Qi, he would
not have succeeded in creating this tiny green flare no matter how long he spent.
With his current four channel strength, it took everything he had to create this tiny wisp of light. If it was
to be used against an enemy, he would have to kill in a single strike or the light would automatically
dissipate after some time.
“If only I could reach the Qi Nourishing stage.” Zhou Yuan sighed. Reaching the Qi Nourishing stage was
akin to entering the inner chambers from the main room. Once the Qi Dwelling was open, Genesis Qi
could be stored in the body. This would be countless times better than his current pitiful state where he
had to draw in strands of unpurified Genesis Qi from his surroundings every time he wanted to use it.
With the support of sufficient Genesis Qi in the body, Black tier Genesis techniques would be able to
display their true power.
After sighing for a while, Zhou Yuan steadied his heart. After all, he had to take things one step at a time.
What he needed to do now was to fully open his eight meridian channels, creating a better foundation for
future cultivation.
“Alright then, it’s time for me to go slaughter that bastard. A beast that dares to interfere with my training
cannot be pardoned.” Zhou Yuan stood up and called out to Yaoyao before his body shot forth, heading
straight into the mountain forests.
He could not wait to try out the might of the Auraflare technique.
Once he entered the forest, Zhou Yuan rushed straight towards its depths. A long time later, he stood on a
giant tree and sat down. He knew that the Flame Plate Rhino was extremely sensitive to presences and
would likely discover him the moment he stepped into the deeper part of the forest. Thus, he only needed
to wait for the rhino here.
Zhou Yuan shut his eyes. After about ten minutes, he felt the ground begin to tremble and his gaze looked
towards the depths of the forest, only to see towering trees falling one after another as a fire-red figure
madly charged over, thunderous rumbling sounds in its wake.
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An over ten feet tall fire-red figure ultimately came to a stop in the clearing. Its scarlet eyes locked onto
Zhou Yuan as grouchy snorting noises emerged from its mouth.
It was the Flame Plate Rhino.
The surface of its body seemed to be covered in fire-red armor, blazing hard armor that thoroughly
protected it.
“You’ve come?” Zhou Yuan grinned a little as he looked down from above at the Flame Plate Rhino. No
longer did he avoid it like before. Instead, his figure leaped into the air and landed on the ground
“Bring it on you bastard.” Zhou Yuan extended a finger towards the creature and beckoned.
As if sensing Zhou Yuan’s contempt, the madness in the Flame Plate Rhino’s eyes immediately intensified.
With a powerful stomp of its foot, the ground cracked open as its enormous figure transformed into fiery
shadow that charged towards Zhou Yuan with terrifying momentum.
Meanwhile, the thick flame armor on its body glowed with scarlet light as if it was burning.
Even the air itself cackled under such force.
Even a seven channel practitioner had no choice but to avoid the sure-kill charge of a Flame Plate Rhino.
However, Zhou Yuan did not move nor showed no intentions of retreating. He merely lowered his gaze as
Genesis Qi turned into whirlpools in his meridian channels, continuously compressing and refining.
Several breaths later, Zhou Yuan slowly extended his hand as a faint green aura slowly surfaced.
The aura pulsed indeterminately as Zhou Yuan’s figure also dashed forward, colliding with the Flame
Plate Rhino in the blink of an eye.
At the moment of impact, Zhou Yuan’s hand took the form of a blade and fiercely chopped downwards as
splitting the mountains, slamming onto the ferocious face of the Flame Plate Rhino.
Ch!
A faint noise seemed to ring out when the hand landed. In the next instant, fresh blood wildly spurted out.
The enormous body of the ferocious rhino had been sliced into two!
Due to the tremendous momentum behind its giant body, the two halves of the rhino continued to charge
forward for quite some distance before ultimately crashing to the ground with a loud bang, dyeing the
ground in fresh blood.
On the other hand, Zhou Yuan remained unmoved on the spot, still in his chopping posture as a bloody
mist descended. It sprayed on his face, making it appear enchantingly bizarre.
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The faint green glow gradually faded from his hand while Zhou Yuan’s slightly tottering body gently fell
the ground on his butt. The previous chop had cleaned out all of his energy.
He turned his head slightly, glancing at the two halves of the Flame Plate Rhino and could not help but
grin.
The destructive power of the Auraflare technique was really frightening.
In addition, the new little tyrant of this area was now him, Zhou Yuan.
...
Time passed in the mountains.
While Zhou Yuan concentrated on his training deep in the mountains, things were not going well for Qi
Yue. No matter how they searched, they were unable to find any traces of Luo Hao, let alone the Auraflare
technique.
In a certain room, Qi Ling said with a rather ugly expression, “Second young master, we have already
extended the scope of our search to many cities but we are still unable to find even the slightest trace of
Luo Hao. It’s as if he vanished into thin air.”
Cold light flickered in Qi Yue’s eyes. It was a long time later before he finally replied, “If he can’t be found
even with this level of searching, I’m afraid that there might not even be a corpse left of him.”
Qi Ling frowned slightly. “You are saying that he’s been killed?”
Qi Yue clenched his jaw. “Although I do not know who killed him, I have a feeling that the Auraflare
technique is in Zhou Yuan’s hands!”
Qi Ling’s expression fluctuated . “If that is so, it will be very troublesome.”
Ever since the previous incident, Zhou Qing had increased Zhou Yuan’s level of protection. Lu Tieshan
had also chased away all outsiders in the area Zhou Yuan was in. It was practically impossible to repeat
the play they had staged before.
A dark and vicious look appeared in Qi Yue’s eyes. After some silence, he coldly said, “Get me Liu Xi.”
Qi Ling looked at Qi Yue. Although he did not know what the latter was planning, he still did as instructed.
...
The beautiful rays of the setting sun enveloped Great Zhou City.
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In the Great Zhou Institute, Su Youwei had just left the institute after her classes, walking along the street
towards the southern part of the city where her home was located. She did not linger for long in the
institute recently because Zhou Yuan was pretty much absent.
A young girl’s long and slender legs lightly hopped over a ditch. Her pony tail bouncing with the vigour of
youth, drawing admiring gazes from passersby.
Passing through familiar street after street, her footsteps suddenly stopped after taking a corner as she
raised her head and looked to her front.
Liu Xi was leaning against the wall, several figures behind her.
Liu Xi’s pretty face was icy as she coldly stared at Su Youwei. The latter’s elegant appearance caused tiny
embers of jealousy to flit across her eyes as she frostily smiled, “Come walk with me Su Youwei.”
“What do you plan on doing?” Su Youwei’s eyebrows knitted together slightly.
Liu Xi coldly snorted, “Humph, Zhou Yuan has stolen something from Qi Yue. You will be used to exchange
for it.”
Su Youwei’s pretty face turned a little frosty when she heard this. “What a joke. Do you think that Qi Yue’s
things would even catch his highness’ eyes?”
“Sharp-tongued wench!” Liu Xi’s eyebrows turned almost turned vertical as she shouted, “Catch her!”
The moment her words faded, two figures immediately shot out from behind her. Faint Genesis Qi
undulations surrounded their bodies, testament to their five channel strength.
Su Youwei did not move as she icily stared at the two individuals that were shooting towards her. It was
only when the their hands grabbed at her like eagle claws that she suddenly made her move.
Two fingers were thrust forward, jade light swirling around them while formidable Genesis Qi tore
through the air like a mealstrom.
Ch ch!
The two fingers landed, causing the two figures to be sent flying backwards, fresh blood flowing from
their shoulders.
Su Youwei’s hands hung by her side while Genesis Qi light swirled around her body, causing her aura to
rise steadily.
Liu Xi stared at Su Youwei, eyes wide open and her jaw clenched so hard she almost shattered her teeth.
“You’ve unblocked your sixth meridian channel?!”
355
She clearly remembered Su Youwei had only just unblocked her fifth meridian channel slightly over a
month ago. How had she so quickly unblocked her sixth channel too?
Su Youwei flatly replied, “Unblocked it ten days ago.”
Su Youwei had not slouched off while Zhou Yuan was away from the institute. She received the full efforts
of headmaster Chu Tianyang’s personal tutelage. After all, in Chu Tianyang’s opinion, compared to the
explosive Zhou Yuan, a stable type like Su Youwei was less worrying. Hence, he had done all he could to
train her over this period of time.
Thus, she had not been stagnant while Zhou Yuan was progressing.
Liu Xi’s face was steely green with anger, fire practically spitting from her eyes. She had only managed to
unblock her sixth meridian channel half a month ago after lengthy amounts of training and a huge
expenditure of resources. Yet, Su Youwei was now practically at her heels using only half the time. How
could this not make her jealous.
Liu Xi frostily said, “Do you believe that you will be able to leave just because you have unblocked your
sixth meridian channel?”
“Liu Ye, go catch her for me. It will be best if you also carve up that little minx’s face!”
As Liu Xi’s words rang out, a figure slowly walked out from behind. Powerful Genesis Qi spread,
displaying the strength of seven channels.
Su Youwei’s expression finally became grave when she saw this. However, while she was trying to think
of a plan, her heart suddenly shook as two figures shot out from behind and landed at her side.
They seemed to be ordinary men but the Genesis Qi undulations from their bodies had reached the level
of seven channels.
“You are?” Su Youwei was taken aback when she saw the two newcomers.
The two replied with a soft chuckle, “We were sent by his highness miss Su. His highness was worried
that Qi Yue would let out his anger on you, thus we have been protecting you in secret.”
Su Youwei blinked when she heard this. Although she did not say anything, the corners of her mouth
subconsciously raised a little while her sour mood due to Liu Xi’s appearence took a turn for the better.
The two men lifted their heads, looked Liu Xi and said in a flat voice, “Please watch yourself miss Liu. Do
not become Qi Yue’s chess piece.”
Liu Xi’s face had practically become purple due to the interference, but she knew that she could no longer
do anything to Su Youwei.
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“That blasted Zhou Yuan!”
Liu Xi furiously cursed. Abandoning the deadlock, she led her men and left with a stomp of her foot.
The two imperial guards turned their heads and said to Su Youwei in a low voice, “Miss Su, let us send
you back home.”
“I’ll be troubling elder brothers.” Su Youwei did not reject. She paused for a moment before continuing,
“Do you know how his highness is doing? He has been absent for almost two months.”
“Don’t worry miss Su, his highness is a crucial point in his training. He will definitely be back for the class
ranking exam in half a month.”
Su Youwei nodded. She did not know what would be the outcome of Zhou Yuan’s training session, but she
had heard that Qi Yue had already unblocked his seventh meridian channel. For their A class to take back
first place at the year-end class ranking exam, a bitter battle could not be avoided...
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Chapter 45 Before the Class Ranking Exam
In the mountain forests.
Zhou Yuan stood on a rock, five snarling giant green wolves currently circling him.
These Wind Spirit Wolves were also grade 1 Genesis Beasts. They specialized in speed and were
extremely difficult to deal with due to their pack nature. Even seven channel experts would avoid them as
much as possible. They could be said to be the tyrants of this particular area.
However, there was not much fear on Zhou Yuan’s face but instead some eagerness.
Swish!
One of the Wind Spirit Wolves took the lead and attacked, a green figure darting forward like a shadow,
sharp claws ripping through the air as they mercilessly slashed at Zhou Yuan’s back.
However, its surprise attack was not the least bit effective. Zhou Yuan’s figure seemed to flicker as it
turned blurry, causing the sharp claws to slice through empty air.
Bang!
Zhou Yuan’s counterattack was as swift as thunder. Five fingers tightly clenched into a fist as vigorous
Genesis Qi surged around it. A punch slammed into the attacking wolf’s waist, breaking bone with a crack
and sending the wolf to its death.
Ahwoo!
The moment it died, scarlet red washed over the other four wolves eyes as they shot forward with a howl.
“Martial form!”
Zhou Yuan let out a hearty laugh as he charged towards the remaining four Wind Spirit Wolves. He
grasped the growing Heavenly Yuan Brush and swung it horizontally like a long spear, sending one of the
wolves flying.
Ch ch!
In the forest, a human exchanged vicious blows with four wolves. Zhou Yuan wielded the Heavenly Yuan
Brush like a heavy metal spear, devastating force wreaking havoc as it swept forth, making it practically
impossible for the four wolves to approach.
The snow-white hairs of the brush tip flickered with sharpness, cutting deep and bloody wounds
everytime it swept across a wolf’s body.
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The battle started intensely and ended quickly.
After several minutes, Zhou Yuan stood on the spot, the Heavenly Yuan Brush in his hand standing on the
ground at a slightly slanted angle. Fresh blood dripped from the tip of the brush while the corpses of five
WInd Spirit Wolves gradually turned cold around him.
A breath was slowly spat out from Zhou Yuan’s mouth while a stern glint surged in his eyes like a sharp
blade. Two months of training in the mountain forest had given Zhou Yuan a faint aura of ferocity.
“Culture form.”
The Heavenly Yuan Brush in his hand swiftly shrunk, becoming a foot long again as Zhou Yuan stuck it
back into his waistband.
He raised his head, eyes narrowing slightly as he watched sunlight spill through the cracks in the trees
and mumbled, “Only a few days left till the class ranking exam. It’s about time to return.”
He had trained for about two months in the mountain forests and his fifth meridian channel had already
been completely unblocked a month earlier.
He had not returned because his channel opening speed would drop once he left this Genesis Beast
infested mountain forests. Instead, he used the Genesis Beasts in the forest to temper himself.
He bent down to dig out the Beast Spirit Crystals from the heads of the five Wind Spirit Wolves before
turning around and leaving the forest. Half an hour later, he arrived at the valley.
“Are we returning?” When Yaoyao saw that Zhou Yuan had returned, she seemed to know that he was
ready to go back. She stretched lazily, displaying the enchanting outline of her waist.
She had previously lived with Cang Yuan in a domain void of any other people and was used to this kind
of life. Thus, her two months her had been rather leisurely.
Zhou Yuan smiled and nodded before whistling. After a brief period, a dozen figures flew out from the
mountain forests. They were the imperial guards that had been protecting him from the shadows.
“Inform captain Lu to prepare our return to Great Zhou City.”
Zhou Yuan watched the imperial guards withdraw before turning his head. His gaze seemed to penetrate
the dense forests and see Great Zhou City.
“The guards reported some time ago that Qi Yue has already unblocked his seventh meridian channel…
that guy does have some ability.”
Zhou Yuan’s lips were tightly pursed as coldness surfaced in his eyes.
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Qi Yue had constantly caused trouble for him ever since he entered the Great Zhou Institute and most
recently even using such an underhanded tactic at the Jade Spirit Waterfall. Qi Yue had even tried to use
Su Youwei to threaten Zhou Yuan after the former’s subsequent loss of the Auraflare technique.
These actions had already roused Zhou Yuan’s desire to kill.
“There were never any chances in the past, but in the class ranking exam… Qi Yue, it is time for us to
properly write off these debts!”
...
Great Zhou royal palace.
Zhou Qing and Qin Yu rushed over the moment Zhou Yuan arrived at the royal palace.
Qin Yu quickly walked forward the moment she saw Zhou Yuan, grabbing his shoulders as she said in a
tender voice, “My child, you did not return for so long after you left, look at how thin you’ve become.”
The current Zhou Yuan had actually become leaner, but to Qin Yu, training in the mountain forests was
purely suffering.
Zhou Yuan smiled as he hugged Qin Yu. After some consoling, he let Yaoyao accompany Qin Yu as he
walked away with Zhou Qing.
“Unblocked your fifth meridian channel?” Zhou Qing grinned as he glanced at Zhou Yuan.
Zhou Yuan nodded.
“Lu Tieshan has told me what happened. I did not expect Qi Yue would be so bold and actually target
you.” A cold look flitted across Zhou Qing’s face.
Looks like the past few years of tolerating Qi Manor’s actions had now made them fearless. However, he
did have his difficulties. After all, if he fully fall out with Qi Manor, the Great Zhou Empire would definitely
have to welcome a war that would hurt them to the very core. This would be extremely detrimental to
Great Zhou.
Hence, he somewhat blamed himself for the attack on Zhou Yuan. If he was not such a useless father,
Zhou Yuan would not have fallen into such danger.
Zhou Yuan knew how his father suffered in silence. With a smile, he fished out the Auraflare technique
jade scroll form his clothes and said, “Don’t dwell on it too much father, I was not the one who suffered a
loss this time.”
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“Auraflare technique? It has indeed landed in your hands!” Zhou Qing was a little taken aback but soon
burst out into laughter. He was naturally aware how Qi Manor had practically turned the place upside
down in search of this very technique.
“Let them pay a little interest first. As for Qi Yue, father need not worry. I will properly resolve the debts
between us in the class ranking exam three days from now.”
Although Zhou Yuan’s expression was calm, the confidence in his voice made Zhou Qing feel rather
gratified as he nodded. Two months of training in the deep mountain forests had slightly unsheathed the
blade that was Zhou Yuan.
Zhou Qing slowly said, “The upcoming class ranking exam is extremely important. If the A class is
defeated by the B class again, the headmaster position might fall into Qi Manor’s hands. All their years of
plotting have cumulated into this very day.”
Zhou Yuan nodded. He clearly understood the importance of the upcoming class ranking exam. It might
seem to be a contest between the two classes, but the truth was that it would affect both the Great Zhou
royal clan and Qi Manor.
The him of the past was unable to find his meridian channels and naturally could not be of much aid with
regards to this matter. But since he had now opened five channels, Qi Manor would have to first ask his
permission if they intended on taking over the Great Zhou Institute.
Zhou Yuan took in a deep breath as his eyes narrowed. All his months of bitter training were for this very
day!
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Chapter 46 Beginning of the Class Ranking Exam
Three days passed in the blink of an eye.
When the third day arrived, faint undercurrents began to stir a little in Great Zhou City as numerous
factions turned their gazes towards the Great Zhou Institute in unison.
They knew that today was the class ranking exam.
Of course, a mere class ranking exam was naturally incapable of drawing the attention of so many
factions. It was because this class ranking exam concerned the struggle between the royal clan and Qi
Manor.
Everyone knew that Qi Manor had been eyeing the institute for many years and had used all sorts of
methods to infiltrate it. It was now time for them to reap their harvest. As long as the B class was able to
take the number one spot in the class ranking exam this year, Qi Manor’s representative, Xu Hong, would
likely replace Chu Tianyang and become the new headmaster of the institute.
If so, the Great Zhou Institute would secretly become the Great Qi Institute.
This would be a huge blow to the royal clan because it also meant that Qi Manor was gradually gaining
the upper hand in the struggle between the two parties, a fact that would undoubtedly sway the stances
of the other factions towards Qi Manor, hence furthering the royal clan’s decline.
Thus, the outcome of this class ranking exam could be said to even shake the royal clan’s position and its
importance was self-evident.
Great Zhou Institute, A class courtyard.
When Zhou Yuan once again stepped into the A class courtyard, he immediately felt the many students
within look over before being stupefied by the subsequent orderly applause.
Zhou Yuan asked in bewilderment, “What are you guys doing?”
Su Youwei, Song Qiushui and Yang Zai were all smiles as they approached. “Are we not thanking you? If it
weren’t for you winning an additional two hours of Jade Spirit Waterfall training time from the B class,
our A class would have no hope for this class ranking exam.”
Zhou Yuan could not help but smile when he heard this. “Looks like you guys have grown substantially
stronger over the past two months.”
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Su Youwei’s little mouth was pursed as she let out a soft laugh. “The three of us have already unblocked
our sixth meridian channel.”
Yang Zai also chuckled as he said, “It’s all thanks to the additional Jade Spirit Waterfall training time. Or
else, we would likely need another month to unblock our sixth channel.”
Zhou Yuan was somewhat amazed. Looks like the two additional hours of Jade Spirit Waterfall training
time had done a rather huge service to them.
Zhou Yuan asked with interest, “What about the B class? With only an hour of Jade Spirit Waterfall
training time left, they should not have made much progress, right?”
Song Qiushui pondered a little before she replied, “The morale of the B class has been rather low recently
and they seem to hold some resentment towards Qi Yue.”
After all, three quarters of their B class’ originally four hour long Jade Spirit Waterfall training time had
been lost by Qi Yue. Who could tolerate such a huge drop? Even if they did not dare to say anything due to
Qi Yue’s status, some resentment could not be avoided.
“All of you will be gravely mistaken to believe that the B class’ strength has fallen just because they lost
those three hours.” A voice was suddenly heard while they were talking.
Zhou Yuan’s looked over and saw a solemn-face Chu Tianyang walking over with his hands behind his
back.
Everyone greeted one after another. “Class master!”
Chu Tianyang waved his hand and glanced at Zhou Yuan as he slowly said, “As far as I know, Qi Yue has
secretly brought several B students to Qi Manor over the past two months.”
“Oh?” Zhou Yuan’s eyes narrowed when he heard this. “He plans to do all he can to groom them with Qi
Manor’s resources?”
Chu Tianyang’s expression was ugly as he nodded. Qi Yue’s actions were nauseating but there was
nothing the former could say. After all, outsiders did not have any right to comment on how others were
training.
Qi Manor had abundant resources and it was a very simple task for them to groom another handful of
people.
However, this also made the other B class students feel rather unhappy and unfairly treated. Thus, there
had been a lot of complaints recently from the B class about Qi Yue, complaints that ended up forcibly
suppressed by Xu Hong.
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Chu Tianyang said in a stern voice, “So don’t become complacent just because you have unblocked your
sixth meridian channel because Qi Yue has already reached seven channels!”
The numerous A class students turned silent as worry emerged in their eyes. The pressure Qi Yue gave to
the A class was really too great. Although Zhou Yuan had defeated Qi Yue in the Jade Spirit Waterfall that
one time, it was after all a very limited kind of contest and was nothing like the upcoming class ranking
exam where one needed to rely on one’s own strength.
As the crowd worried, several gazes turned towards Zhou Yuan. After all, he was the only person who had
been able to ‘defeat’ Qi Yue in the past year. Hence, they naturally held some expectations for him.
Zhou Yuan smiled as he looked at Chu Tianyang and said, “Relax class master, I will deal with Qi Yue.”
Chu Tianyang nodded. However, there was still some worry in his eyes. After all, the class ranking exam
was nothing like the Jade Spirit Waterfall contest.
However, he also understood that he could not allow the A class’ morale to be affected at such a time.
Hence, he waved his hand and said, “If everyone is ready, follow me to the class ranking exam site.”
He turned around the moment his words faded while Zhou Yuan, Su Youwei and the rest of the A class
students flocked over.
The class ranking exam site was the northern district of the Great Zhou Institute.
An enormous field sprawled across the place. Five tall platforms of varying heights rose on the field,
platforms which were also known as the class ranking exam stages.
At this current moment, the surroundings of the field was already a sea of people. Practically all of the
students had gathered here and even quite a number of people from the city had come to watch.
Thunderous noises echoed across the field.
Zhou Yuan and the rest of the A class students arrived at the field. Their gazes turned towards the five tall
platforms before ultimately stopping at the tallest one, the platform that represented the leader of the
classes.
Every year, the first amongst the classes would place their class flag upon it.
Currently, a tall flag fluttered on the class leader platform. A flag marked by a bold ‘B’.
“Our A class has lost the class leader platform for two years.” Chu Tianyang sighed softly from the side.
This was the shared pain of every A class member. The glory that was originally theirs had been
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monopolized by the B class for two years, making their title as leader of the classes nothing but an empty
name.
Zhou Yuan pursed his lips as a stern look emerged in his eyes. If the B class still wanted to dominate the
leader class platform this year, they would have to first ask his fists.
As the sun hung high in the sky, the crowd surrounding the class ranking exam field grew larger and
larger.
“His and her majesties have arrived!”
A loud shout suddenly rang out across the area. One could only watch as Zhou Qing, Qin Yu and Yaoyao
appeared on the central viewing platform and seated themselves on the highest seats.
This class ranking exam was so important that even Zhou Qing could not help but personally make a trip
over.
“King Qi has arrived!”
Not long after Zhou Qing arrived, another loud shout rang out. One would turn only to see a procession of
people rushing over from another direction under the attention of countless gazes.
Zhou Yuan’s eyes were fixed at the front of the procession where a middle-aged man in official-looking
robes was located. His steps were as majestic as a tiger, his expression cold and stern, while his eyes
shined brightly. An invisible pressure spread, making it such that no one to dared to look directly at this
man.
“King Qi, Qi Yuan…” Zhou Yuan’s eyes narrowed as he looked at the man. This person was the biggest
tumor of Great Zhou and the secret needle Great Wu had stuck here.
King Qi had the strength of the Alpha-Origin stage and was one of the top experts in Great Zhou.
Chu Tianyang frostily remarked, “It seems that today’s class ranking exam is also very important to king
Qi.”
On the central viewing platform, Qi Yuan cupped his fists together towards Zhou Qing but did not offer
him the greetings of a subject.
Zhou Qing expression did not change as he nodded. The level of hostility between the royal clan and Qi
Manor was clear as day.
Dong dong!
After Zhou Qing and Qi Yuan appeared, the excitement in the air reached its peak as the sound of a gong
reverberated across the area.
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“The class ranking exam begins!”
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Chapter 47 Strange
As the gong reverberated across the area, the excitement surrounding the field instantly soared.
Chu Tianyang’s figure appeared at the center of the field, Genesis Qi surging around him as his powerful
voice rang out by everyone’s ears, “The rules of the class ranking exam are the same as usual. Every class
will send four participants that are free to challenge each other. Defeating all four members of a class will
allow your class to replace their current position.”
“Participants from the respective classes, please ascend your respective platforms!”
As Chu Tianyang’s loud voice faded, figures immediately shot out from each of the classes. Amongst the
cheers that filled the sky, the figures landed on the stages, allowing everyone to see them.
The participants from the A class had been decided long ago. Zhou Yuan, Su Youwei, Yang Zai and Song
Qiushui.
“You guys can do it!” The numerous A class students cheered loudly.
Zhou Yuan and the other three exchanged a look and nodded before their figures flew onto the second
highest platform. The highest belonged to Qi Yue and the other three B class participants.
Qi Yue stood with his hands behind his back while Liu Xi stood beside him. At this very moment, they
were looking down from above at Zhou Yuan and the rest on the lower platforms.
Iciness overflowed from Qi Yue’s eyes as he stared at Zhou Yuan and said in a cold voice, “This class
leader stage will still end up with my B class this year. I advise all of you to not have any designs on it.”
Zhou Yuan smiled upon hearing this and replied, “Many thanks for your gift of the Jade Spirit Waterfall
training time. I believe that the rich Qi Manor should not mind too much since you can even afford to
groom others from your own pockets.”
Qi Yue’s face twitched slightly. Losing to Zhou Yuan in the Jade Spirit Waterfall had caused his reputation
in the B class to become extremely terrible. Moreover, the substantial amount of the good will he had
painstakingly cultivated was now gone.
Liu Xi sneered as she said, “Humph, what’s there to be happy about. After the class ranking exam, you
guys will lose your title as the A class. When that time comes, all of these things will still be ours.”
Su Youwei flatly replied, “It’s a little early to speak of who will win or lose.”
Liu Xi said with disdain, “Who do you think you are? Do you believe that someone like you has the right to
talk to me?"
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Su Youwei’s eyes lowered slightly. “Status does not mean anything on this stage. If you lose, your words
will merely be a joke.”
Liu Xi’s eyelids twitched as she said through gnashed teeth, “Sharp-tongued commoner girl, if you fall into
my hands later, prepare to see just how I will deal with you!”
“You should also be careful. I too plan to properly settle things between us with regards to what
happened previously.” Cold light also surged in Su Youwei’s eyes.
“I’m afraid that you don’t have that capability!”
Sparks were already flying between the two parties before the battle began.
Zhou Yuan’s group sat down on the mats atop the platform as he shot a look at Qi Yue’s group with
narrowed eyes. Behind Liu Xi were two tall and well-built youths whose bodies were surrounded by faint
Genesis Qi undulations.
Beside Zhou Yuan, Su Youwei softly said, “Those two are Cao Ling and Fan Wu, elites of the B class. If my
guess is correct, both of them should have already unblocked their six meridian channel.”
Zhou Yuan gave a slight nod as he glanced at the duo. He seemed to sense a faint but strange aura from
the two.
Dong dong!
As the participants from the various classes ascended the stages, the sound of the gong grew increasingly
frequent until the last hurried yet drawn out ‘dong’, marking the start of the class ranking exam.
“D class’ Li Tong challenges C class’ Wu Jian!”
“E class’ Chai Yanzhi challenges D class’ Sun Qing!”
“……”
A series of shouts immediately followed the final gong. Figures quickly flew out one by one and landed on
the empty stone stages.
“I’ll go test the waters.” On the A class side, Yang Zai was the first to stand up. His gaze locked onto Cao
Ling on the B class side and yelled, “A class’ Yang Zai challenges B class’ Cao Ling.”
The youth called Cao Ling was expressionless as he stood up on the class leader platform and leaped onto
the stone stage.
Yang Zai also flew up to the stone stage and cupped his fists together towards Cao Ling.
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A referee landed on the stage and looked at the both of them before waving his hand. “Begin!”
Bang!
Two figures immediately shot forward as two low shouts rang out, “Six channels open!”
Both of them had the strength of six channels and did not intend to hold anything back. Six channels were
opened from the beginning, their respective full power blasting out.
Strands of Genesis Qi swirled on both of their bodies as punches and kicks whizzed forth, causing even
the air to be blasted away, neither party willing to give a single inch.
Thump! Thump!
The two figures clashed under the attention of countless gazes, fists zipping here and there. Neither
showed any mercy and every attack was aimed to hurt, making the fight look exceptionally dangerous.
Su Youwei remarked in a low voice while concentrating on the fight, “They are pretty even.”
Zhou Yuan gave a slight nod of acknowledgement. Both individuals had the strength of six channels,
giving neither an advantage over the other. Victory would hinge on who had stronger Genesis techniques
and the better battle sense.
His gaze turned towards Qi Yue, only to discover a strange look on his face as he watched the two
exchange blows. Zhou Yuan immediately frowned, feeling that something was amiss.
Rumble!
On the stage, Yang Zai’s and Cao Ling’s battle grew increasingly intense. However, no one had discovered
the slight tinge of redness in Cao Ling’s eyes and the additional sliver of berserk and heavy feeling in the
Genesis Qi that poured out from his body.
These changes were most clearly felt by Yang Zai. He suddenly felt much more pressured and there were
signs of being suppressed in the subsequent clashes.
“Why is this happening?” Yang Zai was filled with confusion.
“Get lost!”
Following a brief lapse in Yang Zai’s movement, red light surged in Cao Ling’s eyes as a roar emerged. He
pounced like a tiger that had just been released from its cage and sent the weakened Yang Zai flying with
a punch, causing him to vomit a mouthful of fresh blood.
*Uproar*
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A commotion immediately broke out in the field. No one had expected the originally even fight to
abruptly end in Yang Zai’s defeat.
Zhou Yuan’s brows were tightly knitted together. In that brief moment earlier, he had faintly felt the
Genesis Qi in Cao Ling’s body pulse strangely before suddenly becoming more berserk and violent.
On the class leader platform, Qi Yue grinned as he watched this scene before his gaze turned towards
Zhou Yuan, a dark and cold look flitting across the former’s eyes.
This class ranking exam was extremely important to Qi Manor. Thus, he had pulled out all the stops to
make sure Zhou Yuan had no chance.
“I’ll go next.” Song Qiushui’s stood up with a grave expression.
“Be careful.” Zhou Yuan gave a slight nod.
Upon seeing Song Qiushui rise, Qi Yue looked at Fan Wu and said in an emotionless voice, “You, go.”
Fan Wu stood up and flew onto the stage while Song Qiushui swiftly followed suit.
Both sides did not waste any time with words. Six channels were opened the moment the referee
signalled the start. Genesis Qi poured into their bodies as surging power filled their limbs.
Two figures shot forth, cracking the stone beneath their feet.
Zhou Yuan’s eyes were glued to the duo that were exchanging blows on the stage. Like before, the gap
between them was not big and the fight was naturally rather even.
However… as time passed, Zhou Yuan’s pupils suddenly tightened when he once again sensed the Genesis
Qi in Fan Wu’s body show faint signs of becoming berserk.
Boom boom!
Fan Wu’s attacks became more ferocious, each punch filled with violent Genesis Qi that shattered the air,
causing explosion sounds to emerge.
Qi Yue indifferently said as he watched. “It’s over.”
YAA!
A thunderous howl from Fan Wu shook the ground as a punch containing churning Genesis Qi stirred up
a storm and blasted towards Song Qiushui with a momentum that could overturn mountains and the sea.
Thump!
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Although Song Qiushui did all she could to defend, the power of the attack was far too great, causing her
to catapult off the stage with a muffled thump.
An uproar once again swept through the entire field. The A class had suffered two consecutive defeats…
On the tall platform, Zhou Qing’s expression became rather ugly. In contrast, a strange and mysterious
smile hung on Qi Yuan’s lips.
Zhou Yuan stared hard at Fan Wu. Moments later, his eyes seemed to flash as he slowly said, “I know
what trick they used…”
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Chapter 48 Next
“What do you mean?” Su Youwei was stunned by Zhou Yuan’s words.
Zhou Yuan’s eyes were a little cold as he looked towards Cao Ling and Fan Wei and said in a flat voice, “If
my guess is correct, they have used the Blood Boiling Rune.”
“Blood Boiling Rune?”
Zhou Yuan slowly explained, “It is a grade 1 Genesis Rune which uses Genesis Beast essence blood as an
anchor. When drawn on the body, it can burn the essence blood in the body, allowing one’s Genesis Qi to
become berserk and violent. However, it is very harmful to the user and will cause a loss of essence blood.
In serious cases, it may even damage one’s meridian channels, making it difficult to progress one’s
cultivation in future.”
The Blood Boiling Rune was somewhat similar to the Nine Beast Channel Opening Rune. However, the
former was not as refined at the latter.
The expression in Su Youwei’s pretty face changed slightly. “Such Genesis Runes are forbidden! They
wouldn’t dare!”
Zhou Yuan’s eyes narrowed. “They’ve concealed it well, making it extremely difficult to discover. It is
likely that no runes can be found on their bodies.”
“Can’t be found? Then how were they drawn?” Su Youwei was puzzled. She was clearly not as proficient
in Genesis Runes as Zhou Yuan.
Zhou Yuan slowly explained, “They probably had the Blood Boiling Rune inscribed on their bodies every
day before the class ranking exam, allowing some of the rune’s power to remain in the body. Hence, the
blood within their bodies will gradually start to boil as the battles intensifies. As such, no one will be able
to find out.”
“However, this will cause even greater harm to the users body. I’m afraid that Cao Ling and Fan Wu will
likely become cripples in the future.”
Su Youwei could not help but clench her jaw. “How vicious.”
Coldness flashed in Zhou Yuan’s eyes as he said, “Looks like Qi Manor is very prudent. To think that they
would resort to such tactics to ensure that nothing unexpected would happen even with Qi Yue at the
helm. It seems that they are very determined on obtaining the Great Zhou Institute.”
“They likely plan on using Fan Wu and Cao Ling to tire you.” Su Youwei’s eyes narrowed a little, a stern
look emerging in them as her hand slowly closed into a fist. “But don’t worry, I will not let them succeed!”
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She could vaguely sense how important this class ranking exam was to Zhou Yuan and intended to do
everything in her power to help him. For him, she would sweep away all of the stumbling blocks in his
path. At the very least, she needed to ensure Zhou Yuan was at his peak condition when he faced Qi Yue
and not allow anyone to tire him out.
Zhou Yuan had begun to think of a way to deal with the situation, but it was at this moment that a ball of
paper was suddenly thrown over, landing at his side.
Zhou Yuan was taken aback. He picked up the ball of paper and slowly unfurled it, only to find three
beautifully drawn words: Clear Heart Rune.
“These words… big sis Yaoyao?” Zhou Yuan was stunned. Subsequently, he raised his head and looked
towards a distant platform where Yaoyao was holding Tuntun as she lazily observed the field. As if
sensing his gaze, Yaoyao tilted her head and gave him a small smile.
It was obvious that she had also discovered the problem. Her mastery of Genesis Runes was even greater
than Zhou Yuan, hence she had very quickly worked out a solution.
“So that’s how…”
With this pointer from Yaoyao, Zhou Yuan immediately understood. He grinned as he turned to Su
Youwei and said, “It is not impossible to deal with the Blood Boiling Rune. Give me your hand.”
Su Youwei was a little confused but she still reached out a hand as instructed. He her hand was soft,
supple, fair and slender, while her nails were akin to little shells, neat and cute.
Without much thought, Zhou Yuan also reached out and grabbed Su Youwei’s small hand.
Upon seeing his actions, Su Youwei was a little alarmed as her face flushed red. However, before she
could say anything, Zhou Yuan retrieved the Heavenly Yuan Brush from his waist and swiftly started to
draw on her palm with a serious expression.
He was soon done, and continued to hold Su Youwei’s hand as he said in a low voice, “This is the Clear
Heart Rune. Although it is only an elementary level rune, it will be very useful in this situation.”
“Clear Heart Rune?” Su Youwei was somewhat surprised. She naturally knew of this elementary rune but
did not understand how it would be of use against the Blood Boiling Rune
Zhou Yuan smiled and said in a mysterious manner, “When they activate the Blood Boiling Rune later, use
this hand to attack the top of their head.”
Although she was still somewhat puzzled, Su Youwei obediently nodded. Her clear-water-like eyes
subsequently looked towards Zhou Yuan as she said with a red face, “Are still not going to let go?”
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Only then did Zhou Yuan realise that he was still holding a small, soft hand and immediately released his
grip. Soon after, he said without a change in expression, “I was talking about important matters and did
not intend to take advantage.”
Su Youwei softly snorted. “You’ve become accustomed to it anyways.”
Zhou Yuan felt somewhat embarrassed. Just as he was about to try and explain, he saw Yang Zai and Song
Qiushui walk over with shame on their faces.
“Sorry. We lost.” The two hung their heads in dejection. Zhou Yuan had won two hours of Jade Spirit
Waterfall training time for them, but they had still lost in the class ranking exam, making them feel that
they had let him down.
Zhou Yuan did not seem to mind as he smiled and said, “Don’t mind it, it was not your skills that were
lacking but our opponents’ tactics that were far too devious.”
He lifted his head and looked at the class leader platform, only to see Qi Yue look back with a superficial
smile. From the curve of his lips, it was as if victory was already assured.
“Already so happy huh…”
Zhou Yuan withdrew his gaze as an icy smile emerged on his face.
At this current moment, countless gazes from the field were looking towards the A class. Evidently, the A
class’ two consecutive losses had led many believe that they would once again be suppressed by the B
class.
Several factions were also mumbling to themselves, “Looks like the Great Zhou Institute is really going to
fall into Qi Manor’s hands.”
Su Youwei stood up under the attention of these gazes. She was wearing black training attire today,
consisting of a black shirt and black pants. The clothes outlined her slender figure and the rise and fall of
her ample bosom, while the waistband around her waist further enunciated an unreasonable tiny waist.
A ponytail hung over her back, emitting a youthful vibe.
“I’m going.” Su Youwei smiled at Zhou Yuan.
“Go for it.” Zhou Yuan responded with a nod and smile.
Su Youwei looked at Zhou Yuan. As the rays of the sun shined down on her, it seemed as if she had the
attention of the entire world. She gave him a slight smile that was both bright and enchanting and in a
voice only the two of them could hear, she said, “Your highness, when you kicked open a set of doors for
me back then, I told myself that I would do my best to become very strong. I will make sure that all
hindrances will not be able to touch you.”
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When her final word faded, the young girl had already agilely flew forth with a light push off the ground.
She landed on the tall stage as a clear voice sounded, “A class’ Su Youwei challenges B class’ Cao Ling.”
This clear and pleasant voice drew the attention of countless gazes. When they saw the valiant and
elegant girl on the stage, they could not help inwardly cheer.
The jealousy in Liu Xi’s eyes multiplied as she watched Su Youwei draw more and more attention. “Cao
Ling, go teach her a lesson!”
Cao Ling soundlessly stood up and ascended the stage.
“Begin!”
As the referee signalled the start of the match, the Genesis Qi around Cao Ling’s body immediately
erupted. Six meridian channels were instantly opened as Genesis Qi surged into his limbs.
His body shot forth like a panther as deadly fist-winds ripped through the air, turning into countless
punches that seemed to envelope Su Youwei.
In response to Cao Ling’s flurry of attacks, Su Youwei gracefully shifted like a wisp of smoke. Each time an
attack was about to land, she would borrow the incoming force to cleverly avoid, causing Cao Ling’s
attacks to be unable to connect.
Thus, Cao Ling frantically attacked on the stone stage while Su Youwei effortlessly dodged in a manner
that was neither hurried nor slow.
As time passed, red light surfaced in Cao Ling’s eyes once again, while the Genesis Qi in his body gradually
turned violent as his blood boiled.
“Get lost!”
With a stamp, Cao Ling’s figure bulleted forward, appearing in front of Su Youwei as a palm was swung
horizontally in a ferocious and imposing manner.
However, just as his palm-wind whizzed forth, Su Youwei style did a 180, now advancing instead of
retreating. A fair hand gently landed on Cao Ling’s head as the Genesis Rune on her palm emitted a faint
glow.
A refreshing aura tunnelled into Cao Ling’s head, causing the boiling blood within his body to suddenly
turn peaceful.
This sudden change also made the berserking Genesis Qi fade and the contrast caused the Genesis Qi in
Cao Ling’s body to fall into chaos.
Swish!
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Su Youwei decisively attacked. Two fingers suffused with jade light ripped through the air and swiftly hit
Cao Ling’s chest.
Urgh!
Cao Ling’s figure jerked as a mouthful of fresh blood was vomited from his mouth before crashing to the
ground on his back.
*Uproar*!
The entire field erupted. No one had expected the previously unstoppable Cao Ling to be so easily
defeated at Su Youwei’s hands.
Under countless gazes of shock, Su Youwei’s pretty face remained as calm as water. She merely looked
towards the class leader platform as a flat voice followed.
“Next.”
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Chapter 49 Battling Liu Xi
“Next.”
Su Youwei’s clear, flat voice sounded from the stone stage, causing numerous cheers to erupt. After all, Su
Youwei’s victory was simply beautiful. Cao Ling’s attacks had seemed fierce but he had ultimately been
led around by the nose all along.
Numerous A class students burst into cheers, shouting out praise and encouragement for Su Youwei
while Chu Tianyang’s tense expression seemed to loosen slightly as he nodded. Thankfully, the hopes and
expectations he had placed in her had not been for naught.
Qi Yue frowned as he listened to the deafening cheers from the field, while Liu Xi angrily clenched her
jaw. The one thing she could not bear was to see Su Youwei become the focus of everyone’s attention.
Liu Xi icily said, “Fan Wu.”
Fan Wu nodded and his figure leapt onto the stone stage.
Fan Wu cupped his fist towards Su Youwei and said, “Please give me some pointers.”
The judge loudly shouted, “Begin!”
Bang!
Like the previous match, Fan Wu was the first to make a move. Power surged in his legs, shattering rock
as his figure ferociously pounced at Su Youwei. His hand took the form of a claw as it viciously slashed at
her, “Ripping Tiger Claw!”
Ch ch!
Ear-piercing noises vibrated from the air as his claw-hand slashed downwards.
However, no matter how fierce his attacks were, they were unable to even graze Su Youwei’s figure. Her
figure drifted like a wisp of smoke, every punch hitting nothing but air.
“High grade Genesis technique, Drifting Smoke.” Zhou Yuan’s eyes flashed as he softly praised. This
auxiliary Genesis technique was one of the hardest to learn in the Great Zhou Institute. Who could have
imagined it would be mastered by Su Youwei.
Drifting Smoke may not be as profound as his Dragon Step, but it did have its own unique characteristic.
Its concept was based on borrowing external force to move, the fiercer the opponent’s the attacks, the
lesser the chance of landing a blow.
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“Fan Wu’s defeat is unavoidable.”
As Zhou Yuan made this judgement, like Cao Ling from before, the blood in Fan Wu’s body began to boil
due to the intensifying fight. Redness surged in his eyes and his Genesis Qi gradually grew violent.
Su Youwei’s eyes flashed as her figure made a sudden turn and shot straight at Fan Wu.
Upon seeing this, Fan Wu bellowed and threw a fist, blasting away the air in front of him as ferocious
power pounced at Su Youwei.
However, a split second before impact, Su Youwei ingeniously gave a light tap to the incoming blow with
her foot and her body flew above Fan Wu.
At the same time, a palm was sent downwards, striking the top of Fan Wu’s head.
Yet another strand of refreshing energy poured into Fan Wu’s body, calming the boiling blood within.
Genesis Qi immediately started to throb and without any further action from Su Youwei, Fan Wu’s fell on
his back with a groan, fresh blood flowing from the corner of his mouth.
This scene undoubtedly gave rise to cheers that seemingly filled the sky.
Liu Xi gnashed her teeth together so hard that cracking sounds could be heard, while fire practically
spouted from her eyes.
Qi Yue’s eyes also darkened slightly as he said, “She has discovered the Boiling Blood Rune and found a
way to counter it.”
Although Qi Yue did not know why, he could sense that Su Youwei had purposely waited for Cao Ling’s
and Fan Wu’s blood to boil before she made her move.
“Su Youwei is indeed a problem.” Qi Yue’s brows were tightly knitted together. The two matches they had
painstakingly won had been single handedly reduced back to zero by Su Youwei, thwarting his original
plan to tire out Zhou Yuan to ensure that nothing would go wrong.
Su Youwei gracefully stood on the stone stage. She calmed the Genesis Qi in her body before a pair of cold
eyes turned towards Liu Xi as an emotionless voice rang out, “A class’ Su Youwei challenges B class’ Liu
Xi.”
These words immediately caused countless tongue to click. To think that Su Youwei actually planned on
fighting three consecutive battles.
“Hehe. good, good. This lowly wench actually dares to challenge me. Truly a fool who does not know her
limits!” Liu Xi was so angered that she burst out into laughter before giving Su Youwei a vicious glare.
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Liu Xi flew onto the stone platform, her icy gaze fixed onto So Youwei as she said, “Since you are asking
for trouble, I will gladly accommodate!”
Su Youwei replied in a cold voice, “It’s too early to decide exactly who is the one asking for trouble.”
“Do you really believe that you have the qualifications to challenge me after beating those two useless
pieces of trash? When I started training in the institute, who knows where you were begging for food!”
Liu Xi continued her mocking, “Do you really think that you would have the qualifications to enter the
institute if Zhou Yuan had not picked you up from the dirty streets?”
However, Su Youwei’s eyes merely lowered in response to Liu Xi’s harsh words as she replied in a calm
voice, “That is the very reason why I will help him sweep away all stumbling blocks like you guys.”
The referee shook his head in response to the atmosphere between the two girls, wasting no more time
as he waved his hand, “Begin!”
Sparks flew as the two girls’ gazes met.
“Six channels open!”
Genesis Qi light flowed around the two girls at practically the same time. A split second later, Liu Xi made
her move. She appeared in front of Su Youwei in a flash as a hand was sent chopping downwards. Genesis
Qi swirled around her finger tips, giving off a faint aura of sharpness.
“Wind Chopper Palm!”
Ch ch!
Even the air itself was split apart by this chop. Liu Xi showed no mercy, using a high grade Genesis
technique the moment she attacked. Its astonishing power could cleanly slice even a rock into half.
As the daughter of Liu Hou, Liu Xi naturally received a tremendous amount of cultivation resources and
the Genesis techniques she had in her arsenal were not ordinary.
Upon seeing Liu Xi’s formidable attack, Su Youwei’s foot pushed off the ground as she once again
displayed the Drifting Smoke technique and retreated like the mist.
“Do you think that I am the same as those two fools?”
“Wind Spirit Step!” A smile of disdain emerged on Liu Xi’s red lips. Wild winds rose and she appeared in
front of the retreating Su Youwei like a gale with a single step as a chop was once again sent hacking
downwards.
“Jade-Breaker Finger!”
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In response to Liu Xi’s dogged pursuit, two of Su Youwei’s fingers fiercely thrust forward, flashing with
jade light as they clashed head-on against Liu Xi’s falling hand.
Clang!
The collision was akin to jade smashing together. The opposing Genesis Qi caused wind to sweep
outwards as cracks grew on the stone ground below them.
Both Su Youwei and Liu Xi were pushed back a dozen steps. However, it was clear that Liu Xi had taken
the upper hand in this clash. After all, her Wind Chopper Palm was a high grade Genesis technique while
the Jade-Breaker Finger was only mid grade.
“Let’s see how many attacks you can take!” Liu Xi sneered as she activated Wind Spirit Step again. A gale
seemed to scream as her figure headed straight for Su Youwei, while a palm suffused with deadly Genesis
Qi hacked apart the air, leaving scars on the ground below.
Su Youwei continuously retreated, falling into a disadvantageous position for some time.
“She’s being suppressed by the opponent’s Genesis techniques…” Zhou Yuan frowned a little as he
watched. Su Youwei was truly talented, but high grade Genesis techniques were already considered top
tier in the Great Zhou Institute, let alone the fact that contribution was needed in order to learn them. She
naturally could not match Liu Xi who possessed numerous Genesis techniques that were handed down to
her in her clan.
Several of the sharper individuals were already able to see the awkward predicament Su Youwei was in,
causing them to feel some pity. They could tell that the situation would likely be reversed if Su Youwei
knew Genesis techniques of the same level.
Ch ch!
Two figures fluttered and dodged like butterflies on the stone stage, one attacking one defending.
Liu Xi was elated as she watched Su Youwei being continuously suppressed by herself and sneered,
“Humph, so what if you’re talented? In my eyes, you are merely a lowly dirt-poor wench. Challenging me
is akin to seeking your own humiliation!”
Su Youwei was silent as she continued to dodge.
“Don’t you feel it’s unfair? Laughable wench, the gap between us has long since be decided! No matter
how much effort you put in, you will never be able to surpass the difference in status between us!”
The corners of Liu Xi’s lips raised to form a thin smile. “If a mere high grade Genesis technique can
already put you into such a miserable state…”
“Then what about… a Black tier Genesis technique?”
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Cold light blossomed in Liu Xi’s eyes. She would shatter all of Su Youwei’s self confidence, affecting her
future state of mind and leaving a shadow of doubt in her heart. Hence causing her future cultivation
journey to be littered with obstructions.
This was nothing but vicious.
Liu Xi figure came to abrupt halt. One could only watch as her fingers curled while streams of Genesis Qi
converged towards her hand, frantically gathering at the center of her palm, ultimately culminating into a
blade of wind.
The wind blade vibrated with a piercing sound as the air around it was continously blasted away.
“Low grade Black tier Genesis technique, Green Wind Blade!”
Cruelness flashed across Liu Xi’s eyes as she suddenly hacked at Su Youwei. The wind blade whizzed forth
with a swish, slicing through the air as it shot straight towards her.
The entire place exploded when they saw this, and even the referee prepared to interfere to save Su
Youwei.
However, not even the slightest change could be seen in Su Youwei’s bright eyes as she stared at the
green wind blade. Its sharp aura caused her to feel a piercing pain on her skin even from a distance away.
But she still did not move to avoid it.
Su Youwei’s lips parted slightly as she looked at the overjoyed Liu Xi and said, “It is true that I do not have
many high level Genesis techniques like you. However, I do not agree with your words. The gap between
us is not insurmountable as you say.”
“How can someone like you possibly imagine my efforts?”
Su Youwei’s hand slowly closed as powerful Genesis Qi suddenly erupted from within her body, causing
her clothes to flutter and her hair to fly.
“Seventh channel open!”
The entire field went crazy when Su Youwei’s shout rang out as countless individuals cast their shocked
gazes over.
Not even in their wildest dreams would anyone have imagined that Su Youwei would forcibly open her
seventh meridian channel in battle.
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Chapter 50 Breathtaking
“Seventh channel open!”
A clear shout resounded across the area as Genesis Qi surged towards Su Youwei. Meanwhile, a powerful
aura exploded from within her body.
Su Youwei’s black hair seemed to dance in the wind as Genesis Qi light shuttled through her body. The
light finally converged at her two fingers, making her fingertips sparkle prettily like jade while flickering
with deadly power, vibrating the air around it.
“Jade-Breaker Finger!” Su Youwei gazed at the green wind blade that was shooting towards her. The
green light was so sharp that it could split the ground but there was no fear on her face. Instead, she
gracefully stepped forward as her two jade-like fingers powerfully stabbed at the wind blade.
Clang!
Two forces crashed into each other as the sound of metal striking metal rang out. However, everyone saw
the green wind blade begin to tremble violently at this moment before bursting apart with a bang,
transforming into specks of green light.
Though Liu Xi had ultimately managed to display this low grade Black Genesis technique, she had just
barely been able to pull it off. Hence, Su Youwei was able to use the abundant Genesis Qi of seven
channels to forcibly disperse the former’s attack.
This scene caused Liu Xi’s face to warp as she shrieked in disbelief, “Impossible!”
She refused to believe that her Black Genesis technique had been scattered by Su Youwei’s mid grade
Genesis technique.
Swish!
However, Su Youwei did not give Liu Xi any time to be stunned and instantly rushed towards the latter. In
response, Liu Xi hastily used Wind Spirit Step to retreat.
Previously, she had been able to use Wind Spirit Step to match Su Youwei’s speed, but the latter was now
on a whole new level after opening her seventh channel. Thus, it only took Su Youwei several breaths to
close in on Liu Xi.
Liu Xi’s expression changed when she saw Su Youwei rapidly near with an icy face and shouted, “Lowly
wench, you dare to hurt me?!”
In response to Liu Xi’s question, Su Youwei’s jade fingers darted forward like lightning, tearing through
the air before landing on Liu Xi’s shoulder. Fresh blood immediately spurted out as Liu Xi’s body was sent
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flying with a miserable shriek. She crashed into the ground, smearing a long scar on it before coming to a
stop.
Su Youwei slowly walked forward and arrived at the now miserable figure of her defeated opponent. The
former’s face was frosty as she lowered her gaze, the iciness flickering in her eyes inducing a shiver from
Liu Xi.
Su Youwei stared at Liu Xi and said in an indifferent voice, “It is true that I am not from a powerful clan
like you, but I will use all of my talent and effort to make up for every bit of this disparity. Thus, you are
not that amazing in my eyes.”
Liu Xi tightly clenched her teeth.
“Besides this, there is something I’ve wanted to say to you for a long time.”
The corners of Su Youwei’s tiny mouth lifted in a disdainful manner as she softly said, “You once said that
his highness is a toad, but I’ve always wanted to tell you that compared to him, you are the true toad at
the bottom of the well!”
“Because the self-important you can’t even match up to a girl he picked up from the streets.”
Liu Xi almost went crazy with anger. Never in her wildest dreams would she have imagined that she
would be called a toad and be unable to refute. Not only had she lost, her defeat at Su Youwei’s hands had
been really pathetic.
It was really too much to bear for her and her eyes rolled, showing whites, as she fainted.
The approaching referee let out a bitter laugh when he saw this before his strong voice sounded, “A class,
Su Youwei’s victory!”
*Uproar*!
The entire field exploded and countless cries were heard as stunned gazes shot towards the valiant yet
elegant girl standing on the stone stage.
No one had expected that she would actually be able to reverse the situation and defeat Liu Xi who knew
so many high tier Genesis techniques.
Every member of the A class stood up and clapped as they cheered. The gazes that looked towards Su
Youwei were filled with even more adoration than before. Such a girl! She did not have an amazing family
background, but she was as tenacious as a swaying hibiscus in a storm, unafraid of the wind and rain as it
fearlessly blossomed.
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“This young lady is not bad at all.” On the central viewing platform, Zhou Qing could not help but praise
her. He could naturally tell that Su Youwei had forcibly opened her channel earlier, an extremely risky
move in a fight. However, that valour and decisiveness really made one raise one’s eyebrows.
He lamented as he thought how given Su Youwei’s talent and character, she would have likely long
become a pride of the heavens if she had been born in a good clan, making countless geniuses bow to her.
The cheers that flooded the field had not ended.
Su Youwei paid no attention to those cheers as her gaze swept towards Zhou Yuan, only to see the latter
giving her a thumbs-up. Her lips curled slightly as a certain resolution surfaced in her eyes.
Under the attention of countless gazes, she turned her head and look straight at Qi Yue as her clear voice
sounded, “A class’ Su Youwei challenges B class’ Qi Yue!”
Silence!
The cheers that filled the sky came to an abrupt halt, everyone stupefied as they watched. They clearly
never imagined that Su Youwei would continue on to challenge Qi Yue!
Zhou Yuan was likewise stunned by Su Youwei’s action and immediately muttered under his breath, “This
girl is too reckless!”
By his side, Yang Zai and Song Qiushui also looked at each other but did not know what to say.
On the class leader platform, Qi Yue’s expression looked rather dark. He stared at Su Youwei and stood up
as he said in a flat voice, “You are not my match. Excuse yourself from the stage.”
“We’ll only know once we try.” Su Youwei did not budge, cold light emerging in her eyes as she stared at
Qi Yue. Since you planned on tiring out Zhou Yuan, I will do the same to you. Even If I cannot beat you, I
can exhaust some of your energy.
She knew that this class ranking exam was very important to Zhou Yuan and intended to do all she could
to increase their chances.
Qi Yue’s expression was stormy. He naturally understood Su Youwei’s intentions and could not help but
feel somewhat angered. The tactic that he had originally planned to use on Zhou Yuan was now being
used by Su Youwei on himself.
Qi Yue frostily said, “Stubborn girl, you’re too reckless!”
Soon after, the tip of his foot pushed off the ground as his figure flew onto the stone stage.
“I will show you the true power of seven channels!”
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With a stomp, Genesis Qi poured into his body. Light swirled around him as the stone floor beneath his
feet was shattered. An astonishing aura pulsed, an aura even stronger than Su Youwei’s.
After all, Qi Yue had opened his seventh channel quite some time ago, while Su Youwei had only just
made her breakthrough. The gap between the two was naturally not small.
“If you can receive a single punch of mine, we’ll take it as your victory!” Qi Yue proudly sneered. A split
second later, he had already lunged forward, his five fingers tightly clenching into a fist as the Genesis Qi
within his body surged like a wave, gushing through his channels and into his fist. His fist immediately
lighted up as if an explosive power was contained within.
“Low grade Black Genesis technique, Galloping Thunder Fist!”
A punch was thrown with an icy cry from Qi Yue. Rumbling thunder immediately emerged as a fist-
shaped-seal whizzed forth, like a bolt of lightning as it ferociously blasted towards Su Youwei.
Qi Yue had begun the fight with a Black tier Genesis technique, evidently planning to finish the fight in a
flash and regain all of the face their B class had lost earlier.
Su Youwei’s pretty face turned extremely grave at this moment as all the Genesis Qi in her body began to
circulate. She observed the rapidly approaching glowing Genesis fist-seal, and in the next instant, her
body swiftly retreated.
From the momentum of the punch, she knew that she could not receive it head-on. Hence, she
immediately changed her strategy, intending to use footwork to gain a little more time.
“Can you escape?” Qi Yue merely let out a cold chuckle when he saw this. His eyes flashed and the speed
of the fist-seal suddenly rose. Like a thunderbolt, it appeared in front of Su Youwei in a flash and slammed
into her.
Bang!
The air seemed to explode at this moment while cracks grew on the stone stage.
All Su Youwei could feel was an unstoppable domineering power surge at her. Her body was flung
backwards, blood appearing at the corner of her mouth as she let out a groan.
Sighs of pity could be heard. Qi Yue was truly the overlord of the Great Zhou Institute. Su Youwei was
unable to compete even after opening her seventh channel.
As Su Youwei’s figure was thrown off the stage, another figure rose into the air, reaching out his arms and
catching the girl before gently landing.
Su Youwei gazed at the familiar face that had appeared before her eyes. She chuckled softly and said in a
slightly embarrassed manner, “I couldn’t beat him. Looks like I tried to show off too much.”
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The one who had caught Su Youwei was naturally Zhou Yuan. Murder flashed in his eyes when he looked
at the glaring red at the corner of Su Youwei’s mouth as he replied in a gentle voice, “You’ve already done
some pretty amazing things so just leave everything else to me. Don’t worry, we will not lose.”
There was no longer any strength left in Su Youwei’s body, so she lay in Zhou Yuan’s arms with slightly
narrowed eyes like a languid cat. The valiance from before was now nowhere to be seen.
Zhou Yuan landed and handed the feeble Su Youwei to Song Qiushui. Only then did he raise his head as
his blade-like gaze shot towards the proudly standing Qi Yue.
With a stomp of his foot, his figure soared into the air under countless watching eyes and landed on the
stage like a great Peng.
At the same time, Zhou Yuan’s chilling voice rang out.
“A class’ Zhou Yuan challenges B class’ Qi Yue.”
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Chapter 51 Zhou Yuan VS Qi Yue
The entire field reached its boiling point the instant Zhou Yuan stepped onto the stage. Practically every
gaze converged on the stage, making it the center of attention.
“Isn’t that prince Zhou Yuan? Wasn’t it rumoured that he was unable to cultivate?”
“That’s old news. Prince Zhou Yuan has already opened his channels in the newcomer exam. I’ve heard
that he has already reached five channels.”
“Five channels? How can he possibly compete with Qi Yue? Didn’t we just see even the seven channel Su
Youwei lose?”
“Looks like Qi Manor has this this class ranking exam in the bag.”
“……”
Whispers filled the air. Based on their exterior strength, it was clear that the majority felt that victory was
already in Qi Yue’s gasp. After all, he had always been the strongest existence in the Great Zhou Institute
for the past two years.
On the central viewing platform, both Zhou Qing’s and Qi Yuan’s backs were straight, while their burning
gazes were glued to the stone stage. They clearly understood that the battle between Zhou Yuan and Qi
Yue would decide who the institute would ultimately belong to.
Qi Yue stood with his hands behind his back on the stone stage that was now the focus of everyone’s
attention. His white clothes fluttered in the wind, painting a picture of dignity, as his indifferent eyes
looked towards Zhou Yuan. “Your highness has truly surprised me by coming all the way here.”
One must know that a year ago, Zhou Yuan had merely been a crippled prince that was unable to cultivate
in Qi Yue’s eyes. A crippled prince that would not draw even a shred of seriousness. Yet, in a short period
of half a year, it was as if Zhou Yuan had suddenly awakened, leaping from a state where he was unable to
cultivate to five open channels today.
Such progress secretly amazed even Qi Yue.
“However, this is as far as you will go.” Qi Yue’s voice was emotionless, as if Zhou Yuan’s fate was already
in his hands to do as he pleased.
Qi Yue had tried all kinds of methods in order to cripple Zhou Yuan, but none of them had succeeded,
causing him to lose his patience. This class ranking exam was his best opportunity. Zhou Qing would not
be able to do anything even if Zhou Yuan was crippled here.
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“That may not be so.” Zhou Yuan’s face was akin to rippleless well, but killing intent surged in the depths
of his eyes.
Qi Yue’s past actions had similarly long touched Zhou Yuan’s bottom line, rousing his killing intent. Thus,
he likewise intended to return everything Qi Yue had thrown at him during this class ranking exam.
On the stone stage, sparks and killing intent appeared when their gazes met.
Every gaze on the field had converged on the stage, and there was no longer anyone who was paying
attention to any of the matches between the other classes. Everyone knew that the match between Zhou
Yuan and Qi Yue would cause violent ripples in the Great Zhou Empire.
“Begin!”
The silence on the stage was abruptly broken by the sudden shout of the referee.
Qi Yue was the first to move. Power poured into his legs as he stomped on the ground, his body
transforming into a black blur as it rushed towards Zhou Yuan.
Boom!
A punch was thrown, fist-winds blasting apart the air like a sonic boom.
The punch rapidly grew in Zhou Yuan’s eyes as his feet suddenly slanted at an angle, causing his figure to
blur momentarily. It was the activation of Dragon Step.
The incoming punch only hit empty air, causing a tiny glimmer to appear in Qi Yue’s eyes. He was long
aware of Zhou Yuan’s miraculous auxiliary Genesis technique that would turn his figure blurry and
enable him to avoid numerous attacks.
Qi Yue’s fist immediately transformed into a palm, Genesis Qi surging as it swept out like a blade, ripping
through the air.
Zhou Yuan’s five fingers clenched into a fist as a punch containing similar power collided against the
palm-blade that was slashing at this throat.
Bang!
Fist met palm as the air exploded. Ripples that could be seen with the naked eye pulsed outwards,
blowing up the dust on the ground.
Bang bang bang!
In the next instant, Zhou Yuan and Qi Yue simultaneously let loose a flurry of attacks. Punches seemed to
be followed by after-images as they ferociously rained upon the opponent like a storm.
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In a short span of a dozen breaths, the two had clashed over a dozen times, making the onlookers a little
giddy.
Dong!
After yet another head-on clash, Zhou Yuan’s and Qi Yue’s bodies jerked backwards, their feet sliding over
a dozen steps on the ground before stopping.
A faint disturbance could be observed in the crowd, while the eyes of numerous onlookers held some
surprise. They had discovered that the merely five channel Zhou Yuan had not fallen into much of a
disadvantageous position in the violent clash.
Originally, they had believed that Zhou Yuan would be completely suppressed by Qi Yue.
Zhou Yuan massaged his fist as he remarked, “Seven channels is indeed formidable, much harder to deal
with than those wild beasts.”
He had killed several beasts comparable to human seven channel experts, but none of them were as
tough as Qi Yue.
Qi Yue had a somewhat grim look in his eyes. Although he had long known about Zhou Yuan’s unusually
strong body, it was only after experiencing it first hand did he truly realise exactly how powerful it was.
One must know that he had the strength of seven channels and the quality of his body had risen time and
time again. Yet, he could do nothing against a mere five channel Zhou Yuan, a fact that made him rather
sullen indeed.
“Seven channels open!”
Following a roar from Qi Yue, Genesis Qi whizzed over and poured into his body. Light immediately
emerged on the surface of his body as an astonishing aura exploded.
Crack!
The stone floor under Qi Yue’s feet steathily shattered, an indication of just how much power was
gathered in Qi Yue’s body.
Zhou Yuan’s eyes narrowed slightly as his expression became a little more serious. As the saying went, a
lion should use all its power even to catch a rabbit. Let alone the fact that this Qi Yue was no harmless
rabbit.
“Five channels open!” Genesis Qi also surge into Zhou Yuan’s body as power flowed in his limbs.
Swish!
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Qi Yue’s body moved. His speed was several times faster now that he had opened seven channels. In a
flash, he had already appeared behind Zhou Yuan.
“Galloping Thunder Fist!”
Qi Yue did not hold anything back, his gaze icy as a Black tier Genesis technique was released. The air
immediately exploded as cracks grew inch by inch from under his feet, a rather spectacular sight indeed.
This punch was even stronger than the one used against Su Youwei previously.
Zhou Yuan’s hand swept out in a horizontal arc, incomparably heavy as if he was carrying a mountain.
The overwhelming force slammed into the incoming punch from behind.
Dong!
Shockwaves swept out from under the two’s feet, ripping apart the solid ground below.
“You blocked it?! Try blocking again then!”
Ferociousness flashed in Qi Yue’s eyes as he pounced like a cheetah. Fist, leg, elbow. Each had turned into
deadly weapons, blasting apart the air as they maniacally rained down on Zhou Yuan’s vital spots.
Qi Yue had already pushed his power to its limits. He needed to obtain dominance and destroy Zhou
Yuan’s confidence.
The sight of such a torrential flurry of attacks made the scalps of countless onlookers turn numb.
Zhou Yuan’s expression changed slightly in response to Qi Yue’s berserk offensive. It was as if his entire
view had been filled to the brim with his opponent’s attacks and even using Dragon Step would not allow
him to avoid them.
Although Zhou Yuan was alarmed, he did not panic. His Spirit flickered between his brows as his senses
stretched forth, causing the attacks that flooded his vision to instantly change appearance.
With his Spirit senses, the trajectories of every single one of Qi Yue’s attacks were now extremely clear in
Zhou Yuan’s eyes.
Thus, he boldly made his move.
Genesis Qi rapidly swirled on his fists and legs. His counter-attack was not as chaotic as Qi Yue’s and
instead appeared rather slow, but it was these seemingly slow attacks that were accurately able to land
on the weakest points of Qi Yue’s flood of attacks. All it took was a gently tap to dispel all of the latter’s
ferocious power.
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Like how a long enough lever would be able to lift the earth.
Qi Yue’s expression grew increasingly ugly. He could feel that his ferocious attacks were ultimately
unable to break Zhou Yuan’s defence. The latter’s seemingly slow counter-attacks were able to accurately
disperse his power.
Dong!
Another heavy punch was thrown by Zhou Yuan, landing on Qi Yue’s elbow. The powerful force jerked Qi
Yue’s entire arm, causing his body to freeze momentarily.
“An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. Eat this!”
Zhou Yuan’s eyes flashed as his fist suddenly turned into a palm. The Genesis Qi in his body surged out,
flowing along his channels before pouring into his palm, causing the surrounding air to vibrate.
An astonishing aura rippled from Zhou Yuan’s body.
“Dragon Tablet Hand, split the earth!”
In accompaniment to his shout, Zhou Yuan’s palm swung out horizontally. Dazzling Genesis light emerged
at the center of his palm, boiling even the air itself as it flew past.
This strike was directly aimed at Qi Yue.
Qi Yue’s expression abruptly changed at this moment. It was clear that he had sensed the shocking power
within this counter-attack from Zhou Yuan. The former immediately crossed his arms before him as
Genesis Qi light flowed on them.
“High grade Genesis technique, Metal Arm!”
Dong!
Zhou Yuan paid not heed to Qi Yue’s actions as his ferocious without equal attack slammed into Qi Yue’s
arms. A loud boom was heard as an overwhelming force erupted.
Dong dong dong!
Qi Yue’s arms shook violently due to the heavy blow, his feet leaving many footprints on the stone ground
as he miserably shot backwards in retreat.
An uproar shook the entire field, every wave stronger for each step Qi Yue took backwards.
Bang!
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Qi Yue was finally able to forcibly stabilized his body. As he listened to the noise from the crowd, his face
turned so stormy that it was as if rain was going to fall from it at any moment. Fury flooded his eyes as he
looked towards Zhou Yuan while a shout brimming with murder rang out from between the crevices of
his teeth.
“Zhou Yuan, you are courting death!”
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Chapter 52 True Power
“Zhou Yuan, you are courting death!”
A howl of rage emerged from Qi Yue’s mouth as chilling killing intent exploded from his body. Veins
crawled up in his eyes, making him appear exceptionally sinister.
He had originally believed that it would be an easy fight for him. After all, his seven channel strength was
enough to crush any student of the institute.
Yet, who could have that he would not only be unable to achieve a clean victory against a mere five
channel Zhou Yuan, but to even be pushed this far.
To Qi Yue, this outcome was undoubtedly akin to losing all face.
“Exactly who is courting death has not been decided!” Zhou Yuan’s voice was calm, but murder also
blossomed in his eyes.
Qi Yue’s bloodshot eyes glared at Zhou Yuan. A brief moment later, the twisted expression on his face
slowly disappeared, replaced by calmness. However, his voice grew increasingly eerie as he said, “Zhou
Yuan, I have to admit that you coming this far has already surpassed my expectations.”
“However, do you believe that this will be enough to beat me?”
Upon seeing Qi Yue’s eerie expression, Zhou Yuan’s eyes narrowed slightly as his expression became a
little more serious. He knew that Qi Yue had definitely made certain preparations for this class ranking
exam.
Qi Yue deeply breathed in as a ruthless look flitted across his eyes. In the next instant, his body violently
shook as a howl rang out.
“Channel Breaker Art!”
Buzz!
One could only watch as Genesis Qi suddenly surged over from the surroundings and poured into Qi Yue’s
body. Everyone quickly sensed Qi Yue’s aura begin to climb.
Zhou Yuan’s expression finally changed at this moment as he slowly said, “To think that you would use
the Channel Breaker Art. That’s some real determination indeed.”
This Channel Breaker Art was a type of Gensis technique that could temporarily force open another
meridian channel. Since Qi Yue was already a seven channel practitioner, breaking open one more
channel would allow him to reach the eight channel state.
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However, the technique would harm one’s body and greatly prolong the time it subsequently took to
open the eighth channel.
Genesis Qi light swirled around Qi Yue’s body as his clothes flapped. His five fingers clenched into a fist,
releasing cracking noises as he felt the overwhelming power in his body.
“For the sake of obtaining the Great Zhou Institute, this small price is really nothing.” Qi Yue’s tone was
apathetic as he continued, “Moreover, Qi Manor has already prepared mystical treasures to aid in my
quick recovery.”
“However, before that, I feel that you will be the one who is going to pay!”
Bang!
His body shot forward the moment the final word left his mouth.
“Such speed!” Zhou Yuan was a little startled. Qi Yue’s strength has risen to a whole new level after
forcibly opening his eighth channel.
“Dragon Step!”
Zhou Yuan wasted no time as his body stepped out at an angle.
Boom.
A fist surrounded by swirling Genesis Qi light viciously thrust towards him from behind, brushing past his
chest.
However, the moment the attack missed, Qi Yue’s fist suddenly transformed into a palm and slapped
downwards. Genesis Qi blasted apart the air, the powerful force caused pockets of air to explode, hitting
Zhou Yuan in the chest.
Thud thud!
Zhou Yuan’s figure rapidly retreated as he felt waves of pain from his chest. Although he had only been hit
by the explosion of air from Qi Yue’s previous blow, it had been more than enough to cause damage.
It was clear that Qi Yue had grown even more powerful after forcing open his eighth channel.
“Let’s see how long you can continue to dodge!” Cold light was revealed in Qi Yue’s eyes as his figure shot
forth once again. A flurry of swift attacks enveloped Zhou Yuan in waves.
In response to the now extremely formidable Qi Yue, Zhou Yuan could only retreat, retreat and retreat.
Zhou Yuan instantly fell into a disadvantageous position.
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On the field, countless cries were heard due to the sudden change in the situation. Anyone could tell that
Qi Yue had gained complete dominance in the fight. If Zhou Yuan did not have anything else up his sleeve,
the pace of the match would fall into Qi Yue’s control.
On the A class side, graveness and worry filled the face of every student. Su Youwei’s hands were tightly
clenched, while her pretty face was somewhat anxious. The current Qi Yue was really too powerful.
On the tall viewing platform, Zhou Qing’s expression was also grim. In contrast, a pleased smile emerged
on Qi Yuan’s face.
Rumble!
Two figures continued their chase across the stone stage. Qi Yue’s attacks were relentless, wave after
wave of deadliness forcing Zhou Yuan to continuously duck and dodge.
However, under Qi Yue’s pressure, the amount of space Zhou Yuan had to dodge grew tinier and tinier.
Until a certain point in time when his foot arrived at the edge of the stone stage. It was then that Qi Yue’s
face filled with a twisted smile as fist-wind suddenly slashed downwards, causing cracks to grow on the
ground below.
This palm strike was enough to sweep Zhou Yuan off the stage and decide the victor.
Hence, cries of alarm rose and fell across the field.
“Time for you to get off the stage. Did you really believe that you could change anything?!” Qi Yue’s evil
chuckle rang out at this moment.
Palm-winds struck Zhou Yuan in the face as he suddenly lifted his head. Not even a single trace of panic
could be seen, instead, there was only a chillingly icy smile.
“I’ve said it before. Losing yourself to joy is not good at all!”
Boom!
A strange sound suddenly emerged from Zhou Yuan’s body as the surrounding Genesis Qi flooded
towards him, causing his Genesis Qi undulations to soar.
Zhou Yuan’s change naturally drew the attention of countless people as shouts filled with disbelief
sounded one after another, “Prince Zhou Yuan has also unblocked his sixth meridian channel?!”
“Did he also use the Channel Breaker Art?”
“It’s not the Channel Breaker Art. The Genesis Qi in prince Zhou Yuan’s body is still as vigorous as before
and shows no signs of disorder, a sigh of practiced control. Thus, it cannot be the Channel Breaker Art.”
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“This can only be achieved if he has truly unblocked his sixth meridian channel.”
“Which is to say that prince Zhou Yuan’s sixth channel has been unblocked long ago and he was
concealing his strength!”
“Such cunning. To think that he purposely acted weak to give Qi Yue the impression that victory was in
his grasp, giving rise to carelessness!”
“……”
Countless voices could be heard. Everyone was shocked by Zhou Yuan’s sudden explosion of power.
“How is this possible?!” Qi Yue’s pupils also shrank at this moment. He had originally believed that he had
forced Zhou Yuan to the end of the rope. Who could have expected the latter to suddenly bare his fangs a
split second later?
“Do you really believe that I only unblocked my fifth channel after two months of training in the Black
Forest Mountain Range?!” Zhou Yuan let out a chilling chuckle. He had spent all day and all night fighting
Genesis Beasts in the Black Forest Mountain Range, plus he had Yaoyao help him inscribe the Thirty Six
Beast Channel Opening Rune. It could be said that he had underwent every kind of suffering. Therefore, it
was only natural that he had unblocked his sixth meridian channel five days before leaving the
mountains.
However, he had concealed this fact all along and only showed the strength of five channels.
“Dragon Tablet Hand, split the earth!”
Zhou Yuan’s counter-attack was exceptionally swift and ferocious. His palm swept out horizontally,
Genesis Qi surging along as the air continuously exploded in its wake. Its momentum was practically
unstoppable.
Zhou Yuan’s counter-attack made all the airs on Qi Yue’s body stand as a feeling of danger washed over
him. He had no time to think and could only desperately squeeze out as much Genesis Qi as he could.
“Galloping Thunder Fist!”
In his haste, Qi Yue threw a punch which smashed into Zhou Yuan’s palm a split second later.
Bang!
A muffled sound echoed. The stone floor beneath both their feet cracked even further as a shockwave
unfurled, sweeping up the shattered stone.
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As pieces of the floor danced in the air, everyone saw Qi Yue’s body jerk back as it was sent sliding
backwards on the ground. When he finally came to a stop, a groan was released as blood emerged from
the corner of his mouth.
In contrast, Zhou Yuan had only been pushed half a step back due to his fierce counter-attack.
*Uproar*!
The entire field exploded once again as countless people secretly cheered. Zhou Yuan’s tactic of
displaying weakness to the opponent had undoubtedly achieved pretty good results.
“Pretty good and shrewd battle senses.” Several of the sharper individuals present nodded to themselves.
Although Qi Yue might seem stronger on paper, he was lacking in battle sense when compared to Zhou
Yuan.
Moreover, Zhou Yuan’s fierce attacks were akin to those of a seasoned fighter. Each explosion of power
was sure to be effective.
On the stone stage, Qi Yue slowly wiped away the blood at the corner of his mouth as his face faintly
twitched. In the end, he breathed in deeply, firmly suppressing the violent rage that was about to
overwhelm his rationality.
Qi Yue frostily remarked, “I never imagined that you had already opened your sixth meridian channel!”
Zhou Yuan replied with a faint smile, “Well, I’ve got to keep something up my sleeve, no?”
If he used all of his trump cards from the beginning, he would not have been able to catch Qi Yue off
guard. At the very least, Qi Yue had now been injured due to his carelessness.
A pair of cold and dark eyes stared at Zhou Yuan as Qi Yue slowly replied, “Indeed. You have taught me a
valuable lesson.”
He closed his eyes and nodded as he continued in a detached voice, “That is why in order to thank you, I
will use my greatest power to defeat you. I will rip apart every single one of the trump cards you are so
proud of and allow you to have a taste of true despair.”
As his voice faded, Qi Yue slowly lifted his hand, allowing everyone to see the faint green glow that had
emerged on it. Light fluctuated indeterminately as it gave off an aura of sharpness that changed one’s
expression.
Even the air itself was being ripped to shreds by the green aura.
The expression of some of the more knowledgeable experts present changed as voices of shock rang out,
“That is… one of Qi Manor’s top tier Genesis techniques, the Auraflare technique?!”
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“Qi Yue has mastered the Auraflare technique?!”
“Not good, things are going to get dangerous for prince Zhou Yuan. Although the Auraflare technique is
said to be a low grade Black tier Genesis technique, its power surpasses several mid grade Black tier
Genesis techniques!”
“With this technique, Qi Yue is practically invincible amongst those below the Qi Nourishing stage!”
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Chapter 53 I Know This Too
Green light pulsed on Qi Yue’s hand, never stretching beyond half a finger in length. As the green light
throbbed, even the air itself was sliced apart with ‘ch’ sounds, making clear its astonishing destructive
power.
Only a single glance was needed for everyone to realise the identity of the green aura. It was one of the
most powerful techniques of Qi Manor, the Auraflare technique.
The insanely terrifying power of this technique made it such that ordinary practitioners would not dare
to engage it in a direct clash. Hence, there were very few experts under the Qi Nourishing stage who could
face Qi Yue while he was using this technique with eight open channels.
Hence, the situation was reversed once again.
Qi Yue’s entire body brimmed with killing intent as he stared and Zhou Yuan and said in a chillingly eerie
voice, “Zhou Yuan, I’ll admit that you are indeed very capable. I would never have imagined that a cripple
from half a year ago would become such a huge threat to me!”
“The great threat that you pose has made me feel that it would be better to cripple you once more!” Qi
Yue revealed a set of spookily white teeth as he smiled sinisterly.
Surprise flitted across Zhou Yuan’s eyes as he stared at the throbbing green aura on Qi Yue’s palm. The
former had clearly not expected Qi Yue to have learnt the Auraflare technique.
However, Qi Yue’s green aura was extremely faint and seemed rather unstable. It was evident that he had
just barely managed to bring out this technique.
Even so, the power of the green aura far surpassed the low grade Black tier Galloping Thunder Fist from
earlier.
“It just so happens that you and I have opposite views.” Zhou Yuan’s voice was indifferent as he looked at
Qi Yue’s twisted face that oozed with killing intent. “Because I have never seen you as a threat from the
very beginning. In my eyes, you are merely a small pebble in my path of cultivation.”
Qi Yue’s pupils shrank, his seething rage ultimately releasing itself in the form of laughter. To have a once
crippled prince see him as a tiny pebble in the latter’s path made him feel humiliation he had never
experienced before.
“I truly hope that you will still be able say these words when you are kneeling at my feet later!”
Qi Yue’s killing intent had reached its peak. His presence raged like a tiger as the green aura pulsed on his
palm. He could not longer restrain the killing intent in his heart. His foot stomped on the ground,
shattering the stone floor, as his figure swiftly shot towards Zhou Yuan amidst countless cries of alarm.
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Qi Yue’s palm sliced through the air. The faint green glow around it emitting extremely deadly pulses.
Zhou Yuan remained where he stood. In the onlookers’ eyes, it seemed as if he had been frightened silly
by Qi Yue’s ferocity.
On the A class side, Su Youwei’s face paled a little. She was almost about to lose control and dash towards
the stage, but firmly suppressed this desire with her rationality.
By the side, Chu Tianyang’s fists were tightly clenched, a tense expression on his face as he unblinkingly
stared at the stage.
On the central viewing platform, Zhou Qing’s body leaned forward as faint traces of Genesis Qi surged
around him. It was obvious that he planned to step in at the final moment to ensure that nothing
happened to Zhou Yuan.
Below him, Qi Yuan smiled faintly, as if victory was already in his grasp.
Under countless gazes of pity, Zhou Yuan stared at Qi Yue as he murmured, “Is the Auraflare technique
really that great?”
He stepped forward, his body suddenly jerking and his back rising as he opened his mouth, “Dragon
Breath!”
Roar!
The roar of a dragon echoed faintly as the surrounding Genesis Qi transformed into a stream of white that
was swallowed by Zhou Yuan with a single gulp.
As he grew more and more proficient with the ninety eight forms of the frolicking dragon, Zhou Yuan now
no longer needed to perform all the stances and could vibrate his bones to activate Dragon Breath.
The mouthful of rich Genesis Qi that entered his body immediately started to spin at high speeds in his
channels as it was compressed.
Zhou Yuan raised his head, gazed at Qi Yue’s increasingly distorted face and slowly extended his hand.
Disbelief flooded everyone’s eyes as they watched a green glow emerge from Zhou Yuans palm, a green
glow that pulsed as it shredded the air.
The green glow was exactly the same hue as the one on Qi Yue’s hand, only a little deeper.
Most importantly, Zhou Yuan’s green glow was a whole inch long, while Qi Yue’s was less than half a
finger long.
Countless cries erupted throughout the entire field.
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“Prince Zhou Yuan is also… using the Auraflare technique?!”
“How is that possible? Isn’t the technique exclusive to Qi Manor? How could prince Zhou Yuan have learnt
it?!”
“Prince Zhou Yuan’s aura is deeper and longer! His mastery is clearly even greater than Qi Yue’s!”
“How is this possible…”
Cries of alarm and surprise rose and fell. Everyone was shocked by the scene before their eyes.
The eyes of the rapidly approaching Qi Yue also widened at this moment as he stared at the throbbing
green light on Zhou Yuan’s hand.
The corners of Zhou Yuan’s mouth lifted when he saw Qi Yue’s appearance as he mockingly said, “Sorry
but I also know the Auraflare technique!”
When the final word left his mouth, Zhou Yuan abruptly stepped forward as his hand ruthlessly chopped
at the incoming Qi Yue like a green blade.
Ch ch!
As the palm descended, the air was split apart and cracks emerged on the ground below.
Under the attention of countless gazes, Zhou Yuan’s and Qi Yue’s palms slammed into each other as the
two green lights emitting deadly auras clashed.
Ch!
A very faint sound seemed to echo.
Zhou Yuan’s and Qi Yue’s figures crossed each other, both taking several steps forward before slowly
coming to a stop.
Their backs faced each other as the green aura on their hands continued to flicker.
The entire field had become extremely quiet and every gaze was glued to the two participants. They knew
that the outcome of this battle of the titans was about to appear.
“How is this possible…” A low voice broke the silence. Everyone watched as Qi Yue mumbled, “Why do
you know the Auraflare technique? And why is it so powerful?!”
“I’m afraid that it’s all thanks to you.” Zhou Yuan’s voice was emotionless.
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Qi Yue’s pupils shrank as if something suddenly clicked in his head and his face immediately twisted.
“So… Luo Hao died at your hands!”
No wonder they could not find any traces of Luo Hao no matter how they searched. It turns out that he
had long been killed by Zhou Yuan. Moreover, the Auraflare technique had fallen into his hands and had
even been secretly learnt by him.
Zhou Yuan ignored Qi Yue. With a light swing of the former’s sleeve, a blade of wind whizzed forth.
The wind blade swept past and countless onlookers on the field gasped as they watched Qi Yue’s entire
arm slowly fall off, fresh blood spurting out as it dropped onto the ground.
The place of the cut was as glossy as a mirror.
ARRGH!
It was at this very moment that a Qi Yue’s miserable shriek rang out.
The entire field was dead silent, everyone blankly staring at the miserably shrieking Qi Yue. They knew
the outcome of the match had been decided at this very moment.
However, this outcome had clearly exceeded everyone’s expectations.
No one could have imagined that the very same Qi Yue, who had practically reigned supreme over the
Great Zhou Institute for the past two years, would lose in such a miserable manner at Zhou Yuan’s hands
today.
Gaze after gaze was tinged with amazement as they turned towards the stage where Zhou Yuan stood
with his hands hanging at his side. They never imagined that the crippled prince, whom was rumoured to
be unable to begin his channel opening cultivation, would unknowingly begin to reveal his potential.
The Great Zhou royal clan was perhaps not as in the decline as they had thought.
On the tall viewing platform, Zhou Qing and Qi Yuan were similarly shaken by the outcome of the match.
However, Zhou Qing was pleasantly surprised, while Qi Yuan’s face was green with anger. When he saw
Zhou Yuan cut off Qi Yue’s arm, he could not longer control the rage in his heart and suddenly stood up as
he howled, “Child, how vicious!”
Boom!
A pillar of golden Qi dashed out from the top of his head, transforming into a giant golden hand that
grabbed at Zhou Yuan.
If this palm landed, it would crush the entire stone stage.
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Grade 4 Genesis Qi, Primal Gold Qi!
However, as the giant gold hand descended, a similarly powerful red Qi also dashed into the sky,
transforming into a giant scarlet hand that mercilessly smashed into the gold hand.
Grade 4 Genesis Qi, Flame-Thunder Qi!
An earth shaking noise reverberated across the area as the land shook and terrifying gales swept
outwards, filling the sky with dust.
At the same time, Zhou Qing’s rage filled voice thundered,
“Qi Yuan, are you planning on rebelling?!”
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Chapter 54 Triumph
Rumble!
The clash of two Alpha-Origin stage experts could be said to shake the mountains. The entire field began
to tremble violently at this moment, the spreading aftershocks making countless people feel as if they
were unable to breath.
When Zhou Qing’s furious shout rang out, a large group of imperial guards flooded out from behind the
field. But at the same time, numerous figures reached for their weapons in the field as they gathered
towards king Qi.
Both factions were on high alert.
The suddenly suffocating atmosphere did nothing for the various factions that were secretly in shock.
Was the royal clan and Qi Manor really going to war today?
Both parties were clearly unprepared. If they were to start a war now, Great Zhou would definitely
descend into internal chaos, chaos which would in turn allow a third party the opportunity to reap the
benefits.
Zhou Qing’s expression was frosty as vigorous scarlet red Flame-Thunder Qi continuously shot out from
the top of his head. An astonishing aura accompanied the faint rumble of thunder as the Qi stormed in the
sky above.
His eyes were ice-cold as he stared at Qi Yuan. Any movement from the latter would definitely provoke a
response.
Qi Yuan’s face twitched faintly under Zhou Qing’s hawk-like gaze. Although there was anger and murder
surging in the former’s eyes, he was after all no ordinary individual. He knew that both sides would suffer
terrible losses if they were to clash here, allowing a third party to take advantage.
Hence, with a deep breath, the vigorous Genesis Qi that had poured out from his head was sucked back
into his body.
A smile was revealed on his stormy face as he cupped his fists together towards Zhou Qing and said,
“Your majesty, please quell your anger. I was reckless due my anxiousness and hope that you can forgive
me.”
As he spoke, he looked towards Zhou Yuan on the stone stage, “Your highness, please do not take offense
if I scared you earlier.”
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At the sight of the smile on Qi Yuan’s face, Zhou Yuan could not help but think to himself, “King Qi is truly
a formidable person, knowing when to bow and submit. No wonder he has caused so much trouble for
father.”
Zhou Yuan was growing increasingly wary of Qi Yuan, but maintained a smile full of apology as he replied,
“I do not blame you, it is my fault for being unable to restrain myself earlier so I should be the one who
apologises.”
The corners of Qi Yuan’s eyes twitched as he shot a glance at the screaming Qi Yue, who was grabbing the
stump where his arm once was, but could only force a smile, “Punches and kicks have no eyes and
accidents are unavoidable. I can only say that Qi Yue was not as skillful.”
Zhou Yuan seemed to breath a sigh of relief as he happily said, “Nothing is better than king Qi’s
understanding.”
“Hehe.” Qi Yuan chuckled. There was a twinkle in his eye as he continued, “Is the technique previously
used by your highness our Qi Manor’s Auraflare? May I inquire where your highness obtained it?”
Zhou Yuan smiled upon hearing this. “Someone tried to assassinate me some time ago while I was
training in the Black Forest Mountain Range, but the attempt was ultimately foiled by myself. I found the
technique on his corpse.”
“So that’s what happened.” It was as if a flash of understanding had struck Qi Yuan. “Qi Manor was
burgled some time ago and it just so happens that this very same Auraflare technique was stolen. I
believe that the burglar must have been the one who attacked your highness.”
Qi Yuan’s smile became gentle as he continued, “I should really thank your highness. If not for you, Qi
Manor would have truly lost the Auraflare technique.”
Zhou Yuan’s eyebrows raised slightly. King Qi was such a wily old fox, but did he really believe that the
Auraflare technique would be returned with a few simple words?
Thus, Zhou Yuan immediately let out a sigh and said, “I would naturally return the technique to Qi Manor
if I still had it. Unfortunately, it was ripped to pieces in a fight with a Genesis Beast so I had to throw away
the remains.”
The smile on Qi Yuan’s face turned rigid as his fists involuntarily clenched tightly. Even a three year old
would not believe Zhou Yuan’s words. It was clear that the latter had no intentions of returning the
technique.
However, there was nothing Qi Yuan could do unless he wanted to fall out with the royal clan here.
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Zhou Qing let out an icy chuckle in his heart when he saw this and withdrew his Genesis Qi. Although he
too had been greatly angered by Qi Yuan’s unbridled actions, the former also knew that this was not the
time to go to war with Qi Manor.
As the two individuals withdrew their Qi, the tense atmosphere smothering the field gradually dissipated.
Although everyone knew that the royal clan and Qi Manor were at loggerheads, the final membrane had
not been broken. If it was torn apart here today, no one would be able to avoid the subsequent turmoil
that would surely engulf Great Zhou.
With a wave of Qi Yuan’s hand, two figures flew onto the stage and assisted the still shrieking Qi Yue off.
Only then did the referee return to his senses and shout, “A class, Zhou Yuan’s victory!”
“All the B class participants have been defeated so the A class has won their challenge! I now announce
that the A class is this year’s leader of the classes!”
As the referee’s voice boomed, the numerous A class students burst out into cheers, cheers accompanied
by thunderous applause from the countless audience members around the field.
Gaze after gaze was filled with amazement as they looked towards the thin figure of the youngster atop
the stage. No one had expected the once crippled prince to reach such heights.
Those that had experienced the events from over a dozen years ago sighed inwardly. To think that even
the calamity back then had been unable to completely ruin his highness. This clearly showed how just
how tenacious his highness was.
However, when all was said and done, Zhou Yuan had after all lost the sacred dragon blessing. Hence, it
was hard to determine exactly how far he would be able to go.
After all, the sacred dragon blessing that once belonged to him was currently the country blessing of
Great Wu. In addition, its power had also been bestowed onto the two born with the python and sparrow
blessings that were born on the same day as himself. With just the power of Great Zhou, taking it back
would be harder than ascending the heavens.
In contrast to the celebratory atmosphere of the A class, an oppressive atmosphere covered the
completely silent B class. Their class master, Xu Hong, had a steely-green face of compressed anger akin
to a volcano that was on the verge of erupting.
A single step was all that separated him from the position of headmaster. He should taken control of the
Great Zhou Institute after today, but who could have expected such a turn of events.
The originally sure-win Qi Yue had lost to Zhou Yuan!
It was at this time that the unconscious Liu Xi finally awakened. However, her pretty face immediately
turned deathly pale when she heard the referee’s announcement.
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“Qi Yue lost to Zhou Yuan? How can it be?!”
She blankly stared at the stone stage, only to see Zhou Yuan standing there with his hands behind his
back. His tall straight figure and his thin face gave off an aura of sharpness that no one dared to
underestimate.
“How is it possible… how could he have beaten Qi Yue! He’s nothing but a crippled prince!” Liu Xi
mumbled to herself, still unable to accept reality.
The other class B students gloated a little as they watched Liu Xi. Qi Yue had been the only one to be
acknowledged by this arrogant girl who acted superior to all of her other B class classmates.
You once said that prince Zhou Yuan was a toad that you would never give a second glance. Yet, he has
now become so outstanding, so outstanding that even Qi Yue can no longer compare.
Looks like Su Youwei was right. Compared to prince Zhou Yuan, Liu Xi was the real toad.
On the tall viewing platform, Qi Yuan knew that their plan had already failed. His expression was
somewhat dark as he looked towards Zhou Qing and said with a faint smile, “The outcome of this class
ranking exam is truly unexpected. Congratulations your majesty.”
Zhou Qing’s expression was calm as he replied, “It’s a pity with regards to all the thought and effort king
Qi has put into the Great Zhou Institute over the years.”
Qi Yuan laughed, “Qi Manor made a wrong move this time, but your majesty should not be too overjoyed.
Qi Manor is still the same Qi Manor even without the Great Zhou Institute.”
“Besides…”
He paused, revealing a slight smile as he glanced at Zhou Yuan. “My eldest son Qi Hao is said to have
gained recognition under the great general. Perhaps your majesty should pay some attention to this.”
Zhou Qing’s pupils shrank a little upon hearing these words, but his expression remained unchanged as
he replied, “The great general is no rebel. At the very least, this is something that I still believe in.”
“Hehe, I hope so. But it seems that he does not intend to repay your majesty’s faith.” Qi Yuan’s words
seemed to hold a deeper meaning. Without further ado, he smiled and cupped his fists together towards
Zhou Qing before turning around to leave.
Zhou Qing’s eyes grew colder as he watched Qi Yuan leave. The former knew that Qi Manor would not
just leave it at this after this failure. Looks like the future clashes between them would only grow more
and more ruthless…
However, the one thing he knew was that no matter what, he would never allow a repeat of the events
from back then!
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Chapter 55 Wei Canglan
The Great Zhou Institute class ranking exam was over. This year’s class ranking exam however had
caused some pretty big ripples in Great Zhou City. The most enthusiastically discussed amongst them was
the extraordinary performance of their prince. The prince rumoured to be incapable of beginning channel
opening cultivation had used his six channel strength to obtain an overwhelming victory over Qi Yue,
whom had relied on the Channel Breaker Art to reach eight channels…
The spread of this news caused numerous gasps of surprise. For the very first time, Zhou Yuan had begun
to gain some reputation for himself in the Great Zhou Empire without relying on his status as prince.
A long break followed the class ranking exam. For Zhou Yuan however, there was no relaxation after
victory and his daily training routine continued.
It was just as he had said to Qi Yue. In Zhou Yuan’s eyes, the latter was not much of a threat at all. Qi Yue
had merely been a small pebble on Zhou Yuan’s path to growing stronger.
After kicking this pebble aside, Zhou Yuan’s gaze turned back once again to a more distant goal.
A month later.
The inner chambers of the royal palace.
Zhou Yuan walked into the chambers and looked behind the desk at Zhou Qing, “Father, you were looking
for me?”
Zhou Qing lifted his head with a smile and replied, “How has your training been recently?”
Zhou Yuan responded, “Pretty good. I should unblock my seventh meridian channel soon.”
He had diligently training around the clock for the past month and the seventh channel was now in sight.
Zhou Qing nodded in gratification. Looks like the class ranking exam victory had not made Zhou Yuan
lose himself to joy and slack off on his training.
Zhou Qing could not help but sigh and say, “It was really all thanks to you. If not for you, the Great Zhou
Institute would not have escaped Qi Manor’s claws.” Recalling the class ranking exam still caused him to
be a little on edge.
“As a subject of Great Zhou, it is only natural for me to do what I can.” Zhou Yuan smiled.
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The smile on Zhou Qing’s face grew even wider. Soon after, he slowly said, “We may have been able to
stop Qi Manor this time, but they will not give up.”
Cold light was revealed in Zhou Yuan’s eyes as he said, “Father, Qi Manor is a tumor to Great Zhou. To
strengthen Great Zhou, this tumor must be destroyed.”
Zhou Qing nodded. “I naturally desire to eliminate Qi Manor at all times, but they are currently no weaker
than the royal clan. If we were to go to war with them, both of us will surely suffer huge losses. Unless…”
“Unless what?” Zhou Yuan was a little startled.
Zhou Qing continued in a soft voice, “Unless the great general will firmly stand on our side and help us
deal with Qi Manor.”
“Great general? Wei Canglan?” Zhou Yuan’s heart shook. It was obvious that he had heard of this
individual before.
Zhou Qing lightly nodded. “The three strongest factions in the current Great Zhou are us, the royal clan, Qi
Manor and the great general’s faction.”
“Great general Wei is also an Alpha-Origin expert and the Canglan army under him is one of the three
strongest armies of Great Zhou.”
As for the other two armies, one was the royal clan’s imperial guards and the other was Qi Manor’s King
Qi Guards.
“Father, could great general Wei have thoughts of rebelling?” Zhou Yuan frowned.
Zhou Qing shook his head. “Back then, great general Wei stood at my side even against Great Wu. He is
not the kind of person who would entertain thoughts of rebellion. Truthfully speaking, it is I who let him
down.”
At this point, Zhou Qing’s expression dimmed somewhat.
Zhou Yuan curiously asked, “What happened?”
Zhou Qing stood up and pointed at a map of Great Zhou hanging on the wall behind him. On the north-
west part of the map was an area called Canglan County. Next to the county was a sprawling large black
mass akin to an abyss.
Zhou Qing pointed at the black area on the map and asked with a serious expression, “Do you know of
this land?”
“This is… Blackwater?” Zhou Yuan’s expression changed a little. Blackwater was well known in Great
Zhou as a vile land populated by countless savage Genesis Beasts. No empire was able to occupy this
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region, allowing many independent practitioners to gather there, forming numerous factions of varying
sizes.
These factions would poke at Great Zhou’s borders from time to time, plundering and slaughtering. No
crime was beyond them.
Zhou Qing elaborated in a heavy voice, “Blackwater’s most powerful faction is known as Black Venom
City and its lord goes by the title Black Venom King. He is a very infamous Alpha-Origin expert.”
“Back then, the Black Venom King invaded Great Zhou but was stopped by great general Wei. In
retaliation, the Black Venom King besieged Canglan County and although he was pushed back in the end,
great general Wei was struck by the Black Venom King’s secret technique, Devil Miasma Poison.”
“Although great general Wei was tortured by the poison, he was after all an Alpha-Origin expert and was
ultimately able to suppress it. But no one could have expected what happened next. Great general Wei’s
only son, Wei Bin, was afflicted by the poison at birth. He has been paralyzed and bedridden till this day
and is constantly tormented by the poison.”
“With his only son poisoned, great general Wei was overwhelmed by rage and his hatred for Black Venom
King reached all the way to the heavens. From then on, great general Wei has never taken even half a step
from Canglan County. He views the Black Venom King as a thorn and is constantly plagued by thoughts of
vengeance.”
“This is why great general Wei has shut himself in Canglan County for the past few years and pays no
attention to the affairs of the Great Zhou Empire.”
At this point, Zhou Qing’s voice lowered, “I know that great general Wei still blames me. It was I who
asked him delay the Black Venom King back then while I led troops to encircle the latter. Who could have
imagined that king Qi would chose such a time to intervene and impede us. By the time I arrived with the
troops, great general Wei had already been struck by the Devil Miasma Poison.”
“That is why I too am somewhat responsible for the plight that had befallen great general Wei’s son.”
It was only after listening to Zhou Qing’s story that Zhou Yuan finally understood. To think that there was
such a tale behind this matter. It was likely that great general Wei held a little grudge against father. In
addition to the waning power of the royal clan, there was now enough reason for great general Wei to
shut himself away in Canglan County.
After all, Wei Canglan would not dare to do such a thing if the royal clan was as powerful as it had been
back in the day.
As for Wei Bin’s misfortune, it was a similar situation to his own. The only difference was that the
Dragon’s Resentment Poison was many many times worse than the Devil Miasma Poison.
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Therefore, great general Wei could be said to be a neutral faction. He neither acknowledged Qi Manor nor
receive commands from the royal clan. No wonder father said that the side Wei Canglan chose to stand on
would obtain absolute superiority.
Zhou Qing slowly said, “According to my sources, Qi Yuan’s eldest son, Qi Hao, headed to Canglan County
after graduating from the Great Zhou Institute and enlisted himself under great general Wei. It is said that
he now has somewhat of a reputation in Canglan County. Qi Yuan clearly plans on getting closer to the
great general through his son, making it easier for him to tilt great general Wei to their side.”
Zhou Yuan’s eyes narrowed. If Wei Canglan chose to help Qi Manor, the royal clan would be at risk of
being overthrown.
“But you need not worry too much. great general Wei is someone I understand rather well. There is no
chance that he would side with Qi Manor to deal with Great Zhou.”
Zhou Yuan slowly replied, “But he will not help the royal clan deal with Qi Manor either.”
Zhou Qing stiffened momentarily before nodding with a bitter smile.
Zhou Yuan let out a soft sigh. Great Zhou was in a really unstable position, crisis looming at every corner.
His victory in the Great Zhou Institute had merely been akin to pouring a little water onto the blazing fire
that was Qi Manor. If this tumor was not removed, there will never be peace for Great Zhou.
“I called you over because I have something to tell you.” Zhou Qing’s expression turned rather serious.
Zhou Yuan could not help but ask when he saw Zhou Qing’s expression, “What is it?”
Zhou Qing’s gaze turned to the Blackwater region on the map as he slowly said, “I received information
some time ago of some ruins that had been discovered in Blackwater.”
“Ruins?” Zhou Yuan was taken aback. Blackwater was an incomparably vast land. The discovery of a few
ruins should be rather ordinary.
It was as if a fire had been lit in Zhou Qing’s eyes at this moment as he elaborated in a soft voice,
“Someone found an unusual plant in the ruins. Red like fire, its absorbs sunlight to grow and its seeds
look like fire crystals.”
“What is it?” Zhou Yuan was baffled.
“If I am not wrong, it is likely the Fire Spirit Grain, a grade 4 Genesis Food!”
“Grade 4 Genesis Food?!” Upon hearing these words, Zhou Yuan’s expression finally changed. One must
know that even the Mysterious Crystal Rice owned exclusively by their royal clan was only a grade 2
Genesis Food. Even so, it had been extremely beneficial to his channel opening and had even won over
many talents to their side.
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It was really difficult to imagine just how much more amazing a grade 4 Genesis Food would be. Only
when Great Zhou was at her peak did they possess a similar grade 4 Genesis Food, the Blood Rain-Dragon
Barley.
If the royal clan could gain possession of the Fire Spirit Grain, Great Zhou’s strength might even rise to the
point where she could once again threaten Great Wu.
A Genesis Food like this was a true strategic resource of utmost important to any empire.
Thus, Zhou Yuan finally understood why Zhou Qing had become so emotional earlier.
Zhou Yuan declared, “This Fire Spirit Grain must land in the hands of the royal clan.”
It was easy to picture how this item would enable Qi Manor’s power to swiftly grow in a few years,
surpassing the royal clan.
Zhou Qing nodded and shot a glance at Zhou Yuan as he continued, “Besides the Fire Spirit Grain, it seems
that there is also a gem-like tree which bears jade fruits akin to a new born child.”
Zhou Qing stared at Zhou Yuan as he slowly said, “This fruit is called the Jade-Infant Fruit and can be used
to supplement one’s lifespan.”
Bang!
Zhou Yuan felt as if his head had exploded. His breathing grew heavier while his eyes turned scarlet red.
His mother had lost a substantial amount of her lifespan in order to save him and now had less than ten
years to live. This had always been a thorn in his heart, and he had many a times mulled over how to
extend his mother’s lifespan.
But mystical items that could prolong one’s life span were just too rare, and even using all of the royal
clan’s resources had not beared any fruit. Zhou Yuan would never have imagined such information would
reach his ears today.
Zhou Yuan licked his lips, determination filling his eyes as he looked towards Zhou Qing, speaking with a
pause between each word, “We must obtain the Jade-Infant Fruit!”
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Chapter 56 Wu Huang
“Of course.”
Zhou Qing nodded strongly. If he had not been such a useless father and husband back then, Zhou Yuan
would not have been tortured by the Dragon’s Resentment Poison for so many years and Qin Yu would
not used so much essence blood to save Zhou Yuan and end up having her lifespan cut.
These were things he had blamed himself for for many years.
Therefore, now that such hard to come by information about a lifespan supplementing treasure had
arrived in his hands, he naturally did not plan on giving up so easily.
Zhou Yuan’s pounding heart gradually quietened down and he asked in a low voice, “Father, has this
information been verified?”
Zhou Qing replied, “It is true. Someone unintentionally entered this particular ruins and saw the Fire
Spirit Grain and Jade-Infant Fruit. However, there seemed to be a powerful Genesis Beast guarding the
ruins so he had no choice but to hastily flee.”
“If this news has spread, I’m afraid that Qi Manor will know of it too.” Zhou Yuan frowned. Qi Manor
would became a really huge threat if they managed to obtain the Fire Spirit Grain.
That was after all a true strategic resource that was indispensable to any faction.
With such a resource in hand, grooming one’s own forces and recruiting powerful practitioners would
become much more effective.
“Yes.” Zhou Qing nodded. His expression grew somewhat solemn as he said, “That is why I plan to send Lu
Tieshan.”
Zhou Yuan said, “Father, let me go too.” He had already unblocked six channels and would soon reach the
Qi Nourishing stage. Once he stepped into the Qi Nourishing stage, he would be considered a little
powerhouse.
In the Great Zhou Empire, Alpha-Origin stage experts stood at the pinnacle. They were followed by
Heaven Gate stage experts, while the Qi Nourishing stage made up the core of the elite forces. In the
military, those at the Qi Nourishing stage were qualified to take on heavy responsibilities.
Upon seeing Zhou Yuan volunteer himself, Zhou Qing smiled and said, “That is why I called you here.
Besides aiding Lu Tieshan, there is another important task that I have for you.”
“What is it?”
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Zhou Qing let out a sigh before he said, “On this mission you will have to first head for Canglan County. If
possible, I hope that you will be able to think of a way to draw the great general to our side and help us
deal with Qi Manor.”
“At the very least, you must ensure that Qi Hao does not pull the general to Qi Manor’s side.”
Zhou Yuan nodded. As the prince, going to Canglan County would show the sincerity of the royal clan.
Zhou Yuan replied, “Don’t worry father, I will do my best.”
Zhou Qing chuckled before reaching into his clothes and fishing out a scarlet red jade scroll on which light
seem to flow. “You will soon reach the Qi Nourishing stage and will formally be able to practice a Qi
Cultivation Method. This is the Flame-Thunder mantra of our royal clan and will allow you to cultivate
the grade 4 Flame-Thunder Qi. Take it and have a good look. If it is suitable, you may practice it.”
“So this is the Flame-Thunder mantra?” Zhou Yuan’s eyes quivered.
In this world, Genesis Qi cultivation methods were categorised into nine grades. In other words, there
were nine grades of Genesis Qi.
The better the Qi cultivation method, the better the quality the Genesis Qi. Grade 4 Genesis Qi was
practically top tier in Great Zhou, and the masses were only able to cultivate grade 1 or grade 2 Genesis
Qi.
“Master didn’t have time to impart any Qi cultivation methods to me back then, I wonder if big sis Yaoyao
has any.” Zhou Yuan smacked his lips. Given master Cang Yuan’s mysteriousness and unfathomable
power, the Qi cultivation methods he knew should far surpass the royal clan’s Flame-Thunder Qi.
Although he had such thoughts in mind, Zhou Yuan still took the Flame-Thunder mantra. If Yaoyao did
not have any Qi cultivation methods, he would have no choice but to choose the former.
“Qi Nourishing stage…”
Zhou Yuan tightly grasped the jade scroll as anticipation flooded his eyes. The Channel Opening stage
could only be considered creating one’s foundations. Only at the Qi Nourishing stage would one be able to
finally take one’s first step onto the path of cultivation.
Only after reaching that level would one be able to truly experience the true wonders of Genesis Qi.
Great Wu Empire.
Royal city, Subdue Zhou City.
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Years ago, the Wu clan had rebelled against Great Zhou and seized their lands. From the name of Great
Wu’s capital, it was obvious that Great Wu intended on completely subduing Great Zhou, ensuring that
they would never rise again.
Majestic structures rose one after another in the Great Wu royal palace, extending all the way till the end
one one’s sight. Powerful Genesis Qi rippled from the many pagodas, enveloping every corner of the royal
palace.
Compared to Great Zhou, Great Wu’s royal palace was undoubtedly much grander, and the latter’s
security was likewise far superior. This showed just how powerful Great Wu was.
In a certain inner palace within the royal palace, a youth in yellow robes sat behind a desk. His skin was
as fair as jade, while a pair of eyebrows akin to the a sword’s edge decorated his extremely handsome
face.
The simple act of sitting there made him exude an aura of nobility, standing high above everyone else like
the pride of the heavens.
A faint aura seemed to rise behind him like the roar of a coiling dragon.
A faintly glowing blood red dot seemed to have been embedded between his brows. A sight that was both
mysterious and strange.
This youngster was the crown prince of the Great Wu Empire, Wu Huang.
His face was indifferent as he flipped through the scrolls before him. Although he was only a youth, due to
his special status in Great Wu, king Wu had allowed him to take part in the national affairs of Great Wu
since a young age.
At this moment, someone respectfully walked in, kneeled before the table and respectfully said, “Crown
prince, the secretary supervisor has sent some news.”
Wu Huang lifted his eyelids and reached out a hand to receive the bamboo tube. He removed the paper
roll inside and slowly opened it as his eyes swept across it.
“Oh?” Wu Huang’s expression suddenly changed. A strange look surfaced on his handsome face as he said
in an emotionless voice, “How interesting, it’s about the Zhou clan’s sacred dragon.”
“What a tenacious person. So he managed to survive even after having the Dragon’s Resentment Poison
sealed in his body by father?”
The kneeled figure asked in a cold voice, “Your highness, shall we eliminate him?”
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Wu Huang let out a soft chuckle. “Our Great Wu Empire is currently busy with the Thousand Beast
Empire and the Sword Empire. How can we possibly spare any attention to a practically dead Great
Zhou.”
The figure replied in a low voice, “But Zhou Yuan once possess the sacred dragon blessing and was
claimed to be the sacred dragon of the Zhou clan.”
The moment these words left his mouth, he saw Wu Huang’s cold eyes sweep over and immediately
swallowed the rest of his words.
Wu Huang wore an apathetic look as dragon Qi rose behind him, making him appear incomparably noble.
His voice was calm as he said, “You are wrong. Zhou Yuan is not a true sacred dragon. If he was, how
would our Wu clan have succeeded?”
“The sacred dragon blessing originally belonged to me and he was merely a tiny mistake. This error has
already been corrected and brought back to the proper path. Hence…”
“Zhou Yuan is nothing but a fake dragon who once bore a destiny that did not belong to him, resulting in
both he and Great Zhou paying a steep price.”
“On the other hand, I am the true dragon. Therefore, the sacred dragon blessing ultimately returned to
me.”
He stared at the figure before him as he slowly continued, “So please do not make this blunder again. It
was not I who stole his sacred dragon blessing but he who took what was mine. All I did was take it back.”
“This is called returning to its rightful owner.”
“Understand?”
The figure shivered as he gazed at the slightly smiling Wu Huang and hastily acknowledged in a
respectful manner.
Wu Huang threw away the bamboo tube and said in an indifferent voice, “Go check on what this fake
dragon is doing. Six channels… Do you know? With such pathetic strength, he does not even have the
qualifications to stand before me.”
The figure respectfully responded, “Your highness is the true dragon and Zhou Yuan is only an ant in
comparison that is not even worth mentioning.”
Wu Huang picked up the rest of the scrolls and said, “During the subsequent period of time, I have to
focus on training so as to prepare for Cangmang Continent’s approaching battle of the saints. It is this
battle that is truly important. Do not bother me with matters regarding the crippled dragon in future.”
“Understood!” The figure responded.
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Wu Huang stared at the scrolls for a while, before he said, “But since this matter has already come to my
attention, I cannot take it as if nothing has happened. Tell them to give the Qi clan more support. If they
are able to overthrow the Zhou clan, our Great Wu will have saved some effort. Else it will be somewhat
troublesome due to the vow father made back then.”
He smiled at his point. “Let this be a lesson for that crippled dragon. Let him know that he should
properly behave himself as a cripple in future.”
His words were simple, but they seemed to have decided the fate of Great Zhou.
He then smiled at the figure and said, “Have a good look. What you see is a true dragon”
A single sentence to determine life or death. A single sentence to decide the destruction of a nation.
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Chapter 57 Ancestral Dragon Scripture
Great Zhou royal palace, the fragrance pavillion.
Yaoyao sat with a straight back in front of a crystal mirror while Tuntun lazed on her lap. Her fine black
hair was draped over her shoulders, reaching all the way down to her slim waist. The soul wrenchingly
beautiful face reflected in the mirror wore a distant and emotionless look.
Behind Yaoyao, Qin Yu wore a gentle look as she helped comb Yaoyao’s long hair.
Ever since Yaoyao came to the royal palace, Qin Yu had become extremely fond of the former and
practically treated her as a daughter.
Although Yaoyao was rather distant, she had grown much gentler in response to the sweet and warm-
natured Qin Yu. Therefore, the two grown increasingly close.
“So pretty.”
Qin Yu tied Yaoyao’s long hair into a simple high ponytail, causing the usually distant girl to give off a
slight aura of lively youthfulness. It was a sight that would take away one’s breath.
Yaoyao smiled faintly. “Thank you aunt Qin.”
Qin Yu smiled as she stroked the girl’s head. “No need to be courteous. If staying in the palace is boring,
get Zhou Yuan to accompany you out for a stroll.”
Yaoyao gave a slight nod.
Tuntun suddenly opened its eyes at this moment and barked at the door. It transformed into black blur as
it dashed forth, slamming into the stomach of the figure that had just entered.
“Hey, that hurt.”
The person who had just stepped through the door was Zhou Yuan. He was currently clutching his
stomach with one hand, while the other supported Tuntun. The latter was currently biting and pulling his
collar with a force so huge that Zhou Yuan was almost flipped over.
“Stop pulling, stop pulling!” Zhou Yuan cursed as a servant girl brought over a plate of meticulously
marinated Genesis Beast dried meat from behind. Only then did Tuntun let go of Zhou Yuan’s collar and
jump onto the silver plate, eyes narrowed as it started to savour the meal bite by bite.
“Does this little brute really take me as a meal ticket?” Zhou Yuan jaw was tightly clenched in anger as he
looked at Tuntun. The little brute’s eyes practically turned green with anxiety whenever it saw him.
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Zhou Yuan shook his head, ignoring Tuntun as he walked towards Qin Yu and greeted her.
“I shan’t disturb you children then.” Qin Yu grinned, tousling Zhou Yuan’s hair before leaving in an
unhurried manner.
Yaoyao stroked her ponytail and tilted her head, causing the end of the ponytail to bounce a little as her
eyes swept towards Zhou Yuan.
Zhou Yuan let out a chuckle as he fished out a scarlet red jade bottle from his sleeve and said in a
somewhat miserable voice, “You’re becoming more and more picky. I spent a thousand Genesis crystals
to buy this scarlet spirit wine.”
Yaoyao reached out, received the scarlet red jade bottle and took a small whiff, causing her eyes to
brighten slightly. Soon after, she looked at Zhou Yuan and said, “One does not curry favor for no reason.
Speak. What do you want?”
Zhou Yuan let out an awkward chuckle. Soon after, he earnestly replied, “Big sis Yaoyao, unblocking my
seventh meridian channel is just around and corner and the eight meridian channel is likewise not far off.
After unblocking all eight channels, I will be able to step into the Qi Nourishing stage and establish a Qi
dwelling. When that happens, I should practice a Qi cultivation method.”
“So you want a Qi cultivation method.” A soft laughter escaped Yaoyao’s mouth. She propped up a cheek
with a hand and continued, “Is your royal clan’s Flame-Thunder mantra not good enough for you?”
“The Flame-Thunder mantra can only cultivate grade 4 Genesis Qi. Even if I find a higher tier Qi
cultivation method in future and change, much time will be wasted.” Zhou Yuan sighed. Grade 4 Genesis
Qi was indeed top of the line in Great Zhou, but his eyes were looking at a much further place.
Yaoyao cocked her head and pondered. “I do have a few Qi cultivation methods.”
“However, it still depends on your choice.”
Zhou Yuan was taken aback. “What do you mean?”
Yaoyao pressed a hand onto her waist where an exquisite little cloth bag was hanging. It was a Universe
bag that contained a pocket space. Such items were rather uncommon. At the very least, there were less
than a handful in the royal treasury and the space within them spanned a dozen feet at most.
The Universe bag flashed and a black jade strip appeared in Yaoyao’s hand.
“This is grandpa Hei’s Qi cultivation method, the Heavenly Yuan Canon. It can cultivate grade 7 Genesis
Qi.”
Zhou Yuan’s pupils tightened as he involuntarily cried out, “Grade 7 Genesis Qi?!”
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Shock filled his face. Let alone someone like himself, not even his father had seen such high grade Genesis
Qi.
Even the entire Great Zhou Empire could not be exchanged for such a high class Qi cultivation method!
Zhou Yuan’s breathing grew hurried as his eyes turned a little red. Fortunately, he had considerable
mental fortitude and did not snatch it from Yaoyao. Instead, he took in a deep breath, looked at Yaoyao
and said, “Are there other options?”
Since Yaoyao had mentioned a choice earlier, there were definitely other alternatives. Qi cultivation
methods that could be placed alongside the Heavenly Yuan Canon were likely not ordinary, right?
Yaoyao grew silent for a while upon hearing this. With a gentle press of the Universe bag, a bone
fragment appeared in her hand. The bone fragment was mottled with age and faint cracks could be seen
on it. However, the moment it appeared, an indescribable pressure spread, causing the circulating
Genesis Qi in Zhou Yuan’s body to turn sluggish.
Roar!
Behind them, the hairs of the slowly eating Tuntun abruptly stood up as it ferociously pounced in front of
Zhou Yuan and let out a roar at the bone fragment. One could see a faint scarlet red glow emerge on its
body.
Evidently, the bone fragment made Tuntun feel very threatened.
“What is it?” Zhou Yuan was similarly frightened by the pressure from the mysterious bone fragment.
Yaoyao’s red lips parted slightly as she answered, “A Qi cultivation method is recorded in this bone
fragment. It is called.. the Ancestral Dragon Scripture.”
“Legend speaks of a certain creature that was born when the world was created, a creature known as the
Ancestral Dragon. It is said to be capable of devouring the heavens and destroying the land, an existence
that towers even over the apex. It was from the body of the Ancestral Dragon that all living beings
eventually emerged and from then on, numerous life forms appeared in the world.”
Zhou Yuan asked, “More powerful than the Heavenly Yuan Canon?”
Yaoyao slowly said, “In the beginning, it will only be able to cultivate grade 5 Genesis Qi.”
“Grade 5 Genesis Qi?” Zhou Yuan’s eyebrows furrowed.
“There are four levels to the Ancestral Dragon Scripture. The first is the Omni Python Qi, a grade 5
Genesis Qi, the second is the World Subduing Heavenly Serpent Qi, a grade 7 Genesis Qi, and the third is
the Galaxy Sacred Dragon Qi, a grade 9 Genesis Qi.”
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Yaoyao’s soft voice felt like thunder in Zhou Yuan’s ears, causing his entire scalp to turn numb as his body
trembled.
“Grade 9 Genesis Qi?!”
Zhou Yuan’s shaky voice rang out. In this world, grade 9 Genesis Qi was already the apex. Who could
imagine just how powerful someone who cultivated it would be.
“Wait!” Alarm washed over Zhou Yuan as he looked at Yaoyao. “Did you not say there were four levels?”
If the third level was already grade 9, then what could the fourth level be?
Yaoyao’s beautiful eyes seemed to turn as deep as the night at this moment as she nodded, before her airy
voice sounded out once again, “The fourth level is the true Ancestral Dragon Qi and it surpasses grade 9.”
Zhou Yuan fell butt first onto the chair behind him, his eyes almost popping from their sockets while his
mouth hung wide open. “There are Qi cultivation methods in this world that exceed grade 9?!”
This Qi cultivation method had already went beyond Zhou Yuan’s common sense. He even doubted the
existence of such a heaven defying Qi cultivation method.
Could this Qi cultivation method be the reason why master Cang Yuan and Yaoyao were pursued by their
mysterious enemy, forcing them to hide constantly?
Yaoyao slowly said, “There are many mysteries in this world. 9 grades of Qi cultivation methods is just
one way of thinking. If you never heard of something, it does not mean that it does not exist.”
“However, although the Ancestral Dragon Scripture is powerful, practicing it is difficult and practically
unprecedented. In addition, once you begin practicing the Ancestral Dragon Scripture, you will be unable
to change to other Qi cultivation methods, or you will be devoured by it.”
“What a tyrannical Qi cultivation method!”
It was at this point that Zhou Yuan’s expression could not help but change. If that was true, it meant that
every other road would be closed to him. The only option was to continuing advancing on the path of the
Ancestral Dragon Scripture.
Yaoyao gave a light nod. “Besides this, there is another condition you must fulfill in order to practice this
Qi cultivation method.”
Zhou Yuan immediately cut in, “What condition?”
Yaoyao glanced at Zhou Yuan. “You must carry a dragon type blessing.”
“Dragon type blessing?”
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“It is said that the Ancestral Dragon’s body transformed into all living things. Amongst them are some
who are born with great luck. Strange signs appear at their births, seeming to take the shapes of carps,
snakes, pythons, serpents… all of these can be considered dragon type blessings. It means that there is a
sliver of Ancestral Dragon Qi in their bodies, allowing them to possess talent that surpasses the masses.”
“To begin practice of the Ancestral Dragon Scripture, this sliver of Ancestral Dragon Qi must be used as a
primer.”
“However, even if one fulfills the requirements, very very few people will be able to truly master this Qi
cultivation method. Let’s not even mention the fourth level, I’m afraid that since time immemorial, only
one individual has been able to reach the third level.”
Yaoyao stared at Zhou Yuan as she continued, “As for you, you were born with the sacred dragon blessing,
and the Ancestral Dragon Qi in your body was even greater than other dragon type blessings. Hence, you
might even have a ten percent chance of getting through the first stage of beginning the Ancestral Dragon
Scripture, but it’s still hard to say how many levels you will ultimately master.”
“Unfortunately, your sacred dragon blessing was stolen and the majority of it was obtained by Great Wu’s
python and sparrow.”
Zhou Yuan’s fists involuntarily clenched tightly as he bitterly laughed. “So I am fated to never learn the
Ancestral Dragon Scripture.”
He could not help but become a little dejected. After all, anyone who watched such an amazing heaven
defying Qi cultivation method slip away would not be able to remain unaffected.
However, Yaoyao shook her head. She reached out and grabbed Zhou Yuan’s hand as she faintly said,
“That may not be so.”
Zhou Yuan looked at her in confusion.
Yaoyao slowly opened Zhou Yuan’s hand, revealing the blood-red lump at the center of his palm.
Malicious resentment spread from it, causing one’s heart to shiver.
Yaoyao pointed at the blood-red lump and said in a soft voice, “The ignorant king Wu believed that
sealing the sacred dragon’s resentment into your body will suppress you forever, but he did not know…
that this Dragon’s Resentment Poison is actually also a sliver of Ancestral Dragon Qi!”
Zhou Yuan’s pupils shrank. “You mean?”
Yaoyao nodded. “You may use the Dragon’s Resentment Poison as a catalyst to initiate the Ancestral
Dragon Scripture. Thus, you will also be able to practice it.”
Yaoyao’s bright eyes silently stared at Zhou Yuan as her airy voice echoed, “So… what is your decision?”
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Chapter 58 Genesis Resources
“So what is your decision?”
In the fragrance pavilion, Yaoyao bright eyes were fixed on Zhou Yuan. The soft words that left her red
lips caused him to fall into conflict, his eyes flickering indeterminately.
It was hard to choose between the two.
Of course, the Heavenly Yuan Canon would undoubtedly be the more reliable choice. Grade 7 Genesis Qi
was more than enough for him to reign supreme over those of the same cultivation level. In fact, it would
even allow him to have some confidence against enemies at a higher cultivation level than himself.
Compared to the stable Heavenly Yuan Canon, the mysterious Ancestral Dragon Scripture was brimming
with innumerable possibilities.
Based on what Yaoyao had told him, Zhou Yuan could sense just how difficult it was to practice this Qi
cultivation method. It was so difficult that he might not even surpass the first level in his entire lifetime
and this first level could only grant grade 5 Genesis Qi, Genesis Qi that was clearly unable to satisfy him.
Most importantly, there was no turning back once he chose to practice the Ancestral Dragon Scripture.
One could change to other Qi cultivation methods if one felt that one’s own was unsuitable, but this
option was unavailable for the Ancestral Dragon Scripture. It akin to a path of no return.
For the Ancestral Dragon Scripture, the only option was to advance endlessly.
A choice that undoubtedly required a tremendous amount of courage and charisma.
It was true that the path of the Ancestral Dragon Scripture would be fraught with danger, but… the
possibility of unlimited growth caused excitement to flood Zhou Yuan’s heart. It was basically impossible
to give up on it.
Hence, in the face of these two choices, even the normally decisive Zhou Yuan was stuck in a dilemma. His
face fluctuated indeterminately, unable to make a decision.
Yaoyao did not hurry him and merely watched in silence.
The silence in the fragrance pavilion lasted for a very long time, before finally being broken by a long sigh.
Zhou Yuan opened his eyes and looked towards Yaoyao as he slowly declared, “I choose…”
“The Ancestral Dragon Scripture!”
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Yaoyao’s hand seemed to tremble a little, somewhat surprised by Zhou Yuan’s choice. After all, compared
to the Heavenly Yuan Canon, the Ancestral Dragon Scripture was filled with too much uncertainty.
Zhou Yuan looked at Yaoyao, laughed in a somewhat self-mocking manner and said, “Big sis Yaoyao, I do
not want to experience the events of the past ever again; having others take away what belongs to me,
even hurting those closest to me while I am powerless to do anything. Never again.”
Every time he saw his mother’s pale complexion, Zhou Yuan’s heart felt as if it was being cut by a blade.
He knew that he would have long been dead if not for Qin Yu’s constant infusion of essence blood to him.
There was also Zhou Qing. He had been betrayed, his empire stolen and even had an arm cut off by king
Wu when he tried to protect the things that mattered to him. He ultimately failed to save his own son, and
greatly blamed himself day and night.
All of this had happened due to powerlessness.
“The enemies I have to face in future will likely become stronger and stronger. Therefore, I need the
greatest of powers in order to protect my family and myself.”
“I want to be so strong that any existence would be unable to be even the smallest threat to me and those
I care about.”
“The Heavenly Yuan Canon is strong, very very strong, but it cannot give me the strength I yearn for.
Thus…”
He stared at Yaoyao and declared once again, slightly pausing between each word, “I choose the Ancestral
Dragon Scripture!”
Yaoyao could see the burning determination in Zhou Yuan’s eyes, causing her to give a light nod before
offering the mottled bone fragment in her hand.
Zhou Yuan reached out, grabbed it and gave a little tug, but was unable to take it.
“Zhou Yuan, you will have no other roads to walk once you select it. Hence, you cannot regret this
decision in future.” A grave look emerged on Yaoyao’s pretty face.
Zhou Yuan grinned. “Big sis Yaoyao, I’ve been tormented by the Dragon’s Resentment Poison since young
and have experienced how people treated me due to being unable to find my meridian channels.
Therefore, I understand very well just how determined I am.”
“This road may be difficult, but… I will definitely walk till the end!”
Zhou Yuan’s voice was filled with resolution. Without any hesitation, he pulled even harder, removing the
mottled bone fragment from Yaoyao’s grasp. His expression was incomparably serious as he kept it.
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On the path of cultivation, the state of one’s heart was the most important. Zhou Yuan’s past experiences
taught him that determination was essential if one wanted power. Once one was set on a goal, one needed
to do all one could to realize it. Hence, one needed great willpower!
Yaoyao watched Zhou Yuan keep the mottled bone fragment and sighed. “Four Genesis resources are
needed for you to begin practicing the Dragon Ancestral Scripture’s first level.”
Yaoyao took out a piece of paper and handed it to Zhou Yuan.
With a glance, Zhou Yuan saw the beautifully written words on the paper. However, when he took a
closer look at the four Genesis resources needed, his face could not help but twitch.
“Genesis Swallowing Rock? Heavenly Gold Marrow? Nine Underworld Black Spring Crystal? Grade 4
python type Genesis Beast spirit?!” Each of the four ingredients caused Zhou Yuan to cry out in surprise
as his hands subconsciously trembled.
Every single one of them was an extremely rare Genesis resource. Amongst them, Zhou Yuan had heard a
little of the Heavenly Gold Marrow, which just happened to be present in the royal treasury. However,
there were only a few drops.
The addition of a single drop while forging a Genesis Weapon would allow the weapon to become much
sharper than usual, and might even raise the grade of the final product. This was why it was extremely
valuable.
Moreover, the one that troubled Zhou Yuan the most was the grade 4 python type Genesis Beast spirit.
Grade 4… this was comparable to a human Alpha-Origin stage expert!
There were only a handful of Alpha-Origin stage experts in the Great Zhou Empire and obtaining a grade
4 Genesis Beast spirit was no different from killing an Alpha-Origin stage expert.
The mere thought of this task made Zhou Yuan’s heart shiver.
After reaching the Qi Nourishing stage, one needed to use one’s body as a furnace in order to refine your
own Genesis Qi. To further elaborate, the Genesis Qi absorbed from the world is the most basic
ingredient, while the Qi cultivation method is the blueprint or instructions. Genesis resources on the
other hand are supplementary materials that can be added according to the blueprint. It is through
refining and fusing all of these various components together followed by tempering that one will
ultimately be able to create Genesis Qi of one’s own.
Every single piece is indispensable. Hence, even the supplementary Genesis resources must be properly
prepared.
Upon seeing Zhou Yuan’s rather uncomfortable looking face, Yaoyao could not help but laugh and say, “Do
you regret your choice? There is still time to change.”
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Zhou Yuan let out a bitter laugh, he did feel a little regret. Just the first level of the Ancestral Dragon
Scripture already required such rare Genesis resources. Who knew what kind of mysterious ingredients
were needed for the second, third and fourth levels?
Only now did Zhou Yuan understand how difficult it was to practice the Ancestral Dragon Scripture. The
prerequisites alone were already insane.
However, determination quickly filled his eyes. “I will think of a way to get these Genesis resources.”
Since his choice had already been made, such difficulties were naturally unable to shake him. Otherwise,
he would have given up long long ago.
Zhou Yuan’s unwavering determination was a little admirable in Yaoyao’s eyes. “You’ll have to hurry up if
you do not plan on using the most basic Genesis Qi after reaching the Qi Nourishing stage.”
Ordinary Genesis Qi had no attribute nor any special effects. Hence, it was very lacking in battle power
when compared to Genesis Qi produced through Qi cultivation methods.
Zhou Yuan smiled bitterly as he nodded. Looks like he would have to trouble Zhou Qing since the current
him really had no means of gathering these materials.
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Chapter 59 Mid Illusory Stage
On the fifth day after obtaining the Ancestral Dragon Scripture, Zhou Yuan finally managed to completely
unblock his seventh meridian channel. This brought him one step closer to the Qi Nourishing stage and
made him increasingly anxious with regards to gathering the ingredients needed for the first level of the
Ancestral Dragon Scripture.
Royal palace.
“Father, have the Genesis resources I requested been prepared?!” A pair of expectant eyes shot towards
Zhou Qing the moment Zhou Yuan entered.
In response, Zhou Qing could not help but let out a bitter chuckle. “You brat, do you genuinely think that
our royal treasury is all powerful?”
Even Zhou Qing could not help but shudder when he recalled the four items Zhou Yuan had requested.
“Moreover, are the Genesis resources you need really only used to cultivate grade 5 Genesis Qi?” Zhou
Qing was after all a knowledgeable individual and had encountered grade 5 Genesis Qi before. None of
the grade 5 Genesis Qi he knew of required such rare and high quality Genesis resources.
Zhou Yuan awkwardly laughed in response. Yaoyao had warned him that the Ancestral Dragon Scripture
must be kept secret, hence, he had told Zhou Qing that he intended to practice a grade 5 Genesis Qi
cultivation method.
Zhou Yuan asked with a slightly vexed voice, “Even the royal treasury is unable to gather them?”
Zhou Qing released a helpless sigh before retrieving a jade box from behind him. He opened the box,
revealing a transparent jade bottle. The bottle was filled with water in which a drop of vicious gold liquid
slowly revolved.
It was the Heavenly Gold Marrow!
Beside the jade bottle was a black crystal dotted with holes. An astonishingly cold chill swept out from it,
causing frost to form in the surrounding air. Meanwhile, sounds of flowing water could be heard from
inside the crystal, as if spring water was flowing within it.
The Nine Underworld Black Spring Crystal!
Zhou Qing pointed at the jade box and said, “The royal treasury only has these two.”
Zhou Yuan scratched his head. “No Genesis Swallowing Rock or grade 4 python type Genesis Beast
Spirit?”
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A displeased Zhou Qing glared at Zhou Yuan. “Greedy brat, the four items you requested probably cost a
total of 500,000 Genesis crystals. Moreover, you likely won’t be able to purchase them even if you have
the money.”
A year of collected taxes for the entire Great Zhou Empire only amounted to a million. From this, one
could tell just how expensive these items were.
Zhou Yuan smiled awkwardly. 500,000 Genesis crystals was a frightening sum indeed. It was practically
enough to purchase an high tier Black Genesis Weapon from the auction house.
And the only high tier Black Genesis Weapon of the royal clan was the Nine Flames Spear that belonged to
Zhou Qing.
“Then what can we do?” A miserable look emerged on Zhou Yuan’s face. If he did not gather the four
Genesis resources, he would not be able to initiate himself into the first level of the Ancestral Dragon
Scripture.
Zhou Qing frowned as he pondered for a while. “I have heard of something like the Genesis Swallowing
Rock before.”
“Oh?” Zhou Yuan’s eyes brightened. As long as there was news, there would be a way.
Zhou Qing elaborated, “There is a rock in the great general’s residence that is able to continuously absorb
Genesis Qi and expel purer Genesis Qi in return. Thus, when placed in a room, training in the room will be
more effective.”
“Geat general Wei Canglan?” Zhou Yuan was stunned. What a coincidence, he was about to head to
Canglan County after all.
“Yes, but due to how valuable it is, whether or not you will be able to obtain it from him will depend on
your abilities.” Zhou Qing was unable to help. After all, it was not appropriate for him to force the great
general to give this Genesis Swallowing Rock to Zhou Yuan.
“I will give it a try.” Zhou Yuan nodded. At the very least, he now had some information. As for how to
obtain it, he would have to think of a way.
“What about the grade 4 python type Genesis Beast Spirit?” Zhou Yuan looked towards Zhou Qing again.
Zhou Qing’s head started to ache somewhat when he heard this as he helplessly said, “A grade 4 python
type Genesis Beast.. even I find it rather troublesome to deal with a Genesis Beast of that level, to think
that a brat like you actually wants its Beast Spirit.”
“There is currently no news of such an item but I will continue to help you search for it. Besides this, with
regards to the place you’re heading to, Canglan County, the neighboring Blackwater is home to
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innumerable Genesis Beasts. Likewise, countless Genesis masters hunt the Genesis Beasts there and with
some luck, you might bump into the creature you seek.”
Zhou Yuan let out a helpless sigh. Looks like he would have to try his luck in Canglan County to get ahold
of the remaining two Genesis resources.
Zhou Yuan inquired, “Father, when will we be leaving?”
His head had nothing but thoughts of quickly searching for the last two Genesis resources and then begin
practicing the first level of the Ancestral Dragon Scripture, the Omni Python Qi.
Upon seeing Zhou Yuan’s impatient appearance, Zhou Qing could only helplessly chuckle and reply, “In
five days. I will instruct Lu Tieshan and a group of imperial guards to protect you on this trip to Canglan
County.”
Time flew by. In the blink of an eye, four days had passed.
Night of the fourth day.
On the bed, Zhou Yuan’s eyes were tightly shut, a faint light flickering between his brows where a blurry
seated figure could be seen. It was Zhou Yuan’s Spirit.
Rumble!
A rumbling noise rang out from between Zhou Yuan’s brow at this moment, indicating the divine
grindstone was rotating. It was obvious that Zhou Yuan was currently using the Primal Chaos Divine
Grindstone Visualisation Method to temper his Spirit.
It had almost been half a year since he began practicing the Primal Chaos Divine Grindstone Visualisation
Method. Zhou Yuan’s Spirit was growing increasingly tough and powerful under his relentless training.
In a formless black space, an unimaginably huge grindstone slowly turned. Anything that was cast unto it
would be crushed into nothingness.
An illusory silhouette was currently bitterly enduring within the titanic grindstone.
The upper and lower wheels slowly crushed its body. Every touch caused the illusory figure to tremble
violently, as if it was bearing an immense pain.
As it bitterly persisted, the two golden markings on the slowly turning grindstone suddenly joined
together again.
Nine rotations of the divine grindstone, every rotation a whole new realm!
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After half a year of tempering, Zhou Yuan’s Spirit had finally endured an entire rotation of the divine
grindstone.
Crack!
As the two golden lines became one once again, Zhou Yuan’s Spirit finally reached its limit and shattered.
But soon after, an invisible ripple converged in front of the divine grindstone as an illusory figure was
reconstructed.
It was Zhou Yuan’s Spirit.
At this moment, the Spirit’s eyes were shut a unique undulation pulsed from it. Zhou Yuan’s Spirit had
undoubtedly become much more material compared to before.
In the room, Zhou Yuan suddenly opened his eyes and a bright light shot out from them. The rippling
Spirit aura between his brows abruptly strengthened!
“Mid Illusory stage!”
Zhou Yuan felt the pulsing Spirit between his brows as wild joy flooded his face. After half a year of
training, his Spirit had finally stepped into the mid Illusory stage.
Now that it had reached this level, his Spirit power could materialize in the outside world, allowing him
to perform Spirit based attacks like the Spirit Needle Rune Qi Yue had used in the Jade Spirit Waterfall
back then. If he managed to catch an enemy off guard with such an attack, it would surely be very
effective.
Most importantly of course was that Zhou Yuan could now begin learning grade 2 Genesis Runes!
Even a Qi Nourishing stage opponent would be wary of grade 2 Genesis Runes.
Being unable to quickly cultivate the Omni Python Qi had originally caused Zhou Yuan to be a little vexed,
but now that he had the potential aid of grade 2 Genesis Runes, there was no longer a need to fear Qi
Nourishing stage foes whom have learnt Qi cultivation methods.
Huu.
Zhou Yuan let out a drawn out breath as he body gradually relaxed.
“I can finally head to Canglan County without too much worry.”
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Chapter 60 Journey
The next day.
In front of the royal palace.
A group of imperial guards stood ready and waiting. Beside them, Zhou Yuan’s gaze constantly swept
outwards into the distance as he talked to Zhou Qing and Qin Yu, whom had come to send him off.
Clatter clatter!
The hurried sounds galloping was transmitted from afar as a fiery red horse seemed to fly towards them.
It eventually came to a stop a short distance from them with a neigh and lithe figure gracefully
dismounted.
The figure naturally turned out to be Su Youwei. Today, she wore a grey shirt and trousers, while her long
hair was bundled into a ponytail, making her look relaxed and pretty.
The imperial guards did not stop her, allowing her to pass through and walk to the carriage. Due to
having hurried here, her pretty face was a little flushed and beads of sweat dotted her fair forehead.
“Youwei greets his and her majesties.” The first thing Su Youwei did was cup her fists and bow towards
Zhou Qing and Qin Yu.
Zhou Qing and Qin Yu responded with warm smiles. They had seen Su Youwei’s performance during the
class ranking exam and were quite fond of this strong and independent girl.
“Youwei, treat this trip as a training experience. Also, help me take care of Zhou Yuan and don’t let him
cause too much trouble.” Qin Yu smiled.
Zhou Yuan chuckled. Both Yaoyao and Su Youwei were tagging along this time. Yaoyao was coming
because she had become rather bored in the palace. As for Su Youwei, he hoped that she would be able to
gain different experiences which would be beneficial for her cultivation.
After all, Su Youwei was on the verge of unblocking her eight meridian channel and stepping into the Qi
Nourishing stage. Hence, the Great Zhou Institute no longer had much to offer her. So as to not delay her
cultivation progress, Zhou Yuan decided to bring her along on this trip to Canglan County.
“It’s about time, prepare to set off.” Zhou Qing glanced at the sky before turning to Lu Tieshan. “You shall
be tasked with protecting them.”
Lu Tieshan replied in solemn voice, “Don’t worry your majesty, I will offer you my head if anything
happens to his highness.”
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“I do not wish for anything to happen to any one of you.” Zhou Qing waved his hand.
Lu Tieshan nodded, before he stood up and mounted his horse. With a wave of his hand, he loudly
shouted, “We’re setting off!”
Zhou Yuan took a step onto the carriage, waving his final goodbye to Zhou Qing and Qin Yu before
entering.
The group began their journey, accompanied by rumbling sounds of movement as they passed through
various streets, ultimately exiting Great Zhou City and heading straight towards Canglan County.
When Zhou Yuan left Great Zhou City.
Qi Manor.
In a certain study, Qi Manor’s housekeeper, Qi Ling, respectfully reported, “Master, Lu Tieshan and a
thousand imperial guards have accompanied Zhou Yuan out of the city. Their destination should be
Canglan County.”
Behind the desk, Qi Yuan nodded with an emotionless face.
“Looks like the royal clan has also heard of the most recent news regarding those ruins.”
An eerie light flickered in Qi Yuan’s eyes as he indifferently said, “Things did not turn out well for us in
the Great Zhou Institute matter, but this time, I am determined to get my hands on the Fire Spirit Grain!”
The Fire Spirit Grain was a grade 4 Genesis Food, an item with an inestimable value. With it, Qi Manor
would be able to both nurture and gather multitudes of experts.
Just think about it, the royal clan had managed to stabilize their situation with the grade 2 Mysterious
Crystal Rice. If Qi Manor obtained the Fire Spirit Grain, Qi Yuan believed that they would be able to
completely crush the royal clan in less than a year.
“I will stay in Great Zhou City to keep Zhou Qing in check. You shall set off immediately, head for Canglan
County and get in contact with Hao’er. He has after all managed to build up a place for himself there over
the past two years. I want the both of you to find a way to pull Wei Canglan to our side!”
Qi Yuan’s eyes hardened as he continued, “As long as Wei Canglang stands with us, there will no longer be
anything to fear and we will immediately take action to remove the royal clan.”
“Of course…” Tea cup in hand, Qi Yuan icily said, “If Wei Canglan shows any indications of leaning
towards the royal clan, it will be best that you find a way to eliminate him. Once Wei Canglan dies, the
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Canglan army would be akin to a headless dragon, allowing Hao’er to swiftly take over and use them to
attack the royal clan.”
Qi Ling responded, “Understood!”
Qi Yuan’s eyes narrowed like a vicious wolf as he said in a hair-raising voice, “As for Zhou Yuan, tell
Hao’er if there is a chance, make sure that the little bastard never returns to Great Zhou City!”
“Canglan County is right next to Blackwater. It will not be strange for anyone to die there, even a prince.”
“Since the little bastard cut off my son’s arm, he shall repay this debt with his life!”
Qi Yuan’s voice was as cold as a malicious spirit that had crawled out from the abyss, dripping with so
much venom that hearing it would cause one’s heart to shiver uncontrollably.
Qi Ling immediately acknowledged before turning around and leaving.
Qi Yuan watched Qi Ling leave before he lifted his head and looked in the direction of the royal palace as a
cold voice echoed in the study,
“Zhou Qing, don’t be so happy just because you won in the Great Zhou Institute affair. Once the Fire Spirit
Grain falls into my hands, your royal clan will never be able to rise again!”
“Qi Manor will definitely win this time! When that happens, I make sure to let both father and son have a
taste of what it’s like to be stray dogs!”
Canglan County sat at the southwest border of the Great Zhou Empire and was quite some distance from
Great Zhou City. At Zhou Yuan and group’s current pace, it would take several weeks to reach their
destination.
Fortunately, there was the company of Yaoyao and Su Youwei. Under the sunlight, those two beautiful
faces were a rare treat for Zhou Yuan, making the dull journey rather exhilarating instead.
However, this feast for the eyes was quickly cut short by Yaoyao because she did not want to watch Zhou
Yuan pass his days so comfortably.
“Since you look so free and your Spirit has reached the advance Illusory stage, I will teach you a grade 2
Genesis Rune.” In the carriage, Yaoyao threw a jade tablet at Zhou Yuan. The extremely complex rune on
the tablet glowed faintly.
“This is a grade 2 Genesis Rune, Gold Ape Moves the Mountain Rune… when drawn on the body, it will
amplify the strength of one’s body, greatly increasing one’s power.”
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“Oh?”
Zhou Yuan joyfully caught the jade tablet. Grade 2 far surpassed grade 1. If he inscribed the Gold Ape
Moves the Mountain Rune on his body, the resultanting power would make the previous Rampaging Bull
Rune pale in comparison.
“How complicated.” Zhou Yuan shot a look at the complex rune on the jade tablet and could not help but
frown. He estimated that the rune was made up of almost a thousand strokes. Without a strong Spirit, a
few glances would definitely make one dizzy.
Zhou Yuan shook his head, catching Su Youwei pursing her lips with a smile. She seemed to be amused by
his pained look.
“What’s there to see, don’t think that you’ll be let off either.” Zhou Yuan was a little miffed as he rolled his
eyes at her. Subsequently, he fished out a jade strip and tossed it at Su Youwei.
Su Youwei hastily caught the jade strip and asked in a puzzled manner, “What is this?”
Zhou Yuan smiled and said, “A low grade Black Genesis technique I took it from the royal treasury,
Heavenly Luo Hand. It’s pretty suitable for you.”
Su Youwei grasped the jade strip as she said in a rather hesitant manner, “Your highness, this is too
precious.”
She knew the value of a low grade Black Genesis technique. Even the Great Zhou Institute did not own
any techniques of this level. It would at the very least cost several tens of thousands Genesis crystals, a
price she would not be able to raise even if she sold herself.
Zhou Yuan sternly said, “We’re not on a sightseeing trip. You’re about to unblock your eighth meridian
channel and reach the Qi Nourishing stage. If you manage to learn the Heavenly Luo Hand, you will have
some battle power if we encounter any enemies.”
Su Youwei gently bit her red lips. She was not an unreasonable person after all and soon tightly gripped
the jade strip as she earnestly nodded. “Don’t worry your highness, I will master it as soon as possible!”
Zhou Yuan chuckled and nodded. Before leaving Great Zhou City, Zhou Qing had given him a mid grade
Black Genesis technique, Emperor Extreme Seal. Unfortunately, this technique was too adamant and
inflexible in nature, hence not suitable for Su Youwei. Therefore, he planned to leave it for himself.
“Looks like we can no longer relax.” Zhou Yuan sighed. He then began to concentrate all his attention on
the jade tablet as he slowly copied each stroke.
Thus, the following few weeks were mostly spent studying the Gold Ape Moves the Mountain Rune. If he
had any free time, he would use it to practice the Emperor Extreme Seal, making him awfully busy.
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As this high intensity studying continued, Zhou Yuan and gang slowly slowly approached Canglan County.
However, before they reached their destination, a certain incident made Zhou Yuan have no choice but to
slow their speed.
After almost two months of training, Su Youwei had finally unblocked her eighth channel.
And once all eight channels were unblocked, the Qi Dwelling would emerge.
Su Youwei was about to step into the Qi Nourishing stage.
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Chapter 61 Yin Yang Qi Dwelling
In a certain spacious carriage.
Su Youwei’s eyes were tightly shut, her back straight, while her legs crossed together in a lotus position.
Faint rumbling sounds could be heard as the surrounding Genesis Qi converged towards her and poured
into her body.
The rumbling sounds were due to the vibration of her eight channels, a precursor to the opening of a Qi
Dwelling.
There was both nervousness and curiosity on Zhou Yuan’s face as he stared at her. This was the first time
he would see someone establish a Qi Dwelling.
While the swirling Genesis Qi caused Su Youwei’s clothes to flap, Zhou Yuan lowered his gaze. He could
sense streams of Genesis Qi swiftly gathering towards her lower abdomen area.
The Qi Dwelling was one of the mysteries of the human body, seemingly present yet not and difficult to
detect. Only when all eight meridian channels were unblocked would one be able to call out to the Qi
Dwelling and open it, connecting it to the rest of the channels in the body.
More and more Genesis Qi converged at Su Youwei’s lower abdomen area. Moments later, a very faint
bubbling sound was heard.
It was as if a tiny hole had appeared and all of the Genesis Qi was sucked into it.
At the same time, Zhou Yuan suddenly saw a cyan light appear at Su Youwei’s lower abdomen, clearly
visible even through her clothes.
“A cyan Qi Dwelling?”
Zhou Yuan’s eyes flashed. Due to the varying circumstances of each individual, the Qi Dwelling opened
was generally classified into four different tiers.
The first was the most ordinary and common colorless Qi Dwelling.
Second, the cyan Qi Dwelling, third, the purple Qi Dwelling and finally the golden Qi dwelling.
A higher tier Qi Dwelling was tougher and could store more Genesis Qi. Everyone knew that the Qi
Dwelling was a vessel to store Genesis Qi and would constantly expand through cultivation.
Starting with a higher tier Qi Dwelling would undoubtedly be advantageous. In fights with those of the
same cultivation level, not only would one’s Genesis Qi would be stronger, more Genesis Qi would also
allow one to last longer in battle.
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Yaoyao corrected, “It is not cyan... “
Zhou Yuan was a little stunned. He concentrated and sure enough, he saw a tiny purple dot emerge as the
cyan light grew deeper and deeper. Purple light gradually engulfed the cyan light.
“A purple Qi Dwelling!”
Zhou Yuan’s face filled with emotion. Based on his knowledge, a cyan Qi Dwelling meant that one was
pretty outstanding, while the even rarer purple Qi Dwelling was an indication of the most talented
geniuses of crazy potential.
“I never imagined that Su Youwei’s innate talent would be so great.” Zhou Yuan sighed. Although he could
tell from her cultivation speed that she was very talented, he never expected that she would actually open
a purple Qi Dwelling.
The purple light intensified more and more before gradually fading away after some time.
Su Youwei’s tightly shut eyes opened at this moment, shooting out rays of Genesis Qi light. Her skin
gleamed like jade as a feeling of pressure slowly unfurled from her body.
The Qi Nourishing stage!
“Is this the Qi Nourishing stage? It is indeed something.” Zhou Yuan clicked his tongue in amazement. Su
Youwei’s aura was several times stronger than before, and even he felt a little pressured.
According to his estimate, without the Gold Ape Moves the Mountain Rune, he would not be able gain any
advantage in a fight against Su Youwei.
“Congratulations. Not only have you reached the Qi Nourishing stage, you have even opened a purple Qi
Dwelling.” Zhou Yuan grinned.
Su Youwei’s pretty face was overflowing with joy. However, she frowned slightly a moment later and said
in a somewhat hesitant manner, “My Qi Dwelling feels a little strange.”
Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao were stunned, unable to understand what her words meant.
Su Youwei was also a little puzzled as she elaborated, “I do not know why but my Qi Dwelling feels as if it
has been divided into two sections.”
Zhou Yuan was completely lost. “Aren’t Qi Dwellings one complete body? What do you mean divided into
two?”
Yaoyao pondered for sometime before she suddenly approached Su Youwei, casting a backward glance at
Zhou Yuan as she said, “Turn around.”
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Zhou Yuan was utterly confused but still turned around under Yaoyao’s watching eyes.
Upon seeing Zhou Yuan turn, Yaoyao then said to Su Youwei in a soft voice, “Let me take a look.”
Only after seeing Su Youwei nod did Yaoyao stretch out a hand and gently pull aside Su Youwei’s clothes,
revealing a tiny flat waist. The fair stomach was flat and supple to the touch, not even the slightest trace
of excess fat could be seen.
Su Youwei blushed a little. She now understood why Yaoyao had asked Zhou Yuan to turn around.
Yaoyao shut her eyes as she gently touched Su Youwei’s small stomach, her Spirit senses reaching out.
A long while later, Yaoyao opened her eyes and withdrew her finger. A trace of surprise could be seen on
her face.
Yaoyao slowly said, “Your Qi Dwelling is indeed split into two parts.”
“What’s going on?” Zhou Yuan turned around and asked in a rather worried voice, “Did something go
wrong?”
Yaoyao mulled for quite some time before she answered, “Nothing is wrong. If my guess is correct, her Qi
Dwelling is likely the legendary Yin Yang Qi Dwelling.”
She had faintly sensed a Yin Yang Genesis Root in Su Youwei’s body when helping the latter inscribe the
Genesis Gathering Rune previously. It was a rather unique Genesis Root.
Therefore, the strange development today was likely related to the Yin Yang Genesis Root.
“Yin Yang Qi Dwelling?” Zhou Yuan and Su Youwei looked at each other, they had obviously never heard
of such a thing.
“Relax, a Yin Yang Qi Dwelling is not a bad thing but instead very advantageous.” Yaoyao waved her hand
as if shooing away their worries.
“Advantageous?”
“Yes, its greatest advantage is that she is able to practice two different Qi cultivation methods at the same
time.” Yaoyao lifted a snoring Tuntun into her arms, gently stroking it as a faint smile emerged on her
lips.
“Two different Qi cultivation methods?” Zhou Yuan and Su Youwei were taken aback. Did this not mean
that there would be two different kinds of Genesis Qi in the Qi Dwelling at the same time? Would the two
different Qis not clash?
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“If it was a normal Qi Dwelling, it would indeed only be capable of containing one type of Genesis Qi.”
Yaoyao nodded as she spoke. “But it is different for her. The Yin Yang Qi Dwelling is somewhat akin to
having two Qi Dwellings. Thus, it is able to accommodate two Genesis Qi without them clashing.”
“However, you need to practice a Yin and a Yang attribute Qi cultivation method in future and absolutely
must not practice dual Yin or dual Yang attribute Qi cultivation methods. Or else, your Yin Yang Qi
Dwelling will be unable to maintain balance, ultimately resulting in the destruction of the Qi Dwelling.”
Su Youwei’s expression changed slightly.
“Moreover, there cannot be too huge of a gap in the grade of Yin and Yang Qi cultivation methods or
equilibrium will be broken.”
Yaoyao’s expression turned stern as she continued, “Although the Yin Yang Qi Dwelling is powerful, there
are numerous restrictions. Of course, if you are one day able to break the partition in the Qi Dwelling and
allow Yin and Yang to blend, you will definitely become an apex-like existence in this world.”
Su Youwei blinked in a somewhat uneasy manner and looked at Zhou Yuan.
Zhou Yuan’s face was full of happiness. He quickly retrieved a jade strip from his clothes and said, “Yang
nature Qi Genesis method? It just so happens that the royal clan’s Flame-Thunder mantra is of the Yang
attribute.”
“Your highness, only those of the royal clan can learn this!” Su Youwei was startled. She had naturally
heard of the royal clan’s Flame-Thunder mantra. It was a Qi cultivation method that allowed one to
generate grade 4 Genesis Qi, and its value far exceeded the Heavenly Luo Hand from before.
“It’s only grade 4 Genesis Qi.” Zhou Yuan forced the jade strip into Su Youwei’s hands. “Truthfully
speaking, its grade is a little unsatisfactory. Don’t worry though, I may not have the capability now, but I
will let you change to a better one in future.”
In response to Zhou Yuan’s overbearingness, Su Youwei could only bite her red lips as her slender fingers
tightened around the jade strip. She ultimately did not reject as she gave Zhou Yuan a deep look with
bright eyes that flickered with a little moisture, a sight that tugged a little at one’s heart.
“Since he gave you a Yang attribute Qi cultivation method, I will provide a matching Yin attribute Qi
cultivation method.” Yaoyao smiled upon seeing this and retrieved a jade strip from the Universe Bag at
her hip before offering it to Su Youwei. A cold aura emanated from the jade strip.
“This is the Niflheim sutra and can cultivate grade 4 Niflheim Qi.”
Su Youwei hesitated for a moment and looked towards Zhou Yuan. Only after a nod from the latter did
she receive the jade strip and gratefully said, “Thank you big sis Yaoyao!”
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Yaoyao offhandedly replied, “It is only a grade 4 Qi cultivation method. When you grow stronger in future,
you should try to find better Yin and Yang Qi cultivation methods.”
“However, you must remember that balance is key. If balance is broken, Yin and Yang will fall into chaos
and you will suffer the consequences.”
Su Youwei forcefully nodded. “I will remember big sis Yaoyao.”
Zhou Yuan enjoyed the sight of the two pretty girls from the side. One was elegant and pretty while the
other was exquisite and aloof. It was like watching the moon and stars dance in the sky, a naturally
relaxing sight.
However, before he could admire any further, Yaoyao’s bright eyes swept towards him.
“Have you mastered the Gold Ape Moves the Mountain Rune yet?”
A crestfallen Zhou Yuan could only turn his head around upon hearing this and continue studying the
rune.
Su Youwei could not help but cover her mouth to muffle her laughter when she saw Zhou Yuan’s deflated
look, while the corners of Yaoyao’s lips turned slightly upwards. The two gorgeous faces made the inside
of the carriage substantially brighter.
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Chapter 62 Canglan County, Wei Qingqing
Canglan County was sat on the southwest border of the Great Zhou Empire.
By the time Zhou Yuan and his group reached the outskirts of the city, half a month had already passed.
Zhou Yuan observed the gigantic city from the carriage. Compared to the grandness of Great Zhou City,
Canglan City seemed a little menacing. It was after all close to the border and had a first row seat to the
skirmishes that constantly broke out. Hence, a taunt aura of vigilance naturally surrounded the place.
In addition, majority of the passersby gave off a faint bloody scent and varying Genesis Qi undulations.
Canglan County neighboured Blackwater, and only god knew how many Genesis Masters gathered here
first before heading to Blackwater to hunt Genesis Beasts or search for other opportunities. The Black
Forest Mountain Range Zhou Yuan had went to previously was practically a child in comparison.
Lu Tieshan rode over on his horse and reported in a strong voice, “Your highness, Canglan City is just
ahead, but we cannot enter the city because our numbers are too many and have to head for the
neighbouring Canglan barracks instead.”
Zhou Yuan nodded. “It’s getting late. We’ll go to the barracks and visit general Wei tomorrow.”
Lu Tieshan acknowledged and turned around to pass the order. Soon after, the thousand men group
transformed into a rumbling flood that flowed past the city, heading straight for the barracks.
The approach of unfamiliar troops naturally drew a response from Canglan barracks. Dozens of riders
quickly exited the barracks and rode towards Zhou Yuan.
“Who goes there!”
The riders blocked their path, a commander in red armor at their head. As Zhou Yuan and the rest
approached, they realised that the commander was a girl.
The red soft-armor she wore nicely wrapped around her rather toned figure. Below her scale-like battle
skirt were a set of long slender legs that appeared even more enchanting when paired with her battle
boots.
Under her helmet was a cold yet pretty face, the long shapely eyebrows slightly erect, giving her an air of
valiance.
“A captain of the imperial guard, Lu Tieshan.” Lu Tieshan gazed at the riders as he continued in a stern
voice, “We have come on orders of the king and plan to enter Canglan barracks.”
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“So it’s captain Lu.” The face of the red armor girl thawed slightly. It was clear that she had received news
of their arrival. “Wei Qingqing greets you.”
“Wei Qingqing?” Zhou Yuan’s heart shook slightly when he heard this name. Wei Canglan had a son and a
daughter whose name was Wei Qingqing. It seems that this daughter was valiant looking female
commander before them.
“So it’s general Wei’s daughter.” Lu Tieshan cupped his fists together.
Upon hearing this, Wei Qingqing indifferently said, “The only one present here is Canglan army’s second-
in-command Wei Qingqing, there is no general Wei’s daughter.”
Lu Tieshan seemed to choke for a moment, before he helplessly nodded his head and moved to the side,
revealing Zhou Yuan. “This is his highness Zhou Yuan. He has come with me this time.”
Wei Qingqing lifted her gaze and looked towards Zhou Yuan. She had originally never heard of the latter,
but he had become quite a hot topic recently after the class ranking exam of the Great Zhou Institute.
Word on the street was that their once crippled and unable to cultivate prince had defeated Qi Manor’s
second prince, Qi Yue.
However, her brows quickly knitted together because she had spotted Yaoyao and Su Youwei at Zhou
Yuan’s side. The two were extremely beautiful and made him look like one of those frivolous princes.
“So, it is prince Zhou Yuan.” Due to having a bad first impression, Wei Qingqing’s face was stoic as she
cupped her hands together while shaking her head inside. Looks like someone must have pulled some
strings in the class ranking exam.
She was truly unable to believe how a frivolous prince that would even bring along two beauties on a trip
would be able to defeat Qi Yue, whom was rumoured to be rather talented.
Ever since young, Wei Qingqing had a rather strong character and hated those scummy men whom
indulged in pretty women. Else she would never have become a part of the Canglan army with her
identity as a woman.
“Follow me. I will arrange a place for all of you to stay.” Wei Qingqing did not wait for Zhou Yuan to reply
and immediately turned her horse around.
“Eh…”
This sight caused Zhou Yuan to be a little baffled. Why did it seem that this girl held some dislike towards
him?
“Let’s go your highness. We have no choice but to keep a low profile on someone else’s territory.” Lu
Tieshan advised, afraid that Zhou Yuan had been angered. After all, their biggest goal was to bring Wei
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Canglan to their side. If Zhou Yuan fell out with Wei Qingqing here, it would likely worsen Wei Canglan’s
image of them.
Zhou Yuan chuckled, showing that he did not mind. He had been on the receiving end of such treatment
for many years and naturally would not be angered by Wei Qingqing’s attitude.
“Let’s go.”
Zhou Yuan waved his hand, indicating for the troops behind to follow. They quickly caught up to Wei
Qingqing and entered the enormous Canglan army barracks.
A thousand imperial guards poured into the barracks, drawing the attention of countless eyes as they
passed. However, the majority of these gazes were filled with curiosity and provocation.
The three strongest armies in the Great Zhou Empire were known to be the imperial guards, king Qi’s
army and the Canglan army.
As troops that were equally well known for being the strongest, the Canglan army soldiers were naturally
sizing up the imperial guards, hoping to see if the latter did truly have the qualifications to be as famous
as themselves.
While Zhou Yuan and group advanced, the crowd in front of them suddenly parted as several figures
emerged.
Wei Qingqing dismounted upon seeing them and muttered something under her breath.
Zhou Yuan and Lu Tieshan also walked forward at this moment.
Wei Qingqing turned around and said, “These are the officers of Canglan army, and this is my elder
cousin, Wei Ting.”
She pointed towards a certain woman as she spoke. The latter was also clothed in a set of soft-armor that
did nothing to hide her sexy figure. However, her facial features were not as pretty as Wei Qingqing’s. Wei
Ting’s eyes swept across Zhou Yuan as a superficial smile emerged on her lips. “Isn’t this our famous
prince? It must be so nice to have two beauties accompany you even on such a long journey.”
Zhou Yuan frowned when he heard her words. He could sense that this woman seemed to have
something against him.
However, he soon found the reason behind her hostility. A tall and slim young man walked forward from
the woman’s side. He wore a set of white armor while his helmet was currently tucked under his arm,
displaying a handsome smiling face.
Faint but powerful Genesis Qi pulsed around him, evidence that he was a Qi Nourishing stage expert.
Moreover, it was the advance Qi Nourishing stage!
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Zhou Yuan’s eyes faintly narrowed as he observed the young man in white armor. The latter’s face was a
little familiar.
Under Zhou Yuan’s watching eyes, the white armor man approached with smile and said, “You are prince
Zhou Yuan? We can be said to have met before.”
The white armor youth grinned as he extended a hand towards Zhou Yuan, however, the former’s gaze
was akin to a snake’s.
“I am Qi Hao. I heard that my disappointing younger brother had one of his arms chopped off by your
highness?”
Zhou Yuan eyes hardened. As expected, this young man was Qi Yue’s elder brother, Qi Hao.
“As the saying goes, punches and kicks have no eyes in a fight. No one else can be blamed for his lack of
ability.” Zhou Yuan’s expression and voice were calm as he also extended a hand to shake Qi Hao’s.
The smile on Qi Hao’s face grew wider as he nodded in acknowledgement. “Indeed, that brat does
deserves to lose an arm.”
He looked straight at Zhou Yuan and continued in a seemingly genuine voice, “Us Canglan army brothers
are very happy to hear that our guests today are the imperial guards. Your highness must absolutely
attend the welcome party tonight.”
“Moreover, we army people are rather straightforward in nature. If your highness is unable to make it,
I’m afraid that everyone will feel that your highness is looking down on them.”
Zhou Yuan’s eyelids dipped a little as he replied, “Don’t worry. Since all of you are so welcoming, I will
definitely make an appearance.”
Qi Hao smiled and nodded before he said in a low voice, “However, I feel that there is something I should
warn your highness about first. Canglan County is right next to Blackwater, it won’t be strange for even a
prince to die here. Hence, your highness must be careful in this place.”
Zhou Yuan chuckled and also lowered his voice, “Then you should be even more careful. Since even a
prince may die, a little manor prince dying will be even more inconspicuous.”
Hearty laughter erupted from Qi Hao as the two tightly grasped each others hand, before releasing at the
same time. However, chilling murderous intent swelled in their clashing gazes.
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Chapter 63 Awe in a Single Move
Nighttime.
Numerous bonfires burned in the enormous barracks, chasing away the darkness of the night as they
illuminated half of the sky.
At the very center of the barracks was a wide platform, several bonfires burning around it. Every bonfire
was surrounded by soldiers who were happily drinking and eating, making noise that soared into the
heavens.
Zhou Yuan, Yaoyao, Su Youwei and Lu Tieshan were seated at the center.
Opposite Zhou Yuan and his group, Wei Qingqing shot a look at at the two girls beside him and said, “It
must feel great to have beauties accompany you everywhere.”
Yaoyao merely glanced at the Wei Qingqing and did not say anything. On the other hand, Su Youwei could
not longer tolerate this girl’s treatment towards Zhou Yuan. Hence, her red lips parted slightly as she
retorted, “Since deputy-commander Wei is also a lady, why do you treat other women as objects to be
admired?”
As she spoke, Genesis Qi trembled around Su Youwei, displaying her Qi Nourishing stage strength.
Wei Qingqing was stunned. There was now an additional trace of seriousness when she looked at Su
Youwei. The fact that she was able to reach the Qi Nourishing stage at her age definitely meant that she
was a genius, and in no way a mere pretty vase to admire.
“I was blind, my apologies.” Wei Qingqing was rather straightforward and immediately gave Su Youwei a
slight nod, showing that she was sorry.
However, Wei Qingqing’s frown grew even deeper than usual when she looked towards Zhou Yuan again,
as if she felt that the company of such an outstanding girl was truly wasted on him.
At this moment, Qi Hao suddenly smiled from beside Wei Qingqing and asked, “Hehe, your highness,
there are many brothers in Canglan army that are dying to exchange pointers with the brothers of the
imperial guard and liven up the place abit. We hope to know his highness’ opinion.”
Loud cheers from the numerous surrounding Canglan army warriors followed. Their eyes were filled
with the desire to battle.
Zhou Yuan looked towards Lu Tieshan. The latter nodded and loudly said towards the imperial guards,
“Make sure to properly receive all challenges, do not lose the face of the imperial guards!”
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“Understood!” The ones who had been dispatched this time were the elite of the imperial guard, and
hence naturally proud individuals. They had long been itching to respond to the repeated provocations
from the Canglan army.
A muscular figure shot out, landing on the stage as a powerful voice echoed, “Imperial guard, Tong Wudi.
Which brother from the Canglan army wants to have a go?!”
Genesis Qi swirled around this figure, displaying his initial Qi Nourishing stage strength. He was one of
the officers in the imperial guard.
“Haha, great! Canglan army, Sun Meng. I will entertain you!” A figure also shot out from the Canglan army
side. He was clearly not any weaker than Tong Wudi.
Cheers erupted from all around the moment both individuals got onto the stage.
Both parties did not waste any time with words. After cupping their fists together, ferocious attacks
exploded, causing dust to fly. Punches and kicks flew one after another, making the intensity of the fight
more than clear.
The atmosphere below the stage was explosive, troops from both sides madly shouting and cheering.
The fight lasted for quite some time before ending in Tong Wudi’s narrow victory, causing countless
cheers to sound out once again.
After the opening act, experts from both sides ascended the stage one after another. The intensity of the
fights made the cheering around the stage rise and fall like waves.
Zhou Yuan eagerly relished each fight. All of these warriors had been tempered by blood and fire, and
their attacks were decisive and fierce, far surpassing the bouts between the students of the Great Zhou
Institute.
As the atmosphere grew more and more lively, Qi Hao suddenly stood up and said with a seemingly
casual smile, “I heard that your highness managed to turn around a pretty desperate situation during the
class ranking exam and become pretty famous in Great Zhou. This has made us Canglan army brothers
rather curious about your highness. Will you show us a thing or two to broaden our horizons?”
The surrounding eyes swept over and stared at Zhou Yuan in interest. Everyone had heard of the rumors
that their prince was unable to cultivate, and were thus very surprised when they heard news about the
recent class ranking exam.
“So his target is me after all.”
Zhou Yuan’s expression remained unchanged. He just knew that Qi Hao wanted to cause trouble for him
tonight. The latter was clearly planning on making Zhou Yuan lose face in front of the Canglan army in an
attempt to hurt the both his reputation and the royal clan’s. So even if Wei Canglan chose to side with the
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royal clan in future, the Canglan army soldiers would feel that the royal clan was useless, allowing for
other thoughts to rise in their minds.
A seemingly small matter was in actuality filled with Qi Hao’s evil intentions.
Qi Hao grinned as he looked at Zhou Yuan. With a wave of the former’s hand, a thin man stood up. “I’ve
heard that his highness defeated my younger brother while he was using the Channel Breaker art to
unlock all eight channels. So our Canglan army will send a true eight channel expert to test his highness
abilities!”
The smart Qi Hao did not send out a Qi Nourishing stage expert because no one would find it disgraceful
for Zhou Yuan to lose. Therefore, someone who had unblocked all eight channels but had yet to open a Qi
Dwelling was the most suitable opponent. It was more than clear that Qi Hao had put quite a lot of
thought into this decision.
“Hehe. It is fine if your highness feels that there is no need. After all, us common folk and your highness
live in completely different worlds.”
Qi Hao sighed deeply as if he fully understood, but his intentions were extremely malicious. If Zhou Yuan
were to reject at this point, the Canglan army soldiers would feel that he was looking down on them due
to his status as prince. As such, their impression of him would naturally become rather negative.
By the side, Wei Qingqing’s expression changed. She had just realised Qi Hao’s intentions and was about
to speak up.
Just as Wei Qingqing was about to speak, beside her, Wei Ting said to her ear, “Qingqing, we should take
this chance to see exactly how capable our prince is. The atmosphere in Canglan County has become a
little restless due to the recent news regarding the ruins. If the prince does not have any ability and is
humiliated, he will likely be unable to take it and leave, saving the rest of us some trouble.”
Wei Qingqing hesitated a little upon hearing this but eventually nodded. Wei Ting did have a point. If
Zhou Yuan was really not capable, returning to Great Zhou City would be the safer option so as to prevent
inciting Zhou Qing’s anger if anything unfortunate happened.
Countless gazes turned towards Zhou Yuan at this moment, waiting for his reply.
Under their gazes, Zhou Yuan raised his head and looked at the grinning Qi Hao before suddenly smiling,
“Since everyone is in such high spirits, I can’t possibly ruin the mood.”
How could he not know Qi Hao’s intentions. However, Qi Hao was a little too gullible if he believed that
this would suppress Zhou Yuan.
Zhou Yuan stood up, jumped and landed on the stage as the Heavenly Yuan Brush appeared in his hand.
The martial form was immediately activated, causing the brush to grow into a long spear.
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The Heavenly Yuan Brush pointed to a ground at a slanted angle as a faint smile emerged on Zhou Yuan’s
face. “Come on up, we’ll count it as my defeat if you manage to receive a single blow from me.”
“Oh oh oh!”
Zhou Yuan’s words instantly drew countless strange noises from the watching crowd. Soldiers from the
both the Canglan army and the imperial guard could not help but cheer. Disregard Zhou Yuan’s strength
for the moment, just his boldness alone was very to their liking.
Wei Qingqing was momentarily stunned before she remarked, “Bold words.”
Beside her, Wei Ting smirked in disdain.
Qi Hao chuckled softly before retrieving a long fiery-red blade and handing it to the lean man. “Go. If you
win, this mid grade Genesis Weapon will be yours.”
The lean man quickly received the weapon, joy bubbling in his eyes. A mid grade Genesis Weapon was
worth over a thousand Genesis crystals, something that a soldier like him would never be able to afford.
Blade in hand, the lean man leapt onto the stage, eyes practically burning as he stared at Zhou Yuan.
Zhou Yuan ignored the searing gaze, his expression akin to deathly still water. The surrounding Genesis
Qi flowed into his body through his nose and a split second later, he suddenly shot forward, headed
straight for the lean man.
“High grade Genesis skill, Flaming Blade Beheader!” The lean man did not dare to delay. With a roar, he
grasped the blade with both hands and swung it downwards as flames emerged on its body.
It was an extremely deadly chop that gave off an air of violence. It was evident that the lean man’s
strength was top tier amongst eight channel practitioners.
His attack was both fiercer and more ruthless than Qi Yue’s had been during the class ranking exam.
However, Zhou Yuan’s body did not even flinch in response to such a powerful blow. His charge
continued, the tip of the Heavenly Yuan Brush bringing up sparks as it streaked across the ground.
Huu.
Zhou Yuan suddenly took in a deep breath as Genesis Qi poured into his body. With a sudden jolt of the
Heavenly Yuan Brush, green light spilled from its tip.
“Auraflare technique!”
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This time, the green aura extended several inches from the brush tip. This combined with the power of
the Heavenly Yuan Brush far exceeded the time when Zhou Yuan had used it during the class ranking
exam.
Swish!
The Heavenly Yuan Brush was thrust like a spear as his body shot forward, accompanied by a piercing
sound while it shredded even the air itself. In the end, the brush clashed against the flaming blade of the
lean man under the watching eyes of the crowd.
Clang!
The sound of metal against metal rang out as sparks flew.
At the same time, everyone watched as one of the figures miserably shot backwards, taking step after
step on the ground, only managing to steady himself several dozen steps later.
Uproar!
While he was stabilizing his body, everyone looked towards him before bursting out into noise. The
figure was the eight channel lean man.
No one had expected him to be incapable of handling even a single blow from Zhou Yuan!
The lean man’s face was filled with shock. He slowly raised the fiery-red long blade in his hand, only to
discover the numerous cracks that had emerged on its body, before it shattered soon after…
Astonishment rose in the eyes the onlookers. Did prince Zhou Yuan just destroy a mid grade Genesis
Weapon? Just how much power was needed to do that?
Near a certain bonfire, Wei Qingqing’s eyes widened slightly when she saw this. She could clearly feel just
how destructive Zhou Yuan’s previous blow had been.
Even an initial Qi Nourishing stage expert would feel threatened by its power.
A sliver of amazement flashed in Wei Qingqing’s eyes as she stared at Zhou Yuan’s figure and mumbled,
“So the rumors are true.”
On the stage, the Heavenly Yuan Brush in Zhou Yuan’s hand was slanted towards the ground as he smiled,
“Thanks for letting me win.”
Qi Hao had believed that sending someone who was about to open a Qi Dwelling would be enough to
defeat Zhou Yuan, but the former never imagined that Zhou Yuan had grown stronger after the class
ranking exam and unblocked his seventh meridian channel.
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It was likely that only a handful of people under the Qi Nourishing stage would be capable of receiving a
single blow from the current him.
*Cheer*!
Countless Canglan army soldiers burst out into cheers below the stage. Respect and admiration was now
present in the eyes that looked towards Zhou Yuan. His beautiful move had evidently won over all of
these soldiers who respected the strong.
“Prince Zhou Yuan! Prince Zhou Yuan!”
No one knew who started it, but deafening cheers began to sound out one by one, echoing across the
entire barracks.
Beside one of the bonfires, Qi Hao’s face appeared a little rigid under the fire light.
It was obvious that he never imagined his original plan to ruin Zhou Yuan’s reputation would instead do
the opposite. The prince from Great Zhou City had gained the acknowledgement of the Canglan army
warriors.
This was a little akin to a certain saying: go for the wool and come home shorn.
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Chapter 64 Master Ying
After returning to his seat beside the bonfire, Zhou Yuan could clearly feel the changes in how everyone
looked at him. There was no longer any scrutiny, but instead admiration and surprise.
“It seems that it is true, you did defeat Qi Yue.” Wei Qingqing’s bright eyes glowed with amazement as she
stared at Zhou Yuan. She had previously been under the impression that something fishy had been going
on during the class ranking exam, but the formidable attack Zhou Yuan showed earlier had stunned even
someone like herself.
Only a handful of people under the Qi Nourishing stage would be capable of receiving such a strike.
“I was blind previously. Please accept this toast as an apology.” The straightforward Wei Qingqing raised
her winecup towards Zhou Yuan and downed it in a single gulp.
Her motions were confident and contained no traces of deception.
Zhou Yuan smiled as he returned the toast. The tiny bit of sulkiness he had from before due to Wei
Qingqing’s tartness has faded away. In fact, he rather admired the latter’s forthcoming attitude.
Beside Wei Qingqing, Wei Ting smirked and said, “Hehe, prince Zhou Yuan does indeed have some skill.
However, the extremely dangerous Blackwater is located right next to Canglan County. Defeating an eight
channel practitioner is really no reason to feel secure. I’m afraid that your highness will still have to be a
little more careful while you’re here.”
Zhou Yuan faintly smiled in response. “There is no need for you to worry too much on my behalf.”
He could tell that Wei Ting was a little smitten with Qi Hao and as the saying went, if you loved someone,
you’ll also hate his enemies. Thus, Zhou Yuan could feel that she was pitting herself against him.
However, it did not really matter to him. Wei Ting was only Wei Canglan’s niece, and her status nowhere
near as important as Wei Qingqing’s.
Qi Hao’s rigid expression recovered at this moment, a smile emerging on his face once again as he said to
Zhou Yuan, “Your highness is pretty good. No wonder my unworthy little brother lost to you.”
Zhou Yuan replied with a slight smile, “It’s mostly thanks to Qi Manor’s Auraflare technique.”
Qi Hao’s face instantly blackened. Even someone as shrewd as himself was barely able to hold back a
spew of vulgarities in response to Zhou Yuan’s words.
Yet, he could not refute those words because they were true. Zhou Yuan had used Qi Manor’s Auraflare
technique to defeat both Qi Yue and the eight channel man from earlier.
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Qi Hao’s eyes were stormy as he said, “Your highness should be careful. Things that belong to Qi Manor
are not so easily swallowed!”
“Then I hope that no one else will deliver such treasures to me again.” Zhou Yuan chuckled.
Murder flowed in their eyes as they looked at each other.
*Cough*!
Suddenly, a soft cough from Wei Qingqing broke the tension as she shot each of them a glance and said in
a calm voice, “This is Canglan County. Regardless of how huge of a grudge there is between you two, it is
best that neither of you breaks Canglan County’s rules.”
As Wei Canglan’s daughter, how could she not know of the terrible relationship between the royal clan
and Qi Manor. But since Wei Canglan chose to be neutral, they naturally would not help either party.
Qi Hao’s smile became gentle as his gaze shifted towards Wei Qingqing, before he approached her and
said, “Qingqing, I will bring someone to pay a visit to great general tomorrow.”
Wei Qingqing frowned. “My father is not in a good mood recently. I hope that you will not disturb him.”
She knew that Qi Hao’s goal was to draw great general Wei to Qi Manor’s side.
By Wei Qingqing’s side, Wei Ting hurriedly smiled as she interjected, “Ai yah Qingqing, don’t say such
things. I heard Qi Hao tried very hard to find a master highly proficient in Genesis Runes. This master is
especially proficient in expelling poisons and Qi Hao likely hopes to help little Bin this time.”
Wei Qingqing was taken aback. Her expression was now a little warmer when she looked at Qi Hao. The
biggest concern of the Wei family was to expel the poison in her little brother. After all, he was the only
son of the entire Wei family.
Her little brother’s worsening condition was the reason for her father’s troubled self.
Wei Qingqing asked in a rather nervous manner, “A master proficient in expelling poisons? Will it work?”
The Dao of Genesis Runes was both broad and deep. Hence, some support base Genesis Runes existed
which were capable of expelling poisons.
Qi Hao replied, “This master is proficient in grade 3 Genesis Runes.”
“Grade 3 Genesis Runes.” Wei Qingqing’s pretty eyes brightened. Such talent was extremely rare even in
the entire Great Zhou Empire. Looks like Qi Hao had indeed invested a great deal of time and effort.
“Then I’ll have to thank you.” Wei Qingqing nodded as a smile emerged on her face.
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“Don’t worry about it, it’s only natural that I do so. As his big bro, seeing little Bin’s state makes my heart
ache.” Qi Hao smiled, continuously trying to better the relationship between them through his words.
Zhou Yuan frowned as he observed from the side with the cool eyes of a bystander. It seems that Qi
Manor was becoming more and more aggressive, even investing a lot of thought into this issue and
inviting a Genesis Rune expert over. If they managed to cure Wei Bin, the Wei family would owe them a
huge debt of gratitude. When that happened, even someone like Wei Canglan would likely be shaken no
matter how firm on neutrality he currently seemed.
Moreover, Zhou Yuan’s most important mission this time was to ensure Wei Canglan did not side with Qi
Manor.
Zhou Yuan’s eyes flickered with thought, before he lifted his head and smiled at Wei Qingqing. “It just so
happens that we also intend to pay great general Wei a visit tomorrow.”
Wei Qingqing responded with a nod, before once againing turned towards Qi Hao and began bombarding
him with questions regarding the background of the Genesis Rune expert. It was clear that this was very
important to her.
Qi Hao wore a slight smile of his face, a pleased look flitting across his eyes as he shot a glance at Zhou
Yuan.
As the sky grew darker, the welcome party came to an end.
A contemplative look decorated Zhou Yuan’s face as he and his group returned to their allocated lodgings.
Beside him, Lu Tieshan’s expression was rather grim. After a quick scan of their surroundings, he said in a
low voice, “Your highness, if Qi Hao really manages to cure Wei Bin, our situation here will become rather
problematic.”
Receiving such a huge favor would likely make Wei Canglan lean towards Qi Manor. After all, Wei Bin was
the only son of the Wei family and only he could carry on their bloodline.
Zhou Yuan gravely nodded.
Soon after, he looked towards Yaoyao and asked, “Big sis Yaoyao, will you accompany me tomorrow?”
Yaoyao slightly rotated her head, casting a glance at Zhou Yuan. Even under the night sky, her gorgeous
face gave off a faint jade glow. “When the time comes, I will help you take a look.”
After speaking, entered her tent with Tuntun in her arms.
Zhou Yuan could only worriedly scratch his head in response to her curt answer.
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…
The next day.
Zhou Yuan, Lu Tieshan, Yaoyao and Su Youwei saw the waiting Wei Qingqing, Qi Hao and the rest when
they arrived at the east gate of the barracks.
However, there was now one more person at Qi Hao’s side, a grizzled hair old man. This elder had a pair
of sunken eyes which appeared rather cold and stern. His expression was indifferent, making him appear
rather arrogant.
Before this elder, even Wei Qingqing was wearing a slight smile on her face.
“Your highness, are all of you ready?” Upon seeing that Zhou Yuan and his group of four had arrived, Wei
Qingqing smiled before pointing at the elder beside her and said, “This is master Ying, the Genesis Rune
master Qi Hao invited to help expel the poison in my little brother.”
After hearing Wei Qingqing’s introduction, master Ying swept an indifferent glance at Zhou Yuan and
gave a slight nod, his expression still filled with arrogance.
The strength of a master that could draw grade 3 Genesis Runes was comparable to a Heaven Gate stage
practitioner. However, such masters were very rare in the Great Zhou Empire.
“A mere grade 3 Genesis Rune and he dares to call himself a master. The one beside me hasn’t even said
anything.” Zhou Yuan mumbled in his heart as he nodded at master Ying.
“Let’s go.”
Wei Qingqing did not waste any more time, evidently rather anxious. With a wave of her hand, her steed
shot forward, galloping straight towards Canglan County city.
Qi Hao pulled the reins of his horse, coming to Zhou Yuan’s side with a playful smile as he said in a low
voice, “Your highness, I’m afraid that Canglan County will no longer welcome you after today. I suggest
that you scram back to Great Zhou City as soon as possible.”
With a loud laugh, he kicked his horse and the fiery-red steed also shot forward.
Zhou Yuan’s eyes turned frosty as he watched Qi Hao’s leaving figure. Without further ado, Zhou Yuan
also waved his hand, bringing the group along as they swiftly caught up.
He was still somewhat doubtful. Why did a master proficient in grade 3 Genesis Runes have such
confidence in dealing with the Black Venom King’s poison? A poison that even an Alpha-Origin stage
practitioner would be greatly wary of.
He really wanted to see just what kind of tricks Qi Hao was going to pull today!
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Chapter 65 Getting Rid of the Poison
The general’s residence stood at the center of Canglan County city and was undoubtedly the most well
guarded place in the entire city. In fact, detachments of patrolling guards could be seen patrolling the
streets as the group neared their destination.
Fortunately, with Wei Qingqing leading them, they did not face any obstructions all the way to the
general’s residence.
The group got off their horses and entered the residence, walking past several corridors and courtyards
before finally arriving at the main hall.
The moment they stepped through the doors, Zhou Yuan’s gaze was cast towards the master’s seat where
a middle aged man was seated. He wore purple robes and appeared rather lean, while numerous little
black dots were visible on his face.
An extremely strong presence emanated from his body as he sat there, causing Zhou Yuan and the rest to
feel some pressure.
Evidently, this middle aged man in purple was the great general of the Great Zhou Empire, Wei Canglan.
Wei Qingqing called out as she entered the main hall, “Father.”
Wei Canglan raised his head and looked at the group. His gaze paused on Zhou Yuan for a moment as he
rose and said in an indifferent voice, “Wei Canglan greets his highness Zhou Yuan.”
Zhou Yuan cupped his fists together. “Zhou Yuan greets great general. Father has asked me to ask how
you are doing.”
Wei Canglan’s expression did not change as he replied in a flat voice, “I’m not doing too great.”
Zhou Yuan’s eyes lowered slightly. It was obvious that Wei Canglan still held a grudge from his response.
After answering Zhou Yuan, Wei Canglan turned his gaze towards Qi Hao and the elder beside him. “I
believe that this honoured guest is master Ying right? I have long heard of you.”
His cold face grew much kinder at this moment, clearly aimed at master Ying.
“Greetings great general.”
Master Ying withdrew his arrogance in front of Wei Canglan, respectfully bowing as he cupped his fists
together.
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Wei Canglan asked, “I heard from my little girl that master is adept in the art of Genesis Runes and
specializes in poison expelling Genesis Runes?”
Master Ying smiled slightly as he answered, “General’s son has been afflicted by the Devil Miasma Poison,
right? I once encountered this poison while in Blackwater and ultimately managed to neutralize it.”
Upon hearing these words, Wei Qingqing’s face immediately filled with joy, growing respect in her eyes as
she looked at master Ying. Even a smile had emerged on Wei Canglan’s solemn face.
Wei Canglan cupped his fists and said, “Then we’ll have to trouble master Ying. I will be greatly thankful if
you cure my son!”
Qi Hao smiled a little at this moment. “Great general need not be so courteous. It’s mostly thanks to my
father that we managed to invite master Ying this time.”
Wei Canglan’s expression fluctuated for a moment. Qi Hao’s words were clear. Accepting master Ying’s
help would be akin to accepting Qi Manor’s good will.
Although this did not mean that they would now side with Qi Manor, Canglan County’s neutral position
would be slightly affected.
Wei Canglan shot a glance at Zhou Yuan as he hesitated for a while. However, his love for his only son
ultimately won and he said in a low voice, “Then I’ll have to thank Qi Manor for their kindness. If my son
is cured, I will surely pay a visit to give my thanks.”
A grin was revealed on Qi Hao’s face as he covetedly swept a pleased glance at Zhou Yuan. If Wei Canglan
visited Qi Manor, it would undoubtedly signal to numerous factions that the great general’s faction was
no longer neutral.
This would undoubtedly affect the Great Zhou Empire’s current state of affairs.
Zhou Yuan was expressionless as he lowered his gaze slightly, while anxiety flitted across Lu Tieshan’s
eyes.
Wei Qingqing cast them an apologetic look but did not say anything. The poison in Wei Ben was a thorn in
their entire family’s hearts, and they had did all they could to help him recover.
Now that such a hard to come by chance to resolve the problem had appeared, they were naturally
unwilling to give up on it.
Wei Canglan was rather anxious as his gaze turned towards master Ying. “There is no time to lose, please
start the treatment.”
Master Ying responded with an indifferent nod.
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Upon seeing this, Wei Canglan said to Wei Qingqing, “Qingqing, arrange a place for prince Zhou Yuan to
rest.”
Zhou Yuan interjected at this moment, “Great general, please allow us come along and have a look. It just
so happens that I too study the art of Genesis Runes, and hope to observe master Ying’s techniques such
that I may learn a thing or two.”
Wei Canglan hesitated for a while. It was not appropriate for him to reject since he had done a disservice
to Zhou Yuan earlier and thus looked towards master Ying.
Master Ying merely swept an eye at Zhou Yuan as a smile of disdain formed on his mouth. “Since your
highness is also proficient in the ways of Genesis Runes, feel free to follow and have a look. However, my
skills are not so easily learnt.”
Evidently, he was under the impression that Zhou Yuan wanted to steal his techniques.
“Then let’s go.” Wei Canglan did not waste any more time upon seeing this and led the way out of the hall,
heading towards the rear courtyard, while everyone else quickly followed.
A spacious and brightly lit room was located in the rear courtyard.
Wei Canglan practically flooded in with the rest. As Zhou Yuan’s eyes swept around the place, he saw a
young nine year old boy on the bed. The boy’s face was sickly pale, and black dots could be seen all over
body, dots that gave off a foul smell.
Currently, the boy was shyly peeking at the huge group that had entered.
When Wei Qingqing saw this, she hurriedly walked forward and soothed him in a soft voice, “Don’t be
afraid little brother, they have come to help you get rid of the poison.”
There was no longer any trace of the valiance she had displayed in the barracks.
Wei Canglan tenderly gazed at the young boy as he walked forward and gently stroked the latter’s head.
Subsequently, hope-filled eyes turned towards master Ying. “Please help him master.”
Master Ying strutted over as Wang Canglan hastily gave up his seat. After being seated, master Ying
looked at the black spots on Wei Bin’s body and said, “The poison has already entered deep into the bone.
This is very serious indeed. If delayed any longer, I’m afraid that he would not longer be able to keep his
life.”
The moment these words were said, Wei Qingqing paled, while Wei Canglan’s expression changed.
“Master, you have to save my little brother!” Wei Qingqing begged with red eyes.
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Qi Hao stepped forward, his hand landing on Wei Qingqing’s shoulder as he consoled in soft voice, “Don’t
worry Qingqing, master Ying will definitely save him.”
Wei Qingqing promptly nodded, taking no notice of the hand that was now on her shoulder.
Master Ying smiled as he nodded and pridefully said, “General Wei and miss Wei can rest easy. Since I
have come, I’m naturally confident in dealing with the poison.”
“Undress young master Wei.” Master Ying instructed with a wave of his hand.
A servant girl immediately stepped forward from the side and very carefully removed Wei Bin’s clothes,
revealing the black dots and pale body underneath.
Master Ying retrieved a dark grey Genesis Brush from his waist, concentrating slightly as the brush
descended. The brush tip flickered as it slowly painted cryptic stroke after stroke on Wei Bin’s body.
Everyone held their breaths, afraid to make even the slightest noise.
Wei Qingqing’s and Wei Canglan’s faces were filled with anxiety and hope, while Qi Hao wore a faint
smile. There was a pleased look in his eyes as he looked towards Zhou Yuan and the rest from time to
time, as if victory was already in his grasp.
Zhou Yuan was expressionless, while a restless Lu Tieshan tightly clenched his fists.
They knew that their situation in Canglan County would become extremely thorny if master Ying
succeeded in curing Wei Bin. Moreover, the subsequent contest for the treasure of the ruins would
become extremely disadvantageous.
After all, given their strength, it would be very difficult to put up a fight against those from Blackwater
without Wei Canglan’s support.
The implications of this matter were really far too great.
While varying expressions decorated everyone’s faces, Yaoyao carried Tuntun in her arms, her beautiful
face indifferent and her bright eyes faintly flickering as she observed the Genesis Rune being drawn by
master Ying.
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Chapter 66 Exposed
The room was stiflingly silent and no one dared to speak. The only noise that could be heard was the
nearly inaudible rustle of master Ying’s Genesis Rune Brush across the skin.
As time slowly flowed, an extremely complicated rune began to emerge on Wei Bin’s body. The rune
extended across half of his body and gave off a faint yet astonishing aura.
“It’s a grade 3 Genesis Rune!” There was a grave expression on Wei Canglan's face. Soon after, he
remarked with a sigh of admiration, “But it looks to be a support type rune, so little Bin's weak body
should be able to handle its power.”
With one last hooking motion, master Ying's brush tip completed the final stroke. If one took a look at this
moment, one would see a mysterious glow emerge from the now complete Genesis Rune. The light spread
a little before shrinking back, burrowing into Wei Bin's body.
Wei Bin released a groan of pain as he tightly clenched his fists.
Upon seeing this, Wei Qingqing anxiously called out, “Little brother!”
Master Ying smiled faintly and said, “No need to worry miss Wei, my Genesis Rune has begun neutralizing
the poison, a process that will be a little painful.”
Wei Qingqing nodded when she heard his explanation. She could only try to restraint the worry in her
heart though her gaze never budged an inch from Wei Bin.
A long and tense wait ensued, before everyone discovered that the black spots on Wei Bin's body had
indeed started to show signs of receding. In a short few minutes, the originally appalling black dots had
completely vanished.
“The Devil Miasma Poison has been neutralized?!” Wei Qingqing's shocked voice rang out as joy flooded
her face.
Wei Canglan's eyes were wide open, his fists tightly clenched, his heart trembling with emotion.
Master Ying proudly said, “I came across this grade 3 Genesis Rune by chance. It is known as the Poison
Neutralization Rune and is capable of neutralizing all poisons, even one as domineering as the Devil
Miasma Poison.”
Wei Canglan nodded as he sighed in admiration, “The Poison Neutralization Rune is indeed very
formidable. Although it is only grade 3, it has managed to dispel even the Black Venom King's Devil
Miasma Poison.”
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He looked towards master Ying and respectfully cupped his fists. “Master Ying is truly the benefactor of
my Wei family.”
Wei Qingqing also hastily bowed towards master Ying.
Master Ying responded with a light smile, “I came here on the request of another.”
Wei Canglan could not help but sigh in his heart as he glanced at the smiling Qi Hao and the
expressionless Zhou Yuan. This debt of gratitude was really far too great.
Wei Canglan said, “Your highness, you should temporarily stay in the barracks. A storm is stirring over
Canglan County and all sorts of characters have gathered here. The barracks is the safest place for you.”
Lu Tieshan's expression changed slightly. Did Weird Canglan intend to confine them to the barracks? If
so, how would they be able to vie for the Fire Spirit Grain and Jade Infant Fruit?
Qi Hao had a faint smile on his face as he looked towards Zhou Yuan, a toying smile overflowing with
mockery.
Wei Qingqing sighed inwardly and shook her head.
“What are all of you so happy about?” As the atmosphere grew heavier, an indifferent yet melodious voice
was heard. Everyone turned, only to find that it was Yaoyao who had spoken.
Qi Hao chuckled and said, “Hehe, young master Wei's poison has be successfully neutralized and is on
route to a full recovery. Is this not a matter worth celebrating?”
Yaoyao stroked Tuntun's fur as she said, “It would certainly be a happy event if the poison was fully
neutralized, but I'm afraid that such superficial effort would instead hurt him even more.”
The expression of everyone in the room changed the moment these words were said.
Master Ying was the first to react. His expression frosty as he scolded in anger, “Little girl, what nonsense
are you spouting!”
Wei Canglan frowned deeply, his eyes like a lion's as he stared at Yaoyao. “What do you mean young
miss? If you are spouting nonsense, I'm afraid that I will have to teach you a lesson even if you are part of
his highness’ entourage.”
Yaoyao paid no attention to them, walking towards the bed instead as her eyes swept over Wei Bin while
her red lips parted slightly, “Poison Neutralization Rune? What a joke.”
Master Ying's rage swelled as he shouted, “Are you blind little girl? Do you see any traces of poison on his
body? Do not blame me for being rude if you continue to utter such unreasonable nonsense!”
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By the side, Wei Qingqing's brows were also furrowed. There was currently a hint of healthy rosiness on
Wei Bin's pale face, a sign that the poison had indeed been successfully neutralized. Wei Canglan's
expression was stern because he had checked previously and the Devil Miasma Poison had indeed
disappeared from Wei Bin's body.
Yaoyao continued to ignore master Ying's bellowing and instead indifferently said to Wei Canglan, “Poke
a needle three inches above the tailbone.”
Master Ying's pupils seemed to shrink when he heard these words. He immediately faced Wei Canglan
and said in a low voice, “Great general, I was invited to provide my services, not to be told off by a little
wench!”
Qi Hao also spoke up, “Great general, master Ying rushed here from far away to save young master Wei. It
will be really cold to doubt him at this point.”
Wei Canglan hesitated after hearing their words.
Zhou Yuan suddenly interjected at this moment, “Great general, young master Wei's life is at stake here. It
will be best to get to the bottom of it so as to avoid any future regrets.”
Wei Canglan's expression fluctuated for some time. He ultimately cupped his fists towards master Ying
and said, “Please accommodate me master Ying, I will definitely seek justice on your behalf if I find that
they are slandering you.”
“Bring me a silver needle!”
Wei Canglan icily shouted and a servant girl immediate brought over a silver needle.
Wei Canglan grabbed the needle and approached the bed as he confirmed in a low voice, “Three inches
above the tailbone?”
Yaoyao replied indifferently, “All of the Devil Miasma Poison has been forced into that very spot by
master Ying. No other place will work, it has to be here.”
Wei Canglan took one long and deep look at Yaoyao before decisively taking action. The needle in his
hand instantly pierced the spot three inches above Wei Bin's tailbone. Half of the needle disappeared,
before being slowly drawn out.
Everyone's expressions abruptly changed the instant the needle emerged.
The tip of the needle was pitch-black and gave off a pungent smell.
It was the Devil Miasma Poison!
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Wei Qingqing's face changed drastically, abruptly raising her head as an icy glare shot towards master
Ying.
Wei Canglan was white with rage. He turned his head, lifting the needle as he stared at master Ying and
said in an hair-raising voice, “May I ask master Ying what exactly is going on?”
Master Ying had paled substantially, but still shamelessly answered, “It seems that the poison was not
fully neutralized. This must be the some remnants.”
Qi Hao's face twitched as he forced a smile and suggested, “Maybe great general can let master Ying try
again?”
Yaoyao's tone was apathetic as she said, “It isn't a case of the poison not being fully neutralized, in fact,
that was no Poison Neutralization Rune, but a poison suppression rune.”
A poison suppression rune entailed forcibly suppressing the poison in the body through special methods.
However, this rune of master Ying's was indeed pretty decent to have so cleanly suppressed the poison
such that even Wei Canglan was unable to sense that something was amiss.
“Although you've temporarily suppressed the Devil Miasma Poison, this temporary measure will only last
for a year. After which, the Devil Miasma Poison will resurface once again and become unstoppable. Even
the greatest of techniques would not be able to save him then.”
“I believe that those you ‘saved’ with the ‘Poison Neutralization Rune’ ultimately met very pitiful ends,
right?”
Wei Canglan's and Wei Qingqing's expressions abruptly changed the moment these words were said. If
gazes could kill, master Ying would have died a dozen times over.
Sweat covered master Ying's forehead as he looked at Yaoyao in fear. Never in his wildest dreams would
he have imagined that the latter would see through his tricks. One must know that even an Alpha-Origin
stage expert would not find anything wrong.
Boom!
Genesis Qi suddenly exploded from master Ying's body as he transformed into a flash of light and shot
out. He could no longer bear Wei Canglan's man-eating gaze and hurriedly escaped.
Wei Canglan's expression was eerily frightening. With a flick of his finger, the needle in his hand was
coated in green Genesis Qi and disappeared with a swish.
AHH!
A miserable cry suddenly echoed over from far away several breaths later.
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Wei Canglan icily said, “Bring him in. To think that someone dares to bring his scam to my residence, does
he really believe that I am unable to deal with him?”
Someone respectfully acknowledged outside the room and swiftly left to comply to the great general's
order.
Qi Hao's face was deathly pale, his hands faintly trembling as he hatefully looked at Zhou Yuan and
Yaoyao. His originally perfect plan had went awry because of these two.
Wei Canglan indifferently commanded, “Men, bring prince Qi somewhere else to rest.”
Guards entered and invited Qi Hao out. His gaze was brimming with murder towards Zhou Yuan when he
left.
However, Zhou Yuan returned the gaze with a warm smile.
After master Ying and Qi Hao left, the room became suffocatingly silent once again. Wei Qingqing's eyes
were tinged red as she softly cried while Wei Canglan appeared years older as he seated himself.
Yaoyao frowned as she shot a glance at the two. “What's there to cry about. He isn't dead yet.”
Wei Canglan was taken aback. He seemed to realise the underlying meaning behind Yaoyao's words and
quickly lifted his head, looking towards the extremely beautiful young girl as he hurriedly said, “Please
forgive me for offending you earlier.”
After what had happened, he no longer dared to underestimate the Genesis Qi-less girl.
Having apologised, Wei Canglan then carefully continued, “May I ask if the young lady knows of any way
to save my son?”
Yaoyao slightly cocked her head in thought for a while before she said, “I will not save him, but… he may.”
Her finger pointed towards Zhou Yuan.
Wei Canglan's and Wei Qingqing's eyes instantly locked onto Zhou Yuan.
Under their stares, Zhou Yuan felt his scalp turn numb and almost cursed out loud. Even master Ying,
who had the ability to draw a grade 3 Genesis Rune, was incapable of dealing with the Devil Miasma
Poison. What use would someone like him, who was only at the grade 2 level, be?
Who understood his capabilities better than himself?
Big sis Yaoyao, don't sabotage me!
You should be the savior that reveals herself and shock them till they shake!
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Zhou Yuan furiously cursed inside, but in the face of Wei Canglan's expectant eyes and the pitiful teary
Wei Qingqing, the former could only respond with a hollow chuckle and nod.
He knew that odds were he would also be ‘invited’ to leave like Qi Hao if he shook his head.
“Ha, haha…”
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Chapter 67 Thousand Poison Eroding Rune
Looks of gratitude were revealed on Wei Canglan's and Wei Qingqing's faces when they saw Zhou Yuan
nod.
Although they were somewhat skeptical of how Zhou Yuan would be able to neutralize the Devil Miasma
Poison, they had no choice but to grasp this final straw.
Zhou Yuan walked to the bedside, swept a glance at the hopeful eyes of the young boy that was looking
back at him, and let out a bitter laugh. He then turned towards Yaoyao and asked in a low voice, “How do I
save him?”
Who better understood his own capabilities than himself? None of the Genesis Runes he had mastered
were able to neutralize poisons.
Yaoyao's red lips curled slightly upon seeing Zhou Yuan's appearance, before she raised her head and
said to Wei Canglan, “He says that he needs to make some preparations, it'll take about ten days.”
Wei Canglan was stunned. “What is needed? I might be able to help.”
“Just some ingredients for the Genesis Rune, there's no need to trouble general Wei.”
Wei Canglan warmly said, “I will immediately prepare a guest room in my residence for your highness
and the rest to stay over this period. It's safe here and no mishaps will occur.”
Zhou Yuan nodded as he shot a glance at Yaoyao. The latter's earlier performance made him feel a little
less guilty. After all, Yaoyao was not someone who messed around. It was likely that she had her reasons
for doing things this way.
Zhou Yuan regained his cool and slowly said, “Great general, I can save young master Wei, but I have two
conditions.”
Wei Canglan solemnly replied, “Please speak your highness. Wei Bin is the only son of my Wei family and
I will not hesitate to even give my life.”
Zhou Yuan did not waste time with frivolities and directly stated his goal, “First, I hope that great general
will aid me in obtaining the Fire Spirit Grain and Jade Infant Fruit.”
Wei Canglan was not surprised. After pondering for a while, he responded, “The information regarding
the recent discovery in the ruins has already spread in Canglan County and Blackwater. Hence, an intense
battle will not be avoidable.It is likely that even the Black Venom King will also participate.”
Murder overflowed in Wei Canglan's eyes at the mention of the Black Venom King.
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“However, if your highness is really able to save Wei Bin, the Canglan army will do everything we can!”
Wei Canglan's deep voice rang out. In his eyes, Wei Bin's life was number one.
Wei Canglan's decisiveness somewhat shocked Zhou Yuan. Soon after, he chuckled and said, “As for the
second condition, I've heard of a certain item belonging to the general's residence, the Genesis
Swallowing Rock. I hope to request this item from you.”
“The Genesis Swallowing Rock huh…” Wei Canglan fell into thought. He eventually nodded and said,
“Although it is a treasure, it is nothing compared to my son's life.”
“As long as your highness saves my son, these two conditions are no problem at all!”
Having come to an agreement, happiness flitted across Zhou Yuan's eyes. He cupped his fists together and
declared, “I will do my best to neutralize the poison in young master Wei.”
Wei Canglan smiled and said, “Great. Qingqing, bring his highness to their lodgings and ensure that they
are well received.”
Wei Qingqing nodded and turned towards Zhou Yuan. A rare gentle smile decorated her pretty face, her
long legs taking a step forward as she proceeded to lead the group.
Wei Canglan watched them leave as he began to frown.
After guiding Zhou Yuan and the rest, Wei Qingqing returned the room. She hesitated somewhat before
she asked, “Will prince Zhou Yuan really be able to get rid off the Devil Miasma Poison?”
Although master Ying was repulsize, he was still rather skilful in Genesis Runes. No matter how one
looked at it, Zhou Yuan had inferior Genesis Rune abilities.
Wei Canglan's expression was rather complicated. A soft sigh escaped his lips, before he replied, “The
only option left to us now is to treat a dead horse as if it were alive. I hope that he is not lying, or else, I
will chase him out of Canglan County even if he is the prince of Great Zhou. “
Guest room of the great general's residence.
Once through the door, Lu Tieshan worriedly looked at Zhou Yuan, “Your highness, are you truly able to
neutralize the Devil Miasma Poison?”
Zhou Yuan rolled his eyes in response, “You're asking me? Then who should I ask?”
Lu Tieshan smiled bitterly. “Then I'm afraid that we will be chased out of Canglan County ten days later.”
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Zhou Yuan helplessly shook his head before turning towards the currently leisurely seated Yaoyao, who
was toying with Tuntun, as he inquired with an awkward smile, “Big sis Yaoyao, isn't this sabotaging me?
Given your mastery of Genesis Runes, won't the Devil Miasma Poison problem be easily resolved with a
wave of your hand?”
Yaoyao carried Tuntun in her arms, her slender finger lightly tapping it's head as she lifted her gaze,
“That fellow must be dreaming if he believes I will help after threatening me earlier. You wish.”
The corners of Zhou Yuan's mouth twitched. To think that this little goddess would actually be so petty.
By the side, Su Youwei covered her mouth, hiding her smile.
Zhou Yuan sat himself beside Yaoyao, a pained look on his face as he said, “I don't know anything about
poison neutralizing Genesis Runes. In addition, the Devil Miasma Poison is a really thorny problem. How
will I resolve this?”
Yaoyao replied in an offhand manner, “I'll teach you.”
“I can't draw grade 3 Genesis Runes.” Zhou Yuan let out a bitter chuckle. The current level of his Spirit
allowed him to at best draw grade 2 Genesis Runes. As for grade 3, it would have to wait till his Spirit
reached the advanced Illusory stage.
“Who says you need to draw a grade 3 Genesis Rune?” Yaoyao rolled her eyes at Zhou Yuan. “That old
man could only depend on a grade 3 Genesis Rune to suppress the Devil Miasma Poison because he is too
useless.”
“In the following ten days, I will teach you a grade 2 Genesis Rune known as the Thousand Poisons
Erosion Rune and a grade 1 poison expelling rune. After which, it should not be difficult to neutralize the
Devil Miasma Poison as long as you follow my instructions.”
Yaoyao took out a white piece of paper and wrote some things on it before passing it to Zhou Yuan.
“Additionally, quickly prepare the ingredients written here.”
Zhou Yuan received the paper and took a quick glance. His expression immediately changed as he burst
out, “Big sis Yaoyao, isn't this too ruthless? All of these are poisonous blood from various Genesis Beasts.
Are you trying to kill young master Wei?”
Every item written on the paper was poisonous in nature. This caused Zhou Yuan to wonder if Yaoyao
was still mad at the Weis.
Yaoyao unhappily retorted, “Nonsense, these are all ingredients for the Thousand Poisons Erosion Rune.
This is called fighting poison with poison!”
Zhou Yuan worriedly asked, “Nothing will go wrong, right?”
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Young master Wei was in terrible health. If Zhou Yuan caused the former's death by accident, he would
never be able to wash away this sin.
Wei Canglan may even go crazy and make Zhou Yuan accompany his son in death…
Yaoyao ignored him this time and turned around to continuing toying with Tuntun.
Zhou Yuan could only force a smile as he handed the paper to Lu Tieshan. “Prepare these items.”
Lu Tieshan's face also twitched when he saw the list. In the end, he did not say anything and proceeded to
comply. But from the looks of it, it was clear that he had already begun to make preparations with regards
to escaping.
Zhou Yuan looked at Yaoyao again. “Big sis Yaoyao, when shall we start the Thousand Poisons Erosion
Rune lessons?”
Yaoyao stretched, displaying her amazing curves. She stood up with Tuntun in her arms and lazily said,
“Tomorrow. I'm too tired today.”
After speaking, she brought Su Youwei along into the inner courtyard.
Zhou Yuan watched the two gorgeous figures leave as thoughts of the ruthless Thousand Poisons Erosion
Rune swirled in his head. In the end, he could only shake his head with a sigh.
“What a petty big sis.”
“My big sis Yaoyao is really something. She may not be full of vicious words, but one really cannot afford
to offend her.”
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Chapter 68 Preparation
In the following ten days, all of Zhou Yuan’s energy was invested into learning the Thousand Poisons
Erosion Rune. After all, the method Yaoyao had chosen this time was a little on the fiercer side, and it was
very likely that the sickly Wei Bin would die if even the slightest mishap occurred.
Therefore, Zhou Yuan had no choice but to redouble his enthusiasm to ensure that he would not be killed
by a Wei Canglan turned crazy due to the loss of his only son.
Fortunately, his Genesis Rune talent was pretty good, plus his Spirit had reached the advance Illusory
stage. Therefore, it was not too strenuous for him to learn a new grade 2 Genesis Rune.
After about seven days, Zhou Yuan had managed to grasp the Thousand Poisons Erosion Rune. Next, he
would have to practice.
Great general’s residence, the study.
Wei Canglan raised his head, looking towards Wei Qingqing as he asked, “What has prince Zhou Yuan
been up to these past few days?”
Wei Qingqing hesitated for a while before answering, “He seems to be practicing Genesis Runes.”
Since Zhou Yuan was staying in the great general’s residence, every little thing he did was naturally easy
to monitor.
Wei Canglan’s face twitched. Was this a hasty last-minute effort? What exactly was prince Zhou Yuan
doing?
“Besides this… I have discovered that Lu Tieshan has recently bought several things in the city.” Wei
Qingqing hesitated somewhat, but eventually retrieved a piece of paper and handed it to Wei Canglan.
Recorded on the paper were the poisonous ingredients Zhou Yuan had asked Lu Tieshan to purchase.
Wei Canglan received the paper and took a look. His face soon began to twitch once again. If he was not
certain of Zhou Yuan’s identity, he would suspect that Zhou Yuan had a secret motive.
“Father, are we really going to let prince Zhou Yuan treat little brother? Should we find someone else
instead?” Asked Wei Qingqing. Zhou Yuan’s situation really made one apprehensive after all.
Wei Canglan sighed. “Have we not already spent so much time and effort searching? If the Black Venom
King’s Devil Miasma Poison was so easy to neutralize, he would not be reigning as a tyrant in Blackwater
for so many years.”
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“Now… we can only place our trust in prince Zhou Yuan.”
Wei Canglan swept a glance in the direction of the guest courtyard as his eyes narrowed slightly.
“Moreover, this prince of ours is very intelligent. He should clearly understand what will happen if he
thoughtlessly treats little Bin.”
Wei Qingqing nodded when she heard this. Zhou Yuan had been both earnest and serious back then, even
stating all his conditions. He would not do dare to do so unless he had some confidence, else it would only
be akin to humiliating himself.
“Then we’ll wait during these final three days. I hope that he will be able to save little brother.” Wei
Qingqing sighed. Wei Bin’s poison had already become a disease in the hearts of their Wei family. If this
disease was not eliminated, the great general’s residence will continue to be choked by its stifling
atmosphere.
Zhou Yuan had brought them a sliver of hope, but it was unknown whether this hope would turn into
even greater despair.
A certain large manor in the city.
“Hehe, Zhou Yuan’s self-confidence is really something. To have even stated all of his conditions already.”
In the room, Wei Ting stood before a stormy-face Qi Hao.
It was evident that he had obtained news of Zhou Yuan’s current situation in the great general’s residence
from her.
Wei Ting remarked in disdain, “That kid is very arrogant indeed. Even the master Ying you invited was
unable to neutralize the Devil Miasma Poison, what does someone like him think he can do?”
“Is there any other news?” Asked Qi Hao.
Wei Ting beamed as she pressed against Qi Hao, while the latter reached out an arm and wrapped it
around her slender waist. Subsequently, Wei Ting fished out a piece of paper from her sleeve. “This is a
list of things Lu Tieshan recently bought in the city.”
Qi Hao received the paper and took a look. His brows immediately furrowed. “All of these items are
poisonous. Just what exactly are they up to?”
He pondered for a moment, but did not arrive at any answer. Thus, he could only coldly chuckle and say,
“Let them do what they want, we’ll see whether Wei Canglan will go mad if Wei Bin ends up dead due to
their shenanigans.”
He too did not believe that Zhou Yuan had the ability to neutralize the Devil Miasma Poison.
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Qi Hao said, “Tingting, help me keep a good eye on Zhou Yuan in the great general’s residence and inform
me at once if anything occurs. In addition, if he makes any mistakes, find a chance to secretly fan the
flames and thoroughly anger Wei Canglan. We cannot allow Zhou Yuan to leave the great general’s
residence alive.”
“Besides all this, Wei Qingqing will definitely be heartbroken if Wei Bin dies at Zhou Yuan’s hands. When
that happens, ask her out for me. Her guard will be greatly lowered and it will be the best time for me to
take advantage.”
Wei Ting’s pouted upon hearing this. “You want me to help you obtain another woman?”
Qi Hao smiled slightly as he explained, “Tingting, you will need my father’s consent to mary into Qi
Manor. As long as you are able to help me obtain Wei Qingqing, I will be able to dabble my hand in the pie
that is the Canglan army. Our success will be a huge contribution to Qi Manor and my father will surely
allow me to marry you.”
Even after a year in the Canglan army, he had ultimately been unable to enter the inner circle. He knew
that Wei Canglan was wary of him, thus, the only way for him to obtain the Canglan army was by first
getting to Wei Qingqing.
This woman was had a strong influence in the Canglan army.
Wei Ting foolishly asked, “Really?”
Qi Hao nodded with a smile.
Wei Ting bit her red lips. Soon after, she forcefully nodded and said, “Alright, I will do all I can to help
you!”
The two continued to cuddle for a while, before a satisfied Wei Ting left.
The smile on Qi Hao’s face turned cold as he watched her leaving figure. Subsequently, he somewhat
irritatedly tugged at this clothes and said in a dull voice, “What a delusional woman.”
A figure walked out from the screen behind him. It was the housekeeper of Qi Manor, Qi Ling.
Qi Ling said with a frown, “First young master, what exactly is Zhou Yuan up to? Could he really be able to
cure Wei Bin?”
Qi Hao immediately let out a icy laugh upon hearing this and answered, “A brat like him? In his dreams.”
Just how many years had Wei Canglan struggled with the Devil Miasma Poison? It was not as if he had not
seeked the help of various experts and masters. However, all of them were ultimately powerless. All of
these facts made Qi Hao greatly doubt that a mere Zhou Yuan, who had not even stepped into the Qi
Nourishing stage, would be able to do what everyone else had failed to.
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“Although I do not believe that brat will succeed, we should still plan for the worst.” Iciness flickered
within Qi Hao’s eyes.
If Zhou Yuan somehow miraculously succeeded like a blind cat bumping into a mouse, Wei Canglan would
inevitable chose to help the former obtain the Fire Spirit Grain.
Qi Hao raised his head, killing intent surging in his eyes as he looked towards the great general’s
residence.
“Wei Canglan ah Wei Canglan. If you really decide to help Zhou Yuan, I will have no option but to think of
a way to get rid of you. Don’t worry, I will make sure to take good care of your daughter and the Canglan
army after you are gone.”
Under the watch of various parties, the final three days unhurriedly passed by.
In the courtyard, Zhou Yuan was busy keeping his things. He could not help but roll his eyes as he shot a
glance at the grim-faced Lu Tieshan, before he beckoned to Yaoyao and Su Youwei with his chin.
“Let’s go. Today will determine whether we live or die!”
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Chapter 69 Revelation of Skill
A particular room located in the rear courtyard of the great general’s residence.
When Zhou Yuan and the rest arrived, Wei Canglan and Wei Qingqing were already waiting. The two
swiftly walked forward to welcome Zhou Yuan upon seeing him.
Wei Canglan then proceeded to ask with a smile, “Your highness, will you be starting the treatment
today?”
Zhou Yuan returned the smile and nodded. Without further ado, he walked into the house and arrived in
front of the bed where Wei Bin was currently lying. His complexion looked much better than before, but
Zhou Yuan knew that it was only because master Ying had forcibly suppressed the Devil Miasma Poison
in Wei Bin’s body. When the poison erupted once again, it would instantly take his life.
Zhou Yuan reached out and lightly tapped the black Universe bag at this waist. Before they left Great Zhou
City, Zhou Qing had retrieved a Universe bag from the royal treasury and given it to Zhou Yuan. Although
its grade was not very high, and the rather tiny space within only extended to a few feet, it was still very
convenient.
Several bottles appeared in Zhou Yuan’s hand. Next, he retrieved a plate and very carefully dripped the
liquid contents of the bottles onto it, beginning a process of modulation.
An appalling stench spread the moment the liquids emerged. A single whiff would cause one to feel giddy,
clearly showing just how toxic the liquids were.
Although Wei Canglan and Wei Qingqing had anticipated this, their expressions still changed.
Wei Qingqing bit her red lips and asked, “Your highness, what do you plan on doing?”
Zhou Yuan grinned. “The Devil Miasma Poison is extremely domineering. The only way to neutralize it is
to find a master that can draw a grade 4 poison neutralizing Genesis Rune. However, I’m afraid that such
masters are extremely rare in our Great Zhou Empire.”
“Hence, I will have to use another method.”
He paused at this point before continuing, “Poison against poison.”
“As for the details, you two will have a first hand view later on. Please do not worry great general, I
understand the consequences of this matter and would not have selected such a foolhardy method if I did
not have any confidence.”
Zhou Yuan’s voice was indifferent as he gazed straight at Wei Canglan.
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Wei Canglan took one deep look at Zhou Yuan as he slowly said, “Since your highness is confident, do
what you must. If your highness is truly able to cure my son, my Wei family will owe you a huge debt of
gratitude.”
Zhou Yuan smiled, but did not speak any further and instead continued to adjust the vicious poisons. A
long while later, he finally stopped when the horrifying smell reached its peak.
He unhooked the Heavenly Yuan Brush from his waist, and dabbed the brush tip on the poison
concoction. After which, his expression grew serious as he took in a deep breath, before the brush tip
slowly descended.
Yaoyao was already standing slightly behind Zhou Yuan. If anything unexpected happened, she would
have to personally take action to save the situation.
Shch!
The brush that had been smeared in poison landed on Wei Bin’s skin, causing ‘shch’ sound to be emitted
as black strokes began to appear.
Zhou Yuan’s wrist twisted and turned, the brush tip never stopping like flowing water and moving clouds,
as stroke after stroke swiftly emerged.
Wei Canglan and Wei Qingqing began to frown as they stared at the strokes Zhou Yuan had drawn.
Although they did not have in-depth knowledge of Genesis Runes, they were still able to tell that the rune
Zhou Yuan was currently drawing was a grade 1 Genesis Rune.
A grade 1 Genesis Rune was practically useless against the Devil Miasma Poison.
Although their hearts were filled with doubt, it was not a good time for them to speak up as it would
disturb Zhou Yuan. Hence, the two could only continue to watch in silence.
Zhou Yuan’s full attention was on his work, ignoring everyone else’s gazes. After completing the grade 1
Genesis Rune, his brush once again descended and another grade 1 Genesis Rune began to emerge…
In the subsequent hour, Zhou Yuan drew a total of eight grade 1 Genesis Runes.
“These eight grade 1 Genesis Runes… seem to have nicely surrounded the spot three inches above Wei
Bin’s tail bone.” Wei Canglan’s eyes flashed when he finally made this discovery. The grade 1 Genesis
Runes Zhou Yuan had inscribed were similar to a troop encirclement, tightly sealing off all escapes routes
of the Devil Miasma Poison hidden in Wei Bin’s spine area.
Zhou Yuan exhaled, his forehead now dotted with some perspiration after drawing eight grade 1 Genesis
Runes in succession. He closed his eyes and rested a little before beginning once again.
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This time, his expression was much more serious than before. The rune he was about to draw was the
grade 2 Thousand Poisons Erosion Rune he had recently learnt. What’s more, it was key with regards to
dealing with the Devil Miasma Poison.
Zhou Yuan gathered his concentration for a moment, before his brush abruptly descended. His Spirit
flickered between his brows as it seemed to fuse together with the Heavenly Yuan Brush in his hand.
Shsch shsch!
Pitch-black stroke after stroke appeared, perfectly joined together. Subsequently, Wei Canglan and Wei
Qingqing watched in astonishment as a complicated and mysterious Genesis Rune slowly emerged.
“A grade 2 Genesis Rune.” Wei Canglan and Wei Qingqing exchanged a look, both could sense something
extraordinary about this grade 2 Genesis Rune.
The tip of Zhou Yuan’s brush finally stopped, and he let out a sigh of relief as if a huge burden had been
lifted from his shoulders as he gazed at the completed Genesis Rune. The Thousand Poisons Erosion Rune
had been successfully completed.
“The most important step comes next.” Wei Canglan’s and Wei Qingqing’s hearts shook when they heard
Zhou Yuan’s following words.
The Heavenly Yuan Brush in Zhou Yuan’s hand gently dotted on the most inner grade 1 Genesis Rune. A
gentle glow immediately rose from it as it began to slowly squirming like an eight-claw snake sending out
a taunt.
As the grade 1 Genesis Rune twisted and taunted, Wei Bin suddenly cried out in pain. Everyone watched
in horror as the skin on his spine area suddenly began to turn black as the night.
The black patch began to spread like ink, pouncing directly at the surrounding grade 1 Genesis Rune.
When the Devil Miasma Poison ferociously surged over, the grade 1 Genesis Rune suddenly dispersed as
if an entire battalion had turned into smoke. This caused the surging Devil Miasma Poison to charge into
the layers of Grade 1 Genesis Runes that had surrounded it.
All of the grade 1 Genesis Runes activated at this moment. As they rotated, the Devil Miasma Poison was
sliced into various chunks.
Each chunk of poisonous Qi blackened patches of Wei Bin’s skin, a rather ghastly sight.
Zhou Yuan’s expression did not change as the Heavenly Yuan Brush dotted once again. One of the
separated pieces of Devil Miasma Poison charged out of the encirclement, arriving in front of the
Thousand Poisons Erosion Rune.
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The Thousand Poisons Erosion Rune also contained a powerful poison. Hence, when the two poisons
bumped into each other, it was akin to the meeting of two ferocious tigers in the mountainous woods, no
words were spoken and the fight immediately began.
The Devil Miasma Poison transformed into a black mist as it surged towards the Thousand Poisons
Erosion Rune. The latter seemed to joyfully respond without any fear, the rune squirming like a gigantic
mouth. It allowed the Devil Miasma Poison to flow in and thoroughly devoured it.
After swallowing the Devil Miasma Poison, the rune slowly rotated as a strange black light flickered on it.
Moments later, the light dimmed as everyone saw a sliver of black poison mist rise from Wei Bin’s skin.
This sliver of poison mist gave off a nauseating miasma-like stench.
However, Wei Canglan and Wei Qingqing could not help but glow with joy when they saw the poison mist.
It was very familiar to them, this poison mist was the Devil Miasma Poison!
In other words, the Devil Miasma Poison in Wei Bin’s body had been neutralized!
“It’s still not finished. This is only the beginning.”
Zhou Yaun reminded them because another piece of the Devil Miasma Poison had rushed towards the
Thousand Poisons Erosion Rune.
Wei Canglan’s eyes shined and could not help but praise out loud, “Impressive, truly impressive!”
Wei Qingqing was somewhat puzzled. “How is this grade 2 Genesis Rune of his able to neutralize the
Devil Miasma Poison?”
Wei Canglan’s eyes were filled with admiration as he explained, “That is the amazing part about his
highness’ method. It’s similar to a war strategy. First, one of the grade 1 Genesis Runes acts as the bait,
drawing out the Devil Miasma Poison. Next, the seven grade 1 Genesis Runes slice up the Devil Miasma
Poison, continuously weakening it before sending each piece to the waiting grade 2 Genesis Rune.”
“The grade 2 Genesis Rune contains a powerful poison. Poison against poison, poison to neutralize
poison. Each piece of Devil Miasma Poison that comes ends up thoroughly neutralized.”
“If this continues, the Devil Miasma Poison in Wei Bin’s body will finally be fully neutralized!”
“Amazing! Truly amazing!” Wei Canglan stared at Zhou Yan as if he was a treasure. Zhou Yuan’s method
may not look as impactful as when master Ying showed his grade 3 Genesis Rune, but with the teamwork
of many grade 1 Genesis Runes and a grade 2 Genesis Rune, the Devil Miasma Poison could only dance on
the palm of his hand.
Even an Alpha-Origin stage expert like Wei Canglan was awed by such Genesis Rune mastery and finesse.
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By the side, Wei Qingqing was also inwardly shocked after hearing her father’s explanation. It was
obvious that she had not expected that Zhou Yuan would be achieve such a feat.
“Looks like little brother will be saved!”
Wei Qingqing was overwhelmed by emotion, her white teeth biting into her red lips as her eyes turned
slightly red. An extraordinary splendor appeared in her eyes as she looked towards the bedside where
the handsome youth was seated.
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Chapter 70 Get
Wisps of black smoke together with a nauseating stench occasionally rose into the air within the bright
and spacious room.
However, the people in the room did not show any disgust in response to the appalling smell. Instead,
only joy could be seen on their faces.
It was because this meant that more and more of the Devil Miasma Poison was being neutralized.
Wei Canglan’s eyes were filled with emotion as he looked at Wei Bin’s waist area, where the patch of
pitch-black had already receded substantially, the black from before not as deep as it had been.
By the side, Wei Qingqing tightly clenched her fists. It was hard for her to control her overflowing
emotions.
Although they were both a little overwhelmed, they did not make any noise that would disturb Zhou
Yuan. The latter currently wore a solemn look on his face, while perspiration dotted his entire forehead.
The Heavenly Yuan Brush in his hand continued to descend, patching the parts of the Genesis Runes that
had faded due to the repetitive attacks of the Devil Miasma Poison.
In fact, several places had even been broken.
Thus, Zhou Yuan needed to continuously do repairs to maintain the formation. If not, it would become
much more difficult to encircle and draw out the Devil Miasma Poison again if it were allowed to break
out.
Light flickered between Zhou Yuan’s brow, a sign that his Spirit was being pushed to its limit.
Controlling a formation of eight grade 1 Genesis Runes and a grade 2 Genesis Rune was pretty exhausting
even for someone like Zhou Yuan whose Spirit was at the mid Illusory stage. The only thing he could do
was tough it out, clench his teeth and endure.
Sweat fell dripped from his forehead into his eyes, causing a prickling pain.
Suddenly, a faint fragrance drifted over as a fair hand reached out with a handkerchief, wiping away the
sweat on Zhou Yuan’s head.
Zhou Yuan’s eyes turned and was somewhat shocked to see that the owner of the handkerchief was Wei
Qingqing.
Upon sensing Zhou Yuan’s gaze, Wei Qingqing pursed her lips into a slight smile.
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Zhou Yuan nodded, indicating his gratitude, before casting his attention back to the Genesis Runes.
Time slowly flowed and noon unknowingly arrived.
Only a half-fist sized patch of pitch-black Devil Miasma Poison was left at Wei Bin’s lower backbone area.
In addition, it had also become less concentrated. From the looks of it, full neutralization was not far off.
However, just as everyone breathed a sigh of relief, the lump of Devil Miasma Poison suddenly began to
squirm, suddenly splitting up and charging in all directions as if it had gone mad.
“Oh no! The Devil Miasma Poison wants to escape. It intends to hide in the depths of little Bin’s body!”
Wei Canglan’s expression changed slightly. The Devil Miasma Poison was troublesome indeed, it had
instinctively began to search for somewhere to hide the moment it sensed its life was threatened. It will
be very dangerous if it was allowed to conceal itself again.
Zhou Yuan calmly said, “Relax, it will not be able to escape.”
After which, with a dot of the Heaven Yuan Brush, the layers of Genesis Runes suddenly began to swell,
cutting off all routes of escape. At the same time, the Thousand Poisons Erosion Rune that was originally
outside the encirclement also slipped in and began to counter-attack.
Blobs of Devil Miasma Poison dashed in all directions, but it was completely useless. Every one was
eventually swallowed by the Thousand Poisons Erosion Rune, transforming into wisps of black smoke
that rose into the air.
After dozens of minutes, the final piece of Devil Miasma Poison was purged and the entire room lapse into
silence.
Phew.
Zhou Yuan breathed out heavily as if a great burden had been lifted from his shoulders. Just as he desired
to stand up, a wave of dizziness washed over his head, causing him to stumble backwards.
Thud!
However, his body did not fall to the ground. Instead, he crashed into something fragrant, warm and soft.
This caused him to be stunned, his eyes quickly turning as the sight of a beast baring its fangs appeared
before him.
Tuntun was snarling at him.
He raised his head, only to find Yaoyao’s distant eyes staring at him.
Yaoyao’s red lips parted slightly and she said, “If you don’t get up, I will let Tuntun swallow you whole.”
479
Tuntun grinned, showing its teeth to Zhou Yuan.
Zhou Yuan’s body instantly straightened, standing up while secretly cursing the insatiable little beast in
his heart. All of the dried Genesis Beast meat he had fed it had truly been wasted.
Zhou Yuan massaged his forehead as he smiled at the still silent Wei Canglan and Wei Qingqing, “Great
general, I have by some chance not humiliated myself and managed to complete the task.”
“*Sniffle*, little brother!” Wei Qingqing was the first to regain her senses. She immediately pounced over
and hugged the young boy as she cried.
The only son of their Wei family had at long last been saved.
Wei Canglan’s somewhat trembling hands wiped at his eyes, before he turned towards Zhou Yuan and
bowed deeply.
Zhou Yuan hurriedly pulled the great general up as he said, “Please rise great general, I cannot accept
such a grand gesture.”
“Your highness, there is not much to say. My family will remember this debt.” Wei Canglan’s voice was a
little soft.
By the side, Lu Tieshan, whose entire body had been tense while he stared at Wei Canglan from start to
end, inwardly sighed in relief. Thankfully, his highness had succeeded.
Zhou Yuan smiled and said, “Each of us did what we had to for what we needed. There is no need for great
general to go so far.”
Wei Canglan waved his hand. A servant girl brought over a small jade box which he took and personally
passed to Zhou Yuan. “The Genesis Swallowing Rock is inside.”
Excitement rose in Zhou Yuan’s heart when he heard this. He very carefully received the small jade box
and opened it. A palm-sized dusty-yellow rock lay within it. There were two holes on the rock, a big one
and a small one. A suction force spread from the small hole, absorbing the surrounding Genesis Qi while
Genesis Qi poured out from the big hole. He could feel that the Genesis Qi that exited the big hole was
purer than normal.
This was indeed a Genesis Swallowing Rock!
Joy emerged in Zhou Yuan’s eyes as he kept the box in his Universe bag. The Genesis Swallowing Rock
was his at last. Now, he only needed to obtain the grade 4 python-type Genesis Beast spirit and all the
ingredients for him to learn the first level of the Ancestral Dragon Scripture would be gathered.
This transaction was not a loss for him at all.
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Wei Canglan solemnly said, “Your highness, I will discuss with you in detail with regards to the ruins in
Blackwater later on. Don’t worry, since I’ve agreed to your conditions, I will definitely do all I can to
help!”
“Then I’ll have to give my thanks to great general.” Zhou Yuan was elated. With Wei Canglan’s promise, he
now had some guarantee of sorts in the battle of the ruins. After all, the great general’s faction was one of
the two strongest powers in the area.
Zhou Yuan and the rest understood that the Wei family was currently in a celebratory mood, thus and
did not plan on disturbing. Hence, they bid their goodbyes, giving the family some time for themselves.
“Zhou Yuan cured Wei Bin?! How is that possible?” In a certain manor, Qi Hao abruptly stood up, his face
full of disbelief.
By the side, Qi Ling also had an expression of shock.
Wei Ting smiled bitterly as she nodded. Although she too felt that it was unbelievable, it was indeed the
truth.
Qi Hao’s face was white with anger, cracking sounds emitting from his tightly clenched fist as he howled
in a low voice, “Zhou Yuan, you dare to spoil my plans!”
Now that this had happened, the entire year of effort he had invested in Canglan County had basically
been wasted.
Qi Hao’s eyes turned as dark as a storm as he said, “If Zhou Yuan has really cured Wei Bin, given Wei
Canglan’s character, he will very likely do all he can to aid Zhou Yuan in obtaining the treasures in the
ruins.”
“First young master, we cannot linger any longer in Canglan County or we will surely fall under Wei
Canglan’s surveillance.”
Qi Hao gnashed his teeth, eyes filled with iciness, his face sinister as he cursed, “Wei Canglan, since you
wish to seek death, I will grant your wish!”
After cursing in a low voice, he decisively said, “Go, we’ll leave Canglan County. Qi Manor must obtain the
Fire Spirit Grain. If Wei Canglan dares to help Zhou Yuan vie with us, I will let him know that he is not as
important as he thinks in the eyes of Qi Manor!”
As he walked out of the door, a dark gaze shot towards the general’s residence while his five fingers
clenched into a fist.
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“Zhou Yuan, do not think that you have won because Wei Canglan is now aiding you. If you dare to enter
Blackwater, I will ensure you that you do not return!”
“Qi Manor has already decided that the Fire Spirit Grain will be ours. If you dare to have any designs on it,
Blackwater will be your grave!”
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Chapter 71 Roped In
Great general’s residence, main hall.
Wei Canglan and Wei Qingqing were seated in the upper area. Both of their faces were currently filled
with joy, and the worry that had long entrenched itself between their brows had already completely
faded.
Evidently, Wei Canglan had very carefully searched Wei Bin’s body after Zhou Yuan and the rest had left.
After sensing the growing life force within Wei Bin’s body, they were finally certain that the Devil Miasma
Poison had been completely neutralized.
The worry that had hovered over the great general’s residence for several years had finally been
dispersed.
When Zhou Yuan and his group entered the main room, Wei Canglan and Wei Qingqing hastily rose and
cupped their fists together, “The Wei family will never forget your highness kindness!”
Zhou Yuan chuckled as he shot a glance at Yaoyao beside him. Truthfully speaking, he would not have
been able to neutralize the Devil Miasma Poison without her guidance.
Hence, Zhou Yuan was now even more in admiration of Yaoyao’s attainments in Genesis Runes. The
method of utilising eight grade 1 Genesis Runes and a grade 2 Genesis Rune in unison was no less
effective than a true grade 3 Genesis Rune.
“Please sit your highness. I understand that your goal for coming to Canglan County is the ruins in
Blackwater, right?” Wei Canglan smiled.
Zhou Yuan nodded, his expression solemn as he replied, “The Fire Spirit Grain is of paramount
importance to Great Zhou and we have to obtain it. Or else, it will become an extremely huge threat if it
falls into anyone else’s hands.”
He stared at Wei Canglan as he spoke. A grade 4 Genesis Food like the Fire Spirit Grain was just too great
of a strategic resource. Hence, Zhou Yuan could not be sure if Wei Canglan harbored any thoughts about
it.
After all, Wei Canglan’s faction would be able to rapidly grow if he were to obtain it.
Wei Canglan cast a glance at Zhou Yuan. An experienced and shrewd man like him was naturally able to
decipherl the meaning behind Zhou Yuan’s gaze. With a soft laugh, Wei Canglan said, “Don’t worry your
highness, I do not have much ambitions and only want to safeguard the peace of my family.”
Zhou Yuan answered, “I hope that you are not overly offended by my suspicions with regards your
intentions.”
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Although he uttered these words, his expression did not change. It was after all necessary to probe Wei
Canglan’s intentions.
Wei Canglan waved his hand, indicating that he did not mind. “Since your highness is here for the
treasures within the ruins, do you know of the details concerning it?”
Zhou Yuan shook his head. His knowledge was very limited due to being pressed for time. Thus, he had
planned on collecting information after arriving at Canglan County.
Wei Canglan slowly said, “Blackwater is extremely vast and to be honest, the Blackwater we currently
know of is only the outer area. It is said that countless powerful Genesis Beasts occupy the deepest areas
and even grade 4 Genesis Beasts are a common sight there.”
“Long long ago, many powerful factions existed in Blackwater, but they gradually disappeared as time
passed. As such, Blackwater slowly became the deserted forbidden danger zone it is today.”
“From the information we have gathered, the ruins that have appeared this time are likely left behind by
a faction that once existed in Blackwater, an ancient faction known as the Battle Puppet Sect.”
“Battle Puppet Sect?” Surprise colored Zhou Yuan’s face. It was evident that he never imagined that the
ruins would have such an origin.
“It is rumored that this ancient faction specialized in creating extremely powerful battle puppets.
Therefore, there will likely be various kinds of battle puppets in the ruins, making it very dangerous.” Wei
Canglan’s expression was grave as he continued, “The biggest problem however is the presence of an
extremely formidable battle puppet, a giant python battle puppet that uses a grade 4 python-type Genesis
Beast spirit as its core. It will be very difficult for even an Alpha-Origin stage expert to face it.”
At this point, Zhou Yuan’s expression suddenly changed as he interjected, “Grade 4 python-type Genesis
Beast spirit?”
Wei Canglan nodded.
“Never imagined that I would encounter a grade 4 python-type Genesis Beast Spirit here.” Zhou Yuan was
pleasantly surprised, but soon after, he let out a bitter laugh. To obtain the beast spirit, he would have to
first eliminate the battle puppet that comparable to an Alpha-Origin stage expert.
For someone like himself, it was a task as difficult as ascending the heavens.
“What a headache.” Zhou Yuan shook his head. It seems that learning the first level Omni Python Qi was
truly an uphill task.
“Also… besides the dangers of the ruins, there are other things that must not be overlooked.” Wei
Canglan’s voice was a little heavy.
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Zhou Yuan asked, “Is great general referring to the factions in Blackwater?”
“All of the Blackwater factions are nothing to worry, with one single exception, which is also our most
formidable foe!” At this point, cold light flashed in Wei Canglan’s eyes.
“The Black Venom King.” Zhou Yuan’s eyes also became grave.
Wei Canglan slowly nodded. “The Black Venom King has reigned like a tyrant in Blackwater for many
years and Black Venom City is currently the strongest faction in Blackwater. Someone as ambitious as the
Black Venom King definitely will not miss out on the Fire Spirit Grain.”
Zhou Yuan nodded. He clearly understood the strategic value the Fire Spirit Grain had to any faction. The
Black Venom King would never give up on such an item as long as there was even a tiny trace of ambition
in his heart.
Therefore, it was a must to guard against the Black Venom King.
“There is one other factions besides the Black Venom King…” Zhou Yuan paused.
Wei Canglan shot a look at Zhou Yuan and nodded in agreement. “Indeed, Qi Manor has been watching
the situation like a tiger, but king Qi is likewise being kept in check by Zhou Qing in Great Zhou City,
making it impossible for him to rush over. It will be difficult for Qi Hao to stir up anything alone.”
Zhou Yuan softly said, “It will still be best to be a little cautious.”
Wei Canglan fell into thought for a moment before beckoning to a guard with a wave of his hand. “Send
some soldiers to the manor Qi Hao is staying at and blockade it off. No one will be allowed to leave.”
The guard hesitated for a moment upon hearing this before replying in a low voice, “Great general, there
is something I have to report beforehand. Qi Hao has already left the city with his men two hours ago. We
do not know where he has went.”
Wei Canglan frowned. “This brat is a sharp one, to think that he escaped so quickly.”
Zhou Yuan was likewise a little amazed by how fast Qi Hao had ran, however, there was nothing they
could do now that he was gone. At very least, he had gained the upper hand in their previous clash and
won the aid of the powerful Wei Canglan.
Zhou Yuan asked, “General Wei, when shall we set off?”
Wei Canglan answered, “The various factions are currently mobilizing their manpower, however, the
ruins are layered with danger and an army loses its effectiveness there. Hence, we should send a group of
elites.”
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Zhou Yuan nodded in agreement. The Canglan army would not be very useful in such a place even if they
managed to squeeze all of them in. In fact, it would probably increase the number of casualties instead.
Wei Canglan smiled and declared, “I will personally be leading a group this time. There are eight Heaven
Gate stage experts in the Canglan army. Three will be left to defend the city, while the other five will
follow me into the ruins. In addition, there will also be an elite squad of Qi Nourishing experts joining us.
We will set out in five days and head into Blackwater.”
This group was practically the strongest force the Canglan army had to offer. Wei Canglan was clearly a
man of his word. Since he had promised to help Zhou Yuan, he would naturally do everything he could.
An understanding Zhou Yuan immediately cupped his fists and thanked, “Then I’ll have to give my thanks
to the great general.”
Zhou Yuan and his group left after discussing some other details.
Wei Canglan leaned against his seat, watching Zhou Yuan’s leaving figure as he lightly tapped the tabletop
and sighed, “I never imagined that the frail little boy from so many years ago would grow into such a
promising young man. His majesty is truly fortunate.”
By the side, Wei Qingqing gave a slight nod as she said, “His talent in Genesis Runes is indeed amazing,
however, his strength is still a little lacking. He hasn’t even reached the Qi Nourishing stage.”
Wei Canglan could not help but chuckle. “You would not say such a thing if you knew that he was not even
able to find his eight meridian channels half a year ago, making him incapable to beginning channel
opening cultivation.”
“Half a year ago?” Wei Qingqing was stunned. She seemed to vaguely recall that Zhou Yuan had been
unable to locate his meridian channels in the past, but she never knew that his rise had happened over
such a short period.
After all, even she had spent two years to reach the Qi Nourishing stage. On the other hand, Zhou Yuan
would likely unblock his eighth meridian channel in less than a month.
Wei Canglan sighed softly, pity in his eyes as he gazed at Zhou Yuan’s leaving figure.
“It’s such a pity. Our prince originally possessed the sacred dragon blessings. If not for Great Wu’s python
and sparrow stealing his blessings, who knows what kind achievements his highness would have attained
by now.”
“In all likelihood, even I would not dare to butt heads with him and can only choose to yield.”
Wei Qingqing’s face changed slightly when she heard the respected Wei Canglan speak such words. She
raised her head, looking in the direction that Zhou Yuan had left in as she gently bit her red lips,
admiration rippling in her eyes.
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The young prince whom she had first viewed to be a player was obviously not as simple as she had
thought.
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Chapter 72 Black Venom King
In a certain serene courtyard.
Su Youwei was silently seated on a boulder. Her back was straight, the curves on her chest faintly visible,
while her supple and slender waist really made one have to impulse to hook an arm around it.
Genesis Qi flowed around her body, thread after thread converging towards her from the surroundings
and ultimately pouring into her body.
Meanwhile, the faint rumble of thunder seemed to echo from within her body.
Su Youwei suddenly opened her clear as water eyes and a flash of scarlet-red lightning seemed to flit
across them. In the next instant, she reached out a hand and gently grasped.
Rumble!
Scarlet-red Genesis Qi rose from her right hand. It seemed as if lightning was dancing and fire burning
inside as a domineering aura spread.
She extended her left hand and ice-blue Genesis Qi rose from it. This Genesis Qi gave off an extremely cold
aura, freezing even the air itself as it ascended towards the sky.
Grade 4 Genesis Qi, Flame-Thunder Qi!
Grade 4 Genesis Qi, Niflheim Qi!
The Flame-Thunder mantra and the Niflheim sutra had finally been simultaneously mastered by Su
Youwei.
Su Youwei’s bright eyes were filled with joy, emotion skipping across her face as she observed the two
different attribute Genesis Qi surging on her hands. She could clearly feel that her strength had rose
sharply after mastering these two types of Genesis Qi.
Although she had previously reached the Qi Nourishing stage, the Genesis Qi in her body had remained at
the most basic attributeless state because she had not learnt any Qi cultivation methods. This naturally
meant that her attacks did not have any special effects and was much weaker than others.
*Clap clap!*
While Su Youwei was happily watching the two types of Genesis Qi, applause was suddenly heard. She
lifted her head to look and found Zhou Yuan standing nearby, a huge grin on his face as he clapped.
“Your highness.” Su Youwei revealed a faint smile.
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“Congratulations. Now that you’ve mastered these divine techniques, unifying the world is just around
the corner!” Zhou Yuan teased.
Su Youwei’s gaze were somewhat charming as she rolled her eyes at him. She then raised her hand and
let out a soft snort. “Want to test its power?”
Zhou Yuan’s smile twisted awkwardly. Su Youwei’s battle power had undoubtedly soared after
successfully learning the two grade 4 Genesis Qi. She may only be at the initial Qi Nourishing stage, but in
a real fight, it was likely that even an advance Qi Nourishing stage expert would find it difficult to beat
her.
After all, wielding two types of Genesis Qi was enough to give her opponents a huge headache.
Zhou Yuan was confident that he was not weaker than the Su Youwei when she had initially stepped into
the Qi Nourishing stage. But now, it was likely that he was no longer Su Youwei’s match. He would have to
reach the Qi Nourishing stage and borrow the powers of Genesis Runes to have any chance of matching
the current Su Youwei.
Of course, that was under the precondition that he had not learnt the first level of the Ancestral Dragon
Scripture and obtained the Omni Python Qi.
“The Ancestral Dragon Scripture is really difficult.” As these thoughts churned his head, Zhou Yuan
involuntarily let out a sigh. In Su Youwei’s case, although many Genesis resources were needed to learn
the Flame-Thunder mantra and the Niflheim sutra, these resources could be bought with Genesis crystals.
This was how Su Youwei was able to successfully master them with her talent in about ten days.
In contrast, he had yet to even gather the Genesis resources he needed, a comparison that really made
him want to cry.
Fortunately, his eighth meridian channel was growing increasingly loose due to his efforts. It would not
be long before it was completely unblocked.
“Let’s go, we will be heading to Blackwater today.” Zhou Yuan withdrew his frustrations and smiled
towards Su Youwei.
Su Youwei gave a small nod in response and followed Zhou Yuan out of the general’s residence after
tidying up a little.
Wei Canglan was already waiting outside the residence. Beside him was a slender and elegant figure
clothed in red soft-armor, battle skirt and battle boots, Wei Qingqing.
Her slightly high battle boots really emphasized those unreasonable pair of fair, long and slender legs.
Even Zhou Yuan could not help but cast them a second glance.
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Wei Qingqing might not be able to match Su Youwei’s and Yaoyao’s peerless looks, but her impressive
long legs were a huge boost to her points and made one unable to forget them.
Behind Wei Canglan and Wei Qingqing were five figures. Powerful Genesis Qi surged around them,
evidence that they were experts of the Heaven Gate stage.
Even further behind was a squad of roughly a dozen elites. Every single one of them had the strength of
the Qi Nourishing stage.
This group was probably the most powerful force in Canglan County.
Beside Wei Canglan’s group was the squad from the imperial guards. Lu Tieshan led the group of three
Heaven Gate stage experts and twelve Qi Nourishing stage practitioners.
The combination of both line-ups was pretty grand indeed.
“Are you ready your highness?” Wei Canglan smiled upon seeing Zhou Yuan emerge.
Zhou Yuan nodded.
Wei Canglan was a swift and decisive individual. With a wave of his hand, he yelled, “Then let us set off.”
As his shout rang out, the two groups began to move. They surged out of the city like a flood, speeding
towards Blackwater.
Blackwater, Black Venom City, residence of the city lord.
A familiar figure was seated in the guest room. It was Qi Hao, who had slipped away from Canglan County
some time ago.
“Oh? Qi Manor wants to cooperate with me?”
A raspy voice echoed in the guest room. If one turned to look, one would find a middle-aged man dressed
in a black robe wearing a superficial smile on his face. His nose was sharp and black specks dotted his
face. Wisps of black Qi rose around him, spreading a faint stench.
This middle-aged man in black robes was the infamous lord of Black Venom City, the Black Venm King!
Facing the infamous Black Venom King caused cold sweat to emerge on Qi Hao’s forehead. However, he
was able to maintain his bearings as he nodded and cupped his fists together. “With regards to the ruins
that have appeared in Blackwater this time, the Great Zhou royal clan and Wei Canglan have already
joined forces. Although Black Venom City can be said to be the overlord of Blackwater, as the saying goes,
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a single tree cannot support an entire forest. If you cooperate with Qi Manor, we will definitely be able to
cause them heavy losses.”
“I do not fear Wei Canglan.” The Black Venom King chuckled, his expression eerie as he stared at Qi Hao.
“Moreover, do you really believe I do not know that Zhou Qing has not come. Without another Alpha-
Origina stage expert like him, Wei Canglan will not be able to handle me.”
“Therefore, I conclude that you’ve come with the hopes of borrowing my power to deal with Wei
Canglan.”
“Since that is so, show me your sincerity, or else…”
The rising black Qi around the Black Venom King caused Qi Hao to freeze for a second. Soon after, he said
in a low voice, “Black Venom King should know that Wei Canglan views you as a giant thorn in his side
and seeks to eliminate you at all times.”
“I believe that you too wish to eliminate this huge danger, am I right?”
The Black Venom King’s eyes narrowed slightly. Wei Canglan had stationed himself in Canglan County,
carefully observing every single movement from Black Venom City. The moment they made a move, Wei
Canglan would immediately react and stop them, causing numerous problems for the Black Venom King
over the past few years. Hence, the Black Venom King similarly viewed Wei Canglan as a huge problem
that needed to be solved.
“As long as Black Venom King helps Qi Manor obtain the Fire Spirit Grain, when we finally overthrow the
royal clan, Canglan County will belong to Black Venom City.”
“Oh?” The Black Venom King raised an eyebrow. “So certain that you will be able to overthrow the royal
clan?”
Qi Hao laughed coldly. “Qi Manor has the backing of the Great Wu Empire. Does Black Venom King believe
that a pitifully struggling Great Zhou royal clan will be able to match the Great Wu Empire?”
The Black Venom King was silent for some time, before he slowly said, “A treasure like the Fire Spirit
Grain is very valuable to Black Venom City.”
Qi Hao flatly replied, “But Black Venom City will not be able to obtain it. If you do, Qi Manor will not let
this matter rest, nor will the Great Wu Empire behind us allow it.”
The Black Venom King snorted disdainfully when he heard the front half of Qi Hao’s words, but the
former’s expression changed upon hearing Great Wu Empire as fear flitted across his eyes.
After all, the current Grea Wu Empire was nothing like Great Zhou. Great Wu was a flourishing nation that
had numerous experts, an existence that greatly exceeded his Black Venom City. If they offended Great
Wu, he, the Black Venom King, would end up a stray dog.
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What the Black Venom King did not know however, was that Great Wu was currently warring against two
other empires, and did not have any attention to spare to a remote place such as Blackwater.
The Black Venom King’s eyes flickered with thought. A long while later, he slowly said, “I can cooperate
with you.”
Joy immediately lit up Qi Hao’s face.
“However…” The Venom King paused before he coldly said, “Canglan County alone isn’t enough to move
me, I will need the two other cities neighbouring Blackwater.”
Qi Hao’s expression instantly changed when he heard this. There were only thirteen cities in the entire
Great Zhou Empire and the Black Venom King planned to swallow three of them, including Canglan
County. This was practically a quarter of Great Zhou’s land. Such an appetite could only be described as
enormous.
The Black Venom King said in an indifferent voice, “If you do not agree, please return to where you came
from.”
The expression in Qi Hao’s eyes fluctuated rapidly, before he eventually gritted his teeth and gave his
answer. “Alright. As long as you aid us in obtaining the Fire Spirit Grain, those three cities will belong to
Black Venom City in future!”
A smile finally appeared on the Black Venom King’s sinister-looking face when he heard these words.
“Since that is so, Black Venom City will accept this transaction.”
Qi Hao secretly sighed in relief. As he raised his head, a vicious look flitted across his eyes as he looked
towards the distant Canglan County.
Zhou Yuan, don’t be so happy just because you managed to win over Wei Canglan. The victor in this battle
for the ruins has yet to be decided!
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Chapter 73 Into Blackwater
Blackwater, a land fraught with danger.
But at the same time, a place that was overflowing with opportunity.
In the far past, numerous powerful factions existed within Blackwater. Every one of these factions was
stronger than the empires currently bordering Blackwater. Due to some unknown reason, the factions
within Blackwater disappeared one after another, allowing more and more Genesis Beasts to flood
Blackwater, transforming it into the Genesis Beast heaven it is today.
However, although these ancient factions had disappeared, some things would ultimately be left behind,
things that made countless Genesis Masters madly scramble towards them.
In Blackwater, luck would occasionally favor certain fortunate souls, allowing them to ascend to the skies
in a single step and let their names echo loudly across the land.
Over time, more and more Genesis Masters swarmed towards this place, risking all sorts of dangers as
they searched for opportunities in hopes of becoming the next individual to earn luck’s blessings.
But the ones who are graced by luck are ultimately few in number, and majority end up as part of the
piles of bones buried under this bloody and chaotic land.
Blackwater was a place of chaos and killing, a place where the strong preyed on the weak.
However, Zhou Yuan’s group was obviously not weak prey. Thus, although they drew countless eyes
wherever they went in Blackwater, no one dared to make any moves against them.
Many factions of various sizes existed within Blackwater, each king of their own territories. The passing
of Zhou Yuan, Wei Canglan and the rest of the group would cause these factions to be on high alert.
After all, anyone who spent most of their time in Blackwater knew that there were two factions that could
not be offended. One was the infamous Black Venom King, and the other was great general Wei Canglan
of Canglan County.
Zhou Yuan’s group may be few in number, but all of them were elites. Moreover, there was an Alpha-
Origin expert with them, Wei Canglan. This line-up was enough to easily sweep away any faction with the
exception of Black Venom City.
Hence, upon seeing Zhou Yuan’s group, the Blackwater factions would fall into a state of panic, afraid that
this terrifying party would pounce on them in the next moment.
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However, Zhou Yuan and the rest obviously paid no attention to these factions. As long as they did not
obstruct the former, Zhou Yuan and gang would quickly pass through.
This situation continued for several days as Zhou Yuan and the rest gradually approached their
destination…
Devil Prison City, the city closest to the ruins. The city lord was an advance Heaven Gate stage expert and
was rather famous in Blackwater. He was after all capable enough to govern a city here.
Although Devil Prison City was normally a rather bustling place, ever since news of the ruins had spread,
the city had immediately become a lodging point for the numerous factions that had come in search of
treasures. Thus causing the population of the city to rise dramatically.
Countless people journeyed to the ruins every day, though none dared to venture too deep. After all,
there were all kinds of bizarre battle puppets inside, which would potentially become a thorny problem if
one caught their attention. Yet, there were also some fortunate fellows who stumbled into certain places
and brought out several strange ‘toys’. Such items were very popular and sold for handsome sums of
Genesis crystals, allowing these lucky fellows to earn a small fortune…
None of the city guards dared to stop Zhou Yuan, Wei Canglan and the rest when they entered Devil
Prison City, allowing the latters to do as they pleased.
In Devil Prison City, Zhou Yuan and gang booked an entire inn, settling everyone's accommodations.
After helping everyone settle down, Wei Canglan found Zhou Yuan and suggested, “Your highness, this is
the closest city to the Battle Puppet Sect ruins and quite a number of people have already made their way
to the ruins from here. We should be able to obtain information regarding the ruins here so I suggest that
we take a look.”
Zhou Yuan was pretty much fine with anything. Their non-stop travels over the past few days had been
exceptionally dull. Did no one else see the looks of interest on Su Youwei’s, Wei Qingqing’s and even
Yaoyao’s faces when they heard Wei Canglan make his proposal?
Therefore, after tidying up a little, the group left the inn along with a few bodyguards.
Devil Prison City was not as grand as Great Zhou City or Canglan County, the former gave off a rather
simplistic feeling and was filled with disorder.
Two waves of men would clash from time to time on the streets, every strike from each individual fatal in
nature. This resulted in still warm bodies being thrown out occasionally, causing the entire city to be
blanketed in an aura of cruelness.
Zhou Yuan and his group drew several gazes as they walked in the city. Of course, the majority of these
gazes were aimed at Yaoyao, Su Youwei and the long-legged Wei Qingqing.
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Beauties of such calibre were clearly very rare in such a place.
However, those that could survive till now in Blackwater were at least somewhat discerning. Hence, no
one dared to come forward although the gazes filled with various intentions continued to size-up the
three girls.
After a few turns, Zhou Yuan and the rest eventually arrived at a comparatively cleaner street, a street
overflowing with people and clearly much busier and exciting than everywhere else.
Stores filled the street. The dazzling goods on display very attention grabbing.
“Come, come and take a look. We have newly arrived stock from the ruins. All kinds of treasures can be
found here so be sure not to miss out!”
Zhou Yuan and gang followed the shouting and arrived at the biggest store, where an assortment of
objects in various states of disrepair were on display inside a crystal cabinet. Every item gave off an
ancient aura as if they had just been excavated.
“Have a look everyone, this is a Genesis Weapon we uncovered from the Battle Puppet Sect. It likely used
to be a Black tier Genesis Weapon and we’re offering it at a hugely discounted price. Just one thousand
nine hundred Genesis crystals and you’ll be able to take it away!” Someone yelled from inside the store.
Zhou Yuan turned to see a long bronze spear in the man’s hands. Its body was quite damaged, and it gave
off a dim Genesis Qi pulse. Let alone a Black tier Genesis Weapon, it was likely that it would not even
match a Normal mid grade Genesis Weapon.
But this was only logical. If it was truly a Black tier Genesis Weapon, it would cost at least ten thousand
Genesis crystals, not a measly thousand nine hundred.
Few responded to the spear and only a scattering called out their bids. In the end, it was sold for two
thousand five hundred Genesis crystals and it could be assumed that the buyer had purchased it with the
mentality of hoping to find a treasured pearl under the dust.
Several broken-looking items appeared in succession, each one likely obtained from the Battle Puppet
Sect ruins. Zhou Yuan took a look, but nothing piqued his interest. With his Spirit perception, he could
sense that these items were indeed completely damaged and no longer had any value.
After a while, Zhou Yuan intended to leave with everyone.
Just as he turned his body, Yaoyao suddenly pulled him, her snow-white chin indicating towards crystal
display cabinet. “Buy the item at the bottom left corner.”
Zhou Yuan was stunned. His gaze shifted, only to find an object that resembled a black jade tile. The
surface of the jade tile was mottled, and several cracks could be seen, but a faint pattern was barely
visible.
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Zhou Yuan was somewhat confused, because he could sense that there was not even the slightest trace of
Genesis Qi from the black jade tile.
“What is it?” He asked in a low voice.
Yaoyao smiled faintly as she said, “The jade tile itself is not worth anything, but there seems to be a rather
peculiar incomplete Genesis Rune on it. Something that can give me such a feeling should be rather
special to the Battle Puppet Sect.”
The corner’s of Zhou Yuan’s mouth twitched for a moment. You’re pretty arrogant little miss, I won’t
possibly dare to refute your reasoning.
As he shook his head inside his heart, Zhou Yuan did not probe any further and pointed at the jade tile
and asked directly, “How much?”
The seller’s lips puckered slightly like a monkey. A single look was all it took to know that this was a
shrewd man. Although he too did not know the function of this black jade tile, when he saw Zhou Yuan
ask for a price, his eyes seemed to rotate in thought as his mouth opened, intending to ask for a very
generous sum.
“My money is not so easily scammed. Are you certain that the ones behind you will be able to swallow it?”
An indifferent voice emerged from Zhou Yuan’s lips.
The man’s mouth immediately closed. He had seen Wei Canglan turned towards him with an apathetic
look. The pressure from an Alpha-Origin expert made the man understand that the person before him
could not be offended.
“Hehe, the one who put it up for sale is only asking for two thousand Genesis crystals.” It was a rather
indignant reply.
Zhou Yuan nodded, not wanting to needlessly waste any more time. “Alright, I’ll take it for two thousand
Genesis crystals.”
With a wave of his hand, Liu Tieshan fished out the Genesis crystals and prepared to make payment.
“Wait, I offer three thousand for the jade tile.” However, a chuckle was suddenly heard at this moment.
Zhou Yuan’s eyes narrowed as he turned his head slightly, only to see the crowd part for a group of
people. At the very front, a familiar figure entered Zhou Yuan’s eyes.
“Qi Hao?”
An icy look immediately flitted across Zhou Yuan’s eyes when he saw this figure. To think that he was
hiding in Blackwater.
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Qi Hao grinned at Zhou Yuan before pointing at the black jade tile as he lazily said, “I’ll take three
thousand for it.”
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Chapter 74 The Black Jade Tile
Qi Hao’s sudden appearance instantly caused the atmosphere to become rather tense. Behind Zhou Yuan,
Genesis Qi surged around Lu Tieshan and the rest, their eyes like an eagle’s as they locked onto the
former.
Wei Canglan frowned slightly, staring at Qi Hao as he faintly said, “Qi Hao, there should be no need for Qi
Manor to interfere in such a matter. It will be better for you to return.”
“I’m afraid that a single sentence from general Wei is not enough to deter Qi Manor.” Qi Hao laughed, his
tone filled with mockery.
He had previously been courteous to Wei Canglan because Qi Manor wanted to draw the great general to
their side. Since Wei Canglan had now chosen to help Zhou Yuan, Qi Hao naturally would not give the
former any face.
“Oh?”
Wei Canglan’s eyes opened slightly wider as an astonishing pressure spread from his body, directed
straight at Qi Hao.
In the face of an Alpha-Origin stage expert’s pressure, Qi Hao’s body immediately stiffened.
“Hehe, Wei Canglan, you are still so easily irritable even after so many years.” However, a raspy voice was
heard the moment Wei Canglan’s pressure spread. A figure in black robes slowly walked out from behind
Qi Hao as black Qi rose, completely blocking Wei Canglan’s aura.
“That’s the Black Venom King!”
The emergence of the black robed figure immediately drew cries of horror from the surroundings. The
crowd noisily withdrew, eyes filled with terror. It was clear to see how infamous the Black Venom King
was in Blackwater.
“Black Venom King!”
Wei Canglan was first stunned by the appearance of the middle-aged man in black robes, but his
expression quickly darkened. Intense killing intent surged out of his body, causing the surrounding
Genesis Qi to rebel.
“Oh? Wei Canglan, do you plan on having another bout with me here? Could it be that you have forgotten
the suffering I dished out back then?” The Black Venom King let out a sinister laughter, the black Qi
around his body churning as a horrible stench spread.
Two gazes clashed, hatred and biting-cold murder raging within them.
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“Honoured ones, this little city of mine will not be able to survive a battle between the both of you. With
the Battle Puppet ruins right before our eyes, this is no place for the both of you to fight or others will
take advantage!” As the auras of both individuals grew stronger and stronger, a loud voice suddenly rang
out as a figure flew over from far away and landed nearby.
It was the city lord of Devil Prison City, an individual with the strength of the advance Heaven Gate stage.
Like everyone else, he did not dare to interfere directly in the clash of two Alpha-Origin stage experts.
Fortunately, his quick-wittedness with words made Wei Canglan’s and the Black Venom King’s eyes flash
and their astonishing auras slowly receded.
Neither party was stronger than the other. If they were to fight and end up injured, it would instead
present an opportunity to others.
Wei Canglan icily said, “Humph, if I see you in the ruins, I will definitely kill you!”
“Hehe, it is more likely that you will not be able to leave Blackwater this time.” The Black Venom King
matched the former word for word.
After seeing both of them back down, Zhou Yuan’s gaze turned towards the seller of the store who
currently had an agonized look on his face. Neither side was going to be accommodating, and he did not
dare to offend either one.
“Five thousand Genesis crystals.” Zhou Yuan did not waste his breath and flatly gave his offer.
“Six thousand.” Qi Hao immediately responded. Although he did not know what use the black jade tile
would be, he was hell bent on making things difficult for Zhou Yuan.
“Ten thousand.” Zhou Yuan’s voice remained emotionless.
Qi Hao’s eyes flashed. “Fifteen thousand.”
“Twenty thousand.”
An uproar broke out around them, everyone secretly licking their lips. No one could have imagined that
such a seemingly worthless object would cause such a crazy bidding war. Of course, from what they could
see, Zhou Yuan was purely unwilling to back down due to pride.
Qi Hao was likewise somewhat stunned. He stared at the black jade tile for a long time, but was unable to
discover anything. Not even the tiniest wisp of Genesis Qi could be detected from the black jade tile.
Hence, he laughed and said, “Your highness is truly generous. As the saying goes, a gentleman should not
take what another wants. I’ll yield this item to you.”
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There was a trace of mockery on his lips as he spoke. The original price of two thousand Genesis crystals
had been raised to twenty thousand by him, a fact that was enough to screw Zhou Yuan over this time.
As such, Qi Hao’s pent up frustration due to the previous incident had finally been let out.
The surrounding onlookers looked at Zhou Yuan as if he was a fool. This was not a small sum, spending
twenty thousand Genesis crystals to buy a useless black jade tile was really somewhat dumb.
It was obvious that prince Zhou Yuan had been tricked by Qi Hao.
Zhou Yuan ignored the surrounding gazes and instructed Lu Tieshan to pay as he grabbed the black jade
tile. He did not sense anything even after some observation and thus passed it to Yaoyao as he softly
muttered, “It is worth it?”
The truth was, even he himself felt a little foolish, but he still bought it because he trusted Yaoyao’s
judgement.
Twenty thousand Genesis crystals was no small amount. The Qi Nourishing stage Genesis Masters
present who possessed ten to twenty thousand Genesis crystals after toiling for many years were already
considered rather rich.
As for prince Zhou Yuan, his many years of savings only equated to about fifty thousand Genesis crystals,
almost half of which had been spent in the past few minutes.
Yaoyao gently felt the jade tile with her hand as she observed the ancient patterns on it. With a sudden
laugh, she replied, “You’ll know later on whether it’s worth it or not.”
Zhou Yuan could only helplessly shake his head.
At this moment, the Black Venom King walked over, his eyes fixed on Zhou Yuan as black Qi surged
around his body.
Wei Canglan took half a step forward, his eyes vigilant as he stared at the Black Venom King.
The Black Venom King glanced at Wei Canglan before turning towards Zhou Yuan as his raspy voice
sounded, “Hehe, are you the prince of the Great Zhou Empire? I’ve heard that you managed to neutralize
my Devil Miasma Poison.”
Evidently, he had found out from Qi Hao that Zhou Yuan had neutralized the poison in Wei Bin’s body.
“The Devil Miasma Poison is not that great, neutralizing it is nothing strange.” Zhou Yuan’s expression
was calm.
The Black Venom King’s eyes opened slightly wider. “What an arrogant little brat!”
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With a sinister smile, he said, “Do not feel so confident just because Wei Canglan is protecting you.”
He cast a sideways glance at Wei Canglan as he continued, “Even he suffered quite a bit at my hands. I’m
afraid that you’ve bet wrongly this time.”
Wei Canglan’s face turned black with anger. The Devil Miasma Qi of the Black Venom King was extremely
difficult to deal with. Due to its poisonous nature, it had indeed caused him much suffering and even
affected Wei Bin.
The Black Venom King smiled. “Kid, Qi Manor promised to give me three cities after completing this task,
if you give me six cities, I will help you instead.”
Upon hearing this offer, fury flashed in Zhou Yuan’s eyes, A chilling look appeared in his eyes as he looked
towards Qi Hao. To think that this bastard actually dared to do a transaction with Great Zhou’s land and
citizens.
However, Qi Hao merely smiled nonchalantly in response.
Zhou Yuan withdrew his gaze and said in a calm voice, “It’s enough that general Wei is with me. As for the
Great Zhou Empire’s land, anyone who dares to hope for a share shall be killed.”
The Black Venom King was taken aback. Soon after, he laughed and pointed at Zhou Yuan.
“What a charismatic kid. Excellent. Pray hard that you will never land in my hands, because I really want
to have a taste of what it will be like to boil the prince of Great Zhou.”
“I will not even bother to boil you. A single chop to remove your dog-head is all that is needed.” Zhou
Yuan revealed an icy smile. He had intense hate for someone who repeatedly infringed on Great Zhou’s
borders and slaughtered her citizens.
By the side, Qi Hao let out a mocking laugh and prepared to speak.
“Qi Ritian [1], your fate will be the same if you land in my hands.” Before Qi Hao could speak however,
Zhou Yuan’s cold gaze swept over. The fact that this son of a bitch used Great Zhou’s land in a transaction
infuriated the former even more. Zhou Yuan would not be merciful if Qi Hao landed in his hands.
“Qi Ritian?” Qi Hao was stunned. Soon after, he burst into rage as he frostily said, “Zhou Yuan, you dare to
humiliate me?!”
Zhou Yuan retorted, “The only thing in your family’s bones is rebellion, so what if I humiliate you?”
Qi Hao smiled angrily. “You think you are so great. You’ve not even reached the Qi Nourishing stage and
yet you dare to speak to me in such a manner. If no one was protecting you, I would have killed you
where you stand.”
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He was a true-blue advance Qi Nourishing stage practitioner, while Zhou Yuan had only unblocked seven
meridian channels. It would be easy to slay Zhou Yuan in a direct clash.
“You will have your chance. When the time comes, we will see exactly who will be killing who.” Zhou
Yuan’s voice was emotionless. Once he reached the Qi Nourishing stage, even without the first level of the
Ancestral Dragon Scripture, the Omni Python Qi, he may not necessarily fear Qi Hao if he were to utilise
the power of his Spirit and Genesis Runes.
Qi Hao’s expression darkened after being smothered by Zhou Yuan’s words. The former knew that there
was not much point in continuing to compare whose tongue was sharper. Therefore, he shot a eerily cold
glance at Zhou Yuan, before waving his hand as he turned and left with the Black Venom King and the rest
of the party.
Zhou Yuan watched them leave as his expression became grave. Although it had been easy beat them
with words, he did not dare to underestimate them in the slightest.
“Our most troublesome foe is the Black Venom King that even general Wei will not have much of an
advantage over in a fight. Looks like we have to think of a way to deal with the Black Venom King’s Devil
Miasma Poison, or the situation will become extremely unfavorable to us if anything unfortunate befalls
general Wei…”
Zhou Yuan’s eyes flickered in thought. In the end, he looked towards Yaoyao as a smile emerged on his
lips. The twenty thousand Genesis crystals must not be spent in vain.
[1] *齐昊 & 齐⽇天
The ‘Hao’ (昊 ) character from Qi Hao’s name is made up of two characters, ‘Ri’ (⽇) and ‘Tian’ (天)
Hence, Zhou Yuan is making mockery of Qi Hao’s name by calling him Qi Ritian.
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Chapter 75 The Eighth Meridian Channel
In the inn.
After what had happened previously, everyone’s expression had become a little grave. They understood
that the collaboration between Qi Manor and Black Venom City would undoubtedly become their biggest
obstruction.
Zhou Yuan wore a serious expression as he looked towards Wei Canglan and inquired, “General Wei,
what are you chances of winning against the Black Venom King?”
Wei Canglan hesitated for a moment before he slowly answered, “There are nine levels to the Alpha-
Origin stage and both the Black Venom King and myself are at the second level. Neither of us should be
able to gain the upper hand if we go at it for real… but the Black Venom King has the Devil Miasma Qi, a
top-tier grade 4 Genesis Qi. It is an overbearing poison Qi that can easily infect an opponent in a fight
without him knowing, hence why I suffered at its hands back then.”
“This Devil Miasma Qi is a huge headache.”
Afraid that their morale will suffer, Wei Canglan hastily added in. “Although I am wary of the Devil
Miasma Poison, I will definitely be able to stall the Black Venom King when the time comes.”
Zhou Yaun had a look of complentation on his face. This was no insurance at all. If anything unexpected
happened, the situation would become far too unfavorable for them.
After some thought, he suddenly cast his gaze at Yaoyao, smiling as he asked, “Big sis Yaoyao, could you
think of something?”
Yaoyao currently had her head lowered as she studied the black jade list while carrying Tuntun. She lifted
her head, showing her pretty face as she glared at Zhou Yuan. “I just knew that you were going to ask me.”
On the way back, she had felt Zhou Yuan look towards her from to time to time.
However, she also knew that this was a matter of paramount importance. Hence, after glaring at Zhou
Yuan, her hand reached towards the Universe bag on her hip and retrieved a green scroll which she then
placed on the table. “This is known as the Thousand Wood Poison Safeguard Rune, a top-tier grade 3
Genesis Rune. When activated, it will be able to guard against all kinds of poisons and the Devil Miasma
Poison should be unable to break its defences.”
“A top-tier grade 3 Genesis Rune?” Wei Canglan, Wei Qingqing and the rest stared in amazement at
Yaoyao. Was this young lady before them, who did not give off even the slightest Genesis Qi undulation,
really have such high mastery in the art of Genesis Runes?
Such a Genesis Rune stood at the pinnacle even in the entire Great Zhou Empire.
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Only now did Wei Qingqing realise why Zhou Yuan always insisted on having this seemingly burdensome
girl at his side.
“Great! With the aid of this Genesis Rune, the Black Venom King will no longer pose any threat towards
me. I will be able to attack without worry and thoroughly suppress him. In fact, I may even find a chance
to kill him!” As Wei Canglan grasped the scroll, his face turned slightly red due to intense emotions.
His hatred towards the Black Venom King had long seeped deep into his bones, and he had tried
everything he could to eliminate the latter. Unfortunately, his fear of the Devil Miasma Poison had
ultimately made him lose out in their previous exchanges.
Now that he had this top-tier grade 3 Genesis Rune, the Thousand Wood Poison Safeguard Rune, the
Black Venom King’s greatest weapon no longer posed any threat towards him.
Everyone in the room gave a slight sigh of relief after hearing Wei Canglan’s confident declaration.
Zhou Yuan also smiled and nodded. “I’m relieved that general Wei is confident. Since our information
gathering is almost complete, we shall move out tomorrow and enter the Battle Puppet Sect ruins.”
No one had any objections.
Night fell. The gates of Devil Prison City were tightly shut, while countless Genesis Beast howls resounded
in the mountain forests outside the city. Blackwater was even more dangerous at night.
In one of the rooms in the inn, Zhou Yuan was seated on the bed, his eyes tightly shut and his body faintly
trembling. The faint roar of a dragon could be heard as Genesis Qi pulsed around his body, transforming
into white threads that flowed into his body through his nose.
After meeting Qi Hao and the Black Venom King today, Zhou Yuan now felt a sliver of danger. Although he
had the protection of a group of elites, the most dependable thing after all was one’s own strength.
Hence, his seven channel strength had began to feel rather lacking in Blackwater. It was time for him to
advance to the Qi Nourishing stage.
Zhou Yuan’s chest rose and fell in cycles as Genesis Qi surged within his meridian channels, continuously
attacking the increasingly loosening eighth meridian channel. After these past few days of dogged daily
training, he could sense that unblocking the eighth meridian channel was just around the corner…
Genesis Qi continuously surged within the meridian channels inside his body.
Suddenly, Zhou Yuan’s body violently jerked, activating the Dragon Breath technique as another stream
of Genesis Qi was absorbed into his body. Like a wave, it ferociously slammed into the final bit of
obstruction in the eighth meridian channel.
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Pop!
A faint sound was heard, as if a membrane had been broken.
Zhou Yuan opened his eyes and lowered his head to look at his hands. He could feel a feeling of
transparency and lightness flood his body.
It was as if he had suddenly broken free of chains and shackles.
The surrounding Genesis Qi voluntarily surged towards his body as the quality of his body swiftly rose.
The eighth meridian channel had finally been unblocked!
Zhou Yuan’s body shook as an indescribable feeling rose in his heart. After half a year of hard work, he
had finally unblocked all eight meridian channels.
Eight meridian channels were fully opened once again after over a dozen years.
Zhou Yuan violently sucked in two breaths of air, allowing himself to regain his cool before closing his
eyes. Now that all eight meridian channels had been unblocked, it was time to open his Qi Dwelling.
Only after opening the Qi Dwelling would one be considered to have truly stepped into the Qi Nourishing
stage.
“Come!”
Zhou Yuan’s eyes burned with excitement and anticipation. He had waited far too long for this day to
come.
An almost inaudible dragon roar echoed from within Zhou Yuan’s body. This time, the output from
activating Dragon Breath had increased drastically. The Genesis Qi in the room shuddered violently,
transforming into much thicker white threads that were ultimately swallowed into Zhou Yuan’s body
with a single gulp.
The Genesis Qi in his body swiftly converged towards his lower abdomen, transforming into a swirling
vortex.
When the rotation of the vortex reached its peak, Zhou Yuan suddenly felt a dot appear at the center of
the vortex. The inside of this Genesis dot seemed akin to a mysterious domain, sometimes present yet
sometimes not.
Infinitely small, yet also infinitely massive.
The moment this Genesis dot appeared, the flowing Genesis Qi in his body seemed to have been given a
sudden tug. Genesis Qi surged inside his channels, pouring into the Genesis dot.
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Following the influx of Genesis Qi, it was as if life had emerged from the formless mass of creation inside
the Genesis dot. Space began to develop, forming the Qi Dwelling.
It was at this very moment that the Qi Dwelling in Zhou Yuan’s body was finally created. At long last, the
Genesis Qi he absorbed during his daily training now had a place to be stored, allowing it to gradually
grow stronger. It would be nothing like the past, where the majority of the absorbed Genesis Qi would
subsequently fade after improving the quality of his body.
Zhou Yuan’s Spirit entered the Qi Dwelling and a unique domain entered his eyes where Genesis Qi
flowed in an endless cycle. Subsequently, he saw green light begin to blossom, dying the entire Qi
Dwelling green.
A newly created Qi Dwelling was classified into four different ranks based on one’s talent and the innate
potential of the body. These four ranks were denoted by color: colorless, green, purple and gold.
Zhou Yuan’s Spirit nervously watched the transformation of the Qi Dwelling.
Although he knew that the rank of the Qi Dwelling was not an absolute representation of one’s future
accomplishments, it could not be denied that the higher rank the Qi Dwelling, the greater the advantage.
Green light grew richer and deeper until a speck of purple light began to emerge within it. Purple light
spread, giving the Qi Dwelling a new color.
“Purple Qi Dwelling.”
Upon seeing his Qi Dwelling turn purple, Zhou Yuan finally nodded, clearly very satisfied with this
outcome.
The Qi Dwelling seemed to stabilize at purple, causing Zhou Yuan to breathe a sigh of relief as he began to
leave the Qi Dwelling.
Rumble!
At this moment however, the Qi Dwelling suddenly began to shake. Zhou Yuan abruptly sensed a clearly
very foreign, yet extremely familiar Genesis Qi surge out from the depths of the Qi Dwelling.
The purity level of this new Genesis Qi shocked Zhou Yuan. Moreover, it gave off a very faint primal aura,
as if it was origin of all life, the very first breath of Source Genesis Qi predating the formless mass of
creation.
“What is going on?!” However, Zhou Yuan was even more shocked by the origin of this mysterious
Genesis Qi. He could clearly sense that it had not come from his training.
But why, why was there a familiar feeling?
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As millions of thoughts flickered across Zhou Yuan’s mind, a flash of understanding suddenly struck him,
causing him to blurt out in astonishment, “Could it be… when I was born and my eight meridian channels
connected to the Qi Dwelling, this Genesis Qi had hidden itself in the depths of my Qi Dwelling?”
Zhou Yuan’s eight meridian channels were naturally open when he was born. Logically speaking, the
opening of his Qi Dwelling should naturally followed. However, due to the unforeseen calamity that
struck, a wisp of Source Genesis Qi had hidden in the deepest recesses of his uncomplete Qi Dwelling.
Now that Zhou Yuan had successfully opened his Qi Dwelling again, the Source Genesis Qi that had hidden
for fourteen years had once again emerged upon sensing his presence.
A dazed Zhou Yuan felt the pure Genesis Qi as complicated feelings churned in his heart.
Meanwhile, the Source Genesis Qi surged into his Qi Dwelling and Zhou Yuan was shocked once again as
he watched a trace of gold slowly blossomed like a rising sun within the deep purple light.
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Chapter 76 Opening the Qi Dwelling
Golden light emerged like a rising sun and immediately spread, causing the purple light to recede as it
was replaced by gold that now filled the entire Qi Dwelling.
Thus, the Qi Dwelling became a resplendent gold, an impressive look indeed.
“It’s… it’s a gold Qi Dwelling?!”
Zhou Yuan blankly stared at the resplendent gold Qi Dwelling. Such an outcome had never occurred even
in his wildest dreams!
He had originally hoped for a purple Qi Dwelling, satisfied as long as he could reach the same level as Su
Youwei.
Yet, he would never have expected that the breath of Source Genesis Qi in the depths of his Qi Dwelling
would cause the rank of his Qi Dwelling to rise a level.
Zhou Yuan’s heart overflowed with joy and excitement. The rank of a Qi Dwelling not only determined its
potential growth, but was also able to raise the quality of his Genesis Qi.
For someone with a gold Qi Dwelling, even if he were to cultivate grade 2 Genesis Qi, his output power
would be greater than someone with a green Qi Dwelling and grade 3 Genesis Qi.
Zhou Yuan mumbled to himself in surprise, “Never imagined that I would open a golden Qi Dwelling.”
Gold light swam in the Qi Dwelling. Under its shine, the flowing Genesis Qi grew more compact and
powerful.
While Zhou Yuan was immersed in joy due to the golden Qi Dwelling, he did not realise that the lump of
blood-red Dragon’s Resentment Poison on his palm had suddenly began to squirm.
Hss hss!
A strange sound echoed within the golden Qi Dwelling as wisps of blood mist emerged from an unknown
place and began to flood into the Qi Dwelling
It was then that Zhou Yuan finally realised what was happening. His heart shook when he saw the
invading blood mist as a horrified cry rang out in his heart.
“This… it’s the Dragon’s Resentment Poison?!”
A dragon roar filled with bitter resentment spread from within the blood mist as blood colored light
surged out. Like a virus, it swiftly spread across the golden Qi Dwelling.
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Zhou Yuan was horrified by this sudden turn of events.
Never would he have expected that the almost six months dormant Dragon’s Resentment Poison in his
body would suddenly emerge and slip into his Qi Dwelling when it was formed.
Zhou Yuan anxiously watched the inside of the Qi Dwelling.
As the blood light spread, the golden light in the Qi Dwelling began to fade as it gradually fused with the
blood light. In the end, the entire Qi Dwelling had become bright red.
Bizarre and mysterious.
Zhou Yuan was taken aback once again. A blood-red Qi Dwelling?
What the heck was this? I’ve never heard of such a thing!
“That blasted Dragon’s Resentment Poison!” Zhou Yuan howled in his heart. Just a touch from that
blasted Dragon’s Resentment Poison had turned his beloved golden Qi dwelling into this blood-red Qi
Dwelling which he had never heard of before.
In the room, Zhou Yuan opened his eyes, his face an ugly greenish-white.
He deeply breathed in, pushing down the rage in his heart as he began to very carefully inspect the Qi
Dwelling in his body. If there were any problems with it, it would undoubtedly become a huge hindrance
to his cultivation.
Fortunately, he did not find anything wrong. In fact, the amount of Genesis Qi the Qi Dwelling could hold
seemed to have risen somewhat compared to when it was gold in color.
However, Zhou Yuan did not dare to relax. His frowned deeply as he summoned Genesis Qi from his hand
with a thought.
Normally speaking, the Genesis Qi of those who had yet to learn any Qi cultivation methods was as clear
as water. Yet, when Zhou Yuan’s Genesis Qi came surging out, he discovered a faint strand of blood-red
flowing within it.
The strand of blood-red was very familiar to Zhou Yuan. It was the Dragon’s Resentment Poison.
The Dragon’s Resentment Poison had been fused into his Genesis Qi? What the heck was this? Dragon
poison Qi?
“Unbelievable!” Zhou Yuan was at a complete loss, evidently unable to understand why such a change had
occurred. Although he did know if this was detrimental for the time being, at the very least… he could feel
that the Genesis Qi that had now been tinged with a hint of Dragon’s Resentment Poison seemed to have
become much fiercer in nature.
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Zhou Yuan had after all personally experienced how domineering the Dragon’s Resentment Poison was.
Zhou Yuan felt really weary inside.
This new Qi Dwelling had given him three waves of surprise. First it was purple, then gold and now a
blood-red color he had never encountered before…
“I’ll ask big sis Yaoyao tomorrow…”
Unable to come to a conclusion, Zhou Yuan could only release a pained sigh.
The next day.
Everyone was stunned when Zhou Yuan walked out of the inn. They could clearly feel that the Genesis Qi
undulations surrounding Zhou Yuan’s body had become far stronger than yesterday.
Wei Canglan asked in surprise, “Your highness has broken through to the Qi Nourishing stage?”
Wei Qingqing also looked towards Zhou Yuan in amazement.
“I had a breakthrough yesterday.” Zhou Yuan smiled and nodded.
Su Youwei’s eyes were filled with astonishment as she said, “Your highness is truly impressive. In less
than a year, you grew from someone who was unable to find his meridian channels to the Qi Nourishing
stage. In fact, you’re practically at my heels.”
In contrast, Yaoyao took another look at Zhou Yuan as a puzzled look flitted across her clear eyes.
Because there were to many people present, Zhou Yuan did not approach her with his problem. Instead,
he faced everyone and said, “If all the preparations are done, let’s move out.”
The group nodded and quickly mounted their horses, subsequently transforming into a flood as they
surged out Devil Prison City, heading in the direction of the Battle Puppet Sect ruins.
Along the way, Zhou Yuan found a chance to secretly pull Yaoyao to one side and explain in detail what
had happened with an agonized face.
“Blood-red Qi Dwelling?” Yaoyao was stunned after hearing the details. It was obvious that she too had
never heard of such a thing.
“It should be because of the Dragon’s Resentment Poison, but this may not be a bad thing. Your Qi
Dwelling is still basically a golden Qi Dwelling, and was only transformed into such a state because the
Dragon’s Resentment Poison mixed itself in.”
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“As for whether there will be any problems, I cannot say for sure. You can only try to pay extra attention
in future.”
In response to her answer, there was nothing Zhou Yuan could do but nod his head.
“I guess that’s the only thing to do.”
While Zhou Yuan’s group was rushing towards the Battle Puppet Sect ruins, in Devil Prison City, Qi Hao,
the Black Venom King and the rest of the group were ready to set off. Genesis Qi churned around the over
hundred men group, testament to their eliteness.
After listening to a report, Qi Hao sad to the Black Venom King, “Zhou Yuan has already left earlier.”
The Black Venom King nonchalantly replied, “The ruins are layered in danger and there is no advantage
for them even if they arrive first. Why not let them help us clear the path.”
He paused for a moment, staring at Qi Hao as he continued, “On another note, you mentioned that you
prepared a little special something for this mission, exactly what did you prepare?”
Qi Hao smiled faintly. “You’ll find out when the time comes. Don’t worry, with us joining hands, Zhou
Yuan and Wei Canglan will not be able to leave Blackwater.”
The smile on his lips gradually turned malicious.
“The only thing that awaits them is death!”
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Chapter 77 Jade Infant Fruit
The Battle Puppet Sect ruins was about two hundred miles from Devil Prison City. Zhou Yuan and his
group managed to reach their destination in two hours.
Zhou Yuan and the rest stood on a hill, their gazes fixed to their front where a forest of giant trees stood.
White fog lingered in the depths of the forest, revealing only the faint silhouettes of various dilapidated
buildings.
Light seemed to flicker in the sky above the ruins as a feeling of unknown danger spread.
Yaoyao took one look at the flickering light and said, “There is a Genesis Rune boundary above the ruins.”
A Genesis Rune boundary was a more complex and large-scale way to utilise Genesis Runes, somewhat
akin to a formation or array.
This Genesis Rune boundary was likely the sect protecting boundary used by the Battle Puppet Sect while
it still existed in Blackwater. Following the disappearance of the sect, the sect protecting boundary had
faded due to the lack of Genesis Qi, though it was clear that some part still remained. Casually entering
through the sky would very likely result in an encounter with the remnant boundary, something that
even an Alpha-Origin stage expert would not be able to handle.
After all, the power of a sect protecting boundary was nothing to scoff at.
“It seems that we can only enter on foot.” Wei Canglan looked towards Zhou Yuan and continued, “Your
highness, according to the information we gathered, there are numerous abandoned buildings in the
ruins which may contain treasures, how shall we proceed?”
Zhou Yuan did not hesitate at all and replied, “We will first head to the area where the Jade Infant Fruit is
located.”
His most important goal was the Jade Infant Fruit and the Fire Spirit Grain. Since the Fire Spirit Grain was
in the deepest part of the ruins, it would naturally make sense to obtain the Jade Infant Fruit first.
Wei Qingqing leaned her hand against the longsword on her waist as she said, “The Jade Infant Fruit is
located in the southwest sector of the ruins. Several people have went there, but none were able to obtain
it.”
“We must obtain it no matter what.” The resolution in Zhou Yuan’s voice was firm. His mother’s lifespan
had been cut substantially. How could he possibly be at ease unless he found her one of those treasures
that could supplement one’s life span?
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“First the Jade Infant Fruit, then the Fire Spirit Grain. As for other treasures, there is no need to concern
ourselves with them for the time being!” Zhou Yuan decisively declared. The treasures in the ruins may
be rare, but one should not be too greedy and instead understand what to prioritise.
“Let’s go.”
Zhou Yuan looked towards Wei Canglan and the latter responded with a nod. With a wave of his hand, the
hundred man group transformed into a flood, surging into the ruins under the wary gazes from the
surrounding groups.
Not long after Zhou Yuan and his group entered the ruins, another group swiftly approached. It was Qi
Hao and the Black Venom King’s group.
A figure quickly rushed over from nearby.
“They’ve entered?” Asked Qi Hao in a flat voice. He had stationed some men around the vicinity of the
ruins in advance to keep track of the movements of Zhou Yuan’s group.
“Yes, we have sent someone to follow them. They seem to be heading towards the Jade Infant Fruit
location.” The figure immediately answered.
“Jade Infant Fruit?” Qi Hao’s eyes narrowed slightly.
“The Jade Infant Fruit is a quality item. It can prolong one’s lifespan and is extremely valued.” A look of
greed surfaced in the Black Venom King’s eyes.
“Zhou Yuan has likely gone searching for the Jade Infant Fruit because of his mother.” Qi Hao coldly
chuckled. He had a clear grasp of the royal clan’s situation.
“Humph Zhou Yuan, you’ve repeatedly foiled my plans, this time, I will make sure that you will not have
your way! I’m really interested to see how flustered you will become when the Jade Spirit Fruit lands in
my hands.” A vicious look flitted across Qi Hao’s eyes. Soon after, he waved his hand and commanded,
“Let’s go and catch up to them.”
Fog filled the ruins. Crumbling walls could be seen wherever one looked, a rather desolate sight indeed.
However, Zhou Yuan’s group did not dare to tarry, maintaining their formation as they slowly pushed
forward. The surrounding mists grew increasingly thicker, so thick that even Spirit perception was
affected.
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Zhou Yuan’s footsteps suddenly paused. “Careful, something is approaching.”
Although his Spirit perception had been affected, his senses were still much sharper than an ordinary
person’s.
Wei Canglan nodded, evidently having also sensed something.
He immediately waved his hand and the surrounding guards immediately began to prepare themselves
as Genesis Qi began to surge around their bodies.
The white fog gently rippled.
A dull red light seemed to appear within the white fog, accompanied by faint noises as a dozen of
shadows emerged from within the mist, forming a wall in front of Zhou Yuan’s group.
Zhou Yuan and the rest looked over and focused.
The black shadows were revealed to be night-black wild beasts, but on closer inspection, one would
realise that their bodies were akin to black metal, gleaming with black light, while the red glow in their
eyes lacked any sort of intelligence. These dozen shadows were battle beast puppets.
“So these are battle puppets?” Zhou Yuan stared at them in wonder. The Genesis Qi that faintly pulsed
from the battle beast puppet bodies showed that they were comparable to Qi Nourishing stage experts.
Wei Canglan responded, “It is said that at their peak, the Battle Puppet Sect possessed a hundred
thousand strong battle puppet army. An army that was practically invincible and unstoppable.”
Zhou Yuan clicked his tongue. A hundred thousand strong battle puppet army. If they were all at the Qi
Nourishing stage, it was likely that no empire would be able to match them. Yet, why had these ancient
factions of Blackwater ultimately disappeared?
Wei Canglan waved his hand and twenty figures shot forward, heading straight for the dozen battle beast
puppets that were blocking their way.
Thump thud!
Genesis Qi erupted the moment both parties clashed. Wei Canglan had sent out Qi Nourishing stage
practitioners, but the dozen battle beast puppets knew neither fear nor death, hence, the fighting was
exceptionally intense.
The battle lasted for several minutes, before it gradually came to a close.
The dozen battle beast puppets had been dismembered, but five of the twenty Qi Nourishing stage guards
had also been injured. It was clear that these tireless and fearless battle beast puppets were rather
troublesome opponents.
514
Yaoyao walked over with some interest while carrying Tuntun and began inspecting the dismembered
battle beast puppets. Her fair slender finger gently traced the now dim runes as she mumbled to herself,
“Powered by Genesis Runes…”
After some examination, she stood up and walked back to the group.
Zhou Yuan then nodded to Wei Canglan and they began to advance once again.
In the following period of time, they encountered wave after wave of battle beast puppets. Fortunately,
Zhou Yuan’s group was a strong well trained force, and they were able to cleanly sweep away all
resistance they encountered.
As such, they arrived at a lake half an hour later.
Other human figures were already present by the lakeside, likely other treasure seekers that had rushed
here. The fact that they had been able to arrive here was testament to their strength.
These people also sensed the arrival of Zhou Yuan’s group and their eyes immediately filled with
wariness.
Wei Canglan took one quick look at the surroundings and pointed towards the middle of the lake. “The
Jade Infant Fruit is at the center of the lake.”
Zhou Yuan lifted his head to look, and saw fog drifting over the surface of the lake. At the very center of
the lake was a small island where a giant jade-green tree stood at the middle.
Zhou Yuan’s gaze locked onto the tree from which two crystal-like fruits hung. The fruits were shaped
like a rather adorable newborn baby and gave off a sweet and enticing fragrance.
His heartbeat quickened as he observed the fruit that was seemingly made from crystal.
“Jade Infant Fruit, I’ve finally found you!”
Not long after Zhou Yuan’s group arrived at the lake, some noise was heard from another direction and
everyone watched as another group emerged from the mists.
“Qi Hao.”
A frosty look flitted across Zhou Yuan’s eyes when he saw the familiar figure leading the group.
Qi Hao and the Black Venom King arrived at the lakeside and shot a look in Zhou Yuan’s direction. The
corners the former’s mouth immediately lifted as he pointed at the center of the lake and displayed a
playful smile at Zhou Yuan.
“Zhou Yuan, if you want the Jade Infant Fruit, you’ll have to first ask me if I agree or not.”
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Chapter 78 Method to Reach the Island
Although Zhou Yuan remained expressionless after hearing Qi Hao’s words, intense killing intent
emerged within the former’s eyes. The Jade Spirit Fruit was connected to the matter of his mother’s
lifespan. He would not let anyone snatch it away no matter what methods he had to use.
It was at this moment that Wei Canglan suddenly remarked, “Your highness, there is something strange
about this lake.”
Zhou Yuan withdrew his gaze. He had similarly sensed that something was amiss. So many people had
arrived here before them, but all of them only waited at the lakeside, not daring to enter the lake and
seize the Jade Infant Fruit. It was obvious that they were afraid of something.
Yaoyao cast a glance at the air above the lake and said, “There is a damaged Genesis Rune boundary
above the lake.”
Wei Canglan nodded in agreement. The damaged Genesis Rune boundary made even someone like
himself feel threatened, and he did not dare to carelessly enter. This place was evidently rather important
to the Battle Puppet Sect.
“Can we cross by walking across the water?” Asked Zhou Yuan.
Yaoyao shook her head. “There is something strange about the water. It seems that the stronger one’s
Genesis Qi, the more easily one will sink…”
Wei Canglan was a little taken aback. He quickly waved his hand, indicating for some of his men to
confirm. Sure enough, they discovered that those with stronger Genesis Qi would sink more easily, as if
the lakewater was unable to support them.
“It will be difficult for even a Qi Nourishing stage expert to walk across the water.” Wei Canglan frowned.
If so, won’t an Alpha-Origin stage expert like himself sink straight to the bottom?
He could feel danger from the bottom of the lake. It was highly likely that portions of the damaged
Genesis Rune boundary had fallen into the lake, making it extremely dangerous.
Yaoyao’s mouth opened slightly as she said, “It seems that this place does not welcome Genesis Qi users…
likely a precautionary method of sorts. With such a precaution in place, they would only need a few
disciples to protect the Jade Infant Tree.”
Su Youwei curiously asked, “How would one cross the water without Genesis Qi?”
Zhou Yuan’s eyes flickered in thought for a moment, before turning to meet Yaoyao’s gaze as he slowly
said, “Spirit.”
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Spirit power was completely different from Genesis Qi. Moreover, Zhou Yuan had discovered that the
Spirit that had originally been suppressed in the fog had turned lively again after reaching the lake.
“Let me try.” Zhou Yuan walked forward and placed a foot onto the water, the Spirit between his brows
flickering as Spirit power surged out and covered his legs. The body that had originally sunk slightly into
the water immediately stabilized.
“As expected, the power of the Spirit can be used here.” A look of glee flitted across Zhou Yuan’s eyes.
“So you have to rely on the Spirit…”
Nearby, Qi Hao raised an eyebrow as he watched. Soon after, he waved his hand and a man immediately
walked forward from behind.
This man’s complexion was rather pale, and his lips were as thin as the edge of a blade. The Genesis Qi
undulations around him were quite weak, but light flickered indeterminately between his brows.
He was clearly a Spirit practitioner.
“Zhao Qingfeng, your teacher master Ying was framed by this brat, causing him to fall into the hands of
the great general’s faction. This is the best opportunity for you to take revenge.” Qi Hao smiled at the
man.
Iciness flashed in the pale man’s eyes when he heard this. He looked towards Zhou Yuan and said, “How
can a kid like him possibly be my master’s match?”
“He is after all the prince of Great Zhou and naturally has his ways.” Qi Hao smiled faintly as he continued,
“As long as you are able to seize the Jade Infant Fruit, not only will I guarantee your master’s safety, you
will become a valued guest of Qi Manor in future and we will provide you all of the cultivation resources
you need.”
Desire flashed in the eyes of the man called Zhao Qingfeng as he nodded and said with a cold smile, “Don’t
worry, if we compete in Spirit, dealing with him will not be difficult.”
His tone was filled with pride. Though he had only trained under master Ying for three years, his Spirit
had already reached the mid Illusory stage, and even his master often praised his talent. Thus, he did not
believe that a much younger Zhou Yuan would be able to match him in Spirit.
After leaving these words behind, Zhao Qingfeng flew forward and landed on the water.
Spirit power shook as his sole touched the water’s surface without sinking.
A mocking smile formed on his lips as he looked towards Zhou Yuan.
517
While the two stood on the water, the other factions also came to the same realization. Hence, after some
activity, another dozen figures appeared on the surface of the water, each individual clearly a Spirit
practitioner.
Wei Canglan shot a look in Zhao Qingfeng’s direction and remarked, “That person’s Spirit is not weak.”
“If only Spirit can be used here, I may be able to help you.” Yaoyao’s bright eyes seem to swirl. Given her
Spirit level, no one here would be able to contend with her.
Zhou Yuan pondered for a moment after hearing this, but he ultimately shook his head. “The situation is
complicated and no one knows if there will be other hidden dangers. It is not ideal for you to go.”
Although Yaoyao’s Spirit was powerful, she was unable to utilise Genesis Qi, resulting in an extremely
frail body. If anything unexpected happened, the probability of Yaoyao being seriously injured was high.
Therefore, while Yaoyao was very powerful, she was also very weak.
Back then, master Cang Yuan had solemnly entrusted him with Yaoyao’s safety. Hence, he did not dare to
let Yaoyao take such a risk.
Zhou Yuan said, “Observe first, if anything happens to me, at least there will be the great general and you
to save me.”
Yaoyao did not persist after hearing this and her sharp snow-white chin gave a tiny nod.
Atop the lake, Zhou Yuan calmly cast a glance at the nearby Zhao Qingfeng. Undisguised hostility burned
in the latter’s eyes, but it did not matter to Zhou Yuan. No one would be able to stop him from obtaining
the Jade Infant Fruit today.
The lake water under his feet rippled as he took in a deep breath and looked towards the small island at
the center of the lake. He then took a step forward, beginning his step by step advance on the lake surface.
The others also started to very cautiously walk forward.
Around the lake, no one dared to blink at they watched the figures walking on the water. It was
completely silent.
Several minutes later, Zhou Yuan and the rest gradually approached the area within a hundred feet of the
small island. The lake was still calm and no one had encountered any obstructions.
When the crowd by the lakeside saw this, they could not help but murmur in bewilderment, “So simple?”
Under those puzzled gazes, Zhou Yuan and the rest stepped into the area within a hundred feet of the
island.
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Buzz!
A buzzing sound seemed to emerge from the small island at this moment, and everyone watched as
dazzling jade light was released from the Jade Infant tree at the center of the island.
Plop!
The jade light seemed to sway as countless barely discernible specks of light shot out from within. Like a
storm, they began to engulf the ones who had stepped into the hundred feet perimeter around the island.
“It’s a Spirit attack!”
Zhou Yuan focused on the barely visible specks of light. These light dots contained Spirit power.
He did not dare to delay a moment longer and the Spirit between his brows began to flicker. If one
looked, one would be able to see a blurry silhouette seated in a cross-legged position. An invisible ripple
pulsed outwards as Zhou Yuan’s hand pulled out the Heavenly Yuan Brush at his waist.
The tip of the brush rapidly moved across the air, leaving behind almost visible strokes.
“Grade 1 Genesis Rune, Spirit Shield!”
The completed Genesis Rune immediately transformed into partly transparent shield of light. The
Genesis Qi ripples from the light shield were extremely weak because the shield was mainly composed of
Spirit power.
Plop plop!
Jade light rained down from the sky, falling upon the transparent light shield, causing it to ripple
violently.
Ah!
Blood-curdling screeches began to ring out. Several individuals were unable to guard in time, and were
immediately shot full of holes by the jade light, their bodies crumpling before sinking into the water.
As these individuals fell into the water, berserk undulations exploded within the lake. Bloody water
quickly rose and spread across the lake surface.
The ones that had fallen into the waters had been instantly blasted to pieces.
This sight caused the hearts of Zhou Yuan, Zhao Qingfeng and the other fortunate survivors to shiver. It
seems that the waters below were indeed filled with danger, ensuring certain death if one was to fall into
them.
519
Looks like reaching the small island at the heart of the lake and retrieving the Jade Infant Fruit not going
to be as easy as expected.
These ruins were abundant with death traps.
520
Chapter 79 Fear
After the a round of jade light bombardment, almost half of the individual's standing on the lake surface
had been wiped out. Of course, the ones that were left naturally had some ability. In front of each of them
stood a flickering translucent light shield similar to Zhou Yuan’s, that fully protected their bodies.
With their bodies protected by Spirit shields, the footsteps of Zhou Yuan and the rest did not stop as they
continued their cautious advance towards the small island.
As they approached, the Jade Infant Tree sent out another two waves of jade light bombardments,
shattering the shields of several individuals, causing them to fall into the water and transform into pools
of blood.
By this time, Zhou Yuan and several others were only twenty feet from the island, practically moments
away from reaching it.
At the lakeside, everyone held their breath in silence as they watched.
Zhou Yuan’s eyes were tightly fixed on the small island. The nearer he got, the more tense he became. He
had a feeling that the obstruction from the island was not merely limited to its earlier antics…
Step by step, Zhou Yuan and the rest approached the island and soon reached the distance of only ten feet
from its shore.
Bang!
It was at this moment that jade light once again exploded from the Jade Infant Tree on the island,
sweeping outwards in a circular fashion.
Zhou Yuan and the rest were immediately engulfed by the light.
Buzz!
A buzzing noise immediately rose in the heads of Zhou Yuan and the rest as the scenery before their eyes
faded into darkness. A wasteland quickly appeared before them. Only one thing stood on this barren land,
a giant jade colored tree.
Tiny as ants before this giant tree, an indescribable pressure swallowed them, causing them to feel
intense fear. Fear that made one’s Spirit tremble so hard that it began to show signs of dissipating.
By the lakeside, Su Youwei gazed upon the surface of the lake where Zhou Yuan, Zhao Qingfeng and the
rest had stopped moving, their bodies now completely still. She immediately sensed that there was
something wrong, worry flashing in her eyes as she turned towards Yaoyao and asked, “Big sis Yaoyao,
what is going on?”
521
Yaoyao frowned a little. “It’s Spirit pressure. They’ve been caught by a certain type of Spirit attack and if
they are unable to endure, even their Spirit will be crushed to pieces.”
The expressions of Wei Canglan, Wei Qingqing, Lu Tieshan and the others changed. If the Spirit was
shattered, one would become a vegetable. In other words, the consequences were extremely serious.
Wei Canglan declared in a low voice, “We must save his highness.”
Yaoyao shook her head as she softly said, “Don’t worry, he is not so easily defeated.”
If it was anyone else, Yaoyao would not have spoken with such confidence, but since it was only a Spirit
attack, hurting Zhou Yuan who had learnt the Primal Chaos Divine Grindstone Visualisation Method was
practically impossible.
While they were conversing, the remaining figures on the lake began to fall one by one. The eyes of each
one becoming hollow as if their minds had been wiped clean.
Splash.
Their bodies fell into the water, sinking to the bottom of the lake where they were ripped to shreds by the
damaged Genesis Rune boundary before rising again as pools of blood.
In the short span of a few breaths, only two figures were left atop the lake.
Zhou Yuan and Zhao Qingfeng.
...
The colossal jade tree towered before the eyes of two individuals as waves of pressure swept over them.
“Spirit pressure huh…”
Zhou Yuan stared at the incomparably gargantuan jade tree. Although his Spirit was trembling due to the
overwhelming pressure of the tree, he did not crumble in fear.
After all, the terror he had experienced before was far greater than anything this jade tree could produce.
“Let me show you the meaning of true terror.”
With a thought, formless and primal chaos began to descend from outside the barren land. From within
the void emerged a mottled divine grindstone as a seemingly infinite shadow slowly descended.
A slowly turning divine grindstone evaporated everything into nothingness.
522
The giant jade tree was already frozen with shock. Before the mottled divine grindstone, the former was
extremely small and tiny.
The divine grindstone slowly approached and the jade tree together with the barren land were turned
into nothingness…
On the lake, Zhou Yuan’s tightly shut eyes suddenly opened. The life flowing within them made it clear
that his Spirit had not been destroyed by the Spirit pressure.
He turned his head and waved towards the anxious Su Youwei and the rest on the bank, indicating that
there was no need for them to worry.
Wei Canglan, Su Youwei and the rest breathed a sigh of relief when they saw this.
After freeing himself from the Spirit pressure of the Jade Infant Tree, Zhou Yuan walked forward once
again, and soon stepped foot onto the small island. He did not face any obstructions this time.
When Zhou Yuan stepped onto the small island, Zhao Qingfeng’s body shook and his tightly shut eyes
slowly opened, fear flashing within them.
The giant jade tree had previously immobilized him with fear. Fortunately for him however, he had
managed to endure till the bitter end.
“How the hell does this Jade Infant Tree possess such a powerful Spirit pressure? Thank god my Spirit is
strong. I should be the first to have broken free.”
Zhao Qingfeng wiped away the cold sweat on his brows as he mumbled to himself. He then lifted his head,
only to see Zhou Yuan stepping onto the island, a sight that made the former’s expression abruptly
change.
Zhao Qingfeng cried out in alarm, “How?!”
Angry white and green interlaced on his face. He had originally believed that his mid Illusory stage Spirit
was enough for him to turn his nose up on everyone else here. Yet, how could he have imagined that the
youth that looked even younger than himself be freed from the Spirit pressure before him.
The fluctuating emotions within Zhao Qingfeng’s eyes ultimately culminated into a flash of viciousness.
As someone who had already aligned himself with Qi Manor, if he failed here, his value in Qi Hao’s heart
would surely fall, something that was undoubtedly extremely disadvantageous to him.
Hence, he had to obtain the Jade Infant Fruit.
As this thought flashed in his mind, Zhao Qingfeng’s Genesis Rune Brush abruptly streaked across the air,
the Spirit between his brows flickering. A Genesis Rune was completed a split second later.
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“Grade 2 Genesis Rune, Ghost Face Spirit Devouring Rune!”
In the wake of Zhao Qingfeng’s final stroke, light exploded from the Genesis Rune, transforming into a ray
of greyish-black that shot towards Zhou Yuan’s back.
The expressions of Su Youwei and the rest instantly changed upon seeing this as they anxiously shouted,
“Careful your highness!”
A piercing noise rang out as the greyish-black light shot through the air. If one was struck by this Spirit
attack, the body would be fine, but one’s Spirit would definitely be gravely injured, an outcome that was
even worse than losing a limb.
From this, one could see just how malicious Zhao Qingfeng’s attack was.
As the greyish-black light whistled towards Zhou Yuan, he too sensed something and abruptly turned his
head. Murder flitted across his eyes as the view of the attack and Zhao Qingfeng entered his eyes.
“I originally planned to ignore you, but since you want to die so badly, I’ll just have to grant your wish!”
Light flickered between Zhou Yuan’s brows as a rune of light slowly emerged. It was a Genesis Rune that
had been prepared in advance.
“Grade 2 Genesis Rune, Spirit Severing Rune!”
With a swish, the rune turned into a ray of invisible light as it shot forth. Like a blade made of Spirit, it
powerfully slashed downwards at the incoming greyish-black light.
Zhou Yuan had made use of the time while they were journeying towards Blackwater to learn several
grade 2 Genesis Runes from Yaoyao. The Spirit Severing Rune was one of them and utilised Spirit power
to attack.
He had originally planned on saving this rune for Qi Hao. Who could have expected that he would end up
using it at this juncture.
Ch!
A faint ‘ch’ sound was heard as the greyish-black ray was split into two.
Zhao Qingfeng’s pupils shrank as he involuntarily cried out, “What?!”
His grade 2 Genesis Rune had actually been sliced into half by Zhou Yuan?
“Mid Illusory stage. So you too are at the mid Illusory stage!” It was at this same moment that Zhao
Qingfeng finally sensed Zhou Yuan’s Spirit undulations, Spirit undulations that were the same mid
Illusory stage as himself.
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Zhou Yuan’s eyes were cold. The Spirit between his brows flashed as a blurry silhouette shot out. A
second later, it appeared in front of Zhao Qingfeng and rushed towards his forehead.
“Since the jade tree was unable to satisfy your craving for fear, let me send you another helping!”
As Zhou Yuan’s icy voice faded, the scenery before Zhao Qingfeng’s eyes began to ripple. This time
however, instead of a barren wasteland, it was a formless void.
Rumble!
A loud sound was suddenly heard. Zhao Qingfeng raised his head and quickly saw the endless giant
shadow of a divine grindstone slowly looming towards him.
Before the divine grindstone, the towering jade tree from earlier now seemed so insignificant in
comparison.
An indescribable feeling of dread surged in Zhao Qingfeng’s heart as his Spirit began to tremble
uncontrollably. A faint breaking sound was heard as cracks started to surface on Zhao Qingfeng’s spirit.
AAHHH!
Zhao Qingfeng let out a blood-curdling scream as his eyes rapidly became hollow and blank. His Spirit
had crumbled on the spot, unable to withstand the fear of the divine grindstone.
Splash!
His body fell into the water, ultimately transforming into a pool of blood.
The lake bank was completely silent as everyone watched this scene in shock. Though a bout of Spirit
power was not visible, everyone clearly understood just how dangerous it was.
However, none of them had expected the one to make the first move, Zhao Qingfeng, would suffer such a
pathetic defeat mere moments later…
This was clear evidence of just how powerful prince Zhou Yuan’s Spirit was!
“Useless!” A terrifyingly icy voice escaped from between the teeth of a stormy-faced Qi Hao as he watched
this scene. Zhao Qingfeng had bragged of how great of a genius he was in front them earlier. Yet, this very
same ‘genius’ had turned out to be such weakling in front of Zhou Yuan and was defeated after a single
exchange.
On the small island, Zhou Yuan cast an indifferent glance at the body that had fallen into the lake. Without
further ado, he turned around and walked towards the Jade Infant Tree at the center of the island.
525
As he raised his head to gaze at the two crystal infant-shaped fruits hanging on the tree, a look of
excitement surged in his eyes.
“Eh?”
However, just as he was about to pluck the Jade Infant Fruit, he suddenly turned towards one of the
branches where a dull silver ring was hanging.
A faint but peculiar ripple pulsed from the ring.
526
Chapter 80 Treasure Obtained
“What is this?”
Under the jade glow, Zhao Yuan blankly stared at the flickering silver ring. The undulations from the
silver light felt a little familiar to him.
He hesitated slightly as the Heavenly Yuan Brush in his hand suddenly grew, transforming into its martial
form. With a gentle flick of the brush tip, he retrieved the ring from the branch.
Zhou Yuan reached out and grabbed the ring as a cold sensation entering his hand. At closer inspection,
he realised that there were some ancient-looking patterns on the ring which gave off a strange aura.
Moreover, while he was holding the ring, Zhou Yuan felt the Spirit between his brows stir restlessly as if
its power was being amplified.
“This ring can strengthen one’s Spirit?” A thought flashed in Zhou Yuan’s mind as he raised his head and
looked at the Jade Infant Tree. the Spirit undulations from the Jade Infant Tree had weakened after
removing the ring from the branch.
“The earlier Spirit attacks were the Jade Spirit Tree’s instinctive protective measures, but how can a Jade
Infant Tree have such a powerful Spirit?” Zhou Yuan’s eyes flickered with thought before he turned once
again to stare at the dull silver ring in his hand.
Could it be… that this ring was the reason why the Jade Infant Tree’s Spirit had been strengthened, giving
it the power to protect itself.
After mulling over it for some time, Zhou Yuan decided to give up for the time being and let Yaoyao take a
look later. She would likely know the ring’s function.
Zhou Yuan kept the ring and retrieved two jade boxes from his Universe bag. The tip of his foot pushed
off the ground as he flew up towards the Jade Infant Tree. Light flashed at his fingertips and the two Jade
Infant Fruits on the tree fell into the boxes.
Zhou Yuan immediately closed the boxes so as to prevent better preserve the effects of the Jade Infant
Fruit ,before very carefully returning them to inside his Universe bag.
“Finally got them.”
Zhou Yuan’s entire body relaxed as if a great burden had been lifted from his shoulders. Now that he had
obtained the Jade Infant Fruit, he would be able to help his mother regain her lost lifespan. Then, he
would no longer have to worry about Qin Yu’s ten year life expectancy...
...
527
By the lakeside, Qi Hao expression was rather ugly as he watched Zhou Yuan collect the treasures on the
island.
There was a mysterious expression in the Black Venom King’s eyes as he remarked, “Prince Zhou Yuan
does indeed have some skills.”
Qi Hao’s expression was as dark as a storm as he flatly said, “Let him be happy a little while longer. Don’t
worry, whatever he obtains now will ultimately fall into our hands.”
“The current him is merely akin to the dowry of a bride.”
“It’s going to be interesting to see what kind of expression he will have when all of the treasures he so
painstakingly collected ends up in our hands.”
After speaking, Qi Hao could no longer be bothered with this area and stormed off.
Nearby, Wei Canglan and the rest finally began to relax upon seeing the Qi Hao’s group depart. The
former had been closely watching the latter since the beginning.
Wei Canglan and the rest understood that it was not because Qi Hao’s group had given up, but because
they did not want to start a fight with the former here.
After all, the most important Fire Spirit Grain had yet to be seen.
Zhou Yuan inspected the entirety of the small island. Only after ascertaining that there was nothing else
was he satisfied. He then proceeded to return with the two Jade Infant Fruits and the dull silver ring.
Wei Canglan smiled and cupped his fists together towards Zhou Yuan who had just reached the lake
bank. “Congratulations on successfully obtaining the treasures your highness.”
Zhou Yuan chuckled, his eyes narrowing as he shot a glance in the direction Qi Hao had left in. He knew
that this was only a tiny setback to the latter, and the real battle would only begin when they found the
Fire Spirit Grain.
There were still several factions around the lake watching Zhou Yuan with greed-filled eyes. The allure of
the Jade Infant Fruit was not small after all.
However, due to the strength of Zhou Yuan’s party and the Alpha-Origin stage Wei Canglan, all of these
groups had no choice but to restrain the greed in their hearts as they regretfully withdrew, turning
towards other places in the ruins to see if they would be luckier there.
Zhou Yuan did not intend to waste any more time and said, “Qi Hao’s group has already headed towards
the depths of the ruins where the Fire Spirit Grain is located. We cannot tarry any further, let us prepare
to move.”
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The Fire Spirit Grain was too important and could not be allowed to fall into Qi Manor’s hands or their
strength would definitely soar.
Everyone nodded upon hearing this.
Hence, the party swiftly began their preparations before heading towards the depths of the ruins.
Along the way, Zhou Yuan found a chance to pass the dull silver ring to Yaoyao and let her have a look.
“This ring is a treasure… it should be a Genesis artifact.” There seemed to be some interest in Yaoyao’s
voice as she continued to inspect it. “It seems to have the function of strengthening and nourishing one’s
Spirit and is very beneficial for Spirit cultivation. The Spirit attacks from the tree were probably only
possible through the help of this artifact.”
“But… it seems to be broken.”
Yaoyao pointed at the faded ancient rune on the dull silver ring. It seemed that it had been damaged
because the Jade Infant Tree had used too much of the ring’s power.
“If this artifact is repaired, it may be able to temporarily amplify one’s Spirit to a pretty astonishing level.”
Zhou Yuan scratched his head. “Is there anyone who can repair it?”
With his mastery of Genesis Runes, he could not even identify the Genesis Rune on the ring, let alone
repair it.
“Who else do you know besides me?” Yaoyao laughed softly.
Only then did Zhou Yuan chuckle. “Then I’ll have to trouble big sis Yaoyao.”
...
The group no longer made any pit stops on their way to the deepest part of the ruins. Every obstruction
they encountered was completely swept away by their full power.
They would occasionally pass by several locations leaking the light of treasures that drew over numerous
factions. But Zhou Yuan decisively chose to turn a blind eye and continue towards the depths of the ruins.
The Fire Spirit Grain was the most important thing for now.
After an hour of their full speed travelling, they began to sense the surrounding ruins grow increasingly
clustered and grand. The battle puppets that appeared were also growing stronger and stronger, so
strong that even an elite party like theirs suffered several injuries.
Rumble!
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A berserk wave of Qi exploded from a particular area in the ruins, shattering the surrounding rocks.
Atop a boulder, Zhou Yuan’s expression was grave as he observed the battle field in front of him where
eight Heaven Gate level battle puppets had appeared. As such, even Lu Tieshan and the other Heaven
Gate experts had been forced into action this time.
“It is fortunate that we managed to win general Wei to our side. I really cannot imagine how great of a
price we would have to pay to enter the deepest part of the ruins without him.” Zhou Yuan sighed in his
heart.
As he sighed, the intense battle drew to a close. Lu Tieshan and the rest gradually defeated the battle
puppets with their superiority in numbers.
However, their side had also suffered injuries. The only silver lining was that no one had died yet.
Zhou Yuan gazed at Lu Tieshan and the other fighters as he smiled and said, “It’s been hard on all of you.”
“Your highness, the Fire Spirit Grain is likely right ahead.” Wei Canglan suddenly interjected. He had
sensed that the Genesis Qi some distance to their front was extremely abundant and vigorous.
Zhou Yuan nodded as his eyes seemed to burn.
“Go!”
The party proceeded onwards with a wave from Zhou Yuan after Lu Tieshan and the other fighters rested
for a while. A flurry of figures shot forth as the sounds of shuttling wind rang out.
The group swiftly ascended a hill as the view before them suddenly opened up and a desolate valley
appeared before their eyes.
Another group was standing on one side of the valley. It was Qi Hao and the Black Venom King.
They had also sensed the arrival of Zhou Yuan’s group, but only gave the latter a glance before turning
their heads away, their burning gazes staring into the valley.
Zhou Yuan and the rest stopped on another side of the valley and looked down. They immediately saw
dazzling fiery-red plant gently swaying at the bottom of the valley.
The plant was entirely red, as if flames were burning on it. A wave of pure Genesis Qi pulsed from it along
with a faint fragrance.
The eyes of Zhou Yuan and his group could not longer shift away after seeing the fiery-red plant.
Zhou Yuan licked his lips, his eyes burning with excitement.
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“Is this the grade 4 Genesis Food, Fire Spirit Grain?”
531
Chapter 81 Great Battle in the Valley
A scarlet glow was emitted from the Fire Spirit Grain at the bottom of the valley like a small sun, drawing
the attention of the two groups at the top of the valley. Everyone’s eyes were filled with longing and
excitement.
Qi Hao withdrew his gaze with some difficulty, the unconcealable greed pulsing in his eyes turning to a
dark look as he turned towards the other side of the valley where Zhou Yuan’s group was.
“Zhou Yuan, I advise you to leave now or it will soon be too late for regrets.” Qi Hao’s tone was
intimidating.
Zhou Yuan was expressionless as he shot a glance at Qi Hao. The former really could not be bothered with
the latter’s rubbish.
Upon seeing that Zhou Yuan was ignoring him, iciness flashed within Qi Hao’s eyes as he said, “Since you
are so insisted on seeking death, I will grant your wish today!”
“City lord Black, it is time for you to act.” Qi Hao looked towards the Black Venom King.
The Black Venom King let out two piercing laughs as his grating voice sounded, “Since you’ve paid the
price of three cities, I will naturally lend my aid till the end.”
As his words faded, the Black Venom King’s body jolted and boundless black Qi poured out from the top
of his head, covering the sky above like ominous black clouds.
An appalling stench spread from the black clouds, an indication of the strong poison contained within.
This was the Black Venom King’s Genesis Qi, the grade 4 Devil Miasma Qi.
The Devil Miasma Qi was obtained by the Black Venom King through a fortunate encounter. Not only had
it enabled him to reach the Alpha-Origin stage, it had even given him to power to tower above the
numerous experts of Blackwater.
So much power that even Wei Canglan had repeatedly suffered at the former’s hands.
While the Black Venom King was displaying his might, Wei Canglan also took a step forward, his frosty
gaze fixed on the Black Venom King as similarly vigorous Genesis Qi poured out from the top of his head.
Wei Canglan’s Genesis Qi had a dark gold lustre. It gave a strong military aura and was filled with deadly
killing intent.
This Gold Militant Qi was likewise a grade 4 Genesis Qi. It felt as sharp as a blade and was rather
domineering.
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“Wei Canglan, who would have expected someone like you, who has repeatedly suffered at my hands, to
still have the courage to fight. I truly admire your bravery!” The Black Venom King smiled coldly.
Murder flashed in Wei Canglan’s eyes. “This time, I will kill you to repay all the torture you’ve inflicted on
me over the years!”
“Haha, I’m afraid that you don’t have the capability!” The Black Venom King laughed loudly. Soon after,
the swirling Devil Miasma Qi in the sky descended and wrapped around his body, bringing him into the
air.
He stood on the Devil Miasma Qi as black Qi roared behind him, a dreadful sight akin to seeing a demon.
“Your highness, I will go deal with that poison bastard. Everything else will be left to the rest of you.”
After leaving behind these words, dark gold Qi whizzed over as he stepped onto it and rose into the sky.
Two Alpha-Origin stage experts faced each other in the sky, their powerful auras clashing.
Buzz!
Wei Canglan was the first to make his move. With a grasp of his hand, the dark gold Genesis Qi around his
body surged forth, piercing through the air like a golden lance as it shot towards the Black Venom King.
“Keh keh.”
The Black Venom King let out a strange laugh as his hands joined together. Black Qi began to spin,
forming a black tornado that bounced away the incoming dark gold Genesis Qi.
On two different sides of the valley, Zhou Yuan, Qi Hao and the rest of the two parties watched the battle
in the sky with grave expressions.
“Come Wei Canglan, have a taste of my Devil Miasma Prison!”
The Black Venom King’s sleeves fluttered as two streams of black Genesis Qi flew out. The Genesis Qi
swiftly descended from the sky, like a rapidly shrinking cage with Wei Canglan at its center.
As the black prison grew smaller and smaller, the churning toxic black Qi within it enclosed around Wei
Canglan.
“Golden Broadsword Slash!”
Wei Canglan’s face was ice-cold as he made a grabbing motion with his hand and a giant broadsword
appeared within it. Runes covered the entire broadsword as a powerful aura pulsed from it.
It was a Black tier Genesis Weapon.
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Broadsword in hand, Wei Canglan powerfully slashed downwards.
Pch!
A hundred feet long golden blade of light shot out and ripped through the air, breaking the shrinking cage
in a single strike.
Swish!
After the cage was sliced apart, black Qi suddenly appeared behind Wei Canglan. The Black Venom King
appeared and sent a palm strike flying towards Wei Canglan’s back.
Black Qi swirled around the palm, showing that the attack contained a powerful venom.
As a stench rushed towards Wei Canglan from behind, he throw a fist behind him. A golden glow
surrounded his fist as rays of golden light shot forth, rays as sharp as swords.
Bang!
Fist and palm collided.
The surrounding air exploded as a piercing explosion rang out together with a wave of Qi that could be
seen with the naked eye.
Two figures shot backwards from the collision.
A slightly twisted expression could be seen on the Black Venom King’s face as he steadied his body while
fresh blood dripped continuously from his hand. Wei Canglan’s Gold Militant Qi was just too domineering
and had pierced the former’s hand in their previous clash.
However, although his hand had been pierced, a sinister look glowed within the Black Venom King’s eyes
as he stared at Wei Canglan and said in a frosty voice, “Wei Canglan, you really do not learn do you. To
think that you would clash directly with my Devil Miasma Qi. Have you really forgotten what it tastes like
when my poison invades your body?”
Though the Black Venom King’s palm had been pierced in the previous clash, he had similarly managed to
send some Devil Miasma Qi into Wei Canglan’s body.
However, the Black Venom King was somewhat surprised to see Wei Canglan’s expression remain
indifferent. The latter slowly lifted his hand as a faint green rune of light emerged. The Black Venom
King’s expression turned ugly as he watched the green light rune slowly expel a wisp of black Qi.
His Devil Miasma Qi had been expelled!
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“Do you really believe that I would allow your poison to enter my body?” Mocked Wei Canglan. The green
light rune was naturally the Thousand Wood Poison Safeguard Rune.
When activated, it would protect one’s body and prevent any poison from entering.
The Black Venom King’s expression turned as dark as a bottomless well. It turns out that he was the one
who had suffered instead, his palm pierced by Wei Canglan.
On one side of the valley, Wei Qingqing happily blurted out when she saw this, “Father has taken the
upper hand!”
Zhou Yuan breathed a tiny sigh of relief. It was fortunate that he had made preparations in advance or it
would likely be very difficult for Wei Canglan to gain the upper hand.
In contrast, the atmosphere on Qi Hao’s side grew rather tense as he frowned. It was obvious that he had
not expected the Black Venom King to suffer such a big loss.
Qi Ling said in a low voice, “First young master, I’m afraid that the Black Venom King will not be able to
win and will at best only manage to delay Wei Canglan.”
Qi Hao’s expression grew icy. His eyes flickered in thought for a moment before he coldly said, “No
problem, delaying Wei Canglan is fine. Next, it is time for us to show our hand.”
He raised his head and looked towards Zhou Yuan as the corners of his mouth lifted to form a mocking
smile.
“It seems that they believe victory is already theirs. Since that is so, let us send them a little gift…”
As his words faded, the ground suddenly began to shake. The valley was abruptly torn open, dust rising
into the air as an enormous creature slowly emerged.
The pupils of Zhou Yuan and his group shrank when they saw the giant silhouette that had suddenly
appeared.
Light shined down upon a giant black python that was several dozens of feet long. Its serpent eyes were
entirely red, and numerous runes had been inscribed on its body. A ferocious without equal aura swept
outwards from it.
Zhou Yuan’s expression became extremely grave as he gazed at the giant python.
Had the protector of the ruins finally appeared?
He raised his head, frowning as his gaze swept towards Qi Hao’s group which was nearer to the giant
python. The former did not see any worry on the latter’s face. Instead, Qi Hao was looking at the giant
battle puppet python with eyes filled with both excitement and anticipation.
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“What’s going on?” Zhou Yuan’s eyes narrowed slightly.
As if sensing Zhou Yuan’s gaze, Qi Hao turned his head and displayed a strange smile to the former. At the
same time, a chilling voice drifted over from the distance.
“Zhou Yuan, I advised you to leave earlier, now… all of you will die here!”
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Chapter 82 Tuntun’s Show of Power
Qi Hao’s cold mockery-filled voice echoed in the valley, sounding as if victory was already his.
Zhou Yuan’s eyes narrowed slightly. Qi Hao’s seemingly blind confidence made the former feel a trace of
danger. The latter should also understand that the strengths of both parties were currently equal.
Zhou Yuan slowly said, “I’m afraid that your group cannot take down the giant battle puppet python
alone.”
Qi Hao laughed, a strange smile on his lips as he replied, “I feel that you are the ones who should worry
about this problem.”
Su Youwei, Wei Qingqing and the rest exchanged a look, confusion in their eyes. Was Qi Hao so certain
that the giant battle puppet python would not attack his party?
Qi Hao merely smiled when he saw their expressions. With a grasp of his hand, a black flute appeared
within it.
The flute gave off a faint glow and one could barely make out runes flowing on its surface. It was an
exceptionally mysterious sight.
“This is the spirit controlling flute. It is specially made to control beast spirits…” Qi Hao softly chuckled
before he continued, “Although this giant battle puppet python is a puppet, its core is a grade 4 python-
type Genesis beast spirit. What do you think will happen when I control its beast spirit?”
The expressions of Zhou Yuan, Wei Qingqing, Lu Tieshan and the rest finally changed. They never
imagined that Qi Hao would have such a treasure in his possession.
An item that could temporarily control a grade 4 Genesis Beast spirit was certainly invaluable.
Qi Hao spun the black flute as he grinned. “Truthfully, it is all thanks to your highness’ rising reputation
that increased the support provided to us by the Great Wu Empire, thus enabling such a treasure to fall
into our hands.”
“So I really have to thank you for this.”
Zhou Yuan frowned deeply as he gazed at Qi Hao’s superficial smile. If Qi Hao was truly able to
temporarily control the giant battle puppet python, the balance between their parties would be broken.
A single giant battle puppet python was enough to tie up all of them, while Qi Hao could take the chance
to retrieve the Fire Spirit Grain without any obstructions.
Woowoo!
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While Zhou Yuan was thinking of a way to save the situation, Qi Hao had already began to blow the black
flute. A faint but peculiar ‘woowoo’ sound rang out, echoing around the valley.
The red eyes of the giant battle puppet python gradually brightened as if awakening. Soon after, its red
eyes turned in the direction of Zhou Yuan’s group.
Swish!
The giant battle puppet python swung its tail, causing the ground below to crumble as its body
transformed into a series of after-images, darting towards Zhou Yuan’s group like lightning. It was a very
intimidating sight.
In the sky, Wei Canglan’s expression changed when he saw this and quickly moved to try and save them.
“Heh, your opponent is me. Stop being distracted!” However, a stream of black Genesis Qi shot over at this
moment, bringing with it an appalling stench.
Wei Canglan had no choice but to throw a strike with the back of his palm, dispersing the black Genesis
Qi. However, his window of opportunity was already gone.
“Protect his highness!”
Lu Tieshan yelled with a grave expression. Eight Heaven Gate experts attacked together, each throwing a
punch as eight jets of Genesis Qi shot forth, slamming into the body of the incoming giant battle puppet
python.
Bang!
A loud sound was heard as the giant battle puppet python’s charge was finally stopped. However, its tail
suddenly shot forward, blasting apart the air and leaving behind numerous after images as it descended
from the sky.
Boom!
An entire section of the valley ridge was hacked open by the tail, scattering rocks everywhere. Lu Tieshan
and the seven Heaven Gate experts could only scatter as they miserably tried to evade.
Although they had the advantage in numbers, it was obviously not that easy to match an Alpha-Origin
giant battle puppet python.
Zhou Yuan’s eyebrows furrowed as he watched Lu Tieshan and the rest continuously try to dodge the
giant battle puppet python’s attacks. This turn of events had already surpassed his expectations.
“Your highness, what do we do?” Wei Qingqing looked towards Zhou Yuan, worry flashing in her eyes.
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Zhou Yuan shook his head and soothed her a little. Although his expression was grim, there was not much
panic to be seen. Qi Hao may have a trump card, but Zhou Yuan similarly had his own.
His trump card was Yaoyao.
Long before they had entered the ruins, Zhou Yuan had told Yaoyao that he hoped she would be able to
act if the situation became unfavorable and she had naturally agreed.
Zhou Yuan had tried his best to control the situation since the beginning such that he would not need to
borrow Yaoyao’s power. However, now that the odds were beginning to fall completely in Qi Hao’s favor,
Zhou Yuan had no choice but to ask the little lady to act.
The intense battle continued.
The combined efforts of Lu Tieshan and the seven Heaven Gate experts were still not enough against the
giant battle puppet python. All they could do was bitterly endure.
As Qi Hao watched from far away, the smile on his face grew wider and wider.
Boom!
Yet another ferocious attack sent eight figures flying backwards, leaving behind several sets of deep
imprints on the ground. Their clothes were in tatters, making them appear extremely ragged.
Lu Tieshan said with an ashamed tone, “Your highness, we cannot stop the battle puppet.”
Zhou Yuan nodded. He looked towards the slithering giant body that was beginning to approach, before
turning his head to Yaoyao. “Big sis Yaoyao, is there any way to deal with this giant battle puppet
python?”
Yaoyao cocked her head slightly and thought for a bit. Soon after, she let out a soft laugh. “There is
naturally a way.”
“Eh? Big sis Yaoyao is going?”
Yaoyao shot a glance at the ugly head of the giant battle puppet python, her nose scrunching up in dislike
as she shook her head. She then threw Tuntun at Zhou Yuan.
“This fellow has eaten so much of your Genesis Beast meat, it is time for it to do some work.”
Zhou Yuan was somewhat stunned at he caught Tuntun. The latter innocently stared at him with its
intelligent beast eyes, causing the corners of his mouth to twitch. Allow it to go deal with that giant battle
puppet python?
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Although he was utterly confused, due to his trust in Yaoyao, Zhou Yuan rubbed Tuntun’s head and gently
said, “Good Tuntun, I’ll prepare ten plates of dried Genesis Beast meat for you if you finish off that big
guy!”
Having lived with Tuntun for so long, Zhou Yuan understood how to motivate this lazy little fellow.
Sure enough, the moment Zhou Yuan spoke, Tuntun’s laziness filled eyes immediately brightened.
Hss hss!
The giant battle puppet python hissed as it charged towards them. Everything in its path was crushed to
pieces.
Under the stupefied looks of Su Youwei, Wei Qingqing and the rest, Zhou Yuan threw Tuntun forward.
The little creature somersaulted in the air and landed on the ground.
“Your highness, are you really going to let Tuntun fight that big guy?” Su Youwei’s lips were pursed as she
shot a look at Zhou Yuan, eyes filled with doubt. Tuntun might be very adorable, but could it really use
that adorableness to defeat the giant battle puppet python?
Wei Qingqing’s look was practically screaming ‘how cruel’.
Zhou Yuan laughed awkwardly. The only thing he knew about Tuntun was its insatiable appetite. He too
was unaware of how powerful it was.
“Throwing out a little beast? Are they completely out of moves?” Qi Hao and his group were first stunned
by Zhou Yuan’s actions, before involuntarily bursting out into laughter.
Tuntun was just too adorable and not the least bit intimidating.
Rumble!
However, the giant battle puppet python did not show any mercy. It ferociously rushed forward as its
giant python tail slammed downwards. The astonishing power contained within blowing away the air as
it viciously swatted towards at Tuntun.
This swat was enough to level a mountain.
Su Youwei and Wei Qingqing were unable to continue watching.
Boom!
The python tail smashed into the ground, causing the surrounding area to collapse. Giant rocks flew
outwards as cracks continuously extended.
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However, a sky-shaking howl suddenly rang out at this moment, shaking the surrounding trees.
Bang!
Everyone watched as the python’s titanic body was suddenly sent flying as if it had been struck by a
heavy blow.
Crash!
The giant python smashed into a wall of the valley and was buried in the rubble.
This abrupt scene caused everyone’s faces to be filled with shock, Su Youwei’s and Wei Qingqing’s
mouths hanging slightly open.
Swish!
Every gaze in the place converged towards the spot where Tuntun was at this moment, only to see dust
filling the air.
Scarlet light seemed to emerge from within the dust and everyone watched in astonishment as an
approximately ten feet tall beast slowly walked out from within, its heavy footsteps pounding on the
ground.
The giant beast’s entire body was scarlet-red and covered in fiery-red scales. Its eyes looked like burning
flames, and there seemed to be black light in its mouth, light that could devour all things.
An alarming aura gradually spread from its body, causing the entire mountain forest to fall silent.
It was as if a mysterious ferocious beast had walked out from an ancient primal era.
Mysterious and ferocious.
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Chapter 83 Contest
Everyone was stupefied as they stared at the mysterious beast that had stepped out from the smoke.
Even Zhou Yuan himself was dumbstruck.
Su Youwei covered her little mouth as she asked in disbelief, “Is… is that Tuntun?”
Zhou Yuan hesitated for a moment before nodding. “It should be.”
Although it was a little unbelievable for him to relate this mysterious and ferocious creature to the
usually lazy Tuntun that did nothing but eat, his rationality told him that the intimidating beast before
their eyes was indeed Tuntun…
Wei Qingqing mumbled in shock, “It possess also Alpha-Origin strength…”
“Tuntun is still a child.” Yaoyao smiled faintly.
These words caused everyone to be stupefied once again. The corners of Wei Qingqing’s little red mouth
twitched as her heartbeat quickened. Already possessing the strength of the Alpha-Origin stage as a
child?
What kind of terrifying Genesis Beast was this?!
Just how frightening would Tuntun become once it reached maturity?
Zhou Yuan involuntarily wet his lips. Although he had known all along that Tuntun was not of ordinary
origin, never in his wildest dreams would he have imagined that it would reach the Alpha-Origin stage as
a child. Such a thought was just too terrifying.
While Zhou Yuan’s group was stunned by Tuntun’s battle form, opposite them, the expressions of Qi
Hao’s group turned extremely ugly.
“Where did Zhou Yuan find an Alpha-Origin Genesis Beast?” Qi Hao’s voice was filled with shock. One
must know that although he could control the grade 4 python-type battle puppet, it was only for a short
period of time, and he could not bring the battle puppet away.
In contrast, the giant beast that had appeared on Zhou Yuan’s side could listen to one’s commands.
“Could this be a hidden trump card of the royal clan?” Qi Hao’s eyes flickered in thought.
“Hss!”
While these thoughts churned in Qi Hao’s mind, the giant battle puppet python freed itself from the
rubble and hissed at Tuntun as the ancient runes on its night-black body began to glow.
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With a fling of its tail, a good chunk of the valley collapsed. Boulders tumbled down and were catapulted
towards Tuntun with a follow-up swipe of the python’s tail.
As the boulders arrived, Tuntun’s sharp claws swiped across the air.
Chla!
Cold light seemed to flash past as five scars were torn open in the air. The boulders disintegrated in the
air before they could come anywhere near Tuntun.
Tuntun stood on one side of the valley, its scarlet-red eyes seemingly filled with disdain as it stared at the
python-type battle puppet.
Roar!
Tuntun roared deeply, like a king whose might was being challenged. One of its paws slammed into the
ground and everyone watched as the surrounding ground swiftly began to crack and crumble.
Swish!
Tuntun’s figure shot forth like a flash of scarlet-red light, fast as thunder, intimidating and ferocious.
The giant battle puppet python hissed and opened its huge mouth. One could only watch as a thick pillar
of red Genesis Qi shot out. The Genesis Qi was fiery and berserk in nature, leaving behind black scorch
marks on the ground below.
The power of this Genesis Qi was enough to insta-kill any Heaven Gate stage expert.
Swoosh!
However, Tuntun did not slow down at all. Instead, it opened its large mouth, revealing a mysterious
flickering black light within as it chomped down on the pillar of red Genesis Qi.
After devouring the red Genesis Qi in a single gulp, Tuntun’s figure appeared directly in front of the
python-type battle puppet. Faint black light glimmered between the former’s claws as it violently slashed
downwards.
Scree!
Claw-light swept over the python-type battle puppet’s enormous body as a screeching noise sounded.
Next, everyone watched in astonishment as the giant battle puppet python’s tail was split into two…
There were even five seemingly bottomless claw marks on the ground.
The sharpness of Tuntun’s claws was practically comparable to a high tier Black Genesis Weapon
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The giant battle puppet python hissed crazily as its forked-tongue darted about madly, wildly spewing
out red Genesis Qi.
Tuntun fearlessly pounced forward in the face of the now out-of-control giant battle puppet python. Two
titans tangled together, causing landslide after landslide in the valley.
Qi Hao’s expression grew exceptionally stormy when he saw this. He could naturally see that the giant
battle puppet python was being suppressed by the mysterious beast, and was likely not be able to endure
much longer.
“God damnit!”
Qi Hao could not help but curse out loud. He had originally believed that the giant battle puppet python
would be enough for him to control the situation, making sure that Zhou Yuan and his group would never
leave this place. Who could have expected that Zhou Yuan would also have something similar up his
sleeves.
Qi Hao said in a low voice, “This cannot be allowed to continue, we have to seize the Fire Spirit Grain!”
Now that the situation had spun out of his control, he had to quickly take the Fire Spirit Grain. It would be
their victory once they obtained it.
“Go!”
Qi Hao delayed no further and led the charge into the valley. A large group closely followed, protecting
him at the center.
“Qi Hao has made his move, we’ll move out too!” Zhou Yuan had his eyes fixed on Qi Hao since the start.
Hence, the former immediately detected the latter’s movement.
Su Youwei, Wei Qingqing, Lu Tieshan and the rest nodded in acknowledgement.
Both sides had shown all their cards. All that was left was a head-on clash.
Zhou Yuan looked towards Yaoyao and said, “Big sis Yaoyao, keep an eye on the outside of the valley and
don’t let anyone take advantage.”
Quite a number of factions had already gathered outside the valley, but none dared to make any moves
due to the intense battle between Wei Canglan and the Black Venom King in the sky and the two giant
creatures on one the side of the valley. However, they were clearly waiting for a chance, and there was no
choice but to guard against them.
Upon seeing this, Zhou Yuan led the group forward with a wave of his hand.
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Somewhere deeper into the valley, Qi Hao and his group had raised their speeds to the limit. With a
sideway glance, he saw the closely following Zhou Yuan’s group, causing the former’s eyes to grow
increasingly dark.
“Stop them!”
Several Heaven Gate experts led by Qi Ling immediately shot out.
“Captain Lu!” Zhou Yuan instantly responded.
“Understood your highness!” Lu Tieshan nodded and led several Heaven Gate experts to stop the them.
The two forces clashed, Genesis Qi devastating the surrounding area, turning the valley become even
more chaotic.
Two parties swiftly advanced while trying to delay the other.
As the core member of their groups, Zhou Yuan and Qi Hao rushed towards the bottom of the valley
without pause, while the number of guards around them continuously dropped as they were dispatched
to slow the other group.
Soon after, only Su Youwei and Wei Qingqing were left at Zhou Yuan’s side, while Qi Hao had four Qi
Nourishing stage guards.
Qi Hao darkly glanced at Zhou Yuan and gave a small nod.
The four Qi Nourishing stage experts immediately moved, creating an encirclement around Zhou Yuan’s
three man group.
“Your highness, I will only be able to deal with two of them.” Genesis Qi began to surge out from Wei
Qingqing’s body as her cold gaze locked onto two figures, an advance and initial Qi Nourishing stage
expert.
“Your highness, go get the Fire Spirit Grain. I will stop the other two.” Su Youwei looked towards the
remaining two. Both had the strength of the mid Qi Nourishing stage.
“Will you be okay?” Zhou Yuan hesitated for a moment. Su Youwei was only at the initial Qi Nourishing
stage, while her opponents were mid Qi Nourishing stage experts.
Su Youwei merely smiled upon hearing this and did not reply. Flame-Thunder and Niflheim Qi slowly
rose from her fair hands, the glows from the two different attribute Genesis Qi giving a certain charm to
her pretty face.
Wei Qingqing spoke up at this moment, “Your highness, you only need to delay Qi Hao. We will come to
your aid after dealing with our opponents.”
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From what she could tell, Zhou Yuan was only at the initial Qi Nourishing stage, while Qi Hao was had
already reached the advance Qi Nourishing stage. Their fighting strength was clearly not equal.
Zhou Yuan smiled, not say anything in response as he decisively shot forward.
Qi Hao and Zhou Yuan were now alone, one in front, the other behind, as they charged towards the
bottom of the valley.
Atop the slopes of the valley, the various factions secretly shook their heads upon seeing this. Prince Zhou
Yuan was really overestimating himself by chasing Qi Hao alone.
An abandoned herb cultivation area lay at the bottom of the valley, where the scarlet-red flame-like Fire
Spirit Grain gently swayed as it gave off a sweet fragrance.
Qi Hao’s figure stopped some distance away from the Fire Spirit Grain and slowly turned around, his
frosty gaze locking onto Zhou Yuan as a sinister smile emerged on his face.
“Pretty brave of you to follow me without anyone’s protection.”
“Looks like no one will be able to save you today.”
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Chapter 84 Tyrannical Dragon’s Resentment
Poison
Zhou Yuan’s expression did not change much as he gazed at Qi Hao’s sinister smile. If the former had not
opened his Qi Dwelling and advanced to the Qi Nourishing stage, it was likely that he would not be the
latter’s match.
Unfortunately for Qi Hao, Zhou Yuan had formally stepped into the Qi Nourishing realm before entering
the ruins, and even opened a blood colored Qi Dwelling.
“Relying on words alone, you are really deserving of your name Qi Ritian.” Zhou Yuan chuckled.
Qi Hao’s face turned black with rage, his eyes overflowing with killing intent as he angrily clenched his
jaw. “Little piece of trash, just wait till I cut off your tongue when you fall into my hands later.”
“Your younger brother Qi Yue said the same thing, but he ended up having an arm taken away by me and
now cowers in Qi Manor, too afraid to come out.” Zhou Yuan’s eyelids raised.
“Hahhaha.”
Qi Hao’s intense rage turned to laughter as the killing intent in his eyes surged to even greater heights.
Without further ado, his five fingers clenched into a fist as Genesis Qi began gushing out from his body
and covering him.
The Genesis Qi around Qi Hao had a golden hue and gave off a domineering and forceful aura. It was the
strongest Genesis Qi of Qi manor, grade 4 Genesis Qi, Primal Metal Qi.
Although Qi Hao was rather loathsome, the strength he possessed was the real deal.
With the Primal Metal Qi, he would be considered top tier amongst those of the Qi Nourishing stage.
With a thought, Genesis Qi also began to gush out of Zhou Yuan’s Qi Dwelling and swirled around his
body.
His Genesis Qi was translucent, but slivers of blood-red could be seen swimming within it.
On the ridges of the valley, gaze after gaze converged on the two individuals facing each other at the
bottom. When they saw the two different Genesis Qi, whispers began to spread.
“That Qi Hao should be at the advance Qi Nourishing stage right? He’s even cultivated Qi Manor’s top tier
Genesis Qi, the Primal Metal Qi. His battle power will definitely be very impressive.”
“Prince Zhou Yuan’s Genesis Qi… he hasn’t even learnt any Qi cultivation methods?”
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“Truly akin to a young calf being unafraid of a tiger. However, it never ends up well when a calf challenges
a tiger.”
“Heh heh, if prince Zhou Yuan dies here, the Great Zhou Empire is going to become very messy.”
“Messy is great. Only then will we from Blackwater have a better chance of plundering in the Great Zhou
Empire.”
“......”
While they whispered, a mix between gloating and pity was present in their eyes as they looked towards
Zhou Yuan’s figure. It was clear that they had already deemed him dead since he was facing a much
stronger Qi Hao.
At the bottom of the valley, Qi Hao was stunned slightly when he saw the Genesis Qi surging from Zhou
Yuan’s body before he sneered, “So you’ve already stepped into the Qi Nourishing stage, no wonder you
dare to face me alone.”
Even if Zhou Yuan had advanced to the Qi Nourishing stage, he would merely be at the initial stage, while
Qi Hao was already at the advance stage.
“Moreover, this Genesis Qi of yours... could it be that you have yet to even learn a Qi cultivation method?”
“Won’t you find out once you have a taste?” Zhou Yuan’s voice was emotionless.
“Bluffing won’t save you!” Qi Hao laughed chillingly. Iciness flashed in his eyes as he pushed off the
ground with the tip of his foot. Cracks spread as his figure swiftly shot towards Zhou Yuan like a flash of
golden light.
Qi Hao had made his move.
A sparkling gold silhouette rapidly expanded in Zhou Yuan’s eyes. However, the only response to Qi Hao’s
ferocity was a faint glimmer in Zhou Yuan’s eyes. He did not chose to avoid the attack, his body remaining
on the spot as the pulsations from Genesis Qi around him grew more and more violent.
“Fool, you’re courting death!”
Upon seeing Zhou Yuan’s lack of movement, a cold look flashed in Qi Hao’s eyes. He was an advance Qi
Nourishing stage expert, and had even cultivated a grade 4 Genesis Qi, facts granting him practically
complete superiority over Zhou Yuan. Hence, facing Qi Hao in a head-on clash was akin to courting death
for Zhou Yuan.
Boom!
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Qi Hao threw a punch, fist-winds rumbling like thunder as golden Genesis Qi shuddered, while the sound
of metal clanging against metal seemed to echo. The punch screamed of unyielding forcefulness, and even
a boulder would be shattered to dust by it.
Zhou Yuan took in a deep breath, iciness flitting across his eyes as his five fingers curled and a fist was
thrown forward.
He wanted to test just how powerful his Dragon’s Resentment Poison laced Geness Qi was.
Bang!
The fists of both individuals collided as a shockwave swept outwards, blowing up the dust on the ground.
They were only locked in place for a few breaths, before Zhou Yuan’s body was jerked backwards, his
soles stepping several times on the ground before managing to forcibly steady his body. However, the Qi
and blood in his body continued to churn violently.
“Advance Qi Nourishing stage with grade 4 Genesis Qi is indeed formidable.”
Zhou Yuan’s five fingers unfurled, as pain faintly echoed throughout his arm, a sign that he had been hurt.
It was obvious that he had somewhat underestimated Qi Hao’s power.
However…
Zhou Yuan raised his head and looked towards Qi Hao, who was a dozen steps away. The latter should
not be feeling too good either because a wisp of blood in Zhou Yuan’s Genesis Qi had taken the
opportunity to enter Qi Hao’s body in their earlier clash.
“Truly reckless.” Outside the valley, numerous people secretly shook their heads as they watched. An
initial Qi Nourishing stage clashing directly with an advance Qi Nourishing stage, Zhou Yuan did not seem
to know how the word death was written.
“But why has Qi Hao not pressed the advantage and continue attacking?” Someone suddenly asked in a
puzzled voice. Qi Hao had not moved from the spot and showed no signs of chasing Zhou Yuan.
Someone else asked, “Could he have been injured in their earlier clash?”
Another person immediately snorted disdainfully, “How can that be. Qi Hao is at the advance Qi
Nourishing stage and has even cultivated a grade 4 Genesis Qi. Zhou Yuan is already very lucky to have
survived after one punch.”
While they discussed, at the bottom of the valley, Qi Hao’s body faintly trembled as golden light and a
blood-red hue continuously interchanged on his face.
A dozen breaths later, his body violently jerked as he spit out a mouthful of blood.
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Urgh!
The blood landed on the ground and began to corrode it.
*Uproar*!
His actions naturally landed in the eyes of the numerous observing parties, causing them to burst out into
an uproar. Everyone was stupefied by this scene.
It was supposed to have been completely one-sided, so why had Qi Hao suddenly vomited a mouthful of
blood?!
What exactly was going on?
Qi Hao’s expression was stormy as he wiped off the blood at the corner of his mouth. He looked towards
Zhou Yuan and bellowed through gritted teeth. “There’s poison in your Genesis Qi?!”
Moreover, a poison so tyrannical that it made his heart shiver in fear. Both of them had only been in
contact for a very brief moment earlier and Zhou Yuan’s Genesis Qi had indeed been forcefully dispersed
by Qi Hao, but at the same moment that Zhou Yuan’s Genesis Qi was dispersed, a sliver of strange blood-
red poison Qi had invaded Qi Hao’s body.
The blood-red poison Qi had immediately begun to manically devour his essence blood, scaring Qi Hao
silly as he frantically tried to suppress it and was eventually able to expel the poison Qi from his body.
Zhou Yuan’s eyes brightened a little when he saw the now somewhat disorderly state of Qi Hao’s Genesis
Qi. It seemed that the Dragon’s Resentment Poison within his Genesis Qi was much more domineering
than expected.
Only a wisp had been able to invade earlier, if there was a little more, Qi Hao would probably have been
killed off by the Dragon’s Resentment Poison without additional help from Zhou Yuan.
“Don’t you enjoy a good head-on clash? Come on, let’s have another go.” Zhou Yuan grinned.
Fear flashed in Qi Hao’s eyes. Zhou Yuan’s Genesis Qi was no threat to the former, but the wisps of
dreadful poison Qi within were extremely frightening.
Qi Hao took in a deep breath, suppressing the oppressed feeling in his heart. With a grasp, a golden long
spear appeared in his hand. It glowed brightly and was evidently a high tier Genesis Weapon.
It was obvious that he no longer dared to clash directly against Zhou Yuan with his body, so as to
safeguard against being invaded by that terrifying poison Qi.
Golden long spear in hand, Qi Hao’s eyes turned cold and serious as he slowly pointed the tip of the spear
at Zhou Yuan.
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Upon seeing that Qi Hao had become cautious, a grave expression gradually surfaced on Zhou Yuan’s face.
He knew that a terrible battle was unavoidable if he wanted to obtain the Fire Spirit Grain today.
Since that was so, let us see exactly who will kill who!
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Chapter 85 Battling Qi Hao
Bottom of the valley.
When the golden long spear appeared in Qi Hao’s hands, the Genesis Qi undulations around his body
grew increasingly intimidating. His aura rose steadily as a a suffocating pressure spread.
Zhou Yuan did not underestimate the now fully serious Qi Hao and retrieved the Heavenly Yuan Brush at
his waist.
“Martial form.”
Light surged on the Heavenly Yuan Brush as it transformed into a man-sized giant black brush. The hairs
of the snow-white brush tip tightly bunched together, forming a flower bud shaped spear tip which
gleamed coldly.
Zhou Yuan wielded the Heavenly Yuan Brush, its tip pointed towards the ground at an angle as his eyes
gradually turned icy.
The swirling translucent Genesis Qi around his body gradually converged towards the Heavenly Yuan
Brush, forming an exceptionally sharp blade at the brush tip through the amplification of the brush.
Two gazes met in the air, each surging with killing intent.
Bang!
In the next instant, the two figures shot forward at practically the same time, colliding on the empty
ground several breaths later.
Clang!
A golden spear and a black brush were filled with power, tearing through the air as blow after blow was
exchanged, each clash accompanied by loud ‘clangs’.
Swish! Swish!
Both individuals had pushed their Genesis Qi to the limits, and every attack was filled with savageness.
Spear and brush were followed by numerous after images, swift as lightning as they met again and again.
In less than a minute, the two had already fought over a dozen rounds.
However, anyone could tell that Qi Hao clearly had the upper hand in their exchanges. After all, he had the
strength of the advance Qi Nourishing stage and had cultivated the grade 4 Genesis Qi, Primal Metal Qi.
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On the other hand, Zhou Yuan was only at the initial Qi Nourishing stage, and had yet to learn a Qi
cultivation method, resulting in a less power. The fact that he could fight Qi Hao to such an extent was
already pretty unimaginable.
A golden spear swept forth, surging with Genesis Qi, blasting away the air around it.
Clang!
The spear slammed into a black brush, causing sparks to fly. The powerful force made Zhou Yuan retreat
several steps as the Heavenly Yuan Brush in his hand drew a deep scar on the ground.
Huu.
Zhou Yuan steadied himself and breathed out deeply. The Qi and blood in his body was still violently
churning after the previous clash, a feeling that made his expression grow increasingly grave.
He now clearly understood that his opponent was indeed a whole lot stronger himself. Without the
advantage his Qi Dwelling provided, it was likely that he would have lost long ago.
Moreover, Qi Hao no longer dared to have any physical contact after having a taste of the Dragon’s
Resentment Poison earlier. Instead, he used the power of his Genesis Weapon to attack, giving the
Dragon’s Resent Poison no chance to affect him.
“If I had cultivated the Omni Python Qi from the first level of the Ancestral Dragon Scripture, I should be
able to beat him even at the initial Qi Nourishing stage.” Zhou Yuan felt a little regret. Unfortunately for
him, the grade 4 python-type Genesis beast spirit he needed was still inside the battle puppet’s body.
Qi Hao proudly stood with his spear as he said in a cold voice, “To have lasted so long against me as an
initial Qi Nourishing stage that has yet to practice any Qi cultivation method is truly testament of your
abilities.”
While Zhou Yuan was inwardly sighing in regret, Qi Hao was secretly astonished. Logically speaking, their
cultivation levels were completely incomparable, and killing Zhou Yuan should not take more than a few
rounds.
Yet, Zhou Yuan had not even been heavily injured even after so many rounds. It was simply unbelievable.
However, this also made Qi Hao even more certain that he had to kill Zhou Yuan. The latter was already
such a problem at the initial Qi Nourishing stage. If Zhou Yuan was allowed to reach the advance stage
and practice a Qi cultivation method, Qi Hao would likely not even have the qualifications to fight the
former.
“This is the best chance for me to eliminate him. I will make this valley his grave!” Murder surged in Qi
Hao’s eyes as the golden long spear in his hand emitted a sharp flash.
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His figure shot forward once again, his spear dashing forward like a ray of golden light as it headed
straight for Zhou Yuan.
Qi Hao’s attacks had grown fiercer and anyone could clearly see his intent to kill.
“Qi Hao is going to kill him.”
“I’m afraid that prince Zhou Yuan’s life is in danger.”
“...”
Whispers broke out when the numerous parties outside the valley saw this change. Zhou Yuan had
already been completely suppressed in the earlier exchanges. Now that Qi Hao’s attacks had grown even
fiercer, it was likely that Zhou Yuan’s defeat was near.
Zhou Yuan raised his head at this moment, his gaze falling upon the golden spear that was rapidly closing
in on him as cold light surged in his eyes. He breathed in deeply as a glow emerged under his clothes.
“Gold Ape Moves the Mountain Rune!”
A low shout echoed in Zhou Yuan’s heart as a complicated rune began to surface on his skin.
Zhou Yuan’s body began to shake. He could feel an astonishing power explode within his body and spread
to his limbs.
As the power surged within him, his body seemed to grow a little bigger.
Five fingers tightened around the Heavenly Yuan Brush as his foot stamped on the ground. Cracks spread
as his body shot forward in a perfectly straight line, the Heavenly Yuan Brush thrusting forward, clashing
once again with the golden spear.
Clang!
Brush and spear tips ferociously collided.
A ripple that could be seen with the naked eyes swept outwards, sweeping away all the loose rocks on the
ground, even turning a quite a few to dust.
Bang!
Zhou Yuan’s and Qi Hao’s bodies jerked slightly at this moment, each feeling an astonishing force surge
towards them. The force destabilized their bodies, causing them to take a dozen shaky steps backwards.
*Uproar*!
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This scene caused an uproar to emerge from the numerous onlookers.
Because neither party had gained the upper hand in this clash!
“How is this possible?!” Shock surfaced in Qi Hao’s eyes. He had practically gone all out in his previous
attack with the intention of overwhelming Zhou Yuan. Who could have imagined that it would lead to
such a result.
Zhou Yuan steadied himself. In contrast to Qi Hao’s shock, the former was much calmer. The Gold Ape
Moves the Mountain Rune was a grade 2 Genesis Rune, and granted its user a tremendous amount of
power. With this power, he was finally able to match the advance Qi Nourishing stage Qi Hao.
“Finally filled the gap...”
Zhou Yuan gripped the Heavenly Yuan Brush as he looked towards Qi Hao and grinned. “Let’s have a good
fight.”
The brush tip shook as green light suddenly poured out. The light extended a whole ten inches as its color
grew deeper and deeper. It was the Auraflare technique.
Qi Hao expression grew even darker as he gazed upon the flickering green light at the tip of Zhou Yuan’s
brush. With a jerk of the golden spear, a sharp without equal green light also surged out.
Qi Hao frostily said, “Using your Auraflare technique before me is truly reckless!”
Swish!
A chill surged through the air as their gazes met, before they both shot forward a split second later.
Bang! Bang!
At the bottom of the valley, two figures criss-crossed at lightning speed, spear and brush clashing time
after time as the aftershocks of their attacks devastated the area. Deep scars decorated the ground
wherever they passed.
Both individuals had pushed themselves to their limits.
Numerous gazes were gathered on the fight. The ruthlessness and viciousness of the two made several
expressions change.
No one had expected that the one whom they had originally thought would be easily crushed, Zhou Yuan,
would be able to go so far in a direct clash against Qi Hao.
“Prince Zhou Yuan is actually rather capable.”
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“Who ends up winning or losing is really up in the air now…”
“But Qi Hao still has a greater chance at victory. After all, the Genesis Qi of an advance Qi Nourishing stage
expert is both more abundant and stronger than an initial stage practitioner like Zhou Yuan. Such a pity,
such a pity indeed…”
...
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Chapter 86 Erode
Clang!
A golden spear tore through the air as it powerfully thrust forward where it was met and blocked by a
brush. A clear ‘clang’ sound resonated from the point of contact as a shockwave swept outwards.
Zhou Yuan’s and Qi Hao’s figures were blown backwards.
Both individuals wore frosty expressions as Genesis Qi churned around their bodies. Traces of blood was
visible on their skin, evidence that blood had been drawn in the intense clash earlier.
From this, one could see just how desperate the battle was.
Qi Hao looked at the wounds on his body and coldly chuckled. He slammed the bottom of his spear on the
ground as he said in a low voice, “Unbreakable Metal!”
As his shout faded, gold light suddenly flooded out from under his skin and gradually dyed Qi Hao’s skin
gold, making it look as if it was made from gold.
At the same time, his wounds completely faded away.
Mid grade Black Genesis Technique, Unbreakable Metal!
Zhou Yuan’s eyes widened when he saw this. Unbreakable Metal was a Genesis Technique that was
paired with Primal Metal Qi and boasted extremely strong defensive powers.
Qi Hao’s trump cards were being revealed one by one as they fought.
Rumble!
Qi Hao’s body glowed with golden light as he charged forward once again, his spear akin to a cold
glittering star as it rapidly thrust at Zhou Yuan’s vitals.
Zhou Yuan feet performed Dragon Step, avoiding the thrusts while the brush in his hand darted towards
Qi Hao’s shoulder, leaving behind a streak of green light in its wake.
Clang!
However, a clear ‘clang’ rang out as the brush tip scraped across Qi Hao’s shoulder, leaving behind a tiny
red mark. The brush tip had only managed to penetrate half a fingernail before being stopped by gold
light.
Thud!
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Qi Hao laughed sinisterly as the golden long spear in his hand swept forth, slamming into Zhou Yuan’s
chest. The powerful force sent Zhou Yuan flying backwards into a boulder, causing cracks to grow on it.
“What a difficult opponent.”
Pain pulsed from Zhou Yuan’s back as he frowned deeply. With Unbreakable Metal, Qi Hao’s defence had
reached an astonishing level and even the Auraflare technique was unable to breakthrough.
“You really surprise me. To think that a mere initial Qi Nourishing stage practitioner can last so long
against me without exhausting your Genesis Qi.” Qi Hao’s tone was rather chilling as killing intent
overflowed from his eyes.
Zhou Yuan rubbed his chest. If not for his strong body, his chest would have been caved in by the earlier
spear sweep.
Zhou Yuan said, “You are a little harder to deal with than expected.”
“You should stop being so sharp-tongued when your death is so near.” Qi Hao let out an icy chuckle.
Golden Genesis Qi surged on his body as he lifted the long spear in his hand, pointed it at Zhou Yuan and
said in a voice dripping with killing intent, “You will no longer be capable of speaking next time.”
Swish!
Qi Hao’s figure shot forward the moment he finished speaking, the long spear in his hand dragging across
the ground, leaving a deep scar and a trial of sparks.
“Mid grade Genesis Technique, Heavenly Gold Genesis Splitter Spear!”
The killing intent in Qi Hao’s eyes soared as his spear stabbed forward. The golden light on the spear
flared as an extremely sharp aura condensed at its tip, an aura so sharp that the air at the spear tip could
clearly been seen splitting apart.
Numerous deep scars were also etched into the ground below.
It was a breathtaking spear attack and was clearly Qi Hao’s strongest move.
Outside the valley. The expressions of the onlookers changed at this moment, evidently having felt the
power of Qi Hao’s spear attack. It was likely that no one amongst the Qi Nourishing stage would be able to
directly receive this attack.
It seemed that Qi Hao had been angered and intended to end this match with this deadly blow.
“Prince Zhou Yuan is dead meat.” Said one of the onlookers. Qi Hao’s defence was too overwhelming,
allowing him to be unafraid of Zhou Yuan’s attacks. In addition, Qi Hao’s attacks were both ruthless and
fierce. How would Zhou Yuan be able to withstand them?
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Numerous others nodded in complete agreement.
In the valley. Zhou Yuan’s expression grew increasingly grave. He breathed in deeply as the Genesis Qi in
his body began to churn.
In the next instant, the brush tip of the Heavenly Yuan Brush began to dance as Genesis Qi pulsed from it.
Vigorous Genesis Qi poured out of Zhou Yuan’s body, gathering at the tip of the brush.
“Die!” Yelled Qi Hao as a golden spear rapidly expanded in Zhou Yuan’s eyes.
The cumulation of Genesis Qi at the brush tip finally reached its peak. With a jerk of his arm, Zhou Yaun
roared in his heart, “Emperor Extreme Seal!”
Buzz!
The brush tip trembled as the gathered Genesis Qi transformed into a dazzling ray of light, light that gave
off an extremely tyrannical aura.
This was the Emperor Extreme Seal that Zhou Yuan had learnt. It was also a mid grade Black Genesis
Technique and boasted impressive power.
Two attacks containing the full power of two individuals finally collided under the watching eyes of the
many onlookers.
Boom!
The moment of collision was akin to a storm devastating the area. The ground below both individuals’
feet was scraped away layer by layer, while the surrounding boulders were disintegrated to dust.
“What a crazy clash. I would never have imagined that a fight between an initial Qi Nourishing stage and
advance Qi Nourishing stage would reach such levels.” Numerous onlookers lamented.
Bang!
A shockwave filled with berserk energies exploded at the bottom of the valley, tearing open deep gorges
in the ground. Zhou Yuan and Qi Hao practically received the full brunt of the impact and were sent flying
as if struck by a powerful blow, before crashing into the sides of the valley.
Blood appeared at the corner of Zhou Yuan’s mouth. He was currently in a rather miserable state with
wounds all over his body, but his eyes remained cold as he looked towards his front.
There, Qi Hao’s figure was also embedded into the side of the valley, but he very quickly freed himself. In
comparison to Zhou Yuan, the golden glow on Qi Hao’s body had only dimmed substantially. It was clear
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that the defensive power of Unbreaker Metal had made it such that he was in a far better state than Zhou
Yuan.
Qi Hao suppressed the churning Qi and blood in his body before shooting a sinister gaze at Zhou Yuan.
“You’re truly tenacious… to think that even this has not killed you.”
Qi Hao let out an evil laugh before continuing, “But it seems that your injuries are pretty serious, no?”
“Looks like you’ve lost. With Unbreakable Metal, my defensive capabilities far surpass your own. Hence,
the one who remains standing at the end will always be me!”
Qi Hao gripped his long spear as he walked towards Zhou Yuan, the killing intent in his eyes growing
greater with every step.
Many inwardly shook their heads as they watched. Looks like it was over. Although Zhou Yuan’s
performance was perfect, it was obviously not enough against the far stronger Qi Hao.
With his strong defensive ability, Qi Hao was the one who had remained standing in the end.
“What a pity…”
Qi Hao slowly approached Zhou Yuan. The former could feel that the Genesis Qi in the latter’s body had
become much weaker. This was the best chance to kill Zhou Yuan.
There was unexpectedly neither panic or fear on Zhou Yuan’s face as he watched Qi Hao slowly walk
towards him.
Qi Hao’s icy voice sounded, “I did not expect you to have such an expression before your death. How
loathsome.”
“I just feel that you are very pitiful…” There was a faint smile on Zhou Yuan’s lips.
Qi Hao’s pupils suddenly shrank.
“Because you still do not know who has won or lost…” Zhou Yuan’s smile seemed to become somewhat
strange.
Qi Hao chillingly said, “Still trying to bluff, die!”
Without any hesitation, the long spear in his hand gleamed with cold light as it mercilessly thrust towards
Zhou Yuan’s heart.
However, Zhou Yuan showed no signs of stopping the fatal attack, his face impassive.
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Ch!
The sharp spear tip suddenly stopped an inch away from Zhou Yuan’s heart.
Qi Hao’s pupils frantically shrank as terror and shock emerged on his face. He had suddenly lost control
of his body.
“You, what did you do?!” Qi Hao was horrified.
Zhou Yuan looked at the wounds on his body as he indifferently said, “Do you really think that I am so
stupid. I clearly knew that your defensive abilities had been boosted by Unbreakable Metal, yet why did I
still choose to exchange blow after blow with you?”
Zhou Yuan gripped the Heavenly Yuan Brush beside him and slowly lifted it, pointing its sharp tip at Qi
Hao.
Light suddenly appeared below the Martial and Culture Rune on the mottled body of the brush as an
ancient rune slowly became clear…
The second rune of the Heavenly Yuan Brush, Erode.
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Chapter 87 Kill
“Erode.”
Zhou Yuan stared at the second rune on the Heavenly Yuan Brush as he mumbled. Soon after, he laughed.
“Truly formidable, as expected of the Heavenly Yuan Brush.”
It had been several months since the first rune of the Heavenly Yuan Brush had been awakened. Over this
period of time, Zhou Yuan had not stopped feeding it Genesis Beast spirits. Even so, the second rune had
only awakened on the fifth day after entering Blackwater.
The awakened rune was called Erode.
Qi Hao’s face was filled with terror as he howled in disbelief, “What have you done to me?!”
Zhou Yuan glanced at him as the Heavenly Yuan Brush in his hand suddenly vibrated. One could only
watch as the brush tip made a beckoning motion and Qi Hao’s body began to shake violently. A miserable
scream rang out from his mouth as snow-white hairs so thin that they were barely visible began to tunnel
out from his pores.
The hairs sparkled as if they had absorbed a large amount of Genesis Qi. Like a flock of birds returning to
the nest, the hairs flew towards the tip of the Heavenly Yuan Brush.
As the hairs returned, Zhou Yuan immediately felt the Genesis Qi in the Heavenly Yuan Brush begin to
rise rapidly, while the flickering green light at its tip grew even sharper.
Zhou Yuan looked towards Qi Hao. The latter wore an expression of horror as the golden light on his body
swiftly receded. Unbreakable Metal had been dispelled.
What terrified him the most however, was that the Genesis Qi in his body seemed to have been eroded
and stolen away by something and was rapidly depleting.
Qi Hao regained control of his body, but the fear on his face remained.
Due to having his Genesis Qi depleted, a sour feeling of powerlessness began to spread within his body.
Zhou Yuan gave the Heavenly Yuan Brush a little shake as he smiled, “Every time my Heavenly Yuan
Brush pierced your skin, a hair invisible to the naked eye would enter your body.”
“These hairs concealed themselves in your blood and flesh as they secretly eroded away your Genesis Qi,
seizing it as their own. They will ultimately leave with the Genesis Qi and provide it to the Heavenly Yuan
Brush.”
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At this point, Zhou Yuan could not help but sigh. This ability was just too frightening. The slightest
negligence would result in the hairs secretly entering one’s body without notice and erode away one’s
Genesis Qi.
Most importantly, these hairs were even able to return to the Heavenly Yuan Brush and pass the stolen
Genesis Qi to it, practically allowing the brush to maintain its power indefinitely.
In other words, the current Heavenly Yuan Brush would still be able to display its power without any
consumption of Zhou Yuan’s Genesis Qi.
“It really lives up to having once been a Sacred Genesis Weapon.” Zhou Yuan exclaimed in his heart.
Although the first awakened rune was pretty unique, Zhou Yuan had not felt that the brush was truly
amazing.
However, now that the second rune had been awakened, the Heavenly Yuan Brush had finally began to
slowly reveal how extraordinary it was.
“I wonder what kind of abilities the subsequent seven runes will possess.” Zhou Yuan’s eyes were filled
with expectation. Given how out of this world the second rune was, it was difficult to imagine the power
of the Heavenly Yuan Brush when it recovered all of its abilities.
“Do you understand now?” There was a faint grin on Zhou Yuan’s lips as he gazed at the terrified Qi Hao.
Qi Hao’s face was deathly pale. It was only at this point did he understand why Zhou Yuan had continued
to exchange injuries with him even after he had brought out Unbreakable Metal. He had previously
believed that Zhou Yuan was a fool, and it was only now that he realised that it had all been part of Zhou
Yuan’s plan.
It had been for the sake of allowing the brush hairs to invade his body.
No matter how strong his defences were with Unbreakable Metal, it could not defend against attacks from
the inside.
Zhou Yuan slowly lifted the Heavenly Yuan Brush, light pulsing at the brush tip as it pointed at Qi Hao.
Fear flooded Qi Hao’s face. How could he have imagined such a turn of events. He should have been able
to stably maintain the upper hand, eventually crush Zhou Yuan under his heel and slowly torment the
latter.
Due to fear, Qi Hao no longer cared about anything else and quickly turned around, the little Genesis Qi he
had frantically circulating to help him escape.
Sch!
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However, he had only managed to take a few steps before a piercing sound rang out behind him. Qi Hao’s
body suddenly became rigid as he slowly lowered his head, only to find a spear tip made of snow-white
brush hairs protruding from his chest…
The fresh blood that flowed along the snow-white hairs quickly dripped off, allowing the hairs to
maintain their pristine white appearance.
“In your next life, use your head a little when you fight with others. Being overjoyed because of a small
advantage will only lead to one’s death.” A cold voice echoed from behind him. In the end, Qi Hao vomited
a mouthful of fresh blood, the scene before his eyes gradually turning to darkness as his body crumpled
to the ground.
Outside the valley, everyone fell silent at this moment. It was a long while later before a loud uproar
erupted.
“Qi Hao has died?!”
“How is this possible?! The advantage had been his all along, how was he defeated all of a sudden?!”
“What happened?”
“.....”
Everyone was stupefied as if they had seen a ghost. A minute ago, they had been pitying Zhou Yuan
because they felt he would die at Qi Hao’s hands, an outcome that was reversed a minute later.
“Something seemed to have come out from Qi Hao’s body earlier.” Some of the individuals with better
eyesight had managed to catch sight of some clues.
“It was likely some trick of Zhou Yuan’s and Qi Hao unknowingly fell prey to it.”
These people looked to each other and ultimately gasped in surprise. No matter what trick Zhou Yuan
had used, he was the ultimate victor.
“It’s really hard to believe that he killed the advance Qi Nourishing stage Qi Hao with his initial Qi
Nourishing stage strength!”
“More importantly, he hasn’t even learnt a Qi cultivation method!”
“What a monster!”
“To think that the Great Zhou Empire would have such an abnormal prince… looks like we have to be
more careful in future.”
“......”
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Meanwhile, near the bottom of the valley, Wei Qingqing and Su Youwei had begun to dominate their
fights and eventually ended them. The moment they were done, both girls simultaneously shot towards
the bottom of the valley.
It was clear that they were both worried about Zhou Yuan.
However, when they reached the bottom of the valley, they were just in time to see Qi Hao’s figure slowly
fall to the ground.
Behind Qi Hao was the slender figure of a handsome youth wielding the Heavenly Yuan Brush.
“Qi Hao… is dead?” Wei Qingqing’s mouth hung slightly open, disbelief all over her face as she stared at
Zhou Yuan. She clearly understood just how powerful Qi Hao was, and even she herself only had a fifty
percent chance of victory against him.
Yet, a foe that even she had difficulty facing had died at the hands of the initial Qi Nourishing stage Zhou
Yuan?
“Your highness is truly too amazing.” Su Youwei was not surprised at all and openly exclaimed in praise.
For her, it would always make sense no matter how unbelievable a feat Zhou Yuan had accomplished.
Wei Qingqing was speechless. How was this amazing, it was more apt to call it monstrous, right?
Just how exactly had Zhou Yuan killed Qi Hao?
While the two girls blankly stared at this scene, Zhou Yuan turned his head and grinned at them. Soon
after, he involuntarily grimaced in pain due to the injuries on his body.
The Heavenly Yuan Brush in his hands rapidly shrunk before being stuffed back into Zhou Yuan’s
waistband. He then lifted his head, looking towards the fire-like Fire Spirit Grain as he breathed a sigh of
relief as if a heavy burden had been removed from his shoulders.
The Fire Spirit Grain had finally been obtained.
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Chapter 88 Fire Spirit Grain Obtained
At the bottom of the valley, Zhou Yuan’s eyes were filled with excitement as he stared at the gently
swaying Fire Spirit Grain. Moments later, he pushed down the intense emotions in his heart and quickly
walked forward.
He retrieved a man-sized jade pot from his Universe bag which had several Genesis Qi preservation runes
inscribed upon it.
Next, he retrieved a shovel and very carefully began to transfer the dirt around the Fire Spirit Grain into
the jade pot. He did not dare to make any big motions, afraid that he might damage its roots.
Under Zhou Yuan’s meticulous work, the soil around the Fire Spirit Grain was cleaned out. He then very
carefully lifted the plant and placed it into the jade pot, before filling the rest of the pot with the dirt from
before.
Zhou Yuan was already perspiring profusely by the time he was done. It felt even more exhausting than
the intense battle against Qi Hao.
Zhou Yuan gazed at the Fire Spirit Grain in the pot, the plump Fire Spirit kernels on it glowing faintly.
Although there was only one stalk, it could be replanted to obtain more seeds.
However, it was said that a special method was required to grow new seeds for a Genesis Food of this
rank which needed to be planted within a certain radius of the original Fire Spirit Grain. Any new seeds
that left this radius would wither and die, making it unable to be harvested.
“Is this the Fire Spirit Grain?” Wei Qingqing and Su Youwei crowded over, their curious eyes locking onto
the fiery-red plant swaying in the jade pot.
Zhou Yuan grinned and nodded. “The general’s faction has done a great service this time. When the Fire
Spirit Grain matures in future, there will definitely be a share for you guys.”
Wei Qingqing smiled. “Then I shall give my thanks your highness first. I’ve actually never eaten a grade 4
Genesis Food before and I imagine that its effect will be rather special.”
When Zhou Yuan saw that Su Youwei was still fixed on the Fire Spirit Grain, he chuckled and said, “Don’t
worry, you will also have a share.”
Su Youwei blushed slightly and hastily tried to explain, “I, I was just wondering how it will taste, I don’t
really need a share.”
While they were conversing, the numerous factions outside the valley could not help but grow somewhat
restless upon seeing Zhou Yuan collect the Fire Spirit Grain. After all, everyone knew its value. Even if not
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used by oneself, it could be sold for an unimaginable price. In fact, any faction that had ambition would be
willing to sell off everything they had in order to purchase it.
Hence, some of the stronger practitioners began to stir as Genesis Qi rose around their bodies.
This was the time when Zhou Yuan’s party was at its weakest. If one was able to enter, one would
definitely be able to seize the treasure and run off.
However, while these thoughts churned in these individuals’ minds, Yaoyao’s indifferent gaze swept over
from the top of the valley. With a grasp of her fair hand, a scroll appeared within it.
The scroll slowly unfurled, revealing a complicated Genesis Rune. The surrounding Genesis Qi frantically
began to gather towards the scroll as if drawn in by something.
Yaoyao’s fair hand trembled as the scroll was sent flying and a dazzling radiance soon exploded.
Rumble!
The Genesis Qi collected by the rune transformed into a black cloud. Lightning flashed within the
billowing black cloud as a suffocating pressure spread.
Outside the valley, the expressions of the now restless experts immediately changed when they saw this
as they cried out in horror, “Grade 4 Genesis Rune?!”
It was definitely a grade 4 Genesis Rune or it would not give off such an alarming pressure.
Gaze after gaze was filled with terror as they turned towards the breathtakingly beautiful young girl in
green atop the valley. No one would have ever imagined that the girl from which they could not feel even
the slightest Genesis Qi undulations would have such terrifying mastery over Genesis Runes.
The black cloud hung over the valley, thunder rumbling. It intimidated all of the experts from the various
factions, causing them to not dare to try anything funny. They knew that the black cloud would blast them
with lightning if they took even a single step forward.
In the face of such attacks, even Heaven Gate experts would be easily struck down one by one regardless
of how many were sent.
At the bottom of the valley, Zhou Yuan also detected the disturbance outside the valley and coldly
snorted. He swiftly kept the jade pot in his Universe bag and said, “Let’s go have a look at the situation.”
His figure took the lead, dashing forward and eventually arriving at one side of the valley.
Zhou Yuan’s gaze first turned towards Tuntun’s battlefield where the activity was the greatest.
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However, he was immediately startled by what he saw. Amongst the rubble, there was only ten feet left of
the battle puppet python’s originally titanic body. A good half of its body had already been torn away.
The only saving grace was that it was a battle puppet that was unable to feel any pain, or it would have
long died to the pain.
On the other hand, the current Tuntun resembled a cat toying with a mouse, slapping the giant battle
python puppet around as if it was a ball. The battle puppet python was sent flying towards the sides of
the valley time and time again, a sight that made one involuntarily shiver in fear.
“Tuntun is really frightening!” Su Youwei could not help but utter when she was this scene. To think that
the normally lazy and extremely adorable little creature would become so savage in its battle form.
The corners of Zhou Yuan’s mouth twitched. He was feeling a little insecure as he recalled the times when
he had reduced the portions of Tuntun’s meals. Would he not be filled with grievance if by some chance
the little beast was angered, grew big and swatted him to death with a single swipe?
“Looks like I can’t cut its food portions in future.” Zhou Yuan sighed.
By this time, Tuntun seemed to have grown bored of playing. Black light swirled around its claws as it
suddenly slashed downwards, tearing open the giant battle puppet python’s head with a piercing noise.
The giant battle puppet python finally fell to the ground. Tuntun’s large claw pushed open its head,
revealing a human head sized sparkling crystal. The silhouette of a giant python could be seen inside this
crystal.
It was its beast spirit.
Tuntun stared at the beast spirit crystal, clearly desiring to devour it.
When Zhou Yuan saw this, he was immediately spooked out of his mind and loudly yelled, “May your
mouth have mercy!”
His figure quickly shot forward and landed at Tuntun’s side.
Tuntun jumped a little in fright and surprise due to Zhou Yuan’s sudden yell. The latter took the
opportunity to swiftly dash to the beast spirit crystal and keep it into his Universe bag.
Obtaining the grade 4 python-type beast spirit had been one of his objectives for entering Blackwater.
Now that it had been obtained after much difficulty, he would be truly dumbfounded if he were to allow
Tuntun to swallow it.
Just imagine how much time would be wasted if he had to find a second grade 4 python-type beast spirit.
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Tuntun lowered its head and was immediately enraged when it saw that the beast spirit crystal had been
taken by Zhou Yuan. It roared at Zhou Yuan. To think that this fellow dared to snatch away its food.
“One hundred plates of meat!”
Zhou Yuan immediately shouted In response to Tuntun’s angry roar.
Tuntun’s roaring stopped as its eyes seemed to flicker with thought. It began to calculate how much meat
a hundred plates was worth and eventually nodded its head, indicating that it had agreed to this
transaction.
Zhou Yuan breathed a sigh of relief and patted Tuntun’s paw in satisfaction. Now that the grade 4 python-
type Genesis Beast spirit had been obtained, he could finally begin to cultivate the first level of the
Ancestral Dragon Scripture, the Omni Python Qi.
Once he succeeded, his battle power would undoubtedly soar, making it difficult to find a worthy
opponent amongst those of the Qi Nourishing stage.
After the battle between Tuntun and the giant battle puppet python ended, the situation was now
completely in Zhou Yuan’s favor. It was also at this time that Qi Ling discovered the cruel reality that Qi
Hao had been killed by Zhou Yuan.
Qi Ling’s eyes turned completely red, but he still decisively waved his hand and shouted, “Retreat!”
The moment his voice rang out, acrid smoke exploded from under the entire group’s legs and their
figures swiftly vanished.
Zhou Yuan was indifferent towards their escape. His gaze was fixed onto a certain individual in the
distant sky who was still stuck in a battle with a relentless Wei Canglan.
The Black Venom King was a malignant tumor to the Great Zhou Empire, often infringing upon their
borders to plunder and kill. Who knew just how many of the Great Zhou Empire’s citizens had died at his
hands.
This was the best chance to eliminate him and bring peace to the Great Zhou Empire’s borders.
Iciness flashed in Zhou Yuan’s eyes before he patted Tuntun’s paw, pointed towards the Black Venom
King and slowly said, “Tuntun, he’s worth two hundred plates of meat!”
Dazzling light instantly blossomed in Tuntun’s eyes when it heard this. It immediately locked onto the
rapidly shifting figure of the Black Venom King in the air as if it was looking at plates of meat dancing in
the sky.
Roar!
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Tuntun let out a roar towards the sky as its paw pushed off the ground, transforming into a flash of fiery
light as it soared into the air.
...
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Chapter 89 Surrender
Roar!
Scarlet-red Genesis Qi rose below Tuntun’s feet. The scarlet-red Genesis Qi seemed to be tinged with
patches of black light, making it appear rather mystical.
The vigorous Genesis Qi under Tuntun’s four paws lifted it into the air as it transformed into a flash of
scarlet light that shot straight towards the Black Venom King.
Such aggressiveness was naturally detected straight away by the Black Venom King. His gaze swept over
and was narrowly shocked out of his body. His battle with Wei Canglan was currently in a stalemate,
hence the addition of an even more ferocious Genesis Beast would cause him to be at a complete
disadvantage.
Although he had previously been locked in battle with Wei Canglan, he had seen how the giant battle
puppet python had been torn apart. Thus, he clearly understood just now terrifying this mysterious
Genesis Beast was.
“You dare to let yourself be distracted in a battle with me?!” However, while the Black Venom King’s heart
churned, Wei Canglan’s icy chuckle cut through the air as a fist filled with sharp golden Genesis Qi
viciously punched towards the former’s fatal spots.
Buzz!
The Black Venom King’s sleeve jerked as black Genesis Qi came pouring out, blocking the golden Genesis
Qi. However, his body was also pushed backwards.
“Why the need to be so hostile general Wei, all of this is part of Qi Manor’s scheme!” The Black Venom
King hurriedly said. His tone was one of submission, evidently already well aware of how terrible his
current situation was.
“Heh, tell that to the big guy behind you!” A smile was revealed on Wei Canglan’s face.
The Black Venom King’s heart shivered, immediately sensing the foul smell that was assaulting his back.
He hastily turned around, his palms seemingly dancing as vigorous Genesis Qi gathering towards them
and a strike was sent flying, “Poison Devil Palm!”
Bang!
Claws suffused with black light swung towards the palm containing powerful poison, both forces
slamming into each other.
Boom!
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A loud noise resounded in the air as the Black Venom King’s body was sent flying like a cannonball. He
crashed into a hill, causing the entire head of the hill to collapse.
In the air, Tuntun was also pushed half a step back. Foul-smelling black Qi twined around its paw as if
attempting to burrow into its body.
*Cough*
The Black Venom King slowly rose from the rubble. There were five deep and bloody gorges on his chest,
proof that he had been injured by Tuntun. A venomous look was revealed in his eyes as he looked
towards Tuntun.
“What a brainless brute, to think that it dares to allow my poison touch its body!”
However, as this thought flashed in his head, Tuntun suddenly lowered its head, opened its mouth and
sucked, swallowing the black poison Qi on its paw into its body.
Huu.
Tuntun shook its head, black mist spewing from its nose as it roared in anger, evidently very unhappy
with the poison Qi’s smell.
The venomous look on the Black Venom King’s face instantly froze as he stared in disbelief at Tuntun. He
never imagined that his invincible Devil Miasma Poison would have no effect on Tuntun.
Evidently, Tuntun’s poison resistance far surpassed his expectations.
Roar!
However, Tuntun had already been infuriated by the bad tasting poison Qi and its scarlet-red eyes quickly
locked onto the Black Venom King. It rode on its scarlet-red Genesis Qi as it shot forward once again,
pouncing towards the Black Venom King.
Wei Canglan took this opportunity to beat a dog while it was drowning, golden Genesis Qi whizzing forth
as he began to seal off all the Black Venom King’s escape routes.
In the sky, the Black Venom King miserably fled and dodged, while Tuntun and Wei Canglan blocked off
the former’s escape routes one by one, slowly forcing him into a dead end.
“Your highness, I admit defeat. As long as you let me leave, I will restrict the many factions of Blackwater
and ensure that none of them even dream about infringing the Great Zhou Empire’s borders!” Death
imminent, fear finally began to bubble in the Black Venom King as he hurriedly shouted in Zhou Yuan’s
direction.
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The numerous factions outside the valley kept silent out of fear when they saw the Black Venom King,
who was practically unstoppable in Blackwater, being pushed so far. No one dared to harbour even the
slightest ill-intent.
Those that were originally wondering if it was possible to steal the Fire Spirit Grain also rationally
dispelled such thoughts.
Zhou Yuan’s expression was cold and indifferent. The Black Venom King had done so much harm to the
Great Zhou Empire, how could Zhou Yuan let the latter off so easily?
Thus, he did not stop Wei Canglan and Tuntun.
As if sensing Zhou Yuan’s intent to kill him, the Black Venom King’s fear intensified. He threw away all
other thoughts and hurriedly said, “Your highness, I am willing to submit to the royal clan and work for
them!”
Only then did Zhou Yuan’s indifferent expression ripple slightly. The Black Venom King was after all an
Alpha-Origin expert. If he sided with the royal clan, it would undoubtedly be a huge boost to their power.
Wei Qingqing earnestly reminded when she heard this.“Your highness, that fiend is vicious and cunning.
Be careful of being betrayed.”
The general’s faction had fought far too many times with the Black Venom King and knew just how sly he
could be.
Zhou Yuan nodded in acknowledgement. He was naturally aware of this. Hence, he moved to Yaoyao’s
side and asked, “Big sis Yaoyao, is there any way to control him such that he will not harbour any
thoughts of backstabbing in future?”
Yaoyao pondered for a while, before her snow-white chin gently nodded. “There naturally is, but the
precondition is that the Black Venom King cannot put up even the slightest resistance, or the method will
not succeed.”
Zhou Yuan nodded, lifted his head towards the Black Venom King and said in a cold voice, “If you really
mean it, give up on all resistance and allow me to deal with you.”
The Black Venom King’s eyes flashed as hesitation flitted across his face. Abandoning all resistance was
akin to putting his life in Zhou Yuan’s hands.
“It seems that you are not willing. Since that is so, go accompany the slaughtered citizens of Great Zhou.”
Iciness flowed in Zhou Yuan’s eyes.
Tuntun’s and Wei Canglan’s attacks immediately grew increasingly ferocious.
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The Black Venom King was steadily forced into a corner, the smell of death growing increasingly closer in
his heart. In the end, he gritted his teeth and yelled, “Your highness, I submit!”
The moment he said these words, the Genesis Qi around him rapidly receded into his body.
Swish!
Wei Canglan’s figure appeared in front of the Black Venom King as a palm strike was sent flying towards
his chest.
Urgh.
The Black Venom King vomited a mouthful of fresh blood as his body fell from the sky, crashing into the
ground in front of Zhou Yuan and the rest. The former’s face was deathly pale, showing that he had been
seriously injured.
The Black Venom King ignored the intense pain from his body and hurriedly said, “Your highness, your
highness, I submit!”
Wei Canglan landed beside Zhou Yuan, a guarded look on his face as he stared at the Black Venom King.
Tuntun also descended as its giant body rapidly began to shrink. It eventually returned its usual
appearance and jumped into Yaoyao’s arms.
However, it was obvious that no one dared to underestimate it even in this form. Even Wei Canglan’s gaze
was filled with wariness when he looked at it.
“If you intend to submit, I will do something to you such that you will no longer be able to entertain any
thoughts of rebelling.” Zhou Yuan’s tone was indifferent as he stared at the Black Venom King.
Upon hearing these words, the Black Venom King’s heart jumped as unease rose within him. However,
under Wei Canglan’s and Tuntun’s watching eyes, the former ultimately forced himself to nod. At the end
of the day, preserving his life was the best course of action.
“Restrain the Genesis Qi in your body and do not circulate it. Also, make sure that you have no thoughts of
resistance.” Zhou Yuan’s tone was cold as he continued, “This technique can only be used once. If it does
not succeed… you will die.”
The Black Venom King shivered as he listened to Zhou Yuan’s murder-laced words.
Zhou Yuan then looked towards Yaoyao and saw her give a slight nod before she slowly walked forward,
jade-green Genesis Brush in hand. The brush tip stopped three inches before the spot between the Black
Venom King’s brows and began to draw. An extremely complex Genesis Rune began to slowly take shape.
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A long time later, the completed Genesis Rune slowly descended, landing between the Black Venom
King’s brows. It slowly submerged into his skin, leaving behind a green rune.
Yaoyao glanced at the Black Venom King and said, “This is known as the Spirit Locking Son-Mother Rune.
If you have any thoughts of rebelling, activating the mother rune will instantly destroy your Spirit.”
The Black Venom King was ashen-faced. He had evidently sensed something lock onto his Spirit.
Yaoyao passed a piece of jade to Zhou Yuan on which an even more complicated Genesis Rune was
carved. “This is the mother rune. If you find any disloyalty in him, shatter the jade and he will die.”
Zhou Yuan felt a little happy as he grasped the jade. He looked towards the Black Venom King and said,
“Since that is so, you will work for the Great Zhou Empire in future. This may also be considered a form of
atonement for the numerous innocents that died at your hands.”
The Black Venom King’s expression was a mix between crying and smiling when he heard this. In the end,
he could only nod. As the saying went, better a bad life than a good death, living was still better than
dying.
“Understood your highness!”
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Chapter 90 Left Behind Treasures
The great battle in the valley had finally ended with the surrender of the Black Venom King. The Great
Zhou royal clan Zhou Yuan represented was clearly the biggest winner of this affair.
Outside the valley, the other factions tactfully withdrew one after another upon seeing this. After all, Qi
Manor had been defeated and even the Black Venom King had submitted.
The royal clan’s power will definitely soar to astonishing levels after this event.
In the face of such a powerful royal clan, there were no longer any factions in Blackwater that could
match the former.
“Congratulations your highness.” Wei Canglan withdrew his Genesis Qi and cupped his fists together
towards Zhou Yuan.
It was clear that Zhou Yuan had grown even more important in Wei Canglan’s eyes, and there was even a
trace of respect in his tone. After all, besides the mysterious giant beast and grade 4 Genesis Rune
proficient Yaoyao, there was now an additional Black Venom King at Zhou Yuan’s side.
These three were comparable to Alpha-Origin experts.
Such strength could easily subdue the entire Great Zhou Empire. The truth was, the most important
reason why Wei Canglan had been able to ignore the imperial edicts was because the royal clan only had
one Alpha-Origin expert, Zhou Qing.
This number had now shot up to four.
Hence, if the royal clan wanted to, the great general’s faction could easily disappear.
The balance of power between both parties was no longer equal, and Wei Canglan was naturally not
foolish enough to treat Zhou Yuan in the same manner as before.
“Great general’s help was paramount to the success in obtaining the Fire Spirit Grain. After I return, I will
make sure that your service will not be forgotten. When the Fire Spirit Grain is cultivated in future, great
general’s residence will definitely have a share.” Zhou Yuan cupped his fists together towards Wei
Canglan.
“Then I’ll take this chance to thank your highness first.”
Wei Canglan chuckled. Soon after, his expression grew solemn as he said, “However, due to Qi Manor’s
failure and the fact that Qi Hao has been killed by your highness, Qi Manor will not take this lying down.”
Zhou Yuan let out an icy chuckle. “The ones that will not let this matter rest should be us.”
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Previously, Zhou Qing had been very patient and accommodating because the royal clan’s power was
equal to Qi Manor’s. If they clashed, it would be a huge blow to the Great Zhou Empire. However, after the
events of Blackwater, the royal clan’s power would undoubtedly rise sharply, making it the best
opportunity for them to completely eradicate this malignant tumor of the Great Zhou Empire.
Wei Canglan’s heart shivered slightly at the coldness in Zhou Yuan’s tone. He knew that the royal clan
would soon begin hostilities against Qi Manor.
“Great general, Qi Manor has been harbouring thoughts of rebelling. If a war breaks out, I hope that you
will be able to lend us your aid.” Zhou Yuan’s expression was earnest as he looked towards Wei Canglan.
Wei Canglan hesitated for a split second. In the past, he had refused to interfere in the struggle between
the royal clan and Qi Manor. However, this hesitation quickly faded. Since he had already helped Zhou
Yuan in the contest for the Fire Spirit Grain, it was likely that Qi Manor already viewed him as part of the
royal clan’s camp, making him a thorn in their side. Therefore, why not fully side with the royal clan and
aid them in eliminating the threat known as Qi Manor.
Wei Canglan replied in a solemn voice, “Don’t worry your highness, if it is needed, the great general’s
residence will do all we can to exterminate the rebels.”
Zhou Yuan sighed in relief upon hearing Wei Canglan’s promise. With his aid, the royal clan’s power
would rise once again.
Zhou Yuan looked towards the rest and smiled, “The Fire Spirit Grain is already ours, let’s leave.”
Everyone nodded. Yaoyao however cast her gaze towards the bottom of the valley and suddenly asked,
“Have you collected all of the treasure?”
Zhou Yuan was taken aback. “The Fire Spirit Grain is already in our hands.”
Yaoyao gently stroked Tuntun’s fur as her red lips parted slightly, “The Battle Puppet Sect is a rather
decent sect, their ruins are likely not as simple as your imagine.”
Zhou Yuan was utterly confused. However, he seemed to have caught a hold something amongst Yaoyao’s
words and probed, “Are there other undiscovered treasures here?”
Surprise surfaced in the eyes of everyone else.
Yaoyao said, “You’ll know once you have a look.”
After which, she walked forward towards the bottom of the valley. Zhou Yuan and the rest looked to each
other before quickly following.
The group advanced towards the bottom of the valley.
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Their footsteps eventually came to a stop just outside the abandoned herb cultivation field where Zhou
Yuan had dug up the Fire Spirit Grain.
Zhou Yuan’s eyes darted everywhere, but all he found were the rather desolate bare walls of the valley.
There were no traces of anything out of the ordinary.
Wei Canglan’s gaze also scanned the area and was likewise unable to discover anything. Thus, they could
only turn their doubtful gazes towards Yaoyao.
“Are there really other treasures here?” Zhou Yuan was a little skeptical.
Yaoyao ignored him as she walked forward into the abandoned herb cultivation field. She squatted down
and gently rubbed the ground as she closed her eyes.
Upon seeing this, no one dared to make any noise.
Several minutes later, Yaoyao opened her eyes and pointed towards the large hole that had been left
behind after Zhou Yuan had dug out the Fire Spirit Grain earlier and said, “Continue digging there.”
Zhou Yuan was somewhat puzzled. He was the one who had dug that hole, and had not felt any peculiar
undulations from below. However, he still nodded towards Lu Tieshan and the rest due to his trust in
Yaoyao.
Thus, Lu Tieshan and a few Heaven Gate experts moved forward began to circulate their Genesis Qi,
sending waves of Genesis Qi into the hole to dig deeper and deeper.
Layers of soil were sent flying and the originally six feet deep hole very quickly became over thirty feet
deep. If one looked in, all one would see was pitch-black darkness.
Buzz!
As one of the Heaven Gate experts shot out another stream of Genesis Qi into the soil, a sound was heard
as something had been struck. Light suddenly emerged from the depths of the hole, blasting away the
Heaven Gate expert with a ‘bang’, causing him to slam into one of the valley walls.
This sudden turn of events stunned everyone.
“It’s a Genesis Rune boundary!” Zhou Yuan’s eyes flickered brightly as he stared at the bottom of the
pitch-black hole. When the light appeared earlier, he had sensed a very faint pulse from inside.
“Let’s go down and take a look.”
Everyone carefully descended into the pit. They quickly discovered a barrier stretching over one corner
of the pit where a bronze door stood.
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Wei Canglan uttered in astonishment, “I never imagined that there would be such a thing below the herb
cultivation field.”
Zhou Yuan also gasped in surprise. The barrier outside of the bronze door was a Genesis Rune boundary
that both protected and sealed off any undulations. No wonder he was unable to detect it before.
Thank god for Yaoyao’s powerful Spirit perception, or no one would have realised that there were still
treasures under the herb cultivation field.
“This Genesis Rune boundary seems to be very powerful.” Wei Canglan’s expression was grave as he
stared at the barrier. Even someone as powerful as himself could feel an extremely fatal sensation from it.
Yaoyao observed the barrier as she explained, “This is a special Genesis Rune boundary, and a very
specific Genesis Rune is needed to open it. Forcibly opening it would cause it to self-destruct, turning the
trespasser and the treasures inside to nothingness.”
“If it self-destructs, I’m afraid that nothing within a hundred mile radius will survive.”
Upon hearing her words, everyone’s hearts trembled as they involuntarily took several steps backwards.
Even Zhou Yuan was a little frightened.
“Looks like it’s hopeless for us.” Zhou Yuan smiled bitterly. It was likely that only the most high-ranking
members of the Battle Puppet Sect knew of the special Genesis Rune, let alone people like themselves.
Without the special Genesis Rune, they would not be able to open the barrier regardless of how capable
they were.
Everyone else nodded in agreement as feelings of regret rose within them. A treasure mountain stood
before their eyes, but none of them could enter.
However, while everyone was feeling regret, Yaoyao suddenly grinned.
“That may not be so…”
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Chapter 91 Underground Palace
“That may not be so…”
The moment these words left Yaoyao’s mouth, Zhou Yuan, Su Youwei, Wei Canglan and the rest
immediately cast their gazes towards her, looks of bewilderment on their faces. Could it be that Yaoyao
was able to decipher even a Genesis Rune boundary like this?
As if she could read their minds, Yaoyao shook her head and said, “One needs to have at the minimum
mastered grade 5 Genesis Runes to attempt deciphering this Genesis Rune boundary. The current me is
unable to do so.”
Everyone was even more confused after hearing this. Since she was unable to decipher it, what other
method was there?
Yaoyao said in an offhand manner, “Won’t we be able to open it as long as we have that special rune?”
Everyone forced a smile and shook their heads. Why would they be standing around if they knew the
special rune?
However, Su Youwei’s eyes glimmered at this moment as she asked, “Does big sis Yaoyao know the
special rune?”
Yaoyao carefully inspected the runes on the Genesis Rune boundary. A while later, she finally nodded. “It
seems that I was correct.”
As she spoke, she tapped the Universe bag at her waist and a black jade tile appeared in her hand.
Zhou Yuan was taken aback when he saw the black jade tile. It was the item he had payed an unfair price
of twenty thousand Genesis crystals previously in Devil Prison City.
He looked towards Yaoyao in disbelief. “Is the Genesis Rune on the black jade tile the key to open this
Genesis Rune boundary?”
If so, his twenty thousand Genesis crystals were very well spent indeed.
“It should be.” Yaoyao touched the somewhat faded Genesis Rune on the jade tile. “I shall give it a try.”
She turned her head slightly and looked towards the others as she said, “All of you withdraw from the
ruins first such as to prevent the worst case scenario. I’m unsure of what changes have occurred to the
Genesis Rune boundary after so many years have passed, so I cannot ascertain if anything unexpected
will happen.”
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After hearing this, even Wei Canglan felt that he should comply. After all, the dangerous sensation from
the Genesis Rune boundary was just a little too overwhelming.
Zhou Yuan opened his mouth and said with a smile, “You guys wait outside the ruins. I will stay here.”
Lu Tieshan hastily spoke up upon hearing this, “Your highness.”
Zhou Yuan waved his hand before looking towards Yaoyao. “I believe in big sis Yaoyao’s ability.”
Yaoyao cast a glance at him, her eyebrows curling as she teased, “More like you’re afraid that I will
secretly take all the treasures.”
Zhou Yuan rolled his eyes in response.
“I will also stay behind.” Su Youwei lifted a fair little hand. No fear could be seen on her small and pretty
face.
Zhou Yuan did not object and looked towards the rest to urge them to leave. Wei Canglan and the rest
ceased resisting and withdrew from the pit one by one.
After everyone left, Yaoyao grasped her jade-green Genesis Rune Brush as her expression turned serious.
She stared at the glowing Genesis Rune boundary before her for a few seconds, before the tip of her brush
suddenly descended.
The brush tip flowed like water as stroke after stroke emerged in a unique rhythm.
Zhou Yuan and Su Youwei stood behind her, their expressions grave, heartbeat quickening as they
watched the complicated Genesis Rune slowly take shape.
After all, a single mistake might cause the Genesis Rune boundary to go haywire, which would
undoubtedly be a disaster for all of them.
The atmosphere in the deep pit was suffocatingly silent. The only noise that could be heard was the very
soft movement of Yaoyao’s Genesis Rune Brush.
This silence lasted for a long time before the Genesis Rune was finally completed. The extremely
complicated rune slowly descended and eventually came into contact with the Genesis Rune boundary.
Zhou Yuan, Yaoyao and Su Youwei did not dare to blink as they stared at the Genesis Rune boundary.
Buzz buzz!
Under their gazes, the Genesis Rune boundary soon began to ripple violently, waves of berserk
undulations pulsing. This caused Zhou Yuan’s expression to change slightly, under the impression that
the boundary was about to explode.
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Fortunately, this only continued for a dozen breaths before gradually calming down.
Next, the trio watched in joy and surprise as the Genesis Rune boundary slowly began to part, revealing a
way through.
Su Youwei joyfully blurted out, “It worked!”
Yaoyao gently stroked her fair cheek as a faint smile rose on her lips.
“Awesome!” Zhou Yuan gave a thumbs-up to Yaoyao.
“Go open the door.” Yaoyao hoisted her sharp little chin.
Zhou Yuan walked forward, placed his hand on the ice-cold bronze door and gave a little push. A creaking
sound could be heard as the bronze door that had been tightly shut for many many years slowly cracked
open.
As the bronze door was pushed open, dusky yellow light peered through.
The trio cautiously walked in.
Behind the door was what appeared to be a spacious underground palace. Though it had been sealed for
a long time, there was still fresh air flowing through. The first sight that greeted them was the countless
silhouettes silently seated within.
“Are all of these… battle puppets?!” Zhou Yuan’s expression immediately changed. He had discovered that
these battle puppets were similar to those they had encountered before, only they appeared even more
high-class.
“No need to panic, the cores of these battle puppets are in a dormant state. Moreover, they have not been
given any commands. In other words, they are masterless puppets.” A single look was all that was needed
for Yaoyao understand the state of the battle puppets here.
Zhou Yuan gasped upon hearing this. All masterless puppets? Did this not mean that the royal clan had a
chance to control them?
“There are no less than ten thousand battle puppets here!” Zhou Yuan’s eyes widened in shock. If the
royal clan possessed an army of ten thousand battle puppets, their power would undoubtedly soar.
Yaoyao said, “However, you won’t be able to gain control of them in the short term. Several experts
proficient in Genesis Runes will be required to personally activate them one by one. Thus, a tremendous
amount of time is needed to gain control of this army.”
Zhou Yuan regretfully shook his head after hearing this. If the royal clan could swiftly gain control over
this battle puppet army, sweeping away Qi Manor would be too easy.
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However, he could still inform his father about this matter, letting the latter secretly send some people to
take charge of this task and eventually take full control of the battle puppet army.
While the trio were conversing, they passed through the underground palace and arrived at the front of
the battle puppet army where a stone platform stood. On the stone platform were three jade cases.
Zhou Yuan cautiously walked forward and carefully lifted open one of the cases.
Buzz!
A flash of light immediately escaped from the case, revealing itself to be a crystal. The crystal emitted rays
of light that gathered into a screen of light before them.
On the light screen was a ten thousand mile long mountain range where an endless procession of
buildings stood.
Countless battle puppets could be seen amongst the structures, while numerous figures busily shuttled
around. It was clearly a scene from the time when the Battle Puppet Sect still existed. Such grandness and
magnificence proved just how powerful the sect had been.
Rumble!
The scene suddenly changed. It was as if all color had faded from the world as space was torn open high
up in the sky and a dazzling figure slowly flew out.
The body of this figure was suffused with sacred and holy light. His eyes were completely void of any
emotion, while a vertical blood red scar was embedded between his brows.
The moment this figure appeared, a terrifying pressure seemed to descend from the sky, causing the
many mountain peaks to crumble while drawing countless fear-filled gazes.
The figure indifferently looked down from high up in the sky as an emotionless voice resounded across
the land.
“The prides of our Sacred race have died here. I declare this place a sinful land that shall receive holy
punishment. All life within an eighty thousand mile radius shall be destroyed.”
The voice was full of destruction. As it faded, endless heavenly lightning fell from the sky causing the
entire place to swiftly disintegrate.
It was a bombardment nearly akin to punishment from the heavens. The only fate for the Battle Puppet
Sect was to be turned to ashes.
Heavenly lightning descended, leaving only death within an eighty thousand mile radius.
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Zhou Yuan watched in horror as his heart violently shuddered. The scenes depicted were very likely what
had happened many years ago in Blackwater. Was this how the numerous ancient factions of that era had
been annihilated?
Why was the human figure that glowed with sacred light so terrifying? A single sentence was all it took to
destroy every living creature within an eighty thousand mile radius.
Could it be? Just because a few talented geniuses of this so-called Sacred race had died here, all life had
been sentenced to death in punishment?
While Zhou Yuan and Su Youwei were in shock, neither saw the icy coldness that even Yaoyao herself did
not detect flit across her eyes as she stared at the glowing figure.
She suddenly extended a hand and a nine-color lotus flower jade pendant appeared within it.
Light seemed to flash across the usually dormant nine-color jade pendant at this moment.
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Chapter 92 Treasure
The underground palace was completely silent while Zhou Yuan and Su Youwei watched the light screen
in shock. Only when the light screen faded a long time later did they finally return to their senses.
“What a cruel punishment. To think that he would annihilate all life within an eighty thousand mile
radius.” Zhou Yuan’s voice was somewhat downcast.
“All because geniuses from their Sacred race died here.” Su Youwei’s face had turned a little pale. The
actions of this so-called Sacred race were just too tyrannical and heartless.
Zhou Yuan had a grim expression as he slowly mumbled, “Just what exactly is the Sacred race. To think
that they have the power to wipe out all life within eighty thousand miles with a few simple words.”
This world was too vast and there were still too many things he did not know.
As he sighed in his heart, Zhou Yuan looked towards Yaoyao and was immediately taken aback. The
latter’s bright eyes seemed to be filled with a chillingly cold aura at this moment.
“Big sis Yaoyao?” Zhou Yuan hurriedly called out to her.
Upon hearing Zhou Yuan’s voice, Yaoyao seemed to come back to her senses. The iciness in her eyes
faded, replaced by confusion as she looked towards Zhou Yuan and asked, “What is it?”
Zhou Yuan awkwardly scratched his head in response. Had his eyes been playing tricks on him earlier?
“It seems that the images in the crystal were recorded when the Battle Puppet Sect was wiped out.” Zhou
Yuan decided not to overthink things as his gaze quickly turned towards the other two jade cases.
“These two cases shouldn’t contain recording stones too right?”
Muttered Zhou Yuan before he once again carefully opened the second jade case.
Swish!
The instant he opened the case, a flash of black-white light suddenly shot out, its speed akin to lightning.
This sudden turn of events startled Zhou Yuan. The Heavenly Yuan Brush in his hand rapidly grew as the
brush tip stabbed at the black-white light with formidable sharpness.
Clang!
The collision shook Zhou Yuan’s hand and the black-white light was catapulted away. However, it
suddenly turned, trembling faintly as it shot towards Su Youwei instead.
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Zhou Yuan was greatly alarmed and hurriedly shouted, “Careful Youwei!”
Unfortunately, the black-white light’s speed was too quick. Su Youwei was barely able to respond when
the black-white light arrived and flew into the spot between her brows.
The sight of this caused Zhou Yuan’s eyes to almost burst open in rage, turning entirely red as he rushed
towards Su Youwei.
Meanwhile, Su Youwei’s body trembled a little as she felt the area between her brows with her hand and
hurriedly said, “I’m fine your highness!”
Zhou Yuan quickly arrived at her side and looked at the spot between her brows, “What was that thing
earlier? Are you sure you are alright?”
“I don’t know what happened either.” Su Youwei’s eyebrows knitted together.
Yaoyao also walked over at this moment and observed Su Youwei for a while, before she spoke, “Check
your Qi Dwelling.”
Su Youwei nodded. She closed her eyes as her mind sunk into her Qi Dwelling. After a while, she finally
sensed something different.
A black-white glimmer floated within her Qi Dwelling. At closer inspection, one would discover a
silhouette of a sword within the black-white light. On the sword were two barely discernible ancient
words.
“Yangming Sword.”
The sword silhouette vibrated as an astonishing aura pulsed from it. However, the entire sword was dim
as if its energy had been completely depleted.
Su Youwei opened her eyes and said in an amazed voice, “A sword has appeared in my Qi Dwelling.”
Zhou Yuan was stunned.
Yaoyao thought for a bit and said, “An object capable of being kept into the Qi Dwelling is likely a Heaven
tier Genesis Weapon.”
“Heaven tier Genesis Weapon?” Su Youwei’s little mouth hung slightly open. One would not be able to find
a single Genesis Weapon of this tier even in the entire Great Zhou Empire. Yet, such an object had
somehow burrowed into her Qi Dwelling?
After being shocked for a while, Su Youwei nervously looked towards Zhou Yuan and said, “Your
highness, maybe I should try to expel it?”
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Such a precious treasure would likely be a huge help to Zhou Yuan.
Yaoyao let out a soft chuckle. “Genesis Weapons that have reached the Heaven level have a consciousness
of their own and will chose their own masters. This Yangming Sword has likely chosen you as its host due
to its Yin Yang attribute.”
“Even if you manage to retrieve it from your Qi Dwelling, Zhou Yuan will not be able to subdue it. Forcing
it to submit will do no good.”
Zhou Yuan’s lips cracked open into a grin as he said, “This is your blessing, there is no need to force it
out.”
Although a Heaven Genesis Weapon was rare, there was no regret in Zhou Yuan. As the saying went, only
what suited oneself was the most powerful after all. Moreover, the fact that Su Youwei had been able to
chosen by a Heaven Genesis Weapon was something that made him rather happy.
After all, landing in Su Youwei’s hands was countless times better than landing in the hands of an enemy.
“Can you summon the Yangming Sword for us to see?” Zhou Yuan was instead more interested in the
strength of this Heaven Genesis Weapon. Although his Heavenly Yuan Brush used to be a Sacred Genesis
Weapon, only its second rune had been awakened. Hence, it had only reached the low grade Black
Genesis Weapon level.
In comparison, if news of such a Heaven Genesis Weapon spread, let alone the Alpha-Origin experts of the
Great Zhou Empire, even the experts from other empires would flood towards this place. After all, a
Heaven Genesis Weapon would raise one’s battle power to an astonishing level.
Su Youwei tried for a while, but ultimately shook her head. “The sword seems to have fallen into dormant
state and cannot be summoned for now.”
Zhou Yuan felt some regret after hearing this, but did not insist. Instead, his gaze turned towards the
third jade case.
“I wonder what kind of treasure is in this last case.”
This time, Zhou Yuan was even more careful. Genesis Qi circulated within him and he prepared the best
he could before very carefully lifting the lid of the third jade case.
Unexpectedly, nothing happened when the jade case was opened. Only when the case was fully open did
the trio finally see a silver ball lying within it.
After closer inspection, the trio realised that this round silver ball was made from a silver liquid which
flowed continuously as if it had a mind of its own.
Zhou Yuan curiously asked, “What is this?”
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Yaoyao analyzed it as interest emerged in her eyes. “What a marvelous thing. There seem to be many
Genesis Runes within the liquid.”
“Eh?” Zhou Yuan was taken aback. Genesis Qi surged in his eyes as he too discovered the extremely tiny
Genesis Runes within the silver liquid.
“Inscribe Genesis Runes on liquid?” Su Youwei was likewise full of amazement. Just how good did one
need to be to achieve such a feat?
Zhou Yuan asked in bewilderment, “Then… what’s the function of this thing?”
Yaoyao was silent for a moment before she said, “Drip a drop of blood on it and see what happens?”
Zhou Yuan hesitated a little. He then gritted his teeth and bit open a tiny hole at the tip of his finger. A
drop of fresh blood fell and landed on the ball made from silver liquid.
The trio’s eyes were tightly fixed onto the ball as the drop of blood swiftly fused into the silver liquid.
Buzz!
Light suddenly surged within the silver liquid as it slowly rose into the air. Silver water flowed
downwards and gradually transformed into a set of silver battle armor that covered every part of the
body.
Genesis Runes flickered on the battle armor, making it appear rather mysterious.
A flabbergasted Zhou Yuan stared at the silver battle armor. It gave off a formidable and cold aura, every
part seemingly filled with killing intent, while a faint pressure spread, causing one’s heart to beat a little
faster.
“What the hell is this thing?”
“A transforming battle armor?”
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Chapter 93 Silver Shadow
Shock was present on Zhou Yuan’s and Su Youwei’s faces as they stared at the silver battle armor before
them. There was also some amazement in Yaoyao’s pretty eyes as she observed the armor for a while
before she said, “This is not a battle armor, but a battle puppet."
“Battle puppet?” Zhou Yuan was taken aback.
“The Battle Puppet Sect does have some ability. To think that they managed to create a battle puppet of
this level.” There was some admiration in Yaoyao’s voice.
“If I am not wrong, this battle puppet does not function independently, but fuses with a person and
operates as a support of sorts, giving the wielder astonishing power.”
“To fuse human and battle puppet, tch tch, this Battle Puppet Sect really dares to innovate.”
“Fusion with a human?” Zhou Yuan frowned, evidently unable to comprehend.
Yaoyao instructed, “Touch it with your hand.”
Zhou Yuan hesitated a little before reaching out, his finger very cautiously touching the silver battle
armor in front him.
Rumble!
The moment Zhou Yuan’s finger came into contact with the battle armor, the latter swiftly began to
dissolve, transforming into silver liquid that began to flow along Zhou Yuan’s finger towards his arm.
In a short span of a few breaths, the silver liquid had completely covered Zhou Yuan’s entire body.
After covering his body, the silver liquid began to solidify and the silver armor from before swiftly
emerged on his body.
The tightly shut eyes of the silver battle armor suddenly opened. Silver light seemed to flow within them
as a cry of surprise emerged from its mouth, “What a magical battle puppet!”
Although the voice was a little different, it had clearly originated from Zhou Yuan.
“I feel that I’ve become terrifying powerful.” Zhou Yuan was very surprised. The silver battle armor was
tightly wrapped around his body, and he could control this battle puppet as if it were his own body.
The two had truly fused together and were in perfect harmony.
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The most shocking thing for Zhou Yuan however, was that he now seemed to have become
overwhelmingly powerful.
The silver battle armor had bestowed an astonishing amount of power unto him.
As he felt the violently surging power, Zhou Yuan could not help but want to give it a try. Hence, he
suddenly clenched his hand and the silver battle armor’s sharp hand also closed immediately.
Zhou Yuan went down on one knee and sent a fierce punch at the ground below.
Boom!
This punch caused the entire underground palace to shake violently. Next, Zhou Yuan watched in shock
as a giant crack grew on the ground in front of him, extending to multiple cracks akin to the shell of a
tortoise.
Zhou Yuan joyfully cried out, “Such power. This punch is comparable to the attack of an Alpha-Origin
expert!”
However, the moment his voice faded, an intense pain suddenly emerged between his brows as the scene
before his eyes rapidly darkened.
The silver battle armor abruptly retracted, returning to the form of a silver ball as it hovered in front of
him. Zhou Yuan tumbled out from the armor, falling head first to the ground. His eyes closed in grimace
while his face had become rather pale.
“Your highness?!” Su Youwei’s expression immediately changed when she saw this and hastily rushed
forward to support him.
Su Youwei worriedly asked, “Big sis Yaoyao, what happened to him?”
Yaoyao also walked forward and took a look. “He’s fine, it’s just that he exhausted his spirit. He’ll slowly
recover after some rest.”
Su Youwei breathed a sigh of relief. Her fair and slender fingers reached out and gently massaged Zhou
Yuan’s temples.
Zhou Yuan’s coma lasted for almost an hour before he groggily came back to his senses. The first thing he
did was grab his head with both hands, a head that felt as if it was about to explode.
Quite some time later, the pain finally subsided somewhat, but his face was still deathly pale. He looked
towards Yaoyao, heart thudding loudly as he inquired, “What happened to me?”
Yaoyao irritably rolled her eyes at him and said in a displeased voice, “Who asked you to use such power
so carelessly.”
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“This battle puppet will link to your Spirit after fusion and is powered by your Spirit. Have a good look at
what level your Spirit is currently at, do you really believe that you can easily utilise a battle puppet that
possesses power akin to the Alpha-Origin stage?”
“The consequence of forcibly using such power will be the exhaustion of your Spirit. Fortunately, you
were pretty lucky this time and did not use too much power, or your Spirit would have been sucked dry.”
Horror surfaced on Zhou Yuan’s face.
It was clear that he had never expected such dangers when using the battle puppet.
“Why didn’t you tell me earlier!” Lamented Zhou Yuan. How could he possibly have known?
There was some lingering fear together with feelings of regret in his heart as he looked at the floating
silver ball again. He had previously believed that he would be able to match Alpha-Origin experts with the
battle puppet, but he now realised that he had been far too naive. There was indeed no such thing as
power that came without any price in this world.
Zhou Yuan massaged the spot between his brows as he said, “Big sis Yaoyao, you should take this puppet,
it suits you.”
“So self-aware?” Yaoyao playfully smiled, but shook her head soon after.
“Your blood has already fused with it earlier and I do not know the reversal procedure. I’m afraid that no
one else besides yourself will be able to use this silver battle puppet.”
“Uh…”
Zhou Yuan awkwardly scratched his head, he had evidently not expected that the drop of blood from
before had already caused the battle puppet to acknowledge him as its master.
Yaoyao said with some interest, “However, you can pass it to me to study for the time being. If I manage
to gather enough material in future, I may try to create one.”
Zhou Yuan naturally nodded.
“Looks like I have to at least raise the level of my Spirit to the Corporeal realm to properly bring out the
power of this battle puppet.” Zhou Yuan felt that it was such a pity. He was currently at the mid Illusory
stage and god knows just how long it would take to reach the Corporeal stage.
“Keep dreaming, this battle puppet is likely the best masterpiece of the Battle Puppet Sect. Think about it,
fusion of human and battle puppet such that even one’s Genesis skills and techniques can be used
through borrowing the power of the battle puppet. It’s hard to imagine how they managed to implement
such a bold idea.”
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“Moreover, if you become more proficient in Genesis Runes in future, you may even make it even
stronger.”
Yaoyao stared at the silver ball as she sighed in admiration, “It possess the ability to grow, a trait that
other battle puppets are unable to match. This is why I said that the Battle Puppet Sect does have some
ability.”
After hearing Yaoyao’s evaluation, Zhou Yuan was at last able to comprehend just how awesome the
silver battle armor was, causing him to grin involuntarily. This battle puppet was indeed a real treasure.
Even if he was unable to utilise it for the time being, it may become a huge aid to him in future.
“I’ll call you Silver Shadow.” Zhou Yuan smiled at the silver ball. A unique existence such as itself deserved
a proper name.
As if hearing Zhou Yuan’s words, a silver glow emerged from the silver ball.
Zhou Yuan returned the silver ball back into the jade case, before very carefully keeping it in his Universe
bag.
Subsequently, they searched the underground palace again, but did not find anything else. Though this
was the case, Zhou Yuan and Su Youwei were already very satisfied with their haul, while Yaoyao did not
really care at all.
Since they had already obtained the treasures of the underground palace, Zhou Yuan smiled and said,
“Let’s go.”
The trio left the underground palace, the bronze doors closing behind them as the Genesis Rune
boundary was gradually restored. Zhou Yuan gazed at the boundary that had closed itself once again as
worry faded from his heart. When they returned to Great Zhou City, he would tell Zhou Qing to send men
to manage this place. Once they were able to take control of these battle puppets, the power of the Great
Zhou royal clan would definitely soar.
This underground palace was the beginning of hope for the Great Zhou Empire.
...
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Chapter 94 Qi Manor’s Rebellion
The Zhou Yuan trio exited the underground palace and met up with Wei Canglan and the rest outside the
ruins.
Upon seeing that the trio were safe and sound, Wei Canglan, Lu Tieshan and the rest breathed a sigh of
relief. Only the Black Venom King felt that it was rather unfortunate, but did not dare to show his true
feelings.
“Black Venom King, you should have some influence in Blackwater, right?” Zhou Yuan was all smiles as he
stared at the respectful face of the Black Venom King. Zhou Yuan was aware that the latter was a ruthless
character and would not be submit to him willingly, but he did not mind. As long as the Spirit Locking
Rune jade was in his hands, there was nothing that the Black Venom King could do.
The Black Venom King hastily responded, “Is there anything your highness needs me to do? There are few
who dare to challenge my authority in Black Venom City.”
Zhou Yuan chuckled. “Since that is so, send some men to the valley from earlier and make sure no one
enters.”
There were an enormous number of battle puppets in the underground palace. This was an extremely
formidable force. Although the Genesis Rune boundary could stop intruders, Zhou Yuan still wanted to
have some people around as insurance.
Moreover, in the chaotic Blackwater, the influence of Black Venom City was obviously greater than the
Great Zhou Empire.
Zhou Yuan then looked towards Wei Canglan and said, “Great general, now that the Fire Spirit Grain has
landed in the hands of the royal clan, Qi Manor will definitely not let this matter rest. I’m afraid that Qi
Manor will begin their rebellion soon.”
Wei Canglan’s heart shivered when he heard these words. If Qi Manor were to rebel, the Great Zhou
Empire would definitely descend into chaos.
However, he knew the situation Zhou Yuan spoke of would likely occur. After all, the Fire Spirit Grain was
far too important, and the royal clan’s power would only grow stronger and stronger once they began to
cultivate it until the day came where they would easily suppress Qi Manor.
Therefore, there was no way that Qi Yuan would just sit and wait for death.
Zhou Yuan stared at Wei Canglan and slowly said, “I hope that great general will be able to help us
eliminate Qi Manor.”
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Not only was Wei Canglan an Alpha-Origin expert, he also controlled the Canglan Army, a powerful and
influential force in the Great Zhou Empire. His aid would make a great difference against Qi Manor.
Wei Canglan was silent for a while. Just some time back, he would have chosen to watch from the
sidelines if the royal clan and Qi Manor were to go to war. However, the current situation was different
from before.
The originally waning royal clan seemed to have suddenly become rather powerful.
For example, the girl in green and the seemingly cute little creature in her arms were equal to two Alpha-
Origin experts.
What’s more, Zhou Yuan had forced the Black Venom King into submission.
As such, the royal clan now possessed the power of four Alpha-Origin stage experts.
Such power far surpassed Qi Manor and his own faction.
At this point, Wei Canglan suddenly felt a little frightened. The eyes that now looked towards the faintly
smiling young man before him had now become somewhat different. It seemed that all of the odds had
begun to fall in the royal clan’s favor ever since this youngster had arrived at Canglan County.
The current royal clan was nothing compared to before. The seemingly ever waning existence in
everyone’s eyes had started to change after the appearance of this young prince…
Respect emerged on Wei Canglan’s solemn face as he looked at Zhou Yuan and declared in a solemn voice,
“Don’t worry your highness, as the great general of the Great Zhou Empire, it is my duty to put down all
rebels!”
Lu Tieshan and the rest were overjoyed when they heard Wei Canglan state his position. When they
looked towards Zhou Yuan again, their eyes were filled with both admiration and reverence. His majesty
had been unable to solve the Wei Canglan issue even after so many years, but who could have imagined
that Zhou Yuan would earn the full support of the great general mere months after arriving at Canglan
County.
Zhou Yuan cupped his fists together and smiled, “Then I’ll have to thank great general.”
Zhou Yuan was not surprised by Wei Canglan’s decision. The past royal clan had been in the decline and
relied solely on Zhou Qing to uphold the situation. Unfortunately, he was kept in check by Qi Yuan at all
times, allowing Wei Canglan to reign freely over Canglan County. Things however had now begun to
change and Zhou Yuan clearly understood the power he currently possessed at his side, power that Wei
Canglan also knew very well now.
Such power was enough to threaten the great general’s faction.
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Dignity originated from power. Since the royal clan possessed power again, dignity would naturally
follow suit. As long as Wei Canglan was not a fool, he should understand his status and what he should do.
The future Great Zhou Empire would likely no longer permit the great general to ignore royal decrees.
Wei Canglan said, “Your highness, I will follow you back to Great Zhou City and have an audience with his
majesty, while Qingqing will reorganize the Canglan Army. If Qi Manor tries anything funny, the Canglan
Army will move out immediately.”
“Nothing will be better.” Zhou Yuan smiled and nodded. The act of following him to Great Zhou City alone
was in itself a display of Wei Canglan’s current stance.
“Then I will stay behind in Blackwater to help your highness keep an eye on the other factions here, so as
to prevent them from causing additional trouble if the Great Zhou Empire falls into chaos.”
Zhou Yuan smiled thinly as he looked towards the Black Venom King. “Given your strength, it would be a
waste of talent for you to stay behind in Blackwater. So you will also follow me to Great Zhou City.”
If Qi Manor started a rebellion, it would definitely be a world-shaking affair. Hence, Zhou Yuan would
never allow an Alpha-Origin expert such as the Black Venom King to hide in Blackwater.
The Black Venom King had a pained look on his face. How could he not know that following Zhou Yuan to
Great Zhou City most likely meant that he would surely be dispatched to the risky vanguard once the
fighting started.
However, Zhou Yuan possessed the Spirit Locking jade, thus the Black Venom King could not object.
“Let’s go, there is no time to lose. Quickly return to Great Zhou City!”
Zhou Yuan raised his head and looked towards the direction of Great Zhou City as iciness surged in his
eyes.
Qi Manor, you’ve acted so arrogantly for so many years. Now, it is time for me to properly punish you lot!
...
Several days later.
Great Zhou City, Qi Manor.
Crash!
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A teacup smashed into the ground and shattered to pieces as Qi Yuan abruptly stood up. His expression
was twisted in rage as he stared at the kneeling Qi Ling before him and howled in disbelief, “What did you
say?! Qi Hao was killed by Zhou Yuan?! And the Fire Spirit Grain was taken by them?!”
By the side stood an one-arm Qi Yue who mumbled to himself, “How can this be possible?! Elder brother’s
strength is at the advance Qi Nourishing stage. Won’t killing Zhou Yuan be as easy as a flip of his palm?!”
An ashen face Qi Ling trembled as he spoke, “Your servant does not know how Zhou Yuan did it, but first
young master has indeed died at his hands.”
“Although we managed to get the Black Venom King on our side, Zhou Yuan managed to obtain Wei
Canglan’s support.”
Qi Yuan’s face was twisted, no longer having any sign of the calmness he usually had as he roared, “Didn’t
you have the spirit controlling flute? Wasn’t it able to control the giant python-type battle puppet?”
Qi Ling was almost crying as he responded, “But Zhou Yuan had a little beast at his side that had the
strength of the Alpha-Origin stage, and even the giant battle puppet python was destroyed by it.”
“What?!” Qi Yuan’s pupils shrank. He had not heard this information before.
“Moreover, the girl in green at Zhou Yuan’s side is extremely proficient in the art of Genesis Runes and
can draw grade 4 Genesis Runes!”
Qi Yuan’s five fingers tightly clenched into a fist as his complexion turned ashen. “Impossible! If the royal
clan possessed such power, they would have taken action against Qi Manor long ago!”
Qi Ling hastily said, “Everything your servant has said is true!”
Qi Yuan’s expression fluctuated indeterminately. He knew that there was no need for Qi Ling to lie about
such things, as such, they were likely true.
But this only confused Qi Yuan even more. After all, he had been closely monitoring the royal clan all this
time, and clearly understood just how much power they had. How did an Alpha-Origin Genesis Beast and
a master proficient in grade 4 Genesis Runes suddenly appear?
Qi Ling urgently said, “My lord, the royal clan’s power has risen dramatically and even Wei Canglan has
sided with them. If we wait till they arrive at Great Zhou City, they will surely link up with Zhou Qing and
attack you. We need to think of a countermeasure as soon as possible!”
Qi Yuan’s expression turned stormy. He slowly sat down as a vicious look flashed across his face.
“It seems that I have indeed underestimated Zhou Qing. I originally believed that the only route left for
the royal clan was to slowly die off. Who could have imagined that he would actually be able to create
such a reversal!”
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Qi Yuan’s voice was chillingly cold. “However, such power might have been able to threaten me a year
ago. But now, it won’t be so easy for them.”
“Fortunately for us, thanks to that little bastards deeds, his reputation has already spread to the ears of
the Great Wu Empire’s crown prince. The noble prince dislikes such news to sully his ears and has
increased the support given to us, clearly intending on using us to eliminate that little bastard.”
Cold light flashed in Qi Yuan’s eyes, his hand slamming onto the table as he decisively said, “We’ll leave
Great Zhou City and head back to Qi County. I originally planned on allowing Zhou Qing to enjoy some
peace for a few years, but since they are so intent on courting death, I will grant them their wish!”
He stood up, his eyes dripping with venom, his expression turning sinister as a demon as he turned
towards the direction of the royal palace.
“Little brat Zhou Yuan, since you dare to kill my son, I will make sure your entire family is buried together
with you!”
As his words faded, he had already walked out of the room, Qi Yue and Qi Ling following behind.
...
The next day. Zhou Yuan and his group finally arrived at Great Zhou City after travelling at full speed.
However, the moment they entered the city, a short message spread from Qi Manor.
“Qi Manor seeks independence to establish the Great Qi Empire. Hence, we announce our withdrawal
from the Great Zhou Empire.”
“King Zhou’s mediocrity has caused the Great Zhou Empire to become fractured and broken, its citizens
forced into suffering. The Great Qi Empire seeks to follow the will of heaven and replace the Great Zhou
Empire.”
Thus, the entire Great Zhou Empire was shocked.
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Chapter 95 Dispute
“Rebellion!”
In the royal palace. Zhou Qing’s face was white with rage, his fists hammering the table thunderously,
while his eyes overflowed with chilling murder. It was obvious that the message from Qi Manor had
already spread to his ears.
There were also numerous military leaders and ministers in the large hall whose expressions were
currently fluctuating indeterminately. Practically everyone knew that king Qi had harboured thoughts of
rebelling for the past few years, but no one had expected him to go all the way today.
“King Qi has already revolted, what do all of you think we should do?” Zhou Qing’s gaze swept
downwards, his penetrating eyes locking onto the group of ministers below.
He knew that due to the decline of the royal clan over the years, it was inevitable that some of these
ministers and military leaders would be swayed by Qi Manor, their stances shaken. After all, everyone
knew that the Great Wu Empire was backing Qi Manor.
Qi Manor’s decision to become independent may even have happened due to the support from the Great
Wu Empire. If the royal clan was overthrown by Qi Manor, the fates of those who went against Qi Manor
now would not be pleasant.
Thus, the great hall became somewhat silent for a time.
A voice suddenly rang out at this moment, “Your majesty, Qi Manor has already grown too powerful and
is a difficult force to match. I suggest we allow Qi County to separate themselves from the empire and try
our best to negotiate peace with them such as to prevent any conflicts.”
Everyone looked over, only to find that the one who had spoken was Liu Hou.
Liu Hou was Liu Xi’s father, and had grown very close to Qi Manor over the past few years.
Zhou Qing’s expression turned extremely dark when he heard this. The corners of his mouth raised to
form a mocking smile as he stared at Liu Hou and said, “So Liu Hou means that not only should I restrain
from sending any military force to curb this rebellion, but also give them control of their land and beg for
peace?”
Liu Hou had a fair complexion and no beard. He expression remained unchanged as he faced Zhou Qing’s
man-eating gaze and said, “Then may I ask if his majesty has any confidence in eliminating king Qi?”
Zhou Qing’s five fingers clenched tightly as cracking noises were emitted. Qi Manor had already grown
strong, and had the support of the Great Wu Empire. Hence, this rebellion was definitely not on a whim.
Even Zhou Qing himself did not dare to affirm that he would be able to suppress king Qi.
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Zhou Qing’s shut his eyes and took in several deep breaths, controlling the emotions in his heart. When he
gradually opened his eyes again, they were filled a chilling coldness. “I will no longer compromise even if
it means battling to the death.”
The hearts of everyone present shivered when they heard the icy killing intent in Zhou Qing’s voice. It
seemed that a life and death battle between the royal clan and Qi Manor was unavoidable.
Liu Hou indifferently said, “Your majesty’s decision will put the Great Zhou Empire in huge danger.”
“Does your majesty still not understand how much power the current Great Zhou Empire has? The
empire’s strength is at most only equal to Qi Manor’s. In addition, the great general, Wei Canglan, does
not follow any of the royal commands and instead holes himself up in Canglan County, refusing to leave. It
is likely that he will ignore Qi Manor’s rebellion.”
“Therefore, a forceful approach will instead cause the Great Zhou Empire to fall into a state of near
destruction.”
Liu Hou’s words resounded in the hall, causing the faces of the many ministers and military leaders to
turn gloomy. Some of the originally somewhat spirited military officers had lost their morale due to
having truly understood the crisis they potentially faced.
Zhou Qing’s complexion turned ashen when he saw the fallen morale in the hall.
“Liu Hou’s words are laughable. If we give in and seek peace, Qi Yuan will definitely press us harder and
harder until the day our Great Zhou Empire ends up fully devoured. From what I can see, Liu Hou’s advise
will only lead to death!”
While the hall was silent, an icy laugh suddenly rang out.
The sudden voice caused the numerous ministers and military leaders in the hall to be taken aback. They
quickly turn their heads and found a slim youth walking in from the entrance.
“Prince Zhou Yuan?”
Upon seeing who it was, everyone was stunned.
Liu Hou merely glanced at Zhou Yuan and sneered, “Your highness is still too young and naturally will not
consider the consequences. Given the Great Zhou Empire’s current strength, what confidence do we have
in a direct clash against Qi Manor?”
“I feel that your highness should go wait in the rear hall. This is a place to discuss official matters, not a
place for you to say whatever you want.”
Zhou Yuan’s expression was indifferent as he replied, “Liu Hou, looks like Qi Yuan did not tell you
everything.”
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Liu Hou’s eyes narrowed. “What are you trying to say?!”
Zhou Yuan’s frosty gaze locked onto the former as a mocking smile rose on his lips, “Aren’t you interested
to know why Qi Yuan was in such a rush to escape from Great Zhou City, not daring to stay even a
moment longer in is his own Qi manor?”
Liu Hou sneered. “Oh? Might it have something to do with your highness?”
His tone was filled with mockery but who could have expected that Zhou Yuan would actually nod in
response. “Looks like your brain is still functional. Qi Yuan was indeed afraid that I would come back
ahead of time, giving him no chance to even escape from Great Zhou City.”
The moment these words were said, the numerous ministers and military officers in the great hall looked
to each other in disbelief, evidently unable to take his highness words seriously. How could a mere Qi
Nourishing stage kid like you possibly scare Qi Yuan so much that he did not even dare to stay a moment
longer in Great Zhou City? This was practically the biggest joke of the century.
“Nonsense.” Liu Hou sneered.
Zhou Qing frowned. Zhou Yuan’s words were indeed rather arrogant, but they did confuse the former.
After all, given Zhou Yuan’s character, it was very unlikely that he would brag in such a senseless manner.
If so, why had Zhou Yuan said such things?
Zhou Yuan ignored everyone’s gazes and merely turned his body to the side as his gaze looked outside of
the hall.
Upon seeing his actions, everyone in the hall, including Zhou Qing, also cast their puzzled gazes at the
entrance.
As everyone watched with rapt attention, the sound of heavy armor clinking was suddenly heard, and
everyone soon saw a well-built figure wearing heavy armor walk into hall. The figure came to a stop at
the center of the hall and knelt on one knee.
He slowly removed his helmet as a low voice resounded across the hall.
“General Wei Canglan greets his majesty!”
*Uproar!*
Every person in the hall stared at the figure in shock, and even Zhou Qing abruptly stood up as he gazed
at Wei Canglan’s figure in disbelief.
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Ever since the Black Venom King attacked Canglan County many years ago, great general Wei Canglan
had never taken a single step into Great Zhou City and not responded to a single one of the imperial
edicts.
Hence, everyone believed that he would continue to be independent. No one would have even dreamt
that on the same day Qi Manor announced its rebellion, he would once again come to Great Zhou City and
display a posture of servitude.
Liu Hou’s expression changed. Wei Canglan would undoubtedly be a huge aid if he chose to side with the
Great Zhou royal clan.
However, he could not fathom why Wei Canglan would make such a decision after ignoring the royal
command for so many years.
Wei Canglan said in a low voice, “I’ve stubbornly persisted in my wrong doings for far too long, and it was
only thanks to his highness that I was recently enlightened. I am deeply ashamed of my past actions and
hope that your majesty can send me to deal with the rebels!”
Everyone had a strange look in their eyes as they turned towards Zhou Yuan, even Zhou Qing was rather
bewildered. They did not understand what Zhou Yuan had done to bring about such a change in Wei
Canglan’s attitude.
Zhou Yuan merely smiled in response to the puzzled gazes before he looked towards Zhou Qing and said,
“Father need not worry about those Qi Manor rebels.”
Next, he extended both hands and clapped softly.
Under everyone’s watching eyes, a black robed figure walked in from outside the hall. The figure also
stopped at the center of the hall and knelt on one knee as his raspy voice sounded out, “I am the lord of
Black Venom City and have long heard of the mighty Great Zhou Empire. I have specially made a visit
today to submit to the empire and am willing to do all I can for the empire!”
The lord of Black Venom City? The Black Venom King?!
The moment these words were said, an uproar arose in the hall as a portion of the crowd pulled back in
fear. Everyone was dumbstruck as they stared at the Black Venom King, evidently no stranger to his
name.
However, after fright came utter confusion. The situation was now a little beyond their comprehension.
The Black Venom King was a tyrant in Blackwater and had the strength of the Alpha-Origin stage. No one
would believe that such a ferocious individual would submit to the empire after hearing of its might.
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Thus, the corners of Zhou Qing’s lips twitched slightly. Who better knew the Great Zhou Empire’s might
than himself? Wanting an Alpha-Origin experts to join them after hearing of their might was practically a
pipe dream.
Hence, after a long silence, everyone in the hall turned towards Zhou Yuan.
He was clearly the one behind this.
However, Zhou Yuan ignored these gazes and looked towards the now pale faced Liu Hou as an
indifferent voice echoed in the hall.
This time however, no one dared to look down on the young man’s words.
“Does Liu Hou still feel that the Great Zhou Empire needs to give in and beg for peace?”
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Chapter 96 Five
As Zhou Yuan’s voice resounded within the great hall, Liu Hou became ashen faced and unable to speak
for some time. After all, no one would have imagined that Zhou Yuan would actually obtain the support of
Wei Canglan and the Black Venom King.
A flash of understanding struck everyone as they recalled Zhou Yuan’s earlier words. No wonder Qi Yuan
did not dare to linger in Great Zhou City, he had already known all of this information regarding Zhou
Yuan.
It was indeed true that Wei Canglan and the Black Venom King working together was enough to ensure Qi
Yuan was unable to leave the city.
Zhou Yuan calmly said, “In Blackwater, Qi Yuan sent Qi Hao to vie with me for the Fire Spirit Grain. They
ultimately failed, Qi Hao lost his life at my hands, and I obtained the support of general Wei and the Black
Venom King. Qi Yuan was forced to rebel because he knew this.”
Everyone was dumbstruck. After all that had happened, it turned out that king Qi had been forced into
rebelling by Zhou Yuan.
But this made sense once one started to think about it. With the aid of Wei Canglan and the Black Venom
King, the royal clan’s power had practically multiplied and there was no way that they would continue to
tolerate Qi Manor’s existence. If king Qi did not want to sit and wait for death, the only option he had was
rebellion.
“But… just how did he do it?”
The hearts of the many ministers and military leaders shook as they looked towards Zhou Yuan’s rather
young face. To think that the Wei Canglan issue that had troubled Zhou Qing for numerous years had
been so easily resolved by Zhou Yuan.
It was really inconceivable.
Liu Hou’s heart was akin to a churning sea as he gazed at the calm face of the young man. A sliver of
regret suddenly arose within him, regret due to the marriage Zhou Qing had proposed between Zhou
Yuan and his daughter Liu Xi.
Though nothing had come out of it due to Liu Xi’s vehement disagreement, it must be said that at that
point in time, Liu Hou himself was not optimistic about the future of the royal clan and Zhou Yuan.
Thus, he ultimately allowed and made use of Liu Xi’s objection to refuse the marriage.
Yet, the one whom they had not been optimistic about had undergone an almost magical transformation
in less than a year. Not only had he defeated Qi Yue, taking the number one spot in the Great Zhou
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Institute’s class ranking exam, he had now even managed to gain the support of Wei Canglan and the
Black Venom King through some unknown method.
How could an ordinary person achieve such feats?
In the great hall, Zhou Qing finally returned to his senses after a period of shock. He immediately looked
towards Wei Canglan and the Black Venom King and said, “Please rise. With your help, the Great Zhou
Empire will definitely eliminate the rebels!”
The originally low morale that had blanketed the hall soared at this moment as the many military officers
began to volunteer themselves one after another. It seemed that their morale would be rather high for
some time.
With the support of great general Wei Canglan and the Black Venom King, the Great Zhou Empire’s power
now surpassed Qi Manor.
Upon seeing that the morale had recovered, Zhou Qing’s face looked much better. His gaze swept across
the great hall as a strong voice rang out, “From today onwards, the Great Zhou Empire begin to prepare
for war. The imperial guard will take charge of Great Zhou City and send out scouts to observe every
movement of those rebels Qi Manor!”
His eyes fell upon Liu Hou before he continued in an icy voice, “As for Liu Hou, you will not be allowed to
leave your residence over this period of time.”
It was obvious that he intended to confine Liu Hou. Moreover, it was easy to imagine how Zhou Qing
would begin to purge the Great Zhou Empire of Qi Manor’s spies, some of whom were currently present
and would likely not be able to escape.
Liu Hou’s face was deathly pale. He knew that it was all over for the Liu family.
Zhou Qing’s decisiveness and ruthlessness caused the atmosphere in the great hall to become somewhat
heavy.
“All other military officers will guard their current allocated areas. We will not allow the Great Zhou
Empire’s land to be taken!” Zhou Qing’s solemn voice boomed in the hall.
“Understood!”
A series of respectful responses emerged within the hall.
After he had given his instructions, Zhou Qing allowed everyone to leave while making sure to send
someone to prepare accomodations for Wei Canglan and the Black Venom King.
The hall suddenly became rather empty. Zhou Qing and Zhou Yuan were the only ones who remained.
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Zhou Qing looked at the slender youth in the hall, happiness overflowing in his eyes. He walked towards
Zhou Yuan and gently patted the latter’s shoulders. “Yuan’er, I really have to thank you this time.”
If Zhou Yuan had not gained the support of Wei Canglan and the Black Venom King, the only option left
would be a battle to the death with king Qi.
Zhou Yuan grinned. “Father has shouldered such a huge burden for so many years, it is only right for me
to help ease it a little.”
How could he not know Zhou Qing’s pains. The Great Wu Empire’s rebellion from many years ago had
shattered the dignity of the royal clan. Even though they had managed to painstakingly preserve the
Great Zhou Empire, it was not so easy to recover the lost dignity.
In such a situation, the royal clan would naturally fall into a decline. If it was not for Zhou Qing’s bitter
persistence, their clan would have disappeared long ago.
For the sake of the Great Zhou Empire’s safety, he had given in time and time again to the unreasonable
Qi Manor, swallowing all the terrible resultant feelings into the pits of his stomach without even the
slightest grumble.
As he gazed at Zhou Yuan, even the eyes of someone like Zhou Qing could not help but turn a little red as
he mumbled. “Yuan’er has finally grown up.”
“Father, since Qi Yuan still dares to rebel even after finding out that I have gained the support of Wei
Canglan and the Black Venom King, it is likely that he has something to fall back on. We must take
precautions against this.” Zhou Yuan expression turned a little grave as he cautioned.
Zhou Qing nodded. “If I am not wrong, I’m afraid that the Great Wu Empire has given him a tremendous
amount of support.”
Zhou Yuan’s eyes seemed to turn as deep as the night. “I’ve heard that news of my performance during
the class ranking exam has reached the ears of the Great Wu Empire’s crown prince. It is because he
cannot be bothered to personally deal with this that he seeks to borrow king Qi’s hand to eliminate me.”
Zhou Qing gnashed his teeth as murder flashed in his eyes. “Don’t worry Yuan’er. With Wei Canglan and
the Black Venom King on our side, the royal clan now possess three Alpha-Origin experts, a force
powerful enough to control the situation.”
Zhou Yuan chuckled upon hearing this. “It is more accurate to say five.”
Zhou Qing was taken aback.
Thus, Zhou Yuan told Zhou Qing about Yaoyao and Tuntun.
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“If not for Yaoyao and Tuntun, I’m afraid that we will not have been able to subdue the Black Venom King
and even Wei Canglan might not have bothered with this rebellion.”
Truthfully speaking, subjugating Wei Canglan and the Black Venom King had been done through force.
The only difference was that Wei Canglan’s situation had been gentler, while the Black Venom King’s
direct and rough.
Zhou Qing sighed. “Yaoyao is truly the benefactor of our Zhou clan. I really do not know how we will be
able to repay her.”
Zhou Yuan smiled. “If father wishes to thank big sis Yaoyao, give her all of the good alcohol you have been
saving. I’m sure that she will be very happy.”
A small smile emerged on Zhou Qing’s lips. “Okay, they will be given to her.”
Father and son exchanged a look and burst out into laughter.
After laughing for a while, Zhou Yuan raised his head and looked outside the hall into the distance, where
black clouds seemed to be gathering as he slowly said, “Don’t worry father, the Great Zhou Empire will be
fine.”
“I was too young back then, and could only allow both of you to protect me without being able to do
anything myself. But it’s different now…”
“Now, if they still dare to do anything, they will have to first ask if I agree.”
The smile on Zhou Yuan’s face seemed to contain an endless frostiness.
“All that they’ve taken away will sooner or later be taken back by us…”
“And now, we will begin with Qi Manor…”
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Qi Manor’s rebellion together with their declaration to establish the Great Qi Empire undoubtedly set off
towering waves that swept across the entire Great Zhou Empire. Everyone feared that the events from
many years ago would replay once again. For a time, everyone’s hearts were shrouded in trepidation.
It was at this time however that Wei Canglan appeared in Great Zhou City and announced with his status
as the great general of the Great Zhou Empire that Qi Manor were rebels and will be dealt with using
force.
Wei Canglan was a well known and respected figure in the Great Zhou Empire. It was only because he had
not left Canglan County for the past few years that rumours that he and the royal clan were at odds had
spread. His appearance immediately dispelled these rumours, while also slightly easing the troubled
hearts of the citizens.
After Wei Canglan, the Black Venom King also made an appearance and proclaimed that Black Venom City
had submitted to the Great Zhou Empire.
News of this caused wave after wave of uproar to spread. Who did not know of the infamous Black
Venom City that constantly infringed on Great Zhou borders, but who could have imagined that such a
ferocious character would chose to submit to Great Zhou at this juncture.
Although the news stupefied countless people, it also gave everyone a little more confidence in the Great
Zhou royal clan. Hence, the people’s hearts were put at ease.
While the addition of Wei Canglan and the Black Venom King bolstered the Great Zhou Empire’s might
and reputation, there was not even the slightest hint of any response from Qi Manor. They latter merely
continued to train their forces as if completely unaffected.
King Qi, Qi Yuan, even sent out a declaration of war.
“Our troops will arrive at Great Zhou City after ten days.”
This declaration immediately caused countless uproars. From the looks of it, Qi Yuan intended to tackle
the root of the problem. Once Great Zhou City was breached, it was easy to imagine the fate of the royal
clan.
Great Zhou would be overthrown.
The only thing that everyone did not understand was that since there were now three Alpha-Origin
experts stationed in Great Zhou City, just where did Qi Yuan find the confidence to make such a
declaration of war?
...
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“Troops will arrive at Great Zhou City after ten days…”
In a certain courtyard, Zhou Yuan gazed at the declaration of war in his hands as a look of thought flitted
across his eyes. This declaration clearly represented Qi Yuan’s confidence.
Without this confidence, Qi Yuan the declaration would instead become a huge blow to his reputation if
he ended up failing.
“Looks like he has obtained a tremendous amount of support from the Great Wu Empire.”
Zhou Yuan’s eyes flashed coldly as he mumbled to himself in a hair raising voice, “The crown prince of
Great Wu that stole my blessing seems to really dislike me having peaceful days.”
Regardless of the support king Qi had obtained, the only choice they had was to respond with force and
counter each move as it came.
Zhou Yuan breathed in deeply, suppressing the feelings in his heart. The most important thing he had to
do now was to learn the first level of the Ancestral Dragon Scripture and cultivate the Omni Python Qi.
Once he cultivated this Genesis Qi, he would have truly stepped into the the realm of the Qi Nourishing
stage.
He did not have the time to do so previously because he had been rushing back to Great Zhou City, so the
current moment was the most opportune.
“Are you ready?” A melodious voice was transmitted from the side. Yaoyao was seated to one side,
carrying Tuntun as she stared at Zhou Yuan.
Zhou Yuan solemnly nodded. Without further ado, he gently patted his Universe bag and several flashes
of light flew out, landing on the stone table before him.
Heavenly Gold Marrow.
Nine Underworld Black Spring Crystal.
Genesis Swallowing Rock.
Grade 4 python-type beast spirit.
Zhou Yuan could not help but breath a sigh of relief as he admired the four Genesis materials before him.
He had finally gathered everything after investing so much effort and time.
Excitement gradually gushed out in his eyes together with anticipation.
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This was a day Zhou Yuan had been looking forward to ever since he obtained the Ancestral Dragon
Scripture.
He looked towards Yaoyao and gave her a slight nod, before his expression grew solemn. With a pat of his
Universe bag, a mysterious mottled bone piece appeared in his hand.
An indescribable presence spread from the bone piece.
Growl!
Tuntun suddenly jumped out of Yaoyao’s arms and emitted a low growl. Faint scarlet light seemed to flow
on its now rigidly raised fur as if it was about to transform into battle mode.
Even though Tuntun had encountered the bone piece previously, it still displayed a deep wariness at the
mysterious bone piece.
Zhou Yuan glanced at the clearly agitated Tuntun. Even a mysterious Genesis Beast like it was so wary of
the Ancestral Dragon bone piece. One could imagine just how powerful the legendary Ancestral Dragon
was.
“To obtain the Ancestral Dragon Scripture within the Ancestral Dragon bone, one needs to use a dragon
type blessing as the key…”
Zhou Yuan was somewhat nervous as he raised the hand on which the Dragon’s Resentment Poison had
entrenched itself. The sacred dragon blessing that originally belonged to him had been stolen by Great
Wu’s python and sparrow. The current him could only try to use the Dragon’s Resentment Poison as the
key. If he failed, it could be said that the paths of himself and the Ancestral Dragon Scripture were not
fated to meet.
Upon seeing the nervousness in his eyes, Yaoyao frowned a little and said, “Don’t worry. Since I’ve said it
will work, it will definitely work!”
Zhou Yuan let out an awkward laugh. Soon after, he began gathering his concentration. Without further
ado, the hand that contained the Dragon’s Resentment Poison slowly tightened around the Ancestral
Dragon bone piece.
The moment the Ancestral Dragon bone piece came into contact with the Dragon’s Resentment Poison on
his palm, Zhou Yuan immediately sensed faint runes of light emerge on the mottled bone piece.
These runes seemed breathe, pulsing between strong and weak.
The blood-red Dragon’s Resentment Poison on Zhou Yuan’s palm began to squirm as if it had been
attracted by something. Strands of blood-red tunnelled out from his palm and poured into the Ancestral
Dragon bone.
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The runes on the Ancestral Dragon bone grew even brighter as an extremely ancient dragon roar seemed
to cross time and space, echoing from the dragon bone.
All noise began to fade from the courtyard.
The Ancestral Dragon bone shook violently at this moment. A split second later, a mysterious light shot
out from within, flashing through the air as it shot into the spot between Zhou Yuan’s brows.
Boom!
A deep booming sound resounded within Zhou Yuan’s mind.
Zhou Yuan’s Spirit trembled as if it had now arrived at the formless mass that existed before creation
itself, a time when the heavens and earth had yet to be born. All of a sudden, a life form was born within
the primal chaos, its body tremendous beyond imagination.
It was the Ancestral Dragon!
The Ancestral Dragon roared, blasting apart the primal chaos, an act akin to the creation of a new world.
It slowly lifted its head, titanic eyes flickering with the glow of primal chaos as it seemingly caught sight
of Zhou Yuan. In the next instant, the light of primal chaos shot out from its eyes and headed straight for
the latter.
Boom!
The light of primal chaos instantly scattered Zhou Yuan’s Spirit.
Zhou Yuan’s tightly shut eyes abruptly opened at this moment, sweat dripping from his body. Although he
did not know if what his Spirit had seen earlier was real, the pressure he had felt had almost destroyed
him.
If he had not constantly practiced the Primal Chaos Divine Grindstone Visualisation Method that honed
his will to overcome great terror and tempered himself, it was likely that his Spirit would have dispersed
the moment the Ancestral Dragon looked at him.
However… he had managed to withstand its gaze.
Zhou Yuan extended a faintly trembling finger and gently felt the area between his brows as a smile of
uncontrollable excitement emerged from the corners of his lips.
A certain Qi cultivation method was currently flowing within his mind. It was the Qi cultivation method
for the Omni Python Qi.
At long last, he had finally obtained the Ancestral Dragon Scripture.
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Chapter 98 Omni Python Qi
“So this is the first level of the Ancestral Dragon Scripture, the Qi cultivation method for the Omni Python
Qi…”
In the courtyard, Zhou Yuan’s shut eyes opened once again, excitement and wonder flooding his face as
he pondered over the mysterious and complex Qi cultivation method in his mind.
After numerous trials and tribulations, the first level of the Qi cultivation method was finally in his hands.
“Congratulations, you are now a practitioner of the Ancestral Dragon Scripture.” Yaoyao beautiful eyes
focused on Zhou Yuan as she slowly said, “However, you should know that once you cultivate the Omni
Python Qi, you will no longer be able to reverse the process and can only continue down on this
incomparably difficult path till… death.”
Zhou Yuan was silent a moment as he slowly nodded. However, it was clear from the look in his eyes that
his resolve had not been shaken. Instead, the flames of determination burned even stronger.
“There are far too many dangers in this world. Without sufficient power… I may one day come to share
the fate of the Battle Puppet Sect, just a random one of the many life forms within an eighty thousand mile
radius that can be easily destroyed with a flip of someone else’s hand.”
“I do not like such an outcome, nor do I want to see such a calamity strike those at my side. Thus… I need
to become strong, strong enough to resist any such calamity!”
Yaoyao gazed at Zhou Yuan’s eyes that flickered with unwavering determination and ultimately gave a
gentle nod of approval with her pointed snow-white chin.
“Since you’ve made your resolve, you should begin. I will protect you during the process.”
Zhou Yuan solemnly nodded. Without anymore hesitation, his eyes closed as he meticulously savoured
the Omni Python Qi cultivation method in his head. It was two hours later before he opened his eyes
again.
Roar!
Zhou Yuan’s body jerked slightly, his back arched over, while his bones vibrated as if a dragon roar was
echoing within his body. It was the Dragon Breathing method.
The Dragon Breathing method currently used by Zhou Yuan no longer required him to open his mouth.
As he breathed, the surrounding Genesis Qi transformed into strings of white as they endlessly surged
over, tunnelling into his body through his nose in sync with his breathing.
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This showed that he had obtained a certain level of mastery over Dragon Breathing and was capable of
using Dragon Breathing while he breathed to take in the surrounding Genesis Qi.
However, Zhou Yuan’s mastery had yet to reach the level where he could maintain this state for a long
period of time. If he were to polish it till the point of perfection in future, even his daily ordinary
breathing would allow him to take in the surrounding Genesis Qi and cultivate continuously.
Genesis Qi circulated within Zhou Yuan’s body, flowing through his eight meridian channels before
ultimately pouring into his Qi Dwelling.
In his Qi Dwelling, Genesis Qi as pure as crystal floated about like the mist.
With a thought, the Genesis Qi in his Qi Dwelling began to vibrate, slowly turning into a whirlpool as if
being pulled towards something.
Genesis Qi began to be gradually compressed in this manner.
While the Genesis Qi in his Qi Dwelling began to swirl, Zhou Yuan made a grabbing motion at the
Heavenly Gold Marrow, sucking it into his hand like a drop of dazzling golden liquid.
The moment it landed on his palm, Genesis Qi swiftly wrapped around it and brought it into his body. It
shuttled through Zhou Yuan’s meridian channels and entered his Qi Dwelling.
The Heavenly Gold Marrow was soon cast into the vortex formed from Genesis Qi, immediately turning
into countless golden specks of light.
Thus, the originally pure Genesis Qi turned dazzling gold as a faint but sharp aura gradually emerged.
“Nine Underworld Black Spring Crystal!”
Without pause, Zhou Yuan grabbed the Nine Underworld Black Spring Crystal. Genesis Qi surged as his
hand closed around it, crushing the crystal into tiny pieces.
Wisps of black cold Qi was bundled up by Genesis Qi and brought into Zhou Yuan’s body, ending up in his
Qi Dwelling before being poured into the spinning golden vortex.
Wisps of black light now swam within the golden vortex.
“Genesis Swallowing Rock!”
Zhou Yuan’s movements were now more practiced. The Genesis Swallowing Rock was swiftly crushed
into powder when it entered his hand and wisps of night-black Qi was sent into his Qi Dwelling.
After sending these three Genesis materials into his Qi Dwelling, Zhou Yuan’s gaze turned towards the
final ingredient.
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The Grade 4 python type Genesis beast spirit.
At this moment, Yaoyao suddenly cautioned, “You need to be more careful when you fuse this material. A
Genesis beast spirit is extremely savage in nature and the slightest mishap might result in your Spirit
being devoured.”
This step was undoubtedly several times more dangerous compared to adding the previous three Genesis
materials.
Zhou Yuan merely smiled confidently in response. “I might fear it if it still had its physical body, but a
mere beast spirit is no threat to me.”
The moment his words faded, both his palms suddenly swung towards the crystal, shattering it as a
savage hiss rang out. A flash of night-black light immediately shot towards the spot between Zhou Yuan’s
brows.
It was the grade 4 python type Genesis beast spirit.
“Hss hss!”
The night-black light that contained the silhouette of a python zipped straight towards the cross-legged
illusory figure the moment it entered Zhou Yuan’s head. Its mouth opened wide with the intent of
swallowing the latter.
“You don’t have the qualifications to do as you please here!”
Zhou Yuan’s Spirit let out an icy chuckle as it glimmered and faded away. The formless mass of creation
quickly descended as an endless Primal Chaos Divine Grindstone slowly fell from the sky.
The python silhouette was instantly horrified out of its soul by this scene. It could clearly feel an endless
amount of fear from the seemingly infinite Primal Chaos Divine Grindstone. After a loud hiss of terror, it
turned around and fled without the slightest hesitation.
However, the mottled divine grindstone was capable of travelling through space. Oddly enough, the
python silhouette appeared in front of the grindstone as it descended, grinding the python into oblivion.
Zhou Yuan’s Spirit revealed itself at this moment and made a grabbing motion as countless fragments of
night-black light gathered towards him, transforming into a blurry python silhouette in his palm. There
was no longer any ferocity in the newly formed python silhouette, its snake eyes lifeless and dull as if its
mind had been stripped away and destroyed.
Zhou Yuan’s Spirit swung its hand, casting the blurry python silhouette at his Qi Dwelling and into the
swirling Genesis Qi vortex.
All four Genesis materials were now present.
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Zhou Yuan concentrated and began to spin the Genesis Qi vortex according to the Omni Python Qi
cultivation method, slowly fusing and tempering.
In the blink of an eye, seven days passed by.
During these seven days, Zhou Yuan’s body was as still as a rock and even his breathing had become
much lighter. Meanwhile, a dark golden glow would flicker on the surface of his body from time to time.
It seemed as if a unique aura was brewing within his body.
During these seven days, Zhou Qing, Qin Yu and Su Youwei came by to see Zhou Yuan but did not dare to
disturb him upon seeing that he was at a critical juncture.
When the first rays of the sun sprinkled down onto Zhou Yuan’s body on the eighth day, his unmoving
body finally jerked.
Hss!
The hiss of a great python seemed to emerge from within his body, causing his Qi and blood to boil and
tremble.
Swish!
Zhou Yuan’s tightly shut eyes opened at this moment, golden light spouting from within as wisps of dark
gold Genesis Qi surged out from his body and began swirling around him.
While the dark gold Genesis Qi rose, a golden python Qi body emerged from the top of Zhou Yuan’s head,
hissing at the heavens like a clap of thunder.
On this day, the first level of the Ancestral Dragon Scripture, the Omni Python Qi had finally been
cultivated by Zhou Yuan.
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Chapter 99 King Qi Besieges the City
Rumble!
The entire courtyard shuddered at this moment.
Dark gold Genesis Qi curled around Zhou Yuan’s body. Within the Genesis Qi, one could barely make out
the figure of a giant golden python hissing at the heavens as an astonishing pressure unfurled from Zhou
Yuan’s body.
Crack!
Cracks gradually grew on the stone pavilion he was in due to the pressure from the dark gold Genesis Qi.
This pressure continued for quite some time before gradually receding. Zhou Yuan slowly lowered his
head, blankly staring at his palms as he felt the power that was currently surging in his body.
Such power was incomparable to before.
With a thought, he submerged himself into his Qi Dwelling, only to see that the originally pure Genesis Qi
within had now completely transformed into dark gold Genesis Qi. As the dark gold Genesis Qi flowed,
one could faintly make out the silhouette of a golden python.
His blood-red Qi Dwelling emitted rays of light that constantly tempered and refined the dark gold
Genesis Qi.
“This is the Omni Python Qi?”
Zhou Yuan lowered his head as dark gold Genesis Qi swirled on his hand. He could feel that the power of
his Genesis Qi was several times greater than before he had learnt any Qi cultivation method.
Zhou Yuan was confident that if he fought Qi Hao now, he would not even need to use the Heavenly Yuan
Brush to easily suppress the latter.
Confidence surged in Zhou Yuan’s eyes as he mumbled to himself, “I’m practically invincible amongst the
Qi Nourishing stage.”
Yaoyao carried Tuntun as she walked over from the side, her clear eyes focusing on Zhou Yuan. It was a
long while later before she slowly said, “Starting now, you have truly become a practitioner of the
Ancestral Dragon Scripture.”
Now that the first level of the Ancestral Dragon Scripture had been learnt, it was no longer possible to
reverse the process.
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Zhou Yuan’s expression was solemn as he nodded. “Big sis Yaoyao, when will I be able to cultivate the
second level of the Ancestral Dragon Scripture?”
The first level Omni Python Qi was a grade 5 Genesis Qi. It may be top-tier in the Great Zhou Empire, but
Zhou Yuan’s sights were set on a much further place, where the advantage of a grade 5 Genesis Qi would
perhaps be much less apparent.
If Zhou Yuan was able to cultivate the second level of the Ancestral Dragon Scripture, the grade 7 World
Subduing Heavenly Serpent Qi, he would truly possess the qualifications to stand proud in this world.
Even in this huge world, Grade 7 Genesis Qi could be considered the apex.
Yaoyao stroked Tuntun as her red lips parted slightly. “The Ancestral Dragon Scripture is not as easy you
think. The first level is the most basic and the second will be over a dozen times more difficult.”
Zhou Yuan’s heart shook slightly. He had already gone through all kinds of complications and difficulties
for the first level. If the second level was even harder, who knew just when he would be able to access it.
“Since time immemorial, only one person has managed to practice the third level of the Ancestral Dragon
Scripture.”
The expression in Zhou Yuan’s eyes turned grave. The third level of the Ancestral Dragon Scripture was
the grade 9 Galaxy Sacred Dragon Qi. Grade 9… he really wondered just what kind of amazing genius had
achieved such heights.
Such a person would have surely awed the entire world, right?
“Truthfully speaking, I do not know how the Ancestral Dragon Scripture will level up, but it seems to be
related to one’s strength.” Yaoyao seemed to think for a while before she slowly said, “I believe that there
may also be an important juncture of sorts.”
“What kind of important juncture?”
Yaoyao was silent for some time, before she answered, “The day you take back the sacred dragon blessing
that once belonged to you.”
She stared at Zhou Yuan as she continued, “This may be the path that you will have to step on once again,
a path that belongs to you, the path of the sacred dragon!”
Zhou Yuan’s heart churned violently as his five fingers slowly closed. With a deep breath, he gave a little
nod. “I understand.”
As he suppressed the intense emotions in his heart, he said, “I will personally take back all that I’ve lost!”
He then raised his head and gazed into the distance, a fire now burning within his eyes.
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Clap clap!
Clapping suddenly sounded at this moment. Zhou Yuan lifted his head and looked over, only to see Zhou
Qing and Qin Yu standing just outside the door looking at him in with joy on their faces.
They had evidently rushed over after sensing the disturbance caused by Zhou Yuan’s Genesis Qi earlier.
“Father, mother.” Zhou Yuan quelled his emotions as he smiled at the two.
“Is this the grade 5 Genesis Qi you cultivated? It is indeed extraordinary.” Zhou Qing quickly walked over
as he observed the surging dark gold Genesis Qi around Zhou Yuan. The former could sense the amazing
power within.
It was clear that this Genesis Qi of Zhou Yuan’s was even stronger than their royal clan’s Flame-Thunder
Qi.
“Yuan’er is amazing.” Qin Yu stroked Zhou Yuan’s hair, her expression a mixture of tenderness and pride.
When Zhou Yuan returned to Great Zhou City, he had passed a Jade Infant Fruit to Qin Yu for her to
consume. Thus, her complexion was much better than before, her cheeks now a healthy rosy color. The
life force she had used up previously had also gradually began to recover.
“Now that you’ve cultivated a Genesis Qi, you will be able to rely on your own abilities to suppress the
Dragon’s Resentment Poison if an outbreak occurs in future. Our hearts can finally be at ease.” As she
spoke, Qin Yu’s eyes turned a little red.
Zhou Yuan’s Dragon’s Resentment Poison had been akin to a festering wound in their hearts for a dozen
years.
Fortunately, the current Zhou Yuan had finally overcome the most difficult period.
Zhou Yuan grasped Qin Yu’s hands and consoled her with a smile.
“Father, has there been any movement from king Qi recently?” Zhou Yuan’s expression turned serious as
he looked towards Zhou Qing. Although he really wanted to immediately take back the sacred dragon
blessing, he understood that he had to take things one step at a time. The calamity that had befallen them
so many years ago had already caused him to lag behind others. Therefore, what he needed to do now
was to unrelentlessly give chase and close the gap between them.
Of course, if he was unable to even resolve king Qi’s rebellion, there might not even be a future for him.
Zhou Qing frowned when he heard this. “Qi Manor is still rather quiet, and the only thing king Qi has been
doing is continuing to gather his troops. I’m afraid that it was be as he has declared, their army will arrive
at Great Zhou City after two days.”
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King Qi clearly knew that they had over three Alpha-Origin experts stationed in the city. Yet he still dared
to openly make a declaration of war. Such actions made Zhou Qing feel that something was amiss.
Zhou Yuan slowly said, “It seems that Great Wu has given king Qi an insane amount of support. We have
to be more cautious.”
Zhou Qing nodded as chillingly cold light surged within his eyes. “No matter how much support king Qi
has obtained, we have no other path left to take.”
Zhou Qing had already gone through the destruction of an empire once, and did not plan on repeating this
experience. Thus, he would not let such events happen again regardless of the price.
If all else failed, he was even willing to die together with king Qi after ensuring that Zhou Yuan had
escaped.
Zhou Yuan nodded as murder also rose in his eyes. This time, he would definitely eliminate the cancer-
like king Qi and allow peace to return to Great Zhou. Or else, a Great Zhou plagued by inner turmoil will
never be able to match the Great Wu Empire.
No matter what, king Qi must die!
...
In the following two days, countless gazes from the entire Great Zhou Empire were concentrated on king
Qi. Under their attention, king Qi finally moved on the ninth day.
Just as he had said in his declaration of war, king Qi did not attack any other location. His great army
swarmed straight towards Great Zhou City.
On the other side, many soldiers had gathered in Great Zhou City, forming a practically impenetrable
fortress in preparation for the upcoming battle.
In addition, the three Alpha-Origin experts, Zhou Qing, Wei Canglan and the Black Venom King personally
took to the field to calm to hearts of the people.
Every pair of eyes in the entire Great Zhou had converged on Great Zhou City.
Under their attention, the tenth day arrived. Everyone could feel the land tremble as a black mass of
troops that extended to the end of one’s sights flood towards Great Zhou City.
Killing intent enveloped the entire city.
King Qi’s attack had finally come just as he had declared.
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Chapter 100 Seven Alpha‐Origins
Dong! Dong!
The sound of battle drums thundered across the land as a seemingly endless army flooded over from the
ends of one’s sights. They eventually came to a halt several miles from Great Zhou City. The sight of each
black mass after black mass of formations made one feel an immense amount of pressure as suffocating
killing intent spread.
Countless people trembled in fear as they watched this scene. The more senior occupants of Great Zhou
City in particular were reminded of the events from over a dozen years ago.
That day had been just like this one. A huge army had surrounded the city, causing the city to fall into
despair and terror due to their eminent destruction.
On the city walls, Zhou Qing gazed at the black sprawling mass of soldiers. Although there was no change
in his facial expression, cracks had begun to grow from the hands that had been placed on the city wall.
It was clear that the view before his eyes had also made him recall the humiliation from over a dozen
years ago.
It was then that the once highly ambitious king of Great Zhou was thoroughly beaten by the cruelness of
reality. Ever since then, he had been trapped in the current Great Zhou like a ferocious tiger in a cage.
Beside Zhou Qing, Zhou Yuan also observed the suffocating black mass of troops several miles away as
cold light flickered within his eyes.
Zhou Qing took in a deep breath, looked towards Zhou Yuan and pointed outside the city. “Yuan’er, it was
a similar scene back then. At that time, you were born inside the city with the blessing of the sacred
dragon.”
“Outside the city, king Wu’s son and daughter were born with the blessing of the python and the
sparrow.”
At this point, pain flashed in Zhou Qing’s eyes as he continued, “But your father was useless and incapable
of protecting you, or your current accomplishments would have been far beyond what they are now.”
“You were originally destined to soar straight into the sky, standing tall above the rest of the world and
looking down upon the geniuses of other countries. But because of me, your wings were ripped from you,
causing you to flail about in the mud and even narrowly die a premature death.”
Seeing the remorse in Zhou Qing’s eyes, Zhou Yuan reached out and gently patted the former’s arm as he
softly said, “Father should not blame himself, experiencing hardship may not be a bad thing.”
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“A smooth sailing path straight into the sky may not be a good thing either.”
Zhou Yuan smiled, a smile filled with a chilling iciness that was sharp as the edge of a blade.
“Moreover… if the sacred dragon blessing truly belongs to me, I will ultimately be able to take it back.”
Zhou Qing looked at the youth before him. Though there was still some immaturity on the youth’s face,
there was also a resolve that those at the same age did not possess. This made him blame himself a little
less. Perhaps it was truly as Zhou Yuan had said, hardship may be the whetstone on which one grinds
one’s blade.
But Yuan’er, father does not plan to experience the events from back then a second time. I only tolerated
the disgrace for so many years in order to give you time to grow. Now that you’re all grown up, for the
sake of protecting this country, I will no longer give in even if I have to give up my life.
The expression in Zhou Qing’s eyes gradually turned sharp as he cast his gaze towards the seemingly
endless army in the distance.
Dong!
Another beat from the battle drum rang out as a figure on a black horse slowly trotted out from within
king Qi’s giant army. The figure was dressed in a full set of battle armor, and wore a cold and stern
expression. It was king Qi, Qi Yuan.
Countless gazes from both inside and outside the city converged onto him.
Zhou Qing’s chillingly icy gaze immediately locked onto Qi Yuan as he said in a frosty voice, “Qi Yuan you
rebel! You still dare to show yourself before me?!”
Qi Yuan mere laughed upon hearing this and replied, “Useless Zhou Qing, you are the main reason why
Great Zhou has fallen into such a state. I advise you to open your city gates and surrender so I may grant
give the royal clan their final respect. Or else, once the city is breached, I will surely slaughter the royal
clan and burn the royal tomb!”
Towards the end, Qi Yuan’s voice was filled with venom, clearly displaying his intense hatred.
Zhou Qing turned white with anger, his voice ice-cold as he retorted, “After quelling this rebellion, every
member of your entire Qi clan will be slaughtered!”
Qi Yuan let out a mocking laugh. “I’m afraid that a dog like you does not have the ability!”
“Qi Yuan you traitor, if you continue to be so pigheaded, today will be your last!” Wei Canglan’s voice
thundered across the land.
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Zhou Yuan’s gaze swept towards the Black Venom King. The latter sighed helplessly before he also
stepped forward and darkly said, “Just a single Alpha-Origin expert and you dare to attack Great Zhou
City, I’m afraid that you won’t even know how you will die!”
“The troops of Black Venom City are already prepared to cut off your retreat at any time.”
Wei Canglan’s and the Black Venom King’s appearance undoubtedly shook those on Qi Manor’s side. After
all, Alpha-Origin experts were just too powerful a force and were at times enough to decide the tide of the
battle.
Great Zhou had three Alpha-Origin experts, while Qi Manor only had king Qi.
The top-tier battle power of both camps was evidently very uneven.
However, Qi Yuan’s expression remained unchanged. He stared at the three Alpha-Origin experts atop the
city walls as the corners of his mouth rose to form a mocking smile. “Three Alpha-Origin experts, what a
formidable line-up.”
“Since that is so, let me show the reason behind my confidence today!”
The mockery on Qi Yuan’s lips grew even greater.
“My companions, please come out and greet your old friends.”
As Qi Yuan’s words faded, the army suddenly parted and six figures slowly walked out.
The instant these six figures appeared, powerful Genesis Qi whizzed out from the top of their heads. The
Genesis Qi filled the area, bringing along with it an astonishing pressure.
Every one of these six figures were Alpha-Origin experts!
*Uproar*!
An earth-shaking uproar immediately erupted from Great Zhou City as countless individuals watched this
scene in horror.
No one had expected six Alpha-Origin experts to appear on Qi Yuan’s side! Zhou Yuan’s pupils also shrank
slightly. Was this the support the Great Wu Empire had given?
Zhou Qing’s gaze was glued to the six figure that had emerged. His expression became extremely twisted
as his hands directly crushed a portion of the city wall.
It was as if he had just seen a hated foe.
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“Hehe, it’s been many years since we last met your majesty, we hope that you have been well.” In
response to Zhou Qing’s man-eating gaze, the six figures raised their heads and grinned at the former.
“Zhao Tianlun…”
“Lin Nian…”
“Wang Caotian…”
“......”
Each name was slowly spit out from between the gaps of Zhou Qing’s teeth, his voice seething with
hatred.
Wei Canglan also stared at the six figures as he icily said through gnashed teeth, “To think that it would be
those six betrayers!”
He turned to look at the somewhat confused Zhou Yuan and said in a low voice, “These six used to be
ministers of the Great Zhou Empire over a dozen years ago. During king Wu’s rebellion, they stabbed us
in the back, launching sneak attacks on us. This resulted in the belly of our army being open to the enemy,
leaving us no choice but to flee.”
“Each of them have been conferred the title of king by the Great Wu Empire and rule over their respective
territories. I never imagined that Qi Yuan would obtain their help this time.”
At this point, Wei Canglan’s expression had already become rather grim. The appearance of these six
individuals had instantly blown away any advantage Great Zhou had. Adding in Qi Yuan, the number of
Alpha-Origin experts on Qi Manor’s side was now seven!
Zhou Yuan frowned. No wonder Qi Yuan dared to declare war. It turns out that he had obtained a
tremendous amount of support. Looks like a certain individual from the Great Wu Empire really intended
to wipe out Great Zhou.
Zhou Qing asked in a hair-raising voice, “So Great Wu has already decided to take action?”
One of the six Alpha-Origin experts smiled faintly as he replied, “King Wu is a man of his word. Since he
made a vow that Great Wu will not step into Great Zhou for a hundred years, he will naturally abide by it.”
“As for us six…” At this point, a toying smile emerged on his lips as he continued, “Several days ago, we
announced that we have left the Great Wu Empire and joined Great Qi. In other words… we are not
members of Great Wu and king Wu has naturally not gone back on his vow.”
Crack!
Zhou Qing’s fists clenched tightly as cracking noises emerged. It was obvious that he was fuming inside.
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Qi Yuan smiled mockingly as he stared at Zhou Qing. Subsequently, the former’s voice was projected to
every person in Great Zhou City with the aid of powerful Genesis Qi.
“Zhou Qing, I will give you half a day to make your decision. After half a day, I will attack the city. When
that time comes, any and all resistance will be slaughtered!”
His murderous voice caused countless individuals to shiver as fear flooded their hearts.
Were the events from a dozen years ago really going to play out once again in Great Zhou City?
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Chapter 101 Arrival of War
Qi Yuan’s voice resounded within every corner of Great Zhou City, giving rise to alarm and worry. After
all, the pressure from seven Alpha-Origin experts was just far too overwhelming.
A line-up powerful enough to break the city gates, allowing king Qi’s army to charge in without any
constraints.
On a battlefield like this, the intimidation and destructive power of an Alpha-Origin expert was just way
too much.
Thus, the countless residents that filled the city began to panic at this moment.
Inside the strategy room on the city walls, Zhou Qing’s expression was as dark as a storm. Wei Canglan’s
brows were tightly furrowed together, while the Black Venom King’s expression was pretty ugly. They
had originally been under the impression that they had the numbers advantage with regards to Alpha-
Origin experts, giving them a pretty good chance at victory. Who could have imagined that an additional
six Alpha-Origin experts would appear at Qi Yuan’s side in the blink of an eye.
As such, they were now at a disadvantage.
From what they could see, a single mistake was all it would take for them to die today.
Even the three Alpha-Origin experts had such thoughts, let alone the military officers who were now
becoming rather panicky. Their originally high morale had fallen to an all time low, causing the
atmosphere in the strategy room to feel rather stifling.
Zhou Yuan calmly said, “There’s no need to worry everyone, although our opponent has seven Alpha-
Origin experts, Great Zhou is not that much weaker.”
Numerous gazes turned towards him. Seven against three was not a problem that could be solved by ‘not
that much weaker’.
Zhou Yuan understood from these gazes that he needed to boost their morale and immediately gave a
light nod towards Yaoyao. The latter responded by patting Tuntun.
Tuntun stretched lazily as an astonishing aura slowly pulsed from its tiny body.
“An Alpha-Origin Genesis Beast?!” The eyes of the many officers in the room brightened as they stared at
Tuntun in shock. None of them had expected such a cute little creature to possess Apha-Origin level
strength.
Zhou Yuan smiled as he pointed at Yaoyao and said, “My senior sister disciple here has already mastered
grade 4 Genesis Runes. Her power can also match an Alpha-Origin expert.”
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Numerous gazes turned towards Yaoyao as whispers emerged, while the atmosphere become
substantially less depressed.
If Zhou Yuan’s words were true, they had the battle power of five Alpha-Origin experts on their side.
Although they were still unable to take the upper hand, it was after all a formidable force.
Zhou Yuan’s gaze swept over the many officers as he said in a low voice, “Everyone only needs to defend
their positions. There will naturally be someone to stop the Alpha-Origin experts.”
“Understood!”
Upon seeing Zhou Yuan’s gaze, the officers present respectfully acknowledged, not daring to look down
on him due to his age.
Seeing that the morale had risen, Zhou Qing’s expression eased slightly. After consoling them again, he let
them leave.
Only after they left did Zhou Qing looked towards Zhou Yuan in worry as he sighed, “Even if that is the
case, we are still only able to stop five Alpha-Origin experts. It will be difficult to keep the remaining two
in check.”
If these two Alpha-Origin experts were allowed to breach the city gates and wreak havoc, Great Zhou City
would face tremendous losses. In fact, it may even shatter the morale of the soldiers.
Zhou Yuan’s eyes flickered as he responded, “Father does not need to worry. I will think of a way to deal
with those two Alpha-Origin experts.”
“You?” Zhou Qing was taken aback, confusion in his eyes. Zhou Yuan had already asked Yaoyao and
Tuntun to take action and was himself only an initial Qi Nourishing practitioner. What could he possibly
do against Alpha-Origin powerhouses?
Although Zhou Qing was puzzled, he nodded without saying anything.
After some discussion, Zhou Yuan walked out with Yaoyao.
Yaoyao suddenly asked outside the door, “How will you stop those Alpha-Origin experts?”
She fully understood the extent of Zhou Yuan’s strength. The current him did not have the ability to
contend with Alpha-Origin experts.
Yaoyao’s bright eyes flashed as she stared at Zhou Yuan. “If you plan on borrowing Silver Shadow’s
power, I’ll have to inform you that you are incapable of even activating it given the current level of your
Spirit.”
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It was obvious that an intelligent girl like her had very quickly called to mind the battle puppet Zhou Yuan
had named Silver Shadow.
Zhou Yuan scratched his head as he smiled. “Big sis Yaoyao is too smart after all.”
Yaoyao shook her head. “You cannot activate it. Do not force yourself.”
Zhou Yuan let out a chuckle as he nodded. “It is indeed true that I am unable to activate Silver Shadow
given the current level of my Spirit, but… isn’t there that ring?”
Yaoyao was stunned. Only now did she realise that Zhou Yuan was referring to the silver ring he had
obtained from the Jade Infant Tree. The ring had the ability to boost one’s Spirit, but had unfortunately
been damaged. She had been trying to repair it all along.
“So that’s your plan.” Yaoyao’s eyebrows furrowed slightly. “But I do not approve of this method. The ring
may be able to strengthen your Spirit, but this will be akin to overloading yourself. The slightest
carelessness will likely result in serious damage to your Spirit.”
Although Zhou Yuan would be able to temporarily borrow Silver Shadow’s power with the ring, it was
still extremely dangerous. After all, controlling such power was still too difficult for him.
Zhou Yuan laughed before he calmly said, “If I’m unable to cross this pit, what difference would it make if
my Spirit is damaged?”
If Great Zhou City was conquered, Qi Yuan would not leave any loose ends behind. Zhou Yuan might be
able to escape, but what about his father and mother? What about the citizens of the Great Zhou Empire?
To flee alone while his country was destroyed and endure the humiliation as he tirelessly trained in
anticipation of the day revenge would be his, this was something that Zhou Yuan did not like at all.
In comparison, why not put everything on the line and try to grasp that tiny glimmer of hope.
Yaoyao was silent for a long time, before she ultimately said, “Even so, you will only be able to deal with
one Alpha-Origin expert.”
Zhou Yuan responded, “I will ask father to send some Heaven Gate experts to take on the last Alpha-
Origin expert. Although the price will be steep, they will be able to delay him for a while until one of us is
able to free ourselves and stabilize the overall situation.”
Everything had already been mapped out by him.
Yaoyao sighed softly. “This sacred dragon road of yours is truly an arduous one littered with numerous
obstacles.”
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Calamity after calamity akin to walking along the edge of a cliff, while the slightest mishap would damn
him into eternal oblivion.
Zhou Yuan merely smiled upon hearing this as he slowly said in a calm voice, “This is perhaps a test, a
trial to determine if I really am the true sacred dragon…”
...
Half a day of time only brought an endless amount of panic to Great Zhou City. News of the situation
spread within the city, causing hearts of the people to worry as the atmosphere grew increasingly
restless.
On the south side of the city, a slender elegant girl slowly walked out from a clean courtyard, closing the
door behind her.
Su Youwei was dressed in a pale top and trousers, her beautiful face causing the surrounding gazes to
gather on her.
She paid no attention to those gazes as she lifted her fair as jade face and looked towards the city walls.
She had naturally heard of what was happening and understood just how much danger Great Zhou City
was currently facing.
Many were secretly preparing to escape, but such thoughts were far from her mind. Although she could
see how bad things looked, the lazily smiling face of a young man would unknowingly surface in her
heart. He would always manage to give her confidence from nowhere.
With him here, it would not be so easy to break this city.
While these thoughts swirled in Su Youwei’s mind, she walked towards the city walls.
As she turned a corner at a certain street, her eyes suddenly fell upon a hunched aged figure leaning
against the wall. The old man’s breathing was very faint, but the passersby were already controlled by
panic and naturally paid no attention to him.
Thoughts of her grandfather emerged as she observed him. Hence, her footsteps stopped as she fell into
thought for a while. She then retrieved a wrapped meat biscuit, squatted down and gently placed it in
front of the old man.
As if sensing her actions, the old man’s eyes cracked open as his murky gaze sized-up the girl in front of
him. A frail old voice sounded. “Little girl, why have you still not fled at such a time?”
Su Youwei pursed her red lips slightly and smiled, but she did not reply. However, her hands slowly
clenched into fists.
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“Grandpa, leave quickly after you eat.” Su Youwei stood up. A determined look rose on her pretty face as
she turned and headed towards the city walls.
The old man seemed to grin as he watched Su Youwei’s leaving figure. A faint glimmer flashed in his
murky eyes as he his hand closed around the warm meat biscuit in front of him while he mumbled, “I
never expected to see a Ying Yang Qi Dwelling in such a remote place…”
“But the resolution in this little lass’ eyes, it seems that she intends to borrow an external power. *Sigh*.
So young and yet she does not fear hurting herself…”
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Chapter 102 Besieged City
An army surrounded the city, the black mass of soldiers stretching till the ends of one’s vision. It was a
sight that brought with it a crushing pressure.
Of course, the greatest pressure was not from these troops, but the seven thin figures at the front of the
army. Powerful Genesis Qi slowly churned within the bodies of these seven individuals and the pressure
from them was practically akin to thousands and thousands of men.
Qi Yuan glanced at the sky before his mockery-filled eyes turned towards the city wall as his powerful
voice boomed, “Zhou Qing, half a day has passed. Are you ready to open the gates and surrender?”
Zhou Qing’s figure revealed itself on the city wall. His face was expressionless, scarlet-red Genesis Qi
rising around his body as he indifferently said, “Want me to surrender to a rebel? Stop dreaming Qi
Yuan.”
“Feel free to attack the city. I want to see if you’re really able to swallow my Great Zhou Empire!”
Towards the end, killing intent was already overflowing from Zhou Qing’s voice.
Qi Yuan was unsurprised and responded with a mocking smile, “Zhou Qing ah Zhou Qing, you truly are a
stubborn fool. Are you really not going to give any consideration for the citizens in the city?”
“Your loss is already fixed in stone, why must you stubbornly resist and cause casualties for no reason?”
His voice spread across the city, stirring up restlessness within the people. It was a ploy intent on shaking
their hearts.
While Qi Yuan spoke, the Genesis Qi of seven Alpha-Origin experts dashed into the sky. Genesis Qi surged
and churned, covering the entire horizon as a suffocating pressure pulsed, causing worry to rise in
everyone’s hearts.
Zhou Qing naturally understood Qi Yuan’s sinister motive. His eyes immediately turned icy in response as
his body suddenly jolted.
Rumble!
Scarlet-red Genesis Qi whizzed out, covering an area spanning approximately a hundred feet, while
thunder rumbled and lightning flashed within.
Wei Canglan also moved, golden Genesis Qi pouring out and spreading above him. The Black Venom King
let out a helpless sigh as pitch-black Genesis Qi gushed out from his body like a black fog.
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The full power auras of three Alpha-Origin experts substantially boosted their presence, but it still
appeared rather weak in the face of the opposing seven Alpha-Origin experts.
“Roar!”
At this moment, a deafening roar suddenly resounded. Everyone watched as a giant beast emerged from
within the blossoming scarlet light.
Astonishing ferocity spread from the giant beast, shaking the hearts of anyone who felt it.
This giant beast was naturally Tuntun.
At Tuntun’s side, Yaoyao made a grasping motion with her hand and a scroll appeared within it. The
scroll tore itself apart and rays of light shot out, coalescing into a thunder cloud in the sky above.
Lightning snaked within the cloud as an alarming pressure spread.
“That’s an Alpha-Origin Genesis Beast!”
“And a grade 4 Genesis Rune!”
Tuntun’s and Yaoyao’s appearance immediately gave rise to numerous cries of surprise on the city wall.
The faces of the soldiers filled with excitement and surprise as the originally somewhat low morale began
to rise.
With the addition of Yaoyao and Tuntun, the Alpha-Origin battle power on Great Zhou’s side had now
reached five. Although it was still less than their enemy, the gap was now much smaller.
Qi Yuan stared at Tuntun and Yaoyao as a stern look emerged on his face.
Beside Qi Yuan, the Alpha-Origin expert Zhao Tianlun said with a faint smile, “It seems that Great Zhou
has also made some preparations.”
“It’s only the final struggle at death’s door.” Qi Yuan coldly replied. Even if there were five Alpha-Origin
on the opponent’s side, the additional two Alpha-Origin experts on their side were enough to tear apart
the city gates and lead the troops into Great Zhou City.
The Alpha-Origin expert called Wang Chaotian laughed eerily and said, “This old king of ours is really
pitiful indeed. If he were at his peak, even all of us together would not be able to take the advantage
against him.”
Another Alpha-Origin expert let out a strange laugh. “When his arm was cut off by king Wu back then, his
cultivation fell from the eighth layer to the third layer and has not improved much even till today. It is
likely due to being unable to break free from the shadow left by king Wu.”
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Qi Yuan said, “King Wu is a true king. Zhou Qing’s resistance is naturally akin to a mantis before a cart,
completely out of his depth.”
His icy gaze then turned towards Zhou Qing atop the city walls. “Since you refuse to take the path of life
that I gave you, don’t blame me for disregarding our old ties!”
He raised his hand and suddenly swung it downwards, killing intent spilling from his voice, “All troops
hear my command, surround the city and attack!”
Dong! Dong!
The loud boom of the battle drums resounded across the area as an endless army began to surge outside
the city, splitting up into various groups that began to besiege the city.
Qi Yuan looked towards the other Alpha-Origin experts and said in a low voice, “My associates, Great
Zhou City has seven gates. Each of us will lead a portion of the army and attack each gate. Once any gate is
broken, the morale of their troops will surely crumble.”
“Sure.”
Zhao Tianlun and the rest nodded in response.
Genesis Qi whizzed out under their feet as they soared into the air, transforming into six flashes of light
that rapidly shot towards the other six city gates.
On the other hand, Zhou Qing also immediately gave his orders upon seeing king Qi’s army attack. Figures
moved atop the city wall, preparing for battle.
“Qi Yuan and the other six Alpha-Origin experts will each attack one of our city gates. We cannot allow
them to breach any of the gates.” Zhou Qing said in low voice. It was not easy for an army to break past
the city gates, but if an Alpha-Origin expert was allowed free reign, they were capable of a tremendous
amount of destruction.
“Therefore, I’ll have to trouble the four of you.”
Wei Canglan and Yaoyao nodded and quickly moved to the other city gates without speaking. Tuntun also
moved to one of the city walls in the distance after a few smacks of its head from Yaoyao.
“Black Venom King, we’ll have to rely on you for the southwest gate.” A smiling Zhou Yuan looked
towards the Black Venom King.
“If the city gate falls, you may have to die together with us for Great Zhou today.”
The Black Venom King barely managed to pull off a rigid smile. “Don’t worry your highness, I will do my
best to stop them!”
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After speaking, he too fled from the spot riding his black Genesis Qi.
Zhou Qing’s expression grew increasingly grave as he watched the three humans and one beast leave.
Subsequently, he turned to Zhou Yuan and said, “I will protect the main gate, but there are still two other
gates that will be under threat by their Alpha-Origin experts.”
Zhou Yuan consoled with a smile, “Father does not need to worry. I will defend one of the gates, while we
dispatch several Heaven Gate experts to the final gate for the time being. They only need to delay the
opponent.”
The worry in Zhou Qing’s eyes could not be hidden as he looked towards Zhou Yuan. The former did not
know just how Zhou Yuan was going to stop an Alpha-Origin expert with his Qi Nourishing stage strength.
“Yuan’er, don’t force yourself if it really becomes impossible. You are no longer the baby we needed to
protect. You will still have the ability to protect yourself even without the Great Zhou Empire. As long as
you are alive, reinstating our country will always be a possibility.”
Zhou Qing was clearly advising Zhou Yuan to be prepared to let go if the situation fell apart and prioritise
his own safety.
A warm feeling bubbled in Zhou Yuan’s heart as he looked at Zhou Qing’s eyes. Soon after, Zhou Yuan
lightly patted the latter’s hand as a bright smile revealed itself on his face.
“Worry not father, Great Zhou City will not be broken!”
As his voice faded, he had already turned around and quickly hurried towards the northern gate. His eyes
were cold as they locked onto the black mass of troops surging towards the city like a tide.
Above the troops, an Alpha-Origin expert stood atop his Genesis Qi, arms crossed before him as his
mocking gaze looked over.
Zhou Yuan lowered his head and slowly spread out his hands. On his palm, a silver ring began to glow.
With a deep breath, he closed his eyes. When they opened once again, killing intent rapidly surged within
them.
“Let’s see just how many lives you have prepared to sacrifice in order to break our city!”
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Chapter 103 Activate
“Attack!”
Sounds of battle rose outside Great Zhou City, countless figures flooding over as Genesis Qi soared.
Wuung!
Innumerable bow strings were pulled back atop the city walls, followed by a flurry of arrows. The arrows
were coated in a faint layer of Genesis Qi, causing their speed and sharpness to rise.
A rain of arrows descended, instantly taking countless lives.
War was basically the spilling of blood and the crushing of flesh.
Zhou Qing’s figure slowly rose above the main city gate. Scarlet-red Genesis Qi swirled around his body,
forming a red cloud under his feet. He floated above the city wall, facing Qi Yuan who also stood in mid-
air on his Genesis Qi.
Zhou Qing glanced down, the battle below flooding his vision as his fists involuntary clenched tightly. The
killing intent in his eyes churned even more violently when he looked up again at Qi Yuan.
“Zhou Qing, why struggle so stubbornly. Ever since the Great Wu Empire was established, your Great
Zhou Empire should no longer have any reason to continue existing. The only thing it ever does is stir up
useless memories.”
“If you were smart enough, you would have brought the royal clan into hiding, giving yourselves a chance
to preserve your lives. But you just had to keep dreaming of strengthening Great Zhou, a dream that will
undoubtedly lead to your own destruction.”
“Does a low life traitor like you have the right to spout such words?” Zhou Qing’s tone was pure ice.
“Hehe, everything is dictated by the victor. If I win today, it will be written in the history books that I, Qi
Yuan, followed the will of the heavens and eliminated a useless king, replacing Zhou with Qi!” Qi Yuan
laughed loudly.
“I’m afraid that you don’t have the ability!”
Zhou Qing’s eyes turned steely as he boldly attacked. A fist flew, whizzing scarlet-red Genesis Qi blasting
apart the air as a vicious strike was sent straight at Qi Yuan.
Qi Yuan’s sleeves flapped in response as yellow Genesis Qi unfurled. The sound of metal echoed from
within as it smashed into the scarlet-red Genesis Qi.
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Bang!
Two powerful blasts of Genesis Qi clashed, the resultant shockwaves wreaking havoc over the
surroundings.
“Humph, Zhou Qing, I would not dare to make an enemy of you if you were at your peak, but what can
now do against me now? Your power has fallen drastically, unable to advance ever since your arm was
chopped off by king Wu.”
Zhou Qing was expressionless. Instead of rebutting, his hand made a grasping motion and a scarlet-red
spear appeared within it. It was the high tier Black Genesis Weapon, the Nine Flames Spear.
Qi Yuan’s eyes narrowed when he saw this, not daring to waste any time as he quickly summoned a dark
gold longsword. Light flickered on the sword that was also a high tier Black Genesis Weapon.
Qi Yuan was clearly fully prepared for the battle today.
Their gazes clashed, killing intent spewing forth.
Swish!
Two figures shot forth and brazenly collided in the air.
Northern city gate.
The Alpha-Origin expert, Wang Chaotian, stood in the sky on his Genesis Qi. The corners of his mouth
lifted to form a mocking smile as he looked down at Zhou Yuan who was atop the city wall. “Is there really
no one else left in Great Zhou? To think that they would actually send a little brat to defend the city.”
Zhou Yuan’s eyes were void of any emotion as he stared at Wang Chaotian and said, “I heard that you
used to be a minister of Great Zhou? How has your new master been treating you?”
The corners of Wang Chaotian’s eyes twitched slightly as the smile on his face turned ugly. There was a
dark look in his eyes as he locked onto Zhou Yuan and slowly said, “I know you. You are Zhou Yuan
right?”
“The prince of Great Zhou who was born with the blessings of the sacred dragon.”
Wang Chaotian’s eerie gaze remained on Zhou Yuan as he released a strange laugh, “Unfortunately, this
sacred dragon blessing merely ended up as a bridal dowry. As such, you are no sacred dragon, but a fake
crippled dragon.”
However, Zhou Yuan’s expression remained unchanged in the face of Wang Chaotian’s mockery. “It
doesn’t matter of it’s a fake dragon or a crippled dragon, still better than a dead man.”
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Ridicule rose from the corners of Wang Chaotian’s mouth. “This is the first time in all my many years that
I’ve encountered a Qi Nourishing brat that actually dares to speak to me in such a manner.”
“It seems that you still believe that you are that chosen sacred dragon. Fine, I will let you understand the
cruelness of reality today you delusional ignorant brat.”
As Wang Chaotian’s final word faded, dark cyan Genesis Qi poured out from the top of his head, spinning
around his body like a cyan storm while an alarming pressure slowly spread.
“Attack the city!”
As he gave this command, the army below immediately flooded towards the city walls.
“Protect his highness!”
The three Heaven Gate experts at Zhou Yuan’s side hurriedly yelled.
However, Zhou Yuan extended a hand and stopped them. “You guys guard the city walls and make sure
that no one ascends them. As for him, I will deal with it.”
The three Heaven Gate experts were somewhat hesitant but eventually nodded. They knew that even the
three of them together would not be Wang Chaotian’s match.
What puzzled them however, was how a Qi Nourishing stage like Zhou Yuan going to fight an Alpha-
Origin expert.
Wang Chaotian’s hands were crossed across his chest as he stared at Zhou Yuan with toying eyes. He too
was very curious with regards to what the prince of Great Zhou, whom once possess the sacred dragon
blessing, was going to do.
Under the attention of numerous gazes, Zhou Yuan slowly put the silver ring onto his finger.
In an instant, Zhou Yuan felt the entire world fall into silence. A warm feeling gushed out from the ring
and headed straight into the spot between his brows.
Thump thump!
His Spirit began to tremble violently. Almost immediately after, an invisible pulse abruptly exploded from
Zhou Yuan, causing the three nearby Heaven Gate experts to stagger backwards.
Light frantically flickered between Zhou Yuan’s brows. One could faintly see a figure emerge from within,
slowly growing clearer and clearer, transforming from illusory to the corporeal.
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“Forcibly raising the cultivation level of his Spirit?” Wang Chaotian’s eyebrows raised a little as he felt the
sudden burst of power from Zhou Yuan’s Spirit. Though it was true that the Spirit had amazing uses, it
was not that useful in a direct clash like this.
Wang Chaotian indifferently said, “If this is your trump card, I’m afraid that you will definitely die today.”
Zhou Yuan only responded with an icy glance, not retorting with a single word. His hand patted the
Universe bag at his waist and a silver ball of light jumped out. Subsequently, his hand reached out and
entered the ball.
“Silver Shadow, activate.”
In the wake of these ice-cold words, the silver ball instantly melted. Silver liquid swiftly flowed over,
completely covering Zhou Yuan’s body in a short span of a few breaths.
Under those now shocked gazes, the silver liquid on Zhou Yuan’s body transformed into silver battle
armor as a bloodthirsty aura was slowly set loose.
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Chapter 104 Silver Shadow’s Power
A bloodthirsty aura emerged from the figure in silver armor that had appeared atop the city walls,
drawing over numerous shocked gazes.
Little by little, the mockery on Wang Chaotian’s face turned rigid at this moment, the expression in his
eyes incomparably grave as he stared at the silver figure Zhou Yuan had transformed into. The former
could feel an aura that was truly able to threaten him.
The corners of Wang Chaotian’s eyes twitched as he chillingly said through gritted teeth, “You do have
some ability.”
Although he did not know why the silver armor figure would give off such a dangerous feeling, he had to
admit that he now no longer dared to hold any contempt in his heart.
The silver armor figure’s eyes opened, revealing the silver light swirling within. In the next moment, its
foot suddenly stamped downwards.
Bang!
The city wall seemed to shake for an instant as the figure transformed into a flash of silver light. A silver
fist was sent flying towards Wang Chaotian, the air in its way rapidly blasted away.
Zhou Yuan’s attack was as swift as lightning, causing even Wang Chaotian’s heart to shiver for a moment.
But he was after all an Alpha-Origin expert and soon responded by quickly rotating his hand, sending out
a formidable palm strike.
Clang!
Fist and palm collided, followed by a clear clang sound. Ripples spread in the air as the two figures were
jolted back, forced to stumble several steps backwards.
“It really is amazing!”
Not facing even the slightest disadvantage in a head-on clash with an Alpha-Origin expert made Zhou
Yuan’s heart shiver slightly in shock, before being quickly followed by a gush of pleasant surprise.
Cheers immediately exploded from the soldiers atop the walls when they saw Zhou Yuan’s unexpected
dominance, causing the morale to soar for a time.
These cheers made Wang Chaotian’s expression grow increasingly stormy. His venomously stared at the
silver armor figure and said, “Although I do not know how you did it, I do not believe that a mighty Alpha-
Origin like myself will not be able to deal with a little brat like you!”
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“Cyan Wind Heavenly Dipper Qi!”
A low roar from Wang Chaotian was followed by dark cyan Genesis Qi bursting out of his body. Like a
cyan hurricane, the Qi wailed around his body, the surging Genesis Qi akin to countless wind blades that
were more than sufficient to rip anything to shreds.
The expression in Wang Chaotian’s eyes was dark and cold. With a twirl of his palm, dark cyan Genesis Qi
transformed into half-feet long wind blades in his hand, blades that were sharp without equal.
“Cyan Blade!”
Wang Chaotian’s sleeve jerked as wind blade after wind blade was sent shooting forth. They tore through
the air with swishing sounds, viciously closing in on Zhou Yuan at crafty angles.
Zhou Yuan breathed in deeply as the Omni Python Qi in his Qi Dwelling abruptly exploded forth.
Boom!
Dark gold Genesis Qi flooded out of Zhou Yuan’s body. When it came into contact with Silver Shadow,
Zhou Yuan felt the power of the Genesis Qi rise sharply as if it had been amplified by some kind of force.
Buzz!
Dark gold Genesis Qi spouted out from the silver armor figure, glorious like a dark gold cloud.
“This Silver Shadow is insane! To think that it is even able to amplify the power of Genesis Qi!”
Zhou Yuan could not help but remark in his heart. Only after personally experiencing Silver Shadow’s
ability did he finally realise how great this battle puppet was. The fusion between puppet and human was
perfect. It did not matter if it was Genesis Qi or Genesis techniques, everything would be greatly amplified
through Silver Shadow.
With Silver Shadow’s amplification powers, Zhou Yuan’s originally Qi Nourishing level Genesis Qi was
now no weaker than that of an Alpha-Origin expert.
“Shatter!”
Excitement flashed in Zhou Yuan’s eyes as he felt the enormous power he had never wielded before. He
showed no signs of dodging and instead took a step forward, his hands grabbing at the wind blades.
Ch ch!
No matter how hard they struggled, the cyan wind blades caught by Zhou Yuan were unable to escape.
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Zhou Yuan suddenly increased the force of his grip as dark gold Genesis Qi spouted out. Cracking sounds
were heard as the cyan wind blades were directly crushed to pieces by Zhou Yuan.
“Is this all you’re capable of?” Zhou Yuan’s cold voice sounded as he looked towards Wang Chaotian.
Wang Chaotian’s face was white with rage, but there was also fear within his eyes. He did not know why,
but the dark gold Genesis Qi from Zhou Yuan’s body made his heart beat a little faster.
“Just what kind of Genesis Qi did this brat cultivate? It doesn’t seem to be Great Zhou royal clan’s Flame-
Thunder Qi.” The expression in Wang Chaotian’s eyes fluctuated indeterminately in uncertainty.
“As the saying goes, it is not nice to receive without giving. You too should have a taste of my Genesis Qi!”
Zhou Yuan laughed heartily as he punched.
“Emperor Extreme Seal!”
The might of the Emperor Extreme Seal in Zhou Yuan’s current state was many times greater than before.
One could only watch as dark gold Genesis Qi rapidly gathered together, transforming into a dozen feet
tall dark gold fist of light that ruthlessly crashed forward like a wave.
This light fist was domineering without equal. The air in its path exploded and even space itself seemed
to ripple wherever it passed.
Wang Chaotian’s expression changed as the dark gold light fist arrived, evidently sensing just how
powerful it was. He did not dare to delay even a split second as his five fingers took on the form of a claw
and ferociously tore downwards.
“Black Genesis technique, Dipper Wind Claw!”
Screech!
Cyan scars were ripped open in the space before him. The sharpness of this attack was likely of shredding
even a mountain.
Rumble!
However, the cyan wind claw was unable to tear apart the dark gold light fist, and was instead scattered
by the latter. In the end, the dark gold light fist smashed towards Wang Chaotian.
Wang Chaotian hastily spit out a cloud of dense cyan Qi. Only then was he able to block the dark gold light
fist.
Thud thud!
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Although he had managed to block it, the light fist was just too domineering, sending him staggering
backwards as the Qi and blood in his body churned violently.
“What a domineering Genesis Qi!”
Astonishment flitted across Wang Chaotian’s eyes. The Genesis Qi he had cultivated was grade 4, but even
this grade 4 Genesis Qi of his was unable to stop the dark gold Genesis Qi.
It was obvious that his opponent’s Genesis Qi was more highly ranked than his grade 4 Genesis Qi!
Zhou Yuan had also realised his advantage. The domineering Omni Python Qi stood heads and shoulders
above ordinary grade 4 Genesis Qi. Hence, he no longer hesitated and swiftly shot forward once again.
Thus, a rain of attacks began to bombard Wang Chaotian.
Killing intent was forced out of Wang Chaotian, his eyes turning ice-cold. No longer holding back any
Genesis Qi, he transformed into a flash of cyan light and began exchanging lightning-quick blows with the
silver figure.
Boom boom boom!
Every attack from the two could cause mountains to crumble or split apart the land, while the aftershocks
wreaked destruction in the surrounding area.
While the intense battle carried on, the treacherous Wang Chaotian taunted continuously in an attempt to
distract Zhou Yuan.
“Brat, so what if you’re able to hinder me? Your side still has one less Alpha-Origin and that southwest
gate will surely fall soon!”
The southwest gate was the only place that was not guarded by an Alpha-Origin level.
Zhou Yuan’s brows knitted together. He was aware that the southwest gate was indeed their weakest
link, but he also understood that none of Great Zhou’s top tier battle power could free themselves at this
time. They had no choice to but to try and delay the advance on the southwest gate as much as possible.
“I hope that captain Lu and the rest will be able to hold on a little longer.”
Zhou Yuan thought in his heart as his attacks grew even more ferocious, murder surging in his eyes as he
charged towards Wang Chaotian once again.
Southwest gate.
Compared to the other gates, the fight here was practically one-sided. Under the leadership of the Alpha-
Origin expert called Lin Nian, the defending Great Zhou soldiers suffered terrible losses.
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Even the desperate efforts of Lu Tieshan and the other Heaven Gate experts were unsuccessful in
stopping Lin Nian. Instead, all that resulted was the latter growing more and more infuriated.
Thus, Lin Nian suddenly attacked, powerful Genesis Qi instantly scattering Lu Tieshan and the rest. Lin
Nian moved and appeared in front of one of the Heaven Gate experts, a chilling look in his eyes as a palm
swatted downwards.
Boom!
The top of the Heaven Gate experts head was smashed in, fresh blood spurting out as the color in his eyes
gradually faded.
“Old Lue!”
Lu Tieshan’s eyes almost burst open from rage when he saw this. That Heaven Gate expert had been an
old friend of his.
“Stop him together!” Lu Tieshan howled as he and the other Heaven Gate experts charged forward once
again, now in a state of frenzy as they attempted to contain Lin Nian. They knew just how dire a state
Great Zhou City would fall into if Lin Nian was allowed to breach the city gate.
However, their efforts were practically futile. Lin Nian maintained the absolute advantage and even
began to attack the city gate. The southwest gate was rapidly approaching a state of crisis.
The eyes of countless soldiers began to despair.
It was at this desperate moment that the slender figure of a girl wearing green and white agilely leapt
onto the city wall.
Her beautiful eyes locked onto the unstoppable Lin Nian, her hand slowly clenching as she softly spoke in
a voice that only she could hear.
“Yangming.”
“I need your power. Please help me, I want to help his highness protect this place!”
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Chapter 105 The Feelings Behind that Strike
Southwest gate.
A bitter battle played out as the smell of blood filled the air.
Above the city walls, robust Genesis Qi surged around Lin Nian’s body, every attack of his containing
tyrannical power that could split the earth. Lu Tieshan and several Heaven Gate experts surrounded the
former, unafraid of death as they charged towards him in succession, continuously trying to contain him
such that he would be unable to free himself and attack the city gate.
However, an Alpha-Origin expert was not so easily stopped.
Out of the seven Heaven Gate experts, one had already been killed, while two had been gravely injured.
The bodies of everyone else were drenched with blood, making them appear exceptionally miserable.
Anyone could see that Lu Tieshan and the rest would soon be defeated.
This scene similarly landed in the eyes of the top tier experts on both sides.
“Haha, looks like your southwest gate is about to fall.” Wang Chaotian constantly taunted while he fought
with Zhou Yuan, hoping that his words would affect the latter’s concentration.
However, such methods had no effect no Zhou Yuan, but instead made his attacks grow increasingly
precise. Although he knew that the southwest gate was indeed a weak point, their current situation made
it such that none of them could afford even the slightest distraction. Only by finishing off the opponent
before them as fast as possible would they be able to reverse the situation.
“Plan on speedily finishing me off? What arrogance you foolish brat.”
Wang Chaotian was likewise able to sense Zhou Yuan’s intentions and merely chuckled in response. A
wily old fox like him would naturally not clash directly with Zhou Yuan and instead chose a roaming style
of battle, evidently intent on delaying Zhou Yuan such that Lin Nian would have time to break the
southwest gate. Once that happened, Great Zhou’s top tier experts would surely begin to panic.
Zhou Yuan’s eyes were ice-cold. He showed no concern as his attacks grew increasingly deadly.
...
Boom!
Berserk Genesis Qi unfurled above the southwest gate, causing Lu Tieshan and the rest to be flung
backwards. They crashed into the city wall, each vomiting a mouthful of blood.
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The Genesis Qi undulations around them had grown rather weak, making it clear that all of them had
suffered serious injuries.
Outside this battlefield, dread rose on the city soldiers faces as they looked towards the seemingly
invincible Lin Nian. Even the Heaven Gate experts were unable to stop him, ordinary soldiers like them
would only be throwing away their lives against him.
A decisive look flitted across Lu Tieshan’s eyes as he croaked, “My companions, his majesty has always
treated us kindly. It is time for us repay our country with our bodies.”
The other Heaven Gate experts grimly nodded when they heard this, resolution welling up in their eyes.
They would delay Lin Nian even if they had to fight to their deaths.
Thus, under the attention of those numerous gazes, Lu Tieshan and the rest staggered to their feet and
began to charge forward again.
Lin Nian stood with his hands behind his back. He indifferently glanced at Lu Tieshan and the rest as he
shook his head. “Reckless fools, trying to stop me with just the few of you is simply wishful thinking.”
Lu Tieshan wiped away the blood at the corner of his mouth and grinned. “Even if we die, we’re still
better than the traitors that surrendered and changed sides back then!”
Lin Nian’s eyes turned frosty, killing intent surging within them as he stared at Lu Tieshan and said in a
chilling voice, “It seems that you are pretty tough? Let me see if I will be able to crush every bone in your
body inch by inch.”
Powerful Genesis Qi suddenly exploded from his body like a storm, causing cracks to emerge on the
bricks below.
Swoosh!
He moved, transforming into a shadow as he shot towards Lu Tieshan.
“Stop him!” The other Heaven Gate experts roared, Genesis Qi surging as ferocious attacks blasted
towards Lin Nian.
Thump!
However, Genesis Qi swept out from Lin Nians body and sent them flying while his figure appeared in
front of Lu Tieshan in a flash. Lin Nian’s hand reached out like an eagle’s claw, grabbing Lu Tieshan throat
and slowly lifting him into the air.
Lu Nian cocked his head slightly as he stared at Lu Tieshan and said, “Acting tough with such pathetic
strength?”
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The only reply from Lu Tieshan was the disdain in his eyes. Not even the slightest bit of fear could be seen
within them.
The eyes of countless soldiers in the vicinity turned red when they saw this as they charged towards Lin
Nian with a howl.
However, Genesis Qi pulsed from Lin Nian’s body again, blowing them away like a storm.
“I really do not like that look in your eyes, so you’ll just have to die. Don’t worry, your master will
accompany you very soon.” Murder surged within Lin Nian’s eyes, the Genesis Qi in his hand preparing to
crush Lu Tieshan’s head.
“I would release him if I was you.”
Just as he was about to kill Lu Tieshan however, an ice-cold voice suddenly rang out from the blood
drenched city walls.
Lin Nian was stunned for a moment. He tilted his head and saw a girl in green and white atop the nearby
city walls. She stood in the middle of all the spilled blood, a certain sharpness within those bright eyes of
hers as she stared at him.
“You’re the one that spoke?” Lin Nian stared at Su Youwei with some interest. A strange look flitted
across his eyes as they swept up and down her gorgeous figure, before he smiled and said, “Your looks
are not bad little girl. It just so happens that I lack a concubine to pamper and I find you very suitable.”
Lu Tieshan began to struggle violently when he saw Su Youwei appear, his face turning red as he choked
out, “Leave quickly miss Su!”
Su Youwei was Zhou Yuan’s friend, and more importantly only had the strength of the Qi Nourishing
stage. She would be of no use here and would only end up losing her life for nothing.
However, Su Youwei’s pretty face remained tranquil, her bright eyes akin to a calm lake as she silently
stared at Lin Nian. All of a sudden, a smile slowly spread across a face.
This smile was akin to a hundred flowers blooming in unison, a beautiful and moving sight. For a time,
even the bright red blood on the city walls seemed to appear a little dimmer.
Lin Nian licked his lips as he watched her smile, lust and the desire to possess surging out in his eyes.
He loved beauties, but the ones he had enjoyed over the years seemed to instantly lose all color before
this girl. It was not a disparity in looks but presence.
“You’re mine.” Said Lin Nian as if it was the most absolute truth.
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However, there was still no response from the girl. She merely lifted a hand, a faint glow emerging from
the center of her palm as the silhouette of a sword that gave off a black and white luster slowly appeared.
The sword silhouette trembled faintly in Su Youwei’s hand as the cry of a sword rang out.
Yiing!
The initially feeble sword cry suddenly resounded across the area a split second later as an indescribably
deadly sword aura exploded from Su Youwei’s body.
Lin Nian’s pupils immediately tightened as his foot paused mid-step. Bewilderment filled his eyes as he
observed Su Youwei. He was unable to comprehend why such an astonishing sword aura would emerge
from the body of a Qi Nourishing stage girl.
A sword aura that deeply threatened even someone like himself.
Su Youwei ignored the numerous gazes that were fixed on her, every fibre of her being fully concentrated
on tightly gripping the black and white sword silhouette in her hand. In the next moment, she suddenly
moved, sword pointed at Lin Nian as she lightly slashed.
As she slashed, black and white sword Qi swept across the sky above the city walls.
The rapidly approaching black and white sword Qi made all the hairs on Lin Nian’s body stand as terror
surfaced in his eyes. There was no hesitation as he pulled out all of the Genesis Qi in his body, vigorous
Genesis Qi rapidly wrapping around him like an egg.
Ch!
The black and white sword descended and touched the Genesis Qi shroud before strangely disappearing
with a swoosh.
The black and white sword had arrived quickly and disappeared even quicker.
It had only lasted several breaths before fading from this world.
Countless gazes were glued to Lin Nian. His Genesis Qi shroud was still swirling around him and seemed
to have not taken any damage at all.
Lin Nian’s eyes rotated in thought for a while, completely unsure. However, he did not disperse the
Genesis Qi shroud in the end as he coldly looked at Su Youwei and said in an icy voice, “What are you
doing?”
“I originally did not plan on crushing a pretty flower like yourself, but you give me an uneasy feeling.
However, I can still have a good time with your corpse!”
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He prepared to move the moment his words faded.
However, it was at this very moment that he suddenly realised the strange look in the gazes that were
looking at him.
Liquid suddenly fell from between his brows and obscured his sight. Shock and horror jumped up in him,
because the identity of the liquid was warm fresh blood.
Lin Nian said in horror, “You, what did you do?!”
Fresh blood flowed as a blood-red line grew from the top of Lin Nian’s head all the way to the ground.
The black and white sword slowly disappeared from Su Youwei’s hand as her red lips parted slightly and
a soft voice rang out, “It seems that you will not be able to cross the southwest gate.”
The view before Lin Nian gradually turned darker and darker, a look of disbelief in his eyes even till the
end. Never in his wildest dreams would he have imagined that the girl in front of him would be able to
display such a terrifying sword attack…
Just how had that sword attack broken through his defences?
The vigorous Genesis Qi surging around Lin Nian’s body completely faded at away at this moment. Under
countless gazes filled with both terror and shock, his body split into two, fresh blood wildly spurting out
as the two halves slowly fell to the ground.
Confusion was present on his face even till death.
The vicinity of the southwest gate fell silence at this moment.
Within the silence, Su Youwei’s figure crumpled into a seating position, the weakness inside her body
making her incapable of moving. Her clenched fist trembled faintly as a happy arc rose on her ruddy little
mouth.
“Yangming… thank you. I will definitely help you recover in future.”
The black and white sword silhouette in her Qi Dwelling shook for a moment before growing increasingly
dim as the lustre it originally gave off faded into oblivion.
She lifted her head, her lips pursing into a small smile as she gazed at the city gate where Zhou Yuan was
at.
“Your highness… I’ve helped you protect this city gate.”
As her faint voice faded, the view before her eyes abruptly descended into darkness.
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...
The unforeseen turn of events at the southwest gate stunned the experts on both sides. No one had
expected that Lin Nian would die at the hands of a Qi Nourishing stage girl.
The experts of Great Qi breathed a sigh of relief however, because the girl seemed to have lost
consciousness after that heaven-shaking sword slash, making her unable to perform a second strike.
A complicated expression was present in Zhou Yuan’s eyes as he looked towards the southwest gate and
softly mumbled, “Thank you Youwei.”
If Su Youwei had not acted, Great Zhou would definitely have to pay an even steeper price.
With a deep breath, he restrained all his feelings as his eyes began to become akin to an ancient
bottomless well. As he gazed at the bewildered expression on Wang Chaotian’s face, his hand wrapped
around a growing the Heavenly Yuan Brush.
Its sharp spear-like tip slowly pointed towards Wang Chaotian, the killing intent in Zhou Yuan’s eyes
practically overflowing. Now that he no longer had to worry about the southwest gate, he could finally
place all of his attention here.
“You like to play right?”
“Then look forward to the fun we will be having next.”
“I’m only afraid that it will be too much for you!”
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Chapter 106 Zhou Yuan Slays an Alpha‐Origin
Zhou Yuan’s eyes were brimming with killing intent as he gripped the Heavenly Yuan Brush. Its snow-
white tip flickered sharply as he pointed it at Wang Chaotian.
Wang Chaotian felt Zhou Yuan’s killing intent and coldly snorted. “Arrogant brat, I was merely stalling for
time earlier. Since you wish to rush to your death, I will naturally oblige!”
His hand grasped a long halberd the moment his words faded. Mystical patterns covered the halberd as
Genesis Qi pulsed from it. It was evidently a Black Genesis Weapon.
With this halberd in hand, Wang Chaotian’s aura rose sharply, becoming formidable without equal.
However, Zhou Yuan was unmoved. The silver armor that covered his body made it such that no one
could see the expression on his face. The only thing that could be seen were his eyes, eyes that were
growing increasingly cold.
Dark gold Genesis Qi whizzed around his body, a faint roar echoing from within.
Swish!
In the next instant, Zhou Yuan’s body dashed forward, the Heavenly Yuan Brush leaving a scar behind as
it pierced through the air. Quick as lightning, it thrust towards Wang Chaotian as dark gold Genesis Qi
shook the surrounding air.
Wang Chaotian icily snorted. Genesis Qi condensed around the halberd in his hand as it met the incoming
Heavenly Yuan Brush head-on.
Clang clang!
Brush and halberd clashed, sparks flying as a shockwave that could be seen with the naked eye unfurled
from the epicenter.
In a short span of several breaths, the two had already exchanged over a dozen blows, every attack
ruthlessly aimed at the other’s fatal spots.
However, Wang Chaotian’s expression grew increasingly dark as the intense battle continued. He had
began to realise that he was still unable to take the upper hand even with his full power.
“Just what exactly is this blasted silver armor?! How can it allow a Qi Nourishing kid to match an Alpha-
Origin?” Wang Chaotian’s heart was churning with rage.
Clang!
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Brush and halberd clashed yet again. Suddenly, silver light flashed in Zhou Yuan’s eyes as a deep green
aura gathered at the tip of the Heavenly Yuan Brush. The aura was half a foot long and seemed to shred
the air as it pulsed.
This deep green aura was the Auraflare technique!
With the amplification powers of the silver armor, the Auraflare technique had now taken on a deep
green hue and was even more concentrated, allowing it to pierce numerous defensive layers.
With a shake, the half foot long deep green aura was sent flying from the tip of the brush, transforming
into a flash of cyan light as it shot towards Wang Chaotian at an alarming speed.
All of Wang Chaotian’s hairs stood at this moment, his eyes flashing as he gasped, “Auraflare technique?!”
It was only natural that he recognized it. The Auraflare technique had been given to Qi Yuan by the Great
Wu Empire, but why had it appeared in Zhou Yuan’s hands?
Wang Chaotian did not dare to be even the slightest bit slow, because he very clearly understood the
destructive power of the Auraflare technique. It would easily drill a hole in even someone like himself if
he was hit.
“Black Genesis technique, Cyan Dipper Hurricane!”
The halberd in Wang Chaotian’s hand suddenly began to twirl like a cyan halo. Genesis Qi swirled, making
it seem as if a cyan tornado of Qi was being created. Anything that entered would be shredded to pieces.
Pch!
The deep green Qi shot into the cyan halo.
Bang!
Berserk energies pulsed outwards as the cyan tornado gradually dissipated, while the halberd returned
to Wang Chaotian. However, his expression now had become exceptionally dark. A bloody wound had
appeared on his chest, clearly left behind by the Auraflare technique.
Though it was not a serious injury, it made him feel as if he had lost all face.
His expression was twisted as he looked Zhou Yuan and said in a hair-raising voice, “I never imagined
that I would actually be pushed so far by a Qi Nourishing brat.”
The halberd in Wang Chaotian’s hand slammed into the ground, causing the surrounding air to ripple as a
shockwave that could be seen with the naked eye unfurled.
“However, it is time for all this to come to an end!”
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The moment these words left his mouth, cyan Genesis Qi suddenly surged out from inside Wang
Chaotian’s body like a storm of cyan as an extremely strong pressure blanketed the area.
Cyan Genesis Qi frantically pulled the surrounding Genesis Qi towards Wang Chaotian’s feet, forming a
hundred feet tall cyan tornado.
The cyan tornado roared like a cyan dragon, terrifying energies churning within.
Wang Chaotian stood atop the cyan tornado like a god of death, wielding ultimate power over life and
death.
Anyone could tell that this Alpha-Origin expert was no longer playing around.
Zhou Qing’s and Qi Yuan’s battle raged atop the main city wall, their powerful Genesis Qi causing even the
ground to shake.
“Zhou Qing, that treasured son of yours seems to have angered Wang Chaotian. Looks like your family
line will be cut off today!” Qi Yuan swept a glance towards a certain area in the distance as he grinned in a
hair-raising manner, “I should tell you that Wang Chaotian once killed an Alpha-Origin opponent with this
technique.”
Zhou Qing’s expression sunk slightly. He too could sense how powerful Wang Chaotian’s technique was,
but he could not afford to be distracted at this juncture. The only thing he could do was to trust that Zhou
Yuan had a way to defend himself.
Huu huu!
Gales screamed across the area as the cyan tornado released a devastating howl akin to a raging dragon.
The berserk power within was more than sufficient to sunder mountains.
Wang Chaotian’s clothes fluttered around him, his frosty gaze fixed on Zhou Yuan. A second later, we
waved his sleeve as an eerie voice rang out, “Cyan Wind Heavenly Dipper Qi, Great Cyan Tornado!”
Rumble!
The cyan tornado ferociously descended, spinning at high speed while as swift as thunder, making it
practically unavoidable. If sucked in, even an Alpha-Origin expert would likely be torn to pieces.
As the cyan tornado was reflected in Zhou Yuan’s eyes, he could feel just how tyrannical this killing move
of Wang Chaotian’s was. The latter was clearly out of patience and intended to end the battle with this
move.
“It just so happens that I’m of the same opinion.”
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Zhou Yuan seemed to mumbled to himself. Quickly after, his foot suddenly stomped on the ground as
dark gold Genesis Qi poured out from the top of his head. Genesis Qi loomed in the sky like a golden cloud
as hissing echoed from within.
“I’ll let you be the first to have a taste of my Omni Python Qi…”
An icy glint surged within Zhou Yuan’s eyes. With a jerk of his sleeve, dark gold Genesis Qi frantically
began to gather. Gold light blossomed a moment later as a giant dark gold python flew out from the dark
gold Genesis Qi.
The giant python seemed to flicker between illusion and reality.
“Omni Python Qi, Python Swallows the Heavens!”
The giant dark gold python roared and opened its mouth. The python’s mouth seemed to possess the
power of devouring, darkness descending upon the entire sky for a moment as the devastating cyan
tornado was swallowed with a single gulp.
“Giving form to Genesis Qi?!”
Wang Chaotian cried out in horror when he saw the giant dark gold python that had formed from Genesis
Qi. To give a form to Genesis Qi was impossible for ordinary grade Genesis Qi!
Even ordinary grade 5 Genesis Qi would not be able to easily accomplish this feat!
After swallowing the cyan tornado, the giant python’s eyes turned towards Wang Chaotian. Its giant maw
opened once again, suction force spewing out and a horrified Wang Chaotian was gobbled up in a single
gulp.
Bang! Bang!
Berserk Genesis Qi undulations began to emerge inside the python’s body as its body cycled between
expanding and shrinking…
Plop!
The python suddenly opened its mouth and spat out a bundle of cyan light. Within the cyan light was
Wang Chaotian. However, his complexion was now deathly pale, while the Genesis Qi around him pulsed
weakly as if about to be extinguished.
When he was swallowed into the giant dark gold python’s body earlier, Wang Chaotian had been appalled
to discover that the Genessi Qi in his body had began rapidly dispersing.
In the short span of a few breaths, almost all of his Genesis Qi had been drained away.
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If he had not desperately tried to escape, all of his Genesis Qi would have been devoured by the python.
“This brat is too strange, I cannot clash head-on against him any further. I only need to delay him!” Wang
Chaotian was deathly pale, and there was no longer any trace of the ferocity from before. After numerous
exchanges, he had finally realised how difficult it was to deal with Zhou Yuan in his current state.
Zhou Yuan stood in the air, his cold eyes locking onto Wang Chaotian from under the silver armor. As if
sensing the latter’s plan, a look of mockery flitted across the former’s eyes, eyes that were now akin to
those looking at a dead person.
Under Zhou Yuan’s gaze, a feeling of unease suddenly rose within Wang Chaotian. It was at this moment
that his expression abruptly changed, he had discovered that blood-red lines had appeared on his hands,
violently wriggling under his skin.
“What is this?!”
Wang Chaotian’s expression was a mix of terror and despair as he hurriedly circulated his Genesis Qi in
an attempt to expel the blood-red lines.
However, a frightening suction force suddenly exploded from the blood-red lines the moment he began
circulating his Genesis Qi. Wang Chaotian’s body began to shrink, the flesh on his body rapidly withering
at an alarming speed.
Even the Genesis Qi inside his body was being eaten.
“ARGHH!”
A scream of horror escaped from Wang Chaotian’s mouth.
However, his miserable cries were useless. A short dozen breaths later, Wang Chaotians body rapidly
withered at a speed which could be seen with the naked eye.
Only then did his shrieking come to an end.
Wang Chaotian’s life force had been depleted, terror still lingering on his dried-up face.
Plop!
His body suddenly exploded, a dozen thick blood-red threads swirling in the aftermath. A strong aura of
resentment faintly pulsed from the threads.
It was the Dragon’s Resentment Poison!
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Zhou Yuan’s Omni Python Qi also contained the Dragon’s Resentment Poison. Although Wang Chaotian
had eventually managed to struggle free from the giant dark gold python earlier, he had already been
infected by the Dragon’s Resentment Poison inside the python’s body.
With the amplification power of Silver Shadow, not only had Zhou Yuan’s Genesis Qi been strengthened,
even the Dragon’s Resentment Poison within it had likewise been boosted. As such, Wang Chaotian’s
death was unavoidable after being infected.
Zhou Yuan fell into thought for a while as he gazed at the dozen blood-red threads. Subsequently, he
snapped his fingers and the threads gradually dissipated.
Thus, there was no longer any trace of the Alpha-Origin expert known as Wang Chaotian…
Below their battlefield atop the city walls, countless people were flabbergasted as they watched this
scene. No one had expected that Wang Chaotian would die in such a miserable manner moments after
unleashing his trump card.
After a brief silence, earth-shaking cheers suddenly erupted from the city walls as the morale of the Great
Zhou soldiers soared to the peak.
In contrast, the troops on Great Qi’s side began to fall into chaos.
The Alpha-Origin experts on both sides were stunned, their eyes filled with both shock and horror. How
could they have ever imagined that the first two battles that came to an end would be the most
impossible two gates...
At this current time, two Alpha-Origin experts had already fallen on Great Qi’s side.
The scales of victory had begun to tip in Great Zhou’s favor.
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Deafening cheers continued to echo, causing Great Zhou’s morale to soar.
“Prince Zhou Yuan killed an Alpha-Origin expert?!”
The troops were not the only ones who had been shocked by this outcome. Wei Canglan and the Black
Venom King were likewise astonished and confused. They were all too clear with regards to just how
strong Zhou Yuan was, how could a mere Qi Nourishing stage practitioner have accomplished such a feat?
However, the facts were right before their eyes. They had no choice but to accept it no matter how
unbelievable it was.
It was at this very moment that respect towards Zhou Yuan arose within the hearts of these two Alpha-
Origin experts. They had been courteous to him in the past mostly due to his status, but Zhou Yuan’s feat
of slaying an Alpha-Origin expert who stood on the same level as themselves made them involuntarily
feel respect towards him.
In this world, one’s own power was the most convincing.
The shock lasted for a while before their hearts gradually settled down. The advantage Great Qi
previously had no longer existed after losing two Alpha-Origin experts.
Moreover, Great Qi’s soldiers were not the only ones whose morale had dropped. Even the eyes of the still
battling Alpha-Origin experts were now filled with confusion and uncertainty, causing their momentum
to fall somewhat which made them no longer as ferocious as before.
They had begun to realize that something had gone wrong.
They had originally arrived in an overbearing manner, seven Alpha-Origins were more than enough
enough to crush Great Zhou. Who could have imagined that their information would be so off, Zhou Qing
was not the only Alpha-Origin Great Zhou had, but instead, five had appeared!
The most frightening however, was the Qi Nourishing stage girl and Zhou Yuan.
These two individuals were clearly the weakest, merely two insignificant insects that did not even have
the qualifications to fight them. And yet, these two had been the first to strike deadly blows, swiftly
slaying two Alpha-Origin experts in the most overbearing of ways…
Such a turn of events naturally made the remaining Alpha-Origin experts on Great Qi’s side feel that
things were taking a turn for the worst. Thus, they held back a little of their power, preparing to escape if
the need arose.
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However, this minute change did not escape the eyes of their opponents. Wei Canglan’s and the Black
Venom King’s attacks grew even fiercer, hell bent on ensuring the other party would be incapable of
freeing themselves.
...
“It seems that the situation has not developed as you had expected.” In the sky above the main gate, Zhou
Qing smiled coldly as he and Qi Yuan battled intensely, Genesis Qi clashing violently.
Qi Yuan’s expression was exceptionally ugly. He never imagined that events would unfurl in such a
manner.
They originally had a total of seven Alpha-Origins on their side, a force that should have steamrolled over
Great Zhou. Who could have guessed that two of the seven would be killed in such a short span of time!
“Zhou Yuan is really a bringer of misfortune. If I knew that this would have happened, I would have found
an opportunity to get rid of him earlier!” Qi Yuan gnashed his teeth in regret.
He had at long last began to dawn upon a certain truth. Ever since Zhou Yuan had demonstrated his
talents in the Great Zhou Institute, everything had slowly began to change. Whether it was the failure of
his ploy to obtain the Great Zhou Institute, Zhou Yuan’s success in bringing Wei Canglan to the royal
faction’s side, or even the mysterious grade 4 Genesis Rune proficient girl and giant Genesis beast, all of
these incidents were somehow tied to Zhou Yuan.
The originally declining royal clan had grown strong again in less than a year.
Only when Qi Yuan gave it some careful thought did he discover to his horror that everything had
changed because of Zhou Yuan!
Rumble!
While Qi Yuan was distracted by his thoughts, a ball of fiery and violent Genesis Qi smashed towards him
like a fireball, causing him to respond by hastily spitting out a mouthful of Genesis Qi. A wave swept out
from the center of the collision, blowing his figure away.
“Qi Yuan, you dare to be distracted while I’m here.” Zhou Qing brandished the Nine Flames Spear, his
chilling gaze locked onto Qi Yuan.
Qi Yuan’s expression darkened as he retorted in a cold voice, “Don’t be too happy Zhou Qing!”
“Your situation seems to be growing worse and worse.” Zhou Qing let out an icy laugh. He slightly tilted
his head to the side, only to see that Zhou Yuan had turned into a flash of silver light, shooting towards
another gate after killing Wang Chaotian.
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Qi Yuan also caught sight of this, his expression immediately turned even uglier. Zhou Yuan was currently
the only person who was free to do as he pleased. As such, whichever battlefield he joined would soon
result in a defeat.
“Rebel, it’s already too late for regrets.” Zhou Qing laughed heartily. Without further ado, his attacks
suddenly intensified, covering the sky as they descended and engulfed Qi Yuan.
...
After killing Wang Chaotian, waves of piercing pain pulsed from between Zhou Yuan’s brows. This pain
made him understand that too much of his Spirit had been depleted, and he would not last much longer.
“I need to make use of this opportunity to further our advantage. At least one more Alpha-Origin has to be
killed to truly bring about a reversal.”
Zhou Yuan’s gaze swept towards the other Alpha-Origin battlefields.
Of the five battlefields, the ones closest to a stalemate were Wei Canglan’s and the Black Venom King’s. In
contrast, Yaoyao and Tuntun were having the easiest time. Tuntun in particular was overwhelming. Any
Genesis Qi from its opponent was devoured, causing the latter to be in an extremely miserable state.
“Him!”
Zhou Yuan immediately chose the Alpha-Origin expert that had been forced into such a miserable state by
Tuntun. What he needed to do at this very moment was to eliminate the third Alpha-Origin in the swiftest
way possible, such as to completely destroy the current equilibrium.
Silver light flashed as he shot forth.
...
Boom! Boom!
Pillar after pillar of ice-cold Genesis Qi whizzed through the sky, freezing even the surrounding air, and
leaving scars of frost behind wherever they passed.
However, Tuntun neither avoided nor back downed in the face the extremely cold Genesis Qi. It merely
opened its huge mouth, devouring everything before expelling mist from its nose.
“Blast it, what kind of Genesis Beast is this?!” The Alpha-Origin expert fighting Tuntun was both alarmed
and horrified. His Genesis Qi was cold by nature, cold extreme enough to freeze sea water. Yet, after being
devoured by Tuntun, the latter was not the least be affected, showing just how tyrannical its body was.
After swallowing the ice-cold Genesis Qi, Tuntun transformed into a flash of light as it shot forth. Claws
suffused with black light viciously swiped at the Alpha-Origin expert.
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Ptchl!
Claw marks were left behind in the air while an astonishingly dangerous aura pulsed from the black light
that swirled around Tuntun’s claws.
The Alpha-Origin expert had already experienced the deadliness of Tuntun’s claws and naturally would
not face it head on. His figure rapidly withdrew, no daring to engage in a direct clash with the latter.
Swish!
However, a flash of silver light suddenly appeared behind the Alpha-Origin expert the moment his figure
moved.
The Alpha-Origin expert was filled with fear and alarm. His eyes swivelled to the side, the sight of the
silver armor figure appear behind him had instantly terrified him silly.
However, Zhou Yuan was not courteous enough to give the Alpha-Origin expert any time to react. With a
shake of the Heavenly Yuan Brush, a deep green aura flooded out from its tip, an aura sharp without
equal.
“Auraflare technique!”
The brush tip transformed into flash of light as it ruthlessly thrust at the Alpha-Origin expert’s back.
Vigorous Genesis Qi churned around it, amplifying the ferocity of the attack.
The horrified Alpha-Origin expert immediately sent his palm sweeping backwards. Ice-blue Genesis Qi
gathered at the center of his palm, transforming into a layer of ice crystals that quickly covered his entire
hand.
Pch!
However, ice crystals instantly shattered on contract. The deep green aura penetrated the ice crystals,
piercing the Alpha-Origin experts hand.
AHH!
A miserable shriek exploded from the Alpha-Origin expert’s mouth. Fresh blood flowed from his hand as
his sorry figure hastily retreated.
Roar!
At this moment however, a huge shadow appeared behind the Alpha-Origin expert. A giant mouth
descended as if it could devour the entire land, swallowing the Alpha-Origin expert in a single gulp…
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Tuntun stood on scarlet-red Genesis Qi, rumbling thunder booming from its enormous body as if a crazed
final resistance was occurring inside it. However, the resistance did not last for long and gradually faded
away.
Tuntun patted its stomach as it let out a satisfied belch.
The corners of Zhou Yuan’s mouth twitched. There was indeed nothing that Tuntun could not devour.
Even an Alpha-Origin expert had no chance after falling into its stomach.
“What a terrifying stomach.” Zhou Yuan lamented.
However, they had at long last eliminated another Alpha-Origin expert.
He lifted his head, eyes brimming with killing intent as he looked in Qi Yuan’s direction.
At this very moment, Great Qi’s advantage in the overall battle had ceased to exist.
It could even be said that this war was over.
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Chapter 108 King Wu’s Imperial Decree
The balance was finally broken by the third Alpha-Origin expert’s deaths at the hands and mouth of Zhou
Yuan and Tuntun respectively. Besides Qi Yuan, the expressions of Great Qi’s remaining three Alpha-
Origin experts changed, no longer any hesitation as they rapidly withdrew.
In the wake of the three Alpha-Origin experts’ retreat, Great Qi’s offensive instantly crumbled. Huge
groups of soldiers wept for their parents as they madly fled. Only god knew how many were crushed in
the stampede.
The morale of the entire Great Qi had been utterly destroyed.
Boom!
Zhou Qing and Qi Yuan clashed once again, each taking a dozen steps back. As Qi Yuan’s face flushed with
exertion, he looked down at his crumbling army and immediately felt a slight sweetness in his throat,
causing him to nearly vomit a mouthful of blood.
He would never have imagined that the originally favorable situation would develop into such a disaster.
“Qi Yuan, it’s already over. We should withdraw.” Zhao Tianlun and the other two remaining Alpha-Origin
experts had appeared behind Qi Yuan, their expression rather ugly.
Victory had already begun leaning towards Great Zhou.
Qi Yuan’s face twisted in anger. He had plotted and schemed for so many years all for the sake of
replacing Zhou with Qi. However, these numerous years had now gone up in smoke, and there would no
longer be any place for him in Great Zhou after today.
Far away, Zhou Qing brandished the Nine Flames Spear in mid-air as he said in a chilling manner,
“Humph, it won’t be so easy for you rebels to escape today!”
Wei Canglan, the Black Venom King, the silver armor Zhou Yuan and Tuntun had gathered behind him,
eyes tightly fixed on Qi Yuan’s group.
Qi Yuan’s face twisted as he replied, “Don’t be so happy Zhou Qing, it is still not certain who has won or
lost!”
The moment these words were said, Qi Yuan made a grabbing motion as golden light suddenly emerged
from his hand. As the golden light flowed, an extremely astonishing pressure spread from within.
This pressure was vast and boundless, as if it was the aura of a king.
Everyone looked over, only to see a scroll within the golden light.
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Zhao Tianlun and the rest were stunned as they involuntarily cried out, “This is… king Wu’s Imperial
Decree?!”
The presence from the scroll was all too familiar to them. It was the same presence from the Great Wu
Empire’s king Wu.
“You actually possess an Imperial Decree of king Wu’s?” The eyes with which Zhao Tianlun looked at Qi
Yuan were filled with envy. King Wu’s Imperial Decree was no ordinary Imperial Decree. In a certain
manner of speaking, it represented king Wu himself. Its most extraordinary attribute was that it was also
a Genesis Treasure that had been imbued with king Wu’s will and the blessings of the Great Wu Empire.
Even the numerous military leaders and great ministers of the Great Wu Empire would have to bow
before anyone who possessed it.
Most importantly, king Wu’s Imperial Decree had the ability to summon a projection of king Wu that
wielded incredible power.
Hence, king Wu’s Imperial Decree was insanely valuable and extremely difficult to create. It was rare to
find anyone who had one even in the Great Wu Empire.
No one had expected that Qi Yuan would actually have one!
The golden Imperial Decree in Qi Yuan’s hand gave off rays of light as the aura of a king pulsed outwards,
causing everyone to involuntarily feel like kneeling.
However, a chilling coldness was revealed in Zhou Qing’s eyes as he gazed at the golden Imperial Decree.
Had Qi Yuan brought king Wu’s Imperial Decree to Great Zhou to show off?
“Zhou Qing, I was originally unwilling to use this treasure, but I have no choice now that it's come to this.”
Said Qi Yuan through gnashed teeth. King Wu’s Imperial Decree was a one use item that would disappear
soon after. Thus, Qi Yuan would only use it as a final resort.
Mockery suddenly surfaced on Qi Yuan’s face as he stared at Zhou Qing.
“Zhou Qing, a shadow was left in your heart when you lost to king Wu and he took one of your arms,
causing your strength to fall, never improving even till now. Today, I will use king Wu’s projection to kill
you!”
“I want you to know just how useless you are when compared to king Wu, because he is a true king!”
Qi Yuan laughed loudly. Without any hesitation, the golden scroll in his hand was flung open. Thousands
of golden rays immediately shot out, as a faint human silhouette seemed to emerge from within.
The human silhouette was very blurry. He seemed to sit atop an imperial throne, eyes filled with dignity
as he looked down from above. Anyone who met his gaze would be awed by the aura of a king.
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The most shocking aspect of the golden figure was his Genesis Qi undulations, undulations that had
reached the fifth layer of the Alpha-Origin stage!
Out of all the individuals present, only Zhou Qing and Qi Yuan had reached the third layer of the Alpha-
Origin stage, while everyone else was at the two layer level.
Five layer Alpha-Origin was clearly enough to steamroll over everyone here.
The golden figure on the throne was clearly just a projection, yet it caused the entire area to turn silent.
“Is that… king Wu?”
Zhou Yuan also observed the golden figure, his fists clenching tightly as iciness flowed within his eyes. It
was this very person who had placed him on that cold atlar many years ago and stole his sacred dragon
blessing. That same man had even sealed the dragon’s resentment in his body, causing the Dragon’s
Resentment Poison to form.
“King Wu… Wu Xuan!”
In front of Zhou Yuan, Zhou Qing’s body trembled, veins of blood crazily climbing up in his eyes his
unwavering gaze locked onto the golden figure. Back then, he had fought king Wu outside Great Zhou
City, lost an arm and even personally witness his son’s blessing being stolen.
These scenes had once again emerged from deep within his memories, still as bloody and bone reachingly
painful as it had been on that very day.
A pleased look flitted across Qi Yuan’s eyes when he saw Zhou Qing’s current appearance. With a cruel
smile and a swing of the golden Imperial Decree, the golden figure slowly stood up from the throne.
Astonishing Genesis Qi undulations exploded from its body, shaking the very heavens itself.
Zhou Yuan’s expression turned grave. The power of five layer Alpha-Origin was enough to reverse the
situation once again.
He looked towards Wei Canglan and the rest and said in a serious voice, “We’ll attack together. The power
of this Imperial Decree may be strong, but it will not last for long.”
The others nodded in acknowledgement. Any one of them would likely be killed if they were to face a five
layer Alpha-Origin stage opponent alone.
However, just as Genesis Qi began to surge around them, Zhou Qing, who was at the very front, suddenly
extended his hand to stop them.
“Your majesty?” Wei Canglan looked towards Zhou Qing in confusion.
Zhou Yuan also looked over.
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Zhou Qing’s hand tightly gripped the scarlet-red Nine Flames Spear while his body continued to tremble.
Blood red veins had already climbed out in his eyes as he stared at the golden figure.
Moments later, a hoarse voice sounded from this mouth.
“I will deal with him.”
Wei Canglan’s expression immediately changed upon hearing this and could not help but say, “Please
don’t be reckless your majesty. That Imperial Decree golden figure… has cultivation of the five layer
Alpha-Origin stage!”
The current Zhou Qing was only at the third layer Alpha-Origin stage!
Zhou Yuan’s expression fluctuated indeterminately.
Zhou Qing slowly turned his head and looked towards Zhou Yuan, his voice still hoarse as he spoke, “The
defeat from back then left a shadow in my heart, leading to a huge drop in my strength and making me
unable to progress ever since that day…”
“I need to overcome this myself, or I will never be able to take another step forward.”
Zhou Yuan’s nose suddenly felt a little sour as he gazed at the Zhou Qing’s bloodshot eyes. How could the
former not understand at this point that Zhou Qing had likely been living in that shadow for so many
years?
Wasn’t the appearance of the Imperial Decree golden figure a chance for Zhou Qing?
However, this chance may end up in failure. If so… Zhou Qing would never be able to walk out from that
shadow.
Just how much courage was needed to make this decision?
Warmth suddenly surfaced in Zhou Qing’s eyes as he looked at Zhou Yuan. He gently patted the latter’s
shoulders as he smiled and said, “My failure to protect you back then was my mistake, but… I will not let
him hurt you this time.”
This was his final pride as a father.
After saying these words, Zhou Qing delayed no further. With a small jerk of the Nine Flames Spear, he
slowly advanced as he pointed the spear at the golden figure of king Wu.
“Come Wu Xuan!”
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Chapter 109 Destroying the Shadow
Zhou Qing took a step forward as the scarlet-red spear pointed at the golden figure. His expression was
determined, as if nothing could stop him from destroying the shadow that had been left in his heart.
“Zhou Qing ah Zhou Qing, it seems that you will not shed tears till you see the coffin.” Qi Yuan let out a
sinister laugh, his eyes filled with mockery when he saw that Zhou Qing was going to take on king Wu’s
projection alone.
“If you were at your peak, this Imperial Decree golden figure would not be able to do anything to you. But
the current you is a mere third layer Alpha-Origin, yet you still dare to be so arrogant?”
Zhou Qing ignored Qi Yuan’s mockery. The former’s gaze was so tightly glued to the blurry golden figure
that it was as if no other foe could enter his sights.
“Since you wish to seek death, I will grant your wish!”
Qi Yuan laughed icily, more than happy to watch Zhou Qing try to act tough. If Zhou Qing was killed, the
advantage would be theirs again.
With these thoughts in mind, Qi Yuan shook the golden Imperial Decree. Astonishing Genesis Qi exploded
from the golden figure, making it even more intimidating.
The bottom of Zhou Qing’s spear slammed into the ground. Thunder rumbled within his scarlet-red
Genesis Qi as it dashed out from the top of his head.
Boom!
A hundred feet long stream of scarlet-red Genesis Qi swept out and headed straight for the golden king
Wu projection. The Genesis Qi was scorching and violent, burning even the surrounding air.
However, the king Wu projection did not even flinch. Instead, it shot forward as a punch was sent straight
into the scarlet-red stream.
Bang!
The berserk Genesis Qi was blown away by the punch, causing the scarlet-red stream to fall apart.
The power of this king Wu projection was more than enough to overwhelm any third layer Alpha-Origin.
Zhou Yuan and the rest were naturally clearly able to see this, causing worry to rise in their eyes.
Rumble!
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The king Wu projection stepped forward, fast as lightning as numerous fist images began to engulf Zhou
Qing.
Zhou Qing did not back down, choosing to match force with force!
However, the outcome a dozen rounds later was him sent flying backwards. Blood had appeared at the
corner of his mouth, evidence that he had gained no advantage in the previous clashes.
“I’m afraid that Zhou Qing has gone mad.” Qi Yuan laughed coldly. It was indeed insane for a third layer
Alpha-Origin to clash directly against a fifth layer Alpha-Origin.
Beside him, the Zhao Tianlun trio nodded. It seemed that Zhou Qing had been triggered by the golden
king Wu projection, causing him to lose all reason.
The two figures continued to exchange blows in the sky. Zhou Qing seemed not to care how much he was
being overwhelmed, continuing to relentlessly charge forward and meet the king Wu projection head-on.
Thud! Thud!
Muffled sounds echoed in the air, originating from the king Wu projection’s fists landing on Zhou Qing’s
body.
Crack!
Zhou Yuan’s eyes were glued to the battle in the sky, fists clenched so tightly that cracking noises were
emitted.
After a few minutes, the king Wu projection was practically undamaged, while Zhou Qing’s figure now
appeared exceptionally miserable, his lone arm gripping his spear as fresh blood dripped from his body.
Even with such serious injuries, the Nine Flames Spear in his hand did not tremble as it was slowly raised.
It was a tragic yet solemn scene.
However, Zhou Yuan and the rest knew that the one Zhou Qing was challenging was not the golden king
Wu projection in front of him, but the shadow that had been branded in his heart when king Wu had
taken one of his arms so many years ago.
Fresh blood flowed down the long scarlet-red spear as Zhou Qing looked at the king Wu projection and
said in a hoarse voice,
“Come!”
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Qi Yuan’s expression darkened somewhat. Zhou Qing’s tenacity made him a little uneasy. Hence, he
immediately said in an eerie voice, “Fine, since he wants to die, I shall grant him his wish. It has been
tiring for him to live in king Wu’s shadow for so long after all.”
The golden Imperial Decree in his hand jerked.
The king Wu projection paused for a moment before making a grabbing motion as powerful Genesis Qi
began to gather behind it. As golden light surged, the Genesis Qi transformed into a golden wheel of light
that was about a dozen feet wide.
Rays of golden light emerged from the wheel, floating in the air in front of it as each ray transformed into
a golden sword made from Genesis Qi.
Swish! Swish!
In the next instant, several thousand golden swords abruptly shot forward, seemingly covering the entire
sky while blocking every possible route of escape for Zhou Qing. Such an attack could be said to be a
finishing move.
Golden swords filling the entire span of his vision, Zhou Qing roared, the Nine Flames Spear in his hand
spinning like a fiery-red wheel. Flames and lightning twisting around it, forming a wheel of light.
Clang clang!
The swords arrived and smashed into the fire lightning wheel, astonishing Genesis Qi undulations
exploding from every hit.
The scarlet-red wheel did its best to endure, but the golden swords were too many and too powerful.
Several penetrated the wheel’s defences, stabbing into Zhou Qing’s body with a ‘squilch’.
A dozen breaths later, the golden swords finally disappeared.
Countless gazes were cast in Zhou Qing’s direction, only to see that his head was slightly lowered, his only
arm tightly gripping the Nine Flames Spear. Golden swords dotted his body, fresh blood dripping from
them.
Even with such serious injuries, his body remained as straight as a rod like the spear in his hand.
This scene shook everyone from both sides, making them incapable of speaking. Even the soldier’s of
Great Qi were awed by his unretreating and fearless posture.
Zhou Yuan’s eyes suddenly reddened at this moment. He seemed to see the scene from over a dozen
years ago when he had just been born, a figure standing in this same manner on the city walls, exhausting
all of his power to stop king Wu.
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Although he had ultimately failed, he had clearly done everything he could.
“He should soon be dead, right?” Qi Yuan’s eyes were grim as he stared at the extremely battered form of
Zhou Qing. The former could feel the Genesis Qi around the latter gradually weakening.
Every gaze both inside and outside the city had converged on Zhou Qing.
Blood slowly dripped from the long spear. However, Zhou Qing’s shut eyes slowly cracked open at this
moment. With a jerk of his body, the golden swords embedded in it were shattered.
His eyes seemed to become extremely dazzling at this moment, as if the many years of dirt that had
obscured them was gradually being washed away.
The bloody holes on his body had also began to close.
He stared at the king Wu projection. Although he knew that it was merely an empty vessel endowed with
power, he still slowly said, “The battle back then had indeed ended your victory.”
“And I had always believed that I lost to you.”
“But… I now suddenly realise that I did not lose…”
“Because I managed to protect my son’s life.”
“You may have won the lands of the Great Zhou Empire and the sacred dragon blessing… however, you
will one day realise that all of these external things you have won is not even worth a single hair on my
son.”
“He will definitely take everything back!”
“The battle between Zhou and Wu has not ended yet!”
The moment his final word faded, scarlet-red Genesis Qi suddenly exploded from within Zhou qing’s body
like a volcano. His eyes became as glaring as the sun, while his Genesis Qi undulations began to rise!
Fourth layer Alpha-Origin stage!
Fifth layer Alpha-Origin stage!
In short span of several breaths, Zhou Qing’s cultivation had risen from the third layer to the fifth layer of
the Alpha-Origin stage!
Horror immediately filled the faces of Qi Yuan, Zhao Tianlun and the rest.
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“His majesty… has broken free of the shadow in his heart and his strength has gradually begun to
recover!” Wei Canglan trembled as he watched, his eyes suddenly reddening.
Zhou Qing seemed to have cast off his many years of concession and tolerance, once again regaining his
kingly dignity.
Just like many years ago during the golden age of the Great Zhou Empire, the king whose might made
even the seas shudder.
Zhou Qing gripped his scarlet-red spear as powerful Genesis Qi erupted like a volcano. In the next instant,
his figure disappeared as a streak of scarlet-red was painted across the horizon.
Speed so quick that no one could detect him.
Nine flaming pythons seemed to curl around the long scarlet-red spear while lightning danced at its tip.
Squerch!
Zhou Qing’s figure appeared behind the king Wu projection as a flash of scarlet pierced the golden
figure’s chest. Back facing back, Zhou Qing’s hand closed around the Nine Flames Spear that landed
within it.
The king Wu projection began to tremble violently at this moment. In the end, it gradually crumbled,
transforming into golden light that filled the sky.
Bang!
The golden Imperial Decree in Qi Yuan’s hand exploded at this moment. Behind him, Zhao Tianlun and
the rest were trembling, ashen-faced as they looked up at Zhou Qing in the sky.
They never imagined that the shadow that had trapped Zhou Qing for so many years would be broken by
him today through the king Wu projection!
“It’s… truly over now.”
Despair began to rise in Qi Yuan’s eyes.
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Chapter 110 End of the War
Outside the main city gate, Zhou Qing stood in the air, flames burning and lightning cackling on the Nine
Flames Spear in his hand. The powerful pressure that flooded out from his body was akin to a storm as it
engulfed the land.
As countless people gazed upon this figure, they seemed to once again see the dignified king of the Great
Zhou Empire at its peak.
“King Zhou Qing!”
“King Zhou Qing!”
Innumerable cheers filled with reverence exploded from the city walls, almost bursting one’s eardrums.
Joy flooded Zhou Yuan’s eyes as he gazed at Zhou Qing’s mountain-like back. Overcoming the shadow in
his heart meant that his strength would gradually recover, something that made Zhou Yuan sincerely
happy.
“Father, you did not lose to king Wu. The baby you gave everything to protect has now began to grow up.”
“Retreat!”
“Quickly!”
While Great Zhou’s morale had skyrocketed, Great Qi’s had completely crumbled. Even Qi Yuan had a
frightened look on his face as he yelled for them to withdraw.
A split second after giving the signal, he was the first to shoot away, hoping to escape.
The Zhao Tianlun trio also beat a frightened retreat. Zhou Qing’s strength had reached the five layer level,
making none of them his match.
“Stop them. Since you’ve decided to come, don’t even think of leaving.” Zhou Yuan’s eyes flashed coldly
when he saw them flee.
Wei Canglan and the Black Venom King nodded in acknowledgement before immediately giving chase.
In the air, Zhou Qing coldly looked over, his gaze locking onto Qi Yuan as his grip around the spear slowly
tightened.
He indifferently said, “I allowed you do as you please in the Great Zhou Empire for the past few years.
Allow me to personally correct all of these mistakes today.”
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Vigorous scarlet-red Genesis Qi surged around him as the faint sound of rumbling thunder echoed, giving
off an imposing pressure.
Swoosh!
Zhou Qing took a step forward, his figure transforming into a streak of scarlet that headed straight for Qi
Yuan.
Qi Yuan’s expression immediately turned to terror when he sensed this. Without the slightest hesitation,
he pushed his Genesis Qi to the limit and frantically fled.
However, the current Zhou Qing was much stronger than before, far surpassing a three layer Alpha-
Origin like Qi Yuan. Thus, it only took several breaths for Zhou Qing’s figure to appear right behind the
latter.
Zhou Qing was expressionless, the long spear in his hand akin to a dragon of fire and lightning, rippling
the surrounding space as it dove towards Qi Yuan.
The ferocity of the attack caused Qi Yuan to be filled with horror. Metallic runes of light exploded from
the sword in his hand as he frantically poured Genesis Qi into it.
Swish!
Qi Yuan thrust his sword. All of his Genesis Qi had been poured into this very strike and it could be said to
be deadly without equal.
Clang!
However, it was as if lightning exploded the moment the spear tip touched the sword as a surge of
astonishing power cackled.
Bang!
Space violently warped and rippled. Qi Yuan let out a miserable cry as the Black tier Genesis sword in his
hand disintegrated.
Terrified, he hastily shouted, “I surrender your majesty, I surrender!”
Unfortunately, the only response was a decisive fatal thrust from Zhou Qing’s spear. With a squwelch, it
pierced Qi Yuan’s heart. Violent blazing Flame-Thunder Qi crazily poured into Qi Yuan’s body, scorching
away everything inside in a short few breaths.
The terror on Qi Yuan’s face turned rigid at this moment. He grasped the spear that had penetrated his
chest, his eyes staring at Zhou Qing as he mumbled, “Zhou Qing… king Wu will not let you off!”
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Zhou Qing was expressionless. With a jerk of the spear, Qi Yuan’s body fell from the sky, his life fully
extinguished.
“King Qi has been executed. Kill everyone who does not surrender!” Zhou Qing’s icy voice thundered
across the battlefield.
The morale of the originally fleeing king Qi army hit rock bottom when they heard of king Qi’s death.
Countless individuals fell to their knees and cast off their weapons and armor, making the ground look
like a complete mess.
The Alpha-Origin Zhao Tianlun trio were surrounded by Zhou Yuan, Tuntun, Wei Canglan and the Black
Venom King, each of the trio cutting a more sorry figure than the previous.
While Zhao Tianlun was evading, he angrily shouted, “Zhou Qing, don’t push it! If you kill us, king Wu will
not let you off!”
“Even if I do not kill you lot, neither king Wu nor myself will let this matter rest!” Zhou Qing let out an icy
chuckle. With a swing of the spear in his hand, he too joined the encirclement. The Alpha-Origin Zhao
Tianlun trio were quickly defeated and subsequently killed after a dozen exchanges.
Three Alpha-Origin experts fell one after another, their blood spraying onto the ground below. Countless
individuals in the Great Qi rebel army shuddered as they lay on the ground, not daring to make even the
smallest of movements.
The imperial guard surged out from the city like a flood and swiftly took control of the battle field.
It was at this very moment that the flames of rebellion were finally smothered.
The many residents inside the city exploded into earth-shaking cheers when they saw this.
“All hail the king!”
“All hail the prince!”
Amongst cheers that filled the sky, Zhou Qing landed on the city wall, his only arm holding the Nine
Flames Spear as a smile appeared on his determined face. The gloominess that had entrenched itself
between his brows for far too long had completely vanished.
After this battle, the king of Great Zhou from many years ago had finally returned.
“Congratulations father. You will surely ascend to your peak again after dispelling the shadow in your
heart.” The silver armor Zhou Yuan also landed and grinned at Zhou Qing.
“Yuan’er, I really have to thank you this time.” Zhou Qing sighed. If not for Zhou Yuan, victory would have
been Qi Yuan’s even without the king Wu Imperial Decree.
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Moreover, Zhou Qing would naturally not receive the chance to break free of the shadow in his heart.
Zhou Yuan smiled before he turned towards the corpses of Qi Yuan and the rest. “Although we managed
to suppress king Qi’s rebellion, news of this will definitely spread to king Wu’s ears.”
There was a little graveness in his eyes. Though Qi Yuan and the rest had been troublesome to deal with,
they were a problem that could be solved. In comparison, the Great Wu Empire was akin to a giant
mountain crushing down upon the Great Zhou Empire’s heart, and was an extremely dangerous entity.
The current Great Wu Empire was enjoying a golden age of prosperity and had numerous powerful
practitioners. The Great Zhou Empire was far too weak in comparison.
Zhou Qing slowly said, “The Great Wu Empire is currently occupied with other top tier empires such as
the Sword Empire and has no time to worry about us for the time being. As long as I recover my strength,
any petty tricks they try will not be able to affect us.”
“However… when they are finally able to find some time to deal with us, I’m afraid that they will attempt
to deal a fatal blow to the Great Zhou Empire.”
Zhou Yuan nodded. Soon after, he chuckled and said, “It seems that we still have a little room to
breathe…”
Crack!
Suddenly, he heard a faint crack. His eyes narrowed when looked down and saw the crack that had
appeared on the silver ring on his finger.
“I used up so much power that even the Genesis artifact has been damaged.”
Zhou Yuan let out a bitter laugh. He could feel his Spirit gradually begin to weaken as a piercing pain
erupted. He knew that this was the repercussions of forcibly strengthening his Spirit to use Silver
Shadow.
“Father… I’ll be leaving the subsequent clean up to you.”
The silver armor on Zhou Yuan’s body began to melt, transforming back into silver liquid as his body was
revealed. His complexion was frighteningly pale, while the spot between his brows had become very dim.
“Yuan’er?” Zhou Qing was alarmed by this appearance.
Zhou Yuan no longer had any strength to reply. His eyelids gradually lowered, darkness completely
engulfing his vision as his body fell to the ground.
Right before he passed out, Zhou Yuan helplessly sighed in his heart.
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“Still too weak…”
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Chapter 111 The Old Man in Gray Robes
King Qi’s rebellion had ultimately been quelled. News of this outcome shook the entire Great Zhou
Empire, making the various factions dumbstruck. No one had expected the seemingly unstoppable king Qi
to met such a fate…
One must know that the royal clan had previously been unable to anything to king Qi. If not, the former
would not have tolerated the latter growing so powerful.
However, the power displayed by the royal clan during the battle stunned everyone.
In their shock, the various factions began to realise that the seemingly waning royal clan was in actuality
not as weak as they had expected.
As the saying went, a malnourished camel was still bigger than a horse. The once titan-like entity that was
the Great Zhou royal clan was not to be underestimated even after experiencing so many failures and
setbacks.
Thus, the factions that were originally planning on taking advantage of the situation had no choice but to
retract their ready claws, afraid that someone might catch a glimpse.
Everyone knew that after purging the cancerous king Qi, the royal clan would soon regain its authority in
the Great Zhou Empire. Any factions that dared to challenge them would likely end up with the same fate
as king Qi.
Hence, the atmosphere in the Great Zhou Empire seemed to become substantially better for a while. No
one dared to go against the king’s orders, afraid they might become the next target of the royal clan.
...
“Unconscious for an entire month…” Hundreds of flowers bloomed in a certain courtyard within the royal
palace where Zhou Yuan sat on a stone chair, his face filled with lamentation.
It had been a whole month since king Qi’s rebellion was quelled. He had spent all that time in an
unconscious state, not awakening till today.
This was evidently the price of forcibly strengthening his Spirit to control Silver Shadow.
“This is already pretty lucky. If you had not practiced the Primal Chaos Divine Grindstone Visualisation
Method that made your Spirit much tougher than normal, I’m afraid it won’t be the case of being
unconscious for a month, but forever.” A monotone voice was transmitted from behind Zhou Yuan.
Zhou Yuan smiled awkwardly as he turned his head to see Yaoyao walking over. The young lady’s slender
figure looked even more exquisite than usual when wrapped by her green clothes.
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Yaoyao stared straight at Zhou Yuan and solemnly said, “I advise you to not use this method in future.
Your Spirit is still too weak to control Silver Shadow. If you keep forcing yourself, your Spirit might even
be irrevocably damaged, a situation that would be very unworthwhile indeed.”
Zhou Yuan could sense Yaoyao’s seriousness and knew that she was showing concern for him. He smiled
and nodded. “Don’t worry, it will only be a last resort.”
After all, the previous battle had been far too important. If he had not borrowed Silver Shadow’s power,
king Qi’s side would have absolutely dominated them. If that happened, the ones who ended up
crumbling first would be them.
Such an outcome was unimaginable. It was likely that the royal clan would be annihilated.
Zhou Yuan would never allow that to happen. Hence, even while aware of the extreme risk, he was still
duty-bound to use Silver Shadow.
After all, there were responsibilities he needed to shoulder as the prince of the Great Zhou Empire.
“It isn’t all bad news though, it seems... that I have ascended to the mid Qi Nourishing stage.” Zhou Yuan
grinned. As he extended his hand, one would see dark gold Genesis Qi rising from the center of his palm.
At closer inspection, strange blood-red threads were visible within the Genesis Qi.
Yaoyao offhandedly said, “Mid Qi Nourishing stage… do you feel restricted after falling to this level from
being able to kill an Alpha-Origin?”
Zhou Yuan pondered for a while before shaking his head. “It was true that borrowing Silver Shadow’s
power made me very powerful, but such power is ultimately not my own. So don’t worry, I will not be
drunk with such external power and allow myself to stray.”
He waved about the rising dark gold Genesis Qi on his palm as he grinned. “This is the power that truly
belongs to me. It may be very weak now, but I believe that the day will come when it becomes very
strong.”
Yaoyao’s snow-white chin nodded as appreciation appeared on her perfectly beautiful face. She was
satisfied with Zhou Yuan’s mentality. If he allowed his heart to sway, huge problems would plague his
cultivation journey.
The two continued to converse for a while until Yaoyao suddenly recalled something. “Since you’ve
awoken, you should go visit Su Youwei. She seems to have encountered a little trouble.”
“Youwei? What happened? Is it the repercussions of the attack she performed that day?” Zhou Yuan
hastily asked in alarm. He knew that Su Youwei had borrowed an unknown power and slayed Lin Nian
with a single strike from her sword. It was clear that such power did not belong to Su Youwei.
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Yaoyao began to explain, “The blow she performed back then should be from the Yangming Sword in her
body. She was subsequently unconscious for a few days but managed to awaken quite some time ago and
there weren’t much after effects.”
Zhou Yuan breathed a sigh of relief before he proceeded to ask, confused, “Then what trouble is there?”
Yaoyao gently stroked the languid Tuntun as she said, “Go take a look.”
Zhou Yuan was somewhat bewildered but still nodded in acknowledgement. He was after all planning on
paying Su Youwei a visit to thank her since she had done such a huge service to the Great Zhou Empire.
With these thoughts in mind, Zhou Yuan decided to delay no further. After bidding his goodbyes to
Yaoyao, he left the royal palace, heading straight for Su Youwei’s residence.
South of the city, outside a clean courtyard.
Zhou Yuan knocked on the courtyard door and waited for a brief moment, before hearing the soft sound
of quickly approaching footsteps. The door was opened and a pair of bright, pretty eyes on a face that was
beautiful regardless of anger or happiness was revealed.
It was Su Youwei.
She was first stunned when she saw Zhou Yuan outside the door, before joy and surprise quickly flooded
her eyes.
“Your highness, you’ve awoken?!”
Zhou Yuan smiled and nodded. He breathed a small sigh of relief upon seeing Su Youwei’s lively and
energetic appearance before he said, “Big sis Yaoyao says you’ve encountered a little trouble?”
“Just tell me if there’s anything bothering you. There is no problem I cannot solve in the Great Zhou
Empire.” Zhou Yuan thumped his chest and grinned.
Who could have expected that Su Youwei would frown upon hearing this as she sighed. “I’m afraid that
your highness won’t be able to help...”
Zhou Yuan scratched his head, utterly bewildered. There should no longer be anyone foolish enough to
offend the royal clan in the current Great Zhou Empire, right?
“Please come in first your highness.” A soft laugh escaped Su Youwei’s slightly pursed red lips as she
opened the door and let Zhou Yuan in. She led the way along a little cobbled path as they entered the rear
courtyard.
There were two recliners in the rear courtyard where two elderly men were leisurely lying.
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One of them was Su Youwei’s grandfather, a very familiar individual to Zhou Yuan. Upon seeing him, the
former gave a kindly greeting which was met by smile from Zhou Yuan. Subsequently, he cast his gaze
towards the other elderly man in gray robes.
There were no Genesis Qi undulations around this old man, but a piercing pain was transmitted from
Zhou Yuan’s Spirit when he saw the former. His Spirit trembled, giving Zhou Yuan a fierce warning.
It was obvious that this seemingly ordinary old man was not ordinary at all.
Shock and fear filled Zhou Yuan’s heart. When had such a terrifying powerful individual appeared in the
Great Zhou Empire? According to his estimates, even Zhou Qing was nothing compared to this mysterious
old man in gray.
While Zhou Yuan’s expression turned grave, the gray robed old man lazily raised his head, his murky eyes
casting a glance at Zhou Yuan before turning to Su Youwei as he lethargically stretched and sighed.
“Little lass, is it because of this kid that you’re unwilling to leave with this old man?”
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Chapter 112 Su Youwei’s Destiny
In the courtyard, Zhou Yuan vigilantly watched the gray robed old man before him. Though there were no
Genesis Qi undulations from the latter’s body, he clearly understood that it was because the old man’s
Genesis Qi had been perfectly concealed.
The gray robed old man was evidently an individual of unfathomable depths whose strength likely
exceeded even the Alpha-Origin stage.
“Elder…” Zhou Yuan cupped his fists together, his expression respectful as he cast a glance at Su Youwei
and said, “May I ask what elder wants with Youwei?”
The gray robed old man smiled indifferently as he replied, “I plan on taking her away. A place like this will
only waste her talent. She should not be squandering away her time here.”
Zhou Yuan was taken aback by the old man’s words. Complicated feelings soon rose in his heart as he
looked towards Su Youwei. The dirty little girl he had pulled up in front of the clinic back then had now
begun to reveal the radiance that belonged to her alone. Zhou Yuan had known from the very beginning
that Su Youwei’s talent was extraordinary.
It was only a matter of time before her dazzling radiance was revealed.
Given Su Youwei’s talent, if she was born in another family and had the chance to come into contact with
cultivation earlier, she would have long become a goddess that countless geniuses could only look up to.
While a prince from a tiny empire such as himself would likely be incapable of drawing even a single
glance from her.
As Zhou Yuan sighed in his heart, he gave a little nod and said, “To be viewed so highly by elder is
Youwei’s fortune.”
It was indeed as this gray robed elder had said. Su Youwei’s talent was akin to a precious pearl left to
collect dust if she stayed in the Great Zhou Empire.
A phoenix should be perched atop a chinese parasol tree and not a dead tree.
Zhou Yuan was truly happy for Su Youwei.
The gray robed elder chuckled and said, “But she is not very willing.”
Zhou Yuan was taken aback. When he looked towards Su Youwei, she avoided his gaze, her tiny mouth
pouting slightly as she said, “I did not say that I won’t.”
The gray robed elder nodded. “But she has a condition…”
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He stared at Zhou Yuan before continuing, “She wants me to bring you along.”
Zhou Yuan let out a bitter laugh. How could he not guess by now that Su Youwei had also realised how
unfathomably powerful the gray robed old man was. It would be a blessing for him if he could tag along
too.
The gray robed elder smiled a little, his gaze sweeping over Zhou Yuan as he said, “Truthfully speaking,
you are also no ordinary individual. As one that once possess the sacred dragon blessing, your talent
cannot possibly be too pathetic.”
“However… my teachings may not be suitable for you.”
Su Youwei instantly began to panic when she heard this. “Why? His highness’ talent is no less than my
own.”
The gray robed elder’s murky eyes seemed to glimmer deeply. His gaze locked onto Zhou Yuan as he
slowly said, “I can faintly feel the remains of an extremely powerful presence from his body. Hence, he
has likely encountered a destiny of his own and it is inappropriate for me to interfere.”
Zhou Yuan was a little shocked inside. Could the powerful presence the old man had spoken of be master
Cang Yuan? Zhou Yuan did not expect that the old man would be able to sense it even after a whole year.
It seems that this elder was truly unimaginably powerful.
Su Youwei gritted her teeth and declared, “If you do not bring his highness along, I won’t be going either.”
The gray robed old man chuckled, pointed at Su Youwei and said, “Little lass, you truly do not realise how
fortunate you are. Do you know who I am? Do you know how many geniuses in this world desire to follow
me?”
Su Youwei bowed towards the old man and earnestly answered, “I understand that it is my blessing to
have obtained elder’s favor, but elder was only able to meet the current me because his highness once
helped me. If not for his highness, I will not be what I am now.”
Perhaps, if her grandfather had not received treatment for his illness, the orphaned little girl would have
been gradually embraced by death within cold.
The gray robed old man was a little taken aback as he slowly stroked his beard.
Zhou Yuan sighed softly. He smiled at Su Youwei as he placed his hands on her soft shoulders and said in
a gentle voice, “Youwei, I know that you are very grateful to me for helping you back then. However, it
was not for the sake of binding you to my side. I treat you as my best friend, so I hope that you will be
able to obtain better cultivation conditions.”
Su Youwei blushed a little, but when she heard the words ‘best friend’, her limpid eyes faintly dimmed for
an instant.
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“But your highness… this goodbye may last several years.” Su Youwei bit into her red lips as her eyes
reddened.
She had already grown accustomed to staying by Zhou Yuan’s side; feeling his presence, listening to his
voice. In her opinion, no matter how amazing her future would be, it would never be as unforgettable as
everything she had experienced during the past year she had spent in the Great Zhou Institute.
If they parted, even she did not know when they would meet again.
This thought made even the usually tough Su Youwei feel somewhat sad.
Zhou Yuan smiled as he reached out a hand and gently wiped away the glistening drops that had
appeared on the young lady’s long lashes. “Don’t worry. Believe me, we will definitely meet again.”
He paused for a moment before chuckling. “I’m only worried that you’ll become too outstanding when
that time eventually comes, and feel that knowing a prince from a small remote place will instead be
humiliating.”
Su Youwei’s tears turned into a smile as she softly said, “Your highness, in my eyes, even the most
wonderful of places cannot compare to the Great Zhou Institute, even the most amazing geniuses will
never match up to you.”
The gray robed old man rolled his eyes upon hearing this as he remarked, “Lass, you’ve seen far too little.
This kid is nowhere as good as you’ve described.”
However, Su Youwei paid no attention to him.
“Your highness, will you come searching for me in future?” Su Youwei stared at Zhou Yuan, her teary eyes
filled with anticipation.
“I will, I definitely will.” Zhou Yuan earnestly replied. Su Youwei likewise held a very important place in
his heart. If there was a chance, he would absolutely pay a visit to her and see how she was doing.
Su Youwei displayed a slight smile, her smiling face akin to elegance with a dab of bright beauty. She
hesitated for a moment, before suddenly finding the courage to take a step forward, trembling hands
reaching out and hugging Zhou Yuan.
The sudden warm and fragrant softness that entered his embrace dazed Zhou Yuan for some time. He
could feel the sadness within Su Youwei’s heart at their departure, and thus also reached out and gently
patted her back, comforting her.
Su Youwei very quickly fled Zhou Yuan’s arms, her small face beet-red as she hid herself in the room.
The sudden absence of softness made Zhou Yuan feel both a little disappointed and frustrated. The
sadness of their parting had likewise filled his heart. Just like how Su Youwei had become accustomed to
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following at his side, he too had grown used to this strong and pretty young lady that was always beside
him.
Cough!
The gray robed old man coughed, seemingly in a bad mood as he shot a look at Zhou Yuan before sighing.
“Kid, at the end of the day, I still have to thank you for persuading the little lass.”
Although he really did not want to admit it, the gray robed elder knew that if Zhou Yuan had not given his
approval, the stubborn little lass would really not leave with him.
Zhou Yuan smiled, cupped his fists together at the gray robed old man and said, “I hope that elder will
take good care of her in future.”
“This you don’t have to worry. Not just anyone is allowed to follow me because I’m very fussy when it
comes to selecting someone. Since I’ve made my choice, I will naturally give my all.” The gray robed elder
glanced at Zhou Yuan before continuing, “Are you disappointed that I am not bringing you along?”
Zhou Yuan mere chuckled. “Elder has already said that each person has their own destinies. Even if I do
not follow you, I may not end up as an ordinary individual in future.”
This was not arrogance. He was cultivating the Ancestral Dragon Scripture, and even practicing the
Primal Chaos Divine Grindstone Visualisation Method. Although he did not know where this gray robed
elder came from, he believed that as long as he mastered what he had, he would naturally stand tall even
in this world.
“Oh, you do have a little backbone.”
The gray robed old man laughed, now a little in admiration of Zhou Yuan. The former pondered for a
moment before he said, “I dislike owing you a favor. Since you helped me, I will help you this once.”
“I may not have anything to teach you, but I can still give you a little pointer…”
Upon hearing this, Zhou Yuan’s eyes focused as he solemnly replied, “Then this young one will
respectfully listen.”
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Chapter 113 A Gift
In the courtyard, the gray robed old man was all smiles as he gazed at Zhou Yuan and said, “Kid, you
should currently be at the peak of the younger generation in the Great Zhou Empire, right?”
Zhou Yuan smiled in self-mocking manner, “The Great Zhou Empire is merely a small corner of the world,
is there meaning in being the best here?”
The gray robed old man grinned as he remarked, “At least you’re a little self-aware.”
“I believe that the Great Zhou Empire’s old enemy is the Great Wu Empire, right?”
“As for you… the strongest enemies you now face are the Great Wu Empire’s python and sparrow.”
“Heh, it may be a little inappropriate to call them python and sparrow now. Thanks to you, these two
have begun to spread their wings and soar like a true dragon and phoenix.”
The gray robed elder’s gnarly fingers lightly tapped the back of his recliner as he continued in an
apathetic tone, “It is said that the crown prince of the Great Wu Empire, Wu Huang, is already at the
advance Heaven Gate stage, and is only a step away from the Alpha-Origin stage.”
Zhou Yuan’s pupils tightened slightly. Had Wu Huang already reached the advance Heaven Gate stage?
This was indeed much further than himself.
Though Zhou Yuan had previously displayed the power to kill an Alpha-Origin during king Qi’s rebellion,
he clearly understood that he had been borrowing an external power. Without Silver Shadow, he would
be easily crushed by any Alpha-Origin expert.
According to Zhou Yuan’s estimates, he should be able to directly face an initial Heaven Gate expert with
the aid of the Omni Python Qi and the Dragon’s Resent Poison. His chances against an advance Heaven
Gate opponent however, were less than 10%.
As for Silver Shadow, the repercussions were just far too great. Zhou Yuan did not dare to use it unless it
was truly a life or death situation.
“Additionally, don’t even think for a second that Wu Huang is an ordinary advance Heaven Gate stage
practitioner… from what I know, he is also a fierce fighter capable of doing battle with those above his
cultivation level. It is said that he once slayed an Alpha-Origin stage practitioner with the strength of the
advance Heaven Gate stage.”
“His kill was based on his own abilities. Compared to him, I’m afraid that you’re pretty lacking.” The gray
robed old man grinned like a cheshire cat.
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Zhou Yuan’s expression was rather calm in the face of the gray robed old man’s teasing. He had never
underestimated the crown prince of the Great Wu Empire. The cultivation resources available to the
latter could only be greater than his, while the latter’s Qi cultivation method, Genesis techniques, Genesis
Weapons and other Genesis treasures were definitely not ordinary. The accumulation of such advantages
would naturally give one the ability to do battle with those beyond one’s cultivation level.
Zhou Yuan smiled and said, “The pointer mentioned by elder doesn’t refer to demoralising me with this
information, right?”
The gray robed elder shook his head. “The Great Zhou Empire is too small and is akin to a bird cage. For
an eagle to soar in the nine heavens, it must face the baptism of numerous storms. Staying in a small cage
like this will only limit one’s view and waste one’s talent, ultimately resulting in the gradual decline
towards mediocrity and being left completely behind by other geniuses.”
A look of thought was finally revealed in Zhou Yuan’s eyes. Truth be told, he agreed with the old man’s
words. The Great Zhou Empire was indeed too small, while the talented individuals he could come into
contact with here were far too few, preventing him from using them as grindstones to improve himself.
Zhou Yuan slowly said, “Elder… means for me to leave the Great Zhou Empire?”
The gray robed old man smiled thinly. “A long time ago, there was a Saint that died on this land. When his
holy blood fell, it transformed into Saint Remains Domains filled with various wonders and opportunities,
drawing countless geniuses to vie against each other for these treasures.”
“Only by obtaining the Saint’s blood will one be able to call oneself the Saint’s successor and establish a
Saint foundation. This can be said to be a huge blessing and opportunity. In the future, the Saint’s
successor might even be able to condense a Saint fetus, open a Law Domain and maybe even… have a
peek into the greatness of that Saint.”
Zhou Yuan was somewhat dazed after listening to the gray robed elder’s aged voice. Everything had
already surpassed the boundaries of his knowledge.
“What is… a Saint?” Zhou Yuan seemed to struggle as he asked. The word seemed to contain an
overwhelming divinity, and merely speaking it made the Genesis Qi in his body grow restless.
The gray robed old man thought for a while, before he smiled and said, “This subject is still too far off for
you. You only need to know that those who may call themselves Saints are as rare as phoenix feathers or
unicorn horns in this world.”
“A single drop of blood from a Saint can turn into an azure sea.”
“When the Saint from back then died, his Saint blood and remains landed in various places, forming
several Saint Remains Domains.”
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“And one of these Saint Remains Domains exists in the Cangmang Continent.”
Zhou Yuan’s pupils involuntarily shrunk. Was the main topic finally here after so much talking?
The gray robed elder chuckled and continued, “Practically every genius of the Cangmang Continent’s
younger generation is currently training hard in preparation to enter this Saint Remains Domain.”
“What’s more, I’ve heard that the Great Wu Empire’s crown prince has been arduously training for
several years specifically for this event, and is clearly determined on being the final winner.”
“Other large empires and great clans are also doing all they can to groom their young talents. Everything
is solely for the sake of seizing the greatest gift within the Saint Remains Domain.”
“Once the greatest gift is obtained, the six sacred sects of Cangxuan Heaven will turn their attention to
you and come to receive you.”
Zhou Yuan interjected in confusion, “The six sacred sects?”
He was aware that Cangxuan Heaven was the name of the world he lived in, while the Cangmang
Continent was only one of the many continents within it. However, he had never heard of the six sacred
sects.
“Having no knowledge about them is normal. Let alone someone at your level, even your father has yet to
come into contact with such information.”
The gray robed old man chuckled before he began to elaborate, “In simple terms, the six sacred sects are
the overlords of Cangxuan Heaven. Their hands cover this entire world, while all of you are merely ants
beneath them.”
Zhou Yuan let out a bitter laugh. This was indeed information that was far too distant, information that
the current him should not be able to access.
However, Zhou Yuan finally had a grasp of how important the Saint Remains Domain was after this
explanation. Even the prided geniuses of the various large empires and great clans, such as Wu Huang,
greatly desired it. One could imagine just how huge of an opportunity it was.
Zhou Yuan suddenly asked, “Since the Saint Remains Domain is so important, won’t the various factions
dispatch their powerhouses?”
If the large empires sent Alpha-Origin or even the stronger Divine Dwelling stage practitioners, none of
the young geniuses would have a chance no matter how strong they were.
“The Saint’s pressure covers the Saint Remains Domain, and the stronger the individual, the greater the
suppression faced inside.” The gray robed elder grinned as he continued, “The fear of their cultivation
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being suppressed and being killed by one of the younger ones makes it such that these powerhouses
would not dare to enter so casually.”
He stared at Zhou Yuan, a spark flashing in his murky eyes as he smiled and said, “Kid, if the greatest gift
of the Saint Remains Domain falls into the hands of Great Wu’s crown prince, I can say with certainty that
your already minute chances of surpassing him will drop to rock bottom. He will use this advantage to
spring himself even further ahead of you... so much further that you may never have the chance to turn
the tables.”
The gray robed old man paused, before he continued once again, “Of course… I’m afraid that it will be
rather difficult for you to vie with him given your current strength.”
“So how about it? Do you have the courage to desire that greatest gift?” The gray robed elder seemed to
smile as if greatly interested in Zhou Yuan’s answer.
Zhou Yuan shut his eyes and took in a deep breath. It was a long time later before they slowly opened
again as a dazzling light surged within them.
Wu Huang was already ahead of him. If the former managed to obtain the greatest gift of the Saint
Remains Domain, the gap between the two of them would widen once more.
As the saying went, once one was a single step behind, one would always be a step behind.
If Zhou Yuan wanted to catch up, he needed to grab every chance he got.
The prided geniuses of the various large empires and great clans would soon gather in the Saint Remains
Domain. Compared to them, Zhou Yuan had no advantage at all. However, he had never lacked courage
ever since the day he had rediscovered his eight meridian channels.
Even stealing his sacred dragon blessing and being unable to find his eight meridian channels had not
stopped him. What could these so-called prided geniuses possibly do?
Therefore, Zhou Yuan looked towards the gray robed elder and solemnly cupped his fists together as he
bowed.
“Zhou Yuan thanks elder for his pointer.”
He was glad to have met the gray robed old man. If not, he would have completely missed out on the
chance to come into contact with the greatest gift of the Saint Remains Domain.
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“It seems that you’ve been tempted?” The gray robed elder smiled from ear to ear as he stared at Zhou
Yuan. The latter’s answer had clearly indicated his decision.
Zhou Yuan displayed a slight smile as he replied, “It would be fine if I did not have this information, but
since elder has already pointed the way, won’t I be a lost cause if I still do not grasp this chance?”
The Saint Remains Domain was clearly the most important opportunity in the Cangmang Continent. Even
the prided geniuses of the many large empires, great clans and powerful factions were currently doing all
they could in preparation for this grand event. So what reason did he have for turning a blind eye?
This was no small squabble, but a true contest for the grand prize!
The path of cultivation was fraught with untold dangers and difficulties. Only the one who was able to
grasp each chance that descended and continuously surpass every strong foe encountered would
ultimately stand at the peak of the world.
“At least you have some courage.” The gray robed elder nodded. Having already said so much, if Zhou
Yuan did not even have the balls to vie with the prided geniuses of the large empires, great clans and
powerful factions, he future would truly be limited, making him unworthy of the old man’s concern.
The old man retrieved a map from his sleeves and said, “This is a map of the entire Cangmang Continent.
The location of the Saint Remains Domain has been marked on it. It will likely take several months to
reach it from the Great Zhou Empire. Fortunately, there is still half a year till the opening of the Saint
Remains Domain so you should be able to make it.”
Zhou Yuan received the map and unfurled it. His gaze swept across the map, coming to a stop at the very
center where a giant eye-grabbing blood-red area had been marked out.
From the terrain, it really looked as if the area had been formed from a drop of blood.
The only thing was that… this drop of blood seemed to be a little too terrifying to imagine.
Zhou Yuan mumbled to himself, “So this is the Saint Remains Domain.”
Soon after, he let out a sigh. He had realised that he would have to pass through the territories of dozens
of empires in order to reach his destination. Basically, really really far.
Even rushing along at full speed would take several months at least.
Zhou Yuan stared at the map. It was likely that practically every outstanding genius was already on their
way to the Saint Remains Domain.
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It would truly be akin to warlords vying for supremacy or a gathering of talented geniuses.
But this was exactly why it would be even more marvelous. On the path of the strong, one needed to
constantly improve. Weren’t the prided geniuses from the various factions the best whetstones for this?
Blazing battle lust surged out in Zhou Yuan’s eyes.
After the gray robed elder handed the map to Zhou Yuan, he began to rummage about again in his sleeves.
In the end, he fished out a jade tile and threw it to Zhou Yuan.
Zhou Yuan hastily caught it. The word ‘Cang’ had been carved onto the jade tile.
“What is this?” Asked a puzzled Zhou Yuan as he grasped the jade tile.
The gray robed old man lazily replied, “If you manage to distinguish yourself in the Saint Remains Ruins,
you will naturally find out what it is. But if you fade away into mediocrity, don’t bother taking it out.”
Zhou Yuan was bewildered, but could only nod in acknowledgement before keeping the tile into his
Universe bag.
The gray robed elder suddenly declared, “Kid, I’ve already said all that I need to. I will be leaving with Su
Youwei and her grandfather today.”
“Today?” Zhou Yuan was stunned. There was a complicated expression in his eyes as he shot a glance at
the little house Su Youwei was in. In the end, he nodded.
In the room, Su Youwei tidied up before walking out. The expression on her pretty face had become
downcast once again.
She lifted her head, meeting Zhou Yuan’s gaze. However, both of them were silent for a time.
“Your highness, you must remember to look for me in the future!” Said Su Youwei in a soft voice.
Zhou Yuan smiled and nodded. “Don’t worry. I will not go back on the promises that I’ve made.”
A bright and beautiful smile appeared on Su Youwei’s face when she heard this.
“Let’s go.”
The gray robed old man smiled faintly. He shot one last glance at Zhou Yuan, but did not say anything.
With a wave of his sleeve, a gust of Genesis Qi unfurled, sweeping up Su Youwei and her grandfather as it
transformed into a streak of light that soared into the sky.
“Work hard kid, if you fail to distinguish yourself in the Saint Remains Domain, I would advise against
looking for her because you’ll only be hurting your own ego. Haha.”
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Laughter slowly echoed in Zhou Yuan’s ears as the gray robed old man transformed into a streak of light
that dashed into the sky.
Zhou Yuan raised his head and watched the streaks of light vanish into the distance. It was a long while
later before he finally withdrew his gaze in a somewhat crestfallen manner. He looked towards the small
clean courtyard as he recalled the first time he had sent Su Youwei home…
Back then, she had only been a dirty little girl, but now, her radiance had been revealed and no one knew
just how far she would go in the future.
It was perhaps truly as the gray robed old man had said, the future Su Youwei would reach such a
dazzling level that even he would not be able to come close.
“I wonder if things will be the same between us the next time we meet…” Zhou Yuan sighed softly.
Su Youwei had her own path to walk, while he likewise had to fight for his own destiny.
“I should work hard or it will be quite shameful if I end up unable to compare to her when we next meet.”
Zhou Yuan chuckled as a radiance shined in his eyes.
He lowered his head and gazed at the map in his hands.
“It seems that the Saint Remains Domain… will be very exciting…”
“Wu Huang… is it finally time for us to meet…”
Zhou Yuan smiled faintly before walking out of the small courtyard, slowly closing the doors behind him.
The people here had already left, who knew when these doors would open once again.
Su Youwei, I hope that your future will be amazing.
...
“What? You’re leaving the Great Zhou Empire?” In the royal palace, Zhou Qing and Qin Yu cried out in
surprise when they heard Zhou Yuan’s plans.
Zhou Yuan nodded as he placed the map in front of them and pointed at the Saint Remains Domain.
“Father, mother, all the geniuses from our continent will be vying for the greatest gift of the Saint
Remains Domain, including the Great Wu Empire’s Wu Huang. If I miss out on this chance, I will probably
regret it for the rest of my life.”
“The Saint Remains Domain huh…”
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Zhou Qing sighed as he gazed at the map, evidently having heard of this place before. However, the Great
Zhou Empire’s status was nothing like it had been in the past, and they were naturally no longer able to
covet the Saint Remains Domain.
He never expected that Zhou Yuan would still come to know of it from somewhere else.
“Yuan’er, that Saint Remains Domain is extremely far away and your competitors will be the geniuses
from all kinds of places.” Qin Yu seemed to be in pain. How could she not know just how many hardships
one needed to face in the struggle for the greatest blessing.
Such struggles would likely be life or death battles.
“Does mother not believe in me?” Zhou Yuan smiled.
“Rebellious brat.” Qin Yu smiled bitterly. Her son was naturally unrivalled in her heart, but the thought of
Zhou Yuan leaving them and bearing all that pressure alone still cut deeply into her heart.
Zhou Qing was silent. Moments later, he said, “Your choice is correct.”
He knew how significant this blessing was. If Zhou Yuan managed to obtain it, it would become an
incomparably important aid to his future cultivation.
“But it will be very difficult to vie with the other geniuses.” Zhou Qing clearly understood that the young
individuals who received the full support of their respective factions would be top tier amongst the
younger generation.
Zhou Yuan was already a step behind due to the late discovery of his meridian channels. Hence,
competing with others would naturally be an uphill challenge.
Zhou Yuan nodded as he grinned and said, “If it was easy, it would not be a worthwhile contest.”
He had long prepared himself for these handicaps. Although those geniuses were definitely
extraordinary, they were in for a very bad time if they were to underestimate him.
Zhou Yuan said, “Father, you need to quickly and covertly send men to take charge of the Battle Puppet
Sect ruins and obtain control of the battle puppet army within. The Great Zhou Empire needs to rapidly
strengthen itself and this army will definitely be a huge help against the Great Wu Empire.”
“Don’t worry, I’ve already arranged for experts proficient in Genesis Runes to learn how to open the
Genesis Rune Boundary from Yaoyao.”
“When are you preparing to leave?”
Zhou Yuan lifted his head and peered into the distance where clouds were beginning to gather.
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“In three days.”
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Chapter 115 Young Lady in Purple
Outside the gates of Great Zhou City.
Zhou Yuan helplessly shook his head as he looked at the teary eyed Qin Yu. The only thing he could do
was continue to comfort her.
Zhou Qing helplessly said as he watched, “Alright, alright. Yuan’er is no longer a child and should head out
to experience the world. There’s no need to be so over sensitive about it.”
“Don’t worry aunt Qin, I will keep an eye on him.” Yaoyao also spoke up to console Qin Yu.
Zhou Yuan was naturally bringing Yaoyao and Tuntun along. After all, Zhou Yuan was the sole reason
they had stayed in the Great Zhou Empire.
Qin Yu finally nodded after hearing Yaoyao’s words and said, “I will be a lot less worried with Yaoyao
around. If he does not listen to you, go ahead and discipline him.”
Yaoyao faintly smiled as she pursed her red lips.
Zhou Qing retrieved five black crystal cards from his clothes and passed them to Zhou Yuan. Extremely
complicated patterns were inscribed on the faintly glowing cards.
Zhou Qing explained, “These are Heavenly Crystal Pavilion crystal cards. Each one can be traded for one
hundred thousand Genesis crystals at any Heavenly Crystal Pavilion branch. You will likely need them on
your journey.”
Zhou Yuan received them with a wide smile and clicked his tongue as he said, “Five hundred thousand
Genesis crystals, almost can’t believe that father is willing to part with such a sum.”
Five hundred thousand Genesis crystals. Such an enormous sum would probably be able to buy a high
grade Black tier Genesis Weapon or treasure. To put things into perspective, the small fortune Zhou Yuan
had managed to save up after so many years only amounted to a mere fifty thousand Genesis crystals.
Zhou Qing rolled his eyes at Zhou Yuan. “Stinking brat, you’d better be frugal. The Great Zhou Empire is
currently experiencing a period of growth and squeezing out these five hundred thousand Genesis
crystals has already given me several white hairs.”
Zhou Yuan grinned and kept the cards into his Universe bag.
As he raised his head again, his gaze met Zhou Qing’s. Zhou Yuan could faintly see the concern deeply
concealed within the latter’s eyes.
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Zhou Yuan softly said, “Then… I’ll be going.”
Zhou Qing waved his hand and said, “Go if you want to, stop being so wishy washy.”
Zhou Yuan chuckled and reached out to hug Qin Yu. Subsequently, he mounted his Fire-Lion Horse and
looked towards Zhou Qing. “When your son returns, he will demand justice for all of the grievances and
humiliation you had to suffer back then!”
“When that time comes, everything the Great Zhou Empire has lost will be taken back!”
As his words faded, he no longer hesitated and pulled at the reigns. With a neigh, rider and ridee
transformed into a blur of red, not turning back a single time as they galloped along the main street.
Yaoyao waved her little hand at Zhou Qing and Qin Yu before swiftly catching up on her own horse.
As they watched the two swiftly departing figures, Zhou Qing’s strained face could no longer maintain its
facade. His eyes reddened as he mumbled, “This stinking brat has finally grown up.”
He reached out the only arm he had and embraced the softly sobbing Qin Yu as he continued to stare
blankly into the distance.
“Yuan’er, father will be waiting to see the day you soar into the heavens, and the mere mention of your
name causes the entire continent to shudder.”
“I want everyone to know that the sacred dragon of our Zhou clan is not so easily crippled!”
...
The Great Wu Empire.
In a certain pavilion within a grand but well guarded palace.
Bead curtains swayed with the wind, emitting crisp chink chink noises. A row of servant girls knelt
outside the bead curtains, no one making even the slightest noise.
A go board [1] was set Inside the pavilion, black and white distinctly separate.
Clack!
A go piece slowly descended.
The one who had placed it wore a set of bright yellow robes. He had a handsome face, the dark red dot
between his brows exceptionally eye-catching, while an aura of dignity spread from his body. It was the
crown prince of the Great Wu Empire, Wu Huang.
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In front of Wu Huang, a small fair as jade hand pinching a black stone slowly fell as an indifferent voice
sounded. “The opening of the Saint Remains Domain approaches. When will you be leaving?”
Wu Huang lifted his head and looked at the person before him.
She was a young lady in purple. Her beautiful face was akin to a painting, her skin seemingly sparkling
like translucent snow. There was likewise an attention grabbing dark red dot between her brows, but it
did not affect her beauty, but instead gave her a slightly otherworldly look.
She had a pair of long and narrow phoenix eyes [2]. Although she was young, when she narrowed them
slightly, a majestic presence could be felt as if she was a true phoenix that had descended onto the mortal
realm.
Long fine black hair flowed down along her slender waist before ultimately touching her fair feet.
Bewitching to every living thing.
Only such words could describe the young woman’s face.
“I will be leaving tomorrow.”
Wu Huang slowly said, “I was not blessed with the same opportunity that has enabled you to ascend the
heavens in a single step and save so much time on training and polishing yourself.”
“Each person has their own destiny and one should never force destiny.” The young lady in purple merely
continued looking at the go board, not a single change in her voice as she continued, “You will not be too
shabby either if you managed to obtain the greatest gift of the Saint Remains Domain.”
Wu Huang emotionlessly said, “It will definitely be mine.”
The young lady in purple seemed to sigh softly. “Too much arrogance is not good. Cangmang Continent’s
current batch of younger generation has never been of higher quality.”
“The one from the Sword Empire that blinded both his eyes for the sake of his sword cultivation…”
“The Little County Lord from the Thousand Beast Empire that is said to be capable of controlling a
hundred beasts…”
“The Little Yama King from the Yama Sect…”
“The Battle Junky from the Ning clan…”
“The Enchantress from the Zouqiu clan…”
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The young lady in purple propped up a cheek with one of her fair hands, excitement rising in her eyes as
she continued, “All of these individuals are prided geniuses that the various factions have poured all of
their resources into for the sake of the Saint Remains Domain.
“What a pity… I originally wanted to stay here and have an enjoyable battle with everyone.”
The young lady in purple slowly shook her head, as if regretful that she would not be a part of the
upcoming fight.
She was clearly a girl, yet her words would occasionally give off both a domineering feeling and lust for
battle that did not lose to any man.
Wu Huang frowned. A small glimpse of a passionate desire that no one knew of flitted past the depths of
his eyes as he stared at the young lady in front of him and said, “The second line of the clan prophecy
really makes no sense at all.”
The first line of the Wu clan prophecy; when python and sparrow devour the dragon, the Great Wu
Empire will flourish.
The second line of the Wu clan prophecy; the phoenix must not see the dragon.
“You and I are twins, why can we not see each other?” Wu Huang’s voice was filled with doubt.
The young lady in purple’s pretty face was expressionless. She gently held a black stone between her fair
fingers as light seemed to flow within her eyes. After being silent for a short period, her nonchalant voice
rang out, “The dragon may not refer to you.”
Bang!
The subsequent silence in the pavilion only lasted for a split second. In the next instant, raging Genesis Qi
abruptly exploded from Wu Huang’s body like an erupting volcano, turning the entire go board to ashes.
The numerous kneeling servant girls outside the pavilion trembled, not daring to make even the tiniest
sound.
They could feel just how furious their esteemed crown prince currently was at this very moment.
They very rarely saw their crown prince, whom usually did not show any emotions on his face, lose his
composure.
Wu Huang was still seated in a kneeling position, but his handsome face had turned exceptionally stormy
as he stared at the young lady in purple and demanded in an icy voice, “What are you trying to say?”
“Wu Yao, who else but me is worthy of standing shoulder to shoulder with you?!”
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[1] https://www.google.com/search?q=go+board&rlz=1C1CHBF_enSG805SG805&source=lnms&tbm=isc
h&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwib78GvwKLjAhV37nMBHeqRD7sQ_AUIECgB&biw=1920&bih=937
[2]
https://image.baidu.com/search/detail?ct=503316480&z=undefined&tn=baiduimagedetail&ipn=d&wor
d=%E5%87%A4%E7%9B%AE&step_word=&ie=utf-8&in=&cl=2&lm=-
1&st=undefined&hd=undefined&latest=undefined&copyright=undefined&cs=1017461352,1395641058
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Wu Huang’s expression was ominously dark. Genesis Qi violently surged around him like waves on a
stormy night, wave after wave emerging from his body and shaking the entire pavillion.
However, his piercing gaze and Genesis Qi pressure seemed to have no effect on the young lady in purple.
She stared at the ashes that had once been the go board as she somewhat disappointedly put down the
stone in her hand.
The young lady in purple indifferently said, “Wu Huang, this is my advice to you. Do not overlook that
person.”
“Don’t forget that he is ultimately the source of our blessings. From a certain point of view, he is the one
who made us, but since we managed to take the initiative, it will be best to maintain vigilance at all
times.”
“That’s if you don’t want it to be taken back in the end.”
Fire burned in Qi Huang’s eyes as he retorted, “You’re referring to that crippled dragon? Do you really
believe he has the qualifications?”
“Besides, I’ve told you this more than once. Stop it with the belief that we stole his blessings. We were
merely retrieving what belongs to us!”
“It is he who is the thief!”
“A thief that was created due to a mistake of the heavens!”
The young lady in purple called Wu Yao shot him a calm look as she responded, “The crippled dragon you
speak of has quelled king Qi’s rebellion a month ago. Even the six Alpha-Origin experts you secretly
dispatched as support ultimately lost.”
“Moreover, that so-called crippled dragon personally slew the Alpha-Origin Wang Chaotian in battle.”
Wu Huang let out an icy chuckle. “From the information I’ve obtained, that crippled dragon only has the
strength of the Qi Nourishing stage, and had relied on the power of a silver armor like object to kill Wang
Chaotian. You and I should clearly understand that there will definitely be consequences after relying on
such an external power, such power cannot be used so easily. Therefore, that crippled dragon probably
had no choice but to resort to such a measure.”
“Who knows whether he died due to the repercussions.”
“As for slaying Wang Chaotian…” The corners of Wu Huang’s mouth lifted in a mocking manner as he
continued, “A battle achievement that relies on an external power does not enter my eyes.”
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The young lady in purple frowned slightly. “Wu Huang, there will eventually come a day where you will
lose because of your pride and arrogance.”
Wu Huang calmly said, “Because I have that right.”
The young lady in purple slowly shook her head, her interest waning. She had already warned Wu Huang.
If he still persisted in his attitude, she could not be bothered to speak any further on this matter.
Upon seeing this, Wu Huang’s expression softened as he quietly said, “Relax, after I obtain the greatest
gift of the Saint Remains Domain, I will think of a way to completely eliminate the Great Zhou Empire so
as to prevent any potential trouble in the future.”
Wu Yao did not comment. She waved her small hand and said, “Go make your preparations. I will also be
leaving after tomorrow. Who knows when we will next meet.”
Wu Huang stared at her, passionate feelings flowing within the depths of his eyes as he said, “Wu Yao, I
will show you that I am the true dragon. Only you and I are the most compatible in this world.”
The moment he finished speaking, he decisively turned around with a wave of his sleeves and left.
Wu Yao’s gaze lingered in the direction he had left in, not even the slightest change in her eyes. In the end,
she turned her head and looked towards a certain distant place.
“Sacred dragon of the Zhou clan…”
“Although I’ve borrowed your blessings, this is a world where the strong prey on the weak. Never mind if
you are crippled here, but if you are truly able to climb back up…”
The tip of Wu Yao’s soft tongue slowly emerged and licked the rosy lips of her little mouth as a
bewitching light appeared within her eyes.
“Then I… will devour you again!”
...
The next day.
Before the main hall of the Great Wu royal palace.
Numerous ministers and military leaders were looking upwards where red Genesis Qi was soaring into
the sky from a tall pavillion. The Genesis Qi was akin to a dazzling sun and gave off extremely hot
undulations, so hot that even the surrounding air had started to distort due to the burning heat.
“We respectfully send off the crown prince!”
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“We will be praying for our crown prince’s triumphant return!”
Many voices buzzed from below.
Swish!
Red Genesis Qi whizzed forth like a cloud of fire. A tall figure stood atop the fire cloud with his hands
behind his back, disdain on his face. He ignored the crowd that had come to send him off and instead cast
his gaze towards a certain building deep within the palace.
“Wu Yao, I will prove to you who exactly is the true dragon.”
He withdrew his gaze moments later. Without any further hesitation, he disappeared into the horizon
under the watching gazes of the crowd.
...
Sword Empire.
Below a lonely peak shaped like a sword.
A figure walked out from within the mountain. As he approached, one would discover that it was a young
man in ash colored robes. However, a black cloth had been wrapped around his eyes.
On his back was a plain looking black sword that had no tip. A faint but astonishing sword Qi spread from
it. Wherever he passed, the rocks on the ground would silently split apart, the interior of the cut pieces
smooth as a mirror.
He raised his head as the eyes concealed by the black cloth were seemingly cast towards the distance.
“Saint Remains Domain…”
His voice sounded exceptionally hoarse.
“I need a true rival to sharpen my sword.”
“The Battle Maniac from the Ning clan and Wu Huang from the Great Wu Empire should be good
opponents, right?”
The black sword on his back trembled slightly, as if itching to get it on with the other elites of the same
generation.
...
The Thousand Beast Empire.
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Roar!
A deafening roar echoed within the city. The entire city watched as an enormous winged beast flapped its
titanic wings and rose into the air.
A young lady was seated in a kneeling position atop the winged beast’s back. She had a head full of long
green hair and eyes filled with liveliness, an overall bizarre appearance.
A small ice-blue bird hopped on her soft shoulders as it chirped. Its eyes seemed to be filled with an
endless frost.
“Hehe, little frost, we can finally go out and play!”
The young lady stroked the small bird, her tiny face blooming with excitement.
“I heard that the Saint Remains Domain is going to be really fun this time and there’s going to be many
formidable characters there. Hehe, not a single one of our peers here in the Thousand Beast Empire has
been able to beat us in a fight. I hope that those fellows will not be too boring.”
“Onwards!”
With a loud shout from the young lady, the winged beast roared. Its wings beating powerfully as its speed
rapidly rose, riding the winds into the distance.
...
Boom!
In a certain martial courtyard.
A burst of violent Genesis Qi swept outwards, sending a dozen figures flying while turning the courtyard
into a complete mess.
“Haha, all of you are too weak!”
“Meaningless, meaningless. Tell father that I am going to the Saint Remains Domain. Staying here is just
too meaningless!”
Only a single figure remained standing within the mess, his thick muscular body akin to a metal tower.
His gaze swept across the area, eyes filled with battle lust.
It was as if he was a ferocious ape.
He grinned and let out a hearty laugh, no hesitation whatsoever as he stamped his foot on the ground and
his body soared into the sky. Several leaps later, he disappeared.
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Everyone in the courtyard breathed a sigh of relief as they watched him leave before bursting into cheers.
“That monster is finally gone…”
“We will no longer be tortured by him.”
“I feel a little sorry for those going to the Saint Remains Domain, it’s pretty much over once that maniac
has his sights on you…”
“....”
...
North of the Cangmang Continent, the noble Zouqiu clan.
Outside the dwelling of a certain young lady, a servant girl’s cautious voice sounded, “It’s time miss. The
clan leader has sent me to notify you that we may leave.”
Inside the building, a lovely snow-white figure lay under a thin quilt on a soft bed. Even so, the quilt was
unable to hide her extremely alluring curves.
Upon hearing the servant girl’s voice, the figure rose from the quilt. The quilt fell, immediately revealing a
body as fair as lamb fat. Her long hair hung in front of her, covering two heart-poundingly busty mounds.
“Come in.” She raised her head, only to reveal an exceedingly charming little face akin to a little pixie’s, a
face that would make one feel a rush of excitement.
The servant girl carefully pushed open the door and walked in. Even though she was also a girl, the erotic
sight on the bed caused the servant’s girl gaze to involuntarily sweep across that unreasonable to the
extreme figure.
The servant girl quickly started to retrieved some clothes and helped the young lady put them on.
The long black dress that now covered her body made her lovely figure appear even more mesmerising.
Slender yet bountiful in all the right places, those curves alone were enough to draw the gaze of everyone
in the area.
“Hehe, thank you little Bi. Tell father that I will definitely bring back a groom this time!” The little
enchantress beamed as she gave a little peck to the servant girl’s cheek.
The servant girl helplessly reminded, “Miss, clan leader said that you must obtain the greatest gift!”
“What kind of gift can compare to finding a good husband?” The little enchantress winked as she
chuckled.
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“Alright, I’m off!”
However, she did not tease the girl any further. With a wave of her hand, after images of her figure
rapidly appeared and disappeared, disappearing into the distance several breaths later.
The servant girl could not help but praise as she watched her lady’s phantom like movement technique.
“Milady’s movement technique definitely stands at the peak of those from the same generation in the
Cangmang Continent.”
...
This was an eerie mountain where white bones piled up like hills, the entire area smothered in an aura of
the dead.
Crack.
A sound suddenly rang out from the mountain as a procession of figures lumbered out. Their footsteps
were stiff and rigid, skin an unhealthy white and eyes akin to empty holes. At closer inspection, one
would realise that there were no signs of life on their bodies.
Almost as if they were dead men.
They carried a huge sedan on their shoulders. The spookily white sedan decorated by ghastly pictures
drawn in blood-red gave off a strangely sinister aura.
A chilly wind blew past, lifting the white curtains of the sedan.
A young bloodlessly-pale face appeared under the curtains. His eyes were the color of ash and the aura of
death seemed to swirl around him, a sight that would make one shiver all over.
A hundred ghosts carrying a sedan.
The white sedan faded into the distance as an eerily cold voice seemed to echo.
“As the Yama King passes, the living scurry away…”
...
Meanwhile.
Numerous famous geniuses from all across the entire Cangmang Continent had begun to move. Their
target was one and the same; every gaze pointed towards the Saint Remains Domain at the center of the
continent.
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As a result, countless gazes from the entire Cangman Continent converged to this place.
Everyone wanted to know how amazing it would be when the numerous prided geniuses and elites of the
younger generation clashed.
The Saint Remains Domain had already become the focus of the entire continent.
A storm was gathering, and the hidden dragons will naturally begin to reveal themselves.
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Chapter 117 Magical Python Scales
Cangmang Continent.
Deep within the mountains in the southwest region.
Roar!
The deafening roar of a giant creature echoed in the mountain forests. The creature had the appearance
of a lion which was covered in silver scales, while cackling lightning danced on the surface of its body.
It was a grade 2 Genesis Beast, the Rushing Thunder Beast.
A beast like this would usually be avoided by even advance Qi Nourishing stage practitioners.
However, a human figure was currently dashing towards the Rushing Thunder Beast at this very moment.
Dark gold Genesis Qi exploded from the surface of the figure’s body as a ferocious without equal punch
was thrown, its power so great that even the ground below the figure’s feet cracked open.
Roar!
The Rushing Thunder Beast roared as lightning gathered on its head. In the next instant, it transformed
into a bolt of lightning and clashed with the human figure.
Boom!
Shockwaves devastated the surrounding area as layer after layer of the ground below their feet was
peeled away.
The Rushing Thunder Beast let out a cry of anguish as its enormous body was launched into the air. Its
head had been shattered, killed on the spot in a single blow.
The figure landed on the Rushing Thunder Beast corpse, fished out the Beast Spirit Crystal and retrieved
the mottled black brush hanging on his waist. The brush hairs swept forth, swallowing the Beast Spirit.
This human figure was naturally Zhou Yuan whom had left the Great Zhou Empire.
It had been two whole months since he left the Great Zhou Empire. Over these two months, Yaoyao and
him had passed through numerous regions. The majority of the routes they had chosen to take however
were through deep mountains and dense forests, because only in such places would one be able to
encounter many Genesis Beasts for training purposes.
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Numerous prided geniuses would soon gather at the Saint Remains Domain, and he needed to make use
of every single second to raise his strength. Only then would his chances of becoming the final victor be a
little bit higher.
The past two months of bitter training had allowed him to progress substantially. There were already
faint indications of breaking through to the advance Qi Nourishing stage.
“Can’t believe that a grade 2 Rushing Thunder Beast can’t even survive my full power punch.” Zhou Yuan
mumbled to himself, a little proud of his achievement. After all, even ordinary Qi Nourishing stage experts
did not dare to face such a beast.
“Is this really worth being happy about?” A clear voice rang out from the side.
Yaoyao carried Tuntun in her arms as she rolled her eyes at Zhou Yuan and said in a slightly miffed
manner, “Two entire months of training and you haven’t even managed to bring out the wonders of the
Omni Python Qi, what’s there to be pleased about?”
“Urgh…”
Zhou Yuan was taken aback.
Yaoyao helplessly shook her head. “The Omni Python Qi is a grade 5 Genesis Qi and originates from the
Ancestral Dragon Scripture. Do you really believe that it is only a little more powerful and domineering
than ordinary Genesis Qi?”
Zhou Yuan let out an awkward laugh before he sincerely said, “Please guide me big sis Yaoyao!”
“Go prepare dinner for Tuntun first.” Yaoyao merely chuckled softly while Tuntun released a bark of
approval.
Zhou Yuan was helpless. All he could do was hoist the Rushing Thunder Beast on his shoulders and
return to their camp where he set up a frame over the fire and began roasting the meat. Such chores had
been handled by him for the past two months. Thus, his movements were now smooth and practiced.
Only when the fragrance of roasted meat gradually emerge did Yaoyao finally place a fair hand on her
cheek, a small smile on her lips as she asked, “Have you felt any changes in the Omni Python Qi recently?”
Zhou Yuan fell into thought before giving a little shake of his head.
The corners of Yaoyao’s red lips curved downwards. “Tuntun, give it to him.”
Upon hearing this, Tuntun excitedly stood up from her arms, its eyes shining as it stared at Zhou Yuan.
“Eh? Wait!” Zhou Yuan jumped back a little in fear.
703
Swish!
However, Tuntun ignored him. Its tiny body flashed and appeared in front of Zhou Yuan as a paw was
sent swatting over.
Zhou Yuan hurriedly lifted his arms as dark gold Genesis Qi whizzed out.
Thud!
Tuntun’s tiny paw landed and Zhou Yuan was instantly blown away as if struck by a heavy blow. He
crashed into a giant tree, intense pain jerking through his arms.
Zhou Yuan hissed through gnashed teeth, “You little bastard, biting the hand that feeds you! Don’t even
think about having any more meals in future!”
Yaoyao let out a soft laugh. “Did you feel the tiny change in the Genesis Qi inside your body at the instant
of impact?”
Zhou Yuan viciously glared at Tuntun, before beginning to mutter to himself, somewhat hesitant as he
replied, “It seems as if the Omni Python Qi wanted to fuse into my flesh and blood when I was hit.”
The truth was that signs of this phenomenon had already been detected by Zhou Yuan. The only reason
why it had been overlooked because it was far too faint.
Yaoyao slowly said, “Grasp that feeling and allow nature to take its course.”
“Tuntun.” Yaoyao called out once again.
Tuntun barked in response and looked towards Zhou Yuan. However, it seemed to hesitate as if Zhou
Yuan’s threat of not giving it any food earlier had actually worked.
“Bring it.” Said a peeved Zhou Yuan when he saw this.
Swish!
Tutun barked excitedly and shot forward once again, extraordinary power within its tiny paw as it was
sent swatting towards Zhou Yuan.
Zhou Yuan’s expression grew solemn. This time however, the instant Tuntun’s little paw arrived, he
concentrated on feeling the minute change in the Genesis Qi within his body. Sure enough, he discovered
that some Genesis Qi was automatically fusing into the flesh and blood of his arms.
However, Zhou Yuan’s body seemed to put up some resistance, preventing the Genesis Qi from fusing into
it.
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Zhou Yuan seemed to comprehend something, and immediately fully relaxed his body with a thought. The
resistance faded along with this action and strands of Omni Python Qi began to merge into his arms.
The instant this happened, Zhou Yuan saw a faint green glow emerge on his arms. Next, he watched in
astonishment as green scales began to grow.
The green scales had a hidden luster like the scales of a python.
Thump!
Tuntun’s paw swung downwards and Zhou Yuan was blown a dozen steps back again. However, he did
not feel as much pain from his arms this time. It was clear that the majority of the force had been
dispersed by the scales that had appeared on his arms.
“What is this?”
Zhou Yuan mumbled in shock. With a thought, the green scales on his arm swiftly receded.
The previous scene was already more than enough to display the strong defensive powers of the green
scales.
Yaoyao smiled faintly when she saw this and answered, “This is the first wonder of the Omni Python Qi,
the Magical Python Scales!”
“Magical Python Scales?” Zhou Yuan was taken aback.
“When the body encounters an attack, the Omni Python Qi will automatically protect its owner. Genesis
Qi will fuse into the body, creating a layer of scale armor to protect it.”
“There are said to be three levels to this Magical Python Scales which are shown by the color of the scales.
The first level is green, the second is gold and the third is purplish gold.”
Yaoyao continued in an unhurried manner, “If you can reach the purplish gold level, even the full power
of an Alpha-Origin expert will not be able to break your defences.”
Sss.
Zhou Yuan sucked in a breath of cold air. He couldn’t believe that the Magical Python Scales would
possess such insane defensive power.
“The Omni Python Qi is amazing.”
Zhou Yuan could not help but praise out loud. Although Tuntun’s previous attack had not been serious, it
had enough power to match an initial Heaven Gate stage practitioner. Yet, the attack had been unable to
705
break the scales. In other words, the green Magical Python Scales were capable of blocking an initial
Heaven Gate expert’s attacks.
With the protection of the Magical Python Scales, Zhou Yuan would now be able to put up a fight even
against an elite initial Heaven Gate expert.
The grade 5 Omni Python Qi of the Ancestral Dragon Scripture had finally began to reveal a trace of its
wondrous power.
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Chapter 118 Gu Territory
Deep in the mountains.
Beside the bonfire of a certain campsite.
Nearly an entire roasted Rushing Thunder Beast had already entered Tuntun’s stomach. Zhou Yuan on
the other hand was fully immersed in the recently discovered Magical Python Scales and was
continuously activating it.
Green scales would emerge on his arms, fists and face from time to time like a layer of protective scale
armor.
Yaoyao was holding a map, verifying their route as she declared, “We should be out of these mountains in
another three days.”
“After leaving these mountains, we will be in an area known as the Gu Territory. It does not fall under the
rule of any empire, but is instead governed by an influential family called the Gu clan. In the Gu Territory,
the Gu clan is akin to the local tyrant.” Yaoyao elaborated. She had brought along a lot of material on the
various regions and territories in the Cangmang Continent, and was hence able to find out all kinds of
information after some checking.
“The Gu Territory is already part of the central region and is relatively close to the Saint Remains
Domain.” Yaoyao smiled a little, a smile that appeared exceedingly dazzling under the illumination from
the bonfire.
“As for the Gu clan, they seem to be a little interesting from what I’ve read.” Yaoyao reached out a slender
fair finger and lightly tapped on a certain area of the map.
“Oh?” Zhou Yuan raised his head in surprise. There weren’t many things that could attract Yaoyao’s
interest.
Yaoyao explained with some interest, “The members of the Gu clan have pretty strong Spirits. The Gu clan
is therefore a clan proficient in Genesis Runes.”
Zhou Yuan was taken aback. “Could it be that the Gu clan possess a Spirit tempering method?”
“A Spirit Tempering Method alone will not be able to make the clan members’ Spirits strong, talent is also
a factor…” Yaoyao shook her head before continuing, “It seems that this Gu clan owns a Spirit Refining
Tower where one’s Spirit can be tempered.”
Zhou Yuan’s heart stirred a little. To think that the Gu clan actually had such a treasure.
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His Spirit had currently stabilized at the mid Illusory stage and had not been able to make much progress.
If he had a chance to enter the Spirit Refining Tower, his Spirit may be able to ascend to the advance
Illusory stage.
Once that happened, he would be able to learn and use grade 3 Genesis Runes.
However… a cultivation treasure like the Spirit Refining Tower would surely be tightly guarded by the Gu
clan, and outsiders would definitely be unable to enter. Hence, he had no choice but to discard such
thoughts.
Zhou Yuan sighed as he recollected himself and said with a smile, “Such a treasure has nothing to do with
us. After leaving these mountains, we will first replenish our supplies in Gu City before leaving and
heading straight towards the Saint Remains Domain.”
Yaoyao nodded in agreement. She shot a glance at the currently stretching Zhou Yuan as she said,
“Thinking about resting? Have you practiced the grade 2 Genesis Runes I taught you?”
Zhou Yuan’s face turned rigid.
Yaoyao’s head was lowered, continuing to look at the map as she said in a drawn out voice, “Don’t slack
off. None of the individuals heading to the Saint Remains Domain will be easy to deal with, and your mid
Qi Nourishing stage strength is really nothing to look at. How will you be able to vie with the others if you
do not work on your strong suits?”
“If you don’t plan on returning the Great Zhou Empire with your tail between your legs, it will be best for
you to behave.”
Zhou Yuan was a little sullen after being chided by Yaoyao, but he could only obediently take out a jade
tablet, draw the Heavenly Yuan Brush at this waist and begin practicing the grade 2 Genesis Runes
Yaoyao had taught him during the past two months.
...
Three days later.
Zhou Yuan was silently seated on a certain mountain. The surrounding Genesis Qi transformed into
strands of white that ultimately entered his nose as he breathed.
As Genesis Qi flooded in, dark gold Genesis Qi rose in Zhou Yuan’s Qi Dwelling, the silhouette of a dark
gold python hissing faintly discernible within.
As the python silhouette breathed, the Genesis Qi that had flowed into the body was completely sucked
away.
This training lasted for two hours, before Zhou Yuan’s eyes slowly opened.
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A dark gold luster filled his eyes as the surging Genesis Qi around him suddenly began to rise steadily.
Genesis Qi seemed to conflict with the air, emitting rumbling sounds while cracks began to grow on the
boulder he was seated on.
“Advance Qi Nourishing stage!”
Joy streaked across Zhou Yuan’s face as he felt the vigorous Genesis Qi in his Qi Dwelling. After two
months of arduous training, his Genesis Qi cultivation had finally progressed once again, entering the
advance Qi Nourishing stage.
After reaching the advance Qi Nourishing stage, Zhou Yuan was now a step closer to the Heaven Gate
stage.
The gap between him and the prided geniuses was being shortened bit by bit.
Phew.
A breath of white air was dispelled from Zhou Yuan’s mouth. With a leap, he landed on the ground where
Yaoyao, carrying Tuntun, shot him a glance and gave a slight nod of satisfaction. “You’ve finally advanced.
The two months of training weren’t wasted after all.”
“Let’s go, it’s time to leave these mountains.”
Yaoyao leisurely turned around, her footsteps light as she slowly began to head out of the mountains.
Zhou Yuan lifted his head and peered into the distance. He had been cooped up in these mountains for
two whole months, the outside world was likely already bustling with excitement by now, right?
...
It took Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao half a day to walk out of the mountains. Along the way, traces of humans
grew more and more abundant. As they had anticipated, the majority were youngsters filled with
youthful energy that were clearly aiming for the Saint Remains Domain.
Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao also drew quite a bit of attention. To be more precise, practically every gaze was
focused on Yaoyao, filled with amazement at her beauty.
As they walked along the main road, it did not take long for them to see a huge city appear some distance
to their front. The city looked simple and rustic, while two huge words were engraved above the city
gates.
Gu City.
The city of the Gu clan.
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Gu city was considerably grand. People came and go, making it a hubbub of activity, evidence that it was
clearly an extremely popular place.
Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao entered the city, only to find it filled with numerous tall towers, a rather different
style in contrast to Great Zhou City.
The two walked in the city, eventually coming to a stop before a large store. When they lifted their heads,
the three words ‘Precious Treasures Pavillion’ came into view. A steady stream of people passed in and
out of the entrance, a sign that it was a pretty popular.
Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao exchanged a look and entered.
Zhou Yuan’s daily Genesis Rune practice required jade tablets, various types of beast blood and other
supplementary materials. They also needed to restock on the daily necessities that they had used up
during their two months in the mountains.
Precious Treasures Pavilion was clearly able to meet Zhou Yuan’s needs.
When they entered the building, the first thing to greet them was the gorgeous decor. Everything was
practically glittering under the illumination from the crystal lamps.
Maybe because the Gu clan specialized in Genesis Runes, all kinds of ready use Genesis Runes were sold
in the building. However, when Zhou Yuan took a look, he was immediately taken aback by their prices.
The price tag on a grade 2 Genesis Rune had reached a garantum sum of several thousand Genesis
crystals.
While a grade 3 Genesis Rune cost over ten thousand!
Grade 4 Genesis Runes were scarcer, their prices reaching the tens of thousands while being low in stock.
“To think that a Genesis Rune would actually be so expensive.” Zhou Yuan involuntarily licked his lips
before looking towards Yaoyao. Her battle tactics mostly consisted of throwing Genesis Runes. In other
words, she was smashing her opponents with money.
Casually throwing tens of thousands of Genesis Crystals with a fling of the hand, even Alpha-Origin
experts would not be able to withstand such a barrage.
Yaoyao paid no attention to Zhou Yuan. Her focus was instead on some worn out and damaged texts that
had been placed in one of the displays. Badly damaged ancient Genesis Runes could be seen on the texts
that were very worth researching.
“Go buy Tuntun some food.”
Without a shift in her feet, Yaoyao threw Tuntun to Zhou Yuan.
710
Zhou Yuan caught Tuntun, the eyes of the human large in comparison to the small eyes of the beast as
they stared at each other for a moment. In the end, Zhou Yuan helplessly nodded, calling out once to
Yaoyao before turning around and heading to another area to resupply.
In the resupply district, Zhou Yuan found an attendant girl and gave her a list of everything he required.
The latter invited him to have a seat first, before proceeding to prepare the goods.
Thus, Zhou Yuan sat there, Tuntun on his lap as he waited.
While they waited however, Zhou Yuan suddenly felt a strange gaze directed at him. He immediately
frowned slightly and turned around, only to be taken aback by what he saw.
A pretty girl with long green hair was standing some distance behind him, her eyeballs practically
popping out of their sockets as she stared at him while a string of sparkling saliva dripped down from one
corner of her tiny mouth.
Zhou Yuan was baffled by the green haired girl.
It was at this moment that she quickly walked forward. Only then did Zhou Yuan realise that her gaze had
not been focused on him, but Tuntun.
“Yes?” Zhou Yuan vigilantly watched the green hair girl.
She wiped away the sparkling strand of saliva at the corner of her mouth. Black and white distinctly
separate in her large eyes that seemed to be bursting with scorching desire as she stared at Zhou Yuan,
and said in a voice so sickeningly sweet that it would make one involuntarily shiver.
“Little bro, sell this small creature to me!”
“I’m willing to pay any price!”
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Chapter 119 The Green Haired Girl
“Buy Tuntun?”
Zhou Yuan was stunned by these words. Soon after, an expression containing a mix between laughing and
crying appeared on his face. Tuntun likewise understood the green haired girl’s intentions and stared at
her as if it was looking at a fool.
“Not selling.” Zhou Yuan shook his head and gave a clean rejection.
He knew just how violent the small creature in his arms could be, and was very certain that if he dared to
nod his head, the little bastard would send a paw swatting towards him that would instantly cripple him.
Only after hearing Zhou Yuan’s resolute and decisive reply did Tuntun squint in satisfaction. It reached
out and patted Zhou Yuan’s arm with a paw, as if complimenting the latter’s tactfulness.
The green haired girl became a little anxious due to Zhou Yuan’s answer and hastily said, “Sell it to me
little bro! I, I offer five million Genesis crystals!”
Her eyes were filled with blazing desire as she stared at Tuntun. Others may not be able to sense how
incredible Tuntun was, but she had a unique method that told her just how amazing it was.
“Five million Genesis crystals?”
Zhou Yuan was scared silly by this terrifying sum, bewilderment in his eyes as he stared at the green
haired girl before them. Five million Genesis crystals was practically an entire year of revenue for the
Great Zhou Empire. Just who was this girl? He could not believe that she would dare to call out such a
price.
From the almost fanatical look in the green haired girl’s eyes, it was clear that she was not bragging and
was really able to take out such a huge sum.
“So it's true that I’ll encounter all sorts of characters outside of the Great Zhou Empire.” Zhou Yuan sighed
in his heart. It would be almost impossible to meet someone who could immediately call out a bid of five
million Genesis crystals in the Great Zhou Empire.
However, even though he had been a little shocked by the five million Genesis crystals, Zhou Yuan shook
his head to reject without the slightest hesitation.
Don’t joke around, it was not like he did not know how mysterious Tuntun was. Just the fact alone that it
already possess the strength of the Alpha-Origin stage as a child meant that it would definitely become
incomparably terrifying when it matured. Five million Genesis crystals might seem like an astonishing
amount, but it was completely unable to compare to Tuntun.
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The repeated rejections caused the green haired girl to stamp her feet in agitation as sweat appeared on
her fair forehead. She lowered her head and looked at the back of her unblemished little hand where a
glowing pattern could be seen. The pattern was currently giving off extremely intense heat.
This glowing pattern could detect the bloodline of a Genesis Beast. The stronger the bloodline, the hotter
it would become.
As for the intense heat it was currently giving off, she had never felt it reach such a degree even when she
had obtained Little Frost.
In other words, the bloodline of the little creature before her eyes was even stronger than Little Frost
which possess a tiny portion of the ice phoenix bloodline.
For her, this possessed an almost fatal attraction.
The green haired girl grinded her teeth, the slight impulse of doing things by force rising in her head. Why
not snatch the little creature, leave behind Genesis crystals and run?
As if sensing the green haired girl’s intentions, her clothes shuffled for a moment and a little ice-blue bird
emerged from her collar, its eyes suffused with extreme cold Qi as it looked towards Zhou Yuan.
Frost began to emerge in the surrounding air.
At the appearance of the ice-blue bird, Zhou Yuan’s eyes suddenly narrowed as the Spirit between his
brows shook for a moment, evidently sensing a powerful threat. His expression immediately turned
serious as he looked at the bird. The latter was clearly no simple creature.
“This girl is even less so.”
Wariness filled Zhou Yuan’s eyes. The fact that she had such a formidable Genesis Beast at her side
indicated that she was no ordinary character.
In Zhou Yuan’s arms, Tuntun almost fully closed eyes opened a little as its gaze swept towards the little
bird. Its mouth opened slightly, faint black light dancing within as a growl emerged from its throat.
Tuntun had clearly sensed the faint hostility the little bird had directed at Zhou Yuan.
In response to Tuntun’s warning growl, the little bird trembled a little, hesitating for several breaths,
before its head slowly retreated back into the girl’s clothes.
The green haired girl’s face instantly crumbled upon seeing her strongest Little Frost intimidated. Looks
like the forceful route was not going to work, hence, she could only pitifully look towards Zhou Yuan.
“Little bro, what price will you be willing to sell it at?”
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“How about…” The green haired girl began to rack her brains. “How about I grant you a dukedom in the
Thousand Beast Empire? You can ask the Thousand Beast Empire for any cultivation resources you
need!”
“A dukedom in the Thousand Beast Empire?” Zhou Yuan was taken aback. He was not unfamiliar with the
name of this empire. The main reason why the Great Zhou Empire had time to catch their breath was
because the Great Wu Empire was warring with the Thousand Beast Empire and the Sword Empire.
The fact that the girl before him could so easily give away a dukedom of the Thousand Beast Empire
meant that she likely had some kind of amazing status.
However, Zhou Yuan ultimately shook his head. “Since you can see how extraordinary it is, you should
also understand that it is priceless.”
“I will not sell it, so please stop entertaining such thoughts.”
As he finished speaking, the attendant from earlier finally returned and notified him that everything was
ready. He paid the Genesis crystals, kept the items into his Universe bag and turned around to leave.
The green haired girl gazed at Zhou Yuan’s back in a crestfallen manner. It had not been easy for her to
encounter a Genesis Beast which possess such a powerful bloodline, but it already has a master who was
unwilling to sell it.
“No, no. I can’t give up!”
But the green haired girl soon began to stamp her feet. Obtaining that mysterious little beast would be far
too helpful to her cultivation. Therefore, she could not give up so easily.
“If you don’t want to sell it to me, I’ll keep following you!”
The green haired girl’s eyes rotated in thought before quickly catching up to Zhou Yuan.
“Little bro, what’s your name?”
“Little bro, where do you come from?”
“Little bro, are you also going to the Saint Remains Domain? We can form a team, I’m pretty strong and
definitely will not be a burden!”
“......”
After several steps, the veins on Zhou Yuan’s head were practically about to leap off. He took in a deep
breath, before turning around to face the beaming bum beetle of a green haired girl that had been
following him.
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Zhou Yuan crankily said, “Why are you following me?”
The green haired girl responded with a wide grin, “Our meeting is fate, why the need to be so cold. Can’t
we get to know each other better?”
The corners of Zhou Yuan’s mouth twitched irritably. Who can’t tell that you have designs on Tuntun.
Hence, he paid no further attention to the girl and quickened his footsteps, walking towards the place
Yaoyao was at.
Upon seeing this, the green haired girl doggedly followed, continuing to force her yammering into his
head.
The duo passed by one last hall as Zhou Yuan turned to look towards the place Yaoyao had originally
been at. His eyes instantly widened.
At the display nearby, Yaoyao was still focused on the damaged ancient texts within. However, there was
now a young man in white at her side.
The youth was rather handsome and gave off a cultured and refined aura. He smiled warmly as he stood
beside Yaoyao as if continuously trying to say something.
Several servant girls followed behind him. Wherever Yaoyao’s footsteps stopped, he would wave his hand
and buy all of the damaged texts her gaze had paused on.
Thus, in a brief few minutes, the servant girls’ arms were already bursting to the brim, drawing many
gazes from the surroundings.
Zhou Yuan reached out to scratch the back of his head, a little puzzled by this scene. What was going on?
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Chapter 120 Gu Lang
Gu Lang’s mood was pretty good today. Especially when he saw incomparably breathtaking girl in
Precious Treasures Pavillion who was now in front of him. This made his already good mood grow even
more perfect.
As the young master of the Gu clan, Gu Lang’s status in the Gu Territory was obviously very high.
Moreover, his looks, identity, background and cultivation talent naturally made him one of the most
outstanding individuals amongst his generation in the area. Over the years, Gu Lang had encountered
countless beauties and was confident of maintaining his cool in front of any of them.
Till today, when he saw this girl in green.
A single look had instantly shattered his cool. Gu Lang swore that he had never ever seen a girl like this
who could captivate him so deeply after a single glance. Her aloofness, as if no one else existed in the
same world as herself, her mysteriousness, her ungraspable as air aura. All of these traits made intense
desire rise within the heart of Gu Lang, who had not had much interest in girls for a long time.
Thus, he very naturally approached to hit on her.
Unfortunately for him, the girl in green was completely unresponsive towards the young master of the Gu
clan. So much so that she did not even lift her gaze and instead continued to be glued to the damaged
Genesis Runes in the display.
This rare failure only managed to flame the interest in Gu Lang’s heart.
Gu Lang was after all a veteran player, and very quickly found an entry point. “Miss, are you interested in
these damaged Genesis Runes? Heh heh, I just so happen to be a manager of the Precious Treasures
Pavillion. If you’d like, I can gift you everything you’ve taken a fancy to.”
Gu Lang gently waved the silver fan in his hand, a slight smile on his face. His confident and gentle
expression, plus his generous attitude was indeed enough to stir the hearts of many girls.
The eyes of the girl in green seemed to ripple a little. She finally raised her head and looked at him. “Gift
everything to me?”
The silver fan in Gu Lang’s land gently tapped his palm as a pleased feeling rose in his heart. On the
surface however, he continued to smile as he gave a light nod and said in a gentle voice, “They are merely
collecting dust here, if miss has taken a fancy to them, it could be said to have given them value.”
The girl in green seemed to smile. Without further ado, she began to walk forward.
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Gu Lang did not hesitate to display his magnanimity. With a wave of his hand, servant girls came forward
to retrieve all of the damaged texts the girl in green had been looking at previously.
As they continued to walk, the load in the servant girls’ arms grew larger and larger.
This scene drew the attention of quite a number of people. However, practically everyone here knew Gu
Lang’s identity and inwardly shook their heads as they cast pitying gazes at the girl in green.
Every girl that the young master of the Gu clan had set his sights on had ultimately been unable to escape
his hands.
It was at this time that Zhou Yuan arrived and coincidentally caught sight of this scene.
Although he did not know what had occurred previously, as another man, he was naturally able to see the
desire in the youth’s eyes towards Yaoyao. This fellow clearly believed that such a method would move
Yaoyao.
Zhou Yuan pinched Tuntun’s ear as he helplessly remarked, “*Sigh*. "Both of you are troublemakers.”
Due to Tuntun, they had attracted the attention of a baffling green haired girl. While on Yaoyao’s side, her
beauty and aura seemed to have drawn a lascivious guy.
Zhou Yuan walked forward as he shook his head.
Yaoyao seemed to sense Zhou Yuan’s arrival, immediately lifting her gorgeous face to look at Zhou Yuan,
the corners of her rosy lips raising slightly as she asked, “Have you bought everything?”
Zhou Yuan nodded.
Gu Lang’s eyes narrowed when he saw this. He could naturally sense Yaoyao clearly grow a little more
lively while she conversed with Zhou Yuan. It was obvious that the relationship between them was not
ordinary.
However, Gu Lang maintained the kind smile on his face as he cupped his hands together towards Zhou
Yuan and greeted, “I am Gu Lang, a member of the Gu clan.”
“The Gu clan huh…”
Zhou Yuan expression was unchanged. “Zhou Yuan.”
Gu Lang sized up Zhou Yuan, a kind smile on the surface while an almost undetectable trace of contempt
flitted across the depths of his eyes. He had evidently already discovered that Zhou Yuan was only at the
Qi Nourishing stage.
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Such strength could only be considered trivially ordinary in the central region where geniuses were now
plenty.
At the same time, it also showed that Zhou Yuan did not have any overly powerful backers or he would
not be limited to such progress.
Gu Lang no longer looked at Zhou Yuan, his gaze turning towards Yaoyao as he smiled. “I still haven’t
asked for your name miss.”
Yaoyao pointed at the damaged texts in the arms of the servant girls behind him and inquired, “Are they
all for me?”
Gu Lang grinned. “Of course.”
“Keep them.” Yaoyao looked towards Zhou Yuan.
The corners of Zhou Yuan’s mouth twitched for a moment, before he walked forward, received the
damaged texts from the servant girls and kept them all into his Universe bag.
The smile on Gu Lang’s face grew even wider when he saw Yaoyao accept his gifts. It seemed that he had
already accomplished the first step. The girl in green would soon become his plaything.
“Hehe, miss, you’re quite an unfamiliar face and I’m guessing that you just arrived here. How about I be
your host and show you around.” Gu Lang beamed.
“Let’s go.”
However, almost immediately after he finished speaking, Yaoyao nonchalantly signalled to Zhou Yuan,
before turning around to leave.
The expression on Gu Lang’s face could not help but turn rigid, a little dazed by this turn of events. That’s
not how the script should be… shouldn’t the other party proceed to the next step after accepting his gift?
What was this? Leaving right away after eating?
Zhou Yuan cast a sideways glance at Gu Lang. Did this fellow really believe that Yaoyao was someone who
would so succumb so easily to sweet words and gifts? In her eyes, it was your honour for her to take your
things…
Zhou Yuan inwardly shook his head, paying no further attention to Gu Lang as he caught up to Yaoyao.
Gu Lang quickly came back to his senses. How could he allow the meat that was almost at his lips to
escape? He swiftly walked forward and cut in front of Yaoyao.
“Is there anything else?” Yaoyao frowned, indifference in her eyes as she looked towards him.
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Gu Lang froze momentarily. Soon after, his eyes seemed to flicker in thought as he revealed a warm smile
and said, “The fact that the two of you have arrived here can be said to be fate of sorts. How about this,
my clan’s Spirit Refining Tower will be opening tomorrow, and numerous geniuses hope to enter to train
their Spirits. There is, however, a limited amount of places. If the two of you are interested, I can gift two
spots to you as a token to the start of our friendship.”
Gu Lang fished out two bronze tokens from his sleeves. The Gu clan insignia and a black tower had been
engraved on the tokens.
“Enter the Spirit Refining Tower?” Zhou Yuan was instantly taken aback, shock in his eyes as he looked
towards Gu Lang. The Spirit Refining Tower was the Gu clan’s treasure. Were they really willing to open it
to outsiders?
Would the Gu clan actually be so kind?
While Zhou Yuan was still in shock, Yaoyao’s faint voice was transmitted into his ears. “Accept it. That
Spirit Refining Tower is a little interesting after all.”
Zhou Yuan shot a look at Yaoyao. Given how smart the latter was, she likely also had suspicions about Gu
Lang’s motives. But she probably had her own plans since she had uttered such words.
Therefore, Zhou Yuan grinned at Gu Lang and said, “Then I’ll have to thank young master Gu.”
He reached out and received the bronze tokens.
Yaoyao still did not say a single word to Gu Lang, merely sweeping an indifferent gaze at him, before her
long legs began to walk towards Precious Treasures Pavillion’s exit.
Gu Lang watched Yaoyao’s and Zhou Yuan’s leaving figures as the kind smile on his face gradually faded,
replaced by a chilling coldness.
“Go find out where they are staying, and make sure they don’t sneak away. My gifts aren’t so easily
accepted.”
The silver fan in Gu Lang’s hand gently smacked his palm as a strange smile grew from the corners of his
lips.
“No one can reject a spot to enter the Spirit Refining Tower.”
“However… there is no such thing as a free lunch in this world…”
719
Chapter 121 Beast Heart Communicator
On the street, Zhou Yuan played with the two bronze tokens in his hand, his eyes flickering in thought as
he said, “Why do I keep feeling that something is not quite right. A treasure such as the Spirit Refining
Tower can’t possibly be enough for the training of their own clan members. I can’t believe that the Gu
clan is willing to open it to others.”
Yaoyao tilted her head slightly and shot him a look as she remarked, “There should be something strange
about this matter.”
She was far too intelligent, and although she looked to be rather indifferent to the rest of the world, a
single glance was all it took for her to discern the truth behind numerous matters. Gu Lang’s ploy was
practically meaningless before her.
“Then why did you accept?” Zhou Yuan’s tone was slightly miffed.
Yaoyao chuckled. “Because if the tower can truly temper your Spirit, it will be very beneficial to you, and
may even allow you to step into the advance Illusory stage.”
Advance Illusory stage!
Zhou Yuan snapped to attention at this point. It had been almost half a year since his Spirit had reached
the mid Illusory stage, but he was still unable to ascend to the advance stage.
It was evidently not going to be easy to reach the advance Illusory stage.
But once he reached it, Zhou Yuan would be able to begin learning grade 3 Genesis Runes. When that
happened, his battle power would soar, allowing him to put up a fight even against those truly talented
geniuses.
It was because he understood this that Zhou Yuan had not dared to slack off on his Spirit training for the
past few months. However, he had not been able to achieve the results he desired.
“In any case, we’ll go take a look. Even if there are any problems, a single Gu clan should not be able to
stop us.” Yaoyao’s tone was unconcerned, showing almost no fear at all.
Warmth blossomed in Zhou Yuan’s heart. Yaoyao was willing to take such a risk so that he could progress
in his Spirit cultivation.
Zhou Yuan said, “If it seems that things are about to go wrong, we can always give up.”
Yaoyao did not comment, her footsteps suddenly pausing as she said, “What’s up with her?”
720
Zhou Yuan was momentarily stunned. He followed Yaoyao’s gaze and looked back, only to feel an
oncoming headache when he saw a green haired girl suspiciously tailing them.
“Hehe, what a coincidence.”
After being discovered by the Zhou Yuan duo, the green haired girl grinned as she hopped forward and
said to Yaoyao, “You’re so pretty big sis.”
Yaoyao cast a puzzled gaze at Zhou Yuan.
Zhou Yuan massaged his forehead as he explained, “We met her earlier. She wants to buy Tuntun.”
Yaoyao observed the green haired girl and slowly remarked, “A beast heart communicator.”
The green haired girl’s smiling face finally changed slightly, now somewhat on guard as she stared at
Yaoyao. It was the first time someone had seen right through her in a single glance.
“Beast heart communicator?” Asked a confused Zhou Yuan. He had clearly never heard of such a thing.
Yaoyao elaborated, “In simple terms, she has the innate talent of communicating with Genesis Beasts, and
can command tens of thousands of beasts. In addition, she is able to borrow the power of Genesis Beasts.
Don’t think of her as an ordinary Heaven Gate stage practitioner. Once she borrows the power of a
Genesis Beast, I’m afraid that even you will not be her match.”
There was finally some change in the gaze with which Zhou Yuan looked towards the green haired girl.
He had not expected this eccentric girl to hide such an astonishing ability.
“You’re pretty formidable big sis.” Said the green haired girl rather apprehensively. Some wariness now
present in her eyes when she looked towards Yaoyao. She wanted to leave, but her eyes involuntarily
looked towards Tuntun.
“Are you really not selling?” The green haired girl pouted.
Yaoyao’s tone seemed to contain some interest as she responded, “Tuntun is a free creature. If you’re able
to make it follow you, we will not stop it.”
“Really?” The green haired girl’s large eyes brightened.
Yaoyao crossed her arms and nodded.
“Don’t regret your words!” The green haired girl’s eyes rotated in thought. She practically leapt in front of
Zhou Yuan, looked at the lazy looking Tuntun in his arms, before she very carefully reached out a hand as
the mysterious pattern on the back of the hand began to glow.
721
Due to her ability to communicate with Genesis Beasts, the green haired girl had never encountered a
Genesis Beast that could resist her. This was why she could easily pass through any mountain forest that
was overflowing with Genesis Beasts.
Hence, she believed that the mysterious little creature before her eyes would definitely follow her once
she established a connection with it.
Rays of light emerged from the green haired girl’s palm and shined on Tuntun’s head. A pattern similar to
the one on the back of her hand slowly began to take shape on Tuntun’s forehead.
Upon seeing the pattern appear, joy immediately revealed itself on her pretty face.
Crack.
However, the moment her smile appeared, the pattern on Tuntun’s forehead began to disintegrate.
Tuntun still had the same lazy appearance from before, and merely shot her a sideways glance.
“Ah? How is this possible?” The green haired girl was dumbstruck. This was the first time she had
encountered such a situation.
Unable to believe she had failed, she suddenly bit the tip of her finger, causing a dash of red appeared. She
began to draw in the air, ultimately culminating into a glowing blood-red pattern that descended onto
Tuntun’s forehead.
However, the pattern did not last for long, and swiftly disintegrated once again.
“Why?” The successive failures made the green haired girl frantic.
Yaoyao explained in a dull voice, “Because its bloodline is too powerful.”
“You are too weak in its eyes. For example. while walking on the road, would you pay any attention to an
ant that wishes to communicate with you?”
Zhou Yuan stared at Tuntun in amazement. To think that this little fellow was actually so prideful. But
wait a minute, if the green haired girl was akin to an ant in its eyes, won’t Zhou Yuan himself be of similar
status?
As if it could read Zhou Yuan’s thoughts, Tuntun raised its head, the expression in its eyes seemingly
saying, “Have you just realised?”
The corners of Zhou Yuan’s mouth twitched as he hatefully grinded his teeth.
The green haired girl had also received rather substantial blow. Her crestfallen appearance was really
pitiful.
722
At this moment, Yaoyao chuckled and said, “But the fact that Tuntun has allowed you to place two heart
link patterns on its head in succession means that it is already considerably friendly towards you. If not,
you would have already been swallowed by it long ago.”
“Really?” The corners of her little mouth dipped a little further. However, she quickly recovered from her
dejection and looked towards Yaoyao with a grin, “Although I’ve failed, I still have to thank big sis.
Ordinary people will not dare to give me a chance so easily.”
She then turned her head and shot a look at the two bronze tokens in Zhou Yaun’s hands. “Are you going
to the Gu clan’s Spirit Refining Tower?”
Zhou Yuan nodded. “We plan to have a look.”
The green haired girl said, “I’ll also be going tomorrow. In fact, I spent fifty thousand Genesis crystals to
buy a spot!”
Zhou Yuan grinned. What a wealthy little lady.
“Heehee, our encounter is part of fate, and I’d be happy to befriend the two of you. I am called Luluo.” Said
the green haired girl. However, her large eyes were still mostly focused on Tuntun.
Although she had failed earlier, the girl was clearly still extremely fond of Tuntun.
Zhou Yuan looked at Yaoyao and received a light nod from the latter. She could sense that the girl before
them was pretty innocent and did not harbor any ill intentions.
Zhou Yuan said with a smile, “Zhou Yuan. This is my senior sister disciple, Yaoyao.”
“Little bro Zhou Yuan, big sis Yaoyao, we should go to the Spirit Refining Tower together tomorrow. It
would be good to watch each other’s backs.” Said Luluo with a lovely smile.
“Watch each other’s backs?” Zhou Yuan’s eyes flashed. “Isn’t the Spirit Refining Tower a place to temper
the Spirit? Do you feel that there is some danger?”
Luluo’s large eyes blinked, a trace of craftiness flashing within them as she answered, “Who knows. But
one should be careful of any kind of ‘free lunch’, right?”
Zhou Yuan was taken aback. Although there were limited spots, the Gu clan’s Spirit Refining Tower was
indeed akin to a free lunch for many people. After all, raising the power of one’s Spirit would undoubtedly
be a huge help to anyone.
High tier Spirit tempering methods were not available to just anyone. Hence, a treasure that could temper
the Spirit was naturally very precious.
“Agreed.”
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Zhou Yuan chuckled. Although the girl before them seemed innocent, she hid a sharp wit. Whoever
believed that she was an easy target would likely be in for a surprise.
...
Nighttime.
Inside a certain large manor at the center of Gu City.
Dull yellow lamp light lit up a secret room where the atmosphere was rather secretive.
“Has everything been prepared?” A raspy voice rang out in the secret room. One would see a figure under
the lamp light. His appearance was that of a middle-aged man, but his face was shrunken with age. Light
flickered between his brows, emitting powerful Spirit undulations.
“Yes, father.”
A young man in white respectfully nodded. It was Gu Lang.
The old-looking middle-aged man nodded, a dark and stern look in his eyes as he said, “Choose some
suitable ones amongst them to have their Spirits extracted. With the nourishment they provide, my Spirit
should be able to reach the advance Corporeal stage. When that happens, our Gu clan’s power will rise
once again.”
“The two elders and I will oversee things tomorrow.”
Gu Lang nodded and retrieved a string of bronze tokens from his sleeve. Lifelike portraits could be seen
on the tokens. “I’ve already done the selecting. They will become food once they enter the Spirit Refining
Tower.”
He gently tapped a bronze token, his gaze tinged with playfulness and mockery as he stared at two
particular ones amongst them. The portraits on these two tokens belonged to Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao.
He tenderly touched Yaoyao’s portrait, desire gushing in his eyes.
“I’ve said this before, you won’t be able to escape the palm of my hand.”
724
Chapter 122 Spirit Refining Tower?
The next day.
The entire Gu City had become abuzz with excitement and activity as countless people flooded towards
the center of the city. Today was the day the Gu clan opened its Spirit Refining Tower.
There was no one in the area who did not know of the wonders of the Gu clan’s Spirit Refining Tower. It
was due to the existence of this tower that the Gu clan was able to specialize in Genesis Runes and have
each member achieve high attainments in Spirit cultivation.
This was why numerous people would flock when the Gu clan opened the Spirit Refining Tower to the
outside every year, evidently hoping to borrow the wonders of the tower to strengthen their Spirit to the
next level.
The huge manor at the center of the city had opened its doors to welcome the guests that had come from
all over.
Zhou Yuan, Yaoyao and the green haired girl called Luluo also arrived together as a group.
The trio followed the crowd, and eventually ended up at the center of the manor where an enormous
black stone tower stood on an empty spacious land. Countless ancient patterns had been carved into the
body of the tower, pulsing brightly like a beating heart.
“Is this the Spirit Refining Tower?” Luluo was brimming with curiosity.
Zhou Yuan frowned slightly as he stared at the black stone tower. He did not know why, but he could
faintly feel that something was off.
While Zhou Yuan mulled over this feeling in his heart, a figure dressed in white arrived in front of the
tower. It was Gu Lang whom they had met yesterday.
Gu Lang also caught sight of the Zhou Yuan duo, or to be more precise, Yaoyao. As for Zhou Yuan, the
former’s gaze merely skimmed over him, evidently completely unconcerned about the latter.
Gu Lang smiled warmly at Yaoyao, before his gaze turned towards the crowd as a loud and clear voice
rang out, “Everyone here should know that today is the day my Gu clan opens the doors of the Spirit
Refining Tower to outsiders. The tower has the effect of tempering one’s Spirit, a point that I believe
everyone here is already familiar with.”
The crowd fervently gazed at the Spirit Refining Tower.
Gu Lang smiled again when he saw this as he continued, “However, there is something I have to mention
beforehand. There are certain risks in the tower, so I hope that everyone will be a little careful.”
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However, the only thing everyone could see at this moment was the tower. Who could have possibly
heard Gu Lang’s warning?
A faint smile was plastered on Gu Lang’s face, while a strange look flitted across his eyes.
“Open the tower doors!” Gu Lang loudly shouted, and the doors of the Spirit Refining Tower slowly
rumbled open.
As the tower doors opened, a humming sound seemed to emerge from within the tower, a sound that
made one’s hair stand on end.
Swish!
However, there was not the slightest bit of hesitation in those that were grasping the bronze tokens in
their hands, their figures rapidly shooting forward the moment the tower doors opened.
Zhou Yuan did not move for the time being. Instead, his gaze look towards Yaoyao as he asked in a low
voice, “How is it?”
Yaoyao’s gaze had been glued to the ancient patterns on the tower ever since they had arrived here. Upon
hearing Zhou Yuan’s voice, her pupils seem to swivel for a moment as she replied, “I have a rough idea…”
Her tone contained some interest as she continued, “Let’s go in first and have a look. I hope that my guess
is not wrong.”
Zhou Yuan naturally had no objections. He smiled at Luluo and said, “We’ll be going in, you’re free to
make your own decision.”
After finishing, he and Yaoyao moved forward together, dashing into the Spirit Refining Tower.
Luluo pouted as she watched their figures. “As if I’m afraid!”
Thus, she too followed without any hesitation.
...
After entering the tower, a vast inner space greeted them.
As the trio walked within the tower, it felt as if they were on a desert. From time to time. they would catch
sight of some of the other figures that had entered.
Luluo’s large eyes continuously scanned their surroundings as she remarked, “I don’t see anything that
can temper the Spirit.”
Yaoyao gently stroked Tuntun as she replied, “Wait a little.”
726
Not long after Yaoyao’s words faded, a faint mist suddenly began to fill the tower. A weak black hue
emerged from within the mist as a faint humming sound spread.
Zhou Yuan suddenly frowned while observing the faint black mist. He could feel his Spirit shaking
violently as if strongly drawn in by something.
The feeling was akin to a thirsty traveller seeing a stream and could not wait to throw himself in.
“It's the Spirit Refining Mist. Absorbing it will temper the Spirit!” Several ecstatic voices rang out in the
distance. These individuals sat down straight away, and began urging their Spirit to absorb the faint black
mist.
“Spirit Refining Mist?” Zhou Yuan was slightly stunned. He had heard of this mist before. It was extremely
difficult to create and was considerably pricey. It was hard to believe that the Gu clan was willing to allow
outsiders to take advantage of it.
Luluo also spoke out in amazement, “This is the good stuff.”
However, Yaoyao suddenly said, “Don’t breathe it in.”
Zhou Yuan’s heart shivered at her words, no hesitation whatsoever as he brought out his Genesis Qi to
cover his body, completely isolating himself from the black mist.
The little ice-blue bird on Luluo’s shoulder also spit out a cloud of cold Qi that quickly wrapped around
her.
Yaoyao waved her hand, summoning a ball of the black mist, and began observing with rapt attention. A
short while later, she slowly said, “What a devious trick.”
Zhou Yuan hastily asked, “What’s going on?”
Yaoyao flicked her finger, dispersing the black mist as she explained, “This mist can indeed be considered
a type of Spirit Refining Mist. However, a few extra ingredients have been added…”
“Once ingested, one’s Spirit will gradually become intoxicated, eventually making it impossible to free
oneself.”
“Come, let’s continue walking.”
Yaoyao’s long leg took a stride forward, passing by figure after figure. Each and every one had their eyes
tightly shut with a look of intoxication on their face, while a faint black mist lingered between their
brows.
Zhou Yuan’s footsteps suddenly paused, his eyes filled with confusion as he looked towards a figure to
their front. The figure’s face was expressionless, and there was a bloody hole between his brows.
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Zhou Yuan said in a low voice, “His Spirit is gone.”
“What a bizarre Spirit Refining Tower.” Luluo’s face changed slightly. Something was very wrong about
this place.
Yaoyao’s pretty face remained unchanged as she gazed at the black mists and said, “Looks like my guess
is not wrong.”
“What do you mean?” Zhou Yuan and Luluo looked towards her.
Yaoyao smiled faintly. “There was definitely something wrong with the patterns on the tower from
earlier. Now that we’ve entered, I’m even more certain…”
“I’m afraid that this tower is not a Spirit Refining Tower.”
“But.. a Spirit Devouring Tower.”
“No wonder the Gu clan members have strong Spirits that seem rather hollow and unconcentrated… it
turns out that they have been relying on this Spirit Devouring Tower to cultivate.”
...
In the depths of the black tower.
Gu Lang stood in front of a mirror, watching the various happenings inside the tower that floated within.
There was also a black crystal ball in front of the mirror. The crystal ball was connected to the ground,
black Qi churning inside it as Spirit energy continuously poured into it from all directions.
Behind Gu Lang were three stone platforms where three figures were seated, powerful Spirit ripples
pulsing from between their brows.
Gu Lang grinned as he watched the scenes inside the mirror, when he suddenly recalled a certain beauty.
He immediately tapped the mirror, causing it to glow as a certain image began to surface.
When the image appeared, however, the smile on Gu Lang’s face suddenly turned rigid.
He had just seen the Zhou Yuan trio slowly walking inside the mirror, not absorbing any of the ‘Spirit
Refining Mist’!
At this moment, Yaoyao seemed to sense that they were being observed and suddenly lifted her head. The
Spirit between her brows vibrated, dispersing the picture on the mirror.
Behind Gu Lang, the Gu clan leader and two elders also felt this disturbance and immediately rose to their
feet, faces frosty as they demanded, “What’s going on?!”
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One of the elders said in a grave voice, “That girl’s Spirit cultivation is not weaker than our own, why is
she inside the tower?!”
Gu Lang’s expression had become pretty ugly. How could he have expected this? Why had the seemingly
frail little beauty he invited suddenly turn into a ferocious wolf?
The other elder spoke up at this moment, “What do we do? They have discovered the secret of the Spirit
Devouring Tower!”
There was a grim expression in the Gu clan leader’s eyes. Killing intent flashed within them as he
regained his cool and said, “Since it’s already come to this… we’ll just have to make sure they die here.”
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Chapter 123 Small Fry
Inside the Spirit Devouring Tower, the trio of Zhou Yuan, Yaoyao and Luluo walked within the black mist.
Yaoyao’s footsteps suddenly paused, her red lips parting slightly as she said, “They’ve discovered us and
are likely going to deal with us soon.”
Zhou Yuan’s eyes narrowed as the Genesis Qi around him began to churn.
On the other hand, Luluo’s large eyes brightened slightly, unmistakably eager to do battle.
The trio stopped walking. After some silence, they saw the black mist to their front heave as three figures
slowly descended, landing some distance away.
The leader of the group had a shrunken aged face. It was the Gu clan leader, Gu Qiu.
Gu Qiu’s deep-set eyes were akin to a malicious spirit as he stared at Yaoyao and slowly remarked, “I did
not expect that someone would actually be capable of discovering the secret of my Gu clan’s Spirit
Devouring Tower.”
Yaoyao nonchalantly asked, “Aren’t you afraid that news of you using such a method to strengthen the
Spirit will spread?”
Gu Qiu’s eyelids raised as his raspy voice sounded, “My Gu clan has already warned everyone that there
will be risks before entering. Who else is there to blame but yourselves for choosing to enter? Moreover,
my Gu clan is not unreasonable. We only take the Spirits of a few individuals each year while the majority
are even allowed to benefit from the Spirit Refining Mist.”
Luluo made a funny face at him as she interjected, “How shameless!”
Yaoyao said, “The benefit you speak of is only temporary. Your Spirit Refining Mist secretly contains an
insidious poison that damages the Spirits of those who absorb, making it difficult for any further
progress.”
Gu Qiu chuckled. “Any mishap that happens in the future is already out of our hands.”
Zhou Yuan looked at the trio and slowly said, “It seems that you plan on making sure we never leave this
place.”
If not, the other party would not have said so much.
Gu Qiu smiled and nodded. “It is far too normal for a few individuals to die in here.”
He sighed before he continued, “If you must blame someone, blame yourselves for being too smart.”
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Luluo snorted. “Big words. I’m afraid that a lousy place like this will not be able to contain anyone.”
Beside Gu Qiu, one of the elders laughed sinisterly. “Our Gu clan has set up a Genesis Rune boundary in
this Spirit Devouring Tower long ago, allowing us to endlessly replenish our energy. You on the other
hand are merely prey that have already been caught in the net!”
The other elder said in a low voice, “No need to waste any more words on them. Let’s kill them and get
this over with!”
Gu Qiu nodded as vigorous Genesis Qi exploded from his body, while his Spirit flickered brightly between
his brows. He was evidently strong in both Genesis Qi and Spirit cultivation.
The other two elders also brought out their Genesis Qi as three astonishing auras immediately swept
across the place.
As Yaoyao watched this scene, she suddenly turned towards Zhou Yuan and said, “We will stay here to
deal with them. You go deeper into the tower and find its core, which should also be the center of the
Genesis Rune boundary. Destroy the core and the Spirit Devouring Tower will lose its power.”
“These are three are the Gu clan’s only Alpha-Origin experts, so it is likely that such an important location
will be personally guarded by Gu Lang. That guy has the strength of the mid Heaven Gate stage…” Luluo
suddenly interjected from the side, her large clear eyes sweeping towards Zhou Yuan. Although she had
not completed her sentence, the implied meaning was very clear. The advance Qi Nourishing stage Zhou
Yuan did not seem to be his opponent’s match.
However, Zhou Yuan did not mind her gaze. He merely smiled at Yaoyao and said, “You guys be careful.”
Without any hesitation, his body dashed towards the depths of the tower.
The Gu Qiu trio were originally about to stop him, but stopped themselves when they realised his
cultivation level. A mere Qi Nourishing stage small fry was not worth their attention.
Yaoyao gently threw out Tuntun as the latter’s tiny body began to grow. With a final surge of scarlet light,
it transformed into a giant ferocious beast.
Scarlet light orbited around it, its four legs seemingly doused in flames, while black light hovered inside
its huge mouth.
Mysterious and powerful.
An astonishing and intimidating pressure slowly spread from Tuntun.
The Gu Qiu trio’s expression involuntarily changed when they felt the beast’s aura, obviously surprised
that seemingly pet like little creature from before possessed such power.
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“Big sis Yaoyao, Tuntun is truly amazing!” By the side, Luluo’s large eyes were practically glowing as she
stared at Tuntun. Her drooling with desire appearance caused even the battle mode Tuntun to shiver
slightly.
“Little Frost!”
Luluo stroked the little ice-blue bird on her shoulder, causing the latter to release a dazzling ice-blue
radiance. Extreme cold Qi pulsed as it transformed into a giant ice-blue bird that was approximately a
dozen feet tall.
Frost swirled around the giant bird’s wings. When it flapped its wings, gusts of wind swept outwards,
covering the ground in a layer of frost.
This ice bird also possessed Alpha-Origin strength.
Tuntun’s eyes swept over, shooting a glance at the menacing ice bird. The ice bird immediately cowered
in response, withdrawing its aura as its icy feathers shivered.
Luluo pouted upon seeing this. “Tuntun, don’t bully Little Frost.”
The Gu Qiu trio expression had become rather grave. They did not dare to be negligent in the face of two
Alpha-Origin Genesis Beasts.
“No wonder you dare to cause trouble in my Gu clan. It turns out that you do have something to rely on.”
Gu Qiu icily chuckled, before exchanging a look with the two elders. The Genesis Qi around their bodies
grew increasingly berserk as glowing patterns appeared on their bodies, evidently runes that had been
inscribed beforehand.
The path they walked was similar to Zhou Yuan’s, dual Genesis Qi and Spirit cultivation.
However, Zhou Yuan’s Spirit cultivation was the fruits of his training using a spirit tempering method,
which gave him a solid foundation. The Gu clan on the other hand relied on a vile method via the Spirit
Devouring Tower. Although their progress was quick, their foundations were not stable, making it
difficult for them to achieve big things.
Tuntun and Little Frost hissed before they shot forth, scarlet-red and ice-blue Genesis Qi charging
towards their opponents.
The two elders did not dare to tarry and met the two beasts with their full power.
Boom boom!
A wave of Genesis Qi unfurled from their clash, shaking the entire tower.
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Gu Qiu’s gaze was fixed onto Yaoyao. Due to his powerful Spirit, he could sense that the danger from this
seemingly Genesis Qi-less girl was no less than either Genesis Beast.
Under Gu Qiu’s cold gaze, Yaoyao’s fair hand gently patted her Universe bag. A split second later, several
scrolls appeared in her hand. Glowing runes pulsed in the scrolls, emitting extremely violent undulations.
“Grade 4 Genesis Runes!”
Gu Qiu’s pupils shrank when he saw these scrolls. It had finally dawned upon him that the girl in green’s
Spirit mastery could only be higher than his own.
“However, we have the homeground advantage in the Spirit Devouring Tower. All of you will definitely
lose!”
...
Deep in the Spirit Devouring Tower.
Gu Lang’s expression was somewhat grim as he gazed at the mirror in front of him. The aftershocks from
the fight were far too strong, making him unable to see what was going on.
“Damnit, I didn't expect that little bitch to be so formidable!” Gu Lang’s complexion was steely green. He
had originally taken Yaoyao as someone without any Genesis Qi, who could have imagined that her Spirit
cultivation had already reached such astonishing heights.
“But even if you guys are strong, we possess an endless amount of power in this Spirit Devouring Tower
so all of you will lose sooner or later.” Coldness flashed in Gu Lang’s eyes.
“When you land in my hands, I will seal your Spirit. Just wait and see how I will torment you then!” As if
he could already see that scene, a lustful fire rose inside Gu Lang’s body.
“Oh?”
However, Gu Lang’s fantasy was soon cut short. He lifted his head and looked to his front as an icy light
surfaced in his eyes.
The mists parted as a young figure slowly walked out.
It was Zhou Yuan.
“Found it at last.” Zhou Yuan looked to his front and grinned.
Gu Lang was expressionless as he gazed at Zhou Yuan, no longer needing to mask the mocking smile his
lips. He gently stretched his neck from side to side as a cold voice filled with sinister killing intent rang
out within the mist.
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“My mood is not very good now. So… Qi Nourishing small fry, have you thought of how you would like to
die?”
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Chapter 124 Break the Sky
Zhou Yuan’s gaze scanned the area, eventually coming to a stop on a certain spot behind Gu Lang where a
black crystal ball that shined with a strange light lay atop a stone pedestal. Ancient patterns spread down
the pedestal, reaching into the ground.
The crystal ball should be the core of the Spirit Devouring Tower.
“Small fry?”
Zhou Yuan seemed to smile when heard Gu Lang’s words. The former was after all someone who had
once slayed an Alpha-Origin expert. Although he had borrowed Silver Shadow’s power, the one before
him, Gu Lang, was merely a mid Heaven Gate stage practitioner.
“How does it feel to smash your own foot with a rock?” Zhou Yuan smiled thinly. If not for Gu Lang having
designs on Yaoyao and subsequently giving them two entry tokens to the Spirit Refining Tower, they
would have likely left, no desire to involve themselves in this affair.
Gu Lang’s indifferent face did not change as he replied, “You think you can stop me? Do you even think
that you’re qualified to be a stone in my path? At best, you’re a tiny pebble that I can easily kick aside.”
An eerie smile appeared from the corners of his lips as he stared at Zhou Yuan.
“You seem to have a pretty good relationship with that girl, right? Don’t worry, after we capture all of you,
I’ll make sure you have a front row seat as I properly enjoy her!”
Zhou Yuan emotionlessly lifted his head, his eyes focusing on Gu Lang as he sighed, “Looks like you really
won’t be able to live past today.”
His filthy words had already triggered Zhou Yuan’s killing intent.
“Oh?” The smile on Gu Lang’s lips gradually turned malicious. He took a step forward as violent Genesis
Qi abruptly erupted from his body, the strength of the mid Heaven Gate stage fully on display.
Gu Lang’s Genesis Qi had a dim yellow hue and gave off an aura of extreme heaviness, as if it contained
the power of mountains.
This was the Gu clan’s best Genesis Qi, grade 4 Genesis Qi, the Thousand Subduing Mountains Qi!
“Small fry, where exactly did you find the confidence to to spew such bold words before me? Especially
with your mere Qi Nourishing stage strength.” Gu Lang grinned evilly.
Bang!
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His body abruptly shot forward he instant his words faded, appearing in front of Zhou Yuan in a few
breaths. The former’s eyes were filled with viciousness as a fist was sent blasting at the latter.
Cackle!
The air in front of the punch was violently blown away. Berserk punch winds wrapped in dim yellow
Genesis Qi were akin to enormous boulders rapidly tumbling down from above, full of raw and violent
power.
Zhou Yuan’s eyes flashed. In the next instant, dark gold Omni Python Qi abruptly burst out from his body.
He showed no signs of backing down as his five fingers also tightened into a fist and punched!
Bang!
Two fists slammed into each other, instantly cracking the ground below their feet. A shockwave
devastated the surroundings as both figures first jerked back before shooting backwards.
Dust filled the air. Gu Lang had a dark expression as he stared at Zhou Yuan. The former could not believe
that he had not gained the slightest advantage in their previous clash. Moreover, he could sense an
extremely tyrannical poison in Zhou Yuan’s Genesis Qi which had maniacally tried to invade his body
upon contact. If not for his perceptive Spirit, he would have likely suffered quite a bit.
All of these observations slightly amazed Gu Lang. He was after all a Heaven Gate stage expert, while Zhou
Yuan was merely at the advance Qi Nourishing stage. The gap between the two should be huge.
“The Genesis Qi this guy cultivated is not simple.” However, Gu Lang quickly understood, his eyes now
burning with greed as he stared at the dark gold Genesis Qi around Zhou Yuan’s body. The quality of the
latter’s Genesis Qi had evidently exceeded grade 4.
“So that’s the source of your confidence.”
“I have become rather interested in your Genesis Qi. After I capture you, there will be a way to extract its
Qi cultivation method from your mouth.” Gu Lang grinned in a sinister manner.
Zhou Yuan merely followed with a faint smile. “Since you’re so interested in it… it will be fitting for me to
use it to beat you to death.”
Swish!
Two figures shot forward at practically the same time.
On the ground, two figures seemed to weave into one, punches and kicks rapidly thrown one after
another, leaving numerous after images behind.
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While they were fighting, an insidious look flitted across Gu Lang’s eyes. His five fingers clenched into a
fist as a rune began to light up on his arm.
“Grade 2 Genesis Rune, Metal Rhino Rune!”
Gu Lang’s fist instantly transformed into a flash of black metal like light as alarming power erupted.
The sudden rise in power of this punch was enough to pulverise an opponent of the same cultivation
level.
However, the instant the black metal like fist was thrown, an icy light surfaced in Zhou Yuan’s eyes as he
jerked his shoulder.
“Golden Ape Moves the Mountain Rune!”
A glowing rune appeared on his shoulder as his strength rapidly soared. A punch was sent blasting
through the air, ferociously slamming into Gu Lang’s fist.
The ground below the two fissured as they staggered a dozen or so steps back.
Zhou Yuan lifted his head and grinned at Gu Lang. “I too have grade 2 Genesis Runes.”
Since he already knew that the members of the Gu clan had strong Spirits, he was naturally on guard
against any Genesis Runes his opponents had prepared in advance on their bodies. Graveness flitted
across Gu Lang’s eyes. It was only at this moment that he finally began to realise how troublesome an
opponent the so called small fry was.
Any other ordinary opponent, even another initial Heaven Gate practitioner, would have been defeated
by him long ago.
In fact, if he relied on the power of grade 2 Genesis Runes, Gu Lang was even confident of putting up a
fight against mid Heaven Gate experts.
However, the current situation seemed to show… that he was somewhat helpless against an advance Qi
Nourishing stage youth.
Gu Lang took in a deep breath, throwing out all of the contempt he originally had towards Zhou Yuan. It
would be truly foolish to hang on to such notions at such a time.
“My task is to defend the central area. As long as the Genesis Rune boundary is not broken, father and the
elders will be able to eternally sustain their battle power, eventually wear out and defeat their opponents.
When that happens, this guy will become mere meat on the chopping board. Hence, there’s no need to
take any unnecessary risks just for some silly pride.”
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Upon seeing the look in Gu Lang’s eyes, Zhou Yuan knew that the latter had changed his strategy. Gu Lang
was no longer going to attack, but instead defend and delay for time, focusing on protecting the Genesis
Rune boundary.
“I originally wanted to keep using you as grindstone and test the power of the Heaven Gate stage.”
Zhou Yuan shook his head. “But since you are unwilling, you no longer have any value.”
“Shameless boasting you small fry.” Gu Long mocked, fully under the impression that Zhou Yuan was just
being stubborn. Though it was true that Gu Lang had previously been unable to quickly obtain victory, at
the very least, he was confident that he could stop Zhou Yuan in his tracks and make it impossible for him
to advance a single step further.
Zhou Yuan did not waste any more time bantering, and merely closed his eyes as he exhaled.
He took half a step forward, his body swaying as an arm was extended. His hand began to move, a slow
yet heavy movement as if he was holding a mountain while palm winds swept forth, vibrating the
surrounding air.
The Genesis Qi in Zhou Yuan’s body began to surge violently at this moment.
Wind unfurled from under Zhou Yuan’s feet, sweeping up the dust on the ground.
As Zhou Yuan’s palm was swung, dark gold light heaved as if a giant dragon’s claw was reaching out to
grab a mountain and smash it at the heavens.
An astonishing aura exploded from Zhou Yuan’s body.
“I have a move that can sunder the sky.”
Zhou Yuan stepped forward, appearing in front of Gu Lang as a hand descended as if it was throwing a
giant stone monument.
The ground in front of him was barbarically ripped apart.
Dragon Tablet Hand, third level. Break the Sky.
Gu Lang’s expression instantly turned to terror.
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Chapter 125 Black Crystal Ball
Boom!
The ground trembled as Zhou Yuan swung his palm. One could only watch as a dark gold hand of light
swept forth like a golden rainbow, domineeringly heavy as it headed straight for Gu Lang.
The golden rainbow pulsed like a giant dragon dragging a mountain with the desire of sundering the
heavens.
Imposing and astonishing.
As the golden rainbow flew, long tears were ripped open on the ground in front of Zhou Yuan.
Dragon Tablet Hand, third level.
After nearly a year of training, Zhou Yuan was finally able to use the third level. Its power made him
secretly in awe. The might of this strike had even exceeded the mid grade Black tier Genesis technique,
Extreme Emperor Seal, reaching the high grade level.
It was likely that even mid Heaven Gate experts would have no choice but to avoid this strike.
Gu Lang ‘s expression had become colored in shock and fear, horror flitting across his eyes. He would
never have imagined that the Qi Nourishing small fry would be able to pull off such an astonishing attack.
Gu Lang cut a sorry figure as he rapidly retreated in hopes of avoiding the attack. However, the golden
rainbow stuck to him like a shadow, arriving right in front of him in a few breaths.
Unable to dodge, a resolute look flashed in Gu Lang’s eyes as all the Genesis Qi in his body erupted. Five
fingers tightly clenched and a punch was sent blasting.
Boom!
The air in front of him cackled as it was blown away.
“Thousand Mountain Fist Seal!”
Berserk Genesis Qi gathered, transforming into a storm of raging power that smashed into the incoming
golden rainbow.
Bang!
The aftershocks devastated the surroundings, fissuring the ground below them. Gu Lang’s body was sent
flying as if he had been struck by a heavy blow, spitting out a mouthful of blood along the way.
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However, a malicious look emerged on his face when he was sent flying. He rolled up his tongue and spit,
shooting out a tiny speck of black light.
The speck of light pierced through the aftershocks of the attack like a flash of lightning and headed
straight for Zhou Yuan’s forehead.
Gu Lang miserably crashed into the ground. His complexion was deathly pale and he felt as if all the
organs in his body had been shifted, clearly badly injured by the overwhelming powerful hand of light.
However, although he had been seriously injured, Gu Lang let out an ominous chuckle as he looked in
Zhou Yuan’s direction and said, “Kid, you’re still too green. You’ll definitely be dead after being hit by my
Spirit Destroying Needle!”
The dust around Zhou Yuan gradually receded, but when his figure finally appeared, the smile on Gu
Lang’s face turned rigid bit by bit.
A green scale had appeared between Zhou Yuan’s brows. The thin black needle was stuck on the scale,
unable to advance any further.
Zhou Yuan reached out and removed the black needle, his eyes indifferent as he looked towards Gu Lang.
“How can it be?!” Gu Lang involuntarily cried out in fright. His previous sneak attack had been as swift as
thunder, his timing practically perfect. How could it have been blocked by Zhou Yuan?
“You really are rotten all the way down to the core.” Zhou Yuan’s voice sounded.
A deathly pale Gu Lang scrambled back as he watched Zhou Yuan approach step by step, murder
brimming within the latter. “If you kill me, the Gu clan will not let you off!”
A mocking smile hung from the corners of Zhou Yuan’s mouth. At this point in time, there was already no
other paths for them and the Gu clan to take.
Gu Lang likewise seemed to understand this. He suddenly crawled up, slamming his hand into the ground
as his figure rapidly retreated, hoping to take this opportunity to escape.
However, how could Zhou Yuan possibly give him the chance? The black needle was flicked from his
fingertips, transforming into a flash of light that rapidly caught up to Gu Lang, piercing him through the
back of his head.
The expression on Gu Lang’s face froze as his body crashed into the ground, life fading from his eyes. Only
at this moment did he finally regret provoking the girl and guy duo in Precious Treasures Pavillion…
It seemed that the Qi Nourishing small fry was much more powerful than he had expected.
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Zhou Yuan’s cold eyes watched the life fade from Gu Lang’s body. Who knew just how many people had
been harmed by the Gu clan’s Spirit Devouring Tower. Retribution had finally caught up with them today.
He paid no further attention to Gu Lang’s corpse and headed towards the stone pedestal, his gaze falling
upon the black crystal ball atop it.
Black fog rose from the ground and swirled around the crystal ball, as if endlessly pouring something into
it.
Zhou Yuan observed it for a moment, before his pupils suddenly shrank. He had discovered that the thing
flowing in was Spirit energy. Moreover, once the Spirit energy entered the black crystal ball, it would
begin to be refined.
Gathered within the black crystal ball was the culmination of an outrageous amount of pure Spirit energy.
Zhou Yuan could not help but mutter to himself, “Just what is this crystal ball? To think that it can even
absorb and refine Spirit energy.”
It was clearly due to the existence of this crystal ball that the Gu clan members had strong Spirits.
“Whatever it is, I’ll take it away first.”
Zhou Yuan grabbed the black crystal ball, removing it from the stone pedestal.
After the black crystal ball was removed, the stone pedestal began to shake as cracks gradually began to
grow.
At the same time, the faint black mist inside the Spirit Devouring Tower slowly began to disappear.
...
Boom!
In a certain area within the Spirit Devouring Tower, an intense battle was still ongoing.
However, in the face of Tuntun’s and the ice bird’s fierce attacks, the two elders of the Gu clan were
showing signs of weariness. The battle power of Genesis Beasts was after all pretty ferocious, let alone
the fact that these two were no ordinary beasts.
The only saving grace was that they were receiving an endless amount of power inside the Spirit
Devouring Tower. This was how they had been able to endure the offensive of the two beasts.
Yaoyao’s and Gu Qiu’s battlefield on the other hand was rather comical.
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Yaoyao was unable to utilise Genesis Qi. Hence, she did battle in the most simple and crudest manner.
One could only watch as scroll after scroll of grade 4 Genesis Rune appeared in her hand, before being
thrown at her opponent.
As the one on the receiving end of Yaoyao’s ‘money’ bombardment, Gu Qiu’s situation was extremely
miserable while unable to believe what was happening.
Grade 4 Genesis Runes. Although it was something their Gu clan had too, they were treated as high-end
strategic treasures and the consumption of each one would greatly pain the heart.
Yet, the girl in green seemed to have an endless supply of Grade 4 Genesis Runes, a fortune even greater
than the entirety of their Gu clan.
Though he was in quite a difficult situation due to Yaoyao’s onslaught of grade 4 Genesis Runes, he had
been able to persist with the home ground advantage.
“Our power is inexhaustible in the Spirit Devouring Tower. Let’s see which runs out first, your Genesis
Runes or my perseverance.” A grim expression clouded Gu Qiu’s eyes.
Just as this thought flashed across his head however, he suddenly realised that the black mist within the
tower had begun to dissipate.
The entire tower began to tremble at this moment.
Those still immersed inside the black mist began to awaken one after another, dazed looks in their eyes.
“Darn it, the Spirit Refining Crystal has been removed!”
“Why didn’t Gu Lang protect it? Is he incapable of even dealing with a Qi Nourishing stage small fry?!” Gu
Qiu’s complexion turned ashen.
Boom!
The two Gu clan elders were miserably flung backwards. Their expressions rapidly changed when they
saw the receding black mist, causing them to involuntarily cry out, “How is this possible? How could that
small fry have made it past Gu Lang?!”
Upon hearing their voices, Luluo’s eyes widened in shock. She had originally believed that Zhou Yuan
would fail, and thus never imagined that he would actually succeed.
Luluo large eyes blinked as she mumbled to herself, “Little bro Zhou Yuan is pretty amazing huh.”
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Chapter 126 Escaping Unscathed
The black mist faded from the Spirit Devouring Tower.
Numerous figures blankly stared at their surroundings, evidently still in the dark about what had
happened. However, the battle between Yaoyao’s side and the Gu clan was quickly noticed by several
individuals, making them start to realise that something was wrong.
Yaoyao’s gaze took one quick sweep around the area. Her Spirit began to flicker as a voice suddenly rang
out in everyone’s ears.
“This is no Spirit Refining Tower but a Spirit Devouring Tower. If you do not want your Spirit to be
completely devoured and be used for the Gu clan’s cultivation, leave quickly!”
The moment these words were heard, the expression of countless people turned aghast with horror.
“What? Not a Spirit Refining Tower but a Spirit Devouring Tower?”
“But why do I feel that my Spirit cultivation has improved?”
“EH? Someone died here? Why is his Spirit gone?!”
“Just what exactly happened here?!”
“......”
Cries of alarm rang out one after another. Although Yaoyao’s words were shocking, there were still some
who felt that something was fishy about the situation and began to withdraw one by one with the intent
of leaving the tower.
“Little bitch!”
Upon seeing this, Gu Qiu was so infuriated that his eyes turned red. News would definitely spread once
these people left. When that happened, information of how the Gu clan had been strengthening their
Spirit would surely be leaked. One could easily imagine what a devastating blow this would be to the
prestige of the Gu clan, and how it would even create numerous enemies for them.
In his rage, Gu Qiu icily commanded, “Call everyone here. I will make them pay today!”
One of the elders immediately nodded and retrieved a black whistle. A peculiar sound spread, instantly
notifying every expert of the Gu clan, causing them to hurriedly flood towards the Spirit Devouring
Tower.
“Spirit Link!”
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Gu Qiu’s eyes were cold and ruthless as he looked towards the two elders.
The two elders hesitated for a moment. Spirit Link was a secret technique of their Gu clan that gathered
the Spirits of several people to perform combined attacks. However, the repercussions were not small,
and negligence would lead to hurting one’s Spirit.
However, they quickly nodded in acknowledgement, swiftly appearing behind Gu Qiu and placing their
hands on his shoulders. Their Spirits flickered between their brows as Spirit energy flooded into Gu Qiu’s
body.
Light began to rise from between Gu Qiu’s brows, his Spirit power rapidly rising.
Rumble!
An invisible ripple swept outwards. Although not as striking as Genesis Qi, invisible Spirit attacks could
take one’s life without drawing a single drop of blood.
Roar!
Tuntun’s and the ice bird’s titanic bodies jerked back as they howled, their Beast Spirits affected by the
invisible ripple. Vigilance immediately surfaced within their eyes. Though their bodies were tough, Spirit
waves could ignore the body and directly attack their Spirits.
Yaoyao’s Spirit flickered as she extended a hand. “Spirit shield!”
A transparent shield of light appeared in front of here, blocking the Spirit wave. However, the surface of
the shield rippled violently, a clear indicator that it would not last for long.
The gathered power of three Spirits had greatly amplified Gu Qiu’s Spirit cultivation.
“Big sis, things aren’t looking good.” Said Luluo in a soft voice. This was after all the Gu clan’s territory,
and many experts were rushing over each second. If they were surrounded, the situation would become
extremely dire.
Yaoyao gave a slight nod and said, “Prepare to break out.”
Their goal had already been reached. There was no need to waste any more time here.
Upon hearing this, a clear whistle immediately rang out from Luluo’s mouth. The ice bird called Little
Frost flapped its wings and flew towards her as her tiny body leaped into the air and landed on its back.
Tuntun also arrived on scarlet Qi and Yaoyao landed on its back.
At the same time, Zhou Yuan bolted over from far away. With a stamp of his foot, his soared into the air
and landed behind Yaoyao, his hands naturally reaching out to embrace the slender waist in front of him.
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The instant he came into contact with Yaoyao’s waist, Zhou Yuan felt her body stiffen for a split second,
before she turned her head shot him a half bashful half angry glare. An extremely rarely seen blush had
appeared on her white as jade like face.
Zhou Yuan awkwardly raised his hands and said, “There’s nowhere else to put them.”
Yaoyao softly snorted. She knew that this was not the place to dish out some punishment. With a wave of
her hand, Tuntun transformed into a flash of scarlet that shot out of the tower.
“Where do you think you’re going?!”
Roared Gu Qiu when he saw this. The Gu clan’s plans had been ruined by the Zhou Yuan trio, and the
following days will not be easy for them. Allowing the troublemakers to escape would likely cause him to
die in anger.
Light flashed between Gu Qiu’s brows as an almost fully corporeal Spirit appeared above his head. The
Spirit was as tall as Gu Qiu and transformed into a translucent blur that rocketed towards Zhou Yuan,
Yaoyao and Tuntun at an incredibly fast speed.
Zhou Yuan’s expression immediately changed at the sight of this scene. He could sense how powerful Gu
Qiu’s Spirit was. If they were hit, Zhou Yuan’s Spirit would surely be gravely injured.
At this moment however, Yaoyao swung her hand and several dazzling objects shot out from her sleeve,
transforming into numerous scrolls on which complicated runes began to appear.
Boom boom boom!
The scrolls exploded, each clearly a grade 4 Genesis Rune.
Berserk energies engulfed the area, blowing away Gu Qiu’s Spirit.
Tuntun took this split second opportunity to burst forward, charging out of the black tower and right into
the horizon in a few breaths.
“Stop them!”
Outside the tower, the many waiting Gu clan experts attacked. Pillar after pillar of Genesis Qi seemed to
cover the sky as they closed in on Tuntun.
Roar!
Tuntun merely roared in the face of these attacks and opened its mouth. Black light surged like a black
hole, swallowing every single one of the attacks.
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The Gu Qiu trio finally arrived outside of the tower, but could only watch in frustration as the silhouettes
of the two Genesis Beasts rapidly shrank into the distance. There was no longer any hope of catching up.
“Haha, I’ll be helping you keep this treasure of yours so as to prevent any further victims.” While they left,
Zhou Yuan turned his head, swinging the black crystal ball in his hand as his hearty laughter echoed
across the area.
Gu Qiu’s eyes nearly popped out of their sockets as he howled, “Little thief, put down my Gu clan’s
supreme treasure!”
The Gu clan had been able to specialize in Genesis Runes due to the existence of the black crystal ball.
Once it was gone, it was hard to imagine how great of a loss it would be.
However, Zhou Yuan ignored his howls. The two Genesis Beasts swiftly disappeared into the horizon,
leaving behind the scattered mess that remained of the Gu clan.
Urgh!
As Gu Qiu watched them leave, he could no longer contain his anger and vomited a mouthful of blood.
He pulled one of the elders to him and said in a voice dripping with bitter resentment, “Send news of
what happened to Gu Ling. Tell her that her brother has been killed and the murderers are likely headed
for the Saint Remains Domain.”
“As the prided genius of the Black Yin Sect, she must kill that piece of trash and take back our Gu clan’s
supreme treasure!”
Towards the end, his voice had practically become a hiss.
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Chapter 127 Splitting the Treasure
Deep in the mountains far from Gu City, two Genesis Beasts descended from the sky.
Tuntun turned back into its little beast form and jumped into Yaoyao’s arms, while the ice bird also
transformed into a small bird and hopped onto Luluo’s shoulder.
“Quick! Take out the treasure for us to see.” Luluo’s large eyes were filled with wonder as she looked at
Zhou Yuan, her face overflowing with curiosity and anticipation. After causing such havoc in the Gu clan,
the only benefits they got was that thing in Zhou Yuan’s hand.
Zhou Yuan smiled and nodded. He patted his Universe bag and the black crystal ball appeared in his hand.
“What is it?” Luluo inspected the ball, somewhat puzzled. Although she was able to detect the extremely
pure Spirit source contained within the crystal ball, she could not identify it.
Yaoyao walked forward and concentrated on the ball for a few moments, before a slightly bewildered
voice sounded, “This is… a Saint Spirit Crystal?”
“Saint Spirit Crystal?” Asked both Zhou Yuan and Luluo. They had evidently not heard of it before.
Yaoyao seemed to sigh as she explained, “It is a true treasure and has been called the gem of the Spirit. I
would never have expected to find it in the hands of a tiny clan such as the Gu clan.”
Zhou Yuan curiously inquired, “What function does it have?”
“With it in your possession, even if you do not practice any Spirit tempering method, your Spirit will be
continuously refined and strengthened.” Yaoyao looked towards Zhou Yuan as she continued, “Of course,
if you also practice a Spirit tempering method, it will be akin to adding wings to a tiger.”
“Moreover, the most amazing thing about it is its ability to absorb Spirit power and transform it into
Spirit source energy to strengthen itself. If you are able to refine the crystal and make it your own, as long
as the difference is not too great, anyone who dares to attack with the Spirit will likely end up as its food.
Thus, it is said to be the ultimate treasure with regards to defending against Spirit attacks.”
Zhou Yuan and Luluo wet their lips when they heard this. In a certain sense, both of them could be said to
be Spirit cultivators, and hence clearly understood the value of the Saint Spirit Crystal.
The function of being able to increase one’s Spirit cultivation speed alone made it practically priceless.
They understood just how difficult it was to temper one’s Spirit. In fact, Zhou Yuan had spent almost an
entire year practicing the Primal Chaos Divine Grindstone Visualisation Method, but had yet to reach the
advance Illusory stage.
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However, there only one of these crystals.
Zhou Yuan somewhat helplessly scratched his head. Luluo had been a huge contributor to their success in
obtaining the Saint Spirit Crystal. If her ice bird had not stopped one of the Alpha-Origin elders, Yaoyao
would have been under a tremendous amount of pressure.
Hence, it was really going to be a little troublesome to split the goods.
However, Luluo generously spoke up at this moment, “No need to take me into consideration. If not for
you guys, I may have even fallen for the Gu clan’s plot.”
She knew that the majority of the risk had been taken by Yaoyao and Zhou Yuan.
In addition, she had originally intended on entering the Spirit Refining Tower. If not for Yaoyao
deciphering the secret of the Spirit Devouring Tower, her Spirit may have even be sucked away like some
of the more unfortunate individuals.
Yaoyao gave Luluo a second glance when she heard this. Soon after, she said with a smile, “Relax, there’s
something for everyone.”
These words made Luluo rather happy and pleased. If there were enough benefits to be split, no one
would grumble that his share was too much.
Yaoyao pointed at the black crystal ball and said, “Over the years, the Gu clan has used this Saint Spirit
Crystal to absorb quite an incredible amount of Spirit source energy. However, their crude methods were
incapable of taking out all of this accumulated energy.”
“In turn, this has now benefited us.”
As her words fell, Yaoyao took out a Genesis Brush. The brush tip descended, drawing extremely complex
Genesis Runes on the black crystal. These Genesis Runes weaved together, emitting a peculiar undulation.
Luluo could not help but praise out loud as she watched, “Big sis Yaoyao, your mastery over Genesis
Runes is truly amazing!”
Her Spirit was not weak, but the sight of those Genesis Runes still made her feel a little dizzy. It was
obvious that the runes Yaoyao were drawing were not ordinary at all.
Yaoyao was fully immersed in her work, making her unable to reply. It would seem it was going to be a
little strenuous even for her this time, densely packed sweat appearing on her gleaming forehead.
Zhou Yuan pulled back the insatiably curious Luluo such that Yaoyao would not be disturbed.
This lasted for almost an entire hour before Yaoyao finally breathed out as if a huge burden had been
lifted from her shoulders.
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In front of her, the surface of the black crystal ball was already dotted with numerous Genesis Runes.
The Genesis Brush in Yaoyao’s hand gently pointed at the crystal.
One could only watch as the runes began to glow brightly. Rays of light that were both dazzling and
divine seemed to burn like a holy fire as they fully engulfed the crystal ball.
Ch ch!
The sound of frying oil seemed to echo from within the light.
Zhou Yuan and Luluo watched in amazement as the crystal ball rapidly began to shrink while a
mysterious liquid slowly dripped down from it.
Yaoyao nimbly retrieved a few jade bottles and collected the mysterious liquid.
In a short few minutes, the originally head-sized crystal ball had shrunk to the size of a baby’s fist. It was
no longer black , but instead a milky white on which faint and mysterious patterns could be seen.
Yaoyao lightly swirled one of the jade bottles. One could see drops of liquid slowly flowing within as if
they possess a mind of their own, an extremely mystical sight.
Zhou Yuan curiously asked, “What is it?”
The sight of the liquid caused his Spirit to stir hungrily as if a starving person had suddenly seen a
sumptuous feast.
“It is the purest Spirit source energy, one of the best supplements for the Spirit.” Yaoyao smiled.
“There’s a total of twelve drops here.” Yaoyao handed one of the jade bottles to Luluo and said, “These
four are for you.”
“Thank you big sis!”
Luluo’s large eyes were practically glowing as she received the bottle. These four drops of Spirit source
energy were akin to half a year of tough training. It was indeed a huge haul.
Yaoyao held out another bottle and swayed it before the anxiously waiting Zhou Yuan. “As for you… you
get two drops.”
Zhou Yuan gave a pained look. “Why do I get two drops?”
Yaoyao flatly said, “The other two drops have been deducted by me due to your earlier transgressions.”
She was obviously referring to the matter of Zhou Yuan grabbing her waist.
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Zhou Yuan’s face had practically turned green as he howled, “This is clearly abuse for your own personal
vengeance!”
Yaoyao swept him a glance and nonchalantly responded, “I originally planned on giving the Saint Spirit
Crystal to you, but since you believe that I’m being unfair, we can forget about it.”
Zhou Yuan’s expression instantly changed, no hesitation whatsoever as he declared, “I was wrong.”
By the side, Luluo clicked her tongue and said with a grin, “Little bro, your skin is pretty thick.”
Yaoyao likewise rolled her eyes at him. With a flick, the Saint Spirit Crystal was flung towards Zhou Yuan.
Zhou Yuan happily caught it. This operation had been really worth it!
With this item, he should soon step into the advance Illusory stage, right?
Once he was there, he would finally possess the qualifications to vie with the other prided geniuses in the
Saint Remains Domain.
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Chapter 128 The Youth in Ash Robes
On the peak of a certain mountain.
Zhou Yuan was seated on a boulder, his eyes lightly shut. A baby fist sized milky white crystal ball
hovered three feet above his head, seemingly divine light sprinkling down and enveloping Zhou Yuan.
An illusory figure was seated cross-legged between Zhou Yuan’s brows, greedily absorbing every wisp of
divine light. Every bit of light that entered the Spirit seemed to make it a little more corporeal than
before.
This training lasted for nearly two hours before Zhou Yuan slowly opened his eyes.
The milky white crystal ball above his head slowly descended, ultimately submerging into the spot
between his brows. The illusory figure was still seated between his brows, but there was now a milky
white crystal ball floating above its head that constantly gave off divine light, making the Spirit more
corporeal little by little.
The light from the crystal ball was akin to a circular light screen that protected Zhou Yuan’s Spirit,
allowing no foreign presence to enter.
After ending his training, Zhou Yuan shook his head in regret. Although he could feel that his Spirit was
growing increasingly corporeal, he was ultimately unable to break through into the advance Illusory
stage.
“Spirit cultivation is truly difficult.” Zhou Yuan sighed.
However, he understood that cultivation could not be hurried, and had to be taken a step at a time. Hence,
he soon dispelled such thoughts as his figure floated down from the mountain.
In the spacious forest.
When Zhou Yuan returned, he saw Yaoyao and Luluo seated on the ground, while Tuntun was carrying a
recently hunted Genesis Beast in his mouth some distance to their front. It joyfully hopped in front of
Yaoyao and presented his catch to her.
It clearly wanted Yaoyao to roast the beast for it to eat.
However, Yaoyao merely swept Tuntun an uninterested gazed and said, “Don’t know.”
Tuntun was stunned for a while, before looking towards Luluo.
The green haired girl blinked, a dazzling smile revealing itself as she shook her head and said, “I don’t
know how to do such chores either.”
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It obvious that this was another young lady that had everything delivered to her with a wave of her hand.
How could she possibly know how to roast meat?
Tuntun gave up and powerlessly fell to the ground.
“Another little lady.” Zhou Yuan helplessly watched this scene. He had only went to train for a while, and
they were now hungrily staring at each other, clearly no indication of anyone going to do any chores even
if their lives were at stake.
Zhou Yuan walked forward, causing Tuntun to immediately bark happily at him.
“Little bastard, you only know how to curry favor with me at such a time.” Cursed Zhou Yuan inside, but
he still walked over and began to get busy, removing the skin of the Genesis Beast before placing it on a
rack to roast.
Yaoyao felt a little embarrassed when she saw how busy Zhou Yuan was and asked with some concern,
“Still no breakthrough?”
Zhou Yuan shrugged.
Yaoyao pondered for a moment before she said, “If you should be able to advance if you absorb a drop of
Spirit source energy.”
Luluo cupped her cheeks with her tiny hands as she said, “But big sis Yaoyao, didn’t you say that two
Genesis resources are needed to achieve the full effect of the Spirit source energy?”
“What are the two Genesis resources called?”
Zhou Yuan interjected, “The Underworld Spirit Fruit and the Vermillion Blood Grass.”
He frowned as he continued, “These two Genesis resources are rarely seen and not easy to find.”
Luluo smiled. “No hurry, we should be able to buy them once we reach Saint Remains City.”
Saint Remains City was one of the largest cities just outside the Saint Remains Domain, while the city lord
residence was one of the strongest factions in the vast Saint Remains Domain.
The group’s current destination was Saint Remains City. Once they reached it, they be as close as they
could to the Saint Remains Domain.
Zhou Yuan nodded. Looks like that was the only option.
Zhou Yuan suddenly said, “As for the Gu clan, will there be any trouble? Since we took their supreme
treasure, I don’t think they will let us off.”
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Yaoyao responded, “We’ve already publicized their evil schemes, and they should currently be under a lot
of pressure. They should not have the time to deal with us, but it wouldn’t hurt for us to be a little
careful.”
Zhou Yuan nodded.
After toiling for an hour, he was finally done roasting the Genesis Beast. Zhou Yuan retrieved a dagger
and cut a slice for each of the two young ladies, before dumping a good chunk of the leftovers to the
drooling Tuntun.
Dong dong!
However, while they were engrossed in enjoying their food, they suddenly felt the ground begin to shake.
The trio lifted their heads and peered into the depths of the mountain, only to see numerous Genesis
Beast fleeing in fright as if something terrifying was right at their heels.
Luluo muttered in alarm, “It can’t be the Gu clan, right?”
Zhou Yuan eyebrows knitted together as Genesis Qi began surging around his body. His eyes were tightly
fixed on the dense forest where he could faintly sense an extremely sharp and dangerous sensation.
Was it really the Gu clan?
A long while later, a rustling sound emerged from the depths of the dense foliage under Zhou Yuan’s alert
gaze, and he watched as a figure slowly walk out.
As the figure emerged, Zhou Yuan was finally able to get a clear view of him.
It was a young man in ash colored robes. He carried a heavy black sword on his back, while a piece of
black cloth had been wrapped around his eyes. Even so, his footsteps were both firm and steady.
Moreover, wherever he passed, the trees nearby would silently split open, the revealed interiors smooth
as a mirror.
“What formidable sword Qi!”
Zhou Yuan’s expression turned grave as he observed the youth whose eyes were wrapped in black cloth.
The aura from the latter’s body made him feel a prickling pain all over his skin. It was obvious that this
young man was astonishingly powerful.
The youth in ash robes slowly approached, eventually arriving before Zhou Yuan’s group.
Roar!
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Tuntun released a low roar, black light surfacing within its mouth.
The youth’s footsteps paused, clearly having sensed several extremely powerful existences in front of
him.
Zhou Yuan vigilantly watched the youth in ash robes. They would take action the moment they detected
any strange movements from the latter.
Thus, the atmosphere became silent for a time.
Growl.
However, the atmosphere was suddenly broken a moment later by a certain sound as strange
expressions emerged in the Zhou Yuan trio’s eyes. The sound had come from the stomach of youth in ash
robes who had just made an extremely cool entrance.
The situation became rather awkward all of a sudden.
An almost undetectable tremble seemed to ripple past on the youth in ash robes’ face as he finally opened
his mouth and croaked, “I’ve been starving for three days.”
Pfff.
Luluo could no longer hold back her laughter.
The corners of Zhou Yuan’s mouth twitched. Brother, your entrance was so cool. Why did you have to use
such a comical opener.
However, he also breathed a sigh of relief. Looks like it wasn’t the Gu clan.
“It just so happens that we have some food here, we can eat together.” Zhou Yuan pointed at the
remaining half of the roast meat.
The youth in ash robes nodded at Zhou Yuan before seating himself. He did not bother with any
pleasantries, immediately grabbing the roast meat as he began to ravenously wolf it down.
Zhou Yuan was a little shocked by the sight of him eating. “There are Genesis Beast all over in the
mountains, why didn’t you just kill one and roast it to eat?”
The youth in ash robes swallowed the meat in his mouth, before he replied, “Don't’ know how, it will taste
horrible.”
Zhou Yuan let out an exasperated chuckle. All three of them were little lords and ladies. Come on, he was
also a prince in the Great Zhou Empire, how had it come to this point where he was now practically a
chef?!
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Luluo propped up her chin, all smiles as she stared at the youth in ash robes and remarked in a drawn out
voice, “I never thought that I would actually encounter the rumored Blind Sword of the Sword Empire…”
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Chapter 129 Saint Remains City
When Luluo’s voice rang out, Zhou Yuan’s pupils shrank slightly. To think that the youth in ash robes was
actually from the Sword Empire…
Moreover, Zhou Yuan had heard of this individual’s past achievements, and could easily say that he was
the cream of the crop amongst the younger generation in the Cangmang Continent.
In fact, he would not be the least bit inferior even when matched up against the likes of Wu Huang.
Zhou Yuan never imagined that he would actually meet this legend here.
The youth in ash robes paused for a moment, before lifting his black cloth covered eyes as looked in
Luluo’s direction and replied in a raspy voice, “I too never expected that I would meet the Little County
Lord of the Thousand Beast Empire here.”
Zhou Yuan was struck by a flash of understanding. No wonder Luluo had dared to promise him a
dukedom in the Thousand Beast Empire. It turns out that she was that Little County Lord.
These two were the elite amongst the younger generation of the Cangmang Continent.
The youth in ash robes suddenly turned towards Yaoyao, a slight trace of graveness visible on his rather
impassive face as he slowly said, “Although there are no Genesis Qi undulations from your body, I feel
that you are extremely dangerous.”
Zhou Yuan’s eyelids jumped. Although this guy was blind, he was able to see more clearly than anyone
else. Ordinary people would not be able to sense how dangerous Yaoyao actually was.
Yaoyao merely continued to gracefully take small bite after bite of the roast meat, paying no heed to the
youth in ash robes’ words.
“And this Genesis Beast…” The youth in ash robes looked towards Tuntun.
Tuntun turned away, butt now facing him as it dug into its meat.
The youth in ash robes finally shifted his gaze towards Zhou Yuan and earnestly said, “You seem to be
somewhat weaker.”
The corners of Zhou Yuan’s mouth twitched as his face turned black as a storm. Can’t you just eat your
meat in peace? Why do you have so much to say?
After which, the youth in ash robes fell silent. He once again began to ravenously devour every scrap of
the roast meat in his hand, even licking his fingers clean.
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When the final bit of food was eaten, he was finally satisfied. He lifted his head to look at Zhou Yuan.
“Thank you. I owe you a debt of gratitude.”
Zhou Yuan nonchalantly waved his hand.
“Farewell.”
The youth in ash robes did not intend to make any conversation. After saying what he needed, he turned
around and left. Direct and efficient, no beating around the bush.
Zhou Yuan rather admired such directness and suddenly spoke up, “Are you going to Saint Remains City?”
The youth in ash robes seemed to nod, but his feet did not pause.
Zhou Yuan asked, “Want to go together?”
The youth in ash robes shook his head. “I’m used to being alone.”
“Oh.” Zhou Yuan nodded. “I just want to tell you that you’re heading in the wrong direction. Saint Remains
City is that way.”
He extended a finger and pointed in a certain direction.
The youth in ash robes’ footsteps finally came to a halt as the atmosphere became awkward once again.
He was silent for a long time, before somewhat rigidly turning around and quickly walking in the
direction Zhou Yuan had pointed in. In a few breaths, he faded from view, though the last glimpse of his
back seemed to cut a slightly sorry figure.
Zhou Yuan watched his figure disappear, not knowing whether to laugh or cry. This guy seemed to be
pretty directionally challenged. Just how had he managed to walk all the way here from the Sword
Empire?
Luluo also watched the youth in ash robes leave as she remarked, “Blind Sword seems to have grown
stronger again, he’s likely on the brink of stepping into the Alpha-Origin stage.”
“It is said that he was already able to kill an Alpha-Origin expert at the advance Heaven Gate stage. I
wonder how strong he will be once he reaches the Alpha-Origin stage.”
Luluo clicked her tongue. “I’m afraid that even Little Frost and I together will not be able to beat him.”
Zhou Yuan gave a slight nod. The youth in ash robes was indeed very formidable. Zhou Yuan had sensed
an extremely threatening aura from the former that made him understand that the current him would not
be his match.
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After all, being late by two years in opening his meridian channels had resulted in a gap between Zhou
Yuan and these elite geniuses. However, he was confident that he was continuously shortening the gap
between them.
Yaoyao elegantly wiped her little red lips and shot a look at Zhou Yuan. “If Wu Huang is on the same level
as him, it will be rather dangerous for you.”
Luluo interjected in surprise, “Eh? Little bro, that Wu Huang is your enemy?”
Soon after, her large eyes looked at Zhou Yuan with pity. “Then it’s over for you. There is no way that you
will be able to beat him. That monster is very strong. When the Sword Empire and the Great Wu Empire
were at war, Wu Huang and Blind Sword once had a duel with each other.”
Zhou Yuan curiously asked, “Who won?”
Luluo secretly grinned. “Neither. So they ended up killing an Alpha-Origin expert from the opposing side
to dispel some of their frustration.”
Zhou Yuan rolled his eyes, tributing a moment of silence to the sacrifice of the two Alpha-Origin experts.
“That’s why it will be best for you to quickly run away if you encounter Wu Huang in the Saint Remains
Domain.” Luluo concluded with a wide grin.
The corners of Zhou Yuan’s mouth slanted downwards. Wu Huang was indeed very strong, but if Zhou
Yuan was able to ascend to the Heaven Gate stage and level up his Spirit to the advance Illusory stage, his
battle power would not be weaker than the latter.
However, after hearing Luluo speak such words, Zhou Yuan was now somewhat anxious. He had yet to
fulfil even one of these two conditions.
“We should also hurry.” Said Zhou Yuan. He wanted to get to Saint Remains City as soon as possible and
obtain the two Genesis resources. Only then would he be able to absorb the Spirit source energy which
would aid his Spirit in breaking through into the advance Illusory stage.
Yaoyao and Luluo naturally did not raise any objections. Thus, after a short rest, they started to travel
once again.
In the following few days, they no longer made any pit stops and travelled at full speed. As such, they
soon began to gradually approach their destination.
However, just as they were about to leave the mountains, Yaoyao suddenly made the other two wait for a
while as she slipped into the dense forest alone.
Zhou Yuan and Luluo exchanged a puzzled look. After waiting for some time, they saw a figure in white
leisurely walk out from the dense foliage.
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It was a sight that made their jaws fall open and eyeballs practically pop from their sockets.
Because the one that had walked out was tall, slim and blessed with an extremely handsome-pretty face.
The long fine black hair had disappeared into thin air, while the slight curves of her chest had somehow
been masked up by something, making it flat as a board.
Yaoyao had transformed from a young lady into an incomparably handsome pretty young man.
“What the heck are you up to?” Zhou Yuan felt as if his head was lost in the mist.
Yaoyao calmly replied, “The appearance of a girl is too attention grabbing and troublesome.”
In Gu City, it was her beauty that had drawn the nuisance called Gu Lang. Although they had been the
ones who gained in the end, the whole affair had still been an inconvenience in Yaoyao’s eyes.
Therefore, she had decided to masquerade as a guy.
“So handsome!” Luluo’s large eyes were practically spewing light. This guy version of Yaoyao was just too
outrageously handsome that even someone who knew the secret like herself felt her heart flutter a little.
“This appearance of yours… is really going to steal all of my thunder.” Zhou Yuan felt as if he had a
toothache. He himself was an okayish handsome fellow, but when compared to Yaoyao’s current
appearance, that slight handsomeness was now suppressed to a mere background prop.
“What thunder can you have?” Yaoyao casually retrieved a fan, creating a picture perfect look of the ideal
man.
“I’ll be handing Tuntun over to you. As a man, carrying it around will make me look bad.” Yaoyao
offhandedly threw the innocent looking Tuntun to Zhou Yuan.
Zhou Yuan held up Tuntun and looked at it as his face turned black. Come on, I’m the real man here. Do
you think carrying Tuntun will make me look good?
However, Yaoyao did not care about such matters and leisurely strolled forward with a wave of her hand.
“Let’s go.”
Zhou Yuan could only let out a long sigh as he gazed upon her back. He placed Tutun on his shoulders and
quickly caught up.
The thick forest began to disperse before them as their view abruptly widened.
A magnificent city proudly stood some distance away, an enormous Genesis Rune boundary extending
from above the city, covering it like a dome.
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Sounds of rustling wind were unceasing as figure after figure arrived from every direction atop their
Genesis Qi and landed inside the city.
Zhou Yuan involuntarily swallowed a deep breath as he marvelled at this scene, while excitement
gradually began to blaze in his eyes.
This was it! The nearest city to the Saint Remains Domain!
It was at this very place that the countless prided geniuses of the Cangmang Continent were beginning to
converge.
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Chapter 130 House of Geniuses
Saint Remains City sat at the central region of the Cangmang Continent, and was the largest city in the
vicinity of the Saint Remains Domain.
The city was pretty famous even in the entire Cangmang Continent. Not only because it was built in a
favorable location, but more so due to the powerhouse faction it represented.
The power of Saint Remains City was no weaker than the great clans and empires in the continent.
Over the years, Saint Remains City had borrowed the reputation of the Saint Remains Domain to
continuously strengthened itself. Now, if based on just scale alone, not many cities could match it even in
the entire continent.
This was especially so when the Saint Remains Domain showed signs of opening. During this period, Saint
Remains City would become the focal point of the entire continent…
...
“What a magnificent city.”
Zhou Yuan could not help but sigh in admiration when the trio walked into the city and gazed upon the
scenery within. Great Zhou City was like a child when compared to this place.
Spacious street after street where people came and went. It was a racket of activity.
An enormous Genesis Rune boundary descended from the sky, protecting the entire city in its embrace.
“It is likely that only a Divine Dwelling expert will be able to break this Genesis Rune boundary.”
Mumbled Zhou Yuan to himself as he gazed upon the gigantic Genesis Rune boundary, feeling the power
contained within.
A Genesis Rune boundary of this level would likely consume an incredible amount of Genesis crystals just
for daily operation alone. This was why it was usually on warning mode, and would only reveal its fangs
when an invasion occurred.
According to Zhou Yuan’s estimates, constructing a Genesis Rune boundary of this scale would require at
the very minimum a master proficient in grade 5 Genesis Runes. It was hard to imagine how much the
services of such a master would cost.
The fact that Saint Remains City had managed to stand tall in the central region of the continent for so
many years was a testament to their solid foundations.
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“There’s a place called the House of Geniuses in Saint Remains City where most of the geniuses lodge at
after arriving here, and I suggest that we head there too. We can also obtain first hand information about
the Saint Remains Domain there.” Luluo looked towards Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao. From the looks of it, she
had done her homework.
Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao naturally had no objections.
Thus, the gang of three followed the streets until they arrived at the central district of Saint Remains City,
where they were greeted by the sight of an extremely grand building.
The building was a marvel of construction, the dragon and phoenix statues that decorated it were so
lifelike that one could almost feel a boundless aura from them.
Above the building was a board on which bold and flamboyant golden words were written.
‘House of Geniuses’
These three simple words seemed to emanate a feeling a pride. After all, those who could call themselves
geniuses were definitely outstanding amongst their peers. As for ordinary people, they naturally had no
place here.
Countless people gathered outside, yearning in their eyes as they looked towards the House of Geniuses.
The Zhou Yuan trio did not pause, walking directly towards the doors of the House of Geniuses under the
attention of the crowd. Numerous guards were stationed at the door, making it appear that security was
rather tight here.
“Please halt.”
When the trio approached, a middle-aged man walked out, a faint smile on his lips as he cupped his hands
together towards them, “My humble self is called Xiao Luo, and I am a manager of the House of Geniuses.
If you intend to enter, you will need to report your name, title or affiliations. Ordinary individuals are not
allowed into the House.”
Luluo raised her eyebrows. “So many rules.”
However, she did not make any further remarks, and instead said in a flat voice, “Thousand Beast Empire,
Luluo.”
The pupils of the middle-aged man shrank when he heard this, the smile on his face suddenly becoming
warm and welcoming. “Oh it's the Little County Lord of the Thousand Beast Empire, I have long heard of
your name, please pardon me for my lack of manners.”
“Can we enter now?” Luluo could not be bothered with him and directly headed into the House of
Geniuses.
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However, although she successfully entered, when it came to Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao, the guards extended
their spears, stopping the two in their tracks.
“What do you think you are doing?” Luluo’s gaze turned icy.
Xiao Luo smiled as he cupped his hands together and explained, “The Little County Lord is indeed a talent
amongst talents, and can naturally enter the House of Geniuses. But these two need to report their
names.”
Several people cast their gazes down from the building at this moment, gazes filled with mockery and
interest.
A Qi Nourishing stage and someone that did not even have any Genesis Qi. Did these two really think they
could enter the House of Geniuses?
With so many gazes looking at them as if they were monkeys, Zhou Yuan’s brows knitted together as he
said in a toneless voice, “Great Zhou Empire, Zhou Yuan.”
Xiao Luo smiled superficially and said, “I seem to be rather ill-informed. According to our sources, there is
no one from the remote Great Zhou Empire who is worthy of being called a genius.”
He looked earnest on the surface, but his words were tinged with a hint of mockery.
He then looked towards Yaoyao and said, “Please report your name.”
However, Yaoyao merely swept him a cold look. She did not reply, but instead clenched her hand as a
Genesis Rune scroll appeared within it. Rays of light exploded from between her brows, her Spirit
shaking as the grade four Genesis Rune trembled on the verge of activation.
*Uproar*!
The undulations from the grade 4 Genesis Rune gave rise to a storm of noise. Even the various geniuses
that had already entered in the upper floors of the building cried out in surprise.
“Grade 4 Genesis Rune?”
“Corporeal stage Spirit?!”
Xiao Luo’s pupils violently shrank as fear flitted across in his eyes. It was obvious that he had not
expected this unbelievably pretty guy to possess such a powerful Spirit.
Grade 4 Genesis Runes were a match to an Alpha-Origin expert. Such strength was first class even
amongst the geniuses of the Cangmang Continent.
“This young master has truly concealed your power well, it is I who had no eyes.”
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Xiao Luo let out an awkward chuckle. Soon after, however, his eyes flashed as he cast his gaze towards
Zhou Yuan and sincerely said, “My friend, these two may enter the House of Geniuses, but over the years,
there has never been a case of a Qi Nourishing stage practitioner entering our House. So I can only ask
you to make a detour to somewhere else.” Zhou Yuan’s frown deepened. He could faintly sense that this
person seemed to be purposely making things difficult for them. But this was their first time here, the
other party should not know who they were, right?
Luluo’s face turned frosty. “You dare to chase out someone I brought?”
Xiao Luo smiled and explained, “I hope that Little County Lord can empathize that we are just doing our
jobs. I’m sure that you must also know the rules of the city lord residence.”
He had already brought out his backer through his words. It was clear that the rules of the House of
Geniuses were set by the city lord residence.
Zhou Yuan’s face remained cool and collected. “What are the qualifications of a genius?”
Xiao Luo chuckled. “One must be of the younger generation plus be able to reach the Heaven Gate stage, if
not, one naturally cannot be considered a genius.”
Zhou Yuan gave a slight nod. “How strong are you?”
Xiao Luo answered with a faint smile, “Mid Heaven Gate stage.”
Zhou Yuan grinned as iciness flashed in his eyes.
Rumble!
Dark gold Genesis Qi abruptly exploded from Zhou Yuan’s body as his figure dashed forward. In a flash,
he had appeared in front of Xiao Luo.
His five fingers tightly clenched as a punch was sent flying, punch winds blasting apart the air.
Green scales had also appeared on his fist, giving off a faint shine.
“Impudent!”
Xiao Luo’s expression changed as he loudly shouted. Vigorous Genesis Qi erupted from his body and he
also sent out a full power punch. He intended to give some proper guidance to this arrogant little brat.
Bang!
Under the numerous watching eyes of the crowd, two fists ferociously slammed into each other.
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A wave of air swept outwards as Xiao Luo’s expression rapidly changed, horror surfacing in his eyes. At
the moment of impact, he had felt an unparalleled power rush towards him.
The power of that punch was definitely not something a Qi Nourishing stage should have!
Boom!
The air rippled as Xiao Luo’s body jerked and was sent catapulting backwards. He smashed into a stone
pillar and spit out a mouthful of blood.
The upper levels of the House of Geniuses had turned silent, while amazement appeared in numerous
gazes. It was clear that no one had imagined that the mid Heaven Gate stage Xiao Luo would be blown
away by a single punch from an advance Qi Nourishing stage kid.
Their gazes were now different when they looked towards Zhou Yuan again. It was indeed true that those
who could reach this place were not ordinary at all.
Under the watching gazes of the crowd, Zhou Yuan slowly withdrew his fist, his eyes unchanged as he
looked towards Xiao Luo. “It seems that your mid Heaven Gate stage is nothing to be proud about.”
As his words faded, he paid no further attention to Xiao Luo and walked into the House of Geniuses. This
time, no one dared to stop him.
However, Zhou Yuan’s brows were still slightly furrowed.
Just who exactly was secretly targeting him?
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Chapter 131 Heavenly Luo Halberd
The trio had finally successfully entered the House of Geniuses and were led to their room by a servant.
“It seems that someone is out to get us.” Once they were in the room, Luluo’s eyebrows knitted together.
Someone as sharp as her had naturally realised that there were some problems with Xiao Luo’s attitude.
Zhou Yuan frowned. It was the first time they had come here, and none of them knew anyone, why were
they being targeted?
On the way here, the only one they had offended was the Gu clan.
Could the Gu clan’s hands have reached all the way here?
Luluo seemed to be able to read Zhou Yuan thoughts, shaking her head as she said, “The faction behind
the House of Geniuses is the city lord residence. I doubt that Gu clan can make them do anything.”
Zhou Yuan’s eyes narrowed slightly. The city lord residence? Why was this faction making things difficult
for them?
The trio thought about this matter for a while, but were unable to arrive at a conclusion. Hence, they
could only drop it for the time being.
Luluo wrinkled her nose as she said, “No need to be too worried. Although the city lord residence is
strong, they do not dare to do as they please. It's not like we don’t have any powerful backers.”
Zhou Yuan nodded.
“I’ll head out and ask around for some information while also looking up where to buy the Underworld
Spirit Fruit and the Blood Vermillion Grass.” Luluo grinned. She was clearly someone who was unable to
sit still for long.
Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao nodded. The House of Geniuses was a mix of both good and bad characters that
they did not intend to mingle with. They would rather stay in the room to train.
Thus, Luluo went out alone, but it was not long before she slipped back in again, her face brimming with
excitement.
“There’s news!”
Zhou Yuan was somewhat surprised. That was fast.
Luluo eagerly blurted out, “There will be an auction tonight in the House of Geniuses, and both the
Underworld Spirit Fruit and Blood Vermillion Fruit have been mentioned. Moreover, the ones gathered
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here are the various geniuses from all over the Cangmang Continent so any treasure can be put on sale
regardless of where they came from. Hence, there’s likely going to be quite a few gems.”
From the looks of it, she was extremely fond of such rare and lively events.
Zhou Yuan was also a little thrilled at this news. There was finally information about the Underworld
Spirit Fruit and Blood Vermillion Fruit.
As long as he could obtain these two Genesis resources, his Spirit would be able to ascend to the advance
Illusory stage, allowing him to begin learning grade 3 Genesis Runes. When that happened, he would no
longer have to fear advance Heaven Gate stage opponents.
The current him was amongst a gathering of geniuses of which several possessed the strength of the
advance Heaven Gate stage. If Zhou Yuan did not raise his battle power, he would be disadvantaged when
he met them in a fight.
“Then we’ll have a look at the auction tonight.” Zhou Yuan decided. The current him needed to the
Underworld Spirit Fruit and Vermillion Blood Grass far too much.
Time flowed as night began to envelope the enormous Saint Remains City. The outside of the city was
pitch-black darkness, while the inside was brightly lit.
Under the House of Geniuses was a vast underground room that was the chosen venue for the auction.
At this current time, several geniuses from all over were flooding into the room. It was obvious that many
were interested in the auction tonight. After all, the Saint Remains Domain was about to open, and
everyone wanted to make themselves as strong as possible. Obtaining a powerful Genesis weapon or
treasure would certainly be hugely beneficial to them.
Luluo’s reputation was clearly much greater than Zhou Yuan’s. Hence, the group of three easily acquired a
VIP room for themselves. The room had a view looking down from above, the transparent glass allowing
them to clearly see the entire place and the auction stage.
“The other VIP rooms are likely occupied by the super geniuses of our Cangmang Continent.” Luluo
smiled craftily at Zhou Yuan as she continued, “Wu Huang may even be amongst them.”
The hand holding Zhou Yuan’s cup trembled slightly, but he did not reply. The expression in his eyes
however turned a little graver.
He knew that Luluo’s words were likely true.
Zhou Yuan took a small sip of the wine in his cup as its fiery taste entered his mouth. He had the faint
premonition that his meeting with Wu Huang was not far off.
The one that has my sacred dragon blessing, you’ve been having a pretty good life…
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Dong!
While Zhou Yuan was lost in thought, the sound of a gong suddenly reverberated throughout the auction
area. The noise quickly died down as excited gaze after gaze focused on the stage.
The stage lit up and an elderly figure walked out. The moment he appeared, powerful Genesis Qi
undulations spread from his body.
This elder was clearly an Alpha-Origin expert.
When Zhou Yuan saw this, he uttered in amazement, “To think that they’ve actually sent an Alpha-Origin
expert to host this auction, impressive.”
“The latter part of the auction will definitely be hosted by the city lord residence. This Alpha-Origin
expert is likely also a member of the city lord residence.” Said Luluo.
Zhou Yuan nodded.
While they were conversing, the elder on the stage swept his gaze around the place as his voice rang out
in everyone’s ears, “Since everyone has come here from far away, I shall dispense with the pleasantries. A
long time has been spent preparing for this auction, and I believe that everyone will be very interested in
our selection.”
“Let’s begin.”
The atmosphere intensified as the elder’s final word faded, every gaze in the place now tightly glued to
the former.
The elder merely waved his hand and a dozen steel tower like men carried out a certain item, their
footsteps heavy as if they were lifting a mountain.
The elder reached out a gnarly hand and lifted the black cloth that covered the item. A heavy night-black
halberd instantly appeared in everyone’s sights.
The heavy halberd was several feet long and covered all over in veined patterns. An astonishing killing
intent spread from it, causing the hairs of anyone who felt it to stand on end. However, it was a pity that
there were several cracks on the heavy halberd, making it apparent that this weapon was a damaged
article.
The elder slowly said, “This is a damaged quasi-Heaven tier Genesis Weapon. It is known as the Heavenly
Luo Halberd.”
*Uproar*
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The auction area practically exploded. To think that the first item would be a quasi-Heaven Genesis
Weapon. Although it was damaged, it could still be considered Heaven tier, and a quasi-Heaven tier
weapon was not ordinary at all.
“Amazing, the first item is already a quasi-Heaven Genesis Weapon. Looks like they really put some
thought into aweing the crowd.” Zhou Yuan could not help but exclaim in admiration. One must know
that the highest tier Genesis Weapon in the entire Great Zhou Empire was the Nine Flames Spear owned
by his father.
But even it was merely a high grade Black Genesis Weapon.
Don’t scoff at this quasi-Heaven Genesis Weapon just because it was damaged. Its power definitely
surpassed a high grade Black Genesis Weapon, making it an extremely lethal weapon in battle.
With this halberd, an advance Heaven Gate expert would even be able to do battle with a first layer
Alpha-Origin expert.
Back then, Su Youwei had used the remnant power of the Yangming Sword in her body to insta-kill an
Alpha-Origin expert. From this, one can see just how much power a Heaven tier Genesis Weapon
possessed.
Of course, it must be mentioned that the Yangming Sword was definitely much higher up on the ladder
than this Heavenly Luo Halberd.’
“Bids for this item starts at 500,000 Genesis crystals.” The elder’s gaze swept across the entire auction
area as his powerful voice rang out.
The auction area was silent for a split second before instantly being broken by a wave of voices.
“600,000!”
“I bid 700,000!”
“800,000! I hope that everyone will give me, Lu Dameng, some face!”
“Who do you think you are, I’ve never even heard of you. One million!”
“......”
In the short span of a dozen minutes, the Heavenly Luo Halberd’s price had reached a whopping bid of 1.5
million.
Zhou Yuan itched to join in as he watched exhilarating exchange of bids, but could ultimately only let out
a helpless sigh. He had no money. Only now did he realise how pathetic his 500,000 Genesis crystals
were.
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After the bid reached 1.5 million, less and less people were able to participate. In the end, a few more
rounds of bidding left the bid at 2.1 million.
The Heavenly Luo Halberd was auctioned away at a price of 2.1 million as regretful sighs rang out in the
auction area. There were even more people who were clenching their teeth in frustration because no one
knew whose hands the halberd had landed in.
Although the majority of the crowd was rather regretful, the atmosphere in the auction area had become
pretty lively, and countless burning gazes quickly turned to the stage again.
The first item was already so valuable. Looks likes the quality of the goods this time was indeed going to
be pretty high. The only question was whether even better things would appear later on…
Hence,the auction continued under the countless expectant gazes, unstoppable as wildfire.
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Chapter 132 Goods Get
Item after item continuously appeared on the auction stage. Although none of them could match the
Heavenly Luo Halberd, every item was still considerably rare. Hence, the atmosphere of the auction
remained extremely exciting.
At this current moment, the elder was once again taking out another item on the auction stage. It was a
glass bottle in which a fiery-red liquid swam. The viscous liquid was akin to the essence of fire, flames
endlessly burning around it.
“This is the Earth Essence Flame that was extracted from the depths of Wanzai volcano. If it is absorbed
by someone who is cultivating a fire type Genesis Qi, as long as that Genesis Qi is below grade 5, it will be
able to raise the raise the rank of the Genesis Qi by one minor grade.”
These words shook the auction area once again, burning desire instantly rising in the eyes of countless
individuals.
The previous items, including the Heavenly Luo Halberd, were ultimately external aids. This Earth
Essence Flame on the other hand was able to raise the rank of one’s Genesis Qi!
Although it only worked on Genesis Qi below grade 5, it was still a tremendous boost.
If absorbed, a low tier grade 4 Genesis Qi would rise to the mid tier. Such an increase in power was
definitely not insubstantial.
“Never imagined that they would even have such a thing.” Zhou Yuan could not help but sigh, his heart
stirring a little. Although the Omni Python Qi he cultivated was already grade 5, his father’s Flame-
Thunder Qi was only grade 4.
If he gave this item to his father, the Flame-Thunder Qi would definitely reach the peak of grade 4.
However, Zhou Yuan’s stirring heart was quickly crushed by reality, because the starting bid for the Earth
Essence Flame was 800,000 Genesis crystals.
“I feel so poor.”
Zhou Yuan could not help but cover his face with a hand. The Great Zhou Empire had not been a good
place for the past few years, resulting its prince having little savings. He was not like the others who
could easily accumulate a few million.
The bidding war for the Earth Essence Flame was even more intense than the earlier Heavenly Luo
Halberd. After several minutes of back and forth, the price finally stabilized at 2.58 million.
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Only after the struggle for the Earth Essence Flame was over did the heated atmosphere cool down
somewhat.
Zhou Yuan silently waited for the items he needed. After about a dozen minutes, he finally heard the
words he was expecting.
“Underworld Spirit Fruit, 100,000 Genesis crystals.”
Zhou Yuan’s lightly shut eyes opened, his gaze burning with desire as he stared at the stage where the
elder was holding a jade case. A black fruit lay within the case.
This Genesis resource had a very particular function, hence, not many were interested in it and it’s
starting bid was naturally pretty tame.
Few were vying for this item, and the bid only managed to rise to 150,000 after a few rounds.
Zhou Yuan waited for his opportunity. When it was about time, he finally opened his mouth, “200,000
The sudden increase of 33% was not trivial at all. Several parties immediately give up, while the
remaining two only gave in after raising the bid to 250,000.
Zhou Yuan breathed a sigh of relief. His entire fortune only amounted to 500,000 Genesis crystals, and
just this Underworld Spirit Fruit alone would consume half of it. The rest of his money was still needed to
buy the Vermillion Blood Grass.
The elder scanned the area as his powerful voice echoed, “Are there any other bids?”
Silence.
However, just as Zhou Yuan had relaxed, a soft chuckle was suddenly heard.
“300,000.”
The abrupt arrival of this voice caused whispers to spring up in the auction area. Many were bewildered.
Why had the price of an Underworld Spirit Fruit risen to such a level?
Zhou Yuan’s complexion changed slightly, the expression in his eyes sinking a little as he said in a calm
voice, “350,000.”
“400,000.” The other bidder immediately kept pace.
“500,000.” Iciness flashed in Zhou Yuan’s eyes. Someone was making things difficult for them again. The
other bidder was clearly purposely stirring trouble and did not intend to buy it.
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When Zhou Yuan called out his bid of 500,000, the other voice seemed to laugh softly before no longer
making any noise.
Thus, the Underworld Spirit Fruit ultimately landed in Zhou Yuan’s hands, but he had to pay 500,000,
completely wiping out his entire fortune.
There was no change in Zhou Yuan’s expression, but fury flashed in his eyes.
By the side, Luluo stared at the VIP room in the distance and muttered, “The one that bidded is also in a
VIP room. According to my information, that room is exclusively used by the city lord residence.”
“City lord residence?” Zhou Yuan frowned slightly. When had he offended the Saint Remains city lord
residence? Moreover, given the city lord’s status, he could not possibly lower himself to vie with those of
the younger generation.
Luluo pondered for a while. “The one inside is definitely not the city lord… but according to what I’ve
heard, the only other person who frequents that VIP room is the city lord’s son, the junior city lord, Xiao
Tianxuan.”
“Xiao Tianxuan?” Zhou Yuan shook his head. He did not know this person at all, so why was he making
things difficult for them?
Zhou Yuan’s eyes flickered in thought for a while, eventually returning to calmness. However, ice-cold
light flashed in the depths of this calmness. It did not matter why Xiao Tianxuan was targeting them.
Since the act was done, Zhou Yuan would naturally remember.
He then looked towards Luluo and asked, “Luluo, can you lend me some Genesis crystals?”
All 500,000 of his Genesis crystals had been used up. He no longer had any left for the subsequent
Vermillion Blood Grass.
Luluo waved her hand. “Small matter, I’ll help you bid it later!”
Zhou Yuan did not say anything, but he made sure to remember this debt of gratitude.
The auction continued. It was not long before the Vermillion Blood Grass finally made an appearance.
The starting price for the Blood Vermillion Grass was only 80,000 Genesis crystals, and the competition
even less than before.
Luluo was the first to shout, “200,000!”
Her bid directly silenced the place. Those originally planning on bidding instantly became quiet. This bid
was akin to roadblock, there was no reason for them to pay such a high price for a stalk of Vermillion
Blood Grass.
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The silence only lasted for a moment. Just as Luluo began to believe that she had already succeeded, a
faint laughter was once again heard from a particular VIP room. “300,000.”
Zhou Yuan’s eyelids lowered slightly as the frostiness in his eyes intensified.
Xiao Tianxuan was really a bit too much.
Luluo’s face also turned ice-cold. Although Xiao Tianxuan was the junior city lord of Saint Remains City,
he did not amount to much in her eyes. Thus, she immediately responded, “600,000.”
Directly doubling the bid.
That VIP room was clearly silent for a moment after Luluo’s bid. In the end, a soft laugh emerged. “Since
Little County Lord likes this item, I shall not compete.”
The Vermillion Blood Fruit was now also in the bag, but Luluo’s pretty face did not look happy at all. Xiao
Tianxuan knew that she was the one bidding, but still raised the price. It was obvious that he did not
think much of her.
“Thanks.” Zhou Yuan nodded at Luluo.
He slowly said, “Will the junior city lord be going to the Saint Remains Domain?”
“Of course.” Luluo nodded.
Zhou Yuan softly muttered, “That’s good.”
Luluo’s large eyes looked at Zhou Yuan. “Are you planning on getting even in the Saint Remains Domain?
That guy is no pushover, he too is one of the elite geniuses of the Cangmang Continent.”
Zhou Yuan’s voice was steady as he replied, “I have also slain an Alpha-Origin.”
Luluo’s eyes turned round, somewhat unable to believe him. Wu Huang and Blind Sword had killed an
Alpha-Origin expert, but at least they were at the advance Heaven Gate stage. Did Zhou Yuan really slay
an Alpha-Origin at the Qi Nourishing stage?
Zhou Yuan took in a deep breath, his eyes cool and calm as he looked towards that particular VIP room.
Xiao Tianxuan was it?
If we meet in the Saint Remains Domain, I will make you spit out ten times the amount you made me
spend today.
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Chapter 133 Little Heaven Genesis Technique
With the Underworld Spirit Fruit and Vermillion Blood Grass now in his hands, there was no longer
anything else that Zhou Yuan needed from the auction. Hence, he calmly watched as the exciting auction
progressed.
In contrast, Luluo excitedly bidded and won several items. However, what puzzled Zhou Yuan was that
she did not face any obstructions from that particular VIP room.
This felt rather strange to him. Could the other party know that these two Genesis resources were
important to him?
Yaoyao, whom had not said anything since the beginning, suddenly spoke up at this moment, “It seems
the reason why Xiao Tianxuan is making things difficult for you is related to the Gu clan.”
Zhou Yuan slowly said, “The Gu clan does have some capable people, and one of them has likely guessed
the two Genesis resources needed to perfectly absorb Spirit source energy. That’s why I’ve been facing
obstructions here.”
Zhou Yuan was able to work things out with Yaoyao’s hint. Someone from the Gu clan must have went to
Xiao Tianxuan. However, there was still one thing he could not wrap his head around. Just who exactly in
the Gu clan had the ability to turn the junior city lord against him?
While these thoughts swirled in Zhou Yuan’s mind, the auction gradually approached its end. It was at
this moment that the final item appeared, shocking everyone in the auction area. Even Zhou Yuan could
not help but cast his gaze over.
One could only watch as the elder on the auction stage very carefully raised a golden case. Within the case
was a small stone tablet on which ancient characters were carved. The tablet gave off a slight glow,
forming a halo around it. It was a very mysterious and mystical sight.
“The Genesis technique that has been carved onto this stone tablet is called the Spirit Subduing
technique. It boasts peerless power, and is a genuine little Heaven tier Genesis technique!” The elder’s
eyes were filled with desire. Even he coveted to a technique of this level.
*Uproar*!
“Little Heaven Genesis technique?” The entire auction area seemed heave at this moment.
Every gaze was filled with burning desire as they stared at the stone tablet.
Above the Black tier was the Heaven tier. Though the Black tier was still considerably common, the
Heaven tier on the other hand… even in the entire Cangmang Continent, the factions that possessed it
were as rare as unicorn horns or phoenix feathers.
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As for the little Heaven tier, in a certain manner of speaking, it stood above the Black tier but below the
Heaven tier.
However, since it was worthy of three words Heaven Genesis technique, a little Heaven tier technique
definitely possessed overwhelming power. If one obtained it, one would even be able to kill an Alpha-
Origin opponent at the Heaven Gate stage.
This was the might of a little Heaven tier Genesis technique.
“A little Heaven Genesis technique…” Mumbled Zhou Yuan. Even he felt a rush at this moment. He had
once heard Zhou Qing say that the Great Zhou Empire had once possessed a Heaven Genesis technique at
its peak, but it was subsequently taken away by the Great Wu Empire.
By the side, Luluo’s large eyes were practically emitting beams of light. “Never imagined that a little
Heaven Genesis technique would actually make an appearance. Even the Thousand Beast Empire only has
three little Heaven Genesis techniques. In fact, a technique that has reached this level can even be called
the ultimate technique of an empire.”
Zhou Yuan nodded. The strongest Genesis technique he currently had was the third level of the Dragon
Tablet Hand, which had reached the power levels of a high grade Black tier Genesis technique. When set
next to the Heaven tier, the gap between the two was akin to the distance between the sky and the land.
“Rumor says that one can obtain true-blue Heaven techniques in the Saint Remains Domain. These
techniques were mastered by the fallen Saint while he was alive, and were thus imprinted into his blood.
Since the Saint’s blood transformed into the Saint Remains Domain, various miracles can naturally be
found inside.” Luluo wet her mouth. This was the true Heaven Genesis technique that even the Thousand
Beast Empire did not possess.
Zhou Yuan’s heart surged in excitement when he heard this. The Saint Remains Domain truly contained
unimaginable treasures.
While they conversed, the auction area rapidly reached its boiling point due to the little Heaven Genesis
technique. Shout after shout using all of their lungs continued to resound one after another.
“4 million!”
“4.3 million!”
“5 million!”
“......”
In a mere few minutes, the price of the little Heaven Genesis technique reached the terrifying sum of 5
million.
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Luluo had bidded once in between, but her bid was quickly surpassed by other zealous bidders. This
depressed her a little, but she ultimately decided to give up after some thought.
“The prerequisites to learn a little Heaven Genesis technique will be rather demanding, it’s not just a
matter of being able to practice it once you buy it.” Muttered Luluo.
Zhou Yuan had zero intentions of bidding because the price was just too high. 5 million Genesis crystals
was practically akin to a year’s worth of income for the Great Zhou Empire.
However, he did need to be a little careful since the technique was going to land in someone else’s hands.
Anyone who encountered the eventual owner in the Saint Remains Domain would likely be faced with a
huge problem.
Everyone was fixated on the bidding war, even those in the VIP rooms, who had been rather silent
throughout the auction, had began to bid.
After a bitter and intense struggle, a bid of 7.9 million ultimately ended the contest for the Spirit
Subduing technique.
“7.9 million…” Zhou Yuan sighed as he shook his head. A little Heaven Genesis technique was really far
too pricey. After all, a technique of this level was already considered top tier in the Cangmang Continent.
“Let’s go.”
Zhou Yuan rose to his feet. He already had everything he needed, and could begin absorbing the Spirit
source energy tonight, allowing his Spirit to step into the advance Illusory stage, and open the doors to
begin learning grade 3 Genesis Runes.
The trio left their VIP room and proceeded to pass through the corridor. At this moment however, Zhou
Yuan realised that Luluo’s footsteps had slowed, while her originally smiling face had turned frosty.
Zhou Yuan followed her gaze, only to find a group approaching them from another direction.
At the very front was a guy and a girl. The guy was pretty tall, and was brimming with both confidence
and grace. He was currently playing with two golden balls on which runes could faintly be seen.
The girl was also rather attention grabbing. She had a hot figure, the black leather that tightly hugged her
body accentuating her practically perfect curves, causing many men to secretly swallow their saliva.
This group soon arrived before the Zhou Yuan trio.
Luluo’s face was taunt as she icily said, “Xiao Tianxuan, you still dare to appear before me?”
Zhou Yuan’s pupils immediately shrank as iciness flitted across the depths of his eyes. So this was the guy,
the junior city lord of Saint Remains City, Xiao Tianxuan.
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Xiao Tianxuan wore a smile, the golden balls in his hand slowly revolving as he responded, “No need to
get angry Little County Lord, if you are upset about that bit of Genesis crystals, I’ll pay you back.”
Luluo coldly snorted. Her concern was not those few hundred thousand Genesis crystals.
Xiao Tianxuan’s gaze shifted slightly, ultimately pausing on Zhou Yuan as he said, “I believe that this
friend must be Zhou Yuan, right?”
“Is there anything I can help you with junior city lord?” Zhou Yuan’s voice was neither friendly nor cold.
“Hehe, nothing much, nothing much. I only wish to introduce someone to you.” Xiao Tianxuan chuckled
and looked towards the sexy girl beside him.
The girl opened her long legs as she took a step forward, stopping in front of Zhou Yuan. Her long and
narrow eyes seemed to glisten, but Zhou Yuan could sense the snake like gaze contained deep within
them.
“Are you Zhou Yuan?” The sexy girl seemed to smile charmingly. “I am Gu Ling, and I come from the Black
Yin Sect… the one that died at your hands, Gu Lang, is my younger brother.”
Only at this very moment did Zhou Yuan finally understand why he was being targeted after arriving at
the House of Geniuses.
It turns out that the source of everything was this girl called Gu Ling.
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Chapter 134 Gu Ling
“Gu Ling…”
Zhou Yuan’s eyes rippled for a moment as he looked at the sexy girl in black before him. However, almost
no change could be detected on his face as he nodded and said in a calm voice, “Oh.”
Gu Ling was a little taken aback by Zhou Yuan’s indifference, but fury soon flashed in the depths of her
eyes.
The group of guys behind Gu Ling were extremely dissatisfied with Zhou Yuan’s attitude, their tone
hostile as they chided, “You’re pretty darn arrogant kid, why are you still not begging for forgiveness after
killing Gu Ling’s brother?!”
The thug like way they spoke was rather inconsistent with their faint air of nobility. Together with the
strong Genesis Qi that rippled around their bodies, these characteristics made it painfully obvious that
they were the so-called ‘prided geniuses’.
Gu Ling revealed a heartbroken look at this moment as she softly said, “Don’t be angry everyone, there
must be some misunderstanding between our friend Zhou Yuan and my Gu clan which led to such an
outcome. Gu Lang only has himself to blame for his death.”
However, that appearance of hers only made them glare even harder at Zhou Yuan.
Zhou Yuan indifferently watched this scene play out as if he was a bystander. This girl’s methods were
superb. From the way she handed this group of geniuses, it was more than likely that they would fight to
offer her the moon and the stars.
Xiao Tianxuan continued to rotate the golden balls in his hand as looked towards Zhou Yuan and said in a
gentle voice, “My friend, whatever grudge you guys have with the Gu clan is not important. Since you have
already killed Gu Lang, let it end at that.”
Zhou Yuan raised his eyebrows, but did not say anything. He knew that Xiao Tianxuan was not finished.
Sure enough, Xiao Tianxuan paused for a moment before continuing, “But the Gu clan’s supreme treasure
you stole should be returned to Gu Ling.”
Xiao Tianxuan smiled slightly as he stared at Zhou Yuan. “Gu Ling has told me that as long as you return
their supreme treasure, she will generously let bygones be bygones. If you feel that I am worthy, I can
help resolve the grudge between the two of you and allow enemies to become friends.”
Zhou Yuan could not help but laugh. These fellows were indeed after the Saint Spirit Crystal. However, it
had already been assimilated by him, and now tempered his Spirit night and day. They were dreaming if
they believed that he would hand it over.
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Zhou Yuan smiled and asked, “Is that why you purposely raised the bid earlier?”
Xiao Tianxuan was momentarily stunned, but soon responded in an uninterested tone, “It’s just a few
Genesis crystals, I can repay you if you’re upset.”
A slight hint of mockery could be seen from the corners of his mouth, evidently secretly thinking how
typical of a prince from a lowly remote empire to be so upset over a mere several hundred thousand
Genesis crystals.
“No need, there may be a chance for me to get them back in the future.” Zhou Yuan shook his head, his
tone cool and calm.
Xiao Tianxuan may believe that his actions during the auction were just a little lesson for Zhou Yuan, but
the latter’s principle was that every action had a consequence.
Simply returning the money was not going to be so easy.
Zhou Yuan stared Xiao Tianxuan and Gu Ling and slowly said, “I can’t be bothered to elaborate on the Gu
clan’s dirty deeds, but they did try to silence us. If not for our resourcefulness, our fates would be rather
grim.”
“Therefore, I’m afraid that the likes of you are still not enough to resolve our grudge.”
“As for the supreme treasure of the Gu clan, don’t even dream that I’ll return it.” They nearly lost their
lives for this treasure. Xiao Tianxuan must have a crazily high opinion about himself if he believed that it
would be returned with a single sentence from him.
Xiao Tianxuan and Gu Ling’s expressions finally changed.
Xiao Tianxuan’s expression was now as dark as a storm as he asked, “Does this mean that you are not
giving me face?”
“Hehe, do you really think you deserve so much face?” Luluo sneered.
Although they were currently in Saint Remains City and Xiao Tianxuan was the junior city lord, matters
between the younger generation were settled by the younger generation. Hence, Xiao Tianxuan would
not be able to use the power of Saint Remains City against them.
If he did, it was not like they did not have their own backers. No one would be the winner once the
situation degenerated into a battle between numerous factions.
Without the power of Saint Remains City, Luluo naturally did not fear Xiao Tianxuan.
“Impudent, a mere prince from a tiny empire dares to be so insolent in such a place?”
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The geniuses behind Gu Ling sneered in succession. They knew Luluo’s background and strength, and
thus did not dare to pit themselves against her. Hence, the one they turned their fangs at in exchange was
Zhou Yuan.
A blue robed young man nearest to Gu Ling ominously said, “Humph, a mere Qi Nourishing stage dares to
be so arrogant. Aren’t you afraid of being slaughtered after entering the Saint Remains Domain?”
This person was called Lan Ting, and was likewise a prided genius from one of the influential clans in the
Cangmang Continent. In the group, his strength was likely only second to Xiao Tianxuan and Gu Ling.
Zhou Yuan smiled as he gazed at these geniuses, a smile that was overflowing with eerie iciness.
“We’ll have to enter the Saint Remains Domain first to see who gets slaughtered.”
The group of geniuses shot angry glares over.
Gu Ling’s face was somewhat ugly, but this was quickly remedied by her as she sighed softly and said, “It
seems that my Gu clan has indeed greatly offended this honorable friend. Why else would you refuse to
give face to even the junior city lord and the rest of these amazing geniuses.”
Zhou Yuan swept a cold gaze at her. This woman was good. Her seemingly simple words had further
deepened the enmity between him and the geniuses beside her.
“Woman, you’re being rather unreasonable.” However, a voice suddenly sounded out from Zhou Yuan’s
side at this moment. The crowd looked, only to find that it was the white clothed Yaoyao.
She was currently disguised as a male, but her face was still unparallelled in the looks department. Even
though Xiao Tianxuan and the rest were pretty decent themselves, they instantly dimmed in comparison
to Yaoyao.
Gu Ling’s eyes brightened slightly at the sight of Yaoyao. Such a handsome pretty boy was truly rare.
However, her expression soon turned a little rigid due to Yaoyao’s words.
Yaoyao slowly fanned herself, using some unknown method to make her voice neutral sounding as she
indifferently said, “The supreme treasure of the Gu clan was indeed taken by us. If you want it back,
there’s no need to use these tricks to incite these fools. The Saint Remains Domain is about to open, and
when it does, feel free to throw everything you have at us inside. You will be able to take it back if you
have the ability.”
“Of course, any action you take will be accompanied by a price. If you fail to snatch it back, no one can be
blamed for what happens in the end.” Towards the end, Yaoyao’s words gave off a sliver of iciness that
made one involuntarily shiver.
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She stared at Gu Ling as she dished out the final few words. “If you want to play, we will gladly keep you
company.”
The atmosphere became rather silent all of a sudden, everyone stunned by Yaoyao’s words. She had
already made things very clear. Don’t dream of the treasure being returned. If they wanted to snatch it,
bring it on, but make sure to be prepared for the consequences.
Gu Ling’s pretty face was a blend of green and white. Over the years, she had used her looks to make
every male she met grovel under her skirt. Who could have imagined that she would be exposed by a
male that was even prettier than herself today? This truly made her feel humiliated.
Xiao Tianxuan’s expression was also rather ugly. He had not expected that this pretty boy would be even
less respectful than Zhou Yuan.
Fools? He had actually said that geniuses like them were fools?
Fury surged in his heart, but surprisingly, Xiao Tianxuan did not say anything in response. He knew that
the Spirit cultivation of this seemingly Genesis Qi-less outrageously pretty boy had reached the Corporeal
stage. That was true power that could match the Alpha-Origin.
Anger also festered in the hearts of the other geniuses, but they too did not say anything. However, the
gazes that looked towards Zhou Yuan grew even more hostile. It was obvious that they had pushed all of
their rage onto Zhou Yuan.
A soft persimmon was easier to squeeze after all.
Zhou Yuan rubbed his nose as he gave Yaoyao a thumbs-up in his heart. These words were really too
domineering. What were these fellows that had been duped by a single girl if not fools?
“Hehe, what an domineering young master…”
While everyone was silent, a charmingly lovely chuckle was suddenly heard.
Everyone raised their heads, only to find a young lady wearing a black dress leaning against the wall
nearby. A flirtatious set of eyes were currently filled with interest as they stared at Yaoyao.
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Chapter 135 Zuoqiu Qingyu
The sudden voice caused everyone to lift their heads and looked towards the young lady in a black dress
leaning against the wall nearby with her hands across her chest. Several pairs of eyes brightened slightly
the moment they saw her.
The girl in black was bare-footed, a string of silver bells around the ankles of her fine jade-white legs. A
faint mist seemed to linger beneath her feet, making it seem as if she never touched the ground. Her facial
features were extremely pretty, and overflowed with seductive charm, like an enticing little enchantress.
Xiao Tianxuan’s eyes turned a little graver as he gazed at the girl in black and said, “Zuoqiu Qingyu.”
The pupils of the geniuses around him also shrank slightly, clearly having heard of this name before.
“Is it that Zuoqiu Qingyu of the Zuoqiu clan?” Zhou Yuan’s eyes also rippled slightly. It was rumoured that
she too was one of the strongest amongst the younger generation of the Cangmang Continent.
Luluo’s eyes widened as she curiously stared at the little enchantress before them. She had naturally
heard of the latter’s reputation, but this was the first time she was seeing this individual in person.
However, every one of these gazes were practically nonexistent to the girl called Zuoqiu Qingyu. Her
peach blossom like eyes focused only on Yaoyao.
Her figure suddenly moved, accompanied by the clear twinkling of bells as she appeared in front of
Yaoyao like a phantom.
“So quick!”
Practically everyone present was shocked. None of them had been able to clearly see her movements.
“Hey, what’s your name? I’m Zuoqiu Qingyu, let’s be friends!” Zuoqiu Qingyu beamed as she looked at
Yaoyao, the former’s limpid eyes filled with curiosity.
This person was actually as pretty as herself!
In addition, the thing that drew her interest the most was Yaoyao’s demeanor, especially those eyes that
seemed to be both penetrating and empty. When Zuoqiu Qingyu made her entrance earlier, everyone
else had their breaths taken away. He was the only one that seemed to have no reaction at all.
Zuoqiu Qingyu could sense that Yaoyao was not pretending, and was truly not interested in the former.
Yaoyao was also slightly taken aback at the sudden appearance of Zuoqiu Qingyu so close to her, but soon
regained her wits. She was currently disguised as a guy after all.
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However, Yaoyao was not interested in explaining things and casually answered, “Zhou Xiaoyao.”
“Heehee, your name is as pretty as mine.”
The corners of Zhou Yuan’s lips twitched. Zuoqiu Qingyu was a little narcissistic, but she did have the
assets that were worthy of such narcissism.
Yaoyao paid no attention to Zuoqiu Qingyu. She looked towards Xiao Tianxuan and Gu Ling and said,
“Remember my words. If you want it back, come and snatch it after entering the Saint Remains Domain.
Such useless and petty tricks are better kept under the table.”
Her tone was light, not even the slightest hint of anger, but it contained a cold authority that no one dared
to retort against.
She turned around to leave after finishing, leaving behind a group of stunned young men and women.
Zhou Yuan and Luluo hastily ran after her, while Zuoqiu Qingyu’s eyes spun in thought for a moment
before also following.
Xiao Tianxuan’s handsome face was somewhat ugly as he watched their leaving figures. The matter today
was supposed to be have been easily resolved; Zhou Yuan should have given him face as the junior city
lord and returned the Gu clan’s supreme treasure to Gu Ling.
He was initially debating whether he should make Zhou Yuan apologize and make amends to Gu Ling
after returning the treasure. Who could have expected that the other party would have no intention of
giving him any face.
Now, not only did they fail to get the treasure back, they had even been intimidated quite a bit.
By the side, a stormy look flashed in Gu Ling’s long and narrow eyes, but she made sure to reveal nothing
on her face as she let out a bitter laugh and said, “I’ve really wasted junior city lord’s painstaking efforts, I
had thought that this matter could be solved peacefully.”
Her words only fanned the flames of rage in Xiao Tianxuan’s heart as he replied in a low voice, “Humph,
although that person’s Spirit is at the Corporeal stage, he’s still too arrogant. So what if your Spirit is
strong, if you carelessly allow someone to close in, you will still be killed in a single blow.”
The other geniuses echoed in agreement. Though it was true that those who focused solely on Spirit
cultivation could borrow the power of Genesis Runes, their bodies were exceedingly weak and a single
slip may result in the destruction of their physical bodies.
“Moreover…”
Iciness flashed in Xiao Tianxuan’s eyes. “I’ve heard that Zhou Yuan seems to have a grudge with Wu
Huang of the Great Wu Empire.”
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“I wonder, will he be able to protect Zhou Yuan from Wu Huang with just his Spirit”
Gu Ling’s eyes immediately brightened when she heard this.
Only a handful of individuals amongst the younger generation of the Cangmang Continent could compare
to Wu Huang. He was after all someone who had slayed an Alpha-Origin expert with the strength of the
advance Heaven Gate stage.
Though that handsome pretty boy did possess a Corporeal stage Spirit, he would not be able to find any
advantage against Wu Huang.
“The Saint Remains Domain is filled with mystery and anything can happen there, and he cannot possibly
protect Zhou Yuan all the time. Once they’re separated, killing Zhou Yuan will be as easy as a flip of the
hand.”
Xiao Tianxuan looked towards Gu Ling as he continued, “That’s why there’s no need to worry. A mere Qi
Nourishing stage kid won’t be able to create any splashes.”
Gu Ling smiled faintly, her gaze seemingly much gentler when she looked towards Xiao Tianxuan.
Xiao Tianxuan suddenly said, “The envoys from the six sacred sects will arrive at Saint Remains City
tomorrow. I believe that the Saint Remains Domain will open soon.”
Joy and anticipation were revealed in the eyes of Gu Ling and the other geniuses.
The Saint Remains Domain was surrounded by a giant holy river. It was said that even a leaf would sink
when it fell into the waters of the holy river, while fog dominated the sky above the river all year long.
This fog was extremely strange. Anyone who entered would immediately lose their sense of direction,
and a single wrong turn was all it would take to fall into the river and drown.
Fortunately, the mist would grow thinner every once in a while. As long as a powerful practitioner took
advantage of this timing, a route could be torn open, allowing people to be sent in.
There were no practitioners of this level in the Cangmang Continent, only the six sacred sects had such
power. Hence, they would send out envoys to help open the Saint Remains Domain, which also gave them
first pick of the prided geniuses that managed to distinguish themselves from the rest.
The arrival of the envoys from the six scared sects meant that the Saint Remains Domain everyone
yearned for even in their dreams was about to open.
...
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“I’m so mad! That bastard Xiao Tianxuan. I’ll definitely teach him a lesson if we meet in the Saint Remains
Domain!” Along the way, Luluo was still seething, clearly rather miffed that Xiao Tianxuan had actually
dared to not give her face.
Zhou Yuan chuckled, but did not say anything about this topic. Although there were some twists and
turns, they had ultimately succeeded in obtaining the Underworld Spirit Fruit and Vermillion Blood
Grass. Tonight, he would borrow the power of these two Genesis resources to absorb a drop of Spirit
source energy. Once he did so, he would surely break into the advance Illusory stage.
He suddenly turned his head somewhat helplessly and looked in Yaoyao’s direction, only to find Zuoqiu
Qingyu grinning widely as an unending stream of words left her mouth, “Brother Xiaoyao, where are you
from?”
“I can see that although you do not have any Genesis Qi, your Spirit is extremely powerful. We should
team up so we can watch each other’s backs in the Saint Remains Domain.”
Yaoyao was split between being annoyed and amused, but she could not be bothered to explain things, so
she ended up ignoring Zuoqiu Qingyu.
Yaoyao said to Zhou Yuan, “I’m hungry, let's eat.”
A smiling Zuoqiu Qingyu quipped, “Everyone, since fate has brought us together, let me treat all of you to
a meal. The delicacies of the House of Geniuses is number 1 in Saint Remains City!”
Yaoyao paid her no attention, Luluo’s large eyes began sparkling when she heard the word delicacies,
while Zhou Yuan was naturally indifferent. Although Zuoqiu Qingyu was a little odd, she was indeed very
strong, and having more friends was something Zhou Yuan would not reject.
Hence, the group was led to the upper floors of the House of Geniuses by Zuoqiu Qingyu. However, Zhou
Yuan’s footsteps suddenly froze the moment he stepped onto a certain floor.
He lifted his head as if sensing something, and looked towards the far right where a figure in gold robes
was peacefully seated next to the window. The seats around him were empty because of the astonishing
aura that swirled around his body, an aura that made everyone wary.
Bzz!
When Zhou Yuan’s gaze fell upon the figure in gold, the Omni Python Qi in his body involuntarily began to
heave as if releasing an angry roar.
The Dragon’s Resentment Poison on his palm also hissed as an intense pain pulsed from his hand.
The emotions on Zhou Yuan’s face were cut away bit by bit, still as a statue as he stared at the figure in
golden robes.
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The figure in golden robes also seemed to sense something, the moving tea cup in his hand pausing
slightly, before he slowly turned his head.
The gazes of the two met at this moment.
The entire world seemed to fall into silence.
Rumble!
Thunder rumbled in their bodies as their blood began to boil.
In an instant, both of them simultaneously knew who the other party was.
Great Zhou Empire, Zhou Yuan.
Great Wu Empire, Wu Huang.
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Chapter 136 First Encounter with Wu Huang
Boom!
A surge of powerful Genesis Qi swept out from the figure in golden robes like a storm. The flesh, blood
and bones in his body seemed to vibrate at this moment as a faint dragon roar echoed.
A mighty and dignified aura spread from his body as if he was a king.
The other diners in the vicinity were also caught in the aftershocks, their sorry figures backing away one
after another. Although they were pretty mad inside, they could only swallow the angry yells that were
about to escape their mouths when they saw who the figure was.
The mighty aura converged into a maelstrom of power before sweeping towards Zhou Yuan.
“Hee hee, my word, isn’t the crown prince of the Great Wu Empire being a little too tyrannical? This place
isn’t owned by your family, can’t you let others eat in peace?” Zuoqiu Qingyu’s peach blossom like eyes
narrowed slightly as she softly chuckled. She took a step forward as similarly powerful Genesis Qi burst
out from her body, completely blocking the pressure from Wu Huang.
Yaoyao’s face was unchanged, the only difference was the light now flashing between her brows as she
extended a finger and lightly tapped in the air.
Pop!
It was as if an invisible Spirit wave had shot out. The powerful aura from Wu Huang seemed to have been
pierced by something, emitting a faint sound as it disappeared without a trace.
The choking pressure followed suit, fading from the area.
“Pissing me off, is this little lady really such an easy target!” There was an ugly expression on Luluo’s little
face. Why was everything going wrong today? Why did it seem that everyone was out to bully her.
She really could not take it anymore!
Ice-blue light blossomed from the little ice-blue bird on her shoulder as deadly cold Qi akin to freezing air
locked onto the figure in gold next to the window.
The actions of these three ladies instantly made the atmosphere become hostile.
Zhou Yuan’s expression was akin to still water. He merely stared at the figure in gold robes, his five
fingers tightly clenched around the Dragon’s Resentment Poison on his palm. The poison roared as if it
wanted to burst out, but it was firmly suppressed by him.
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The view before his eyes seemed to ripple faintly, as if a long forgotten memory had been unlocked.
It was an ice-cold altar.
He had been placed at its centre, and in front of him lay another tiny baby boy. When he looked over, the
baby boy seemed to grin at him.
Zhou Yuan’s eyes gently closed, darkness descending, before being opened once again as the view before
him returned to normal.
Everyone on the floor watched the stand-off as low whispers and cries of shock sounded.
“Is that the Great Wu Empire’s Wu Huang?”
“He is indeed as powerful as the rumors say!”
“Tch tch, is that Zuoqiu Qingyu? And the Little County Lord of the Thousand Beast Empire… these two
ladies are not easy to deal with!”
“There’s also that otherworldly beautiful guy, I’ve heard that his Spirit has already stepped into the
Corporeal stage.”
“No wonder he was able to dispel Wu Huang’s pressure with a single finger.”
“But who is that Qi Nourishing kid?”
“I’ve heard of him before, he seems to be Zhou Yuan from the Great Zhou Empire…”
“It’s him! I know the story behind them. I heard that the Great Wu Empire rebelled against the Great Zhou
Empire, and the phenomenon of the python and sparrow devouring the dragon back then refers to them
taking the sacred dragon blessings of the Great Zhou Empire’s prince, while that prince is called Zhou
Yuan!”
“So that’s it, these two truly are old enemies!”
“But the gap between Zhou Yuan and Wu Huang is too great… without those few at his side, he would
have likely been swatted to death by a single palm.”
“......”
Numerous voices stealthily sounded as many people watched this scene in interest.
While everyone thought that a battle would break out, Wu Huang suddenly withdrew his aura, his
expression neither happy nor angry as he stood up.
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He did not speak, eyes directed to his front as he brushed past Zhou Yuan and the rest.
Only when he passed by Zhou Yuan did his footsteps finally pause for a moment. He did not look towards
Zhou Yuan, eyes fixed on the empty air in front of him as he spoke in a seemingly disappointed manner,
“I’ve given you so much time, but you’re still only an eyesore.”
He shook his head, no further words as he walked down the steps.
No change at all could be seen from Zhou Yuan’s expression. He slowly released his grip, the Dragon’s
Resentment Poison on his palm finally suppressed.
“Let’s eat.” He said.
The group seated themselves at a table, Zuoqiu Qingyu’s peach blossom like eyes curiously sweeping
across Zhou Yuan’s body as she asked, “You have a quarrel with Wu Huang?”
“Shall I play arbiter for the both of you?”
Zhou Yuan chuckled and answered, “It’s a life or death quarrel, and only one of us can live.”
Zuoqiu Qingyu was silent for a while, before she said, “Then you’re truly unlucky. You’re completely
outclassed by him.”
“There are no absolutes in this world.”
Zhou Yuan slowly said, “A year ago, my eight meridian channels were nowhere to be found, making
cultivation impossible, but have I not come all the way here too?”
Zuoqiu Qingyu and Luluo were startled for a moment. This guy had only began his cultivation journey a
year ago?
“Tch tch, it seems to me that there is a tiny possibility that you do have the sacred dragon blessing.” Luluo
propped up her cheeks and grinned.
“But don’t worry, with us here, even Wu Huang can’t do anything to you!”
Zhou Yuan smiled and passed the menu to Luluo, “Then I’ll have to give my thanks, go ahead and order.”
A rough glance had told him that all the food here was really high-class. Let alone grade 3, even grade 4
Genesis Beasts were available, the only thing was the excessively high prices numbering in several
hundreds of thousands of Genesis crystals.
Luluo received the menu, her large eyes glancing towards Zuoqiu Qingyu as she said with a wide smile,
“Since somebody is treating us… we’ll have all the most expensive ones!”
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“Steamed thunder tiger head!”
“Simmer-fried spirit beef!”
“Ice flame python!”
“......”
The corners of Zuoqiu Qingyu’s mouth twitched slightly as she listened to Luluo shout out dish after this.
This lass was really not the least bit polite!
...
Night arrived.
Zhou Yuan was seated on a bed in their room. With a grasp of his hand, the jade bottle containing the
Spirit source energy appeared within, while the Underworld Spirit Fruit and Vermillion Blood Grass
appeared in front of him with a wave of his sleeve.
His eyes seemed to sparkle a little as he gazed upon these three items. After seeing Wu Huang today, he
had no choice but to admit that the latter was very powerful. However, this did not give rise to any fear
within him.
Instead, it made a raging battle intent surge out in Zhou Yuan’s heart.
He knew that Wu Huang was a stumbling block on his path of cultivation. Only by defeating the latter
would he truly be able to walk the road of the sacred dragon.
“Wu Huang, we’ll see just who dies at whose hands in the Saint Remains Domain.”
“When the time comes, I will let you know that my blessings are not so easily devoured. All of the
misfortune you guys have caused me is merely a form of training in my eyes.”
“Only by stepping over all of you will I finally become the true sacred dragon!”
“That’s why… don’t celebrate too early!”
There was no longer any hesitation in Zhou Yuan’s heart. Rays of light emerged from between his brows
as the illusory figure of his Spirit emitted a suction force, directly consuming the drop of Spirit source
energy.
At the same time, the Underworld Spirit Fruit and Vermillion Blood Grass in his hands burst apart,
transforming into strands of black and red Qi that rose into the air and poured into Zhou Yuan head.
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Chapter 137 Advance Illusory Stage
The drop of Spirit source energy transformed into extremely pure Spirit Qi that endlessly poured into
Zhou Yuan’s Spirit.
Meanwhile, the black and red Qi from the Underworld Spirit Fruit and Vermillion Blood Grass also
flooded in, entwining with the pure Spirit Qi.
Chch!
A change immediately occured when the three parties met. One could only watch as the pure Spirit Qi
seemed to be refined once again, causing a faint crystal like rainbow radiance to emerge.
Strands of crystal Qi sprinkled onto the Spirit, while the latter greedily devoured the former. The illusory
figure gradually began to become more and more corporeal.
As Zhou Yuan felt the climbing power of his Spirit, he began to activate the Primal Chaos Divine
Grindstone Visualisation Method.
In the void, a limitless mottled grindstone slowly turned. It was as if all things that were cast upon its
wheel would be crushed into nothingness.
However, the current Zhou Yuan’s fear of the grindstone had already retreated. His Spirit drifted forward,
no hesitation whatsoever as it cast itself onto the wheel.
Rumble!
The divine grindstone began to revolve, pulverising the tiny Spirit.
Dreadful power enveloped Zhou Yuan’s Spirit, causing it tremble uncontrollably.
However, he gritted his teeth and desperately endured while the Spirit Qi from the Spirit source energy
continuously supported him.
Thus, Zhou Yuan Spirit persisted as the divine grindstone turned.
The dark gold marking on the mottled grindstone slowly shifted.
Almost an eternity seemed to have passed, while cracks had begun to appear on Zhou Yuan’s Spirit, a sign
that he was about to reach his limit.
Even so, even under the intense pain that was practically about to burst apart his Spirit from the inside,
Zhou Yuan did not entertain any thoughts of giving up.
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Meeting Wu Huang today had made Zhou Yuan feel some pressure. Regardless of what had happened, Wu
Huang stood at the peak of the Cangmang Continent’s younger generation, and his strength was far
greater than Zhou Yuan’s own.
For Zhou Yuan to shrink this gap, the upgrade of his Spirit had to succeed!
“If I can’t even overcome this little hardship, what right do I have to step onto the sacred dragon road
again?!” A roar seemed to thunder in Zhou Yuan’s heart.
Bzz!
As if sensing Zhou Yuan’s will, a powerful ripple suddenly exploded from his Spirit as the cracks that had
appeared on it were swiftly repaired.
Click!
A faint click was heard.
It was the sound of the dark gold vertical markings on the top and bottom halves of the mottled divine
grindstone joining once again.
Zhou Yuan had finally endured the second revolution of the Primal Chaos Divine Grindstone Visualisation
Method!
Every revolution a whole new realm!
A voice was transmitted into Zhou Yuan’s ears as he finally relaxed. His Spirit was pulverised as the
grindstone began to revolve once again, reforming itself several breaths later outside the grindstone.
The reformed Spirit was several times more condensed than before, so much so that there were faint
signs of it turning truly corporeal.
Advance Illusory stage!
Uncontrollable joy surged out in Zhou Yuan’s heart. After suffering numerous hardships, his Spirit had
finally stepped into the advance Illusory stage!
Now that it was at the advance Illusory stage, he could finally learn grade 3 Genesis Runes.
Although his current Genesis Qi cultivation was still stuck at the advance Qi Nourishing stage, his true
power was much greater due to the domineering Omni Python Qi and his blood-red Qi Dwelling.
As such, even if he were to only use Genesis Qi in battle, Zhou Yuan’s battle power would not lose out to a
mid Heaven Gate stage expert.
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When grade 3 Genesis Runes were thrown into the mix, advance Heaven Gate stage opponents would no
longer be able to threaten him so easily.
However, Zhou Yuan felt a little regretful that these advance Heaven Gate stage experts did not include
the apex prided geniuses like Wu Huang. These individuals already stood at the pinnacle of the advance
Heaven Gate stage, and also possessed the ability to do battle with those at a higher cultivation level.
Hence, for Zhou Yuan to face Wu Huang in a direct clash, the former needed to at the very least raise his
Genesis Qi cultivation to the Heaven Gate stage.
Though this was so, Zhou Yuan was not discouraged, because the gap between them was rapidly
shrinking.
In the room, Zhou Yuan’s tightly shut eyes slowly opened, while the flickering light between his brows
gradually receded. He raised his head and looked outside the window, where the night sky was slowly
withdrawing as the first rays of dawn broke through the heavy layers of clouds, shining onto the
magnificent Saint Remains City.
While his eyes peered outside, his five fingers slowly tightened into a fist.
“Wu Huang, let’s fully settle the grudge between us in the Saint Remains Domain.”
...
After ascending to the advance Illusory stage, the first thing Zhou Yuan did was find Yaoyao.
“You’ve broken through?”
The latter immediately asked upon seeing him. When she saw Zhou Yuan nod, she too nodded as a slight
smile emerged on her lips. “Only when one knows shame can one truly display one’s power and courage.
Not bad.”
She was clearly referring to yesterday’s event when they met Wu Huang. Zhou Yuan had turned that
pressure into motivation for his breakthrough.
Zhou Yuan grinned and said, “Can you teach me grade 3 Genesis Runes today?”
The Saint Remains Domain was about to open so he needed to make use of what little time he had to
learn a few grade 3 Genesis Runes. Only then would he have some insurance when he entered the Saint
Remains Domain.
“Good idea, I can avoid those two dragging me out to window shop.” Yaoyao lazily stretched her back. She
was really somewhat helpless with regards to the situation. Luluo had already been too energetic, and
now, there was another Zuoqiu Qingyu who looked at Yaoyao in a strange manner. To the peace loving
Yaoyao, their attention was practically akin to torture.
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Thus, the two found a quiet room and began to practice grade 3 Genesis Runes.
The lesson went on all the way from the early morning till the sun was setting in the sky.
Yaoyao rubbed Tuntun as she said to Zhou Yuan, “You should now have some elementary understanding
of these few grade 3 Genesis Runes. However, you still require a tremendous amount of practice in order
to successfully utilise them.”
Zhou Yuan nodded. “I will master them as soon as possible.”
Yaoyao’s bright eyes looked towards Zhou Yuan. “Looks like Wu Huang has given you a substantial
amount of pressure.”
Zhou Yuan smiled and nodded, not denying it. “He indeed stronger than me. I need to raise my strength.”
Yaoyao touched her cheek with one hand as the slender fingers of her other hand tapped the table. “Wu
Huang is indeed a remarkable person.”
After yesterday’s encounter, even Yaoyao with her high standards had judged that Wu Huang was
considerably outstanding amongst the younger generation.
Although he was arrogant, he had the ability to back up his pride.
“However…”
Yaoya suddenly paused, staring at Zhou Yuan as she said, “His life has been smooth sailing since young,
his triumphs and rapid progress naturally making him arrogant.”
“But from what I can see, compared to him, the you that broke free from your hopeless situation and
never felt inferior as you earnestly worked hard to move forward, is even more outstanding than him.”
Zhou Yuan was taken aback, a smile involuntarily forming on his face. “Are you praising me?”
This was far too rare. Given Yaoyao’s standards, Zhou Yuan had never seen her praise in such a tone.
Yaoyao’s red lips lifted slightly. “It can be considered praise.”
Zhou Yuan nodded. “Thank you.”
Burning battle intent rose in his eyes. Like Yaoyao had said, Wu Huang’s strength originated from the
smooth road king Wu had paved for him, an easy road of triumphant progress.
On the other hand, he had to face despair since young. His eight meridian channels had been nowhere to
be found, making it impossible for him to cultivate.
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He had ultimately created his own path through these tribulations one step at a time.
He had never felt that he was any less a person than Wu Huang.
Zhou Yuan took in a deep breath, calming the emotions in his heart. In the next instant however, their
expressions suddenly changed slightly as they stood up and cast their gazes at the sky outside Saint
Remains City.
At this current time, six shooting star like objects were streaking past the horizon as vast and
indescribably mighty auras filled the land, enveloping the entire city.
The Genesis Rune boundary above Saint Remains City began to open at this moment.
A powerful voice rang out across the entire city.
“Saint Remains City, Xiao Tianluo , respectfully welcomes the envoys of the six sacred sects!”
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Chapter 138 Barefoot Uncle
The arrival of the envoys from the six sacred sects had undoubtedly become the most discussed topic in
the city. The blood of every prided genius was boiling, the eyes on their raised heads filled with
anticipation. Everyone had heard of the famed six sacred sects; entering any of them to train was akin to
ascending the heavens in the single step.
The six sacred sects were just too powerful, the overlords of this world. Even an enormous continent like
this was merely akin to a remote corner in their eyes.
However, the envoys did not show themselves after arriving at Saint Remains City. It was said that even
the city lord Xiao Tianluo was unable to meet them in the city lord residence.
After all, the disparity in status between them was just far too great.
Even if one party was only an envoy, it was still far from what a mere lord of a city could compare to.
Although the envoys from the six sacred sects did not reveal themselves, it did not hinder the gradual rise
in excitement within the city. At the very least, everyone knew that the arrival of the envoys meant that
the opening of the Saint Remains Domain was fast approaching.
Unlike everyone else, Zhou Yuan paid no attention to the arrival of the envoys. All his attention had been
invested into learning grade 3 Genesis Runes.
Under his nearly fanatical studying, the grade 3 Genesis Runes Yaoyao taught him were gradually being
mastered at the elementary level.
At this current point in time, it had already been five days since the envoys from the six sacred sects had
arrived at Saint Remains City.
...
House of Geniuses.
Inside a certain restaurant.
Zhou Yuan sat alone next to a window. Yaoyao had been dragged out by Luluo and Zuoqiu Qingyu again.
He had spent yet another day immersed in the study of grade 3 Genesis Runes, and was currently taking a
little time off.
After drinking two cups of the restaurant’s wine, Zhou Yuan shook his head in dissatisfaction. Having
spent so much time with Yaoyao, he had now grown to become exceptionally picky about his alcohol.
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He seemed to fall into thought for a moment, before retrieving a jade bottle from his Universe bag. It was
part of the ‘good stuff’ he had collected for Yaoyao, and it just so happened that this was a good time for
him to have a secret sample.
As such, Zhou Yuan enjoyed his drinking alone, his tense mental state slowly relaxing in the process.
The truth was, his zealous practicing for the past few days had indeed been due to the pressure from Wu
Huang. It would indeed be a joke if the lead that the latter had accumulated over the years was so easily
surpassed.
“Even though my Spirit has already stepped into the advance Illusory stage, I still stand no chance against
Wu Huang.” Zhou Yuan’s gaze faintly flickered in thought. Of course, it was true that he might be able to
put up a fight if he were to borrow Silver Shadow’s strength. However, that was only to be used in the
worst case scenario, because once he used Silver Shadow, Zhou Yuan did not know how long he would be
unconscious. Being unconscious for too long in a place like the Saint Remains Domain was practically
suicide.
“It seems that I need to find a chance to ascend to the Heaven Gate stage in the Saint Remains Domain.”
Zhou Yuan’s heart churned.
While Zhou Yuan was lost in thought, he suddenly sensed some activity beside him. He lifted his head to
look, only to find that a middle-aged man was now seated in front of him. This man’s appearance was
pretty unkempt and was even barefoot, while green smoke wafted from the pipe in his hand.
He looked exactly like an old farmer that had just left his fields.
At this current moment, the man was anxiously staring at the jade bottle full of excellent wine that stood
before Zhou Yuan as he forced a smile and said, “Youngin, your wine is not bad.”
Zhou Yuan was stunned, somewhat unable to figure out where this barefoot middle-aged man had come
from. He was unable to sense much Genesis Qi undulations from the latter’s body.
Even so, Zhou Yuan was no petty person. The sight of the man’s anxious appearance made him smile as
he pushed the bottle over.
The old farmer like man hurriedly received it upon seeing this, and poured a cup for himself. A mouthful
later, an enchanted look filled his face.
“Not bad, not bad.”
“If uncle likes it, I’ll give it to you.” Zhou Yuan chuckled.
The middle-aged man’s eyes immediately brightened as he excitedly responded, “Then I’ll give you my
thanks youngin.”
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He took another mouthful before picking up his pipe again and drawing in a deep breath. Green smoke
rolled out, its acrid flavor causing the surrounding geniuses to frown.
The unkempt middle-aged man enjoyed a puff of smoke as he remarked, “Youngin, there’s something
amiss about the way the others look at you.”
Zhou Yuan shot a glance at his surroundings. The various geniuses were looking at him as if they were
looking at a dead person. He knew that it was because news of the grudge between him and Wu Huang
had already begun to spread.
From their point of view, he was only a Qi Nourishing stage practitioner, and yet he had an enemy like Wu
Huang. This was undoubtedly akin to having half a foot in the grave.
Zhou Yuan smiled and said, “I have a life or death enemy called Wu Huang, and they likely believe that I’m
screwed.”
“Wu Huang?” The middle-aged uncle seemed to have heard of this name. His gaze immediately filled with
pity as he looked at Zhou Yuan and said, “Then you are indeed rather pitiful…”
Zhou Yuan laughed, unoffended. He was already used to such a response.
However, the middle-aged uncle quickly crowded over and said in a low voice, “Moreover, I’ve heard that
the envoy from Sacred Palace has already met Wu Huang and is very satisfied with him. As long as Wu
Huang is able to distinguish himself in the Saint Remains Domain, he will be accepted into Sacred Palace
and become their disciple.”
“Sacred Palace?”
Zhou Yuan’s heart shook a little. By this current point in time, he had already gained some knowledge
with regards to the six sacred sects. It was said that Sacred Palace was the strongest amongst the six
sects.
He never imagined that the envoy from Sacred Palace had already met with Wu Huang…
Zhou Yuan’s eyes flickered, before eventually returning to calmness. He stared at the sloppy looking uncle
and asked, “Does uncle work at the city lord residence?”
Outsiders would not be privy to such information. Only those in the city lord residence might catch some
scraps.
The slovenly uncle chuckled and continued to drink his wine. He sucked on his pipe and breathed out
swirling green smoke as he shot a sideways glance at Zhou Yuan. “Youngin, if you wish to take your
revenge, the Saint Remains Domain will be your final chance.”
Zhou Yuan nodded, not saying anything else.
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“I’ll be taking this wine, don’t drink too much.” The uncle grinned as he kept the bottle into his sleeves. He
breathed out a puff a smoke as he looked towards Zhou Yuan. “Youngin, the Saint Remains Domain will
open tomorrow. There’s someone who has great expectations of you, so you better put in some effort. If
your performance ends up terrible, it will really be a little embarrassing.”
Zhou Yuan was taken aback, somewhat confused. There seemed to be a deeper meaning within the
uncle’s words. Plus, how did he know when the Saint Remains Domain was opening?
Zhou Yuan frowned and asked, “Who are you?”
The slovenly uncle did not reply, merely waving his hand as he puffed out another ring of green smoke.
His bare feet walking on the ground as he unhurriedly made his exit.
Zhou Yuan’s eyes were filled with confusion. This barefoot uncle was not as simple as he had thought.
However, he did not dwell too much on this event, spending a little more time sitting alone, before rising
and returning to the room.
Not long after he returned, news that shook the entire Saint Remains City began to spread.
The Saint Remains Domain was opening tomorrow!
In the room, Zhou Yuan was dazed by this news. The unkempt uncle had been right… just who exactly
was he?
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Chapter 139 Attack
By the time the next day arrived, the entire Saint Remains City was already boiling with excitement.
Especially when six streaks of light flew out from the city lord residence and headed directly for the Saint
Remains Domain. The countless geniuses inside the city also rose into the air, treading on Genesis Qi as
they shot forth, covering the sky and earth like locusts.
Zhou Yuan gazed upon this magnificent scene, before turning his head towards Yaoyao, Luluo and Zuoqiu
Qingyu. “We should go too.”
Zuoqiu Qingyu had practically attached herself to Yaoyao for the past few days. Yaoyao could not be
bothered to explain, while Luluo was purely waiting for the fun to start when the truth was revealed. This
was why Zuoqiu Qingyu had yet to realise that the beautiful man in her eyes was actually a fake.
Yaoyao and the rest naturally had no objections. Hence, the group also moved, heading towards the Saint
Remains Domain.
The Saint Remains Domain was about thirty miles from Saint Remains City. At full speed, it did not take
much time for the group to reach their destination.
Zhou Yuan peered into the distance, where a giant, practically endless basin had appeared at the end of
his sight. Mist shrouded the sky above the basin, giving off faint but strange undulations that made one’s
heart shiver.
Under the mist was an incomparably large river. Light glimmered on the surface of the river’s calm and
rippleless waters that gave one a feeling of depthlessness.
This should be the holy river that encircled the outer region of the Saint Remains Domain.
Countless figures descended, extending all the way to the end of one’s sight. No one knew just how many
people had come.
Outside the Saint Remains Domain were six titanic stone platforms on which figures were landing one
after another.
Zhou Yuan’s group also landed on one of the platforms.
Above the platforms, six powerful Genesis Qi torrents whizzed about like storms. Within the storms, one
could just barely discern six seated figures.
Zhou Yuan inquired in a low voice, “Are those the envoys from the six sacred sects?”
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Luluo nodded and replied, “Yes, it is said that all six are experts that have reached the Divine Dwelling
stage.”
“Six Divine Dwelling stage practitioners.” Zhou Yuan could not help but sigh in admiration. These experts
were top class even in the Cangmang Continent.
Zuoqiu Qingyu was making a ‘binoculars’ with her hands as she said with a grin, “I heard that the one
above this stone platform of ours comes from Sacred Palace.”
“Sacred Palace…” Zhou Yuan’s eyes narrowed slightly. The barefoot uncle from yesterday had mentioned
that the Sacred Palace envoy had already taken a liking to Wu Huang. As long as the latter’s performed
well in the Saint Remains Domain, he would be accepted into Sacred Palace, ascending the heavens in a
single step.
While these thoughts swirled in Zhou Yuan’s mind, he suddenly lifted his head and looked towards a
certain spot in the distance where a golden figure was standing with his hands behind his back. A strong
and powerful aura pulsed from his body, making it such that none of the surrounding geniuses dared to
approach.
That pressure naturally originated from Wu Huang.
Wu Huang also tilted his head at this moment, his emotionless gaze sweeping across Zhou Yuan before
pausing.
“His Spirit has reached the advance Illusory stage.” Wu Huang’s eyes rippled faintly. The crippled dragon
of the Zhou clan did have some ability.
“Truly a troublesome fly.” Mumbled Wu Huang as a strange light suddenly appeared in his eyes.
It was at this very moment that Zhou Yuan suddenly felt all the hairs on his body stand as an
indescribable feeling of danger surged in his heart.
His eyes firmly locked onto Wu Huang.
The latter suddenly raised his hand at this moment, his five fingers tightly clenching into a fist, before
throwing a punch at Zhou Yuan.
Rumble!
Scarlet-red Genesis Qi whizzed forth like a scorching sun, swift as thunder as it shot towards Zhou Yuan.
“Wu Huang, you’re too much!” Luluo and Zuoqiu Qingyu detected the attack and immediately shouted out
in anger, vigorous Genesis Qi exploding from their bodies.
Iciness also flashed across Yaoyao’s eyes as the Spirit on her bright forehead began to shake.
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Tuntun also released a low roar from her arms.
However, just as they were about to stop the attack, an overwhelming pressure suddenly descended from
the sky, forcing all of their Genesis Qi back into their bodies.
“The Sacred Palace envoy?!” Luluo’s and Zuoqiu Qingyu’s pretty faces changed. The pressure had come
from the Sacred Palace envoy seated in the sky above.
Meanwhile, the scarlet-red fist of light had already arrived before Zhou Yuan. Even an advance Heaven
Gate practitioner would fear the immense power contained within it.
“That guy is dead.” One of the geniuses in the vicinity sighed. No one had expected that Wu Huang would
suddenly attack, not to mention his mercilessness. He clearly intended to kill Zhou Yuan with a single
punch.
Scarlet-light filled Zhou Yuan’s eyeballs, the ferocious undulations that swept towards him naturally
making his pupils tighten. However, he did not panic at this critical juncture, but instead suddenly took
half a step forward.
He crossed his arms in front of him as a rune of light appeared on them.
“Grade 3 Genesis Rune, Mighty Tortoise Armor Rune!”
In the wake of the yell in Zhou Yuan’s heart, light began to weave together in front of him, forming a dim
gray tortoise shell that was a few feet wide. The mottled shell gave off a feeling of sturdiness as if it was
capable of withstanding a heavy blow that could shatter a mountain.
Boom!
The scarlet-red light fist smashed into the tortoise shell, scarlet-red light raging as cracks began to appear
on the shell. In the end, the shell only managed to bitterly endure for several breaths before shattering
with a boom.
The remains of the scarlet-red light fist slammed into Zhou Yuan’s arms.
Thump!
His body shot backwards, his legs smearing long scars on the ground as dust filled the air.
Countless gazes looked over as several people frowned. Wu Huang’s actions were really somewhat ugly.
His strength was clearly far beyond Zhou Yuan’s, and yet the former still had to resort to such tactics.
“Zhou Yuan is probably dead, right?” Numerous voices rang out as they looked towards the dust cloud.
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Somewhere else far away, Xiao Tianxuan, Gu Ling and the rest involuntarily burst out into laughter when
they saw this scene. The sight of Zhou Yuan had finally become too irksome to Wu Huang.
Wu Huang’s expression remained indifferent, as if his previous action had merely been akin to swatting
an annoying fly.
Everyone stared as the dust settled. Next, their expressions suddenly changed. They had discovered that
a figure was still standing within the falling dust. The stone floor beneath his feet had fractured, and
green scales could faintly be seen on his crossed arms. However, the scales were currently in bits and
pieces.
Fresh blood flowed down along his arms, dripping onto the ground below.
Zhou Yuan’s expression was serene, but the killing intent that swelled within his eyes were practically
akin to a bursting dam.
If not for his elementary mastery of a defensive grade 3 Genesis Rune and the defensive powers of the
Magical Python Scales, Wu Huang’s punch would have killed him.
“Zhou Yuan, are you alright?!”
Yaoyao, Luluo and Zuoqiu Qingyu rushed to Zhou Yuan’s side.
Tuntun jumped out from Yaoyao’s arms and roared, its tiny body rapidly growing as it transformed into a
mysterious giant beast. Black light pulsed from its enormous mouth as it glared at Wu Huang.
It was extremely intelligent, and although it normally treated Zhou Yuan with disdain and dislike, in
Tuntun’s eyes, Zhou Yuan was the closest person to it besides Yaoyao. It was fine for it to bully him, but
the fact that this person had suddenly attacked was truly unforgivable.
The surrounding prided geniuses hastily retreated when they felt Tuntun’s ferocity.
By the side, Yaoyao’s pretty face had turned inconceivably cold for the first time. Her hands were tightly
clenched and her gaze eerily frosty as the rune between her brows began to ripple faintly
“Don’t be rash!”
Zhou Yuan reached out a bloody hand, grabbing Yaoyao’s tiny hand and gripped it tightly. He
remembered master Cang Yuan had said never to allow the seal on Yaoyao’s head to loosen.
Yaoyao looked towards Zhou Yuan. Her normally clean freak self did not mind Zhou Yuan’s bloody hand
this time. She blamed herself slightly; she had nearly allowed Wu Huang to kill Zhou Yuan in front of her.
“Stop!”
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A booming shout descended from the sky at this moment. The Sacred Palace envoy had turned his gaze
down, the pressure of a Divine Dwelling expert sweeping down, suppressing Tuntun such that it was
unable to move.
The Sacred Palace envoy growled, “The Saint Remains Domain is about to open, don’t cause any trouble!”
Luluo angrily said, “Then why didn’t you stop Wu Huang earlier?!”
The corners of Zuoqiu Qingyu’s also curled downwards as she remarked, “This envoy doesn’t know the
meaning of fair.”
How could they not understand by now that the Sacred Palace envoy had purposely suppressed them
earlier, preventing them from aiding Zhou Yuan.
It was obvious that the envoy of Sacred Palace was protecting Wu Huang.
The surrounding geniuses also broke out into whispers. The actions of the Sacred Palace envoy was
indeed rather unfair.
In the sky above, the envoy’s expression turned somewhat ugly. He swept a cold glance at Zhou Yuan and
the rest and declared, “Since you have complaints, don’t enter the Saint Remains Domain.”
Luluo’s and Zuoqiu Qingyu’s faces turned somewhat ugly. What a disgraceful envoy.
However, just as the Sacred Palace envoys’ words rang out, a figure within a similarly dazzling ball of
light in the far off sky seemed to turn his gaze and looked in their direction as a mocking voice
subsequently followed.
“Heh heh, Zhao Pan, you’re representing the Sacred Palace after all, so can you not look so ugly?”
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As the mocking voice rang out in the sky, countless gazes were drawn over. The one who had spoken was
also one of the envoys from the six sacred sects.
Under the attention of those countless gazes, the glaring rays from the ball of light began to weaken,
revealing the figure within. One would see a rather messy looking middle-aged man seated there with a
pipe hanging from his mouth.
Boundless Genesis Qi violently swirled around him like a storm, seemingly causing the world around him
to tremble.
Zhou Yuan was stunned by the sight of this figure. It was the same person who had asked him for wine
yesterday.
He would never have imagined that the sloppy looking uncle would turn out to be one of the envoys from
the six sacred sects.
Above the stone platform where Zhou Yuan and the rest were located, a dark look was revealed on the
fair clean shaven face of Sacred Palace envoy called Zhao Pan. He shot a glance at the slovenly middle-
aged man and said, “Oh? What teachings do you have, Mu Wuji?”
The scruffy looking middle-aged man puffed out a breath of green smoke, smiling faintly as he replied,
“I’ve no interest in teaching. I only want to tell you that you don’t have the right to banish anyone here,
because amongst them may be the future seedlings of the other five sects.”
Zhao Pan’s expression darkened. Just as he was about to retort, the other four envoys spoke up to
mediate, “Both of you should hold back a sentence or two. All six of us are required to break through this
mist, and it will be almost impossible if anyone is missing.”
In the end, Zhao Pan coldly snorted. His gaze icily swept across Zhou Yuan and the rest, before glancing at
Wu Huang with a trace of dissatisfaction, evidently displeased that the latter had not killed Zhou Yuan in
a single punch, causing trouble for him.
Wu Huang paid no heed to this dissatisfaction. He merely looked towards Zhou Yuan as his eyes
narrowed slightly. The fact that the latter had blocked his punch had likewise surprised him.
Zhou Yuan lightly swung his bloody arms. The intense pain that emanated from them was testament to
the power of Wu Haung’s earlier punch. If Zhou Yuan did not have his defensive grade 3 Genesis Rune, he
would have likely ended up seriously injured or dead.
It seems that the other party was beginning to feel a little threatened now that his Spirit had reached the
advance Illusory stage, and planned to finish him off in the quickest way possible.
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However, from a certain point of view, wasn’t this a good thing?
Zhou Yuan’s face was akin to a serene rippleless lake as he stared at Wu Huang, but the killing intent in
the former’s eyes had reached its peak. With a sudden laugh, Zhou Yuan slowly lowered his eyelids.
From what he could see, Wu Huang was not as indifferent towards Zhou Yuan as he looked. The actions of
the former were clearly saying that he, Wu Huang, was afraid.
He was afraid that he would lose everything he possessed.
He was afraid that Zhou Yuan was really able to take everything back.
Zhou Yuan gently patted Tuntun’s head, causing the latter’s gigantic body to slowly begin to shrink.
However, malicious intent still filled its eyes as they tightly locked onto Wu Huang.
By the side, Yaoyao was silent for a while before she said, “I will teach him a lesson if I meet him in the
Saint Remains Domain, but don’t worry, I will not kill him.”
Zhou Yuan was stunned for a moment, before shooting a glance at Yaoyao. It seemed that Wu Huang’s
actions had truly angered her this time.
Zhou Yuan scratched the back of his head, and could only say, “Try to take it easy.”
By the side, Zuoqiu Qingyu’s little hands were holding her red cheeks as she dreamily gazed at Yaoyao.
The latter was so domineering at this moment.
After all, there were not many who had the qualifications to speak such words in the face of Wu Huang.
As the hostile atmosphere began to recede, the watching Xiao Tianxuan, Gu Ling and the rest shook their
heads in disappointment. No one had expected that Zhou Yuan would actually be able to withstand Wu
Huang’s powerful punch.
“This kid does have a little ability.” Remarked Xiao Tianxuan in a nonchalant manner.
The corners of Gu Ling's ruddy little mouth turned downwards. "He's just lucky. Given his capabilities,
only death awaits him if he encounters Wu Huang for real."
The others nodded in agreement and chorused, "If he's unfortunate enough to bump into us in the Saint
Remains Domain, we'll be sure to teach him a proper lesson and give Gu Ling some justice."
As they spoke, the six envoys in the sky concentrated on the mist above the holy river and suddenly acted
at the same time.
Rumble!
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Six raging rivers of Genesis Qi that spanned several hundred feet abruptly burst out from the top of their
heads. Like giant pillars, the Genesis Qi barbarically shot into the seemingly endless mist.
The Genesis Qi pillars began to sweep and vibrate, tearing apart the mist one layer at a time.
However, there was a terrifying power within the mist. Ancient runes appeared and began blasting the
six Genesis Qi pillars, shaving away layer after layer of Genesis Qi.
In the sky, the faces of the six envoys were grim, not daring to be the slightest bit negligent as they
poured all of their attention into their Genesis Qi.
Astonishing auras erupted from their bodies, causing even the color of the world around them to change
slightly. The prided geniuses below were silenced due to fear. Such power was still far beyond their
reach.
“Is this the power of the Divine Dwelling stage?” Mumbled Zhou Yuan under his breath.
After the Alpha-Origin stage was the Divine Dwelling stage. Once one reaches this level, the Qi Dwelling in
one’s body will undergo a transformation. It was said that the Genesis Qi of those that have successfully
transformed their Qi Dwellings into Divine Dwellings would also evolve, becoming far more powerful
than ordinary Genesis Qi.
Under the watching eyes of the countless geniuses, six glowing pillars of Genesis Qi continued to stir
within the mist. The six envoys gave their all, and everyone soon began to see a faint cavity appear within
the thick, almost vicious mist.
As one peered past the thin mist, one seemed to be able to see the ancient land of the Saint Remains
Domain.
“Everyone, enter now!”
While the crowd was focused on the gap within the mist, the shouts of the six envoys rang out like
thunder.
Rumble!
The moment these words were said, it was as if the entire world began to heave. Countless prided
geniuses immediately shot forward, transforming to glowing figures as they charged into the cavity
within the mist.
Zhou Yuan looked towards the rest and said, “We should get a move on too. No one knows what will
happen in the Saint Remains Domain so be careful.”
Yaoyao, Luluo and Zuoqiu Qingyu nodded.
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Swish!
In the next moment, they shot forward together.
The group reached the hole within the mist in the short span of a dozen breaths. No one dared to tarry,
pushing their Genesis Qi to the limits as their speed soared.
“We’re about to enter!”
Zhou Yuan watched the faint white mist surge towards him as he took in a deep breath, the Genesis Qi
around him rippling as it protected his body.
Boom!
Their bodies finally hit the mist. Space began to distort as if they were crashing into another world,
making it impossible to steady one’s body, and have no choice but to be randomly tossed around.
Zhou Yuan was thrown around till he saw stars. A long time seemed to pass, before he finally felt the
space around him solidify as his body was powerfully flung outwards.
Crash!
Zhou Yuan crashed into the ground, eating a mouthful of soil.
He ignored the pain, performing a tumble before getting up. What met his eyes was an ancient world as if
he had been transported back to a prehistoric era…
“Is this the Saint Remains Domain?”
Zhou Yuan mumbled to himself as he gazed upon the ancient land before him.
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Chapter 141 Enemies Inevitably Meet
While the countless prided geniuses of the Cangmang Continent flooded into the Saint Remains Domain,
no one knew that something important was happening in a certain far off continent. On this particular
continent, dazzling light was currently exploding from a mountain top. One would see that an enormous
Genesis Rune boundary had been inscribed into the ground. Astonishing undulations pulsed from it,
gathering all of the surrounding Genesis Qi.
At this current time, five figures stood at the center of this gigantic Genesis Rune boundary.
Several figures stood in the air outside the giant Genesis Rune boundary. Extremely powerful Genesis Qi
rippled from their bodies as terrifying pressures suffocated the area.
Outside the Genesis Rune boundary, a stern elder said in a low voice, “Ye Ming, the Saint Remains
Domain in the Cangmang Continent has already been opened, and we will soon start up the teleportation
Genesis Rune to send the five of you in. The five of you are the most elite prided geniuses of our
Dongxuan Continent, and your task will be to snatch away the greatest gift of the Saint Remains Domain.
If you succeed, your futures will definitely be limitless!”
Another old granny in black said, "The Cangmang Continent is a chaotic mess in comparison to our
Dongxuan Continent that it controlled by us, the five great clans. While the five of you are the most elite
prided geniuses that the five great clans have spared no effort in nurturing. Therefore, you absolutely
cannot lose to the geniuses from the Cangmang Continent!"
One of the five individuals inside the Genesis Rune boundary scratched the back of his head, displaying an
innocent smile as he asked, "Although there are no powerful factions in the Cangmang Continent, the
envoys from the six sacred sects will be there. Will they make things difficult for us if we're found out?"
The stern elder answered in an indifferent tone, "The gifts and blessings of the world do not belong to any
one person. If the geniuses of the Cangmang Continent are incapable of securing the gifts offered to them,
it will naturally be passed on to those with ability. That's why the six sacred sect envoys will not say
anything even if they find out. As long as you succeed, you will also naturally be able to enter the six
sacred sects."
In the Genesis Rune boundary, a tall and slender girl waved her hand and nonchalantly said, “Relax, it’s
just a mere Cangmang Continent. We’ve already familiarized ourselves with their top geniuses, and they
won’t be much of a problem.
The granny in black looked towards the center of the group where a young man in black robes stood. “Ye
Ming, you will serve as the leader on this mission, and everyone else will listen to your orders.”
The eyes of the youth in black robes had been lightly shut since the beginning, only slowly opening after
hearing the granny’s words. Black pupils that seemed to contain pure darkness, a sight that was
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incomparably strange. He did not reply the granny, but instead looked towards the other four prided
geniuses with those pitch-black eyes as he said in a detached manner, “Regardless of whether it is the
geniuses of the Cangmang Continent or you guys, whoever obstructs me will be… killed.”
His tone was as ordinary as could be, containing neither emotion nor killing intent. When he spoke,
however, the other four elite geniuses of the Dongxuan Continent shivered and unexpectedly did not
retort.
Upon seeing that no one had anything to say, the youth in black robes lifted his head, looked outside of
the Genesis Rune boundary and nonchalantly said, “Let’s begin.”
The stern elder and the other four nodded. With a wave of their sleeves, vigorous Genesis Qi whizzed out
and poured into the Genesis Rune boundary. It immediately began to shake as space started to twist and
distort.
While the space around them distorted, the five figures within the Genesis Rune gradually faded away.
With one final burst of light, their figures completely disappeared.
Upon seeing the five figures vanish, the stern elder and his group finally breathed a sigh of relief.
“The Cangmang Continent is nothing special, yet they possess a Saint Remains Domain. We can’t be
blamed for having designs on it.”
“Haha, relax. Ye Ming and the other four are the most outstanding younger generation talents of our five
clans. With them in play, what can the geniuses of a tiny Cangmang Continent possibly amount to?”
“Yes, there will be no obstructions this time. As long as they manage to obtain the greatest gift, an expert
that can open a Law Domain might appear in our five clans. When that happens, we may even end up
establishing our own sect and become a true behemoth like existence in Cangxuan Heaven.
...
What appeared before Zhou Yuan was an endless ancient land. Ancient trees that reached into the sky,
giant mountains that seemed to pierce the clouds. The entire land was filled with an ancient and barbaric
aura.
When one looked towards the sky, one would no longer see the swirling mist, but instead a dim yellow
hue that was clearly different from the outside world.
“I’m afraid that this Saint Remains Domain exists in a different space.” Mumbled Zhou Yuan to himself.
This Saint Remains Domain may perhaps be a tiny corner of the Cangmang Continent, but the land
reflected his eyes was extremely vast. If one really had to compare, it may even be larger than the entire
Cangmang Continent.
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“To think a drop of blood from a Saint would become such a mystical land…” Zhou Yuan sighed. He truly
wondered how strong the so-called Saint was that a single drop of blood could transform into a world of
its own.
“Hmm… I seem to be separated from Yaoyao and the rest.” Zhou Yuan scanned his surroundings, finding
it completely empty and without a single soul in sight. It was more than obvious that Yaoyao and the rest
were not here.
“Looks like I’ll have to get going alone.” Zhou Yuan shook his head. He was not worried about Yaoyao.
Although she was unable to use Genesis Qi, her Spirit cultivation was outrageously amazing. Only a
handful of prided geniuses from the Cangmang Continent would be able to threaten her.
Zhou Yuan did not hesitate for long, randomly choosing a direction as Genesis Qi began to rise around
him. With a stamp of his foot, his body shot forward.
After travelling at full speed for about a dozen minutes, Zhou Yuan’s eyes suddenly focused. A lake had
appeared some distance to his front.
Zhou Yuan concentrated, his expression involuntarily changing a split second later. He had discovered a
figure standing by the lakeside.
Golden robes and a dignified aura. Everything about the figure was just too familiar. It was Wu Huang!
As the saying went, it was inevitable for enemies to meet!
So many people had been scattered, but he just had to encounter Wu Huang.
When Zhou Yuan discovered Wu Huang, the latter also seemed to sense something. He turned his head,
his gaze instantly finding Zhou Yuan, causing him to be momentarily stunned.
However, Wu Huang swiftly regained his wits, and could not help but break out into a soft laughter that
gradually grew louder and louder.
After laughing for some time, he finally stopped, staring at Zhou Yuan as he said, “Do you know what I
was thinking about just now?”
“I was thinking about where should I go to find you, the cripple dragon of the Zhou clan, so I can finally
eliminate any potential threat you might become.”
“And just as this problem was beginning to vex me, you decided to appear…”
“Do you know what this means?”
“It means I possess the true blessings. Whatever I wish for will naturally become reality.”
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Wu Huang stared at Zhou Yuan, a toying look in his eyes as if he was looking at prey that could not escape
the palm of his hand.
“Crippled dragon of the Zhou clan, that is why I am the true dragon!”
“With no one to protect you this time, how will a crippled dragon like you flail about before your
inevitable doom?”
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Chapter 142 Perilous Situation
In front of the lake.
Zhou Yuan’s expression had turned rather grave as he gazed upon the toying look on Wu Huang’s face.
Meeting Wu Huang here was definitely not part of his plans.
This was really quite unlucky.
After all, the current Zhou Yuan was completely outclassed.
Hence, Zhou Yuan’s gaze flickered slightly for an instant, before Genesis Qi suddenly exploded below his
feet. Not even a shred of hesitation could be seen as his figure turned and fled.
The only thing to do in this situation was run.
“Can you really escape?” However, Wu Huang merely smiled faintly in response to Zhou Yuan’s decisive
choice to escape, a smile that contained a faint hint of mockery.
His foot slammed into the ground as vigorous scarlet-red Genesis Qi erupted from within his body.
Unbearable heat pulsed, making the lake waters boil as the ground rapidly cracked.
Bang!
Wu Huang’s figure abruptly shot forth.
In the mere span of a few breaths, he had appeared directly behind Zhou Yuan, a scarlet-red hand
swatting downwards at the latter with power so great that the ground below began to fissure.
“Dragon Step!”
Zhou Yuan did not dare to be even a split second late and hurriedly performed Dragon Step.
His figure turned somewhat blurry as the hand descended, causing the attack to brush past his body.
Bang!
The ground split apart, while Zhou Yuan borrowed the force to propel himself even further away.
Though his attack had missed, Wu Huang was unaffected, neither hurried nor slow as his figure
continued to closely give chase. The smile on his face was akin to a cat toying with a mouse as he sent a
hand swatting towards Zhou Yuan from time to time, making the latter cut an extremely sorry figure.
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In a short few minutes, Zhou Yuan had seen his life flash past his eyes multiple times after nearly taking
several direct hits from Wu Huang.
He was also clearly growing rather weary as the chase dragged on.
"What a pitiful crippled dragon…" Wu Huang walked towards Zhou Yuan with his hands behind his back,
his face full of compassion as he said, "But don't worry, after killing you, I will destroy the Great Zhou
Empire so that your family can keep you company."
Boom!
However, the moment he neared Zhou Yuan, the wearines on the latter's face abruptly disappeared,
replaced by an icy coldness. With a stamp, Zhou Yuan no longer tried to flee, but instead charged at Wu
Huang like a bolt of lightning.
"Dragon Tablet Hand, break the sky!"
His hand was swung, Genesis Qi rumbling as the air in front of it was rapidly blasted away.
"Grade 3 Genesis Rune, Black Gold Hand Rune!"
In conjunction with using the strongest move in his arsenal, a light rune appeared on Zhou Yuan's palm. A
black gold radiance emerged, amplifying the destructive power of the attack and the hardness of the
hand.
An astonishing amount of power exploded in a split second.
Boom!
A hand containing all the power Zhou Yuan could muster powerfully swung towards Wu Huang.
Wu Huang's eyes narrowed slightly, his five fingers clenching into a fist as he punched.
Dong!
A deep sound rang out as the ground below the two cracked open. Zhou Yuan's body was flung
backwards, his feet leaving deep grooves on the ground.
Wu Huang's sleeves had been torn open, the force making him take a dozen steps back.
His expression became extremely ominous at this moment, killing intent flaring as he stared at Zhou
Yuan. "So even a cornered rabbit can bite back."
"But you've now truly angered me!"
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Powerful scarlet-red Genesis Qi flooded out from the top of Wu Huang's head like a tsunami as an
extremely domineering heat spread.
It was clear that he no longer planned to play the role of a cat toying with a mouse. He was now out to
kill.
Zhou Yuan's expression grew increasingly grave. He rubbed the silver ring on his finger as a grim
coldness flashed in his eyes.
If there was really no other choice, he would have to use Silver Shadow. The current him was already at
the advance Illusory stage, and would surely be able to quickly escape Wu Huang by borrowing Silver
Shadow’s power. The only uncertainty was how long he would be unconscious after using Silver Shadow.
It was extremely risky. There was no one around to protect him, and he was in the Saint Remains Domain
that was filled with unknown dangers.
But… it would at the very least be better than dying at Wu Huang’s hands.
Wu Huang’s body slowly rose into the air, standing on Genesis Qi as he looked down from above at Zhou
Yuan and indifferently said, “I should really let Wu Yao see your miserable appearance. I believe she will
no longer have any doubts about the fact that I am the true dragon, don’t you agree?”
He shook his head, deciding that he would not waste anymore time. His hands slapped together, and
scarlet-red Genesis Qi roared out, like a river of magma filled with overwhelming destructive force that
flowed towards Zhou Yuan.
Space warped and twisted wherever the scarlet-red flood passed.
Scarlet-red filled Zhou Yuan’s vision. He took in a deep breath as a resolute look flitted across his eyes.
With a pat of his Universe bag, a silver ball appeared in his hand.
Bzz!
However, right before Zhou Yuan was about to activate Silver Shadow, a peculiar sound suddenly rang
out across the area, a sound that seemed similar to the cry of a sword.
Swish!
The flood of red descended, but it was at this very moment that a black shadow suddenly zoomed over
from behind at a shocking speed. A sharp aura burst forth, cutting deep wounds on the ground.
Bzz!
The black shadow met the scarlet-red flood, the berserk aftershocks from their clash tearing up the
surrounding ground.
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As the dust gradually settled, Zhou Yuan was stunned to see a thick tipless black broadsword standing in
front of him.
Sharp sword Qi pulsed from the sword as it trembled.
Wu Huang’s expression sunk when he saw the black broadsword and icily shouted, “Blind Sword Li
Chunjun! Why are you being a busybody?!”
“Blind Sword?”
Zhou Yuan’s heart shook as he turned his head, only to see a figure in black slowly approaching. The
figure’s footsteps were not quick, but in a mere few breaths, he had already arrived in front of Zhou Yuan,
standing behind the black broadsword.
He raised his head, his black cloth covered eyes looking towards Wu Huang as he placed both hands on
the sword grip and said in a hoarse voice, “I owe him a meal debt.”
Wu Huang’s gaze darkened as the scarlet-red Genesis Qi around him began to churn, clearly now enraged.
The black clothed youth called Li Chunjun tilted his head slightly and said to Zhou Yuan, “Go, I will stop
him.”
The silver ball in Zhou Yuan’s hand returned to his Universe bag. He looked at Li Chunjun in silence for
some time, before he said, “Thank you.”
Although he still had his final trump card, it was naturally best to avoid using it.
Li Chunjun shook his head. “I’m merely repaying the roast meat debt.”
Zhou Yuan grinned. “Don’t kill him… I intend to personally end him.”
Lu Chunjun was taken aback, evidently surprised by Zhou Yuan’s charisma. The former could feel that the
latter was trying to act tough, but was truly serious about it.
For the first time, a faint smile appeared on his stiff face. “Don’t worry, the current me cannot kill him.”
Zhou Yuan chuckled and nodded, before raising his head as he looked towards the stormy-face Wu Huang
and said, “Such a great opportunity, and yet you’ve still failed to kill me. What do you think this means?”
“It means that your blessing is a fake…”
Zhou Yuan let out a hearty laugh, paying no further notice to Wu Huang, whose face had grown so stormy
that it was about to break into a downpour. There was no hesitation as Zhou Yuan turned around and
transformed into a flash of light that rapidly disappeared into the horizon.
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A voice seemed to echo from far away.
"Wu Huang, make sure to take good care of your head so I can take it the next time we meet!”
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Chapter 143 String of White Qi
By a stream deep within a mountain.
Zhou Yuan squatted by the stream as he drank two mouthfuls of water. It had been half a day since he
encountered Wu Huang. The former had most of the time travelling at full speed without stopping for a
single break.
It was difficult for even Zhou Yuan to manage such a high pace.
“But I should now be free of him.” Zhou Yuan wiped away the water at the corner of his mouth, his eyes
narrowing slightly as a fierce look flitted across them.
He did not feel that running away from Wu Huang was humiliating. The latter’s strength far surpassed his
own, a lead that had arisen due to various reasons.
What he needed to do now was to shrink that gap with all his might, not fight to the death while knowing
that he was clearly outclassed because that was not bravery, but foolishness.
One’s path cannot be smooth sailing forever, and there were times when it was essential to patiently bear
with the situation. This was not weakness, but similar to a spring, shrinking back not due to fear, but in
preparation for the moment when one would let loose the strongest blow.
The vast Saint Remains Domain was filled with opportunities, and this was where Zhou Yuan’s chance
lay. He needed to grasp some of these opportunities and strengthen himself till he reached the level that
allowed him to oppose Wu Huang.
When that time finally came, Zhou Yuan would naturally no longer harbor even the tiniest thought of
retreating.
“I wonder how Yaoyao and the rest are doing…” Zhou Yuan stood up and swept his gaze about his
surroundings. The Saint Remains Domain was just too huge, and he did not know how to find them.
While scanning the area, he eyes suddenly froze. He had seen a giant black beast walk out of the forests to
his front, its beady beast eyes tightly glued to him.
The giant black beast looked like a lion, but a flame burned on its tail. Fire also raged within its enormous
mouth.
“Mid Heaven Gate strength…” Zhou Yuan was a little amazed by the sight of the black lion. It was likely a
Genesis Beast of the Saint Remains Domain and was pretty strong too.
“It seems that I’ve been categorized as prey again.”
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Zhou Yuan chuckled as his hand reached towards his waist and pulled out the Heavenly Yuan Brush. The
brush swiftly expanded, its snow-white hairs twisting into a sharp spear tip.
He raised the tip of the brush and pointed at the blazing black lion.
“After being forced to flee for so long, I’ll be more than happy to use you as an outlet for my frustration.”
Roar!
The blazing black lion roared in response to Zhou Yuan’s provocation. In a flash, it transformed into a
blur of black as it dashed forward, its sharp claws tearing through the air, viciously slashing at Zhou Yuan.
Dark gold Genesis Qi exploded from Zhou Yuan’s body as the Heavenly Yuan Brush shivered slightly.
Deep green light gathered at its tip, revealing an incomparable sharpness.
“Auraflare technique.”
Zhou Yuan’s toes pushed off the ground as his body abruptly rocketed forward, and the two figures
crossed above the stream.
The blazing black lion’s sharp claws slashed at Zhou Yuan’s shoulder, but instead of blood, all it could
draw was sparks from the green scales that had appeared on his skin.
While the blazing black lion’s claws scraped across Zhou Yuan’s shoulders, the brush tip that pulsed with
a green aura pierced the former’s throat.
Fresh blood spurted out like a fountain.
Zhou Yuan and the blazing black lion had exchanged places, but the latter’s enormous body soon crashed
to the ground with a loud thud.
Zhou Yuan turned around and looked at the fallen blazing black lion, only to be stunned. He had just
caught sight of a wisp of faint white Qi rise from its corpse.
A string of white surged towards Zhou Yuan, splitting into two. One half homing in on Zhou Yuan, while
the other swam towards the Heavenly Yuan Brush in his hand.
Zhou Yuan cautiously observed the strands of white Qi. His Spirit senses reached out, but did not detect
any danger. Instead, he could feel extremely pure Genesis Qi contained within them.
It was even purer than the Genesis Qi here.
“What’s going on?” Confusion colored Zhou Yuan’s eyes. He hesitated for a few moments, before very
carefully absorbing the strand of pure Genesis Qi.
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Once it entered his body, it flowed through his eight meridian channels, before ultimately arriving in his
Qi Dwelling where it was subsequently transformed into a sliver of Omni Python Qi.
This process was smooth, without a single hiccup occuring. So smooth that it was even more effortless
than his usual training.
In addition, it was also more effective. The gains from that single strand from earlier was approximately
equal nearly two hours of training.
Zhou Yuan mumbled to himself, “Why do the Genesis Beasts in the Saint Remains Domain possess such
pure Genesis Qi?”
His gaze flickered in thought. It was a long time later before he arrived at a conclusion.
“The Saint Remains Domain originated from a Saint’s blood, and the same is likely true for these Genesis
Beasts within it. That’s why their bodies contain extremely pure Genesis Qi, Genesis Qi that probably
originated from the fallen Saint.”
“Only then does it explain how such a tiny sliver can have such a huge effect on my cultivation.”
Zhou Yuan’s eyes grew increasingly bright. If this conjecture was true, hunting Genesis Beasts in the Saint
Remains Domain would be an extremely effective training method.
In addition…
He lowered his head and looked at the Heavenly Yuan Brush in his hand. After absorbing the strand of
Genesis Qi from earlier, the third ancient rune on its mottled body had become a little brighter.
The absorption of the white Qi was clearly extremely beneficial to the Heavenly Yuan Brush.
At this rate, it would not be long before the third rune of the brush was awakened, and there was a high
chance that it would reach the high grade Black tier level.
Most importantly, every awakened rune would bestow a new ability unto the brush, an ability that would
surely become a powerful support to Zhou Yuan.
For the sake of gaining the power to contend against Wu Huang, the current Zhou Yuan needed to raise
his battle power from every avenue possible.
“As expected of the Saint Remains Domain.”
Zhou Yuan sighed as his gaze gradually filled with excitement and anticipation. He knew that this
information would soon be known by all of the prided geniuses that had entered. When that happened,
the competition would become much fiercer.
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“I’ve gotta take advantage of this time to act!”
Zhou Yuan tightly gripped the Heavenly Yuan Brush and looked towards the mountains before him, from
which the faint cries of beasts could be heard. No longer hesitating, his figure moved, transforming into a
shadow that charged straight in.
Zhou Yuan’s entry broke the peace of the mountain. Majority of the Genesis Beasts here had the strength
of grade 3, and were comparable to the Heaven Gate stage, making them very appropriate opponents for
someone of his level.
It only took a day for Zhou Yuan to reach the deeper parts of the mountain where he finally encountered
some resistance.
...
In the depths of the mountain.
Zhou Yuan's eyes fell upon the over ten feet tall golden ape before him as it released a deafening roar. At
this moment however, there was an extremely strange look in his gaze as his stared at the creature.
The latter’s strength had reached the peak of grade 3, and was comparable to an advance Heaven Gate
practitioner.
But what made Zhou Yuan puzzled was not the golden ape’s strength, but the fact that… it actually knew a
Genesis technique!
The last Genesis Beast he had seen using one was Tuntun.
But Tuntun was an extraordinary existence. Could it be? Did this golden ape possess a special bloodline
like Tuntun?
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Chapter 144 The Third Rune
Roar!
A golden ape roared as it hammered its chest, creating a thunderous din. Berserk Genesis Qi exploded
from its body, shaking the surrounding space.
It eyes fell upon Zhou Yuan as it suddenly shot forward with a sudden stamp of its foot. It appeared above
Zhou Yuan in an instant, giant fists hammering downwards with power so wild that even cracks began to
appear on the ground below.
Zhou Yuan did not dare to be negligent in the face of the golden ape’s incoming attack. The big guy’s
strength had reached the advance Heaven Gate stage, plus it had a strong physical body, traits that made
it a pretty tough opponent.
“Dragon Tablet Hand, break the sky!”
Zhou Yuan’s hand was swung, heavy as can be. The howling palm winds that accompanied it blasting
away the air.
This attack of his was similarly ferocious to the extreme.
Boom!
The two forces collided in the most violent manner. Berserk Genesis Qi shockwaves immediately unfurled
upon impact, causing cracks to extend along the ground, while towering tree after tree was snapped at
their waist.
Countless falling leaves were instantly turned to dust.
Roar!
The golden ape’s titanic body jerked, before being sent flying backwards, crashing into a cliff wall as it let
out a painful yelp.
Zhou Yuan’s body was also forced a dozen steps back, but what made his face turn a little grave, however,
was the strange force contained within the Genesis Qi of the golden ape’s attack that had stealthily
exploded when they came into contact.
He had suffered when they clashed earlier, the stealthy explosion making the Qi and blood in his body
churn.
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“The force should be from some kind of Genesis technique…” There was amazement in Zhou Yuan’s eyes.
He could sense that the reason why a mysterious force was hidden within the golden ape’s attack was
because it knew a particular Genesis technique.
“Interesting.”
Zhou Yuan laughed as his body rocketed forward. The Heavenly Yuan Brush in his hand turning into
numerous after images that filled the sky and began to engulf the golden ape.
Ch ch!
The images descended, piercing the golden ape’s defences, carving bloody scar after scar on its giant
body.
Roar!
The golden ape roared madly, and suddenly slammed its heavy fists into the ground. A wave of Genesis Qi
immediately unfurled, shattering all of the brush images.
Zhou Yuan’s body drifted backwards. He looked at the now crazed ape as he suddenly extended a finger
and lightly pointed.
The golden ape’s body abruptly froze. Soon after, it wailed. One could only watch as glowing snow-white
hairs suddenly shot out of its body.
The interior of its body had been completely destroyed by the invading hairs, instantly wiping out its
lifeforce.
Heavenly Yuan Brush, Erode.
The brush tip shook as the hairs returned like birds to the woods. A Genesis Beast like this was blessed
with raw physical strength, but it lacked intelligence. This was why it had been unable to sense the
invasion of the hairs.
As the golden ape died, a thick stream of white rose from its body. The mist parted into two like before,
pouring into Zhou Yuan and the Heavenly Yuan Brush.
A smile emerged on Zhou Yuan’s face as he felt the increasingly bountiful Genesis Qi in his Qi Dwelling.
Zhou Yuan mumbled to himself, “I am already at the peak of the advance Qi Nourishing stage. Only a
single step separates me from the Heaven Gate stage.”
“Eh?”
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While Zhou Yuan was delighted by the steady rise in his strength, he suddenly discovered that besides
the stream of white Qi, a glowing ball had also risen from the golden ape’s corpse.
Zhou Yuan quickly walked forward while staring at the glowing ball, only to realise that it was a jade
strip.
Astonishment filled his face as he carefully grabbed the jade tile. The moment he did so, a surge of
information instantly rushed into his head.
“Mid grade Black tier Genesis technique, Yuan Explosive Force. An explosive force can be melded into
one’s Genesis Qi attacks, amplifying its power.”
Zhou Yuan was stupefied. He finally understood. The explosive force contained within the golden ape’s
Genesis Qi from earlier had originated from this technique, Yuan Explosive Force!
“How can a Genesis Beast learn a Genesis technique? And the Genesis technique it knows can even
become a jade strip after its death?!”
Zhou Yuan was dumbfounded for a long time, eventually shaking his head with a bitter smile. The reason
behind all of this was likely somehow related to the Saint Remains Domain.
This place was created from the blood of a Saint, and that same blood contained the various Genesis
techniques he had mastered over his lifetime. The Genesis Beasts here had likely inherited these Genesis
techniques at birth.
After killing these Genesis Beasts, the techniques they knew would emerge in the form of a jade tile.
A rush of excitement bubbled in Zhou Yuan’s heart. He may not know what level a Saint was at, but it was
clearly an unimaginable existence. The Genesis techniques in the arsenal of such an existence was
absolutely not limited to mere Black tier ones, there were likely little Heaven tier and even true Heaven
tier Genesis techniques!
“Which means, there may be Genesis Beasts that possesses little Heaven tier or even Heaven tier Genesis
techniques in the Saint Remains Domain!” A burning radiance blossomed in Zhou Yuan’s eyes.
At the Saint Remains City auction, a little Heaven Genesis technique had been sold at an astronomical
price of several million Genesis crystals. Zhou Yuan may not be able to afford it back then, but he now had
the chance to obtain something similar here.
He would be able to obtain one as long as he could find and kill a Genesis Beast that knew a little Heaven
Genesis technique.
However, Zhou Yuan estimated that given a Genesis Beast with a mid grade Black tier Genesis technique
was already comparable to the advance Heaven Gate stage, a Genesis Beast that knew a little Heaven tier
technique would very likely reach grade 4, an existence comparable to the Alpha-Origin.
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One would likely need a meticulous plan to kill such a Genesis Beast.
Zhou Yuan tossed and caught the jade tile as he said to himself, “Although this Yuan Explosive Force
technique is only at the mid grade Black tier, it can amplify the power of my Genesis Qi so I should
probably learn it.”
Although its level was not that high, a Genesis technique like this that could amplify the power of one’s
Genesis Qi was definitely not cheap. According to Zhou Yuan’s estimate, even high grade Black tier attack
type Genesis techniques would not be more expensive than it.
“Oh?”
Zhou Yuan’s gaze suddenly turned towards the Heavenly Yuan Brush in his hand. The brush that had
fallen silent after absorbing the white Qi from the golden ape earlier had suddenly began to shake.
Light began to blossom on its mottled body. Zhou Yuan watched in surprise as the dim third rune on the
brush began to brighten bit by bit.
The third Genesis Rune was awakening.
Joy flooded out in Zhou Yuan’s eyes. What he currently needed the most was to raise his battle power,
and the awakening of this third rune would undoubtedly be akin to giving wings to a tiger.
“I wonder what power the third rune possess.”
Zhou Yuan curiously reached out and gently touched the ancient third rune. At the moment of contact,
information quietly flowed into his head.
Heavenly Yuan Brush, third rune, Myriad Transformations.
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Chapter 145 Grade 4 Genesis Beast
“Myriad Transformations…”
Zhou Yuan’s finger brushed across the ancient Genesis Rune as a brilliant splendour blossomed in his
eyes. In that split second earlier, he had already understood the function of this Genesis Rune.
His hand gradually tightened around the Heavenly Yuan Brush, suddenly jerking it a moment later.
Bzz!
A powerful Genesis ripple pulsed from the brush as the snow-white hairs at its tip began to expand and
lengthen.
Swish!
Zhou Yuan swung the brush as its hairs transformed into a long snow-white whip that swept across the
area.
Pch!
The air was blasted away with a cackle as the long snow-white whip swept past. After a full round, the
towering ancient trees in the vicinity were cleanly cut at their waists, the interiors smooth as a mirror.
The hairs that made up the long whip shook again. In a split second, they had already dispersed,
transforming into countless almost invisible white threads that engulfed the area to their front.
Chch!
The wall in front of them was poked full of innumerable holes so deep that it was impossible to see the
bottom.
Zhou Yuan’s arm jerked and the countless snow-white hairs shot back towards him, returning to the
brush tip.
“So… this is Myriad Transformations!” A fire seemed to burn within Zhou Yuan’s eyes as they gleamed
brightly.
The third rune seemed to have bestowed life unto the Heavenly Yuan Brush, allowing the hairs of the
brush tip to take on countless forms. As such, the brush would become even stranger and more
unfathomable, making it hard to defend against it.
In future fights, the transformation powers of the Heavenly Yuan Brush would surely make his opponents
suffer.
827
“It’s a pity that the Heavenly Yuan Brush only recovered to the mid grade Black tier level after unlocking
the third rune.” Zhou Yuan had originally thought that it would be able to rise to the high grade Black tier
level.
Though it was a little disappointing, a mid grade Black tier Genesis Weapon was still more than sufficient.
The current Heavenly Yuan Brush and its three runes was no weaker than high grade Black tier Genesis
Weapons. In fact, when using the third rune Myriad Transformations, there was likely no weapon that
could come close to it in the bizarreness aspect.
Zhou Yuan continued to play with the brush for some time, before grudgingly turning it back to its
smaller form and returning it to his waistband.
Zhou Yuan muttered to himself, “I should hurry up and kill more Genesis Beasts, take their pure Genesis
Qi and strengthen myself such that my Genesis Qi cultivation will advance to the Heaven Gate stage as
soon as possible.”
There was an insane difference between the Qi Nourishing stage and the Heaven Gate stage. Bluntly put,
the Qi Nourishing stage was akin to laying one’s foundations, while the Heaven Gate stage was where one
was finally bestowed destructive powers.
Only at the Heaven Gate stage would the Genesis Qi in the body be allowed to freely leave and display its
true might.
Even though Zhou Yuan was currently able to temporarily achieve a similar effect with the amazing Omni
Python Qi and Black tier Genesis techniques, there was still a gap between this and the true Heaven Gate
stage.
Of course, the most direct and observable difference could be seen when he was travelling. Even when
Zhou Yuan was in a rush, he could only leap and sprint, unable to achieve the feat of temporary flight like
abilities by using Genesis Qi to support one’s body.
Thus, reaching the Heaven Gate stage was the most important goal for the current Zhou Yuan.
...
In the following few days, Zhou Yuan swept across the area like a hurricane. Every mountain he passed
was nearly turned upside down as ferocious Genesis Beast after beast became victim to his brush.
As he hunted and killed, Zhou Yuan could feel the Genesis Qi in Qi Dwelling strengthen day by day,
growing more abundant and powerful.
However, there was one thing that baffled him; the feeling that he was going to breakthrough to the next
cultivation level still did not come to him.
In a deep barren valley.
828
Corpses were scattered all over the ground, while Zhou Yuan sat in the middle of the carnage. His current
appearance was rather ragged, bloody wound after wound visible on his body, evidence that he had just
experienced a pretty tough battle.
It was indeed as it looked. Zhou Yuan had discovered this valley half a day prior, which contained over a
hundred Metal Bone Wolves. Amongst them, a little more than twenty were comparably to the Heaven
Gate stage, while the rest had Qi Nourishing stage strength.
Although the individual battle power of each wolf was less than the golden ape from before, their
numbers made them an incomparably ferocious force.
For Zhou Yuan, it had been a bitter fight indeed.
While Zhou Yuan sat atop a boulder, strings of white mist rose from the wolf corpses and poured into his
body.
Zhou Yuan’s eyes were closed as he concentrated on absorbing. After about an hour, he finally opened his
eyes, but his brows involuntarily knitted together.
There was still no indication of an imminent breakthrough.
“Why…” Zhou Yuan mumbled, his eyes filled with confusion.
It was not that he had not seen a practitioner at the peak of the Qi Nourishing stage, but the gathered
Genesis Qi in his Qi Dwelling had clearly already far surpassed the levels of ordinary peak advance Qi
Nourishing stage experts.
“Normally speaking, after the Genesis Qi reaches a certain level, it will break out of the Qi Dwelling and
dash towards the Heaven Gate, but why are there no signs of anything happening even after so long?”
Zhou Yuan was perplexed.
He scratched the back of his head. It was so troublesome without Yaoyao by his side, he was practically
akin to a blind man groping about in the dark with regards to his cultivation.
“Why does it not break out of the Qi Dwelling?”
Muttered Zhou Yuan with uncertainty. A long while later, a flash of inspiration hit him as he voiced his
thoughts in a somewhat hesitant manner, “Could it be… due to my blood colored Qi Dwelling?”
Ordinarily speaking, the Qi Dwelling had limited capacity. When this capacity reached its limit, the
Genesis Qi would break out of the Qi Dwelling and attack the Heaven Gate. This process would allow the
Qi Dwelling to expand in size.
But this was for normal Qi Dwellings. Zhou Yuan’s was an unprecedented blood colored Qi Dwelling, and
its capacity was surely far beyond the limits of ordinary ones.
829
“After mulling over it for a whole day, it turns out that I’ve been tricked by my own unique blood colored
Qi Dwelling.” After realizing this, Zhou Yuan could not help but let out a bitter chuckle. It seems that he
had to first fill his blood-red Qi Dwelling in order to ascend to the Heaven Gate stage.
Even so, Zhou Yuan was a little excited. Since his breakthrough method was different from others,
wouldn’t it mean that the outcome would also be pretty special?
As such, the subsequent few days of his schedule were packed with hunting and killing again.
Time passed in this manner. Zhou Yuan grew more familiar with the Saint Remains Domain, and began to
meet several of the other prided geniuses that had entered this place. However, he had not intentions of
partying up with them, choosing instead to continue his travels alone.
Over this period of training, Zhou Yuan had began to faintly feel that his blood-red Qi Dwelling was finally
about to reach its maximum capacity.
“Not easy huh!”
On a certain mountain, Zhou Yuan sighed as he shook his head. Any ordinary person would have long
ascended to the Heaven Gate stage, while he was still stuck suffering at the Qi Nourishing stage.
It was akin pregnancy lasting ten months for others while he just had to be pregnant for three whole
years.
He stood up, planning to cast himself back into the depths of the mountain. At this moment however, he
suddenly saw the numerous geniuses hunting in the vicinity abruptly begin heading down the mountain.
Zhou Yuan was a little bewildered. He moved to stop one of them and asked, “What’s going on?”
The one who had been stopped revealed a look of impatience, and was about to curse when he saw Zhou
Yuan’s Qi Nourishing stage cultivation.
Boom!
However, Zhou Yuan calmly sent out a punch. Berserk Genesis Qi rippled outwards, creating an empty
space in the dense forests to their right.
The one who had been about to curse immediately swallowed his words, and resentfully answered, “I just
heard the news that a certain Genesis Beast was discovered in the mountains three hundred miles from
here…”
“This particular Genesis Beast is rumored to know a little Heaven tier Genesis technique. Everyone in the
area is currently heading there.”
830
Upon hearing the latter part, a dazzling radiance instantly exploded from Zhou Yuan’s eyes. He had been
searching for such a Genesis Beast recently, but had been unable to find one till now.
He never imagined that he would finally encounter one today.
831
Chapter 146 Saint Remains Squad
An empty pocket of space lay at the foot of several mountains. This particular area was currently abuzz
with activity today. Numerous figures were already gathered, while even more were streaming in from
far away.
This place had practically become a gathering point of sorts.
When Zhou Yuan rushed over, he was stunned by the sheer number of people. This was the first time he
had seen so many geniuses together ever since he entered the Saint Remains Domain.
Zhou Yuan silently melded into the crowd and began to gather information about the little Heaven
Genesis technique Genesis Beast.
After a dozen minutes or so, he consolidated his findings. It seemed that a group had first encountered
the Genesis Beast deep within the mountains, and the entire party of five was nearly wiped out, leaving
only one survivor behind.
Each member of the group had the strength of the Heaven Gate stage, hence, it was deduced that the
Genesis Beast had definitely reached the grade 4 level and was comparable to an Alpha-Origin expert. In
addition, the fact that it knew a little Heaven Genesis technique likely made its battle power even more
overwhelming.
News of this immediately drew numerous prided geniuses to this area. After all, everyone was aware by
now that contained within the Genesis Beasts of the Saint Remains Domain was extremely pure Genesis
Qi, Genesis Qi that was very beneficial to one’s cultivation.
Although no one had managed to slay a grade 4 Genesis Beast yet, it was easy to imagine the potential
giant leap in strength from absorbing the pure Genesis Qi in its body.
However, the problem was that this little Heaven Genesis technique grade 4 Genesis Beast was not an
easy opponent. Its strength was comparable to the Alpha-Origin after all, while practically everyone here
was only at the Heaven Gate stage. A tiny slip was all it would take to end up being crushed to a bloody
pulp by the grade 4 Genesis Beast.
Thus, although many had already gathered here, no one dared to be the first to make a move.
More importantly, there was only one little Heaven Genesis technique and one breath of pure Genesis Qi
in the beast’s body.
While so many geniuses had already gathered here. As the classic saying went, if there were many monks
and only a little porridge, how would one divide the porridge?
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While these thoughts swirled in Zhou Yuan’s head, there was a sudden disturbance in the crowd, and
many people began surging towards the west. Zhou Yuan pondered a little before deciding to follow.
Several figures proudly stood on a certain spot rather high up on the west side of the valley. Zhou Yuan
caught sight of two familiar figures amongst them, the junior city lord, Xiao Tianxuan, and Gu Ling.
The rest of the figures stood behind the two, each wearing a prideful look on their faces. Powerful Genesis
Qi surged around them, proof of their impressive might. Every one of them was an elite even amongst the
prided geniuses here.
“Everyone, it is our blessing to have encountered a little Heaven Genesis technique Grade 4 Genesis Beast.
Since no one has taken the lead yet, our Saint Remains squad has decided to hunt it together.”
Xiao Tianxuan confidently swept his gaze around as he continued with a faint smile, “If there are any like
minded friends here, you can choose to join our Saint Remains squad. However, there is a restriction.
Your strength needs to be at the advance Heaven Gate stage, or you won’t be able to withstand a single
blow from the grade 4 Genesis Beast even if you go.”
These words caused an outbreak of whispers from the crowd.
Xiao Tianxuan had made himself very clear. The grade 4 Genesis Beast had been booked by their Saint
Remains squad. In other words, if they were able to kill the beast, the little Heaven Genesis technique and
its pure Genesis Qi would belong to them.
Such actions were clearly tyrannical, but no one said anything. After all, it was practically courting death
for them to seek out that grade 4 Genesis Beast.
However, someone finally spoke up from below, “Won’t there be no benefits for us then?”
Xiao Tianxuan shot a look at Gu Ling. The latter displayed an enchanting smile as she answered, “That
grade 4 Genesis Beast is the leader of several beast packs. The Genesis Beasts from these packs also
possess a substantial amount of pure Genesis Qi. Our Saint Remains squad’s mission is to kill the grade 4
Genesis Beast, while we’ll leave the leaderless beast packs to the rest of you. The Genesis Qi from these
beasts will naturally go to whoever manages to slay them.”
“Alright, those whose strength have reached the advance Heaven Gate stage can choose to join our squad.
There is surely more than one little Heaven Genesis technique in the Saint Remains Domain which we’ll
be going after one by one. Those that join us will definitely get a little Heaven tier technique.”
Her words shook the hearts of some of the stronger prided geniuses present. They were already well
aware that with the exception of that select handful of super elite prided geniuses, no one was able to kill
these little Heaven Genesis technique Genesis Beasts alone.
833
Zhou Yuan watched this with the detached eyes of a bystander. The fact that Xiao Tianxuan and Gu Ling
had already begun to rope in others meant that they had pretty good heads on their shoulders. If they
were to succeed in this hunt, it was easy to imagine the subsequent rapid growth of their squad. In the
end, they would gain the qualifications to vie with the super elite geniuses through the power of
numbers.
Quite a number of individuals present were interested in joining the Saint Remains squad. After all, once
they were accepted, they would be able to borrow the power of the squad to kill little Heaven technique
Genesis Beasts and take their techniques.
The only problem was the stringent requirement of reaching the advance Heaven Gate stage.
Though the bar was high, there were still a few present who had reached it. Hence, those with the
strength of the advance Heaven Gate stage began to walk towards Xiao Tianxuan’s and Gu Ling’s group
under the envious eyes of the crowd.
Xiao Tianxuan and Gu Ling exchanged a look when they saw this, pleased smiles emerging on their lips.
Xiao Tianxuan smiled and said in a low voice, “Looks like your idea is pretty good.”
Gu Ling smiled faintly in response. “There are many gifts and blessings in the Saint Remains Domain, but
only the strongest of us have a shot at obtaining the best ones. Since we are just that tiny step lacking
compared to the super elites, we need to borrow the power of others. As long as we succeed in growing
our Saint Remains squad, even Wu Huang and the other apex geniuses would not be able to stop us.”
Xiao Tianxuan nodded in approval.
“However, once the squad has grown strong, you must remember to fulfil your promise.” Hatred flashed
in Gu Ling’s long and narrow eyes.
Xiao Tianxuan chuckled. “Relax, after the Saint Remains squad has strengthened, the first thing I will do is
to search for traces of Zhou Yuan. Once we find him, we will capture him and leave him for you to do as
you please.”
“He’s merely a Qi Nourishing stage trash that doesn’t have any powerful factions backing him. No one will
care if he dies.”
Gu Ling nodded in satisfaction when she heard this. Zhou Yuan had not only killed her younger brother,
but even stolen the supreme treasure of her Gu clan. This was unforgivable.
She naturally knew of the heinous deeds committed by the Gu clan, but so what?
For a mere Qi Nourishing trash like Zhou Yuan, a few tricks was all that was needed to condemn him to
death.
834
In the crowd, Zhou Yuan coldly observed the now bustling crowd. The addition of each advance Heaven
Gate expert slowly made the Saint Remains squad grow stronger and stronger.
Such a line-up might really lead to a successful hunt.
Zhou Yuan’s eyes faintly flickered. He cast a glance at Xiao Tianxuan and Gu Ling, and suddenly laughed.
There was already a feud between him and these two individuals, and it could be said that they were
already enemies. Zhou Yuan was not someone who would stand by and do nothing as he watched his
enemies grow stronger.
“Xiao Tianxuan, Gu Ling…”
“I believe it is time to return the hundred thousand Genesis crystals you cheated me of during the
auction.”
835
Chapter 147 Mysterious Heavy Mud
The Saint Remains squad was quickly organized. They now boasted a pretty good line-up consisting of
thirty individuals, each possessing the strength of the advance Heaven Gate stage. When all of them were
gathered together, an intimidating aura could be felt, causing respect to rise in the eyes of the crowd
around them.
Xiao Tianxuan had a look of satisfaction in his eyes. This line-up would be able to put up a fight even
against an Alpha-Origin expert.
Xiao Tianxuan’s gaze fell upon the group as he said with a grin, “Since all of you have chosen to join our
Saint Remains squad, you’re now one of us. There are many gifts and blessings in the Saint Remains
Domain and as long as we work as one, there will be nothing for us to fear.”
His speech was made with authority and confidence. As the junior city lord of Saint Remains City, his
status and reputation was plain for all to see, while also lending some weight to his words. Hence, no one
gave any objections when he spoke and acted as their leader.
Xiao Tianxuan did indeed have the qualifications.
“There’s not much else for me to say. The first target of our newly established Saint Remains squad is that
grade 4 Genesis Beast. We must obtain victory so as to grow the reputation of the squad.” Xiao Tianxuan
did not beat about the bush. Although they had gained some elite members, whether or not these new
members stayed on hinged upon their first battle.
As long as they could pull off a beautiful victory, the name of their Saint Remains squad would spread and
attract even more elite geniuses. If this positive feedback loop continued, he would definitely gain the
power to match the super elite geniuses.
Thus, with a wave of his hand, he took the lead and flew off, while the new recruits of the Saint Remains
squad immediately followed.
Genesis Qi surged as a group of thirty Heaven Gate experts leapt into the air, an impressive sight indeed.
Even more of the surrounding onlookers also followed like a swarm of locusts. Many of them knew that
although they would not be able to enjoy the spoils from the grade 4 Genesis Beast and its little Heaven
Genesis technique, they could still take advantage of this opportunity to kill the beast packs that followed
the grade 4 Genesis Beast.
Zhou Yuan’s gaze flickered faintly as he watched the exodus and seamlessly melded into the crowd.
The large group swept through the mountain range like an unstoppable tsunami, easily cutting through
every beast in their path.
836
After an hour, they reached the depths of the mountain range.
A high-spirited Xiao Tianxuan led the Saint Remains squad, standing on a hill as he looked to his front
where an enormous mountain valley lay. The valley was dyed in a silver black luster, while howling wind
and muffled thunder originated from within.
By this time, the beast packs that were originally stationed outside the valley had already been cleaned
up.
“That grade 4 Wind Thunder Beast is in this valley.” Fear flitted across Gu Ling’s face as she gazed into the
depths of the valley. If not for their numbers, none of them would dare to provoke a grade 4 Genesis
Beast.
Let alone the fact that this grade 4 Genesis Beast knew a little Heaven Genesis technique.
Behind Xiao Tianxuan, one of the advance Heaven Gate stage members said, “Squad leader, I don’t think
any of us will be able to withstand the little Heaven Genesis technique of that Wind Thunder Beast.”
The others nodded. Thirty advance Heaven Gate practitioners might seem impressive, but a single
mistake was all it would take for their entire group to be wiped out by a little Heaven Genesis technique.
Xiao Tianxuan smiled faintly and replied, “If it does use the little Heaven Genesis technique, I will
naturally have a way to deal with it.”
The sight of his confident appearance made the others secretly breathe a sigh of relief. If Xiao Tianxuan
had been planning on paying for victory with their lives, none of them would accompany him any further.
Fortunately, it seemed that Xiao Tianxuan did live up to his junior city lord status, and had some powerful
trump cards in his arsenal.
Xiao Tianxuan instructed, “Prepare to draw out the Wind Thunder Beast as planned.”
One of the members responded, and began to very carefully approach the mountain valley.
Zhou Yuan was seated in a mountain forest some distance away, his eyes narrowing slightly as he
observed this scene. He knew that it was not time to act yet...
“Xiao Tianxuan, show me just what kind of tricks you have up your sleeve…”
Roar!
When the Saint Remains scouting member neared the valley, an irritated roar rang out from within. The
roar was akin to thunder, violently shaking the sides of the valley.
837
The advance Heaven Gate scouting member turned deathly pale, no hesitation whatsoever as he turned
and fled.
Swish!
However, the moment his body turned around, a bolt of lightning shot out from the valley and appeared
right behind him in a flash. A black shadow descended as a claw suffused with lightning viciously
smacked the scout’s body.
Bang!
A muffled sound rang out and the scouting member vomited a mouthful of blood. His body crashed into
the ground like a cannonball, creating a deep pit. No one knew whether he was dead or alive.
Roar!
Only at this moment was everyone finally able to get a clear view of the creature. It was a giant of beast, a
dozen feet tall, while lightning cackled at its feet. Its body stood tall and straight, but its head was that of a
green ox. Lightning danced on its body and gales emerged as it breathed.
It was the grade 4 Genesis Beast, the Wind Thunder Beast.
Berserk Genesis Qi undulations pulsed from its body like thunder, shaking the surrounding space.
An astonishing and ferocious aura filled the area.
The expressions of the crowd watching from far away could not help but change as some of them
involuntarily stepped back. The aura of a grade 4 Genesis Beast was too unbearable for them.
Xiao Tianxuan’s expression had also turned a little graver. He did not back down however, but instead
made a grabbing motion and a long dim red spear appeared within his hand.
Lava seemed to drip from the scarlet-red spear. With the spear in his hand, Xiao Tianxuan’s aura seemed
to steadily rise.
“It’s Saint Remains City’s Fire Devil Spear, a high grade Black Genesis Weapon. Never imagined that it
would be in Xiao Tianxuan’s possession.”
“Well, only a high grade Black Genesis Weapon will be able to do damage to the grade 4 Wind Thunder
Beast.”
“......”
Whispers spread in the mountain forests.
838
Xiao Tianxuan’s rapidly rising aura made the other Saint Remains squad members regain their wits. They
immediately gritted their teeth and retrieved their weapons. Genesis Qi surged, showing that every
weapon had reached the Black tier.
Formidable aura after aura began to rise, drawing the Wind Thunder Beast’s attention as the wind and
lightning around it intensified.
Roar!
It roared, treading on wind and lightning as it transformed into a flash of lightning that bolted straight for
Xiao Tianxuan. It could also sense that the latter’s threat towards it seemed to be the greatest of the
bunch.
Rumble!
The charge of a grade 4 Genesis Beast was extremely intimidating, wind and lightning blasting at the air
around it.
Xiao Tianxuan did not panic as he watched the menacing Wind Thunder Beast rapidly approach. Instead,
he waved his hand, signalling for everyone to scatter while he remained where he stood.
Lightning rumbled, blasting the mountain top Xiao Tianxuan was at.
Boom!
The entire mountain top crumbled. The ferocious charge of the Wind Thunder Beast was practically akin
to natural disaster.
Swoosh!
Xiao Tianxuan’s figure rose into the air as he clenched his fist. Everyone watched as a ball of mud
appeared in his hand, mud which seemed to be covered in profound and mysterious patterns.
The mud in Xiao Tianxuan’s hand poured down, transforming into a deep yellow waterfall that fell from
the sky and landed on the Wind Thunder Beast’s enormous body.
The mud rapidly solidified the moment it came into contact with the Wind Thunder Beast. It seemed to be
insanely heavy, instantly suppressing the beast’s speed.
Roar roar!
The Wind Thunder Beast roared madly, wind and lightning arcing across its body. However, the scattered
mud immediately regrouped as if it was an immortal entity.
839
In a split second, Xiao Tianxuan had displayed one of his cards, restricting the Wind Thunder Beast’s most
troublesome speed.
Zhou Yuan’s pupils shrank when he saw this scene as his expression became a little graver. “That mud… it
seems to be the Mysterious Heavy Mud?”
Mysterious Heavy Mud was a kind of Genesis Treasure. It was not easy to manufacture, very pricey and a
one-time use item.
Xiao Tianxuan’s Mysterious Heavy Mud likely cost several hundred thousand Genesis crystals.
Once one came in contact with the mud, not only would it feel as if there was a heavy mountain on one’s
back, one would also need to constantly disperse the mud using one’s Genesis Qi. If the mud was allowed
to grow, it would eventually cover one’s entire body, creating a mud prison.
Zhou Yuan muttered to himself, “This guy has really made ample preparations. In fact, it seems that they
are highly likely to succeed in hunting this grade 4 Wind Thunder Beast…”
Soon after, he softly chuckled.
A situation like this was something he was more than happy to see. A one-sided slaughter by the Wind
Thunder Beast was boring after all, and a close fight between the sandpiper and the clam was exactly
what a fisherman like him needed to strike at the most optimal opportunity.
840
Chapter 148 Watching Tigers Fight
Roar!
The Wind Thunder Beast’s roar was akin to thunder. Berserk Genesis Qi violently pulsed from its body in
waves, continuously scattering the seemingly endless mud.
It could sense that if left alone, the mud would pile up and eventually trap it.
“Everyone, don’t hold anything back!” A sneer appeared on Xiao Tianxuan’s face as he gazed at the Wind
Thunder Beast whose speed had been restricted. A beast was a beast after all, and did not possess much
intelligence or he would not have succeeded so easily.
The other Saint Remains squad members were overjoyed by this scene as a surge of confidence rose in
their hearts. Xiao Tianxuan’s Mysterious Heavy Mud had practically halved the beast’s power.
“Attack together!”
The thirty advance Heaven Gate experts shouted together, powerful Genesis Qi erupting from their
bodies as the Black Genesis Weapons in their hands gleamed sinisterly.
Rumble!
They shot forward, making sure not to come to close as they fired off various Genesis techniques that
endlessly bombarded the grade 4 Wind Thunder Beast.
Boom boom!
Powerful Genesis techniques landed on the Wind Thunder Beast’s body, forcing it back step by step.
The Wind Thunder Beast was furious, wind and thunder wildly raging around its body as it dashed
forward and attempted to swipe at the humans. However, due to the Mysterious Heavy Mud that was
bogging it down, the humans were able to avoid its attacks.
Swish!
While the Wind Thunder Beast was focused on the bombardment from the group, Xiao Tianxuan found an
opportunity to appear behind it, magma flowing along the Fire Devil Spear as it thrust forward like a
spout of magma exploding from the ground.
Pch!
841
The Fire Devil Spear tore open a deep and bloody wound on the Wind Thunder Beast’s tough body,
flowing magma continuously tunnelling towards the wound.
Roar!
The sudden pain caused the Wind Thunder Beast to roar as a giant claw was sent hacking down at Xiao
Tianxuan, the powerful force shredding even the ground below.
Xiao Tianxuan drifted away on his Genesis Qi like cotton willow in the breeze, avoiding the Wind Thunder
Beast’s sharp claws.
He hovered in the vicinity of the Wind Thunder Beast, darting in to attack from time to time. Every attack
deviously targeted the beast’s openings, borrowing the power of the high grade Black tier Fire Devil
Spear to gorge bloody wound after wound on its body.
The other members continued to blast the Wind Thunder Beast with an endless stream of Genesis Qi
attacks from some distance away.
The situation was clearly under the Saint Remains squad’s control.
Even further away, the owners of the numerous gazes that had their attention on this area could not help
but sigh in admiration. Xiao Tianxuan was a capable individual indeed.
Zhou Yuan also nodded his head in acknowledgment.
One must know that Lu Tieshan and his group had paid an extremely terrible price to stop a single Alpha-
Origin expert during king Qi’s rebellion. In comparison, Xiao Tianxuan and the squad were making things
pretty miserable for a grade 4 Genesis Beast. Such a feat was truly a testament to their capability.
“Although they are well prepared and hold the numbers advantage… I’m afraid that it won’t be so easy to
kill a grade 4 Genesis Beast.” Mumbled Zhou Yuan. His perceptive eyes could see that even though the
Wind Thunder Beast looked to be in a pretty sad state, this was practically nothing to its strong body.
The Mysterious Heavy Mud was admittedly very troublesome, but it may not be able to fully restrict the
movements of the Wind Thunder Beast.
Roar!
As these thoughts flashed in Zhou Yuan’s head, the state of the battle suddenly took a turn. With a roar,
lightning frantically jumped out from the Wind Thunder Beast’s body as if stimulating it.
Its body swiftly began to grow eventually reaching a height of two dozen feet, now towering over
everyone like a little mountain.
Bang!
842
The Mysterious Heavy Mud that had been stuck to its body was completely destroyed, falling from its
body like dirt.
“Crap! It has freed itself from the Mysterious Heavy Mud!” A horrified voice sounded.
Swish!
The enormous body of the Wind Thunder Beast that had now regained its speed appeared behind a few
of the squad members. Cruelness flashed in its eyes as a claw suffused with wind and lightning slashed
downwards, ripping apart the air.
Pcsh!
The bodies of five geniuses were shredded as blood curdling shrieks rang out.
The crowd that was dealing with the beast packs far away felt their scalps turn numb. Hunting a grade 4
Genesis Beast was indeed akin to walking on the edge of a blade, even an advance Heaven Gate
practitioner could be killed in an instant.
“Bastard!”
Xiao Tianxuan’s complexion turned ashen.
Wind and thunder raged around the beast, its beady eyes overflowing with savagery. Its gaze swiftly
locked onto Xiao Tianxuan, the Genesis Qi in its body suddenly beginning to churn as a terrifying aura
pulsed.
“It's going to use the little Heaven Genesis technique!”
Upon seeing this scene, the remaining geniuses from the Saint Remains squad cried out in terror, no
longer caring about anything else as they hurriedly retreated.
The Wind Thunder Beast’s huge mouth opened, lightning and wind frantically gathering within it. A pulse
swept outwards, shaking the surrounding space.
Roar!
In the next instant, a foot wide lightning ball tinged with green was formed in the beast’s mouth.
Lightning rampaged within the ball while wind howled, the two constantly clashing forces making a
thunderous din.
Swoosh!
The green black wind lightning ball shot out like rushing thunder. In a flash, it had already appeared in
front of Xiao Tianxuan.
843
Fear flashed in the eyes on which the green black lightning ball was reflected in, but he quickly gritted his
teeth and pulled out the jade pendant hanging from his neck.
Ancient and mysterious patterns had been carved into the jade pendant.
A pained look emerged on his face as he looked at the jade pendant, before suddenly snapping it between
his fingers.
Bzz!
Rays of light blossomed from the pendant, forming a translucent shield of light in front of him. The shield
looked thin, but faintly gave off an astonishing presence.
Boom!
The green black lightning ball arrived, slamming into the shield.
Boom!
Dreadful shockwaves unfurled, instantly flattening the entire valley and the surrounding forests.
Zhou Yuan avoided the shockwaves. He gazed at the now empty land before him, as his expression turned
grave.
“Is this the power of a little Heaven Genesis technique? Frightening indeed!”
“A high grade Black tier Genesis technique doesn’t even come close.”
Zhou Yuan’s gaze flickered in thought. A little Heaven Genesis technique was really too powerful, and Wu
Huang and the other super elite geniuses likely already possessed one in their arsenal. Hence, Zhou Yuan
mentally raised the danger levels of these super elite geniuses once again.
Zhou Yuan decisively declared, “I need one too, or it would be far too disadvantageous for me in a real
fight.”
He lifted his head and looked in Xiao Tianxuan’s direction as his eyes narrowed slightly. “Xiao Tianxuan is
indeed a junior city lord, he has so many treasures to protect himself.”
The light shield that had appeared in front of Xiao Tianxuan previously was likely a one-time use Genesis
treasure. Or it would not have been capable of defending against the Wind Thunder Beast’s little Heaven
Genesis technique.
The dust dispersed, revealing an unscathed Xiao Tianxuan, and everyone breathed a sigh of relief.
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Xiao Tianxuan’s expression was rather grim, mostly due to the pain from losing the pendant. It had been
bought for him by his father at an extravagant price, and could withstand a full power blow from a fourth
layer Alpha-Origin expert.
“But everything will be worth it as long as we kill this beast and obtain its little Heaven Genesis
technique.” Ruthlessness flitted across Xiao Tianxuan’s eyes. As he gazed at the roaring Wind Thunder
beast, he suddenly made a grabbing motion with his hand and an ash black jade disk appeared within.
The jade disk was thrown out, disappearing into the ground upon contact.
Rumble!
The ground began to shake at this moment. One could only watch as the area around the Wind Thunder
Beast began to fracture. Countless spikes shot out, forming an earth prison of spikes that trapped the
Wind Thunder Beast.
These earth spikes were exceedingly sharp, and even the Wind Thunder Beast was cut till it was now
drenched in blood. Moreover, a huge suction force had emerged from the ground, slowing the Wind
Thunder Beast’s speed to a crawl.
“Kill it!” Xiao Tianxuan wasted no time. With a wave of his hand, he led the remaining geniuses to attack,
ruthlessly targeting the beast’s weak points.
In an instant, the Wind Thunder Beast had fallen into a precarious situation. From the looks of it, it was
going to be slowly attacked to death.
Zhou Yuan could not help but sigh when he saw this. “How wealthy.”
The jade disk from earlier was a Genesis Rune boundary disk on which a one-time use Genesis Rune
boundary had been inscribed. From a certain point of view, it was more expensive than a grade 4 Genesis
Rune scroll, mostly because of how complicated it was to manufacture.
It seems that Zhou Yuan had still underestimated Xiao Tianxuan. Fortunately, the Wind Thunder Beast
had helped the former scout out the latter’s entire hand. Otherwise, even Zhou Yuan would be beaten
black and blue by this junior city lord’s seemingly endless trump cards.
“It should be about time, right?”
Zhou Yuan stood up, smiling slightly as he continued to watch the ongoing fight. Xiao Tianxuan was
practically tearing out his lungs.
“It seems that it is finally time for me to make an appearance.”
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Chapter 149 The Fisherman Waits and Reaps
Boom! Boom!
The sound of Genesis Qi blasting something continuously rang out in the remains of what was once a
forest. Sharp earth spikes shot out of the ground one after another, gleaming with an icy sharpness.
Blood dripped from the Wind Thunder Beast’s enormous body as it struggled within the earth spike
array. Its mutilated flesh a clear sign that it had been gravely injured.
However, the Saint Remains squad was not doing too well either. Although Xiao Tianxuan had used
numerous trump cards to injure the Wind Thunder Beast, it was still a grade 4 Genesis Beast that was
comparable to an Alpha-Origin expert.
Hence, its crazed counter attack had torn genius after genius to pieces.
The entire battlefield was an extremely wretched sight.
“Quick, it’s about to fall!” Howled Xiao Tianxuan. The confidence from before was no longer present as his
red eyes locked onto the desperately struggling Wind Thunder Beast. He had used practically all of his
trump cards in this hunt, a state akin to gambling till one was left in only underwear.
Upon hearing his howl, the Saint Remains squad members drummed up one final surge of energy, madly
bombarding the nearly spent Wind Thunder Beast with the last ounce of Genesis Qi they could muster.
As he watched the situation gradually tip in their favor, Xiao Tianxuan finally breathed a sigh of relief as if
a heavy burden had been lifted from his shoulders. Ecstasy and excitement no longer concealable on his
face.
Though the battle today had been a bitter one, he had finally emerged as the victor. It was easy to imagine
how his name would soon spread, making his reputation no less than any of the super elite geniuses.
The Saint Remains squad would have also proven themselves, making it easier to recruit more members
and grow their reputation, eventually allowing them to become a tyrant like existence in the Saint
Remains Domain.
When that happened, Xiao Tianxuan would have the power to vie with the super elite geniuses.
As for that brat Zhou Yuan, he would be no problem at all.
While Xiao Tianxuan was fantasizing about the future, he did not notice that a figure had stealthily
slipped into the chaotic battlefield.
The figure was naturally Zhou Yuan. No one had noticed him due to the chaos.
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He watched the Wind Thunder Beast’s injuries grow worse and worse under the seemingly endless
waves of attacks as his eyes flashed in thought. He could not allow Xiao Tianxuan and his squad to kill the
beast.
Otherwise, how would he become the fisherman that reaps everything in the end?
Hence, his figure suddenly shot forward, making it seem as if he was aggressively charging at the Wind
Thunder Beast.
Boom!
However, although the Wind Thunder Beast was heavily injured, it was still full of ferocity. A punch was
sent flying towards him, blowing away Zhou Yuan. No one saw the tiny shadow that had flown out of his
sleeves and landed on a certain spot on the Genesis Rune boundary.
Within the shadow was a scroll, a Genesis Rune scroll to be more precise.
A ray of light exploded from the Genesis Rune scroll at this moment. Although it was not large, it just so
happened to cover a certain area at the center of the Genesis Rune boundary.
Crack!
A faint crack was suddenly heard. The seemingly infinite sharp stone spikes gradually came to a stop,
while the suction force that had trapped the Wind Thunder Beast abruptly disappeared.
The disappearance of the suction force initially stunned the Wind Thunder Beast, but a creature as quick
as it soon realised what had happened. It immediately released a roar as its battered body shot forth,
shredding two individuals with a swipe of its claw.
“The Genesis Rune boundary has been broken!”
Someone finally discovered that something was wrong as a horrified piercing cry escaped.
The members of the Saint Remains squad that had originally been about to charge at the Wind Thunder
Beast immediately did a 180, beating a hasty retreat and no longer daring to approach. Although the
beast was gravely injured, it still had to power to easily kill any of them.
Xiao Tianxuan’s expression changed drastically as he hurriedly yelled, “Don’t be afraid! It’s already on the
verge of death. Stop it quickly, we cannot let it escape!”
He could already see that the Wind Thunder Beast had escaped their encirclement, and was planning on
fleeing.
However, his yells were of little use. Many had died, while the threat of death had already been
thoroughly beaten into the rest.
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Roar!
By borrowing this tiny gap, the Wind Thunder Beast’s enormous body suddenly shot forth, all the
remaining Wind Thunder Genesis Qi swirling around its body as it transformed into a flash of green and
black that dashed into the vast mountain range.
“Useless trash! All of you are useless trash!”
Xiao Tianxuan flew into a rage, no longer able restrain himself after seeing the Wind Thunder Beast
escape. He had practically used up every trump card in his arsenal to hunt the Wind Thunder Beast,
trump cards that would have allowed him to briefly vie with the super elite geniuses.
Moreover, the breath of extremely pure Genesis Qi from killing the grade 4 Wind Thunder Beast may
have been his chance to reach the peak of the Heaven Gate stage, or even enable him to touch the Alpha-
Origin.
Unfortunately, everything had gone up in flames.
Gu Ling arrived behind Xiao Tianxuan, a rather ugly look on her pretty face. They had paid such a steep
price, but it had all been for naught.
Xiao Tianxuan roared at the Saint Remains squad members, “Idiots! Chase after it!”
In response, indignant looks appeared on the squad members’ faces. They had only chosen to join
because of Xiao Tianxuan’s promise that he would be able to deal with the grade 4 Wind Thunder Beast,
but look at how many had been injured or killed, they were practically using their lives in exchange for
results.
“Humph, even if we do kill that Wind Thunder Beast, the first person to benefit would be you. Why should
we pay for your benefits with our lives? This little lord will no longer stay in your Saint Remains squad!”
One of the more irritable individuals coldly snorted, ignoring Xiao Tianxuan’s ugly expression as the
former turned around and left.
Now that someone had taken the lead, more and more members left one after another. Of the Saint
Remains squad’s originally grand line-up, only a few lonely figures remained.
This sight infuriated Xiao Tianxuan so much that he nearly blacked out and vomited a mouthful of blood.
Things had turned out very differently than he had expected.
He could not figure it out. Why had the originally stable situation slipped out of control so suddenly?
...
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While Xiao Tianxuan was hopping with rage, Zhou Yuan’s figure quietly slipped deeper into the
mountains, his gaze fixed towards a certain direction.
He knew that the heavily injured Wind Thunder Beast would definitely draw numerous coveting eyes. In
fact, some of those originally watching from far away may even begin to entertain certain thoughts.
However, the Wind Thunder Beast was extremely quick. It would not be easy to find it again in the vast
mountain range.
Even so, Zhou Yuan had made his preparations. When he moved earlier, he had secretly left behind some
powder on the beast without anyone realising, allowing him to track it.
Hence, his pushed his speed to the limit as he dashed through mountain after mountain.
His chase lasted a whole four hours.
As the saying went, the heavens do not let down those who are determined. When Zhou Yuan arrived at
the top of a certain hill and cast his gaze into the distance, he saw a familiar giant beast by the lakeside,
weakly lying in a pool of blood.
This scene caused Zhou Yuan to breathe a sigh of relief as if a heavy burden had been relieved from his
shoulders.
He had finally found it.
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Chapter 150 Little Heaven Genesis Technique,
Great Wind and Thunder
“Found you at last.”
Zhou Yuan gazed at the giant creature lying by the lakeside. The latter was drenched in blood, its aura
rapidly weakening, clear signs that it had sustained life threatening injuries.
“Xiao Tianxuan is indeed rather capable.” Zhou Yuan sighed. Someone incapable would not have been
able to force a grade 4 Wind Thunder Beast to such a pitiful state.
However, no matter how capable the junior city lord was, the fruits of his labor were destined to be
plucked by Zhou Yuan today.
Zhou Yuan tightened his grip around the Heavenly Yuan Brush as it rapidly enlarged. There no hesitation
whatsoever as he shot forward, heading straight for the gravely injured beast.
Roar!
The Wind Thunder Beast immediately sensed the Genesis Qi ripples, and released a weak roar of anger.
Its giant mouth opened as wind and lightning spewed out, viciously blasting towards Zhou Yuan.
However, the Wind Thunder Beast was heavily injured, and had exhausted almost all of its Genesis Qi,
hence, it did not even have a tenth of its original power. Therefore, the wind and lightning attack was
shattered with a single sweep from Zhou Yuan’s brush.
Upon seeing that the situation did not bode well for it, the Wind Thunder Beast began to flee again.
“Where do you think you’re going?”
Zhou Yuan laughed as the Heavenly Yuan Brush in his hand jerked. The snow-white brush hairs suddenly
shot forth, becoming a white whip that wrapped around the Wind Thunder Beast’s claws.
After binding it, the hairs began to frantically burrow into the Wind Thunder Beast’s body through its
wounds.
The Wind Thunder Beast howled as wind and lightning began vibrating from its body. Unfortunately, it
was unable to blast away the white hairs.
Zhou Yuan leaped into the air, landing on the beast’s head. There was no hesitation whatsoever as green
scales emerged on his fist and a punch was sent downwards.
“Dragon Tablet Hand, break the sky!”
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A punch containing berserk Genesis Qi slammed into the Wind Thunder Beast’s head, shattering it and
extinguishing the beast’s life.
Crash!
The Wind Thunder Beast’s enormous body powerlessly crashed to the ground, causing the surrounding
area to shake and ripples to appear on the lake.
Zhou Yuan kept the Heavenly Yuan Brush as his eyes began blazing with anticipation.
As the Wind Thunder Beast’s lifeforce faded, wisps of white mist began to rise from its body.
Every wisp contained extremely pure Genesis Qi.
“As expected of a grade 4 Genesis Beast, the Genesis Qi from it is so much more abundant than the beasts
from before.” Zhou Yuan sighed in praise. He had only gained a strand of Genesis Qi from the Genesis
Beasts he had hunted previously. In comparison, there was more than ten times the amount from the
Wind Thunder Beast.
White mist continued to rise, ultimately gathering into a white ball the size of a human head. The ball of
Qi gradually began to shrink, transforming into a white bead that was the size of a fingernail.
The bead seemed to contain a sea of clouds, and was very pretty. The vigorous Genesis Qi that pulsed
from it made Zhou Yuan’s mouth water.
Zhou Yuan wiped the corners of his mouth. He had the feeling that his Qi Dwelling would be finally be
fully filled after he absorbed the white Genesis bead.
When that happened, he would be able to take that final step and ascend to the Heaven Gate stage!
Zhou Yuan took in a deep breath, suppressing his surging excitement. He very carefully grabbed the white
Genesis bead and kept it into his Universe bag.
After doing this, his eyes began to light up with excitement again as he watched another wisp of white
mist rise from the Wind Thunder Beast’s body and transform into a piece of green and black jade.
Zhou Yuan’s hand shot out like lightning, grabbing the jade as his eyes boiled with excitement.
The moment he touched it, information began to flood into Zhou Yuan’s head.
Zhou Yuan closed his eyes to better digest the information, only opening them again a few seconds later,
revealing a look of pure ecstacy. It was just as he had expected, a little Heaven Genesis technique was
recorded in the jade.
This little Heaven Genesis technique was called Great Wind and Thunder.
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The cultivation method could not be extracted because it was a one-use item. Once used, the jade would
shatter, making it impossible for a second person to learn the technique.
“Got it at last.”
A satisfied Zhou Yuan kept the jade piece. He had finally obtained a little Heaven Genesis technique. If
was able to learn it, his strength would increase by an astronomical amount.
“The haul this time is pretty good.”
Zhou Yuan could not help but chuckle to himself. He had not only obtained a white Genesis bead that
could help him advance to the Heaven Gate stage, but also a little Heaven Genesis technique.
Swish!
While Zhou Yuan was figuring out how to deal with the Wind Thunder Beast’s corpse, the air suddenly
trembled as the piercing sound of something fast rang out. A deadly force whizzed towards him from
behind, heading straight for his head at a crafty angle.
Zhou Yuan’s response was not slow. The Heavenly Yuan Brush jolted in his hand as its snow-white hairs
transformed into countless white strings that weaved together behind him, forming multiple layers of
white nets.
Bzz!
A flash of scarlet-red hit the white nets, forcibly plowing through layer by layer. However, it used up its
energy a foot before reaching Zhou Yuan, transforming into a fiery-red long spear as it was catapulted
back.
Zhou Yuan turned around, his eyes locking onto a certain mountain top nearby, where several figures
were currently standing. The two in front were Xiao Tianxuan and Gu Ling.
“Can’t believe they actually managed to chase the beast all the way here.” Zhou Yuan was somewhat
astonished by the sight of them.
“So you are the reason behind everything!” Xiao Tianxuan’s expression was exceptionally ugly, killing
intent surging within his eyes as he darkly glared at Zhou Yuan.
How could he not realise by now why such problems had occurred earlier. Zhou Yuan had definitely
secretly done something that allowed that Wind Thunder Beast to escape their encirclement.
Beside Xiao Tianxuan, Gu Ling’s face was not a pretty sight either as she laughed icily and said, “So it was
you. What a good fisherman you are, patiently waiting for the beast and us to exhaust each other.”
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Xiao Tianxuan’s gaze was both icy and eerie as he stared at Zhou Yuan and said, “If not for the Mysterious
Heavy Mud that was left on the Wind Thunder Beast, you may even have succeeded.”
He extended his hand at Zhou Yuan, his tone indifferent as he continued, “If you understand, hand over
the things you obtained from the Wind Thunder Beast, and the Gu clan supreme treasure while you’re at
it.”
“You don’t deserve to enjoy any of these things.”
Zhou Yuan laughed when he heard this. He patted his Universe bag, and the white Genesis bead appeared
in his hand. “Are you talking about this?”
Xiao Tianxuan greedily stared at the white Genesis bead. Ordinary Genesis Beasts only had a strand of
pure Genesis Qi in their bodies, while the Wind Thunder Beast’s Genesis Qi had accumulated into a bead.
From this, one could see how much more Genesis Qi the latter had.
“Hand it over!”
Zhou Yuan rolled the white bead between his fingers as he revealed a strange smile to Xiao Tianxuan. In
the end, with a gentle flick, the white Genesis bead was thrown into his mouth and swallowed in a single
gulp.
Zhou Yuan grinned from ear to ear as he said, “Won’t I be able to enjoy it now?”
Xiao Tianxuan was stunned. A split second later, a twisted expression abruptly rose on his face.
He roared, “Zhou Yuan! I’m going to kill you!”
He had used up so many trump cards in order to exhaust the Wind Thunder Beast. Who could have
imagined that it would end up benefiting Zhou Yuan!
“Kill him!” Howled Xiao Tianxuan. Behind him, several advance Heaven Gate stage prided geniuses looked
at Zhou Yuan with hostility.
However, Zhou Yuan ignored them. He did a backflip, disappearing into the lake as a faint voice echoed,
“Xiao Tianxuan, we will settle this debt when I reach the Heaven Gate stage!”
This was not the time to fight. After swallowing the Genesis bead, he needed to find a place to absorb the
energy and advance to the next level.
Swish!
Xiao Tianxuan and gang swiftly arrived at the lakeside, diving in head first. However, they soon emerged
again with grim expressions.
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Gu Ling gnashed her teeth, “There are too many tunnels in the lake, we can’t possibly tell which one he
took.”
Xiao Tianxuan was shaking with anger. It was a long time later before he finally suppressed the rage in
his heart and declared in a chillingly eerie voice, “He can’t have run very far. Search this place inch by
inch. When we find him, I will make sure he begs for death!”
Murder overflowed from his voice.
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Chapter 151 Saint Tablet
In a certain cave deep within the mountains.
Zhou Yuan was seated on a rock, his eyes lightly shut. The white Genesis bead he had swallowed
previously had already landed in his Qi Dwelling and was currently giving off a seemingly endless stream
of Genesis Qi that was ultimately refined by the Omni Python Qi.
Zhou Yuan could feel the Genesis Qi in his Qi Dwelling growing more and more abundant.
“It should be about time for a breakthrough.”
Mumbled Zhou Yuan to himself. He opened his eyes and cast a glance at the cave entrance which he had
blocked with a giant rock. In addition, he had inscribed several Genesis Runes on it that could conceal
Genesis Qi undulations. He believed that this was enough to ensure his safety.
There was no way that Xiao Tianxuan would let this matter rest, and he would definitely lead a search in
the mountains. However, there were many mountains in the area and together with the concealing
Genesis Runes, Xiao Tianxuan should not be able to locate him.
Zhou Yuan let out an icy chuckle. Without any further hesitation, he closed his eyes again and turned his
attention towards his Qi Dwelling, controlling the Omni Python Qi to devour every strand of pure Genesis
Qi.
The surging Genesis Qi around him began to rise steadily.
...
Meanwhile, at another location in the same mountains.
Xiao Tianxuan gazed at the vast mountain range before him, his expression white with anger. They had
spent a good part of the day searching, only to end up with no results, It was as if Zhou Yuan had vanished
into thin air.
“Bastard!” Cracking sounds emerged from Xiao Tianxuan’s fists, the rage in his heart on the verge of
making him turn crazy.
This was the first time he had been toyed with in such a manner, and it was even by a Qi Nourishing stage
trash!
“No need to worry, he cannot hide for long.” Gu Ling consoled from the side. A vicious look flashed in her
eyes as she said, “We can spread the news that Zhou Yuan has obtained a little Heaven Genesis technique.
He is merely at the Qi Nourishing stage, and I’m sure that many people will soon become interested in
him.”
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Xiao Tianxuan suppressed his anger, his eyes narrowing slightly. In the end, he nodded his head. “Alright.
Since he dares to snatch away what’s mine, I will let him become the focus of everyone’s attention and
ensure he will no longer have any peace!”
“Besides this, I want to issue a bounty. Anyone that kills Zhou Yuan will be rewarded 3 million Genesis
crystals!”
A savage smile was revealed on Xiao Tianxuan’s face. Once Zhou Yuan dared to reveal himself, he will be
plagued with an endless amount of trouble.
Gu Ling nodded with a slight smile. She lifted her gaze and looked towards the depths of the mountains.
Zhou Yuan might think that playing fisherman was fun, but little did he know how much trouble was
waiting for him once the fisherman was exposed.
If he wanted to blame someone, he should blame his own lack of strength. So weak and yet still daring to
seize a little Heaven Genesis technique.
Bzz!
While the two were conversing, they suddenly sensed a strange disturbance from high up in the sky. They
immediately lifted their heads in astonishment, only to discover thousands of light rays converging in the
sky high above them, transforming into an enormous stone tablet.
“What is that?!”
Xiao Tianxuan involuntarily cried out. The stone tablet seemed to be extremely far away, but when they
looked at it with their eyes, it was clearly visible. It was a magical feeling.
Gu Ling also stared in astonishment at the stone tablet that had suddenly appeared in the sky. At closer
observation, she remarked, “There seems to be some words on the stone tablet.”
Xiao Tianxuan also focused. Sure enough, he saw several ancient looking words; Those that can leave
their names on the tablet will be allowed to enter the sacred land.
At the top of the tablet were three words; distinguished battle achievements.
Xiao Tianxuan’s heart shook violently, his eyes suddenly turning incomparably hot. “Sacred land?! I once
heard father mention a certain area that exists within the Saint Remains Domain called the sacred land. It
is there that the greatest gift of the Saint Remains Domain is hidden!”
“But it has never appeared before, why has it appeared now?”
Gu Ling covered her red lips in shock.
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Gu Ling could not help but mumble, “Those that can leave their names on the tablet, what does this mean?
How would one leave one’s name?”
Xiao Tianxuan pondered for a while, before he slowly said, “If I’m not wrong, it should refer to the
distinguished battle achievements…”
“Distinguished battle achievements?” Gu Ling frowned.
Xiao Tianxuan nodded. “The Saint Remains Domain originated from the blood of a Saint and is filled with
mysteries and wonder. The Saint Tablet that has appeared should be able to sense everything that
happens in the entire Saint Remains Domain.”
“Which is to say, only those whom the Saint Tablet judges to have distinguishable battle achievements
will have the right to have their names on the tablet and be allowed into the sacred land.”
The gazes of the other prided geniuses beside Xiao Tianxuan also began to burn with excitement. The
sacred land contained the greatest gift. If they could enter and obtain it, it would be akin to soaring
straight into the heavens.
“It seems that we’ll have to find out what is considered a distinguished battle achievement…”
Mumbled Xiao Tianxuan. However, a vicious look soon appeared in his eyes.
“But before that, we should first focus on dealing with Zhou Yuan.”
...
Practically every individual in the entire Saint Remains Domain had sensed the appearance of the Saint
Tablet in the sky high above them, causing them to raise their heads.
The ancient words on the stone tablet was likewise clearly seen by everyone.
The entire Saint Remains Domain began to boil with excitement, the eyes of countless prided geniuses
burning with anticipation. All of them clearly understood what it meant to enter the sacred land. Only
there would the greatest gift be found.
Therefore, countless prided geniuses began to rack their brains. How distinguished did the so-called
battle achievements had to be?
...
At a certain area of the Saint Remains Domain.
Beside a clear stream, a figure with matchless looks was currently extending her bare feet into the
stream, gently dipping into its cool waters, her pretty eyes shut in enjoyment.
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This familiar appearance, who else could it be but Yaoyao.
At this current moment, her long black hair was hanging down over her back, reaching her slender waist.
She enjoyed the cool waters for a while, before unhurriedly raising her head and gazing at the Saint
Tablet in the sky above.
“Distinguished battle achievements?”
Yaoyao lazily stretched her back as she mumbled to herself, “I wonder how Zhou Yuan is doing. Hope that
he hasn’t ended up stuck somewhere again after offending someone.”
Soon after, she lightly shook her head. “Shan’t think about him first, and deal with my own matters.”
Her slender body rose, clothes whiter than snow appearing as her features turned to a mix of pretty and
handsome again. It was truly the perfect pretty boy young master.
However, a certain iciness was currently gathering in the mysterious and aloof eyes of the pretty boy
young master. Bright rays appeared on her clean clear forehead as an incomparably powerful Spirit
ripple slowly pulsed outwards.
The stream below her feet seemed to become extremely silent at this moment, the little waves within
seeming to bow down while cowering.
Yaoyao slowly turned around as she looked towards the sky nearby where scarlet-red Qi was streaking
across the horizon in a dignified and domineering manner.
Yaoyao icily gazed at the scarlet-red Qi. A finger suddenly extended and gently pointed in the air.
Plop!
An invisible Spirit ripple suddenly exploded, transforming into a berserk wave of Spirit energy that
blasted at the scarlet-red Qi.
Bzz!
The sky seemed to shudder for a moment, before the scarlet-red Qi descended from the sky, ultimately
landing on a mountain top near the stream.
The scarlet-red Qi slowly receded, revealing a figure in golden robes. It was Wu Huang!
Wu Huang was expressionless as he lowered his head. His pupils tightened slightly as he looked towards
Yaoyao and slowly said, “Why did you stop me?”
Yaoyao stared at Wu Huang, the iciness in her pupils more than enough to freeze the entire stream.
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“Don’t you like causing trouble… now, let me cause some trouble for you.”
Yaoyao’s voice was clear, without the slightest hint of any emotion. She thought for a while, before she
continued, “At the same time, I also want to know if defeating you will count as a distinguished battle
achievement.”
The moment her words faded, her long sleeves trembled faintly as scroll after scroll appeared in front of
her, astonishing Genesis Qi slowly spreading from each one.
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Chapter 152 Qi Dashing out of the Heaven Gate
“Have you heard? That kid Zhou Yuan actually managed to snatch away a little Heaven Genesis technique
from the hands of Xiao Tianxuan and his squad!”
“That can’t be, right? Isn’t Zhou Yuan only at the Qi Nourishing stage?”
“I heard that he took advantage of the moment when Xiao Tianxuan’s group and the grade 4 Genesis
Beast exhausted each other.”
“Tchtch, what great luck. That’s a little Heaven Genesis technique!”
“Heh, Xiao Tianxuan has promised 3 million Genesis crystals to anyone who can catch Zhou Yuan. Many
have already went to the area he was last seen in hopes of capturing him, taking the little Heaven Genesis
technique and then the bounty on his head.”
“What a case of treasuring a jade ring becomes a crime. He’s so weak and yet he still dares to have designs
on a little Heaven Genesis technique, that’s practically courting death.”
“Shall we go and try our luck too? If we somehow meet him, it will be akin to striking lottery.”
“Heheh, that’s exactly what I had in mind. He’s only at the Qi Nourishing stage, it should be easy to deal
with him if we encounter him.”
“Quick then, let’s go!”
“......”
......
Xiao Tianxuan stood with his hands behind his back on a certain mountain top. As he gazed at the figures
that seemingly covered the sky and land as they searched for a particular individual, a chillingly eerie
look emerged in his eyes.
“He is really good at hiding!”
Xiao Tianxuan frostily said. He had done as Gu Ling suggested, and sure enough, many individuals had
been drawn over to search for any traces of Zhou Yuan. Although there was a lot of activity, they were
still unable to find Zhou Yuan.
“No need to be anxious. Zhou Yuan is definitely still in the area.” Gu Ling consoled from behind. Her long
and narrow eyes stared at the vast mountain forests like a viper as she said, “He is now merely a rat that
has already been caught in our net. As long as we continue to tighten the net, he will eventually appear.”
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“When that happens, his Qi Nourishing stage strength will not be able to save him from death!”
Xiao Tianxuan nodded, before forcefully expelling a long breath of air as he wanted to get rid of all the
resentment he had towards Zhou Yuan.
His path had been smooth sailing for many years, and his status as the junior city lord of Saint Remains
City made it such that praise and compliance were all he would meet wherever he went. He never
imagined that he would actually succumb to a ploy from a Qi Nourishing stage kid.
No matter what, he would not take this lying down.
Gu Ling softly said, “Come on, a rat is not worth getting angry over. How can such a person compare to
you? Even when you discount your status, you’re still someone who has already stepped into the realm of
the advance Heaven Gate stage, and is even an elite amongst those of the same cultivation level. Besides
those few individuals, who else amongst the entire younger generation of the Cangmang Continent can
match you?”
Xiao Tianxuan let out a bitter laugh. “If not because I used up too many trump cards to deal with the Wind
Thunder Beast, I would not even fear those few super elites.”
There would be no deficient if he had been able to kill the Wind Thunder Beast with those trump cards,
and he would have even grown his reputation, unfortunately...
While Xiao Tianxuan and Gu Ling were talking, they suddenly detected a disturbance from the mountains
some distance away. They immediately exchanged a look, seeing the joy that was surging out in each
other’s eyes.
Was it that little rat?
Their figures abruptly shot forth, landing on a giant tree several minutes later as their gazes looked to the
front where several figures could be seen.
These figures had surrounded a certain location, a faintly visible cave that had been blocked with a
boulder.
“So he’s been using Genesis Runes to conceal any Genesis Qi undulations. No wonder we couldn’t find
him!” Xiao Tianxuan’s gaze swept across the cave, sensing the faint Genesis Rune undulations from
behind the boulder as he icily chuckled.
“The rat is hiding inside. Break the boulder. Whoever brings him out will be rewarded 3 million Genesis
crystals!” Xiao Tianxuan’s chilling voice echoed across the area.
The eyes of several figures brightened. 3 million Genesis crystals was no small sum.
“Heh heh, to think that a little Qi Nourishing rat would be worth such a fortune. I’ll be glad to take it!”
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Voices rang out one after another. A dozen figures swiftly shot forward, streams of powerful Genesis Qi
lashing at the boulder blocking the cave entrance.
Boom!
The entire mountain seemed to shake as the boulder was destroyed.
“Charge!”
The dozen figures had already begun dashing towards the cave as rock fragments shot outwards, each
clearly intent on being the first to reach the target so as not to lose to the others.
Xiao Tianxuan smiled indifferently as he watched the dozen figures charge towards the cave. All of them
had the strength of the Heaven Gate stage. There was no way Zhou Yuan would be able to escape.
Boom!
However, while Xiao Tianxuan was waiting for Zhou Yuan to be dragged out, an astonishing Genesis Qi
ripple suddenly pulsed from the cave like an erupting volcano.
Rumble!
The Genesis Qi ripple was tyrannically domineering, causing cracks to form on the cave.
Thump thump!
When the astonishing Genesis Qi erupted, everyone also saw the dozen figures, that had just moments
ago been menacingly charging into the cave, being flung out from the cave.
They tumbled on the ground like bottle gourds, bumping against the ground till their faces were a bloody
mess.
“What’s going on?!” Xiao Tianxuan’s pupils shrank.
One of the figures that had been sent flying replied in a horrified voice, “He… he has ascended to the
Heaven Gate stage!”
This caused even more frowns of confusion. Even if Zhou Yuan had ascended to the Heaven Gate stage, he
would merely be at the initial level. However, the pulse of Genesis Qi earlier did not seem to be that of an
initial Heaven Gate stage practitioner.
Bzzbzz!
While many were still puzzled, the Genesis Qi undulations from the cave grew more and more berserk as
the entire mountain began to tremble.
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Rumble!
Genesis Qi crazily converged towards the cave until a certain moment when it pierced through the walls
of the mountain and dashed straight into the heavens!
Everyone watched as a dozen feet wide pillar of dark gold Genesis Qi soared into the sky, rapidly rising
feet by feet...
“He has indeed ascended to the Heaven Gate stage!” Xiao Tianxuan’s voice was filled with iciness.
Gu Ling coldly snorted. “The phenomenon of Qi dashing through the Heaven Gate is measured in feet. Do
you recall how many feet your Genesis Qi reached when you reached the Heaven Gate stage?”
Xiao Tianxuan indifferently answered, “Only 94 feet.”
His tone was normal, but clearly contained a faint trace of pride. Such an accomplishment was after all
already top tier amongst those of the same generation.
A smile surfaced from the corners of Gu Ling’s ruddy little mouth. “The Genesis Qi of ordinary individuals
usually reached about 20 feet when they advance to the Heaven Gate stage. Your 94 feet has already
surpassed the great majority.”
Xiao Tianxuan sighed. “So what, I heard that when Wu Huang’s Qi dashed past the Heaven Gate, his
seemingly endless Genesis Qi soared straight into the sky, reaching a height of 238 feet.”
Gu Ling also sighed when she heard this. “Its rumored that Wu Huang has a gold Qi Dwelling. Achieving
such a feat is not strange at all.”
Her eyes seemed to swivel, a hint of mockery in her gaze as she looked towards the slowly rising dark
gold Genesis Qi from the mountain top before them. “This kid has hidden for so long, believing that he
will be able to turn the situation around once he reaches the Heaven Gate stage. I’m really interested to
find out how many feet his Genesis Qi will rise to.”
Xiao Tianxuan laughed inside, no longer anxious for the time being. He intended to patiently wait till Zhou
Yuan fully ascended, when the latter was full of confidence, to thoroughly beat him into the ground, a
defeat so complete that it would leave a shadow in his heart that would be almost impossible to break
free of.
Xiao Tianxuan placed one hand behind his back, a toying look in his eyes as he looked to his front.
The gaze of everyone in the area converged on this very spot.
Hence, under the attention of numerous gazes, the dark gold Genesis Qi that was still shooting out of the
cave rose feet by feet at a steady pace...
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Chapter 153 Measure
Bzzbzz!
Every gaze in the area was raised towards sky where a dark golden pillar of Genesis Qi was rising into the
heavens.
This scene was not unfamiliar to everyone present. The same thing had also happened to them when they
reached the Heaven Gate stage.
It was known as Qi dashing through the Heaven Gate, and was measured in feet.
Simply put, the higher one’s Qi rose, the more abundant one’s Genesis Qi was. Of course, there were also
various other factors such as the grade of the Genesis Qi, the grade of the Qi Dwelling...
It was not always the case that the higher one’s Genesis Qi rose, the stronger one would be in the future.
But at the very least, for a certain period in one’s cultivation, the higher one’s Genesis Qi soared, the
bigger the lead one would have over others.
In a certain sense, this achievement represented one’s foundations. The sturdier and stronger one’s
foundations, the greater the heights one’s Genesis Qi would reach when dashing past the Heaven Gate.
“That kid has really ascended to the Heaven Gate stage…”
“Already over 40 feet, that’s not bad at all…”
“But it seems to be rising still?”
“It will very likely approach its limit soon.”
“......”
Amongst the numerous whispers, the dark gold Genesis Qi pillar continued its unhurried ascent. A dozen
breaths later, the whispers began to fade as everyone’s expressions changed slightly.
The dark gold Genesis Qi pillar had unknowingly reached a height of over 70 feet.
Such a height had already surpassed many of those present.
“Humph, he does have some ability.” Gu Ling’s pretty face had turned slightly cold. Back when she had
advanced to the Heaven Gate stage, her Genesis Qi had only reached slightly over 70 feet. Zhou Yuan’s
result was already comparable to her own.
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Xiao Tianxuan did not remark, the expression in his eyes fluctuating indeterminately as he stared at the
dark gold pillar. A faint sense of unease rose within him. He had discovered that even till now, the dark
gold Qi pillar was still very concentrated and showed no signs of waning. In other words, Zhou Yuan still
had a substantial amount of reserves.
It was indeed as he had expected. The rate at which the dark gold Qi pillar climbed did not drop, but
instead began to increase...
*Uproar*!
An uproar washed over the mountains, gaze after gaze filled with astonishment.
Swish!
After another ten breaths, the rising dark gold Qi pillar broke past the 90 feet mark, directly reaching a
hundred feet under Xiao Tianxuan’s ashen complexion.
Numerous faces began to be colored by emotion. A hundred feet. This result was able to match the top
tier geniuses...
Did Zhou Yuan really have such talent and potential?
One of the onlookers wiped away the cold sweat on his forehead as he muttered, “It’s already reached a
hundred feet, it should be over now, right?”
However, the dark gold Qi pillar seemed to have heard this individual’s words. The moment it reached a
hundred feet, its speed suddenly began to rise rapidly. The previous foot by foot progress had now turned
into a ten feet by ten feet dash...
*Uproar*! *Uproar*!
Wave after wave of noise pulsed across the mountains as if unable to stop.
Xiao Tianxuan’s and Gu Ling’s expressions grew uglier and uglier.
130 feet, 150 feet, 200 feet...
In the short span of a dozen breaths, the dark gold Qi pillar had already reached 200 feet!
The place had become very silent, disbelief on everyone’s faces.
“Still not stopping?” A trembling voice rang out, the owner looking at the Qi pillar as if it was a monster.
The number of individuals whose Qi could reach 200 feet in the Cangmang Continent could be counted
one one hand!
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The names of every one of these geniuses was well known in the Cangmang Continent.
Trembling gaze after gaze watched the dark gold Qi pillar continue its climb. In the end, it gradually
reached its limit, stopping at a whopping height of 484 feet!
484 feet!
The entire mountain range was dead silent.
Cold sweat had appeared on everyone’s foreheads. They never heard of anyone who had ever been able
to reach this height!
Just how much Genesis Qi was required to achieve this?
One must know that even some of the advance Heaven Gate experts present may not be able to achieve
such a feat. Yet, Zhou Yuan had done it moments after reaching the Heaven Gate stage...
Which is to say, the amount of Genesis Qi he had at the initial Heaven Gate stage was not any less than an
advance Heaven Gate stage expert!
How had Zhou Yuan done it?!
Within the silence, Xiao Tianxuan’s expression was already extremely ugly. Zhou Yuan had never been
able to enter the former’s eyes, and had all along only been akin to a troublesome rat.
Yet, the little rat had now clearly shown Xiao Tianxuan just how huge a gap there was between their
potentials...
After all, even Wu Huang’s greatness would be thoroughly suppressed by the result of 484 feet.
Gu Ling’s teeth were tightly clenched. Zhou Yuan dominance was clearly not something she wished to see.
Even so, her heart still trembled faintly. From the scene before her eyes, she knew that Zhou Yuan’s
future was definitely limitless.
His talent was not to be underestimated!
Beside Gu Ling, Xiao Tianxuan suddenly icily said, “He… must die.”
The intense killing intent within his voice made even Gu Ling shiver for a moment.
She turned her head, and saw that Xiao Tianxuan’s expression was calm and collected. However, Gu Ling
could also clearly see the fear that had flitted across his eyes, fear that was soon replaced by ruthlessness.
Previously, Xiao Tianxuan had merely viewed Zhou Yuan as a rat, but now, the former was beginning to
feel threatened, very deeply threatened.
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Genesis Qi that reached 484 feet at the Heaven Gate stage already spoke volumes about his sturdy
foundations and talent. Such a person would definitely accomplish amazing things in the future if all went
well.
However, for Xiao Tianxuan and Saint Remains City, this person would become a huge threat.
Since the grudge had already been made, he had to make sure cleanly cut off such a threat.
“Whoever kills Zhou Yuan will be awarded 5 million Genesis crystals.” Xiao Tianxuan’s deep voice slowly
echoed.
The eyes of numerous individuals in the area began to fill with greed. 5 million Genesis crystals was no
small sum. It seems that Xiao Tianxuan’s killing intent towards Zhou Yuan had already reached its peak.
However, although many were tempted, some of the smarter individuals present decisively decided to
withdraw from the area after some thought, clearly no longer planning on interfering in the grudge
between Xiao Tianxuan and Zhou Yuan.
The previous Zhou Yuan was merely a Qi Nourishing small fry, hence why they did not mind eliminating
the former for Xiao Tianxuan. However, the situation was now different.
Zhou Yuan had broken through to the Heaven Gate stage, and had displayed his extremely terrifying
potential. The small fry had turned into a huge whale all of a sudden...
It was naturally fine if such a person was killed here, but if he were to escape and allowed to grow, his
revenge would surely be catastrophic.
Those present were elites amongst their generations, and there were few fools amongst them. After some
considerations, everyone naturally made their decision.
Xiao Tianxuan’s face twitched faintly as he watched several people withdraw. Soon after, the murder in
his eyes intensified.
There were still quite a number of people left in the area, but none of them acted rashly, choosing instead
to cautiously observe for the time being.
It was at this moment that a clear whistle rang out in the mountains. As the whistle dashed into the sky,
the mountain top crumbled, a figure shooting out before slowly landing on the ground.
He landed on the ruins of the mountain top, opened his mouth and violently inhaled.
The pillar of dark gold Genesis Qi that had reached 484 feet rapidly shrunk, and was eventually
swallowed into the figure’s stomach.
Rumble!
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Powerful Genesis Qi undulations began to pulse from the figure’s body, his aura surging as the air around
him trembled.
Clothes flapping wildly, the young figure turned around and looked in Xiao Tianxuan’s direction. The
revealed face naturally belonged to Zhou Yuan.
He stared at Xiao Tianxuan, a smile seemingly appearing on his face.
“5 million Genesis crystals is truly a huge sum, even I am a little tempted to hand my head over to you…”
His five fingers slowly closed into a fist as he paused.
“However, before thinking about that, I believe that it is time for us to settle our debt…”
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Chapter 154 Golden Magical Python Scales
Atop the mountain peak.
Zhou Yuan’s clothes fluttered, his eyes suffused with a sliver of iciness as he stared at Xiao Tianxuan some
distance away.
Not only had the latter caused him to pay extra in the auction for no good reason, Xiao Tianxuan had even
placed a bounty on Zhou Yuan, causing him no small amount of trouble. It was now finally time for these
debts to be cleared.
Xiao Tianxuan did not seem to mind Zhou Yuan’s icy gaze, instead, mockery appeared on the former’s
face as he coldly said, “What bold words.”
“Do you truly believe that advancing to the Heaven Gate stage makes you invincible? Who here is not also
at the Heaven Gate stage?”
“Moreover, so what if your Genesis Qi can reach over 400 feet? At the end of the day, you are merely an
initial Heaven Gate practitioner.”
His gaze turned towards the numerous restless individuals in the area as he continued to speak, “My
bounty I previously placed on his head is still valid. Whoever can take his life will be awarded 5 million
Those that stayed were clearly aiming for the bounty. 5 million was no small sum after all, and was more
than enough to buy the cultivation resources they needed.
Hence, several gazes filled with ill intent began to turn towards Zhou Yuan.
It was just as Xiao Tianxuan had said. Zhou Yuan’s feat of reaching over 400 feet was indeed stunning,
and was more than a testament to his solid foundations. When all was said and done however, he was still
only an initial Heaven Gate stage practitioner.
Turning their Genesis Qi into a pillar that was over 400 feet tall was something that several of the
advance Heaven Gate stage practitioners present were also capable of.
The current Zhou Yuan was merely an initial Heaven Gate stage practitioner. Although he was one
cultivation level higher, this did not make much of a difference to the advance Heaven Gate stage
practitioners present.
Therefore, it was not long before a bald man walked out. He had a fierce looking face while cruelness
flickered in his eyes. He displayed a savage smile to Zhou Yuan as he said, “I’ve butchered quite a few
geniuses, but its my first time dealing with someone like you.”
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Boom!
Vigorous Genesis Qi exploded from his body, revealing that he was an advance Heaven Gate stage expert.
Bang!
His body lowered slightly and his foot powerfully slammed into the ground, causing it to crack as his
figure was sent shooting forward like a cannonball, charging straight at Zhou Yuan.
“Mid grade Black Genesis technique, Metal Devil Head!”
The bald man’s shout was akin to thunder. One could only watch in surprise as he used his head as a
weapon, Genesis Qi surging over it as the smooth head took on a gleaming metallic black luster. The
terrifying charge blasted away the surrounding air, an attack that was forceful and unyielding to the limit.
The bald man’s attack looked rather comical, but its ferocity still made the expressions of several people
present change slightly.
Surprise flitted across Zhou Yuan’s eyes as he watched the black figure ferociously charge towards him.
Every individual specialized in a different kind of offense, while this person’s most deadly weapon was
his gleaming bald head.
“If it was before breaking through to the Heaven Gate stage, I would have to be a little more cautious
about this headbutt.” Zhou Yuan softly chuckled. He did not move to avoid the attack, merely slowly
closing his five fingers into a fist as tiny scales emerged on the back of his hand, scales that appeared
golden.
In a few breaths, a layer of gold python scales had appeared on Zhou Yuan’s hand.
They were the Magical Python Scales. As Zhou Yuan advanced to the Heaven Gate stage, the scales also
evolved, turning from the green of the first level to the gold second level.
Color was not the only change, the scales had also clearly grown much stronger.
Zhou Yuan tightened his fist as he stepped forward, sending a punch at the incoming black head, the two
forces violently clashing together.
Clang!
A loud clang rang out at the moment of impact, before a shockwave that could be seen with the naked eye
swept outwards, causing crack after crack to grow from under Zhou Yuan’s feet.
Bang!
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A split second after these cracks appeared, everyone watched as Zhou Yuan’s fist continued forward,
sending the bald man’s body flying backwards even quicker than he had arrived with a miserable cry.
Thud thud!
Blood flowed from the bald man’s head as his body was sent flying into the forest, smashing through
several giant trees before slowly coming to a stop. His figure was only visible for a brief moment before
being buried by numerous broken trees.
No one knew whether he was dead or alive.
Silence, complete silence.
Everyone blankly watched this scene as they swallowed a mouthful of saliva. No one had expected that
the ferocious headbutt charge of the bald man would end up with him being sent flying with a single
punch from Zhou Yuan.
The bald man had put his everything into that attack, not to mention that he was also an advance Heaven
Gate expert. The might of his earlier blow was so great that those of the same cultivation level had no
choice but to avoid it.
But… why had he been sent flying by a single punch from Zhou Yuan?
Gaze after gaze stared at Zhou Yuan in a strange manner. Although the latter had just ascended to the
Heaven Gate stage, the power he possessed was clearly extremely astonishing.
Under numerous shocked gazes, Zhou Yuan lowered his head in surprise and looked at his gold scale
covered fist. The power of the earlier punch had likewise also exceeded his expectations.
“Is this the effect of the gold Magical Python Scales…” Zhou Yuan quickly understood as amazement flitted
across his eyes.
It turned out that the second level of the Magical Python Scales could not only form a defensive layer to
protect him, but also amplify his strength and power.
According to Zhou Yuan’s estimate, the places where the gold scales appeared would multiply the power
released from there.
Zhou Yuan laughed. He looked towards the crowd that had been awed by his punch and said, “Is there
anyone else who wants the bounty? If so, please hurry up.”
Everyone looked to each other, bitterly shaking their heads in the end as they began to withdraw.
Zhou Yuan’s earlier punch had already made clear his strength. It was not known whether the advance
Heaven Gate bald man was dead or alive after receiving a single punch, and most of them were at best
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only equal in strength to the latter. If they stubbornly chose not to back off, they would likely end up with
the same fate as the bald man.
Therefore, although Genesis crystals were valuable, they were not worth one’s own life.
Given the current situation, people like them could no longer interfere.
Zhou Yuan nodded his head in satisfaction when he saw them withdraw. He could not be bothered with
these people, and they would only waste his energy. Hence, his gaze turned towards Xiao Tianxuan.
The latter’s expression was currently extremely ugly, clearly surprised that the bald man did not cause
even a single injury to Zhou Yuan. Instead, the bald man had even become an example for others, making
them too intimidated to interfere any longer.
Xiao Tianxuan took in a deep breath, his grim expression gradually returning to an expressionless one.
He stared at Zhou Yuan, killing intent flooding out in his eyes as his hand slowly closed around the fiery-
red long spear that appeared within it.
Powerful Genesis Qi erupted from his body like a storm, shaking the surrounding space.
An overwhelming pressure enveloped the area.
The numerous gazes in the vicinity looked towards him in respect. Xiao Tianxuan’s strength was clearly a
different level than ordinary advance Heaven Gate experts.
The spear in his hand was slowly raised, pointing towards Zhou Yuan as an icy voice sounded across the
mountain.
“I originally wanted to save myself the trouble, but it seems that I have to do this personally. Well… guess
I’ll save myself 5 million Genesis crystals.”
The numerous figures on the mountain began to back away, their gazes filled with searing anticipation as
they looked towards Xiao Tianxuan. Was the junior city lord of Saint Remains City finally going to fight?
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Chapter 155 Zhou Yuan VS Xiao Tianxuan
In the mountain forest.
Magma flowed along the long spear in Xiao Tianxuan’s hand as he pointed it at Zhou Yuan while Genesis
Qi churned in the sky above, forming a giant fiery-red cloud.
Berserk and searing undulations spread from within it.
Xiao Tianxuan had yet to attack, but the pressure from him had already exceeded the bald man from
earlier.
“As expected of Saint Remains City’s junior city lord.” Numerous figures whispered inside the mountain
forest. There was no need to question Xiao Tianxuan’s strength. He was an elite even amongst the many
prided geniuses. The current him had already reached the peak of the advance Heaven Gate stage, and
was much stronger than ordinary advance Heaven Gate experts.
“I’m afraid that Zhou Yuan will not be able to flaunt his power like before.”
It was true. When you compared the two, Xiao Tianxuan was clearly superior. He was at the peak of the
advance Heaven Gate stage, wielded a high grade Black Genesis Weapon, and had numerous tricks up his
sleeves. No matter how one looked at it, Xiao Tianxuan’s chances at victory were higher.
“Humph, let’s see who will save you this time.” Iciness flowed in Gu Ling’s eyes. She had originally
believed that it would be easy to deal with Zhou Yuan, but the latter just seemed to become more and
more of a problem. In the end, even Xiao Tianxuan had been forced to personally take action.
However, it was over now.
Gu Ling looked towards the remaining few Saint Remains squad members and coldly said, “Block off all of
his escape paths. He will not be allowed to flee this time.”
The remaining few members had already completely cast their lot in with Xiao Tianxuan. Hence, all of
them nodded after hearing Gu Ling's words before dispersing in all directions, sealing every path of
escape available to Zhou Yuan.
On the mountain top, Zhou Yuan merely calmly watched them do so, not seeming to care at all. His gaze
soon locked onto Xiao Tianxuan.
The strength displayed by the latter was indeed far beyond regular Heaven Gate experts.
The fire of battle intent slowly rose in Zhou Yuan's eyes. Before his cultivation breakthrough, his chances
of victory against an opponent at Xiao Tianxuan's level were naturally slim, but now… it was going to be
very different.
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"Martial form."
The Heavenly Yuan Brush in Zhou Yuan's hand began to grow, the snow-white hairs of the brush tip
tightly clenching together into the sharp tip of a spear that flickered with a chilling light.
Dark gold Genesis Qi also began to swirl around Zhou Yuan like a storm, turning all the rocks in the
vicinity to dust…
Xiao Tianxuan's tightly gripped his spear as he coldly said, "I will let you know that your 400 feet tall
Genesis Qi is not enough to permit such arrogance before me!"
Swish!
The instant he finished speaking, Xiao Tianxuan's figure abruptly shot forward, his figure blinking from
place to place before arriving in front of Zhou Yuan. The former's spear shook, transforming into
countless flashes of scarlet-red light that seemed to cover the sky as they engulfed Zhou Yuan, targeting
his vitals.
Formidable, deadly, ruthless.
However, Zhou Yuan merely let out a prolonged laugh in response, no fear whatsoever as the Heavenly
Yuan Brush thrusted forward to meet the attack head on. A dark gold radiance curled around the brush
tip like a thousand stars.
Clang clang!
Spear and brush clashed, sparks flying with loud clangs. Genesis Qi rippled violently every time they met,
shaking the surrounding air.
In a short span of a dozen breaths, the two had already exchanged dozens of blows. Every strike ruthless
without the slightest shred of mercy.
Clang!
Spear and brush collided, only to be pushed back once again.
Zhou Yuan's arm suddenly jerked as the brush tip transformed into a stream of white that swiftly shot
forward, stabbing towards Xiao Tianxuan's throat at a tricky angle.
However, just as the attack was about to land, a spear pierced towards it, slightly changing the trajectory
of the white hairs.
Zhou Yuan's expression was icy. With a thought, the snow-white hairs suddenly scattered, transforming
into countless strings that seemed to cover the sky as they descended, aimed at every inch of Xiao
Tianxuan's body.
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"What a bizarre Genesis Weapon!"
Xiao Tianxuan's pupils tightened slightly. Zhou Yuan's black brush Genesis Weapon was extremely
strange. Its white hairs could take in numerous forms at any moment, making it very challenging to
counter.
However, Xiao Tianxuan was no weakling. With a jerk of the Flame Devil Spear in his hand, scarlet-red
magma began to rise from it, forming a shield of boiling magma in front of him.
Ding ding!
Countless snow-white hairs stabbed at the magma, but all were repelled in the end.
Zhou Yuan's and Xiao Tianxuan's figures were simultaneously blown backwards.
Xiao Tianxuan's expression was grave, the Flame Devil Spear drawing a long scar on the ground. Opposite
him, Zhou Yuan drifted backwards while the snow-white hairs rapidly gathered back to the tip of the
brush, pointing towards the ground at an angle...
The attacks of both parties had been vicious in their previous clash. However, every attack had ultimately
been blocked.
The pupils of everyone watching the fight shrank slightly at this moment, evidently surprised that Zhou
Yuan did not seem to be at a disadvantage even against a peak advance Heaven Gate expert like Xiao
Tianxuan.
"I've truly underestimated you. To be capable of so much at the initial Heaven Gate stage is remarkable... "
Xiao Tianxuan's eyes lowered slightly, his tone indifferent as he continued, "If given some time, I'm afraid
that even Wu Huang will not hold much superiority against you… your talent is truly terrifying."
"In fact, I've begun to believe it now."
Zhou Yuan's eyebrows raised slightly. "Believe what?"
Xiao Tianxuan calmly answered, "Believe that you really are the so-called sacred dragon of the Zhou clan,
and that Wu Huang had merely stolen your blessing, allowing him to reach where he is today."
Zhou Yuan smiled but did not comment.
"However… " Xiao Tianxuan paused, an extremely dangerous look emerging in his eyes as he stared at
Zhou Yuan. "That is also why I've decided that it will be best to kill you here."
Zhou Yuan chuckled. "I'm afraid that you're not that capable."
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Xiao Tianxuan flatly responded, "I know that you obtained that little Heaven Genesis technique, but I also
know that you have not learnt it."
Zhou Yuan's eyes narrowed slightly.
"The requirements to learn a little Heaven Genesis technique are exceedingly stringent, plus your focus
has been on breaking through into the Heaven Gate stage while hiding here for the for the past few days,
and you naturally did not have the time nor conditions. Therefore, you cannot possibly have learnt it."
Xiao Tianxuan's calm explanation was filled with certainty.
Zhou Yuan slowly replied, "You are pretty smart."
It was indeed as Xiao Tianxuan had guessed. Although Zhou Yuan knew how to practice the little Heaven
Genesis technique, Great Wind and Thunder, he had yet to learn it.
Xiao Tianxuan laughed, his hand slowly tightening around the long scarlet-red spear as a toying look
surfaced in his eyes.
"It's just such a pity, you don't have a little Heaven Genesis technique… but…"
The Genesis Qi around him began to churn violently at this moment, akin to a scarlet-red storm as it
swept outwards, while astonishing ripples pulsed from his body.
The ground below his feet began to tremble.
"But I have one!"
Shocked gaze after gaze watched as scarlet-red Genesis Qi shot out from the top of Xiao Tianxuan's head,
culminating into a giant halo. An almighty and frightening pressure pulsed.
As Zhou Yuan gazed at the scarlet halo, his eyes narrowed.
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Chapter 156 Python Swallows Devil Halo
A titanic scarlet-red halo floated above Xiao Tianxuan, emitting scorching and berserk undulations that
dried up and cracked that ground below.
Every gaze in the mountain forest was tinged with fear and astonishment as they watched this scene.
"That's… a little Heaven Genesis technique!"
"Xiao Tianxuan is the junior city lord of Saint Remains City, it is not strange for him to have mastered
one."
"Xiao Tianxuan has so many trump cards... "
"It's going to become dangerous for Zhou Yuan. Given Xiao Tianxuan's strength, even those super elite
geniuses will have to face such power with seriousness."
"It's a little Heaven Genesis technique after all, its power is enough to be a game changer."
“......”
Numerous whispers rang out. There was now a trace of pity in the gazes that looked towards Zhou Yuan.
The latter had displayed his extremely solid foundations when he advanced to the Heaven Gate stage, but
it was ultimately still only the initial Heaven Gate stage.
Someone sighed, "Zhou Yuan is still young and has yet to realise his full potential. If he had patiently
bided his time instead and mastered the little Heaven Genesis technique, Xiao Tianxuan will not be able
to do anything against him."
Gu Ling's pretty face radiated with happiness when she was this. Her gaze turned towards Zhou Yuan, a
mocking look emerging as she said, "The consequences of angering Xiao Tianxuan is not something the
likes of you can withstand... "
Under those numerous pitying gazes, Zhou Yuan's expression turned rather grave as he stared at the
giant scarlet-red halo above Xiao Tianxuan. The undulations that pulsed from it were extremely
destructive.
Such power had indeed far surpassed the high grade Black tier level.
"Can't believe that he has mastered a little Heaven Genesis technique... " Muttered Zhou Yuan under his
breath. Xiao Tianxuan was indeed a formidable foe. If it was before his breakthrough, he would likely
have no choice but to avoid.
Unfortunately for Xiao Tianxuan…
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Dark gold Genesis Qi began to surge out of Zhou Yuan's body, swirling and expanding around him like a
howling dark gold hurricane.
Astonishing undulations pulsed outwards, shaking the mountain below his feet.
Gasp after gasp rang out when the onlookers saw this scene.
"Zhou Yuan is really remarkable. He's only at the initial Heaven Gate stage, but his Genesis Qi levels does
not lose to an advance Heaven Gate stage practitioner."
"Moreover, from how concentrated his Genesis Qi looks, it's definitely not low grade."
"No wonder he dares to pit himself against Xiao Tianxuan... "
"But even so, I'm afraid that he is still not Xiao Tianxuan's match."
“...”
The scarlet-red halo above Xiao Tianxuan faintly trembled, a sign that its power was about to approach
its peak. His cold eyes gazed at Zhou Yuan as he said, "Why do you still try such meaningless actions,
wouldn't it be better to obediently wait for death?"
His finger slowly extended, pointing towards Zhou Yuan as an emotionless voice echoed from his mouth.
"Little Heaven Genesis technique, Scarlet Devil Wheel."
Bzzz!
The giant scarlet-red halo shook violently for a moment, before suddenly disappearing from sight a split
second later. It was too fast to be seen by the naked eye, the only things everyone was able to observe
was space distort and a flash of scarlet.
As scarlet swept past, the ground below dried up and crumbled.
In the face of such a devastating attack, even those with the strength of the Heaven Gate stage would feel
their scalps turn numb. Was this the power of a little Heaven Genesis technique? If they were the ones in
Zhou Yuan's place, they would not even have any chance of dodging and be killed in an instant…
Scarlet light lit up the horizon, rapidly enlarging in Zhou Yuan's eyes. Even the surrounding air seemed to
burn, producing a burnt smell.
Huu.
A breath was slowly dispelled from Zhou Yuan's mouth. His hands came together as a low voice seemed
to quietly escape his lips.
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“Omni Python Qi, Python Swallows the Heavens!”
The instant Zhou Yuan’s voice was heard, the dark gold Genesis Qi storm around him suddenly expanded
once again. One could only watch as a dark gold giant python emerged from the storm.
Python Swallows the Heavens technique!
Back then, Zhou Yuan had used this move to kill Wang Chaotian. Although he had only been able to use it
with the aid of Silver Shadow, after stepping into the Heaven Gate stage, he was now able to activate it
with his own power.
However, the giant dark gold python appeared rather illusory, evidence that its power was pretty lacking
compared to the previous time it was used.
Though this was so, Xiao Tianxuan was also unable to match an Alpha-Origin expert like Wang Chaotian.
Hsss!
The giant Genesis Qi python hissed, opening its enormous mouth to swallow the incoming scarlet wheel.
Boom boom!
Sounds of explosions rang out from the dark gold giant python’s body, but did not continue for long.
Meanwhile, the python’s titanic body shrank with each explosion.
The little Heaven Genesis technique that Xiao Tianxuan had put all his power into had been easily
neutralized in this manner.
Countless cries of surprise rang out at practically the same time, eye after eye nearly popping from their
sockets.
How could they have imagined such an outcome...
To think that Xiao Tianxuan’s terrifyingly powerful little Heaven Genesis technique had disappeared like
this without causing even a tiny ripple. How had Zhou Yuan done it?!
The expression on Xiao Tianxuan’s face turned rigid little by little. Some distance behind him, Gu Ling
looked as if she had just saw a ghost, her mouth so wide an egg could be easily popped in.
“It seems that your little Heaven Genesis technique has yet to be properly mastered… its power seems to
be a little weak.” Zhou Yuan chuckled when he saw Xiao Tianxuan’s stiff expression.
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His Python Swallows the Heavens technique was the strongest technique in his current arsenal. In
addition, because it originated from the Omni Python Qi, the power from the combination of the two was
even more devastating.
In fact, even the Alpha-Origin expert Wang Chaotian had been directly swallowed whole by it.
“What kind of Genesis technique is this?!” Xiao Tianxuan’s complexion was ashen.
Zhou Yuan ignored the question. With a flick, the now much smaller dark gold python abruptly darted
forward, heading straight for Xiao Tianxuan.
The python was extremely quick, appearing in front of Xiao Tianxuan in a flash.
Fear finally flitted across Xiao Tianxuan’s eyes. He gritted his teeth as rapidly retreated, while another
jade pendant appeared in his hand and was quickly snapped.
Bzz!
A circular shield of light appeared in front of him. It was obviously another defensive Genesis treasure.
Boom!
The dark gold python slammed into the shield causing it to ripple violently.
Xiao Tianxuan continued to hurriedly flee backwards as cracks began to appear on the shield.
His gaze flickered in calculation. In the end, a grudging look flitted across his eyes as his figure retreated
back to Gu Ling’s side, grabbing her wrist as he shouted, “Go!”
A scroll appeared in his hand and was quickly torn. Rays of light instantly exploded from it, swallowing
the both of them.
Crack!
However, the shield also broke at this moment.
There was no time for the python to bite them, but two small balls of blood-red Qi shot out from its
mouth, burying themselves in Xiao Tianxuan’s and Gu Ling’s bodies.
The light below their feet grew brighter and brighter, evidently some kind of Genesis Rune used for
escaping.
“You should leave behind something before you leave, right?”
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Zhou Yuan frowned. Xiao Tianxuan’s really had plenty of life preserving methods. However, did he think
that Zhou Yuan would so easily let the latter escape as he pleased?
With a cold chuckle, Zhou Yuan sent out a thought and a suction force emerged from the python’s mouth.
Xiao Tianxuan could only watch in surprise as the Universe bag at his waist flew out and was swallowed
by the python.
However, the Genesis Rune below his feet completed its activation at this moment. Light enveloped the
two figures as they disappeared with a swish.
Although Xiao Tianxuan had disappeared, his exasperated howl echoed.
“Zhou Yuan, I will not let you off!”
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Chapter 157 Haul
The battle between both parties ended unexpectedly quick. Before any of the onlookers could react, Xiao
Tianxuan and Gu Ling had already disappeared, leaving only an exasperated cry in the mountains.
The crowd gradually returned to their senses, involuntary swallowing their saliva when they gazed upon
the mess of a battlefield once again.
No one had expected that the junior city lord of Saint Remains City would actually flee...
He had the strength of the peak advance Heaven Gate stage, and only a handful of people amongst the
Cangmang Continent’s younger generation surpassed him. Yet, he had been beaten by Zhou Yuan, a
recently ascended initial Heaven Gate practitioner.
Moreover… Xiao Tianxuan had lost even after bringing out his little Heaven Genesis technique.
Gaze after gaze seemed to gradually change when they looked towards Zhou Yuan again. There was now
a little less scrutiny and a little more respect.
Silence blanketed the mountains. Everyone knew that Zhou Yuan’s name would resound in the Saint
Remains Domain after today’s battle.
Zhou Yuan paid no attention to their gazes. He merely made a beckoning motion with his hand and the
dark gold Genesis Qi returned, bringing with it a Universe bag.
Zhou Yuan caught the bag, gently swinging it from side to side.
"He's really good at running." Zhou Yuan shook his head. He had still underestimated the tricks Xiao
Tianxuan had up his sleeve. The latter was practically overflowing with treasures to preserve one's life
and escape.
"Well, you won't be feeling too good either even if you escaped."
Zhou Yuan softly chuckled. At the final moment, he had sent two bundles of Dragon's Resentment Poison
into Xiao Tianxuan's and Gu Ling's bodies. The poison will teach them what it's like to beg for death.
Zhou Yuan had personally experienced it for over a dozen years after all.
"Time to see what else mr junior city lord has." Dark gold Genesis Qi surged towards the Universe bag in
Zhou Yuan's hand. A faint Genesis Rune appeared at the mouth of the bag, blocking the foreign power.
However, the resistance was not much of an obstruction to Zhou Yuan. After sending out a dozen waves
of Genesis Qi, the Genesis Rune gradually dimmed, eventually shattering.
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With a thought, Zhou Yuan's senses swept into the bag and took a good look at its contents.
The first items to appear was 8 gold crystal cards. These were Genesis crystal cards of the Heavenly
Crystal Pavilion, and each gold one could be exchanged for a million Genesis crystals.
Eight gold Genesis crystal cards represented 8 million Genesis crystals.
"... what a wealthy little lord." The sight of these 8 gold crystal cards made the corners of Zhou Yuan's
mouth twitch a little. Zhou Qing had only passed him 500,000 Genesis crystals when the former left the
Great Zhou Empire. In comparison, there were 8 million Genesis crystals in Xiao Tianxuan's Universe bag.
An absolutely enormous sum of money.
"But 8 million should be his entire fortune." Zhou Yuan grinned. The loss of 8 million would definitely be
akin to cutting one's flesh even for someone like Xiao Tianxuan.
"I should return Luluo her money when I meet her again."
Zhou Yuan continued to inspect the contents of the Universe bag. There were many useful and valuable
things inside, including several rare Genesis Resources. This spoke volumes about Xiao Tianxuan's
wealth.
"Eh, a lightning rod stone?"
A deep black stone suddenly appeared in Zhou Yuan's hand. The mottled stone was full of holes and
seemed to faintly give off a gleam akin to lightning. Pleasant surprise flashed in his eyes when he saw it.
To learn the little Heaven Genesis technique, Great Wind and Thunder, Zhou Yuan needed to draw wind
and lightning into his body during a thunderstorm to create a certain mark. Only then would the
completed Great Wind and Thunder technique possess the power of wind and lightning, granting it
destructive power.
The lightning rod stone could help Zhou Yuan smoothen the process of drawing lightning into his body,
increasing the speed of mastering the technique.
"What a pleasant surprise." After going through the entire bag, Zhou Yuan felt rather regretful that there
was no Scarlet Devil Wheel little Heaven Genesis technique inside. But it made sense, a little Heaven
Genesis technique was a valuable treasure even to a powerful faction like Saint Remains City. Xiao
Tianxuan could not possibly be allowed to easily take it with him.
Even so, the haul this time was pretty good.
Now that Zhou Yuan was done with the bag, his gaze turned towards the figures that were still in the
vicinity as he said, "The battle is already over, what are all of you still doing here? Waiting to claim my
bounty?"
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He was naturally not going to be nice to those who had come for his bounty.
Upon hearing his words, the figures on the mountain laughed awkwardly. If it was before, they would
have likely cursed and scolded. However, the current Zhou Yuan had beaten off even someone like Xiao
Tianxuan. Such frightening battle power was something they naturally did not dare to offend.
Hence, the figures of the mountain retreated in a slightly dejected manner.
Zhou Yuan paid them no attention. He also prepared to leave the area and find an appropriate place to
learn the Great Wind and Thunder technique.
At this moment however, he suddenly sensed something and lifted his head, gazing towards the
untouchable Saint Tablet high up in the sky.
The table was currently shaking.
Practically every prided genius in the entire Saint Remains felt this disturbance. Heads were immediately
raised, looks of astonishment soon arising on their faces.
Light began to converge in the tablet, and for the first time, ancient words slowly appeared.
It was a name. The first name that had appeared on the Saint Tablet.
The name was… Zhou Xiaoyao?
Zhou Xiaoyao, battled Wu Huang, Wu Huang retreated.
They were just eight simple words, but they caused tremendous waves in the Saint Remains Domain.
Countless geniuses were flabbergasted as they stared at the tablet, completely shocked by the
information that had appeared on it.
They naturally knew who Wu Huang was. He was one of those that stood at the apex of Cangmang
Continent's younger generation, and one of the greatest contenders for the greatest gift of the Saint
Remains Domain.
And yet, the tablet had declared that Wu Huang had been beaten into retreat?!
Who was Zhou Xiaoyao? How can he possess such terrifying strength?
Moreover, there were countless intense battles that had already occurred in the Saint Remains Domain,
and even the fight between Zhou Yuan and Xiao Tianxuan had not been recorded by the Saint Tablet.
While only this particular battle had been acknowledged by the tablet, what did this say?
This meant that battle had already reached the level where it could be acknowledged by the Saint Tablet.
One could imagine how intense it was.
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In the mountain forest, Zhou Yuan's eyes were wide open, mouth agape as he stared at the Saint Tablet. A
long while later, he violently sucked in a breath of cool air.
Others may not know who Zhou Xiaoyao was, but how could he not? It was Yaoyao!
Yaoyao had actually encountered Wu Huang? And even exchanged blows with him? From the looks of it,
Yaoyao seemed to have forced Wu Huang into withdrawing, meaning she had taken the advantage in
their fight.
Zhou Yuan awkwardly scratched the back of his head as he recalled the words Yaoyao had said to him
before entering the Saint Remains Domain.
If she met Wu Huang, she would teach him a lesson. Who could have imagined that she would really make
those words a reality…
A warm feeling flowed in Zhou Yuan's heart. Yaoyao had such a nonchalant and uncaring character, the
reason she purposely went to cause trouble for Wu Huang was very likely because of him.
"Even Yaoyao has left her name on the tablet, looks like I'll have to work harder... "
"From the looks of it, one will have to achieve a battle accomplishment on the level of the Alpha-Origin in
order to leave one's name on the tablet…"
Numerous ideas swirled in Zhou Yuan's head. In the end, he ceased hesitating, his toes pushing off the
ground as dark gold Genesis Qi surged out from beneath his feet, forming a dark gold cloud that brought
him into the sky.
"I should first master the Great Wind and Thunder technique before meeting up with Yaoyao and the
rest... "
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A certain area in the Saint Remains Domain.
Wu Huang was seated on a mountain peak, his head raised to view the Saint Tablet in the sky. The
expression on his face did not fluctuate much as he stared at the 8 words on the tablet. Moments later, he
mumbled to himself, "Zhou Xiaoyao…"
"Why have I not heard of this person before, and what relation does he have with Zhou Yuan?"
Wu Huang frowned slightly. It was just as described on the Saint Tablet, he had fought with Zhou Xiaoyao,
and the outcome was him being in a disadvantageous position, leaving him no option but to withdraw.
The battle was extremely intense, pretty much the hardest battle Wu Huang had experienced in the past
few years.
The opponent clearly had no Genesis Qi, but his Spirit was exceptionally strong. In addition, his mastery
over Genesis Runes was nothing short of amazing, each Genesis Rune easily flowing from his hands like
water, overwhelming and unfathomable.
Although Wu Huang knew the strategy to beat such a person was to close in, none of his numerous
attempts had succeeded in breaching the distance of ten feet around Zhou Xiaoyao.
Even Wu Huang found the endless stream of Genesis Rune scrolls incomparably difficult to deal with.
Moreover, Wu Huang could faintly sense a dangerous sensation from Yaoyao. It was this very sensation
that made him ultimately chose to retreat instead of battling to the death.
"His Spirit is extremely powerful and is likely also holding back something." Wu Huang slowly muttered,
his expression turning much graver for the first time. He had a feeling that Yaoyao would likely be his
biggest obstacle this time.
"It will be a huge problem if I don't find a way to eliminate him…"
Mumbled Wu Huang to himself. His eyes suddenly narrowed slightly as he icily said, "Since you're already
here, show yourself. Sneaking around and hiding, what difference is there between you and a rat?"
The surroundings remained silent.
A cold light flashed in Wu Huang's eyes. His five fingers suddenly clenched into a fist as he fiercely
punched in a certain direction.
Boom!
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Scarlet-red Genesis Qi whizzed forth, melting even the ground below his feet.
The Genesis Qi shot towards a certain spot. However, just as it was about to hit, the space there suddenly
rippled as a pale hand slowly reached out.
The hand gently twirled, stopping the domineering scarlet-red Genesis Qi when it was right in front of the
palm.
Night black Genesis Qi gushed out from the pale hand, clashing against the scarlet-red Genesis Qi. In the
end, the latter was completely corroded away with a final fizzle...
"Why the need to be so hostile against a guest from far away." A raspy voice suddenly rang out. Space
rippled again as a figure in black robes slowly appeared.
The young man in black had a set of pitch-black pupils that looked akin to vortexes, a sight that made one
shiver.
"Who are you? I don't recall someone like you amongst those from the Cangmang Continent." Wu Huang
frowned as he stared at the black pupil youth. The aura from the latter's body made him feel the need to
be a little wary. This youth was clearly no ordinary individual.
The youth in black robes seemed to grin. "Dongxuan Continent, Ye clan, Ye Ming."
Wu Huang's pupils shrank slightly as he said in a cold voice, "Someone from the Dongxuan Continent?
This Saint Remains Domain belongs to our Cangmang Continent, you people from the Dongxuan
Continent dare to sneak in? Looks like you are up to nothing good, and probably intend to snatch away
the greatest blessing.”
The youth in black robes shook his head. "Blessings are granted by the will of the heavens, and is not
exclusive in nature. Only the strong are worthy of it.”
“If I manage to take it, it would only mean that I am more qualified than the prided geniuses of the
Cangmang Continent.”
Wu Huang faintly said, “Then let me test if you do have the qualifications.”
Scarlet-red Genesis Qi began to rise from his body, forming a great scarlet-red sun behind him as the rock
below him began to melt.
The Genesis Qi Wu Huang cultivated was a little similar to Xiao Tianxuan's, only more domineering.
The youth in black waved his hand. "I am not here to fight you, but propose a certain cooperation."
"Cooperation?" Wu Huang's eyes narrowed.
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The youth called Ye Ming answered in a raspy voice, "I saw the battle between you and Zhou Xiaoyao."
Wu Huang's heart shivered a little. He had not realised there was someone hiding nearby. It seems that
Ye Ming had some very strange abilities.
"You didn't know I was there, right? Hehe, but Zhou Xiaoyao knew. The reason why he did not use his full
power was because he was guarding against me." The vortexes in Ye Ming's black pupils rotated.
"It is true that I never expected someone like that to appear in your Cangmang Continent." Ye Ming
showed a thin smile.
Wu Huang was expressionless.
"I heard that Zhou Xiaoyao has a pretty good relationship with your mortal enemy Zhou Yuan. That's why
he will ultimately pit himself against you." Ye Ming slowly continued, "He's a great threat, but if we
cooperate, we will surely be able to eliminate him."
"I feel that such a cooperation will be very important to you." The expression in Wu Huang's eyes became
deep and unreadable. He was indeed a little enticed by this deal. Zhou Xiaoyao was too mysterious and
will definitely become a huge problem, an even bigger there's than Li Chun and the rest.
As for whether working together with those from the Dongxuan Continent would invoke the ire of the
other prided geniuses of the Cangmang Continent, Wu Huang did not need to take it into consideration.
There was nothing he would not stoop to in order to walk the path of the strong.
Wu Huang said in a low voice, "Although Zhou Xiaoyao has no Genesis Qi, he is a complete mystery. Even
if we do manage to defeat him, we may not be able to eliminate him."
"The two of us may not be able to, but what if we add another four?" Ye Ming smiled faintly.
The moment these words were said, Wu Huang sensed Genesis Qi undulations erupt from the
surroundings. Next, four figures rose into the sky and landed around him.
These four figures were extremely young, but the powerful Genesis Qi ripples spread from their bodies
made Wu Huang's pupils shrink a little. The four of them were likely not weaker than Blind Sword.
It seems that the Dongxuan Continent had come prepared, their goal, the greatest blessing.
There was no change in Wu Huang’s expression. Even though he was currently surrounded by five
people, he did not display any fear. If he wanted to leave, there would naturally be a way.
Wu Huang slowly said, “If it’s now, I believe it should be enough.”
Such a line-up could only be described as terrifying. No matter how mysterious Zhou Xiaoyao was, once
he was trapped in their net, escape would practically be impossible.
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Ye Ming softly chuckled. “Since that it so, our alliance is temporarily established. However, there is
something else that we’ll need your help with after.
Wu Huang calmly asked, “What is it?”
“These teammates of mine are rather interested in the super elite geniuses of your Cangmang Continent…
and plan to use them to leave their names on the tablet.”
Wu Huang indifferently responded, “I can lead the way, but they are no kind buddhas either. It is not
certain who will end up trampling who in the end. Of course, the best outcome would be for both parties
to end up injured.”
“There is no need for you to worry about such matters.” Ye Ming shook his head. Soon after, he looked
towards Wu Huang and smiled, “Are you not worried that our Dongxuan Continent will take all the top
places, making the prided geniuses of your Cangmang Continent lose all their face?”
Wu Huang thought about it for a moment. “What does that got to do with me?”
Ye Ming was stunned, but soon began to laugh.
“I hope we’ll have a happy alliance.”
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Chapter 159 Encirclement
Seven days had already passed since the battle between Zhou Yuan and Xiao Tianxuan. During these
seven days, the Saint Remains Domain gradually began boiling with activity. More and more
opportunities were appearing in the form of various mystical areas where anyone who could successfully
enter would obtain some pretty good blessings or gifts.
Over the past few days, news had already spread of several lucky individuals obtaining various blessings,
allowing them to be completely reborn, their originally mediocre strength leaping into the sky,
transforming them into elites even amongst the many prided geniuses.
This caused the eyes of countless geniuses to burn with excitement and anticipation. For a time,
searching for these mystical places became the most sought after dream of everyone here.
Of course, this naturally led to numerous intense battles from which some geniuses were able to
distinguish themselves, making their names resound loudly across the Saint Remains Domain.
Included amongst them was Zhou Yuan who had defeated Xiao Tianxuan…
However, when compared to Yaoyao, all of them appeared insignificant. Till today, only her name alone
could be seen on the Saint Tablet.
It was clear as day that achieving the so-called distinguished battle accomplishment was not easy at all.
As such, everyone put theirs energy and time into training, killing many Genesis Beasts to raise their
strength as fast as possible. Only then would they raise their chances of being acknowledged by the
tablet.
Zhou Yuan was of the same mind.
While hunting Genesis Beasts to raise his strength, he kept a lookout for any stormy areas, because only
in a thunderstorm would he be able to initiate himself into the little Heaven Genesis technique, Great
Wind and Thunder.
His search eventually led him to an appropriate location.
...
Rumble!
It was a barren land where mountains gathered together in groups, their tall peaks piercing the clouds.
No trees could be found on these mountains, their bare appearance making the place look rather
desolate.
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Thunderclouds were present at the peaks of these mountains all year round, the endlessly rumbling
thunder filling the area.
Zhou Yuan currently stood on one of these majestic mountains. The top of the mountain was immersed in
thunderclouds, surrounded by ominous black in which lightning madly flashed a flickered. It was a sight
that would make one's heart jump and flesh tremble.
However, Zhou Yuan's face was overflowing with joy. This was the best place to master the Great Wind
and Thunder technique.
"Finally found it after so many days." Zhou Yuan sighed. He would surely master the technique here.
Once he did, his battle power would rise once again.
He sat down on the mountain peak, and gradually began to fall into a state of concentration. The rumbling
thunder that filled the area seemed to gradually fade away into the background.
A complex and profound intonation slowly flowed into his mind. It was the cultivation method of the
Great Wind and Thunder technique.
"Feel the wind, feel the lightning, infuse your Genesis Qi, converge into a mark…"
It was a long time later before Zhou Yuan's eyes slowly opened. He closed his hand as the lightning rod
stone appeared within it. The black stone slowly rose into the air, ultimately hovering some distance
above his head.
Zhou Yuan began to pour Genesis Qi into the stone, immediately causing a peculiar cry of thunder to
faintly echo from its many holes.
Rumble!
The wind and lightning in the vicinity began to move as if being beckoned by something. With a loud
boom, a foot long lightning bolt struck the lightning rod stone.
The stone trembled as it absorbed the lightning. After which, lightning began spouting out if its many
holes, bombarding Zhou Yuan's body.
Zhou Yuan's body immediately began to shake, the flesh all over his body squirming as intense pain
pulsed from the surface of his body.
Zhou Yuan grimaced in pain, but resolutely gritted his teeth as he endured.
Only by experiencing wind and lightning attacks would the body gradually grow accustomed to them,
allowing one to gain a better understanding of their nature and properties and eventually create a wind
thunder mark on one's body.
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A little Heaven Genesis technique was profoundly powerful, an existence far beyond the realm of Black
tier techniques. Hence why the method to learn one was even stranger and difficult.
"It is fortunate that I have this lightning rod stone that can continuously absorb wind and lightning. Or
the process would be much slower." Muttered Zhou Yuan to himself.
Rumble!
Thunder boomed endlessly on the mountain top. Within the glaring lightning, one would faintly see Zhou
Yuan's trembling figure.
...
A certain area in the Saint Remains Domain.
Deep within the forest.
Yaoyao was dressed in white, leaning against the trunk of the tree, legs dangling over the branch. Her
long legs appeared exceptionally slender when wrapped by her long white pants. She gently swung her
legs as she retrieved a jade cup from her Universe bag and extended it into a hole in the tree.
When the cup exited, it was filled with green liquid that gave off the strong and fragrant smell of good
wine.
"Heh, never expected to encounter such good stuff here." Yaoyao took a little sip, her pink tongue tip
slowly licking her lips. A satisfied smile was revealed on her beautiful as jade like face.
"Ouu ouu!"
A group of apes angrily grunted below the tree, but did not dare to approach. They could only work
themselves into a fluster, screeching unceasingly.
"I'm only going to have a little…" Upon hearing the din, Yaoyao tilted her head downwards and looked at
them before continuing, "But if you keep disturbing me… I'll get rid of all of you."
The piercing noise instantly turned to silence, the hairs all over the apes' bodies standing as they clumped
together trembling. At this very moment, they could feel that the human before their eyes was very
scary…
"So obedient." Yaoyao gave a faint nod of approval, raising her fair and slender neck again as she downed
an entire cup of alcohol.
As she casually threw the cup away, iciness slowly gathered in her clear eyes as she indifferently said, "It
seems that the lesson I taught you previously was not enough."
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A figure wrapped in scarlet-red light descended some distance in front of her. It was Wu Huang.
He stood on the leaves that carpeted the ground, his body completely still as he stared at Yaoyao and
slowly said, "What is your relationship with Zhou Yuan? If you chose not to help either of us, I will allow
you to leave today."
A fan appeared in Yaoyao's hand, gently tapping her palm as she cocked her head slightly, looking at Wu
Huang as she replied with indifference, "I have no good feelings toward a thief."
"What did you say?" Wu Huang's gaze turned frosty as an astonishing aura spread from his body.
Yaoyao propped the fan below her sharp chin and lazily said, "Taking something that doesn't belong to
you, what can it be called besides stealing?"
"Looks like you're tired of living!"
Flames seemed to surge in Wu Huang's eyes. His ice-cold voice was filled with chilling murder.
"It's only been a few days, but it seems that you've already forgotten the pain from your wounds." Spirit
light began to flicker on Yaoyao's bright forehead as a powerful Spirit ripple spread.
"Hehe, what a powerful Spirit…"
A raspy voice suddenly rang out within the forest. One could only watch as a figure in black slowly
walked out some distance behind Yaoyao. It was Ye Ming.
"The one who was spying on us last time was you, right?" Yaoyao turned her head slightly and stole a
glance at Ye Ming. "I did not expect that the both of you would work together."
Ye Ming sighed softly. "Amongst the younger generation, I've never seen someone whose Spirit is as
strong as yours. That's why… to eliminate uncertainty, I feel that you should no longer appear in the Saint
Remains Domain."
"You will become our greatest obstruction."
Yaoyao stood up on the tree branch, her thin figure seemed rather domineering at this moment as she
calmly said, "The combination of you two is indeed very strong, but you may not be able to keep me
here."
Ye Ming chuckled as he nodded. "Then what about now?"
His hands reached out and gently clapped.
Boom!
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Four powerful Genesis Qi ripples suddenly exploded from the forest, sweeping away the surrounding
trees. They formed an array that trapped Yaoyao from far away.
Yaoyao shot a glance at her surroundings. This time however, her brows slowly knitted together. To think
that the other party had sent out such a lineup to deal with her, a lineup that was going to be quite
troublesome to deal with…
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Chapter 160 Wind and Thunder Mastered,
Yaoyao Injured
Rumble.
Black thunderclouds spat silver snake like lightning, each bolt striking the black lightning rod stone. In
turn, the stone emitted wind and lightning power that poured onto the seated Zhou Yuan below.
Every time the wind and lightning power descended, Zhou Yuan's body would tremble uncontrollably.
Although he was already numb to the intense pain, his body would subconsciously react.
Zhou Yuan's eyes were tightly shut, ignoring the pain from his body. After several days of training in this
manner, he had already grown used to the strike of lightning.
At this current moment, all his attention was on the interior of his body. Powerful Genesis Qi surged
within his blood-red Qi Dwelling where the faint glow of lightning could be seen. Along with the lightning,
the sound of rustling wind could be heard.
Lightning flickers as wind blew, the two forces weaving into one while absorbing wisps of Genesis Qi
from time to time. Slowly, the amalgamation seemed to transform into a mystical mark.
This mark was similar to lightning and wind, and looked as if it was naturally formed. It was also
extremely cryptic and profound.
A mark like this was known as a technique mark.
Such a mark could only be obtained through special cultivation methods. Once formed, it would be
imprinted on the Qi Dwelling like a seed of sorts. In future, one would only need to fuse Genesis Qi into
the mark to activate the technique.
However, it was clearly much simpler to successfully imprint a little Heaven Genesis technique mark. The
difficulty was substantially greater for true Genesis techniques, and required extremely high talent and
comprehension ability.
It was rumored that the great powers were masters of innumerable techniques, their Qi Dwellings akin to
the starry sky, while powerful Genesis technique after technique easily flowed from their hands. After
these great powers died, their technique marks could be left behind through the power of their wills.
Just like the Saint Remains Domain where Genesis techniques existed within the bodies of the native
Genesis Beasts…
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The Great Wind and Thunder technique mark Zhou Yuan had just managed to acquire was only at the
elementary stage. To perfect it, one needed to keep exposing one's body to wind and lightning, and gain
increasing understanding of the power within.
Boom!
Zhou Yuan's tightly shut eyes abruptly opened at this moment, the glow of lightning flashing within them.
His hands curled slightly as he placed the bases of his palms together, one on top, one on the bottom as if
he was cupping the sun or moon. Meanwhile, the technique mark in his Qi Dwelling began to vibrate.
Pchla.
A glow emerged as lightning began flickering between Zhou Yuan's palms, starting off as a tiny dot that
rapidly swelled in response to the influx of Genesis Qi, transforming into a foot wide green black lightning
ball.
Violent ripples pulsed from the surface of the lightning ball.
Zhou Yuan's hands were flung forward, shooting the black lightning ball. Its speed was astonishingly fast,
travelling a hundred feet in a flash before slamming into a mountain peak.
Boom!
The entire mountain peak instantly collapsed, boulders tumbling down. Its destructive power was insane.
"As expected of a little Heaven Genesis technique!" Zhou Yuan was shocked by the technique's
destructive power. He had merely been trying to test it earlier, and had not used his full power. However,
the resultant destructive power was already greater than his fully powered Dragon Tablet Hand.
Joy surfaced on Zhou Yuan's face. Great Wind and Thunder had not disappointed him after all, the time
spent being struck by lightning had not been wasted.
"Now that I have learnt the Great Wind and Thunder technique, my battle power has risen once again."
Mumbled Zhou Yuan to himself. He would be able to put up a fight even if against encountered those apex
geniuses now.
Bzz.
While Zhou Yuan was mumbling to himself, he suddenly sensed some activity from the Saint Tablet in the
sky. He immediately lifted his head and saw rays of light converging on the tablet.
This sight caused Zhou Yuan's pupils to shrink. When the Saint Tablet acted in this manner, it meant that
changes were being made on it…
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"Who will be leaving a name on the tablet this time?"
Under Zhou Yuan's attention, light swept across the tablet and ancient words gradually appeared.
Wu Huang.
Dongxuan Continent, Ye Ming?
The first two rows of words that had appeared stunned Zhou Yuan. He knew who Wu Huang was, but
who was Ye Ming? The Dongxuan Continent? He wasn't from the Cangmang Continent?
How had he entered the Saint Remains Domain?
Zhou Yuan frowned. A split second later however, his expression instantly changed when he saw the
words that appeared behind the two names, chilling killing intent abruptly gushing out in his eyes.
"Wu Huang, Ye Ming, joined hands against Zhou Xiaoyao... "
"Zhou Xiaoyao, injured."
Boom!
Berserk Genesis Qi suddenly burst out from Zhou Yuan's body as his expression twisted into ferocity.
"Wu Huang, I will kill you!"
A howl filled with murder ripped through the mountain, drowning out even the rumbling thunder.
Wave after wave of berserk Genesis Qi pulsed violently, only gradually returning to calmness a long while
later. Zhou Yuan forcible regained his composure, his gaze still tightly fixed on Wu Huang’s name. It was
obvious that Wu Huang had initially been overwhelmed by Yaoyao, but later on joined forces with the
Dongxuan Continent’s Ye Ming. Since he was acknowledged by Wu Huang, Ye Ming’s strength was surely
unfathomable.
In the face of two apex prided geniuses, though Yaoyao’s Spirit was strong, she had her weakness too; she
did not have any Genesis Qi, and had a comparatively weaker body. Once anyone got too close, it was very
easy for her to be injured.
“Yaoyao is injured. No good, I need to find her immediately!”
Zhou Yuan’s complexion was ashen. He leaped off the mountain top, a cloud of dark gold Genesis Qi
appearing beneath his feet while he fell that brought him soaring into the sky.
He had promised master Cang Yuan to protect Yaoyao, and yet she had now been injured. If anything
were to happen to her, Zhou Yuan would spend his whole life blaming himself.
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Murder churned and surged in Zhou Yuan’s eyes.
“Wu Huang, the Saint Remains Domain will be your grave!”
...
When Zhou Yuan saw the changes on the Saint Tablet, the numerous prided geniuses in the entire Saint
Remains Domain were also shown the two names on it, causing them to immediately explode into a din
that reached into the heavens.
“Wu Huang has also left his name on the tablet?”
“But who the heck is Ye Ming? Blasted, it’s someone from the Dongxuan Continent?”
“The Saint Remains Domain is a blessing of our Cangmang Continent, how did these Dongxuan people
sneak in? Are they planning on snatching our blessing?”
“Wu Huang is so shameless. To think that he actually worked together with those from the Dongxuan
Continent to deal with Zhou Xiaoyao!”
“Humph, I originally thought he was a remarkable individual. Can’t believe that he is actually so
unscrupulous. Doesn’t even try to be at least a little bit honorable; when he can’t win, he gangs up with
outsiders.”
“He is indeed shameless. If I meet him, I will definitely spit in his face!”
“......”
The voices flooded every corner of the Saint Remains Domain. Everyone was shocked by the information
revealed on the Saint Remains Tablet. Of course, the thing that filled them with the most indignation was
the one from the Dongxuan Continent, Ye Ming.
Did this not mean that the geniuses of the Dongxuan Continent had already infiltrated the Saint Remains
Domain?
Their target was definitely to snatch away the Cangmang Continent’s blessings.
It seems that the waters in the Saint Remains Domain were exceptionally deep this time...
...
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Chapter 161 Chase
Deep in a certain mountain.
Wu Huang and Ye Ming stood on the mountain peak, Genesis Qi surging within their eyes as their sharp
gazes scanned the vast mountain range.
Swish! Swish!
Four figures flew over on Genesis Qi, landing in front of them.
“Can’t find him.” Said each of the four individuals.
Wu Huang frowned, but his tone remained indifferent as he said, “We paid quite a substantial price
previously, exchanging wound for wound in order to injure Zhou Xiaoyao. Our advantage lies in our
Genesis Qi cultivation that gives us strong bodies, allowing us to gradually recover no matter how grave
the injury. In contrast, Zhou Xiaoyao body is weak, and his current state is when he is at his weakest.”
“Since we’ve already done the deed, we need to be sure to do a thorough job. We cannot give him any
chance to recover or all of us will be threatened.”
Ye Ming nodded as he smiled and said, “Well spoken brother Wu, since we’ve already done it, we cannot
leave any loose ends.”
“As such, I will no longer hold back.”
He grinned as he raised his pitch-black pupils. Vortexes seemed to spin within them as the world before
his eyes began to change.
Everything turned to a shade of dull gray, the magnificent mountain forests now translucent. Glowing
forms appeared within, each glow representing the light of Genesis Qi.
There were countless Genesis Beasts in the forests. Hence, Ye Ming skipped over these balls of light in
search of the less visible Genesis Qi ripples.
After several minutes, his eyes finally paused. Far towards the north was an extremely faint Genesis Qi
glow. Its rays were practically non-existent, and would be easily overlooked if one was not careful.
“Found him.”
A drop of blood flowed down from Ye Ming’s shut eyes. Activating this secret technique was clearly
detrimental to his eyes.
“Go.”
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However, he ignored it, taking the lead as he shot towards the north.
Wu Huang and the rest immediately followed.
Meanwhile, a slender figure had came to a stop in a certain forest far away. It was Yaoyao.
Her pretty face appeared extremely pale, but there was no panic between her brows, only an increasing
indifference.
“I’ve been found huh…”
She muttered to herself in a low voice as she firmly grasped the scroll in her hand. Light spread from the
scroll and enveloped her body, concealing her presence.
However, she did not expect that the other party would be so resourceful too, and were still able to detect
her.
Boom!
A berserk Genesis Qi ripple suddenly soared in the sky before descending, ferociously blasting towards
Yaoyao.
Yaoyao nimbly darted to the side, avoiding the blast of Genesis Qi. She raised her head, only to find
several dazzling Genesis Qi figures shooting towards her from the sky, the faces of Wu Huang, Ye Ming
and the rest already visible.
“Zhou Xiaoyao, your delicate body will not last for long. It will be best for you to give up and allow
yourself to be captured.” Ye Ming’s raspy voice echoed from far away.
However, Yaoyao ignored him. Yet another scroll appeared in her hand and was torn.
Swish!
Light covered Yaoyao’s body, the space around her distorting for a moment before she disappeared,
appearing a thousand feet away a split second later.
Wu Huang’s and Ye Ming’s gazes shivered upon seeing this as they remarked inside, “Can’t believe he has
also mastered short range instant teleportation Genesis Runes, what frightening Genesis Rune talent…”
They exchanged a look, seeing the intensifying killing intent in each other’s eyes.
“Such instant teleportation is based on travelling through space, and will place stress on the body. He has
no Genesis Qi and definitely will not be able to keep this up for long.”
“We cannot let him escape!”
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Genesis Qi exploded beneath Wu Huang’s and Ye Ming’s feet, their speed rapidly soaring as they
continued to give chase.
One group chased while one figure fled, crossing only god knows how many mountains in half a day.
However, Wu Huang and Ye Ming remained extremely persistent and stubborn, unrelentless in their
chase without even a second to relax.
Some distance to their front, Yaoyao’s face grew increasingly pale, the chase draining a huge portion of
her energy.
No one discovered that the iciness in Yaoyao’s bright eyes was growing colder and colder, while the
ancient rune between her brows gradually became more and more visible.
All of a sudden, Yaoyao seemed to lose her patience, her figure suddenly coming to a halt.
“He’s on his last legs!” Wu Huang and Ye Ming were overjoyed, their bodies arriving some distance
behind Yaoyao with one final spurt, while the other four moved to surround her from all directions.
Wu Huang said, “Finally ready to accept your fate?”
Yaoyao raised her head, her face emotionless as she gazed at Wu Huang and replied, “Do you really
believe that the reason why you are able to live for so long is because of your ability? I merely promised
Zhou Yuan that your life is his to take.”
Wu Huang’s expression darkened. “Still so sharp-tongued even at death’s door.”
The long hair draped over Yaoyao’s shoulders gradually began to rise, her pretty face ice-cold. “However,
I feel that you’re really too detestable, so my promise to Zhou Yuan shall no longer be valid.”
Her face was expressionless, while the ancient rune between her brows began to give off a faint glow.
“Something’s not right, kill him!”
Shouted both Ye Ming and Wu Huang as they frowned. The two immediately threw a punch, berserk
Genesis Qi whizzing forth to viciously attack Yaoyao.
Yaoyao’s face was ice-cold as she watched the rapidly expanding Genesis Qi attacks, a long slender finger
reaching towards the ancient rune between her brows.
The air was filled with the faint feeling that something terrifying was about to be released.
Boom!
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Genesis Qi seemed to scream as it approached. However, when Yaoyao’s finger was still half a finger from
her head, a figure suddenly appeared like a phantom, grabbing Yaoyao in one fluid motion as it broke
through the encirclement with a flash of green.
“Stop him!” Ye Ming was the first react.
The four Dongxuan Continent geniuses did not hesitate, quick as lightning as they as they pounced at the
green light.
“Heehee.”
Lovely tinkling laughter spread from within the green light. One could only watch as the green light
flashed, like a fish as it swam past the encirclement of the four, displaying godly movement technique
that dazzled the eyes.
The green light did not stop after escaping, disappearing into the vast sea of trees in several flickers.
Boom!
Only at this moment did Wu Huang’s and Ye Ming’s attacks finally land on the empty space, ripping and
tearing apart the ground.
Ye Ming’s expression was rather stormy. He did not expect such a turn of events when they were just
about to succeed.
Even he was shocked by the green light’s speed.
“Who is that? Pretty decent strength, but that speed is really amazing.” Ye Ming looked towards Wu
Huang. Although it had only been a few brief moments, the former had already gauged that though the
green light’s strength was decent, it was still within manageable levels. That speed however, would leave
even him in the dust.
Wu Huang’s ugly face stared at the direction the green light had disappeared. A long time later, a
chillingly furious voice hissed from between the cracks of his teeth.
“Damned Zuoqiu Qingyu!”
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Chapter 162 Qingyu’s Aid
By the edge of a stream.
Green light flashed past as two figures appeared. One was wearing a black dress, her figure enchanting
while her bewitching face akin to a little succubus. This was naturally Zuoqiu Qingyu
“How’s my beauty saves the hero? Did your heart stir?” Zuoqiu Qingyu held her waist with her little
hands, a clearly pleased look on her smiling face.
Yaoyao’s face was slightly pale as she sat on a rock. One of her hands was pressed against her shoulder
where a dash of red had appeared. However, her expression had remained cool and collected from start
to end. She lifted her head, and was silent for some time as she looked at Zuoqiu Qingyu, before she said,
“If you did not come, all of them would likely be dead now.”
“Arrh?”
Zuoqiu Qingyu was stunned. Soon after, her little red lips pouted. “Insisting on saving face even till death.
You shouldn’t feel humiliated though, no one else in the entire Cangmang Continent’s younger generation
can make someone as arrogant as Wu Huang chose to put his pride aside and cooperate with others.”
She evidently thought Yaoyao was just being stubborn.
Yaoyao shook her head, deciding not to explain. However, she gave Zuoqiu Qingyu a faint nod as she said,
“However, I should still give my thanks.”
She could indeed eliminate Wu Huang and the rest, but doing so would require breaking the seal between
her brows. Although she did not know what would happen after, given how sternly grandpa Hei had
warned her, the consequences would likely be very serious.
To her, it was best that she did not break the seal. Hence, Yaoyao felt a slight bit of gratitude towards
Zuoqiu Qingyu for saving her.
Upon hearing Yaoyao’s thanks, Zuoqiu Qingyu giggled happily. Her eyes seemed to spin in thought as she
looked towards the injury in Yaoyao’s shoulder, before she seated herself a hand’s length away and said
in a gentle voice, “You’re injured? Shall I help you clean your wound?”
Yaoyao was stuck between being angry or laughing when she saw Zuoqiu Qingyu’s twinkling eyes. The
latter was still under the impression that she was a man, and wanted to take advantage of her...
Yaoyao could not help but smile and say, “You shouldn’t have such thoughts about me.”
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Her relationship with Zuoqiu Qingyu was not that good before, hence why Yaoyao could not be bothered
to explain things. But since she now owed Zuoqiu Qingyu a debt of gratitude, Yaoyao was naturally no
longer going to allow this misunderstanding to continue any further.
“Why?” Zuoqiu Qingyu pouted as she unhappily said, “Am I not good enough for you? Which part about
me is no good? Humph, you don’t know just how many people are fond of me.”
Yaoyao helplessly shook her head. She did not respond but merely lightly patted with a hand. Light
immediately enveloped her body, before fading several breaths later.
And then, Zuoqiu Qingyu’s little mouth hung wide open.
The originally pretty-boy young master seated on the rock before her now had a long black luscious hair
hanging from his head, his absolutely gorgeous face seemingly without a single blemish, his skin white as
jade while glowing with a healthy light.
Perfect curves rose and fell on his slender and exquisite figure.
Zuoqiu Qingyu was extremely proud of her body, but the girl before her was even more outrageous than
herself. Especially those mysterious eyes that seemed as if nothing could ever enter, and gave the girl an
unparalleled presence.
In the blink of an eye, the pretty young master had become a gorgeous beauty.
“I did not want to draw unnecessary trouble previously, so I disguised myself.” Explained Yaoyao. Her
voice had returned to normal, clear and sweet, like a flowing spring that would ease any troubled heart.
“Do you understand now?”
Zuoqiu Qingyu was dumbstruck. It was a long while later before she finally replied with a face as if she
was about to die, “Is my first love gone just like that?”
A swivel of an eye later however, she suddenly gritted her teeth, staring at Yaoyao for a moment before
pouncing towards her as she yelled, “I don’t care, I don’t care. Since you’re so pretty, I won’t give up even
if you’re a girl!”
Yaoyao was startled by Zuoqiu Qingyu’s sudden change in attitude, not knowing whether to laugh or to
cry. Everyone had said she was a little succubus, and it now seemed that this title had not been given for
no reason. Her way of thinking truly deviated from the norm.
How can a girl like another girl?
Yaoyao’s long, slender finger reached out, stopping the pouncing Zuoqiu Qingyu at her forehead. With a
vexed flick, the former said, “Move away, I don’t have time to play such games with you.”
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Zuoqiu Qingyu rubbed her forehead, her large eyes watery as she looked at Yaoyao and said in an
unresigned manner, “You evil devil, you destroyed my first love, compensate me.”
Yaoyao pondered for a moment, before she offhandedly said, “I’ll compensate you with Zhou Yuan.”
Zuoqiu Qingyu frowned. “He can’t even beat me, I don’t want someone weaker than myself.”
Yaoyao ignored her, squatted by the stream and loosened her clothes, revealing a beautiful collarbone
and shoulder. On her shoulder was a deep bloody wound that appeared rather frightening.
Iciness flitted across Yaoyao’s eyes as she shot a glance at the wound. She then turned to Zuoqiu Qingyu
and said, “Help me apply some medicine.”
Zuoqiu Qingyu darted over with a swish, her eyes glowing as she stared at the white jade like flesh and
exquisite collar bone. She then secretly cast a glance downwards, immediately catching sight of lovely
snow white curves.
A sight so erotic that any man would have a spouting nosebleed.
However, Yaoyao seemed to sense the former’s gaze and immediately sent a cold look over.
Zuoqiu Qingyu hastily withdrew her gaze, retrieved a bag of medicine and began properly applying some
ointment for Yaoyao.
“Have we lost them?” Asked Yaoyao.
Zuoqiu Qingyu pridefully answered, “Relax, though I admittedly cannot beat them in a real fight, if we
were to talk about escaping, even Wu Huang will only be able to eat my dust.”
“I believe that they can’t even find a single trace of us now, so we are absolutely safe.”
Yaoyao gave a slight nod. “I’ll rest for a few days and prepare a few things.”
“What after?”
Yaoyao stared at the clear waters of the stream. The beautiful face reflected in its waters grinned slightly
as a ice-cold murder was revealed.
“Make them pay of course…”
In a mountain forest far from where Zuoqiu Qingyu and Yaoyao were located.
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Ye Ming’s expression was rather ugly as his gaze fell upon the seemingly endless mountain forests, blood
appearing from the corner of his eye. It was obvious that he was using his searching eye technique again.
“Can’t find them?” Upon seeing his expression, Wu Huang’s heart sunk slightly.
Ye Ming nodded. “She is too quick, and has already thrown us off long ago. I can no longer find her.”
Wu Huang’s expression was frosty as he sent a punch towards the giant tree in front of him, blowing it to
splinters to release the fury in his heart.
They pretty much had no option left but to exchange injury for injury in order to hurt Zhou Xiaoyao,
creating a chance like that would be very difficult to find again in future. And yet, Zhou Xiaoyao had still
been allowed to escape.
This would undoubtedly become a huge danger to them.
Ye Ming shook his head and said, “We cannot do anything about him now, it will be better to first let them
leave their names on the Saint Tablet.”
He looked towards the four figures behind them.
Wu Huang indifferently said, “Are you certain it will not end up benefiting the top tier prided geniuses of
the Cangmang Continent instead?”
Behind Ye Ming, the fiery-red long haired girl from amongst the four laughed when she heard this and
said, “Actually, you can personally try us.”
Her words were filled with provocation, clearly unafraid of Wu Huang.
“How can anyone decent come from a place as tiny as the Cangmang Continent?” The one who had
spoken was a metal tower like youth. Glowing runes were faintly visible on his muscular body, while a
trace of disdain was revealed on his face.
Wu Huang’s expression remained indifferent, no anger whatsoever, as if unaffected by their words.

“That’s good, since there will be no one to collect your corpses if you get beaten to death.”
After speaking, his figure moved, stepping on Genesis Qi as he soared into the sky.
The eyes of the four Dongxuan Continent geniuses turned icy, and were about to stop him but they saw
Ye Ming wave his hand, stopping them instead.
“There’s no meaning in a battle of tongues. Use your actions to show your worth.”
Ye Ming gazed at Wu Huang’s figure as he continued in a nonchalant voice, “The super elite prided
geniuses are the mental pillar of the Cangmang Continent’s younger generation. We only need to defeat
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them to destroy their morale, making it such that they would naturally no longer have any thoughts with
regards to the blessings of the Saint Remains Domain.”
“That’s why…”
He softly chuckled at the four individuals, a chuckle from which sinister chillingness flowed.
“From now onwards, we shall let those from the Cangmang Continent tremble under the shadow of our
Dongxuan Continent…”
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Chapter 163 Chance Encounter
Swish!
Dark gold Genesis Qi shot across the horizon, eventually landing on a certain mountain top as Zhou
Yuan’s figure was revealed.
His expression was rather dark and stormy. During the day long journey he took to rush here, he had
constantly tried to ask for information, but did not discover any news about Yaoyao.
The Saint Remains Domain was just too vast.
“Continuing to search like a headless fly is far too ineffective.” Zhou Yuan frowned. To obtain more
information, he had to go where many were gathered.
“On the way here, the people in this area have been heading towards the southwest direction where a
golden pond is said to have appeared. The pond is extremely mysterious and is rumored to be the
materialization of a top tier blessing.” A look of thought was revealed on Zhou Yuan’s face.
“There should be many geniuses there, making it a hub of information. If I head there, I should be able to
obtain news regarding Yaoyao.”
Zhou Yuan’s eyes flickered. Without any further hesitation, Genesis Qi surged as he once again
transformed into a ray of dark gold light that dashed into the sky.
Half a day later.
A continuous mountain range appeared within Zhou Yuan’s sights. Thick fog lingered in the sky above it
all year round, making it impossible to clearly see the situation inside. Faint Genesis Qi undulations were
also present within the mist, spreading an aura of danger.
However, if one was to peer past the endless fog, one would seem to see a mysterious golden light fading
and appearing at its deepest depths…
On the fringe of the mountain range.
Countless figures were pouring in from all directions, creating a line-up that appeared rather magnificent.
Evidently, news of the golden pool had already spread.
Zhou Yuan’s figure headed directly to the edge of the mountain range. He too did not dare to land in the
fog, afraid that he might draw the attention of some unknown creature.
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His figure landed in the forest. This was the outer region of the mountain range, and several figures could
be seen flying towards the mountains. He too followed, occasionally stopping individuals to inquire about
Yaoyao.
After some time, he managed to gather a bit more information. However, the majority only mentioned
that they had caught glimpses of Wu Huang and his group chasing someone, but did not know the rough
direction or location.
This caused Zhou Yuan’s frown to grow deeper and deeper.
Zhou Yuan did not slow down, the surrounding mists growing thicker and thicker around him. He could
hear numerous roars and howls echoing from far away, while faint but violent Genesis Qi ripples pulsed
from time to time.
Zhou Yuan flew out of the forest as a plain emerge in front of him. However, his footsteps suddenly came
to a stop, because a figure had appeared some distance to his front.
There were faint skeleton like pictures on the figure’s clothes, while an extremely dark and icy aura
emanated from him, causing a chill to fill the surrounding air.
Zhou Yuan frowned as he gazed at the figure, but he did not say anything and turned around to leave.
Pch!
However, just as he turned around, the figure lifted his hand and gray Qi suddenly shot out. The Qi
released a piercing hiss, quick as lightning as it swept towards Zhou Yuan.
Zhou Yuan sent a punch backwards as dark gold Genesis Qi surged, rippling the air as it scattered the cold
gray Genesis Qi.
When the gray Genesis Qi was scattered, Zhou Yuan felt an icy Qi invade his body, slowing the flow of
blood and causing his flesh to turn rigid wherever it passed.
However, just as the gray Genesis Qi was about to take another step, blood-red Qi whizzed out, devouring
it in a single gulp.
“Oh?”
The figure let out a faint cry of surprise.
Zhou Yuan’s brows were tightly knitted together as he looked towards the figure and asked, “Who are
you?”
He did not seem to know this person, but since the latter had attacked at their first encounter, meaning
he was clearly here for Zhou Yuan.
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The figure slowly turned around, only to reveal the extremely pale face of a young man. It was as if all the
blood had been drained from him, and his ash-colored eyes seemed to contain the hair-raising aura of
death.
He coughed softly, before he slowly said, “Yama Sect, Zhen Xu.”
“Zhen Xu (Very weak)?” Zhou Yuan was stunned. Soon after, he scanned the other party’s pale
complexion as he nodded his head and said, “You are looking a little weak, you have to get more
nourishment…”
The pale youth was expressionless as he stared at Zhou Yuan.
Zhou Yuan shrugged. “It’s a joke. Does the honorable Little Yama King of the Yama Sect have nothing
better to do than to come here and stop me? I believe there is no grudge between us.”
The youth called Zhen Xu flatly said, “The Yama Sect owes Saint Remains City a debt of gratitude.”
Only then did Zhou Yuan understand. It turns out that it was a helper enlisted by Xiao Tianxuan. What a
capable fellow, to think that he would be able to employ even an apex level prided genius like the Little
Yama King.
Zhou Yuan curiously asked, “How did you find me?”
“Someone else’s Universe bag should not be taken so casually.” Zhen Xu’s tone was completely calm,
devoid of any feeling.
Zhou Yuan nodded, so that was how.
Zhen Xu shot a look at Zhou Yuan and said, “Xiao Tianxuan has almost been tormented to death by the
blood poison you sent into his body. That’s why I have to capture you and bring you back to neutralize
the poison for him.”
There was always a hint of eeriness in his voice, an eeriness that made one shiver all over.
Zhou Yuan flatly said, “He has only himself to blame.”
Zhen Xu said in an indifferent manner, “I do not have time to bother with the grudge between you two. I
only need to capture you and bring you back to neutralize the poison. After which, the Yama Sect and
Saint Remains City will no longer owe each other anything.”
Zhou Yuan shook his head. “I too have no time to bother with your debt.”
“I said I’m going to capture you, I did not say that I have to obtain your permission.” At the final word,
Zhen Xu’s body suddenly shot forward like a phantom, pouncing straight at Zhou Yuan.
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The hands inside his sleeves reached out, revealing their skeletal appearance. They had a grayish black
hue, while a terrifying stench seemed to circle around them.
Sharp fingernails slashed, tearing even the air itself.
Zhou Yuan’s eyes narrowed, but he didn't retreat. Five fingers tightly clenched into a fist, dark gold
Genesis Qi surging as a punch was sent flying. Its power was so great that the thick leaves beneath his feet
were shredded to pieces.
Bang!
Fist and palm collided as two different Genesis Qis clashed, instantly cracking the ground below their feet.
“Corpse Poison Hand.”
A dark look flitted across Zhen Xu’s eyes as a chilling light appeared on his fingertips, viciously scratching
the back of Zhou Yuan’s hand. Corpse poison was contained in the former’s hand and would invade the
flesh of anyone that came into contact with it.
Screeech!
However, his fingertips did not draw blood but a spluttering of sparks.
Golden scales had emerged on the back of Zhou Yuan’s hand.
“Like to play with poison? Then have a taste of mine!”
Zhou Yuan icily chuckled as his palm thrust forward. Dark gold Genesis Qi whizzed out, squeezing out a
line of blood that swiftly shot towards Zhen Xu’s head with a swish.
The line of blood was naturally the Dragon’s Resentment Poison.
Roar!
As it flew, the faint resentful roar of a dragon could be heard.
Zhen Xu’s eyes narrowed slightly. He knew that this was the blood poison that had brutally tortured Xiao
Tianxuan. He did not dare to let it touch him, quickly waving his sleeves as layers of cold grayish black
Genesis Qi gathered in front of him.
Sizzle sizzle!
The strand of Dragon’s Resentment Poison was continuously consumed, ultimately completely vanishing
an inch from Zhen Xu.
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Boom!
Two blasts of powerful Genesis Qi clashed, snapping the waists of the nearby trees, while Zhou Yuan’s
and Zhen Xu’s figures were thrown backwards.
However, the instant Zhen Xu’s body was sent flying backwards, his expression suddenly turned graver
as he caught sight of the ice-blue Genesis Qi sweeping towards him from the corner of his eye, creating
layers of ice on the ground wherever it passed.
“Corpse Bone Finger!”
A lightning quick finger attack was sent out by Zhen Xu as an aura of death surged out. The green leaves
on the ground were turned to dust when the grayish black Genesis Qi swept past.
Ch ch!
The attack tore through the ice-blue Genesis Qi.
Zhen Xu turned his head slightly, his expression somewhat grim as he stared at the forest to his right.
Moments later, a petite figure slowly walked out with a smile.
Zhou Yuan’s eyes also fell upon the familiar figure, and was immediately stunned.
“Luluo?”
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Chapter 164 Luluo Seeks the Golden Pool
A petite girl with a head full of long green hair beamed as she walked out from the forest, a teasing look in
her eyes as she looked at Zhou Yuan and said, “You’re really unlucky, always being attacked wherever
you go.”
She then turned towards the pale Zhen Xu. “And always by such troublesome individuals.”
Zhou Yuan chuckled, somewhat surprised as he responded, “I did not expect to meet you here.”
On Luluo’s shoulder, the little ice-blue bird hopped about energetically as it chirped. She gave it playful
hit as she said, “The golden pool’s blessing is not small. Of course I’ll be here to try my luck.”
As the two spoke, Zhen Xu’s brows knitted together slightly. He too did not expect that Luluo would
suddenly appear. He knew that the latter was also an apex level genius of the Cangmang Continent, and
was not the slightest bit inferior to himself.
In the earlier exchange with Zhou Yuan, the latter had displayed a strength that secretly shocked Zhen Xu.
Now that there was another Luluo that was no weaker than himself, he would clearly not have much of an
advantage in a two versus one situation.
Zhen Xu stared at Luluo and asked, “You intend to interfere?”
Luluo grinned as she answered, “Nope, you guys can fight, I will just be over here watching.”
Zhen Xu frowned, evidently unconvinced by Luluo’s words. This girl was too eccentric, and as wily as a
fox. It was very possible that she would suddenly sneak an attack while they were locked in battle.
Just like what had happened previously.
Hence, Zhen Xu took in a deep breath, eyes flickering slightly, before he decisively turned around and left.
Given the current situation, there was clearly no way to continue. Since that was so, it was only a waste of
time to stay.
“*Sigh*, going just like that…”
Luluo was stunned by Zhen Xu’s sudden departure. Soon after, she looked towards Zhou Yuan with
eagerness as she suggested, “How about we work together to stop him?”
Zhou Yuan shook his head. “I’m afraid that it won’t be easy, and there’s no need to take such desperate
measures.”
913
As one that was also called an apex level geniuses of the Cangmang Continent, Zhen Xu was clearly no
ordinary individual. In addition, the relationship between them had not reached the extent where they
would be forced into a battle to the death.
Luluo nodded her chin. “Dead face guy might appear ill and feeble, but he is indeed very difficult to kill.
Rumor says that his body has gone through an extremely cruel refinement process that, as long as his
heart is intact, even the most serious of injuries will not be fatal.”
“I even heard that he once battled an Alpha-Origin expert, exchanging wound for wound until the other
party was slowly drained to death.”
Astonishment flashed in Zhou Yuan’s eyes when he heard this. Sure enough, every person who could
become an apex level genius was no simple individual.
“Right, have you heard any news about Yaoyao?” Zhou Yuan suddenly asked.
Luluo pondered a little before she answered, “You should already know that Wu Huang is working
together with those from the Dongxuan Continent in order to deal with big sis Yaoyao, right?”
Zhou Yuan’s grimly nodded.
“But don’t worry, I’ve heard that big sis Yaoyao met Zuoqiu Qingyu. With that temptress around, even Wu
Huang will not be able to catch up.” Luluo indicated that there was no need for Zhou Yuan to worry.
“Zuoqiu Qingyu’s speed and movement technique are definitely the best amongst the Cangmang
Continent’s younger generation.”
“Eh?” Zhou Yuan was somewhat amazed.
Luluo explained, “From what I know, the Zuoqiu clan owns an incomplete Heaven tier Genesis technique
called ‘Swimming Black Carp’, which is also the origin of Qingyu’s name* (black carp in pinyin is qingyu).
Most importantly, she was able to master this movement based Heaven Genesis technique.”
“A movement based Heaven Genesis technique?” Zhou Yuan was slightly shocked. That was a Heaven
Genesis technique, not the little Heaven tier. One must know that a Genesis technique at this level was
extremely rare even in the entire Cangmang Continent.
Although it was incomplete, its profoundness and wondrousness far surpassed the little Heaven tier.
Only now did Zhou Yuan finally relax a little. With Zuoqiu Qingyu around, it was impossible for Wu Huang
to trap Yaoyao again, while if he were to try to take her on alone, he would be beaten into a pig’s face by
the now angered Yaoyao.
914
“Although she should be fine, I have to find her.” Said Zhou Yuan, and began turning around to leave.
Hearing Yaoyao was hurt had given him a huge scare. He could not imagine how he could face master
Cang Yuan if something happened to her.
“Hai, hai hai…”
Luluo hurriedly pulled Zhou Yuan’s sleeve when she saw this, stopping him as she blinked her large eyes
and said, “The Saint Remains Domain is huge, how will you find her? If you keep searching around like a
headless fly, won’t you miss every blessing in here?”
“It is enough as long as I have the blessings I need. If it is fate, they will naturally come.” Zhou Yuan was
rather open-minded.
Luluo rolled her eyes. They seemed to swivel in thought for a moment, before she said, “I have a better
idea. Since so many prided geniuses have gathered here, we should distinguish ourselves and obtain the
blessing here. Our names will then begin to spread, and with so many people helping us spread our
reputation, it will definitely land in big sis Yaoyao’s ears sooner or later.”
“Then they will know our location and come to find us. Isn’t this more convenient?”
Zhou Yuan was taken aback. There was some logic to this method. Soon after, he seemed to smile as he
looked towards Luluo. “It seems that you are very interested in the golden pool’s blessing?”
Luluo wanted him to stay because she desired a dependable helper.
Luluo nodded, not denying it. “Did you know? It's said that the golden pool is full of wonders. Not only
does it possess the power to purify and strengthen the body, it can even nourish the Spirit and temper
one’s Genesis Qi. Most importantly of course, it can allow a bloodline to return to its ancestral state.”
“Returning a bloodline to its ancestral state?” Zhou Yuan was stunned. He shot a thoughtful glance at the
ice-blue bird on Luluo’s shoulder. Such a function was clearly more useful to Genesis Beasts.
“Little Frost possess the ice phoenix bloodline. If it can enter the golden pool, its bloodline will definitely
return to its ancestral state, allowing it to grow closer to the state of an ice phoenix.” Luluo anxiously
looked at Zhou Yuan.
“Tempering one’s Genesis Qi… if so, I wonder if my Magical Python Scales will evolve once again and
reach the purplish gold level?” Mumbled Zhou Yuan to himself inside.
If his Magical Python Scales reached the purplish gold state, even an Alpha-Origin expert will not be able
to breach his defenses.
A sliver of interest rose within him.
915
“You can’t reach the golden pool even with your ability?” Asked Zhou Yuan. Luluo was one of the apex
level geniuses of the Cangmang Continent. Her skill and techniques could not be weak.
Luluo showed a pained look on her small face. “It’s said that there are many grade 4 Genesis Beasts in the
vicinity of the pool. I managed to get close a few days ago, but encountered one of them. It was not easy
for Little Frost and me to beat it, but that bastard quickly called over three other grade 4 Genesis Beasts.”
“So many grade 4 Genesis Beasts?” Zhou Yuan was a little shocked. Normally speaking, a grade 4 Genesis
Beast was already a tyrant like figure in the Saint Remains Domain. Why had so many of them gathered in
this place?
“I don’t know either… I heard that there weren’t so many of them here before.”
“Aren’t you a beast heart communicator? Can’t you communicate with them?” Asked Zhou Yuan.
Bewilderment filled Luluo’s face. “That’s right, I am normally able to communicate even if I encounter a
grade 4 Genesis Beast, but it doesn’t work with the Genesis Beasts here.”
“However, I managed to obtain some information from a Genesis Beast elsewhere.”
“What information?”
Luluo hesitated for a moment, before she very carefully said, “It seems that these grade 4 Genesis Beasts’
have a boss, and its this boss that called them here from the other mountains...”
Zhou Yuan’s eyes were wide open.
These grade 4 Genesis Beasts had a leader? What grade could command such authority? Who would dare
to trespass against such security...
916
Chapter 165 Dongxuan Attacks
In the empty space within the forest, Zhou Yuan was wide-eyed as he stared at Luluo. He was truly unable
to understand where she found such courage. She clearly knew that there was a mysterious Genesis Beast
guarding the golden pool, but she still dared to have designs on it.
Being stared at by Zhou Yuan made Luluo feel a little guilty. “Although the Genesis Beast leader won’t be
weak, as the saying goes, enough ants can bite an elephant to death. With so many geniuses now gathered
here, what’s there to be afraid of?”
Zhou Yuan rolled his eyes at here. It was true that there were many geniuses, but there were even more
Genesis Beats in the mountains with no lack of grade 4 amongst them.
Luluo’s eyes were watery as she pitifully begged, “Help me please, Little Frost really needs the golden
pool.”
Zhou Yuan shot a glance at the clearly acting Luluo and fell into thought for a brief moment, before he
said, “It’s not that we can’t give it a try, but if I find that the Genesis Beast leader is too strong, we can only
choose to withdraw.”
If the mysterious Genesis Beast reached grade 5, there would be no chance at all, because only a Divine
Dwelling expert would be able to match it.
Luluo immediately nodded upon seeing that Zhou Yuan’s tone had loosened.
“Do you have a plan?” Asked Zhou Yuan.
“This mountain range is covered in a fog that will distort one’s senses, but after being scouted by
numerous individuals, some paths to the golden pool were found.”
“However, these paths are guarded by Genesis Beasts. Those below grade 4 are not a problem, but there
will be grade 4 Genesis Beasts nearer to the pool. It was there that I was stopped before.” Explained
Luluo.
“If the two of us work together, it should be easy to break through!”
Zhou Yuan shrugged at the sight of the confident Luluo. Since she was so insistent, they could give it a try.
He was a little interested in the golden pool too after all, and naturally would not reject a share of its
blessings.
“We can give it a try.” Declared Zhou Yuan.
Luluo excitedly nodded her head. With a wave of her hand, she began to lead the way, bypassing the
forest and heading towards the mountains.
917
Zhou Yuan observed the path she took, sure enough, he discovered that the fog was thinner, unlike other
areas where it was so thick that it made it impossible to discern any direction.
Zhou Yuan curiously inquired, “Aren’t there others on this path?”
A path like this should be choked full of people, right?
“Because it belongs to me.” Replied Luluo in a pleased manner.
“The others did not object?” Asked Zhou Yuan in surprise.
Luluo cocked her head. “They did in the beginning, but after being beaten up a few times by me, they
withdrew their objections. After which, this path was mine.”
Zhou Yuan gave her a thumbs up. What a character, one really could not afford to offend her.
The group of two laughed and chatted as they travelled. Along the way, Zhou Yuan could faintly sense
numerous beast cries from the surrounding mist, pair after pair of eyes secretly observing them.
However, these Genesis Beast did not show themselves to stop them. Zhou Yuan knew that it was likely
because of Luluo.
Although she had no way to deal with the grade 4 Genesis Beasts, those below grade 4 could be
communicated with and commanded.
Hence, their passage was exceptionally smooth going.
This continued all the way until they stepped into the deeper region of the mountain range, and Zhou
Yuan’s footsteps slowly came to a halt. He had sensed a ferocious presence occupying the spot in the
distance, as a heavy and ominous pressure pulsed continuously.
Luluo’s face tensed up as she said, “That’s the grade 4 Genesis Beast blocking our way.”
Ice-blue Genesis Qi began surging from the little bird on her shoulder.
Zhou Yuan gaze was firmly fixed to his front where the ground was faintly trembling. In the end, he saw a
dozen feet tall multi-colored tiger with a pair of wings on its back slowly walk out from the fog.
The beast’s cruel eyes were locked onto them.
...
A certain area in the mountain range.
918
Zhen Xu leisurely walked forward, his ash-colored eyes seemingly devoid of any trace of life. He was akin
to a walking dead person, no warmth at all from his ice-cold body.
Suddenly, his moving feet slowly came to a stop.
He lifted his head and looked forward where a giant tree stood within the thin fog. There was currently a
figure seated on one of its branches, head lowered and looking at him.
It was a young man with an innocent looking baby face. A single look of his smiling appearance gave one a
rather favorable impression.
However, Zhen Xu merely stared at him in a nonchalant manner.
“Heh heh, how are you…” The youth smiled at Zhen Xu.
There was no response.
The youth did not seem to mind, still smiling brightly as he said, “I am Jiang Quan from the Jiang clan of
the Dongxuan Continent.”
Zhen Xu’s eyes finally moved. He stared at the youth called Jiang Quan and said, “It seems that quite a few
of you Dongxuan rats have sneaked in.”
Jiang Quan grinned. “You should be the Little Yama King from the Yama Sect, right?”
“I plan to leave my name on the Saint Tablet, so… I’ll have to ask you to do me a favor…”
“Please die at my hands, alright?”
Jiang Quan’s gaze abruptly turned ice-cold at the final word. With a flick, the ground under Zhen Xu’s feet
suddenly crumbled as two sharp blue icicle shaped Genesis Qi stabbed towards him like a bolt of
lightning.
Zhen Xu’s figure instantly rose into the air at this moment.
Blue Genesis Qi streaked past, ripping apart the air, leaving two deep holes on Zhen Xu’s shin. However,
the holes gave off an ash gray glow, but no blood flowed from them.
Zhen Xu’s expression remained indifferent as if unable to feel the wound on his leg as his hand suddenly
made a grabbing motion.
Grayish black Genesis Qi stealthily snaked towards Jiang Quan from behind like a viper in the shadow,
shooting straight for the fatal point on his back.
Ch!
919
Blue Genesis Qi rose behind Jiang Quan like a grand sea, blocking the sneak attack. The corpse poison
contained within the grayish black Qi was scattered and neutralized the moment it came into contact
with the blue Genesis Qi.
Jiang Quan grinned. “As expected of an apex level genius of the Cangmang Continent… I really have to be
vigilant.”
Grayish balck Genesis Qi churned below Zhen Xu’s feet, lifting him into the air. His ash-colored eyes
locked onto Jiang Quan as he said, “A rat will always be a rat, only knowing how to sneak attack.”
“Aren’t you the same, already secretly prepared an attack the moment we met.” Jiang Quan chuckled.
“However, it does seem like you do have some ability. Guess I have not specially come here in vain.” Jiang
Quan slowly lifted his hand. In an instant, astonishing Genesis Qi exploded from his body. Blue Genesis Qi
surged behind him like a wave, giving off an alarming pressure.
“I heard that you once exhausted an Alpha-Origin to death?”
Jiang Quan smiled slightly. “What a coincidence, there’s also an Alpha-Origin that was toyed to death by
me in the same manner.”
“And today… I will also let you have a taste of how he felt.”
Rumble!
However, rumbling grayish black Genesis Qi had already unfurled from Zhen Xu’s body before the
former’s words could fade. In a split second, the Genesis Qi turned into countless streams of grayish black
that seemed to fill the sky as they headed towards Jiang Quan from all directions.
“You talk too much.”
*Crash*!
Jiang Quan’s gaze was ice-cold. With a wave of his sleeve, blue Genesis Qi whizzed forth like a wave with a
weight of a hundred thousand pounds, crashing against the countless grayish blacks streams.
Boom!
The full power of the two caused a shockwave of devastation to sweep outwards, causing the ground to
instantly crumble...
Jiang Quan licked his lips, a cruel look emerging in his eyes as his cold voice echoed in the forest.
“After today, the apex level prided geniuses of your Cangmang Continent… will become the stepping
stones of our Dongxuan Continent…”
920
Chapter 166 Zhu Ying
Boom!
A shockwave of berserk Genesis Qi devastated the surrounding forest, towering tree after tree snapped at
their waists, while cracks grew like spider webs on the ground.
At the epicenter of the Genesis Qi, a giant multi-colored winged tiger roared. Above it, a huge ice-blue bird
flapped its wings, sending ice-cold Genesis Qi sweeping downwards that covered the land in a layer of ice.
The tiger opened it mouth as a violent Genesis Qi charged out like a flood, clashing with the icy Genesis
Qi.
The battle between the two titans could be said to shake the mountains.
Zhou Yuan and Luluo were watching the battle nearby. The ice bird Luluo called Little Frost clearly also
had grade 4 strength that did not lose to the multi-colored tiger.
“However, this tiger does not have a little Heaven Genesis technique. It seems that not all grade 4 Genesis
Beasts possess one.” Zhou Yuan secretly mumbled to himself as he watched the fight.
When Luluo saw that the two beasts were at a stalemate, she opened her mouth and said, “Zhou Yuan, I’m
going to help Little Frost. Help me keep watch.”
Zhou Yuan nodded upon hearing this.
Luluo’s toes pushed off the ground, her petite body leaping into the air and landing on the ice bird.
She reached out a small hand and pressed it against the bird’s body.
EE!
A spirited light seemed to flash in the eyes of the bird as it flapped its wings and rose into the sky. Genesis
Qi whizzed forth, transforming into countless ice feathers.
The ice feathers were sharp without equal and extremely cold.
Swish!
The ice feathers seemed to block out the sky as they descended.
The tiger raised its head and roared, creating a powerful sound wave. The sound wave fused into its
Genesis Qi, visible to the naked eye as it spread, shattering any ice feathers in its path.
921
“This tiger is a pretty difficult opponent.” Zhou Yuan’s expression turned a little graver as he watched
from some distance away. The strength displayed by the beast was remarkable.
“But Luluo is also very strong. As expected of an apex level genius.” A look of thought was revealed on
Zhou Yuan’s face. Luluo’s strength had likely already reached the quasi Alpha Origin level, and only half a
step separated her from the true Alpha-Origin.
In addition, Zhou Yuan could tell that when Luluo and Little Frost came into contact, the two seemed to
fuse together. The ice bird’s attacks began to display liveliness and fluidity, and had even started to give
off the same ripples from a Genesis technique.
“The shattered ice feathers…”
Zhou Yuan stared at the battlefield. The feathers that had been shattered by the tiger had turned into
almost undetectable dust. The dust floated in the air, and was unknowingly breathed in by the tiger,
entering its body.
“What a formidable tactic. Can’t believe she is able to take things to this level.”
Shock filled Zhou Yuan’s heart. The previous ice feather bombardment had only been a ruse. Luluo’s true
aim was to conceal the existence of the ice dust, dust that contained extremely cold Qi.
If Zhou Yuan’s Spirit had not reached the advance Illusory stage that gave him astonishingly sharp senses,
he would have likely been unable to discover the dust that could not be seen with the naked eye.
“The tiger is going to lose.” Remarked Zhou Yuan in his heart.
Sure enough, things went just as Zhou Yuan had expected. Unbeknownst to the tiger, its speed began to
drop as the battle went on, while a faint layer of frost began to appear on its fur.
At a certain moment, Luluo’s eyes seemed to harden as her mouth opened, spitting out a ball of ice-blue
Genesis Qi.
Little Frost also opened its beak as cold Qi whizzed out, transforming into an icy gale that abruptly swept
across the area.
Icy winds howled past, instantly freezing the ground. Just as the tiger was about to circulate its Genesis Qi
to block, its body suddenly turned rigid as the cold Qi inside abruptly exploded.
In the short span of a few breaths, the giant multi-colored tiger had transformed into a life like ice statue.
“Phew, so tiring!”
Luluo’s shoulders slumped, her face a little pale. The earlier battle might have seemed easy, but at the end
of the day, the tiger was still a grade 4 Genesis Beast, power that was comparable to the Alpha-Origin.
922
“Amazing, you’ve actually soloed a grade 4 Genesis Beast.” Zhou Yuan gave Luluo a thumbs up. This was
the first time he had seen someone take on a grade 4 Genesis Beast alone, and had even won.
Luluo grinned and said, “The big guy was just a little too stupid, allowing my ice spirit dust to enter its
body. If it was an ordinary Alpha-Origin practitioner, it would not have been so easy.”
She hopped off Little Frost’s back, arriving in front of the frozen giant tiger as she reached out a hand.
With a gentle knock, the ice sculpture shattered, leaving only scattered pieces of ice on the ground.
White Genesis Qi rose and converged in the air, forming a white Genesis Qi bead.
Luluo’s hand reached reached out, attempting to grab the Genesis Qi bead,
However, the instant she touched it, Zhou Yuan’s expression suddenly changed as he cried out, “Careful!”
The moment this word left his mouth, a flash of scarlet suddenly shot out from the forest behind them,
vicious and ruthless as it shot towards the fatal spot on Luluo’s back at an indescribable speed.
A rip could be seen in the air in that split second moment.
Luluo also sensed the sudden force that was heading her way, causing her expression to involuntarily
change. However, she had just relaxed her guard, and would not be in time to circulate her Genesis Qi.
The attacker had chosen the most perfect timing.
Pchla!
Scarlet light arrived like a flash of lightning. Just as it was about to hit Luluo however, Zhou Yuan’s body
swiftly dashed over, throwing himself forward like a pouncing tiger as he grabbed Luluo and crashed into
the ground. They tumbled several times before coming to a stop, Zhou Yuan covering her body with his
own from start to end.
Boom!
The scarlet light landed on the now empty ground, causing a wave of berserk Genesis Qi to unfurl. The
ground was torn open, the boiling heat melting even rocks.
The wave of heat burned a good chunk of Zhou Yuan’s clothes, leaving a piercing pain on his skin. He
frowned as he looked down at the pale Luluo and asked, “Are you hurt?”
Luluo was still in a somewhat panicked state, but hurriedly shook her head after swallowing a mouthful
of saliva.
Zhou Yuan stood up while pulling Luluo to her feet, before his dark gaze turned towards the dense forest
behind them. “Come out, you sneaky dirty thing.”
923
Luluo’s eyes were wide with rage, her teeth tightly clenched together as she stared in the same direction
as Zhou Yuan. If he had not responded as quickly as he did earlier, the sneak attack would have likely
succeeded.
Luluo angrily commanded, “Little Frost, go and capture him!”
EE!
Little Frost released an angry cry, its wings suddenly flapping as a surge of freezing air swept forth. Any
tree it came into contact with was instantly turned to ice.
“Hehe, what a violent little lass.”
When the freezing air swept past, scarlet light suddenly exploded like burning flames, completely
blocking the attack.
The scarlet-red Genesis Qi parted, allowing Zhou Yuan and Luluo to see a beautiful figure elegantly and
slowly walking out from within.
Only when she neared did they realise that it was an extremely pretty girl, her hair red like fire.
“Who are you?” Zhou Yuan’s brows furrowed. They clearly did not know this red-haired girl.
Upon hearing Zhou Yuan’s question, the red-haired girl smiled faintly, displaying a lovely smiling face.
However, there was not much warmth in her smile, but instead a chilling eeriness.
“Zhu Ying, Dongxuan Continent, Zhu clan.”
924
Chapter 167 Battling Zhu Ying
“Zhu Ying? Dongxuan Continent?”
Zhou Yuan and Luluo’s expression slightly changed at this moment.
Zhou Yuan stared at the red-haired girl called Zhu Ying, frowning as he said, “Looks like your Dongxuan
Continent has been eyeing our Cangmang Continent’s Saint Remains Domain for a long time.”
The other party's timing had been impeccable, secretly slipping into the Saint Remains Domain through
some unknown method the moment it opened. This clearly meant that they had been planning this
operation for a long time.
"Humph, Dongxuan rat, why did you attack me?" Luluo's face was rather unfriendly as she stared at Zhu
Ying.
"To leave my name on the Saint Tablet of course." Zhu Ying softly chuckled. "Your Cangmang Continent
does not have many decent apex level geniuses, leaving me no choice but to seek you out."
"The likes of you? Little Frost, go mess her up!" Luluo let out an icy laugh. She was clearly infuriated by
the red-haired girl's earlier actions, and did not want to waste anymore time talking.
EE!
Little Frost flapped its wings, immediately causing icy Genesis Qi to gather towards it. It was a
domineering and impressive sight, even the air began to freeze into countless ice crystals.
Swish!
Little Frost transformed into a flash of cold light that shot towards Zhu Ying at an astonishing speed.
The corners of Zhu Ying’s red lips curled slightly, the tip of her foot pushing off the ground as her body
rose into the air. Meanwhile, scarlet light shot out from her sleeve like a coiling fire python.
Pchla!
The scarlet light descended, wrapping around Little Frost. It turned out to be a long fiery-red whip that
seemed to burn with fire as it firmly bounded Little Frost. No matter how hard it struggled, the bird was
unable to break free.
“Hehe, how do you like my Scarlet Flame Beast Binding Whip?” Zhu Ying chuckled.
“Little Frost!” Luluo was greatly alarmed, evidently never expecting that Zhu Ying would possess a means
to restrain Genesis Beasts. A single move was all it had taken to bind the unprepared Little Frost.
925
“Flame Devil Seal!”
Zhu Ying understood that she could not give any chances to a formidable foe. After trapping Little Frost,
she appeared in front of Luluo in a flash, forming a seal with her hand as she sent it towards the latter.
Boom!
Scarlet-red Genesis Qi whizzed forth, seemingly transforming into a burning fist. The howls of flame
devils echoed from within as it ferociously blasted towards Luluo with violent, overwhelming might.
Luluo gritted her teeth as she thrust her hand forward, Genesis Qi surging with a piercing hiss.
Bang!
The two clashed directly. Zhu Ying ended up nimbly drifting backwards, why Luluo was violently shaken,
staggering back several steps before steadying herself. Her bright and clean face was flushed red, the Qi
and blood in her body clearly churning uncontrollably.
“Tch tch. You seem to be only so-so without that Genesis Beast.” Zhu Ying let out a pleasant sounding
laugh.
Luluo’s face turned green with fury. She had many skills and techniques, but all of them needed the
cooperation of a Genesis Beast to release their greatest power. However, due to her mistake, Little Frost
had been trapped at the beginning of the battle.
“If that is all you have, there will be one less apex level genius in your Cangmang Continent today.” Zhu
Ying seemed to sigh regretfully, but the smile on her lips was exceptionally cold.
Swish!
Her body shot forward once again, scarlet-red Genesis Qi erupting from her body like a volcano, the
rippling wave of heat that ensued causing tree after tree to burst into flames.
She was like an avatar of fire as she charged towards Luluo, fingertips flickering with a cold inhumane
light yet incomparably hot at the same time.
“You think I’m scared of you?!” Zhu Ying’s overbearingness caused Luluo’s temper to flare. She gritted her
teeth as her Genesis Qi began to stir, intending to accompany this woman all the way.
Just as she was about to move however, a figure blocked her from the front.
She looked over, only to be stunned. “Zhou Yuan?”
She immediately hastily said, “Leave quickly, that crazy woman is very difficult to deal with!”
926
Although she knew that Zhou Yuan had stepped into the Heaven Gate stage, he was after all only at the
initial level, while Zhu Ying likely had the strength of the quasi Alpha-Origin, strength that was even
greater than Xiao Tianxuan’s.
It was obviously impossible for Zhou Yuan to be her match.
Zhou Yuan waved his hand. “You go find a way to free Little Frost, let me deal with this woman.”
Without Little Frost’s aid, there were many techniques that Luluo was unable to use. In her current state,
she would not be Zhu Ying’s match.
“You…” Luluo was somewhat hesitant.
“Hehe, are all you Cangmang people so arrogant? To think that a mere initial Heaven Gate dares to
obstruct me.” Zhu Ying was pretty amused by this scene, but the light flickering within her eyes was full
of ridicule.
“Since you want to play the hero, I shall grant your wish.”
Zhu Qing laughed in a mocking manner. Scarlet light swirled around her body as her red hair danced,
making her look like a flame devil. Her hands clenched tightly, before she sent out a punch.
Bang!
The air exploded, while the fist winds cut deep scars in the ground below her feet.
This punch could easily create a hole in an advance Heaven Gate stage practitioner.
There was no fear in Zhou Yuan’s eyes as he watched the ferocious attack rapidly approach, but instead a
surge of burning excitement.
“Quasi Alpha-Origin huh… I do want to see just how strong that is.”
“Magical Python Scales!”
Zhou Yuan’s five fingers also clenched into a fist. Dark gold Genesis Qi rushed out of his Qi Dwelling,
covering his body while golden Magical Python Scales appeared on the surface of his hand.
“Grade 3 Genesis Rune, Black Gold Hand Rune!”
As Zhou Yuan shouted in his heart, a black luster appeared over his scale covered fist, giving off an aura of
invincibility.
927
Zhou Yuan’s figure was akin to an arrow that had been released, rocketing forward as he tore through the
air. A punch was sent out without the slightest shred of hesitation, smashing straight towards Zhu Ying’s
own.
“Reckless fool!” Zhu Ying mocked. This was the first time she had seen an initial Heaven Gate practitioner
dare to clash directly against her.
“Zhou Yuan!” Luluo could not help but cover her eyes.
“Dragon Tablet Hand, Break the Sky!”
At the instant of impact, Zhou Yuan’s fist seemed to become slow and heavy as power rippled outwards,
shaking the air and fissuring the ground.
The power of this punch was not only enhanced by Genesis Qi, but also the golden Magical Python Scales
and the grade 3 Black Gold Hand Rune. Its might was ferocious to the extreme.
Boom!
Two fists containing dreadfully terrifying force slammed into each other.
A muffled boom filled the surroundings. The world seemed to fall silent for an instant, before a
shockwave of devastation unfurled. The surrounding ground began to crumble inch by inch. Rocks torn to
pieces, while tree after tree disintegrated into splinters that filled the sky.
The entire place was now in a complete mess.
Luluo looked towards the site of the clash, only to see Zhou Yuan and Zhu Ying’s figures taking a dozen
steps backwards.
Zhu Ying’s face had become extremely ugly. Luluo’s gaze swept over the former, discovering a huge
bruise on her hand, while fresh blood dripped from her fingertips.
In comparison, several of the golden scales on Zhou Yuan’s fist had been shattered, but he had not
sustained any injuries.
It was obvious that Zhou Yuan had taken the upper hand in the earlier exchange.
Luluo was so shocked that her tiny mouth hung wide open.
Zhou Yuan’s fingers slowly relaxed as the golden scales receded. He lifted his gaze and looked towards
the grim-faced Zhu Ying as he softly chuckled and said, “Although you are a quasi Alpha-Origin…”
“If we talk about hardness, you’re not as hard as me.”
928
Chapter 168 Meeting Once More
In a devastated forest.
Zhou Yuan slowly relaxed his fist. His opponent had not managed to gain even the slightest advantage in
their previous clash.
Evidently, when Zhou Yuan activated the golden Magical Python Scales and the grade 3 Black Gold Hand
Rune, he gained the power to face a quasi Alpha-Origin head-on.
“Hey, fight properly, stop being a vulgar hoodlum.”
While Zhou Yuan was secretly being pleased with himself, Luluo’s voice was suddenly heard from behind.
Zhou Yuan was stunned, confusion on his face as he looked towards the blushing Luluo, who was
currently glaring at him. “Aah??”
A red faced Luluo seriously said,“The other party is a girl, how can she compare hardness with you?”
Zhou Yuan immediately felt as if he had been blasted by lightning till his outsides were charred black and
his insides turned to mush. Green and white interlaced on his face, stupefied as he stared at Luluo. It was
a long while later before his anger finally overwhelmed his embarrassment as he yelled, “Shut up!”
He was clearly talking about the hardness of their fists. How had Luluo twisted things so far!
Luluo made a funny face as him. He was the one being vulgar, why the need to be so fierce.
Nearby, Zhu Ying had also heard Luluo’s words, immediately causing her already ugly face to twist even
more, while her ripe chest heaved in anger as if it was about to explode.
“Bastard, I’m definitely killing you today!” Zhu Ying’s shout was trembling with white hot rage.
Boom!
Scarlet-red Genesis Qi burst out from her body like raging flames. The ground below began to melt,
emitting an extremely terrifying heat.
“Scarlet Devil Hand!”
With a thought from Zhu Ying, the scarlet-red flame like Genesis Qi turned into a giant flaming hand that
viciously swatted down onto Zhou Yuan.
Zhou Yuan did not dare to delay, dark gold Genesis Qi dashing out from the top of his head to form a
dome.
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Boom boom!
The flaming hand continued its ferocious swatting, causing the dark gold Genesis Qi dome to tremble
without end. However, although the latter kept rippling, it was ultimately able to endure and was not
broken by the flaming hand.
After about a dozen swats, Zhu Ying gradually regained her cool, a sliver of graveness entering her eyes.
The previous exchange had already told her that this seemingly initial Heaven Gate youth was not simple
at all.
The latter’s Genesis Qi was plentiful and concentrated, far surpassing that of the initial Heaven Gate stage.
In fact, it was comparable to the advance Heaven Gate stage.
Moreover, the dark gold Genesis Qi was definitely extremely high grade, hence it did not seem to falter
even in a direct clash of Genesis Qi like this.
“Humph, I don’t believe that I, Zhu Ying, can’t even handle a heaven Gate stage like you!” Zhu Ying’s anger
had been roused again. With a grasp of her hand, a fiery-red fan appeared within it.
The surface of the fan was filled with fire like patterns, and every feather burned with raging flames,
evidently retrieved from a fire-type flying beast of sorts.
“Try my Five Birds Blaze Fan!”
Zhu Ying’s hand jerked as the feather fan fanned, releasing a giant wave of fiery-red Genesis Qi. The
Genesis Qi transformed into magnificent flames that began to cover the sky, like a rain of fire as they
bombarded Zhou Yuan.
Every drop of fire concealed volatile undulations that would explode and release an enormous
destructive force upon contact.
The rain of fire seemed to engulf Zhou Yuan as the Heavenly Yuan Brush in his hand began to grow. With
a jolt of his arm, the snow-white hairs extended outwards and weaved around him, forming a shield.
Bang! Bang!
The rain of fire clashed with the shield made from hair, resulting in a violent explosion that seemed to
incinerate even the surrounding air.
The explosion lasted for a brief moment, turning the snow-white hairs a glowing red.
However, the tip of the brush shook as the hairs returned, swiftly recovering to their normal state.
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Although the current Heavenly Yuan Brush was only a Black Genesis Weapon, the materials it was made
from were extremely amazing. Hence, it was impossible to burn the brush hairs.
After blocking the fire rain, Zhou Yuan did not politely wait for his opponent’s next move. His body swiftly
shot forth, snow-white hairs once again taking the shape of a lotus bud, swift as lightning as it thrust
towards Zhu Ying.
Clang!
Zhu Ying’s fan blocked horizontally with its surface as her lips parted, spitting out a ball of fiery-red
Genesis Qi at Zhou Yuan’s face.
Dark gold Genesis Qi rushed out of Zhou Yuan’s nose, blocking the fire ball.
Clang clang clang!
The exchange between the two was lightning quick, brush tip and side of the fan meeting time and time
again with metallic clangs as sparks spluttered. Every attack of both individuals was ruthless, but every
one was blocked by the other party.
While the two were locked in battle, Luluo arrived at the trapped Little Frost’s side, her small hand
reaching out as astonishing cold Qi began flowing out from Little Frost’s body, attacking the fiery-red
whip.
Luluo said through gritted teeth, “Crazy woman, I’ll show you my awesomeness after I free Little Frost.”
Zhu Ying sensed Luluo’s actions, causing the former’s eyebrows to furrow as a surge of annoyance rose
within her. She had originally thought that she would be able to easily deal with Zhou Yuan. Who could
have imagined that he would turn out to be so powerful, making it such that she was unable to extract
herself instead.
If Luluo managed to free the ice bird, the addition of their combined might would make Zhu Ying’s side
fall into a perilous situation.
“I need to finish off this brat!”
A determined and ruthless look flitted across her eyes. Soon after, her figure suddenly backed away,
tightly gripping the fiery-red feather fan as she sucked in a deep breath, cold light flashing in her eyes.
“Little Heaven Genesis technique, Five Birds Fire!”
She bit the tip of her tongue and spat out essence blood that landed on the fan before sending out a
powerful swing.
Cackle!
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Scarlet-red flames rose, transforming into a ball of fire. Above the fire ball, one could faintly see five birds
dancing in the air. Runes of light also drifted around it as an astonishing heat wave rippled.
The appearance of the fire ball bathed the entire forest in an aura of scorching heat, making it feel as if it
would burst into flames at any moment.
Zhou Yuan’s expression turned extremely grave. The ball of fire was akin to a volatile compressed mass of
overwhelming destructive power. Let’s not mention the Heaven Gate stage, even a quasi Alpha-Origin
would be instantly burned to ashes if hit by it.
Zhu Ying was indeed someone with ability.
Luluo also sensed the disturbance and hastily shouted, “Zhou Yuan, quickly retreat! That’s a little Heaven
Genesis technique, its power is insane!”
Zhou Yuan did not budge. The Genesis Qi under his feet rose him into the air as his expression turned
serious. Five fingers stretched outwards as lightning suddenly leaped from his palm.
“You should also have a taste of my little Heaven Genesis technique!”
Battle lust surged in Zhou Yuan’s eyes. This was the first time he was going to use the technique after
learning it, which made him very interested in just how powerful it was going to be.
Pchla!
Wind and lightning gathered on Zhou Yuan’s palm. Genesis Qi pulsed a dozen breaths later as a several
inch wide green black lightning ball appeared in his hand.
“Great Wind and Thunder!”
Rumble!
Zhou Yuan’s arm was flung and the green black lightning ball rocketed forth with a rumble.
In the next instant.
Fire and lightning ball clashed.
Boom!
An indescribable storm of energy unfurled, the air cackling with both fire and lightning. The forest in a
hundred feet radius was turned into a barren land, while the ground was scorched black...
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Zhu Ying’s figure appeared. Her current appearance was rather miserable. She had been caught up in the
aftermath of the attack earlier, the berserk shockwaves shaking the Qi and blood in her body, casing a
trace of blood to appear at the corner of her mouth.
“He should be dead with this, right?” Zhu Ying gritted her teeth as she looked to her front.
The dust gradually settled. However, Zhu Ying’s face turned ugly once again. Zhou Yuan’s figure remained
unmoved from the spot, though a turtle shell like shield of light had appeared in front of him. It was this
light shield that had defended Zhou Yuan against the shockwaves.
“Good going Zhou Yuan!”
Luluo cheered nearby, her large eyes filled with astonishment. She never expected that Zhou Yuan’s
strength would rise to this level when they met again.
Zhu Ying’s strength was surely no less than her own. Even so, the former was unable to take any
advantage in the fight.
It was obvious that Zhou Yuan had grown very rapidly ever since entering the Saint Remains Domain.
Zhu Ying bit down on her teeth in anger, nearly cracking them in the process. She stared at Zhou Yuan as
she raised an eyebrow and muttered, “Zhou Yuan? Now that I think about it, this name is rather
familiar…”
After some thought, she finally remembered.
“So you are Wu Huang’s mortal enemy, that Zhou Yuan?”
Zhu Ying let out an icy chuckle. “So this is where you were. Good, your enemy is also here. I will call him
over to play with you!”
The moment the final word left her mouth, she waved her hand as a ball of fire flew into the sky. The ball
exploded, sending out a peculiar undulation.
Zhou Yuan’s eyes narrowed slightly when he saw this. Wu Huang was also here?
Not long after Zhu Ying sent out her signal, Zhou Yuan heard the sound of rushing wind swiftly speed
towards them. In the end, he saw the fog far away ripple as two figures slowly walked out.
One of them was wearing golden robes. It was Wu Huang.
The other was dressed in black, and even his eyes were pitch-black vortexes that gave one an
indescribable strange feeling.
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Wu Huang walked forward with his hands behind his back. The first thing he saw was Zhou Yuan, causing
him to be taken aback for a moment, before a playful look emerged from the corners of his mouth.
“Zhou Yuan, I did expect to meet you again…”
934
Chapter 169 Wu Huang’s Killing Intent
In a devastated forest.
Zhou Yuan involuntarily frowned at the sight of two individuals who had walked out from the fog, Wu
Huang and the youth in black robes.
“You’ve teamed up with the Dongxuan people?”
Wu Huang indifferently replied, “Short-sighted. The future me will not be limited to a mere continent.
Why should my Cangmang Continent identity restrict me?”
“How shameless.” Luluo sneered.
“You colluded with these Dongxuan people to gang up on Yaoyao. You truly are the worst.”
Wu Huang shook his head, his voice unchanged as he said, “The only truth is that the victor is right, and
the process is of little importance. Since there was a stumbling block in my way, I will naturally have to
remove it.”
Zhou Yuan swept a gaze towards him. “It’s a pity that you even threw away your face, but were still
unable to achieve your goal.”
Wu Huang’s expression finally turned slightly rigid, his gaze somewhat frosty as he stared at Zhou Yuan
and said, “Finding you here is an unexpected but pleasant surprise. I heard that you are on pretty good
terms with Zhou Xiaoyao, am I right? If you are caught and used as bait, do you think that he will still
choose to come even though it’s clearly a trap?”
Boom!
Wu Huang was swift and decisive, powerful Genesis Qi exploding from his body like a storm at his final
word. His Genesis Qi was akin to a scorching sun, shining brilliantly with awe-inspiring power.
Swish!
He was extremely quick, appearing in front of Zhou Yuan in a single step.
The tip of Zhou Yuan’s foot also pushed off the ground as his figure rapidly retreated.
However, Wu Huang was like a shadow, sticking close to Zhou Yuan no matter how hard the latter tried
to escape. Indifference was the only thing on the latter’s face as a punch was sent flying.
Scarlet-red light blossomed, appearing below the fist like a dazzling sun. The punch caused the
surrounding space to ripple slightly, while the air around turned blazing hot.
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Wu Huang displayed extreme power, power that was even more domineering and unreasonable than Zhu
Ying’s.
Zhou Yuan’s pupils tightened slightly as the punch whizzed towards him. There was no hesitation
whatsoever as Genesis Qi surged within his body, causing golden Magical Python Scales to emerge on his
fist.
“Magical Python Scales!”
“Grade 3 Genesis Rune, Black Gold Hand Rune!”
Zhou Yuan also sent out a punch, a black glow sweeping across the golden scales, giving it a blackish gold
luster that seemed impenetrable.
Boom!
The two fists slammed into each other, cold cruelness flitting across Wu Huang’s eyes as he said in a
chilling voice, “Do you believe that you will possess the qualifications to face me head-on because you
reached the Heaven Gate stage? Naive!”
The dazzling sun below his fist seemed to explode at this moment, transforming into a frightening force
that spectacularly swept towards Zhou Yuan.
Dong!
Zhou Yuan’s body jerked backwards, his feet smearing long lines on the ground as he was pushed back.
Swish!
However, the moment he was blown backwards, Zhou Yuan’s sleeve shook as a flash of green and black
shot out. Its speed was akin lightning, swiftly appearing in front of Wu Huang.
It was a green black lightning ball that was several feet wide. Lightning and wind rapidly swirled within
it, while the faint sounds of rumbling thunder and howling wind could be heard.
Berserk energies spread from the ball.
Wu Huang’s pupils shrank slightly.
“Great Wind and Thunder.”
An almost inaudible voice was gently spat out from Zhou Yuan’s mouth.
Boom!
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Wind and lightning exploded. Even though Wu Huang immediately used his Genesis Qi to shield himself,
he was still blasted till his shield shook violently as he staggered a dozen steps back.
His sleeve had been burnt and shredded, his blood churning slightly. Although he was not injured, his
expression had become exceptionally stormy.
Because this was the first time he had been beaten back by Zhou Yuan.
This was simply unacceptable to him. The one who was once an ant in his eyes had unknowingly gained
the power to shake him.
Intense killing intent flashed in Wu Huang’s eyes. He could feel that Zhou Yuan growing far too fast.
Before they had entered the Saint Remains Domain, a single punch from the former could heavily injure
and even kill the latter.
And yet, he had sent out the same punch just moments earlier, but the only thing it had achieved was
forcing Zhou Yuan back.
In fact, the latter had even found an interval to counter attack, catching him unprepared.
If this continued, it would not be long before the once ant like existence grew strong enough to face him
directly.
The thought of such a scene made killing intent practically spew from Wu Huang’s eyes.
He could not imagine it, because it would finally touch the forbidden fear in the deepest recesses of his
heart.
Almost material killing intent surged around Wu Huang’s body, sweeping up the surrounding lives. It was
as if the temperature had suddenly dropped.
However, Zhou Yuan paid no heed to Wu Huang’s killing intent. His rapidly retreating figure did not stop
even for a second, while he made a sign to Luluo with the hand behind his back.
The current situation was too unfavorable to them. Zhu Ying was still watching from the side, and there
was an even more dangerous youth in black. The danger he felt from the latter was not any less than from
Wu Huang.
In addition, his Spirit senses had already detected that the Genesis Qi was faintly beginning to gather
around the youth in black.
EE!
Little Frost was finally freed by Luluo. It immediately shook its wings, transforming into a flash of icy
light that swept up both Zhou Yuan and Luluo, before shooting into the fog without any hesitation.
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Meanwhile, the youth in black robes called Ye Ming had just stealthily lifted his hand only to be stunned.
He could only watch as the two humans and beast were cast into the fog, disappearing from sight.
Ye Ming said in amazement, “What a sharp kid.”
Zhou Yuan had clearly realised the moment Ye Ming showed signs of secretly preparing to make his
move. Thus, the former decisively chose to withdraw, and even into the fog. As such, they would also have
to enter the fog if they chose to chase.
Wu Huang’s expression was ominously dark. It felt as if he had been played.
Just how many times had Zhou Yuan safely escaped from his hands?
Ye Ming remarked, “This foe of yours is no simple individual. He is clearly only at the initial Heaven Gate
stage, but even Zhu Ying was forced to admit defeat.”
Wu Huang was expressionless as he looked towards Ye Ming. “Are we chasing? Zhou Xiaoyao will surely
voluntarily seek us out if he is captured.”
Ye Ming chuckled. “If he truly is so magnetic, it will save us some effort.”
“We’ll chase then. Although Zhou Yuan is quick-witted and chose to hide in the fog. He does not know that
the fog no hindrance in my eyes.” Ye Ming grinned a little.
A strange light surfaced in his pitch-black pupils as a tear of blood dripped from the corner of his eyes.
The world before him began to change, the layers of mist receding as the figures of two humans and a
beast brightened in his sights.
“That way. Let’s go.” Ye Ming’s finger stretched out and pointed in a certain direction.
Wu Huang was the first to rocket forward, his figure quick as lightning as he gave chase, while icy murder
surged in his eyes.
“Zhou Yuan, you will not escape this time!”
“I will no longer give you any opportunity to grow. That’s why, this place will be your grave!”
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Chapter 170 Interception
Swish!
The sound of rapidly travelling wind suddenly sounded within the thick fog as a blue figure swept past.
Icy winds blew, freezing the leaves on the nearby trees.
Within the blue light was an enormous ice bird, while Zhou Yuan and Luluo were seated on its back.
Zhou Yuan’s brows were slightly furrowed as he looked behind and mumbled to himself, “The youth in
black robes should be the one who joined hands with Wu Huang to injure Yaoyao, Ye Ming,”
“He is indeed no ordinary person.”
Although Ye Ming had yet to do anything earlier, Zhou Yuan’s Spirit senses could feel that the level of
threat he posed was no less than Wu Huang.
Wu Huang, Ye Ming plus Zhu Ying. The line-up on the other side was clearly much stronger than Luluo
and him. That’s why Zhou Yuan did not entertain any thoughts of taking them on, but instead made use of
the clash with Wu Huang to decisively escape.
“Zhou Yuan, we’ve entered the fog. It will disrupt our senses, making it very troublesome.” Luluo was
rather worried.
Zhou Yuan shook his head. “We had no choice. A single second later and they would have unleashed their
full power to stop us. If we were trapped, it will be extremely unfavorable.”
“Only by entering the fog can we try to shake them off.”
Luluo angrily gnashed her teeth. “Those bastards, taking advantage of their numbers. When we join up
with big sis Yaoyao and the rest, just see if I won’t kill them!”
She was the Little Country Lord of the Thousand Beast Empire. How could she suffer the indignity of
being forced to flee.
Zhou Yuan chuckled, much more open-minded in comparison. His eyes narrowed slightly as he recalled
his earlier clash with Wu Huang. It was obvious that he was already much stronger than before.
In their previous clash, he had practically been overwhelmed without any resistance, but just earlier, he
had been able to receive Wu Huang’s attack head-on.
This spoke volumes about his progress.
“Wu Huang, I wonder how you’re feeling now?” The corners of Zhou Yuan’s mouth curled slightly.
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Swish!
Zhou Yuan’s expression suddenly changed as he looked towards the dense fog behind them where faint
ripples could be seen. “Luluo, increase our speed. They’ve come chasing.”
Luluo was startled. “Even after we entered the fog? Are they not afraid of losing their bearings?”
Zhou Yuan calmly replied, “It seems that I’ve scared Wu Huang too much, and he is now very determined
to get rid of me.”
Wu Huang should have also felt Zhou Yuan’s progress, progress what was clearly going to soon wrest the
situation out of Wu Huang’s control.
Luluo lightly patted the ice bird, immediately causing it to release a clear cry. Its wings flapped, cold Qi
exploding behind it as its speed rapidly soared, transforming into a blur that swiftly shot forward.
Not long after the ice bird transformed into a blur and disappeared into the distance, the mist began to
ripple as three figures emerged.
“How fast.” Wu Huang was expressionless.
The vortexes in Ye Ming’s eyes swirled as he indifferently said, “Zhou Yuan has very sharp Spirit senses.
His Spirit should be pretty strong, allowing him to sense our approach.”
“But don’t worry, he can’t escape.”
His gaze suddenly turned to another direction and flicked his finger. A ball of Genesis Qi exploded,
transmitting a peculiar undulation.
Soon after, the mist in that direction was torn open as three figures emerged. They were the three other
apex level Dongxuan geniuses.
“Jiang Quan, how did it go?” Ye Ming looked towards the youth who had barred Zhen Xu’s way.
The baby face Jiang Quan grinned as he nodded. “He was pretty good, and had a very tough body.
However, he is now injured and has fled into the fog.”
Ye Ming’s pitch-black eyes scanned the area as he indifferently said, “No rush, none of them can escape.”
“Go.”
With a wave of his hand, he and Wu Huang flew forward.
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“Their numbers have increased?”
Zhou Yuan spread out his Spirit senses in the fog, pouring all his energy into scouting. Soon after, his
expression changed slightly. He could faintly feel that the Genesis Qi undulations to their rear had
increased.
Moreover, each one was extremely strong, indicating that they did not belong to a weakling.
Luluo’s face also changed slightly, clenching her jaw as she said, “Looks like they plan to surround us.”
Zhou Yuan frowned slightly. A brief moment later, the expression in his eyes suddenly turned solemn as
he thrust the Heavenly Yuan Brush in his hand. Snow-white hairs transformed into a long whip as they
shot towards a certain spot in the fog.
Plop!
A tree burst apart, revealing the figure behind it.
Zhou Yuan and Luluo’s gazes shot over, only to be stunned. The figure’s clothes were in tatters, making
him look rather miserable. That pale complexion could only belong to the Yama Sect’s Zhen Xu.
“Zhen Xu?” Luluo was surprised. “Why are you hiding here?”
A thought suddenly struck Zhou Yuan as he gazed upon Zhen Xu’s expressionless face. “You were also
attacked by those Dongxuan people?”
Zhen Xu was silent for a moment, before he nodded.
“You couldn’t beat your opponent?” Luluo said with disdain. Zhen Xu frowned as he said, “I do not fear
the one who fought me, but there were two other individuals hidden nearby who had locked onto me,
causing me to split my attention while not daring to use my full power. Hence how he found an opening.”
Luluo was stunned. “So despicable?”
Luluo hatefully said, “Why are these Dongxuan people causing trouble for us!”
Zhou Yuan calmly answered, “Because only those on your level can pose a threat to them.”
“They are unified, while you guys are scattered. Breaking all of you one by one will naturally lower the
morale of all the Cangmang geniuses, taking away their courage such that they will no longer be able to
vie for the gifts and blessings of the Saint Remains Domain.”
Zhen Xu coughed weakly twice, not saying anything as he turned around to leave
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Zhou Yuan gazed upon Zhen Xu’s back and suddenly said, “They seem to be capable of seeing through the
fog. I advise you to join us.”
Zhen Xu was obviously quite seriously injured. If he were to move alone, Wu Huang, Ye Ming and the rest
would definitely catch up. When that happened, things would not be pretty.
Zhen Xu’s foot paused, turning his head slightly as his ash-colored eyes looked towards Zhou Yuan. “I
attacked you earlier, but you’re still fine with helping me?”
Zhou Yuan smiled thinly. “There is no big grudge between us, but the fact is that those fellows behind
have joined up with Wu Huang. Thus, I naturally have to know what’s important.”
Zhen Xu was silent.
“Stop being so wishy-washy. You should clearly know your current state. If you want to die, go ahead and
leave.”
Zhen Xu’s eyes flickered slightly. In the end, his figure suddenly launched into the air and landed on the
ice bird’s back.
“Thank you. I will remember this debt.” Said Zhen Xu with some difficulty. He was clearly a somewhat
conflicted and embarrassed. After all, he had attacked Zhou Yuan not too long ago, but now needed to
borrow the latter’s strength.
Zhou Yuan nonchalantly waved his hand. Wu Huang had allied himself with the Dongxuan people, so he
naturally needed to gather some allies of his own. Zhen Xu and the others, whom were being targeted by
the Dongxuan people, were obviously the best choice.
“What do we do now? Where do we go? They have the numbers superiority, while we have injured on our
side. We will surely be wiped out if we faced them.” There was a bitter look on Luluo’s face.
Zhou Yuan pondered in silence for a few moments, his eyes flickering in thought. A short while later, he
pointed towards the deepest depths of the fog.
“You said before that there are quite a number of grade 4 Genesis Beasts, and even a mysterious Genesis
Beast leader at the deepest part of the mountain range where the golden pool is?”
“Yes.”
“Then that’s where we’ll be heading… only by stirring up some chaos will we be able to lose them.”
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Chapter 171 The Mysterious Beast
Fog pervaded the mountains as an icy shadow swept past.
Zhou Yuan was seated on Little Frost’s back, his Spirit senses spreading outwards. Although the fog could
distort one’s sense of direction, Zhou Yuan was just barely able to guide them through his powerful Spirit.
“To the left.” Uttered Zhou Yuan.
Little Frost immediately shook its wings, turning directions.
“We’ve already reached the depths of the mountain range.” Zhou Yuan glanced to his rear, his gaze frosty
as he continued, “They’re still closely following us. How patient.”
He could detect several presences some distance behind, tailing them like shadows. It was clear that Wu
Huang and gang did not intend to give up so easily.
Zhen Xu said in a low voice, “What do we do now? Any deeper and we will begin to encounter grade 4
Genesis Beasts.”
Zhou Yuan’s eyes narrowed slightly as he stared into the depths of the fog, faintly seeing a shimmer of
gold, while he also began to sense several powerful Genesis Qi ripples. They clearly nearing the golden
pool.
The Genesis ripples he had sensed likely belonged to the beasts protecting the pool
Zhou Yuan decisively declared, “Go in!”
Luluo gritted her teeth and patted Little Frost. With a loud cry, its speed rose sharply. A short few
minutes later, Zhou Yuan and group discovered that they had exited the fog.
Behind the fog lay an ancient mountain forest where numerous towering trees proudly stood.
Roar!
Brief moments after Zhou Yuan and gang charged out from the fog, a loud roar was suddenly heard. An
enormous shadow descended from the sky with violent and dreadful power.
Little Frost agilely shot forward, avoiding the shadow.
Boom!
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The shadow slammed into the spot where Zhou Yuan and the rest had been just moments before, causing
the ground to crumble. As dust began to fill the air, the Zhou Yuan trio saw a giant ape covered in scales.
It ferociously stood there, its scarlet-red beast eyes staring at them.
Powerful Genesis Qi undulations rippled around the scaled ape like a storm.
A grade 4 Genesis Beast!
The ferocious aura caused the trio’s pupils to shrink. Against a Genesis Beast of this level, they would
have to use their full strength in order to put up a fight.
Swish!
A few seconds after the giant scaled ape appeared, the fog rippled once again, and six figures swiftly flew
out, landing nearby Zhou Yuan’s group.
The six figures were naturally the closely following Wu Huang, Ye Ming and the rest.
Roar!
The scaled ape was greatly enraged by the sight of more humans invading. With a loud roar from its
blood-red mouth, its titanic body leaped into the air as a giant fist ruthlessly smashed towards Wu
Huang’s group like a cannonball, heralded by an astonishing wind pressure.
Even before the punch hit, the shape of a fist had already been imprinted into the ground.
Wu Huang was indifferent as he watched the scaled ape rapidly grow in his eyes. Five fingers tightened
into a fist as his foot slammed into the ground, cracking it. His figure appeared in front of the ape in a split
second, fist like a blazing rising sun, glaring with brilliant might that allowed no resistance.
Boom!
Man and beast fiercely clashed in the air as a ripple that could be seen with the naked eye unfurled,
followed by a series of rapid booms as the air was blasted away.
At the epicenter, the giant scaled ape released a cry of anguish as its enormous body was sent flying
backwards. It crashed into the ground, causing the surrounding area to tremor.
The ape’s body tore across the ground, creating a long scar as towering trees continued to fall one after
another.
In contrast, Wu Huang had only been forced a dozen steps back before he slowly drifted down, his
expression as indifferent as before.
Besides Ye Ming, the other four from the Dongxuan Continent glanced at Wu Huang in amazement.
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Luluo could not help but remark, “This guy is really monstrous!”
Though she had previously finished off a grade 4 Genesis Beast, it had only been possible after pulling out
all the stops. In comparison, Wu Huang had grandly suppressed a grade 4 Genesis Beast in a direct clash
of power.
A trace of graveness also appeared on Zhen Xu’s pale expressionless face.
No emotion was present in Wu Huang’s gaze as he looked towards Zhou Yuan. “Did you believe that
hiding here will make me afraid?”
Zhou Yuan seemed to smile, a smile that had a hint of ridicule.
Roar!
It was at this moment that the giant scaled ape climbed to its feet and released a deafening roar of anger.
The roar echoed into the distance, resounding across the mountain forest.
Rumble!
Almost immediately after, wild Genesis Qi began to explode in the depths of the forest one after another.
The mountain forest shook as four giant beasts swiftly emerged, stopping behind the giant scaled ape.
Genesis Qi churned around these four titans, clearly indicating that each and every one was a grade 4
Genesis Beast.
Wu Huang and Ye Ming’s expression finally changed slightly.
Ye Ming shot a glance at Zhou Yuan and remarked, “What a beautiful plan of urging tigers to devour
wolves.”
“Unfortunately, it won’t work.”
His pitch-black pupils stared at the five grade 4 Genesis Beasts before them as the vortexes within slowly
began to swirl, and a strange ripple began to spread.
The bodies of the giant scaled ape and the other grade 4 Genesis Beasts turned slack for a moment, black
vortexes appeared in their eyes as if they had fallen into a hallucination.
Tears of blood fell from the corners of Ye Ming’s eyes as a tired look appeared within them.
“He… he has taken control of the five grade 4 Genesis Beasts?” Luluo’s shocked voice sounded.
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Zhou Yuan’s eyes widened at this moment. “Its an eye technique powered by Spirit energy. Genesis Beasts
may have strong bodies, but their Spirits are comparatively weaker, making them easily countered by
him.”
Zhou Yuan said in a low voice, “To the golden pool!”
Little Frost shot forth the moment his voice rang out.
“None of you will escape today!” Wu Huang’s icy voice followed, his figure transforming into a flash of
scarlet light, fast as rushing thunder as he doggedly gave chase.
Behind him, Ye Ming and the rest quickly followed.
Rumble!
Two groups, one fleeing, one chasing, giving rise to a huge disturbance in the depths of the mountain
range.
They crossed numerous mountains in a short few minutes. Golden light soon blossomed before their
eyes, only for them to see a giant mountain standing some distance to their front. The top of the mountain
was akin to a volcano, only endless gold light spread from its mouth, dazzling like a pool of gold.
“The golden pool!” Luluo’s eyes glowed as she stared at the mountain top.
Behind them, Wu Huang, Ye Ming and the rest closely followed, desire surfacing in their eyes as their
gazes fell upon the resplendent golden pool.
“It seems that the golden pool blessings are fated to be ours.” Ye Ming laughed as he rubbed his hands
together. “I really have to thank you for leading the way.”
Roar!
However, several roars suddenly rang out across the area the moment Ye Ming’s laughter faded. Next, the
pupils of everyone on both sides shrank when they saw enormous beast after beast appear on the
mountain top, scarlet-red eyes rapidly locking onto the humans.
Over a dozen grade 4 Genesis Beasts!
This line-up made the expressions of both parties change.
However, it was still not over. The titanic beasts prostrated themselves, their heads lowered as if they
were bowing.
Zhen Xu’s expression did not look too good either as he said, “Rumor speaks of a mysterious Genesis
Beast leader at the golden pool to whom numerous grade 4 Genesis Beasts have yielded.”
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Zhou Yuan’s brows tightly knitted together. It seems that the rumors were true. This was really unlucky
for them, tigers behind and wolves in front...
“If things become worse, we’ll quickly escape amidst the chaos.” Said Zhou Yuan in a soft voice.
Luluo and Zhen Xu nodded. Even Luluo was no longer thinking about the golden pool now.
Some distance behind them, Wu Huang and Ye Ming’s expressions turned grave. They could faintly feel an
alarmingly powerful undulations in the depths of the golden light.
Under their guarded gazes, a low roar filled with dignity rang out from the top of the giant mountain,
causing every Genesis Beast on the mountain to tremble.
A giant figure slowly emerged from within the golden light. In the end, the figure stepped out, appearing
in everyone’s sights.
Eh?
Everyone was stunned the moment the figure revealed itself, because the thing that had appeared was no
behemoth, but a dull gray little dog like creature.
The little beast yawned lazily, its beady eyes disdainfully looking towards the gathered crowd.
Zhou Yuan and Luluo blankly watched this scene. Moments later, they were unable to stop themselves
from vigorously rubbing their eyes before very carefully looking again as their expressions turned
extremely spectacular.
Luluo asked in a hesitant voice, “Zhou Yuan… are my eyes deceiving me? Why does that little creature
look almost exactly like Tuntun?”
Zhou Yuan was silent. In the end, he violently nodded his head.
“Your eyes aren’t wrong!”
“This little bastard has been enjoying his time as a king here while we were outside desperately fighting
for our lives!”
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Chapter 172 Tuntun’s Rage
Numerous beasts had prostrated themselves at the top of the mountain. The target of their respect was
unexpectedly not a mighty giant beast, but a mysterious little dull gray creature.
Zhou Yuan and Luluo had naturally recognized it immediately.
This little creature was the final one that had yet to be found ever since entering the Saint Remains
Domain, Tuntun!
Even Zhou Yuan could not help but be somewhat stupefied, not knowing whether to laugh or cry. Who
could have expected that Tuntun would be hiding here as the king of the mountain, enjoying a free and
easy life.
“You know this little creature?” In contrast to Zhou Yuan and Luluo’s shock, Zhen Xu’s face was filled with
graveness. He was no ordinary individual, and naturally did not believe that the little creature was as
simple as it seemed. Did no one see how respectful the other grade 4 Genesis Beasts were being to it?
The little creature was obviously the most terrifying Genesis Beast here.
“Don’t worry, everything should be fine now.” Zhou Yuan consoled.
He then lifted his hand and waved at Tuntun.
However, Tuntun ignored his wave, its eyes still filled with the same disdain.
Zhen Xu shot a skeptical look at Zhou Yuan.
The corners of Zhou Yuan’s mouth twitched in embarrassment. Subsequently, he let out an icy laugh as
his hand suddenly patted his Universe bag, causing a piece of dried meat to appear.
Swish!
The moment the meat appeared, the disdain in the little creature’s eyes instantly changed, transforming
into a shadow as it shot forward with a swish.
With a flip of his hand, the meat disappeared.
Tuntun appeared in front of him, circling him twice as it roared impatiently.
“Are you going to continue pretending?” Zhou Yuan sneered.
Tuntun jumped into Zhou Yuan’s arms, sticking out its tongue to lick the latter’s face, a fawning look in its
beady eyes.
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Zhou Yuan rolled his eyes, before throwing the dried meat to it.
Zhou Yuan ignored Tuntun, which was now immersed in the beautiful flavor of the dried meat, as he
turned around with an unfriendly look in his eyes. His seemingly smiling gaze was cast at Wu Huang, Ye
Ming and the rest, whom expressions had begun to change.
Ye Ming’s expression sunk slightly as he muttered, “How did this happen? Why does that mysterious little
creature know him?”
The scene before their eyes had already surpassed everyone’s expectations.
Wu Huang’s complexion was a little ashen. “There was indeed a little creature at Zhou Yuan’s side, but I
never imagined that it would be so capable that even these grade 4 Genesis Beast have submitted to it.”
Zhu Ying, Jiang Quan and the rest moved closer together, their expressions vigilant. If the little creature
commanded these grade 4 Genesis Beasts to attack them, they would have no choice but to flee.
While the expression on the other side were looking pretty ugly, Zhou Yuan evily looked towards them
and coldly chuckled. “Didn’t it feel really good when you guys were chasing us earlier?”
Zhou Yuan gently patted Tuntun’s head, while his other hand pointed towards Wu Huang and Ye Ming.
“You selfish creature, to think that you were enjoying your life here instead of protecting Yaoyao.”
“Do you know that these two bastards ganged up on Yaoyao, resulting in her being injured, and we can’t
even find her now.”
Tuntun, who was originally still savouring the dried meat, suddenly stiffened. Its attention immediately
left the meat as a somewhat terrifying roar was released from its throat.
Tuntun’s intelligence was extremely high, and knew that its duty was to protect Yaoyao as her guardian
beast. Thus, there was no way it would allow Yaoyao to sustain even the smallest injury even at the
expense of being unable to eat delicious dried meat.
It lifted its head, its beady eyes staring straight into Zhou Yuan’s own, as if confirming what he had said
earlier.
Zhou Yuan looked into its eyes and slowly nodded.
Tuntun silently threw away the dried meat in front of it, before jumping out of Zhou Yuan’s arms as its
beady eyes were cast towards Wu Huang and Ye Ming. Everyone could feel the astonishing ferocity that
exploded from Tuntun’s tiny body at this moment.
Roar!
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Scarlet light unfurled as Tuntun’s body abruptly grew. In a few breaths, a mysterious and dignified giant
scarlet-red beast had appeared in front of Zhou Yuan’s group.
The scarlet armor on its body was akin to flowing magma, while the black light in its giant mouth seemed
to be capable of devouring all things.
A storm of Genesis Qi violently swept out from its body, stirring up the surrounding space.
Roar!
Upon sensing Tuntun’s rage, the dozen grade 4 Genesis Beasts let loose deafening roars, making the
entire mountain range shiver.
The expressions of Wu Huang, Ye Ming and the rest involuntarily changed, clearly feeling the almost
crazed killing intent in Tuntun’s roar.
Boom!
A dozen grade 4 Genesis Beasts suddenly shot forward, pouncing towards Wu Huang’s group.
Ye Ming decisively shouted, “Retreat!”
Their figures rapidly withdrew.
“Hehe, trying to escape?” However, the moment they began to move, Luluo had already appeared some
distance behind them riding Little Frost. Its wings flapped, shooting out a torrent of ice spikes.
Her attack was instantly torn apart by Wu Huang and the rest, but the ice dust had already began to drift
across the area, seemingly freezing the space around them and slowing their speed.
It was at this moment that the dozen Genesis Beasts arrived amidst thunderous roars, their merciless
attacks seemingly covering the sky as they swept towards Wu Huang’s group.
Bang bang!
The land seemed to crumble. Wu Huang, Ye Ming and the rest did not dare to face the bombardment,
their figures rapidly retreating.
Tuntun’s flame like scarlet eyes locked onto them. All of a sudden, its body transformed into a flash of
scarlet light as it shot forward.
Wu Huang’s pupils abruptly shrank.
He had seen a scarlet-red figure appear behind him from the corner of his eye. Enormous claws slashed
downwards as strange black light flickered, washing the originally scarlet-red claws in a layer of black.
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Five tears were ripped open in space itself, while the long scars were torn open on the ground below by
the surplus force, their insides clean as a mirror.
“What a terrifying Genesis Beast!”
Wu Huang’s expression was grim. He could already feel the astonishing undulations contained beneath
the claw. As for the flickering black light, it seemed to be an extremely tyrannical power.
He did not dare to underestimate the attack at all. A thunderous shout exploded from his mouth.
“Little Heaven Genesis technique, Golden Crow Heaven Seal!”
One hand formed a seal as fiery-red Genesis Qi erupted, culminating into a seal of light that was several
dozen feet large. Within the seal, a three-legged golden crow was faintly discernible as it spat out
boundless flames.
The moment he used this move, the ground within a thousand feet radius instantly dried and cracked.
The light seal shot forward, slamming into the enraged Tuntun’s claw.
Boom!
The entire world seemed to shake for an instant. Next, a terrifying shockwave unfurled, blowing away
everyone nearby.
As the dust settled, everyone cast their gazes over.
The ground had been sundered, creating an enormous crack. Tuntun’s giant body had also been sent
flying backwards, its claws digging into the ground, leaving behind deep claw marks.
Its claws were a little burnt, evidently due to Wu Huang’s attack.
Opposite Tuntun, Wu Huang had slid over a hundred feet back. His expression was pretty grim, the five
deep to the bone wounds on his arm dripping with blood.
Luluo’s eyes nearly popped out from their sockets, clearly surprised that Wu Huang had been injured
after a single clash.
“An angry Tuntun is too scary…”
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Chapter 173 Leaving One’s Name on the Saint
Tablet
The ground was scorched black and in a complete mess.
Wu Huang grimly looked towards the wounds on his arm as his eyes twitched slightly. He had not
expected the sharpness of Tuntun’s claw attack to reach such an astonishing level.
His Genesis Qi defenses had not put up much of a resistance, and were easily torn apart.
Ye Ming approached Wu Huang, shooting a glance at the latter’s arm as his pupils shrank slightly. “This
Genesis Beast is not normal.”
Wu Huang nodded. “Its bloodline is extremely powerful.”
The mysterious Genesis Beast was ferociously overbearing. He did not dare to hold anything back against
it.
However, the current situation would very likely not allow him to engage it in a one on one fight.
Wu Huang coldly said, “If you have nothing else up your sleeves, I will be finding a way to leave on my
own. None of us will be able to escape if this continues.”
The current situation was extremely unfavorable to them. Without mentioning the watching Zhou Yuan
and gang, just those dozen grade 4 Genesis Beasts alone were already enough to give them a terrible
headache.
If this continued, things would go wrong sooner or later.
Ye Ming also clearly understood this. He could not help but sigh as his gaze turned towards Zhou Yuan. “I
did not expect the situation to develop in such a manner. Zhou Yuan is indeed a problem. No wonder he
could become your arch-enemy…”
“But don’t worry, if we want to leave, they will not be able to stop us.”
He slowly walked forwards, both hands suddenly forming a seal as black vortexes surfaced in his pitch-
black pupils and began to spin wildly.
“Night Devil Qi, Night Devil Heaven!”
Two night black beams of Genesis Qi abruptly shot out from Ye Ming’s eyes. In an instant, the entire land
seemed to fall into an endless darkness.
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Darkness filled the sky and covered the land. Not only was one’s sight obstructed, even one’s Spirit senses
had been weakened to the limit.
Roar!
The grade 4 Genesis Beasts lost their sense of direction, making them afraid to carelessly attack. They
held their positions and took measures to guard themselves as they released low roars.
“Keep close, gather together.” Zhou Yuan’s voice spread. Such darkness was difficult to dispel. Attacking
alone would undoubtedly give the other side a chance to find an opening.
Zhen Xu and Luluo approached the origin of the voice, and kept close to Zhou Yuan’s side. As for Tuntun,
its scarlet-red eyes swept across the area, before slowly moving backwards.
“Truly troublesome.”
Mumbled Ye Ming in the darkness.
He had originally planned on catching them off guard before striking. If the other side was to carelessly
attack, he could gather his forces and wipe them out as fast as possible.
However, Zhou Yuan had swiftly responded, causing his plan to fail.
“Looks like we can only withdraw.”
He shook his head, before flicking with his finger. A faint sound was transmitted into the ears of Wu
Huang, Zhe Ying and the rest, causing everyone to immediately fall back.
The darkness gradually faded.
Luluo immediately looked towards the area Wu Huang and the rest had been at, only to find that it was
now empty. Their figures were already at the edge of the horizon, evidently having decided to escape
some time ago.
“They’ve fled!” The outcome was clearly not to Luluo’s liking.
Zhou Yuan also felt rather regretful. It had been an opportunity to bury Wu Huang, Ye Ming and the rest
here, but their seemingly endless bag of tricks made this task very difficult.
Zhou Yuan gazed in the direction they had disappeared in as his eyes narrowed slightly, icy killing intent
flashing within.
“No hurry, we will have our chance. We’ll eventually have to decide the ultimate victor in the Saint
Remains Domain after all.”
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In the wake of Wu Huang and gang’s departure, the dozen grade 4 Genesis Beasts turned around and
roared at Zhou Yuan’s group with the intent of chasing them off.
Roar!
However, Tuntun roared at them, its thunderous roar shaking the forest.
After being blasted by Tuntun’s roar, the grade 4 Genesis Beasts slowly withdrew.
Tuntun shook its body as it swiftly began to shrink. In the end, it returned to its usual dull gray
appearance, a little cute but unremarkable.
After the earlier battle however, everyone clearly knew just how terrifying this lazy looking little fellow
was.
Tuntun jumped onto Zhou Yuan’s shoulder, its beady eyes flickering as it patted him.
“Its asking about big sis Yaoyao.” Luluo helped interpret its words.
Zhou Yuan patted Tuntun’s head and said, “Yaoyao has already escaped them and is fine for the time
being. She is likely recovering somewhere and will meet up again with us when she is back to full health.”
Only after hearing this did Tuntun feel a lot more relieved.
Bzz!
While they were talking, everyone suddenly sensed something and lifted their heads to peer into the sky.
The Saint Tablet had suddenly started shaking.
Light converged towards it as ancient words began to appear.
Luluo uttered in astonishment, “Someone has left their name on the tablet!”
Zhou Yuan and Zhen Xu turned their attention over.
Only Yaoyao, Wu Huang and Ye Ming had managed to leave their names on the Saint Tablet, but now,
another name was appearing beneath their’s.
“Jiang Quan, Dongxuan Continent.”
“Battle accomplishment; battled Zhen Xu, victory.”
Luluo cast a sympathetic gaze towards Zhen Xu. Having his name up there as a negative example was
honestly a little humiliating.
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Zhen Xu’s complexion was as pale as ever, no emotion visible on his face as he calmly said, “If not for his
teammates hiding nearby, it would not have been so easy for him to beat me.”
However, his hands were tightly clenched, evidently not as cool inside as he appeared on the surface.
After all, Zhen Xu naturally had his pride as one of the apex level geniuses of the Cangmang Continent.
Zhou Yuan nodded in agreement. Given the pride displayed by Zhen Xu, the former believed that these
were not the words of a sore loser. Moreover, those Dongxuan people were indeed very unscrupulous.
Anyone could see that from how they choose to ignore fairness and gang up on Yaoyao.
Moments after Jiang Quan’s name appeared, light began to gather again below it as another name swiftly
began to emerge.
“Zhu Ying, Dongxuan Continent.”
“Battle accomplishment; battled Luluo, narrow victory.”
The corners of Luluo’s mouth instantly curved downwards. She had just mocked Zhen Xu, and now she
too had become another ‘negative example’.
“How infuriating. Since when did I lose to her!” Luluo clearly did not accept this judgement. If not because
she had been caught by surprise and let Little Frost be trapped, stopping them from combining their
power, what could Zhu Ying possibly do against them?
While Luluo was shouting, light began to appear again, as another name slowly surfaced.
“Zhou Yuan, Cangmang Continent.”
“Battle accomplishment; battled Zhu Ying.”
“Victory.”
An expression of shock appeared on Zhou Yuan’s face. He never imagined that his previous battle with
Zhu Ying would be acknowledged by the Saint Tablet, allowing his name to be engraved upon it.
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Chapter 174 The Golden Pool
“I’ve actually gotten my name on the tablet?”
Zhou Yuan beamed as he gazed at the dazzling Saint Tablet in the sky, clearly rather surprised by this
outcome.
Although he had taken the upper hand in the battle against Zhu Ying, he had been interrupted by Wu
Huang, Ye Ming and the rest before he could properly defeat her.
But it seems that the Saint Tablet had still acknowledged that battle.
“Was it because the gap between our cultivation levels was too large?”
On the surface, Zhou Yuan was only at the initial Heaven Gate stage, while Zhu Ying was quasi Alpha-
Origin, a tremendous disparity. Hence from a certain point of view, the battle itself could be considered a
remarkable achievement.
Luluo was seething as she said, “Does this mean that I can’t even compare to you?”
She had lost to Zhu Ying, and Zhu Ying had lost to Zhou Yuan. Didn’t this mean that she was two levels
below Zhou Yuan?
Zhou Yuan chuckled. “Relax, if we meet Zhu Ying again, you will definitely be able to take revenge as long
as you’re on guard against her Genesis Beast trapping method.”
His words were not solely consolation. Once Luluo and Little Frost were linked, her strength would reach
an astonishing level that was enough to kill ordinary Alpha-Origin experts.
Luluo gently bit down as she declared, “I’ll not let her off when I see her again.”
Her large eyes suddenly rotated, a wide smile emerging on her face as she looked towards Zhou Yuan’s
shoulder where Tuntun currently was. “Hehe, good boy Tuntun. Are you the boss here?”
Tuntun nodded in a rather pleased manner.
Luluo’s eyes brightened. “Which is to say, you’ve taken possession of the golden pool?”
Tuntun seemed to realise something, its eyes now guarded as it stared at Luluo.
Zhou Yuan’s heart shook a little. He could also sense that Tuntun was quite a bit stronger than before.
Could it be due to the golden pool?
“Good boy Tuntun, lend us the golden pool for a while okay?” Luluo’s large eyes blinked appealingly.
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Tuntun shook its head.
“Petty!” Luluo glared at it.
By the side, Zhou Yuan rubbed his chin. He too wanted to have a look at the golden pool. It had not been
easy for them to come here, and he naturally hoped to obtain a share of the blessings. However, Tuntun
was clearly the boss here, so they needed to convince it somehow.
Zhou Yuan let out a dry cough, before he began to speak in a seemingly sincere and heartfelt manner,
“Tuntun, don’t those bastards that ganged up on Yaoyao make you angry?”
Roar!
The hair all over Tuntun’s body began to stand up, an ominous glint appearing in its beady eyes as it
growled.
“We are also very angry.” Zhou Yuan nodded. “But you saw it, right? There are quite a few of them, and if
we want our revenge, we will also have to gather up more teammates while raising our strength.”
“Now look at the golden pool, it should be pretty beneficial to us if we are allowed to enter for a while.
Raising our strength will enable us to better seek justice for Yaoyao against those guys, don’t you think
so?”
Tuntun hesitated upon hearing this. It could feel that Zhou Yuan’s argument was rather reasonable. The
previous clash against Wu Huang had taught it just how formidable the latter was.
After pondering for a few brief moments, Tuntun finally gave in and nodded.
“Hehe, Zhou Yuan is the best!” Luluo immediately cheered upon seeing this.
By the side, Zhen Xu was silent for a moment before he said, “Since Wu Huang and the rest have already
withdrawn, I should also leave.”
He was pretty much a loner, while also being extremely prideful. Being saved once by Zhou Yuan was
already weighing pretty hard on him, making him feel that he owed the latter a debt of gratitude. If he
were to stay and partake in the blessings Zhou Yuan had basically single-handedly acquired for them, he
would not know where to bury his head.
Zhou Yuan merely smiled when he heard this. "Since you already owe me, would it matter whether it's
once or twice."
"Jiang Quan is tagging along with Wu Huang, Ye Ming and the rest, and will surely obtain various
blessings, raising his strength. If you don't plan on falling behind, I advise you not to give up on this one."
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Zhou Yuan was no samaritan, but merely wanted Zhen Xun in his camp. After all, Wu Huang had teamed
up with the Dongxuan people, forming a rather alarming line-up. To match them, Zhou Yuan would have
to recruit a few apex level geniuses to his side.
Such geniuses were definitely proud individuals, making it an uphill task to convince them. Hence, Zhou
Yuan chose to work on them through kindness and benevolence, which was also one of the ways to win
over others.
Zhen Xu was no fool, and naturally understood Zhou Yuan’s intentions. Jiang Quan may have engaged
underhanded tactics against Zhen Xu, but even without them, he would never let Jiang Quan off.
Hence, after some silence, Zhen Xu finally said, “I will repay these debts in the future.”
Zhou Yuan waved his hand, before grinning at Tuntun. “I’ll be troubling you to lead the way.”
Tuntun seemed to sigh as if greatly pained by the act of sharing its beloved things. It powerlessly got up,
and headed towards the top of the giant mountain.
The Zhou Yuan trio hurriedly followed.
Genesis Beasts would peer towards them from time to time, but none dared to show themselves due to
Tuntun. In the end, Zhou Yuan and gang smoothly reached the mountain top.
The giant mountain top was akin to the mouth of a volcano, but it was instead filled with golden liquid,
making it a pool of gold. Golden light blossomed as a faint, strange fragrance spread.
Zhou Yuan, Luluo and Zhen Xu gazed at the golden pool with desire. They could feel the Genesis Qi within
their bodies grow lively.
“Is this the golden pool?” The trio drooled, their hearts beating faster as they gazed upon it.
Plop.
Tuntun was the first to jump in. It idled about on the surface, its eyes slightly shut as if was the best
feeling in the world.
Zhou Yuan and the rest watched as strands of golden light from the rippling golden water began to pour
into Tuntun’s body.
“The blessing is already before us, how much we gain will depend on ourselves.” Zhou Yuan smiled at
Luluo and Zhen Xu, before he also hopped in.
With Little Frost in her arms, Luluo’s eyes glowed brightly, no hesitation whatsoever as she leaped in and
began joyously cheering inside with Little Frost.
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Zhen Xu’s heart rippled for a brief moment, and swiftly followed suit.
Once Zhou Yuan was inside, he could feel a peculiar golden light endlessly rush towards him. The golden
light poured into his body and was greedily devoured by his squirming flesh and blood.
Golden light fused into his blood, making it flow with greater gusto and force.
It fused into his muscles, making them stronger and filling them with explosive power.
It fused into his bones, making them harder and sturdier.
Golden light washed across his body, some of it eventually arriving at his Qi Dwelling. The dark gold
Genesis Qi within also began to greedily absorb the light, rapidly growing more and more powerful.
As he felt his strength grow, Zhou Yuan fell into a kind of drunken stupor. His eyes were tightly shut, as if
never intending to wake up ever again.
However, Zhou Yuan ultimately broke out from this state. He unhappily opened his eyes, only to see
Tuntun licking his face.
“What the heck?” Zhou Yuan glared at it.
Tuntun tugged at Zhou Yuan’s clothes with its mouth before sinking towards the bottom of the golden
pool.
Zhou Yuan was taken aback. Did Tuntun want him to follow? Was there something at the bottom of the
pool?
He hesitated for a moment, taking a glance at Luluo and Zhen Xu were. The two seemed to be sleeping in
the golden pool, clearly drunk in the changes happening inside their bodies.
“I’ll follow and take a look…”
Zhou Yuan thought for a bit, before decisively diving into the pool. He was rather curious; what exactly
had captured Tuntun’s interest.
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Chapter 175 Saint Rune
Inside the golden pool.
Zhou Yuan cut through the water, eyes fixed his guide Tuntun as he closely followed.
As they continued to dive deeper, Zhou Yuan began to feel a powerful pressure surge towards him from
all directions. The magnitude far surpassed that of ordinary water.
“What a strong pressure. Even though I’ve already stepped into the Heaven Gate stage, it’s still a bit
unbearable.” Zhou Yuan’s expression was grave. The depths of the golden pool was clearly not a place
ordinary people could go to.
Dark gold Genesis Qi began to flood out of Zhou Yuan’s body, wrapping around him.
However, it was not long before his Genessi Qi barrier already gradually reached its limits.
Zhou Yuan helplessly came to a stop, revealing a bitter smile. He had not expected it to be so difficult to
reach the bottom of the golden pool.
Tuntun swiftly swam back upon realising this. It pondered for a bit, before laying itself on Zhou Yuan’s
head. Powerful Genesis Qi spread, enveloping Zhou Yuan like a bubble.
The overwhelming pressure immediately vanished.
“Thanks.” Zhou Yuan rubbed Tuntun’s head.
Tuntun waved its paw, and began rapidly descending with Zhou Yuan once again. After a few minutes,
they finally saw their destination...
The bottom of the golden pool was covered in resplendent golden light. Numerous rocks had been dyed
gold, making them exceptionally dazzling.
Zhou Yuan’s gaze swept across the area, a puzzled look in his eyes. His Spirit sense was not weak, but was
unable to discover anything out of the ordinary.
Tuntun continued to descend, landing on the bottom of the pool, before its paws suddenly began to dig at
a certain spot.
Countless golden rocks were sent flying.
A long while later, Zhou Yuan’s eyes suddenly concentrated. As Tuntun continued to dig, he saw a
damaged stone tablet appear at the bottom of the golden pool.
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Zhou Yuan waved his sleeve, sending out a wave of Genesis Qi that swept away the scattered rocks,
allowing the stone tablet to be fully uncovered.
The stone tablet was mottled and pretty badly damaged, covered in the vestiges of erosion. It seemed to
be exceedingly ordinary, but Zhou Yuan’s gaze were still glued to its surface.
One would find ancient patterns on the surface of the stone tablet. These patterns looked as if they were
naturally formed when the world began, mysterious and immeasurable.
Weak rays of light connected the patterns to each other, forming an ancient and mysterious rune of light.
Zhou Yuan stared hard at the mysterious rune. He felt the Genesis Qi in his body turn sluggish at this
moment as if under an indescribable pressure.
It was obvious that this pressure originated from the mysterious rune.
“There is a slightly familiar aura from it…”
Emotions churned in Zhou Yuan’s heart. Moments later, his eyes suddenly flashed. “I remember it, it’s the
same aura from the Saint Tablet!”
But this was not strange. The Saint Remains Domain had after all originated from the fallen Saint.
“This is a Saint Rune…”
Mumbled Zhou Yuan to himself. The rune was definitely from the fallen Saint. Although he was unable to
unravel its mysteries, anyone with half a brain would know that the Saint Rune was extraordinary.
If not, Tuntun would not have been so insistent.
Tuntun extended its paw at this moment, pointing towards the stone tablet then pointing towards Zhou
Yuan.
“You want me to touch it?” Asked Zhou Yuan.
Tuntun nodded repeatedly.
Zhou Yuan hesitated for a moment, but ultimately gritted his teeth. His figure descended as he reached
out his hand and very carefully touched the ancient and mysterious Saint Rune on the stone tablet.
Bzz!
The instant Zhou Yuan’s finger made contact, blinding rays of light exploded from the Saint Rune,
shooting into the spot between Zhou Yuan’s brows.
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Boom!
An explosion resounded in Zhou Yuan mind the moment the light touched him.
Zhou Yuan’s Spirit rippled violently as the world began to spin around him. An unimaginable enormous
ancient rune appeared in front of him, slowly revolving as a terrifying pressure swallowed him.
Crack!
Cracks instantly appeared on Zhou Yuan’s Spirit, clearly unable to withstand such pressure.
Zhou Yuan’s heart was filled with terror. He knew that his Spirit would not last even ten breaths under
the ancient rune’s pressure. If this continued, his Spirit would surely be turned to dust.
“How did this happen?!” A cry of horror echoed in his heart.
“I cannot panic. This Spirit pressure is from the ancient Saint Rune!” Zhou Yuan forcibly calmed himself
down. He knew that panic would likely only lead to his Spirit’s demise.
“If it’s the Spirit…”
Zhou Yuan took in a deep breath and suddenly closed his eyes as the Primal Chaos Divine Grindstone
Visualisation Method began to flow in his head.
Boom!
The space behind Zhou Yun began to shatter, turning into an endless starry sky. Within the primal chaos,
a seemingly endless mottled grindstone slowly appeared.
The mottled grindstone loomed from behind Zhou Yuan, heading straight for the ancient Saint Rune.
Creak!
Two similarly ancient existences met in the void.
It felt as if the entire world had begun to crack due to their clash.
The Spirit crushing pressure finally faded as Zhou Yuan gasped as if a heavy burden had been lifted from
his shoulders. His heart thudded loudly as he looked towards the two behemoth existences.
“What exactly is this Saint Rune. To think that it so frightening that even master Cang Yuan’s Primal
Chaos Divine Grindstone Visualisation Method is unable to pulverise it.” Zhou Yuan was inwardly
shocked.
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The divine grindstone mark between his brows was inscribed by Cang Yuan and contained a sliver of the
divine grindstone’s aura. It was due to this very mark that anyone who used Spirit attacks on Zhou Yuan
in the past had succumb to terrible fates.
Every one of these Spirit attacks had ultimately been crushed by the divine grindstone.
This time however, the divine grindstone could not display an effect akin to a hot knife through butter.
Instead, the ancient Saint Rune had been able to withstand its might.
The two titans were stuck in a deadlock.
“The only thing I can do now is wait.” There was nothing that Zhou Yuan could do. A clash of such
proportions was not something an advance Illusory stage like him could interfere in.
Therefore, he sat down and watched.
This lasted for only god knew how long, until even Zhou Yuan Spirit began to feel a little exhausted...
Boom!
Just as Zhou Yuan was no longer able to endure, a loud noise suddenly rang out. Zhou Yuan hurriedly
looked over, only to see the mottled divine grindstone slowly backing away, before ultimately
disappearing into the murky primal chaos.
On the other hand, rays of light exploded from the ancient Saint Rune as it rapidly shrank. In the end, it
transformed into a flash of light that descended from the sky and shot into Zhou Yuan’s head.
At the bottom of the golden pool.
Zhou Yuan tightly shut eyes finally opened at this moment.
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Chapter 176 Leap in Strength
Bzz!
A frightening ripple abruptly pulsed from between Zhou Yuan’s brows the moment he opened his eyes.
The pulse shook the bottom of the golden pool, forming a gigantic whirlpool with Zhou Yuan at its
epicenter.
Endless golden light whizzed over, flooding into Zhou Yuan’s body.
Pahpah!
As the boundless golden light poured in, pitter-patter noises sounded in his body. His flesh and blood
began to boil, while more and more golden light flowed into his Qi Dwelling, causing the Genesis Qi inside
to grow steadily.
In a short period of several minutes, a layer of foul-smelling scabs appeared on the surface of Zhou Yuan’s
body. It was the impurities that had been expelled.
Zhou Yuan shook slightly, breaking the scab layer, and revealing skin under which golden light flowed. It
was an extremely magical sight.
Dazzling light blossomed in Zhou Yuan’s eyes as he felt the strong surge of power in his body, causing
bliss to appear on his face.
Zhou Yuan shut his eyes and began to view his Spirit. It silently sat between his brows, giving off a gentle
glow. Compared to before he had entered the golden pool, his Spirit was undoubtedly more concentrated
and corporeal.
The illusory feeling from before was gradually fading as it began to shift toward being corporeal.
This was a sign that his Spirit was about to corporealize.
Once his Spirit stepped into the Corporeal stage, its amazingness and wonders would gradually be
revealed. The Spirit would even be capable of leaving the body and perform numerous Spirit attacks,
making it even more unfathomable.
“What a crazy blessing. Spirit cultivation is so difficult. I had originally forecasted at least half a year of
training to reach the peak of the advance stage, but I ended up reaching it so quickly.” Zhou Yuan’s heart
was filled with joy.
Back then, he had spent nearly a year bitterly training to raise his Spirit from the mid Illusory stage to the
advance level.
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Above his seated Spirit, the milky white Saint Spirit Crystal hovered, giving off holy light that tempered
the Spirit bit by bit.
It was the Saint Spirit Crystal from the Gu clan. The golden pool blessing may have been the main reason
for the rapid progress of his Spirit cultivation this time, but the Saint Spirit Crystals tireless nourishing
was not to be ignored.
In addition, a faint glow surfaced between the brows of Zhou Yuan’s Spirit, an ancient rune barely
visible...
The rune was ancient, holy and sacred, as if it had been born the moment the world was created.
“Is this… that Saint Rune?!”
Zhou Yuan’s heart shuddered violently. This rune was clearly the same ancient and mysterious Saint
Rune from before!
“That mysterious Saint Rune has been imprinted onto my Spirit?” Zhou Yuan was shocked.
He did not know what exactly this mysterious Saint Rune was, but it was definitely of unbelievable
origins, something that could clearly be seen from how it was able to match the primal chaos divine
grindstone.
“I wonder what function this mysterious Saint Rune has.” Zhou Yuan tried to activate it, only to discover
that even after giving his all, the rune merely brightened a little without any other response.
“Is it because my strength is lacking?”
Zhou Yuan let out a bitter laugh. Evidently, a tremendous amount of power was needed to activate the
mysterious Saint Rune, which he was currently still unable to provide.
He inwardly shook his head, and temporarily gave up on the idea, turning his attention instead to his Qi
Dwelling.
“The Genesis Qi inside my body has upgraded, reaching the mid Heaven Gate stage.”
Zhou Yuan peered into his blood-red Qi Dwelling, finding that the dark gold Genesis Qi whizzing about
within was more concentrated and abundant than before, a sign that it had already reached the mid
Heaven Gate stage.
“As expected of the Saint Remains Domain, a single blessing is akin to reaching the heavens in a single
step!”
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Zhou Yuan’s heart overflowed with happiness. His progress was nothing but amazing. His Spirit had
grown more corporeal, while his Genesis Qi had received a breakthrough again, ascending to the mid
Heaven Gate stage.
Most importantly of course, he had obtained the mysterious Saint Rune. Although he had yet to discover
its abilities, he just knew that they would surely be extraordinary.
“If I encounter Wu huang again now, I will finally be able to truly face him in battle!”
Battle intent burned in Zhou Yuan’s eyes. The first time he met Wu Huang, the latter’s aura alone had
been able to suppress him, while each subsequent meeting had been pretty much one-sided.
However, this did not make him depressed. Instead, each thrashing merely served to fuel his growth as
the gap between them continued to shrink.
Until today...
“Wu Huang, it is time for us to settle the grudge between us once and for all.”
Iciness flitted across Zhou Yuan’s eyes.
Crack!
The sound of something shattering was suddenly heard at the bottom of the golden pool. Zhou Yuan
looked down, and saw the mottled stone tablet began to crumble, turning into dust, while the mysterious
Saint Rune on it also disappeared.
Zhou Yuan felt his forehead. He knew that the rune had already been imprinted onto his Spirit.
Following the disintegration of the stone tablet, Zhou Yuan felt the golden light in the pool begin to dim as
the golden water gradually returned to clearness.
The mysterious energy that filled it also started to fade.
“Could the golden pool’s energy have come from the Saint Rune?” Mumbled Zhou Yuan to himself.
With the Saint Rune now imprinted on his Spirit, it was naturally unable to distribute its energy, causing
the golden pool to become normal.
While Zhou Yuan was still lost in thought, the pool waters rippled.
Tuntun swam over, circling around Zhou Yuan twice as its beady eyes stared at the spot between Zhou
Yuan’s brows in amazement as if sensing something there.
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“I almost died because of you.” Zhou Yuan sullenly said. The mysterious Saint Rune clearly possessed
terrifying power. If not for the divine grindstone mark master Cang Yuan had left him, not only would he
have been unable to obtain the Saint Rune, he would have likely instead by crushed by its terrifying
pressure.
Fortunately, Zhou Yuan had managed to ride it out and had even obtained an enormous reward.
Risk and opportunity always came hand in hand.
Hence, Zhou Yuan did not complain any further, beckoning to Tuntun as he swam towards the surface.
After several minutes, he pierced through the water surface with a plop and landed by the side of the
pool.
“Zhou Yuan, you’re finally out!”
Luluo’s voice was heard the moment he emerged.
Zhou Yuan turned his head, and found Luluo with her hands on her waist nearby, eyes wide open as she
stared at him in amazement. “You’ve been in there for half a month!”
“Half a month?”
Zhou Yuan was stunned. He had been under the impression that it had only been half a day. To think so
much time had already passed. One would indeed lose track of time when cultivating.
“Sorry.”
Zhou Yuan apologetically looked towards Luluo and Zhen Xu. It was obvious that they had been waiting
here for him all this time.
Zhen Xu’s face was still the same pale white, but from the Genesis Qi undulations spreading from his
body, it was clear that he had benefited greatly from the golden pool too.
He shook his head and said, “However, a storm has been gathering in the Saint Remains Domain over the
past half a moth. You’ve missed several major events.”
Upon hearing this, something clicked inside of Zhou Yuan as he immediately raised his head to look at the
Saint Tablet high up in the sky. Next, surprise, astonishment and amazement flooded out onto his face.
“To think that such a huge change has happened to the Saint Tablet…”
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Chapter 177 Saint Tower
Light still flowed on the Saint Tablet, but an enormous change had occurred to it when compared to half a
month ago.
The most eye-catching change was the greatly increased number of names on the tablet.
Originally, there had only been a handful of people; Yaoyao, Wu Huang, Ye Ming, Zhou Yuan and the rest.
But now, the number of names had reached 38!
“38 people have gotten their names on the Saint Tablet?” Zhou Yuan was rather stupefied.
Since when had it become so easy?
Luluo also raised her face as she explained, “You may not know this, but during the past half a month,
blessings and gifts continuously appeared in the Saint Remains Domain. After an intense struggle, they
were ultimately won by several fortunate individuals.”
“The clear outcome from obtaining such blessings was the rapid increase in strength, allowing one to
ascend the heavens in a single step.”
“Numerous geniuses that had been stuck at the advance Heaven Gate stage had managed to use this
opportunity to step into the Alpha-Origin stage!”
“What’s more, the Saint Tablet’s rules seemed to not be limited to battle accomplishments. Anyone who
can obtain blessings and step into the Alpha-Origin stage will be able to leave their names on the tablet.”
“In other words, the 38 individuals on the tablet all possess the strength of the Alpha-Origin!”
Amazement surfaced in Zhou Yuan’s eyes. So you only needed to step into the Alpha-Origin stage to leave
your name on the Saint Tablet.
However, only a handful of geniuses had been able to reach the Alpha-Origin before entering the Saint
Remains Domain. Now however, that number had increased to 38. From this, one could see just how
beneficial the Saint Remains Domain was.
Zhou Yuan sighed and began to earnestly inspect the Saint Tablet.
“Eh?”
While he was looking, his eyes suddenly widened. He had seen a familiar name.
Li Chunjun.
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The one known as Blind Sword from the Sword Empire had helped him fend off Wu Huang once.
“Li Chunjun, defeated Fang Zong (Dongxuan Continent).”
“Fang Zong? He should be one of the four apex level geniuses following Ye Ming from the Dongxuan
Continent. Looks like Ye Ming and gang had went searching for Li Chunjun.” Mumbled Zhou Yuan to
himself.
However, Li Chunjun was clearly too powerful, and had ended up beating the apex level genius from the
Dongxuan Continent instead.
Luluo piped in, “Although Li Chunjun defeated Fang Zong, he later encountered Ye Ming. It is said that an
epic battle was fought between the two, ultimately ending in Ye Ming’s victory.”
Zhou Yuan continued to look. Sure enough, he saw another row of words behind.
“Lost to Ye Ming by a single move.”
Zhou Yuan frowned slightly. “These Dongxuan people are purposely targeting the apex level geniuses in
hopes of weakening the morale of the other geniuses, making them no longer have the courage to
contest.”
Simply put, Ye Ming was making an example.
And the most famous Luluo, Li Chunjun and the rest were clearly the best choices.
“Ye Meng is indeed very capable.”
Zhou Yuan had came into contact with Li Chunjun before and knew just how strong he was. He was
someone that could put up a fight even against Wu Huang, hence why it was pretty unexpected that he
had lost to Ye Ming.
Zhou Yuan continued to look downwards. After a while, his gaze suddenly paused
“Ning Zhan went a 108 rounds with Wu Huang but ultimately lost.”
“Who is Ning Zhan? I can’t believe he was able to push Wu Huang so far.” Zhou Yuan was rather amazed.
Wu Huang’s strength was immeasurable, and even in the many times they had met, Zhou Yuan could feel
that the latter was still holding some of it back. He never imagined that this person called Ning Zhan
would be able to last so long against Wu Huang.
Luluo grinned and answered, “He’s also one of the apex level geniuses of the Cangmang Continent, the
Ning clan’s Battle Junky. Have you not heard of him? This battle junky encountered Wu Huang in one of
the blessing zones and fought an earth-shaking battle. However, Wu Huang still managed to take the
upper hand in the end.”
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Zhou Yuan sighed. “There truly are many hidden dragons and crouching tigers.”
He had finally finished reading the entire Saint Tablet. Practically every person on it had become the
greatest benefactors of this batch’s Saint Remain Domain.
“The two of you also seemed to have stepped into the Alpha-Origin?” Zhou Yuan’s gaze turned towards
Luluo and Zhen Xu. He could feel that the Genesis Qi inside their bodies had grown much stronger. Those
undulations clearly belonged to the true Alpha-Origin.
“We’ve at last managed to take that final step thanks to the blessings of this golden pool.” Zhen Xu’s raspy
voice sounded.
Both himself and Luluo had originally been a single stop from the Alpha-Origin. In fact, Zhen Xu had
previously been considered a quasi Alpha-Origin. By borrowing the power of the golden pool, he was now
a true-blue Alpha-Origin.
Luluo cut in, “The Alpha-Origin stage has the ability to connect to the Alpha-Origin Heaven, drawing
Alpha-Origin Qi from within to refine Genesis Qi. However, we only advanced recently and do not dare to
make any rash attempts.”
The Alpha-Origin Heaven was said to be an extremely mysterious space that appeared when the world
was created. However, one would only be able to sense it after reaching the Alpha-Origin, and enter to
absorb the Alpha-Origin Qi to refine one’s own Genesis Qi.
This was also how the Alpha-Origin stage had derived its name.
Zhou Yuan nodded as he sighed. It seems that he was not the only one that had grown. The apex level
geniuses had borrowed the blessings in this place to rapidly upgrade themselves.
It was likely that Wu Huang, Ye Ming and their group had also made substantial progress over the past
half a month.
If they were to meet again, there would surely be an epic earth-shaking battle.
“When does the Saint Remains Domain end?” Asked Zhou Yuan.
Luluo and Zhen Xu shook their heads. “Every batch is different, so no one knows what will happen.
Normally speaking however, once the greatest blessing is taken, the Saint Remains Domain will change…”
“The greatest blessing?”
Zhou Yuan frowned. Just as he was about to speak again, a faint stabbing pain was suddenly felt between
his brows.
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An ancient rune seemed to appear and flicker for a split second. It was at this moment that every genius
in the Saint Remains Domain heard a strange rumbling noise emerge from the Saint Tablet.
Millions and millions of light rays slowly blossomed from the Saint Tablet.
Rays of light extended as a giant tower slowly emerged from within, appearing within everyone’s sights.
Light also gathered in front of the tower, forming a platform.
Meanwhile, an ancient voice that seemed to have travelled through time echoed across the land, filled
with an indescribable dignity and mysteriousness.
“Those whose names are on the tablet may enter the Saint tower.”
“The one that ascends the top of the tower may obtain the greatest blessing.”
The entire Saint Remains Domain instantly exploded into an uproar.
Countless geniuses wailed, because they had yet to leave their names on the tablet. All they could do now
was watch, unable to vie for the greatest blessing.
Bzz!
The names on the Saint Tablet suddenly started glowing brightly one by one, transforming into pillar
after pillar of light that descended from the sky.
The light pillars landed, enveloping 38 figures...
The fight for the ultimate blessing of the Saint Remains Domain had finally began at this moment.
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Swish! Swish!
Giant pillars of light fell from the sky under the attention of countless watching eyes. It was truly a grand
sight.
The light pillars landed in various areas of the Saint Remains Domain, but at the end of every pillar was a
figure...
These people were clearly the owners of the names on the Saint Tablet!
In the vicinity of the golden pool.
Three pillars of light also descended from the sky, falling upon Zhou Yuan, Luluo and Zhen Xu.
Tuntun however, was stuck outside the light pillars.
Tuntun let out a low roar of dissatisfaction and slammed into one of the light pillars twice, but the latter
did not budge at all.
Zhou Yuan was somewhat stunned, but he soon shook his head. Looks like Genesis Beasts were not
allowed to obtain the greatest blessing of the Saint Remains Domain, and did not even have the right to
enter.
“Tuntun, wait here for us.” Zhou Yuan attempted to pacify it.
Tuntun gloomily lay down, displaying a dispirited and downcast look.
Luluo regretfully said, “What a pity. If Tuntun could tag along, it would be a huge aid.”
Tuntun’s battle power was not to be underestimated. Didn’t everyone see how even Wu Huang had been
injured by it?
After lingering in regret for a while, Luluo lifted her head, face now filled with excitement as she stared at
the Saint tower in the sky. She knew that the most intense battle would soon begin.
“Is the final act finally about to start?”
Everything before this was merely akin to little squabbles. Now was the real deal.
Under such a situation, even Zhen Xu’s pale face was now slightly flushed. His ash-colored eyes were
similarly filled with excitement and anticipation.
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Zhou Yuan looked to the sky, his eyes narrowing slightly as he gazed at the pillar of light around him. A
sharp aura surged as his five fingers clenched tightly.
Wu Huang, it is time to settle the debt between us.
The things all of you stole back then shall be personally taken back by me today!
In the Saint Remains Domain, the 38 pillars grew increasingly dazzling as a rising upward force emerged.
The 38 figures slowly began to rise towards the platform before the Saint tower.
Countless geniuses in the Saint Remains Domain could only watch the slowly rising 38 figures in envy.
“What a pity to have lost the chance to fight for the greatest blessing.”
“*Sigh*, my skills were lacking.”
“At least we’re lucky enough to personally witness the battle. I wonder who will be the one who will
ultimately reaches the top?”
“It will likely be Wu Huang or Lu Chunjun…”
“Ye Ming has a good chance too. He is exceedingly powerful, and even Li Chunjun lost at his hands.”
“If we let those Dongxuan rats obtain the greatest blessing, our Cangmang Continent will lose all face…”
“Don’t forget Zhou Xiaoyao. He was the one who forced Wu Huang and Ye Ming to join hands, and his
strength definitely stands above the crowd. I wonder if we will be able to see his dazzling power today?”
“Heh heh, truly a battle of the titans. Since we are not fated to be a part of it, we’ll just have to play our
part as the audience. At least this trip wasn’t in vain.”
“......”
Countless regretful whispers rang out in every corner of the Saint Remains Domain.
Under countless watching eyes, 38 figures moved up along the pillar, eventually landing on the giant
platform of light.
Zhou Yuan stepped onto the glowing platform, the feeling below his feet as solid as the ground below.
His gaze swept across the area. All 38 figures stood on the giant platform, a guarded look in their eyes
when they met eyes with another.
Zhou Yuan’s gaze soon stopped nearby where two beautiful figures stood. Their pretty face seemed to
make the other shine with even greater beauty, drawing the attention of several gazes.
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It was obviously Yaoyao and Zuoqiu Qingyu.
“Hey, big sis Yaoyao!” Luluo hurriedly waved at them.
Upon hearing her voice, Yaoyao cast her gaze over, a faint smile appearing on her aloof face when she saw
Zhou Yuan.
She gracefully walked over, bringing Zuoqiu Qingyu along.
“Heehee, big sis Yaoyao, you’ve resumed your real identity?” Luluo cheekily looked towards Yaoyao’s side
where Zuoqiu Qingyu was.
“Luluo! I can’t believe that you did not tell me!” Zuoqiu Qingyu tightly gritted her teeth as she hatefully
glared at Luluo. Now that she thought about it, Luluo had been watching her play the fool during the days
they spent in Saint Remains City.
“Who can you blame but only yourself for being so stupid.” Luluo made a funny face.
Yaoyao ignored the quarrel between the two girls as she looked towards Zhou Yuan. “Not bad, you
somehow managed to make it up here.”
Zhou Yuan helplessly replied, “I can’t be that bad, right?”
He did not mind because he knew that Yaoyao was merely teasing. However, his eyes narrowed slightly
as he asked, “Are you okay?”
Yaoyao understood that Zhou Yuan was referring to the matter of Wu Huang, Ye Ming and the rest
ganging up on her. She immediately shook her head. “It was I who was a little careless…”
Luluo squawked, “No need to fear big sis Yaoyao, we now have quite a few teammates on our side too. If
we meet them, we’ll fuck them up!”
“Vulgar.” Zuoqiu Qingyu rolled her eyes.
She looked Zhou Yuan up and down as astonishment flashed across her face. “Not bad, you’ve reached the
Heaven Gate stage…”
In Saint Remains City, Zhou Yuan had only been at the Qi Nourishing stage, leading Zuoqiu Qingyu to be
under the impression that he had been relying on Yaoyao to come all the way here. But from the looks of
it, she had underestimated him.
“Don’t look down on Zhou Yuan. In fact, you may not be able to beat him in a real fight!” Luluo snorted.
“Well he’ll have to capable of catching up to me first.” Zuoqiu Qingyu responded.
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Yaoyao chuckled and seemed to joke, “See, Zhou Yuan isn’t as weak as you think. Didn’t you want me to
compensate you previously? Are you satisfied now that you’ve had a look?”
Zuoqiu Qingyu’s red lips stuck out. She scanned Zhou Yuan again and said, “This little lady’s expectations
are high, we’ll discuss this after he’s able to beat Wu Huang!”
Zhou Yuan was baffled as he watched. He had no idea what they were talking about; what did she mean
by compensation?
While they were conversing, Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao’s expression suddenly paused before they slowly
turned their heads. At a certain nearby corner of the platform, several figures were gathered together, an
astonishing aura slowly spreading from their bodies.
The group was headed by Wu Huang and Ye Ming. Besides the four apex level Dongxuan geniuses, there
were also several other geniuses behind Wu Huang.
Amongst them were two familiar figures, Xiao Tianxuan and Gu Ling.
It was clear that Wu Huang had recruited some members over the past half a month.
Wu Huang and Ye Ming’s gazes also turned towards Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao at this moment.
Their gazes clashed, sparks seemingly flying while killing intent flowed.
Luluo, Zuoqiu Qingyu and Zhen Xu also walked forward to stand at Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao’s side, eyes
filled with hostility as Genesis Qi surged around their bodies, creating a similarly powerful presence.
The two sides faced each other from far away.
The other geniuses withdrew, not daring to stand too close to the two most powerful groups here such as
to avoid being caught in the crossfire.
Ye Ming’s gaze looked towards Yaoyao as he softly sighed and said, “I never expected the one that gave
me such a huge headache would be such an amazingly pretty beauty…”
“However, I will not show any mercy regardless of sex.”
Yaoyao’s eyes narrowed slightly as dangerous light flitted across her eyes.
Just as she was about to speak, a black figure slowly walked out. Black cloth was wrapped around his
eyes, his hand on the grip of a sword that stood on the floor.
“If we meet in the Saint tower, your opponent will be me.”
A hoarse voice stealthily sounded.
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On the platform, the pupils of numerous geniuses shrank, fear flashing in their eyes as they stared at the
figure in black robes.
The one who had spoken was Blind Sword, Li Chunjun.
“Heh heh, Wu Huang, we weren’t able to properly enjoy ourselves the last time. Let’s go again!” A
powerful voice rang out at this moment. One could only watch as a muscular figure stepped forward. It
was a bare torso young man whose eyes were akin to a ferocious ape that were filled with wild battle lust.
Battle Junky Ning Zhan!
Wu Huang cast an indifferent glance at Ning Zhan. “The current you is not my match…”
His gaze then slowly turned towards Zhou Yuan. “It seems that you didn’t bring that brute along…”
Zhou Yuan stared at Wu Huang, a sharp light in his eyes as he softly said, “Wu Huang, there’s some words
I’ve been wanting to give you long ago…”
“Enjoy the things you took from me a while longer… because I will soon personally take them back!”
Boom!
At this moment, terrifying killing intent suddenly exploded from Wu Huang’s body.
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Chapter 179 Entering the Saint Tower
Dreadful killing intent swept across the glowing platform like a wave, causing the expressions of several
top tier geniuses top change slightly, their gazes filled with fear as they looked towards Wu Huang.
Under the attention of the crowd, Wu Huang’s eerily chilling eyes stared at Zhou Yuan. “The most pitiful
thing about you is that you don’t deserve to possess such things.”
“Moreover, it is said that you still naively believe that you will be able to take them back.”
“Zhou Yuan…”
Mockery rose from the corners of Wu Huang’s lips.
“This time, I will let you understand that you were only a carrier for the sacred dragon blessing, while I
am its true owner!”
“I will show you the taste of true despair!”
Powerful and domineering Genesis Qi violently unfurled from Wu Huang’s body like a storm, his voice
almost a growl as it rang in everyone’s ears.
Several gazes were cast towards Zhou Yuan at this moment, most of them containing some pity. Although
Zhou Yuan had reached the mid Heaven Gate stage, when compared to Wu Huang, the gap between them
was still far too large.
Though the focus of Wu Huang’s murderous gaze and numerous gazes of pity, there was no change in
Zhou Yuan’s expression. He merely chuckled softly and said, “You’ve already declared the exact same
thing back when I was still at the Qi Nourishing stage, but unfortunately, things have never turned out as
you wished…”
“That’s why…”
“Wu Huang, you will still be disappointed this time.”
Their gazes clashed in mid-air, killing intent so thick that even the surrounding air felt a little colder.
Rumble!
While killing intent dripped from the air, a rumbling sound was suddenly heard from the Saint tower
behind the platform. Numerous geniuses swiftly turned their gazes, to see the giant doors of the tower
slowly opening...
“The Saint tower is opening!”
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Everyone’s eyes instantly lit up with boiling excitement. The greatest blessing of the Saint Remains
Domain was inside this very tower, and it was likely the fabled sacred land.
Everyone on the platform had obtained a portion of the Saint Remains Domain’s blessings, however, it
was nothing compared to the one before their eyes.
Obtaining it would be akin to rocketing straight into the heavens, surpassing everyone else.
In the face of such temptation, none of those present could maintain a heart as cool and collected as still
water.
With the exception of Yaoyao… her eyes that looked towards the Saint tower were akin to a hidden pool,
without even the slightest ripple of emotion. In fact, her shapely eyebrows had even slightly knitted
together. She did not know why, but the tower gave her an indescribable feeling.
As if she had seen it somewhere before...
However, no matter how hard she tried, she was unable to recall anything.
It was a feeling that she did not like.
“The Saint tower is open, let’s enter quickly!”
The tower doors opened fully. The platform was silent for a split second before figure after figure rapidly
shot forth like a swarm as they charged towards the doors.
Even Wu Huang and Ye Ming exchanged a look, before swiftly turning around, leading their group as they
made a beeline towards the doors.
Zhou Yuan looked towards Yaoyao and the rest as he said, “We should go too.”
The group naturally had no objections. In fact, they were filled with eagerness.
“Go!”
Swish!
Genesis Qi whizzed out, transforming into numerous glowing figures that ultimately dashed into the Saint
tower under the countless envious watching eyes in the Saint Remains Domain.
Outside the Saint Remains Domain.
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There were also many people gathered here. They represented the various factions of the Cangmang
Continent, and were waiting here for the final outcome of the Saint Remains Domain.
They knew that the outcome would very likely change the faction landscape of the Cangmang Continent.
In the sky, six streams of majestic Genesis Qi surged, forming six clouds. Six figures were seated on these
clouds, the pressure from their bodies causing reverence to appear on the faces of the many faction
representatives present.
They were the envoys from the six sacred sects.
Their eyes had been closed since the beginning, bodies still as statues. Today however, those tightly shut
eyes suddenly twitched before slowly opening.
“The sacred land inside the Saint Remains Domain has appeared.” Six gazes were cast towards the Saint
Remains Domain. They could faintly sense a strange undulation appear inside the Saint Remains Domain
at this moment.
“The sacred land has indeed appeared…” The eyes of the Sacred Palace envoy known as Zhao Pan
narrowed slightly as they stared at the Saint Remains Domain. Light flickered in his eyes, but only he
knew what was on his mind.
Towards another direction, the bare-footed uncle that had once helped Zhou Yuan lightly tapped his pipe.
A complicated look was revealed in his gaze as he looked towards the Saint Remains Domain.
“Heh heh, I wonder who will obtain the greatest blessing in this batch’s Saint Remains Domain?” One of
the six chuckled.
The fair clean-shaven Zhao Pan smiled thinly. “Wu Huang possesses great luck, is blessed by the heavens
and has amazing talent. There is no doubt that he is number one amongst the younger generation of the
Cangmang Continent. The blessing will surely end up with him.”
The bare-footed uncle called Mu Wuji scoffed. “From your tone, it seems that your Sacred Palace has
already reserved him in advance?”
Zhao Pan glanced at the former. “A phoenix will seek the best tree to perch. Isn’t this very normal? Wu
Huang has made the best decision.”
“Best tree? Heh.” Mu Wuji sneered, intense iciness in his voice as he continued, “Do you Sacred Palace
people dare to enter this Saint Remains Domain?”
Zhao Pan indifferently replied, “Mu Wuji, it seems that your Cangxuan Sect still refuses to let go of the
matter that happened back then.”
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“That ancestor of yours disobeyed the Sacred order, drawing the fury of the Sacred. He has only himself
to blame for his fate.”
“Humph, if you have any opinions, feel free to debate them in the Sacred Palace… however, do you really
believe that your Cangxuan Sect is still the number one sect in Cangxuan Heaven?”
Mu Wuji’s hand tightened around his pipe, killing intent spitting from his eyes.
Zhao Pan however still had the same icy grin on his face. Genesis Qi drummed around him, forming a
grand, magnificent cloud that churned behind him as an overwhelming pressure spread.
The atmosphere between the two instantly turned hostile.
Alarm and surprise filled the faces of the numerous representatives below as they gazed upon this scene,
clearly unable to comprehend why the two envoys had been angered.
The other four envoys spoke out to douse the sparks.
“No need to argue you two, they’ve already entered the sacred land, and we should also begin…”
Zhao Pan and Mu Wujin coldly snorted as they withdrew their boundless Genesis Qi.
The six envoys formed seals with their hands. Boundless Genesis Qi suddenly shot forth, swirling in the
air in front of them as it gradually turned into a giant Genesis Qi mirror.
Light gathered within the mirror as a picture slowly appeared.
If one took a closer look, one would see the 38 figures that had entered the Saint tower...
After the 38 figures entered, they saw a towering Saint mountain that stretched even further than the end
of their sights. The grand and vast mountain also appeared in the mirror.
Outside the Saint Remains Domain, the various representatives seemed to jolt awake as their gazes
looked towards the mirror.
They knew that the subsequent battle would definitely shake the entire Cangmang Continent.
Who would be able to distinguish themselves from the numerous elite geniuses, and make everyone else
tremble before them?
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Chapter 180 Green Flood
“So this is the inside of the Saint tower…”
Inside the Saint tower, Zhou Yuan lifted his head, astonishment involuntarily appearing on his face as he
gazed upon the seemingly endless majestic mountain that had appeared before his eyes.
The giant mountain gave off a sacred glow, faint mists swirling around it. The peak was hidden in the
mists that no one present was able to peer through.
38 figures stood on Genesis Qi as they floated at the foot of the mountain, their heads tilted upwards to
gaze upon it.
To their front was an enormous stone staircase. Every step was taller than a person, and the steps
continuously extended upwards all the way to the ends of one’s sight. From a distance, it looked akin to a
coiling green dragon.
The stone was old and discolored, and seemed to contain a mysterious aura.
This was also the only path to the mountain peak on the entire Saint mountain.
“It seems that to obtain the greatest blessing, we can only ascend the peak via this stone staircase.” Luluo
cupped her hands over her eyes as she gazed at the seemingly endless giant stone staircase.
Zhou Yuan also stared at the stone staircase and said, “I’m afraid that it will not be so easy to pass
through this stone staircase.”
With his Spirit senses, he could faintly feel dangerous undulations from it.
The others nodded. Although their Spirit senses were not as sharp as Zhou Yuan’s, anyone would
understand after some thought. How could the final test be easy?
“The Saint tower is fading?” Zuoqiu Qingyu suddenly cried out in shock.
Zhou Yuan and the rest raised their heads. Sure enough, they saw the Saint tower they had entered begin
to turn transparent. As such, the scenery inside was soon exposed to the numerous geniuses watching
outside.
Though the tower had become transparent, it still existed as if protecting the Saint mountain.
This change also landed in the eyes of the countless geniuses in the Saint Remains Domain, causing them
to explode into numerous cries of surprise.
"Is that the interior of the Saint tower?"
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"Could that mountain be the final test to enter the sacred grounds?"
"It seems rather simple, no?"
"How can the final test be easy. Just wait and see, things should get exciting soon…"
The countless whispers outside were naturally not heard by those inside the tower. What's more, all of
their attention was currently on the mysterious staircase.
38 figures temporarily fell silent. The silence lasted for quite some time before someone's patience finally
hit its limit. He flew forward with extreme caution and landed on the stone staircase.
The geniuses on the step protected his body with his Genesis Qi. However, no traps appeared like
everyone had expected. The one on the step was completely safe...
"He's fine?"
The genius was stunned for a moment, before his eyes lit up with joy. His figure moved again, beginning
to climb the enormous stone steps.
His actions sparked everyone else into movement. They gritted their teeth, landing one after another on
the stone steps with swishing wind sounds.
Upon seeing this, Zhou Yuan looked towards Yaoyao and the rest as he said, “We should go too. Everyone
be careful. This place is likely not so simple.”
The rest of the gang naturally nodded.
Thus, their group also moved, landing on the giant stone staircase.
In less than a minute, everyone had arrived on the stone steps. Next, they very carefully leaped into the
air, climbing step after step as they swiftly ascended.
“Seems… that there is really no danger?” Nothing happened after several minutes. One of the geniuses
could no longer wait, Genesis Qi exploding beneath his feet as his speed rapidly rose. He darted up like a
shadow, crossing a dozen steps in a short few breaths.
Luluo was also a little unable to hold back upon seeing this, intending to increase her speed too.
Just as her figure was about to burst forward however, Zhou Yuan grabbed her wrist. He raised his head
and looked towards the end of the stone steps and said, “Something’s wrong. Don’t be rash.”
The moment Zhou Yuan’s words faded, everyone faintly felt the land tremble slightly.
Yaoyao stared at the end of the steps and suddenly said, “Something’s coming down.”
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Zhou Yuan’s eyes widened a little. He took a closer look and sure enough, he caught sight up green light
pouring down from the end of the stone steps...
Rumble!
The shaking of the land grew more and more obvious. Soon, Zhou Yuan and the rest were finally able to
get a clear view. A green flood was crashing down from the end of the steps.
The green flood was boundless, endless, as if everything would be destroyed when it passed through.
“It’s… a Genesis Qi flood!” Zhou Yuan’s pupils shrank, a sliver of shock and alarm in his voice.
When such a vast Genesis Qi flood crashed downwards, it was an earth-shaking sight.
In the face of the flood, Zhou Yuan and the rest were ain to ants.
Zhou Yuan’s expression was grave as he urgently shouted, “Quick, avoid or defend!”
Boom!
By this time, the green Genesis Qi flood had already arrived. The genius at the very front was the first to
face it...
ARGHHH!
All he had time for was a miserable shriek. Though he had immediately summoned his Genesis Qi to
defend, he was instantly swept away by the flood, ultimately washed off the stone steps as the flood
continued to surged past...
The green flood did not stop, wrapping around him as a part of it blasted out of the Saint tower and threw
him towards the Saint Remains Domain.
“He’s be thrown out of the Saint tower!” An icy sensation filled everyone’s hearts when they saw this. It
turns out that you will lose the right to contest for the greatest blessing if you leave the stone steps.
Now, no one dared to hold any more contempt for the steps.
Rumble!
The flood rapidly expanded in Zhou Yuan’s eyes. With a deep breath, a rune appeared on his palm, light
erupting from it as it transformed into a 10 feet tall tortoise shell light rune.
“Grade 3 Genesis Rune, Mighty Tortoise Shell!”
His foot also slammed into the ground, Genesis Qi surging below his soles to glue him to the ground.
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Boom!
The moment Zhou Yuan was finished, the green flood arrived. It slammed into the tortoise shell rune,
immediately causing it to shake violently...
An indescribable force pushed Zhou Yuan’s feet a whole step back, but instantly steeled himself and
persistently endured.
“What a frightening assault!”
Veins popped up on his forehead as dark gold Genesis Qi began to surge out of his body, pushing back
against the endless, limitless force.
It felt like a tsunami was crushing him while walking on the stone steps.
“It is indeed not going to be easy to reach the peak. I don’t even dare to let my attention stray, let alone
ascending to the top which I can’t even see yet…” Zhou Yuan let out a bitter laugh.
His gaze did a quick scan. Nearby, Luluo, Zuoqiu Qingyu, Zhen Xu and the rest were using their own
means to endure the battering of the green flood.
Further to the front, Wu Huang, Ye Ming, Li Chunjun and the rest were also engaging various methods.
Miserable shrieks could be heard from time to time, indicating someone was no longer able to endure and
had been washed straight out of the Saint tower by the flood...
“I need to first get used to this green flood before I think about climbing.”
Zhou Yuan gradually calmed down, but his expression abruptly changed a split second later. His gaze
urgently swept around the place, because he had realised he was unable to find Yaoyao’s figure on the
stone steps!
Had she been washed out of the tower by the green flood?!
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Chapter 181 Each with One’s Own Method
On the giant stone steps, Zhou Yuan’s expression was pretty ugly, his brows tightly furrowed.
“Although Yaoyao has no Genesis Qi, it’s impossible for her to have been blown away immediately!” Zhou
Yuan’s eyes flickered in thought. Yaoyao’s methods were akin to a bottomless pit, there was no way that
she would have been pushed out so easily.
But if Yaoyao had been able to resist, why was her figure suddenly missing from the stone steps?
“What the hell is going on?” Zhou Yuan tightly clenched his jaw. Yaoyao was clearly carrying numerous
secrets, many of which he was unable to know. However, he still wanted to do his best to protect her.
It was his promise to master Cang Yuan.
And yet, Yaoyao had fallen into danger time and time again, a fact that Zhou Yuan undoubtedly blamed
himself for.
While Zhou Yuan was distracted, cracks gradually appeared on the tortoise shell, a sign that it was about
to reach its limit.
The terrifying force continued to flood towards him, pushing Zhou Yuan’s body back step by step.
In the short span of a dozen breaths, Zhou Yuan had been pushed to the back of the group, almost about
to be swept off the stone stairs.
Luluo sharp eyes spotted this and hurriedly cried out to warn him, “Zhou Yuan, don’t be distracted!”
Zuoqiu Qingyu, whom had been pushed towards another direction by the green flood, also spoke up in a
chiding manner, “Don’t worry, Yaoyao will be fine. You should know her capabilities.”
Zhou Yuan took in a deep breath and nodded. If Yaoyao was only swept out of the tower, it was still okay,
because she would at least be fine. But if it was some other scenario, he had a hunch that he needed to
conquer the Saint mountain to find out what happened to her.
Dark gold Genesis Qi slowly rose from Zhou Yuan’s body as his sliding feet slowly came to a stop.
He raised his head and looked to his front. The three dozen or so geniuses that had entered the tower had
already been split into several distinct groups by the first wave of green.
At the very front was naturally Wu Huang, Ye Ming, Li Chunjun and the rest...
Wu Huang was the first. Scarlet-red Genesis Qi ferociously exploded from his body, the powerful Genesis
Qi stopping even the pouring green flood for a brief moment..
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Wu Huang extended a hand as scarlet-red Genesis Qi gathered on his palm. It eventually took the shape of
a foot wide glowing scarlet-red ball, extremely astonishing Genesis Qi ripples concentrated within it.
Scorching heat pulsed, burning even the surrounding air.
When the green flood battered against the scarlet-red ball, sizzling noises could be heard as the former
was swiftly evaporated.
Wu Huang held up the scarlet-red ball, feet steady as he walked forward, climbing up step by step.
While he advanced, he glanced towards the back of the pack at Zhou Yuan as contempt appeared from the
corners of his mouth. The gap between the two of them was clearly beginning to show.
He paid no further attention to the latter, and concentrated on climbing the stone steps.
Vortexes seemed to swirl within Ye Ming’s black pupils. He reached out both hands to the front as black
Genesis Qi transformed into swirling vortexes on his palm.
The green flood automatically parted when it encountered the black vortexes as if being pushed aside,
leaving a gap for Ye Ming to advance.
When he did this however, black blood began to flow from the corners of his eyes.
Swish!
Li Chunjun gripped his black greatsword and swung downwards. Formidable sword aura swept forth,
slicing open a half foot long crack in the green flood. Li Chunjun advanced in this manner, swing, step,
swing, step.
“Haha, this is great!”
Ning Zhan heartily laughed at the sky. Vigorous Genesis Qi rose from his body as it suddenly swelled a
size bigger, making him look even more like a human shaped ape. His method was the most barbaric, his
strong body withstanding the force of the flood as he walked up the stone steps.
The four of them were at the very front, undoubtedly displaying their overwhelming strength.
The numerous geniuses behind involuntarily licked their lips in secret as they gazed upon the backs of
these four individuals.
“Heh, we can’t let them steal all our thunder!”
“I’m going to show my skills too!”
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Luluo giggled when she saw this. Her small face soon turned serious. With a shake of a flash of blue light
flew out and landed on her shoulder. It was Little Frost, the ice bird that had the ice phoenix bloodline.
Likely due to the connection it had to Luluo, Little Frost had not been expelled from the light pillar when
it descended like Tuntun.
Luluo opened her mouth as icy Genesis Qi was blown out. The ice bird also opened its sharp beak at the
same time, spitting out a bundle of icy Genesis Qi.
The two Genesis Qi weaved together and landed on the green flood in front of them. A patch of the flood
immediately froze, transforming into ice that extended dozens of feet. Luluo’s toes pushed off the ground
as she leaped forward.
“Hey Zhou Yuan, I’m going too. You can only depend on yourself now. Whether or not you catch up will
hinge on your ability.”
Zuoqiu Qingyu looked towards Zhou Yuan, a mischievous smile revealing itself on her alluring face. “Since
Yaoyao is not around, if you’re able to catch up to me, I may consider letting you be one of the
candidates.”
“Candidate? What candidate?” Zhou Yuan was taken aback.
Zuoqiu Qingyu let out a tinkling laugh, but did not answer. Her slender body twisted as she dashed
straight into the green flood, like a swimming black carp as she climbed upwards.
“Zhou Yuan, although I am indebted to you, I cannot give way to you here. I’ll be going ahead first. I hope
that you’ll soon catch up.” Zhen Xu’s raspy voice sounded.
Gray Genesis Qi spiralled around his body. His hands came together as the Genesis Qi between his palms
seem to transform into a skull.
The skull opened its mouth, and began to suck in the green flood while Zhen Xu took this opportunity to
dash forward.
All three were apex level geniuses. Now that they decided to use their full power, their speeds
immediately soared, beginning to catch up to the first group of Wu Huang and the rest.
Behind them were the many second tier geniuses such as Xiao Tianxuan and Gu Ling.
Xiao Tianxuan’s coldly glanced at Zhou Yuan, who was all the way behind, as a sneer appeared from the
corners of his lips. Gu Ling’s eyes also contained hints of mockery.
“Humph, you can only rely on the power of your own Genesis Qi in order to advance through this flood.
Zhou Yuan’s battle power may be decent, but he is after all only at the Heaven Gate stage. The fact that his
foundations cannot compare to our own has now been shown…”
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They naturally did not know that Zhou Yuan was distracted by Yaoyao’s disappearance, believing instead
that his Genesis Qi reserves were waning, hence causing him to be forced back. Xiao Tianxuan and Gu
Ling exchanged a look, seeing the joy in each other’s eyes.
So what if his battle power was overwhelming. If he could not pass this stage, all of Zhou Yuan’s previous
efforts would be wasted.
Phew.
Zhou Yuan took in a deep breath, suppressing the worry in his heart. He was not an indecisive person and
knew that worrying now was useless anyways.
The most important thing now was to first ascend the Saint mountain.
His gaze peered past the green flood, looking towards the front where Wu Huang’s figure continued to
climb as an icy light surged in his eyes.
“Since that is so…”
His body lowered slightly, like a panther that was about to pounce on its prey.
“Let’s have a good competition!”
“To see who will reach the peak first!”
Dark gold Genesis Qi abruptly exploded from Zhou Yuan’s body like an erupting volcano at this moment.
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Chapter 182 Chase
Saint Remains Domain.
Countless geniuses gazed at the majestic Saint mountain inside the Saint tower. They were naturally also
able to see the green flood that poured down from the endless stone steps.
Even from so far away, they could still clearly feel its dreadful power. Under the surging green flood, the
geniuses within were akin to ants...
“Wu Huang, Ye Ming, Li Chunjun and the rest are pretty amazing. Can’t believe that they’ve adapted so
quickly and have already begun their steady advance forward.”
“As expected of these apex level geniuses. There is clearly a gap between them and the others.”
Many whispers could be heard. Numerous individuals also noticed Zhou Yuan, whom was dead last. After
all, his performance in the Saint Remains Domain had been extremely attention grabbing.
“What’s up with Zhou Yuan? To think that’s he’s fallen to last place.”
“Zhou Yuan is only at the Heaven Gate stage. His explosive power is pretty good, but his Genesis Qi
cultivation is unable to match the others. That’s why his performance is so lacklustre.”
“From the looks of it, it will not be long before he is washed out of the tower and loses his
qualifications…”
“It’s already amazing for him to have reached this stage.”
Several individuals were gloating at Zhou Yuan’s performance. They had been unable to enter the Saint
tower to vie for the blessing within, and naturally felt a little better seeing someone struggle inside.
...
The Sacred Palace envoy, Zhao Pan, watched the first group, his eyes staying on Wu Huang in particular
as a satisfied smile surfaced on his face.
“Good. Wu Huang, continue bravely advance towards the peak in this manner. If you want to join the
Sacred Palace, you’ll have to crush all the other geniuses and become the strongest one!.”
With a slight smile on his face, Zhao Pan’s gaze shifted downwards a little, landing on the figure at the
back of the pack. The corners of his lips immediately lifted slightly in a mocking manner.
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“What a useless person, he’s unworthy of being Wu Huang’s foe.”
He secretly shook his head.
“This brat… what the heck is he doing?” The Cangxuan Sect envoy, Mu Wuji, was gently tapping his pipe, a
frown on his face as he watched Zhou Yuan’s figure.
Although it was true that one needed to rely on one’s Genesis Qi to resist the green flood, Mu Wuji did not
believe that this was where Zhou Yuan would be stopped in his tracks.
“Zhou Yuan ah Zhou Yuan, that old mister thinks so highly of you, so you’d better buck up. Or how am I
going to explain things when I return?” Mu Wuji sucked on his pipe as smoke drifted out from his nose,
his expression turning solemn within the rising smoke.
“Oh?”
Almost immediately after however, Mu Wuji’s eyes suddenly focused. At the same time, the other five
envoys also gasped softly.
All of their sharp eyes had seen powerful gold Genesis Qi suddenly erupt from Zhou Yuan’s body at this
moment. The strength of this Genesis Qi was in no way weaker than those geniuses who had stepped into
the Alpha-Origin stage!
Mu Wuji’s eyes brightened as he cursed with a grin, “Stinking brat, to think that he was acting weak.”
However, he too did not know that Zhou Yuan had no such intentions. It was purely Yaoyao’s
disappearance that made him lose himself for a while, resulting in him being pushed to the last spot by
the green flood.
“Kid, show me your true capabilities. Let's see why that old mister has so highly recommended you…”
...
Rumble!
On a stone step, dark gold Genesis Qi spouted out from Zhou Yuan’s body like an erupting volcano. Along
with it came a tremendous power that flowed throughout his body and into his limbs.
Although Zhou Yuan was currently at the mid Heaven Gate stage, with regards to the power and
abundance of Genesis Qi, he would not falter even when directly facing a true Alpha-Origin expert.
After all, his Genesis Qi had been able to reach a height of over 400 feet when he reached the Heaven Gate
stage, a height that could match numerous advance Heaven Gate practitioners.
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With his blood-red Qi Dwelling, the Omni Python Qi and the steps he had taken in his cultivation since
then, the current him would not fear a true Alpha-Origin even in a head-on clash of Genesis Qi.
Boom!
Dark gold Genesis Qi roared around Zhou Yuan. The green flood charged towards him again, but a foot
long crack was torn open within it by the dark gold Genesis Qi.
Dong!
Zhou Yuan took a sudden step forward as his figure rapidly shot forth.
Thump thump thump!
The green flood before him was rapidly ripped apart, a muffled thump echoing each time Genesis Qi
smashed into Genesis Qi. Under countless shocked gazes, Zhou Yuan’s feet crossed stair after stair as he
swiftly dashed upwards.
“So fast!”
Countless cries of surprise erupted in the Saint Remains Domain. In their eyes, Zhou Yuan seemed to have
transformed into a flash of dark gold light, breaking through layer after layer of the green flood as he
continuously passed the geniuses in front of him.
In a short span of a dozen breaths, Zhou Yuan had climbed over a hundred steps, directly leaping from his
original last position to rapidly closing in on the second tier group...
Xiao Tianxuan and Gu Ling also sensed the activity behind them. Their gazes swept over only for shock to
immediately fill their faces. Zhou Yuan had already appeared a short distance behind them.
“That bastard, is he on drugs? How did he suddenly become so fierce?!” Xiao Tianxuan’s expression had
turned pretty ugly.
He had originally believed Zhou Yuan’s lack of Genesis Qi was the reason why he had fallen so far behind.
Yet, it was now clear that his Genesis Qi was no weaker than an Alpha-Origin expert.
“He’s merely putting on a false front; bringing out all the Genesis Qi in his body in one go. His momentum
may seem to be unstoppable, but it he will not be able to keep this up for long.” Gu Ling sneered.
“Such actions are truly foolish. We can’t even see the end of these stairs, who knows how long it’ll take to
reach the top. His rash actions will soon lead to the exhaustion of his Genesis Qi, and when that happens,
he will be washed out of the Saint tower, losing his qualifications.”
She had a deep grudge with Zhou Yuan, and naturally did not want to see the latter succeed. Hence, most
of her thoughts were related to Zhou Yuan suffering to ease the resentment in her heart.
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Xiao Tianxuan nodded. He had been greatly tormented by the Dragon’s Resentment Poison Zhou Yuan
had previously sent into his and Gu Ling’s bodies. If not for Wu Huang’s help, they would have likely been
tortured to death.
Fortunately, their misfortunate had led to luck. They had managed to obtain some blessings, through
which they managed to gain the right to enter the Saint tower.
As such thoughts flashed past in his head, Xiao Tianxuan looked towards Zhou Yuan’s rapidly
approaching figure, intending to wait for the latter’s miserable appearance after using up his Genesis Qi.
However, what Xiao Tianxuan waited for was never going to happen.
Zhou Yuan’s expression was calm, not even glancing in their direction. Dark gold Genesis Qi surged,
continuously smashing apart the incoming green flood, while his fast and steady footsteps continued to
zoom past the stone steps below his feet...
There were now only a dozen steps between him and the second tier group.
Xiao Tianxuan’s and Gu Ling’s expressions had already turned a little ugly.
Thud! Thud!
However, Zhou Yuan ignored the two of them, his steps swift and powerful. In a mere two minutes, his
figure abruptly straightened as he reached the second tier group amidst countless cries of shock, now
walking shoulder to shoulder with Xiao Tianxuan, Gu Ling and the rest amidst.
Zhou Yuan did not see the astonished gazes that were now directed towards him, but instead lifted his
head and looked to the front. Several hundred steps away, was the swiftly ascending first group,
consisting of Wu Huang and the other apex level geniuses.
Luluo, Zuoqiu Qingyu and Zhen Xu were also closely following behind them.
At this time, the gap between the geniuses was gradually being revealed. The first group of apex level
geniuses was gradually leaving the latter groups further and further behind, a sight that gave rise to
despair.
Zhou Yuan’s eyes narrowed slightly. He had already fallen a step behind earlier, so a greater amount of
energy was clearly needed to catch up.
Huu.
A breath was expelled from Zhou Yuan’s mouth as the expression in his eyes turned extremely serious.
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Dark gold Genesis Qi tinged with slivers of blood-colored light poured out from his body. A split second
later, his foot slammed into the ground as his body shot forward, barbarically tearing through the flood in
front of him.
Xiao Tianxuan, Gu Ling and the rest were dumbstruck by Zhou Yuan’s instantaneous burst of speed.
Only now did they realise that Zhou Yuan had still been holding back earlier!
“How can this be?! He is only at the Heaven Gate stage!” Howled Xiao Tianxuan in his heart as a feeling of
defeat rose within him.
No one paid any attention to his frustration however, because the numerous geniuses were blankly
staring at Zhou Yuan’s figure. Dark gold Genesis Qi churned around him, seemingly transforming him into
a giant golden python.
The giant python bravely advanced through the pouring green flood, as if there was a dragon gate to the
front that would grant it a complete transformation...
Boom!
For an instant, it seemed as if the green flood had frozen for a single breath.
In short few minutes, the gap of several hundred steps had been crossed by Zhou Yuan’s feet.
Such activity was naturally detected by the first group of apex level geniuses. They immediately turned
their heads, only to be stunned by rapidly approaching giant golden python that was Zhou Yuan...
“This guy…” A startled look was revealed on Ye Ming’s face.
“What an interesting person…” Mumbled Li Chunjun.
“A mere Heaven Gate stage has actually managed to catch up to us. This kid is extraordinary!” Ning Zhan
also exclaimed in amazement.
While cutting through the flood at full speed, Luluo cheered, “Go Zhou Yuan!”
“So he really has caught up… this guy does have some ability.” Zuoqiu Qingyu’s mouth hung slightly open,
surprise on her pretty face.
At the very front, Wu Huang also turned his head slightly, staring at the swiftly approaching golden figure
as an eerily cold light flitted across his eyes.
“Zhou Yuan, are you really in such a hurry to die?!”
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Chapter 183 Saving Each Other
Swish!
Zhou Yuan’s figure broke through the merciless green flood like a giant golden python as he rapidly
advanced, giant step after step passing under his feet.
Zhou Yuan had displayed an astonishing explosive power in the past few minutes. From last place, he had
leaped past the second tier group and was now beginning to close in on the first group.
Such a turn of events naturally caused waves of uproars outside the Saint Remains Domain.
Everyone knew that to advance against the endlessly pouring green flood, one needed to rely on one’s
Genesis Qi. If one’s Genesis Qi cultivation was insufficient, it would result in the exhaustion of Genesis Qi
and the subsequent ejection from the tower.
However, Zhou Yuan’s explosive display of power had yet to show any signs of waning, but was instead
growing more and more ferocious.
A sight that made countless people dumbstruck.
“This… how can this be? He’s merely at the Heaven Gate stage, how can he possess such an abundance of
Genesis Qi?” Numerous geniuses were unable to wrap their minds around it.
Outside the Saint Remains Domain, a relieved smile emerged on Mu Wuji’s originally slightly grim face.
His gaze continued to be glued to the figure in the mirror as he mumbled to himself, “Such abundant
Genesis Qi at the Heaven Gate stage… this means that the grade of his Qi Dwelling is definitely pretty high.
It is at the very minimum the purple level, or even… the gold level. If so, I wonder what grade is that gold
Qi Dwelling.”
“A gold Qi Dwelling… no wonder that old mister thinks so highly of him.”
Mu Wujin laughed. Although having a higher grade Qi Dwelling was not a definite guarantee of one’s
future accomplishments, it was still an advantage over those at the same level, while also an indicator of
one’s talent.
Mu Wuji’s mood became pretty good. He shot a glance at the Sacred Palace envoy, Zhao Pan, as he said
with a wide grin, “Its seems that your eyes don’t work properly quite often.”
The former had seen the disdain in the latter’s eyes earlier when he was looking at Zhou Yuan.
Zhao Pan was expressionless. “Don’t celebrate too early. So what if he catches up? If he truly angers Wu
Huang, he won’t be able to walk out of this alive.”
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Mu Wuji tapped his pipe. “I have the feeling that things won’t turn out as you envision.”
Zhao Pan laughed mockingly, his tone chilling as he said, “I hope that you will be able to say so when that
kid is killed by Wu Huang.”
Mu Wuji coldly chuckled as he turned his gaze back to the mirror.
“We’ll wait and see.”
...
Rumble!
The seemingly endless green flood continued to pour downwards. Made from Genesis Qi, its destructive
power would easily sweep away even mountains.
It this current moment, there were about three dozen figures on the endless stone stairs that were
bitterly struggling as they pushed forward against the green flood...
It was also at this moment that Zhou Yuan’s figure truly joined the first tier group.
Currently, Wu Huang, Ye Ming, Li Chunjun and the rest were at the very front, roughly a gap of ten steps
in between them, while the other apex level geniuses were slightly further back. After entering the first
group, Zhou Yuan’s crazy speed finally began to slow. Sweat appeared on his forehead, a sign that his
earlier explosion of power had been extremely taxing on him.
If not for his blood-red Qi Dwelling and plentiful Genesis Qi within it, he would have been out of juice long
ago and be swept away by the green flood.
But even so, a great portion of the Genesis Qi in his Qi Dwelling had already been spent.
As such, he chose not to maintain the same output as before, slowing his speed instead to recover Genesis
Qi. After all, no one knew what would happen next.
Huu!
Zhou Yuan mind calmed as he lifted his head and gazed at the seemingly endless steps. His breathing
began to turn long and drawn out, his chest shrinking back slightly with each inhalation. The Genesis Qi
around transformed into string of white that were sucked into his body.
Dragon Breath technique!
This was also why Zhou Yuan had dared to neglect his Genesis Qi consumption earlier. The main reason
behind his explosive burst previously was because he could rapidly recover the used Genesis Qi in an
extremely short period through the power of the Dragon Breath technique.
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As such, the Genesis Qi surging around him soon became robust again.
This astonished the numerous gazed on Zhou Yuan. Many had originally been under the assumption that
due to his earlier burst of power, Zhou Yuan would not last for long and soon be washed away.
Who could have expected that his recovery speed would surpass their imaginations, allowing him to
quickly stabilize his position in the first tier group.
The green flood tirelessly crashed down. As time passed, everyone began to feel the flood gradually grow
stronger.
This realization caused the expressions of even those numerous apex level geniuses of the first group to
grow increasingly grave.
Because their Genesis Qi consumption was rising.
However, there was still no end to be seen to the stone stairs.
Another incense stick of time unknowingly passed by.
Rumble.
Zhou Yuan suddenly frowned slightly as he looked up. He seemed to have felt a faint tremble a moment
earlier.
Zhou Yuan's pupils abruptly tightened a split second later as his expression changed drastically. He had
just seen a giant hundred feet tall wave rise some distance to their front, creating a giant shadow as it
ruthlessly towered over them.
The giant green wave was also composed purely of Genesis Qi. Its presence alone was enough to know
how terrifying it would be.
The sudden appearance of the giant wave made Wu Huang, Ye Ming and the rest's expressions change. It
was too abrupt, and even they were caught off-guard.
Rumble!
By the time they hurriedly strengthened their Genesis Qi, the giant green wave had already mercilessly
slammed into them.
That instantaneous explosion of power was several times the magnitude of before.
Boom!
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The powerful force caused even the bodies of Wu Huang and the others at the front to jerk back violently
as they were rapidly pushed back. Fortunately, their solid foundations enabled them to forcibly bring
themselves to a stop.
Thump thump!
The apex level geniuses behind them were also struck, each one forced to desperately grab onto the
ground.
ARGHH!
A piercing shriek was heard as the huge wave slammed down. Zhou Yuan lifted his gaze and saw Zuoqiu
Qingyu's body being flung away. Her movement technique was extremely high class, allowing her to
avoid most of the force, but the huge wave from earlier contained a strange force that had disrupted her
steps, causing her to lose balance. She was immediately pinched up by the green flood, joining it as it
tumbled down the stone steps.
Zuoqiu Qingyu's face was now rather pale. She did all she could to stabilize her body, but was unable to
gather any Genesis Qi due to being thrashed about by the green flood.
In the end, she could only helplessly give up her resistance. An unresigned look filled her eyes, evidently
having never considered that she would fail here.
Swish!
However, the moment Zuoqiu Qingyu gave up, the sound of rushing wind rang out. A stream of white shot
towards her, tunneling through the green flood, and wrapping around her tiny slender waist.
Zuoqiu Qingyu looked over in surprise, only to see Zhou Yuan wielding a giant black brush on a stone step
nearby. The white hairs at the brush tip had extended, transforming into the white whip that was now
grabbing her.
Zhou Yuan gritted his teeth as he resisted the battering flood. With a gentle shake, the brush hairs
returned, bringing Zuoqiu Qingyu along as it flew back to the brush.
Brush hairs returned to the brush tip while Zuoqiu Qingyu's waist agilely twisted as she landed on Zhou
Yuan's back. Her fair snow-white wrists tightly wrapping around his neck, a fragrant breath leaving her
little red lips.
“Are you okay?” Zhou Yuan twisted uncomfortably. The warmth and softness on his back made him feel
rather awkward.
Zuoqiu Qingyu was still a little out of it, only gradually coming to her senses a few moments later. She
looked towards the side of Zhou Yuan's head with gratitude and said in a soft voice, "Thank you."
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She knew that Zhou Yuan had taken a huge risk to save her. Once one was caught in the flood, gathering
Genesis Qi was almost impossible, meaning one could basically say goodbye to the tower.
Zhou Yuan smiled. "You saved Yaoyao, of course I have to save you."
Zuoqiu Qingyu calmed down, immediately regaining her usual temptress character. She giggled
charmingly as she exhaled at Zhou Yuan's ear. "I suddenly feel that you're pretty handsome, why not
come back with me to the Zuoqiu clan as my husband?"
The corners of Zhou Yuan's mouth twitched. Can you not be so open!
Zhou Yuan's appearance made Zuoqiu Qingyu laugh. She lowered her head slightly, her ruddy little mouth
cracking open slightly as she gently bit Zhou Yuan's ear.
The warm wetness on his ear almost made Zhou Yuan's legs turn to jelly and fall into the green flood.
"Hehe, here's your reward." Zuoqiu Qingyu's sly laughter sounded. Her slender body twisted,
transforming into a flash of green light as she dashed away like a fish, stepping once again into the green
flood.
Zhou Yuan did not know whether to laugh or cry. He gazed upon her leaving figure, and could not help
but shake his head.
“What a little temptress."
“I saved you out of the kindness of my heart and you repay it by teasing me!"
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Chapter 184 Saint Stairs Stone Stage
The appearance of the green wave had sent a good number of geniuses out of the Saint tower. This caused
a shiver to run through everyone’s hearts, making them no longer dare to relax. Ascending these stone
steps was clearly going to be a lot more difficult than they had imagined.
Thus, the subsequent stair climbing grew increasingly difficult for the numerous geniuses.
The flood was endless, giant waves forming within it from time to time. Its power could blast apart
mountains, which was why Zhou Yuan and the rest needed to concentrate all of their Genesis Qi into
defending each time.
As such, their rate of Genesis Qi consumption rapidly multiplied.
By this time, even the expressions of the apex level geniuses had become rather ugly. They had already
realised that their Genesis Qi would eventually be completely used up if this continued.
They raised their heads and gazed upon the stone steps, still no end in sight, as they bitterly cried out in
their hearts. “When will these steps end?”
Outside the Saint Remains Domain. The six envoys watched the scenes within the mirror.
“At this rate, all of them will reach their limits in three inscence sticks of time.” The six envoys were
Divine Dwelling experts, their sharp end experienced eyes naturally able to accurately approximate
everyone’s limits with a single glance.
“It’s truly hard to climb these stairs.” With regards to the pouring green flood, even the six envoys
inwardly shook their heads. They knew that if they suppressed their strength to the same level as Wu
Huang and the rest, they may not be able to last this long.
From this, one could see just how difficult it was to obtain the greatest blessing.
“Next, we’ll see who will be able to endure till the end…”
Time continued to flow, and two incense sticks of time quickly passed.
By this time, the original three dozen or so had already been cut substantially. Those in the rear were
constantly washed away by the flood and sent out of the Saint tower, leaving only a handful behind.
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In fact, even the first group of apex level geniuses were no longer as calm as they had been in the
beginning, their bodies no longer as stable.
AAHHH!
A miserable shriek suddenly sounded from behind. Xiao Tianxuan and Gu Ling were no longer able to
hold on, both blown off their feet by a green wave.
Amidst their unresigned cries, the two were beaten black and blue before ultimately being flung out of
the tower.
At this point, besides the first group of apex level geniuses, every other genius that had entered the tower
had been wiped out.
This cruel scene caused the countless geniuses inside the Saint Remains Domain to shiver inside and feel
a little fortunate that they had not qualified to enter the tower. The end result for those like them would
likely not be pretty.
On the stone steps...
The apex level geniuses remaining were still gritting their teeth as they persisted. However, things were
not looking optimistic, the surging Genesis Qi around them no longer as resplendent and robust as in the
beginning.
Luluo could not help but curse with a slightly pale little face, “Where the heck is the end to these blasted
stairs!”
On her shoulder, Little Frost was also looking a little listless, a sign that it was overworked.
Though the others remained silent, they were clearly also cursing at the absurdness of these steps in their
hearts.
“Eh?”
While everyone was inwardly cursing however, their eyes suddenly widened slightly as they lifted their
heads and looked up. Some distance to their front, a wide stone platform floated next to the stairs.
“What is that? Could we have reached the end?” Everyone was uncertain.
They carried their bewilderment as they gradually approached the stone platform floating next to the
steps. Their gazes swept over, only to find a stone tablet at the center of the platform on which several
ancient glowing words were carved.
“It seems to be a Genesis technique?” A rough look was all that was needed for them to vaguely identify it.
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“There are words at the top of the tablet!”
Zhou Yuan and the rest looked towards the top of the tablet. Sure enough, they saw a line of ancient
words.
“The Saint stairs have nine platforms. Those that enter may receive treasures, but they will not be
allowed to leave.”
Everyone read the texts as a thoughtful look was revealed in their eyes.
“Which is to say there are a total of nine of these stone platforms? This should be the first one… entering
means getting a treasure, but not allowed to leave would mean that we will not be able to re enter the
Saint steps?”
Zhou Yuan’s gaze flickered, slightly comprehending the meaning behind those words. This was likely a
reward of sorts for those who managed to endure till this point.
However, it was also obvious that the stone platforms that appeared later on would have better prizes.
All the apex level geniuses were smart individuals, and soon realised this point. Hence, they gritted their
teeth, choosing to continue trudging forward instead of entering the stone platforms.
These people were prideful individuals. How could they possibly allow themselves to stop here!
Therefore, the advance continued.
Rumble!
Under the unyielding efforts of the apex level geniuses, they saw another three platforms in succession
after half an incense stick of time. However, they merely hesitated briefly, before unanimously choosing
not to enter.
All of them wanted to endure just a little longer so that the blessing they eventually obtained would be
even better.
Time passed as everyone's footsteps grew heavier than ever. Their pace had slowed to a crawl as if there
was a heavy mountain on each of their backs.
The fifth stone platform finally appeared.
The Dongxuan Continent genius, Zhu Ying, was pretty pale. Sweat drenched her body, the feeling almost
gone from her legs. Her gaze flickered indeterminately as she stared at the fifth stone platform.
In the end, she helplessly sighed, knowing that she had reached her limit. Continuing would only result in
being washed away. When that happened, she would be ejected empty handed.
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Therefore, she grunted softly as her figure leaped upwards and landed on the stone platform.
She obviously did not plan on persisting, changing her focus instead to obtaining the blessing on this
stone platform.
"Humph, I've been watching you for a long time. Let us properly settle our grudge from last time!" The
moment Zhu Ying landed on the fifth platform, Luluo icily snorted and also left the stone steps, landing on
the same stone platform.
It was not a rash decision made purely out of anger. She too understood her current condition. If she
continued, it was very likely that she would not be able to endure till the fourth stone platform.
As such, she had to contest for the fifth platform.
"You!" Zhu Ying's gaze turned frosty when she saw Luluo also land on the same platform and sneered.
"Since you wish for death, I will fulfil your wish!"
Their actions immediately caused an uproar in the Saint Remains Domain, countless gazes beginning to
light up with excitement.
"They're going to fight!"
"Go Little County Lord, beat up that woman. The Saint Remains Domain blessings belong to our
Cangmang Continent. We cannot allow those Dongxuan people even a single one!"
Voices rose and fell in the Saint Remains Domain. Practically everyone was supporting Luluo against the
outsider.
On the stone steps, Zhou Yuan and the rest paused for a moment, but soon began their climb again.
"Be careful Luluo." Zhou Yuan cautioned.
Luluo waved a small hand. "Relax, I will no longer give the same chance from the previous time."
There was nothing more for Zhou Yuan to say. He continued advancing, gradually leaving the fifth stone
platform behind.
His gaze gradually sharpened. He had a feeling that the most intense phase was about to begin…
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Chapter 185 Dragon Breath
An endless torrent rushed down the long stone steps. There were now only ten figures on it...
Every one of them was an apex level genius. It was only because of their strong solid foundations that
enabled them to last till now.
On the fifth stone platform, Luluo and Zhu Ying had chosen to enter and vie for its blessing, while
everyone continued to push forward with all their strength.
However, anyone could see that even these apex level geniuses were beginning to tire, their footsteps
growing heavier and slower.
“From the looks of it, someone will stay behind on every subsequent platform.”
Outside the Saint Remains Domain. The numerous gazes that saw this scene understood that the climax
was imminent. Every subsequent platform would be occupied, and likely by more than one individual.
In other words, bitter battle after battle for the blessings on the stone platforms were soon to erupt.
“The Dongxuan rats dare to secretly sneak into our Cangmang Continent and steal our blessings. How
hateful!” The various faction representatives outside the Saint Remains Domain were outraged upon
realising the identities of Ye Ming and gang.
They looked towards the six envoys in the sky, but realised that they were not going to say anything.
Hence, the representatives could only helplessly cease their curses since there was no way they could
throw Ye Ming and gang out of the Saint Remains Domain at this time.
“If those Dongxuan people are smart enough, they will allocate one person to each of the subsequent
stone platforms such as to prevent a scenario of fighting amongst themselves.” Some of the more
intelligent individuals were able to clearly understand the current situation.
“When that happens, the battle for the blessings would become a contest between our Cangmang
Continent and the Dongxuan Continent.”
There were numerous continents within Cangxuan Heaven, including the Cangmang and Dongxuan
Continents. If these Dongxuan geniuses managed to travel all the way to the Cangmang Continent and
snatch away the blessings here, the Cangmang Continent would definitely be humiliated. Others would
surely say that there were no capable people in the Cangmang Continent.
Matters that affected everyone’s face were not to be brushed off.
After all, no one wanted to be seen as useless when meeting those from other continents.
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“I hope that the remaining apex level geniuses will be able to stop those Dongxuan geniuses, and secure
the blessings for our Cangmang Continent…”
...
Under the attention of countless gazes, the sixth stone platform finally made its appearance.
Ye Ming’s narrowed slightly as he gazed at the floating stone platform nearby. After a brief silence, he
made a hand gesture towards the remaining Dongxuan members behind him.
Including Ye Ming, there were still four geniuses remaining from the Dongxuan Continent.
When they saw Ye Ming’s hand gesture, they understood his intentions.
He wanted them to give their all for the following few blessings on the stone platforms.
The youth called Jiang Quan spit onto the ground. Soon after, his toes powerfully pushed off, blue Genesis
Qi akin to flowing water under his feet, sending him towards the sixth stone platform.
He clearly no longer planned on advancing, choosing instead to take the blessing on the sixth stone
platform.
Zhou Yuan and the rest naturally saw this. In that split second, with the exception of the seemingly
uncaring Wu Huang, the rest of the geniuses exchanged a look.
“Allow me to go for this sixth stone platform.” A rather gloomy and raspy voice sounded. The one who
had spoken was Zhen Xu.
The others were silent for a moment, before they nodded.
“I hope that the rest of you will work harder and don’t let the Dongxuan people take away the blessings.
Or others will laugh at our Cangmang Continent’s younger generation and say all of us are trash.”
After finishing, Zhen Xu’s toes pushed off the ground, his figure dashing into the flood before landing on
the sixth stone platform.
“Spineless rat, you didn’t even have the courage to take me on alone previously. Who will help you this
time?” Zhen Xu’s frosty gaze was cast towards Jiang Quan as a cold ruthless look flashed in his eyes.
In their previous fight, Jiang Quan’s companions had been nearby watching in secret. As a result, Zhen Xu
did not dare to use his full power, allowing Jiang Quan to take advantage. Zhen Xu had been waiting for
payback for a long time.
...
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Not long after the appearance of the sixth stone platform, the seventh also emerged.
This time, Zuoqiu Qingyu took the initiative. Green light flashed as she landed on the platform before
looking towards the last three Dongxuan geniuses. “Who intends to challenge me for this blessing?!”
Ye Ming’s expression was indifferent as he looked towards the muscular metal tower like youth. The
latter’s body seemed as if it had been forged from metal, and gave off an aura of brutalness.
“Qin Tong, you’re up.”
The metal body youth nodded. His foot slammed into the ground, sending him soaring in the air. He
landed on the seventh stone platform and looked towards Zuoqiu Qingyu with a savage smile. “What a
bewitching little beauty. All of the women I’ve toyed with over the years ended up dying pretty quickly.
Will you be able to hold up?”
Disgust flitted across Zuoqiu Qingyu’s eyes, but the smile on her enchanting face only grew increasingly
sweeter.
“Won’t you know once you try? You big clumsy bull.”
...
The flood continued to surge downwards.
However, the countless watching gazes had become rather tense at this moment as they stared at the last
six figures on the stone steps.
“I wonder who will be entering the eighth platform?”
“It will likely be Zhou Yuan. It’s already unimaginable for him to have lasted so long. He should likely be at
his limit, right?”
“Who amongst the rest is not the cream of the crop even amongst the apex level geniuses. Wu Huang, Lu
Chunjun, Ning Zhan… all of them should last longer than Zhou Yuan.”
“......”
Countless whispers rang out.
High up in the sky above the Saint Remains Domain, Mu Wuji frowned a little as he stared at Zhou Yuan’s
figure. The latter’s Genesis Qi did indeed appear the weakest amongst the remaining six.
“Zhou Yuan is after all only a Heaven Gate stage practitioner. Although his high grade Qi Dwelling had
given him more Genesis Qi than ordinary Alpha-Origin experts, the remaining few were truly top tier
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even amongst the best of them. They were likewise very talented and the grade of the Qi Dwelling was
definitely nowhere near the low side.
“Compared to them, Zhou Yuan is at a disadvantage.” Mu Wuji sighed in his heart. He knew that the green
flood was a test of the amount and recovery rate of one’s Genesis Qi.
For the mere Heaven Gate stage Zhou Yuan, this was clearly unfavorable.
“It’s not easy for him to reach this stage.” Mu Wuji knew that Zhou Yuan was not to blame. However, at
this rate, Zhou Yuan would soon lose the right to continue.
This was something Mu Wuji felt was extremely regretful.
...
Zhou Yuan was naturally unaware of the discussions in the outside world, but he understood his current
condition. The Genesis Qi around him had grown much weaker. After all, the consumption along the way
here had been far too great.
In fact, his Genesis Qi recovery was sometimes unable to keep up despite him using the Dragon Breath
technique.
However, determination still filled Zhou Yuan’s eyes as he focused every fibre of his being. It was as if the
only thing in his eyes was the green flood.
He was not willing to give up so easily here.
A roar seemed to echo in his heart.
The world turned silent at this moment, his rapid breathing the only sound echoing in his head...
*Inhale*! *Exhale*!
In this split second moment, his breathing became even more drawn out.
Unbeknownst to even himself, there was now an extremely faint roar of a dragon mixed in with his
breathing.
The Genesis Qi around Zhou Yuan rippled slightly, before endlessly flowing towards his nose,
transforming into strands of white that rushed in through his nostrils.
“This is?!”
Zhou Yuan finally detected something as his heart began to tremble.
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He had realised that every breath he took contained the power of a dragon’s breath that could endlessly
suck in Genesis Qi from the surroundings.
Zhou Yuan mumbled to himself in shock, “My proficiency in the Dragon Breath technique… seems to have
grown!”
At the very beginning, Zhou Yuan needed to perform an entire set of frolicking dragon forms in order to
use a single breath of the Dragon Breath technique. As his mastery grew, he no longer required the
frolicking dragon forms, and could activate Dragon Breath through the movement of his bones, a more
convenient and faster method compared to before.
However, the true advance level of the Dragon Breath technique was to perfectly harmonize with one’s
breathing, allowing every breath to transform into a dragon’s breath that could effortlessly take in
Genesis Qi.
In the past, Zhou Yuan had been unable to achieve this feat, but he had now finally came into contact with
it due to the pressure from the green flood!
Although he had yet to achieve perfection, the effectiveness of the technique was already several times
greater than before!
*Breathe*!
Zhou Yuan continued to breathe as the surrounding Genesis Qi endlessly surged over, transforming into a
white mist that was rapidly sucked in by him. As this process continued, his originally somewhat feeble
Genesis Qi slowly began to brighten and grow robust again.
Swish!
His speed abruptly increased, step after step flying past under his feet. In a single leap, his position rose
from the last amongst the six to stand shoulder to shoulder with Wu Huang, Ye Ming, Li Chunjun and the
rest!
These changes were immediately discovered by the rest of them, causing them to be startled. They had
originally believed that Zhou Yuan would be the next to yield. Who could have imagined that such a
change would suddenly occur?
A dark look flitted across Wu Huang’s face, the killing intent in his eyes growing thicker and thicker.
He could feel that Zhou Yuan was becoming more and more of a threat...
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Chapter 186 Green Wave Obstructs the Sacred
Path
The instant Zhou Yuan came to stand side by side with those at the very front, wave after wave of noise
exploded outside the Saint Remains Domain, the expressions of countless people changing slightly.
They were unable to comprehend how the clearly nearly spent Zhou Yuan had suddenly become so lively
and energetic. He had not fallen behind even further, but had instead rose to be on the same level as Wu
Huang and the rest.
One must know that at the end of the day, Zhou Yuan was still only a Heaven Gate stage expert, while Wu
Huang and the rest had were bona fide Alpha-Origin practitioners!
The gap between these two levels was not small.
And yet, Zhou Yuan had still managed to catch up. How could anyone not be surprised?
Outside the Saint Remains Domain, Mu Wuji was somewhat astonished when he saw this scene and
mumbled to himself, “This kid seems to have mastered some kind of high level Qi drawing method.”
His sharp eyes had seen through Zhou Yuan in a single glance. Zhou Yuan’s Genesis Qi was being rapidly
replenished. Such speed could only be attributed to a high class Qi drawing method.
“But at least he has managed to push on…”
Mu Wuji chuckled, drawing in a breath of smoke as it puffed from his nose, causing smoke to pervade the
area. He then looked towards the Sacred Sect envoy, Zhao Pan. The latter was currently expressionless as
he stared at the mirror. However, from the twitching corners of his eyes, the former knew that he was not
as calm as he seemed on the surface.
“Looks like this kid will really become a dark horse…”
Mu Wuji’s mouth cracked open into a smile. Old mister’s eyes were really one of a kind.
...
Not long after Zhou Yuan burst of speed that put him on the same line Wu Huang, Ye Ming and the other
top class geniuses, the eighth platform appeared within their sights.
Ye Ming’s gaze shot towards the final Dongxuan member still following behind him. It was a white hair
youth with a frigid face. However, from the robustness and quantity of the Genesis Qi spreading from his
body, he was clearly stronger than Zhu Ying and the rest.
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“Fang Zong, you’re up.”
The white hair youth did not reply. His toes pushed off the ground, his body like a phantom as it appeared
on the stone platform. His indifferent eyes looked towards Zhou Yuan, Li Chunjun and Ningzhan as he
said, “Who will fight me for the blessing on this stone platform?”
The gazes of the Zhou Yuan trio met, before Li Chunjun slowly suggested, “The one with the weakest
Genesis Qi now shall go, any opinions?”
Ning Zhan awkwardly scratched his head and looked towards Zhou Yuan. His Genesis Qi had originally
been the weakest, but after the previous change, the latter’s Genesis Qi was still going strong. As such,
Ning Zhan was now just that slight beat weaker.
“I really wanted to fight Wu Huang again, never expected that I’ll have to stop here.”
Ning Zhan smiled helplessly. Soon after, his wild battle lust filled eyes burned passionately as they were
cast towards the whtie hair youth. “But this guy looks like he’ll put up a pretty good fight. I hope that I’ll
be able to enjoy this!”
“Heh, you there, the one called Zhou Yuan. If you get matched up with Wu Huang, give him a good beating
for me!”
Ning Zhan yelled at Zhou Yuan before charging forward. With a loud boom, he landed on the eighth stone
platform like a cannonball.
Zhou Yuan gave a slight nod as he gazed upon the former’s figure.
As Ning Zhan and Fang Zong entered the eighth platform, only the figures of Zhou Yuan, Wu Huang, Ye
Ming and Li Chunjun were left on the stone steps...
These four were this batch’s best and finest.
Countless gazes blazed with excitement as they watched. The stone steps challenge was clearly growing
more and more intense and amazing...
What they were most curious about however, was which two apex geniuses would be vyng on the ninth
platform.
Countless gazes both inside and outside of the Saint Remains Domain eagerly watched, causing the entire
place to become silent.
A short dozen minutes stealthily passed by in this silence.
“It’s appeared!”
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“The ninth stone platform has appeared!”
Countless cries suddenly filled the sky, breaking the silence. Gaze after gaze looked over, and sure
enough, they saw a stone platform floating some distance to the front.
It was the final stone platform on the Saint stairs!
Once they passed this platform, they would soon reach the peak of the Saint mountain where they would
be able to obtain the greatest blessing!
At this very moment, practically every gaze began to burn even hotter than before, no one daring to even
blink.
They weren’t the only ones of course. Even the hearts of Zhou Yuan and the other three began to thump
when they saw the ninth stone platform, faintly feeling as if a heavy burden had been lifted from their
shoulders.
Because the appearance of the ninth platform meant that they were about to reach the end of these Saint
steps.
Boom!
However, the moment the four breathed a sigh of relief in their hearts, the entire stairs suddenly began to
tremble. Horror surged onto their faces as they saw the green flood above begin to gather, forming a giant
green wave that continued to rise higher and higher.
In a short few breaths, the giant green wave had reached a height of over ten thousand feet.
The wave was filled with berserk Genesis Qi, the terrible power within unmatched by anything from
before.
“God damnit!”
In the face of such a huge wave, even the Zhou Yuan quartet could not help but curse.
Rumble!
However, the ten thousand feet wave cared naught for their cursing. With a violent shudder, it crashed
down towards the four of them with vast, unimaginable power.
From its overwhelming presence, it was certain that anything that stood in its way would be destroyed.
The four took in a deep breath, before dashing forward a split second later.
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They understood that this was the final obstacle. Once they passed through, it would definitely be the
peak!
Wu Huang yelled as scarlet-red Genesis Qi whizzed out behind him, transforming into a rising giant
scarlet-red sun. In the sun, one could faintly see a three legged golden crow.
Lu Chunjun wielded his black broadsword, man and sword as one as they shot forward like a flash of
sword light.
The vortexes in Ye Ming’s eyes swirled, black Genesis Qi converging towards his palms, rapidly growing
as it transformed into black vortexes placed defensively in front of him.
Zhou Yuan released a long howl as the Genesis Qi in his Qi Dwelling exploded forth without reservation.
Dark gold Genesis Qi seemed to form the silhouette of a giant golden python. The python swallowed Zhou
Yuan into its giant mouth, before charging forward with a wave of its tail.
Rumble!
The four figures had drawn out every last bit of their power. Under countless watching eyes, they crashed
head-on against the ten thousand feet tall wave.
Thump thump!
The entire Saint stairs seemed to shudder slightly.
Berserk shockwaves frantically devastated the area.
Every gaze was glued to the four figures. They charged into the wave, breaking through it inch by inch as
if going to penetrate its entirety.
Everyone knew what awaited them after this ten thousand feet wave; the peak of Saint mountain!
But, who was going to be the one?!
In this very moment, everyone both inside and outside of the Saint Remains Domain did not even dare to
breath.
Zhao Pan’s eyes were wide open as he stared.
Mu Wuji even forgot to puff his pipe, all their gazes tightly fixed on the mirror.
Everyone wanted to know who would be the final winner of this intense battle!
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Chapter 187 Into the Clouds
Rumble!
The green wave churned, bursting with power that could sweep away mountains and overturn the seas.
Ten thousand feet tall, the sight of it could only be said to be magnificent.
However, everyone clearly knew of the terror within such magnificence.
At this current moment, there were four figures inside this giant wave. These four were using all of their
power to frantically push through every layer in the wave. They wanted to pierce through the wave,
blasting past this final obstruction.
Every gaze both inside and outside the Saint Remains Domain was gathered on the four figures.
The four of them seemed to have pushed their Genesis Qi to the limit.
However, anyone could see that the final green wave contained way too much power, power so great that
the four individuals wore extremely serious expressions, and did not dare to let their attention stray.
In a short span of a dozen breaths, they were nearly at the halfway point in the wave.
Outside the Saint Remains Domain, one of the six envoys suddenly remarked, “They’re about to run out of
steam.”
Mu Wuji and Zhao Pan’s pupils shrank. They were also naturally able to sense that Zhou Yuan, Wu Huang
and the other two were swiftly depleting their Genesis Qi. It was obvious that even they felt a huge
pressure from the ten thousand feet tall green wave.
“The Saint mountain is indeed difficult to climb.” Another envoy sighed. “From the looks of it, I’m afraid
that the four of them will have no choice but to land on the ninth stone platform.”
If they chose the ninth stone platform, they would be unable to reach the peak, and no longer be able to
obtain the greatest blessing.
The envoys gazes were tightly glued to the mirror. They knew that result was about to appear.
...
“Not good.”
In the green wave, Ye Ming’s brows were tightly furrowed together, his expression rather grim. He was
aware of his rapidly depleting Genesis Qi, and knew that he would not be able to pass the green wave if
this continued.
1012
Li Chunjun’s expression was still akin to a rippleless well. However, the destructive power of his sword Qi
had clearly become much weaker.
Wu Huang and Zhou Yuan were also giving their all with grave expressions.
Another dozen breaths passed in this manner.
The black vortex in front of Ye Ming suddenly paused, a sign that it was about to crumble, while Lu
Chunjun was forcibly battered out of his man and sword as one state.
Zhou Yuan and Wu Huang’s speed also dropped.
Countless sighs of pity rang out in the Saint Remains Domain at this moment.
Boom!
However, just as everyone felt the four were no longer able to push forward, berserk Genesis Qi suddenly
erupted from Wu Huang’s body as the giant scarlet-red sun before him exploded.
By borrowing this sudden explosion of power, Wu Huang’s speed soared.
*Uproar*!
Uproars swept through the insides and outsides of the Saint Remains Domain. No one had that Wu Huang
had still been holding something back.
“Excellent!” The Sacred Palace envoy Zhao Pan laughed heartily.
On the other hand, Mu Wuji’s frowned deeply.
Ye Ming and Li Chunjun were also startled by Wu Huang’s sudden burst of power.
Especially Ye Ming, a dark look flitting across his eyes.
“Wu Huang, since we can be said to be companions, we should naturally naturally go through thick and
thin together. Abandoning me as you ascend the peak is definitely a no go. That’s why, it will be better for
you to stay here and keep me company!” Ye Ming icily chuckled as he suddenly made his move. With a
jerk of his sleeve, black Genesis Qi shot out, transforming into a black spear that thrust towards Wu
Huang like lightning.
The black spear pierced through the air, clearly containing Ye Ming’s full power.
Since he could not reach the peak, no one else should reach it!
“What a vicious person!”
1013
Ye Ming’s sudden attack drew countless gasps. No one had expected that the one to attack Wu Huang
would be the one he partnered with.
Swish!
The black spear arrived like a bolt of lightning, instantly appearing behind Wu Huang.
However, instead of being alarmed by the sudden attack, a strange smile surfaced on Wu Huang’s face.
One could only watch as his body paused slightly and his hands began to make circular motions. Scarlet-
red Genesis Qi began to swirl, causing the black spear to stop. With a twist of his hand, the black spear
ferociously shot towards the front with even more power than before.
Wu Huang’s figure leaped onto the spear, stepping on its body as it rapidly pierced through the green
wave...
“Ye Ming, did you really think I would not be on guard against someone as devious as you?” Wu Huang’s
laughter was heard as he left on the spear.
Ye Ming’s expression was stormy. He had never imagined that Wu Huang would already be prepared. He
had purposely shown an opening, baiting the former to attack such that he could borrow the former’s
power to travel through the wave.
And now, Ye Ming’s strength was spent, no longer able to advance even half a step forward.
“Beautiful!” Countless exclamations sounded in the Saint Remains Domain. No one had expected Wu
Huang would end up using Ye Ming’s attack to help him progress.
“Looks like Wu Huang will be the only one to ascend the peak of the Saint mountain.” Zhao Pan rubbed
his hands together as he laughed loudly. He shot Mu Wuji a glance from the corner of his eye, a mocking
look on his lips.
Zhou Yuan, Li Chunjun and Ye Ming were already on their last legs. It was impossible for them to break
through the final green wave and reach the top of the mountain.
Inside the green wave.
Zhou Yuan’s eyes began to flicker in thought as he gazed upon Wu Huang’s rapidly departing figure atop
the spear. Soon after, the former took in a deep breath.
“To think that you still had something in reserve even at such a time. Wu Huang, you are really
extraordinary.”
“However, if you believe this will cement your victory, you’re taking things too easy!”
1014
Resplendent rays of light suddenly emerged between Zhou Yuan’s brows as a Spirit pulse exploded.
His Genesis Qi had indeed been depleted, but one cannot forget that Genesis Qi was not the only thing he
relied on. In fact, his Spirit mastery was greater than anyone here!
An illusory Spirit was faintly visible, silently seated between Zhou Yuan’s brows.
Rumble!
Genesis Qi returned to his body, but it was now surrounded by a powerful invisible force. The green wave
was continuously torn apart as his figure dashed forward, chasing after Wu Huang.
The invisible force was obvious Spirit power.
Zhou Yuan’s sudden burst of speed immediately drew countless shocked gazes.
“Zhou Yuan still has Genesis Qi?!”
“No, that’s not Genesis Qi, it’s Spirit power!”
“So that’s how he did it. His Spirit cultivation is pretty high, but he has not used it since the beginning
because now is the best timing!”
“......”
Wave after wave of noise pulsed through the crowds, countless individuals amazed. Who could have
imagined such a series of highs and lows. Even till now, no one was able to say for sure who will be the
final winner.
Swish!
Zhou Yuan shot forward, slicing through the green wave.
Lu Chunjun’s footsteps stopped at this moment as he measured the remaining power in his body. He then
shot a look at Zhou Yuan, and was silent for a brief moment, before tightly gripping his heavy black
sword.
“Zhou Yuan, I will send you off. I hope that you will reach the peak.”
Li Chunjun grasped his sword with both hands and suddenly sent a slash flying.
Swoosh!
A formidable without equal flash of sword light rocketed forward, appearing in front of Zhou Yuan to help
him cut through the green wave.
1015
Zhou Yuan was a little taken aback. He soon cast a grateful gaze at Li Chunjun. With Li Chunjun’s aid, he
was now confident of passing through the entire wave and ascend the peak.
“Thanks!”
With a soft thanks, his speed rapidly rose.
Several breaths later, he was already at Wu Huang’s heels.
Wu Huang looked over, their gazes meeting. The thick killing intent could practically freeze the
surrounding air.
“Zhou Yuan, you really are akin to a lingering spirit!” Wu Huang’s voice was chilling. He never imagined
that the crippled dragon of the Zhou clan, whom he would not even give a glance, would one day be right
at his heels!
“Wu Huang, let us fully settle our grudge today!” The murder in Zhou Yuan’s eyes trembled.
“Ha, you?!” Wu Huang laughed disdainfully.
“Fine. I will kill you today, destroying any hopes that your Zhou clan may have!”
Boom!
Under the attention of the countless excited gazes both inside and outside of the Saint Remains Domain,
Zhou Yuan and Wu Huang’s figures finally broke out of the ten thousand feet tall green wave, heading
straight into the clouds.
1016
Chapter 188 Two Dragons
The instant Zhou Yuan and Wu Huang’s figures broke through the ten thousand feet tall green wave and
dashed into the clouds, the atmosphere outside and inside of the Saint Remains Domain abruptly reached
its boiling point.
Countless were stupefied.
No one had expected that there would not be one but two who broke through the final obstacle.
Moreover… they were Wu Huang and Zhou Yuan.
Of course, the crowd was still able to accept Wu Huang since everyone knew of his reputation. Zhou Yuan
on the other hand, was completely unbelievable.
After all, Zhou Yuan was only at the Heaven Gate stage.
Who could have imagined that amongst the many many geniuses in the Saint Remains Domain, a Heaven
Gate stage practitioner would be the one to reach this stage...
Outside the Saint Remains Domain, there was only surprise on the faces of the representatives from the
various factions.
“Zhou Yuan should be from the Great Zhou Empire?”
“The Great Zhou whose lands were taken away by the Great Wu Empire through some kind of plot? I
thought that they had been wiped out by Great Wu…”
“Tch tch, can’t believe that such a talented individual would come from Great Zhou. His future
possibilities will likely be limitless.”
“Zhou Yuan’s talent may indeed be extraordinary, but it’s a pity that he was not patient and tolerant
enough. Wu Huang would not let him off for choosing to ascend the peak at such a time.”
“Yeah. Wu Huang is definitely not someone you should offend.”
“......”
Numerous whispers could be heard, but it was clear that everyone was not too optimistic about Zhou
Yuan’s situation. Wu Huang was just far too famous, his strength practically immeasurable.
In comparison, although Zhou Yuan was a splendid dark horse, he was still weaker overall.
“Zhou Yuan is rather capable.” Several envoys could not help but remark when they saw this, some
admiration in their gazes as they looked towards Zhou Yuan.
1017
However, this clearly did not include Zhao Pan. He indifferently glanced Zhou Yuan’s figure and said, “His
talent is not bad, but it’s a pity that he’s in a rush to seek death.”
Mu Wuji tapped pipe and said, “Young people should bravely advance, creating a path to the heavens
from impossibility.”
Zhao Pan smiled coldly. “I’m afraid his path is more akin to the road to hell.”
Hints of mockery could be heard in Mu Wuji’s voice as he spoke, “Weren’t you the one who said that Zhou
Yuan was completely incapable of competing with Wu Huang and the rest? Yet, he has now managed to
ascend the peak at the same time as Wu Huang. Zhao Pan ah Zhao Pan, is your memory really so bad?”
Zhao Pan’s eyes hardened as he disdainfully said, “One may be able to somehow cheat their way through
the steps, but a life or death battle will be next. That brat will undoubtedly die at Wu Huang’s hands.”
Mu Wuji smile faintly. “I’m just afraid that you’re going to lose all face again.”
Zhao Pan sneered chillingly. “Since you have such a high opinion of Zhou Yuan, I feel that you should get
ready to collect his corpse.”
...
Zhou Yuan was naturally unaware of the various happenings on the outside. At this current moment, he
seemed to be falling within the clouds.
His figure slowly landed, down towards mists. The seemingly endless stone steps had already
disappeared.
“The steps to the mountaintop are gone.” Zhou Yuan’s eyes flashed.
As he fell, he suddenly realised his feet had touched solid ground, and the surrounding mists began to
swiftly disperse.
Only now did Zhou Yuan discover that he was standing on an incomparably large white jade plaza of sorts
which clearly lay upon the peak of the Saint mountain.
“This place is the peak of the Saint mountain!” Excitement blazed in Zhou Yuan’s eyes. After so much
painstaking effort, he had finally reached his goal.
His eyes suddenly narrowed slightly as he looked to the front where the mists were swiftly dissipating,
revealing a figure in golden robes standing with his hands behind his back.
The figure coldly looked over, endless killing intent surging around him.
Who else could it be but Wu Huang.
1018
Their gazes met in the white jade plaza, killing intent spilling in every direction.
“I truly never expected this… back then, I could not even be bothered to give you a single glance, and now,
you’ve come all the way here to stand on the same stage as myself…” Wu Huang’s voice was indifferent,
without the slightest hint of any emotion.
“I do feel a little regret now. I should have taken things more seriously in the past, and completely destroy
your Zhou clan.”
“If I had done so, it would have saved me a lot of trouble today.”
Back when Great Zhou was at its weakest, if he had given king Qi just a little more support, the latter
might have overthrown the Great Zhou royal clan.
However, the him from back then had believed sending four Alpha-Origins would be enough.
Who could have imagined a single thought would make such a difference. The crippled dragon in his eyes
had steadily advanced one step at a time, until he reached the very same stage Wu Huang now stood on…
and now even posed a threat to him.
“I feel… that your regret will grow a little more after I kill you.” Zhou Yuan grinned, revealing a set of
eerily white teeth, his killing intent bare for all to see.
“Ha, kill me? You? The crippled dragon of the Zhou clan?!” Wu Huang was expressionless, his gaze
overflowing with unconcealed ridicule and haughtiness.
Zhou Yuan laughed. “Where does a petty thief like you find the face to act as if you’re in the right.”
“Petty thief?!” Mockery was rich in Wu Huang’s voice. “It seems that the pitiful worm you are really
believes you’re that sacred dragon?”
Zhou Yuan shook his head. “I do not care whether or not I truly am that sacred dragon.”
He smiled faintly as he continued, “Wu Huang, that fateful event caused me to suffer endlessly over the
years. However, I do not believe that it was all bad.”
“Similarly, that fateful event allowed you, the crown prince of Great Wu, to have smooth sailing life, never
suffering a single setback or defeat. Likewise, this may not have been good for you either.”
A dark and cold expression emerged in Wu Huang’s eyes. Zhou Yuan’s speech made him feel an
uncontrollable rage, because he had heard these very same words from someone that mattered a lot to
him.
Wu Yao.
1019
Wu Yao may speak such words to me, but how dare you crippled dragon of the Zhou clan?!
Moreover, how dare you use the same tone as her?!
Wu Huang closed his eyes, Genesis Qi madly churning around him, only gradually calming down a long
while alter. However, anyone could tell that this calm was only temporary. Like a volcano, it was being
suppressed for now for the sake of a more terrifying eruption later on.
“Zhou Yuan, after I kill you, I will personally lead an army to exterminate the Great Zhou empire!” Endless
killing intent spilled from Wu Huang’s voice, causing the air to freeze.
Zhou Yuan raised his eyelids, his hand grasping around the Heavenly Yuan Brush as it grew with a flash of
light, the sharp brush tip slanted at an angle towards the ground.
He stared at Wu Huang with a gaze that was similarly bone bitingly cold.
“Wu Huang, your Wu clan stole my blessings back then, took an arm from my father and caused my
mother to lose a great deal of her lifespan… I will make sure to properly clear all of these debts with your
Great Wu empire one by one.”
“And now, I will be taking the first one from you!”
Rumble!
Dark gold Genesis Qi exploded. Zhou Yuan’s clothes flapped, icy and deadly murder in his eyes.
“Haha!”
Wu Huang laughed heartily at the sky. “The likes of you?!”
“Haha, fine, fine. I will cut you down here today and use your blood to prove to Wu Yao whether or not I
am the true dragon!”
Rumble!
Scarlet-red Genesis Qi erupted like a volcano, shaking the space around it.
Under the countless watching gazes both inside and outside the Saint Remains Domain, two boundless
murder filled auras violently clashed like a storm on the white jade plaza.
The silhouette of a dragon seemed to rise behind them, roaring at the heavens.
The only difference was that Wu Huang’s dragon was gold, while the dragon behind Zhou Yuan was
blood-red!
1020
Chapter 189 Python Devours Crow
Roar!
The faint roar of a dragon echoed across the white jade plaza as two boundless murder filled auras
ferociously clashed. The iciness that rippled outwards froze even the air itself.
Dark gold Genesis Qi erupted from Zhou Yuan’s body without reservation, as he icily stared at Wu Huang.
In the next instant, Genesis Qi exploded beneath the former’s feet, sending his figure rocketing forward.
In a short span of a few breaths, he appeared in front of Wu Huang. With a jerk, the Heavenly Yuan Brush
powerfully thrust forward, snow-white hairs whistling through the air as the brush tip ruthlessly
approached the latter’s throat.
The reflection of snow-white hairs rapidly grew in Wu Huang’s pupils, but he stepped to the side,
avoiding the sharp brush tip.
“Zhou Yuan, since when did you have the courage to take the initiative against me?” Wu Huang’s chilling
voice sounded.
Zhou Yuan was expressionless. One could only watch as the brush tip shuddered, the snow-white hairs
transforming into numerous white threads. Every thread gave off a sharp aura, seemingly covering the
sky and land as they shot towards the fatal spots on Wu Huang’s body.
The attack was clearly merciless.
“Humph!”
Wu Huang coldy snorted. His foot slammed into the ground as Genesis Qi burst out like a rising sun.
Thud thud!
Countless white threads struck the scarlet-red Genesis Qi, but every single one was ultimately flung
backwards.
Wu Huang’s eyes were ice-cold. His hand made a grabbing motion as rays of light began to emerge, and a
dark red spear appeared. Carvings of flying golden crows decorated the spear’s body while it emitted a
searing Genesis Qi ripple.
Golden Crow Spear, a high grade Black Genesis Weapon.
The moment Wu Huang’s hand closed around the Golden Crow Spear, his aura turned even more berserk
and violent. With a furious roar, the long spear whipped through the air, leaving after images behind it as
it was powerfully swung down towards Zhou Yuan.
1021
A long scar began to melt on the white jade floor.
Clang!
The Heavenly Yuan Brush blocked horizontally above Zhou Yuan’s head, a loud clang resounding from
the collision of brush and spear.
Sparks flew as their gazes clashed again, murder spilling into their surroundings.
Wu Huang’s spear was withdrawn, its tip pointing towards the ground at an angle. Genesis Qi began to
converge at the tip of the spear, culminating into a flare that was several feet long. The flare first
appeared as green, before ultimately turning purple.
The purple flare pulsed, so sharp that no words could describe it. In fact, even the ground was easily cut
open.
“Watch me pierce your lousy brush!” Wu Huang icy voice sounded as his body shot forward. The purple
flare pulsed as it sliced across the ground, splitting the floor open wherever it passed, the insides of the
cuts smooth as a mirror.
“Auraflare technique? I know it too.”
Zhou Yuan’s eyes flashed when he saw the pulsing purple flare on Wu Huang’s spear. With an icy chuckle,
the brush tip’s snow-white hairs shivered as Genesis Qi gathered towards it, forming a pulsing flare.
His flare likewise appeared green at the start, before gradually turning purple. There were two levels to
the Auraflare technique, which were based on color; green and purple.
Initially, Zhou Yuan had only managed to reach the green level of the Auraflare technique, but as his
strength continued to rise, he was finally able to push the power of the technique to the next level.
Swish!
His figure also shot forward, meeting Wu Huang in the white jade plaza several breaths later. Berserk
Genesis Qi unfurled, showing that the two figures had poured all their power into their attacks.
Clang clang clang!
They forced their speeds to the limit, making it practically impossible to clearly see either figure. One
would only be able to see two afterimages colliding time after time as purple spurted in all directions,
shredding the surrounding ground.
Anyone could clearly tell that both parties were merciless in their attacks.
1022
Countless gazes both inside and outside the Saint Remains Domain were tightly glued to ferocious
exchange between the two figures on the jade white plaza...
In a short span of a mere dozen breaths, they two individuals had clashed over a hundred times. The
crazed rapidness nearly causing many onlookers to be unable to catch their breaths.
Everything in the vicinity was a complete mess.
Pchla!
The ground was torn up once again as two blurs shot at each other. Purple flares pulsed from the spear
and brush as they ripped through the air, powerful colliding a split second later.
Clang!
A clear clang sounded, followed by an extremely berserk shockwave.
The figures were caught in the shockwave, their bodies blown away by the powerful force.
Zhou Yuan slid dozens of feet backwards, the brush tip leaving a line of sparks on the ground.
On the other hand, Wu Huang was only pushed ten feet back, quickly stabilizing his body with a sweep of
his spear.
It was clear that Wu Huang had taken the upper hand in their clash.
However, Wu Huang’s expression did not look happy at all, but instead grew increasingly dark and
stormy. He still clearly remembered how Zhou Yuan was unable to receive even a single punch from him
when they had just entered the Saint Remains Domain.
But now, Zhou Yuan was already able to push him so far!
How could this not infuriate Wu Huang? Of course, buried in the depths of his anger was a sliver of fear
that Wu Huang would never admit to. The rate of Zhou Yuan’s growth was clearly leaving the former no
choice but to begin taking him seriously.
A breath of white was slowly spat out from Zhou Yuan’s nose. He gazed at Wu Huang’s dark, stormy eyes
and said, “Two years ago, you, the great crown prince of the Great Wu Empire, were pretty unreachable in
my eyes…”
Two years prior, he had still been unable to find his channels. Let alone Wu Huang, even Qi Yue had been
an untouchable existence in Zhou Yuan’s eyes. Yet, in a mere two years, this cultivationless youth was
now able to go toe to toe with the crown prince of the Great Wu Empire.
1023
“Wu Huang, you’ve had the lead for so many years, but I was still able to catch up in such a short period of
time. What do you think this means?”
Zhou Yuan smiled faintly. “It means that I am even more outstanding than you.”
Wu Huang’s gaze was chillingly sinister, staring at Zhou Yuan as if he was about to devour him, while the
Genesis Qi around him began to rage violently. However, he ultimately closed his eyes and took in a deep
breath, slowly suppressing the anger inside.
Wu Huang frostily asked, “Zhou Yuan, are you planning to anger me with your words to find an opening?”
“Don’t even dream of it. I know that I used to look down on you in the past, however… I will make up for
all of these mistakes by paying with your life!”
“Your foundations are strong, but unfortunately, at the end of the day, you’re just a Heaven Gate stage
practitioner!”
“While I am already at the Alpha-Origin stage!”
At the final word, scarlet-red Genesis Qi shot out from the top of Wu Huang’s head like a beam of light,
dashing straight into the heavens, and began to burn the sky.
“Golden Crow Sky Burning Qi!”
In the wake of Wu Huang’s thunderous shout, a glowing silhouette suddenly gathered within the scarlet-
red Genesis Qi, slowly turning into an enormous golden three-legged crow.
Flames burned around the golden crow, causing the temperature to rise.
“This guy’s Genesis Qi… is also grade 5?”
“Zhou Yuan’s eyes narrowed slightly as he looked at the barely visible golden three-legged crow. This
Genesis Qi had definitely reached the realm of grade 5.
Zhou Yuan knew that he could not withdraw at such a time, and immediately took a step forward.
Dark gold Genesis Qi erupted, golden light filling the horizon. Everyone watched as the dark gold Genesis
Qi converged into a translucent giant dark gold python.
The giant python coiled behind Zhou Yuan as it released a deafening roar towards the heavens.
“Golden Crow Sky Burning Qi, Golden Crow’s Heavenly Inferno!”
Howled Wu Huang as the golden three-legged crow swept forth. Scarlet-red flames began to burn on its
body, distorting the space wherever it passed.
1024
Even the ground below was charred black.
Countless gazes both outside and inside the Saint Remains Domain gasped as they watched. Though they
were not present in the battlefield, they could still sense the tyrannical power of Wu Huang’s attack.
The golden three-legged crow descended like a giant sun, a terrifying sight to behold.
Zhou Yuan’s expression was grave as scarlet-red rapidly grew in his eyes. He spat out a breath of air as he
hands came together and a low voice sounded in his heart.
“Omni Python Qi, Python Swallows the Heaven!”
Hss!
The python hissed as it shot forth, crashing into the golden three-legged crow a moment later, its giant
mouth opening and swallowing the crow whole...
Zhou Yuan watched this happen with a fierce look in his eyes.
“Wu Huang, let us see which is stronger, your Golden Crow Burning Sky Qi or my Omni Python Qi!”
1025
Chapter 190 Risking One’s Life in Battle
Hss!
With a hiss, the giant dark gold python opened its giant maw, swallowing the incoming golden three-
legged crow in a single gulp under countless shocked gazes.
This scene was rather provoking to the eyes.
Waves of noise spread inside and outside the Saint Remains Domain.
“Zhou Yuan’s techniques are not shabby at all.”
“Both of them likely have grade 5 Genesis Qi, else it would be very difficult for their Genesis Qi to take on
such forms.”
“I thought that Zhou Yuan would lose rather quickly, but from the looks of it, he can still last for some
time.”
“Hehe, I’m of the opposite opinion, just consider how strong Wu Huang is. No matter what, Zhou Yuan is
one cultivation level lower. If he was also at the Alpha-Origin stage, Wu Huang may not be able to beat
him, unfortunately…”
In the sky outside the Saint Remains Domain, the six envoys and the numerous representatives watched
the scenes within the mirror in rapt attention.
When the giant dark gold python swallowed the golden three-legged crow, Zhao Pan’s eyes narrowed
slightly, but an icy smile appeared from the corners of his lips as he said, “Zhou Yuan’s appetite is quite
large, isn’t he afraid of eating beyond his means?”
Someone of his calibre was naturally able to tell that both individuals possessed grade 5 Genesis Qi. Such
Genesis Qi was already pretty extraordinary.
However, although both parties were the same grade 5, Zhou Yuan was only at the Heaven Gate stage,
while Wu Huang was an Alpha-Origin expert. The difference in Genesis Qi cultivation between them was
not small at all.
Zhou Yuan may have previously been able to take advantage of others with his grade 5 Genesis Qi, but
that advantage was no longer present against Wu Huang.
Upon hearing Zhao Pan’s remarks, the other envoys gave a slight nod. They were naturally also able to
tell that Zhou Yuan would not have any advantage in a clash such as this.
1026
Mu Wuji did not comment this time. He merely continued to stare at the giant dark gold python that had
swallowed the golden three-legged crow as he frowned slightly.
Under their attention, the python suddenly hissed as scarlet-red flames began to unfurl inside its body.
“You’re too arrogant Zhou Yuan. You may have grade 5 Genesis Qi, but I have one too.”
“Your Genesis Qi is powerful and plentiful, but mine is even more so!”
“And now, you dare to forcibly swallow my Genesis Qi? That’s just seeking death!”
Wu Huang coldly stared at Zhou Yuan. Soon after, a mocking smile raised from the corners of his lips as
he made a seal with one hand.
*Cackle*!
Scarlet-red flames abruptly burst out from the giant dark gold python’s body. The flames burned, turning
python into nothingness. From within the flames, the three-legged crow formed once again. Although it
was now much smaller, it still gave off an astonishing presence.
*Gasp*!
“Be burnt to ashes by my Golden Crow Sky Burning Qi!” With a cry from Wu Huang, the golden three-
legged crow descende, heading straight for Zhou Yuan.
This scene instantly caused countless gasps both inside and outside the Saint Remains Domain.
Boiling heat filled the sky as it surged over. Zhou Yuan raised his head, but there was not even the
slightest shred of fear on his handsome face as he gazed at the rapidly growing three-legged crow.
Zhou Yuan spoke in a calm voice, “If it’s just Genesis Qi, mine is indeed weaker than yours. However…
anything that has been swallowed by my python will be unable to escape so easily.”
He slowly extended a hand, aiming it at the incoming golden three-legged crow.
Wu Huang’s pupils abruptly shrank at this moment.
Because he had seen a strange lines of blood suddenly appear on the golden three-legged crow. The lines
squirmed and twisted as they gave off an extremely eerie aura.
Ch ch!
Light emerged from the bloody lines as the ferociously sweeping down golden three-legged crow seemed
to let loose a miserable cry, the burning flames on its body rapidly dimming at an alarming speed.
1027
Bang!
The crow exploded when it was still dozens of feet from Zhou Yuan, transforming into a rain of fire.
Dark gold Genesis Qi transformed into a cloud above Zhou Yuan’s head, blocking every last drop of fire.
“Eh?”
Several envoys involuntarily cried out in shock outside the Saint Remains Domain.
The sneer on Zhao Pan’s lips turned a little rigid, his expression now a little ugly. He clearly never
expected that Wu Huang’s advantage would be so easily dispelled by Zhou Yuan.
Mu Wuji breathed a sigh of relief. So the reason why Zhou Yuan had dared to engage in a direct clash of
Genesis Qi was because he did have something up his sleeve.
Mu Wuji mumbled in his heart, “This brat’s Genesis Qi seems to contain an extremely tyrannical and
sinister presence…”
Wu Huang’s golden three-legged crow had clearly been contaminated by this sinister presence earlier
when it was inside the python’s body, causing it to swiftly fall apart in the end.
Mu Wuji chuckled. Zhou Yuan had originally been unable to match Wu Huang in Genesis Qi due to the
difference in their cultivation levels. But if Zhou Yuan had the aid of that strange and tyrannical presence,
Wu Huang may not be able to do anything against the former in this aspect.
“What did you do?!” Wu Huang’s chilling gaze glared at Zhou Yuan, clearly having also sensed that strange
tyrannical presence.
Zhou Yuan slowly extended his hand, his palm facing Wu Huang. A lump of blood-red slowly wiggled at
the center of his palm as it gave off heart shaking resentment.
“Have you forgotten? This is the present your father left for me.” Zhou Yuan’s indifferent voice sounded.
Wu Huang’s pupils shrank. “It’s… the Dragon’s Resentment Poison?!”
He naturally knew that the sacred dragon blessing had given birth to resentment when his father stole it
from Zhou Yuan many years ago. His father had sealed this resentment in Zhou Yuan’s body, resulting in
the formation of the Dragon’s Resentment Poison that continuously devoured his essence blood, crippling
him completely.
1028
But from the looks of it, not only had Zhou Yuan survived the Dragon’s Resentment Poison, he had even
made it a strong ally. Due to the tyrannical and strange nature of the poison, even someone like Wu
Huang did not dare to let it enter his body.
The fact was that he had already felt the poison’s domineering nature when he met Xiao Tianxuan and Gu
Ling. However, the Dragon’s Resentment Poison in their bodies had been too thin, leading Wu Huang to
disregard it.
Only now that he personally witnessed it today did he truly understand its terror.
Wu Huang sinisterly said, “You are really like a cockroach, to think that even that did not kill you.”
Zhou Yuan indifferently retorted, “How can I possibly die before I return each and every one of these gifts
to your Wu clan?”
“Is that so?”
Wu Huang’s eyes were eerily cold as the Golden Crow Spear suddenly shot out of his hand, transforming
into a flash of scarlet light. With unmatched berserk power, it rocketed towards Zhou Yuan like a bolt of
lightning.
The Heavenly Yuan Brush in Zhou Yuan’s hand shuddered as it floated into the air. A vicious kick was sent
towards the back of the brush, transforming it into a streak of light as it shot forth.
Clang!
Spear and brush smashed in mid air as an earthshaking clang resounded. Both weapons were flung
backwards, stabbing into the white jade plaza as cracks extended on the ground around them.
The tip of Wu Huang’s feet landed on the head of the spear, his eyes filled with murder as he stared at
Zhou Yuan’s figure. Wu Huang’s hands swiftly formed a seal as scarlet-red Genesis Qi surged over.
He deeply inhaled, before abruptly blowing.
*Cackle*!
Scarlet-red Genesis Qi spouted out in an arc, swirling around in front of him as it transformed into a
glowing head-sized scarlet-red bead.
The silhouette of a golden crow could be faintly seen within it as berserk Genesis Qi ripples pulsed.
“Zhou Yuan, you may not have died back then, but I feel it is time for you to die now!”
“Little Heaven Genesis technique, Golden Crow Detonation Bead!”
1029
Wu Huang foot slammed into the spear with a stern shout, causing the Golden Crow Spear to bend at an
extreme angle. A sudden jerk later, Wu Huang’s body instantly appeared some distance in front of Zhou
Yuan
Killing intent violently surged out from Wu Huang’s eyes as the spinning scarlet-red bead in his hand was
viciously swung downwards at Zhou Yuan.
The ground below his feet instantly shattered at this moment.
Extreme heat filled the air. Zhou Yuan gazed upon the figure that had appeared slightly above him, as a
ruthless look suddenly surged in his eyes.
“Dog reared Wu clan, you cruelly bullied me back when I was a baby. Today, I will first take this mix-
blood mutt as interest!”
Zhou Yuan’s handsome face seemed to twist hideously into savagery.
All the killing that he had suppressed in his heart for so many years came blasting out at this moment.
In response to Wu Huang’s ferocious attack, Zhou Yuan neither avoided nor dodged, his sleeve suddenly
blasting apart as his fingers violently dug into the wind lightning ball that had appeared on his palm.
Mad ruthlessness in his eyes, he sent his hand swatting towards Wu Huang.
“Little Heaven Genesis technique, Great Wind and Thunder!”
Life for a life!
1030
Chapter 191 Heaven Genesis Technique
Rumble!
Wind and thunder churned violently, berserk undulations madly pulsing from the lightning ball as it was
sent slapping towards Wu Huang.
Zhou Yuan did not bother with any defensive measures, choosing instead the most terrible and cruel
price of meeting the attack head-on with violence.
The numerous gazes inside and outside of the Saint Remains Domain were stunned.
“Zhou Yuan… is he crazy!”
“What a fierce guy, that’s practically akin to throwing away your life.”
“He’s intent on making sure that the both of them go down.”
“Lunatic…”
Everyone dripped with cold sweat due to Zhou Yuan’s madness and ferocity. Such a risky life for life tactic
just was too vicious, leaving no way out for both oneself and the opponent.
Boom!
Under the attention of stunned gaze after gaze, Wu Huang’s Golden Crow Detonation Bead slammed into
Zhou Yuan’s body, while the Great Wind and Thunder in his hand mercilessly struck the former’s body.
A deafening, earthshaking noise exploded!
Followed by the eruption of a devastating Genesis Qi shockwave.
Rumble!
The white jade floor beneath their feet was completely shattered, the shockwave wreaking havoc in the
area, leaving the ground a giant mess.
Scarlet light swallowed Zhou Yuan’s entire body like fire. Opposite him, Wu Huang’s body was also
engulfed by destructive, devastating lightning...
Bang!
Two figures flew backwards as if struck by a heavy blow, leaving a long smear on the ground as dust filled
the air.
1031
Everyone’s gazes were closely watching, not even daring to breathe too loudly. They did not know who
would end up worse off in such a high risk exchange.
The dust gradually dissipated.
Wu Huang’s figure was the first to appear. When the crowd’s eyes fell upon his figure, low gasps of
surprise rang out.
Scarlet-red light swirled around Wu Huang’s body, forming a scarlet-red battle armor that covered his
entire body. The chest portion of the armor was scorched black, cracked, broken and mostly in extremely
bad shape, evidently the handiwork of the Great Wind and Thunder technique.
“That’s…”
“A defensive Genesis technique?!”
The sight of the Genesis Qi battle armor caused waves of noise to erupt both in and out of the Saint
Remains Domain.
No one had expected that Wu Huang would even have a defensive Genesis technique in his arsenal.
Moreover, it looked pretty high class.
Zhao Pan smiled when he saw this. Soon after, he remarked with mockery in his voice, “Zhou Yuan must
have lost his mind. To think that he intended to risk his life to take Wu Huang’s. It may seem like a
ruthless tactic, but it is in actuality mere foolishness.”
The other envoys secretly nodded. At the very least, it looked like Zhou Yuan’s tactic had not done much
damage to Wu Huang, while the latter’s Golden Crow Detonation Bead had squarely hit Zhou Yuan’s body.
It was likely that even an ordinary Alpha-Origin stage would be instantly killed by such a blow.
Mu Wuji was expressionless, paying no heed to Zhao Pan’s words. The former merely stared at the spot
that Zhou Yuan had been previously, where the dust was also gradually receding.
On the white jade plaza.
Wu Huang’s eyes darkly stared at the dust nearby as he sneered, “A life for a life? I admit that I
underestimated your resolution and ruthlessness. But Zhou Yuan, you and I have different destinies, so
I’m afraid that you will not succeed so easily.”
“After being struck by my Golden Crow Detonation Bead, I believe you won’t be feeling so good now,
right?”
The dust receded as footsteps slowly sounded. Faint golden light appeared, as a calm voice echoed from
the dust, “Pretty good name, but it’s a pity that your attack doesn’t live up to its namesake.”
1032
Zhou Yuan walked out from the dust, appearing within everyone’s sights.
Countless gazes immediately focused.
Golden light flickered on Zhou Yuan’s body, the golden scales akin to a set of scale armor. A large portion
of the golden scales on his chest area had been shattered and destroyed, but were swiftly recovering
under the glow of the golden light.
The Genesis Qi around Zhou Yuan was still robust, a sign that he had not sustained any serious injuries.
“Wu Huang, did you really believe that you’re the only one with cards up your sleeve? If I did not take any
precautions, why would I try such a risky tactic?” Zhou Yuan stared at Wu Huang and icily chuckled.
“Because from what I can see, my life is definitely worth much more than yours.”
Zhou Yuan’s crazed ruthlessness from earlier may seem like he was hell bent on risking his life to take
Wu Huang’s, but the truth was that he had a fall back plan. With the protection of the Magical Python
Scales, Zhou Yuan boasted an extremely strong defence. The only thing that had exceeded his
expectations was that Wu Huang also had a defensive Genesis technique...
Upon seeing that Zhou Yuan had walked out unharmed, numerous yelps of surprise erupted both outside
and inside the Saint Remains Domain. How could they not understand by now that Zhou Yuan had done it
on purpose. If not for that fact that Wu Huang also had a defensive Genesis technique, he would have
been dealt a serious blow by Zhou Yuan.
Mu Wuji laughed, rubbing his hands together as he praised, “Not bad, not bad at all. He has both courage
and brains.”
The corners of Zhao Pan’s mouth twitched as he darkly stared at Zhou Yuan’s figure in the mirror.
“Humph, he may have courage and brains, but he may soon no longer have his life!”
The other envoys also looked towards the mirror with interest. They originally believed that the fight
would be easily dominated by Wu Huang. No one had expected the situation to develop in such a manner.
Wu Huang, who originally possessed the absolute advantage, was being dragged into a deadlock by Zhou
Yuan.
It seems that this battle was becoming more and more meaningful…
Wu Huang’s expression darkened as he stared at the golden scale armor on Zhou Yuan. He too never
expected the once ant like existence in his eyes to become such a huge problem.
“No matter how you jump and hop, you will definitely die today!”
1033
Killing intent violently suged in Wu Huang’s eyes.
Boom!
His foot stomped into the ground, a berserk aura spreading from his body as he shot straight towards
Zhou Yuan. Fists transformed into flashes of scarlet light, filling the sky as they descended upon the latter.
The Genesis Qi of Wu Huang’s attacks was vigorous and robust. One must know that he too was fierce
individual capable of battling those above his cultivation level. Although he had recently advanced to the
Alpha-Origin stage, if one were to compare how much Genesis Qi he had, it was likely that some second
layer, and even third layer Alpha-Origin experts would not be his match.
Now that he was going full throttle, the terror of his power was naturally revealed.
Zhou Yuan gaze was ice-cold. He took in a deep breath as he watched the madly attacking Wu Huang
approach, but did not retreat as the gold Magical Python Scales released a dazzling radiance.
His strength soared through the amplification of the Magical Python Scales.
“I do want to see just how you’ll kill me!”
Zhou Yuan sneered. The floor beneath his feet shattered once again as he shot forward, colliding head-on
with Wu Huang.
Thud thud!
Fists and kicks left numerous after images as they rapidly flew like lightning, the resultant shockwaves
tearing apart the ground around them.
Both parties were overflowing with murder, each strike aimed to kill. One relied on the protection of his
battle armor, while the other relied on his golden scales. Hence, it was an exchange of attacks, each punch
slamming into the other’s body, making the onlookers’ hearts jump.
If it was anyone else, they would have been beaten to death long ago. These two however, were
exceptionally sturdy and stubborn, only growing increasingly ferocious as time passed.
In the short span of a few minutes, the two had fought over a hundred rounds.
Everyone both inside and outside the Saint Remains Domain watched the bitter, inhuman fight with
bated breaths.
However, as time passed, Mu Wuji’s brows suddenly furrowed slightly. He could faintly feel a strange
undulation spreading from Wu Huang’s Genesis Qi.
1034
His gaze swept towards Zhao Pan from the corner of his eye, only to discover a strange smile appearing
from the corners of the latter’s lips.
He closely inspected Wu Huang, and suddenly found that scarlet-red Genesis Qi had appeared above his
head at some unknown time, seemingly transforming into scarlet-red clouds.
The scorching scarlet clouds seemed to rouse the surrounding Genesis Qi, causing it to rapidly surge over.
“Drawing in the surrounding Genesis Qi…”
Mu Wuji’s pupils suddenly shrank as he involuntarily cried out in his heart, “Not good, Wu Huang has
mastered a Heaven Genesis technique?!”
Only a word seperated the little Heaven and Heaven, but the difference between them was as immense as
the sky.
Even Mu Wuji had never expected Wu Huang to possess a Heaven Genesis technique. One must know that
such a technique was an extremely rare existence in a continent like this.
Evidently, after being pushed so far by Zhou Yuan, Wu Huang was beginning to reveal his true power, the
trump cards that invoked fear and terror finally exposed.
1035
Chapter 192 Heavenly Tortoise Boundary
Dong!
On the white jade plaza, Zhou Yuan and Wu Huang’s fist and leg slammed into each other, a blast of
Genesis Qi exploding from the epicenter. The ground around them was completely shattered, while Zhou
Yuan and Wu Huang’s figures were sent flying backwards.
Zhou Yuan forcibly steadied his body with a stomp. He frowned slightly as he lowered his head, seeing
the mostly broken golden scale armor on his body from which traces blood oozed out.
From this, one could see just how intense the battle between him and Wu Huang had been.
“Thank god for the Magical Python Scales’ protection, or I would have really suffered in such a clash.”
Zhou Yuan remarked inside. Wu Huang had the strength of the Alpha-Origin after all, making the quality
of his physical body greater than Zhou Yuan’s own. Without the Magical Python Scales, Zhou Yuan really
would not dare to engage in such a melee.
“Eh?”
While such thoughts flashed past in his mind, Zhou Yuan suddenly sensed something and abruptly lifted
his head, looking towards the area above Wu Huang. Scarlet clouds could be seen in the air, giving off
extremely alarming Genesis Qi undulations that made the temperature of the entire plaza rise.
“What astonishing Genesis Qi undulations!”
Zhou Yuan’s expression changed as his eyes turned grave.
To think that Wu Huang had actually made use of the time they were locked in battle to secretly bring out
his Genesis Qi and activate an extremely powerful Genesis technique. This truly was an applaudable feat.
Wu Huang stood in the air atop his Genesis Qi, his eyes cold as he looked down upon Zhou Yuan and said
in an indifferent voice, “This low grade Heaven Genesis technique of mine was originally prepared for Ye
Ming or Li Chunjun… I never imagined that it would ultimately be used on you.”
“Low grade Heaven Genesis technique?!”
Zhou Yuan’s pupils shrank slightly. Wu Huang had mastered a Heaven Genesis technique?!
Although Zhou Yuan had never learnt one before, he clearly understood the might it possessed. A Genesis
technique of that level could slay even those above one’s cultivation level.
“How troublesome.” Zhou Yuan sighed softly. Wu Huang was indeed the most difficult amongst all the
opponents he had ever encountered.
1036
Numerous gazes both in and out of the Saint Remains Domain were tinged with shock and amazement as
they gazed upon the scarlet cloud in the sky.
“Wu Huang truly is unfathomable. He has even mastered a Heaven Genesis technique!”
“Most importantly, he has even managed to activate it, a feat that ordinary Alpha-Origin experts may not
be able to achieve.”
“Looks like the battle is going to end soon. Zhou Yuan cannot possibly survive that.”
Most of their remarks were filled with regret, evidently pitying Zhou Yuan, but this was the cruel reality
that nothing could be done about. The dark horse Zhou Yuan had already surprised and amazed everyone
by reaching this stage, but the opponent he was pitted against this time was just far too strong.
“Zhou Yuan, if you’re feeling regretful now, destroy your Qi Dwelling and I will spare your life.” Wu Huang
grinned a little as he stared at Zhou Yuan, as if everything was already in the palm of his hand.
Zhou Yuan also smiled as he calmly replied, “Useless trash, you had the lead for so many years and yet
you were still pushed so far by me. Wu Huang, you’re not as formidable as I had expected.”
Wu Huang’s gaze turned eerily chilling as he icily said, “Since you want to die, I will grant your wish. Don’t
worry though, I will hang your corpse from my banner when I destroy the Great Zhou empire.”
His face twisted into cruelness as his hands came together and Genesis Qi erupted.
“Heaven Genesis technique, Scarlet Heaven Gravel Explosion!”
Boom!
The scarlet cloud above Wu Huang shuddered violently. All of a sudden, countless scarlet-red gravel
rained down from the sky, an explosive power contained within every piece.
An area within a thousand feet was covered in the shadows of the falling gravel.
“Scarlet Heaven Gravel Explosion!” Mu Wuji’s expression immediately changed when he saw this. His
frosty gaze looked towards Zhao Pan as he questioned, “Why do I recall that this Heaven Genesis
technique belongs to Sacred Palace?”
Zhao Pan smiled slightly as he replied, “Your memory must be failing you. Sacred Palace has countless
Genesis technique, some of which may naturally be similar to this one.”
Mu Wuji was livid. Zhao Pan was completely shameless. As an envoy, he had secretly interfered and
showed favoritism, even giving a Heaven Genesis technique to Wu Huang!
*Crash*!
1037
Innumerable scarlet rocks swept down from the sky, practically transforming the area into a death zone.
Anyone who stepped in would undoubtedly be killed.
Everyone inwardly shook their heads. Zhou Yuan was really in danger this time.
Under those countless pitying gazes, Zhou Yuan’s expression was exceptionally grim, however, he did not
show any panic. With a deep breath, he said, “Wu Huang, did you think that you were the only one
secretly preparing something earlier?”
Wu Huang’s eyes narrowed slightly.
Zhou Yuan icily snorted. With a sudden wave his sleeve, a gush of force swept out, sweeping away all the
rocks on the ground. Everyone immediately saw several scrolls sticking out from the ground around Zhou
Yuan.
Ripples spread from each scroll.
The sight of these scrolls caused the crowd to cry out, “Those are… Genesis Rune scrolls?!”
“What is Zhou Yuan up to?”
“From what I can see, those Genesis Rune scrolls are at most grade 3 Genesis Runes. It’s not possible for
them to stop the Scarlet Heaven Gravel Explosion.”
Wu Huang let out an icy chuckle. “Trying to scare me off? Those can’t save you!”
He had also realised that the Genesis Rune scrolls were only grade 3, and thus nothing to be feared.
Zhou Yuan ignored the former, and instead reached out a hand and made a slight grabbing motion. The
Heavenly Yuan Brush stuck in the ground some distance away immediately shot towards him as it swiftly
shrank, turning back into its culture form when it reached his hand.
Brush now in hand, Zhou Yuan began to draw in the air, creating stroke after stroke. In the end, the
strokes gradually came together to form a Genesis Rune.
“Shatter!”
With a stomp of his food, the Genesis Rune scrolls around him instantly burst apart. Light blossomed and
began interweaving, taking the shape of numerous tortoise shells.
Each ray of light seemed to overlap with another, an exceedingly mystical sight.
At this moment, the complex Genesis Qi in front of Zhou Yuan released a dazzling radiance. Light
transformed into strings, linking the tortoise shell like runes together.
1038
In a short span of a few breaths, a tortoise shell dome of light, dozens of feet in diameter, had been
created around Zhou Yuan, protecting him.
There was originally nothing to fear from these grade 3 Genesis Rune scrolls, but after connecting to each
other, they seemed to receive a tremendous boost. Genesis Qi concentrated into thick, sturdy bonds, like
an ancient tortoise shell.
“This is…”
The sight of this caused gasps of amazement to erupt both in and out of the Saint Remains Domain.
Mu Wuji likewise watched in surprise as one of the envoys who was more proficient in Genesis Runes
involuntarily cried out, “He has constructed a Genesis Rune boundary! What amazing Genesis Rune
talent!”
“So it’s a Genesis Rune boundary…” A strange shine was revealed in Mu Wuji’s eyes. One must know that
it was extremely complicated to construct a Genesis Rune boundary, because numerous Genesis Runes
were needed as building blocks. In addition, they needed perfectly connected, and not even the smallest
mistake could be tolerated. This required extremely fine control over one’s Spirit power and senses.
Even grade 4 Genesis Rune masters may not be able to construct a Genesis Rune boundary like this.
And yet, Zhou Yuan had succeeded in constructing it while he was locked in combat.
“Although it’s foundations were made from grade 3 Genesis Runes, its defensive ability is extremely
outstanding, and may even be enough to withstand Wu Huang’s killing blow.” Mu Wuji could not help but
laugh.
“I’ve indeed underestimated this kid.”
Even he had not been too optimistic about Zhou Yuan’s odds this time, but who could have expected that
the latter would be amply prepared.
Under countless gazes filled with amazement, Zhou Yuan stood within the Genesis Rune boundary. He
lifted his head to look at the sky full of scarlet gravel as the Genesis Rune Brush in his hand pointed in the
air.
Resplendent rays of light instantly exploded from the entire Genesis Rune boundary, bestowing the
ancient tortoise shell indestructibility.
“Wu Huang, let my Heavenly Tortoise Boundary have a taste of how powerful your Heaven Genesis
technique is!”
1039
Chapter 193 The Saint Rune’s Power
Bzz!
The tortoise shell like dome glowed brightly as mystical runes appeared on it, giving it an indestructible
feeling.
Zhou Yuan stood within it as he watched the scarlet gravel sweep down from the sky.
Hulala!
Under countless nervous watching gazes, the scarlet gravel ruthlessly smashed into the tortoise shell
Genesis Rune boundary.
Bang bang!
An unceasing chain of explosions immediately began.
Every scarlet rock contained volatile explosive power, and the cumulation of so many was definitely
extremely terrifying. Even a mountain would be destroyed by their combined force.
Scarlet shockwaves that could been seen with the naked eye unfurled as the Genesis Rune boundary
violently rippled.
Every gaze both outside and inside the Saint Remains Domain were tightly glued to the scenes in the
mirror. Everyone clearly wanted to know if Zhou Yuan’s Genesis Rune boundary would be able to
withstand such a frightening attack.
If it failed… it would likely be the end of the battle.
Every eye in the place did not dare to even blink.
Bang! Bang!
Inside the Genesis Rune boundary, Zhou Yuan stared at the wildly rippling Genesis Rune boundary. He
could feel just how powerful the bombardment was. If he was exposed, things would indeed become very
difficult.
“A Heaven Genesis technique sure is terrifying…”
Mumbled Zhou Yuan. Even a low grade Heaven Genesis technique was already able to rouse the
surrounding Genesis Qi, creating a frightening attack. Such power was far from anything a Black Genesis
technique could achieve.
1040
His gaze peered into the distance where Wu Huang was standing on scarlet-red Genesis Qi in the air. The
latter’s face was currently sinisterly dark, a gaze that could swallow a man whole locked onto Zhou Yuan.
“Zhou Yuan, since you’re living in such misery, you should not so desperately delay the inevitable…” Wu
Huang’s chilling voice sounded.
His hand seal changed, immediately causing the scarlet cloud in the sky to shake as more and more
scarlet gravel rained down, covering the entire sky as they plunged towards the violently rippling Genesis
Rune boundary.
The increasingly ferocious attacks caused the entire tortoise shell like Genesis Rune boundary to begin
shaking wildly.
“That Genesis Rune boundary is about to reach its limit.”
This scene immediately fell into the eyes of numerous people, resulting in a series of pitying sighs. “What
a pity, Zhou Yuan was really amazing.”
“Yeah, with the cultivation of the Heaven Gate stage, he forced even someone like Wu Huang to use a
Heaven Genesis technique. Even if he loses, his name will surely shake the Cangmang Continent.”
“Agreed. If he also had Alpha-Origin stage cultivation, it would be difficult to say who would win this
battle.”
Rumble!
Amidst the numerous voices, the Genesis Rune boundary shaking grew more and more violent, the
tortoise shell like boundary weakening layer by layer under the bombardment of countless scarlet gravel.
“Zhou Yuan, you will die today!”
The murder in Wu Huang's eyes grew thicker and thicker as he watched the weakening Genesis Rune
boundary. In the next instant, he suddenly put his hands together and shouted, "Scarlet Gravel Punch!"
Bzzz bzzz!
The scarlet gravel in the sky began to gather at this moment, forming a several dozen feet large scarlet-
red fist. The giant fist was the sum of innumerable scarlet gravel, wild and berserk undulations pulsing
from it.
“Die!”
Wu Huang laughed savagely as his palm swung downwards.
Swish!
1041
The giant scarlet gravel fist descended at an indescribably fast speed. Even Zhou Yuan was only able to
see a blur fly past as a series of muffled explosion rang out in the sky.
Pchla!
In a mere instant, the scarlet fist had already appeared above the Genesis Rune boundary, slamming
down a split second later.
The Genesis Rune boundary seemed to freeze at the moment of impact. Almost immediately after, ripples
crazily pulsed from the point of contact...
Crack.
A faint sound was heard from the Genesis Runes on the ground, cracks appearing on them.
Cracks similarly began to emerge on the Genesis Rune boundary.
It was clearly on the verge of shattering.
Countless onlookers shook their heads inside. As expected, Zhou Yuan's Genesis Rune boundary was still
a little lacking.
"Looks like it's not enough…"
Zhou Yuan frowned slightly. The central pillar of his Genesis Rune boundary were grade 3 Genesis Runes.
If he could replace them with grade 4, it may be enough to withstand the attacks.
Boom!
The giant scarlet gravel fist trembled as the Genesis Rune boundary finally reached its limit and burst
apart with a boom.
Having blasted apart the Genesis Rune boundary, the scarlet fist continued to descend, heading straight
for Zhou Yuan.
Zhou Yuan's legs bent, about to use Dragon Step to dodge. The attack was too powerful, and it was
impossible for him to receive it head-on given his current strength.
However, the moment Zhou Yuan was about the dodge, he suddenly felt a tremble from between his
brows as a faint ancient rune appeared.
"The Saint Rune from the golden pool?!"
Zhou Yuan's heart shook. He had tried so hard to get a reaction from the Saint Rune previously, but his
efforts bore no fruit. It was surprising for it to suddenly appear at this critical juncture.
1042
Lines suddenly extended from the rune, ultimately piercing Zhou Yuan's pupils.
A slight prickling pain was felt from his eyes.
Unbeknownst to him, ancient patterns began to fill Zhou Yuan's pupils.
Before he could panic, he suddenly realised that world before him seemed to be different. The quick as
thunder giant scarlet gravel fist seemed to have slowed substantially.
Moreover, several dots of light had appeared in the giant fist.
These light dots were scattered all over, making it difficult to make any sense of them. However, Zhou
Yuan could feel that the area in the vicinity of these light dots were extremely unstable, the Genesis Qi
there somewhat in chaos.
"These are…"
Zhou Yuan pupils suddenly tightened. "Weak points?!"
The light dots were definitely the most vulnerable areas of the giant scarlet gravel fist. In other words,
weak points!
But this realization also confused Zhou Yuan. These vulnerabilities were concealed by the scarlet gravel,
making them almost impossible to detect. Yet, they were now as bright as lamps in his eyes.
"Is this the ability of the Saint Rune?!" Zhou Yuan was struck by a flash of understanding.
The Saint Rune could allow him to see the many vulnerabilities in Genesis techniques?
Zhou Yuan's heart was akin to a raging sea because he knew just how frightening this ability was.
Vulnerabilities existed in any Genesis technique. If he could find these vulnerabilities, it would be akin to
achieving a huge effect with little effort, paying the smallest possible price to destroy an opponent’s
Genesis Qi.
The figure that was about to retreat paused slightly.
"If so, perhaps I no longer need to avoid…"
He raised his head, looking at the rapidly descending giant scarlet gravel fist as his eyes narrowed
slightly.
His legs bent again, swiftly shooting forward a split second later. Five fingers clenched tightly into a fist as
the golden Magical Python Scales emerged. Dark gold Genesis Qi whizzed out, shaking the surrounding
air.
1043
“He… isn’t going to dodge?!”
Horrified yelps exploded when this scene fell into the eyes of the many onlookers. Everyone was both
shaken and stunned by Zhou Yuan’s foolish actions.
Mu Wuji’s expression also changed slightly.
While a malicious smile was revealed on Zhao Pan’s face.
Wu Huang looked down from above, ridicule and disdain lifting from the corners of his mouth.
“Zhou Yuan, since you want death so badly, you can only blame yourself in the underworld!”
Under countless gazes of disbelief, Zhou Yuan continued his advance with a cold look on his face. A fist
covered in golden scales powerfully slammed into the descending giant scarlet gravel fist with the
strongest power he could muster...
Dong!
The entire white jade plaza seemed to violently tremble at this moment.
1044
Chapter 194 Dragon Transformation
The entire world seemed to fall silent for an instant when Zhou Yuan’s golden scale covered fist collided
with the giant scarlet gravel fist. Next, everyone watched as a berserk Genesis Qi shockwave frantically
unfurled...
The tiles on the giant white jade plaza were vaporised to dust.
Such a clash made even several Alpha-Origin experts shiver inside. If they were the ones on the
battlefield, they would likely be incapable of withstanding such a crazy shockwave.
Everyone’s eyes were tightly glued to the epicenter of the shockwave.
“Zhou Yuan is definitely dead.” The crowd secretly shook their heads inside. Zhou Yuan’s foolish actions
were undoubtedly no difference from plunging to one’s death in their eyes. After all, the attack Wu Huang
had used was a Heaven Genesis technique!
Even Zhou Yuan’s Genesis Rune boundary had been unable to stop it, let alone taking it directly with his
body.
Wu Huang stood on his Genesis Qi, eyes ice-cold as a savage smile slowly lifted from the corners of his
lips. Zhou Yuan, have you finally given up?!
Crack!
At this moment, an extremely faint sound rang out.
Wu Huang suddenly cast his gaze downwards as his eyes focused, before a look of disbelief flooded his
face. He had just seen a faint crack appear on the giant scarlet gravel fist.
At this time, even with his mental fortitude, Wu Huang involuntarily cried out, “How is this possible?!”
“Nothing is impossible…” A voice rang out from under the giant scarlet gravel fist. Dazzling golden light
suddenly erupted, a sliver of purple seemingly present within it.
Boom!
Rays of light that seemed to contain tremendous power blossomed as cracks rapidly emerged on the
giant scarlet gravel fist. In the end, it exploded with a loud boom!
The giant fist transformed into countless specks of scarlet light that danced in the sky.
Everyone was dumbstruck.
1045
Even Zhao Pan’s mouth hung slightly open, his face filled with shock.
Mu Wuji blinked in disbelief as he mumbled, “How did the kid do it?”
Wu Huang’s previous offensive could not have been any more powerful. According to Mu Wuji’s
estimates, even a three layer Alpha-Origin expert would not dare to face the attack head-on, leaving no
option but to withdraw.
And yet, the Heaven Gate stage Zhou Yuan had somehow blasted it apart in the most simple and barbaric
of manners?
Zhou Yuan’s figure emerged from the specks of light that danced and filled the sky, still in a punching
posture, while golden scales flickered on his fist.
At closer inspection, one would discover a faint trace of purple on the golden scales, causing them to give
off a purplish gold luster.
“Is this the third level of the Magical Python Scales, the purplish gold scales?” Zhou Yuan’s gaze was
lowered, looking at the hint of purplish gold on the scales.
“But the purple is too thin. It seems that it’s still not the true purplish gold scales.”
Zhou Yuan shook his head. Even so, he could already feel the overwhelming power brought by the faintly
purplish gold Magical Python Scales. In his feat of destroying the giant scarlet gravel fist with a single
punch, the Saint Rune may have played the main cast, but the contribution from the Magical Python
Scales could not be ignored either.
Zhou Yuan raised his head, his icy gaze looking towards the shocked Wu Huang. Without wasting any
time, the former slammed his foot into the ground.
Thud!
The ground cracked.
Zhou Yuan’s figure was launched forward, appearing behind Wu Huang in a flash.
Five fingers tightly clenched into a fist as a punch blasted through the air.
Wu Huang’s returned to his senses and hurriedly spat out a ball of scarlet-red Genesis Qi that rapidly
turned into a red shield in front of his body.
Ancient patterns flickered in Zhou Yuan’s pupils, immediately finding several light dots on the Genesis Qi
shield.
1046
Zhou Yuan was expressionless as his fist punched into one of the light dots. Berserk power swept forth,
instantly shattering Wu Huang’s Genesis Qi defenses.
Wu Huang’s expression changed, unable to comprehend why Zhou Yuan had suddenly become so
formidable. Even so, the former’s senses told him that Zhou Yuan’s strength had still not risen to the point
where he could overwhelm Wu Huang.
But why was Zhou Yuan able to so cleanly and easily destroy his defenses?
Wu Huang’s figure quickly retreated in a rather miserable manner.
Zhou Yuan chased like a shadow, crazed attacks sweeping towards his opponent. No matter what kind of
defences Wu Huang put it, they were all ultimately destroyed in the most efficient of manners.
“Blasted, why is this happening?! How can he so easily shatter all my defenses?!” Wu Huang’s eyes had
turned red, filled with both alarm and anger.
Swish!
Zhou Yuan paid no attention to Wu Huang, appearing behind him again in a flash as fists surrounded by
vigorous Genesis Qi viciously attacked.
Wu Huang had no time to avoid this time, Genesis Qi once again forming a scarlet-red battle armor on his
body.
However, Zhou Yuan seemed to not even see the armor, fists quick as lightning as they simultaneously
struck dozens of spots on the armor.
Every hit landed on the weakest areas of the Genesis Qi battle armor. As such, it was blown apart in
practically an instant.
Thud!
Wu Huang vomited a mouthful of fresh blood, his figure shooting straight downwards into the ground,
creating a deep pit in the white jade floor.
Zhou Yuan’s eyes were as cold as the edge of a blade. Without any hesitation, his figure swiftly shot
downwards, his knees slamming into Wu Huang’s body as a rain of punches descended with a loud yell.
Thud thud!
Every punch struck flesh, cracking open the ground below a little more with each hit. Wu Huang was
having a really miserable time, blood wildly spouting from his mouth.
1047
Both the inside and outside of the Saint Remains Domain was completely silent as they watched Zhou
Yuan pummel Wu Huang...
None of them understood why Zhou Yuan had suddenly become so overwhelming all of a sudden, as if he
had taken some kind of battle drug. It seemed that any attack of Wu Huang’s was merely equivalent to air
in Zhou Yuan’s eyes...
Zhao Pan’s expression was so stormy that it nearly about to rain.
Mu Wuji could not help but awkwardly scratch his head. He felt as if Zhou Yuan had transformed into a
completely different person, so fierce that it was a little unreasonable.
Boom!
On the white jade plaza, Zhou Yuan’s fists suddenly paused from their onslaught as a burst of berserk
Genesis Qi frantically erupted from Wu Huang’s body, catapulting the former away.
Zhou Yuan’s feet slid on the ground before he quickly steadied his body, eyes now slightly narrowed as he
looked to his front.
There was a huge hole there. Wu Huang’s bloodied body lay within it, a sight that was sorry to the
extreme.
Zhou Yuan panted as he clenched his fists. The scales tinged with a slight trace of purplish gold had
broken in many places. Blood also dripped from them, raw flesh visible in some areas where even bone
could be seen.
However, Zhou Yuan ignored his wounds, his eyes akin to a sharp blade as he stared at Wu Huang’s figure
in the hole.
The latter was a miserable sight, clearly pretty badly hurt by Zhou Yuan’s earlier barrage. However, he
was frowning slightly because every time he tried to deal a fatal blow, he could faintly feel a force in Wu
Huang’s body neutralizing any strike that was enough to kill...
“This guy…”
As Zhou Yuan stared, Wu Huang’s bloody body shakily stood up from the hole.
Wu Huang’s eyes were a sea of blood-red, filled with indescribable fury and savageness. Never in his
wildest dreams would he have ever imagined that he would be beaten into such a pathetic state by that
crippled dragon.
For the prideful and arrogant Wu Huang, this was even harder to accept than dying.
“Hahahaha…”
1048
Wu Huang stared at Zhou Yuan. In the end, he lifted his head to the sky and laughed loudly, a laugh thick
with murder.
“Zhou Yuan ah Zhou Yuan, I truly never expected that there will come a day when I, Wu Huang, would fall
into such a pathetic and miserable state because of you.”
“However…”
“Even so, you still cannot kill me!”
Mockery rose from the corners of his lips as he stared at Zhou Yuan and asked, “Do you know why?”
The savagery in his eyes grew more and more violent, before he suddenly ripped his clothes apart,
revealing his naked body. One would see the faint silhouette of a dragon coiling on the surface of his skin.
Zhou Yuan’s pupils abruptly tightened, staring hard at the dragon silhouette in Wu Huang’s flesh. A heart
rendering pain suddenly tore through him the instant he saw it.
An intense pain that had flooded out from the deepest part of his memory.
Back then, he had lain on that ice-cold altar while king Wu stole his sacred dragon blessing and poured it
into Great Wu’s python and sparrow. The intense pain he felt at that moment so many years ago was the
same one he felt now...
Blood surged up in Zhou Yuan’s eyes bit by bit.
“Can you feel it?” Wu Huang laughed sinsiterly.
The blood-red dot between his brows seemed to grow increasingly redder at this moment as a low
dragon roar echoed from within his body.
“Hahahaha…”
“That’s right. This is the sacred dragon blessing that had been stripped from your body back then!”
“With it protecting me, how can you possibly kill me?!”
Crisp cracking sounds emanated from Zhou Yuan’s fist, his fingernails digging deep into his flesh. He face
twitched faintly as violent savagery flooded his eyes.
“So what if you’re angry?”
Wu Huang released a chilling chuckle, cocking his head as he continued to stare at Zhou Yuan. “It seems
that you’ve never experienced the sacred dragon blessing before, right? Since that it so, I’ll let you have a
good feel today.”
1049
“Zhou Yuan, how do you feel about dying by the sacred dragon blessing that originally belonged to you?”
“Haha, you pitiful worm! All of your efforts will turn to foam today!”
Wu Huang laughed madly. In the next instant, his expression twisted into incomparable maliciousness
and savagery as a dark and chilling voice abruptly sounded.
“Dragon blessing, Dragon Transformation!”
1050
Chapter 195 Scarlet Dragon Breath
Roar!
The berserk roar of a dragon seemed to thunder from Wu Huang’s body at this moment.
While it continued to echo, the dragon silhouette on Wu Huang’s skin faintly trembled, before flooding
into his flesh and blood. Wu Huang’s body immediately began to swell.
Dragon scales emerged on the surface of his body, while his hands also started showing signs of
draconification, sharp fingernails flickering with icy light that made one’s heart thud a little harder.
Of course, the most terrifying transformation of all was the steadily strengthening Genesis Qi that had
erupted from Wu Huang’s body.
Even the surrounding floor began to crumble inch by inch do to the powerful Genesis Qi pressure.
Every person both in and outside of the Saint Remains was speechless for a time as they looked at the
horrifying thing Wu Huang had become...
No one had expected such a degree of abnormality from Wu Huang. To think that he still had such an
astonishing trump card up his sleeve after such an intense battle!
“He is truly is unfathomable…”
“Wu Huang is number one amongst the younger generation of the Cangmang Continent.”
These were the only evaluations the crowd could give as they shook their heads.
Mu Wuji also let out a bitter laugh when he saw this. Who could have predicted such an intense fight
between two of the younger generation...
However, in the face of Wu Huang’s endless arsenal of trump cards, even he could not help but sigh in
admiration. This guy was truly a genius blessed by the heavens.
“To have come this far, Zhou Yuan is already very outstanding.” Mu Wuji secretly said in his heart.
Zhao Pan breathed a sigh of relief as if a heavy burden had been lifted from his shoulders. His eyes
flickered in thought as he stared at Wu Huang’s figure and secretly mumbled to himself, “Wu Huang is
indeed a good seedling. No wonder even palace master said that he possesses the will of the heavens and
must be brought into Sacred Palace.”
“It should be over this time, right?”
1051
As Zhao Pan spoke, even he did not realise that he was no longer as certain as he had been in the
beginning. He was now clearly afraid due to Zhou Yuan, scared that he would suddenly pull something
out of the bag again, causing the situation to fall into uncertainty once again.
...
Zhou Yuan frowned deeply as he gazed upon the Wu Huang, who was now substantially bigger and
covered in dragon scales. The latter was currently giving off an extremely frightening aura.
Wu Huang’s lifted his face and gave Zhou Yuan a savage smile.
His foot slammed into the ground, cracking it as his figure rocketed forward.
“How quick!”
Zhou Yuan’s pupils shrank. The ancient Saint Rune appeared within it, allowing him to clearly see Wu
Huang’s body. However, Zhou Yuan’s body was unable to respond in time.
“Mighty Tortoise Armor Rune!”
Yelled Zhou Yuan as a tortoise shell like glowing rune appeared in front of him.
Craang!
However, it was shattered by a single punch almost immediately after it appeared. Wild punch winds
blasted into Zhou Yuan’s Magical Python Scale covered arms.
Thump!
Zhou Yuan’s body jerked back before being sent flying backwards. Most of the scales on his arms had
shattered and broken, making them a bloody mess.
Wu Huang did not give Zhou Yuan any chance to breathe, a storm of attacks immediately following.
The ancient Saint Rune in Zhou Yuan’s pupils spun round and round. He could still see the vulnerabilities
in Wu Huang’s attacks, but when his attacks landed on them, they were unable to break through.
As such, he was naturally unable to achieve the same effect as before.
“Crap, his Genesis Qi has grown stronger and my attacks are no longer able to affect him, not even at the
weakest points of his attacks.” Zhou Yuan’s expression had turned rather ugly.
He could see the vulnerabilities, but he did not have enough force to make use of them.
Thud thud!
1052
Two figures continued to clash on the white jade plaza. This time however, the situation was reversed.
Wu Huang laughed madly, his attacks like a torrential downpour, while Zhou Yuan continuously
retreated.
Wu Huang’s attacks would pierce his defences from time to time and land on his body, causing blood to
appear from the corner of Zhou Yuan’s mouth.
“Haha, Zhou Yuan, weren’t you very pleased with yourself earlier?!”
“You are indeed a formidable foe to have forced out even my final trump card!”
“However, it is time for you to pay the price for doing so.”
“And that price will be your life!”
Wu Huang’s eyes were scarlet-red, his face twisted with violence as his attacks grew increasingly vicious.
Genesis Qi pulsed in the air as a flurry of fists descended, bombarding Zhou Yuan to no end.
Boom!
Genesis Qi exploded as Zhou Yuan’s feet slid across the ground. His body was blown over a hundred steps
back, the blood at the corner of his mouth growing increasingly apparent. Every single inch of his body
was radiating an intense pain.
“How stubborn.” Wu Huang looked down from above, a certain eeriness emanating from the corners of
his lips as he said, “I really want to find out if you will still be able to stand after I break every bone in
your body.”
His hands slowly came together as he suddenly inhaled deeply. Berserk Genesis Qi flooded in through his
nose, his chest swelling as an alarming Genesis Qi ripple frantically converged.
The ground below Wu Huang’s feet began to crumble, unable to support the brewing power.
Wu Huang indifferently stared at Zhou Yuan. A split second later, the former’s chest shrank as he abruptly
opened his mouth and roared, “Scarlet Dragon Breath!”
Rumble!
Scarlet-red Genesis Qi spouted out like a dragon’s breath, so searingly hot that the ground instantly
melted.
It was likely that anyone below the third layer Alpha-Origin would be instantly killed by it!
1053
Zhou Yuan’s expression involuntarily changed. The Saint Rune quickly flickered in his eyes, faint light
dots appearing on the incoming scarlet-red dragon breath.
They were vulnerabilities.
...
However...
Even if he could see them, Zhou Yuan did not have enough power to neutralize the attack.
“My power is insufficient…” Zhou Yuan pursed his lips, his eyes falling deep into thought.
“Zhou Yuan, you're dead!” Everyone inside and outside the Saint Remains Domain sighed in pity when
they saw this scene. The tumultuous battle was finally about to end.
Mu Wuji’s expression turned ugly, his hands tightly clenched as he muttered, “Just admit defeat you
stupid kid, the most important thing now is to preserve your life!”
However, Zhou Yuan could not hear these words, and even if he did, he would not make such a decision.
Zhou Yuan’s body lowered slightly. In the next instant, the ground below his feet shattered as he swiftly
shot forth, heading straight for the scarlet-red dragon breath.
“Hss!”
Zhou Yuan’s actions caused countless people to gasp as they muttered to themselves, “Zhou Yuan… has
really gone insane…”
Mu Wuji could not help but bellow, “Fool!”
The current Wu Huang was not something Zhou Yuan could defeat!
In fact, the dragon breath was even more terrible than Heaven Genesis technique earlier!
The cold cruel smile that hung from the corners of Wu Huang’s lips grew even icier.
“Come on, dying to the sacred dragon blessing that originally belonged to you is the best ending you could
ever wish for.”
Under the attention of countless watching gazes, Zhou Yuan appeared in front of the dragon breath in a
few breaths. The scorching heat surged towards him, causing a piercing pain to pulse from his skin.
Zhou Yuan lifted his head slightly, peering past the scarlet-red Genesis Qi to see Wu Huang’s cruel eyes
and ice-cold face...
1054
“Wu Huang…”
His hand made a slight grabbing motion and a silver ball suddenly appeared within. The moment it
appeared, it melted into liquid that swiftly spread along Zhou Yuan’s arm.
Silver light blossomed for an instant, and Zhou Yuan’s figure slammed into the dragon breath under the
crowd’s stares...
“It’s time for this battle to end…”
At the moment of impact, it seemed as if Zhou Yuan’s faint voice stealthily rang out.
1055
Chapter 196 The First
Froohm!
The scarlet-red dragon breath unfurled, barging through the white jade plaza as it left behind a long black
scar and melted white jade wherever it passed.
The dragon breath had completely engulfed Zhou Yuan...
Everyone both inside and outside of the Saint Remains Domain fell silent, before bursting out into
numerous regretful sighs. Zhou Yuan was really too foolish. It was unbelievable for him to meet that
attack head-on.
“The young are always so foolhardy. If only he had chosen to yield this one time and wait for another
chance in the future.”
“Once you lose your life, there will be no more chances for you.”
“To have pushed Wu Huang so far is actually already be a victory for him.”
Everyone shook their heads.
Mu Wuji tightly gripped his pipe, wishing that Zhou Yuan could have been more level-headed as he said
through gritted teeth, “Stupid kid, what the hell were you thinking!”
He was truly unable to understand why Zhou Yuan had rushed to his death. Such actions were foolish
beyond reason. Where had all the brilliance he had previously displayed gone to?
And now, everything was over.
On the other hand, Zhao Pan breathed a heavy sigh of relief as if every burden had been lifted from his
shoulders. He shot a sideways glance at Mu Wuji and snidely said, “What a pity, looks like that brat won’t
have the fortune of entering your Cangxuan Sect.”
The corners of Mu Wuji’s mouth twitched as he shot Zhao Pan a venomous glare.
Zhao Pan showed no fear, all smiles as he continued to speak, “Don’t be too heartbroken brother Wuji,
even if he did enter the Cangxuan Sect, he will only bring it shame. At least he had a clean death here.”
“You!”
Mu Wuji’s eyes boiled with rage as the boundless Genesis Qi around his body began to soar into the sky,
rippling the clouds above.
1056
Zhao Pan grinned nastily, “Does brother Wuji wish to exchange pointers with me here?”
The moment his voice faded, similarly majestic Genesis Qi whizzed out, giving off powerful Genesis Qi
undulations.
Although they stood facing each other, ready to fight, neither party attacked in the end. Each gave the
other a vicious glare before gradually withdrawing their Genesis Qi. Both clearly understood that this was
neither the place nor time.
“Eh?”
All of a sudden, one of the envoy’s eyes concentrated slightly as he said with some hesitation, “There
seems to be something strange inside?”
Mu Wuji, Zhao Pan and the rest immediately cast their gazes towards the white jade plaza. A split second
later, their pupils abruptly shrank. They seemed to have caught sight of a flash of silver within the scarlet-
red dragon breath.
On the white jade plaza.
Wu Huang’s maniacal laughter continued to echo. His eyes were scarlet-red as he gazed at the destruction
wreaked by the dragon breath, while the smile on lips grew increasingly chilling and eerie.
“Zhou Yuan, you’ve lost!”
“Tragic and pitiful worm, you were already a failure when you were born, and now you’re still that same
failure!”
“You should know by now just who the true dragon is, right?!”
“Haha, don’t worry. I promise that I will hang your corpse on my banner when I crush your Great Zhou
Empire. I want to let everyone know how useless the so-called sacred dragon is!”
Wu Huang lifted his head and gazed at the sky as a beautiful figure surfaced in his mind. The proud and
noble figure had been branded into his heart, never to be removed.
“Do you see this Wu Yao? I’ve said before that I will prove to you that I am the true dragon!”
“No matter how great your blessings, I believe that I will eventually catch up to you. In this world, only
you and I are a perfect fit!”
A sick, crazed look flitted across Wu Huang’s eyes, before he closed them in a somewhat intoxicated
manner and took in a deep breath.
“Is that so?”
1057
At this moment, a low voice stealthily sounded.
Wu Huang’s eyes abruptly opened, alarm and doubt within them as he looked towards the scarlet-red
dragon breath that was still travelling across the white jade plaza. Next, his pupils suddenly shrank as he
saw a flash of silver light shoot out from the dragon breath.
When it passed by, even the dragon breath was forcefully ripped open.
The crazed smile on Wu Huang’s face froze as he cried out in horror, “What?!”
“No! Impossible! How can you be alive!” Howled Wu Huang in disbelief,
His heart was akin to a churning sea, filled with terror and astonishment. Never in his wildest dreams
would he have imagined that Zhou Yuan would actually survive the dragon breath!
Countless gazes both inside and outside of the Saint Remains Domain blankly stared at the silver light as
they rapidly swallowed their saliva.
Mu Wuji was also dazed. A brief moment later, he pinched his face and mumbled, “Why are the younger
generation now all so fierce beyond reason…”
“Blasted, they’re clearly just a mere Heaven Gate practitioner and an Alpha-Origin practitioner… why is
their battle even more intense than one between Divine Dwelling experts? My heart can’t take it
anymore…”
Under the countless dazed looks, the silver figure swept past, tearing through the scarlet-red dragon
breath. In the blink of an eye, it pierced through completely...
Only then did everyone finally get a clear view.
The silver figure was a person clothed in silver armor. The flickering ancient patterns that decorated it
gave off a mystical aura, while extremely powerful Genesis Qi undulations violently pulsed from the
armor.
Although the silver armor also covered the figure’s face, everyone knew that it was Zhou Yuan!
An ice-cold gaze seemed to shoot out from the silver armor, landing on Wu Huang’s frozen face.
Silver liquid flowed down the armor, clearly an aftereffect of passing through the dragon breath.
Swish!
Without a pause, the silver armor transformed into a flash of silver light that headed straight for Wu
Huang.
1058
“Zhou Yuan! You really are like an unbanishable spirit! Die!”
Wu Huang finally returned to his senses and furiously roared. His hands came together as scarlet-red
Genesis Qi transformed into a hundred feet wide wall that stood before him with the intention of
stopping Zhou Yuan.
However, Zhou Yuan’s figure did not stop, straight like a pencil as he shot forward. Five fingers tightly
clenched into a fist that ruthlessly punched at the fire wall.
Bang!
A shockwave of destruction instantly blew apart the wall of flames.
After activating Silver Shadow, Zhou Yuan’s strength had risen dramatically, now so high that it no longer
lost to the draconized Wu Huang. Adding in the Saint Rune’s ability to detect vulnerabilities, Wu Huang’s
defenses were practically nonexistent before Zhou Yuan.
“Impossible! Impossible!”
Howled Wu Huang as his figure rapidly retreated while frantically sending blast after blast of Genesis Qi
at Zhou Yuan.
Bang! Bang!
However, the silver figure dashed through like hot knife through butter, each blast of Genesis Qi blowing
apart one after another.
In the short span of several breaths, every single one of Wu Huang’s attacks had been neutralized.
Silver light appeared in front of Wu Huang, the two individuals now a mere few feet from each other.
Their gazes met in the air, both a sea of blood red, both filled with cruelness and ferocity.
Wu Huang roared, “Die Zhou Yuan!”
Another burst of Genesis Qi exploded from his body.
This time however, Zhou Yuan did not give the former any chance to attack. In a single step, he appeared
beside Wu Huang.
“Wu Huang, I will take back everything your Wu clan has stolen from me…”
“And now, you shall be the first!”
There was no emotion whatsoever in the ice-cold voice that softly sounded by Wu Huang’s ear.
1059
Wu Huang’s pupils violently shrank.
Under the countless watching gazes, Zhou Yuan and Wu Huang’s figures crossed each other.
The entire world seemed to go into slow mo at this moment.
1060
Chapter 197 Battle Between the Two Dragons;
Victory and Defeat
On the white jade plaza, even the sound of wind seemed to slow to a crawl.
Countless gazes had their full focus on the two figures that had crossed.
Zhou Yuan and Wu Huang were now back to back.
The bright silver light on Zhou Yuan’s body began to dim, transforming into silver liquid that flowed
down, ultimately becoming a silver ball as it floated by his side.
Urgh!
Once the silver armor was off, Zhou Yuan could not help but vomit a mouthful of blood. Intense pain
pulsed from between his brows, nearly causing him to lose consciousness.
However, he forced himself to endure it while the Spirit between his brows rapidly dimmed.
Fortunately, the Saint Spirit Crystal began to emanate rays of light that wrapped around his Spirit.
Strands of cooling aura poured into his Spirit, allowing him to maintain his final shred of consciousness.
The sight of those caused the onlookers both inside and outside the Saint Remains Domain to cry out in
alarm, “Zhou Yuan seems to be seriously injured?”
Anyone could sense that Zhou Yuan’s Genesis Qi was also swiftly weakening, undoubtedly a sign that he
would no longer be able to fight.
Mu Wuji, Zhao Pan and the other four envoys watched closely, not daring to blink.
Under their watching eyes, Zhou Yuan feebly wiped away the blood at the corner of his mouth. His usage
of Silver Shadow had been very brief this time, which was why Zhou Yuan had not directly lost
consciousness like before.
Even so, Zhou Yuan could feel that his Spirit had become extremely weak. He did indeed no longer
possess the strength to do battle.
However, no panic appeared on his face.
He lowered his head to look at his hand, seeing fresh blood drip from his fingertips, but it did not belong
to him...
1061
Zhou Yuan declared in an indifferent voice, “Wu Huang, you all will never be able to take what’s truly
mine.”
Back still facing each other, Wu Huang’s hoarse voice was transmitted over, “How can this be?! How can I
lose to trash like you?! It’s not fair!”
His howls were filled with indignation.
“You were too prideful.” Replied Zhou Yuan.
Wu Huang’s expression twisted as he recalled the words Wu Yao once said to him when he left the Great
Wu royal palace.
“Wu Huang, there will eventually come a day where you will lose because of your pride and arrogance.”
The him from back then had laughed at these words, because he had never felt that the crippled dragon
Zhou Yuan was even worthy enough to enter his eyes. He saw the latter as an ant, an ant that could easily
be swatted away into the endless abyss with a simple flip of his hand.
However, he would never have imagined the things that had happened today...
The once ant like existence in his eyes had destroyed all of his trump cards...
The pride he once had began to vanish completely at this moment.
“I… won’t accept…” Mumbled Wu Huang.
Squerrch!
A line of blood slowly appeared on his neck. In the next instant, Wu Huang’s head fell from his body...
Blood dashed into the sky.
The entire Saint Remains Domain and the area outside was completely silent, before countless gasps
sounded.
“Wu Huang has been killed!’
Gaze after gaze stared at this scene in shock. No one had expected the unfathomably powerful Wu Huang
would be killed by a Heaven Gate stage youth.
Mu Wuji’s mouth hung wide open, the pipe in his hand shaking as he mumbled, “This kid, how the heck
did he do it?!”
Moments ago, he had been certain that Zhou Yuan was dead!
1062
But who could have expected him to suddenly break through Wu Huang’s terrifying attack, almost
instantaneously reversing the situation, and then taking his head...
“How can this be?!”
Zhao Pao also roared. His abruptly stood up with a stormy expression, chillingly staring at the mirror
with eyes filled with disbelief.
He was likewise unable to accept that Wu Huang had lost to Zhou Yuan!
The entire place was plagued by an endless uproar. However, no matter how much they did not believe it,
the scenes in the mirror made them understand how cruel reality was.
In the Saint Remains Domain, Xiao Tianxuan and Gu Ling were dumbstruck when they saw this scene.
Moments later, they swallowed a mouthful of saliva. When they looked towards Zhou Yuan’s figure again,
there now some fear in their eyes. They clearly knew how powerful Wu Huang was, and yet, even
someone as unreasonably strong as him had lost at Zhou Yuan’s hands...
Meanwhile, rays of light suddenly exploded from the fifth to ninth stone platforms along the stone stairs.
The light gradually weakened as the situation within the five stone platforms was clearly revealed.
On the fifth stone platform, Luluo was seated on the ground, her small face rather pale. Little Frost feebly
lay on her shoulder, the glow around it now pretty dim.
Some distance to her front, a life-like ice statue glittered under the sunshine. Inside it, Zhu Ying’s face was
frozen, never to move again.
On the sixth stone platform, Zhen Xu’s clothes were torn and tattered, countless deep blade cuts all over
his body. However, no blood flowed from his wounds, his body akin to a dried corpse. Before him, Jiang
Quan was also covered in wounds, one of them however, had pierced the spot between his brows...
On the seventh stone platform, Zuoqiu Qingyu’s fair feet stood on the shoulders of a muscular metal
tower like figure. Blood could be seen at the corner of her mouth, making her red lips even more
enchanting.
The metal tower like man below her feet called Qin Tong had one knee on the ground. It was unknown
whether he was dead or alive.
On the eighth stone platform, or what was left of it. It was as if the entire platform had been blown apart.
Ning Zhan climbed out from the rubble. His body was riddled with injuries, but the smile on his face was
filled with wild excitement.
One would faintly see white hair poking out from the rubble nearby.
1063
On the ninth stone platform, two figures were seated cross-legged.
Bloody hole after hole could be seen on Blind Sword’s body. His face was very pale, while the hand that
grasp his black heavy sword trembled without end.
Ye Ming was seated some distance to his front. However, a deep sword wound ran from his shoulder to
his waist, practically splitting him into two.
Both individuals’ injuries were a terrible sight to behold.
It was a case of neither party winning due to serious injuries.
*Uproar*!
The sight of this caused an uproar to wash across the entire place once again, but it was soon followed by
deafening cheers. With the exception of the ninth stone platform, every other fight seemed to have ended
in the Cangmang Continent’s victory...
However, Luluo, Zuoqiu Qingyu and the rest were currently lifting their heads to look towards the peak of
the Saint mountain. Next, they saw the kneeling Zhou Yuan, a head falling behind him as blood spurted
into the sky from Wu Huang’s headless body...
“What a freak…” Mumbled Luluo.
“To think that he was able to do it…” Said Zhen Xu in a soft voice.
Zuoqiu Qingyu’s eyes shined. With a lovely laugh, she slyly said, “Looks like… this guy is a pretty good
option too…”
Ning Zhan stared at Zhou Yuan’s figure with a solemn expression, “How formidable, I really want to… go
at it with him!”
Blind Sword Li Chunjun lightly grasped his heavy sword in silence for a while, before he spoke, “Zhou
Yuan, it seems that you will a better grindstone for my sword than Wu Huang in the future…”
Ye Ming coughed out some blood as he shook his head and smiled. “Heh heh, Wu Huang ah Wu Huang, I
truly never expected that you will ultimately lose to him…”
Every gaze had converged onto the white jade plaza.
Where an exceptionally shocking scene was present.
Under the lingering rays of the sun, a figure kneeled on one knee, while a head fell, blood spraying into
the sky...
1064
On the ruins of what was once a white jade plaza, Zhou Yuan was kneeling on one knee. His expression
was deathly pale, the Genesis Qi around his body extremely weak, while the Spirit between his brows was
so dim that it seemed as if it was about to be extinguished.
He gently turned his gaze, eyes indifferent as he looked towards the headless body behind him.
Bzz!
All of a sudden, Wu Huang’s headless corpse began to tremble faintly. A split second later, a flash of light
dashed out from his stump of a neck, the roar of a dragon echoing within it.
A faint translucent dragon silhouette was revealed within the light.
The dragon silhouette was ancient and noble, like a gift from the heavens.
Zhou Yuan heart violently shook when he saw it. He could feel an extremely intimate and familiar aura
from it...
“The sacred dragon blessing…”
There was a slight tremble in Zhou Yuan’s voice. Back then, king Wu had extracted the sacred dragon
blessing from his body and infused it into Great Wu’s python and sparrow...
He never imagined that a dozen years later, he would once again be able to feel the sacred dragon
blessing that originally belonged to him.
Hss!
The Omni Python Qi in Zhou Yuan’s Qi Dwelling began to stir violently. A hiss seemed to echo, filled with
an indescribable thirst and desire.
Bzz!
The translucent dragon silhouette coiled in mid-air for a moment, before suddenly sweeping dowards.
However, it was not headed towards Zhou Yuan but Wu Huang’s decapitated head.
“Wu Huang, I knew that you will not die so easily!” Chilling light blossomed in Zhou Yuan’s eyes, no
hesitation whatsoever as he immediately threw a punch. The tiny bit of Genesis Qi that had just recovered
in his body whizzed out without reservation, ruthlessly blasting towards Wu Huang’s head.
1065
At this moment, the head on the ground suddenly opened its eyes. Light appeared between its brows,
revealing a faint illusory figure.
It was Wu Huang’s Spirit.
Zhou Yuan had slayed Wu Huang’s physical body, but his Spirit had hid itself between his brows.
When the gazes both inside and outside Saint Remains saw this, they burst out in alarm, “Wu Huang’s
Spirit has not faded together with his body?”
“It seems that he has a Spirit protection treasure. That’s how his Spirit hid in his head.”
“But the Spirit is useless without a body unless it steps into the Corporeal stage. However, Wu Huang's
Spirit was clearly far from that level!"
"Zhou Yuan only needs to pulverise his head. His Spirit will then have nowhere to hide, making it an easy
target."
“...”
Swish!
Spirit power spread from the spot between his brows, lifting the head into the air and avoiding Zhou
Yuan's attack. The head's mouth opened, attempting to suck away the sacred dragon blessing.
"Heavenly Yuan Brush!"
Zhou Yuan drew the Heavenly Yuan Brush at his waist with ice-cold eyes. With a little shake, the brush
began to grow, its snow-white hairs stretching into long snow-white whips that swiftly pierced towards
Wu Huang’s head.
Wu Huang no longer dared to take back the sacred dragon blessing, quickly abandoning his previous
actions. His head rose, avoiding the snow-white hairs.
Wu Huang’s head flew about, his mouth opening and closing as an eerie voice sounded, “Zhou Yuan, I was
indeed too confident this time. However, it will not be so easy for you to kill me!”
Zhou Yuan’s eyes narrowed slightly and suddenly grabbed with his hand.
Ch!
Hairs that could not be seen with the naked eye suddenly appeared out of nowhere, quickly surrounding
Wu Huang’s head. In the next moment, all of them shot towards their target, piercing Wu Huang’s head.
Bang!
1066
As the hairs swept past, Wu Huang’s head burst into pieces.
Though the head was destroyed, Zhou Yuan frowned slightly. He had caught sight of a palm-sized illusory
figure rising from the mist of blood.
That Spirit naturally belonged to Wu Huang.
However, there was a layer of glittering star light wrapped around Wu Huang’s illusory Spirit like a set of
clothes. It was the protection of this star clothes that allowed Wu Huang’s mid Illusory stage Spirit to
separate from his body.
“Spirit armor?!”
Zhou Yuan’s pupils shrank. The star clothes was a kind of Spirit armor that could protect one’s Spirit.
Even normal Corporeal stage Spirit cultivators were unable to create one.
It was obvious that Wu Huang had a very powerful backer.
Wu Huang’s Spirit looked over and coldly said, “Zhou Yuan, I said that you can’t kill me!”
“Humph, want to take back the sacred dragon blessing? Dream on. It has been in my body for over a
dozen years, making my control over it greater than yours. Once I take it back, there will naturally be a
chance for revenge in the future!”
Wu Huang’s hands quickly formed a seal, and the sacred dragon blessing began to tremble. In the end, it
began to flow towards Wu Huang’s Spirit.
Zhou Yuan’s eyes were ice-cold. It had not been easy for him to find an opportunity to slay Wu Huang’s
physical body and draw out the sacred dragon blessing within. If he allowed Wu Huang to retrieve it,
Zhou Yuan did not know how long he would have to wait for another chance like this would come by.
In addition, even if he ended up being unable to completely destroy Wu Huang today, losing the sacred
dragon blessing would be an unimaginably huge blow to the latter.
Therefore, Zhou Yuan absolutely could not allow Wu Huang to succeed.
Zhou Yuan took in a deep breath and gave the Heavenly Yuan Brush a little jerk. Its snow-white hairs flew
under his feet, lifting him into the air and making a beeline for the sacred dragon blessing.
“Stop dreaming Zhou Yuan. You cannot take away this sacred dragon blessing!” Wu Huang’s Spirit
laughed loudly.
An icy light flitted across Zhou Yuan’s eyes, “Is that so?”
1067
He slowly lifted his right hand where a lump of blood-red slowly squirmed on his palm, giving off an aura
of resentment.
Zhou Yuan asked in a low voice, “Dragon’s Resentment Poison, do you recall the reason for your
existence? Don’t you want to take back this sacred dragon blessing?!”
The Dragon’s Resentment Poison had a mind of its own. Ever since the sacred dragon blessing’s
appearance, Zhou Yuan had felt it stirring impatiently.
Roar!
The moment Zhou Yuan’s words faded, the lump of blood-red abruptly began to shudder. It pierced out of
Zhou Yuan’s palm, blood-red Qi surging forth, transforming into a blood-red dragon head in front of his
hand...
The dragon head roared and ferociously sucked.
Wu Huang was immediately shocked and terrified by this. The sacred dragon blessing that had originally
been flowing towards him was now surging towards Zhou Yuan at an astonishing speed.
“God damn it!”
Howled Wu Huang as he hurriedly used all his might to frantically suck up the sacred dragon blessing in
an attempt to regain it.
Thus, the sacred dragon blessing split in the air, surging towards two different directions.
But, the Dragon’s Resentment Poison was clearly much faster!
In the short span of several dozen breaths, the sacred dragon blessing had disappeared. Nearly two thirds
of it had been swallowed by the Dragon’s Resentment Poison
Wu Huang was only able to get back a third.
“AAARHH!”
Wu Huang completely lost it this time, his eyes entirely red. He had not acted in such a manner even
when his physical body was slain earlier, all because he clearly understood the functions of the sacred
dragon blessing.
As long as he possessed it, it would only be a matter of time before he rose again!
But a large portion of the sacred dragon blessing had now been taken back by Zhou Yuan. This would
affect not only himself, but also the country blessing of the Great Wu Empire.
1068
However, there was nothing he could do no matter how angry he got. The only thing left of him was his
Spirit, and it would not be easy for him to escape from Zhou Yuan, let alone trying to do anything to the
latter.
Dazzling star light exploded from Wu Huang’s Spirit, sweeping him up as it soared into the sky, before
disappearing as if penetrating through space itself.
“Zhou Yuan, I will never let you off!”
As Wu Huang’s Spirit disappeared, his mad howls continued to echo.
...
Zhao Pan’s expression was dark and stormy as he retrieved a star disc from his clothes. Star light shined
from it, gathering in front of him to ultimately form a spatial passageway.
Swish!
A flash of star light shot out from within, landing on the star disc together with Wu Huang’s Spirit.
Zhao Pan was evidently the one who had saved Wu Huang’s Spirit.
Nearby, Mu Wuji sneered and said, “Heh, I never imagined that you would have even brought the Sacred
Palace’s Star Spirit Disc. Could you guys have predicted Wu Huang’s loss?”
Zhao Pan’s expression was white with anger, but he ignored the former and instead shot a cold glance at
the Spirit in the star disc as he scolded in his heart, “What a useless piece of trash. If not for palace master,
I would not have saved you…”
Although he was furious at Wu Huang’s uselessness, he still carefully kept the star disc, allowing Wu
Huang’s Spirit to recover within it.
After all, before leaving Sacred Palace, palace master had personally tasked him to bring Wu Huang back
even if all that was left was a tiny wisp of his Spirit.
Zhao Pan had initially scoffed at such a notion, but who could have imagined that Wu Huang’s physical
body would be slain, only escaping with his Spirit...
Zhao Pan raised his head and looked towards Zhou Yuan’s figure in the mirror as killing intent
involuntarily flitted across his eyes.
“Can’t believe that this brat was able to go so far…”
1069
But he knew that with Mu Wuji watching, there was nothing he could do to Zhou Yuan.
Zhou Yuan had undoubtedly become the greatest winner in the Saint Remains Domain.
1070
Chapter 199 Lost Country Blessing
On the white jade plaza, Zhou Yuan calmly gazed at the spot where Wu Huang’s Spirit had disappeared as
his body slowly descended.
Wu Huang’s escape was a little out of his expectations. Fortunately, two thirds of the sacred dragon
blessing in Wu Huang's body had been forcibly wrestled away by the Dragon's Resentment Poison and
him.
Losing the majority of the sacred dragon blessing would undoubtedly be a huge blow to Wu Huang,
leaving many negative repercussions.
Years ago when king Wu extracted the sacred dragon blessing in his body, it had been split into three.
Great Wu’s python and sparrow were each bestowed one portion, while the final one was turned into the
country blessing of the Great Wu Empire.
At this current point in time, Zhou Yuan had only managed to take back a small portion.
Zhou Yuan raised his hand and looked at the blood-red lump of Qi on his palm that gave off a heavy aura
of resentment. The Dragon’s Resentment Poison.
After absorbing two thirds of Wu Huang’s sacred dragon blessing, it seemed to have grown even more
intense, while its form was gradually turning from the initial lump of blood-colored mist to a faint mini
blood dragon silhouette.
“The Dragon’s Resentment Poison has grown stronger.” Zhou Yuan could sense that it had become even
more tyrannical, making him somewhat worried. The poison may be a deadly weapon at times, but at
others, it was only a source of fear.
After all, it had tortured and tormented Zhou Yuan to no end during the past dozen or so years.
“You and I share the same body. That sacred dragon blessing cannot be enjoyed by you alone.”
The moment his voice fell, the Omni Python Qi in his Qi Dwelling began to circulate. A faint hiss was heard
as the dark gold Genesis Qi took on the shape of a python. It opened its mouth, emitting a peculiar suction
force.
As suction force reached out, the Dragon’s Resentment Poison on his palm began to shudder, releasing a
low dragon’s roar.
Wisp after wisp of sacred dragon blessing left the Dragon’s Resentment Poison and surfed into the Omni
Python Qi.
Roar!
1071
The Dragon’s Resentment Poison roared, as if trying to resist.
However, its resistance barely had any effect. Zhou Yuan could not possibly sit by and watch as it
devoured the sacred dragon blessing and strengthened itself, turning into a huge problem in the future.
Moreover, the sacred dragon blessing was clearly extremely beneficial to his Omni Python Qi.
Sliver after sliver of scared dragon blessing was continuously absorbed by the Omni Python Qi. Zhou
Yuan detected a change in the Omni Python Qi, its dark gold luster turning a little brighter...
In addition, its grade was also steadily rising.
Zhou Yuan’s eyes glimmered. As expected, the sacred dragon blessing was akin to a huge booster for the
Omni Python Qi. According to his estimates, at this rate, the Omni Python Qi would definitely rise from
grade 5 to 6!
Although it was only an upgrade of a single grade, Zhou Yuan clearly understood just how big of a
difference it would make.
Grade 6 Genesis Qi. Even the great empires of the Cangmang Continent did not possess such a thing.
“It’s a pity that Wu Huang was still able to take away some of it, or the Omni Python Qi may have been
able to evolve, becoming the grade 7 World Subduing Heavenly Serpent Qi!”
Zhou Yuan felt some regret. The sacred dragon blessing he obtained today could at most raise his Omni
Python Qi by a single grade, and was not enough for it to evolve to the grade 7 level.
However, he was not someone who would be overly fixated on the sacred dragon blessing. In fact, it was
already out of his expectations to take back a portion of the sacred dragon blessing today. As for Wu
Huang, it would not be so easy for him to recover from such a serious blow.
“Sacred dragon blessing…”
Zhou Yuan’s five fingers slowly clenched into a fist. He took in a deep breath as his gaze turned ice-cold.
“I will sooner or later take all of it back!” He calmed his surging emotions, allowing the Omni Python Qi to
continue absorbing the sacred dragon blessing from the Dragon’s Resentment Poison, before he raised
his head and looked towards the depths of the white jade plaza.
The mists there suddenly dissipated, revealing a little stone path.
Zhou Yuan fell into thought for a brief moment, before lifting his leg, walking towards the little stone
path.
1072
He wanted to see exactly what kind of blessing he could obtain after all the painstaking effort it had taken
to come all the way here.
...
The Great Wu Empire.
In a great hall where numerous officials discussed matters of the state.
A figure in dragon robes was seated on the king’s seat. A powerful aura of dignity spread from his body,
giving rise to respect in anyone who felt it.
Genesis Qi faintly converged above his head, seemingly forming a cloud for which Genesis Qi light shines
down.
He was a middle-aged man with a stern and dignified face. Those eyes however were somewhat sunken,
making him appear extremely cold.
This individual was the king of the Great Wu Empire, king Wu!
At this current moment, his eyes were slightly closed as he listened to the reports of his ministers.
All of a sudden, king Wu's eyes opened and looked outside the great hall. The roar of a dragon suddenly
sounded in the sky above the royal palace as the Genesis Qi in the area began to descend into chaos.
The land shook as disorder began washing over the royal palace.
King Wu's expression immediately turned rather grim and stormy. Light surfaced in his eyes as he looked
towards the sky outside the palace which was originally occupied by the presences of a dragon and
phoenix.
These two presences swirled around the royal palace, and represented the country blessing of the Great
Wu Empire.
At this current moment, the phoenix QI was still present, but the dragon QI was rapidly dimming at an
alarming speed.
"Some dragon Qi has been lost?!"
King Wu abruptly stood up, his expression changing drastically as he said in disbelief, "Something has
happened to Huang'er?!"
"The Genesis Qi of the land shifting towards the east!"
"The east… that's towards the Great Zhou Empire!"
1073
The expression in king Wu's eyes turned extremely terrifying. "Well done Great Zhou Empire, looks like
you can't even die in peace!."
Although he did know exactly what had happened, the country blessing they lost had clearly moved
towards the Great Zhou Empire, causing the Genesis Qi of the land to shift towards the east.
He suddenly looked towards his officials and sternly commanded, "Quick, immediately send men to the
Saint Remains Domain and find the crown prince. They must ensure his safety!"
...
The Great Zhou Empire.
In the royal palace, Zhou Qing was accompanying Qin Yu for a stroll in the flower park. His footsteps
suddenly paused, somewhat bewildered as he lifted his head in uncertainty.
Genesis Qi surged in his eyes, and he immediately saw a peculiar presence appear out of nowhere with a
sudden surge of Qi. The presence flew about for a moment before making itself comfortable, taking on the
shape of a dragon.
At this moment, the Genesis Qi in the entire Great Zhou Empire seemed to become a little more lively and
robust.
Zhou Qing was stunned and involuntarily cried out, "This, this is a country blessing?!"
Back in its golden age, the Great Zhou Empire naturally possessed a country blessing. It was only later on
after the Wu clan's rebellion, when the Great Zhou Empire had weakened that its country blessing
dissipated substantially, the tiny bit left bitterly persevering.
Who could have imagined that it would appear again today?!
Zhou Qing blankly stared at this scene. Moments later, his eyes reddened as he said in a trembling voice,
"It's Yuan'er!"
"Yuan'er must have taken back the sacred dragon blessing!"
"Yuan'er was headed for the Saint Remains Domain. He must have encountered Wu Huang and taken
back a portion of the sacred dragon blessing from him!"
Zhou Qing was quickly able to make some conjectures. Still a little in disbelief, he grabbed Qin Yu's hand
and excitedly said, "Yuan'er must have defeated Wu Huang!"
"It that true?!"
1074
Qin Yu also found this unbelievable, but was so overjoyed that tears began gathering in her eyes. She had
been worrying about Zhou Yuan ever since he had left. After all, only the elite geniuses journeyed to the
Saint Remains Domain, and Zhou Yuan was undoubtedly lacking somewhat compared to them.
However, she had just heard that he had defeated Wu Huang...
Zhou Qing forcefully nodded his head. “Or else the country guardian dragon Qi would not possibly appear
in the Great Zhou Empire!”
He could not help but laugh heartily, those usually tiger like eyes now flooding with uncontrollable tears.
“Excellent! Excellent! Let’s see who still dares to say our Yuan’er is the crippled dragon of the Zhou clan!”
For the past few years, he had been under tremendous pressure from king Wu and the Great Wu Empire.
He had painstakingly tried to hold the Great Zhou Empire together, but each day was filled with darkness,
not the slightest ray of hope to be seen.
In addition, Zhou Qing’s failure to protect Zhou Yuan and allow such a calamity to befall him at his birth
was something Zhou Qing deeply reproached himself for.
All till now...
He raised his head and looked towards the direction of the Great Wu Empire, as if seeing king Wu’s
enraged appearance.
“King Wu… you believed that taking my son’s sacred dragon blessing would plummet him into an endless
abyss…”
“You believed that you had already won, right?”
“However, it seems…”
“That you still haven’t won completely!”
“And my Great Zhou has not lost completely either!”
...
An old, ancient hall sat on a certain mountain peak, mists swirling around it.
In a pavilion within, a young lady in purple opened her long and narrow eyes. Her beautiful face was
peculiarly bewitching, the potential to charm anyone already visible even at such a young age.
Especially her presence, noble and mysterious like a phoenix.
1075
This was clearly the Great Wu Empire’s Wu Yao.
She had just moments ago faintly felt that something had happened.
The young lady indifferently muttered to herself, “Wu Huang… I told you that you will sooner or later lose
due to your pride and arrogance.”
She was Wu Huang’s twin, and had also obtained a portion of the sacred dragon blessing which naturally
allowed her to sense the changes in it.
Evidently, Wu Huang had lost.
Moreover, he had lost to the so-called crippled dragon from the Great Zhou Empire.
However, Wu Yao did not really feel anything towards Wu Huang’s loss and the subsequent seizure of the
sacred dragon blessing.
Because she was a cold and aloof person.
In addition, she could detect the abnormal love Wu Huang had towards her, something that she was not
fond of at all.
"Zhou Yuan…"
She softly said his name. Soon after, a bewitching smile rose from the corners of her red lips as she softly
said, “It seems that you truly are that sacred dragon. Even after falling into a dark abyss, you still
managed to crawl back out…”
Her gaze lifted slightly, as if piercing through space to see a certain figure in Cangxuan Heaven.
“I know that you want to take back all of the sacred dragon blessing, right? What a coincidence. The truth
is that I too plan on enjoying the blessing alone…”
Wu Yao’s slender fingers gently lifted the fine black hair that hung over her cheek, her dignified looking
eyes slowly closing as a faint voice seemed to sound.
“Zhou Yuan, keep on growing even stronger… because the day we eventually meet will be the day I
devour you…”
“You should take care. After all, I am not an idiot like Wu Huang…”
“Heehee…”
1076
Chapter 200 Difference in Treatment
Faint mists swirled in the vicinity of the small cobbled path on which Zhou Yuan cautiously advanced.
After several minutes, the view before his eyes gradually expanded as a stone pavilion appeared in his
sights.
Zhou Yuan approached the pavilion, only to be stunned. To his surprise, there was already someone
inside.
In the stone pavilion, a beautiful figure in white leaned against a stone chair. Her white clothes outlined
her slender curves, fine black hair hanging downwards, a bottle in one hand and a cup in the other as she
leisurely poured for herself and drank.
Zhou Yuan’s gaze paused on the beautiful figure’s face. the corners of his mouth immediately beginning to
twitch.
“Yaoyao?!”
Zhou Yuan’s eyes nearly popped out from their sockets.
Zhou Yuan could not help but ask, “You! Why are you here?!”
Yaoyao lifted her gaze, looking towards Zhou Yuan as she softly chuckled. “Ha, not bad. I did not expect
you to be the ultimate winner… this has truly surpassed my expectations.”
Yaoyao cocked her head as she smiled and continued, “I too do not know how I arrived here. When the
green flood descended, I was picked up and sent here.”
Zhou Yuan’s face practically turned green with indignation. He had fought nail and tooth,
In contrast, Yaoyao had done nothing at all, but she was still able to reach this place earlier than him!
Even with his mental fortitude, Zhou Yuan could not help but feel a little shattered by this difference in
treatment. How could the gap between two people be so tremendous?
"How is this fair!" Zhou Yuan walked into the pavilion, snatching the cup in Yaoyao's hand and downing it
in one fluid motion.
Yaoyao stared at the cup in Zhou Yuan's hand which she had been drinking from earlier. Her eyes
immediately narrowed dangerously as she asked with a slight smile, "Zhou Yuan, do you want to die?"
Upon hearing her danger laced tone, Zhou Yuan instantly understood and hastily put down the cup as he
awkwardly said, "I'm seriously injured, and any little knock might kill me. Please don't be rash."
1077
Yaoyao rolled her eyes at him and snatched back the cup. If an outsider dared to do what Zhou Yuan had
just done, she would have blasted him to ashes with a hundred Genesis Rune scrolls long ago.
Zhou Yuan hurriedly tried to change the topic with a smile, “Big sis Yaoyao, what is this place? Isn’t there
suppose to be a blessing here?”
Yaoyao stretched her back, exposing her proud, soul-stirring curves as she lazily said, “No idea. I’ve been
sitting here drinking for most of the day and haven’t gotten a look around.”
Zhou Yuan was speechless. Others would be willing to even throw away their lives just to vie for the
blessing, while this Yaoyao was gifted with a headstart but barely showed any interest. In her eyes,
finding the blessing was clearly ranked much lower than finding good alcohol.
“I was waiting here to see who would eventually come in. If it was Wu Huang or Ye Ming, it would mean
that you failed, and I will help you chase them out.”
Yaoyao’s spirited and clear eyes stared at Zhou Yuan with some surprise as she continued, “However, I
did not expect that you would actually make it… meaning Wu Huang lost to you?”
A slight warmth flowed in Zhou Yuan’s heart when he heard this. So the main reason why Yaoyao had
stayed here was because of him.
Zhou Yuan calmly said, “Yea, I fought with him, slayed his physical body and snatched back a portion of
the sacred dragon blessing. Unfortunately, his Spirit escaped.”
“Tch tch.”
Yaoyao placed a hand on her sharp snow-white chin as she smiled and said, “Such an outcome is indeed
somewhat out of my expectations.
Her eyes swept across Zhou Yuan’s face, seemingly smiling as she said, “Why are you acting so calm,
you’re clearly very pleased with yourself, right?”
The corners of Zhou Yuan’s mouth twitched in embarrassment.
Yaoyao’s fine crystal-like nails gently tapped the jade bottle. “But it is a feat you should be pleased about.
Even I never expected you to reach so far.”
Zhou Yuan was surprised. “You’re praising me?”
Yaoyao extended a hand and gently rubbed Zhou Yuan’s head as she earnestly said, “You have potential
little boy.”
Zhou Yuan’s face turned black with anger as he lightly smacked away her hand.
1078
“As for his Spirit escaping, it doesn’t sound like it will be a problem because he has already lost his best
chance.” Said Yaoyao with a chuckle.
Zhou Yuan nodded, an additional trace of confidence on his calm face as he said, “I’ve already slayed him
once, and will naturally be able to kill him a second time. He won’t be so lucky next time.”
In the past, he had lagged far behind Wu Huang, making it the most dangerous period for him. Even so, he
had managed to persist through this period.
It was as Yaoyao said. Wu Huang had lost his best chance.
And such a chance would not appear again
Yaoyao rose to her feet, her black hair swinging past Zhou Yuan's face along with a whiff of tranquil
fragrance. She lifted her perfect, unblemished face, light shining upon it as she peered into the distance
and said in an unenthusiastic voice, "Hai, since we're here, let's head further in and see what's here."
Zhou Yuan's eyes glowed upon hearing this, his eyes filled with impatience. He had suffered all sorts of
hardships in order to come here, all for the sake of the greatest blessing. Hence, compared to Yaoyao's
laziness, his heart was practically leaping from his throat.
The two walked out of the stone pavilion, heading deeper into the place.
They walked along the cobbled mountain path, passing through a dense forest, before their footsteps
finally came to a halt. To their front was a cliff.
Beyond the cliff was seemingly endless swirling mists.
A giant pine tree stood by the edge of the cliff. Under the tree was a white jade stone chair on by which a
figure stood.
"Finally here?"
The moment Yaoyao and Zhou Yuan's eyes fell upon the figure, a gentle and kind voice was transmitted
over.
The figure raised his head. One would see that his jade like skin was just like a baby's. Long hair scattered
behind him, his face was that of a young man. His eyes however seemed to contain an ancientness that
spoke of countless years of experiences.
When Zhou Yuan met his gaze, the former felt an indescribable pressure, pressure that even made his
Spirit tremble faintly.
This made Zhou Yuan understand that the handsome young man before them was an extremely terrifying
existence.
1079
In fact… he was likely the legendary Saint that had died.
Of course, the one before them was likely just a mere fragment of the original.
Even though he was only a fragment, he was still able to make Zhou Yuan feel an indescribable pressure.
After spending some time accustoming themselves to the pressure, Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao approached.
"Elder." Zhou Yuan cupped his fists together, respect on his face.
Yaoyao was still somewhat listless, even unable to stop herself from covering her mouth as she yawned.
The young man merely smiled faintly. He stood up as his gaze swept across Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao, those
bottomless eyes seemingly able to see through all secrets.
He walked over, giving a casual nod in response to Zhou Yuan's respect, before casting his gaze towards
Yaoyao.
He looked at Yaoyao, a long and close look.
In that moment, Zhou Yuan could sense satisfaction and admiration appear in the man's gaze.
He then laughed softly.
"I've finally met you…"
Zhou Yuan was practically on the verge of tears. Come on! I was the one who fought all the way up here
with my abilities. Why is there such a huge difference in treatment?
1080
Chapter 201 Patriarch Cang Xuan
When Zhou Yuan was nearly about to burst into tears due to the difference in treatment, Yaoyao raised
her eyebrows slightly, looking at the mysterious existence that wore the form of a young man and asked,
"You know me?"
The refreshingly handsome young man chuckled, but did not answer her question. "I know Cang Yuan."
"You know master Cang Yuan?" Zhou Yuan was taken aback, some astonishment in his gaze at he looked
towards the young man. "Elder, you are?"
The young man before them seemed to be about the same age as them, but his seemingly bottomless
ancient eyes told them that he was definitely an ancient monster like existence.
The handsome young man fell in thought for a bit, before he smiled and said, "I am the Saint who died…
you may call me patriarch Cang Xuan."
Zhou Yuan secretly remarked in his heart, “As expected, this young man is that legendary Saint.”
“Of course, the current me is merely made from a little Spirit energy. My original body has already died.”
Patriarch Cang Xuan spoke with a faint smile, his expression honest and forthcoming.
“But why is Cang Yuan not by your side?” Asked patriarch Cang Xuan as he looked towards Yaoyao.
Yaoyao's pretty face dimmed slightly. "Grandpa Hei was attacked by mysterious enemies, so he left."
Patriarch Cang Xuan’s eyes widened a little.
“Elder, do you know where I can find grandpa Hei?” Yaoyao’s bright eyes looked towards patriarch Cang
Xuan. She had grown up under Cang Yuan’s care, and treated him as a grandpa. She was naturally worried
about Cang Yuan, but did not know how to find him.
Patriarch Cang Xuan shook his head. “You need not worry for him. The old guy’s pretty capable, and will
naturally seek you out when he feels that it’s safe.”
A trace of disappointmented flitted across Yaoyao’s eyes, before she began to ask another question, “Does
elder know of my roots?”
She had lived with Cang Yuan in the isolated domain since young, and had never come into contact with
the outside world nor knew where she came from.
At the very least, she should have parents, right? Cang Yuan had never mentioned such matters to her,
although Yaoyao did not mind too much.
1081
In addition, there were the mysterious enemies that even grandpa Hei was fearful of. Where had they
come from? She could feel that those people were likely after her.
Patriarch Cang Xuan was silent for a while, before he spoke, “It is not appropriate for me to speak of these
matters, but you will discover the answers for yourself if you find a chance in the future.”
His words were clearly avoiding Yaoyao’s question.
Hence, Yaoyao did not ask any further on the topic.
“Hehe, am I right to say that the two of you have come here searching for my blessing?” Patriarch Cang
Xuan smile widely as he hurriedly shifted the topic.
Yaoyao did not respond, leaving Zhou Yuan no option but to step in. “We were directed here by the Saint
Tablet…”
Patriarch Cang Xuan smiled and said, “Do you want to hear my story?”
Before either of them could reply however, he had already seated himself by the white jade tablet and
summoned two stools from the mist with a wave of his hand, before he warmly said, “Come, have a seat.”
Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao exchange a look, before they sat down.
Patriarch Cang Xuan beamed as he shot a look at Zhou Yuan. “Cang Yuan has good eyes, he’s gotten
himself another pretty decent disciple. Over the years, this is the first time I have seen such a weak
person arrive here.”
Zhou Yuan's face turned black. Was this praise or an insult.
With a faint smile, patriarch Cang Xuan beckoned with his hand, causing the mist to gather. It filled their
surroundings, the surging mists transforming into a screen of sorts.
In the screen, a figure stood in the air. From his appearance, it was patriarch Cang Xuan.
Vast and seemingly endless Genesis Qi surged above patriarch Cang Xuan’s head, covering the heavens. It
was impossible for anyone to imagine how powerful such Genesis Qi was.
However, patriarch Cang Xuan’s expression was extremely grave, while seemingly carrying something in
his arms. At closer inspection, one would find that it looked a little like a baby.
The world in the screen was suddenly torn open at this moment. Endless lightning poured out as if to
destroy the entire world.
From within the endless raging lightning, three rays of light descended, landing at three different
directions around patriarch Cang Xuan. Inside, one would faintly see three figures standing in the air.
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Their bodies gave off a holy, sacred light, and authority that no one was allowed to even question. It felt
as if they were existences that were high and mighty to an indescribable degree, like the gods themselves.
The mere sight of those barely visible figures made Zhou Yuan feel pressure swallow his body, causing his
Spirit to shiver.
An earthshaking battle erupted in the screen. The three godlike figures surrounded and attacked
patriarch Cang Xuan, while he responded in kind. However, patriarch Cang Xuan was not a match for
them in the end.
At the final, critical juncture, patriarch Cang Xuan ripped open space itself and pushed the baby in as his
body was struck by the three godlike figures...
Patriarch Cang Xuan’s body burst apart, transforming into a million rays of light that slowly scattered as
they fell.
The scene playing on the screen ended at this point.
The surroundings of the white jade table was silent. Shock colored Zhou Yuan’s face. Although there were
no sounds from the screen, he could still feel an indescribable pressure. A battle of such proportions was
truly akin to armageddon...
But who were those godlike figures? Why had they attacked patriarch Cang Xuan?
“Do you know who was the baby I was protecting is?” There was a smile on patriarch Cang Xuan’s
youthful face as he looked towards the two.
Before either of them could reply, his gaze paused on Yaoyao’s beautiful face as he said, “You are that
baby.”
Zhou Yuan was stupefied, even his ears buzzing somewhat.
The one patriarch Cang Xuan protected till his death was Yaoyao?
Yaoyao’s hands suddenly clenched tightly, a blank look in her eyes. It was clear that she did not have any
memories about this incident.
“Elder must be joking right? If that baby was big sis Yaoyao, the time doesn’t match up.” Said Zhou Yuan
with some difficulty.
Patriarch Cang Xuan had died over a thousand years ago, while master Cang Yuan said that Yaoyao had
been living with him for about a dozen years in their isolated domain.
Patriarch Cang Xuan chuckled. “She is not ordinary, so you shouldn’t judge her by the logic of ordinary
people. Of course, frankly speaking, her age is indeed not far from your own.”
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Zhou Yuan could not find any words to say. Yaoyao’s identity was indeed shrouded in mystery, while also
involving unimaginably huge matters. Else they would not have come into contact with people like
master Cang Yuan and patriarch Cang Xuan. These were true ancient monster like existences.
Behind all this was likely some sort of conspiracy that extended to the very ends of the sky.
Yaoyao was silent for a long time, before she softly said, “If so… you can be said to be my saviour?”
Patriarch Cang Xuan smiled in a carefree manner.
Yaoyao fell into thought for a while, before suddenly taking out a cup. She then fished out a jade gourd,
filled the cup and offered it to patriarch Cang Xuan. “This cup is thanks towards old mister.”
Although she did not know why, at the end of the day, the person before her had died while saving her. In
addition, Yaoyao could sense that he was not lying.
Patriarch Cang Xuan was stunned for a moment as he stared at the cup before him. Soon after, he
chuckled and said, “I find myself liking this cup of alcohol.”
He held it with both hands and downed it in one swift motion, seemingly wanting to bask in this moment
a little more.
Yaoyao gazed at patriarch Cang Xuan and asked, “Who are the three figures that attacked old mister?
They should be after me, right? And grandpa Hei’s departure is likely also related to them.”
"They are the…"
Patriarch Cang Xuan’s brows seemed to lock together. He was silent for a very long time, before he slowly
spat out two words that seemed to contain an inexplicable presence.
"Sacred race…"
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Chapter 202 Sacred Race
“Sacred race?”
As these two words echoed through the mist, space seemed to ripple faintly. There was no longer any
noise to be heard from their surroundings, as if all things were being suppressed.
From the sight of patriarch Cang Xuan’s gloomy expression, Zhou Yuan could faintly feel the suffocating
feeling from those two words. All of a sudden, he recalled the scenes he had seen in the underground
palace of the Battle Puppet Sect in Black Water.
A long time ago, many powerful sects existed in the vast land of Black Water. Later on however, due to
one of the so-called Sacred race's prided geniuses dying there, they sent down divine punishment,
exterminating every last life form in Black Water...
Heartless and powerful.
This was the only impression Zhou Yuan had towards the Sacred race.
He had thought it would be a long time before he would encounter this entity again, but who could have
expected that he would once again hear of it here...
Zhou Yuan could not help but ask, “What is the Sacred race?”
Yaoyao’s bright eyes also looked towards patriarch Cang Xuan. She had read many ancient texts, but was
unable to find much information regarding the Sacred race.
Patriarch Cang Xuan looked towards the sky with a complicated expression, an expression mixed with
sorrowful hatred and fear.
“At the beginning, before any living had come into existence, the first race to be born from the primal
mass of creation was the Sacred race.”
Patriarch Cang Xuan slowly continued, “The Sacred race was endowed with superior talent, making them
extremely powerful. In ancient times, they were the rulers of the world. Every other race, whether man,
beast, or anything else were enslaved by them, living under their control.
“Later on, the various races rebelled, causing a great war to break out. Only through this were they able to
free themselves from their slave shackles.”
“Even so, the Sacred race still act as if they are better than everyone else, making it forbidden to challenge
or even insult them. Members of the Sacred race have extremely high status, and the other races do not
dare to make enemies of them, allowing them to thread over the races as they please.”
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"Only the inexhaustible human race was able to grow strong on their own and make a place for
themselves in the world. From our tiny beginnings, we struggled and grew, countless honorable
ancestors protecting each generation. By paying a tremendous price, the human race was able to carve a
place for ourselves. Even so, we were still at a disadvantage.”
Patriarch Cang Xuan sighed softly. “Do you know what land we are currently on?"
“Cangxuan Heaven?” Answered Zhou Yuan.
Patriarch Cang Xuan then asked, "What about outside Cangxuan Heaven?"
Zhou Yuan was rather taken aback. Cangxuan Heaven was already vast beyond his view. As for outside
Cangxuan Heaven, how would he know? His current level was far too low after all.
"To be precise, the world we're on is called Tianyuan World. It is composed of nine Heavens, and
Cangxuan Heaven is one of them.
Zhou Yuan was wide-eyed and slack-jawed. Only now did he realise how tiny he was. The seemingly
endless Cangxuan Heaven in his eyes was a mere one of nine...
Just how vast was the entire Tianyuan World?
"Of the nine Heavens, the Sacred race owns four, while the other five are shared by the various races."
Only now did Zhou Yuan truly understand how tyrannical the Sacred race was. To think that a single race
would own nearly half of Tianyuan World.
"Then why is the Sacred race after me?" Yaoyao frowned slightly.
This was clearly the greatest mystery. The Sacred race relentlessly hunted her down, and even a Saint
level expert like patriarch Cang Xuan had been willing to die in order to protect her.
Not to mention grandpa Hei who had also been protecting her all this time.
In response to this question, patriarch Cangxuan was silent for some time, before he said, “I cannot give
you an answer because the implications are far too great. Both of you are still too weak, knowing too
much will only allow you to be more easily found by the great powers of the Sacred race.”
He stared at Yaoyao and Zhou Yuan as he continued, “In the future, when both of you become truly
strong, you will naturally find out.”
Yaoyao gently bit into her red lips in silence.
Patriarch Cang Xuan laughed and began to speak again, “Moreover, you were not the only reason why the
Sacred race attacked me.”
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“I was once the number one expert in Cangxuan Heaven after all, and founder of the Cangxuan Sect. Back
then, my sect was the number one sect in Cangxuan Heaven.”
“Cangxuan Sect huh?” Zhou Yuan’s heart shook slightly. The bare-foot uncle he met in Saint Remains City
seemed to be from the Cangxuan Sect.
He never imagined patriarch Cang Xuan would be the founder and teacher ancestor of the Cangxuan Sect.
Zhou Yuan suddenly asked, “Then what relation does Sacred Palace have to the Sacred race?”
The envoy of Sacred Palace had just come to mind.
In the current Cangxuan Heaven, Sacred Palace was the strongest.
Scorn appeared in patriarch Cangxuan’s eyes when he heard the two words Sacred palace as he sneered,
“What else can they be but the Sacred race’s dogs. After the great war, the various races were freed from
the Sacred race’ enslavement and set-up the Chaos Origin Sacred Killer Array, which restricted the entry
of the apex level experts of the Sacred race into the five great Heavens. However, the Sacred race began to
recruit members of the human race, creating a faction that served them, treated them as gods and did
their bidding.”
“If not for Sacred Palace’s meddling, resulting in a vulnerability in the Chaos Origin Saint Killer Array that
in turn allowed the apex level experts of the Sacred race to descend, I would have long wiped them off the
face of this world!”
At this point, chilling killing intent rose in patriarch Cang Xuan’s eyes.
“Though you were part of the reason why the Sacred race attacked me, the other part is because they
were after the Cangxuan Saint Stamp in my possession.”
“Cangxuan Saint Stamp?” Zhou Yuan blinked. What was it?
A solemn expression emerged on patriarch Cang Xuan’s face as he slowly explained, “When the world was
formed and the nine Heavens took shape, nine objects were born from the source energy. They are
known as the Nine World Stamps, and the Cangxuan Saint Stamp is one of them.”
“The owners of these Saint Stamps are the rulers of each of the Heavens. They are known as the Heaven
Masters!”
“And I was the previous Heaven Master of Cangxuan Heaven!”
Patriarch Cangxuan smiled faintly as he declared this, a rarely seen pride together with a stern, dignified
aura appearing on his youthful handsome face.
“Heaven Master…”
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Zhou Yuan secretly wet his lips. What a domineering title. The master of a Heaven huh. Looks like
patriarch Cangxuan was really damn amazing.
“Sacred Palace schemed to obtain the Cangxuan Saint Stamp to replace me and become the new Heaven
Master of Cangxuan Heaven. Hence why they purposely drew over the apex level Sacred race experts.”
Patriarch Cang Xuan’s eyes were ice-cold.
Zhou Yuan could not help but ask, “Then… did they succeed?”
Patriarch Cang Xuan chuckled. “Although they killed me and divided my Spirit into parts that were sealed,
they underestimated me. The Cangxuan Saint Stamp was also split and scattered by me, so how could
they have succeeded?”
Zhou Yuan breathed a tiny sigh of relief when he heard this. He had no good feelings towards Sacred
Palace. What’s more, the Sacred Palace envoy had secretly tried to help Wu Huang kill him outside the
Saint Remains Domain. Thus, he would naturally be opposed to seeing Sacred Palace flourish.
Patriarch Cang Xuan looked at Zhou Yuan and suddenly said, “Do you know the origins behind the Saint
Rune you obtained?”
Zhou Yuan was stunned, seemingly realising something as his eyes widened. “Could it be?”
Patriarch Cang Xuan smile faintly and slowly nodded his head. However, his voice was akin to thunder
when it landed in Zhou Yuan’s ears, causing him to be shocked into a daze.
“That’s right. The Saint Rune you obtained comes from the Cangxuan Saint Stamp!”
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Chapter 203 Four Saint Runes
“No wonder it’s so amazing.” A long while later, Zhou Yuan gradually returned to his senses as he sighed
in amazement.
This Saint Rune was able to find the vulnerabilities in numerous Genesis techniques, allowing him to
break the opponents techniques with the minimum amount of power. Such an ability was practically
cheating.
In the previous battle with Wu Huang, if not for the Saint Rune’s miraculous power, Zhou Yuan would
have had to pay an even steeper price to obtain victory.
Hence why Zhou Yuan was struck by a sudden flash of understanding when he heard it had originated
from the Cangxuan Saint Stamp.
“This Saint Rune is called the Decoder Saint Rune, and has the ability to find the vulnerabilities in all
things. It’s also one of the four Saint Runes that I split off from the Cangxuan Saint Stamp.” Patriarch
Cangxuan smiled faintly.
“One of the four split off Saint Runes?” Zhou Yuan quickly realised the key words.
Patriarch Cang Xuan nodded as he elaborated, “When I was ambushed by the great powers of the Sacred
race, they tried to take the Cangxuan Saint Stamp I controlled. However, they never imagined that I was
already long prepared for such a scenario. I had sealed the main vessel, while splitting off the four Saint
Runes on it, weakening its power and preventing the Sacred race from finding its location.”
Zhou Yuan licked his lips inside. So there were a total of four of these mysterious Saint Runes.
The Decoder Saint Rune was already so amazing. Zhou Yuan wondered what kind of powers the other
three possessed.
Patriarch Cang Xuan grinned as he gazed at Zhou Yuan, and suddenly said in a serious voice, “Little lad, I
see that you have fantastic talent, and have an important mission for you.”
Zhou Yuan could sense that something was wrong. “Elder, you can’t be thinking of asking me to find the
Cangxuan Saint Stamp, right?”
“Smart lad.” Praised patriarch Cang Xuan.
Zhou Yuan immediately began shaking his head. “Elder you think too highly of me. I’m only a little Heaven
Gate stage practitioner, how can I possibly have the qualifications to even touch such an ultimate
treasure!”
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He was not brain damaged. Sure, the Cangxuan Saint Stamp was an ultimate treasure, but Zhou Yuan
knew that it was also akin to a scalding hot sweet potato. Let alone the Sacred race, even Sacred Palace
was already an unimaginable behemoth in his eyes.
If he were to come to possess the Cangxuan Saint Stamp, and Sacred Palace somehow detected it. The
disaster that followed would definitely be beyond his ability.
“Unambitious brat!”
Patriarch Cang Xuan glared at Zhou Yuan. However, the former was a little surprised that Zhou Yuan was
able to reject him. After all, any ordinary person would have long lost any semblance of rationality after
hearing about this ultimate treasure, only greed left in them as they desperately tried to think of how to
get their hands on it.
In a certain way, he did admire Zhou Yuan for having such rationality.
“Brat, don’t you want to protect her?” Patriarch Cang Xuan shot a glance to the side at Yaoyao.
There was no hesitation in Zhou Yuan’s voice as he answered, “That is my promise to master Cang Yuan.”
Patriarch Cang Xuan merely let out an icy chuckle. ‘But you now know what kind of person she is, right?
Do you dare to provoke her enemies? Do you think the likes of you can protect her?”
Zhou Yuan calmly replied, “I do not know whether I will be able to protect her, but I will do everything in
my power. I promised master Cang Yuan that the only way anyone will be able to hurt her is by stepping
over my corpse.”
By the side, Yaoyao’s bright eyes seem to swirl a little. She cast a casual glance at him as her red lips
curled slightly downwards. “For the past one to two years, I’ve been the one protecting you.”
Although she said so, there was a glimmer of a smile in her pupils.
Zhou Yuan’s face turned red as he tried to explain, “You’ve gotta give me time to grow stronger!”
“That’s a little more like it.” Patriarch Cang Xuan chuckled before he continued, “However, I have to tell
you that if the Cangxuan Saint Stamp lands in the hands of Sacred Palace, the Sacred Palace master would
become the new master of Cangxuan Heaven. When that happens, the range of his senses will grow
beyond your imaginable. In fact… he may even be able to discover Yaoyao.”
“In addition, because you’ve already obtained one of the Saint Runes, the first agenda on the Sacred
Palace master’s list after obtaining the Cangxuan Saint Stamp would be to find the four Saint Runes, and
allow the stamp to regain its full power.”
“And you… will definitely be the first person in his crosshairs.”
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Zhou Yuan’s expression could not help but change. It had clearly yet to strike him that the Sant Rune was
also a scalding hot sweet potato.
“Elder, didn’t you say that the Cangxuan Saint Stamp was sealed by you and no one will be able to find it!”
Patriarch Cang Xuan smiled faintly. “It was indeed sealed by me, but Sacred Palace has never stopped
searching for it. The Sacred Palace master is not useless either, and at this rate, he will be able to sense it
sooner or later.”
Zhou Yuan was speechless.
When patriarch Cang Xuan saw the increasingly pained look on Zhou Yuan’s face, his tone softened
slightly as he said, “Moreover, I don’t intend for you to find the Cangxuan Saint Stamp now. You may first
search for the other three Saint Runes. That way, even if the Cangxuan Saint Stamp really ends up in the
Sacred Palace’s hands, the Sacred Palace master would not be able to become the Heaven Master of
Cangxuan Heaven.”
He shot a sideways glance at Zhou Yuan while he said, “I don’t believe that you aren’t interested in those
three Saint Runes.”
Zhou Yuan wet his lips. It would be a lie to say he wasn’t interested in them. He had already experienced
the amazing ability of the Decoder Saint Rune, and was naturally itching to find out what powers the
other three Saint Runes possessed.
However, Cang Xuan’s words were not wrong either,. The Sacred race clearly wanted to capture Yaoyao,
and as the dogs of the Sacred race, Sacred Palace would definitely become a huge threat to Yaoyao if they
were to obtain the Cangxuan Saint Stamp.
Although he currently did not have the strength to oppose Sacred Palace, he was definitely willing to
secretly create trouble for them, and at the very least prevent them from obtaining the complete
Cangxuan Saint Stamp.
After some thought, Zhou Yuan finally asked, “Then where can I find the other three Saint Runes?”
The current him may not have the qualifications to find the Cangxuan Saint Stamp, but he could search for
the four Saint Runes that had been split off from the Saint Stamp.
Upon seeing that Zhou Yuan was finally on board, patriarch Cang Xuan chuckled and said, “The second
Saint Rune was sealed in the Cangxuan Sect’s Saint Genesis Peak.”
“Cangxuan Sect, Saint Genesis Peak?”
Patriarch Cang Xuan smiled as he nodded. “There are a total of seven peaks in Cangxuan Sect. Every peak
has countless disciples, each with their own jobs and cultivation techniques. The Saint Genesis Peak is
where I used seclude myself.”
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Zhou Yuan said, “Wouldn’t that mean that I’ll have to enter Cangxuan Sect in order to obtain the second
Saint Rune?”
Patriarch Cang Xuan smiled. “Why? Are you not willing? My Cangxuan Sect may not be as powerful as it
was in the past, but it is still one of the strongest sects in Cangxuan Heaven.”
Zhou Yuan chuckled. He was naturally happy to join Cangxuan Sect. After all, he did need a powerful
shield for him to go about his mission. Without a backer, Sacred Palace would be able to do anything they
pleased with him whenever they wanted.
“The Saint Genesis Peak was sealed by me before I died, making it such that no one can enter. After the
two of you enter Cangxuan Sect and pass the peak selection ceremony, you can use my signet to enter the
Saint Genesis Peak, break the seal and reopen it.”
“How troublesome…” The corners of Zhou Yuan’s mouth drew back. “Old man, you’re the founder of
Cangxuan Sect. Can’t we take your signet straight to the sect master and seek permission to enter the
Saint Genesis Peak to find the Saint Rune?”
“No.” Patriarch Cang Xuan slowly said, “The secret of the Saint Runes is too important, and no one in
Cangxuan Sect knows of it. That’s why you cannot reveal it.”
“Moreover…”
Patriarch Cang Xuan was silent for a brief moment, before he said, “I suspect that my death was not solely
because of outsiders…”
Zhou Yuan’s eyes narrowed. Could there be a spy in Cangxuan Sect?
“How dangerous.”
A pained look filled Zhou Yuan’s face. He stared at patriarch Cang Xuan and said in a voice that seemed to
imply something else, “Elder, the task you’ve given is not easy at all. As the saying goes, if you want a
horse to run fast, you’ve got to feed it well…”
When patriarch Cang Xuan saw how openly this fellow dared to ask, he could not help but let out an
exasperated laugh, before he said in a slightly peeved voice, “Don’t worry, you won’t starve to death!”
He extended a hand as golden rays of light gathered towards it, gradually taking the shape of a drop of
golden liquid.
It looked look a drop of golden blood.
The appearance of this golden drop of blood immediately caused wind to blow loudly as endless Genesis
Qi began to surge over.
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“What is it?” Zhou Yuan’s gaze was glued to the golden drop of blood as he swallowed his saliva.
Patriarch Cang Xuan softly chuckled.
“This is what all of you dream of obtaining in the Saint Remains Domain… a drop of my Saint blood.”
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Chapter 204 A Step into Alpha‐Origin
“Saint blood...”
Zhou Yuan’s gaze seemed to boil with excitement as he stared at the drop of golden blood. He could
already feel the boundless Genesis Qi contained within it, the purity level causing his scalp to turn slightly
numb.
How could he not know? Wasn’t the reason why all of the geniuses in the Cangmang Continent gathered
here was for this legendary drop of Saint blood?
This drop of Saint blood held the wonders of a Saint.
It was said that absorbing it would wash one’s bones of impurities and strengthen them. When taken by
practitioners that had yet to open their meridian channels, it would take them past the Channel Opening
stage, and directly to the Qi Nourishing stage. Moreover, their foundations would be unimaginably solid.
However, there was clearly no one who would be willing to use such a valuable thing on someone who
had yet to open any meridian channels...
In addition, the Saint blood could reconstruct one’s foundations. If one encountered problems in one’s
cultivation that led to instability in one’s foundations, the reconstruction process would be able to
perfectly fix these problems.
Most importantly of course, there were numerous marvels contained within the Saint blood, which were
extremely beneficial to one’s future cultivation progress.
Patriarch Cang Xuan seemed to smile on the surface as he looked towards Zhou Yuan and asked, “Brat, is
this enough to fill you?”
Zhou Yuan wiped away the saliva hanging from the corner of his mouth as he made a thumbs-up gesture.
“Patriarch is so generous.”
He then paused for a moment, before he said, “Is there anymore?”
Patriarch Cang Xuan’s handsome youthful face instantly blackened. “You think this is some vegetable you
can bulk buy in the market? Even at my prime, losing a drop of Saint blood will take very long to recover!"
Zhou Yuan let out a dry laugh. "It's a joke, please don’t be angry."
Patriarch Cang Xuan asked in a rather miffed voice, "Then what about the task I want you to do?"
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Zhou Yuan hurriedly said, "Don't worry patriarch, since Sacred Palace is a threat to big sis Yaoyao, they
will naturally be my number one enemy. No matter what, I will not let the other three Saint Runes land in
their hands."
Truthfully speaking, he would still choose to help patriarch Cang Xuan even without any benefits. After
all, in a certain manner of speaking, Sacred Place was indeed a potential threat to Yaoyao.
"Go make your preparations. You'll absorb the Saint blood here since you might not be able to protect
yourself if you leave." Patriarch Cang Xuan softly snorted.
Zhou Yuan nodded upon hearing this. Patriarch Cang Xuan was right. The Saint blood was just too
enticing, and who knows how many factions were already gathered outside the Saint Remains Domain. If
they were to find out that he had a drop of Saint blood, who knew what kind of evil thoughts would rise in
their hearts. He would surely be plagued by an endless amount of trouble.
He sat down under the pine tree, his face filled with anticipation.
Patriarch Cang Xuan flicked his finger, and the golden Saint blood transformed into flash of gold as it shot
out. It rapidly expanded in the air, turning into a viscous golden mist that flowed into Zhou Yuan through
his nose.
Boom!
A loud boom instantly exploded in Zhou Yuan's mind. He felt as if a volcano was erupting in his body.
Scorching golden mist frantically washed through his four limbs and bones like lava.
In his Qi Dwelling, the dark gold Omni Python Qi hissed and began greedily devouring the golden mist.
Viscous golden mist filled every corner of Zhou Yuan's body, slowly seeping into his flesh, blood and
bones...
It this moment, glowing specks of gold began to surface in the blood, flesh and bones within his body.
The Genesis Qi undulations from Zhou Yuan's body steadily rose…
It was not only his Genesis Qi, even the originally dim and feeble Spirit between his brows due to using
Silver Shadow started to recover at an astonishing speed...
The wounds from his earlier battle instantly began to mend.
Moreover, as his Spirit absorbed the golden mist, it began to strengthen, growing more and more
corporeal.
At this very moment, every part of Zhou Yuan's body was undergoing a drastic transformation.
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A young man was seated under a pine tree. Genesis Qi spread from his body, seemingly taking the shape
of a giant python behind him which continuously devoured sliver after sliver of golden mist…
Patriarch Cang Xuan's eyes focused slightly as he glanced at the faint giant python behind Zhou Yuan.
"This Genesis Qi seems to only be grade 5, yet, it seems to contain limitless potential…"
"If I'm not wrong, it should be the legendary Ancestral Dragon Scripture, right?" Patriarch Cang Xuan
looked towards Yaoyao.
Yaoyao gave a slight nod, also staring at Zhou Yuan as she said, "Between the Ancestral Dragon Scripture
and grandpa Hei's Heavenly Yuan Cannon, he chose the former."
"What an ambitious little fellow." Patriarch Cang Xuan chuckled. Ordinary people would not have the
courage to make such a decision. After all, the Ancestral Dragon Scripture is too difficult to cultivate, and
once one steps onto this path, there is no turning back.
Either you become a dragon, or you become a worm.
"I wonder whether his choice is good or bad... " Patriarch Cang Xuan shook his head, an unreadable
expression on his face.
"Let this little guy slowly enjoy the transformation brought by the Saint blood."
Patriarch Cang Xuan waved his sleeve as the mists formed into a go board in front of him. He smiled and
asked, "Do you know how to play go?"
Yaoyao held a piece between her fingers as it made a clear clack on the board.
Yaoyao's bright eyes stared at the go board as she slowly asked, "Why was old mister willing to pay such
a price to protect me?"
Patriarch Cang Xuan let out a long sigh. "For the future of the human race."
Yaoyao's brows furrowed slightly. "Do I really have such ability?"
Patriarch Cang Xuan helplessly responded, "You shouldn't probe me for information. The questions in
your heart will naturally be answered in time. However, if you have a chance in the future, you may head
to Hunyuan Heaven."
"Hunyuan Heaven?" Yaoyao's eyes swirled.
Patriarch Cang Xuan smiled as he nodded. "The strongest Heaven amongst the five great Heavens. It's
where Cang Yuan came from…"
Yaoyao fell a little silent as she gave a faint nod.
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"Thank you old mister."
...
Half a month later.
Genesis Qi surged and churned under the pine tree where the figure of a youth was also silently seated.
Vigorous Genesis Qi trembled around him, causing his clothes to flap without wind.
All of a sudden, his body shook violently as a pillar of Genesis Qi light abruptly shot out from the top of his
head.
Genesis Qi charged into the sky, transforming into the silhouette of a dark gold python. The giant python
hissed at the heavens as it moulted off a layer of dark gold light, the new 'skin' underneath now tinged
with a hint of purple.
At closer inspection, one would see two faint golden little lumps on the giant python's head, while claws
seemed to emerge at its belly area.
Patriarch Cang Xuan and Yaoyao lifted their heads to look at the giant python.
"Oh, the little guy's Genesis Qi has risen to grade 6…"
Yaoyao nodded. "The first signs of dragon horns and claws have appeared, a sign that the python is going
to transform into a serpent. It’s a pity that it isn’t a full transformation, or his Genesis Qi would evolve to
the grade 7 World Subduing Heavenly Serpent Qi.”
Evidently, Zhou Yuan had properly absorbed all of the sacred dragon blessing from Wu Huang, hence
allowing such a huge change to occur to the Omni Python Qi.
From now on, his Omni Python Qi would be at the grade 6 level.
Zhou Yuan’s tightly shut eyes abruptly opened at this moment as a clear whistle sounded from his throat.
Whooh!
The giant python with hints of serpent features swept downwards, transforming into boundless slightly
purplish gold Genesis Qi as it was swallowed back into Zhou Yuan’s abdomen in a single gulp.
Rumble!
The rumbling sound of thunder abruptly boomed inside Zhou Yuan’s body.
He stood up as powerful Genesis Qi undulations erupted from his body like a storm. He was much
stronger than he had been half a month ago!
1097
Zhou Yuan could not help but gasp as he felt the robust Genesis Qi in his body. He had discovered that in
the short period of half a month, he had rose from the mid Heaven Gate stage to the quasi Alpha-Origin
stage!
The true Alpha-Origin stage was now only mere inches away!
It could be said to be reaching the Alpha-Origin in a single step.
1098
Chapter 205 End of the Saint Remains Domain
Saga
By the cliff, under the pine tree.
Unconcealable joy and surprise flooded Zhou Yuan’s face as he felt the robust Genesis Qi in his Qi
Dwelling.
He never expected that a single drop of Saint blood would leap him straight from the mid Heaven Gate
stage to the quasi Alpha-Origin stage. In fact, he was already able to faintly sense a mysterious domain. If
he was not wrong, it should be the rumored Alpha-Origin Heaven.
There were nine levels in the Alpha-Origin Heaven, and each contained ancient Alpha-Origin Qi.
Absorbing this Alpha-Origin Qi would gradually alter one’s Qi Dwelling, causing enormous changes. When
the Qi Dwelling eventually reaches its limit, it would evolve, turning into the Divine Dwelling.
Once the Divine Dwelling was formed, one may step into the Divine Dwelling stage. At which point, one’s
Genesis Qi would become as vast as the clouds, able to cover an area spanning a hundred miles, making it
incomparable to the Alpha-Origin stage.
“Now that I’m already able to sense the existence of the Alpha-Origin Heaven, I only need to enter it to
truly step into the Alpha-Origin stage.” Mumbled Zhou Yuan to himself.
At Zhou Yuan’s original speed, he would need at least a year of tough training in order to reach the quasi
Alpha-Origin stage from the mid Heaven Gate stage. Who could have imagined that he would be able to
achieve the same outcome in half a month.
Most importantly, this jump in cultivation did not make Zhou Yuan’s foundations unstable, but instead
increasingly sturdy and solid.
The wonders of the Saint blood was truly difficult to imagine for ordinary people.
“How is it? Are satisfied with my drop of Saint blood?” While Zhou Yuan was immersed in his joy,
laughter was suddenly heard from the side.
Zhou Yuan raised his head, seeing patriarch Cang Xuan’s handsome smiling face.
“Many thanks to elder for your gift.” Zhou Yuan cupped his hands together with a solemn expression. He
had personally felt the benefits brought by the Saint blood. Not only had it made his foundations even
more stable than before, it also raised his strength. Most importantly of course, there were several
marvels contained within that would perhaps bring him numerous benefits on the future road of his
cultivation journey.
1099
Patriarch Cang Xuan waved his hand and said, “This blessing was won with your own hands.”
Zhou Yuan could see that patriarch Cang Xuan’s seemed to have become much more illusory, likely
because his Genesis Qi was about to be completely exhausted. It was obvious that after giving the drop of
Saint blood to Zhou Yuan, the tiny bit of Spirit energy that patriarch Cang Xuan was composed of would
not last much longer.
“Kid, no need to be sentimental. The purpose of this tiny bit of Spirit energy was to wait for the one I
needed to wait for. Now that my purpose has been fulfilled, it’s naturally time for me to go.” Patriarch
Cang Xuan smiled. “You only need to remember the task I set you.”
Zhou Yuan said in a heavy voice, “Don’t worry elder, I will definitely give my all, and not let the other
three Saint Runes land in Sacred Palace’s hands.”
Patriarch Cang Xuan nodded. “As for the locations of the third and fourth Saint Runes, you will naturally
find out when you obtain the second Saint Rune.”
Evidently, he was leaving out some information as insurance, such that if Zhou Yuan was somehow
caught by some kind of technique or ploy, he would not be able to divulge all of the Saint Rune locations
at once.
Yaoyao rose from the white jade table.
Patriarch Cang Xuan looked at her, before his gaze turned towards Zhou Yuan as his expression gradually
turned serious. “Lastly, I hope that you will be able to properly protect her. Since even Cang Yuan believes
in you, I too believe that you can do it.”
Zhou Yuan solemnly nodded.
He could sense that Yaoyao’s identity had great implications, or legendary figures such as patriarch Cang
Xuan and master Cang Yuan would not place such heavy emphasis upon it.
After patriarch Cang Xuan was done, he waved his head and said, “Go.”
Respect rose in Zhou Yuan’s heart as he gazed at patriarch Cang Xuan’s illusory figure. Zhou Yuan was
still too weak and small now, so he could not understand what exactly patriarch Cang Xuan and the rest
were doing. However, his actions of protecting Yaoyao even at the price of his own life was something
Zhou Yuan respected and admired.
Zhou Yuan bowed to patriarch Cang Xuan, before turning around with Yaoyao, soon disappearing into the
mists.
Patriarch Cang Xuan watched them leave as he sighed meaningfully and mumbled to himself,
“Whether or not the human race will survive the foretold Sacred disaster will depend on them…”
1100
…
When Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao walked out of the mists, they felt the entire world around them begin to
tremble. The two lifted their heads, finding that the sky above the Saint Remains Domain was slowly
splitting open...
Through the crack, a familiar land appeared. It was the area outside the Saint Remains Domain.
Evidently, the path out was being opened.
Swish! Swish!
While the Saint Remains Domain was being opened, countless streaks of light dashed into the sky, like
locusts as they flew towards the crack, making it a rather busy sight.
While Zhou Yuan was cultivating during the past half a month, patriarch Cang Xuan had closed the Saint
Remains Domain. All of the numerous geniuses within were unable to exit, and could only silently wait
here. Fortunately, the Genesis Qi in the Saint Remains Domain was strong and plentiful, so it felt pretty
good to cultivate in here for a while.
Now that Zhou Yuan was done, the Saint Remains Domain was once again opened by patriarch Cang
Xuan.
Swish!
A surge of Genesis Qi light whizzed over, making a beeline for Yaoyao.
Yaoyao stretched out her arms and caught it as the light faded, revealing Tuntun’s figure.
Yaoyao gently stroked Tuntun’s head while it narrowed its eyes and enjoyed the caress, releasing happy
noises from its mouth.
Zhou Yuan’s gaze looked down, feeling somewhat sentimental as he gazed upon the vast, endless Saint
Remains Domain. Before entering, he was practically a nobody in the Cangmang Continent.
However, when he left, it was likely that his name had already shaken the entire Cangmang Continent.
This was not arrogance on his part. The splendid achievements he had racked up along the way were
already enough to make him number one amongst the younger generation of the Cangmang Continent.
Moreover, after receiving the Saint blood’s benefits, he was much stronger compared to half a month ago.
If Zhou Yuan were to encounter Wu Huang again now, the battle would be a little one-sided...
“Let’s go.”
1101
Said Zhou Yuan to Yaoyao before Genesis Qi began to spread, forming a cloud of dark gold beneath their
feet. Genesis Qi soared into the sky, carrying the two towards the crack.
The instant they charged through the crack, the entire world seemed to become wider and bigger.
On the land in the distance, a majestic city was barely visible. It was Saint Remains City.
At this current time, the area outside of the Saint Remains Domain was extremely lively and bustling, a
seemingly unending stream of geniuses flying out...
Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao’s appearance instantly drew countless gazes, every one of them filled with
respect.
The shocking scene of Zhou Yuan defeating Wu Huang was still deeply carved into everyone’s minds.
“Heh, you’re pretty good Zhou Yuan, to think that even Wu Huang was beaten by you!” Two rays of
Genesis Qi light flew over and approached Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao as a lovely laughter was heard. It was
Luluo and Zuoqiu Qingyu.
Luluo’s large eyes blinked as she stared at Zhou Yuan, amazement and astonishment filling her small face.
“How about you?” Asked Zhou Yuan with a chuckle. On the Saint stars, Luluo had met Zhu Ying again.
Luluo answered in a smug manner, “Humph, how can she be my match. I was merely caught off guard the
previous time.”
By the side, Zuoqiu Qingyu’s pretty eyes swirled as she stared at Zhou Yuan with interest and grinned,
“How does it feel? You’re now the number one person amongst the Cangmang Continent’s younger
generation.”
Yaoyao carried Tuntun, her red lips curling slightly as she shot Zuoqiu Qingyu a look. “Then are you still
interested in my earlier proposal?”
Zuoqiu Qingyu stared at Yaoyao’s perfect, unblemished and fair face, unable to resist slipping over and
hooking a hand around Yaoyao’s slender waist as she said in a low voice, “I am indeed a little interested
now, but you’re still the one I’m most interested in. How about the three of us tie the knot?”
Two young ladies, one perfectly beautiful but rather cold and aloof, the other enchantingly bewitching.
When their faces were put side by side, it caused several geniuses to cast somewhat lustful gazes over.
“Get lost.” Yaoyao was expressionless as she reached out and flicked Zuoqiu Qingyu’s forehead, pushing
her away.
The words of this little temptress was really too brazen.
1102
Zhou Yuan was pretty close to them, and was hence able to hear Zuoqiu Qingyu’s words. His entire body
seemed to instantly heat up, his gaze involuntarily sweeping across the two young ladies’ faces.
Yaoyao seemed to sense his gaze, her eyes narrowing slightly as she looked towards him.
Zhou Yuan felt a chill and hurriedly withdrew his eyes, not daring to meet her gaze.
*Cough*!
After the many geniuses left the Saint Remains Domain, a soft cough suddenly rang out across the area,
somehow covering every other noise.
The entire place fell silent.
Every genius watched as six Genesis Qi clouds drifted over from far away. Six figures were seated on each
cloud, powerful Genesis Qi pressure rippling from their bodies.
It was the six envoys.
Upon their arrival, the crowd of geniuses grew nervous. They knew that the end of the Saint Remains
Domain was the start of the selection by the six envoys. Those that they found worthy would be allowed
to enter the six sects to train.
These were the strongest sects in Cangxuan Heaven.
For every genius present, it was akin to a carp leaping through the dragon's gate!
1103
Chapter 206 Entering a Sect
Six clouds of Genesis Qi hovered in the air. Six figures were seated on each one, powerful and vigorous
Genesis Qi spreading from their bodies that intimidated and awed everyone in the area.
In the face of these six Divine Dwelling experts, the numerous geniuses were all extremely respectful, not
daring to show a slightest hint of arrogance as they patiently waited.
Because they knew that these six practically had complete control over the futures of every genius here.
The six sacred sects were the strongest sects in Cangxuan Heaven. As long as one could enter and train
inside, one’s future would be incomparable to staying behind in a continent like theirs. After all, the best
resources and experts of Cangxuan Heaven were gathered in these six sects.
Hence, many people felt that even entering these six sects as an ordinary disciple would be better than
being a genius in the Cangmang Continent.
Zhou Yuan’s gaze also looked towards the six envoys. He had already gained information about the six
sacred sects In the Saint Remains Domain, and now knew that the bare-footed uncle was an envoy of the
Cangxuan Sect.
As for the fair, clean-shaven Zhao Pan that looked like a dishonorable middle-aged man, he was the envoy
of Sacred Palace.
The other four sects were the North Sea Dragon Subduing Hall, Sword Seeker Sect, Heavenly Ghost Sect
and the Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace.
These four great sects were also very famous in Cangxuan Heaven, and were said to be behemoth like
existences.
On one of the clouds, the Sacred Palace envoy, Zhao Pan, swept his cold gaze across the crowd. His gaze
was akin to the edge of a blade, no one daring to meet it.
“Although you are the geniuses of the Cangmang Continent, it will not be so easy to enter our six sacred
sects. You should know that there are millions of continents in Cangxuan Heaven, and the Cangmang
Continent really doesn’t stick out amongst them.”
“The other continents also have all kinds of geniuses of uncountable numbers. Envoys from the six sacred
sects have also been sent to these places to select disciples.”
“Therefore, do not feel so pleased with yourselves just because you performed somewhat decently in the
Saint Remains Domain. If put amongst the entire younger generation of Cangxuan Heaven, none of you
are anything special.”
1104
Zhao Pan’s indifferent voice was akin to a basin of cold water, giving a cold awakening to numerous
geniuses that had originally been under the impression that they had performed pretty well in the Saint
Remains Domain.
Zhou Yuan also frowned slightly. He could feel that Zhao Pan’s frosty gaze seemed to pause on Zhou Yuan
when he spoke, as if these words were directed at the former.
However, Zhou Yuan’s expression did not change, neither showing joy nor anger.
Luluo mumbled in a low voice, “How loathsome.”
Zuoqiu Qingyu glanced at Zhou Yuan and quietly said, “I managed to gather some information earlier. The
one who saved Wu Huang’s Spirit was the Sacred Palace Envoy, Zhao Pan.”
Zhou Yuan’s eyes widened a little as anger flitted across the depths of his eyes. So this fellow was the one
who had ruined things.
If not for that, Zhou Yuan would have been able to kill Wu Huang’s Spirit in the Saint Remains Domain,
bringing a clean end to the matter, unlike the current situation, where there were loose ends.
“Hehe, envoy Zhao Pan need not be so stern. I feel that there are some pretty good seedlings among these
little ones. If we provide guidance and training for them, they may even become pillars that support the
sect in the future.” While the numerous geniuses in the area were completely silent, a laugh suddenly
rang out. If one turned to look, one would discover that the one who had spoken was the currently
smiling envoy of the Cangxuan Sect, Mu Wuji.
“Alright, let’s not waste any more time. Begin the selection process.” The one who spoke this time was a
man in white robes. His face was cold and stern, the Genesis Qi around him extremely sharp, while a
sword lay across his lap.
He was the envoy of the Sword Seeker Sect.
“Those who managed to reach the Saint stairs may take a step forward.” A woman’s kind and gentle voice
sounded. She wore palace robes on which an exquisite pattern of a hundred flowers could be seen. She
was clearly the envoy from the Hundred Flowers Fairy Sect.
At the sound of her voice, a few dozen figures walked out from the crowd of geniuses. They were the
group who had managed to reach the Saint stairs, and included Zhou Yuan, Yaoyao, Luluo and the rest.
What caused Zhou Yuan to be somewhat surprised however, was that Ye Ming was also present, though
the other few were nowhere to be seen.
The six envoys suddenly moved as they gazed upon these three dozen or so geniuses. Genesis Qi swept
forth, transforming into giant hands that barbarically grabbed several individuals and threw them onto
the Genesis Qi clouds behind the envoys, not caring whether these geniuses were willing or not.
1105
Soon, only a handful of figures were left.
They were Zhou Yuan, Yaoyao, Luluo and the other more outstanding geniuses.
“My Sword Seeker Sect lives for the sword, are you willing to join us?” The Sword Seeker Sect envoy first
looked towards Li Chunjun, his voice much gentler, clearly pretty fond of the latter’s talent in the sword.
Li Chunjun gave a slight nod. “I’m willing.”
His original goal was the Sword Seeker Sect after all.
The other geniuses understood upon seeing this. The final few were the envoys’ focus, hence why they
would even voluntarily ask for these individuals’ opinion. Unlike the previous geniuses that had been
casually divided amongst the envoys without caring about what they thought.
Even so, numerous geniuses were still overflowing with envy. After all, they did not even have the
qualifications to be casually divided by the envoys.
The spooky looking man in black robes looked towards Zhen Xu and said, “The King Yama Sect you
previously cultivated at was founded by someone who was once an envoy of the Heavenly Ghost Sect. Are
you willing to enter the Heavenly Ghost Sect?”
Zhen Xu respectfully nodded.
“These two little lasses are not bad. Why not both of you join the Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace?” The
beautiful woman smiled as she looked towards Luluo and Zuoqiu Qingyu.
Luluo and Zuoqiu Qingyu exchanged a look. After seeing that none of the other envoys were going to say
anything, they gracefully bowed to the beautiful woman.
The beautiful woman smiled faintly, before she cast her gaze towards Zhou Yuan’s side at Yaoyao and
said, “I really like this little girl too…”
Although Yaoyao barely had any Genesis Qi, the beautiful woman could see that the former’s Spirit was
extremely powerful. If she were to focus solely on Spirit cultivation, her future accomplishments may be
pretty amazing too.
Mu Wuji coughed and said, “*Cough*, envoy Shang Yu, I believe two is enough.”
The other envoys nodded. The main reason why they had allowed the Hundred Flower Fairy Palace to
take two was because they could not be bothered to compete with a women. After all, the Hundred
Flower Fairy Palace was rather unique, only accepting female disciples.
Upon seeing the other envoys’ objections, the beautiful woman could Shang Yu could only regretfully
shake her head.
1106
The next one was Ning Zhan who entered the North Sea Dragon Subduing Hall.
At this moment, the Sacred Palace envoy, Zhao Pan, suddenly looked towards Ye Ming and said in an
indifferent voice, “Ye Ming, you should enter my Sacred Palace.”
The numerous geniuses in the area began to stir, everyone feeling rather discontent. After all, Ye Ming
was from the Dongxuan Continent, and it already felt against rules for them to come here to participate in
the Cangmang Continent. They never expected that he would still gain the attention of the Sacred Palace
envoy.
However, Zhao Pan did not even give them a single glance, merely looking at Ye Ming.
Ye Ming hesitated slightly, but ultimately nodded his head. Sacred Palace was on the rapid rise in
Cangxuan Heaven, and entering it to train was definitely an excellent choice.
Mu Wuji breathed out smoke, smiling as he glanced at Zhou Yuan, before speaking towards Yaoyao beside
him, “Are you willing to enter my Cangxuan Sect?”
Yaoyao nonchalantly nodded.
As such, only Zhou Yuan was left...
Every gaze in the area looked over. Everyone knew that Zhou Yuan was the most outstanding in this
batch’s Saint Remains Domain.
Sure enough, Mu Wuji smiled and said, “Zhou Yuan, as the only one to reach the peak of Saint mountain in
this batch’s Saint Remains Domain, you may choose to join any sect you wish.”
The world around fell silent, waiting for Zhou Yuan’s answer.
But just as Zhou Yuan was about to speak, the Sacred Palace envoy, Zhao Pan, suddenly intercepted,
“Zhou Yuan, if you enter my Sacred Palace, we will let you off for killing Wu Huang’s physical body.”
“Moreover, you should know that my Sacred Palace is currently the strongest sect in Cangxuan Heaven.
Once you enter, you will naturally receive guidance and tutelage.
Zhao Pan looked down from above at Zhou Yuan, his tone appearing rather proud. From what he could
see, he had already given Zhou Yuan enough face, and even offered the latter an olive branch. If Zhou
Yuan had any brains, he should know what to choose.
The truth was that Zhao Pan had spoken these words not because he thought highly of Zhou Yuan. After
all, it was only a selection from geniuses of a tiny Cangmang Continent. The reason why he had given this
offer was because he knew that Zhou Yuan was very important to Mu Wuji. The former just had to stir up
a little trouble to make things difficult for Mu Wuji.
1107
Sure enough, Mu Wuji’s expression immediately turned rather ugly as he glared at Zhao Pan.
“Heh, let him off? It’s his fault for not being good enough and getting his physical body killed. Just who do
you intend to not let off?” Mu Wuji sneered.
Zhao Pan ignored him, merely continuing to look down at Zhou Yuan.
Gaze after gaze all turned towards Zhou Yuan.
Under the watching eyes of the crowd, Zhou Yuan chuckled and lifted his head to look at Zhao Pan. “I
appreciate envoy’s thoughtfulness, but Sacred Palace’s requirements are too high, and I’m afraid that I
won’t be able to reach them.”
After finishing, he looked towards Mu Wuji and said, “I wish to join the Cangxuan Sect.”
His voice echoed across the area.
Zhao Pan’s expression instantly turned dark and cold, fury appearing in his eyes. A split second later, he
suddenly took a step forward as berserk Genesis Qi pressure swept towards Zhou Yuan.
“Unappreciative thing!”
“Since that is so, let’s have a chat about the matter of killing Wu Huang’s physical body!”
His chilling voice rang out across the area.
1108
Chapter 207 A Single Palm Strike
Rumble!
Boundless and vigorous Genesis Qi ferociously swept out from Zhao Pan’s body like a thunderstorm,
causing the world around him to tremble slightly.
The expressions of the countless geniuses present involuntarily changed. The anger of a Divine Dwelling
expert was not something the likes of them could withstand.
The Genesis Qi pressure charged towards Zhou Yuan, making him feel the brunt of it. In that moment, he
felt as if his body was deep in the sea, terrifying pressure rushing towards him from all directions as if
intending to crush him to a pulp.
The bones all over his body creaked and cracked.
Hsss!
In his Qi Dwelling, the Omni Python Qi let out a hiss in response as it swiftly broke out of his body,
transforming into a giant Genesis Qi python around him to block the frightening pressure.
“Zhao Pan, what do you think you’re doing!”
However, Zhou Yuan did not suffer for long before Mu Wuji’s angry voice was suddenly heard.
Rumble!
Equally powerful and vast Genesis Qi erupted from Mu Wuji’s body, meeting Zhao Pan’s Genesis Qi
pressure head-on.
The stand off between two Divine Dwelling experts immediately made the Genesis Qi in the area show
faint signs of boiling.
Zhao Pan icily said, “Humph, this vicious and merciless kid slayed the physical body of a genius my Sacred
Palace had our attention on. If he is not punished, won’t others look down on my Sacred Palace!”
“Mu Wuji, I advise you to hand over the kid. Or else when I report this to the palace master, my Sacred
Palace may step up to formally demand your Cangxuan Sect to hand him over!”
Cangxuan Sect’s power had been on the decline ever since the death of patriarch Cang Xuan, while Sacred
Palace was akin to a rising sun, even showing signs of soon becoming the number one sect in Cangxuan
Heaven. This was why they had grown increasingly overbearing over the years.
1109
Mu Wuji laughed in extreme anger when he heard this. “Zhao Pan, who the heck do you think you are. Do
you really believe my Cangxuan Sect is afraid of your Sacred Palace?!”
“Such a fate befell Wu Huang because his skills were lacking. Aren’t you afraid of becoming a laughing
stock if you continue to pester us here.”
The other four envoys frowned slightly, evidently also thinking that Zhao Pan was causing trouble for no
reason.
Zhao Pan’s eyes hardened. “It seems that you’re not going to hand him over. If so, I’ll have to take him
myself!”
Rumble!
Magnificent Genesis Qi whizzed out, transforming into a giant hundred feet wide hand that grabbed at
Zhou Yuan.
Mu Wuji coldly snorted as green Genesis Qi rapidly blew out from his nose. Like a giant Genesis Qi chain,
it wrapped around the Genesis Qi hand, binding it and preventing it from descending.
“Green Smoke Dragon Bind technique!”
At the same time, the pipe in Mu Wuji’s hand shook as green smoke rose from it. A split second later, the
smoke seemed to penetrate space, directly appearing in the air around Zhao Pan as it began to coil
around his body.
The green smoke may appear thin and weak, but the surrounding space began to warp and distort when
held in its clutches, as if even a giant dragon would be unable to escape its grasp.
Poof!
However, the moment the green smoke wrapped around Zhao Pan, his body suddenly began to distort. In
the end, his body transformed into a shadow with a poof and slowly faded away.
The moment his figure faded, Zhao Pan’s icy snort rang out. “Humph, I’ve long heard of Mu Wuji’s dragon
bind technique, how can I possibly not be prepared?!”
“Shadow Split technique?” The eyes of the other four envoys widened slightly when they saw this.
It was a rather high level Genesis technique of Sacred Palace. They had not expected Zhao Pan to have
mastered it.
In the sky, the giant Genesis Qi hand Zhao Pan had sent forth earlier suddenly split open, revealing his
true body as his icy gaze locked onto the nearby Zhou Yuan.
1110
“Let’s see who can save you today!”
Zhao Pan transformed into a blur as he shot forward.
The sight of this caused Zhou Yuan's expression to change slightly as a cold look filled his eyes. He never
imagined that Zhao Pan would be so shameless as to use the might of a Divine Dwelling expert to deal
with a younger generation like himself who had only recently touched the Alpha-Origin stage.
"Space Lock Palm!”
Boundless Genesis Qi gathered towards Zhao Pan's outstretched hand, before he suddenly swatted
downwards.
The palm seemed to abruptly enlarged in Zhou Yuan's eyes, covering the entire sky as if blocking off any
escape.
Beside him, Yaoyao's pretty face had turned exceedingly frosty as her chest rose slightly, an indication
that she had truly been angered. A faint glow began to emerge between her brows.
However, it was at this moment that Zhou Yuan suddenly grabbed Yaoyao's cool as jade hand.
He looked towards her ice-cold eyes and faintly shook his head, before reaching out to grab her slender
waist as their figures rapidly backed away. At the same time, the Saint Rune began to spin in his eyes
"Humph, the Space Lock Hand will seal the surrounding space. How can you possibly escape?” Mocked
Zhao Pan, the gaze that looked towards Zhou Yuan akin to a cat toying with a mouse.
Zhou Yuan did not answer. He knew how powerful a Divine Dwelling expert was, and had no intentions of
facing the attack directly. The ancient Saint Rune spun in his eyes, the originally sealed area seemingly
becoming much blurrer.
Several weak points appeared.
Zhou Yuan used Dragon Step as he rapidly retreated.
Huu!
He took a dozen steps back at an angle.
When the final step fell, the sealed area suddenly vanished, the giant sky encompassing hand also
disappearing...
At this moment, Zhao Pan's palm fully landed.
The expression on his face immediately turned rigid as he stared at Zhou Yuan in disbelief.
1111
"Eh?" The other envoys cried out in bewilderment. They clearly knew that no one under the Divine
Dwelling stage could possibly avoid Zhao Pan’s palm, and yet it had just been ingeniously evaded by Zhou
Yuan.
*Uproar*!
The countless geniuses in the area broke into an uproar, shocked gazes looking towards Zhou Yuan.
No one had expected him to survive an attack from a Divine Dwelling stage expert!
Mu Wuji’s figure flew over in a flash, blocking in front of Zhou Yuan. However, the eyes that looked
towards the latter were likewise filled with shock and amazement, evidently unable to understand how
he had avoided Zhao Pan’s palm.
The noises that filled the sky caused Zhao Pan’s face to be interlaced by green and white, before
ultimately transforming into red rage, killing intent spilling from his eyes.
“Bastardly thing, you dare to make a fool out of me. I will not forgive you!”
Howled Zhao Pan, the humiliation he felt turning into extreme rage. It was already shameful for him to
attack Zhou Yuan with the power of the Divine Dwelling stage, while failing to achieve anything with the
attack was akin to adding insult to injury. If news of this spread, it would become a black stain on his
record that would follow him throughout his.
Rumble!
Genesis Qi rose around Mu Wuji, his expression hardening as he gazed upon the now enraged Zhao Pan. It
seems that a battle with the latter was unavoidable.
Rumble!
However, just as Genesis Qi began converging towards the howling Zhao Pan, the world seemed to shake
all of a sudden.
Countless gazes looked over, only to see a vast torrent of light suddenly sweep out from the still open
Saint Remains Domain. It transformed into a giant hand, containing terrifying power as it descended
towards Zhao Pan.
At the same time, a low voice boomed across the area.
"When I died back then, I said that the trash of Sacred Palace will not be allowed near here. You little
piece of shit, who gave you the balls?!"
The voice dazed the numerous geniuses, while the expressions of Mu Wuji and the other envoys rapidly
changed.
1112
The still howling Zhao Pan immediately fell silent, confusion flitting across his face for a split second
before he suddenly seemed to recall something. His complexion instantly turned deathly pale as
indescribable fear flooded out in his eyes.
“Pa… patriarch Cang Xuan?!”
Zhao Pan involuntarily cried out.
In the next instant, he had already turned a hundred and eighty degrees, desperately running away like a
dog that had lost its home.
He knew how terrifying an existence he had offended. Even though that person had already died, his
lingering will remained in the place he had fallen.
Even a mere lingering will was incomparably terrifying to Zhao Pan.
Rumble!
However, the giant hand in the sky continued to descend, ignoring the laws of space as it appeared
behind Zhao Pan.
Boom!
The sky shook violently. Everyone could only watch as Zhao Pan's figure fell like a cannonball, smashing
through mountain after mountain…
In the end, Zhao Pan was buried in a giant pile of rubble…
Countless geniuses were stupefied. No one had expected the ferocious Zhao Pan from a dozen breaths ago
would be thrashed in an instant, no one knowing whether he was dead or alive…
1113
Chapter 208 Before Leaving
The giant hand in the sky gradually dissipated, leaving behind broken mountain after mountain. It looked
as if half of the mountain range had been torn apart…
Countless people stupidly stared at this scene.
Even Zhou Yuan was flabbergasted. He clearly never expected Zhao Pan's actions to incite patriarch Cang
Yuan's remaining power…
"Patriarch…"
Mu Wuji blankly stared at this scene, his lips faintly quivering. His face was overwhelmed with emotion,
while his eyes were filled with reverence.
"Zhao Pan is really unlucky…" The other four envoys secretly shook their heads.
They naturally knew that patriarch Cang Xuan’s death had something to do with Sacred Palace. Hence
why the patriarch hated those from Sacred Palace.
After patriarch Cang Xuan's death, his body transformed into the numerous Saint Remains Domains
littered all over Cangxuan Heaven. If anyone from Sacred Palace got too close, they would incite patriarch
Cang Xuan's power, drawing huge trouble to themselves.
As such, every member of Sacred Palace did not dare to approach any of these Saint Remains Domains.
However, Zhao Pan had not been that close to this Saint Remains Domain, and yet he had somehow still
incited patriarch Cang Xuan's power, causing him to suffer bloodily.
Bang!
Under countless pitying gazes, a pillar of Genesis Qi burst out from the rubble as a figure soared into the
sky, his miserable figure hovering in the air.
The crowd looked over, only to be shocked. Zhao Pan was drenched in blood, his clothes torn and
tattered, while Genesis Qi feebly lingered around him. He had clearly sustained extremely serious
injuries.
Zhao Pan’s entire body trembled uncontrollably, both terrified and angry. How could he ever have
imagined that he would incite patriarch Cang Xuan’s power...
"Blasted! I was clearly pretty far away, why did this still happen?!" Howled Zhao Pan in his heart.
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How could he not know that the Saint Remains Domains did not welcome those from the Sacred Palace
like him. Hence why he had also been maintaining his distance since the beginning, though he somehow
still ended incurring the patriarch’s wrath.
Mu Wuji let out an icy chuckle as he mocked, “Heh, Zhao Pan, it seems that you’re even more loathsome
than others, so loathsome that even patriarch can’t stand the sight of you.”
Zhao Pan’s complexion was steely white with anger, but he no longer dared to show any of the bossiness
from before. The previous blast of power had terrified him silly, and taking another one would likely kill
him on the spot.
Moreover, patriarch Cang Xuan’s fame and reputation was just too great. Even though he was already
dead, the name of the ex number one expert of Cangxuan Heaven still possessed a certain level of
intimidation.
“I’ll not forget what happened today!”
Zhao Pan gnashed his teeth, his venomous gaze looking past Mu Wuji to pause on Zhou Yuan, the killing
intent within so thick that it was practically oozing out. Evidently, he was firmly convinced that Zhou
Yuan was the main reason for his humiliation today.
After leaving these threatening words behind, Zhao Pan no longer had the face to stay even a
microsecond longer. With a wave of his sleeve, Genesis Qi swept out, wrapping around Ye Ming and the
rest as the group began flying towards Saint Remains City.
Hence, what was originally suppose to be a fight between Divine Dwelling experts ended in a pretty
lackluster manner.
Countless geniuses sighed in regret before beginning to scatter. Their expressions were somewhat
disappointed, because only a tiny fraction had ultimately been chosen by the six envoys...
An icy look flitted across the depths of Zhou Yuan’s eyes as he watched Zhao Pan’s leaving figure.
“Zhao Pan right… I too will not forget you. There will come a day when I will give you a proper end to
today’s matter…” Zhou Yuan icily said to in his heart.
The current him was not Zhao Pan’s match, but he was pretty good at holding grudges. If there was a
chance in the future, Zhou Yuan would make sure to return everything Zhao Pan had given him today.
Mu Wuji turned around, looked towards Zhou Yuan and remarked with a grin, “I did not expect you to be
so capable…”
He was naturally referring to Zhou Yuan’s earlier feat of avoiding Zhao Pan’s seemingly sure-hit attack.
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Zhou Yuan smiled. Zhao Pan was a Divine Dwelling expert whose strength for surpassed his own. If he
were to face the attack head-on, he would surely be instantly killed. But if it was just dodging, he would
be able to tango for a little while with the power of the Decoder Saint Rune.
Mu Wuji said, “From now on, the two of you can be said to be the entry level disciples of the Cangxuan
Sect…”
“In a few days, I will bring you two out of the Cangmang Continent and head to the Cangxuan Sect.”
“We’re going there directly?” Zhou Yuan was taken aback.
“Relax, I will send someone to your empire to inform your parents.” Said Mu Wuji with a smile.
Zhou Yuan hesitated for a moment as he turned his head towards the north, where the Great Zhou
Empire was located.
“Are you worried about the Great Wu Empire?” Asked Mu Wuji when he saw this. He had evidently found
out pretty much everything with regards to Zhou Yuan.
Zhou Yuan nodded. Although his father had already been freed from the shadow that used to haunt him
and was gradually recovering his strength, it was still not enough to put up a fight against king Wu.
Moreover, the Great Wu Empire’s power far surpassed the Great Zhou Empire.
He had defeated Wu Huang and taken back some of the sacred dragon blessing. Once king Wu found out,
he would definitely be enraged. Zhou Yuan was afraid that king Wu would turn his fury to the Great Zhou
Empire, and the former did not wish to see a broken Great Zhou when he returned.
“I wonder how things are progressing with the Battle Puppet Sect ruins. Once we convert every puppet,
the Great Zhou Empire's power would surely grow tremendously. When that happens, we may not need
to overly fear the Great Wu Empire." Thought Zhou Yuan.
My Wuji took a puff of his pipe and said, "I will send someone to keep an eye on the Great Wu Empire, so
you need not worry too much."
He then looked at Zhou Yuan. "Besides this, you should also know that king Wu is pretty strong, and has
likely reached the Divine Dwelling stage. Your Great Zhou Empire on the other hand doesn't have a single
practitioner at this level."
“A single Divine Dwelling expert is enough to change everything.”
"If you want your empire to possess the power to contend with the Great Wu Empire, you'll need power
that matches the Divine Dwelling stage…"
"The Cangxuan Sect is one of the strongest sects in Cangxuan Heaven. Only there will you be able to truly
spread your wings and grow to become a true powerhouse."
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"That's why you need to grasp this chance."
After hearing Mu Wuji's sincere advice, Zhou Yuan gave a slight nod. He naturally understood that only by
entering the Cangxuan Sect would he be able to truly bring out his talent.
The Cangmang Continent was just too small for him, and staying here would instead limit his growth.
Even the most talented eagle would ultimately descend into mediocrity if trapped in a cage.
"I know…" Zhou Yuan nodded, his hands slowly clenching as he peered into the distance.
"Father, mother… although I can't bear to leave you, as the saying goes, an eagle will one day have to
leave its nest. But don't worry, when I return to the Great Zhou Empire…"
"I will personally take back everything our Great Zhou Empire has lost!"
“So… you must wait for my return!”
1117
Chapter 209 Cangxuan Blessings, Shengzhou
60%
Within a study in the Great Zhou royal palace.
Zhou Qing was seated at his desk with Qin Yu by his side. In front of them stood Wei Canglan, Wei
Qingqing and the Black Venom King with their hands behind their backs.
There was a golden slip of paper in Zhou Qing's hand. His expression was somewhat complicated as he
touched it and said, "An envoy from the Cangxuan Sect paid us a visit earlier."
The words Cangxuan Sect caused the expressions of everyone present to tremble.
They clearly understood what these words represented. That one of the overlords of Cangxuan Heaven,
an existence that made the Great Zhou Empire look akin to an ant.
Alpha-Origin practitioners were basically the most elite battle force in the Great Zhou Empire, but when
put in the Cangxuan Sect, they would only be ordinary disciples.
Wei Canglan and the rest were nervous. After all, both sides were nowhere near the same level. If the
Cangxuan Sect wanted to do anything to the Great Zhou Empire, they would not even have the
qualifications to resist.
The sight of their expressions made Zhou Qing chuckle for a moment, before he said, "No need to be so
nervous, the letter says that Yuan'er has distinguished himself from the numerous geniuses in the Saint
Remains Domain, and has been recruited into the Cangxuan Sect. He is now likely already on his way
there.”
These words stunned Wei Canglan and the Black Venom King. Soon after, they could not help but sigh in
amazement.
“His highness truly is a genius blessed by the heavens. I can’t believe that he has joined the Cangxuan
Sect!” Wei Canglan was rather taken aback, his heart filled with admiration. They clearly understood how
bright Zhou Yuan’s future would be after joining the Cangxuan Sect.
By the side, Wei Qingqing’s eyes also rippled, a little emotional as she recalled their first encounter. The
first time she had seen Zhou Yuan in Canglan Country, he had still appeared rather immature though his
worth was gradually being revealed.
How could she have imagined, that the one she had once believed to have cheated his way to first place in
the class ranking exam, would in a short span of a year, reach such giddying heights.
1118
Zhou Yuan’s name had long since spread across the entire Cangmang Continent… everyone knew the epic
of how the prince of Great Zhou had, with his Heaven Gate stage strength, defeated the Alpha-Origin
prince of Great Wu, Wu Huang, in the Saint Remains Domain, becoming the number one individual
amongst the Cangmang Continent’s younger generation...
And now, Zhou Yuan had stepped through the doors of the Cangxuan Sect like a carp jumping through the
dragon’s gate. It was becoming more and more difficult to imagine how dazzling the young man would be
when they met again.
“His highness truly is a sacred dragon.” Sighed the Black Venom King.
He had no choice but to acknowledge Zhou Yuan’s battle accomplishments. From what he could see, even
he may not be able to achieve victory against Zhou Yuan now.
The immature young man he had encountered in Blackwater had already begun to surpass him.
Their words made Zhou Qing grin widely, a smile filled with pride.
Zhou Qing said, “On the letter, Yuan’er told us to be a little more careful of the Great Wu Empire,
especially the now angered king Wu.”
Wei Canglang cupped his fists together and said, “Don’t worry your majesty, I have already sent the
majority of our forces to the border to keep a tight eye on any activity from the Great Wu Empire.”
Zhou Qing nodded. He then looked towards the Black Venom King and inquired, “How is the progress at
the Battle Puppet Sect ruins?”
“We’ve already discovered five Alpha-Origin battle puppets, and the number of Heaven Gate puppets has
reached the hundreds, and we foresee even more in the future.”
Zhou Qing nodded his head in satisfaction. Five Alpha-Origin battle puppets and several hundred Heaven
Gate battle puppets was a powerful force. Such a force would undoubtedly greatly boost the Great Zhou
Empire’s might, making it such that the Great Wu Empire would not be able to achieve anything
significant unless they used all of their forces to attack.
The Great Wu Empire’s forces were currently tied up, making them unable to do so.
“Great. It’s been hard one everyone. The Great Zhou Empire needs to conceal our strength and bide for
time as we accumulate power. I believe that the day will eventually come when the Great Zhou Empire
will regain our former glory!” Said Zhou Qing with a faint smile.
From Zhou Qing’s expression, Wei Canglan and the Black Venom King could sense the former’s growing
kingly dignity. A change that could be attributed to removing the shadow in his heart and the gradual
recovery of his strength.
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A complicated expression rose on Wei Canglan’s face. The Great Zhou Empire was no longer depressing
and waning like before, but instead filled with a certain drive as it steadily grew...
It seemed as if everything had begun to change when their prince found his eight meridian channels and
began to cultivate.
The face of a gentle and calm youth surfaced in Wei Canglan’s mind as he sighed in his heart. “The Zhou
clan does indeed have a sacred dragon.”
After a brief discussion, Wei Canglan and the rest withdrew, leaving Zhou Qing and Qin Yu behind.
The smile on Zhou Qing’s face faded, his fingers feeling the golden paper in his hand as he softly sighed. “I
wonder when Yuan’er will return…”
Qin Yu’s eyes were slightly red. She was the most pained and unwilling to see her son go so far away.
“But don’t worry Yuan’er. Father may not be as capable as you, but I will do all I can to protect the Great
Zhou Empire and ease your worries. You only need to concentrate on your cultivation in the Cangxuan
Sect.” Zhou Qing raised his head, his expression turning a little grim as his gaze penetrated the window
and looked towards the direction of the Great Wu Empire.
King Wu was a giant mountain that loomed over the entire Great Zhou Empire...
Zhou Qing knew that the former had already stepped into the Divine Dwelling stage, wielding power that
far surpassed his own.
“King Wu, you are indeed an outstanding individual… on this point I admit that I am inferior to you.”
"However, you've made one fatal mistake."
“That is… you’ve overly underestimated the sacred dragon of my Zhou clan!”
"So what if you've reached the Divine Dwelling stage…"
“When the sacred dragon of my Zhou clan returns, it will be time for your Wu clan to pay its debts!”
High up in the sky.
The clouds were suddenly torn open as a giant shadow zoomed past. The shadow cleanly cut layer after
layer of cloud into two, its speed as fast as a shooting star.
At closer inspection, one would discover that it was a giant boat. Countless ancient patterns had been
carved into the boat’s body, giving off magnificent Genesis Qi undulations.
1120
The boat was known as a Sky Breaker Shuttle.
It was a Genesis treasure used for rapid long distance travelling, and boasted extremely high speeds. In
addition, it could withstand numerous natural elements, allowing it to travel freely.
On the giant boat was a beautiful hundred flowers pattern, indicating that it belonged to the Hundred
Flowers Fairy Palace.
The passengers on board were the six envoys and the chosen geniuses from the Cangmang Continent.
The Cangmang Continent was extremely far from the continent where the six sacred sects were situated,
and not all the continents along the way were equipped with teleportation arrays. Therefore, the only
option was to travel through these continents. However, there were strong astral winds between the
continents, which could only be crossed by a vessel such as the Sky Breaker Shuttle. Trying to cross
without one was extremely exhausting, and not a feat that ordinary people would be capable of.
Given the cultivation of Zhou Yuan and the rest, they clearly did not possess the qualifications to cross
between continents.
On a certain level on the giant boat.
Mu Wuji was seated crossed-legged as he puffed his pipe. Before him were Zhou Yuan, Yaoyao, and the
other dozen or so geniuses that had been chosen to enter the Cangxuan Sect.
Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao were seated at the front, clearly the leaders of the group.
In the small group behind them was a familiar figure. It was the junior city lord of Saint Remains City,
Xiao Tianxuan...
At the very beginning, Zhou Yuan had been rather astonished that Xiao Tianxuan had managed to enter
the Cangxuan Sect. Later on, Mu Wuji explained that he had given his permission because the city lord
had personally pleaded.
Although Zhou Yuan was not really fond of the guy who had given him quite a bit of trouble in the Saint
Remains Domain, he did not make things difficult. After all, following Zhou Yuan’s rise in strength, Xiao
Tianxuan was no longer a threat.
Xiao Tianxuan was a smart individual, and knew that his status as junior city lord was useless here.
Hence, he was much more well-behaved on their journey, as if afraid that Zhou Yuan would target him.
"At our current speed, we should reach the Shengzhou Continent in a month…"
“Do all of you know of the Shengzhou Continent?” Mu Wuji felt that it was a good time to teach these little
ones some common knowledge.
1121
Everyone shook their heads.
Mu Wuji sighed and began to explain, “The Shengzhou Continent is the number one continent in
Cangxuan Heaven. Legend says all of the other continents in Cangxuan Heaven were split off from
Shengzhou Continent.”
“Hence, if one were to say that the total blessings of Cangxuan Heaven was ten, the Shengzhou Continent
would be blessed with sixty percent. That’s why it has been called the gathering place of Genesis Qi…”
“The Shengzhou Continent’s vastness is far beyond your imagination, and every one of the six sacred
sects have been established there. Although we six sacred sects are the strongest factions in Shengzhou
Continent, there exists several sects with ancient roots and strong foundations that are not to be
underestimated.”
After spending a good part of the day talking, Mu Wuji took one final puff of smoke, before he glanced at
the group and slowly said, "Besides all this, there is something I should tell all of you. Although you guys
were selected by me, it does not mean that you will be able to truly become disciples of the Cangxuan
Sect."
These words caused everyone's expression to freeze for a moment.
"There are millions of continents in Cangxuan Heaven, and the geniuses of these continents will also be
selected by the Cangxuan Sect. At the end of the day, the number of new disciples will likely be over ten
thousand…"
"These individuals are the same as yourselves, each one an outstanding elite in their respective
continents."
"After you guys arrive at the Cangxuan Sect, all of the new disciples will have three months to acclimatise
and train. After which will be the peak selection ceremony. And only by passing the peak selection
ceremony would you be allowed to enter one of the seven peaks, and formally become disciples of the
Cangxuan Sect."
"About half of the participants will be eliminated during the peak selection ceremony. In other words,
likely half or even more of you guys will be eliminated. These individuals can only become recorded
disciples which may only train outside the peaks. Only after making sufficient contributions will they be
permitted to join the seven peaks…"
Upon hearing these words, even Zhou Yuan's eyes widened slightly. To think that half would be
eliminated… looks like it wasn't so easy to enter the Cangxuan Sect.
1122
Chapter 210 Third Class Disciple
The atmosphere in the room became much heavier in the wake of Mu Wuji’s previous words. The other
geniuses, including Xiao Tianxuan and the rest, had taunt expressions, uncertainty coloring their eyes.
They were indeed the cream of the crop amongst the Cangmang Continent's younger generation, but the
ones they were up against now were also elites in their respective continents. In fact, their competitors
would likely even include the Shengzhou Continent's finest…
Mu Wuji had explained earlier that if Cangxuan Heaven had ten blessings, six would go to the Shengzhou
Continent. From this, one could imagine how much more powerful the geniuses from there would be.
They had left the Cangmang Continent for what they viewed in their hearts as the holy land of cultivation,
their families and clans placing all their hopes upon them. If they failed to become formal disciples, it
would be a huge blow to their confidence.
Mu Wuji swept a look at the group, but did not say anything to console them. The Cangxuan Sect's
standards were exceedingly strict, and not just anyone could become a formal disciple. In between, there
were naturally those who ended up laughing, and those who ended up in tears.
“When you guys reach the Cangxuan Sect, all of the new disciples will be divided into categories; first
class disciples, second class disciples and third class disciples…”
"Is there a difference?" Asked Zhou Yuan.
"Of course there's a difference." Mu Wuji chuckled. “First class disciples will not only be given their own
personal dwellings, but even have a Genesis Rune boundary inscribed in the area, making the Genesis Qi
more abundant and concentrated, far surpassing the dwellings of the other disciples. Staying in such a
place will naturally bring many benefits.”
“In addition, first class disciples will be granted a bag of grade 5 Genesis Food, Heaven Heart Body
Tempering Corn, by the sect every week. Daily consumption will temper the body and speed up Genesis
Qi cultivation. Of course, the other cultivation resources for first class disciples will also exceed the
ordinary disciples.”
“Grade 5 Genesis Food?!”
Zhou Yuan could not help but cry out when he heard these four words as his breathing began to intensify.
One must know that the Fire Spirit Grain Zhou Yuan had spared no effort in obtaining was merely a grade
4 Genesis Food, while the Mysterious Crystal Rice he consumed daily was even lower at grade 2.
1123
Even so, he had benefited substantially from these two Genesis Foods. Though his talent and hard work
were the main factors that contributed to his rapid progress in a short two years, the external factors
such as cultivation resources could not be neglected.
Hence why he was so taken aback when he heard that one could consume grade 5 Genesis Food as daily
meals in the Cangxuan Sect.
He was truly unable to imagine how insanely beneficial long term consumption of the Heaven Heart Body
Tempering Corn would be.
Mu Wuji was all smiles as he looked towards the group, his gaze ultimately pausing on Yaoyao’s beautiful
face. “However, I’m afraid that the only one amongst you guys that can be rated as a first class disciple is
Yaoyao.”
Although Yaoyao had no Genesis Qi, Mu Wuji could sense that the strength of her Spirit had likely reached
the mid Corporeal stage.
“As for you…” Mu Wuji turned towards Zhou Yuan and joked, “Based on your cultivation level alone, I’m
afraid that you won’t even make it to third class disciple…”
However, Mu Wuji knew how overwhelming Zhou Yuan’s battle power was. In a real fight, he may not
lose to those second or third layer Alpha-Origin geniuses. After all, he had already defeated the first layer
Alpha-Origin Wu Huang when he was at the mid Heaven Gate stage.
Zhou Yuan smiled helplessly.
Mu Wuji suddenly said, “Right, take out the token that old mister gave to you.”
Zhou Yuan was momentarily stunned, but quickly understood. He was talking about the old mister that
had taken Su Youwei away.
Zhou Yuan fished out the token from his Universe bag and handed it to Mu Wuji as he curiously asked,
“What use does it have?”
Mu Wuji received the token and chuckled. “With this token, even a cripple will be able to enjoy the first
class disciple treatment.”
These words immediately caused Xiao Tianxuan and the rest to look towards the token with burning
desire and envy.
Zhou Yuan was also somewhat astonished. He never imagined that they would give the old mister so
much face.
1124
“Does teacher uncle Mu know that old mister’s origins? Is he also from the Cangxuan Sect?” Zhou Yuan
could not help but ask. Only after the old guy left did Zhou Yuan realise that after all that talk, the old man
had not even told him where he was bringing Su Youwei!
An act that the old man had obviously done on purpose.
Mu Wuji shook his head. “That old mister is not from the Cangxuan Sect, but from Hunyuan Heaven.”
“Hunyuan Heaven?” Zhou Yuan stunned. By now, he naturally knew that Hunyuan Heaven was the
strongest amongst the five Heavens.
“Doesn’t this mean that Youwei has gone to Hunyuan Heaven?” Zhou Yuan was a little sad. This truly was
akin to being a world apart. He did not know when or where he would see her again.
Mu Wuji’s gaze shifted towards the rest as he said, “That’s why all of you should not have the mindset
that you will be able to smoothly enter the Cangxuan Sect just because you were selected by me. If you
slack off on your training and end up being eliminated, there will be no one to blame but yourselves.”
Mu Wuji’s warning made the hearts of the numerous geniuses shiver. They knew that they had been
taking it too easy recently, and had even slacked off on their cultivation. No one dared to tarry,
immediately acknowledging one after another.
...
A bright moon hung high in the sky.
A giant boat smoothly shot past. Several figures were silently seated around a circular tablet near the
front of the boat. They were Zhou Yuan, Yaoyao, Luluo, Zuoqiu Qingyu, and even Zhen Xu, Lu Chunjun
plus Ning Zhan.
Luluo had originally been the only one Zhou Yuan had called over, but Zuoqiu Qingyu wanted to have a
gathering before they split up in the Shengzhou Continent. To their surprise, even Zhen Xu, Li Chunjun
and the not so familiar Ning Zhan had joined in.
All of them clearly understood that no matter how famous they previously were in the Cangmang
Continent, the halo they used to have would now fade upon reaching the Shengzhou Continent.
Their future paths would have to be forged by themselves. No one knew whether or not they will once
again ascend the peak or return mediocrity.
The three girls talked and laughed at one side, while Zhou Yuan raised his cup and smiled at Li Chunjun.
"I've been wanting to thank you for some time. If not for your help on the Saint stairs, Wu Huang would
have likely taken first place."
1125
On the final leg of the Saint stairs, Li Chunjun had aided Zhou Yuan, allowing him to catch up to Wu Huang
and ascend the peak together.
Li Chunjun's black cloth wrapped eyes 'looked' towards Zhou Yuan as he too raised a cup and emptied it,
before his raspy voice sounded, "It was because only you could do it. Wu Huang is very strong, and I
cannot slay his physical body."
"If you want to thank me, let me use you to polish my sword if there comes a chance in future…"
Zhou Yuan grinned and said in a carefree manner, "I'll accompany you any time."
Ning Zhan's eyes glowed when he heard this, unable to stop himself from saying, "When that time comes,
have a good battle with me too!"
"We can go at it now too." Zhou Yuan chuckled.
Ning Zhan froze a little, shaking his head as he said, "I doubt I'll be able to beat you now. You are even
stronger than when you fought Wu Huang."
Although he was a battle junky, his senses were extremely sharp. Thus, he could tell that Zhou Yuan was a
whole other level compared to when he had fought Wu Huang.
By the side, Zuoqiu Qingyu placed her hand on her chin, smiling as she looked at Zhou Yuan. "Zhou Yuan, I
heard that there are more geniuses in the Shengzhou Continent than fish in the river, almost too many to
count. You’d better not let yourself vanish into the crowd, making it such that I won’t even hear of your
name.”
"So what if you do hear his name, are you going to tell others that he’s the groom you chose?” Luluo
chuckled.
Zuoqiu Qingyu’s eyes swirled in thought, charmingly enchanting as she boldly declared, “If his name truly
does spread in the Shengzhou Continent, I won’t lose out if I tell others that he’s a potential groom I have
my eye on.”
“That’s why, you’ve got to work hard Zhou Yuan.” Zuoqiu Qingyu grinned widely.
There was a faint smile on Zhou Yuan’s face. The truth was that he knew. He knew that everyone was
feeling some pressure after realising the future challenges they will face.
Zuoqiu Qingyu might seem to be teasing him, but under it all, was she not also encouraging him?
Zhou Yuan raised his cup, his gaze sweeping across everyone. After a brief silence, he smiled. “Friends
whom have stood beside me in battle. Although our Cangmang Continent is a tiny place, when we one day
stand at the pinnacle of the Shengzhou Continent’s younger generation, they will know how amazing that
tiny Cangmang Continent actually is.”
1126
“Everyone, I hope to see all of you again at the peak.”
Under the rays of the moon, that young, kindly face wore a calm smile. It was as if an inextinguishable
flame burned in his eyes, a sight that would slightly move anyone’s heart.
When Zuoqiu Qingyu’s glittering eyes gazed at Zhou Yuan in that moment, she was a little surprised that
the usually mild young man would have such an eye raising pride.
Li Chunjun, Ning Zhan and Zhen Xu felt the blood in their bodies stir slightly, before they lifted their cups
and smashed them together.
“Haha, alright then, let’s see how many of us will shake the Shengzhou Continent in a few years!”
The passionate voices of these youth were filled with the carefreeness of the young.
At the top floor on the giant boat, Mu Wuji, the beautiful woman in palace garbs and the other few envoys
seemed to sweep their gazes below, before they exchanged a look and let out a soft chuckle.
“How nice to be young…”
Nearby, there was a sinister look in Zhao Pan’s eyes as a mocking and disdainful smile rose from the
corners of his mouth.
“What a bunch of foolish country bumpkins. When you reach the Shengzhou Continent and see the true
Chosens, you will know how laughable your promise looked today…”
“Don’t worry Zhou Yuan… after I return and report everything to palace master, the Chosens from my
Sacred Palace will likely crush your pitiful confidence to pieces…”
“Hehe, I really look forward to that day.”
1127
Chapter 211 Shen Wanjin
Time swiftly flowed as they traveled, and month unknowingly passed.
On a certain day.
In one of the holding quarters of the ship, Zhou Yuan’s shut eyes suddenly opened, breaking him out of
his cultivation state. He had suddenly sensed some strange activity in the surrounding Genesis Qi which
seemed to be stirring violently.
At the same time, numerous cheers could be heard outside the room.
Zhou Yuan opened the windows and looked outside. The thick layers of clouds were being torn apart as
an extremely distant land began to appear.
His heart trembled slightly when his gaze fell upon it. He could sense an extremely concentrated and
boundless natural Genesis Qi filling the sky above the land.
Its concentration level far surpassed that of any continent Zhou Yuan had visited before.
In addition, the Genesis Qi seemed to slip between various forms and shapes, giving off a spontaneously
unique feeling, as if it was a blessing and right belonging only to them.
Zhou Yuan seemed to realise something as he mumbled to himself, "Is… this the Shengzhou Continent
that enjoys 60% of the entire Cangxuan Heaven's blessings?"
It was indeed vast and practically limitless.
In a place like this, even if two people had similar talent, the one who trained here would achieve far
more than the one in any other continent.
In a certain sense, the entire Shengzhou Continent was basically an indescribably enormous cultivation
paradise…
"No wonder teacher uncle Mu told us the geniuses here would be exceedingly arrogant. If you grew up
here, geniuses from other continents would indeed look like country bumpkins." Zhou Yuan sighed
deeply.
*Knock knock*!
While Zhou Yuan was sighing, the sound of knocking was heard from the door.
1128
Zhou Yuan called out to come in, and the door quickly opened, revealing a round face that smiled
charmingly at Zhou Yuan. "Little Yuan bro, teacher uncle Mu told us to get ready. Once we reach the
Shengzhou Continent, we'll be leaving the boat and heading towards the Cangxuan Sect."
The one at the door was a little fatty. Though a smile was usually present on his face, light often flickered
brightly in his small eyes, an indication of his exceptional brilliance.
The little fatty was called Shen Wanjin, and was also one of the geniuses from the Cangmang Continent.
His Shen clan was an overlord of its own domain, equipped with wealth that could match entire empires.
Of course, this did not mean the little fatty was weak, or he would not have been selected by Mu Wuji.
Ever since Mu Wuji's warning, the Cangmang geniuses had understood that their previous status in their
homeland would no longer be valid in the Shengzhou Continent, making them extremely ordinary
instead.
In fact, they may not even be able to become formal disciples of the Cangxuan Sect.
The cruel reality was a wake up call for everyone. Most of them began to train frantically, hoping to at
least raise their strength a little before reaching the Cangxuan Sect, so as to avoid becoming a third class
disciple and be looked down upon by others.
On the other hand, this little fatty, Shen Wanjin, had chosen the most direct and efficient method; relying
on Zhou Yuan… the little fatty had practically become Zhou Yuan's servant during this period, obediently
abiding his every command.
With regards to this, Zhou Yuan did not know whether to laugh or cry. However, he was pretty surprised
by Shen Wanjin's decisiveness to give everything up just like that. Although he was nothing special to
look at, he was clearly still very talented…
Hence, after trying to dissuade him several times to no avail, Zhou Yuan could no longer be bothered,
letting the former do as he wanted.
After spending some time together over this period, Zhou Yuan found that Shen Wanjin was actually
pretty straight forward. There was no beating about the bush, but instead a direct declaration; big bro,
I’m here to grab ahold of you with all my might. I’m yours from now onwards so please do shelter me.
Towards someone with such a thick skin, there was nothing Zhou Yuan could do but laugh bitterly.
"Alright."
Zhou Yuan smiled and nodded. After tidying up abit, he walked out of the door, heading towards the bow
of the ship with Shen Wanjin.
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As they walked, Zhou Yuan swept a glance at Shen Wanjin and said with a smile, "I say, you're the young
master of the Shen clan after all, and your clan is nothing but stronger than my Great Zhou Empire. Why
is there a need for this?"
If this was the Cangmang Continent, Shen Wanjin would already outclassed him in both status and
background.
Shen Wanjin beamed in response. "Little Yuan bro, do you know what my Shen clan places the most
emphasis on? Two words… good judgement!”
“My clan is fond of making friends, regardless of whether they are strong or weak. That’s why my clan has
the most friends in the Cangmang Continent. As for how to choose those worthy of investing in from
amongst these friends, it would depend on one’s judgement ability.”
“I may be mediocre in every other aspect, but I’m confident in my ability to judge. From what I can see,
you’ll definitely become akin to a fish in water inside the Cangxuan Sect in the future. So I’m choosing to
help you now and create some good karma. Who knows, you may become my most successful investment
in the future.”
Said Shen Wanjin in a pleased manner as he rubbed his fat belly.
“As for myself, Although my cultivation talent is not as good as yours, I do know a thing or two about
business and making money. Little Yuan bro, you only need to be my backer, while I earn the cash, and
then we’ll split the profits. Won’t this be a happy cooperation?”
Upon seeing that he had even written the entire story in his head, Zhou Yuan could only smile and sigh.
What a talent...
However, Zhou Yuan had to admit that he was a little moved by this proposal. He clearly understood just
how important cultivation resources were, and most of the time, one needed to use Genesis crystals to
purchase them.
Now that he had already left the Cangmang Continent, he would have to rely on himself. It was true that
he did not know much about how to make money from money, every bit of Genesis crystals he used
would only deplete his supply. If Shen Wanjin was able to help him earn money to purchase cultivation
resources, it would be a pretty good collaboration.
While the two talked, they soon arrived at the head of the ship, only to find Mu Wuji seated at the very
front, while Yaoyao, Xiao Tianxuan and the rest had already arrived.
Upon seeing Zhou Yuan walk over, the other geniuses cast friendly gazes towards him. They knew that he
would definitely become a first class disciple due to that token of his, making his status higher than their
own. Hence, they needed to create good relations with him as soon as possible.
1130
However, they were evidently unable to be as straightforward as Shen Wanjin, instead still holding on to
some of the aloofness from before.
Zhou Yuan did not display any happiness in response to their friendly gazes, his expression calm and cool
from start to end as he replied everyone with a faint smile. In the end, he walked to Yaoyao’s side.
“Big sis Yaoyao!” Shen Wanjin seemed to bow and scrape in an exaggerated manner.
Yaoyao glanced at him and gave a faint nod.
Besides blindly following Zhou Yuan over this period of time, Shen Wanjin has also engaged his ‘favorable
impression’ attack on Yaoyao. His strategy, attack through her likes.
And what did Yaoyao like? It was naturally high quality alcohol.
Hence, after gifting many rare liquors to her without any regard to cost, Yaoyao finally had a slight
impression of this little fatty. If not, given her character, there would likely be no one else here she would
nod her head to with the exception of Zhou Yuan.
At the head of the boat, Mu Wuji took a puff of his pipe after seeing that everyone was here, before he
unhurriedly said, “In half a day, we will reach the Shengzhou Continent.”
“When that happens, you guys will leave the boat with me and head for the Cangxuan Sect.”
Everyone nodded with solemn expressions.
After speaking , Mu Wuji closed his eyes to rest, while the others seated themselves in silence. Half a day
passed, and a tremor was suddenly felt. They had finally entered the Shengzhou Continent.
Mu Wuji stood up and gave his pipe a shake, causing green smoke to rise. The smoke transformed into a
several dozen feet wide cloud that floated outside the boat.
“Let’s go.”
Mu Wuji moved, appearing on the green cloud.
Zhou Yuan, Yaoyao and the rest also got onto the cloud one after another.
As he stood atop the green cloud, Zhou Yuan lifted his head and gazed at the giant boat, where several
figures were looking towards them from the side of the boat. It was Luluo, Zuoqiu Qingyu, Li Chunjun and
the rest.
“Zhou Yuan, Yaoyao, take care!” Luluo waved her small hands.
1131
Zuoqiu Qingyu laughed enchantingly, before she smiled and said, “Zhou Yuan, I’ll be waiting for the day
your name resounds across the Shengzhou Continent.”
Zhou Yuan cupped his fists together at them and grinned, his eyes lowering slightly as he softly said,
“Everyone, let’s work hard together.”
With a deep breath, he turned around and sat down, giving a little wave with his hand towards the back.
Mu Wuji gave his pipe a tap and the green cloud ferrying everyone shot forth, disappearing into the
horizon in a mere few breaths.
On the cloud, Zhou Yuan’s eyes narrowed slightly, anticipation and excitement surging out within them.
"Cangxuan Sect…"
“I really look forward to it…”
1132
Chapter 212 Entering Cangxuan
A green cloud flitted across the sky with a whoosh.
Zhou Yuan and the rest were seated atop the cloud, their gazes full of curiosity as they observed the vast
land before them. Ever since entering the Shengzhou Continent, they could clearly feel that the Genesis Qi
here far surpassed the Cangmang Continent’s.
Moreover, they could see for themselves how vast the Shengzhou Continent was.
Eight days had passed since they left the hundred flowers boat, every day spent rushing without rest.
They had already lost track of how many cities they had passed, and how many teleportation arrays they
had used, not even knowing how many hundreds and thousands of miles each jump had covered...
Even so, they had yet to reach their destination.
Such vastness really opened their eyes.
All of a sudden, Mu Wuji opened his mouth and said, “We’ll reach the Cangxuan Sect tomorrow.”
These words were akin to pumping a surge of energy through Zhou Yuan and the rest. Although they had
not used any Genesis Qi during the past eight days of travel, it was still a rather tiring affair. Fortunately,
their destination was finally within sight.
As such, a day swiftly passed under an atmosphere of bubbling anticipation.
When the sun rose high into the sky the next day, the resting Zhou Yuan and gang suddenly felt the
surrounding Genesis Qi become stronger. They immediately opened their eyes, and saw mists swirling in
between countless ancient mountain ranges, each giant peak like a titan that could hold up the heavens.
Amongst the giant mountains, one would faintly see countless halls, pavilions and other buildings, the
misty feeling seemingly filled with a celestial aura. Meanwhile, countless figures of light rapidly shuttled
between...
Genesis Runes were faintly discernible high up in the sky. These Genesis Runes were connected to each
other, forming an enormous Genesis Rune boundary. The boundary stretched downwards, covering the
innumerable mountain ranges.
Power that could not be described spread from them. Although they were only slivers and strands, they
gave rise to fear within Zhou Yuan.
The green cloud under Mu Wuji’s feet approached the Genesis Rune boundary. Rays of light shined from
it, as if checking his identity. Moments later, a crack peeled open in the boundary.
1133
Mu Wuji directed the green cloud in. The moment they entered, Zhou Yuan and the rest immediately felt
the world around them become fresher and clearer. Concentrated Genesis Qi flowed into their bodies
along with the air, wave after wave washing through their bodies.
“What a paradise.” Zhou Yuan could not help but praise. Training here would undoubtedly be amazing for
one’s cultivation.
The others curiously asked, “Is this the Cangxuan Sect?”
“This is only the outer mountains of the Cangxuan Sect.” Mu Wuji chuckled. “Only after you guys pass the
peak selection ceremony will you be able to see the Cangxuan Sect’s true face.”
“Next, I’ll bring you guys to the gathering point for the new disciples.”
By the time his words faded, he had already driven the green cloud past several towering mountains.
Dozens of minutes later, their speed began to slow as an extremely magnificent mountain appeared
within their sights.
At the waist of the mountain was a gigantic plaza. A seemingly endless stream of light figures were flying
over from every direction and landing on the plaza, making it appear extremely busy.
When Mu Wuji landed the green cloud on the plaza, a man in Cangxuan Sect’s green robes approached
and welcomed them with a smile, “You’re finally here teacher uncle Mu. Yours is already the last batch of
new disciples.”
“Can’t help it, the Cangmang Continent is just too far.” Mu Wuji waved his hand, before turning his head to
look at the group behind him. “Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao, follow me. The others wait here.”
After finishing, he led the two of them towards a building at the back of the plaza.
“Who is in charge of this new batch of outer mountain disciples?” Along the way, Mu Wuji asked the
Cangxuan Sect disciple that had welcomed them earlier.
“Teacher uncle Chen Yuan from the Thunder Prison Peak.” Answered the disciple.
“Chen Yuan?” Mu Wuji’s brows furrowed slightly, but he did not say anything else.
They passed through the plaza, arriving before the building and pushed the doors open.
“Heheh, I was wondering who it was. So it’s you old Mu. Your efficiency is really not that good, you’re the
last to return this time.”
Zhou Yuan looked over, only to find that the one who had spoken was a thin middle-aged man. Though he
was smiling, there was a feeling of evil intentions behind it.
1134
Mu Wuji retorted, “Want to try going to the Cangmang Continent?”
“How can anyone good come from such a remote place, what’s the point in going.” The man called Chen
Yuan smiled in an insincere manner.
Mu Wuji could not be bothered with him, pointing at Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao as he said, “These two are
the new disciples from the Cangmang Continent. They need two first class disciple quotas.”
Chen Yuan shot a look at the two and frowned, a difficult look emerging on his face as he said. “Old Mu,
you returned too late. The number of new disciples this time has already exceeded the limit. There are
not many first class disciple quotas, and all have them have been reserved in advance.”
Chen Yuan suggested with a wave of his hand, “How about I gave the two of them second class disciple
quotas.”
Mu Wuji’s pipe slammed into the table as he coldly snorted, “Don’t give me that crap. Who doesn’t know
of your methods. Have you secretly exchanged away the first class disciple quotas?”
Chen Yuan’s thin face turned rather ugly. “What are you saying… why not I give this girl a first class quota.
Her Spirit is strong and she does have the qualifications.”
“But…”
He shot a glance at Zhou Yuan, before he continued, “Letting a quasi Alpha-Origin kid get a quota will be
against the rules. You will not have the high ground in this matter even if you escalate it.”
Mu Wuji could not be bothered to reply. Instead, he retrieved the token and tossed it to Chen Yuan.
Chen Yuan caught the token, his eyes widening slightly when he glanced as it and muttered in confusion,
“How can a youngster from a place like the Cangmang Continent possess this?”
Only those who had some relation to their Cangxuan Sect would possess such a token.
Chen Yuan’s gaze flickered for a moment. He looked towards Zhou Yuan and sincerely said, “Little fellow,
I can give you a first class disciple quota, but I should also let you know that the competition between the
new disciples is extremely intense. I feel that you may not be able to hold onto this quota with your quasi
Alpha-Origin strength, and will only become a target for the other disciples. Therefore, I feel that it will be
most appropriate for you to take a second class disciple quota first, and when your strength rises in the
future, I will immediately upgrade you to first class. How does that sound?”
He was clearly intending for Zhou Yuan to voluntarily give up his first class disciple quota.
Zhou Yuan merely chuckled upon hearing this. “Many thanks to teacher uncle for your consideration,
however… I’m not afraid of trouble.”
1135
Chen Yuan’s expression froze for a second, clearly surprised that the mere quasi Alpha-Origin Zhou Yuan
would be so arrogant.
There was some resentment on his face as he helplessly retrieved a booklet and registered Zhou Yuan
and Yaoyao’s information.
“Alright, you can go now. When the new disciples assembly later and the classes are announced, you will
know just how much trouble you brought upon yourself.” Chen Yuan waved his hands to chase them off.
Mu Wuji was clearly at loggerheads with the former. He immediately led the two of them away.
Upon seeing their leaving figures, Chen Yuan threw the booklet onto the table as disdain rose from the
“Foolish kid, you don’t know what’s good for you and refuse to listen to my good advice. Since that is so,
I’ll be waiting to see how many days you will be able to hold on to that first class disciple status…”
1136
Chapter 213 Luo Song
Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao followed Mu Wuji out of the building, before the latter smiled at the two of them
and said, “I’ll have to go hand in my report. You guys will be staying here for the next three months.”
“Many thanks to teacher uncle Mu for receiving us from so far away.” Zhou Yuan solemnly bowed to Mu
Wuji. Although the latter had been tasked by the sect to head to the Cangmang Continent, it could still be
considered as a favor to them.
In addition, Mu Wuji had stood up when the Sacred Palace envoy was being overbearing.
This was why Zhou Yuan heart was filled with good will towards this slovenly barefoot uncle.
By the side, Yaoyao also gave a slight nod. Although she had not conversed much with Mu Wuji, she could
feel that the latter was quite open-minded, and did not treat the new disciples with an air of arrogance.
Overall, he was a pretty decent person.
Mu Wuji waved his hand, smiling as he said, “I’m usually cultivating in the Bleak Sky Peak. If you have any
problems in the future, you may come and find me.”
He shot a glance at the building, before he continued in a low voice, “Chen Yuan and I are pretty much at
each other’s necks all the time. He’s definitely not happy that we made him cough up two first class
disciple quotas.”
“Although he won’t dare to go overboard, the competition between the new disciples will indeed be very
intense. Both of you should take note, those that were selected from the various continents will not be
ordinary individuals.”
“In fact, even in the past batches, there were definitely no lack of first class disciples whom had their
status stolen…”
Mu Wuji cautioned, “However, don’t feel restricted because of this. There’s no need to show any courtesy
to those who come looking for trouble. As long as it’s within the rules, even if the matter blows up all the
way to the sect master, he will give the owner of this token some face.”
Zhou Yuan nodded his head, indicating that he understood the advice.
Mu Wuji spoke a little more, before waving his hands at the two as he rose into the sky on green smoke,
disappearing into the many mountains in the blink of an eye.
As they watched his leaving figure, Zhou Yuan let out a long sigh. He gazed upon the now unfamiliar
surroundings, knowing that he would be staying here for a long period of time.
Because this place would allow him to grow even stronger.
1137
“Let’s go. There’s nothing to be scared of in a mere Cangxuan Sect…” Yaoyao gently rubbed Tuntun, her
red lips parting slightly as she continued, “At the very least, you have me and Tuntun.”
Tuntun opened its eyes and looked at Zhou Yuan as it reached out a paw to pat his arm, as if saying ‘Relax,
I’ll protect you’.
Zhou Yuan could not help but chuckle as a feeling of warmth flowed in his heart. When he thought about
it, Yaoyao and Tuntun had already accompanied him for almost two years...
At the very beginning, however, he was merely a weak youngster that could not even unblock his eight
meridian channels. Now, he had already walked out of the Cangmang Continent, and even entered a
behemoth like the Cangxuan Sect...
Many things had changed during these two years.
But Zhou Yuan also understood that the true challenge had perhaps only just begun. To find a place for
himself in such an enormous sect would likely be harder than he imagined.
Fortunately, he was not alone.
It was as Yaoyao had said, he still had her and Tuntun...
Zhou Yuan raised his head to the sky, light shining down on his youthful face as he smiled a smile of
dazzling confidence.
So what if it was the Cangxuan Sect...
So what if the competition will be intense...
Even the despair from back then had not crushed him, what was now in comparison?
“Let’s go.”
Said Zhou Yuan to Yaoyao, before he took the lead and walked towards the giant bustling plaza.
...
The giant plaza was already flooded by a sea of people. A quick glance would reveal that they were all
pretty young, each individual in high spirits and overflowing with youthful vitality. The atmosphere was
boiling with excitement.
Gathered here were the numerous geniuses from the various continents in Cangxuan Heaven. Even so,
they were still clearly gathered into distinct circles.
1138
The most attention grabbing was the area at the very front of the plaza where groups of all sizes could be
seen. The main similarity was that at the center of each circle was a proud looking young man or lady...
Powerful Genesis Qi spread from their bodies, far surpassing those beside them.
“Over here, little Yuan bro!”
When Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao returned to the plaza, a familiar voice was heard nearby. Shen Wanjin’s eye-
grabbing round body was beckoning at them.
Zhou Yuan walked over.
Behind Shen Wanjin were several figures. They were the Cangxuan Continent geniuses, including Xiao
Tianxuan.
However, at this current time, these illustrious geniuses in the Cangmang Continent had began to appear
a little unnatural. They could sense that the superiority they were originally proud of was now
completely gone.
Practically all of them had turned from a genius to an ordinary person.
It was because of this sudden unease and loss that they involuntarily converged towards Zhou Yuan
when they saw him.
Xiao Tianxuan had a complicated expression as he followed at the very end of the group, not daring to
meet Zhou Yuan’s gaze.
“Little Yuan bro, Cangxuan Sect is amazing indeed. There are over ten thousand new disciples here, each
and every one a genius from the various continents…” Shen Wanjin looked at the surroundings in
amazement.
“I just found out that there will be about a hundred first class disciples in this batch.”
Zhou Yuan was slightly taken aback. A hundred first class disciples? Didn’t that mean that all of these
individuals possessed the strength similar to the third layer Alpha-Origin?
“What an eye opener.” Zhou Yuan sighed inwardly. As expected, he would only be able to see such a grand
line-up here.
However, Zhou Yuan was also pretty astonished that Shen Wanjin could gather such information in such
a short span of time. The latter’s smiling and friendly appearance was indeed a great tool for approaching
and getting friendly with others.
“Within these hundred or so, they must be little Yuan bro and big sis Yaoyao!” Shen Wanjin grinned
widely as he said, “I hope that big brother and big sister will take extra care of your little bro in future.”
1139
Zhou Yuan could not help but chuckle when he heard this. However, just as he was about to speak, a voice
suddenly interjected. “Hehe, how can a quasi Alpha-Origin become a first class disciple. You guys are
treating this matter too lightly.”
The sudden interjection stunned the group. Their gazes turned, and found a figure looking at them
nearby.
It was a slightly handsome young man. He had a smile on his face, while a group crowded around him like
stars to the moon.
Genesis Qi rippled from the young man’s body, revealing that he had reached the second later Alpha-
Origin stage.
When the young man saw Zhou Yuan and gang look over, a carefree smile immediately appeared on his
face. But anyone could see that his eyes were fixed on Yaoyao from start to end.
“I am Luo Song from the Tianqing Continent…” The young man cupped his hands together with a smile.
“We can be said to all be fellow disciples in future, so we should keep an eye out for each other.”
He seemed to offhandedly mention, “I should be rated at a second class disciple this time, and if I work
hard in the future, I should have a chance at becoming a first class disciple.”
Several individuals at the young man’s side began to flatter, “Hehe, getting acquainted with brother Luo is
your fortune.”
They could naturally tell that Luo Song was after Yaoyao. After all, she was far too beautiful, and many
had been trying to find out more about her ever since she had appeared.
However, in response to Luo Song’s slightly thirsty gaze, Yaoyao did not even give him a single glance
from start to end. She merely continued to play with Tuntun.
Zhou Yuan secretly chuckled inside. Luo Song may seem like a kind person on the surface, but the
arrogance in his tone could not be concealed. Hence, Zhou Yuan smiled as he shook his head and said,
“We’re from the Cangmang Continent. As for looking out for each other, there’s really no need.”
Luo Song was clearly stunned that Zhou Yuan had actually rejected him. The former had obviously never
expected that this group would reject him, causing his expression to turn a little rigid.
His followers frowned and said, “What an unappreciative brat.”
“To be recognized by brother Luo is your blessing, don’t be so muddle-headed.”
There were also several pretty good looking young ladies amongst them who disdainfully glanced at Zhou
Yuan. They clearly felt that his actions were not tactful at all. After all, a quasi Alpha-Origin was really too
unremarkable, and had no right to put on airs.
1140
Luo Song let out a dry laugh. He had to show gracefulness in front of a beauty after all. Hence, he waved
his hand and gave Zhou Yuan a deep look as he said, “My friend, this is not the continent you guys lived in
previously, so it would be better for you to behave properly such as to avoid suffering…”
“Hehe, if you guys change your mind in the future, you can always come and find me.”
Zhou Yuan helplessly sighed. He looked at Yaoyao and said in a low voice, “We just got here and you’re
already attracting bees and butterflies. Maybe you should continue to dress-up as a guy?”
Yaoyao rolled her eyes at him. “No more dressing up. If I attract the attention of someone like Qinyu again
it will become an even bigger headache.”
Fury flashed in Luo Song’s eyes when he saw Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao intimately conversing in hushed
voices, completely ignoring his existence. Just as he was about to speak again, a gong suddenly sounded
across the plaza.
They watched as Chen Yuan slowly walked out on a tall stage as his nonchalant voice echoed across the
entire place.
“Everyone quiet. I will be announcing the classes of the new disciples…”
1141
Chapter 214 First Class
When Chen Yuan’s voice spread across the plaza, the originally noisy plaza instantly became quiet, every
gaze nervously looking towards the stone stage.
Although the youngsters present were the geniuses from the various continents, they clearly understood
that with the exception of a few special monsters, everyone else would become ordinary.
When compared to their status and rank in the past, it would be a drop of a thousand feet.
In the Cangxuan Sect, they would experience competition that they had never experienced before. To
raise one’s status, one needed to work hard to raise one’s strength.
It was obvious that those who became first class disciples in the first disciple evaluation would
undoubtedly gain several advantages.
Under the attention of countless gazes, Chen Yuan waved the booklet in his hand and said, “There will be
a total of 148 first class disciples for this evaluation, 1056 second class disciples and 9500 third class
disciples.”
These words immediately caused the plaza to stir restlessly.
Zhou Yuan was somewhat surprised. There were over ten thousand geniuses from the various continents,
and yet only slightly over a hundred were able to become first class disciples. From this, one could see
just how valued a first class disciple quota was.
The people at Luo Song’s side continued to sing his praises, “Can’t believe there will only be a thousand
second class disciples. Brother Luo is indeed the best amongst the Tianqing Continent geniuses.”
A meaningful smile was revealed on Luo Song’s face as he waved his hand and said, “It’s only a second
class disciple, I still need to strive harder to become a first class disciple. When that time comes, I will
have the chance to see how amazing the legendary grade 5 Genesis Food is.”
While he spoke however, his gaze constantly swept towards Yaoyao, the pleased look in his eyes
completely unconcealable.
The gazes of the group around him were filled with envy, some of the better looking young ladies even
constantly casting flirtatious glances at him.
This caused Luo Song to grow even more pleased with himself. His gaze shifted towards Yaoyao again,
only to realise that the latter had not even taken notice of him, an observation that made him somewhat
disappointed.
1142
“This girl is quite arrogant, but she does have the beauty and presence to match it. I may not know what
kind of relationship that kid has with her, but it should be no issue. A mere quasi Alpha-Origin is no
competition at all. After some time in the Cangxuan Sect, he will naturally realise that he is not a fit for her
at all.” Muttered Luo Song in his heart.
It was clear that he did not take the quasi Alpha-Origin Zhou Yuan very seriously.
“Next, I shall be announcing the list of first class disciples.”
On the tall stage, Chen Yuan indifferently said, “Those whose names have been called, come forward to
receive your disciple tokens.”
“Shengzhou Continent, Lu Feng.”
The first name immediately caused a disturbance on the plaza. Zhou Yuan and the rest watched as a
youth in white flew onto the stage. It was as if his face had been sculptured, giving off a bold and striking
sensation. Powerful Genesis Qi seemed to ripple from his body, making him feel intimidating even when
he was not angry.
Lu Feng seemed to be pretty famous, his appearance causing several girls to shriek.
Zhou Yuan also looked towards the youth in white called Lu Feng, as his eyes widened slightly. He could
indeed feel a faint feeling of danger from the latter’s body. This individual was definitely not simple.
Beside Zhou Yuan’s group, Luo Song sighed loudly as he said, “Lu Feng is said to be from the Lu clan of the
Shengzhou Continent. He has a powerful background and is extremely talented. He will surely be one of
the core members of the Cangxuan Sect in the future.”
He looked at Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao as he nonchalantly said, “I even talked with him two days ago, so we
at least recognize each other by face.”
Someone at his side quickly started the bootlicking again. “I heard that Lu Feng is extremely proud, and
ordinary people won’t even enter this eyes. The fact that Brother Luo was able to speak with him is truly
amazing.”
Zhou Yuan could not help but exchange a look with Yaoyao. Were these people idiots? Was talking to
someone really something you should be proud of?
Though Luo Song’s narcissism was rather loathsome, the information he revealed was committed to
memory by Zhou Yuan.
“Shengzhou Continent, Gu Hongyi.”
1143
A stunning fiery-red figure nimbly leaped onto the stage. When the crowd looked over, the gazes of
numerous males were immediately lit with burning desire, because the one that had appeared on the
stage was a young lady in red.
The young lady’s skin was akin to snow, while her face seemed as if it was painted. Her long, slender legs
were relatively attention grabbing, and it was hard to turn away from the sight of her sexy figure.
A heroic aura seemed to sprout from the young lady in red, while the long red whip that hung on her
slender waist only accentuated it even further.
“This girl is called Gu Hongyi, and is said to be related to one of the high ranking personnel in the
Cangxuan Sect. She is very strong and pretty, and no one knows how many have tried to gain her favor.
Though she is beautiful, she is extremely fond of battle, so it will be rather troublesome if you offend her.”
Names continued to be read during the next ten minutes as extraordinary young men and women
ascended the stage to receive the highest rank status token under the envious eyes of the crowd.
In the blink of an eye, over a hundred people had ascended the stage.
A look of thought could be seen on Zhou Yuan’s face as he watched from below. He had realised that half
of the hundred first class disciples were from the Shengzhou Continent.
“The Shengzhou Continent truly is blessed by the heavens.” Zhou Yuan secretly sighed in his heart. The
geniuses from the other continents were already a step behind in comparison. Catching up would not be
easy.
One name after another continued to sound out, and the list soon approached its end.
“Cangmang Continent, Zhou Xiaoyao.”
When this name was read, Yaoyao walked forward with Tuntun in her arms.
“Eh, what are you doing?” Luo Song hastily called out when he saw this.
Yaoyao naturally paid no attention to him, heading straight to the tall stage and directly climbed up under
Luo Song’s stupefied gaze.
The instant she stepped onto the stage, the entire plaza fell silent, every gaze colored with unconcealable
amazement.
Gu Hongyi was already a rare beauty in the making, but she lacked in presence when compared to
Yaoyao.
Restlessness soon spread in the crowd.
1144
“Wow, who is that? She’s so beautiful!”
“She seems to be from the Cangmang Continent? I’ve never heard of the place…”
“But has managed to become a first class disciple? Why can’t I feel any Genesis Qi undulations from her?”
“Her Spirit cultivation should be extremely high, I can feel that her Spirit is exceedingly powerful…”
“......”
Countless whispers rose one after another.
At the front of the plaza, Lu Feng, who originally had his eyes closed, also opened them at this moment.
He looked at Yaoyao with interest as he muttered, “What a strong Spirit.”
“She… she’s a first class disciple?” Luo Song’s face was a mix of white and green, while his entourage had
obediently shut their mouths this time, their faces burning when they recalled their earlier actions.
On the stage, Yaoyao rather disliked being under the attention of those countless searing gazes. She
quickly took her status token, walked off and returned to Zhou Yuan’s side.
Several gazes looked towards Zhou Yuan at this moment, but when they saw that the latter was merely at
the quasi Alpha-Origin, they nonchalantly shifted their gazes away.
Luo Song no longer dared to speak to Yaoyao. He glanced at Zhou Yuan as he secretly mumbled to
himself, “Kid, that girl is too superb. I may not have the qualifications, but you are even worse…”
On the stage, Chen Yuan glanced at the booklet, mockery lifting from the corners of his mouth as he said,
“Next is the last first class disciple… also from the Cangmang Continent, Zhou Yuan…”
Zhou Yuan understood the former’s intentions from his gaze. However, Zhou Yuan’s expression did not
change as he began to walk forward.
The corners of Luo Song’s eyes twitched frantically, while the followers around him looked to each other.
“He... what is he going to do?”
“He can’t be Zhou Yuan, right?”
While they were still stuck in their disbelief, Zhou Yuan had already passed through the crowd,
expression calm as he walked onto the stage and received the status token under the crowd’s stares.
When he stood on the stage, the entire plaza fell silent for an instant. A split second later, bewildered
voices exploded, filling the sky.
1145
“Quasi Alpha-Origin?”
“Such strength has the qualifications to become a first class disciple?!”
“How can this be? A quasi Alpha-Origin first class disciple? What kind of joke is this!”
A sky of doubtful voices surged like a flood.
1146
Chapter 215 Accommodation
“How does a quasi Alpha-Origin like him have the qualifications to become a first class disciple?”
“If even he can become a first class disciple, why can’t we?”
“......”
Questioning voices swept across the sky and land. Practically everyone present was filled with
indignation when they saw this.
Those evaluated as second class disciples in particular were extremely unhappy. Even they had not been
evaluated as first class, so why did a quasi Alpha-Origin kid get it?
The third class disciples were even more envious and jealous, their eyes practically tinged red.
Only the high and mighty first class disciples merely watched with the cold eyes of a bystander. However,
their gazes were not too friendly when they looked towards Zhou Yuan, as if a dirty dog had somehow
entered the ranks of tigers and leopards.
The young man in white called Lu Feng merely watched with an uncaring gaze. He only glanced at Zhou
Yuan once, before withdrawing his eyes, clearly paying no heed to this matter.
On the stage, Zhou Yuan’s expression remained calm in the face of the numerous questioning voices.
Chen Yuan wore a smile on his face. Only after the voices faded somewhat did he extend a hand to
indicate for everyone to be quiet as he said, “This new disciple’s situation is a little different. There’s an
esteemed master who has vouched for him.”
These words first silenced the plaza, before they burst out into an even greater uproar.
“Tch, so he got in through the back door…”
Numerous new disciples shook their heads inside, disdain flowing out on their faces. Although they too
wished deep down that they could be in the same situation, when it happened to someone else, they
could not help but begin mocking.
Dressed in red, the slender, sexy Gu Hongyi had initially been interested to know how a quasi Alpha-
Origin could become a first class disciple.
After hearing Chun Yuan’s words however, her red lips curled downwards slightly.
She shook her head in disappointment as her eyes turned away, no longer giving Zhou Yuan any further
attention.
1147
On the stage, Chen Yuan waved his hand at Zhou Yuan and said with a wide grin, “Alright, you can go
now.”
Zhou Yuan indifferently glanced at the former. How could he not know that this was done on purpose.
However, he did not say anything because it was true that he did appear to be a quasi Alpha-Origin on the
surface, a fact that would draw criticism regardless of when he became a first class disciple.
The only way to deal with such criticism was to prove oneself, something he would naturally have a
chance to do in the future.
Hence, he directly returned to his original spot under numerous watching gazes.
The nearby group of Luo Song and gang returned to their senses at this moment. With a hollow laugh, he
put on a fake smile as he said to Zhou Yuan, “I did not expect this friend to have such solid relations…”
“However, you’ll only end up losing out in the end. Not many disciples will be willing to come into contact
with you in the future.”
The crowd around him nodded. Although they were envious inside, they righteously criticized Zhou Yuan
for pulling strings.
Yaoyao frowned slightly and turned her head to the side, revealing a perfect side face profile, her skin
seemingly suffused with a jade glow.
Luo Song was elated when he saw Yaoyao look at him for the first time. Before he could speak however,
Yaoyao’s red lips parted slightly. “Scram.”
Luo Song’s expression instantly turned rigid, while the corners of the mouths of his group twitched. It
was obvious that none of them had expected this aloof goddess like girl would be so crude.
White and green interlaced on their faces, but they did not dare to say anything in the end. Yaoyao was
after all a true-blue first class disciple.
Luo Song shot a look of hatred at Zhou Yuan before leaving in embarrassment.
On the stage, Chen Yuan faced the still clamouring crowd and said in a nonchalant voice, “There is no
need for any of you to grumble. The Cangxuan Sect’s rules are fair, and will not be biased towards anyone.
If you cannot accept this result, feel free to challenge them.”
“A first class disciple may not be fixed forever. If one is incapable, he or she will naturally be replaced.”
“So, don’t be relieved just because you became a first class disciple. The right path is still to continue
training hard.”
1148
Chen Yuan’s words made several disciples begin to stir as several malicious gazes were cast in Zhou
Yuan’s direction.
If one was to consider who would be the easiest to replace amongst the over hundred first class disciples
present, the answer was pretty obvious.
Chen Yuan ignored the crowd’s response as he continued to speak, “Starting now, you will be training
here for the next three months, after which will be the peak selection ceremony. Only those that pass the
ceremony and enter the seven peaks can be truly considered disciples of the Cangxuan Sect. Those that
fail will become outer mountain disciples, and may also enter the seven peaks if the contribution
conditions are met.”
The hearts of the numerous new disciples shivered. Those that could enter the Cangxuan Sect were
naturally prideful geniuses. Hence, failing to enter the seven peaks would be a tremendous blow to them.
“Your accommodation can be found on the disciple token.”
“From tomorrow onwards, every disciple will begin training in Genesis Mountain. It is a specially
constructed cultivation paradise of the Cangxuan Sect, so you better grasp this chance well.”
Chen Yuan’s words caused another surge of noise to wash over the plaza. Desire rose in the eyes of the
Shengzhou Continent geniuses, clearly already aware of what it was.
The geniuses from the other continents were at a loss, and could only humbly seek help.
Thus, several of the Shengzhou geniuses looked towards the other continent geniuses as if they were
looking at country bumpkins, and said with an air of superiority, “You guys don’t even know of Genesis
Mountain?”
“Genesis Mountain is a type of cultivation haven created by the Cangxuan Sect. It’s shaped like a volcano
with a Genesis Rune boundary carved on its insides to absorb Genesis Qi which is then purified by several
Genesis Rune boundaries, causing the Genesis Qi that spouts out to be so much more pure.”
“The most wonderful aspect of Genesis Mountain is the Heavenly Genesis Flower planted on every
cultivation platform. One only needs to feed Genesis jade to this Heavenly Genesis Flower, and it will
draw out the Genesis Qi in the mountain and send it spouting out.”
“The Genesis Qi from the Heavenly Genesis Flower is not only purer than normal, but also contains some
of its essence that can continuously temper the flowing Genesis Qi in the body. It can be said to be a
cultivation treasure.”
The numerous new disciples from the other continents were confused. Although they sounded very
amazing, what exactly were these Genesis jade and Heavenly Genesis Flower?
1149
“Genesis jade is an item manufactured by the Cangxuan Sect. You may treat it as a substitute for Genesis
crystals, though it can only be used in the sect. One can exchange Genesis jade in the Hidden Scripture
Pavillion and the Glittering Jewels Pavillion for all kinds Genesis techniques, medicinal pills, Genesis
Weapons…”
Chen Yuan opened his mouth to speak at this moment, “You new disciples will receive 30 Genesis jade
pieces at the beginning of every month. The Genesis jade pieces for this month has already been placed in
your quarters.”
“As for Genesis Mountain, you will naturally understand when you train tomorrow.”
He waved his hand and said, “Everyone should go find their living quarters.”
After speaking, he turned around and left in an unhurried manner.
The plaza turned into a chaotic mess as numerous disciples began to scatter, using the instructions on the
token to search for their living quarters.
Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao also followed the instructions, passing through the verdant mountain, before
ultimately coming to a stop at the rear of the mountain. At the waist of the mountain stood exquisite little
house after house, powerful Genesis Qi pulsing in the surroundings.
Behind them, Shen Wanjin sighed and remarked, “Little Yuan bro, big sis Yao, the first class disciple
treatment really is countless times better than third class disciples like us.”
Perhaps for the new disciples to better look out for each other, the Cangxuan Sect had temporarily
grouped the geniuses from the same continent together.
Shen Wanjin, Xiao Tianxuan and the rest were situated at the foot of the mountain nearby. However, their
living quarters were what seemed to be a series of joined little huts that looked rather simplistic.
Compared to Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao, the difference was pretty vast.
The others nodded one after another, envy filling their eyes.
They were geniuses that had lived a life of luxury in the past. Now however, their living standards had
fallen drastically, and it was going to be pretty hard to get used.
Zhou Yuan chuckled and comforted them a little, before beginning to climb up to the waist of the
mountain with Yaoyao. Their two little houses were quite close after all.
After entering their respective houses, Zhou Yuan began to look around with some interest, finding the
place very satisfactory. Most importantly, he had discovered the Genesis Rune boundary in the little
house that continuously collected the surrounding Genesis Qi. Living in such a place for a long period
would definitely be very beneficial to his cultivation.
1150
On a table in the house, he saw a cloth bag which he picked up and shook, causing tinkling sounds to
emerge.
He reached in a grabbed a strip of jade that was the size of a baby’s fist. The clear jade sparkled as pure
Genesis Qi spread from it.
Zhou Yuan curiously mumbled to himself, “Is this a Genesis jade piece?”
Everything here felt so fresh.
Zhou Yuan arrived at the balcony on the second floor as warm sunlight sprinkled down and bathed his
body. It felt extremely comfortable.
Zhou Yuan closed his eyes in enjoyment for a brief moment, before he suddenly felt a gaze looked
towards him from far away. He looked over, only to see another little house on the right.
A pretty figure in red gracefully stood on the balcony, her slender and sexy figure made even more
apparent when she leaned against the railing.
It was Gu Hongyi.
Upon sensing Zhou Yuan’s gaze, Gu Hongyi frowned slightly before turning around and entering the
house. She clearly did not approve of this first class disciple that had pulled strings to obtain his status.
Zhou Yuan merely chuckled upon seeing this, unbothered by her attitude.
*Knock knock*!
Knocking sounded from below. With a thought from Zhou Yuan, the doors opened as Yaoyao leisurely
walked in carrying Tuntun. She began to examine the place, eventually arriving on the balcony that
received ample sunlight and nodded in a satisfactory manner.
“What are you doing?” At the sight of this, Zhou Yuan suddenly felt that something was amiss.
“My place is too shady, and it’s much better here. I will be staying on the second floor while you live on
the first floor.” Yaoyao smiled faintly at Zhou Yuan, no reservation whatsoever as she took over the best
spot in the house.
Zhou Yuan was stunned. “You’re going to live with me?”
“I don’t cultivate anyways, so I won’t use your Genesis Qi.” Replied Yaoyao.
Zhou Yuan hastily said, “That’s not what I meant.”
Yaoyao limpid eyes narrowed slightly as she looked towards Zhou Yuan. “You are objecting?”
1151
Ow ow!
In Yaoyao’s arms, Tuntun barked menacingly.
Thus, Zhou Yuan could only let out a hollow chuckle. “No.”
Only then did Yaoyao nod her head in satisfaction.
As he gazed at her graceful figure, Zhou Yuan did not know whether to laugh or cry. What the heck was
this? Living under the same roof?
He shook his head, shifted his gaze towards the bright sky and suddenly laughed. Life in the Cangxuan
Sect… seemed to be pretty good. He was looking forward to the future here.
1152
Chapter 216 Forming Factions
A certain house in the outer mountains.
Chen Yuan sat on a chair as he calmly took a sip of tea. Before him stood a young man in blue with a
respectful expression. His face was ordinary, but his eyes appeared a little devious, somewhat similar to a
wolf.
“Teacher Chen, you were the one who agreed that I would get a first class disciple quota.” Said the young
man in blue with a pained face.
Chen Yuan waved his hand and replied, “I too did not expect things to turn out this way. Mu Wuji forcibly
shoved someone in.”
Chen Yuan indifferently said, “Hehe, Han Shan. I was the one at fault this time. I will return everything.”
The youth in blue called Han Shan hurriedly said, “How can I take back the gifts I’ve given teacher Chen.”
Chen Yuan nodded in admiration. He lightly tapped the table as he said, “Although Zhou Yuan has become
a first class disciple, it’s not like you don’t have any chance at all.”
“According to the rules, competition is encouraged amongst the new disciples. You are currently at the
second layer Alpha-Origin, while Zhou Yuan is merely at the quasi Alpha-Origin. You only need to find a
chance to challenge him, and once you succeed, you will naturally replace him as a first class disciple.”
“Tomorrow will be good. That kid will have already enjoyed a night in the little house, so he will not be
overly unhappy even if beaten back to where he belongs.”
Joy immediately flitted across Han Shan’s eyes when he heard this. “Does teacher Chen mean that...”
Chen Yuan glanced at the former and said, "If you defeat him in front of everyone, I will take away his first
class disciple status and transfer it to you."
Han Sheng was over the moon. "Thank you for the advice teacher Chen!"
In his opinion, Zhou Yuan would not be any problem as long as he had Chen Yuan's approval. To Han
Shan, it was just too easy to deal with a quasi Alpha-Origin.
Chen Yuan grinned widely as he waved his hand.
Upon seeing this, Han Shan tactfully withdrew.
1153
Chen Yuan toyed with the cup in his hand as he watched the former leave. He chuckled to himself as he
said, "Zhou Yuan is not tactful at all. I’ve already waited for a good half of the day, if he had voluntarily
come to offer me generous gifts, I may have sheltered him a little. Unfortunately…”
"He's just too stupid."
"Although it isn't appropriate for me to personally go after you, if you are eliminated in accordance to the
rules, even the two elders above me won’t have anything to say.”
In the outer mountains, besides himself as the manager, there were two outer mountain elders. However,
these two elders usually did not give any attention to such matters. Hence, it could be said that Chen Yuan
was the greatest authority in the outer mountains.
...
Night gradually arrived, enveloping the mountain forests. On the contrary however, the outer mountains
only grew even more busy.
After the disciple classification announcement in the day, hidden undercurrents flowed violently between
the numerous new disciples. As the saying went, wherever there were people, there will be conflict. Even
the Cangxuan Sect was no exception.
Majority of the new disciples were fresh off the boat. Several of the more quick-witted ones began to call
friends together to form factions. In any place, a faction would clearly have an advantage over an
individual.
The existence of first class disciples became the core of several groups, rapidly increasing their status.
As such, the brightly lit little houses in the mountains became a hub of activity.
...
In one of the little houses, several dozen people were gathered, making the atmosphere pretty lively. Luo
Song was also included amongst them.
Two individuals were seated in the center like a moon surrounded by stars. Calm indifference filled their
expressions as they enjoyed the respect from the surrounding crowd.
These two were obviously first class disciples.
One was called Wei Wu, while the other was named Xu Ao.
Luo Song wore a bright smile as he declared, “Hehe, all of us will follow brother Wei and brother Xu in
future.”
1154
The others nodded. Wei Wu and Xu Ao were sure to enter the seven peaks and had bright futures ahead
of them. Now was clearly the best time to curry favor.
Wei Wu chuckled and said, “All of us from the other continents cannot compare to the local Shangzhou
geniuses. So we naturally need to take extra care of each other.”
One of the individuals in the group angrily said, “Those from the Shengzhou Continent are really too
arrogant. Just earlier, I tried to invite a second class disciple on brother Wei’s behalf, but that fellow didn’t
give any face at all.”
Wei Wu’s expression darkened slightly when he heard this, but he still waved his hand and said, “We just
have to do our best. Since the Shengzhou geniuses are so prideful, there is no need for us to be friendly
just to be snubbed.”
Xu Ao nodded in approval.
“There seems to be two other first class disciples from the Cangmang Continent, shall we go rope them
in?” Suggested someone.
Luo Song sneered. “You mean the one that went through the backdoor?”
Wei Wu shook his head. “Don’t bother with the Cangmang people. I heard earlier that Han Shan will be
making his move against Zhou Yuan.”
“Although Han Shan is a second class disciple, he is one of the local Shengzhou geniuses that has several
formidable friends. Now that he has decided to move, Zhou Yuan will be beaten back to where he belongs
tomorrow."
Luo Song’s eyes brightened when he heard this. Soon after, he chuckled and remarked, “What an unlucky
guy. He can only enjoy a single day of first class disciple status before falling to the bottom again.”
The others also roared in laughter, before no longer mentioning this subject. They clearly already
believed that ZHou Yuan would be the loser.
Similar situations had happened several times in many places after all.
Therefore, practically everyone came to know in a single night that when tomorrow came, Zhou Yuan
would become the shortest lived first class disciple in history...
...
The next day.
When the first rays of the morning sun broke through the clouds and shined on the mountain forests, the
outer mountains immediately became a hive of activity.
1155
Zhou Yuan pushed open the doors and walked out of the little house with Yaoyao.
The moment they left, they saw a group of people hurriedly rush towards them. It was Shen Wanjin and
the rest.
When Shen Wanjin and gang lifted their heads to see Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao emerge together, their
mouths fell open, before looking at him with admiration.
Any man would understand such a gaze.
They clearly never imagined that the usually so aloof and distant Yaoyao that was as cold and proud as a
goddess would be subdued by Zhou Yuan.
As people did not know the details, they had clearly misunderstood the two of them.
The corners of Zhou Yuan’s mouth twitched as he shot a glance at Yaoyao. The latter’s pretty face was
even calmer than his own, practically no desire to explain the situation. Hence, he could only sigh, not
bothering to say much about the issue either.
“What is it?” He looked at the worried crowd.
Only then did Shen Wanjin recall that there was a serious matter to report. Sweat dripped down his fat
face as he anxiously said, “Not good little Yuan bro, I heard that someone is going to take your first class
disciple status today!”
“So it has come after all.” Zhou Yuan’s expression did not change when he heard this. He knew that such a
situation would definitely occur. After all, who asked him to appear like the easiest target?
“Do you know who it is?”
Shen Wanjin immediately answered, “He’s called Han Shen a second class disciple from the Shengzhou
Continent, second layer Alpha-Origin.”
Zhou Yuan’s eyes narrowed slightly as he faintly nodded.
A flash of red swept out from the mountain in the distance. It was Gu Hongyi. When she saw the situation
here, her bright eyes shot a quick glance at Zhou Yuan, seemingly a little gloating.
Evidently, even she already knew about this matter.
Zhou Yuan ignored the various gazes that were on him, merely nodding to Shen Wanjin as he began to
walk forward.
“Let’s go to Genesis Mountain.”
1156
Chapter 217 Genesis Mountain
A tall, towering mountain rose amongst the many mountains in the outer mountain area, piercing straight
through the clouds.
This mountain was the most conspicuous of all the mountains. Not only was it a grand and majestic sight,
its tip was shaped like a volcano, while countless faint Genesis Runes could be seen on its body, seemingly
forming incomparably enormous Genesis Rune boundaries.
These Genesis Rune boundaries were carved into every inch of the mountain.
The surrounding Genesis Qi was endlessly drawn over, flooding into the giant mountain. It was a very
spectacular sight.
When the Zhou Yuan gang arrived, a startled look was revealed on their faces as they gazed upon the
giant of a mountain.
“What a sum they must have invested.” Zhou Yuan could not help but exclaim in admiration. With his
Spirit senses, he could feel that the Genesis Runes in the giant mountain were all pretty high grade, while
the Genesis Rune boundaries were definitely not the work of an ordinary person.
Evidently, there were existences in the Cangxuan Sect that with powerful Spirit cultivation.
“Such ingenious methods.”
Rarely seen amazement had appeared on Yaoyao’s pretty face as she said, “There are likely over twenty
Genesis Rune boundaries in this giant mountain… each one closely interlinked. It’s practically perfect.”
“To accomplish such a feat… the Spirit cultivation of the one who did this must at the very least be at the
perfect Materialization stage.”
“Perfect Materialization stage…” Zhou Yuan wet his lips inside. A Spirit of that level was already fast
approaching the pinnacle. Genesis Runes could be easily formed with every gesture, making one’s power
immeasurable.
“It seems that this is Genesis Mountain.”
Zhou Yuan’s gaze swept about, seeing streaks of Genesis Qi endlessly streaming towards the place,
ultimately landing on the giant mountain.
They were the numerous new disciples.
Zhou Yuan and gang were currently floating in the air on their Genesis Qi. When the new disciples that
arrived from all over saw him, they looked at him in a slightly smirking manner.
1157
“These bastards are all waiting for you to be humiliated.” Shen Wanjin swore and cursed.
The other Cangmang geniuses were also filled with feelings of indignation. They already knew that all of
them had been marked as the same Cangmang group, while Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao were basically their
representatives.
Their relationship with Zhou Yuan basically consisted of the following; when Zhou Yuan gained glory,
they would gain glory, when Zhou Yuan was shamed, they would be shamed. If Zhou Yuan’s first class
disciple status was taken by Han Shan today, they would also be implicated and be shunned by the others.
Zhou Yuan merely chuckled, not really angered by the situation. It was very normal for others to want
misfortune to befall him. After all, he appeared to be a mere quasi Alpha-Origin practitioner, and yet he
had somehow managed to occupy one of the first class disciple spots.
As the saying went, treasuring a jade ring can become a crime. To him, the first class disciple status was
the jade ring.
There was no way for him to use words to remove everyone’s doubts, nor was it going to be effective.
Hence, Zhou Yuan preferred to use the most direct method...
“Let’s go. We should see how amazing this Genesis Mountain is.”
Said Zhou Yuan as the Genesis Qi below his feet brought him and Yaoyao rising through the air, ultimately
landing on the enormous Genesis Mountain.
Genesis Mountain was majestic without equal. When they reached the waist of the mountain, Zhou Yuan
and the rest found numerous cultivation platforms that were several feet wide installed on the mountain,
reaching all the way from the waist to the tip. A rough look would give an estimate of over ten thousand,
making it an extremely magnificent sight.
However, the cultivation platforms seemed to grow larger towards the mountain top.
There were markings on every cultivation platform that corresponded to their respective disciple status
tokens. As such, no one could randomly occupy a platform.
There were also several young boys in the area that were yelling, “First class disciples may enter the
peak, second class disciples at the waist of the mountain, and third class at the bottom.”
It was clear that the Genesis Qi at the peak would be the most concentrated. Hence why only first class
disciples had the right to enjoy the best positions, while second and third were treated accordingly.
Upon hearing this, Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao temporarily split up with Shen Wanjin and the rest, heading for
the peak under the many envious watching gazes.
1158
As they neared the peak, they saw numerous cultivation platforms that were even wider than the ones
below. What’s more, faint Genesis Runes could be seen on the stone that composed these platforms.
Zhou Yuan followed the marking on his disciple token and landed on the stone cultivation platform that
belonged to him where he found a mat at the center.
The mat gave off a faint golden glow and seemed to be weaved from countless gold threads. Genesis Qi
faintly pulsed from it, indicating that it was a cultivation support type Genesis treasure.
When Zhou Yuan sat on the mat, he immediately felt a cooling aura flow into his body, giving him a
refreshing sensation. This instantly made him secretly praise inside. The cultivation conditions provided
by the Cangxuan Sect were really going to be hard to let go off once one had tried them out...
To hold on to these cultivation resources and prevent others from taking them away, he needed to
constantly move forward and surpass those around him...
Zhou Yuan sighed, before his gaze turned towards his front where the most important object in the entire
mountain was located.
The Heavenly Genesis Flower.
The golden flower before him was about ten feet tall, while petals as large as a washbasin grew from it
like a sunflower. Although it was a flower, Zhou Yuan could feel that it seemed to be slowly breathing. As
it breathed, the surrounding Genesis Qi flowed into it, making its petals grow increasingly dazzling.
“Is this the Heavenly Genesis Flower?” Zhou Yuan was in awe.
It was said that the Heavenly Genesis Flower was a rare and unique treasure. It could continuously
absorb Genesis Qi, creating pollen that possessed the miraculous power of tempering Genesis Qi. This
was what made it extremely pricey.
The Cangxuan Sect was clearly in possession of the method to grow these Heavenly Genesis Flowers,
hence why they would own such a huge number of them.
“Utilising the Heavenly Genesis Flower to cultivate, can’t believe the Cangxuan Sect can even think of
this.”
While Zhou Yuan continued to sigh, more and more disciples arrived at Genesis Mountain. They
eventually found their cultivation platforms and began to excitedly observe the Heavenly Genesis
Flowers.
However, they soon stealthily raised their gazes, looking towards a certain spot near the peak where
Zhou Yuan was currently located.
Swish!
1159
A streak of light descended from the sky, coming to a halt above the peak. Genesis Qi took the shape of a
cloud as Chen Yuan sat atop it, looking down from above at the numerous disciples.
His gaze seemed to pause slightly when it swept past Zhou Yuan location, before a deep voice sounded,
“Since everyone is here, we will prepare to activate Genesis Mountain and begin the training.”
“Please wait teacher Chen, I have something to say.”
However, a sharp voice followed Chen Yuan’s.
Every gaze on the mountain looked over, and saw a young man stand up, his vicious looking eyes akin to
a wolf’s.
“It’s Han Shan… as expected, he’s going after Zhou Yuan!” The sights of this young man caused numerous
whispers to explode as gloating gaze after gaze turned towards Zhou Yuan.
There was no change in Zhou Yuan’s expression.
Chen Yuan glanced at Han Shan and slowly asked, “What is the matter?”
Disdain lifted from the corners of Han Shan’s mouth as he looked towards Zhou Yuan, cupped his fists
together and said, “I want to challenge senior brother Zhou Yuan, because I feel that he is not worthy of
being a first class disciple.”
According to the rules of the Cangxuan Sect, disciples had to defer to each other based on their rank,
irregardless of age. Zhou Yuan was currently a first class disciple, hence why Han Shan had to call him
senior brother.
Han Shan’s words caused a wave of noise to erupt.
Luo Song watched as he remarked in a somewhat elated voice, “It’s over for this kid. From this point on,
he will likely become a laughing stock in our Cangxuan Sect.”
Several individuals that were jealous of Zhou Yuan nodded in agreement.
Shen Wanjin and the rest of the Cangmang geniuses did not look too good, their expressions both tensed
and worried.
Near the peak, Lu Feng and numerous other first class disciples merely watched with the detached eyes
of a bystander, the sense of superiority in their expressions unconcealable.
Gu Hongyi felt a little pity as she shot a look at Zhou Yuan. After today, he would become the shortest
lived first class disciple in the history of the Cangxuan Sect.
1160
In the air, Chen Yuan’s expression remained unchanged as he nonchalantly said, “In a challenge between
disciples, both parties must be willing. As long as Zhou Yuan agrees, you may naturally proceed.”
He then looked towards Zhou Yuan and said, “Will you accept Han Shan’s challenge? If you lose, your first
class disciple status will be stripped.”
Every gaze looked towards Zhou Yuan.
There was neither fear nor alarm on his face as he calmly said, “Does that mean I can decline?”
These words immediately gave rise to numerous hisses of displease, disdain emerging in the gazes that
looked towards him. A weakling that avoided battle was even more looked down upon.
Gu Hongyi shook her head, the earlier pity instantly vanishing into thin air. A person may be weak, but if
one’s character was weak and submissive, one was not even deserving of pity.
Chen Yuan softly chuckled. “Does that mean that you’re going to decline?”
If Zhou Yuan really declined, his reputation would become terrible.
Zhou Yuan smiled. “Teacher Chen misunderstands. I merely want to know whether I am allowed to
decline.”
Chen Yuan frowned, unable to understand Zhou Yuan’s goal..
Zhou Yuan ignored the former, his gaze shifting to Han Shan instead as he said, “You’ve heard it. I have
the right to decline… however, I can give you a chance to challenge me, but you must first pay me thirty
Genesis jade pieces.”
The entire mountain fell silent, dumbstruck gaze after gaze staring at Zhou Yuan. No one had expected
him to propose such a condition. This would totally catch anyone off guard!
There was no change in Zhou Yuan in response to these gazes. If he lost, he would lose his status as a first
class disciple, but if Han Shan lost, he wouldn’t really lose anything. This was obviously way too unfair.
Hence, he needed to tell everyone; challenge him? Sure. But you’ll have first have to pay the challenge
price...
Or else, anyone would challenge him when they had nothing better to do. Did they think he was too free?
Han Shan’s face turned black as he said through gnashed teeth, “Thirty Genesis jade pieces? You must be
crazy!”
“Are you afraid of losing?” Zhou Yuan grinned. “A first class disciple status and thirty Genesis jade pieces,
you should know which has more value, right?”
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The corners of Han Shan’s mouth twitched. In the end, a vicious and resolute look flashed in his eyes.
“Fine, I agree!”
Han Shan viciously glared at Zhou Yuan. The former had already decided that he would not show any
mercy at all. He would make it such that this country bumpkin from the Cangmang Continent would not
enjoy spending his money!
It was clear that Han Shan did not believe the quasi Alpha-Origin stage Zhou Yuan had any chance at
victory.
“Since you’ve paid, I will definitely satisfy you…”
Upon seeing Han Shan agree, Zhou Yuan’s expression turned cold. He stood up, slivers of iciness flowing
in his eyes as he looked towards the former, and everyone felt an astonishing aura slowly spread from his
body.
“Come.”
A frosty voice sounded from his mouth.
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Chapter 218 One Punch is Enough
When Zhou Yuan stood up on the cultivation platform, everyone felt something different about his aura.
Several of the sharper disciples narrowed their eyes slightly in amazement. From his aura, they could tell
that Zhou Yuan had experienced numerous battles.
Because only through continuous battle would such an aura appear.
“Unfortunately, he is still only a quasi Alpha-Origin practitioner.” Several individuals secretly shook their
heads.
The gap between these two was just far too great.
Rumble!
No mercy could be seen in Han Shan’s eyes as he gazed at Zhou Yuan. Maliciousness soon began to appear
from the corners of the former’s mouth as robust Genesis Qi rapidly erupted from his body like a volcano.
The surging Genesis Qi stirred the wind and clouds, the power of a second layer Alpha-Origin
undoubtedly on full display.
The expressions of numerous third class disciples changed slightly when they felt the overbearing
Genesis Qi pressure.
Although Han Shan was vicious, he was indeed rather capable.
On a certain cultivation platform near the peak, one of the first class disciples turned to his side and asked
Lu Feng, “Hehe, Lu Feng, who do you think will win?”
Lu Feng wore an uncaring expression, his eyelids lowering slightly, showing that he had no interest at all
in watching such a fight. He offhandedly answered, “Although Han Shan is only average amongst the
Shengzhou Continent’s younger generation, it will be easy for him to deal with a quasi Alpha-Origin.”
“There’s nothing worth watching in such a battle.”
The first class disciple was amused. “Does this mean Zhou Yuan was planning to extort those thirty
Genesis jade pieces as compensation?”
Lu Feng nonchalantly said, “I don’t care about such unimportant things.”
From what he could see, neither Han Shan nor Zhou Yuan was worthy of his attention. To him. it was
merely a little squabble.
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Some distance away, Gu Hongyi had a hand on her chin, now a little interested after seeing the change in
Zhou Yuan’s aura. “Could he have some ability?”
Rumble!
Under countless watching eyes, the Genesis Qi around Han Shan roared. A split second later, his foot
slammed into the ground, cracking it as his body transformed into a blur that headed straight towards
Zhou Yuan.
Genesis Qi rapidly swirled around his body like a storm, and even the air was blasted away from his feet.
“A single move shall send you tumbling down!”
Ferocity flooded Han Shan's eyes as his five fingers tightly clenched into a fist. The Genesis Qi in his body
surged out without reservation, his ferocious aura causing the expressions of even some of the first and
second class disciples to change.
Han Shan was clearly holding nothing back.
Zhou Yuan stood on his cultivation platform and watched as a figure rapidly grew in his eyes. Violent
Genesis Qi shock waves had already began to pounce towards him like sharp blades.
"Second layer Alpha-Origin…"
The expression on Zhou Yuan's youthful face remained unchanged. He laughed softly as he mumbled,
"Back then on the walls of Great Zhou City, I had to use every trump card in my arsenal to kill that second
layer Alpha-Origin expert…"
"But now…"
Iciness appeared in his eyes.
Zhou Yuan's fingers instantly clenched into a fist, as the golden Genesis Qi in his Qi Dwelling erupted with
a loud rumble.
Scales extended from his fist, practically covering his entire arm. These scales were no longer the golden
ones from the past, now giving off a true purplish gold luster instead!
Third level of the Magical Python Scales, purplish gold scales!
After the baptism of the Saint blood, the Magical Python Scales had reached perfection, their color now
purplish gold…
Berserk power that slightly alarmed Zhou Yuan wildly churned inside his body. The power amplification
from these purplish gold scales went far beyond the gold level.
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Hss!
A fierce hiss was faintly heard. Everyone watched as golden Genesis Qi dash into the sky from the top of
Zhou Yuan's head, seemingly taking the shape of a giant golden python.
If one were to take a closer look, one would discover two lumps on the python's head and claws near its
belly.
The golden python hissed, a hiss that somehow faintly resembled a dragon's roar.
The Genesis Qi python enveloped Zhou Yuan's body. He suddenly moved, taking a step forward under the
innumerable watching gazes.
Bang!
The air exploded, a sonic boom left in the dust behind Zhou Yuan.
His figure disappeared the moment his foot touched the ground. Almost immediately after, everyone's
pupils shrank when they saw Zhou Yuan's figure appear in mid-air halfway down the mountain.
He was now only a few feet from Han Shan.
"Such speed!" Cries of astonishment rose one after another.
Everyone had jumped back a little at Zhou Yuan's sudden burst of speed.
"You’re just a mere quasi Alpha-Origin, stop putting up an act!” With a shout, Han Shan’s expression
twisted as the Genesis Qi in his body circulated.
"Tiger Roar Mountain Subduing Seal!"
A punch was sent flying, vigorous Genesis Qi faintly forming the silhouette of a giant tiger. The deafening
roar of a tiger followed, intimidating and threatening anyone who heard it.
The roaring giant tiger was reflected in Zhou Yuan’s eyes as he lightly expelled a breath of air. With a
thought, the Omni Python Qi descended, the claws at its belly reaching out and superimposing with Zhou
Yuan’s scaly fist.
In that moment, the space around him shook faintly.
Zhou Yuan’s face remained impassive as a punch was sent blasting forward. Under the attention of
countless eyes, it powerfully slammed into Han Shan’s ferocious fist seal.
It was a simple punch, but it contained all of the Omni Python Qi and purplish gold scales’ power.
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Boom!
A shockwave that could be seen with the naked eye violently pulsed outwards.
In the air, Chen Yuan’s pupils suddenly tightened while he was observing their clash.
Every gaze in the mountain was tinged with shock as they looked towards the epicenter of the clash
where Zhou Yuan’s fist was effortlessly piercing through.
Bang!
The roaring giant tiger was instantly ripped apart in a barbaric manner.
A berserk force exploded.
Disbelief flooded out in Han Shan’s eyes. He could feel an indescribably overwhelming power surge
towards him in an unstoppable manner, forcibly ripping through all of his power in the most tyrannical
way.
His second layer Alpha-Origin Genesis Qi was unable to put up even the slightest resistance!
He involuntarily cried out in horror, “How is this possible!”
Boom!
The air was violently blasted away as a fist covered in purplish gold scales gracefully pierced all of his
defenses and landed on his chest.
Thump!
A muffled sound rang out as Han Shan’s chest seemed to cave in. His body was instantly sent flying, like a
rolling bottle gourd as he tumbled like a rag doll from the waist of the mountain to its foot.
The entire mountain was silent.
Shocked gaze after gaze looked towards the sky where Zhou Yuan was still in a punching posture.
The expression in Zhou Yuan’s eyes was unchanged as he looked towards the foot of the mountain where
Han Shan had been blasted to. Only then did he finally finish his earlier sentence, “Now… one punch is
enough.”
On the now silent Genesis Mountain, Lu Feng’s lightly shut eyes trembled slightly as they finally opened.
A sliver of astonishment flowed on Gu Hongyi’s pretty face.
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The others were wide-eyed. No one had expected the second layer Alpha-Origin Han Shang to be
incapable of withstanding even a single punch from Zhou Yuan...
They had originally believed that it would be a fierce fight.
Instead, it was as if the battle had ended before it had even started...
1167
Chapter 219 Establishing One’s Might
The enormous Genesis Mountain was blanketed in silence. Numerous gazes were fixed on a certain spot
in the air, where Zhou Yuan was still in his punching posture.
The purplish gold scales on the latter’s arms began to recede. There was no change in his expression from
start to end, as if the stunning punch earlier did not have anything to do with him.
The silence lasted for a rather long time before it was gradually broken.
Luo Song swallowed multiple times, a trace of fear now present in his eyes when he looked towards Zhou
Yuan. Although he was also at the second layer Alpha-Origin, his battle power was weaker than Han
Shan’s.
And yet, Han Shan had been crushed by a single punch from Zhou Yuan,
“This is too frightening…” He mumbled, still unable to believe what had just happened. He truly could not
imagine that the second layer Han Shan would not be able to withstand even a single punch from Zhou
Yuan.
Han Shan was a Shengzhou genius after all. Although he was only considered average, he was already
stronger than many others. Even so, his defeat at Zhou Yuan’s hands had been far too clean.
From this, one could see how overwhelming Zhou Yuan’s battle power was.
Luo Song grinned. He had previously felt that it was rather regretful that Han Shan had managed to take
the lead on them, but now, Luo Song was pretty glad for that. Or else, the one who was sent to the foot on
the mountain with a single punch would likely be himself.
“Little Yuan bro is still so fierce.” After a brief period of shock, Shen Wanjin and the other Cangmang
geniuses breathed a heavy sigh of relief.
They felt honored by Zhou Yuan’s achievement. Especially when they felt the gazes of the other disciples
now no longer held any contempt.
“Let’s see who else dares to say our Cangmang geniuses are useless.”
Xiao Tianxuan was silent, though his body relaxed slightly. Although there had been a grudge between
him and Zhou Yuan in the Cangmang Continent, at the end of the day, they were both from the same
Cangmang Continent. Any setbacks Zhou Yuan faced would not be good news to him either.
Near the peak of Genesis Mountain, one of the Shengzhou first class disciples laughed as he remarked,
“Hehe so he does have some skills…”
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His gaze contained hints of a toying sensation when he looked towards Zhou Yuan.
“Han Shan turns out to be rather disappointing.” This was the evaluation of the Shengzhou first class
disciples, clearly extremely displeased with Han Shan’s performance.
After all, Han Shan had been defeated by a genius from some remote continent, a fact that would
undoubtedly affect the superior status of the Shengzhou geniuses.
One of the first class disciples looked towards Lu Feng and asked with a smile, “Lu Feng, what’s your
opinion?”
Lu Feng nonchalantly glanced at Zhou Yuan’s figure before withdrawing his gaze. “He’s not bad. The
Genesis Qi he cultivates has likely reached grade 6, which is pretty rare. Such a high level Genesis Qi
cultivation method is almost never seen in these remote continents. It seems that he had a fortunate
encounter.”
“However, his cultivation is too low. The previous punch may seem simple, but it contained the majority
of his power. Any of you would have been able to block it.”
“All in all, he’s only a small threat, so there’s no need to make a fuss about it.”
Upon hearing Lu Feng’s evaluation, the other Shengzhou first class disciples chuckled. In contrast to the
shock the other disciples felt, their insight was much better and would naturally not react so drastically
to Zhou Yuan’s punch.
However, the contempt they had towards Zhou Yuan previously had now waned slightly.
As Shengzhou disciples, they naturally had an air of superiority towards the disciples from the other
continents.
Gu Hongyi’s eyes contained a sliver of interest as she stared at Zhou Yuan. It seems that had been wrong.
Zhou Yuan may look like a quasi Alpha-Origin on the surface, but his true battle power was pretty much
off the charts.
“Looks like his first class disciple status was not fully due to pulling strings.” Mumbled Gu Hongyi to
herself, before she slowly withdrew her gazze.
Zhou Yuan’s earlier performance could be said to be perfect. However, it at most made her feel slightly
amazed, the complete and utter shock the other disciples felt was evidently not too probably with her.
Under the various gazes all over the mountain, Zhou Yuan slowly pulled back his fist. He gazed at the
sorry figure that had tumbled to the bottom of the mountain and suddenly shook his sleeve. A stream of
Genesis Qi shot out, lifting a cloth bag from Han Shan’s body.
A tinkling sound was heard as the cloth bag swayed. It was the sound of Genesis jade pieces.
1169
Swish!
However, just as Zhou Yuan was about to retrieve the bag, another stream of Genesis Qi shot over,
grabbing the other end of the bag.
Zhou Yuan’s eyes widened slightly as he lifted his head, only to see a young man in scarlet robes
indifferently looking at him from one of the cultivation platforms near the peak, the latter’s scattered hair
hanging behind him.
“My fellow disciple, since you’ve already won, there’s no need to be so overbearing, right?” The young
man in scarlet robes revealed a faint smile.
Numerous gazes looked towards him, whispers immediately rising.
“It’s Zhu Feng. I knew he would do something. I heard that he and Han Shan are very close, but most
importantly, he is also a Shengzhou disciple.”
Zhou Yuan gazed at the young man in scarlet robes and chuckled. “I am only retrieving what should be
mine, that’s not overbearing, right?”
The eyes of the young man narrowed slightly. “Han Shan was indeed reckless earlier, but you’ve already
taught him a lesson. Will you leave these Genesis jade pieces behind on my account?”
Although his tone was calm, there was no room for discussion, as if the matter had already been decided.
“If senior brother had stepped forward earlier, today’s matter would not have happened.” Said Zhou
Yuan.
“As for now…”
“I’m afraid that it’s already too late.”
Zhou Yuan’s eyes hardened as he flicked his finger. Genesis Qi instantly tore open the cloth bag. With a
wave of his sleeve, another stream of Genesis Qi flowed out and caught all the falling Genesis jade pieces
before returning to him.
If he had lost today, Zhu Feng would not have spoken up for him. Hence, he would naturally not show any
courtesy to such a biased person.
“You!”
Upon seeing Zhou Yuan directly snatch away the Genesis jade pieces, an act that clearly gave no face, Zhu
Ying’s eyes also hardened, iciness appearing in his gaze when he looked at Zhou Yuan.
1170
“What an arrogant kid!” Zhu Ying smiled in anger. “Do you really dare to step over all our Shengzhou
disciples heads?!”
Zhu Ying’s words were malicious, instantly pitting Zhou Yuan against every Shengzhou disciple, evidently
planning on making him face the fury of the crowd.
Some Shengzhou disciples seemed to look over. They were naturally not feeling too good about Han
Shan’s miserably defeat, and it was difficult to avoid having opinions about the one who had beaten him.
“Hehe, there seems to be a mistake in brother Zhu’s words. Before the challenge, Han Shan had already
agreed to the terms, which every disciple here clearly heard. It is only reasonable for junior brother Zhou
Yuan to retrieve his spoils of battle, so why the need to be so overbearing?” A voice sounded all of a
sudden. Unexpectedly however, it was speaking up for Zhou Yuan.
Zhou Yuan was somewhat surprised. He turned his head, and found that the one who had spoken was a
faintly smiling thin young man.
Zhou Yuan had a faint impression of the former. He was also a first class disciple, and should be called
Qiao Xiu. He too was not from the Shengzhou Continent, and was hence pretty popular amongst many
non Shengzhou disciples, making him a celebrity of sorts.
After Zhou Yuan had displayed his strength, the opinion that he was someone who went through the back
door had changed, and there were now people who were willing to show friendly gestures to him, though
he honestly did not mind either way.
Due to his popularity, Qiao Xiu’s words drew a series of verbal support from the non Shengzhou disciples.
Zhu Feng glared at Qiao Xiu when he saw this, but he knew that there was no longer anything he could do
to Zhou Yuan today. Hence, Zhu Feng frostily glanced at Zhou Yuan, before retrieving his gaze. However,
anyone could see that the former was not going to forget this.
Zhou Yuan paid no attention to Zhu Feng’s gaze, instead turning his head slightly to look at Qiao Xiu,
causing the latter to display a friendly smile.
Since it was not appropriate for him to be too cold, Zhou Yuan nodded in response. Subsequently, his gaze
swept across the area as he cooly asked, “Is there anyone else who wants to challenge me?”
The entire mountain was silent. Which one of the second class disciples would dare to respond after
witnessing Han Shan’s miserable fate? On the other hand, the first class disciples merely watched like
bystanders.
Thus, no one responded to Zhou Yuan.
Upon seeing this, he returned to his cultivation platform and lifted his head towards Chen Yuan, who was
seated in mid air. “Teacher Chen, may we begin the Genesis Mountain training?”
1171
Only at this moment did Chen Yuan return to his senses. He deeply looked at Zhou Yuan, evidently not
expecting such an outcome.
No wonder Mu Wuji was not worried about Zhou Yuan’s first class disciple status being stolen in the blink
of an eye. It turns out that this kid was not as simple as he seemed.
However, this kid likely did not know that defeating Han Shan would end up offending the Shengzhou
disciples.
There would only be more and more scuffled in the future. Chen Yuan wondered if Zhou Yuan would still
be so cool and collected then.
Chen Yuan’s gazes flickered in thought for a moment before withdrawing it. His gaze then swept across
the over ten thousand cultivation platforms on Genesis Mountain as he calm voice sounded.
“Activate Genesis Mountain!”
With a wave of his sleeve, a stream of Genesis Qi fell into the volcano like mouth at the peak, seemingly
activating a certain Genesis Rune.
Bzz!
The surroundings immediately began to stir. Every disciple lifted their heads in astonishment as they
watched the surrounding Genesis Qi flood towards Genesis Mountain like surging mist.
The Heavenly Yuan Flower before them began to sway at this moment, absorbing the Genesis Qi in
Genesis Mountain. In the end, its petals gradually opened as boundless Genesis Qi spouted out along with
innumerable golden pollen...
On Genesis Mountain, Genesis Qi sprayed from ten thousand flowers, a scene that was spectacular and
beautiful.
Zhou Yuan also raised his head as anticipation appeared in his eyes. He was dying to see just how
effective the legendary Heavenly Genesis Flower would be...
1172
Chapter 220 Alpha‐Origin Heaven
Chapter 220 Alpha-Origin Heaven
*Gurgle*!
Heavenly Genesis Flower after flower swayed on the titanic Genesis Mountain, golden light pulsing in
circles. It made the flowers look as if they were made of gold, an exceedingly gorgeous sight indeed.
A fragrance spread, filling the area.
The roots of the flowers dug deep into the mountain, continuously absorbing the Genesis Qi within.
Golden flower after flower gradually blossomed, the petals suddenly erupting as boundless and pure
Genesis Qi sprayed out.
Numerous golden pollen drifted within the pure Genesis Qi, giving it a strange fragrance.
“Such pure Genesis Qi!” Amazement flitted across Zhou Yuan’s eyes as he watched Genesis Qi stream out
of the Heavenly Genesis Flower. He could sense that this Genesis Qi was purer than the normal.
Bzz!
Genesis Qi infused with golden pollen spread. Just as it was about to leave the cultivation platform, the
runes on the platforms suddenly began to glow, transforming into a dome of light that sealed off the
entire cultivation platform. This prevented the golden pollen Genesis Qi from drifting away.
Thus, the golden pollen Genesis Qi continued to accumulate, gradually engulfing the figures seated in the
platforms.
Every disciple hurriedly closed their eyes at this moment, swiftly entering a state of cultivation as they
greedily devoured the golden pollen Genesis Qi.
Zhou Yuan likewise also shut his eyes, the Omni Python Qi in his Qi Dwelling slowly beginning to stir.
With a hiss, the giant golden python emitted a powerful suction force.
The surrounding golden pollen Genesis Qi was immediately drawn towards him, transforming into
streams of gold as it rapidly flowed into Zhou Yuan’s body through his nose.
Golden pollen Genesis Qi swam along his meridian channels and entered the Qi Dwelling, before being
swallowed by the giant golden python within it.
The golden pollen Genesis Qi was swiftly refined, transforming into strand after strand of Omni Python
Qi.
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The thing that surprised Zhou Yuan the most, was that as the golden pollen Genesis Qi was refined, he
could feel a faint burning sensation flowing within his Genesis Qi.
When Zhou Yuan took a closer look, he saw faint, almost invisible impurities transforming into smoke
and rising from his Omni Python Qi...
Meanwhile, the Genesis Qi in his Qi Dwelling was becoming even more concentrated and pure.
Zhou Yuan could not help but exclaim in amazement in his heart, “This Heavenly Genesis Flower is
amazing. The pollen infused Genesis Qi it produces can continuously concentrate one’s Genesis Qi while
training, while also burning away the impurities within…”
It may not show much effect in the short term, but the cumulative results over time was pretty darn
amazing.
When two Genesis Qi of similar grade clashed, the upper hand would go to the one that was more
concentrated and robust. Hence, the flower would undoubtedly give the Cangxuan Sect disciples an
advantage.
“As expected of the sect that was once the strongest in Cangxuan Heaven.”
Zhou Yuan could not stop praising. Regardless of whether it was the Genesis Mountain he stood on or
these Heavenly Genesis Flowers, unique methods were required to create them. Ordinary factions did not
possess the qualifications to do so.
By this point, Zhou Yuan was even more certain that only in the Cangxuan Sect would he be able to truly
dig out of all of his potential.
Only here would he reach the Divine Dwelling stage in the shortest time possible, and gain the power to
match the Great Wu Empires’ king Wu.
Zhou Yuan’s concentration gradually increased as he began to immerse himself in his training.
While this happened, golden pollen Genesis Qi continued to be spouted from the Heavenly Genesis
Flower, making the cultivation platform grow even more dazzling.
On another cultivation platform near to Zhou Yuan’s.
Under the cover of golden light, Yaoyao leisurely watched the floating golden pollen Genesis Qi, no desire
to absorb any at all.
In her arms, Tuntun’s mouth was wide open, the black light emerging from within causing its giant mouth
to seemingly transform into a black hole.
1174
Black light pulsed. No matter how much golden pollen Genesis Qi spouted out from the Heavenly Genesis
Flower, every last bit was ultimately eaten by Tuntun.
In fact, Tuntun even began to feel that this was too slow, and hopped directly on top of the Heavenly
Genesis Flower. Whenever the flower released its load, Tuntun would open its mouth and swallow, its
eyes squinting in enjoyment as it happily wagged its tail...
Every cultivation platform on the giant Genesis Mountain was filled with golden light. The flickering
golden light seemingly turning the entire mountain gold.
Time gradually flowed, and four hours swiftly passed.
After four hours, the spouting Heavenly Genesis Flower finally began to slow down as the glowing golden
cultivation platforms gradually dimmed.
However, everyone was still immersed in enjoying the sweet benefits, and could not possibly be willing to
stop. Several disciples immediately retrieved a piece of Genesis jade and flung it towards the Heavenly
Genesis Flower.
The moment the Genesis jade touched the Heavenly Genesis Flower, a crack split open on the flower,
swallowing the Genesis jade like a mouth.
After swallowing the jade, the originally somewhat wilting flower began to shine dazzlingly as it began to
energetically spout out more Genesis Qi.
Only now did the many disciples finally understood how precious the Genesis jade was...
As long as one had enough Genesis jade, one would practically have an endlessly spouting Heavenly
Genesis Flower, making one’s cultivation speed faster than others.
At this point, everyone could not help but feel some pity for Han Shan, because he had already lost all of
this month’s Genesis jade pieces...
Zhou Yuan opened his eyes, falling into thought for a brief second, before fishing out a Genesis jade piece
and feeding it to the Heavenly Genesis Flower.
While training earlier, he had faintly felt the existence of the Alpha-Origin Heaven. Once he succeeded in
sensing it, he would truly step into the Alpha-Origin stage.
*Gurgle*!
After eating the Genesis jade piece, the flower once again began to tirelessly draw out the Genesis Qi from
the mountain. In the end, Genesis Qi mixed with golden pollen covered Zhou Yuan’s figure like a golden
mist.
1175
With a single piece of Genesis jade, the Heavenly Genesis Flower would be able to continue for another
two hours.
Zhou Yuan’s figure was just barely discernible in the golden pollen Genesis Qi mist.
His eyes were tightly shut, his Spirit seemingly drifting in the murkiness. Something deep down inside of
him could feel a very faint sensation, while his Spirit slowly followed this faint feeling.
He did not know how long this continued, until a certain moment when his Spirit seemed to bump into
something.
With a jolt, Zhou Yuan’s Spirit violently returned to his senses as the world before him rapidly changed...
What appeared in his sights was a mysterious world that was filled with the aura of primal chaos. The
aura seemed to stir, giving off a feeling of ancientness.
“Is this place… the Alpha-Origin Heaven?!” Zhou Yuan’s Spirit trembled as he was struck with a flash of
understanding.
Then was this primal chaos like aura the so-called Alpha-Origin Qi?!
Absorbing it would transform his Qi Dwelling, allowing it to gradually evolve into a Divine Dwelling!
Joy flooded Zhou Yuan’s heart. He knew that the moment his Spirit entered this mysterious Alpha-Origin
Heaven, he had finally truly stepped into the Alpha-Origin stage!
“Use the Spirit to receive Alpha-Origin Qi, and transform the world of the Qi Dwelling…”
1176
Chapter 221 First Collection
Tiny wisps of what seemed to be the essence of the world drifted within the primal chaos like space,
giving off an ancient aura.
With regards to the mysterious world essence like Qi, desire instinctively rose in Zhou Yuan.
Zhou Yuan’s Spirit stood in this domain as his senses stretched forth. The domain seemed to be endless,
making it impossible for him to find its boundaries.
“So this is the Alpha-Origin stage.”
Mumbled Zhou Yuan to himself. Only those that had stepped into the Alpha-Origin stage would be able to
sense the Alpha-Origin Heaven and enter with their Spirit.
“I guess I’ll have to use my Spirit power to move the Alpha-Origin Qi here back into my body to begin
transforming my Qi Dwelling.”
Evidently, the more powerful the Spirit, the greater one’s advantage in the Alpha-Origin Heaven. With a
powerful Spirit, moving Alpha-Origin Qi would be more effective, allowing one to surpass others in this
aspect.
At this point, Zhou Yuan laughed softly. This just so happened to be his strong point. Amongst those at the
same level, he rarely encountered anyone whose Spirit was as powerful as his own.
With the exception of Yaoyao of course.
After all, not just anyone would possess a high class Spirit tempering method like the Primal Chaos Divine
After the baptism of the Saint blood, Zhou Yuan’s Spirit had grown even more corporeal again, and was
now at the perfect advance Illusory stage. All that was needed was an opportunity for him to smoothly
reach the Corporeal stage.
Normally speaking, for those who did not practice any Spirit tempering methods, when their Genesis Qi
cultivation reached the Alpha-Origin stage, their Spirit would also strengthen. However, this boost was
limited, and most would only reach the initial Illusory stage.
In comparison to Zhou Yuan’s perfect Illusory stage, the distance between them was tremendous.
Therefore, at the very least, Zhou Yuan’s Spirit would give him a huge advantage at the Alpha-Origin level.
1177
With these thoughts in mind, Zhou Yuan decided not to waste anymore time. His Spirit power extended,
seemingly transforming into numerous giant invisible hands that began to scoop up the tiny streams of
world essence Qi…
Spirit power swirled around his Spirit together with the now secured world essence, growing more
abundant as wisp after wisp continued to be collected.
After an incense stick of time, the flowing world essence Qi around him had thickened to strands.
By this time, all of the world essence Qi in the vicinity had already been collected.
Ordinarily speaking, an initial illusory stage Spirit would only last about an incense stick of time in the
Alpha-Origin Heaven, before being forcibly kicked out due to exhaustion.
However, Zhou Yuan was clearly not a part of this group. He could feel that his Spirit power was still
sufficient, and thus began to drift forward, finding another spot that was abundant in world essence Qi,
and begin the collection process again.
As such, the following period of time was spent happily collecting world essence Qi, only stopping when
his Spirit began to tire.
By now, the world essence Qi swirling around Zhou Yuan’s Spirit was akin to tiny twisters, a pretty
impressive sight indeed.
Zhou Yuan nodded as he gazed upon the fruits of his hard work in satisfaction. With a thought, his Spirit
began to leave the Alpha-Origin Heaven.
The invisible Spirit herded the world essence Qi towards the pull of the physical body...
...
Genesis Mountain.
At this current moment, the dazzling golden light on the numerous cultivation platforms had already
gradually dimmed. Stalk after stalk of Heavenly Genesis Flower drew back their leaves and petals, the
golden glow they previously gave off now much duller, a sign that they had used up all their energy.
The many disciples sat on the cultivation platforms, their faces overflowing with joy. The training session
had benefited them substantially, and most importantly, they had finally truly tasted the wonderfulness
of entering the Cangxuan Sect.
The outside world was definitely unable to provide such a unique training method, because ordinary
sects completely lacked the means...
1178
Yaoyao stretched her back, boldly displaying the amazing curves of her slender waist that drew several
barely detectable glances.
As a first class disciple, Yaoyao’s fame and reputation amongst the new disciples was even greater than
Zhou Yuan’s. Many were already secretly trying to find out more information about her since yesterday.
After all, Yaoyao was just too beautiful. In addition, her cold and distant demeanor made it such that
ordinary people would not dare to approach.
Only those first class disciples of the same status with ability worth bragging about would dare to have
designs on her.
Yaoyao chose to completely ignore these gazes. With Tuntun again in her arms, she looked towards Zhou
Yuan’s cultivation platform, and a soft cry of surprise suddenly sounded from her red lips, “Oh?”
She had sensed some strange activity from Zhou Yuan’s Spirit.
“This … his Spirit has entered the Alpha-Origin Heaven? Has he finally stepped into the first layer Alpha-
Origin stage?” Yaoyao was somewhat surprised.
Bzz!
The moment Yaoyao’s words faded, a strange noise suddenly sounded in the sky. Numerous disciples
lifted their heads in bewilderment, only to watch in astonishment as strands of world essence Qi began
hanging down from high up the sky like a tassel.
“This is… Alpha-Origin Qi?!”
The sight of the world essence Qi caused numerous disciples to cry out in surprise.
“Someone has just stepped into the Alpha-Origin stage?” Everyone was somewhat stunned. The scene
before their eyes was very familiar; it occured when someone reached the Alpha-Origin stage, linked to
the Alpha-Origin Heaven and brought back Alpha-Origin Qi.
In other words, someone had ascended to the Alpha-Origin stage. However, there was someone who had
yet to reach the Alpha-Origin stage amongst them?
“It’s Zhou Yuan!” Someone quickly regained his wits. Who else was there who had to reach the Alpha-
Origin stage besides Zhou Yuan.
Thus, surprised gaze after gaze was cast in Zhou Yuan’s direction.
Sure enough, they saw that his eyes were still closed, the world essence Qi hanging down from the sky
surrounding his body as it streamed in.
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“Heh, he’s already caused such a ruckus at the quasi Alpha-Origin stage, wouldn’t that mean he’ll be going
to turn the world upside down after he steps in the first layer Alpha-Origin?” Several Shengzhou first
class disciples could not help but cheekily joke when they saw this.
In between there words was mockery and arrogance.
One of the first class disciples smiled as he asked Lu Feng, “Lu Feng, when you reached the Alpha-Origin
stage, how long did the Alpha-Origin Qi you brought back last?”
Lu Feng’s face was impassive as he answered, “935 breaths.”
This period of time started when the Alpha-Origin Qi first appeared and ended when all of it entered the
Qi Dwelling. It would normally be over pretty quickly, and was hence counted in breaths.
When one reached the Heaven Gate stage, the Genesis Qi dashing past the Heaven Gate was measured in
feet.
At the Alpha-Origin stage, it was measured based on how much Alpha-Origin Qi was brought back. The
more abundant the Alpha-Origin Qi, the longer it lasted.
“Awesome.” Praised the other first class disciples when they heard Lu Feng’s answer as their faces lit up
with admiration. “The first time I brought back Alpha-Origin Qi, it only lasted for 400 breaths.”
“Me too.”
“Looks like brother Lu Feng’s Spirit is pretty strong too.”
Lu Feng chuckled softly. “I had a fortunate encounter in the past, and my Spirit just happened to reach the
mid Illusory stage when I ascended to the the Alpha-Origin stage.”
“No wonder.” The crowd nodded. Most of them were only at the initial Illusory stage and naturally could
not compare to Lu Feng.
“Hehe, I wonder how long the Alpha-Origin Qi Zhou Yuan brought back will last.” They grinned as they
looked towards Zhou Yuan as if something amusing was going to happen.
Zhou Yuan’s victory over Han Shan had in a certain manner made the Shengzhou disciples lose face.
Hence, they were naturally keen on gloating over him.
While the crowd was whispering, Gu Hongyi also looked over. The first time she had brought back Alpha-
Origin Qi, it had lasted a thousand breaths, a record even longer than Lu Feng’s.
Hence, she too was interested to find out what the one who had overwhelmed Han Shan could achieve.
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Besides them, even the Qiao Xiu and the other non Shengzhou disciples, whom had spoken up for Zhou
Yuan earlier, also cast their gazes over.
In mid air, Chen Yuan also turned his attention towards Zhou Yuan.
Under the numerous watching gazes, Zhou Yuan’s eyes remained shut as the world essence Qi continued
to descend...
Time swiftly passed breath by breath...
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Chapter 222 Genesis Qi Stars
A stream of world essence seemed to have been squeezed out of some unknown domain, appearing in the
sky above Zhou Yuan, before endlessly falling onto him...
Under the attention of countless gazes, time swiftly flowed.
A hundred breaths faded away in an instant.
Every gaze was unblinking as they continued to count the time.
A hundred breaths… a 150 breaths, 200 breaths...
It soon reached 300 breaths. However, the descending stream of world essence was still as clear and
bountiful as before, showing no signs of waning.
400 breaths.
500 breaths.
By this time, the expressions of the first class Shengzhou disciples had turned a little ugly. This timing had
already surpassed their own.
They could not help but sourly remark, “He does have some ability.”
Only Lu Feng remained impassive, not even the slightest ripple visible on his face.
World essence Qi continued to fall as time continued to flow. It soon reached 700 breaths.
Low cries of surprise began to ring out in the mountain. This timing had already surpassed 90% of the
people here, and even some first class disciples would be left far behind in the dust by this number.
“I can’t believe his Spirit cultivation is so high.” Said Qiao Xiu in amazement. Lasting this long was clearly
out of his expectations.
Lu Feng frowned slightly.
“This guy.”
He had detected that even at 700 breaths, the Alpha-Origin Qi that descended from the sky still showed
no signs of stopping. It looked as if the reserves were still ample...
750 breaths… 800 breaths, 1000 breaths.
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The entire Genesis Mountain had fell deathly silent. The Shengzhou first class disciples swallowed their
saliva and looked towards Lu Feng, seeing the latter’s brows now tightly furrowed together.
Zhou Yuan had already surpassed his record.
The thing that made Lu Feng’s expression sink the most was that even at a thousand breaths, the falling
stream of world essence still showed no indications of weakening.
Several of the first class disciples could not help but blurt out, “Just how strong is his Spirit?! How can he
bring back so much Alpha-Origin Qi on his first time?!”
Lu Feng’s gaze flickered for a moment. He stared deeply at Zhou Yuan and indifferently said,
“Interesting.”
“How interesting.” Gu Hongyi’s eyes also glimmered faintly, her voice filled with interest. She had realised
that she could no longer estimate the extent of his abilities.
The young man who had originally been nothing special in her eyes now seemed a little unfathomable.
As soft gasps sounded across the mountain, the Alpha-Origin Qi continued to fall, lasting all the way till
2359 breaths under everyone’s stunned gazes.
Numerous disciples looked to each other, not knowing what to say.
Even now, the Alpha-Origin Qi they could bring back was far from being able to match this number. And
yet, Zhou Yuan had achieved it on his very first try...
Although this did not determine one’s future accomplishments, like how tall one’s Genesis Qi could reach
at the Heaven Gate stage, it would at least give Zhou Yuan the absolute advantage during the Alpha-Origin
stage.
A single round for him would be equivalent to several round for them. How could they match his
efficiency?
Lu Feng let out a long breath, his eyes turning as deep as the night. He looked towards the stunned
Shengzhou disciples in the vicinity and said in a nonchalant voice, “No need to make a mountain out of a
molehill. His Spirit is likely stronger than ours because he practices a Spirit tempering method.”
“I’ll admit that he does have ambition, training both Genesis Qi and Spirit.”
“Though ambition is good, one should only do what’s within one’s capabilities. Dual cultivation would
result in having to split one’s efforts and attention, making him unable to be as focused as us. Therefore,
when the comes where we step into the Diving Dwelling stage, he will likely still be struggling at the
Alpha-Origin stage.”
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“Likewise, how long he lasted doesn’t mean anything, because the most important factor is still how
many Genesis Qi stars he managed to create, the true representation of one’s foundations.”
The other disciples nodded in agreement after hearing this. It was indeed as he had said, dual cultivation
might give one the ability to utilise multiple strategies, but it also meant difficulting in achieving
proficiency in both. Thus, it may be better to focus on one like themselves.
At the very least, if they could reach the Divine Dwelling stage, though their Spirits would not be as strong
as Zhou Yuan’s, they would still be able to easily finish him off in a fight.
As for the Genesis Qi stars, they were tiny specks of light created from the amalgamation of Genesis Qi
and Alpha-Origin Qi, and looked similar to stars. Hence why they were called Genesis Qi stars.
Someone asked, “How many Genesis Qi stars did senior brother Lu create on your first try? I believe I
managed slightly over 20.”
“I only had a little more than 50 on my first try.” Lu Feng smiled faintly.
The others once again secretly wet their lips. Having over fifty Genesis Qi stars after reaching the Alpha-
Origin stage was enough to show the abundance of Lu Feng’s Genesis Qi.
Gu Hongyi’s gaze concentrated on Zhou Yuan. She too understood that although how long the Alpha-
Origin Qi lasted showed the strength of his Spirit, the most important thing to the Alpha-Origin stage was
the number of Genesis Qi stars.
“I made sixty three back then, I wonder how many Zhou Yuan will create.”
...
While the entire mountain was in shock due to Zhou Yuan, the person himself was completely unaware,
because he was currently viewing the interior of his Qi Dwelling.
As the robust Alpha-Origin Qi flowed into his Qi Dwelling, enormous changes began to appear.
Zhou Yuan’s Qi Dwelling had originally given off a blood-red luster, but as more and more Alpha-Origin
entered, the Qi Dwelling gradually began to expand, growing even larger.
Faint ancient patterns began to appear.
Zhou Yuan could clearly feel the Alpha-Origin Qi enlarge his Qi Dwelling, allowing for more Genesis Qi to
be stored.
In addition, when the Alpha-Origin Qi began to mix with the Genesis Qi within, a strange but wonderful
mist began to rise, condensing into specks of light that seemed akin to stars in the sky of the Qi Dwelling.
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These light dots were filled with pure Genesis Qi, while a barely discernible python like mark could be
seen on each one.
“My Genesis Qi is being consumed…” Zhou Yuan felt the Genesis Qi in his Qi Dwelling rapidly deplete as
each Genesis Qi star appeared.
“Is this the mark of the Alpha-Origin, Genesis Qi stars?” Zhou Yuan carefully absorbed the star like dots.
These Genesis Qi stars symbolize the Alpha-Origin stage and were extremely useful. In battle, the Genesis
Qi from detonating these Genesis Qi stars would possess even more explosive and destructive power than
usual.
Genesis Qi transforming into Genesis Qi stars was undoubtedly an evolution of sorts.
Zhou Yuan mumbled in his heart, “It’s said that Divine Dwelling experts have a whole world made from
Genesis Qi in their Qi Dwelling which is populated by millions of stars. In a fight, they can turn the stars
into Genesis Qi at any time at a far more effective rate than any Alpha-Origin.”
At this point in time, 146 Genesis Qi stars had been created in his Qi Dwelling.
“I’ve heard that the greater the number of Genesis Qi stars at the ninth layer Alpha-Origin stage, the
higher quality the Divine Dwelling formed.” Zhou Yuan was eager to find out how many Genesis Qi stars
he would have when he advanced to the Divine Dwelling stage.
With such thoughts in mind, he once again looked towards the stars in his Qi Dwelling, before
withdrawing from his state of cultivation.
On the cultivation platform, Zhou Yuan’s tightly shut eyes finally opened, immediately feeling the
countless gazes on his body.
“Hey.”
A clear voice sounded. Zhou Yuan raised his head, and saw Gu Hongyi staring at him with bright eyes as
she directly asked, “How many Genesis Qi stars do you have?”
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Chapter 223 Importance of Genesis Jade
When Gu Hongyi’s clear voice sounded, various emotions appeared within the countless gazes that were
currently focused on Zhou Yuan.
The amount of Alpha-Origin Qi Zhou Yuan brought back was something to be envious about.
However, the amount only showed that Zhou Yuan’s Spirit cultivation was high. The most important
thing to the Alpha-Origin stage was still the number of Genesis Qi stars.
From a certain point of view, it represented the amount of Genesis Qi one had.
Of course, this did not mean that the more Genesis Qi stars the more powerful someone would be. There
were still various other factors to consider such as the grade of these Genesis Qi stars and etc.
Even so, at the end of the day, having more Genesis Qi stars would give one an advantage.
Zhou Yuan was slightly taken aback by Gu Hongyi’s directness. Soon after, he shook his head and said,
“No comment.”
The number of Genesis Qi stars was a rather personal thing, and would allow another party to estimate
one’s strength. Although Zhou Yuan did not really mind, he felt that there was really no benefit to
revealing it here besides maybe causing some eyeballs to pop out of their sockets. Therefore, he cleanly
rejected.
Tch!
Zhou Yuan’s words immediately caused a series of noises indicating displeasure.
“You!”
Gu Hongyi’s eyes widened slightly, somewhat peeved as she glared at Zhou Yuan. Given her status, she
was seldom rejected by those of the opposite sex.
“Tch, it seems that he’s too ashamed to tell us.” Several of Gu Hongyi’s admirers sneered.
“Yea, he likely doesn’t dare to say it. After all, he had brought back so much Alpha-Origin Qi earlier and
probably wasted it all. What a pity.” Others began to chime in.
They clearly believed Zhou Yuan’s reluctance to answer was due to a lack of confidence.
However, Zhou Yuan’s expression remained calm in the face of their words. “If anyone wants to know
how many Genesis Qi stars I have, won’t you find out once you challenge me?”
1186
The numerous disciples froze, before cursing out loud. Everyone present knew that you would have to
pay 30 Genesis jade pieces per challenge. The price was far too high.
Hence, they could only inwardly shake their heads. After seeing Zhou Yuan’s battle prowess earlier, they
no longer dared to underestimate this first class disciple who seemed the easiest to bully on the surface.
Most importantly, Zhou Yuan was now even stronger than before, because he had now also stepped into
the first layer Alpha-Origin stage.
Zhou Yuan was a little disappointed that no one was interested. It seems that the plan of winning Genesis
jade crystals using this method was not going to work… after the first time, these people won’t fall for the
same trick twice.
As for the first class disciples, they were unlikely to act before getting a proper grasp of his abilities.
Gu Hongyi gritted her pearly white teeth. In the end, she could only glare at Zhou Yuan. Although she was
curious about how many Genesis Qi stars Zhou Yuan had, there was no grudge between them, and thus
no reason for her to challenge him.
“Is he using this method to attract my attention?” Gu Hongyi blinked a few times. There were after all too
many young men who adored her, amongst which were no lack of individuals that tried various methods
to catch her eye.
However, such thoughts were quickly discarded, because she had just glanced in Yaoyao’s direction. After
a brief comparison, she could only bite her red lips. Even someone as prideful as herself had no choice but
to admit that this mysterious and distant girl was truly one of the most remarkable beauties in this world.
She did not know the former’s relation with Zhou Yuan, but one could not deny that they were very close.
If not, they would not be living together.
In the air, Chen Yuan looked down from above, his indifferent gaze sweeping across Zhou Yuan before
shifting towards the numerous disciples as he said, “Today’s training session shall end here. In the future,
all of you will need to train on Genesis Mountain every day.”
With regards to this, everyone nodded in approval. Genesis Mountain was just too effective, and after
personally experiencing its wonders, they were naturally dying to train in it everyday.
“Although Genesis Qi cultivation is important, do not neglect your Genesis techniques.”
“You may head to the outer mountains Hidden Scriptures House to rent Genesis techniques. However, the
higher tier Genesis techniques will cost more to borrow. Of course, everything will be paid in Genesis
jade.”
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“There are also many instructors in the Hidden Scriptures House whom you may approach if you’re
having any difficulties with the Genesis techniques you’ve selected. Similarly, this service will require
Genesis jade, and the better the instructor, the higher the cost.”
Chen Yuan’s words made the heads of the numerous disciples swim. Why was Genesis jade needed for
everything? They had originally not thought much about the Genesis jade, but today, its importance had
been deeply carved into them.
Without Genesis jade, even the time they could use on the Heavenly Genesis Flower would be less than
others.
It seemed that thirty Genesis jade pieces per month were really not enough.
At the sight of the pained faces of the crowd, Chen Yuan instantly knew what they were worrying about.
Hence, he continued to speak, “As for Genesis jade, besides the thirty given to you guys every month, you
may earn more by completing various tasks from the Task Pavillion.”
“They give out all kinds of missions such as patrolling, night watch duty, hunting various Genesis Beasts,
searching for Genesis resources and many others. As long as you complete such tasks, you will receive
Genesis jade as a reward.”
Only after hearing this did everyone breathe a sigh of relief. So there was another method to obtain
Genesis jade. If not, their days would have to be spent very frugally.
Zhou Yuan’s eyes brightened. He was not interested in going to the Task Pavillion to take on any
assignments for the time being. After all, he had won thirty Genesis jade pieces from Han Shan. Therefore,
he was more interested in the outer mountains Hidden Scripture House.
Although it was the outer mountains, it was still the Cangxuan Sect, and the Genesis techniques found
within should not be too low grade, right?
“Amongst the Genesis techniques I have, only the Great Wind and Thunder technique is at the little
Heaven level, and even then, it just barely makes the cut. All the other techniques have somewhat fallen
behind my cultivation, including Dragon Tablet Hand.”
Mumbled Zhou Yuan to himself. As his strength rose, there was less and less use for the previous Genesis
techniques he had learnt. In fact, he had been mostly relying on the Omni Python Qi’s Genesis techniques
in battle, such as the Magical Python Scales.
Hence, he urgently needed a few little Heaven tier Genesis techniques to bolster his arsenal.
Unfortunately, techniques at this level were difficult to come by, which could be seen for how hard he had
to work in order to obtain a single Great Wind and Thunder technique.
“Looks like I’ll be dropping by the Hidden Scriptures House.”
1188
While Zhou Yuan was talking to himself, Chen Yuan had finished his explanations, and began to leave.
The atmosphere of Genesis Mountain relaxed as chatter began to fill the place.
Gu Hongyi swept a glance at Zhou Yuan, no intentions of talking to him as she turned around and began
descending the mountain. She was clearly still a little miffed at Zhou Yuan’s rejection.
Lu Feng also headed down the mountain with numerous Shengzhou disciples crowding around him. His
expression was indifferent, but when he walked past Zhou Yuan, he paused and said, “I am not too
interested in you, but I am an acquaintance of Hongyi’s family, and hence hope that you will not become
too friendly with her, while also giving her a little more respect.”
“I do not intend to cause trouble for you, but I also hope that you do not come looking for it.”
Without waiting for Zhou Yuan’s reply, the former seemed to disdainfully brush past the latter.
The Shengzhou first class disciple entourage fearlessly swept their gazes at Zhou Yuan, as if slightly
pitying the fact that he had drawn Lu Feng’s attention.
Zhou Yuan paid no heed to their gazes, frowning slightly as he gazed at Lu Feng’s back. The superior airs
these Shengzhou disciples put up was really very unlikeable.
“I too hope that you will not provoke me…”
His eyes narrowed slightly, a certain sharpness appearing on his slightly pursed lips.
Or else, my fist will not give any face to your identities as Shengzhou geniuses...
1189
Chapter 224 Resolve
Hundred Fragrances House.
This was an eatery in the outer mountains area. For the numerous outer mountain disciples, it was a
place with extremely good service. The wide range of delicacies available was only second to the high
grade ingredients used. Not only would the food satisfy your appetite, it would even benefit your
cultivation.
Of course, one needed to pay Genesis jade to enjoy the services here. Hence, extremely few disciples could
afford to come here during the initial period.
At this current moment, Zhou Yuan had brought Yaoyao, Tuntun, Shen Wanjin, Xiao Tianxuan and the rest
of the Cangmang geniuses here, and booked a table to celebrate his breakthrough to the Alpha-Origin
stage.
The more important reason was that the moment they reached its doors, Tuntun suddenly charged in as
if it had gone mad, making it practically impossible to stop this little creature...
“Heh heh, I saw this place yesterday, but did not even dare to step in. Thanks to little Yuan bro, I can
finally have a taste of its delicacies today.” Shen Wanjin chuckled, his face practically gleaming.
After arriving at the Cangxuan Sect, everyone had become rather poor, no longer the doted and pampered
geniuses they were before. Hence, they were initially unable to afford coming to such a place.
Zhou Yuan smiled, a smile filled with raw physical pain. When he ordered earlier, he had discovered that
the main component of practically all of the dishes were grade 4 Genesis Beasts. Even for the soup,
numerous rare Genesis resources were used to enhance its flavor.
While at the Channel Opening stage, he had once consumed the royal clan’s Nine Beast Soup. Compared to
this place however, the Nine Beast Soup was akin to a little shrimp in the ocean.
Of course, the better the food, the higher the price. A single meal had cost Zhou Yuan ten Genesis jade
pieces.
When his thoughts reached this point, he could not help venomously glare at Tuntun, which was
currently drooling with its mouth wide open and its tail happily wagging from side to side.
“Little Yuan bro was so cool today. Let’s see if they still dare to look down on our Cangmang Continent.”
By the side, a rather pretty young girl with a goose egg shaped face grinned widely.
She was called Shuixi and her clan was also an overlord in the Cangmang Continent.
The others also smiled and nodded.
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One could see that they had completely put down their previous mental block and started to truly treat
Zhou Yuan as their core. Over the past two days, they had clearly felt how intense the competition was in
the Cangxuan Sect. If they did not group together, they would only be bullied and trampled on by others.
As the only two first class disciples from the Cangmang Continent, Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao were the
strongest amongst them. Thus they naturally became the central pillars of the group.
Zhou Yuan looked at everyone and said, “Shen Wanjin told me that the other disciples have begun
forming their own groups and factions during the past two days, while we Cangmang disciples were the
only ones that were left out. On hindsight, it was due to me that you guys were implicated.”
He softy chuckled, before continuing, “I’m honestly not too interested in forming a group, but since we
are all from the Cangmang Continent, when possible, I will naturally try to take care of you guys.”
Shen Wanjin lifted his cup and declared, “These words of little Yuan bro are enough already.”
As he spoke, he suddenly nudged the silent Xiao Tianxuan beside him.
The latter's expression was somewhat rigid. He lifted his head and glanced at Zhou Yuan, hesitating
somewhat before he finally said, “Before we left the Cangmang Continent, my father told me that he has
sent an envoy to the Great Zhou Empire to seek an alliance.”
Zhou Yuan was slightly taken aback. It was hard to believe that the city lord of Saint Remains City had
done such a thing. One must know that Saint Remains City was one of the strongest factions in the
Cangmang Continent, and was not much weaker than the Great Wu Empire.
The reason why Xiao Tianxuan’s father had done so was likely because he knew about the grudge
between his son and Zhou Yuan. Was this how the former planned to resolve it?
“What charisma, he’s an amazing man.” Zhou Yuan secretly thought to himself. The Saint Remains City
lord had chosen to ally with the Great Zhou Empire because of him. Although Saint Remains City was a
long distance away from the Great Zhou and Great Wu Empires, and would not be able to do much if
something were to happen, Saint Remains City would still be able to function as a threat of sorts, ensuring
that the Great Wu Empire would have to watch its back if it were to try anything with the Great Zhou
Empire.
Thus, Zhou Yuan could not help but be grateful to the Saint Remains City lord’s actions.
Zhou Yuan could not help but sigh inside. No wonder Saint Remains City was growing increasingly
powerful under the city lord’s leadership.
Zhou Yuan picked up his cup, and was silent for a moment, before he lifted it towards Xiao Tianxuan and
said, “Let all our previous grudges end here.”
1191
The main reason why Xiao Tianxuan had made things difficult for Zhou Yuan in the Saint Remains
Domain was due to Gu Ling’s egging. However, the former had ended up gaining nothing, and was instead
nearly tortured to death by Zhou Yuan.
After leaving the Cangmang Continent and arriving at the Cangxuan Sect, Zhou Yuan’s view of the world
had changed, and Xiao Tianxuan no longer posed any threat in his eyes.
Since the city lord wanted to resolve the grudge between the two of them, there was no reason for him to
make a fuss.
Xiao Tianxuan’s lips moved, but did not say anything in the end, merely lifting his own cup and downing it
in a single go.
Following the closure of their grudge, the atmosphere immediately eased up, turning noisy and lively.
Everyone present was a youngster, and had come a long way from home to this unfamiliar place. Hence,
they soon warmed up to each other.
Delicious dishes began to arrive one after another, and everyone could not help but begin to gorge
themselves.
Tuntun was the most terrifying of the bunch, its mouth opening wide as it swallowed food several times
larger than its body...
Yaoyao was the most graceful, merely sampling some of the vegetables, no interest in any of the food that
was too strong in flavor.
As more and more food entered their stomachs, everyone’s faces began to flush as boiling heat rose
within them. They could feel searing Genesis Qi flowing within their bodies, ultimately swiftly flooding
into their Qi Dwellings.
While everyone was happily digging in, laughter was heard, “Hehe, junior brother Zhou Yuan is so
generous. Not many disciples will patronise the Hundred Fragrances House at such a time.”
Zhou Yuan raised his head, and saw a young man standing to the side, a slight smile on his face as he
watched them. It was the one who had spoken up for Zhou Yuan in Genesis Mountain, Qiao Xiu.
Zhou Yuan had some good feelings towards the former, and immediately rose as he cupped his fists
together. “So it’s senior brother Qiao Xiu.”
Disciples of the same status would differentiate their rank by age. Qiao Xiu was evidently older than Zhou
Yuan.
Zhou Yuan could tell that Qiao Xiu had something to say, and thus pointed beside him and said, “Want to
come over and have a seat?”
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Qiao Xiu cheerfully consented, proceeding to sit down and chat with the rest for a while, before he finally
looked towards Zhou Yuan and asked, “Junior brother Zhou Yuan, are you interested in joining us along
with everyone else?”
He did not beat about the bush, directly stating his objective.
Shen Wanjin, Xiao Tianxuan and the rest fell silent.
There was not much surprise on Zhou Yuan’s face, evidently having already guessed Qiao Xiu’s aim.
Qiao Xiu smiled and said, “Junior brother Zhou Yuan should know that the competition in the outer
mountains is extremely fierce, and the many disciples here have already formed various factions and
groups.”
“Grouping up and watching each other’s backs is after all better than fighting alone.”
“Moreover, the Shengzhou disciples advantage is too great. They are too powerful and any non
Shengzhou disciple will be suppressed by them.”
Qiao Xiao stared at Zhou Yuan as he slowly continued, “I’ve heard that there will only be ten gold sash
quotas in the upcoming peak selection ceremony, and the Shengzhou disciples have already declared that
they will be taking them all, a truly overbearing declaration."
"Gold sash quotas?" Zhou Yuan's brows knitted together slightly.
"Looks like junior brother Zhou Yuan has yet to hear of this." Qiao Xiu chuckled. "We are currently outer
mountain disciples, and if we manage to enter the seven peaks, we will become inner mountain
disciples."
"These inner mountain disciples are also divided into different categories, from highest to the lowest,
purple sash disciples, gold sash disciples and black sash disciples."
"The higher one's rank, the higher one's status in the seven peaks. In addition, one will also be granted
completely different cultivation resources. The top ten performers of every peak selection ceremony will
directly become gold sash disciples, bypassing the black sash rank."
"Moreover, only the top ten will be allowed to choose which peak to enter. The others will be allocated by
the sect."
At this point, Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao began to frown. They had come to the Cangxuan Sect to enter Saint
Genesis Peak and obtain the second Saint Rune that patriarch Cang Xuan had sealed within it."
If they ended up forcibly allocated to one of the other peaks, won't they be unable to achieve their goal?
1193
Zhou Yuan's eyes narrowed slightly. Looks like Yaoyao and him needed to each take one of the top ten
spots in the peak selection ceremony…
As such, they would have to take them from the shengzhou disciples, an act akin to taking food from a
tiger.
1194
Chapter 225 Ethereal Form
Seated at the table, Qiao Xiu smiled slightly as he looked at Zhou Yuan’s expression and said, “I can see
that junior brother Zhou Yuan is someone with ambition, and will not be satisfied with being the lowest
rank black sash disciple when entering the seven peaks.”
Cangxuan Sect disciples were strictly regulated by a ranking system, which aimed to motivate the
disciples. A higher ranked disciple would not only enjoy high status, but also obtain more cultivation
resources than the other disciples, cultivation resources that undoubtedly meant gaining a lead on others.
Sometimes, it was as the saying went; once you’re one step behind, you will always be that step behind.
In fact, it may even result in you being forever being crushed under heel by others.
Hence, there was no disciple who was willing to give up on their chance so easily during the peak
selection ceremony.
“The group I’m in has five first class disciples including myself. If we were to talk about strength, our
group is one of the stronger ones amongst the non Shengzhou disciple factions.”
Qiao Xiu fervently looked at Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao as he continued, “If junior brother Zhou Yuan and
senior sister Yaoyao join us, we will be able to attract even more disciples to our group. When that
happens, we will not lose out even to the Shengzhou factions.”
He then looked towards Shen Wanjin and the rest as he said, “When that time comes, the other Cangmang
disciples can also join us.”
However, Shen Wanjin, Xiao Tianxuan and the rest did not speak. They merely looked towards Zhou
Yuan, clearly waiting for his decision.
Zhou Yuan held in cup in silence for a while, before he slowly shook his head under Qiao Xiu’s fervent
gaze. “I don’t think I’ll be able to join senior brother Qiao Xiu’s group.”
He had still ended up rejecting Qiao Xiu’s invitation, because he knew that though there was power in
numbers, it also came with more disputes and troubles.
Zhou Yuan main objective in the Cangxuan Sect was to reach the Divine Dwelling stage as fast as possible.
Only then would he truly possess the power to deal with the Great Wu Empire.
Though the Great Wu Empire was currently doing all it could to stabilize the situation at its borders, once
king Wu got his hands free, he would surely turn his eyes to the Great Zhou Empire.
Therefore, Zhou Yuan needed to step into the Divine Dwelling stage before that happened.
1195
He did not wish to waste any potential training time on the disputes and meaningless politics in groups
such as these.
Disappointment rose on Qiao Xiu’s face in response to Zhou Yuan’s rejection. The former was not angry
however, only feeling that it was such a pity.
“Although I cannot join your group, I am willing to become friends with senior brother Qiao Xie. If we
have any needs in the future, we can always help each other.” Zhou Yuan smiled.
He did not want to tangle himself in the matters of a group, but he was willing to be friends with Qiao Xiu.
The latter’s character was pretty good, and quite to Zhou Yuan’s liking.
Qiao Xiu also smiled when he heard this and candidly said, “That’s exactly what I’m looking for.”
He did not try to persuade or force Zhou Yuan, because he was confident in his judgment. Zhou Yuan
might seem as if he had just reached the first layer Alpha-Origin stage, but Qiao Xiu had the feeling that
the latter was not as simple as he appeared on the surface.
“Although junior brother Zhou Yuan is not joining us, the others can still join us if they are interested.”
Qiao Xiu indicated towards Shen Wanjin and the rest with a grin.
Shen Wanjin and the rest were all third class disciples, and Qiao Xiu was naturally not interested in their
strength. However, he was a person with values and since he knew that these were Zhou Yuan’s friends,
he would give Zhou Yuan some face and allow them to join.
Shen Wanjin and the rest were definitely tempted. After all, they clearly understood their current
situation as outer mountain disciples. Ordinary third class disciples that did not have any faction behind
them would only face bullying everywhere. Although Zhou Yuan had shocked and awed everyone today,
they naturally hoped to make more friends that would be able to help them.
However, they did not nod but instead look towards Zhou Yuan.
Upon seeing this, Zhou Yuan smiled and nodded. It just so happened that he intended to concentrate on
his cultivation, and was afraid that he may not be able to take care of everyone all the time. With Qiao
Xiu’s help, he would not have to worry about this.
Zhou Yuan lifted his cup and said, “I am thankful to senior brother Qiao Xiu.”
Qiao Xiu chuckled, knowing that Zhou Yuan was showing that he owed the former.
Since both of them were now much closer, Qiao Xiu could not help but ask, “Right… junior brother Zhou
Yuan, I’m dying to know since you brought back so much Alpha-Origin on your first try, how many
genesis Qi stars did you create?”
Shen Wanjin and the rest also opened their ears, evidently equally curious.
1196
Zhou Yuan laughed and lifted his cup, downing in a single gulp, before he answered, “Only about a
hundred.”
*Gasp*
A series of gasps sounded around the tablet, Shen Wanjin and the rest dumbstruck. They were also first
layer Alpha-Origin practitioners, but the number of Genesis Qi stars in their Qi Dwellings only numbered
slightly over thirty.
Qiao Xiu also opened and closed his mouth. In the end, he let out a bitter chuckle.
Let alone Shen Wanjin and the rest, even a third layer Alpha-Origin like himself only had a hundred or so
stars. In other words, if they were to compete purely based on amount of Genesis Qi, a third layer Alpha-
Origin like himself may not be able to beat Zhou Yuan.
This caused to sigh deeply. He was truly unable to comprehend how Zhou Yuan’s Genesis Qi had reached
such a level.
However, this also made Qiao Xiu rejoice. It seems that his judgement was right after all. The young man
before him was indeed extraordinary. Though the latter currently did not have much of a reputation, Qiao
Xiu had a premonition that there would be no one in the future Cangxuan Sect who would not know Zhou
Yuan...
...
The next day.
Early in the morning, Zhou Yuan was naturally not absent for the Genesis Mountain training. However,
Yaoyao could not be bothered to go this time, merely throwing Tuntun to him, and telling him to put
Tuntun on her cultivation platform.
Thus, a strange sight could be seen on Genesis Mountain today. A little creature lay on Yaoyao’s
cultivation platform, its mouth wide open as it ate the surging Genesis Qi, a sight that made numerous
disciples could not help but envy.
After the Genesis Mountain training, Zhou Yuan carried Tuntun down the mountain, heading straight for
the Hidden Scriptures House. He had been itching to visit this place ever since yesterday.
The Hidden Scriptures House was a majestic ancient looking building that stood at the peak of one of the
towering mountains. From the seemingly unending stream of disciples flying towards it, one could see
that this place was undoubtedly one of the most popular locations in the outer mountains.
The Hidden Scriptures House was extremely enormous, and was divided into three levels. Black tier
Genesis techniques were stored on the first level, little Heaven on the second, and it was said that the
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third held true Heaven tier techniques. However, the rental fee was extremely high, and current disciples
could not possibly afford them.
Hence, Zhou Yuan made a beeline to the second level.
A little Heaven Genesis technique was more than attractive enough to his current self.
There were very few disciples on the second level, because although the little Heaven Genesis techniques
here were powerful, they were even more difficult to learn. Everyone currently did not have many
Genesis jade pieces at hand, and thus did not want to waste them, planning instead to visit later on when
they had accumulated enough.
The second level looked even better than the first, numerous jade strips hovering above white jade
displays. Light shined from these jade strips, forming numerous words in the air in front of them.
“There’s so many…” Zhou Yuan was stunned by this sight. He estimated that there were over a hundred of
them after a cursory glance. This number truly shocked him to the core. One must know that a little
Heaven tier technique would be cherished as one of the most prized possessions by the factions in the
Cangmang Continent.
And yet, they were now so common here.
From this, one could see just how terrifying the Cangxuan Sect’s foundations were.
Zhou Yuan wet his lips, his gaze burning as he walked forward step by step, passing white jade platform
after platform.
“Low grade little Heaven Genesis technique, Earth Covering Finger Seal.”
“Low grade little Heaven Genesis technique, Sword Heart Dipper.”
“Mid grade little Heaven Genesis technique, Metal Devil Genesis Body.”
“...”
Zhou Yuan’s gaze swept across the words in front of numerous jade strips, discovering that the little
Heaven Genesis techniques here had been meticulously categorised.
According to his estimates, the Great Wind and Thunder technique he obtained in the Saint Remains
Domain would be classified as a mid grade little Heaven Genesis technique.
“What I need the most now is a movement type Genesis technique.”
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Mumbled Zhou Yuan to himself. The Dragon Step technique he initially learnt was no longer enough as it
was after all only a Black tier technique. Hence, Zhou Yuan had been planning on finding a little Heaven
level movement technique.
His feet continued their slow advance. After about half an incense stick of time, they finally came to a stop
in front of a certain white jade display as Zhou Yuan’s burning gaze stared at the ancient jade strip before
him.
“Mid grade little Heaven Genesis technique, Ethereal Form.”
“Make the body akin to an illusion, making it difficult to discern what is real, and impossible to catch like
the clouds.”
Zhou Yuan’s heart shook. Ethereal Form was clearly out of the ordinary. Without any hesitation, he
reached out to grab the jade strip.
However, just as his fingers touched it, another fair hand suddenly appeared from the side, grabbing the
other corner of the jade strip.
Zhou Yuan was stunned. He turned his head, only to see a pair of bright eyes glaring at him.
A closer look revealed that it was a young lady with a sexy body and eye-grabbing legs in red. Who could
it be be but Gu Hongyi?
1199
Chapter 226 Zhu Yue
“Gu Hongyi…”
Zhou Yuan was a little dazed for a time as he gazed at the girl in red who had also chosen the Ethereal
Form technique. She was usually the focus of attention amongst the outer mountain disciples, and was
not only blessed with good looks, but also superb talent. Most importantly of course, it was said that she
had some ties in the Cangxuan Sect, practically making her one of the most welcomed individuals in the
eyes of the male outer mountain disciples.
“You’re also choosing it? Then you can have it first.”
Although most of the Shengzhou disciples gave off an air of superiority and were extremely arrogant, not
much of it could be seen from Gu Hongyi. It was as if there was no difference between the disciples in her
eyes, which was also why Zhou Yuan voluntarily released his grip.
Just because someone else had chosen a Genesis technique here did not mean that others no longer had
any chance. Hence, Zhou Yuan did not mind giving way to a lady.
“Oh, how courteous.” Gu Hongyi glanced at him, but did not accept Zhou Yuan’s goodwill. She released her
fingers and said, “Forget it, there’s still a copy version.”
After speaking, she confidently turned around and left, leaving behind a slight fragrance as her fine black
hair brushed past in front of Zhou Yuan.
However, she suddenly stopped after two steps, slightly tilting her head backwards as her bright eyes
looked towards Zhou Yuan. “But I advise you not to choose this Genesis technique.”
“Why?” Zhou Yuan frowned a little.
Gu Hongyi replied, “Because Zhu Feng is also practicing it.”
Zhou Yuan’s frown deepened, his tone calm as he asked, “What does that have to do with me? Am I not
allowed to learn any Genesis techniques he selects?”
The corners of Gu Hongyi’s red lips rose slightly. “No comment.”
One could tell that she was still harboring a tiny grudge from when Zhou Yuan had rejected her in front of
everyone yesterday. Hence, she returned him the exact same words he had given her.
Zhou Yuan watched her slender, graceful figure leave. As she strided forward with her long legs, every
male disciple on the second level seemingly followed her.
“Women are indeed good at holding grudges.” Mumbled Zhou Yuan to himself.
1200
However, he had no interest in Gu Hongyi, and this did not care about her attitude. His gaze quickly
turned towards the jade stripe before him, a satisfied smile forming on his lips as he reached out to take
it.
With the jade strip now in hand, some simple information flowed into his head; the cost of renting the
jade strip.
Five Genesis jade pieces a day.
Recorded within these jade strips was the detailed cultivation method and the experiences of numerous
elders and seniors. Even so, it was exceedingly difficult to learn, requiring ordinary disciple would have
to spend a tremendous amount of time.
This would undoubtedly be a huge expenditure of Genesis jade.
Therefore, majority of the disciples would seek out instructors in the Hidden Scriptures House after
choosing a Genesis technique. These instructors would point them in the right direction, allowing them to
more easily master the technique.
“So expensive.” Zhou Yuan could not help but sigh. Though the forty or so Genesis jade pieces might seem
like a lot, they were really not enough.
Zhou Yuan continued advancing with the jade strip, but stopped again after a few steps, his eyeballs
nearly popping from their sockets as he stared at a jade strip that was now before him.
“Nine Dragons Canon, high grade little Heaven Genesis technique.”
“Transform one’s Genesis Qi into dragons, peerless and tyrannical.”
These short few words gave off a tyrannical aura, displaying the power of the technique.
Zhou Yuan’s heart trembled with desire, but his expression turned stiff when he saw the rental price. The
Nine Dragons Canon required twenty Genesis jade pieces a day, four times of the Ethereal Form
technique!
“Damnit.”
Zhou Yuan could not help but curse through gritted teeth, ultimately making the painful decision to give
up on it for the time being. He planned to first master Ethereal Form, gather enough Genesis jade and
then return to rent the Nine Dragons Canon.
Zhou Yuan forcibly pulled his gaze away from the jade strip, tightening his grip around the Ethereal Form
jade strip as he turned around and quickly walked off. He soon arrived at the counter and handed the jade
strip to a middle-aged man behind it.
1201
The man picked up a jade booklet to record as he asked, “Pass me your disciple token. Also, the Ethereal
Form technique costs five Genesis jade pieces a day, how many days do you plan on leasing it?”
Zhou Yuan pondered for a moment and answers, “I’ll go with Five days.”
He’ll first see to what extent he can master the Ethereal Form technique in five days.
The middle-aged manager nodded and said, “Are you intending to find a Genesis technique instructor
that has learnt it already?”
Zhou Yuan was silent for a brief moment before asking, “Do you have any recommendations?”
Little Heaven Genesis techniques were rather difficult to comprehend, and it was easy to take the wrong
path if one were to blindly grasp about on his own, causing even more time to be wasted. At times, having
someone else’s guidance would be a huge help.
Therefore, if the conditions were right, Zhou Yuan naturally intended on finding an instructor to guide
him.
The middle-aged manager thought for a bit, retrieved a jade tile and handed it to Zhou Yuan. “Most of the
instructors here are inner mountain disciples from the seven peaks, and there’s currently only one of
them who has learnt the Ethereal Form technique. The price of listening to his teachings is also five
Genesis jade pieces per day.”
Zhou Yuan curiously received the jade tile, and found a name inscribed on it.
“Zhu Yue.”
Without raising his head, the middle-aged manager continued, “The practice halls are in the mountain
behind the Hidden Scriptures House. You can go find them yourself. Remember to return the jade strip
when the deadline comes, or it will be forcibly take back together with a fine.”
Zhou Yuan cupped his fists together. He picked up the Ethereal Form jade strip and left the Hidden
Scriptures House, heading towards the rear mountain.
In the rear mountain, he saw several unique buildings where disciples were constantly entering and
leaving, an exceptionally bustling sight.
Zhou Yuan followed the directions, eventually arriving before a wide and spacious building. After
confirming the instructor’s name at the front door, he walked in.
Behind the doors was an extremely spacious hall where a dozen or so figures were seated in a circle. At
their center was a tall man who was currently eloquently giving a lecture.
1202
Zhou Yuan’s entrance interrupted the lecture, causing the dozen listening figure to turn their heads and
look.
The moment they saw Zhou Yuan, looks of amusement immediately emerged in their eyes.
Zhou Yuan frowned slightly, because he had just seen a familiar figure amongst them. It was the one who
had a quarrel with him due to Han Shan on Genesis Mountain, Zhu Feng.
Gu Hongyi was also seated a few places from Zhu Feng. The corners of her red lips turned slightly
downwards when she saw Zhou Yuan enter. As expected, this guy did not listen to her advice.
The instructor seated in the center looked towards Zhou Yuan and nonchalantly asked, “Who are you?”
He had a thin face and a stern expression in his eyes, while powerful Genesis Qi rippled around him.
“Outer mountain disciple, Zhou Yuan.” Zhou Yuan’s expression remained calm as he cupped his fists
together towards the man. His gaze swept towards Zhu Feng before turning back to the inner mountain
disciple called Zhu Yue.
The two rather resembled each other, making him begin to realise why Gu Hongyi had warned him
earlier.
“Zhou Yuan?” Zhu Yue was taken aback, casting a glance at Zhu Feng as the latter nodded with an icy
smile. The former had heard an exaggerated description of how arrogant this kid from a remote continent
was from Zhu Feng earlier, but he never imagined that Zhou Yuan would actually come here and seek
guidance from him.
Zhou Yuan’s expression was still unchanged as he said in a neither overbearing nor servatile tone, “I’ve
chosen the Ethereal Form technique, and have come here hoping to listen to the key points with regards
to it. Here’s five Genesis jade pieces…”
The inner mountain disciple Zhu Yue swept a nonchalant gaze at Zhou Yuan as contempt faintly rose from
the corners of his lips. “No need. The class is already full and we won’t be accepting anyone new for the
time being.”
Zhu Feng was his younger brother, and since he had a dispute with Zhou Yuan, Zhu Feng naturally found
Zhou Yuan a sore sight.
Zhu Yue’s words caused laughter to sound in the hall. Most of the disciples here were from the Shengzhou
Continent, and thus looked towards Zhou Yuan with mocking eyes.
Zhou Yuan frowned slightly, evidently not expecting Zhou Yue to take things so far.
Zhou Yuan slowly said, “Isn’t senior brother Zhu Yue’s actions a little against the rules?”
1203
A full class was clearly an excuse.
“Oh? A mere outer mountain disciples thinks he has the right to talk to me about the rules?!” Zhu Yue’s
eyes narrowed slightly, a sneer appearing from the corners of his mouth. In the next moment, powerful
Genesis Qi abruptly exploded from his body, forming an overwhelming pressure that loomed towards
Zhou Yuan.
Zhu Yue’s strength had at the very least reached the fifth layer Alpha-Origin stage, far surpassing
everyone present.
Hence, when the Genesis Qi pressure surged towards Zhou Yuan, his breathing turned a little ragged.
Roar!
However, just as Zhu Yue was about to force Zhou Yuan into a miserable state, the clothes at his area
moved as Tuntun stuck its head out and released a low roar from its throat.
Tuntun leaped out, landing in front of Zhou Yuan as its tiny body began to grow rapidly. In a short span of
a few breaths, it turned into its battle form, savagery violently pulsing from it as berserk Genesis Qi began
to wreaked havoc with a roar.
Roar!
The entire hall shook as Zhu Yue’s Genesis Qi pressure was instantly ripped to shreds, causing him to
forced back several steps by Tuntun’s ferocity as his face paled slightly.
Zhu Yue’s complexion was steely green with fear and anger as he sternly shouted, “You, you dare to use a
beast to hurt me?!”
Zhou Yuan swept the former a cold look as he lightly caressed Tuntun’s head. After sweeping a glance at
Zhu Yue, its body swiftly began to shrink.
The hall was now a mess, Zhu Feng and the other disciples scurrying to the side as they looked towards
Tuntun in uncertainty.
Only Gu Hongyi remained seated. Her red lips parted slightly as she said, “Senior brother Zhu Yue, your
rejection is not in line with the rules. It will not be good for you either if the law enforcement group finds
out.”
Zhu Yue looked at Gu Hongyi as a smile was revealed on his face. “Since junior sister Hongyi has spoken, I
will naturally give face.”
Gu Hongyi’s elder was one of the high ranking members of the Cangxuan Sect, and Zhu Yue naturally did
not dare to offend her.
1204
His gaze turned Zhou Yuan as he coldly snorted. “You may stay on account of junior sister Hongyi.
However, no bastardly beasts are allowed in my hall, so you’ll have to throw that bastard out before
returning.”
However, Zhou Yuan merely glanced at the former coldly and said, “Can’t even beat a beast, what can I
learn by staying here? It will only be a waste of Genesis jade.”
Contempt rose from the corners of his mouth, ignoring Zhu Yue’s white with rage complexion as he
turned around and left with Tuntun in his arms.
Zhu Yue’s eyes darkened as he watched Zhou Yuan leave. Soon after, he let out a chilling chuckle.
“What an ignorant fool… go ahead with your arrogance, do you really think you’ll be able to learn the
Ethereal Form technique without my guidance?”
“When you’ve squandered away all of your Genesis jade, you’ll still end up coming back to beg me!”
1205
Chapter 227 Retribution
After leaving the rear mountain, Zhou Yuan’s expression was still somewhat gloomy. He had not expected
such a coincidence to occur. To think that the instructor he encountered would be Zhu Feng’s elder
brother...
Looks like Gu Hongyi had meant well when she tried to warn him earlier. She was just a little too proud,
and had not fully explained everything.
“I refuse to believe that I will be unable to learn the technique without an instructor.”
Zhou Yuan grasped the jade strip as his eyes hardened. It was indeed not a simple task to learn a little
Heaven Genesis technique, but he did not believe he would really be unable to learn it without any
guidance. In the worst case scenario, he would just have to waste a little more time.
Even though he said so, Zhu Yue had really ruined his mood today.
Zhou Yuan was in a slightly foul mood as he left the rear mountain and returned to his little house.
On the balcony of the little house, Yaoyao lazily soaked in the warm rays of the sun as she casually flipped
through an ancient book. Her perfect side face view glowed like jade, while her fine black hair seemed to
spill down, a sight so beautiful that it would shake anyone’s heart.
When Zhou Yuan saw this scene, the last traces of the bad mood he was in stealthily disappeared.
Yaoyao seemed to sense something and tilted her head as she inquired in a rather lazy tone, “What is it?”
Zhou Yuan sat down beside her, breathing in the light fragrance of the young lady beside him as he
somewhat helpless explained what had happened today.
Yaoyao attentively listened, her bright eyes narrowing slightly, making it impossible for anyone to tell
what she was feeling. Only after he was finished did she say in a clear voice, “A mere inner mountain
disciple will at best have an elementary mastery of the Ethereal Form technique. How can he possibly
have the qualifications to master it completely. If you had chosen to stay, it would only have been a waste
of Genesis jade.”
“Those Genesis jade would be better off used to improve Tuntun’s meals.”
By the side, Tuntun immediately barked in excitement when it heard this, its eyes shining brightly.
“You were pretty good today, I’ll bring you to Hundred Fragrances House later on.” Zhou Yuan chuckled
as he rubbed Tuntun’s heard. If not for this little thing, he would have barely been able to face Zhu Yue.
Although the other party did not dare to do anything excessive, Zhou Yuan would likely have ended up in
a pretty miserable state.
1206
Fortunately, Tuntun has protected him, making Zhu Yue suffer instead.
“Show me the Ethereal Form technique.” Yaoyao extended a hand, her seemingly sparkling fingers slim
and long.
Zhou Yuan retrieved the jade strip and passed it to Yaoyao.
Yaoyao took it and slightly shut her eyes. A long while later, she slowly opened them and said, “This
Genesis technique is a little meaningful. Your judgement is not bad…”
“Learning it is not difficult, it merely requires first unblocking a 108 apertures in the body, before pouring
in mist essence to temper them. At the advance stage, one will be able to turn one’s body ethereal like the
mist, and travel a thousand miles in an instant…”
“However, the slightly more troublesome part is that there are millions and millions of apertures in the
body, and their locations are different for everyone. Only by gradually trying to feel them would one be
able to unblock the 108 apertures. I believe the so-called instructor will only be giving them some
suggestions when the disciples are doing the sensing wrongly, and get them to restart the process,
making him pretty much useless.”
A brief observation was all Yaoyao needed to understand the intricacies of the Ethereal Form technique.
Such terrifying comprehensive ability stupefied Zhou Yuan a little.
Zhou Yuan’s eyes were practically glowing as he stared at Yaoyao and impatiently asked, “Does big sis
Yaoyao know how to sense the 108 apertures?”
Yaoyao shook her head. “I can’t.”
However, she then extended a finger and pointed at Zhou Yuan. “But you can.”
Zhou Yuan was utterly confused, evidently unable to understand what she meant by that.
Yaoyao could not help but laugh at the sight of his lost appearance. She gently tapped the spot between
Zhou Yuan’s brows with a cold finger, where the ancient Saint Rune was hidden.
“You truly are like someone who does not realise he lives on a treasure mountain.”
“The Saint Rune between your brows was split off from the Cangxuan Saint Stamp, and patriarch Cang
Xuan has told us that it is called the Decoder Saint Rune.”
“It has the ability to see the vulnerabilities or weak points in any Genesis techniques.”
“Not only the enemy’s but also your own.”
1207
Zhou Yuan’s eyes grew brighter and brighter as she spoke. He now understood the meaning behind
Yaoyao’s earlier words, and slowly said, “So I can use the Decoder Saint Rune to view the Ethereal Form
technique…”
Yaoyao gave a slight nod as a lovely smile was revealed on her face. “As such, there is no need for you to
painstakingly feel out the aperture locations. You only need to use the Decoder Saint Rune to find them.”
“This will be multiple times more effective than others. So why would you need an elementary level inner
mountain disciple’s guidance?”
Zhou Yuan could not help but powerfully hammer his fists together. Even someone usually as calm as
himself could not help but be overwhelmed by joy as he lunged towards Yaoyao. “Big sis Yaoyao, you’re
too awesome!”
Before his hands could touch Yaoyao, her slightly narrowed eyes swept towards him, causing him to
freeze on the spot.
Zhou Yuan awkwardly withdrew his hands, grasping the jade strip as he resentfully said, “I’ll go try it out
first and see if I can find the apertures in my body.”
After speaking, he slipped away to the rear courtyard to try out the Ethereal Form technique.
A slight smile appeared on Yaoyao’s pretty face as she watched Zhou Yuan leave. Soon after, she looked
outside their little house as her red lips pursed in a slightly chilling manner.
“Tuntun…”
She gently patted Tuntun.
Tuntun raised its head.
“Go teach that fellow a lesson…” Said an expressionless Yaoyao.
Although she could bully Zhou Yuan, what right did a mere inner mountain disciple have.
Roar!
Tuntun released a low roar upon hearing this, an excited look flooding out in its beady beast eyes. Its
figure moved, transforming into flash of black light as it shot forth.
Yaoyao watched Tuntun disappear before she lay down once again, leisurely bathing in the sunshine as
she read the ancient book in her hands.
...
1208
Night descended.
Zhu Yue walked out of his teaching hall to watch the disciples disperse. Their respectful farewells to him
when they left made him feel increasingly pleased with himself inside.
Behind Zhu Yue, Zhu Feng laughed and said, “Hehe, I have to thank elder brother for giving Zhou Yuan
such a miserable time today. It was so refreshing.”
Zhu Yue smiled faintly. “He’s merely an ignorant country bumpkin from some tiny continent. Does he
really believe that a little Heaven Genesis technique will be so easy to learn? When he comes begging,
watch how I’ll humiliate him.”
“I’ve also told the other inner mountain senior and junior brother disciples to make sure he won’t find
even a single instructor. I’ll make it such that he’ll be unable to learn even a single Genesis technique!”
“Let’s see how he’ll fight for the peak selection ceremony then!”
Zhu Feng also laughed icily and nodded.
Zhu Yue said, “Head on back first, and work hard to master the Ethereal Form technique during the next
few days such that you will have something to show for yourself in the peak selection ceremony.”
Zhu Feng acknowledged, turned around and left.
After sending him off, Zhu Yue began to return to his dwelling. Inner mountain disciples naturally
received far better treatment than the outer mountain disciples, each one owning a good place to
cultivate.
Zhu Yue rose on his Genesis Qi, flying past a mountain when his expression suddenly changed, because a
flash of black light was rapidly approaching him from below like a bolt of lightning.
“Who!”
Roared Zhu Yue as the Genesis Qi in his body began to surge out. With a swing of his hand, Genesis Qi
transformed into a giant hand that was dozens of feet wide, mercilessly swatting down at the black light.
Pchla!
However, the black light showed no indications of stopping. A low roar seemed to be heard as sharp
claws suffused with black light abruptly slashed downwards.
In that instant, even space itself seemed to disintegrate.
The giant Genesis Qi hand was ruptured in a mere few breaths as sharp claw winds continued on their
path. A foul smell assaulted Zhu Yue’s face, quickly followed by intense pain.
1209
ARGH!
He could not help but scream. A bloody claw appeared in front of his face, slashing all the way to his waist
as his clothes were torn to shreds, making him an extremely miserable sight to see.
Fresh blood dripped down his eyes, causing Zhu Yue to explode with anger. Genesis Qi madly burst out,
but before he could counter attack, the black light had already disappeared into the boundless night sky.
Zhu Yue blankly stared at his surroundings in the air as his body trembled uncontrollably. He was no fool.
How could he not know that the black light was definitely related to Zhou Yuan. In fact, it may even be the
little bastardly beast from earlier today!
But so what if he knew? Could he say that he was brought to such a state by an outer mountain disciple?
What face would he have if this spread back to the seven peaks?
Thus, Zhu Yue burst into rage.
“Zhou Yuan!”
“I will make sure you’re unable to learn even a single Genesis technique!”
In the night, Zhu Yue’s furious and bitter howl rang out like a wild beast’s.
1210
Chapter 228 Apertures
A creek flowed in the mountain, making clear sounds as water beat against the rock.
Zhou Yuan’s figure was seated on a rock by the creek with his eyes faintly shut. At this moment, his
breathing seemed to become extremely weak.
The Genesis Qi in his body slowly began to flow in his channels according to the instructions in the
Ethereal Form technique.
The crux of this technique was to unblock a 108 apertures, and at this point in time, Zhou Yuan was going
to find the location of the first aperture. This was something he had to do by himself, because even
though he possessed the Decoder Saint Rune that could view the weak points of any Genesis technique,
he needed to first give it somewhere to start.
Without the first aperture as a primer of sorts, how could the Decoder Saint Rune find the second
aperture?
The Genesis Qi in his body circulated in his channels time and time again, an exceedingly boring process.
However, Zhou Yuan’s heart was akin to a still lake as he concentrated on sensing any strange
disturbances in the Genesis Qi flow.
Half a day passed in this manner.
Only now did Zhou Yuan understand how troublesome it was to practice the Ethereal Form method. He
had already used slightly over half a day for the first aperture alone. It was difficult to imagine how long it
would take if he were to find and unblock even more apertures by himself...
Fortunately, on the 300th round along the route indicated by the Ethereal Form technique, Zhou Yuan
finally sensed a tiny disturbance.
The instant this tiny disturbance appeared, the long waiting Zhou Yuan immediately turned his Genesis
Qi, directing its full force towards the origin of the disturbance.
Ch!
A faint prickling pain was felt as Zhou Yuan felt an aperture open in his body. The moment this happened,
the Genesis Qi flowing through the route given by the Ethereal Form technique began to flow in little by
little.
A certain subtle sensation rose that allowed Zhou Yuan understand that he had found the first aperture
and unblocked it.
1211
“Next, I’ll have to smoothen the aperture with Genesis Qi, before infusing it with mist essence.” Zhou Yuan
breathed an almost inaudible sigh of relief, before he once again began to circulate his Genesis Qi, wisp
after wisp flowing into the aperture that began to smoothen it according to a unique method.
Inside the aperture, sliver after sliver of Genesis Qi gathered, seemingly transforming into a rolling wheel
that soon started to spin at a unique frequency as it smoothed the aperture.
This smoothing method was the essence of the Ethereal Form technique. Only by using this procedure
would the mist essence be able to fuse with the aperture later on.
Zhou Yuan very carefully manipulated his Genesis Qi as he continued to smoothen the aperture. In the
beginning, his control was rather rough and unpracticed, but gradually grew more and more polished as
time passed, allowing the smoothing process to become much quicker.
Hence, after about four hours, the aperture felt smooth and round.
The process was done.
With a slight grin on his face, Zhou Yuan gave a light tap to his Universe bag, causing a transparent jade
bottle to appear in his hand. Inside the bottle, a milky-white mist swirled.
The mist within this bottle was the so-called mist essence.
Mist essence was formed from the agglomeration of Genesis Qi and the clouds when the sun and moon
interchanged. It was a rather bizarre but seemingly magical process.
Of course, Zhou Yuan had not collected it himself, but had bought it with Genesis jade in the Glittering
Jewels Pavillion. A single bottle of mist essence had cost him two pieces of Genesis jade.
“It should be enough for three days…”
Mumbled Zhou Yuan to himself. With a thought, wisps of mist began rising from the bottle, transforming
into white smoke that flowed in through Zhou Yuan’s nose.
Once the mist essence was in his body, Zhou Yuan began directing it through his channels. There was not
much Genesis Qi contained within the mist essence, making it very easily absorbed or dispersed by the
Genesis Qi in his body. Hence, Zhou Yuan needed to guard it with his full attention as he sent sliver after
sliver into the aperture he had smoothed earlier.
Chch!
Mist essence flowed into the aperture, drifting about as it stealthily fused into it.
As mist essence continued to be infused, Zhou Yuan began to feel a very faint sensation spreading from
the aperture, seemingly akin to the ungraspable mist.
1212
This went on for another two hours.
Zhou Yuan suddenly opened his eyes, faint mists seemingly swirling within them, before scattering
completely a moment later.
Joy appeared on his face.
He had finally completed the first of the 108 apertures of the Ethereal Form technique!
He lifted his head to look at the sky, discovering that the first aperture had taken him nearly an entire
day. At this rate, it would take nearly a month to complete the first level of the Ethereal Form technique.
There were three levels to the Ethereal Form technique, only by unblocking a set of 36 apertures would
one reach the next level.
“Thankfully, I have the Decoder Saint Rune!”
Zhou Yuan grinned slightly. Now that the first aperture was done, he could use the Decoder Saint Rune to
find the location of the second one. As such, he would be able to cut out the most troublesome sensing
process.
At this point, Zhou Yuan sent out a thought without any hesitation, and the faint ancient Saint Rune
between his brows began to descend, fusing into the deepest recesses of his eyes.
“Decoder Saint Rune!”
The Genesis Qi in his body began to follow the path indicated in the Ethereal Form technique again, while
Zhou Yuan’s pupils seemed to pierce through his body, focusing on the location of the first aperture.
A strange yet wonderful ripple seemed to pulse.
It was the power of the Decoder Saint Rune.
The ripple spread, and a few minutes later, Zhou Yuan’s heart violently shook when he saw a strange
ripple suddenly pulse from a certain location in his body.
There was no hesitation whatsoever as Genesis charged towards it.
Ch!
The familiar prickling pain was felt as another aperture was opened.
The instant it opened, Zhou Yuan sensed a thin thread of Genesis Qi extended from the first aperture,
linking up with the new aperture and establishing a connection.
1213
This phenomenon clearly showed that this was the correct location of the second aperture.
Zhou Yuan’s eyes opened as they rapidly filled with elation. Sensing the first aperture had taken a good
half of the day, but with the power of the Decoder Saint Rune, he had drastically shortened the time
required.
Moreover, the subsequent apertures would only become harder and harder to sense, but this was clearly
not going to be a problem for him.
“The Decoder Saint Rune is just too awesome!” Said Zhou Yuan. Only now did he fully realise how
miraculous its power was. With it, he would be able to more efficiently master any Genesis technique he
desired, making him far more efficient than others.
A fire began to burn in Zhou Yuan’s eyes as he softly chuckled. “Zhu Yue, I’ll show you that even without
your guidance, I will still be able to master the Ethereal Form technique!”
With a deep breath, he closed his eyes again, and began to polish the smoothen the second aperture.
The Decoder Saint Rune could find the aperture locations, but he would still have complete the
subsequent processes himself.
Hence, besides being present for the Genesis Mountain training, all of Zhou Yuan’s time during the next
three days was invested into the Ethereal Form technique.
As he tirelessly continued to work, a total of 18 of the 108 apertures were unblocked by him in three
short days.
The first level of the Ethereal Form technique was fast approaching.
...
However, while Zhou Yuan was immersed in his training, waves were churning in the outer mountains,
causing many disciples to be shocked.
The origin of these waves was to everyone’s surprise, the instructors from the rear mountain of the
Hidden Scriptures House. These instructors had high status in the outer mountains due to two main
reasons. Firstly, they were inner mountain disciples. Secondly, they guided the other disciples in learning
Genesis techniques,
However, several instructors secretly spread that Zhou Yuan would be restricted from attending the
lectures for the Genesis techniques they were in charge of...
This news caused quite an uproar, numerous disciples feeling pity towards Zhou Yuan. No one had
expected him to have stirred up these instructors this time...
1214
With regards to such matters, the outer mountain manager Chen Yuan should have stepped up to put a
stop to it. However, he seemed to be ignoring it, causing it to become an extremely hot topic in the outer
mountains.
“I heard that Zhou Yuan angered Zhu Yue. Zhu Yue is after all an inner mountain disciples, and has many
friends. The other instructors would naturally not risk offending him, hence why they’ve declared that
they won’t be teaching Zhou Yuan any Genesis techniques.”
“Zhou Yuan is really too arrogant. To think that he even dares to offend senior brother Zhu Yue.”
“Yea, without the guidance of the instructors, what can Zhou Yuan possibly learn by himself? Hehe, if this
continues, he won’t be able to perform well in the peak selection ceremony three months later.”
“He deserves it. Let’s see what he can do, now that he’s being shut out by all the instructors.”
“......”
Similar whispers spread to every corner of the outer mountains, an indication that the number of gloating
people were not few. After all, they were many people who were envious of Zhou Yuan’s first class
disciple status.
Hidden Scriptures House, rear mountain.
In a certain hall, Zhu Yue stood with his hands behind his back, while Gu Hongyi, Zhu Feng and the rest of
the disciples were seated on mats in front of him, their eyes closed as they tried to sense for apertures.
All of a sudden, Gu Hongyi opened her eyes, happiness flashing across her lovely face as she exclaimed,
“I’ve found my sixth aperture!”
The others also opened their eyes, their envious gazes looking towards her.
The scars on Zhu Yue’s face had yet to fully heal. He smiled and nodded. “There’s no need for the rest of
you to be envious. Gu Hongyi’s talent is better than yours, so her progress is not surprising.”
The other disciples respectful said with a smile, “Well it’s still thanks to senior brother Zhu Yue’s
guidance.”
Gu Hongyu hesitated slightly, before she too cupped her fists together towards Zhu Yue, showing her
gratitude.
Zhu Yue seemed to nonchalantly wave his hand, but the pleased look that faintly rose from the corners of
his mouth was a little difficult to hide.
With his hands behind his back, he raised his gaze and peered into the distance as an icy smile suddenly
appeared on his face.
1215
He wondered how many apertures Zhou Yuan had managed to unblock. It was likely that he had yet to
even reach that point, right?
“Zhou Yuan ah Zhou Yuan, you must be regretting it now that there’s no one to teach you, right? Heh, but
even if you go down on your knees and beg me now, I will never teach you!”
“Since you’ve offended me, I’ll let you know the meaning of eternal despair!”
1216
Chapter 229 Earning Genesis Jade
By the side of a creek.
Zhou Yuan still spent the majority of his time here training, while naturally blocking off the various
matters and happenings of the outside world. All of his attention was placed on mastering the Ethereal
Form technique.
It was the fifth day since he borrowed the jade strip.
Although these five days were short, they were unbelievable enriching to Zhou Yuan. In these short five
days, he had unblocked 30 of the 108 apertures...
Only 6 remained till he reached the first level. When that happened, the true wonders of the Ethereal
Form technique would begin to be revealed.
Atop the rock, Zhou Yuan opened his eyes, mist gathering within them before gradually disappearing as a
satisfied smile appeared from the corners of his lips.
He had just completed another aperture, his total count now reaching 31.
31 apertures in five days. If not for the Decoder Saint Rune, Zhou Yuan would not have even dared to
imagine such progress.
“But the mist essence has been used up, I’ll have to go buy more…”
“It’s also time to return the jade strip, but it’s a little unfortunate about the numerous experiences from
the seniors and elders recorded inside. Looks like I’ll need to borrow it again when needed.”
Zhou Yuan began to calculate, and a pained look suddenly rose on his face. He had realised he now had
less than ten Genesis jade pieces remaining.
All of his time had been spent on the Ethereal Form technique, and he had not visited the Task Pavilion
nor taken on any assignments there. Hence, he naturally had no Genesis jade earnings.
While Zhou Yuan sighed, several figures flew over form far away, landing beside the creek.
Zhou Yuan lifted his head, discovering that it was Qiao Xiu, Sheng Wanjin and the rest.
“Hey, little Yuan bro, you’re living a little too relaxed.” Shen Wanjin’s oily face was filled with worry.
“Junior brother Zhou Yuan, you’re in really big trouble this time.” Qiao Xiu let out a bitter laugh. “How did
you end up offending the instructor? They’re after all inner mountain disciples, while we’re merely tiny
shrimps in comparison. Moreover, we have to rely on their guidance to learn our Genesis techniques.”
1217
During the past two days, news that Zhou Yuan had been shut out from all the instructor lessons had
spread like wildfire. As a result, Qiao Xiu, Shen Wanjin and the rest were no longer able to sit still, and
came rushing over.
Zhou Yuan did hear about it a little, but did not pay much attention to it. From his point of view, he
currently did not need the guidance of those so-called inner mountain disciples.
“Junior brother Zhou Yuan, maybe you should yield to senior brother Zhu Yue. I’ll go back and help you
send him some gifts to see if we can resolve this matter.”
He thought very highly of Zhou Yuan, and did not want him to end up being unable to learn any Genesis
techniques due to a single impulsive clash that had led to Zhu Yue sabotaging the former.
Everyone was desperately trying to raise their strength during these three months, and learning Genesis
techniques was one of utmost importance. If Zhou Yuan were to be disadvantaged in this aspect, he
would surely fall behind others in the peak selection ceremony three months later.
Zhou Yuan merely chuckled when he heard this, his impression of Qiao Xiu growing a little more
favorable. After all, there were not many disciples who would even dare to approach him recently, let
alone offer him a helping hand.
He waved his hand and said, “Senior brother Qiao Xiu need not worry, I know what I’m doing.”
At the sight of Zhou Yuan’s expression, Qiao Xiu could only let out a bitter chuckle. He knew that though
the young man before him seemed like a gentle person, he was in actuality very stubborn.
Shen Wanjin was the most shrewd amongst the group, and thus knew what Zhou Yuan currently lacked
the most. Hence, he grinned and said, “Little Yuan bro, I see that you’ve been training hard these past few
days and didn’t really come out to accept any missions, so you should be almost out of Genesis jade
pieces, right? If you need, we can loan you some.”
Zhou Yuan thought for a bit, but ultimately shook his head. “No need for the time being. If it does come to
that, I will go look for you guys.”
“Alright then, I’ll be heading to the Hidden Scriptures House to return the Genesis technique jade strip.”
Zhou Yuan smiled at the group, before he flew off into the sky atop his Genesis Qi.
As they watched him leave, Qiao Xiu, Shen Wanjin and the rest exchanged a look and sighed. They did not
truly understand Zhou Yuan’s current situation, and thus were under the impression that he was just
being stubborn.
“This is no good… if this continues, little Yuan bro will not be able to learn even a single Genesis
technique after the three months are over. What will he have to show in the peak selection ceremony
then…”
1218
...
When Zhou Yuan once again arrived at the Hidden Scriptures House, the passing disciples constantly
swept their gazes towards him, gazes that were filled with pity.
Zhou Yuan’s expression remained calm as he proceeded to return the jade strip at the counter.
“Hehe, isn’t this Zhou Yuan? Have you learnt the Ethereal Form technique yet?” At this moment, mocking
laughter was heard from the side. Zhou Yuan turned his head, seeing Zhu Feng with several figures
behind him, their eyes filled with a toying look as they watched the former.
Evidently, Zhu Feng had received news the moment Zhou Yuan arrived, and thus brought several others
to come watch.
Zhou Yuan indifferently said, “I’ve not seen your elder brother recently, are the wounds on his face still
not healed?”
By now, he already knew that Yaoyao had commanded Tuntun to secretly attack Zhu Feng, an act that he
could only secretly give a thumbs up to.
Zhu Feng’s expression turned rigid, a vicious look in his eyes as he glared at Zhou Yuan and said through
gnashed teeth, “What’s there to be proud of by relying on a beast!”
Zhou Yuan smiled superficially as he retorted, “Are you saying that your elder brother is inferior to a
beast?”
“You!”
Zhu Feng’s eyes hardened as powerful Genesis Qi exploded from his body. He stared daggers at Zhou
Yuan and threatened, “Do you want to die?!”
“This is the Hidden Scriptures House and fighting is prohibited here. Do all of you want to be punished?”
A clear voice sounded from the side. They turned, only to realise Gu Hongyi was frowning slightly as she
watched them.
Zhe Feng took in a deep breath, having no choice but to suppress the fury in his heart. Anger still colored
his eyes as he glared at Zhou Yuan and said with a disdainful sneer, “Zhou Yuan, go ahead and continue to
be so arrogant.”
“There is no longer anyone who will guide you in your Genesis techniques, so just wait and see, your first
class disciple status will likely be gone soon!”
Zhou Yuan smiled and shook his head. “There’s no need for you to worry.”
“I’ll see how long your stubbornness will last!”
1219
Zhu Feng coldy snorted, before turning around and leaving with his group.
The numerous disciples in the vicinity looked towards Zhou Yuan in pity before gradually scattering.
Zhou Yuan paid no attention to them as he gave a slight nod to Gu Hongyi, before beginning to head down
the mountain. The main thing now was to figure out how to obtain Genesis jade. Would he really have to
take on missions too?
Gu Hongyi hesitated for a moment as she watched him leave, before suddenly catching up to him. “Zhou
Yuan, you were too rash. How can you learn any Genesis techniques now that you’ve offended Zhu Yue?”
“If you really are a capable person, you should know when to give in or exercise patience. There will
always be a chance to turn things around in the future.”
Zhou Yuan was somewhat astonished by Gu Hongyi’s words. “You’re worried about me?”
Gu Hongyi rolled her eyes at him and said, “This is called pity. I just don’t want to see your talent being
squandered away for no reason. Zhu Yue’s actions are indeed somewhat petty.”
Zhou Yuan chuckled. He suddenly thought of something, rubbing his chin as he looked at Gu Hongyi with
interest.
Gu Hongyi felt a little uncomfortable under his gaze. Her pretty face immediately turned slightly hostile
as she fiercely said, “What are you looking at?!”
Zhou Yuan asked, “How’s your training been going at Zhu Yue’s place?”
The corners of Gu Hongyi’s red lips lifted slightly, somewhat pleased as she answered, “I’ve already
unblocked my tenth aperture. I should be able to reach the first level of the Ethereal Form technique in a
month.”
“The tenth aperture?” Zhou Yuan was taken aback.
“Do you understand the benefits of having someone to guide you now? Did you think that five Genesis
jade pieces were being spent in vain everyday?” Gu Hongyi looked at Zhou Yuan with a pitiful gaze.
“Is it that easy to earn Genesis jade?” Zhou Yuan’s eyes glowed.
Gu Hongyi’s brows knitted together, somewhat unhappy as she shot a look at Zhou Yuan and said in a
disappointed manner, “I had thought that you would see the truth. Looks like there’s really no saving
you.”
She turned around as she spoke, intending to leave.
1220
However, Zhou Yuan hastily cut her off. Upon seeing her frown slightly, he hurriedly said, “If I have a
method to let you master the first level of the Ethereal Form technique and unblock more apertures than
at Zhu Yue’s place, would you be interested?”
Gu Hongyi was stunned. “What nonsense are you spouting, mastering the first level in ten days… I’ve
never heard of anyone who has managed to do so!”
Zhou Yuan smiled and said, “But what if it’s true?”
Gu Hongyi pondered for a brief moment, before she replied, “Then I will naturally be interested. Genesis
jade is secondary, the most important thing is to save my time.”
This was clearly a wealthy little lady, someone who practically didn’t care about Genesis jade.
She suspiciously looked at Zhou Yuan and asked, “Do you know someone who is better in the Ethereal
Form technique than Zhu Yue?”
Zhou Yuan grinned widely. “I do not know whether or not he’s better than Zhu Yue, but his efficiency is
definitely incomparable.”
“Who? If he can really let me reach the initial stage of the Ethereal Form technique, I am willing to learn
from him. Genesis jade is not a problem.” Gu Hongyi stared at Zhou Yuan. Although she did not really
believe him, he should not dare to joke about such a matter, right?”
Joy sprouted from between Zhou Yuan’s brows as he pointed to himself with a smile, “That person is me
of course… come on, it’ll be fifty Genesis jade pieces, you can pay half first.”
His voice grew smaller and smaller towards the end, because Gu Hongyi’s pretty face had abruptly turned
ice-cold. She made a grabbing motion with her hand, as the scarlet-red whip on her hip appeared within
it.
A fiendish look appeared on Gu Hongyi’s pretty face as she swung the whip.
“Zhou Yuan, I see that you’re tired of living. To think that you even dare to make fun of me!”
1221
Chapter 230 Persuasion
Pchla!
The scarlet-red whip was akin to a fire python, giving off searing Genesis Qi undulations as it swung
down towards Zhou Yuan’s skull.
Zhou Yuan hastily dodged, causing the whip to narrowly miss his body and viciously smash into the
ground, tearing open a long crack.
Zhou Yuan sucked in a breath of cold air. “That’s too ruthless of you.”
This wasn’t just a light smack on the face, but would likely leave a bloody scar.
Gu Hongyi’s hand jerked as the whip rolled back to her and wrapped around her wrist. She frostily
glanced at Zhou Yuan and said, “Zhou Yuan, do you really think that I won’t?”
Zhou Yuan promptly shook his head at the sight of the somewhat angered Gu Hongyi and said with a
forced smile, “Don’t get so angry… I wasn’t making fun of you. If you follow me, I can really allow you to
achieve initial mastery of the Ethereal Form technique in ten days.”
Gu Hongyi frowned so deeply that her eyebrows were almost vertical as she sneered, “Arrogance, how
long has it been since you started learning the Ethereal Form technique? Have you even found any
apertures? Although Zhu Yue’s character is somewhat lacking, do you know how many apertures he has
unblocked?”
“41 apertures!”
“How can you compare to him?”
Zhou Yuan shook his head and said, “Only 41 apertures after practicing for so long, Zhu Yue’s talent is
indeed quite mediocre. No wonder he’s still a black slash disciple.”
“Shameless boasting!” Gu Hongyi had reached the limits of her anger due to Zhou Yuan’s attitude. He was
clearly nowhere as good as others, and yet he stubbornly refused to admit they were better.
She had originally been a little interested in the talent Zhou Yuan had displayed, but she was now
exceedingly disappointed.
No matter how good one’s talent, if one was unable to realise one’s faults, one would not be able to walk
far on the road of cultivation.
Hence, she could no longer bothered to stay a single second more, and began to turn around to leave.
1222
Upon seeing this Zhou Yuan immediately said, “I don’t think you’ll believe me if I told you I’ve already
unblocked 31 apertures… how about this, why not you punch me once to see?”
“31 apertures?” Gu Hongyi gnashed her teeth. “It’s only been five days and you’ve unblocked 31
apertures? Are you insulting my intelligence?!”
Zhou Yuan’s lips curled downwards. If not for the Genesis jade, he would not bother explaining so much.
He immediately extended a hand and beckoned. “Quit being so wishy-washy, you’ll know once you
attack.”
Gu Hongyi laughed in anger. This was the first time she had heard others make such an assessment of her.
“Fine, I’ll let you know the price of making fun of me!” Gu Hongyi’s hand clenched as vigorous Genesis Qi
abruptly exploded from her body. Her Genesis QI was fiery-red, like a wave of fire.
Zhou Yuan’s eyes narrowed slightly. Gu Hongyi was indeed a formidable individual, and was likely top
tier even amongst the three layer Alpha-Origin practitioners.
In a real fight, even he would find her quite problematic.
Swish!
Gu Hongyi’s foot pushed off the ground as her body shot forward. Surging Genesis Qi gathered towards
her hand as a simple punch was sent blasting forth.
Bang!
The air was blasted away by the punch, seemingly causing a sonic boom. Gu Hongyi may look as delicate
as a flower, but her attack was extremely simple and violent.
If a two layer Alpha-Origin disciples were to face this seemingly small fist instead, he would likely be
forced to his knees.
However, Zhou Yuan did not move at all. He watched the fist winds blast towards him and suddenly took
a step forward. His hand reached out, Genesis Qi surging as he met Gu Hongyi’s punch head-on.
Thud!
A muffled noise rang out as winds violently unfurled, blowing away the scattered rocks around them.
However, the instant palm met fist, Gu Hongyi’s face suddenly changed. she had felt a large portion of her
power being neutralized when it surged towards Zhou Yuan.
It felt as if most of her punch had landed on air.
1223
Gu Hongyi concentrated on Zhou Yuan's palm, only for her heart so shake violently. She had seen his
palm seem to turn slightly incorporeal at this moment, giving off a faintly ethereal feeling.
Gu Hongyi could not help but cry out. She clearly understood that this was a sign that someone was about
to reach the initial stage of the Ethereal Form technique. Only then would one be able to etherealize a
part of their body, causing the power of any attack that landed on that part to be greatly neutralized.
This was the essence of the Ethereal Form technique. When mastered, any attack that landed would feel
as if it had struck air, causing a portion of its power to be neutralized.
The fact that Zhou Yuan was able to etherealize his hand meant that his mastery of the Ethereal Form
technique had already far surpassed her own. With the ten apertures she had currently unblocked,
achieving with a feat would be impossible.
Zhou Yuan slowly withdrew his hand as it rapidly returned to normal, and let out a soft laugh of
satisfaction. The Ethereal Form technique was marvelous indeed, and would greatly enhance his
survivability once mastered.
It was said that the first level would bestow upon one the ability to temporarily etherealize any part of
the body. This would be an invaluable skill indeed to counter any sudden or sneak attacks.
At the second level, one would be able to etherealize the entire body, making one akin to the mists.
As for the third level, it was even more amazing. One would be capable of full etherealization, giving one
the ability to merge with the world around. From a certain point of view, it could be said to be invisibility
that could also avoid other’s detection...
Over all, the Ethereal Form technique was a wonderful technique could pretty much cover every aspect of
survivability, from defense, to escaping and hiding.
This was also why Zhou Yuan had not hesitated to choose it the moment he saw it.
"You…" Gu Hongyi blankly stared at Zhou Yuan, not knowing what to say for a time. What had just
happened was way too shocking. She was unable to believe that Zhou Yuan was nearly at the initial stage
after a mere five days of practice.
“You’ve really unblocked 31 apertures?”
Zhou Yuan chuckled. “You should at least believe your own eyes, right?”
“How did you do it?!”
1224
Zhou Yuan smiled faintly. “Perhaps my sensing is just better… how about it? Are you interested? I should
be able to guarantee you reaching the first level of the Ethereal Form technique in ten days.”
He did not dare to make any guarantees for the second level, because he could already feel how
increasingly difficult it was becoming to sense the latter apertures. Even with the Decoder Saint Rune, it
would take some time.
Gu Hongyi's eyes flickered brightly as she stared at Zhou Yuan. She had originally been under the
impression that he was spouting nonsense. Who could have expected that he would be so capable. Even
without anyone’s guidance, he had rapidly progressed at such an astonishing speed.
“This is fifty Genesis jade pieces.”
Gu Hongyi was a swift and decisive person. Since she had already personally witnessed it, there was
naturally no need to delay. With a flick of her wrist, a cloth bag was thrown towards Zhou Yuan, the clear
tinkling of Genesis jade pieces clearly heard as it flew through the air.
“How generous.” Zhou Yuan raised his thumb in response. She was indeed a rich little lady, not even a
single grumble before paying the full amount. To think that he was originally planning on only taking half
the payment first.
“But where did you get so many Genesis jade pieces?” Zhou Yuan curiously asked. He had not seen Gu
Hongyi undertake any missions, and yet she seemed to be very wealthy.
“Why be such a busy body.” Gu Hongyi rolled her eyes at him.
Zhou Yuan nodded in understanding. As expected, she did have ties in the sect.
“Zhou Yuan, I’m warning you that my money is not so easily earned. If I do not reach the first level after
ten days…” Gu Hongyi shot a look at Zhou Yuan. “I will not let you off.”
“Relax, this is already a bargain and I will not cheat anyone.” Zhou Yuan hurriedly pledged. This was his
first customer, and he had to make sure she was satisfied at all costs.
“When do we begin training?”
“Our time is precious, so we’ll of course be starting now. Follow me.” Zhou Yuan waved his hand, tossing
the bag of Genesis jade in the other as he walked down the mountain.
Gu Hongyi looked at his leaving figure, before looking towards the lecture halls in the rear mountain as
she hesitated for a moment. In the end, she gritted her teeth and quickly caught up.
“Zhou Yuan, you’re dead meat if you dare to lie to me!”
...
1225
Rear mountain, lecture hall.
Zhu Yue watched the numerous outer mountain disciples arrive one after another, and suddenly frowned.
He had not seen Gu Hongyi amongst them.
At this moment, Zhu Feng suddenly rushed over, his expression extremely ugly.
Zhu Yue frowned and asked, “What is it?”
The other disciples also looked over.
Zhu Feng hesitated for a second, somewhat unable to believe his own words as he explained, “Gu Hongyi
sent someone to say that she will not be coming.”
“Not coming?” Zhu Yue was taken aback, somewhat unhappy as she said, “Wasn’t she doing well so far?
Does she no longer plan on learning the Ethereal Form technique?”
Gu Hongyi was from a powerful background, while also being very pretty. Hence, Zhu Yue had some
designs on her, and was currently attempting to fulfill the dream of ‘marrying into power and wealth’,
hoping to make use of this opportunity while teaching her to get into her good books.
Gu Hongyi’s sudden absence had disrupted his tempo.
Zhu Feng summoned his courage and said, “She… she’s still learning, but… she has went to learn from
Zhou Yuan.”
The lecture hall immediately fell silent, numerous disciples looking to each other first before quickly
breaking out into a din.
“Zhou Yuan?”
“Gu Hongyi is learning the Ethereal From technique from Zhou Yuan?!”
“What the heck is she doing?”
Zhu Yue was also stupefied. Soon after, his complexion turned steely green with rage. He was truly unable
to comprehend what Gu Hongyi was thinking. Did she sustain some brain damage? It was preposterous
for her to learn Genesis techniques from another outer mountain disciple!
What kind of medicine had Zhou Yuan given her?!
Most importantly, if news of this spread, where would Zhu Yue be able to hide his face?!
Zhu Yue gnashed his teeth, no longer able to restrain his emotions. He violently kicked a nearby table to
dust, his expression twisting as he roared, “Zhou Yuan, you’re practically asking for death!”
1226
Chapter 231 Ability
Zhu Yue raged in the hall, his twisted expression causing the outer mountain disciples to keep silent out
of fear. Zhu Yue was undoubtedly akin to a volcano on the verge of eruption at this moment.
Although Zhu Yue was seeing red, he still retained some of his rationality, and soon took in a deep breath.
He knew that if an inner mountain disciple like himself were to lash out at Zhou Yuan in a fit of rage for
no real reason, it would be a violation of the rules.
Of course, the most important factor was the extremely powerful mysterious little creature at Zhou
Yuan’s side which was in no way weaker than himself. Even if he did try something, it would likely not
end well for him.
Zhu Yue’s anger gradually returned to calmness, though his face remained stormy. He looked at the
crowd of disciples and flatly said, “Continue your training.”
“This is Gu Hongyi’s personal decision, so no one can interfere.”
“I do hope that this ‘great master’ she has found will be able to help her advance by leaps and bounds.”
At this point, everyone could hear the hint of ridicule in his voice. Evidently, he felt that Gu Hongyi was
asking for trouble. It was hard to believe that she had become so muddle-headed because of Zhou Yuan.
The other disciples nodded one after another, though a puzzled look remained in their eyes.
“Why has Gu Hongyi chosen to learn from Zhou Yuan?”
“Could she… be interested in him?”
However, these words were immediately rebutted in a clearly sore manner, “How can that be possible?
Who do you think Gu Hongyi is? How can she possibly fancy that country bumpkin.”
“Then why did she do that?”
“This…”
Everyone looked at each other, unable to think of an answer.
Zhu Feng tried to pacify Zhu Yue, “Don’t worry elder brother, when Gu Hongyi returns to her senses, she
will realise Zhou Yuan’s true colors. When that happens, she will definitely return.”
Zhu Yue coldly snorted as he uncaringly said, “It is her choice, so she’ll bear the consequences.”
1227
“If she continued under my tutelage, with her talent, she would have mastered the first level of the
Ethereal Form technique in a month…” He shook his head, as if feeling that it was such a pity.
“But who could have imagined that she would choose to ruin her own future.”
“I do want to see how much she will be able to learn from Zhou Yuan… humph, if word of this matter
spreads to the ears of that elder of Gu Hongyi’s, that person will not forgive Zhou Yuan.”
A mocking angle seemed to be hooked up from the corners of Zhu Yue’s lips, as if he could already see
Zhou Yuan’s tragic fate.
...
By a certain creak in the mountain.
Zhou Yuan stood on a rock, gazing at the young lady in red before him and inquired, “You’ve completed
the tenth aperture of the Ethereal Form technique?”
Gu Hongyi nodded, her shapely brows knitting together slightly as she responded, “But it’s getting harder
and harder to sense them the more apertures I find. I’ve already spent an entire day trying, but I’ve yet to
sense the eleventh aperture.”
She suspiciously looked at Zhou Yuan and asked, “So how will you help me?”
“Sit down.” Zhou Yuan pointed to a rock.
Gu Hongyi sat down with her back straight. Her red clothes wrapped around her full curves that extended
all the way to her waist as her chest stealthily rose and fell.
Zhou Yuan also sat down in front of her.
“Stretch out your hands.”
Gu Hongyi glared at Zhou Yuan, her eyes a little cold.
Zhou Yuan helplessly sighed. “Can you just listen to me?”
Gu Hongyi snorted softly as she glared daggers at Zhou Yuan. "If I find out that you're trying to take
advantage of me, I will not let you off."
After finishing, she extended her hands, palms facing Zhou Yuan.
The corners of Zhou Yuan's lips curled slightly downwards as he also extended his hands, placing them
against Gu Hongyi's.
1228
A slight cooling sensation spread from their touching palms, causing Gu Hongyi's heart to tremble a little.
Although she was viciously glaring at Zhou Yuan, a blush had risen on her face.
Zhou Yuan closed his eyes and said, "Circulate the Ethereal Form technique."
Only upon seeing that Zhou Yuan was seemingly not trying anything funny did Gu Hongyi forcibly
attempt to ignore the uncomfortable feeling from her palms. She shut her eyes, willing herself into
calmness, before beginning to direct her Genesis Qi along the Ethereal Form training route.
Genesis Qi began to flow, circulating round after round.
Gu Hongyi also began to sense the location of the eleventh aperture.
Zhou Yuan activated the Decoder Saint Rune, sending its power searching in Gu Hongyi's body…
Water flowed in the creak, while two figures sat facing each other. The atmosphere was rather peaceful.
An incense stick of time stealthily passed as Gu Hongyi gradually became somewhat disappointed. She
was still unable to find the eleventh aperture. After some hesitation, she decided to leave her cultivation
state.
It was at this moment however, that Zhou Yuan's voice was transmitted into her ears, "Don't be
distracted and do not resist. I will soon begin guiding your Genesis Qi."
Gu Hongyi frowned deeply, somewhat hesitant. Allowing someone else to guide one's Genesis Qi was
extremely dangerous. If the other party had any ill intentions, he could cause havoc with the Genesis Qi, a
situation which may even result in one's channels being damaged.
Zhou Yuan seemed to know what was on Gu Hongyi's, and hence did not rush her, but instead patiently
waited for her answer. After all, there was nothing he could do without her cooperation.
He could understand Gu Hongyi's hesitation. If he was in her place, he too would not easily allow
someone else to direct the flow of Genesis Qi in his body.
This silence lasted for a few dozen breaths, before Zhou Yuan suddenly felt the Genesis Qi in Gu Hongyi's
body slow down, as if control had been withdrawn.
"Zhou Yuan, let's see whether you're a liar or someone who truly has ability." Gu Hongyi's calm voice
sounded.
She was a decisive person. Since she had already chosen to place her faith in Zhou Yuan, there was
naturally no reason to hesitate anymore. However, if he was lying to her, she would let him know what
kind of price there was to pay.
1229
Zhou Yuan secretly sighed in admiration of Gu Hongyi's decisiveness. Without further ado, he began to
direct the Genesis Qi in her body.
Genesis Qi flowed along her channels, suddenly speeding up a split second later as it prepared to charge
towards a certain point in her body.
Gu Hongyi's body tensed up at this moment, her heart beating rapidly.
Pch!
A faint sound was heard. Next, a stunned Gu Hongyi felt an aperture being forced open in a certain part of
her body.
The moment this aperture appeared, the previous ten apertures she had unblocked began to vibrate in
resonance.
This response… the answer was already clear, she had found the eleventh aperture!
Zhou Yuan had actually succeeded?!
Gu Hongyi's heart was filled with shock. To think that what she had been unable to accomplish with an
entire day of hard work had been completed by Zhou Yuan so quickly.
How had he done it?
Gu Hongyi was so astonished that she even forgot to begin the next step of polishing the aperture.
"You’ll have to polish the aperture yourself, I won’t be able to help you in this segment.” Only when Zhou
Yuan’s voice sounded in her ears did Gu Hongyi return to her senses. She hurriedly began circulating her
Genesis Qi, sending wisp after wisp into the aperture to polish it.
Zhou Yuan withdrew his hands, secretly breathing a sigh of relief as he watched Genesis Qi rise around
Gu Hongyi. It was fortunate that he had succeeded, or it would not have ended well for him given Gu
Hongyi’s temper.
“Fifty Genesis jade pieces… looks like I can continue to purchase mist essence, but it’s a pity I still can’t
afford to rent out the Nine Dragons Canon from the Hidden Scriptures House. It seems that I’ll have to
work harder.” Zhou Yuan sighed inside.
Gu Hongyi was finally done two hours later, the eleventh aperture in her body fully polished, before being
infused with mist essence, allowing her to take another step forward towards the first level of the
Her long eyelashes trembled faintly as she slowly opened her eyes.
1230
Zhou Yuan stood on a rock to her front, and was currently looking at her.
“How is it? You should believe that I’m not a liar now, right?” Zhou Yuan chuckled.
Gu Hongyi blushed slightly, a somewhat complicated expression in her eyes as she looked towards Zhou
Yuan. A long while later, she finally responded, “How did you do it?”
Zhou Yuan offhandedly said, “My senses are just above average.”
Gu Hongyi did not probe any further. After a slight hesitation, she finally said in a soft voice, “Thanks.”
She knew that she was the big winner this time. Zhou Yuan had greatly increased her efficiency,
something that Zhu Yue would never be able to achieve.
Zhou Yuan waved his hand. “You provided the money and I provided the effort. Each of us is just fulfilling
the other’s needs.”
“It’s getting late. You may find me here during the next ten days. I’ll do my best to let you reach the first
level of the Ethereal Form technique before these ten days are over…”
After he finished speaking, he waved as he turned and left in a carefree manner, leaving only the sight of
his back.
Gu Hongyi watched him leave as she bit her red lips. It was a long time later before she finally mumbled
to herself in a soft voice,
“This guy… does have a little ability after all…”
1231
Chapter 232
In the following few days, having tasted the sweet fruits of success, Gu Hongyi came by the creek
practically everyday to receive Zhou Yuan's aid in mastering the Ethereal Form technique.
With Zhou Yuan's help, she progressed by leaps and bounds. In a short four days, the number of
apertures she had unblocked rose from 10 to 25.
One must know that the later apertures would become harder and harder to sense. In a normal situation,
Gu Hongyi would at best unblock 5 apertures in four days.
The rapid progress under Zhou Yuan's guidance slightly alarmed even Gu Hongyi herself. Hence, even
someone as prideful as her was now a little more respectful when she saw Zhou Yuan during these few
days.
However, Zhou Yuan did not pay much heed to her change in attitude. After all, the Genesis jade he
wanted was already his...
The only thing that bothered him was that this tiny amount of Genesis jade was still nowhere near
enough to rent out the high grade little Heaven tier Nine Dragons Canon.
...
A creek flowed within a mountain.
Zhou Yuan was seated on a rock, his eyes shut in cultivation, while Gu Hongyi was also present nearby.
Huu.
Zhou Yuan suddenly opened his eyes as he slowly expelled a breath of white Qi from his mouth. At this
moment, a peculiar undulation spread from his body.
One could only watch as half his body gradually turned incorporeal, giving off a faint feeling of
transparency.
"You… you've mastered the first level?!" A shocked voice sounded from the side. Gu Hongyi had opened
her eyes, and was now staring at Zhou Yuan in astonishment.
Etherealising half one's body was only achievable when one reached the first level of the Ethereal Form
technique.
Zhou Yuan's expression did not change as he swept her a look and said, "You've already completed 25
apertures, is it that strange for me to reach the first level?"
1232
Gu Hongyi froze momentarily, feeling a little foolish due to how shocked she was. When she thought
about it, however, she felt that it was a very normal reaction. It was after all far too rare for someone to
reach the first level in such a short span of time.
“Now that I’ve mastered the first level, any attack that lands on my body will have its power neutralized
by nearly 30%.” A satisfied look filled his eyes as he looked at his etherealized hand.
Do not look down on this 30%, because it would often be enough to bring about a reversal in battle.
Of course, the neutralization effect was not absolute, and there existed certain special methods that could
counter it. If not, the Ethereal Form technique would not be limited to a mere mid grade little Heaven
Genesis technique, but instead be qualified to enter the ranks of even the true Heaven tier.
All in all, the Ethereal Form technique would greatly boost one's survivability on all fronts.
“You’re actually pretty low-key…” Gu Hongyi suddenly laughed as she looked at Zhou Yuan. "Although
you appear to be a first layer Alpha-Origin, after spending these past few days with you, I've come to
realise that you should have a place amongst the recently established outer mountains' top ten."
Nearly half a month had passed since the many disciples arrived at the Cangxuan Sect. The
acclimatization period was basically over for everyone, causing them to naturally shift their attention to
competing and comparing.
As such, after some estimation and general consensus, the outer mountain disciples came up with the so-
called ten great outer mountain disciples. It had spread like wildfire during the past two days, making it
one of the hottest topics in the outer mountains.
The one who stood at the top was to no one's surprise, Lu Feng.
While Gu Hongyi was second.
Amongst the ten great outer mountain disciples, seven were geniuses from the Shengzhou continent,
while only three were from the other continents… and it just so happened that Qiao Xiu was number ten.
As for Zhou Yuan… no one had even mentioned him. He was after all a first layer Alpha-Origin, and there
appeared to be just too huge of a gap between him and the third layer Alpha-Origin disciples.
However, Gu Hongyi was clearly not of the same opinion, hence her previous words.
From what she could see, Zhou Yuan was too good at concealing his strength. If he wanted to, he would
surely have a place amongst the ten great outer mountain disciples.
Zhou Yuan mere chuckled when he heard this. "Is there any meaning to these rankings? It's not like the
peak selection ceremony will be decided based on it."
1233
He was indeed not the slightest bit interested in it. After all, the higher one was ranked, the more
humiliating it would be if one ended up being unable to match up in the peak selection ceremony.
Moreover, it was preposterous that Yaoyao had not even been included in the ten great outer mountain
disciples, a fact that only made Zhou Yuan look down on its weight. He knew that if Yaoyao were to act,
even Lu Feng would not be her match.
Gu Hongyi frowned slightly. "We're all youngsters, if we don’t have aspirations, we won’t have drive. How
then will we aim for even greater heights? You’re the weird one, so young and yet so similar to an old
man.”
Zhou Yuan could only helplessly roll his eyes. Can't I not be a part of your pointless rankings?
"Oh?"
Just as Zhou Yuan was about to speak, he suddenly sensed something and lifted his head towards a
certain direction where the sound of rushing wind could be heard.
A figure hurriedly flew over, his round, fat figure making it painfully apparently as to who it was.
It was naturally Shen Wanjin.
Shen Wanjin was currently dripping with sweat. The moment he caught sight of Zhou Yuan, he hastily
shouted, "Little Yuan bro, Zhu Feng is heading here with several others! They don't look friendly at all."
"Zhu Feng?" Zhou Yuan's eyes narrowed slightly. It seemed that the two brothers had finally reached
their limits.
He knew that it was impossible for Zhu Yue to silently sit by when Zhou Yuan had ‘snatched’ Gu Hongyi
away.
"Is Zhu Yue amongst them?" Asked Zhou Yuan.
If Zhu Yue was coming too, Zhou Yuan would have to go bring Tuntun over. After all, a good man would
not purposely suffer for no reason. No matter how arrogant he was , he would not directly face an inner
mountain disciple like Zhu Yue when he was only at the first layer Alpha-Origin stage.
"Nope." Shen Wanjin shook his head.
Zhou Yuan let out a carefree laugh. If Zhu Yue's wasn't coming, a mere Zhu Feng would not be able to
cause any trouble.
Shen Wanjin only grew even more worried at the sight of Zhou Yuan's carefree appearance. Though Zhu
Feng was not part of the newly crowned ten great outer mountain disciples, he was still above average
amongst the first class disciples, his strength far surpassing Han Shan's.
1234
While they conversed, the sound of rushing wind had already approached the entrance to the mountain.
Zhou Yuan soon saw a dozen figures fly over, landing a short distance from the creak.
The one leading the group was naturally Zhu Feng.
Zhu Feng stared at Zhou Yuan with hostility as he frostily said, "Zhou Yuan, I do not know what kind of
honeyed words you used to scam junior sister Gu Hongyi, but I advise you to stop with your tricks,
because you will not be able to bear the responsibility of affecting her training!"
Gu Hongyi's pretty face immediately turned ice-cold as she angrily said, "Zhu Feng, what does where I
train have to do with you? You’d better get lost!"
Her bright eyes icily looked towards Zhu Feng and gang, causing them to stumble slightly in response.
However, Zhu Feng was not scared off by this, summoning his courage as he said, “Junior sister Hongyi,
we’re doing this for your sake. You should not listen to this guy’s flowery words.”
Gu Hongyi's anger turned to laughter. "Flowery words? Do you fools know what level I've reached while
practicing the Ethereal Form technique with him?"
"I've already unblocked 25 apertures. If I were to continue under Zhu Yue instead, I don't think I would
even reach 15, right?!"
Zhu Feng's expression changed slightly, while the other disciples looked towards Gu Hongyi in disbelief
as they involuntarily cried out, "25? How can that be?!"
However, they knew that someone like Gu Hongyi would never lower herself to lie to them.
Could Zhou Yuan really be so capable?
Zhu Feng's expression fluctuated indeterminately. Soon after, he looked towards Zhou Yuan in contempt
and said, "All of us know how talented junior sister Hongyi is, so it's not surprising for her to accomplish
this in a few days."
"But I'm afraid you don't have the qualifications to take credit for her success."
His words were clear insinuating that Gu Hongyi's amazing talent was the only reason for her
accomplishments, and had nothing to do with Zhou Yuan. Gu Hongyi's earlier words were merely her
trying to defend him.
The others inwardly nodded upon hearing this, finding this the more acceptable explanation.
After all, they would rather believe in Gu Hongyi's astonishing talent than a mere first layer Alpha-Origin
having such capability…
1235
Gu Hongyi was so frustrated that she no longer knew what to say. The brains of these people were too
good at coming up with bullshit.
Just as she was about to begin scolding again, Zhou Yuan stopped her with an outreached hand.
Zhou Yuan helplessly said, "It is useless for you to reason with them."
Gu Hongyi glared at Zhou Yuan. Why would she bother if not for him.
"When you encounter such people, there's no need to talk too much…"
Zhou Yuan grinned at Gu Hongyi as something seemed to slowly climb up in his eyes. "Didn't you say
something about me earlier? I recall you saying I'm like an old man, right?"
"It’s just drive, I do have some too…”
His gaze turned towards Zhu Feng and the rest, his grin widening with a hint of blade like iciness.
"Aren't you guys here to stir up trouble…"
"Come then, you guys are just a bunch of trash anyways. Shall I take on all of you alone, or do you guys
want to come at me together…"
"I leave the choice to you."
At the final word, Zhou Yuan's expression turned completely cold as ice, berserk Genesis Qi abruptly
erupting from his body like a storm.
Behind him, a strange splendour appeared in Gu Hongyi's eyes as she gazed at the now overbearing
young man who gave off an incomparably pressuring aura.
It was as if the current Zhou Yuan and the gentle young man who usually taught her were two completely
different people.
1236
Chapter 233 Unbreakable
Genesis Qi violently swept out from Zhou Yuan's body, rapidly swirling around him like a golden
hurricane as his aura steadily rose.
In front of him, Zhu Feng and gang were first stunned by Zhou Yuan's sudden change, but upon hearing
his words, every one of them began to see red.
"Hehe, you truly are arrogant!" Zhu Feng laughed angrily, his eyes filled with ridicule as he disdainfully
said, "Taking us all on alone? Who do you think you are?"
"Do you really believe that defeating Han Shan has given you the qualifications to show such arrogance in
the face of real first class disciples like us?"
The faces of Zhu Feng and gang were filled with amusement and contempt, evidently feeling that Zhou
Yuan was truly a joke. After all, Zhou Yuan was merely a first layer Alpha-Origin in their eyes.
Though his feat of defeating Han Shan in a single punch had been pretty shocking, it was really nothing to
be proud of to Zhu Feng and the rest.
Han Shan was only a second class disciple, his strength merely at the second layer Alpha-Origin.
Hence, Zhou Yuan’s current appearance was extremely comical to them, as if they were looking at a
clown.
Zhu Feng’s laughter continued for quite some time before finally coming to a halt. He was actually pretty
happy that Zhou Yuan had voluntarily jumped out. After all, the former had indeed come here today to
cause trouble.
Even if Zhou Yuan had not voluntarily spoken up earlier, Zhu Feng would not easily let the matter rest.
"You can forget all of us ganging up on you, it is far too shameful.” Zhu Feng shook his head, a sliver of
iciness rising in his eyes as he looked towards Zhou Yuan and said, “Your flowery words are useless
against me, so I will be using my fists to reveal your true colors in front of junior sister Hongyi!”
He took a step forward as powerful Genesis Qi abruptly burst out from his body, the full might of the third
layer Alpha-Origin undoubtedly on full display.
By the side, Shen Wanjin was intimidated by Zhu Feng's pressure, causing his expression to change
slightly as worry emerged in his eyes. Zhu Feng was after all pretty famous amongst the first class
disciples.
Seeing that a fight was about to break out, Shen Wanjin's gaze kept darting towards the outside of the
mountain.
1237
Swish!
The sound of rushing wind was suddenly heard at this moment, rapidly approaching the creak as a cold
and stern shout rang out, "Zhu Feng, if you plan on taking on junior brother Zhou Yuan, you'll have to first
ask for my permission!"
Several figures of light landed, revealing their appearance. The one leading them was naturally Qiao Xiu.
They had evidently heard the news, and were afraid that Zhou Yuan would be in for a hard time. Hence,
they had hurried over to lend their aid.
Qiao Xiu wore a solemn expression as powerful Genesis Qi pulsed around him. Things had been going
pretty well for him over the past half a month, even gaining the title of one of the ten great outer
mountain disciples. Although he was only ranked tenth, the fact that he was able to enter the ranks as a
non Shengzhou Continent disciple was enough to show his ability.
Zhu Feng frowned when he saw Qiao Xiu, a trace a wariness in his eyes. Qiao Xiu was after all tenth
amongst the ten great outer mountain disciples, an individual that was indeed more powerful than
himself.
Even so, there was no fear on Zhu Feng's face as he indifferently said, "Qiao Xiu, this matter does not
concern you. It will be best if you do not interfere."
Qiao Xiu responded in a low voice, "Zhu Feng, you are the one who should not be too overbearing. Junior
brother Zhou Yuan is not someone who actively stirs up trouble. Why must you provoke him."
Mockery rose from the corners of Zhu Feng's mouth. "We weren’t the ones provoking him, he was the one
who just declared that he will take us all on alone."
The others laughed loudly in accompaniment.
Qiao Xiu's expression sunk slightly. "If you insist on making things difficult, don't blame me later on."
Zhu Feng's eyes hardened as he said, "Qiao Xiu, don't think for a second that I am afraid of you. I only said
so much earlier to give you some face. There should be some amongst you that are learning the Ethereal
Form technique from my elder brother, right?"
The threat in his final few words was already clear as day.
Qiao Xiu's expression changed a little, evidently not expecting Zhu Feng to so shamelessly use that to
threaten him.
However, he was no coward. Since he had already decided to reveal himself, he would not be so easily
frightened off by Zhu Feng. Without further ado, Genesis Qi began to stir as his piercing gaze looked
towards Zhu Feng.
1238
Zhu Feng likewise did not expect Qiao Xiu to be so stubborn, causing his expression to turn somewhat
ugly.
"Hehe, Qiao Xiu, it seems that you're pretty fond of sticking your doggy paws into other people's business.
Since you're so free, why not exchange a move or two with me." Just as Zhu Feng's expression turned
ugly, a bout of laughter suddenly sounded as a figure of light flew over and landed nearby.
It was a thin man who looked rather monkey like with a pair of deep set eyes. However, the Genesis Qi
undulations from his body were in no way weaker than Qiao Xiu’s.
Shen Wanjin could not help but softly gasp at the sight of this person, "It's Sun Jinglei."
Zhou Yuan’s eyes narrowed slightly. He had heard this name before. It was said that he was ranked ninth
amongst the ten great outer mountain disciples, one position higher than Qiao Xiu.
It seems that Zhu Feng had predicted Qiao Xiu’s interference and invited this expert over to help.
The expression in Qiao Xiu’s eyes sunk when he saw the monkey like young man as he sighed inside. It
seems that Zhu Feng was not going to let this matter go with words alone.
Zhou Yuan looked over at this moment and smiled at Qiao Xiu. “Senior brother Qiao Xiu, I can handle
things here.”
Zhou Yuan was already a little touched that Qiao Xiu had come to his aid so many times.
Qiao Xiu let out a bitter laugh. “Be careful junior brother Zhou Yuan.”
Although he was very optimistic about Zhou Yuan’s future, the latter was currently only at the first layer
Alpha-Origin stage. In contrast, Zhu Feng was already a veteren of the third layer Alpha-Origin. In a clash
between them, Zhou Yuan would likely be much worse off.
Zhou Yuan smiled in a carefree manner, before lifting his head to look towards Zhu Feng. “I’ll ask you one
last time, are you certain all of you aren’t coming together?”
Zhu Feng’s expression darkened as he sneered. “Still talking so big, looks like I’ll have to teach that mouth
of yours a lesson.”
Rumble!
Without the slightest shred of hesitation, Genesis Qi violently erupted as his expression turned serious.
He immediately took the initiative, his body akin to flash of lightning as he bolted towards Zhou Yuan.
A palm was swung horizontally, creating several palm shadows that homed in on Zhou Yuan’s fatal spots
in a flash.
1239
Zhu Feng’s attack was extremely vicious, showing no mercy at all.
Qiao Xiu, Shen Wanjin and the rest watched with anxious eyes.
They had realised that Zhou Yuan was not moving, as if he had no intention of avoiding.
“You dare to display such carelessness before me, do you think that I’m Han Shan?”
Zhu Feng let out an eerie laugh, under the impression that Zhou Yuan was just being foolish. However, the
former did not restrain his power, but instead poured even more ferocity into his attack. In the end,
several palm shadows landed on Zhou Yuan’s body.
Thud thud!
Muffled thuds continued to sound one after another as the aftershocks wreaked havoc in the
surroundings, tearing up the ground around Zhou Yuan.
Every gaze on the mountain was tightly fixed on the fight.
"Zhou Yuan is really too arrogant. To think that he did not even try to avoid senior brother Zhu Feng's
attack? Does he think he's unbreakable?" The group that had come here with Zhu Feng laughed
mockingly.
The dust gradually settled.
In the next instant, the mocking smiles that hung from the corners of their mouths slowly turned rigid.
Zhou Yuan was still standing there, his figure unmoved from the spot. His expression was one of
indifference, and not a single wound could be seen on his body, as the earlier attack had zero effect on
him.
"How can this be?!" Astonished cry after cry rang out.
"Impossible!" Zhu Feng's pupils violently tightened. He had held nothing back earlier, and every attack
had indeed solidly landed on Zhou Yuan's body. But why? Why had every attack seem to sink into his
body as if it was a stone being thrown into the vast sea, giving no feedback at all.
Zhou Yuan's expression did not change, merely frowning slightly as gazed at Zhu Feng and dully ask, "You
haven't eaten?"
Zhu Feng's expression filled with embarrassment and anger. With a loud yell, Genesis Qi frantically
converged towards his palm as his five fingers tightly clenched. A punch was sent forth, the punch winds
rumbling like thunder.
THUD!
1240
A punch that had enough power to turn a boulder to dust slammed into Zhou Yuan's chest.
Under Zhou Yuan's clothes, his chest area had turned incorporeal, while purplish gold Magical Python
Scales had emerged.
The purplish gold Magical Python Scales possessed strong defensive capabilities. Now that there was also
the Ethereal Form technique neutralising a portion of the power, Zhu Feng's full power punch was unable
to pierce Zhou Yuan's defences.
Therefore, Zhou Yuan's body merely swayed back a little.
He stared at Zhu Feng and remarked, "Looks like you really have not eaten. Your power is really weak."
The others were stupefied by this sight…
"His defence is so strong?!" Even the pupils of Qiao Xiu and Sun Jinglei shrank a little. If they were they
ones in his place, it would be impossible for them to come out unscathed after taking a direct hit from Zhu
Feng's full power punch with their bodies.
Zhu Feng was shocked and horrified. As he blankly stared at Zhou Yuan's body, he suddenly discovered
that the latter's chest area had turned rather incorporeal, and was abruptly struck by a flash of
understanding. A piercing voice filled with both terror and astonishment immediately rang out.
"You… you've mastered the first level of the Ethereal Form technique?!"
1241
Chapter 234 Beating Up a Group
Zhu Feng’s horrified voice caused disbelief to fill the faces of everyone else present with the exception of
Gu Hongyi, making them dumbstruck as they stared at Zhou Yuan.
“How is this possible? It’s only been a few days, how can he possibly have mastered the first level of the
Ethereal Form technique?!”
“But… etherealisation of the body is clearly only achievable by someone who has mastered the first
level!”
“This is the only way to explain how he was able to receive Zhu Feng’s attacks with his body.”
“...”
Qiao Xiu and Shen Wanjin were stunned as they looked to each other. The Ethereal Form technique was
one of the more popular Genesis techniques in the outer mountains, and had been selected by many
disciples. This was because of how amazing it was. Once mastered, it would substantially boost one’s
overall survivability.
But Qiao Xiu and Shen Wanjin also knew that although many people were learning it, only a handful were
able to reach the first level. Mastering the first level in a span of less than ten days was practically
unheard of.
In addition, they knew that Zhou Yuan had not received any guidance during this process, everything had
been achieved with his own ability...
“Could it be? Gu Hongyi was only able to progress so rapidly in the Ethereal Form technique because she
chose to learn under Zhou Yuan?” Qiao Xiu and Shen Wanjin’s mouths subconsciously hung slightly open.
Truth be told, they had felt Gu Hongyi’s choice of Zhou Yuan over Zhu Yue was way too weird. If they
were not well acquainted with Zhou Yuan and knew that Gu Hongyi was not some easily love-struck girl,
they would have likely believed that there was something going on between the two...
White and green interlaced on Zhu Feng’s face, some horror still lingering in his eyes.
Never in his wildest dreams would he have imagined Zhou Yuan had actually mastered the first level of
the Ethereal Form technique...
While Zhu Feng was still lost in shock, Zhou Yuan lightly tapped his chest under everyone’s gazes and said
in a calm voice, “I told you earlier that all of you should come at me together, and yet you kept insisting on
taking me on alone… since that is so…”
By the time Zhou Yuan’s voice faded, his body had already moved.
1242
Half of his body seemed to turn incomporeal as he took a step forward. Faint mist appeared around him
as his figure swiftly shot forward like the wind.
“Such speed!”
Zhu Feng’s heart shivered. Zhou Yuan was so quick that even he was beginning to see faint after images.
In the face of the current Zhou Yuan, Zhu Feng no longer displayed any of the arrogance from before. His
feet rapidly moved as his figure hastily retreated in a rather miserable manner.
However, his speed was far from being able to match Zhou Yuan’s.
Zhou Yuan merely took a single step forward and appeared in front of Zhu Feng like a phantom.
No matter how Zhu Feng tried to evade, Zhou Yuan’s figure closely followed like a shadow.
“This speed…” Qiao Xiu and Sun Jinglei’s expressions changed slightly when they saw this.
“Get lost!” Zhu Feng was scared stiff by Zhou Yuan’s phantom like speed. The humiliation and anger in the
former’s heart reached its peak, and with a howl, berserk Genesis Qi unfurled from his body, dashing in
all directions.
Swish!
However, Zhou Yuan’s figure merely flickered a few times, breaking through the wave of Genesis Qi as
purplish gold scales appeared on his hand. A palm strike was swiftly sent forth, instantly piercing Zhu
Feng’s defences and landing on his chest.
Thud!
Genesis Qi exploded, and Zhu Feng’s body was sent catapulting backwards as if he had been struck by a
heavy blow.
However, mere moments after his figure was sent flying, Zhou Yuan’s somewhat ethereal figure appeared
below the former as a kick lashed out along with Genesis Qi.
Thud!
A whip like leg ripped through the air, kicking Zhu Feng in the stomach as he let out a miserably cry and
was sent flying once again.
AHhh! AHhh!
The crowd’s eyelids twitched as they watched Zhu Feng’s body being bounced around in mid-air, unable
to land. It was an exceedingly wretched sight.
1243
The mountain was blanketed in silence, everyone speechless as they watched Zhou Yuan effortlessly kick
Zhu Feng around like a ball, a sight that caused them to shiver involuntarily.
Especially the disciples that had come with Zhu Feng. They had originally believed Zhou Yuan would be
easily crushed, allowing him to understand his place.
But who could have expected… that the third layer Alpha-Origin Zhu Feng would be unable to even touch
Zhou Yuan’s shadow, and would end up being hit around like a ball.
“What are you guys still standing around for! Go get him together!”
In the air, Zhu Feng, who had been beaten about till he was now somewhat dizzy, lost his composure and
howled.
These disciples looked to each other. In the end, they ignored the fact that there were going to gang up on
Zhou Yuan and forced themselves forward, surrounding him from all directions.
“I already told you guys to come at me together earlier, but you guys just had to insist on wasting time.”
Zhou Yuan chuckled softly when he saw them approach as the mist around him thickened, causing his
speed to soar once again.
Swish!
He was akin to the shadow of a phantom as he charged into the midst of the dozen or so disciples.
Thud! Thud!
The battle was a completely chaotic mess. Although these disciples were pretty strong, they were unable
to even touch the edges of Zhou Yuan’s clothes. In contrast, whenever Zhou Yuan’s figure dashed past, a
fist covered in purplish gold scales along with robust Genesis Qi would slam into their bodies without any
trace of politeness.
Each punch moulded itself into the flesh, painting an exceptionally violent picture.
In a short few minutes, the ground was littered with bodies, each one with a bloody nose and swollen
face, traces of blood at the corner of their mouths as they groaned in pain.
At the middle, Zhou Yuan stood with his hands by his side as his partially incorporeal body gradually
returned to normal.
His expression was still indifferent, unchanged even through the entire ordeal.
He looked towards the ground in front of him where Zhu Feng was staggering to his feet. The latter had
received the most of Zhou Yuan’s care, making him look the most pitiful of the bunch.
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Zhu Feng trembled uncontrollably as he gazed upon Zhou Yuan, a trace of terror in his eyes. He truly
never imagined that they would still lose in such a miserable manner even after the dozen or so of them
ganged up on Zhou Yuan.
Now that Zhou Yuan had mastered the first level of the Ethereal Form technique, he was not only
untouchably quick, but his defence was also extremely terrifying, allowing him to practically ignore their
attacks.
One must know that there were two other first class disciples amongst the group that had the strength of
the third layer Alpha-Origin!
But even so, they had been easily dealt with by Zhou Yuan...
How crazy was this?
Even the outer mountain top ten disciples such as Qiao Xiu and Sun Jinglei did not dare to claim they
would be able to so effortlessly deal with several first class disciples without taking any damage.
“After today, junior brother Zhou Yuan will definitely have a spot as one of the ten great outer mountain
disciples.” Qiao Xiu could not help but sigh.
Zhou Yuan had previously been way too low profile. Although he had obtained victory over Han Shan, it
had only made others feel that he was at least worthy of being a first class disciple, though many believed
that he was one of the lowest ranking amongst them.
After today’s battle, there was likely no one would continue to say so.
This battle was enough for his name to shake the outer mountains.
Sun Jinglei’s expression had turned rather grave, wariness now present in his eyes as he stared at Zhou
Yuan. The former had not taken the latter very seriously earlier, which led to his prompt agreement when
Zhu Feng had asked him for support.
But now, he was feeling a slight bit of regret.
Zhou Yuan was clearly not as simple as he looked, and Sun Jinglei had now offended him for no real
reason.
*Clap clap*!
Loud and clear clapping sounded from behind. One would find Gu Hongyi grinning as she watched this
scene, an additional trace of admiration in her eyes when she looked at Zhou Yuan.
The way Zhou Yuan had beaten them all up alone was clearly very much to her liking.
1245
Zhou Yuan chuckled, growing increasingly satisfied with the Ethereal Form technique. Although he would
not fear the other party if he had not learnt the technique, he would not have had such an easy time.
The Ethereal Form technique allowed him to etherealize his physical body, greatly increasing his speed
and thus making his movements extremely agile and nimble. When the defensive capabilities of the
Magical Python Scales was added, the strength of third layer Alpha-Origin was basically unable to break
his defences.
He raised his head, his eyes uncaring as he glanced at the miserable figures of Zhu Feng and gang.
“Although your elder brother Zhu Yue is an inner mountain disciple, he is very narrow minded and petty.
It was only a small dispute, and yet he tried to stop all the other inner mountain disciples from teaching
me…”
If he did not possess the Decoder Saint Rune, he may have really been in some trouble. After all, the
effectiveness would definitely be lower without anyone’s guidance.
Though Zhu Feng did not dare to retort when he heard Zhou Yuan criticizing Zhu Yue, the former coldy
snorted inside.
His elder brother was an inner mountain disciple after all, an existence that Zhou Yuan would not dare to
clash against directly even if he had mastered the first level of the Ethereal Form technique.
“Zhou Yuan, we admit defeat this time, but don’t be too happy yet. You won’t have a good time after
offending my elder brother!” Said Zhu Feng through gnashed teeth.
Zhou Yuan merely smiled faintly. “I believe I should be the one saying these words.”
Although Zhu Feng was in a pretty bad state, mockery still surfaced in his eyes as he sneered. “Oh? What
can you even do to my elder brother?”
Although Zhou Yuan had mastered the first level of the Ethereal Form technique, he would still amount to
nothing much in Zhu Yue’s eyes. The latter was after all an inner mountain disciple.
Zhou Yuan seemed to smile.
Upon seeing his expression, Zhu Feng suddenly a sliver of unease, but he could not figure out what Zhou
Yuan was planning.
Zhou Yuan’s gaze looked towards the other disciples that had followed Zhu Feng here. They were
basically the disciples that were learning the Ethereal Form technique from Zhu Yue.
“From today, I will begin teaching the Ethereal Form technique. As for my effectiveness, you can look to
Gu Hongyi as an example. I guarantee that everyone under my tutelage will reach the first level of the
technique in a month.”
1246
As for the price, Zhu Feng charges five Genesis jade pieces a day, so mine will be a little cheaper, let’s say
three Genesis jade pieces a day.”
“If any of you are interested, you can transfer over any time.”
The mountain was deathly silent, even Qiao Xiu and Sun Jinglei were dumbstruck as they blankly stared
at Zhou Yuan.
No one had expected that Zhou Yuan was planning on brazenly recruiting disciples and teach them the
Ethereal Form technique!
Zhu Feng also blankly stared at Zhou Yuan as his scalp suddenly numbed. He had realised that if Zhou
Yuan really did as he had said, Zhu Feng’s elder brother, Zhu Yue, was going to have a pretty hard time in
the subsequent days.
After all, even Zhu Yue did not dare to guarantee helping someone else master the first level of the
Ethereal Form technique in a month.
Zhou Yuan’s declaration was basically going to cut off Zhu Feng’s income!
This counterattack could be said to be merciless to the extreme!
1247
Chapter 235 Zhou Yuan’s Counterattack
Everyone foolishly stared at Zhou Yuan after listening to his words. The shock factor of these words were
clearly even greater than his feat of beating down the entire group alone.
None of them had ever heard of someone giving guidance to other disciples while he was still an outer
mountain disciple...
Moreover, none of the inner mountain disciples had ever dared to claim they could help the disciples
under their tutelage reach the first level of the Ethereal Form technique in a month.
Even Zhu Yue did not have the ability.
Hence, Zhou Yuan words somewhat tempted even Qiao Xiu. He may not have chosen to learn the Ethereal
Form technique, but if Zhou Yuan was truly able to help him reach the first level in a month, he did not
mind starting from scratch...
After all, they understood how difficult it was to learn a little Heaven Genesis technique. The amount of
time and effort required was tremendous, and reaching initial mastery in a month was already amazingly
fast.
Zhu Feng’s complexion paled, cold sweat appearing on his forehead as horror filled his eyes. He never
imagined that Zhou Yuan would play such a card. The former immediately gritted his teeth and said, “As
an outer mountain disciple, how can you have the qualifications to give guidance to other disciples?”
Zhou Yuan grinned. “Is there a rule that says an outer mountain disciple can’t give guidance to others?”
Zhu Feng froze, the expression on his face fluctuating indeterminately as he looked towards the
individuals around him. These people had been learning the Ethereal Form technique from his elder
brother, but their gazes were now flickering slightly in thought, evidently tempted by Zhou Yuan’s words.
It was clear to them after all. If they continued with Zhu Yue, the cost was not only higher, but they may
not even reach the first level of the Ethereal Form technique in a month.
In comparison, Zhou Yuan’s quality to price ratio was undoubtedly better!
Zhu Feng began to panic as he hurriedly said, “Don’t be bewitched by him! Even if he can reach the first
level of the Ethereal Form technique, it does not mean that he will be able to help others do the same in a
month. Gu Hongyi is super talented, how can you guys compare to her?”
He was aware that coming to the outer mountains to teach was a nice cushy job that his elder brother had
gone through much difficulty to acquire. It was after all a job where Genesis jade could be earned more
easily. If Zhou Yuan were to suddenly stick his hand into this pie, Zhu Yue would end up being akin to
someone who uses a wicker basket to collect water.
1248
Zhu Feng’s words made the other disciple hesitate somewhat. After all, when Zhou Yuan and Zhu Yue
were compared, the latter’s inner mountain disciple status was more trustworthy.
Zhu Feng did not dare to linger any longer, afraid that they would be enticed away. He frostily looked
towards Zhou Yuan and said, “Zhou Yuan, one should always leave a way out. If you really intend to teach
the Ethereal Form technique, my elder brother will not take this lying down.”
His words and tone implied both a threat and a warning.
However, Zhou Yuan’s expression did not change as he smiled faintly and replied, “Did you guys leave me
a way out when you collaborated with the other instructors to stop me from learning Genesis
techniques?”
If he did not have a few tricks up his sleeve, he would have likely been hard-pressed due to Zhu Yue’s
actions. Any ordinary person would have had his future ruined by the latter.
After all, the competition in the Cangxuan Sect was just too intense, being delayed a single step would
often times lead to one being unable to surpass another again.
Zhu Feng icily said, “Humph, you stubborn fool, just wait for the fury of my elder brother to descend!”
“Go!”
With a wave of his sleeve, he took the lead and left, though his figure appeared a little pathetic.
The other disciples hesitated for a moment. In the end, they still chose to follow.
Zhou Yuan did not feel their departure was the least bit unfortunate.
“Heh heh, little Yuan bro, are you really planning on the teaching the other disciples the Ethereal Form
technique? From what I know, there are at least a hundred people amongst the outer mountain disciples
that are practicing it. If all of them came here to learn from you, you will receive an income of several
hundred Genesis jade pieces per day!” Shen Wanjin’s eyes were practically glowing, saliva nearly
dripping from his mouth. After doing the calculations, he had realised that Zhou Yuan could become the
richest amongst the outer mountain disciples in a month.
Zhou Yuan’s heart involuntarily beat a little faster when he heard this. The truth was, he had only said so
earlier to take revenge on Zhu Yue, but now that he gave some thought to it, he realised that it was
practically the best way to rake in huge amounts of Genesis jade!
In comparison, going to the Task Pavillion everyday to take on some missions now seemed akin to tough,
meaningless labour.
Zhou Yuan’s gaze stealthily lit up with excitement and desire. As long as a third of those practicing the
Ethereal Form technique came to him, his coffers would be overflowing with money. With such wealth, he
1249
would finally be able to rent out the Nine Dragons Canon, and maybe acquire some of the treasures he
had taken a fancy to in the Glittering Jewels Pavillion.
“You seem to know quite a lot.” Zhou Yuan looked towards Shen Wanjin with a wide smile. “Are you
interested in helping me with this venture?”
Shen Wanjin patted his chest, a dazzling light in his eyes as he responded, “You’ve found the right man for
the job little Yuan bro. Such matters are my forte. I will first help you spread news of this, especially to the
disciples that are learning the Ethereal Form technique.”
“I’m sure many disciples will be tempted by your guarantee of reaching the first level in a month.”
“If we add in information about you having already achieved this feat, together with a famous person like
Gu Hongyi’s endorsement, the worries and reservations of the other disciples should gradually be
dispelled.”
“As long as we take it one step at a time, I dare say that not even a single figure will be seen at Zhu Yue’s
place in the end!”
Zhou Yuan began to chuckle as he listened. Shen Wanjin’s aid would indeed save him a lot of trouble.
Qiao Xiu’s eyes burned with desire as he looked towards Zhou Yuan and asked, “Junior brother Zhou
Yuan, can you really allow other disciples to reach the first level of the Ethereal Form technique in a
month?”
Zhou Yuan pondered a little, before he replied, “It should not be much of an issue if I have a month, but I
can only guarantee the first level. The subsequent levels are another matter.”
The later apertures would only grow more and more difficult to sense. Hence, Zhou Yuan did not intend
to waste all of his effort helping others find their apertures. If he did, where would he find the time for his
own cultivation.
Qiao Xiu sighed in admiration. Soon after, he smiled and said, “Then I’ll also be renting out the Ethereal
Form technique when I return.”
As one of the most popular choices amongst the outer mountain disciples, Qiao Xiu naturally knew how
formidable the Ethereal Form technique was. He had only given up on it for the time being because he
also understood how troublesome it was to find the apertures.
Zhou Yuan chuckled and said, “You guys can learn free of charge.”
Qiao Xiu was a pretty decent person, and Zhou Yuan had a very favorable impression of him. Hence, the
latter naturally did not mind lending a hand to the former.
Qiao Xiu did not argue upon hearing this, merely grinning as he said, “Then I’ll have to give my thanks.”
1250
Learning a Genesis technique was very costly, so he did not want to end up paying more than he should
because of pride. He intended to save every bit he could.
Qiao Xiu remarked, “When news of this spreads, I’m afraid junior brother Zhou Yuan will become the
most famous person amongst the outer mountain disciples.”
It was true. After all, such a thing had never happened before.
“Besides this, junior brother Zhou Yuan needs to be a little more careful with regards to Zhu Yue. This
venture of yours can be said to have threatened his livelihood. I’m afraid he will not silently let this
matter rest.”
When all was said and done, Zhu Yue was still an inner mountain disciple, possessing status and strength
beyond outer mountain disciples like them.
Zhou Yuan chuckled and nodded. He was not overly worried about Zhu Yue. If that fellow really lost his
rationality and directly struck at Zhou Yuan, he would not have any reservations locking Zhu Yue in with
Tuntun...
Qiao Xiu and Shen Wanjin worked out a few other details before leaving. Excitement colored their eyes
when they left, clearly already able to imagine how huge this would be once news of Zhou Yuan giving
guidance on the Ethereal Form technique spread in the outer mountains.
As Gu Hongyi watched them leave, she lifted her head and smiled superficially at Zhou Yuan, “Your
ambition is not small...I wonder how much Genesis jade you will earn when you succeed.”
“No one asked them to keep targeting me as if they had nothing better to do.” Zhou Yuan shrugged. If not
for Zhu Yue’s overbearingness, the former would not be so ruthless.
“You’re only teaching the first level of the Ethereal Form technique?” Gu Hongyi suddenly changed the
topic.
Zhou Yuan smiled and answered, “The later part is too difficult, and I won’t be of much help. You’ll have
to rely on yourself.”
Gu Hongyi pouted slightly. “I somehow feel that it’s not that you can’t, but that you don’t want to, right?”
Zhou Yuan raised his eyebrows. The intuition of a woman was terrifyingly sharp.
The smile on Gu Hongyi’s lips grew even wider when she saw Zhou Yuan’s lack of a response as she said
in a low voice, “It seems that you’ve acknowledged it with your silence. Teach me till the second level
then!”
Zhou Yuan shook his head. “Rejected.”
1251
The second level required much more effort than the first, and clearly could not be compared.
Gu Hongyi’s face seemed to become more charming after Zhou Yuan’s clean rejection. She sauntered up
to him, breathing a little heavier than normal as she seductively blew at his ear.
“Zhou Yuan, my family’s old ancestor is the master of the Cangxuan Sect’s Hongya Peak. What do you
think will happen if I tell him that you bullied me?”
The smile that hung from the corners of Zhou Yuan’s mouth turned slightly rigid. He did not expect Gu
Hongyi’s backer to be one of the seven peak masters of the Cangxuan Sect. Wasn’t that way too much!
“That’s a little unreasonable, right?” Zhou Yuan forced a smile.
Gu Hongyi blinked innocently as she said in a sweet voice, “Reasoning with a girl? Are you stupid?”
Zhou Yuan said, “May I ask what kind of compensation I will get?”
Gu Hongyi cocked her head in thought for a moment, before she smiled charmingly and answered, “You’ll
get a more favorable opinion from Gu Hongyi.”
Zhou Yuan, “...”
Although he nearly vomited a mouthful of blood, he managed to grit his teeth in the end and bitterly spat
out, “You win!”
1252
Chapter 236 Sensational
The events that had occurred by the creek in the mountain spread as if it had wings, stirring up the entire
outer mountains into a frenzy.
First of all, everyone was amazed and astonished by the strength Zhou Yuan had displayed. A single
individual mowing down Zhu Feng and other first class disciples? How strong did one needed to be to
achieve such a feat?
One must know that Zhou Yuan was currently still at the first layer Alpha-Origin.
The previous ten great outer mountain disciples had not even taken Zhou Yuan in to consideration. After
all, many felt that although he had overwhelmed Han Shan, it had only proven that he was qualified to be
a first class disciple.
On the other hand, these ten great outer mountain disciples were supposed to be the finest even amongst
all the first class disciples, so Zhou Yuan clearly did not have the qualifications to enter their ranks.
However, no one had expected someone who supposedly did not have the qualifications to turn out to be
such a fierce individual.
Taking on an entire group alone that even included three first class disciples, and achieving an almost
effortless victory. This was something that only a few of the current ten great outer mountain disciples
could accomplish.
Hence, the strength displayed by Zhou Yuan once again made all of the outer mountain disciples exclaim
in admiration.
However, these feelings only lasted for a moment before being completely swept away by another piece
of news...
What else could it be but Zhou Yuan’s offer to teach disciples the Ethereal Form technique.
News of this immediately caused even bigger waves in the outer mountains. Every disciple was
dumbstruck upon hearing it, because it was something that had never been done before. How could an
outer mountain disciple have the qualifications to teach other outer mountain disciples?
“What a joke, he’s an outer mountain disciple just like us and yet he dares to claim he can teach the
Ethereal Form technique? This is too laughable.”
“But I’ve heard that Zhou Yuan’s Ethereal Form technique has already reached the first level. That’s why
Zhu Feng and gang were defeated without even touching his clothes once.”
1253
“That can’t be, right? How long as it been since he started learning the Ethereal Form technique? In fact, I
personally witnessed him renting it out just recently.”
“Even Gu Hongyi is learning from him. I heard that she unblocked over 20 apertures in a short few
days…”
“Could he really be so capable?”
“Tch, Gu Hongyi is super talented, so it’s not surprising for her to master it so quickly. Zhou Yuan is most
likely boasting by taking credit for her success.”
“I feel that we have to carefully consider this matter. Zhou Yuan may be trying to scam Genesis jade…”
“......”
Similar opinions could be heard in every corner of the outer mountains, many debating whether Zhou
Yuan had the qualifications to teach other disciples the Ethereal Form technique...
However, the majority were skeptical. After all, none of them were willing to believe that another outer
mountain disciple would so greatly surpass them.
Because it would only make them feel ashamed of their inferiority.
...
Hidden Scriptures House, rear mountain.
The atmosphere in Zhu Yue’s lecture hall was somewhat oppressive. Numerous disciples were secretly
whispering, evidently affected by the news. After all, the claims Zhou Yuan had made were rather
shocking.
The doors to the lecture hall were pushed open as an indifferent looking Zhu Yue walked in, causing
every whisper to instantly vanish.
Zhu Yue nonchalantly said, “I know that all of you have heard the news. If anyone wants to go over, feel
free to leave.”
None of the disciples present dared to make any noise. Zhu Yue was after all an inner mountain disciple,
and it would not be good to offend him.
Zhu Yue’s expression finally softened a little when he saw this. “Zhou Yuan does have his way with words,
but he should be careful of eating more than his fill. Even if he was able to reach the first level of the
Ethereal Form technique in a month, it does not mean that he can help anyone else do so.”
1254
“But junior sister Hongyi is said to have already unblocked over 20 apertures.” Said someone in a low
voice.
Ridicule rose from the corners of Zhu Yue’s mouth. “Gu Hongyi has astonishing talent, and the old
ancestor of her family is the master of the Hongya Peak. He will have naturally given her some amazing
treasures to aid her in mastering the Ethereal Form technique.”
“In fact, I’m of the opinion that Zhou Yuan may have been so fast because he managed to bask some of Gu
Hongyi’s light.”
“He is an exceptionally devious, cunning and scheming person, as shown by how he approached Gu
Hongyi and somehow gained her favor. However, he is far too arrogant. I’m looking forward to see how
he will wrap this matter up after making such bold claims.”
Zhu Yue’s tone grew increasingly disdainful as he spoke.
In the lecture hall, the disciples nodded inside as they listened, feeling that his words were not without
logic. After all, they would rather believe Zhou Yuan had benefited from Gu Hongyi rather than
succeeding through his own capabilities.
Zhu Yue’s explanation eased the expressions of the disciples present as they began to make fun of Zhou
Yuan.
The sight of this made Zhu Yue chuckle softly as he began to speak once again, “Zhou Yuan really silly and
arrogant to have made such claims. It would be fine if he can truly fulfil his promises, but if he can’t, I will
have no choice but to report this to the Law Enforcement Hall. When that happens, Zhou Yuan will likely
be kicked out of the outer mountains.”
Everyone’s heart shivered as they secretly sighed in pity for Zhou Yuan. It could be said that he was going
to bring about his own downfall this time.
From Zhu Yue’s tone, he clearly held a deep grudge against Zhou Yuan and would not let this matter rest.
...
It was still the same creek in the mountain.
However, the usually tranquil mountain creek had now become the most popular location in the outer
mountains. Black masses of people stood on both sides of the creek, their gazes filled with interest as they
gazed down at the creek below where Zhou Yuan was standing on a rock, his expression cool and
collected.
Shen Wanjin said from Zhou Yuan’s side, “Little Yuan bro, we’ve already spread the news, but very few
people believe us. Especially those Shengzhou disciples, all they do is mock.”
1255
Zhou Yuan nodded, unsurprised by this information. The Shengzhou disciples were extremely arrogant
after all, and looked down upon the disciples from the other continents. They would naturally be
unwilling to believe a Cangmang disciple like him would be able to do something that was impossible for
them.
As the saying went, every beginning is always difficult, so Zhou Yuan was mentally prepared for this.
He lifted his head and shot a glance at both sides of the creek. These people were here for entertainment,
not to learn the Ethereal Form technique.
“Little Yuan bro, Zhu Yue has made known that if you do not fulfil your promises, he will report this
matter to the Law Enforcement Hall, and get you convicted.” Shen Wanjin was pretty worried.
“Let him do what he wants.”
Zhou Yuan nodded, showing no concern for this issue.
“Haha, junior brother Zhou Yuan, we’ve come to cheer you on.” Laughter was heard at this moment as
Qiao Xiu led a dozen figures to towards the creek. Included in the group behind him were Xiao Tianxuan
and several other Cangmang disciples.
They obviously knew that the starting would be the most awkward for Zhou Yuan, and had come here to
make up the numbers.
However, with the exception of Qiao Xiu, most of the group were still rather doubtful. They only did not
openly show it.
They had agreed to follow mostly on account of Qiao Xiu.
Laughter began to spread from both sides of the creek, evidently of the opinion that it was pretty
embarrassing for Zhou Yuan to resort to such measures...
“Senior brother Qiao Xiu, is this really going to work? I feel like we’re clowns.” Beside Qiao Xiu stood a
pretty girl in a long dark blue skirt. She was called Zhou Yu, and was also a pretty prideful first class
disciple.
At this current moment, she was feeling a little uncomfortable under the many mocking gazes in the
vicinity. Hence her earlier grumbling.
Evidently, she too did not believe that Zhou Yuan was able to teach the Ethereal Form technique.
Qiao Xiu smiled awkwardly when he heard this, somewhat uncertain as he answered, “It should work
out.”
Zhou Yu unhappily rolled her eyes. “Senior brother Qiao Xiu, you’re too good hearted.”
1256
“Senior sister Zhou Yu, brother Yuan would only make such a claim because he is confident.” Said a girl
called Shuixi in a soft voice. As someone who was also from the Cangmang Continent, she would naturally
side with Zhou Yuan.
“I hope so, or he will not be able to deal with the consequences.” Zhou Yu crossed her arms, declining to
express any further opinions.
While they were chatting, Zhou Yuan looked over. He knew that everyone would be doubtful, but he did
not intend to convince them with words. Everything would be shown through facts.
With so many people watching, he would make good use of this chance to show them the truth.
Every gaze in the vicinity of the mountain creek converged towards him when they heard him speak.
Most of these gazes, however, were filled with doubt and ridicule.
1257
Chapter 237 Before Everyone’s Eyes
In the vicinity of the mountain creek.
Gu Hongyi was gracefully standing nearby, her pretty eyes gazing towards the creek.
“Tell me the truth Hongyi. Was he able to master the first level of the Ethereal Form technique so quickly
because he got some kind of amazing treasure from your old ancestor?” At Gu Hongyi’s side was a young
lady in pink clothes. She was rather pretty, her beauty enhanced by her limpid eyes. Her greatest assets
however were the proud, astonishing curves on her chest that were tightly wrapped by her clothes,
causing many of the surrounding male disciples to involuntarily cast a peek as they swallowed
uncomfortably.
This girl was called Han Qiushui, and was also a first class disciple from the Shengzhou Continent. She
was rather well known in the outer mountains, though not as famous as Gu Hongyi.
She was also acquainted with Gu Hongyi, hence why she had taken the chance to secretly ask her earlier
question.
“You believe such rumors?” Gu Hongyi frowned as she glanced at the former.
Han Qiushui chuckled. “I feel that these so-called rumors are a little more believable than the alternative.”
Her eyes swept across Zhou Yuan’s figure. Though there was no contempt in her gaze, it still contained a
little of the pride all Shengzhou disciples had.
Evidently, she too did not believe that a kid from some remote continent would be able to achieve
something they Shengzhou disciples could not.
Gu Hongyi shook her head, not bothering to explain anything, and merely said, “Just watch and see.”
Han Qiushui was rather surprised by the deep trust Gu Hongyi had in Zhou Yuan, especially because she
clearly knew how proud and distant the latter was. Ordinary disciples were unable to even catch her eye,
and even Lu Feng’s repeated attempts to get close were only met by cold responses.
Hence, Han Qiushui was unable to wrap her head around why a blessed daughter of the heavens like Gu
Hongyi would have so much faith in a kid from another continent.
Han Qiushui timidly said, "Hongyi, you seem to have become quite close to Zhou Yuan recently… I've
heard that Lu Feng is feeling very uncomfortable due to this."
Gu Hongyi frowned slightly. "Is any of this Lu Feng's business?"
Han Qiushui replied, "Do you still not understand his intentions?"
1258
Gu Hongyi cast a sideways glance at the former. "He asked you to speak for him?"
Han Qiushui smiled awkwardly.
Gu Hongyi icily said, "You can tell him that it will be in his best interests not to interfere. Or else, don’t
blame me for falling out with him."
Han Qiushui helplessly said, "I'm only a messenger, don't flare up at me."
Gu Hongyi coldly snorted, choosing not to speak anymore as she looked towards the creek again.
Han Qiushui swallowed, and also turned towards the creek as she unhappily said, "Alright, I'm interested
to see for myself just how capable this huge braggart is, that even our proud big missy Hongyi has
acknowledged him."
"But I also hope that he isn't just full of hot air, or it will not be easy to wrap up this matter today."
...
The moment Zhou Yuan's words sounded, countless amused gazes on both sides of the creek looked
down towards him, as if waiting to watch an entertaining show.
Qiao Xiu, Xiao Tianxuan and the rest exchanged a look, before seating themselves beside the creek.
"Junior brother Zhou Yuan, what do we do next?" Asked Qiao Xiu. Although he appeared relaxed, a sliver
of anxiousness was visible in his eyes. After all, if Zhou Yuan failed today, the consequences would be
very dire indeed.
Just the mocking laughter of the numerous disciples present would likely drown him.
What's more, Zhu Yue had already declared that he would report Zhou Yuan to the Law Enforcement Hall
if he were to fail.
This would likely result in Zhou Yuan being kicked out of the outer mountains, an extremely terrible price
to pay.
Zhou Yuan casually said from the rock he was seated on, "Everyone should begin circulating the Ethereal
Form technique."
Everyone closed their eyes upon hearing this, and began to circulate the Ethereal Form technique.
1259
Under the attention of countless gazes, Zhou Yuan pulled out the Heavenly Yuan Brush at his waist. It
began to grow as his hand grasped around it, the snow-white hairs at its tip shooting out, turning into a
dozen strings that wrapped around the wrists of Qiao Xiu and the rest.
"I will send my senses into your bodies through the brush hairs. When the time comes, you guys only
need to release your control over your Genesis Qi, and allow me to direct it." Zhou Yuan's voice was
transmitted into everyone's ears.
After hearing these words, Zhou Yu could not help but blurt out in a low voice, "Can he really do it? What
if he doesn't know what he's doing, and ends up causing our Genesis Qi to lose control which may in turn
damage our channels?"
Qiao Xiu hesitated for a moment. In the end, he gritted his teeth and said, "Relax everyone, junior brother
Zhou Yuan is not a reckless person. He understands the gravity of the situation."
Qiao Xiu was reputable individual, so everyone else could only nod after hearing his words.
No one else said anything as they began to direct the Genesis Qi in their bodies, following the route
indicated by the Ethereal Form technique.
As such, the area around the creek grew silent.
Every gaze on both sides of the creek unblinkingly watched this scene.
By the creek, the only sound to be heard was the gurgling of flowing water.
Time seemed to slowly slip past as the water flowed. Two hours quickly passed… however, there was still
no activity.
Han Qiushui yawned as she said in a bored voice, "Is he out of moves or something?"
Gu Hongyi frowned. “As someone who has not tried practicing the Ethereal Form technique, can you cut
down on your comments? Sensing apertures is not that easy, and he’s even doing it for a dozen people.
How strong do you think his Spirit senses have to be?”
After being scolded by Gu Hongyi, Han Qiushui could only pout unhappily as she viciously stared at Zhou
Yuan and said, “Then I’ll watch and see how long he can keep up this act!”
Time continued to flow, and another two hours swift passed.
Faint grumbling due to impatience could already be heard from both sides of the creek. Only the disciples
that practiced the Ethereal Form technique before understood its difficulty, and continued to wait in
silence.
Time continued to flow, and the six hour mark soon approached.
1260
Warm light fell from the sky, shining on Zhou Yuan’s body, making the young man seem as if he was
glowing brightly at this moment.
It was at this very moment that Zhou Yuan’s tightly shut eyes abruptly opened.
“Release your control!”
Zhou Yuan’s voice sounded in the ears of Qiao Xiu and the rest, causing their hearts to shake violently as
they involuntarily gave up control of the Genesis Qi in their bodies.
The instant this happened, they felt an external force direct the Genesis Qi in their bodies, guiding it
through their channels. A dozen breaths later, their Genesis Qi suddenly turned, ferociously charging
towards a certain spot in their bodies.
Bang! Bang!
At the moment of impact, Qiao Xiu, Zhou Yu and the rest suddenly felt a strong vibration spread from
inside their bodies. Next, they were astonished to feel something being unblocked at the location that
Genesis Qi had struck...
An aperture had appeared within their senses.
The Genesis Qi in their bodies began to dribble in little by little.
Yes, it’s really been unblocked!
Qiao Xiu and the rest opened their eyes at this moment, eyes filled with disbelief.
“Haha, it’s been unblocked, the aperture has appeared!” Some of the others were unable to hold back
their emotions as they began to dance and laugh.
*Uproar*!
An uproar exploded on both sides of the creek at this moment, every disciple dumbstruck by the
outcome.
“What? Unblocked? He helped a dozen people unblock their apertures at the same time?” Some of the
disciples whom had practiced the Ethereal Form technique even jumped in shock, a stunned look on their
faces as they mumbled, “This can’t be true, right?”
They clearly understood how troublesome and difficult it was to sense apertures. And yet, Zhou Yuan had
just succeeded in helping not only one, but a dozen individuals sense their apertures at the same time?
Just how strong were his senses?
“It can’t be.”
1261
Han Qiushui’s mouth hung wide open, unable to stop herself from saying, “All of this must be part of an
act, right?”
After she said this, even she did not believe herself. Afterall, it was too easy to expose such an act.
But if it wasn’t an act, wouldn’t mean it was real?
Han Qiushui’s eyes glimmered as she gazed at Zhou Yuan’s figure and mumbled, “To think that he’s truly
so capable!”
The commotion did not stop for a long time, everyone stuck in shock. All of a sudden, everyone’s burning
gazes turned towards Zhou Yuan.
Zhou Yuan turned a blind eye to these gazes as he tiredly massaged his forehead. Helping a dozen people
at once had indeed exhausted his Spirit.
“Junior brother Zhou Yuan, you’re way too amazing!” Qiao Xiu’s face was flushed with excitement.
Beside him, the lips of the girl called Zhou Yu moved, the shock on her face yet to fade away completely.
She had clearly been shocked silly by Zhou Yuan’s feat.
Zhou Yuan waved his hand at them, before lifting his head and looking towards the countless figures on
both sides of the creek with a calm expression as his indifferent voice sounded.
“After my earlier testing, I’ve discovered that my ability is limited, so I’ve decided to restrict the
maximum number to a hundred individuals. I will no longer accept anyone once this number is reached.”
Zhou Yuan words instantly caused his surroundings to fall silent.
Numerous disciples blinked. Didn’t this mean there were only a hundred quotas?
The silence only lasted for a few breaths before suddenly being disrupted by a chaotic outbreak.
One could only watch as figure after figure descended like locusts, heading straight for the creek, while
frenzied shouts rang out one after another.
“Me! I want to sign up!”
“Me too!”
“Big bro, please save a spot for me!”
“......”
1262
Han Qiushui watched as mayhem descended upon the creek as she swallowed. Soon after, she smiled
charmingly as she looked towards Gu Hongyi and sweetly said, “Hongyi, you’re quite close to Zhou Yuan.
Help me ask for a spot.”
Gu Hongyi rolled her eyes, before also casting her gaze towards that figure below as a faint smile rose
from the corners of her lips.
This guy was now going to be famous.
1263
It only took half a day for Zhou Yuan’s feat of simultaneously helping a dozen people unblock their
apertures to spread to the entire outer mountains. A commotion immediately swept through countless
disciples, each and every one unable to believe the news.
The disciples that had practiced the Ethereal Form technique were even more stupefied than their more
ignorant counter parts. They were well aware that the hardest part of the technique was sensing the
apertures, which required a tremendous amount of time. There were only two months left before the
peak selection exam, and everyone was intensifying their efforts, making time become a more and more
precious commodity.
Many disciples had originally not taken it seriously, evidently believing that it was some kind of joke or
farce. No one had imagined that this ‘farce’ would result in such an outcome...
By now, it had already been proven that Zhou Yuan did possess the ability to help others unblock their
apertures...
Hence, the numerous disciples that were practicing the Ethereal Form technique began to stir restlessly.
...
A certain lecture hall in the rear mountain.
Zhu Yue was currently explaining something to the disciples present when a disturbance was suddenly
felt from outside. He immediately frowned slightly, but before he could say anything, someone barged in
and shouted, “Zhou Yuan has simultaneously helped a dozen disciples unblock their apertures!”
*Uproar*!
The lecture hall was instantly flooded with noise, the numerous disciples within completely dumbstruck.
Zhu Yue’s reasoning from before had already convinced them that Zhou Yuan was merely a fraud. Who
could have imagined that he would really succeed...
The many disciples in the lecture hall looked to each other. In the end, their gazes eventually turned
towards Zhu Yue, looking at him in a strange manner.
Zhu Yue was clearly also stunned by the news, but his expression soon turned extremely dark and
stormy. The corners of his mouth twitched uncontrollably, a clear sign of the violent rage that had surged
out in his heart.
1264
But he ultimately took in a deep breath, suppressing the alarm and anger inside as he said in an icy voice,
“Humph, that kid probably found some actors to put on a show with him!”
At this time, he would never accept that Zhou Yuan was more capable than himself.
However, the many disciples did not speak this time, their gazes flickering in thought.
They understood that it was basically impossible for Zhou Yuan to pull off any tricks with so many people
watching. Zhu Yue was just being stubbornly unreasonable.
Wouldn’t this mean that Zhou Yuan did possess the astonishing capability to help others reach the first
level of the Ethereal Form technique in a month?
Everyone’s hearts began to beat a little faster. If so, wouldn’t this give them an advantage over others?
In addition, they had heard it only cost three Genesis jade pieces a day there, a much more competitive
price than Zhu Yue’s five Genesis jade pieces.
The atmosphere in the lecture hall had become rather bizarre. Although many were tempted, no one
dared to display their true feelings for the time being. After all, Zhu Yue was here watching them, and it
would not be good to offend him.
When all was said and done, he was an inner mountain disciple.
While the situation fell into a deadlock of sorts, the one who had barged in spoke again, "I've also heard
that Zhou Yuan has set a quota, and will only be accepting a hundred people. Once it's full, he will not be
teaching anyone else."
*Uproar*!
Many were no longer able to sit still after hearing these words. The number of disciples practicing the
Ethereal From technique in the outer mountains had already surpassed a hundred. If others beat them to
it, won't they lose this chance?
The veins on Zhu Yue's forehead twitched violently, his gaze akin to a knife as he looked towards the one
who had spoken.
The latter's head seemed to shrink back, before he hurriedly escaped.
However, it was already too late. The hearts of the disciples inside the lecture hall had already began to
stir, no longer possible to repress.
"Aiyah, I have a stomachache, I have to go to the toilet." One of the disciples suddenly clutched his
stomach, pale faced as he stood up and began staggering towards the exit.
1265
Another equally quick witted disciple weakly said, "I'm also feeling a little unwell all of a sudden. It may
be an inner injury I sustained in a practice bout yesterday. I'll be leaving first to rest."
"Come here my good brother, how can you be so careless. I'll help you back to rest."
“......”
The lecture hall immediately descended into chaos, all kinds of excuses flying left and right. None of the
disciples dared to look at Zhu Yue as they began to slip away one after another.
In a short few minutes, the originally slightly squeezy lecture hall had become quite empty.
Zhu Yue's body trembled uncontrollably in anger as he watched the clearly acting disciples leave like a
whirlwind. Did they think he was clueless? Every one of these bastards was likely rushing to Zhou Yuan
the moment they stepped out the door.
"Elder brother, what do we do?" Zhu Feng watched everything happen with a pale face. He did not expect
Zhou Yuan to be so merciless, forcing them into such a miserable state all of a sudden.
Zhu Yue tightly gritted his teeth as a sliver of regret flitted past in his eyes. If he knew Zhou Yuan would
be such a huge problem, he would not have offended the latter due to some petty little squabble of Zhu
Feng's.
However, he knew that there was no use regretting anything now, and his expression immediately turned
ferocious.
"Zhou Yuan, since you dare to cut off my income, don't blame me for what I will do!"
He had spent a great deal of effort to land this cushy job in the outer mountains. But now that everything
had been ruined by Zhou Yuan, he would not take things lying down.
Or he would likely become a laughing stock if this matter spread to the inner mountains.
...
A seemingly endless stream of outer mountain disciples rushed towards a certain mountain creek. The
area around the creek was already a huge mess. Zhou Yuan stood somewhere to the rear, leaving the
administrative matters to Shen Wanjin, while Qiao Xiu and his group also helped out where they could.
After an hour, only ten of the hundred quotas were left.
It was at this moment that another wave of disciples began to swarm over, turning the place even more
chaotic as they struggled to obtain the final ten quotas. In fact, some of the disciples even began to fight.
1266
Shen Wanjin’s eyes spun in thought when he saw this. With a dry cough, he said, “Since no one is willing
to give in, we’ll auction off the last ten quotas. They will go to the highest bidder, and the bidding will
start at three Genesis jade pieces a day.”
He could tell that the ones who had rushed over at this time mostly composed of Shengzhou disciples.
These people were pretty rich, but most importantly, they had not believed Zhou Yuan earlier, hence why
it had taken them so long to come.
Although Zhou Yuan did not really care, Shen Wanjin felt that he could not let these people have such an
easy time, hence why he had come up with such a ruthless move.
These disciples glared at Shen Wanjin in anger when they heard this, evidently realising the latter’s
intentions.
But even if they knew, for the sake of the quotas, they could not be bothered too much at such a time.
One the the Shengzhou disciples quickly shouted, “I bid four Genesis jade pieces!”
“I bid five pieces!” Another gritted his teeth and followed. This price was already the same as Zhu Yue’s
place, but since Zhou Yuan was more effective, the price was still within an acceptable level.
“Six pieces!” In the end however, there was someone even fiercer, snatching away the quota with a bid of
six Genesis jade pieces.
Numerous disciples secretly wet their lips at the sight of this. Six Genesis jade pieces a day meant a total
of a hundred and eighty by the time one was done in a month. This was a huge, painful price.
With the exception of the first quota being bidded away at a price of six Genesis jade pieces, the other
quotas stabilized at about five pieces. As such, a handsome sum was easily earned.
Zhou Yuan chuckled inside as he watched. Shen Wanjin was indeed good at ripping others off.
After the auction of the last ten quotas, Shen Wanjin announced that they would no longer be accepting
anymore students.
The numerous disciples that had yet to sign up began to sigh repeatedly, feeling disappointed inside. Only
now did they regret not believing Zhou Yuan earlier.
Though they were disappointed, no one tried to stir up any trouble. It was likely that after witnessing
Zhou Yuan capability, these outer mountain disciples now had some respect towards him.
After all, everyone still hoped to receive guidance from him, and naturally would not dare to offend him.
As such, peace finally began to slowly return to the long chaotic area around the creek.
1267
Shen Wanjin grinned from ear to ear as he practically sprinted over, a large sack hoisted over his back.
The clear tinkling of Genesis jade pieces could be heard from within, an extremely beautiful sound
indeed.
He allowed the sack to land with a loud thud in front of Zhou Yuan and said, “Little Yuan bro, everything
is basically in order. Here’s the fees for tomorrow, a sum of over three hundred Genesis jade pieces.”
Saliva seemed to flow down from his mouth as he spoke. This was only the first day. In a month, Zhou
Yuan would have earned nearly ten thousand Genesis jade pieces, an enormous sum even to the
numerous inner mountain disciples.
Zhou Yuan could not help but sigh. It had been way too easy to earn these Genesis jade pieces. With their
support, he could finally squander money as he pleased.
With a flick, Genesis Qi wrapped around a hundred pieces in the sack and sent them flying towards Shen
Wanjin, Qiao Xiu and the rest. “You guys have worked hard today.”
“Don’t reject this tiny bit of good will, all of you should know that it’s really nothing to me.”
Shen Wanjin, Qiao Xiu and the rest were just about to decline, but stopped themselves after hearing Zhou
Yuan’s words. After all, they did need these Genesis jade pieces.
Zhou Yuan smiled and said, “All of you should come here again from tomorrow onwards. I will help you
guys with the Ethereal Form technique.”
Qiao Xiu, Shen Wanjin and the rest nodded.
After seeing this, Zhou Yuan did not waste any more time. He kept the sack of Genesis jade and leisurely
turned around, leaving the creek and heading back to his little house.
“Now that I have the money, I can have my every meal at the Hundred Fragrances House…” Zhou Yuan
chuckled softly. He was not a gourmet, but after the benefits from the nutritious food of the Hundred
Fragrances House.
He strolled through the mountains, arriving back at his little house.
When he reached his destination however, he was suddenly stunned. On a stone table in front of the little
house, Yaoyao was elegantly seated while carrying Tuntun, a serious look on her gorgeous face, while an
old man in gray sat opposite her.
The elder’s face was also solemn as he stared at the jade board on the stone table.
Both he and Yaoyao were holding Genesis Rune Brushes.
Zhou Yuan had been stunned by this strange scene. What were they doing?
1268
He stealthily approached, and looked over, only to see stroke after stroke being drawn as Yaoyao and the
elder’s brushes descended. The drawn strokes were similar to a game of go, each one trying to devour the
other.
These two were having a game of Genesis Runes!
1269
As the two Genesis Rune Brushes danced on the jade board, stroke after stroke took shape and began to
attack one another as if they were on a battlefield, while a kind of desperation seemed to spread within
the silence.
A contest based on Genesis Runes like this was not affected by how strong one’s Spirit cultivation was,
and purely relied on one’s understanding of Genesis Runes.
Zhou Yuan stood behind Yaoyao, amazement in his eyes as he watched their game unfurl.
He could faintly sense the brilliance behind every stroke that was laid down, a feat that required
extremely high mastery of Genesis Runes.
At the very least, the majority of the strokes made the area between his brows seem to swell in pain.
“Who is this old man? It’s hard to believe he’s able to compete in Genesis Runes with big sis Yaoyao…”
Zhou Yuan looked in astonishment at the solemn looking old man in gray. Yaoyao’s Genesis Rune mastery
was practically immeasurable. In fact, this was the first time he had seen Yaoyao’s serious appearance.
However, the elder in gray was clearly having a very hard time against the serious Yaoyao, as could be
seen from the intense look on his face.
The two went at it as if possessed, the deadlock lasting for an incense stick of time.
Yaoyao gently stroked Tuntun's soft fur as she glanced at the elder and said, "Old mister, you've been
attacking for so long without any breakthrough, why keep stubbornly persisting?"
The elder in gray huffed at his beard, seemingly on the verge of hiding his face in shame as he retorted,
"Don't be so conceited little girl, I merely held myself back because you're a junior."
Yaoyao's red lips curled downwards. "Old mister, the only gap between us is in our Spirit cultivation,
which is only there because you have the advantage of age. If we were to solely compare Genesis Rune
mastery and foundations, I'm afraid that you may not be able to beat me."
The elder's voice was tinged with embarrassment and anger. "Little girl, don't think that you can spout
whatever nonsense you want just because you're pretty!"
"You weren't even born when I was learning Genesis Runes!"
Yaoyao nonchalantly said, "You've trained for so long, and yet you can't even beat me. I can only say that
old mister still has plenty of room for improvement."
1270
Her voice sounded gentle, but her words were mercilessly.
The elder huffed angrily as he glared at her. With a wave of his sleeve, the strokes on the jade board were
wiped clean as he snorted and said, "I'll be going back to research some things for a bit. I'll break your
defence next time."
Behind Yaoyao, Zhou Yuan could not help but laugh. This old man's skin was really thick, to think that he
would even resort to such tactics.
Upon hearing Zhou Yuan's laughter, the old man in gray glared at him, a faint threatening pressure rising.
Zhou Yuan was taken aback, his laughter coming to an immediate stop as he looked towards the elder in
uncertainty. This old man did not seem to be ordinary…
"You can flaunt your power after beating me." Said Yaoyao at this moment.
Upon hearing Yaoyao's blunt words, the elder in gray could not help but say, "Do you know who I am
little girl? You dare to say such things to me!"
"Don't know. Don't care." A faint smile rose on Yaoyao's beautiful face.
The elder glared daggers at her for a long time, before letting out a bitter laugh. "How did a weirdo like
you appear in this batch of outer mountain disciples…"
"But your mastery over Genesis Runes is indeed exceedingly amazing. It seems that you've learnt from
someone else, right?" The elder's tone seemed to hint at something deeper.
Yaoyao indifferently responded, "Why? Does the Cangxuan Sect not allow us to bring our own skills in?"
The elder in gray chuckled. "We do permit it. The Cangxuan Sect accepts anyone as long as they harbour
no ill intent towards us."
He smiled as he continued, "Little girl, I've seen how outstanding your Genesis Rune talent is. Are you
interested in entering the Spirit Rune Peak? If you are, I can recommend you in now, and let you directly
become an inner mountain disciple."
Zhou Yuan was slightly shocked. To become inner mountain disciples, one had to go through that peak
selection ceremony. The old man before them could allow one to bypass this important test. Looks like
his status was not low at all.
Zhou Yuan was already aware that the Spirit Rune Peak was one of the seven peaks of the Cangxuan Sect.
It was a rather unique peak as all of its disciples focused solely on Genesis Runes. It was said that the
sect’s cultivation paradise, Genesis Mountain, was one of the works of the Spirit Rune Peak.
Yaoyao glanced at the elder and shook her head. “Not interested.”
1271
The elder in gray was stunned, never expecting that Yaoyao would be such a character. She clearly did
not care about this chance to directly become an inner mountain disciple.
He extended a finger and pointed at Yaoyao for a long time. In the end, he shook his head with a bitter
smile and said, “Fine, do as you want.”
“You only need to let me know if you ever become interested in joining the Spirit Rune Peak in the future.
My Spirit Rune Peak has numerous ancient Genesis Runes, and we can be said to have abundant
resources.”
One could tell that he had become very fond of Yaoyao’s talent. After all, the Genesis Rune talent she
displayed had truly taken his breath away. None of the disciples he had encountered in the past had ever
displayed such amazing talent.
At the words ancient Genesis Runes, Yaoyao’s eyes seemed to move, but she eventually shook her head.
Zhou Yuan needed to enter the Saint Genesis Peak to obtain the second Saint Rune, hence, she was not
willing to go somewhere else.
The elder in gray helplessly chuckled, no longer trying to convince her.
“Your Genesis strokes have a certain uniqueness to them. I’ll go back and research how to deal with
them.” He slowly stood up, and suddenly looked at Zhou Yuan. “As for you, you’ve been causing quite a
ruckus in the outer mountains recently.”
He began to size up Zhou Yuan as he continued to speak, “However, the fact that you were able to help
others sense apertures is indicative of your ability. Only someone with extremely sharp Spirit senses will
be able to do so.”
Zhou Yuan smiled, but did not say anything. He was naturally not going to reveal the existence of the
Decoder Saint Rune.
"The two of you are not simple at all."
Remarked the elder in gray with a grin, before he turned around and slowly left.
Zhou Yuan watched him leave and asked, “Big sis Yaoyao, who is he?”
Yaoyao lazily yawned before replying, “No idea. I was studying Genesis Runes here earlier, when he
suddenly popped out and said he wanted to teach me. So I told him that he’s not good enough to be my
teacher.”
“Then he got angry, and wanted to compete with me in Genesis Runes. In the end, he was unable to win.”
Zhou Yuan's mouth opened and closed. Big sis Yaoyao, you really are a domineering tyrant.
1272
The elder in gray was clearly not ordinary, and likely had pretty high status in the Cangxuan Sect. And yet
you so bluntly told him that he’s not good enough… thank god his temper isn’t bad, or he would have
flipped.
Zhou Yuan shook his head, deciding not to dwell on this matter. With a smile, he said, “Forget about him.
Let’s go. I’ll bring you guys to the Hundred Fragrances House to eat to your heart’s content today.”
He patted the Universe bag at his waist and said in a rather pleased manner, "We've got money now."
Roar!
There wasn’t much of a response from Yaoyao, but Tuntun roared excitedly, its beady beast eyes glowing
brightly.
They had passed by the Hundred Fragrances House quite a few times previously, and Tuntun had always
tried to dash in again. However, it was forcibly dragged back by the prepared Zhou Yuan, because he
really could not afford it at that time.
Since he had just made a killing, Zhou Yuan naturally intended on rewarding Tuntun. After all, if Zhu Yue
suddenly went crazy and decided to seek Zhou Yuan out, he would have to throw Tuntun out and let it do
its work.
...
1273
The area around the creek became extremely lively during the subsequent few days. Over a hundred
disciples would gather here at a specific time, while numerous others also came over to observe.
Zhou Yuan would spend some time everyday helping everyone unblock their apertures.
However, due to the number of people, it had become much more troublesome to sense apertures even
with the power of the Decoder Saint Rune, causing his efficiency to drop.
Even so, he was able to maintain a speed of one to two apertures per day for everyone.
Though Zhou Yuan was a little unsatisfied with this pace, the disciples that had come for his help were
delighted by it, emotions and excitement often flushing their faces.
After all, they would usually take quite a few days to unblock a single aperture. In comparison, the rate at
Zhou Yuan’s place was clearly much faster.
At this speed, the first level promised by Zhou Yuan would definitely be reached in a month.
Hence, as the days passed, the gazes of numerous disciples seemed to burn hotter and hotter when they
looked towards Zhou Yuan, and there was even an additional trace of admiration now present in their
eyes. Zhou Yuan had used reality to prove his ability...
After each daily training session, the elated disciples would brag about their progress to those whom had
been unable to obtain a spot, causing the latter to be madly envious and so regretful that they felt as if it
would be better to die.
If they had believed in Zhou Yuan a little earlier, they would not be in their current predicament where
even a spot was out of their grasp.
At this rate, the disciples receiving guidance from Zhou Yuan would very likely reach the first level of the
Ethereal Form technique in a month. By that time, the gap between them would become clear.
Those originally stronger disciples may soon be surpassed by others.
Such thoughts made the many disciples who practiced the Ethereal Form technique very anxious.
Moreover, the progress at Zhu Yue’s place seemed to be growing slower and slower recently although
they still had to pay the same considerable tuition fees. Therefore, some of the disciples withdrew from
Zhu Yue’s classes, and began to save up Genesis jade, waiting for Zhou Yuan’s next round of recruitment.
1274
As such, although far more than a hundred outer mountain disciples were practicing the Ethereal Form
technique, the disciples at Zhu Yue’s place gradually lessened. In the end, only a meagre dozen disciples
were left, a pretty pitiful sight indeed.
Hence, while the many lectures halls in the rear mountain remained abuzz with activity, only Zhu Yue’s
place appeared rather lonely and desolate.
The other inner mountain disciple instructors were secretly alarmed by this scene, all of them
committing Zhou Yuan’s name to heart. When Zhou Yuan and Zhu Yue clashed previously, they had
naturally felt that a mere outer mountain disciple could not possibly be so capable. Hence, they had
unhesitatingly chose to support Zhu Yue when he asked for their help.
But now, that decision of theirs did seem rather foolish.
Zhou Yuan was clearly no samaritan. Wasn’t it clear already what state Zhu Yue had fallen to after
clashing with the former?
As inner mountain disciples, they understood what a great job it was to teach Genesis techniques in the
outer mountains, and numerous inner mountain disciples would fight tooth and nail for it. Zhu Yue had
paid a tremendous price to obtain this cushy job, but who could have expected things to end up like this.
“Zhou Yuan should not be provoked…” The sight of Zhu Yue’s lonely and desolate lecture hall made the
other inner mountain disciple instructors sigh inside.
As a result, they would occasionally sing praises about Zhou Yuan while giving their lectures, hoping that
it would eventually travel to Zhou Yuan’s ears as a show of good will. The previous lecture ban on Zhou
Yuan also quietly disappeared.
Zhu Yue’s fate had clearly frightened them. No one knew whether Zhou Yuan was also capable of teaching
other techniques.
If they pushed him too far, and he began to teach their Genesis techniques too, Zhu Yue’s case was already
a prime example of what could happen.
In Zhu Yue’s lecture hall.
Zhu Yue’s expression was ashen as he gazed at his lonely lecture hall. The dozen or so figures within
looked rather distracted and did not seem to have any intentions of diligently learning. Who knew where
their minds were at this moment.
Zhu Feng looked towards Zhu Yue and anxiously said, “Elder brother, we can’t continue like this, or no
one will come here anymore.”
1275
Zhu Yue’s Genesis technique lectures was a great source of income, while the younger brother was also
able to obtain a tidy sum for himself. This allowed Zhu Feng to lead an extremely comfortable life in the
outer mountains, numerous disciples often gathering around and flattering him.
Now that Zhu Yue was being repeatedly suppressed by Zhou Yuan, the former’s Genesis jade income had
received a huge hit, making the Zhu Feng’s situation very awkward.
Zhu Yue remained expressionless, but blazing rage burned in the depths of his eyes. He peered into the
distance, seemingly crossing numerous mountains to see the bustling scene at the creek.
Compared to the desolateness here, it was akin to night and day.
Zhu Yue glanced at Zhu Feng and emotionlessly said, “A mere outer mountain disciples thinks he can trod
all over me. Looks like I’ll need to teach him about respect for his seniors.”
Before his words faded, he had already began walking out of the lecture hall.
Zhu Yue descended the rear mountain, ultimately arriving at the highest mountain in the mountain range
where he came to a stop in front of a courtyard at the waist of the mountain.
In the stone pavilion within it, Chen Yuan smiled when he saw Zhu Yue and said, “It seems that you can’t
take it any longer.”
Zhu Yue cupped his fists together in greeting before he walked forward. He did not speak, but merely
retrieved a big case and placed it on the tablet. As he lifted the lid, an interior lined full of Genesis jade
pieces was revealed.
Zhu Yue finally said, “Teacher uncle Chen, I hope that you will kindly accept these two thousand Genesis
jade pieces.”
Chen Yuan reached out a hand to caress the cooling Genesis jade pieces as he grinned. “You’re the one
who best understands the proper way one should act.”
His cast a glance in a certain direction as he shook his head. “The new kids are all full of youthful vigour,
and have yet to learn the importance of the rules. Some of them gained so many benefits out of the blue,
but do not know that they should give offerings to show some respect.”
A mocking look rose from the corners of his mouth.
Zhu Yue chuckled. “The youngsters only just arrived at the Cangxuan Sect, and do not clearly understand
where they stand. They might be under the impression that they are still in the same remote continent
from before, and can act as the same genius everyone flatters. That’s why they are unable to understand
how to behave properly.”
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Chen Yuan nodded with a wide smile. “What do you plan on doing? Although that brat is arrogant, truth
be told, he is not breaking any of the sect’s rules.”
A smile rose from the corners of Zhu Yue’s mouth. “Although there is no rule that says an outer mountain
disciple doesn’t have the right to teach, teacher uncle Chen should not forget that there is another rule
that states only one person is needed to teach one Genesis technique.”
Chen Yuan’s eyes narrowed slightly. “There is such a rule… but that kid is just an outer mountain disciple.
Do you intend to bully him out with force? If so, people will say an inner mountain disciple is bullying an
outer mountain disciple.”
Zhu Yue softly chuckled. “If I wanted to use such a method, he would have been stomped into the ground
long ago.”
He looked towards Chen Yuan and said, “Didn’t the kid brag that he’s pretty good at the Ethereal Form
technique? I don’t need to compete with him in other aspects, only the Ethereal Form technique. The
better one will naturally be the better instructor.”
“What do you think teacher uncle Chen?”
Chen Yuan could not help but laugh when he heard this. “A competition solely based on the Ethereal
Form technique? You are pretty smart.”
Although it was said that Zhou Yuan had reached the first level, Zhu Yue had been practicing the
technique for two years. No matter how talented Zhou Yuan was, he could not possibly surpass Zhu Yue
in less than a month, right?
In addition, Zhu Yue had chosen a Genesis technique competition. Since no Genesis Qi was involved, it
would not be seen as bullying, and would be within the limits of acceptability if news of it were to spread.
“Fine, do as you please.” Chen Yuan nodded.
Chen Yuan was also not very fond of the upstart brat that had been causing a ruckus recently. Most
importantly, the brat was completely ignorant of how the world functioned, and did not know how to
show respect to one’s seniors. Hence, Chen Yuan did not mind letting him learn the harsh ways of society.
“I will spread the word that the two of you will compete based on the Ethereal Form technique in five
days. Whoever wins will become the only Ethereal Form technique instructor in the outer mountains.”
Joy finally flooded Zhu Yue’s eyes when he heard this. He lifted his head and looked in the direction of the
mountain creek as chillingness and ridicule flitted across in the depths of his eyes.
Zhou Yuan ah Zhou Yuan, if you want to fight, I have ways to toy with you to death!
1277
Chapter 241 Zong Ming
News that Zhou Yuan and Zhu Yue would compete based on Genesis technique to see who should possess
the right to be an instructor of the Ethereal Form technique, very quickly spread to the entirety of the
outer mountains.
This matter undoubtedly led to a huge uproar.
The sharper individuals could already see that this was Zhu Yue’s counter attack.
Although everyone knew that Zhou Yuan was extremely talented in the Ethereal Form technique, at the
end of the day, he had only been practicing it for less than a month.
Zhu Yue on the other hand had spent nearly two years on it.
No matter how one looked at it, a competition purely based on technique was completely in Zhu Yue’s
favor.
“This is too shameless! Does being at a higher level in the Ethereal Form technique means he will surely
be a better teacher?”
“Yeah, Zhou Yuan can train you to the first level in a month, can Zhu Yue do that?”
“ Zhu Yue is clearly causing trouble on purpose!”
“......”
Countless whispers spread in the outer mountains, especially from the disciples that hoped to obtain
Zhou Yuan’s guidance, all of them of one mind as they spoke up for Zhou Yuan. After all, training with
Zhou Yuan was not only cheaper but also more effective.
If Zhou Yuan’s right to teach was taken, they would have no choice but to return to Zhu Yue.
An outcome that would undoubtedly waste more time and Genesis jade.
However, their opposition was unable to amount to anything. After all, the disciples that practiced the
Ethereal Form technique was only a fraction in the entire outer mountains.
Even more disciples were waiting to be entertained, especially the Shengzhou disciples. Zhou Yuan’s
reputation had grown too great recently, making them slightly unhappy. Hence, they were naturally more
than happy to watch him being suppressed by Zhu Yue.
In addition, this was a matter decided by the outer mountain manager, Chen Yuan, so none of the
disciples could object.
1278
...
By the mountain creek.
News of the Genesis technique competition swiftly spread to this place and landed in Zhou Yuan’s ears.
Zhou Yuan was seated on a rock, pretty much no change in his expression. However, the hundred or so
disciples before him immediately burst into noise.
“Zhu Yue is too much!”
“Do we have to even ask him where we’re allowed to train the Ethereal Form technique?”
“His place is so expensive and so inefficient, who would want to go there.”
“......”
Gu Hongyi also frowned slightly. She came to Zhou Yuan’s side and said, “Zhu Yue’s bullying is intolerable,
I can’t believe that he decided on this competition without notifying you or seeking your opinion!”
This information had only reached Zhou Yuan’s ears when it was being spread. From this, one could see
that Zhu Yue clearly did not care about Zhou Yuan’s opinions.
Zhou Yuan smiled faintly. “I’ve clearly been an eyesore to someone for quite some time.”
There was no way that Zhu Yue would be able to decide on this match with just his inner mountain
disciple status alone. Everything had to first be approved by the outer mountain manger, Chen Yuan.
“What are you plans?” There was some worry in Gu Hongyi’s bright eyes. Although Zhou Yuan had
mastered the first level of the Ethereal Form technique, Zhu Yue had reached the this level long ago.
Moreover, although it was not a real fight but a Genesis technique match, the odds were clearly still
stacked against Zhou Yuan.
“Since my opponent has thrown out this move, I will naturally have to receive it.” Zhou Yuan grinned.
He knew long in advance that Zhu Yue would never let this matter rest. His source of income had been cut
off by Zhou Yuan after all. Zhou Yuan also understood that he needed to eliminate Zhu Yue in order to
continue earning Genesis jade.
Now that the other party had played his hand, it was undoubtedly Zhou Yuan’s best chance to remove the
former.
Since both of them were eyeing the Genesis jade income from teaching the Ethereal Form technique, one
of them would naturally have to be eliminated.
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It was not that Zhou Yuan had not considered teaching another Genesis technique, but if he did so, he
would offend even more people. He was currently only an outer mountain disciple, so there was no need
for him to be so greedy.
Gu Hongyi rather admired the fact that there was no fear on Zhou Yuan’s face, but worry still flooded her
eyes. She understood that no matter how pathetic Zhu Yue was, he was still an inner mountain disciple.
“I previously heard Zhu Yue say that he has already unblocked 41 apertures. However, he may have been
hiding his true strength.” Gu Hongyi told Zhou Yuan the information she knew.
Zhou Yuan’s eyes narrowed slightly. “Someone as devious as him will not reveal his bottom line so easily.”
41 apertures was likely just a front, or Zhu Yue would not have so confidently fixed a Genesis technique
match while clearly knowing that Zhou Yuan had also reached the first level.
It was obvious that Zhu Yue was confident in his abilities.
Zhu Yue may have his confidence, but Zhou Yuan too should not be looked down upon.
Zhou Yuan’s gaze turned towards the clamouring crowd below as he said in a calm voice, “No need to be
alarmed. Since Zhu Yue wants a competition, I’ll just have to accept.”
Upon hearing that Zhou Yuan was going to accept the match, the numerous disciples looked to each other
in dismay, seeing the worried looks in everyone’s eyes as they began to speak in low voices.
They were clearly afraid that Zhou Yuan would lose, giving them no option but to return to Zhu Yue.
However, since the competition was already set in stone, their worry would not change anything. The
only thing left was to nervously wait for the match in five days.
...
The crowd dispersed after the training was over, but some whispers could still be heard. One could
imagine how the Genesis technique competition in five days would soon become the focal point of the
entire outer mountains.
Zhou Yuan ignored all of this as he headed back to his little house.
In front of the little house.
The elder in gray came here daily to engage in a match of Genesis Runes with Yaoyao on the jade board.
After each vicious clash, he would leave in a carefree manner.
Zhou Yuan stood behind Yaoyao as he gazed upon the jade board. The swelling pain from his Spirit grew
increasingly intense, as if something was brewing within.
1280
Zhou Yuan knew that it was likely a sign that his Spirit was about to step into the Corporeal stage.
Observing the Genesis Rune game between the two of them for the past few days had clearly been very
beneficial to him.
As another game approached its end, there was still not clear victor between the two.
The elder in gray sighed in regret, the admiration in his eyes growing even greater as he looked towards
Yaoyao and said, “I really want to know who taught you. Can’t believe your Genesis Qi mastery had
reached such a high level at this young age.”
“If your Spirit cultivation rises, your accomplishments on the path of Genesis Runes will be
unimaginable.”
There was still no change in Yaoyao’s flawless face despite his praise. Only laziness could be sensed from
on her seemingly glowing fair skin.
Yaoyao suddenly asked, “Old mister should be one of the two outer mountain elders, right?”
The elder was stunned, somewhat surprised as he replied, “How did you know?”
Yaoyao’s red lips parted slightly as she answered ,”There are two elders in the outer mountains that
possess the highest authority, but they usually do not bother with ordinary matters, leaving everything to
Chen Yuan.”
“Your Genesis Rune mastery is equally as good as mine. Even being an elder in the outer mountains is a
little unbecoming for you.”
The elder in gray chuckled. “Little one, are you indirectly praising yourself?”
Soon after, he nodded. “My name is Zong Ming, and I am indeed an outer mountain elder.”
Zhou Yuan looked at the former in amazement, clearly never expecting the old man’s status to be so high.
An outer mountain elder was pretty much the highest authority in the outer mountains. Even Chen Yuan
would not dare to speak against him.
Yaoyao placed a hand on her sharp chin as she said, “Since you’re an outer mountain elder, I want to
inquire why the two of you have not done anything with regards to Chen Yuan repeatedly targeting Zhou
Yuan?”
The elder in gray playfully said, “Why? You want to lodge a complaint?”
Yaoyao nonchalantly said, “This Genesis technique match of Chen Yuan’s clearly does not conform to the
rules.”
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The elder in gray, Zong Ming, chuckled. “Who asked this brat to be so greedy. To think that he intends on
eating up all of Zhu Yue’s pie.”
As he chuckled, he looked towards Zhou Yuan. “But since she has spoken, I can cancel the match if you
don’t want to participate.”
Zhou Yuan merely smiled upon hearing this. He quickly shook his head and said, “There’s no need to
cancel it. I only hope that it will be a fair match.”
Chen Yuan seemed to rather dislike Zhou Yuan, hence the latter wanted to prevent any unexpected
trouble during the match.
Surprise flitted across Zong Ming’s eyes, clearly not expecting Zhou Yuan to be so unafraid. The former
immediately asked in an interested manner, “You actually dare to compete with Zhu Yue in the Ethereal
Form technique?”
“If we are to compete based on Genesis Qi, the current me will not be able to match him. But if it is the
Ethereal Form technique, it will not be so easy for him to beat me.”
“Teaching a Genesis technique is a delicious pie indeed, it’s really hard for me to return it after having a
slice.”
“Just like how Zhu Yue wants to kick me out, I too want to get rid of him and enjoy the pie alone.”
Zong Ming looked towards Zhou Yuan and grinned, “You’re young, but your ambitions are not small.”
In the end, he nodded. “Although I do not know where your confidence comes from, you do not need to
worry. No one will be able to try anything funny during this Genesis technique competition because I’ll be
personally overseeing it.”
Zong Ming stood up, smiling as he looked at Yaoyao and Zhou Yuan. “I don’t know why, but I have the
feeling that the Cangxuan Sect will become very lively with you two little ones here…”
With a wave of his hand, he turned around and left.
Only after watching him leave did Yaoyao finally lift her head and looked towards Zhou Yuan. “Are you
confident in your chances? Zhu Yue will likely be prepared.”
Zhou Yuan grinned slightly. “Relax, I was originally planning on renting out the Nine Dragons Canon
sometime during the next few days, but it looks like I’ll have to focus all of my efforts on the Ethereal
Form technique…”
His eyes were suffused with an icy light.
“When the time comes, I’ll give Zhu Yue a pleasant surprise.”
1282
Chapter 242 Advent of the Match
In the following five days, the Genesis technique match between Zhou Yuan and Zhu Yue had
undoubtedly become the focus of the entire outer mountains. It was the most popular topic for a time,
drawing the attention of countless disciples.
No one had expected Zhu Yue to counter attack in such a manner.
But it was undoubtedly a very smart move. If it was only a Genesis technique competition, no one could
say that Zhu Yue was using his superior might to bully Zhou Yuan.
However, things were not looking good for Zhou Yuan. From what everyone could see, no matter how
talented Zhou Yuan was in the Ethereal Form technique, he would not be able to match Zhu Yue, whom
had not stopped walking on this path for nearly two years.
After all, someone who could become an inner mountain disciple would not be an easy opponent.
Many of the outer mountain disciples felt that it was such a pity. If Zhou Yuan lost, they would have no
choice but to return to Zhu Yue’s place to learn the Ethereal Form technique...
...
A certain little house in the outer mountains.
Dressed entirely in white, Lu Feng was seated inside a stone pavilion as the surrounding Genesis Qi
surged over, transforming into white smoke that flowed into his body through his nose.
The sound of rushing wind was heard behind him, causing Lu Feng to open his eyes, only to find a young
man in blue robes standing behind him. The youth’s eyes were long and narrow, and seemed to smile all
the time. But there was a blade like feeling from his smile that made no one dare to look directly at him.
The young man in blue robes was called Yang Xiu and was also an influential figure amongst the outer
mountain disciples. He was ranked third amongst the ten great outer mountain disciples, losing only to
Lu Feng and Gu Hongyi.
Yang Xiu grinned and said, “Heh, have you heard? That kid Zhou Yuan is going to compete with Zhu Yue in
the Ethereal Form technique.”
Lu Feng’s expression remained indifferent as he said, “Overestimating his abilities.”
Yang Xiu chuckled. “It seems that you have a lot of opinions about him…”
1283
There was only calmness on Lu Feng’s face as he replied, “He does not have the qualifications for me to
have any opinions about him. However, he is very cunning. He deliberately approached Hongyi in hopes
of making use of her connections.”
“And recently, Hongyi and him have been meeting far too many times.”
Lu Feng’s gaze lowered slightly as iciness flashed in his eyes.
“He truly is not tactful at all. I had warned him after all.” Muttered Lu Feng to himself.
Upon hearing Lu Feng’s words, Yang Xiu grinned and said, “That kid is rather unfortunate to have caught
your attention…”
Lu Feng indifferently said, “But it seems that there is no need for me to act. Although Zhu Yue is only a
black sash disciple, he has still managed to enter the inner mountains, and even if it is only an Ethereal
Form technique match, he should still be able to steamroll that kid.”
“Zhu Yue doesn’t really have much ability. It’s been years, but he’s still only a black sash disciple.” Yang
Xiu’s tone was full of contempt towards Zhu Yue.
Lu Feng glanced at the former. “Do not underestimate him. Zhu Yue is very cunning, and has likely
concealed his abilities.”
He raised his head and looked towards a certain direction in the outer mountains as iciness and disdain
appeared in his eyes.
“When Zhu Yue crushes that arrogant kid, he should learn to be a little more well behaved, right?”
“To think that a peasant prince from some remote continent dares to steal my woman.”
The corners of Lu Feng’s mouth curled as he said to Yang Xiu, “When the date of the match arrives, we’ll
also go watch the entertainment.”
...
For the next few days, the training sessions by the creek was not put on hold. Zhou Yuan still continued to
help everyone unblock their apertures. The only difference was that he was spending the majority of his
time immersed in his own training.
By the creek, the numeros disciples often looked towards Zhou Yuan with complicated expressions.
They could sense that Zhou Yuan seemed to be trying his best to make every last second count. However,
when this scene fell in their eyes, it undoubtedly made them feel that Zhou Yuan was not confident.
1284
Hence, they could only lament continuously inside. After all, the progress while training here was just too
delightful.
The thought that they would lose it all in a few days only made them more depressed.
After another training session ended, the numerous disciples slowly dispersed, while Gu Hongyi walked
to Zhou Yuan’s side and said, “Hey, you’ve not been looking too good these past two days.”
She could also sense that Zhou Yuan had become much more silent during the past two days, his entire
being seemingly tensed up as if feeling an immense pressure from Zhu Yue.
Zhou Yuan slowly opened his eyes and smiled somewhat helplessly. “Zhu Yue has such a huge head start
on my in the Ethereal Form technique, of course I have to speed up my training.”
“A hasty last-minute effort…” Gu Hongyi’s red lips curled downwards. She hesitated for a moment, before
she said in a low voice, “How about I help out. I can find someone to transfer Zhu Yue back to the inner
mountains.”
Her old ancestor was the master of the Hongya Peak, someone with extremely high status. As long as he
were to open his mouth, transferring an inner mountain disciple would not be difficult.
Zhou Yuan was somewhat surprised as he glanced at Gu Hongyi, unable to stop himself from grinning as
he said, “Don’t you hate those who go through the back door the most?”
He recalled that at the very beginning, Gu Hongyi had been exceedingly unfond of him, because she had
been under the impression that he had relied on his relations to become a first class disciple.
Now, this same prideful Gu Hongyi was actually willing to help him pull strings. This was something that
Zhou Yuan was extremely surprised by.
Gu Hongyi’s pretty face involuntarily blushed when she heard this. Soon after, she glared daggers at Zhou
Yuan as she said, “I’m only doing this out of consideration for the numerous outer mountain disciples
who are learning the Ethereal Form technique. Since you have the capability, you are naturally the most
suitable person for this role. Why should you be replaced?”
“Furthermore, you’ve promised to help me reach the second level of the Ethereal Form technique. If the
right to teach is stripped from you, what will I do?!”
Zhou Yuan began to laugh, his opinion towards Gu Hongyi growing a little more favorable. However, he
waved his hand and said, “Thank you for your good intentions, but it will be best for me to resolve this
matter myself.”
If her were to rely on Gu Hongyi’s connections, it would surely affect her reputation once word of it
spread.
1285
A mere Zhu Yue did not have the qualifications to force him to rely on a girl’s connections.
Gu Hongyi softly snorted. “I’ll see how long you can continue to be stubborn.”
Though her mouth said so, she gave a tiny sigh of relief in her heart. Though she could empathize if Zhou
Yuan had agreed, she would likely also be disappointed.
The young man before her may seem quite kind and good looking when he smiled, but the pride inside
his bones did not lose to anyone else.
“Then you’d better train hard. I do want to see how far you can push the Ethereal Form technique during
these few days…”
With a twist of her tiny waist, Gu Hongyi turned around, her red figure akin to an escaping bundle of fire.
...
Five days gradually passed under the expectant gazes of the many outer mountain disciples.
On the morning of the fifth day, a ray of sunlight broke through the thick layers of clouds, shining on the
unbroken mountain range. The outer mountains that had been silent for a night suddenly began to burst
into activity and noise at this moment.
Countless figures rose into the sky on their Genesis Qi, heading towards a certain giant mountain.
Before one of the houses, a fully dressed Zhu Yue walked out the door, where Zhu Feng was already
waiting.
Zhu Feng looked towards Zhu Yue, who was in glowing spirits, and said, “Elder brother, we’ll finally be
able to resolve all of our grievances today.”
Zhu Yue’s expression remained unchanged, his eyes narrowing slightly as he gazed towards a certain
creek in the outer mountains. In the end, a sneer of contempt appeared from the corners of his mouth as
he rose into the sky with a stomp.
“Let’s go. After today, I’ll make it such that Zhou Yuan will no longer dare to utter the three words
Ethereal Form technique!”
1286
Chapter 243 Ethereal Form Technique Match on
the Green Mountain
A majestic, lush mountain stood amongst the mountain range of the outer mountains.
Today, a seemingly endless stream of Genesis Qi light figures descended from the sky at the foot of this
verdant mountain, breaking its peace and serenity by filling the area with excitement and noise.
Today was the day of the match between Zhou Yuan and Zhu Yue, and the venue was this very mountain.
This was why it had become the focal point of the outer mountains.
After all, there had never been a competition between an outer mountain disciple and an inner mountain
disciple for so many years… hence, even a mere Genesis technique based match had managed to draw
everyone’s eyes.
A dozen or so figures descended from the sky, landing just outside the green mountain. They immediately
drew gaze after gaze filled with respect, because the one that led them was Lu Feng, dressed in his usual
white clothes.
There was no one who did not know Lu Feng’s name in the outer mountains. Everyone acknowledged
him as the strongest amongst this batch of outer mountain disciples. One could imagine how great his
prospects were for the future even in a place like the Cangxuan Sect.
The one at Lu Feng’s side wearing blue robes also drew everyone’s attention. The fact that Yang Xiu was
able to be ranked third amongst the ten great outer mountain disciples was enough to show his strength
and talent.
The group of them basically stood at the peak of the outer mountain disciples. Hence why numerous
other mountain disciple cast respectful gazes over at their arrival.
In response to these gazes, Lu Feng’s expression remained apathetic. His eyes scanned the area,
eventually coming to a stop nearby.
It was where Gu Hongyi and Han Qiushui were standing shoulder to shoulder. Both young ladies had
slender, sexy figures that could stir the soul, drawing quite a number of gazes towards them.
Han Qiushui nudged Gu Hongyi slender waist and said, “Hey, Lu Feng’s looking at us.”
Gu Hongyi glared at her, before sweeping a cold gaze at Lu Feng. Upon seeing her look over, a gentle smile
appeared on the latter’s cold, prideful and handsome face.
1287
A glance was all Gu Hongyi took before withdrawing her gaze, frowning slightly as she looked towards a
certain direction.
Time slowly flowed as more and more disciples arrived, causing the place to turn increasingly lively.
Swish!
All of a sudden, two streams of light descended from the sky, landing at the foot of the mountain. The
appearance of these two figures instantly drew countless gazes, because the one in front was one of the
main actors for today, Zhu Yue.
Zhu Yue stood with his hands behind his back, his expression indifferent.
Not long after Zhu Yue’s appearance, the sound of rushing wind was heard. The crowd watched as Zhou
Yuan and Yaoyao flew over, also landing at the foot of the mountain.
Now that the two leads were here, the atmosphere immediately heated up.
A cloud of Genesis Qi drifted over in the sky, Chen Yuan seated atop it. He beamed as he looked towards
Zhou Yuan and Zhu Yue, an indescribable luster in his eyes as he said, “The both of you should already
know that the loser of this match will lose the right to teach other disciples the Ethereal Form technique.”
“Do either of you have any objections?”
Zhu Yue shot an icy look at Zhou Yuan and said, “No objections.”
Zhou Yuan sneered in his heart. These two had secretly came up with this competition without informing
him nor asking for his opinion. Asking such a question now was truly a joke.
Hence, he merely swept a glance at Chen Yuan, ignoring the question.
Upon seeing this, Chen Yuan chuckled softly as he secretly remarked to himself, “Arrogant brat, I’ll be
waiting to see you cry later.”
Hence, he spoke again, “I shall oversee this match.”
“I believe it will be better for me to oversee it instead.” Just as his voice faded however, an elderly voice
interjected.
Chen Yuan frowned, a stern gaze immediately turning towards the direction where the voice had come
from. “Who dares…”
Before he could finish however, his words froze at his mouth. He had seen an elder in gray seated on a
tree nearby wearing a nonchalant expression.
1288
“Elder Zong Ming!” Chen Yuan’s rigid face stretched to form a smile as he hurriedly cupped his hands
together. “Why didn’t elder inform me so I can come and receive you.”
*Uproar*
The surrounding mountain forests broke out into waves of noise. Amazement in the eyes of numerous
outer mountain disciples as they looked towards the elder in gray. The most senior person they had seen
since coming to the outer mountains had been Chen Yuan.
They had of course heard that there were two elders in the outer mountains, but the likes of them did not
have the qualifications to meet such individuals. Who could have expected one of the elders would
voluntarily show himself, and even oversee the match between two disciples.
The elder in gray glanced at Chen Yuan and said in an indifferent voice, “If I still did not appear, you might
have forgotten that there’s someone above you.”
Cold sweat appeared on Chen Yuan’s head. His lips moved, but he did not dare to say anything.
Elder Zong Ming did not elaborate in front of the numerous disciples, but merely said, “I shall oversee this
match. Do you have any complaints?”
Chen Yuan hurriedly said, “I won’t dare. Having elder oversee the match is naturally the most fair choice.”
His gaze secretly swept towards Zhu Yue below. The latter was also stunned by this turn of events, but his
gaze soon flickered for a moment as he regained his cool.
“This kid’s luck is pretty good. To think he even managed to draw out elder Zong Ming…”
Zhu Yue’s eyes were cold. He and Chen Yuan had originally planned for the latter to oversee the match,
allowing him to secretly make things difficult for Zhou Yuan such that he would have no chance at all.
However, it seems that these methods could no longer be used.
Even so, Zhu Yue did not really care, because they were only one of his many contingencies.
Zhou Yuan cupped his fists together and asked, “Elder Zong Ming, how will we be competing in this
match?”
The other disciples curiously looked over. They too wanted to know what kind of match it would be. After
all, the Ethereal Form technique was not like offensive techniques which could be judged based on power.
Zong Ming softly chuckled. “The essence of the Ethereal Form technique lies in two areas, speed and
neutralization power.”
1289
Zhou Yuan gave a faint nod. The technique allowed one to etherealize the body, causing one’s speed to
rise to a level that ordinary people would find difficult to match. The Ethereal Form technique also gave
the ability to neutralize any force that struck the body, making these two aspects the essence of the
technique.
“Hence, today’s match will be based on your speed and neutralization power in the ethereal form.
Zong Ming gazed at the majestic green mountain before him as he suddenly took a deep breath before
abruptly blowing.
Whooooo!
The breath of Genesis Qi that emerged was akin to the milky way. It swept through the air, completely
covering the green mountain. Boundless Genesis Qi whizzed about the mountain like a million astral
winds, booing and hissing.
A faint but enormous pressure spread from it.
Everyone watched this scene in shock. A breath of Genesis Qi from the elder could be said to be earth-
shaking. Such power was practically immeasurable.
“This mountain has already been enveloped by my Genesis Qi. Once you enter, you will be exposed to my
Genesis Qi pressure, making you feel as if you are carrying a mountain on your back. Besides this, the
astral winds my Genesis Qi has turned into will attack you. You will be unable to avoid, and can only bear
the attacks with your bodies. This will reveal how much power your ethereal form can neutralize.” Zong
Ming grinned.
The numerous disciples cried out in shock when they heard this. To reach the peak, the two of them
would have to rely on their speed while neutralizing the astral winds. It was a very appropriate test for
the Ethereal Form technique.
“How about it, do the two of you feel this is fair?” Zong Ming looked towards Zhou Yuan and Zhu Yue.
A serious look appeared on both their faces, but they still nodded in the end.
“Since the two of you have no objections…”
Zong Ming waved his sleeve as two paths opened at the foot of the mountain, before his voice sounded
like thunder.
“Let the match begin.”
“Let us see which of you is more adept at the Ethereal Form technique!”
1290
Chapter 244 Fast as Lightning
Genesis Qi astral winds wreaked havoc on the lush, green mountain, like blades made from wind as they
swept past, shredding even the air to pieces...
Under the countless watching gazes, Zhou Yuan and Zhu Yue stood at the foot of the mountain. The two
looked at each other, iciness appearing in their eyes.
“Zhou Yuan, I admit that you have some talent. In a few more years, you will likely have a place in the
Cangxuan Sect.” Zhu Yue’s eyes were ice-cold. Soon after, he let out an icy chuckle as he said, “However,
your mistake was to hop out now.”
“The current you still does not have the qualifications!”
Zhou Yuan laughed and responded, “You can save these words for when you reach the peak before me.”
“Stubborn fool.”
Zhu Yue shook his head, mockery flashing in his eyes.
Rumble!
A split second later, robust Genesis Qi simultaneously erupted from Zhou Yuan and Zhu Yue’s bodies. The
two transformed into flashes of light as they charged into the green mountain enveloped by berserk
Genesis Qi.
The instant they entered, Zhou Yuan and Zhu Yue’s figures paused slightly.
It was due to the suppression from elder Zong Ming’s Genesis Qi, making the air akin to a quagmire. The
movements ordinary individuals who entered would be greatly restricted, making it difficult for them to
advance.
“Ethereal Form!”
Shouted Zhou Yuan and Zhu Yue.
Nearly half of their figures began to gradually etherealize under the crowd’s watching gazes as their
speed rapidly rose.
Fast as lightning.
A series of gasps rang out in the vicinity of the green mountain, clearly shocked by the speed Zhou Yuan
and Zhu Yue had displayed.
1291
“Although the Ethereal Form technique is only at the mid grade little Heaven tier, it does have its merits.”
Yang Xiu’s eyes narrowed, smiling as he observed the rapidly moving figures on the mountain.
Lu Feng’s expression remained indifferent. “No matter how fast they run, they will only be rabbits, still
merely prey in the eyes of a real predator.”
“Who do you think will win?” Asked Yang Xiu.
Lu Feng uncaringly replied, “It will depend on how much Zhu Yue has concealed his abilities.”
While the two were conversing, the two figures on the mountain seemed to leave behind a trail of mist as
they advanced. It was at this moment that the Genesis Qi that enveloped the mountain began to rear its
fangs. Genesis Qi darted forth transforming into countless glowing Genesis Qi knives.
These knives seemed to cover the sky and land as they swiftly descended upon the two figures.
Ch ch!
Zhou Yuan and Zhu Yue were unable to dodge, having no choice but to receive the attacks with their
bodies.
Therefore, in a short span of a dozen breaths, fresh blood began to appear on their bodies, cut after cut
appearing one after another.
Even so, anyone could see that Zhou Yuan and Zhu Yue had used the etherealized parts of their bodies to
receive the attacks. Although their bloody appearances looked extremely miserable, the majority of the
force had been neutralized by the Ethereal Form technique.
From start to end, their figures were neck to neck.
In the short span of a few minutes, the duo had already reached the halfway point.
Even till now, however, both parties were still equal.
Zhu Yue's gaze swept across Zhou Yuan from the corner of his eyes. Soon after, iciness flashes in his eyes
as the corners of his lips lifted slightly.
"It's time to show you the difference between us!"
Rumble!
With a thought, the apertures in his body instantly lit up. In a short few breaths, the number of apertures
in his body rose from 30 plus to 45.
He had clearly began to reveal his hidden strength.
1292
As more and more apertures were opened, everyone saw Zhu Yue's body grow more and more ethereal
as faint mists began to spread around it.
Swish!
His speed soared, overtaking Zhou Yuan in a single breath. His body met the innumerable Genesis Qi
knives head-on as he rocketed towards the peak.
Zhu Yue's sudden explosion of speed instantly drew numerous gasps from the surroundings of the
mountain.
"As expected, he has concealed his strength!" Numerous disciples sighed in amazement. They could
naturally sense that Zhu Yue's Ethereal Form had grown even more formidable.
Gu Hongyi's hands began to clench tightly, her teeth biting into her red lips as she stared at the figure that
had fallen behind.
Han Qiushui could not help but remark from the side, "It's over for him Hongyi. Zhu Yue's mastery of the
Ethereal Form is much greater than Zhou Yuan's."
From the looks of it, Zhou Yuan’s first level mastery was practically unable to compare to Zhu Yue.
Gu Hongyi did not speak, merely continuing to stare. She believed that Zhou Yuan would not lose so
easily.
Somewhere else, Shen Wanjin, Qiao Xiu, Xiao Tianxuan and the rest anxiously watched the widening gap
between the two individuals of the mountain, their eyes filled with worry.
“Go little Yuan bro!”
But there was nothing they could do besides sending out prayer after prayer in their hearts.
“You were so arrogant previously, but you shall now have a taste of what it feels like to eat a rotten fruit."
There was a look of ecstasy mixed with excitement in Zhu Feng's eyes when he saw this. Soon after, he
began to laugh.
Sighs rang out in the vicinity of the mountain, pained looks on the faces of the disciples that practiced the
Even more disciples however, were enjoying the show, happy to see Zhou Yuan being suppressed. After
all, if Zhou Yuan performed too outstandingly, the rest of them would appear useless in comparison.
Elder Zong Ming sat on a tree as he looked towards the now leaving Zhu Yue, before turning to Zhou
Yuan. The former's eyes suddenly squinted as he mumbled, "The apertures in this kid's body…"
1293
From the looks of it, he would never be able to catch up.
Numerous disciples shook their heads inside. As expected, there was no point to this match at all. No
matter how talented Zhou Yuan was, he had only been learning the Ethereal Form technique for a month.
What about Zhu Yue? Nearly two years.
However, there were some sharper disciples that suddenly remarked in uncertainty, “Eh, Zhou Yuan’s
speed seems to be getting faster and faster…”
The moment these words were heard, the crow began to closely observe. Sure enough, they discovered
that Zhou Yuan’s speed was rising little by little. Although it was not as explosive as Zhu Yue’s earlier
burst, the increase was extremely stable.
“The… the apertures in his body are being unblocked one by one…” Said someone in shock. They could
just barely make out dots of light appearing and linking one after another on Zhou Yuan’s body.
Such a sight was not foreign to those who practiced the Ethereal Form technique, it was an indication that
an aperture had been unblocked.
Elder Zong Ming let out an amused chuckle when he saw this. His perceptive abilities were naturally
extraordinary, and had managed to discover the truth with a single look. Zhou Yuan’s apertures were
likely already unblocked by him, but had not been properly linked up due to the lack of time. As such,
when his Genesis Qi began to circulate, the apertures would be connected one by one...
Swish!
Under the countless astonished gazes, more and more light dots appeared on Zhou Yuan’s body, while his
speed also grew faster and faster. Mist began to surge around him, as if was riding on a cloud.
Every gaze was tightly fixed on the faintly discernible light dots on Zhou Yuan’s body.
Each one represented a newly linked aperture.
“There’s already 43 apertures…” Gasps would sound out from time to time, the numerous disciples
stupefied. No one had expected Zhou Yuan’s mastery to have also reached such a high level.
Moreover, the aperture light dots were still increasing.
After a dozen breaths, it reached 48.
A number that had already surpassed Zhu Yue.
Hence, a large portion of Zhou Yuan’s body began to etherealize, faint mist spreading from within as his
speed soared to the limits. The countless astral wind knives that shot towards him ending up passing
straight through his body, only leaving behind tiny sprinkles of blood...
1294
Zhou Yuan’s figure once again appeared a dozen or so feet behind Zhu Yue, rapidly catching up.
“Wow!”
Countless cries of amazement rang out in the surroundings of the mountain. No one had imagined that
Zhou Yuan would really catch up!
“God damnit!”
Zhu Yue was naturally able to detect the piercing sound of rushing wind behind him. A gaze swept to his
back from the corner of his eye, fury appearing within his eyes when he saw the rapidly approaching
Zhou Yuan.
Zhu Yue took in a deep breath as he made a seal with one hand. One could only watch as apertures also
began to light up on his body.
“Zhou Yuan, did you believe that 45 apertures is my limit!”
With a low howl, dot after dot began to light up on his body.
It was obvious that Zhu Yue had been forced to use his full power.
Two figures bolted up the mountain like lightning, while also appearing akin to two clouds.
Many disciples could only barely make out the two blurry figures within...
Everyone’s eyes were wide open, watching the race without blinking.
“Zhu Yue’s apertures has already reached 54…”
“Zhou Yuan’s has also risen above 50…”
“This is way too crazy!”
Countless whispers emerged. Shock was apparent on everyone’s faces as they watched the two figures
persistently nipped at each others heels. Only a third of the distance was left to the peak.
No one had expected such a neck to neck race.
Zhu Yue’s lead had already been forcibly taken back inch by inch by Zhou Yuan...
Zhu Yue’s expression turned extremely dark and stormy at this moment. Zhou Yuan’s stubbornness had
already exceeded his expectations.
1295
“All 58 of my apertures are already opened, a strength that I have concealed for a long time. It had
originally been for the sake of stealing the limelight during the seven peak martial meet, so I never
imagined that my hand would be forced today!”
Zhu Yue violently gritted his teeth. Most importantly, even his full power was unable to crush Zhou Yuan.
Instead, it was as if he was tenaciously holding on to the former’s tail.
“Zhou Yuan, you forced me to do this!”
“No matter how great of a price I’ll have to pay, I will crush you beneath my heel!”
Zhu Yue knew that he would definitely be mocked if he lost to Zhou Yuan and returned to the inner
mountains. Hence, the former had to grab victory at any cost.
A resolute look appeared in Zhu Yue’s eyes.
With a deep breath, a scarlet pill was rolled out from under his tongue, before being swallowed into his
stomach.
1296
Chapter 245 Corporeal Stage
Once the scarlet pill entered Zhu Yue’s stomach, a surge of heat exploded from within it, like magma as it
frantically flowed through his channels.
This pill was known as the Level Breaker Pill, and was said to have the effect of temporarily raising the
power of one’s Genesis techniques. There were some negative repercussions however, though the
current Zhu Yue clearly could not be bothered by such things to achieve victory.
He knew that he would likely lose all face if he lost to Zhou Yuan here.
Therefore, he absolutely could not lose.
Scarlet-red surfaced in Zhu Yue’s eyes as an evil look flashed within them. In the next instant, his speed
abruptly soared, a flash of red faintly visible in the mists swirling around his body.
In a short few breaths, he had widened the lead once again.
With the Level Breaker Pill, Zhu Yua’s speed was now comparable to the Ethereal Form technique with
over 60 apertures unblocked...
*Uproar*
An uproar once again swept through the surroundings of the green mountain, everyone stunned by Zhu
Yue’s sudden explosion of speed. No one had expected him to have concealed his abilities so deeply.
“It’s truly hopeless now…” The crowd shook their heads. Zhu Yue’s explosion of speed this time was just
too frightening. His figure had practically become mist, the sky full of astral wind knives unable to stop
him for even a split second.
This level of mastery was already fast approaching the second level.
Han Qiushui’s mouth hung wide open as she involuntarily muttered, “Has Zhu Yue’s mastery already
reached such heights?”
Gu Hongyi frowned deeply, somewhat uncertain. Although she had felt that Zhu Yue was hiding his
abilities, had he really hidden them to such an extent? The current level of Zhu Yue’s Ethereal Form was
already very close to the second level.
The situation did indeed look extremely bad for Zhou Yuan.
“Why does it suddenly seem as if Zhu Yue is on steroids!” Yelled Shen Wanjin, his eyes filled with worry.
Just as Zhou Yuan had been about to surpass Zhu Yue, the latter suddenly released another burst of
speed.
1297
Moreover, the sharp acceleration this time was basically despairing.
Qiao Xiu sighed regretfully. “It has not been easy for Junior brother Zhou Yuan to reach this level. He’s
only spent so much time on the Ethereal Form technique after all. If he had more time, reaching the
second level would have been just around the corner.”
Nearby, Yaoyao’s eyebrows also knitted together slightly when she saw this scene.
On the tree, elder Zong Ming’s indifferent gaze merely swept of Zhu Yue as a bright light fitted past the
depths of his eyes, clearly detecting something. His hand began to rise, and just as he was intending to
speak, he suddenly let out a soft cry of surprise.
His gaze was currently looking towards Zhou Yuan, who had now been left far behind, as a look of
interest appeared in his eyes.
It this very moment, he could sense that the Genesis Qi in Zhou Yuan’s body had begun to ripple violently.
Evidently, Zhou Yuan did not intend to give up just because Zhu Yue had suddenly rocketed ahead.
On the mountain, Zhou Yuan’s figure was akin to lightning. No panic appeared on his face as he gazed at
the figure to his front that was rapidly pulling ahead. Instead, he took in a deep breath of cold air.
The swelling pain from the Spirit between his brows was growing more and more intense.
It was an indication that the Spirit was about to ascend from the perfect Illusory stage to the Corporeal
stage.
The truth was that he had felt his Spirit was on the verge of a breakthrough during these past few days.
For the sake of stability however, he had slightly suppressed it. And now was finally the time for it to be
released.
His Spirit sat between his brows with the Saint Spirit Crystal revolving above it. Holy light spread from
the crystal that continuously tempered the Spirit.
At this current time, the Spirit’s illusory figure was gradually becoming corporeal, looking almost as if it
was solid matter. In addition, Zhou Yuan’s Spirit power was rising at an alarming speed.
Invisible Spirit power shuddered around Zhou Yuan’s body, seemingly whipping up a storm.
In that very instant, Zhou Yuan suddenly felt his senses grow even sharper, all things around him
appearing even clearer than before, while also allowing him to better see their source.
Even the mist wrapped Zhu Yue to his front was now within the range of his senses.
1298
Zhou Yuan could feel a tiny flash of scarlet-red light in the mists surrounding Zhu Yue, faintly pulsing in a
berserk manner.
“So that’s what happened…”
Iciness flooded Zhou Yuan’s eyes. Zhu Yue’s sudden burst in speed was likely due to some kind of pill that
had forcibly strengthened the Ethereal Form technique.
“Is this the Corporeal stage…”
Zhou Yuan’s eyes were clear and calm, but this was not the time for him to discover the wonders of the
Corporeal stage. With a thought, the Saint Rune between his brows flowed down into his pupils.
A low shout sounded in Zhou Yuan’s heart as the ancient Saint Rune slowly began to revolve in the depths
of his pupils. A peculiar power abruptly erupted, immediately giving him a clear view of his entire body.
After reaching the Corporeal stage, the activated Decoder Saint Rune had grown even more detailed and
effective.
Under the probing of the Decoder Saint Rune, Zhou Yuan could faintly see dot after dot of light suddenly
begin to emerge...
There were a total of 14 light dots.
Currently, 58 apertures had already been unblocked in Zhou Yuan’s body. If these 14 were added, it just
nicely added up to 72...
72 unblocked apertures meant that one had truly stepped into the second level of the Ethereal Form
technique.
“Although it would be safer to unblock them one by one, it seems that I have no choice but to do them all
at one go.” Mumbled Zhou Yuan to himself.
The Genesis Qi in his body began to churn violently, eventually whizzing through his channels as it
charged towards the 14 apertures in succession.
Ch! Ch!
Apertures were easily unblocked wherever his Genesis Qi passed.
All 14 apertures were threaded together by Genesis Qi in a short few breaths.
72 apertures were now completely unblocked.
1299
Although the 14 new apertures had yet to be polished and infused with mist essence, Zhou Yuan’s
Ethereal Form technique had now just barely reached the second level.
And this was already enough.
Zhou Yuan raised his gaze, looking towards the figure that was zooming towards the peak, as a certain
angle slowly rose from the corners of his mouth.
“Zhu Yue, I’ll show you what the true second level looks like!”
With a stomp of his foot, the space around him shook.
Countless gazes in the vicinity of the mountain looked over in shock and astonishment. Zhou Yuan’s body
was gradually etherealizing, seemingly transforming into a figure made from mist.
At a cursory glance, one would only be able to see a blurry silhouette.
A storm of noise immediately exploded.
“What? Zhou Yuan’s entire body has etherealized?!”
“How can that be?! One needs to be at the second level to achieve that state!”
“Although it’s quite impossible, the facts are staring right at us…”
“My god…”
“......”
Overwhelmed voices sounded one after another, everyone completely stupefied as they gazed upon the
fully mist like figure.
Han Qiushui had covered her mouth with her hands, shock coloring her entire face. Beside her, Gu
Hongyi’s eyes flickered with a resplendent light as emotions surged in her heart.
“Little Yuan bro is awesome.” Uttered a dazed Shen Wanjin.
Qiao Xiu also swallowed time and time again.
“This guy…” Yang Xiu’s expression had turned rather serious.
Next to him, although Lu Feng did not say anything, his eyes had narrowed slightly. The current Zhou
Yuan gave him a faint feeling of danger.
Under the countless shocked gazes across the area, Zhou Yuan’s body fully etherealized. His toes pushed
off the ground as he transformed into a blurry figure that shot forward at an astonishing speed!
1300
Chapter 246 Obtaining Victory
Swish!
Every gaze in the area was focused on a single thing. Zhou Yuan fully ethereal figure shot forth like a
shadow as a seemingly entire sky’s worth of Genesis Qi knives continuously swept past his body. This
time however, the knives seemed to be piercing through mist, unable to amount to much of a hindrance
or do any harm to Zhou Yuan.
The second level of the Ethereal Form technique had allowed Zhou Yuan’s body to turn completely
ethereal. He was now akin to a bundle of mist, ungraspable and formless.
His speed had also rose to an alarming level. Numerous disciples could only see a blur shoot past, unable
to make out Zhou Yuan’s figure.
In the short span of a dozen breaths, the gap between Zhou Yuan and Zhu Yue rapidly shrunk.
The activity from behind was also detected by Zhu Yue at this moment. His gaze swept back, only to be
scared stuff, horror and disbelief filling his eyes.
“How is this possible?! How can his body fully etherealize?!” Howls of terror and shock rang out in Zhu
Yue’s heart.
How could it not know that the full etheralization of the body was a mark of stepping in the second level
of the Ethereal Form technique.
Which was to say, Zhou Yuan had already unblocked 72 apertures!
But how could this be?! How long had Zhou Yuan practiced the Ethereal Form technique? Was his talent
really at such a monsterous level?
Although Zhu Yue had borrowed the power of the Level Breaker Pill to forcibly raise the level of his
Ethereal Form technique, it was for one only temporary, second, it had only allowed him to come very
close to the second level of the Ethereal Form technique.
There was still a gap between this and the true second level.
Zhu Yue’s face began to warp and distort, evidently overwhelmed by this information.
“Impossible! Absolutely impossible! It must be some kind of trick!” Howled Zhu Yue in his heart. The
Genesis Qi in his body quickly began to circulate even faster, pouring all of its power into the Ethereal
Form technique as he frantically dashed towards the peak.
1301
The peak was almost within reach, and he had to reach it first at any cost. If not, he would surely become
a laughing stock.
Zhu Yue became quicker and quicker, as if squeezing out every ounce of his potential, as he headed
straight towards the peak.
When the numerous gazes saw that Zhu Yue was about to reach the peak, their hearts leaped to their
throats, clearly very anxious.
“I’m going to win!”
“As long as I reach the peak first, I will have won this match!”
Zhu Yue’s eyes were tightly glued to the rapidly approaching peak. At this current time, nothing else
could enter his eyes.
The peak grew closer and closer.
A hundred feet… sixty feet… thirty feet… ten feet...
An almost crazed smile slowly began to emerge from the corners of his lips as the tree at the peak was
reflected in his eyes. No matter what happened, he would be able to take everything back as long as he
won this match!
So what if you have insane talent? I’m the one who will be winning this match!
However, when he was only a few feet from the peak, he suddenly heard the piercing sound of rushing
wind behind him. The corners of his eyes twitched as his gaze swept to his back, causing his entire body
to turn cold as he saw a blurry ethereal figure rapidly approach from behind as if riding on a cloud. In the
end, the figure brushed past him in a single step.
Their gazes seemed to meet in that very moment.
However, Zhu Yue’s was filled with terror, while Zhou Yuan’s remained chilly, not even the slightest
ripple to be seen.
“NOOO!”
A cry of misery erupted from Zhu Yue’s mouth.
But Zhou Yuan’s ethereal figure had already taken the next step, reaching the peak of the majestic
verdant mountain as countless gasps and cries sounded.
1302
At the peak was a giant boulder on which Zhou Yuan now stood. His ethereal body gradually returned to
normal as he looked down from above, the view of the countless figures dotting the surroundings of the
mountain entering his eyes.
The instant Zhou Yuan stood on the peak, Zhu Yue’s body stiffened. He stood there, merely a few feet
from Zhou Yuan, a dull look in his eyes and his face deathly pale.
He never imagined that he would actually lose.
In the air, Chen Yuan’s expression had also turned a little ugly at this scene. The corners of his mouth
twitched as he cursed inside, “Useless trash!”
This outcome had also exceeded his expectations.
Woah!
The vicinity of the mountain was silent for an instant before cries of surprise swept across the sky and
land. Stunned looks could be seen on every disciple. They too had not expected the ultimate winner to be
Zhou Yuan...
An outer mountain disciple had beaten an inner mountain disciple in a Genesis technique match?
This was something that had never happened before in the Cangxuan Sect...
The sight of the young figure that stood atop the peak made even the proud Shengzhou disciple click their
tongues in wonder at this moment. Although they were somewhat unwilling to accept it, the young man
from a remote continent had indeed obtained a beautiful victory today.
“Wow, this guy is a little too amazing!” Han Qiushui’s hands were cupping her pretty face, a tiny trace of
admiration in her watery eyes as she dazedly stared at Zhou Yuan’s figure.
After all, they clearly understood how difficult it was to win an inner mountain disciple even in a Genesis
technique match.
Gu Hongyi’s snow-whtie chin nodded faintly, a slight smile flowing out from the corners of her lips. Zhou
Yuan’s performance was indeed breathtaking.
On the huge tree, Zong Ming stood up and moved, appearing directly at the peak. His gaze swept across
the deathly pale Zhu Yue as he announced, “The winner of this match is Zhou Yuan.”
“From today onwards, Zhou Yuan will have the right to teach the Ethereal Form technique, while Zhu Yue
will be stripped of his Ethereal Form technique instructor status.”
“You shall return to the inner mountains tomorrow.”
1303
Zong Ming looked towards Zhu Yue and indifferently said, “Besides this, you broke the rules during the
match, so make sure to receive your punishment at the disciplinary hall.”
He had obviously caught Zhu Yue using a pill during the match.
Zhu Yue’s body shook as his complexion paled even further. In the end, his legs turned to jelly as he
crumpled to the ground.
He never imagined that he would face such a complete defeat this time.
As Zong Ming’s voice sounded across the mountains, numerous cheers began to erupt from the
surroundings. The disciples that were hoping to receive tutelage from Zhou Yuan even more excited and
elated.
The other disciples sighed inside. Zhou Yuan was going to become famous after this match. It was likely
that no one in the entire outer mountains would continue to look down on him.
Yang Xiu looked towards Zhou Yuan with interest as he listened to the cheers that filled the skies. Soon
after, he sighed and said, “He does have some ability. If it were a real fight, his speed will be rather
troublesome.”
Lu Feng’s expression remained indifferent. He looked towards Gu Hongyi below, and just happened to
catch sight of her looking at Zhou Yuan’s figure with a smile. The former’s expression immediately sunk a
little.
He had used numerous methods in an attempt to deepen their relationship, but there was ultimately no
progress. Gu Hongyi did not seem to have any feelings for him.
Although he did not know whether Gu Hongyi was really interested in Zhou Yuan, Lu Feng did not like
this attitude she had towards him… because Lu Feng himself had never experienced the same thing
before.
Lu Feng raised his head, looking towards the figure on the peak as his expression darkened slightly.
“Zhou Yuan, there are certain things that someone like you does not have the right to even think about…
the most important thing for anyone is to know one’s place.”
“You had best not provoke me.”
1304
Chapter 247 Nine Dragons Canon
The curtains had finally closed on the Genesis technique match. However, the resultant excitement
bathed the entire outer mountains for the subsequent few days.
After this feat, Zhou Yuan’s name was now well known in the outer mountains.
Although many disciples had heard of him at the very beginning, the impression they had was one of
mockery and disdain towards him, merely assuming he was a first class disciple that had taken the back
door in.
Now however, there was no longer contempt in one’s tone when one talked about Zhou Yuan, because
that contempt had been replaced by admiration.
After all, not just anyone could achieve the feat of winning against an inner mountain disciple in a Genesis
technique match...
After that day, there were busybodies that began to dispute the outer mountain disciple rankings. All of
them felt that Zhou Yuan’s strength would be able to enter the top five.
The reason why he was not ranked higher was because the Ethereal Form technique highly specialized in
speed, while his cultivation was only at the first layer Alpha-Origin. If he were to fight against the higher
ranked outer mountain disciples, everyone felt that Zhou Yuan may not be able to win.
On the other hand, if Zhou Yuan had faced and won Zhu Yue in a real battle, it was likely that no one
would object even if he was ranked first amongst the outer mountain disciples...
Even so, Zhou Yuan was now already an existence that could not be ignored in the outer mountains.
...
Hidden Scriptures Pavillion, a certain rear mountain lecture hall.
Since Zhu Yue had already been sent back to the inner mountain, the lecture hall he originally used was
now empty. Hence, elder Zong Ming allocated the hall to Zhou Yuan, giving him permission to teach
disciples here.
The lecture hall was currently almost bursting with people.
Zhou Yuan sat at the center, the Heavenly Yuan Brush in his hand. Its snow-white hairs spread, wrapping
around the wrist of every disciple. The numerous disciples present wore respectful and solemn looks on
their faces.
Although there were many people inside, it was peaceful and silent.
1305
Zhou Yuan’s eyes were closed, his senses reaching out through the brush hairs as the Spirit between his
brows twinkled.
Ever since Zhou Yuan’s Spirit had reached the Corporeal stage, it had become much easier for him to
sense the apertures of others, and he no longer felt as exhausted as before.
Likewise, his sensing effectiveness had also grown.
Zhou Yuan's eyes had been shut for a long time. At a certain moment, they suddenly opened as he began
directing the Genesis Qi in the many disciples' bodies, sending it charging towards a certain spot in their
bodies.
Chch!
A faint noise rang out as joy surfaced on the numerous disciples' faces. Everyone had clearly felt an
aperture being unblocked in their bodies.
A wave of happiness washed over the lecture hall.
Zhou Yuan waved his hand. "Today's session shall end here. All of you should polish and complete your
newly unblocked apertures after leaving."
The numerous disciples rose upon hearing this, respectfully cupping their hands together at Zhou Yuan,
before leaving one after another with excited expressions.
Zhou Yuan stretched his back, easing the tension between his bones. Giving guidance every day was a dry
and boring task, and he definitely would not do it if not for the Genesis jade.
Most importantly, it was cutting into his own training time. Hence why he had yet to complete the 14
apertures he had unblocked in the match with Zhu Yue.
The disciples scattered, leaving only a single pretty figure behind. It was naturally Gu Hongyi.
She grinned widely as she gazed at Zhou Yuan and said, "Hey, everyone else has unblocked an aperture
today, but there’s nothing on my end…”
Zhou Yuan shot a helpless look at her. “You’ve already reached the first level, it's only natural that sensing
your apertures is more difficult.”
Gu Hongyi had fully completed 36 apertures two days ago, allowing her to reach the first level of the
Ethereal Form technique. However, she was clearly unsatisfied with this result, hence wanting to
continue onwards to the second level under Zhou Yuan’s guidance.
Gu Hongyi pitifully looked towards Zhou Yuan. “But you promised me.”
1306
“Stop faking it.” Zhou Yuan shook his head in an annoyed manner. Someone like Gu Hongyi was clearly
unable to pull off a convincing pitiful act.
Gu Hongyi glared at him, before she placed her hands on her hips and pretended to be fierce. “Kid, if you
dare to break your promise, just wait and see how I’ll punish you.”
Towards the end, she could not help but break out into a smile.
Zhou Yuan sighed. He really could not be bothered with her antics. He stood up and walked towards the
exit as he said, “I’ll give you some special service later, I really can’t afford to offend you after all.”
Gu Hongyi was indeed pretty talented, and had a powerful background. She would definitely become a
core member of the Cangxuan Sect in the future, plus her character was not bad. Therefore, Zhou Yuan
did not mind having her as a friend.
Only then did Gu Hongyi let out a soft, satisfied laugh. The corners of her lips could not help but raise
slightly at the sight of Zhou Yuan’s helpless appearance. Though he was ferocious and ruthless in battle,
he was very easy-going most of the time.
“I’ll be making a trip to the Hidden Scriptures House to borrow a Genesis technique.”
Zhou Yuan began to head towards the Hidden Scriptures House, his goal this time obviously the high
grade little Heaven Genesis technique, Nine Dragons Canon, that he had been eyeing for so long.
After reaching the second level of the Ethereal Form technique, Zhou Yuan could clearly feel his rate of
progress take a rather sharp dip. Even with the aid of the Decoder Saint Rune, he would need a long time
to reach the third level.
Hence, it just so happened that Zhou Yuan now had time to spare to learn the Nine Dragons Canon.
It was almost two months since they arrived at the Cangxuan Sect, and only a single month was left till
the peak selection ceremony. It was said that only the top ten disciples would gain the right to choose
their peaks. Therefore, Zhou Yuan needed to ensure he was part of this top ten group, or it would become
very troublesome for him to find the second Saint Rune in the Saint Genesis Peak if he was allocated to
one of the other peaks.
“I’ll accompany you!” Go Hongyi skipped towards him with her hands behind her back.
The duo passed through the rear mountain, and entered the Hidden Scriptures House.
Zhou Yuan’s objective was clear, heading directly towards the Nine Dragons Canon.
The Nine Dragons Canon jade strip was still hovering in the same spot, no indication of anyone touching
it. This was because high grade little Heaven tier techniques were much pricier than their counterparts,
so very few disciples would come to select the Nine Dragons Canon.
1307
“Borrowing it once costs 600 Genesis jade pieces.”
Zhou Yuan involuntarily wet his lips when he saw the price. It was much higher than the Ethereal Form
technique. If not for the tidy income he received from giving guidance on the Ethereal Form technique, he
would not be able to afford it.
Zhou Yuan’s gaze filled with burning excitement as he grasped the jade strip. In contrast to the speed
based Ethereal Form technique, the Nine Dragons Canon was a pure attack type technique that boasted
astonishing power. If he mastered it, it would definitely be a huge boost his battle power.
“You really know how to choose. It’s said that this Nine Dragons Canon is extremely powerful, but is also
very difficult to learn. Even amongst the inner mountain disciples, there are not many who practice this
technique.” Gu Hongyi was somewhat surprised by Zhou Yuan’s choice.
Zhou Yuan chuckled, but did not say anything, grabbing the jade strip instead as he prepared to register
his loan.
The two laughed and chatted as they proceeded to the counter, when Zhou Yuan’s footsteps paused all of
a sudden. He had seen a figure dressed entirely in white that brimmed with confidence and elegance. It
was Lu Feng.
He also seemed to be here to select a Genesis technique. Upon hearing the activity behind him, he turned
slightly and saw the Zhou Yuan and Gu Hongyi walking together.
The hand grasping the jade strip seemed to tighten substantially.
His eyes narrowed slightly, before he displayed a warm smile towards Gu Hongyi.
Gu Hongyi frowned slightly, but she still gave him a small nod.
Lu Feng’s gaze did not even once look towards Zhou Yuan. The former withdrew his gaze, received the
now recorded jade strip and walked out of the Hidden Scriptures House.
Zhou Yuan could feel that Lu Feng was purposely ignoring him, but he did not display any unhappiness.
His expression remained ordinary as he walked forward and handed the Nine Dragons Canon jade strip
to the middle-aged man behind the counter.
The middle-aged man was clearly somewhat surprised that he wanted to borrow the Nine Dragons
Canon, but the former still helped him record it down.
After keeping the jade strip, Zhou Yuan and Gu Hongyi left the Hidden Scriptures House. The two had
already arranged the evening training venue, hence, they each left in their respective directions.
Zhou Yuan leisurely walked on the mountain path, when his footsteps suddenly stopped.
1308
His gaze looked to his front, where a figure dressed in white was standing with his hand behind his back.
Who else could it be but Lu Feng.
Lu Feng slowly turned around, a fear inducing iciness spreading from his usually indifferent eyes. He
stared at Zhou Yuan as a faint voice echoed across the mountain path.
"Zhou Yuan…"
"Did winning an inner mountain disciple in a Genesis technique match give you the courage to think that
you can now trample over me?”
1309
On the mountain path.
Zhou Yuan frowned as he looked towards his front where Lu Feng stood with a hand behind his back,
eyes suffused with iciness as he stared at the former.
Although there was not much apparent disdain in Lu Feng’s eyes, Zhou Yuan could feel an arrogance that
transcended everyone else, the way he looked at others always containing contempt.
A gaze like this was even more detestable than disdain that one showed on the face, because it meant that
no matter what you did, he would always feel that he is better than you.
Therefore, Zhou Yuan slowly said, “First things first, you and I have never even talked before this. As for
trampling over you, I have zero interest…”
“Because I don’t feel that there’s anything great about it.”
“I’m not the type to stir up trouble, so I hope that trouble does not come knocking at my door either. But
if some opinionated fellow voluntarily sticks his head out, I wouldn’t mind stepping on his head for a bit.”
“So can you step aside and let me pass?”
A faint, sharp light was present in his eyes as he stared at Lu Feng.
Lu Fung was stunned, seemingly unable to comprehend that Zhou Yuan would not only show no fear, but
instead so directly come at him with such sharp, stinging words.
“Ah…”
A dark look rose within Lu Feng’s already cold eyes. He stared at Zhou Yuan and pondered for a brief
moment, before asking, “... what exactly is it that makes you think you can speak in such a manner to me?”
“Is it because you won an inner mountain disciple in a Genesis technique match?”
Lu Feng slowly walked forward, standing right in front of Zhou Yuan, the two now mere feet apart. Zhou
Yuan’s youthful, impassive face was reflected in the Lu Feng’s cold eyes as he softly said, “Zhou Yuan, you
may have been able to ride roughshod over everyone in the tiny continent you came from, fully enjoying
the status of a genius, but you need to recognize exactly where you are now…”
“This is the Shengzhou Continent, the Cangxuan Sect…”
1310
“The one who stands before you comes from the Shengzhou Lu clan. My clan is of noble lineage in the
Shengzhou Continent… a level that you probably do not even know of.”
“I have a senior that is an elder in the Sword Cometh Peak, and an elder sister in my clan is the personal
disciple of the Sword Cometh Peak master…”
Lu Feng stared at Zhou Yuan in interest. Every word that was spat from his mouth seemed to bring with it
an indescribable pressure. He obviously wanted to show that his background and relations from far from
anything a no good Zhou Yuan could compare to.
If it was any other ordinary disciple, hearing Lu Feng’s words would likely give rise to fear in his heart.
Unfortunately, Zhou Yuan’s eyes remained calm from start to end, not even the slightest ripple to be seen.
Seeing no response of any sort from Zhou Yuan, Lu Feng seemed to believe that the former was stunned
and awed. An almost undetectable curve slowly lifted from the corners of his lips as he reached out a
hand to gently pat Zhou Yuan’s face.
“So can I ask you to keep your distance from Hongyi?”
When it was mere inches from Zhou Yuan’s face, Lu Feng’s hand was grabbed by Zhou Yuan’s.
Zhou Yuan’s stared at Lu Feng, frowning as he said, “I originally believed that you should at least have
some ability as the person recognized as number one in the outer mountains. I never expected that you
would be so pathetic…”
“What did you say?” Lu Feng’s eyes darkened.
As Zhou Yuan grabbed the former’s hand, he shook his head and said, “If you had talked about your own
capabilities, I would have at least given a little recognition. But you ended up parading all of your so-
called background and relations. So what if your clan is powerful? Can it control the Cangxuan Sect?”
“If it could, why would you need to say so much nonsense. You could have just kicked me out long ago.”
“That’s why, your so-called background has no effect on me.”
Disdain slowly rose from the corners of Zhou Yuan’s mouth as he gazed at the cold expression on Lu
Feng’s face and said, “Lu Feng, Gu Hongyi is only practicing the Ethereal Form technique with me. If you
can change her mind about it, feel free to go find her.”
“As for me, since I’ve accepted her tuition fees, I will definitely teach her if she comes.”
“With regards to what you think, I don’t have the tiniest bit of interest.”
1311
“If you really intend to do something, go ahead and take action. There’s no need for you to put on an act
and come warn me time and time again. As for your so-called background, if you are really able to beg for
their help, feel free to…”
Every word from Zhou Yuan made Lu Feng’s expression turn a little stormier and darker. By the time the
final word was said, a storm was already long brewing on his handsome face.
Zhou Yuan blunt words had made Lu Feng feel extremely humiliated.
He could not understand why a kid without any background at all would dare to speak in such a manner
towards him?!
“I had originally intended to use the common people methods of people like Zhu Feng and Zhu Yue to
make you understand that you should back off, but from what I can see, someone like you will only cry
upon seeing the coffin!”
“Zhou Yuan, since you want to die, I will grant your wish!” Lu Feng’s eyes turned terrifyingly cold. A split
second later berserk and ferocious Genesis Qi violently exploded from his body.
“I wonder what kind of punishment I’ll receive after I beat you to death today?”
Rumble!
The ground below his feet cracked open at this moment.
Lu Feng’s five fingers turned into a fist as he sent a punch flying. Space around it distorted slightly as
robust Genesis Qi surged, like thunder as it swung straight towards Zhou Yuan’s chest.
Zhou Yuan’s pupils shrank slightly, his body immediately etherealized as he drifted back like mist.
Lu Feng’s punch may have been akin to a sudden and violent storm, but Zhou Yuan was long prepared for
it. With the Ethereal Form, he completely avoided all the punch winds.
Boom!
However, there were still punch winds that ignored space and surged towards him. Zhou Yuan
immediately opened his mouth and spat out a gush of golden Genesis Qi, blocking these punch winds.
“I’ll teach you today that no matter how fast you can run, you’re ultimately only a rabbit to be hunted!” Lu
Feng’s expression was eerily cold. The tip of his foot pushed off the ground, his speed rapidly soaring as
he pounced at Zhou Yuan.
Rumble!
Berserk Genesis Qi continuously erupted from his body, falling many giant trees in the vicinity.
1312
Zhou Yuan coldy snorted as he gazed at Lu Feng, who was about to use his full power. Genesis Qi also
exploded from the former’s body, golden Genesis Qi dashing out from the top of his head, faintly forming
the silhouette of a giant golden python in the air above.
“Lu Feng, you’d better stop!”
However, a sudden rage filled shout suddenly rang out the moment Lu Feng charged forward as a fiery-
red whip descended from the sky, viciously flicking towards him.
Pah!
The air cracked under the whip. Lu Feng’s figure paused for a moment, before he drifted backwards.
He raised his head, only to see Gu Hongyi standing on a nearby boulder with a fuming look on her pretty
face. Flames burned on the scarlet-red whip in her hand, melting the ground around her.
Gu Hongyi’s voice was fierce and stern. “Lu Feng, if you keep trying such things behind my back, I will not
easily let you off even if our families have some ties.”
Lu Feng frowned, and indifferently replied, “Hongyi, it’s just a quarrel between me and him.”
“As a senior disciple, I should teach my junior how to act properly. If I don’t, given junior brother Zhou
Yuan’s attitude, he will draw even more trouble to himself in the future.”
However, he shook his head, knowing that there was no longer anything he could do to Zhou Yuan today
now that Gu Hongyi was here. The Genesis Qi around the former gradually withdrew as Lu Feng frostily
looked towards Zhou Yuan and said in a voice that only the two of them could hear, “Zhou Yuan, she may
be able to protect you now, but she can’t protect you forever…”
“Since you’re so unyielding… I’ll make sure to properly play with you. But you must be careful not to be
toyed to death by me…”
After the final word, Lu Feng turned around and left.
Zhou Yuan’s eyes narrowed slightly as he watched the former leave. A dangerou light flickered within his
eyes as he mumbled to himself,
“Lu Feng…”
“I wasn’t joking with you either. If you do decide to stick out your head…”
“I will really step on it.”
1313
Chapter 249 Allocation
The hostile atmosphere on the mountain path faded following Lu Feng’s departure as the churning
Genesis Qi gradually calmed down.
Gu Hongyi flew to Zhou Yuan’s side. She bit her red lips as she watched Lu Feng leave, before looking
towards Zhou Yuan with apology in her eyes.
How could she not know that she was the reason why Lu Feng had attacked Zhou Yuan.
If she had not practiced the Ethereal Form technique with Zhou Yuan, Lu Feng would not be hostile
towards the former.
Zhou Yuan smiled at Gu Hongyi as he waved his hand. “Our characters conflict with each other. Even with
you out of the picture, a clash will likely be unavoidable in the future.”
Lu Feng was just too damned arrogant, believing himself far superior to others. He may appear uncaring
and nonchalant on the surface, but the truth was that he looked down on everyone else, and even more so
the non Shengzhou disciples.
Many disciples would show a lowelier posture when they encountered Lu Feng, but this was something
Zhou Yuan could not do. In addition, although he was not someone that constantly sought out trouble, he
did have his own sharp edge.
Once Zhou Yuan and Lu Feng came into contact, the two would be akin to two needles, making the other
uncomfortable.
Therefore, Zhou Yuan felt that even without Gu Hongyi, conflict would easily arise between him and Lu
Feng.
However, Gu Hongyi took it as if Zhou Yuan was only consoling her. “Don’t worry, although Lu Feng does
have some powerful and influential people behind him, if he dares to deal with you through them, I will
not just stand by and watch.”
Zhou Yuan chuckled and said, “He only brought them up to intimidate me. Given his proud character, it
would be humiliating for him to seek their help just to deal with me.”
Gu Hongyi gave a slight nod of agreement. She hesitated somewhat, before she asked, “Then… will I still
be able to learn the Ethereal Form technique with you?”
She was not someone who liked to implicate others, but without Zhou Yuan’s aid, a lot more time and
effort would be needed for her to reach the second level of the Ethereal Form technique.
1314
Zhou Yuan laughed softly before he responded, “I just said earlier that as long as you’re willing to come,
I’ll be willing to teach. No one can change my mind.”
He did indeed hope to create ties with Gu Hongyi. After all, it no good to only offend others, friends were
also very important.
Gu Hongyi’s eyes seemed to give off a happy glow. Zhou Yuan’s decision to continue guiding her also
meant that he was ignoring the pressure from Lu Feng. From a certain point of view, it meant that Zhou
Yuan had chosen her over Lu Feng.
However, she would not let Zhou Yuan bear the pressure from Lu Feng.
“Zhou Yuan, if Lu Feng tries anything funny, feel free to come find me. I will settle him for you.” Declared
Gu Hongyi.
Zhou Yuan did not reply when he heard this, merely smiling in response.
“As long as he does not shamelessly bring out all the people he spoke of earlier, I'll receive any moves he
comes at me with. It just so happens that I'm also interested to experience for myself how good our
number one outer mountain disciple is."
Although his tone was calm, there was a faint iciness contained deep within it. The things Lu Feng had
done today had clearly already angered Zhou Yuan.
Upon hearing that Zhou Yuan intended to cross swords with Lu Feng, worry bubbled within Gu Hongyi as
she hurriedly tried to caution him. “You shouldn’t underestimate him. Lu Feng is very strong, and has a
tremendous amount of rallying power amongst the Shengzhou disciples.”
“Relax, I will not underestimate anyone. Although Lu Feng is strong, if he believes I’m a soft persimmon,
I’m afraid that he will crack his teeth…” Zhou Yuan waved his hand, indicating he did not wish to speak
any further on the topic. He then continued on his way along the mountain path.
As she watched him leave, Gu Hongyi clenched her teeth as she mumbled, “Why are you trying to act cool
at a time like this…”
She then turned her head, looking towards the direction Lu Feng had left in earlier as iciness flitted
across her eyes.
“Lu Feng, you’d better not push your luck. You should know of my temper…”
...
Night enveloped the outer mountains.
1315
However, numerous figures were gathered in a certain little house. The most eye-catching amongst the
group was a young man dressed in white, Lu Feng.
Lu Feng sat in the center, the surrounding gazes containing a trace of respect when they looked towards
him.
As the undisputed number one amongst the outer mountain disciples, Lu Feng commanded a tremendous
amount of support and respect amongst the outer mountain disciples.
There were currently dozens of disciples present, all of whom were first class disciples while also from
the Shengzhou continent. They could be said to be the elites amongst this batch of outer mountain
disciples, making them the strongest disciple faction in the outer mountains when gathered like this.
In the face of their might, any of the other outer mountain groups could only give way.
“It’s rare for you to invite us over old Lu. There must be something you want to tell us today, right?” Yang
Xiu had a wide grin plastered across his face. He was likely the only one present who could address Lu
Feng in this manner.
After all, although he was less talented than Lu Feng, he was no slouch either. In addition, the Yang clan
he came from was a powerful faction in the Shengzhou continent.
“If there’s anything we can do for brother Lu, feel free to let know.” An intimidating young man smiled
from the side. His name was Qin Zhen, and he was one of the more well known figures amongst the outer
mountain disciples, while also ranked sixth amongst the ten great outer mountain disciples.
If one were to sweep one’s gaze across the group at this moment, one would be surprised to see nearly
half the ten great outer mountain disciples present.
The other disciples nodded and agreed in succession.
Lu Feng softly chuckled, reaching out a hand to call for silence. His gaze swept around the group as he
said, “There is only a month before the peak selection ceremony.”
Everyone’s expressions tensed a little, clearly understanding the importance of the ceremony. It was an
event that would determine their future prospects in the Cangxuan Sect.
“I’ve heard that the one who takes first place will be rewarded by the sect. The ultimate winner will not
only be given a Heaven Genesis technique, but they have even made an exception this time and decided to
also bestow the champion a single Genesis Marrow Baptism.”
Upon hearing Lu Feng’s words, the surroundings burst into noise, everyone’s eyes now burning with
desire.
1316
“To think that it would be Genesis Marrow Baptism!” Yang Xiu clicked his tongue in amazement. “It’s said
that only purple sash disciples get to enjoy such a thing. It is very precious and valuable indeed.”
Yang Xiu’s words made the disciples that had yet to fully understand lick their lips in desire. Purple sash
disciples. That was the highest rank in the inner mountains.
“But first place will definitely end up with brother Lu.” Someone sighed. Although they coveted the first
place reward, they were well aware of their worth. With Lu Feng participating, none of them would be
able to compete.
Lu Feng chuckled. “Besides first place, anyone who enters the top ten will be able to directly become gold
sash inner mountain disciples. If they become purple sash disciples in the future, they will also get to
taste the Genesis Marrow Baptism.”
The young man called Qin Zhen rubbed his chin and said, “But the competition for top ten will be very
intense. There are quite a few capable individuals in this batch of outer mountain disciples.”
“Yeah, some of the riff-raff other continents are pretty good.” Added in someone else.
Lu Feng said, “I’ve gathered everyone here today for this very matter.”
His gaze swept across the crowd as he continued, “The peak selection ceremony will be a fierce contest,
hence, I intend to fix the top ten spots so as to prevent any unnecessary fighting.”
Everyone looked to each other, evidently not understanding what he meant. What right did they have as
disciples to fix the top ten spots?
“Do we have the right to fix the top ten spots?” Asked an uncertain voice asked.
“Whoever has the harder fist will have the right.” Lu Feng smiled faintly.
“We Shengzhou disciples will take eight of the top ten spots. The other two will be thrown for the other
continent disciples to fight over.”
The crowd’s eyes brightened. If they could occupy eight spots, it would undoubtedly be great news for
them.
However, eight seemed to be a little too much.
Qin Zhen could not help but ask, “Will the other continent disciples agree?”
One had no choice but to admit that there were more disciples from the other continents. Although they
could not compare in quality, it would not be easy to convince so many of them to fight for just two spots.
Lu Feng smiled slightly and said, “Anyone who disagrees can come and find me.”
1317
“Brother Lu is so domineering!” The others gave him a thumbs-up, already unable to restrain their
excitement. From the looks of it, Lu Feng intended to forcibly occupy eight spots for the Shengzhou
disciples.
“Since we have come to an agreement, if anyone does not follow the rules during the peak selection
ceremony, we’ll just have to expel him or her…” Lu Feng’s eyes narrowed slightly.
The numerous Shengzhou disciples exchanged a look, before all of them said, “Everything shall be as
brother Lu says.”
Lu Feng nodded, before he said in an uncaring manner, “Besides this, if the other continent disciples have
any opinions, tell them that all of this started because of Zhou Yuan.”
This was undoubtedly forcing the other continent disciples to grow resentful towards Zhou Yuan.
Only now were the many disciples struck by a flash of understanding. So Zhou Yuan had offended brother
Lu...
“Don’t worry brother Lu, that kid has been growing too big headed recently. It is time to let him know
exactly who calls the shots in the outer mountains…”
Lu Feng chuckled as he gazed upon the group now filled with righteous indignation. He raised his head,
his cold eyes looking towards a certain mountain creek far away.
“Zhou Yuan ah Zhou Yuan. Look at me, I only need to arrange a few things to make everyone your
enemy…”
“I heard that you intend to take one of the top ten spots in the peak selection ceremony?”
“Hehe, since that is so, you will only be able to contest for those two spots. I hope that you will not drown
in the saliva from everyone’s cursing when that happens…”
“As for the other eight, if you dare to touch them, there won’t even be a need for me to take action. These
Shengzhou disciples will ensure you’re beaten black and blue…”
1318
Chapter 250 Dragon Type Genesis Beast Essence
Blood
Time galloped past like a white steed, swiftly passing in the outer mountains.
Unknowingly, there was now gradually only a month left of the initial three month period before the peak
selection ceremony. Due to this, the atmosphere covering the entire outer mountains seemed to become
tenser.
Numerous disciples were desperately training, working hard in hopes that they would be able to raise
their strength to better their chances of getting a good placing in the peak selection ceremony, while also
hopefully catching the eye of some of the Cangxuan Sect’s teacher seniors, and obtain good cultivation
prospects.
After all, numerous high level personnel would be present on the day of the peak selection ceremony,
making it an excellent chance to display one’s abilities.
As such, the atmosphere in the outer mountains was no longer as relaxed as before during this period,
even the air itself seemingly filled with a tense feeling. If they were not training on Genesis Mountain,
everyone would be in one of the many lecture halls working on their Genesis techniques, all of the sake of
growing stronger...
Zhou Yuan was likewise no exception.
The time he had now everyday was exceptionally enriched with activities; training on Genesis Mountain,
giving Genesis technique guidance, studying the recently acquired Nine Dragons Canon. Of course, after
his Spirit had stepped into the Corporeal stage, he had also begun to make some time to learn grade 4
Genesis Runes from Yaoyao...
Although he was certain he would get into the top ten, he knew that there were many capable individuals
in the outer mountains, and if he were to become complacent, he would likely be surpassed at any time.
Hence, Zhou Yuan maintained a vigilant state of mind, not allowing himself to relax as he invested all his
time and effort into improving himself...
After all, Zhou Yuan was well aware of his goal; to make use of the excellent training conditions here to
raise his cultivation to the Divine Dwelling stage in the shortest possible time.
Back in the Cangmang Continent, the Great Zhou Empire was eyed like prey by the Great Wu Empire. The
ambitious king Wu had definitely already turned his eyes to the Great Zhou Empire ever since Wu
Huang’s blessing had been taken back by Zhou Yuan.
1319
Once king Wu found an opportunity, the Great Zhou Empire would surely face a calamity once again.
Hence, if Zhou Yuan did not want the Great Zhou Empire to be destroyed when he returned, he needed to
make use of every second he had to strengthen himself...
...
On the balcony of a certain little house.
Zhou Yuan was seated in a pool of sunshine, his eyes lightly shut as he held the Nine Dragons Canon jade
strip in his hand. His mind entered the strip as he immersed himself in its marvels.
After a long time had passed, Zhou Yuan’s eyes slowly opened.
He had been trying to comprehend this high grade Heaven Genesis technique for several days, and was
gradually beginning to grasp the important points.
Zhou Yuan gazed at the jade strip as he mumbled to himself, “This technique is fantastic…”
According to what was written in the jade strip, a unique method was needed to practice the Nine
Dragons Canon. It required one to refine nine different dragon type Genesis Beast essence blood, and
meld them together into a Genesis technique mark, before branding it on the Qi Dwelling.
Once learnt, one would be able to form dragons with one’s Genesis Qi in battle. At the advanced level,
nine dragons could be sent out that boasted extremely overwhelming power that was almost comparable
to a true Heaven tier technique.
The most amazing thing about it, was that the higher grade the essence blood, the more powerful the
technique would be.
“However, the difficulty lies in refining the dragon type Genesis Qi essence blood… such essence blood
will surely be violent and untameable. If fused into the body, the slightest negligence would give it the
chance to erode and invade the body. Hence, one would need absolute control over it.”
Those that could be considered dragon type Genesis Beasts were definitely not weak. The essence blood
of such Genesis Beasts was extremely berserk, and ordinary people would not dare to fuse it into one’s
body.
Zhou Yuan fell into thought for a brief moment, before shaking his head, deciding not to think too much
about it. It seems that he had to make a trip to the Glittering Jewels Pavillion. He should be able to find the
essence blood he required there.
With these thoughts in mind, he decided to act. He left the balcony and walked down the steps to the first
floor. In front of the little house, Yaoyao also followed with Tuntun upon hearing that he was going to the
1320
Glittering Jewels Pavilion. She was tagging along purely because there were many items in the Glittering
Jewels Pavilion, and maybe even some good alcohol...
The Glittering Jewels Pavilion was located on one of the central peaks. The giant octagonal building
seemed to spread outwards like some kind of behemoth, while wind chimes could be seen hanging at all
eight corners. When the wind blew, a clear tinkling sound would spread that was extremely pleasing to
the ear.
This was likewise one of the most popular places in the outer mountains, and was frequented by
numerous disciples. After all, there were many treasures inside, and people would occasionally find
themselves shopping here for an entire day.
After entering, Zhou Yuan left Yaoyao to her own devices, while he went to seek out one of the servants
girls.
“I need dragon type Genesis Beast essence blood, the higher the rank the better!” Zhou Yuan generously
declared as if money was something he did not lack. After all, being an instructor of a Genesis technique
had indeed recently made him rather wealthy.
The servant girl was initially stunned by his words. Soon after, she sweetly said, “Please follow me, I will
find the manager for you.”
Hence, the servant girl led Zhou Yuan into one of the inner rooms to be seated.
Zhou Yuan waited inside for a while, and a middle-aged man soon entered. He smiled as he sized-up Zhou
Yuan and said, “I am Cao Jin, a manager of the Glittering Jewels Pavillion. Young brother Zhou Yuan has
become quite a popular figure in the outer mountains recently.”
Although Cao Jin was a manager at the Glittering Jewels Pavillion, he was also an outer mountain disciple.
It was due to his age that he had been assigned here.
“I heard that young brother Zhou Yuan wants dragon type Genesis Beast essence blood?” Cao Jin smiled.
“You must be intending to practice the Nine Dragons Canon, right?”
Although there were not many disciples currently who could practice the Nine Dragons Canon, there
were ultimately still a number of them. It was obvious that they had also come to the Glittering Jewels
Pavillion in search for dragon type Genesis Beast essence blood.
Zhou Yuan nodded as he cupped his fists together. “I’ll be troubling manager Cao.”
“Not a problem.” Cao Jun chuckled. With a wave of his hand, a servant girl brought in a silver plate on
which sat three jade bottles. The bottles were crystal clear, the viscous scarlet liquid within giving off a
faint berserk aura.
1321
“These are the essence blood of the Yin Python, Three-headed Flame Snake, and the Fire Dragon-Lizard.
All of them are initial grade 4 Genesis Beast, and each bottle of will cost 500 Genesis jade pieces.”
“Initial grade 4 huh...” Zhou Yuan frowned slightly. “Is there anything better?”
Initial grade 4 was only equivalent to the first to third layer Alpha-Origin, a level that did not satisfy Zhou
Yuan at all. After all, the higher quality the essence blood, the more powerful the Nine Dragons Canon.
Although he did not dare to hope for anything that was too high grade, initial grade 4 was still rather low
in his opinion.
“Looks like young brother Zhou Yuan does not lack Genesis jade.” Cao Jin laughed upon hearing this.
Normally speaking, most of the disciples that practiced the Nine Dragons Canon would be more than
satisfied with such Genesis Beast essence blood. It was mainly because the outer mountain disciples were
currently not very rich.
He waved his hand and another servant girl brought in two silver plates covered by red cloth.
He pulled off the first plate as another three bottles appeared. Scarlet blood bubbled within these bottles,
the berserk undulations able to permeate the special material from which the bottles were made from.
Just the smell alone made one feel one’s body heat up.
“These are from the Scarlet Fire Dragon, the Thousand Year Earth Lizard and the Purple Devil Snake… all
of them are high tier grade 4 Genesis Beasts, and are exceedingly formidable. Even seventh layer Alpha-
Origin practitioners would find them difficult opponents.”
Cao Jin chuckled. “However, they are also very expensive. A single bottle will cost 1500 Genesis jade
pieces.”
He looked towards Zhou Yuan and grinned. “How about it, are you satisfied now?”
Amazement was displayed on Zhou Yuan’s face. The Glittering Jewels Pavilion really had everything. High
tier grade 4 was indeed an excellent cultivation resource for him.
However, they were indeed expensive. Ordinary outer mountain disciples only received 30 Genesis jade
pieces a month. They may earn more by working hard on missions, but it would at most reach a sum of a
few hundred Genesis jade pieces, which was far from enough to purchase these essence blood.
Zhou Yuan pondered for a bit, before suddenly looking towards the other still covered silver plate as he
curiously asked, “What about this?”
He could faintly sense even more berserk undulations spreading from it.
Cao Jin was taken aback. Soon after, he said, “I’m afraid that young brother Zhou Yuan might not be able
to use that essence blood…”
1322
“Why?” Asked Zhou Yuan.
Cao Jin lifted the red cloth, revealing three jade bottles. The scarlet blood within had already formed mini
whirlpools in which a faint silhouettes seemed to hover.
An alarming berserk undulation violently pulsed from them.
“These are?” Zhou Yuan’s eyes widened. He could feel a dangerous aura from the essence blood in these
three jade bottles.
Cao Jin’s expression was somewhat solemn as he slowly said, “The essence blood of three grade 5 dragon
type Genesis Beasts…”
Zhou Yuan pupils involuntarily shrunk slightly. Grade 5 Genesis Beast essence blood… wasn’t that
equivalent to a Divine Dwelling expert?
He never imagined that the Glittering Jewels Pavilion would have essence blood of this level too!
Only now did Zhou Yuan realise why Can Jin had said he would be unable to use them. Grade 5 Genesis
Beast essence blood was too volatile and violent. Ordinary first layer Alpha-Origin disciples would not
dare to refine and absorb it.
However, Zhou Yuan was never one to be afraid of challenge.
Most importantly, though other first layer Alpha-Origin practitioners did not dare, it did not mean that he
did not...
In addition, if he was able to refine grade 5 Genesis Beast essene blood, the Nine Dragons Canon would
undoubtedly be even more powerful. It was this point that truly enticed Zhou Yuan.
Zhou Yuan chuckled in sastifaction, and decisively said, “Manager Cao, how much are these three bottles?
I want them.”
Can Jin was stunned, evidently not expecting Zhou Yuan to have such boldness. However, he soon let out
a bitter laugh as he awkwardly shook his head.
“Young brother Zhou Yuan, I’m afraid that I can’t sell them to you…”
1323
Chapter 251 Grade 5
“Why?”
Zhou Yuan was likewise taken aback by Cao Jin’s words. The former soon frowned as he asked, “Is it a
problem with the price? Or are you worried that I will not be able to refine them? Manager Cao need not
worry about such matters, I understand my limits.”
Cao Jin waved his hand, and awkwardly said, “It’s not that… these three bottles have already been booked
by someone else.”
“I only took them out earlier just in case. I did not expect that they would actually end up catching your
eye.”
He truly had not expected Zhou Yuan’s standards to be so high that even high tier grade 4 was unable to
catch his fancy. As it happens, Zhou Yuan just had to end up taking a fancy to these grade 5 Genesis Beast
essence blood. One must know that they were equivalent to the Divine Dwelling stage.”
How could an ordinary first layer Alpha-Origin practitioner have the balls to even try essence blood at
this level.
Zhou Yuan’s frown deepened. He had not expected these bottles of essence blood to be booked by
someone else.
“Are there any others of the same level?” Asked Zhou Yuan.
Cao Jin shook his head. “These are the only ones we have in the outer mountain branch. We’re not the
inner mountain after all, they will likely have ample stock.”
Zhou Yuan was somewhat speechless. He was really a little unwilling to give up the three grade 5 dragon
type Genesis Beast essence blood. Hence, he could not help but ask, “May I inquire as to which fellow
disciple has booked them? I can buy them from him or her at double the price.”
The Nine Dragons Canon had high requirements towards the quality of the Genesis Beast essence blood
used. Zhou Yuan naturally wanted the process would be as perfect as possible, while also minimising the
risk of any flaws.
Cao Jin hesitated upon hearing this. Just as he was about to speak, faint laughter was suddenly heard from
outside the door, laughter that contained a hint of playfulness. “Hehe, it seems that tutoring Genesis
techniques really does pay well. I would never have imagined that I, Lu Feng, would one day be offered
such a good deal.”
The doors were pushed open as Lu Feng walked in wearing a faint smile, a mocking look in his eyes as he
stared at Zhou Yuan.
1324
Zhou Yuan’s expression involuntarily darkened. He had not expected the one who had booked the three
bottles of Genesis Beast essence blood to be Lu Feng.
“Are you also practicing the Nine Dragons Canon?” Zhou Yuan’s eyes narrowed slightly.
“Nine Dragons Canon?” Lu Feng laughed. “Although it's not bad, I naturally have better options. I was
merely bought the essence blood for fun.”
Iciness flitted across Zhou Yuan’s eyes. It was obvious that Lu Feng knew he was practicing the Nine
Dragons Canon and had intentionally taken actions to obstruct him in secret, pre booking the highest
quality essence blood in the Glittering Jewels Pavilion.
Through this, Lu Feng would be able to lower Zhou Yuan’s performance in the peak selection ceremony a
month later.
“Lu Feng!”
Zhou Yuan’s eyes turned ice-cold as vigorous Genesis Qi abruptly exploded from his body. Golden Genesis
Qi swirled around him, faintly forming the silhouette of a giant golden python that hissed at Lu Feng.
“Oh? You want to go at it? Who gave you the courage?” Lu Feng playfully laughed staring mockingly at
Zhou Yuan without a single hint of fear as powerful Genesis Qi swept out from his body.
“Both of you stop!”
Cao Jin hurriedly shouted when he saw that the two were about to fight, standing in between them to
stop them. “If you fight in the Glittering Jewels Pavilion, there will be consequences!”
With a wave of his hand, a swarm of figures surged out within the Glittering Jewels Pavilion, Genesis Qi
after Genesis Qi rising as they targeted the two individuals.
Iciness flashed as Zhou Yuan and Lu Feng’s gazes clashed. In the end, both of them withdrew their
Genesis Qi with a cold snort.
They knew that it would be almost impossible to escape punishment if they were to fight here, which
would only end up wasting their precious training time.
Lu Feng laughed icily. Soon after, he waved his sleeve, sweeping away the three grade 5 Genesis Beast
essence blood on the plate as he uncaringly said, “Don’t worry, even if all of the essence blood rots away
in my hands, I will never sell them to you.”
The iciness in Zhou Yuan’s eyes gradually receded, however, it still raged like a tsunami in the depths of
his eyes. He ignored Lu Feng, turning his head instead to look towards Cao Jin. “Manager Cao, I’ll purchase
the high tier grade 4 Genesis Beast essence blood.”
1325
Since there was no grade 5, Zhou Yuan had no choice but to use the high tier grade 4 for the time being.
Hopefully, it would only result in a slight decrease that would not be too noticeable.
Cao Jin apologetically looked at Zhou Yuan and nodded, before instructing someone to bring over the
Genesis Beast essence blood.
Zhou Yuan received them and paid. Without saying anything else, he turned around and headed for the
exit.
When he brushed past Lu Feng, the latter suddenly smiled faintly and said, “Do you think this is over
Zhou Yuan? You will soon get to enjoy all the fun I’ve prepared for you.”
Zhou Yuan’s eyes narrowed as he tilted his head to look at Lu Feng.
“You like to stir up trouble?”
“I’ve heard that you are determined to win first place in the peak selection ceremony?”
The corners of Zhou Yuan’s lips seemed to be slowly hooked up by something, forming an icy angle.
Lu Feng also turned his head and grinned. “What do you think you can do?”
Zhou Yuan stared at him, and slowly said, “I’ll have to regretfully inform you that you will no longer be
able to take first place.”
“If you want to play, I’ll accompany you until both of us are satisfied!”
Zhou Yuan withdrew his gaze, turned around and walked off.
Lu Feng was stunned as he watched the former leave. Soon after, a mocking smile involuntarily spread
from the corners of his lips. He shook his head as if having heard the most ridiculous and laughable thing.
“Truly such an…”
“Ignorant and overly proud fool.”
“Heh… I do want to see how you’ll snatch first place from me!”
...
After leaving the room, Zhou Yuan exhaled deeply, spitting out the unhappiness in his heart. Lu Feng’s
actions had indeed disgusted the former this time.
“Without the grade 5 dragon type Genesis Best essence blood, I’ll just have to make do with high tier
grade 4.” Muttered Zhou Yuan to himself.
1326
He no longer wanted to think any further about this topic as he began searching for Yaoyao in the
Glittering Jewels Pavilion. After accompanying her shopping for half a day, they leisurely left the place,
walking back towards their little house.
As they walked through the mountains, Yaoyao’s clear eyes swept a glance at Zhou Yuan, her red lips
parting slightly as she asked, “You’re clearly in a bad mood, did something anger you again?”
“Is it that clear?” Zhou Yuan awkwardly touched his face. Was he really so obvious?
Yaoyao’s eyes remained on his face.
Zhou Yuan shrugged, and could only begin to tell her what had happened earlier.
After hearing his story, Yaoyao’s pretty face seemed to ripple slightly. “Does the Nine Dragons Canon
require dragon type Genesis Beast essence blood?”
Zhou Yuan nodded.
“But I can only buy high tier grade 4 dragon type Genesis Beast essence blood from the Glittering Jewels
Pavilion which is less than ideal. The Nine Dragons Canon I end up with will be weaker too.” Said Zhou
Yuan.
Yaoyao suddenly smiled as she cocked her head, her fine black hair seemingly pouring downwards,
revealing on half of her gorgeously pretty face. “Then this is really not much of a problem…”
She looked towards Zhou Yuan as she lowered her voice. “I have a method to make your high tier grade 4
essence blood even better than grade 5.”
Zhou Yuan’s eyes widened as he asked in bewilderment, “Really?”
Yaoyao forcefully nodded her snow-white chin, before she reached out her hands, covering Tuntun’s ears
under Zhou Yuan’s puzzled gaze as she softly said, “Let me tell you a secret. If you mix Tuntun’s blood
with the essence blood of those high tier grade 4 dragon type Genesis Beasts, you can raise their
quality…”
Zhou Yuan’s feet instantly froze in place as he swallowed and looked straight at Yaoyao.
Yaoyao grinned slightly and said, “You cannot tell Tuntun that you heard this from me.”
Zhou Yuan took in a deep breath, before displaying his kindest and friendliest smile as he took the dazed
Tuntun from Yaoyao’s arms.
He gently caressed it as he said in a tender voice, “Little cutey, want to go to the Hundred Fragrances
House?”
1327
“I’ll be treating, eat as much as you want!”
The light of desire instantly shined in Tuntun’s beady beast eyes.
At this current moment, Zhou Yuan seemed to have suddenly become extremely grand and amazing in its
eyes.
1328
Chapter 252 Collecting Blood
Tuntun was exceedingly smart, and possessed high intelligence. Hence, it naturally understood Zhou
Yuan’s words, causing it to feel a little awkward, using its tiny paws to cover its eyes. It knew that Zhou
Yuan was only given 30 Genesis jade pieces a month.
If Zhou Yuan did not have any other income, this meal for Tuntun would be worth several years...
“Do you want to constantly enjoy such meals too in the future?” Zhou Yuan continued to entice.
Tuntun vigorously nodded its little head, its eyes practically glowing.
Zhou Yuan revealed a warm smile as he said, “If you want to eat such meals regularly, I’ll have to first
have enough Genesis jade. That’s why I need you to do me a tiny little favor such that I will be able to
obtain even more Genesis jade in the future and let you regularly have great, sumptuous meals.”
Tuntun was taken aback. Soon after, it somewhat warily looked at Zhou Yuan. It had sensed a faint hint of
danger by instinct.
On the balcony, Yaoyao bathed in the rays of the sun with an ancient text in her hand. Her pupils glanced
towards the inside of the house as a slight angle rose from the corners of her red lips.
Zhou Yuan gazed at Tuntun as he retrieved a tiny little jade bottle from his sleeve and said with a faint
smile, “It’s actually very simple, I just need a tiny bit of blood from you!”
All the hairs on Tuntun’s body stood on end. It curled up its body and barked at Zhou Yuan.
This fellow wanted its blood!
“If you can’t even help me with this small favor, I’m afraid that we’ll no longer be able to enter the
Hundred Fragrances House in future.” Said Zhou Yuan in a calm voice. However, the threat within his
words was extremely clear.
Hesitation flashed across Tuntun’s beady eyes.
It was evidently violently struggling inside.
“Do you want to eat stuff like the sumptuous meal you just had or is dried meat better? Won’t it be
regretful if you can’t ever go again?” Zhou Yuan’s words were filled with temptation.
In the end, Tuntun let out a pained wail, before it dejectedly extended a paw, evidently no longer able to
resist Zhou Yuan’s enticement.
1329
A grin cracked opened from the corners of Zhou Yuan’s lips when he saw this. The Heavenly Yuan Brush
began to grow, its snow-white hairs flickering with a sharp cold light.
Ch!
Zhou Yuan channelled his strength, the brush tip transforming into a flash of light as it ruthlessly thrust
towards Tuntun’s paw.
Sparks flew when the sharp brush tip landed on Tuntun’s scaly paw. However, it had only made a tiny
dent, unable to pierce even the tiniest little hole.
Zhou Yuan was dumbstruck. This defense was way too strong.
Tuntun cast over a disdainful gaze. I let you cut but you can’t even cut it open, so useless...
Zhou Yuan’s face turned hot as he muttered, “My Heavenly Yuan Brush is only a mid grade black tier
Genesis Weapon. The fourth rune just refuses to awaken…”
He raised the brush again and took in a deep breath. Genesis Qi surged along the brush, converging into a
purple aura at its tip.
It was the Auraflare technique.
The brush tip whizzed forth once again. It finally worked this time, cutting open a tiny hole on Tuntun’s
paw from which fresh blood immediately dripped out.
Zhou Yuan hurriedly stretched forward the bottle to catch the drops of blood.
Only now did he discover that Tuntun’s blood had a deep gold hue. Every drop seemed to be extremely
heavy, while giving off a mysterious sensation.
“So heavy.”
The hand holding the jade bottle sunk slightly. Tuntun’s blood was exceptionally heavy.
“This truly is the good stuff.” Zhou Yuan licked his lips. His senses told him that Tuntun’s blood was
extraordinary. He immediately grabbed Tuntun’s paw and squeezed it tightly to make more blood drip
out faster.
Hence, after a few minutes, Zhou Yuan was finally able to fill a bottle.
However, he could not help but lick his lips as he swiftly fished out another bottle, eyes seemingly
burning as he said, “A little more, a little more!”
This was such a hard to come by opportunity, he would get every last drop he could!
1330
Roar!
However, Tuntun released angry roar in response to his actions. Its paw suddenly raised and mercilessly
swung towards the loathsomely greedy Zhou Yuan’s chest.
Thump!
A muffled thump was heard, followed by a miserable cry.
Zhou Yuan’s figure was thrown backwards, smashing one of the windows of the little house as he arced
across the air, before crashing into the ground with a yell of pain.
On the balcony, Yaoyao lifted the ancient text in her hand, blocking her gaze. She was not going to look at
this terrible fellow who was now suffering the consequences from trying to take advantage.
Zhou Yuan lay on the ground, hand clutched over his chest as he crawled up. The first thing he did was
check that the bottle had not been broken, before breathing a sigh of relief. Next, he shook his head and
said, “Petty fellow, it’s just one more bottle…”
He massaged his painful chest. Tuntun had been too vicious.
“But at least I got it.” He gently swivelled the bottle in his hand as a look of joy appeared on his face. It was
as Yaoyao had said, Tuntun’s blood would make the high tier grade 4 Genesis Beast essence blood he had
become comparable to grade 5.
“What are you doing?”
While Zhou Yuan was elated inside, a lovely voice suddenly rang out from the side. He raised his head,
and saw Gu Hongyi standing nearby, her pretty face filled with confusion as she looked at him.
Zhou Yuan kept the jade bottle and grinned, “Nothing.”
He then asked, “What brought you here?”
Gu Hongyi hesitated for a moment, before she said, “I heard that your went the Glittering Jewels Pavilion
to purchase Genesis Beast essence blood for the Nine Dragons Canon, but ended up being beaten to it by
Lu Feng?”
Zhou Yuans’ expression was calm as he nodded. “He managed to buy up all of the grade 5 Genesis Beast
essence blood.”
Gu Hongyi lightly clenched her teeth as fury flashed in her eyes. She had only despise for Lu Feng’s
actions.
She suddenly jerked her hand, throwing a black shadow to Zhou Yuan.
1331
Zhou Yuan caught it in surprise, feeling a cool sensation as it entered his hands. It was another jade bottle,
a wild and berserk aura spreading from the viscous blood flowing within.
“Grade 5 dragon type Genesis Beast blood?” Zhou Yuan was startled.
“I managed to pull some strings to get it from the inner mountains, but I only have one.” Explained Gu
Hongyi.
Zhou Yuan was rather astonished, evidently not expecting Gu Hongyi would help him obtain such an item.
He immediately shook his head. “No need…”
Gu Hongyi waved her hand, cutting him off. “No need to be courteous. The grudge between you and Lu
Feng is ultimately due to me. I will not stand by and do nothing.”
She looked at Zhou Yuan and suddenly laughed as she teased, “I’ve heard that you told Lu Feng you would
take away number one from him in the peak selection ceremony?”
“Word has already spread. Many are laughing at you for overestimating yourself.”
Zhou Yuan was speechless. He had not expected news of this to spread so quickly. Looks like it was
because of Lu Feng again.
“I’m not the type to stir up trouble, but he’s provoked me time and time again. It won’t be me if I don’t
throw a punch back.” Zhou Yuan chuckled. “Why, do you not fancy my odds?”
“Rationality tells me that your chances are not good.” Gu Hongyi’s red lips pouted slightly. “However, I do
hope to see you snatching away first place from him.”
Zhou Yuan nodded. “I’ll accept those well wishes then.”
Gu Hongyi was a direct and efficient individual. With a wave of her hand, she turned around, stepping on
Genesis Qi as she cast her gaze back towards the little house by the creek.
“Work hard. There’s not much time left to the peak selection ceremony. I for one am really looking
forward to your performance.”
Her voice echoed within the mountain.
Zhou Yuan watched her figure disappear, before he began to swivel the bottle of grade 5 Genesis Beast
essence blood. He peered into the distance, iciness filling his eyes as they narrowed.
“Lu Feng…”
“Taking away the essence blood means that there exist some wariness of me in your heart. Hence why
you would resort to such methods to ensure nothing goes wrong…”
1332
“However, if you believe this will be enough to hinder me, I can only say that you’re too naive!”
“During the peak selection ceremony, the number one position you’re so fixated on… will be taken by
me!”
1333
Chapter 253 Refining the Essence Blood
The bright moon hung high in the sky, while a seated Zhou Yuan bathed in its gentle glow.
Three jade bottles stood in front of him, a savage and violent aura pulsing from the blood-red liquid
within. They contained the essence blood of three high tier grade 4 dragon type Genesis Beasts.
As he gazed at the three bottles of essence blood, Zhou Yuan briefly fell into thought, before he retrieved
another bottle. Inside this bottle was gold blood that shined with a mysterious luster under the
moonlight, a faint peculiar roar seemingly echoing from it.
Tuntun's blood seemed to contain a mysterious power.
"I wonder what kind of creature Tuntun is… to think that its blood can raise the quality of other Genesis
Beast essence blood." Mumbled Zhou Yuan to himself. Tuntun was just like Yaoyao, filled with mystery.
It was not only overwhelmingly powerful, but also wielded a terrifying devouring power that seemed to
be capable of devouring anything. Such a frightening ability was clearly not something an ordinary
Genesis Beast would possess.
It was rumored that grade 6 Genesis Beasts had intelligence that did not lose to the human race. What’s
more, some Genesis Beasts with powerful bloodlines possessed amazing abilities that even the numerous
powerful experts of the human race did not dare to underestimate.
Tuntun's origins were clearly not ordinary.
Zhou Yuan shook his head, scattering these messy thoughts. The important thing now was to test if
Tuntun's blood was able to raise the quality of essence blood like Yaoyao had claimed.
Zhou Yuan began to concentrate, one hand holding one of the bottles of Genesis Beast essence blood, as
the other very carefully dripped golden blood into it.
The moment the golden blood entered the bottle, its contents abruptly began to boil.
Golden light spread, infusing the originally blood red-essence blood with a faint golden glow. At this very
moment, Zhou Yuan felt the surrounding Genesis Qi begin to converge towards the bottle.
The blood-red essence blood boiled as a faint bloody mist began to rise. The mist ultimately took the
shape of a tiny python silhouette and released a soft hiss.
The savage aura from the blood also steadily strengthened.
Joy surged in Zhou Yuan's eyes when he saw this. As expected, Yaoyao had been speaking the truth.
Tuntun's blood was indeed able to raise the quality of Genesis Beast essence blood.
1334
According to his estimates, this Genesis Beast essence blood was now not the slightest bit inferior to the
grade 5 essence blood from the Glittering Jewels Pavilion!
This was an upgrade of an entire level.
"How terrifying…" Zhou Yuan involuntarily gasped. Although it was only a single bottle, one could already
see how amazing Tuntun's blood was.
"If Tuntun was eaten by a grade 6 Genesis Beast, the beast would likely advance to grade 7 or maybe an
even higher grade!" Zhou Yuan swallowed as his expression turned grave.
Looks like this information had to be kept secret at all cost. If not, it would surely draw the attention of
many people, something that would be extremely detrimental to Tuntun.
One must know that a grade 6 Genesis Beast was already equivalent to a human Divine Dwelling expert,
while the Divine Dwelling stage was considered elite even in a behemoth like the Cangxuan Sect.
As for grade 7 and grade 8 Genesis Beasts… they were existences that even the Cangxuan Sect would not
dare to offend.
"I should start refining the essence blood, and begin practicing the Nine Dragons Canon…"
Without further ado, Zhou Yuan slammed his hands together, shattering the jade bottle. Red liquid rose,
transforming into two thin streams of blood that were sucked into Zhou Yuan's nostrils.
The pungent scent of blood assaulted his senses, nearly making him puke, but Zhou Yuan forcibly pushed
down the urge.
Rumble!
The Genesis Beast essence blood immediately began to rebel the moment it entered his body, a savage
aura spreading with the intent to invade.
However, Zhou Yuan was prepared. Genesis Qi flooded over from all directions, surrounding the essence
blood to prevent it from causing any harm to the body.
Rumble!
The essence blood charged with all its might, making the insides of Zhou Yuan's body shake violently. The
savage aura continued to rise, stirring up vexed feelings in his heart. Red appeared in his eyes as the
desire to destroy began to engulf him.
However, the moment this urge rose, the Spirit between Zhou Yuan's brows began to vibrate as a cooling
sensation spread, allowing him to regain his senses.
1335
"It is indeed dangerous to refine Genesis Beast essence blood. If the heart and mind are not strong, one
will easily be infected by the savagery, entering a state of uncontrolled violence that would likely lead to
the descent into madness."
Zhou Yuan's heart shivered, not daring to delay any further as he began to refine the Genesis Beast
essence blood in accordance to the instruction in the Nine Dragons Canon.
Moonlight sprinkled onto the land.
Zhou Yuan sat on the ground, faint bloody mist rising from his pores, before being blown away by the
wind.
According to the Nine Dragons Canon, one needed to slowly whittle away the savageness inside the
Genesis Beast essence blood. Once this step was complete, one would be able to fuse the essence blood
with one's own Genesis Qi. The fusion of the two would bestow one the ability to release extremely
berserk Genesis Qi attacks.
The most important factor for the whittling process was time, time Zhou Yuan was already prepared to
spend.
However, when he began to direct the Omni Python Qi, he discovered that every time his Genesis Qi
neared the Genesis Beast essence blood, the savage aura contained within seemed to be suppressed as if
it was faintly trembling in fear.
After observing this phenomenon a few times, Zhou Yuan could not help but feel somewhat puzzled.
“It seems that the Omni Python Qi has a special suppressive effect on dragon type Genesis Beast essence
blood?” Mumbled Zhou Yuan with uncertainty.
“The Omni Python Qi does originate from the Ancestral Dragon Scripture and contains a little of its primal
aura. It is possible that this is why it has a suppressive effect on the dragon type Genesis Beast essence
blood.”
Zhou Yuan’s heart jumped slightly. If so, it would be much more convenient for him to whittle away the
savageness in the essence blood.
He immediately got to work, whittling away the savageness in the essence blood with his Genesis Qi. Sure
enough, the originally untamable and violent essence blood feebly gave up most of its resistance, allowing
the Omni Python Qi to swiftly neutralize the savageness contained within it.
After an entire night.
The essence blood in Zhou Yuan’s body had grown much calmer. At this rate, he would be able to fully
refine it in a few days...
1336
When that happened, he would have completed the initial step.
Phew.
A slightly pungent breath of air was puffed out from Zhou Yuan’s nose as his tightly shut eyes slowly
opened.
A look of satisfaction flitted across them.
The night had been much more fruitful than expected. He had originally been prepared to spend a long
time on this process. Who could have expected that his Omni Python Qi would be an exceptional match
for the Nine Dragons Canon.
“I should be able to reach the first level of the Nine Dragons Canon in three more days.” Anticipation
flashed in Zhou Yuan’s eyes. He was itching to try the power of a high grade little Heaven Genesis
technique.
Zhou Yuan brushed his clothes and stood up.
The moment he stood up, he saw two figures rapidly approaching from far away. When he concentrated,
he saw that it was Qiao Xiu and Shen Wanjin. Both individuals were rushing towards his location, worried
looks on their faces.
Zhou Yuan frowned slightly as his figure moved, like mist as it drifted forward and landed in front of the
two.
"What is it?" He asked.
Upon seeing Zhou Yuan, Qiao Xiu panted a few times before looking towards Zhou Yuan with an ugly
expression as he said, “Lu Feng gathered many of the more highly ranked outer mountain disciples last
night to fix the top ten spots of the peak selection ceremony.”
“He said that the Shengzhou disciples are going to take eight of them.”
“If we from the other continents want to compete, we can only fight for the last two spots. Whoever
breaks this rule will become an enemy of all the Shengzhou disciples!”
Qiao Xiu’s expression turned complicated as he gazed at Zhou Yuan. The outer mountains was currently
in an uproar due to this news.
“Finally, he also said… that you are the reason behind all of this.”
1337
“I’m the reason huh…”
Zhou Yuan’s eyes narrowed slightly after hearing what they had to say. Lu Feng was clearly doing this on
purpose, his aim to make the other continent disciples resent Zhou Yuan. When that happened, he would
not only have to face hostility from the Shengzhou disciples but also the criticism of the disciples from the
other continents. With unfriendliness from both sides, Zhou Yuan’s situation would not be good.
“There’s already some other continent disciples that have began to complain. They feel that it’s clearly a
grudge between only you and Lu Feng, but it has now ended up implicating them…” Qiao Xiu smiled
bitterly.
If this continued, Zhou Yuan would become highly criticized.
A mocking look rose from the corners of Zhou Yuan’s mouth as he said, “It’s clearly Lu Feng who started
this, what kind of logic is it to throw their complaints to me instead of him?”
Although Lu Feng’s tactics were underhanded, Zhou Yuan felt that the disciples who blamed him were
even more stupid.
Shen Wanjin’s mouth pulled outwards as he said, “These guys only know how to bully the weak and fear
the strong. They don’t dare to voice their objections to Lu Feng, so they made up another reason to vent
their frustrations.”
Lu Feng clearly knew that this would be the outcome, hence why he had acted so outrageously.
After all, the title of the number one individual amongst the outer mountain disciples was a powerful
deterrent force. Even though Zhou Yuan had defeated an inner mountain disciple in a Genesis technique
match, he was still unable to compare to Lu Feng.
Everyone felt Lu Feng was very likely to become a well known figure of this batch in the Cangxuan Sect,
and his future prospects were practically limitless. Hence, they would naturally not dare to offend him.
Qiao Xiu nodded. “However, quite a number of people have complaints against you, while even more are
very angry at Lu Feng’s overbearingness but can’t do anything about it.”
“According to these rules of his, the Shengzhou disciples will be occupying eight of the top ten spots,
leaving the rest of us to fight for the remaining two. There are so many of us from the other continents,
can you imagine how wretched and desperate the situation will be.”
Zhou Yuan counter asked, “On what basis should we listen to him? Does the likes of him have the right to
allocate these places?”
1338
The top ten spots of the peak selection ceremony should be contested based on one’s own strength. Who
the hell did Lu Feng think he was, and how thick skinned was he to think he could decide on how they
should be split?
Qiao Xiu smiled bitterly. “I’ve heard that the peak selection ceremony will be a free-for-all battlem, while
the quality of the Shengzhou disciples far surpasses the rest of us. Take the top ten outer mountains
disciples for example, a total of seven are from the Shengzhou continent.”
“Hence, when the time comes to vie for the top ten spots of the peak selection ceremony, they will have
the upper hand.”
“What’s more, they have Lu Feng, whom no one has been able to come close to. Now that he has even
brought together the Shengzhou disciples to decide the allocation of the top ten spots, whoever tries to
touch those spots would have to face all of the Shengzhou disciples.”
“In the face of this power, the disciples from the other continents are merely akin to a plate of scattered
sand. Who would dare to object? After all, once the other party is provoked, they can easily join hands in
the peak selection ceremony to make things difficult. Let alone the top ten, one might be hard pressed to
even obtain a decent ranking.”
Zhou Yuan indifferently remarked, “In the end, it depends on whose fist is harder.”
He looked towards Qiao Xiu and Shen Wanjin as he continued, “I do not know whether the others will
acknowledge his allocation, but with regards to my ranking, I’m afraid that they don’t have the
qualifications.”
“Moreover…”
“I’m not interested in the other spots either, the only thing I want in the peak selection ceremony is first
place.”
His tone was ordinary, but the words he spoke stunned Qiao Xiu and Shen Wanjin.
There was no one who did not know that Lu Feng had already declared first place was his. In the face of
his overwhelming might, no one dared to have any opinions. Hence, practically everyone felt that Lu Feng
taking number one in his batch was already set in stone.
Who could have expected Zhou Yuan to also declare he wanted first place.
As such, would this not mean that he would have to compete with Lu Feng?
Qiao Xiu swallowed, before he said, “Junior brother Zhou Yuan… Lu Feng will not be easy to deal with. I
suspect that he has already reached the fourth layer Alpha-Origin.”
1339
Most of the first class disciples were at the third layer, and Lu Feng was likely the only one who had
reached the fourth.
Zhou Yuan laughed in a carefree manner. “Whether or not he’s easy to deal with, I’ll find out when we
fight.”
He wanted to see how ugly Lu Feng would look when the first place he coveted so much was taken by
Zhou Yuan in the peak selection ceremony. When that happened, would Lu Feng finally regret provoking
Zhou Yuan?
Lu Feng had repeatedly use various methods to make things difficult. If Zhou Yuan beared with all this
without counter attacking, he would not be Zhou Yuan.
Upon hearing this, Qiao Xiu knew that Zhou Yuan had already made his decision. Looks like things were
no longer going to be peaceful during the peak selection ceremony. However, Qiao Xiu felt a little
apprehensive. Although no one had a good grasp of Zhou Yuan’s abilities, the one he was facing this time
was not the likes of Zhu Feng, but Lu Feng, a ruthless individual that was known to stand at the top of all
the outer mountain disciples.
“Little Yuan bro, if you're really planning on vieing for first place with Lu Feng, I advise you to cooperate
with some of the other continent disciples. They have already been enraged by Lu Feng's
overbearingness, and only lack someone to step up and take the lead. If little Yuan bro can get them on
your side, you will not have to face the Shengzhou disciples alone." Shen Wanjin suddenly suggested.
Qiao Xiu fell into thought for a while, before he said, "I know some first class disciples that are also
unhappy with Lu Feng. They will be a considerable force if you manage to recruit them."
Zhou Yuan fell silent some time. In the end, he nodded. Lu Feng had already gathered a huge group of
Shengzhou disciples, an alarming powerful force indeed. Although Zhou Yuan did not feel that numbers
meant victory, it was true that going alone would at times be more physically and mentally exhausting.
If he could recruit these other continent disciples to his cause, he would not lose to Lu Feng in presence.
When Qiao Xiu saw Zhou Yuan nod, he continued to speak again, "However, all of them are elites amongst
the outer mountain disciples, proud individual that will not easily submit to anyone. Without sufficient
strength, it will be very difficult to convince them."
Lu Feng had been able to become the leader of the Shengzhou disciples due to his strength. In contrast,
there was no one amongst the other continent disciples like him who could sweep away everyone else
with power.
This led to the current situation in the outer mountains. The other continent disciples formed their
various groups and factions. Though they may seem to have the advantage due to their superior numbers,
they were completely unable to match the Shengzhou disciples.
1340
Qiao Xiu intended to caution Zhou Yuan. After all, the former was worried that Zhou Yuan would be
unable to control the situation after recruiting these proud and untamable individuals. If the situation
turned into a farce, Zhou Yuan would lose all face.
Who amongst those who could come to the Cangxuan Sect was not a prided genius? Everyone was full of
pride, making it an uphill task to make them all voluntarily acknowledge a single person.
At the very least, such a person had never appeared during the past two months.
Zhou Yuan naturally understood this. He softly chuckled and said, "Senior brother Qiao Xiu need not
worry. You only need to call them over, and I'll handle the rest."
With these words from Zhou Yuan, there was nothing much for Qiao Xiu to say, and he could only nod.
"We'll depend on junior brother Zhou Yuan's methods when the time comes."
1341
Chapter 255 Method
Qiao Xiu was very efficient. By the time afternoon arrived, he had already invited over all of the
outstanding individuals from other continents amongst the current batch of outer mountain disciples.
In a certain little house by the mountain creek.
Zhou Yuan was seated on a rock, a dozen youthful figures seated before him. Robust Genesis Qi spread
from these figures, every action and gesture they made filled with a certain aura of pride.
Most of the individuals whom had been invited were after all elites amongst the first class disciples. They
were normally surrounded by many of their peers, enjoying the feeling the world seemingly revolving
around them. Hence, it was natural that they did not lack pride.
Especially the two figures at the very front, a young man and woman.
The young lady wore a long dark cyan dress, her fine black hair reaching all the way to her waist. Her face
was pretty, and her skin white as snow. She was called Song Wanxi, and was quite well known amongst
the outer mountain disciples. Due to her good looks, she had many admirers.
The male wore long gold robes, his hair scattered behind him. His wild looking face gave off a proud aura.
He was known as Zhao Kun.
These two were also ranked amongst the top ten outer mountain disciples, and could be said to be one of
the rare few from the other continents that were able to vie with the Shengzhou disciples.
Song Wanxi appeared calm, though her eyes would covertly sweep towards Zhou Yuan to examine him.
Zhao Kun, on the other hand, was even more unbridled, his gaze uncourteously sizing up Zhou Yuan, as if
trying to discover the latter’s bottom line.
Song Wanxi inquired in a soft and gentle voice, “May I ask why junior brother Zhou Yuan has gotten Qiao
Xiu to gather us here?”
The numerous disciples present cast their gazes over.
If it was two months prior, not a single one of them would have answered Zhou Yuan’s call. However,
Zhou Yuan’s reputation had recently rose, making no one dare to underestimate him. Thus, they had
decided to come here out of respect after listening to Qiao Xiu’s words.
Zhou Yuan’s expression was calm as he gazed upon the group. There was no beating about the bush as he
said, “I believe everyone has already heard of how Lu Feng intends to divide the top ten spots in the peak
selection ceremony.”
1342
Everyone could not help but frown slightly upon hearing this.
Zhao Kun let out an icy chuckle. “This matter may even be related to junior brother Zhou Yuan.”
“Are you trying to say that if there was no feud between me and Lu Feng, he would put up with you
guys?” Zhou Yuan’s eyes hardened slightly as he looked towards Zhao Kun and said in a cold voice,
“Hoping for others be more lenient and give you some scraps, is this all your dignity is worth?”
By the side, Qiao Xiu and Shen Wanjin were alarmed, not expecting Zhou Yuan’s words to be so sharp
even at the start.
Sure enough, the numerous disciples present began to buzz angrily, rage filling their eyes as they looked
towards Zhou Yuan. Their proud selves were evidently unable to accept Zhou Yuan’s words.
Zhao Kun’s complexion turned green with anger as he gnashed his teeth and said, “You do have a way
with words, why not go reason with Lu Feng.”
A trace of unhappiness could also be seen on Song Wanxi’s pretty face as she said, “Junior brother Zhou
Yuan, you should also know how powerful Lu Feng is. What else can we do but be accommodating?”
“If you asked us here only to humiliate us, then we will not accompany any further.”
Zhou Yuan’s eyelids lowered slightly as he looked towards the indignant crowd and said, “Looks like you
guys still have a bit of fight in you. If not, it would have been meaningless to gather you.”
He shook his head, looking directly at them as he cut straight to the point. “I’ve asked all of you here to
tell you that I intend to contest for first place with Lu Feng in the peak selection ceremony.”
“If you guys don’t plan on struggling for those two pathetic spots, listen to my instructions when the time
comes.”
Qiao Xiu grabbed his face. Zhou Yuan’s words were way too direct. It seemed as if he had no plans of
trying to properly talk things out.
Sure enough, the numerous disciples looked to each other, before sniggers began to emerge.
“What shameless boasting. A first layer like you intends to vie for first place with Lu Feng?” Zhao Kun was
the first to lose control. “How much did your arrogance swell after defeating Zhu Yue in a Genesis
technique match?”
“Naive. Time is pressing for me, so I’m afraid that I can’t afford to entertain your delusions any longer.”
Zhao Kun coldly snorted as he stood up, intending to leave.
Song Wanxi also shook her head. Zhou Yuan seemed to be way too arrogant.
1343
There was only indifference on Zhou Yuan’s face as he watched Zhao Kun stand up. The former knew that
words were useless with these proud and unyielding fellows. The only way for them to submit was to
beat them till they were convinced.
Hence, he immediately said, “Receive a strike from me and I will apologize right here, right now.”
“Arrogant!” Zhao Kun’s eyes widened as he laughed in anger.
Rumble!
However, Zhou Yuan could no longer be bothered to speak. He formed a seal with one hand, before his
palm suddenly flew forth.
Vigorous Genesis Qi abruptly erupted, akin to a flood of gold as it roared out from Zhou Yuan’s palm.
When it surged out, it seemed to turn into a giant lizard covered in dragon scales that released a dragon
like roar.
An extremely alarming aura violently unfurled.
This palm strike had clearly been imbued with the Nine Dragons Canon!
The Genesis Qi faintly shaped like a giant lizard was the dragon type Genesis Beast essence blood Zhou
Yuan refined. However, it appeared somewhat indistinct because he had yet to fully refine it.
Even so, the strike was imposingly powerful, tearing apart even the ground itself.
A ferocious aura pounced towards Zhao Kun, causing his expression to change drastically. It was as if a
high tier grade 4 Genesis Beast was charging towards him, intending to trample him into the ground.
He did not dare to delay. With a loud yell, Genesis Qi also exploded from his body, the power of the third
layer undoubtedly on full display.
Boom!
His foot slammed into the ground as his body shot forth like a flash of light, colliding with the roaring
giant lizard made from Genesis Qi.
Wild winds devastated the surroundings, causing cracks to extend across the ground.
Thump!
Under the now stupefied gaze after gaze, the menacingly charging Zhao Kun was blown away by the giant
lizard a split second later. He heavily crashed into a wall of the mountain, causing cracks to fill the entire
wall.
1344
The area around the mountain creek was deathly silent.
Zhou Yuan was expressionless. With a wave of his sleeve, the giant Genesis Qi lizard returned into his
hand.
Plop.
Zhao Kun fell from the mountain wall, and crashed into the ground as he spat out a mouthful of blood. He
raised his head, shock and fear in his eyes as he looked towards Zhou Yuan, evidently never expecting his
three layer strength to be incapable of receiving even a single blow from Zhou Yuan.
Song Wanxi’s red lips were slightly ajar, her full chest heaving slightly as she stared deeply at Zhou Yuan.
"Is there anyone else who wants to leave?" Zhou Yuan's voice was shockingly calm.
Silence. Everyone was silent, not daring to make any noise. The scrutiny from before had now completely
vanished. One must know that Zhao Kun was ranked seventh amongst the ten great outer mountain
disciples. However, even someone like him had been defeated in a single strike. How terrifyingly
powerful did one have to be to achieve such a feat?
They had believed that no matter how strong Zhou Yuan was, he would at most be a little stronger than
them. Yet, the scene before their eyes made them understand how wrong they had been.
“Are you guys going to listen now?” Zhou Yuan’s gaze swept across them.
Anyone who came into contact with it hurriedly lowered their heads in embarrassment.
Song Wanxi’s red lips parted slightly, and apologetically said, “We were blind earlier, I hope that junior
brother Zhou Yuan does not blame us too much.”
Zhao Kun wiped away the blood at the corner of his mouth. He was a straightforward person, so after
being utterly defeated by Zhou Yuan, he did not leave, but instead returned and sat down again. “You’re
good, and I was the one who was blind earlier. Go ahead and let us know what should be done.”
The strength Zhou Yuan displayed had subdued them, causing certain thoughts to rise in their minds.
Perhaps Zhou Yuan did have the power to contend against Lu Feng...
Qiao Xiu secretly breathed a sigh of relief. All of these guys were indeed miserable bastards. When words
were used, they refused to listen, and only after being beaten did they submit.
Zhou Yuan glanced at Zhao Kun and said, “First, we will not accept their suggestion of leaving us only two
of the top ten spots.”
Everyone exchanged a look. Of course they did not want to accept it, but...
1345
“What do we do about Lu Feng? He said we have to go find him if we have any objections.” Asked
someone.
Zhou Yuan’s expression was uncaring. “Who does he think he is?”
“Spread the word that we want six of the top ten spots. The Shengzhou disciples can only have four.”
Cold sweat emerged on the heads of Zhao Kun and the rest, even Song Wanxi’s lips stretched slightly
taunt as she forced a smile. “I’m afraid Lu Feng will not agree.”
Zhou Yuan offhandedly said, “If they disagree, we’ll see which of us is more skilled in the peak selection
ceremony.”
Someone weakly said, “With regards to quality, the Shengzhou disciples are indeed a little stronger than
us. I’m afraid that we won’t be able to do much.”
Zhou Yuan’s gaze swept across the group as he said, “During the following month, I will guide your
Genesis technique progress. Although there may not be giant leaps, it will definitely be better than your
current rate situation."
Song Wanxi, Zhao Kun and the rest’s eyes could not help but brighten. They knew that Zhou Yuan seemed
to be astonishingly talented in practicing Genesis techniques. If they had his guidance, they may even
raise their strength to the next level.
“In return, all of you have to listen to me during the peak selection ceremony, whoever I direct you guys
at, you guys will go and beat up.”
"Any objections?" Zhou Yuan slowly said.
This time, everyone nodded one after another, their eyes filled with burning excitement.
At the rear, Qiao Xiu and Shen Wanjin inwardly sighed in admiration upon seeing this. This was truly a
beautiful move from Zhou Yuan. First intimidate them like a blast of thunder, before dangling a carrot in
front of their eyes. All of these normally untamable elite disciples were immediately subdued into
obedience...
As such, Zhou Yuan had suddenly changed from a lone ranger to an existence that was now able to match
Lu Feng’s gang of Shengzhou disciples...
Qiao Xiu licked his lips as a fire began to burn in his eyes.
All of a sudden, the peak selection ceremony in a month was going to be an electrifyingly exciting event.
1346
Chapter 256 Trouble Knocking at the Door
News of Zhou Yuan recruiting elite disciples from the other continents swiftly spread in the outer
mountains, undoubtedly causing a giant wave to rise.
Of course, the declaration Zhou Yuan made next was even more shocking.
Out of the top ten spots, the non Shengzhou disciples would take six, while the Shengzhou disciples shall
have the remaining four!
These words were akin to the impetus for a volcanic eruption, numerous Shengzhou disciples openly
mocking them.
"Haha, this is the joke of the century. Ever since the Cangxuan Sect was founded, there has never been
less than five Shengzhou disciples amongst the top ten in the peak selection ceremony!"
"Such shameless bragging from Zhou Yuan. Who does he think he is? Can't imagine how he dares to
allocate the top ten spots!"
"Looks like he's lost his mind, does he believe he's senior brother Lu Feng?"
"Humph, we Shengzhou disciples are blessed by the heavens, and should naturally enjoy better
treatment. Who does Zhou Yuan think he is? I heard that he even plans on vieing for first place with
senior brother Lu Feng, what a joke."
"It seems that defeating Zhu Feng and obtaining victory over Zhu Yue in the Genesis technique match has
given him the impression that there's no one capable amongst us Shengzhou disciples, how cocky."
"Let's see how he'll take responsibility for his words this time. Truly a fool who doesn’t know the
immensity of the heavens.”
“......”
The outer mountains descended into boiling anger, a tsunami of opposition exploding from the
Shengzhou disciples as if they had been greatly humiliated.
In response to the enormous ruckus, even more non Shengzhou disciples inwardly curled their lips.
Where was all this self-righteousness when you guys decided that you would be taking eight of the top
ten spots and leave two for us as ‘charity’?
Now that someone had finally stood up amongst the non Shengzhou disciples, these guys were acting as if
they had been utterly humiliated, and would never let this matter drop.
1347
Hence, many non Shengzhou disciples secretly applauded Zhou Yuan’s decision to bravely step forward.
Although they did not know why he dared to so openly face Lu Feng, it was better than before, when
everyone was so afraid of Lu Feng that no one had the courage to even raise his or her head.
However, they did feel somewhat awkward. This matter would certainly draw violent backlash from the
Shengzhou disciples, backlash that they did not know whether Zhou Yuan would be able to deal with. If
he failed, his bold declaration would only turn into a joke, making them have to bow their heads even
lower in front of the proud Shengzhou disciples.
...
Genesis Mountain.
The training sessions here were not missed by a single outer mountain disciple, with the exception of
Yaoyao…
However, there was something different about the atmosphere today, a faint hint of tenseness and
hostility in the air.
Countless gazes sneaked glances towards a certain spot near the peak, where Zhou Yuan was seated on
his cultivation platform with his eyes closed, no hint of any other emotion on his calm face.
Many gazes also looked towards another cultivation platform nearby, where dressed entirely in white,
was Lu Feng, an equally nonchalant look on his face.
The atmosphere covering Genesis Mountain was strangely tense.
This lasted for a long time, before a figure suddenly stood up. It was a young man with fierce eyes,
vigorous Genesis Qi pulsing around his body.
It was Qin Zhen. He was not some unknown individual, but the number six amongst the ten great outer
mountain disciples.
He looked towards Zhou Yuan with hostility, before lifting his leg as he began stomping menacingly
towards the latter.
Figure after figure also stood up, following behind him. Their eyes were filled with toying looks as they
gazed towards Zhou Yuan.
A dozen figures soon gathered.
All of them were first class disciples, while also from the Shengzhou continent. Any one of them was
usually objected to admiration and respect. When all of them were gathered together, they became a
force that was exceptionally intimidating.
1348
The expressions of several non Shengzhou disciples changed slightly, feeling somewhat nervous. From
the looks of it, these Shengzhou disciples were going to cause trouble for Zhou Yuan.
“That’s Qin Zhen, ranked six amongst the outer mountain disciples…”
“Do you see the silver hair young man beside him? That’s Lei Hongtao, an even more formidable
character that’s ranked fourth amongst the outer mountain disciples.”
“The others are no ordinary individuals too.”
“It seems that they don't have friendly intentions."
“.....”
Numerous whispers spread as every gaze on Genesis Mountain shifted over.
When Lei Hongtao, Qin Zhen and the rest menacingly walked towards Zhou Yuan, the expressions of Qiao
Xiu, Zhao Kun, Song Wanxi and gang changed slightly. How could they not know what the other party was
up to. Their gazes immediately converged, and a split second later, figure after figure stood up and
gathered behind the trio, before moving to stand in front of Zhou Yuan.
Countless gazes watched the two parties that were about to collide, their hearts jumping erratically in
their chests. These two groups were basically composed of the elites amongst this batch of outer
mountain disciples.
If they were to clash, it would be an earth shaking event.
"Lei Hongtao, Qin Zhen, what are you guys planning on doing?!" Asked Qiao Xiu in a low voice.
"Qiao Xiu, Zhao Kun, scram!" There was an ominous look in Qin Zhen's eyes, no trace of any civility in his
words. Powerful Genesis Qi burst from his body as a suffocating pressure spread.
"Qin Zhen, do you think I'm made from mud?!" Zhao Kun was also a proud individual. His eyes
immediately hardened as he too stepped forward, violence brimming from his eyes as he looked towards
Qin Zhen.
"Oh, have your balls grown Zhao Kun? Do you really believe you've found a reliable backer?" Qin Zhen's
tone was filled with ridicule.
"But the Sky Dipper Hand you practice is still slightly lacking compared to mine. Have you already
forgotten the lesson I taught you the last time?”
Zhao Kun's gaze turned icy. Genesis Qi swirled around his hands as they faintly expanded, undulations
violently pulsing from them.
1349
By Qin Zhen's side, the silver hair youth called Lei Hongtao spoke up in an indifferent voice, "Zhao Kun,
this matter does not concern you guys. I advise you to open your eyes a little wider, and not be so easily
tricked by others. There are some people who have no ability, but wield their tongues with impeccable
finesse."
His gaze seemed to sweep to the back, where Zhou Yuan was seated, clearly putting no effort to conceal
the disdain within them.
Song Wanxi's lips opened slightly as she calmly said, "What we do is our own business. There's no need
for senior brother Lei's concern."
Lei Hongtao coldly snorted. "Junior sister Song, in our previous bout, your Black Ying Scripture really
caught me off guard. However, I've now mastered the Red Yang Law, so feel free to come at me again.”
Song Wanxi frowned a little upon hearing this. She naturally knew that the Red Yang Law just so
happened to counter the Black Ying Scripture she practiced.
Qin Zhen coldly chuckled, no longer bothering with them as his gaze looked straight towards Zhou Yuan.
“Zhou Yuan, didn’t you say that we Shengzhou disciples can only occupy four of the top ten spots? We’re
here to find out what right you have to say such things!”
His expression turned serious as he stepped forward, his thunderous voice rumbling across the entire
Genesis Mountain.
“So get your ass over here!”
“If you don’t give us an explanation today, you will not be able to walk out of Genesis Mountain!”
1350
Qin Zhen’s thunderous voice echoed, causing the hearts of countless disciples to jump in their chests.
From the looks of it, these Shengzhou disciples intended to deal with Zhou Yuan today.
They obviously knew that Song Wanxi and the rest derived their confidence from Zhou Yuan, so as long
as they were able to force him into submission in front of everyone here, the other disciples would
naturally understand that the dignity of the Shengzhou disciples was not to be challenged.
Gaze after gaze converged on Zhou Yuan.
Qin Zhen sternly looked at Zhou Yuan and said, “Humph. Zhou Yuan, if you apologise to us Shengzhou
disciples today, we can act as if we never heard those words you said previously.”
“Or else, we Shengzhou disciples will not let this go!”
Zhao Kun was practically about to explode due to Qin Zhen’s overbearingness, the former’s rage
channelled into a single laugh as he said, “If you want to play, I’ll happily accompany you!”
Genesis Qi also began to surge around Song Wanxi and Qiao Xiu, a sharp iciness brimming in their eyes.
Behind them, the non Shengzhou disciples also got ready to fight. After all, Qin Zhen and the rest were
being way too outrageous. If they were allowed to do as they pleased with Zhou Yuan, the non Shengzhou
disciples would no longer have any hopes of rising up against the Shengzhou disciples.
“The one who causes trouble should be the one to resolve it. Zhao Kun, you guys should stop erring any
further.”
However, just as Zhao Kun and the rest were about to act, a faint voice was suddenly heard. It seemed to
bring with it a mighty pressure that instantly made the surging Genesis Qi around Zhao Kun and the rest
grow sluggish.
Zhao Kun and gang’s expressions changed as they lifted their heads, to find Lu Feng indifferent looking
towards them on his cultivation platform nearby.
In the face of Lu Feng’s gaze, Zhao Kun and the rest immediately felt an indescribable pressure, as if they
would be truly suppressed by Lu Feng if they were to go any further.
As the number one individual amongst the outer mountain disciples, Lu Feng’s presence clearly made
others extremely wary.
“You chicken-hearted thing, all you do is to hide yourself far to the rear and come up with all kinds of
underhanded tactics. Do you really believe sending trash like them will achieve anything?” While Zhao
Kun and gang’s expressions were fluctuating indeterminately, a calm voice broke the deadlock.
1351
Countless gazes looked over, only to see that Zhou Yuan had opened his eyes, and was now looking
straight at Lu Feng, his words clearly referring to the latter.
Lu Feng’s eyes hardened slightly. “All you have is a sharp tongue, and the reason why I don’t personally
deal with the likes of you is because I do not feel that you have the qualifications.”
“What do you mean by ‘trash like them’? What right does a mere first layer Alpha-Origin have to put on
such airs?!” Qin Zhen’s expression darkened as he ferociously glared at Zhou Yuan, evidently angered by
the latter’s earlier words of disdain.
“Do you think the likes of you is worthy enough for senior brother Lu Feng to take action?!”
Zhou Yuan’s gaze turned a little colder as he looked towards Qin Zhen, shaking his head as he said in a
soft voice, “Reckless fool.”
“What did you say?!”
Qin Zhen’s rage hit its peak. The manner in which Zhou Yuan viewed the former as insignificant was
really grating hard on his nerves. He truly could not understand why Zhou Yuan would have the gall to
show such an attitude towards him.
Zhou Yuan shook his head, deciding not to waste anymore time arguing. His body abruptly etherealized,
like mist as he shot towards Qin Zhen.
“Out of the way, watch me kill him with a single punch today!”
Howled Qin Zhen as ferocious Genesis Qi exploded. His hands rapidly expanded as faint glowing runes
appeared, giving off an endless aura of forceful unyieldingness.
Light flickered in his pupils, detecting a blurry figure dash towards him from an angle.
“Die!”
With a fierce cry, his palm suddenly chopped downwards, creating a dozen feet long dipper Qi that tore
open a glossy deep cut in the ground below.
However, his deadly strike landed on empty air. The blurry mist-like figure seemed to circle once around
him, and by the time everyone could clearly see the figure again, Zhou Yuan had already returned to his
cultivation platform.
“Just hopping back and forth, do you believe you’re a rabbit?” Ridicule was revealed in Qin Zhen’s eyes.
Zhou Yuan was admittedly very fast, but did he really think speed alone would be able to intimidate Qin
Zhen?
1352
The moment he said this, however, he suddenly felt that something was wrong. Everyone around him
was looking above head in horror.
“What is it?” Qin Zhen was immediately alarmed, and also jerked his head upwards, only to find runes
appearing above him, weaving into a complex Genesis Rune!
An astonishing undulations rippled from the Genesis Rune.
It was a grade 4 Genesis Rune!
“Genesis Rune?! When did he have time to draw it!” Qin Zhen’s pupils shrank violently.
Under countless gazes tinged with alarm and shock, Zhou Yuan expressionlessly extended two fingers
and lightly snapped them, a clear snap echoing across the area.
“Magic Mountain Suppression Seal Rune!”
Rumble!
Light abruptly exploded from the Genesis Rune as the surrounding Genesis Qi rapidly swept over. In the
short span of a few breaths, the Genesis Rune transformed into a giant Genesis Qi mountain that was over
three hundred feet tall.
The mountain began to descend, crushing down onto Qin Zhen.
AH!
Fear rose on Qin Zhen’s face as he hastily circulated his Genesis Qi, both arms reaching out to push back.
Urgh!
However, he vomited a mouthful of blood the moment his hands came into contact with the mountain. It
was indescribably heavy, pushing down on him till his entire body began to creak. Intense pain spread
along his arms, making them feel as if they were about to snap.
His body was forced down bit by bit, nothing changing no matter how he howled.
The Genesis Qi mountain seemed to have a Genesis Qi suppressive effect. Once touched, it would
continuously seal away and suppress one’s Genesis Qi...
Countless gazes all over Genesis Mountain watched in shock as Qin Zhen was easily suppressed and
immobilized by the giant Genesis Qi mountain. No one had expected Zhou Yuan to be capable of
employing such tactics!
To think that his Genesis Rune mastery had reached such a level!
1353
“Qin Zhen!”
Lei Hongtao and gang turned pale with fright, evidently completely unable to imagine that Qin Zhen
would be suppressed by Zhou Yuan after a single exchange.
They gritted their teeth and shot forward, intending to help.
Pch!
However, when they were a few feet from Qin Zhen, runes suddenly began rising from the ground, like an
incomparably hot dome of fire that cut Qin Zhen off from the outside world.
It obviously was another Genesis Rune!
Lei Hongtao and gang frantically attacked the fire dome, causing it to shake violently. Although the dome
looked as if it would not last for long, inside it, Qin Zhen looked even worse off as he desperately tried to
endure...
Zhou Yuan gazed at the bitterly perservering Qin Zhen and asked in an indifferent voice, “Are you
convinced now?”
Qin Zhen’s face twisted as he redoubled his efforts to withstand the giant Genesis Qi mountain. His entire
body trembled uncontrollably as it dripped with sweat, unable to say even a single word.
By the side, Song Wanxi, Zhao Kun and the rest involuntarily swallowed at this scene. They never
imagined the powerful Qin Zhen would be forced into such a miserable state by Zhou Yuan...
Although it was partly because Qin Zhen had been caught off guard, Zhou Yuan mastery over Genesis
Runes had clearly exceeded everyone’s expectations.
When they looked towards Zhou Yuan, there was now a faint unfathomable feeling.
They were not the only ones. Even the other disciples now looked towards Zhou Yuan with respect.
“Zhou Yuan, you’d better release him!”
When Qin Zhen was rapidly approaching his last legs, Lu Feng was finally no longer able to restrain
himself. He had originally intended for Qin Zhen and gang to embarrass Zhou Yuan, causing the weak
alliance he had created to fall to pieces.
But he never expected that Zhou Yuan would act so decisively.
Not only had Lu Feng failed to strike a blow to Zhou Yuan’s reputation, it had ended up growing it instead.
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If Lu Feng allowed Qin Zhen to be suppressed by Zhou Yuan before his eyes, Qin Zhen would not be the
only one to be humiliated, and even Lu Feng would be affected.
However, Zhou Yuan did not show even the slightest response to Lu Feng’s shout.
“Zhou Yuan, this is too much!”
Iciness flashed in Lu Feng’s eyes, no longer hesitating as he violently jerked his sleeve. A dozen feet wide
torrent of Genesis Qi swept forth, surging towards the giant Genesis Qi mountain.
He had finally made his move.
Zhou Yuan’s gaze flashed as the Heavenly Yuan Brush in his hand also jerked.
The brush instantly grew, its snow-white hairs seemingly turning into a stream of white as they whizzed
forth. Golden Genesis Qi swirled around the hairs as they smashed into the Genesis Qi flood.
Boom!
A violent explosion Genesis Qi swept outwards.
The snow-white hairs were scattered, before they returned to the brush tip.
At this instant, however, Zhou Yuan extended a hand and lightly pushed downwards.
Rumble!
The giant Genesis Qi mountain shook as it suddenly pushed down with more power
AHHH!
Screamed Qin Zhen. The Genesis Qi mountain powerfully slammed into the ground, flattening his entire
body. It was a very miserable sight.
“I yield! I yield!”
He screamed, no longer able to bear the pain.
Rumble!
A flood of Genesis Qi blasted the giant Genesis Qi mountain, smashing it to bits.
Specks of light seemed to dance as they filled the sky.
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The entire Genesis Mountain was deathly silent as countless gazes looked towards Lu Feng, the latter’s
handsome face currently an angry shade of steely green. He darkly glared at Zhou Yuan as a terrifying
aura began to rise from his body.
A split second later, an eerily cold voice slowly rang out from his mouth.
“Zhou Yuan, you’re courting death!”
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Chapter 258
“Zhou Yuan, you’re courting death!”
When Lu Feng’s bone-chilling voice rang out, an alarming torrent of Genesis Qi ferociously exploded from
his body like a storm.
Cracks began to extend on the ground below his feet.
The expression of the numerous disciples in the vicinity changed slightly, somewhat unable to bear the
Genesis Qi pressure as they backed away.
A sliver of fear flitted across the eyes of Zhao Kun, Song Wanxi, Qiao Xiu and the rest when they looked
towards Lu Feng, now understanding the gap between them and the latter.
As the true-blue number one disciple of the outer mountains, Lu Feng was someone they both feared and
respected.
The surrounding disciples retreated one after another.
Only Zhou Yuan remained seated on his cultivation platform, his eyes akin to a cold blade as he stared at
Lu Feng.
“Why? Are you finally no longer able to sit still?” Said Zhou Yuan in a frosty voice. The Omni Python Qi
hissed inside its body as it charged out from the top of his head, taking on the faint silhouette of a giant
python as it looked down from above at Lu Feng.
Lu Feng’s eyes were akin to a brewing storm tinged with the occasional flash of rage.
It had been his will for Qin Zhen and gang to go after Zhou Yuan with the intention suppression the latter,
making him lose all respect in the hearts of the non Shengzhou disciples.
However, Lu Feng had not expected Zhou Yuan to respond so swiftly and decisively. Moreover, it was also
the first time he had witnessed the latter display his skill in Genesis Runes.
Although Zhou Yuan’s Genesis Qi cultivation was only at the first layer Alpha-Origin, he was capable of
drawing grade 4 Genesis Runes, a level of Genesis Runes that even the run of the mill third layer Alpha-
Origin would find hard pressed to defend against.
In conclusion, with the aid of Genesis Runes, ordinary third layer Alpha-Origin practitioners were no
longer Zhou Yuan’s match.
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Like what had happened just earlier. Zhou Yuan had struck like thunder with the power of Genesis Runes,
causing Qin Zhen to be caught unprepared. In the end, he had been easily suppressed in a single
exchange, a fact that undoubtedly made Lu Feng lose all face.
In contrast, Zhou Yuan’s reputation had grown tremendously.
This outcome was completely opposite to what Lu Feng had intended, hence why he was no longer able
to watch and do nothing.
“You arrogant and ignorant fool. I originally wanted to save you for the peak selection ceremony, but
since you’re already unable to wait, I will show you today that you are merely an ugly little clown in my
eyes!” Lu Feng’s ice-cold voice rang out.
The Genesis Qi in his body grew more and more vigorous, turning into a howling gale that screamed
around his body. Genesis Qi transformed into countless green blades of wind that began to shred even the
air itself.
Imposing and terrifying.
“I’ve long wanted to see exactly what qualifications you have to be the so-called number one of the outer
mountains!” Zhou Yuan’s gaze was cold and piercing, his clothes flapping loudly as the Omni Python Qi
howled.
Their auras ferociously clashed, causing a hostile atmosphere to choke the entire Genesis Mountain.
Every disciple secretly wet their lips at this sight. No one had imagined that even in the face of someone
as formidable as Lu Feng, Zhou Yuan would still meet the former head-on, refusing to give even an inch.
Were the two most talked of individuals recently finally going to clash for real today?
Numerous disciples opened their eyes a little wider, a sliver of curiosity and anticipation contained
within.
“All of you stop!”
However, when Zhou Yuan and Lu Feng’s gazes were growing increasingly chilling, a loud shout was
suddenly heard. A thunderous voice swept downwards along with boundless Genesis Qi, directly
suppressing both Zhou Yuan and Lu Feng’s Genesis Qi.
Innumerable disciples lifted their heads, only to see a cloud of Genesis Qi drift over. Chen Yuan stood atop
it, while a pretty red figure stood beside him. It was Gu Hongyi.
Chen Yuan looked down from above, staring at Zhou Yuan and Lu Feng as he frowned and said, “The peak
selection ceremony is just around the corner. If you have any grudges, you can resolve them then. Don’t
even think about having any personal squabbles here.”
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The truth was that he had long known about what was going to happen today. Hence, he had intentionally
been missing today. After all, Zhou Yuan really was a sore sight in his eyes, and he was naturally happy to
let Lu Feng teach the former a lesson.
However, Chen Yuan had not expected Gu Hongyi to come knocking at his door, giving him no choice but
to rush over. After all, Gu Hong’s background was too great, and he did not want to offend her.
Chen Yuan’s appearance meant that there would no longer be a battle between Zhou Yuan and Lu Feng.
Both of them exchanged an icy glance, before withdrawing the surging Genesis Qi around their bodies.
“Zhou Yuan, you’d better treasure what time you have left. When the peak selection ceremony arrives, I
will personally pummel you into the abyss. Then, you will know that you amount to nothing in my eyes.”
Lu Feng stood with his hands behind his body, his eerily chilling gaze directed straight at Zhou Yuan.
Their grudge had started with Gu Hongyi, but now, Lu Feng would still view Zhou Yuan as an enemy even
without her.
Because Lu Feng could already feel that Zhou Yuan was beginning to threaten his position.
In the past, Zhou Yuan had merely been an ant in his eyes, not even worthy of any attention. Later on,
however, Lu Feng began to observe Zhou Yuan’s astonishing rise amongst the outer mountains disciples,
the concealed sharp blade he was no longer able to be hidden.
Lu Feng had began to feel threatened, and he could not tolerate a disciple from another continent
challenging his position and prestige.
As the one at the forefront of this batch of outer mountain disciples, he needed to win, because this would
also decide his future prospects and position in the Cangxuan Sect.
Therefore, he must destroy Zhou Yuan.
Zhou Yuan could sense the intense iciness in Lu Feng’s eyes, however, it did not bother him at all as he
softly chuckled and said, “I’ll send these words right back at you. I hope that you won’t lose too miserably,
or it will really be boring.”
“You think you are worthy?” Lu Feng was expressionless, contempt appearing from the corners of his
mouth.
Zhou Yuan ignored him, lifting his head instead, as he smiled at the Gu Hongyi. He knew that she was
likely the one who had brought Chen Yuan over, and probably knew that Lu Feng was going to make
things difficult today.
As for Chen Yuan, he merely showed the minimum courtesy of cupping his hands together with a cold
expression.
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Chen Yuan had always been the one to oversee the Genesis Mountain training sessions, and yet, he had
found some excuse to be absent today. This was obviously intentional, and he had likely known in
advance that Qin Zhen and gang would be stirring up trouble today.
Hence, Zhou Yuan guessed that Chen Yuan had purposely created an opportunity for Qin Zhen and gang
to do so.
In view of this, Zhou Yuan naturally was not going to happily thank Chen Yuan.
Chen Yuan was likewise able to see Zhou Yuan’s half-heartedness, causing the former to snort inside.
However, he did not get angry. Elder Zong Ming’s sudden appearance to help Zhou Yuan previously had
clearly made Chen Yuan wary. He no longer dared to so casually cause trouble for Zhou Yuan.
“Let’s go.”
Said Zhou Yuan to Song Wanxi, Zhao Kun, Qiao Xiu and the rest, before he turned and walked towards the
foot of the mountain.
A sliver of respect flowed out in the eyes of Song Wanxi, Zhao Kun and the other first class disciples as
they gazed upon Zhou Yuan’s back. His almost effortless suppression of Qin Zhen and direct confrontation
of Lu Feng had completely won over these usually head strong disciples.
Lu Feng’s suppression was the reason why they had previously feared competing with the Shengzhou
disciples, but now, Zhou Yuan had appeared on their side.
As such, they no longer feared Lu Feng as much as before.
With such thoughts in mind, they exchanged a look, began to follow one after another, creating a crowd
behind Zhou Yuan.
With them taking the lead, more and more non Shengzhou disciples began to flood over, forming a black
mass that surged down the mountain.
The sight of this caused the expressions of numerous Shengzhou disciples to turn somewhat unnatural.
For the first time, they felt that these country bumpkins were no longer easy targets.
The corners of Lu Feng’s lips involuntarily twitched at this sight, fury boiling within his eyes. In a certain
manner of speaking, this was akin to stepping on their faces.
He never imagined that he would not only fail to destroy Zhou Yuan, but end up helping him instead,
creating a central pillar that all these country bumpkins could now rally around...
Lu Feng took in a deep breath, his five fingers slowly clenching into a fist. The gaze that stared at Zhou
Yuan’s back was filled with a chilling iciness.
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“Go ahead and be happy for now. During the peak selection ceremony, I will personally stomp you into
the ground!”
“I will teach you that the higher you climb, the harder the fall!”
1361
Chapter 259 Guidance
After the confrontation on Genesis Mountain, the atmosphere in the outer mountains grew increasingly
tense. Various clashes happening between the Shengzhou and non Shengzhou discipes time and time
again.
However, there was one change compared to before. The non Shengzhou disciples no longer tolerated the
bullying of the Shengzhou disciples, fiercely striking back instead, causing the Shengzhou disciples to be
caught off guard.
After all, the Shengzhou disciples had only been able to act so proud and arrogant because Lu Feng had
the power to sweep away all the other disciples, making many disciples afraid to even raise any
objections against him. However, after the confrontation between Zhou Yuan and Lu Feng on Genesis
Mountain, the non Shengzhou disciples suddenly realised that there was someone amongst them that had
deeply concealed his abilities.
If this was the case, why should they continue to be accommodating and show tolerance to these guys?
Therefore, even though the day of the peak selection ceremony was fast approaching, conflicts constantly
rose between the two sides, each wanting to force the other into submission.
With regards to the disagreements between the disciples, the Cangxuan Sect outer mountain showed no
concern, allowing them to do as they pleased. It was an unspoken rule in the Cangxuan Sect.
Although the Cangxuan Sect was a titan like existence in Cangxuan Heaven, competition was needed for
sustained growth. Without it, the Cangxuan Sect would become a lifeless pool of stagnant water.
The clashes between the Shengzhou and other continent disciples would allow them to polish each other,
propelling them to strive even harder in their cultivation. From a certain point of view, it was a kind of
motivation.
As for the disciples that were unable to adapt to such competition, they would eventually be eliminated.
However, while such disagreements continued to break out between the disciples, Zhou Yuan’s
reputation began to rise at an alarming speed, until it was basically equal to Lu Feng’s. Zhou Yuan was
now known as one of the top contenders amongst outer mountain disciples of this batch.
Of course, this was an opinion mostly shared by non Shengzhou disciples. The Shengzhou disciples on the
other hand, merely viewed this with extreme contempt. They believed that if it was not for Chen Yuan’s
interference, Zhou Yuan would have long been beaten back to his original shape on Genesis Mountain.
When all was said and done however, Zhou Yuan’s reputation in the outer mountains was now no lesser
than Lu Feng’s.
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As for who exactly amongst the two would become the true number one, everyone would only find out
during the peak selection ceremony.
Currently, Zhou Yuan would still give guidance for the Ethereal Form technique everyday. Even more of
his time, however, was spent on his own cultivation.
Lu Feng was no ordinary individual. Although he was loathsome, his strength was admittedly the real
deal, a point that Zhou Yuan could not deny. Hence, he would not allow himself to relax.
While focusing on his own training, Zhou Yuan also started to fulfil his promise towards Qiao Xiu, Zhao
Kun, Song Wanxi and the rest, the promise of giving them pointers in their Genesis techniques.
After all, he had already recruited them, and would also require their help in the peak selection
ceremony. Thus, raising their strength would also end up benefiting himself.
By a certain mountain creek.
Zhou Yuan sat on a boulder, his gaze looking first towards Zhao Kun as he said, “The Genesis technique
you practice is the Sky Dipper Hand, right?”
The Sky Dipper Hand was a mid grade little Heaven tier Genesis technique. It was powerful and
unyielding in nature, and every strike would be accompanied by dipper wind. Even metal would seem
akin to tofu before its might. At the advanced level, tearing apart mountains would be an effortless task.
It was as if a bolt of energy surged through Zhao Kun, while anticipation also began bubbling in the eyes
of Song Wanxi and the rest also.
After so many days, Zhou Yuan was finally going to begin guiding them.
The past few days had been rather vexing for them. They had heard whispers that Lu Feng had managed
to pull some strings, and arranged for personal tutors to guide some of the better ranked outer mountain
disciples such as Qin Zhen and Lei Hongtao, allowing them to rapidly grow stronger.
This news made them feel very uneasy. After all, if the gap started to widen, their chances of winning
would drop in the peak selection ceremony, making it extremely difficult to vie for the top ten spots.
However, they did not have the connections Lu Feng had, and were thus unable to obtain personal
guidance from these tutors. Hence, they could only place their hopes on Zhou Yuan.
However, Zhou Yuan had not even hinted at this matter for the past few days, leaving them no option but
to wait in silence. Now that Zhou Yuan had finally voluntarily brought it up, they were naturally elated.
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However, there was still a little doubt mixed in with this happiness. After all, although they knew that
Zhou Yuan seemed to have astonishing talent in Genesis techniques, each of them practiced a different
technique. Would Zhou Yuan be proficient in all of them?
Hence, with regards to Zhou Yuan’s promise to give them guidance, they were still holding a ‘seeing is
believing’ mindset.
Zhao Kun felt a little awkward as he asked, “Junior brother Zhou Yuan, will you really be able to help me
with the Sky Dipper Hand technique? You’ve yet to see ts cultivation method, right?”
Zhou Yuan nodded and said, “I’ve not seen it before.”
He had indeed not seen the cultivation method for the Sky Dipper Hand. However, he possessed the
Decoder Saint Rune, and could clearly find the weaknesses or deficiencies in any Genesis technique.
Therefore, he only needed to bring their attention to places, naturally allowing them to avoid making
such mistakes, allowing them to progress more efficiently.
This was something that no other instructor could so.
Of course, this was the extent of the aid he could give. Each individual had to continue spending time
practicing and better understanding their techniques to improve. The Decoder Saint Rune was not all-
powerful after all.
Zhao Kun could not help but let out a bitter laugh in response to Zhou Yuan’s honesty. “There are three
levels to the Sky Dipper Hand. I’ve managed to master the first level, but am having difficulties with the
second for quite some time.”
“The one you suppressed a few days ago, Qin Zhen, also practices this technique. I’ve heard he’s made
significant progress during the past two days, and will likely reach the second level before the peak
selection ceremony.”
“Rumor says that Lu Feng has found some instructors to personally guide them.”
At this point, Zhao Kun grinded his teeth in regret. The disciples from the Shengzhou Continent did have
several advantages over the rest of them.
Zhou Yuan gave a slight nod upon hearing this. He was naturally also aware of this piece news.
It was this very information that caused the minds of Zhao Kun, Song Wanxi, Qiao Xiu and the rest to
wander, and also hence why Zhou Yuan had brought up this matter today. If he were to delay any further,
Zhao Kun and gang would likely soon lose their morale, let alone the other disciples.
This was obviously another one of Lu Feng’s schemes that aimed to destroy everyone’s faith.
Zhou Yuan did not want to waste any more time, and directly instructed, “Activate the Sky Dipper Hand.”
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The sight of Zhou Yuan’s calm appearance made Zhao Kun feel a little less awkward. It seemed that he
had some confidence?
Zhao Kun took in a deep breath as the Genesis Qi inside his body began to ripple. His hands started to
grow a little, Genesis Qi light swirling around them to form glowing runes.
Strands of dipper wind circled around his hands, shredding even the air to pieces.
With a loud yell, Zhou Kun swung his hand. Dipper winds immediately swept forth, chopping open a 90
feet long cut on the ground in front of him, the dreadful force splitting even the boulders in its path.
The surrounding disciples inwardly sighed in amazement. The Sky Dipper Hand was indeed ferocious
and domineering.
“The levels of the Sky Dipper Hand are marked by the power of the dipper winds. It’s said that the second
level can reach over 240 feet, while I am currently only capable of about 90 feet.” Said Zhao Kun in a
somewhat regretful manner.
“But my progress has slowed to a crawl recently, only making 3 feet of headway after several days of
nonstop practice. At this rate, it will take at least half a year to reach the second level.”
“Junior brother Zhou Yuan, what do I need to do?” He gazed a Zhou Yuan, a flash of hope in his eyes.
The others also awkwardly looked towards Zhou Yuan. If he could solve Zhao Kun’s problem, they would
naturally have more faith.
Zhou Yuan’s eyes narrowed slightly, an ancient rune appearing in the depths of his pupils. When Zhao
Kun used the Sky Dipper Hand earlier, he had clearly seen how the Genesis Qi circulated along the
channels and meridian points in the latter’s body.
At certain locations, Zhou Yuan had seen the circulating Genesis Qi turn a little sluggish.
While Zhou Yuan did not speak, everyone else fell silent, causing the atmosphere to become extremely
suffocating.
Moments later, Zhou Yuan finally withdrew his gaze. He looked towards the grim faced crowd and
chuckled. “No problem. It’s quite simple.”
Everyone was stunned, even Zhao Kun also a little in disbelief and unable to speak for a time.
Zhou Yuan was not offended by their response. He grasped the Heavenly Yuan Brush as its snow-white
brush hairs shot out, swiftly marking out several locations on Zhao Kun’s body. “When you circulate your
Genesis Qi through these locations, increase the speed by 30% and power by 40%”
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Zhao Kun was taken aback. Although he was utterly confused, he still nodded in the end, still skeptical as
he began to circulate his Genesis Qi. When it flowed through the locations indicated by Zhou Yuan, Zhao
Kun followed the instructions given, increasing the speed and power.
Bzz!
Dipper Qi exploded from Zhao Kun’s palm as he ferociously chopped downwards.
Boom!
The ground before him was once again torn apart by dipper winds.
It was at this moment that Song Wanxi, Qiao Xiu and the rest’s eyes aburptly widened.
The scar left behind by the attack had reached 129 feet!
Compared to before, it had grown by a whole 24 feet!
Sss!
A series of gasps were heard as everyone turned towards Zhou Yuan in shock. No one had expected a few
seemingly casual tips from him to bring about such apparent improvement.
Zhao Kun was likewise stupefied. It was a long time later before he looked towards Zhou Yuan with
burning eyes and quivering lips. Even someone as proud as himself could not help by tremble as he said,
“Young brother Yuan, I’m convinced.”
The other disciples instantly shifted their practically searing gazes towards Zhou Yuan.
Song Wanxi pretty eyes looked at Zhou Yuan as she said in a soft and sweet voice, “Junior brother Zhou
Yuan, may I also ask for your guidance in my Black Ying Scripture.”
“Young brother Yuan, please guide me in my Flame Thunder Force!”
“My, my Thousand Wave Scroll!”
“.…..”
A wave of excited voices exploded by the mountain creek, drowning out the sound of flowing water.
With Zhou Yuan’s terrifying talent in Genesis techniques, the numerous disciples suddenly felt extremely
confident in the face of the fast approaching peak selection ceremony.
They would perhaps really end up taking six of the top ten spots in the peak selection ceremony!
1366
Chapter 260 Secret
The date of the peak selection ceremony grew closer every day.
The outer mountains were bathed in an atmosphere of desperate training, everyone making full use of
every second they had in hopes of making themselves just a tiny bit stronger before the arrival of the
peak selection ceremony.
After all, everyone clearly understood what it represented; their future prospects.
They had travelled millions of miles, and crossed uncountable continents just for the chance of entering
the Cangxuan Sect. If they were unable to grasp this opportunity to enter the inner mountains, they
would surely have to wait a long time for their next chance. Even if they managed to succeed then, they
would have already lost the most ideal timing, and those of the same generation would have likely long
left them in the dust.
Hence, not a single person in the outer mountains could relax in the face of such an important event.
Zhou Yuan was no exception.
By the mountain creek, Zhou Yuan was seated with his eyes closed as robust gold Genesis Qi whizzed
around his body. One would see three swirling torrents of Genesis Qi in which the barely discernible
figures of three beasts could be seen. A savage and domineering aura spread from them along with the
faint echoes of dragon roars.
Rumble!
The three torrents of Genesis Qi shuddered, cracks suddenly appearing on the boulder Zhou Yuan was
seated on as muffled explosions rang out in the air.
Zhou Yuan’s tightly shut eyes slowly opened, light blossoming within them before gradually receding.
He spat out a breath as faint joy sparkled in his eyes. After half a month of training, he had finally refined
the three dragon type Genesis Beast essence blood, successfully cultivating three Nine Dragons Canon
Genesis Qi.
The only thing he needed to do next was to break them in. These three Nine Dragons Canon Genesis Qi
definitely possessed overwhelming power.
“It seems that you’ve reached the initial level of the Nine Dragons Canon.” While Zhou Yuan was
appreciating his progress, a figure in red flew over, bringing along a slight fragrance. Gu Hongyi stood in
front of Zhou Yuan with a wide grin.
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Zhou Yuan glanced at her and smiled, “The Shengzhou and non Shengzhou disciples have been on pretty
bad terms recently, and yet you still come here everyday.”
Over this period of time, she did as she wanted, coming to receive guidance from Zhou Yuan in the
Ethereal Form technique. She was clearly not the least bit affected by the disagreements between the
disciples on both sides.
Gu Hongyi pouted a little. “What do such meaningless conflicts have to do with me?”
She understood that the Shengzhou disciples believed a little too deeply that they were superior to
others, while the non Shengzhou disciples whom were prided geniuses in their respective continents
were naturally proud individuals. Contact between the two parties would naturally result in conflict.
With regards to such conflicts, she neither had the power to stop them, not did she want to interfere.
Zhou Yuan said, “If everyone was like you, these troubles would naturally cease to exist.”
Although Gu Hongyi was also a proud individual, she did not bully and humiliate others by relying on her
background. This was something Zhou Yuan admired about her.
Gu Hongyi sat down in front of Zhou Yuan as she inquired with interest, “After the peak selection
ceremony, which peak do you want to enter?”
Zhou Yuan was taken aback. He did not answer, but asked instead, “What about you?”
Gu Hongyi placed a hand on her chin as she answered, “Of course I want to enter the Cangxuan Peak. It’s
the peak where the sect master resides, and can be said to be one of the most popular peaks amongst the
disciples.”
Zhou Yuan asked in surprise, “Isn’t your old ancestor the master of the Hongya Peak?”
Gu Hongyi frowned. “The Hongya Peak specializes in external tempering techniques, and everyone there
is covered all over in metal lump like muscles, so ugly. I’ll never go to the Hongya Peak.”
Zhou Yuan was stunned. Once Genesis Qi cultivation reached a certain level, it would be divided into
internal and external tempering. Internal tempering referred to the cultivation of Genesis Qi in the Qi
Dwelling, making it magnificent as a river of stars, boundless and endless.
External tempering on the other hand referred to using Genesis Qi to temper the body. The fusion of the
two would allow one to shatter the sky and land with one’s bare hands and feet. It was said that at the
pinnacle, one’s body would achieve the Saint level, a realm where a single flick was enough to shatter
stars.
However, regardless of whether it was internal or external, one’s cultivation first needed to reach a
certain level. At the very least, the current Zhou Yuan did not have the qualifications, because he lacked
1368
sufficient Genesis Qi. There was no point mentioning internal or external tempering when even his Qi
Dwelling had yet to be filled.
Zhou Yuan curiously asked, “What about the other peaks?”
Gu Hongyi laughed and explained, “The Sword Cometh Peak for example focuses on using one’s Genesis
Qi to nourish the sword, allowing it to transform into sword Qi. Their attacks are sharp and deadly, with
the potential to cut the milky way. With regards to sharpness, they are said to be the number one in the
Cangxuan Sect.”
“Hence why the Sword Cometh Peak is also extremely popular amongst the disciples.”
Zhou Yuan’s pupils spun a little. Lu Feng had previously mentioned he had a high ranking senior in the
Sword Cometh Peak.
Gu Hongyi carefully scanned the surroundings, before she said in a low voice, “From what I know, the
master of Sword Cometh Peak was a servant boy under patriarch Cangxuan.”
“It was only later on after listening to the patriarch lecture about the dao, and obtaining the patriarch’s
personal sword did he establish the Sword Cometh Peak after the patriarch died.”
“But the patriarch has never mentioned taking him as a disciple. So strictly speaking, he is not truly
considered part of the Cangxuan Sect’s lineage.”
“You should take note never to mention the words servant boy in front of this peak master, because it is
taboo.”
Zhou Yuan was taken aback. He never imagined that the master of Sword Cometh Peak was not actually a
disciple of patriarch Cangxuan, but a servant boy under the latter’s employ. This was likely a deeply kept
secret of the Cangxuan Sect, a secret that Gu Hongyi would not have known if her old ancestor was not
the peak master of the Hongya Peak.
“Are all the other peak masters disciples of patriarch Cangxuan?” Asked Zhou Yuan.
“Patriarch Cangxuan has only taken four disciples. Our current sect master is his first disciple, while my
old ancestor and the masters of the Spirit Rune Peak and Snow Lotus Peak respectively are the other
three.”
“What about the Thunder Prison Peak?” Zhou Yuan realised that Gu Hongyi had left out this peak.
“The master of Thunder Prison Peak huh… this individual is likely the most senior person in the
Cangxuan Sect.” Gu Hongyi said in a low voice, “He too is not a disciple of patriarch Cang Xuan, but used to
be one of the patriarch’s old friends. When the patriarch established the Cangxuan Sect many many years
ago, this old friend of his came to join. The patriarch gave him many pointers and guidance, allowing him
1369
to reach greater heights in his cultivation. Later on, he established the Thunder Prison Peak, and took
charge of the Cangxuan Sect’s law enforcement and punishment duties.”
Zhou Yuan gave a slight nod. He had not expected that there would be such interesting stories behind the
seven peaks.
However, the complexity of the situation made Zhou Yuan rather wary. Back in the Saint Remains
Domain, patriarch Cang Xuan had once ambiguously hinted that part of the reason for his death was that
there may be a mole in the Cangxuan Sect.
It may perhaps only be patriarch Cang Xuan’s guess, hence why he had been so uncertain.
Regardless, Zhou Yuan felt that it would not hurt to be a little more cautious.
“Eh, there’s still one last peak, the Saint Genesis Peak. It’s the most unique peak in the Cangxuan Sect,
because it used to be the place patriarch Cang Xuan secluded himself in. The main peak was sealed for
many years after patriarch Cang Xuan’s death, causing it to decline. Very few disciples will choose this
peak.” Added Gu Hongyi.
Zhou Yuan nodded. Just as he was about to speak, his expression suddenly changed slightly as he lifted
his head, and looked in a certain direction where a slight disturbance was suddenly felt.
Zhou Yuan cast his gaze over, only to see the numerous disciples training there retreat like the tide, alarm
and fear on their faces.
He frowned slightly as he stood up, and saw a young lady in black slowly walked through the now parted
mass of disciples.
The young lady had beautiful features, and her skin was as white as snow. Her eyebrows, however, gave
off a sharp and cold feeling. In her hand was a long sword with a green edge.
Zhou Yuan’s gaze finally came to a stop at her tiny waist, where a golden sash outlined its slenderness.
Zhou Yuan’s eyes widened a little.
An inner mountain golden sash disciple.
Gu Hongyi also caught sight of the young lady at this moment. Her shapely eyebrows immediately
bunched together as she slowly muttered, “Why is she here?”
“Who is she?” Asked Zhou Yuan.
Gu Hongyi helplessly shot a look at him and said, “Lu Xuanyin, a golden sash disciple from the Sword
Cometh Peak.”
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Zhou Yuan instantly understood.
This must be the elder sister of his clan that Lu Feng had mentioned before.
Looks like this was not going to be a friendly guest.
1371
Chapter 261 Lu Xuanyin
Sword in hand, the young lady in black slowly walked towards the mountain creek. The numerous
disciples would give way one after another wherever she passed, fear and respect in their eyes. They
could clearly feel the deadly sword Qi emanating from the young lady.
Moreover, a golden sash was wrapped around her slender waist, clearly indicating her identity.
An inner mountain golden sash disciple.
One must know that most of the inner mountain disciples that came to the outer mountains to teach were
merely black sash disciples. With regards to status, they were far from being able to match this young
lady in black.
However, the girl in black paid no attention to the gazes of the many surrounding disciples. There was
only icy haughtiness in her eyes. None of these outer mountain disciples were worth even a single glance.
She continued to walk, ultimately arriving at Zhou Yuan and Gu Hongyi’s location.
Zhou Yuan warily stared at her. This woman was Lu Feng’s elder clan sister. Suddenly coming here at
such a time could only mean that she likely did not have any friendly intentions.
However, the girl called Lu Xuanyin merely swept a nonchalant glance at him, before looking towards Gu
Hongyi.
Only then did a smile appear on her cold and haughty face. She walked forward and pulled Gu Hongyi’s
hand, smiling as she said, “Hongyi, I’ve been wanting to meet you ever since Lu Feng told me you have
also come to the Cangxuan Sect. This is great, when you enter the inner mountains, we will be able to
meet more often.”
Gu Hongyi felt a little unnatural in response to Lu Xuanyin’s enthusiasm. She and the latter were indeed
acquainted due to the friendly relations between their two clans, and had spent some time together when
they were younger.
However, these feelings had dulled during the past few years while Lu Xuanyin was training in the
Cangxuan Sect.
Hence, Gu Hongyi was unable to acustom herself to the sudden friendliness.
Gu Hongyi seamlessly retrieved her hand as she responded, “Senior sister Lu, why have you suddenly
come out from the inner mountains?”
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Lu Xuanyin laughed softly. “Isn’t it because I heard that you’re here and wanted to see you. I just notified
Lu Feng earlier too, the three of us can have a little gathering. I recall you and Lu Feng were pretty close
when you were young.”
Gu Hongyi frowned slightly. An intelligent girl like her realised that Lu Xuanyin was not here for Zhou
Yuan, but herself.
Her conclusion was spot on. Lu Xuanyin had indeed come here to create chances for Lu Feng to better his
relation with Gu Hongyi. From what Lu Feng had told her, Gu Hongyi seemed to be growing more and
more distant towards him, instead becoming chummy with a country bumpkin from another continent.
Lu Xuanyin found this rather difficult to accept. The old ancestor of the Gu clan was the illustrious master
of Cangxuan Sect’s Hongya Peak. If Lu Feng and Gu Hongyi were to become a couple, it would be greatly
beneficial to the Lu clan.
It was such an important matter that even the master of the Sword Cometh Peak had personally asked
her about it.
In Lu Xuanyin’s opinion, Lu Feng had outstanding qualities, and was also exceptionally talented, a
practically perfect match for Gu Hongyi. And yet, some country bumpkin had suddenly emerged out of the
blue and ruined this fairytale, a truly disgusting act.
Therefore, she put aside her training, and came over to the outer mountains in hopes of finding an
opportunity to match make the two of them.
Gu Hongyi shook her head, and responded as if she was in a somewhat difficult position, “Senior sister Lu,
the peak selection ceremony is just around the corner, and the only thoughts on my mind are to
concentrate on my training.”
Lu Xuanyin hurriedly smiled and said, “It’s also important to relax, choosing the appropriate time to rest
will not hinder your training.”
Gu Hongyi felt an oncoming headache; a woman like this was truly difficult to deal with. She tried to
reject once again. “I’m training the Ethereal Form technique with Zhou Yuan, and he only has limited time
everyday. So I’m really not free.”
Lu Xuanyin was stunned for a moment. A sliver of iciness emerged in her eyes as she turned towards
Zhou Yuan and said with a faint smile, “I believe this must be junior brother Zhou Yuan? I’ve heard of
your recent exploits even in the inner mountains.”
Zhou Yuan did not comment, merely smiling in response.
Lu Xuanyin offhandedly said, “How about this junior brother Zhou Yuan, you’ll give Hongyi some time off
today, and make up for it at a later date. How does this sound?”
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She had a slight smile on her face. Although she seemed to be asking a question, her tone indicated that
she had already decided the matter.
Zhou Yuan’s expression remained indifferent, his eyes lowering slightly as he replied, “The daily training
sessions have already been fixed. If she misses it, she’ll have to wait for the next one. There are too many
disciples learning Genesis techniques here, so we do not do make-up lessons.”
The smile on Lu Xuanyin’s face froze a little. She had originally believed that given her status, a mere
outer mountain disciple like Zhou Yuan would surely tactfully follow her wishes. After all, this was only a
small matter. She never imagined that Zhou Yuan would be so ignorant.
“Junior brother Zhou Yuan really has some character.” Lu Xuanyin withdrew her smile.
She began to observe Zhou Yuan with indifferent eyes. Lu Feng had naturally mentioned the
disagreements between himself and Zhou Yuan. However, neither Lu Feng nor Lu Xuanyin felt that it was
worth their concern.
As for Zhou Yuan declaring that he would take away first place from Lu Feng in the peak selection
ceremony, Lu Xuanyin merely laughed in amusement, feeling that this country bumpkin was really
overconfident in his abilities.
In her eyes, a first layer Alpha-Origin Zhou Yuan did not even have the right to challenge Lu Feng.
Hence why she had come here purely because of Gu Hongyi, no intentions whatsoever of doing anything
to Zhou Yuan. From what she could see, during the peak selection ceremony, this country bumpkin would
naturally be crushed under Lu Feng’s heels and be thoroughly humiliated.
However, she never expected that the country bumpkin would dare to even not give her face.
Zhou Yuan shook his head. “I’m merely following the rules, rules that will be the same regardless of who
it is. I hope that senior sister Lu does not blame me.”
His tone was calm, as if he was being earnest.
However, Lu Xuanyin did not think so. She coldly stared at Zhou Yuan as the Genesis Qi around her began
to tremble, and the faint but extremely sharp cry of a sword rang out.
A piercing pressure swept towards Zhou Yuan.
“Senior sister Lu!”
Gu Hongyi was the first to detect it and immediately took a step forward to stand in front of Zhou Yuan,
her brows knitting together as she said in a somewhat angry voice, “What are you doing!”
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Lu Xuanyin pursed her lips for a brief moment. She could sense Gu Hongyi’s anger, and immediately
withdrew her sword Qi as she regretfully said, “Hongyi, are you really not going to take this chance to
hang out with me?”
Gu Hongyi curtly replied, “I’ve been busy with training recently, and really do not want to be distracted
However, she understood that Lu Xuanyin would not relent so easily, and could only compromise. “If
that’s really not okay with you, we can find a time to meet up after the peak selection ceremony.”
Lu Xuanyin was naturally aware that Gu Hongyi had finally made a concession. The former immediately
grinned and nodded. “Alright then, I’ll wait till the peak selection ceremony is over. Don’t worry, I’ll
surely be here to attend such a grand occasion.”
After finishing, she turned around and left.
While leaving, her icy gaze seemed to sweep across Zhou Yuan.
Under the attention of numerous gazes, Lu Xuanyin left the mountain creek, eventually arriving at the
entrance of the mountain, where she met Lu Feng in his usual white attire.
Lu Feng frowned slightly upon seeing that Lu Xuanyin had exited alone. “Is Hongyi not coming?”
Only then did Lu Xuanyin’s pretty face turn stormy, iciness flashing in her eyes as she coldly said, “That
little peasant boy is indeed a hateful one.”
She had clearly placed all of the blame on Zhou Yuan.
“Lu Feng, if you find a chance during the peak selection ceremony, cripple him.”
“I want to let him know that a peasant boy should obediently stay in his little peasant village dump, and
stop dreaming of tasting a swan’s meat!”
Her voice was chillingly cold.
Lu Feng nodded, an ominous look in his eyes as they swept towards the direction of the mountain creek.
“Don’t worry, I will make him understand that he has offended someone he should never have offended.”
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Chapter 262 What Are We Playing
Time stealthily flowed as the final month gradually reached its end.
There was only a single day left before the peak selection ceremony.
The atmosphere in the outer mountains was tense to the limit, numerous disciples everywhere wearing
grim expressions, while nervousness hid within the depths of their eyes. Every single one of them
understood the importance of tomorrow's peak selection ceremony.
A single step to become a dragon, or a single step to become a worm.
In these short three months after arriving at the Cangxuan Sect, they had deeply experienced how
immense of an entity it was, possessing various cultivation resources that their empires or clans could
never hope to have.
Just the outer mountains alone was already such an eye-opener. What kind of world would they see if
they became inner mountain disciples?
It was clear as day to them. Only here could they truly step onto the great path of cultivation.
The imminent peak selection ceremony was the first trial they had to face in the Cangxuan Sect. Only by
passing it would they finally ascend the dragon’s gate.
By a certain mountain creek.
After the daily session was over, Zhou Yuan's gaze swept across the crowd as he said, "Everyone,
tomorrow is the day of the peak selection ceremony. Our futures will be decided there and then."
Below, Song Wanxi, Qiao Xiu, Zhao Kun and the rest wore solemn expressions. A sliver of respect could be
seen in their gazes when they looked towards Zhou Yuan.
For the past month, Zhou Yuan had indeed fulfilled his promise to them. He had guided them in their
Genesis techniques, allowing them to grow substantially stronger.
Song Wanxi gazed at Zhou Yuan and earnestly said, "Junior brother Zhou Yuan, we will not let ourselves
forget this debt. If there's anything you need in the future, just say the word, and we will do all we can to
help."
Even the domineering Zhao Kun earnestly nodded his head. "I, Zhao Kun, rarely acknowledge anyone.
Young brother Yuan, you're the first. After we enter the inner mountains, I will not give even half an
excuse if you ever need my help."
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The other disciples also said their piece one after another. One could tell that they were indeed grateful
towards Zhou Yuan. After all, if he had not stepped up, they would not have the courage to challenge the
Shengzhou disciples led by Lu Feng.
What's more, Zhou Yuan had even taken the time to tutor them. He had indeed shown them his sincerity.
Qiao Xiu smiled when he heard this and said, "Young brother Yuan's future prospects after entering the
inner mountains will surely be limitless, and will soon become one of the pillars that supports the sect.
When that happens, you may even find yourself ranked in the Chosens List. What help can we possibly
offer when that happens."
His provocative words immediately drew a series of laughs and curses from the crowd, making the
atmosphere much livelier.
Zhou Yuan chuckled as he waved his hand and said, "I helped you guys for the sake of fighting Lu Feng
and the rest during the peak selection ceremony. I can only say that each of us merely fulfilled each
others needs.”
Although he was not afraid of Lu Feng, he did have the numbers on his side. It would be very troublesome
for Zhou Yuan if Lu Feng made use of this advantage. Hence why Zhou Yuan had recruited Song Wanxi,
Zhao Kun and the rest of the gang. At the end of the day, Zhou Yuan had not done it out of kindness, but to
further his own agenda.
However, Song Wanxi and gang merely chuckled. Regardless of Zhou Yuan's initial goal, at the very least,
they had benefited from him, and this was already enough in their eyes.
"The peak selection ceremony is tomorrow. After training for long so long, it’s time to relax a little. Let’s
go, it’ll be my treat at the Hundred Fragrances House today.” Zhou Yuan stood up and grinned widely.
His words immediately drew a series of cheers, joy filling the faces of the many disciples present. The
Hundred Fragrances Pavilion was not cheap, and disciples like them were not as rich as the Shengzhou
disciples. Therefore, most of them could only drool outside the Hundred Fragrances Pavilion, not daring
to enter even if it was empty. They never imagined that Zhou Yuan would fulfil one of the wishes in their
hearts today.
Hence, the group rowdily left the mountain creek, heading straight for the Hundred Fragrances Pavilion
in an excited manner.
When they entered, however, the joy on their faces froze for a brief moment. They had seen numerous
figures already gathered inside, and at closer inspection, Lu Feng and numerous elite Shengzhou disciples
were identified amongst the crowd.
At the same time, Lu Feng, Yang Xiu, Qin Zhen and the rest had also caught sight of the newcomers. Qin
Zhen was the first to react, and mockingly said, “Oh! You guys are also rich enough to come here?”
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Zhao Kun and the rest were immediately angered by his mocking tone.
“You guys can come, so why can’t we?” Zhou Yuan walked forward, his expression indifferent as he
glanced at Qin Zhen.
This glance made Qin Zhen tremble slightly as he recalled the scene where he had been suppressed by
Zhou Yuan. The former’s expression immediately turned somewhat ugly, but he did not dare to speak
again.
Zhou Yuan paid him no attention, merely looking towards Song Wanxi and the rest as he said, “Come on,
let’s go in.”
Although the presence of these guys made them rather uncomfortable, retreating at this point would only
make the other party more overbearing and arrogant.
Under Zhou Yuan’s lead, the group also surged into the building, finding a table across from the
Shengzhou disciples, before seating themselves.
The two groups sat opposite each other, making the atmosphere in the Hundred Fragrances House turn
rather strange.
Lu Feng’s eyes turned a little colder as his gaze clashed with Zhou Yuan’s, sparks flying.
Thud!
While stuck in the strange atmosphere, the sound of a cup slamming into the table was suddenly heard.
Zhao Kun and the rest immediately looked over, only for their expression to change slightly.
They had seen a girl in black seated beside Lu Feng. She was quite the gorgeous specimen, but her eyes
were filled with an icy haughtiness.
The most eye-catching thing, however, was the exquisite golden sash around her slender waist.
Lu Xuanyin, an inner mountain gold sash disciple.
Lu Xuanyin was expressionless, staring at her cup as her cold voice sounded in the Hundred Fragrances
House, “Since when does the Hundred Fragrances House allow just anyone to come in? This is really
affecting my appetite.”
Zhao Kun, Qiao Xiu and the rest turned red with embarrassment and anger after hearing the words that
were clearly directed at them. Rage filled their eyes, but none of them dared to retort due to Lu Xuanyin’s
status as an inner mountain gold sash disciple.
Zhou Yuan’s eyes were calm as he offhandedly asked, “Since when does a gold sash disciple manage the
rules of the Hundred Fragrances House?”
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Upon hearing that Zhou Yuan actually dared to retort, Lu Xuanyin’s eyes hardened as she frostily said, “As
expected of an outer mountain disciple, doesn’t even know proper behaviour.”
She looked towards the manager of the place and said, “Manager Liu, I’ll be booking the entire place
today. Get these eyesores to leave so they won’t keep ruining my mood.”
The middle-aged man called manager Liu bitterly complained in his heart. He knew that Lu Xuanyin was
well liked in the Sword Cometh Peak, and was not someone a manager of the Hundred Fragrances House
like himself could afford to offend.
Hence, he could only turn his gaze towards Zhou Yuan’s group.
Zhou Yuan frowned, staring at manager Liu as he said, “I’ve never heard that the Hundred Fragrances
House can chase other disciples out.”
Manager Liu could only let out a bitter laugh.
Liu Xuanyin suddenly stood up, crossing her arms before her chest as she looked towards Zhou Yuan and
the rest with ridicule and toyingly said, “Don’t say that your senior sister is too overbearing, you may be
able to stay if you want. As long as one of you can receive a single strike from my sword, I will happily pay
all of your expenses here today.”
“But if you don’t have the courage, you’d better leave soon so as not to spoil my appetite.” By this point,
her words were filled with iciness.
Zhao Kun and the rest had ugly expressions. Lu Xuanyin was an inner mountain gold sash disciple,
someone whose strength far surpassed outer mountain disciples like themselves. Even a fourth layer
Alpha-Origin would be hard pressed to receive a single attack from her sword.
Lu Feng smiled faintly as he watched, secretly praising Lu Xuanyin inside. If the other party dared to
accept, he or she would surely be crippled. If they did not, it would be a devastating blow to their morale,
making it very difficult for them to bring out their full power during the peak selection ceremony
tomorrow.
Zhou Yuan’s expression darkened somewhat. Lu Xuanyin’s plan was truly disgusting. The peak selection
ceremony was literally tomorrow, and she could still come up with such a tactic to demoralise them.
He may perhaps be able to receive Lu Xuanyin’s attack, but did not plan to take such a risk, because he
knew that she was certainly waiting for him to take the bait.
However, Zhou Yuan’s expression remained calm.
Qiao Xiu secretly inquired, “Young brother Yuan, what do we do?”
Zhou Yuan’s expression was cool and collected. “We wait.”
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“Wait.”
Qiao Xiu was taken aback, completely confused.
“Oh? You guys looked so proud earlier, why have you now become akin to ostriches who have stuck their
heads in the sand?” Lu Xuanyin sneered as she gazed upon the crowd.
The Shengzhou disciples immediately laughed loudly in accompaniment.
Zhao Kun and the rest sat uncomfortably in their seats, anger and restraining fear interchanging on their
faces as they looked towards Zhou Yuan.
While they were waiting for Zhou Yuan’s decision, a cold, lazy sounding voice sounded from the entrance
of the Hundred Fragrances Pavilion.
"Are you the one who wants to play?"
The place fell silent, every gaze gathering at the entrance a split second later.
An amazingly pretty figure gracefully stood at the door, a little creature in her arms. Her fine black hair
hung down from her head, while a pair of clear eyes seemed to contain an indifference towards all things.
The moonlight fell upon her, making her seem akin to a fairy from the moon palace. Even someone as
beautiful as Lu Xuanyin seemed to lose all color before this goddess.
Her clear eyes gazed towards the slightly rigid Lu Xuanyin as a nonchalant voice sounded once again,
"What are we playing? Let me accompany you."
1380
Chapter 263 Yaoyao Takes Action
A clear, indifferent voice sounded from the entrance of the Hundred Fragrances House, causing the
interior to fall silent. Numerous gazes turned to the doors, only to be glued to the moon fairy like figure
standing there, unable to shift away.
Every gaze had been instantly bespelled, amazement flitting across their eyes.
Zhao Kun, Qiao Xiu and the rest were also unable to turn away, while even a girl like Song Wanxi could
not help but remark under her breath, “So beautiful!”
They had naturally recognized the person that had appeared at the entrance. It was Yaoyao.
However, they could only bitterly smile at the words Yaoyao had spoken, words that could only possible
peaceful resolve this matter...
“Little junior sister Yao is too fierce.” Zhao Kun forced a smile. Given Lu Xuanyin’s character, there was no
longer any hope of peacefully ending this dispute.
“Your mother, are we that afraid of them. I refuse to believe that a single inner mountain disciple can so
willfully bully the outer mountain disciples.” Said Qiao Xiu through gritted teeth.
Everyone else nodded one after another.
As for Zhou Yuan, he merely grinned with a calm face. He had not shown any panic earlier when Lu
Xuanyin was being overbearing because he had already specifically gotten Shen Wanjin to invite Yaoyao
over.
Of course, his goal was to let Yaoyao also join in the fun. Lu Xuanyin stirring up trouble for them had been
out of his expectations.
“Since big sis Yaoyao has made her timely arrival, there is no need for us to interfere in this matter.” Said
Zhou Yuan as he stared at the group, a rather mysterious smile hanging from the corners of his mouth.
Zhao Kun and the rest looked at each other, unable to understand. They had never seen Yaoyao’s abilities
before. The latter normally did not even attend the Genesis Mountain training sessions, hiding away in
Zhou Yuan’s little house to study Genesis Runes instead. Hence, Yaoyao was extremely mysterious in the
eyes of many disciples.
As such, they were unable to estimate how powerful she was, which was also why her name had never
appeared in the ten great outer mountain disciples rankings.
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However, Lu Xuanyin was an inner mountain gold sash disciple, her strength at the very minimum
reaching the six layer Alpha-Origin stage. Such power was not something any of the outer mountain
disciples that had only recently joined the Cangxuan Sect could match.
No matter how formidable Yaoyao was, she could not possibly exchange blows with Lu Xuanyin, right?
Hence, all of them felt somewhat awkward in response to the nonchalance Zhou Yuan was showing.
By the door, Yaoyao slowly walked in at this moment, and arrived beside Zhou Yuan and gang. Her clear
eyes first swept towards Zhou Yuan, still caressing Tuntun as she said, “I just knew that there won’t be
anything good from your invitation.”
Zhou Yuan hurriedly gave her his seat as he helplessly said, “I really wanted to invite you to join us for a
gathering so you won’t be too bored by yourself.”
Yaoyao shot a look at Zhou Yuan, staring at him for a long time before withdrawing her gaze as if letting
him off the hook this time. She elegantly seated herself on Zhou Yuan’s chair, before her clear eyes swept
across the table, immediately causing Zhao Kun, Qiao Xiu and the rest to turn meek.
Her presence was far too overwhelming.
Cold sweat appeared everyone’s backs. Compared to Lu Xuanyin’s haughty aura, Yaoyao’s was able to
make them truly feel suppressed.
Such pressure could not be described in words, but it made them feel that they should never ever anger
her.
As Yaoyao walked in, Lu Feng’s side gradually returned to their senses. Numerous disciples still cast their
gazes towards her, unable to conceal the amazement and astonishment in their eyes.
Even Lu Feng’s breath was taken away, surprise coloring his eyes.
The only one that fully regained her wits was Lu Xuanyin. Her pretty face instantly twisted, jealousy
flitting across her eyes as she looked towards Yaoyao. The latter’s appearance and aura truly made her
feel a sense of inferiority she had never experienced before.
Such feelings made Lu Xuanying’s complexion turn steely green with rage.
“A mere outer mountain disciples dares to spout such words before me?” Lu Xuanyin icily stared at
Yaoyao, contempt rising from the corners of her mouth as she continued, “Are you certain you want to
receive a strike from my sword? I will not go easy on you because you’re a girl. If you pretty face ends up
being accidentally cut up by my sword, don’t come threatening me with death later on.”
“Receive a strike from your sword?”
1382
Yaoyao gently stroked Tuntun as she swept an indifferent glance towards Lu Xuanyin. “That’s not
interesting at all…”
She reached forward and picked up a cup, gazing at the wine within it as she offhandedly suggested, “How
about this, I have a certain Genesis Rune. If you’re able to neutralize it, I will admit defeat and let you do
whatever you want to me.”
“Oh?” Lu Xuanyin’s eyes narrowed, staring at Yaoyao as she sneered. “How arrogant. There are not many
in the Cangxuan Sect who dare to say such words to me!”
“So how about it?” Said Yaoyao while holding her cup.
Lu Xuanyin’s hand slowly tightened around her sword as she mockingly answered, “Since you want to
humiliate yourself, I will naturally fulfill your wish.”
Thud!
The cup in Yaoyao’s hand suddenly slammed into the table, causing the liquid within to leap into the air,
transforming into countless droplets.
A Heavenly Yuan Brush appeared in Yaoyao’s hand. Light flickered at its tip as it seemingly transformed
into a series of after images, drawing numerous complex trajectories in the air.
The countless floating drops of alcohol gradually weaved into a complicated Genesis Rune that rapidly
took shape above Yaoyao.
“Go.”
With a casual final flick of her brush, the Genesis Rune abruptly shot forward as the surrounding Genesis
Qi swiftly converged towards it.
The liquid Genesis Rune rapidly expanded as it took in Genesis Qi, eventually transforming into a giant
water dragon under the many shocked and frightened gazes.
The dragon’s body was covered in ancient and complex patterns. A wild and violent dragon roar
thundered.
Rumble!
The roaring water dragon seemed to contain endless power as it charged towards Lu Xuanyin.
The instant the Genesis Rune water dragon appeared, Lu Xuanyin’s expression abruptly changed as shock
flashed in her eyes, clearly realizing how powerful this Genesis Rune of Yaoyao’s was.
“This woman… to think that she would be so astonishingly masterful in the art of Genesis Runes?!”
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Lu Xuanyin’s heart churned with emotion as her expression turned exceedingly grave.
She tightly gripped her sword, and a split second later, its sharp blade abruptly left its sheath.
Shiing!
“Autumn Moon Swordplay, Moon Flash!”
With a stern shout abruptly rang out from Lu Xuanyin’s mouth. Everyone present felt a sword flash past
as if it was moonlight, even space itself faintly quivering under its blade.
Moonlight like sword Qi ferociously slashed downwards along with a chillingly sharp and deadly aura.
In the face of the ferociously intimidating water dragon, Lu Xuanyin did not dare to delay, immediately
unleashing a ruthless attack.
Pch!
The banisters in restraint disintegrated, the remaining stumps smooth as a mirror.
In the face of this sword Qi, even the expressions of Zhou Yuan, Lu Feng and the rest changed slightly. No
matter how anyone below the below the fifth layer Alpha-Origin were to defend, they would very likely
be seriously injured by this strike.
Lu Xuanyin may be haughty, but her strength was indeed that of a true-blue golden sash disciple.
Under the many horrified gazes of the disciples, the moonlight like sword Qi sliced past, smashing
directly into the roaring water dragon Genesis Rune.
Pchlah!
The two forces clashed as an astonishing Genesis Qi shockwave violently unfurled.
However, when the sword light passed through, everyone saw the water dragon being cut apart.
The sword light continued on its path, piercing the wall as it vanished into the night.
Liquid with a strong alcohol smell fell in the Hundred Fragrances House.
The expressions of Zhao Kun, Song Wanxi and gang changed slightly. Yaoyao’s Genesis Rune water
dragon seemed to have been cut apart and scattered. Lu Xuanyin’s sword Qi was unimaginable powerful.
From the looks of it, Lu Xuanyin had still taken the upper hand in their exchange.
The crowd on Lu Feng’s side had already burst out into laughter, clearly already bathing in their victory.
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Lu Xuanyin likewise grasped her sword as she looked down from above at Yaoyao, a toying sensation
growing from the corners of her smile as she said, “Although you excel in Genesis Runes, you were still
unable to withstand my sword.”
“Didn’t you say earlier that I get to do whatever I want to you?”
Yaoyao gazed upon Lu Xuanyin, who was so certain that victory was already in her grasp. The former’s
expression was still as indifferent as before as she said, “You seem to believe that you’ve already won.”
“Have I not?” Lu Xuanyin sneered, under the impression that Yaoyao was being stubborn.
However, her expression abruptly changed the instant her words sounded. She had just realized that the
spreading water vapor had landed on her body without her noticing.
The water vapor instantly solidified, turning into water snakes that tightly bounded her hands and legs.
The Genesis Qi in Lu Xuanyin’s body instantly erupted with the intent of breaking these water snakes.
However, glowing runes suddenly emerged on the surface of the water snakes. When Lu Xuanyin’s
Genesis Qi came into contact with the runes, it swiftly shrank back as if being sealed.
Water wet her clothes, exposing Lu Xuanyin’s lovely figure.
The laughter of Lu Feng and the other Shengzhou disciple came to an abrupt halt like ducks who had been
grabbed by the neck. Every one of their expressions became a brilliant sight to behold as they gazed at
the bounded Lu Xuanyin.
Their eyes were still filled with disbelief, unable to imagine how a golden sash disciple like Lu Xuanyin
would be so easily subdued by an outer mountain disciple.
Their terrified gazes turned towards the outrageously pretty Yaoyao as their bodies began to tremble
faintly.
Yaoyao paid no attention to their gazes, merely raising her eyes and looking towards the frantically
struggling Lu Xuanyin as an indifferent voice sounded in the building.
“It seems that you’ve lost…”
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Chapter 264 Shock and Awe
Water vapor tinged with the smell of alcohol spread in the Hundreds Fragrances House. The entire place,
however, was deathly silent.
Terror colored the eyes of Lu Feng, Yang Xiu, Qin Zhen and gang as they gazed upon the sight of Lu
Xuanyin being bounded, the cups in their hands slowly falling, crashing into the ground below.
No one had expected Lu Xuanyin to lose!
Lu Feng’s complexion was white with fear as he mumbled in disbelief, “How can this be?!”
The others looked towards Yaoyao as if she was a ghost, gazes filled with horror. One must know that Lu
Xuanyin was an inner mountain gold sash disciple, and had the strength of the sixth layer Alpha-Origin
stage!
Such power was enough to sweep away any outer mountain disciple, and even the likes of Lu Feng was
far from being able to compare.
However, who could have expected the sixth layer Alpha-Origin Lu Xuanyin to be so effortlessly subdued
by Yaoyao?!
Just how immeasurable was Yaoyao’s strength?
While Lu Feng’s side was overwhelmed by terror, everyone on Zhou Yuan’s side, with the exception of
himself, wore marvelous expressions. Some were even rubbing their eyes, believing they had seen some
kind of hallucination.
“Little junior sister Yao is too terrifying…” Zhao Kun swallowed time and time again. Yaoyao had rarely
shown her abilities since entering the Cangxuan Sect’s outer mountains. Hence no one knew how
powerful she was. The scene from today, however, was scalp numbing.
While both parties were stunned by this outcome, Lu Xuanyin, who was still bound in the air, felt so
humiliated that she'd rather die on the spot. She madly thrashed about, the Genesis Qi in her body
charging out again and again in an attempt to cut the water snakes.
However, the Genesis Rune water snakes were clearly not ordinary, and were able to seal away Genesis
Qi. This, Lu Xuanyin was unable to free herself.
Yaoyao glanced at the still struggling Lu Xuanyin and asked in an uncaring voice, “Do you yield?”
Lu Xuanyin tightly gritted her teeth, staring daggers at Yaoyao.
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“If you don’t, you continue waiting there like this. The Genesis Rune will naturally dissipate six hours
later.” Said Yaoyao.
Lu Xuanyin’s expression changed. If she was strung up here for six hours, all of her face would be lost.
There would be no end to the laughter if news of this spread back to the inner mountains.
She tightly gritted her teeth. In the end, she forcibly endured the humiliation as she said in a trembling
voice,”I… admit defeat!”
With a light flick of Yaoyao’s finger, the water snakes binding Lu Xuanyin’s limbs immediately dissipated.
The latter fell, stumbling onto the ground.
Once she landed, icy light began to gather in Lu Xuanyin’s eyes as she grabbed her longsword, killing
intent beginning to surface from her body.
However, when Yaoyao’s indifferent gaze cast onto the former’s body, she faintly trembled as a feeling of
dread filled her. Lu Xuanyin’s senses told her that if she were to continue, the unfathomable girl before
her would no longer show any mercy.
“Who exactly are you?!” Asked Lu Xuanyin through gritted teeth.
She was truly unable to imagine how someone with such mastery over Genesis Runes would only be an
outer mountain disciple. Strength like this would be considered elite even amongst the disciples of the
Spirit Rune Peak.
Yaoyao shot a look at her and said, “Why is an inner mountain disciple like you interfering in the matters
of the outer mountains?”
Lu Xuanyin’s face turned a little ugly. “Don’t be too happy. I won't forget what happened today, and there
will come a time when I’ll pay you back in the future!”
Yaoyao uncaringly replied, “Feel free to come at me anytime. But you must remember that any action has
its consequences. If you provoke me next time, the consequences may not be as simple as stringing you
up for a while.”
Lu Xuanyin’s pretty face turned red with anger. She knew that she had already been thoroughly
humiliated today, and could not bear to stay a second longer in this place. With one final stamp of her
foot, her icy face turned towards Lu Feng and the rest as she growled, “Go!”
Lu Feng and gang silently stood up, their expressions pretty ugly.
Especially Lu Feng, who constantly looked towards Yaoyao with a depressed look in his eyes. The
strength she had displayed was far too astonishing, making him feel extremely awkward. He had
previously believed that Zhou Yuan would be his only opponent in the peak selection ceremony, but now,
it seemed that Zhou Xiaoyao was the unfathomable one.
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In the face of a monster like her, even the proud Lu Feng did not have any confidence.
With this girl here, what point was there in the peak selection ceremony tomorrow?
Lu Xuanyin saw his expression, but there was nothing she could do but say, "With her around, all of you
should just forget about first place."
Even she was not Yaoyao's match, let alone Lu Feng.
Yaoyao's bright eyes swept over, pausing on Lu Xuanyin as she nonchalantly said, "No need to incite me.
Relax, I will only take one of the top ten spots tomorrow. First place does not interest me at all."
"In addition, I will not interfere in the fight between him and Zhou Yuan."
"If he wins, it will naturally be because of his ability, and if Zhou Yuan loses, it would only mean that he is
lacking."
Yaoyao was naturally aware of the fight between Zhou Yuan and Lu Feng. However, she had no intention
of interfering. She understood that the road of cultivation was littered with difficulty and obstructions,
and one could only rely on oneself to reach its end.
Lu Feng may be a threat to Zhou Yuan, but the former was also able to bring out Zhou Yuan's potential.
If every danger was eliminated by her, then the only fate awaiting Zhou Yuan would be to eventually
become crippled… Someone as intelligent as Yaoyao would thus never do such a thing.
A fledgling that only knew how to hide in its nest and be protected would never become a ruler of the
skies. Only by continuously engaging strong opponents would one be able to rouse one's potential, and
eventually soar across the nine heavens.
Yaoyao had only taken action against Lu Xuanyin because the latter had not abided by the rules.
But she wouldn't help Zhou Yuan sweep away every single obstruction in his battle with Lu Feng, because
this would not benefit Zhou Yuan at all.
Yaoyao's words stunned both Lu Xuanyin and Lu Feng, before joy flooded the Lu Xuanyin's eyes as she
asked, "Are you serious?!"
Yaoyao cast an indifferent glance at them. Although she did not answer, her meaning was already clear.
Lu Xuanyin let out an icy laugh. "Since you're so arrogant, during the peak selection ceremony tomorrow,
I'll let you personally witness how Lu Feng crushes him! Don't regret it when that happens."
"Lu Feng will make him pay for today’s debt!”
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“Go.”
After finishing, she did not linger a moment longer and was the first to leave the building.
Lu Xuanyin know that there was no way she could deal with Yaoyao. Hence, she would let Lu Feng get
even through Zhou Yuan tomorrow, making sure the debt was fully paid.
Lu Feng and the rest hurriedly caught up, but his tense body had clearly relaxed, even toyfully looking
towards Zhou Yuan just before he left.
It was clear that Lu Feng no longer felt much pressure after determining that Yaoyao would not be
competing for first place.
As they left, Zhao Kun, Song Wanxi and gang felt somewhat regretful. If Yaoyao took action tomorrow, she
would definitely be able to thoroughly suppress the Shengzhou disciples and they would not dare to even
whimper.
However, Yaoyao ignored their regret, her bright eyes turning towards Zhou Yuan as she said, “Are you
disappointed that I did not help clear away all your troubles?”
A grin appeared on Zhou Yuan’s youthful face as he chuckled softly. “If you did, the peak selection
ceremony would really become a little boring.”
“Don’t worry, I understand your intentions. I will obtain what I want with my own capabilities.”
“Moreover…”
“No one will be able to snatch away first place.”
The sight of the confidence in Zhou Yuan’s eyes made Yaoyao feel slightly gratified. At the very least, Zhou
Yuan understood her thoughts, causing a very slight angle to rise from the corners of her little ruddy
mouth.
It was only a faint smile, but it could take away the breath of anyone who saw it, causing the numerous
youngsters present to be dazed.
However, the smile disappeared in the blink of an eye. Yaoyao caressed Tuntun as her gaze turned
towards the direction Lu Xuanyin, Lu Feng and the rest had left in. For the very first time, Yaoyao was a
little interested in the peak selection ceremony tomorrow.
“I’m afraid that it won’t be so easy to take back this debt from Zhou Yuan…”
1389
Chapter 265 Arrival of the Ceremony
The next day. Sunlight sprinkled down on the cool morning air, gradually chasing away the darkness that
had enveloped the land.
After a night of silence, the entire outer mountains seemed to suddenly come awake, bursting with
torrents of excitement and anticipation. Like a cold water that was splashed into a deep fryer, noise
instantly broke apart the silence.
Boiling battle intent filled every inch of the outer mountains.
All because today was the day of the peak selection ceremony.
Numerous disciples had come here from various continents in Cangxuan Heaven. After months of
training, they had gradually begun to grow accustomed to life in the Cangxuan Sect, while also sampling
the cultivation resources available here.
It was here that they could finally see how grand the road of cultivation was.
As long as they could step onto it, they may have the chance to laugh arrogantly even at the entire world
and tower over even the mighty heroes, becoming a true dragon amongst men.
However, the peak selection ceremony was currently the biggest obstacle standing in their path.
Only by crossing it would they enter the inner mountains, and finally come into contact with the grand
road of cultivation.
Hence, every single disciple had given their all for the past three months, investing everything into raising
their strength. Everything was for the sole sake of performing will during the peak selection ceremony
today, and become the carp that manages to leap through the dragon’s gate.
As such, when the battle intent that had been brewing for three months finally exploded, the Genesis Qi in
the outer mountains seemed to respond, beginning to heave agitatedly...
After three entire months of waiting, the peak selection ceremony was finally here.
“All disciples listen, immediately begin your preparations to follow me to the location of the peak
selection ceremony!”
Amplified by surging Genesis Qi, a powerful voice thundered across every corner of the outer mountains.
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Countless disciples began to flood out one after another. When they raised their heads and looked, they
found Chen Yuan standing on a Genesis Qi cloud with two elders behind him, their hands behind their
backs. One of them was elder Zong Ming.
Moments after Chen Yuan’s voice sounded, countless light figures began to shoot out from the outer
mountains, an extremely busy sight indeed.
Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao also walked out from a certain little house on a particular mountain.
Zhou Yuan gazed upon the practically boiling world around him as he felt the blood within his body begin
to burn. He too had been looking forward to the peak selection ceremony ever since three months ago.
“Let’s go.”
He shot a look at Yaoyao, before Genesis Qi begin rising under their feet, carrying the two individuals into
the sky.
While the two of them rose in the air, a cloud of Genesis Qi also rose nearby on which stood Gu Hongyi.
When she saw Yaoyao and Zhou Yuan, her gaze could not help but linger a little more on Yaoyao.
Gu Hongyi soon looked towards Zhou Yuan and said, “I’ve heard Lu Xuanyin was pretty angered by last
night’s events. Lu Feng will not let you off during the peak selection ceremony today.”
It seems that she had already found out about the events that happened the night before.
Likewise, she also knew that Yaoyao would not interfere in the battle between Zhou Yuan and Lu Feng.
If so, Lu Feng would definitely blame everything on Zhou Yuan. When they fought, the former would
surely show no mercy.
Zhou Yuan could naturally hear the warning in Gu Hongyi’s words. He smiled and nodded. “Relax, I know
what I have to do.”
“Then I’ll be looking forward to seeing your abilities today.” Gu Hongyi laughed, not saying anything
more. With a tiny stamp of her foot, Genesis Qi rose as she headed off first.
Yaoyao watched her fiery-red figure leave, before looking towards Zhou Yuan and suddenly remarking,
“You’re quite a player, it’s only been three months and someone has already become so concerned about
you.”
Zhou Yuan was instantly embarrassed by her words. “We’re only friends!”
Yaoyao did not comment, her red lips merely curling slightly.
“Young brother Yuan!”
1391
A voice was suddenly heard from behind at this moment. Zhou Yuan turned his head, and saw a dozen
figures fly over on Genesis Qi. It was Qiao Xiu, Zhao Kun, Song Wanxi and the rest.
At this current moment, their expressions were tinged with anticipation while burning battle intent filled
their eyes.
However, their excitedness dimmed somewhat when they caught sight of Yaoyao as they solemnly
cupped their fists together towards her. After last night, all of them now knew just who was the most
terrifying person in the outer mountains...
“Let’s go together.”
Zhou Yuan grinned. Without further ado, he waved his sleeve and led the way.
Behind him, Qiao Xiu and gang immediately followed, their Genesis Qi akin to vast sea of clouds.
Not long after they left, another group menacingly charged out from the vast sea of people, causing
numerous disciples to quickly give way.
At their head was naturally the extraordinary Lu Feng, dressed in his usual white.
Many of the figures behind him belonged to the elites amongst the outer mountain disciples. When
gathered together, their presence was naturally able to sweep everyone else away.
However, when the group caught sight of Yaoyao, their originally domineering presence weakened
substantially as they hurriedly avoided her gaze, not daring to even entertain the thought of provoking
her. Instead, they cast hostile gazes towards Zhou Yuan and the rest.
Zhou Yuan naturally ignored them, leading his group as they followed far behind Chen Yuan.
The mountain range rapidly fly past below their feet. After an incense stick of time, Chen Yuan and the
two outer mountain elders gradually slowed down.
The gazes of Zhou Yuan and the rest looked to their front, before their expression violently shook.
One would see seemingly endless rays of light spreading from the sky high above the numerous majestic
peaks. The light seemingly converged into a giant golden pyramid that towered over the land.
However, if one were to take a closer look, one would discover many wide and spacious stone platforms
within the pyramid of light.
There were a total of 9999 stone platforms.
These stone platforms gathered together, forming the shape of a pyramid.
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The higher up on the pyramid, the wider the stone platforms. At the apex were nine stone platforms that
glowed with a silver radiance, as if they had been made from silver.
Above these nine silver stone platforms was a stone platform that captured everyone’s attention, a stone
platform that dazzled like gold.
It clear as day. Only the number one individual of the peak selection ceremony would be able to ascend
the golden platform.
At this moment, Zong Ming and the other elder suddenly raised their heads, looking towards a certain
direction as their voices echoed across the place, “Disciples, get ready to greet sect master and the peak
masters.”
Upon hearing this voice, the hearts of every disciple shook, respect rising in their eyes as they looked
towards the sky.
The only ones whom the two outer mountain elders would treat in such a manner were naturally the sect
master and the seven peak masters...
Under the numerous respectful gazes from the disciples, layers upon layers of Genesis Qi clouds suddenly
appeared far away as a boundless presence unfurled from the horizon.
The Genesis Qi cloud layers seemed stir the surrounding space, appearing in the vicinity after several
breaths.
As the clouds churned, millions and millions of light rays seemed to shine across the land.
The disciples looked towards the clouds, finding six figures seated within. Even space itself seemed
tremble under their gazes as they sat there like gods, possessing power that could shake the land.
Zhou Yuan’s heart shuddered as he gazed upon the six imposing figures. Although he had seen patriarch
Cang Xuan before, he had been incomplete. The six figures before his eyes, however, truly gave off an aura
of terrifying power.
Such power seemed to be capable of bringing about armageddon.
“This… is this the strength of the sect master and the peak masters…”
1393
Chapter 266 The Six Hegemons
Clouds churned as they swept across the area.
Every outer mountain disciple lifted their heads, reverence in their eyes as they looked towards the
Genesis Qi clouds. At the center, Genesis Qi took the shape of a lotus platform where a figure was
currently seated.
The figure wore azure robes, and looked like a middle-aged man. However, his hair was entirely white,
while his eyes seemed to contain an immeasurable depth as if it was the starry sky, giving off an
unfathomable feeling.
An indescribable presence spread from his body, like the deepest pool, like the highest peak, making
solemn respect involuntarily rise within anyone who felt it.
All he did was smile slightly as he sat on the lotus platform, while the entire world around him seemed to
shiver slightly along with his breathing.
Even though he had already retrained the majority of his presence, the tiny slivers that spread from him
still made the numerous outer mountain disciples feel a boundless pressure.
It was as if they were standing before a god that could not be defied.
This person was the ruler of the current Cangxuan Sect, sect master Qing Yang.
At the same time, he was also the eldest disciple of patriarch Cang Xuan.
Now, however, he was an existence that stood at the apex of Cangxuan Heaven, and could be said to be a
hegemon.
Zhou Yuan sighed in amazement at sect master Qing Yang’s presence, before turning his gaze towards the
sect master’s right, where three slightly smaller Genesis Qi lotus platforms could be seen.
On these three platforms also sat three figures that gave off a majestic presence.
As Zhou Yuan focused, the first person to enter his eyes was the tall and slender figure of a gorgeous
woman. She was dressed in lotus decorated palace garbs which accentuated her fine curves. Her facial
features were also extremely pretty, her fine black hair pulled backwards, giving her a mature and
graceful aura.
It was an aura that even a perfect beauty like Yaoyao did not possess, because it required the
accumulation of experience over the years.
1394
Shen Wanjin secretly said beside Zhou Yuan, “Heh heh, little Yuan bro, that should be the master of Snow
Lotus Peak, Liu Lianyi. People call her fairy Lianyi…”
“I’ve heard that when she was younger, she was a famous great beauty of Cangxuan Heaven. From what I
can see, she does live up to her reputation.”
“Snow Lotus Peak is also one of the most popular choices in the Cangxuan Sect. Their male disciples are
handsome, while their female disciples are heart-stirringly beautiful. With regards to appearance, they
are definitely the best in the Cangxuan Sect.”
Shen Wanjin was practically drooling at this point. Soon after, he regretfully said, “However, it’s
unfortunate that I won’t be able to enter.”
“Why not?” Zhou Yuan chuckled.
Shen Wanjin touched his fat face as he gloomily said, “This Snow Lotus Peak master of ours only likes
good looking people. Looks is number one in her criteria for recruiting disciples, while talent is number
two… I’m afraid that someone like me would be kicked off the moment I step into the place.”
Amazement flooded Zhou Yuan’s face, not knowing whether he should laugh or cry. He never imagined a
peak master would have such character; recruiting disciples based on their face...
He sighed as he shook his head, before turning his gaze towards the other two lotus platforms. The one
next to peak master Lianyi was an elderly white-haired figure. The old man had a pair of white eyebrows
that connected in the center, making the expression on his aged face seem somewhat miserable.
Aura rose around the white brow elder, seemingly forming millions of ancient and profound runes. Every
rune would make the heart of anyone who saw it beat a little faster.
“His Genesis Rune cultivation… is extremely powerful. Of all the people I’ve seen over the years, his
mastery of Genesis Runes is the closest to grandpa Hei’s.” Yaoyao pretty face turned grave as she stared
at the white brow elder, while interest flooded her eyes.
From what she could tell, the white brow elder was likely second only to Cang Yuan in Genesis Runes.
Zhou Yuan could not help but be taken aback by her words. He had deeply felt master Cang Yuan’s
immeasurable strength before, and never imagined that the white brow elder would receive such an
assessment from Yaoyao.
“If I’m not wrong, he should be the master of Spirit Rune Peak, old man Tian Shu.” Said Zhou Yuan in a
low voice.
If one were to talk about Genesis Runes, this white brow elder was likely number one in the entire
Cangxuan Sect.
1395
“If there’s an opportunity, I do hope that I can ask him for some pointers.” Interest could be heard in
Yaoyao’s tone. There were not many things she was interested in, and Genesis Runes were one of them.
However, her standards were impossibly high due to following Cang Yuan for many years, making it very
difficult for her to find someone she could treat earnestly.
Zhou Yuan let out a bitter laugh. Given the status of these peak masters, how could any ordinary disciple
hope to seek guidance from them.
He shook his head as his gaze shifted towards the third lotus platform. Atop it was a metal tower like
figure, an elder that was bare all the way down to the waist. However, the elder’s body was not hunched
over like an old man’s. A dark gold luster shined on his skin, light seemingly swirling on it as if it was
made from gold. Faint, mysterious patterns could be seen on the surface of his body.
He was also imposingly muscular, practically overshadowing the whtie brow elder beside him. As he
crossed his arms across his chest and breathed, theQi and blood in his body seemed to circulate like an
unstoppable flood, while rumbling thunder was continuously emitted, pulsing with terrifying power.
If he had not painstakingly restrained it, just the rumbling from the Qi and blood in his body would likely
kill all the Alpha-Origin disciples present.
This elder had a different aura from the white brow elder, an aura of unmatched ferocity, as if he was a
giant that had walked out from the prehistoric era.
Zhou Yuan wiped away the cold sweet on his brows. This individual was likely the master of Hongya
Peak.
Wasn’t this Gu Hongyi’s old ancestor? No wonder she rather die than go to the Hongya peak...
“These three and sect master Qing Yang are the four disciples of patriarch Cang Xuan…” Zhou Yuan’s
expression shivered a little as he looked towards the left side of sect master Qing Yang, where the
torrential Genesis Qi had also transformed into two lotus platforms.
On one of the lotus platforms was a figure wearing a set of simple hemp garments. At closer inspection,
one would see a kindly expression on his young and handsome face, his skin glowing like jade.
A mottled stone sword lay across his knees, giving off a faint but terrifying aura.
The Genesis Qi around him faintly vibrated as the cry of a sword rang out from within, as if a sea of
swords were hidden around him.
All Zhou Yuan did was look at the handsome youth for a while, when he felt a piercing pain in his eyes,
causing him to hurriedly withdraw his gaze.
“This person… should be the master of Sword Cometh Peak.”
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Zhou Yuan’s gaze flickered in thought. Gu Hongyi has told him previously that the master of Sword
Cometh Peak was once a servant boy under patriarch Cang Xuan. However, the latter now possessed high
status in the Cangxuan Sect.
“The final one must be the master of Thunder Prison Peak, the most senior person in the Cangxuan Sect.”
Zhou Yuan looked towards the last figure, only to see that sky in the area was dark, lightning flashing in
the clouds as if a lightning dragon was flying within.
On the lotus platform was an elder in black robes with an impassive face. Lightning swam in his eyes as a
frightening pressure slowly spread, shaking the space around him.
Zhou Yuan could sense a destructive power in the black robed elder’s body, that seemed to briefly reveal
itself before vanishing the next moment.
“The master of Thunder Prison Peak is definitely terrifying.”
Zhou Yuan’s expression had turned grim. The master of Thunder Prison Peak was an old friend of
patriarch Cang Xuan. With regards to seniority, even sect master Qing Yang showed respect towards the
former.
“Huu.”
Zhou Yuan breathed in deeply, gradually controlling the emotions in his heart. These six figures before
his eyes were the six hegemons of the Cangxuan Sect.
Each one wielded immeasurable power. It was no wonder that the Cangxuan Sect had been able to
remain amongst the six sacred sects even after patriarch Cang Xuan’s death.
Behind the six hegemons were numerous figures that gave off powerful presences, evidently the
powerful experts of the Cangxuan Sect. It seems that the internal department of the Cangxuan Sect also
viewed this event with extreme importance.
On the clouds, sect master Qing Yang cast his gaze downwards. It was as if nothing could hide from his
gaze as it shined upon every disciple. A single glance from him was seemingly capable of piercing even
the netherworld, allowing him to clearly view every aspect of every individual.
Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao seemed to feel sect master Qing Yang’s gaze pause just a little when it swept
across them, before continuing on its path.
At the same time, sect master Qing Yang’s grand and loud voice boomed across the area from high above
like rumbling thunder.
“The inner mountains are recruiting 9999 disciples this time. A single person per platform. I hope all the
disciples will give their all.”
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“The top ten will directly become inner mountain gold sash disciples.”
“While the champion will be bestowed a Heaven Genesis technique and a single Genesis Marrow
Baptism.”
These words immediately caused the numerous outer mountain disciples below to burst into a frenzy,
gaze after gaze beginning to burn as they overflowed with battle intent.
Sect master Qing Yang smiled slightly at this sight, before his powerful voice thundered again,
“Disciples, let the peak selection ceremony begin.”
1398
Chapter 267 The Ceremony Begins
The instant sect master Qing Yang’s words left his mouth, boiling battle intent exploded from the
countless outer mountain disciples as burning gaze after gaze looked towards the pyramid made from
9999 stone platforms...
Theses platforms represented the number of people that could become inner mountain disciples,
meaning there were only 9999 spots.
In comparison, there were several tens of thousands of outer mountain disciples. In other words, the
majority would ultimately be eliminated. It was definitely going to be a highly intense struggle.
To occupy a platform and take a spot for yourself, you would need to experience difficult battle after
battle. Only then would the other competitors be too intimidated to challenge you.
The gazes of countless disciples met, sparks flying.
Rumble!
Genesis Qi suddenly erupted. It was as if a fuse was lit, tearing apart the deadlock as countless disciples
began to shoot forward a split second later. They swarmed into the sky like locusts, flying towards the
many stone platforms floating in the air.
It was indeed a spectacular sight.
“Go! Today will be the day we show our might!”
Lu Feng let out an icy laugh as his cold gaze swept towards the nearby Zhou Yuan. With a wave of his
sleeve, vigorous Genesis Qi erupted, and Lu Feng took the lead to dash into the sky.
Behind him, Yang Xiu, Qin Zhen and other powerful Shengzhou disciples also shot forth, closely following
behind. Their menacing aura made it such that no one dared to obstruct them.
“Everyone, let’s go too!”
Zhou Yuan took in a deep breath as he gazed upon the sky full of glowing figures, burning battle intent
rising from the depths of his eyes.
Zhao Kun, Song Wanxi, Qiao Xiu and the rest heavily nodded with equally excited gazes.
After three months of bitter training, it was finally time for them to show their worth.
Rumble!
1399
With a surge of Genesis Qi, their figures also shot forth, the dozen gathered figures also pretty eye-
catching.
In a short span of a dozen breaths, numerous figures landed on the lowest stone platforms. However,
with the exception of a tiny handful, most did not linger for even a second, instead using the platform as a
foothold to propel their bodies forward again, heading towards the higher platforms.
Everyone knew that the higher the platform, the better one would be able to show one’s abilities. The
rankings would also be different, enabling one to receive better treatment in the future.
Hence, everyone wanted to climb as high as they could instead of dwelling at the bottom of the pyramid.
Of course, not everyone had the courage. Disciples that were satisfied as long as they could become an
inner mountain disciple stayed behind, standing at the center of the stone platforms, indicating their
determination to vie for it.
Anyone that was also interested in competing would step onto the same stone platform and begin the
fight to decide who would ultimately have the right to occupy it.
Hence, in a short few minutes, bouts of berserk Genesis Qi were already exploding on many stone
platforms, the figures within engaged in battle.
The world around them was filled by the sounds of Genesis Qi clashing.
On the Genesis Qi clouds high above, numerous gazes were cast down, watching the Genesis Qi clashes on
the stone platforms.
Sect master Qing Yang gazed at the five individuals around him as he smiled and said, “I wonder who will
end up as the champion.”
On his left, the youthful looking Sword Cometh Peak master, Ling Jun, whose face gave off a healthy jade
like glow, let out a gentle chuckle as he said, "I've heard that the Lu clan's Lu Feng has been recognized as
the head of the ten great outer mountain disciples. If nothing unexpected happens, he should be the
greatest contender for first place."
On sect master Qing Yang's left, the Snow Lotus Peak master Liu Lianyi's long and narrow phoenix eyes
swept over as she said with an implicative tone, "I've heard Lu Feng has already received much attention
from peak master Ling Jun. I believe he will likely join the Sword Cometh Peak after the ceremony, right?
The Sword Cometh Peak has managed to snatch quite a number of excellent seedlings over the years."
Sect master Ling Jun smiled slightly. "My Sword Cometh Peak has relatively weaker foundations after all,
giving me no choice but to recruit more disciples. We're still far from being able to match the Cangxuan
Peak."
1400
Sect master Qing Yang smiled and said, "The Sword Cometh Peak's current accomplishments cannot be
separated from peak master Ling Jun's efforts."
"The Cangxuan Sect is teacher's life blood after all. I naturally want to do my part." Said peak master Ling
Jun with a smile.
Upon hearing these words, sect master Qing Yang continued to smile faintly, while the Snow Lotus Peak
master Liu Lianyi's eyes narrowed slightly without anyone's notice.
It this moment, a figure suddenly stepped forward from behind sect master Qing Yang and respectfully
reported, "Sect master, though it is true that Lu Feng's chances are great, there is someone that should be
able to compete with him."
If one looked over, one would discover that the person who had spoken was the one who had brought
Zhou Yuan to the Cangxuan Sect, Mu Wuji.
"Oh?" Sect master Qing Yang chuckled upon hearing this. "Is it the one from the Hongya Peak master's
clan?"
Upon hearing sect master Qing Yang's words, the Hongya Peak master Gu Tianhong’s lips cracked open as
he laughed, before he said in a booming voice, “That little lass is quite talented, but she is still lacking a
little compared to Lu Feng. If they fought, her chances at winning will not be high.”
Mu Wuji also chuckled and said, “Gu Hongyi’s does have astonishing talent. If given more time, no one
would be her match in the peak selection ceremony. However, the one I’m referring to is not her, but… a
little fellow called Zhou Yuan.”
He pointed towards a certain spot below as the hegemons gazes followed. They saw Zhou Yuan leading a
group of disciples as they climbed to higher platforms.
A short distance ahead, was Lu Feng and gang.
One look was all it took. Anyone could see that these two groups were the elites amongst this batch of
outer mountain disciples.
“This little one only has the strength of the first layer Alpha-Origin. How did he make so many people
submit to him?” Snow Lotus Peak master Liu Lianyi’s tone was one of interest.
“His Spirit is not weak and should have reached the Corporeal stage. No wonder.”
However, she soon sensed the strength of Zhou Yuan’s Spirit.
The white brow elder also looked down, a trace of interest appearing on his seemingly miserable looking
face. “His Spirit talent is not bad, he should be pretty decent in Genesis Runes.”
1401
Mu Wuji said, “Zhou Yuan comes from the Cangmang Continent, where he distinguished himself in the
Saint Remains Domain and obtained the patriarch’s Saint blood baptism.”
These words immediately caused the eyes of the six hegemons to widen a little. Soon after, all of them fell
silent.
Sect master Qing Yang slowly said, “Teacher’s body split into many parts when he died, falling onto
various locations in Cangxuan Heaven to form numerous Saint Remains Domain. However, only a small
handful have managed to obtain his Saint blood baptism. It seems that Zhou Yuan should have some
ability.”
The Hongya Peak master Gu Hongtian’s five fingers tightly clenched, space shattering around his hand.
His expression was stormy as an icy voice filled with rage sounded, “Those Sacred Palace bastards!”
They naturally knew that patriarch Cang Xuan’s death back then was very likely linked to Sacred Palace.
However, the current Sacred Palace was steadily rising in power, and there was also the terrifying Sacred
Race behind them. Hence, even the Cangxuan Sect could only bury their hatred deep in their hearts.
The air around Liu Lianyi and the white brow elder also turned much colder.
In the end, sect master Qing Yang waved his hand and said in a low voice, “Think about the big picture.”
“Humph!”
Fury flashed in the eyes of Liu Lianyin as she let out an icy snort. She looked as if she wanted to say
something, but ultimately resisted the urge. However, her soul-stirringly beautiful face was clearly
covered in frost.
The white brow elder lowered his gaze and remained silent.
The Sword Cometh Peak master Ling Jun sighed softly.
The Thunder Prison Peak master remained expressionless.
Sect master Qing Yang chuckled, consoling everyone two more times, before casting his gaze to the
numerous stone platforms below. Amongst the innumerable figures, Zhou Yuan and the dozen he led
rapidly ascended the pyramid.
Sect master Qing Yang concentrated on the youthful figure as he said in a soft voice, “Let us see whether
this little one will be able to give us a pleasant surprise…”
1402
Chapter 268 Fight for the Top
9999 stone platforms were gathered in the shape of a pyramid as they floated in the sky, dazzling
brilliantly when the rays of the sun shined upon them.
Boom! Boom!
At this current moment, berserk Genesis Qi violently pulsed from numerous platforms.
One would see a swarm of glowing figures continuously leaping upwards, jumping from platform to
platform as they climbed.
There were pretty much no other rules for this peak selection ceremony. At the center of each stone
platform was a mat. As long as someone could sit on it without being disturbed for an incense stick of
time, the stone platform would close, restricting anyone else from entering. When this happened, it would
mean that the platform had been occupied.
Any means could be used to achieve this.
Therefore, when someone powerful appeared on a stone platform, others might gang up on this
individual, making the situation extremely chaotic.
Swish! Swish!
Zhou Yuan, Song Wanxi, Zhao Kun and the rest stuck close together as stone platform after stone platform
rapidly passed by under their feet, their figures never lingering even for a second.
There was slightly over fifty people in their group, each an elite amongst the outer mountain disciples.
Hence, their goal was the top hundred in the peak selection ceremony and this place was clearly not their
final destination.
A short distance to their front on the right was another group leaping past platform after platform. They
were the Shengzhou disciples led by Lu Feng.
The gazes on both sides clashed from time to time, sparks flying.
Although the numbers of these two parties were nothing special when taking into account all the outer
mountain factions, they were two most unified groups, hence why their every action seemed
exceptionally attention grabbing.
The other disciples on the stone platforms gave way one after another, not daring to compete with these
two groups.
1403
As time passed in this manner, the two groups of disciples rapidly passed by numerous platforms and
began to gradually approach the upper area of the pyramid.
This was where the top one hundred stone platforms lay.
The disciples that were confident enough to come here were all powerful in their own right. Thus, the
battles between them grew increasingly intense.
By this point, individuals from the two groups finally began to break off and select their stone platforms,
not advancing any further.
Of course, besides the two factions led by Zhou Yuan and Lu Feng, there were also many other disciples
vieing for these stone platforms, which consisted of both Shengzhou and non Shengzhou disciples.
After all, not every outstanding disciple had been recruited by Zhou Yuan and Lu Feng. Even more had
chosen to remain neutral, declining to be part of the grudge between the two parties.
However, they were currently faced with the situation of limited platforms. Hence, they no longer cared
which party anyone belonged to, directly engaging any competitor they met in combat.
Lu Feng was at the very front, his icy gaze occasionally sweeping towards Zhou Yuan, who was just a
short distance behind.
He had originally planned to recruit elite Shengzhou disciples and forcibly occupy the top ten spots. If
Zhou Yuan dared to contest, the group would gang up on him and chase him off.
If that were the case, Zhou Yuan would not even have the chance to duke it out with Lu Feng.
However, Lu Feng had not expected that Zhou Yuan would also recruit a group of elite disciples.
Together, they were an extremely strong force, making it impossible for his initial plan to work.
“Since that is so, I will personally stomp you into the ground!” Lu Feng’s eyes were filled with ridicule. As
long as Zhou Xiaoyao did not interfere, he would let Zhou Yuan understand the gap between them.
He wanted Zhou Yuan to know that a peasant like him should have obediently stayed in his shitty peasant
village.
How could a peasant like him have designs on a girl blessed by the heavens like Gu Hongyi?
Lu Feng raised his head as the top most area of the pyramid came into view. Nine silver stone platforms
glittered under the sun. These were the top ten spots.
By this time, there were only nine figures remaining behind him. However, powerful Genesis Qi
undulations spread from all of them, clearly showing that each one was formidable individual qualified to
compete for the top ten.
1404
Their eyes gradually began to burn with excitement, clearly understanding that the true battle was finally
about to begin.
“Qin Zhen, Lei Hongytao, Gu Meng…”
Lu Feng took in a deep breath. In the next instant, a shout akin to thunder boomed, “Do it!”
The instant Lu Feng shouted, ominous glints flashed in the eyes of Qin Zhen and the rest as waves of
berserk Genesis Qi violently swept unfurled, transforming into streams that bombarded Zhou Yuan’s
group.
Several torrents of Genesis Qi whizzed towards them. Zhou Yuan’s gaze flickered faintly, but no change
could be seen on his face, evidently having already anticipated this.
He extended a hand and gave a slight wave.
Behind him, Song Wanxi, Zhao Kun, Qiao Xiu and the rest also acted together as Genesis Qi flooded the
sky, directly clashing against the other side’s attacks.
Rumble!
Berserk Genesis Qi shockwaves unfurled like a storm.
It was extremely chaotic.
Qin Zhen and the rest sternly shouted, “Zhou Yuan, if you want to pass, you’ll have to first ask if we
agree!”
“Haha, Qin Zhen, the likes of you do not have the qualifications to obstruct young brother Yuan. I’ll be the
one to play with you!” The moment Qin Zhen’s voice was heard, Zhao Kun shot forward, howling with
laughter.
“You’re going to stop me?” Ridicule appeared on Qin Zhen’s face.
Zhao Kun did not respond, his figure flashing as it appeared in front of Qin Zhen. Genesis Qi rapidly
swirled around the former’s growing hands along with deadly dipper Qi.
Boom!
Zhao Kun sent a chop flying, deadly dipper winds violently slashing downwards.
The two clashed directly, the air under their hands rapidly torn to pieces.
A shockwave unfurled as both figures landed on a stone platform and stumbled several steps back.
1405
Qin Zhen’s originally mocking expression had turned much uglier as he grimly said, “Why has your Sky
Dipper Hand also reached the second level?!”
One must know that his progress in the Sky Dipper Hand was attributed to the personal tutor invited by
Lu Feng and numerous cultivation resources. Only through these did he manage to reach the second level.
From what he knew, Zhao Kun’s Sky Dipper Hand had fallen behind substantially, making it practically
impossible for him to catch up.
But the power of the dipper wind from Zhao Kun’s previously palm strike had clearly reached the second
level of the Sky Dipper Hand.
Zhao Kun wet his lips, the dipper winds around his tightly clenched fists madly devastating the
surroundings with astonishing destructive force. He grinned widely and said, “It’s all thanks to you guys.
If you guys had not decided to deal with young brother Yuan, he would not have given us guidance in our
Genesis techniques.”
Qin Zhen’s eyes filled with wavering uncertainty. He had indeed heard that Zhou Yuan was giving
pointers to Zhao Kun and the rest, but had not thought much of it. After all, none of them would believe
that Zhou Yuan could possibly be so capable.
But the undeniable fact before him was that Zhao Kun’s Sky Dipper Hand was indeed not inferior to his
own.
Qin Zhen frostily declared, “Humph, what’s there to be happy about. Senior brother Lu will teach Zhou
Yuan who will be the true champion of the peak selection ceremony! You peasants are delusional to think
that you can challenge the status of us Shengzhou disciples!”
“We’ll know who is right after we fight!”
Zhao Kun let out an icy laugh. Without further ado, his foot slammed into the ground, rocketing his body
forward.
“You’re courting death!” Qin Zhan laughed in anger. The Genesis Qi inside his body burst out without
reservation as he met Zhao Kun’s charge head-on. Deadly dipper winds devastated the surroundings,
leaving scar after scar on the stone platform.
...
On another stone platform, Song Wanxi stood in front of Lei Hongtao.
Lei Hongtao said with his arms across his chest, “Junior sister Song, your Black Ying Scripture is
countered by my Red Yang Law, I advise you to leave while you can.”
1406
Song Wanxi softly chuckled upon hearing this. “There’s a mistake in senior brother Lei’s words. The
counter you speak of also holds true if reversed. As long as my Black Ying Scripture is more practiced
than your Red Yang Law, you will be the one to be countered instead.”
Mockery rose from the corners of Lei Hongtao’s lips. “I’ve received guidance day and night for the past
month, and my Red Yang Law has already reached the initial stage. In terms of mastery, you are far from
my match.”
As he spoke, red light began to rise from his body as a dreadful heat slowly spread, charring the ground
around him.
However, Song Wanxi merely smiled faintly in response to the domineering heat. Genesis Qi surged in her
body as frighteningly cold Yin Qi suddenly pulsed, instantly freezing the ground below her feet.
Cold air rose, completely blocking Lei Hongtao’s red light.
“Senior brother Lei is too complacent, my Black Ying Scripture has also advanced to the next level under
junior brother Zhou Yuan’s guidance during the past month.” She suddenly laughed charmingly. “To be
honest, I should be thanking you guys.”
Lei Hongtao’s expression turned somewhat ugly at the sight of the alarming Yin Qi spreading from Song
Wanxi’s body. Soon after, he inhaled deeply and said, “Zhou Yuan does have some ability.”
“However, things won’t go as he wants this time.”
“You guys maybe able to stop us, but don’t forget that Yang Xiu is only slightly weaker than senior brother
Lu, and there’s no one on your side who can stop him!”
Song Wanxi frowned slightly. Yang Xiu was ranked third amongst the ten great outer mountain disciples.
Although he did not flaunt his abilities, he was definitely the strongest person on Lu Feng’s side.
She looked towards a stone platform in the distance. Ever since arriving at the top ten platforms, Yaoyao
had leisurely occupied one of them, before beginning to set-up several Genesis Runes on it.
Besides a few ignorant disciples who tried to charge in and were insta-killed at the beginning, there was
basically no one who dared to approach her platform.
Even Lu Feng and the rest voluntarily avoided her.
After occupying it, Yaoyao sat there looking as if she was only going to watch as a bystander, clearly
showing no signs of helping Zhou Yuan.
Song Wanxi let out a bitter chuckle, before she lifted her head slightly to look above where three figures
were leaping into the air.
1407
Zhou Yuan was just below the golden stone platform, while two figures currently stood in the air before
him.
Lu Feng and Yang Xiu.
Lu Feng cast a mocking glance at Zhou Yuan, as he nonchalantly remarked, “It seems that you did not
recruit enough people.”
There was a really superficial smile plastered across his face.
“Do you plan to take the both of us on alone?”
1408
Chapter 269 Hongyi’s Aid
Zhou Yuan stood in the air above a silver stone platform, golden Genesis Qi forming a cloud under his
feet. He was currently looking to his front with an expressionless face.
In front of him stood Lu Feng and Yang Xiu with their hands behind their backs. Two powerful presences
rose into the air like two towering mountains that blocked the path towards the final golden stone
platform.
Like two tigers blocking the road.
Lu Feng’s indifferent gaze looked towards Zhou Yuan as he said, “Zhou Yuan, this is where you stop.”
He did not speak any further, his gaze turning towards Yang Xiu. “Brother Yang, I’ll be handing him to
you. Delay him for an incense stick of time, and I will be able to occupy the champion’s platform.”
Yang Xiu smiled slightly and replied, “Sure, but you must fulfil the promise you made.”
Yang Xiu was just that tiny bit weaker than Lu Feng, and came from the prominent Yang clan. Hence, he
was naturally not subordinate to Lu Feng, but rather friends of sorts. Since Lu Feng had asked him to take
on this task, the latter would naturally have to pay a certain price.
“Don’t worry.” Lu Feng nodded, before his cold gaze turned towards Zhou Yuan, mockery lifting from the
corners of his mouth, “Brother Yang will play with you for a bit. I’ve told you before that you shouldn’t
dream of taking first place.”
The moment he finished, his figure suddenly rose upwards, making a beeline towards the highest golden
platform.
Zhou Yuan frowned slightly at this sight and took a step forward.
Rumble!
Alarming Genesis Qi undulations abruptly exploded from Yang Xiu’s body, undulations that reached the
fourth layer Alpha-Origin.
Yang Xiu was clearly no weakling.
“Junior brother Zhou Yuan, why the need to cling so tightly to first place, you should be satisfied that you
can already reach top ten.” Yang Xiu smiled.
His hands began to close as silver Genesis Qi that flickered with lightning whizzed from his palms with a
loud rumble, ultimately transforming into a giant lightning dragon.
1409
Rumble!
The lightning dragon roared as it charged towards Zhou Yuan.
Zhou Yuan’s eyes narrowed slightly, no bothering to say anything. Since Yang Xiu was intent on helping
Lu Feng stop him, the only thing to do was to step over this obstacle.
Although it would be a little troublesome, as long as Zhou Yuan could deal with Yang Xiu within an
incense stick of time, he would naturally be able to stop Lu Feng from taking first place.
Golden Genesis Qi unfurled from Zhou Yuan’s body, taking the shape of a python as its hiss echoed across
the area.
Pchla!
However, just as Zhou Yuan was about to act, his expression suddenly changed slightly. A flash of red
descended from the sky, viciously lashing at the Genesis Qi lightning dragon.
Boom!
Berserk Genesis Qi shockwaves swept outwards.
The flash of red shot back to where it came from, turning into a long red whip that ultimately landed in a
fair hand.
Countless gazes looked over, only to find a fiery-red figure proudly standing in the air, a red whip
wrapped around its wrist like a circle of fire.
It was obviously Gu Hongyi.
“Hey, did you guys forget about me?” Gu Hongyi smiled faintly.
Yang Xiu was taken aback, evidently not expecting Gu Hongyi to suddenly interfere. Given the latter’s
ability, no one would dare to snatch any of the top ten spots she occupied.
“Hongyi!”
At this moment, the expression of Lu Feng, who had originally been heading towards the tallest golden
stone platform, turned ugly when he saw this, and angrily said, “Hongyi, what are you doing?! All of us are
Shengzhou disciples, what would the others say about this?”
Gu Hongyi shot an icy look at him and retorted, “In my eyes, there is no difference between Shengzhou
and the other continents, everyone who enters the Cangxuan Sect is a Cangxuan disciple.”
“You!” The veins on Lu Feng’s head bulged. His anger had clearly reached its peak.
1410
However, Gu Hongyi ignored him, her bright eyes turning towards Zhou Yuan as she said, “Go and fight
for first place, I’ll play with him.”
Zhou Yuan was taken aback. From her words, Gu Hongyi clearly planned on helping him obstruct Yang
Xiu. If so, she would also have to give up on the chance to vie for first place.
Gu Hongyi waved her hand and said in a straightforward manner, “Don’t be so wishy washy, you guided
me in the Ethereal Form technique, so this is how I’ll be paying you back.”
She paused for a moment, before continuing, “However, this is all I can help you with. Whether or not you
beat Lu Feng will depend on your abilities.”
Zhou Yuan gaze at Gu Hongyi and laughed softly. He did not argue, instead cupping his fists together.
“Then I’ll give my thanks.”
With a deep breath, his foot suddenly pushed downwards. Golden Genesis Qi enveloped his body,
transforming him into a flash of gold that dashed towards the sky. In a few dozen breaths, he stood at the
same height as Lu Feng.
Lu Feng’s handsome face was currently ominously stormy. He stared hard a Zhou Yuan for a long time,
before gradually suppressing the churning rage in his heart.
Lu Feng frostily remarked, “You really are like a lingering ghost.”
Zhou Yuan grinned, before lifting his head to look towards the golden stone platform. “If not because you
provoked me time and time again, I would not have had much interest in first place.”
It was indeed as he had said. His original goal had been top ten so that he would qualify for the right to
choose his peak. As for number one, he never really gave it much thought.
But who would have expected the petty and narrow-minded Lu Feng to repeatedly target him, and even
impede him by buying up the Genesis Beast essence blood from Glittering Jewels Pavilion in advance.
Such actions truly disgusted Zhou Yuan.
Hence, Zhou Yuan started his counter attack.
Lu Feng’s expression had already fully returned to normal. He stared at Zhou Yuan, a faint trace of disdain
hanging from the corners of his mouth as he uncaringly said, “Are you saying this to make me feel
regret?”
“Zhou Yuan, you overestimate yourself.”
“Do you truly believe that you are any threat to me? In my eyes, you’re just a dirty and disgusting mud
snake. All you are is an eyesore, but since you’ve now truly angered me, I can only stomp you to death!”
1411
A chilling light flitted across Lu Feng’s eyes.
“Fine, since you’re such an ignorant fool that does not know the immensity of the heavens and earth, I
will beat you till you wake up from your delusions, and let you know that compared to Shengzhou
geniuses like us, you’re ultimately just a peasant that has never seen the world!”
When the final word left his mouth, powerful Genesis Qi exploded from Lu Feng’s body like a storm. The
Genesis Qi carried him straight into the sky, before landing him on the golden stone platform.
At the same time, Lu Feng’s intensely chilling shout sounded across the area,
“Zhou Yuan, get your ass up here!”
“I will make sure that you will no longer dare to appear before me ever again!”
Zhou Yuan eyes narrowed slightly. A split second later, golden Genesis Qi turned into a giant python
under his feet and ferociously shot forth.
Swish!
His figure also slowly landed on the highest golden stone platform under the attention of countless
watching eyes.
Two figures faced each other on the golden stone platform.
It was akin to the confrontation between a tiger and a lion in the forest.
1412
Chapter 270 Wind Sea Technique
On the golden stone platform.
Two figures faced each other, vigorous Genesis Qi continuously erupting from their bodies like a storm.
Even the sky above seemed to have been affected, turning dark and stormy.
The innumerable gazes in the area converged onto this very location.
Without doubt, the battle here would decide the champion of the peak selection ceremony.
On the Genesis Qi clouds, even the six hegemons and numerous higher echelons of the Cangxuan Sect cast
their gazes downwards, stopping on the two young figures.
“Looks like first place really will be decided between these two.” Sect master Qing Yang laughed with
interest.
Snow Lotus Peak master Liu Lianyin swept a glance at the Sword Cometh Peak master Ling Jun and
remarked, “Having competition is good. If Lu Feng was the only one in the running with no one to fight
him, this peak selection ceremony would be boring.”
Over the years, Sword Cometh Peak had constantly used all kinds of means to get their hands on highly
talented disciples, making them grow stronger and stronger. Although this was done with sect master
Qing Yang’s approval, Liu Lianyi did not feel comfortable about it.
She felt that Ling Jun’s actions were disrupting Cangxuan Sect’s atmosphere.
A face as fair as jade, the youthful looking Ling Jun smiled slightly and said, “Zhou Yuan’s Spirit is not
weak, and should have some tricks up his sleeve. However, I’m still more optimistic about Lu Feng’s
chances.
“His Genesis Qi cultivation far surpasses his opponent, is from the Lu clan, and he has very stable and
solid foundations. He is not to be underestimated.”
His gaze suddenly swept towards Gu Hongyi’s figure as he frowned slightly without anyone noticing.
Didn’t Lu Feng admire Gu Hongyi? Wasn’t their relationship supposed to be good? Why had Gu Hongyi
chosen to help Zhou Yuan instead?
The attitude she displayed towards Lu Feng did not look as if she had a good opinion of him.
With such thoughts in mind, his gaze looked towards Lu Xuanyin. Cold sweat immediately appeared on
the latter’s fair forehead upon sensing his gaze, her pretty face turning rather ugly.
1413
Fortunately, peak master Ling Jun quickly withdrew his gaze, allowing Lu Xuanyin to breathe a sigh of
relief. Soon after, she tightly gritted her teeth as she gazed at the golden stone platform.
“Lu Feng, you must properly put this peasant in his place!”
Lu Xuanyin viciously glared at Zhou Yuan’s figure as she muttered in her heart, “As long as you crush him
under your foot, Gu Hongyi will naturally understand that a mere peasant can’t even compare to a single
hair on your body!”
Subsequently, she looked towards Yaoyao. The latter was currently leisurely seated on a mat, not a single
soul daring to even step on the stone platform she was on.
At the sight of Yaoyao’s appearance, Lu Xuanyin grew even angrier. She bit down hard on her teeth and
secretly said, “Continue to act! Let’s see if you’ll have the same expression when Zhou Yuan is crushed
under Lu Feng’s foot?!”
Under the attention of countless gazes, on the golden stone platform, Lu Feng’s gaze grew increasingly icy
as he stared at Zhou Yuan, the former’s glare as sharp as the edge of a blade.
He did not waste his breath speaking, because he could no longer be bothered to say anything. The thing
he wanted to do the most now was to crush Zhou Yuan’s face under his foot. Only so would he be able to
release the pent up rage in his heart.
“How dare a peasant like you have designs on the woman I’ve taken a fancy to?”
Lu Feng’s five fingers abruptly clenched tightly as dark green Genesis Qi erupted from his body without
reservation. Genesis Qi turned into a several hundred feet wide green hurricane that violently raged
around him.
The Genesis Qi cultivation displayed by Lu Feng had already reached the peak of the fourth layer Alpha-
Origin, far surpassing all the other outer mountain disciples.
Genesis Qi pressure spread, sweeping towards Zhou Yuan.
Zhou Yuan stared at Lu Feng. He could feel the Genesis Qi pressure pulsing from the latter’s body, causing
his expression to turn serious. He had never underestimated Lu Feng before.
The latter was after all a peak fourth layer Alpha-Origin expert.
The Genesis Qi around Lu Feng’s body grew increasingly vigorous, the iciness in his gaze finally peaking
as word after word was spat out from his mouth in a chilling voice,
“Zhou! Yuan!”
Swish!
1414
The instant the last word was said, Lu Feng’s body seemed to turn into a series of after images as he
abruptly shot forth, a fist brutally punching towards Zhou Yuan.
Dark green Genesis Qi swirled around the fist, like a howling tornado that caused even the golden ground
below to be crack.
Even a third layer Alpha-Origin practitioner would immediately be heavily injured if hit by this punch.
Lu Feng had clearly made full advantage of his peak fourth layer Alpha-Origin strength.
The fist rapidly enlarged in Zhou Yuan’s eyes. His body shook faintly as mists appeared, while his body
fully etherealized.
Ethereal Form!
His figure instantly disappeared from the spot.
Boom!
Lu Feng’s punch landed on empty air, the empty space rippling due to its power.
Lu Feng’s expression was eerily cold as his body shot forth once again.
A few dozen feet away, Zhou Yuan’s body had just revealed itself when the sharp sound of rushing wind
followed like a shadow.
Swish! Swish!
Two figures seemed to teleport on the giant golden stone platform, the piercing sound of rushing wind
continuously ringing in the area. They were so quick that several people were dazzled by their speed.
However, from what everyone could see, Lu Feng was fully in control of the battle. His attacks were swift
and ferocious like a storm, ceaselessly trying to engulf Zhou Yuan, causing him to retreat time and time
again.
Although the Ethereal Form made him extremely fast, Lu Feng’s Genesis Qi was also able to enhance his
speed, making him just that tiny bit slower than Zhou Yuan.
There were many instances where Zhou Yuan seemed to narrowly dodge by a hair’s breadth, making the
onlookers’ hearts jump in their bodies.
On 9999 stone platforms, some of the disciples whose battles had already ended lifted their heads, their
expressions changing as they watched the battle on the golden stone platform.
1415
They would likely not last even ten rounds if they were in Zhou Yuan’s place, before being effortlessly
defeated by Lu Feng’s torrent of attacks.
Boom!
Lu Feng’s punch blasted empty air again, his vigorous Genesis Qi making space itself tremble. A sharp
force pierced through space, landing on Zhou Yuan’s body.
However, the latter’s etherealized body merely shook slightly, neutralizing the force.
His figure borrowed its momentum to fly even further away, his nimbleness hitting the extreme.
Lu Feng’s expression was coldly indifferent as he frostily said, “Do you only know how to dodge like a
rabbit?”
However, his words had no effect on Zhou Yuan. He was no fool. Speed was his advantage, and though Lu
Feng’s attacks were swift and powerful, it would take a toll on his body if he continued.
To abandon one’s advantage after a single provocation from the opponent was something only an idiot
would do.
Lu Feng’s eyes hardened when he saw that Zhou Yuan was ignoring him. “It seems that you believe I have
no way to deal with that!”
“I’ve said this before, no matter how fast you run, you’re only a rabbit!”
“Your Ethereal Form technique is no threat to me at all!”
“Watch how I break your Ethereal Form!”
Lu Feng’s hands abruptly came together, a mocking smile rose from the corners of his lips as a chilling
voice sounded,
“Little Heaven Genesis technique, Wind Sea technique!”
In that instant, Zhou Yuan suddenly felt all the wind in the area sweep over, covering every inch of the
stone platform.
Space rippled faintly as the wind began to take on the shape of countless wind blades. The wind blades
came together, forming a sea of blades.
Zhou Yuan’s figure stood at the center of the sea, a slightly grave look appearing on his face.
Lu Feng was capable indeed. This method had directly sealed off his speed advantage.
1416
“Zhou Yuan, I will show you the gap between us!”
Lu Feng’s gaze was akin to the edge of a blade as his hand abruptly clenched.
Bzz!
Countless dark green wind blades vibrated. A split second later, they seemed to cover the entire sky as
they shot forward, engulfing Zhou Yuan, who had no place to hide.
Alarm and shock filled every gaze in the area. Lu Feng was indeed a formidable individual.
Lu Xuanyin’s red lips curled slightly, a look of release filling her eyes. To think that a mere peasant dared
to compete with Lu Feng. How could a country bumpkin possibly compare to a genius from the Lu clan.
“Make sure to cripple him!”
At this very moment, Zhou Yuan had undoubtedly fallen into the sure kill trap Lu Feng had set for him.
The former had instantly fallen into a precarious situation.
1417
Chapter 271 Card after Card
Bzzz!
Green wind blades seemed to form a sea as they engulfed every corner of the golden stone platform. The
innumerable vibrating wind blades flickered with an icy light, a sight that made one’s heart shiver inside.
In a brief moment, Lu Feng had displayed an impressive tactic, showing that his title as the number one
amongst the ten great outer mountain disciples was not just for show.
Gazes that could fill the sky converged on the spot where Zhou Yuan had been in the sea of wind blades as
everyone wiped sweat off their foreheads.
"Kill!"
A chilling light glowed in Lu Feng's eyes. Without any hesitation, his hand closed as a sky full of wind
blades shuddered. With a howl, all of them shot towards Zhou Yuan's location.
“No matter how fast you are, you can’t escape from the range of my wind blade sea!”
Zhou Yuan also seemed to understand that he would not be able to avoid this. Hence, his body did not
move from the stop, merely concentrating on the wind blades that were zooming towards him.
Every wind blade contained deadly Genesis Qi. Let’s not mention the third layer Alpha-Origin, even an
ordinary fourth layer Alpha-Origin would be pierced full of holes.
As the one who was trapped deep inside this sea of wind blades, Zhou Yuan’s situation was far from
reassuring.
Under the attention of countless gazes, the sea of green wind blades arrived at their destination,
drowning Zhou Yuan’s figure in a few brief moments.
Chchch!
A piercing noise stealthily sounded as the golden ground riddled full of holes.
A sea of wind blades swept forth, tirelessly unleashing a torrent of attacks.
It was a long while later before the sea of wind blades finally stopped their assault. Every single gaze in
the area immediately looked over, only to see Zhou Yuan’s figure standing on the exact same spot.
A cold smile was revealed on Lu Feng’s face. To forcibly endure his attack, let alone a first layer Alpha-
Origin like Zhou Yuan, even a fourth layer Alpha-Origin expert would be gravely injured.
1418
However, just as the smile on his face was widening, it suddenly froze slightly when his gaze looked to the
front.
Zhou Yuan stood there, his etherealized body covered in purplish gold scales that protected him.
On the purplish gold scale armor flickered complicated glowing runes that gave off a peculiar power.
It was the power of Genesis Runes.
The purplish gold scale armor was covered in cut marks, and even broken in some places. But as a whole,
the sea of wind blades had failed to break through his layers of defences.
An uproar began to spread in the area.
No one had expected Zhou Yuan to so easily withstand the attack that was powerful enough to seriously
injure a fourth layer Alpha-Origin...
On the Genesis Qi clouds, sect master Qing Yang nodded and said, “Not bad, that should be the Ethereal
Form technique. Reaching this level in a short three months really shows his talent.”
The Hongya Peak master Gu Tianhong’s voice was akin to a clap of thunder. “Those purplish gold scales
seem to be a little similar to the external tempering style. This kid is suited to walk the path of external
tempering.”
The miserably looking white brow elder from the Spirit Rune Peak shook his head and said, “Although the
purplish gold scales have decent defensive capabilities, the main reason why the kid was able to block Lu
Feng’s Wind Sea technique was the grade 4 defensive Genesis Rune he had drawn on the scales.”
“That’s why, I feel that Genesis Rune cultivation is stronger than external tempering techniques. The
latter will easily result in the body growing too powerful, making one become stupid.”
Gu Tianhong’s widened in a glare as he angrily said, “Old white, no matter how much bullshit you spout,
Genesis Rune cultivation will still be a path one takes when every other option has been exhausted. How
can it possibly compare to external tempering?!”
The white brow elder shook his head and sighed. “Like playing the lute to a cow, simpleton.”
The Snow Lotus Peak master Liu Lianyi looked towards Ling Jun and said, “It seems that it will not be so
easy for Lu Feng to become champion.”
The Sword Cometh Peak master Ling Jun merely displayed a kindly smile as he replied, “You are mistaken
peak master Liu, Lu Feng had merely been probing his opponent earlier. If Zhou Yuan was unable to even
deal with such attacks, he would really be a little too weak.”
1419
“Lu Feng has held the initiative from start to end. The fact that Zhou Yuan is able to last so long with his
first layer Alpha-Origin strength is already very impressive, but it will be very difficult for him to stop Lu
Feng.”
Liu Lianyin smiled faintly and said, “We shall watch and see.”
Beside Ling Jun, Lu Xuanyin did not dare to interject into the conversation between the two peak masters.
However, her little red mouth curled slightly.
In her opinion, Lu Feng was sure to win this battle, and Zhou Yuan’s resistance was ultimately akin to a
mantis trying to block a cart.
On the golden stone platform.
Lu Feng’s expression darkened slightly as he gazed at Zhou Yuan, who had managed to withstand his
wind blades. The former’s eyes grew even colder as he nonchalantly said, “Zhou Yuan, you do have some
ability.”
He had originally believed Zhou Yuan would be injured by his technique, but it looks like he had
miscalculated.
Evidently, he had still underestimated Zhou Yuan’ strength.
Although the latter was only at the first layer Alpha-Origin, he had numerous tricks up his sleeve, making
it hard for anyone to pin down.
The purplish gold scales on Zhou Yuan’s body gleamed. He did not intend to reply, as a similarly icy light
flashed in his eyes.
Thud!
His foot slammed into the ground, and his etherealized body disappeared from the spot. A split second
later, he appeared in front of Lu Feng, a fist covered in purplish gold scales blasting towards the latter
along with volatile Genesis Qi.
He had begun his counter attack.
“Oh? Finally dare to face me directly?” Mockery rose from the corners of Lu Feng’s mouth when he saw
this. He did not back down, a fist also flying forward as Genesis Qi tore through the air.
Thud thud!
The two exchanged dozens of blows in an instant, each attack ruthlessly aimed at the other’s fatal spots.
1420
Although Zhou Yuan’s attacks were ferocious, all of them were blocked by Lu Feng. The advantage of
being a fourth layer Alpha-Origin meant that his Genesis Qi was much stronger than Zhou Yuan’s.
Lu Feng mocked through the lightning quick exchange of blows, “Is this all your attacks amount to?”
He swung his palm as he sneered, squarely hitting Zhou Yuan’s fist shadow. The Genesis Qi in Lu Feng’s
body flooded out, slapping Zhou Yuan’s fist shadow away.
Plah!
However, the moment Zhou Yuan’s fist shadow was scattered, his right hand came swinging through, an
alarming amount of Genesis Qi suddenly converging towards the center of his palm. The Genesis Qi
transformed into a glowing Genesis Qi ball swirling with wind and lightning, berserk undulations
violently pulsing outwards.
A deep voice echoed in Zhou Yuan’s heart.
Lu Feng’s pupils violently shrank. Zhou Yuan’s true attack had been hidden under his numerous fist
shadows, the earlier attacks merely a distraction.
The wind and lightning ball rapidly enlarged in Lu Feng’s eyes.
However, Lu Feng was no ordinary individual after all. At this perilous moment, he suddenly sucked in a
deep breath as his cheeks rapidly ballooned, before blowing out a stream of green Qi.
“Green Light Source Needle!”
The green Qi transformed into a thin shadow that shot forth at an alarming speed. In a flash, it smashed
into the wind and lightning ball.
Bang!
A violent shockwave unfurled, sweeping Zhou Yuan and Lu Feng away.
Their feet smeared across the ground, leaving behind long skid marks, while they stabilized their bodies.
Lu Feng’s expression had grown even uglier. He had nearly been caught in Zhou Yuan’s sneaky attack
earlier, forcing him to reveal one of his hidden trump cards.
One should know that the Green Light Source Needle was a little Heaven Genesis technique. It was made
from condensed Genesis Qi and possessed astonishing power. If used at the right moment, it could even
bring about a reversal.
1421
However, it needed to be refined in advance, and had now been forced out by Zhou Yuan.
Zhou Yuan frowned slightly, not because he had failed to injure Lu Feng, but because the latter was still
hiding such a card up his sleeve. The green shadow from before was way too quick, and Zhou Yuan would
likely be struck if he was not guarding against it.
Fortunately, he was now prepared for it.
Huu.
Lu Feng’s icy gaze looked towards Zhou Yuan as he suddenly shook his head and said, “It seems that I
have underestimated you. As such, don’t blame me for bullying you because of your weak and poor
background.”
Zhou Yuan’s brows knitted together as vigilance appeared in his eyes.
Lu Feng let out an icy chuckle. With a deep breath, his hands abruptly began to form a series of seals.
Green light immediately dashed into the sky from the top of his head, the earth-shaking cry of a sword
ringing from within.
Just like an eagle’s cry.
Countless gazes converged towards the spot, and saw a long green sword within the green light. Piercing
rays of light exploded from the sword as an astonishing aura unfurled.
The eyes of innumerable disciples abruptly widened at this moment, as cries of shock and horror began
to sound one after another.
“That is… a Heaven Genesis Weapon?!”
1422
Chapter 272 Evolution of the Heavenly Yuan
Brush
Green light whizzed out from the top of Lu Feng’s head. Inside the light, a green sword released a loud
and clear sword cry.
A formidable pressure spread from the sword.
Countless gazes looked over in horror and shock, seeing the ancient patterns that had been carved onto
the sword. Green light swirled around it, giving off an aura of mystery. The handle of the sword was
covered in green feathers making it appear similar to a soaring green eagle.
This green eagle sword had clearly surpassed the Black tier!
On the Genesis Qi clouds above, sect master Qing Yang gazed at the green eagle sword and said, “I’ve
heard that the Lu clan has a treasure called the Green Eagle Sword. It’s a mid grade Heaven tier Genesis
Weapon that was made from the beak and feathers of a grade 6 Genesis Beast, the Green God Eagle.”
“Although the sword Lu Feng has summoned seems similar, it does not give off the same sharpness, and
is likely an imitation.”
“Even so, it has reached the quasi Heaven Genesis Weapon level, a mighty power to any Alpha-Origin
practitioner.”
Liu Lianyin frowned slightly and said, “It’s rather unfair to rely on an external item to achieve victory.”
Peak master Ling Jun chuckled and responded, “There is no rule that bans the usage of Genesis Weapons
in the peak selection ceremony. After all, obtaining a Genesis Weapon is part of one’s luck, which is also a
kind of strength.”
Lu Feng would join the Sword Cometh Peak after the ceremony. Hence, peak master Ling Jun was more
than happy to see him become champion. In fact, the former may even become guide of sorts that will
draw even more disciples to the Sword Cometh Peak, allowing it to grow stronger.
Liu Lianyi swept an indifferent glance at the former, but did not say anything. After all, using a Genesis
Weapon was indeed within the rules.
She looked towards Zhou Yuan’s figure and secretly said in her heart, “This kid had better not lose so
easily…”
She did not like Ling Jun. Although it was impossible for her to do much since they were part of the same
sect, disrupting his plans a little would make her feel a little better.
1423
As the countless gazes in the area converged onto the golden stone platform, Zhou Yuan frowned slightly
as he gazed at the sword within the green light. The power that pulsed from it made his heart shiver a
little in fear.
However, he could sense that it had yet to truly reach the Heaven Genesis Weapon level. A Genesis
Weapon at that level would be able to draw in and direct the surrounding Genesis Qi, giving it enormous
power.
Lu Feng’s sword was evidently still somewhat lacking.
Even so, it had indeed surpassed the Black tier, hence why it was ranked in between the Black and
Heaven tier.
“How troublesome.”
Muttered Zhou Yuan. Lu Feng already had the strength of the fourth layer Alpha-Origin, and wielded
powerful and abundant Genesis Qi. The addition of the green eagle sword was akin to giving wings to a
tiger, making it very difficult for him to find a worthy opponent amongst the fourth layer Alpha-Origin.
While Zhou Yuan was observing, Lu Feng’s icy gaze shot over as he indifferently said, “Don’t blame me for
bullying you. I’m from the prestigious Lu clan and will naturally have better resources than you. This is
my advantage, an advantage I would never intentionally give up, because that would only be too foolish.”
His tone was filled with pride. After all, there were times when being born in a powerful clan was also
part of one’s luck and strength.
Without waiting for Zhou Yuan to respond, Lu Feng made a sword seal and shouted, “Ha!”
“KUUOR!”
The green eagle sword released a clear eagle cry as a thousand rays of green light exploded, filling the air
with deadly sword Qi.
Swish!
With a jolt, the sword transformed into a streak of green. It pierced through space at extreme speed,
shooting straight towards Zhou Yuan.
Zhou Yuan’s body instantly etherealized as he rapidly withdrew.
“No matter how fast you are, you’ll never match the speed of my sword!” Lu Feng merely sneered.
Bzz!
1424
The streak of green shuddered, and bizarrely appeared in front of Zhou Yuan. A flash of sword light swept
forth, heading straight for the fatal spots on Zhou Yuan’s body. Before the deadly sword Qi arrived, the
purplish gold scales had already began to crack.
This told Zhou Yuan that even the Magical Python Scales would not protect him if he was stabbed by the
green eagle sword.
The might of a quasi Heaven Genesis Weapon was not something the body of someone who had never
practiced any external tempering techniques should clash against.
Sword light rapidly enlarged in his pupils. At this moment, Zhou Yuan suddenly made a grabbing motion
as the Heavenly Yuan Brush grew in his hand. Its snow-white hairs darted forward like a white snake,
wrapping around the green sword light.
Clang clang clang!
However, the green sword light was too powerful, scattering the snow-white hairs in a flash.
Zhou Yuan’s body continued to back away as Genesis Qi surged towards the Heavenly Yuan Brush.
Countless snow-white hairs transformed into obstruction after obstruction that was flung towards the
green sword light one after another.
However, the green sword light continued to press forward, destroying any obstacle in its path.
The Heavenly Yuan Brush was steadily being beaten back.
At the end of the day, the Heavenly Yuan Brush had only awakened its third rune, and was only a mid
grade Black Genesis Weapon. It may have once been a Sacred Genesis Weapon, but it was currently akin
to a ferocious tiger in deep sleep.
Meanwhile, Zhou Yuan’s figure continuously retreated.
Lu Feng stood in the air with his arms across his chest, a toying look in his eyes as he watched Zhou Yuan
being pushed back step by step. The Genesis Qi in the former’s body streamed endlessly into the green
eagle sword , allowing it to maintain its assault.
Zhou Yuan may have been able to tango with Lu Feng earlier, but that was only through the speed of the
Ethereal Form and the former’s powerful defences. But now, the green eagle sword was faster than Zhou
Yuan, and possessed enough destructive power to penetrate his defences.
Hence, Zhou Yuan was now being completely suppressed.
Gazes that could fill the sky watched the battle on the golden stone platform.
1425
Numerous disciples sighed inside at this scene. As expected, Lu Feng was still the more formidable
individual. As someone who was born in the Lu clan, his resources and foundations were far from what
any ordinary disciple could match.
A quasi Heaven Genesis Weapon was not something an ordinary disciple would possess.
At a location extremely close to the golden stone platform, Gu Hongyi and Yang Xiu faced each other. They
had not fought because Yang Xiu did not plan on becoming Gu Hongyi’s enemy, instead, they were
watching the battle between Zhou Yuan and Lu Feng.
As they watched, Yang Xiu chuckled at Gu Hongyi and said, “See, even if you did stop me, he is still not Lu
Feng’s match. His defeat will happen sooner or later.”
Gu Hongyi swept an icy glance at the former, but did not reply. However, she sighed regretfully in her
heart. Zhou Yuan’s current situation did not look good at all.
Under the numerous watching eyes, Zhou Yuan continued to be pushed back on the golden stone
platform, gradually approaching its edge.
However, his gaze had begun to flicker faintly as he continued to retreat.
There was a peculiar look in his eyes as he looked towards the Heavenly Yuan Brush in his hands. While
being suppressed by the green eagle sword, he could faintly sense a tiny sliver of anger begin stirring
within it.
As if the dignity of a king was being challenged.
Rage was slowly brewing in the Heavenly Yuan Brush.
The brush had once been a Sacred Genesis Weapon, and although its grade had now fallen, a king was still
ultimately a king. Therefore, the continuous suppression by a mere quasi Heaven Genesis Weapon had
now angered the fragment of a spirit that was left inside it.
A king may fall, but that did not mean it may be bullied.
Zhou Yuan’s glowing gaze stared at the mottled body of the brush, where a faint light was gradually
emerging in the long slumbering fourth rune under the intense clash.
For a long time, Zhou Yuan had continued to feed the Heavenly Yuan Brush with Beast Spirits every day.
However, the fourth rune had ultimately showed no signs of awakening, a fact that had really weighed
down on Zhou Yuan’s heart.
He never imagined that the long silent fourth rune would voluntarily begin to awaken under the
continuous assault of the green eagle sword.
1426
The dignity of the brush that was once a Sacred Genesis Weapon made it incapable of tolerating a quasi
Heaven Genesis Weapon stepping on its head.
The corners of Zhou Yuan’s lips slowly raised at an angle.
He had not expected the green eagle sword’s suppression to bring about such an outcome. This would
save him a lot of effort.
The dim fourth rune on the brush’s mottled body grew brighter and brighter.
It was at this moment that Lu Feng suddenly frowned, faintly feeling that something was wrong. He could
sense that the originally scattered and beaten snow-white hairs seemed to be gradually growing more
and more concentrated, causing the power of the sword light to drop.
“I cannot delay any further. I’ll slash him off the stage!”
Lu Feng’s eyes hardened as he changed his sword seal. The green eagle sword released an explosive
sword cry in response, green light bursting forth as the sword seemed to breath. The light rapidly
expanded to a hundred feet and chopped downwards, tearing open a crack in space.
Numerous gasps and cries sounded across the area. Everyone clearly understood that Lu Feng had lost
his patience, and was now going to end the battle with this strike.
Even amongst the fourth layer Alpha-Origin, there was likely no one capable of blocking this attack.
Gu Hongyi’s expression changed slightly, worry flashing in her eyes as she tightly clenched her fists.
The green sword light rapidly descended. Just as it was about to hit, Zhou Yuan suddenly raised his head,
seemingly endless light surging within his eyes.
His grasped the Heavenly Yuan Brush with both hands and shook it as the snow-white hairs converged
into a flower bud like spear tip that spouted a sharp light.
Expressionless, he powerfully swung the Heavenly Yuan Brush overhead as if it was a thousand ton
hammer.
“Courting death!” Lu Feng coldy snorted when he saw this.
“Watch how my sword will chop apart that lousy brush of yours!”
Clang!
Countless gazes gathered on the golden stone platform as the dazzling green sword light abruptly fell,
smashing into the vertically swung Heavenly Yuan Brush.
1427
A resonant sound of clashing metal echoed across the area.
The moment the loud sound emerged, however, Lu Feng’s pupils violently shrank as horror appeared on
his face.
He had seen the green eagle sword shudder at the moment of impact, as it released a pained wail. The
sword light was scattered as the sword was blasted away by the black brush.
It was as if the swing of Zhou Yuan’s brush was accompanied by an endless torrent of power, power
terrifying and domineering to the max!
In fact, even the faint cry of a whale could be heard.
“How can this be?!” Countless cries of disbelief rang out across the area.
Even sect master Qing Yang and the rest of the hegemons softly cried out in surprise.
Under countless shocked gazes, Zhou Yuan spat out a long drawn out breath, his gaze burning with
excitement as his hand slowly ran across the mottled body of the brush. As his palm passed by, an ancient
Genesis Rune began to glow with a mysterious light.
The fourth rune of the Heavenly Yuan Brush, Million Whale.
1428
Chapter 273 Fourth Rune, Million Whale
Bzz!
The green eagle sword was sent flying, its originally unmatched sword light now scattered. Lu Feng
hastily circulated his Genesis Qi, stabilizing the green eagle sword.
He looked over, only to find a glaring scratch on the sword. It was also trembling faintly, as if having
sustained an injury.
Lu Feng’s complexion turned ashen, disbelief filling his eyes. The green eagle sword was just moments
ago thoroughly suppressing Zhou Yuan, why had the situation suddenly been reversed?
The strange black brush in Zhou Yuan’s hands was clearly only a mid grade Black Genesis Weapon. How
had it scattered the sword light of his green eagle sword?
On the Genesis Qi clouds above, set master Qing Yang and the rest of the hegemons looked down with a
sliver of shock in their gazes. All of them were focused on the Heavenly Yuan Brush in Zhou Yuan’s hands.
“Hehe, how interesting. The black brush in this little one’s hands seems to be extraordinary too.” Sect
master Qing Yang chuckled in surprise.
“The black brush was only a mid grade Black Genesis Weapon earlier, but it seems to have evolved,
leaping across the upper grade to reach the quasi Heaven Genesis Weapon level…”
The white brow elder’s tone was filled with interest as he continued to vocalize his findings, “The brush
seems to also function as a Genesis Rune Brush, how amazing…”
“It seems that this kid is also blessed by luck.” Gu Tianhong nodded.
Snow Lotus Peak master Liu Lianyi’s red lips curved slightly, smiling as she gazed at Zhou Yuan’s figure.
“This little one is not bad, I’m beginning to like him more and more.”
As she spoke, she swept a glance at Ling Jun.
Ling Jun softly chuckled, but did not respond. His gaze merely paused on Zhou Yuan for a brief moment.
Beside him, Lu Xuanyin clenched her teeth as she hatefully glared at Zhou Yuan. This fellow was really
akin to mud, so difficult to get rid of once you touched it.
Under the countless gazes of shock from all around, Zhou Yuan’s expression was rather calm, though a
burning fire had appeared in his eyes as he stared at the Heavenly Yuan Brush.
“The Million Whale rune huh…”
1429
Mumbled Zhou Yuan to himself.
When the fourth ancient rune awakened, he had gained knowledge of its powers.
If the previous three runes were said to bestow numerous variations and transformations to the brush,
then the fourth rune could be said to bring raw, astonishing power.
Million Whale referred to the Ancient Dragon Whale that was said to possess limitless power. The power
of a single Ancient Dragon Whale could flip mountains and overturn the sea, hence, its title as the Million
Whale, which was also testament to its terrifying might.
It was said that if one had sufficient Genesis Qi, activating this rune would bestow the power of a Million
Whale. A single swing of the brush would destroy anything in its path.
“Amazing…” Zhou Yuan laughed. After awakening the fourth rune, the Heavenly Yuan Brush had leapt
across the high grade, directly reaching the quasi Heaven tier.
He could feel that the power contained within it had multiplied several fold, causing a heart palpitating
pressure to spread.
Zhou Yuan gripped the black brush and thrust, creating a series of after images.
He raised his head and looked towards the ugly expression on Lu Feng’s face and said, “It seems that your
so-called background and resources is not actually better than my own…”
Lu Feng could not help but laugh in anger when he heard this, and icily said, “Zhou Yuan, you’d better not
celebrate too early!”
His hands came together as vigorous Genesis Qi dashed into the sky, merging with the green eagle sword
that had been sent flying. The sword immediately shook as resplendent sword light exploded once more.
“I don’t believe that I cannot chop apart your lousy brush!”
With a howl from Lu Feng, green light exploded from the green eagle sword. A giant eagle seemed to
emerge within the green light, releasing a long cry as an alarmingly savage aura swept forth.
“Go!”
Yelled Lu Feng with a dark expression. The giant green eagle like figure opened its beak, swallowing the
green eagle sword, before transforming into a flash of green that dived down towards Zhou Yuan.
Ferociously Imposing.
Destructive sword Qi rippled endlessly from the green eagle’s body as if intending to sunder the land.
1430
Lu Feng had roused the remnant Green God Eagle Spirit inside the green eagle sword, and its presence
caused the expressions of numerous disciples to change.
The green eagle dived downwards in a threatening and ferocious manner. However, Zhou Yuan merely
let out an icy snort. Now that the Heavenly Yuan Brush had evolved again and had also reached the quasi
Heaven tier, the other party’s advantage no longer existed.
“I’ll use you to test the Heavenly Yuan Brush’s might…”
A sharp glint flashed in Zhou Yuan’s eyes. Without any hesitation whatsoever, he wrapped both hands
around the Heavenly Yuan Brush as the Genesis Qi in his body began to rush out, flooding into the brush.
Rumble!
Golden light erupted from the brush, filling the sky as it took the shape of a gargantuan Ancient Dragon
Whale. As it swam in the sky, it seemed to pulse with boundless power.
Zhou Yuan took in a deep breath, before the Heavenly Yuan Brush was ferociously swung.
The dragon whale howled, merging with the Heavenly Yuan Brush as they boldy advanced. In the end,
they crashed into the giant green eagle under countless shocked gazes.
Boom!
At the moment of impact, an extremely berserk Genesis Qi shockwave violently swept outwards.
Every gaze was tightly glued to the epicenter of the clash, where they saw the green eagle release a
piercing shriek as an endless torrent of sword Qi rained down on the dragon whale. However, none of
this mattered to the latter as it continued to charge forward with terrifying power, smashing directly into
the giant green eagle.
Clang!
A loud clang rang out.
A wail immediately burst from the giant green eagle, its enormous body blown to bits by the charge of the
dragon whale. As the green light began to dim, the green eagle sword was flung backwards, crack after
crack appearing on its blade.
Urgh!
Lu Feng paled and vomited a mouthful of blood, evidently also affected.
Gasp after gasp sounded in succession. No one had expected that Lu Feng would be the first to be injured
in the clash between these two...
1431
Gu Hongyi breathed a sigh of relief as if a heavy burden had been lifted from her shoulders, coldly smiling
as she looked at Yang Xiu and said, “It seems that who becomes the champion is still up in the air.”
Yang Xiu frowned as he replied, “Zhou Yuan is indeed very capable.”
He paused for a moment, before he continued, “However… he has now fully angered Lu Feng. Hongyi, you
should know that Lu Feng will not lose so easily.”
Roar!
The moment the final word left his mouth, a furious roar suddenly thundered from the golden stone
platform.
A surge of alarming Genesis Qi undulations swept out from Lu Feng’s body.
His originally handsome face had turned extremely dark and stormy, intense rage boiling between his
brows. Zhou Yuan’s counter attack had thoroughly humiliated him.
“Zhou Yuan!”
With an eerily chilling shout, he suddenly bit the top of his tongue and spat out a mouthful of essence
blood on the green eagle sword. Bloody light blossomed from the sword as it ferociously shot forth,
unleashing a rain of attacks on the Heavenly Yuan Brush to keep it occupied.
At the same time, a scarlet glow surfaced in Lu Feng’s eyes as his body moved, appearing in the sky above
Zhou Yuan.
His hands rapidly formed a series of seals as dark green Genesis Qi began to flood the area behind him.
“Star Scripture, Triple Comet!”
Vigorous Genesis Qi frantically gathered, turning into three hundred feet wide green comets above him.
The comets began to fall with frightening velocity, heading straight towards Zhou Yuan.
“It’s the Star Scripture! That’s a high grade little Heaven Genesis technique and is one of the strongest in
the outer mountains. So that’s the technique Lu Feng selected in the Hidden Scriptures House.” Numerous
cries of shock were heard.
Many disciples could not help but sigh as they shook their heads. Who could have imagined that the battle
between these two individuals would reach such levels.
Even some of the more normal inner mountain disciples would be unable to achieve this, right?
However, would Zhou Yuan be able to stop the now enraged Lu Feng?
1432
Under the attention of innumerable gazes, Zhou Yuan gazed at the three green comets falling from the sky
as he felt the astonishing undulations contained within them.
*Inhale*
Zhou Yuan took in a deep breath as his hands rapidly formed a series of seals, before slamming his foot
into the ground a second later.
The Genesis Qi in his body erupted with a rumble.
Three hundred feet tall pillars of Genesis Qi dashed into the sky from the top of his head. Savage violence
pulsed from the three pillars, and at closer inspection, one would discover the glowing silhouettes of
three ferocious Genesis Beasts within the pillars.
The moment the three Genesis Qi pillars emerged, the three Genesis Beasts inside them hissed and
roared, faintly resembling a dragon roar as a cruel and savage aura spread across the area.
The eyes of countless disciples widened, evidently recognizing the technique.
The technique Zhou Yuan had used was also one of the high grade little Heaven Genesis techniques of the
outer mountains Hidden Scriptures House, the Nine Dragons Canon!
Under the many shocked gazes, three boundless Genesis Beast like torrents of Genesis Qi shuddered as
they smashed into the three green comets falling from the sky.
For an instant, the world around them seemed to shake.
1433
Chapter 274 Might of the Nine Dragons Canon
Roar!
Three hundred feet tall pillars of Genesis Qi dashed into the sky as a savage and cruel aura unfurled. One
would faintly see the Genesis Qi pillars take on the shape of Genesis Beasts...
The three beasts were the three dragon type Genesis Beast essence blood Zhou Yuan had refined. They
had now fused with Zhou Yuan’s Genesis Qi, greatly amplifying its power and giving it ferocious and
domineering characteristics when used.
Lu Feng’s eyes widened slightly when he saw the three Genesis Qi beasts that were charging into the sky.
Soon after, he let out an icy chuckle.
“Only a hundred feet? It seems that being denied grade 5 essence blood has affected you substantially.”
He was naturally aware that Zhou Yuan was practicing the Nine Dragons Canon. However, the power of
this technique was dependant on the quality of the essence blood. Back then, Lu Feng had bought out the
three bottles of grade 5 Genesis Beast essence blood in advance, making Zhou Yuan have no choice but to
choose the grade 4 essence blood.
As such, the power of Zhou Yuan’s Nine Dragons Canon was naturally unable to reach its peak.
“Let me destroy your Nine Dragons Canon with my Star Scripture!”
An ominous light flitted across Lu Feng’s eyes. Both of them were using high grade little Heaven tier
Genesis techniques, and he had smoothly mastered his, while Zhou Yuan’s three Genesis Qi beasts were
surely lacking because he was unable to obtain to most suitable essence blood. If they clashed, Lu Feng
knew that he would have the upper hand, hence his expression showed not even the tiniest trace of fear.
Lu Feng’s seals changed as the three green comets began to tremble violently, their dreadful power
shaking even the sky itself, making the expressions of numerous disciples turn grave.
Under the attention of countless gazes, the three beasts released a torrential flood of ferocity, baring their
fangs and claws as they tore through the air.
Each one of the three Genesis Qi beasts was stronger than Zhou Yuan’s Great Wind and Thunder
technique. With all three lined up, even a fourth layer Alpha-Origin would have no option but to retreat.
Zhou Yuan had likewise sensed that Lu Feng had no thoughts of backing down. The former’s gaze
flickered slightly. It seems that the other party was very confident.
It only took a moment for Zhou Yuan to understand the origin of his opponent’s confidence, causing an
icy smile to rise from the corners of his mouth.
1434
There was nothing to say at this point. Their battle had already reached the peak, and there was no longer
any point in holding back.
Zhou Yuan raised his hand, and the three beasts smashed into the three falling green comets.
The world around them seem to shudder violently at this moment.
“Destroy them!” An icy glow was revealed in Lu Feng’s eyes. Terrifying power pulsed from the three
green comets, a force so great that it could level every mountain in a thousand mile radius.
Rumble!
The green comets admittedly contained dreadful destructive power. At the instant of impact, the three
Genesis Qi beats were immediately forced back, causing them to fall along with the momentum of the
comets as they howled angrily.
It was clear that Lu Feng’s Star Scripture was stronger.
When he saw this, the corners of his mouth slowly began to raise.
“Zhou Yuan, have you finally reached your limits? If so, first place will be mine!”
Lu Feng’s hands suddenly pressed downwards, causing berserk Genesis Qi to spew out from the green
comets again as if intending to smash the three Genesis Qi beasts to smithereens.
The three beasts continued to howl, but were still slowly pushed down little by little.
While regretful sighs filled the sky, Zhou Yuan’s expression remained calm from start to end. He gazed at
the slowly descending green comets, sensing that their power had already reached the limit.
“Is that all?”
“Then it’s my turn!”
Muttered Zhou Yuan to himself. A split later, he suddenly produced a long, drawn out whistle.
The whistle was akin to a clap of thunder. At this very moment, the three suppressed Genesis Qi beasts
released thunderous roars in response. As they roared, the savage auras pulsing from their bodies begin
to steadily rise all of a sudden.
The originally hundred feet tall Genesis Qi pillars abruptly began to grow, reaching a height of three
hundred feet.
“What?!”
1435
This sudden turn of events made Lu Feng’s pupils shrink. “How can this be?! He clearly only refined high
tier grade 4 Genesis Beast essence blood, how can it possibly be so powerful?!”
He had studied the Nine Dragons Canon before. It was said that only by refining grade 5 essence blood
would the Genesis Qi beast pillars reach a height of three hundred feet. He clearly remembered that there
was no other grade 5 Genesis Beast essence blood in the Glittering Jewels Pavilion.
Zhou Yuan’s expression remained indifferent. He had indeed only managed to obtain the grade 4 essence
blood. However, he had used Tuntun’s blood to upgrade the grade 4 essence blood, making them not the
least bit inferior to real grade 5 essence blood.
Roar!
Astonishing power exploded from the three three hundred feet tall beasts. They waved their long tails,
wrapping them around the three green comets as a ferocious aura erupted.
Dong!
The three green comets were instantly shattered, turning into specks of light that filled the sky.
*Uproar*!
An uproar filled the sky. No one had expected yet another twist. The advantage Lu Feng originally had
was now completely gone.
Roar!
After shattering the three green comets, the three beasts shrank substantially though they still contained
alarming power. In a flash, they appeared above Lu Feng.
The three beasts roared as they pounced, their frightening power engulfing Lu Feng.
Horror surfaced on Lu Feng’s face as he hurriedly circulated his Genesis Qi to create a hundred foot tall
green wall of Qi in front of him...
Boom!
Berserk shockwaves swept outwards from the collision.
Everyone watched as Lu Feng’s green Qi wall was blasted apart. His body was caught in the aftershocks,
falling from the sky like a cannonball. With a loud boom, he smashed into the golden stone platform.
Cracks emerged on the stone platform while dust filled the air.
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In the sky above, the three beasts had used up all of their energy, and began to gradually fade away. Zhou
Yuan spat out a breath of air, his face expressionless as he gazed at the spot Lu Feng had landed.
The world around them fall silent for an instant.
The fights that were still ongoing elsewhere also paused for a moment as shocked gaze after gaze looked
towards the top stone platform. Compared to the battle there, the rest of them really looked like little
kids.
When they saw Lu Feng being struck down from the air, all of them could not help but swallow again and
again, terror now filling their gazes when they looked towards Zhou Yuan.
No one had expected Zhou Yuan’s battle power to be so overwhelming.
Gu Hongyi’s eyes were also tinged with a little surprise as she looked towards the figure left standing on
the golden stone platform. The strength displayed by the latter had similarly surpassed her expectations.
Gu Hongyi looked towards Yang Xiu with an icy grin, “What do you think?”
Yang Xiu’s expression had turned exceptionally grave. He sighed softly and answered, “He is indeed
formidable. I am not as good as him.”
He knew that if he was the one in Lu Feng’s place, his defeat would be even more thorough.
However, his paused for a brief moment as a complicated expression rose in his eyes. “However… Lu
Feng will do anything to achieve victory… Hongyi, Zhou Yuan cannot win this match.”
Gu Hongyi’s pupils shivered upon hearing this. Just as she was about to reply, she suddenly sensed
something and lifted her head to look at the golden stone platform.
The dust was gradually dissipating as a figure slowly walked out.
This figure naturally belonged to Lu Feng. However, his current appearance was exceedingly pathetic. His
clothes were tattered and there was even blood at the corner of his lip, a clear sign that he had been
injured by Zhou Yuan’s earlier Nine Dragons Canon.
But although his appearance was miserable, a heart palpitating fire burned within his eyes.
He stared at Zhou Yuan as a twisted, sinister smile appeared from the corners of his lips.
“I truly never imagined that a day would come where I would be pushed to such a miserable state.”
“However, it will not be so easy for you to use me as a stepping stone!”
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As Lu Feng’s eerie voice faded, his body gradually turned scarlet-red, as if the blood inside was burning.
At the same time, everyone felt alarming Genesis Qi undulations frantically erupt from his body like a
volcano, gradually growing stronger and stronger.
After a short span of a few breaths.
Lu Feng’s Genesis Qi had broken past the limits of the fourth layer Alpha-Origin, stepping into the realm
of the fifth layer.
Deafening cries washed over the sky.
No one had expected the battle between Zhou Yuan and Lu Feng to become so intense. Lu Feng had
clearly already lost his mind to rage, and intended to crush Zhou Yuan at any cost.
If Zhou Yuan did not have any more trump cards, he would not be able to continue competing with Lu
Feng.
If that happened, first place would undoubtedly fall into Lu Feng’s hands.
Lu Feng felt to rapidly rising Genesis Qi in his body, his eyes scarlet-red as he sent a dark stare at Zhou
Yuan and pointed down at an angle.
A chilling voice followed.
“Zhou Yuan, if you still have a little tact, get off this stage yourself.”
“Don’t force my hand, or… it will be life or death!”
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Chapter 275 Breakthrough
Vigorous and ferocious Genesis Qi swept out from Lu Feng’s body like massive plumes of smoke as a
domineering pressure engulfed the entire golden stone platform.
On the Genesis Qi clouds above, Snow Lotus Peak master Liu Lianyi’s eyebrows knitted together when
she saw this. “To think that he has even used a blood burning secret art. Lu Feng seems to be really
unwilling to it let go.”
A blood burning secret art was technique that could temporarily raise one’s strength through burning
one’s essence blood. However, the repercussions were extremely serious. The fact that Lu Feng had used
it was a clear indication that he was willing to do anything at this point.
Sect master Qing Yang, the white brow elder, and Gu Hongtian also frowned a little. Although there were
no restrictions in the peak selection ceremony, it was after all a competition between disciples, and Lu
Feng’s actions were indeed rather unsightly.
“They’re youngsters after all who are prideful and eager for victory. It’s difficult to avoid letting the heat
get to their heads.” Peak master Ling Jun chuckled.
He seemed to be reproaching Lu Feng while also playing down his actions, turning Lu Feng’s
unscrupulousness into being overly eager for victory.
Peak master Liu Lianyi’s red lips curled slightly, a trace of mockery flowing out in her eyes, evidently
finding peak master Ling Jun’s explanation laughable.
However, she did not argue, but merely regretfully glanced at Zhou Yuan. This little one was truly
remarkable to have fought with Lu Feng to this extent with just the strength of a first layer Alpha-Origin.
Unfortunately, he lacked a little luck.
Peak master Ling Jun’s gaze looked towards Lu Feng as the smile on his face slightly receded, before
sweeping a glance at Lu Xuanyin, a faint sliver of anger in his eyes.
Lu Xuanyin’s pretty face paled slightly. She understood that peak master Ling Jun was already
disappointed in Lu Feng’s performance. After all, now that he was forced to use a blood burning secret art
by a first layer Alpha-Origin disciple, it would not look good even if he won.
Her hands clenched tightly, not daring to say anything to peak master Ling Jun. When she looked towards
Zhou Yuan, her gaze was filled with hatred.
“Filthy peasant!”
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She cursed in her heart. Lu Feng should have been able to beautifully take first place. It would have made
him highly valued by peak master Ling Jun when he entered the Sword Cometh Peak, allowing him to
become an important candidate for grooming, and eventually turn into one of the core members of the
Cangxuan Sect.
But who could have foreseen that this beautiful future would be ruined by that dirty peasant. Even if Lu
Feng won now, his victory would already be sullied.
“Lu Feng, you must cripple that peasant. Make him pay the price!”
Under the countless shocked gazes that could fill the sky, Lu Feng sinisterly stared at Zhou Yuan. How
could he not be aware that using this secret art would be a blemish even if he won. However, he had no
choice. He could not let Zhou Yuan take first place away from him, or he would not know where to hide
his face.
Therefore, even if he had to smear his reputation a little, he needed to succeed today.
In response to his sinister gaze, Zhou Yuan frowned slightly. Soon after, he said in an indifferent voice, “If
you want first place, come and fight for it. Don’t bother with such childish threats.”
Lu Feng’s laughed in anger. “Excellent. Since you wish to die, I will grant your wish!”
Genesis Qi exploded from his body without reservation, the Genesis Qi pressure directly making Zhou
Yuan’s body feel akin to lead.
If Lu Feng was still at the fourth layer Alpha-Origin, Zhou Yuan would have been able to close the gap
between them through various means. But now that the former was at the fifth layer, the disparity
between them was far too great.
Lu Feng’s figure slowly rose into the sky as if riding the violent winds.
Genesis Qi spread behind him, turning into a green starry sky.
“Star Scripture, Green Comet!”
Genesis Qi frantically converged, ultimately transforming into an enormous green comet. As it slowly
rose, extremely astonishing Genesis Qi undulations pulsed from it.
This green comet was basically the entirety of Lu Feng’s Genesis Qi. He clearly no longer had any patience
left, and intended to end the fight with a single attack.
In the face of this gargantuan green comet, the expressions of numerous disciples changed, and even Yang
Xiu, Gu Hongyi and the rest could not help but tremble. No one under the sixth layer Alpha-Origin could
block an attack of such proportions.
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As the green comet steadily rose higher and higher, Zhou Yuan naturally felt a suffocating pressure,
causing his expression to grow increasingly grim.
He knew that he would not be able to withstand this attack with his first layer Alpha-Origin strength.
Since that was so...
Zhou Yuan’s eyes slowly closed at this moment, causing many gazes to look over in bewilderment.
While they were trying to figure out why, someone suddenly sensed the Genesis Qi around Zhou Yuan’s
body begin to ripple.
The rippling started out weak, but after a dozen breaths, it became akin to boiling water, shuddering
volatilely.
“What’s going on?!” Numerous gazes flickered in confusion.
“His Genesis Qi is growing!” Cried out someone.
They had sensed the Genesis Qi inside Zhou Yuan’s body gradually begin to strengthen at this moment.
“Is he also using a secret art?”
“It’s different. His Genesis Qi growth is extremely stable and natural, unlike how Lu Feng had forcibly
raised his earlier…”
While numerous whispers spread, Zhou Yuan’s clothes flapped as the Genesis Qi undulations grew
stronger and stronger. In the end, it suddenly rumbled with a violent shake!
Golden Genesis Qi exploded from Zhou Yuan’s body, dashing straight into the sky. The silhouette of a
giant python formed within the golden light and hissed at the heavens.
A hiss like thunder while also bearing resemblance to a dragon’s roar.
His Genesis Qi undulations forcibly broke into the second layer Alpha-Origin stage at this moment!
*Uproar*!
Countless cries of alarm and surprise rang across the area.
Face after face was filled with shock and astonishment. No one had expected Zhou Yuan to have a
breakthrough at this moment, stepping from the first layer Alpha-Origin stage into the second layer!
Zhou Yuan’s lightly shut eyes slowly opened, golden light swimming within them.
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He could feel the drastic increase of Genesis Qi in his Qi Dwelling, causing him to laugh softly. The truth
was that after three months of tough training in the outer mountains, he should have long stepped into
the second layer Alpha-Origin. However, he had repeatedly suppressed it in order to better stabilize his
foundations.
His original plan was to ascend after entering the inner mountains, but it seemed that now was also an
appropriate time.
As golden Genesis Qi surged, the pressure from Lu Feng’s body unknowingly weakened substantially.
Zhou Yuan’s Genesis Qi cultivation had clearly soared after stepping into the second layer Alpha-Origin
stage.
In the air, Lu Feng had naturally also sensed the changes in the Genesis Qi around Zhou Yuan’s body,
causing the former’s face to distort. He never imagined that this peasant would surpass his expectations
time and time again.
Intense envy and anger bubbled out in his heart.
“God damnit!”
“I am a genius of the Lu clan. How can a peasant like you possible compare! Won’t you obediently let me
crush you under my feet, and become my stepping stone?!”
“Why, why are so intent on death!”
“Since that is so, die!”
Howled Lu Feng in his heart with scarlet-red eyes. With a shriek, he spat out a mouthful of essence blood
which landed on the titanic green comet, immediately causing the Genesis Qi on it to grow exceedingly
berserk.
Rumble!
The gigantic green comet plummeted towards Zhou Yuan, bringing with it an impossible large shadow
and destruction.
A dreadful pressure descended from the sky. Zhou Yuan raised his head, revealing the indifference on his
face as he suddenly sucked in a deep breath.
His hands came together as his body trembled faintly. Several breaths later, everyone saw a pillar of
Genesis Qi light abruptly fly into the sky.
Roar!
A deafening roar thundered from within the Genesis Qi.
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Countless gazes shot over. Everyone watched as an enormous beast swiftly began to form inside the
Genesis Qi, while a dreadful aura of ferocity unfurled across the land.
This beast for surpassed the three from before, reaching over six hundred feet in height!
Gu Hongyi gasped as she gazed upon the Genesis Qi beast, evidently having recognized it. It was the grade
5 Genesis Beast essence blood she had given Zhou Yuan previously.
However, for some unknown reason, the savage aura from this beast was extraordinarily powerful!
“Nine Dragons Canon, Fourth Dragon!”
Countless shocked gazes watched as Zhou Yuan suddenly stomped the ground, while a deep voice
emerged from his mouth.
Roar!
The over six hundred feet tall Genesis QI beast roared like a dragon as it charged forward. In the end, it
slammed into the giant green comet that was falling from the sky.
Everyone was glued to this scene. They knew that this was the deciding moment.
1443
Chapter 276 Champion of the Ceremony
Boom!
An earth-shaking explosion unfurled high up in the sky, the berserk shockwaves that swept outwards
causing the sky to slightly distort. Even the air in the vicinity was unable to bear the force, multiple
explosions booming one after another.
Every gaze was tightly glued to the sky, not daring to even blink once.
They knew that it was finally time to decide the winner.
Everyone wondered who would be the one to remain standing till the end.
Under the attention of countless gazes, the destructive energies in the sky gradually began to dissipate
after some time. The golden platform was finally revealed, now full of holes and cracks, as if it had
undergone a terrifying impact.
However, no one paid any attention to the damage. Every gaze cast towards the two figures atop it
instead.
Two figures that were currently frighteningly still.
A breeze blew past, rolling up the dust.
Lu Feng’s eyes were red as he stared at Zhou Yuan and said in a hoarse voice, “How… how can your Nine
Dragons Canon be so powerful?!”
He had undoubtedly bought up all of the grade 5 Genesis Beast essence blood in the Glittering Jewels
Pavilion. Zhou Yuan’s Nine Dragons Canon had surely been limited, but the earlier move had shaken even
Lu Feng’s heart.
Zhou Yuan’s expression was calm as he let loose a long, drawn out breath. The golden light in his eyes
gradually receded as the Genesis Qi around him shrank back into his body.
He slowly said, “It seems that you can’t take first place in the peak selection ceremony.”
He had no choice but to admit that Lu Feng was indeed very powerful, and the battle could be considered
a bitter struggle for Zhou Yuan. Unfortunately for Lu Feng, Zhou Yuan’s preparations had been more
thorough this time.
Lu Feng’s eyes were dyed red, unable to accept this outcome.
Urgh!
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A mouthful of fresh blood was abruptly vomited from his mouth as he body slowly fell face flat towards
the ground, causing him to fall unconscious due to his heavy injuries.
Dong!
The moment Lu Feng touched the ground, the entire world around them seemed to fall silent. The mouths
of countless disciples slowly fell open as shock and amazement gathered in their eyes.
*Uproar*!
In the next moment, a torrential wave of noise that filled the sky exploded, so deafening that it could
probably turn over a mountain.
No one had imagined that Lu Feng would lose the contest.
“Little Yuan bro is too damn amazing!” Shen Wanjin and the rest were dumbstruck as they gazed upon
the only standing figure on the golden stone platform. Although they had hoped all along that Zhou Yuan
would win, they did not truly understand his abilities, making them feel rather awkward and uncertain
even when supporting him. After all, Lu Feng’s reputation was just far too overwhelming.
Hence, when Lu Feng finally fell, it had been a pretty huge blow to them.
Xiao Tianxuan had a complicated look on his face, fear in his gaze as he looked towards Zhou Yuan. At this
very moment, all he felt was admiration for his father’s judgement.
Given the talent Zhou Yuan had displayed, there was no doubt that he would become a core member of
the Cangxuan Sect, and have an extremely bright future. When that time came, his name would likely be
known even in the entire Cangxuan Heaven.
Such a person was someone you would absolutely not want to hold a grudge with.
Gu Hongyi raised her clean, bright and pretty face, an exceptional splendour in her eyes as she gazed at
Zhou Yuan's figure. This result had likewise also shaken her.
Although she was not fond of Lu Feng, she had no choice but to admit that he was indeed a capable
individual. At the very least, the current her would not be able to take the upper hand against him.
However, Zhou Yuan had defeated him.
She clearly understood that Zhou Yuan was from some remote continent, and naturally could not match
the cultivation resources of people like them from the prestigious clans of the Shengzhou Continent. And
yet, the latter had still managed to grasp victory in the end.
Just how amazing was he?
1445
Gu Hongyi's pursed her red lips, recalling the first time she saw him. Back then, he had been mocked by
many because he had used the back door to become a first class disciple. Everyone had thought only
disdain for him then. However, who could have foreseen that the one they looked down on would stand
at the pinnacle of the peak selection ceremony three months later, becoming an existence they now had
to raise their heads to look at.
“Looks like you saved me.” Yang Xiu suddenly let out a bitter chuckle.
There was wariness in his eyes as he gazed at Zhou Yuan’s figure and sighed. He knew that if he was the
one fighting the latter, his defeat would have been even swifter and more miserable.
As such, Gu Hongyi’s obstruction had ended up saving his face.
While the numerous disciples were practically in frenzy, there was also a little disturbance in the Genesis
Qi clouds above.
Sect master Qing Yang looked at the youthful figure and nodded his head with a smile. “Not bad. As
expected of the one who obtained teacher’s Saint blood baptism.”
A soul stirring smile appeared on peak master Liu Lianyi’s gorgeous face. Her eyes turned as she looked
towards Ling Jun and grinned, “It seems that your Sword Cometh Peak miscalculated.”
The smile on Ling Jun’s fair as jade face receded slightly. One could tell that this outcome had exceeded
his expectations. However, he was after all a hegemon and someone whose thoughts were pretty much
impossible to read. Therefore, he responded in a nonchalant voice, “This young one is extraordinary, Lu
Feng’s loss is not without reason.”
He deeply looked at Zhou Yuan, before turning to the rubble where Lu Feng had collapse, taking a mere
glance before withdrawing his gaze, evidently extremely disappointed in the latter.
Beside him, Lu Xuanyin’s pretty face was deathly pale. She gazed at the golden stone platform in a daze,
before suddenly feeling a wave of humiliation drown her as she lost control of herself and said, “How can
Lu Feng have lost to him? Zhou Yuan must have cheated!”
The moment these words left her mouth, she sensed Ling Jun’s stern and powerful gaze sweep towards
her, causing her to instantly clamped her mouth in fear.
“This is no place for you to speak. You will seek punishment after returning to the Sworth Cometh Peak.”
Ling Jun’s tone was one of indifference.
Lu Xuanyin trembled, not faring to object as she hurriedly lowered her head and acknowledged.
Sect master Qing Ying’s deep as the night gaze looked downwards. All of the 9999 placings had already
been decided, the peak selection ceremony clearly already near its end.
1446
However, he was a little surprised that six of the top ten spots came from non Shengzhou continents, an
event that rarely occurred. After all, the disciples from the Shengzhou Continent had many advantages
over those from other continents.
As for first place, it would go to a Shengzhou disciple eight out of ten times. Zhou Yuan’s strong showing
this time was truly akin to a stunning dark horse.
Sect master Qing Yang waved his sleeve, causing specks of light to fall from the sky, like dew as it landed
on everyone on the stone platforms.
The specks of light submerged into the many disciples bodies, and they were pleasantly surprised to
discover their Genesis Qi instantly recover. In addition, their numerous injuries were now fully healed.
“We thank sect master!” The numerous disciples cupped their fists together.
Sect master Qing Yang chuckle softly, before his grand voice rang out, “Starting today, all of you will be
part of the inner mountains.”
Joy was revealed on the faces of the disciples on the 9999 stone platforms upon hearing this, as if a
burden had been lifted from their shoulders.
Sect master Qing Yang’s gaze turned towards the top ten figures as he continued, “The top ten may
choose their peaks, and will also be bestowed the status of a gold sash disciple, allowing them to enjoy
the cultivation resources of a gold sash disciple.”
Before the many disciples gazes could shoot over, his gaze had already paused on Zhou Yuan’s body as a
smile emerged on his face, his voice also growing much warmer and kinder.
“Zhou Yuan, as the champion of the ceremony, you may also select your peak.”
“I’ll ask you now, which of Cangxuan’s seven peaks do you wish to join?”
1447
Chapter 277 Choosing A Peak
By the time sect master Qing Yang’s words faded, every gaze in the area had undoubtedly converged on
Zhou Yuan’s body once again.
As the champion of the ceremony, Zhou Yuan would receive special treatment no matter which peak he
chose.
Sect master Qing Yang gazed at Zhou Yuan, those deep as the night eyes seemingly smiling as he said, “My
Cangxuan Peak is the number one peak in the Cangxuan Sect. If you are willing, you may join.”
“Senior brother sect master, that’s too much!” Peak master Liu Lianyan immediately rolled her eyes at
sect master Qing Yang. “The Cangxuan Peak is already the number one peak, why compete with the rest
of us?”
She was clearly very satisfied with Zhou Yuan. He had a scholarly look and was more importantly quite
the handsome young man. In addition, his talent was pretty astonishing. If he could be recruited into the
Snow Lotus Peak, there would surely be another outstanding disciple of the Snow Lotus Peak in the
future.
When that happened, the Snow Lotus Peak may even get another person on the Cangxuan Sect’s ten great
Chosen. That lass Li Qingchan would also no longer need to represent the Snow Lotus Peak alone.
However, peak master Liu Lianyi had barely finished when the Hongya Peak master Gu Tianhong shook
his head and said in a voice akin to thunder, “This kid is suited to external tempering. He should enter my
Hongya Peak.”
He looked towards Zhou Yuan as he continued, “Young one, if you enter my Hongya Peak, I promise to
promote you to a purple sash disciples in three years.”
His words immediately drew countless envious gazes towards Zhou Yuan. Promotion to a purple sash
disciple in three years. This was already rather quick.”
Zhou Yuan was somewhat dazed, clearly not expecting several hegemons to fight over him. These
hegemons had been so mysterious and dignified earlier, why had they suddenly become akin to peddlers
that were enthusiastically trying to sell their wares...
“Barbarian Gu!” Berated Liu Lianyin as her phoenix eyes glared at Gu Tianhong.
The words had barely left her mouth when the white brow elder from the Spirit Rune Peak stroked his
hanging eyebrows and slowly said, “I can see that your Spirit is at a decent level. If you practice the art of
Genesis Runes, you will definitely achieve extraordinary things. It just so happens that my Spirit Rune
Peak is number one in the area of Genesis Runes in the Cangxuan Sect.”
1448
Peak master Lianyi laughed in anger. These bastards, she had clearly been the one most concerned about
Zhou Yuan earlier, but now that he became champion, the rest came to snatch him away one after
another.
She cast her gaze at Zhou Yuan and said, “Zhou Yuan, if you enter my Snow Lotus Peak, I will gift you a
Genesis Mountain.
These words instantly caused the eyes of many disciples to turn crazed with desire.
Even Zhou Yuan could not help but lick his lips. A Genesis Mountain… one must know that there was only
one in the whole of the outer mountains, which was used by several tens of thousands of disciples.
Peak master Liu Lianyi was actually going to bestow an entire Genesis Mountain to a single person, him.
Although it would most definitely not be as grand as the one in the outer mountains, the effectiveness of
having it for one’s sole usage would naturally be out of this world.
It was said that even in the inner mountains, only the most outstanding disciples would get to enjoy such
treatment.
The fact that Zhou Yuan would be given such a reward when he entered the inner mountains just showed
how high of an opinion peak master Liu Lianyi had of him.
While the numerous disciples were practically drowning in envy, the Sword Cometh Peak master Ling Jun
chuckled softly, an unknown look in his eyes as he looked towards Zhou Yuan and said, “Zhou Yuan, if you
enter my Sword Cometh Peak, you will receive the same treatment as the Snow Lotus Peak.”
Lu Xuanyin could not help but tightly clench her jaw when she heard this, but did not dare to interject.
The only thing she could do was send hateful and angry glared at Zhou Yuan.
All of this should have originally belonged to Lu Feng.
But now, it had been taken away by a filthy peasant.
Zhou Yuan was slightly stunned as he glanced at peak master Ling Jun. He was naturally aware of Lu
Feng’s close ties to the Sword Cometh Peak, and his defeat of the latter to obtain first place could from a
certain point of view be akin to humiliating peak master Ling Jun.
Hence why he was quite surprised by the former’s words.
However, the current situation had become quite a headache.
At this moment, a cold and stern voice suddenly rang out, “Sect master and my fellow peak masters,
Though it is gratifying that all of you love talent, do not break the rules. The resources of the sect are to be
exchanged via contribution. Carelessly gifting resources away is an infringement.”
1449
His voice seemed to rumble like thunder as it boomed across the area.
Zhou Yuan looked over. The one who had spoken was the one who had stayed silent since the beginning,
peak master Lei Jun of the Thunder Prison Peak.
This peak master was the most senior person in the Cangxuan Sect. Hence, even sect master Qing Yang
faintly nodded at his words and said, “Peak master Lei Jun is right. Everything shall be done in accordance
to the rules.”
Peak master Liu Lianyi and the rest said no more after hearing this.
Sect master Qing Yang looked towards Zhou Yuan and slowly said, “Zhou Yuan, as the champion of the
ceremony, you have the right to select your peak. Go ahead.”
Zhou Yuan’s expression trembled slightly as he acknowledged, before falling silent for a moment. His gaze
turned to a stone platform in the distance and met with Yaoyao’s.
Every gaze in the area was gathered on his body.
Zhou Yuan took in a deep breath and looked towards sect master Qing Yang and the rest as he said in a
deep voice, “This disciple wants to enter the Saint Genesis Peak.”
After all, he had been directed to the Cangxuan Sect by patriarch Cang Xuan to obtain the second Saint
Rune hidden in the Saint Genesis Peak.
Zhou Yuan’s words immediately made everyone’s eyes widen.
Even sect master Qing Yang, peak master Liu Lianyi and the rest were taken aback, shocked as they
looked towards Zhou Yuan. This was evidently out of their expectations.
Even the quiet Thunder Prison Peak master Lei Jun raised his head and cast his cold and stern gaze over.
Sect master Qing Yang was silent for a while, before he slowly said, “Zhou Yuan, you should know that
Saint Genesis Peak was where our teacher secluded himself. However, following teacher’s death, most of
the areas in Saint Genesis Peak were sealed. It currently has no peak master, and is managed by several
elders. Over the years, very few disciples would choose Saint Genesis Peak.”
“In fact, not a single one of our Cangxuan Sect’s ten great Chosen comes from Saint Genesis Peak.”
“So why do you wish to choose it?”
Under the gazes of the hegemons, Zhou Yuan cupped his fists together and answered, “I was able to come
to the Cangxuan Sect because I obtained the patriarch’s Saint blood baptism in the Saint Remains Domain.
I owe the patriarch a debt of gratitude, and although I dare not say I will make it flourish, I hope to enter
1450
Saint Genesis Peak such that I may do my best to stop its decline. This is the only thing I can do to repay
the patriarch.”
His gaze was slightly lowered. The secret of the Saint Runes was related to the Cangxuan Saint Stamp, a
true god-tier artifact whose implications were far too great. Hence, patriarch Cang Xuan had repeatedly
warned him that he could not reveal this secret.
Therefore, Zhou Yuan was naturally not going to divulge the information that the second Saint Rune was
hidden in the Saint Genesis Peak.
Most importantly, patriarch Cang Xuan suspected that his death may be related to the inner department
of the Cangxuan Sect. As such, it was even more crucial that Zhou Yuan did not reveal anything. If the
patriarch’s suspicious turned out to be true, Zhou Yuan would not be able to ensure his safety.
Thus, he needed an extremely good excuse to enter Saint Genesis Peak.
Zhou Yuan’s words immediately caused the gazes of sect master Qing Yang, peak master Liu Lianyi and
the rest to ease slightly. Patriarch Cang Xuan was their deeply respected teacher after all. Although they
felt Zhou Yuan’s words of repaying his debt of gratitude were rather immature, it exactly why he still had
the naive character of a youth.
A regretful look appeared in peak master Liu Lianyi’s eyes, her gaze turning even gentler as she looked
towards Zhou Yuan and said, “Since you have this wish, go ahead and do what your heart wants. If there
is anything you do not understand in the future, you may seek instruction from my Snow Lotus Peak.”
Zhou Yuan hastily thanked her in a respectful manner. He could feel that peak master Lianyi was filled
with kind intentions.
Sect master Qing Yang also nodded. “Since that is your choice, I can only fulfil it. From now onwards, you
will be part of Saint Genesis Peak.”
Zhou Yuan breathed a sigh of relief inside his heart as if a heavy burden had been lifted from his
shoulders. He had finally succeeded.
After he entered, he would find a chance to search for the second Saint Rune.
1451
Chapter 278 Reward
Zhou Yuan’s ultimate choice of the Saint Genesis Peak was an outcome that undoubtedly surpassed
everyone’s expectations. After all, although Saint Genesis Peak was of amazing origins, and was said to be
the place where the founder secluded himself for cultivation, at the end of the day, patriarch Cang Xuan
was already dead.
The main peak of the Saint Remains Peak had been sealed when patriarch Cang Xuan died. As a result, no
new peak master had been appointed till now, leaving only three elders to manage it.
These along with various other reasons led to the decline of Saint Genesis Peak, causing less and less
disciples to choose it. Currently, not a single one of the Cangxuan Sect’s ten great Chosens were from
Saint Genesis Peak. From this, one could see the pitiful state of Genesis Saint Peak.
Under such circumstances, Zhou Yuan choice clearly baffled many people.
While confused, they were also secretly glad. Given the capabilities he had displayed, he would definitely
begin to spread his wings and soar if he entered any of the other six peaks, and in several years very
likely become known as the figurehead of this batch of disciples.
Since Zhou Yuan had now given up on the six peaks and headed for the Saint Genesis Peak instead, it
would undoubtedly delay his progress, giving other disciples the chance to catch up and even surpass
him.
Beside peak master Ling Jun, Lu Xuanyin was also stunned by Zhou Yuan’s choice. Soon after, wild joy
flitted across her eyes.
“Zhou Yuan ah Zhou Yuan, I never imagined that you would actually choose the Saint Genesis Peak. It
seems that even the heavens do not favor you!”
Lu Xuanyin tightly clenched her hands, joy nearly spilling from her eyes. There used to be a senior
member of their Lu clan who occupied one of an important elder position in the Sword Cometh Peak.
Some time ago, this elder just so happened to be dispatched to the Saint Genesis Peak by peak master
Ling Jun. Therefore, one of the three elders of the Saint Genesis Peak was that senior member of their Lu
clan.
Wasn’t Zhou Yuan’s selection of the Saint Genesis Peak akin to throwing himself into their nets?
“Zhou Yuan, you snatched away Lu Feng’s first place, a grudge that we will naturally properly settle in the
future!”
1452
“So what if you’re the champion of the ceremony, you will ultimately regret offending our Lu clan.” Lu
Xuanyin icily chuckled inside, finally feeling as if all the pent up frustration from earlier had been
released.
On the Genesis Qi clodus, sect master Qing Yang looked towards Zhou Yuan again and said, “As the
champion, you have other rewards.”
With a wave of his sleeve, a glowing bundle descended from the sky, transforming into an old looking
book. It was as if a sun was rising on the old book, giving off an extremely scorching aura that slightly
distorted the surrounding space.
“This is known as the Heavenly Sun God Record, a low grade Heaven Genesis technique.”
These words immediately drew countless gasps, envious gaze after gaze practically glowing as they gazed
at the floating old book in front of Zhou Yuan.
It was a real Heaven Genesis technique!
One must know that even in the Shengzhou Continent, a low grade Heaven Genesis technique was an
ultimate treasure to the many factions, and would oftentimes be the cause of countless bitter struggles.
Zhou Yuan’s mouth was also a little dry, his eyes unable to pull themselves away from the old book before
him. This was a true-blue Heaven Genesis technique. One must know that he had never caught a glimpse
of such a technique even in the Saint Remains Domain.
Although he had learnt several little Heaven Genesis techniques, even the Nine Dragons Canon was far
from being able to match this Heavenly Sun God Record.
It was said that one could exchange Genesis jade for a Heaven Genesis technique in the inner mountains
Hidden Scriptures House. However, the amount needed was far too enormous, likely reaching the tens of
thousands. It would take many disciples working hard for an extremely long time in order to earn enough
for one.
“Thank you sect master.”
Zhou Yuan bowed, before very carefully receiving the old book and keeping it into his Universe bag with a
gleeful look on his face.
Sect master Qing Yang chuckled. ‘There is still one more prize for this batch’s champion, the Genesis
Marrow Baptism. With regards to this matter, a slot will be bestowed to you after entering Saint Genesis
Mountain.”
Zhou Yuan nodded, part curiosity, part anticipation in his heart. It was said that only the purple sash
disciples were able to enjoy the Genesis Marrow Baptism, which was extremely beneficial to one’s
cultivation.
1453
After settling things on Zhou Yuan’s side, sect master Qing Yang finally turned towards the other top ten
disciples and said, “All of the other top ten also have the right to choose their own peaks.”
It was exactly as Zhou Yuan had declared previously, including himself, six of the top ten spots had been
occupied by non Shengzhou disciples.
Song Wanxi, Zhao Kun and Qiao Xiu had managed to defeat their opponents.
All of the top ten disciples were clearly already prepared to select their peaks, and swiftly vocalised their
decisions one after another.
Gu Hongyi chose the Cangxuan Peak, Song Wanxi the Snow Lotus Peak, while Qiao Xiu and Zhao Kun both
picked the Hongya Peak. As for the rest, they were basically split such that each of the six peaks had at
least one person joining.
When it came to Yaoyao’s turn however, before she could speak, the white brow elder from the Spirit
Rune Peak cut in, “Little girl, your Genesis Rune talent is the best amongst everyone I’ve seen over the
years. If you join my Spirit Rune Peak, in the future... I may perhaps pass down my position as peak
master to you.”
His words not only stupefied every disciple, but even sect master Qing Yang and the rest looked towards
him in shock.
The white brow elder ignored their gazes, his glowing eyes gazing at Yaoyao. The emotions currently
present within them had not appeared even when he was facing Zhou Yuan earlier.
The truth was that the white brow elder had been focusing on Yaoyao ever since she ascended a platform.
He had already found out from Zong Ming about her Genesis Rune talent, and had thus paid special
attention to her in secret. He discovered the way she set-up her Genesis Runes had the makings of a
grandmaster, allowing him to understand how terrifyingly amazing her talent was.
For someone like Yaoyao, once her Spirit cultivation caught up in the future, she would have unlimited
prospects in the path of Genesis Runes, and perhaps even surpass himself.
The Thunder Prison Peak master Lei Jun slowly said, “Peak master white brow… your actions are a little
inappropriate.”
However, the white brow elder did not back down after peak master Lei Jun’s words this time. The
former shook his head instead as he firmly said, “Peak master Lei Jun, as the peak master of Spirit Rune
Peak, I have the right to decide my successor.”
Peak master Lei Jun fell silent. He too never expected the white brow elder to place such importance in
this young lady. Thus, he spoke no further, because it was as the white brow elder had said, he did have
the right.
1454
Sect master Qing Yang and the rest exchanged a look, but did not say anything. They could tell that the
girl called Zhou Xiaoyao possessed amazing Genesis Rune talent. For some unknown reason, however,
there were barely any Genesis Qi undulations in her body. Hence, it would be best for her to enter Spirit
Rune Peak.
Lu Xuanyin’s eyes turned red with envy when she saw this. The value the white brow elder saw in Yaoyao
far surpassed Zhou Yuan. In fact, the promise the white hair elder made was practically unheard of.
If Yaoyao really ended up choosing Spirit Rune Peak, won’t that mean she could become its peak master
in the future? How high of a status would that be?
At this thought, the blaze of envy in Lu Xuanyin’s heart was already nearly about to burn her alive from
the inside.
However, contrary to everyone’s expectations, Yaoyao’s slightly glowing drop dead gorgeous face
remained calm from start to end, even in the face of the impossible to reject promise from the white brow
elder.
In the end, she shook her head and pointed towards Zhou Yuan. “I do not want to be separated from him,
so I will also be joining the Saint Genesis Peak.”
Zhou Yuan immediately saw countless fire-spitting gazes shoot towards him, as if wanting to burn him
alive.
1455
Chapter 279 End of the Ceremony
Innumerable fire-spitting gazes converged on Zhou Yuan’s body, anger boiling within them.
After all, anyone would feel a stab of pain in their heart when they heard a girl as beautiful as Yaoyao say
such words for a guy, why wasn’t it them instead...
Amongst all the gazes, the most piercing one naturally belonged to the white brow elder.
His burning gaze was fixed on Zhou Yuan, the original miserable look on his face had been replaced by a
faintly fuming one.
Over the years, this was the first time he had seen someone with such outstanding Genesis Rune talent.
Even when compared to Zhou Yuan, there was undoubtedly a vast difference.
Such talent had made ripples appear in the white brow elder’s calm as an ancient well like heart.
In his eyes, Yaoyao was akin to a perfect, but unpolished gem. Only through proper training would she
reach the pinnacle of Genesis Runes in the future, and likely even surpass himself.
Therefore, when he heard that Yaoyao had actually rejected him because she did not want to be
separated from Zhou Yuan, it was very difficult to swallow.
As such, even though he had a very favorable opinion of Zhou Yuan just moments ago, the latter had now
become somewhat of an eyesore!
In response to the countless fire-spitting gazes, Zhou Yuan felt rather awkward, not knowing what to say.
He naturally knew that this was an excuse Yaoyao had come up with, but why could she not give an
excuse that was easier for others to accept? This current one was basically dragging him through the
mud.
The white brow elder viciously glared at Zhou Yuan several times, before turning back to Yaoyao as he
said in a kind and friendly manner, “Little girl, my Spirit Rune Peak has countless old Genesis Rune texts,
and an abundance of other similar resources. Even in the entire Cangxuan Sect, there’s no other place that
has a collection as grand as ours.”
“If you join us, all of them can be browsed by you at any time.”
The white brow elder had found out about Yaoyao’s fondness for Genesis Rune books from elder Zong
Ming, especially those from long long ago. Hence, he threw out this carrot, hoping it would change her
mind.
1456
His words had indeed caused Yaoyao’s heart to shake a little. However, after some thought, she still
regretfully shook her head.
She was a little worried about leaving Zhou Yuan in Saint Genesis Peak alone. After all, his goal was the
second Saint Rune hidden in Saint Genesis Peak. If some accident were to occur while she was not
around, it would be extremely dangerous for him.
The white brow elder tried to persuade with sincere advice, “Little girl, if you go to Saint Genesis Peak,
there will be no one to teach you Genesis Runes. It will only be a waste of your talent.”
Yaoyao chuckled softly. She had followed at Cang Yuan’s side for so many years, and had already received
the true essence of his teachings. She was currently only limited by her Spirit cultivation. If her Spirit was
powerful enough, she was confident that only a few individuals in the Cangxuan Sect would be able to
surpass her in Genesis Runes.
The white brow elder’s face regained its miserable look after the repeated rejections. This was likely the
first time he encountered someone who showed nearly no interest in their Spirit Rune Peak.
Sect master Qing Yang and the rest exchanged a look, every individual helpless. Zhou Xiaoyao was even
more a character than Zhou Yuan.
Sect master Qing Yang could not help but open his mouth to speak when he saw the white brow elder’s
appearance, “How about this, you can stay in Saint Genesis Peak, and when you have time, you may go to
Spirit Rune Peak to let peak master white brow give you guidance in your Genesis Rune cultivation. In
addition, you may freely browse the many Genesis Rune texts in Spirit Rune Peak. How does this sound?”
The white brow elder hesitated for a moment, before he nodded and said, “Sect master’s suggestion will
work too.”
He felt that it would be better to first get this little girl on the hook first. When she gradually became a
grandmaster of Genesis Runes in the future, she would naturally remember the kindness he had shown.
By that time, it would not be too late to discuss other matters.
Yaoyao was somewhat surprised, likely not expecting that they would value her so greatly. She fell into
thought for some time, feeling that the other party was truly sincere. If she kept rejecting again and again,
it would indeed be a little disrespectful. After all, she and Zhou Yuan were currently both disciples of the
Cangxuan Sect.
From the looks of it, their stay here would not be short.
Therefore, she ultimately gave a slight nod and said, “If I have any free time in the future, I will seek
guidance at the Spirit Rune Peak.”
1457
Upon seeing that she had finally agreed, the white brow elder breathed a sigh of relief as if a load had
been lifted from his shoulders. The pained look on his face had receded substantially, now brightened by
a smile instead.
Only now did the numerous disciples understand after seeing this scene. Zhou Xiaoyao was the one who
had concealed her talents the best amongst this batch of outer mountain disciples.
All of them had fought tooth and nail for the right to enter the seven peaks. In comparison, she was so
popular that she had even been able to reject even peak master white brow’s personal invitation.
Compared to her, even the champion of the ceremony, Zhou Yuan, felt rather lacking.
Now that the top ten disciples had chosen their peaks, sect master Qing Yang turned his head and gave a
slight nod to the other five hegemons.
Rumble!
In the next instant, the six hegemons acted at the same time. Vast Genesis Qi soared into the sky,
transforming into a sea of different colored lights. When one took a closer look, one would realise that
there were exactly six colors, each representing one of the six peaks.
These specks of light began to fall, ultimately landing between the brows of the over 9000 disciples.
As such, all of the disciples were now allocated.
However, none of these disciples had the right to choose, and were instead forcibly divided by sect
master Qing Yang and the rest. However, none of these disciples were unhappy with such treatment.
After all, there were still several tens of thousands of disciples that did not even obtain the qualifications
to enter the inner mountains.
In a short time of about half an incense stick, every disciple had been allocated, causing the entire
mountain to be filled with excited voices.
The outer mountain disciples that had failed to obtain a spot were clearly saddened. They knew that they
would have to continue staying in the outer mountains to train. They could still enter the inner
mountains if they managed to reach the fourth layer Alpha-Origin stage within a certain time period.
However, they knew that by the time that happened, they would have already lost the initiative. Even if
they entered the inner mountains, they would have fallen behind the nearly ten thousand disciples that
had succeeded today.
Moreover, priority would be given to the earlier disciples for numerous cultivation resources.
This was the so-called, once one fell a step behind, one would always be a step behind.
1458
To catch up and even surpass them, a tremendous amount of effort and luck would be required.
As such, there were those who were overjoyed, and those who cried, all kinds of emotions present in the
air.
Sect master Qing Ying looked down as his powerful voice rang in every disciple’s ears.
“In three days, someone will come to receive all of you.”
“Starting today, all of you 9999 disciples will become inner mountain disciples of the Cangxuan Sect. I
hope that you will continue to strive in your cultivation after entering the inner mountains and not slack
off.”
“Disciples understand.”
The numerous disciples respectfully acknowledged.
Sect master Qing Yang nodded. In the sky, the vast Genesis Qi clouds rippled before gradually
disappearing along with the six hegemons.
After the departure of the hegemons, everyone burst out into deafening cheers. The peak selection
ceremony that decided their futures had finally reached its end.
Zhou Yuan raised his head amongst the cheers that filled the sky, gazing into the distance as a dazzling
radiance emerged from the depths of his eyes.
Saint Genesis Peak...
He was really quite looking forward to it.
He too knew that only by becoming an inner mountain disciple would he truly be considered to have
stepped into the grand doors of the Cangxuan Sect.
1459
Three days swiftly passed under the expectant gazes of the disciples.
On the giant plaza, several thousand disciples were gathered like a giant black mass that was boiling with
noise. The face of every disciple present was filled with nervousness and excitement.
Today was the day they stepped into the inner mountains.
Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao stood within the crowd, Qiao Xiu, Zhao Kun, Song Wanxi, Shen Wanjin and
numerous other disciples crowding around them. The gaze of any disciple that looked over was tinged
with deep respect.
The peak selection ceremony three days ago had already taught them who had best concealed their
abilities in this batch of outer mountain disciples...
Zhou Yuan sighed faintly when he saw these gazes. Three months ago, they had been in this very same
place. However, no one paid them any attention back then, and were even openly laughing at him due to
his first class disciple status.
No one would have imagined that the young man they laughed at back then would become so dazzling in
the peak selection ceremony three months later such that no one dared to even look directly at him.
Zhao Kun patted his chest and boldly declared, “Young brother Yuan, if there’s anything you require in
the inner mountains in the future, just call us and we will surely come to help.”
The others sincerely nodded in agreement, gratitude in their gazes when they looked towards Zhou Yuan.
The fact that they were able to enter the top ten was undoubtedly due to his help.
Zhou Yuan merely smiled in response.
Qiao Xiu regretfully said, “But why did young brother Yuan choose the Saint Genesis Peak? Many disciples
would avoid it if they could.”
Zhou Yuan chuckled, but did not explain. He knew that many people felt his choice to be very illogical, but
he could not possibly tell them he was doing for a Saint Rune, right?
While they were conversing, seven streaks of light suddenly appeared from the horizon, transforming
into seven Genesis Qi clouds that ultimately arrived above the plaza.
When the Genesis Qi clouds came to a stop, the numerous disciples discovered seven figure standing atop
them.
1460
Powerful Genesis Qi pressure spread from their bodies, immediately causing the bustling plaza to fall
silent.
The seven figures swept their gazes across the plaza as a powerful voice sounded, “We are the envoys
from the seven peaks that have been sent to receive you. If you are ready, follow us into the inner
mountains.”
*Uproar*.
Excitement buzzed in the numerous disciples on the plaza again, the disciples no longer able to restrain
their voices.
The seven envoys merely chuckled upon seeing this, taking no action to silence them. They too had after
all experienced the same thing many years ago, and knew how excited and overwhelmed these young
men and women were.
The seven waved their sleeves as surging Genesis Qi whizzed out. Genesis Qi rose from the plaza,
transforming into clouds that carried all the disciples into the sky.
Clouds swept across the horizon while the numerous disciples excitedly watched the mountains rapidly
pass by under their feet.
The journey lasted for an entire incense stick of time, before the many disciples felt their speed began to
slow.
“Are we here?” The disciples hurriedly looked to their front.
However, they were soon stunned, because the scene before them was still the same endless mountain
ranges, no sign of the so-called inner mountains.
Yaoyao carried Tuntun as her clear eyes squinted slightly for a moment. She observed the space before
them as she mumbled to herself, “What an amazing Genesis Rune boundary, I can’t believe a subspace can
be created…”
The moment her words faded, Zhou Yuan saw Genesis Qi rise from the sleeves of the seven envoys. Seven
streams of Genesis Qi interweaved, seemingly forming a seal of sorts that slowly fused into the space to
their front.
Next, the numerous disciples watched in shock as the space before them began to ripple, before slowly
tearing open.
Whoosh!
In that instant, it was as if boundless Genesis Qi spouted out from within as the world before their eyes
began to change...
1461
The originally empty land was now filled with countless flying creatures, the calls of birds ringing across
the area.
Majestic mountain after mountain rose from the ground, thrusting straight into the clouds.
Magnificent waterfalls poured down these giant peaks like silver rivers, the thundering of crashing water
filling the ears.
There were even giant Genesis Qi clouds floating in the sky. On the clouds stood numerous halls and
other buildings, while uncountable glowing figures whizzed across the sky on their Genesis Qi.
It was practically a picture of a grand celestial palace.
The numerous disciples were dumbstruck as they stared at the heavenly scene before their eyes.
The seven envoys chuckled as they gazed at the shocked disciples. With a wave of their sleeves, the
Genesis Qi clouds carrying them flew into the crack.
Once they were in, everyone felt rich Genesis Qi flood towards them, causing calmness to wash over their
hearts, while the Genesis Qi in their bodies growing more lively.
The concentration and abundance of Genesis Qi here was evidently greater than the outer mountains.
“Eh, what is that?”
A disturbance suddenly rose, and Zhou Yuan followed the voices and lifted his head to look into the
distance. What he saw was a towering peak standing on a thick layer of Genesis Qi clouds in the sky.
On the mountain a wall that was as smooth as a mirror and flickered dazzlingly. At the top of the wall
were two giant golden words that seemed to give off a mighty aura, drawing everyone’s attention.
“Chosens Peak!”
There was feverish look in the eyes of some disciples as they cried out in surprise, “Is this the Chosens
Peak?!”
Even more individuals curiously asked, “What is the Chosens Peak?”
“In our Cangxuan Sect, every generation of disciples will compete to determine the ten strongest
individuals, and these ten are known as the Cangxuan Sect’s ten great Chosen, the ones that stand at the
apex of all the disciples.”
“To encourage the other disciples, the Cangxuan Sect established the Chosens Peak, and inscribed the
names of the ten Chosen upon it such that they may enjoy the respect and admiration of numerous
disciples.”
1462
“It can be said that becoming one of the ten great Chosen and leaving one’s name on the Chosens Peak is
the ultimate dream that every Cangxuan disciple chases.”
The many disciples gasped when they heard this, before their gazes turned towards the Chosens Peak
with respect.
Zhou Yuan also looked towards the smooth wall in wonder.
His gaze moved from bottom to top.
“Zhao Zhu, ranked tenth, Sword Cometh Peak.”
“Ye Ge, ranked ninth, Spirit Rune Peak.”
“…”
Zhou Yuan’s gaze moved past them one by one. He could feel the heaviness seemingly contained within
each name, making no one dare to underestimate them.
“Shang Chunqiu, ranked fourth, Hongya Peak.”
“Li Qingchan, ranked third, Snow Lotus Peak.”
“Kong Sheng, ranked second, Sword Cometh Peak.”
“Chu Qing, ranked first, Cangxuan Peak.”
The numerous disciples were absolutely silent, respect in their burning gazes as they stared at the ten
names that had been carved into the wall.
Zhou Yuan’s eyes also flickered. He knew that these ten individuals were the most outstanding amongst
this generation.
However, he found that not a single person was from Saint Genesis Peak...
He awkwardly scratched his head and laughed helplessly.
It seems that Saint Genesis Peak was indeed a little pitiful...
1463
Chapter 281 Caretaker of the Mountain
The Chosens Peak stood within the clouds, shining brilliantly as it drew respectful gazes from numerous
disciples.
They knew that the ten disciples who had left their names on the Chosens Peak were definitely existences
that stood at the pinnacle of this generation. In other words, they were akin to kings amongst the
innumerable Cangxuan disciples that looked down at everyone from the peak.
Envy was present in the eyes of countless disciples, hoping that they would one day get to experience the
same thing. What kind of scenery would greet their eyes if they could one day leave their names on the
Chosens Peak?
However, their rationality allowed them to understand that reaching it would require a tremendous
amount of effort and luck.
Currently, besides the top ten of the ceremony, every other disciple was an ordinary inner mountain
black sash disciple. In front of them, stood the gold and purple sash disciples.
As for the ten great Chosen, only the most talented and outstanding purple sash disciples would be able
to compete for such a title. In fact, some of the slightly weaker purple sash disciples may not even have
the courage.
From this, one could see how great of a distance there was between them and the ten great Chosen, a gap
akin to the mud on the ground and the clouds in the sky.
Recently promoted inner mountain disciples like them basically did not even have the qualifications to
come into contact with the ten great Chosen, because they were on completely different levels...
While the numerous disciples sighed, the seven envoys suddenly took action. The Genesis Qi cloud
immediately split into seven separate pieces...
“We will not bring you guys to the peaks you belong to, this is where you shall part ways for the time
being.”
Upon hearing the seven envoys’ words, the disciples hurriedly began to say their goodbyes to their
friends and companions. For a time, the atmosphere was exceptionally busy and warm.
Zhou Yuan looked around. Qiao Xiu, Zhao Kun, Song Wanxi and the rest had already split up, but there
still one familiar figure following him.
It was the fatty Shen Wanjin.
1464
Compared to the other six peaks, the disciples entering Saint Genesis Peak seemed pitifully few in
number, merely amounting to a few hundred individuals. This was already after sect master Qing Yang
had given some consideration for Saint Genesis Peak, and forcibly allocated some of the disciples to it. If
not, even less disciples would have selected Saint Genesis Peak.
As for Shen Wanjin, he was one of the disciples that had been forcibly allocated.
However, compared to the bitter faces on the other disciples, Shen Wanjin was beaming happily, as if not
the least bit disappointed.
Zhou Yuan could not help but smile as he asked, “Aren’t you disappointed?”
Shen Wanjin’s smile turned to one of flattery as he replied, “I have a feeling that if I follow little Yuan bro,
even if Saint Genesis Peak collapses, you’ll still thrive well! Thus, I will follow you wherever you go!”
He then looked towards Yaoyao and said, “Moreover, isn’t there also boss sister Xiaoyao?”
Zhou Yuan could not hold back his laughter. This fellow was really planning on depending on him till the
end.”
However, he did not say anything with regards to this. He felt Shen Wanjin was a pretty decent person,
and they could watch each other’s backs since they were both going to Saint Genesis Peak.
“That’s right, little Yuan bro, junior sister Gu Hongyi asked me to pass you this letter.” Shen Wanjin
suddenly fished out a rolled up parchment.
Zhou Yuan was stunned. He received it and opened it, revealing the graceful words written upon it.
“Be careful of Lu Hong.”
“Lu Hong?” Zhou Yuan frowned a little. He had found out three days ago that one of the three elders of
Saint Genesis Peak was called Lu Hong.
But why had Gu Hongyi warned him about the former?
Zhou Yuan’s gaze flickered, and eventually pieced the puzzle together.
“Lu… could he be from the Lu clan of Lu Feng and Lu Xuanyin?”
He had indeed previously heard Lu Feng mention a senior member of the Lu clan was a high ranking
elder of Sword Cometh Peak. But wasn’t this Saint Genesis Peak?
He raised his head and looked towards another Genesis Qi cloud in the distance where Gu Hongyi was
located. The latter winked at him upon sensing his gaze.
1465
Zhou Yuan gave a slight nod, indicating his thanks.
At this moment, the seven envoys waved their sleeves, causing the Genesis Qi clouds to move, flying
towards several different locations in the inner mountains of the Cangxuan Sect.
The envoy from Saint Genesis Peak landed in front of Zhou Yuan and the rest. He appeared to a middle-
aged and good-natured person, smiling as he said to everyone, “I am the one of the stewards of Saint
Genesis Peak’s ushering office. You may address me as steward Fang Zhen.”
The numerous disciples hurriedly greeted him.
“I’ll be bringing you guys to Saint Genesis Peak.” Fang Zhen waved his hand, and the cloud rose, carrying
the many disciples as it disappeared into the distance.
The Genesis Qi cloud flew past countless ancient palaces in the clouds, the many mountains hiding
amongst them. Streaks of light would shoot past one after another, most of them youthful figures.
However, every single one possessed powerful Genesis Qi, either black or gold sashes tied around their
waists...
Compared to the outer mountains, the inner mountains truly revealed the foundations of the Cangxuan
Sect.
Half an incense stick of time later, Fang Zhen gradually dropped their speed. Zhou Yuan and the rest lifted
their heads at this moment, and saw an unbroken mountain range rise into the sky to their front,
plunging into the clouds. These mountains were dotted by numerous buildings, a spectacular, majestic
sight to behold.
Mysterious undulations spread from between the mountains, making one’s heart beat faster.
“This is Saint Genesis Peak!”
Upon hearing Fang Zhen’s words, the many disciples cast their gazes over, soaking in the sight of the mist
covered mountains. It was as if real dragons were hidden within the mists that none of them were able to
clearly see through.
However, they were still able to feel the mysterious pressure that spread from inside.
“The main peak of our Saint Genesis Peak was sealed after patriarch Cang Xuan’s death, but in accordance
to the rules, I will still bring all of you to the foot of the main peak to pay homage.” Fang Zhen chuckled,
before directing the cloud towards the most majestic peak in the mists. It was so tall that they were
unable to see its peak as they landed at the bottom.
An old hall sat at the foot of the mountain. When Fang Zhen landed, his expression turned solemn.
1466
The sight of his appearance made the many disciples not dare to make any noise, maintaining the solemn
and quiet atmosphere.
In front of the old hall was a stone plaza. The disciples found that it was currently empty, the only
presence was a hunched back old man wearing simple hemp clothing slowly sweeping the fallen leaves
on it.
When their gazes swept across him, they discovered that there were no Genesis Qi undulations from the
old man who faintly trembled as he went about his work. Hence, they paid no further attention to him.
However, when Fang Zhen saw the old man, he solemnly bowed.
The old man did not respond, as if he was deaf and mute.
Fang Zhen turned towards the disciples and said in a low voice, “This senior used to be the patriarch’s
servant, and can be considered the one who has followed the patriarch the longest. However, due to his
lack of talent, his Genesis Qi cultivation is only at the elementary level.”
“On account of his loyalty, the patriarch gathered numerous previous Genesis resources to synthesize a
longevity pill for him, bestowing him long life. On this topic, he is not any less senior than the Thunder
Prison Peak master Lei Jun.”
“His character is rather eccentric, and is not fond of wielding power and influence. After the patriarch’s
death, he has been staying here at Saint Genesis Peak as its caretaker.”
Fang Zhen sternly said, “Quick, go and greet old Xuan.”
The disciples did not dare to delay, hurriedly bowing towards the old man.
Zhou Yuan also looked towards the old man in amazement. Patriarch Cang Xuan had never told him this
information back then. It was likely because that ‘patriarch Cang Xuan’ was only a fraction of his will.
Zhou Yuan’s gaze leaped past the foot of the mountain, following the mountain path as he looked towards
the main peak that was concealed by the mists...
The instant he did this, he suddenly felt the ancient Saint Rune hidden in the depths of his pupils seem to
tremble slightly for a moment.
Although it was faint, it caused Zhou Yuan’s heart to violently shudder, the emotions in his heart akin to a
raging sea.
However, his expression remained calm though the hands inside his sleeves clenched tightly in
excitement.
1467
This was the first time he had felt such a reaction from the Decoder Saint Rune. Looks like it was exactly
as patriarch Cang Xuan had said, the second Saint Rune was indeed on the main peak!
However, the main peak was currently sealed, so how was he going to enter?
1468
Chapter 282 The Sealed Main Peak
Zhou Yuan’s gaze withdrew from the mysterious mist covered main peak, frowning as he helplessly
sighed in his heart.
He was already certain that the second Saint Rune was here, but the problem now was how he was going
to enter...
After all, he could not possibly reveal any information about the second Saint Rune. If he did, it would
likely bring disaster, because he did not know whether there was any problem with the internal circle of
the Cangxuan Sect.
In addition, the Saint Runes were related to the Cangxuan Saint Stamp. Anyone who possessed it would
have the chance to become the master of Cangxuan Heaven, an existence that stood above the numerous
sects. The temptation to own it was far too great, and Zhou Yuan was currently too weak to safeguard
such an object.
Zhou Yuan pondered for a bit, before he suddenly looked towards steward Fang Zheng and asked,
“Teacher uncle Fang, when will this main peak of our Saint Genesis Peak be unsealed?”
Fang Zheng was an easy-going person after all, and answered with a smile, “Truthfully speaking, it is not
difficult to unseal, one would only require the peak master seal of Saint Gensis Peak to undo the seal.”
“However, the current problem is that we have no peak master. Besides this… the peak master seal was
left in the main peak by the patriarch, while the seal over it was personally set-up by the him. The
stronger one is, the more likely one would be attacked by the seal.”
“Even sect master Qing Yang does not dare to enter so easily.”
Zhou Yuan’s head began to swell after hearing this.
“Then has our Saint Genesis Peak not considered selecting a peak master?” Zhou Yuan asked another
question. Since they could not get a hold of the peak master seal for the time being, they should still at
least be able to choose a peak master, right?
The current Saint Genesis Peak was basically without a leader.
Fang Zheng helplessly laughed and said, “According to the rules of our Cangxuan Sect, the peak master
seal is the token that signifies the identity of the peak master. Without it, one would not legitimately be
recognized. Moreover, the seven peak master seals were personally made by the patriarch, and are also
extremely powerful ultimate treasures that possess unlimited power. They can be said to be the ultimate
treasure of the Cangxuan Sect.”
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“That is why our Saint Genesis Peak needs the Saint Genesis peak master seal in order to select a peak
master.”
Not only was Zhou Yuan now speechless, even the other disciples looked to each other with bitter smiles.
To pick a peak master, the peak master seal was required, but the seal had been sealed in the main peak
that no one could access. Wasn’t this basically an impossible loop?
“Does sect master and the rest have no way around this?” Zhou Yuan appeared as if he was in extremely
concerned for their Saint Genesis Peak.
Fang Zheng was under the impression that Zhou Yuan was worried as a Saint Genesis Peak disciple,
causing him to smile and say, “They have thought of a way. The seal on the main peak seems to respond
more strongly the stronger someone is, hence why even the combined might of sect master and the other
hegemons may not succeed. After trying out various methods, sect master and the rest discovered that
the disciples would have a better chance.”
“Thus, sect master and the rest discussed and decided to let the chief disciples of Saint Genesis Peak take
on this important task.”
At this point, Fang Zheng smiled bitterly as he shook his head. “However, not a single one has succeeded
after so many years.”
“Why?” A disciple could not help but ask.
An awkward look rose on Fang Zheng’s face. He coughed in embarrassment and said, “There is definitely
some disparity between our Saint Genesis Peak is and the other six peaks. The chief disciples of the other
six peaks are always part of the ten great Chosens, but the chief disciple of our Cangxuan Peak has never
been able to reach such heights for many years.”
The expression of the numerous disciples immediately turned somewhat ugly. After beating about the
bush for so long, it turns out at the chief disciples from their Saint Genesis Peak was just not strong
enough to carry out the important task of retrieving the peak master seal from the main peak.
A feeling of defeat rose in the hearts of the disciples. Saint Genesis Peak was indeed really pathetic. This
was not a good home at all.
Upon detecting the gloomy atmosphere, Fang Zheng hastily said, “But you guys need not worry. This
problem will soon be resolved.”
The many disciples shot puzzled gazes over.
Fang Zheng explained, “The failure of the Saint Genesis Peak chief disciples over the years has also come
to the attention of sect master Qing Yang and the rest. Hence, during another discussion, peak master
Ling Jun suggested his Sword Cometh Peak send elder Lu Hong and the disciples under him to our Saint
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Genesis Peak. There are many talented disciples under elder Lu Hong, his first disciple Yuan Hong an
outstanding individual even amongst the rest. Even in Sword Cometh Peak that is full of capable
individuals, he is strong enough to be ranked third.”
“Although Yuan Hong is not part of the ten great Chosens, he is one of the individuals that has the
potential to replace them.”
“So if Yuan Hong is able to become the chief disciple of Saint Genesis Peak after the test in a year, he
would be given the chance to enter the main peak to attempt retrieving the peak master seal.”
“Once he succeeds, our Saint Genesis Peak will be able to select a peak master again.”
The numerous disciples looked at each other, the corners of their mouths twitching as an even greater
wave of defeat washed over their hearts. So Saint Genesis Peak had been unable to resolve the matter
themselves, and ended up having another peak send their disciples over to take their chief disciple
position...
This seemed to be a little humiliating.
However, they also understood that it was because the Saint Genesis Peak disciples were no good, and
failed to fulfil the important task that had been placed on their shoulders.
When the disciples thought about it, it did seem that elder Lu Hong was quite capable, and their lives may
perhaps be better if they could join his group...
While such thoughts swirled in the minds of numerous disciples, Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao exchanged a look
and frowned slightly. Wasn’t Lu Hong Lu Feng and Lu Xuanyin’s elder?
Zhou Yuan’s gaze flickered in thought. If the disciples under Lu Hong were allowed to retrieve the peak
master seal, wouldn’t Lu Hong make use of this contribution to become the peak master of Saint Genesis
Peak?
Although he had yet to meet this Lu Hong character, Zhou Yuan felt that it would not bode well for him if
Lu Hong became the Saint Genesis Peak master.
Most importantly, Zhou Yuan did not know whether the former would discover the existence of the
second Saint Rune after becoming peak master.
Before confirming whether there was any hidden danger in the Cangxuan Sect, Zhou Yuan felt that it was
best that no one found out about the second Saint Rune. In the worst case, not only would he fail to obtain
the second Saint Rune, others may even realise that he already had one. No one knew if this would be a
blessing or a disaster for him if that happened.
“How troublesome.”
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Zhou Yuan could not help but sigh in his heart.
However, there was nothing much he could do for the time being, and could only take things one step at a
time. After all, there was still about a year before chief disciple selection came.
Fang Zheng clapped his hands at this moment and said, “Since all of you have paid homage to the main
peak, we’ll continue on our way. I’ll bring you guys to meet the three elders where you will choose which
elder to follow, and formally become disciples of our Saint Genesis Peak.”
After speaking, he waved his sleeve as a Genesis Qi cloud rose under everyone’s feet, lifting the group into
the air again.
As the Genesis Qi cloud rose into the sky, the sweeping hunched elder finally paused and slowly raised his
aged face to look at the departing disciples, as a tiny sliver of bewilderment flitted across his murky eyes.
“Why do I sense a faint hint of something familiar…”
He mumbled to himself in a raspy voice.
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Chapter 283 Picking an Elder
Saint Genesis Peak. On the slant of a certain mountain was a stone plaza that was currently a boiling
cauldron of voices.
Under Fang Zheng’s lead, Zhou Yuan and the numerous other new Saint Genesis Peak disciples were now
gathered here, their gazes currently directed to their front with curiosity and respect.
On the tall stage in front of them were three mats on raised pedestals on which three elderly figures sat.
Boundless Genesis Qi surged around them like the immeasurable sea, giving off an indescribable
pressure.
These three old men were obviously the three elders of Saint Genesis Peak.
“The one in the middle is elder Shen Taiyuan, on the right is elder Lu Song, and on the far left is elder Lu
Hong.” Fang Zheng secretly introduced them to the new disciples.
Elder Shen Taiyuan wore black robes and had a cold, stern face that gave off an aura of strictness. Elder
Lu Song on the other hand was dressed in blue robes, widely grinning like a smiling buddha.
As for elder Lu Hong, he wore a calm expression that was neither happy nor angry. However, when his
uncaring gaze swept past, a flash of sword light would surface, making it such that no one dared to meet
his gaze.
Behind these three elders were numerous figures which were likely the disciples of Saint Genesis Peak.
On their waists hung black or gold sashes, while every individual gave off a powerful presence.
However, although they were all Saint Genesis disciples, Zhou Yuan could sense a clear distinction
between the three groups. The ones of the right and center were still okay, but there was a substantial
gap between them and the group on the far left. Moreover, sparks seemed to fly whenever their gazes
met, making the atmosphere somewhat uncomfortable.
As for the group on the far left, their presence seemed a little colder and sterner. A sliver of arrogance
could be seen in their eyes, contempt occasionally flashing within them when they looked towards the
other two groups of disciples.
Although the left group was slightly smaller in number, their presence was the strongest amongst the
three.
At the front of each of the three groups stood several remarkable looking figures. On their waists hung
purple sashes, clearly marking them as the highest ranked purple sash disciples.
These purple sash disciples were gathered around three figures in particular.
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Behind elder Shen was a tall, large youth. He appeared calm and steady, while a determined
unyieldingness spread from between his brows. Genesis Qi faintly pulsed around him, making him feel
rather imposing.
This individual was called Zhou Tai, and was the eldest disciple under Shen Taiyuan, while also one of the
top contenders for the chief disciple position.
Behind elder Lu Song gracefully stood a girl dressed in white. Pretty features adorned her goose egg
shaped face that gleamed like jade, her skin white as snow. She also boasted an amazing figure, alarming
curves that started from her chest and suddenly sloped inwards at her slender waist.
Many disciples in the vicinity would sneak glances at her rather often.
However, her expression was cold and proud. When the purple sash that curled around her waist was
also thrown into the mix, it made many disciples feel inferior in comparison.
Her name was Lu Yan, and was not only elder Lu Song’s eldest disciple, but also his granddaughter. She
was currently the strongest disciple under elder Lu Song.
The third disciple that stood behind elder Lu Hong was an expressionless young man. His arms were
folded across his chest, his fingers appearing rather thin and withered. Sharp light faintly flashed on his
fingertips like sword light.
His eyes had been shut from start to end, paying no attention to anyone. However, any gaze that looked
towards him would contain a sliver of fear and respect.
Even the likes of Zhou Tai and Lu Yan were a little wary of the former.
This individual was called Yuan Hong, and was the strongest disciple under elder Lu Hong. He was the
one who was said to be ranked third even in Sword Cometh Peak, and was extremely powerful. He was
also the strongest contender for this batch’s chief disciple.
These three individuals were the strongest amongst the numerous Saint Genesis Peak disciples.
At this moment, Fang Zheng took a step forward, cupped his fists together towards the three elders and
respectfully reported, “Elders, I have brought the new disciples.”
The solemn looking elder Shen in the middle nodded, before his stern gaze swept forth as he said in a low
voice, “Since you’ve chosen Saint Genesis Peak, all of you will be disciples of Saint Genesis Peak from
today onwards.”
“I’ll not waste any time. Our Saint Genesis Peak currently only has three teaching elders. In accordance to
the rules, the disciples may choose who to follow.”
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The place fell silent as the numerous disciples secretly began to size-up the three elders while their gazes
flickered in thought, clearly weighing their options.
While they sorted their thoughts in silence, a figure suddenly walked out from behind elder Lu Hong. It
was a golden sash disciple that gave off a sharp and formidable presence, pride visible in his eyes.
His gaze swept across all the disciples, before he faintly smiled and said, “I am Wu Gang, and I believe my
fellow junior disciples already know that teacher Lu was originally from Sword Cometh Peak. We have
come to Saint Genesis Peak bearing the heavy task of retrieving the peak master seal. It is an important
mission that Saint Genesis Peak has yet to fulfill after many years, so it has now fallen on our shoulders.”
“If any of my juniors wish to take on this important task with us, you should join teacher Lu’s faction.”
As his words spread, the disciples of elder Shen and elder Lu Song began to stir, anger appearing on the
faces of many of them. Wu Gang’s words were too obviously aimed at them.
Elder Shen Taiyuan glanced at elder Lu Hong and indifferently said, “Your disciple’s words are truly akin
to a sword, no mercy at all.”
The clean shaven elder Lu Hong laughed as he nonchalantly replied, “Our Sword Cometh Peak cultivates
sword Qi after all, and are naturally direct and straightforward, never hiding our blades. I hope that elder
Shen will not take offense.”
Shen Taiyuan coldy snorted inside, but knew that he should not push the topic.
After all, it had been the sect master and the other peak masters’ decision to send Lu Hong and his group
to Saint Genesis Peak. He too was rather helpless with regards to this, because Saint Genesis Peak had
indeed never succeeded after so many years.
If the Saint Genesis Peak chief disciple position was to land in the hands of Lu Hong’s faction, and they
managed to retrieve the peak master seal, the two original factions of Saint Genesis Peak would truly lose
all face.
Shen Taiyuan looked towards Lu Song, only to see the latter helplessly shake his head.
Saint Genesis Peak was after all unable to match the other six peaks. All the better disciples would be
taken away by the other six peaks, naturally leading to them growing stronger and stronger, while the
Saint Genesis Peak disciples lagged further and further behind. Now, their Saint Genesis Peak was unable
to produce even a single one of the ten great Chosen...
While they were speaking, Wu Gang’s words had already begun to work their magic. Most of the new
disciples here had been forcibly allocated to Saint Genesis Peak, and were thus naturally overjoyed to see
elder Lu Hong’s faction that came from Sword Cometh Peak. The Sword Cometh Peak was, after all, one of
the most popular choices amongst the outer mountain disciples.
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As such, the disciples stirred for abit, before nearly half of them began to flood towards Wu Gang.
The sight of this caused the expressions of the disciples from the other two factions to turn a little ugly.
The cold, arrogant young lady called Lu Yan clenched her teeth, seething as she viciously glared at the
disciples that had moved and angrily said, “A bunch of favor currying fellows! We don’t want them
anyways!”
A pleased smile was revealed on Wu Gang’s face at the sight of this, before he turned to the remaining
disciples on the plaza. These disciples stood behind Zhou Yuan, evidently waiting for him to make his
decision.
After all, Zhou Yuan was the champion the peak selection ceremony, and possessed a degree of influence.
Seeing that he had yet to choose, the other disciples also decided to observe for the time being.
Wu Gang’s gaze swept across Zhou Yuan, an unknown light flashing in his eyes, before he looked towards
elder Lu Hong.
The latter’s eyes cracked open slightly, and cast an indifferent glance at Zhou Yuan. However, elder Lu
Hong did not speak, merely nodding towards Wu Gang.
Wu Gang chuckled upon seeing this, before he turned to Zhou Yuan and said, “This junior brother must be
the champion of this batch’s peak selection ceremony. I’ve long heard of your famous name. Our teacher
Lu also rather admires you, and although you only managed to by some fluke take first place from junior
brother Lu Feng, given how open-minded teacher Lu is, he will naturally do his best to guide you if you
join his faction.”
His tone was rather provocative, seemingly not caring much about the so-called champion of the peak
selection ceremony. Instead, it felt as if it was Zhou Yuan’s fortune to be given the chance to join them.
Wu Gang grinned as he stared at Zhou Yuan. “What do you think about your senior brother’s words? Do
you want to join teacher Lu’s faction?”
At this moment, Shen Taiyuan and Lu Song cast their gazes over.
Behind them, the numerous disciples, including Zhou Tai and Lu Yan also looked over. They had evidently
also heard that the champion of the ceremony had chosen to go to Saint Genesis Peak.
This was a very rare occurrence.
Under the numerous watching gazes, Zhou Yuan smiled at Wu Gang and said, “There as many talented
geniuses as the clouds cultivating under teacher Lu, and being able to join them is indeed an honor.”
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Upon hearing Zhou Yuan’s words, Wu Gang immediately laughed as he smirked slightly, clearly feeling
that there was nothing special about this batch’s champion. After the former joined them, they would
throw him out at any time if junior sister Lu Xuanyin wanted to vent her anger.
A trace of disappointed flowed out in the eyes of Zhou Tai and Lu Yan when they saw this.
Lu Yan coldly remarked, “The champion of this batch really has no backbone. Humph, the champion of
the previous generation was senior brother Chu Qing, who has now become the leader of the ten
Chosens.”
“Zhou Yuan is a far cry from him.”
When she talked about senior brother Chu Qing, her eyes would ripple slightly in adoration.
“Not bad, your judgement is pretty good.” Wu Gang pointed at Zhou Yuan and nodded with a smile. “Since
that is the case, in the future…”
However, just as he was about to willfully appoint some silly duties, Zhou Yuan’s voice sounded again.
“But it is exactly because there are so many talented disciples under teacher Lu, that I feel that I would
only be akin to a useless decoration there. That’s why… I feel that the other factions will suit me better.”
Wu Gang’s voice came to an abrupt halt, his finger still pointing at Zhou Yuan as the expression on his face
turned stiff little by little.
1477
Chapter 284 Gold Sash Disciple
When Zhou Yuan’s voice sounded once again on the stone plaza, it caused the atmosphere to instantly
freeze as gaze after gaze was cast over in shock.
No one had expected Zhou Yuan to favor the other two factions...
After all, out of Saint Genesis Peak’s three current factions, Lu Hong’s was clearly the most superior.
However, this choice was no surprise to Zhou Yuan himself. From the very beginning, he had already
decided not to choose Lu Hong’s faction.
It was because he could feel a tiny sliver of hostility in Wu Gang’s words and elder Lu Hong’s seemingly
unconcerned gaze, hostility that was likely due to his relationship with Lu Feng and Lu Xuanyin.
Elder Lu Hong was obviously far from being as open-minded as Wu Gang had said.
Zhou Yuan could already foresee the endless amount of trouble that would be sent his way if he joined Lu
Hong’s faction. Furthermore, it would be more likely that Lu Hong would not support him if Lu Xuanyin
and Lu Feng came seeking revenge, and instead easily discard him to appease the two of them.
Therefore, Zhou Yuan would most certainly eliminate Lu Hong’s faction from his choices to avoid such
trouble. After all, he felt that as long as he was provided with cultivation resources, it would not make
much of difference regardless of which group he joined.
Truthfully speaking, as the possessor of the Decoder Saint Rune, Zhou Yuan did not require anyone to
guide him in the area of Genesis techniques.
Zhou Yuan’s rejection also stunned the disciples under elder Shen Taiyuan and elder Lu Song. Zhou
Yuan’s choice had likewise surpassed their expectations.
“This junior brother is somewhat interesting.” Zhou Tai grinned, a trace of admiration now present in his
gaze when he looked towards Zhou Yuan.
Lu Yan’s cheeks balloned slightly for a while, the icy haughtiness on her pretty face fading substantially as
she said, “At least he has some backbone…”
The other disciples from the two factions also cast friendly and welcoming gazes towards Zhou Yuan.
In contrast, hostility began to rise in the eyes of the disciples under elder Lu Hong, their slightly chilly
gazes looking towards Zhou Yuan. It was obvious that they felt Zhou Yuan’s rejection to be an act of
humiliation towards their group.
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Especially Wu Gang, whose expression fluctuated indeterminately between anger and embarrassment.
He had previously been under the impression that Zhou Yuan had tactfully chosen to join them. Who
could have imagined that his earlier words were merely a ruse, turning the former’s earlier words into a
joke.
“You!”
Wu Gang’s gaze turned piercingly chilly as he stared at Zhou Yuan and sarcastically said, “Junior brother
Zhou Yuan really has character, it seems that you believe that as the champion of the peak selection
ceremony, teacher Lu’s faction cannot do without you?”
“Do you really think that every champion is like the Cangxuan Peak’s senior brother Chu Qing?” There
was no lack of mockery in his words.
There were many champions of the peak selection ceremony in the Cangxuan Sect. After all, there was
one for each generation of disciples. Amongst them, there were no lack of amazingly successful disciples,
but at the same time there were also many that ultimately fell back into mediocrity.
After rebuking Zhou Yuan, Wu Gang’s tone softed slightly as he said, “Junior brother Zhou Yuan, you do
have some talent, but I advise you not to be too rash. If you fail to grasp this opportunity, regret will do
nothing for you in the future.”
Zhou Yuan merely chuckled in response. “Teacher Lu’s faction is not too suitable for me, senior brother
Wu Gang does not need to speak any further about this.”
Wu Gong’s words were always secretly threatening him, something that Zhou Yuan very much dislikes.
Hence, he could no longer be bothered to talk it out nicely.
Wu Gang’s eyes hardened as an ominous look appeared on his face.
He was about to speak again, but saw elder Lu Hong open his eyes, indifference within them as he waved
at the former. Hence, Wu Gang closed his mouth and venomously glared at Zhou Yuan.
Lu Hong nonchalantly said, “Since he is not willing, forget about it. We do not lack a so-called champion of
the peak selection ceremony.”
He did not give Zhou Yuan a second glance. In his opinion, not joining them was undoubtedly destroying
one’s own future. Once Zhou Yuan began to experience hardships in the future, he would naturally begin
to understand how foolish he had been today.
Moreover, it was only a champion of the peak selection ceremony, someone who was merely number one
amongst the outer mountain disciples. Who in the inner mountains had not gone through rigorous and
careful selection? Zhou Yuan would soon understand what it meant to vanish into averageness.
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Lu Hong had originally been a little interested in this batch’s champion. If the latter could be recruited, Lu
Hong would first make him apologise to Lu Xuanyin and Lu Feng, before giving him proper guidance. But
from the looks of it, this individual was clearly not going to cooperate.
Wu Gang understood Lu Hong’s character, and knew from his words that Zhou Yuan’s actions had already
turned off teacher Lu. A gloating smile immediately revealed itself on Wu Gang’s face.
However, Zhou Yuan paid no attention to them. He really disliked Lu Hong from the bottom of his heart,
and did not know what kind of terrible future awaited him if he were to join the latter’s faction.
Hence, his gaze turned towards elder Shen Taiyuan and elder Lu Song as he cupped his fists together and
said, “This disciple hopes to study under either of the two elders.”
Shen Taiyuan and Lu Song exchanged a look as their expressions softened somewhat. They too never
imagined that Zhou Yuan would actually end up rejecting Lu Hong.
Shen Taiyuan’s stern face was now much more relaxed than before. He was a rather inflexible and old-
fashioned person by nature, but treated his disciples with amazing earnesty. Hence, numerous disciples
both respected and feared him in Saint Genesis Peak.
He looked towards elder Lu Song and asked, “What does elder Lu Song think?”
Elder Lu Song laughed and said, “As the one who became the champion of the peak selection ceremony,
he’s naturally a good seedling. This old man is tempted, but you should know that I'm a pretty
mischievous one. The little guy will likely end up wasting much time with me.”
Elder Lu Song knew that Shen Taiyuan had been brooding over elder Lu Hong’s shift to Saint Genesis
Peak. However, due to the repeated failures for so many years, Shen Taiyuan could only accept the
arrangements made by sect master and the other hegemons.
Although Shen Taiyuan was strict and old-fashioned, he did give his all when he came to his disciples. The
only problem was that it was an exceedingly difficult task to find any good saplings to nature in their
Saint Genesis Peak, hence why his disciples still found it hard to compete with the other peaks.
Now that a champion of the peak selection ceremony had at long last came their way, and had even
declined to join Lu Hong’s faction, Lu Song knew that although Shen Taiyuan appeared calm on the
surface, his heart was surely churning with emotions.
Lu Song knew that Shen Tiayuan would never give up, and was definitely going to duke it out with Lu
Hong.
“So I believe that it will best for this little guy to join elder Shen’s ranks.” Lu Song smiled.
Shen Taiyuan’s eyebrows moved, but that face of his remained impassive. After some silence, he nodded
to Lu Song.
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Shen Taiyuan gazed at Zhou Yuan and said in a slightly soft voice, “Since that’s the case, you shall join us
today, and I will earnestly guide you.”
Zhou Yuan cupped his fists together towards Shen Taiyuan and bowed.
As Shen Taiyuan watched, a smile finally surfaced on his stern face. With a wave of his hand, a flash of
gold flew towards Zhou Yuan, turning into a golden sash.
Faint, complicated runes were etched onto the golden sash as it gave off a peculiar ripple that was
actually able to gather the surrounding Genesis Qi. It had clearly been inscribed with a Genesis gathering
rune, and could be said to be a support type Genesis treasure.
“As the champion of the peak selection ceremony, I have bestowed upon you a gold sash.” A rarely heard
kindness could be detected in Shen Taiyuan’s voice.
“Thank you teacher Shen.”
Under the many envious gazes, Zhou Yuan received the golden sash. He knew that he was now formally a
gold sash disciple of Cangxuan Sect’s inner mountains.
1481
Chapter 285 Purple Genesis Cave Dwelling
As Zhou Yuan tied the gold sash around his waist, the complex and ancient runes on it glittered faintly,
and the surrounding Genesis Qi began to flow towards him strand by strand, ultimately slipping into his
body.
The numerous surrounding disciples wore looks of envy as they watched. They knew that the gold sash
was not merely a beneficial tool for cultivation, but also represented one’s status and perks.
After wearing the gold sash, Zhou Yuan moved to the side.
It this moment, Shen Taiyuan, Lu Song, and Lu Hong’s gazes suddenly turned at the same time, looking
towards the most soul-stirring figure on the plaza.
It was naturally Yaoyao.
Yaoyao wore her light blue long skirt, her facial features so pretty it was as if they had been perfectly
drawn, not even a tiny blemish to be soon. Her eyes in particular were akin to a clear and empty sky that
gave off a faint feeling of distance, making it that no one dared to approach.
The moment Yaoyao appeared, numerous gazes of the plaza stealthily looked over as whispers began to
spread in secret.
“This is way too pretty!”
“Her presence is also extraordinary, who is she? Such beauty and presence is stronger than even the
Snow Lotus Peak’s senior sister Li Qingchan!”
“They do look a little similar, both feel rather distant…”
“They’re not the same at all. Although senior sister Li Qingchan is usually akin to mountain of ice, she’s
actually cold and the outside and warm on the inside. The girl before us however has a cold indifference
that spreads from within, and seems to be unconcerned about anything. Such coldness basically makes
her untouchable.”
“Tch, acting like you understand…”
“……”
Regardless of what they whispered, it was clear that every gaze was amazed by Yaoyao. Even a girl like
Lu Yan, who had confidence in her looks, had nothing to say.
Looks like the number one beauty of Saint Genesis Peak would undisputedly belong to Yaoyao in future.
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Shen Taiyuan was pondered for a brief moment, before he finally opened his mouth and said, “Zhou
Xiaoyao, your situation is quite unique. Peak master white brow has already sent someone to inform us
that you need not take any of us three as a teacher. However, you may still stay in Saint Genesis Peak.”
They obviously already knew about Yaoyao, and also understood how unprecedentedly valued she was
by the peak master of Spirit Rune Peak.
The truth was that they could not wrap their heads around this matter. Why had Yaoyao insisted on
coming to Saint Genesis Peak? Given her talent, if she went to Spirit Rune Peak, peak master white brow
would certainly treat her like a queen.
Though they had heard that she chose to come here for Zhou Yuan, every fibre of her being seemed to
give off an unapproachable feeling. Could she really be fond of Zhou Yuan?
They mulled over it for a while, but were unable to reach an answer.
Yaoyao nonchalantly nodded in acknowledgement. After all, she was only at Saint Genesis Peak to protect
Zhou Yuan, and in her opinion, none of the three elders had the qualifications to teach her.
Now that they were done with Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao, the remaining disciples began to make their
choices, the majority following Zhou Yuan to join elder Shen and elder Lu Song’s groups.
After the allocation was done, perhaps because of Zhou Yuan, the number of disciples that had joined
Shen Taiyuan was roughly equal to Lu Hong.
Thus, all the new disciples were split up into three groups.
Of the three factions, elder Lu Song had the least number of disciples, but he was indeed more of a playful
and mischievous individual, and did not have much interest in competing or grand aspirations.
Elder Shen Taiyuan and elder Lu Hong on the other hand, were very competitive. They had the most
disciples, but elder Lu Hong’s disciples were clearly of better quality. He was after all from the Sword
Cometh Peak, the resources available to him far greater than elder Shen Taiyuan.
Since they were done, elder Lu Hong stood up to leave, no intentions of discussing anything with Shen
Taiyuan and Lu Song.
However, it was at this moment that the silent Shen Taiyuan suddenly spoke, “Please wait elder Lu Hong.”
Lu Hong’s foot paused as he turned around, looked at Shen Taiyuan and said, “What is it elder Shen?”
Shen Taiyuan hesitated for a moment, before he said, “I hope to discuss about the final purple Genesis
cave dwelling of our Saint Genesis Peak.”
1483
Lu Hong’s eyes narrowed slightly. Soon after, he seemingly smiled as he mockingly swept a glance at
Zhou Yuan and said, “Elder Shen is truly a lover of talent. To think that you would even plan on preparing
a purple Genesis cave dwelling for him.”
“However, does a new gold sash disciple like him really deserve such treatment?”
Zhou Yuan was slightly taken aback, somewhat surprised as he looked towards Shen Taiyuan.
During the past three days, he had gotten a better understanding of the inner mountains. Every inner
mountain disciple would be given a cave dwelling, similar to the little houses of the outer mountain
disciples.
However, this cave dwelling was clearly even more precious than the little houses.
Every cave dwelling was equipped with a spring of sorts from which an endless stream of pure Genesis Qi
would spout from, making it extremely beneficial to one’s cultivation.
The cave dwellings were also split into different ranks which were related to disciple’s status. From the
lowest, the black Genesis cave dwelling, the gold Genesis cave dwelling, and finally the highest rank
purple Genesis cave dwelling.
Ordinarily speaking, only a purple sash disciple could enjoy the luxury of a purple Genesis cave dwelling.
Hence, Zhou Yuan was rather surprised when he heard Shen Taiyuan intended to give him a purple
Genesis cave dwelling.
Shen Taiyuan slowly said, “I can judge for myself whether or not he deserves it.”
Lu Hong let out a mocking laugh as he shook his head and said, “There’s no need for you to consider this
matter any further elder Shen. The main peak of our Saint Genesis Peak is sealed, making it impossible to
open many of the purple Genesis cave dwellings. Hence, there is only a limited number available. In
accordance to our rules, our three factions will split the cave dwellings based on martial prowess, and
since the previous nineteen have already been allocated, I am determined to win the final one.”
“All of your purple sash disciples already have purple Genesis cave swellings.” Shen Taiyuan’s expression
sunk slightly.
Lu Hong sneered. “Since you feel that a new inner mountain disciple has the right to use a purple Genesis
cave dwelling, do my disciples not have the same right?”
Shen Taiyuan’s expression turned ugly, but he still managed to control his anger. “I can barter for the
purple Qi cave dwelling with other things.”
However, Lu Hong waved his hand and rudely said, “No need. I’ve already declared that I am determined
to win this purple Genesis cave dwelling.”
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A look of ridicule was present in his gaze as he swept a glance in Zhou Yuan’s direction. Of course he
knew that Shen Taiyuan wanted to give the purple Genesis cave dwelling to Zhou Yuan. This was why he
would never let it happen.
Although Lu Hong did not appear to care when Zhou Yuan had chosen to join Shen Taiyuan earlier, it was
obvious that the former held a grudge in his heart.
Moreover, Zhou Yuan was after all the champion of the peak selection ceremony, making him a potential
threat. Hence, cutting his cultivation resources even a little would reduce the threat he posed.
Therefore, there was no way that Lu Hong would allow the final purple Genesis cave dwelling to land in
Zhou Yuan’s hands.
Lu Hong smiled coldly inside. Since you value Zhou Yuan so much, go ahead and give the purple Genesis
cave dwellings of your other disciples to him. But if you do so, let’s see what your disciples will end up
saying.
Zhou Yuan frowned as he watched the exchange between them. He had at last personally witnessed how
‘open-minded’ Lu Hong actually was.
“Teacher Shen, although a purple Genesis cave dwelling is great, there is no need to rush things. There
will always be a chance in the future.” Zhou Yuan cupped his fists together.
However, Shen Taiyuan shook his head. “I know what I’m doing.”
From the looks of it, the stubborn elder was not willing to give up.
Seeing the growing tension between the two parties, elder Lu Song had no choice but to stand up and say,
“Since neither of you wishes to give in, we shall follow the rules and decide its allocation based on martial
prowess.”
“The next match shall be held in a month. Whoever wins then will naturally obtain the final purple
Genesis cave dwelling.”
Upon hearing these words, Lu Hong let out an icy chuckle, before leaving with a swish of his sleeves.
“Then we’ll see who's more capable in a month”
However, he cast an icy, mocking gaze at Zhou Yuan as he left. Although he did not say anything, Zhou
Yuan could guess what the former was thinking.
You don’t deserve that purple Genesis cave dwelling.
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Chapter 286 Match for the Cave
In the wake of Lu Hong and his disciples’ departure, the atmosphere began to relax. However, Shen
Taiyuan’s expression was still somewhat ugly, clearly not expecting that Lu Hong would not give any face
even after he had lowered himself to ask.
Elder Lu Song walked over from the side and sighed helplessly. “You know full well that he looks down on
us. Why did you still have to ask.”
He shot a glance at Zhou Yuan. The truth was, Lu Song did know why in his heart. Zhou Yuan was likely
very important to Shen Taiyuan, and he wanted to create the best cultivation conditions for the former.
A purple Qi cave dwelling was definitely necessary.
Shen Taiyuan’s expression darkened with anger as he said, “He’s just a lesser man in a position of power.”
Lu Song shook his head, before he asked, “Do you have any confidence in the next cave match?”
Shen Taiyuan’s expression turned rather depressed.
The cave dwellings of Saint Genesis Peak were originally occupied by him and Lu Song’s disciples.
However, ever since Lu Hong and his disciples came from Sword Cometh Peak, there was no longer any
peace in Saint Genesis Peak.
Lu Hong’s faction also needed cave dwellings, so they had to be redistributed once again.
This was how the cave matches had come about.
A cave match was basically a competition of martial prowess between the disciples from the three
factions. The winner would obtain the cave dwelling.
For the past year, Lu Hong’s faction had started many cave matches, and overall won more than they lost.
After all, the quality of his disciples were indeed better than those under Shen Taiyuan and Lu Hong.
Even the final purple Genesis cave dwelling was now being eyed by Lu Hong.
Shen Taiyuan naturally also coveted the final purple Genesis cave dwelling, but he knew that there was
no longer anyone on his side who could match Lu Hong’s disciples.
In accordance to the rules, each disciple could only participate once in a cave match per year. Currently,
the strong disciples under Shen Taiyuan such as Zhou Tai had already used their turns in the most
intense matches. Hence, he was left with only gold sash disciples to vie for the next cave match.
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Although Lu Hong’s purple sash disciples had likewise used up their chance long ago, Shen Taiyuan knew
that there were still quite a few exceptionally strong gold sash disciples under Lu Hong, for example Wu
Gang.
In comparison, Shen Taiyuan’s gold sash disciples were quite lacking.
Therefore, Shen Taiyuan did not have much confidence in the match to be held a month later.
Lu Song was also aware of the situation, and thus said in a low voice, “Why not wait a while longer. At the
beginning of next year, the matches will start over once again.”
Shen Taiyuan’s expression fluctuated for a moment. However, he still stubbornly shook his head in the
end and declared, “I will find a way.”
After which, he waved to Lu Song before shooting a glance at Zhou Yuan and the rest as he lifted his legs
to leave.
“Junior brother Zhou Yuan, we’ll be fellow brother disciples in the future.” Zhou Tai smiled at Zhou Yuan.
From the looks of it, the former was a rather straight forward individual.
Zhou Yuan returned the smile and cupped his fists together. “Greetings senior brother Zhou Tai.”
Zhou Tai said, “Although teacher Shen seems very unapproachable, he has high hopes for you.”
Zhou Yuan responded with a slight nod. Although he barely had any contact with Shen Taiyuan, the
latter’s earlier actions clearly fallen into the former’s eyes. Shen Taiyuan had obviously clashed with Lu
Hong for the sake of obtaining the final purple Genesis cave dwelling for Zhou Yuan to aid his cultivation
progress.
This gesture moved Zhou Yuan’s heart slightly.
After all, if it was anyone else, they would likely not risk offending an elder with pretty high status for a
mere disciple.
“Senior brother Zhou Tai, if it is too difficult, please persuade teacher Shen to drop the idea.” Said Zhou
Yuan. Although he still did not fully understand the extent of the situation, he could sense that Lu Hong
seemed to look down on Shen Taiyuan’s intent to contest for the final purple Genesis cave dwelling.
Lu Hong clearly believed that he had already won.
Zhou Tai laughed bitterly. “It will be nearly impossible to persuade teacher Shen once he has made up his
mind. Given his character… no one can dissuade him.”
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Soon after, he patted Zhou Yuan’s shoulder and consoled. “You need not worry about this matter. If not
because I had already participated in a cave match, I would have helped you win the last purple Genesis
cave dwelling.”
Zhou Yuan nodded, not speaking any further on the topic.
After the numerous disciples bid their respectful farewell to elder Lu Song, they followed elder Shen
Taiyuan.
Lu Song watched them leave as he sighed helplessly. “Old Shen seems to genuinely think very highly of
that little fellow Zhou Yuan. I can’t believe that he even butt heads with Lu Hong for the sake of helping
the former obtain the last purple Genesis cave dwelling.”
Lu Yan walked over and asked, “Will elder Shen be able to win?”
Although all three factions were competitors, Lu Song and Shen Taiyuan’s groups had gotten along well
for many years. Lu Hong’s faction on the other hand had practically appeared out of nowhere. In addition,
their methods were far too domineering, hence from an emotional point of view, Lu Song’s faction
naturally hoped to see Shen Taiyuan’s faction win.
Lu Song shook his head. “It will be difficult. The disciples under Lu Hong are indeed pretty remarkable.
Even though all the purple sash disciples have already used up their turns, some of the gold sash disciples
cannot be underestimated. Wu Gang for example, is an elite even amongst the fifth layer Alpha-Origin. It
will be hard to find someone who can match him amongst old Shen’s gold sash disciples.
“As the one who managed to become the champion of the peak selection ceremony, Zhou Yuan should be
quite capable, right? I wonder if he will participate.” One of the purple sash disciples chuckled.
Lu Yan frowned slightly upon hearing this. “You think too highly of him. His title of champion is only with
regards to those outer mountain disciples. What can he do now that he’s in the inner mountains? He
should first obediently train for a year or two before trying anything.”
She was not looking down on him, but merely stating the truth. Lu Feng, whom Zhou Yuan had expanded
all his efforts to defeat, was merely a peak fourth layer Alpha-Origin practitioner. Who amongst the inner
mountain gold sash disciples did not possess such strength?
Some of the better gold sash disciples had even stepped into the fifth layer. Wu Gang in particular was
one of the stronger ones even amongst Saint Genesis Peak’s numerous gold sash disciples.
From what she could see, although Zhou Yuan was talented, as someone who had only recently entered
the inner mountains, he likely was not good enough to vie with the other gold sash disciples. What he
should do now was to obediently bide his time and train.
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The purple sash disciple chuckled. He had merely been jesting earlier. After Lu Yan responded, he
naturally nodded his head and said, “Junior sister is right, it’s not like none of the past peak selection
ceremony champions eventually returned to mediocrity. After all, not everyone is as amazing as senior
brother Chu Qing.”
Lu Yan rolled her eyes at him, somewhat annoyed as she retorted, “Could you please not compare just
anyone to senior brother Chu Qing?”
“Senior brother Chu Qing became a purple sash disciple in less than a year. It is impossible for anyone to
match his speed.”
She was obviously one of Chu Qing’s loyal fans, and naturally felt that no one could match him.
“Heh heh, yes, yes, I’m wrong. I should not have so rashly compared junior sister’s idol to others.
Although Zhou Yuan is also a peak selection ceremony champion, how can he possibly measure up to
senior brother Chu Qing.” The purple sash disciple chuckled as he cupped his hands together in apology.
Only then did Lu Yan nod in satisfaction.
As he listened to the banter between the two, elder Lu Song also laughed, making no remarks about the
topic. With a wave of his hand, he turned around and left.
“Let’s go.”
“I hope that old Shen won’t lose too terribly a month later. If not, we’ll likely not see the old fellow's smile
for at least half a year…”
1489
Chapter 287 Cao Shi
Zhou Tai stood half way up a certain mountain and pointed to a cave dwelling amongst the verdant
greenery as he smiled and said, “Junior brother Zhou Yuan, this gold Genesis cave dwelling shall be your
accommodation for the time being.”
Zhou Yuan raised his gaze, and found a cave dwelling that had been built into the mountain. Sunlight
peeked through the steep cliffs around it, falling down upon the cave like a silver river. A pavilion had
also been built on a cliff nearby, appearing exceptionally peaceful, tranquil and grand at the same time.
An accommodation like this was many times better than the little houses of the outer mountains.
Most importantly, Zhou Yuan could feel pure Genesis Qi swirling around inside the cave. Anyone who
stayed in it long term would surely experience amazing benefits.
“Hehe, junior brother Zhou Yuan, teacher Shen really has high hopes for you. You should know that a gold
Genesis cave dwelling like is usually contested over by many gold sash disciples. You’ve only just joined
us and yet you’ve already been given one, this is very enviable to others.” Zhou Tai sighed.
However, he appeared to be quite a magnanimous person, and showed no indication that he felt it unfair.
He was after all the eldest disciple under Shen Taiyuan, and had long ago gotten a purple Genesis cave
dwelling, so there was no reason to be jealous.
Zhou Yuan nodded as he revealed a pained smile. “Being so highly regarded by teacher Shen makes me
feel somewhat awkward.”
The truth was that he never expected Shen Taiyuan to regard him so highly, a situation that ended up
making him feel rather awkward.
Zhou Tai shook his head as he explained, “Junior brother Zhou Yuan doesn’t fully understand the
circumstances of our Saint Genesis Peak. Any of the slightly more outstanding disciples that joined us
were basically snatched away by the other six peaks, the only ones left are… I can’t say that they’re left
overs, but very ordinary.”
“As such, it is naturally impossible for our Saint Genesis Peak to vie with the other six peaks. It got so bad
that we aren’t able to occupy even a single spot in the current ten great Chosens.”
“Elder Lu Song did not use to be so cheeky in the past. It was only after repeated failures that he slowly
lost his aspirations, and began to become satisfied with just getting through each day, no longer caring
about reviving Saint Genesis Peak.”
1490
“Teacher Shen on the other hand is quite the stubborn person. He’s been gritting his teeth, and refusing to
give up all along, but the recent overbearing arrival of Lu Hong’s group has indeed put a tremendous
amount of pressure on teacher Shen.”
“After all, if Lu Hong’s faction really ended up taking the chief disciple position and subsequently retrieve
the peak master seal, the disciples in both our groups will no longer be able to raise our heads in the
Cangxuan Sect.”
Zhou Tai let out a bitter laugh. “Teacher Shen has placed such high hopes in you because he really does
not have any other choice. The only path left to him is to bet everything on you. You’re after all a
champion peak selection ceremony, and who knows, you may even become the second Chu Qing.”
At the mention of Chu Qing’s names, admiration flitted across even the eyes of someone like Zhou Tai.
However, he knew that the chances of a second Chu Qing appearing was abysmally low. He was after all
someone who had stunned and amazed the entire Cangxuan Sect, and now firmly sat at the head of the
ten great Chosens.
Although Zhou Yuan was also a champion of the ceremony, there had been many such champions over
the years, but only one Chu Qing.
Zhou Yuan silently nodded.
Behind him, Yaoyao’s bright eyes gazed at the gold Genesis cave dwelling, finding it rather satisfying. She
ignored Zhou Yuan, carrying Tuntun as she slowly walked in, clearly already taking the place as her
territory.
The corners of Zhou Tai’s eyes twitched when he saw this. Of course he knew that Yaoyao’s status was
special, but he never imagined she and Zhou Yuan would be so close that they would even stay in the
same cave.
Thus, he chuckled knowingly at Zhou Yuan. “Junior brother Zhou Yuan’s luck with women is really
something.”
Zhou Yuan knew that the former had misunderstood. However, he could not really explain the situation.
After all, he and Yaoyao did share a very special relationship.
Yaoyao’s character was overly aloof and distant, as if there was nothing she cared about. She was akin to
a supreme existence that walked amongst lesser beings.
In the past, she had likely regarded only master Cang Xuan as her kin, but after living together for the past
few years, Zhou Yuan could also be considered kin, though he somehow felt that his status was only equal
to Tuntun’s...
1491
In fact, Zhou Yuan felt that if he really wanted to develop a relationship with Yaoyao, she would most
likely blast him to death with Genesis Runes...
Therefore, he could only smile helplessly in response to Zhou Tai’s teasing.
Zhou Tai did not waste time chit chatting. After giving some advice, he said, “You can explore Saint
Genesis Peak during the next three days to get used to things here. However, you can’t miss the morning
lesson on Alpha-Origin Cliff in three days. It’s the biggest benefit we get in after entering the inner
mountains.”
“Alpha-Origin Cliff?”
Zhou Yuan was somewhat puzzled.
However, Zhou Tai did not explain, merely mysteriously smiling as he said, “You’ll know when the time
comes.”
He turned around, and was just about to leave when he suddenly hesitated for a moment. “Junior brother
Zhou Yuan, you should be more cautious for the time being, and try your best to keep a low profile...”
Zhou Yuan was taken aback. “What do you mean?”
Zhou Tai revealed a helpless smile and said, “Teacher Shen values you far too much, which I believe will
make the other brother disciples feel a sense of unfairness. Truthfully speaking, even I am a little envious
of you, what more the others.”
Although Zhou Yuan was the champion the most recent peak selection ceremony, he was too new to the
outer mountains and lacked experience. However, teacher Shen had not only gifted this newest disciple a
gold Genesis cave dwelling, but was even doing his best to get a purple Genesis cave dwelling for the
former. When such actions landed in the eyes of the other disciples, it was easy for feelings of unfairness
to rise in their hearts.
Zhou Yuan silently nodded when he heard this.
Zhou Tai had nothing left to say, stepping onto a Genesis Qi cloud as he rose into the sky and swiftly
disappeared into the distance.
Zhou Yuan remained standing on the spot, frowning slightly as he watched Zhou Tai leave.
He was naturally aware that teacher Shen’s actions would easily draw out feelings of jealousy and envy in
the other disciples. The bottom line was that these disciples felt that he did not deserve such attention
and treatment.
1492
His eyes narrowed slightly. The reason he had come to the Cangxuan Sect was for the sake of growing
stronger, and eventually earn the power to face king Wu. Since the purple Genesis cave dwelling would be
very beneficial to him, he naturally also coveted it.
Hence, he did not intend to voluntarily give up just because other disciples felt it was unfair.
He had only tried to turn it down previously because he did not fully understand the situation, and did
not wish to accept such kindness from others for no reason.
His eyes spun in thought. After some silence, he turned around and entered the cave dwelling.
He did not wish to comment on Zhou Tai telling him to keep a low profile, because he understood that
trying to be low-key alone would not be of any use in this situation.
If anyone was unable to accept it, he would beat them till they did.
In a certain cave dwelling.
A dozen figures were seated here, unhappy voices sounding one after another.
“Teacher Shen is being way too unfair. Even if that snot-nose brat Zhou Yuan managed to win the peak
selection ceremony, he’s only recently entered the inner mountains. To think that he would even be given
a gold Genesis cave dwelling.”
“Agreed, that gold Genesis cave dwelling was clearly being eyed by senior brother Cao Shi, but has now
ended up being taken away right under our noses.”
“Most importantly, from the looks of it, teacher Shen will likely send us out in the cave match a month
later, but if we win? The purple Genesis cave dwelling will probably end up in Zhou Yuan’s hands.”
“On what basis should be enjoy such treatment? Just because he’s the champion? It’s not like we’ve never
seen one before!”
“……”
The numerous disciples shared their grievances, releasing all of the unhappiness in their hearts.
Amongst the crowd was was a long-haired young man whose expression appeared exceptionally stormy.
It was the disciple called Cao Shi.
He had been eyeing that gold Genesis cave dwelling for the longest time, and had been saving Genesis
jade to trade for it. In the end, it had been so casually given to a new disciple by teacher Shen. How could
he possibly
1493
Cao Shi icily chuckled and said, “It will not be so easy for a mere new disciple to step on me.”
“What does senior brother Cao plan on doing?”
Cao Shi’s eyes narrowed as a faint smile appeared on his lips. “There are not many gold sash disciples
amongst us who can still participate in the cave match. If nothing unexpected happens, I will likely be one
of the choices.”
“I will gather some of the other senior brothers who also feel that teacher Shen is showering that brat
with too much attention. When the time comes, we will propose that if we were to take part in the cave
match, teacher must first agree that the purple Genesis cave dwelling will not be given to that snot-nose
kid.”
These words immediately drew a series of approval from the group.
“Senior brother Cao is right. Zhou Yuan may have some talent, but he is ultimately only a new disciple. We
must first make him understand his social standing. Before us, he’s only an inexperienced and new
disciple!”
“That’s right!”
“……”
The sight of the crowd’s indignant appearances caused a smile to rise on Cao Shi’s face. He raised his cup
and downed it in a single go, before lifting his head and peering into the distance as an icy smile flashed in
his eyes.
“New kid, I will let you know that even if teacher Shen thinks highly of you, you still have to abide by the
rules here!”
1494
Chapter 288 Gold Sash Third Seat
After three days of acclimatisation, Zhou Yuan had gradually familiarised himself with Saint Genesis Peak.
At the same time, he had also begun to realise the benefits of a cave dwelling.
In the inner mountains, every disciple possessed a cave dwelling, the only difference being its rank.
Every cave dwelling was connected to a Genesis Mountain, the higher ranked cave dwellings linked to
higher ranked Genesis Mountains.
At the deepest part of each cave dwelling was a spring, which was also the connection point to its Genesis
Mountain.
Pure, boundless Genessi Qi would endlessly gush out from spring, ultimately forming a faint mist that
filled the cave.
The effectiveness of training in such an environment was incomparable to the single Genesis Mountain
used by tens of thousands of people in the outer mountains.
Hence, Zhou Yuan was already able to feel the Genesis Qi in his body progress after the short three days
he stayed in the gold Genesis cave dwelling. This made him realise how huge of a gap there was between
an inner and outer mountain disciple.
However, although the cave dwelling was pretty darn amazing, it did come at a cost.
It was said that one could exchange Genesis jade for a cave dwelling, and the price of a gold Genesis cave
dwelling was about ten thousand Genesis jade pieces. In addition, a maintenance fee of several hundred
Genesis jade pieces had to be paid every month.
This was clearly not cheap at all. Fortunately, inner mountain disciples were treated better than outer
mountain disciples, and would receive over a thousand Genesis jade pieces every month.
What’s more, the missions given by the task pavilion in the inner mountains were much more rewarding.
All these factors allowed the inner mountain disciples to upkeep their cave dwellings.
In Zhou Yuan’s case, there was no pressure with regards to this matter. His previous work as a Genesis
technique instructor had already earned him a sizable fortune. In addition, his gold Genesis cave dwelling
was given to him by teacher Shen, saving him over ten thousand Genesis jade pieces. The only thing he
had to worry about were the routine maintenance cost.
In his opinion, things that could benefit his cultivation were more useful, while Genesis jade was just a
sort of means to an ends.
1495
After cultivating in the gold Genesis cave dwelling for three days, Zhou Yuan was now a little more
interested in the higher ranked purple Genesis cave dwelling.
Since a gold Genesis cave dwelling was already so amazing, what level did a purple Genesis cave dwelling
reach?
What’s more, it was said that if one became one of the ten great Chosens, one would be able to enjoy an
entire Genesis Mountain alone. There would only be a single cave dwelling on these Genesis Mountains,
and all its Genesis Qi would be provided solely to that lone cave dwelling. One’s cultivation progress
would likely be even more rapid in such a place.
Those cave dwellings were called Chosen cave dwellings, and were even higher ranked than the purple
grade. Of course, even elder Shen and the rest did not have the qualifications to give a cave dwelling of
that calibre. Approval would have to be given by sect master Qing Yang and the other five peak masters.
However, a Chosen cave dwelling was too distant to Zhou Yuan at this current time. For now, he decided
that he would first aim for a purple Genesis cave dwelling.
He had finally been able to sort out his thoughts towards Shen Taiyuan over the past few days. Since the
latter valued him so greatly, there was no need for him to modestly decline any more. He understood that
Shen Taiyuan merely hoped that this new champion of the peak selection ceremony would be different
from the rest. Shen Taiyuan prayed that after some grooming, Zhou Yuan would be able to display his
potential and rise above the numerous other disciples to eventually become the chief disciple of Saint
Genesis Peak, retrieve the peak master seal, and bring back glory to them.
This goal of his was exactly the same as Zhou Yuan’s own. After all, he needed to enter the sealed main
peak in order to find the second Saint Rune.
“Will you be attending this morning’s class?”
In the cave.
Zhou Yuan had already made his preparations. His gaze cast towards a nearby cliff that was surrounded
by mists and led into a deep dark abyss. Yaoyao was leisurely seated on a swing made from vines, Tuntun
on her lap as she stared at an old book in her hand
When sunlight shined through the mists and landed on her body, the originally fair as jade skin was
infused with a slight glow, making it dazzle as if it was crystal. It was a sight that would take your breath
away.
However, Zhou Yuan was already used to this long ago.
Upon hearing Zhou Yuan’s question, Yaoyao lifted her gaze slightly and lazily shook her head.
1496
“Nope.”
She was not interested in training.
Zhou Yuan was not surprised by her response. With a nod, he stepped onto a Genesis Qi cloud and rose
into the air, heading straight for the so-called Alpha-Origin Cliff.
Along the way, he met Shen Wanjin and the other new disciples. They made quite a ruckus as they
travelled together.
After about a dozen minutes, their speed gradually slowed as their gazes looked to the front where a
giant mountain pierced through the clouds. At its peak seemed to be a giant green cliff.
The cliff looked very out of place with the mountain, as if it had been placed here from somewhere else.
This cliff was likely the Alpha-Origin Cliff.
On the green cliff stood a large green hall.
Numerous Genesis Qi clouds were currently flying over, landing one by one just outside the hall.
Zhou Yuan and the rest also landed before the giant green hall, and discovered three simple, bold words
above it.
“Dao seeker hall.”
Zhou Yuan and gang stepped into the hall, finding its insides rather spacious and grand. The interior of
the hall seemed to be built up like steps, and at the very top sat elder Shen Taiyuan’s figure.
On the wide steps that descended downwards were old looking mats.
These mats came in three colors, purple, gold and black.
The purple mats were located higher up, and were nearest to Shen Taiyuan, followed by the gold mats
and then the black mats at the very bottom… it was obvious that these mats represented the status of the
disciples.
Zhou Yuan’s gaze swept across the mats, faintly feeling a peculiar ripple spreading from them. These
were no simple mats at all.
There were only eight purple mats, on which eight figures were already seated. At their head was Zhou
Tai, and they were clearly the eight purple sash disciples under Shen Taiyuan.
When Zhou Yuan walked into the large hall, numerous gazes shot towards him. Zhou Tai smiled warmly
at him, but the other disciples’ expressions were unreadable.
1497
The three purple sash disciples closest to Zhou Tai in particular seemed to size Zhou Yuan up with sharp
gazes.
“Zhou Yuan, you shall sit there.”
Shen Taiyuan likewise caught sight of Zhou Yuan. However, the former’s expression remained as cold and
stoic like a rock as he extended a hand and pointed towards a certain spot below.
It was the third spot amongst the gold mats.
Shen Taiyuan’s actions immediately caused a buzz to grow in the hall, envy appearing in the eyes of many
disciples.
The mats here was not some free-for-all seating. The closer one was to the front, the greater the benefits.
At the same time, it also represents one’s status, and the third gold mat represented the third seat of the
gold sash disciples.
If Zhou Yuan was seated there, it meant that even the more veteran gold sash disciples that had joined
earlier but were ranked below third seat had to call him senior brother.
In the inner mountains, rank was even more strictly adhered to, and was nowhere near as relaxed as the
outer mountains where one would address another based on age.
Normally speaking, however, new disciples would be placed towards the back, and slowly rise up as time
passed. It was very rare to see someone like Zhou Yuan who would be given the gold sash third seat right
away.
Zhou Yuan also understood this, but he was already over it. Since Shen Taiyuan was grasping onto him as
if he was the final straw, there was no need for him to act too modestly. He would receive any benefit
with open arms, all he had to do was return the favor later on.
Thus, he ignored the many gazes that were sizing him up or judging him and walked directly towards the
third gold mat.
However, the moment he reached it, he suddenly felt a gaze filled with hostility.
He looked over, only to find that it belonged to long-haired young man that was seated on the fourth gold
mat and was currently looking at him with a dark expression. It was the youth known as Cao Shi.
The third seat had originally been his, but he had to give it up to Zhou Yuan today.
Shen Taiyuan’s treatment of Zhou Yuan was something Cao Shi was extremely jealous and unable to
accept. It may be true that Zhou Yuan was the champion of the ceremony, but so what? It was not like
none of the champions of the past had eventually been surpassed by numerous other disciples and
returned to mediocrity.
1498
Was teacher Shen really so convinced that Zhou Yuan could become the second Chu Qing?
But how could the likes of him even be worthy of being compared to Chu Qing?
1499
Chapter 289 Volunteer
Zhou Yuan paid no attention to the many skeptical gazes that were sizing him up. As for the clearly
fuming Cao Shi, he too was ignored by the former as Zhou Yuan walked forward and seated himself on
the third gold mat.
Upon seeing how rude Zhou Yuan was, some of the disciples frowned slightly, evidently feeling that this
new disciple was quite arrogant.
Even if teacher Shen did have high hopes of him, it was merely with regards to the potential he might
have. At this current point in time, they felt that the second layer Alpha-Origin Zhou Yuan basically did
not have the qualifications to sit in that spot.
However, it was after all teacher Shen’s arrangement, so even if they were unhappy about it, they could
only endure for the time being and cast indifferent looks at Zhou Yuan.
Cao Shi also took in a deep breath, suppressing the anger in his heart, though the gaze that looked
towards Zhou Yuan grew increasingly dark.
As such, the atmosphere in the hall turned strangely suffocating.
At the very top, Shen Taiyuan naturally detected the strange atmosphere, causing him to frown slightly
for a moment. How could he not know that his actions would surely cause resentment to rise in the
hearts of some disciples.
However, there was really nothing else he could do. Saint Genesis Peak had never gotten a champion of
the peak selection ceremony for many years, and since he had encountered one at long last, Shen Taiyuan
could only give it a try.
Of course he knew just how insanely difficult it was to encounter an exceptional genius like Chu Qing, but
since there was no longer any way out, he really had no other option.
Thus, Shen Taiyuan soon reaffirmed his resolution, his gaze sweeping across the place as he said in a
serious voice, “In a month, we will be having a cave match with Lu Hong’s faction. This match will
determine who the final purple Genesis cave dwelling goes to, so we cannot fail.”
“Since all the purple sash disciples have already used up their turns, I will be sending gold sash disciples
to participate.”
“Tong Long, Pan Song and Cao Shi.”
“I hope to send you three as our line-up.”
1500
Tong Long and Pan Song were the current first and second seat gold sash disciples, while Cao Shi was
fourth seat. The three of them were considered the strongest amongst the gold sash disciples.
No one immediately responded to Shen Taiyuan’s words. Tong Long and Pan Song’s eyes seemed to
flicker in thought, while Cao Shi secretly shot a look at them, took a deep breath, and said, “Teacher Shen,
we are willing.”
Shen Taiyuan’s impassive face relaxed a little.
However, before he could say anything, Cao Shi began to speak again, “But we hope to inquire how the
purple Genesis cave dwelling will be allocated.”
Shen Taiyuan frowned. He had made himself very clear three days earlier. The purple Genesis cave
dwelling was prepared for Zhou Yuan, and yet Cao Shi was still asking even while knowing the answer...
“I plan to give it to Zhou Yuan.” Shen Taiyuan’s tone was indifferent.
The corners of Cao Shi’s eyes twitched for a moment, before he gritted his teeth and said, “Although it is
somewhat disrespectful, aren’t teacher Shen’s actions a little unfair? We have to do the heavy lifting of
being sent out to battle, while Zhou Yuan reaps all the benefits?”
“According to the rules, the purple Genesis cave dwelling should go to one of the three that participated.
It doesn’t make sense for an outsider to do nothing and yet enjoy the profits.”
Several disciples secretly nodded in approval at Cao Shi’s words.
Shen Taiyuan’s expression turned slightly ugly as he said in a low voice, “Are you questioning me?”
Cao Shi hastily cupped his fists together and said, “Disciple does not dare. We have worked hard for the
sake of Saint Genesis Peak, and understand the pressure teacher Shen is facing. Hence, if there really is
someone who can become our main pillar of strength, we will naturally give him or her our full support.
However, I’m afraid that some people may not be able to share teacher Shen’s heavy burden, and may
waste away the hope and expectations of our numerous fellow disciples.”
His words were full of righteousness, but they secretly hinted that Zhou Yuan had neither the
qualifications nor capability.
Shen Taiyuan’s expression grew darker and darker.
Just as he was about to berate Cao Shi, another voice suddenly sounded, “Please do not be angry teacher
Shen, although junior brother Cao Shi has been rather rash to offend teacher Shen, he does not possess
any ill will. It is true that junior brother Zhou Yuan is the champion of the latest peak selection ceremony,
but he is ultimately still too inexperienced. If we give him a year or two, he may be able to meet teacher
Shen’s expectations, and I’m sure that no one will object then…”
1501
Shen Taiyuan looked over, only to find that a young man with an earnest expression beside Zhou Tai had
spoken.
His name was Zhang Yan, and was the second seat purple sash disciple, second only to Zhou Tai.
Zhou Yuan calmly glanced at Zhang Yan. Although the latter’s speech sounded nicer, the hidden meaning
within was clear. He was saying that the current Zhou Yuan did not deserve to possess a purple Genesis
cave dwelling.
He was undoubtedly supporting Cao Shi.
Zhang Yan clearly had some influence over the other disciples. After he spoke, several disciples
immediately voiced out their agreement, making the hall become rather noisy for a time.
Especially when two other purple sash disciples indicated their support, making the opposition grow
louder and louder.
At the back of the hall, Shen Wanjin and the other new disciples had worried looks in their eyes as they
gazed at Zhou Yuan’s figure from far away. They had not expected so many disciples to object.
If this matter was not handled properly, Zhou Yuan’s reputation would be affected.
However, they also understood that new disciples like them basically did not have any right to speak in
such a setting.
They were not the only ones. Even Shen Taiyuan frowned deeply at this scene.
He did have the option to over power all opposition with force, but he still had to rely on the Cao Shi trio
for the cave match. If their hearts weren’t in it, their chances of victory would turn even more miniscule,
practically giving away the purple Genesis cave dwelling for free.
Shen Taiyuan was silent for a long time, before he slowly turned towards Zhou Yuan and asked, “Zhou
Yuan, what do you think?”
An almost undetectable pleased look rose from the corners of Cao Shi’s mouth when he heard this. Shen
Taiyuan was evidently unable to ignore the objection from so many disciples, causing his previous
insistence to waver a little.
Cao Shi’s gaze swept past Zhou Yuan from the corner of his eye as he icily chuckled in his heart.
This kid was too much of a greenhorn. Did you really believe that you could ignore the rules just because
teacher Shen has high hopes of you?
Swatting you down is as easy as flipping my hand.
1502
Everything that had happened today was clearly the results of Cao Shi’s handiwork.
Under the numerous watching gazes, Zhou Yuan’s expression remained calm from start to end.
Truthfully speaking, though he was indeed a little interested in the purple Genesis cave dwelling, it had
not reached the stage where he absolutely needed to have it.
However, Cao Shi’s hostility and actions made Zhou Yuan frown a little.
He surmised that the various happenings today were most likely orchestrated by Cao Shi, all for the sake
of trying to keep Zhou Yuan down.
He tilted his head, and glanced at Cao Shi with an icy gaze.
Upon detecting Zhou Yuan’s gaze, the corner’s of Cao Shi’s lips rose slightly in contempt as he
nonchalantly said, Junior brother Zhou Yuan, once should eat one mouthful at a time, or take things step
by step. The repercussions of attempting to reach the sky in a single leap are usually far too great.”
“Listen to your senior brother and train properly for a year or two first. By that time, it will probably be
easier for you to entertain such thoughts.”
Zhou Yuan merely smiled without commenting, and said, “According to the rules, I’m currently third seat,
while you’re the fourth seat. You should be calling me senior brother instead.”
Cao Shi’s face twisted as he let out a mocking, icy chuckle.
Zhou Yuan ignored the former, raising his head as he said, “Teacher Shen, I feel that following the rules
may not be a bad thing.”
Zhang Yan immediately smiled when he heard this and said, “It’s great that junior brother Zhou Yuan
thinks so.”
Shen Taiyuan slowly said, “You intend to give up on the purple Genesis cave dwelling?”
Cao Shi laughed happily. Looks like Zhou Yuan could not handle the pressure, and knew that he still did
not have the qualifications to own a purple Genesis cave dwelling.
However, Zhou Yuan chuckled as he shook his head. “Didn’t junior brother Cao Shi say earlier that
according to the rules, the purple Genesis cave dwelling should be given to one of the three participants?”
“Since that is the case, I volunteer to participate. Please allow me to become one of the three
representatives for the cave match.”
Since Cao Shi was being so overbearing, Zhou Yuan naturally did not need to show any mercy.
1503
*Uproar*!
Zhou Yuan’s words instantly caused the entire hall to explode into noise.
The smile on Cao Shi’s face turned slightly rigid. Soon after, the mocking look on lips grew even wider as
he pointed at Zhou Yuan and said,
“Zhou Yuan ah Zhou Yuan, you really are cluelessly arrogant!”
“Do you believe the cave match is the same as the peak selection ceremony?”
He shook his head and stared at Zhou Yuan with cold eyes.
“I’ll be blunt, you still do not possess the qualifications to participate in the cave match. You may want to
go there and humiliate yourself but we do not!”
1504
Chapter 290 Match
When Zhou Yuan’s words landed in the giant hall, it immediately drew a wave of stunned gazes. No one
had even considered that he would plan on participating in the cave match.
One must know that although the purple sash disciples from both sides were no longer able to
participate, the disciples sent would be the elites of the gold sash. Though Zhou Yuan was also a gold sash
disciple, he was after all far too new, and there was still a tremendous gap between him and the older
disciples.
Zhou Yuan had such a hard time against Lu Feng in the peak selection ceremony, an opponent who was
only at the peak fourth layer Alpha-Origin, someone who was not even a true fifth layer.
On the other hand, most of the inner mountain gold sash disciples had already stepped into the fifth layer
Alpha-Origin stage.
While those such as Tong Long and Cao Shi were powerful even amongst the fifth layer.
As such, many felt that Zhou Yuan basically did not qualifications to participate in battles at this level.
Hence why Cao Shi could not help but mock the former after hearing his words.
However, Zhou Yuan ignored the mockery and the skeptical gazes, only looking straight at Shen Taiyuan
with a calm expression.
Shen Taiyuan had likewise been stunned, Zhou Yuan’s actions clearly out of his expectations. Soon after,
he began to frown. At the end of the day, what he valued in Zhou Yuan was the latter’s potential.
Zhou Yuan was currently only a second layer Alpha-Origin, and although he had managed to defeat the
peak fourth layer Alpha-Origin Lu Feng in the peak selection ceremony, even Lu Feng would not dare to
muddle in a fight like this.
If any other ordinary disciple had said such words, Shen Taiyuan would have berated him or her long ago.
However, Zhou Yuan was after all somewhat different from the rest.
Hence, Shen Taiyuan did not rebuke Zhou Yuan’s behaviour, and merely said, “Zhou Yuan, you don’t have
to force yourself. There is no need to compete with others for the time being. Given your talent, you will
surely begin to truly stand out after a year or two.”
Although he did have high hopes of Zhou Yuan, Shen Taiyuan believed that the former had only said those
words in the heat of the moment.
“In addition… this matter affects the face of our faction, and we cannot afford to make any reckless
decisions.”
1505
Cao Shi cooly looked at Zhou Yuan upon hearing this.
Zhou Yuan calmly replied, “Teacher Shen, as the saying goes, one should not get a reward one does not
deserve. If I do not make any contributions, I will not be able to accept the purple Genesis cave dwelling
even if we do end up winning it.”
Cao Shi sneered and said, “At least you still have some self-awareness.”
Zhou Yuan shot the former an indifferent glance, before continuing, “Teacher Shen must feel that I am not
strong enough, but there’s a simple solution. Allow me to have a match with one of the three current
representatives. If I somehow win, I will replace him, while if I lose, I will naturally no longer speak of this
matter and not entertain any thoughts about the purple Genesis cave dwelling.”
By this point, Zhou Yuan’s true goal was finally revealed.
How could he not know that numerous of the more senior disciples looked down on him because he was
new. At the same time, they also felt that teacher Shen was being very unfair.
However, they did not have the courage to raise their objections so publicly like Cao Shi, but the truth was
that they refused to acknowledge Zhou Yuan in their hearts.
If not, Cao Shi would not have managed to garner so much support.
In such a circumstance, for Zhou Yuan to smoothly keep the purple Genesis cave dwelling in his pocket,
he would first need to win over the other disciples. But because he was only a new disciple without any
experience, trying to convince them with the potential of the peak selection ceremony champion was
clearly an impossible fantasy.
Therefore, he would use the most direct and effective method.
No argument could beat the hard truth of reality.
*Uproar*!
Sure enough, Zhou Yuan’s words caused another wave of noise to rise in the hall, every disciple
dumbstruck once again.
No one had expected Zhou Yuan to have such charisma. He actually intended to use one of the three
participants as an example!
Was he crazy!
One must know that Tong Long, Pan Song and Cao Shi were powerful practitioners even amongst the fifth
layer Alpha-Origin, strength that far surpassed Lu Feng’s. Where had Zhou Yuan found the courage to
suggest facing them in battle?
1506
Tong Long, Cao Shi and Pan Song were stunned. Soon after, they looked at each other, seeing the
amusement in each other’s eyes.
They too had never expected Zhou Yuan to be so arrogant...
Just below Shen Taiyuan, Zhou Tai was also quite amazed as he let out a helpless chuckle. Junior brother
Zhou Yuan was indeed no kind buddha, and refused to lose out even a little.
But was a counter attack like this a little too reckless?
“Hehe, junior brother Zhou Yuan is really something.” Zhang Yan laughed in amusement.
The other purple sash disciples also chuckled as they nodded. From their appearances, they clearly felt
that Zhou Yuan was not using his head. This was practically akin to a calf being unafraid of a tiger. Sure,
he had courage, but he lacked self-awareness.
Shen Taiyuan was both surprised and amazed as he stared at Zhou Yuan. The latter’s suggestion had once
again surpassed his expectations. After some silence, he finally said, “You mean to challenge one of the
three to see who is most suitable to participate in the cave match?”
His gaze flickered in thought as he slowly continued, “Are you certain Zhou Yuan? Once I agree, there will
be no turning back. If you end up losing, the purple Genesis cave dwelling will truly be out of your reach.”
Zhou Yuan nodded with a calm face.
Shen Taiyuan took one deep look at Zhou Yuan, before he ultimately said, “Since that is your decision, we
shall do as you suggested. Which the three do you choose as your opponent?”
Zhou Yuan’s gaze slowly shifted under the numerous watching eyes in the hall, no surprise whatsoever as
it ultimately paused on Cao Shi.
Since Cao Shi was the one who had kicked up such a fuss, he shall be used to establish Zhou Yuan
reputation in Saint Genesis Peak.
Cao Shi was likewise unsurprised. Instead, he grinned as he shook his head towards Tong Long and Pan
Song, and jokingly said, “I can’t believe that the day will come where I’m being treated as a soft
persimmon.”
“Ah well, teaching a new junior how to behave is something a senior should do. I shall accept this
challenge.”
His tone indicated that he felt no pressure at all, but was instead ready to toy with Zhou Yuan.
Numerous disciples softly laughed around him.
1507
Shen Taiyuan slowly said, “Since that is the case, the match between the two of you shall be held five days
later. The victor shall be allowed to become one of the three participants for the cave match.”
Shen Taiyuan’s gaze paused on Zhou Yuan’s figure. He had still decided to give Zhou Yuan more time,
because from a certain point of view, he hoped that Zhou Yuan would really be able to create a miracle. If
that happened, it would mean that Zhou Yuan truly did possess the potential that would enable him to
stand against the masses.
However, if Zhou Yuan were to lose, Shen Taiyuan would not be able to stop himself from feeling
disappointed, because it meant that Zhou Yuan’s was merely reckless, and someone with such character
could never be destined for greater things.
Shen Taiyuan slowly withdrew his gaze as he sighed softly inside.
“Zhou Yuan, I hope that you do not disappoint me…”
1508
Chapter 291 Chosens Challenge
In the wake of Zhou Yuan and Cao Shi’s match being settled, the atmosphere in the hall changed once
again, numerous gazes filled with pity as they constantly glanced towards Zhou Yuan.
It was obvious that almost no one believed Zhou Yuan would be able to beat Cao Shi. The latter was after
all a true-blue fifth layer Alpha-Origin.
In fact, some of the disciples even felt that due to being unable to bear the pressure of so many people
objecting to him, Zhou Yuan had intentionally found an excuse for him to gracefully leave the stage.
This idea made several disciples secretly nod their heads in approval. At least this new disciple was still
somewhat tactful, and understood that a purple Genesis cave dwelling was still out of his reach.
At the highest point of the hall, Shen Taiyuan coughed softly, drawing back the gazes of the numerous
disciples. His expression had returned to its usual stern state as his gaze swept around the hall. “Many
new disciples have joined us, and all of us will be of the same group in the future. I hope that we can look
out for each other.”
After saying a few more stereotypical welcoming words, Shen Taiyuan said, “Everyone who has joined
the inner mountains is allowed to select a Genesis Qi cultivation method.”
“Black sash disciples may choose low tier grade 5 Genesis Qi cultivation methods.”
“Gold sash disciples may choose high tier grade 5 Genesis Qi cultivation methods.”
“While purple sash disciples may choose grade 6 Genesis Qi cultivation methods.”
The numerous new disciples exploded into noise, each disciple wide-eyed as excitement filled their faces.
They had come to the Cangxuan Sect because it possessed better and higher tier Genesis Qi cultivation
methods and techniques. These were the most valuable, because they would enable them to cultivate
higher grade Genesis Qi.
“As expected of the Cangxuan Sect.” Zhou Yuan could not help but praise inside. In the Great Zhou Empire,
a grade 4 Genesis Qi cultivation method was already considered the best of the best, while a grade 5
Genesis Qi cultivation method would be considered an ultimate treasure even in the more powerful
empires and great clans.
The majority of the new disciples here were only cultivating grade 4 Genesis Qi.
Now that they were finally able to obtain higher ranked cultivation methods in the inner mountains, how
could they not be excited and overwhelmed with emotion.
1509
In contrast, Zhou Yuan was not interested in the Genessi Qi cultivation methods, because the Ancestral
Dragon Scripture he practiced was far too tyrannical. Once one was on this road, one would no longer be
able to change to another cultivation method.
Of course, it was also because his Omni Python was already a grade 6 Genesis Qi.
Moreover, Zhou Yuan could feel that his Omni Python Qi was top tier even amongst the other grade 6
Genesis Qi.
If one were to talk about quality, Zhou Yuan believed that none of the purple sash disciples had better
Genesis Qi than him.
And if he really wanted to find someone who could compete in Genesis Qi quality, even in the entire
Cangxuan Sect, it was likely that only the ten great Chosens would be able to put up a fight.
Of course, it must be noted that the quality of one’s Genesis Qi was only one of the factors that
contributed to one’s strength, so the person with the best Genesis Qi may not necessarily be the
strongest.
But at the very least, it was an advantage.
While all the other disciples were bubbling with excitement, Zhou Yuan’s expression remained cool and
collected.
Shen Taiyuan nodded at this sight. Dropping such a huge carrot in front of them should motivate them to
train hard.
While he was thinking such thoughts, he saw Zhou Yuan’s still as an ancient well like face.
“This brat…”
A slight surge of annoyance rose in Shen Taiyuan’s heart. He pondered for a brief moment, before he
spoke once again, “Besides cultivation methods, our Saint Genesis Peak also has numerous Genesis
techniques, eight low grade Heaven tier techniques and three mid grade Heaven tier techniques.”
These words practically caused the entire hall to explode. Let alone the new disciples, even the eyes of the
more senior ones began to glow with desire.
This was a Heaven tier Genesis technique. An object of desire that could turn countless experts into an
unruly crowd anywhere in Cangxuan Heaven.
Zhou Yuan also felt a rush of excitement as interest flowed out in his eyes. The Cangxuan Sect was truly
rich in resources. It was hard to believe that they would have so many of even Heaven tier Genesis
techniques.
1510
Shen Taiyuan finally felt a little pleased when he saw that Zhou Yuan’s coolness had been broken, and
began to speak once again, “However, nothing is more famous in our Cangxuan Sect than the seven
Cangxuan arts.”
A new disciple curiously asked, “The seven Cangxuan arts?”
Shen Taiyuan explained, “The seven Cangxuan arts were personally created by patriarch Cang Xuan many
years ago. When combined… it is known as the Cangxuan Saint art, a true Saint tier Genesis technique.”
Hss!
Gasps filled the giant hall.
Even Zhou Yuan felt his heart beat violently in excitement, as he subconsciously wet his lips. A Saint
Genesis technique… a legendary Saint Genesis technique!
It was said that every Saint Genesis technique possessed earth-shattering power, power that could
basically be described as god-like.
Zhou Yuan had never heard of any information regarding a Saint Genesis technique. After all, it was just
far too rare. He never imagined that he would hear of it here today...
Shen Taiyuan continued, “The Cangxuan Saint art was split into seven parts, each safeguarded by one of
the seven peaks. Only the chief disciples of each peak would have the right to practice it.”
“The art of our Saint Genesis Peak is called the Omega Saint Spirit art, and is a high grade Heaven Genesis
technique.”
Numerous disciples clicked their tongues in wonder. To think that it would still be able to reach the high
grade Heaven tier even after being split into seven. From this, one could see just how frightening it was.
Shen Taiyuan grinned in a pleased manner inside when he saw the faint look of desire on Zhou Yuan’s
face. Brat, this old man refuses to believe that I can’t tempt your heart.
“Teacher Shen, how do we gather the seven arts?” Zhou Yuan could not help but ask, a fire burning in his
eyes. High grade Heaven tier was indeed already crazy amazing, but he still wondered how to accumulate
all seven arts.
Shen Taiyuan hesitated for a moment, before he explained, “Like I said earlier, each of the seven peaks
have one art, and according to the rules of the sect, anyone who wishes to gather all seven will have to
initiate the ‘Chosens challenge’...”
“Chosens challenge?” Zhou Yuan was taken aback.
1511
“Only the chief disciples of the various peaks have the qualifications to initiate the Chosens challenge.
Simply put, it is to challenge the chief disciples of another peak. If one managed to clinch victory, one
would be able to take the art from the loser’s peak and practice it.”
“However, the Chosens challenge is very unfavorable to the challenger, because the other party would
have the home ground advantage. The challenged only needs to defend his or her own peak while
receiving Genesis Qi from the peak that will dramatically raise one’s power.”
Shen Taiyuan slowly said, “To obtain victory, the challenger’s strength would need to surpass the chief
disciple of the other peaks by a substantial amount.”
Amazement was revealed on Zhou Yuan’s face. So this was the Chosens challenge. It really did make one’s
blood boil with excitement. The Cangxuan Sect really know how to make their rules.
Shen Taiyuan continued, “Currently, the disciple who has initiated the most challenges is the head of the
ten great Chosens, Chu Qing. He has initiated five Chosens challenges, and succeeded in four of them. In
other words, he has already gathered five of the seven Cangxuan arts, and is said to be the strongest
Chosen even amongst all the generations.”
Zhou Yuan’s eyes widened. To think that Chu Qing was so powerful. He had managed to take five of the
seven Cangxuan arts!
If he managed to win two more, wouldn’t he have gathered all seven arts and combine them into the Saint
tier technique?!
“Just behind Chu Qing is the Sword Cometh Peak’s Kong Sheng. He has initiated three Chosens challenges
and has succeeded in all of them. He now has four of the seven Cangxuan arts.”
“The Snow Lotus Peak’s Li Qingchan has also initiated three challenges, and like Kong Sheng has obtained
four arts.”
“The other Chosens… have each initiated one Chosens challenge.”
At this point, Zhou Yuan suddenly discovered that Shen Taiyuan’s expression had turned a little
unnatural. The former’s heart jumped in his chest, as he could not help but ask, “Which of the peaks did
all the ten Chosens challenge?”
Shen Taiyuan’s face seemed to gradually turn black with anger, before he suddenly began to curse in a
muffled voice, “The little bastards, all of them only know how to bully a soft persimmon. All ten of them
have challenged our Saint Genesis Peak, and every single one has succeeded!”
Zhou Yuan was stupefied, nearly choking to death in amazement. Didn’t this mean that the Omega Saint
Spirit art of their Saint Genesis Peak was already in the hands of every single one of the ten great
Chosens?!
1512
The corners of his lips twitched as he gazed at the black-faced Shen Taiyuan.
God damnit, it was suppose to be the best technique of Saint Genesis Peak, but it turns out that all ten of
the Chosens each had a copy! What the heck was this? Bulk distribution?!
He finally began to understand just how pathetic Saint Genesis Peak was in the Cangxuan Sect...
1513
Chapter 292 Alpha‐Origin Wall
Chapter 290 Alpha-Origin Wall
By the time Shen Taiyuan was finished, the atmosphere in the hall had undoubtedly turned somewhat
awkward. Numerous new disciples looked at each other, while the senior disciples’ expression appeared
quite unnatural.
This matter was quite humiliating after all.
The ultimate technique that only the chief disciple of each peak should have, was now something that
basically all ten of the Chosens also possessed...
However, no matter how embarrassed they felt inside, they were pretty much helpless with regards to
this situation. After all, the past few chief disciples of Saint Genesis Peak were indeed lacking compared to
the other six peaks. If not, their Saint Genesis Peak would not be incapable of occupying even a single spot
in the ten great Chosens.
Although they had yet to select their chief disciples for this generation...
There was a joke many disciples shared in the inner mountains of the Cangxuan Sect. In every generation,
if a new individual were to replace one of the ten great Chosens, the first thing he needed to do was to
head towards Saint Genesis Peak and easily sweep away its chief disciple, and effortlessly bring back the
Omega Saint Spirit art.
From a joke like this, one could see just how pathetic Saint Genesis Peak was.
At the highest location in the hall, Shen Taiyuan’s expression fluctuated for some time, before gradually
returning to calmness. Although it was humiliating, he was already numb to it after so many years.
However, Shen Taiyuan still strongly desired to change this situation. After all, he did feel that he had
nothing to be proud of when he met the other elders in the Cangxuan Sect.
Hence why he currently valued Zhou Yuan so much.
It had not been easy for a champion of the peak selection ceremony to come to their Saint Genesis Peak.
Although Shen Taiyuan did not truly expect Zhou Yuan to be as outrageously amazing as Chu Qing, at the
very least, the former hoped that he would be able to properly defend their Saint Genesis Peak’s Omega
Saint Spirit art, and not allow the other Chosens to take it away so easily...
Shen Taiyuan took a deep look at Zhou Yuan, the meaning in his eyes extremely clear.
Kid, I have very high hopes for you.
1514
As the receiver of Shen Taiyuan’s gaze, the corners of Zhou Yuan’s eyes twitched involuntarily. I only
came to Saint Genesis Peak because patriarch Cang Xuan sealed the second Saint Rune here, could you
not put so much pressure on me.
However, even if he did not say anything, he was indeed somewhat interested in the Omega Saint Spirit
art.
A high grade Heaven Genesis technique was top tier even in the entire Cang Xuan Heaven, and he
naturally desired to learn it.
Of course, there was also a tiny sliver of ambition in depths of his heart. He was very curious to find out
what kind of power the Saint Genesis technique that resulted from combining the seven arts would be.
But of course, gathering the seven arts would be an exceedingly difficult task.
Didn’t he hear that even the head of the ten great Chosens, Chu Qing, only managed to assemble five of
the arts even till now? If he was not wrong, the remaining two likely belonged to the Snow Lotus Peak
and the Sword Cometh Peak.
The two peaks whose chief disciples were the second ranked Kong Sheng and third ranked Li Qingchan.
These two definitely possessed extraordinary strength, and though there may be a slight gap between
them and Chu Qing, as the ones who were being challenged, they had the homeground advantage and
could receive Genesis Qi from their peaks. This factor was evidently enough to make up for the slight gap
between them.
Therefore, Chu Qing’s only failure should have been at the hands of Kong Sheng or Li Qingchan.
The fire of ambition slowly began to rise in Zhou Yuan’s eyes, before gradually fading away. Gathering all
seven arts was still very far away, and what he needed to do now was to ground himself and take things
one step at a time.
“Alright, we’ll keep this discussion for another day. Let’s begin today’s morning class.”
Shen Taiyuans’ gaze swept across the hall, suppressing the noise, before looking towards the new
disciples. “Those that have recently joined us should make good use of every morning class. This training
session will be very beneficial for all of you.”
The moment the last word left his mouth, boundless Genesis Qi began to sweep out of Shen Taiyuan’s
body.
At this moment, Zhou Yuan and the rest discovered rays of light emerging from the old mats under them
that rose up to envelope their bodies.
1515
“This is…” Zhou Yuan could sense a peculiar power inside the light. There was only a tiny bit of it, and it
seemed very similar to Spirit power.
The numerous new disciples curiously observed this scene.
The more senior disciples to the front had already closed their eyes, the Spirits between their brows
beginning to flicker. They directly entered into a state of cultivation, heading towards the Alpha-Origin
Heaven to transport Alpha-Origin Qi back.
“Everyone’s Spirits have been boosted…” Zhou Yuan remarked in amazement inside. While the senior
disciples were rousing their Spirits, he had felt their Spirits being strengthened.
Zhou Yuan seemed to fall into thought for a brief moment. Soon after, he ceased hesitation and also closed
his eyes as the Spirit between his brows fiercely shuddered.
His Spirit left his body, rising into the air. In an instant, it had stepped into the wondrous Alpha-Origin
Heaven.
The Alpha-Origin Heaven was filled with world essence like Alpha-Origin Qi. However, astral winds were
also present that tore at his Spirit.
Zhou Yuan’s Spirit stood in the air and raised its hands slightly. He saw a faint barrier of light around his
Spirit that not only strengthened it, but also helped to defend against the astral winds in the Alpha-Origin
Heaven.
“So the Alpha-Origin Cliff and mat are both Genesis treasures that can amplify the power of one’s Spirit
while also increasing its defences. This will allow us to stay longer in the Alpha-Origin Heaven and thus
bring back even more Alpha-Origin Qi.”
Zhou Yuan was struck by a flash of understanding, which was quickly followed by a surge of happiness.
So these were the benefits of the tridaily morning class. With them, he would be able to bring back much
more Alpha-Origin Qi.
With such thoughts in mind, he delayed no further. With a thought, Spirit Power abruptly swept
outwards, transforming into large hands that began to scoop up the surrounding Alpha-Origin Qi.
Bzz!
The strengthening of his Spirit greatly increased Zhou Yuan’s effectiveness. Strand after strand of Alpha-
Origin Qi was rapidly gathered, joining the steadily growing stream around his Spirit that gradually
turned into a storm.
This speed made Zhou Yuan refreshed.
“I wonder how many breaths the Alpha-Origin Qi I bring back will last this time?”
1516
In the outer mountains, the Alpha-Origin Qi Zhou Yuan brought back for the first time had lasted over
2300 breaths. As he grew more and more proficient, each trip now lasted about 3000 breaths.
Zhou Yuan was itching to find out how many breaths the Alpha-Origin Qi brought back by his
strengthened Spirit would be this time.
The hall was peacefully silent.
Numerous disciples had their eyes shut as they cultivated, the Spirit between their brows flickering, a
sign that they were collecting Alpha-Origin Qi in the Alpha-Origin Heaven.
Shen Taiyuan watched them from above, his gaze ultimately stopping on Zhou Yuan’s figure as his eyes
seemed to glimmer.
“I wonder how much Alpha-Origin Qi this little fellow will bring back with the boosts from the Alpha-
Origin Cliff and Timeless Mat.”
The more Alpha-Origin Qi one brought back, the faster one’s progress in the Alpha-Origin stage. This was
also considered part of one’s potential, which was why Shen Taiyuan could use this chance to probe Zhou
Yuan.
Although he would not be able to make a complete judgement based on this, he would at least have a
peak at Zhou Yuan’s potential.
Shen Taiyuan looked towards the glossy walls of the hall where faint glows were emerging. If one took a
closer look, one would see names appearing one after another.
This was called the Alpha-Origin wall, and recorded the amount of Alpha-Origin Qi every successive
generation of Saint Genesis Peak disciples managed to bring back on their first time using the Alpha-
Origin Cliff and Timeless Mat.
In Shen Taiyuan’s memory, numerous astounding disciples had emerged from Saint Genesis Peak in its
golden age, and the top ten disciples on the wall had brought back Alpha-Origin Qi that lasted over 6000
breaths...
However, Saint Genesis Peak had gradually fell into decline later on, and not a single disciple had been
able to enter the ranks of the top ten for many years… a situation that was rather awkward indeed.
Shen Taiyuan sighed in his heart, before focusing on Zhou Yuan as he mumbled to himself,
“Zhou Yuan, show me how capable the latest champion of the peak selection ceremony is…”
1517
Woosh woosh!
Strand after strand of Alpha-Origin Qi drifted in the primal chaos like domain, giving off a mysterious and
profound aura.
One would see countless streams of Alpha-Origin Qi flowing towards a certain location, ultimately joining
the enormous tornado there which was made entirely from Alpha-Origin Qi.
Zhou Yuan’s Spirit stood at the eye of the tornado, moving constantly to seek out more Alpha-Origin Qi.
There were nine levels in the Alpha-Origin Heaven, and as a second layer Alpha-Origin stage practitioner,
Zhou Yuan was currently in the second level. The Alpha-Origin Qi here was clearly more concentrated
than the first.
Hence, Zhou Yuan could collect even more Alpha-Origin Qi than before.
“The Alpha-Origin Cliff and Timeless Mat are amazing. I almost can’t believe the huge boost they have
provided to my Spirit.” While Zhou Yuan was gathering Alpha-Origin Qi, he was also keeping track of his
Spirit’s energy levels. If it were the past, he would have been fast approaching his limit by this time, but
he currently felt as if he had plenty of energy left to spare.
This was clearly the handiwork of the Alpha-Origin Cliff and Timeless Mat.
He sighed, as expected of the Cangxuan Sect. They were truly rich with abundant resources, and could
even provided special cultivation treasures to aid their numerous disciples. If it was the Cangmang
Continent, the powerful and empires and great clans would surely hide away such treasures.
“The first time I brought back Alpha-Origin Qi, it lasted for over 2000 breaths, and as I gradually grew
more practiced, I managed to achieve 3000 breaths.”
“But this was before my Spirit reached the Corporeal stage. After my Spirit cultivation breakthrough, I am
able to bring back 4000 breaths of Alpha-Origin Qi.”
“With the Alpha-Origin Cliff and Timeless Mat, I may be able to touch the 5000 breath mark!”
Joy began to flood Zhou Yuan’s heart. He knew that bringing back more Alpha-Origin Qi only grew
increasingly difficult. Though every additional breath of Alpha-Origin Qi one brought back would be more
concentrated, it would also be more taxing on one’s Spirit.
To raise Zhou Yuan’s limit by a whole 1000 breaths was proof of how incredible the two treasures were.
1518
Zhou Yuan’s cultivation progress would undoubtedly increase with this.
With happiness bubbling in his heart, Zhou Yuan’s Spirit power continued to spread, swiftly sucking over
strand after strand of Alpha-Origin Qi.
A long time passed in this manner.
At a certain point in time, Zhou Yuan finally felt a trace of exhaustion spread from the depths of his Spirit
due to using too much Spirit power. He had evidently reached his limit.
By this time, the hurricane of Alpha-Origin Qi rapidly flowing around Zhou Yuan’s Spirit had grown much
thicker than before.
Zhou Yuan felt a sense of satisfaction at the sight of the Alpha-Origin Qi tornado as thoughts of leaving the
Alpha-Origin Heaven rose in his mind.
However, just as he was about to leave, a thought suddenly popped up, “Since the Alpha-Origin Cliff and
Timeless Met can support my Spirit, what about the Saint Spirit Crystal?”
The Saint Spirit Crystal was also considered an ultimate treasure to the Spirit. In the past, Zhou Yuan had
never considered this option before, but after experiencing the Alpha-Origin Cliff and Timeless Mat today,
he began to realise that he may have been underestimating the Saint Spirit Crystal.
After a brief contemplation, he decided to give this idea a try.
Thus, he began to call out the Saint Spirit Crystal.
After a few breaths, Zhou Yuan’s heart jumped violently as he felt a tiny speck of holy light rise from
within his Spirit, eventually coming to a stop above his Spirit’s head.
Within the holy light, a milky-white crystal ball slowly revolved.
As the light sprinkled down onto his Spirit, Zhou Yuan immediately felt his originally tired Spirit begin to
recover little by little...
“So it does work! The Saint Spirit Crystal can also be brought to the Alpha-Origin Heaven!” Zhou Yuan was
overjoyed. If he knew about this earlier, his cultivation progress would have been faster.
As he felt his Spirit recover, Zhou Yuan delayed no further and continued to collect Alpha-Origin Qi again.
With the help of the Saint Spirit Crystal, Zhou Yuan managed to push on for a substantial period of time
before beginning to feel exhaustion spread throughout his Spirit. This was a sign that he had completely
reached his limit, and even the Saint Spirit Crystal was no longer able to do much.
1519
His Spirit’s gaze swept across the area, nodding in satisfaction as it admired the giant storm of Alpha-
Origin Qi around it. With a thought, the Spirit descended, falling towards the link with its physical body.
In the hall.
By this time, many disciples were already done with their training session. Some of the new disciples
were whispering excitedly to each other, evidently unable to stop gushing about the benefits of the Alpha-
Origin Cliff and Timeless Mat.
The treatment they received in the inner mountains far surpassed the outer mountains.
Amidst the numerous whispers, someone suddenly saw that Zhou Yuan’s eyes were still shut, and was
immediately somewhat astonished. Wasn’t this a little too long?
“Why is Zhou Yuan still cultivating?”
“He can last so long in the Alpha-Origin Heaven?!”
“How can it be? Haven’t you seen that even first senior brother Zhou Tai has already finished his
training?”
“……”
The numerous disciples were bewildered, some of the senior disciples in particular looking at Zhou Yuan
with skepticism.
After all, two of the purple sash disciples’ Spirits had reached the perfect Illusory stage, but even they had
already completed their session long ago.
Cao Shi also opened his eyes, coldly looking at Zhou Yuan as he indifferently said, “Our new gold sash
third seat does have a talent for acting.”
Evidently, he believed Zhou Yuan was putting no in act just to please the crowds.
The other disciples could not hold back their laughter when they heard this. Was Zhou Yuan really so
immature?
The few purple sash disciples at the very front also cast their puzzled looks over. This time, even Zhou Tai
was somewhat bewildered. After all, this was just far too long.
However, while they were making a din, Shen Taiyuan suddenly shouted, “Silence!”
1520
The numerous disciples were stunned as they looked towards Shen Taiyuan, only to find that the latter’s
eyes were glowing as he stared at Zhou Yuan, causing them to be startled. Shen Taiyuan was far stronger
than all of them, could he have discovered something?
“Could it be? Is Zhou Yuan truly able to endure for so long in the Alpha-Origin Heaven?” They stared at
Zhou Yuan’s figure in disbelief.
Bzzz!
While they were still lost in their confusion, the space above Zhou Yuan began to shake. Next, the
numerous disciples saw a stream of Alpha-Origin Qi begin falling from above, a seemingly endless torrent
enveloping Zhou Yuan’s figure.
It flowed in the moment it touched Zhou Yuan’s body, flooding into his Qi Dwelling.
The eyes of the many disciples were wide-open as they watched unblinkingly, counting how long it would
last.
100 breaths… 500 breaths… 1000 breaths… 2000 breaths...
When the number of breath reached 3000, the expression of the numerous senior disciples began to
tremble. 3000 breaths was something even most of the gold sash disciples could not achieve.
The only ones to reach such a level were basically the few purple sash disciples.
Cao Shi’s originally sneering face had now turned somewhat ugly.
They found that even after 3000 breaths, the flow of Alpha-Origin Qi above Zhou Yuan still showed no
signs of tiring.
Under the crowd’s shocked gazes, the Alpha-Origin Qi continued to descend.
3500 breaths… 4000 breaths… 5000 breaths!
When it reached 5000 breaths, the interior of the hall finally began to shake, numerous disciples gasping
as their gazes were involuntarily cast towards the wall.
On the Alpha-Origin wall, 5000 thousand breaths had already entered the all time top ten!
For the past few years, there had not been a single disciple that had broken past 5000 during his or her
first time utilising the Alpha-Origin Cliff and Timeless Mat!
At the highest point in the hall, Shen Taiyuan’s stern and aged face trembled slightly at this moment, his
eyes tightly glued to Zhou Yuan.
1521
Because the Alpha-Origin Qi was still falling strand by strand.
“The top three on the Alpha-Origin wall were all able to reach over 5800 breaths on their first try. At that
time, the Spirits of all three individuals had stepped into the Corporeal stage!”
“From the looks of it, Zhou Yuan’s Spirit should also be at that level, but I wonder if he will be able to
catch up to those three…”
Under Shen Taiyuan’s nervous gaze, the Alpha-Origin Qi rapidly descended while time continued to flow.
5300 breaths… 5500 breaths… 5800 breaths!
When it reached this number, the entire hall fell deathly silent once more, only the heavy breathing of
everyone could be heard.
Because all of them could see that the Alpha-Origin Qi was still continuing to fall, surpassing 5800
breaths, before eventually stopping at 6743 breaths!
This number had not only surpassed the best record on the Alpha-Origin wall, but had even exceeded it
by almost a thousand!
Cold sweat emerged on everyone’s foreheads as stared at Zhou Yuan’s figure in shock and amazement.
Even Cao Shi’s expression had turned rigid, traces of shock still present in his eyes.
On the highest seat, Shen Taiyuan breathed in deeply, his eyes burning hotter than even as he gazed at
Zhou Yuan, his body shaking as he mumbled, “Is my Saint Genesis Peak going to rise up once again?”
1522
Chapter 294 Shocked by 6700 Breaths
There was only silence in the hall, every gaze tinged with a sliver of disbelief as they gazed at Zhou Yuan’s
figure. Everyone had clearly been shocked by the timing of over 6000 breaths.
This was 6700 breaths!
One must know that even in the history of Saint Genesis Peak, the most outstanding disciple had only
managed to reach 5800 breaths during his first time!
While Zhou Yuan had just surpassed this record by nearly 1000!
How the hell did he do it?!
Everyone found it unimaginable.
Even Zhou Tai, Zhang Yan and the rest of the purple sash disciples were stunned. They clearly understood
what this number represented. It meant that during the Alpha-Origin stage, Zhou Yuan’s cultivation speed
would surpass all of them.
Because he was capable of bringing back several times more Alpha-Genesis Qi than them!
“Junior brother is extraordinary indeed. It is no wonder that teacher Shen has placed such high hopes in
him.” Zhou Tai felt rather gratified. His was gentle and frank by nature, and did not feel threatened by the
potential Zhou Yuan had displayed. Instead, he was genuinely happy that such an amazing disciple had
appeared in their Saint Genesis Peak.
However, it was clear that not every disciple shared the same feelings. At the very least, Cao Shi’s
expression was fluctuating indeterminately as he stared at Zhou Yuan’s figure.
He had never really given much thought to Saint Genesis Peak’s current circumstances. In his opinion,
such matters were the problem of elder Shen and the other elders, and had nothing to do with him. He
was only a gold sash disciple after all.
But Zhou Yuan’s arrival had begun to threaten Cao Shi’s status and benefits. Not only had Zhou Yuan been
given the gold Genesis cave dwelling he had been eyeing, even the gold sash third seat that was originally
his was now being occupied by the former.
All of these factors clearly made him extremely furious. In his point of view, no matter how talented Zhou
Yuan was, and regardless of how much potential he had, he was ultimately only a new disciple. What right
did he have to step over Cao Shi’s head?
Of course, the main reason why due to his jealous heart.
1523
He had climbed his way up in Saint Genesis Peak for so many years, step by step from a normal inner
mountain disciple to his current position, and faced all kinds of difficulties along the way. But what about
Zhou Yuan? he had practically ascended the heavens in a single step the moment he stepped into the
inner mountains. How Cao Shi’s heart remain calm in the face of this?
In this world, there were always those that would find fault in others instead of first examining
themselves.
At this current moment, the numerous disciples in the vicinity were looking at Cao Shi with strange gazes.
After all, he had been the first one to start mocking Zhou Yuan. Who could have expected Zhou Yuan to
counter so mercilessly, practically giving the former a blow that made him see stars.
These gazes caused the expression in Cao Shi’s eyes to darken, evidently extremely embarrassed and
angry.
He had originally intended on saying something to redeem himself, but ultimately swallowed the words
at his throat. All he did was icily glare at Zhou Yuan’s figure, grit his teeth and secretly say to himself, “Kid,
I’ll let you be happy for now. After five days, I will naturally make you understand that there are rules in
this place!”
The Alpha-Origin Qi Zhou Yuan brought back had indeed astonished Cao Shi, but so what? Zhou Yuan was
still only a second layer Alpha-Origin.
While Cao Shi was a formidable individual even amongst the fifth layer Alpha-Origin!
The gap between them was enormous.
Therefore, Cao Shi planned on teaching Zhou Yuan that no matter how great your potential, it was at the
end of the day only potential. The current Zhou Yuan did not have the qualifications to butt heads with
him.
“Regardless of how much potential you have, you should come back only after you’ve turned that
potential into strength. As for now, you’d better behave yourself!”
Under the numerous gathered gazes of shock, Zhou Yuan opened his eyes as he felt the Genesis Qi filling
his Qi Dwelling, Genesis Qi star after star flickering within it as they gave off peculiar undulations.
The number of Genesis Qi stars in his Qi Dwelling was now over 400, a number much greater than when
had he initially reached the Alpha-Origin stage.
The Alpha-Origin Qi he brought back just earlier had increased the number of stars by nearly 10, showing
just how effective this training session had been.
A pleased smile appeared in Zhou Yuan’s eyes. At this rate, it would not be long till he broke into the third
layer Alpha-Origin stage.
1524
“The Alpha-Origin Qi I brought back this session lasted over 6700 breaths.”
“If I only take the Alpha-Origin Cliff and Timeless mat into account, I should be able to hit roughly 6000
breaths. This means that the additional 700 breaths are attributed to the Saint Spirit Crystal.”
Zhou Yuan was somewhat surprised, clearly not expecting the Saint Genesis Crystal to possess such a
function, a function that he had neglected before. Looks like the Saint Spirit Crystal was a cultivation
treasure that did not lose out to the Alpha-Origin Cliff and Timeless Mat.
As he calmed the emotions in his heart, Zhou Yuan lifted his head, only to discover traces of remnant
shock in the numerous gazes around him.
His expression appeared rather cool. After all, he had already experienced a similar event in the outer
mountains, while also knowing what 6000 breaths represented.
The silence in the hall gradually vanished as the numerous disciples in the hall met Zhou Yuan’s gaze.
This time, however, there was less scrutiny in the eyes of the senior disciples were.
They had been skeptical of Zhou Yuan earlier because they felt that he was not worthy of Shen Taiyuan’s
expectations.
But now, Zhou Yuan had at last displayed some of his potential. Although the amount of Alpha-Origin Qi
one brought back would not be able to decide everything, it proved to everyone that there was indeed
something special about him.
“Zhou Yuan, you’ve done well.”
It was at this moment that a voice was heard. Numerous disciples looked over, only to find Shen Taiyuan
gazing at Zhou Yuan with glowing eyes, an extremely rarely seen smile appearing on his usually stern and
rigid face.
It was obvious that he was extremely satisfied by Zhou Yuan’s performance.
“Besides that, congratulations for breaking the all time record for most amount of Alpha-Origin Qi
brought back on the first time utilizing the Alpha-Origin Cliff and Timeless Mat.” Shen Taiyuan chuckled
as he pointed towards the wall.
Light began to appear as a row of words appeared in the spot where first place had originally been
recorded.
“Zhou Yuan, 6743 breaths!”
Zhou Yuan was also somewhat astonished, clearly surprised that he had accidentally broken the all time
record.
1525
Afraid that Zhou Yuan would lose himself to joy, Shen Taiyuan immediately warned, “But don’t become
complacent. A record such as this is merely a tiny bit of encouragement, and will not guarantee your
future accomplishments. You still have to work hard.”
“Disciple understands.” Zhou Yuan chuckled. A record like this would only be dismissed by a laugh from
him, because he clearly understood that this record meant nothing. After all, bringing back more Alpha-
Origin Qi did not mean his future achievements would be greater.
One needed to courageously advance on the path of cultivation. Only the accumulation of effort and time
would bring about results in the future.
Shen Taiyuan nodded, feeling more and more pleased with Zhou Yuan. It seems that the heavens had not
abandoned their Saint Genesis Peak. To think that they would welcome such an astonishingly talented
disciple even in such miserable times.
However, he soon recalled the duel between Zhou Yuan and Cao Shi in five days. After some hesitation,
Shen Taiyuan said, “You have great potential, there is really no rush for you to compete with the others
now.”
However, just as the words left his mouth, Cao Shi’s gaze flashed as he suddenly cut in, “Don’t worry
teacher Shen, even if Zhou Yuan loses and the purple Genesis cave dwelling ends up with us, as long as
the other fellow brother disciples do not object, disciple is willing to withdraw and let junior brother
Zhou Yuan have it.”
His generous words made several disciples cast looks of amazement at him, clearly surprised that the one
who had been making things difficult for Zhou Yuan at every step would suddenly choose to give in.
However, Cao Shi’s actions also made some of the senior disciples frown slightly, feeling that teacher
Shen was being quite unfair to the former. This made them sympathize with him a little, while also giving
rise to a slight rejection towards Zhou Yuan.
After all, many disciples felt that Zhou Yuan was already given a lot of benefits, benefits that were taken
from the share of senior disciples like them.
Zhou Yuan coldly watched Cao Shi’s generous and righteous performance, seeing through the latter’s
intentions. Cao Shi was undoubtedly applying to concept of retreating first in order to advance further,
making the other disciples pity him, while giving rise to certain criticisms about Zhou Yuan.
From the looks of it, Cao Shi’s tactic had some effect. After all, Zhou Yuan currently did not have any
influence here, and had no way to sway the others.
Hence, he shook his head and said, “Teacher Shen, since the match has already been fixed, there will
naturally be no such thing as changing it, If not, how will disciple find a place for himself here in the
future?”
1526
He could not be bothered with such petty tricks, because they would not amount to much at the end of
the day. As long as the scheduled match five days later took place, Zhou Yuan would naturally teach Cao
Shi the meaning of despair.
Upon hearing this, Shen Taiyuan did not speak any further on the matter, only nodding his head.
“That will be all for today’s morning class, everyone is dismissed.”
The numerous disciples acknowledged one after another.
Cao Shi also bowed and cupped his fists together, but while his head was lowered, he shot a glance at
Zhou Yuan from the corner of his eye as a sneer rose from the corners of his lips.
So what if you have potential. At the very, dealing with you now is easy as a flip of my hand!
I’m dying to see how disappointed teacher Shen and the other disciples will be when you lose to me five
days later.
1527
Chapter 295 Reaction of the Two Factions
The three factions took turns to use the Dao Seeker Hall.
Hence, every disciple under Lu Feng discovered the changes on the Alpha-Origin wall when they arrived
for the morning lessons on the next day. Everyone in the hall, including even elder Lu Song, were dazed
for quite some time.
6743 breaths…”
Elder Lu Song sighed in amazement as he shook his head. The disciple called Zhou Yuan really knew how
to stir things up. To think that he would stir up such a sensation on his first day of training.
On the first sash purple seat below, Lu Yan’s haughty and pretty face was covered in astonishment as she
gazed at the Alpha-Origin wall, unable to stop herself from remarking, “This guy does have some ability.”
A disciple chuckled from the side and said, “I’ve heard that Zhou Yuan has volunteered to be one of the
three participants in the upcoming cave match.”
Lu Yan was taken aback by this information. Soon after, her red lips curled downwards as she
disdainfully said, “I was just beginning to feel that he was not too bad, how did he suddenly become so
rash and ignorant?”
Zhou Yuan’s record of over 6000 breaths was indeed quite a scare, but what did it mean?
It would at most mean that Zhou Yuan’s cultivation progress in the Alpha-Origin stage would be
somewhat faster than normal. However, it should be known that there were plenty of treasures that
could speed up one’s cultivation progress. Others may not be able to match him in this aspect, but they
could make up for it through other means.
As such, the ability to bring back more Alpha-Origin Qi only showed that Zhou Yuan was not the average
disciple, but it did not give him qualifications to do as he pleased.
From what Lu Yan could see, Zhou Yuan’s actions were rather foolish.
No matter how much Alpha-Origin Qi you can bring back, you’re still only a second layer Alpha-Origin for
now. In comparison, who do you think will be participating in the cave match? The most outstanding gold
sash disciples of the two factions of course.
These were elites even amongst the fifth layer Alpha-Origin stage.
Even if Zhou Yuan defeated the fourth layer Alpha-Origin Lu Feng in the peak selection ceremony, even
the latter would not have courage to interfere in such fights for the time being.
1528
All of these were the reasons why Lu Yan felt Zhou Yuan’s actions were truly foolish and reckless.
“Agreed.” The disciple nodded in agreement, before he said, “I’ve also heard that numerous senior
disciples under elder Shen are quite unhappy about this affair, especially Cao Shi because he’s the one
that Zhou Yuan intends to replace.”
“Cao Shi huh. I’ve heard that he’s quite good.” Remarked Lu Yan.
“Due to Zhou Yuan’s insistence, he ended up fixing a match with Cao Shi. They will fight in four days, and
the winner will represent elder Shen’s faction during the cave match.”
“I’m of the opinion that there was some dispute with regards to who would ultimately possess the purple
Genesis cave dwelling. Even if elder Shen has high hopes of Zhou Yuan, it still drew many objections from
the other disciples. As such, Zhou Yuan has no choice but to accept this duel, because according to the
rules, only those that have participated will have the right to be allocated the reward.”
Lu Yan said, “Elder Shen’s side already does not have a good chance of victory. With Zhou Yuan as extra
baggage, how can they possibly aim for the purple Genesis cave dwelling?”
The disciple chuckled and replied, “Perhaps they’re hoping for a fluke. There’s after all still two other
participants. If they manage to win, it would be an overall victory even if Zhou Yuan loses.”
Lu Yan’s brows furrowed as she said, “If that is the case, he’s really too shameless…”
She shook her head, the amazement from earlier due to Zhou Yuan’s record of over 6000 breaths
completely fading away...
“Looks like pushing Zhou Yuan to elder Shen is actually a good thing. If not, we’ll be the ones others will
be talking about…”
“Never mind, they are the ones who will end up being humiliated. Let them do as they please.”
With these words, she gladly patted her full bosom as it swayed slightly.
On the third day.
It was now Lu Hong’s turn for morning lessons in the Dao Seeker Hall.
Lu Hong merely cast a single glance at the Alpha-Origin wall before withdrawing his gaze, his face as
impassive as before. The other disciples also secretly sneaked glances, but did not break out into
discussion, evidently already aware of this information.
Below Lu Hong, the young man called Yuan Hong was seated on the purple sash first seat. He had a
towering figure that made others feel a faint pressure as if they were facing a mountain.
1529
Lu Hong’s gaze swept downwards as he indifferently said, “Wei Youxuan, Feng Yu, Chen Ying.”
Upon hearing Lu Hong speak, three young men on the three closest gold mats respectfully responded,
“Present.”
Lu Hong said, “The three of you shall participate in the upcoming cave match, are all of you confident?”
At the gold sash disciple first seat, Wei Youxuan, who wore black clothes, chuckled softly and answered,
“Teacher Lu need not worry, the gold sash disciples of elder Shen’s faction are nothing to be feared.”
He paused for a moment, before continuing, “As for Zhou Yuan, I’ve heard that he will be contesting Cao
Shi for the place of the final participant. We are not familiar with this person.”
“He’s merely a little clown, and there’s no need to pay any attention to him. Since Shen Taiyuan’s group
wants to humiliate themselves, we’ll give them as much humiliation as they want.” Said Lu Hong.
Wei Youxuan nodded.
After this matter was settled, Lu Hong turned his gaze towards Yuan Hong, his expression softening
slightly as she said, “Yuan Hong, the competition for the chief disciple position will be held at the end of
the year. You must not fail.”
Yuan Hong opened his eyes, a sharp light surging within them as if they contained sword light. He gave a
faint nod as he said, “Don’t worry teacher Lu, the other two factions only have Zhou Tai and Lu Yan.
Although they are strong, they are still not my match. The position of chief disciple will definitely end up
in my hands.”
His tone was calm, but it contained an unquestionable confidence.
Lu Hong let out a satisfied chuckled. “That’s good. When you become the chief disciple, you will be
qualified to learn the Omega Saint Spirit art, and may even gain the qualifications to vie for one of the ten
great Chosens spots in the future.”
At the mention of the ten great Chosens, the light in Yuan Hong’s finally brightened for a moment, as if a
fire was burning within them. From what he could see, the position of chief disciple was his to take
whenever he chose to, and he did not face much competition. The other two factions were just too
useless, and the disciples there too ordinary.
The only ones who just barely made the mark were Lu Yan and Zhou Tai, but neither posed much of a
threat towards him.
The reason why he had been willing to follow Lu Hong to Saint Genesis Peak was because he would gain
the right to practice one of the seven arts, the Omega Saint Spirit art, once he became the chief disciple of
Saint Genesis Peak.
1530
He had only been able to rank third amongst the Sword Cometh Peak disciples. Without mentioning the
first ranked Kong Sheng, even the second ranked had an edge over him, and had been able to suppress
him from start to end.
Even if Kong Sheng stepped down from his position as one of the ten great Chosens in the future, that
ranked second guy would definitely replace the former. But most importantly, peak master Ling Jun
greatly valued the latter.
Hence, even if Yuan Hong stayed behind in Sword Cometh Peak, he would never have a chance to
practice its ultimate technique.
Yuan Hong’s eyes lowered slightly, unable to accept this outcome.
“When I become the chief disciple of Saint Genesis Peak in the future, master the Omega Saint Spirit art
and join the ranks of the ten great Chosens, peak master Ling Jun and the rest if you will understand that
I, Yuan Hong, am not weaker than anyone else!”
1531
In the depths of a particular cave dwelling.
Endless pure Genesis Qi flowed out from the eye of a spring, transforming into a faint mist that swirled
around the cave.
Zhou Yuan was silently seated on a boulder beside the spring. The roar of a dragon echoed from inside
his body as a powerful suction force spread from his nose. One could only watch as the surging Genesis Qi
transformed into white smoke that was sucked into Zhou Yuan’s mouth and swallowed into his body.
After doing this several times, the Genesis Qi in the cave became somewhat fainter.
Only then did Zhou Yuan gradually come to a stop. He opened his eyes and looked towards the center of
his right palm as he frowned slightly. A lump of heart palpitating scarlet-red sat there like the figure of a
slightly sinister dragon.
It was the Dragon’s Resentment Poison.
Ever since Zhou Yuan took back the majority of Wu Huang’s sacred dragon blessing, the Dragon’s Resent
Poison in his body had grown stronger. Zhou Yuan could faintly feel that it was more domineering and
violent than before.
“The Dragon’s Resentment Poison outbreak occurs once every three years, and the next three year date is
fast approaching.” Zhou Yuan sighed deeply. Time had passed by so quickly, and it was now nearly three
years since then.
When the previous Dragon’s Resentment Poison outbreak occurred, Zhou Yuan had yet to even unblock
his eight meridian channels. In contrast, he was now an Alpha-Origin stage practitioner, an almighty force
in the Great Zhou Empire.
Though he had grown, the Dragon’s Resentment Poison in his body was likewise very different from
before.
Before it could be fully controlled, it would always be a potential danger.
Zhou Yuan touched his palm as he mumbled to himself, “It seems that I have to think of a way to make the
Dragon’s Resentment Poison work for me instead.”
The sacred dragon blessing was contained within the Dragon’s Resent Poison. If Zhou Yuan was unable to
make the poison fully submit to him, he would be unable to properly bring out its powers. Thus, if he
succeeded in this endeavour, it would give him an extremely lethal trump card.
1532
Zhou Yuan pondered about it for a moment before withdrawing his thoughts. There should still be some
time before the Dragon’s Resent Poison outbreak, and the most important matter he had to deal with
currently was still the battle with Cao Shi.
Cao Shi was after all a veteran gold sash disciple and a true-blue fifth layer Alpha-Origin practitioner.
Such strength was not just a little bit better than Lu Feng.
None of the people that could reach this level would be easy opponents.
However, since Cao Shi had decided to block Zhou Yuan’s way, he had no choice but to step over this
stumbling block.
But it must be acknowledged that the other party was an elite amongst the fifth layer Alpha-Origin,
someone who boasted overwhelming battle power. Hence, Zhou Yuan know that he could not afford to
underestimate this opponent.
While Zhou Yuan was deep in thought, his hands suddenly came together as a ball of light floated out
from his palm. Inside was an old book that seemed akin to the rising sun, giving off a scorching aura.
It was the prize Zhou Yuan had received as the champion of the peak selection ceremony, the low grade
Heaven Genesis technique, the Heavenly Sun God Record.
Zhou Yuan senses began to probe the ancient book, only opening his eyes a long time later.
“As expected of a true Heaven Genesis technique, it’s going to be extremely complex and troublesome to
practice.” Zhou Yuan frowned. The power of the Heavenly Sun God Record was indeed terrifying, far
surpassing anything a little Heaven Genesis technique could muster. However, the conditions to learn it
were exceedingly strict, likewise far beyond the difficulty of the little Heaven tier.
To learn the Heavenly Sun God Record, one required the assistance of external resources such as the Nine
Suns Crystal, the Heavenly Flames Rock Essence and other similar items. All of them were pretty rare,
and it would likely take quite some time to gather.
After giving it some thought, Zhou Yuan kept away the book again. His match with Cao Shi was too close,
and there was clearly no time to spend on the Heavenly Sun God Record for the time being.
“It’s a pity that the Genesis Marrow Baptism needs two more months of preparation before it will be
ready, or I would have been able to reach the next level through it.” Zhou Yuan shook his head regretfully.
The other prize from the peak selection ceremony was the Genesis Marrow Baptism, but since the time
was not right, he would not be able to utilise it for now.
While Zhou Yuan was still mulling over the situation, he suddenly heard the sound of faint footsteps
approaching. He turned his head, to find Yaoyao gracefully walking over with Tuntun in her arms, while
several jade bottles jung from between her slender fingers, giving off clinking sounds with each step.
1533
“I can’t believe that you managed to fall into such trouble after a single morning lesson.” Yaoyao’s red lips
parted slightly as she glared at Zhou Yuan.
Zhou Yuan laughed helplessly, before replying with a sigh, “Can’t do anything about it. New disciples have
no reputation or influence, so no one is willing to accept me receiving benefits. Since someone has
jumped out to offer himself up as an example for the rest, I have no choice but to go along.
This was very normal. A new disciple would surely be bullied by the senior disciples for a period of time.
It could be said to be a certain unspoken rule of sorts, but Zhou Yuan really did not have the time to
bother with such things.
If he wanted to accept the purple Genesis cave dwelling with a clear conscience, he would have to first
ensure all the other disciples had no objections, or it would only bring about more trouble in the future.
To prevent such disputes, the most direct method was to display his strength and force the senior
disciples to acknowledge him.
Hence, even if Cao Shi had not provoked Zhou Yuan, he would have looked for some other avenue to
display his prowess.
“Your opponent is a fifth layer Alpha-Origin, don’t end up getting beaten instead.” Teased Yaoyao.
Although she spoke in such a manner, she still tossed the five jade bottles towards Zhou Yuan. “These
were just delivered by Shen Wanjin.”
Zhou Yuan caught them and opened their caps. The thick, pungent smell of blood immediately dashed out
transforming into five beast silhouettes that gave off an aura filled with howling killing intent.
These were obviously five bottles of Genesis Beast essence blood, and appeared to be of pretty high
quality, every one likely reaching grade 5.
Joy flashed in Zhou Yuan’s eyes as he could not help but praise, “As expected of the inner mountains, you
can even obtain grade 5 dragon type Genesis Beast essence blood here!”
He had tasked Shen Wanjin to station himself at the Glittering Jewels Pavilion with the goal of purchasing
dragon type Genesis Beast essence blood. Zhou Yuan had originally predicted that he would end up with
two bottles at most, but Shen Wanjin had ended up surprising him with five.
With these five bottles of essence blood, his Nine Dragons Canon would progress to the next level.
“You’re pretty ambitious, take care not to end up overwhelmed by the savage aura if you refine too much
essence blood.” Cautioned Yaoyao.
Zhou Yuan touched the palm on his right hand as he grinned, “No matter how savage they are, can they
beat the Dragon’s Resentment Poison?”
1534
He shook his head, speaking no further on this topic as his gaze suddenly locked onto the creature lazily
resting in Yaoyao’s arms. An extremely kind and friendly smile appeared on his face as he asked, “Tuntun,
do you want to try the delicacies in the inner mountain Hundred Fragrances House?”
The ears of the originally sleepy looking Tuntun immediately stood up as its excited gaze shot towards
Zhou Yuan, even its tongue poking out from its mouth.
Yaoyao shook her head in a slightly exasperated manner as she threw Tuntun out by its ear and said,
“Unable to learn from your mistakes, you’ll end up being sold off sooner or later.”
How could she not know that it would have to give its blood once it ate its fill.
Zhou Yuan grinned widely as he picked up Tuntun. “Big sis Yaoyao, tell the others that I will be secluding
myself to cultivate and won’t be attending the next morning class.”
Yaoyao acknowledged before turning around to leave.
...
The Dao Seeker Hall.
It was the Shen Taiyuan faction’s turn to cultivate here again.
When Cao Shi arrived, the first thing he saw was Zhou Yuan’s empty seat. The former chuckled in
amusement, evidently already aware of latter’s secluded cultivation session.
“Resorting to such unnecessary measures even though you only have a few short days.” Cao Shi shook his
head, a slight sneer and contempt flowing out in his eyes.
“Zhou Yuan ah Zhou Yuan, you’ve already shown all your cards during your fight with Lu Feng. If that’s all
you have, don’t blame your senior brother for bullying you…”
Several of his gold sash disciple friends around him softly chuckled. Looks like there was going to be
entertaining show in a few days.
1535
Zhou Yuan and Cao Shi’s match still ended up causing some slight ripples in Saint Genesis Mountain.
However, the disciples under Lu Song and Lu Hong merely viewed it as a silly squabble that was not
worth much attention.
This was quite normal, because even in elder Shen’s group, there weren’t many who fancied Zhou Yuan’s
chances even if he was the latest champion of the peak selection ceremony.
At the end of the day, Cao Shi was a true-blue veteran senior disciple of the fifth layer Alpha-Origin stage,
someone who was far stronger than Lu Feng.
In the eyes of many of the senior disciples, Zhou Yuan was merely asking for trouble.
While the many disciples held such thoughts, five days passed in the blink of an eye.
...
Mists swirled around the pine trees, an enormous stone stage towering above them.
At this current time, the vicinity of the stone stage was already filled with figures, even Shen Taiyuan
already here, seated above them. Today was the duel between Zhou Yuan and Cao Shi, and elder Shen
was naturally going to oversee it such as to prevent any accidents from occurring.
Besides them, some of the disciples from the other two factions were also present, clearly waiting to
enjoy the show.
Of course, what they wanted to see was likely Zhou Yuan suffering. After all, he had been in the limelight
too much recently, and was also the champion of the peak selection ceremony. However, he was also a
new inner mountain disciple without enough experience. Thus, there were naturally people who were
happy to see someone put him in his place.
On one side of the stone stage, a smiling Cao Shi was surrounded by several disciples like a moon
amongst the stars. He was pretty relaxed from the looks of it and clearly did not treat today’s match
seriously at all.
Swish!
A Genesis Qi cloud flew over from far away, eventually landing on the opposite end of the stone stage. It
was Zhou Yuan with Yaoyao at his side, graceful yet cold like an exiled goddess from the heavens, her
breathtaking beauty drawing numerous gazes towards her.
1536
“Teacher Shen.” Zhou Yuan’s gaze scanned his surroundings, sensing the amusement in many gazes. He
ignored all of them as he looked towards Shen Taiyuan and cupped his fists together.
Shen Taiyuan nodded in response, a rather complicated look on his face. He truly did have high hopes for
Zhou Yuan’s potential, which was why he did not wish to see him clashing with Cao Shi at such a time.
However, he also understood that it was because he regarded Zhou Yuan with too much importance that
the senior disciples were now unhappy, leading them to make things difficult for Zhou Yuan. But why
couldn’t these fools just stop for a moment and question themselves instead. If they had shown a little
more worth, wouldn’t he have no need to place all his bets on a single person?
If Zhou Yuan lost today’s duel, he would surely have to give in for a period of time and keep a low profile,
losing all hopes of obtaining the purple Genesis cave dwelling.
Without such cultivation resources, it would undoubtedly become even more difficult for him to catch up
with the veteran purple sash disciples.
With such feelings churning in his heart, Shen Taiyuan ultimately sighed inside, nodding to Zhou Yuan
before turning towards Cao Shi. “This is a match between our own people, make sure you understand
when to stop.”
Cao Shi laughed a relaxed manner and replied, “Don’t worry teacher Shen, I’m a senior after all and will
show mercy.”
The moment he finished, his figure moved, landing at the center of the stone stage as he cast playful gaze
towards Zhou Yuan and said, “Junior brother Zhou Yuan, you can avoid any suffering if you admit defeat
now. It’s never a pretty sight when it comes to punches and kick after all.
Zhou Yuan ignored the former, also landing in the center of the stage. He stood opposite Cao Shi, his face
akin to a still ancient well.
When their gazes met, iciness flashed within their eyes.
Below Shen Taiyuan, the purple sash disciples were also watching.
Zhang Yan wore a slight smile on his face as he said towards Zhou Tai, “Hehe, senior brother Zhou Tai,
this junior brother of ours does have potential, but he has a bit of a rebellious streak and doesn’t follow
the rules. I hope that he will be able to better behave after today, and at the very least understand that he
should be more respectful towards us senior brothers.”
Zhou Tai frowned upon hearing this. He was a gentle and magnanimous person, and although his talent
was not exceptional, he did possess a substantial amount of influence amongst the disciples.
1537
He could sense the happiness in Shen Taiyuan due to Zhou Yuan’s arrival, happiness that in turn made
Zhou Tai blame himself and feel somewhat ashamed. Teacher Shen would not feel this way if he had been
more capable as the first disciple.
Thus, he showed good will towards Zhou Yuan, because he genuinely hoped that someone amazing would
arise from their group.
However, this mindset was clearly not shared by all the other disciples. Zhang Yan for instance disliked
how much attention teacher Shen was showing Zhou Yuan. Although Cao Shi appeared to be the
mastermind, Zhang Yan was likely sparing no effort to support the former.
Zhou Tai also knew that junior brother Zhang Yan did not truly acknowledge him as the first disciple
because the latter’s talent was greater than his own. Although Zhang Yan had joined later, he was fast
catching up with his senior brother. Hence, he was usually not too respectful either when they met.
“Junior brother Zhang Yan, junior brother Zhou Yuan has great potential, and it can be said to be our
fortune that he has come to Saint Genesis Peak and teacher Shen’s faction. The cultivation resources we
give him now will surely be returned many fold in the future.” Said Zhou Tai.
Zhang Yan maintained his smiling appearance, though a sneer flashed in his eyes. “Senior brother Zhou
Tai’s words may be slightly exaggerated. I do not deny that he does have potential, but I’m afraid that he
is not qualified to be considered our fortune.”
“So what if he’s the champion of the peak selection ceremony, would it cement his gradual ascent to one
of the ten great Chosens? It’s not like we haven’t seen any champions of the peak selection ceremony
before, and quite a few of them only end up as purple sash disciples after entering the inner mountains,
making them no different from any of us.”
Zhou Tai frowned and said, “Teacher Shen naturally has his reasons for placing such high hopes in Zhou
Yuan.”
“Then we’ll wait and see.” Zhang Yan did not comment, his eyes narrowing slightly as he gazed at Zhou
Yuan’s figure on the stone stage and said in a neither hurried no slow manner, “I hope that you can still
have such a mindset after this match.”
“No matter how much potential he has, it is irrelevant till the day he turns that potential into strength. As
for now… I feel that it would be best for him to behave a little better. A little suffering may not always be a
bad thing for youngsters.”
While they were conversing, Shen Taiyuan’s gaze swept across the stone stage as he said in a solemn
voice, “Begin.”
Rumble!
1538
The instant the word left his mouth, an astonishing wave of Genesis Qi abruptly exploded from Cao Shi’s
body, like pillar of smoke as it charged into the clouds.
Cao Shi’s Genesis Qi was akin to silver snow and gave off an extremely sharp aura. As it surged past, tears
were left in the air.
Genesis Qi pressure spread from his body, like an enormous mountain crushing Zhou Yuan from above.
The expressions of numerous disciples in the vicinity turned a little graver when they felt this pressure.
The fact that Cao Shi had been able to stably occupy the gold sash third seat previously was proof of his
ability. Such abundant and concentrated Genesis Qi was a force to be reckoned with even amongst the
fifth layer Alpha-Origin.
Zhou Yuan’s eyes widened a little. The Genesis Qi pressure from Cao Shi was not just a little stronger than
Lu Feng.
Cao Shi laughed playfully when he saw Zhou Yuan’s expression. “Junior brother Zhou Yuan, you were the
one who suggested this match a few days ago, can it be that you no longer have the courage you had back
then?”
Zhou Yuan’s expression was indifferent as gold Genesis Qi dashed out from the top of his head, hovering
in the air like a giant halo. The faint silhouette of a titanic python emerged from within and hissed.
He stared at Cao Shi as a sharp and serious look gradually flooded his eyes. A split second later, Zhou
Yuan’s aura changed, like a blade that had been unsheathed, no longer hiding its sharp, cold edge.
“Come, show me what’s so amazing about our senior gold sash disciples?!”
The instant his words faded, hsi figure had already shot forward, surging Genesis Qi whizzing in his wake.
Every gaze in the vicinity of the stone stage was attentively watching.
They too wanted to know whether the champion of the peak selection ceremony, Zhou Yuan, had the
qualifications to be regarded so highly by teacher Shen.
1539
Chapter 298 Sumptuous Feast
Rumble!
Golden Genesis Qi swept outwards as a hundred feet tall torrent of Genesis Qi roared, seemingly
transforming into a furious python that ferociously pounced at Cao Shi.
However, Cao Shi merely sneered as he slammed his foot into the ground.
Silver snow like Genesis Qi also whizzed forth along with an indescribable sharpness and iciness as it met
the golden Genesis Qi head-on.
The two torrents of Genesis Qi collided, causing a shockwave of destruction to unfurl. Gashes were torn
open on the ground while also being bombarded full of holes.
The silver snow like Genesis Qi was clearly the greater force of the two. After all, Cao Shi was at the fifth
layer Alpha-Origin, and the quantity and concentration of his Genesis Qi were both greater than Zhou
Yuan’s
However, Zhou Yuan’s Genesis Qi was of a high grade and extremely troublesome to deal with. This was
why the silver snow like Genesis Qi ended up taking quite some time to completely obliterate the golden
Genesis Qi.
The instant the golden Genesis Qi was destroyed, a phantom like figure appeared behind Cao Shi as the
shadow of a brush rapidly grew, its snow-white hairs instantly turning into thousands of icy needles that
shot towards Cao Shi’s fatal spots.
“Humph, I’ve already studied all of your tactics!”
Cao Shi snorted as needles that flickered with cold light shot towards him from behind. With a grasp of
his hand, a metal baton that was forged from silver appeared in his hand. Numerous runes had been
carved into its body, making it shine icily when Genesis Qi was poured in.
The silver baton made a sweeping motion behind him, Genesis Qi whizzing along with it as it tore through
the air, blowing away every single one of the needles.
Iciness flashed in Cao Shi’s eyes. He understood the principle of pushing the advantage, and abruptly shot
forth, Genesis Qi pouring into the metal baton as it transformed into countless baton shadows that
seemed to fill the sky as they ruthlessly swung at Zhou Yuan.
Every baton shadow was terrifyingly violent, and even a fourth layer Alpha-Origin practitioner would
only be able to retreat.
1540
The Heavenly Yuan Brush in Zhou Yuan’s hand also began to dance as countless brush shadows emerged
one after another. Golden Genesis Qi swirled around each shadow, the brush tips pulsing with lethal
sharpness as they clashed with the numerous baton shadows.
Clang! Clang!
Sparks continued to fly with each loud clang along with a mini explosion of berserk Genesis Qi.
In the vicinity of the stone stage, numerous gazes watched the two figures that rapidly criss-crossed.
“Junior brother Zhou Yuan’s is pretty feisty to match blow for blow.” Zhang Yan chuckled, though a faint
sliver of mockery could be heard in his voice.
Anyone could tell that Cao Shi had the advantage in Genesis Qi, making it such that the advantage would
clearly lean in his favor in a direct clash. Everyone could see that all of Zhou Yuan’s counter attacks were
being smashed apart by the baton shadows.
Zhou Tai frowned, but did not say anything though his lips began to purse tightly.
Clang!
Powerful winds swept outwards as the final baton shadow and brush shadow collided. The ground
cracked as Zhou Yuan’s figure jerked back slightly, before shooting back in retreat.
Cao Shi sneered, not giving Zhou Yuan any time to catch his breath as the former ferociously pounced
forward once again. Silver baton shadows that contained the power to split mountains viciously smashed
towards Zhou Yuan.
Zhou Yuan’s figure suddenly etherealized when he saw this, rapidly drifting back like the mist as he
avoided Cao Shi’s chase.
Cao Shi tried to follow several times, but was unable to even touch a corner of Zhou Yuan’s clothes.
Zhou Yuan’s Ethereal Form technique was clearly even more proficient than before.
“Scurrying away like a rat again?” Mocked Cao Shi. Soon after, an icy light flashed in his eyes as he said,
“Don’t think that you can escape just because you practice the Ethereal From technique. You
underestimate the inner mountain gold sash disciples!”
“Little Heaven Genesis technique, Spatial Teleportation!”
Silver light suddenly stretched out from under his feet as he stepped onto it.
Swish!
1541
The instant Cao Shi’s foot landed, his body seemed to ignore the laws of space, appearing directly behind
Zhou Yuan as the metal baton in his hand viciously swung towards along with a hundred foot tall pillar of
Genesis Qi.
“Little Heaven Genesis technique, Mounter Opening Baton!”
With a furious shout, the metal baton swept downwards in an unstoppable manner. The expressions of
several gold sash disciples turned grave, not daring to underestimate this attack.
Zhou Yuan’s eyes widened a little as the alarming force rapidly descended from above. Cao Shi’s strength
had somewhat exceeded the former’s expectations.
Zhou Yuan’s eyes narrowed as a cold and serious look exploded within them. His hands tightened around
the Heavenly Yuan Brush as the Magical Python Scales emerged on his skin, rapidly raising his strength.
“Heavenly Yuan Brush, Million Whale Rune!”
He yelled in his heart as he ferociously swung the Heavenly Yuan Brush. Golden Genesis Qi exploded into
a burst of dazzling light, as the faint cry of a whale echoed.
The air was blasted apart, the ground instantly crumbling, unable to bear such power.
The power of this strike also caused the expressions of several disciples to change slightly.
Clang!
Baton and brush smashed into each other again as a thunderous clang was heard.
Boom!
A shockwave of berserk Genesis Qi unfurled, destabilizing numerous disciples nearby. Shen Taiyuan
waved his sleeve, completely quelling the shockwaves that had left that confines of the stone stage.
Only then did the numerous disciples hastily look towards the stage.
A crack had appeared at the center of the giant stone stage, as if splitting it into two. On both sides of the
crack, Zhou Yuan and Cao Shi’s figures were being flung backwards.
The Heavenly Yuan Brush’s tip left a trail of sparks on the ground, before Zhou Yuan stabilized his figure
with a stomp, his expression indifferent as he looked to his front where Cao Shi was staring back with a
somewhat stormy face.
The counter attack Zhou Yuan had suddenly unleashed earlier had been surprisingly ferocious, managing
to block what Cao Shi had thought to be a sure-kill blow.
1542
“No wonder you’re so confident. You do have some ability.” Cao Shi sneered.
Zhou Yuan’s expression remained unchanged, merely staring at Cao Shi as he slowly said, “The limits of
your strength doesn’t seem to go too deep either.”
Cao Shi’s eyes hardened as a smile of contempt rose from the corners of his mouth. “You seem to be
saying that you were probing me earlier?”
These words immediately caused strange looks to rise on the face of the numerous disciples around the
stone stage. They merely took it as Zhou Yuan being reluctant to admit the truth, because Cao Shi had
clearly taken the advantage in their previous clash.
However, Zhou Yuan paid no attention to these gazes. He slowly released his grip on the Heavenly Yuan
Brush, an uncaring expression on his face as he said, “Since this is all you amount to, it will be enough.”
Cao Shi disdainfully said, “Stop acting. If you still have any rationality, you should admit defeat as soon as
possible. I cannot guarantee your safety if we continue.”
His words did not draw any answer from Zhou Yuan. The latter was currently slowly placing his hands
together as violent undulations suddenly pulsed from the Genesis Qi in his body.
Rumble!
Vigorous Genesis Qi dashed into the sky from the top of his head, the roars of beasts echoing as a faint
aura of savagery and violence filled the area.
Four Genesis Qi pillars revolved above Zhou Yuan’s head, each one roughly a hundred feet tall. The
silhouettes of beasts took shape within them, giving off an aura of wildness and ferocity.
“The Nine Dragons Canon?”
A sneer rose from the corners of Cao Shi’s mouth when he saw this. He had already investigated Zhou
Yuan’s techniques, and naturally knew that this was the technique he had used to defeat Lu Feng.
“Do you think that I’m Lu Feng? You plan on beating me with your four dragon level Nine Dragons
Canon?” Cao Shi let out an icy laugh.
Zhou Yuan’s eyes narrowed slightly, before he suddenly took in a deep breath as a ruthless look flitted
across his eyes.
The flickering Genesis Qi stars in his Qi Dwelling suddenly began to tremble violently as all the Genesis Qi
stored within them was being fully squeezed out by Zhou Yuan at this moment.
Rumble!
1543
Boundless Genesis Qi flowed through the channels inside Zhou Yuan’s body like a flood.
It was at this instant that another giant Genesis Qi pillar rose into the sky from the top of Zhou Yuan’s
head, quickly splitting into four as an sky-shaking roar thundered.
“Nine Dragons Canon… eight dragons!”
Roar!
Four even larger Genesis Qi pillars spun as they roared. A savage aura saturated the area, causing the sky
to take on a dim red hue.
The expressions of the numerous disciples in the vicinity of the stone stage abruptly changed at this
moment.
Shock filled their eyes as they gazed at the right beast shaped Genesis Qi hovering above Zhou Yuan.
Alarm flashed across their faces, clearly having sensed the power of these eight Genesis Qi pillars.
The mocking smile on Cao Shi’s face slowly turned rigid, disbelief surging out in his eyes as he said in a
shrill voice, “Eight dragons?! Your Nine Dragons Canon has reached the eight dragons level?!”
He was pretty much overwhelmed by astonishment. One must know that Zhou Yuan’s Nine Dragons
Canon had only just reached the four dragons level in his battle against Lu Feng half a month ago. How
had it suddenly shot to eight?!
Eight dragons was already considered the advanced stage, wielding power that went far beyond the four
dragons level!
One must know that even amongst the inner mountain disciples, only a rare handful had managed to
reach the eight dragons level!
What Cao Shi did not know was that Zhou Yuan had originally planned on preparing nine dragons for the
former. However, the latter had failed after reaching eight dragons, because the Genesis Qi in his body
was unable to sustain the ninth Genesis Qi beast figure.
Zhou Yuan could not be bothered with any useless exchange of words, and had no intention of dragging
the battle any longer after getting a grasp of Cao Shi’s strength. Zhou Yuan had after all used his secluded
cultivation session to specially prepared this trump card for Cao Shi.
Hence, Zhou Yuan merely stared coldly at Cao Shi.
Roar!
1544
Eight Genesis Qi beast figures roared at the heavens as an explosion of savageness swept outwards. A
split second later, all of them abruptly shot forth, their giant shadows enveloping Cao Shi as his
expression changed drastically.
“Have a taste of the sumptuous feast I’ve prepared for you.”
1545
Chapter 299 Everyone Awed
Roar!
Eight Genesis Qi beasts roared as they wreaked havoc, their savage auras churning. The sky darkened as
a strong stench blew past, causing dread to rise in anyone who saw this sight.
No one had expected Zhou Yuan to suddenly unleash such a terrifying trump card.
Similarly, no one had expected Zhou Yuan’s Nine Dragons Canon to reach this level.
At one side of the stone stage, Zhang Yan’s expression turned slightly rigid. The turn of events on the
stage had exceeded his expectations. Zhou Yuan’s counter attack was indeed formidable, causing a chill to
rise in one’s heart.
No one knew whether Cao Shi would be able to withstand such an attack.
In the vicinity of the stone stage, tense gaze after gaze watched the battle unfurl within it.
Cao Shi’s face had turned extremely grave. He could sense the ferocity of the eight roaring Genesis Qi
beasts, the pressure he felt making his scalp turn numb.
However, he understood that he could not retreat at this point, a fierce and resolute look flashing in his
eyes.
“So what if its eight dragons, I refuse to believe a second layer Alpha-Origin like you will be able to bring
out all of its power!”
Cao Shi gritted his teeth. “You’re just putting up an act, appearing powerful on the outside but in reality
empty on the inside!”
His palms abruptly slammed into each other as the Genesis Qi in his body began to circulate without
holding anything back.
Rumble!
Silver snow like Genesis Qi swept out from the top of his head like a giant silver dragon. It coiled in the
sky above him, the swirling Genesis Qi taking on the shape of a silver halo.
The halo slowly revolved. A split second later, the cries of millions of swords suddenly rang out from
within it. The numerous disciples watched as countless silver sword shadows spilled out from the halo,
filling the entire sky.
“High grade little Heaven Genesis technique, Melody of the Sword Sea!”
1546
Countless silver sword shadows shot forth like an endless sea of blades, their cries converging together,
before sweeping across the area. The sharpness they gave off seemingly piercing even space itself.
At the sight of Cao Shi’s counter attack, the expressions of numerous disciples changed slightly, turning a
little grave.
“Senior brother Cao Shi is going all out, and has even used the Melody of the Sword Sea. That’s his most
powerful trump card.”
The crowd was practically glued to the fight. It was clear that Zhou Yuan’s counter attack had made Cao
Shi feel danger. Thus, he no longer dared to hold anything back, directly activating his strongest
technique.
It was time to see whose trump card was stronger!
Bzz!
Under the attention of countless glowing eyes, the sword sea surged past, ultimately crashing into the
Genesis Qi beasts.
Rumble!
A shockwave of Genesis Qi swept outwards, ripping tear after tear in the stone stage.
The first Genesis Qi beast only lasted for a dozen breaths before being shredded to pieces by the sea of
swords. The second beast quickly followed up, but was soon torn to shreds.
In the short span of a few dozen breaths, the ferocious Genesis Qi beasts were slaughtered one after
another.
This scene stunned many disciples, clearly surprised that the seemingly powerful Genesis Qi beasts
would end up being so pathetic.
“Why is this happening?” Even Zhou Tai could not help but ask. The Nine Dragons Canon and Melody of
the Sword Sea were both high grade little Heaven Genesis techniques. The former should not have been
broken through so quickly, right?
Zhang Yan’s taunt face finally relaxed slightly as he began to smile, “It seems that junior brother Zhou
Yuan’s Genesis Qi cannot match up. He’s after all only at the second layer Alpha-Origin stage.”
Many disciples nodded in agreement. They had originally believed Zhou Yuan’s counter attack to be
pretty deadly, but it turns out that it was only a false front.
In the vicinity of the stone stage, only Yaoyao’s pretty face remained unchanged. Of course, Shen
Taiyuan’s gaze was also flickering slightly, a look of thought on his face.
1547
“Haha, junior brother Zhou Yuan, is this all you amount to?” Cao Shi laughed loudly at this moment, the
worry from before already gone completely as he ridiculed, “The Nine Dragons Canon has become the
Nine Worms Canon in your hands!”
He was under the impression that Zhou Yuan’s Genesis Qi had been lacking, and had just barely managed
to use the Nine Dragons Canon. This led to his Genesis Qi being more scattered than usual, making the
eight Genesis Qi beasts appear strong on the outside, while in actuality mere husks on the inside. Hence, a
single touch was all that was needed to blow them apart.
However, Zhou Yuan remained impassive in response to the former’s taunting mockery. With a thought,
the remaining Genesis Qi beasts continued to charge forward in a ferocious manner.
Boom! Boom!
However, the outcome was still the same. Genesis Qi beast after beast was being slashed to shreds by the
sea of sword. In the blink of an eye, only specks of scattered Genesis Qi remained of the first seven beasts,
leaving only the final one floating in the air.
“I shall finish this in one go. Junior brother Zhou Yuan, you’d better behave better in future!” With a cry
from Cao Shi, the seemingly endless sea of swords swept forth, shooting straight at the last Genesis Qi
beast.
Once the last Genesis Qi beast was torn to shreds, Zhou Yuan’s attack would not no more, deciding the
victor of this battle.
Bzz!
The sea of swords buzzed loudly as they rushed towards the final Genesis Qi beast.
The eighth Genesis Qi beast coiled in the sky, its shape similar to that of a python. At this current moment,
it seemed to be trembling faintly.
A pair of tightly shut snake eyes slowly opened at this moment.
Rumble!
The instant they opened, berserk and ferocious Genesis Qi suddenly erupted.
Rumble!
The originally hundred feet tall Genesis Qi pillar abruptly began to swell, reaching over five hundred feet.
The power of this Genesis Qi beast was even stronger than all of its seven predecessors!
“What?!”
1548
The power pulsing from the Genesis Qi instantly astonished numerous disciples, filling their faces with
confusion. They could not understand why the final Genesis Qi beast would be so powerful.
Zhang Yan’s expression also changed slightly as he fell into thought for a brief moment. His heart
immediately shuddered as the expression in his eyes fluctuated. “Zhou Yuan is really cunning!”
The reason why the previous seven beasts were so weak was not because Zhou Yuan’s Genesis Qi was
insufficient, but because he had intentionally gathered the majority of his power in the eighth Genesis Qi
beast!
On the other hand, Cao Shi spent a great amount of energy with the intention of finishing this in one fell
sweep, causing him to exhaust quite a substantial amount of Genesis Qi up till this point. However, all he
had achieved was blasting apart a few empty husks.
Zhou Yuan’s true killing blow was hidden in the eighth beast!
Roar!
Gasp after gasp was heard as the eighth beast roared. It opened its giant maw, seemingly appearing to
block out the sky as it lunged towards the sea of swords.
Fwoosh!
A single gulp was all it took to instantly swallow the sea of swords.
The silver sword shadows that had entered the Genesis Qi beast’s body were instantly destroyed by the
savage power inside...
Everyone was stunned, including Cao Shi.
“How can this be?! Why is this Genesis Qi beast so strong?!” Cao Shi’s complexion had turned deathly pale.
Just moments ago, he had believed victory to be already in his grasp, but who could have expected such a
reversal to happen in the blink of an eye. It felt akin to being thrown out of the heavens.
The surroundings of the stone stage was silent as numerous disciples looked at each other. They too were
surprised by such a turn of events.
Zhang Yan’s expression fluctuated indeterminately, his brows tightly furrowed together. He had likewise
been certain of Cao Shi’s victory...
An expressionless Zhou Yuan gazed at Cao Shi and waved his sleeve. The final Genesis Qi beast suddenly
roared as it ferociously pounced towards the latter, making him hastily retreat in terror.
The savage aura that assaulted his face made Cao Shi’s heart shiver. The sight of Zhou Yuan’s cold gaze
making his heart shudder even more violently, as he hurriedly yelled, “I, I admit defeat!”
1549
If he was hit by the Genesis Qi beast, he would surely be heavily injured.
Bang!
The instant the words left his mouth, the Genesis Qi beast that was only a few feet away suddenly
exploded, the berserk shockwave blowing Cao Shi several steps back.
Huu.
Zhou Yuan cast an indifferent glance at the panicked Cao Shi as he let out a long drawn out breath. The
Genesis Qi around his body gradually receded, seemingly thinner than before. It was clear that the eighth
dragon of the Nine Dragons Canon earlier had depleted his Genesis Qi.
This was something everyone could see, but no one dared to say anything this time. The strength Zhou
Yuan had just displayed made them feel a chill rise in their hearts.
Zhou Yuan was after all still at the second layer Alpha-Origin stage, but even the fifth layer Cao Shi had
suffered greatly at the former’s hands. Such battle power was terrifying.
Moreover, the current Zhou Yuan was obviously even stronger than he was during the peak selection
ceremony.
Such rapid progress made one’s heart shiver involuntarily.
“Thanks for letting me win.” Zhou Yuan cupped his fists together with a calm expression.
Fear and anger interlaced on Cao Shi’s face that was not a pretty sight to look at currently. Such an
outcome was something he had never even considered.
Around the stone stage, all the disciples stared at Zhou Yuan in amazement regardless of what faction
they hailed from. There was no longer any gazes that questioned his actions, now replaced by a sliver of
wariness.
In the past, numerous senior disciples had not thought much of this champion of the peak selection
ceremony. Zhou Yuan was after all just a new disciple, and titles meant little. However, Zhou Yuan had
now proven his worth to them...
In the silence, Shen Taiyuan stroked his beard, a gratified smile appearing on his strict and aged face.
Zhou Yuan’s victory had also somewhat exceeded his expectations.
He had originally been under the impression that Zhou Yuan was merely being rash, especially since
youngsters were quite easily provoked. But from what he could see now, it was clear that he had
underestimated Zhou Yuan.
He softly chuckled as his gaze swept towards his disciples.
1550
“Zhou Yuan had won this battle. In accordance to the agreement, he shall be the third participant in the
cave match next month. Is there any of you who still has objections?”
Numerous disciples shook their heads.
Shen Taiyuan nodded as he looked towards Zhou Yuan and said, “Since that is the case, you shall be the
third participant. In a month, you shall represent our faction and contest for the purple Genesis cave
dwelling.”
“Understood.” Zhou Yuan cupped his fists and responded.
Shen Taiyuan and the rest of the new disciples cheered in excitement. Zhou Yuan battle made them feel
proud as fellow new disciples.
The corners of Zhang Yan’s mouth twitched when he saw this. He knew that with this battle, Zhou Yuan
had established a place for himself in the inner mountains. In the future, it was likely that not many
disciples would respond if anyone were to attempt suppressing Zhou Yuan based on seniority.
After all, the strength Zhou Yuan had displayed in this battle was enough to convince everyone.
He glanced at the deathly pale Cao Shi, and could only curse inside.
“Useless.”
He had originally intended for Cao Shi to show Zhou Yuan his place, and lessen his value in Shen
Taiyuan’s eyes. However, it had all been ruined by Cao Shi.
Zhou Yuan had ultimately managed to solidify his position.
1551
Chapter 300 Stir
The result of Zhou Yuan and Cao Shi’s match swiftly spread in Saint Genesis Peak, undoubtedly stirring up
the waters. Many had originally believed this match to be an unimportant squabble that had been started
by Zhou Yuan.
Even though Zhou Yuan was the champion of the latest peak selection ceremony, it had been a
competition only amongst the outer mountain disciples. Cao Shi on the other hand was a veteran gold
sash disciple, and a formidable individual amongst his fifth layer Alpha-Origin peers. These two were
clearly not supposed to be on the same level.
As such, many had dismissed the match with a laugh. But who could have expected the final result to turn
out in such a manner...
“What? Zhou Yuan defeated Cao Shi?!”
Lu Yan was with elder Lu Song when she heard the news, disbelief immediately flooding her pretty face
as she immediately asked, “How can it be? Did you make a mistake?”
The disciple that had mae the report merely smiled bitterly as he explained, “The news has already
spread, and so many people have personally seen the battle. Zhou Yuan has indeed beaten Cao Shi.
Lu Yan’s face turned spicy hot with embarrassment. She had so certain of Zhou Yuan’s defeat, hence this
outcome was in truth quite shameful for her.
“Hehe, it seems that you’ve underestimated Zhou Yuan.” Elder Lu Song grinned widely.
Lu Yan gently gritted her teeth and snorted. “Who knows whether elder Shen’s faction was just putting up
a show. Elder Shen may have forced Cao Shi to lose to Zhou Yuan.”
She was still unable to believe it. Zhou Yuan was only a second layer Alpha-Origin, right? Even if he had
defeated the fourth layer Lu Feng during the peak selection ceremony, there was a huge gap between Lu
Feng and Cao Shi.
Elder Lu Song shook his head. “I understand old Shen’s character. He’s inflexible and stubborn, and no
matter how highly he regards Zhou Yuan, he will never use such a method to help the latter.”
The disciple that had come to inform them also said, “It seems that Zhou Yuan’s Nine Dragons Canon has
reached the eighth dragon level.”
“Oh?” Elder Lu Song, who was currently watering a plant, paused for a moment as he remarked in
surprise, “This little guy does have some ability. Even amongst the inner mountain disciples, there are
very few who can reach this level in the Nine Dragons Canon. In his fight with Lu Feng, he had only been
at the fourth dragon…”
1552
“I’ve previously heard of Zhou Yuan’s excellent comprehensive ability with regards to Genesis techniques,
but I never imagined that it would be so superb.” He sighed.
Lu Yan pouted when she heard Lu Song continuously praise Zhou Yuan. “If you think so highly of him,
why didn’t you recruit him?”
Elder Lu Song sighed. “At present, Lu Hong’s momentum is practically unstoppable, and I no longer have
the drive to vie with him, leaving only that stubborn old Shen who is still unwilling to admit defeat. Since
that is the case, why should I compete with him over Zhou Yuan. You can take it as me letting him hope.”
“In that one in a million chance that Zhou Yuan really does turn out to be an amazing genius blessed by
the heavens, and manages to obstruct Lu Hong’s faction, it would be good for us too, because as things
stand, we’ll likely never be able to raise our heads again in the future.”
Lu Yan’s pupils swiveled in thought as she said, “Since Zhou Yuan has defeated Cao Shi, he will become
one of the participants for the upcoming cave match. Grandfather, who do you think will end up winning
the purple Genesis cave dwelling?”
Lu Song chuckled and answered, “Though Zhou Yuan is talented, he has after all only recently joined the
inner mountains, it is likely that it took everything he had to defeat Cao Shi this time. If my prediction is
not wrong, once he used the Nine Dragons Canon, he barely had any Genesis Qi left to continue the fight.”
Upon hearing this, the disciple who had come to report immediately said, “Teacher Shen has incredible
foresight. It is indeed true that Zhou Yuan exhausted nearly all of his Genesis Qi after using the Nine
Dragons Canon. I’m of the opinion that if Cao Shi had gritted his teeth and took it, the one who lost would
not have been him.”
Lu Song nodded in agreement. “He’s after all a second layer Alpha-Origin, making his cultivation lacking…
so even if he replaces Cao Shi, he would not be of much help to elder Shen’s side.”
“I’ve heard that Lu Hong is sending Wei Youxuan, Feng Yu and Chen Ying… these three are certainly elites
amongst his gold sash disciples, each one boasting incredible strength, and may even be concealing their
true power.”
“That’s why even with Zhou Yuan’s sudden addition, Lu Hong’s side still has a better chance of victory.”
“In such a situation, a mere Zhou Yuan changes nothing.”
Only after hearing Lu Song speak such words did Lu Yan finally nod in satisfaction.
Lu Song could not help but laugh when he saw this. “He has never provoked or offended you, why do you
always seem so happy when things aren’t going well for him?”
Lu Yan was taken aback. With a tremble of a full bosom, she self-righteously said, “Well, no one asked him
to be the champion of the peak selection ceremony.”
1553
Lu Song helplessly shook his head. How could he not be aware of his granddaughter's wirshop of the head
of the ten great Chosens, Chu Qing. The same Chu Qing that was also once a champion of the peak
selection ceremony.
In Lu Yan’s heart, no other champion could compare to Chu Qing. Hence, for the sake of proving that she
was not wrong, she would naturally adopt such an attitude towards Zhou Yuan.
Lu Song glanced at Lu Yan and said, “You’d better not underestimate Zhou Yuan. No one can say for
certain how the future will turn out. There may even come a day when he catches up to Chu Qing.”
He was definitely not happy about his granddaughter’s blind adoration of Chu Qing. Hence, he was
abnormally critical with regards to Chu Qing.
However, upon hearing this, Lu Yan disdainfully said, “Who knows how many geniuses there are who
hope to catch up to Chu Qing. I’m afraid that Zhou Yuan will not be able to live up to such high
expectations. Grandfather, it is impossible for that to happen.”
“Moreover, it’d be better for him to think about how to handle the upcoming cave match. He’d better not
let the chance he worked so hard for end up being humiliation fiesta.”
“The cave match will be nothing like the match between those under the same teacher. If he loses, the
entire Cangxuan Sect will know. That’s pretty much going to be akin to losing all face.”
“As for catching up to senior brother Chu Qing…”
Lu Yan stealthily shifted to the entrance, before making a funny face at Lu Song. She slipped away in an
instant, her voice echoing from afar as her figure disappeared into the distance.
“Grandfather, you can keep daydreaming!”
Lu Song blew at this beard in anger.
“Ill-mannered lass!”
...
The outcome of the match also eventually made its way to Lu Hong’s faction.
In a certain stone pavilion.
Wei Youxuan was pouring tea, Feng Yu, Cheng Ying and several other Lu Hong disciples seated beside
him.
Cheng Ying remarked, “Elder Shen’s group is becoming more and more pathetic. I can’t believe that a new
disciple managed to beat a veteran gold sash disciple. This Cao Shi… is really too incompetent.”
1554
The more cautious Feng Yu slowly said, “The fact that Zhou Yuan was able to defeat him likely means that
he does have some ability.”
Cheng Ying laughed and said, “What ability can he have. I already know how the match went, he basically
threw everything into that one attack, leaving him no way out. Zhou Yuan does have some talent in
Genesis techniques, managing to reach the eighth dragon level during his secluded cultivation, and just
barely defeating Cao Shi.”
“However, once it is used, Zhou Yuan’s Genesis Qi will be fully spent, making it impossible for him to
continue.”
“Over all, he’s like a one trick pony.”
Feng Yu gave a slight nod. “If that is the case, there is nothing to fear. As long as that move is blocked,
Zhou Yuan would become useless.”
His gaze turned, looking towards the Wei Youxuan, who was still pouring tea, as he smiled and asked,
“What are senior brother Wei’s thoughts?”
Wei Youxuan toyed with the cup in his hand a faint smile was revealed on his face. “No matter what
games their playing, they will not have any chances in the upcoming cave match, because I’ve long had my
eye on that purple Genesis cave dwelling.”
Though his voice was soft, there was a certain unshakable feeling to his words, as if they had already
decided who the purple Qi cave dwelling would ultimately belong to.
However, neither Feng Yu nor Cheng Ying raised any objections. Instead, gloating smiles appeared on
their faces.
“Looks like senior brother Wei is serious…”
“*Sigh* Fine, senior brother Wei should take the purple Genesis cave dwelling and quickly get promoted.
We’ve been drooling over the gold sash first seat for a long time…”
The two raised their cups and grinned. “Let’s toast to senior brother Wei’s success.”
Wei Youxuan smiled slightly as he their cups hit, before raising his head, his eyes narrowing slightly as he
peered into the distance.
“Tong Long, Pan Song, Zhou Yuan…”
He shook his head as he chuckled softly.
“Are just three pieces of trash.”
1555
Chapter 301 Arrival of the Baptism
Several days quickly passed after the duel between Zhou Yuan and Cao Shi, while the ripples it caused
gradually vanishing.
After their initial shock, many disciples began to accept the result. The match was after all between those
of the same faction, and did not have much to do with the other two groups.
The main takeaway of those that had watched the match was that although Zhou Yuan had won, it had
been a narrow victory due to his lack of Genesis Qi. Therefore, most people felt they were about equal in
strength.
As such, the disciples under Lu Hong basically did not care that Zhou Yuan had replaced Cao Shi as the
third participant in the cave match. From what they could see, the ultimate result would not be any
different regardless of whether it was Zhou Yuan or Cao Shi.
It was obvious that Lu Hong’s faction did not really view elder Shen’s faction as a threat.
In their eyes, the only difference there would be after Zhou Yuan replaced Cao Shi, was who would end up
being humiliated.
Hence, the attention on Zhou Yuan only lasted for a few days before fading away, no one bothering to take
any further notice of him. They knew that halo currently over Zhou Yuan would naturally dissipate
during the cave match...
...
Yet another morning lesson in the Dao Seeker Hall.
Zhou Yuan was seated on the mat with his eyes lightly shut, his Spirit borrowing the powers of the Alpha-
Origin Cliff and Timeless Mat to collect Alpha-Origin Qi.
In the large hall, other disciples would look over from time to time. However, there was no longer anyone
who dared to object to Zhou Yuan’s status as the gold sash third seat. Even Cao Shi, who was right behind,
had practically surrendered for the past few days, no longer daring to casually provoke the former.
Zhou Yuan had clearly succeeded in establishing his position through the duel with Cao Shi.
The hall was silent for a long time. Only after everyone completed their cultivation session did hushed
whispers begin to spread.
At the highest seat, Shen Taiyuan cast his gaze downwards, sweeping past Tong Long, Pan Song and Zhou
Yuan as he slowly said, “There are still twelve days till the cave match.”
1556
Every gaze in the hall immediately converged towards the trio.
“Are you three confident?”
Upon hearing Shen Taiyuan’s question, Tong Long and Pan Song hesitated somewhat, not knowing how
to reply. After all, they knew all three individuals from Lu Hong’s side were not simple at all, especially
Wei Youxuan.
They had never fought before, who knew what were their chances?
“Teacher Shen, we will give our all in battle.” Said Tong Long in the end, but anyone could hear the
uncertainty in his voice.
Shen Taiyuan frowned, somewhat unsatisfied by this answer. However, he understood that Tong Long
and Pan Song were facing a tremendous amount of pressure. After all, the disciples under Lu Hong were
indeed of higher quality than them.
Even more disciples secretly shook their heads and sighed inside. The truth was that even they did not
fancy the chances of their team.
As for Zhou Yuan, nobody paid much attention to him. Although he had defeated Cao Shi, the latter was
slightly weaker than Tong Long and Pan Song. Since the two of them had already said declared their
views, everyone believed that Zhou Yuan would only be tagging along.
However, it was not because anyone looked down on him, but because it would be the same even if it was
Cao Shi.
“If the three of you have any problems or needs in your cultivation, you may feel free to find me directly.”
Offered Shen Taiyuan.
At such a time, he could only give them as much convenience as possible, and hope that they would
succeed in raising their strength.
A slight look of joy was revealed on Cao Shi and Pan Song’s faces as they hurriedly acknowledged in a
respectful manner.
In contrast, Zhou Yuan fell into thought for a moment, before attempted to probe, “Teacher Shen, I’ve
recently been thinking about trying to practice the Heavenly Sun God Record awarded to me by sect
master, but am unable to gather some of the required Genesis resources…”
Three Genesis resources were needed to learn the Heavenly Sun God Record, the Nine Yang Crystal, the
Heavenly Flame Rock Essence and the Golden Crow Heart. All three were quite rare, and he had been
searching the Glittering Jewels Pavilion for some time but to no avail.
1557
Since Shen Taiyuan had offered his help, Zhou Yuan decided there was no need to be courteous, and
immediately struck while the iron was hot.
Before Shen Taiyaun could respond, Zhang Yan smiled faintly and said, “Isn’t junior brother Zhou Yuan
being too ambitious. The Heavenly Sun God Record is a low grade Heaven Genesis technique, and let
alone gold sash disciples, even a few purple sash disciples rarely succeed in learning one. In my opinion,
junior brother Zhou Yuan should put your efforts into your Genesis Qi cultivation. The opponents you
meet in the cave match are no ordinary individuals after all.”
“If your opponent ends up withstanding your eight dragons Nine Dragons Canon, you will no longer have
any energy to retaliate.”
Other disciples also broke out into whispers, somewhat in agreement with Zhang Yan’s words. They
clearly understood just how stringent a Heaven Genesis technique was, and since Zhou Yuan was already
somewhat lacking in Genesis Qi to use the Nine Dragons Canon, he would likely be unable to activate the
Heavenly Sun God Record even if he did manage to learn it, right?
This also made them suspect that Zhou Yuan was taking the opportunity to profit from teacher Shen’s
offer.
Of course, it was mainly because they were quite jealous. It was a Heaven Genesis technique, and even a
low grade one was something several purple sash disciples did not possess.
Zhou Yuan merely glanced at Zhang Yan, paying no heed to the latter’s words as he looked towards Shen
Taiyuan.
“The Heavenly Sun God Record huh?” Shen Taiyuan was slightly taken aback. He had heard of this
technique, and thus knew about the Genesis resources it required. As he stroked his beard, he said, “You
do know how to find opportunities, even I will have trouble with these three Genesis resources.”
He looked towards Zhou Yuan and asked, “Are you confident in learning the Heavenly Sun God Record?”
Zhou Yuan calmly answered, “I will give it my all.”
Zhang Yan laughed upon hearing this and was just about to speak up again.
However, Shen Taiyuan waved his hand, gazing deeply at Zhou Yuan as he said, “Since that is so, I will
naturally give you my full support. I will help you collect these Genesis resources.”
The corners of Zhang Yan’s mouth twitched. He had not expected Shen Taiyuan to agree to Zhou Yuan’s
rather outrageous request. Ordinary disciples, and even purple sash disciples like them were not given
such treatment all the time.
Feeling rather oppressed inside, Zhang Yan could only glance at Zhou Yuan with a forced superficial smile
as he said, “Junior brother Zhou Yuan, please do not let teacher Shen down. I hope that we will be able to
1558
open our eyes during the cave match, and show all of us fellow brother disciples the Heaven Genesis
technique you’ve mastered. Don’t waste the cultivation resources you’re given.”
Some of the disciples that were closer to Zhang Yan sniggered inside. He was clearly putting Zhou Yuan
on a pedestal. If the latter was unable to show them anything during the cave match, the other disciples
would likely think that he was purely taking advantage, which would in turn lower his reputation.
“Don’t worry senior brother Zhang Yan. I will do my best.” Zhou Yuan’s tone was neither angry nor cold.
At the sight of Zhou Yuan’s seemingly untouchable appearance, Zhang Yan could only coldly snort inside.
Shen Taiyuan looked towards Zhou Yuan and suddenly raised his hand. Two bundles of lights descended
which were received by Zhou Yuan. The bundles of light turned out to be two tokens, on which a giant
coiling dragon had been carved. On the dragon’s body was an unbroken mountain range dotted with
caves.
“This is?” Zhou Yuan was puzzled.
Shen Taiyuan explained, “This is your reward for the peak selection ceremony, a slot for the Genesis
Marrow Baptism.”
“Oh? The Genesis Marrow Baptism is open?” Zhou Yuan was overjoyed. He had been looking forward to it
for quite some time.
Shen Taiyuan nodded. “It will formally open tomorrow.”
“The second token is for Zhou Xiaoyan, and is given by peak master white brow. If she is interested, she
may also follow tomorrow.”
Yaoyao was a toothache for Shen Taiyuan. Ever since she came to Saint Genesis Peak, she had yet to
attend even a single morning lesson. As such, he had not seen her since.
Zhou Yuan sighed inside. Peak master white brow truly valued Yaoyao a lot.
“Only the purple sash of the various peaks have the right to enjoy the Genesis Marrow Baptism once
every two months, making it a grand event of sorts. Tomorrow, you will follow Zhou Tai and the rest
there.” Said Shen Taiyuan.
Zhou Yuan looked towards Zhou Tai, who responded with a warm smile. In turn, Zhou Yuan nodded.
After giving a few more instructions, Shen Taiyuan waved his hand, indicating for the disciples to
disperse.
Zhou Yuan grasped the tokens in his hands as curiosity and anticipation flooded out in his eyes. He had
been looking forward to this Genesis Marrow Baptism for a long time, and it was finally here at last.
1559
His duel with Cao Shi had likewise made him feel that his Genesis Qi cultivation was lacking. Therefore,
he had high hopes for the famous Cangxuan Sect Genesis Marrow Baptism.
As he kept the two tokens, he mumbled to himself,
“I hope that the Genesis Marrow Baptism will not disappoint…”
1560
Chapter 302 Genesis Dragon Vein
The next day.
When Zhou Yuan brought Yaoyao to the gathering point, he saw that Zhou Tai, Zhang Yan and the other
few purple sash disciples were already waiting there.
With the exception of Zhou Tai, the other purple sash disciples wore nonchalant expressions that gave off
a slight air of superiority. They were after all purple sash disciples, status that far surpassed a gold sash
disciple like Zhou Yuan.
However, although they were pretty much impassive towards Zhou Yuan, the expressions in their eyes
began to warm a little when they saw Yaoyao. They discreetly straightened their clothes and posture as
the revealed handsome and friendly smiles to her.
Ever since Yaoyao had shown herself on the first day when the new disciples selected which elder to join,
her name had already spread to the entire Saint Genesis Peak. She was also immediately crowned the
number beauty of Saint Genesis Peak.
After all, regardless of whether it was appearance or presence, Yaoyao belong to the category of being
peerless in her generation. Even someone as pretty as Lu Yan would appear extremely dull when put next
to Yaoyao.
Hence, Yaoyao’s arrival stirred up certain thoughts in the numerous males of Saint Genesis Peak.
However, their hearts were shattered when they discovered that Yaoyao was staying in Zhou Yuan’s cave
dwelling, barely ever stepping out. No one could even catch a glimpse of her normally, making the male
disciples with certain intentions grieve and lament.
Thus, when the purple sash disciples saw Yaoyao finally make an appearance, all of them suddenly
became warm and friendly. If not because there was a chance that Yaoyao would appear with Zhou Yuan,
none of them would have bothered waiting here for so long...
Today, Yaoyao was dressed in deep black clothes, her fine black hair tied up simply, handing down to her
slim as a willow waist, swaying gently as a breeze blew past. Her beautiful and graceful appearance made
one unable to resist taking another look.
In terms of appearance and presence, Yaoyao was at the level that could bring about calamities. Zhou
Yuan had seen quite a number of beauties over the years, but with regards to appearance, it was
extremely rare to find anyone who could match Yaoyao.
It was as if her beauty had been sculptured by nature, not a single blemish to be found. In fact, anyone
would be easily lost in her perfect face.
1561
There were times when Zhou Yuan imagined what would happen if Yaoyao had the same bewitching aura
as Zuoqiu Qingyu. It was likely that there would be no man in this world who could resist her, right?
Yaoyao elegantly stood beside Zhou Yuan, her gorgeous fair as snow face impassive in response to the
warm and handsome smiles from the purple sash disciples, and not even the tiniest ripple could be seen
in her clear, distant eyes. She watched the clouds float by in the sky as she carried Tuntun in her arms,
ignoring the existence of everyone else.
Zhou Tai smiled at Zhou Yuan and said, “Since you guys are here, let’s prepare to make a move.”
Zhou Yuan responded with a smile and a nod.
Zhou Tai waved his sleeve as Genesis Qi surged out, transforming into a Genesis Qi cloud that brought the
group into the sky, and began flying in a certain direction.
While they were flying past Saint Genesis Peak, another two Genesis Qi clouds rose from the other two
peaks. Atop the two clouds were the purple sash disciples from the other two factions.
Lu Song’s faction was led by Lu Yan. With her hot body, she was also quite an attention grabbing sight.
Although she could not compare to Yaoyao, she was still an enchanting beauty.
Her gaze first landed on Yaoyao, before shifting away as if struck by a mental blow to viciously glare at
Zhou Yuan as if releasing all of the blame on him. With a soft snort, she sped away on her Genesis Qi
cloud.
Lu Hong’s faction was led by Yuan Hong. They had the most purple sash disciples of the three groups, and
thus gave off a strong and impressive aura. Hence, they audaciously looked towards elder Shen’s group
without reservation, several disciples constantly casting their gazes at Yaoyao.
Zhou Tai shot an angry glance at them, but did not intend on clashing with them here. With a stomp of his
foot, the Genesis Qi cloud sped up, rapidly leaving them behind.
Giant peak after peak thrust into the clouds on the vast land, Genesis Qi clouds occasionally zipping past
in the sky. The calls and chirps of various birds filled the place, and one would even catch sight of squads
of disciples in black flying past high in the sky in orderly formations. They were the enforcement disciples
of the inner mountains.
The entire place gave off a busy vibe.
While they were travelling, Zhou Tai advised Zhou Yuan, “Junior brother Zhou Yuan, the Genesis Marrow
Baptism opens every two months, and lasts for ten days each time. You should take note of the time you
have.”
Zhou Yuan curiously asked, “Senior brother Zhou Tai, what exactly is this Genesis Marrow Baptism?”
1562
Zhou Tai did not answer, and merely said, “You’ll know once we reach our destination.”
All Zhou Yuan could do was nod his head.
An incense stick of tiem later, the Genesis Qi cloud under their feet finally began to slow.
Zhou Yuan raised his head and looked to the front as if sensing something, only for his heart to tremble
involuntarily. To their front stood majestic mountains akin to pillars that were supporting the heavens,
connecting the sky and land.
Between the mountains flowed vast, gigantic rivers. From above, it looked as if an endless jade dragon
was twisting and coiling around them.
An indescribable aura dashed into the sky, making one feel as if the faint roar of dragon was echoing
across the land.
Zhou Yuan and the rest landed on one of the mountains. Before the giant mountains and rivers that
separate them, the group was as tiny as ants.
“The Genesis Qi here… is so pure!” Zhou Yuan suddenly discovered that the Genesis Qi around him was
extremely pure, beating even the Genesis Qi in his gold Genesis cave dwelling.
The area was blanketed in swirling mists making it appear rather hazy, mists that would only appear
when the Genesis Qi in the area was extremely pure.
“It’s because of the rivers!” Zhou Yuan’s eyes narrowed when he gazed at the wide rivers that snaked
between the giant peaks. He had seen mist continuously rise from the rivers and blend into the air.
However, he also felt a peculiar pressure when he gazed at the jade dragon like rivers, making fear
involuntarily bubble up in his heart. It seemed that these rivers were not ordinary at all.
“This is where the Genesis Marrow Baptism is held.”
Zhou Tai grinned at Zhou Yuan as he pointed to the vast rivers. At this current moment, a seemingly
endless stream of Genesis Qi were descending from the sky, landing on the various mountains.
“Junior brother Zhou Yuan, these rivers are no ordinary rivers. They originate from our Cangxuan Sect’s
Origin Dragon Vein.”
“Genesis Dragon Vein?” Zhou Yuan was taken aback.
There is a saying amongst the various empires, the one who obtains the Dragon Veins will obtain all that
is under the heavens. In reality, the Dragon Vein is made from condensed Genesis Qi, and our Cangxuan
Sect possesses one which we call the Origin Dragon Vein, meaning that it is the origin of all Dragon
Veins.”
1563
“The main reason why our sect’s Genesis Qi is so rich, and can construct numerous Genesis Mountains for
our training is because there is an Origin Dragon Vein below us that provides an endless amount of
Genesis Qi.”
“This Origin Dragon Vein is the bedrock on which our Cangxuan Sect is built.”
Zhou Yuan’s heart shook violently, shocked as he gazed at the flowing jade dragon like rivers before him.
No wonder he had felt an indescribable pressure, it turns out that these rivers originated from the
Cangxuan Sect’s Origin Dragon Vein.
“Unbelievable…”
His eyes began to burn with excitement as he mumbled.
“I’m starting to look more and more forward to the Genesis Marrow Baptism.”
1564
Chapter 303 Dragon Genesis Marrow
Zhou Yuan and the rest stood on a mountain peak, their gazes directed to the front where the jade dragon
like rivers meandered through giant mountain after mountain, ultimately flowing into a giant lake.
There seemed to be no end to this lake in which also stood several heaven pillar like mountains. The
mountains split the lake into sections, making it seem akin to a maze when covered by the mists.
Zhou Tai pointed at the seemingly endless mist covered lake and said, “This is the Genesis reservoir and
where the Genesis Marrow Baptism will be held. Although it is called a reservoir, it is extremely vast, so
calling it a sea won’t be an exaggeration.”
Zhou Yuan’s eyes fell upon the so-called Genesis reservoir as his expression turned serious. He could feel
a certain pressure inside it that made fear rise in one’s heart, not daring to enter its waters.
He knew that this was likely due to the Origin Dragon Vein. It could be said to be a gathering of Genesis Qi
that was born from the land, and naturally possessed a certain natural pressure.
He raised his head, and saw the faint outline of an enormous Genesis Rune boundary that descended from
the sky like a dome, enveloping the entire Genesis reservoir.
This was an important place in the Cangxuan Sect, and was naturally tightly guarded.
Countless Genesis Qi clouds were landing in the vicinity of the Genesis reservoir, clearly the disciples
from the other peaks.
However, what surprised Zhou Yuan was that the majority were not purple sash disciples.
Zhou Tai explained, “The Genesis Qi in the vicinity of the Genesis reservoir is extremely concentrated.
Although the other disciples do not have the qualifications to enter, they will benefit substantially from
training at the edge of the reservoir.”
Zhou Yuan smiled and asked, “Senior brother Zhou Tai, it should be time to tell me about the Genesis
Marrow Baptism, right?”
Zhou Tai nodded and pointed towards the Genesis reservoir. “The most important thing you should take
note about the Genesis Marrow Baptism is the Dragon Genesis Essence. It is a mysterious existence that is
born from the condensation of dragon Qi from the Origin Dragon Vein.”
“Dragon Genesis Essence? How do I obtain it?” Zhou Yuan was taken aback.
“Heh heh, the Dragon Genesis Essence is obviously found in the Genesis reservoir, but in accordance to
the rules, the disciples taking part in the baptism need to rely on their own abilities to find it.”
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“The Genesis reservoir originates from the Origin Dragon Vein, and is filled with a peculiar pressure. One
needs to constantly circulate one’s Genesis Qi to withstand the pressure, making it very taxing search.”
“In addition, the Genesis reservoir may seem calm on the surface, but it is filled with danger. Due to the
overflowing life energy from the Origin Dragon Vein, the dragon Qi that leaks from it turns into various
kinds of aquatic creatures that will give you a headache when you encounter them in the reservoir.”
“However, because these aquatic creatures are made from dragon Qi, if you manage to hunt them,you’ll
be able to obtain Dragon Genesis Essence from their bodies. The bigger the creature, the purer the
Dragon Genesis Essence.”
Zhou Tai smiled and said, “Why else do you think the Genesis reservoir opens for ten days each time? It’s
because everyone spends the majority of the first nine days searching, while the Genesis Marrow Baptism
is held on the tenth day.”
“Today can be said to be a grand occasion of our Cangxuan Sect that happens once every two months.
Practically all of the purple sash disciples will be coming to search for Dragon Genesis Essence and
engage in the Genesis Marrow Baptism. It’s after all something that only purple sash disciples get to
enjoy, and no one would easily let this chance slip by.”
He extended a finger and pointed at the sky above the Genesis reservoir. Zhou Yuan’s gaze followed, and
saw an island floating in the air. The island was somewhat similar to an altar, numerous old and simple
stone pillars adorning it.
“That is the baptism altar, and the stone pillars on it are called baptism pillars. On the tenth day, the
disciples will head there to borrow the power of the baptism pillars to activate the Dragon Genesis
Essence, ultimately completing the baptism.”
Zhou Yuan’s gaze filled with interest as he looked at the giant altar in the sky.
“In addition, the Genesis Marrow Baptism is also divided into different ranks. When the Dragon Genesis
Essence is activated during the baptism, dragon shadows will appear and coil around the body. Hence,
the rank of the baptism is based on how many dragon shadows appear.”
“For example, if only one dragon shadow appears, it will be considered a one dragon baptism, the lowest
ranked baptism.”
“The highest is the nine dragons baptism where nine dragon shadows will appear.”
“Naturally, the higher the rank the greater the benefits.”
“Thus, to obtain a higher ranked baptism, you’ll have to work hard to search for Dragon Genesis Essence,
because the amount you collect will determine the rank of your baptism.” Explained Zhou Tai.
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“Nine dragons baptism…” An intense look of interest flitted across Zhou Yuan’s eyes. “Senior brother
Zhou Tai, what rank do you usually obtain?”
Zhou Tai awkwardly scratched his head. “I don’t really stand out amongst the purple sash disciples of the
Cangxuan Sect, and can’t last for too long in the Genesis reservoir, which limits the amount of Dragon
Genesis Essence I manage to find. All of my past baptisms have only reached the four dragons rank.”
“Some of the stronger purple sash disciples are capable of reaching five dragons. I’ve heard that Yuan
Hong from elder Lu Hong’s faction has achieved five dragons every baptism.”
“If we talk about the six dragon rank baptisms, I’m afraid that only the chief disciples of the other six
peaks are able to reach it.”
Zhou Yuan’s gaze flashed. “What about the ten great Chosens?”
Zhou Tai could not help but chuckle. “Junior brother Zhou Yuan’s ambition is not small… however, the ten
great Chosens do not need to so painstakingly search for Dragon Genesis Essence in the reservoir,
because the sect will bestow them a small section of the Genesis reservoir for their personal use when
they become Chosens. They can enter it any time they want, and the Dragon Genesis Essence produced
inside is much greater than other places.”
“As expected of the ten great Chosens, such treatment…”
Zhou Yuan was momentarily stunned, unable to hold back a sigh moments later. The advantages of the
ten great Chosens were truly enviable. To think that they would even be allocated their own personal
section of the Genesis reservoir. Compared to the other disciples, they were the ones who received the
full support of the sect.
However, as the ones who had distinguished themselves from amongst the many disciples, they were
indeed deserving of such treatment.
Zhou Tai also sighed as he nodded. “That’s why they need not put in much effort into finding Dragon
Genesis Essence for their baptism to easily reach the seven dragons rank. However, if they wish to attain
an even higher rank, they would have to personally venture into the depths of the Genesis reservoir to
hunt the thousand feet long aquatic beasts. Only by taking the Dragon Genesis Essence from the bodies of
such beasts would their baptism reach the eight dragons rank.”
Most of the aquatic creatures in the Genesis reservoir were about a hundred feet long. It was said that the
larger the beasts’ bodies, the purer the Dragon Genesis Essence. After one reaches the seven dragons
rank, one would have to go after the thousand feet aquatic beasts in order to ascend to greater heights.
Zhou Yuan fell into thought for a brief moment, before he inquired, “How strong are the thousand feet
aquatic beasts?”
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When Zhang Yan heard this from the side, he laughed softly and said, “Junior brother Zhou Yuan, there’s
no need for you to consider such matters. A thousand feet aquatic beast is an existence that even we can
only run from. Over the years, I’ve only seen one person who has been able to hunt a thousand feet
aquatic beast and enjoy the eight dragons baptism.”
“Oh, who?” Asked Zhou Yuan with a slight smile, paying no attention to the thorns in Zhang Yan’s words.
Zhang Yan slowly answered, “Who else but the head of the ten great Chosens?”
“Chu Qing…”
Zhou Yuan’s eyes trembled slightly. This name was akin to thunder even for a new inner mountain
disciple like himself.
This Senior brother Chu Qing of his had left quite a number of legends in the Cangxuan Sect.
As someone who could raise the Genesis Marrow Baptism to the eight dragon rank, it seems that Chu
Qing was indeed very capable. Although Zhou Yuan had yet to meet these aquatic creatures, a thousand
feet aquatic beast that the other Chosens could do nothing about was definitely not going to be easy to
deal with.
“Junior brother Zhou Yuan, although you only have one chance for now, you should make sure to
properly grasp it. It will be great if you manage to earn a five dragons baptism.” Consoled Zhou Tai.
Zhou Yuan smiled and nodded in response.
While they were talking, a disturbance suddenly began to spread in the area, countless male disciples
peering towards the distance with bubbling excitement.
Zhou Yuan and the rest were also sensed something was going on, and immediately raised their heads in
curiosity. They caught sight of a Genesis Qi cloud descending from the sky, landing on a mountain far
away.
Skirts of all colors fluttered on the Genesis Qi cloud as sweet and melodious voices spread from it. It had
evidently been ferrying many girls.
At the very front, a young lady in white gracefully stood. A breeze blew past, making her fine black hair
dance in the air, the sun shining down on an absolutely stunning face.
Lotus flower patterns extended from the fringes of her skirt.
Her features were extremely delicate, endowed with beauty that could cause the downfall of nations. On
her clean and fair forehead was a lotus flower rune that gave her a pure and holy look.
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However, an iciness that kept everyone else a thousand miles away spread from the girl wearing a white
skirt, like an unapproachable goddess of ice.
Even so, her radiance was dazzling. Though there were many pretty girls around her, they did not seem
to glow as much as they should, appearing dull in comparison.
Amazement flitted across Zhou Yuan’s eyes when he saw her, because based on appearance and
presence, the girl in a white skirt did not lose to Yaoyao by much.
Moreover, the two were quite similar, both the cold and distant kind that kept others a thousand miles
away.
Zhou Yuan had already guessed her identity. There was only one person in the Cangxuan Sect whose
appearance could make so many male disciples go crazy...
Who else could it be but the third ranked Li Qingchan of the ten great Chosens?
1569
Chapter 304 The Genesis Reservoir Opens
“Li Qingchan… I can’t believe that she’s here too…”
Atop a certain mountain, Zhou Tai, Zhang Yan and the rest gazed from afar at the stunning and graceful
figure standing on another peak, surprise appearing on their faces. Each of the ten great Chosens owned a
small district in the Genesis reservoir, and could thus enter any time they wanted, not needing to wait for
the reservoir to open every two months like everyone else. Therefore, they almost never chose to
squeeze in with the others during this period.
Hence, Li Qingchan’s appearance was pretty unexpected for the group.
“It is Li Qingchan.” Zhou Yuan was also looking at the pretty figure. As a male, he was naturally somewhat
curious about the individual said to be the number one beauty of the Cangxuan Sect.
From what he could see, she was indeed a wonder of sorts.
As such, his head turned to the side to look at Yaoyao’s glossy as jade face, as if attempting to do a
comparison.
However, the moment his gaze shifted, Yaoyao’s clear and cold eyes shot over, causing Zhou Yuan to
hurriedly withdraw his gaze with a forced smile.
But there were still many others who held similar thoughts as Zhou Yuan. Quite a number of the disciples
in the vicinity secretly began comparing the two, seemingly trying to find out which of these two
gorgeous beauties of the Cangxuan Sect was the prettier one.
Swish!
However, just as the numerous disciples began their work, the sound of rushing wind was once again
heard from far away in the sky. A dark green Genesis Qi cloud descended from the sky and landed on one
of the mountain tops, drawing countless gazes over.
The cloud dispersed, revealing a slim figure. It was a young man in black, his black hair scattered over his
shoulders. He had a defined, chiselled look, but what stood out the most were his eyes. They were pitch-
black like ink, akin to a pair of black stones, and appeared rather enigmatic.
One could just barely make out the sword like runes on the black sleeves that gently fluttered as a breeze
blew past, as an indescribably sharp and formidable sword Qi spread from his body, making it seem as if
the cry of a sword was ringing across the area.
When he stood there, it felt as if he was not a human, but an unsheathed divine sword.
The eyes of countless female disciples began to glow as they passionately gazed at the youth in black.
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Zhou Yuan’s also looked towards the youth in black as his expression turned somewhat serious. Just
looking at the latter made him feel a slight stabbing pain in his eyes, because the Genesis Qi in the latter’s
body was just too sharp.
In the Cangxuan Sect, only those from Sword Cometh Peak would possess such sharp Genesis Qi.
Therefore, the identity of the youth in black was already clear as day.
Zhou Yuan asked in a low voice, “He is… the number two of the ten great Chosens, Kong Sheng?”
Zhou Tai nodded with a similarly serious expression. “That’s right. He is Kong Sheng.”
In the face of such an individual, even purple sash disciples like them felt an enormous pressure.
While they were still in shock due to Kong Sheng’s appearance, another Genesis Qi cloud descended from
the sky. Atop the cloud was a young man wearing daoist robes on which countless ancient runes had been
inscribed. The runes alternated between glowing and dimming as unique undulations spread.
The youth in daoist robes wore a warm smile on his face, looking like quite the handsome young chap as
his clothes fluttered in the breeze.
“The Spirit Rune Peak’s Ye Ge…” At the sight of the youth in daoist robes, bewilderment filled Zhou Tai’s
expression. “What’s going on today? To think that three of the ten great Chosens have come!”
The other disciples looked at each other, everyone puzzled.
If it was just Li Qingchan, it could still be a coincidence, but when three of the Chosens arrived at the same
time, this matter was no longer as simple as it appeared.
“Ignorant, have none of you heard the news?”
While they were confused, a clear voice was suddenly heard from behind. Zhou Tai and the rest turned
their heads, and saw Lu Yan walking over with her group.
“Hehe, does junior sister Lu Yan know?” Asked Zhou Tai with a chuckle.
Lu Yan’s gaze swept across the group, before she slowly said, “I’ve heard from my grandfather that traces
of a thousand feet aquatic beast were discovered some time ago in the Genesis reservoir. Kong Sheng, Li
Qingchan and Ye Ge should be here because of it.”
“Thousand feet aquatic beast…”
Astonishment was revealed on the faces of Zhou Tai and the rest. Thousand feet aquatic beasts usually
hid in the deepest depths of the reservoir, making them exceedingly difficult to find. To think that one
would reveal itself at such a time. No wonder Kong Sheng, Li Qingchan and Ye Ge had chosen to come.
1571
After all, if they managed to hunt that thousand feet aquatic beast, they would be able to enjoy an eight
dragons baptism.
“The other Chosens are either in secluded cultivation or out for missions. If not, there would likely be
even more of them present.” Lu Yan smiled as she continued, “Of course, if senior brother Chu Qing came,
there would be nothing for the other Chosens to do.”
She was still the same Chu Qing fanatic.
Zhou Tai chuckled as he looked towards the three figures. “It seems that the Genesis Marrow Baptism will
be quite entertaining this time. An eight dragon baptism is a grand affair after all. Even if we can’t enjoy it,
it will be a nice eye-opening experience.”
He looked towards Zhou Yuan, finding that the latter was still staring at the three figures, and
immediately patted his shoulders. “Junior brother Zhou Yuan need not envy them, the future you may
also have a chance to taste that eight dragon baptism.”
His words were originally intended to console Zhou Yuan, but when Lu Yan heard them, she rolled her
eyes and said, “In the current Cangxuan Sect, only senior brother Chu Qing has the ability to attain an
eight dragon baptism, and even the other Chosens have never succeeded.”
She was implying that since the other Chosens were unable to achieve it, what qualifications did he have
as a gold sash disciples.
Zhou Tai felt a little embarrassed. Lu Yan was really blunt when she spoke.
However, Zhou Yuan paid her no heed, merely smiling at Zhou Tai with a nod.
Bzz!
While they were conversing, a strange sound suddenly echoed across the area. Next, all of the disciples
watched in excitement as the enormous dome of light around the Genesis reservoir gradually began to
turn translucent.
Zhou Tai excitedly exclaimed, “The Genesis reservoir is opening!”
He then looked towards Zhou Yuan and said, “Junior brother Zhou Yuan, the reservoir is covered in mist
and divided into many parts by the mountains. You’ll be on your own when you go searching for Dragon
Genesis Essence.”
Zhou Yuan smiled and nodded.
Under the excited gazes of the numerous disciples, the dome of light in the sky grew fainter and fainter,
before ultimately fading away.
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The instant it did so, endless pure Genesis Qi surged out. It was as if the entire land had been cleaned,
giving it a fresh new look.
Rumble!
However, almost no one paid any attention, numerous disciples shooting forward at this moment,
Genesis Qi turning into clouds under their feet as they swarmed towards the reservoir within the mist.
On their respective mountain tops, Kong Sheng, Li Qingchan and Ye Ge also turned into flashes of light as
they flew forth, disappearing in the mist in a few breaths.
“Let’s get going!”
Zhou Tai grinned at Zhou Yuan and the rest.
In the next instant, they too soared into the sky on their Genesis Qi and merged into the swarm of
humans. Under the envious gazes of the countless disciples that were not qualified to enter, they charged
into the endless Genesis reservoir...
1573
Swish!
When Zhou Yuan’s figure charged into the misty Genesis reservoir, the token in his hand suddenly shook,
before combusting and swiftly turning to ashes.
The sight of this caused Zhou Yuan to think for a moment. A split second earlier, he had felt something
sweep through him, before the token began to combust.
If his guess was not wrong, it should be due to the Genesis Rune boundary that surrounded the Genesis
reservoir. Without a token in one’s possession, one would be likely be flung away.
At this current moment, Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao were standing in the air above the reservoir, while an
endless stream of glowing figures flew past above them, heading towards every possible direction.
Zhou Tai, Zhang Yan and the rest had also split up after entering, evidently planning on searching for
Dragon Genesis Essence on their own.
Searching for Dragon Genesis essence was a relatively personal matter, and the majority preferred to
conduct this activity alone. This was to prevent any allocation problems or other disputes from occurring,
which would only cause more inconvenience.
However, there was no need for Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao to take such measures. Their relationship was
quite special, and there would naturally be no squabbles between them due to the Dragon Genesis
Essence. Moreover, Yaoyao did not even need such a thing.
She had come to the Genesis reservoir not for the Genesis Marrow Baptism, but purely because she was
bored.
“We should also find a spot for ourselves and find out how to search for the Dragon Genesis Essence.”
Zhou Yuan smiled at Yaoyao.
Yaoyao had no objections, carrying the lazy Tuntun in her arm as she nodded. Tuntun stretched out its
tiny head, and stared at the mist that was endlessly billowing from the waters below. No one could tell
what it was thinking.
Hence, Genesis Qi rose from under Zhou Yuan’s feet, bringing to two of them in a random direction
The Genesis reservoir was extremely vast, numerous giant heaven pillar like mountains towering within
it. These giant peaks were akin to the tall walls of a stronghold, leaving one no choice but to make long
detours, making the reservoir an enormous maze.
1574
Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao flew for an incense stick of time before gradually slowing down. They found a
valley next to the reservoir waters and landed in it.
On a rock next to the water, Yaoyao stretched out her hand to test its temperature, before gently
removing her socks, revealing her fair and slender calves.
Her foot peeked into the water and began to sway lightly as a satisfied look appeared on her beautiful
face. Soaking her feet in the reservoir was clearly very comfortable for her.
Zhou Yuan could not help but cast his gaze over, purely because of those mesmerising pair of legs.
Yaoyao’s bright eyes looked towards Zhou Yuan, the red lips of her tiny mouth raising slightly as she said,
“This place is not bad. Zhou Yuan, you’ll have to work harder and become one of the ten Chosens so that
you’ll receive a personal portion of the Genesis reservoir. Then I’ll be able to come here whenever I want
for a soak.”
Zhou Yuan did not know whether to laugh or to cry. So the biggest benefit of becoming one of the ten
great Chosens for you is to come here for a soak?
“You can have a good soak here, I’ll go inside the reservoir to have a look.” Zhou Yuan was clearly
somewhat eager as he cast his gaze towards the misty sea like waters.
Yaoyao nonchalantly nodded.
Zhou Yuan did not delay, leaping directly into the waters.
Once he entered, he felt his body grow heavier, as if he had jumped into a swamp.
“The waters of the reservoir originate from that Origin Dragon Vein, and hence contain a natural pressure
that makes it extremely heavy. It’s going to be very taxing on my Genesis Qi to swim inside it.” Zhou Yuan
was already prepared. With a thought, the Omni Python Qi in his Qi Dwelling whizzed out and wrapped
around his body.
“Eh?”
The moment the Omni Python Qi appeared, Zhou Yuan suddenly cried out in surprise. In that split second
earlier, he had felt the pressure from the water weaken substantially.
The feeling of heaviness also vanished, making Zhou Yuan feel as if he was a fish in water.
“What’s going on?” This unforeseen situation stunned Zhou Yuan. He had not heard senior brother Zhou
Tai mention anything about this. To think that Genesis Qi would have the power to block the pressure
from the Origin Dragon Vein.
1575
Zhou Yuan frowned as he fell into deep thought. It was a long time later before he looked towards the
Omni Python Qi swirling around him as his heart trembled a little.
“Could it be… because of the Ancestral Dragon Scripture?”
The Omni Python Qi he cultivated originated from the Ancestral Dragon Scripture, while the Genesis
reservoir originated from the Origin Dragon Vein. Could they be related somehow? After all, they both
had ‘dragon’ in their names...
This was the only conjuncture Zhou Yuan had come up with. If not, he could not explain why the pressure
from the Genesis reservoir had no effect on him.
In the end, Zhou Yuan to get himself tied up over such details, especially since it was a good thing for him
anyways. Without the pressure, his Genesis Qi consumption in the reservoir would be far less than the
others, giving him a huge advantage.
With such thoughts in mind, Zhou Yuan decided not to tarry any longer. His figure moved, swiftly
swimming towards the depths of the reservoir.
As he swam deeper, he discovered the presence of a faint mist inside the reservoir. Fortunately, he could
still had his bearings due to his Spirit senses.
After swimming for a long time, Zhou Yuan’s body suddenly paused, because he had felt a faint
undulation.
It came from under some giant boulders below him.
His figure gradually descended, landing on one of the boulders, and stomped on it with one of his feet.
The boulder immediately shattered as a thumb-sized ball of light slowly began to rise.
Zhou Yuan grabbed it and curiously uncurled his fingers.
A thumb-sized golden crystal floated on his palm, a drop of golden liquid inside it. The liquid appeared to
be extremely viscous, slowly squirming about as if it was alive, while giving off peculiar undulations.
“Is this the Dragon Genesis Essence?” Zhou Yuan observed the drop of viscous fluid. If he was not wrong,
it should be the most important item for the Genesis Marrow Baptism, the Dragon Genesis Essence.
“But this is a little too diluted.” Zhou Yuan awkwardly scratched his head. According to Zhou Tai, even the
lowest one dragon baptism would require at least several dozen drops of Dragon Genesis Essence.
Zhou Yuan retrieved a bottle and placed the Dragon Genesis Essence inside.
1576
However, while Zhou Yuan was engaged in this task, the water behind him rippled faintly. A faint
silhouette stealthily crept out from the rocks as a somewhat translucent hundred feet look beast
appeared behind him.
The beast’s eyes greedily stared at Zhou Yuan’s figure, as if it was looking at something delicious. Next, it
opened its giant mouth and lunged towards Zhou Yuan.
Pchla!
The moment the creature moved, a brush shadow wrapped in golden Genesis Qi tore through the water,
bringing with it astonishing power as it instantaneously pierced the beast’s head.
Zhou Yuan turned around and gazed at the somewhat translucent giant beast.
“Is this the aquatic beast born from the dragon Qi of that Dragon Vein?” Zhou Yuan observed the heavily
injured creature that was still desperately struggling.
It was a bout a hundred feet long, and Zhou Yuan estimated its strength to be at the first layer Alpha-
Origin.
However, Zhou Yuan was slightly taken aback when he saw its eyes, because he realised that it was
staring at him with extreme desire, still continuously opening its mouth to bite at him, as if itching to
swallow him.
“Aren’t these aquatic beasts not suppose to have any intelligence, and move according to instinct?” Zhou
Yuan was quite puzzled, but the greed and desire in the aquatic creature’s eyes was just too clear.
Was its instincts really telling it to eat him? He had never heard senior brother Zhou Tai mention
anything like this.
Zhou Yuan frowned, but could not be bothered to put too much thought into it. His hand grasped around
the Heavenly Yuan Brush as Genesis Qi spouted out from his body.
Boom!
The hundred foot long body instantly exploded, a shockwave sweeping outwards as golden light begin to
rise.
Zhou Yuan caught the golden light, and it transformed into a golden crystal in his hand. It was the same
Genesis Dragon Essence crystal as earlier, but appeared thicker and more sturdier than the previous one,
while the drop of Dragon Genesis Essence within was also a little more concentrated.
After keeping it, Zhou Yuan did not linger any further, turning his body to continue his search.
1577
It was not long before he stopped once again, because he had seen the water to his front rippling as giant
aquatic beast after beast slowly appeared, surrounding him.
Zhou Yuan’s frown grew even deeper.
It was not because of the number of aquatic beasts, but because he had discovered that all of their
translucent beast eyes were filled with intense desire and greedy as they stared at him.
Exactly the same as the one from before.
“Something’s not right…”
Mumbled Zhou Yuan.
1578
Chapter 306 Chased
Rumble!
Golden Genesis Qi appeared at the bottom of the reservoir like an angry python, tearing through the
water as menacing hundred feet aquatic beast after beast was instantly ripped to pieces.
Zhou Yuan wielded the Heavenly Yuan Brush. With a jerk of its tip, the snow-white hairs scattered,
transforming into white strings that tangled around several aquatic beasts’ bodies, before suddenly
tightening, causing them to burst apart.
The water churned violently due to the aftershocks from the battle like a giant whirlpool, while Zhou
Yuan stood at its center, killing aquatic beast after beast.
After a few dozen minutes, the waters gradually returned to calmness.
Zhou Yuan stood there, and waved his sleeve as dozens of golden Dragon Genesis Essence crystals flew
towards him and were caught by his hand.
All of the aquatics beasts that had surrounded him earlier were about a hundred feet in length. Although
there had been many of them, each one was at most equivalent to a first layer Alpha-Origin, and thus
naturally did not pose much of a threat towards Zhou Yuan.
Hence, after a brief display of his abilities, all of them were slaughtered, gifting Zhou Yuan Dragon Genesis
Essence crystal after crystal.
Zhou Yuan kept the crystals, but his brows were still tightly furrowed. The crazed and desperate way the
aquatic beasts had attacked him earlier was definitely not normal. From what Zhou Tai had told him, the
two biggest problems he had to deal with in the Genesis reservoir were the high consumption of Genesis
Qi due to the pressure in the water, and the extreme difficulty in finding these aquatic beasts due to their
skill in hiding. However, from what he could see, none of the aquatic beasts had any intention of
concealing themselves, delivering themselves straight to his front door instead...
This was inconsistent with what Zhou Tai had told him.
“But it seems to be a good thing? If these aquatic beasts did not voluntarily send themselves to me, it
would have taken me at least an entire day to hunt so many of them.”
Mumbled Zhou Yuan to himself.
At the very least, his harvest was pretty good so far.
1579
Thus, he only pondered over this matter for a little, before once again rapidly propelling himself through
the water with his Genesis Qi. This time, however, his hand was tightly clenched around the Heavenly
Yuan Brush, and his expression more vigilant than before.
After travelling for quite some time without detecting any activity at all, Zhou Yuan began to relax a little.
It may have been a coincidence earlier that he just so happened to chance across a group of aquatic
beasts, right?
“Eh?”
However, before Zhou Yuan could fully convince himself, his expression suddenly trembled. The Genesis
Qi in his body began to circulate, covering it as his eyes gazed towards the front.
The waters there were rippling as dozens of giant aquatic beasts began to surface. The two beasts leading
this group had reached a length of over three hundred feet, while the rest were approximate two hundred
feet long.
These were comparable to the third layer Alpha-Origin.
At this current moment, these aquatic beasts’ eyes were likewise filled with greed as they locked onto
Zhou Yuan.
Zhou Yuan sighed softly, no longer any doubt in his heart. This was no coincidence. There seemed to be
something on him that was drawing these aquatic beasts.
“What exactly is it?” Zhou Yuan pondered.
*Stomach grumble*!
The aquatic beasts before him clearly were not going to give him any time to think. They released a
peculiar cry as their enormous bodies seemed to cut through the water, charging straight at Zhou Yuan.
“Million Whale Rune!”
A giant black brush that glowed a dazzling gold was powerfully swung downwards as the faint silhouette
of an ancient whale appeared. With dreadful power, it smashed into the head of the three hundred feet
aquatic beast at the front of the pack.
Boom!
The brush landed as a wave of Genesis Qi exploded, making the waters within a thousand feet churn
violently.
As for the aquatic beast that was comparable to a third layer Alpha-Origin expert, it was instantly blown
apart.
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Zhou Yuan’s body gradually etherealised, transforming into a blurry shadow as he shot forward. Aquatic
beast after beast exploded without any resistance.
The battle was swiftly over. With Zhou Yuan’s current strength, he was able to directly face even a fifth
layer Alpha-Origin opponent. These merely third layer equivalent aquatic beasts were naturally unable to
stop him.
After the battle was over, Zhou Yuan collected the Dragon Genesis Essence crystals. The water rippled
with a swing of his Heavenly Yuan Brush, as he let out an icy chuckle and said, “I won’t turn away any of
the Dragon Genesis Essence sent straight to my doorstep. I’m itching to see just how many you guys will
be gifting me!”
The moment his voice faded, Zhou Yuan’s figure swiftly shot forth again, brimming with motivation.
He was done with mulling over the issue. It did not matter why these aquatic beasts were coming for him,
especially since his goal was Dragon Genesis Essence. The more that came, the better it would be for him!
As such, Zhou Yuan encountered another five waves of aquatic beasts in the next hour. The battles that
erupted were extremely intense, Zhou Yuan going at it with his full power, causing the waters around to
churn violently as all the aquatic beasts that appeared were slayed. It could be said to be a full and
bountiful harvest, a look of excitement revealing itself on his face as he hunted.
“Nine Dragons Canon, fifth dragon!”
Five Genesis Qi beasts roared as they pounced, ripping a nearly four hundred feet aquatic beast to pieces.
A fist-sized Dragon Genesis Essence crystal rose from its remains, and was grabbed by Zhou Yuan.
“Who else?!”
Zhou Yuan let out a hearty laugh. He had gradually grown more and more thrilled as he continued to
hunt, because the aquatic beasts were donating a tremendous amount of Dragon Genesis Essence
crystals. According to his estimation, the number of crystals he had currently collected would already be
able to achieve a four dragons rank baptism.
And it had been accomplished in only two hours.
With such a haul, Zhou Yuan was now quite excited indeed.
Worked into a killing frenzy, Zhou Yuan gripped the Heavenly Yuan Brush, its tip pulsing sharply as he
boldly declared, “No matter how many of you come, I’ll kill you all!”
However, the instant his voice sounded, the waters to his front began to violently ripple as five hundred
feet aquatic beast after beast rapidly approached at an alarming speed.
1581
There were a total of eight of these five hundred feet aquatic beasts, along with dozens of four hundred
feet beasts and even more shorter ones.
A line-up like this immediately made the bold look on Zhou Yuan’s face turn rigid. If there was only one
five hundred aquatic beast, Zhou Yuan would naturally be confident of slaying it, but eight at the same
time together with so many others… even a sixth layer Alpha-Origin disciple would have to retreat.
Green and white interlaced on Zhou Yuan’s face. He gazed at the incoming swarm, and ultimately gritted
his teeth and said, “You win!”
Next, he kept the Heavenly Yuan Brush and fled.
He was no fool. Given the scale of this group, all of his Genesis Qi would likely be exhausted even if he
somehow managed to win after a bitter struggle, and using up all of one’s Genesis Qi in the reservoir was
clearly not a smart decision.
*Stomach Rumbles*!
Bubbles were emitted from the giant mouths of numerous aquatic beasts as they violently jerked their
bodies, rapidly cutting through the water, their figures turning into blurred shadows as they zipped
towards Zhou Yuan.
Zhou Yuan’s body etherealised, his speed as quick as lightning, while cursing inside as he shot a glance
back at the doggedly chasing pack. He had not expected to draw out so many of them.
The only thing he could do now was to shake them off, before making any other plans.
A human and a horde of aquatic beasts continued their chase in the reservoir, occasionally encountering
other disciples, who were immediately stupefied by this scene.
They were having such a hard time searching for aquatic beasts in the Genesis reservoir, so how the heck
did so many aquatic beasts gather to chase a single person?
There were actually some disciples that thought of attacking, but after getting a clearer view of how many
there were, their scalps instantly turned numb as they quickly backed away. A horde of such scale was
something that normal purple sash disciples had no confidence in handling.
Zhou Yuan continued to flee, but he realised that more and more aquatic beasts were joining the line at
his tail. This made him no longer dare to stay in the Genesis reservoir, and he hurriedly began to return
on the route he had came from.
In a certain valley.
Yaoyao’s slender legs were gently swaying in the water, while Tuntun lazily lay beside her.
1582
Tuntun stood up all of a sudden, and unleashed a few barks at the reservoir.
Plop!
The waters broke open, and a miserable looking figure shot out, clearly panicked as he landed on a
boulder.
Rumble!
The water behind him continued to break open as enormous aquatic beast after beast leapt out of the
reservoir, menacingly pouncing at Zhou Yuan with their mouths wide open.
Roar!
At the shore, Tuntun’s originally tiny body abruptly began to grow at this moment. Dark gold light flowed
as golden scale armor appeared, glowing as if magma seemed to be flowing under it.
In a short few breaths, the cute little creature had turned into a sinister looking mysterious giant beast, as
a terrifying pressure swept out from its body.
Tuntun’s four legs sprung off the ground, and appeared in front of Zhou Yuan. Its giant mouth opened as a
frightening suction force exploded from the black light flowing within it, sucking in the entire five
hundred feet long aquatic beast that was leading the pack.
Roar!
After swallowing one of the aquatic beasts, Tuntun roared once again, the thunderous roar violently
shaking the entire valley as a powerful presence unfurled.
The aquatic beasts that were just about to fly out from water immediately froze, as if being restricted by
something. In the end, they unwillingly sunk back into the reservoir, disappearing from sight.
The chaotic surface of the reservoir gradually returned to calmness.
Tuntun’s giant body also began to shrink, swiftly returning to its cute dog like form.
It then turned its head and swept a gaze at Zhou Yuan.
Yaoyao cocked her head slightly. The previous scene had not alarmed her at all. Instead, she stared at
Zhou Yuan in interest as a playful angle rose from the corners of a ruddy little mouth.
“Was it fun?”
Zhou Yuan wiped the cold sweat on his forehead. Soon after, he suddenly realised that something was
amiss, his eyes widening as he looked towards Yaoyao.
1583
“You, you know what’s going on?!”
From Yaoyao’s appearance, it seemed as if she knew that he would be chased by the aquatic beasts after
entering the Genesis reservoir!
1584
Chapter 307 Helper
In the valley by the shore, Yaoyao raised her arms and stretched as she let out a yawn in response to Zhou
Yuan’s wide eyed stare, revealing the perfect curves of her lovely body.
However, Zhou Yuan was not in the mood to admire them at this moment, merely continuing to stare at
Yaoyao in bewilderment.
“The aquatic beasts here are born from the dragon Qi emitted from the Origin Dragon Vein. Although they
possess no intelligence, they are still able to act according to instinct.” Yaoyao gently swung her fair feet,
beads of crystal like water droplets sliding down her legs, dazzling brilliantly under the sunlight.
“The Omni Python Qi on your body has its roots in the Ancestral Dragon Scripture, and in a certain sense
also contains dragon Qi. Moreover, its dragon Qi that is closest to the original.”
“That’s why the natural pressure everyone else has to withstand in the Genesis reservoir does not have
much of an effect on you.”
“And it is also due to the Omni Python Qi that these aquatic beasts have been chasing you. In their eyes,
you are the most delicious of delicacies, and if they manage to eat you, they may even become sentient,
allowing them to transform into a true living creature instead of their current existence where they can
only act on instinct.”
There was a sliver of amusement in Yaoyao’s eyes as she gazed at Zhou Yuan and continued, “While you
want to obtain the Dragon Genesis Essence in their bodies, they too are also thinking about eating all the
time.”
Zhou Yuan was stunned for a moment. Although he had an inkling that this was the case, only after
hearing Yaoyao’s explanation did he truly understand the reason.
So the Ancestral Dragon Scripture was the culprit.
“Why didn’t you tell me earlier?” Said Zhou Yuan in a slightly peeved manner.
Yaoyao was clearly in the know long ago, but had chosen not to inform him. It was obvious that she
wanted to watch him make a fool of himself.
Yaoyao placed a hand on the tip of her snow-white chin, her beautiful eyes lowering slightly as she
answered, “If I tell you everything, life would be so boring.”
Zhou Yuan rolled his eyes as he sat down and said in a slightly depressed manner, “What do I do now, I’ll
only draw a horde of aquatic beasts if I enter the Genesis reservoir.”
1585
The key reason was that the aquatic beats he attracted kept growing in numbers and strength. With his
current strength, he really could not handle them.
Zhou Yuan let out a deep sigh as he retrieved a bottle filled with Dragon Genesis Essence crystals. These
were the spoils of his hard work from earlier, and were likely only enough for him to achieve a four
dragons rank Genesis Marrow Baptism.
However, that was obviously not going to satisfy Zhou Yuan.
He was still not a purple sash disciple, and if he lost this chance, it would likely be a long time before he
could come to the Genesis reservoir again. Thus, he intended to benefit as much as his could.
Swish!
While Zhou Yuan was dazedly staring at the glittering Dragon Genesis Essence crystals, a shadow
suddenly flashed past. Zhou Yuan suddenly felt his hand become lighter as the bottle disappeared.
Zhou Yuan was stunned, and hurriedly turned his head, only to dumbstruck when he saw Tuntun holding
the bottle in its mouth as it poured the contents into its belly, before smacking it lips in satisfaction.
“ARGHHHH!”
A miserable howl rang out in the valley.
Zhou Yuan charged over, grabbing Tuntun’s neck as he shook it violently and roared, “You bastard, spit it
out!”
That was the fruits of his labor! Seeing them swallowed by Tuntun had put him on the verge of exploding!
However, no matter how hard he shook, Tuntun’s lips remained tightly sealed, even leaving bloody
scratches on Zhou Yuan’s face with its paws.
An ugly fight ensued between beast and man, filled with bitterness and desperation.
Yaoyao sighed as she placed a hand on her temple. These two were basically idiots.
After fighting for a good chunk of time, Zhou Yuan was finally able to save a thumb-sized Dragon Genesis
Essence crystal from Tuntun’s mouth. The price he paid was being covered all over in bloody scratches,
every single one Tuntun’s handiwork.
*Whine*
Though Zhou Yuan only managed to snatch back a single crystal, Tuntun was obviously not very happy.
After all, allowing something that was already in its mouth to be snatched away was extremely
humiliating to it.
1586
“Your grandmother!”
Zhou Yuan could not help but curse as he looked at the single pitiful Dragon Genesis Essence crystal in his
hand. Let alone a four dragon baptism, he didn’t even have a one dragon baptism now!
*Piak*
A small pebble hit Zhou Yuan’s forehead.
Yaoyao rolled her eyes at him and said, “No cursing Tuntun.”
A gloating look immediately surfaced in Tuntun’s eyes as it joyfully ran towards Yaoyao.
However, Yaoyao shot it a glare, causing Tuntun to hurriedly come to a stop, whimpering as it lay on the
ground.
Zhou Yuan dragged a hand down his face as he moaned, “Looks like I’ll have to head back in.”
It was impossible for him to stop now. He had no choice but to enter the reservoir again to hunt aquatic
beasts. The only thing left to find out was how many times he would be chased by them.
Zhou Yuan venomously glared at Tuntun, before standing up to prepare.
“The Dragon Genesis Essence here originates from the Origin Dragon Vein, and is also helpful for Tuntun.
That’s why it snatched them away to eat.” Said Yaoyao.
Zhou Yuan was surprised to find out. Truthfully speaking, he was not really angry at Tuntun for snatching
away the Dragon Genesis Essence crystals, and was mainly having a playful fight with the latter.
“After I get more of them, I’ll give Tuntun a little.” Zhou Yuan shrugged. Increasing Tuntun’s strength was
not a bad thing for him.
Yaoyao thought for a moment, before waving at Tuntun.
Tuntun immediately skipped over to her, before being picked up by Yaoyao and thrown to Zhou Yuan.
Zhou Yuan hastily caught it, his eyes wide with confusion as he stared at Tuntun’s small eyes.
“Bring Tuntun with you.” Yaoyao ignored their confusion. “Since it wants a share of the good stuff, let it
work for it. With Tuntun following you, you will no longer need to worry about being chased by the
aquatic beasts.”
“Tuntun’s strength is enough to guarantee your safety.”
1587
Zhou Yuan was overjoyed. With a powerful helper like Tuntun, the aquatic beasts that wanted to eat him
would practically be throwing themselves into his net. All of them would be killed no matter how many
came.
“You’d better work hard if you want to eat more of those Dragon Genesis Essence, and I’d better not catch
you slacking off.” Zhou Yuan stared at Tuntun. “Whatever we manage to get shall be split like this, eighty
percent for me, twenty percent to you.”
He gestured with his fingers.
However, Tuntun was extremely intelligent, immediately understanding what he was saying. It also
extended its paws, gesturing that it should get seventy percent while he got thirty.
Zhou Yuan laughed due to anger. This little bastard still dared to bargain with him, did it think that he
was some kind of laborer?!
As such, beast and man began to argue again, hands and paws rapidly gesturing one after another.
Yaoyao was beginning to feel an approaching headache due to their quarreling, deciding that she could
not watch this any longer. With a casual twist of her hand, a Genesis Qi was flung, turning into snowy light
after light that ruthlessly blasted man and beast.
“Half each. Now scram!”
Man and beast immediately fell silent.
Tuntun whimpered twice. Although it could not be bothered with Zhou Yuan, it still jumped onto his
shoulder.
Zhou Yuan also pouted a little as he avoided the snowy light, before his excited gaze turned towards the
endless Genesis reservoir. With Tuntun’s protection, the aquatic beasts were no longer any threat.
“Chasing me for so long earlier, come and try it again now!” Zhou Yuan sneered, his confidence soaring.
Splash!
He waved goodbye at Yaoyao, before diving head first into the reservoir again.
Yaoyao massaged her forehead. Peace at last.
Why is it so hard to have a nice, peaceful soak...
1588
Chapter 308 Perfect Teamwork
In the mist filled waters of the reservoir.
Zhou Yuan zoomed past on his golden Genesis Qi, rapidly cutting through the water. Tuntun lay on his
shoulder, its eyes lazily scanning their surroundings.
Zhou Yuan was brimming with confidence again, no longer worried about having to flee from the aquatic
beasts.
“When we encounter them later, I’ll try to take them on first. If there’s any aquatic beast I can’t handle,
it’ll be your turn.” The culture form Heavenly Yuan Brush nimbly spun between Zhou Yuan’s figures as he
grinned.
Tuntun looked at him disdainfully. Acting so dignified, you’re clearly just leaving the tough bones for me.
“They’ve come so quickly.”
Zhou Yuan did not bicker with Tuntun, raising his head instead as he looked to the front with slightly
narrowed eyes. The waters there were rippling as enormous aquatic beast after beast began to appear.
Those translucent eyes were overflowing with greed and desire.
*Stomach grumble*!
Bubbles rose from the mouths of the aquatic beasts. In the next instant, the reservoir waters were ripped
apart as their titanic bodies madly charged towards Zhou Yuan.
“Just a group of two hundred feet aquatic beasts.” Zhou Yuan icily chuckled as golden Genesis Qi rose
from his body, and completely wrapped around him.
Rumble!
His figure also shot forward, the Heavenly Yuan Brush in his hand rapidly expanding as its snow-white
brush hairs pulsed dangerously, transforming into countless after images that surrounded the numerous
aquatic beasts.
Thud! Thud!
The water rippled violently, blown away by the powerful force as an empty space was created.
Zhou Yuan charged into the herd of aquatic beasts, his attacks deadly and powerful, every thrust of the
brush piercing an aquatic beast.
1589
The battle was over in a few minutes, all that remained were golden Dragon Genesis Essence crystals
floating in the water. Half of them were swept up into his sleeves, while he tossed the other half towards
Tuntun.
Tuntun opened its mouth, gulping down all of them as a satisfied look surfaced in its eyes.
While man and beast enjoyed their harvest, Zhou Yuan’s expression changed, catching sight of giant
aquatic beasts swarming towards them from all directions.
The dozen beasts leading the pack had all reached lengths of five hundred feet.
This was even more than the horde that had chased him previously.
This time, however, Zhou Yuan did not flee in panic, instead patting Tuntun on his shoulder as he said,
“Hey, now that you’ve eaten, it's time to work.”
On his shoulder, Tuntun seemed to yawn lazily as its gaze swept across the giant aquatic beasts that were
enclosing around them, before jumping off and standing in front of Zhou Yuan.
The water around it gradually began to boil.
A terrifying Genesis Qi undulation slowly spread from its body.
Its tiny body began to grow little by little, transforming from a little dog-like creature into a mysterious
and ferocious beast wearing golden scale armor.
When Tuntun took on this form, the aquatic beasts around them froze for a moment, as if being
suppressed. Although they were not Genesis Beasts but existences born from dragon Qi, they were still
unable to avoid the pressure.
It was akin to the unease felt by a lower life form in the face of a superior being.
The dozen five hundred feet aquatic beasts grew a little restless and hesitant, but in the end, their eyes
still locked onto Zhou Yuan’s body. The Genesis Qi from the latter held a fatal attraction to them.
The desire won over the unease and pressure they felt from Tuntun.
*Stomach Rumble*!
In the next moment, the numerous aquatic beasts roared as their shadows loomed. The berserk Genesis
Qi bursting out from their bodies causing giant waves to form.
Tuntun watched them charge over as its front paw lightly stepped forward in the water. Its huge mouth
opened, mysterious black light flowing within it.
1590
Strands of black began to converge, ultimately taking the shape of a half foot wide black ball.
Not a single glimmer of light could be seen on the black ball, and any light that shined on it seemed to
immediately be devoured, making it an extremely bizarre sight that gave one an exceedingly dangerous
sensation.
Whoosh!
Tuntun’s head suddenly swung as the half foot wide black ball was sent hurtling towards the dozen or so
five hundred feet long aquatic beasts.
Bzz!
The ball was extremely quick, and seemed to pierce through space itself, appearing in the center of the
dozen five hundred feet aquatic beasts. Next, it began to spin as a terrifying suction force exploded.
The water around was immediately poured into it, creating a giant whirlpool with the black ball at its
center.
The dozen aquatic beasts were caught in the range of the frightening suction force. They struggled
frantically as Genesis Qi surged out, but were unable to free themselves. All they could do was watch
helplessly as they were pulled closer and closer to the ball, before ultimately touching it...
Ch!
At the instant of contact, wails of despair exploded from the aquatic beasts as their enormous bodies
began to shrink at a speed that could be seen with the naked eye, ultimately transforming into a flash of
light as they were sucked into the black ball, wiped clean from existence by its pure darkness...
In the short span of a few breaths, a dozen aquatic beasts comparable to fifth layer Alpha-Origin experts
had vanished, leaving only a dozen fist-sized Dragon Genesis Essence crystals floating in the water
around the black ball.
Zhou Yuan was dumbstruck as he watched this scene.
Who could have imagined that a dozen fifth layer Alpha-Origin aquatic beasts would be so easily
exterminated...
Just how much strength did one need to achieve this feat?
Zhou Yuan gave an odd look to the shrinking Tuntun. Just what kind of Genesis Beast was this little
fellow. To think that it would be so powerful.
1591
Tuntun sensed Zhou Yuan’s stunned gaze, causing a pleased look to rise in its eyes. It leaped onto his
shoulder and extended a paw, pointing towards the floating Dragon Genesis Essence crystals, clearly
indicating for him to go collect their battle spoils.
Zhou Yuan shrugged and swam forward, his eyes burning with excitement as he kept the dozen fist-sized
Dragon Genesis Essence crystals.
Just these dozen crystals alone should be enough for him to reach the five dragon baptism.
If it was before, Zhou Yuan would perhaps be satisfied by this. But now that he had a strong aide in
Tuntun, the five dragon rank was no longer able to sate his appetite.
Zhou Yuan wet his lips and grinned, “Good boy Tuntun. The two of us truly are perfect partners.”
However, Tuntun merely shot him a disdainful look, as if saying that it was the one doing all the work,
while his job was merely to tidy up after.
Its pupils swivelled in thought, before it suddenly extended a paw and gestured that they should split the
goods forty to sixty. It was actually planning to change the previous agreement, and wanted to have a
sixty percent share.
Zhou Yuan was exasperated. Little bastard, you dare to take advantage of me?
He tossed and caught the Dragon Genesis Essence crystals in his hand as he smiled, “Don’t think that you
should have the bigger share because you’re a better fighter. Without me, these aquatic beasts would be
concealing themselves in the reservoir, making it nearly impossible for you to find them. Do you really
think it will be so easy to kill an entire group of them then?”
Tuntun was stunned, before somewhat dejectedly laying down on Zhou Yuan’s shoulder. It seems that
Zhou Yuan contribution was not small.
Hence, it could only whimper twice, acknowledging the fifty-fifty agreement.
“Little guy, do you think that I have no way to deal with you.”
The corners of Zhou Yuan’s lips curled upwards when he saw this, before continuing to speed forward on
his golden Genesis Qi.
As he gazed at the misty waters, an ambitious fire burned in his eyes. With Tuntun’s help, he felt that he
may be able to try for six dragons, or even a seven dragons baptism...
1592
Chapter 309 Battle of the Chosens
Mists drifted over the endless Genesis reservoir.
A figure in white descended from the sky, landing on one of the towering peaks that rose from the waters.
Her pupils scanned the surroundings, as if searching for something.
A breeze blew past, lifting a skirt adorned with lotus patterns while also revealing a set of enchanting
curves.
It was obviously Li Qingchan.
Her eyes widened slightly all of a sudden as a cold voice rang out, “What is the great Chosen of the Spirit
Rune Peak sneaking about for?”
As her voice spread, the mist behind her began to dissipate as a young man in daoist robes walked over
on the water. It was number nine of the ten great Chosens, Ye Ge.
He gazed at Li Qingchan, somewhat helplessly scratching his head and said, “Senior sister Qingchan truly
has sharp senses.”
Li Qingchan shot a look at him, faint iciness swirling in her pupils as she said with an expressionless face,
“Ye Ge, why are you following me?”
Ye Ge chuckled and replied, “Senior sister Qingchan, I merely want to discuss something with you…”
Li Qingchan flatly asked, “What is it?”
“Could you give up on the thousand feet aquatic beast this time?” Le Ge smiled awkwardly.
Li Qingchan’s eyes narrowed slightly as the icy aura around her grew colder and colder, so cold that even
the surrounding air began to freeze.
She frostily stared at Ye Ge. “Ye Ge, do you feel that you have the qualifications to say such words to me?”
Her goal was that very thousand feet aquatic beast. If she succeeded in hunting it, she would be able to
obtain an eight dragons baptism, which would undoubtedly raise her strength.
In response to Li Qingchan’s icy gaze, Ye Ge took two steps back as he spread out his hands and said,
“Senior sister Qingchan, my words alone definitely won’t be enough to stop you… but I’ve only come here
for one reason, to return a favor.”
Li Qingchan’s brows furrowed. She soon understood, causing her pretty face to turn frostier as she
confirmed, “Kong Sheng?”
1593
The appearance of the thousand feet aquatic beast had been very timely, coinciding nicely with the period
where the other Chosens were either away on missions or stuck in secluded cultivation. She, Kong Sheng
and Ye Ge were the only three Chosens available in the entire sect, making it less competitive than usual.
Especially since Chu Qing would not give up on such a good opportunity if he were here.
After all, thousand feet aquatic beasts usually hid themselves in the depths of the Genesis reservoir, and
even Chosens like them would be hard pressed to find any.
Now that signs of a thousand feet aquatic beast had appeared, Chosens like them would naturally take
action.
Ye Ge shrugged helplessly. The truth was that he did not want to involve himself in a matter like this, but
he did owe Kong Sheng a favor, making it impossible for him to reject.
Li Qingchan’s pretty face turned frostier and frostier, hostility rising in her eyes as she stared at Ye Ge.
Since he wanted to help Kong Sheng, she may as well get rid of him here.
However, the moment this thought rose in her heart, she sensed formidable sword Qi rise from the mist
in the distance, like a hiding dragon that already had her in its sights.
“Kong Sheng!”
Li Qingchan’s face turned towards the sword Qi, frost practically spewing from her eyes. Kong Sheng was
obviously nearby, ready to stop her from dispatching his ally.
“Senior sister Qingchan, I hope that you can give this chance to Kong Sheng. There will be another
opportunity next time.” Urged Ye Ge.
Fury flashed in Li Qingchan’s eyes. She had originally believed Ye Ge to be after the thousand foot aquatic
beast too, and not a helper invited by Kong Sheng. Moreover, none of the Chosens she had better relations
with were currently present.
Given her strength, she would be equally matched with Kong Sheng, but if another one of the ten Chosens
such as Ye Ge was added into the mix, her defeat was guaranteed.
Though the ten Chosens were ranked according to strength, there was not a huge gap between them.
Hence, she would indeed have no chance if Kong Sheng and Ye Ge were to join hands.
However, she was really unwilling to give up like this.
Li Qingchan’s expression fluctuated indeterminately as the icy aura around her grew sharper and colder.
Ye Ge hurriedly retreated several steps. With a wave of his sleeve, the space around him began to distort
as the complicated runes on his clothes glowed, ready to activate at any moment.
1594
In the depths of the mist, sword Qi grew sharper and sharper as the faint buzz of a sword echoed.
A grand battle between Chosens was on the verge of erupting.
When the hostility in the air reached its peak, however, the Genesis Qi undulations from Li Qingchan’s
body suddenly weakened. Her face was ice-cold as she shot a glance at Ye Ge and the sword Qi in the mist,
before letting out an icy snort and turning to leave.
“Kong Sheng, Ye Ge, I will not forget this!”
She had ultimately chosen to do the rational thing and give up.
After all, if she were to take on the two of them alone, the one who would suffer in the end was her.
Ye Ge breathed a sigh of relief as he watched Li Qingchan leave. She was after all very popular in the sect,
and there were quite a few amongst the ten Chosens who adored her. If they really ended up fighting
here, there would surely be trouble in the future.
However, from the looks of it, they had still offended her.
Ye Ge let out a bitter laugh before turning towards the mist. “I’ve returned my debt, the two of no longer
owe each other anything.”
The cry of a sword sounded in the depths of the mist, as if responding to Ye Ge.
...
Rumble!
A herd of enormous aquatic beasts hissed in the reservoir as berserk undulations unfurled, creating
enormous waves.
At this current moment, two glowing figures were shooting through the pack, aquatic beast after beast
exploding wherever they passed...
The two glowing figures were naturally Zhou Yuan and Tuntun.
Ever since Tuntun had joined him, Zhou Yuan no longer had anything to fear. He boldly advanced,
drawing numerous aquatic beasts to them. However, the ultimate outcome that awaited all of the aquatic
beasts was being turned into Dragon Genesis Essence crystals, before being split between Zhou Yuan and
Tuntun...
The intense battle was over in a short few minutes
1595
Zhou Yuan swiftly swept the battlefield, collecting another few dozen Dragon Genesis Essence crystals
that were of pretty high quality.
“Not bad.”
Zhou Yuan was full of praise. He already had more than enough Dragon Genesis Essence crystals to
achieve a six dragon baptism, but it was still not sufficient to reach seven dragons. According to senior
brother Zhou Tai, a seven dragon baptism was no longer an issue of number. Instead, the Dragon Genesis
Essence crystal of a seven hundred feet aquatic beast was required as a primer of sorts.
In the face of such an entity, most of the purple sash disciples could only retreat.
However, this was not really a problem for Zhou Yuan, because there was an existence at this side that
was even more terrifying than the seventh layer Alpha-Origin...
“But it’s not easy to find a seven hundred feet aquatic beast. We’ve yet to meet a single one…” Mumbled
Zhou Yuan.
While he was mumbling, the battle mode Tuntun beside him suddenly released a low growl.
Zhou Yuan abruptly lowered his head in alarm, looking towards the deep darkness of the Genesis
reservoir.
The waters there suddenly began to churn, as if a giant wave was rapidly approaching. Next, Zhou Yuan
saw a titan of an aquatic beast slowly rise from the darkness.
Its size had exceeded seven hundred feet, reaching a total of eight hundred feet!
Zhou Yuan could not help but swallow as he gazed upon the giant creature, before slowly backing away as
he said with a solemn face, “Tuntun, go and get it!”
1596
Chapter 310 Out of the Water into Disaster
Rumble!
Reservoir water heaved and churned as waves of berserk Genesis Qi pulsed violently. It was as if
something had torn through the water in a ten thousand feet radius, leaving a giant gaping hole that
immediately began filling from the surrounding water, creating a giant whirlpool.
Zhou Yuan stood far away, watching the imminent battle with interest.
It was going to be a clash between Tuntun and the eight hundred feet aquatic beast.
Normally speaking, an aquatic beast that had reached such lengths would be an object of extreme terror
to even seventh layer Alpha-Origin disciples, disciples that were basically qualified to contest for the chief
disciple seat.
However, an aquatic beast with such strength was currently an exceedingly sorry state, because it had
encountered an existence even more terrifying than itself today...
Tuntun was nowhere near as big as the eight hundred feet beast, but the aquatic beast was thoroughly
suppressed at every clash, barely able to put up any resistance. Moreover, it was obvious that Tuntun was
toying with it.
“The little guy is quite something.”
Praised Zhou Yuan with a click of his tongue. The outcome of the fight was already clear from the get-go.
In the end, it turned out exactly as expected. Tuntun was done playing after several minutes, and black
light appeared with a slash of its claw.
Boom!
Five giant claws tore through the water, shooting straight into the dark depths at the bottom of the
reservoir.
The eight hundred feet aquatic beast was violently ripped to shreds.
Zhou Yuan drifted over and waved his sleeve, causing a head-sized Dragon Genesis Essence crystal to
slowly rise up in the water. Golden liquid flowed within it, the thickness far beyond any of the Dragon
Genesis Essence from before, making Zhou Yuan stare at it with desire.
He very carefully kept the Dragon Genesis Essence Crystal as he said to Tuntun, “I’ll keep it first, we’ll
split it later.”
1597
Tuntun did not raise any objections. It had already eaten too much Dragon Genesis Essence today.
Zhou Yuan stretched his back, a little tired after so much hunting. “Let’s find a place to reorganize and
rest for a while before we continue.”
Tuntun snorted disdainfully, as if saying that Zhou Yuan was really useless.
Zhou Yuan paid no attention to it. He randomly chose a direction and began zooming away on his Genesis
Qi.
...
A certain location in the Genesis reservoir.
Several towering mountains partitioned the surface of the reservoir, creating a lush valley. Near the top
of the valley, a bamboo house was barely discernible through the mists.
Li Qingchan stood on a cliff nearby, her gaze somewhat cold as she peered into the distance. It should be
about time for Kong Sheng and Ye Ge to find the thousand feet aquatic beast.
“Those two bastards!” Mumbled Li Qingchan to herself.
“Senior sister Qingchan, are you really not going to contest for the thousand feet aquatic beast?” Behind
her were several pretty female disciples who were also from the Snow Lotus Peak.
This district belonged to Li Qingchan, and other disciples could only enter with her permission.
Some of the female disciples were quite close to Li Qingchan, and had obviously found out about the
matter regarding Kong Sheng and Ye Ge’s cooperation from her.
Li Qingchan’s pretty face was calm as she replied, “Since I can’t win, why should I force myself.”
If there was only Kong Sheng, she would at least be able to put up a fight, but when Ye Ge was added in,
there was really nothing she could achieve. As such, there was no need to be stubborn.
Though she was admittedly still a little unwilling to accept this outcome.
“Ye Ge is so loathsome, we never had any quarrel with him.” Remarked one of the female disciples.
“A loss is a loss. It just means that I was not as prepared as Kong Sheng.” Li Qingchan shook her head, not
willing to speak any further on the topic. “You guys should make use of this time to search for Dragon
Genesis Essence.”
The female disciples exchanged a look, before nodding as they withdrew.
1598
Now that it was peaceful again, Li Qingchan lifted her head and sighed. Her slender fingers clenched into
fists, clearly still slightly upset inside. After all, she had been preparing for a long time.
With a gently push, her figure seemed to float down the cliff, landing beside a hot spring within the valley.
This place was off limits to everyone else but herself, and even the Snow Lotus Peak disciples she had
allowed into the valley could not enter.
Li Qingchan gently undid the sash on her waist, causing the white skirt to slip down to the ground. Under
the faint sunlight, an exquisite figure in inner garments was revealed.
A neck as slender as a swan leading to a set of elegant collarbones and two towering soft mounds. Her
tiny slender waist made one unable to resist wrapping an arm around it, while her long legs were
astonishingly sleek and slim. Even another girl would find her heart beating a little harder at the sight of
such an amazing figure.
The erotic sight made the entire valley appear brighter.
Li Qingchan gently stepped into the hot spring, soaking her body in its warm waters. Her red lips rose
slightly in delight, as her usually frosty face softened.
“Ahh…”
A body glowing with youthfulness was masked only by the light reflection off the water. Li Qingchan’s
fine black hair sprawled across the surface of the spring as she leaned against its sides, her lovely body
completely relaxed.
Li Qingchan slowly said, “Kong Sheng, Ye Ge… I’ll make sure to settle this debt with you guys in the
future.”
Her eyes slowly closed, enjoying every moment of comfort.
The valley was exceptionally silent and peaceful, only the sound of the flowing breeze to be heard.
In the hot spring, the goddess seemed to fall into a deep sleep, painting the gorgeous sight of a sleeping
beauty that could cause the downfall of nations.
Glop.
The silence lasted for a long time, until a certain moment came where the surface of the spring seemed to
ripple for an instant.
Li Qingchan’s long eyelashes trembled faintly as she somewhat lazily opened her eyes. Likely because she
had just woken up, her response was much slower than usual as she dazedly stared at the ripples on the
water in front of her.
1599
Plop!
The ripples grew bigger and bigger, before the water surface was suddenly torn open as a figure jumped
out.
“Phew… I’m out at least!”
A voice sounded as the figure wiped away the water on its face, before beginning to scan its surroundings,
while a little creature lazily lay on its shoulder.
It was obviously Zhou Yuan and Tuntun.
Zhou Yuan’s gaze curiously swept around, but immediately froze a split second later as his eyes gradually
widened.
He had caught sight of the gorgeous figure in the spring.
The gazes of the two met, both somewhat dazed.
Li Qingchan was stunned, unable to stop herself from rubbing her eyes. The scene before was so shocking
that she was unable to process it for the moment.
It was also at this moment that Zhou Yuan saw her beautiful face.
It was as if a bomb had gone off his head, instantly numbing his scalp.
Li Qingchan!
Not even in his wildest dreams would he have imagined that after travelling in the reservoir for a good
half the day, he would encounter Li Qingchan soaking in the hot spring here!
What kind of luck was this?!
Luck that would be the death of him!
“God damnit…” Zhou Yuan’s voice was already trembling.
He had just sensed an alarmingly icy aura spread from Li Qingchan’s body at this moment. This was
genuine killing intent.
Zhou Yuan suddenly felt pain from his ear the moment he was engulfed by the icy aura. Tuntun had given
him a vicious nip, jolting him back to his senses.
He immediately submerged without the slightest shred of hesitation as a terrified shout rang out, “I’m
blind, I can’t see anything!”
1600
He fled the moment he popped back into the water, not even daring to glance backwards.
Zhou Yuan’s escape fully awakened Li Qingchan, her face turning so cold that frost was nearly about to
form as her body trembled with rage. She never imagined that someone would suddenly appear like
disaster from the sky when she was soaking in the hot spring. Her teeth clattered loudly as she beckoned
with a hand, causing her skirt to fly from the edge of the spring and wrap around her body.
Rumble!
In the next instant, terrifying Genesis Qi exploded from her body without any reservation.
Boom!
Her figure shot forth, the water before her forcefully ripped apart by her terrifying Genesis Qi as she
dived in like a bolt of thunder, churning with killing intent as she made a beeline for the frantically fleeing
Zhou Yuan.
“Die you pervert!”
A voice so cold that it penetrated all the way into the bone pierced through the water, booming right on
Zhou Yuan’s heels.
1601
Chapter 311 Chased Again
The misty waters of the reservoir were silent as usual.
Swish!
The silence was suddenly broken. One could only watch as an ethereal figure zoomed past, the Golden
Genesis Qi at his feet propelling him forward as he desperately fled at a speed so fast that he was basically
cutting through the water.
This figure was naturally Zhou Yuan.
His complexion was currently rather pale, while his scalp was still numb from before. The sight from
earlier had really been a huge shock to him.
He never expected that he would encounter Li Qingchan soaking in a hot spring at the random spot he
chose to surface for a rest!
The killing intent spewing from that woman’s gaze earlier was practically on the verge of materializing in
reality.
“I’m finished!” Zhou Yuan could not stop grieving at his situation.
Boom!
The water behind him was suddenly ripped apart. Zhou Yuan looked back, only to be horrified by the
sight Li Qingchan rapidly breaking through the water, frightening Genesis Qi whizzing around her body.
From the chilling aura of murder around her, it was obvious that she would not let this go.
Even while separated by a substantial amount of water, Zhou Yuan could still feel Li Qingchan’s
murderous gaze lock onto him from afar.
It was a gaze that made a chill fill Zhou Yuan’s entire body, causing him to frantically circulate his Genesis
Qi, pushing his speed to the limit as he made his crazed escape.
However, no matter how much he accelerated, Li Qingchan remained close on his heels, killing intent
angrily churning around her.
“Senior sister Li, it wasn’t intentional! I didn’t know there would be someone on the surface!” Wrapped in
Genesis Qi, Zhou Yuan’s voice was transmitted towards Li Qingchan in an attempt to calm her.
1602
However, Li Qingchan ignored his words, her only response the intensifying murder in her eyes. With a
grasp of her hand, Genesis Qi rose, transforming into countless lotus petals whose edges flickered with an
eerily cold light.
Swish swish!
The blade like petals shot forth, aimed at Zhou Yuan’s vitals.
The icy sensation at this back alarmed Zhou Yuan, and he immediately began pushing his Ethereal Form
to its peak. At the same time, Magical Python Scales swiftly covered his body as he desperately dodged
left and right, narrowly avoiding the Genesis Qi petals.
Even though he had not been hit, the force from the petals that sliced past had drawn several light cuts on
his skin.
“She’s crazy!”
Zhou Yuan’s complexion turned green with fear. Li Qingchan had shown no mercy, and had clearly
already lost some of her rationality.
This also told Zhou Yuan that it was impossible to reason with her.
The best thing to do for now was to escape, and at the very minimum wait for Li Qingchan to calm down
first before trying to talk. If she caught him, Zhou Yuan had the sinking feeling that he would be killed on
the spot...
On Zhou Yuan’s shoulder, Tuntun watched with a gloating expression, clearly showing no intentions of
helping.
With regards to Tuntun, all Zhou Yuan could do was send it a vicious, flesh-cutting glare as he accelerated
again.
As such, a chase played out in the waters of the reservoir, both pursuer and the pursued giving it their all.
The disturbance gave rise to giant waves, and the duo would occasionally encounter other disciples along
the way. However, all of the disciples would hurriedly get out of the way at the sight of the murderous-
looking Li Qingchan, astonishment on their faces as they watched the two go.
“Eh? Isn’t that senior sister Li Qingchan?”
“Who is she chasing?”
“I don’t recognize him… but from the looks of it, senior sister Qingchan is very angry. What did he do to
offend her?”
1603
“He deserves it. I can’t believe that he dared to anger senior sister Qingchan. He’d better hope he doesn’t
meet me or I will catch him and bring him before senior sister Qingchan to atone for his crimes!”
“Hehe, with senior sister Qingchan personally in pursuit, there’s no way that he’s going to escape.”
“...”
Though Zhou Yuan encountered many disciples along the way, what made him despair was that not a
single one had any intentions of helping him, instead casting unkind gazes at him.
“All of them are bastards!” Zhou Yuan cursed inside.
Behind him, Li Qingchan’s face was a little surprised as she gazed at Zhou Yuan’s figure. She had realised
that even after chasing for so long, she was still unable to catch up to him.
This was somewhat inconceivable to her.
She could sense that Zhou Yuan was merely at the second layer Alpha-Origin, someone whom she could
basically squash with a single palm. However, why was she unable to catch up?
Moreover, travelling in the Genesis reservoir was extremely taxing on one’s Genesis Qi. Ordinarily
speaking, a second layer disciple should have run out of steam long ago, and yet Zhou Yuan seemed to
have plenty of Genesis Qi left.
“No matter who you are, I will not easily let you off today!” Li Qingchan’s face was covered in frost. This
was the first time she had experienced something like this. The mere thought that everything had been
seen by this bastard who had suddenly appeared made rage and embarrassment surge in his heart,
nearly destroying whatever rationality she had left.
Iciness flashed in her eyes as she locked onto Zhou Yuan’s figure.
Her hand abruptly formed a seal, and vigorous Genesis Qi immediately swept out. It swiftly gathered
together, forming a half foot tall snow lotus.
The snow lotus was vivid and lifelike, ancient patterns adorning each of its petals. An intense cold spread
from it, instantly freezing the surrounding water.
“Heaven Genesis technique, Snow Lotus Sealing technique!”
She showed no mercy, directly activating an alarmingly powerful Heaven Genesis technique.
Bzz!
The snow lotus trembled faintly. In the next instant, it transformed into a flash of white as it shot forth,
freezing the surrounding waters wherever it passed...
1604
A torrential wave of coldness swept forth, causing Zhou Yuan’s expression to change drastically. His
speed was affected, gradually slowing down.
He looked back as his pupils abruptly shrank.
The incoming snow lotus was too alarmingly quick, making it basically impossible for him to dodge.
The piercing chill from it made him feel life threatening danger. If he was hit, there was no doubt that he
would be instantly frozen.
Zhou Yuan looked towards his shoulder at Tuntun, who was clearly enjoying itself, as he said through
gritted teeth, “If you keep watching, our collaboration will be over!”
Tuntun unhappily snorted twice, as if saying that you were clearly the one who drew this trouble, why
did it have to clean up after!
“Less nonsense, quick!” Bellowed Zhou Yuan.
The corners of Tuntun’s mouth curled downwards in disapproval, but it still stood up on its legs. After all,
it could not possibly just idly watch Zhou Yuan be slaughtered...
It turned around, looking towards the incoming ice snow lotus as its mouth suddenly opened. Mysterious
black light rapidly converged, ultimately condensing into a ball of incomparable darkness that was sent
shooting out.
Bzz!
The black ball and snow lotus smashed into each other, but no noise sounded from their collision. The
chilling aura turned sluggish, before ultimately vanishing along with the balck ball.
Behind them, Li Qingchan was shocked by this sight, this turn of events clearly out of her expectations.
How could she have expected her attack to be negated by the little creature on Zhou Yuan’s shoulder.
Zhou Yuan took advantage of this opportunity to accelerate and flee for his life, scuttling out of Li
Qingchan’s sights.
Li Qingchan’s eyes grew even colder as she watched him run away.
“Do you think that this will allow you to escape?”
Genesis Qi exploded beneath her feet as her figure also cut through the water, relentlessly giving chase.
...
At a certain valley by the reservoir.
1605
Plop!
The water was suddenly torn open as Zhou Yuan’s figure miserably jumped out. He looked towards the
faintly misty beach and hissed, “Big sis Yaoyao, save me!”
However, his face immediately turned rigid the moment these words left his mouth.
He had seen Yaoyao with half of her fair, lovely shoulder revealed on the beach, just so happening to be in
the process of removing her clothes for a soak in the reservoir.
Zhou Yuan’s face twitched madly. What was it with him and soaking today?!
While Zhou Yuan was stunned, Yaoyao’s indifferent gaze swept over as the clothes that were about to be
fully removed were swiftly worn again. Her bare feet began to walk along the rocks on the beach, the wet
clothes on her body outlining a set of soul stirring curves.
“Zhou Yuan…”
Yaoyao gently reached out a hand as a Genesis Rune scroll appeared within it. She looked at Zhou Yuan
and said in a soft voice, “I feel that you’ve become quite bold recently, right?”
Zhou Yuan’s face was filled with grief.
Was it because he killed too many aquatic beasts earlier? Why was he so unlucky! This was retribution,
wasn’t it?
Boom!
While Zhou Yuan was still submerged in his intense sorrow, the water behind him was abruptly torn
open as a pillar of water shot into the sky. At the same time, a stream of berserk Genesis Qi shot out,
viciously striking at Zhou Yuan.
“Die pervert!” An ice cold voice sounded. Li Qingchan had obviously caught up at last.
This sudden turn of events stunned Yaoyao. However, she soon frowned when she sensed the power
behind the Genesis Qi that was aimed at Zhou Yuan. An attack of this level was not within Zhou Yuan’s
threshold. Who exactly was this ruthless person?
With a jerk of her hand, the Genesis Rune scroll immediately began to burn as berserk Genesis Qi
erupted.
Genesis Qi whizzed out like a roaring black water dragon, smashing into the stream of Genesis Qi that was
shooting towards Zhou Yuan, causing an alarming storm of energy to sweep outwards...
1606
Waves ten thousand feet high rose as Yaoyao indifferently looked towards the pretty figure that had
attacked, while a cold voice followed,
“He’s mine, and you don’t have the right to touch him.”
1607
Chapter 312 Face‐off Between the Two Girls
Bang!
The black water dragon collided with the stream of Genesis Qi that gave off a piercing chill, causing a
wave of berserk Genesis Qi to sweep outwards. Giant waves rose from the surface of the reservoir, before
crashing into the walls of the valley, making the entire place tremble.
Li Qingchan stood in the air above the water, powerful Genesis Qi surging out from her body to block the
aftershocks of the clash.
Her brows knitted together slightly as she raised her pretty face and looked in Yaoyao’s direction. The
power the latter had displayed earlier had somewhat shaken the former’s heart.
When Li Qingchan finally got a clear view of Yaoyao, she could not help but be stunned. The latter’s
appearance and aura had taken away the breath of even someone like herself. This was not Li Qingchan
being narcissistic. Over the years, she had grown to clearly understand how beautiful she was, though she
was normally not very fond of the title of Cangxuan Sect’s number one beauty that the numerous
disciples in the sect had given her.
However, it could not be denied that there was no girl who did not care about appearance.
And now that she had seen Yaoyao, even Li Qingchan could not help but be slightly stunned.
Yaoyao’s appearance and aura was not the least bit inferior to her own, and as a woman, Li Qingchan
could even more keenly sense the mysteriousness from Yaoyao’s body.
Both of them were the distant, aloof and indifferent type.
However, Li Qingchan’s indifference was because there were too many people who adored her beauty. All
it took was a little nudge, and any male would basically be bowing his head and grovelling at her feet.
However, this not only drew the critical opinions of others, but also attracted trouble to herself.
Over the years, there had been no lack of disciples of the opposite sex that had once been quite close to
her, only to end up drawing the envy of other disciples and being excluded.
As this continued to occur, Li Qingchan began to withdraw into herself, hiding her feelings and becoming
as cold as an ice mountain. She kept her distance with members of the opposite sex, because it would be
best for everyone.
Though Yaoyao also appeared indifferent, Li Qingchan could sense that they were different. Yaoyao’s
indifference was not due to any person, but seemed to be on an even higher level that originated from her
Spirit and bloodline.
1608
Such a feeling was akin to the indifference a man felt towards an ant, because the two were on completely
different levels, and hence no need to show any emotion.
Like how a passing person would not care whether an ant would be crushed under his or her foot.
It was this very aura of indifference that made Yaoyao appear increasingly mysterious.
“When did such an individual appear in the Cangxuan Sect?” Remarked Li Qingchan in amazement inside
as her gaze focused on Yaoyao.
However, she too was no ordinary person, and quickly banished such thoughts. Her eyes were suffused
with iciness as she turned towards the nearby Zhou Yuan and coldly said with a face covered in frost,
“You intend to protect this pervert?”
“Pervert?” Yaoyao’s eyebrows raised slightly as she cast a glance at Zhou Yuan.
She did not know what Zhou Yuan had done to be addressed in such a manner.
Zhou Yuan hastily began to explain, “Senior sister Li, I’ve tried to explain before. I was only trying to find
a place to rest on the surface, and did not know that you would be there… you should understand how
misty the reservoir is. I have no way of knowing the situation above.”
While he was speaking, Zhou Yuan lowered his head in shame, concentrating really hard not to let himself
recall the scene from before. He was afraid he would have a nosebleed if he did not control his thoughts,
and if that happened, this woman would surely never forgive him even after he died.
Even though he tried to explain, Li Qingchan had no intentions of letting this matter rest. Her frosty face
stared daggers at Zhou Yuan, while her teeth loudly grinded together.
“Stop trying to make up excuses you pervert!” Li Qingchan’s gaze shot towards Zhou Yuan like an arrow
as she icily said, “Follow me to the disciplinary hall on the charge of trespassing on a Chosen’s personal
territory!”
She was originally going to say he had peeked at her while she was soaking in the hot spring, but how
could she possibly reveal this matter!
Zhou Yuan hurriedly shook his head. If he went to the disciplinary hall, things would surely end badly for
him, especially given Li Qingchan’s status. When that happened, suffering would be inevitable.
“Whether you go or not is not up to you!” Li Qingchan’s tone was ice-cold. With a jerk of her white sleeve,
deadly and icy Genesis Qi unfurled, transforming into a snow dragon that roared as it charged towards
Zhou Yuan.
Rumble!
1609
However, the moment the snow dragon began its charge, thunder clouds gathered in the sky above as
bolts of lightning descended with violence, blasting the snow dragon one after another.
Yaoyao stood on the beach, indifference in her pupils as she looked at Li Qingchan while a Genesis Rune
scroll turned to ashes in her hand.
Yaoyao nonchalantly said, “Whether he goes or not, is not up to you either.”
From the earlier exchange between the two, she already had a faint idea of what had transpired.
However, she understood what kind of person Zhou Yuan was, and knew that his character was not
despicable. She was certain that he would not be so shameless as to intentionally try to peek at another.
Though the girl before her was pretty, her attacks had been extremely vicious, and Yaoyao was naturally
not going to stand by the sidelines and allow the former to take Zhou Yuan away.
“Humph, do you think that I’m afraid of you?! From how you keep taking his side, you two must be in
cahoots! I’ll capture the both of you and send you to the disciplinary hall.” Yaoyao’s repeated obstruction
had began to anger Li Qingchan. No one had ever dared to treat her in such a manner ever since she
became one of the Chosens.
Girls, especially beautiful ones, would often times subconsciously compare themselves. Hence, Li
Qingchan was very unwilling to concede anything in front of Yaoyao.
“Then we’ll see if you’re capable enough.” Yaoyao remained indifferent, but was clearly strongly opposed
to the former, not prepared to give even an inch.
For a time, the two faced each other with icy gazes, and even the air around seemed to freeze.
Li Qingchan icily stared at Yaoyao, a slight trace of graveness surging in the depths of her eyes. Although
Yaoyao’s Genesis Qi undulations were weak, the Spirit power accumulating between her brows was an
indication of its power. Moreover, her mastery over Genesis Runes felt quite immeasurable.
This unreasonably pretty girl was clearly going to be an extremely troublesome opponent. Li Qingchan
had a feeling that if it was purely Genesis Rune mastery, even Ye Ge was not better.
When had such a monster appeared in the Cangxuan Sect? Given the girl’s strength, she should be
qualified to vie for a spot in the ten great Chosens.
Numerous thoughts swirled in her head, but were ultimately brought under control by Li Qingchan. No
matter how strong this girl was, the former was not going to let this matter rest so easily.
Li Qingchan was after all an extremely proud person. After suffering such a huge loss of modesty, if she
was unable to even capture the culprit and allowed him to be saved by someone else, it would
undoubtedly be a disgrace.
1610
Therefore, she needed to capture Zhou Yuan no matter the cost.
Buzzzz!
Poweful Genesis Qi began to erupt from Li Qingchan’s body at this moment, instantly freezing the water
under her feet as a storm of ice and snow gathered on her hand.
The temperature plummeted, so low that even snow started to appear.
An indescribable pressure spread from Li Qingchan’s slender body.
It was obvious that Li Qingchan was no longer going to hold anything back.
Yaoyao’s eyes narrowed for an instant as the Spirit light between her brows began to shake. A green jade
Genesis Rune Brush appeared in her hand as ancient glowing runes began to appear around her body,
revolving around her.
Although she had no Genesis Qi, anyone could feel a heart palpitating aura brewing.
Two girls faced each other, one standing in the air over the reservoir, while the other stood on the rocks
on the beach.
Hostility swirled like a storm between them.
Zhou Yuan’s scalp turned numb at this sight. He did not know how huge of a commotion would be caused
if the two were to fight, but it would be terrible for him no matter who ended up injured.
At such a time, he could only pluck up his courage and try to stop them.
Hence, Zhou Yuan gritted his teeth as he took a step forward and said in a stern voice, “Both of you stop!”
However, his imposing shout merely drew Yaoyao and Li Qingchan’s piercingly icy gazes as their cold
voices followed,
“Shutup!”
Zhou Yuan’s presence was instantly frozen, the expression on his face turning rigid, before he let out an
awkward laugh under their frosty gazes, raising both his hands high in the air as he repeated stepped
backwards.
“Hehe, you two can have your fun…”
There was nothing he could do. One he could not afford to offend, the other he could not beat.
On his shoulder, Tuntun disdainfully looked towards Zhou Yuan as if questioning, ‘are you really a man?’
1611
Zhou Yuan merely returned the look, ‘You can go ahead and try.’
Tuntun snorted, as if saying ‘I’m not the one who caused this.’
Zhou Yuan ignored it, merely anxiously watching the increasingly hostile atmosphere between the two
girls. This is really, really bad.
1612
Chapter 313 Mediation
In a certain valley by the reservoir.
Two beautiful figure stood facing each other, the auras surging out from their bodies clashing
continuously. It felt as if thunder was rumbling in the background as giant waves rose from the reservoir,
crashing into the walls of the surrounding mountains.
Yaoyao and Li Qingchan’s icy gazes clashed, Genesis Runes revolving around one of them, stirring the
surrounding Genesis Qi, while Genesis Qi hovered above the other’s head like clouds, giving off a
menacing aura.
Zhou Yuan wore a bitter look on his face as he watched. It was clear that neither of the two girls was
planning on letting this matter rest. Since that was the case, the only thing to do as to let them vent some
of their anger first.
It would probably be best for him to step in only after they had cooled down a little. Although he would
likely be beaten up by the both of them, he was the one who started this after all, and hence should be the
one to resolve it.
Zhou Yuan nervously watched the two girls as the atmosphere between them grew more and more
intense.
At a certain moment, both of their eyes narrowed slightly. An alarming wave of energy burst out from
Genesis Qi and Genesis Runes a split second later, both individuals clearly about to go at it for real at any
moment.
“Stop!”
Right before they were about to attack, a shout sounded across the area like a clap of thunder. Next, Zhou
Yuan felt a vast blanket of Genesis Qi descend from the sky, like a giant hand as it completely suppressed
both Yaoyao and Li Qingchan’s Genesis Runes and Genesis Qi.
Zhou Yuan immediately lifted his head, only to see a Genesis Qi cloud descend from the sky. A beautiful
woman stood atop it, lotus flower like runes flickering on edge of her long skirt.
A terrifying Genesis Qi pressure pulsed from her body, causing the reservoir waters to churn violently.
Zhou Yuan was slightly startled by the sight of this beautiful woman. From her Genesis Qi pressure, it was
obvious that her identity was not simple at all.
Li Qingchan was also stunned by the sight of the beautiful woman and hastily said, “Elder Miao?”
The woman was one of the elders of their Snow Lotus Peak.
1613
The woman called elder Miao shot a somewhat helpless glance at Li Qingchan, and began to reproach her,
“I just so happen to be I’m on duty today at the Genesis reservoir, and was drawn over after feeling your
killing intent earlier. What the heck is going on?”
Although there were quite a few scuffles between disciples in the Genesis reservoir, they were not
allowed to invoke genuine killing intent. When Li Qingchan had lost her rationality due to anger earlier,
the killing intent she gave off was definitely not fake, and had thus alarmed elder Miao as the on duty
elder.
Li Qingchan was the most outstanding disciples of this generation from their Snow Lotus Peak, and it
would undoubtedly be a huge loss for them if she was punished due to any unfortunate incident here.
As such, elder Miao immediately hurried over the moment she felt Li Qingchan’s killing intent to prevent
her from making a mistake due to recklessness. Even if she was a Chosen, killing another disciple would
definitely get her punished.
Li Qingchan immediately froze up when she heard the question, gritting her teeth as she hatefully glared
at Zhou Yuan. How could she possibly talk about it?
“This, this guy…” She pointed at Zhou Yuan as she stammered for practically half a day, but was
ultimately unable to say anything, only growing increasingly angry and embarrassed as she glared at
him.
Elder Miao suspiciously looked towards Zhou Yuan. What exactly had this kid done to anger the normally
cold as an ice mountain like Li Qingchan?
Under elder Miao’s gaze, an awkward look emerged on Zhou Yuan’s face as he stepped up and said, “I was
indeed the one at fault, but I really did not do it on purpose. I can compensate!”
“Compensate?” Li Qingchan clenched her jaw even harder. How are you going to compensate? Are you
going to let me see you in return?
Zhou Yuan awkwardly scratched his head, before retrieving numerous bottles from his Universe bag that
were filled with many Dragon Genesis Essence crystals. “Can I use these as compensation?”
They were the fruits of him and Tuntun’s labors from earlier.
“Oh?” Elder Miao could not help but be shocked by the sight of the Dragon Genesis Essence crystals in
Zhou Yuan’s hands, because she could sense that some of them were clearly from eight hundred feet
aquatic beasts.
But Zhou Yuan was merely at the second layer Alpha-Origin stage, how did he manage to hunt to many
formidable aquatic beasts?
1614
She was not the only one. Even Li Qingchan was surprised for a moment, because she clearly understood
how difficult it was to hunt aquatic beasts in the reservoir.
Although Zhou Yuan did have quite a substantial amount of Dragon Genesis Essence crystals, they were
not worth much in Li Qingchan’s eyes. She owned a personal hunting ground in the reservoir, and could
enter any time she wished. Ordinary Dragon Genesis Essence crystals held little allure to her.
Hence, she merely swept a cold glance at Zhou Yuan. Just as she was about to speak, elder Miao suddenly
arrived at her side.
Elder Miao advised in a low voice, “Qingchan, although I still do not know what has happened, you will
only lose out even more of you insist on continuing.”
This made Li Qingchan somewhat sullen. She was one of the ten great Chosens after all, but had ended up
being completely seen by this bastard, how could she possibly swallow this?
Elder Miao said, “If I’m not wong, that girl should be Zhou Xiaoyao who recently joined the sect. Peak
master white brow regards her very highly, and values her even more than Ye Ge. In fact, peaks master
white brow has even promised to pass down the position of peak master to her if she comes to Spirit
Rune Peak.”
Li Qingchan looked at Yaoyao in amazement. So she was that Zhou Xiaoyao. Her mastery of Genesis Runes
was indeed immeasurable. It was no wonder that peak master white brow held her in such high regard.
“With her protecting Zhou Yuan, you won’t be able to achieve anything.”
Li Qingchan gently bit into her red lips, somewhat unwilling to accept this. However, she had to admit
that Zhou Xiaoyao was very strong, and would surely have a place amongst the ten great Chosens if she
wanted.
Elder Miao chuckled softly and asked, “Wasn’t your initial plans obstructed by Kong Sheng and Ye Ge?”
At the mention of this topic, Li Qingchan felt even more sullen, feeling that everything was going wrong
for her. The thousand feet aquatic beast she had her sights on was snatched away by Kong Sheng and Ye
Ge, and she had even been interrupted by an intruding Zhou Yuan while she was soaking in her personal
hot spring.
“If you can calm down, I will help you mediate.” Said elder Miao.
Li Qingchan’s hands clenched slightly as her expression fluctuated indeterminately. In the end, she
reluctantly nodded. She understood that there was no benefit for her to continue kicking up a fuss. After
calming down, she knew that she could not possibly murder Zhou Yuan.
Elder Miao breathed a sigh of relief. She was worried that Li Qingchan would chose to be unreasonable
and make matters even worse, which would only be disadvantageous towards her.
1615
Hence, she pulled Li Qingchan as they landed in the valley.
She looked towards Yaoyao with a smile and remarked, “No wonder peak master white brow has such a
high opinion of you, you are indeed an outstanding talent.”
Yaoyao’s pretty face remained indifferent. She merely glanced behind elder Miao at Li Qingchan, not
speaking at all.
Zhou Yuan walked over at this moment and respectfully greeted elder Miao.
“Zhou Yuan, although I do not know why this happened, I believe that you’re not the one who has lost the
most, right?” Elder Miao looked towards Zhou Yuan and smiled.
Zhou Yuan’s face was full of awkwardness and embarrassment. He looked towards Li Qingchan, only to
see the latter biting into her lips, her bright eyes staring at him like a sword. Of course he wasn’t the one
who had lost out the most...
He could only awkwardly nod his head.
“Then are you going to make up for it?” Asked elder Miao.
“All I have are these Dragon Genesis Essence crystals, but they do no meet senior sister Li’s standards.”
Zhou Yuan forced a smile. He too did not want to offend Li Qingchan, and it would naturally be best if they
could amiably resolve this matter.
Elder Miao waved her hand and said, “Never mind about the Dragon Genesis Essence crystals. I hope that
you guys can help out Li Qingchan as compensation, then we can call this matter even, and no one shall
ever bring it up again in the future.”
“Help?” Zhou Yuan was taken aback as he looked towards Yaoyao. A puzzled look also flitted across her
clear eyes.
Elder Miao nodded and explained with a smile, “Qingchan’s goal is the thousand feet aquatic beast, so I
hope to ask for your help.”
Although she was speaking to the two of them, her gaze ultimately paused on Yaoyao’s face, clearly
aiming for the latter’s aid.
Yaoyao nonchalantly asked, “Is she unable to deal with a thousand feet aquatic beast?”
Li Qingchan calmly explained, “I can naturally deal with a thousand feet aquatic beast, but am currently
obstructed by Kong Shen and Ye Ge’s cooperation.”
“Kong Sheng and Ye Ge?” Zhou Yuan secretly wet his lips. So the two of them were working together to
exclude Li Qingchan.
1616
Elder Miao smiled as she nodded. “That’s right. If Yaoyao can help Li Qingchan stop Ye Ge, she will have a
chance to compete for the thousand feet aquatic beast.”
By this point, Yaoyao, Li Qingchan and Zhou Yuan were all aware of elder Miao’s intentions.
So she planned on borrowing their power to contend against Kong Sheng and Ye Ge.
Yaoyao’s gaze seemed to sweep toward Li Qingchan.
Li Qingchan was a little unable to shame with the humiliation any further, and somewhat stubborn said,
“Elder Miao, I can deal with those two. Moreover, even if I lose this chance, there will still be other
opportunities in the future.”
She was not willing to lower her head in front of Yaoyao.
“Both you and Kong Sheng and just that single step from the Divine Dwelling stage. If you yield this
chance to Kong Sheng, he will be a step ahead…” Said elder Miao with a solemn expression.
“So I hope that you will not be wilful.”
Li Qingchan’s brows tightly knitted together. In the end, she could only grit her teeth and turn away.
Elder Miao turned towards Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao with a friendly expression and said, “I hope that the
two of you can give me face and resolve the conflict you have with Qingchan, while taking this
opportunity to turn an enemy into a friend…”
Zhou Yuan let out a bitter laugh. Elder Miao may appear kind and friendly, but she was obviously a
formidable person. If they were to reject, based on elder Miao words, they would be disrespecting her as
an elder.
Zhou Yuan looked towards Yaoyao and said, “I think you should be the one to decide.”
How could he not know that elder Miao was only concerned about Yaoyao. As for himself, he was at best
some kind of accompanying freebie. Thus, he still had to seek Yaoyao’s opinion. If she refused, Zhou Yuan
would rather offend Li Qingchan than force Yaoyao to help.
After all, Li Qingchan’s importance was a far cry from Yaoyao’s in his eyes, and he would respect her
wishes even if he ended up offending an elder.
Yaoyao fell silent for a brief moment, before gently tapping her jade Genesis Rune Brush on her palm. Her
eyes seemed to swirl in thought as the corners of her mouth raised slightly. “We can help… but she has to
ask herself.”
Li Qingchan’s eyes immediately widened, her full chest heaving slightly.
1617
Zhou Yuan could not help but place his hand over his eyes.
Big sis, we’ve already reached this stage, can you not cause trouble now!
1618
In the end, Li Qingchan was unable to speak the words from her mouth, her gorgeously pretty face a
blend of anger and shame. How could she not know that Yaoyao wanted to make her bow.
However, given her unbending and stubborn character, it was obviously not going to be easy to make her
submit.
Hence, just as Li Qingchan was about to break the deal, elder Miao could only step up and smooth things
over.
Upon seeing this, Yaoyao did not persist in her request, merely giving an alternate suggestion, “Since that
is the case, we want half of that thousand feet aquatic beast’s Dragon Genesis Essence crystal.”
Elder Miao immediately had something to say about this.
However, Li Qingchan was faster. “Deal.”
She rather split the benefits than yield.
In addition, she did not want to owe Yaoyao anything. After all, Zhou Yuan was the cause of the problem,
and it had nothing to do with Yaoyao. However, Yaoyao was now the one contributing, and as for Zhou
Yuan… from what Li Qingchan could see, he was just someone who purely relied on Yaoyao, and this
collaboration had nothing to do with him.
Zhou Yuan’s second layer Alpha-Origin strength basically made him unqualified to be part of this fight.
Hence, splitting half of the Dragon Genesis Essence crystal would make things even with Yaoyao,
everyone getting what they needed and no one owing anyone else anything. It would also prevent her
from feeling indebted to Yaoyao when they met again.
This was something the prideful Li Qingchan could not accept.
When elder Miao saw how decisively Li Qingchan had responded, she could only somewhat helplessly
say, “Lass, half of the Dragon Genesis Essence crystal will not be enough for you to reach an eight dragon
baptism.”
Li Qingchan calmly replied, “No matter, we are not losing out either as long as we ensure that Kong Sheng
is unable get a lead.”
Elder Miao could only smile bitterly as she shook her head. This lass was really too stubborn, she could
clearly enjoy the complete Genesis Dragon Essence crystal if she just opened her mouth.
1619
Yaoyao gently tapped the jade Genesis Rune Brush on her palm as she glanced at Li Qingchan in slight
surprise, evidently not expecting her to make such a decision. However, it also made Yaoyao give a slight
nod of approval, the dislike she had towards Li Qingchan due to her overbearingness earlier fading
somewhat.
Yaoyao offhandedly asked, “Shall we go then?”
Li Qingchan nodded, before her cold as an ice mountain eyes turned towards Zhou Yuan. “He doesn’t
need to come along, right?”
Although the matter had been forcibly resolved, Li Qingchan felt somewhat unnatural when she looked at
Zhou Yuan. The moment she recalled how he had seen everything, an uncomfortable feeling would fill her
entire body.
Humiliation and anger, magnified to the extreme.
Of course, the most important reason was because a second layer Alpha-Origin like Zhou Yuan could not
possibly interfere in a battle between Chosens such as Kong Sheng and Ye Ge.
To be blunt, Zhou Yuan would only be a burden if he went.
Zhou Yuan naturally understood Li Qingchan’s thinking, and could only laugh helplessly, not angry that
he was being looked down upon. There was indeed a gap between him and the ten great Chosens such Li
Qingchan, and it was only logical for him to be treated with contempt.
Since it was the truth, Zhou Yuan would naturally acknowledge it. He was not so narrow-minded that he
would resent her because of this.
There was a slight trace of cheekiness in Yaoyao’s eyes as she glanced at him and leisurely said, “Let him
follow us. Who knows, he may even turn out to be useful.”
Li Qingchan frowned slightly, clearly unable to comprehend what use a second layer Alpha-Origin
disciple would be in such a situation. However, since Yaoyao had spoken, it would not be appropriate for
her to object. In any case, they would just make sure Zhou Yuan was far away when they fought. Although
he was weak, he was admittedly very quick. At the very least, he had managed to evade her pursuit for
quite some time earlier.
Her gaze swept past Yaoyao and Zhou Yuan, somewhat curious about their relationship. It was clearly no
ordinary relationship, and went far beyond that of simple friends.
This baffled Li Qingchan even more. Based on her initial impression, Yaoyao was clearly a rather
indifferent and aloof individual. If Li Qingchan’s iciness was akin to a mask, Yaoyao’s iciness originated
from within. Someone like her was extremely difficult to get close to, what more with someone else of the
opposite sex.
1620
Most importantly, Yaoyao’s appearance, aura and Genesis Rune talent made her an object of adoration for
numerous disciples even in a place like the Cangxuan Sect.
Hence, numerous extremely talented disciple would surely be smitten by here, and these disciples were
definitely even more outstanding than Zhou Yuan, whether it was in the aspect of looks or talent...
In Li Qingchan’s opinion, the two of them lived in completely different worlds, and yet, contrary to all
reason or logic, Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao had such a close relationship. This really greatly baffled the
former.
How had Zhou Yuan obtained the favor of a genius blessed by the heavens such as Yaoyao?
While such thoughts were swirling in her heart, elder Miao spoke up, “Since everything has been settled,
you guys should hurry up and act. It will not be appropriate for me to interfere in the subsequent
matters.”
According to the rules of the sect, battles in the Genesis reservoir were the affairs of the disciples, and the
duty elder was only here to respond to any unexpected events. The main reason she had come here was
because she had been alarmed by Li Qingchan’s killing intent, and now that everything had been resolved,
elder Miao naturally had to return to patrolling the Genesis reservoir.
Li Qingchan gave a faint nod.
Elder Miao revealed a kind smile to Yaoyao and Zhou Yuan as Genesis Qi rose under her feet. She rose
into the air and swiftly disappeared into the horizon.
In the wake of elder Miao’s departure, the atmosphere by the reservoir turned silent again.
Li Qingchan and Yaoyao were both cold and unresponsive. If the other party did not speak, they would
not open their mouths either.
After some silence, Zhou Yuan was the first to cave in under the awkward atmosphere. “Senior sister Li,
shall we get going? If you know the location, lead the way.”
Li Qingchan shot a look at Zhou Yuan and nodded. Without saying anything, she rose into the air and
began flying towards a certain direction.
“This young lady is really very prideful.” Commented Yaoyao as she gently twirled her Genesis Rune
Brush while watching Li Qingchan leave.
“No matter how prideful she is, she still can’t beat you.”
Remarked Zhou Yuan in his heart, before peering into the distance. “I’m looking forward to see what a
thousand feet aquatic beast is like.”
1621
Someone is already looking down on you. You’d better not bring too much shame to me later on.” Teased
Yaoyao.
Zhou Yuan chuckled as if he really did not mind at all. “It is indeed true that I am currently unable to
interfere in a battle between Chosens. That’s why she wasn’t wrong… of course, no one can tell what the
future will hold.”
Towards the end, a certain arrogance was finally revealed in his voice.
With regards to pride, Zhou Yuan did not have less than others. However, pride was pride after all, and he
had to acknowledge reality. He knew that there was indeed a gap between him and the ten great Chosens
for now, but he also believed in himself. It was only a matter of time for him to catch up to them.
As long as he was given some time, he would show Li Qingchan that there was really nothing amazing
about a Chosen.
“Are you planning on slowly making her take notice of you, and ultimately sway the tender heart of a
maiden? She’s the number one beauty of the Cangxuan Sect.” Yaoyao grinned.
Zhou Yuan hastily smiled and said, “What number one beauty, what chance does Li Qingchan have now
that big sis Yaoyao is also in the Cangxuan Sect!”
“Is that so? You’ve already seen her body after all, aren’t you tempted?” Yaoyao’s tone was tinged with
amusement.
Zhou Yuan’s face turned black as he hurriedly changed the topic.
“Let’s get going, we should also find out for ourselves how good those two Chosens are…”
Zhou Yuan’s foot pushed off the ground as golden Genesis Qi whizzed out, carrying two of them into the
sky, and swiftly began flying in the direction Li Qingchan had taken earlier.
1622
Chapter 315 The Two Girls Allied
The vast Genesis reservoir stretched out as far as the eye could see, the faint mists swirling in the area
enough to make anyone become lost within it.
At a certain location in the Genesis reservoir.
A young man in black slowly walked on the surface of the water, his expression as calm as a deep pool.
After a long time, his footsteps suddenly paused as he looked down at the bottomless depths below him.
At a certain deep depth, he could just barely make out the silhouette of an enormous slowly swimming
shadow.
“Have you finally appeared…” The young man in black was naturally the number two amongst the ten
great Chosens, Kong Sheng. A flush of excitement surfaced in his black stone like eyes as he gazed at the
enormous black shadow in the depths of the reservoir.
The black shadow was obviously the thousand feet aquatic beast he yearned for even in his dreams.
Kong Sheng slowly squatted, closing his eyes as he reached into the ice-cold waters. Powerful Genesis Qi
surged out of his body without any reservation at this moment.
Genesis Qi tinged with black light stealthily slipped into the water.
The black light Genesis Qi rapidly began to gather above the head of the enormous shadow, transforming
into a black glowing sword. Extremely sharp sword Qi began to converge on the sword.
Swish!
The sword descended, fast as lightning as it thrust into the thousand feet aquatic beast’s body.
Howl!
A miserable cry exploded in the water, causing giant thousand feet high waves to rise. Though it had
suddenly been attacked, the aquatic beast did not retaliate, but instead hurriedly fled with a swish of its
tail, shooting away like a bolt of thunder at a speed no one could hope to match.
The most troublesome part of hunting aquatic beasts in the Genesis reservoir was finding them and
chasing them down.
Aquatic beasts were adept at hiding in the reservoir, making them extremely difficult to discover, and it
was also nearly impossible to catch up to them if they chose to run.
1623
Kong Sheng’s black stone like eyes were akin to the edge of a blade, easily piercing through the waters
and locking onto the giant escaping figure. He did not panic at all, and merely sent out a thought.
Buzz!
A black glowing sword began to form again in the direction the thousand feet aquatic beast was
swimming in, pulsing with peerless sword Qi...
The aquatic beast hurriedly changed directions the moment it felt the sword Qi.
This repeated itself several times as the mindless aquatic beast unknowingly began fleeing in the
direction Kong Sheng was directing it in...
Kong Sheng walked across the waves, his steps slow and unhurried, but his figure was akin to a phantom,
appearing a hundred feet away in a few breaths.
This chase lasted for only a brief period.
A sharp look suddenly appeared in Kong Sheng’s eyes as he shouted, “Ye Ge, close the net!”
In the water some distance to the front, Ye Ge hovered on his Genesis Qi. His gaze fell upon the enormous
black shadow that was rapidly approaching, and suddenly flung open his spacious sleeves with a shout,
“Boundary, rise!”
Bzz bzz!
The instant his shout was heard, the water within a ten thousand feet radius suddenly began to boil.
Countless Genesis Qi rays of light shot out from the water, swiftly connecting to each other as if forming a
giant net of light.
Countless runes seemed to flow along the net, continuously absorbing the surrounding Genesis Qi.
Thud!
The enormous thousand feet water beast arrived, its giant body powerfully slamming into the net,
causing it to stretch at an alarming angle. However, the glowing net was extremely tough, ultimately
neutralizing the force as it sent the thousand feet aquatic beast catapulting backwards.
The net slowly began to close, like a boundary that had completely trapped the aquatic beast, cutting off
all means of escape.
“Success!” Ye Ge landed on the surface of the reservoir with a faint smile. “This big guy can’t escape
anymore.”
1624
Kong Sheng gently rubbed his hands together and praised, “As expected of the Chosen of Spirit Rune
Peak, such mastery of Genesis Runes is truly unmatched.”
“Leave the killing of the aquatic beast to me.”
A slight smile was revealed on Kong Sheng face as he peered into the deep reservoir waters where the
thousand feet aquatic beast was struggling desperately. In his eyes, there was no hope for a trapped
aquatic beast.
Its Dragon Genesis Essence crystal was his.
Swish!
However, just as Kong Sheng was about to enter the waters to slay the thousand feet aquatic beast, the
mist in the vicinity suddenly swirled as a wave of frosty Genesis Qi suddenly swept over. Its temperature
was so low that even the surface of the sea was frozen over.
The wave of frost headed straight for Kong Sheng.
The sudden attack made him frown as he fiercely swung his sleeve.
Pchla!
Sword Qi poured out of his sleeve, directly shredding apart the water in front of him. The wave of frosty
Genessi Qi was also torn to pieces.
Kong Sheng gazed at the mist and slowly said, “Li Qingchan, you already know that you can’t succeed,
why must you still put up this useless struggle?”
The mist gradually dissipated as a slender figure walked over on the water. The graceful figure naturally
belonged to Li Qingchan.
She chillingly stared at Kong Sheng and flatly said, “It is not so easy to make me give up.”
Ye Ge also helplessly shook his head and said, “Why must you do this senior sister Qingchan. You have no
chance at all.”
“I disagree!”
Iciness flitted across Li Qingchan’s eyes as boundless Genesis Qi soared out from the top of her head. The
temperature began to plummet as frost that could be seen with the naked eyes spread from under her
feet.
Kong Sheng merely chuckled softly and said, “Ye Ge, I’ll have to trouble you to deal with her.”
1625
Ye Ge sighed helplessly as his arms extended from his wide sleeves and slowly met in front of him. In the
next instant, a low shout rang out, “Sea prison boundary!”
Rumble! Rumble!
The surface of the reservoir in the vicinity abruptly exploded as giant water pillars dashed into the sky.
The pillars linked to each other, creating a prison of water with Li Qingchan at its center.
Li Qingchan frowned as she took a step forward. Powerful Genesis Qi transformed into countless ice
arrows that violently shot forward.
Plop! Plop!
However, the attacks merely passed through the water prison, unable to cause any damage to it.
“Senior sister Qingchan, this boundary was prepared in advance as a countermeasure against you. Never
mind if you didn’t come, but since you did, this boundary will stop you for long enough for Kong Sheng to
slay that thousand feet aquatic beast.”
Ye Ge slowly said, “You should give up once the Dragon Genesis Essence crystal falls into his hands,
right?”
Li Qingchan’s pretty face turned slightly frostier. It seems that they still had something up their sleeves
even after advising her to withdraw earlier.
These two were very loathsome indeed.
Li Qingchan inhaled deeply, coldly glancing at the slightly smiling Ye Ge before shutting her eyes.
The sight of this made Ye Ge believe that she had given up at last, causing him to breath a soft sigh of
relief. It was naturally best that he did not have to fight with Li Qingchan.
“Are you still not going to act? Is this very fun to watch?”
However, before his entire sigh could be released, he suddenly heard Li Qingchan’s voice.
Ye Ge and Kong Sheng were taken aback.
“Is this what a battle between you Chosens look like? It doesn’t seem to be as amazing as I’ve imagined…”
While they were stunned, a clear, indifferent and melodious voice echoed from within the mist.
The instant the voice rang out, the three individuals present discovered that the water prison trapping Li
Qingchan had suddenly began to boil. At closer inspection, one would realise that lava like runes had
appeared on the water pillars at some unknown time, the dreadful heat evaporating the water prison...
1626
“Who?!” Ye Ge’s pupils tightened slightly. Who was this person who could so easily unravel his Genesis
Rune boundary!
Ye Ge and Kong Sheng’s gazes looked towards the mists nearby.
The mist rippled as figure slowly walked out. Her gorgeous yet empty looking face was revealed under Ye
Ge and Kong Sheng’s gazes.
It was Yaoyao.
She gazed at puzzled Ye Ge and Kong Sheng as she indifferently said,
“Saint Genesis Peak, Zhou Xiaoyao.”
1627
Chapter 316 Occupied
“Saint Genesis Peak, Zhou Xiaoyao?”
Kong Sheng and Ye Ge stared in confusion at Yaoyao’s figure. The former’s brows were furrowed. He had
clearly never heard of such an individual. Moreover… Saint Genesis Peak? Wasn’t that the peak that had
practically hit rock bottom? When did such an amazing person appear from there?
In contrast with Kong Sheng’s bewilderment, Ye Ge’s eyes flickered as a look of understanding flashed in
his eyes.
Ye Ge’s wide sleeves fluttered in the wind as he looked towards Yaoyao and slowly said, “So you are the
Zhou Xiaoyao teacher White regards so highly that he’s even willing to pass the position of peak master to
you…”
Amazement flitted across Kong Sheng’s black stone like eyes when he heard this. He recalled vaguely
hearing about this matter before, but did not put much thought into it. But from the looks of it, it seemed
to be true.
To think that the girl before them, whose looks and presence were not the least bit inferior, and maybe
even surpassed Li Qingchan, possessed talent in Genesis Runes that amazed even peak master Bai Mei.
Kong Sheng frowned. If this was true, things were going to be a little troublesome today.
The other members of the ten great Chosens were either out on missions or in closed cultivation, leaving
only the three of them free to participate in the current Genesis Marrow Baptism. Hence why he had
collaborated with Ye Ge to stop Li Qingchan.
However, he never expected that even without the other Chosens, Li Qingchan was still somehow able to
find a seemingly equally troublesome helper...
From how Yaoyao had broken the Genesis Rune boundary Ye Ge had spent so long preparing, her
strength was clearly in no way inferior to Chosens like them.
Kong Sheng looked at Yaoyao, and suddenly chuckled as a warm smile appeared on his sharp and
handsome face. “Junior sister, this matter is between us and junior sister Li Qingchan, and there is no
need for you to interfere. If junior sister Li Qingchan has promised you anything, we can also come to an
agreement.”
One had to admit that Kong Sheng was indeed a charming individual. He was only only handsome but
also had quite a presence. Thus, there were many female disciples in the sect that adored him greatly.
If it was any other ordinary girl in Yaoyao’s place, it would be very difficult for them to resist his charms.
1628
Unfortunately, it was Yaoyao he had encountered. In the face of his charming elegance, not even the
slightest change appeared on the latter’s beautiful face.
There was only indifference in Yaoyao’s eyes as she looked towards Kong Sheng, and said in a calm and
clear voice, “Don’t waste your breath. If you want this thousand feet aquatic beast’s Dragon Genesis
Essence crystal, it would be best for you go ahead and start the fight.”
Yaoyao’s directness made the smile on Kong Sheng’s face turn slightly rigid, feeling a little awkward.
Li Qingchan stepped forward at this moment, powerful Genesis Qi hovering in the sky above her head like
a giant storm of snow and ice. She coldly looked at Kong Sheng and said, “Kong Sheng, there’s no need for
you little tricks. You should just go ahead and show me how much your Underworld Demon Sword Qi has
improved.”
Kong Sheng frowned as he replied, “Li Qingchan, neither of us will benefit from fighting, and that aquatic
beast may even end up escaping.”
“May I suggest giving in to me this one time, and I’ll owe you a favor.”
Li Qingchan chuckled coldly. “Why not you give in to me instead, and I’ll owe you a favor?”
While the two of them faced each other, neither willing to back down an inch, Yaoyao suddenly spoke up,
“Relax, there is naturally someone who will be dealing with that thousand feet aquatic beast.”
Kong Sheng and Ye Ge was slightly alarmed. Did Li Qingchan’s group have another formidable helper?
Li Qingchan seemed to realise something, her pretty face immediately turning somewhat unnatural.
Yaoyao ignored all of them, merely tilting her head slightly towards the back as she said, “What’s a man
like you doing all the way at the back? We’ll let you deal with that aquatic beast.”
Kong Sheng and Ye Ge’s sharp gazes were immediately cast over, with the intent of finding out who
exactly it was. Did so many capable individuals really appear in the Cangxuan Sect with nearly no one
noticing?
Their gazes were aimed at the mist behind girls, from which the sound of feet walking across the water
could be heard. Next, they saw a young figure emerge.
The moment they caught sight of him and felt the Genesis Qi undulations from his body, the expressions
on their faces could not help but turn rather rigid.
“Second layer Alpha-Origin stage?” Kong Sheng and Ye Ge exchanged a look, seeing the twitching corners
of the other party’s eyes.
1629
Such strength was basically the lowest tier existence in the inner mountains. Where had Yaoyao found
the courage to let him deal with a thousand feet aquatic beast? Even though it had already been seriously
injured by Kong Sheng earlier, it was still not something a second layer Alpha-Origin disciples could face.
Li Qingchan could not help but cover her forehead with a hand as if feeling a little humiliated. She did not
know why Yaoyao was sending Zhou Yuan… given his strength, he did not even have the qualifications to
reveal himself in a battle like this. Forcibly sticking him in would only be inviting shame to them.
Zhou Yuan helplessly shrugged in response to the strange gazes from the three of them, while Tuntun
yawned lazily on his shoulder.
Yaoyao continued to ignore the rest as she said to Zhou Yuan, “You guys shouldn’t have a problem with
the big fellow down there, right?”
“We’ll give it a try.”
Zhou Yuan nodded. Although it was a thousand feet aquatic beast, he had Tuntun’s help. Tuntun was
obviously going to be the main force, while he acted as support.
Without further ado, he submerged into the water, slowly approaching the area where the aquatic beast
had been trapped.
Li Qingchan immediately looked towards Yaoyao, and could not help but ask, “Are you really planning on
letting him go? Isn’t that just sending him to his death?”
“Didn’t you want to murder him earlier? Wouldn’t it go along with your wishes if he dies?” Yaoyao merely
smiled faintly.
Li Qingchan froze momentarily, before gritting her teeth. “I will naturally find a chance to deal with him
myself. There’s no need to feed him to an aquatic beast.”
“Don’t worry.” Yaoyao could not be bothered to explain.
While they were talking, Kong Sheng and Ye Ge watched in confusion as Zhou Yuan entered the water.
They could not understand why Yaoyao would dare to let him challenge the thousand feet aquatic beast.
This was no different from sending him to his death.
Kong Sheng’s gaze flickered in thought. Regardless of whether it was Yaoyao or Zhou Yuan, neither
displayed much hesitation, especially the latter.
“There must be something strange about him. He cannot be allowed near the aquatic beast.” Kong Sheng
was prudent by nature, and ultimately decided not to ignore Zhou Yuan just because he was a second
layer Alpha-Origin. The former immediately wave his sleeve, causing a flash of black sword Qi to soar into
the sky and explode, resulting in a faint but piercing sword cry to echo.
1630
He looked towards Li Qingchang with a faint smile. “I’ve also instructed several Sword Cometh Peak
disciples to station themselves nearby. Although they’re useless against you, it is still better to be
prepared just in case.”
Not long after he said this, a dozen flashes of Genesis Qi arrived from some distance away. They were
obviously disciples from the Sword Cometh Peak, and each one was pretty strong, the majority purple
sash disciples.
“Senior brother Kong Sheng!” They greeted Kong Sheng from far away.
Kong Sheng nodded and pointed towards the water. “Go and capture that person.”
“Understood!” The dozen or so disciples looked downwards, finding Zhou Yuan’s figure, their expressions
extremely relaxed. After all, they had sensed that Zhou Yuan was merely a second layer Alpha-Origin, and
any one of them here could easily deal with him.
Plop!
The dozen figures shot forth at the same time, creating an encirclement that began to close around Zhou
Yuan.
Only then did Kong Sheng nod in approval, his face regaining its calm as he looked towards Li Qingchan.
“Since you insist on ruining things for me, neither of us shall even dream about obtaining that Dragon
Genesis Essence crystal today.”
Black Genesis Qi aburptly exploded from his body, deadly and sinisterly cold.
At the same time, Ye Ge also looked towards Yaoyao, his wide sleeves swaying slightly as he said in an
interested voice, “Junior sister, truth be told, I’m a little unable to accept how teacher Bai thinks so highly
of you…”
“Since we just so happened to meet today, show me what exactly is so amazing about your Genesis Rune
mastery.”
Yaoyao’s pretty face remained impassive, merely giving a slight nod.
“Sure.”
1631
Chapter 317 Two Girls VS Two Chosens
On the glittering surface of the reservoir, four figures stood facing each other.
Kong Sheng glanced at the water below, before withdrawing his gaze. The dozen Sword Cometh Peak
disciples will teach that second layer Alpha-Origin disciple how ignorant he was.
His gaze looked towards Li Qingchan as his expression gradually turned solemn, an icy light flashing in
his eyes.
Li Qingchan’s actions had made things become uncertain again, and even someone like Kong Sheng with
strong mental fortitude was beginning to grow angry inside.
Kong Sheng’s hands slowly closed as black Genesis Qi converged towards his palm, gradually
transforming into a long black sword.
Its was quite a bewitching yet ghastly sight, appearing as if it was made from black bones, while faint but
piercing howls seemed to echo from its body, making the Genesis Qi in one’s body grow irritated.
This sword was known as the Black Demon Sword, and was a genuine low grade Heaven Genesis
Weapon. It was crafted from the bones of a grade 6 Black Demon Crocodile, and boasted immeasurable
power.
Kong Sheng himself had already stepped into the ninth layer Alpha-Origin stage long ago, and only a
single step separated him from the Divine Dwelling stage. With a Heaven Genesis Weapon in his hand, the
presence he gave off made the originally calm waters around them begin to churn violently as towering
waves rose.
Black Genesis Qi dashed straight into the sky like a sword, giving off a terrifying presence.
“It’s been some time since I last fought with junior sister Qingchan. I too am quite interested to know if
your Mysterious Lotus Qi has grown more refined.” Said Kong Sheng in a flat voice.
Li Qingchan knew that Kong Sheng had been angered, and was going to use his real power. However, she
was not afraid. Her hands came together as snow-white Genesis Qi whizzed out, transforming into an icy
jade lotus below her feet.
This icy jade lotus was called the Mysterious Jade Lotus and was also a low grade Heaven Genesis
Weapon.
Li Qingchan gently tapped the lotus with her foot. The Mysterious Jade Lotus began to tremble as its
petals fell off, akin to icy jade blades as they revolved around Li Qingchan.
1632
No one could see their shadows when the jade blades moved, only the scars left behind in space itself
were visible, weapons so deadly that one scalp would turn numb at this sight.
In a battle between two Chosens, neither individual dared to be careless.
Their gazes clashed, iciness surging between them. A split second later, both figures shot forth as
powerful Genesis Qi abruptly tore up the water within a ten thousand feet radius.
...
In contrast to the earth-shaking duel between Kong Sheng and Li Qingchan, Yaoyao and Ye Ge’s
battlefield appeared rather peaceful. Neither party was adept at wielding Genesis Qi, but their Spirits
shuddered between their brows, emanating Spirit energy that likewise shook one to the very core.
Ye Ge’s Genesis Rune Brush was striped black and white. A faint smile appeared on his handsome face as
he gazed at Yaoyao. He suddenly jerked his wrist, the tip of the brush lightning quick as it danced through
the air.
“Grade 4 Genesis Rune, Flame Dragon Wheel!”
A complicated Genesis Rune emerged the moment his brush descended, causing the surrounding Genesis
Qi to be sucked towards it. The temperature rapidly rose as a dozen feet wide wheel of fire was created at
the center of the rune.
Atop the wheel was a flame dragon that let out a low hiss.
The water beneath their feet began to bubble and boil.
“Go!”
Ye Ge’s sleeve swung confidently as the flame dragon wheel shot forward, ripping apart the surface of the
water below as it made a beeline for Yaoyao at an alarming speed.
Ye Ge’s astonishing proficiency in Genesis Runes was immediately revealed the moment he attacked, a
grade 4 Genesis Rune drawn and completed in a brief period of a dozen breaths. He was indeed worthy of
being the Chosen of Spirit Rune Peak.
Boom!
However, when the flame dragon wheel was several dozen feet from Yaoyao, the surface of the water
suddenly broke open as an enormous water dragon emerged. With a roar, it swallowed the flaming wheel
in a single gulp.
“Grade 4 Genesis Rune, Devouring Water Dragon!” Yaoyao’s nonchalant voice echoed as she lightly
tapped her jade Genesis Rune Brush in the air.
1633
Plop!
The water around Ye Ge suddenly broke apart at this moment as four roaring water dragons emerged.
They dashed towards him from four directions, their mouths opening wide as they ferociously attempted
to take a bite out of him.
“Drawing four Genesis Runes in an instant…”
Ye Ge’s pupils shrank slightly. An ordinary Devouring Water Dragon rune would only create one water
dragon, but four had appeared at the same time. This meant that Yaoyao had drawn four grade 4 Genesis
Runes in the water a split second earlier.
How much Spirit control was required in order to achieve such a feat?
“Zhou Xiaoyao is indeed remarkable.”
A grave look appeared on Ye Ge’s face. Soon after, dazzling rays of light began to shine from his daoist
robe as complicated rune after rune slowly appeared, enveloping him like a giant golden bell.
Dong!
The roaring water dragons smashed into the giant bell, causing a loud ‘dong’ to resound across the area,
the powerful sound wave causing ten thousand feet high waves to rise around him.
...
While the earth-shaking battle was occurring above the surface, the depths of the Genesis reservoir
seemed considerably calm in comparison.
Zhou Yuan’s figure swiftly shot past, heading straight for the trapped thousand feet aquatic beast deep in
the water.
However, his figure suddenly came to a half after a few dozen breaths, frowning slightly as he looked up.
The surface of the water was torn apart as a dozen figures shot downwards on their deadly sword Qi.
They were the Sword Cometh Peak disciples Kong Sheng had summoned.
Most of them were extremely powerful purple sash disciples that were not the least bit inferior to the
likes of Zhou Tai and Zhang Yan. Hence, the look in their eyes resembled that of a cat looking at a mouse
when they gazed at Zhou Yuan.
“Brat, you really aren’t tactful at all. How can a second layer Alpha-Origin like you have the qualifications
to meddle in senior brother Kong Sheng’s affairs?”
“Scram or else there will be suffering.”
1634
The other Sword Cometh Peak disciples roared with laughter.
Zhou Yuan could not help but grin as he patted Tuntun on his shoulder and said, “I’ll be depending on
you.”
The other party had numbers advantage, and was indeed a powerful force. If it was just him alone, it
would be very unlikely for him to pass.
Tuntun understood that time was of the essence, directly transforming into a flash of light as it shot
forward. It abruptly began to grow, transforming into its sinister looking battle mode.
Rumble!
Berserk Genesis Qi undulations swept out wards like a storm.
The Sword Cometh Peak disciples’ expressions changed drastically, terror flashing in their eyes as they
shouted, “This beast is formidable, attack together!”
They had felt the pressure from Tuntun’s body, telling them that it was obviously no ordinary Genesis
Beast.
Swish swoosh!
Deadly sword Qi exploded from the bodies of the disciples, seemingly covering the entire area as they
blasted at Tuntun.
Clang clang clang!
However, the sword Qi was easily blocked by the dark golden scale armor on Tuntun’s body. With a roar,
Tuntun charged into the group, causing chaos and mayhem for a time.
The previously high and mighty Sword Cometh Peak disciples were now miserably fleeing in all
directions.
Zhou Yuan softly chuckled as he watched the chaos. Without delaying any further, his figure moved,
rapidly descending deeper into the reservoir. He eventually arrived at the location where the thousand
feet aquatic beast was trapped.
“So this is a thousand feet aquatic beast.” Zhou Yuan could not help but wet his lips at the sight of the
enormous creature trapped inside the Genesis Rune boundary. Even though it was gravely injured, the
pressure it gave off was extremely intense.
This was nothing like any of the aquatic beasts Zhou Yuan had encountered before.
1635
“If I manage to obtain the Dragon Genesis Essence crystal in its body, this trip to the Genesis reservoir
will be perfect.” Zhou Yuan licked his lips, intense desire flitting across his eyes.
However, he soon began to frown, feeling somewhat awkward.
The thousand feet aquatic beast was already right before his eyes...
But Tuntun was busy now, so how was he going to slay this thousand feet aquatic beast by himself?
1636
Chapter 318 A Way
Rumble!
In the depths of the Genesis reservoir, giant water pillar after pillar interweaved, forming a giant net that
trapped the thousand feet aquatic beast. It desperately struggled, its enormous body repeatedly
slamming into the water net, making it bend at alarming angles.
Zhou Yuan stood just outside the net, a grave expression on his face as he watched the struggling beast.
Fortunately, the grade 4 Genesis Rune boundary Ye Ge had clearly spent a tremendous amount of effort
to set-up was quite effective, and was able to withstand the repeated charges of the thousand feet aquatic
beast.
“It’s a top tier grade 4 Genesis Rune boundary after all.” Zhou Yuan sighed in amazement.
One must know that a grade 4 Genesis Rune boundary and a grade 4 Genesis Rune were on completely
different scales.
A Genesis Rune boundary was not merely made from a single Genesis Rune but numerous connected
runes of various grades, making it extremely complex. If one compared a Genesis Rune to a cog, a Genesis
Rune boundary would be akin to complete clock.
Hence, drawing a Genesis Rune may be relatively simple, while constructing a Genesis Rune boundary
was very difficult.
What’s more, this Genesis Rune boundary of Ye Ge’s was top tier even amongst other grade 4 boundaries.
Zhou Yuan estimated that even someone with the strength of the ninth layer Alpha-Origin would be
trapped by it.
It was clear that Ye Ge had put in a lot of effort into trapping this thousand feet aquatic beast.
“But although this boundary is amazing, it’s only a matter of time before it gets broken by that aquatic
beast.” Zhou Yuan fell into thought as he gazed upon the aquatic beast that madly charged into the net
time and time again. With a grasp of his hand, the Heavenly Yuan Brush appeared and swiftly
transformed into its martial form.
Pchla!
With a jolt of his arm, the snow-white hairs at the brush tip thrust forward like a stream of white. A sharp
aura pulsed at the brush tip, deadly without equal.
The snow-white hairs pierced the thousand feet aquatic beast, however, it was basically ineffective on the
aquatic beast’s behemoth of a body.
1637
Zhou Yuan’s eyes narrowed slightly, his hands forming a seal as he shouted, “Nine Dragons Canon, eighth
dragon!”
Rumble!
Eight beast shaped Genesis Qi dashed out from the top of his head, roaring as they gathered above him.
They formed a line, head to tail as they charged into the net and smashed into the aquatic beast’s body.
Berserk undulations devastated the surroundings, making the water churn violently.
However, when the waters returned to calmness again, Zhou Yuan’s brows tightly knitted together. The
eight dragons he had sent out had barely inflicted any damage to the thousand feet aquatic beast.
However, it made sense when he thought about it. Although the aquatic beast was already in a seriously
injured state, it was a powerful existence that could match a ninth layer Alpha-Origin expert.
Zhou Yuan on the other hand would at best be able to face a fifth layer Alpha-Origin opponent.
Rumble!
After being attacked by Zhou Yuan again, the thousand feet aquatic beast thrashed about agitatedly. It
made a crazed charged at the net again, ramming into it again and again.
Under its mad thrashing, ripples began to appear on the water net boundary.
The net was evidently about to reach its limit.
“Is Silver Shadow the only option?” Mumbled Zhou Yuan to himself with a frown. The thousand feet
aquatic beast had been gravely injured by Kong Sheng earlier, decreasing its battle power to seventh
layer. If Zhou Yuan activated Silver Shadow, he should be able to put up a fight.
However, Silver Shadow was his hidden trump card and many would likely detect it if it was used. He
would rather not use Silver Shadow unless he had no other choice.
As such, he muttered to himself as he stared at the water net.
...
Meanwhile, on the surface.
Ding!
Kong Sheng stood atop the water as the black sword in his hand slashed downwards, creating a hundred
feet long black sword Qi that blew away the lotus flower jade blades that were shooting towards him.
1638
Giant gaping wounds seemed to be torn open on the surface of the water, only gradually being filled up
again after some time.
Kong Sheng was expressionless as he shot a look downwards and said with a grin, “Li Qingchan, the
aquatic beast is about to break free of the water net. That brat you’re counting on seems to be quite
helpless.”
Li Qingchan frowned slightly. She had naturally also sensed the activity below, and Zhou Yuan did seem
powerless from the looks of it.
However, there was nothing much she could do either. She did become a little hopeful earlier due to
Yaoyao’s confident appearance, but it seemed that her hope was not realistic at all.
At the end of the day, Zhou Yuan was merely a second layer Alpha-Origin expert, and did not possess the
qualifications to appear in a clash like this.
Disappointment flitted across her eyes, though it did not reveal itself on her face.
Kong Sheng smiled faintly and said, “If the aquatic beast is allowed to break free and escapes into the
depths of the reservoir, both of us will return empty handed today… junior sister Qingchan, if you can let
me have it, I will remember this debt.”
His tone was filled with earnesty towards the end.
However, Li Qingchan’s face remained impassive, not moved at all by his proposal. It was obvious that his
collaboration with Ye Ge had already angered her. How could she possibly allow Kong Sheng to get away
with it so easily.
She rather neither of them obtain it than let Kong Sheng have his way.
Li Qingchan glanced down as she gently bit into her red lips. Of course, she was still hoping for a miracle
to happen deep in her heart.
What if Zhou Yuan discovered a way to deal with the thousand feet aquatic beast?
Kong Sheng grew somewhat angry due to Li Qingchan’s lack of response. “It seems that you’ve not give up
yet. Are you really placing your hopes into that second layer Alpha-Origin brat?”
“Junior sister Qingchan, when did you become so naive…”
Li Qingchan ignored him, her powerful Genesis Qi sweeping outwards as her attacks grew increasingly
ferocious.
In the depths of the Genesis reservoir.
1639
Zhou Yuan was still floating in the same place as before, deep in thought and a slight glimmer in his eyes
as he gazed at the Genesis Rune boundary before him.
“Hey, can you do it or not? If you can’t just set the aquatic beast free so neither side will get it!” While
Zhou Yuan was thinking, a cold voice suddenly pierced through the water, wrapped by Genesis Qi as it
precisely entered his ears.
Zhou Yuan’s expression rippled slightly as he lifted his head. The one who had transmitted this message
to him was Li Qingchan.
She had likely sensed his lack of activity and decisively urged him to release the aquatic beast.
Zhou Yuan chuckled, before he also sent his voice upwards, wrapped in Genesis Qi, “Senior sister Li, don’t
ask a man whether he can do it or not in the future, because that is the most humiliating question for any
man.”
On the surface, anger and embarrassment interweaved on Li Qingchan’s pretty face, her jaw clenching so
hard that she nearly shattered her teeth.
“Pervert!”
“Let’s how your sharp tongue will help you deal with that aquatic beast!”
Zhou Yuan laughed again in the depths of the reservoir, as if seeing Li Qingchan’s embarrassed and angry
appearance. However, he soon cast away these useless thoughts, an unreadable look in his eyes as he
turned towards the Genesis Rune boundary again, his fingers lightly tapping the back of his other hand.
“It’s not like there’s no way to deal with this aquatic beast…”
1640
Chapter 319 Modifying the Genesis Rune
Boundary
“This Genesis Rune boundary…”
In the depths of the Genesis reservoir, Zhou Yuan gazed at the water net boundary that was trapping the
thousand feet aquatic beast as his eyes flickered in thought. It was not like there was no way to deal with
this creature.
However, Zhou Yuan did not plan on facing it directly. Given his current strength, it was impossible for
him to be the thousand feet aquatic beast’s match even though it was already heavily injured.
“I can make use of this Genesis Rune boundary.” Zhou Yuan seemed to contemplate something.
In a certain manner of speaking, the Genesis Rune boundary before had the potential to deal a
tremendous blow to the thousand feet aquatic beast, but it currently only functioned to trap the creature,
and lacked any form of offense.
If not, the thousand feet aquatic beast wouldn’t be having such a good time, with more than enough
energy to spare towards attempting to destroy the boundary.
“If I make a slight modification to this boundary and give it offensive capabilities, I should be able to make
that aquatic beast suffer a little.” Mumbled Zhou Yuan to himself.
However, if his words were heard by Genesis Rune experts, all of them would likely burst out into
laughter.
A Genesis Rune boundary was akin to a machine, every part working in unison. A slight tweak would
likely cause the entire machine to fall apart.
Of course, this did not mean that a Genesis Rune boundary could not be modified, but to do so would
require an in depth knowledge of every tiny detail of the boundary, such that one would be able to clearly
sense the flowing Genesis Qi within.
It was a feat that even Ye Ge was not confident of doing.
“Others may not be able to… but I could give it a try?” Zhou Yuan softly chuckled as an ancient rune
surfaced in the depths of his pupils. It was obviously the Decoder Saint Rune.
The moment it appeared, the appearance of the Genesis Rune boundary before Zhou Yuan changed, the
patterns and movement of the Genesis Qi within it becoming unbelievably clear in his eyes.
In a few brief moments, he understood how the Genesis Rune boundary operated.
1641
“Amazing. This boundary is constructed from eighteen grade 4 Genesis Runes, over eighty grade 3 runes
and several hundred lower grade ones…” Zhou Yuan sighed in admiration. A grade 4 boundary was a
wonder indeed. Who knew how long Ye Ge had taken to prepare it.
After observing for some time, several ideas began to pop up in his head.
Before he could do anything, however, it must be noted that this Genesis Rune boundary was set-up by Ye
Ge and contained traces of his Spirit power. For Zhou Yuan to make any changes, he would first have to
remove the former’s Spirit power.
But if this was detected by Ye Ge, a single thought was all it would take for him to destroy the boundary,
making all of Zhou Yuan’s plans go up in smoke.
Hence, he needed to think of a way to stop Ye Ge from sensing the boundary.
Zhou Yuan pondered for a while, before lifting his head. Genesis Qi wrapped around his voice again as
was transmitted through the water, heading straight into the ears of Yaoyao, who seemed to be
somewhat interested in her Genesis Rune battle with Ye Ge.
“Big sis Yaoyao, could you disrupt that guy’s Spirit senses for a moment.”
The Genesis Rune brush in Yaoyao’s hand paused briefly as she swept a glance towards the depths of the
reservoir. Soon after, the corners of her mouth raised slightly for a moment as if already knowing what
Zhou Yuan was planning.
“Not bad, you’ve learnt how to use your head at last.” Mumbled Yaoyao to herself in a low vocie.
Spirit light suddenly dazzled between her brows as a Spirit wave unfurled, noiselessly sweeping towards
Ye Ge.
It was a Spirit attack.
Ye Ge immediately sensed it, causing his heart to shiver. A Spirit attack may not appear as impressive as a
blast of Genesis Qi, but it was far more dangerous. If one was careless, one’s Spirit may end up being
scattered, making one akin to a piece of meat on the chopping board.
Hence, he immediately spread his Spirit power, creating a thick Spirit shield in front of him.
Bang!
A faint sound was heard as the invisible wave arrived. If any living being was caught in its radius, its
Spirit would likely be scattered.
Even with the Spirit shield, Ye Ge’s Spirit was briefly dazed by the attack, making his reactions somewhat
slower.
1642
“To think that her Spirit is so powerful!”
Ye Ge’s expression grew increasingly grave. From the earlier attack, Yaoyao’s Spirit felt akin to the
Genesis reservoir below his feet, immeasurable and without end.
His Spirit pulled back as he began to gather all of his power, no longer able to spare any attention to the
Genesis Rune boundary in the depths of the reservoir.
Meanwhile, a smile appeared on Zhou Yuan’s face in the depths of the reservoir. With the Decoder Saint
Rune, he could see Ye Ge’s Spirit power in the Genesis Rune boundary slowly weaken.
This meant that Ye Ge’s control over it was waning.
“I can do it now!”
Zhou Yuan rubbed his hands together, before grabbing the Heavenly Yuan Brush. The Decoder Saint Rune
in his pupils slowly began to revolve as a mysterious aura spread. The tip of his brush slowly descended,
touching the boundary.
Bzz!
When the two came into contact, the boundary began to ripple the Genesis Qi within it stirring slightly.
Zhou Yuan’s expression remained unchanged as the tip of the brush swiftly began to move. The Spirit
between his brows flickered as Spirit power flowed out from the brush tip.
A complicated rune gradually took shape. The moment it was complete, the brush tip pushed, sending the
rune into the boundary.
The boundary immediately began to shake violently as if on the verge of collapsing.
However, Zhou Yuan swiftly took control of the Genesis Rune, fusing it into the boundary little by little by
following the circulation of Genesis Qi to neutralize the rejection from the boundary.
After his initial success, Zhou Yuan began to work once again as rune after rune was continuously sent
into the boundary.
“Water to Toughness Rune!”
“Golden Jade Rune!”
“Reflection Armor Rune!”
“Metal Wall Rune!”
1643
“……”
None of the runes activated after being fused into the boundary, patiently waiting for the moment they
would strike.
When the final rune was sent in, Zhou Yuan finally breathed a sigh of relief. He massaged the spot
between his brows, smiling as he gazed at the interior of the boundary. The thousand feet aquatic beast
roared once again, as its titanic body ferociously charged at the boundary. Berserk Genesis Qi gathered at
the tip of its head, the force of the charge so great that even a mountain would be blasted to pieces.
If nothing was done, this charge would destroy the boundary.
However, Zhou Yuan did not move to stop the beast, but instead let out a soft chuckle as he watched.
The water in the reservoir was violently torn apart by the force.
Boom!
In the blink of an eye, the thousand feet aquatic beast was just about to hurl itself at the net, its instincts
telling it that the water net boundary would definitely be broken this time.
Right before impact, however, Zhou Yuan’s Spirit shook and the runes that had been fused into the
boundary suddenly activated at this moment.
The entire Genesis Rune boundary began to shudder violently.
One could only watch as the net gradually disappeared, a screen of water taking its place.
The water screen gave off a golden jade like luster, multiple layers of light flickering upon it, transforming
it into an indestructible water wall!
Clang!
The thousand feet aquatic beast ruthlessly slammed into the water wall, a loud earth-shattering noise
ringing across the area. A terrifying shockwave devastated the surroundings, towering giant waves rising
in the waters within a several ten thousand feet radius.
Crack!
The Genesis Rune boundary finally reached its limit at this moment, and shattered.
The powerful shockwave flung Zhou Yuan away, the Magical Python Scales on his body continuously
shattering. From this, one could tell just how destructive the shockwave was.
This activity immediately to the surface.
1644
The participants of the two battlefields were immediately alarmed as they swiftly created distance from
their opponents, bewilderment in their eyes as they looked down.
The first thing they saw was the shattered Genesis Rune boundary.
Kong Sheng and Li Qingchan’s expressions changed slightly.
“The Genesis Rune boundary is broken… that thousand feet aquatic beast has escaped!” Kong
Sheng’s expression was quite ugly. This meant that he would be returning without achieving anything
this time.
Li Qingchan was also stunned for a moment, before letting out a sigh. Neither side had won in the end.
“The one you placed your hopes on doesn’t seem to have much ability. Junior sister Qingchan, don’t bring
such a person to any future clashes of this level, because he will only end up making a fool of himself.”
Said Kong Sheng, his tone filled with iciness and mockery.
Li Qingchan frowned, paying no heed to his words.
The Genesis Qi undulations around her gradually withdrew. Since the thousand feet aquatic beast had
already escaped, there was no need to fight any further. It seems that both herself and Kong Sheng would
be returning empty handed this time.
Li Qingchan glanced at the depths of the reservoir, finding Zhou Yuan, who was still miserably tumbling
in the water after being blasted away by the shockwave earlier. She sighed in her heart as she laughed at
herself.
He was ultimately only a second layer Alpha-Origin, placing her hopes in him had indeed been a rather
baffling act.
While she was sighing inside, calm gradually returned to the water in the depths of the reservoir.
Li Qingchan’s eyes nonchalantly swept past, her eyes abruptly widening a moment later as disbelief
began flooding her pretty face.
At the site of the Genesis Rune boundary explosion, the thousand feet aquatic beast was indeed nowhere
to be seen, but there was a half foot large Dragon Genesis Essence crystal peacefully floating in the water.
Li Qingchan could not help but cover her mouth, a raging storm churning in her heart.
That thousand feet aquatic beast… had been killed?!
1645
Chapter 320 Success
The intense battle on the surface of the reservoir quietly came to an end, and peace returned to the area.
While Li Qingchan stared at the depths of the Genesis reservoir in disbelief, Kong Sheng also seemed to
sense something, and immediately cast his gaze downwards, before he pupils abruptly shrank.
He too had seen the dazzling Dragon Genesis Essence crystal.
The sight of the crystal violently shook the heart of even someone like Kong Sheng as he could not help
but say, “How is this possible?!”
How had the thousand feet aquatic beast suddenly died!
Zhou Yuan was merely a second layer Alpha-Origin practitioner, an existence akin to ant before the
thousand feet aquatic beast even if he were to risk his life against it.
So how had the thousand feet aquatic beast died?
In the face of such a scene, Kong Sheng and Li Qingchan could only look at each other, unable to
comprehend.
While the two Chosens were dumbstruck, in the depths of the reservoir, Zhou Yuan shot forward and
kept the half foot large Dragon Genesis Essence crystal into his Universe bag in one swift motion.
“What a stupid fellow…”
Said Zhou Yuan as clicked his tongue. In a manner of speaking the thousand aquatic beast had been killed
by its own charge.
It had used its full power to slam into the water wall, but what it did not know was that it was no longer
the soft water net from before. Under Zhou Yuan’s modification, the boundary had changed
characteristic, becoming an extremely tough and solid wall.
Water to Toughness Rune, Golden Jade Rune, Reflection Armor Rune...
These runes had bestowed the characteristics of toughness and sturdiness to the water wall, and had
even given it the power of reflection. The stronger the aquatic beast’s charge, the greater the backlash it
would suffer.
Of course, Zhou Yuan’s modifications had gathered up all of the Genesis Rune boundary’s power, and it
would have been destroyed regardless of whether it managed to stop the thousand feet aquatic beast.
1646
As such, the aquatic beast had concentrated all of its power into that one final charge, shattering the
boundary while also killing itself...
Zhou Yuan patted his Universe bag in satisfaction. It had not taken him much effort this time, because the
main contributor was the Genesis Rune boundary set-up by Ye Ge.
Without the power of the boundary, Zhou Yuan would have likely failed to slay the thousand feet aquatic
beast even if he did use up every iota of his power. There was just far too great of a gap between them.
Zhou Yuan began rising towards the surface, encountering the Sword Cometh Peak disciples along the
way. All of them were wailing like ghosts as they were being chased around by Tuntun, each one a sorry,
bloody sight with fearful eyes.
Zhou Yuan shook his head at this scene. It was fortunate that Tuntun understood it was allowed to kill. If
not, all of the disciples would be corpses by now.
“Tuntun, let’s go.”
Zhou Yuan called out to it.
Upon hearing Zhou Yuan’s call, Tuntun somewhat reluctantly turned around, its body rapidly shrinking to
the size of a tiny dog as it landed on Zhou Yuan’s shoulder.
Zhou Yuan glanced at the Sword Cometh Peak disciples. There was no longer any trace of the arrogance
from before. Each one was in an extremely pitiful state, gazes filled with terror when they looked towards
him.
They had clearly been thoroughly oppressed by Tuntun earlier.
Zhou Yuan smiled at them, before moving again. His body rapidly ascended and eventually broke out of
the water, landing on the surface of the reservoir.
The surface was quite calm and peaceful. Zhou Yuan gazed at Kong Sheng and Li Qingchan, who had been
staring at him from the beginning, and asked, “Hehe, is everyone done fighting?”
Li Qingchan’s gaze was tinged with amazement as she stared at Zhou Yuan, unable to stop herself from
asking, “You killed the aquatic beast?”
Zhou Yuan chuckled. “Actually, it killed itself.”
The corners of Li Qingchan’s mouth twitched slightly. How could a thousand feet aquatic beast that could
match a ninth layer Alpha-Origin have killed itself?
1647
“You changed my Genesis Rune boundary?!” It was at this moment that a voice sounded from behind
Zhou Yuan. He turned around, only to find Ye Ge approaching on the water, his gaze tightly fixed onto
Zhou Yuan.
Yaoyao also slowly walked over, making it apparent that their battle was likewise over.
Ye Ge glanced at Yaoyao, strong wariness flitting across his eyes. In their duel earlier, he now finally
understood just how immeasurable she was. No matter how he attacked with Genesis Runes, Yaoyao had
been able to counter in an even fiercer manner, easily destroying all of his attacks.
It was obvious who was the superior one between them.
After dozens of exchanges, even Ye Ge had to admit it no matter how reluctant he was. Yaoyao mastery
over Genesis Runes far surpassed his imagination.
Since he already knew what the outcome would be, Ye Ge stopped attacking. Yaoyao was clearly just
toying with him, and it would not be very tactful of him to continue.
As Ye Ge approached, his gaze locked onto Zhou Yuan. Kong Sheng and Li Qingchan may not know what
had happened, but the former had faintly sensed a strange disturbance from the Genesis Rune boundary
he had set-up at the depths of the reservoir.
When all these observations were pieced together, he was almost certain that Zhou Yuan had modified
his Genesis Rune boundary, and then used it to slay the thousand feet aquatic beast.
“Changed your Genesis Rune boundary?!” Li Qingchan and Kong Sheng were stunned, bewilderment in
their eyes as they looked towards Zhou Yuan.
Althoug they were not proficient in Genesis Runes, they did have a rough understanding of it. Hence, they
clearly understood just how difficult it was to modify a Genesis Rune boundary.
It required an extremely detailed understanding of the Genesis Rune boundary.
But how long had Zhou Yuan been in contact with that Genesis Rune boundary?
Li Qingchan’s mouth hung slightly open. Due to the matter from before, she did have some bias towards
Zhou Yuan. Yaoyao’s protectiveness in particular had made the former view him as a person that could
only depend on a woman.
However, it new seemed as if she had been wrong about him?
Zhou Yuan merely smiled in response to the trio’s puzzled gazes, not bothering to explain anything as he
retrieved the half foot large Dragon Genesis Essence crystal from his Universe bag.
The moment it appeared, Kong Sheng and Li Qingchan’s gazes immediately shot over.
1648
Kong Sheng looked at Zhou Yuan, a smile emerging on his rugged face as he said, “Junior brother, if you
give that item to me, I can make a promise that will surely interest you.”
Li Qingchan shot a cold look at Kong Sheng. “Kong Sheng, have you not given up yet?”
“Everything has a price, as long as one is willing to pay.” Kong Sheng smiled slightly. His gaze shifted
towards Zhou Yuan as he slowly said, “You should be junior brother Zhou Yuan of Saint Genesis Peak, am
I right?”
“If you give it to me, I will let you become the chief disciple of Saint Genesis Peak.”
Li Qingchan coldly snorted. “Kong Sheng, every chief disciple made from facing countless challenges and
adversity. You do not have the qualifications to give it.”
Kong Sheng smiled. “I may not have the qualifications, but I can make junior brother Yuan Hong step
aside.”
Surprise flashed in Zhou Yuan’s eyes. It was indeed true that Yuan Hong was currently the greatest
contender for the seat of chief disciple. If Kong Sheng could make him step aside, elder Shen’s group
would have a really good chance.
Normally speaking, it was an offer that tempted one’s heart.
Kong Sheng’s smile grew even wider when he saw Zhou Yuan’s appearance. “How about it junior brother
Zhou Yuan?”
Zhou Yuan seemed to fall into thought for a moment, before he smiled and said, “Your offer is indeed a
little tempting…”
He grinned as he looked towards the frosty face of Li Qingchan. “What do you think senior sister Li?”
Li Qingchan shot him a cold look as she sneered, “I cannot offer the same.”
She could clearly feel that Zhou Yuan had been tempted, and was intentionally asking her for an even
better offer. When she ultimately rejected him, he could void their previous agreement with a clear
conscience, and then proceed to complete the deal with Kong Sheng.
Although such actions were quite shameless, Li Qingchan was a proud woman, and refused to try and
threaten him with their previous agreement. In her opinion, it would instead make her appear weak.
Now, she could only take it that she had collaborated with the wrong person, though she had never once
thought much of Zhou Yuan.
“So unfriendly, no fun at all.”
1649
Zhou Yuan shrugged helplessly before smiling at Kong Sheng. “Senior brother Kong Sheng, although your
offer is very tempting, I have to apologize, because I’ve already promised this Dragon Genesis Essence
crystal to senior sister Li.”
Kong Sheng and Li Qingchan were stunned.
The smile on Kong Sheng’s face turned slightly rigid as he softly said, “You’re… rejecting me?”
He stared a Zhou Yuan, a faint sensation of danger spreading his smile.
In the Cangxuan Sect, a gold sash disciple actually dared to reject his offer?
However, Zhou Yuan seemed to be unable to detect the dangerous sensation, merely smiling as he
nodded with an apologetic face. “I’m really sorry.”
“Won’t give it some consideration?” Kong Sheng smiled again, his black stone like eyes narrowing slightly.
Zhou Yuan shook his head as if put in a difficult spot.
“Heh…”
Kong Sheng chuckled softly, shaking his finger twice at Zhou Yuan as he said, “You are quite interesting…”
“Zhou Yuan, right…”
He deeply looked at Zhou Yuan, the expression in his eyes unreadable.
“Alright, I’ll remember it…”
With a swish of his sleeve, he turned around and walked away on the water.
Ye Ge also shot another glance at Zhou Yuan, clearly quite surprised that he would not give Kong Sheng
face. This kid was really akin to an ignorant calf that was unafraid of a tiger.
However, he did not say anything in the end. After cupping his fists together towards Yaoyao, he also left.
On the surface of the reservoir, Zhou Yuan looked in the direction Kong Sheng had left him and shrugged.
“I seem to have offended someone…”
1650
Chapter 321 Offended
Peace completely returned to the surface of the reservoir in the wake of Kong Sheng and Ye Ge’s
departure. Any signs of the earlier battle were also washed away by the water.
Zhou Yuan’s eyes faintly flickered for a moment as he gazed at Kong Sheng’s back. Although Zhou Yuan
had not wanted things to become so sour between himself and a Chosen, things had not turned out as he
wished.
Moreover, Kong Sheng may have appeared friendly when they talked earlier, but there was a faint trace
of superiority in his voice.
It was clear that Kong Sheng looked down on Zhou Yuan somewhat, and if not for the Dragon Genesis
Essence crystal, the former would not have ‘lowered’ himself to speak to the latter
One was after all a Chosen, while the other was a mere gold sash disciple.
The disparity in their status was far too great.
However, Zhou Yuan merely laughed it off, not feeling humiliated by this treatment. It was true that Kong
Sheng currently had the qualifications to be prideful.
The main reason for this was because Zhou Yuan was weak, but he had time, and believed that Kong
Sheng’s attitude will naturally change when Zhou Yuan one day stood amongst the ranks of the Chosens.
To be treated as an equal, one naturally needed to work hard.
Of course, the problem now was that although Zhou Yuan did not mind Kong Sheng’s arrogant attitude,
the latter rather minded the fact that Zhou Yuan had rejected the offer...
In Kong Sheng’s eyes, Zhou Yuan likely did not have the right to reject him.
“How troublesome…”
Zhou Yuan helplessly stuck out his lower lip. There was already an agreement between him and Li
Qingchan, and would naturally not renegade on it for Kong Sheng or he would only end up offending Li
Qingchan for no good reason.
After all, unintentionally trespassing into Li Qingchan’s personal hot spring had already angered her. If he
were to also go back on his word, he would likely be banished into the abyss in the heart of the number
one beauty of the Cangxuan Sect.
Moreover, Li Qingchan and Kong Sheng were both Chosens, so no matter how one looked at it, Zhou Yuan
could not possibly offend Li Qingchan because of Kong Sheng.
1651
Never offend a woman.
Especially one that was so pretty.
While Zhou Yuan was lamenting in his heart, a fragrance suddenly drifted over from the side. He turned
his head, to find that Li Qingchan had arrived beside him, a strange look in her usually cold as an ice
mountain eyes.
Li Qingchan nonchalantly asked, “You dare to reject even Kong Sheng?”
Zhou Yuan sighed. “If I don’t offend him, I’ll be offending you. Do I have a choice?”
Li Qingchan’s eyebrows raised slightly. “Are you saying that I’m scarier than Kong Sheng in your eyes?”
Zhou Yuan stretched his back and chuckled. “I only feel that it will be much easier to better my
relationship with you than him. He doesn’t seem to think much of me, so it likely won’t mean much to him
even if I did give him the Dragon Genesis Essence crystal.”
Li Qingchan glanced at Zhou Yuan in astonishment, not expecting him to have such a clear view of the
situation. It seems that she had still underestimated him somewhat.
“Since I’ve offended Kong Sheng because of you, you’ll have to support me in future.” Teased Zhou Yuan.
It was suppose to be a joke, but Li Qingchan gave a slight nod in response and earnestly declared, “If he
does cause trouble for you, feel free to find me at Snow Lotus Peak.”
Although she was still somewhat unable to get over the fact that Zhou Yuan barged in while she was in
the hot spring, Li Qingchan agreed that Zhou Yuan had offended Kong Sheng because of her, and felt
responsible for this matter.
“Eh…” Zhou Yuan was taken aback, clearly not expecting such an earnest reply from Li Qingchan.
However, Li Qingchan’s gaze quickly shifted towards Yaoyao and said, “But I feel that with her at your
side, Kong Sheng will be pretty powerless to do anything to you.”
Yaoyao lazily said, “From the earlier exchange, the Chosens of Cangxuan Sect are indeed quite
disappointing.”
Li Qingchan’s frowned a little. Yaoyao’s words were clearly belittling all of the Chosens, including herself.
Li Qingchan icily said, “Shameless boasting.”
Yaoyao’s clear, empty eyes paused on Li Qingchan’s lovely figure as she said in a slightly interested voice,
“Try me if you don’t believe my words.”
1652
“I’ll happily take up that challenge.” Li Qingchan immediately responded. She was a proud person after
all.
Since Kong Sheng had already been dealt with, the two girls seemed to be about to butt heads again.
Zhou Yuan’s head ached. How could not see that Yaoyao was intentionally provoking Li Qingchan. Though
she was usually rather distant and unfriendly to others, she immediately responded to all of Yaoyao’s
provocations.
Afraid that the two girls would come to blows again, Zhou Yuan hastily threw the Dragon Genesis Essence
crystal to Li Qingchan.
Li Qingchan hurriedly caught it, glaring at Zhou Yuan as she said, “According to our agreement, you two
should get half of the crystal.”
As she spoke, she moved to cut it open.
However, Zhou Yuan waved his hand to step her as he said, “The amount of Dragon Genesis Essence I
currently have is enough for me to achieve a seven dragons baptism, I believe you should be in the same
situation, right?”
Although Li Qingchan was aware that Zhou Yuan had quite a number of Dragon Genesis Essence crystals,
she could not help but be somewhat shocked when she heard he could reach a seven dragons baptism.
After all, she clearly understood just how difficult it was to gather these crystals. In the entire Cangxuan
Sect, only Chosens like her who owned territory in the Genesis reservoir would be able to achieve a seven
dragons baptism.
And yet, a mere gold sash disciple had also achieved this.
Even if he had a helper at his side that did not lose to a Chosen like Yaoyao, without his own personal
territory, finding so many aquatic beasts in this vast reservoir was incredibly difficult.
While confusion flashed in her head, Li Qingchan nodded.
“Since both of us are already at the seven dragons baptism, the thousand feet aquatic beast Dragon
Genesis Essence crystal will enable either one of us to reach the eight dragons baptism. But if split, it will
only be akin to a useless ornament that will result in neither of us reaching eight dragons.” Explained
Zhou Yuan with a smile.
Li Qingchan naturally already understood this. Her eyes flowed in thought, not batting an eyelid as she
secretly wondered if Zhou Yuan was trying to come up with some kind of excuse for him to take the
entire crystal.
“What are your intentions?”
1653
Zhou Yuan chuckled. “You can have the entire Dragon Genesis Essence crystal.”
Surprised immediately appeared on Li Qingchan’s face. Soon after, she warily stared at Zhou Yuan and
asked, “So generous?”
The Dragon Genesis Essence crystal of a thousand feet aquatic beast was something that even the ten
great Chosens would fight over. Was Zhou Yuan really willing to give it to her? Did he have some kind of
ulterior motive?
Zhou Yuan could not help but laugh bitterly in response. “Of course I’m not giving it to you for free. My
condition is that you give us permission to enter your territory in the Genesis reservoir where I will find a
second thousand feet aquatic beast. When it's found, you will be responsible for slaying it.”
Half a thousand feet aquatic beast Dragon Genesis Essence crystal was indeed incapable of allowing Zhou
Yuan to reach an eight dragon baptism. Hence, why not give it to Li Qingchan in return for a favor.”
It was said the Chosens personal territory was abundant with aquatic beasts. Since Zhou Yuan had the
ability to search in the reservoir for prolonged periods, he could attempt to find a second thousand feet
aquatic beast.
In the Genesis reservoir, he had even more of an advantage than these Chosens.
Therefore, just because the Chosens failed to find any did not mean that he would not succeed.
Li Qingchan’s mouth opened slightly and closed in succession, clearly not expecting Zhou Yuan to propose
such conditions. She was clearly the one who was taking advantage.
“Thousand feet aquatic beasts hide themselves in the deepest parts of the reservoir. If they were so easily
found, Kong Sheng would not have tried so hard to snatch it from me.”
“I will deal with how to find it.” Zhou Yuan waved his hand.
“Will you accept my suggestion?”
The iciness in Li Qingchan's eyes had receded substantially. After a brief hesitation, she eventually gritted
her teeth and said, “Deal. However, I dislike taking advantage of you. Even if you fail to find a second
thousand feet aquatic beast, I will continue to help you search until we find one!”
“Take it as repayment for your thousand feet aquatic beast Dragon Genesis Essence crystal.”
Zhou Yuan glanced at her in surprise, unable to stop himself from chuckling. Although Li Qingchan was
very cold and proud, she understood how to repay kindness with grace.
“Alright then.” Hence, he nodded with a grin.
1654
Li Qingchan breathed a small sigh of relief as her gaze swept across Zhou Yuan. This guy did not seem as
loathsome as before.
In addition, now that she had pretty much thrown away her prejudice, she was now seeing Zhou Yuan a
completely different light. The many things that happened today were enough proof that this new inner
mountain disciple seemed to be pretty extraordinary.
Whether it was modifying Ye Ge’s Genesis Rune boundary to slay the thousand feet aquatic beast, or the
confidence to face Kong Sheng without bowing.
“This guy…”
Li Qingchan’s pursed her lips slightly, some bewilderment in her eyes.
“Is he really able to find another thousand feet aquatic beast?”
1655
Chapter 322 Bait
A certain area in the Genesis reservoir.
Giant mountains akin to pillars that held up the heavens separated the reservoir, forming a lush green
valley. The valley was enveloped in mist, making it appear clean and untouched.
In a stone pavilion atop one of the cliffs.
Yaoyao sat on a mat, holding a jade pot in her hand as she poured herself a drink, painting a perfect
picture of leisure and relaxation.
Her fine black hair gracefully hung from her head, a faint blush on her glossy skin due to the alcohol,
adding a few points more to her already perfect face. Several of the female disciples in the vicinity of the
pavilion could not help but sneak a glance, their eyes filled with amazement. This was probably the first
time they had seen someone who was not the least bit inferior to Li Qingchan in terms of looks.
Opposite Yaoyao sat Li Qingchan sat with a straight posture. Her clothes wrapped around her alluring
curves, displaying her enchanting figure. She swept a glance at the mist covered waters in the distance
and said, “You’re quite relaxed. The Genesis reservoir will close tomorrow, but there’s still no signs of a
thousand feet aquatic beast.”
This was Li Qingchan’s personal territory, which she had brought Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao to after coming
to an agreement back then.
Zhou Yuan spent the subsequent days searching for any signs of a thousand feet aquatic beast in the
Genesis reservoir. However, there had been no results after several days.
The ten day limit was just around the corner, and if Zhou Yuan was still unable to find a thousand feet
aquatic beast, his Genesis Marrow Baptism would be stuck at the seven dragons level.
Although a seven dragons baptism was already a dream for many disciples, with the exception of the ten
Chosens, Zhou Yuan’s ambitions were not so small. If not, he would not be working so hard to find a
thousand feet aquatic beast.
“It’s his choice. He bears the responsibility regardless of success or failure.” Yaoyao’s voice was clear and
pleasant to the ear. She glanced at Li Qingchan and unhurriedly said, “You on the other hand has received
such a huge favor from him, but have not given him much help.”
Li Qingchan calmly replied, “I’ve promised to help him find it in the future if he fails this time, and I won’t
stop until I return him a thousand feet Dragon Genesis Essence crystal.”
Yaoyao gently swirled the cup in her hand as she said in a drawn out manner, “I’m just worried that
someone will conveniently forget about it after obtaining an eight dragons baptism.”
1656
“Thoughts of a lowly person!” Li Qingchan coldly snorted.
Outside the stone pavilion, the other female disciples were secretly alarmed by the seemingly calm yet
gunpowder laced exchange of words between the two girls. Who exactly was this unbelievably pretty girl.
It was hard to believe that she dared to speak in such a manner to eldest senior sister.
Moreover, from eldest senior sister’s appearance, she seemed to be quite wary of this beautiful girl.
While the two girls were bickering, a figure zoomed past the depths of the Genesis reservoir on golden
Genesis Qi, heading towards the deeper parts.
It was Zhou Yuan.
“The Genesis reservoir is closing tomorrow. If I’m still unable to find a thousand feet aquatic beast, I will
be stuck with a seven dragons baptism.” Zhou Yuan’s gaze faintly flickered in thought as he continued to
search in the reservoir.
Although a seven dragon baptism was already very stunning, since he had a chance to bring it a step
further, he would naturally chase after perfection.
After all, he was still not a purple sash disciple, and it would be a long time before he got the opportunity
to enter the Genesis reservoir again.
“Looks like it’s not going to work out unless I take drastic measures.”
Zhou Yuan frowned as he contemplated something, before tapping Tuntun on his shoulder. “Ordinary
methods aren’t going to draw out a thousand feet aquatic beast. I plan on taking the role of bait, but it
would surely attract a tremendous number of aquatic beasts. Can you help protect me?”
Tuntun snorted in a pleased manner, before slowly extending a claw, indicating a split of eight to two.
It was asking for an eighty percent share of the Dragon Genesis Essence crystals.
Zhou Yuan clenched his jaw as he glared at the exploitative little creature, but ultimately nodded his head
in agreement. He no longer needed any ordinary Dragon Genesis Essence crystals. Only a thousand feet
Dragon Genesis Essence crystal will work as a primer of sorts to raise him to the eight dragons level.
After coming to an agreement, Zhou Yuan crossed his legs and sat down in the water. With a deep breath,
a resolved look flashed in his eyes as the Omni Python Qi in his Qi Dwelling erupted without reservation
at this moment.
Roar!
1657
The low rumble of a dragon roar echoed, causing the water to ripple violently. Golden Genesis Qi whizzed
out from the top of Zhou Yuan’s head, like a several hundred feet tall golden pillar of light that pierced the
reservoir.
An enormous golden python was faintly discernible within the golden pillar, faint dragon claws appearing
near its belly, while golden lumps rose on its head, like growing dragon horns.
The Omni Python Qi unfurled, causing a huge disturbance in the depths of the reservoir.
The waters churned violently as titanic translucent figures began to arrive from all over, swiftly enclosing
around the area Zhou Yuan was located.
Their numbers were extremely astonishing.
Zhou Yuan had been suppressing his Genesis Qi in the reservoir ever since learning that it would attract
aquatic beasts, so as to prevent drawing unnecessary attention. But now, he had no choice but to go all
out in order to play his part as bait.
However, it would put him in a perilous situation. He would surely be seriously injured if Tuntun failed to
protect him.
For the sake of the thousand feet aquatic beast, he could only risk it on this gamble.
*Stomach rumbling*!
The reservoir waters rippled as countless aquatic beasts surged towards him, giant eyes filled with greed
and desire as they locked onto Zhou Yuan.
Roar!
Tuntun jumped off Zhou Yuan’s shoulder as its body rapidly began to grow. It transformed into its
imposing battle form as berserk Genesis Qi swept outwards like a storm.
A terrifying pressure accompanied it, like the king of beasts.
The pressure unfurled, suppressing the countless aquatic beasts. They stirred restlessly, not dare to
advance for a time.
However, as larger and larger aquatic beasts appeared, the desire for Zhou Yuan’s Genesis Qi gradually
won over their fear towards Tuntun. In the end, one of the enormous aquatic beasts roared as they
swarmed towards the two.
Roar!
1658
Anger flashed in Tuntun’s eyes, as if feeling its kingly dignity was being challenged. With a roar, its large
mouth opened as black balls shot out one after another.
Suction force spread wherever the black balls passed, destroying aquatic beast after beast.
The battle erupted, berserk blast after blast of Genesis Qi shaking the depths of the Genesis reservoir.
In the stone pavilion atop the cliff.
Yaoyao’s hand suddenly paused, her clear eyes looking towards the reservoir. Her crescent moon like
eyebrows raised slightly as she mumbled to herself, “How reckless of him.”
Li Qingchan looked towards the former and curiously asked, “What is it?”
Yaoyao put down the jade pot, elegantly raising her cups to her lips to take a small sip, before she
nonchalantly said, “Get ready.”
Li Qingchan was taken aback, and hurriedly asked, “What do you mean? Has Zhou Yuan found a thousand
feet aquatic beast?”
There was some disbelief in her voice. After all, she clearly understood just how difficult it was to find
one. Even till now, she was under the impression that Zhou Yuan was trying to show off and would not
really be able to find a thousand feet aquatic beast.
However, Yaoyao did not reply, merely lightly tapping her cup with her long slender fingers, causing faint
but clear sounds to be emitted.
In the depths of the reservoir.
The battle was exceptionally brutal. Tuntun guarded the area within a few dozen feet of Zhou Yuan, its
body transforming into numerous after images as it tore through all of the aquatic beasts that entered
this zone.
As for Zhou Yuan, he silently sat in the center of the battlefield without moving.
Until a certain moment.
He suddenly opened his eyes and looked towards a certain direction where an enormous thousand feet
long object was cutting through the water, its giant shadow looming as it rapidly approached.
It was a thousand feet aquatic beast at full power!
1659
Zhou Yuan immediately stood up and shouted, “Tuntun, we’re leaving!”
There was no hesitation whatsoever as he turned around and shot away.
To slay the thousand feet aquatic beast, he would first have to trap it, because no one would be able to
stop it from escaping.
Tuntun immediately followed, its body shrinking as it hopped onto his shoulder.
Man and beast swiftly fled.
Behind them, the thousand feet aquatic beast roared, its greedy eyes locking onto Zhou Yuan. Though its
body was huge, it relentless gave chase at an astonishing speed.
1660
Chapter 323 Get
Crash!
The surface of the reservoir broke open.
A figure on golden Genesis Qi shot out, an enormous thousand feet long aquatic beast right on his heels,
its greedy eyes glued to Zhou Yuan’s figure.
Behind the thousand feet aquatic beast were numerous other aquatic beasts of various sizes.
On Zhou Yuan’s shoulder, Tuntun barked at the swarm of aquatic beasts behind, as if feeling that being
chased was a humiliation, and was clearly itching to rumble with them.
“Don’t be rash!”
Zhou Yuan hurriedly stopped Tuntun. If they did not first trap the thousand feet aquatic beast, even if
they ended up defeating it, it could escape into the water, and be nearly impossible to chase.
Although Tuntun was somewhat unhappy that he had been stopped, it eventually quietened down.
Only then did Zhou Yuan breathe a small sigh of relief. With a backward glance towards the pursuing
aquatic beasts, the golden Genesis Qi below his feet abruptly sped up.
“There’s still no movement from the Genesis reservoir.” In the stone pavilion atop the cliff, Li Qingchan
gazed at the rippleless surface of the water, before turning to Yaoyao in a doubtful manner. The latter had
asked her to prepare, but she had yet to detect anything out of the ordinary till now.
However, Yaoyao paid no heed to the former’s doubtful look, and began drawing in the air with her jade
Genesis Rune Brush. Rune after rune took shape and flew out, submerging themselves into the water.
Li Qingchan crossed her arms across her chest and grumpily said, “Let me see what kind of nonsense you
guys are up to.”
Boom!
The instant her words sounded, however, berserk undulations suddenly exploded from the reservoir,
causing the originally calm water to boil.
This turn of events startled Li Qingchan. Only now did she sense the activity in the depths of the
reservoir. As Genesis Qi circulated in her eyes, she saw Zhou Yuan rapidly approaching, a black mass of
aquatic beasts right behind him.
1661
“So many?!” Li Qingchan’s expression changed slightly, disbelief in her eyes. Especially when she saw the
thousand feet aquatic beast at the front of the pack, causing her usually frosty face to fill with emotion.
“He has actually found a thousand feet aquatic beast?!”
By now, even someone like Li Qingchan was unable to keep her cool. She knew just how difficult it was to
find a thousand feet aquatic beast. It had taken them more than half a year to even discover any traces of
one.
And yet, Zhou Yuan had managed to discover one after a few short days in the reservoir. How could this
not shock her?
“What exactly did he do? Why do these aquatic beasts appear as if they can’t wait to eat him…” Li
Qingchan was dumbstruck. She had also seen the crazed appearances of the aquatic beasts.
Splash!
While she was stunned, the surface of the water broke apart as Zhou Yuan soared into the sky.
“Do it big sis Yaoyao!” Shouted Zhou Yuan.
The water was torn open behind him as the thousand feet aquatic beast and numerous others shot out,
their giant mouths lunging at Zhou Yuan along with powerful Genesis Qi undulations.
In the stone pavilion, the Genesis Rune brush in Yaoyao’s hand pointed in the air as ripples seem to
spread from its tip.
In the water, countless ancient runes began to glow, erupting into a dazzling radiance a split second later
that swiftly began to spread.
In the short span of a dozen breaths, an enormous ball of light had appeared on the surface of the
reservoir, half of it submerged in the water.
Inside the ball was the thousand feet aquatic beast.
The ball was covered in runes that continuously absorbed the surrounding Genesis Qi. The seemingly thin
film of light was actually extremely sturdy. In addition, the ball was spinning, making the thousand feet
aquatic beast ultimately unable to approach its sides to break free...
This was obviously the Genesis Rune boundary Yaoyao had set-up.
It was clearly far more refined than the water prison boundary Ye Ge had set-up previously.
The boundary was no obstruction to Zhou Yuan, allowing him to pass through freely. He stood in the air
on his Genesis Qi and looked at the other aquatic beasts that were madly attacking the boundary.
1662
“You can go ahead now, we’ll be handling them to you.” He nudged his shoulder and pointed at the
innumerable aquatic beasts.
Tuntun was already at the limits of its patience. It immediately roared the moment it heard Zhou Yuan’s
words and transformed into its combat state. It charged into the reservoir, straight into the pack of
countless aquatic beasts and began to wreak havoc and destruction.
Zhou Yuan did not pay any further attention to it, his body moving and landing on a cliff.
Yaoyao and Li Qingchan also arrived at the same spot at this moment. The latter’s eyes were tightly glued
to Zhou Yuan, as if seeing something inconceivable.
“How did you do it?” Li Qingchan could not help but ask.
A thousand feet aquatic beast was far too rare, while also being almost impossible to find. If not, Chu Qing
would not have been the only one to successfully hunt one and obtain an eight dragon baptism after so
many years.
However, this problem seemed to be non existent to Zhou Yuan.
Zhou Yuan grinned as he shrugged. He was naturally not going to divulge the details to her. After all, if
this matter were to spread, the other Chosens would likely turn their attention to him.
Li Qingchan understood that a little inappropriate of her, knowing that this was Zhou Yuan’s secret and
this did not probe any further. However, it was hard to stop amazement from appearing in her eyes when
she looked towards him.
Zhou Yuan was clearly only an ordinary gold sash disciple, but he was able to repeatedly surpass her
expectations. It was as if there were numerous secrets hidden under his youthful face.
She did not know why, but she had a feeling that though Zhou Yuan was currently a gold sash disciple, he
would become an influential figure in the Cangxuan Sect in the future. In fact, it may not be long before he
too would have a place amongst the ten great Chosens...
While such thoughts swirled in Li Qingchan’s head, Zhou Yuan pointed towards the thousand feet aquatic
beast that was now trapped in the giant light screen and said with a smile, “Senior sister Li Qingchan, it’s
time for you to hold up your end of the bargain.”
The two had agreed that Zhou Yuan would be in charge of finding the thousand feet aquatic beast, while
Li Qingchan would handle the task of slaying it.
“I will naturally fulfill my promise.” Said Li Qingchan.
1663
Although dealing with a thousand feet aquatic beast was not going to be easy, she did not show even the
slightest hint of dissatisfaction. Her foot pushed off the ground as a lotus appeared below her feet,
carrying her into the air and flying into the light screen.
Rumble!
After she entered, an earth-shaking battle immediately erupted. Even with the boundary, the aftershocks
of the fight caused cracks to grow on the nearby mountains.
Zhou Yuan took a quick look, and cast away his worries with a nod, before returning to the stone pavilion
with Yaoyao.
Although the thousand feet aquatic beast had strength that could match the ninth layer Alpha-Origin
stage, it ultimately had limited ways to attack and could not compete with a Chosen like Li Qingchan.
Therefore, there was no need for Zhou Yuan to worry.
Of course, it was definitely not going to be easy either for Li Qingchan to finish off the aquatic beast.
There was a sort of charm to the scene of the two of them sampling alcohol in the stone pavilion as they
watched the intense battle in the reservoir.
The earth-shaking battle lasted for an entire incense stick of time.
Swish!
A figure flew over, landing outside the stone pavilion. That graceful posture could only belong to the
frosty Li Qingchan.
A half foot large Dragon Genesis Essence crystal hovered in front of her. Li Qingchan’s complexion was
currently a little pale, while the Genesis Qi undulations around her had weakened somewhat, signs that
she had just experienced a pretty tough battle.
When she saw Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao leisurely drinking alcohol in the stone pavilion, her hands could not
help but clench tightly as a breath of anger rose in her heart, causing her bosom to heave slightly.
While she was desperately fighting in the reservoir, these two were happily watching while drinking
here!
“Take it and scram!” Rage churning in her heart, Li Qingchan waved her sleeve and the crystal was
ruthlessly flung at Zhou Yuan.
Zhou Yuan hastily caught it and said with a smile, “As expected of a Chosen like senior sister Li, even a
thousand feet aquatic beast is no problem for you.”
Li Qingchan coldly snorted. “Neither us owes the other anything from now onwards!”
1664
Zhou Yuan knew she was in a bad mood and said, “How about we have a cup or two in celebration of
senior sister Li’s eight dragon baptism tomorrow?”
LI Qingchan was immediately going to reject. She was someone who focused on a cultivation and had no
interest in drinking.
However, before she could respond, Yaoyao toyed with her cup and lazily said, “With me here, how can
she possibly dare to share a drink at the same table?”
“What a joke!”
Li Qingchan’s eyes turned round. She refused to give even an inch in front of Yaoyao, so how could she
possibly take this lying down. Li Qingchan immediately walked into the stone pavilion, snatched up the
cup on the table and poured it down her throat in a single gulp.
*Cough*!
Li Qingchan caughed when the alcohol hit her stomach.
Zhou Yuan was dumbstruck, unable to stop himself from saying, “That’s my cup…”
However, Li Qingchan’s cold gaze swiftly shot over, causing him to swallow the words that were at the tip
of his tongue. Even so, Li Qingchan’s gaze somehow appeared both embarrassed and angry.
A flush rose on her pretty fair as jade face.
Thump!
Li Qingchan slammed the cup onto the table as her icy gaze turned towards Yaoyao.
Yaoyao lips curled slightly, giving a light tap to the table as she said, “Good, you’re finally beginning to
resemble a Chosen. However, you dare to sit at the same table as me with so little alcohol capacity?”
With a wave of her hand, jar after jar of alcohol appeared beside her.
The sight of this caused Li Qingchan’s face to turn white, but it was impossible to make her lower her
head and admit defeat in front of Yaoyao. The former gritted her teeth and said, “Do you think that I’m
afraid of you!?!”
She grabbed one of the jars, breaking its seal as she heroically began to gulp it down.
Yaoyao naturally also took one of the jars, elegantly raising her fair neck slightly as she too began to chug
it down.
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By the side, Zhou Yuan could not help but be stupefied by the sight of the two now red-faced girls
downing the jars in their hands.
If a scene like this were to land in the eyes of the other disciples, their eyes would likely be shocked out of
their sockets… Who could have imagined the normally cold as an ice mountain senior sister Li Qingchan
to have such a side to her...
He shook his head, paying no more attention to the two girls as he reached a hand to caress his Universe
bag. The thousand feet Dragon Genesis Essence crystal was finally in the bag.
A smile grew from the corners of Zhou Yuan’s mouth as anticipation flooded his eyes.
The Genesis reservoir will close tomorrow, and the baptism will arrive.
An eight dragon baptism...
I’m really looking forward to it.
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Chapter 324 Baptism Begin
The next day.
The fiery-red sun seemed to slowly rise from the surface of the reservoir. As its rays shined down, the
mist covering the reservoir seemed to retreat slightly.
Dong! Dong!
The loud sound of a bell rang across the area, echoing in every corner of the Genesis reservoir.
The entire reservoir seemed to come alive the instant it was heard, as countless glowing figures rose into
the air and began leaving the reservoir.
Ten days had passed. The disciples that had entered the Genesis reservoir to search for Dragon Genesis
Essence were naturally itching to leave and enjoy the effects of the Genesis Marrow Baptism.
After all, their ten days of hard work was all for this moment.
In the stone pavilion, Zhou Yuan’s eyes slowly cracked open, only to be greeted by the sight of two
beautiful figures lying on the left and right side of the table in front of him. Their fine black hair hung
from their heads, the outline of their enchanting curves made visible by their clothes.
Both of their faces were like warm jade, and currently appeared slightly flushed due to drinking too
much. The usual coldness and indifference was no longer present, making them appear extremely
adorable.
However, while Zhou Yuan was watching them with interest, Li Qingchan’s eyes suddenly opened. The
dazed look in the depths of her eyes lasted for several breaths, before she abruptly sat up straight, iciness
returning to her eyes as she glared at Zhou Yuan.
“Haha, you’re awake?” Zhou Yuan chuckled. “You were actually quite cute earlier.”
The pretty face that had just regained its frosty look immediately blushed as Li Qingchan sent a vicious
glare at Zhou Yuan. “If you dare to speak of what happened last night, I’ll kill you!”
Zhou Yuan smiled helplessly. She was acting as if they had done something unspeakable last night.
Li Qingchan regained control of her feelings as she also sent a vicious glare at Yaoyao. The former had no
idea what kind of spell the latter had put her under, the slightest provocation would make her lose her
usual cool, and become hell bent on finding out who was better.
Spending the entire night drinking was something incomprehensible to the Li Qingchan of the past.
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In comparison, Zhou Yuan felt like he understood. It was mainly because both girls were proud and cold,
possessed both beauty and presence that far exceeded the ordinary, and also rather strong-willed and
competitive.
Thus, neither party was willing to show any weakness in front of the other, and Yaoyao had made use of
this to achieve the desired effect whenever she provoked Li Qingchan.
“You guys can leave the Genesis reservoir first.” Li Qingchan rose to her feet, frowning when she realised
she stank of alcohol, thoughts of taking a bath immediately rising within her.
Just as she was about to leave, she took another look at Zhou Yuan, the iciness in her eyes no longer
present as she said, “It’s mostly thanks to you this time.”
She was naturally referring to the Dragon Genesis Essence crystal she had obtained. Without Zhou Yuan’s
help, both she and Kong Sheng would have returned empty handed.
“We merely made use of each other. Without senior sister Li, I would not have obtained this Genesis
Dragon Essence crystal either.” Zhou Yuan smiled.
Li Qingchan knew that Zhou Yuan was just being polite. After all, he would also have been able to hunt
that thousand feet aquatic beast by borrowing Yaoyao’s power.
The initial bias she had against him due to their initial misunderstanding had already faded substantially
over the past few days. If she were to be honest, she could feel that Zhou Yuan was indeed different from
the rest.
“You should not undervalue yourself. You’re clearly only a gold sash disciple, but you’ve managed to
reach the eight dragon blessing on your first time entering the Genesis reservoir. No one in this
generation of the Cangxuan Sect has even done so.”
Li Qingchan looked towards Zhou Yuan, her red lips parting slightly as she continued, “At the very least,
even Chu Qing only had the chance to reach the eight dragon blessing after becoming a Chosen. In this
aspect, you’ve already far surpassed him.”
She turned around and left immediately before her last word faded.
Zhou Yuan gazed in surprise at her leaving figure, clearly not expecting such words of consolation and
encouragement from her, especially given how cold and unapproachable she was.
“It seems that she has high hopes for you. To think that she’s even used Chu Qing to compliment you.”
While Zhou Yuan was surprised, a lazy voice was heard. He turned his head to see Yaoyao stretching,
before placing a fair hand on her cheek as she looked at him in amusement.
Zhou Yuan smiled helplessly. “It doesn’t mean anything.”
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The reason why he had been able to achieve an eight dragon blessing on his first time in the Genesis
reservoir was due to the special characteristics of the Omni Python Qi. Therefore, it was naturally nothing
to be proud of, and he should never believe that it would give him the right to disregard the Cangxuan
Sect’s Chosens.
“At least that small compliment didn’t fry your brain cells, and you still understand your worth.”
Yaoyao nodded in satisfaction. She rose to her feet, picked up Tuntun and said, “We should get going.”
Zhou Yuan nodded as golden Genesis Qi began rising under his feet, bringing the two of them into the air
and out of the Genesis reservoir.
He was already unable to wait for the start of the Genesis Marrow Baptism.
The area just outside the Genesis reservoir was already flooded with people, making the place extremely
noisy.
Countless figures continued to arrive from the Genesis reservoir, landing on the mountains on the edge of
the reservoir as they began to call out to their friends. It was quite a bustling sight.
Even more disciples were doing an inventory of their Dragon Genesis Essence crystals and estimating
how many levels their baptism would be. Some wore joyful faces, while others sighed in disappointment.
Golden Genesis Qi whizzed past in the air, ultimately landing on one of the peaks, revealing Zhou Yuan
and Yaoyao’s figures.
“Hehe, junior brother Zhou Yuan is out at last.” A voice was heard the moment Zhou Yuan appeared. He
looked to the front, only to find that Zhou Tai, Zhang Yan and the other disciples were already here.
Zhou Yuan cupped his fists and smiled at them.
“Junior brother Zhou Yuan, how did you fare over the past ten days?” A look of concern was revealed on
Zhou Tai’s face.
Zhou Yuan could sense that the former’s concern was not fake, which instead caused him to hesitate for a
moment. He knew that if he were to tell the truth, it would instead end up scaring the lot of them.
An eight dragon baptism was something that only Chu Qing could achieve amongst this generation of
disciples, and he had even done it after becoming a Chosen. How would anyone believe Zhou Yuan if he
told them he had done the same on his first time in the Genesis reservoir.
While Zhou Yuan was hesitating, Zhang Yan chuckled softly and said, “If junior brother Zhou Yuan did not
manage to collect enough, us senior brothers can help by donating a little to you.”
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The other disciples that were close to him laughed, their gazes filled with mockery as they looked
towards Zhou Yuan.
Senior brother Zhou Tai glared at them, before turning back to console Zhou Yuan, “It’s your first time in
the Genesis reservoir after all, and its not strange for you struggle a little. We were also pretty lost the
first time we entered ended up with barely any Dragon Genesis Essence crystals.”
Zhou Yuan smiled and nodded, no taking the mockery of Zhang Yan and gang to heart. When the baptism
began, they would naturally be incapable of laughing any more.
Nearby their group was teacher Lu’s faction, consisting of Lu Yan and the rest.
Lu Yan also detected the disturbance, her gazing sweeping across Zhou Yuan as she soft snorted. From his
hesitant look, it was obvious that his haul in the Genesis reservoir was nothing to write home about.
“Humph, Zhou Tai was still bragging earlier that Zhou Yuan may have a chance to reach the eight dragon
baptism in the future, a feat that can match senior brother Chu Qing… he really is quite ignorant.”
Her red lips curled downwards. Did Zhou Tai really believe that anyone who became the champion of the
peak selection ceremony could reach senior brother Chu Qing’s level?
A handsome disciple beside Lu Yan chuckled and said, “Hehe, no need to be angry senior sister. After
Zhou Yuan has experienced the Genesis reservoir, he will naturally understand what an eight dragon
baptism represents, and gain a clear grasp of the difference between him and senior brother Chu Qing.”
Lu Yan nodded as she withdrew her gaze, paying no further attention to Zhou Yuan.
As time passed, more and more disciples flew out from the Genesis reservoir.
Meanwhile, countless disciples that had not been given the opportunity to enter also rushed over from all
directions. The Genesis Marrow Baptism was quite a momentous occasion after all, and hope to
experience it and broaden their horizons.
The blazing sun rose high in the sky.
Dong!
The clear sound of a bell was heard as a torrent of Genesis Qi soared into the sky. A beautiful woman
stood atop it, who was also the current elder on duty in the Genesis reservoir.
Elder Miao of Snow Lotus Peak.
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She hovered above the giant altar in the sky as her gaze swept across the place. Genesis Qi wrapped
around her voice as it rang out in everyone’s ears.
“Ten days have passed,
“Let the baptism begin!”
The entire place seemed to erupt into a frenzy at this moment.
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Chapter 325 Eight Dragons Appear Once More
An enormous ancient altar floated in the sky above the Genesis reservoir. Stone pillars stood upon it,
covered in ancient patterns that gave off a boundless aura.
Elder Miao was standing in the air above the altar. As the current on-duty elder of Genesis reservoir, she
was naturally overseeing the Genesis Marrow Baptism. There were also a few stewards behind her who
were in charge of helping maintain order.
On the numerous mountains surrounding the Genesis reservoir, countless figures were staring at the
altar with burning eyes, eagerness filling their faces.
However, there were rules to follow. The higher ranked disciples were naturally going to have their turn
first.
As such, a beautiful figure arrived from the air on her Genesis Qi right after the bell was heard. Under
countless gazes of admiration, she landed on the giant stone pillar at the very center.
“It’s senior sister Li Qingchan!”
Li Qingchan was currently wearing a flowing white dress that outlined her exquisite figure and perfect
curves. Her black hair seemed to dance in the wind, giving her an extraordinary aura that took everyone’s
breath away.
However, her pretty face was still cold as ice, like a stern goddess of an icy mountain, an existence that no
one dared to approach.
However, this did not affect her popularity. The moment she appeared, the eyes of countless male
disciples in the area began to heat up, unconcealed adoration lighting up their faces.
The corners of Zhou Yuan’s mouth twitched slightly. If these people were to see how she had chugged jar
after jar of alcohol with Yaoyao last night, would the fantasy image of her in their hearts be destroyed?
Atop the stone pillar, Li Qingchan’s expression remained ice-cold, completely ignoring the countless gazes
that were looking at her. Her eyes swept across the area, seemingly coming to a stop on a certain
mountain peak.
It was where Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao were located.
Elder Miao said to Qingchan with a happy face, “Get ready Qingchan.”
Li Qingchan gave a faint nod in response, before seating herself.
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With a wave of her hand, numerous Dragon Genesis Essence crystals began flying out from her Universe
bag, hovering around her. There were hundreds and hundreds of them, the total reaching an astonishing
number.
Numerous disciples could not help but become somewhat excited by the sight, desire filling their eyes. So
many Dragon Genesis Essence crystals was definitely enough to achieve a seven dragons baptism.
A baptism of that level was not something ordinary disciples could reach.
Bang! Bang!
The Genesis Qi around Li Qingchan suddenly shuddered as the astronomical number of Dragon Genesis
Essence shattered all at once. Liquid like Dragon Genesis Essence fell, continuously dripping onto the
stone pillar.
The Dragon Genesis Essence landed on the pillar, flowing along the ancient patterns adorning it...
Everyone watched as rays of light gradually began to emerge from the mottled stone as the surrounding
Genesis Qi began to gather, and was absorbed into the pillar.
Roar!
Dazzling light continued to shoot out from the stone pillar as the faint roar of a dragon echoed.
This lasted for about half an incense stick of time, before the light from the stone pavilion reached its
peak. In the end, everyone watched as dragon silhouettes soared out from the mottled stone pillar into
the sky, before returning to circle around Li Qingchan.
One… two… in the blink of an eye, there were a total of seven dragon silhouettes!
The Genesis Qi in the entire area seemed to converge towards Li Qingchan, forming a thousand feet wide
storm of Genesis Qi...
“As expected, a seven dragons baptism!”
Numerous disciples gazed at the seven dragon silhouettes with desire. This was something they dreamt
of obtaining.
However, amongst the uncontrollable disciples of the Cangxuan Sect, only the ten great Chosens were
easily able to achieve such a feat. Other disciples, even the chief disciples of each peak, needed some luck
to reach it.
“As expected of a Chosen. A seven dragon baptism is so easy for them.” On a certain mountain peak, Zhou
Tai eyes were filled with envy and admiration. Each of the ten great Chosens owned a small area in the
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Genesis reservoir which was rich in aquatic beasts. Unlike other disciples like them who could only
painstakingly run all over the place to search.
Zhou Yuan smiled when he heard this. “I feel senior sister Li will not stop at seven dragons this time…”
Zhou Tai was stunned. “Could senior sister Li be attempting an eight dragon baptism? That would require
the Dragon Genesis Essence crystal of a thousand feet aquatic beast.”
By the side, Zhang Yan also cast a glance at Zhou Yuan and said, “Junior brother Zhou Yuan should not
spout such nonsense. You’re still too inexperienced and it’s also your first time here at the Genesis
reservoir. It’s only natural that you do not know how difficult it is to find and slay a thousand feet aquatic
beast.”
“The only one to have succeeded over the years is senior brother Chu Qing. All nine of the other Chosens
have tried all means and methods but were ultimately unable to achieve an eight dragon baptism.”
His meaning was clear. He was rebuking Zhou Yuan for spouting nonsense, and not understanding the
difficulty of an eight dragons baptism.
Zhou Yuan was naturally able to discern the hidden mockery within the former’s words, but mere smiled
in response. He ignored Zhang Yan and lifted his head to look in Li Qingchan’s direction.
This attitude gave Zhang Yan the impression that Zhou Yuan understood he was wrong, making the
former feel slightly pleased.
However, the pleased look on his face did not last for long, before countless gasps and yelps suddenly
shook the area as gaze after gaze looked towards the altar in shock.
Zhang Yan was also affected, hurriedly raising his head to look as the expression on his face soon turned
rigid.
Li Qingchan waved her hand as a half foot large Dragon Genesis Essence crystal slowly pulsed with
energy. One could just barely make out the silhouette of a dragon within the flowing essence within it.
“That is… that is a thousand feet aquatic beast Dragon Genesis Essence crystal?!” Countless cries of
surprise rang out across the area.
No one had expected Li Qingchan to have the Dragon Genesis Essence crystal of a thousand feet aquatic
beast. Didn’t this mean that she was going to attempt an eight dragon baptism today?!
This was something that only Chu Qing had achieved in the past.
“Senior sister Li truly amazing. I can’t believe managed to obtain a thousand feet aquatic beast Dragon
Genesis Essence crystal without anyone knowing!”
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“Didn’t Kong Sheng and Ye Ge also enter the Genesis reservoir previously? They must have gone to
compete for the thousand feet aquatic beast. But they’re no longer anywhere to be found, could they have
lost to senior sister Li?”
“Heh heh, it seems that everyone has underestimated senior sister Li. Who knows, senior brother Kong
Sheng and senior sister Li’s rankings amongst the ten great Chosens might change in the near future.”
“……”
The eyes of the numerous whispering disciples were filled with admiration, unable to stop the endless
string of praises for Li Qingchan.
Although there were several Sword Cometh Peak disciples that strongly supported Kong Sheng, they
were after all too few in number, and their objections were swiftly overwhelmed by the crowd.
Surprise was also revealed on the faces of Lu Yan and the rest. She gazed at Li Qingchan’s figure and
mumbled, “I can’t believe that Li Qingchan is so formidable that even Kong Sheng and Ye Ge lost to her.”
Li Qingchan was about to reach an eight dragon baptism, an act that would destroy Chu Qing’s sole
dominance over this achievement. As Chu Qing die-hard supporter, Lu Yan naturally felt somewhat
regretful, but it was still ultimately an outcome she could accept. After all, Li Qingchan was the third
ranked Chosen.
While countless gazes were shocked, Kong Sheng, dressed in black, stood with his hands behind his back
on one of the mountain peaks. His face was somewhat frosty as he watched the altar in the sky, while his
hands involuntarily clenched.
Beside him, Ye Ge sighed and said, “I did not expect that senior sister Li will ultimately beat us to it.”
Kong Sheng was expressionless. His gaze suddenly turned towards a certain mountain in the distance
where Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao’s figures could be seen. As the former gazed at the two of them, his
expression could not help but turn a little colder.
If not for the interference of these two, how could the Dragon Genesis Essence crystal have ended up in Li
Qingchan’s hands.
Li Qingchan paid no attention to the uproar the appearance of the thousand feet aquatic beast Dragon
Genesis Essence crystal had caused. Her hand suddenly clenched as the crystal shattered, the Dragon
Genesis Essence within it flowing down onto the stone pillar.
Roar!
A dazzling radiance immediately exploded.
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It was followed by the low roar of a dragon. Everyone watched in excitement as another dragon
silhouette emerged from the stone pillar and coiled around Li Qingchan.
Eight dragons!
The entire place exploded into noise!
Li Qingchan’s slightly lifted her eyes, gazing at the eight dragon silhouettes as she sighed faintly. Soon
after, she ceased hesitating and took in a deep breath.
Roar!
Eight dragon silhouettes roared as they began to descend one after another, pouring into Li Qingchan’s
head.
Rumble!
Genesis Qi churned around her, forming a seemingly endless mist that gradually enveloped Li Qingchan’s
figure.
However, Genesis Qi undulations continued to pulse from it, rippling through the world around her.
After such a long time, an eight dragon baptism had finally appeared again in the sky above the Genesis
reservoir.
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Chapter 326 Helping One Another
Clouds gathered in the sky above the Genesis reservoir.
Within the clouds, a seemingly endless amount of Genesis Qi continued to converge, as the booming roar
of a dragon thundered, stirring the surrounding sky. It was an extremely spectacular sight.
Countless disciples watched this scene in envy and amazement. An eight dragon baptism… was
something that was truly a little too far to them.
“Is this an eight dragon baptism? It’s magnificent indeed.” Zhou Yuan’s expression was also tinged with
surprise as he watched. He could feel the tremendous amount of Genesis Qi contained within the clouds.
By the side, Zhou Tai nodded with a sigh. “I’ve heard that senior sister Li has reached the ninth layer
Alpha-Origin stage long ago, and is currently accumulating Genesis Qi to eventually attack the Divine
Dwelling stage. This eight dragon baptism will substantially supplement her foundational stockpile.”
Zhou Yuan gave a faint nod in response. By now, he was already aware that one needed to accumulate a
gargantuan amount of Genesis Qi in order to ascend from the Alpha-Origin stage into the Divine Dwelling
stage. The Divine Dwelling was the evolution of the Qi Dwelling, and since the Qi Dwelling was
categorised into several ranks such as gold, purple, green and colorless, the Divine Dwelling naturally had
its own classification.
The rank of a Divine Dwelling was decided by the Genesis Qi foundational stockpile one accumulated
during the Alpha-Origin stage.
To be direct, the more Genesis Qi stars in one’s Qi Dwelling, the higher one’s Divine Dwelling rank would
be, because it represented the quality and quantity of one’s Genesis Qi...
The more the Genesis Qi and the purer it was, the better the evolved Divine Dwelling.
Therefore, one’s Genesis Qi was the most important at the end of the day.
The Genesis Marrow Baptism could refine one’s Genesis Qi and expand one’s Qi Dwelling, making it an
indispensable tool for improving one’s foundations. This was why even Chosens like Li Qingchan were
extremely passionate about the Genesis Marrow Baptism.
Rumble!
Under countless envious gazes, the phenomenon above the altar lasted for an entire incense stick of time,
before gradually fading.
When the clouds dispersed, everyone saw the lovely and proud figure standing on the stone pillar again,
the aura spreading from her body even stronger than before.
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It was clear that she had benefited greatly from the eight dragons baptism.
On a certain mountain peak, Kong Sheng’s impassive face twitched faintly when he saw this.
“Congratulations senior sister!”
Several of the Snow Lotus Peak disciples in the vicinity shouted their congratulations. Most of them were
pretty girls, the sound of their clear voices immediately drawing numerous disciples over to also show
their support, making the place quite bustling for a time.
However, Li Qingchan retained her ice mountain like appearance, merely giving a faint nod to these
female disciples while ignoring the others.
Elder Miao looked at Li Qingchan in satisfaction. She could be said to be the face of their Snow Lotus Peak,
and was their only Chosen for now. Though they had several other outstanding disciples, all of them were
still a little lacking. Hence, elder Miao was more than happy to see Li Qingchan further strengthen her
foundations.
Elder Miao was aware that Li Qingchan did not enjoy being under such attention and immediately said,
“Qingchan, you are free to leave since your baptism is done.”
Li Qingchan fell silent for a brief moment, before cupping her fists together towards elder Miao. The
former’s figure then flew off, but did not leave straight away, but instead landed on one of the mountains
with many Snow Lotus Peak disciples.
Elder Miao was a little astonished. In the past, Li Qingchan had left immediately after her baptism was
over, so why had she stayed behind today?
Though she was confused, elder Miao soon withdrew her thoughts as he gaze swept across the area once
again, “Next, the purple sash disciples from the various peaks should begin to prepare themselves.”
Her words immediately caused the entire place to boil. After all, the purple sash disciples were actually
the main participants in this event, but due to the rules, they had to wait till the Chosen level disciples
baptisms were over before it came to their turn.
Things were even worse for Zhou Yuan. He had to wait till all of the purple sash disciples were finished
before he could finally have a go...
However, he was not too anxious for his turn and decided to properly observe first.
Therefore, when numerous disciples from the mountains in the vicinity began to rise into the air and fly
towards the altar, Zhou Yuan remained where his stood, interest filling his gaze.
Zhou Tai had to go participate too, and left some words of consolation for Zhou Yuan, “Junior brother
Zhou Yuan, we’ll be heading over first. Wait here for a while, your turn will be next.”
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Zhou Yuan smiled and nodded. As the first disciple under teacher Shen, Zhou Tai was a magnanimous
individual that truly had the air of a big brother disciple.
Zhang Yan seemed to be unable to stand the sight of Zhou Tai taking care of Zhou Yuan. With a soft
chuckle, the former said in a mocking manner, “Senior brother Zhou Tai, you really are too good of a
person… but you should probably pay more attention to your own situation. You’ve been doing worse
than me every Genesis Marrow Baptism, and at this rate, it will likely not be long before someone else
takes over your position.”
A few disciples that were close to Zhang Yan also laughed gloatingly. “The position of first disciples does
suit senior brother Zhang Yan a little better.”
Anger appeared on Zhou Tai’s face. However, he was quite popular amongst the other disciples and
several of them were unable to idly standby and immediately spoke up for him.
Disdain was revealed on Zhang Yan’s face. He merely waved his hand without responding as he led his
posse off towards the baptism altar.
Although Zhou Tai was still a little miffed, he still spoke up to try and pacify the other disciples.
As Zhou Yuan watch, he suddenly asked, “Senior brother Zhou Tai, how many dragons can you reach this
time?”
Zhou Tai chuckled bitterly and answered, “It’s going to be the same old four dragon baptism… I tried my
best in the Genesis reservoir, but only managed to obtain a few dozen Dragon Genesis Essence crystals.”
He sighed as he shook his head. He knew that Zhang Yan should be achieving a five dragon baptism again.
Zhou Yuan fell silent for a moment, before pulling a confused Zhou Tai to the side.
“Junior brother Zhou Yuan?”
Zhou Yuan smiled and patted his Universe bag. Several rather large Dragon Genesis Essence crystals
instantly appeared in his hands, before he pushed them towards Zhou Tai and said, “Senior brother Zhou
Tai, I’ve been wanting to thank you for your guidance and care for some time. Please take this as a little
gift from me as your junior brother disciple.”
Zhou Tai was dumbstruck as he stared at the shining crystals. Every crystal was even larger than his
hand, and were clearly from large aquatic beasts.
“This… this…”
Zhou Tai was a little overwhelmed, causing him to be dazed for a time. It took awhile for him to return to
his senses as he hastily declined, “Junior brother Zhou Yuan, this is too much…”
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He pushed them towards Zhou Yuan. “With these crystals, you will definitely shine dazzlingly during this
baptism. Giving them to me will be a waste. I am far less talented than you after all.”
However, Zhou Yuan refused all of the former’s reasoning. “If senior brother Zhou Tai does not want
them, just throw them away.”
Zhou Tai hurriedly received them in a flustered manner, a bitter smile filling his face. In the end, he could
only accept the gift.
“Thank you junior brother Zhou Yuan.” He looked towards Zhou Yuan with gratitude.
He had been giving advice and guidance to Zhou Yuan mostly because it was his duty as the first disciple.
Moreover, teacher Shen thought very highly of Zhou Yuan, allowing Zhou Tai to understand that Zhou
Yuan may perhaps become the central pillar of their faction, causing him to show extra care and concern
for the former.
Zhou Tai never expected he would obtain such a return for his care.
Zhou Yuan grinned and waved his hand, “You should get going senior brother Zhou Tai.”
Zhou Tai nodded, before turning around to call out to several other disciples. Genesis Qi rose under their
feet, bringing them towards the baptism altar. There was no longer a dispirited look on his face. Instead,
it was filled with anticipation.
Zhou Yuan gazed at their figures, before turning to look at Zhang Yan as an icy smile emerged on his lips.
How could he not know that Zhang Yan was making things difficult for him at every juncture, and was
likely jealous of the way teacher Shen treated him. Compared to the generous and sincere first disciple
Zhou Tai, Zhang Yan was clearly too petty and narrow-hearted.
Zhou Yuan was not someone without a temper. Since you want to make things difficult for me, don’t
blame me for doing something that you certainly won’t be happy about...
1680
Chapter 327 Six Dragons Zhou Tai
Ancient stone pillars stood on the baptism altar that was currently a beehive of activity, numerous figures
landing on the pillars one after another.
After they landed on the altar, they impatiently began to retrieve their hard earned Dragon Genesis
Essence crystals. The sounds of shattering crystals filled the area as the Dragon Genesis Essence flowed
out and soaked into the ancient stone pillars...
Rumble!
Genesis Qi began to gather once again. Although none of them alone could match the impressive display
by Li Qingchan earlier, they were an exceptionally spectacular sight together.
Roar!
Loud roars filled the area as dragon silhouette after silhouette streamed out of the ancient stone pillars,
and began circling around the numerous disciples atop them.
On the many mountains by the edge of the Genesis reservoir, countless disciples observed with curious
eyes, gasps of amazement sounding from time to time.
Over all, most of the purple sash disciples only managed to achieve four dragon baptisms, and only a few
of the more outstanding ones reached five dragon baptisms.
As for the six dragon level, a quick scan revealed a mere five!
While not a single seven dragons baptism could be seen!
After all, a seven dragon baptism was considered the mark of a Chosen, and was naturally a feat that
ordinary disciples had great difficulty achieving.
On one of the stone pillars, Zhang Yan opened his eyes. Five dragon silhouettes circled around him,
showing that he had reached a five dragon baptism.
This was a result that Zhang Yan felt rather satisfied with, because a five dragon baptism was already
enough to prove that he was quite remarkable even amongst all the purple sash disciples in the entire
Cangxuan Sect.
At the very least, he was undoubtedly more outstanding than the Zhou Tai, who was forever stuck at a
four dragon baptism.
“After this baptism is over, I should be able to surpass Zhou Tai. It may perhaps be time for him to vacate
his position as the first disciple.” Zhang Yan let out an icy chuckle. He was envious of Zhou Yuan due to
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the high expectations teacher Shen had of the former, while viewing Zhou Tai as an obstacle, and was
constantly preparing to replace him.
Once Zhang Yan became the first disciple, even more disciples would view him as their leader. When that
happened, if teacher Shen still decided to be overly supportive of Zhou Yuan, Zhang Yan would only have
to object and garner support from numerous disciples. He believed that even teacher Shen would not
choose to go against the majority.
While Zhang Yan was feeling pleased with himself, he suddenly felt a disturbance around him, seeing gaze
after gaze turning towards the same direction.
He also raised his head, only to be stunned by the sight of six dragon silhouettes circling around a figure
on a nearby stone pillar.
Six dragon baptism?
Envy flowed out in Zhang Yan’s eyes. A six dragon baptism was one of the dreams he had. Unfortunately,
it had evaded his reach each time, because it required far too many Genesis Dragon Essence crystals.
“Normally speaking, only the chief disciples of each peak are able to reach a six dragon baptism. I wonder
which peak this person belongs to.” Zhang Yan frowned, because he suddenly felt the figure to be quite
familiar.
The six dragon silhouettes circling around the figure suddenly descended as they tunnelled into his head.
Moments later, the figure opened his eyes and turned around, coincidentally meeting Zhang Yan’s gaze.
Zhang Yan’s pupils abruptly shrank as disbelief flooded his face.
“Zhou Tai?!”
“How can this be!”
He could not stop these words from leaving his mouth as his face turned ashen. He had never thought
much of this eldest senior brother disciple of his. The latter was not as talented as himself and was also
lacking in ambition, someone who tried to be on good terms with everyone else. Hence, Zhang Yan never
really respected the former, the only thoughts he had was to replace this senior brother’s position once
he grew stronger.
Over the years, Zhou Tai was only ever able to achieve a four dragon baptism each time, a result that
always fell short of Zhang Yan’s own. Hence why he never imagined that Zhou Tai would actually reach a
six dragon baptism this time.
One must know that basically only the chief disciples of each peak would achieve a six dragon baptism,
people that even someone as capable as Zhang Yan felt he had no hopes of catching up to.
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But how? How had Zhou Tai done it?!
Zhang Yan’s expression fluctuated indeterminately, his heart filled with anger, fear and alarm.
“How lucky was he in the Genesis reservoir?!” Zhang Yan gritted his teeth, a dark look in his eyes.
While Zhang Yan’s emotions were churning, many other disciples in the vicinity also discovered the six
dragon silhouettes around Zhou Tai, and immediately gasped in surprise.
A six dragon baptism was just far too rare amongst the purple sash disciples, and was usually only
reserved for those few chief disciples, a group that Zhou Tai was obviously not part of.
As such, they began to ask around, and soon found out his identity,
Astonishment filled their faces when they discovered Zhou Tai was from Shen Taiyuan’s faction of Saint
Genesis Peak. After all, Saint Genesis Peak had basically reached rock bottom in the Cangxuan Sect, and
no one really paid any attention to them. But now, Zhou Tai had basically become an overnight sensation.
What kind of amazing luck did he have in the Genesis reservoir?
No matter what, Zhou Tai’s name was sure to spread today. When the other disciples in the Cangxuan
Sect mentioned him in the future, they would know that there was a disciple under Shen Taiyuan of Saint
Genesis Peak that achieved a six dragon baptism.
The baptism altar was abuzz with excitement, majority of the disciples wearing a satisfied look on their
faces. It was clear that this baptism had allowed them to progress in their cultivation.
Elder Miao stood in the air. Upon seeing that everyone was done, she waved her hand and said, “Leave if
you’re done.”
The numerous disciples hastily rose to their feet, and began leaving in succession after cupping their fists
together towards her.
The baptism altar soon became empty again.
Zhou Tai returned with an excited look on his face, as several disciples approached to congratulate him.
“Humph, I did not expect senior brother Zhou Tai to be good at concealing your capabilities. I wonder
how managed to obtain so many Dragon Genesis Essence crystals in the Genesis reservoir.” Zhang Yan’s
expression was somewhat ugly as he returned. Zhou Tai truly performed splendidly this time, and drew
numerous gazes towards him even till now. This made Zhang Yan rather jealous, and his words rather
biting.
Zhou Tai knew that Zhang Yan was clearly unhappy, but could not be bothered with the latter. The former
merely looked towards Zhou Yuan with a smile of gratitude.
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Zhou Yuan returned the gesture with a smile of his own. Those Dragon Genesis Essence crystals had been
his leftovers, and were of little use to himself. In contrast, they were extremely beneficial to Zhou Tai.
Zhang Yan grew even angrier when he realised he was being ignored by Zhou Tai. He followed the latter’s
gaze and saw Zhou Yuan, causing him to smile superficially as he said, “Junior brother Zhou Yuan, it’s
your turn next.”
“It wasn’t easy for senior brother Zhou Yuan to gain a little prestige for us, so don’t go throwing it all
away later.”
Zhang Yan almost certain that Zhou Yuan had a hard time hunting even a single aquatic beast in the
Genesis reservoir, and would at best achieve a three dragon baptism...
A baptism of that level was basically a waste of Dragon Genesis Essence.
Zhou Yuan mere swept a glance at Zhang Yan and chuckled softly.
At this moment, elder Miao spoke once again, “The purple sash disciples’ baptism is done, next…”
She paused, feeling somewhat ridiculous. The baptism should be over at this juncture, but there was an
additional Zhou Yuan this time. As the only gold sash disciple to enter the Genesis reservoir, he was the
last to have his turn.
She looked towards Zhou Yuan and said, “It’s your turn, Zhou Yuan.”
Every gaze in the area converged towards this very spot, most of them filled with amusement. After all,
what could a gold sash disciple possibly achieve in the Genesis reservoir?
On one of the mountains, Li Qingchan’s eyes opened, a sliver of interest within them as she looked
towards the youthful figure far away.
Kong Sheng’s eyes were cold and indifferent. The corners of his lips curled slightly, clearly not the least
bit concerned about Zhou Yuan.
In a location near Zhou Yuan and gang, Lu Yan smiled as she cast her gaze over, her voice somewhat
gloating.
“Looks like we’ll be seeing the lowest level baptism in history…”
1684
Chapter 328 The Meaning of Shock
Around the Genesis reservoir, countless gazes were cast over in amusement, ultimately converging on a
certain peak where Zhou Yuan was currently standing.
According to the rules of the sect, only purple sash disciples had the qualifications to enter the Genesis
reservoir to find Dragon Genesis Essence, and subsequently complete the baptism.
Zhou Yuan was only a gold sash disciple, but as the most recent champion of the peak selection ceremony,
they had made an exception for him this once, and bestowed upon him the opportunity to participate in
the current Genesis Marrow Baptism, an exception that most purple sash disciples did not really mind.
Because all of them clearly understood that entering the reservoir was the easy part. The true challenge
lay in hunting the aquatic beasts inside, and obtaining Genesis Dragon Essence...
Numerous purple sash disciples had worked hard for the past ten days, and the majority of them had only
managed to achieve four dragon baptisms. So what could a new disciples such as Zhou Yuan possibly
accomplish in the Genesis reservoir?
It was likely that he may not have even gathered ten crystals. If so, even a two dragon baptism might be a
little difficult...
Although it was not easy to hunt aquatic beasts, majority of the purple sash disciples were still able to
achieve four dragon baptisms, and were very unlikely to end up with two dragon or three dragon
baptisms. After all, every purple sash disciple had the strength of the sixth layer Alpha-Origin, and would
not do any worse than a four dragon baptism no matter how bad they were.
Hence, when they imagined the possibility of a pitiful two dragon baptism from Zhou Yuan, they could not
help but secretly snigger inside.
As seasoned disciples, they were naturally more than happy to see well-behaved new inner mountain
disciples that did not challenge their dignity. Thus, if the individual known as number one amongst the
new disciples were to perform badly, it would undoubtedly cause the other new disciples to behave a
little better...
Numerous disciples watched with such thoughts in mind as Zhou Yuan stepped forward with a calm
expression. Under the countless watching gazes, he landed on one of the ancient stone pillars on the
baptism altar.
He could naturally feel the numerous gazes on him which were clearly waiting to be entertained.
Although these disciples did not have any ill will towards him, they were obviously not supportive of him
either.
1685
He ignored the gazes of the crowd. The opinions of others did not matter to him after all, especially when
what he needed was right about to be his.
“Go ahead start, and no need to feel stressed. It’s your first time here at the Genesis reservoir after all, and
you will still have many chances in the future when you become a purple sash disciple.” Elder Miao
looked towards Zhou Yuan. The former’s words were quite kind, perhaps because he had lent his aid to Li
Qingchan.
Even so, Zhou Yuan could still tell that elder Miao did not believe he would achieve much.
His second layer Alpha-Origin stage strength was just far too glaring to everyone.
To travel with as one pleased in the Genesis reservoir, one’s strength needed to at least reach the sixth
layer Alpha-Origin stage.
Zhou Yuan did not say anything in response, merely smiling with a nod. The only thing that would
convince everyone was facts, and he would likely be treated as a joke no matter what he said.
As such, he patted the Universe bag at his waist with a cool expression.
Swoosh!
In the next instant, Dragon Genesis Essence crystal after crystal flew out along with an explosion of light,
while the surrounding Genesis Qi began to be drawn towards him...
As more and more Dragon Genesis Essence crystals gathered above Zhou Yuan’s head, the laughter in the
area stealthily began to fade away, while the expressions of many disciples turned more and more rigid.
Zhou Yuan remained oblivious to them. With a jerk of his sleeve, hundreds of crystals swirled above him
like a river of crystals.
The scope was not the least bit inferior to Li Qingchan from before.
Moreover, every crystal had been meticulously selected, making it an even more impressive sight!
The world around was deathly silent.
“How, how can this be… how can he have so many Dragon Genesis Essence crystals?!” The silence was
finally broken by the trembling voice a disciple that was filled with disbelief.
No one knew the answer. All of them vigorously rubbed their eyes, as if the scene before them was some
kind of illusion.
Bang! Bang!
1686
In the silence, Zhou Yuan’s hands came together and all of the crystals above him exploded. Dragon
Genesis Essence fell, landing on the stone pillar.
The surrounding Genesis Qi began to whizzed over, seemingly creating a thin mist.
Roar!
As the runes on the pillar lit up, the familiar roar of a dragon rang out once again.
Next, everyone watched in astonishment as dragon silhouette after silhouette burst out from the pillar,
circling around Zhou Yuan.
One… three… five… seven!
There were seven dragon silhouettes, a sight that made every disciple present inhale deeply.
A seven dragon baptism!
Back on the mountain Zhou Yuan had come from, several of his fellow disciples were stupefied, and even
Zhang Yan had a blank look on his face.
“How is this possible?!” He croaked in a trembling voice. The scene before his eyes had truly shaken him
to the core. No one would have even dreamt of Zhou Yuan achieving a seven dragon baptism!
How many aquatic beasts had he slayed in the Genesis reservoir?!
How had he done it?!
In contrast with Zhang Yan’s ugly expression, a slightly stunned smile was revealed on Zhou Tai face,
evidently happy for this junior brother of his.
On another peak far away, Li Qingchan’s eyes seemed to ripple faintly. Although she had anticipated this
long ago, she could not help but sigh when she saw it for real.
This guy was indeed quite capable.
“Interesting, achieving a seven dragon baptism after his first time in the Genesis reservoir. Looks like
having someone else’s help really makes a difference.” Kong Sheng’s expression was indifferent as he
gazed at the seven dragon silhouettes around Zhou Yuan.
A seven dragon baptism may shock the others, but it was ordinary to Chosens like them.
Moreover, he was not surprised at all, because he knew that Zhou Yuan had the powerful Yaoyao at his
side, an individual who was not the least bit weaker than a Chosen. When one also took into account Li
Qingchan’s help, a seven dragon baptism was not odd at all.
1687
Ye Ge also nodded. He did not really have any complaints about Zhou Yuan, but did feel that he had
received Yaoyao and Li Qingchan’s aid.
On another mountain, Lu Yan’s expression fluctuated rapidly as she stared at the seven dragon
silhouettes, the disciples around her equally dumbstruck, and clearly substantially shocked.
Lu Yan could not help but mumble, “How did he obtain these Dragon Genesis Essence crystals?”
The strength of the second layer Alpha-Origin was obviously incapable of slaying so many aquatic beasts.
The other looked to each other, but no one had an answer.
Lu Yan’s face had turned a little red. Who could have expected Zhou Yuan to reach a seven dragon
baptism in the blink of an eye, making her feel shame for her earlier gloating.
She was still somewhat unable to accept the facts, and stubbornly said, “But even a seven dragon baptism
is far from being able to compare to senior brother Chu Qing.”
The moment the words left her mouth, everyone saw Zhou Yuan seeme to ponder for a brief moment,
before the Universe bag at his waist flashed.
A split second later, a half foot large crystal had appeared above his head.
*Uproar*!
The instant it appeared, the numerous disciples in the vicinity could not longer hold themselves back
from gasping, “Thousand feet aquatic beast?!”
This time, even the nonchalantly watching Kong Sheng and Ye Ge trembled as disbelief flowed out in their
eyes.
1688
Chapter 329 Third Layer Alpha‐Origin
The entire place exploded into an earth-shaking uproar the moment the half foot large Dragon Genesis
Essence crystal appeared, the expressions on everyone’s faces becoming truly an amazing sight to behold.
Even Chosens like Kong Sheng and Ye Ge were affected.
A seven dragon baptism may not be much of a challenge to them, but the crystal Zhou Yuan had just taken
out was clearly from a thousand feet aquatic beast!
As Chosens, no one knew better than them how difficult it was to find such a creature.
Once a thousand feet aquatic beast Dragon Genesis Essence crystal came into their possession, they
would be able to use it as a primer of sorts that would raise a seven dragon baptism to the eight dragons
level!
“How can he possibly have a thousand feet aquatic beast Dragon Genesis Essence crystal?!” Kong Sheng
was unable to stop the words from leaving his mouth. He was no longer able to retain the impassiveness
of his handsome face as disbelief flooded his eyes.
Beside him, Ye Ge’s mouth hung slightly open, a strange expression on his face.
For the past half a year, they had painstakingly tracked a thousand feet aquatic beast, only to end up
losing it to Li Qingchan. Hence why their astonishment had reached the unmatched heights when they
saw a thousand feet aquatic beast crystal appear in the hands of a gold sash disciple.
When had a thousand feet aquatic beast become so easy to find?
From how shocked the two Chosens were, one could naturally imagine how the hearts of the other
disciples were akin to churning ocean.
Under the countless stunned gazes, Zhou Yuan took in a deep breath as he hands came together once
again, and the half foot large crystal above him shattered with a bang.
Thick and pure Dragon Genesis Essence flowed downwards, pouring onto the ancient stone pillar as it
was swiftly absorbed.
Bzzz!
A thousand rays of light abruptly exploded from the pillar as all the Genesis Qi in the vicinity began to be
sucked over at this moment, forming a seemingly boundless cloud that floated around Zhou Yuan.
Roar!
1689
At the same time, a thunderous dragon roar was heard once again. Everyone could only watch as another
dragon silhouette slowly emerged from the stone pillar and circled around Zhou Yuan’s body.
It was the eighth dragon silhouette!
An eight dragon baptism!
All the disciples could not help but swallow at the sight of the eight dragon silhouettes coiling around
Zhou Yuan’s figure. Although they had just seen Li Qingchan’s eight dragon baptism earlier, the former’s
eight dragon baptism was even more shocking...
Li Qingchan was a Chosen after all, and many disciples felt it within expectation for her to achieve an
eight dragon baptism. But Zhou Yuan… no one would have even dreamt of it!
They had previously been prepared to see the lowest level baptism in history, but in the blink of an eye,
Zhou Yuan had sent a big slap across their cheek that nearly knocked them unconscious.
This was an eight dragon baptism!
Before today, it had been something senior brother Chu Qing alone had enjoyed, but now… Zhou Yuan
had become the third disciple to obtain this glory.
It was something even the other eight Chosens had never tasted it before.
Moreover, Zhou Yuan had done it as a gold sash disciple, a feat that no one had ever achieved in the
Cangxuan Sect’s history. After all, even the almighty Chu Qing had only managed to attain it after
becoming a Chosen.
Although there was barely any significance in achieving it earlier or later in the grand scheme of things, it
was hard for everyone to get over the shock it brought.
On one of the mountains, Lu Yan dazedly stared at the eight dragon silhouettes circling around Zhou
Yuan, the expression on her pretty face rapidly fluctuating. This scene had likewise stirred giant waves in
her heart.
Several disciples around her could not help but sigh. “Zhou Yuan is indeed quite the capable individual.
Even in the history of our Cangxuan Sect, there has never been a gold sash disciple who has enjoyed an
eight dragon baptism.”
“Yeah, even senior brother Chu Qing only accomplished it after becoming a Chosen…”
When she heard this, Lu Yan could not help but icily retort, “It’s only an eight dragon blessing, and doesn’t
really mean anything because there’s absolutely no way that he managed to slay a thousand feet aquatic
beast with his own strength. He must have gotten it through some other method.”
1690
A thousand feet aquatic beast was an existence that was comparable to a ninth layer Alpha-Origin expert,
and even purple sash disciples like them would only flee if they encountered one. How could a second
layer Alpha-Origin like Zhou Yuan have possibly killed one?
The other disciples knew she was a die-hard fan of senior brother Chu Qing, and thus merely laughed it
off without arguing. However, they understood in their hearts that obtaining an eight dragon baptism
was an indicator of one’s ability and luck.
After all, hadn’t Chu Qing also relied on luck to become the first person in their generation to find a
thousand feet aquatic beast?
Lu Yan naturally had an inkling of their thoughts from their expression, causing her to become a little
frustrated inside. However, she knew that she would not be able to convince them otherwise, and could
only cast a slightly peeved gaze at Zhou Yuan’s figure.
“This guy…”
Lu Yan gritted her teeth as her lips pulled outwards. She had to admit that Zhou Yuan’s feat of achieving
an eight dragon baptism was still very astonishing.
“No wonder teacher Shen thinks so highly of him…” Zhou Tai sighed in amazement as he gazed upon the
eight dragon silhouettes.
Beside him, Zhang Yan and gang still had slack-jawed faces. Zhou Tai’s six dragon baptism had already
surpassed the former’s expectations earlier, and he would have never expected Zhou Yuan’s performance
to be even more shocking...
At the sight of the eight dragon silhouettes, even Zhang Yan was unable to retort for a time. The only
thing he did was resentfully withdraw his gaze.
Zhou Yuan paid no heed to everyone’s shocked gazes, his eyes and face burning with anticipation as he
gazed at the eight dragon silhouettes
“Eight dragon baptism, show me just how amazing you are.”
With a thought, the circling eight dragon silhouettes released a roar, before they charged downwards,
bringing along boundless and pure Genesis Qi as they dived into his head.
Rumble!
The moment the first dragon silhouette arrived, Zhou Yuan felt heard a loud rumble in his head as
boundless Genesis Qi began to wash over him like silver water, soaking every inch of his flesh and blood.
The Genesis Qi was exceptionally pure, and did not put up any resistance when it entered his body. With
a thought from Zhou Yuan, the Genesis Qi began to circulate along his channels like a raging torrent.
1691
Dragon silhouette after silhouette continued to enter his body.
The majestic Genesis Qi seemed to explode in his body, making even his skin dazzle radiantly. Genesis Qi
was infused into his flesh, blood and bones, and began removing the impurities bit by bit.
Even more Genesis Qi flooded his Qi Dwelling, ultimately fusing with the Omni Python Qi there. Genesis
Qi star after star was noiselessly created at a rate far greater than his usual training.
As Genesis Qi churned inside his Qi Dwelling, the Genesis Qi pressure from Zhou Yuan’s body began its
steady climb...
What’s more, the golden Magical Python Scales started to emerge on the surface of his skin, and quietly
began to absorb the dragon Qi contained within the Dragon Genesis Essence.
The Magical Python Scales came from the Omni Python Qi, and in a manner of speaking also shared
certain ties with the dragon Qi from the Origin Dragon Vein...
As the golden scales absorbed the dragon Qi, they gradually began to change. The scales began to take on
a faint azure hue, becoming less similar to the scales of a python, and instead growing to resemble that of
a dragon!
While these changes were occurring to the scales, Zhou Yuan’s tightly shut eyes abruptly opened.
Rumble!
He could feel a rumbling noise spread from his Qi Dwelling.
The Genesis Qi pressure from his body seemed to breakthrough a certain bottleneck.
A smile finally appeared on Zhou Yuan’s face. By borrowing the power of the Genesis Marrow Baptism,
his desire was finally fulfilled.
“I’ve finally reached the third layer Alpha-Origin…”
1692
Under the attention of countless disciples, the clouds above the Genesis reservoir slowly began to
disperse along with the boundless Genesis Qi. It was clear that the baptism was fast approaching its end.
The eyes of many disciples were filled with envy. An eight dragon baptism… was something that
benefitted even to the ten great Chosens, let alone someone like Zhou Yuan, who was only at the second
layer Alpha-Origin. It was likely that he would gain even more from it.
As the clouds gradually vanished, Zhou Yuan’s figure slowly grew clearer.
He sat on the ancient stone pillar with his eyes lightly shut, only opening them after quite some time. A
flash of gold flitted across his eyes, a half python half dragon hiss faintly echoing as Genesis Qi rose
around his body.
Everyone could feel that the Genesis Qi undulations from Zhou Yuan’s body had grown a level stronger.
Third layer Alpha-Origin!
The crowd’s hearts shivered slightly. Sure enough, the baptism had directly pushed Zhou Yuan to the next
cultivation level, allowing him to step into the realm of the third layer Alpha-Origin.
Numerous gazes were filled with envy. It was said that Zhou Yuan had been at the second layer stage for
only slightly more than a month, and it was quite unbelievable for him to have advanced once again.
Moreover, his Genesis Qi appeared exceptionally concentrated and robust, unlike that of someone who
had forcibly ascended.
The first thing Zhou Yuan did when he opened his eyes was send his senses into his Qi Dwelling. A smile
soon emerged on his face.
The number of Genesis Qi stars in his Qi Dwelling had reached over 700!
One must know that he only had slightly over 400 stars at the second layer Alpha-Origin!
The breakthrough had nearly doubled his Genesis Qi stars.
The number of Genesis Qi stars in one’s Qi Dwelling decided the quantity and quality of one’s Genesis Qi.
In other words, the Genesis Marrow Baptism had nearly doubled Zhou Yuan’s Genesis Qi.
“Normally speaking, ordinary fifth layer Alpha-Origin disciples should have about 500 Genesis Qi stars in
their Qi Dwellings. I may only be at the third layer Alpha-Origin, but my Genesis Qi is basically able to
steamroll over normal fifth layer disciples.”
1693
There was a sliver of excitement in Zhou Yuan’s eyes. If this had happened before his duel with Cao Shi,
the battle would have been very one sided.
“Given my current Genesis Qi, I no longer need to fear any fifth layer opponents.”
Zhou Yuan sighed as if a heavy burden had been lifted from his shoulders. This breakthrough was
extremely important to him. With this strength, he was now confident of his chances in the subsequent
cave match.
Zhou Yuan stood up, his burning gaze of desire looking towards the stone pillar beneath his feet.
It was obvious that he was hungering for more after tasting the sweetness of its fruit.
The Genesis Marrow Baptism was crazily beneficial to one’s cultivation.
Unfortunately for him, he was still only a gold sash disciple, and after using the chance bestowed upon
him as the champion of the peak selection ceremony, he was no longer allowed to enter the Genesis
reservoir.
“Looks like I have to become a purple sash disciple as soon as possible.” There was a look of thought on
Zhou Yuan’s face. Only by becoming a purple sash disciple would he be allowed to enjoy the bimonthly
Genesis Marrow Baptism.
Zhou Yuan ultimately cast away the numerous thoughts that were flashing past in his head, and lifted his
head, seeing the countless amazed gazes that were looking at him.
They had obviously been drawn by the eight dragon baptism earlier.
However, Zhou Yuan’s expression remained rather calm, having long anticipated this. He too understood
the meaning of an eight dragon baptism, because before today, only Chu Qing had achieved it amongst
this generation of disciples.
Clap clap
Clapping was suddenly heard. Elder Miao looked towards Zhou Yuan in amazement and said,
“Congratulations Zhou Yuan. This is the first time someone has reached an eight dragon baptism as a gold
sash disciple in our Cangxuan Sect. I’m sure that your name will soon be known by everyone in the sect.”
There was a look of admiration on her face. Zhou Yuan’s performance today was truly breathtaking.
Zhou Yuan remained humble as he cupped his fists together towards elder Miao and said, “I don’t deserve
such praise, it’s only a baptism and does not truly mean much.”
Upon seeing that Zhou Yuan did not display any arrogance after performing so well, the look of
admiration on elder Miao’s face deepened.
1694
“I did not realise previously why peak master was always feeling regretful after you chose Saint Genesis
Peak, but I now have an idea why.” Elder Miao sighed.
“From what you have shown me, your future achievements may not lose to Chu Qing. Looks like there
may once again be a Chosen from Saint Genesis Peak.”
Her words showed how highly she thought of Zhou Yuan.
Elder Miao had not tried to hide her praise, and it was naturally heard by numerous disciples in the
vicinity, causing an uproar to rise.
They never imagined that elder Miao would have such a high evaluation of Zhou Yuan. To think that she
would compare his future achievements to Chu Qing!
Who was Chu Qing? He was the most outstanding disciple in their generation, and the head of the ten
great Chosens! Let alone the Cangxuan Sect, he was well known even in Cangxuan Heaven.
In comparison, Zhou Yuan was obviously not on the same level.
“What nonsense!
Lu Yan felt the most insulted by the elder’s words, but could not possibly openly rebuke the latter.
However, she still coldly snorted. “What kind of genius did you think Chu Qing is? How can Zhou Yuan
ever compare?”
“Although Zhou Yuan does have some ability, a single eight dragon baptism does not mean anything.
When Chu Qing entered the inner mountains back then, it only took him half a year to become a purple
sash disciple, and even stood amongst the ten great Chosens a year later! His rise was the fastest in the
history of the Cangxuan Sect!”
“Elder Miao’s appraisal of him being able to stand shoulder to shoulder to senior brother Chu Qing in the
future based on the baptism alone will not convince anyone.”
The other disciples around her secretly nodded. Even they felt that elder Miao was being a little too quick
in her judgement.
Zhou Yuan may have indeed taken everyone’s breaths away this time, but saying he could match senior
brother Chu Qing based on this alone was still an exaggeration. After all, everyone knew how remarkable
Chu Qing was, and every disciple of this generation had absolute respect towards him. With just this little
achievement alone, it was impossible for Zhou Yuan to match up.
While the mountains were abuzz with noise, Zhou Yuan’s expression remained unchanged, no happiness
visible from elder Miao’s overboard acknowledgement of his abilities. He merely cupped his fists together
towards her before leaping off the altar and returning to the mountain he had been on before.
1695
In the wake of Zhou Yuan’s withdrawal, everyone knew that the Genesis Marrow Baptism was finally
over.
On a certain mountain in the distance, Li Qingchan’s eyes ripple faintly as she watched Zhou Yuan jump
off the altar. “Will you be able to match Chu Qing in the future?”
“Although I am somewhat doubtful, I do hope that you truly have that talent. If so, our Cangxuan Sect will
no longer be boring in the future.”
“Show me whether you will turn out to be a hidden dragon that will soar across the nine heavens, or
someone who will fade away into mediocrity…”
Li Qingchan’s eyes returned to calmness as her gorgeous face regained its frosty look. She stepped on
Genesis Qi as she flew into the sky and swiftly disappeared into the horizon, the owners of the many
adoring gazes on her letting out a long sigh as they watched her leave.
After Li Qingchan left, Kong Sheng and Ye Ge did not remain either and also departed. However, they took
one last look at Zhou Yuan before they left.
All of the other disciples across the mountains also began to leave.
Lu Yan’s lips curled downwards as she glanced in Zhou Yuan’s direction. “Zhou Yuan, don’t let it get to
your head just because you were under the limelight in the Genesis Marrow Baptism. The cave match
between your faction and elder Lu Hong’s faction is soon approaching, and if your performance then is
lacklustre, the high praise elder Miao gave you today will only end up humiliating you even further.”
The smile on Lu Yan’s face was quite the gloating one. Elder Miao’s words had clearly raised Zhou Yuan
reputation, making even more people turn their attention to him.
If Zhou Yuan’s performance did not do justice to her evaluation, one could imagine the sneers that would
follow.
She waved her hand and led her other fellow disciples away.
“Junior brother Zhou Yuan, we should get going too.” Said Zhou Tai.
Zhou Yuan smiled and nodded. He could naturally sense the various feelings behind the gazes that had
looked at him before they left, but remained unfazed despite them, feeling no indignation due to their
skepticism and doubt.
He knew that only strength would truly gain their acknowledgement, and no appraisal would be more
convincing.
That’s why, the purple Genesis cave dwelling they would contest for in the upcoming cave match...
1696
Was definitely going to be his.
1697
Chapter 331 Stirring up a Commotion in Saint
Genesis Peak
It was to no one’s surprise that news of Zhou Yuan’s eight dragon baptism caused quite a stir when it
spread to Saint Genesis Peak. The disciples from all three factions were too shocked to say anything,
unable to believe the news.
It was after all a little inconceivable. A thousand feet aquatic beast had strength comparable to the ninth
layer Alpha-Origin, and there was absolutely no way that Zhou Yuan would be able to kill one given his
current strength.
However, no matter how skeptical and doubtful they were, Zhou Yuan’s eight dragon baptism was a fact.
No matter how envious the numerous were, there was nothing they could do.
When this matter spread to Shen Taiyuan’s ears, the stern elder could not stop joy from bubbling up in
him. He even heavily praised Zhou Yuan during the morning lesson that day, and looked at the latter with
eyes filled with even more expectation than before.
Ever since Zhou Yuan had joined them, Shen Taiyuan had been pleasantly surprised far too many times.
The truth was that Shen Taiyuan himself had been initially somewhat doubtful of Zhou Yuan living up to
the high hopes that had been placed in him. It was because Shen Taiyuan likewise understood all too
clearly that not every champion of the peak selection ceremony would turn out to be an amazing genius
like Chu Qing.
However, Shen Taiyuan did not have many other options. The other six peaks of the Cangxuan Sect were
just too powerful, and could directly take away all of the most talented disciples. Saint Genesis Peak could
only fall further and further into decline, with no signs of things taking a turn for the better.
Now, even Lu Hong had been sent to Saint Genesis Peak. If Lu Hong’s group was allowed to take the seat
of chief disciple, Shen Taiyuan would feel utterly ashamed, and would likely never be able to raise his
head ever again in the sect.
As such, Zhou Yuan’s arrival was viewed by Shen Taiyuan as the final hope he could grasp onto.
However, Shen Taiyuan ended up being pleasantly surprised. Zhou Yuan had surpassed Shen Taiyuan’s
expectations time and time again, causing him to grow more and more confident in Zhou Yuan.
Perhaps, the patriarch was blessing them, allowing them to finally welcome a prodigious disciple before
they truly hit the bottom.
1698
“I’ve heard that Zhou Yuan achieved an eight dragon baptism during the Genesis Marrow Baptism
ceremony?”
It was Lu Hong’s factions turn to use the Dao Seeker Hall today. Lu Hong’s gaze nonchalantly swept
downwards from the highest spot, clear having also heard that news that had already spread throughout
Saint Genesis Peak.
Below Lu Hong, at the head of the numerous disciples was an expressionless Yuan Hong. He nodded and
answered in a calm voice, “It was indeed an eight dragon baptism. I personally witnessed it that day.”
The other disciples in the hall broke out into whispers, their eyes filled with envy.
“So he does have a little ability.” Lu Hong snorted, an icy look flashing across his aged face. He had
personally opened his mouth to recruit Zhou Yuan back then, but ended up being rejected by the latter.
Hence, Lu Hong naturally did not want to see things go well for Zhou Yuan.
Yuan Hong slowly said, “However, a senior brother from Sword Cometh Peak secretly informed me that
Zhou Yuan’s eight dragon baptism is likely the work of senior sister Li Qingchan, because Zhou Xiaoyao
had helped senior sister Li Qingchan to deal with senior brother Kong Sheng.”
These words were akin to thunder, causing an explosion of noise in the hall.
“Senior sister Li Qingchan helped Zhou Yuan obtain an eight dragon baptism?!” Disbelief was revealed in
the eyes of numerous male disciples. There was no one who did not know that senior sister Li Qingchan
was akin to a cold goddess of an ice mountain, and always made sure to keep her distance with the
opposite sex. Many outstanding disciples admired her, but did not dare to confess.
Hence, when they heard that Zhou Yuan’s eight dragon baptism was due to senior sister Li Qingchan’s aid,
they found it very difficult to swallow.
What was so good about him that he could enjoy the favor of senior sister Li Qingchan?
Yuan Hong’s expression turned slightly grave as he looked towards Lu Hong. “There’s nothing to be
feared about Zhou Yuan, but that Zhou Xiaoyao…”
If Zhou Xiaoyao truly had the qualifications to interfere in battle between Kong Sheng and Li Qingchan, it
would mean that her strength was extremely terrifying. If she participated in Saint Genesis Peak’s
competition for the chief disciple, even Yuan Hong did not fancy his chances.
Lu Hong’s eyes narrowed slightly. “Zhou Xiaoyao is indeed no ordinary individual… but there’s no need to
be overly worried. Strictly speaking, she’s not considered a disciple under Shen Taiyuan.”
Yaoyao was regarded with extreme importance by Spirit Rune Peak master Bai Mei, making it difficult for
any of the three elders from Saint Genesis Peak to recruit her. In the end, Yaoyao became a rather unique
existence in Saint Genesis Peak.
1699
But this was also why she would not be able to participate in the selection battle for the chief disciple.
Moreover, from Yaoyao’s usual behaviour, she seemed to hold zero interest in the power struggles
between the three factions...
Yuan Hong gave a faint nod when he heard this, his expression returning to its usual calmness.
Lu Hong said, “There’s only a few days till the cave match…”
His gaze swept across the hall, ultimately stopping on the three golden mats at the very front, or to be
more precise, the first seat, Wei You.
The latter’s slender body was currently dressed entirely in black, a certain faint sternness visible
between his brows.
Upon sensing Lu Hong’s gaze, Wei You smiled slightly, a sliver of pride visible on his face as he softly said,
“Relax teacher Lu, it’s just a baptism. Although an eight dragon baptism is very effective, it can’t turn a
sheep into a wolf.”
“Whoever dares to reach for the purple Genesis cave dwelling will have his hand chopped off by me.”
Though he seemed to downplay his words, there was a certain seriousness within them, a sign of the
absolute confidence he had in himself.
“Hehe, senior brother Wei should try to leave some face for them and not win too easily. After all, we
disciples of the same peak will occasionally meet each other.” Flattered a disciple by the side with a smile.
His words were similarly filled with confidence towards Wei You.
The other disciples roared with laughter.
None of them were the least bit worried about the upcoming cave match, appearing as if victory was
already in their grasp.
Lu Hong nodded, his cold face relaxing a little as he sneered in his heart. Shen Taiyuan was truly short
sighted to be so happy for the past two days. It was just a new disciple obtaining an eight dragon baptism
by some fluke, did he really believe that it would change anything?
Fine, I’ll let you be happy for now. When the cave match arrives, you will naturally understand how
repulsive your disciples are compared to my talented disciples. You should have followed Lu Song’s
example long ago, and obediently pull back to the sidelines instead of obstructing my way.
1700
While the entire Saint Genesis Peak was abuzz due to Zhou Yuan’s eight dragon baptism, the main actor
was not wasting away his time going around bragging to everyone. Instead, he cooped himself up in his
cave dwelling and cultivated in peace, digesting the benefits from the eight dragon baptism.
He knew that an eight dragon baptism did not mean anything significant, and it had been his good luck to
obtain one. If not for Tuntun and Li Qingchan, he would not have reached an eight dragon baptism.
Even so, he would not undervalue himself either, because borrowing the power others would at times
also be a type of strength.
Abandoning one’s advantages and insisting on bashing one’s head against a brick wall was nothing but
foolishness.
Hence, Zhou Yuan concentrated on digesting the gains from the eight dragon baptism. What he needed to
do next was to deal with the upcoming cave match.
This was going to be his first real battle after coming to Saint Genesis Peak.
To obtain that purple Genesis cave dwelling and become a purple sash disciple as quickly as possible to
gain the qualifications to participate in the chief disciple selection at the year end, he needed to perform
during the cave match.
In the depths of the cave dwelling, Zhou Yuan opened his eyes, the light within them gradually
withdrawing as the surging Genesis Qi in his body retreated back to his Qi Dwelling.
After several days of cultivation, Zhou Yuan had finally gained full control over his increased Genesis Qi.
He lowered his head and slowly clenched his fist as he released a soft laugh.
There was finally going to be a challenging battle. Zhou Yuan hoped that the disciples under Lu Hong
would not disappoint.
1701
Chapter 332 Commotion over the Cave Match
The buzz brought about by news of Zhou Yuan’s eight dragon baptism only lasted for a few days, before
gradually fading away. What took its place was the hype for the upcoming cave match between Lu Hong
and Shen Taiyuan’s factions.
The majority of Saint Genesis Peak being sealed off had led to the lack of cultivation resources such as
cave dwellings. As such, every cave dwelling ended up being fiercely contested by numerous disciples.
The cave match this time would decide which faction the purple Genesis cave dwelling would ultimately
go to.
It was an event that undoubtedly drew everyone’s attention. After all, a cave dwelling of such quality was
considered a high class cultivation resource even in the entire Cangxuan Sect, and ordinary disciples
would only dream of owning one.
In addition, many disciples understood that though the match seemed to be for the purple Genesis cave
dwelling on the surface, it was also part of the power struggle in Saint Genesis Peak.
Lu Hong’s faction had practically dropped from the sky into Saint Genesis Peak, and began snatching
away numerous cultivation resources from Shen Taiyuan and Lu Hong’s factions in an overbearing
manner. The former clearly intended on being dominant faction.
In response, elder Lu Song had chosen to give in, while the old fashioned Shen Taiyuan opted to face them
head-on, clearly unwilling to let an outsider take away their power and influence.
Saint Genesis Peak was already at a low point. If they were to let Lu Hong lord over them too, everyone
would surely forget that they even existed, making it even more difficult for them to obtain cultivation
resources for their disciples in the future.
Such an outcome would undoubtedly lead to them losing all their disciples, forcing the two elders into
retirement, becoming elders without any authority in the sect.
Before the upcoming cave match, Lu Hong’s faction had won the majority of the matches between the
three factions. This was also the main reason why they currently seemed so unstoppable.
Hence, Shen Taiyuan could only place his hopes into winning the upcoming match to stop their streak,
because if they were allowed to continue winning, it would be a deadly blow to the morale of Shen
Taiyuan’s faction.
Moreover, when news of this spread, the other peaks will look down even more on Saint Genesis Peak,
and believe them to be useless, causing no one to even pity them if they ended up being replaced.
This was why Shen Taiyuan really did not want to lose the upcoming cave match.
1702
…
After several days of anticipation, the day of the cave match finally arrived.
On one of the mountains in Saint Genesis Peak was an enormous cave dwelling. Runes flickered at the
entrance to the cave, forming a barrier that sealed it.
Even so, extremely pure and vigorous Genesis Qi still managed to seep out from the cave, making the
greenery at its entrance appear even more vibrant than normal.
This was obviously a purple Genesis cave dwelling.
Outside the cave was a steep cliff surrounded by swirling mists. Several giant boulders had been cut and
placed upon it, creating a spacious stone stage.
This was where the cave match would be held.
Very few people would come here in the past, but today, it had become the most bustling place in Saint
Genesis Peak.
Figures continuously streamed in from the sky, landing all around the mountain, making the place appear
very crowded, the noisy din from the crowd breaking the usual peace of the area.
Elder Lu Song was seated in a stone pavilion atop a nearby cliff. Behind him stood Lu Yan and a few of his
other purple sash disciples.
Outside the pavilion were even more gold sash and black sash disciples, quite an impressive number of
them in total.
“Why are there so many people here today?” Lu Song had a tea cup in his hand, a slightly puzzled look in
his eyes as he scanned the surroundings. Many figures were still streaming over at this time.
Moreover, these figures clearly did not belong to Saint Genesis Peak.
This observation was quite baffling to him. A cave match like this would at most affect one’s own peak,
and have practically nothing to do with the disciples of the other peaks. So why had so many people come
today? Since when had a cave match of their Saint Genesis Peak been able to draw so many disciples from
the other peaks to watch?
Lu Yan frowned, but said in a gloating manner, “What else can it be? They must be here for Zhou Yuan.”
Lu Song raised his eyebrows.
1703
“A few days ago, elder Miao from Snow Lotus Peak said in front of everyone that Zhou Yuan’s future
prospects were limitless., and he may even be able to match senior brother Chu Qing in the future.” Said
Lu Yan with a smile, but anyone could hear the sliver of disdain in her voice.
“What status do you think senior brother Chu Qing has in the hearts of the numerous disciples? Elder
Miao’s words would naturally give rise to curiosity and disagreement. Since they’ve heard that Zhou Yuan
will be participating in the cave match today, they will naturally come and see whether or not he is as
remarkable as she claimed…”
Only then did Lu Song understand. Looks like the disciples from the other peaks were not here with
friendly intent.
If Zhou Yuan did not give an amazing performance today, the entire sect would likely soon hear of it. Who
knows how much jeering and mockery he would have to face then.
Chu Qing was just too dazzling after all, making it such that even a less than extraordinary performance
from Zhou Yuan would instead make him appear incompetent in comparison, even if it would only be
incompetant when compared to Chu Qing.
“Elder Miao really has a large mouth. How can one so casually make such remarks.” Lu Song frowned.
Even if he had high expectations of Zhou Yuan, he would never say such words in public.
Now that such a crowd had been drawn, Zhou Yuan would definitely be under tremendous pressure.
Although Lu Song had chosen not to fight with Lu Hong, deep in his heart the former was still leaning
towards Shen Taiyuan. There was after all no benefit to Lu Song’s own factions if Lu Hong’s side were to
win another cave match and suppress Shen Taiyuan’s faction even more.
Lu Yan, on the other hand, was clearly ignorant to the situation. She placed her arms across her chest and
said, “Zhou Yuan was asking for it. Stubbornly jumping into the limelight even though he’s just a new
inner mountain disciple, does he really believe he’s the same as senior brother Chu Qing?”
“The tallest tree will always be the first to be blown down. Without enough ability, one should try to be a
little less prominent such as to protect oneself.”
Anyone could tell that as Chu Qing’s fanatical supporter, Lu Yan was very disapproving at elder Miao’s
evaluation. In Lu Yan’s opinion, the two were on completely different levels. How could Zhou Yuan
possibly be compared to senior brother Chu Qing.
It was only an eight dragon baptism, and who knew what the future would be. To say Zhou Yuan was
comparable to senior brother Chu Qing based on this achievement alone was truly unconvincing.
1704
As such, Lu Yan strongly believed that after the cave match, elder Miao’s high praise of Zhou Yuan would
instead become the same material used to ridicule him. In fact, it may even become akin to a boulder
placed upon Zhou Yuan’s shoulders, making him unable to raise his head.
Lu Song glanced at her and nonchalantly said, “If they lose, it will only grow the reputation Lu Hong’s
faction, making them even more bold and overbearing. What good is this to us?”
Lu Yan froze for a moment, before she resentfully said, “It’s not like they’re depending on him… he’s only
a third layer Alpha-Origin, and it probably there just to make up the numbers.”
Lu Song sighed. How could he not know that Shen Taiyuan’s chances were indeed not optimistic.
While the two of them were conversing, a disturbance was suddenly felt in the mountain as countless
gazes filled with interest cast towards a certain direction.
A group of figures was slowly walking over.
At the front was Shen Taiyuan, while Zhou Tai, Zhang Yan, Zhou Yuan, Yaoyao and the rest followed
behind.
Their numbers were quite impressive. It was clear that all of the disciples under Shen Taiyuan had come
this time to at least bolster their presence.
When Shen Taiyuan arrived, he was immediately stunned for a moment by the black sprawling mass of
figures in front of the mountain. He too had not expected the cave match to draw such a crowd.
He frowned, but did not say anything as he continued to walk forward. With a nod to Lu Song, Shen
Taiyuan entered another stone pavilion at the edge of a cliff.
Zhou Yuan stood inside the pavilion, feeling the countless unfamiliar gazes that were tinged with
amusement. This told him that these disciples from the other peaks were likely here for him.
Yaoyao joked from the side, “How lively, looks like you’re going to become famous.”
Zhou Yuan chuckled helplessly. They were more likely here to watch him make a fool of himself.
However, he was not angered by their presence, his eyes calm and serene. Regardless of why they had
come, there was still only one goal he had today.
To win the purple Genesis cave dwelling.
Not long after Shen Taiyuan’s group arrived, a clamor was heard as another wave of figures aggressively
surged into the area, their astonishing presence drawing the attention of everyone present.
The one leading them was naturally Lu Hong.
1705
However, Zhou Yuan saw a familiar figure at Lu Hong’s side.
Dressed in black that outlined a set of enchanting curves, her legs were long and slender, her waist supple
and slim, while her eyes gave off a haughty and cold aura.
It was Lu Xuanyin.
The moment she appeared, her cold and haughty eyes immediately locked onto Zhou Yuan as a smirk
appeared on her pretty face.
At the same time, hatred also began radiating from her eyes.
“Zhou Yuan, since you took the number one spot from Lu Feng, and stole the fame he should have had, I
shall personally witness how you will be thoroughly humiliated today!”
1706
Chapter 333 Cave Match Begins
The moment Lu Hong’s group appeared, every gaze in the area could not help but converge towards
them. One had to admit that when compared to the other two factions of Saint Genesis Peak, the former
surpassed the other two in presence.
However, the other two groups could not be blamed for being too weak, because it was Lu Hong’s faction
that was too strong. Lu Hong’s faction had already been a formidable force back in Sword Cometh Peak.
What’s more, they had taken in quite a number of talented disciples over the years, making it basically
impossible for the other two factions to match Lu Hong’s faction in terms of disciples.
Lu Hong stood with his hand behind his back at the very front, his expression indifferent.
When he arrived, he merely cast a glance at Shen Taiyuan and Lu Song, before stepping into the last stone
pavilion.
The disciple under him crowded around the pavilion, a rather imposing sight.
Only three figures had been allowed to follow Lu Hong into the pavilion. One was naturally his first
disciple, Yuan Hong, while another was Lu Xuanyin.
Although she was not Lu Hong’s disciple, Lu Hong was her elder in their clan.
Beside Lu Xuanyin was a tall figure with excellent posture. A faint smile hung from the lips of the youth
who had a head full of red hair. His eyes were imposing and gave off an invasive feeling, evidence that he
was clearly no kind spirit.
He was called Xu Yan and was also not Lu Hong’s disciple, but from the same teacher as Lu Xuanyin. His
father was an elder in the Cangxuan Sect who was quite famous in Sword Cometh Peak, while he himself
was a purple sash disciple.
Xu Yan’s gaze swept across Zhou Yuan at this moment and asked with a grin, “Xuanyin, is that the one
who stole Lu Feng’s number one spot in the peak selection ceremony?”
Lu Xuanyin faintly nodded in response, still somewhat indignant as she said, “He was so cunning,
managing to catch Lu Feng off-guard and clinch victory by some stroke of luck.”
Xu Yan chuckled, completely unconcerned about Zhou Yuan as he said, “It doesn’t matter. He will become
a laughing stock before the day is over. With Wei Youxuan around, only defeat awaits elder Shen’s
faction.”
One could tell that Xu Yan was quite close to Lu Xuanyin. Hence, he was already fully on Lu Xuanyin’s side
despite never having any contact with Zhou Yuan before.
1707
Lu Xuanyin also laughed when she heard this, feeling somewhat better as she said, “He deserves it for
losing sight of his status. Does he really believe that this is still the outer mountains? He’s just a mere gold
sash disciple that many would easily be able to deal with.”
“I really don’t understand why elder Miao would give such a high evaluation of him, but I’m sure that she
will soon feel quite embarrassed after today.”
The corners of Lu Xuanyin’s mouth curled downwards as she mockingly said, “The likes of him thinks he
can be compared to senior brother Chu Qing?”
While the two were talking, Lu Hong’s eyelids raised as he looked towards Shen Taiyuan in the other
pavilion and nonchalantly said, “Since everyone is here, let’s prepare to begin and get this over and done
with as soon as possible. I still have other matters to attend to.”
His tone was relaxed, clearly not the least bit concerned about the imminent cave match.
Shen Taiyuan was naturally able to hear the hidden meaning behind Lu Hong’s words. With an icy
chuckle, the former responded, “I just hope that elder Lu will still have the mood to deal with your other
affairs after this.”
A mocking smile flowed out from the corners of Lu Hong’s mouth. “Unfortunately, it seems that elder
Shen has been the one who has been feeling down after most of the cave matches.”
Shen Taiyuan’s face twitched for a moment, unable to retort for a time as his expression turned ugly, even
having slight trouble breathing due to anger.
The mockery on Lu Hong’s lips grew even greater when he saw this. With a wave of his hand, he called
out, “Wei Youxuan, Feng Ling, Cheng Ying.”
Three figures walked into the stone pavilion and cupped their fists together towards Lu Hong.
Lu Hong indifferently said, “Go, do not shame us today.”
The trio acknowledged with a nod. Under the attention of countless gazes, they landed on the three giant
stone stages on the cliff.
Shen Taiyuan took in a deep breath and said in a low voice, “Tong Long, Pan Song, Zhou Yuan.”
Tong Long and Pan Song hurriedly stepped forward, while Zhou Yuan exited the stone pavilion.
“All three of you must do your best today.” Said Shen Taiyuan, though his gaze mostly looked towards
Tong Long and Pan Song. The two of them were after all the first and second seat amongst the gold sash
disciples, and the strongest amongst them.
1708
Tong Long and Pan Song’s expression were quite taunt, clearly somewhat nervous. However, they still
managed to force out a nod.
Shen Taiyuan cautioned Zhou Yuan, “Zhou Yuan, there’s no need to be too nervous since its is your first
time in a match like this. If you’re not a match for your opponent, remember that your safety is the most
important. Victory or defeat is only temporary, and doesn’t decide everything”
Many disciples from the other peaks had come to watch today, and Shen Taiyuan was worried that if
Zhou Yuan did not perform well, the storm of mocking laughter that followed would be too huge of a
mental blow to him.
Zhou Yuan was a little moved inside as he nodded with a smile.
When the three of them walked out, even more gazes were cast to them than earlier. However, most of
the gazes were clearing looking towards Zhou Yuan.
Numerous whispers began to spread.
“Is he that Zhou Yuan?”
“Doesn’t seem to be anything special.
“Hehe, looks like another person who wants to borrow senior brother Chu Qing’s name to become
famous.”
“But it’s a pity that he chose the wrong person. Senior brother Chu Qing is just too outstanding, and even
if Zhou Yuan does perform decently, he will only appear incapable in comparison.”
“……”
The majority of the disciples that had come to watch were female, all of them young and pretty. They
were obviously similar to Lu Yan, belonging to the group of Chu Qing’s fanatical supporters. Hence, their
words were merciless, and rather grating to the ear.
Tong Long and Pan Song also felt these gazes, causing them to feel a little uncomfortable all over. This
was the first time so many people had come to watch a cave match of Saint Genesis Peak.
Moreover, most of them were not here with kind intentions.
The two exchanged a look and let out a bitter laugh. They were truly innocent victims.
Though they had already been affected, Tong Long was still quite broad-minded, and did not vent his
frustration on Zhou Yuan. Instead, the former tried to console him. “Junior brother Zhou Yuan, since it’s
your first time in a cave match, we’ll go first later and let you observe a little. No need to be nervous.”
1709
Zhou Yuan nodded with a smile, showing his gratitude. If Tong Long and Pan Song were able to win, there
would be no need for Zhou Yuan to stand out too much. As for the opinions of the onlookers, he couldn’t
care less.
He was no circus monkey after all, and was not here to entertain everyone.
Under the attention of countless gazes, Tong Long, Pan Song and Zhou Yuan moved, landing on the three
stone stages opposite the Wei Youxuan trio.
Wei Youxuan’s gaze nonchalantly swept across the three figures, as a slight smile appeared from the
corners of his mouth. The look in his eyes was one of amusement and ridicule.
“Can’t believe that you three still have the courage to participate. This truly is somewhat surprising to
me.” Wei Youxuan smiled faintly.
Tong Long’s expression darkened. “Wei Youxuan, don’t brag too much. We’ll only know who wins when
we fight.”
However, Wei Youxuan merely laughed in response, before his gaze shifted towards Zhou Yuan on the far
right as he sarcastically said, “Senior sister Lu Xuanyin instructed me previously to take good care of you,
so don’t go blaming me too much later.”
Zhou Yuan’s gaze lowered slightly, as if he did not hear the former.
While both sides were having a duel of tongues, Lu Hong opened his mouth and said, “Begin.”
His words instantly caused the atmosphere to turn tense, as every gaze in the place turned towards the
six figures.
1710
Chapter 334 Genesis Breaker Hand
Six stone stages stood facing each other from some distance away, sparks flying as the gazes of the six
figures atop them clashed.
The whispering voices fell silent as gaze after gaze turned to the battle arena.
Tong Long was the first seat gold sash disciple under Shen Taiyuan, and was an elite amongst the fifth
layer Alpha-Origin stage, someone who was even stronger than Cao Shi, whom Zhou Yuan had fought
before.
He was considered the leader in this cave match, thus, after pondering for a while, he looked towards Pan
Song and said, “Junior brother Pan Song, you’ll go and test the waters first.”
Pan Song’s strength was second only to his own, and should be able to put up a fight against Feng Yu or
Chen Ying.
Pan Song nodded upon hearing this, his expression turning grave as he imagined how intense the cave
match was going to be. He quickly stepped forward and said in a low voice, “I’m up for the first match,
which of you will be taking me on?”
At the sight of Pan Song’s figure, Feng Yu and Chen Ying seemed to smile mysteriously.
Neither of them moved, while Wei Youxuan took a step forward with a mischievous expression.
The moment he walked forward, faint whispers spread from the numerous watching disciples.
“It’s Wei Youxuan. I’ve heard that he’s the strongest amongst the gold sash disciples under elder Lu Hong.
Why is being sent out at the start? Are they not going to give the other three any chance?”
“The strongest at the start. Heh, interesting.”
“…”
Tong Long’s eyes narrowed slightly. If there was a gold sash disciple under Lu Hong whom he was most
wary of, it would definitely be Wei Youxuan. The former had originally believed Wei Youxuan would save
himself for last due to his status, and never expected he would be the first to fight instead.
“What is Wei Youxuan thinking? If he’s the first one, even if he wins, it would exhaust him somewhat.
When that happens, it will be very disadvantageous if I were to challenge him next.” There was some
confusion in Tong Long’s eyes. In an ordinary situation, the more powerful participant will be sent out
later such as to preserve their battle power.
“Humph, Wei Youxuan is being too conceited!”
1711
Tong Long coldly snorted. He admitted that Wei Youxuan was strong, but he was at most a little stronger
than Tong Long. If Wei Youxuan’s condition was not as its peak, Tong Long may not have to be so wary.
Besides, Pan Song was no weakling either, and it would not be easy for Wei Youxuan to defeat the former.
With such thoughts, Tong Long looked towards Pan Song and nodded.
Pan Song took in a deep breath, before he jumped onto the empty stone stage between them, his
expression grave as he looked towards Wei Youxuan and said, “Please!”
Wei Youxuan chuckled softly as he took a step forward. Genesis Qi flickered under his feet as his figure
appeared directly on the stone stage.
Pan Song cautiously stared at Wei Youxuan. Without wasting any time, all of the Genesis Qi in his Qi
Dwelling burst out from the top of his head.
Genesis Qi swirled above Pan Song’s head. The flowing Genesis Qi was ungraspable as the mist, and yet
also seemed to pulse with the might to shatter mountains.
In the face of an opponent like Wei Youxuan, Pan Song did not dare to hold anything back. He was afraid
that showing the tiniest opening would result in his instant defeat.
While Pan Song brought out his full power, Wei Youxuan merely stood there with a calm expression, not
moving a single inch from the spot, and indifference in his eyes.
Pan Song frowned upon seeing how Wei Youxuan was looking down on him. With an icy snort, his foot
stomped into the ground as the vigorous Genesis Qi above him suddenly descended.
Rumble!
A stream of Genesis Qi containing terrifying power blasted towards Wei Youxuan like lightning. The
attack screeched past in the air, leaving deep cuts on the stone stage below.
Pan Song had gone all-out. Such an attack was powerful enough to force back any ordinary fifth layer
Alpha-Origin disciple.
The stream of Genesis Qi zipped past, appearing in front of Wei Youxuan in the blink of an eye. However,
just as it was about to strike its target, Wei Youxuan’s suddenly lifted his hand with a nonchalant
expression, and casually swatted downwards.
Pop!
His palm hit the ferocious stream of Genesis Qi. Next, everyone could only watch in shock as the Genesis
Qi was scattered.
1712
Wei Youxuan had dispersed the Genesis Qi with a single swing of his palm.
Gasp!
Gasps sounded around them. Everyone knew how deadly an attack purely made from Genesis Qi was, the
slightest touch causing astonishing destructive power to explode. Thus, no one had expected Wei
Youxuan to so easily scatter it with his hand.
“What?” Pan Song was also startled. His expression soon darkened as his hands violently slammed
together. The swirling Genesis Qi above him swiftly began to gather, transforming into a several hundred
feet wide giant Genesis Qi hand that viciously swatted down towards Wei Youxuan.
It was simple and pure violence. As the giant Genesis Qi hand fell, a deep imprint was created in the
ground below.
“Go ahead and try to scatter it again!”
Upon hearing Pan Song’s shout, the corners of Wei Youxuan’s lips raised in a mocking manner. In the next
instant, his foot slammed into the ground, cracks extending like a spider web as his figure shot into the
air.
He appeared directly under the descending Genesis Qi hand, appearing tiny and insignificant before it.
However, there was no fear at all in Wei Youxuan, his expression nonchalant as he sent a palm thrusting
forward.
Two hands varying vast in size collided in the air.
Boom!
A berserk Genesis Qi shockwave unfurled, causing cracks to form in the surrounding cliffs.
Numerous gazes were tightly glued to the clash in the air.
Everyone could only watch as the giant hand suddenly shuddered, before cracks began to appear on it.
With one loud final crack, it shattered into a million pieces.
The attack Pan Song had poured all of his Genesis Qi into had been forcefully shattered by Wei Youxuan’s
bare hand.
“Impossible!” Pan Song involuntarily cried out as his expression changed drastically.
Even if he was not as strong as his opponent, how could the other party so easily scattered his full power
attack?
1713
Swoosh!
At the same moment he cried out, a blur suddenly shot towards him. A hand chopped through the air,
arriving in front of Pan Song’s chest.
The seemingly ordinary looking palm was akin to a life-snatching hand in Pan Song’s eyes.
Pan Song’s expression drastically changed as his cheeks ballooned, spitting out a breath of pure Genesis
Qi. The Genesis Qi seemed to turn into armor as it covered his body, boasting powerful defensive abilities.
Wei Youxuan was too quick, and it was already impossible for Pan Song to dodge. Hence, he had no
option but to face the attack.
Thump!
The hand struck like lightning the instant the Genesis Qi armor covered Pan Song’s body, gently landing
on his chest.
The attack did not seem to have much force behind it, and was unable to push Pan Song back.
However, Pan Song’s pupils abruptly shrank at this moment as a look of horror surfaced within them.
Wei Youxuan immediately drifted backwards the moment his attack landed as a breeze blew out with a
gentle wave of his sleeve.
Crack!
The Genesis Qi around Pan Song’s body shattered like glass, slowly falling as it turned into smoke that
quickly faded away, while a hideous bloody palm imprint appeared on his chest.
Urgh!
A mouthful of blood was spat out from Pan Song’s mouth, before his sturdy looking body crashed into the
ground.
*Uproar*!
Cries of surprise immediately sounded in the vicinity, numerous disciples looking towards the backwards
drifting Wei Youxuan in astonishment. No one had expected him to win so effortlessly.
Pan Song’s attacks had been so ferocious earlier, but they had been unable to even shake Wei Youxuan in
the slightest. Instead, the former had been easily destroyed.
Wei Youxuan had revealed his astonishing strength in a few short exchanges..
1714
Tong Long’s expression turned ugly at this moment. Pan Song had lost far too quickly, a fact that rather
horrified him. It seemed that the former had misjudged Wei Youxuan’s strength.
He had hidden his true power.
On the cliff, Lu Hong’s disciples laughed, their eyes filled with amusement. In contrast, Shen Taiyuan’s
disciples stirred restlessly.
A faint smile was revealed on Lu Hong’s face as he looked towards Shen Taiyuan and said, “Elder Shen, it
seems that your disciple need more training.”
Shen Taiyuan’s expression was somewhat stormy. He stared at Wei Youxuan on the stone stage, his gaze
pausing on the latter’s hands. The disciples may have been unable to sense it, but he had. Wei Youxuan
had repeatedly tore through Pan Song’s Genesis Qi earlier not through physical prowess, but a faint layer
of unique Genesis Qi on his hands.
It was likely some kind of Genesis technique.
He fell into thought for a brief moment, before he muttered, “It’s the Genesis Beaker Hand…”
The Genesis Beaker Hand was a rather unique high grade little Heaven Genesis technique. It utilised a
special method to coat one’s hands in Genesis Qi that had the ability to tear through the Genesis Qi of
others.
This technique was quite domineering, but was also not easy to master. Shen Taiyuan never imagined
that one of Lu Hong’s disciples would actually succeed in learning it, and even appeared to be quite
proficient.
Once learnt, one would basically be able to tear through any Genesis technique, allowing one to gain
dominance in a fight.
The disciples on the surrounding cliffs clicked their tongues. From the looks of it, Zhou Yuan’s side did
not have much of a chance in the cave match.
Under the numerous watching gazes, Wei Youxuan did not withdraw after easily defeating Pan Song.
Instead, the former waved his sleeve, smiling as he directed his gaze towards Tong Long.
“It’s your turn next.”
These words immediately cause a wave of noise to erupt around them. Only now did everyone realise
that Wei Youxuan was actually intended to defeat all three of Shen Taiyuan’s disciples alone!
How domineering!
If he was allowed to succeed, it would be akin to stepping on the faces of Shen Taiyuan’s faction...
1715
At this point, those that looked towards Zhou Yuan could not help but feel some pity. It was likely that he
would become a laughing stalk in the sect after today.
1716
Chapter 335 Sixth Layer
When Wei Youxuan continued on to challenge Tong Long, it was not just many spectating disciples
nearby that reacted. The expressions of Shen Taiyuan’s disciples in particular turned rather ugly, anger
filling their eyes.
“Wei Youxuan is too cocky!”
“Does he really think senior brother Tong Long will be an easy opponent?”
“Humph, Wei Youxuan is admittedly very strong, but senior brother Tong Long is no weakling. What right
does he have to look down on senior brother Tong Long?!”
“……”
Numerous disciples angrily remarked, all of them filled with indignation.
In the stone pavilion, Shen Taiyuan’s expression sunk slightly as he glanced towards Lu Hong in the
nearby pavilion. A faint hint of mockery was currently hanging from the corners of the latter’s mouth.
Shen Taiyuan waved his hand, suppressing the angry voices of his many disciples. Talk was useless at this
point and would only make others look down on them.
However, his gaze turned a little deeper as he stared at Wei Youxuan’s figure on the stone stage.
“Isn’t Wei Youxuan being way too arrogant? To think he plans on taking down all of them by himself.”
Over at elder Lu Song’s area, Lu Yan’s eyes widened as she watched.
Lu Song frowned. It did seem that Wei Youxuan was not going to leave them any face. If Shen Taiyuan’s
side really ended up being single handedly wiped out while so many disciples from the other peaks were
watching, it would be an extremely huge blow to the reputation of his group.
Furthermore, when news of this spread, others would surely call them useless.
“Lu Hong… really is overbearing.” Lu Song’s expression was likewise a little ugly. Soon after, he let out a
helpless sigh. The other party was just too strong, and even he felt powerless.
Lu Yan consoled, “Don’t worry too much grandpa, Tong Long is not to be underestimated and may not
lose to Wei Youxuan.”
Although she was a little bias against Zhou Yuan, she understood that it would do them no good if the
reputation of Lu Hong’s faction was allowed to grow even greater.
1717
Lu Song sighed. The only thing he could do now was try and be a little more optimistic.
However, Wei Youxuan was no fool. Would he be so arrogant if he didn’t have some cards hidden up his
sleeve?
“What boastful words.”
Under the attention of countless gazes, Tong Long expression turned rather stormy as he stared at Wei
Youxuan and said, “I don’t intend to take advantage of you, so I advise you to go rest for a while before
coming to fight me.”
He had asked around previously about how strong Wei Youxuan was. The latter was at the peak fifth
layer Alpha-Origin stage like himself, and perhaps just a wee bit stronger. However, there was a limit to
how much stronger and the earlier battle had surely taken at least a little out of Wei Youxuan.
Wei Youxuan merely smiled slightly upon hearing this, a look of ridicule in his smile as he shook his head
and said, “I do admire brother Tong Long’s attitude, but would a lion care about kindness from a rabbit?”
Tong Long’s expression turned green with anger, rage flashing in his eyes. Wei Youxuan was really way
too arrogant. How could he possibly dare to compare Tong Long to a rabbit?
“Since you’re intent on seeking your own humiliation, I will happily grant your wish!”
Tong Long’s foot pushed off the ground as vigorous Genesis Qi abruptly exploded from his body, coiling
around him like a giant python. His body launching into the air like a cannonball, and slamming onto the
stone stage
Tong Long had displayed his formidable strength from the get go. His Genesis Qi was clearly even
stronger than Pan Song’s.
The watching disciples in the vicinity gave a slight nod of approval. As the strongest gold sash disciple
under Shen Taiyuan, Tong Long was indeed a powerful individual.
Genesis Qi swirled around Tong Long’s body, a sharp iciness in his eyes as he stared at Wei Youxuan. Not
wasting any time with words, Tong Long’s figure moved, shooting forward with speed that blew apart the
surrounding air.
In the blink of an eye, he had arrived in front Wei Youxuan as five fingers tightly clenched into a first that
was sent flying forward.
Boom!
1718
Vigorous Genesis Qi swirled around his fists, emitting a hissing sound. The Genesis Qi seemed to take on
the form of a black python, bringing along a stench with it as it pounced towards Wei Youxuan.
“High grade little Heaven Genesis technique, Poison Python Force!”
Tong Long used his most powerful trump card at the start, his Genesis Qi akin to a python that contained
a lethal venom. It would contaminate anyone who came into contact with it, injuring them from the
inside.
Wei Youxuan’s expression remained indifferent. Faint glowing runes appeared on his hands, giving off a
unique Genesis Qi undulation.
His hand was suddenly sent chopping forward a split second later, as if he intended on meeting Tong
Long’s deadly poison python Genesis Qi with his bare hands.
Ch!
The two parties clashed, causing the air around them to ripple as a shockwave unfurled.
At the instant of impact, Tong Long’s pupils shrank slightly. He had felt a peculiar tearing force ripping
and piercing through his Genesis Qi...
Fortunately, his Genesis Qi was quite robust, and he immediately withdraw his hand the moment he
sensed something was amiss.
The two backed away almost instantly.
Tong Long looked towards his palm, where a faint bloody wound had appeared. If not for his fast
response earlier, his opponent would have pierced his hand.
Tong Long’s expression sunk as he slowly said, “This is… the Genesis Breaker Hand?!”
He had finally recognized the other party’s Genesis technique.
Wei Youxuan smiled faintly. There were some deep black blotches on his hand due to the poison, but was
swiftly neutralized by the Genesis Qi in his body.
“Brother Tong Long is quite knowledgeable.” Wei Youxuan chuckled.
Tong Long frowned. The Genesis Breaker Hand specialized in breaking through Genesis Qi, making it
extremely deadly. He would never have expected Wei Youxuan to have mastered it.
Although it was indeed a tricky technique to deal with, Tong Long would at least be able to come up with
some countermeasures now that he was aware. The technique may be able to tear through Genesis Qi,
but its effectiveness would depend on the strength of the target’s Genesis Qi.
1719
As long as he was a little more careful and strengthened his defences, the opponent would naturally be
unable to prevail.
While numerous thoughts flashed past in Tong Long’s heart, he took in a deep breath as Genesis Qi began
to surge out of the flickering Genesis Qi stars inside his Qi Dwelling, filling his entire body.
Robust Genesis Qi enveloped Tong Long like smoke, giving off a powerful pressure.
Thump!
His figure turned into an after image again as he shot forth, cracks rapidly growing along the ground
under his feet.
Boom! Boom!
With the support of his Genesis Qi, Tong Long was akin to a ferocious beast, a storm of fists hurtling
towards the points of vulnerability on Wei Youxuan’s body. Under the flurry of attacks, even the air
seemed to have been displaced, turning the area into a small patch of vacuum.
Wei Youxuan did not back down, runes of light flickering on his hands as a faint but sharp aura pulsed.
Palm wind continued to be hacked out like blades, clashing directly against the countless punch shadows
from Tong Long.
Thud! Thud!
Under numerous amazed gazes, the two individuals clashed ferociously, neither showing any mercy but
instead an exceptional ruthlessness.
Deep gorges were torn open on the ground under their feet, while also blasted full of holes, turning the
place into a complete mess.
Everyone watched with wide eyes. This battle could be considered extremely intense for one between
fifth layer Alpha-Origins.
While they continued to pummel each other, the numerous disciples saw bloody wounds appear one after
another on Tong Long’s body, clearly left by his opponents shredding Genesis Qi.
However, Wei Youxuan did not appear to be doing too good either. Black patches continuously emerged
on the surface of his body, clearly the work of the poison.
Tong Long icily said, “Wei Youxuan, this is the limit of your Genesis Breaker Hand. It can’t fully penetrate
my defences, and can only leave some superficial wounds. On the other hand, my python poison has
already began to invade your body, and you’re unable to keep up with it!”
1720
He may seem to be covered in bloody wounds, but they were merely flesh wounds.
The moment Tong Long’s words faded, the corners of Wei Youxuan’s lips seemed to curl upwards slightly
as a look of ridicule flitted across his eyes.
“Is that so?”
With two fingers extended, he suddenly thrust forward.
“Humph!”
Upon seeing that the opponent was not going to give up, Tong Long coldly snorted, his five fingers
clenching into a fist as vigorous Genesis Qi poured into it, making it akin to metal. A punch blasted
through the air,
Ch!
Under the watching eyes of the crowd, fist and fingers smashed into each other.
In that instant, a faint piercing sound was heard.
Tong Long’s pupils abruptly shrank as intense pain spread from his fist. His face instantly twisted into a
grimace as a bloody hole was forcefully opened in his Genesis Qi coated fist by Wei Youxuan’s fingers.
ARGHH!
A painful cry escaped from his mouth as his body was sent flying. It crashed into the ground, blood
spurting from the hole in his fist.
This sudden turn of events made everyone present jump in surprise.
No one had expected such an abrupt conclusion to what had appeared to be a match between two evenly
matched fighters.
They could not understand how Wei Youxuan had pierced Tong Long’s defences in that split second
moment earlier.
“How can this be?!” Tong Long’s expression was pale as he stared at Wei Youxuan.
Wei Youxuan merely revealed a faint smile as he slowly withdrew his hands. However, everyone could
feel the astonishing Genesis Qi that suddenly erupted from his body like a volcano.
The power of this surge of Genesis Qi instantly destroyed every last trace of poison in his body.
“Do you understand now?” Wei Youxuan’s tone was indifferent.
1721
Tong Long’s complexion turned ashen as he mumbled in a trembling voice, “You… you’ve already stepped
into the sixth layer Alpha-Origin stage!”
No wonder! No wonder Wei Youxuan was confident of taking all of them on without his two teammates.
It turns out that he had already stepped into the sixth layer Alpha-Origin stage!
Any disciples that reached this cultivation level would be allowed to participate in the purple sash
selection test, leaving one’s gold sash status behind and become a true-blue purple sash disciple!
Wei Youxuan had been hiding his strength all along!
An uproar exploded from the numerous disciples in the vicinity. Wei Youxuan was already a sixth layer
Alpha-Origin expert! It was no wonder that he was so confident.
In the wake of Tong Long’s defeat, Shen Taiyuan’s side was left with the participant that appeared the
weakest.
Gaze after gaze was cast towards Zhou Yuan’s figure, discovering that the latter was gazing at Wei
Youxuan in surprise, seemingly in awe of the strength displayed by him.
They could not help but shake their heads, the pity in their gazes growing when they looked towards
Zhou Yuan.
It was easy to imagine how he had already fallen into the pits of despair...
1722
Chapter 336 Get Down Here
“Wei Youxuan truly lives up to his name as the Lu Hong’s strongest gold sash disciple. I never expected
that he has secretly advanced to the sixth layer Alpha-Origin stage…”
“With such strength, he already has the qualifications to participate in the purple sash selection test. If he
succeeds, he will be able to leave his gold sash status behind, and become a true-blue purple sash
disciple.”
“Amazing. No wonder he’s so cocky. It turns out that he does have the ability to back it up.”
“As it stands, Shen Taiyuan’s side is doomed. Tong Long and Pan Song are his first and second seat gold
sash disciples, but both of them have lost…”
“Haha, there is no need to fret. Don’t they still have a genius disciple that can supposedly match up to
senior brother Chu Qing in the future? Perhaps he will be able to salvage the situation.”
“Pfft…”
“.....”
Quiet whispers and private conversations continuously sounded in the area. However, most of them were
expressing their shock at Wei Youxuan’s ability. Even amongst all the disciples in the Cangxuan Sect, a
sixth layer Alpha-Origin stage like him was already considered one of the elites.
Shen Taiyuan’s pavilion and its surroundings were completely silent as he sat within it with a face devoid
of emotion. However, his gnarly hands atop the table could not help but clench tightly.
Beside him, Zhou Tai, Zhang Yan and the other purple sash disciples wore gloomy expressions on their
faces as they stared daggers at the triumphant Wei Youxuan, wishing that they could personally jump
down and give him a beating he would remember.
However, there were rules that had to be abided in the cave match. Other than the contestants, no one
else was allowed to interfere.
However, if Wei Youxuan managed to single-handedly defeat all three opponents today, it would be a
huge blow to the reputation of elder Shen’s faction.
They could already imagine how much they would be mocked in the future.
In contrast to the gloomy atmosphere on this side, celebratory cheers were constantly heard from Lu
Hong’s side, the disciples there continuously shooting derisive looks over.
Seated within the stone pavilion, Lu Hong smiled as he raised the tea cup in his hand.
1723
“Senior brother Wei Youxuan is indeed Uncle Hong’s strongest gold sash disciple. Once he passes the
purple sash selection test, he will become a genuine purple sash disciple.” Said Lu Xuanyin from behind
Lu Hong with a grin. Meanwhile, a satisfied expression spread across her beautiful face.
She cast a sadistic glance towards Zhou Yuan’s figure in the arena. Now that both Tong Long and Pan
Song had been defeated, wouldn’t the former be panicking?
Even though Zhou Yuan had taken first place in the peak selection ceremony, it only proved his
dominance over the outer mountain disciples. Now that he had entered the inner mountain, however, his
pathetic abilities no longer gave him the right to be arrogant.
“I wonder how much face you’ll have left after senior brother Wei Youxuan finishes you off.” Lu Xuanyin
felt as if she was free at last. It seemed like she could at long last vent the resentment that she has been
keeping in her heart for the past month.
From what she could see, since Tong Long and Pan Song had already lost, someone like Zhou Yuan would
not even have the qualifications to face Wei Youxuan.
As such, her goal for today would have been reached.
“It seems like elder Shen has been tricked again this time.” Lu Song stared at the scene in front of him as
he sighed.
It was clear that Wei Youxuan had already advanced to the sixth layer Alpha-Origin stage for some time.
However, Lu Hong chose to hide his true strength. By doing so, he could temporarily avoid bringing Wei
Youxuan to the purple sash selection test, and allow him to participate in the cave match as a gold sash
disciple.
As such, since he was able to use his sixth layer Alpha-Origin abilities against those fifth layer Alpha-
Origin gold sash disciples, there was no way Lu Hong could lose.
Beside Lu Song, Lu Yan also frowned. If even Tong Long and Pan Song had lost, the outcome of this cave
match was already crystal clear.
She glanced at Zhou Yuan, her lips pulling outwards as she said, “It’s all because of you. You created such
a huge uproar in the Genesis reservoir, that resulted in such a huge crowd from the various peaks being
drawn over to watch the cave match today. Once the outcome of today’s match spreads, elder Shen’s
faction will lose all face.”
Only disciples from Saint Genesis Peak would attend their cave matches in the past. Therefore, the results
would not spread to the other peaks. However, today’s situation was different. Since there were disciples
from various peaks present, it was impossible to stop the flow of information.
1724
Lu Song sighed inside. He waved his hands in resignation as he powerlessly collapse into his chair. Looks
like there was no changing the outcome. After today, Lu Hong would likely become even more
overbearing in Saint Genesis Peak.
Under the numerous watching eyes colored with various expressions, a smiling Wei Youxuan lifted his
head, staring at Zhou Yuan as he said in a friendly voice, “Brother Zhou Yuan, it’s your turn.”
“Why don’t you voluntarily challenge me so we don’t waste any more time?”
According to the rules of the cave match, a contestant was only allowed two chances to challenge an
opponent. Even if one wins the first two fights, the third match would be decided by his opponent. This
was to prevent a single participant from defeating all three contestants from the opposing faction,
causing the opposing faction to lose all face.
Therefore, after Wei Youxuan won two consecutive fights, Zhou Yuan was allowed to pick his opponent
for the third match.
After Wei Youxuan spoke, laughter erupted in the surrounding cliffs, the disciples who came down to
watch Zhou Yuan in particular, were especially loud.
Though Zhou Yuan was being mocked by the crowd around him, there was hardly any traces of anger on
his face. The shock he expressed towards Wei Youxuan gradually receded, as he lifted his head and
looked towards the cliff where elder Shen Taiyuan’s faction was.
At this time, all the disciples were dejected, making the atmosphere quite depressing. Even Shen Taiyuan
was expressionless. Tong Long and Pan Song’s defeat had dealt a huge blow to them.
Moreover, they did not believe they had even the slightest chance to mount a comeback this time.
Zhou Yuan smiled helplessly, before he moved and landed on the stone stage. He looked at the smiling
Wei Youxuan, and earnestly said, “Senior brother Wei, you must be pretty tired after two matches in a
row. It will be better for you to rest for the next two rounds. I do not wish to take advantage of you.”
His words stunned not only Wei Youxuan, but also made the numerous disciples on the surrounding cliffs
burst out into laughter.
Beside Lu Xuanyin, the red-haired youth called Xu Yan involuntarily laughed as he said, “Is this kid so
frightened that he lost his mind. Does he actually believe that he likes of him will be taking advantage of
Wei Youxuan?”
Lu Xuanyin let out an icy chuckle, “He is just trying to entertain the crowd.”
The disciples from Shen Taiyuan’s faction looked at one another, finding the awkward expressions on
some of their faces. Zhou Yuan’s decision to throw a wisecrack at such a time was quite embarrassing...
1725
“Tsk, he is so unsightly. Comparing him to senior Chu Qing is a complete insult!” Said Lu Yan with a deep
frown, clearly somewhat upset.
On the stone stage, the bewildered expression on Wei Youxuan’s face only lasted for a few brief moments,
before he chuckled as his eyes narrowed slightly, “Are you serious?”
Tong Long had said similar words to him earlier, but had now ended up lying on the ground. To think that
Zhou Yuan actually dared to utter such words to him as well. Had this fellow really scrambled his brains
due to fear?
Zhou Yuan ignored Wei Youxuan, and instead looked towards Feng Yu and Cheng Yin. He casually pointed
at one of them and said, “You will do.”
The person he pointed to was Feng Yu.
When Feng Yu saw this, he shrugged his shoulders with a smile, before he looked at Wei Youxuan and
said, “Sorry senior brother Wei. It seems like you won’t be hogging all the limelight.”
Wei Youxuan laughed, seemingly a little helpless as he responded, “Fine, I’ll leave it to you. I will have to
worry about staining my hands anyways even if I defeated such an opponent.”
He was clearly under the impression that Zhou Yuan had been scared silly.
With a wave of his hand, he turned around and began walking away.
Feng Yu floated down and landed in front of Zhou Yuan.
“Junior brother Zhou Yuan, do you feel that I am the easiest one to deal with of the three?” Feng Yu wore a
fake smile as he stared at Zhou Yuan. The cold glint in his eyes, however, clearly indicated that he was
ready to teach the latter a lesson.
Opposite him, Zhou Yuan lifted his eyelids as an indifferent glance was cast at Feng Yu.
Boom!
In the next instance, violent Golden Genesis Qi charged out from Zhou Yuan’s head like a giant golden
python, as all seven hundred Genesis Qi stars began to glow dazzlingly in his Qi Dwelling.
Waves of Genesis Qi flooded his limbs and bones, as a terrifying force burst forth.
A fearsome Genesis Qi pressure swept forth, cracking the ground beneath Zhou Yuan’s feet. His figure
instantly etherealized as he exploded forward, leaving an after image behind.
The sound sonic boom immediately followed.
1726
The attack was swift and decisive, not a single hint of hesitation.
In the blink of an eye, Zhou Yuan’s ethereal body appeared in front of Feng Yu. It was only at this moment
that the latter came back to his senses, immediately bellowing as the Genesis Qi within his body burst
out.
“You ignorant fool, I can’t believe you dared to take the initiative!” Feng Yu’s expression was akin to a
brewing storm. His Genesis Qi howled as it gathered at his fist, before he viciously delivered a punch.
Even though the punch was not a Genesis technique, it was packed with robust Genesis Qi. Feng Yu
believed that it would be able to push back even someone like Tong Long.
Whoosh!
At the same time, Zhou Yuan also threw his fist forward, blowing away even the air with a rumble.
Two fists packed with powerful Genesis Qi collided, neither using any fancy moves.
BOOM!
The dreadful clash caused the air around them to ripple as a shockwave unfurled. Cracks began to extend
on the ground beneath them as wild gales swept forth.
However, the dark expression on Feng Yu’s face changed drastically at this moment. He realized that the
Genesis Qi packed within Zhou Yuan’s punch was akin to an unstoppable tsunami, containing enough
force to destroy mountains!
The savage power of Zhou Yuan’s attack far exceeded his own!
“Impossible!”
Feng Yu cried out in his heart, his eyes filled with disbelief. He simply refused to believe that Zhou Yuan,
who was merely at the third layer Alpha-Origin, would actually possess Genesis Qi that was surpassed his
own, him, an elite fifth layer Alpha-Origin expert!
One must know that there were five hundred Genesis Qi stars in his Qi Dwelling!
No matter how shocked he was by this discovery, Zhou Yuan’s Genesis Qi had already begun sweeping
over him, easily crushing all of Feng Yu’s Genesis Qi in an instant.
BOOM!
The instant his Genesis Qi crumbled, Zhou Yuan’s fist slammed heavily against his chest.
1727
Feng Yu’s body was sent flying, slamming into a mountain wall. His entire body was wedged into the wall,
now completely drenched in blood. Nobody knew if he was even still alive...
The fight between the two was over in a flash.
In fact, the roaring laughter had yet to even die down when Feng Yu’s body was being thrown into the
mountain wall...
Wei Youxuan had not even finished his leisurely stroll off the stage.
However, all of the laughter stopped at this moment.
Wei Youxuan's feet froze as well.
Every face in the mountain slowly turned rigid.
Under the illumination of the falling sun, their faces seemed somewhat comical.
In the middle of the stone stage, Zhou Yuan slowly retracted his fists, his expression still impassive as
before. He disregarded all of the stares, looked towards the similarly frozen Cheng Ying, as his calm voice
echoed across the mountain.
“Get down here, it's your turn.”
1728
Chapter 337 A Single Punch
The entire mountain and its surroundings were deathly silent when Zhou Yuan’s calm voice echoed in the
area. There was a somewhat sluggish expression on the faces of every disciple as they stared at the
bloody body of Feng Yu, whom had been embedded in the side of a cliff. The only thing in their heads was
a soft buzzing noise, clearly unable to return to their senses for a time...
Feng Yu… had been unable to take even a single punch from Zhou Yuan, and ended up being instantly
defeated?!
Numerous disciples opened and closed their mouths, but were unable to speak even a single word...
No one had expected such a scene to appear.
They had previously believed Zhou Yuan’s brain had already been scrambled by fear, hence why he no
longer dared to challenge Wei Youxuan, but instead chose a weaker opponent in hopes of surviving a
little longer, and earn back a tiny bit of the face they had lost.
No one had expected the young man, whom they had all neglected, to so swiftly defeat Feng Yu, who was
considered an elite amongst the fifth layer Alpha-Origin, in a single punch.
A disciple’s hoarsely mumbled, “How can this be…”
“How!”
A sharp cry exploded in one of the stone pavilions. One could only watch a stupefied Lu Xuanyin staring
at the stone stage, her pretty face twisting somewhat.
She had been waiting to see Zhou Yuan’s miserable figure as he was beaten into the ground, but
everything had fallen apart due to his sudden explosion of power, shocking her substantially. She was
even beginning to suspect if Feng Yu had been bribed. If not, how could anyone possibly explain how he
had been so easily defeated by a single punch?
One must know that he was an expert of the fifth layer Alpha-Origin, while Zhou Yuan was merely at the
third layer!
There was a gap of two whole layers between the two. How could that difference in Genesis Qi possibly
be filled?
Had Zhou Yuan really grown so strong in a short month? After all, even Lu Xuanyin herself did not have
the confidence to defeat Feng Yu in a single punch.
Beside Lu Xuanyin, Xu Yan’s narrowed slightly as he slowly said, “It seems that everyone has
underestimated him.”
1729
“His Genesis Qi is extremely robust and strong, and far surpasses an ordinary fifth layer. He’s not simple
at all. To have such Genesis Qi at the third layer Alpha-Origin, his foundations must be crazily solid.”
Xu Yan was a purple sash disciple after all, and thus had better insight than Lu Xuanyin. After the
instantaneous explosion of power Zhou Yuan had displayed earlier, Xu Yan had managed to gauge that
the latter’s Genesis Qi was not something a third layer Alpha-Origin disciples should possess.
Several fortunate encounters were definitely needed to achieve this at the third layer.
In the stone pavilion, Lu Hong’s expression darkened slightly, fury flashing deep within his eyes as they
locked onto Zhou Yuan like an eagle. The former had originally planned on stomping all over Shen
Taiyuan’s faction today, but as it was about to succeed, Zhou Yuan had swooped in and made a mess.
Zhou Yuan’s thunder like strike also made the mouths of Shen Taiyuan’s disciples hang wide open. They
looked to each other, and then rubbed their eyes, a little unable to believe what had just happened.
They were already prepared to accept the most cruel of outcomes, and would never have expected such a
sudden twist...
The gazes of numerous disciples looked towards Shen Taiyuan in the stone pavilion. Amazement flitted
across his originally expressionless face, before swiftly retreating.
Shen Taiyuan slowly reached his hand forward, grabbing his tea cup and taking two small sips, before
turning towards the stunned disciples as he sternly said, “Stop dreaming, shouldn’t all of you hurry up
and cheer for Zhou Yuan? Have you not had your fill of being laughed at by others?”
Upon hearing Shen Taiyuan’s scolding, the necks of many disciples involuntarily shrank back. A split
second later, their excited cheers began to boom, finally breaking the spell of silence over the mountain.
Their yells also brought the stupefied Lu Yan back to her senses. It was actually a pretty amazing sight to
watch how her expression changing rapidly as she felt a burning sensation fill her face.
She had previously taken it as Zhou Yuan being overwhelmed by fear. No one could have expected him to
have concealed his strength so deeply.
“How did he do it…” Mumbled Lu Yan as she bit into her lower lip.
Lu Song’s slightly narrowed eyes widened at this moment, a somewhat complicated expression in his
eyes as he stared at the youthful figure on the arena. In the end, he let out a long sigh as he softly said,
“You look down on him too much, perhaps… elder Miao is more discerning than all of us.”
His words meant that he was already beginning to acknowledge the appraisal given by elder Miao.
Lu Yan could not help but argue, “Grandpa, you’re making a judgement too early… senior brother Chu
Qing isn’t…”
1730
This time, however, she was a little smarter and did not finish her sentence. After some silence, she
vaguely said, “Zhou Yuan struck too quickly earlier, and even Feng Yu was a little unprepared.”
Her meaning was clear, Zhou Yuan had caught his opponent off guard.
Lu Song shook his head, not speaking any more on the topic. There seemed to be some interest now in his
originally bored eyes as he turned all of his attention to the arena.
The originally unsuspenseful match was now finally becoming a little interesting.
...
Wei Youxuan’s feet had stopped on the edge of the stone stage. He slowly turned around, looking towards
the youthful figure behind him as the smile on his face slowly faded, replaced by a stormy expression.
“I did not expect that even I would misjudge.” Wei Youxuan’s voice was a little dark.
Everything had been under his control while he finished off Tong Long and Pan Song earlier, and he had
been so certain of stomping Shen Taiyuan’s side today. But who could have expected that Zhou Yuan,
whom he was least concerned about, would give him such a big ‘surprise’.
The momentum he had created after two consecutive victories had been destroyed by a single punch
from Zhou Yuan.
Zhou Yuan’s five fingers slowly relaxed, no change whatsoever to his expression. He continued to ignore
Wei Youxuan as his gaze turned towards Cheng Ying.
“I’ve rested enough, how about I accompany you next?” Wei Youxuan’s cold voice sounded.
Zhou Yuan finally tilted his head and glanced at the former, as a mysterious smile appeared on his face,
“Don’t be anxious… your turn will come.”
He turned his head towards Cheng Ying and said, “Are you not coming down?”
On the cliffs around them, numerous disciples could not help but swallow as they silently watched this
scene. Zhou Yuan was not anxious to fight Wei Youxuan at all. If it was earlier, they may have believed
that the former lacked the courage.
But now, how could this possibly be fear. This was obviously an eye for an eye!
Didn’t Wei Youxuan declare earlier that he was going to sweep all of them away by himself?
Since that was the case, Zhou Yuan would use the same method for his counter attack!
1731
It was hard to imagine, but if Zhou Yuan really managed to take on all three of them alone and completely
turn around the situation, his name would undoubtedly spread throughout the entire Cangxuan Sect.
With an achievement like this, even Chu Qing’s fanatical fans would have no choice but to admit that Zhou
Yuan did possess astonishing talent and potential.
Wei Youxuan was likewise able to guess Zhou Yuan’s aim, causing an unreadable look to appear in his
eyes. Moments later, he laughed out loud due to extreme anger as he jabbed his finger at Zhou Yuan.
“Good, good…” They were two short words, but they gave off an endless iciness.
He lifted his head and nodded at Cheng Ying.
Upon seeing this, Cheng Ying took in a deep breath, before his figure floated downwards and landed
opposite Zhou Yuan. However, the former’s expression was grave, his eyes tightly glued to the latter.
He cupped his fists together.
“Allow me to experience your abilities.”
There was no longer any trace of the disdain or contempt from earlier, a deep wariness taking their place
in Cheng Ying’s eyes.
He had to be very careful, because Feng Yu, who was equally matched to himself, was still embedded in
the cliff behind him.
However, he would make sure to give everything he had, and not allow himself to be caught off guard like
his predecessor. Thus, he believed he would have the chance to personally confirm if that astonishing
Genesis Qi from earlier was a temporary explosion of power after thoroughly suppressing one’s Genesis
Qi, or was this Zhou Yuan really so powerful!
1732
Chapter 338 Zhou Yuan’s Strength
When Cheng Ying stood in front of Zhou Yuan, every gaze in the mountain unblinkingly converged
towards the two of them. Feng Yu had lost to quickly earlier, practically in the blink of an eye. Before the
crowd could react, he had already been crushed.
Hence, they were also dying to get a clearer look this time. Was Zhou Yuan’s previous burst of power
temporary, or was he really so powerful?
Cheng Ying was clearly going to give them that answer.
The atmosphere turned tense.
Under the countless watching gazes, Cheng Ying’s eyes were filled with wariness, his gaze tightly glued to
Zhou Yuan.
He cast away all his hesitation with a deep breath, as hundreds of Genesis Qi stars in his Qi Dwelling
began to glow brightly. Vigorous Genesis Qi circulated within his body, ultimately exploding from the top
of his head, before diving down and coiling around his body.
A powerful Genesis Qi pressure unfurled.
Cheng Ying was an expert amongst the fifth layer, and was not the least bit weaker than Feng Yu.
After what had happened to Feng Yu earlier, Cheng Ying was naturally not going to underestimate his
opponent and immediately brought out all of his Genesis Qi.
Zhou Yuan’s face barely changed when Cheng Ying summoned his full power, the former’s eyes akin to a
deep secret pool.
Rumble!
Under the numerous watching gazes, Cheng Ying decided to strike first to gain the upper hand, and not
give Zhou Yuan any chance to attack. Genesis Qi whizzed forth as Cheng Ying’s body shot forth like a
shadow.
Cheng Ying’s body zipped past the air, placing his hands together as robust Genesis Qi swept out from his
sleeves.
“Owl Shadow Kill!”
A dozen torrents of Genesis Qi shot forth, seemingly forming a giant shadow. The shadow swooped down
from the sky like a hunting owl, swift without equal as it pounced towards Zhou Yuan.
1733
Cheng Ying had used a trump card straight away. From its power, it was obviously no ordinary little
Heaven Genesis technique.
The piercing shriek of an owl was heard as the deadly shadow tore through the air. In the end, it slammed
into Zhou Yuan, who had not moved a single inch since the beginning.
Bang!
The ground crumbled as dust filled the air.
“Genesis Feather Sword!”
A vicious look flashed in Cheng Ying’s eyes when he saw his attack land. However, he had no intentions of
stopping. He clenched both his hands as the Genesis Qi swirling on his palm transformed into dozens of
feather like swords.
Unique patterns decorated the swords as they gave off a heart palpitating sharpness.
Ch!
With a jerk of his hands, the feather swords were flung forward, shooting straight into the dust filled air,
causing the ground the crack even more.
Boom!
Cheng Ying was merciless, sending attacks raining down like a storm. Wave after wave of astonishing
little Heaven Genesis techniques were thrown out one after another, blasting into the dust filled area as
quickly as they could.
On the surrounding cliffs, the expressions on the watching disciples changed slightly. Cheng Ying’s
decisiveness and ruthlessness had somewhat impressed them.
Cheng Ying had no plans of engaging in a drawn out battle, using basically all of his Genesis Qi the instant
he attacked. Genesis Qi transformed into wave after wave of attacks that seemingly filled the sky, before
bombarding Zhou Yuan from all directions.
In the face of such a bombardment, many fifth layer disciples would have no choice but to retreat.
What surprised everyone, however, was that Zhou Yuan remained where he stood, eating every single
one of the torrential attacks.
A disciple could not help but remark in a low voice, “Isn’t Zhou Yuan being a little too cocky, can’t believe
he’s not even trying to dodge…”
“Tch tch, directly taking every attack from Cheng Ying… what is he thinking?”
1734
In one of the stone pavilions, Lu Xuanyin tightly gritted her teeth. “Arrogant bastard!”
Her eyes were tightly glued to the billowing dust. Zhou Yuan can’t be feeling good after such an onslaught
from Cheng Ying!
Numerous gazes were also fixated on the floating dust.
Cheng Ying’s figure descended from the air, his complexion rather pale. The rapid slew of attacks he had
unleashed earlier had used up ninety percent of his Genesis Qi.
He stared at the scattered mess of the arena with a cruel look in his eyes.
Zhou Yuan, you probably did not expect me to be even more ruthless than you, right? Cheng Ying had not
left himself any way to continue to fight after his bombardment. If Zhou Yuan did not fall, there was no
way Cheng Yuan was going to counter attack.
A mountain breeze blew past, blowing away the dust in the air.
The view gradually became clearer, revealing a scattered mess.
Every gaze was immediately cast over, before their pupils abruptly shrank.
On the messy arena, Zhou Yuan was still standing on the same spot, golden Genesis Qi rising from his
body, seemingly taking the shape of a giant golden python that protected him.
He stood inside his giant golden python like Genesis Qi, his calm expression akin to a rippleless well.
Countless cries of surprise echoed throughout the cliffs.
Zhou Yuan was completely unscathed after taking Cheng Ying’s mad bombardment!
A disciple mumbled in shock, “He blocked all of Cheng Ying’s attacks with his Genesis Qi…”
“To think that his Genesis Qi has reached such a level!”
They clearly understood that to have withstood all of the attacks with just Genesis Qi, Zhou Yuan’s
Genesis Qi must have already far surpassed the fifth layer.
While countless gasps of surprise rang out, Cheng Ying’s expression changed drastically, because the
Genesis Qi undulations from Zhou Yuan’s body made him feel a terrifying sensation of danger.
A dangerous sensation he would only feel in the face of an expert that had stepped into the sixth layer.
1735
“His Genesis Qi is already not inferior to the sixth layer!” Cheng Ying’s scalp immediately turned numb at
this thought. Zhou Yuan’s cultivation was only at the third layer Alpha-Origin, but why was his Genesis Qi
at this level!
While Cheng Ying was still in the midst of processing his fear, Zhou Yuan raised his head, his indifferent
eyes locking onto Cheng Ying.
Cheng Ying felt as if his scalp had exploded as he rapidly retreated.
Boom!
However, Zhou Yuan’s figure instantly etherealized as it swept forth like smoke, appearing directly in
front of Cheng Ying as if teleporting.
“I admit…” Cheng Yin’s pupils shrank as he hurriedly tried to admit defeat. He knew that he no longer had
any chance of victory, because Zhou Yuan had already exceeded his imagination.
Thump!
However, Zhou Yuan’s deadly fist was quicker, a punch landing on Cheng Ying’s chest. Genesis Qi
exploded, disintegrating cloth as his figure was sent flying with a miserably shriek. In the end, Cheng Ying
crashed into a cliff wall, the sight of his entire body embedded in the rock extremely pitiful.
The cliffs in the vicinity fell silent once more.
Gaze after gaze looked towards Zhou Yuan as if they were looking at some kind of monstrosity.
They may have believed Feng Yu had been caught off guard in the previous bout, but this time, Cheng
Ying had been the first to strike, and used all of his power. But in the end, he had been unable to even
break Zhou Yuan’s Genesis Qi defences.
This made everyone understand that Zhou Yuan had not depended on luck… but truly possessed such
frightening power.
There was no longer anyone in the fifth layer who could go a single round with him.
In Lu Song’s stone pavilion, Lu Yan was in a daze. By now, no matter how much she didn’t want to, she
had no choice but to admit that in a short month, Zhou Yuan had grown at an alarming rate to a level that
shocked everyone.
Lu Song slowly said, “He had to go all out to defeat a fourth layer Lu Feng during the peak selection
ceremony. It’s only been a month since then, but he already appears to be nearly invincible under the
sixth layer…”
1736
He glanced at Lu Yan and said, “Back when Chu Qing entered the inner mountains, it had taken him half a
year to become a purple sash disciple… as for Zhou Yuan, he already has the qualification to take part in
the purple sash selection after a single month.”
“This speed is truly unrivalled.”
Lu Yan was about to raise an objection, but could only angrily stomp her feet in the end. Even she had no
option but to admit that she had indeed underestimated this new disciple...
Lu Song glanced in Shen Taiyuan’s direction as he sighed and said, “Old Shen’s luck is not bad, I never
imagined he would really encounter such a good sapling.”
On the cliffs around the stone stage, the numerous disciples gradually returned to their senses. They were
not as shocked as they had been earlier, likely because they were already a little mentally prepared for
this outcome.
Although the disciples that had come here to watch Zhou Yuan be humiliated were somewhat unresigned,
they understood that Zhou Yuan’s current battle accomplishments were already enough to make him
famous in the sect.
Crack.
The tea cup in Lu Hong’s hand was crushed by him, causing tea to drip down. His aged face was filled with
iciness.
He slowly wiped away the tea as he cast his gaze towards Wei Youxuan and indifferently said, “Wei
Youxuan, you’re up.”
The indifferent voice was filled with rage that terrified many disciples.
Wei Youxuan took in a deep breath as he floated down onto the stage. His cold eyes stared at Zhou Yuan
as his finger pointed to one of the cliff walls in the vicinity.
“I’ve saved that spot for you.”
Wei Youxuan’s voice echoed in the mountain, causing all of the watching disciples to swallow.
They knew that the true cave match was finally beginning...
1737
Chapter 339 Magical Dragon Scales
Zhou Yuan and Wei Youxuan stood facing each other on the stage, their gazes cold like the edge of a blade
as a heart palpitating chill seemed to flow between them.
On the cliffs around them, numerous eyes were tightly glued to the two combatants.
The cave match today had been a series of unexpected twists and turns. Everyone had originally believed
Shen Taiyuan’s side would be single handedly massacred by Wei Youxuan, making them lose all face.
However, no one had expected the participant whom almost all of them had overlooked, Zhou Yuan, to
step forward at the final moment, basically return an eye for an eye as he easily crushed two of his
opponents.
In the end, both sides were now left with a single combatant...
“Zhou Yuan is truly not simple at all. If he really ends up defeating Wei Youxuan today, there will no
longer be anyone in the Cangxuan Sect who has not heard of his name…”
“Easily defeating two fifth layers at the third layer Alpha-Origin stage. His foundations are unimaginable.”
“But Wei Youxuan is not going to be an easy opponent either. He’s extremely strong, and is a genuine
sixth layer. Such strength is already able to match up to many of the ordinary purple sash disciples. Zhou
Yuan may have won over Feng Yu and Cheng Ying, but he will certainly not have an easy time against Wei
Youxuan.”
“Indeed, the previous two cannot compare to Wei Youxuan.”
“Heh, looks like a battle of titans is unavoidable. The trip here has not been a waste after all.”
“......”
Whispers spread amongst the numerous watching disciples. The two individuals in the arena were akin
to a tiger and a lion, each incomparably ferocious. With regards to these two equally powerful
participants, no one could say for certain who was stronger. Everything would only be known after they
fought.
On the cliffs, around their respective stone pavilions, Shen Taiyuan and Lu Hong’s many disciples
anxiously watched.
Lu Hong’s disciples had been quite relaxed some time earlier, clearly under the impression that the cave
match was completely in their control. However, such thoughts had already been wiped clean from their
minds by Zhou Yuan.
1738
Even though they were still confident in Wei Youxuan, they did not dare to thoughtlessly jeer any more,
such as to avoid the scenario where the unexpected happened and they ended up shaming themselves
instead.
Lu Hong’s expression was extremely dark and stormy. His plan on completely beating down Shen
Taiyuan’s side had completely fallen through.
Behind him, Lu Xuanyin’s expression fluctuated indeterminately. As she gazed at the ugly expression on
Lu Hong’s face, she could only say, “No need to worry uncle Lu, he can’t possibly be senior brother Wei
Youxuan’s match.”
Lu Hong nodded. The only thing they could do now was hope that Wei Youxuan taught that arrogant fool
a good lesson.”
...
On the stone stage, an expressionless Wei Youxuan looked at Zhou Yuan and said in a nonchalant voice, “I
originally thought you were only here to make up the numbers. I never imagined that you would turn out
to be the strongest amongst them.”
“But you should have spent enough time basking in the limelight already, right?”
The moment the final word was said, Wei Youxuan’s eyes abruptly turned serious.
Boom!
Powerful Genesis Qi exploded from his body, sending out wave after wave of pressure as cracks grew
from the stone floor under his feet.
The expressions of the watching disciples changed slightly, evidently feeling his suffocating Genesis Qi
pressure.
Sixth layer!
Genesis Qi hissed around Wei Youxuan’s body, his oppressive presence alone enough to put a
tremendous amount of mental pressure on many fifth layer disciples.
Zhou Yuan’s eyes narrowed slightly when he felt the Genesis Qi pressure. As expected of the sixth layer.
Such Genesis Qi was a good deal stronger than Feng Yu and Cheng Ying.
Wei Youxuan going to be a tough adversary indeed.
Zhou Yuan’s gaze lowered slightly as the seven hundred Genesis Qi stars in his Qi Dwelling began to
shake violently. A torrent of pure Genesis Qi flowed out, filling his entire body.
1739
Roar!
A several hundred feet tall pillar of golden Genesis Qi shot out from the top of his head.
Strand after strand of golden Genesis Qi began to fall, protecting Zhou Yuan’s body.
The Genesis Qi pressure from Wei Youxuan was fully cut off at this moment.
Rumble!
Their gazes met in the air, that very moment akin to the strike of lightning or an eruption of magma, as
their eyes hardened into cold unfeeling blades.
Genesis Qi thundered, rippling the surrounding air.
Wei Youxuan was the first to shoot forward, his figure akin to a bolt of lightning as his hands came
together as if enclosing the sun or moon, vigorous Genesis Qi frantically converging towards his palms.
A ball of volatile Genesis Qi was created.
With a jerk of his hands, the Genesis Qi ball was sent flying towards Zhou Yuan, the violent undulations
from it creating faint ripples in the surrounding space.
“I’m interested to find out just how powerful the Genesis Qi foundations of a third layer like you can be!”
Wei Youxuan icily shouted. His attack was based purely on his sixth layer Genesis Qi with the intent of
putting a stop to Zhou Yuan’s seemingly unstoppable momentum.
Just earlier, Zhou Yuan had relied solely on the quantity and quality of his Genesis Qi to directly crush
Feng Yu and Cheng Ying.
It was obvious that Wei Youxuan seeked to defeat his opponent in that same manner.
The reflection of the Genesis Qi ball rapidly enlarged in Zhou Yuan’s pupils. As he felt the menacingly
approaching pressure, his eyes narrowed slightly as his foot slammed into the ground.
Swish!
A portion of the several hundred feet pillar of golden Genesis Qi above him split off and streaked across
the air like a rainbow, appearing similar to a python or dragon.
Boom!
The stream of Genesis Qi smashed into the Genesis Qi ball.
1740
At the instant of impact, a berserk shockwave swept outwards, slicing open crack after crack in the
surrounding cliffs...
The two figures nearest to the epicenter did not budge a single inch, the devastatingly powerful
shockwave unable to even shake them.
They were like two majestic mountains within a storm.
A look of surprise appeared in Wei Youxuan’s eyes. Zhou Yuan had not fallen in the slightest disadvantage
in the previous Genesis Qi clash. In other words, his Genesis Qi foundation was not weaker than a sixth
layer like Wei Youxuan.
“This cave match is finally becoming a little interesting…” Muttered Wei Youxuan to himself in a soft
voice.
“Silent Shadow Step!”
Genesis Qi swirled under Wei Youxuan’s feet, his figure suddenly shooting forward a split second later.
He swept past like a shadow, at a speed that was almost undetectable by the eye.
Zhou Yuan’s body also etherealized at this moment, seemingly transforming into a wisp of smoke as he
drifted backwards.
Ch!
However, Wei Youxuan’s figure became extremely phantom like at this moment, strangely twisting like a
shadow as he appeared directly in front of Zhou Yuan in the midst of countless gasps of surprise.
There was only half a foot between the two.
An arc rose from the corners of Wei Youxuan’s mouth.
Glowing runes appeared from his center of his palm, spreading to cover his entire hand. A strange glow
emerged along with an indescribable aura of sharpness.
“Genesis Breaker Hand, shattering fingers!”
Two fingers jutted out as Genesis Qi frantically condensed towards them. Even small cracks seemed to be
torn open in space itself at his fingertips.
The attack was deadly to the extreme, killing intent surging within it.
It was this very same move that had easily pierced Tong Long’s hand earlier.
1741
The flickering fingers rapidly enlarged in Zhou Yuan’s pupils as his eyes flashed faintly. In the next
instant, his five fingers had already tightly clenched into a fist, Genesis Qi covering it layer by layer as if
forming a glowing armor.
Boom!
Zhou Yuan punched, blasting away all the air in front of him.
Punch and fingers clashed viciously.
At the sight of this scene, several individuals on the surrounding cliffs could not help but cover their eyes
as they repeatedly shook their heads. Had Zhou Yuan forgotten Wei Youxuan’s Genesis Breaker Hand’s
ability to rip through Genesis Qi?
Tong Long had lost this move earlier, and this time, its power was also clearly even greater than before.
In contrast, Zhou Yuan seemed somewhat stupid to meet it with his bare fist.
“Reckless fool!” Lu Xuanyin could not help but tightly grit her teeth as she sneered.
Boom!
Under the attention of countless gazes, fist and fingers finally collided.
A look of ridicule slowly rose from the corners of Wei Youxuan’s lips.
However, the curling lips abruptly froze a split second later.
Ch!
His Genesis Qi coated fingers had indeed easily torn open the layers of Genesis Qi on Zhou Yuan’s fist, but
just as it was about to pierce flesh, a faint azure light had appeared on the skin of Zhou Yuan’s fist.
The moment Wei Youxuan’s fingers touched the faint azure light, a dreadful power that could destroy
mountains descended.
Crack!
The sound of something breaking was heard as intense pain spread from his fingertips, causing his
expression to change.
As ripples violently pulsed from their clash, gaze after gaze filled with disbelief watched as Wei Youxuan’s
figure jerked backwards, his feet sliding across the ground, and leaving deep marks on it.
With a stomp, the ground cracked as Wei Youxuan forcibly stabilized his body.
1742
He lowered his head with an ugly expression, only to find his two fingers were now a bloody mess, even
the bones a little fractured.
It was nearly impossible to believe that he was the one who had lost out in the previous exchange!
He violently raised his head, his eyes staring at Zhou Yuan.
Zhou Yuan extended his fist and smiled. Azure light flowed on the surface of his fist, seemingly forming a
layer of faint azure scales. Light seemed to swirl on the scales, an exceptionally magical sight.
These were the Magical Dragon Scales that had evolved from the Magical Python Scales during the
Genesis Marrow Baptism!
“I apologize, it seems that my fist is harder than you expected. I’m afraid that your Genesis Breaker Hand
cannot break through.” Said Zhou Yuan with a faint smile.
*Uproar*!
Meanwhile, the numerous disciples on the surrounding cliffs opened their eyes wide as earth-shaking
cries filled the area.
Who could have expected that it would be Zhou Yuan who would first take the upper hand in their
ferocious clash!
Wei Youxuan’s Genesis Breaker Hand had been broken by Zhou Yuan!
In a certain stone pavilion, even Lu Xuanyin fell to her butt on a stone chair, her pretty face ashen.
1743
Chapter 340 Great Black Devil
Zhou Yuan stood on the stone stage, azure light swirling on his fist as faint azure scales appeared, an
exceptionally bizarre sight.
He cast a glance downwards, finding a few scratches on the scales, which had evidently been left by Wei
Youxuan earlier. Although the latter’s Genesis Breaker Hand was domineering, it specialized in dealing
with Genesis Qi. Hence, he was not only unable to break the Magical Dragon Scales, but even ended up
having his fingers broken by Zhou Yuan’s heavy as a mountain punch.
“Magical Dragon Scales…”
Zhou Yuan’s finger lightly brushed the faint azure scales as a satisfied smile appeared from the corners of
his lips.
Compared to the Magical Python Scales, the evolved Magical Dragon Scales were just hugely better in
both defensive prowess and strength amplification. If not, it would not have been possible for Zhou Yuan
to break the bones of his opponent.
“Big sis Yaoyao said that if my Omni-Python Qi manages to evolve once again and become the grade 7
World Subduing Heavenly Serpent Qi, the Magical Dragon Scales will also ascend to the next level,
transforming into the true Heavenly Serpent Scales.”
“The Heavenly Serpent Scales are strong enough to defend against the attacks of a Divine Dwelling expert,
while also possessing many mystical abilities. They will basically allow one to transform into a human
shaped Heavenly Serpent, an existence that is tyrannical to the extreme.”
“If there comes a day where I manage to reach the third level grade 9 Galaxy Sacred Dragon Qi, it will be
even more amazing. The scales will evolve into the Sacred Dragon Scales, and only god knows how
powerful they will be.”
Zhou Yuan could not help but feel somewhat overwhelmed by such thoughts, but was quickly able to
suppress his emotions. He knew that such things were still way too far off for him at this current time,
and what he needed to do now was to take things one step at a time and strengthen his foundations.
He raised his head, looking towards the storm that was gradually brewing on Wei Youxuan’s face. The
opponents before him were going to be the best stepping stones for this purpose.
Wei Youxuan icily said, “I never imagined that there will come a day when my Genesis Breaker Hand
would be broken.”
As he spoke, deep black as the night Genesis Qi violently churned around his body. Hissess were heard as
it stirred the surrounding air, a sign that he was furious inside.
1744
Evidently, Wei Youxuan, whom had been smiling from the start, had finally been angered.
Wei Youxuan suddenly slapped his bleeding hand onto the ground as night black Genesis Qi rapidly
extended like a swamp.
“Black Swamp!”
The entire stone stage was instantly engulfed by the swamp like night black Genesis Qi as countless snake
like streams of Genesis Qi shot out and snaked towards Zhou Yuan.
Zhou Yuan’s figure rapidly etherealized, like a wisp of smoke as he drifted across the surface of the black
swamp, avoiding all of the attacks.
Plop!
Countless seemingly sticky black rays of light shot out from the swamp, seemingly forming a giant net
that loomed at Zhou Yuan.
Zhou Yuan’s eyes narrowed slightly. With a jerk of his sleeve, a giant wind lightning ball condensed in his
hand, pulsing with berserk Genesis Qi undulations.
The wind lightning ball was mercilessly slammed into the black swamp.
Boom!
Genesis Qi containing the primal power of wind and lightning swept outwards, forcibly shattering the
black swamp that had covered the ground as the spreading black rapidly receded.
The sticky giant net also burst apart, transforming into specks of light that filled the sky.
Swish!
As the light danced in the air, a sharp wind sound was heard as a flash of icy light with a sinister aura
pierced through the air, heading straight for Zhou Yuan’s throat.
It was a black halberd.
Zhou Yuan made a grabbing motion as the Heavenly Yuan Brush landed in his hand. With a slight tremble,
it rapidly began to grow, its snow-white hairs spreading into a white net.
Ch!
1745
The black halberd stabbed the white net, stretching it at a soul trembling angle, the sharp tip of the
halberd merely an inch from Zhou Yuan’s throat. However, it was ultimately unable to take that final step,
and was bounced back by the net.
As the black halberd was sent flying, Zhou Yuan’s etherealised figure shot forth, the Heavenly Yuan Brush
in his hands transforming into innumerable flashes of icy light that surrounded Wei Youxuan who was
dashing over from behind.
Clang clang clang!
Wei Youxuan brandished the black halberd, night black Genesis Qi rising like smoke around him. After
images of the halberd seemed to fill the area, blocking every single thrust of the snow-white brush tip.
The eyes of both individuals were ice-cold, neither showing any mercy. Every attack was aimed at a fatal
spot, but was ultimately blocked by the other party.
It was a passionate battle akin to that between a lion and tiger.
On the cliffs in the vicinity, the hearts of numerous disciples shivered as they watched the ferocious clash
between the two in the arena. From the aftershocks of each clash, any fifth layer disciple that was sent in
would likely be torn to pieces in less than four rounds.
A fight of this calibre was already not inferior to one between purple sash disciples.
Clang!
Sparks flew as brush tip and halberd tip collided, creating a shockwave of Genesis Qi that blew even the
air apart.
Zhou Yuan and Wei Youxuan’s figures jerked, before shooting backwards.
Zhou Yuan swung the Heavenly Yuan Brush, his eyes narrowing slightly as he felt the seemingly boiling
Genesis Qi in his body. Both of them had clashed directly earlier, but there were still not even the tiniest
indication of him being at the disadvantage.
Evidently, his Genesis Qi foundations were already able to directly face a sixth layer disciple after Genesis
Marrow Baptism.
There were a little over seven hundred Genesis Qi stars in Zhou Yuan’s Qi Dwelling, while an ordinary
sixth layer disciple should have eight hundred. However, Zhou Yuan’s Omni Python Qi was undoubtedly
even more wondrous than normal Genesis Qi, being more abundant and lasting, making it not the least bit
inferior to the usual sixth layer.
“It seems that there’s nothing great about the sixth layer Alpha-Origin.” Zhou Yuan chuckled softly as he
looked towards Wei Youxuan.
1746
Wei Youxuan did not reply, merely casting an icy glance at Zhou Yuan. The former likewise understood
that although the latter was only at the third layer, there was not much advantage a sixth layer like
himself had in the aspect of Genesis Qi.
Zhou Yuan was an unexpectedly difficult opponent.
However, to think that a disciple that had just joined the inner mountains would dare to brag in front of
him, did the former really believe he had nothing else to show...
“Junior brother Zhou Yuan, young people should not be so arrogant. Since elder Shen did not teach you
how to respect your seniors, as a senior brother, I shall give you a proper lesson on the subject on his
behalf!” An icy smile rose from the corners of Wei Youxuan’s lips.
Clang!
The black halberd in his hand slammed into the ground, embedding itself into the floor.
His sleeves suddenly disintegrated at this moment, revealing his arms. Black runes could be seen on
them, wriggling like worms.
These black runes gathered together into what appeared to be a strange rune.
An eerie aura immediately spread, causing the surrounding temperature to drop as terrifying
undulations began to surge and converge in Wei Youxuan’s body.
Thud!
Wei Youxuan’s hands slammed together as the black runes on his arms frantically began to spread. In a
short few breaths, they burrowed into his flesh and blood.
Wisp after wisp of black Qi began to rise from the surface of Wei Youxuan’s body.
Robust black Genesis Qi swirled behind him as it released a piercing whistle.
The expression of the numerous watching disciple changed slightly, evidently sensing the sudden rapidly
rising Genesis Qi undulations in Wei Youxuan’s body...
Such Genesis Qi undulations were definitely not from an ordinary little Heaven Genesis technique!
It was obvious that Wei Youxuan was finally revealing his trump card.
As black Qi rose, Weu Youxuan’s eyes turned pitch-black as he sinisterly looked towards Zhou Yuan and
grinned, revealing a set of eerily white teeth. “Although I’ve yet to fully master it, it should be enough to
deal with the likes of you.”
1747
“Junior brother Zhou Yuan, I hope that you will not be too arrogant in the future. You should know that
there are many in the inner mountains that have the ability to deal with you.”
“You don’t have the qualifications to be cocky here!”
The instant the final word was said, his hands clasped each other as an eerily cold voice echoed in the
mountain.
“Low grade Heaven Genesis technique, Great Black Devil!”
Rumble!
Alarming Genesis Qi erupted from Wei Youxuan’s body like a volcano at this moment.
The many disciples on the surrounding cliffs turned pale with horror.
In a certain stone pavilion, the eyes on Lu Xuanyin’s originally ugly looking face brightened up in
excitement at this moment as her hands tightly clasped together.
That brash Zhou Yuan had finally forced out Wei Youxuan’s trump card!
Do you really believe that there’s no one who can control you today?!
1748
Chapter 341 Ninth Dragon
Ch ch!
Strand after strand of black Genesis Qi continuously rose from Wei Youxuan’s flesh as alarmingly violent
Genesis Qi undulations swept out like a storm, causing cracks to grow from under his feet due to the
Genesis Qi pressure.
The expressions of the numerous disciples on the surrounding cliffs changed slightly.
In one of the stone pavilions, a cold smile was revealed on Lu Hong’s face. Wei Youxuan’s Great Black
Devil was not complete, and had not been fully mastered by him. Even so, he was still able to bring out
thirty percent of its power.
Even a mere thirty percent of a low grade Heaven Genesis technique was not something ordinary little
Heaven Genesis techniques could compare to.
When Wei Youxuan used this technique, it meant that the battle would soon come to a close.
Lu Hong’s cold eyes swept a glance at the nearby Shen Taiyuan. The latter’s aged face was stretched taut
at this moment, because he knew that though Zhou Yuan also had a low grade Heaven Genesis technique,
Heavenly Sun God Record, he had yet to master it...
It was different from the Great Black Devil technique, because it could not be used unless mastered.
A trace of mockery rose from the corners of Lu Hong’s lips. Had Shen Taiyuan really been counting on
Zhou Yuan to bring about a reversal? This was really looking down on his own disciples.
“I’ll let you know the meaning of true despair!”
A cruel look surfaced in Lu Hong’s eyes. Never mind, although it was not possible to make Shen Taiyuan’s
faction lose all face, it would probably make Shen Taiyuan quite sullen when the hope he just discovered
was immediately extinguished.
In Lu Song’s stone pavilion, his brows were slightly furrowed as he observed the black Qi swirling around
Wei Youxuan. This event was evidently also somewhat out of his expectations.
By the side, Lu Yan exclaimed in surprise, “Wei Youxuan is really surprising. To think that he managed to
learn the Great Black Devil technique. Even amongst the Lu Hong’s purple sash disciples, there are not
many who have been able to do so.”
Lu Song shook his head. “He has not fully mastered it. If not, it would not be invading his flesh.”
Lu Yan shrugged and said, “But even so, it should be enough to deal with Zhou Yuan.”
1749
Lu Song sighed, before he said in a rather regretful manner, “What a pity…”
Lu Yan’s lips curled slightly downwards. “What’s there to feel pitiful about. He’s already very capable to
have pushed Wei Youxuan so far. Did you really expect him to defeat even Wei Youxuan?”
She let out a soft laugh, clearly feeling that Lu Song was overestimating Zhou Yuan.
Lu Song sighed as he nodded.
“Indeed, it is already quite a feat to have pushed Wei Youxuan so far with only the third layer
cultivation…”
...
Screech!
As the black Qi rising from his flesh grew thicker and thicker, Wei Youxuan’s body suddenly began to
grow, breaking even his clothes. In a short few breaths, the originally handsome looking Wei Youxuan
had transformed into a mini black giant.
His body was covered in black runes as black Qi swirled around him, a sight that was incomparably
bizarre.
The Great Black Devil technique could temporarily make one’s body become extremely powerful. At close
quarters, the destructive power that could be released in an instant was basically a nightmare.
Wei Youxuan’s eyes had become pitch-black. He slowly lifted his head, his gaze locking onto Zhou Yuan
like a hawk as the corners of his lips raised to form a hideous, twisted smile.
“I was hoping to save this for the purple sash disciple selection test. The fact that you’ve forced me to use
it is already proof your ability.”
Boom!
The instant the final word left his mouth, Wei Youxuan’s foot slammed into the ground, shattering it as
his enormous figure transformed into a flash of black that shot forth. His speed was quick as thunder.
“Such speed!” Zhou Yuan’s pupils shrank slightly. Wei Youxuan was now alarmingly quick.
Boom!
The black shadow appeared in front of him like a phantom. However, Zhou Yuan roared, Genesis Qi
surging along the Heavenly Yuan Brush as he swung it from over his head like an axe.
1750
Resplendent rays of light exploded from the brush as a faint silhouette of a giant whale appeared. The
power in the brush was tremendous enough to shatter a mountain, as it powerfully hacked at Wei
Youxuan with dreadful force.
Wei Youxuan raised both arms in a cross above him, directly meeting the Heavenly Yuan Brush.
Boom!
Ripples that could be seen with the naked eye pulsed, directly fracturing the surrounding cliffs, while
cracks swiftly grew on the stone stage below their feet.
However, not even a single wound had appeared on Wei Youxuan’s thick black arms, the resultant force
from their clash blowing away Zhou Yuan instead.
Swish!
Wei Youxuan’s figure closed in like phantom the moment Zhou Yuan was sent flying, five fingers forming
a fist that blasted towards the latter’s without the slightest shred of hesitation.
A terrifying force assaulted Zhou Yuan, making him feel a piercing pain on his skin.
In the face of the overbearing Wei Youxuan, a ruthless look flashed in Zhou Yuan’s eyes as he clenched his
fist. The Magical Dragon Scales appeared, azure light swirling on them as the power in his body spiked.
Thud!
A giant fist and a small fist slammed into each other.
Zhou Yuan’s body immediately jerked back, the azure scales on his fist shattering as he took several steps
back in succession.
In contrast, Wei Youxuan was only pushed a dozen steps back, before managing to stabilize his body.
“Zhou Yuan, is this all you’re capable of?”
Wei Youxuan’s sinister eyes locked onto Zhou Yuan with a hideous smile. “If so, then it's time to use the
spot I saved you on the cliff!”
Zhou Yuan’s eyes hardened slightly. His hands instantly came together, his body shuddering as torrent
after torrent of vigorous Genesis Qi dashed out from the top of his head.
Roar!
“Nine Dragons Canon, eighth dragon!”
1751
Eight Genesis Beasts created from Genesis Qi flew out, savage auras pulsing from their bodies. In the
blink of an eye, all of them charged towards Wei Youxaun with a hiss.
“Haha, you dare to take out a mere little Heaven Genesis technique? You’re only making a fool of
yourself!” Wei Youxuan’s loud laughter boomed like thunder. His bulky body shot forward in a straight
line as he threw out a barrage of fists that smashed into the eight ferocious Genesis Qi Genesis Beasts.
Boom boom boom!
Berserk Genesis Qi shockwaves devastated the area.
Every beast Wei Youxuan smashed apart made him take a few steps back. By the time he finally
destroyed the eighth beast, his feet had nicely arrived at the edge of the stone stage.
Fresh blood dripped from his black fists.
Numerous disciples were dumbstruck by this scene. No one had expected Wei Youxuan to be so fierce,
using his bare fists to violently punch apart eight ferocious Genesis Qi beasts.
One must know that each one of those eight beasts were able to crush a fifth layer disciple.
And yet, all eight had been unable to deal with the current Wei Youxuan.
“Not bad, I’ll admit that I underestimated your Nine Dragons Canon…”
Wei youxuan looked towards his bloody fists, before his cold gaze turned towards Zhou Yuan. The former
had originally believed he would be able to easily shatter the attack, and had not expected to end up
ultimately paying a price to stop it.
Although the Nine Dragons Canon was a high little Heaven Genesis technique, its power was extremely
astonishing in Zhou Yuan’s hands, far surpassing that of your usual run-of-the-mill high grade little
Heaven Genesis techniques.
“So eight dragons is not enough…” Zhou Yuan’s eyes narrowed slightly. After using the eight dragons to
probe, he now knew that the other party was not an overly powerful existence he could do nothing
against...
As such, he somewhat helplessly sighed as he said, “I originally wanted to save this too…”
“Oh?” Mockery raised from the corners of Wei Youxuan’s lips.
Zhou Yuan did not answer, merely lightly shutting his eyes. In the next instant, hisses suddenly rang out
as eight roaring Genesis Qi Genesis Beasts emerged.
1752
“Again?” The mockery on Wei Youxuan’s lips grew even greater. Although Zhou Yuan’s Nine Dragons
Canon was not weak, it was clearly unable to contend against him in this state. Zhou Yuan’s actions were
only a waste of Genesis Qi.
“Looks like that’s all you have. Since that is the case… it’s time for me to hang you up on that cliff!”
He stepped forward, finally intending to finish this match.
However, Zhou Yuan’s hands suddenly formed a seal as his calm voice echoed,
“Nine Dragons Canon… ninth dragon!”
One could only watch as the eight beasts above his head suddenly released sky-shattering hisses, one of
them abruptly opening its giant mouth, and swallowing another Genesis Qi beast.
After devouring one, it continued to eat the other six.
When the final beast was eaten, everyone could only stare at the now thousand feet long Genesis Qi beast
that coiled in the air above Zhou Yuan like a ferocious without equal giant dragon.
A heart palpitating sensation of violence and savagery pulsed.
On the surrounding cliffs, countless disciples were stupefied as they watched this scene.
Even the pupils of the three elders, Lu Hong, Shen Taiyuan and Lu Song could not help but shrink.
Zhou Yuan… had reached the advanced level of the Nine Dragons Canon!
The ninth dragon of the Nine Dragons Canon!
1753
Chapter 342 Ninth Dragon Exterminates Black
Devil
Roar!
The thousand feet long Genesis Qi beast coiled in the sky above Zhou Yuan like a giant dragon, giving off a
terrifying Genesis Qi pressure.
As disciples on the surrounding cliffs gazed upon the behemoth of a beast, their expressions involuntarily
changed.
Even some of the fifth layer disciples shivered uncontrollably under the pressure. They knew that if they
were in Wei Youxuan’s place, they would not even have the courage to face that terrifying Genesis Qi.
The ninth dragon of the Nine Dragons Canon.
No one had expected Zhou Yuan to have reached the advanced level of that little Heaven Genesis
technique. Just how much time and effort had this required?
It had been less than half a year since Zhou Yuan had arrived at the Cangxuan Sect, right?
There was no lack of disciple who practiced the Nine Dragons Canon in the sect, but though many of them
had practiced the technique for many years, only a tiny handful were able to reach the advanced level.
Amongst the crowd, no one was more shocked than Lu Xuanyin, because she knew full well that Zhou
Yuan’s Nine Dragons Canon was only at the fourth dragon level during the peak selection ceremony a
month before.
In a short month, he was now already able to display the ninth dragon.
In the face of that titanic ninth dragon, even she was genuinely frightened.
Under the many surprised gazes, Wei Youxuan, who was originally about to charge forward, stopped in
his steps, his expression changing slightly as he gazed at the enormous Genesis Qi beast. He finally felt a
feeling of danger this time.
Although Zhou Yuan’s Nine Dragons Canon was only a high grade little Heaven Genesis technique, the
Great Black Devil technique he was currently using not considered a complete Heaven Genesis technique
either. The complete technique would only be given to him by Lu Hong if he managed to win.
However, the arrow was already nocked, and there was no longer any way for him to retreat. He could
only summon all of his courage and destroy Zhou Yuan’s attack to utterly defeat the latter.
1754
A ferocious look rose in Wei Youxuan’s pupils.
Black Genesis Qi swirled around his sinister looking body, an explosive power flowing out as his muscles
shook, shaking the air around him.
“So what if its the ninth dragon, when all is said and done, it’s only a little Heaven Genesis technique. Even
though my Great Black Devil technique is not complete, it’s still enough to deal with the likes of you!”
Wei Youxuan’s hands clenched tightly, the black Qi emitting from his flesh growing increasingly vigorous
as violent Genesis Qi undulations erupted from his body.
Boom!
In the next instant, his foot slammed into the ground.
The stone stage under his feet began to crumble, a sign that it was about to cave in.
Swish!
His figure shot forth like a flash of black light, the mini giant like body creating a sonic boom as it
accelerated. One could imagine just how fast he was.
The current Wei Youxuan was like a god of destruction, the ground instantly crumbling wherever he
passed, vividly displaying his astonishing destructive capabilities.
In the face of Wei Youxuan’s charge, let alone the fifth layer, even sixth layer disciples would be forced to
avoid, not daring to meet it head-on.
However, there were no signs of retreat in Zhou Yuan’s eyes, but a similar burning desire to fight.
He took in a deep breath as his eyes abruptly turned serious.
“Go ninth dragon!”
The thousand feet Genesis Qi beast hissed in accompaniment to his shout. In the next instant, it began its
dive downwards like a giant dragon under countless shocked gazes.
It was an ominous sight to behold.
In the end, the thousand feet Genesis Qi beast and Wei Youxuan slammed into each other.
Every gaze was tightly glued to the collision.
They knew that this would be the moment when victory was decided.
1755
They were also itching to find out which was stronger, the advanced level Nine Dragons Canon or the
incomplete Great Black Devil technique?!
Rumble!
The entire mountain seemed to fall silent at the instant of impact. Almost immediately after, a giant
Genesis Qi shockwave that could be seen with the naked eye unfurled...
Rumble!
The surrounding cliffs were directly torn apart, the giant stone stages crumbling layer by layer. All of the
cliffs were affected by the destruction.
Some of the nearer disciples were sent flying, a tight feeling rising in their chest along with panic in their
eyes.
The aftershocks of the clash were truly a little too astonishing.
In the end, the purple sash disciples from the three factions had to step forward, Genesis Qi whizzing out
to stop the spreading shockwave. Only then did they prevent the stone pavilions from being affected.
The aftershocks faded as gaze after gaze looked towards the crumbled stone stages.
“That blasted Zhou Yuan, I refuse to believe that you won’t fall this time!”
Lu Xuanyin could not stop herself from standing up, her fists tightly clenched as she cast her gaze over. At
this time, she could only pray that Wei Youxuan had defeated Zhou Yuan. If not, the cave match
today would become Zhou Yuan’s stepping stone, making his reputation rise in the Cangxuan Sect, an
outcome that would clearly make her unbearably angry.
In one of the other stone pavilions, Lu Yan tense gaze was also directed at the stone stages, clearly also
itching to know the final outcome.
There was basically no conflict between herself and Zhou Yuan, and the only thing she loathed was others
comparing him to senior brother Chu Qing. In her eyes, no one would ever be able to compare to senior
brother Chu Qing, including Zhou Yuan.
Previously, the only thing Zhou Yuan had to show was being the champion of the peak selection
ceremony, while the Genesis Marrow Baptism could mostly be attributed to luck. However, the current
cave match would be an excellent test of his worth.
The moment the curtain fell on the battle, everyone would naturally know just how capable Zhou Yuan
was.
The aftershocks faded as the scenery within finally began to appear.
1756
The first thing to land in their eyes was Zhou Yuan standing on a corner that remained of the stone stage.
The Genesis Qi around him was clearly much weaker than before, obviously due to the ninth dragon he
used earlier.
Facing him some distance away was the well-built black tower like body of Wei Youxuan. He was still in a
punching posture, while the thousand feet Genesis Qi beast was nowhere to be seen.
“Zhou Yuan’s ninth dragon has been destroyed?!” The sight of this immediate caused cries of
astonishment to erupt in the surrounding cliffs.
Lu Hong’s disciples were unable to stop themselves from bursting into cheers.
In spite of the cheering, there was no change in Zhou Yuan’s eyes as he stared at Wei Youxuans’ figure
and slowly said, “It seems that senior brother Wei still has a ways to go if you wish to teach me.”
Urgh!
The instant these words were said, Wei Youxuan’s body suddenly shuddered as he violently spat out a
mouthful of black blood. His giant body rapidly began to shrink, returning to his normal state, before
slowly falling back first to the ground.
There was an unresigned look in his eyes. If Lu Hong had given him the complete Great Black Devil
technique, the one who lost today would not have been him!
Thud!
The cheers that filled the air came to an abrupt stop, as if someone had pinched all their throats.
The joyous expressions on Lu Hong’s disciples instantly froze, an extremely comical sight.
Lu Xuanyin’s tightly clenched fists slowly loosened at this moment, her face turning deathly pale as the
spark of life seemed to leave her eyes. She had originally come here to vent her frustrations. Who could
have imagined that instead of venting them, she would instead personally witness Zhou Yuan soar into
the heavens.
The unbearable feeling in her heart almost made her vomit a mouthful of blood.
Lu Yan breathed out forcefully as her bosom faintly heaved. Although the expression on her face could be
considered calm, a storm of emotions were raging in her heart.
This outcome had obviously exceeded everyone’s expectations.
No one had imagined that Zhou Yuan, whom they had thought the least of at the beginning, would
accomplish such an amazing feat, single handedly bringing about a complete reversal of a situation on the
verge of collapse.
1757
In the face of such a scene, even Lu Yan, who felt Zhou Yuan was an eyesore due to Chu Qing, could not
help but sigh in amazement inside.
In contrast to the deathly silent atmosphere on Lu Hong’s side, after a few breaths of silence, it finally
clicked to Shen Taiyuan’s disciples that the unbelievable scene in front of their eyes was indeed reality. In
the next instant, deafening cheers exploded from them.
In the stone pavilion, an inconcealable look of joy emerged on Shen Taiyuan’s usually stern, aged face.
Zhou Yuan merely chuckled softly as he listened to the seemingly endless cheers. After today’s battle,
there should no longer be anyone who would object to him owning that purple Genesis cave dwelling...
Rumble!
However, just as he was breathing a sigh of relief as if a heavy burden had been lifted from his shoulders,
boundless Genesis Qi suddenly exploded in the sky.
Lu Hong’s stone pavilion instantly shattered around him.
Lu Hong’s expression was like a raging storm, seething anger in the depths of his eyes as they locked onto
Zhou Yuan. A terrifying pressure swept towards him, crushing him like a towering mountain, causing his
Genesis Qi to turn extremely sluggish and nearly forcing him to his knees.
Seeing Zhou Yuan reverse the situation had clearly made Lu Hong lose control of his emotions.
Zhou Yuan’s expressions changed as he gritted his teeth, stubbornly resisting the frightening pressure.
While Zhou Yuan tenaciously resisted, in another stone pavilion, Shen Taiyuan’s expression turned
extremely ugly as he abruptly stood up. Dreadful Genesis Qi immediately exploded, turning into an
enormous Genesis Qi hand that seemed to cover the entire sky as it ruthlessly swatted down at Lu Hong’s
location.
“You old bastard Lu Hong, do you really believe that I’m soft mud that you can squeeze as you please?!”
Shen Taiyuan’s furious roar thundered across the area.
1758
Chapter 343 The Four Greater Stages
Rumble!
A giant Genesis Qi hand seemed to blot out the sun as it descended, its shadow engulfing the entire
mountain. The Genesis Qi in the area instantly began to boil and bubble as if the entire place was about to
be torn apart.
Countless disciples turned white with terror, trembling uncontrollably as fear flooded their eyes.
The earlier duel between Zhou Yuan and Wei Youxuan was basically akin to a squabble between children
in comparison!
“Shen Taiyuan!”
As the giant hand fell, Lu Hong was also startled. With a roar, Genesis Qi akin to the endless ocean dashed
up into the sky, transforming into a titanic Genesis Qi dome that blocked the giant hand.
Rumble!
A loud noise akin to thunder continuously rumbled across the area.
Although they had come to blows, Lu Hong and Shen Taiyuan had still restrained themselves, not daring
to let the aftershocks spread such as to prevent injuring any of the disciples. Thus, though the noise was
loud, the aftershocks had been suppressed to an extremely tiny area.
Bang!
The remains of Lu Hong’s stone pavilion instantly turned to dust.
The disciples in the vicinity of the pavilion were so terrified that their legs turned to jelly. Even the
outstanding Yuan Hong’s face was twitching violently, fear flashing in his eyes.
If the aftershocks from earlier had managed to spread just a tiny bit more, all of the disciples here would
have the same fate as the stone pavilion.
“Are you crazy Shen Taiyuan?!” Lu Hong’s face was livid as he roared at Shen Taiyuan. He never imagined
that the latter would actually dare to attack him in front of so many people.
If the disciples were killed or gravely injured, both of them would surely be heavily punished by the sect.
At the thought of such a possibility, cold sweat appeared on Lu Hong’s forehead, as white hot rage flowed
within him.
1759
Shen Taiyuan’s aged face was covered in frost. He stared right back at Lu Hong and said in a chilling voice,
“Lu Hong, are you intending to throw away even your last shred of dignity? What is a loss in the battle
between the younger generation, to think that you had the gall to oppress my disciple right before my
eyes!”
Lu Hong’s face twitched. “Don’t spout nonsense, my emotions were merely a little unstable earlier,
causing me to lose some control over my Genesis Qi.”
There was no way he could admit that in his anger, he had attempted to use Genesis Qi pressure to force
Zhou Yuan to his knees earlier.
Shen Taiyuan chuckled icily as he mocked, “Sore loser, if you want to play, I can accompany you till the
end!”
Being ridiculed in front of so many disciples made Lu Hong’s expression turn somewhat ugly as his
expression darkened. “Humph, do you really think that I’m afraid of you? I’m also interested to find out
what you can possibly amount to after hiding away in Saint Genesis Peak for so many years!”
“Try me!”
Shen Taiyuan took a step forward as torrential Genesis Qi poured out, practically engulfing half of the
horizon. Under his Genesis Qi pressure, it felt as if the entire world around them was trembling.
“Then I will!” Lu Hong laughed in anger as he also took a step forward.
Two seas of Genesis Qi immediately filled the area, relentlessly crashing into each other, causing the giant
mountains in the area to tremble violently as if on the verge of collapse.
The numerous disciples in the vicinity turned white with fear. The aftershocks alone from a fight of this
level was not something they would survive.
“Stop!”
Elder Lu Song expression changed as he hurriedly stepped forward and shouted, “Don’t be rash both of
you. If the disciples are hurt, sect master and the other peak masters will not let either of you off.”
His figure moved and appeared between the two elders. With a wave of his sleeve, boundless Genesis Qi
swept out, breaking up their clashing Genesis Qi.
Shen Taiyuan and Lu Hong viciously glared at each other, but ultimately did not lose all rationality and
withdrew their Genesis Qi. Only then did the terrifying Genesis Qi pressure gradually fade away.
Both of them understood that if they really ended up fighting, sect master Qing Yang would surely get
involved. Neither of them would benefit when that happened.
1760
As the dreadful pressure faded from the mountain, Zhou Yuan’s tense body was finally able to relax. He
breathed a deep sigh of relief as if a heavy burden had been lifted from his shoulders, his brow covered in
cold sweat.
The Genesis Qi pressure from earlier had made him understand the meaning of terror. A single thought
from either elder was likely all it would take to wipe him off the face of this world.
Zhou Yuan’s eyes blazed with passion as he mumbled to himself, “It’s said that the first condition to
become an elder of the Cangxuan Sect is to reach the Heavenly Sun stage…”
After the Alpha-Origin stage, one would have to establish the Divine Dwelling, hence why it was called the
Divine Dwelling stage.
As the Divine Dwelling developed, a fetus akin to a great sun would emerge in the Divine Dwelling. Thus,
the stage after the Divine Dwelling stage was known as the Heavenly Sun stage.
As the Heavenly Sun grew, source energy would be born from it. Therefore, the next stage was called the
Nascent Source stage.
After the Nascent Source, the Law Domain would begin to form.
Divine Dwelling, Heavenly Sun, Nascent Source and Law Domain.
These were the four greater stages after the Alpha-Origin stage.
It was clear that the three elders Lu Hong, Shen Taiyuan and Lu Song were experts of the Heavenly Sun
stage. Even in the entire Cangxuan Heaven, they were existences could intimidate an entire region.
This was also the cultivation level Zhou Yuan was striving for.
“The Cangxuan Sect is indeed a hegemon level sect in Cangxuan Heaven.” Zhou Yuan sighed inside. His
greatest enemy at the moment was king Wu of the Great Wu empire, who was only a Divine Dwelling
stage expert, someone who would not even be qualified to become an elder in the Cangxuan sect.
Of course, king Wu may be insignificant to the Cangxuan Sect, but he was still a behemoth in Zhou Yuan’s
eyes.
For the sake of obtaining strength that could match king Wu, Zhou Yuan needed to continue working hard
in the Cangxuan Sect.
These churning thoughts in his mind were ultimately suppressed by Zhou Yuan. He raised his head under
the attention of numerous watching disciples and looked towards Lu Hong without any fear in his eyes.
“Elder Lu Hong, is it time to announce the result of today’s cave match?”
1761
His voice was calm, showing that he was not afraid even after witnessing Lu Hong’s dreadful presence
earlier.
This was the Cangxuan Sect, and even an elder like Lu Hong had to abide by the rules. If not, sect master
Qing Yang and the other peak masters would not easily let him off.
Lu Hong’s was ugly with anger as he viciously glared at Zhou Yuan.
Shen Taiyuan smiled icily. “Elder Lu Hong, aren’t you going to announce the results?”
In the past, Lu Hong had mercilessly provoked him after winning. Since such a rare opportunity to return
the favor had come, Shen Taiyuan was naturally going to vent some of his past frustration.
Under Zhou Yuan and Shen Taiyuan’s joint ‘assault’, Lu Hong’s expression turned even more ugly, a
stormy look filling his face.
Lu Song helplessly sighed, and decided to step in as a mediator before the situation degraded any further.
“The outcome of the cave match is already clear. Elder Shen’s faction has won, does anyone have any
objections?”
All the disciples all over the mountain shook their heads. The cave match today had been filled with
twists and turns, the final outcome also exceeding everyone’s expectations.
At the start, no one would have imagined that the one who remained standing in the end would be Zhou
Yuan, whom appeared to be at the third layer.
Countless gazes were cast towards the youthful figure on the broken stage, complicated expressions in
their eyes.
They knew that Zhou Yuan’s reputation would rise in the Cangxuan Sect after today.
They had originally come here to see Zhou Yuan make a fool of himself. Who could have expected that
they would instead be treated to the sight of Zhou Yuan’s astonishing and breathtaking rise.
If Zhou Yuan was said to have relied on luck during the Genesis Marrow Baptism, his achievement this
time would be based on genuine battle ability.
Green and white interlaced on Lu Hong’s face. In the end, he stormed off, clearly still seething with rage.
His disciples silently followed.
Lu Xuanyin’s fists were tightly clenched, an unresigned in look in her eyes as she looked towards Zhou
Yuan and forcefully grinded her teeth.
1762
While this happened, Xu Yan walked to her side with a faint smell, taking small whiff of her fragrance as
he said in a gente voice, “No need to be angry junior sister Xuanyin. The truth is that Zhou Yuan is indeed
quite capable. Why not I get someone to call him over and apologize to you so we can wipe clean the slate
between you two.”
Before Xuanyin could reply, he nodded towards a disciple at the side.
Zhou Yuan just so happened to fly up onto the cliff as that particular disciple approached and gave him Xu
Yan’s message.
Zhou Yuan raised his head and looked in Xu Yan’s direction, seeing the latter display a faint smile.
Zhou Yuan smiled in response, before turning around and walking towards Shen Taiyuan, not going to
apologize to Lu Xuanyin as Xu Yan had asked.
From what Zhou Yuan could see, there was no need for him to do so.
Xu Yan was a little taken aback as he watched Zhou Yuan turn around. Soon after, the former chuckled
softly.
“So he’s trying to show off…”
Mumbled Xu Yan, before looking towards Lu Xuanyin. As he turned around, a voice was left behind.
“Let’s go junior sister Xuanyin, if there is a chance in the future, your senior brother will make sure he
gives you a proper explanation.”
“Hehe, it seems that this junior brother Zhou Yuan of ours… has never suffered before…”
1763
Chapter 344 Creating a Stir
The outcome of the cave match spread to the entire Cangxuan Sect the next day.
Typically speaking, a cave match of this level would only drum up interest within its respective peak,
drawing basically zero interest from the other peaks. After all, the end result would not affect other
peaks.
Moreover, it was merely a cave match between gold sash disciples of the most rundown Saint Genesis
Peak...
However, things were clearly different this time.
The evaluation elder Miao of Snow Lotus Peak gave Zhou Yuan had incited the wrath of numerous
fanatical Chu Qing supporters. As a result, many of them had hurried down on the day of the cave match
to see for themselves just how capable Zhou Yuan was.
Many of them came with the intention of watching him fail. However, they left with an additional trace of
astonishment in their hearts.
All because the outcome of this seemingly insignificant cave match turned out to be unexpectedly
shocking...
Zhou Yuan, the same Zhou Yuan who had only been the inner mountain for a month, was able to turn the
tables with his third layer Alpha-Origin cultivation, and single-handedly defeat all three of elder Lu
Hong’s disciples.
Such an achievement was definitely noteworthy.
Even the disciples who came with nitpick could not find a single flaw in Zhou Yuan’s performance...
Therefore, every detail of the cave match began to spread throughout the various peaks the next day,
shocking and awing numerous disciples.
"Zhou Yuan seems to be fairly capable. Though he is only at the third layer Alpha-Origin stage, even the
sixth layer Wei Youxuan is not his match…"
"His Genesis Qi foundation is rather extraordinary."
"No wonder elder Miao holds him in such high regard. It appears that he might actually have what it takes
to become the second Chu Qing."
1764
"Tsk, don’t be ridiculous, it was only a cave match between gold sash disciples… Which of the current ten
great Chosens is ordinary? Back then, all of them were also able to defeat higher cultivation opponents.
This battle achievement of Zhou Yuan’s is only barely passable."
"Indeed. Just think about how many fortunate fateful encounters senior brother Chu Qing has had over
the years. I once heard an elder remark that given senior brother Chu Qing's talent, he will definitely
become an elder within the next ten years."
"Wow, seriously? The first condition to become an elder is to step into the Heavenly Sun stage..”
"Senior brother Chu Qing is indeed Cangxuan Sect’s most outstanding disciple in a hundred years…
Compared to him, Zhou Yuan is still severely lacking."
“……”
Similar conversations continuously played out across the seven peaks. Though most of the disciples were
still skeptical of the evaluation elder Miao had given Zhou Yuan, it was no longer as one-sided as before.
Evidently, after Zhou Yuan’s performance during the cave match, some of the disciples had begun to
acknowledge his talent and potential.
At the very least, Zhou Yuan was already far ahead of his peers.
When all was said and done, every disciple in Cangxuan Sect now knew Zhou Yuan of Saint Genesis Peak.
In order words, he had become famous in the sect.
Sword Cometh Peak.
In a stone pavilion, two young men were seated opposite each other, a chessboard atop the stone table
between them.
One of the two was Kong Sheng. The young man facing him had a long, slim body, and a powerful glint in
his long and narrow eyes. When he stretched out his hand, the receding sleeves revealed numerous
sword scars dotting his arm, a rather scary sight to behold.
He was called Zhao Zhu, and he was the second Chosen from Sword Cometh Peak, ranked ten among the
ten great Chosens.
The two of them stood at the top of the Sword Cometh Peak disciples.
Some distance down from the stone pavilion was a stone stage where numerous Sword Cometh Peak
disciples were training. The gazes that were cast towards the two figures in the pavilion were filled with
respect.
1765
"I never imagined that such an interesting fellow would pop up in the short time I was in secluded
cultivation…" Zhao Zhu said with a smile. Even though he was smiling, his smile was akin to a sharp
blade, making one feel uneasy.
"Isn’t Zhou Yuan the third disciple to receive an eight dragon baptism at the Genesis reservoir?"
Kong Sheng’s eyes remained glued to the chess board, not a single change in his expression at the
mention of this name. Instead he offhandedly nodded and said, "Quite a clever one. If it wasn't for him, Li
Qingchan's eight dragon baptism would have been mine."
Zhao Zhu chuckled and said, "He actually dares to ruin senior brother’s plans? That fellow is simply too
daring."
"Well, he is a young calf… currently, he has even been called the second Chu Qing." Replied Kong Sheng.
Zhao Zhu was slightly taken aback. He soon burst out in laughter, before he shook his head and said, "The
new disciples are getting more and more arrogant… the second Chu Qing?"
Kong Sheng smiled faintly as he said, "He did have an impressive showing during the cave match, and
seems to be full of drive."
Zhao Zhu’s lips curled, "It's just a cave match between gold sash disciples. It seems like the disciples
under elder Lu Hong are becoming more and more useless. Can’t believe that they’re incapable of
crushing those two factions from the fallen Saint Genesis Peak, truly a disgrace to our Sword Cometh
Peak."
"However, since he dared to ruin senior brother's plans, if the opportunity presents itself in the future, I
will make ensure that he suffers a little…"
Kong Sheng uncaringly replied, "Forget it. Why pay any attention to a mere gold sash disciple. It would
only elevate his status if we were to cause trouble for him."
"The other disciples are just shooting their mouths off. Do you really believe that he is the second Chu
Qing? So many outstanding disciples have emerged in the Cangxuan Sect over the years, but just look at
who ultimately became the ten great Chosens."
Zhao Zhu laughed in a carefree manner when he heard this. Soon after, he nodded.
That’s right, a puny gold sash disciple was not even worth their time. The commotion would likely die
down after the hyper was over.
Snow Lotus Peak.
1766
Li Qingchan was seated on a misty stone platform, a green dress adorning her slender figure. Her
gorgeous face was as cold as ice, like a thousand year iceberg that would never melt.
At this current moment, however, there was a sliver of amazement on her usually frosty face.
“Zhou Yuan… what a surprise…” She muttered to herself. Evidently, she heard about what the result of
the cave match that had spread from Saint Genesis Peak.
She was currently rather neutral towards Zhou Yuan. In comparison, she was much more interested in
the one who had quite a special relationship to him, Yaoyao.
Li Qingchan was a very prideful girl, and hence naturally had high standards. However, in her eyes,
Yaoyao was still too much of a mystery.
After all, Yaoyao would surely be the center of attention wherever she went, and only god knew how
many talented geniuses were unable to resist her being drawn to her.
Therefore, Li Qingchan was baffled by the intimate relationship between Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao. This was
because in her opinion, the two of them were belonged to completely different worlds.
To be blunt, she felt that Zhou Yuan did not deserve to have such a close relationship with Yaoyao.
Even though she had cooperated with Zhou Yuan at the Genesis reservoir, the truth was that she had only
chosen to work with him because of Yaoyao. Otherwise, a gold sash disciple like him would never have
the qualifications to work with someone like her, the third seat Chosen.
However, Zhou Yuan’s performance during the cave match was quite a surprise to her. It seemed that he
did have some potential.
“However, the second Chu Qing huh?”
Li Qingchan fell silent for a moment, her hand gently stirring the mist in front of her.
“Zhou Yuan, I am afraid that you will have to work much much harder…”
Only after reaching their level would one finally understand just how formidable this number one Chosen
truly was.
From what she could see, the mysterious and unreadable Yaoyao could perhaps accomplish such a feat.
As for Zhou Yuan… be it luck or experience, he was still severely lacking.
1767
Chapter 345 Reward
A certain courtyard in Saint Genesis Peak.
In a garden within the courtyard, Shen Taiyuan was dressed in simple robes, carefully tending to his plot
with the small shovel in his hand. Meanwhile, Zhou Yuan was looking at him from a nearby stone
pavilion.
Shen Taiyuan worked for quite some time, before he finally stood up in satisfaction. He patted off the dirt
on his hands as he walked towards Zhou Yuan.
Zhou Yuan sighed inside as he gazed at Shen Taiyuan, who looked just like an old farmer at this moment.
Who would have guessed that this ordinary looking old man was actually a Heavenly Sun stage expert.
In any other place, a person like him could establish his small sect of his own, and reign as its sect
master.
In fact, if he was in the Cangmang Continent, he would be an invincible existence that could cause the rise
and fall of empires at his whim.
However, Shen Taiyuan was merely an elder in the Cangxuan Sect, and above him were the various peak
masters and sect master Qing Yang. From this, one can see how powerful the Cangxuan Sect, a sect which
was once the strongest sect in Cangxuan Continent, truly was.
At the same time, Zhou Yuan also felt as if he understood patriarch Cang Xuan a little more. Founder of
the Cangxuan Sect, controller of the Cangxuan Saint Stamp and also the patriarch of the Cangxuan Sect.
That handsome young man in the Saint Remains Domain was once the most powerful expert of this
world.
“I hope that I haven’t kept you waiting too long?” Shen Taiyuan smiled at Zhou Yuan. After the cave
match, every disciple noticed that the typically stern and conservative Shen Taiyuan had begun to smile
more frequently.
Zhou Yuan responded with a smile and a shake of his head. He was appreciative and grateful towards
Shen Taiyuan. After all, it was always comforting to be so valued and trusted by another.
Even when the crowd had turned against him, Shen Taiyuan had continued to stand up for him, an act
that truly touched Zhou Yuan’s heart.
Shen Taiyuan seated himself on a stone stool, and fished out a purple token from his sleeves.
“This is the token for that purple Genesis cave dwelling. From today onwards, that cave dwelling shall
belong to you.” Said Shen Taiyuan with a smile.
1768
There was joy in his eyes as Zhou Yuan received the token. After all, he knew that the purple Genesis cave
dwelling was an extremely important cultivation resource, and would be hugely beneficial to his training.
Moreover, this was also why he had wracked his brains so hard in order to join the cave match..
“Thank you teacher Shen.” Said Zhou Yuan as he cupped his fists together.
Shen Taiyuan waved his hands and said, “You were the one who won this. I believe that there will no
longer be any objections from any of the other disciples.”
Even though Shen Taiyuan had originally prepared this purple Genesis cave dwelling for Zhou Yuan,
there had been a huge backlash from the other disciples in the beginning. After all, in their eyes, Zhou
Yuan was merely a gold sash disciple that did not deserve to own a purple Genesis cave dwelling.
However, there were no longer any disciples who objected after the cave match. In fact, even Zhang Yan
and his crew remained silent on this topic, evidently already acknowledging it.
After all, nobody expected Zhou Yuan to perform so spectacularly during the cave match. He had
completely turned the tables, and earned back all the respect their faction was about to lose.
Shen Taiyuan smiled warmly at his disciple, a gratified look in his eyes. With a wave of his sleeve, several
jade boxes appeared on the table.
"Little fellow, it's all thanks to you that I didn't lose face. Take these as your additional rewards." Said
Shen Taiyuan with a smile.
Zhou Yuan was stunned. He casually opened one of the jade boxes, immediately feeling a heatwave being
released from within it.
"These are… the Nine Suns Crystal, Sky Fire Rock Marrow and Golden Crow Heart?" Zhou Yuan stared at
the objects inside the box as joy filled his heart. These were the items required to practice the Heavenly
Sun God Record.
He was unable to practice the Heavenly Sun God Record because he lacked these very items. It never
occurred to him that Shen Taiyuan had actually managed to gather all of them for him.
"Haha, these were quite hard to find. This old man had to look up a few old friends and pull out a couple
of favors to obtain them. I know that they should be the things you want most now." Said Shen Taiyuan.
Zhou Yuan was exhilarated. In the duel against Wei Youxuan, Zhou Yuan had realized how powerful a
true Heaven tier technique was. Moreover, it was not hard to guess that Wei Youxuan’s Great Black Devil
technique was incomplete, hence why he had only managed to bring out less than a fifth of its true power.
Nonetheless, Zhou Yuan was still forced to use his advanced level Nine Dragons Canon in order to obtain
victory. This goes to show just how formidable a Heaven tier technique was.
1769
After witnessing its might, Zhou Yuan’s desire towards his Heavenly Sun God Record began to grow, and
had been trying his best to find the required items for the past few days but to no avail. Hence, he was
naturally ecstatic that Shen Taiyuan had gathered all the items for him, saving him a boatload of trouble.
"Thank you teacher Shen!" Zhou Yuan cupped his fists with sincerity.
The joy on Zhou Yuan face made Shen Taiyuan chuckle. He looked at Zhou Yuan, and slowly said, "Zhou
Yuan, you came to Cangxuan Sect to train with the goal of eventually returning home to deal with the
Great Wu Empire, am I right?"
Zhou Yuan was shocked, but soon nodded his head. Shen Taiyuan was after all an elder of Cangxuan Sect,
and though he often ended up getting the short end of the stick in his struggles with Lu Hong, he was still
an extremely powerful individual wherever he was put. This plus Cangxuan Sect's resources made it a
simple task to find out about Zhou Yuan’s background. Of course, Zhou Yuan did not try to hide any of this
either.
"King Wu from the Great Wu Empire is a Divine Dwelling expert, but he is nothing much in my eyes. If I
wish, I can easily suppress him with a flip of my hand." Said Shen Taiyuan. Though his tone appeared
nonchalant, it gave off a domineering aura.
"In the month since you became my disciple, I’ve managed to find out all about the conflict between your
Great Zhou Empire and the Great Wu Empire. I did this in hopes that you’ll be able to focus on your
training. In fact, I asked the sect to intervene and finish off the Great Wu Empire."
Zhou Yuan stared at Shen Taiyuan in shock.
Shen Taiyuan frowned as he continued, "However, the sect ultimately rejected my request. I suspect this
had something to do with the Sacred Palace. After you destroyed Wu Huang’s physical body in the Saint
Remains Domain, his Spirit was taken away by the Sacred Palace."
"According to the latest intel I’ve received, for some unknown reason, the palace master of Sacred Palace
seems to highly value Wu Huang. In fact, the former has even personally accepted him as his disciple, and
helped him reconstruct his body."
“As such, the Great Wu Empire can be said to have the backing of the Sacred Palace, and the reason why
sect master and the rest did not agree to my proposal is likely because they knew that Sacred Palace
would be opposed to it.”
Zhou Yuan’s pupils shrunk slightly. Wu Huang really was an unkillable cockroach. The former never
expected that the latter would still be able to make a comeback after having physical body destroyed and
half his sacred dragon blessing taken.
1770
Zhou Yuan’s eyes glimmered for a moment, before they gradually returned to calmness. Back then, Wu
Huang had seemed impossibly far ahead, but in the end, Zhou Yuan caught up, and even slayed Wu
Huang. Zhou Yuan had not feared Wu Huang then, why would he start now?
Since he was able to kill Wu Huang once, he could do it again...
He may have failed to completely kill off Wu Huang the first time, and left a loose end behind. However,
he was certain that Wu Huang would not live if there was a second time.
Zhou Yuan slowly asked, “Teacher Shen, since the Sacred Palace is backing Wu Huang, will that be a
problem for the Great Zhou Empire?”
He did not fear Wu Huang at all. However, he was wary of the powerful and mysterious Sacred Palace.
It was a massive organization that rivalled the Cangxuan Sect.
Shen Taiyuan waved his hand, before he solemnly said, “There is no need to worry. We do not wish to
break the rules, and I believe the Sacred Palace would not dare to do so as well. However, if they try
anything funny, I assure you that our Cangxuan Sect is no pushover.”
“When all is said and done, the conflict between your Great Zhou Empire and the Great Wu Empire will
have to be resolved amongst yourselves.” Shen Taiyuan was a little apologetic as he looked at Zhou Yuan.
He had initially hoped to get rid of this problem for Zhou Yuan. However, his hands were tied in the end.
Zhou Yuan solemnly bowed to Shen Taiyuan. He was fairly touched by what the latter had done for him.
“Teacher Shen, there is no need for you to be this way. The Great Wu Empire is a thorn in my heart that I
must pluck out myself. If someone else did it for me, it would only hurt my personal development.”
Zhou Yuan slowly said, “One day, I will personally resolve this grudge!”
Though his voice was low, it was filled with confidence.
The strong confidence in Zhou Yuan’s words made Shen Taiyuan even more pleased. Regardless of
attitude or talent, this disciple truly belonged to the cream of the crop.
“If there is anything else I can help you with, just say the word. I will do all I can to support you.” Declared
Shen Taiyuan.
Zhou Yuan fell silent for a moment. Following which, he smiled as he said, “There is indeed a favor I
would like to ask from teacher Shen.”
“Oh?” Shen Taiyuan smiled as he said, “Go on, tell me what it is.”
1771
Zhou Yuan pursed his lips as he looked at Shen Taiyuan and earnestly said, “I would like to join the purple
sash selection test to be promoted to a purple sash disciple.”
His main reason for coming to the Cangxuan Sect was to enter the main peak of Saint Genesis Peak, and
search for the second Saint Rune. However, according to the sect rules, only the chief disciple of Saint
Genesis Peak could enter the main peak.
To join the chief disciple selection trial that would be held at the end of the year, he would first have to
become a purple sash disciple.
This meant that Zhou Yuan needed to pass the purple sash selection test, and become a purple sash
disciple, or he would not have the qualification to join the chief disciple selection trial.
1772
Chapter 346 Purple Sash Selection
“The purple sash selection?”
Shen Taiyuan could not help but be taken aback by Zhou Yuan’s request. The former soon frowned,
somewhat hesitant as he said, “The purple sash selection is no joke. Isn’t it a little too soon for you to
participate?”
The purple sash selection was a major event in the Cangxuan Sect. This was because purple sash disciples
were the most elite disciples of the sect, and were often the ones who went on to become the backbone of
the sect.
Therefore, every purple sash selection was extremely stringent, and personally attended by not only
several peak masters, but even the sect master on occasion.
Even elders like Shen Taiyuan were unable to approve the promotion to purple sash. All they could do
was nominate their disciples for the selection, and pray for their success.
Furthermore, there were a limited number of promotions available each cycle. As such, the participants
were basically composed of the first seat gold sash disciples from each peak, making the competition
extremely intense.
To be blunt, even someone like Wei Youxuan, who was the number one gold sash disciple under Lu Hong,
was not considered top-tier amongst all the factions in the entire sect.
Thus, Shen Taiyuan felt it was a little too early for Zhou Yuan to participate in the purple sash selection.
Nonetheless, he believed that given Zhou Yuan’s talent and potential, it would not be difficult to pass after
another half a year of serious training.
“Zhou Yuan, there are only ten purple sash promotions available for the upcoming selection test, while
close to a hundred disciples will be taking part. It will be extremely competitive.” Shen Taiyuan sighed as
he tried to talk Zhou Yuan out of it.
Zhou Yuan merely smiled in response and said, “Teacher Shen, I just want to give it a shot. There’s no loss
even if I fail, right?”
Though he was wearing a smile, his words were filled with determination.
Two purple sash selection tests were held every year, and the upcoming one was already the second one
for the year. If he missed it, there would no longer be any chance for him to become a purple sash disciple
this year. As a result, he would be unable to participate in the year-end Saint Genesis Peak chief disciple
selection trial.
1773
Even if someone else became chief disciple, he or she may end up failing to break the main peak seal.
However, Zhou Yuan did not dare to take such a risk. What if Lu Hong’s faction succeeded?
If Lu Hong became the peak master, it would become even harder for Zhou Yuan to find the second Saint
Rune.
Hence, he needed to take part in the upcoming purple sash selection.
At the sight of Zhou Yuan’s determination, Shen Taiyuan smiled in resignation and said, “You’re too
impatient…”
In the end, he could only sigh as he nodded and said, “Fine, if that’s what you want, go ahead and give it a
shot. If you lose, treat it as preparation for the next test.”
“After all, there is nothing to be ashamed about if you fail. Many disciples have participated in several
purple sash selection tests, only to fail over and over again…”
He looked at Zhou Yuan as he continued, “The next purple sash selection is in two months. You must
work hard during these two months, and cannot neglect your training. I will nominate you for the
upcoming selection test.”
“Thank you teacher Shen!”
Joy appeared on Zhou Yuan’s face when he heard this.
Shen Taiyuan helplessly shook his head. However, there was some pride and happiness in his eyes.
Youngsters should be passionate and ambitious. If he didn’t even have a little drive, how could he
possibly hope to tackle the dangerous and arduous road of cultivation.
Since he wants to try, I’ll let him have his chance. After all… this young has always been quite surprising.
What if… he actually succeeds?
If that happened, even sect master would take notice, bringing the spotlight to their nearly forgotten
faction. In fact, sect master may even let them have a few gifted disciples next time.
...
A particular purple Genesis cave dwelling.
Compared to the previous gold Genesis cave dwelling, the new purple Genesis cave dwelling was several
times larger. The cave seemed to reach all the way into the heart of the mountain, monopolizing
practically all of its Genesis Qi.
1774
A little stream flowed within the cave. Rays of sunlight shined from above, transforming into countless
shimmering specks of light that illuminated the interior, making it appear as if dust was dancing within.
Boundless Genesis Qi gushed out from an aperture at the deepest part of the cave, transforming into a
thin mist that swirled inside, making the air feel extremely refreshing.
The natural Genesis Qi here was much denser than the gold Genesis cave dwelling.
There was even a large herb garden at one corner of the cave that was filled with all kinds of mysterious
plants. Flowers breathed Genesis Qi, filling the place with a variety of exotic smells. These aromas had the
effect of calming the mind and increasing concentration, making them quite beneficial for one’s training.
However, the one most pleased with this new accommodation was not Zhou Yuan, but Yaoyao.
She seemed to have a special fondness for the herb garden, and had even bought a variety of seeds from
the Glittering Jewels Pavilion, spending everyday leisurely tending the plants.
In the depths of the cave near the Genesis Qi aperture.
Zhou Yuan sat cross-legged on a sizable rock with eyes lightly shut. A scarlet-red crystal hovered in front
of him, specks of light glimmering brightly inside like the sun, as an alarming heat spread.
It was the Nine Suns Crystal required to practice the Heavenly Sun God Record.
Zhou Yuan cupped the crystal with both hands, feeling as if he was holding the sun or the moon. Wisps of
golden Genesis Qi rose from his palms and battered against the crystal, slowly grinding it like a
grindstone.
As the Nine Suns Crystal was grinded by Genesis Qi, grains of crystal dust began to fall off, merging with
Zhou Yuan’s Genesis Qi. The Genesis Qi ultimately tunneled back into Zhou Yuan’s hands and flowed into
his Qi Dwelling.
It was a fairly complicated to learn a Heaven tier technique. One needed to continuously combine various
Genesis resources with one’s own Genesis Qi, while attempting time and time again to achieve a certain
equilibrium, before gradually stabilizing the newly created composition.
This step alone had thwarted numerous practitioners, causing them to waste countless resources.
Moreover, every failure would consume a portion of the Genesis resources and their Genesis Qi.
Thankfully, Zhou Yuan had the Decoder Saint Rune. With its help, he was able to clearly determine how
much of each resource he had to mix with his Genesis Qi, allowing him to minimize wastage...
Even so, he still needed some time to flawlessly create a Genesis technique mark and brand it into his Qi
Dwelling.
1775
Phew.
After an unknown period of time, Zhou Yuan finally opened his tightly shut eyes as slowly spat out a
breath of air.
He lowered his head and looked at his palm, only to realize that the Nine Suns Crystal had shrunk by a
third.
“At this rate, as long as nothing unexpected happens, I should be able to start forming the mark after a
month...” There was a faint smile on Zhou Yuan’s lips. He was fairly pleased with his progress.
He stretched his waist, causing all the bones in his body crack and pop, letting out a relaxed sigh as he
inhaled the faint flowery fragrance in the cave.
He had been exceedingly low-key for the past ten days or so. As a result, the commotion he caused due to
the cave match had gradually began to die down. After all, a cave match between gold sash disciples
would not continue spreading forever.
Zhou Yuan also did not enjoy being in the limelight, and much rather preferred quietly growing stronger...
However, he knew that news of his nomination by Shen Taiyuan for the purple sash selection would soon
begin to spread some time during the next two days. This would likely cause another commotion again.
“Hmm?”
Just as Zhou Yuan stood up, he suddenly felt some activity at the entrance. His senses reached out, and
found a person standing in front of the cave, unable to enter due to the barrier.
The round and fat figure naturally belonged to Shen Wanjin.
Zhou Yuan quickly walked towards the entrance, dispersing the barrier with a wave of his sleeve.
When Shen Wanjin saw Zhou Yuan walk out, he bounced forward with a grin as he fished out a scroll
from his sleeve and said, “Little Yuan bro, I have completed the task you set me.”
“This scroll contains the details of all the disciples who will be participating in the upcoming purple sash
selection.”
He clicked his tongue before continuing, “However, none of these fellows are pushovers. Practically all of
them stand at the peak of the gold sash disciples in their groups, and not a single one is inferior to Wei
Youxuan…”
“Little Yuan bro, are you really going to take part?” He awkwardly scratched his head as he said an uneasy
manner, “From what I know, no slightly over a month old inner mountain disciple from our Cangxuan
Sect has ever had the guts to take part in the purple sash selection…”
1776
Zhou Yuan smiled, but he did not answer the question. Instead, he slowly unraveled the scroll in his
hand.
His eyes narrowed slightly as he looked at their names and data.
“These are indeed no pushovers.”
1777
Chapter 347 Xu Yan’s Methods
The commotion caused by the cave match stealthily faded away after a dozen days, the process probably
sped up by how low-key Zhou Yuan was being over this period. In fact, hardly anyone would bring it up at
this time.
The Cangxuan Sect was after all such an enormous entity which had no lack of interesting events and
gossip. A cave match of a decadent peak was naturally unable to hold everyone’s attention for long, even
if it had been quite an exciting event.
Of course, the main reason was because one of the most major events of the Cangxuan Sect was to be held
in two months; the purple sash selection test.
It was a grand occasion that was highly anticipated by every disciple in the Cangxuan Sect. This was
because a purple sash disciple was considered a true elite of the sect, a role model that all disciples
seeked to emulate.
If one managed to become a purple sash disciple, one’s status and treatment would be completely
different than before.
However, the purple sash selection was extremely stringent. It was only held twice a year, and there were
limited promotions available each cycle. Therefore, only the most outstanding gold sash disciples would
pass the test, swapping the gold sash around their waists for a purple one...
Many disciples had spent several years training hard for it. As a result, each selection would be fiercely
competitive.
As the date of the selection approached, the attention of every Cangxuan sect disciple gradually shifted
towards it, and every topic of conversation soon began to revolve around the purple sash test.
Consequently, the top candidates of this cycle quickly became everyone’s topic of interest. Everyone was
speculating which individuals would successfully pass the test, and leap through the dragon gate...
It was at this juncture that news of Zhou Yuan’s participation was stealthily leaked, naturally stirring up
quite a sensation.
Zhou Yuan, a name that had nearly been wiped clean from everyone’s minds, suddenly became a hot topic
once again.
“Zhou Yuan is a little too arrogant. How long has it been since he entered the inner mountains? I can’t
believe he actually has the guts to participate in the purple sash selection test.”
1778
“Yeah, this must be a new record, right? I don’t think there has even been a month old inner mountain
disciple who dared to participate in the purple sash selection test. Even senior Chu Qing only participated
after half a year, and seized first place.”
“Tsk, he seems to have forgotten his place after defeating Wei Youxuan. You know, even Wei Youxuan
would not be confident in passing the selection.”
“All the participants will be the most talented gold sash disciples from their respective peaks, and not a
single one will be weaker than Wei Youxuan. Where did Zhou Yuan find the balls to take part?”
“He truly is akin to a young and ignorant calf…”
“Fine, since he’s so unafraid of death, it will be good for him to face some setbacks now that will hopefully
humble him in the future. After all, there are still so many experienced seniors ahead of him.”
“……”
Sword Cometh Peak.
An elegant room within a restaurant.
“Humph, Zhou Yuan is way too cocky. It’s only been so long and he actually dares to turn his sights to the
purple sash selection test. What an arrogant and ignorant fool!” Inside the elegant room, Lu Xuanyin
mocked Zhou Yuan with a slightly frosty face.
She had obviously found out that Zhou Yuan had been nominated to take part in the upcoming purple
sash selection.
The incident with Lu Feng had naturally made her quite critical of Zhou Yuan, quite a contrast from the
very beginning when she had thought nothing of the latter. However, who could have expected him to
improve so drastically in a month.
He had grown so much that he was even about to take part in the purple sash selection test!
One must know that she had trained for three years before she finally found the courage to participate.
Beside Lu Xuanyin, Xu Yan with his head full of red flame like hair, chuckled softly. He lifted the wine pot,
and poured her cup as he said, “There is nothing to be mad about. I was originally worried that I won’t be
able to find a reason to make things difficult for him due to his lack of activity recently. Having him jump
out like this really makes my life easier.”
Xu Yan wore a calm expression. The truth was that he had admired Zhou Yuan a little previously, hence
why he tried asking Zhou Yuan to apologize to Lu Xuanyin in order to resolve the grudge them.
1779
However, he never expected that Zhou Yuan would disrespectfully reject him in such a direct manner.
This move had upset Xu Yan. After all, he possessed a rather high status in Sword Cometh Peak, and was a
purple sash disciple under peak master Ling Jun. In other words, he was quite an influential person.
All this plus his background naturally made him a very prideful individual. Therefore, in his eyes, he had
given Zhou Yuan sufficient respect by taking the initiative to ask the latter. However, Zhou Yuan turned
out to be really untactful.
Since you are ungrateful, don’t blame me for inflicting pain onto you.
When Lu Xuanyin heard Xu Yan’s words, her eyes lit up as she asked with a smile, “What are your plans?”
Xu Yan took a sip of his wine. Soon after, he said, “They have arrived.”
The doors to the elegant room were pushed open as several figures walked in. The group was mainly
composed of youngsters, but they possessed extraordinary auras, and their eyes shined with fearsome
glints.
“Senior brother Xu Yan.” The young men cupped their fists together towards Xu Yan.
Xu Yan smiled and nodded. He looked at Lu Xuanyin and said, “You should recognize them.”
Lu Xuanyin stared in shock at the three individuals at the very front as she said, “Senior brother Le Tian,
senior brother Wu Qing and senior brother Luo Dao?”
She naturally recognized these people. They were the elite gold sash disciples from the various factions of
Sword Cometh Peak. Each one was extremely powerful, and all of them were taking part in the upcoming
purple sash selection.
However, although all of them belonged to Sword Cometh Peak, they were under different elders and
thus rivals of sorts. From the looks of it, they had come together thanks to Xu Yan.
“May I enquire why senior brother Xu Yan has gathered us here?” Asked the one called Le Tian, who
seemed to always have a smile on his face.
Xu Yan invited them to sit down. He toyed with the cup in his hand, as he offhandedly smiled and said, “It
is just a small matter. I hope that everyone here can do me a tiny favour.”
He indicated towards Lu Xuanyin as he continued, “Junior sister Lu Xuanyin has some differences with
Zhou Yuan, and since it just so happens that everyone here will be taking part in the upcoming purple
sash selection test, I hope that all of you can help out your junior sister.”
“Zhou Yuan?”
1780
Le Tian and the rest were taken aback for a moment. Something soon clicked in their heads as they said,
“The new disciple who defeated Wei Youxuan?”
Luo Dao smiled faintly as he said, “He has been pretty popular recently, and is quite gusty. It's only been
slightly over a month since he joined the inner mountains, and yet he actually dares to stick his hand into
the purple sash selection. It seems that he looks down on his more experienced senior brothers like us.”
Everyone in the room stood at the apex of the gold sash disciples in their respective factions. Though
other disciples were shocked by Wei Youxuan defeat at Zhou Yuan’s hands, this group was only a little
surprised by the matter. After all, all of them were confident that would also prevail against Wei Youxuan.
As such, after they hearing Xu Yan’s request, all of them heaved a sigh of relief.
They were worried that Xu Yan was going to ask for their help to tackle a thorny problem, because they
knew that it would be difficult to reject. None of them had expected Xu Yan had invited all of them here
just to deal with a mere Zhou Yuan.
Xu Yan nodded with a grin.
Le Tian glanced at the rest as he smiled, “Senior brother Xu Yan may be making a mountain out of a
molehill. To think you invited so many of us… is there really a need?”
The ones gathered here were basically the best amongst the gold sash disciples of Sword Cometh Peak.
Xu Yan stood up and began pouring everyone a cup of wine as he said, “He is quite mysterious, and I do
not like surprises. Therefore, it will be best to ensure he has no chance at all.”
Le Tian, Wu Qing, Luo Dao and the rest raised their cups towards Xu Yan with a smile, before draining the
entire cup.
“Since senior brother Xu Yan has spoken, we will naturally give face. Senior brother Xu Yan and junior
sister Lu Xuanyin can be rest assured. We believe that Zhou Yuan will no longer have any chance to stand
out in the upcoming purple sash selection.”
Xu Yan smiled faintly as he nodded. He toyed with his teacup as a sadistic smile appeared on his lips.
You tactless thing, do you really think that you’re untouchable? I don’t even have to lift a finger against
someone like you. All I need to do is to say a few words, and you will end up sinking into despair.
Beside him, Lu Xuanyin’s eyes glimmered with excitement.
Looks like she would finally be able to vent all her resentment and hate this time.
Zhou Yuan, with all of the senior brothers of my Sworth Cometh Peak banding together, there is no way
you will be able to change your fate!
1781
Chapter 348 Genesis Star Pill
Saint Genesis Peak, Dao Seeker Hall.
In today’s morning lesson, numerous gazes were continuously cast towards the figure seated on the first
golden mat, which belonged to the first seat gold sash disciple. It had originally belonged to Tong Long,
but had been replaced by Zhou Yuan ever since the cave match.
Zhou Yuan was currently the undisputed number one gold sash disciple under Shen Taiyuan.
With regards to this matter, even Tong Long had no objections. After all, if Zhou Yuan had not stepped
forward and ultimately turned the tables, the former would have long lost all face.
The strength Zhou Yuan had displayed during the cave match had finally convinced all his fellow senior
brothers.
The whispers spreading in the Dao Seeker Hall today were likely related to the fact that Zhou Yuan was
going to participate in the upcoming purple sash selection test.
“Junior brother Zhou Yuan, even though you performed spectacularly during the cave match, I’m afraid
that it is still a little too early for you to take part in the purple sash selection.”
Zhang Yan walked over with a skin deep smile, and sincerely said, “The participants of the selection are
no pushovers, and not a single one will be weaker than Wei Youxuan. Such a rash decision may very well
end up ruining your hard-earned reputation.”
Due to the fact that he had saved the day during the cave match, Zhou Yuan’s reputation within Shen
Taiyuan’s faction had soared recently. Many of the disciples had been originally displeased by the extra
attention Shen Taiyuan lavished on Zhou Yuan, but such complaints had now all disappeared. After all,
the talent and potential Zhou Yuan displayed was enough to shut their mouths.
Consequently, even Zhang Yan had wised up recently. It was only today after finding out about Zhou
Yuan’s participation in the purple sash selection that the former finally found a reason to speak.
After all, news that Zhou Yuan was going to take part in the purple sash selection test had already spread
to the entire Cangxuan Sect, causing quite a stir.
Some of the other disciples faintly nodded at Zhang Yan’s words, evidently of the same opinion that Zhou
Yuan was taking the purple sash selection test too lightly.
When Zhou Tai saw this, he spoke up for Zhou Yuan, “Junior brother Zhou Yuan merely wants to have a
feel of the purple sash selection test, and prepare himself for the future. No one can say anything even if
he fails. After all, who hasn’t failed in the purple sash selection test before?”
1782
Zhang Yan smiled, “I am afraid that others may not share your view.”
At the highest seat in the hall, Shen Taiyuan opened his eyes. He ignored their argument as he looked at
Zhou Yuan and said, “Since I have already nominated you, there is no point in putting any more thought
into your decision. Focus your attention on preparing for the upcoming purple sash selection test. As for
the result, there is no need to be overly worried. Treat it as an opportunity to gain some experience.”
Everyone could tell that Shen Taiyuan was not too optimistic about Zhou Yuan’s odds either. Rather, he
hoped Zhou Yuan would take it as testing the waters, and familiarize himself with the purple sash
selection test. He would subsequently be able to make a proper attempt the following year.
Shen Taiyuan paused for a moment, a rare smile appearing on his face as he said, “I’ve heard that for the
champion of the selection will be awarded a Genesis Star Pill.”
“Genesis Star Pill?!”
These words immediately caused an uproar to erupt within the hall. Numerous disciples could not help
but swallow as their eyes filled with blazing desire.
Even Zhou Tai, Zhang Yan and the other purple sash disciples were clearly filled with longing.
Zhou Yuan also felt a little overwhelmed. A Genesis Star Pill was an extremely precious pill that was
exceedingly difficult to produce. Its effect was relatively simple. Like its name suggests, it could increase
the number of Genesis stars in one’s Qi Dwelling and strengthen one’s foundation.
However, one could only consume a single Genesis Star Pill during Alpha-Origin stage, and any additional
pill would have no effect. Even so, fully absorbing a single pill would greatly strengthen the foundation of
one’s Qi Dwelling.
One should know that one’s Genesis Qi foundation was the most important factor during the Alpha-Origin
stage. This was because it laid the necessary groundwork in order to enter the Divine Dwelling stage. The
better one’s foundations, the more powerful one would be after advancing to the Divine Dwelling stage.
Therefore, the Genesis Star Pill was also known as the Alpha-Origin miracle pill. This implied that it had
miraculous effects for Alpha-Origin experts.
It is rumoured that even in the entire Cangxuan Sect, only the ten great Chosens had the privilege to take
this pill, while the rest of the disciples could only watch in envy. Hence, rewarding a Genesis Star Pill for
the purple sash selection was definitely a surprise.
Such a reward filled the few purple sash disciples in the hall with envy. Although they had also been
rewarded when they passed the selection, their rewards paled in comparison to the Genesis Star Pill.
1783
Zhou Yuan licked his lips as a fire was lit within his heart. The prize for the upcoming purple sash
selection test was definitely extremely tempting. If he obtained the pill, it would greatly expedite his
cultivation progress.
Furthermore, it would also boost his chances in the year-end chief disciple selection.
Zhang Yan glanced at Zhou Yuan, gloating a little as he remarked, “Junior brother Zhou Yuan is truly
lucky. It’s a pity that the upcoming purple sash selection test is filled with experts.”
“Su Wan from Cangxuan Peak, Wu Yue from Hongya Peak, Mu Chunlei from Snow Lotus Peak, Le Tian
from Sword Cometh Peak, Wang Chen from Lightning Prison Peak, Xia Yu from Spirit Rune Peak… these
are all the first seat gold sash disciples from the master factions of the various peaks. Given the allure of
the Genesis Star Pill, I believe that the champion will come from within their ranks.”
The main faction of each peak was also called the master faction, and were the strongest faction from
their respective peaks.
Le Tian from Sword Cometh Peak for example. Back when Lu Hong’s faction was part of Sword Cometh
Peak, Wei Youxuan would have to bow his head and greet his senior brother disciple when he met Le
Tian. From this, one could easily imagine how powerful these individuals were.
The other disciples in the hall looked at Zhou Yuan in pity, evidently feeling that Zhou Yuan would stand
no chance with such formidable figures around.
In contrast, Zhou Yuan remained calm in response to Zhang Yan’s gloating voice. Thanks to the
information from Shen Wanjin, he was already aware about these individuals. They were indeed the top
candidates for the upcoming purple sash selection test.
Even so, which of Zhou Yuan’s foes over the years had been simple pushovers? In fact, even before he had
opened his channels to begin cultivation, Wu Huang’s name had already spread across the entire
Cangmang Continent. However, the one who had remained standing in the end had not been Wu Huang.
Zhou Yuan had managed to make a come back even with such a despairing gap between them. What was
the adversity he faced now in comparison?
On the highest seat, Shen Taiyuan glanced at Zhang Yan, causing him to shut his mouth in
embarrassment. However, he was not overly concerned by it and secretly muttered to himself, “Even if he
has defeated Wei Youxuan, he is still lacking compared to them. Do you really believe that another
miracle will occur?”
Shen Taiyuan did not dwell on this topic. Instead, he looked towards Zhou Yuan again and instructed, “It
will be very difficult to become champion, so I hope that you can settle for the next best thing and not aim
for the number one spot. As long as you place within the top ten, you will still be promoted to a purple
sash disciple.”
1784
Zhou Yuan nodded in acknowledgement. However, his lowered eyes flickered in thought.
If it wasn’t for the Genesis Star Pill, he would have no interest in becoming champion. However, he had
already been tempted by it. The so-called miracle pill of the Alpha-Origin stage was not something he
could resist.
This was a fortunate encounter. If he could seize it, it would further strengthen his foundation.
Moreover, wasn’t success on the path of cultivation dependent on whether one could seize the fortunate
encounters that appeared before one’s eyes? This was how Zhou Yuan had paved his path for so many
years. Otherwise, how could he have reached the stage he was at today?
Huuu.
Zhou Yuan took in a deep breath, gradually suppressing the fire burning deep within his eyes.
He knew that he would have to concentrate every fibre of his being in his training for the next two
months and prepare for the upcoming purple sash selection, the event that would soon become the focal
point of the entire Cangxuan Sect.
1785
Chapter 349 In front of Spirit Rune Hall
Discussions about the purple sash selection test grew increasingly heated over the next few days.
Everyone was arguing over who would emerge as the champion in the upcoming selection.
It went without saying that the most popular candidates were the first seat gold sash disciples from the
master factions of the various peaks.
Su Wan of Cangxuan Peak, Wu Yue of Hongya Peak, Le Tian of Sword Cometh Peak, Wang Chen of
Lightning Prison Peak, and Xia Yu of Spirit Rune Peak… these names were continuously mentioned by the
many disciples, each one extremely popular. They were after all well known and powerful individuals,
who were already more than qualified to challenge the purple sash selection since long ago.
Through the upcoming purple sash selection, their reputations grew once again.
Although all of them were formidable practitioners, there could only be one champion, and only one
Genesis Star Pill would be awarded. Thus, the upcoming selection was looking to become an intense
battle of the titans.
As for Zhou Yuan, after the initial commotion caused by the news of his participation, his name was
gradually forgotten.
It was likely that after the initial surprise, many disciples simply assumed that he was participating to
gain experience and prepare for future attempts. Hence, let alone being a popular candidate for
champion, many felt that he would not make it to the stop ten.
Zhou Yuan was not bothered at all by this treatment. He merely continued his low-key training in his
purple Genesis cave dwelling, ignoring all the ongoing discussions.
As such, his name gradually faded from sight in the bustling Cangxuan Sect like a pebble being washed
away by the waves. After all, when put next to such a grand occasion like the purple sash selection, a
single gold sash disciple was hardly noteworthy...
Time slowly passed by in this manner day by day.
...
Inside a certain cave dwelling.
Yaoyao stood in the herb garden, tending to the various Genesis resources she had planted. Though she
was wearing a simple dress, the sight of her beautiful face amidst the blooming flower garden seemed to
make all the gorgeous flowers around her lose color.
1786
Quite some time later, she gently stretched her waist, before her gaze swept towards the depths of the
cave. During this period of time, Zhou Yuan had hid himself deep within the cave to cultivate, hardly ever
showing himself. As a result, her days were starting to become a little boring.
“I could make a trip to Spirit Rune Peak…”
Muttered Yaoyao to herself. Just yesterday, she had sent a letter to Spirit Rune Peak to inform them of her
intentions to visit Spirit Rune Hall today. She had heard rumors of its collection of countless ancient
Genesis Rune, and it was the only place that could draw her interest in Spirit Rune Peak. Without it, she
would have directly rejected peak master Bai Mei’s invitation back then.
She walked into one of the rooms, and changed into a clean set of clothes. After which, she gave Tuntun,
who was anxiously following her, a little kick, sending him onto a nearby boulder.
“Guard the cave and make sure no one disturbs him.”
After she spoke, she left the cave with Tuntun staring at her in bitterness.
Spirit Rune Peak.
Yaoyao walked up the stone steps, passing numerous Spirit Rune Peak disciples. Every disciple turned
their gaze towards her. Some of the male disciples in particular could not help but stop as they stared at
Yaoyao with amazement in their eyes.
On the other hand, several of the female disciples were staring at her in jealousy. Yaoyao was simply too
beautiful. In fact, she was so gorgeous that they couldn’t even bring themselves to compare with her.
The crowd would part wherever Yaoyao passed.
Even though she was clearly not doing anything special, she was akin to a phoenix that had barged into a
crowd of beasts, so beautiful that every beast wanted to approach, and yet also feeling too ashamed to do
so.
Some of the more famous male disciples stirred restlessly. However, none of them ultimately dared to
take that first step and approach her.
Despite the attention, Yaoyao’s gorgeous face remained impassive. In fact, her gaze did not shift even a
single inch, merely continuing to be directed at the stone stairs in front of her as she slowly strolled up.
“May I ask where Spirit Rune Hall is?” When she was lost, she would stop, turn to the nearby disciples and
ask in a clear yet nonchalant manner.
The faces of the disciples would immediately turned red immediately. The beauty before them was so
gorgeous that they didn’t even dare to look at her directly. Instead, they could only point in a certain
direction flusteredly.
1787
“Thank you.”
A fragrance whiffed past their noses, the beauty already walking away, leaving behind countless male
disciples that were staring longingly at her figure, all of them now ashamed at how poorly they had
behaved previously.
Though she caused quite a commotion along the way, Yaoyao eventually arrived in front of Spirit Rune
Hall, a place in which innumerable ancient Genesis Runes were said to have been collected.
A giant, ancient hall towered at the summit of a mountain, surrounded by thousands of stone steps. From
the bottom of the stone stairs, one could experience the full majesty of the Spirit Rune Hall.
Yaoyao’s brows knitted together slightly when she arrived, realizing that there were already numerous
disciples gathered here. Furthermore, every gaze turned towards her the moment she approached.
There seemed to be something strange about these gazes.
When she walked towards Spirit Rune Hall, the disciples did not give way.
Yaoyao asked in an indifferent voice, “Do I have to force my way through?”
There was a commotion in the crowd, before it finally parted. Following which, a slim figure slowly
walked out, eventually coming to a stop in front of Yaoyao. That familiar face belonged to Ye Ge, whom
she crossed blows with in Genesis reservoir.
“Haha, we meet again junior sister Yaoyao.” Ye Ge greeted Yaoyao with a smile.
“What a grand line-up. Are they here to deal with me?” Yaoyao swept a glance at Ye Ge as she said, “Has
peak master Bai Mei gone back on his word? In that case, I won’t enter Spirit Rune Hall.”
Ye Ge chuckled softly as he said, “Peak master naturally will not go back on his words.”
“It’s just that when we heard junior sister Yaoyao would be visiting today, many of us Spirit Rune Peak
disciples wanted to come see you for ourselves. After all, no disciple has ever received such special
treatment from our esteemed peak master.”
There was no change in Yaoyao’s eyes. She merely silently stared at Ye Ge as her red lips parted slightly,
“So?”
Ye Ge chuckled. “Therefore, in order to welcome junior sister Yaoyao, we have set up a Genesis Rune
Boundary in front of Spirit Rune Hall. If junior sister Yaoyao is interested, you can try to break through.
Once you succeed, Spirit Rune Hall will naturally be open to you.”
He paused for a moment, before he followed up, “Of course, peak master is also aware of this.”
1788
Yaoyao finally understood. This was probably because of peak master Bai Mei offer that he would hand
over the position of peak master to her in the future. Though she had zero interest in it, the whole affair
was still very difficult for the Spirit Rune Peak disciples to swallow.
Therefore, these disciples prepared to take her down a notch today.
Ye Ge waved his hand, causing the numerous disciples to scatter, as the sight of a giant sprawling mass of
mist spreading in front of Spirit Rune Hall appeared in Yaoyao’s eyes. Uncountable Genesis Runes
glimmered within the mist. It was obviously a massive Genesis Rune Boundary.
Ye Ge smiled as he said, “Haha, I was merely joking earlier. This Genesis Rune Boundary was only put up
by them for fun. If junior sister Yaoyao is unable to pass through it, she can enter Spirit Rune Hall from
another direction. There’s no need to take my earlier words seriously.”
Yaoyao’s beautiful eyes narrowed slightly as she observed the giant mist boundary. She then cast a deep
look at Ye Ge as she said, “A childish provocation. Even without it, I will still enter from the front.”
After she spoke, her long legs immediately strode forward, walking into the Genesis Rune boundary
under the amazed gazes of the Spirit Rune Peak disciples.
As Ye Ge watched her beautiful figure vanish into the mist, admiration rose in his eyes.
He turned around and walked towards a distant hut. Inside the hut, peak master Bai Mei was seated on a
chair as he leisurely enjoyed his tea.
“Has she gone in?” Asked Peak master Bai Mei with a smile.
Ye Ge nodded, before he sighed, “Truly a prideful individual. It seems that she is very confident in her
abilities.”
A smile soon surfaced on his lips as he softly said, “What a fine beauty. She definitely deserves someone
amazing.”
“Heh, you’ve always had very high standards. Have you finally fallen for someone?”
Peak master Bai Mei teased. Soon after, he grinned and said, “That lass is unimaginably gifted in Genesis
Runes and is an amazing sapling. It will be great news for my Saint Genesis Peak if you manage to win her
favor.”
Ye Ge smiled faintly. “Won’t I need peak master’s help for this… junior sister Yaoyao is indeed extremely
gifted in Genesis Runes. Can this boundary truly stop her?”
Peak master Bai Mei stroked his long white eyebrows as he said, “She is indeed extremely gifted.
However, the trick to this Genesis Runes Boundary is that it has two parts to it. Therefore, it will require
two individuals to working together to break it.”
1789
He glanced at Ye Ge as he continued, “When she comes out, you should go up and offer your help. I don’t
have to teach you what to do next, do I?”
“A girl like her is extremely prideful, so don’t expect any immediate results. You can only play the long
game and slowly try to improve your relationship with her. Remember, every tiny step you advance will
be akin to a tremendous amount of progress.”
Ye Ge smiled, cupped his fists and bowed.
“This disciple thanks peak master for his guidance.”
After he spoke, he turned around and left the hut, returning directly to the border of the boundary, where
he waited with his hands behind his back.
As time slowly flowed, and an incense stick of time soon passed.
More and more Spirit Rune Peak disciples hurried over. In the end, even some of the disciples from the
other peaks were drawn over, amassing into a rather huge crowd.
Ye Ge stood in front of the Genesis Rune Boundary, his sleeves swaying with the wind. His handsome
appearance attracted the attention of numerous female disciples. As one of the ten great Chosens, Ye Ge
naturally had no shortage of admirers in the Cangxuan Sect.
However, he ignored their gazes, fixated only on the mist boundary.
The mists suddenly rippled, as countless gazes watched Yaoyao walk out. Her beautiful face was still as
calm as before.
From the looks of it, however, she had failed to pass through the boundary.
The surrounding disciples immediately began to whisper among themselves.
Ye Ge walked forward with a smile. Just as he was about to speak, Yaoyao’s deep pool like eyes looked
over, before directly walking past him.
“I will break this boundary tomorrow.” There was only indifference in her voice.
The smile on Ye Ge’s face turned slightly rigid. He hesitated for a moment, before he said, “If you are
planning on asking Zhou Yuan for help, I am afraid that he is not up to the task. This boundary can only be
broken with Genesis Runes, and not through brute force.”
Even though Yaoyao had failed, she evidently detected the trick to this Genesis Rune Boundary.
Therefore, Ye Ge deduced that she was most likely going to look for Zhou Yuan.
Yaoyao tilted her head and glanced at him.
1790
“I believe that he can.”
She was already far away by the time her words faded.
Ye Ge shrugged helplessly as he muttered, “We’ll wait and see. Junior sister Yaoyao, I am the only one
who can help you to break through the boundary. As for Zhou Yuan…”
“He’s no good.”
1791
Chapter 350 Challenging Spirit Rune Peak
After Yaoyao’s departure, the events that transpired quickly spread throughout the entire Cangxuan Sect
like a gust of wind, naturally causing quite a huge uproar as a result.
Although Yaoyao hardly did anything ever since she joined the Cangxuan Sect, the attention on her far
exceeded that of Zhou Yuan’s.
In fact, the general consensus in the sect was that even Li Qingchan, the current top beauty of the
Cangxuan Sect, would soon be knocked off her perch by Yaoyao.
A single glimpse of the beautiful and mysterious girl during the peak selection ceremony was all it had
taken for her to be imprinted in the minds of numerous male disciples.
Yaoyao was not one of those girls who merely had good looks. She was also so talented in Genesis Runes
that even peak master Bai Mei valued her greatly. His appraisal of her was so high that he had even made
that shocking declaration that he was willing to handover the role of peak master to her in the future.
As a result, even though Yaoyao kept a low profile, her popularity was no less than any of the ten great
Chosens.
It was also why after this most recent incident concerning Yaoyao, news of what happened spread to the
entire Cangxuan Sect in the shortest possible time.
“What is going on with Spirit Rune Peak? Didn’t peak master Bai Mei say that he would welcome junior
sister Yaoyao anytime?”
“I heard that it’s because many disciples are displeased by peak master Bai Mei’s ‘next peak master’ offer.
Thus, they set up a Genesis Rune Boundary in order to humble junior sister Yaoyao.”
“In fact, I heard that even Ye Ge showed up…”
“Tsk, tsk. Ye Ge is one of the ten great Chosens, and is usually rarely seen. To think that he would actually
show up huh?”
“So, what happened in the end?”
“It seems like junior sister Yaoyao failed to break the boundary. However, she left saying she will
continue tomorrow.”
“That’s basically challenging all the Spirit Rune Peak disciples on her own. If she does manage to break it,
every Spirit Rune Peak disciple would have to hang their heads in shame when they meet her in the
future!”
1792
“Haha, interesting. I’m definitely heading over tomorrow to cheer for my goddess!”
“…”
In half a day, it had become the hottest topic in the sect, so widely talked about that it surpassed long
reigning debate about the purple sash selection. From this, one had no choice but to marvel at the power
of a beauty.
Snow Lotus Peak.
Li Qingchan was stunned when she heard the news. Promptly, her beautiful eyes glimmered as she softy
said, “Ye Ge hates the limelight. I wonder why he voluntarily stepped up to stop Yaoyao this time?”
“Is it because of what happened in Genesis reservoir? But he doesn’t seem to be such a petty fellow.”
She pondered for a moment, gently tapping her fingers as she mumbled to herself, “He seems to have
another objective… ah…”
Li Qingchan’s lips parted for a brief moment, before she lifted her face and looked in the direction of
Spirit Rune Peak with a slight grin, “Ye Ge, this method of chasing girls might work on ordinary girls.
However, if you use it on Yaoyao, I am afraid that you are only wasting your effort.”
“Looks like I’ll have to go watch tomorrow. Yaoyao is fairly formidable in Genesis Runes, and it is quite
surprising that she returned empty-handed on the first day. It seems that Ye Ge must have put in quite a
bit of effort…”
After leaving Spirit Rune Peak, Yaoyao headed straight back to the purple Genesis cave dwelling.
A bored Tuntun was lying slumped on the ground in front of the cave. When it saw Yaoyao’s figure, its
eyes immediately sparkled as it leaped towards her.
However, Yaoyao’s clear eyes cast an indifferent glance at it, instantly causing Tuntun to shiver as it froze
in its steps. Its senses told it that it would most definitely be sent flying if it jumped over now.
Yaoyao was clearly not in a good mood although no emotion could be seen on her gorgeous face.
Therefore, Tuntun could only watch Yaoyao as she headed towards the deepest part of the cave dwelling.
After hesitating somewhat, it sullenly followed on its little legs.
The deepest part of the cave was where the Genesis Qi spring was located.
1793
Zhou Yuan was seated by the spring with his eyes lightly shut. In his cupped hands, was a palm-sized
golden heart that radiated a strong heat, golden flames spreading from within it.
It was the Golden Crow Heart.
The Genesis Qi from Zhou Yuan’s palms continuously clashed against the Golden Crow Heart. The two
entities gradually blended together, before being absorbed into his body.
Under this process, the golden heart shrank little by little.
This training continued for quite some time, before he finally slowly opened his eyes.
The first thing he saw was Yaoyao standing next to him, her crystal-clear eyes staring at him.
Zhou Yuan stretched as he asked with a smile, “Big sis Yaoyao, weren’t you going to Spirit Rune Peak
today?”
The moment these words left his mouth, he immediately saw Yaoyao’s eyes seem to narrow slightly, as a
dangerous sensation radiated from her.
As someone who was strongly attached to life, Zhou Yuan instantly detected the microscopic change in
Yaoyao’s expression. He immediately coughed as he very carefully asked, “Did something happen?”
“Did some bastard anger you? Tell me who it is, and I will go right now to destroy him!” Zhou Yuan patted
his chest as he righteously declared.
Yaoyao’s slightly narrowed eyes slowly returned to their original state. She sat down beside him, before
she nonchalantly said, “The Spirit Rune Peak disciples set up a Genesis Rune Boundary in front of Spirit
Rune Hall, and want me to break through it in order to enter.”
Zhou Yuan was shocked. He promptly frowned as he said, “What about peak master Bai Mei? Wasn’t he
the one who allowed you to visit Spirit Rune Peak any time you please?”
Yaoyao calmly said, “That Genesis Rune Boundary was most likely set up with his guidance. After all, even
Ye Ge cannot set up such an elaborate boundary. I attempted to break through earlier, but failed.”
“Even big sis Yaoyao can’t pass?” Zhou Yuan was truly shocked this time. He knew just how unbelievably
gifted Yaoyao was in Genesis Runes.
“That boundary is split into two parts. With the exception of instantly destroying it with brute force, it is
impossible for a single person to pass through. Therefore, the cooperation of two individuals are required
to simultaneously destroy the core in order to break the boundary.”
Yaoyao slowly said, “Ye Ge was hinting that I should work together with him to break the boundary…”
1794
“Why would he be so kind?” Zhou Yuan asked suspiciously. They had ruined Ye Ge and Kong Sheng’s
plans in the Genesis reservoir, so why would he be so kind as to help her?
There was no expression on Yaoyao’s pretty face. She merely cast a sideways glance at him.
A flash of understanding suddenly struck him as he blurted out, “That bastard has designs on you?!”
Zhou Yuan’s eyes widened in anger as he cursed, “A toad lusting after a swan. This bastard Ye Ge!”
He may have even been the one who came up with the idea, and was trying to use it as an excuse to build
a closer relationship with Yaoyao. What a cunning fellow!
Furthermore, the fact that he could pull of such a stunt in Spirit Rune Peak meant that peak master Bai
Mei was likely also in the know. In fact, he might even be assisting Ye Ge from the shadows.
“That old bastard!” When he thought of this, Zhou Yuan gnashed his teeth as he swore.
“They actually dare to dig at the corner of my wall?!”
“Oh?” Yaoyao ominously glinting eyes were immediately cast over, a dangerous sensation pulsing from
them as she asked, “What did you say?”
Cold sweat immediately popped up on Zhou Yuan’s forehead as he quickly said, “What I meant was how
dare they try and take you away. If that happens, who will guide me in future?”
Yaoyao slowly withdrew her gaze as she offhandedly asked, “What level is your Spirit currently at?”
Zhou Yuan honestly answered, “Initial Corporeal stage.”
Yaoyao raised her brow, clearly somewhat discontent. “No progress these past few months?”
Zhou Yuan felt quite awkward. He had spent most of his effort on his Genesis Qi cultivation during this
period of time, and had indeed neglected his Spirit cultivation. However, he quickly added, “But I feel that
I’ve reached the peak of the initial stage, and a breakthrough is just around the corner.”
Yaoyao fell silent for a moment. In the end, she stared at Zhou Yuan and said, “You will go to Spirit Rune
Peak with me tomorrow and break that boundary. Yes or no?”
Zhou Yuan’s lips pulled outwards into a slight grimace. He may have caused a few commotions
previously, but they were all limited to Saint Genesis Peak. In comparison, Yaoyao intended to directly
oppose all the Spirit Rune Peak disciples…
He could only imagine how intimidating it would be if followed her tomorrow.
“Oh, you’re unwilling?” A smile seemed to appear on Yaoyao’s beautiful face as her tone softened.
1795
The hairs on Zhou Yuan’s entire body instantly stood up, before he solemnly declared in a righteous
voice, “As long as big sis Yaoyao asks, I will climb a mountain of swords and swim through a sea of fire. A
mere Spirit Rune Peak is nothing!”
“We’ll destroy them tomorrow!”
Though Yaoyao knew that he was putting on a show, a tiny smile appeared on her lips, as a sliver of
warmth fleeted across her eyes. She gently patted Zhou Yuan’s shoulder, before sauntering away with her
hands behind her back.
Although her emotionless face was as unreadable as before, her footsteps seemed to have become a little
lighter.
As he watched her alluring figure, Zhou Yuan rubbed his cheeks and whimpered. Looks like there was
going to be a war tomorrow.
However...
Those bastards actually dared to bully Yaoyao… Zhou Yuan’s eyes narrowed slightly as a murderous glint
flashed in their depths.
And they even dared to try and dig at the corner of his wall. Even if it was the peak master Bai Mei, Zhou
Yuan would not allow it!
1796
Chapter 351 Entering the Boundary Together
The next day.
When the prepared Zhou Yuan walked out of the little house in the cave dwelling, he saw Yaoyao
gracefully standing in a pool of light nearby, her slim figure dressed in black today. The scene of sunlight
being reflected off her fair and pretty face was so dazzling that one could not turn away.
Although she still wore her typical nonchalant expression, Zhou Yuan could feel that the expression in her
eyes was a little colder than usual. Evidently, she was still a little mad over what happened at Spirit Rune
Peak.
When Yaoyao saw Zhou Yuan approach, she gently tossed an object towards him. Zhou Yuan hastily
caught it, discovering that it was a ring with faint Genesis Runes surfacing on its body.
“That Genesis Rune boundary requires two individuals to work together and simultaneously attack two
points at its core. When this ring begins to heat up, you must quickly destroy the core on your side, or my
side will also fall into a deadlock.” Explained Yaoyao.
Zhou Yuan nodded at words, before he slipped the ring onto his finger.
“Let’s go.”
Zhou Yuan grinned as he walked forward with swagger, “We, the twin menace will definitely crush Spirit
Rune Peak today, and make sure that they will never dare to stop sister Yaoyao ever again!”
The corners of Yaoyao’s red lips lifted slightly as she rolled her eyes at him. However, that eye roll caused
even the heart of someone like Zhou Yuan, who was used to the sight of her beauty, beat a little faster, as
he secretly sighed inside. Women truly were the root of all trouble… it was no wonder even an influential
figure like Ye Ge would go to all that trouble for her.
Beside them, Tuntun also leapt into Yaoyao’s arms, as it bared its fangs and growled. It clearly also
understood that someone had upset Yaoyao yesterday, causing it to be given the cold shoulder. In fact, it
was so angry that if no one had stopped it, it would have went ahead and eaten that bastard called Ye Ge.
Two humans and a beast walked out of the cave.
The moment they left, they were greeted with the sight of numerous figures gathered in front of the cave.
At the very front of the group was Zhou Tai, Shen Wanjin and many other fellow brother disciples.
Upon seeing Zhou Yuan looked over with a puzzled gaze, Zhou Tai awkwardly scratched his head and
said, “Junior brother Zhou Yuan, everyone already knows about what happened at Spirit Rune Peak.
Technically speaking, junior sister Yaoyao also belongs to our group, and even though Spirit Rune Peak is
more powerful than us, we cannot possibly let them look down on us.”
1797
“Therefore, we will also be following you guys to Spirit Rune Peak today to cheer the both of you on.”
The other disciples echoed in agreement. It seemed like all of them were filled with indignation at this
injustice.
The corners of Zhou Yuan’s mouth twitched. None of these bastards had shown even a sliver of
camaraderie when he encountered trouble in the past. However, the instant they heard that Yaoyao was
facing some difficulty, it was as if all of them had been pumped full of drugs, and were now unafraid of
even Spirit Rune Peak.
Zhou Yuan resentfully shook his head, but did not say anything about it. He merely nodded as he began to
circulate his Genesis Qi, creating a cloud that carried him and Yaoyao into the air.
Behind him, Zhou Tai and the rest of the brother disciples cheered, before they quickly followed.
The group sped off into the distance. After an incense stick of time, the magnificent Spirit Rune Peak
appeared within their sights, along with countless glowing figures that were swarming over from all
directions, before eventually descending towards Spirit Rune Peak.
The bustling scene startled Zhou Yuan. These people were obviously not from Spirit Rune Peak, but
disciples from the other peaks...
“It actually caused such a huge commotion?” Zhou Yuan exclaimed in astonishment. Even his cave match
some time ago had not attracted so many disciples.
“Who do you think you are? Yaoyao’s fame in the Cangxuan Sect already far exceeds what little you have
accomplished.” Just as he was marvelling at the crowd, a cold and clear voice sounded from behind him.
Almost immediately after, a cloud that gave off cold Genesis Qi floated down.
Atop the cloud, was Li Qingchan in a white dress.
Her appearance instantly drew all the surrounding gazes over.
Yaoyao lifted her head, swept a glance at Li Qingchan and said, “Are you here to watch the show?”
Li Qingchan looked at Yaoyao and replied, “I owe you a favour. If you do not wish to head into that
Genesis Rune boundary, I can find another way to help you destroy it.”
Yaoyao shook her head as her red lips moved, “As long as it is related to Genesis Runes, there is no reason
for me to retreat. Since they want to humiliate themselves, I am naturally happy to oblige.”
Li Qingchan slowly said, “That boundary was selected personally by peak master Bai Mei. It is only thanks
to his guidance that the Spirit Rune Peak disciples were able to set it up…”
1798
She then glanced at Zhou Yuan, before she continued, “Are you thinking about bringing Zhou Yuan along?
I am afraid he is only going to be a burden.”
She was very direct when she spoke, and she did not bother trying to cover anything up just because
Zhou Yuan was also present.
“You should also know what Ye Ge is after. Therefore, instead of asking him for help in the end, why don’t
you allow me to help you?” Said Li Qingchan.
However, Yaoyao still shook her head and said, “Zhou Yuan can do it.”
With these final words, she led the way towards Spirit Rune Peak with Zhou Yuan following behind.
Li Qingchan frowned slightly as she watched the former’s back and mumbled to herself, “What a stubborn
person… though Zhou Yuan is fairly talented in Genesis Runes, I’m afraid that he won’t be as useful as you
imagine in a boundary of this level.”
“Hence, you will ultimately come to me for help.”
Her words were filled with confidence, evidently already certain that Zhou Yuan would be useless today.
By the time Yaoyao and Zhou Yuan arrived in the vicinity of Spirit Rune Hall, it was already packed with
people. Countless gazes looked over, only to have their breaths taken away by the sight of Yaoyao walking
up the stone steps.
As for the one walking beside her, he had been completely ignored.
The two of them walked up the steps, eventually coming to a stop in front of Spirit Rune Hall. They found
numerous Spirit Rune Peak disciples standing before them with Ye Ge at the head of the group, standing
with his hands behind his back.
Ye Ge first looked at Yaoyao, before he turned his attention to Zhou Yuan. When the gazes of these two
individuals met, lightning seemed to noiselessly flash in the background.
“Junior sister Yaoyao, are you prepared today?” Asked Ye Ge with a smile.
His body leaned a little to the side he spoke in a polite manner, “If junior sister Yaoyao needs my help, all
you have to do is to ask.”
Ye Ge was already a handsome guy with great manners. As a result, this gentle smile of his made many of
the female disciples nearby to be secretly lovestruck.
In comparison, Zhou Yuan, who stood beside Yaoyao, appeared way too unremarkable. He was only a
gold sash disciple after all, and there was simple too huge of a gap between him and Ye Ge, who was one
of the ten great Chosens.
1799
Behind Ye Ge, several of the Saint Peak Rune disciples who knew his intentions, smiled as they said,
“Junior sister Yaoyao, senior brother Ye Ge has never treated any girl so well.”
Their gazes stealthily swept across Zhou Yuan, as a trace of disdain surfaced within their eyes.
They had heard of Zhou Yuan before, and he did seem to be fairly capable. However, Genesis Qi
cultivation was basically going to be useless here. The only way to break the boundary was with Genesis
Runes.
Therefore, they believed that a disciple like Zhou Yuan, who focused on Genesis Qi cultivation, could not
possibly be too skilled in Genesis Rune. It was likely that he had been forcibly dragged along by Yaoyao to
make up the numbers.
Yaoyao may not be aware that the Genesis Rune boundary before her would only become more difficult
to break through with someone dragging her down.
Hence, not only would Zhou Yuan be of no use today, he would likely also become a burden to Yaoyao.
However, this was good news as well. When that happened, Yaoyao would finally realize how incapable
Zhou Yuan was, while also naturally coming to appreciate how outstanding Ye Ge was.
Yaoyao’s expression did not change in the face of their words, however, cold glint in her eyes intensified.
Ye Ge astutely detected the iciness in Yaoyao’s eyes, and quickly waved his hand to stop the crowd’s
chatter. He was beneath someone like him to utilise such means to belittle others.
“Can we begin?” Yaoyao indifferently asked.
Ye Ge chuckled and nodded his. With a wave of his hand, the disciples behind him quickly scattered,
revealing a path that led straight into mist-covered Genesis Rune boundary.
Ye Ge smiled as he said, “Please go ahead junior sister Yaoyao!”
Yaoyao stared at the Genesis Rune boundary. Without further ado, she raised a foot and advanced.
Zhou Yuan was one step behind, following her forward.
When he walked past Ye Ge, Zhou Yuan tilted his head slightly, only to realize that Ye Ge was also looking
at him. Their gazes met as both of them smiled faintly.
Ye Ge smiled and said, “I hope that junior brother Zhou Yuan will be able to assist junior sister Yaoyao.”
“Of course, there is no need for you to worry.” Zhou Yuan nodded as he stepped forward, now standing
shoulder to shoulder with Yaoyao.
1800
They ultimately arrived right in front of the mist boundary. Under the attention of the crowd, they
exchanged a look, before taking a step forward into the Genesis Rune boundary.
Their bodies disappear into the mist.
The numerous disciples in the area were boiling with excitement. All of them were eager to find out
whether Yaoyao and Zhou Yuan would be able to break the Genesis Rune boundary created by the
combined efforts of numerous Spirit Rune Peak disciples...
1801
Chapter 352 Two Guardians
The entire place seemed to erupt into a frenzy the moment Yaoyao and Zhou Yuan’s figures disappeared
into the mist boundary, many disciples whispering among themselves, as they debated the outcome of
today’s event…
While they were talking, Genesis Qi suddenly gathered in the air above Spirit Rune Hall, ultimately taking
the form of two giant Genesis Qi mirrors under the countless gazes of the watching disciples.
As the mist in the mirrors faded, two figures gradually surfaced.
The two figures were revealed to be Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao, who had just stepped into the boundary
moments ago.
Evidently, their every move was being projected by these mirrors.
The noise slowly died down, as numerous disciples turned their gazes towards the mirrors, attentively
watching the two figures within...
“Zhou Yuan simply does not understand his place. The cave match ended not too long ago, and he’s
already creating such a huge commotion again…” At a certain spot in front of Spirit Rune Hall, Lu Xuanyin
with her arms crossed, a cold gleam appearing on her face as she gazed at the Genesis Qi mirror.
Next to her, was a faintly smiling Xu Yan. The lingering trace of amazement in his eyes due to the sight of
Yaoyao earlier was only gradually beginning to fade at this moment as he chuckled and said, “You’ve
overestimated him this time. He currently does not have the qualifications to receive such lavish
treatment from Spirit Rune Peak.”
“Zhou Xiaoyao is the real star of today’s show.”
At the mention of this name, Lu Xuanyin tightly pursed her lips, clearly somewhat displeased.
Nonetheless, she had no choice but to admit the cruel reality that Yaoyao’s popularity in the Cangxuan
Sect had far exceeded her own.
“Can they really break this Genesis Rune boundary?” Asked Lu Xuanyin.
She naturally hoped that Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao would fail, because if they succeeded, Yaoyao’s
skyrocketing popularity would likely surge even higher.
Xu Yan fell silent for a moment, before he slowly said, “I am afraid it’s not going to be easy. Zhou Xiaoyao
must be insanely talented in Genesis Runes for peak master Bai Mei to regard her so highly. However, this
Genesis Rune boundary is extremely intricate, and requires two individuals working in perfect sync in
order to break through.”
1802
“If she cooperated with Ye Ge, it would be extremely easy to break the boundary. However, she chose
Zhou Yuan…”
“According to the rules, one cannot rely on Genesis Qi but instead one’s mastery over Genesis Runes to
break this Genesis Rune boundary. However, Zhou Yuan does not seem to have any outstanding talent in
Genesis Runes.”
“Therefore, it was a mistake for Zhou Xiaoyao to ask Zhou Yuan for help, because he would only end up
dragging her down.” Towards the end, even Xu Yan shook his head as if lamenting the beauty’s poor
judgement...
He paused for a moment, before he continued, “Moreover, according to what I know, this boundary is
split into two parts, each part possessing its own core. In addition, there is a disciple guarding each core.”
“The two core guardians are renowned individuals from Spirit Rune Peak… and a battle with them will be
unavoidable if the boundary is to be broken.”
“Yaoyao’s side may not be a problem, but as for Zhou Yuan… I am afraid he will not be able to triumph
over his opponent.” At this juncture, a playful smile appeared on Xu Yan’s lips.
Upon hearing his evaluation of the situation, Lu Xuanyin’s eyes brightened slightly as she smiled and said,
“Many are here because of Yaoyao. If she ends up failing due to Zhou Yuan, I am pretty sure that most of
them would be pissed at him. Things will become very entertaining when that happens.”
Xu Yan smiled as he nodded.
“This is the price to pay for basking in the limelight too often…”
“Hongyi, is that the Zhou Yuan you keep bringing up? It doesn’t seem like there is anything special about
him.”
At another corner, several pretty girls were gathered together. The most attention grabbing amongst
them was a tall girl dressed in red. Her long legs would haunt the dreams of any man, while a red whip
hung from her tiny waist, giving her a wild yet sexy look.
That beautiful and familiar face obviously belonged to Gu Hongyi, who had chosen to join Cangxuan Peak.
At this current moment, there was a long-haired girl standing beside Gu Hongyi, who was blessed with a
great figure. It was this very girl who had spoken earlier with a grin.
When the other girls heard this, they also grinned as they nodded, “But he seems to be quite a
troublemaker. It has not even been two months since he joined the inner mountains, and he’s already
caused so many commotions.”
1803
Gu Hongyi’s lips curled slightly downwards. “At the very least, he ends up victorious each time. Moreover,
he is going to take part in next month’s purple sash selection. This already puts him far ahead of his peers,
alright?”
The beautiful girl with long hair merely pursed her lips into a smile and said, “Well, that depends on
whether he can be ranked among the top ten. Otherwise, what kind of accomplishment is joining just to
gain experience?”
“Furthermore…” Her beautiful eyes rotated in thought as she softly said, “I’ve heard that Lu Xuanyin has
asked numerous senior brothers from Sword Cometh Peak peak to help deal with him during the
upcoming purple sash selection.”
Gu Hongyi immediately frowned. Soon after, she smiled at that long-haired girl and said, “Senior sister Su
Wan, you are the strongest gold sash disciples from our Cangxuan Sect, and will most definitely become
the champion of the upcoming purple sash selection. You have to help if you see Zhou Yuan in trouble.”
The beautiful girl with long hair was Su Wan, the hot favorite to clinch the championship for the
upcoming purple sash selection, and also Cangxuan Peak’s number one gold sash disciple.
Su Wan smiled playfully as she said, “Aren’t you being too biased? There are many other disciples from
our Cangxuan Sect taking part as well. Why didn’t you ask me to assist them?”
Gu Hongyi frowned slightly and said, “They have nothing to do with me.”
With regards to Gu Hongyi’s directness, Su Wan did not know whether to laugh or to be mad. All she
could do was to use her fingers to prod her junior’s slim waist as she said, “You ungrateful lass. Do you
know how many times these disciples have secretly fought over you ever since you came to Cangxuan
Peak?”
Gu Hongyi had great looks and a powerful background. Therefore, she was naturally extremely popular in
Cangxuan Peak. In fact, the elders of the peak were beginning to have a headache as more and more
disciples fought over her in secret.
“Pointless.” Said Gu Hongyi with a slight frown.
Su Wan shook her head helplessly. She lifted her gaze towards the Genesis Rune boundary and said, “But
let’s not talk about the purple sash selection for now. After all, whether he can win today’s battle is still
up in the air…:
“A Genesis Rune boundary of this level is not something a gold sash disciple can deal with. When the time
comes, he will not only get stuck, but will likely even burden Zhou Xiaoyao…”
From her tone, it was clear that she felt that Zhou Yuan was simply too ignorantly arrogant. In her eyes,
he appeared too eager to thrust himself into the limelight with no consideration of his own strength.
1804
A worried look flashed across Gu Hongyi’s eyes. She too knew that the Genesis Rune boundary before
them was not simple at all.
However, owing to the faith she had in Zhou Yuan, she still said, “Zhou Yuan is not a reckless individual.
Since he chose to enter the boundary, he must have some confidence.”
Su Wan shook her head as she softly said, “According to what I know, there are two individuals guarding
the boundary core. One of them is the chief disciple of Spirit Rune Peak, senior brother Jin Zhang…”
“To think that it would be senior brother Jin Zhang…” A solemn expression appeared on Gu Hongyi’s face.
Jin Zhang’s reputation in Spirit Rune Peak was inferior only to Ye Ge’s…
“However, Jin Zhang is clearly there to face Yaoyao… to be frank, Zhou Yuan is not deserving of his time.”
Su Wan paused for a moment, before she continued, “However, the person Zhou Yuan will face is no
pushover either.”
“Who is it?” Gu Hongyi quickly asked.
Su Wan stared at the Genesis Qi mirrors floating in the air, wariness flashing across her eyes as she slowly
said, “It is the little genius of Spirit Rune Peak of course, junior sister Xia Yu…”
“She is the top gold sash disciple of Spirit Rune Peak, and is also one of the main contenders for the
upcoming purple sash selection. I am afraid it will not be easy for Zhou Yuan to get past her.”
Gu Hongyi’s expression changed slightly, her lips beginning to tightly purse together, as the worry in her
eyes intensified.
To break the boundary together with Yaoyao, wouldn’t Zhou Yuan have to face senior sister Xia Yu?
Even though Hongyi had ample faith in Zhou Yuan, she could not help but be apprehensive of his chances
against such an opponent.
After all, Xia Yu was going to be an extremely tough opponent to deal with.
1805
Chapter 353 Jin Zhang and Xia Yu
Zhou Yuan slowly advanced in the swirling mist, his eyes filled with vigilance as he looked around. He
could just barely make out several glowing runes emerge from within the mist, a clear sign that the place
was filled with countless Genesis Runes.
This boundary was akin to a maze. If one moved about recklessly, one would very likely fall into one of
the Genesis Rune traps inside, and ultimately be drowned by a sea of Genesis Runes.
As such, every step had to be taken with extreme caution.
“I’ve already been separated from big sis Yaoyao…” Mumbled Zhou Yuan to himself. Yaoyao should be
heading towards the other location.
He lowered his head, looking at the ring on his finger as he gave it a gentle rub. Looks like he had to work
faster. If he wasn’t ready when Yaoyao reached the boundary core, he would instead become a burden to
her.
His eyes faintly glimmered in thought. A long while later, his footsteps suddenly paused as he stared at
the mist in front of him. He had detected a faint, strange undulation from that spot.
However, Zhou Yuan did not stop here. Instead, he walked forward decisively.
Buzz!
The instant his foot landed, he felt the scenery around him change rapidly. Searing heat waves rushed
him from every direction, as scarlet-red filled his eyes. The originally mist-filled surroundings had
transformed into a world of lava.
The heat was so intense that Zhou Yuan’s felt skin burn.
Pop!
All of a sudden, giant bubbles rose from the flowing lava river in front of him. In the next instance, the
bubbles exploded, transforming into a hundred feet large lava hand that viciously swiped at Zhou Yuan.
With a quick grabbing motion, the Heaven Yuan Brush appeared as it rapidly drew a series of mysterious
strokes in front of him.
“Ice Mountain Rune!”
Boom!
1806
With one final stroke, a bright light exploded from that floating Genesis Rune, as the surrounding Genesis
Qi swiftly gushed towards it. A chill spread, as a razor-sharp hundred foot tall ice mountain shot out from
within the rune, directly colliding with the giant lava hand.
Boom!
The two forces crashed into each other, sending lava, ice and snow all over the place.
Boom! Boom!
Meanwhile, numerous streams of lava rose from the lava river, seemingly covering the sky and land as
they blasted towards Zhou Yuan.
“Great Golden Bell Rune!”
The tip of the brush seemed to dance, creating a Genesis Rune above him that immediately began to glow.
In the end, a faint golden bell appeared, shielding his entire body.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Countless lava streams smashed into the golden bell, causing its surface to ripple.
Zhou Yuan’s expression remained calm as he began to walk forward even under the lava bombardment,
stepping onto the lava river and heading towards the bank.
Attacks continuously erupted from the lava river. However, Zhou Yuan neutralized each one with Genesis
Runes.
After a few minutes, he finally reached the opposite bank.
The world of lava instantly disappeared the moment his foot touched the ground, as mist gushed towards
him once again.
Zhou Yuan knew that he had just passed an important checkpoint.
“Although it was quite powerful, it's still within my limits.” Muttered Zhou Yuan to himself. Instead of
rejoicing, however, his brows furrowed slightly.
Given how formidable the Genesis Rune Boundary was, the checkpoints within should be more powerful
than this. The main reason was likely because eighty percent of its power was being directed elsewhere.
Obviously to Yaoyao’s location.
The reason why he had such an easy time was because Yaoyao was doing most of the heavy lifting.
1807
Zhou Yuan pursed his lips, not feeling overly dejected because of this. After all, he understood that only
by doing what he could would he best be able to assist Yaoyao.
Therefore, he took a deep breath, before stepping into the mist once again.
In front of Spirit Rune Hall, numerous disciples were practically glued to the two enormous Genesis Qi
mirrors in the sky.
“It seems like Zhou Yuan does have a little ability…” Some disciples could not help but remark when they
saw Zhou Yuan pass the lava checkpoint. They could not help but admit that Zhou Yuan had been fairly
adept at drawing Genesis Runes earlier.
However, some of the Spirit Rune Peak disciples immediately retorted, “There is nothing worthwhile to
see on his side, you should look at Zhou Xiaoyao instead. After all, more than eighty percent of the
boundary’s power has been directed to her side.”
Other disciples echoed in agreement, and all eyes swiftly turned towards the mirror showing Yaoyao.
Inside the mirror, numerous complicated Genesis Runes were given form under her brush, continuously
drawing over the Genesis Qi from the surroundings to block the mad onslaught from the boundary.
It was an earth-shaking sight.
The scale of her battle was obviously incomparable to Zhou Yuan’s side, causing many of the watching
disciples to secretly wet their lips.
It was clear that the majority of the boundary’s power was focused on Yaoyao.
Zhou Yuan’s side was undoubtedly much duller when compared to Yaoyao’s.
“Zhou Xiaoyao’s Genesis Rune talent is truly out of this world.” Xu Yan could not help but remark as he
watched Yaoyao fearlessly face the berserk attacks Genesis Rune attacks from the boundary. Rune after
rune was thrown out with a casual flick of her hand, neutralizing all of the incoming attacks.
Lu Xuanyin bit her lip upon hearing this. Although she really did not want to accept it, she knew she had
no way to retort.
On the stone stairs, Ye Ge stood with his hands behind his back, the admiration in his eyes growing as he
watched Yaoyao stroll forward while deflecting uncountable Genesis Rune attacks.
Only a lady this outstanding could touch his heart.
Even though Yaoyao was breezing through all the checkpoints, Ye Ge expression remained rather calm.
He glanced at Zhou Yuan’s mirror and suddenly chuckled.
1808
He knew that the key to breaking the boundary didn’t lie with Yaoyao. Given how talented she was, it
would basically be impossible to stop her even with Jin Zhang defending the core.
Therefore, the solution to stopping the duo lay with Zhou Yuan.
As long as they stopped Zhou Yuan, they boundary would never be broken no matter how much of an
advantage Yaoyao had on her side… Therefore, Ye Ge had no cause for concern.
“Junior sister Yaoyao, I’ve told you before that only with my assistance will be able to pass through this
Genesis Rune Boundary.” Ye Ge muttered to himself, a strong confidence radiated from his words.
“Even though it isn’t honorable to force you into such a situation, every man would chase such an
amazing girl, and only a powerless fool would do stand by and do nothing…”
Time slowly passed.
Inside the Genesis Qi mirrors, Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao continued to pass each checkpoint. As they
ventured deeper and deeper, the power from within the boundary grew stronger and stronger.
They were rapidly approaching the core of the boundary.
“The’re almost there…” Ye Ge suddenly muttered.
Yaoyao gracefully advanced with her Genesis Rune Brush in hand. Suddenly, the scene before her eyes
began to change, transforming into an endless ocean.
She stood on the surface of the water, calmness in her eyes as she looked to her front.
A whirlpool churned before her, as a giant water pillar rose from within. Seated atop the water pillar, was
a disciple dressed in golden robes.
“Spirit Rune Peak chief disciple Jin Zhang greets junior sister Yaoyao.” The young man in golden robes
smiled slightly.
Meanwhile, when Zhou Yuan’s foot slowly descended, he realized that he had stepped onto a mountain
peak. He lifted his head, only to see a giant heaven pillar like mountain towering before him.
A dainty little figure could be seen atop the giant mountain.
It was a young lady with bright eyes. She had an extremely innocent look, and long ponytails which
reached all the way down to her hips. There was currently a slightly shy expression in her eyes as she
looked at Zhou Yuan.
“Spirit Rune Peak Xia Yu greets senior brother Zhou Yuan… “ The young lady’s soft voice sounded.
1809
A wave of excitement instantly swept through the numerous disciples in front Spirit Rune Hall, as their
eyes began to burn with excitement. All of them knew what was coming next.
The climax of today’s event was finally here.
1810
“They finally meet…”
The images projected by the two Genesis Qi mirrors caused the numerous disciples gathered in front of
Spirit Rune Hall to exhale in anticipation. Now that they had finally reached this stage, the most exciting
part of today’s boundary breaking trial was finally about to start.
As such, gaze after gaze began to fill with excitement and anticipation.
“Zhou Xiaoyao is truly formidable…” At a certain corner, Su Wan stared at Yaoyao’s mirror as admiration
and surprise flashed across her face.
This was because Su Wan felt that she could not pass through any of the obstacles that Yaoyao had
crossed previously. Moreover, it seemed like those obstacles hardly posed a threat to Yaoyao. This goes to
show how talented she was in Genesis Rune.
Gu Hongyi nodded in agreement. Yaoyao did give off an immeasurable aura.
“Even though she is powerful, the crux of today’s match lies with Zhou Yuan.” Su Wan’s eyes shifted
towards the other mirror.
She somewhat warily stared at the innocent looking girl with a ponytail. Though Xia Yu was young, she
was the top gold sash disciple of Spirit Rune Peak. From this, one could imagine just how talented she
was in Genesis Runes.
“Based on Zhou Xiaoyao’s previous performance, even if senior brother Jin Zhang may not have the upper
hand even if he can tap into eighty percent of the boundary’s power… However, the boundary has two
cores, and they need to take over both cores at the same time in order to break it.”
“Hence, if Yaoyao is the only one to succeed, the boundary will continue drawing Genesis Qi from its
surroundings to maintain it, causing Yaoyao to fall into a deadlock.”
Su Wan looked towards Gu Hongyi as she slowly said, “Based on the current situation, I am afraid that it
will be a tall order for Zhou Yuan to break through Xia Yu’s side.”
“Xia Yu’s Spirit has already reached the mid Corpoeral stage. What’s more, she can also utilize the power
of the boundary. In fact, Her mastery of Genesis Runes alone has already pretty much doomed Zhou
Yuan’s chances.”
Gu Hongyi’s expression changed slightly. In the end, she stubbornly bit her lip and said, “Anything is
possible before the outcome is determined.”
Su Wan smile and did not remark, clearly treating Gu Hongyi’s words as her final act of defiance.
1811
However, gritting one’s teeth and toughing it out in a situation like this would not change a thing.
...
Above a boundless ocean.
Yaoyao’s gorgeous face was impassive as she stared at the young man seated atop the water pillar. The
latter was also watching her, a faint smile emerging on his face as he was just about to speak.
However, Yaoyao’s hand suddenly descended as ancient Genesis Runes seemed to flow down from her
fingers, merging into the surface of the ocean.
Rumble!
Scarlet-red suddenly extended from under her feet. In the next moment, the ocean surface was ripped
apart, as a several hundred feet large fire dragon suddenly emerged with a ferocious roar. The scorching
heat promptly evaporated the surrounding water, as the dragon charged towards that young man named
Jin Zhang with earth-shocking momentum.
She attacked immediately, wasting no time talking.
When Jin Zhang saw this, his pupils tightened slightly, before he suddenly clapped his hands.
Rumble!
The surface of the ocean swelled, as ten thousand feet tall wave rose. A giant water beast howled as it
emerged from within the wave, before slamming into the fire dragon.
Boom!
A loud sound echoed as violent shockwaves devastated the surroundings, causing huge waves to emerge
from the ocean.
“Junior sister Yaoyao is quite the merciless one.” Jin Zhang sighed as waves raged on the ocean, a grave
expression present in his eyes. From the previous clash, he had felt just how terrifying his opponent was.
To think that she had reached the level of creating Genesis Runes with a casual flick of her hand. If it not
for the fact he was able to borrow the power of the boundary, there was no way he would be her match.
Jin Zhang slowly said, “However, this is the core where I can borrow the power of the boundary. I am
afraid that it won’t be so easy for you to pass!”
However, Yaoyao had no intention of talking. She grasped the jade Genesis Rune Brush, its glowing tip
streaking across the air as uncountable strokes rapidly took shape, ultimately transforming into
numerous ancient Genesis Runes.
1812
The Genesis Qi in the vicinity was rapidly sucked over.
Rumble!
Boundless black clouds appeared in the sky above Yaoyao’s head, lightning berserkly moving within
them. Thunder boomed across the area, as an astonishing pressure spread.
This sight caused the expression in Jin Zhang’s eyes to grow even graver. He did not dare to waste a single
moment, and lifted his palm.
Boom!
The ocean howled as a ten thousand feet tall wave slowly rose behind him. It was so tall that it seemed to
blot out the sun, and was a majestic sight to behold.
Yaoyao stared at giant wave behind Jin Zhang, as her eyes lowered slightly. She soon turned to look in
another direction, as she muttered, “Zhou Yuan, I will do my best to draw the power of the boundary
here…”
“As the rest, you can only rely on yourself.”
Her brushtip fell the moment the last word left her mouth. One could only watch as giant serpent-like
lightning bolts descended, seemingly covering the entire sky as they shot towards Jin Zhang from all
directions.
The giant wave behind Jin Zhang transformed into giant hand, and moved to meet the numerous lightning
bolts.
Incessant booms immediately engulfed the area.
...
On a mountain peak, Zhou Yuan lifted his head to look at the young girl atop an even taller mountain.
Even though she seemed to be a little shy and nervous, there wasn’t a hint of contempt in his eyes, but
instead a grave expression.
This was because he could detect the scent of danger from the girl’s body.
Although she called him senior brother, it was only out of courtesy. Zhou Yuan knew that if they were to
go by status, he should be the one to address her as senior sister instead.
“The top gold sash disciple of Spirit Rune Peak huh…” Zhou Yuan muttered to himself as his hand slowly
tightened around the Heavenly Yuan Brush.
1813
He could feel a slight pressure from opponent’s Spirit. Evidently, Xia Yu had reached the mid Corporeal
stage, a level stronger than himself.
However, the most important factor for this battle was one’s Genesis Rune mastery. Otherwise, given
Zhou Yuan’s Genesis Qi cultivation, he would have no reason to fear her.
“Little senior sister Xia Yu, I hope that you won’t hold this against me.”
Zhou Yuan took in a deep breath, before he suddenly moved the Heavenly Yuan Brush in his hand. A
Genesis Rune quickly took shape as the surrounding Genesis Qi began to gather.
“Glowing Eagle Rune!”
The Genesis Rune rapidly expanded, Genesis Qi drumming around it as it transformed into a hundred feet
tall glowing eagle. That glowing eagle screamed as it soared into the sky. The eagle then tucked in both its
wings, becoming a glowing blurry shadow as it dived towards Xia Yu.
“Swift Wind Rune!”
As the eagle plunged through the air, Zhou Yuan sent out another Genesis Rune. The Genesis Rune
wrapped around the eagle's wings, causing its already alarming speed to increase.
“Mountain Piercing Blade Rune!”
Another Genesis Rune was sent out. Light began to flow on that eagle’s beak, giving it unmatched
sharpness that could pierce a mountain.
At the sight of this, Xia Yu’s eyes brightened slightly as she softly said, “Senior brother Zhou Yuan is quite
adept with Genesis Runes. To think that he can actually stack them…”
Extremely precise Spirit control was required to achieve this feat. Otherwise, the Genesis Runes would
collide with one another, making it extremely easy for them to destroy each other.
Aowww!
Light streaked across the sky. Even an ordinary sixth layer Alpha-Origin disciple would not dare to
underestimate such an attack.
With a gently stomp, the huge mountain beneath Xia Yu’s feet began to shake. Rocks began to grow from
the ground, forming multiple walls of substantial thickness.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
The eagle screeched as wall after wall was broken through. Rocks flew in all directions, a clear testament
to the exceptional ferocity of the attack.
1814
However, the Genesis Qi around the eagle would dim with every wall it pierced. When it broke through
the final wall, the eagle promptly scattered into specks of light that gently sprinkled onto Xia Yu’s face.
Zhou Yuan’s eyes narrowed slightly. The previous attack was not a casual move, but one of his most
powerful techniques. Even so, it was easily blocked by her.
Xia Yu gently touched her cheek, her bright eyes looking towards Zhou Yuan as she said, “Senior brother
Zhou Yuan has good technique. If not for my favorable location, I would have been a little troubled by that
attack.”
“If it was any other time, I would not take advantage of you. However, this concerns the pride of all our
Spirit Rune Peak disciples. Therefore, I hope that you won’t blame me senior brother!”
A purple Genesis Brush appeared in Xia Yu’s hand as she slowly tightened her grip around it.
The moment her hand closed around the brush, the shy expression in her eyes completely disappeared,
replaced by a powerful and confident look.
Her ponytail gently danced in the wind, as the giant mountain below her feet began to rumble.
“Senior brother Zhou Yuan, it’s my turn now…”
...
In front of Spirit Rune Hall, a smile slowly rose from the corners of Ye Ge’s mouth when he saw this.
Junior sister Xia Yu was finally about to get serious.
Zhou Yuan, you are about to find out how difficult it is to deal with this junior sister of ours from Spirit
Rune Peak...
I hope you won’t end up losing too badly.
1815
Rumble!
When Xia Yu gripped the purple Genesis Rune Brush, the mountain beneath her feet suddenly began to
shake violently. In the next instant, the mountain split open as a stone serpent emerged from its belly the
mountain with a loud roar, and charged towards Zhou Yuan.
That stone serpent ferociously rushed forward, shaking the surrounding Genesis Qi as it howled.
As the stone serpent's shadow began to engulf him, a grim expression filled his face. Xia Yu currently
controlled the boundary core, allowing her to use its alarming power.
The Heaven Yuan Brush in Zhou Yuan’s hand swept forth as a Genesis Rune was formed. It immediately
dissipated, transforming into a gale that brought Zhou Yuan’s figure into the sky.
The stone serpent missed its mark.
However, it quickly gave chase with a roar.
In the sky, Zhou Yuan continued to draw with the brush in his hand, numerous Genesis Rune strokes
appeared in the air.
“Ice Mountain Rune!”
A massive ice mountain emerged from within the rune. Together with a bone-chilling cold, it viciously
smashed into the stone serpent.
“Dragon Binding Rune!”
The ice mountain shattered as the stone serpent was pushed back. Genesis Qi swiftly gathered around the
serpent’s body, transforming into chains that bound its limbs.
Zhou Yuan had used two grade four Genesis Runes in succession with excellent coordination and timing.
Even a sixth layer Alpha-Origin disciple would be trapped by this combination.
However, the young girl atop the mountain merely watched with calm eyes. Unfortunately for Zhou Yuan,
the stone serpent that could borrow the power of this boundary was not going to so easily dealt with. As
long as the Genesis Rune hidden within its body was not destroyed, its pursuit would not stop.
Roar!
1816
Just as Xia Yu predicted, the stone serpent suddenly roared as a burst of violent Genesis Qi erupted,
forcefully breaking the Genesis Qi chains, before the serpent once again began charging towards Zhou
Yuan.
Zhou Yuan immediately dodged the attack as he frowned slightly. It seems like this stone serpent was not
weaker than a sixth layer Alpha-Origin disciple...
“Since the stone serpent is created from a Genesis Rune, the only way to destroy it is to destroy the rune
in its body.” Zhou Yuan’s eyes flickered in thought. However, the rune was hidden deep within the
serpent's body and was nearly impossible to find. Therefore, it was naturally going to be extremely
difficult to destroy.
Fortunately… this wasn’t really a problem for him.
With a deep breath, an ancient Saint Rune slowly surfaced in the depths of his eyes.
The Decoder Saint Rune.
The rune that could find any weak point.
The Saint Rune rotated as the stone serpent reflected in Zhou Yuan’s eyes gradually turned transparent.
Next, Zhou Yuan saw a slowly revolving Genesis Rune at a particular sport in its belly.
That Genesis Rune was the source of that stone serpent.
“So that’s where it is…” Mumbled Zhou Yuan to himself.
Roar!
Meanwhile, the roaring stone serpent approached again, while Zhou Yuan’s rapidly retreating body
suddenly stopped.
The stone serpent’s giant claw mercilessly slashed downwards, the tremendous power shaking even the
space around it.
“Great Swamp Rune!”
The Genesis Rune in his hand left a trail in the air that turned into a Genesis Rune. The rune sucked in the
nearby Genesis Qi and instantly expanded, transforming its surroundings into a giant swamp.
Boom!
The claw slammed into the swap, as its power was rapidly neutralized. However, the strength of the stone
serpent was extraordinary, its claw managing to pierce through the swamp, allowing the remaining force
to slam into Zhou Yuan’s body.
1817
Thump!
Zhou Yuan’s body was hurtling downwards like a cannonball. His body crashed into one of the peaks
below, causing the entire top of the mountain the collapse.
In the air, the stone serpent released a growl, before it began to dive down, clearly not going to show even
the slightest shred of mercy.
However, the instant it dashed downwards, its massive body began to tremble violently as rocks tumbled
down.
Surprise flashed across Xia Yu’s face as her gaze turned towards serpent’s belly, only to realize that a
glowing Genesis Rune sword was currently lodged into its stomach.
Moreover, the glowing sword just so happened to pierce the Genesis Rune hidden within the stone
serpent’s body.
The Genesis Rune began to crumble, and the massive stone serpent ultimately exploded with a loud
bang.
Xia Yu’s tiny mouth hung slightly ajar, as a look of bewilderment flitted across her face. She turned her
head to look at Zhou Yuan, who was slowly getting up from the collapsed mountain peak, as she muttered
to herself, “How did he know where the Genesis Rune was located?”
That Genesis Rune had been hidden deep inside the serpent’s body, and yet, Zhou Yuan had clearly
known where it was. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have stopped on purpose, causing the stone serpent to
reveal an opening.
Zhou Yuan slowly rose into the air. He dusted his clothes, before meeting Xia Yu’s gaze.
Xia Yu’s seemed to glimmer as she softly said, “Senior brother Zhou Yuan, you have truly surprised me by
defeating my stone serpent rune with your initial Corporeal stage Spirit.”
Zhou Yuan smiled and replied, “I quite admire junior sister Xia Yu’s talent in Genesis Runes. That serpent
rune was no pushover.”
That single Genesis Rune alone was enough to tie down a sixth layer Alpha-Origin disciple.
Xia Yu covered her mouth as she laughed softly. Then, she slowly said, “If it wasn’t for this boundary, I
would have been at a disadvantage after the stone serpent rune was destroyed. However, in this place…
my power far exceeds your imagination.”
“Therefore…”
Xia Yu slowly lifted her hand, before she suddenly clenched.
1818
Rumble!
The surrounding mountain peaks instantly collapsed. As boulders tumbled downwards, four stone
serpents slowly arose, and began circling around Zhou Yuan.
A smile appeared on Xia Yu’s face as she looked at Zhou Yuan and said, “Please give up senior brother
Zhou Yuan. You cannot pass.”
...
In front of Spirit Rune Hall.
As numerous gazes watched the intense match between Zhou Yuan and Xia Yu, all of them involuntarily
exclaimed.
“It seems like Zhou Yuan is fairly skilled with Genesis Runes. I can’t believe that he is able to push junior
sister Xia Yu to this extent…”
“I have underestimated him. Unfortunately, junior sister Xia Yu has the advantage of location, and there is
no way Zhou Yuan can win.”
“......”
The Spirit Rune Peak disciples were experts of their craft, and understood how powerful Zhou Yuan’s
counterattacks were. In fact, it was already pretty extraordinary to accomplish such a feat using Genesis
Runes.
Ye Ge nonchalantly glanced at the Zhou Yuan’s Genesis Qi mirror. There had been no change in his
expression even when he saw Zhou Yuan destroy the stone serpent.
“He does have some Genesis Rune talent. However, he is ultimately merely at the initial Corporeal stage.
Once Xia Yu becomes serious, only defeat awaits him.”
He was obviously far more perceptive than ordinary individuals. Therefore, he could naturally tell that
Zhou Yuan had basically used up all his trump cards. Xia Yu, on the other hand, was just getting started.
Therefore, there was no need for him to worry about this battle.
Ye Ge withdrew his gaze and turned to the other Genesis Qi mirror. Projected within this mirror, was the
intense fight between Yaoyao and Jin Zhang.
The fight on this side was much more intense, grand and interesting than Zhou Yuan’s.
Ye Ge suddenly frowned slightly while watching, as a suspicious expression flashed across his eyes.
1819
“Why… does something feel off…”
1820
Chapter 356 Yaoyao’s Tactic
“Nine Star Rune!”
Jin Zhang stood on a water pillar, as the bronze like Genesis Rune Brush in his hand descended. A
complicated Genesis Rune promptly took shape, before the surrounding Genesis Qi stirred and began
flowing towards the rune.
Swoosh swoosh!
Starlight blossomed as the rune seemed to transform into a patch of the starry night sky. Nine giant
interlinked stars shot out, and rained down upon Yaoyao with shocking power.
The entire ocean surface was ripped apart by the tremendous force.
Jin Zhang’s attack was merciless. Moreover, he was able to utilize eighty percent of the boundary’s power
because was standing on the core, allowing him to wield nearly limitless power.
Nine stars seemed to howl as they rapidly grew Yaoyao’s clear eyes. With a gentle shake of her hand,
numerous strokes flowed from her jade brush.
“Millenium Ice Shield Rune!”
A Genesis Rune was swiftly formed, and immediately submerged into the water below. A thousand foot
tall water shield instantly rose, standing in front of her as it transformed into a giant ice shield.
Mysterious glowing runes were embedded into the shield, making it appear indestructible.
Boom! Boom!
The nine stars descended, viciously blasting onto the ice shield as cracks immediately appeared.
Star after star fell as more and more cracks emerged. In the end, the ice shield reached its limit and
promptly exploded into ice shards that filled the sky.
Jin Zhang raised his brows slightly when he saw that his Genesis Rune attack was neutralized, but was
not surprised. He faintly chuckled as his Genesis Rune Brush fell once again, and a Genesis Rune merged
with the water below.
Ch! Ch!
In the next instant, a faint sound was suddenly heard from the water beneath Yaoyao’s feet. One could
only watch as innumerable razor sharp icicles shot out, aimed at Yaoyao’s vital points.
1821
Yaoyao’s foot gently tapped the air, and soared into the sky with a gentle gust as she drew another
Genesis Rune.
“Steel Water Rune!”
The ocean surface rippled as an area of the sea rapidly turned pitch-black like black metal.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Countless razor-sharp icicles stabbed at the black metal like water. However, the black water was as
tough as metal, and every icicle that smashed into it was shattered into pieces.
The two parties rapidly exchanged blow after blow in an exceptionally intense battle. Every Genesis Rune
boasted alarming power, making the fight far more ferocious than the duel between Zhou Yuan and Xia
Yu.
However, Jin Zhang was obviously the one with the initiative, borrowing the endless power of the
boundary to release an unending onslaught, while Yaoyao chose to concentrate on neutralizing his
attacks.
As such, it naturally appeared like she was more on the defense.
Atop the water pillar, Jin Zhang’s eyes flickered faintly in thought as he observed Yaoyao’s alluring figure.
From the earlier exchanges, he could feel that Yaoyao was somewhat wary of him, likely because the
latter must have deduced that he currently enjoyed a limitless source of power thanks to the boundary.
“Since junior Sister Yaoyao likes to play defense, try countering this attack!”
With a slight smile on his face, Jin Zhang’s brush fiercely jabbed in the air.
Rumble!
Countless glowing dots instantly rose from within the ocean under Yaoyao’s feet. Upon closer inspection,
one would realize that two large crescent moons were slowly taking shape in the water below.
The crescent moons slowly spun like blades, slicing apart the water as they swept past.
An indescribable sharp aura spread from them, and even the moon light that spilled out drilled numerous
holes in the ocean surface.
Jin Zhang looked at Yaoyao and said, “This is the Double Moon Spirit Rune. Normally speaking, using it
will spend all of my energy. I can only use it without restraint in a place like this.”
“I hope junior sister Yaoyao can give me some pointers on it.”
1822
He pointed, and the two crescent moons in the ocean quickly rose. Following which, they charged
towards Yaoyao at an alarming speed, the pulsing moon light leaving two thousand foot long scars on the
ocean surface...
Countless gasps sounded when the crowd in front of Spirit Rune Hall saw this shocking attack.
Everyone present knew that this Genesis Rune was Jin Zhang’s most prided signature killing move. No
expert below the ninth layer Alpha-Origin stage could block his Double Moon Spirit Rune.
“Sigh, why did Zhou Xiaoyao allow Jin Zhang to complete the rune… once its used, she has no hope of
victory.”
“She has been constantly forced into the defense, and seems to be rather wary of Jin Zhang. The latter can
borrow the power of the boundary after all.”
“What a pity…”
Numerous disciples shook their heads as they sighed, while relaxed expressions appeared on the faces of
the Spirit Rune Peak disciples. They believed that once the Double Moon Spirit Rune was used, the pace of
the fight would completely fall into senior brother Jin Zhang’s hands.
Zhou Xiaoyao, whom was highly praised by peak master, doesn’t seem to be anything special?
Ye Ge’s was focused on the Genesis Qi mirror, frowning as he watched their fight. Even though Jin Zhang
had the initiative, the former felt uneasy for some unknown reason.
Was Yaoyao really so easy to deal with?
Even if Jin Zhang could utilize the power of this boundary, was that truly enough to force Yaoyao into the
defense?
“You… what exactly are you plotting?” Mumbled Ye Ge to himself.
Buzz!
Under the attention of the crowd, the two crescent moons tore across the surface of the ocean at an
alarming speed, homing in onto Yaoyao from her left and right. They travelled along mysterious
trajectories that sealed off all of Yaoyao’s retreat paths.
Yaoyao stood atop the ocean, not even the slightest ripple in her calm expression. The Genesis Rune
Brush in her hand did not move either, as if she was going to do nothing and allow the two crescent
moons to strike.
The countless disciples in front of the Spirit Rune Hall gasped in shock.
1823
Ye Ge’s pupils widened a little, but he did not make a sound. He knew that peak master was also closely
observing this match, and there was no way he would allow anything to happen to Yaoyao.
However, why wasn’t Yaoyao putting up any resistance?
Ch!
Two crescent moons ripped across the surface of the ocean. In the midst of numerous shocked gasps,
they flashed past Yaoyao’s delicate body…
“Was she hit?!” The complexions of numerous disciples paled. Not even a ninth layer Alpha-Origin expert
could not withstand such an attack with his or her body, right?
Moreover, Yaoyao’s strength lay in Genesis Runes, and did not even have a tiny bit of Genesis Qi
protecting her body.
Atop the water pillar, Jin Zhang’s expression changed slightly at the sight of the crescent moons cutting
through Yaoyao’s delicate body, as he cried out, “Junior sister Yaoyao?”
However, he immediately realized that something was amiss. Yaoyao was still silently standing there, her
clear eyes indifferently looking at him.
No blood could be seen on her body.
“What’s going on?!”
Jin Zhang’s pupils shrank, while expression of the numerous watching disciples quickly changed, feeling
that something was very strange about this situation.
Ye Ge was the only one whose eyes were rapidly flickering in thought. A moment later, he seemed to have
came to a sudden realization. Disbelief immediately flooded his eyes as he involuntarily cried out, “Could
it be?!”
Crack!
The moment his voice sounded, Jin Zhang suddenly saw numerous cracks appear in his surroundings like
broken glass. In that instant, a wave of giddiness swept over his Spirit.
Crack! Crack!
The cracks grew and extended, as if the entire world around him was about to collapse.
Jin Zhang initially stunned by the sight of the world crumbling around him. Following which, something
suddenly struck him and he immediately bit his tongue, sending a stream of essence blood gushing out
that was quickly absorbed by his Spirit.
1824
Jin Zhang shut his eyes at this moment, only opening them again several breaths later.
His crumbling surroundings was stealthily repaired as the entire place fell silent. All one could only hear
were the gently stirring waves on the ocean.
There was no trace of the earth-shaking battle earlier.
As if it was just a dream.
However, Jin Zhang abruptly turned his head to look at where Yaoyao was originally standing, only to
realize that it was now empty. He then lifted his trembling head, finding a beautiful figure silently
standing atop a water pillar.
The same pillar where the core was located.
The core which he had been protecting, had been bafflingly taken over by Yaoyao...
“How did this happen?!” The numerous disciples In front of Spirit Rune Hall were stupefied.
Ye Ge took in a deep breath, the expression in his eyes turning extremely solemn as he slowly said, “To
think that we would have the chance to observe the rare illusion Genesis Rune… her Genesis Rune
mastery is truly terrifying. Jin Zhang had been trapped in her illusion rune since the beginning, and that
intense fight had merely taken place in his imagination.”
Jin Zhang had appeared to have the upper hand in the fight, but what he did not know, was that he was
only wasting his energy attacking empty air. On the other hand, Yaoyao had mostly likely been watching
him randomly hurl out attacks from afar, while slowly walking out of the core area. In the meantime, she
had slowly made her way over, and occupied the boundary core…
Truly… a bizarre tactic.
Ye Ge sighed softly and pursed his lips. As expected, everything was in the palm of Yaoyao’s hand.
Fortunately for them, though Yaoyao had taken over one of the cores, she still needed Zhou Yuan’s
coordination to break the boundary.
As long as Zhou Yuan was unable to take over the core on his side, there was ultimately nothing Yaoyao
could do.
Ye Ge lifted his head and turned towards the other Genesis Qi mirror.
“Junior sister Xia Yu… looks like the rest is up to you…”
“In the first place, we did not have any expectations of Jin Zhang. Your fight is where the real show is, and
there is no way Zhou Yuan can defeat you…”
1825
Chapter 357 Spirit Suppressed
“Senior brother Jin Zhang has lost after all…”
“Zhou Xiaoyao is simply too formidable, to think that she is even capable of the extremely rare illusion
rune! Moreover, even senior brother Jin Zhang was tricked!”
“Such illusion runes are extremely demanding on one’s Spirit. Since senior brother Jin Zhang fell for it,
this means that Yaoyao’s Spirit is stronger than his…”
“It’s no wonder peak master Bai Mei has such a high opinion of her. Her Genesis Rune talent is truly
unbelievable.”
“......”
The area in front of Spirit Rune Hall burst into noise the moment one of the matches ended, the faces of
every disciple filled with shock.
Them had initially been under the impression that Yaoyao had been forced into the defense, and no one
had expected that all of it would turn out to be the handiwork of a single illusion rune. Everything they
had seen, including Jin Zhang himself, was merely an illusion.
Every single one of his earth-shaking attacks had merely been a waste of his energy.
Li Qingchan gracefully stood in front of a stone pavilion, amazement involuntarily rising in her eyes as
she gazed at Yaoyao’s figure in the mirror. The latter’s victory had truly been both spectacular and
bizzare.
None of them expected that she would actually deploy such an unusual tactic to easily secure the
boundary core.
With the core now below her feet, a single thought was all it would take to shatter it. If there had only
been one core in the boundary, Yaoyao would have already won.
Unfortunately...
Li Qingchan gently sighed as her eyes rotated to look at the other Genesis Qi mirror. To break this
boundary, both cores had to be simultaneously destroyed.
Though Yaoyao had already succeeded, the other core was still firmly under Xia Yu’s grasp. Moreover, it
seemed like Zhou Yuan didn’t stand a chance at all.
Li Qingchan regretfully said, “Yaoyao, I’ve already told you earlier that you should not pin your hopes on
Zhou Yuan. Although he is fairly talented, he is ultimately still lacking.”
1826
It was such a waste of Yaoyao’s brilliant performance..
“What a pity…” Su Wan also shook her head, regret filling her face.
Beside her, Gu Hongyi’s hands were tightly clenched, her eyes tightly glued to Zhou Yuan’s Genesis Qi
mirror as she said, “Senior sister Su Wan, the match hasn’t ended yet!”
Su Wan looked at the Genesis Qi mirror and helplessly shook her head as she watched Zhou Yuan being
chased by four stone serpents.
“You really don’t know when to give up…”
“How can he possibly be Xia Yu’s match…”
...
Boom!
Four stone serpents flew across the sky, Genesis Qi surging around their bodies. Four stone tails were
suddenly swung, transforming into blurred shadows as they descended from the sky and viciously
swatted at Zhou Yuan.
Four serpent tails sealed off all possible paths of escape.
The brush in Zhou Yuan’s hand swiftly darted across the air, drawing stroke after after as the
surrounding Genesis Qi was sucked over.
“Metal Turtle Shell Rune!”
A Genesis Rune extended above Zhou Yuan’s head, rapidly growing into a hundred foot wide glowing
turtle shell that gave off a feeling of invincibility.
Dong!
The four serpent tails slammed viciously against the turtle shell, causing cracks to appear immediately.
With a loud bang, Zhou Yuan’s body shot downwards, creating a huge crater in the ground.
Zhou Yuan could not help but whimper a little as he lay face up inside the crater. These stone serpents
were truly ferocious, and each one was likely no weaker than Wei Youxuan.
With four of them were working together, they became an even more formidable force.
Roar!
1827
The four stone serpents roared. They did not give Zhou Yuan any chance to catch his breath, charging
downwards once again to attack him. The tremendous pressure that pulsed from their bodies made the
ground crack and crumble.
Though the four stone serpents rapidly grew in Zhou Yuan’s eyes, there was only calmness on his face.
Boom!
Just as the stone serpents were about to reach him, the ground around Zhou Yuan suddenly crumbled as
four earth spikes abruptly shot out. The spikes were covered in glowing runes.
Ch!
The four earth spikes were as swift as thunder. They pierced directly into the bodies of the stone
serpents, shattering the runes within them.
Zhou Yuan grinned as he watched the four stone serpents crumble. However, his smile had barely
surfaced when his eyes abruptly widened. He had just discovered that as the four serpents crumbled,
invisible Spirit undulations were rapidly gathering together, ultimately transforming into a giant
transparent Spirit stamp that immediately descended with a loud rumble.
Rumble!
Even though there was no visible disturbance from the ground, Zhou Yuan’s expression rapidly changed
the instant the Spirit stamp fell.
He never expected the meek looking Xia Yu to be formidable in battle. It turns out that the stone serpents
from earlier were merely decoys, and the real killing move was the giant Spirit stamp hidden within
them.
This wasn’t an attack aimed at killing him. Instead, she clearly intended on purely using the might of her
Spirit to suppress him, and leave him with no way of retaliation.
Zhou Yuan sat up as the spot between his brows began to flicker. A Spirit slowly rose from within, coming
to a stop above his head. This Spirit looked exactly the same as Zhou Yuan, and was fairly corporeal. It
was his materialized Spirit.
Zhou Yuan’s Spirit raised both of its arms as Spirit force spread from it, unwaveringly resisting the
slowing descending Spirit stamp.
Atop the mountain peak, Xia Yu looked at Zhou Yuan before she slowly said, “Senior brother Zhou Yuan,
my Spirit has already stepped into the mid Corporeal stage, while yours is only at the initial stage. It is
useless no matter how you resist.”
1828
Zhou Yuan did not answer. The Spirit above his head continued to circulate its Spirit power to push back
the giant Spirit stamp.
Xia Yu did not say anything else when she saw this. Her hand formed a seal, and the giant Spirit stamp
slowly began to descend.
As the giant Spirit stamp slowly descended, Zhou Yuan could feel an enormous pressure. He frowned
slightly as his eyes flickered in thought. A moment later, a cold expression surfaced on his face.
“Mid Corporeal stage huh…”
He muttered to himself, before he took in a deep breath and slowly shut his eyes.
All of his Spirit power poured out. Due to the tremendous pressure from above, a faint light began to
appear on the Spirit above his head.
The Saint Spirit Crystal revolved between his brows as strand after strand of a cooling aura poured out,
before being absorbed by the Spirit above his head.
Though the giant Spirit stamp’s descent was extremely slow, there seemed to be no way to stop it as it
slowly inched downwards. At this rate, Zhou Yuan’s Spirit would eventually be suppressed.
Anyone could tell that Zhou Yuan had completely fallen into a disadvantage.
However, Zhou Yuan looked as if he was oblivious to his plight. Despite the overwhelming pressure from
above, his Spirit continued to face the slowly descending giant Spirit stamp.
Countless disciples in front of Spirit Rune Hall secretly shook their head. Zhou Yuan had caused so many
commotions previously, but it seemed that he had finally met his match this time...
“He’s finally going to suffer!” A smile had already emerged on Lu Xuanyin’s face. She never imagined that
she would see Zhou Yuan hit his first setback, not by her hand but at Spirit Rune Peak.
Beside her, Xu Yan smiled faintly. Zhou Yuan was ultimately only a new disciple, and even though he was
quite talented, he still lacked experience and maturity. After today, he should finally learn that in the
Cangxuan Sect, a mere gold-sash disciple had no right to do as he pleased...
Nearby, Su Wan gently patted Gu Hongyi’s shoulder, indicating that she should look on the bright side.
However, Gu Hongyi tightly bit her lip, her gaze never straying from the Genesis Qi mirror.
In front of Spirit Rune Hall, numerous disciples watched the slowly descending giant Spirit stamp above
Zhou Yuan’s head...
All of them knew that the moment it landed would also be the moment of Zhou Yuan’s loss.
1829
Chapter 358 Spirit Lifts Stamp
A transparent Spirit stamp slowly sank in the air. Though it appeared incorporeal, the overwhelming
pressure it possessed filled Zhou Yuan’s entire face with a grim expression.
Although only one lesser stage separated the initial and mid Corporeal stage, the gap between them was
extraordinary. This could be seen from how Zhou Yuan’s Spirit had yet to reach the mid Corporeal stage
even after several months of training.
Although a large portion of the time had been spent on Genesis Qi cultivation, it did not mean that he had
forsaken his Spirit cultivation. He could feel that his Spirit was already at the peak of the initial stage, and
only a single step separated him from the mid stage...
It was this tiny step that had obstructed Zhou Yuan for so long.
Zhou Yuan knew that all he lacked was a breakthrough opportunity.
The pressure from the giant Spirit stamp poured down from above, invading every pore, while the Spirit
above Zhou Yuan’s head beared every last ounce of it. Though the pressure attempted to overwhelm him,
Zhou Yuan did not feel the least bit panicked, and instead calmly began to circulate Primal Chaos Divine
He had been searching for an opportunity for a Spirit breakthrough all this time, and this was that
moment. Under the dreadful pressure, he did everything he could to withstand it so that he would reach
his limits.
Only at his limit would he be able to take a tiny step forward once again, breaking through the long
standing obstruction that stood before him.
If fate did not bestow a chance onto him, he would have to create it himself.
Zhou Yuan concentrated as he steadied his heart, turning it into a deep, rippleless pool.
As the Primal Chaos Divine Grindstone Visualisation Method began to circulate, he could feel his Spirit
begin to glow. Under the tremendous pressure, instead of gradually falling apart, his Spirit slowly grew
increasingly corporeal and condense.
Above Zhou Yuan’s head, the giant Spirit stamp continued its descent at an extremely slow speed, already
no more than a few dozen feet from Zhou Yuan’s Spirit...
If the giant stamp touched his Spirit, it would surely be injured.
Even so, Zhou Yuan remained as calm and stable as a rock.
1830
...
In front of Spirit Rune Hall, countless gazes stared at the slowly falling stamp, the disturbing sight making
the hearts of many disciples beat faster.
“What is Zhou Yuan up to? Why isn’t he moving? Does he really intend on taking that stamp head on with
his Spirit?”
“That’s way too foolish. Little senior sister Xiao Yu’s Spirit has already stepped into the mid Corporeal
stage, far surpassing his Spirit cultivation!”
“What a fool. If he doesn’t admit defeat soon, it won’t be a pretty sight when the giant Spirit stamp lands.”
“......”
Numerous whispers spread as the many disciples watched the slowly descending stamp gradually
approach Zhou Yuan’s Spirit. It was obvious that the stamp would ultimately crush the latter’s Spirit.
When that happened, it would be Zhou Yuan’s crushing defeat.
Ye Ge was also focused on Zhou Yuan’s figure, but the former’s brows were slightly furrowed. His sharp
senses could detect that the falling Spirit stamp was becoming slower and slower...
Zhou Yuan’s resistance was evidently growing stronger and stronger.
“What is Zhou Yuan up to?”
Ye Ge was silent for a moment, before his pupils suddenly tightened as he mumbled, “Could he be…
purposely allowing himself to fall into danger to push himself to his limits, allowing his Spirit to break
through into the mid Corporeal stage?!”
Ye Ge’s expression changed slightly. If his conjecture was true, Zhou Yuan’s decisiveness and courage
would be very commendable.
This would undoubtedly be a gamble. If he lost, his Spirit would be injured, and recovery would certainly
take a long time.
Ye Ge stared at the slowly descending giant Spirit stamp above Zhou Yuan’s head.
If Zhou Yuan failed to ascend before the stamp crushed his Spirit, he would lose this gamble...
“Zhou Yuan, I don’t believe that you will be able to achieve a breakthrough in such a short amount of
time…”
...
1831
In another location in the boundary.
Yaoyao stood on a water pillar, while Jin Zhang stood on the surface of the ocean, no longer having any
intent to attack. He knew that he would be even less than Yaoyao’s match without the aid of the boundary
core.
However, he was not worried because the core’s position would change as time flowed. When that
happened, he would have a chance to occupy it again.
As long as the other boundary core wasn’t broken, he would have nothing to fear on his side, and could
drag Yaoyao back into a deadlock.
Jin Zhang raised his head slightly, looking in a certain direction.
Junior sister Xia Yu, as long as you manage to stall Zhou Yuan, it will be our victory...
...
Time slowly flowed.
The giant Spirit stamp was now a single foot from Zhou Yuan’s Spirit!
The seemingly endless pressure that poured down caused sweat to drench Zhou Yuan’s entire body and
dampen his clothes.
It was at this moment that the pressure suddenly multiplied, and the stamp began to fall even faster,
descending little by little under the countless watching eyes.
The distance slowly shortened from a foot to two inches...
Sighs of pity could be heard in front of Spirit Rune Hall.
From the looks of it, a loss was already unavoidable.
Gu Hongyi tightly bit into her lip as her eyes dimmed slightly. Beside her, Su Wan patted the former’s
shoulder and consoled, “He’s already pretty remarkable to have endured till now. Xia Yu is the number
one gold sash disciple of Spirit Rune Peak after all, and one of the strongest contenders for champion in
the upcoming purple sash selection. There is no shame in losing to her.”
“He’s lost at last!” In another corner of the place, a gloating smile surfaced on Lu Xuanyin’s pretty face.
Xu Yan chuckled and said, “Truly a pity. Looks like he won’t be able to enjoy the present I originally
prepared for him for the purple sash selection.”
1832
Zhou Yuan’s Spirit would surely be injured once he lost, and would take several months at least to
recover. This would naturally make it impossible for him to participate in the purple sash selection.
Under the many pitying and gloating gazes, the giant Spirit stamp descended once again. Two inches…
one inch…
Ye Ge’s expression relaxed slightly at this moment as he softly said, “To have persisted for so long, Zhou
Yuan’s Spirit is more tenacious than expected.”
An ordinary initial Corporeal stage Spirit would have been defeated long ago, while it had taken all the
way till now for Zhou Yuan to reach his limit.
Sighs seemed to envelope the mountain as the falling stamp finally came into contact with the Spirit
above Zhou Yuan’s head.
In the next instant, Zhou Yuan’s Spirit would be forcibly suppressed.
On the mountain peak, relief finally began to flood Xia Yu’s fair little face when she saw this as she
breathed a sigh of relief. He’s been dealt with at last. Zhou Yuan was clearly only at the initial Corporeal
stage, but he was as tough as a rock, making him a difficult opponent to deal with.
“Thankfully, I’ve not betrayed the expectation of the many fellow disciples of Spirit Rune Peak.” A faint
smile appeared on Xia Yu’s face.
The moment her smile appeared, however, a faint buzz suddenly sounded from the giant Spirit stamp.
The smile on Xia Yu’s face froze slightly as she abruptly looked towards the source of the noise, only to
see Zhou Yuan’s tightly shut eyes finally slowly crack open at this moment.
An extremely sharp glimmer seemed to flash across his pupils, making Xia Yu’s heart shiver slightly.
Zhou Yuan lowered his head and looked at the ring on his finger, which had begun to heat up.
His gaze lowered slightly as the Spirit above his head suddenly opened its eyes. A halo of spirit light
immediately pulsed, circling around his Spirit.
Next, Xia Yu’s pupils aburptly shrank.
She had just seen Zhou Yuan’s Spirit extend its arms, and prop them against the falling stamp. It was as if
thunder was rumbling loudly in her ears as the giant Spirit stamp was slowly pushed up by Zhou Yuan’s
Spirit.
Like a giant slowly lifting a mountain.
“How can this be…” Mumbled Xia Yu, her face was filled with astonishment.
1833
At the same time, the innumerable disciples in front of Spirit Rune Hall, who were still sighing over Zhou
Yuan, also saw this scene, causing earth-shaking cries of surprise to erupt.
“Oh my god… Zhou Yuan’s Spirit has lifted the stamp?!”
“How is this possible?! He’s only at the initial Corporeal stage. How can he possibly lift the stamp made
from little senior sister Xia Yu’s Spirit?!”
“.....”
The area in front of Spirit Rune Hall had fallen into an uproar.
The relaxed smile on Ye Ge’s face slowly turned rigid at this moment.
1834
Chapter 359 Breakthrough, Mid Corporeal Stage!
Before Spirit Rune Hall, countless gazes were dumbstruck as they stared at the scene in the Genesis Qi
mirror.
One could only watch as the Spirit above Zhou Yuan’s head raised both its arms, and reached towards the
falling giant Spirit stamp, before slowly lifting it!
*Uproar*!
It was as the atmosphere had exploded as a torrential flood of noise engulfed the area.
“How can this be?! How can he lift little senior sister Xia Yu’s Spirit stamp?!”
“Little senior sister Xia Yu is at the mid Corporeal stage!”
“Wasn’t Zhou Yuan being suppressed earlier?!”
“......”
The Spirit Rune Peak disciples especially were unable to believe their eyes. Every single one of them was
barely able to speak, clearly extremely shocked by the sight they had just seen.
They had originally believed Xia Yu’s victory was already set in stone. Who would have imagined such an
earth-shaking turn of events at the final moment!
“This…”
Su Wan’s mouth opened and closed as she dazedly stared at this scene, her hand still on Gu Hongyi’s
shoulder to console her to accept reality. Who could have imagined that in the blink of an eye, Su Wan
would become the one who needed accept reality instead.
“How is this possible?” Mumbled Su Wan.
Beside her, the dimness in Gu Hongyi’s eyes had completely vanished, replaced by a dazzling splendour.
She grabbed Su Wan’s wrist and said with an overwhelmingly bright smile, “Senior sister Su Wan, I told
you that it won’t be good to give a verdict before its over.”
As Gu Hongyi lifted her head to look at the young figure inside the Genesis Qi mirror, she gently bit into
her red lips. It seemed that he would never easily give up no matter what kind of difficulties he faced.
Such will power and tenacity was truly admirable to Gu Hongyi.
While Gu Hongyi was glowing with joy, the smile on Lu Xuanyin’s face rapidly turned rigid as her
complexion became ashen. It seemed that she had basically been slapped in the face by Zhou Yuan again?
1835
Beside her, the corners of Xu Yan’s mouth twitched slightly, a skin deep smile on his face as he said, “Zhou
Yuan is truly surprising…”
The only two individuals that had been able to sense Zhou Yuan’s transformation were Ye Ge and Li
Qingchan. They stared hard at Zhou Yuan’s figure, as amazement appeared in their eyes.
“His… Spirit has advanced!”
It was obvious that only by stepping into the mid Corporeal stage would his Spirit finally gain the power
to resist Xi Yu’s Spirit stamp.
In other words, Zhou Yuan’s gamble had paid off.
He had borrowed the tremendous pressure from Xia Yu’s Spirit stamp to force put himself in a dangerous
situation, allowing his Spirit to reach its limit and ultimately break through this limit, completing the
breakthrough.
It may seem simple when described, but who knew how much risk was involved.
After all, not just anyone would have the balls to challenge one’s limit at such a time, because failure
would result in terrible injuries.
But Zhou Yuan seemed to not know the meaning of fear.
Li Qingchan’s cold and clear gaze stared at his figure in amazement as she mumbled, “No wonder Yaoyao
is so confident in him, it appears that it is I who has underestimated him.”
The amazement on Ye Ge’s face slowly receded, returning to calmness. Zhou Yuan’s last-minute
breakthrough had exceeded everyone’s expectations, but it would only put him on the same level as Xia
Yu. She currently still had the power of the boundary to augment her strength, and Zhou Yuan would not
be her match even if he was also at the mid Corporeal stage.
...
Rumble!
The Spirit above Zhou Yuan’s head slowly stood up, its arms slowly lifting the giant Spirit stamp as if it
was carrying a mountain. In the end, a circular pulse of Spirit light exploded.
Dong!
The giant Spirit stamp was finally sent flying, hurling towards Xia Yu on the mountain peak.
Xia Yu beckoned with her hand, and the stamp transformed into translucent light that submerged into the
spot between her brows. She lowered her head to stare at Zhou Yuan, as she said with some admiration,
1836
“Senior brother Zhou Yuan, I never imagined that you would make use of my Spirit pressure to aid in
completing your breakthrough.”
Zhou Yuan’s decisiveness and boldness had shaken Xia Yu’s heart.
Zhou Yuan stretched his neck from side to side as he stood up from the giant crater, while his Spirit
slowly descended and submerged into his head.
“Little senior sister Xia Yu is too strong, leaving me no option but to take a risk.” Zhou Yuan chuckled as
he felt the vigorous Spirit power between his brows. His Spirit had become even more corporeal and
condensed than before, multiplying the amount of Spirit power he could utilise by over a dozen times.
This made the surroundings become even clearer in Zhou Yuan’s senses. In fact, he could already faintly
feel the paths of the flowing Genesis Qi in the vicinity.
Xia Yu looked at Zhou Yuan and earnestly said, “Senior brother Zhou Yuan, if we were not in the
boundary, it would likely be tough to predict which one of us would triumph over the other.
Unfortunately, we are in the boundary and I have the absolute homeground advantage, so I hope that you
can admit defeat because you have no chance against me.”
“It was really hard for me to reach the mid Corporeal stage, so I should give my new found strength a test
drive, right?” Zhou Yuan grinned.
Xia Yu helplessly shook her head. “It seems that senior brother Zhou Yuan has not given up yet. Since that
is so, let us continue.”
The Genesis Rune Brush in her hand began to flicker the moment the final word left her lips.
Rumble!
However, Zhou Yuan was even quicker. A rune rapidly took shape at the tip of his falling brush, and
propelled his body forward like a gust of wind.
After advancing to the mid Corporeal stage, Zhou Yuan could clearly feel his increasing swiftness and
fluidity in drawing Genesis Runes.
Xia Yu also completed her move at this moment. One could only watch as the mountain burst open,
sending out giant boulder after boulder that ruthlessly shot towards Zhou Yuan.
“Heavenly Blade Rune!”
With a shake of his wrist, the Genesis Rune Brush flitted across the air, leaving behind a complicated
rune. A sharp aura pulsed from the rune as the surrounding Genesis Qi surged towards it, transforming it
into a hundred foot long glowing blade. The deadly blade zoomed forward, seemingly leaving a cut in
space itself when it passed.
1837
Shck!
The glowing blade swept forth, slicing apart the rocks as it chopped downwards at Xia Yu like a guillotine.
However, Xia Yu quickly slammed her foot into the ground, causing thick rock walls to rise from the
mountain below her feet and block the glowing blade.
Swish! Swoosh!
Zhou Yuan took the initiative, sending out rune after rune with quick flicks of his hand. The Genesis Qi in
the area stirred as a storm of attacks engulfed Xia Yu.
However, Xia Yu met Zhou Yuan’s offensive with a fearless smile. By tapping into the endless power from
the boundary, she easily neutralized Zhou Yuan’s entire bombardment.
As Ye Ge had predicted, though advancing to the mid Corporeal stage had placed Zhou Yuan on the same
level as Xia Yu, she still had the homeground advantage from the boundary.
In the boundary, she had access to its almost boundless power.
The best outcome Zhou Yuan could achieve was to drag the fight from his almost certain defeat to a
stalemate.
But even if he managed to do so, his side would not be able to break out of the boundary.
In addition, both Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao would ultimately exhaust all of their energy as time passed,
while Jin Zhang Xia Yu would remain undefeatable due to the boundary’s power.
Ye Ge was not the only one who came to this conclusion. As the fight between the two parties continued,
more and more of the numerous disciples in front of Spirit Rune Hall also began to realize this.
“From the looks of it, Zhou Yuan won’t be able to win even after advancing to the mid Corporeal stage.”
“Turning around what looked to be almost certain defeat is already very amazing of him. He is no simple
individual.”
“He does have some ability. Unfortunately, breaking through the boundary looked to be hopeless.”
“......”
A look of pity was likewise revealed on Su Wan’s face as she remarked, “Truly a pity that he’s still unable
to obtain victory.”
This time, Gu Hongyi smiled faintly and said, “Senior sister Su Wan’s expectations are too high, it’s
already very amazing for him to have forced little senior sister Xia Yu into a deadlock.”
1838
She was clearly already very satisfied by Zhou Yuan’s performance today.
Su Wan nodded in agreement. A trace of graveness appeared in her eyes for the first time when she
looked towards Zhou Yuan again. After the earlier breakthrough, he now had the qualifications for her to
see him as an opponent.
“It seems that the outcome won’t change…”
...
Rumble!
Numerous Genesis Rune attacks collided against each other, quite a grand sight to behold.
Another wave of runes met, destroying each other.
Xia Yu looked at Zhou Yuan with her bright eyes and said, “Senior brother Zhou Yuan, why do you
continue with this useless assault, it’s only a waste of energy.”
“Is that so?”
Zhou Yuan’s gaze flashed as the Heavenly Yuan Brush in his hand suddenly jerked. Its snow-white brush
hairs abruptly shot forth, wrapping around the mountain top below Xia Yu’s feet like a long white whip,
as his figure was pulled towards the mountain in a flash.
Upon seeing this, Xia Yu pointed her brush, as a roaring stone serpent emerged and charged towards
Zhou Yuan.
The Saint Rune in Zhou Yuan’s eyes spun as his figure shot into the stone serpent’s giant mouth. A few
breaths later, a ripple violently pulsed from the serpent’s belly, the rune within its body destroyed by
Zhou Yuan.
Boom!
The stone serpent’s body exploded into countless rock fragments.
A figure shot out, dashing up the mountain in a few breaths.
Xia Yu’s hands came together, the mountain top shuddering as countless sharp spikes rose from the
ground, sealing off Zhou Yuan’s path.
However, Zhou Yuan was surprisingly quick. He shuttled past the countless earth spike, and appeared
directly in front of Xia Yu like a phantom.
1839
Xia Yu was naturally alarmed by Zhou Yuan’s sudden appearance before her, but immediately regained
her calm as she weakly said, “Senior brother Zhou Yuan, we can’t rely on our Genesis Qi cultivation here,
so it's useless even if you come all the way here.”
“Moreover, this is the core, making the power I can utilise here even stronger.”
The instant her words faded, the ground around her began to swell as rock wall after wall emerged,
looming at Zhou Yuan from all directions.
Zhou Yuan looked at the young girl before him, whose seemingly weak appearance seemed to contain a
sliver of cunningness, as he grinned and playfully said, “Is little senior sister Xia Yu really so confident in
your Spirit?”
“If so, shall I test it?”
He suddenly took a step forward, his body nearly touching Xia Yu’s.
As his male presence swept over her, Xia Yu’s face turned a little red as she took half a step back in a
somewhat panicked manner.
However, Zhou Yuan’s head suddenly loomed towards her, his face rapidly growing in Xia Yu’s eyes.
Under her panicked and alarmed gaze, he gently placed his forehead against hers.
When their foreheads touched, they could both feel each other’s breaths, their faces practically meeting.
Xia Yu’s faec instantly turned beet-red.
Before she could cry out in embarrassment, however, her expression suddenly changed. She had felt Zhou
Yuan’s Spirit ferociously charge towards her when their skin touched.
“Have a taste of the terror I’ve experienced.”
A low voice sounded in Zhou Yuan’s heart.
Xia Yu’s Spirit violently trembled, finding herself now in an endless starry sky. Her Spirit stood this starry
sky as a seemingly endless mottled divine grindstone slowly loomed towards her, bringing with it the
overwhelming aura of destruction.
In an instant, endless fear frantically rose in Xia Yu’s heart like weeds.
1840
Chapter 360 Breaking the Boundary
An impossibly gigantic mottled divine grindstone slowly loomed towards Xia Yu’s Spirit in the vast,
endless starry sky. In its presence, her Spirit felt as tiny as a grain of sand.
Terror wildly sprung up in her heart like weeds.
No matter how strong Xia Yu’s Spirit was, an uncontrollable trembling bubbled from the depths of her
Spirit in the face of this scene. She could clearly sense just how terrifying the mottled divine grindstone
before her was...
“What… what is this?!”
Even Xia Yu’s voice was shaking at this moment.
Rumble!
The mottled divine grindstone slowly approached Xia Yus’ Spirit. No matter how frantically she tried to
flee, it was useless in the face of the divine grindstone’s infinite mass.
As such, she could only powerlessly watch as it slowly crushed down onto her.
Bang!
Her Spirit seemed to shatter at this moment.
ARHHH!
A miserable shriek followed.
On the mountain top, Xia Yu’s tightly shut eyes abruptly opened, fear filling her large eyes as she
stumbled backwards with a deathly pale face.
The Spirit between her brows had turned dim, evidently injured due to the earlier sight.
As she staggered backwards, a foot suddenly found empty air, sending her body falling down a cliff.
Swish!
A stream of snow-white whizzed downwards, wrapping around her slender waist. Zhou Yuan was
perched on the cliff, looking down at the fear and panic filled eyes of Xia Yu as he smiled slightly and said,
“Thanks for the win little senior sister Xia Yu.”
1841
With a little jerk of the Heavenly Yuan Brush, he gently tossed Xia Yu towards one of the other mountain
peaks.
Xia Yu landed on the mountain, her pretty face still pale as she looked at Zhou Yuan, and asked in a
slightly shaky voice, “What did you do to me? Was that an illusion?”
But why had it felt so real? If it had been fake, she had no doubt that her tough Spirit would have been
able to easily withstand it.
Zhou Yuan merely smiled, not answering her question. It was through the divine grindstone brand
master Cang Xuan had left on his Spirit that he was able to practice the Primal Chaos Divine Grindstone
Visualisation Method.
However, those without this brand would have no way to resist the divine grindstone.
Even so, it was practically impossible for him to drag someone else’s Spirit into the divine grindstone’s
realm. If Xia Yu had not underestimated him and allowed him to approach her, he would never have
succeeded.
Fortunately for him, he had ultimately succeeded.
And now, the mountain below his feet was the exact location of the boundary core...
He raised his finger, feeling the ring on it grow increasingly hot. Yaoyao was obviously hurrying him.
Hence, Zhou Yuan slammed his foot into the ground.
Boom!
The mountain peak instantly began to crumble, cracks spreading as boulders tumbled downwards. The
original majestic mountain top was soon reduced to a pile of rubble.
...
At another location in the boundary.
Yaoyao stood on a water pillar, while the chief disciple of Spirit Rune Peak, Jin Zhang, yawned some
distance in front of her, before he playfully said, “Junior sister Yaoyao, the location of the boundary core is
about to change.”
The water pillar under her feet gradually began to shrink at this moment, evidently soon to return to the
ocean.
Once the boundary core location changed, Yaoyao’s advantage would be reset to zero.
1842
Moreover, after suffering at the hands of the illusion rune from earlier, Jin Zhang would be even more
vigilant, and try his best not to be caught by it again.
Yaoyao lowered her head to look at the gradually shrinking water pillar. Not a single ripple could be seen
on her face as she gently stroked the finger on her hand. She knew that Zhou Yuan would not be able to
use Genesis Qi in this boundary, and his battle with the number one gold sash disciple of Spirit Rune Peak
was indeed going to be quite unfavorable for him.
Thus, even if Zhou Yuan ultimately failed, Yaoyao would not feel any disappointment. In her opinion, this
boundary was actually quite good training for Zhou Yuan. If they failed today, they would just come again
tomorrow.
Until the day Zhou Yuan would finally defeat Xia Yu.
“Oh?”
However, while these thoughts were swirling in Yaoyao’s head, her expression suddenly changed for the
first time, as if sensing something.
On the surface of the ocean, Jin Zhang’s originally relaxed expression froze as he violently lifted his head
to look in a certain direction, his voice tinged with disbelief, “The second boundary core has been
destroyed? How can this be?! How can little junior sister Xia Yu lose?!”
He had just felt the second boundary core shatter, which meant that Xia Yu had lost.
A faint smile appeared on Yaoyao’s expressionless face for the first time, the breathtaking sight seemingly
giving a little more vibrancy to the ocean around her.
“All of you only thought of how to deal with me… while underestimating him.” Yaoyao’s indifferent voice
sounded.
Jin Zhang let out a bitter laugh. Come on, we’ve already dispatched the number one gold sash disciple of
Spirit Rune Peak, Xia Yu, to handle Zhou Yuan. Is this still underestimating him? How could they possibly
send out a purple sash disciple? It would only be far too disgraceful.
Yaoyao ignored his response. Since Zhou Yuan’s side was ready, there was no longer any need for her to
wait, and she immediately stomped her foot.
Crash!
The water pillar below her feet instantly began to fall apart, ultimately bursting into a spray of water.
When the water pillar shattered, the two boundary cores were completely destroyed.
The ocean swiftly began to recede.
1843
When Yaoyao and Zhou Yuan opened their eyes again, they found themselves standing before Spirit Rune
Hall, while the giant mist boundary slowly vanished.
Meanwhile, they also saw the countless shocked gazes looking at them.
The majority of which were directed at Zhou Yuan.
After all, everyone already knew of Yaoyao’s mysteriousness and immeasurable strength, but no one had
expected Zhou Yuan to triumph over Xia Yu...
One must know that she was the top gold sash disciple of Spirit Rune Peak, and one of the strongest
contenders for the upcoming purple sash selection!
Wouldn’t Zhou Yuan’s victory over her mean that he also had the qualifications to vie for the champion
spot in the purple sash selection test?
This realization was extremely astonishing to many of the disciples.
Lu Xuanyin’s pretty face was an ugly steely green, her fists tightly clenched as she gazed at Zhou Yuan,
who was currently the center of attention. As she recalled how gloating she had been earlier, it made her
feel as stupid as a clown.
The mocking words she had said earlier had now transformed into slaps that loudly smacked onto her
face.
Beside her, Xu Yan’s expression was also a little unnatural. In the end, he could only release a dry laugh
and say, “Why did little junior sister Xia Yu suddenly lose in the end? Did she decide to show mercy all of
a sudden?”
From what he could see, the mid Corporeal stage Xia Yu who could wield the power of the boundary
should not have lost.
He shook his head, turning his gaze towards the ugly looking Lu Xuanyin as he spoke some words in an
attempt to comfort her, “No need to be angry. Avoiding this setback means that the heavens are leaving
him for you to deal with. Don’t worry, I’ve already made all the preparations, and you will naturally be
able to release your frustrations during the purple sash selection.”
Only after hearing this did Lu Xuanyin’s expression ease up a little as she gave a slight nod.
At another corner of the place, a grinning Gu Hongyi said to Su Wan, “So? Didn’t I say that you shouldn’t
give your verdict so quickly?”
Su Wan opened and closed her mouth. Moments later, she sighed and responded, “I’ve been convinced.
He is far too unusual. Can’t believe he managed to bring about a reversal even at that stage. However,
what did he do to Xia Yu at the end?”
1844
From she had seen, the advantage had been with Xia Yu. Even if Zhou Yuan had stepped into the mid
Corporeal stage, the former should not have lost.
Gu Hongyi shrugged. Although she was also somewhat puzzled, she did not think about it too deeply.
After all, all was right as long as Zhou Yuan won.
Amidst the countless gasps of astonishment, Ye Ge also gradually returned to his senses. He blankly
stared at Zhou Yuan, and ultimately let out a bitter laugh. Who could have imagined that the error in his
seemingly perfect plan would be Zhou Yuan...
Li Qingchan pursed her lips, a strange look in her eyes as she looked at Zhou Yuan. She never imagined
that Yaoyao would be right...
Li Qingchan had been highly skeptical of Zhou Yuan earlier, and thus felt Yaoyao’s insistence to be
unreasonable.
However, reality now told her that she was wrong once again...
“This guy…”
She stared at Zhou Yuan with tightly pursed lips.
“Have I really underestimated him too much?”
She had no choice but to admit that Zhou Yuan had pulled off a beautiful victory.
1845
Chapter 361 Into the Hall
The area in front of Spirit Rune Hall was a boiling cauldron of voices, numerous disciples bubbling with
excitement as they gazed upon the figures of Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao, who seemed to appear exceptionally
dazzling at this moment.
The final outcome had clearly exceeded everyone’s expectations.
The boundary had been the joint effort of numerous Spirit Rune Peak disciples, with even some guidance
from peak master Bai Mei in secret. In a certain sense, it could be considered a masterpiece for those on
the level of the Spirit Rune Peak disciples.
Who could have expected that such a masterpiece would ultimately be broken by Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao.
Didn’t this mean that the two had basically faced all of the Spirit Rune Peak disciples and triumphed?
Just how amazing of an accomplishment was this?
There was now a trace of respect in the countless gazes that looked towards the duo, though most of it
was admittedly directed at Yaoyao. Everyone knew that she had been the main contributor. After all,
nearly eighty percent of the boundary’s power had to be used to deal with her.
Under everyone’s attention, Yaoyao glanced at Ye Ge and asked with icy indifference, “The boundary is
broken, can I enter the hall now?”
Upon hearing the icy indifference in Yaoyao’s tone, Ye Ge could only let out a bitter laugh as he nodded.
“Both of us broke the boundary, so Zhou Yuan should also be given the right to enter Spirit Rune Hall, am
I right?” Yaoyao mercilessly shot out another question.
Zhou Yuan’s heart shook a little when he heard this. Spirit Rune Hall was was basically Spirit Rune Peak’s
bedrock, and was home to a vast collection of numerous ancient Genesis Runes. It would greatly help his
Genesis Rune mastery if he could enter and have a look.
Since his Spirit had stepped into the mid Corporeal stage, it was a perfect time for him to be given an
opportunity to study in Spirit Rune Hall.
Ye Ge was slightly taken aback, but soon smiled in a carefree manner. “Naturally. From today, junior
sister Yaoyao and junior brother Zhou Yuan may enter Spirit Rune Hall any time you please. With the
exception of a few restricted areas, you may freely browse through any of the other texts.”
This was quite generous of him, while also showing no of the frustration or anger he should have had
after the loss. Such magnanimity caused several disciples to give faint nods of approval. As someone who
could become one of the ten great Chosens, Ye Ge was indeed an extraordinary individual.
1846
However, his magnaminty was only met by indifference from Yaoyao. In her eyes, if not for Ye Ge, she
wouldn’t have needed to show her abilities in front of so many spectators.
Someone like her who preferred peace and quiet had zero intentions of basking in the limelight.
She was clearly not fond of all these varying gazes.
“Let’s go.”
Yaoyao said to Zhou Yuan before turning around and walking towards Spirit Rune Peak, while Zhou Yuan
hastily caught up upon seeing this.
In front of Spirit Rune Peak, Jin Zhang and Xia Yu watched the two figures approach.
Jin Zhang cupped his fists together towards Yaoyao, a look of admiration coloring his eyes. The duel they
had in the boundary had given him an understanding of the extent of Yaoyao’s techniques.
Xia Yu, on the other hand, somewhat timidly hid behind Jin Zhang, as her large eyes cast a stealthy glance
at Zhou Yuan. Her fair forehead was currently a little red, evidently due to the headbutt Zhou Yuan had
given her earlier.
There was no longer any trace of the formidable and confident aura she had give off in their Genesis Rune
fight earlier, making her appear to be nothing but a shy and weak little girl.
At the sight of this, Zhou Yuan smiled apologetically at Xia Yu.
The young girl immediately blushed a little at his gaze, a trace of fear still lingering in her large eyes due
to the clash of their Spirits earlier, before she quickly hid away like a little fawn.
Creak
When the Zhou Yuan duo arrived in front of Spirit Rune Hall, its tightly shut doors automatically creaked
open. A dusty, old aura surged out, as if what was inside had experienced countless eons of change.
Yaoyao’s footstops did not pause, stepping straight inside. Zhou Yuan followed, their silhouettes
gradually fading from view under the countless watching gazes outside the hall.
The numerous disciples sighed as they watched the two figures disappear, wishing the spectacular battle
from earlier could continue.
One could easily imagine how Yaoyao’s reputation would soon reach the pinnacle amongst the
uncountable disciples in the Cangxuan Sect, standing shoulder to shoulder with the ten great Chosens.
The strength she had displayed today clearly proved that she possessed the qualifications to become on
of the Chosens.
1847
It was a fact that truly shook everyone to the very core.
Ye Ge had not moved from the spot, a melancholic expression on his face as he gazed at Spirit Rune Hall.
Li Qingchan arrived beside him, glancing at him as she said, “You’d best not have any other thoughts. If
she is truly angered, you will not be able to bear the consequences.”
Ye Ge chuckled and responded, “Can’t I try a little after meeting someone who could finally stir my
heart?”
“Although Yaoyao and Zhou Yuan are quite close, I can tell that there are no romantic feelings between
them… so I feel that I still might have a chance.”
Li Qingchan nonchalantly said, “As a woman, my intuition tells me that Yaoyao looks down on you.”
Ye Ge frowned a little. As someone who could become a Chosen of the Cangxuan Sect, he was
undoubtedly extremely talented. Though he may appear relaxed and carefree, he was also an exceedingly
prideful individual. Thus, Li Qingchan’s words were a little hard for him to accept.
“Don’t waste your effort… you should give up on such thoughts, or you may not even have the chance to
become ordinary friends.”
There seemed to be a hidden meaning in her words, that were not only directed at Ye Ge but also peak
master Bai Mei. He was the one who truly hoped that Yaoyao would stay in Spirit Rune Peak, but his
actions this time were really quite inappropriate.
Given Yaoyao’s intelligence, it would not be hard for her to figure things out. When that happened, she
may even cut all ties with Spirit Rune Peak out of anger, an act that would surely make peak master Bai
Mei want to cry in regret at his antics.
After speaking, Li Qingchan turned around and left.
Ye Ge hesitated for a moment as he watched her leave, and could ultimately only let out a sigh.
From the cold indifference Yaoyao displayed towards him, it seemed that she was indeed not the least bit
interested in him.
The crowd of disciples in front of Spirit Rune Hall gradually dispersed. One could easily imagine the
commotion that would follow after they brought news of what happened today back to their respective
peaks.
Gu Hongyi stretched lazily, revealing her enchanting curves. Her satisfied eyes narrowed slightly as she
grinned at Su Wan and said, “What do you think senior sister Su Wan?”
1848
At the sight of her pleased appearance, Su Wan retorted in a slightly annoyed manner, “What are you so
happy about, you’re not even related to him.”
She then began to closely examine Gu Hongyi as she mischievously said, “Although you’re quite a beauty
yourself, I’m afraid that you won’t be able to tug at his heart strings with Zhou Xiaoyao around.”
Gu Hongyi blushed furiously. She glared at Su Wan and said with embarrassment, “What nonsense are
you spouting, Zhou Yuan and I are only friends.”
“Is that so?” Su Wan was clearly unconvinced.
Gu Hongyi gritted her teeth, ignoring the former as she turned around and began leaving Spirit Rune
Peak.
“Heh heh, is the little lass embarrassed?” Su Wan was grinning from ear to ear as she led the group of girls
to catch up, their giggling drawing the attention of quite a few disciples.
At another corner of the place, Lu Xuanyin’s stared at Spirit Rune Hall with a stormy face.
“This Zhou Xiaoyao is quite terrifying.” Xu Yan sighed, his eyes filled with wariness and fear.
He turned his head to look at Lu Xuanyin as he smiled and said, “However, you need not worry. We may
not have any way to deal with her, but our target is Zhou Yuan after all… he isn’t that difficult to deal
with.”
“However, from the Genesis Rune mastery he has displayed, we should probably increase his threat level.
I’ll make a few more preparations when we return to ensure that junior sister Xuanyin will have the
chance to properly expel all of your resentment during the purple sash selection.”
“His spectacular performance today wil only result in numerous disciples having higher expectations of
him. In fact, some may even entertain the notion of him being qualified to vie for the championship
position. Since that is so, we will eliminate him at the start, making it such that he will be unable to even
rank amongst the top ten. I believe this will make him quite frustrated, right?”
“Hehe, I do want to find out whether Zhou Yuan’s head is harder, or my Sword Cometh Peak’s sword is
sharper.”
Lu Xuanyin nodded, a little joy and anticipation in her eyes. She had indeed somewhat underestimated
Zhou Yuan, but the ones who would be dealing with him this time were the most elite gold sash disciples
of Sword Cometh Peak.
Lu Xuanyin breathed in deeply, casting one final icy glance at Spirit Rune Hall, before turning to leave.
She did not believe that Zhou Yuan would be able to turn the tables in the face of such a line-up!
1849
Chapter 362 Disadvantageous Praise
News of the boundary breaking trial on Spirit Rune Peak ultimately spread in the sect, creating quite a
stir as expected..
As a result, Yaoyao’s already high popularity instantly soared to even greater heights, making it not the
least bit inferior to any of the ten great Chosens, making her somewhat of a legendary figure within the
sect.
In fact, it was rumored that even sect master Qing Yang and the other peak masters fell into a dispute of
sorts after the event. All of them wanted to recruit Yaoyao to their peaks.
After all, from the strength Yaoyao had displayed, she already possessed the qualifications to take one of
the seats amongst the ten great Chosens. Thus, wouldn’t recruiting her be akin to having one more
Chosens from your peak?
In the Cangxuan Sect, the resources allocated to each peak was decided one the quality of their disciples.
This was a rule that even sect master Qing Yang had to abide by.
Hence, gaining a Chosen would bestow the peak with more cultivation resources, which would be an
extremely happy occasion for everyone from the peak.
The numerous peak masters clearly knew how much effort and luck was required to groom a Chosen, so
everyone was naturally itching to get their hands on Yaoyao.
Therefore, this matter was fiercely debated over by the peak masters and sect master Qing Yang, but was
ultimately unable to be resolved due to everyone being unwilling to back down.
In the end, their chose to respect Yaoyao’s decision, and let her decide which peak to join...
While Yaoyao’s reputation began to soar into the heavens, Zhou Yuan, who had also made some
contributions in the boundary breaking trial, was also affected somewhat.
The main reason was because he had defeated Xia Yu.
Xia Yu was the number one gold sash disciple of Spirit Rune Peak, and one of the strongest contenders for
champion in the upcoming purple sash selection. Zhou Yuan’s triumph over her undoubtedly drew the
attention of many people.
Previously, news of Zhou Yuan’s participation in the purple sash selection had not really garnered much
interest, and quite a number of disciples had even laughed at him in secret for overestimating himself. It
had only been slightly over a month since he entered the inner mountains, and yet he dared to participate
in the selection. One must know that even someone as outstanding as senior brother Chu Qing had waited
half a year to take first place in the purple sash selection.
1850
As such, many felt that Zhou Yuan was grossly overestimating himself by participating.
However, such thoughts faded away like smoke after the boundary breaking trial. Although everyone
found out later on that Xia Yu had been defeated by Zhou Yuan’s Spirit attack due to being caught off
guard, it was already enough to prove that his mastery of Genesis Runes was a force to be reckoned with,
and should not be underestimated.
At this current time, just his Genesis Rune mastery alone was already enough to qualify him for the
Hence, originally overlooked Zhou Yuan became one of the more talked about individuals in the purple
sash selection, gradually becoming one of the highly supported contenders for champion, a 180 turn from
his previous treatment.
This change undoubtedly created even more uncertainty in the purple sash selection.
While the Cangxuan Sect was abuzz with news about them, Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao seemed to have
vanished from sight, locking themselves away in Spirit Rune Hall, while completely ignoring everything
else that was happening outside.
Spirit Rune Hall had begun collecting countless ancient Genesis Runes ever since the Cangxuan Sect was
established, and boasted an amazing collection. Thus, even Yaoyao had grown quite excited after
entering, wanting to bury herself here forever and never leave this place.
Zhou Yuan was likewise overjoyed by the collection in Spirit Rune Hall. However, his understanding of
Genesis Runes was not as deep as Yaoyao’s, and was thus limited to study the Genesis Runes at his level.
Even so, Spirit Rune Hall’s collection was an eye-opening experience. The numerous strange and
wondrous Genesis Runes drawing nothing but praise from him.
Hence, the two individuals spent their days submerged in the vast sea-like Spirit Rune Hall, even
forgetting the passage of time.
In a short few days, Zhou Yuan could already feel his Genesis Rune mastery increase. If he were to duel
with Xia Yu again now, he believed that he would have nothing to fear in a direct clash.
...
On a particular day.
Zhou Yuan stood in front of an old stone shelf, as he voraciously flipped through a tattered old book, the
ancient Genesis Runes recorded within captivating him deeply.
1851
Some distance away, a few Spirit Rune Peak disciples would look over from time to time, their gazes filled
with both respect and wariness. The boundary breaking trial a few days ago had clearly convinced these
proud Spirit Rune Peak disciples of his strength.
While Zhou Yuan was immersed in the old book, his ear suddenly twitched a little as a faint fragrance
entered his nose.
He lifted his head, and found an innocent looking young girl standing nearby, watching him with her large
eyes. It was the little senior sister of Spirit Rune Peak, Xia Yu.
Upon seeing Zhou Yuan look over, Xia Yu involuntarily took half a step back, but soon gritted her teeth to
stop her retreating feet.
“Is there something I can help you with little senior sister Xia Yu?” Zhou Yuan gave a hollow laugh when
he saw this. It seems that his actions back then had left quite a shadow in this little senior sister of his.
Xia Yu very cautiously approached and said in a low voice, “A junior sister from Cangxuan Peak called Gu
Hongyi asked me to pass you a message. She said to be careful of Sword Cometh Peak in the purple sash
selection.”
Zhou Yuan was taken aback, but soon began to frown. Sword Cometh Peak?
“Thank you little senior sister Xia Yu.” Zhou Yuan cupped his fists together and smiled.
Xia Yu shook her little head, her large eyes gazing at Zhou Yuan as she spoke again, “I’ve heard that you’ve
become one of the popular contenders for champion in the purple sash selection.”
“And most of the ones who spread this come from Sword Cometh Peak, creating quite a reputation for
you.”
Zhou Yuan was stunned. He and Sword Cometh Peak were not really on good terms, and he had even
played a part in disrupting Kong Sheng’s plans. Why would they so kindly build his reputation? It was
impossible.
As he gazed upon Xia Yu’s large and bright eyes, a certain notion suddenly struck him, and he calmly
remarked, “What a brilliant plan.”
They were obviously intending to put him on a pedestal, making everyone feel that he had a chance at the
championship. Afterwhich, they would send him crashing to the ground, making his fall hurt even more
than it should.
The one who had thought of this was truly insidious.
Zhou Yuan cupped his hands towards Xia Yu again. The girl before him was clearly a smart one, and had
seen through their intentions. Hence why she had come to warn him.
1852
“Little junior sister Xia Yu, I’m really sorry about before.” The girl had held no grudge against him, and
even came to inform him of this critical information. This act made Zhou Yuan feel quite apologetic for
being so ruthless during the trial.
Xia Yu shook her head, casting one last glance at Zhou Yuan, before she turned her head in
embarrassment and left.
Zhou Yuan frowned as he watched her leave. It seems that his spectacular performance had made some
people raise his danger level, resulting in them coming up with such tactics to beat him into his place
during the purple sash selection.
“Your luck with women is not bad…” While Zhou Yuan was lost in thought, a slightly teasing voice rang
out behind him.
He turned his head, and saw Yaoyao leaning against a stone shelf, the corners of her lips slightly raised as
she looked at him.
Under the stare of her clear eyes, Zhou Yuan let out a forced laugh and said, “Little senior sister Xia Yu is
just a kind girl.”
Yaoyao lazily responded, “You’d better remember where we currently are. If you don’t want trouble,
don’t have designs on the little flower on other’s peaks.”
Zhou Yuan’s gaze scanned the area. Sure enough, he discovered some hints of unfriendliness in the eyes
of the Spirit Rune Peak disciples, as if unable to believe he actually dared to seduce their little senior
sister.
The corners of Zhou Yuan’s lips could not help but twitch.
Yaoyao seemed to smile as she threw an old book to Zhou Yuan.
“You should fool around less. I picked this out for you. If you don’t want to end up being targeted during
the purple sash selection, I advise you to learn it during these next few days.”
Zhou Yuan hastily caught the book, his eyes widening slightly as his gaze swept across it.
“Heavenly Lightning and Mystical Fire Boundary.”
Yaoyao nonchalantly explained, “This boundary should be your limit for now. Once you master it, it will
become one of your trump cards.”
Zhou Yuan was elated, a smile revealing itself on his handsome face as he cornily said, “Big sis Yaoyao still
treats me the best.”
“Heh…”
1853
The corners of Yaoyao’s red lips slightly curved upwards, before turning around to leave with a swish of
her black hair.
“You should save such words to trick other young ladies, they won’t have any effect on me…”
1854
Chapter 363 Taoyao Wine
A study room of sorts in Spirit Rune Hall.
Zhou Yuan sat before a desk with a serious expression, the Heavenly Yuan Brush in his hand. A jade tablet
had been placed in front of him. His brush fell, emitting a faint glow as almost magical strokes appeared
one after another, while the surrounding Genesis Qi faintly began to gather over.
He was in a state of complete focus, the brush in his hand continuing to twirl for quite some time. With a
final faint jerk of his wrist, he breathed a sigh of relief as if a heavy burden had been lifted from his
shoulders as he gazed upon the rune that now adorned the jade tablet.
Zhou Yuan carefully placed the jade tablet on the table, where dozens upon dozens of other jade tablets
could be found. On each tablet, one would find a complex Genesis Rune.
For the past month, he had been studying the Heavenly Lightning and Mystical Fire Boundary Yaoyao had
selected for him.
This boundary was strong even amongst grade 4 boundaries, and successfully setting it up required one
to coordinate several hundred Genesis Runes. For the sake of mastering these runes, Zhou Yuan spent an
entire month tirelessly practicing.
The tremendous effort and energy invested pushed even Zhou Yuan to his limits, oftentimes finding
himself so tired that he would fall asleep mid practice.
Fortunately, he had managed to endure this rigorous training, and was now quite confident in drawing
the several hundred runes that composed the Heavenly Lightning and Mystical Fire Boundary.
However, being able to draw these runes did not mean much, because these runes were only akin to the
components of a machine. To complete the boundary, he would still need to properly assemble them
together.
This required even more practice.
Creak.
The study room door was pushed open as Yaoyao walked in with a stack of ancient texts in her arms. She
arrived in front of the table and dumped her load, before fluidly swiping up the Genesis Rune jade tablets
in front of Zhou Yuan.
She quickly checked through them, only taking a minute to separate a dozen jade tablets from the pile.
She then pointed towards the dozen separated tablets and said, “These do not meet the mark, redo them.”
A pained look immediately filled Zhou Yuan’s face.
1855
Yaoyao’s bright eyes swept a glance at him as she said, “Although these runes of yours are barely
passable, some of the strokes are not satisfactory. They may seem fine at first glance, but if you use them
to assemble the boundary, these tiny imperfections will cause the entire boundary to fall apart.”
“If you don’t plan on your hard work culminating into a defective product that can be easily destroyed
with a few attacks, you’d better obediently practice more.”
After being lectured by Yaoyao, Zhou Yuan could only nod with a bitter smile.
However, after knocking him down a peg, Yaoyao gave a faint nod and said, “But reaching this level in a
month is already pretty good.”
Truthfully speaking, ‘pretty good’ was quite an understatement. If any of the Spirit Rune Peak disciples
found out about this, their jaws would surely drop from shock. The Heavenly Lightning and Mystical Fire
Boundary was a grade 4 boundary that boasted astonishing power. Most disciples would take at least half
a year just to grasp the basics.
Zhou Yuan took out another jade tablet and placed it in front of him as he chuckled. “Don’t worry, I will
fully master it before the purple sash selection.”
Yaoyao nodded in satisfaction, looking as if her efforts on a little child had paid off.
She gracefully seated herself beside him and said, “I’ve been hearing that you’ve become quite a hot topic
with regards to the purple sash selection, even catching up to the first seat gold sash disciples from the
master factions of their respective peaks.”
She seemed to ponder as she continued, “It seems that someone plans for you to have a rather bad fall.”
Compared to Xia Yu and the other master faction’s first seat gold sash, Zhou Yuan’s foundations were
quite shallow. And yet, he had someone been hyped up. It was clear that someone was pulling the strings,
intending to make a fool of him during the purple sash selection.
“It should be someone from Sword Cometh Peak…” Zhou Yuan was not surprised as he smiled and said, “I
played a part in foiling Kong Sheng’s plans in Genesis reservoir, and since they don’t dare to go after you,
they have naturally turned their sights to an easier target like myself.”
Yaoyao gently tapped the table, her bright eyes looking towards Zhou Yuan as she said in a low voice,
“Patriarch Cang Xuan mentioned that he suspects his death has something to do with the Cangxuan
Sect…”
“Could the Sword Cometh Peak master Ling Jun have…”
Zhou Yuan raised his head, and exchanged a look with Yaoyao as she fell silent.
1856
“We cannot make wild guesses without any evidence.” Zhou Yuan muttered as he shook his head. “The
implications of such matters are too great. Without any evidence, even sect master Qing Yang would not
dare carelessly take action.”
Yaoyao gave a slight nod, not speaking any further on the topic. Such matters were still far beyond them.
The most important thing now was to somehow make Zhou Yuan the chief disciple by the year end,
before entering the sealed main peak, and obtaining the second Saint Rune.
She had the feeling that someone would certain begin to move in the sect when the Saint Genesis Peak’s
main peak was opened once again.
The two decided not to dwell any longer on this topic, and began to busy themselves with other tasks.
Yaoyao flipped through the ancient texts she had brought in earlier. A long while later, a soft gasp of
surprise suddenly sounded. Zhou Yuan raised his head, only to find that her a look of joy on Yaoyao’s
usually cold and expressionless face.
She was currently holding an aged yellow piece of tattered paper, happiness clearly present on her face.
“What is it?” Zhou Yuan could not stop his curiosity. What could possibly cause Yaoyao to show such an
expression?
Yaoyao’s pink tongue gently licked her red lips, before passing the tattered paper to Zhou Yuan with
sparkling eyes.
Zhou Yuan received it and took a look. He was first struck by confusion, before black lines began to
appear on his forehead. He realised that he was looking at an extremely old alcohol brewing method.
“Making a fuss about nothing.” Said Zhou Yuan in a grumpy voice.
Yaoyao softly snorted and said, “What do you know. This is obviously a long lost recipe, and it's a great
fortune to have encountered it here.”
Her fingers lightly tapped the surface of the tablet, her other hand propping up her cheek as she looked at
Zhou Yuan and said, “I want you to make it for me.”
Zhou Yuan’s eyes widened. The little miss was quite the character, to think that she could so righteously
make such a request.
“How can I possibly know how to make it!”
Yaoyao stood up, her palms leaning on the table as her body stretched forward. Her beautiful face looked
down at Zhou Yuan, a whiff of fragrance surging towards him as she expressionlessly said, “Are you going
to do it?”
1857
With her face at such close proximity, Zhou Yuan’s mouth immediately went dry, his eyes spinning in
thought as he asked, “Is there any reward?”
“What kind of reward do you want?” Yaoyao seemed to smile.
Zhou Yuan wet his lips and blinked.
Before he could speak, however, Yaoyao’s cold hand reached out and gently rubbed Zhou Yuan’s face. Just
as he was beginning to enjoy the sensation, she suddenly smiled icily as she pinched his ear.
“Zhou Yuan, it seems that you’ve become quite a bad boy. To think that you would even dare to take
advantage of me. Do you believe that I will let Tuntun devour you?”
In a corner of the room, Tuntun snorted as it disdainfully glanced at Zhou Yuan, before turning around to
to show him its round butt.
Zhou Yuan’s face twitched. In the end, he hastily begged for forgiveness. “Alright, alright, I’ll think of a
way to help you!”
Only then did Yaoyao sit back down in satisfaction. “Good boy. Hmm, I’ve thought of a name for it… it
shall be called Taoyao wine.”
With both hands propping up each cheek, a look of anticipation rose on her face.
Zhou Yuan rolled his eyes, but could not help but chuckle in his heart. He could feel that Yaoyao’s
aloofness and indifference was slowly fading recently. Of course, this was only towards himself… in
addition, he could sense that Yaoyao had grown much more comfortable with him.
This should be them growing closer, right?
He glanced at the unknown recipe before him, before turning to view the rare sliver of anticipation in
Yaoyao’s bright eyes as he grinned a little.
Back then, master Cang Yuan had entrusted Yaoyao to him in hopes that he would take care of her, but for
the past few years, it had been Yaoyao who was always helping him instead. Without her, Zhou Yuan did
not know if he would have managed to make it all the way here.
Hence...
I will do whatever you want, even if it's to reach out and pluck the stars from the sky.
Time quietly flowed in the Cangxuan Sect, as the purple sash selection rapidly neared...
1858
As the event approached, the atmosphere around the Cangxuan Sect gradually began to bubble with
excitement, once again drawing everyone’s eyes.
After all, for many disciples, the promotion to purple sash represented both glory and status, which was
also their key concerns. As such, even the buzz over the boundary breaking trial in Spirit Rune Peak
gradually began to be smothered by the hype for the upcoming purple sash selection...
With the purple sash selection just around the corner, the most widely discussed topic in the sect became
who would become the champion, many disciples even betting amongst themselves.
The highly supported contenders consisted of Su Wan from Cangxuan Peak, Wu Yue of Hongya Peak, Mu
Chunlei of Snow Lotus Peak, Le Tian of Sword Cometh Peak, Wang Chen of Lightning Prison Peak and Xia
Yu of Spirit Rune Peak… these individual were the first seat gold sash disciples of their respective master
factions, and most formidable amongst the participants. Thus, their popularity.
Many people predicted that the champion would be decided amongst them.
Right on their heels, was no one other than Zhou Yuan. Due to his surprising display on Spirit Rune Peak
and certain hidden forces, Zhou Yuan became quite a popular contender, nearly even catching up to the
top few.
This led to quite a number of disciples feeling rather confident in Zhou Yuan, even betting heavily on him.
However, several of the more informed disciples merely shook their heads and sneered at such
behaviour. Zhou Yuan had indeed been quite dazzling in the boundary breaking trial, even managing to
break through Xia Yu’s defense. However, everyone found out later on that he had merely managed to
catch her off guard.
After all, though Zhou Yuan’s Spirit cultivation had ascended to the next level, he was still very new to the
mid Corporeal stage. Xia Yu, on the other hand, was certainly more experienced, and her foundations
could only be sturdier than Zhou Yuan’s.
Moreover, Zhou Yuan’s trump cards had already been revealed during the trial, enabling the other
participants to take precautionary measures. Therefore, it would not be very likely for him to catch
anyone off guard any more.
At the very least, the majority felt that a prepared Xia Yu should be able to triumph over Zhou Yuan.
Thus, many felt very skeptical about Zhou Yuan being a championship contender, and believed that his
true face would be revealed when the purple sash selection began.
Hence, some of the more discerning disciples paid no heed to the recent hype surrounding Zhou Yuan,
even lecturing the disciples that had placed bets on Zhou Yuan, shaking their heads and calling them fools
if they still did not listen.
1859
Nonetheless, Zhou Yuan now had a spot amongst the championship contenders.
One could not help but admit that certain people were quite talented at hyping him up.
Under this atmosphere, the highly anticipated purple sash selection slowly arrived.
1860
Chapter 364 Before the Selection
When the day of the purple sash selection arrived, the entire Cangxuan Sect seem to fall into a frenzy, the
atmosphere so infectious that even the surrounding Genesis Qi seemed to stir excitedly.
Although the participating disciples were only a tiny fraction of the entire sect, it did not stop the purple
sash selection from becoming one of the grandest occasions in the sect.
In fact, the attention drawn by this event was second only to the year end chief disciple selection trial.
After all, though the disciples may not be qualified to participate now, that day would eventually come,
and this selection would be the path they would have to take to be promoted.
Purple sash disciples were the true elites and backbone of the Cangxuan Sect.
While also the goal every disciple worked hard towards.
After becoming a purple sash disciple, one’s treatment and status would far surpass the other disciples,
becoming the envy of everyone.
Hence, it was not strange for the purple sash disciple to garner so much attention.
A certain purple Genesis cave dwelling.
Prepared and ready, Zhou Yuan’s eyes could not help but brighten when he saw Yaoyao walk out of the
little house. She was wearing a light green top and trousers today, the trousers lightly hugging her tiny
waist while making her legs appear exceptionally long and slender. Her usually unbound hair was
currently tied up behind her head, revealing her fair and graceful neck that seem to glow under the light.
This attire made Yaoyao appear full of youthful vitality, a slight change from her usual aloofness.
Yaoyao slowly walked over with Tuntun in her arms as she swept a glance at Zhou Yuan.
“So pretty.” Zhou Yuan was not stingy with his praise.
However, Yaoyao was completely unaffected, her red lips opening slightly as she said, “How’s the
progress on my Taoyao Wine?”
Zhou Yuan’s face instantly turned rigid as he awkwardly said, “I’m still in the research phase… the recipe
is not simple, and all the Genesis Resources required are not easy to find.”
“A hundred year Dragon Blood Peach, Clear Spirit Rice, Mystic Sea Spring Water…”
1861
At this point, Zhou Yuan could not help but wet his lips. All of these Genesis Resources were extremely
rare, and he had not managed to find a single one in the inner sect’s Glittering Jewels Pavilion. It was
obvious that this unknown recipe from Spirit Rune Hall was no ordinary wine.
In fact, such high quality ingredients could probably be used to refine several extraordinary pills.
Of course, given Yaoyao’s standards, ordinary alcohol would not be able to stir her heart.
In response to Zhou Yuan’s complaints, Yaoyao face was akin to the calm ocean. She merely gently
stroked Tuntun’s soft fur as she said in a clear voice, “So?”
Her tone made alarm bells ring in Zhou Yuan’s head. He immediately smiled and said, “So I will put in
even more effort to search for these ingredients, and help big sis Yaoyao brew it as soon as possible!”
Tuntun cast a disdainful look over. This guy really didn’t have a backbone!
However, Yaoyao appeared quite satisfied by Zhou Yuan’s attitude, the corners of her red lips raising
slightly as she said, “Are you properly prepared for the purple sash selection?”
Zhou Yuan nodded with a smile of confidence.
“Don’t worry, I’m also itching to see what Sword Cometh Peak’s meticulous planning and efforts will
amount to.”
They had invested much thought and effort into promoting him or the purple sash selection, obviously
not out of good will. Hence, whatever tricks they had would soon be revealed today.
No matter what moves they had, Zhou Yuan would just have to receive them.
The duo walked out of the cave dwelling, riding on a Genesis Qi cloud as they arrived on one of the
mountains of Saint Genesis Peak. At this current moment, practically all of the disciples from Saint
Genesis Peak’s three factions were gathered here.
In a grand event like the purple sash selection, even sect master Qing Yang and the other peak masters
would be present. Hence, the elders of the various peaks would bring all of their disciples to watch.
This was why the three elders Shen Taiyuan, Lu Hong, Lu Song and their disciples were already here
when Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao arrived.
The duo caused quite a stir the moment they appeared. After all, they were in a sense the most well
known disciples of Saint Genesis Peak.
1862
Shen Taiyuan’s disciples greeted them with warm gazes, Zhou Tai, Shen Wanjin and gang quickly
crowding over like stars around the moon.
Zhou Tai’s candidly said, “Haha, junior brother Zhou Yuan, I’ve placed quite a big bet of five thousand
Genesis jade pieces on you this time. You’ve got to do your best or I’ll be going hungry next month.”
“I’ve also put my entire fortune of two thousand Genesis jade pieces on you. Little Yuan Bro, whether or
not I make it big will depend on you.” Said Shen Taiyuan with a flattering smile, his chubby face giving off
an oily gleam.
The other disciples also laughed along, declaring how much they had bet one after another.
Zhou Yuan smiled as he acknowledged everyone. As his reputation grew step by step during the last three
months, Shen Taiyuan’s disciples had gradually begun to accept him, and were now much friendlier.
The talent and battle achievements Zhou Yuan had racked up had convinced them of his abilities,
dispersing the feeling of unfairness they had previously towards his preferential treatment.
Of course, this was with the exception of Zhang Yan and his lackeys.
The disciples from the other two factions looked over with complicated expressions.
Lu Yan muttered under her breath as she watched the numerous disciples crowd around Zhou Yuan. She
had been in secluded cultivation when Yaoyao and him went to Spirit Rune Peak, and was thus quite
surprised when she heard the sensational news later on.
Zhou Yuan’s reputation in the Cangxuan Sect was rapidly rising, clearly on his way to become a dark
horse of sorts. Although he was still a ways from matching the ten great Chosens, he could already be
considered an influential figure in the sect.
“What a pity, if teacher Lu had insisted a little more back then, Zhou Yuan may have ended up joining our
faction. The entire Cangxuan Sect has probably already heard of Shen Taiyuan’s faction by now…”
Lu Yan glared at the disciple that had spoken and said, “Don’t spout nonsense, what can a single Zhou
Yuan possibly change? He may be talented, but he still has some ways to go.”
“The Spirit Rune Peak affair was mainly Yaoyao’s efforts, while Zhou Yuan merely provided some
assistance. I’ve no idea what those people are thinking to hype him up so much recently.”
She coldly snorted. “There will be no problem if Zhou Yuan is able to remain level-headed, but if he really
thinks he’s so great due to such gossip, the fall will only become even more painful if he fails.”
Although Lu Yan did not fully understand what was happening, she was no ordinary disciple after all, and
could faintly sense that something was amiss about this situation.
1863
If Zhou Yuan was not careful during the purple sash selection, he would likely have to pay a painful price.
While Lu Yan and the rest were whispering amongst themselves, Lu Hong’s disciples watched with the
cold eyes of bystanders.
Wei Youxuan and the gang in particular had rather ominous expressions with a sliver of mockery hidden
within.
“Zhou Yuan, celebrate while you can…”
“Once the purple sash selection begins, you will realise that you’re just a pathetic little clown!”
1864
A majestic mountain range towered across the land, the mountains separated by giant snaking rivers.
Mists swirled around the mountains, giving them a solemn and grand aura.
This mountain range was the location of the purple sash selection, and was known as the Purple
Mountains.
It had also become the busiest place in the entire Cangxuan Sect today.
Countless glowing figures seemed to fill the sky as they landed on the mountains in the vicinity of the
Purple Mountains, causing the spacious land to become rather crowded and noisy.
The popularity of the purple sash selection was evidently far from ordinary.
A Genesis Qi cloud descended from the sky, landing on one of the mountain tops. Shen Taiyuan waved his
sleeve, dispersing the Genesis Qi as the figures of numerous disciples were revealed, Zhou Yuan and
Yaoyao included amongst them.
The group were quite excited as they gazed upon the lively spectacle. An occasion as grand as this only
occurred a few times a year after all.
“Is this the venue of the purple sash selection?” Zhou Yuan curiously lifted his gaze to observe the
majestic, unbroken mountain range. Ancient trees towered within the extremely lush foliage, which was
also blanketed by a layer of mist, giving the place a somewhat mysterious air.
“That’s right, this place is known as the Purple Mountains, and every purple sash selection will take place
here.” Shen Taiyuan stood beside Zhou Yuan, his normally strict and stern old face filled with a smile
when he looked towards his disciple. One could tell that Zhou Yuan’s surprising battle achievements
made Shen Taiyuan treat the former as a treasure.
“All of the participants will be sent into this mountain range to compete for victory.”
Zhou Yuan nodded. Looks like the purple sash selection was a free-for-all brawl of sorts, making it much
more complicated than the one on one bracket type duels, because it represents chaos and the lack of
rules.
Everything would be for the sake of obtaining victory in the end.
“Zhou Yuan, there are not many rules for the purple sash selection, and all kinds of tactics can be
employed. The sect won’t say much as long as lives aren’t threatened.” Shen Taiyuan looked towards
Zhou Yuan and cautioned, “After all, the sect does not wish to nurture disciples that purely have strength
without wit and tactic.”
1865
Zhou Yuan nodded in agreement. The disciples in the sect did not face much dangers, but there would
eventually come a time when they would have to leave on missions. The situation in Cangxuan Heaven
was complicated, and even the disciples of a titan like the Cangxuan Sect would encounter numerous
dangers outside. If all one had was recklessness, one would not survive for long.
However, such chaos would also make it even more uncertain and dangerous for him.
Especially knowing that someone from Sword Cometh Peak would be targeting him.
“Zhou Yuan, I know that you are eager, but there are many strong opponents. My advice to you is not to
aim for champion, but take success as managing to rank amongst the top ten and be promoted to purple
sash.” Said Shen Taiyuan.
Zhou Yuan smiled and nodded. “Don’t worry teacher Shen, I will naturally take a step back if the situation
does not bode well and give up on vying for first.”
Shen Taiyuan nodded, before pointing towards the misty mountain range as he said, “There are ten peaks
in the depths of the Purple Mountains. The ten individuals who manage to ascend these ten peaks will be
the top ten.”
A thoughtful look rose on Zhou Yuan’s face. “Then how will the champion be decided?”
Shen Taiyuan answered, “You guys will only find out after ascending the ten mountains, because it may
be different from the past selections.”
Zhou Yuan nodded. He had nothing more to ask.
Not long after they arrived, a Genesis Qi cloud suddenly descended from the sky. A white skirt fluttered in
the wind, revealing Li Qingchan’s figure.
She directly landed next to Yaoyao, immediately causing countless burning gazes to look over. These two
were after all the top beauties of the Cangxuan Sect, and just the sight of them standing together would
make one’s heart beat a little faster.
Li Qingchan paid no heed to these gazes, merely sweeping a glance at Zhou Yuan, who was standing next
to Shen Taiyuan, as she said, “I’m afraid that things will be difficult for Zhou Yuan during this selection.
Yaoyao did not comment, merely continuing to stroke Tuntun.
Li Qingchan stared at Yaoyao’s face and said, “I can ask the Snow Lotus Peak disciples to aid him as
repayment for the favor you did me. How about it?”
Her prideful nature made her feel that she owed Yaoyao due to the Genesis reservoir affair. Hence, she
was always trying to find a way to repay the former to remove the discomfort she felt whenever she met
Yaoyao.
1866
Yaoyao thought for a moment, before she shook her head and leisurely said, “I feel… that he doesn’t need
it.”
Li Qingchan’s brows knitted together. “Aren’t you overestimating him too much? Do you know how many
individuals are after him? Your Saint Genesis Peak only has a handful of participants, and look like they
won’t be much of a help anyways.”
“So he’ll have to depend on himself.” Said Yaoyao.
Li Qingchan placed extra emphasis on her words as she said, “Do you really think that he can challenge all
of the first seat gold sash disciples from the various factions of Sword Cometh Peak alone? Every single
one of them is no weaker than Wei Youxuan.”
She clearly felt that Yaoyao’s earlier words were far too irresponsible.
The corners of Yaoyao’s lips raised slightly. “If he can’t, he deserves to be beaten. It’ll teach him to be
more serious about his cultivation in the future.”
Li Qingchan was speechless, but she knew that these weren’t Yaoyao’s true feelings. The former fell silent
for a moment, before she said, “Do you really believe that he can take on Sword Cometh Peak?”
“We’ll know once he tries. Anyhow, he’s the one that will be humiliated if he loses.” Yaoyao seemed to
smile as she spoke.
Li Qingchan stared at Zhou Yuan’s figure. In the end, she turned towards Yaoyao and seriously said, “I
believe that he can’t.”
“Why not we wait and see.”
...
The Sword Cometh Peak disciples were gathered on a giant mountain relatively close to the Purple
Mountains. At this current time, Lu Xuanyin, Xu Yan and gang had congregated at a certain location on the
mountain peak.
Lu Xuanyin’s gaze was slightly cold as she looked towards a mountain in the distance where Zhou Yuan
and the rest were currently standing. Yaoyao’s presence had made their location quite apparent.
“I’ve heard that many disciples have bet on Zhou Yuan.” Xu Yan wore a faint smile beside her.
He too cast his gaze towards at Zhou Yuan as he playfully said, “But that’s fine, the higher their
expectations, the greater their disappointment and anger when he falls.”
“It is time for us to let this smooth sailing junior brother of ours encounter a setback, so that he won’t
become too arrogant and feel that there’s no one with ability in our Cangxuan Sect.”
1867
Lu Xuanyin nodded, a surge of happiness flashing in her eyes. Looks like the bitter frustration and
resentment she held in her heart for several months was finally going to be released.
“Junior brother Le Tian, we’ll have to inconvenience you this time.” Xu Yan smiled at a young man beside
him, who seemed to always wear a warm smile on his face, making him look extremely friendly
approachable.
It was the first seat gold sash disciples of Sword Cometh Peak’s master faction, Le Tian.
Le Tian wore his usual smile as he said, “I met senior brother Zhao Zhu last night.”
“Senior brother Zhao Zhu?” Both Xu Yan and Lu Xuanyin jumped at the mention of this name. This was
the second Chosen of their Sword Cometh Peak, whose reputation and influence was second only to Kong
Sheng.
Xu Yan hastily asked, “What did senior brother Zhao Zhu say?”
“He told me that youngsters these days are too proud, and should be taught a little lesson. He assures us
that we can do whatever we want.” Le Tian grinned.
Joy immediately surfaced in the eyes of Xu Yan and Lu Xuanyin. They never imagined that even senior
brother Zhao Zhu would stand on their side. It seems that Zhou Yuan had really stuck out too much
recently.
With Zhao Zhu’s words, there would no longer be any reservations in the hearts of the Sword Cometh
Peak disciples.
Xu Yan and Lu Xuanyin exchanged a look, and could not help but chuckle.
Zhou Yuan, you’re all out of chances now.
Clang! Clang!
The excitement in the vicinity of the Purple Mountains grew more and more intense as time passed. The
hot sun rose in the sky, hanging high above the land. It was at this moment that clanging suddenly began
echoing across the place.
Soon after, every disciple felt a grand aura descend from the sky, accompanied by an indescribable
pressure that caused the land to tremble.
Innumerable disciples raised their heads in reverence as they watched several glowing figures descend
from the sky, ultimately landing on the highest mountain in the vicinity of the Purple Mountains where
several stone seats stood.
1868
The glowing figures seated themselves as the light faded, revealing their appearances.
It was sect master Qing Yang and the six peak masters!
“Greetings sect master!”
“Greetings peak masters!”
All the disciples and elders bowed as they cupped their fists together.
Sect master Qing Yang faintly nodded with a smile. Soon after, his booming voice rang out.
“It is time. The disciples may enter the mountains!”
In the wake of his words, the entire place instantly erupted into noise.
The long awaited purple sash selection had finally begun.
1869
Chapter 366 Selection Battles
Rumble!
The entire place seemed to explode when sect master Qing Yang’s booming voice sounded.
Swish! Swish!
Under the excited gazes of countless disciples, glowing figure after figure suddenly rose from the ground,
flying past the grand winder rivers as they swarmed towards the misty mountain range.
All of the participating disciples had begun moving at this moment, creating a rather grand sight.
Zhou Yuan took in a deep breath as he watched this scene, feeling the blood in his body faintly beginning
to boil under this atmosphere.
“Go get them senior/junior brother Zhou Yuan!”
Yelled his surrounding fellow disciples to boost his morale. Zhou Yuan was going to represent their
faction after all, and if he managed to win, it would also make them well known in the Cangxuan Sect.
Zhou Yuan cupped his fists together towards the crowd and smiled. His gaze then turned towards Yaoyao,
as she sent a faint smile towards him, “Li Qingchan made a bet with me, so you’d better not end up
shaming me.”
The corners of Zhou Yuan’s mouth twitched as he helplessly shook his head. Without further ado, his foot
pushed off the ground, sending his figure soaring into the air, transforming into a glowing silhouette that
landed towards the misty mountain range.
On another peak far away, Lu Xuanyin’s coldly watched Zhou Yuan fly into the mountain range as she let
out an icy chuckle. In the next instant, her figure also shot forth.
Under the thunderous cheers all around, numerous disciples made their way into the arena.
After they were in, Genesis Qi began to gather in the sky above, transforming into many mirrors. The
numerous participants could be seen in the mirrors, allowing the disciples outside to spectate.
On a certain mountain peak, Gu Hongyi gazed at the mirrors, evidently searching for Zhou Yuan’s figure.
Upon seeing this, the several girls crowding around her broke into grins and said, “Senior sister Hongyi,
are you looking for Zhou Yuan again?”
1870
“Aren’t you a little too concerned about him?”
“What about our fellow Cangxuan Peak disciples, can’t you show them a little attention too?”
Gu Hongyi rolled her eyes in response to their teasing, ignoring these talkative girls as she continued her
search.
At this moment, a group of male Cangxuan Peak disciples approached. A young man in blue robes was
leading them, appearing quite handsome with his somewhat long and narrow eyes.
Around his waist was a purple sash, clearly revealing his status.
Upon seeing him walk over, the eyes of the girls around Gu Hongyi brightened as they called out, “Senior
brother Qin Lan!”
Qin Lan was clearly quite famous in Cangxuan Peak, and was an elite even amongst the purple sash
disciples. In addition, everyone knew that he was currently interested in Gu Hongyi.
“Junior sister Hongyi.” Qin Lan displayed a faint smile at them before looking towards Gu Hongyi.
Gu Hongyi swept a glance at him and nodded as she half-heartedly said, “Oh, it’s senior brother Qin Lan.”
Her gaze returned the Genesis Qi mirrors, only pausing a few moments later when she found that familiar
figure, as a smile appeared on her pretty face.
Qin Lan followed her gaze as his eyes narrowed slightly. “Junior brother Zhou Yuan might be in quite a
pickle. I’m afraid that it will be unlikely for him to be ranked amongst the top ten.”
Gu Hongyi frowned, her tone turning a little cold as she said, “Isn’t senior brother Qin Lan being a little
too presumptuous.”
Qin Lan merely chuckled. “From what I know, the first agenda of the Sword Cometh Peak disciples led by
Le Tian is to surround and eliminate Zhou Yuan. Does junior sister Hongyi believe that he has any chance
against such a line-up?”
Gu Hongyi’s expression changed slightly. She was only aware that Lu Xuanyin would be targeting Zhou
Yuan, and never expected that the Sword Cometh Peak’s Le Tian would also be a part of this.
Did Lu Xuanyin really command so much respect?
Qin Lan’s smile grew when he saw Gu Hongyi’s expression change. There was a mocking look in his eyes
as he turned towards the figure in the mirror, as he seemed to sincerely say, “Junior brother Zhou Yuan is
too brash. He’s clearly just a new disciple, and yet he seems to love shamelessly basking in the limelight.
It will be good for him to be taught a lesson now since our fellow disciples will not take things too far.
1871
Otherwise, if he offends someone outside the sect in the future, the price he pays then will be much, much
worse.”
Gu Hongyi shot an icy look at him, deciding to pay no attention to him as she walked away.
Qin Lan did not seem to mind her actions. As he watched Zhou Yuan’s figure in the mirror, his gaze
seemed to become a little deeper and darker.
“Le Tian… if you’re going to teach him a lesson, you’d better do it properly and with a little more
violence.”
“I’ve heard Hongyi has even asked junior sister Su Wan to help him? Hehe, it just so happens that I’m on
quite good terms with junior brother Wang Chen of Lightning Prison Peak, and have secretly made a
request of him earlier…”
Zhou Yuan’s figure penetrated the mist, landing on the vast mountain range. The mist partially obstructed
his vision, making his surroundings appear rather hazy. However, he was still clearly able to sense
several Genesis Qi undulations nearby.
“Participants, the ten peaks are located in the depths of this mountain range, and are locked behind stone
doors. To open these doors, you will need to acquire twenty seals to use as a key.”
“To obtain a seal, you will only need to defeat one of the other participants.”
“Thus, for the sake of obtaining the key to ascend the ten peaks, go forth and defeat the other
participants.”
Sect master Qing Yang’s voice thundered across the mountains after Zhou Yuan and the rest entered.
“Twenty seals?”
Zhou Yuan’s eyes narrowed when he heard this. Didn’t this mean that one would have to defeat twenty
disciples in order to open the stone doors and ascend the peaks? This was quite a harsh condition.
After all, those that could participate in the selection were not ordinary individuals. One would likely
have to go through a tough battle in order to obtain a single seal.
“As expected of the purple sash selection, the difficulty is pretty crazy.” Zhou Yuan sighed.
However, there was no fear in his eyes, but instead a burning eagerness. This purple sash selection was
the perfect opportunity to polish his abilities.
Rumble!
1872
Amidst this, he could sense berserk Genesis Qi explosions occurring in the mountain range, a sign that the
battles had already begun.
The rules announced by sect master Qing Yang pitted the numerous disciples against each other, causing
intense fights to break out almost immediately.
Zhou Yuan did not linger any further. With a push of his foot, his figure shot towards the depths of the
mountain range.
Swoosh!
Zhou Yuan’s toes brushed past a tree branch, when his eyes suddenly widened.
Boom!
Berserk Genesis Qi exploded above him, followed by a roar. One could only watch as a figure appeared,
ferocious Genesis Qi sweeping towards Zhou Yuan like a storm.
This person had clearly been hiding, waiting for an opportunity to launch a sneak attack when someone
else came along.
The powerful attack loomed towards him, but not a single ripple could be seen in Zhou Yuan’s eyes. His
five fingers swiftly formed a fist, the azure Heavenly Serpent Scales rapidly emerging as a punch was sent
towards the figure descending from above.
Bang!
A wave of Genesis Qi swept outwards, snapping the surrounding tree trunks.
Zhou Yuan’s figure had not budged from the spot, only the branch below his feet swaying a little. The one
that had attacked from above, however, let out a groan as he was sent flying backwards. He quickly
turned around to escape, knowing that he had encountered a tough foe.
“Since you’ve attacked, don’t even think about leaving!”
But Zhou Yuan did not intend to let this individual off. His figure instantly turned ethereal, appearing
right behind the fleeing figure like a wisp of smoke.
“Please no, forgi…” The figure instantly cried out in horror.
However, Zhou Yuan’s expression remained calm, Genesis Qi surging in his body as a scale covered fist
mercilessly slammed into the figure’s back like thunder.
Boom!
1873
The figure was sent miserably tumbling forward, smearing a hundred feet long track on the ground as he
vomited a mouthful of blood.
A ray of light fell from the sky, sweeping up the figure and throwing him into the river at the edge of the
mountain range. He had clearly been disqualified.
Zhou Yuan made a grabbing motion with his hand, causing a thumb-sized glowing seal to emerge from
the direction the figure had been thrown in. The seal shot towards Zhou Yuan, branding itself on the back
of his hand.
One seal obtained.
The corners of Zhou Yuan’s lips lifted slightly as he looked at the faintly glowing seal on the back of his
hand.
“Nineteen more…”
His figure faintly etherealized, turning into smoke that darted forward.
At this current time, battles were erupting all over the vast mountain range, burst after burst of Genesis
Qi exploding here and there, making the place appear exceptionally busy.
It was a lively start to the purple sash selection.
1874
Boom!
A wave of berserk Genesis Qi suddenly exploded within the dense forest, tearing up the surrounding
ground as thick tree after tree was snapped at their waist.
A space had been cleared in the forest, Zhou Yuan standing in the middle of the crumbled ground, as a
disciple fell facing the sky some distance to his front, before being swept up by a ray of light.
A glowing seal landed on Zhou Yuan’s fist.
He now had four seals.
“Sixteen more…” Zhou Yuan frowned. He had been searching for lone disciples for quite some time, only
to realise that the disciples from the other six peaks had began to group up in twos and threes to guard
against the other peaks for the time being. This made it harder for him to act.
After all, none of the other participants were small fries, and if he was tangled up in a fight with them for
too long it would take a toll on him even if he ultimately won.
What’s more, he also had to guard against the Sword Cometh Peak participants at all times.
It was at a time like this that the pitiful state of Saint Genesis Peak was revealed. The participants from
the other six peaks numbered in the dozens, while the combined total of all three factions of Saint Genesis
Peak only amounted to five.
Of these five individuals, three were from Lu Hong’s faction. It would already very courteous of them to
not cause trouble for Zhou Yuan, so it was practically impossible for him to work together with them.
“No wonder Saint Genesis Peak has so few purple sash disciples…”
Zhou Yuan secretly shook his head. A competition like this was far too disadvantageous for Saint Genesis
Peak, and it was already pretty amazing for them to have one or two new purple sash disciples each year.
“Who?!”
While various thoughts swirled in Zhou Yuan’s head, his eyes suddenly widened as he abruptly turned
towards the forest on his right.
The Heavenly Yuan Brush in his hand rapidly enlarged as countless snow-white hairs shot out. Every hair
was razor-sharp as it tore through the air, a rather formidable attack indeed.
Boom!
1875
Deadly Sword Qi swept out from the forest, deflecting all of the snow-white hairs with clings and clangs.
The giant trees in the vicinity were caught in the aftershocks, crashing to the ground one after another.
Zhou Yuan looked over, only to find a young man sword with a green edge. The Genesis Qi around him
was extremely strong and vigorous, while also exceedingly sharp, a sign that it was made from sword Qi.
The young man’s sword was slanted downwards at his side as he smiled at Zhou Yuan and said, “Hehe,
I’m only passing by junior brother.”
Zhou Yuan glanced at the back of the young man’s hand, and saw three seals. This surprised him a little.
To think that this fellow had also managed to defeat three disciples.
Looks like this was no ordinary person.
“You’re from Sword Cometh Peak?” Asked Zhou Yuan as he grasped the Heavenly Yuan Brush.
“Sword Cometh Peak’s Luo Dao.” The young man nodded with a smile.
“You’ve been following me for some time, right?” Said Zhou Yuan. The truth was that he had already
faintly sensed that someone was secretly tailing him since earlier. This someone was likely Luo Dao.
Luo Dao nodded again upon hearing this.
“You’re trying to delay me?”
A playful smile seem to rise from the corners of Luo Dao’s mouth as he stared at Zhou Yuan and
nonchalantly said, “Delay you? Junior brother Zhou Yuan, you think too highly of yourself.”
“Although senior brother Le Tian has his own plan, I feel that you do not have the qualifications to make
so many of our talented Sword Cometh Peak disciples come deal with you.”
“That’s why I’m revealing myself now.”
A dazzling radiance surged on his sword as he slowly raised it to point at Zhou Yuan. There was a sharp
and proud look in the young man’s eyes as he said, “After I take care of you by myself, senior brother Lu
Tian will understand that his plan is unnecessary.”
Swish!
However, the instant the words left his mouth, Zhou Yuan’s etherealized body had already shot forward,
leaving after images in the air as he dashed towards Luo Dao.
1876
“Ignorant fool!” Fury flashed in Luo Dao’s eyes upon seeing that Zhou Yuan clearly showed no concern for
his words, and had instead chosen to ignore them and attack. In Luo Dao’s eyes, his opponent was
obviously looking down on him.
“Do you really believe that defeating Wei Youxuan gives you the right to be so cocky? Allow me to inform
you that Wei Youxuan had already been defeated by me when he was still in Sword Cometh Peak!”
Luo Dao’s foot violently slammed into the ground as a wave of sharp Genesis Qi unfurled from his body,
instantly tearing deep gashes in the ground around him.
Sharp sword Qi swam through the air like fish, heading straight for Zhou Yuan.
However, Zhou Yuan was even quicker, leaving an after image behind as the sword Qi landed on empty
air.
His gaze locked onto Luo Dao.
Zhou Yuan knew that the Sword Cometh Peak disciples were definitely rushing here. Hence, he needed to
finish off Luo Dao as soon as possible.
The rage in Luo Dao’s eyes intensified at the sight of the menacingly approaching Zhou Yuan. The sword
in his hand suddenly shuddered as a sword cry rang out. Vigorous Genesis Qi poured into it, causing
countless rays of sword light to explode from its body as deadly power pulsed.
Even a sixth layer disciple would have to retreat in the face of such power.
However, light azure scales began to appear on Zhou Yuan’s body to protect him.
The Heavenly Serpent Scales!
Swish!
Luo Dao icily chuckled as the sword in his hand thrust forward. It instantly split apart the space before
him like lightning flashing through the night sky with unstoppable momentum.
The sword light was reflected in Zhou Yuan’s pupils, but not a single change could be seen on his face. Not
only did he not move to avoid the deadly strike, instead, he even extended a hand to grab it.
He was going to receive it with his bare hands.
“Courting death!” Luo Dao’s eyes hardened. His sword attack could cut even a mountain. To think that
Zhou Yuan dared to receive it with his bare hands.
Sword and hand touched.
1877
At the instant of contact, white brush hairs suddenly wrapped around Zhou Yuan’s scale covered hand
like a silk glove.
It was the hairs from the Heavenly Yuan Brush!
“Grade 4 Genesis Rune, Mystic Gold Hand!”
A Genesis Rune suddenly brightened on Zhou Yuan’s palm as a peculiar ripple spread. Golden light
emerged, bathing the hand covered in scales and the brush hair glove in a dark golden gleam.
As if it was a hand made from solid gold.
Screeech!
The golden hard reached out and grabbed the sword light, its sharp blade grating against his palm,
creating a shower of sparks.
However, no matter how the sword light struggled, it was unable to cut through Zhou Yuan’s multiple
defensive layers.
Shock surfaced in Luo Dao’s eyes.
He could not believe that Zhou Yuan had really caught the sword with his bare hands. Moreover, he had
even made Luo Dao’s invasive sword Qi lose its effect!
Shiing!
Zhou Yuan’s golden hand slipped down the sword as his ethereal figure rapidly approached in Luo Dao’s
shrinking pupils.
Boom!
Golden Genesis Qi swirled around Zhou Yuan’s other scale covered fist as it mercilessly slammed into Luo
Dao’s gut.
This punch directly scattered the flowing Genesis Qi in Luo Dao’s body.
With the Genesis Qi his body now scattered, his body curled in pain as he turned deathly pale.
He never imagined that in a single exchange, Zhou Yuan would find an opening to scatter his Genesis Qi
with a punch, causing him to lose all his battle power!
Zhou Yuan chuckled as he gazed at the disbelief on Luo Dao’s face before he calmly said, “The truth is that
you should have listened to your senior brother Le Tian. Wanting to take me on alone to gain glory…
you’re still too naive senior brother Luo Dao.”
1878
A ray of light fell from the sky, wrapping around Luo Dao.
The instant he was being sent away, however, a jade pendant suddenly shattered at Luo Dao’s waist,
scattering a fragrance that rushed towards Zhou Yuan.
Zhou Yuan rapidly backed away, but some of it still managed to touch him.
Luo Dao howled, “Don’t be so happy Zhou Yuan, senior brother Le Tian and the rest will soon find you can
kick you out!”
Before his voice could fade, he had already been sent out.
Zhou Yuan sniffed his body, finding an extremely faint but hard to remove fragrance. This caused him to
frown slightly for a moment, before quickly turning around to dash into the dense forest.
“So you want to play huh… then I’ll accompany all of you from Sword Cometh Peak till the end!”
As Zhou Yuan left, he did not know that the battle he had just swiftly ended would cause a commotion
outside the mountain range.
1879
Chapter 368 Hunted
The atmosphere was flooded with excitement outside the misty mountain range, numerous disciples
staring excitedly at the sky, where intense battles were being projected by every mirror.
The ones who had the qualifications to participate in the purple sash selection test were basically the
elite gold sash disciples in the Cangxuan Sect, who possessed fairly high status. Therefore, when all of
these individuals were gathered together for a competition, the fights between them were so exciting that
most disciples were unable to turn away.
Splash! Splash!
Disciples were continuously swept up by beams of light, and tossed into the winding river around the
mountain range. Those were the disciples that have been eliminated.
“Wow! Senior sister Su Wan from Cangxuan Peak is truly incredible. She had already gotten five seals.”
“Senior brother Mu Chunlei from Snow Lotus Peak has obtained five seals as well.”
“There’s also senior brother Le Tian from Sword Cometh Peak and little senior sister Xia Yu from Spirit
Rune Peak… Tsk, tsk, it’s no wonder they are the top gold sash disciple of amongst the various factions of
their respective peaks. Their battle achievements are truly astonishing.”
“They are very powerful indeed. The rest of the disciples are still somewhat lacking compared to them.”
“……”
Many disciples spiritedly discussed amongst themselves as they watched the Genesis Qi mirrors.
There were also disciples who had their attention on Zhou Yuan. When they looked towards his Genesis
Qi mirror, cries of surprise suddenly rang out, “Is that senior brother Luo Dao from Sword Cometh Peak?
I can’t believe he bumped into Zhou Yuan so early!”
Their words instantly drew the attention of numerous individuals.
The numerous disciples broke out into whispers when they saw the two individuals facing each other in
the Genesis Qi mirror.
“To think that he would run into senior brother Luo Dao. Zhou Yuan is really unlucky.”
“Yeah. Even amongst the many Sword Cometh Peak gold sash disciples, senior brother Luo Dao can be
ranked amongst the top three, and is definitely an extraordinary fellow.”
1880
“Agreed. I was watching senior brother Luo Dao’s battles since earlier, and he has already defeated three
disciples.”
“Heh heh, didn’t Zhou Yuan defeat four opponents earlier? However, it seems that he has finally ran into a
tough opponent.”
“……”
The duel between Zhou Yuan and Luo Dao was obviously going to be an interesting one, and it
immediately drew the attention of more and more disciples as news of their clash quickly spread.
Gu Hongyi was also alerted, causing her to frown a little. She had naturally heard of Luo Dao, and was
well-aware that he was quite the formidable individual. She never expected that he would be the first
Sword Cometh Peak disciple Zhou Yuan encountered.
“It seems like junior brother Zhou Yuan’s luck is not very good.” Beside Gu Hongyi, the senior brother
named Qin Lan narrowed his eyes slightly, and remarked with a sarcastic smile.
“More importantly, Le Tian, Lu Xuanyin and the other Sword Cometh Peak disciples are all heading
towards him. If Zhou Yuan allows himself to be tied down by Luo Dao, it will only be a matter of time
before he’ll be trapped.”
Gu Hongyi coldly glared at him. Though she didn’t retort, her hands could not help but clenched tightly.
Zhou Yuan was indeed in a tough spot.
Zhou Yuan, please stay safe!
“Oh, are they about to start?” Qin Lan suddenly chuckled while fixed on the Genesis Qi mirror.
Derision appeared on Qin Lan’s lips as he said, “Haha, what a brave fellow. He actually dares to use his
bare fist to meet Luo Dao’s sword? Doesn’t he know that the Genesis Qi of the Sword Cometh Peak
disciples are the sharpest in our Cangxuan Sect?”
He had just seen Zhou Yuan extend his arm and grab at the sword.
Gasps immediately erupted from the numerous surrounding disciples. Some of the female disciples even
shutting their eyes as if anticipating that Zhou Yuan’s palm would be sliced apart.
Gu Hongyi’s face also turned a little pale.
The mocking smile on Qin Lan’s lips grew. He stared intently at the Genesis Qi mirror, eagerly waiting to
see Zhou Yuan’s miserable fate.
Under his intense stare, all of the disciples watched Zhou Yuan’s palm turn golden in a flash, before
grabbing the sword. His hand slid down the sword, causing sparks to fly.
1881
Not even a single drop of blood could be seen.
Next, Zhou Yuan instantly closed the distance between him and Luo Dao, and quickly delivered a punch
packed with power into the latter’s gut.
The fight came to an abrupt end.
The expression of numerous disciples immediately froze at this moment, staring in disbelief as Luo Dao
slowly crumpled to the ground...
It was only a single punch.
Luo Dao, the third most powerful gold sash disciple from Sword Cometh Peak, was defeated just like that?
Loud gulping sounds were heard one after another.
It was completely different from the outcome they had imagined!
The derisive smile on Qin Lan’s face froze little by little. Soon after, the corners of his lips twitched as he
exclaimed, “How is this possible?! How could he have received Luo Dao’s sword with his bare hands?”
Given Luo Dao’s strength, even someone as strong as Wei Youxuan would only end up getting cut if he
were to try and receive the attack with his bare hands. So how had a third layer Alpha-Origin like Zhou
Yuan done it?
Beside him, Gu Hongyi heaved a deep sigh of relief, before shooting him an indifferent look. Even though
she didn’t utter a single word, the mocking expression in her eyes was enough to make Qin Lan’s face
instantly turn red with embarrassment.
He had been mocking Zhou Yuan just a moment ago. In the blink of an eye, however, his words returned
to slap him in the face.
“Senior brother Qin Lan, if you want to watch, it wouldn’t hurt for you to remain quiet and keep your
remarks to yourself.” Said Gu Hongyi in a calm manner. Her words, however, were extremely merciless,
showing no respect for Qin Lan’s dignity.
Qin Lan’s face was an angry mixture of white and green. However, he did not dare to do anything to Gu
Hongyi, and had no choice but to swallow his anger. His dark gaze glared at Zhou Yuan’s figure in the
mirror as he secretly swore, “What’s there to be happy about? When Le Tian shows up, you will be in for
a good time!”
On the mountain peak where Shen Taiyuan and his disciples were standing.
A wave of cheers immediately exploded from them when they saw this scene. They had previously been
worrying their hearts out for Zhou Yuan.
1882
On the edge of a cliff, Li Qingchan with drew her gaze and said, “That was very decisive of Zhou Yuan. The
fact that he dared to use his bare palm against a Sword Cometh Peak disciple is proof of his bravery.”
Yaoyao off-handedly replied, “Just a small fry.”
Li Qingchan could not help but be startled by these words. She was a little upset as she said, “He may
indeed be a small fry to you, but I’m afraid that it won’t be the same for Zhou Yuan. Luo Dao likely wasn’t
expecting Zhou Yuan to pull off such a stunt. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have been defeated by a single
blow.”
“Moreover… even though he defeated Luo Dao, he has now been marked by the Enchanting Jade
Fragrance from Luo Dao’s pendant, a fragrance unique to Sword Cometh Peak. Hence, I believe that every
Sword Cometh Peak disciple will soon track him down.”
“When that happens, he will be in huge trouble.”
“Tch, a situation where a single person takes on all of the disciples from one of the peaks has never
happened before in our Cangxuan Sect.”
Yaoyao fell into thought for a while, before she earnestly said, “Well, it will happen soon.”
Li Qingchan froze. Her beautiful eyes stared at the young figure in the Genesis Qi mirror, falling silent for
a moment, before she said, “I hope he will not disappoint you.”
Swoosh!
In the midst of the dense forest, Zhou Yuan’s body was akin to a wisp of smoke as he dashed past, leaving
faint after-images in the space behind him.
He had pushed his speed to the limit.
Though he could no longer smell the fragrance from his body, he could feel that he was being marked by
an extremely faint and peculiar scent. The scent was extremely stubborn, making it nearly impossible for
him to erase for the time being.
His eyes rapidly scanned his surroundings.
He knew that the Sword Cometh Peak disciples were forming an encirclement around him at this very
moment.
His eyes flickered faintly in thought as he muttered to himself, “Since you guys want to hunt me, I shall
find a good spot to prepare a big surprise for all of you.”
1883
As his words faded, his figure had already flashed past, disappearing into the dense forest.
Not long after Zhou Yuan’s figure disappeared, the sound of rushing wind was heard as two figures
landed on a thick tree branch.
The pair consisted of a male and a female. There were Le Tian and Lu Xuanyin from Sword Cometh Peak.
“He sure runs fast.” Lu Xuanyin had an icy expression as she spoke.
Le Tian, on the other hand, wore his typical smiling expression as he said, “It seems that he has noticed
us.”
Lu Xuanyin frowned. “Now that he’s desperately running at full speed, it's going to be rather difficult to
catch up.”
Le Tian casually replied, “A panicked wild beast will always flee for its life. However, it will become easy
pickings when it runs out of stamina. The other Sword Cometh Peak disciples have already formed a
barricade around this area, and there is no way he can escape.”
Le Tian scratched his face and sighed, “My only concern is that it’s quite shameful for so many of our
talented Sword Cometh Peak disciples to deal with a mere Zhou Yuan.”
“However, I’m not very fond of surprises. Therefore, since I have already committed myself to this task, I
will do everything I can to prevent any accidents from occurring, and destroy any glimmer of hope he
may have had.”
Beside him, Lu Xuanyin was in complete agreement as she said, “That kid is a strange one, and seems to
always exceed everyone’s expectations.”
Her bright eyes looked towards Le Tian as she smiled, “Unfortunately for him, he is up against senior
brother Le Tian this time.”
She approved of Le Tian’s meticulous way of doing things. After all, if their Sword Cometh Peak was
unable to deal with Zhou Yuan even after sending out this many disciples, it would be a tremendous blow
to their reputation.
Le Tian chuckled. His eyes narrowed slightly as he looked in the direction Zhou Yuan had disappeared in,
and waved his hand. A playful smile emerged on his face.
“Prepare to pull in the net.”
“It’s time to let junior brother Zhou Yuan experience the methods of our Sword Cometh Peak…”
1884
Chapter 369 Sword Cometh Peak Locks Down
the Valley
As time passed, the fights that broke out in this massive mountain range grew increasingly intense, while
the remaining disciples grew stronger and stronger.
Meanwhile, the remaining participants gradually moved towards the depths of the mountain range.
At a certain location in the mountain range.
Three disciples from the same peak were currently travelling together. They huddled close, vigilantly
scanning their surroundings as they walked. Genesis Qi surged around their bodies, ready to deal with
any unforeseen occurrences.
Swoosh!
The trio immediately turned their heads to the right, only to see a wispy smoke-like figure zip past at a
speed too quick for them to get a proper look. Instead, they were only able to detect the trees shaking
faintly in its wake.
“Who?!” They shouted as the Genesis Qi around their bodies whizzed even faster in preparation to strike.
However, before they could send out a blast of Genesis Qi, the wisp-like figure had already vanished from
sight.
The trio was dumbstruck as they turned to look at each other. Cold sweat appeared on their foreheads as
they said, “Who was that? That was way too fast! Just like a rabbit!”
They didn’t even manage to catch a glimpse of his appearance before he vanished.
“Never mind, it doesn’t matter who it was. Someone so fast should be no pushover.” One of them said.
The other two nodded in agreement.
Just as they were about to change course, they suddenly felt powerful Genesis Qi ripples rapidly closing in
on them from all directions, causing their expressions to change drastically.
The trio hastily huddled together back to back, Genesis Qi surging as they vigilantly swept their gazes in
the directions of the Genesis Qi ripples.
Several dozen breaths later, the trees shook as seven or eight glowing figures shot out. They stood atop
the surrounding trees, menacingly staring at the huddled trio.
1885
“They’re from Sword Cometh Peak!” The eyes of the trio widened when they saw the appearances of the
glowing figures.
The Sword Cometh Peak disciples glanced at the three Hongya disciples and shouted, “Sword Cometh
Peak is hunting Zhou Yuan, and we hope that everyone else will not interfere!”
After leaving these words, they ignored the trio and shot forth once again.
The trio was stunned by the Sword Cometh Peak disciples departure. Soon after, they could not help but
mutter, “To think that Sword Cometh Peak is going all out to hunt down Zhou Yuan.”
“That’s overkill, right?” One of the disciples frowned, before he said with disdain, “Sword Cometh Peak is
really shameless. Zhou Yuan is only one of the newer disciples. I can’t believe they’re ganging up on him.”
The other two nodded, and said with some sympathy, “That figure we saw previously should be Zhou
Yuan. He’s really unlucky to have the entire swarm of Sword Cometh Peak disciples after him.”
“I’m afraid that he won’t be able to escape this time around. The Sword Cometh Peak disciples have made
it clear that they will not allow him to become a purple sash disciple…”
News of this hunt quickly caused a huge commotion in the depths of the mountain range. Numerous
disciple sighing Sword Cometh Peak’s shamelessness and how unfortunate Zhou Yuan was...
However, even though they sympathized with Zhou Yuan, practically no one was planning to assist him.
After all, Zhou Yuan’s foundations were weak, and Saint Genesis Peak was in a pitiful state. Therefore, it
didn’t seem worthwhile to assist him and incur the wrath of the rising Sword Cometh Peak.
This situation naturally also caused quite an uproar outside the mountain range, numerous disciples
showing their disapproval. After all, it was really unbecoming of Sword Cometh Peak to gang up and bully
Zhou Yuan.
However, their criticisms would not change anything, because there was no such thing as absolute
fairness in the world. Zhou Yuan’s reputation had grown too quickly, and it was unavoidable for him to
eventually suffer some backlash.
The most outraged amongst them were naturally Shen Taiyuan’s disciples. Sword Cometh Peak’s actions
were clearly displaying their complete disregard for Shen Taiyuan’s faction. Hence why they could so
blatantly go about this operation without any fear of retaliation.
Shen Taiyuan’s expression darkened slightly, as anger flashed across his eyes. However, he ultimately
suppressed his rage with a deep breath.
1886
The purple sash selection was a cruel test, and there were barely any rules. Therefore, he did not really
have any grounds to lodge a complaint to sect master Qing Yang.
As such, Zhou Yuan could only rely on himself.
Elder Lu Song and his disciples were outraged as well. After all, they were fellow disciples from Saint
Genesis Peak, making Sword Cometh Peak’s actions also a display of disrespect towards them.
In the face of this scene, even Lu Yan, who always seemed to have some misgivings about Zhou Yuan,
frowned deeply as she gritted her teeth and said, “Sword Cometh Peak is simply too shameless!”
However, there was nothing else she could do besides swearing out loud. Even if the participants from
their faction went to assist Zhou Yuan, they would only be akin to a mantis before a cart.
The other disciples around her fell silent.
Lu Yan stared at that fleeing young figure as she gritted her teeth and said, “Zhou Yuan, if you manage to
surprise me again today... then I… I will acknowledge that the future you has the qualifications to chase
after senior brother Chu Qing!”
The disciples around her stared at her in shock. This was the first time a die-hard fan of senior brother
Chu Qing like herself had spoken such words...
Lu Yan menacingly glared back at them. “What are you guys looking at? Do you really believe that he can
do it?!”
All of them shut their mouths, speechless as they shook their heads.
Against the most elite gold sash disciples from Sword Cometh Peak, how could he possibly turn the tables
by himself?!
In contrast to the anger from Shen Taiyuan and Lu Song’s disciples, Lu Hong’s disciples were rejoicing at
Zhou Yuan’s misfortune. They were originally from Sword Cometh Peak, and did not consider themselves
Saint Genesis Peak disciples.
As such, they only felt delight when Zhou Yuan was being hunted by Sword Cometh Peak was.
Wasn’t he being really arrogant previously? But now, it seems like all he can do is to flee like a dog that
has lost its home.
As the crowd watched, the pursuing figures chased deep into the mountain range. In the end, the faint
silhouettes of ten misty mountain peaks began to appear.
1887
It seems like they were beginning to approach the end.
Meanwhile, Zhou Yuan darted into a valley. Dense mist churned in the valley, obscuring his figure.
Behind him, the sound of rushing wind was heard as glowing figure after figure descended from the sky,
blockading the entire valley.
Le Tian and Lu Xuanyin’s figures also descended, landing on a giant tree.
They stared at the valley before them, and exchanged a look as mocking smiles appeared on their faces.
After such a long chase, the panicked wild beast had finally run out of stamina.
Quite a number of disciples soon appeared in the vicinity of the valley. The commotion caused by the
Sword Cometh Peak disciples was far too large, and had naturally drawn over the disciples from the other
peaks.
Le Tian’s gaze swept about the area as he cupped his fists together with a faint smile, “This is between
Zhou Yuan and my Sword Cometh Peak. If we have disturbed anyone, allow me to apologize.”
He was subtly warning them not to get involved.
The eyes of the disciples that had rushed over flickered faintly in thought. However, they ultimately did
not say anything in response. They were after all not close to Zhou Yuan, and naturally did not want to
offend Le Tian and his crew.
However, not everyone was of the same opinion.
“Humph. Le Tian, isn’t your Sword Cometh Peak being too shameless? If you still have a backbone, go and
fight Zhou Yuan one on one. At least you’ll have a respectful victory if you win. Why resort to such
measures?” A clear voice sounded as an alluring beauty walked out and coldly snorted.
It was Su Wan of Cangxuan Peak.
After all, she had close ties to Gu Hongyi, and the latter had even specifically asked her to aid Zhou Yuan.
Therefore, when she saw Zhou Yuan being bullied, she naturally had to stand up for him.
Le Tian frowned slightly when he saw Su Wan step forward.
However, even before Le Tian could reply, another voice interjected, “Su Wan, you’re still such a
busybody. Since you seem to have so much time on your hands, how about you and I have a fight now?”
The crowd turned their heads, only to see a man in black robes walking forward. Though he looked
rather ordinary, the eyes of the crowd widened at the sight of his face.
1888
Lightning Prision Peak, Wang Chen.
He was also one of the top contenders for the championship.
“Wang Chen!” Su Wan’s brows tightly knitted together as she icily said, “And what does this have to do
with you?”
Wang Chen was expressionless, not giving her an answer. However, his stance was already clear. If Su
Wan intervened, he would step forward to stop her.
Su Wan angrily clenched her fists.
The other disciples secretly shook their heads. Looks like Le Tian was set on giving Zhou Yuan a good
dressing down, and had already made preparations in case someone tried to help him.
Now that there was someone to stop Su Wan, it seems like Zhou Yuan’s fate was sealed.
Le Tian withdrew his gaze. He stared at the now locked down valley, his eyes narrowing slightly as his
indifferent voice sounded.
“Go.”
“Send him out.”
At the sound of his voice, the surrounding Sword Cometh Peak disciples immediately charged into the
valley.
Atop the tree, the corners of Lu Xuanyin’s lips raised slightly as she watched this scene.
Zhou Yuan, there’s no way you’ll win this time!
1889
Chapter 370 Turning Ethereal To Hide
Swoosh! Swoosh!
The instant Le Tian’s voice sounded, nine Sword Cometh Peak disciples split off from the group
surrounding the valley, and dashed into its fog filled depths.
That valley was quite large, and its topography was rather complex. However, this was not a problem for
the nine individuals, who quickly arranged themselves in a fan formation and began sweeping the area
inch by inch.
Le Tian stood atop a tree, his arms crossed across his chest as he instructed, “The rest should prepare
yourselves. We’ll move the moment we pinpoint Zhou Yuan’s location.”
There were nearly ten figures stationed outside the valley, their sharp gazes continuously scanning the
interior of that misty valley.
Su Wan could only release a soft sigh as she watched. There were other Cangxuan Peak disciples beside
her, but they had no ties to Zhou Yuan. They would probably be quite unwilling to aid Zhou Yuan, and
incur the wrath of Le Tian and his crew.
When all was said and done, Su Wan lacked the power to command them.
This also made her rather puzzled by why the Sword Cometh Peak disciples were so obediently following
Le Tian’s instructions. Normally speaking, this would only happen if either the chief disciple… or one of
the two Chosens gave the order.
However, why would someone of that standing have beef with a gold sash disciples like Zhou Yuan?
Her eyes were furrowed in thought for a long time, but she could ultimately only shake her head her head
in defeat, before she looked towards the valley in pity. It seems that she had no way to help this time.
Zhou Yuan could only rely on himself to tide through this crisis.
Of course, Zhou Yuan was already in a checkmate in Su Wan’s eyes. After all, there was no way he could
defeat all the elite gold sash disciples from Sword Cometh Peak by himself.
“Junior sister Hongyi, your senior sister is really quite powerless this time…”
“Zhou Yuan’s talent at drawing trouble is really something.”
Outside the mountain range, Gu Hongyi stared at the scene projected by the Genesis Qi mirror with
gritted teeth and clenched fists. Meanwhile, the commotion was also picked up by practically all of the
other watching disciples, causing them to break out into noise.
1890
“Can’t believe that the Sword Cometh Peak disciples have actually trapped Zhou Yuan in a valley…”
“Furthermore, they’re even being led by Le Tian. Looks like Sword Cometh Peak is really going all out this
time.”
“Zhou Yuan is truly unlucky. However, it's also quite a testament to his ability to have the entire Sword
Cometh Peak banding together to hunt him down. Even if he fails this purple sash selection, he will
definitely become famous in the Cangxuan Sect.”
“How could this happen! I placed a huge bet on him!”
“......”
While all kinds of opinions and discussions erupted, practically everyone in the area turned their gazes to
this particular Genesis Qi mirror.
Atop the most majestic peak, sect master Qing Yang and the six other peak masters also noticed the
commotion.
A quick scan immediately told them what had happened, as astonishment flashed across their eyes.
It was extremely rare for all the disciples from a single to band together for the sake of dealing with a
single person during a purple sash selection.
“Haha, peak master Ling Jun, it seems like your Sword Cometh Peak disciples are quite experienced in
bullying others with numbers.” Snow Lotus Peak master Lianyi’s gaze swept around as a sneer arose on
her red lips.
The handsome Sword Cometh Peak master, Ling Jun, was dressed in white today. He cast his rippleless
deep pool like eyes towards the depths of the mountain range, as surprise flashed within them.
It was evident that he did not expect his disciples to gang up on Zhou Yuan.
However, he was only a little surprised, and not angry at all.
Peak master Ling Jun chuckled softly, before he said in an unconcerned manner, “Peak master Lianyi, the
purple selection selection does has its rules, and my disciples are not breaking any of them.”
“That disciple called Zhou Yuan has been riding high recently, and others will obviously become
displeased. They’re youngsters after all.”
“However, after he has gone through this experience, I believe he will likely become a more composed
individual in the future. Frankly speaking, this isn’t bad news for him.”
1891
Peak master Ling Jun chuckled. He looked towards the Lighting Prision Peak master Lei Jun, as he smiled
and said, “Of course, if my Sword Cometh Peak disciples break the rules, I will punish them personally.”
Even though he did not know why his disciples were targeting Zhou Yuan, it did not matter to him. After
all, someone of his stature had no reason to concern himself with these matters.
In his opinion, his Sword Cometh Peak disciples were not in the wrong either. Their actions aligned to to
motto of their Sword Cometh Peak to be straightforward and decisive like a sword. Once you’ve decided,
you should go ahead without any reservations.
Lighting Prision Peak master Lei Jun was in charge of the rules and punishments in the Cangxuan Sect,
and was a stern and serious individual. Silver colored his eyes, as if they contained a world of lighting
within them, a rather frightening sight to behold.
He indifferently said, “Although the Sword Cometh Peak disciples’ actions have caused some tongues to
wag, they did not break the rules.”
At this moment, sect master Qing Yang chuckled and said, “It is merely a dispute between disciples. There
is no need for us to be overly concerned with this matter.”
He paused for a moment, as he looked at peak master Ling Jun and said, “However, their actions today
will easily draw the ire of others. Peak master Ling Jun should remind his disciples that though it is good
to be straightforward and decisive when one acts, the disciples from the other peaks are still your fellow
brothers and sisters.”
Peak master Ling Jun gently nodded and said, “Sect master is right. I will discipline those rascals after the
selection test.”
However, judging by his expression, it was clear he did not think his disciples were in the wrong, and had
only said those words because the sect master had spoken.
...
Deep within the mountain range, in the outskirts of the valley.
Le Tian was standing atop a tree, his gaze tightly fixed on the valley. As time passed, he suddenly frowned
a little. He had realized that the search party had already scanned the entire valley once. However, they
had not uncovered any signs of Zhou Yuan.
The Sword Cometh Peak disciples in the valley rose into the sky, and looked towards Le Tian in
confusion.
“Senior brother Le Tian, we can’t find him!”
1892
Outside the valley, a wave of noise swept through the area, shock filling the faces of the many disciples
from the various peaks. Had Zhou Yuan really concealed himself so well?
A look of confusion flashed across Le Tian’s eyes.
“Could he have fled?” Beside him, Lu Xuanyin’s face was not looking too good at this moment.
Le Tian shook his head and said, “That’s impossible. We have already sealed off this whole area. There is
no way he has escaped!”
“Then…” Lu Xuanyin hesitated for a moment. Their previous search had obviously failed to deliver any
results.
“He must still be hiding inside!” Le Tian decisively declared.
He waved his hand and said, “You guys follow me in again. I will lead the search!”
His body moved, taking charge of the nine disciples as they charged into the mist-filled valley.
With Le Tian now leading them, half an incense stick of time passed, before he floated back up into the air
with an ugly expression.
This time, an uproar broke out even outside the mountain range, countless gazes staring at this scene in
shock. None of them had expected Le Tian and his crew to lose track of Zhou Yuan after trapping him in
the valley.
Whispers spread, and some individuals even began to gloat. Sword Cometh Peak had caused quite a stir
by so brazenly hunting Zhou Yuan down together, only to end up losing sight of him when he was right
under their noses. If they allowed Zhou Yuan to escape, Sword Cometh Peak would lose all face.
The commotion grew louder and louder as it spread.
Finally, even sect master Qing Yang and the other peak masters began to turn their attention over once
again.
“Haha, now this is interesting.” Sect master Qing Yang chuckled.
A look of intrigue had surfaced in his deep and wise eyes, a rarely seen expression to the disciples of
Cangxuan Sect.
...
Le Tian’s expression darkened in response to the whispers and amused gazes. He hovered above the
valley, and looked down at the mist below.
1893
With a deep breath, he suppressed his churning emotions as his eyes glowed brightly.
“Senior brother Le Tian, should we spread out and continue the search?” Lu Xuanyin could not help but
ask. Her expression was also not a pretty sight.
Le Tian did not answer. Instead, he continued to stare intensely at the valley below.
As he stared, another half an incense stick of time passed.
Behind him, Lu Xuanyin grew increasingly impatient. However, just as she was about to speak, Le Tian’s
deep voice slowly sounded.
“Junior brother Zhou Yuan is truly amazing…”
“If I am not mistaken, you… should have reached the advanced level of the Ethereal Form technique?!”
1894
Chapter 371 Boundary
“Advanced Ethereal Form?!”
When Le Tian’s voice sounded, several onlookers immediately gasped in shock as gaze after gaze tinged
with astonishment looked towards the misty valley.
“I see…”
Some disciples involuntarily exclaimed. It was said that once one reached the advanced level of the
Ethereal Form technique, one would gain the ability to turn fully ethereal, even concealing the ripples
from one’s own Genesis Qi. It was an extraordinary survival skill that could save one’s life.
However, it was difficult to reach the advanced level. In the current Cangxuan Sect, only a handful of
disciples have managed to achieve this feat.
How long has it been since Zhou Yuan began his practise of the Ethereal Form technique? It was
unbelievable for him to have reached the advanced level!
Beside Le Tian, Lu Xuanyin was also taken aback. She soon gritted her teeth and said, “That fellow is truly
as slippery as a fish. To think that he can still put up such a fight even after being trapped!”
She had initially believed Zhou Yuan it would be the end of the road for Zhou Yuan after trapping him
here. However, who could have imagined that he would take advantage of the terrain to conceal himself,
resulting in them being unable to find him.
She looked towards Le Tian and asked, “Senior brother Le Tian, what should we do now?”
So many gold sash disciples from Sword Cometh Peak had been deployed for this operation today. If Zhou
Yuan was allowed to slip away right under their noses, their Sword Cometh Peak would truly lose all
face.
Le Tian gazed at the mist-filled valley below with slightly narrowed eyes. With a soft laugh, he said, “Even
though junior brother Zhou Yuan has surprised me somewhat, it will be a little too naive for him to
believe he will survive with just the advanced Ethereal Form.”
His gaze swept about the area, looking towards the Sword Cometh Peak disciples as he said, “Fellow
brother disciples, use your Genesis Qi to seal the valley. Deploy the Swordfish Boundary!”
“Understood!”
The Sword Cometh Peak disciples immediately responded to Le Tian’s words. In the next instant, streams
of powerful Genesis Qi rose from within their bodies like smoke, and quickly spread out to envelope the
entire valley.
1895
The Genesis Qi was akin to a giant net, covering the entire valley.
Buzz!
After covering the valley, the Genesis Qi began to shake as beams of Genesis Qi light shot forth, dashing
into the valley like swimming fish.
As the fish swam past, the thick fog was torn apart, and gradually began to dissipate.
These Genesis Qi fish were linked to each other, and could penetrate every nook and cranny, allowing
them to tear through even the ungraspable mist.
Evidently, this was a unique searching method from Sword Cometh Peak.
Le Tian stood in the sky, his sharp gaze fixed on the valley below, as his senses observed every tiny
vibration. Under his careful watch, the Genesis Qi fish continued their advance.
As the Genesis Qi continued to slice through the fog, the mist in the valley grew lighter and lighter.
In the end, all the mist was pushed back towards the deepest part of the valley, ultimately gathering in a
small area, which was less than a few feet wide.
At this juncture, the powerful Genesis Qi from the Sword Cometh Peak finally stopped, as if they had ran
into an obstacle.
In the sky, a small smile appeared from the corners of Le Tian’s lips when he saw this.
He waved his sleeve, sending out a gale of Genesis Qi. It immediately blew away the final patch of mist,
and boulder promptly appeared.
The air above the boulder rippled faintly. In the end, a figure gradually materialized, appearing before the
eyes of the crowd.
That familiar figure belonged to Zhou Yuan!
Whoa!
Regretful sounds were immediately heard outside the valley. Zhou Yuan had still been found in the end.
“What a pity. If Zhou Yuan could continue to hide from them, Sword Cometh Peak would be the ones
making a fool of themselves today.” A disciples sighed.
“The fact that he was able to conceal himself from Sword Cometh Peak for so long already demonstrates
that he is fairly skilled. After all, this valley isn’t that big…”
1896
“Le Tian is after all the top gold sash disciple of Sword Cometh Peak. Zhou Yuan is still a little
inexperienced in comparison…”
“......”
Outside the valley, Le Tian smiled slightly when he saw Zhou Yuan’s figure appear. With a wave of his
hand, the numerous Sword Cometh Peak disciples surrounded Zhou Yuan and bean to approach. Finally,
he stepped into the valley and walked towards Zhou Yuan.
“Junior brother Zhou Yuan has some good techniques. You nearly managed to hide from us.” Le Tian
stood in front of Zhou Yuan as he spoke with a smile.
Behind him, Lu Xuanyin was also looking at Zhou Yuan with a sneer on her face and joy filling her eyes.
He had finally fallen into her hands.
Seated atop the boulder, Zhou Yuan gazed at the twenty or so Sword Cometh Peak disciples surrounding
him, as his gaze lowered slightly. “Sword Cometh Peak must think quite highly of me to have sent so
many of you. However, I believe it won’t look good for you guys even if you beat me.”
Le Tian sighed helplessly and said, “I was initially of the same opinion. However, after witnessing junior
brother Zhou Yuan’s methods, I am glad that I brought along such a huge crew. If not, I may not have even
found you today.”
If he was alone, there was no way he would be able to scour every inch of the valley, and force Zhou Yuan
out.
With the advanced Ethereal Form, even if Zhou Yuan could not defeat Le Tian, the former would still
easily be able to escape from the latter's hands.
Le Tian gazed at Zhou Yuan and chuckled. “Thankfully, lady luck chose to side with me in the end. After
creating so many waves in the Cangxuan Sect, I believe that you must have had your fill. Therefore, it will
be best for you to lay low from now onwards.”
“As such…”
“Junior brother Zhou Yuan, on account of the fact that you forced me to rack my brains to force you out,
how about you voluntarily quit this purple sash selection and save us the trouble. It will save you a little
pain as well.”
He looked at Zhou Yuan with a superficial smile.
“What if I don’t want to?” Zhou Yuan answered with a smile.
1897
Le Tian shrugged. He did not say anything else, and instead waved his hand. The surrounding Sword
Cometh Peak disciples immediately locked onto Zhou Yuan, as their formidable sword-like Genesis Qi
began to surge.
Zhou Yuan did not pay attention to these Sword Cometh Peak disciples. Instead, he lifted his head and
looked at Le Tian, as a mysterious smile flowed out from the corners of his mouth.
“Senior brother Le Tian seems to be under the impression that I was only using the advanced Ethereal
Form to hide from all of you?”
Le Tian’s eyes narrowed slightly. “What else could it be? The Ethereal Form is indeed a wonderful
technique. However, it is quite useless in a situation like this.”
Zhou Yuan grinned, his smile tinged with a hint of mockery.
“Senior brother Le Tian, you were mistaken about something from the beginning…”
“I was not running from the start. My goal… was to bring your Sword Cometh Peak disciples to a beautiful
treasured land for a big surprise.”
“And that treasured land is right here…”
Le Tian’s eyes widened slightly, as he stared deeply at Zhou Yuan. However, he did not panic because of
the latter’s words, but instead calmly waved his hand.
“Send him out.”
“Junior brother Zhou Yuan, if this is your final attempt to resist, it is a truly childish one.”
It was obvious that he did not believe what Zhou Yun had said. From what he could see, Zhou Yuan was
merely bluffing in hopes of causing them to make a mistake so that the latter may find an opening to run
away.
Therefore, he gave the order for them to attack without any hesitation at all.
Swoosh!
The Sword Cometh Peak dashed forward the moment they heard his order. Genesis Qi pulsed from their
swords as they thrust towards Zhou Yuan.
Zhou Yuan watched the formidable attacks approach as his gaze lowered slightly. Following which, a
ripple suddenly erupted from the Spirit between his brows.
Buzz! Buzz!
1898
The Spirit ripple swept outwards. In that very moment, several light beams began shooting out from the
valley, interweaving together. In the blink of an eye, they transformed into a boundary that completely
enveloped the entire valley.
This sudden turn of events caused the numerous disciples outside the valley to be completely shocked...
“You guys have been chasing after me for so long. It’s now time for me to return the favor…”
“I hope all of you will like this present that I have so painstakingly prepared for all of you.”
The corners of Zhou Yuan’s mouth raised slightly as his hands joined together.
“Heavenly Lightning and Mystical Fire Boundary!”
“Go!”
1899
Chapter 372 Heavenly Lightning and Mystical
Fire Cover the Valley
Rumble!
When the boundary wrapped around the entire valley, everyone saw red clouds appear in the sky above,
as scorching Genesis Qi waves rapidly converged.
Under the searing heat, the creek flowing in the valley instantly evaporated.
This sudden turn of events shocked everyone present.
All of the disciples were stupefied as they blankly stared at the boundary that had risen from the valley,
and the red thunder clouds in the sky above. The violent undulations radiating from the clouds were so
powerful that even a sixth layer Alpha-Origin expert would feel extremely threatened.
“A boundary?”
Su Wan’s pretty face was filled with astonishment as she gazed upon this scene.
“This is the Heavenly Lightning and Mystical Fire Boundary.” A soft voice sounded behind Su Wan. She
turned her head to look, only to discover that it was Xia Yu from Spirit Rune Peak, who appeared to have
only just arrived. As she looked at the boundary, a look of admiration appeared on her face.
“Senior brother Zhou Yuan is truly amazing. This boundary is considered a powerhouse among the grade
4 boundaries, but is extremely difficult to set it up. I never expected him to be capable of doing so.”
This boundary could only be found in their Spirit Rune Hall. This meant that Zhou Yuan had managed to
learn it in a short period of time, demonstrating his astonishing talent in Genesis Runes.
“With this boundary in place, it doesn’t matter how many disciples Sword Cometh Peak sends, there is no
longer anything they can do to senior brother Zhou Yuan.” Said Xia Yu.
Su Wan’s eyes widened, before she took in a deep breath. Zhou Yuan was indeed extremely surprising. To
think that he would be able to carve out a path for himself even in such a dire situation.
If Zhou Yuan managed to escape from Sword Cometh Peak’s encirclement today, they would truly lose all
face.
When she thought of this, even Su Wan felt a little joy at their misfortune.
...
1900
While the disciples outside the valley were gasping in shock, the commotion outside the mountain range
was even more unimaginable. Countless disciples burst out into gasps of astonishment, creating a
tsunami of noise that flooded the area.
Just moments ago, everyone was under the impression that Zhou Yuan had been forced into a dead-end
by Sword Cometh Peak. Besides voluntarily withdrawing from the purple sash selection to keep his
dignity, there seemed to be no other route he could take. However, none of them had expected that he
would suddenly blow away their trump card in the blink of an eye...
Unbeknownst to everyone, he had already set up an extremely formidable Genesis Rune Boundary in the
valley!
Outside the mountain range, innumerable disciples fell into a frenzied state. Zhou Yuan’s sudden
comeback made the blood of even onlookers like them begin to boil in excitement.
A gorgeous smile blossomed on Gu Hongyi’s beautiful face, as her tightly clenched hands slowly loosened.
She knew that Zhou Yuan would not give up so easily.
If they want to force him to his knees, even the elite gold sash disciples from Sword Cometh Peak would
have to pay a heavy price.
Beside Gu Hongyi, Qin Lan expression had turned rather stiff. He too never expected Zhou Yuan to have
such a trump card hidden up his sleeve.
“Le Tian and his crew are trash. I can’t believe they allowed Zhou Yuan to set up a boundary right under
their noses!” Qin Lan cursed inside. Even though a Genesis Rune Boundary was extremely powerful, it
was quite difficult and time-consuming to set it up. And yet, Zhou Yuan had managed to deploy it right
under Le Tian and his crew’s noses. One had no choice but to admit that Le Tian and gangwere truly a
bunch of dumbassess.
They had now lost the initiative, allowing Zhou Yuan to gradually tip the odds in his favor.
...
“To think he still had such a trump card.” Li Qingchan slowly withdrew her gaze and turned towards
Yaoyao, who had remained calm from start to end.
Yaoyao gently stroked Tuntun’s fur as she said, “It seems that you are about to lose this bet.”
Li Qingchan sighed and said, “So he wasn’t using the advanced Ethereal Form to hide. Instead, his goal
was to to conceal himself with Ethereal Form so that he could secretly set up the boundary. At the same
time, he was also baiting Le Tian and the rest into the valley.”
“Now that all the prey have entered the net, it’s time for him to pull it up.”
1901
Li Qingchan stared at the Sword Cometh Peak disciples in the mirror, before she said with some
sympathy, “Those guys thought that they were the ones chasing Zhou Yuan, but they would never have
imagined that he had been using himself as bait from the start…”
She stared at the young figure in the Genesis Qi mirror, as amazement flitted across her clear eyes.
Although the current Zhou Yuan was still nothing to fear, Li Qingchan had begun to admire his mental
fortitude. It was no longer as strange as before for him to have such a close relation to Yaoyao, because he
did have some ability.
...
Boom! Boom!
Red thunder clouds churned above the valley, as scorching ripples violently pulsed.
The Sword Cometh Peak disciples, who were about to attack Zhou Yuan, had stopped in a panic, a trace of
fear in their faces as they gazed at the boundary before them.
They could detect an extremely dangerous scent from the boundary.
How could they have expected that what they originally believed would be a piece of cake would
suddenly take such a turn.
As they looked towards Zhou Yuan, the contempt in their gazes turned to graveness.
Le Tian stared at this boundary as his face gently twitched. He gaze swept about the area, finding several
glowing jade strips hidden between the cracks of the rocks around the valley.
It was these jade strips that formed the boundary.
However, he had not noticed them previously, and did not know when Zhou Yuan placed them down…
Le Tian stared intently at Zhou Yuan and said, “You weren’t using Ethereal Form to hide, but to secretly
set up the boundary.”
Zhou Yuan smiled, but did not answer. It was already obvious after all.
Le Tian smiled bitterly. Previously, he had thought that Zhou Yuan was merely hiding from them. Who
could have imagined that the latter never had any intention of hiding. Rather, he was completing a
boundary right under their noses.
Behind Le Tian, there was a dazed look on Lu Xuanyin as she blankly stared at this scene. The joy in her
eyes had already completely vanished, fear now in its place.
1902
“Senior brother Le Tian…” She mumbled with a trembling voice.
Le Tian took in a deep breath, as he gradually regained his calm. “There is no need to panic, we will deal
with him together. Though this boundary is extremely powerful, I don’t believe that it is capable of
wiping out our entire party.”
“This is his final trump card. Once we cross it, I will make him pay a painful price!”
Thanks to Le Tian’s words, the panicking Sword Cometh Peak disciples finally regained their balance.
They quickly huddled towards Le Tian, as streams of powerful Genesis Qi shot into the air, forming
protective Genesis Qi layers above them.
Le Tian stared at Zhou Yuan like a hawk. Having the tables turned on him had obviously dealt a blow to
his ego. However, he knew that there would be a chance to regain his pride as long as they managed to
withstand the boundary’s assault.
Zhou Yuan stared at the Sword Cometh Peak disciples who have banded together, before he chuckled.
“Since you wanted to send me out, how about…”
“I give all of you a ride first.”
Boom!
The instant his voice sounded, the Genesis Qi accumulating in the rumbling thunderclouds above finally
reached the limit. In the next instant, giant red thunderbolts pulsing with the scent of destruction rained
down upon the land.
1903
Chapter 373 Might of the Heavenly Lightning and
Mystical Fire
Boom!
Red thunderclouds churned above the valley. In the next instant, red thunderbolts filled with the scent of
destruction howled forth, raining down on the Sword Cometh Peak disciples below.
Moreover, fire seemed to burn around the thunderbolts.
In the face of the boundary’s power, even Le Tian’s expression had become solemn, his eyes filled with
caution.
Several powerful and thick streams of Genesis Qi shot out from Le Tian, Lu Xuanyin and the rest, forming
layers of protective Genesis Qi barriers. Evidently, they planned on working together in order to
withstand the attacks from the boundary.
Boom! Boom!
The bombardment of burning thunderbolts began, blowing apart the Genesis Qi shields one layer after
another like a hot knife through butter.
As each layer was shattered, Le Tian and his crew desperately squeezed out all their Genesis Qi to
continuously repair the shields in order to maintain their defenses...
Boom! Boom!
As Le Tian and gang defended, thunderbolts continued to fall from the red thunderclouds above.
The entire valley was devastated by the resulting shockwaves. The ground was rapidly torn apart, as
numerous boulders evaporated into dust.
Zhou Yuan sat on a boulder with a look of indifference on his face. His eyes were lightly shut, while the
Spirit between his brows continuously flickered. Controlling a boundary of this level took an extremely
heavy toll on his Spirit.
If his Spirit had not broken into the mid Corporeal stage, he would have likely exhausted his Spirit energy
after a single round of attacks.
Outside the valley, countless gazes unblinkingly watched the astonishing clash.
1904
As they watched, complicated feelings rose within their hearts. Who could have imagined that the top
elite gold sash disciples of Sword Cometh Peak would wind up in such a sorry state: singlehandedly
trapped by Zhou Yuan in this valley, and assaulted by a heavy barrage of attacks.
They turned to look at that young figure atop the boulder,their eyes were filled with caution and respect.
Before today, many of them had regarded Zhou Yuan as a new disciple who had just entered the inner
mountains. Even though he had some accomplishments under his belt, he was still lacking compared to
the veteren disciples, and they did not consider him as a serious threat. In fact, even after his
performance at Spirit Rune Peak, many people still attributed his success to Yaoyao, which inevitability
downplayed his accomplishments.
However, Zhou Yuan was currently facing the most outstanding gold sash disciples of Sword Cometh
Peak all by himself, a feat that finally made everyone feel slightly in awe of him.
This new inner mountain disciple had already became powerful that he now possessed the qualifications
to challenge and even surpass the senior disciples...
Boom! Boom!
The red thunderclouds churned violently as they absorbed Genesis Qi from their surroundings,
transforming it into an endless shower of red lightning.
Inside the valley, Le Tian and gang bitterly hung on inside the layers of Genesis Qi shields.
However, it was clear that the scales were slowly by surely tipping against them.
“Since the boundary is able to absorb the surrounding Genesis Qi, the ones who run out of stamina first
will be us!” Said Le Tian in a heavy voice, the smile on his face had vanished long ago.
The other disciples asked in a panic, “What should we do?”
Le Tian stared at the red thunderclouds in the sky as he said, “It is meaningless for us to focus on defense.
We must go on the offense instead. Only be destroying the thunderclouds will the boundary naturally
crumble!”
“We must prepare our strongest attack and destroy the thunderclouds!”
“But once we disperse our defenses, how will we protect ourselves against the red thunderbolts?”
Beside him, Lu Xuanyin gritted her teeth as she retrieved a longan-sized white glowing jade ball. The
glowing ball was covered in ancient runes, and looked as if an entire sea had been poured into it.
“Senior brother Le Tian, this Divine Sea Pearl of mine specializes in defense, and should be able to buy us
some time.”
1905
Le Tian’s eyes lit up when he saw this. The Divine Sea Pearl was a defensive Genesis treasure, and could
be found in the Glittering Jewels Pavillion. However, it was not cheap, and cost at least three thousand
pieces of Genesis jade. Nonetheless, most purple sash disciples will try their best to purchase one before
going out on missions. He never expected Lu Xuanyin to possess one as well.
“Then we’ll have to trouble junior sister.”
Lu Xuanyin shook her head, as she stared at Zhou Yuan and said, “It’s no trouble at all. I do not want to
become his stepping stone and help grow his fame.”
Initially, she thought that she could finally teach Zhou Yuan a lesson, and relieve the pent up resentment
in her heart. However, the situation was now completely out of her expectations. In fact, a single slip was
all it would take for them to end up boosting Zhou Yuan’s fame via their Sword Cometh Peak’s
reputation.
This would be extremely humiliating for Sword Cometh Peak.
If that were to happen, none of them would be able to escape punishment.
Dread rose within Lu Xuanyin’s heart the moment she recalled their peak master’s character. She knew
that the stakes were already too high, and there was no way they could allow themselves to be defeated
by Zhou Yuan...
With these thoughts in mind, Lu Xuanyin gently flicked her wrist. The Divine Sea Pearl promptly
transformed into a glowing dot as it rose into the sky. In an instant, a screen of ocean-like water spread,
wrapping around them like a capsule.
Glowing runes appeared on the water, pulsing with powerful Genesis Qi.
Boom! Boom!
Thunderbolts bombarded the water shield, stirring violent ripples on it. However, the attacks were
ultimately neutralized by the water shield.
As more and more thunderbolts rained down, the water shield began to grow thinner and thinner.
Lu Xuanyin urgently said, “Senior brother Le Tian, I am afraid that the Divine Sea Pearl won’t last much
longer.”
Le Tian solemnly nodded. He icily stared Zhou Yuan and said, “Let’s join forces and transform our Qi into
swords! Shatter the thunderclouds!”
Boom!
As voice rang out, a torrent of powerful Genesis Qi shot into the sky.
1906
The Sword Cometh Peak disciples around him also began to circulate their Genesis Qi. Stream after
stream of Genesis Qi gathered together, transforming into a several hundred feet tall Genesis Qi pillar in
the air.
The Genesis Qi rose straight into the sky like smoke.
A sharp and deadly aura pulsed from it, causing the surrounding space to distort.
Le Tian clapped his hands together. He was the person in charge, and the thick Genesis Qi column in the
sky thus under his control.
The pressure of wielding such tremendous power caused the veins to pop out on his forehead, and even
his eyes began to turn blood-red.
He gritted his teeth and began directing the Genesis Qi. Under the shocked eyes of the crowd, the giant
Genesis Qi pillar began to shrink, before it finally transformed into a several hundred feet large glowing
sword.
That glowing sword towered between the land and the sky, pulsing with an unrivalled aura of sharpless.
Up against this glowing sword, even a peak sixth-layer Alpha Origin disciple would be filled with terror.
“Le Tian is quite the capable indeed. To think that he is able to gather the Genesis Qi from the other
disciples and transform it into a sword…” Several disciples sighed in admiration.
“The Genesis Qi that they practise seems to be of the same source. Looks like Sword Cometh Peak does
have its unique methods.”
“If Le Tian can destroy the thunderclouds, Zhou Yuan’s boundary will fall apart. Tsk, tsk, Le Tian does
indeed live up to his title as the number one gold sash disciple of Sword Cometh Peak. It's really amazing
that he found a way out even in such a desperate situation.”
Atop the boulder, Zhou Yuan naturally realized what Le Tian and the rest were doing. His Spirit
shuddered, and the red thunderclouds in the sky began to shrink into the shape of a funnel, as alarming
Genesis Qi undulations began to converge.
Manipulating the boundary on such a grand scale was naturally extremely taxing on Zhou Yuan’s Spirit. In
fact, blood had even begun to flow out from the corners of his eye.
However, he showed no signs of stopping. At this juncture, all he could do was advance.
Otherwise, all of his hard work from earlier would be wasted.
Therefore, Zhou Yuan remained calm, while the shuddering of his Spirit grew increasingly violent.
1907
The Saint Spirit Crystal slowly rotated above his Spirit, giving off a glow that continuously replenished his
Spirit power.
Under the nervous stares of the crowd, both parties prepared their strongest attack in hopes of utterly
blowing away the other.
The veins on Le Tian’s face squirmed violently, making him appear rather hideous. He looked at the giant
glowing sword, feeling the powerful sword Qi within, before his eyes locked onto Zhou Yuan.
“If you want my Sword Cometh Peak to become your stepping stone, I can only tell you that you must be
dreaming!”
“Break!”
In the wake of his yell, the glowing sword suddenly dashed into the sky, leaving behind a tail of flames.
Sword Qi howled, charging straight towards the red thunderclouds in the sky.
Zhou Yuan’s tightly shut eyes finally opened at this moment, a trail of blood dripping from the corner of
his eye. This was the sign that he had pushed his Spirit to its limit.
He lifted his head, and stared at the red funnel shaped thundercloud.
“Red! Lightning! Fire!”
A deep voice sounded emerged from his mouth.
Cackle!
A red light poured out from the thundercloud, taking the shape of a hundred feet wide flaming red ball.
Lightning swam and swirled around the flaming ball, as extremely berserk undulations devastated its
surroundings.
The entire boundary trembled as the red ball of fire shot out. This was because it had exhausted all its
Genesis Qi.
Swoosh!
Under the attention of numerous nervous observers, the glowing sword dashed upwards, while the red
flaming ball fell. In the end, they viciously crashed into each other.
Boom!
An earth-shattering explosion unfurled above the valley.
1908
Su Wan, Xia Yu and the other watching disciples quickly retreated to avoid being caught in the
aftershocks.
Outside the mountain range, numerous gazes were glued to the epicenter of the clash.
The violent shockwaves continued to wreak havoc for quite some time, before slowly dying down as the
dust also began to settle.
The valley had been completely destroyed, basically turning into a flat land. The debris scattered all over
the ground indicated just how much destruction the shockwaves had caused...
“Who won?!”
Many disciples hurriedly cast their gazes over.
On the flattened valley, Le Tian, Lu Xuanyin and the rest of their crew had not moved from the spot, their
bodies as still as statues.
Opposite them, the boulder on which Zhou Yuan had sat had already been turned to dust, leaving him
now standing instead on his original spot. Fresh blood flowed down from the corners of his eyes, making
him appear rather sinister.
The entire valley was deathly silent.
A cool breeze blew past.
Urgh!
Urgh!
Next, countless gazes watched in shock as Le Tian and the rest of the Sword Cometh Peak disciples
suddenly vomited mouthfuls of fresh blood.
Under the setting sun, their bodies began to fall backwards onto the ground one after another.
It was an extremely shocking sight.
It was completely silent both outside the valley and the mountain range.
1909
Chapter 374 Sword Cometh Peak Team Wiped
Out
Huu.
A gentle breeze blew past in the leveled valley, sweeping up a cloud of dust.
Regardless of whether it was outside the valley or the mountain range, everyone’s gazes seemed to have
frozen as they stared at the figures in the valley.
At this current time, a bloody fog was still drifting in the air, while the Sword Cometh Peak disciples fell
on their backs, one after another.
Beams of light descended from the sky, sweeping up the heavily injured disciples, and tossing them out of
the mountain range...
Only then did the countless stunned gazes gradually begin to return to their senses.
By this time, most of the Sword Cometh Peak disciples were already gone from the devastated valley, and
only two figures remained.
The one standing at the front was Le Tian. His hair was scattered behind him, and his complexion was
deathly pale, making him cut an extremely sorry figure.
Behind him, was a completely unscathed Lu Xuanyin. Her main task had been to control the Divine Sea
Pearl earlier, and had thus not poured any Genesis Qi into the glowing sword. As a result, she had not
been caught up in the earlier clash.
However, even though she looked completely unhurt, her eyes were filled with terror. She trembled as
she stared at her front, where the boulder Zhou Yuan sat on previously had already turned into dust,
leaving him silently standing there.
Zhou Yuan’s sleeves had been blasted apart at some unknown time. He wore an expression of cold
indifference, while blood flowed from the corners of his eyes, making him look rather terrifying.
Zhou Yuan paid no heed to the blood, as he continued to stare at the pale Le Tian.
Under his stare, Le Tian’s chest rose faintly. Just as he was about to speak, he suddenly vomited out a
mouthful of fresh blood, before a bitter smile appeared on his face.
“Zhou Yuan, you are truly something.” His voice was hoarse.
Le Tian never imagined that this would be the final outcome of their hunt.
1910
Nearly twenty of the most elite gold sash disciples from Sword Cometh Peak had joined forces, and yet,
they had not only failed to easily finish off Zhou Yuan, but instead allowed him to successfully set up a
boundary, turn the tables on them and wipe out their entire team.
With regards to such an outcome, even Le Tian had no choice but to smile bitterly. However, he was not
upset about it at all. After all, he had already went all-out against Zhou Yuan. That was the reason why he
had chosen to ignore his image, and sent so many gold sash disciples after the latter.
He had already tried his best, but had still lost in the end.
This wasn’t because he underestimated Zhou Yuan. Rather, Zhou Yuan simply had too many cards hidden
up his sleeves.
“Zhou Yuan…”
“You are really formidable...”
“In the future, you might become one of the top disciples in our Cangxuan Sect…”
Le Tian let out a hoarse chuckle, before slowly shutting his eyes as his body began to fall. He had also
exhausted all his Genesis Qi in the previous clash.
Swoosh!
A beam of light fell from the sky and swept him away.
When Zhou Yuan saw that Le Tian had disappeared, he finally gingerly raised his hand and wiped off the
traces of blood at the corners of his eyes. A sharp pain stabbed him between his brows, making him feel a
little dizzy.
This was a sign that he had pushed his Spirit to its limit.
If Le Tian and gang had managed to hang on for just a little while longer, the one who lost would have
been him instead. His opponents were after all no push-overs, and were most outstanding amongst this
batch of gold sash disciples from Sword Cometh Peak.
Each one was likely as strong as Wei Youxuan.
If not for the boundary, Zhou Yuan knew that there was no way he could fight against so many of them all
by himself.
Thankfully, he was the last man standing.
Boom!
1911
The instant Le Tian’s body was swept out of the selection test, an earth-shattering commotion erupted
both inside and outside the mountain range, a wave of noise dashing into the sky.
What had they just witnessed?!
Zhou Yuan had singlehandedly eliminated all the top gold sash disciples of Sword Cometh Peak!
Numerous disciples had their mouths ajar, their faces were filled with shock.
The scenario of a single person eliminating all the participants from an entire peak had never happened
in the Cangxuan Sect before!
However, they had just witnessed it today...
“That’s crazy, right?!” Some disciples muttered to themselves, while others felt that they were dreaming.
Numerous disciples swallowed, respect appearing in their eyes as they looked at the young figure
projected by the Genesis Qi mirror. After today’s battle, Zhou Yuan’s reputation would likely exceed even
some of the veteren purple sash disciples.
As she listened to the commotion that infected the many mountains, Gu Hongyi’s face began to glow. She
proudly stuck out her chest as she turned to look at the shell-shocked female disciples around her and
said, “So how was it?”
You guys were making fun of me earlier, but now all of you must be shocked, right?
The female disciples turned to look at one another, evidently so stunned by Zhou Yuan’s accomplishment
that they were at a loss for words.
A pleased grin emerged on Gu Hongyi’s face, before she glanced at Qin Lan, whose face was now a mix of
green and white, and said, “Senior brother Qin Lan, what do you think now?”
Qin Lan’s expression was rather ugly as he forced a smile and said, “Haha, his luck is not bad. His
boundary was also at its limit earlier, and if Le Tian had held on for just a little longer, Zhou Yuan would
have been defeated instead.”
His words drew the disdain of not only Gu Hongyu, but even made some of the female disciples, who
were his fans, purse their lips. They clearly felt that Qin Lan was being too petty, and did not even have
the courage to acknowledge the truth.
Zhou Yuan had taken on all the gold sash disciples from Sword Cometh peak by himself. How gusty was
that? And yet, Qin Lan refused to give his acknowledgement. Such pettiness was clear for all to see.
Under those disdainful gazes, Qin Lan felt his face burn as he quickly withdrew. However, he was filled
with anger when he looked towards Zhou Yuan’s projection in the Genesis Qi mirror.
1912
“Humph, you brainless kid. Do you really think that it is very glamorous for you to eliminate Le Tian and
the rest?”
“The two Chosens of Sword Cometh Peak are known to be overprotective. You may have made a name for
yourself today, but you have also offended both of them. Therefore, you will definitely suffer in the
future!”
The disciples from Shen Taiyuan’s faction were already cheering. All of their faces were flushed with
excitement and emotion.
There was no longer any of the past contempt when the disciples from the other peaks looked over, but
instead curiosity in their eyes. Zhou Yuan’s performance in this purple sash selection test had clearly
made the other disciples no longer dare to look down on Saint Genesis Peak like before.
Zhou Tai sighed as he said, “Junior brother Zhou Yuan is truly amazing.”
Zhou Yuan’s victory was certainly a tremendous boost to their reputation.
Shen Taiyuan stroked his beard, a big smile on his typically stern face. He seemed to feel increasingly
gratified as he looked at Zhou Yuan.
“Old man Shen, it seems like you have picked up a gem this time.” Elder Lu Song walked over as he smiled
at Shen Taiyuan. The envy in his voice was difficult to conceal.
Zhou Yuan had stolen the show today, and since he belonged to Shen Taiyuan’s faction, it would
inevitably also allow Shen Taiyuan to gain face.
In fact, it had been a long time since such amazing battle accomplishments had come from someone from
their Saint Genesis Peak.
Nearby, Lu Yan and the rest were wide-eyed as they stared at this scene.
Lu Yan involuntarily said, “That kid is simply too strange. It’s almost like he’s an abnormality!”
One of the disciples around her quietly whispered, “Senior sister, do you think that he has the
qualifications to catch up to senior Chu Qing now?”
Lu Yan made a pose like she was going to hit him, as she angrily said, “Are you looking for a beating…”
She paused for a moment, her lips pulling outwards as she said, “I admit that he’s very formidable.
However, it is still a little unfair to him if he were to be compared to senior Chu Qing for now.”
She stared at that slim figure in the Genesis Qi mirror in silence for a moment, before she slowly opened
her mouth again.
1913
“But if we give him another three years, I believe he might be just like senior Chu Qing, and become the
apex disciple of our Cangxuan Sect.”
“Perhaps… he may truly be the one that will lead our Saint Genesis Peak back to glory.”
1914
Chapter 375 Beneath the Ten Peaks
A wave of noise surged through the mountains, clearly demonstrating how shocked the many disciples
were inside.
In fact, it even spread to the highest peak.
Six powerful existences that were renowned across the entire Cangxuan Heaven, turned their attention
towards the deepest part of the mountain range. They were naturally aware of the outcome of that fight.
For a time, surprise flashed across the faces of sect master Qing Yang and the rest.
“Haha, this is interesting.” Sect master Qing Yang chuckled, a look of appreciation in his eyes. As the sect
master of the Cangxuan Sect, he was naturally felt pleased to have such an outstanding disciple in his
sect.
Snow Lotus Peak master Liu Lianyi also looked in amazement at the figure in the depths of the mountain
range. She soon turned to look at peak master Ling Jun and said with a skin deep smile, “Peak master Ling
Jun, Sword Cometh Peak has been constantly snatching up all the most talented disciples over the years.
But from what I can see, they don’t seem to amount to much? I can’t believe that the entire team was
eliminated by a Saint Genesis Peak disciple.”
She did not get along well with peak master Ling Jun, and was naturally not going to miss out on the
chance to rub it on when Sword Cometh Peak had suffered such a huge loss.
Peak master Ling Jun nonchalantly smiled as he said, “That disciple named Zhou Yuan is truly a rarely
found good seedling.”
His gaze swept towards a certain direction, where the elders from Sword Cometh Peak were located.
When these elders noticed his gaze, all of them lowered their heads in embarrassment.
The eliminated disciples belonged to their factions after all.
Peak master Ling Jun suddenly said, “It seems like my gold sash disciples lack training.”
The group of elders heard his words felt their hearts shake when they heard his words. Even though they
could not detect any hints of anger in peak master Ling Jun’s voice, his words were evidently voicing his
displeasure.
Le Tian and gang’s performance had made peak master Ling Jun feel quite humiliated. After today’s
debacle, punishment was unavoidable.
As elders of Sword Cometh Peak, they clearly understood peak master Ling Jun’s character. If Le Tian and
his crew managed to finish off Zhou Yuan, even if others complained that they were ganging up on him,
1915
the peak master would ignore them. This was because he only cared about the results, and not the
process.
However, Le Tian and his crew had lost, causing Sword Cometh Peak to lose face in the Cangxuan Sect. In
peak master Ling Jun’s eyes, these disciples would undoubtedly be regarded as useless.
As they thought about the punishment that Le Tian and the rest would face, the elders could only sigh
inside. Le Tian was actually an extremely talented disciple. Otherwise, there was no way he could become
the number one gold sash disciple of Sword Cometh Peak. However, peak master’s opinion of him would
drop drastically after today.
...
While the entire place was in shock, Zhou Yuan gently massaged his throbbing head in the flattened
valley, before he turned his indifferent gaze towards the pale Lu Xuanyin.
She was now the only remaining Sword Cometh Peak disciple.
When she saw the indifference in Zhou Yuan’s eyes, her already pale face turned even paler. The result of
the fight had hit her the hardest, leaving her in utter shock.
Never in her wildest dreams would she have imagined that all the Sword Cometh Peak disciples would be
eliminated by Zhou Yuan.
As she looked at the young man, who she knew in the outer mountains. The same young man who she
had once never bothered to glance at. She could not believe that he had unknowingly become so
powerful...
The young man from the outer mountains back then was now already beyond her reach!
“You… what do you want?!” Lu Xuanyin’s voice trembled as she spoke. She was trying her best not to be
intimidated by Zhou Yuan’s aura.
Zhou Yuan made a grabbing motion with his hand, and the Heaven Yuan Brush began to grow. A sharp
and icy expression suddenly filled his eyes.
Swoosh!
He shot forward, the sharp tip of his brush akin to a spear as it tore through the air. With unmatched
ferocity, it thrust towards Lu Xuanyin’s head.
A sonic boom sounded.
1916
The snow-white brush tip rapidly enlarged in Lu Xuanyin’s eyes, causing her scalp to turn numb as she
felt the murderous aura gushing towards her. She had a feeling that Zhou Yuan was truly planning on
ending her life with this thrust.
Over the years, Zhou Yuan had fought tooth and claw to the top, and there was naturally a ruthless side to
him. He had merely been choosing to hold it back when faced against his fellow disciple in the past.
However, he truly loathed Lu Xuanyin. If it wasn’t for this woman, he wouldn’t have to deal with so many
problems. As such, he lost his cool, and allowed his vicious side to appear.
In the face of his terrible aura, Lu Xuanyin rapidly staggered backwards in fear, seemingly forgetting to
resist. It was only after the sharp force pounced towards her and left a small scar on her face, that she
suddenly came to her senses and shrieked, “I admit defeat!”
That snow-white brush tip containing deadly force stopped inches before her. The remnant force caused
her hair to turn disheveled, making her cut an extremely sorry figure.
Zhou Yuan calmly gripped the Heaven Yuan Brush, as he shot an icy look at Lu Xuanyin.
A beam of Genesis Qi light descended from the sky, sweeping away the terrified girl.
Zhou Yuan withdrew the brush and placed it standing beside him. There was obviously no way he would
actually kill Lu Xuanyin in a place like this, as it would likely get him expelled. Thankfully, the battle today
should have finally scared that woman away.
Moreover, Sword Cometh Peak had lost a great amount of face today, and would likely face some
difficulties in the near future. Therefore, they would likely be unable to spare energy to cause trouble for
him for the time being.
As he lifted his hand, seal after seal began to fly over, landing on the back of his hand.
There were a total of twenty six seals.
These were the seals donated to him by Le Tian and the other Sword Cometh Peak disciples.
With these seals, he could finally ascend one of the peaks. At the very least, he was definitely going to
become a purple sash disciple.
After collecting the seals, Zhou Yuan lifted his head and looked at the other disciples around the edges of
the valley. They had been observing the fight between him and Sword Cometh Peak previously.
When the surrounding disciples saw Zhou Yuan’s look over, their eyes widened slightly as looks of
caution and wariness appeared on their faces. They began to slowly back away, showing that they had no
intention of fighting with Zhou Yuan.
1917
Evidently, seeing Zhou Yuan wipe out the entire Sword Cometh Peak team had left a deep impression in
their hearts.
Only Su Wan from Cangxuan Peak moved forward, and landed at a spot near Zhou Yuan, and said, “I never
expected you to be so capable. Can’t believe you actually managed to eliminate all the Sword Cometh
Peak disciples.”
Zhou Yuan grinned at her. He had a good opinion of Su Wan. After all, he had seen earlier that she was the
only one who had stepped forward to help him, although she was ultimately stopped by Wang Chen from
Lightning Prision Peak.
“The ten peaks are not far from here. Want to head there together?” Asked Su Wan.
Zhou Yuan fell into thought for a moment, before he nodded with a smile. His Spirit was hurting badly.
With Su Wan around, he could take this opportunity to recharge.
Therefore, the two of them decided to travel together.
The other disciples quickly gave way. There was no longer anyone dared to stand in Zhou Yuan’s way
after witnessing him wipe out the Sword Cometh Peak team.
Hence, the subsequent travelling was a smooth, and without any obstacles.
Eventually, Su Wan and Zhou Yuan began to slow down. A giant mountain stood to their front, ten peaks
rising from it like ten fingers.
At the bottom of each peak was a thick and heavy looking stone door.
It was clear that one could ascend the peaks by passing through here. At the same time, one would finally
learn what format the championship battle would take.
1918
Chapter 376 Top Ten
Ten peaks rose from the majestic mountain like ten fingers. At the foot of each peak stood ten heavy stone
doors that one needed to cross in order to ascend the peaks, blocking the paths of numerous disciples.
Zhou Yuan stood at the foot of the mountain, sighing inside as he gazed at the ten stone doors. Once he
passed through any of these doors, he would finally be promoted to a purple sash disciple, and become a
pillar of the Cangxuan Sect.
Of course, what naturally followed was the envious luxurious treatment that every purple sash disciple
enjoyed.
Only god knew how many disciples worked tirelessly in hopes of receiving it.
Zhou Yuan gazed at the stone doors, but did not immediately make a move. Instead, he quietly stood
there as he tried to calm the stabbing pain his Spirit was experiencing...
As he waited, the sound of rushing air continuously sounded in the vicinity as figure after figure arrived.
There was obviously much less people compared to earlier. However, every one of them was surrounded
by powerful Genesis Qi, and had sharp and determined looks in their eyes. It was obvious that none of
them were ordinary individuals.
After all, they had to defeat numerous opponents in order to reach this place, many of whom were
considered elite gold sash disciples of the Cangxuan Sect, and were definitely not weak.
There were currently five figures standing at the very front of the group.
They were Su Wan from Cangxuan Peak, Xia Yu from Spirit Rune Peak, Wang Chen from Lightning Prison
Peak, Mu Chunlei from Snow Lotus Peak and Wu Yue from Hongya Peak...
The five of them were the number one gold sash disciples of their respective peaks, and strongest
amongst everyone here. None of the other disciples even dared to stand too close to the five, clearing
showing that none of them had any intentions of fighting with these five.
Of course, besides these five individuals, there was also no one within a few dozen feet radius of Zhou
Yuan.
In fact, even Su Wan and the four other first seat gold sash disciples looked at Zhou Yuan with wariness.
It was obvious that Zhou Yuan’s feat of wiping out the entire Sword Cometh Peak team had simply been
too shocking. What’s more, Le Tian had been amongst this group, someone whose strength was equal to
their own.
1919
Even so, all of them were ultimately kicked out of the selection by Zhou Yuan. Such battle power was
indeed very terrifying.
Therefore, no one dared to offend Zhou Yuan. Though they knew that Zhou Yuan had won because of the
boundary he had set up, it was still part of his ability.
As more and more disciples gathered at the foot of the ten peak mountain, Su Wan, Wang Chen, Xia Yu
and the rest finally made their move. Everyone watched as they moved forward, each individual arriving
in front one of the stone doors.
Following which, standing in front of their respective doors, they swept their gazes around the place.
Their intent was clear; these five doors were taken.
When Zhou Yuan saw this, he too moved, landing in front of the sixth stone door.
Anyone who disagreed could step forward and challenge any of the six. If the challenger won, he or she
would be able to take their spot.
However, it was obvious that not many disciples had the courage to challenge these first seat gold sash
disciples of their respective peaks.
If it was the past, Zhou Yuan would definitely be challenged by numerous disciples if he tried to take over
one of the stone doors. In their eyes, the Zhou Yuan from back then was not qualified to do so.
However, after Zhou Yuan’s battle with the Sword Cometh Peak disciples, everyone had already erased
such thoughts from their minds.
In fact, they would rather challenge the other five. None of them had the courage to face this demon of a
disciple who had wiped out the entire Sword Cometh peak team.
As such, only four stone doors remained.
In other words, intense battles would soon occur in front of these last four doors.
In order to be promoted to a purple sash disciple, every disciple here had raised their battle power to the
limit. Therefore, an extremely chaotic battle was sure to erupt in front of these doors.
In contrast, the area around Zhou Yuan and the other five would be deserted and peaceful, since no one
was going to challenge them.. As such, they could only quietly observe the fights taking place in front of
the four remaining doors...
The chaotic and intense battles lasted for nearly an incense stick of time.
1920
In the end, four disciples prevailed from amidst a heap of groaning bodies. Though they were riddled
with injuries, they were bursting with excitement as they stood in front of the four stone doors, the
emotions in their eyes clear for all to see.
When all ten disciples stood in front of the stone doors, a series of sighs sounded outside the mountain
range.
Because this meant that these ten disciples now possessed the qualifications to become purple sash
disciples.
The eyes of countless disciples were overflowing with envy as they gazed at the ten figures.
To become a purple sash disciple was the goal of every Cangxuan Sect disciple. Moreover, only by first
reaching this rank would the path towards the chief disciple be open and even… a Chosen in the future.
“Since the ten purple sash disciples have been decided, it’s time for the most exciting part of the purple
sash selection…”
“Yeah. The championship battle is next.”
“I wonder what format this championship battle will take? I am really looking forward to it...”
“No matter what format it is, I believe Zhou Yuan has a very good chance. In fact, he will likely become the
champion this time.”
“That is not necessarily true. The reason why Zhou Yuan was able to team wipe the Sword Cometh Peak
disciples was because Le Tian and gang were caught off-guard, allowing Zhou Yuan to set up a boundary
in secret. Since everyone now knows this trick of his, there is no way they will give him the time to set it
up again in a fight.”
“That’s true. Without the help of the boundary, I don’t see how Zhou Yuan could possibly match up to Su
Wan, Wang Chen and the other first seat gold sash disciples…”
“......”
Many disciples discussed the outcome, their eyes filled with anticipation. The ten purple sash disciples
before them were the top disciples that had distinguished themselves from all the gold sash disciples in
their Cangxuan Sect.
And the champion would soon be decided from amongst them.
One could only imagine how amazing the subsequent fights would be.
...
1921
Zhou Yuan stood in front of a stone door as he stretched out his hand. The seals on the back of his hand
began to flicker, before detaching themselves and flying into the stone door.
Rumble!
After the seals entered, a rumbling noise immediately erupted from the stone door. Under Zhou Yuan’s
excited gaze, the door slowly opened.
Faint mist filled the area behind the stone door, while a tiny rock path extended towards the limits of
one’s sight.
“The championship battle, huh…”
Zhou Yuan’s eyes glimmered. He would have no interest if it was just a title, as he was a very practical
person. He was only interested in the championship prize, the Genesis Star Pill.
With that pill, he would be able to swiftly advance into the fourth-layer Alpha Origin stage.
By doing so, he would increase his odds in the year-end chief disciple selection. After all, the opponents
he would face in that fight would make his current battles seem akin to small squabbles.
Zhou Yuan took in a deep breath, before he stepped past the stone door without the slightest trace of
hesitation, embracing the mist as he began walking on that small cobbled path.
The cobbled path brought him upwards. His surroundings were obscured by the fog, while his curious
gaze remained directed to the front.
He really wanted to know what the format of the championship battle would be.
Was it going to be a ten person brawl?
As such thoughts swirled in his head, Zhou Yuan’s footsteps did not pause. After half an incense stick of
time, he finally realized that he had reached the end of that cobbled path. Meanwhile, the mist in front of
him began to dissipate.
When the mist disappeared, a spacious rocky arena appeared in front of him.
Zhou Yuan’s gaze immediately locked onto the center of the arena, where a man was resting both his
hands on the hilt of a dark gray sword, while his scabbard was propped up on the ground.
Beside him was a three feet long incense stick wedged atop a boulder.
When Zhou Yuan saw this person, his pupils shrank slightly.
The figure lifted his head, and revealed a playful smile at Zhou Yuan.
1922
“Zhou Yuan, it seems like you’ve really made a name for yourself earlier...”
“However, I never expected that you would bump into me.”
Zhou Yuan frowned. The figure before him was not completely unknown. This person was also a disciple
from Sword Cometh Peak, and seemed to be called… Xu Yan?
Were they dispatching veteran purple sash disciples for the championship battle?
Looks like it was going to be quite a challenge.
1923
Chapter 377 The Championship Battle
When the disciples outside the mountain range saw Zhou Yuan ascended the peak and encounter Xu
Yuan from Sword Cometh Peak, a commotion naturally ensued.
“To think that it would be senior brother Xu Yan from Sword Cometh Peak…”
“This championship battle involves veteran purple sash disciples?”
“The other nine have also been stopped by someone, all of whom are extremely powerful veteran purple
sash disciples from the various peaks...”
“Could this championship battle be about who will be able to defeat these veteran purple sash disciples?”
“That can’t be possible. Senior brother Xu Yan and the rest have all stepped into the seventh layer Alpha-
Origin stage. Furthermore, they are purple sash disciples that practice grade 6 Genesis Qi methods and
cultivate grade 6 Genesis Qi . In comparison, Su Wan and the rest may be the first seat gold sash disciple
of their respective peaks, but the Genesis Qi they cultivate is only grade 5. What’s more, there is a gap in
their Genesis Qi cultivation as well, making victory practically impossible.”
“That’s right. The championship battle shouldn’t require them to defeat senior brother Xu Yan and the
rest…”
“......”
Many whispers echoed within the crowd. The format of the championship battle had clearly taken many
by surprise.
Atop one of the mountain peaks, Yaoyao and Li Qingchan were also watching the scenes inside the
Genesis Qi mirrors.
“Xu Yan from Sword Cometh Peak…” A look of astonishment flashed across Li Qingchan’s gorgeous and
icy face as she said, “It seems like Zhou Yuan and Sword Cometh Peak are fated to be pit against one
another. Can’t believe he still managed to run into them after picking a path at random.”
A look of thought could be seen on her face as she continued, “To think that sect master and the rest
would send out the veteran purple sash disciples. I believe the goal of this championship battle won’t be
for Zhou Yuan and the rest to defeat their opponents, but how long they will be able to last against these
veteran disciples.”
Li Qingchan looked at Yaoyao and said, “If so, Zhou Yuan is quite the unlucky one. If it was anyone else
from another peak, that person will likely hold back a little. However, there is no way that Xu Yan will be
showing any mercy.”
1924
“Therefore, Zhou Yuan’s hopes of winning the championship might be dashed.”
At this point, she felt a little regretful for him. After all, she had personally witnessed how Zhou Yuan had
fought all the way to reach this juncture. Who could have imagined that he would encounter such a strong
foe at the final stage.
Yaoyao’s hands gently stroked Tuntun’s head. Her clear eyes gazed at the two figures facing each other in
the Genesis mirror, as she slowly said, “Like I said, you’ll never know what’s going to happen until the
end.”
Li Qingchan responded with slight annoyance, “Don’t you think that you are blindly putting too much
faith in Zhou Yuan? The reason why he was able to eliminate Le Tian and the rest was because they did
not know about his hidden trump card, allowing him to lure them into the valley and set up a boundary.
However, Xu Yan is likely already aware of this information, and there is no way that he will allow Zhou
Yuan to set up a boundary.”
“Without the boundary, Zhou Yuan may not even be able to defeat Le Tian with his own strength, let
alone Xu Yan, a seventh layer Alpha-Origin expert.”
Li Qingchan was a fairly logical person. That was why she could not understand Yaoyao’s thoughts.
She did not deny that Zhou Yuan was extremely outstanding. However, she believed that there were still
limits. He was currently only at the third layer Alpha-Origin stage, and if Yaoyao believed that Zhou Yuan
would be able to match Xu Yan in a clash of Genesis Qi, she would be severely underestimating the four
layers gap between them.
Yaoyao did not reply. She also knew that Zhou Yuan would face a tremendous amount of pressure against
such a powerful foe.
However, she also felt that this pressure would be good for him.
As for the end result, it was honestly not important.
...
While the area outside the mountain range was in an uproar, in the rocky arena, Zhou Yuan wore a
slightly grim expression as he stared at Xu Yan. The Genesis Qi vibrations from the latter made him feel a
significant amount of pressure.
Seventh layer Alpha-Origin stage.
Compared to Le Tian and the rest, this opponent was on a different level.
Xu Yan nonchalantly looked towards Zhou Yuan, and unhurriedly said, “The last time we met, I
respectfully gave you a way to apologize to junior sister Lu Xuanyin in order to resolve the grudge
1925
between the two of you. However, junior brother Zhou Yuan, you were simply too arrogant and directly
rejected my kind gesture.”
“Therefore, in order to help junior brother Zhou Yuan understand your situation, I made a request of
junior brother Le Tian and the rest…”
“Haha, of course, senior brother Zhao Zhu was also involved.”
Zhou Yuan frowned a little. After all this time, it turns out that Le Tian and the rest had been on Xu Yan’s
instructions. Moreover, Zhao Zhu? Wasn’t he the second Chosen of Sword Cometh Peak? Why would he
want to make things difficult for Zhou Yuan?
“It seems like I’ve disappointed my two senior brothers…” Said Zhou Yuan with indifference. Since the
two of them were clearly intent on making life difficult for him, there was no need for him to pretend to
be courteous towards them.
Xu Yan nodded and sighed, “Yes, I was indeed a little disappointed. I did not expect that Le Tian and the
rest would be eliminated by you.”
Even till now, Xu Yan found this result quite difficult to accept. In his opinion, Le Tian and gang was
already a powerful line-up. Xu Yan would never have expected them to be defeated by Zhou Yuan.
Xu Yun grasped the handle of his sword with both hands, as its scabbard gently knocked on the ground.
Indifference returned to his eyes as he said, “Since you have showed up in front of me, you no longer need
to think about passing this stage.”
“In order for my Sword Cometh Peak to regain some of its pride, I will need to give you a good thrashing.”
“If you still have abit of rationality within you, I suggest that you surrender now. Otherwise…” Xu yan
gently smiled, before he continued, “Don’t blame this senior for bullying you in order to teach you how to
abide by the unspoken rules.”
Zhou Yuan made a slight grabbing motion, and the Heaven Yuan Brush promptly appeared in his hand.
Not a single ripple could be seen in his clear eyes as he lifted his head and looked towards Xu Yan. “Then
let’s talk about the rules. Is the objective of the championship battle to defeat you?”
Xu Yan was taken aback, before he soon burst into laughter. However, his eyes turned colder and colder
as a derisive smile appeared on his lips.
“Junior brother Zhou Yuan, it seems like your earlier victory has made you lose your rationality.”
Xu Yan pointed at that three foot long incense stick behind him and said, “Right now, the top ten disciples
of the selection will each encounter a veteran purple sash disciple from the seven peaks. The winner of
the championship battle will hinge upon which of you will be able to last the longest.”
1926
“When this incense stick is burnt out, the one who is left standing will be the champion.”
“Therefore, junior brother Zhou Yuan, what you should be thinking about now is not how to defeat me,
but how long I will allow you to last…”
“Truthfully speaking, we are initially supposed to go easy on all of you such as to give face to the various
peaks, allowing all of you participants to last a little longer, and maintain some sense of dignity.”
“However…”
Xu Yan shrugged, his eyes turning a little colder as he stared at Zhou Yuan and said, “My plan is to make
you the first one to be eliminated.”
By this point, it was clear that Xu Yan was not going to show any mercy. As for going easy on Zhou Yuan,
that was even more impossible.
A grim expression filled Zhou Yuan’s eyes, as the Heaven Yuan Brush in his hand rapidly grew. Its sharp
snow-white tip was pointed towards the ground at an angle, while golden Genesis Qi rose to the sky like a
plume of smoke.
The faint sound of a giant python hissing seemed to echo from within the golden smoke.
“Then I look forward to experiencing senior brother’s abilities.” Zhou Yuan slowly said. Not a single hint
of fear could be seen in his eyes. Instead, a burning fighting spirit surged within them.
His opponent was indeed very powerful, but Zhou Yuan was not afraid of formidable foes. In his opinion,
every strong enemy was a whetstone he would use to temper himself through numerous battles.
At the sight of Zhou Yuan, who was overflowing with battle intent, the derisive smile on Xu Yan’s lips
widened.
“I sincerely hope that you will be able to keep up this spirit later on…”
The sword in his hand suddenly slashed behind him, causing tearing noises to be emitted from the air.
Ch!
The giant incense stick behind him was lit, a wisp of smoke slowly rising into the air.
Xu Yan wielded his sword with one hand, while the expression in his eyes abruptly sharpened. An eight
hundred foot tall pillar of dark green Genesis Qi shot out from his head and soared into the sky.
His Genesis Qi was akin to a giant green sword that towered between heaven and earth.
A sharp and intimidating pressure swept forth, as the cry of a sword filled the sky.
1927
“Zhou Yuan, you made my Sword Cometh Peak lose plenty of face earlier. Therefore…”
“It’s now time for payback!”
1928
Chapter 378 Strenuous Battle against Xu Yan
Buzz!
An eight hundred foot tall dark green Genesis Qi pillar rose into the sky, stirring the wind and clouds as a
powerful sword aura pulsed from it, causing the entire area to be filled with the cry of a sword.
Xu Yan immediately displayed the astonishing might of a seventh layer Alpha-Origin expert.
The expression on Zhou Yuan’s face grew increasingly grim as he tightened his grip on the Heaven Yuan
Brush. He did not dare to underestimate such a formidable opponent.
Boom!
When Xu Yan’s Genesis Qi charged into the sky, nine other powerful Genesis Qi pillars also erupted on the
other nine peaks, each one reaching the strength of the seventh layer Alpha-Origin stage.
Evidently, the fights on the other nine peaks had also began.
However, compared to Xu Yan’s Genesis Qi, the other nine powerful Genesis Qi pillars seemed to be
holding back a little. Just like what Xu Yan had said earlier, they were purposefully holding back out of
consideration for their junior brothers and sisters...
However, it was clear that Xu Yan had no intentions of doing so.
In fact, even the many disciples outside the mountain range could detect this as well.
However, they could only sigh in pity with regards to this. Zhou Yuan was truly unfortunate. Out of all the
possible opponents, he just had to bump into Xu Yan from Sword Cometh Peak. Anyone else would have
most likely gone easy on Zhou Yuan.
In the river around the mountain range, Lu Xuanyin flew out from the water and tumbled onto the river
bank. She lifted her head to look at that powerful Genesis Qi that had erupted from a certain mountain
peak, as a look of hatred flashed in her eyes.
She had lost all face in front of Zhou Yuan earlier.
Though she resented him, she was also very fearful of him. The heartless ferocity in Zhou Yuan’s eyes
earlier as he thrust his brush towards her had sent a chill through her heart.
As a result, she no longer had the courage to oppose Zhou Yuan. However, it seemed that Zhou Yuan had
finally used up all of his blessings. To think that he would be unlucky enough to encounter Xu Yan.
1929
“Zhou Yuan, it’s too early for your to celebrate. Senior brother Xu Yan will make you understand how
stupid it is to offend our Sword Cometh Peak!”
“Don’t even think about advancing any further in this purple sash selection. As for the championship title,
you can dream on!”
...
Clap!
On the mountain peak, Xu Yan sneered as he suddenly slammed his palms together.
Swoosh!
That eight hundred foot tall dark green Genesis Qi pillar suddenly split apart, transforming into dozens of
light rays as they fell from the sky. Each ray was in the shape of a sword, pulsing with an incomparably
sharp aura as they descended.
Their speed was as quick as lightning.
The sound of rushing wind echoed from above Zhou Yuan. His figure instantly etherealized as he quickly
retreated like a wisp of smoke.
Boom! Boom!
Streaks of dark green Genesis Qi viciously rained down. They struck the ground like giant swords, leaving
deep scars behind.
Every blast of green Genesis Qi that landed would give rise to a destructive shockwave.
Meanwhile, Zhou Yuan was akin to a leaf boat floating on the waves, wobbling precariously at every gust
of wind. His surroundings were filled with danger, and a single slip was all it would take to capsize him.
The final stream of green Genesis Qi landed.
Zhou Yuan’s feet slid across the ground, leaving two long trails upon it. His expression was extremely
grim, because there were now numerous small wounds on the surface of his body.
These wounds had been caused by the sword aura from the green Genesis Qi.
“As expected of a veteran purple sash disciple.”
Zhou Yuan wiped off the blood on the back of his hand. Not only did Xu Yan have strong and robust
Genesis Qi, his Genesis Qi had also reached the grade 6 level. As such, his Genesis Qi was able to invade
the opponent’s body at even the slightest contact. If not for the fact that Zhou Yuan’s Omni Python Qi was
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of a higher grade, just the sword like Genesis Qi that invaded his body alone would give him a huge
headache.
According to his estimates, Xu Yan’s Genesis Qi should be at the low tier grade 6.
Fortunately for Zhou Yuan, his Omni Python Qi was at the peak of grade 6. This was perhaps one of the
few advantages that he had over Xu Yan.
Upon seeing that Zhou Yuan’s Genesis Qi had not been disrupted even with the many wounds on his
body, Xu Yan raised his brows and said, “Your Genesis Qi is quite high quality huh… to think that you are
able to withstand my low tier grade 6 Green Moon Sword Qi.”
It was clear that Zhou Yuan had neutralized all the Green Moon Sword Qi that had invaded his body.
“But this even better. I need not worry about breaking you…” The corners of Xu Yan’s mouth raised
slightly, filled with a chilling sensation.
His foot slammed into the ground the instant his words faded.
Boom!
Green Genesis Qi swept forth from under his feet like a shockwave, spreading across the entire arena in
the blink of an eye.
“Green Moon Millimeter Sword!”
Buzz!
The Green Genesis Qi vibrated as it seemed to unravel, transforming into innumerable tiny hair-like
green sword light. A split second later, hundreds of millions of sword light shot towards Zhou Yuan.
In the face of this attack, Zhou Yuan was unable to avoid no matter how fast he was.
As he gazed upon the green sword light that seemed to fill the sky and land, Zhou Yuan’s pupils shrank
slightly. His body immediately etherealized, turning slightly transparent.
“Ethereal Form!”
“Heavenly Serpent Scales!”
With a shout, light azure scales appeared and covered his entire body.
Zhou Yuan did not stop after taking these defensive measures. He rolled up his sleeves as a rune surfaced
on his arm. The rune flickered with a glossy glow, a sign that it had been prepared some time ago.
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“Golden Glass Body Rune!”
In the wake of his yell, the rune instantly began to spread, as a glass like look surged out and enveloped
Zhou Yuan’s body.
Under the glass like glow, even the Heavenly Serpent Scales took on a glassy hue.
The current Zhou Yuan looked like a statute. However, his defensive power had become shockingly
terrifying.
Cling! Clang!
The countless tiny green sword light arrived just as Zhou Yuan had finished his preparations. Crisp and
clear sounds of collision echoed in the mountain peak.
Like a storm of green swords was violently raining down upon the land.
Outside the mountain range, numerous disciples swallowed when they saw this scene. The fights on the
other nine peaks were still in the warm-up phase, while Zhou Yuan and Xu Yan had already unleashed
their killing intent, showing no mercy against each other.
A disciple sighed and said, “Xu Yan is too vicious. The fight has only just begun, and yet he has already
unleashed his signature move, Green Moon Millimeter Sword. Even normal purple sash disciples would
have no choice but to retreat if they were up against this attack.”
“He has no choice. Zhou Yuan eliminated the entire Sword Cometh Peak team previously. Therefore, Xu
Yan must thoroughly thrash Zhou Yuan in order to restore some dignity for his peak.”
“I wonder if Zhou Yuan will survive this barrage…”
“......”
Amidst the numerous whispers, the rain of tiny green swords slowly began to thin, before finally ceasing.
Countless gazes immediately looked over.
Countless holes had been poked into the ground. Though each hole was the size of a little finger, they
were completely pitch-black, and it was impossible to see to the bottom.
At the center of the destruction, Zhou Yuan stood with his arms crossed in front of him. Needle like green
sword light seemed to cover every inch of his body, making him look similar to a hedgehog. It was a
painful sight to behold.
Xu Yan’s eyes narrowed as he stared at this scene.
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Crack!
A soft cracking sound was heard from Zhou Yuan’s body.
The glass-like scales swiftly began to shatter. As they broke, the tiny green swords stuck in them also fell
off.
A few breaths passed.
All the glass like scales had fallen off, returning Zhou Yuan’s body to its original color.
Numerous tiny red dots were visible on his body, blood seeping out from them. It was a very pitiful state.
However, Xu Yan snorted as he mocked, “Your turtle shell is really tough.”
These were merely superficial wounds. With his Ethereal Form, Heavenly Python Scales and the
defensive rune, Zhou Yuan had managed to block the brunt of the onslaught.
This made Xu Yan’s expression turn rather ugly.
He had initially thought that this move would be enough to leave Zhou Yuan helpless on the ground.
Zhou Yuan looked at the countless bloody dots on his arms as his expression turned slightly icy. This was
the first time since joining the Cangxuan Sect that he had faced so much pressure in a fight.
The seventh layer Alpha-Origin stage was formidable indeed.
However, even if Xu Yan was a ferocious tiger, he had better be prepared to break his teeth if he wanted
to bite a hard stone like Zhou Yuan!
Boom!
Zhou Yuan’s cheeks inflated as he blew out a stream of Genesis Qi that turned into a gale and swept up
the dust on the ground.
His figure vanished into the storm of dust.
“Advanced Ethereal Form… you are indeed skilled at hiding.” Xu Yan let out an icy chuckle when he saw
Zhou Yuan’s figure disappear, the icy glow in his eyes growing even harsher and brighter.
“To think that you would dare to launch a counter attack, how brave of you…”
“Alright then. I will make you understand… how it feels to be an ant shaking a tree!”
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Chapter 379 Moonfall Technique
Woo! Woo!
A strong wind blew up the dust on the ground, obscuring one’s vision, while Zhou Yuan’s figure
disappeared within. After reaching the advanced level of Ethereal Form, his body gained the ability to
become fully ethereal. With a little assistance from his surroundings, he was able to completely conceal
himself, and become as elusive as a ghost, making it easy for him to catch an opponent off-guard.
Xu Yan stood amid the dust with a sneer on his face, as he scanned his surroundings. He knew that Zhou
Yuan was not using this move to protect himself, but rather to buy time for a counter attack.
“You are quite smart. Unfortunately, you think too highly of yourself.”
Xu Yan’s body shook as green Genesis Qi pulsed from his body like a ring. The Genesis Qi transformed
into numerous fine hair-like Genesis Qi threads that quickly began spinning at high speeds in the area
around him.
“Even though Ethereal Form is quite remarkable, it is useless against me!”
As the Genesis Qi threads spun, a mocking smile suddenly appeared on Xu Yan’s lips.
“I’ve caught you little rat!”
His body suddenly shot forward, the sword in his hand pulsing with sharpness that could cut even space
itself. The sword flickered icily as it stabbed towards a certain direction on his right.
This strike was exceptionally powerful.
Ding!
A snow-white brush tip suddenly appeared out of nowhere, a purple glow pulsing on it as it clashed
against the tip of the sword.
However, Xu Yan clearly had the upper hand. His sword flickered, and blew apart the purple glow.
Ch!
However, right after that purple glow scattered, the tip of the brush abruptly split apart. It transformed
into brush hair chains that quickly wrapped around the sword, snaking towards Xu Yan’s body like a
python.
Xu Yan frowned. A burst of Genesis Qi erupted from within his body in an attempt to shake off the chains.
1934
However, the snow-white hairs were extremely tough, causing him to be incapable of breaking free for a
time.
At this moment, Zhou Yuan’s body appeared behind Xu yan. The former’s hands quickly formed a seal, as
golden Genesis Qi dashed into the sky.
“Nine Dragons Canon, Nine Dragons!”
With a yell, the sound of howling beasts immediately rang out across the area. Nine beast shaped Genesis
Qi shot into the sky, and began to devour one another. In the end, a single Genesis Qi beast an
overwhelmingly menacing aura emerged.
Roar!
That several hundred foot large Genesis Qi beast roared, before it ferociously charged towards the binded
Xu Yan.
It was a menacing and intimidation sight to behold.
Xu Yan lifted his head and looked at the roaring titan. Its ferocious aura made his eyes narrow slightly,
but a derisive smile soon appeared on his lips.
“Advanced Nine Dragons Canon… junior brother Zhou Yuan, if this attack was used against a gold sash
disciple, I believe that hardly anyone would be able to block it. Unfortunately, it seems that you’re still
underestimating us veteran purple sash disciples.”
Xu Yan’s cheeks abruptly ballooned as green Genesis Qi rapidly gathered in his mouth. A split second
later, it transformed into a beam of green light which he spat out from his mouth.
“High tier little Heaven Genesis technique, Green Moon Cone!”
The cone of green light was too fast for the naked eye to see. Countless disciples only managed to catch a
flash of green, before it smashed into the Genesis Qi beast.
Boom!
Berserk shockwaves swept outwards, as the two alarmingly powerful attacks destroyed each other.
Xu Yan jerked his body, finally breaking free from the the snow-white hair chains. Meanwhile, the hairs
retreated, along with a mottled black brush, before it was caught by a hand.
Zhou Yuan appeared, the Heavenly Yuan Brush in his hand pointed towards the ground.
“A veteran purple sash disciple is indeed a difficult opponent…” Zhou Yuan’s eyes widened a little. Looks
like he had gotten a little arrogant due to his recent string of victories. The Cangxuan Sect was after all
1935
one of the titans of Cangxuan Heaven, and each of their veteran purple sash disciples was selected from
amongst ten thousand individuals. Outside the Shengzhou Continent, any of them would be highly sought
geniuses.
Moreover, Zhou Yuan was still only at the third layer Alpha-Origin stage, and the advantage a seventh
layer Alpha-Origin stage expert had over him was simply too huge. If not for his peak grade 6 Omni
Python Qi, and his special blood-red Qi Dwelling which gave him Genesis Qi that far exceeded the third
layer, the Genesis Qi in his body would have likely been destroyed by Xu Yan after a few clashes.
“No wonder the criteria set by the sect is to see who can endure the longest, and not whether we could
defeat them…”
The expression in Zhou Yuan’s eyes gradually turned serious. In that case, let’s see who will last longer.
He believed that once he became a purple sash disciple and advanced to the fourth layer Alpha-Origin
stage, he would have no longer have to fear any of these veteran purple sash disciples again.
Swoosh!
Zhou Yuan wielded the Heavenly Yuan Brush, as his ethereal body dashed forward like a wisp of smoke.
He was still going to defend by attacking.
Xu Yan let out an icy chuckle when he saw this. His body also shot forth, an aura pulsing around his sword
as it transformed into numerous sword shadows that went after the vital points on Zhou Yuan’s body.
Clang! Clang!
Two blurry figures clashed like lightning in the arena, after-images appearing one after another. A clear
clang could be heard at every clash, accompanied by an astonishing shockwave of Genesis Qi.
However, everyone could see that Zhou Yuan’s figure would be pushed back after each clash. He was
clearly being suppressed in this direct confrontation.
This caused the numerous watching disciples to shake their heads inside. Zhou Yuan was after all merely
at the third layer Alpha-Origin stage. Even if he had many tricks up his sleeve, it was still a stretch for him
to fight against someone like Xu Yan, who was four layers above him.
Under the many pitying gazes, Zhou Yuan expression remained rather calm while locked in an intense
battle with Xu Yan. As the former continued to fight, a faint dragon roar seemed to echo with each breath
he took.
Genesis Qi was being continuously absorbed into his body, before being swiftly refined to replenish his
stamina.
1936
Dragon Breathing.
Although Zhou Yuan did not have as much Genesis Qi as the seventh layer Xu Yan, the former was able to
make use of Dragon Breathing to continually replenish his depleted Genesis Qi, and drag out the fight.
It would be hard for his current self to defeat Xu Yan, but if Zhou Yuan only wanted to drag out the fight, it
would not be so easy for Xu Yan to kick him out either...
Wounds would appear on his body from time to time due to the opponent’s sword aura, but the majority
of the damage was neutralized by the Heavenly Serpent Scales and the Ethereal Form technique, and
hence did not affect his combat abilities.
As such, time slowly passed while the fight between the two grew increasingly intense.
By this point, many disciples began to realize that something was amiss. Even though Zhou Yuan was
being overwhelmed by Xu Yan and seemed to be in quite a desperate state, he was still able to doggedly
hang on despite Xu Yan’s ferocious barrage of attacks.
“Eh?” Even Li Qingchan gasped softly, clearly realising that there was something strange about this
situation as well.
Zhou Yuan’s Genesis Qi may not be as abundant as Xu Yan’s, but it seemed to last for an impossibly long
amount of time.
It was also clear that Zhou Yuan no longer entertained any thoughts of defeating Xu Yan, but instead
made the logical decision to stall for time.
Clang!
The Heavenly Yuan Brush clashed with the sword again, pushing Zhou Yuan’s body back once more.
However, Xu Yan’s expression was gradually turning stormy as he gazed upon Zhou Yuan’s figure.
He had cast a glance behind him, only to find that a fifth of the giant incense stick behind had already
been burnt.
His original plan was to kick Zhou Yuan out within this period of time. However, judging by the current
situation, though Zhou Yuan appeared to be suppressed, the latter was still full of vigor, and his Genesis
Qi showed no signs of depletion.
“This guy… is basically a tortoise. He is not only extremely tough, but also very hardy as well!”
Xu Yan took in a deep breath, as a cold expression flowed in his eyes.
This cannot continue. Since you are good at wasting time, I will take the most direct approach and
destroy all your defenses with a single attack!
1937
Xu Yan shot an icy glance at Zhou Yuan, before releasing the sword in his hand, allowing it to slowly rise
into the air.
The Genesis Qi in the vicinity gradually began to stir at this moment.
Swoosh!
The sword shot into the sky as all the Genesis Qi in the area gathered towards it. Resplendent green light
gradually appeared, transforming into a green crescent moon in the sky.
Moonlight spread from the crescent moon like an endless torrent of sword aura, a sight that would make
one’s scalp turn numb.
Dreadful undulations ripples from the green crescent moon.
Outside the mountain range, numerous disciples stared at this scene in shock, before erupting into an
uproar a split second later.
“Isn’t this a little too ruthless of Xu Yan. To think that he would even use a Heaven Genesis technique on a
mere gold sash disciple!”
“That should be the Moonfall technique of Sword Cometh Peak! It’s a genuine low grade Heaven
Technique!”
“This is going to reflect very badly on him…”
Many disciples whispered among themselves, clearly quite critical of Xu Yan’s actions. He already had the
absolute advantage in terms of Genesis Qi cultivation, and yet he was still going to use a Heaven Genesis
technique?
Does he think he’s fighting against another vetern purple sash disciple?
This bullying was definitely a little overboard.
However, Xu Yan would not be affected at this moment no matter how they expressed their displeasure.
He stood in the middle of the arena, as his icy gaze locked onto Zhou Yuan.
How could he not know that using a Heaven Genesis technique against Zhou Yuan would reflect badly on
him. However, Zhou Yuan was simply too hardy. In fact, based on his current estimation, he knew that he
was not going to deplete Zhou Yuan’s Genesis Qi before the incense stick was completely burnt.
Therefore, he was forced to take drastic measures, and use overwhelming power to destroy Zhou Yuan.
He looked at Zhou Yuan with icy arrogance, before he slowly clapped his palms together.
1938
“I heard that Wei Youxuan used an incomplete low grade Heaven Genesis technique on you previously.
Since that is the case, allow this senior to open your eyes and show you today…”
“What a complete Heaven tier technique is like!”
“Moonfall technique!”
Buzz!
The instant his voice sounded, the green crescent moon hanging in the sky abruptly fell.
A flash of green light seemed to split the sky into two.
1939
Chapter 380 Genesis Qi Clash
Buzz!
A green crescent moon fell from the sky like a streak of green light, seemingly tearing apart even space
itself wherever it passed.
The falling crescent moon was the embodiment of horrifying power.
Zhou Yuan lifted his head, an extremely grave expression on his face as he gazed at the falling crescent
moon. He could just barely make out the shadow of sword within the crescent moon.
The crescent moon surrounding the sword was actually made from sword aura.
In the face of an attack like this, Zhou Yuan knew that he would be instantly cleaved into two no matter
how many layers of defense he had.
Even the majority of seventh layer Alpha-Origin experts would try to flee as far as they could from this
crescent moon.
Numerous sighs of pity could be heard outside the mountain range. The moment Xu Yan decided to throw
away his dignity and use this attack, was the moment that the battle would finally be decided.
They truly could not imagine how Zhou Yuan would be able to withstand such a terrifying attack.
Amidst the sighs of pity, many disciples watched as Zhou Yuan suddenly grasped his hands in front of
him. Scorching undulations seemed to spread from his body, so hot that even the ground below his feet
began to melt.
A scarlet-red aura rose from Zhou Yuan’s body.
His feet slowly spread apart as his cheeks abruptly ballooned. Everyone watched as his face suddenly
turned red as a burning cold.
In fact, even his eyes had taken on a scarlet-red hue.
Zhou Yuan’s hands swiftly formed a seal as the Genesis Qi in his body violently bubbled like boiling water.
The strange movements from Zhou Yuan was met by uncertainty in the eyes of countless disciples.
However, some of the keener disciples soon realized something, and immediately blurted out, “Zhou
Yuan is using a Heaven Genesis technique!”
“From the appearance of that technique… if my guess is not wrong, it should be the Heavenly Sun God
Record!”
1940
“I’ve heard that Zhou Yuan was given a low grade Heaven Genesis technique by the sect when he became
champion of the peak selection ceremony. That must be the Heavenly Sun God Record!”
Cries of surprise spread, shocking countless disciples. Didn’t this mean that Zhou Yuan had managed to
learn the Heavenly Sun God Record?!
He really is a monster!
Fuu!
Amidst the gasps and cries of surprise, Zhou Yuan’s had already expanded as much as the could. In the
next instant, his mouth suddenly opened as shout rang out from within.
“Heavenly Sun God Record, Heavenly Sun Fire!”
*Cackle*!
Along with his voice, a several hundred feet wide ball of white fire was spat out. It felt as if the air around
was instantly combusted, while the rocky arena below their feet began to melt.
This bundle of fire was enough to melt an entire mountain.
Its power was domineering to the extreme!
*Cackle*!
The white fire dashed into the sky. Under countless astonished gazes, it ultimately slammed into the
swiftly descending green crescent moon.
Boom!
A berserk Genesis Qi shockwave devastated the area.
Under the madly burning white fire, the green crescent moon rapidly began to shrink at speed which
could be seen by the naked eye. However, the pulsing green light sword Qi was also extinguishing the fire.
The two forces frantically eroded each other.
In a short span of a few dozen breaths, the giant blaze of white fire had been fully extinguished, while the
green crescent moon had shrunk to the size of a mere foot...
Swish!
The green crescent moon swung downwards, its sharp edge heading straight for Zhou Yuan.
1941
Heavenly Serpent Scales appeared on Zhou Yuan’s arms. His grip tightened around the Heavenly Yuan
Brush, as he yelled. Omni Python Qi surged out, and wrapped around the brush like a giant python, before
being powerfully swung at the incoming crescent moon.
Clang!
The Heavenly Yuan Brush and crescent moon smashed into each other as a clear clang echoed. A hundred
feet wide shockwave quickly followed, plowing through the entire surface of the mountain peak.
Rumble!
The ground was rapidly torn apart.
Zhou Yuan’s figure received the brunt of the aftershock, leaving deep marks on the ground as his feet slid
backwards. The Heavenly Yuan Brush also grated across the ground, creating a line of sparks.
As the dust settled, one could see that the entire arena was a mess.
Countless nervous gazes shot over.
Only to find that Zhou Yuan’s figure had appeared on the edge of a cliff, mere inches away from falling off.
The Heavenly Yuan Brush had been deeply impaled into the ground in front of him, while his arms were
drenched in blood. Even the Heavenly Serpent Scales had been completely shattered due to the
overwhelming force from the green crescent moon from earlier.
Although he was now a pretty miserable sight to behold, anyone could see that he had successfully
withstood Xu Yan’s terrifying attack.
No one had expected Zhou Yuan to meet it with an attack of his own. He had first used a Heaven Genesis
technique to exhaust nearly eighty percent of the crescent moon’s power, before striking a decisive blow
that ultimately managed to destroy the attack.
Such rich battle experience made one gasp in amazement.
Zhou Yuan swung his hands, sending out a spray of blood. His expression remained unchanged as he
muttered to himself, “What a pity. If I was at the fourth layer Alpha-Origin stage, my Heavenly Sun Fire
would have been enough to destroy that green crescent moon.”
The strength of his Genesis Qi was just unable to match up to his opponent’s, resulting in him being
unable to bring out the full power of the Heavenly Sun Fire. In the end, he was forced to take action,
paying a substantial price in order to destroy the remaining power within the green crescent moon.
1942
The numerous disciples outside the mountain range could not help but cheer when they saw this. Zhou
Yuan’s response had been beautiful.
Even at a clear disadvantage, he remained calm in the face of danger, paying the smallest price to
neutralize it. Such ability astonished even some of the veteran purple sash disciples.
On the mountain peak, the corners of Xu Yan’s mouth twitched for a moment as he gazed upon the pitiful
figure of his opponent. Zhou Yuan’s tenacity was beginning to shake Xu Yan’s heart a little.
The attacks he unleashed earlier would have defeated even a seventh layer disciples long ago, but Zhou
Yuan just somehow managed to doggedly hang on.
With such willpower and determination, it was no wonder that he had become famous in the talent filled
Cangxuan Sect.
“This guy!” Xu Yan gritted his teeth, the look in his eyes showing that he was a little unable to accept the
reality before him.
Swish!
However, while rage was boiling in his heart, Zhou Yuan’s figure suddenly disappeared.
“Humph!” Xu Yan icily snorted as he sent a palm strike behind him. Although using the Heaven Genesis
technique earlier had used up a substantial amount of Genesis Qi, dealing with Zhou Yuan was still not
going to be a problem.
Thud!
Palm winds swatted forth as a hand reached out from nowhere like an eagle claw to meet it, before
grabbing Xu Yan’s hand.
Xu Yan let out an icy chuckle as he sent out a fierce thrust with his other hand, Genesis Qi surging as
sword Qi pulsed from it.
Thud!
Zhou Yuan’s other hand also moved forward, his fingers closing around Xu Yan’s hand and locking it in
place.
As a result, the two individuals ended up tightly grabbing each other’s hands, ominous glints flashing in
their eyes as they glared at each other.
This clearly looked to be a contest of Genesis Qi with their bodies as a battlefield!
1943
Such a situation slightly stunned Xu Yan for an instant, before a sinister smile quickly appeared on his
lips. “You really are seeking death. Do you believe that you’ll be able to compete with me in Genesis Qi
because I’ve used a Heaven Genesis technique?”
“I’ll let you have a taste of how much stronger the seventh layer Alpha-Origin is than you!”
With a thought, the Genesis Qi stars in his Qi Dwelling abruptly brightened as surging Genesis Qi whizzed
out, flowing through his body and into his arms as it maniacally began to invade Zhou Yuan’s body.
Xu Yan’s Genesis Qi was as sharp as a sword, and was a true-blue grade 6 Genesis Qi. Sword Qi began to
spread the moment it entered Zhou Yuan’s body, causing him to feel a stabbing pain.
However, Zhou Yuan’s eyes merely hardened in response, seemingly unmoved by the pain, while his
roaring Omni Python Qi charged into Xu Yan’s body.
The Genesis Qi of both individuals collided as they attempted to destroy the other.
Numerous disciples gasped when they saw this scene. No one had expected the two to choose such a
desperate mode of battle.
“Xu Yan clearly has the advantage in a purely Genesis Qi clash…”
“Yeah, I don’t understand why Zhou Yuan forced Xu Yan into it…”
“I’m guessing it’s because he was being overwhelmed by Xu Yan earlier, and can no longer bear to
continue…”
“This is rather foolish of him.”
“......”
Under the numerous puzzled gazes, Zhou Yuan and Xu Yan’s figures violently shook on the mountain top,
before being flung backwards a split second later, leaving behind countless footprints on the ground as
they attempted to stabilize their bodies.
Xu Yan’s cold gaze looked towards Zhou Yuan as he said in a mocking manner, “That was too foolish of
you junior brother Zhou Yuan.”
“Your arms have now been injured by my Genesis Qi, and won’t be able to move for the time being.”
Countless gazes were cast at Zhou Yuan’s arms, only to find that it was covered in bloody wounds. It
looked as if countless blades had sliced into them, the fresh blood gushing out making them appear even
more pitiful than earlier.
If he temporarily lost the use of his arms, Zhou Yuan would no longer be able to do battle.
1944
Like everyone had expected, Xu Yan had gained the upper hand in the earlier Genesis Qi clash.
Under Xu Yan’s mocking gaze, Zhou Yuan lowered his head and glanced at his bloody arms. To everyone’s
surprise, however, there was no panic on his face.
“Senior brother Xu Yan…”
He raised his head and looked towards Xu Yan, who appeared to be already absolutely certain of victory,
as a playful smile gradually rose from the corners of his mouth.
“Did no one tell you… that it’s best not to engage in a Genesis Qi struggle using the body as the battlefield
with me?”
“Because if you do so, the price you end up paying will be far beyond your imagination.”
Xu Yan’s pupils shrank slightly. A split second later, he seemed to suddenly detect something and
abruptly pulled up his sleeves. He looked down, only to see that countless sinisterly looking blood lines
had appeared on his arms. These blood lines squirmed under his skin, as the resentful roar a dragon
faintly echoed.
1945
Chapter 381 Tyrannical Dragon’s Resent Poison
On the arena atop the mountain, Xu Yan lowered his head, his expression ashen as he gazed at strange
blood lines that had appeared on his arms. The lines of blood gave off a bitter aura of resentment that
made one shiver uncontrollably.
It was obviously some kind of terrifying poison.
“Do you think that a tiny bit of poison can scare me?”
Xu Yan’s voice was laced with frost. Genesis Qi swiftly began surging in his body, sweeping towards his
arms in an attempt to expel the Dragon’s Resentment Poison.
However, the instant his Genesis Qi came into contact with the poison, he realized to his horror that his
Genesis Qi was turning blood-red as if it had been infected, causing him to lose control of it.
As a result, a strange blood-red lines on his arms began to grow even darker.
A sliver of terror finally appeared on Xu Yan’s face. He stared at Zhou Yuan and shouted, “What kind of
poison is this?!”
It was so domineering. Mere contact was all it took to infect even Genesis Qi. He had never heard of such a
tyrannical poison.
Zhou Yuan flung off the blood on his arms, before falling to the ground on his butt. He cast a nonchalant
glance at Xu Yan, and said, “If you’re smart, don’t use your Genesis Qi for the time being. If the infection
spreads too deep, I’m not sure if it will be possible to save you.”
No one knew better than him how frightening the Dragon’s Resentment Poison was. It was basically
impossible to neutralize. Xu Yan was currently only at the initial stage of the infection. If it worsened and
the poison went berserk, he would experience pain that would make one beg for death.
“What?!”
Xu Yan’s face twisted, rage filling it as he looked towards Zhou Yuan. If he could not use Genesis Qi, how
would he kick Zhou Yuan out?
“You... you’re too devious!” Xu Yan’s voice was brimming with anger.
Only now did he understand. Zhou Yuan may have appeared foolish previously when he chose to engage
in a Genesis Qi clash within their bodies. His true goal had been to send the Dragon’s Resentment Poison
into Xu Yan’s body.
1946
However, Zhou Yuan merely raised his eyelids in response, basically ignoring the former. There weren’t
many rules for the purple sash selection, allowing one to rely on any means one chose. Calling him
devious, humph. Was Sword Cometh Peak honorable for sending so many gold sash disciples after him?
Was it not underhanded for Xu Yan to use all of his veteran purple sash disciple strength to overpower
Zhou Yuan in an attempt to kick him out of the selection?
Since it was within the rules, no one could blame him.
Moreover, Zhou Yuan clearly understood that it was practically impossible for him to defeat Xu Yan at
this point in time. Hence, Zhou Yuan had selected to take an unconventional approach, forcing both
parties to suffer such that Xu Yan would not have any energy left to kick him out.
Both of them had now lost all their battle power. All they could do now was wait...
The corners of Zhou Yuan’s mouth curled upwards. He continued to ignore the fuming Xu Yan and began
to inspect the injuries on his arms.
Xu Yan’s face had nearly turned green due to Zhou Yuan’s complete disregard of him, barely able to hold
himself back several times from completely exploding in anger. But when he saw the strange blood liens
on his arms, he could only do the rational thing and forcibly suppress his rage.
He could sense how dreadful the blood-red poison was. If he tried anything reckless and irreversible
damage was done, he would certainly dearly regret it.
Thus, all he could do was stand there, not daring to make any moves.
As such, the situation instantly turned rather awkward. The two of them had been locked in a bitter
struggle just moments ago, but now, one was seated on the ground, while the other was standing there,
still as a statue, as he glared at the former...
This strange scene naturally caused a torrential uproar when it landed in the eyes of the countless
disciples outside the mountain range.
“What are they doing?”
“Why isn’t Xu Yan attacking? Zhou Yuan has even sat down… is he resting?”
“What exactly is going on?”
“......”
Numerous disciples were completely baffled, not knowing whether to laugh or to cry. They had been
fighting just a second ago, why were they now peacefully sitting and talking?
1947
Countless confused whispers spread.
Fortunately, there were some sharper disciples in the crowd that said with some hesitation, “There seems
to be something strange about Xu Yan’s condition.”
“It’s not that he doesn’t want to move, but has been forced into this situation by Zhou Yuan...”
“Zhou Yuan must have done something during that Genesis Qi clash earlier.”
“......”
The other disciples thoughtfully nodded their heads when they heard this. This conjecture did seem to fit.
It was the only way to explain why the usually rational Zhou Yuan would make such a seemingly foolish
decision to clash Genesis Qi with Xu Yan.
The former clearly had a goal.
Xu Yan, on the other hand, had fallen prey to the trap due to underestimating Zhou Yuan.
From the current situation, if Zhou Yuan and Xu Yan continued in this manner, the giant incense stick
would eventually be fully burnt. When that happened, Zhou Yuan would be the one who managed to
endure the longest...
And the title champion would naturally become his.
When they realised this, countless disciples looked towards Zhou Yuan’s figure in shock. Although the
latter’s current state of gently wiping away the blood off his arms appeared quite pitiful, it did not stop
amazement and respect to rise in the hearts of numerous disciples.
He had given them far too many surprises.
Maybe no one would think much of these surprises if they only appeared on occasion, but if they
happened too regularly, such surprises would in truth no longer be simple surprises...
Evidently, this new disciples that had spent less than a year in the Cangxuan Sect was nowhere near as
simple as they had imagined.
...
“Why did this happen…”
Beside the river, Lu Xuanyin gazed upon this scene with a pale face. She stumbled in disbelief, falling to
the ground on her butt as disappointment and despair appeared in her eyes.
1948
She never imagined that even Xu Yan himself would fail to finish off Zhou Yuan, and had instead been
forced into such an awkward situation by him.
Fear surfaced on her face as she looked at the figure in the mirror. She had repeatedly targeted Zhou
Yuan, only to end up thwarted each time. As a result, she was now becoming quite afraid of him.
Such a person was just far too strange and unfathomable.
...
On the highest peak.
Genesis Qi rippled from six imposing figures as they watched the battles occurring on the peaks deep
within the mountain range.
Sect master Qing Yang and the other five peak masters looked towards Xu Yan’s figure. Beings as
powerful of themselves were able to view the interior of his body with a single glance, clearly seeing the
strange blood-red thing restlessly stirring inside Xu Yan’s arms.
“Eh…”
A soft sound of surprise was emitted from sect master Qing Yang when he saw the blood-red Dragon’s
Resentment Poison. He had evidently detected a peculiar undulation from it.
Sect master Qing Yang slowly remarked, “What a domineering poison… even one such as I have never
seen such a thing before.”
The other peak masters nodded in agreement.
The Snow Lotus Peak master Liu Lianyi smiled and said, “The little one called Zhou Yuan is quite a
surprising kid. It’s hard to believe he forced the seventh layer Xu Yan to give up with the strength of the
third layer.”
She glanced at peak master Ling Jun, the mockery in her words impossible to miss.
Peak master Ling Jun’s expression appeared rather calm. However, those familiar with him knew that he
was someone who loved face, and could not possibly be calm inside when Sword Cometh Peak had been
humiliated so badly today.
Peak master Ling Jun indifferently said, “He merely relied on poison.”
Sect master Qing Yang shook his head and said, “The participants are allowed to utilise basically any
methods they want in the purple sash selection, and poison is also a kind of strength. Zhou Yuan is
weaker than Xu Yan, but he is adept at finding opportunities. He made excellent use of the fact that Xu
1949
Yan was underestimating him to deploy an unconventional tactic that ultimately landed Xu Yan in his
trap. The fact that he has such rich battle experience is extraordinary.”
Peak master Lin Jun was silent. It was impossible for him to be unaware of these points. However, he was
unable to be fully composed due to the great defeat suffered by Sword Cometh Peak today.
Sect master Qing Yang looked towards Zhou Yuan in admiration as he said, “This little one is not bad at
all. It’s a pity that he went to Saint Genesis Peak…”
His voice was filled with regret. Since Zhou Yuan was already Shen Taiyuan’s disciple, he could not
possibly be so shameless as it snatch away a disciple from an elder of the sect, regardless of how greatly
he cherished talent.
...
“I never imagined that Zhou Yuan would still have such a trick hidden up his sleeve…”
The scene in the Genesis Qi mirror stunned Li Qingchan for quite some time, before she softly mumbled
some praise. Her perspective of Zhou Yuan had been changed once again.
She had originally believed that it would be impossible for Zhou Yuan to turn things around this time.
Who could have imagined that he would create a miracle once again, turning an unwinnable fight into a
stalemate… though if one considered the rules, it would actually be Zhou Yuan’s victory.
If they continued in this manner, Zhou Yuan would be the one to benefit.
In fact, one may even say that the championship title was already his...
“He really can’t be judged through normal means…”
She looked towards Yaoyao and sighed. “You’ve won the bet again.”
Yaoyao lifted her face and focused on Zhou Yuan’s figure. However, there was no joy on her face. Instead,
her brows were slightly furrowed, while traces of anger could be seen.
“He’s too reckless…”
“This is the period when the Dragon’s Resentment Poison will soon go berserk once again. I can’t believe
he actually dared to stir it up…”
“You’re the one who is going to suffer if the Dragon’s Resentment Poison erupts again.”
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Chapter 382 Champion
On the scattered remains of the mountain peak, the awkward situation continued.
Zhou Yuan and Xu Yan were only separated by a few feet, but there was already no chance that a fight
would break out between them.
Zhou Yuan was seated on the ground as he gradually neutralized the sharp Genesis Qi that had invaded
his body. Xu Yan some distance away, not daring to even move, let alone send out his Genesis Qi to expel
the poison.
His previous attempt had already made him understand just how terrifying that blood-red poison was.
As such, while the battles on the other nine peaks grew increasingly intense, their battle arena stayed
strangely peaceful and quiet.
With regards to this situation, the numerous watching disciples were unable to decide whether they
should laugh or cry.
They had originally believed Zhou Yuan would have zero chance in this fight. Who could have imagined
that he would succeed in pulling off such a strange plan.
It seems that Sword Cometh Peak was destined to lose all face due to him.
On the mountain top, Xu Yan’s expression fluctuated indeterminately. He glanced at the giant incense
stick at the center of the arena, finding that nearly a third of it had been burnt. In addition, the
participants on the other nine peaks were gradually beginning to lose to their opponents.
If this situation continued, the victor’s crown would really end up on Zhou Yuan’s head.
When that happened, Sword Cometh Peak would truly lose all face, and his mission would certainly end
up in failure. In fact, he would likely be punished as well.
These thoughts made Xu Yan’s expression turn even uglier. Soon after, he looked towards Zhou Yuan and
said in a low voice, “Zhou Yuan, don’t even think for a moment that making Sword Cometh Peak lose all
face will be good for you.”
Zhou Yuan raised his eyelids.
“Everyone knows that us Sword Cometh Peak disciples are not to be trifled with, and the worst possible
people you can offend in the Cangxuan Sect. If you take things too far today, someone from Sword Cometh
Peak will most certainly seek vengeance on you in the future.”
1951
Zhou Yuan nonchalantly replied, “Senior brother Xu Yan, you say that I take things too far, but it’s your
Sword Cometh Peak that sent so many gold sash disciples to hunt me today.”
Xu Yan turned rigid for a moment. His tone soon softened as he said, “Junior brother Zhou Yuan, I have a
suggestion…”
“As long as you admit defeat now, our Sword Cometh Peak will owe you one, while also writing off
everything that happened before, and no Sword Cometh Peak disciple will ever cause any trouble for you
in future. How about it?”
Zhou Yuan could not hold back his laughter. What a thick skin. To think that Xu Yan would be capable of
saying such words. Looks like the current situation had put him under a tremendous amount of pressure.
“Forget it, I can’t afford for Sword Cometh Peak to be indebted to me.”
He shook his head as he answered in a calm voice. How could he not know that he had offended Sword
Cometh Peak today. However, they only had themselves to blame. To think that Xu Yan was asking him to
admit defeat now in order to save what little dignity they had left. Zhou Yuan could not possibly agree to
such a shameless request.
Sword Cometh Peak may be akin to a rising star, but so what? Everyone was part of the same Cangxuan
Sect. If Sword Cometh Peak did go overboard, Zhou Yuan believed that sect master Qing Yang and the
other peak masters would not idly stand by.
Moreover, he was not a weak-willed individual. Sword Cometh Peak’s overbearingness this time had
naturally angered him.
Since you guys were the ones who started this, losing all face shall be the consequence you bear.
“Zhou Yuan, you’d better not push your luck!” Xu Yan’s tone had turned to one of anger. He had already
put down his airs and tried to politely persuade the former. And yet, Zhou Yuan refused to budge, clearly
showing no respect for Sword Cometh Peak.
However, Zhou Yuan could no longer be bothered to respond. He closed his eyes and focused on
neutralizing the Genesis Qi that had invaded his body.
Upon seeing this, Xu Yan anxiously shouted a few more times. However, he was only met by silence,
causing his face to turn green with rage.
Time slowly flowed in this manner.
At this point in time, only half of the giant incense stick was left.
1952
By this time, the battles on the other nine peaks were already nearing their end. Only Su Wan, Wang
Chen, Xia Yu and the other two first seat gold sash disciples were left standing, as they bitterly struggled
against their veteran purple sash opponents.
However, it was clear that they would not last much longer.
Xu Yan’s face turned even uglier when he saw this, and opened his mouth once again to persuade Zhou
Yuan. However, Zhou Yuan remained completely unresponsive.
The giant incense stick burned faster and faster. When only a tenth of the stick was left, the other five
remaining participants finally reached their limit and admitted defeat.
The instant the final five conceded, every gaze in the entire place converged onto Zhou Yuan and Xu Yan’s
peak, complicated expressions filling everyone’s faces.
When these gazes looked at Zhou Yuan, admiration appeared in their eyes.
The championship battle was a competition to see who would last the longest at the hands of the veteran
purple sash disciples. Su Wan, Wang Chen, Xia Yu and the rest had tried their hardest to delay the
inevitable.
A vast disparity would appear when the other participants compared themselves to Zhou Yuan, because
he had forced an impasse on his peak.
In other words, although Zhou Yuan had been unable to defeat Xu Yan, Xu Yan could do nothing about
him either.
From a certain point of view, this was already considered an absolute victory.
Though the youthful figure seated on the mountain top was quite a pitiful sight at this time, not a single
disciple dared to look down on him. No one could find a single fault in Zhou Yuan’s performance during
this purple sash selection.
One could say that Zhou Yuan will now become a legend in the Cangxuan Sect after the purple sash
selection.
His previous accomplishments from the peak selection ceremony, Genesis reservoir or Saint Genesis Peak
were basically nothing in comparison to his latest one. In a certain manner of speaking, Zhou Yuan had
singlehandedly crushed the entire Sword Cometh Peak during this purple selection test.
A single individual crushing an entire peak. Though it was only with regards to the gold sash disciples, it
was already a feat that made countless people sigh in admiration.
Zhou Yuan’s tightly shut eyes also opened at this moment. He cast an indifferent glance at Xu Yan, finding
the latter’s face was now deathly pale and filled with despair.
1953
It was obvious that Xu Yan also understood that nothing could be changed by this point, and it would be
useless no matter what he said now.
He glared at Zhou Yuan and spat out through gnashed teeth, “Zhou Yuan, you’ll regret this!”
Zhou Yuan remained unmoved. He stood up as he slammed his palm onto the ground, causing spurts of
sharp Genesis Qi to shoot out, drilling numerous deep holes on the mountain top.
The Genesis Qi that had invaded his body earlier was now fully neutralized.
Xu Yan’s expression changed slightly when he saw this, clearly not expecting Zhou Yuan to neutralize his
Genesis Qi so quickly.
Zhou Yuan swept a glance at Xu Yan. The fight with the latter had made him realize how much he was
lacking. To think a single veteran purple sash disciple had pushed him so far.
“The year-end chief disciple selection will definitely be far more difficult, because only the best purple
sash disciples will have the qualifications to participate.”
“Someone like Xu Yan may not even be qualified to take part in such an event.”
Zhou Yuan took in a deep breath as he eyes narrowed slightly. Looks like he could not become
complacent. If Xu Yan had not underestimated him, Zhou Yuan could not guarantee that he would become
the last man standing.
After all, it was already crazily difficult for him to defeat a sixth layer disciple. Challenging the seventh
layer was just too much.
While these thoughts swirled in his head, Zhou Yuan suddenly sensed an almighty gaze look towards him,
before a warm and boundless voice sounded.
It was sect master Qing Yang!
“The purple sash selection has ended.”
“The champion of this selection, is Saint Genesis Peak’s… Zhou Yuan!”
As the booming voice echoed, countless gazes looked towards Zhou Yuan. Some were filled with
amazement, some were filled with respect… in the end, the numerous disciples followed the rites they
had always followed; cupping their fists together and bowing.
“Congratulations champion!”
Ordery and clear voices rang out across the land, shaking the seven peaks.
1954
Only at this very moment did Zhou Yuan’s name finally begin to leave its mark in the Cangxuan Sect.
1955
Chapter 383 Sword Cometh Peak’s Punishment
The last purple sash selection of the year had finally ended in a spectacular fashion, though the ending
was completely unexpected.
Though it was over, the resulting shock lingered for quite some time, every disciple in the Cangxuan Sect
still relatively in awe.
In fact, Zhou Yuan’s outstanding accomplishments during the test made even the purple sash disciples to
sigh in admiration.
In the past, these same purple sash disciples would merely show indifferent haughtiness when they
heard of Zhou Yuan’s battle accomplishments, listening to them in a disdainful manner. This was because
Zhou Yuan’s opponents were merely gold sash disciples, and were hardly worthy of their attention.
After this selection test, however, they finally withdrew their arrogant attitude, and began to regard Zhou
Yuan as someone that was on the same level as them. After all, regardless of what methods Zhou Yuan
had used, he was the one who had the final laugh. In contrast, Xu Yan had ended up in a rather sorry
state.
Hence, as word travelled from mouth to mouth, Zhou Yuan quickly became rather popular in the
Cangxuan Sect. Although he was only a newly promoted purple sash disciple, his fame exceeded even
some of the veteran purple sash disciples.
While the disciples of Cangxuan Sect were in awe of Zhou Yuan’s battle accomplishments in the purple
sash selection, the disciples from Sword Cometh Peak were in their most awkward and embarrassed
state. In a manner of speaking, the rise of Zhou Yuan’s reputation came at the expense of the dignity of
their Sword Cometh Peak.
Under the current circumstances, they naturally chose to shy away from any discussions.
Therefore, even though the entire Cangxuan Sect was filled with discussions centering Zhou Yuan, the
disciples from Sword Cometh Peak chose to remain silent.
At the same time, a piece of news emerged from Sword Comth Peak; every purple sash selection
participant from the peak would be demoted to a black sash disciple for a year.
In other words, not only did Le Tian, Lu Xuanyin and the other gold sash disciples fail to become purple
sash disciples, they even failed to keep their status as gold sash disciples, ending up demoted to the
lowest rank black sash disciple.
This demotion would last for an entire year. This meant that their rank would only be reinstated after a
year.
1956
In addition, the veteran purple sash disciple, Xu Yan, was also punished. He was demoted from purple
sash to gold sash for a year...
In a manner of speaking, such a punishment was quite severe. Similar punishments had never been given
for any of the past purple sash selection tests. This clearly showed the displeasure and anger that peak
master Ling Jun felt towards his disciples’ pathetic performances during this test.
When news of this matter got out, the disciples from other peaks gasped in shock, making them
sympathize with Le Tian and the rest for a time. However, the punishment was a direct order from peak
master Ling Jun. There was no way to change it unless sect master Qing Yang stepped forward and
officially said something.
Furthermore, all seven peaks were ran independently, the master of each peak having the final say over
any matter in his or her peak. Hence, even sect master Qing Yang would rarely intervene in such
matters.
As a result, Le Tian, Lu Xuanyin, Xu Yan and the rest had no choice but to endure their punishment for a
year.
...
Sword Cometh Peak.
The atmosphere in Sword Cometh Peak had been a little stifling recently.
It was because peak master Ling Jun was not in a good mood, leading to several elders to act cautiously so
as not to incite his wrath. Consequently, the elders’ disciples were even more cautious, and they did their
best to avoid causing any trouble. After all, all of them had personally witnessed what had happened to Le
Tian, Xu Yan, Lu Xuanyin and the rest.
A certain tall peak in Sword Cometh Peak.
Inside a stone pavilion.
Two young men were seated opposite one another. One of them was dressed in white, and had an
extraordinary presence. It was Kong Sheng of Sword Cometh Peak.
Seated opposite him, was a man with long eyes, and a body that gave off a sharp and powerful aura.
Naturally, the only disciple in the entire Sword Cometh Peak who had the qualifications to sit side by side
with Kong Sheng, was the second Chosen, Zhao Zhu.
“You are probably the one who incited our Sword Cometh Peak disciples to gang up on Zhou Yuan in the
purple sash selection.” Said Kong Sheng as he glanced at Zhao Zhu.
1957
“Though Xu Yan was the one who came up with the idea, there is no way he could make Le Tian and the
rest completely comply with his influence alone.”
Zhao Zhu smiled helplessly and replied, “They are really useless. They can’t even take care of such a small
matter.”
Kong Sheng frowned slightly as he said, “I’ve said this before. There is no need to go after Zhou Yuan.
Your actions have only ended up raising his reputation.”
Zhao Zhu gently rubbed with the white-jade like piece in his hand, as he casually said, “It was merely a
off-hand remark to Le Tian…”
He paused for a moment, before he continued, “Nonetheless, I was negligent. I originally thought that it
would only be a small matter. However… it turns out Zhou Yuan is actually quite capable.”
His eyes narrowed slightly, as a bright and fierce glint flashed across them.
He had indeed sincerely believed that it was merely an insignificant matter. In fact, he had forgotten
about it entirely after speaking to Le Tian that day.
In his opinion, it was already a great honor for Zhou Yuan to be offhandedly mentioned by someone of his
stature. However, he had never expected that this seemingly small matter would cause their Sword
Cometh Peak to lose all face...
Kong Sheng slowly said, “Peak master was quite angered this time, and was planning on punishing Le
Tian and the rest for three years. Fortunately, I managed to persuade him to lighten it to a year.”
Though he spoke casually, the fact that he was able to change the peak master’s opinion showed how
highly peak master valued him. It was a feat that even several of the elders were unable to achieve.
When Zhao Zhu heard these words, a look of envy flashed across his eyes. Although they were both
Chosens he knew that peak master clearly had a higher opinion of Kong Sheng.
Zhao Zhu smiled and said, “Then I must thank senior brother on behalf of Le Tian and the rest.”
Kong Sheng waved his hand, before he slowly lifted his head to look into the distance. Though there was
no change to his handsome defined face, the tone of his voice became a little colder.
“However, it has been a long time since our Sword Cometh Peak suffered such a huge disgrace…”
“Zhou Yuan is truly a calf that doesn’t fear tigers. To think that he actually dares to step on my Sword
Cometh Peak to boost his reputation… it seems that he really thinks he’s something special.”
Zhao Zhu chuckled and said, “Should we find a chance to teach him a lesson?”
1958
Kong Sheng helplessly replied, “The kid is still far below us, and we can’t throw away our dignity just to
personally teach him a lesson.”
“Moreover…”
He paused for a moment, before he said, “His companion Zhou Xiaoyao is an enigma. I wonder where she
comes from…”
Zhao Zhu raised his brow slightly as he said in an uncaring manner, “I heard that she is merely good with
Genesis Runes, and does not have any Genesis Qi cultivation. Though she has ability, senior brother is
overestimating her by giving her such praise.”
“If I bump into her in the future, I am curious to find out whether my sword is faster, or her Genesis
Runes…”
Kong Sheng smiled as he shook his head. He knew that Zhao Zhu was a proud person, and decided not to
speak any further on this topic. Instead, he looked down from the mountain, and mused, “I heard that
elder Lu Hong will be paying a visit to Sword Cometh Peak today.”
“Oh?” Zhao Zhu lifted his gaze.
“It is probably an order from peak master…” Kong Sheng’s lips curled slightly as he said, “Our peak
master cares a great deal about face. Since the Saint Genesis Peak made our Sword Cometh Peak lose face,
he is likely going to do a little something about it.”
“Moreover, what better move is there besides asking elder Lu Hong’s faction, which once belonged to our
Sword Cometh Peak, to take the chief disciple seat of Saint Genesis Peak and become the top faction of
Saint Genesis Peak, completely suppressing the other two factions?”
“Once elder Lu Hong’s faction becomes the master faction of Saint Genesis Peak, a single order from the
master faction is all it will take to make Zhou Yuan our gopher, which he will have no choice but to obey.”
Zhao Zhu was stunned. Soon after, he was unable to hold back his laughter as he imagined such an
entertaining scene.
“Haha, it seems like our peak master is on a different level than us. Since Saint Genesis Peak caused our
Sword Cometh Peak to lose face, peak master will make sure that Saint Genesis Peak will always be below
our Sword Cometh Peak in the future…”
The two of them exchanged a look, seeing the smile in the other party’s eyes. At the same time, they were
also in admiration of their peak master’s methods.
In fact, they were beginning to look forward to that day.
1959
Chapter 384 Reward
Saint Genesis Peak, Dao Seeker Hall.
It was Shen Taiyuan’s turn to use this place today. As a result, the atmosphere in the hall was rather
jovial. Amongst the many disciples of the Cangxuan Sect that were still gushing over Zhou Yuan’s battle
accomplishments in the purple sash selection test, Shen Taiyuan’s disciples were likely the most excited.
Over the past few days, disciples from their faction realized that they were receiving much more
attention than before in the sect. In fact, disciples from the other peaks would even occasionally approach
to inquire about certain things.
Such a situation was basically unimaginable in the past, where others would lose interest in conversation
upon learning that they were from Saint Genesis Peak. Furthermore, the other disciples would often look
down on Shen Taiyuan’s disciples, not even bothering to hide the contempt at times.
After all, everyone knew that Saint Genesis Peak was the most pathetic peak in the Cangxuan Sect.
However, Zhou Yuan’s performance in the purple selection test had made every disciple take notice of
Saint Genesis Peak again. At the same time, they now also knew of Shen Taiyuan’s faction in Saint Genesis
Peak...
This raised the spirits of Shen Taiyuan’s many disciples, who had almost gotten used to being
overlooked.
In their excitement, they could not help but constantly cast their gazes towards a certain spot near the
front of the hall.
On the last purple mat sat a young and slim figure who had a purple sash around his waist. It was
naturally Zhou Yuan.
After the purple sash selection test, Zhou Yuan was successfully promoted to a purple sash disciple.
Therefore, he was no longer the first seat gold sash disciple, but someone who now had a place amongst
the purple sash disciples.
Even though the strength Zhou Yuan had displayed during the purple sash selection allowed him to be
placed in the middle rankings of the purple sash disciples, he rejected the position Shen Taiyuan had
arranged for him. Instead, he chose to be placed last amongst the purple sash.
To many disciples, one’s seat represented one’s rank and status. However, this was not very important to
Zhou Yuan. In his eyes, the position of his seat did not matter as long as he could become a purple sash
disciple.
1960
Furthermore, choosing the last seat allowed him to appease some of the other disciples, and prevent
them from feeling that he was too overbearing, though he currently did have the qualifications to be so.
This was how people were at times. When you had strength but choose to take a step back, others would
feel that you are humble and kind, making them have a favorable opinion of you.
Just as Zhou Yuan predicted, his decision to take the last seat caused several purple sash disciples to be
thankful and even admire him. As a result, Zhou Yuan’s influence in Shen Taiyuan’s faction began to grow.
In fact, several of the higher ranked disciple were very friendly whenever they met him.
While the hall was bathing in this warm atmosphere, a smile appeared on Shen Taiyuan’s usually stern
face as he looked at Zhou Yuan.
His gaze was filled with satisfaction and joy.
Zhou Yuan had truly won him face during the purple sash selection test. In fact, some of the elders he
encountered from the other peaks would even show their envy at having such an excellent seedling who
would potentially become one of the ten Chosens in the future...
A disciple as talented as Zhou Yuan was not easily found after all.
“Zhou Yuan…”
Shen Taiyuan smiled as he said in a kind voice, “Sect master sent someone to deliver your reward today.”
Light glimmered on his palm, as an opened jade box appeared. A green-jade like pill silently sat within it.
A strong fragrance spread, making it seem as if the Genesis Qi in the entire hall had turned richer in an
instant.
The Genesis Star Pill!
The prize that was only given to the champion of the purple sash selection test!
Whoa!
The numerous disciples in the hall were practically drooling as they stared at the box. Even the eyes of
purple sash disciples like Zhou Tai, Zhang Yan burned with desire.
This was the Genesis Star Pill after all, known to many as the miracle pill of the Alpha-Origin stage!
The Alpha-Origin stage was a stage where one had to keep on building up one’s foundations. The stronger
one’s foundation, the more powerful one’s Divine Dwelling would be when one broke into the Divine
Dwelling stage in the future.
1961
Since the Genesis Star Pill could strengthen one’s foundation, one could easily imagine just how attractive
it was to any Alpha-Origin practitioner.
However, it was quite a difficult task to manufacture this pill. Therefore, only disciples who contributed
greatly or achieved amazing feats would obtain one.
At the very least, none of the disciples currently in the hall had ever had the privilege of enjoying one.
Zhou Yuan also lifted his head and looked at the green pill in the jade box, as desire flashed in his eyes.
The reason why he fought so hard for the championship title was not for the sake of fame, but rather for
this Genesis Star Pill!
With this pill, he believed that he would definitely reach the fourth layer Alpha-Origin stage.
His fight with Xu Yan and taught him the importance of having a strong Genesis Qi foundation. If Zhou
Yuan were to fight Xu Yan again after advancing to the fourth layer Alpha-Origin stage, Zhou Yuan was
confident that it was going to be difficult for Xu Yan to defeat him even if the latter was willing to sacrifice
himself.
Furthermore, as it was only a fight within the sect, and not a life and death struggle, it would be
inappropriate for Zhou Yuan to use Silver Shadow. Truthfully speaking, it would not be a difficult task for
Zhou Yuan to slay Xu Yan.
With a wave of Shen Taiyuan’s sleeve, the jade box landed in front of Zhou Yuan under countless envious
stares.
Zhou Yuan reached out with both hands and respectfully received box as he wet his lips. Looks like he
should find an opportunity to go into secluded cultivation to completely absorb the Genesis Star Pill.
After giving the Genesis Star Pill to Zhou Yuan, Shen Taiyuan chuckled and said, “Zhou Yuan, now that you
are a purple sash disciple, in accordance to the rules of the sect, Saint Genesis Peak will grant you a low
tier grade 6 Qi cultivation technique, allowing you to cultivate a low tier grade 6 Genesis Qi.”
Zhou Yuan was stunned, before he promptly smiled awkwardly. Since he practiced the Ancestral Dragon
Scripture, he could not learn any other Qi cultivation techniques. Furthermore, his Omni Python Qi was
already a peak grade 6 Genesis Qi. Low tier grade 6 Genesis Qi could not possibly compare to it.
When Shen Taiyuan saw Zhou Yuan’s smile, he continued, “I know that you had a fortunate encounter,
and do not care for a low tier grade 6 Qi cultivation method… however, it is the rules after all, and I am
merely asking out of formality.”
He paused for a moment, before he said, “This should be the reward given to all newly promoted purple
sash disciples. If you do not need it, it only makes sense for you to be compensated in some other form. I
1962
have already submitted a request to sect master in hopes of permitting you entry into our Saint Genesis
Peak’s Ancient Manuals Tower.”
“It is said that our patriarch once cultivated in the Ancient Manuals Tower, and it is a place of many
wonders and mysteries. Many of the disciples who entered were bestowed Genesis Qi
techniques, Genesis weapons, Genesis treasures…”
“If you are lucky, you may even obtain a Heaven Genesis technique.”
His words instantly caused an uproar to sweep over the hall. This time, even Zhou Tai, Zhang Yan and the
other purple sash disciples could not help but feel a little envious.
Ancient Manuals Tower was in a manner of speaking, a treasure trove of their Saint Genesis Peak, and
even the elders lacked the authority to open it. The only way to open it was to submit a request to sect
master. Over the years, only a handful of disciples had entered the tower, and no one had expected Shen
Taiyuan to make a request to sect master for Zhou Yuan. Such treatment truly made one green with envy.
Shen Taiyuan ignored the other disciples, focusing only on Zhou Yuan as he asked with a smile, “So, are
you willing?”
Zhou Yuan was similarly shocked. Soon after, he bowed respectfully to Shen Taiyuan. The former was
indeed fairly touched by how much the latter appreciated and took care of him.
Zhou Yuan nodded with a grateful smile on his face.
“This disciples is willing.”
“Thank you teacher Shen.”
1963
Chapter 385 The Child From Back Then
Ancient Manuals Tower was located below the sealed main peak of Saint Genesis Peak.
The next day.
With Shen Taiyuan leading the way, Zhou Yuan once again arrived at the sealed main peak. At the foot of
the mountain stood a slightly dilapidated ancient tower, which was covered in scars left by the passage of
time.
An elderly man dressed in simple clothing was standing on the steps leading to the ancient tower, holding
a broom while looking as if he was about to fall asleep. It was ‘venerable old Xuan’, the caretaker Zhou
Yuan met when he first came to Saint Genesis Peak.
Zhou Yuan followed behind Shen Taiyuan, lifting his head to look at that majestic main peak. Mist swirled
within the lush forest, giving it a mysterious look.
Faint glowing runes pulsed in the air, giving off a deep and powerful aura that made one not dare to
easily approach.
“The sealed main peak…”
Waves rose in Zhou Yuan’s heart. The second Saint Rune was somewhere within the main peak.
Unfortunately, though it seemed to be right in front of his eyes, there was still a huge gulf between him
and the Saint Rune that was very difficult to cross.
To enter the main peak, he had to become the chief disciple of Saint Genesis Peak… and that was still a
ways off for him.
“Old Xuan.”
While Zhou Yuan was sighing inside, Shen Taiyuan looked towards the drowsy looking old man in front of
the ancient tower, and respectfully bowed towards the latter. Even though there were no Genesis Qi
vibrations from the old man’s body, in terms of seniority, even the sect master would have to pay
respects to this individual.
In a manner of speaking, old Xuan was the person who had accompanied patriarch Cang Xuan the longest.
The elderly man did not react initially, his eyes and ears seemingly not working too well. Therefore, Shen
Taiyuan had to up his volume and call out a few more times. The old man finally awakened, lifting his
murky eyes to look at Shen Taiyuan as he smiled and said in a raspy voice, “It’s elder Shen…”
Shen Taiyuan nodded. Without wasting time with pleasantries, he pointed at Zhou Yuan and said,
“Venerable old Xuan, there is a disciple who seeks to enter the Ancient Manuals Tower.”
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Old Xuan cast his gaze at Zhou Yuan. In that instant, Zhou Yuan felt the former’s gaze seemed to freeze for
a split second.
Old Xuan slowly said, “Little one, didn’t you arrive at the inner mountains not too long ago? To think that
you now have the qualifications to enter the Ancient Manuals Tower, looks like you’re quite capable.”
Shen Taiyuan smiled and said, “Zhou Yuan is indeed quite talented. He is the champion of the latest the
purple sash selection, which is why sect master has made an exception this time to grant him entry.”
Old Xuan nodded. Without further ado, he stretched out his wrinkled hand and said, “Pass me sect
master’s token.”
Shen Taiyuan quickly retrieved a glowing jade token.
Old Xuan took the jade token, and stared at it for quite some time, before he finally nodded his head
slowly. He shakily propped himself up with his broom, before slowly pushing open the ancient door
behind him.
Creak!
Behind the large doors lay a pitch-black darkness. Not even the faintest ray of light could be seen, making
it appear quite mysterious.
“Little one, the Ancient Manuals Tower is where master cultivated in the past. Whatever you obtain in
this place will depend on your own fate and luck. If one is not fated, it is not unusual to leave empty
handed.”
Zhou Yuan cupped his fists together, demonstrating that he had accepted the old man’s teachings. He then
turned to look at Shen Taiyuan, who smiled and nodded at his disciple.
Without any hesitation, Zhou Yuan walked forward, arriving at the entrance. With a deep breath, he
stepped in as darkness surged towards him, swallowing his entire body.
Upon seeing that Zhou Yuan had entered the Ancient Manuals Tower, old Xuan sat down on the steps in a
wobbly manner, hugging his broom as he returned to his half asleep state.
Shen Taiyuan bowed towards old Xuan before leaving.
The foot of the main peak once again descended into a peaceful silence.
This silence lasted for a period of time, before suddenly being broken by the sounds of footsteps as a
figure approached with his hands behind his back. He was dressed in white robes, and had the
appearance of a handsome young man, while his skin gave off a jade-like glow.
It was peak master Ling Jun of Sword Cometh Peak!
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The eyelids of old Xuan gently trembled, before he lifted his head, his murky eyes glancing at the young
man in white robes. He then withdrew his gaze and became as still as a statue, clearly showing that he
had no intentions of greeting the latter.
Peak master Ling Jun did not mind this at all. He stood beside old Xuan, glancing at the opened Ancient
Manuals Tower and asked, “The little one called Zhou Yuan has entered?”
Old Xuan did not answer.
Peak master Ling Jun did not mind this either. It was just a casual question after all. Even though Zhou
Yuan had caused his Sword Cometh Peak to lose all face in the purple sash selection, there was no way
someone of his stature would lower himself to deal with a mere disciple.
He was obviously not here for Zhou Yuan.
As he stood beside old Xuan, he lifted his head to gaze at the mysterious misty main peak. After a period
of silence, he slowly said, “I really miss how grand this place was back then. When mister lectured,
countless powerful experts from the entire Cangxuan Heaven would gather here…”
Peak master Ling Jun’s voice softened as he continued, “Saint Genesis Peak has been in a pitiful state for
far too long. I believe we should restore it to its former glory as a way to pay tribute to mister.”
No matter what he said, old Xuan indifferent, as if his murky eyes were frozen in time.
Peak master Ling Jun lowered his head and looked at the old man. With a gentle smile, he said, “Old Xuan,
you’ve always been here at Saint Genesis Peak. When do you think the seal will be lifted?”
Old Xuan hugged his broom, as his raspy voice finally sounded, “It will naturally be lifted when it’s meant
to be.”
Peak master Ling Jun helpless shook his head. It was the same answer old Xuan always gave.
“Old Xuan, we shouldn’t idly stand by and allow Saint Genesis Peak to continue to decline. After all, this
was mister’s favourite place.” Said peak master Ling Jun.
Old Xuan swept a glance at the former, before he said, “If you really want to do something for master, I
feel that you should avenge him. This will be much better than restoring Saint Genesis Peak to its former
glory.”
Peak master Ling Jun let out a bitter laugh and said, “Old Xuan, the current Cangxuan Sect is no longer the
same sect as it was when mister was around.”
“The most powerful sect in Cangxuan Heaven is no longer our Cangxuan Sect, but Sacred Palace…”
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He fell silent for a moment, staring at the sealed main peak, before he said, “The only way to avenge him
is for the next Heaven Master to come from our Cangxaun Sect… and to achieve this, we will need the
stamp that represents Cangxuan Heaven… the Cangxuan Saint Stamp that was once in mister’s
possession.”
“However, the Cangxuan Saint Stamp disappeared after mister died…”
He softly sighed, before his gaze turned back to old Xuan. A sliver of anticipation rose in his eyes as he
said, “Old Xuan, you were together with mister in his final moments. Do you not know where the
Cangxuan Saint Stamp is?”
“If our Cangxuan Sect can wield the Cangxuan Saint Stamp, we will not fear even Sacred Palace.”
The old man slowly shook his head, as his raspy voice sounded, “The Cangxuan Saint Stamp originated
from this heaven, and I have never seen it before. How I can possibly know where it is?”
The light in peak master Ling Jun’s eyes dimmed.
Old Xuan gently stroked the broom in his embrace, as he said in a trembling voice, “After all these years, it
seems to me that you are the one who cares the most about the Cangxuan Saint Stamp, even more so than
sect master and the rest.”
He lifted his head and glanced at peak master Ling Jun. “Do you want to obtain it?”
Peak master Ling Jun was a little taken aback. He did not conceal his intentions and answered, “The one
who controls the Cangxuan Saint Stamp can become the Heaven Master. Who does not desire this?
Furthermore, it is the only way I will be able to avenge mister.”
“What does Old Xuan think?”
Old Xuan slowly shook his head and said, “You are unsuitable.”
Peak master Ling Jun’s tone remained calm and unchanged as he replied, “Old Xuan, I am no longer the
little boy from back then.”
Old Xuan lifted his elderly face, and focused on the mysterious misty peak. He was silent for a long time,
before his raspy voice sounded.
“It is precisely because you are no longer the same little boy who served mister... that is why you are
unsuitable.”
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Chapter 386 Picking a Treasure
Darkness immediately descended the moment Zhou Yuan stepped into the Ancient Manuals Tower. This
did not last for long, however, as starlight quickly rose from beneath his feet, and spread outwards.
A starlit walkway appeared in front of him, as countless glowing balls floated up along the sides of the
walkway like bubbles.
When Zhou Yuan stared closely at these glowing bubble-like balls, he could faintly see the faint silhouette
of some kind of object within them.
“The items inside should be Genesis Qi techniques, Genesis Runes, Genesis Weapons…” Zhou Yuan
pondered. However, there was no way for him to know the contents of the balls. As such, he had no way
of deducing their worth.
Looks like everything will be up to luck.
“No wonder he said it’s up to one’s fate.” Zhou Yuan gave a bitter laugh. One will be sent out after
selecting a glowing ball, even if it turned out to be empty.
Zhou Yuan hesitated as he looked at the glowing balls, not immediately making his choice. Instead, he
began to walk forward, dodging the balls that drifted towards him as he advanced.
He planned to have a proper look around first.
He continued to walk as his gaze swept about. Meanwhile, his Spirit sensors also reached out in an
attempt to peek into the balls.
However, his attempts were fruitless, as if the balls were able to block his Spirit senses. As a result, even
Zhou Yuan’s mid Corporeal stage Spirit failed to pry into the secrets within them.
“Can I only pick one at random?” Zhou Yuan frowned. If he did so, he would simply be leaving everything
up to chance. It had not been easy for him to come across an opportunity to enter the Ancient Manuals
Tower, and it really felt like a waste if he really left everything up to fate.
He mumbled under his breath for a brief period, before a certain idea suddenly dawned upon him.
“If ordinary methods do not work, what about… the Decoder Saint Rune?”
He immediately acted on his thoughts, and the Decoder Saint Rune located in the depths of his pupils
began to spin. As it spun, he cast his gaze towards the floating glowing balls again. To his delight, he saw
lights of varying intensities appear inside the balls.
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Though he still could not tell what these objects were, he could now deduce the quality of these items
based on the intensity of the pulsing light within.
From the looks of it, it was clear that the stronger the light, the better the item.
There were also several balls that were completely empty, lacking any light within them. This was likely
because there was nothing inside, and anyone who picked one of them would leave empty-handed.
Joy appeared on Zhou Yuan’s face. With the Decoder Saint Rune, he no longer had to grope about in the
dark.
Hence, he slowed down as he continued to walk forward, the Decoder Saint Rune in his pupils surveying
every ball he passed.
The time it took to burn half an incense stick soon passed. Along the way, Zhou Yuan found four balls that
had the brightest interiors. According to his estimates, the treasures within these four balls should be
equivalent to a Heaven tier technique.
Zhou Yuan involuntarily licked his lips, a fiery expression burning in his eyes. A Heaven tier technique
was extremely rare even in a place like the Cangxuan Sect. In fact, there was no way an ordinary disciple
would obtain something of that level without some kind of major accomplishment or contribution.
Even Zhou Yuan himself had only recently learnt a single low grade Heaven tier technique.
Any Heaven tier technique would be a huge boost to one’s battle power when mastered.
“I guess I’ll have to pick one at random.” Zhou Yuan hesitated for a while, before he gritted his teeth and
reached towards one of the four balls.
Buzz!
However, Zhou Yuan’s hand suddenly froze just as it was about to grab a ball. He had just felt a faint
vibration from his Universe bag.
Zhou Yuan was taken aback. With a clench of his hand, a jade glow appeared.
An ancient jade token slowly rose from his palm, giving off an indescribable aura.
It was the signet given to him by patriarch Cang Xuan in the Saint Remains Domain.
The faint undulations he had felt earlier were from this very object.
“What is going on?” Zhou Yuan stared in bewilderment at the faintly vibrating signet in his hand. This was
the first time something like this has occurred ever since it was given to him.
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Bzz! Bzz!
While Zhou Yuan was trying to figure out what was going on, the glowing balls around him seemed to
have also detected the signet’s presence. With a swish, they quickly darted towards the light walls,
vanishing into them.
Even the four balls carefully selected by Zhou Yuan had disappeared.
Zhou Yuan panicked when he saw this. Why had the signet frightened off all of the balls? How was he
going to pick a treasure now?
“What a scam!” However, his panicking was useless. He could only watch powerlessly as the glowing balls
disappeared, nearly causing him to burst out into tears.
While Zhou Yuan was at a loss, the signet in his palm slowly rose into the air, before it began to move
forward.
Zhou Yuan was shocked, but quickly followed after a moment of hesitation. This was where patriarch
Cang Xuan used to cultivate, and since he came in with patriarch Cangxuan’s signet, he won’t end up
suffering, right?
He followed the signet forward. After a while, his footsteps gradually came to a stop, because he had
reached the end of the starlight walkway.
However, the signet did not stop here, but instead slowly inched forward. Next, Zhou Yuan watched in
astonishment as a crack was slowly torn open at the end of the starlight walkway.
The jade token flickered, as if urging Zhou Yuan to catch up.
Zhou Yuan hesitated for a moment. In the end, he gritted his teeth and quickly walked forward, placing a
foot into the crack.
The scenery before him changed the instant he stepped in, now finding himself standing inside an ancient
looking room. The interior of the room was quite simple, and gave off an oldish aura.
The jade token dropped onto the ground, and was picked it by Zhou Yuan before he carefully kept it.
Zhou Yuan looked at the mat atop the stone bed in front of him, as he muttered to himself, “Is this where
patriarch Cangxuan used to cultivate?”
He surveyed his surroundings, before his attention finally stopped on a table in front of the stone bed,
where four jade scrolls quietly lay.
Out of curiosity, Zhou Yuan walked forward and randomly picked one of them up, his pupils abruptly
shrinking the moment he sent out his senses.
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“It’s a mid grade Heaven Genesis technique…”
In the Cangxuan Sect, Heaven Genesis techniques obtained by the disciples would usually be at the low
grade Heaven tier, while obtaining a mid grade Heaven tier was several times harder.
Zhou Yuan never expected that a random scroll he picked up in the room would turn out to contain a mid
grade Heaven Genesis technique.
Shock filling his heart, Zhou Yuan picked up the other three scrolls, and to find that two of them were also
mid grade Heaven tier techniques. Moreover, they seemed to be fairly high ranking even amongst other
mid grade Heaven tier techniques.
The last scroll was to most shocking of them all. It held a grade 7 Qi cultivation method!
From how they were so casually placed in the room, it appeared that patriarch Cang Xuan did not really
value them.
However, this was only the case for patriarch Cang Xuan. For someone like Zhou Yuan, they were
treasures that he could only dream of. In fact, he was even contemplating whether he could take them all.
In the end, he managed to suppress his greed. The Ancient Manuals Tower had its own rules after all, and
if he was caught, he might end up empty-handed instead.
“I’ll just pick one of these mid grade Heaven tier techniques.” Zhou Yuan was stuck in a dilemma for quite
some time, before he finally gritted his teeth and made his decision. Though the grade 7 Qi cultivation
method was superior, it was useless to him.
Hence, he reached out and grabbed a jade scroll, before turning around as he prepared to leave.
However, he spotted a tiny flash of green from the corner of his eye as his body turned. He paused to take
a look, only to discover a small plant that resembled a small pine tree on a corner of the bed.
It was an unremarkable object that was easy to overlook even if seen. After all, there was nothing special
about this small pine tree.
However, the Decoder Saint Rune in Zhou Yuan’s pupils was currently still spinning, causing him to be
taken aback the moment he saw the small plant. He could clearly see ancient markings carved on the
plant’s body that gave off a peculiar sensation...
As a result, he quickly turned back and put down the jade scroll, before he carefully lifted up that small
plant.
The Decoder Saint Rune in his eyes spun as the ancient markings on the plant began to converge, forming
an image that was reflected in his eyes.
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An ancient message appeared in his brain.
“Immortal body, Taiyi Green Wood Mark.”
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Chapter 387 Taiyi Green Wood Mark
“Immortal body?”
“Taiyi Green Wood Mark?”
Zhou Yuan’s expression could not help but change as he savored the information that had entered his
head. “What a boastful claim.”
Despite what he said, a look of pleasant surprise surfaced in his eyes. He had realized that the marks
carved on the plant were actually a Genesis technique.
This Genesis technique was extremely mysterious. He may not know what rank it was, but judging from
how patriarch Cangxuan had painstakingly carved it onto the plant, it was obviously different from the
four other mid grade Heaven tier techniques.
“I am curious to find out what makes this technique so special that made patriarch Cangxuan treat it so
differently.”
The Decoder Saint Rune in Zhou Yuan’s eye spun, as the markings were reflected in his eyes. Boundless
yet cryptic information soon surfaced in his mind.
After observing it for a brief moment, Zhou Yuan finally understood what the Taiyi Green Wood Mark
was.
It was an extremely amazing Genesis technique personally created by patriarch Cang Xuan. It allowed one
to absorb the Taiyi Qi from the surroundings, using it to create a certain mark, which was known as the
Taiyi Green Wood Mark.
With regards to the so-called Taiyi Qi, it only existed within magical ancient wood element objects. The
older the wood, the more Taiyi Qi it contained...
Although the Taiyi Green Wood mark would not increase one’s power or strengthen one’s body, it would
bestow a frightening amount of life energy to the user.
It was more than just regenerating one’s limbs. If one reached the perfect level, as long as one was not
disintegrated to dust in an instant, one would still be able to slowly regenerate one’s entire body no
matter how terrifying the injuries; even if only a head remained.
In a certain manner of speaking, this could be considered an immortal body.
“Is it really so frightening?” Zhou Yuan’s heart pounded loudly, as his breathing became ragged. This was
the first time he had seen such an amazing Genesis technique.
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A technique that could bestow a terrifying amount of life-force to the user.
This was practically a god-like survival skill!
It was no wonder that patriarch Cang Xaun had taken the time and effort to carve it onto the plant. At the
advanced level, one would surely become one of the most annoying existences in this world.
Just think about it, if you were engaged in a life-and-death struggle with someone who was nearly
impossible to kill, how troubling would that be...
“I wonder what tier this Genesis technique is?” Zhou Yuan licked his lips. Even though the Taiyi Green
Wood Mark did not boost one’s combat power, its utility may even exceed that of a high grade Heaven
Genesis technique.
“However… reaching the perfect level of the Taiyi Green Wood Mark is easier said than done.” After a
surge of excitement, Zhou Yuan gradually began to regain his cool.
To learn the Taiyi Green Wood Mark, the most critical item was that Taiyi Qi.
The older and rarer the ancient wood was, the stronger the Taiyi Qi it possessed. However, such ancient
wood were surely rare resources, and Zhou Yuan did not know how much Taiyi Qi he would have to
absorb in order to reach the perfect level...
He looked at the plant in front of him, as he awkwardly scratched his head with a bitter smile.
However, it was fate that allowed him to obtain the Taiyi Green Wood Mark, and there was no way he
would give up on it. With a deep breath, Zhou Yuan kept the plant into his Universe bag.
He had evidently already made up his mind. He would do whatever it takes to master the Taiyi Green
Wood Mark.
After he keeping the Taiyi Green Wood Mark, Zhou Yuan took another look at the ancient room, before he
cupped his fist and bowed. This was his way of showing his appreciation to patriarch Cang Xuan for
leaving this manual behind to bless someone like himself.
After which, he turned around, pushed open the door and left.
The scene in front of him began to change once again, and it wasn't long before his surroundings
brightened. Zhou Yuan lifted his head, only to find that he was already standing at the entrance of the
Ancient Manuals Tower.
The door behind him was shut again.
Zhou Yuan was stunned. His gaze did a quick turn, and he quickly realized that there were two figures
standing on the steps in front of the door.
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The hunched over elderly man, who was sitting down with a broom in his arms, was naturally old Xuan.
However, it was the young looking figure beside old Xuan who left Zhou Yuan in shock. It was the peak
master of Sword Cometh Peak, Ling Jun.
To think that such an important person would be here...
The instant Zhou Yuan discovered peak master Ling Jun, the latter tilted his head slightly, as his deep pool
like eyes nonchalantly swept a glance at the former.
This glance alone caused Zhou Yuan to feel a stabbing pain all over his body. It was as if peak master Ling
Jun’s gaze contained an extremely dreadful sword aura. If he showed even the slightest hint of killing
intent, a single glance would instantly pierce Zhou Yuan’s body.
Fortunately, peak master Ling Jun quickly withdrew the sword aura in his eyes. He turned around,
approached Zhou Yuan and said with a faint smile, “Zhou Yuan, you are extremely talented. Are you
interested in joining my Sword Cometh Peak?”
He did not beat around the bush, directly stating his intent to recruit Zhou Yuan.
Zhou Yuan was put on the spot by these words. Wasn’t peak master Ling Jun being too direct?.
“Le Tian and the others lost to you because they were useless, and I have already punished them
accordingly. Given your talent, it is a waste for you to stay at Saint Genesis Peak.”
“If you come to my Sword Cometh Peak, I promise you that you will become one of the ten Chosens
within three years. How about it?” Asked peak master Ling Jun.
Zhou Yuan let out a bitter laugh, before he shook his head and said, “This young one appreciates peak
master Ling Jun’s kind intentions.”
There was no change in peak master Ling Jun’s expression, seemingly unsurprised by Zhou Yuan’s
rejection. He merely looked deeply at Zhou Yuan, before he asked, “I am a little curious as to why you
insist on staying in the pitiful Saint Genesis Peak?”
Zhou Yuan replied with a calm expression, “I’ve already mentioned it during the peak selection ceremony.
I was fortunate enough to receive a blessing from patriarch Cang Xuan in the Saint Remains Domain. I
came to the Cangxuan Sect not only because of my admiration for the patriarch, but also because I hope to
restore Saint Genesis Peak to its former glory so as to repay him.”
Peak master Ling Jun fell silent.
On the steps, old Xuan lifted his aged face, glanced at Zhou Yuan, and said, “I never imagined that even
someone from the younger generation would understand the meaning of gratitude.”
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He then turned towards peak master Ling Jun, and said with his raspy voice, “Saint Genesis Peak is a
lonely and desolate place that cannot match up to the liveliness of Sword Cometh Peak. You should head
back soon.”
When he realized that old Xuan was asking him to leave, peak master Ling Jun withdrew his gaze from
Zhou Yuan and looked towards old Xuan. Following which, his body began to fade, ultimately vanishing
from sight.
Zhou Yuan finally heaved a huge sigh of relief deep inside when he saw peak master Ling Jun leave.
Merely standing in front of the former had made him feel a terrifying pressure. It was after all not
pleasant to stand in front of someone who could take your life in the blink of an eye.
He had been truly afraid that peak master Ling Jun might still be upset with him over what happened at
the purple sash selection test, and give him a literal ‘death glare’...
Old Xuan slowly staggered to his feet. He leaned on his broom, as his murky eyes stared at Zhou Yuan. A
long while later, he finally opened his mouth and slowly said, “You… entered master’s training chamber?”
He paused for a moment, before he continued, “The items in there… are beyond the reach of ordinary
disciples…”
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Chapter 388 Heaven Credit
“Beyond the reach…”
Could sweat immediately appeared on Zhou Yuan’s forehead when heard old Xuan’s words, as he
subconsciously took two steps back. He stared warily at old Xuan as he forced a smile, “Elder, you can’t
possibly be asking me to return the item I obtained?”
He was really feeling a little panicky at this moment, because he had already become quite attached to the
Taiyi Green Wood Mark. Asking him to surrender it now would be akin to asking him to cut off a piece of
his flesh, and there was no way he would willingly do so.
Old Xuan’s face remained impassive when he saw the drastic change in Zhou Yuan’s expression. Instead,
he hoarsely replied, “According to the rules, you do lack the qualifications.”
Just as Zhou Yuan was about to force his way through, old Xuan continued, “But on account on how much
I approve of your earlier words, I may make an exception for you this time.”
Zhou Yuan, who was about to rush forward, suddenly stopped. He stared at the old man and secretly
gnashed his teeth inside. Nonetheless, he did not dare to reveal even the slightest hint of displeasure.
“Thank you very much elder!”
Old Xuan indifferently said, “It’s too early for you to celebrate… though you may take it, it doesn’t come
without conditions.”
Zhou Yuan suspiciously asked, “What are the conditions?”
Old Xuan began sweeping the ground as he said, “Master’s items cannot be obtained so easily… if you
want it, you must exchange it for a ‘Heaven Credit’.”
“Heaven Credit?!”
Zhou Yuan was first startled by upon hearing this, before he involuntarily exclaimed.
“Elder, your request is too much. I’m only a newly promoted purple sash disciple, how can I possibly have
any Heaven Credit?” Zhou Yuan complained.
The Cangxuan Sect gave out various tasks to its disciples, which were split into three categories; Heaven,
Earth and Human. The Heaven tasks were the most difficult, but if completed, the disciple would be
granted a Heaven Credit.
Next were the Earth tasks, which would reward an Earth Credit when completed.
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A Heaven Credit was extremely attractive to any Cangxuan Sect disciple, because it could be exchanged
for several treasures.
These treasures include Heaven tier techniques, Heaven Genesis Weapons and even powerful Qi
cultivation methods!
Needless to say, a Heaven Credit was a target that every disciple of the sect strived for.
However, not only was there a limited number of Heaven tasks, they would be immediately snatched up
by one of the ten Chosens each time they showed up. Therefore, it was not easy for an ordinary disciple to
even take on a Heaven task.
Consequently, it was even more challenging to obtain a Heaven Credit.
Every time a Heaven task appeared, all the purple sash disciples in the sect would become akin to a pack
of wolves that had spotted an unguarded lamb. The intensity of the competition would make on
involuntarily wet one’s lips.
Zhou Yuan was merely a newly promoted purple sash disciple, who had yet to even complete a single
task, let alone a Heaven task…
This was why he became a little antsy when he heard old Xuan wanted a Heaven Credit.
However, old Xuan ignored Zhou Yuan’s complaints and said, “Even though I do not know what you
obtained, it is already a huge steal for you to exchange it for a Heaven Credit.”
Zhou Yuan expression fluctuated indeterminately as he lamented, “But I don’t have any Heaven Credit!”
Old Xuan unhurriedly replied, “Then you’ll owe me one.”
“Owe?!” Zhou Yuan was dumbstruck. Was this actually allowed?
“I will give you three months. After three months, you must bring a Heaven Credit to me… and during this
period, you will be allowed to keep the item you obtained.” Old Xuan elaborated.
Zhou Yuan was taken aback, as he stared suspiciously at old Xuan. Why was this old fellow being so kind
towards him?
His eyes swivelled in thought, as he began to entertain a certain idea. He might be able to master the Taiyi
Green Wood Mark within these three months. When that happened, there would be no need for him to
bother with this old fellow.
“Little one, even though it seems like this old man has one foot in the grave, no one in the Cangxuan Sect,
not even sect master Qing Yang, dares to reject me.”
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It was as if old Xuan could read Zhou Yuan’s thoughts as he unhurriedly said, “If you are up to any
monkey business, I can safely tell you that even if you do master it, I am confident that I can find a way to
take it all away.”
Cold sweat instantly appeared all over Zhou Yuan’s body, slightly fearful as he looked at the old man
again. Looks like he was also a ruthless person.
Old Xuan seemed to smile as he asked, “How about it?”
“If you are unsatisfied with my offer, you can return the item, and I will permit you to pick something
else.”
There was naturally no way Zhou Yuan was going to do so. The fact that patriarch Cangxuan deliberately
hid the Taiyi Green Wood Mark in such an obscure location indicated that it was definitely an
extraordinary technique. Even though he did not know what grade it was, Zhou Yuan had a hunch that it
was definitely extremely powerful.
His eyes flickered in thought. A long while later, he finally gritted his teeth.
“Deal, it’s just one Heaven Credit after all. In three months time, I will bring one to you!” Though he knew
that it was going to be an extremely challenging task, Zhou Yuan had no choice but to go through with it
for the sake of the Taiyi Green Wood Mark.
A smile seemed to appear on old Xuan’s wrinkly face when he heard this. He nodded and said, “At least
you have some courage. Master’s items must not fall into the hands of an ordinary person, or it will taint
his name.”
Zhou Yuan showed a cramped smile. Looks like one must not count one’s chickens before they hatched.
He had been overjoyed moments earlier after getting his hands on the Taiyi Green Wood Mark, but in the
blink of an eye, he now had to deal with some troublesome matters because of it.
Zhou Yuan grumpily asked, “May I leave now?”
He came here to pick a treasure. However, he ended up with such a huge problem instead.
Old Xuan paid no heed to Zhou Yuan’s grumpy expression, merely waving his hand to send the latter off,
before lowering his head to continue sweeping the ground...
At the sight of this, Zhou Yuan turned around to leave.
His leaving face was filled with vexed worry, clearly fretting over how he would obtain a Heaven Credit in
three months. After all, getting a Heaven task was already going to be a pain.
“Forget it. I’ll ignore it for now, and think about it after I learning the Taiyi Green Wood Mark!”
1979
He gritted his teeth, and increased his pace as he quickly disappeared from the foot of the mountain.
As Zhou Yuan’s figure vanished, old Xuan stopped sweeping, and lifted his head, his murky eyes looking
in the direction where Zhou Yuan had disappeared. A deep and unreadable light seemed to flash across
his turbid eyes.
“There’s a slightly familiar scent on that little one’s body…”
“Is it because of you, master? How else could he have entered your training chambers?”
“Unfortunately, he is still too weak…”
“But at least his talent is pretty decent, though I will have to push him a little. After all, on the road of
cultivation, one needs to fearlessly face any difficulty as one continuously tempers oneself...”
“I hope that he will not disappoint me.”
1980
Chapter 389 Absorbing the Genesis Star Pill
Zhou Yuan’s face was still creased with worry when he returned to his cave dwelling, likely still fretting
over how he would obtain a Heaven Credit in three months. Due to old Xuan’s seniority and rich history
in the Cangxuan Sect, Zhou Yuan did not dare to doubt the weight of the old man’s words. He felt that if he
truly angered the latter, there was probably no way he could keep the Taiyi Green Wood Mark.
All he could do now was obediently follow old Xuan’s instructions, and hand him a Heaven Credit in three
months
In the cave dwelling, when Yaoyao could not help but ask when she saw Zhou Yuan’s expression, “What
happened?”
Zhou Yuan gave a bitter laugh as he reiterated what happened with old Xuan.
“A Heaven Credit?” Yaoyao lifted her head in astonishment upon hearing this. She naturally knew how
difficult it was to obtain a Heaven Credit.
In fact, many highly experienced senior purple sash disciples were unable to obtain one even after
numerous years.
Yaoyao quickly said, “Show me that Taiyi Green Wood Mark.”
Zhou Yuan obviously had nothing to hide from Yaoyao. Therefore, he immediately retrieved the plant and
handed it to Yaoyao.
Yaoyao observed the green plant, before she closed her eyes. Her Spirit was extremely powerful, enabling
her to just barely detect the information hidden within the plant. Though it was not complete, a brief
glance was all she needed.
A long while later, she opened her eyes and softly said, “What a formidable Genesis technique. As
expected of something left behind by that old mister.”
To elicit such high praise from someone like Yaoyao just goes to show how amazing the Taiyi Green
Wood Mark was.
“Exchanging a Heaven Credit for a Genesis technique like this is indeed quite a bargain.” Yaoyao
remarked.
Zhou Yuan smiled bitterly as he nodded. He naturally knew that he was not losing out, but it was simply
too difficult to obtain a Heaven Credit. After all, Heaven tasks only appeared a few times a year.
“Ask Shen Wanjin to keep a lookout first.” Yaoyao suggested.
1981
“As for you, you should find some time to refine the Genesis Star Pill, and quickly enter the fourth layer. If
not, you won’t be able to complete a Heaven task even if you manage to obtain it.”
Zhou Yuan nodded. This was what he had in mind as well. Shen Wanjin was doing quite well for himself
in the Cangxuan Sect, and knew about all the latest rumours and gossips. With his aid, it would save Zhou
Yuan the trouble of miserably camping at the mission hall every day...
As for himself, the most important thing now was to improve his strength.
Once he advanced to the fourth layer Alpha-Origin stage, he should be able to match Xu Yan in a direct
fight, no longer having to resort to the same drastic measures he had utilized previously.
Hence, Zhou Yuan tasked Shen Wanjin keep an eye out for any information regarding the Heaven tasks,
while he secluded himself deep within his cave dwelling as he prepared himself. He was waiting for the
perfect timing to absorb the Genesis Star Pill to break into the next cultivation level.
This wait lasted for five days.
Deep within the cave, pure Genesis Qi continuously gushed out from the spring, filling the area with a
light mist. A few breaths of the air here would immediately invigorate one’s spirits.
Zhou Yuan was silently seated on boulder beside the spring. His breaths were long and drawn-out, while
his chest barely even moved, almost as if he was in a state of hibernation.
A long while later, he deeply exhaled from his nose as his eyes slowly opened.
Light surged in the depths of his eyes, as if they were gems containing a hidden glow.
After five days of preparation, he was now in tip top condition. This was the best time for him to absorb
the Genesis Star Pill.
Zhou Yuan probed the interior of his Qi Dwelling, where more than seven hundred Genesis Qi stars were
shining. As he breathed, strands of pure Genesis Qi spread, circulating within his Qi Dwelling.
“Although I am only at the third layer Alpha-Origin stage, the Genesis Qi foundation of my Qi Dwelling
exceeds that of a sixth layer Alpha-Origin expert…”
“Take Xu Yan for example. In my battle with him, I could feel that he had between one thousand to one
thousand five hundred Genesis Qi stars…”
“However, my Genesis Qi stars are formed from the peak grade 6 Omni Python Qi, making my much than
his in terms of quality.”
1982
“I wonder how much my Qi Dwelling will grow after I advance to the fourth layer Alpha-Origin stage?”
Various feelings surged in Zhou Yuan’s heart. In the end, he took a deep breath, expelling all of these
unnecessary thoughts. With a graphing motion, a jade box appeared in his hand, revealing a longan like
green-jade pill within it.
A fragrant aroma spread, seemingly enriching the mist in the entire cave dwelling.
The pill slowly rose into the air, stopping in front of Zhou Yuan’s mouth, before being swallowed by him
in one gulp.
Rumble!
The Genesis Star Pill instantly transformed into a boundless warm stream of energy, surging down into
Zhou Yuan’s body like magma. It was as if a mad roaring dragon was wreaking havoc in his body.
The seemingly endless pure Genesis Qi caused Zhou Yuan’s body to expand substantially. The bones in
his body creaked loudly, as if they were under a tremendous amount of pressure.
Zhou Yuan’s expression turned extremely serious. He immediately activated the Ancestral Dragon
Scripture, gathering the violent and scorching Genesis Qi, and directing it along his channels.
Strands of Genesis Qi were refined by the Ancestral Dragon Scripture, before gradually being deposited
into the Qi Dwelling where they converged into a whirlpool. In the end, a speck of light appeared deep
within the whirlpool, growing brighter and brighter, before eventually transforming into a new Genesis
Qi star that rose up to take its place in the Qi Dwelling.
Zhou Yuan was delighted as he felt the new Genesis Qi stars being formed in his Qi Dwelling. H promptly
suppressed his emotions, and concentrated on refining the pure pill energy coursing through his body...
A medical fragrance emerged from deep within the cave, gradually growing stronger and stronger.
As time passed, the Genesis Qi fluctuations from Zhou Yuan’s body steadily began to climb. The air
around him was affected as well, causing soft howls to emerge.
All of this indicated that Zhou Yuan’s Genesis Qi foundation was rapidly growing.
However, while Zhou Yuan happily immersed in the increasing Genesis Qi in his body, he failed to notice
the blood-red lump on his palm begin to stir, squirming as if triggered by something.
A faint blood-red glow blossomed like a resentful dragon which had finally awoken from its deep
slumber.
Outside the cave dwelling.
1983
In a garden, Yaoyao’s hair was tied up in a bun as she carefully tended to the gorgeous flowers. All of a
sudden, her finger trembled as she was grabbing a flower.
The flower’s thorns pricked her skin, causing a sliver of dark red to appear.
Yaoyao frowned a little. She placed her finger between her lips, applying a slight pressure to it. Following
which, she stood up and cast her clear eyes towards the depths of the cave dwelling.
In that brief moment earlier, she seemed to have heard the resentful roar of a dragon.
Her eyes widened slightly, before she sighed.
“Has it finally arrived...”
1984
Chapter 390 Dragon’s Resentment Poison Erupts
Bzz! Bzz!
In the depths of the cave dwelling, powerful waves of Genesis Qi continuously pulsed from Zhou Yuan’s
body, causing the cave around him to tremble faintly.
Zhou Yuan was seated on a boulder, his clothes flapping wildly without any wind.
Resplendent golden light shined from his body, originating from his Omni Python Qi. The rapidly
intensifying light represented his swiftly growing Genesis Qi foundations.
It was already far from comparable to half a day ago.
Zhou Yuan had clearly reaped tremendous benefits from the Genesis Star Pill.
Zhou Yuan’s Genesis Qi continued to grow. After half an incense stick of time, the growth finally reached
its peak as he suddenly opened his tightly-shut eyes.
Boom!
A golden shockwave that was visible to the naked eye, swept outwards, violently shaking the entire cave
dwelling when it collided with the cave walls.
A dazzling gold shimmered in Zhou Yuan’s eyes, only gradually subsiding after some time.
However, the powerful Genesis Qi undulations surging from from his body were still as its peak level just
moments ago, clearly far exceeding what it had been before.
“Alpha-Origin, fourth layer!”
Unconcealable joy immediately flooded Zhou Yuan’s face.
After successfully absorbing the Genesis Star Pill, he had finally advanced to the fourth layer Alpha-Origin
stage.
He looked at the interior of his Qi Dwelling, seeing his Genesis Qi stars shining brightly within. All of them
were clearly packed with powerful Genesis Qi.
Wisps of of Qi rose from these Genesis Qi stars, taking on the shape of a giant python in his Qi Dwelling
that let out a hiss.
“1200 stars!”
1985
With a single thought, Zhou Yuan sensed the number of Genesis Qi stars in his Qi Dwelling, causing the joy
on his face to reach even his brows. This breakthrough had added more than five hundred Genesis Qi
stars to his Qi Dwelling!
Zhou Yuan slowly tightened his fist as he savoured the power that was now coursing through his body
like a raging dragon. Right now, he felt as though he could shatter mountains and split oceans with a
single punch.
Zhou Yuan muttered to himself, “As expected of the Genesis Star Pill. Without this pill, the number of
Genesis Qi stars in my Qi Dwelling will have been much lower.”
With these 1200 Genesis Qi stars in his Qi Dwelling, Zhou Yuan was confident that Xu Yan would no
longer be able to bully him with Genesis Qi alone.
Zhou Yuan was in a good mood as he stood up from the boulder, clearly quite pleased with himself.
Roar!
While he was over the moon, however, he suddenly heard a deep dragon roar. It was a roar unlike any
other that was overflowing with an endless amount of resentment. Anyone who heard it would feel their
hair stand on end.
When Zhou Yuan heard this dragon roar, he was first taken aback. Something quickly dawned upon him
as his body began to shiver. The joy on his face rapidly disappeared like the retreating tide, as a deathly
pale expression took its place.
He slowly lowered his head and looked towards his palm, only to find that the blood-red lump originally
occupying that spot had violently erupted. Like a sinister blood dragon, it transformed into numerous
blood-colored lines that rapidly spread from his palm, rapidly turning his arm blood-red. It was a
terrifying sight to behold.
The Dragon’s Resent Poison, which had laid dormant for years, had finally awoken from its slumber right
after Zhou Yuan made a cultivation breakthrough!
“AAHHH!”
A painful shriek left Zhou Yuan’s lips, his handsome face hideously twisting in an instant. The intense pain
from his arm made him feel as though a thousand different toxins were gnawing his heart, its intensity so
great that many would rather die than suffer.
It felt as though there was a malicious dragon within his body devouring his flesh and blood.
Zhou Yuan fell to his knees, hugging his blood-colored arm. His head was already drenched with sweat,
while his face was pale as sheet.
1986
Nonetheless, he gritted his teeth as he desperately circulated his Genesis Qi in order to resist the
resentful dragon’s invasion.
Hss!
Thankfully, Zhou Yuan was no longer the same powerless youth from back then. The Omni Python Qi
hissed as it continuously clashed with the Dragon’s Resentment Poison. For a time, it seemed like he was
just barely able to hold his ground.
However, the Dragon’s Resentment Poison existed in Zhou Yuan’s body, and was able to devour his flesh
and blood. Therefore, Zhou Yuan would only grow weaker and weaker, until he was completely
consumed by it.
While Zhou Yuan was struggling against the poison with everything that he had, a figure flew towards
him with a sweet fragrance and landed in front of him.
A slim and icy hand gripped Zhou Yuan’s wrist, “Zhou Yuan.”
It was Yaoyao’s voice.
Yaoyao’s hand was cold like jade, the sensation allowing Zhou Yuan, who was on the brink of losing his
rationality due to the intense pain, recover a little. He immediately stretched out his arms and
desperately hugged her. Yaoyao’s scent seemed to have a calming effect that Zhou Yuan tried to greedily
suck in to suppress the Dragon’s Resentment Poison in his body.
His body was covered in a filthy mix of sweat and blood, that dirtied her clothes when he tightly gripped
her in his arms.
Due to how tightly he was holding her, Yaoyao felt a little pain, causing her to frown slightly. If it was any
other time, she would already be tightly pinching his ear. However, she was unable to bring herself to do
so at the sight of Zhou Yuan’s twisted and pained expression. Instead, she could only struggle as she said,
“Zhou Yuan, you are hurting me.”
However, Zhou Yuan’s eyes were blood-red and clearly no longer capable of hearing her words.
When Yaoyao saw this, her finger reached out and forcefully prodded the spot between Zhou Yuan’s
brows. Spirit power quickly gushed forth, sending a message directly to Zhou Yuan.
“Zhou Yuan, concentrate and use the Ancestral Dragon Scripture!”
A voice wrapped by Spirit power rushed into Zhou Yuan’s mind.
The blood-red in Zhou Yuan’s eyes finally weakened a little, as he regained a little clarity for a split
second. He immediately gritted his teeth, and hurriedly activated the Ancestral Dragon Scripture.
1987
Hss!
The Omni Python Qi seemed to have received a jump start and began to push back against the Dragon’s
Resentment Poison, causing his body to fall into total chaos for a time.
Golden light and a blood-red struggled against each other on the surface of his body, their battle moving
everywhere, from the left to the right of his body and then back again. It was an exceptionally fearsome
clash indeed.
Yaoyao’s expression turned a little grave as she watched. The Dragon’s Resentment Poison was extremely
overbearing, filled with deep, bitter resentment. There was no way ordinary methods would work to
suppress it.
“The Dragon’s Resentment Poison is too domineering. Only something as tyrannical as it can suppress it.”
Yaoyao’s beautiful eyes flashed in thought, before she promptly said, “Come out.”
Tuntun hopped over from behind, stretching out its tongue when it arrived at Yaoyao’s side in a bid to
please her.
However, Yaoyao ignored its attempt at acting cute. Instead, she stared at it as if she had a plan in mind.
Under her gaze, Tuntun seemed to feel that something was amiss and began to slowly back away.
However, it had only taken a few steps back, before Yaoyao reached out, lifting it by the neck as she said,
“Zhou Yuan has been feeding you for quite a number of years. Isn’t it time for you to repay him?”
“Sob…” Tuntun had a pitiful expression on its face as it looked at Yaoyao.
Yaoyao was expressionless. “Lend me some of your sacred Genesis beast blood. I will use it as a medium
to draw Genesis Runes in order to help him temporarily suppress the Dragon’s Resentment Poison in his
body.”
Tuntun immediately began to struggle violently.
However, Yaoyao took out her Genesis Rune brush and used it to mercilessly knock its head a few times.
“Hurry up!”
Tears gathered in Tuntun’s eyes. However, it had no choice but to submit under Yaoyao’s fierce gaze. Its
claw scratched across its forehead, causing a trail of blood to appear, as drops of glimmering dark golden
essence blood rose from the wound.
As the essence blood rose into the air, the fur on Tuntun’s body seemed to dim somewhat, while it
whined in misery.
1988
“After we get through this, I will make sure Zhou Yuan properly compensates you.”
Yaoyao comforted when she saw that it was indeed quite a loss to Tuntun. With a clench of her hand, the
dark golden blood pearls quickly moved to hover in front of her.
She gripped the green jade Genesis Brush as she shot a glance at hideous sight of Zhou Yuan drenched in
his blood and sweat, before she gently pursed her lips.
“You should thank the stars that Tuntun is around this time…”
1989
When Zhou Yuan opened his eyes again, his head felt as if it was in a befuddled daze, while intense pain
tore through every part of his body.
*Gasp*.
He violently sucked in several breaths of cool air as he struggled to climb to his feet. His gaze scanned the
surroundings, only to realize that he was still in the innermost section of the cave. The only difference
was that he was now in with blood, while his body gave off a light stench. It was a really pathetic sight
indeed.
After a brief period of disorientation, he swiftly returned to his senses.
“What happened to the Dragon’s Resentment Poison?!”
He quickly lifted his palm, finding a menacing blood-red lump embedded on it. However, Zhou Yuan was
surprised to discover that there was now a dark golden circular pattern around it. The pattern appeared
to be a prison that was trapping and suppressing the Dragon’s Resentment Poison.
“I’ve helped you temporarily suppress the Dragon’s Resentment Poison.”
While shock was revealed in Zhou Yuan’s eyes, an indifferent voice sounded.
Zhou Yuan quickly lifted his head, and found Yaoyao elegantly seated on a boulder beside him. Her
beautiful face was currently a little pale, while a hint of exhaustion could be seen in her eyes.
Her black hair seemed to slide down her smooth cheeks, as her clear and aloof eyes observed him.
Though Yaoyao was dressed in simple clothes that were smeared with traces of blood, there was no way
to hide her elegance and beauty. She was like a single orchid in an empty valley that no one dared to
approach.
Tuntun lay powerlessly on the ground beside Yaoyao, letting out a continuously stream of whines and
whimpers. Its eyes seemed to be filled with resentment when it looked towards Zhou Yuan.
From their appearance, Zhou Yuan knew his Dragon’s Resentment Poison had tormented them quite a
bit.
The blood stains on Yaoyao were obviously from him. He could even vaguely recall that he had been
holding her in a death grip while he was under the onslaught of the Dragon’s Resentment Poison earlier.
This made Zhou Yuan rather embarrassed and awkward. Given Yaoyao’s obsession with cleanliness, she
had most probably suppressed a thousand urges to slap him to death.
1990
“Thank you big sis Yaoyao.” Zhou Yuan awkwardly scratched his head as he forced a smile.
Yaoyao swept a glance at him as she calmly replied, “You were too careless. After defeating Wu Huang
and reclaiming half of his sacred dragon blessing, the one that reaped the most benefits was not you, but
the Dragon’s Resentment Poison in your body.”
“Furthermore, it has also been secretly growing as you became more powerful.”
“If you had not learnt the Ancestral Dragon Scripture, and lady luck was on your side, you would have lost
your life to the poison today.”
Zhou Yuan felt a chill spread on his back, as his expression turned somewhat ugly. This outbreak had left
a traumatic fear in him towards the Dragon’s Resentment Poison. It was after all the most dangerous one
yet.
While he was growing stronger, the Dragon’s Resentment Poison was likewise not the same as before.
“The seal I placed can only suppress it temporarily.”
Zhou Yuan’s fists tightened as he asked, “Is there really no way for me to completely subdue the Dragon’s
Resentment Poison?”
Yaoyao replied, “If you reach the third level of the Ancestral Dragon Scripture and master the Galaxy
Sacred Dragon Qi, you will be able to fully subdue the poison.”
The corners of Zhou Yuan’s lips twitched. The Galaxy Sacred Dragon Qi was the third level of the
Ancestral Dragon Scripture, and was a grade 9 Genesis Qi, the highest grade Genesis Qi in this world. How
could it be easy to achieve?
Yaoyao slowly said, “It’s still too early for you to think about subduing it completely. However, you can
use other means to partially suppress it for the time being, and even make use of its powers.”
“Eh?” Zhou Yuan’s eyes brightened.
“I know of an extremely powerful Genesis Rune Boundary that can be inscribed on one’s body, known as
the Great Dragon Subduing Rune. Even though it is unable to completely suppress the Dragon’s
Resentment Poison, it will make it very difficult for the poison to hurt your foundations.”
“However, this Genesis Rune Boundary requires numerous precious resources, and the process cannot be
rushed. I will help you keep an eye out for these materials.”
Although Zhou Yuan was a little disappointed that he could not solve the problem immediately, he
secretly heaved a sigh of relief deep inside his heart. Soon after, he asked, “What do you mean by making
use of its powers?”
1991
If he were to intentionally stir up the Dragon’s Resentment Poison, he could use it to invade his enemies.
Any opponent that slipped up and got infected would end up in a rather sorry state.
However, this was a double-edged sword. The Dragon’s Resentment Poison was just too overbearing, and
every time Zhou Yuan tried to use it, the poison would invade his own body as well. In fact, the reason
why the Dragon’s Resentment Poison erupted today, was likely because of his actions during the fight
with Xu Yan.
Yaoyao shot a look at Zhou Yuan as her red lips parted slightly. “Don’t underestimate the Dragon’s
Resentment Poison.”
“Most of the sacred dragon blessing you snatched back from Wu Huang was devoured by the Dragon’s
Resentment Poison, and it can be said to be the greatest benefactor.”
Zhou Yuan nodded as he gritted his teeth. After all the pain he went through to defeat Wu Huang, the one
that ultimately benefited the most was the Dragon’s Resentment Poison in his body.
“Do you recall the Sacred Dragon Transformation Wu Huang used during your fight against him? That is
one way to utilize the sacred dragon blessing.”
A thoughtful look appeared on Zhou Yuan’s face. He naturally remembered how Wu Huang’s strength
surged after activating the Sacred Dragon Transformation. If it wasn’t for Silver Shadow, he may not have
been able to defeat the latter.
“However, Wu Huang failed to utilize even a tenth of the sacred dragon blessing’s power. Since half of it
has been snatched away by the Dragon’s Resentment Poison in your body, if you are able to suppress the
Dragon’s Resentment Poison and make it submit to you, you will naturally find out how powerful it will
be when these two forces are stacked together.”
Zhou Yuan’s eyes brightened slightly at these words as excitement stirred in his heart.
After hearing Yaoyao’s words, he began to look forward to the day when he would finally subdue the
Dragon’s Resentment Poison.
However, this was something that could not be rushed. Based on Yaoyao’s words, it was going to be quite
a challenging task to draw the Great Dragon Subduing Boundary, and she also had to first gather a
number of rare ingredients.
Fortunately, Yaoyao had managed to temporarily suppress the Dragon’s Resentment Poison this time
around. Hence, he shouldn’t run into any major problems in the near future.
After Yaoyao finished saying her piece, she extended her arms and tiredly stretched her back, displaying
her alluring curves. She lazily stood up, and glanced at the blood stains on her dress, immediately causing
her to frown in dislike.
1992
“Big sis Yaoyao, please hand me your clothes later. I will wash them for you!” Zhou Yuan smiled in an
attempt to please her.
Yaoyao’s eyes narrowed slightly. She walked to Zhou Yuan’s side, and revealed a dazzling smile that
stunned Zhou Yuan for a moment.
However, he soon felt a sharp pain from his ear. Yaoyao reached out to give him a vicious pinched as she
chuckled, “Zhou Yuan, it seems like the Dragon’s Resentment Poison wasn’t much of a threat to you, as it
appears that you’ve regained your ability to use honeyed words rather quickly. Looks like I should let you
suffer for longer in the future before helping you.”
There was hardly any Genesis Qi in Yaoyao’s body, and naturally did not have much strength. In fact, this
tiny bit of pain was something that Zhou Yuan could completely ignore. Nonetheless, he hastily begged
for mercy.
After venting her frustrations, Yaoyao snorted before she turned around and headed towards the small
house.
Zhou Yuan smiled as he watched Yaoyao’s beautiful figure, and sincerely said, “Big sis Yaoyao, thank you.
You’ve saved my life again.”
Yaoyao’s steps paused for a moment, as her lips seemingly moved. As she continued to walk away, her
nonchalant voice sounded.
“You should clean yourself up. On another note, Shen Wanjin is outside waiting for you. It appears that he
has information regarding a Heaven Task.”
1993
Chapter 392 The Two Captains
In a courtyard inside the cave dwelling.
Zhou Yuan lifted a teapot and poured a cup of hot tea for Shen Wanjin. The latter was currently surveying
the purple Genesis cave dwelling, inhaling its rich and pure Genesis Qi, as an envious look involuntarily
appeared in his eyes.
“Little Yuan bro is really the amazing one. Even though we entered the Cangxuan Sect together, I’m not
sure how many donkey years it’ll take for the rest of us to reach your current status.” Said Shen Wanjin
with a sigh.
Zhou Yuan chuckled. He did not show any pride as he diverted the topic, “You have information regarding
a Heaven task?”
Shen Wanjin gulped down the hot tea, before he complained, “Little Yuan bro, I’ve been running around
so much for the past few days to find out about a Heaven Task for you that my feet have barely spent any
time on the ground.”
Zhou Yuan rolled his eyes and said, “I know you’ve worked hard for this. Once I have time, I will give you
some pointers on the little Heaven technique you’ve recently been practicing.”
Shen Wanjin was delighted when he heard this and cheerfully replied, “In that case, let me thank little
Yuan bro first.”
After securing his benefits, Shen Wanjin finally said in a leisurely manner, “Little Yuan bro, a Heaven task
is the highest level task in our Cangxuan Sect, and are extremely hard to come by. In fact, there are only a
handful Heaven tasks given out every year.”
“You should know that many powerful disciples are eagerly waiting for such an opportunity.”
“I’ve asked several people to secretly keep a lookout, even bribing someone working at the mission hall.
That’s how I finally received the latest information regarding a Heaven task.”
Zhou Yuan’s eyes lit up.
“Tell me the details.”
Shen Wanjin replied, “The task has not been officially announced yet, and I’m still in the dark about the
specifics. The only information I managed to gather is about the two captains that have already been
decided.”
Zhou Yuan curiously asked, “Who?”
1994
Shen Wanjin slowly said, “The captain is Li Qingchan, while the vice-captain is Zhao Zhu.”
“Two Chosens…” Zhou Yuan’s eyes widened. To think that Chosens would be leading the mission, looks
like a Heaven task was truly extraordinary after all.
He was relatively well-acquainted with Li Qingchan. As for Zhao Zhu, it seemed like he was the
mastermind of the incident during the purple sash selection.
As the saying went, rivals were always destined to cross paths.
“This Heaven task requires ten members. Other than the two captains, there are only eight spots
remaining.”
Shen Wanjin was clearly also a little overwhelmed by the scale of this operation. The missions he had
taken in the past really paled in comparison to such a line-up.
“Even though this task has yet to be officially announced, most of the strong veteran disciples have caught
wind of it, and have begun to move in secret.”
“It is rumoured that the remaining team members must be approved by both captains, making Li
Qingchan and Zhao Zhu more popular than ever before.”
Shen Wanjin shrugged as he said, “However, there’s nothing else I can do to help you with this. You’ll
have to rely on yourself.”
He was merely a black sash disciple that definitely didn’t have the qualifications to even meet Chosens
like Li Qingchan and Zhao Zhu, let alone pull strings for Zhou Yuan.
Zhou Yuan gave a slight nod as he began to frown. A Heaven task was extremely difficult to come by, and
each time a Heaven task was announced, numerous purple sash disciples would fight over the limited
number of spots available. In fact, the struggles would sometimes be so intense that even blood would be
drawn.
This time was obviously not going to be an exception.
To be blunt, even a veteran purple sash disciple like Xu Yan lacked the qualifications and experience to
obtain a spot in a Heaven task.
“A Heaven Credit is really going to be a pain in the ass to get.” Zhou Yuan sighed inside.
“Little Yuan bro, are you really going to take part in a Heaven task?” Shen Wanjin looked at Zhou Yuan, a
little unable to bring himself to fully express his true opinion. Though Zhou Yuan’s reputation had grown
rapidly within the sect, and he was now seen as the top disciple of the new generation, a Heaven task was
of the highest ranked mission in the sect, and even someone like Zhou Yuan lacked the qualifications to
undertake one.
1995
From the fact that both captains were members of the ten Chosens, one could tell how challenging and
dangerous a Heaven task was.
Zhou Yua nodded. He knew what Shen Wanjin wanted to say. However, he had no choice. If he failed to
obtain a Heaven Credit, there was no doubt that old Xuan would confiscate the Taiyi Green Wood Mark.
This was something that Zhou Yuan absolutely needed prevent.
Encountering it had already been a great blessing for him. If he could successfully master it, it would
bring him countless advantages in the future as he continued down the path of cultivation.
As the saying went, if one does not accept kindness from the Heavens, one would be punished instead.
“If you really want to go, it’s not like it’s impossible.”
While Zhou Yuan was fretting over how he could obtain a spot, a nonchalant voice suddenly sounded
behind him.
Zhou Yuan and Shen Wanjin lifted their heads and turned around, finding Yaoyao slowly walking towards
them.
It looked as though she had just taken a shower. She had changed out of her blood stained clothes, and
was now wearing a white dress. Together with her alluring figure, and her gorgeous face, it made it seem
as if she was glowing. In fact, the sight of her seemed to brighten the entire cave dwelling.
Her long black hair was slightly damp and left hanging from her head, giving her a slightly unkempt
charm.
Nonetheless, she looked just as breathtaking as usual.
Shen Wanjin’s plump face was filled with wonder, but he quickly came back to his senses, as he said with
a cheeky smile, “Greetings boss sister!”
There was currently no one in the Cangxuan Sect who did not know Yaoyao. In fact, even Zhou Yuan paled
in comparison to her.
After all, Zhou Yuan had only managed to defeat all the gold sash disciples participants from a Sword
Cometh Peak, while Yaoyao had convincingly overwhelmed all the disciples from Spirit Rune Peak,
including their Chosen, Ye Ge.
Therefore, Yaoyao was obviously a much better backer than Zhou Yuan!
Unfortunately, she did not seem to have any interest in helping anyone besides Zhou Yuan...
“Do you have a solution?” Zhou Yuan stared inquisitively at Yaoyao.
1996
A faint fragrance accompanied Yaoyao as she sat down beside them, and lazily said, “Isn’t the captain Li
Qingchan? She lost a few bets to me previously, and it’s about time for her to repay them.”
The corners of Zhou Yuan’s lips twitched as he asked, “Are you sure this will work?”
Yaoyao ignored him as she turned to look at Shen Wanjin and said, “Head to Snow Lotus Peak and invite
her over. Say that I am the one who is looking for her.”
“Boss sister has swag.”
Shen Wanjin raised both thumbs in admiration. Summoning a Chosen like Li Qingchan was something
that even Zhou Yuan did not dare to do.
Of course, even if Zhou Yuan tried, Li Qingchan would only ignore him… after all the current Zhou Yuan
was still not at that level.
Shen Wanjin glanced at Zhou Yuan with a somewhat peculiar expression that also contained a
tremendous amount of envy.
Little Yuan bro, you are really good at mooching off women!
Zhou Yuan immediately understood that look, and immediately splashed the remaining tea in his cup at
the little fatty. Shen Wanjin’s fat body numbly evaded the tea, as he left with a cheeky smile, heading
straight for Snow Lotus Peak.
1997
Chapter 393 Heaven Task
The sun was about to set when Li Qingchan arrived outside the cave dwelling.
Li Qingchan was dressed in white today as she approached the cave under the setting sun. The expression
on her gorgeous face was as cold as frost, and she gave off an aura that made seem a thousand miles
away. She was just like a snow lotus hanging on the edge of a cliff; something that one could only look at
from afar, but never approach in person.
She showed zero interest in the purple Genesis cave dwelling as she strolled in. As one of the ten Chosens,
her own dwelling and cultivation area were undoubtedly much better than a newly promoted purple sash
disciple like Zhou Yuan.
Inside the cave, she saw the waiting Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao.
“You have something to discuss with me?” She casually asked, looking only at Yaoyao. It was clear that
she was here solely because of the latter. Someone like Zhou Yuan obviously did not have the
qualifications to get her to personally come over.
Zhou Yuan felt a little embarrassed. It was a little hard to swallow pulling the strings at times.
However, Yaoyao did not bother showing any tact, and directly said, “I’ve heard that the sect has issued a
Heaven task. Since you are the captain, I want you to take Zhou Yuan along so that he can gain a Heaven
Credit.”
Zhou Yuan’s face reddened slightly at her words.
Meanwhile, Li Qingchan’s eyes could not help but widen. She soon gently gritted her teeth, before she
grumpily said, “You are really blunt. A spot in a Heaven mission is one of the most desirable things in our
sect. Other than Zhao Zhu and I, there are only eight spots remaining, which every purple sash disciple in
the sect is breaking their backs in an attempt to obtain. And yet you actually want me to pull strings and
grant him a spot?”
Zhou Yuan smiled awkwardly.
Yaoyao propped up her chin with a hand as she tilted her head and glanced Li Qingchan. “Are you
refusing to acknowledge our previous bet?”
Li Qingchan’s frosty face turned red as she quickly tried to defend herself, “We can settle it in some other
way.”
“A Heaven Task is no laughing matter. If he isn’t sufficiently skilled, he will only end up being a burden
even if I let him tag along. Moreover, if his performance is not up to par, he will not be given a Heaven
Credit.”
1998
Li Qingchan swept a glance at Zhou Yuan, before she continued, “I’ll admit that he did well in the last
purple sash selection test. However, you should know that even Xu Yan lacks the qualifications to
participate in the upcoming Heaven task.”
She was already being very clear. It had taken Zhou Yuan almost everything in order to obtain a pyrrhic
victory against Xu Yan. If even Xu Yan lacked the proper qualifications, how could Zhou Yuan possibly
possess them?
After listening, Yaoyao nodded before she repeated herself, “So you refuse to honor the bet?”
Bang!
Li Qingchan took two steps forward, as her hands slammed onto the stone table in front of her. Her cool
and icy disposition had vanished, her busty chest gently rising as she angrily said, “Don’t you know any
other words?!”
Zhou Yuan secretly gulped by the side. To anger the most well-known ice queen in the Cangxuan Sect
such an extent was truly evidence of Yaoyao’s capabilities.
Yaoyao stifled a yawn with a hand, before she replied, “Zhou Yuan is not the useless ornament you think
he is, and he won’t be a burden if you take him along. Furthermore, you are the captain of this task, so it is
only right that you get to pick someone personally.”
Li Qingchan replied in a calm fashion, “I will not know whether he is going to be useful or not. However,
in terms of looks, all I can say is that he is merely average-looking, and there are many disciples in our
sect that are much better-looking.”
Upon hearing this, Zhou Yuan feebly said, “Can you guys stick to the topic and stop with the personal
attacks?”
However, no one paid any attention to him.
The two gorgeous beauties staring at each other, neither giving even a single glance to him.
Li Qingchan sat down as her brows furrowed deeply. She knew that Yaoyao would not back down so
easily after making a request.
Li Qingchan was feeling quite vexed as she said, “If I knew this was going to happen, I wouldn’t have bet
with you.”
Her expression fluctuated indeterminately. A long while later, she sighed helplessly and said, “Zhou
Xiaoyao, you should know that you will not obtain a Heaven Credit just by taking part in a Heaven task.”
“To obtain a Heaven Credit, you must receive a favorable evaluation and the approval from the majority
of your other team mates. Only then, will it be considered a success. Therefore, even if I let Zhou Yuan tag
1999
along, if the other disciples disapprove of his performance and reports to the elders, he will not only be
denied a Heaven Credit, but also be punished as well.”
Yaoyao retrieved a jar of wine from her Universe bag and poured a cup for Li Qingchan. “If Zhou Yuan
does badly during the task, it will be his own fault.”
Even though Zhou Yuan was a newly promoted purple sash disciple, he was far less experienced than the
vetern purple sash disciples. However, Yaoyao felt that they weren’t much better than him.
Hence, Zhou Yuan would only have himself to blame if he performed badly.
Li Qingchan fell silent for a moment. In the end, she gave a faint nod of agreement.
“Alright, I can help him out on your account. However, this is all I can do. If his performance is lacklustre,
and upsets the other members, I will not be able to help him.”
“Deal.” Yaoyao lifted her cup.
Li Qingchan also lifted her cup, and toasted the former before downing it.
Zhou Yuan quickly said, “Thank you senior sister Li Qingchan.”
Li Qingchan gave him a fairly cold response. Though Zhou Yuan had a stunning showing during the
purple sash selection, Li Qingchan felt that he still paled in comparison to Yaoyao.
In Li Qingchan’s eyes, Zhou Yuan was mostly mooching off Yaoyao.
This made her rather uncomfortable. Other than her peak master, Yaoyao was the only woman in the
Cangxuan Sect who she respected. As long as Yaoyao wanted to, she could become a dazzling existence in
the sect. However, it seemed that she was content with staying with Zhou Yuan, and had no interest in
anything else.
This puzzled Li Qingchan. Yaoyao was so talented, so why was she so hung up on Zhou Yuan? She had
even taken the initiative to reach out to Qingchan in order to help Zhou Yuan obtain a Heaven Credit.
This was something that she felt quite indignant about.
“There is no need to thank me. It will be better for you to think about how to make yourself useful in the
upcoming task. Should you perform badly, it will be you who will end up disgraced.” Replied Li Qingchan.
Zhou Yuan could hear the indifference in Li Qingchan’s tone. However, he was not bothered by it as he
nodded and said, “Senior sister Qingchan, can you tell me more about the mission?”
Li Qingchan was silent for a moment, before she said, “It will be led by me and Zhao Zhu from Sword
Cometh Peak. I am the captain, while he is the vice-captain.”
2000
“There will be a total of ten menbers. Other than the two of us, the rest will be composed of elite purple
sash disciples from the various peaks.”
“As for the details, we will be headed for the Black Flame Province in the Shengzhou Continent. A volcano
that has laid dormant for tens of thousands of years has recently erupted, uncovering the existence of
essence flames within it. It is believed to be an essence flame vein.
“These essence flames are very valuable, and can increase the quality of flame-type Genesis Qi cultivated.”
“As a result, our sect has rated it as a grade 6 Genesis vein.”
Zhou Yuan’s eyes widened. The many Genesis veins belonging to the Cangxuan Sect were ranked from
grade 1 to 9; grade 1 being the lowest, while grade 9 was the highest. Typically speaking, a grade 7
Genesis vein was already extremely valuable, and could even incite a small-scale war.
So they were being sent out for a grade 6 Genesis vein. No wonder this was a Heaven level task.
“This essence flame vein is not under the jurisdiction of any of the six sacred sects, making it difficult to
decide who should have control over it. After the news spread, I’ve heard that Sacred Palace, North Sea
Dragon Subduing Hall and Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace are interested in vieing for it. Furthermore,
there are some powerful local factions in the Black Flame Province that are eager to contest as well.
Though there are not as powerful as the six sacred sects, they are the local powers and should not be
underestimated.”
“After rounds of discussions by higher ups of the various factions, they have finally decided to send their
disciples to the Black Flame Province to ‘negotiate’ how the essence flame vein will be split.”
Li Qingchan calmly said, “Therefore, our task is to represent the Cangxuan Sect and fight for a stake in the
essence flame vein.”
Zhou Yuan’s pupils shrank a little. He never imagined that this Heaven task would involve three other
sacred sects, Sacred Palace, North Sea Dragon Subduing Hall and Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace. It seems
like the mission was going to be much more challenging than he had expected.
There will definitely be numerous squabbles over such a valuable strategic resource. In fact, there will
likely be no lack of bloodshed in the so-called ‘negotiation’.
A Heaven task truly lived up to its name.
Li Qingchan looked deeply at Zhou Yuan, as she said, “This task is very important. If it is possible, I hope
that you will not participate.”
She clearly believed that Zhou Yuan was only going to be a burden in a mission of this scale.
2001
Zhou Yuan naturally knew what she meant. However, he could only laugh bitterly because he was indeed
very desperate for a Heaven Credit.
Zhou Yuan solemnly declared, “Senior sister Qingchan, I believe that at the very least, I will not be a
burden to the team.”
Li Qingchan frowned slightly at his words, clearly not taking them to heart, and believing that he was
merely putting on a front. She waved her hand to indicate there was no need to say anything else, before
she stood up and headed out of the cave.
“We will set off for the Black Flame Province in five days.”
“If you insist on joining, I do hope that you will not let me down. I will be giving truthful report when we
return, and you end up disappointing me, you will still be unable to obtain a Heaven Credit.”
2002
Chapter 394 Protest
For the next few days, Zhou Yuan stayed in the cave dwelling to stabilize his Genesis Qi cultivation, which
had grown rapidly after advancing to the fourth layer Alpha-Origin stage. It was as Li Qingchan had said,
the Heaven task was very important, and he intended to do everything in his power to boost his abilities.
Over this period, the Heaven task was also officially publicized by the sect. It caused a huge commotion as
expected, numerous disciples eager for a spot.
Everyone knew that a Heaven task represented a Heaven Credit, an item so valuable in the sect that even
the ten Chosens could not afford to ignore it.
Therefore, each Heaven task would result in an intense fight between the top disciples of the various
peaks. Though these Heaven tasks were filled with danger, no one could resist the allure of a Heaven
Credit.
This time was not going to be an exception.
As such, the moment the ‘Black Flame Province’ Heaven task was announced, an earth-shaking fight
quickly broke out among the finest of the purple sash disciples.
There were after all many purple sash disciples, but only ten spots for this Heaven task. Furthermore, two
of them were already taken by the captain Li Qingchan and vice-captain Zhao Zhu.
Hence, only eight spots remained, and one could easily imagine how crazy the fight for these spots would
be.
While the other purple sash disciples were competing fiercely among themselves, Zhou Yuan had already
secured a spot thanks to Yaoyao. Thus, he could remain in his cave dwelling and concentrate on his
training.
Five days quickly passed in this manner.
...
Inside the cave dwelling.
Zhou Yuan was seated atop a boulder near the edge of a cliff, while several pieces of green wood hovered
in front of him. These green wood pieces were of different shapes and sizes, and the only thing they had
in common were the vestiges of time left on their bodies.
All of them were clearly rather ancient wood pieces that were filled with Yimu Qi.
2003
Zhou Yuan had spent a great sum of money to purchase these century-old wood pieces from the Glittering
Jewels Pavilion. His goal was to practice the Taiyi Green Wood Mark.
“The first step is to form a Taiyi Mark inside my body. Only after forming this mark, will I be able to infuse
the Yimu Qi from these ancient wood into my flesh.” Zhou Yuan muttered to himself.
To carve a Taiyi Mark on his body, he also needed Yimu Qi from such ancient wood.
Zhou Yuan took in a deep breath, and gently shut his eyes. He then interlocked his fingers, as he began
coating the ancient wood pieces with his Genesis Qi. Wisps of green Qi soon seeped out from the ancient
wood pieces, before flowing into Zhou Yuan’s body through his nose.
Zhou Yuan’s Spirit immediately took control of the green Qi, which was filled with life energy. He
carefully manipulated it, fusing it into his flesh, slowly but steadily leaving faint, tiny and complex
markings.
Drawing a Taiyi Mark was an extremely complicated process. The mark had to cover nearly Zhou Yuan’s
entire body, and had to be fused into his flesh. Moreover, even the slightest error would result in
immediate failure.
As such, the first step to mastering the Taiyi Green Wood Mark was already no mean feat.
Zhou Yuan was completely immersed in his training. Four hours quickly flew by, before he gradually
opened his eyes. He looked at his arm, seeing a faint green glow appear, before slowly receding.
“Only one percent has been completed after several days of hard work…” Zhou Yuan let out a bitter laugh.
He had given his all during these past few days, but had only made little progress. Looks like it would take
a substantial amount of time for him to complete the Taiyi Mark in his body.
Of course, the most important factor was that there was too little Yimu Qi.
Zhou Yuan glanced at the ancient wood pieces in front of him. They had begun to turn to dust after their
Yimu Qi was drained.
These ancient wood pieces were at most a century old, and did not possess rich Yimu Qi. However, it was
a little difficult to find thousand-year ancient wood in the Glittering Jewels Pavilion.
Zhou Yuan sighed. With a wave of his sleeve, the dust in front of him was blown away.
“Oh?”
He sensed something in his mind after finishing his training. His body quickly turned slightly ethereal as
he transformed into a shadow and dashed forward. In less than a few dozen breaths, he had reached the
entrance of the cave dwelling.
2004
He found Shen Wanjin waiting here while he wiped his sweat.
“Little Yuan bro, you’re done with your training session?” Shen Wanjin was overjoyed when he saw Zhou
Yuan walking out.
Zhou Yuan nodded with a smile, “What happened?”
Based on Shen Wanjin’s appearance, he seemed to have been waiting for quite a while.
A solemn expression appeared on Shen Wanjin’s plump face as he replied in a low voice, “Tomorrow is
the departure day for the Heaven task. Therefore, the members must be finalized by today.”
“Over the past few days, the top purple sash disciples have fought bitterly for these eight spots.”
“I’ve heard that the members have mostly been finalized… and your participation has also been revealed.”
Shen Wanjin hesitated for a moment, before he continued, “It is rumored that many have objected against
this.”
Zhou Yuan’s expression was quite calm in the face of this news. He was not surprised by this outcome. At
the end of the day, he was a newly promoted purple sash disciple, and was still lacking compared to the
veteran purple sash disciples.
Many of these veteran purple sash disciples had failed to obtain a place in the team, while a newly
promoted purple sash disciple like him was a part of it. This would naturally result in a rather huge
backlash.
Furthermore, numerous disciples felt that he had used connections to obtain this spot, though that was
indeed the case this time.
“Senior sister Li Qingchan should be able to handle these complaints, right?” Asked Zhou Yuan. Li
Qingchan was the captain and team leader after all, and naturally had the right to nominate a team
member.
Shen Wanjin gave a bitter laugh as he said, “Senior sister Li Qingchan has been able to quell the dissent.
However, the problem lies with Zhao Zhu from Sword Cometh Peak. He has been strongly opposing her
decision as the vice-captain.”
“Furthermore, Zhao Zhu is also one of the Chosens, and has a very valid reason for objecting her decision.
As a result, he has managed to garner quite a bit of support…”
“Zhao Zhu insists on kicking you from the team.”
Zhou Yuan’s eyes narrowed. Zhao Zhu again...
2005
“Normally speaking, the participating members must be approved by both captains. Since the captain and
vice-captain are in disagreement, it has become somewhat troublesome…”
Shen Wanjin looked at Zhou Yuan and said, “Senior sister Li sent me here to ask you to head down to the
mission hall.”
Shen Wanjin was quite worried. There were quite a number of purple sash disciples gathered at the
mission hall at this time.
If Zhou Yuan went to the mission hall now, all it would take was a small accident for him to lose his spot.
Shen Wanjin slowly said, “Little Yuan bro, senior sister Li said that she will try her best to protect you.
However, Zhao Zhu has been vehemently opposing her. When the time comes, you will have show your
mettle, otherwise…”
Zhou Yuan’s expression remained unchanged, no panic visible on his face.
“I understand.”
He nodded. He had not expected Zhao Zhu to create such a huge fuss.
Li Qingchan likely intended for him to make a trip down to display his abilities. If he could show his value,
Li Qingchan would be in a better position to fight for him.
However, if he performed terribly, even Li Qingchan would not be able to protect him.
“Let’s go.”
His eyes narrowed as he lifted his head. With a stomp, Genesis Qi appeared beneath his feet and
propelled him into the sky.
So you guys want my spot...
Do you really think that I am some soft persimmon?!
2006
Chapter 395 Dispute
The mission hall was located in the southwest region of Cangxuan Sect. It was a large and majestic hall
that stood atop a misty peak, from which a long stone stairs extended from the mountain top. It was quite
a majestic sight to behold.
The mission hall was one of the most popular places in the Cangxuan Sect. Numerous disciples would fly
over everyday to receive and hand in tasks from the mission hall.
At this present time, the mission hall was exceptionally rowdy.
Many purple sash disciples from the various peaks were gathered here, as they quarreled with one
another. They were clearly bickering over who should have a spot in the Black Flame Province Heaven
task that was set to begin tomorrow.
“The selection process for this Heaven task is simply too unfair. I am fine with the others, but Zhou Yuan
is merely a newly promoted purple sash disciple. What gives him the right to participate in this Heaven
task?!”
“That’s right. Even though Zhou Yuan is quite talented, he is still lacking in experience. He may have the
qualifications In one or two years, but I am afraid he is still lacking now.”
“Heh heh, I heard he was nominated by senior sister Li Qingchan. To think that he could actually catch her
eye, I wonder what’s so special about him.”
“Bullshit. Stop trying to insinuate something. Just think about senior sister Li Qingchan’s status, and how
many talented geniuses has she seen over the years. How can someone like Zhou Yuan possibly catch her
fancy? There must be some other reason behind it.”
“......”
Noisy discussions continuously rang out across the mission hall, with no lack of bitter voices amongst
them. Zhou Yuan had after all been strongly recommended by the Cangxuan sect’s most famous ice
queen, Li Qingchan. Countless disciples were huge fans of her, and naturally felt rather sullen at the sight
of their goddess pushing so hard for Zhou Yuan.
Within a side hall on the mountain peak.
Ten figures were present in this room. Li Qingchan sat at the head of the group with a frosty expression
on her pretty face. Beside her sat a young man with long and narrow eyes. A sword rested on his legs as
his slim fingers gently tapped it.
A powerful but indistinct sword aura spread from his body, as the faint cry of a sword echoed in the
room.
2007
This person was the second Chosen from Sword Cometh Peak, Zhao Zhu.
Seated under these two were numerous young individuals with extraordinary presences. Upon closer
inspection, one would realize that they were all well-known purple sash disciples. Compared to them,
even the likes of Xu Yan was substantially weaker.
“Haha. Senior sister Li, this mission is extremely important. You should know that we are headed for the
Black Flame Province, and will be up against three of the sacred sects, Sacred Palace, North Sea Dragon
Subduing Hall and Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace. All of them will surely be sending their most elite
disciples, which will be quite a challenge for us.”
While the atmosphere within the side hall was a little stifling, Zhao Zhu smiled faintly and said, “However,
senior sister Li keeps insisting that Zhou Yuan should be a part of the team. Aren’t you making light of the
sect’s interest?”
Several figures inside the hall could not help but nod at Zhao Zhu’s words.
Li Qingchan’s gorgeous face was covered in frost as she coldly said, “This is my right as the captain. I
believe that he is qualified.”
“Snort.”
A disciple below Zhao Zhu snorted. The individual had disheveled hair, while his completely black
fingernails gave off a cold and sharp sensation.
This person was called Qin Hai, and was one of the most famous purple sash disciples of Sword Cometh
Peak.
Qin Hai smiled and said, “Senior sister Li, we’re a team for this mission. If you insist on bringing this
burden along, you may potentially jeopardize the mission, and none of us will be able to receive any
Heaven Credits. Even if you are one of the Chosens, this is something that we cannot accept.”
“I will make up for him.” Li Qingchan stared coldly at Qin Hai. “Or are you doubting my abilities?”
Under Li Qingchan’s icy glare, Qin Hai froze as he gave a dry laugh. Though he was quite famous among
the purple sash disciples, he was naturally much weaker than the third ranked Chosen, Li Qingchan.
“Haha senior sister Li, Qin Hai does not mean to questioning your abilities.” Zhao Zhu chuckled softly
when he saw this, before he slowly said, “However, what he said previously makes sense. We are a team,
and we cannot afford to bring a burden along.”
“I will not deny that Zhou Yuan is indeed very talented. However, he is a newly promoted purple sash
disciple, and is still lacking in experience. Therefore, I would like to suggest that junior brother Wang Lei
take his place instead.”
2008
His eyes turned towards the last seat in the side hall, where a tall and muscular young man could be seen.
A surge of ferocious Genesis Qi undulations pulsed from his body.
Wang Lei was also a disciple from Sword Cometh Peak.
As it was not easy to encounter a Heaven task, Zhao Zhu was doing everything in his power to rope in his
Sword Cometh Peak disciples. Although this was the case, the disciples he recommended were of fitting
strength and fame. Hence, the others had nothing to say even if they saw through his intentions.
Li Qingchan’s gaze turned even colder.
“Senior brother Zhao Zhu, although this task is important, not every participating member will end up
playing a key role. Senior sister Li Qingchan barely brought any Snow Lotus Peak disciples along, while
your Sword Cometh Peak disciples have already taken up four spots.”
“I feel that both of you should take a step back and compromise so we can quickly finalize the team
members. We’ll then be able to proceed with the mission as a team. Don’t you think that this will be for
the best?”
The one who spoke was a young lady under Li Qingchan. The girl was wearing a black shirt and long
pants, and was quite tall, mostly due to her especially long and slender legs.
She was quite pretty as well, while her fair hands gave off a healthy glow.
This girl was called Bai Li, and was quite a famous purple sash disciple from Hongya Peak. Even though
she did not know why Li Qingchan insisted on bringing Zhou Yuan along, she was close to Li Qingchan
and naturally chose to stand up for the latter.
Furthermore, Li Qingchan had already given in to Zhao Zhu in order to protect Zhou Yuan. This was why
there were so many Sword Cometh Peak disciples in the team. In spite of this, Zhao Zhu was still being
too overbearing, refusing to compromise and constantly trying to push his luck.
Zhao Zhu’s finger gently slid across his sword, as he smiled and said, “Junior sister Bai Li, I am not acting
selfishly, but for the sake of our mission.”
“I believe junior sister Bai Li also doesn’t want us to fail and return home empty-handed, right?”
Bai Li was at a loss for words. Logically speaking, what Zhao Zhu said made sense. After all, none of them
wanted to carry a burden that was only there for the Heaven Credit.
When Zhao Zhu saw this, he continued to speak with a smile, “I believe that senior sister Li Qingchan has
already sent someone to deliver a message to Zhou Yuan. However, we have been waiting for nearly half
a day now, and yet this junior brother refuses to show himself, leaving senior sister Li to fight his battles
for him. His actions show that he lacks courage.”
2009
His words were extremely biting.
After he spoke, even Bai Li began to frown, clearly a little upset. She also felt that Zhou Yuan’s behaviour
showed that he was an irresponsible individual. Why was Li Qingchan still protecting such a person?
Li Qingchan was the one who nominated him after all. However, he had not dared to show his face even
till today. Was this because he knew that he couldn’t handle the pressure?
Li Qingchan expression was still unreadable and cold as ice. However, a look of irritation flashed across
her eyes.
Just as she was about to speak, a commotion was suddenly heard outside the hall. Following which, all of
them saw a slim young man walk in.
“I was training earlier and I lost track of time. I hope my senior brothers and sisters can forgive me.”
That young man looked inside, as he cupped his fists and smiled. Finally, he looked directly at Zhao Zhu,
who was seated beside Li Qingchan.
“Senior brother Zhao Zhu, I wonder how I can convince you that I will not be a burden to the team?”
“Why not tell me your conditions? I’ll just go ahead and fulfill them today.”
2010
Chapter 396 One Move
Every figure seated in the side hall raised their heads at this moment, their eyes narrowing as they looked
at the young man who had just stepped in.
He was no stranger to them. After all, though this disciple had only joined the inner mountains for less
than a year, he had already stirred several waves in the sect.
Zhao Zhu’s eyelids raised slightly. He continued to tap his scabbard as he cast a nonchalant gaze at Zhou
Yuan and said, “You’re junior brother Zhou Yuan? So you’ve finally decided to show up. We’ve been
debating about you for nearly half a day now, and you’ve basically missed all of it.”
Within the side hall, the group stared at Zhou Yuan. Let alone the Sword Cometh Peak disciples, even the
disciples from the other peaks had strange expressions in their eyes. Even though they had chosen to
remain silent due to Li Qingchan, many of them felt opposed to the decision to include Zhou Yuan in the
team for this Heaven task.
From their gazes, Zhou Yuan understood that Li Qingchan must have faced an immense pressure when
she tried to defend him, making him feel a little thankful in his heart.
Zhou Yuan’s expression was calm as he said, “Since there is a dispute, let’s find a way to resolve it.”
“Haha, junior brother Zhou Yuan is an understanding person.” A mysterious smile hung from Zhao Zhu’s
lips. He pointed at Wang Lei and said, “This mission is extremely important to our Cangxuan Sect. That’s
why I hope that you can give your spot to junior brother Wang Lei. Otherwise, should we fail the mission
because of you, not only will you be punished, but even the person who recommended you, senior sister
Li, will be punished as well.”
“You recently joined the sect and are still young. Give yourself one or two more years, and you will surely
become an elite amongst the purple sash disciples. When that time comes, you will definitely have the
qualifications to join a Heaven task, and I believe that no one will object to your participation then.”
Zhao Zhu smiled. The way his spoke was akin to someone of higher standing lecturing a minor.
“So what do you say junior brother Zhou Yuan?”
The side hall was completely silent. Everyone was looking at Zhou Yuan as they waited for his response.
Under the attention from the crowd, a smile was revealed on Zhou Yuan’s youthful face as he shook his
head and said, “I am really sorry senior brother Zhao Zhu. I feel that we should…”
The smile on Zhao Zhu’s face froze slightly.
2011
“You ignorant brat!” At the back of the side hall, the man named Wang Lei glared coldly at Zhou Yuan. A
mocking smile rose from the former’s lips as he said, “Junior brother Zhou Yuan, do you really believe
that your pathetic draw against junior brother Xu Yan has given you the qualifications to participate in a
Heaven task?!”
“Senior brother Zhao Zhu is thinking about the big picture, while your stubbornness is truly too selfish.”
Zhou Yuan’s eyelids lowered as he replied, “So how should I convince senior brother Wang Lei that I
possess the qualifications?”
“Maybe… I need to defeat you?”
Wang Lei was taken aback by these words, but the derisive smile on his face soon widened, while the
other disciples began to frown. All of them clearly felt that Zhou Yuan was simply too arrogant.
After all, Zhou Yuan only managed to force Xu Yan into a stalemate because he had underestimated the
former. Moreover, amongst those present here, even Wang Lei was substantially stronger than Xu Yan.
Therefore, such boastful words from Zhou Yuan just went to show how unreasonably arrogant he was.
Zhao Zhu shook his head, before he shot a look at Wang Lei.
An eerie smile appeared on Wang Lei’s face. He took two steps forward, and said in a sinister manner,
“Junior brother Zhou Yuan is young and arrogant. However, as your senior, I do not wish to take
advantage of you.”
“I don’t need you to prove that you can defeat me. As long as you can handle one move from me, I will
acknowledge that you have the qualifications.”
“Of course, if you can’t even handle one attack from me… I’ll advise you not to humiliate yourself!”
The repeated mocking of this individual from Sword Cometh Peak made Zhou Yuan’s eyes narrow in a
dangerous manner. Just as he was about to speak, however, Li Qingchan finally opened her mouth and
said, “Zhou Yuan will accept this challenge.”
She cast her gaze at Zhou Yuan, and gave him a faint nod.
This was already the most advantageous offer Zhou Yuan could get. Li Qingchan was afraid that Zhou
Yuan might refuse it due to his ego, and had thus taken the initiative to accept it on his behalf.
Since Wang Lei wanted to show off, they had to make proper use of this opportunity.
Zhou Yuan smiled helplessly at her words. In reality, he was really itching for a real fight with Wang Lei.
Otherwise, he would be in for an uncomfortable journey if he had to constantly deal with doubts from his
other party members.
2012
However, Li Qingchan did not seem to have much confidence in him, and was afraid that he would end up
backing himself into a corner due to his stubborn pride. As such, she had immediately cut in to prevent
such a scenario.
Zhou Yuan felt rather apologetic to Li Qingchan as she had indeed weathered a tremendous amount of
pressure in order to protect him. Therefore, he chose to remain silent, and did not object to her decision.
Upon seeing this, Wang Lei exchanged a look with Zhao Zhu as a strange smile appeared on his face.
“Junior brother Zhou Yuan’s bravery is commendable. Come on then, let this senior brother give you
some guidance!” Wang Lei stomped his foot as his body flew forward, and landed in an arena outside the
hall.
Zhou Yuan also moved, and quickly appeared on the arena.
Li Qingchan, Zhao Zhu and the rest swarmed out of the hall like fishes, arriving at the entrance where
they watched the two figures that were now facing each other.
The mission hall was usually crowded. Not to mention there were numerous purple sash disciples from
the various peaks gathered here today, waiting to find out who would make the final cut for the Heaven
task. Hence, Zhou Yuan and Wang Lei immediately attracted the attention of the crowd.
The crowd soon found out the reason why Zhou Yuan and Wang Lei were facing each other, and various
shocked voices immediately sounded.
“Zhou Yuan is simply too arrogant. To think that he actually dares to fight senior brother Wang Lei…”
“I heard that it’s only a one move wager.”
“Even if it’s only a single move, I am afraid Zhou Yuan won’t be able to handle it. Senior brother Wang Lei
is quite a bit stronger than Xu Yan, and will definitely go all-out for this one attack. I don’t think that Zhou
Yuan can win.”
“Heh, it’s even better if he can’t. That spot on the team isn’t something that he should even think about for
now.”
“Let this be a lesson for him”
“......”
More and more disciples began to gather at the perimeter of the arena, watching the two individuals in
excitement.
2013
On the stone steps, Li Qingchan gazed at the arena. Beside her, Bai Li’s eyes swept across Zhou Yuan and
Wang Lei, as she softly said, “Though Wang Lei is quite arrogant, he is no fool. He has likely come
prepared for this one move wager he suggested.”
Li Qingchan fell silent for a moment. She was naturally aware of this as well. However, Zhao Zhu’s strong
opposition together with the fact that she had defended Zhou Yuan vehemently, had caused a great deal
of criticism. Therefore, her only hope now was that Zhou Yuan could deliver so that she would have
something to convince the crowd.
“Zhou Yuan is not a rash person either. Since he agreed, he should also be prepared.”
Li Qingchan softly said, “In addition… if he can’t even handle a single attack from Wang Lei...”
“It will be impossible for him to obtain a Heaven Credit even if he does join the mission…”
She stared at the young man in the arena, as she slowly said, “Now show me whether my decision to
defend you is the right one...”
2014
Chapter 397 Great Golden Bell
Numerous figures descended from the sky, gathering around the arena outside the side hall. All of them
were casting peculiar gazes at the two figures facing each other in the arena.
These two individuals were not unfamiliar to everyone. Wang Lei was one of the most veteran purple
sash disciples from Sword Cometh Peak, someone whose fame exceeded even that of Xu Yan. As for Zhou
Yuan, he may only be a newly promoted purple sash disciple, but he had displayed his astonishing
abilities time and time again for the past half a year, leading him to become known as the top disciple of
the newest generation. Consequently, this also made him one of the more famous figures in the sect.
The fight between these two was naturally going to be quite interesting.
Under the attention from the crowd, Wang Lei wore a relaxed expression. He looked at Zhou Yuan with a
carefree grin and said, “Junior brother Zhou Yuan, I know that you are very talented. However, Rome
wasn’t built in a day, and it isn’t wise for you to bite off more than you can chew.”
Zhou Yuan chuckled and replied, “Please go ahead and guide me senior brother Wang Lei.”
Wang Lei shook his head in pity as he said, “I was originally hoping to spare you the humiliation.
However, you insist on doing things the hard way, don’t blame this senior brother for bullying a junior!”
A fierce look flashed across his eyes.
Boom!
In the next instant, majestic Genesis Qi rose from his head like a thousand foot tall column of smoke.
Waves of powerful Genesis Qi pressure quickly spread across the entire area, causing even space itself to
tremble faintly.
Wang Lei instantly revealed the amazing depths of his strong Genesis Qi foundations. He was indeed a
tier above Xu Yan.
The numerous observers around the arena let out low gasps of surprise.
Wang Lei slowly extended his hand. It appeared slightly longer than the norm, and was a little tanned.
One could just barely see a lightning glow on his palm that gave off a powerful and menacing sensation.
Wang Lei lowered his voice and said, “Junior brother Zhou Yuan, since we agreed to settle this in one
attack, I will not be holding back… it may be quite painful for you after receiving my palm strike.”
Zhou Yuan’s eyes narrowed slightly. He placed his hands together, as the Genesis Qi within his body
began to move.
2015
A mocking smile appeared from the corners of Wang Lei’s mouth upon seeing this. Genesis Qi within his
body swiftly began to circulate as Genesis Qi rapidly gathered on his palm. In the end, cackling lightning
bolts began to emerge.
Extremely berserk undulations pulsed from his hand.
The lightning Genesis Qi spread, turning Wang Lei’s entire arm into a lightning sword. The sword tip was
fused with his palm, and looked both sharp and savage.
The ground beneath Wang Lei’s feet also began to crack and crumble.
The expressions of the disciples outside the arena changed slightly at this sight.
“It’s Sword Cometh Peak’s Lightning Sword Palm!”
“It’s said that the Lightning Sword Palm technique is well known for its unyielding and forceful nature in
Sword Cometh Peak. However, though it boasts overwhelming attack power, it consumes a large amount
of Genesis Qi. Even a seventh layer Alpha-Origin practitioner will not be able to use twice in succession.”
“Wang Lei is too cunning. This so-called one move wager… isn’t this obviously making use of the fact that
he will be out of stamina after using the Lightning Sword Palm?”
“It’s a famous ‘All-Out’ technique… either he destroys his opponent in one move, or he loses the battle
because of Genesis Qi depletion.”
“……”
Numerous disciples were talking among themselves. They finally understood why Wang Lei had
proposed this one move wager.
On the steps, the frostiness on Li Qingchan’s face intensified. She turned towards Zhao Zhu and sneered,
“So this was your plan all along.”
She had previously thought that Wang Lei had proposed the one move challenge due to arrogance, and
hopes to use this opportunity to help Zhou Yuan slip through. However, it was now obvious that it was a
trap set by Zhao Zhu and Wang Lei.
Based on Wang Lei’s current plan of attack, any opponent would be finished off in a single move.
With this move, he would either gained an absolute advantage or be forced into a severe disadvantage.
Upon hearing this, Zhao Zhu smiled faintly and said, “Senior sister Li, there is no way the disciples from
Sacred Palace and the other factions will tell us what their battle strategies are going to be.”
2016
Beside Li Qingchan, Bai Li gazed at intimidating Wang Lei, before she shook her head. Zhou Yuan already
had such a tough time against Xu Yan previously. How could he possibly handle such an overwhelming
brute force attack from Wang Lei?
The fight was basically over the moment Wang Lei revealed the Lightning Sword Palm.
Oh well, at least Zhou Yuan would no longer so shamelessly cling onto that spot on the team out of pride
once he lost. In that case, the team would be relieved of a burden.
Boom!
As various thoughts ran through the minds of the crowd, the sound of thunder suddenly boomed across
the arena. Wang Lei let out a hearty laugh, before his figure was sent soaring into the sky with a stomp, as
he looked down upon Zhou Yuan from above.
Lightning flickered on his palm as he slowly lifted it, while his sharp and icy gaze locked onto Zhou Yuan.
“Lightning Sword Palm!”
Wang Lei swung his palm the instant he roared. Thunder boomed loudly in the sky, as a resplendent
lightning glow poured out from his palm.
Pch!
A hundred feet large lightning palm descended from the sky with a boom.
Moreover, it appeared as though sword shadows were lurking within the attack.
Deadly, overwhelming and brutal.
Even before the palm landed, cracks had already begun to grow on the arena below.
In the arena, Zhou Yuan lifted his head. Winds violently whipped up his clothes, causing them to flap
wildly with the wind. He gazed upon the lightning palm whose reflection was rapidly growing in his eyes,
as he took in a deep breath.
“What overwhelming force…”
His eyes widened slightly, but strangely enough, there wasn’t a hint of panic on his face. Instead, only an
eager expression could be seen.
“This is the perfect opportunity to test my Omni Python Qi…”
2017
After advancing to the fourth layer Alpha-Origin stage, his Genesis Qi’s foundation had improved
tremendously. As his Genesis Qi grew stronger, the wonders of his Omni Python Qi gradually began to be
uncovered.
Zhou Yuan slowly put his hands together, and gently shut his eyes. A dazzling radiance immediately
erupted from the 1200 Genesis Qi stars in his Qi Dwelling, transforming into waves of golden Genesis Qi
and flooded his body.
Rumble!
Golden Omni Python Qi charged out from Zhou Yuan’s body and dashed into the sky. The faint silhouette
of a giant python could be seen hissing at the heavens within it. The python was covered in golden scales,
and it flew down from the sky, before coiling itself around Zhou Yuan’s body.
As round after round of the giant python’s body wrapped around Zhou Yuan’s body, it seemed to take the
shape of an enormous golden bell.
The golden bell was simple yet sturdy, like a formidable barrier that was indestructible.
“Omni Python Qi, Mystical Python’s Great Golden Bell!”
A deep voice was slowly spat out from Zhou Yuan’s mouth.
This was the latest defensive Genesis Qi technique he had unlocked due to the growth of the Omni Python
Qi.
Rumble!
The lightning palm arrived the moment the golden bell was completed, ruthlessly smashing into the bell
under the grave stare of the crowd.
Clang!
A loud metallic clang echoed across the area.
Whoosh!
Berserk shockwaves swept outwards, wreaking havoc in the arena. Stone and wood were totally
shattered, as dust filled the air.
The surrounding disciples quickly retreated.
However, their gazes remained fixed on the arena.
2018
In the sky, Wang Lei stood on his Genesis Qi. He looked down at the cloud of dust, feeling pleased at the
destruction he had caused.
“I can’t believe this ignorant brat actually dared to take my attack head-on.” He laughed sinisterly. Zhou
Yuan was most definitely severely injured. As such, it was naturally no longer possible for him to
participate in the Heaven task.
A gentle breeze swept past, blowing away the dust as arena gradually cleared.
Numerous gazes continued to stare.
As the dust retreated, everyone discovered that the entire arena had caved in. Giant cracks extended
everywhere, the extent of the destruction causing several disciples to secretly wet their lips.
The Lightning Sword Palm was indeed one of the most aggressive attacks of Sword Cometh Peak.
“Zhou Yuan has bitten off more than he can chew… even someone as powerful as Xu Yan would be
wounded by Wang Lei’s strike, let alone the likes of Zhou Yuan…”
“I’m afraid Wang Lei planned on seriously injuring Zhou Yuan from the start. By doing so, Zhou Yuan
would become incapable of participating in the Heaven task, and his spot would naturally be forfeited.”
“At the end of the day, he was advancing too fast. He’s merely a newly promoted purple sash disciple, and
a Heaven task is still beyond his reach.”
“…..”
Numerous whispers spread.
It was at this moment that all the dust in the arena finally scattered.
Every gaze looked towards at the center of the collapsed arena.
All the whispers immediately stopped.
In the sky, the smile on Wang Lei’s face slowly turned rigid, as a look of disbelief flowed out on his face.
On the steps, both Li Qingchan and Bai Li gasped in shock.
Even Zhao Zhu’s pupils shrank slightly.
As the dust faded, everyone finally saw the small area at the center of the collapsed arena that was
completely undamaged!
It was at this perfectly fine spot that Zhou Yuan was currently standing.
2019
His eyes were still shut, while the golden bell stood stably around him, appearing sturdy and
indestructible.
Everyone stared at this scene in complete astonishment.
None of them expected that Zhou Yuan would ultimately come out completely unscathed after taking
Wang Lei’s earth-shaking palm attack...
2020
Chapter 398 Spot Secured
The arena was in a sorry state, the ground caved in several feet deep. Huge cracks extended across the
area as if it had been violently torn apart...
However, there was a small area in the middle that was completely undamaged. Zhou Yuan stood on this
tiny patch, not even the smallest injury visible on his body.
Around the arena, everyone was wide-eyed as they stared at this unbelievable sight.
“This…”
Even Li Qingchan and Zhao Zhu were stunned, the outcome completely taking them by surprise.
Bai Li was also a little dazed. A moment later, she looked puzzingly at the golden bell as she muttered,
“What kind of Genesis technique did he use? Why is its defense so terrifying?!”
They were naturally able to see that it was the golden bell that had allowed Zhou Yuan to block Wang
Lei’s dreadful attack. The defensive prowess if that technique was surprisingly terrifying.
“It is indeed a very solid turtle shell.” Zhao Zhu was not looking too good as he said, “However, solely
relying on a defensive technique is no proof of his capabilities.”
Li Qingchan swept a glance at him as a mocking smile appeared on her lips. “Junior brother Zhao Zhu, are
you suggesting that we try a different format?”
Zhao Zhu froze. His expression soon turned a little frosty as he shut his mouth.
He and Wang Lei were the ones who had proposed the one move wager, and it was obvious that they had
been well prepared. And yet, this was how things turned out. If they were to go back on their word now,
he would surely lose face.
Under the many astonished gazes of the crowd, Zhou Yuan gently jerked his body. Golden light surged
around his body as the golden bell began to dissipate, transforming into streams of golden Genesis Qi,
which were sucked back into Zhou Yuan’s body.
“That’s some crazy defensive power!”
Joy flashed in Zhou Yuan’s eyes. He had only been hoping to test out this new move of his earlier, and the
outcome definitely surpassed his expectations.
Zhou Yuan reckoned that this technique had the best defensive properties among his entire repertoire.
2021
It was a pity that it could only be used for defense. In addition, he would need to wait a certain period of
time before he could use it again.
Regardless, with this new technique, Zhou Yuan now had another method to protect himself.
He lifted his head and looked at the dumbstruck Wang Lei. Zhou Yuan’s expression remained completely
unchanged as he said, “Thank you for letting me win senior brother Wang Lei.”
Angry green and white flashed across Wang Lei’s face. A trace of blood rose in his eyes as he gritted his
teeth and said, “I refuse to believe that I cannot break your turtle shell!”
Rumble!
Powerful Genesis Qi erupted once again from his body. However, it was clearly weaker than before due to
using the Lightning Sword Palm.
Zhou Yuan’s eyes narrowed slightly as a dangerous glow flashed within them.
He had already lost his patience with Wang Lei. The one move wager proposed by the bastard had
obviously been a trap. If it wasn’t for his new defensive technique, he would have likely ended up in quite
a sorry state.
In addition, Wang Lei was even refusing to admit defeat at this juncture. If so, Zhou Yuan was ready to
give him the fight he wanted.
“Humph!”
However, just as Zhou Yuan began to circulate his Genesis Qi in preparation for the battle, a cold snort
suddenly sounded. Everyone soon felt the temperature plummet.
In the sky, Wang Lei was horrified to discover that the air around him was beginning to freeze, as a
stream of snow-white Genesis Qi quickly wrapped around him. The white Genesis Qi was so cold that
frost rapidly covered his body, while his limbs were instantly frozen.
Wang Lei turned his head with some difficulty, only to see that Li Qingchan had raised her hand, and was
now staring coldly at him from the steps. The cold snow-white Genesis Qi was surging out from her palm.
“Are all Sword Cometh Peak disciples sore losers?” Li Qingchan’s icy voice sounded.
Several Sword Cometh Peak disciples began to turn red in embarrassment.
Zhao Zhu also had an ugly expression on his face. He naturally knew that Li Qingchan’s words were
directed at him. He immediately waved his sleeve as Genesis Qi swept forth like a rainbow, rescuing the
trapped Wang Lei, before tossing him to the side.
2022
Zhao Zhu said in a low voice, “Wang Lei, you should stop bothering him since you’ve already lost.”
The expression on Wang Lei’s face was ugly, feeling extremely humiliated. He was after all stronger than
Xu Yan, whom Zhou Yuan had struggled so miserably against. Therefore, Wang Lei had naturally believed
Zhou Yuan to be easy pickings for someone like himself.
Who could have expected Zhou Yuan to grow so rapidly in less than a month. Furthermore, he had even
mastered such a powerful defensive technique.
It was a technique he clearly didn’t have when he fought with Xu Yan.
Around the arena, several disciples were staring in amazement at Zhou Yuan. Many of them had likewise
realized that Zhou Yuan was now even stronger than when he had fought Xu Yan.
On the steps, Li Qingchan looked towards Zhao Zhu as she indifferently said, “Since Wang Lei has lost,
does Zhou Yuan now possess the qualifications?”
Zhao Zhu’s arms were wrapped around his sword. His eyelids lowered slightly as he replied, “If senior
sister Li is determined to bring him along, we naturally have no objections. However, let me give you a
piece of advice. Just because he has this new turtle shell doesn’t mean that he will not become a burden.”
“If the mission fails because of Zhou Yuan, I will readily accept my punishment. There is no need for you
to worry.” Li Qingchan’s tone was pure ice.
After she spoke, she took a step forward as her eyes swept across the crowd, before her cold voice echoed
across the arena, “After our latest discussion, we have agreed that Zhou Yuan will be the final member for
the Heaven task. Do any of you have any objections?”
The ones gathered here were mostly the purple sash disciples from the various peaks. Moreover, they
were here because of the contentious spot held by Zhou Yuan.
However, Zhou Yuan had already revealed some of his strength in the duel with Wang Lei. At the very
least, most of the disciples here had no confidence in breaking his turtle shell defense.
This made them understand that Zhou Yuan was much stronger than when he had fought Xu Yan.
With Li Qingchan’s backing added into the mix, it seemed like there was no longer any way Zhou Yuan
would lose his spot now.
After coming to this conclusion, the numerous disciples looked at one another, before they sighed in
disappointment...
No one responded to Li Qingchan’s question.
2023
Upon seeing this, she nodded and calmly said, “In that case, I shall officially announce that all the spots for
the Heaven task have been filled.”
The other disciples on the plaza could only shake their heads, before scattering one after another.
Zhao Zhu and gang were not looking too good. They did not linger any further, and quickly turned to
leave.
Li Qingchan paid no heed to them. She walked down the steps, arrived in front of Zhou Yuan and said,
“Well done. You didn’t let me down.”
Beside Li Qingchan, Bai Li stared inquisitively at Zhou Yuan as she clenched her tiny fists and said, “Your
turtle shell is really tough. May I try punching it a few times?”
Zhou Yuan grinned as he looked at her. Though this girl looked skinny and frail, she was a member of
Hongya Peak, a faction renowned for their external tempering. A single punch from here was likely going
to be much more terrifying than Wang Lei’s previous attack...
As such, he chose not to reply. Instead, he looked at Li Qingchan and cupped his fists together, “Thank you
senior sister for all that you have done.”
If it wasn’t for Li Qingchan’s unwavering support, there was no way he would have any hopes of joining
this Heaven task. After all, Zhao Zhu was truly out to get him.
Li Qingchan glanced at him and said, “We will be setting off to Black Flame Province tomorrow. You
should make your preparations.”
“In addition, don’t let it get to your head just because you have mastered a powerful defensive Genesis
technique. Though I do not expect much from you in this mission, I hope that you will not be a burden to
the team.”
After speaking, she turned with a swish of her black hair and walked away, leaving Zhou Yuan to stare at
her alluring figure.
Zhou Yuan admired the beautiful scene as he shrugged.
“This senior sister is really like an ice mountain…”
He soon chuckled, as a look of excitement and eagerness appeared in his eyes.
“A Heaven task… I am kind of looking forward to it.”
2024
The next day.
Outside a certain cave dwelling.
Zhou Yuan was all dressed up and ready to go. Yaoyao carried Tuntun in her arms as she looked at him
and said, “I initially wanted Tuntun to go with you. However, it lost a great deal of essence blood to help
you suppress the Dragon’s Resentment Poison, and is currently still recuperating.”
“Therefore, you are on your own for this trip.”
Tuntun snorted from Yaoyao’s arms, a hint of resentment still present in its bright and beady eyes when
they swept across Zhou Yuan. Helping Zhou Yuan to suppress the Dragon’s Resentment Poison had really
taken quite a toll on it.
Zhou Yuan paid no heed to the creature’s gaze as he smiled and said, “Relax, my many years of travelling
has made me fairly experienced.”
Yaoyao’s red lips curled slightly downwards, clearly skeptical about how experienced he was.
“The Dragon’s Resentment Poison in your body erupted recently, so don’t use this type of self-destructive
method again in the future.” Yaoyao warned him.
Zhou Yuan solemnly nodded at her words. He clearly understood the dire consequences he would face
when the Dragon’s Resentment Poison in his body erupts. Furthermore, Yaoyao would not be tagging
along for this trip, so he would likely lose his life should the Dragon’s Resentment Poison erupt again.
Fortunately, his strength had increased after advancing to fourth layer Alpha-Origin stage, while he also
had more options to protect himself.
“Besides…”
Yaoayo paused for a moment, as her clear eyes swept a glance at Zhou Yuan. “You obtained your spot
because I put down my pride and asked Li Qingchan to help you. Therefore, you had best not embarrass
me.”
“Otherwise…”
Even though she did not complete the sentence, the implied threat behind her words was obvious.
Zhou Yuan shivered as he quickly nodded with a forced smile.
2025
Yaoyao’s red lips parted slightly again as she said, “Go then. I will keep an eye out for the materials
needed for the Great Dragon Subduing Rune here, while you can also try to search for them on the
outside.”
The Great Dragon Subduing Rune was capable of genuinely suppressing the Dragon’s Resentment Poison,
and even allow one to make use of it. However, the necessary materials were extremely hard to find, and
would definitely take a great deal of effort to gather.
When Zhou Yuan heard her words, a warm sensation flowed through his heart. Yaoyao had always
maintained a certain distance with others, but after spending all these years together, it was clear that
she was slowly starting to regard him as her closest kin.
Zhou Yuan looked at her other-wordly beautiful face and softly said, “Big sis Yaoyao… don’t worry. Once I
become really powerful, I will definitely help you to look for master. No matter who tries to hurt you in
the future, I will always be standing right beside you.”
Yaoyao was stunned. The usual uncaring indifference in the depths of her eyes seemed to thaw a little for
a moment. Her eyelids quickly lowered as she said, “The likes of you? You still have a long way to go.”
Zhou Yuan’s face turned slightly red as he said in an embarrassing manner, “You have to give me some
time.”
The corners of Yaoyao’s red lips lifted a little. She looked at that slim young man in front of her and said,
“You still have to deal with the troublesome Great Wu Empire too.”
Zhou Yuan felt a little resentment at Yaoyao’s teasing and tried to put up a front as he said, “Just wait and
see!”
He turned around to leave. As Golden Genesis Qi rose from beneath his feet, he paused for a moment,
turning his head to look at Yaoyao as he solemnly declared, “However, I will definitely deliver on my
promises.”
Without further ado, golden Genesis Qi lifted him up into the sky.
Years ago, Zhou Yuan had met Cang Yuan and Yaoyao in the ancestral land of his clan where Cang Yuan
had tasked him to take care of Yaoyao.
However, no one knew better than himself who was being taken care of for the past few years...
If Yaoyao wasn’t by his side, Zhou Yuan didn’t know if he would have reached the same heights he had
today. Therefore, he felt extremely grateful towards her deep inside his heart.
He owed her too much, but his current self lacked the ability to repay her.
2026
Nonetheless, he firmly believed that once he possessed sufficient power in the future, he would stand in
front of her without a second thought, no matter how powerful her enemies were.
Yaoyao stood at the entrance of the cave dwelling with Tuntun in her arms, her hair dancing with the
wind under the glow of the morning sun. Her slim figure had all the right curves, like a perfectly sculpted
goddess. As she watched Zhou Yuan depart, a faint smile and a complicated look flashed across her
usually uncaring eyes.
She had personally witnessed every step of his journey. From how this once feeble boy had slowly made
his way out of the tiny Great Zhou Empire, till now, where he had already established a place for himself
in a sect that was an overlord like existence even in the entire Cangxuan Heaven.
She knew that there was something special about this young man. If not, grandpa Hei wouldn’t have
chosen him all those years ago...
In the future, this young man who came from a small empire would reach astonishing heights that
everyone would marvel at.
However, she had a certain premonition for some unknown reason.
When that point in the future came, she would not want to implicate Zhou Yuan.
...
Outside the Cangxuan sect.
Zhou Yuan descended from the sky on his golden Genesis Qi, landing on a certain mountain peak, where
nine individuals were already waiting. The one at their head was also the most eye-catching person of the
group.
It was naturally the famous ice-queen, Li Qingchan.
She was still dressed in white today, and gave off an icy aura that would keep everyone else a thousand
miles away. However, her indifference was somewhat different from Yaoyao’s. Yaoyao gave off a feeling
that had no interest in anything at all, while Li Qingchan had cultivated her aura to help her to avoid
certain problems.
Behind Li Qingchan, stood Zhao Zhu with his distinctive long and narrow eyes, a sharp aura spreading
from his body. He lifted his head, sweeping a casual glance at Zhou Yuan, before turning away.
Though Zhao Zhu didn’t say a word, the young man standing behind him called Qin Hai, revealed a fake
smile and said, “Junior brother Zhou Yuan, although you’re not going to be of much help for this mission,
isn’t it a little too much of you to have kept all of your senior brothers and sisters waiting?”
2027
Including Zhao Zhu, there were four Sword Cometh Peak disciples participating in the mission, and Qin
Hai was one of them.
Beside Qin Hai stood a female disciple from Sword Cometh Peak. She had quite a lovely face, though there
was an unconcealable haughtiness between her brows. She glanced at Zhou Yuan, a skin-deep smile on
her face as she said, “After yesterday’s event, every disciple in our sect now knows of junior brother Zhou
Yuan turtle shell like Genesis technique. He will naturally have no issue keeping himself safe.”
It was clear that the Sword Cometh Peak disciples were not fond of Zhou Yuan at all, their words filled
with hidden insults.
Zhao Zhu showed no signs of stopping them, merely narrowing his eyes, while acting as if he hadn’t heard
anything. This was clearly condoning their behaviour.
Zhou Yuan frowned a little. Before he could speak, however, Li Qingchan cast her icy gaze at the Sword
Cometh Peak disciples and said, “Since we’re on this mission together, all of us are teammates. If anyone
tries anything funny, don’t blame me for showing no mercy.”
Only upon seeing the angered Li Qingchan did Qin Hai and the rest finally shut their mouths in
embarrassment.
Li Qingchan let out an icy snort, before she waved her hands. A surge of light shot out from her palm, and
rapidly grew against the wind. In less than a second, it had transformed into a several feet wide flying
yacht.
Numerous Genesis Runes were carved on the body of the yacht, making it appear quite beautiful when
paired together with its sleek, streamline shape.
“The Black Flame Province is quite some distance from our Cangxuan sect. Therefore, we have to fly over
on a Genesis artifact. Given the speed of this ‘Willow Leaf Yacht’, we should be able to reach our
destination in ten days.”
“Everyone, let’s board the ship.”
As her voice rang out, Bai Li and the rest quickly launched themselves into the air and landed on that
spacious flying yacht. After sending a lazy glance at Zhou Yuan, Zhao Zhu also led the others onboard.
Li Qingchan walked to Zhou Yuan’s side and said, “For this trip, you only need to speak and do as little as
possible. If we run into a powerful foe, leave it to the rest of us.”
Even though Zhou Yuan’s defensive Genesis technique had wowed the crowd the day before, in the eyes
of Li Qingchan and the rest, it was more of a passive or reactive technique. It only meant that Zhou Yuan
had some way of protecting himself during the mission.
After she spoke, she too leapt onto the flying yacht.
2028
Zhou Yuan shrugged helplessly. Though he had showed some of his strength yesterday, it seemed that it
was still not enough. It was all because of Wang Lei. Why did he have to suggest that one move challenge,
why couldn’t he have proposed a proper duel instead...
Coward.
Zhou Yuan secretly swore, before he jumped onto the flying yacht and found a seat.
Next, Genesis Qi light converged towards the flying yacht. In the next instant, the flying yacht transformed
into a rainbow like streak as it ripped through the sky, and disappeared into the horizon in few breaths.
2029
Chapter 400 Yaoyao Takes A Trip
Inside a certain cave dwelling.
Yaoyao had tied up her long hair with a piece of green cloth while she tended to the plants that she had
personally planted in the garden. After a long while, she finally gently dabbed away the dirt and
perspiration on her face, before rising to her feet.
Meanwhile, Tuntun was lazily lying on it stomach outside the garden.
After Zhou Yuan’s departure, the cave dwelling appeared exceptionally desolate and empty.
Yaoyao felt as if something was missing as she gazed at the empty cave. Zhou Yuan should currently still
be on his way to the Black Flame Province, right?
She fell into a moment of silence. After which, she walked out of the garden, picked up Tuntun, and left
the cave to head for the mission hall.
In the past few days since Zhou Yuan left, Yaoyao would occasionally pay a visit to the mission hall. This
was because she could find information on rare Genesis resources through the various mission
objectives, and was hoping she would find the necessary items to help Zhou Yuan draw the Great Dragon
Subduing Rune.
The large hall on the peak of a mountain was bustling with activity.
When Yaoyao walked in, she immediately felt the many astonished and awestruck gazes that were trying
to catch a peek of her without anyone noticing. Yaoyao was already extremely well-known in the
Cangxuan sect. Both her looks and ability had made her very famous. In fact, she was nearly catching up
in popularity to the number one beauty Li Qingchan in the short span of less than half a year…
However, Yaoyao ignored the gazes. They mattered so little to her that not even the tiniest ripple
appeared in her eyes as she quickly walked towards the center of the large hall, where an enormous
Genesis Qi mirror towered.
From time to time, scrolls of different colors would appear in the mirror.
Those were the newly released tasks and missions.
The tasks in Cangxuan sect were split into three levels, Heaven, Earth and Human.
A Heaven task was marked by gold, and was the rarest of the three.
An Earth task was silver, while a Human task was green...
2030
Most of the tasks in the mirror were green, with only one or two silver scrolls popping up occasionally.
Each time this occurred, it would cause quite a commotion as several disciples fought over the Earth
tasks.
Yaoyao did not accept any of these tasks. Instead, she observed the information on the scrolls, which
mainly composed of a simple explanation of the mission and the rewards.
She studied them for quite some time, before ultimately shaking her head. It seems that there was
nothing useful again today.
As such, she turned around to leave.
Boom!
The instant she turned her body, however, a loud explosion suddenly was suddenly heard in the hall. The
numerous disciples present stared at the giant mirror with burning desire as whispers rapidly spread.
Yaoyao was similarly taken aback. She lifted her face and looked at the Genesis Qi mirror.
She quickly realized that a golden scroll had appeared.
“A Heaven task?” Yaoyao was shocked. She never expected another Heaven task to pop up so quickly after
Zhou Yuan and his team left.
Yaoyao decided to take a closer look.
“Latest update to the sect, ancient ruins were discovered in an uncharted area of the western region of
Shengzhou Continent. Currently short-handed, and am making a special request to the sect for backup.”
“Two spots, must be at the Chosen level.”
Note, found what seems to be a dragon-type Genesis beast skeleton being suppressed by a strange plant
in the ruins.
“Wow, can’t believe another Heaven task has appeared.”
“What a pity, you have to be at the Chosen level in order to take this mission. It seems like it’s not going to
be an easy task…”
“If it were easy, it wouldn’t be called a Heaven task.”
Yaoyao ignored the numerous voices that entered her ears. Instead, she stared at the final sentence.
“Suspected to be a dragon-type Genesis beast skeleton… being suppressed by a strange plant?” Yaoyao
mumbled to herself. Her eyes soon brightened slightly. “Could it be… a Dragon Suppressing Wood?”
2031
This Dragon Suppressing Wood was one of the items required to draw the Great Dragon Subduing Rune.
Yaoyao quickly walked forward, arriving beneath the Genesis Qi mirror where an administrator was
stationed. She looked directly at the latter and pointed at the Heaven task. “Only Chosen level disciples
can take on the mission?”
That administrator glanced at her and nodded.
“Can I take it?” Asked Yaoyao.
That administrator was stunned. He obviously knew who Yaoyao was. As such, after a brief moment of
hesitation, his lips gently a little, appearing as if he was asking the elder that was currently on duty in the
mission hall.
Yaoyao waited patiently upon seeing this.
Quite some time later, the administrator finally stopped moving his lips, and nodded at Yaoyao. “After our
evaluation, though you are not one of the Chosens, the sect believes that you possess strength that is
comparable to them. Therefore, you have the qualifications to accept this mission.”
Yaoyao had displayed her prowess on Spirit Rune Peak, where she had basically subdued all the Spirit
Rune Peak disciples alone. Her strength was naturally unquestionable.
Yaoyao gave a faint nod before she said, “I will take this task.”
“You will have to set off tomorrow. Therefore, please be at the departure peak tomorrow morning.” Said
the administrator.
Yaoyao nodded. Without further ado, she turned and left, ignoring the commotion that she stirred in the
hall.
Morning on the next day.
Yaoyao carried Tuntun and arrived at the departure peak.
When she arrived, she realized that there was already someone waiting on the peak. The figure turned
around, revealing a familiar face appeared.
It was Ye Ge from Spirit Rune Peak.
He was wearing his daoist robes and a dazzling smile on his face. Together with his tall and slim figure, he
did look quite dashing.
2032
In reality, Ye Ge was a good catch in both looks and personality, his resplendent smile easily charming
anyone who saw it. In fact, he was quite popular in the Cangxuan sect, especially with certain female
disciples.
However, Yaoyao’s eyes narrowed in a dangerous manner when she saw him.
“You took the mission too?” Asked Yaoyao in a slightly hostile tone.
When Ye Ge heard the hostility in Yaoyao’s voice, he quickly explained, “Junior sister Yaoyao, most of the
Chosens are either out on missions or in secluded cultivation. I was forced to join in order to make up the
numbers!”
The truth was that he had also been in secluded cultivation recently. However, when he suddenly
received news that Yaoyao was going to take part into a Heaven task yesterday, he abruptly ended his
training session, an act that greatly infuriated sect master Bai Mei.
Yaoyao was expressionless.
“Don’t waste your time on me.” Yaoyao’s voice was cold. Someone as intelligent as herself naturally knew
what Ye Ge was up to.
Ye Ge sighed miserably. Soon after, he could not help but ask, “I shouldn’t be worse than Zhou Yuan,
right?”
There were still no emotions on Yaoyao’s beautiful face.
“*Sigh*. So many junior sisters have fallen for me before, but I chose to ignore all of them. I never
expected that I would be on the receiving end one day. This truly is retribution.” When Ye Ge saw this
situation, the miserable expression on his dashing face grew even more bitter as he looked towards the
sky and sighed deeply.
Yaoyao was silent for a while, before she said, “If you don’t want to die during the mission, I suggest that
you talk less.”
Ye Ge cast a resentful gaze at her. He decided not to joke any longer, and spoke with a solemn expression,
“However, I am afraid that this is going to be a very challenging task, and both you and I must be extra
careful.”
Since they were finally discussing formal business, Yaoyao lifted her gaze and asked, “Oh?”
Ye Ge spirits were immediately lifted at this sight. With a look of mystery, he asked, “Do you know who
issued this mission?”
“Who?” Yaoyao’s tone was filled with nonchalance.
2033
“That fellow usually never shares any benefits. Suddenly asking the sect for help this time clearly means
that he has ran into some problems… however, things he would find problematic are definitely not
normal.” Ye Ge chuckled, before he continued, “Can junior sister Yaoyao guess who he is?”
Yaoyao was silent for a moment, before her red lips opened slightly as she spat out two words.
“Chu Qing.”
She had never expected that this task to be issued by the number one Chosen.
Looks like it was indeed going to be quite a challenge.
However, the Dragon Suppressing Wood is one of the key items needed to draw the Great Dragon
Suppressing Rune. Therefore, she needed to go even if it was going to be difficult...
2034
Chapter 401 An Old Acquaintance
Black Flame Province was situated in the southeastern region of the Shengzhou Continent. This region
was extremely vast, its mass nearly equal to half of ordinary continents. From this, one could see just how
immense the Shengzhou Continent was.
It was no wonder that Shengzhou Continent was said to hold sixty percent of Cangxuan Heaven’s
blessings. Just its colossal size alone was something that other continents would never be able to match.
Hence, nearly ten days had passed by the time Zhou Yuan and the team arrived at the Black Flame
Province...
A streak of light shot past in the endless sky. Within it was a sleek flying yacht. Numerous Genesis Runes
flickered on the yacht, gathering light as it sped even faster into the horizon.
In one of the cabins, Zhou Yuan’s eyes were tightly shut, while pieces of ancient wood hovered in front of
him. Yimu Qi spread from the ancient wood pieces, before being completely absorbed by him.
Even while travelling, he was clearly making full use of his time by absorbing Yimu Qi to perfect the Taiyi
mark in his body.
A long while later, he opened his eyes as the many ancient wood pieces hovering before him turned to
dust. Dark green light faintly flashed past on the surface of his body before quickly receding.
Zhou Yuan nodded as he felt the tiny bit of progress he had made on the Taiyi mark. Mastering the Taiyi
mark could not be done in a day, and he had to take things step by step.
Most importantly, he did not have many century old ancient wood left.
“Everyone, we’re about to reach the Black Flame Mountain Range.” At this moment, Li Qingchan’s
indifferent voice sounded from outside.
Zhou Yuan left the room, only to find that everyone was already gathered outside. He lifted his head and
peered into the distance, seeing a black mountain range appear at the end of the horizon.
An irritable heat emerged, as if they were approaching a mountain of fire.
“We’ll be lodging at the Black Flame City outside the Black Flame Mountain Range where all the teams
from the other factions will also be staying. Besides this, the sect has also dispatched an elder to oversee
the situation and communicate with the higher ups from the other factions.”
Li Qingchan looked towards the group and said, “We’ll first meet up with the elder in Black Flame City to
get a grasp of the current situation.”
2035
Everyone naturally had no objections and nodded in acknowledgement.
Li Qingchan said nothing else when she saw this. The yacht suddenly sped up, quickly approaching the
Black Flame Mountain Range, as the silhouette of an enormous city appeared in the distance.
This city appeared to be a beehive of activity, glowing figures endlessly pouring into it from all directions.
“Due to the volcanic eruption, the Black Flame Province has become extremely busy recently, and
numerous unaffiliated practitioners have come here to try their luck.” Li Qingchan kept the flying yacht as
she spoke, before the group proceeded to land in the city.
Black Flame City was was a bustling place. Its wide, spacious streets were well connected, allowing the
giant crowds to easily pass through, while also populated by all kinds of shops and stalls.
Li Qingchan did not linger in this area, leading the team towards the heart of the city instead, where a
lavish and impressive looking building towered. There was even a wooden sign at the entrance that read
‘No one below the Alpha-Origin stage may enter’.
Zhou Yuan was somewhat speechless when he saw these words. Such discrimination tsk...
“This place is currently the lodging area for the various powerful factions. If you lack strength, you’ll only
be asking for trouble by entering.” Li Qingchan glanced at him before leading the way into the building.
Zhou Yuan and the rest hurriedly followed. The interior of the building was extremely spacious, though it
was currently nearly bursting at the seams with people, making the insides quite a racket indeed.
However, one could tell that every individual inside gave off powerful Genesis Qi undulations, a clear sign
of their strength.
When the group stepped into the building, the originally noisy place immediately turned silent for an
instant due to Li Qingchan’s beauty and presence as numerous gazes looked towards her.
However, these gazes immediately shrank back when they saw the Cangxuan Sect badges hanging from
the waists of Zhou Yuan and the rest, no longer daring to look so wantonly. Likewise, the ones who had
been about to hit on Li Qingchan quickly swallowed the words at the tip of their tongues. Everyone had
obviously realized the identity of this group.
As one of the overlord sects of Cangxuan Heaven, it was obvious that almost no one dared to provoke
them.
Li Qingchan’s beautiful face remained frosty, completely ignoring the gazes as she proceeded to walk up
the stairs.
“Tch, isn’t this the number one beauty of the Cangxuan Sect, Li Qingchan? I can’t believe the sect sent you
this time.” While they were walking up, a teasing girl’s voice was suddenly heard.
2036
Li Qingchan’s slightly icy gaze followed the voice, before her eyes widened a little.
A group was gathered on one of the higher floors. Seated at the center was an extremely beautiful girl
wearing a flowery long skirt, who was currently looking at them with a wide grin.
Most of the individuals around her were also girls, each one a beauty in their own right. As such,
countless wolf-like gazes from the entire building would covertly glance at the group, though not a single
soul dared to disturb them.
Because all of these girls were from the Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace.
The girl in a flowery long skirt was called Feng Ying, and was a Chosen of the Hundred Flowers Fairy
Palace.
“Feng Ying? To think that Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace dispatched you this time.” Li Qingchan’s tone
was a little surprised as she gazed at the lovely girl. They were acquaintances of sorts, having met several
times while on missions for their respective sects.
“Will you do me the honor of gracing us with your presence?” Feng Ying seemed to smile.
Li Qingchan did not hesitate as she walked over.
“Hehe, it’s brother Zhao Zhu. It’s been a long time since we last met…” As they approached, Feng Ying’s
eyes swept behind Li Qingchan, letting out a laugh as she spotted Zhao Zhu.
Zhao Zhu smiled faintly and said, “Senior sister Feng Ying has become more and more beautiful.”
Feng Ying responded with a cheery smile. “How can I call myself pretty with the number beauty of your
Cangxuan Sect present?”
While they were conversing, the gazes of Qin Hai and the rest swept towards the rest of the girls, before
they could not help but stare at a certain beautiful individual amongst the pretty flowers.
Among the pretty female disciples of Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace was a young lady wearing a black
dress. Her skin was fair as jade, while her facial features were extremely pretty. In fact, she did not lose to
Li Qingchan at all.
The young lady’s most unforgettable trait were her limpid peach blossom like eyes that gave her a
flirtatious look. This girl was definitely an extraordinary beauty.
An alluring aura such as hers was definitely held an almost fatal attraction to any guy. Hence, before Li
Qingchan’s arrival, the majority of gazes in the entire building had likely been gathered on this girl.
2037
The gazes of Qin Hai and the rest had been drawn by this girl. However, they quickly realized that there
were already several males crowding around her. Each one had quite a presence, while a smiling young
man in white robes appeared the most impressive amongst them.
The young man was quite handsome, while a kind smile hung from his lips. However, the eyes of Qin Hai
and the rest widened slightly when they caught sight of the badge handing at this waist.
It was the badge of Sacred Palace.
Li Qingchan stared at the young man in white robes and indifferently said, “I did not expect that there will
be someone from Sacred Palace here.”
The youth chuckled softly as he cupped his fists together. “Sacred Palace, Yang Xuan.”
“Hehe, as a Chosen, senior sister Li Qingchan can look for our Sacred Palace’s senior brother Wang Chi or
Cao Jin if there are any problems. I’m merely a nameless nobody that shouldn’t take senior sister Li
Qingchan’s attention.”
After politely finishing his greeting, his gaze turned back to the young lady in black as he tried to converse
with her again. He was evidently not the least bit intimidated by the presence of the two Cangxuan Sect
Chosens.
The girl in black wore a polite smile on her gorgeous face from start to end, seemingly friendly yet also
giving others the impression that she wanted to maintain a little distance.
Feng Ying shrugged at Li Qingchan and said, “Although junior brother Yang Xuan is not a Chosen, he is
quite famous in the Sacred Palace. However, I did not invite him. He’s here for this little junior sister of
ours.”
Li Qingchan also glanced at the girl in black. That sweetly enchanting presence made even someone like
herself unable to resist taking a second look.
The young lady in black lifted her face slightly, her limpid gaze looking towards the Cangxuan Sect group,
jumping from person to person, before suddenly being slightly taken aback when she saw Zhou Yuan
standing at the back of the group.
Her eyes brightened slightly.
Zhou Yuan chuckled. He was also rather surprised to see that the girl in black was an old acquaintance,
Zuoqiu Qingyu.
Back then, she and Luluo had joined the Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace together. He had not anticipated
that they would meet again here.
2038
Since they were considered quite close friends, Zhou Yuan smiled as he lifted his hand and waved at
Zuoqiu Qingyu.
His actions were naturally noticed by the crowd. Qin Hai and the rest were focusing on Zuoqiu Qingyu
since the beginning, causing them to immediately frown upon seeing Zhou Yuan’s directness.
Do you really believe that you’re so charming? Can’t you see that the kid from Sacred Palace has been
trying to chat with her for so long, but she still keeps a polite distance?
Li Qingchan and Feng Ying also glanced at Zhou Yuan.
Feng Ying playfully said, “This junior brother if yours is quite interesting.”
She was clearly under the impression that Zhou Yuan was just another smitten male that was trying to
grab Zuoqiu Qingyu’s attention.
Li Qingchan’s expression was not looking too good as she glared at Zhou Yuan. He really wasn’t afraid of
shaming himself in such a crowded place.
Zuoqiu Qingyu naturally saw Zhou Yuan’s wave. However, she did not respond in kind, merely sweeping
an indifferent glance at him, before withdrawing her eyes.
Zhou Yuan’s hand froze, feeling a little awkward.
Qin Hai and the rest could not help but secretly laugh inside.
Zhou Yuan resentfully rubbed his nose.
*Giggle*
It was at this moment, however, that the unenthusiastic looking Zuoqiu Qingyu suddenly giggled. She
turned back and looked at Zhou Yuan as she placed a hand on her cheek. The lively smiling appearance
she displayed was extremely enchanting.
Her eyes turned into crescent moons as she smiled like a sly little fox and said, “Hai, long time no see
Zhou Yuan…”
The sight of the lively and charming smile on Zuoqiu Qingyu’s face stunned Feng Ying and Li Qingchan.
As fellow girls, how could they possibly be unable to tell that Zuoqiu Qingyu’s current smile was no
longer the same civil smile from before, but one of sincere happiness from the depths of her heart.
Thus, the expressions of Qin Hai and the rest turned a little rigid.
2039
The gentle smile on Yang Xuan’s lips also receded slightly, an unreadable look in his eyes as he stared at
Zhou Yuan...
After suddenly becoming the focus of everyone’s attention, the corners of Zhou Yuan’s lips twitched
slightly as he looked at Zuoqiu Qingyu’s crafty fox like smile. Even a fool would know that he had just
been played by Zuoqiu Qingyu...
This little enchantress was still as frustratingly annoying as before.
2040
Chapter 402 Meeting Qingyu Again
No one in the noisy building had taken much notice of Zhou Yuan, but after Zuoqiu Qingyu looked at him
with smiling eyes, he immediately became the focal point of the entire place, as numerous gazes shot
towards him.
“You two know each other?” Feng Ying was also rather surprised, and soon began to size Zhou Yuan up.
She had previously thought Zhou Yuan to be the same as those fellows surrounding Zuoqiu Qingyi, men
hoping to win the favor of this beauty. However, Zuoqiu Qingyu’s response clearly showed that the two of
them were actually quite close.
Zuoqiu Qingyu’s sharp chin nodded as she grinned. “Senior sister Feng Ying, Zhou Yuan and I are from the
same continent, and he was the most outstanding one amongst our generation back then. In fact, even
Luluo and I couldn’t match up to him.”
Feng Ying gazed at the smile on Zuoqiu Qingyu’s face, before she turned back to Zhou Yuan with interest
and said, “Though your Cangmang Continent is small, it seems to produce many talents.”
Zuoqiu Qingyu and Luluo were extremely outstanding saplings amongst the newest batch of Hundred
Flowers Fairy Palace disciples, and even the numerous elders of the palace had nothing but praise for
these two girls, who were both from the remote Cangmang Continent.
She never imagined that Zhou Yuan was also from the same continent.
“Hehe, I’ve heard of the Cangmang Continent… however, distinguishing oneself at that level is quite
meaningless. At the end of the day, what comes later is more important.”
“There are many who manage to pull off a brilliant performance for a time, but eventually fade into
mediocrity.”
“Junior sister Qingyu is very talented, and will surely become one of the most famous individuals amongst
our Shengzhou Continent’s younger generation in the future. There’s no need for you to be so humble.”
The group of young man around Zuoqiu Qingyu were the geniuses from the top factions of Black Flame
Province, and commanded extremely high status locally.
They had been amazed the moment they saw Zuoqiu Qingyu earlier, and quickly crowded over like bees
to a flower.
However, no matter how they tried to make conversation, Zuoqiu Qingyu had always responded with the
same polite smile, keeping a certain distance. This made them feel rather defeated, yet also spurred them
on.
2041
However, the lively smile she displayed when she saw Zhou Yuan made them feel uncomfortable inside.
As such, they began to speak out one after another, their words aiming to belittle Zhou Yuan.
Though the Cangxuan Sect was an overlord existence that their own factions could never hope to
compare to, the youngsters present were not ordinary disciples in their respective factions. Hence, there
was no reason for them to be overly fearful of a normal Cangxuan Sect disciple like Zhou Yuan. He was
after all only a disciple, and not a Chosen like Li Qingchan and the rest.
Zuoqiu Qingyu maintained her smile when she heard their remarks, but a look of annoyance flitted across
the depths of her eyes. These flies were really loathsome.
As for Yang Xuan, he did not join in to demean Zhou Yuan. His expression remained friendly like before,
because he did not think Zhou Yuan was any threat at all.
Zhou Yuan merely smiled at these words, displaying no anger because of them.
It was Li Qingchan instead whose icy glaze swept over. She looked at the ones who had spoken and
indifferently said, “It’s only been half a year since Zhou Yuan has joined the Cangxuan Sect, and he’s
already our youngest purple sash disciple. In fact, he may even become a Chosen in the future. With such
talent, there is naturally no need for anyone to doubt him.”
Although Li Qingchan had some opinions about Zhou Yuan due to his relationship with Yaoyao, the
former felt that none of the geniuses from the various factions present could match up to his performance
Upon hearing Li Qingchan’s words, the young men’s laughter came to an abrupt halt. They looked
towards Zhou Yuan in bewilderment, obviously unable to imagine how this unremarkable looking fellow
could possibly be so capable.
Zuoqiu Qingyu also curiously looked at Zhou Yuan with a smile on her red lips. As expected, even in a
place like the Cangxuan Sect, he was not going to live a peaceful and ordinary life.
It now Yang Xuan’s turn to react. He raised his brows slightly, as the unreadable look in his eyes seemed
to grow a little deeper.
Zhou Yuan looked towards Li Qingchan in astonishment, clearly not expecting her to speak up for him
since she had always treated him rather coldly.
Though he was surprised, the truth was that he did not really mind the views of these unimportant
people.
Feng Ying covered her mouth and softly chuckled. “Looks like I’m not wrong. The Cangmang Continent
has indeed been producing quite a few talented individuals recently.”
Li Qingchan say anything else on the topic. After a brief chat, she decided to leave.
2042
“There will be a fair happening here tonight. If you have nothing else to do, you should come and take a
look.” Said Feng Ying with a smile. She seemed to be on a holiday instead of a mission.
Li Qingchan offhandedly nodded before turning to leave.
Zhou Yuan exchanged a look with Zuoqiu Qingyu, faintly nodding before he turned to catch up to Li
Qingchan.
As they left, a Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace disciple beside Zuoqiu Qingyu looked towards Feng Ying and
asked, “Senior sister Feng Ying, was Li Qingchan really telling the truth earlier? The one called Zhou Yuan
does not seem that strong.”
Feng Ying fell silent for a moment, glancing at Zuoqiu Qingyu who was also looking over, before she
answered, “From what I can tell, Zhou Yuan is at most a fourth layer Alpha-Origin practitioner.”
Upon hearing these words, the other pretty female disciples began to laugh. With the exception of new
disciple Zuoqiu Qingyu, everyone else was at the very least the sixth layer. Zhou Yuan’s fourth layer was
truly a little low to them.
The geniuses from the local Black Flame Province factions also smiled when they heard this, shaking their
heads as they secretly breathed a sigh of relief inside. They had been under the impression that Zhou
Yuan was quite capable. Turns out that he was merely at the fourth layer Alpha-Origin stage...
With such strength, he would pose no threat to them, even if he was from the Cangxuan Sect.
Zuoqiu Qingyu was the only one whose expression remained unchanged. She clearly understood that
Zhou Yuan’s true power was never what it appeared to be on the surface.
Back then in the Saint Remains Domain, no one would ever have expected that even the strongest Wu
Huang would be defeated by the weakest looking Zhou Yuan.
Feng Ying lifted her gaze to look at Zhou Yuan following Li Qingchan at the back of the group and shook
her head as she left her final verdict.
“Li Qingchan is usually so cold. I did not expect her to brag so much just to protect one of her fellow junior
brother disciples. Can’t believe I was nearly tricked by her…”
“However, it is no good to scam others, because the truth will be completely revealed once we enter the
Black Flame Mountain Range…”
2043
Chapter 403 Allocation of Tasks
Li Qingchan, Zhao Zhu, Zhou Yuan and the rest were seated in a room lit by lamp light.
“Elder Wu.” Li Qingchan’s eyes looked towards the front where an elder with a head full of white hair and
gray robes was seated. His back was straight, and his expression was cold and stern, making him appear
like a strict, grumpy old man.
This old man was called Wu Lin, and was the elder sent to oversee the Black Flame Province affair by the
sect.
“I did not expect you to be leading the team this time, Li Qingchan.” Elder Wu gave a brief nod to Li
Qingchan. When dealing with a Chosen of a sect, even someone as stern as himself seemed to soften
somewhat.
His gaze swept over the rest of the team, before coming to an abrupt halt when he saw Zhou Yuan. After
being stunned for a moment, elder Wu frowned deeply as he said, “Why is there a fourth layer Alpha-
Origin here? Which peak does this disciple belong to? Do you think someone of your level can dabble in
such a mission? This is absurd!”
Elder Wu Lin was usually overseeing missions outside the sect all year round, and thus would only return
one or two times a year. He was naturally very unfamiliar with Zhou Yuan, whom had only joined the sect
for half a year.
A small smile appeared on Zhao Zhu’s face when he saw this. Elder Wu Lin was a strict person, and had a
low tolerance for troublemakers. What he hated the most were people who were only in the team to
make up the numbers. Zhou Yuan was really pretty unlucky to have met him.
By the side, Qin Hai and the rest secretly gloated.
Li Qingchan hastily said, “Elder Wu, this is the newly promoted purple sash disciple from Saint Genesis
Peak, Zhou Yuan. Although he has only been with the sect for half a year, his battle achievements are
extremely outstanding. He was not only the champion of the peak selection ceremony but also the recent
purple sash selection. Though he is currently only at the fourth layer Alpha-Origin, his battle power does
not lose to a seventh layer disciple.”
“Oh?”
Elder Wu cast a skeptical glance at Zhou Yuan.
“Even so, he is ultimately only a newly promoted purple sash disciple, and lacks experience when
compared to the veteran purple sashes like Qin Hai.”
2044
Elder Wu was originally going to skold a little more, but ultimately let out a helpless sigh. He glared at
Zhou Yuan and said, “Fine, since you’re already here, it will be a good learning experience for you. Try
your best not to be a burden.”
Zhou Yuan sighed in his heart, and could only nod his head in acknowledgement such that the old man
would not continue on without end.
Elder Wu shook his head and withdrew his gaze, clearly taking Zhou Yuan as a disciple who was along for
a free Heaven Credit, and thus did not have much expectations of the latter.
“Elder Wu, what exactly is the current situation?” Li Qingchan quickly shifted the topic. She had been the
one to bring Zhou Yuan along after all, and was afraid elder Wu would keep him away from the task in a
moment of anger. If that happened, it would be a completely wasted trip for Zhou Yuan.
Zhou Yuan faded from elder Wu’s mind as they began to talk about formal matters. “The essence flame
vein that appeared in Black Flame Province this time is very valuable. As such, even the three titans,
Sacred Palace, North Sea Dragon Subduing Hall and Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace have been drawn
here.”
“Black Flame Province is not within the jurisdiction of any of our four sects. Thus, it is extremely difficult
to decide who the essence flame vein will belong to.”
Li Qingchan and the rest nodded. If Black Flame Province was part of their Cangxuan Sect’s territory, the
other sects would have to start a war if they wanted a share of the pie.
Since the essence flame vein was located in Black Flame Province, it should strictly speaking belong to the
local factions here. However, they clearly did not have enough power to monopolize this resource, and
could only reluctantly allow the interference of the four overlord sects.
The four sects would eat the meat, while the local factions were left with soup.
This was how the world was. The stronger one was, the more meat one could eat.
Wu Lin slowly said, “Before you guys arrived, I’ve already discussed the allocation matter with Sacred
Palace, North Sea Dragon Subduing Hall, Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace and a few of the local powerhouse
factions.”
Li Qingchan asked in surprise, “Oh? Has it already been decided then?”
“It’s not that easy. Who amongst them will be willing to give in?” Wu Ling snorted, before continuing,
“After our discussion, we ultimately decided that it will be allocated based on ability.”
With a wave of his sleeve, a surge of Genesis Qi shot out and turned into a giant map.
2045
“This is a map of the essence flame vein. It reached deep into the ground and covers an extensive area,
making it very profitable to harvest.” Elder Wu pointed at the map as he explained, “The method we
eventually agreed on is very simple. In three days, the various factions will send their disciples into the
essence flame vein area to decide on its allocation.”
With a flick, ten rays of light shot towards Li Qingchan and the rest.
When they received it, they found a small palm-sized flag within on which Genesis Runes shimmered.
“Every flag that has been placed will encompass a hundred mile area. As long as one manages to protect
the flag for a day, the hundred mile area will belong to the faction of the flag owner.”
Li Qingchan, Zhao Zhu and the rest curiously observed the small flags in their hands. It appeared that the
fight for the essence flame vein would be quite interesting.
These flags represented one’s territory. One only needed to plant to flag to gain a portion of the essence
flame vein. Of course, this was with the precondition that one managed to resolve all the problems within
this territory within a day.
“Each person can only occupy the area of one flag? If so, wouldn’t we at most occupy ten hundred mile
districts?” Asked Zhao Zhu.
“Ten hundred mile districts will already be a huge victory.” Wu Lin helplessly shook his head. “The
central region is only about three thousand miles wide, how can there be enough if all the disciples from
the overlord sects occupy a piece?”
“There will definitely be a shortage of land to occupy in the end. That’s when the true fighting shall
begin…”
The eyes of Li Qingchan, Zhao Zhu and the rest widened slightly. They could already imagine the intense
battles that would certainly erupt to fight for the limited land.
After all, who amongst the Sacred Palace, North Sea Dragon Subduing Hall, Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace,
and the powerful local factions wouldn’t want to occupy more of the essence flame vein? The resources to
be collected after being mined was nothing to scoff at.
“We’ve already done a quick scout of the area, and found that it is filled with Heavenly Flame Lizards, a
type of grade 4 Genesis Beast. You guys should be careful of these creatures when you’re inside.”
“Besides this, we also discovered that the most valuable district is this area…”
With a wave of his finger, a chunk of land at the central area of the map gradually turned red.
“Due to the limited amount of land we’ll be able to occupy, we need to do our best to vie for the richest
deposits.”
2046
Elder Wu pointed towards the center of the red region and said, “Li Qingchan and Zhao Zhu. As the
strongest two, you will need to swiftly occupy this central area.”
“Qin Hai, Bai Li… and the rest will try to occupy these neighboring districts.” Elder Wu continued to
instruct as he pointed towards several spots on the map. As they watched, the red area was continuously
split into smaller pieces.
Elder Wu was obviously assigning every member their task.
In the blink of an eye, only Zhou Yuan was left.
Zhou Yuan had no choice but to speak up, “What about me?”
Elder Wu swept a glance at him and sighed, likely also having a headache due to this ‘freeloader’. The
disciples sent by the other factions were no ordinary individuals after all, making a fourth layer Alpha-
Origin like Zhou Yuan appear quite unsightly.
Even though Li Qingchan had said that he was not weak, who knew how much of it was real.
Elder Wu was silent for a while, before he eventually pointed towards an area outside of the red patch
and said, “You’ll be tasked with this region. Make sure you succeed.”
Amusement immediately appeared on the faces of Qin Hai and the rest. The area Zhou Yuan had been
assigned was not even part of the core region, and was likely not rich in essence flame. It was obvious
that elder Wue did not believe Zhou Yuan had the qualifications to compete in the core region, and thus
half-heartedly allocated him somewhere else for safety.
There shouldn’t be many formidable opponents in this area.
Upon seeing this, Li Qingchan hurriedly said, “Elder Wu, Zhou Yuan is not as weak as you think, he…”
The rewards for a Heaven task was given according to one’s contributions. With such a pathetic
allocation, Zhou Yuan may not be able to obtain a Heaven Credit in the end.
Elder Wu waved his hand, cutting off Li Qingchan’s words. “I am responsible for the safety of our
disciples, and one should not bite off more than one can chew. If an accident occurs due to foolishness or
stubbornness, even I will not be able to escape the consequences.”
“There is no need to discuss this matter any further. If he is capable enough, it should not be a problem
for him to occupy this area.”
Elder Wu’s tone was firm, indicating that nothing could be changed.
“All of you should follow my arrangements. When the battle begins in three days, do you best to occupy
the districts you’ve been allocated.”
2047
Upon hearing elder Wu’s stern voice, everyone quickly acknowledged in unison.
Zhou Yuan looked at the area he had been allocated on the map with a helpless smile. However, he did
not argue. Since he had already been given his task, he would first concentrate on occupying that area
before anything else.
No matter what, a Heaven Credit would be his for sure.
2048
Chapter 404 Flame Rock Gambling
Night descended, wrapping the entire Black Flame Mountain Range in darkness. At the edge of the
mountain range, however, Black Flame City remained brightly lit, enveloped in a festive atmosphere.
Every faction of certain clout in Black Flame Province had sent their elite disciples to Black Flame City.
Their goal was naturally the currently unowned essence flame vein.
Although they knew that the biggest slices of the pie would definitely end up in the hands of the four
overlord sects, just a tiny slice from a vein of such an immense scale was already a sizable haul for them.
Thus, numerous factions swarmed towards this mountain fringe city, turning it exceptionally lively.
...
*Creak*
Zhou Yuan pushed open his room door and stepped onto the corridor. As he looked down from above, he
found that the giant building was currently abuzz with activity.
He leaned against the banister with interest. This was the first time he had been outside after coming to
the Shengzhou Continent for so long, since he had basically spent all his time holed up in the Cangxuan
Sect for training.
As such, this was his first real view of the scenery in the Shengzhou Continent.
While Zhou Yuan was tasting the lively atmosphere, the faint sound of rushing wind was suddenly heard
as a sharp force ruthlessly stabbed towards his back.
Zhou Yuan’s eyes narrowed slightly at this moment, while his body instantly etherealized.
With a single step, the force brushed past his body as Zhou Yuan sent a strike towards a certain direction
behind him. Genesis Qi surged as the sound of air being torn apart was heard.
However, Zhou Yuan was a little surprised to realize his fist had landed on empty air, before he quickly
sniffed a whiff of fragrance.
“Not bad. You’ve grown much stronger in half a year.” A tinkling laughter sounded. Zhou Yuan raised his
head to look, and found a young lady in a black dress seated on the banister beside him. Her fair and
slender feet swayed slightly, the snow-white calves a dazzling sight to behold.
It was Zuoqiu Qingyu.
2049
“Your speed… is very amazing.” Astonishment flitted across Zhou Yuan’s eyes. The speed at which Zuoqiu
Qingyu had avoided his attack earlier was not the least be slower than his advanced Ethereal Form.
It seems that Zuoqiu Qingyu had also been quite lucky after entering the Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace.
“Since my battle power is not as insane as yours, I should focus on a way to protect myself.” Said Zuoqiu
Qingyu with a wide grin, before she gracefully leaped into the air and appeared beside Zhou Yuan.
“Looks like you’re doing pretty well for yourself in the Cangxuan Sect. I almost can’t believe you managed
to participate in a mission of such calibre.”
Although she was not familiar with the rules of the Cangxuan Sect, a mission like the Black Flame
Province was surely something that only the elite members of the sect would be allowed to participate in.
Since Zhou Yuan had reached this level in merely half a year, he was obviously doing quite well for
himself in the sect.
“I’m just doing what I can.” Zhou Yuan chuckled. “The truth is… that everyone takes me as a freeloader for
this mission.”
Zuoqiu Qingyu placed an elbow on the banister as she propped up a cheek with her hand. Her lovely body
leaned slightly to the side, accentuating her astonishingly slender legs, as she displayed a wide smile and
said, “Guess you’ll be giving everyone a huge shock in the end.”
“So much faith in me?” Zhou Yuan could not help but laugh. Even Li Qingchan did not have much
expectations of him, and only hoped he wouldn’t be a burden. He had not expected Zuoqiu Qingyu, whom
he hadn’t seen for half a year, to say such words.
“I’m only flattering you, did you really believe me?” However, Zuoqiu Qingyu laughed teasingly in
response.
Zhou Yuan could only roll his eyes.
He asked, “How are you and Luluo doing in the Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace?”
“Rather good actually. That lass Luluo is very welcomed in the sect.” Zuoqiu Qingyu’s red lips seemed to
stick out slightly in pride as she looked towards Zhou Yuan. “Although you managed to become the star in
the Saint Remains Domain, don’t celebrate too early because you may soon be surpassed by us in the
Shengzhou Continent.”
Zhou Yuan smiled and nodded. He knew that the girl before him was quite a proud person inside.
“Right, how’s Yaoyao doing in the Cangxuan Sect?” Zuoqiu Qingyu quickly followed up.
Zhou Yuan sighed deeply. “Obviously doing a thousand times better than me.”
2050
Though Yaoyao was not a Chosen, her status was already on par with them. This was much better than
being treated like a freeloader on a Heaven task.
Zuoqiu Qingyu patted Zhou Yuan’s shoulder and consoled, “Don’t be too sad. Isn’t this normal. Unless you
think you can compare to Yaoyao? Has your brain short circuited?”
The corners of Zhou Yuan’s mouth twitched for a moment. Is this how you console someone...
However, the two of them grew more and more comfortable as they chatted, as the slight awkwardness
from not seeing each other for half a year completely faded.
Zuoqiu Qingyu stretched her back, displaying her alluring curves as she cocked her head slightly and said,
“There’s a fair going on below. Do you want to go and have a look? We may even find something nice.”
At the sight of the sparkling excitement in her limpid eyes, Zhou Yuan let out a bitter laugh. Looks like
even the little enchantress can’t help but be a normal person at times...
“Let’s go.”
He knew of Zuoqiu Qingyu’s fondness for being part of the festivities and naturally did not decline,
nodding his head to her in agreement.
The two individuals made their way down, gazes continuously looking over along the way. This was
mainly because Zuoqiu Qingyu was just too eye-catching. She was the very embodiment of flirtatious and
sexy, making it hard for anyone to turn their eyes away.
The underground floor was extremely spacious. Countless figures shuttled about within it, while the
stalls seemed to be haphazardly placed all over. Gasps and cries of surprise could be heard from time to
time, as if someone had found something good.
Over all, it was a very festive place.
Zuoqiu Qingyu was full of interest as she roamed about like a black carp, while Zhou Yuan helplessly
followed behind.
The two eventually stopped at a certain extremely crowded spot, where countless head-sized black rocks
were laid out. These rocks seemed to give off a faint heat.
Zhou Yuan curiously asked, “What are these?”
“Some kind of rock gambling. You basically purchase one of the rocks and break it open to see how old
the essence flame within it is. They are categorized into the ten year grade, hundred year grade, thousand
year grade and even ten thousand year grade…”
“If you’re lucky enough to find a hundred year essence flame, you will have struck it big.”
2051
“However, these black rocks are said to be essence flame rocks dug out from the depths Black Flame
Mountain Range, and can block one’s Spirit senses. Thus, no one can know what’s inside.”
“Only a few extremely experienced masters will be able to find hints from the patterns on the rocks.”
Explained Zuoqiu Qingyu.
Zhou Yuan nodded. It was no wonder that this spot was so popular, it was basically a lottery. After all, if
you managed to strike a hundred year or thousand year essence flame, you will have earned several
hundred or even a thousand times your initial investment.
A Genesis resources of such grade would be worth at least ten million Genesis crystals.
He began to observe. Many rocks were opened, but most of them only contained ordinary essence flames,
while a ten year grade essence flame would appear once in a while, drawing numerous cheers and gasps
of surprise.
“I wonder if the Decoder Saint Rune works.”
A thought suddenly struck Zhou Yuan as he watched, causing him to recall the Saint Rune in his eyes.
However, just as he was about to test it, laughter was suddenly heard as a figure inserted himself
between Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao.
“Hehe, is miss Qingyu interested in flame rock gambling? If I had known, I would have brought you here
to have fun long ago. Most of the flame rock gambling businesses in Black Flame Province are under my
Flame Cauldron Sect after all.”
Zhou Yuan frowned slightly as his gaze swept towards the figure. It turned out to be a young man dressed
in purple and red. Several men followed behind him, creating quite an impressive sight indeed.
The young man was smiling, but he only looked at Zuoqiu Qingyu, while completely oblivious to Zhou
Yuan.
Zuoqiu Qingyu also frowned a little. She knew this young man. He was one of the annoying flies that had
been buzzing around her ever since she arrived at the Black Flame Province. However, he had a strong
background; he was the junior sect master of the Flame Cauldron Sect, and was called Su Duan.
The Flame Cauldron Sect was one of the strongest local factions in the Black Flame Province.
“Do you want to return?” Zhou Yuan looked towards Zuoqiu Qingyu.
Only after hearing Zhou Yuan’s voice, did the young man in purple and red turn around and smile at the
former as he said, “Oh, it’s a friend from the Cangxuan Sect… I am Su Duan, the junior sect master of the
Flame Cauldron Sect, and am truly sorry that I did not see you earlier… however, may I be so bold as to
ask which Chosen from the Cangxuan Sect are you?”
2052
His gaze held a faint hint of hostility, evidently due to Zuoqiu Qingyu. After all, he had basically been
shamelessly stalking Zuoqiu Qingyu for the past few days, but had barely made any headway. The sight of
her being so familiar with Zhou Yuan naturally alarmed Su Duan, causing him to hurriedly rush over.
Su Duan words may have seemed polite, but they held a deeper meaning to them. He obviously knew that
Zhou Yuan was not a Chosen of the Cangxuan Sect, and yet he intentionally brought it up. He was
implying that since you aren’t a Chosen of the Cangxuan Sect, while he was the junior sect master of the
Flame Cauldron Sect, there was no need for him to be overly concerned about you.
There were after all many disciples in the Cangxuan Sect. Although the Flame Cauldron Sect could not
compare to the former, he was the junior sect master. If there was no grudge between them, there was
naturally no good reason for him to be fearful of an ordinary disciple.
Zhou Yuan’s eyes narrowed a little as he glanced at Su Duan.
However, Su Duan paid no heed to the former’s gaze, and instead matched it as he pointed towards the
rock gambling area in front of them with a smile that clearly hid ill intent.
“Is this friend also interested in flame rock gambling?”
“Do you have the courage to give it a try or two?”
As he lifted his sleeve, a bracelet was revealed on his wrist.
It seemed to be made from some kind of wood that was covered it grainy scars, making it appear quite
ancient.
Zhou Yuan’s expression had been uninterested since the beginning, remaining unchanged even under Su
Duan’s hostile gaze earlier. However, when Zhou Yuan’s gaze swept across the bracelet on the latter’s
wrist, his eyes suddenly widened a little.
In that instant, he had felt the incomplete Taiyi Rune in his body vibrate for a moment as it gave off a
certain pulse that felt like desire...
A flash of bright light flitted across Zhou Yuan’s slightly lowered eyes.
What concentrated Yimu Qi. this guy’s bracelet is at least a thousand year grade precious ancient wood...
Wow… it’s like someone was sending him a pillow when he was feeling sleepy.
2053
Chapter 405 Incentive
Amidst the noisy surroundings, Su Duan wore a faint smile as he gazed at Zhou Yuan with interlocked
hands, the old black bracelet on his wrist appearing to give off a deep lustre under the lamp light.
Zhou Yuan’s gaze merely paused on the bracelet for a split second, before turning away without anyone
noticing.
Su Duan was obviously here because of jealousy, and hoped to show off in front of the girl he liked, while
also taking down this potential rival a peg or two.
With regards to the little enchantress Zuoqiu Qingyu, all Zhou Yuan had were feelings of admiration for
her. Thus, he was not really interested in involving himself in this matter.
Therefore, his first reaction was to shake his head to reject.
Until he saw the bracelet on Su Duan’s wrist...
“The moment I saw your bracelet, I just knew that you and I are definitely going to be friends…” Zhou
Yuan secretly said inside.
His current progress in the Taiyu mark was way too slow. The root of the problem lay in the lack of rich
Yimu Qi, because older precious ancient wood was really not easy to find.
Su Duan’s ancient wooden bracelet was obviously quite an antique. The rich Yimu Qi within it was
definitely better than all the ancient wood Zhou Yuan had absorbed before.
If he could obtain it, he should be able to make a huge leap in perfecting his Taiyi mark.
Zhou Yuan’s gaze faintly flickered in thought. But how should he express his desire for the bracelet
without alerting Su Duan?
After all, if Zhou Yuan came on too strongly, the other party would certainly make things more difficult..
While Zhou Yuan was silent, Su Duan seemed to be under the impression that he had intimidated the
former, causing a look of contempt to flash across his eyes. The truth was that he had long known of Zhou
Yuan, and was thus aware that he came from a remote continent. Honestly speaking, if he was not a
disciple of the Cangxuan Sect, Su Duan felt that a hick like Zhou Yuan would not even have the right to
speak with him.
After all, the people of the Shengzhou Continent usually felt superior to those from other continents.
A smile appeared on Su Duan’s face as he said, “Relax brother Zhou, it’ll just be for fun. You don’t have to
worry at all, I’ll cover all of the costs.”
2054
“In fact, if brother Zhou manages to open one with an old essence flame, you can go ahead and keep it.”
With a confident smile, he said, “After all, we’re just having fun, winning or losing is not important at all.”
“Brother Zhou is a Cangxuan Sect disciple, someone from such a prestigious sect can’t be afraid, right?”
He stared at Zhou Yuan with a hint of ridicule in his eyes.
The face off between the two plus the presence of the gorgeous Zuoqiu Qingyu beside them immediately
turned them into the focal point of the place as countless gazes shot over.
At the same time, a wave of imposing looking figures arrived behind Su Duan, grinning from ear to ear as
they watched.
“Are brother Zhou and brother Su having a little wager? Haha, that’s a good idea. This will be an eye-
opener.”
“But brother Zhou appears to be a little undecided.”
“What rubbish are you spouting. Brother Zhou is a disciple of the Cangxuan Sect, how can he possibly lack
the courage?”
These individuals were not unfamiliar. They were the ones who had been crowding around Zuoqiu
Qingyu when Zhou Yuan first arrived.
They were also the geniuses from the top factions of Black Flame Province, and were clearly siding
together against Zhou Yuan.
Zhou Yuan’s relationship with Zuoqiu Qingyu had made them feel threatened. Moreover, he was merely a
country bumpkin from some remote continent, and yet he had managed to enter the Cangxuan Sect. This
made them feel both disdain and envious of him.
As such, when they saw Su Duan step forward to try and shame Zhou Yuan, they were naturally happy to
show their support.
The thought of stepping over a disciple from a titan such as the Cangxuan Sect filled them with a strange
sense of euphoria. After all, they did not have the balls to challenge the Cangxuan Sect’s Chosens, and it
just so happened that this fourth layer Alpha-Origin stage Zhou Yuan was even from another continent.
This undoubtedly made him an excellent target for bullying.
Zuoqiu Qingyu’s expression darkened slightly when she saw the group’s continuous attempts to instigate
Zhou Yuan, and was just about to speak up to berate them when she saw Zhou Yuan lift his head and give
her a look.
2055
Their gazes had only met for an instant, but the eccentric and highly intelligent Zuoqiu Qingyu
immediately understood that Zhou Yuan had some kind of a plan.
Hence, an enchanting smile quickly appeared on her pretty face as she feigned a look of interest and said,
“Opening flame rocks? It sounds like it’ll be fun.”
The sight of an interested Zuoqiu Qingyu was an unexpected but pleasant surprise to Su Duan, while the
other geniuses looked at him in envy. How is this guy be so lucky? To think that he haphazardly drew
Zuoqiu Qingyu’s interest.
Zuoqiu Qingyu smiled and said, “But a gamble like this will be quite meaningless if there’s no incentive.”
Su Duan was stunned, before he quickly said, “Miss Qingyu is right. There should indeed be some kind of
incentive, but what kind of incentive do you have in mind?”
A slight smile was revealed on Zuoqiu Qingyu’s face as she responded, “Anything you currently have on
you is fine…”
Her gaze swept towards Su Duan, causing him to straighten his back slightly as he smiled warmly.
Zuoqiu Qingyu’s gaze ultimately stopped on Su Duan’s wrist as a probing look seemed to flutter in her
eyes.
Su Duan immediately raised his hand, displaying the black mottled bracelet on his wrist. He hesitated a
little, but quickly smiled and said, “This Genesis treasure was given to me by my father, and was crafted
from a thousand year Jasper Pine. When worn, it will allow one’s body to gradually heal even if a serious
injury is sustained.”
“Since miss Qingyu wants to spice things up, allow me to wager this item as a bet.” He magnanimously
waved his hand, a faint smile on his face as he looked towards Zhou Yuan. “If brother Zhou Yuan wins, I
will gift this bracelet to you.”
While he spoke, he secretly remarked in his heart, “Of course, that’s only if you have the ability, you
country bumpkin.”
Zhou Yuan gazed at the bracelet Su Duan had put on display for everyone, before sweeping a glance at
Zuoqiu Qingyu, unable to stop himself from marvelling at her inside. His gaze had only changed briefly
earlier when he saw the bracelet on Su Duan’s wrist, but she had still managed to detect it.
Nothing could escape a woman’s eyes.
Moreover, her acting had been perfect. Making Su Duan offer his bracelet without suspicion had seemed
effortless for her.
2056
“I’ve already taken out my ‘incentive’, I wonder what brother Zhou Yuan has to offer us?” Su Duan
suddenly asked as he grasped his bracelet.
However, without waiting for Zhou Yuan’s reply, Su Duan turned towards Zuoqiu Qingyu with a
seemingly joking smile as he said, “If I manage to win by some chance, how about miss Qingyu give me
the opportunity to ask you out tomorrow?”
The other geniuses immediately cried out in surprise. Su Duan had finally revealed his goal.
Zuoqiu Qingyu merely smiled. Her long and narrow eyes seemed to glisten in a watery manner, making
her look even more lovely. She swept a glance at Zhou Yuan, before she nodded.
The smile on Su Duan’s face instantly brightened.
While he was distracted, Zuoqiu Qingyu shot somewhat chilling look at Zhou Yuan, her red lips cracking
open slightly as a voice was transmitted into his ears.
“If you dare to lose, just wait and see how this little lady will deal with you!”
For the sake of helping this fellow, she had even sacrificed herself this time!
2057
Chapter 406 Cheating
When Zhou Yuan and Su Duan decided on their wager, the rock gambling area immediately became the
most popular spot in the entire fair, as even more figures started surging over.
Anyone could see that it was the most classic cliché of fighting over a beauty, but the identities of the two
main actors, however, generated a great deal of interest.
One was a disciple of the Cangxuan Sect, while the other was the junior sect master of the FLame
Cauldron Sect.
The Cangxuan Sect was an untouchable existence that was well-known throughout the vast Cangxuan
Heaven. On the other side, although the Flame Cauldron Sect could not match up to the Cangxuan Sect, Su
Duan was its junior sect master, a prominent individual of high standing.
A clash between these two individuals was going to be rather interesting indeed.
Thus, more and more people began to crowd over, turning this area into the most prominent place in the
fair.
...
While the love rivalry was intensifying, several gazes looked down from the second floor of the fair area.
The second floor was not as noisy as the crowded ground floor, appearing rather peaceful in comparison.
Those who were allowed here were no ordinary individuals after all.
Li Qingchan, Zhao Zhu, Feng Ying from the Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace and the others were currently
located in this area.
There were also a few figures opposite Li Qingchan and gang, which was clearly led by two individuals.
These two also looked quite young, but gave off a certain presence that showed that they were not simple
at all.
Even Li Qingchan felt a little wariness when she looked at the two.
Because these two were the two Chosens dispatched by the Sacred Palace.
Wang Chi and Cao Jinzhu.
Wang Chi was the man wearing red clothes, whose features appeared slightly feminine. A smile hung
from the corners of his mouth, but his gaze appeared exceedingly sharp. Two red metal balls sat in his
hand, giving off a dreadful heat that could melt metal and stone, but he seemed completely unaffected as
he casually grasped them in his hand.
2058
Cao Jinzhu on the other hand, had a strong and muscular body that looked akin to a metal tower. His eyes
held a feral beast like ferocity which would make your hair stand on end.
Beside them was Yang Xuan, whom they had met earlier in the day, still wearing a faint smile on his face.
On the other side was another group of figures led by a wiry young man. Though he wasn’t an eye-
catching individual, those familiar with him knew the astonishing battle power contained within that thin
body of his.
He was the Chosen sent by the North Sea Dragon Subduing Hall, and was likewise overwhelmingly strong.
Gathered on the tiny second floor of the fair were the Chosens from the four titan sects. The quality of the
disciples here was undoubtedly high.
These four groups were also clearly separated, each party guarded against everyone else. As such, the
atmosphere was naturally not very friendly.
It was under this hostile atmosphere that everyone sensed the commotion below, as gaze after gaze was
cast downwards.
Feng Ying was the first to chuckle softly as she said, “Hehe, Qingchan, that little junior brother if your
Cangxuan Sect is such a hot-blooded man, is he going to gamble flame rocks with the Flame Cauldron
Sect’s Su Duan for Qingyu?”
Li Qginchan had naturally also caught sight of Zhou Yuan’s figure, causing her to be a little taken aback.
In contrast, Zhao Zhu frowned as he said in a disapproving manner, “What a trouble maker. It’s fine if he
disgraces himself, but he’d better not bring shame to our Cangxuan Sect.”
As he spoke, he beckoned towards Qin Hai with the intent of sending him down to pull Zhou Yuan out.
Li Qingchan indifferently said, “Junior brother Zhao Zhu, this is his own affair, there shouldn’t be a need
for you to be such a busybody, right?”
Zhao Zhu’s eyes lowered slightly as he replied, “Senior sister Qingchan, the biggest business owned by the
Flame Cauldron Sect is this flame rock gambling, and Su Duan can be said to be an expert in this field. It is
clear to everyone that he is egging Zhou Yuan on to humiliate him in front of a certain someone.”
“And yet, Zhou Yuan appears to be an ignorant fool. Does he believe that everyone will gave way to him
just because he’s a disciple of the Cangxuan Sect?”
Li Qingchan calmly said, “That is his choice, and the only one he shames will be himself. The dignity of the
Cangxuan Sect will never be at stake in such an insignificant affair.”
2059
Zhao Zhu was somewhat speechless. In the end, he could only let out an icy snort, before he said, “Then
we’ll just watch and see how it turns out.”
Beside Li Qingchan, Bai Li also looked down and said in a low voice, “But this kid does seem to be quite a
womanizer. We’ve just barely arrived, and he’s already become so intimate with her.”
It was obvious that she was also quite dissatisfied with Zhou Yuan. Since he was here for a freebie Heaven
Credit, he should at least act as if he was working hard. And yet, he had ended up getting into some kind
of love rivalry because of a Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace disciple.
“I should tell you now that if he ends up doing poorly in the mission, I will report only the truth to the
elder when we return. When that time comes, even you will not be able to influence anything.”
Li Qingchan did not reply to Bai Li’s words, merely letting out a soft sigh inside. Her clear eyes swept
towards Zhou Yuan below, as a look of disappointment flitted across them.
Perhaps it was indeed a mistake to have fought so strongly to bring him along for this mission.
In her eyes, Zhou Yuan’s actions and attitude were his petty revenge against how elder Wu had treated
him.
...
Down below, Zhou Yuan was naturally unaware of the attention from the second floor. He was unable to
stop a smile from appearing on his lips when he saw Su Duan wager his ancient wood bracelet.
“So how does brother Su want to play this?” Zhou Yuan’s voice seemed to become much warmer and
friendlier at this moment.
Su Duan grinned as he stared at Zhou Yuan, before pointing towards the rock gambling area. “We’ll follow
the usual rules. Each of us will go forth and select five rocks, before opening them in front of the crowd.
Whoever gets the older essence flames will be the winner. How does that sound?”
He paused for a moment, turning towards Zuoqiu Qingyu and displayed an elegant smile, before he said,
“Never mind, others will say I’m bullying you if we do this. How about I select five flame rocks, while you
can do ten.”
Zhou Yuan chuckled, and was just about to say there was no need.
However, Su Duan was already waving his hand, indicating there was no room for discussion. “That’s
settled then.”
A playful smile adorned Su Duan’s face. He wanted to achieve an indisputable victory, and give Zhou Yuan
no way to refute it. At the same time, Su Duan also wanted to taste the feeling of crushing a Cangxuan Sect
disciple under his feet.
2060
Though he was the junior sect master of the Flame Cauldron Sect, he was no spoiled pushover. He was a
veteran of flame rock gambling with abundant experience that did not lose to any master of the art. As
such, the thought of a loss never once appeared in his mind.
The numerous local geniuses of the Black Flame Province around Su Duan began to cheer due to the
magnaminty he was showing.
They obviously wanted Zhou Yuan to be thoroughly humiliated in front of Zuoqiu Qingyu such that he
would fall completely out of her favor.
Zhou Yuan chuckled helplessly as he gazed at the seemingly dashing Su Duan. In the end, he nodded and
said, “Since brother Su is so generous, I naturally have no objections.”
Su Duan grinned slightly. Without further ado, he took the lead and stepped into the rock gambling area
as he gazed began to sweep across the countless pitch-black rocks.
Zhou Yuan merely smiled as he gazed at his opponent’s confident figure.
No one knew that the Saint Rune in his pupils had already secretly activated, red light beginning to rise
one after another within each flame rock in the gambling area.
Just as he had expected, the flame rocks may be able to block other senses, but they were powerless
before the Decoder Saint Rune.
The flame rocks now clearly appeared in his eyes as burning flames of varying sizes...
In the face of such a situation, Zhou Yuan could only sigh softly.
Even if you’re an expert with as much experience as a grandmaster...
You'll never be able to match my cheating...
2061
Chapter 407 Fireworks
Numerous figures crowded around the flame rock gambling area as if it was a parcel wrapped with extra
layers, making the place appear exceptionally lively.
Gaze after gaze looked towards Zhou Yuan and Su Duan, who were walking about inside the arena, as
whispers stealthily spread.
“Isn’t that Cangxuan Sect disciple a little too stupid. Can’t believe he dares to compete with Su Duan in
flame rock gambling. Hasn’t he heard of the Flame Cauldron Sect’s biggest business?”
“Yeah, one can say that Su Duan has been exposed to all kinds of flame rock related affairs since he was
little, and is extremely experienced. In fact, he is not the least bit inferior to any of the acclaimed masters
of this field.”
“Hehe, does this Cangxuan Sect disciple really believe that everyone will give in to him because of his
status?”
“He’s young and rash after all.”
“……”
As similar whispers continued to spread, they naturally landed in Su Duan’s ears. A confident smile arose
on his face, a look of disdain appearing in his gaze as he swept at glance at Zhou Yuan’s figure from the
corner of his eye.
A mere fourth layer Alpha-Origin stage country bumpkin. If he was not from the Cangxuan Sect, did he
really think that he had the qualifications to gamble on flame rocks with the junior sect master of the
Flame Cauldron Sect?
“I’ll ensure that you’re thoroughly humiliated this time, and let you know that even if a country bumpkin
that manages to climb up on the branch that is the Cangxuan Sect, he is still only a country bumpkin!”
Su Duan icily chuckled, before his gaze began to carefully examine the numerous flame rocks that were
on display. His hands also moved to feel the heat they gave off and the complicated patterns on their
surface.
A serious expression soon rose on his face. The bystanders were right,. As someone who had dabbled in
flame rocks for so many years, his experience did not lose to any of the masters in his sect.
What appeared to others as extremely complex and chaotic patterns were in his eyes hints that would
clue him to the age of the essence flame within.
2062
Of course, he was definitely also prone to mistakes, since the flame essence within the rocks may be
damaged due to other reasons. However, Su Duan was confident that his experience would reduce such
errors to the minimum.
Thus, under the numerous watching gazes, Su Duan earnestly scrutinized every rock before him, often
taking several minutes before he moved to the next one.
From his serious appearance, no one would that he had the skills. At the same time, it also made everyone
feel that there was no way he would lose.
In contrast, Zhou Yuan somewhat resembled a country bumpkin walking into a city for the first time. He
curiously gazed at the rocks, reaching his hand out to touch them.
His movements appeared amatuer in comparison to Su Duan, even using his finger to tap the rocks.
Several of the onlookers with some experience in flame rock gambling frowned at this sight. Zhou Yuan’s
actions were completely unlike those of someone with proficiency in this field.
Zhou Yuan naturally ignored these gazes, his hand sweeping past numerous flame rocks in a pile, before
randomly picking one up and dusting it off a little, before throwing it into a basket by the side.
“He chose one just like that?”
Several people could not help but laugh. Su Duan was still carefully inspecting and feeling the patterns on
the rocks, while Zhou Yuan had already made his choice. From his casual attitude, it was as if he were
buying vegetables in the market.
“He’s going to lose for sure.”
Most of the crowd were already shaking their heads, certain that this young disciple from the Cangxuan
Sect was going to end up humiliating himself today.
Even Zuoqiu Qingyu red lips twitched slightly at this sight, as her hands clenched tightly.
“Don’t tell me he’s really just messing around? I don’t want to go on a date with that scoundrel!”
Although the surroundings were noisy, Su Duan had blocked off all distractions, completely immersed in
the world of flame rock patterns. As time flowed, he slowly began to choose rock after rock, placing them
into the basket at his side.
Su Duan blinked his eyes a few times after awakening from his state of full concentration, five carefully
selected flame rocks already present in the basket beside him.
The corners of his mouth lifted into a confident smile.
2063
He raised his head, only to find Zhou Yuan yawning boredly nearby. Ten flame rocks had already been
neatly placed on the stone table beside him.
“I’ve been waiting all day.” Zhou Yuan was indeed quite bored. He did not find any fun in this rock
gambling, and yet this Su Duan just had to be so serious about it.
“You do not understand the art of rock gambling.” Su Duan looked disdainfully at Zhou Yuan. It was likely
the first time this country bumpkin from some remote continent had come into contact with flame rock
gambling. But that made sense, a precious Genesis resource like flame essence was not something a
remote continent like his could possibly possess.
“Let’s prepare to open the rocks.”
Under the watching eyes of the crowd, Su Duan walked to the other stone table and placed his five pitch-
black flame rocks onto it.
He then retrieved a specialized tool from the table; a small sharp knife. Its blade gently sliced along the
veins of a flame rock as a faint sound was heard.
Crack!
With a quick turn of the little knife, the flame rock slowly split open.
Every gaze looked over with rapt attention. Even those from the second floor contained a little interest,
evident curious about the outcome.
Red light spread from the opened flame rock.
Everyone saw a red flame rise up, red liquid flowing within it. A surge of heat spread, filled with pure fire-
type Genesis Qi.
“From its lustre, it should be a fifty year essence flame.” There was no lack of experts in the crowd, as
gasps of surprise quickly followed.
Although a fifty year essence flame was not that high, its value had already far surpassed a single flame
rock. Anyone who managed to obtain one would have made a nice little sum for oneself.
Su Duan’s expression exuded calm and confidence, because this was only the appetizer.
His gaze turned towards the second flame rock as his sharp little knife began its work.
As such, Su Duan began to open the remaining four rocks in the next few minutes.
The outcome he achieved were waves of cheers, each louder and more excited than the one before.
2064
The second flame rock contained a hundred year essence flame.
The third rock, a two hundred year essence flame.
The fourth, was a dud.
However, no one ridiculed him, because everyone knew that even the experienced master would make
mistakes sometimes. After all, there were times when the signs on the outside could not accurate detect
the situation on the inside.
Despite the slip-up, the confidence on Su Duan’s face remained unshaken. When he opened the final flame
stone, the entire place exploded into a thunderous uproar.
A red flame abruptly rose from the stone, reaching a height of half a foot!
This was a five hundred year essence flame!
If sold, it would fetch a price of at least a million Genesis crystals, while the cost of every flame rock was
only ten thousand...
Winning such a huge sum with such a comparatively small investment made the eyes of several people
turn red with excitement.
“As expected of the junior sect master of the Flame Cauldron Sect. Such insight and experience is truly
worthy of admiration.” Many people could not help but sigh in amazement, their eyes filled with
admiration when they looked towards Su Duan.
Of the five rocks he had selected, only one had been a dud, while the other four were profit. The five
hundred year essence flame in particular was a rare find indeed.
From this, one could see how accomplished Su Duan was in this field.
In response to the cheering crowd, Su Duan revealed a modest smile. He brushed off his hands, before
turning towards Zuoqiu Qingyu with a confident smile. “I hope that I haven’t been too unsightly.”
Zuoqiu Qingyu had no choice but to admit that he had indeed been both skilled and entertaining.
Hence, she could not help but become a little worried when she looked towards Zhou Yuan.
At this moment, Su Duan’s gaze turned towards the seemingly stunned Zhou Yuan with a hint of playful
mockery as he smiled and jokingly said, “Is brother Zhou planning on admitting defeat?”
It seemed to be a joke, but it was actually forcing Zhou Yuan to continue.
2065
Zhou Yuan paid no heed to Su Duan’s little tricks. Instead, he glanced at the essence flames in front of the
latter as a thoughtful look appeared in his eyes.
“Turns out that a five hundred year essence flame is actually quite small…”
He mumbled to himself, before turning to face the countless watching gazes. He did not use any tools, and
instead clenched his fist under the numerous dumbstruck eyes of the onlookers, before sending out sharp
punch after punch.
Papapa!
His fist swiftly descended as the ten flame rocks were barbarically smashed apart.
“How… crude!” His actions caused several onlookers to huff at their beards in anger.
Su Duan also shook his head as the disdainful smile on his lips grew even wider. From the looks of it,
Zhou Yuan had never played flame rock gambling before. A country bumpkin was just a country bumpkin
after all!
However, the jeers only lasted for a few breaths.
Because in the next instant, red flames ferociously spouted out from the shattered rocks like pillars of
fire, instantly raising the temperature in the entire fair.
Red pillars of fire were reflected in countless eyes.
Silence.
Face after face gradually turned rigid at this moment, appearing extremely comical under the flickering
fire light.
A mumbling like noise began to rise in the hearts of several individuals.
“My god… are you freaking… setting off fireworks?”
2066
Chapter 408 Flawless Victory
Pillar after pillar of scorching hot fire blasted out from the shattered remains of the flame rocks on the
stone table, sparks flying everywhere as if it was a fireworks show.
The originally noisy fair had abruptly turned deathly silent when the fire pillars rose into the air. The
faces filled with gloating amusement just moments earlier were now completely frozen.
They stared as if in a daze at the rising fire pillars. This was a grand spectacle they had never seen before
in a flame rock glambling...
Who has ever seen a fireworks display when opening flame rocks?!
The flame pillars rose into the sky, lasting for quite some time, before gradually falling back to the earth.
One could only watch as a red blood like liquid slowly flowed out from the flame rocks, pulsing with an
astonishing heat.
As the fire pillars fell, the countless stunned gazes also finally returned to their senses.
A split second later, their hearts began to beat like mad.
They had realized that amongst the ten flame rocks were three hundred year essence flames, four five-
hundred year essence flames, and two seven-hundred year...
The most frightening was the final rock. The lustre of that viscous blood like liquid clearly belonged to a
thousand year essence flame!
The entire fair was shaken, numerous individuals who either cultivated fire type Genesis Qi or practiced
fire type Genesis techniques greedily staring at the flame essences. These flame essences would be
amazing for them.
Next, these gazes turned towards Zhou Yuan in shock. They had never seen anyone open so many quality
flame essences in one fell swoop.
Moreover, not a single one had been a dud!
This could not possibly be pure luck!
Several lumininous gazes looked towards Zhou Yuan. If it was not luck, there was only one possibility left.
Zhou Yuan had reached unimaginable heights in the art of flame rock gambling.
Maybe even the apex.
“It can’t be!”
2067
A howl suddenly ripped through the place. Su Duan was also stupefied as he gazed at the essence flames
in front of Zhou Yuan. His face soon began to twist hideously as his eyes turned red with anger. “You must
have cheated! How can every flame rock you selected contain such high quality essence flames?!”
His earlier confidence was now nowhere to be seen.
Because anyone who saw such a scene could not possibly maintain calm.
Zhou Yuan was rather composed in comparison. Under Su Duan’s scarlet red gaze, he said, “These flame
rocks are from your sect’s flame rock gambling business. Are you trying to say no one should be able to
get any good essence flames from your business?”
Su Duan froze. How could he possibly dare to say anything that would compromise the reputation of his
sect.
The local geniuses that were originally cheering on Su Duan were silent as they cast fearful gazes at Zhou
Yuan.
They had previously taken Zhou Yuan to be a country bumpkin that had never seen flame rock gambling
before. Who could have imagined that he had actually concealed his abilities so deeply… such skill was
something even the great masters of the Flame Cauldron Sect would not be able to match.
Zuoqiu Qingyu’s tightly clenched hands also relaxed at this moment, as a smile blossomed on her
gorgeous face. As expected, he was indeed a capable person.
However, she knew Zhou Yuan quite well, and was pretty sure he had never dabbled in flame rocks
before. It was almost certain that he had used some kind of technique no one knew about.
“So is the competition over?” Asked Zhou Yuan with a smile.
Su Duan’s complexion was ashen. He had originally planned on thoroughly humiliating Zhou Yuan, and
never expected he would instead be given a slap across the face but the latter. His face was all gone now.
“You!” Killing intent flashed in Su Duan’s eyes, but was ultimately suppressed by him. Zhou Yuan was a
disciple of the Cangxuan Sect. If Zhou Yuan lost the game, Su Duan could humiliate the latter as he
pleased, but if Su Duan acted against Zhou Yuan in anger, the Chosens from the Cangxuan Sect would not
permit it.
Zhou Yuan noticed the murderous look in the depths of Su Duan's eyes, but merely smiled uncaringly.
Zhou Yuan then walked over and reached out to pat Su Duan's arm in a consoling manner.
Next, Zhou Yuan gently removed the ancient wood bracelet from Su Duan's wrist under his fire spitting
gaze.
"Hehe, thanks." Zhou Yuan displayed his most warm and friendly smile.
2068
The corners of Su Duan's mouth twitched. He forcibly resisted the urge to attack as he smiled in an eerie
manner and said, "Junior brother Zhou Yuan has concealed your abilities very well."
Zhou Yuan played with the wood bracelet, feeling rather happy as he sensed the surging Yimu Qi within
it, before he offhandedly replied with a smile, "If junior sect master has any more treasures in the future,
do remember to invite me for another rock gambling game."
Upon hearing these words, Su Duan nearly vomited a mouthful of blood.
Zhou Yuan ignored the former as he walked back to the flame rocks. He pointed to the essence flames
under numerous greedy gazes, as he said with a wide grin, "Didn't you mention earlier that these essence
flames will be gifted to me?"
"Since that is the case, I really have to thank you. You're such a generous person."
Zhou Yuan gave a thumbs up, before keeping all essence flames with a wave of his sleeve. These essence
flames were going to be very useful for him, because the Heavenly Sun God Record he practiced was also
a fire type Genesis technique.
His Heavenly Sun Flame was still at the initial stage, and absorbing these essence flames would definitely
increase its firepower, making it a formidable weapon in his arsenal.
Su Duan felt as if his heart was bleeding when as he watched Zhou Yuan sweep up the essence flames.
The combined value of these essence flames were likely over ten million Genesis crystals, not a small sum
at all.
After taking all the benefits, Zhou Yuan looked towards the rock gambling area in a longing manner.
There were at least ten thousand Flame Rocks inside, but unfortunately, all of the quality essence flames
had been taken away by him earlier. All that was left were the crappy ones.
“The rest of these Flame Rocks don’t have much value.” Zhou Yuan turned towards the countless
gambling customers as he chuckled softly. Without further ado, he pulled Zuoqiu Qingyu’s wrist, bringing
her into the milling crowd.
Su Duan angrily glared at Zhou Yuan’s leaving figure. His final words had been extremely malicious. It
may seem offhanded, but due to the amazing ability he displayed earlier, there was likely no longer
anyone who would come over to try their luck at rock gambling.
All the good stuff was already gone after all, and the remaining low quality stuff was obviously not going
to be akin to winning the lottery.
Hence, these ten thousand Flame Rocks were basically now expired goods, incurring a loss of several tens
of million Genesis crystals for the Flame Cauldron Sect.
“Zhou Yuan!”
2069
Su Duan’s eyes were red with rage, a sinister look surging within his gaze as he watched Zhou Yuan leave.
While the fair was still abuzz with Zhou Yuan’s previous display, the second floor had likewise also fallen
silent for quite some time.
“Wow! Qingchan, this little junior brother of yours is just too amazing!” Feng Ying was the first to return
to her senses as she cried out in surprise, her pretty face filled with admiration.
“Get him to give me some pointers the next time I try my luck!” Feng Ying was in high spirits. She was
quite interested in rock gambling, and would occasionally give it a try or two.
Li Qingchan’s frosty face was also quite stunned. Such an outcome had likewise surpassed her
expectations.
However, she soon recovered and looked towards Zhao Zhu, Qin Hai and the rest as she said, “It seems
that he does not require our interference.”
Zhao Zhu withdrew his gaze as the corners of his mouth pulled outwards. He did not say anything in
response. Zhou Yuan had indeed astonished everyone this time, and no one had expected him to have
such talent in flame rock gambling.
If they thought about it now, the so-called rock gambling competition had basically been a trap the
moment Su Duan appeared.
However, they had believed Su Duan to be the one digging the pit for Zhou Yuan to fall into earlier. Only
now did they realize that while Su Duan was digging his pit, he was completely unaware that he was
already in a bigger pit that Zhou Yuan had dug.
“Let’s go.”
Li Qingchan’s coldly glanced at Wang Chi, Cao Jinzhu and the rest, before rising to leave.
Zhao Zhu, Bai Li, Qin Hai and the rest also followed.
Upon seeing Li Qingchan and her team leave, Feng Ying and the Chosen from the North Sea Dragon
Subduing Hall also took their leave.
The burning hot metal ball in Wang Chi’s hand continued to revolve as he swept a glance towards the
direction Zhou Yuan had left in and said with a faint smile, “This kid from the Cangxuan Sect is a little
interesting.”
However, his attention only lasted for a brief moment. A four layer disciple was basically no threat. Even
if he had a little skill in flame rock gambling, it was ultimately only useful in silly games.
2070
Wang Chi’s gaze shifted towards where Li Qingchan and the rest had been seated earlier, before turning
his head towards the still smiling Yang Xuan. “This meeting has given us a grasp of their capabilities.”
“Our Sacred Palace intends to occupy the best essence flame vein districts. If the Cangxuan Sects plans to
compete with us, we’ll beat them to their knees.”
With his eyes still on Yang Xuan, he smiled and asked, “What do you think?”
Yang Xuan nodded with a chuckle. With a flick of his finger, the faint sound of rushing wind was heard.
“There’s not much difficulty. Besides Li Qingchan and Zhao Zhu… the rest are basically trash.”
He tilted his head slightly, looking towards the direction Zhou Yuan and Zuoqiu Qingyu had left in, as his
lips curled into a playful smile.
“As for Zhou Yuan…”
“Since he likes to play with rocks so much, I’ll make sure he has a fun time kneeling to me in the essence
flame vein…”
2071
Chapter 409 Secluded Cultivation
After leaving the fair, Zhou Yuan brought Zuoqiu Qingyu to a more secluded place.
“You had your eyes set on his ancient wooden bracelet from the start, right?” Zuoqiu Qingyu looked at
Zhou Yuan with an expression that seemingly resembled a smile, her red lips moving as she said, “Why do
I feel as if I’ve been used by you?”
“Why do you have to put it in such an awful manner.” Zhou Yuan defended himself as he righteously said,
“All we did was stand up for injustice and worked together to deal with a local tyrant.”
While he spoke, he lifted his hand as essence flames began to rise from his palm one after another. Each
essence flame was wrapped in Genesis Qi, preventing their heat from spreading.
Zhou Yuan chuckled and said, “Take a few. After all, I was the one who roped you in, and can’t possibly
keep everything to myself.”
Zuoqiu Qingyu’s eyes seemed to swirl in thought as she swept a glance at the essence flames, before
letting out a soft chuckle. However, she did not reject his gesture. Instead, she took two of the essence
flames with a nimble wave of her hand.
One was one hundred years old, while the other was five hundred years old.
The combined value of these two essence flames should reach a million Genesis crystals.
Zuoqiu Qingyu toyed with the two essence flames, as she grinned and said, “Since you have been such a
good sport, let me divulge a piece of information to you…”
“What information?” Zhou Yuan was taken aback.
Zuoqiu Qingyu’s eyes narrowed slightly as she softly said, “In the Essence Flame Vein, watch out for that
fellow from Sacred Palace named Yang Xuan.”
“Yang Xuan?” A handsome face wearing a warm smile flashed across Zhou Yuan’s mind. It was the young
man that had been at Zuoqiu Qingyu’s side during the day.
“In this fight for the Essence Flame Vein, my Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace and the North Sea Dragon
Subduing Hall have each sent only one Chosen. It is clear that we have no intentions of taking a lion's
share, and just want a cut.”
“However, I am afraid that isn’t what your Cangxuan Sect or the Sacred Palace has in mind. Otherwise,
neither faction would have dispatched two Chosens. Moreover, even such high ranking ones…”
“The Chosens from both sides are very powerful, and will be able to restrict one another.”
2072
“Overall, both teams appear to be quite evenly matched. However, can sometimes feel from Yang Xuan’s
words that he does not think your team will be much of a threat.”
Zhou Yuan frowned slightly. Yang Xuan wasn't a Chosen, and his status in Sacred Palace should be
equivalent to the veteran purple sash disciples such as Qin Hai and Bai Li, right?
Furthermore, from their brief encounter during the day, he could feel that Yang Xuan’s strength should
around the seventh layer Alpha-Origin stage, which was on the same level as Qin Hai and Bai Li. So where
did his confidence stem from?
A thoughtful look flashed across his eyes.
He ultimately failed to come up with an answer. Hence, he nodded at Zuoqiu Qingyu and said, “Alright, I
will keep an eye out.”
When Zuoqiu Qingyu saw this, she nodded.
The two of them talked a little longer, before they went back to their respective rooms.
The first thing Zhou Yuan did when he returned was to quickly retrieve the ancient wooden bracelet as
he stared at it in anticipation.
This ancient wooden bracelet was filled with rich Yimu Qi, and was clearly made from some kind of rare
thousand year ancient wood. One could just barely be able to make out Genesis Runes on the wood, a sign
that it had crafted into a Genesis artifact.
When wearing this bracelet, one would be able to swiftly recover from even serious physical injuries.
This would naturally give one a huge advantage in a fight.
In a manner of speaking, it could be considered a defensive treasure.
Even if it was for the Taiyi Green Wood Mark, Zhou Yuan was still quite reluctant to absorb it...
With a sigh, he sat down cross-legged on his bed, and positioned one palm above the other. Golden
Genesis Qi spread, causing the wooden bracelet to float between his palms.
The golden Genesis Qi vibrated gently, breaking the wooden bracelet between his palms. Ten mottled
beads were left slowly rotating in the air.
He slowly shut his eyes.
Wisps of dark green Qi were gradually extracted from the spinning beads, flowing along Zhou Yuan’s
palm and into his body.
“Such rich and potent Yimu Qi!”
2073
Zhou Yuan immediately felt the difference when the first strand entered his body. The Yimu Qi he
absorbed today was extremely pure, and filled with such rich life energy that it made his body give off a
faint shine.
This sensation filled Zhou Yuan’s heart with joy. There was no way this thousand year ancient wood
could be compared to the ancient wood he absorbed previously. Regardless of whether it was richness
and purity, there was a vast gap between the former and the latter.
After a moment of joy, Zhou Yuan regained his composure and began to manipulate the Yimu Qi, slowly
merging it with his blood and flesh. At the same time, his Spirit ensured that the Yimu Qi would take the
shape of mysterious markings at the instant of fusion.
These actions were already very practised due to the numerous times he had done them during the past
half a month.
The only difference was that he would often be forced to stop mid-way due to the lack of Yimu Qi. Though
there was still some progress, it was extremely slow.
As such, not even a tenth of the Taiyi Mark had been completed after half a month...
However, as the Yimu Qi poured into his body this time, he finally felt the long stagnated Taiyi Mark
finally begin to progress little by little at a speed which he had never experienced before…
At this current rate, Zhou Yuan felt that he would make significant progress on the Taiyi Mark in a few
days.
By that time, even though the Taiyi mark would still not be complete, Zhou Yuan was confident that he
would be more than half done. This was definitely considered extremely rapid progress.
Furthermore, some the Taiyi Green Wood Mark power should begin to reveal itself.
At this point, even with his mental fortitude, Zhou Yuan felt a tinge of excitement rise within his heart.
“Looks like I will have to go all-out for the next three days...”
The next day, the commotion stirred by Zhou Yuan in the fair caused his name to spread across the entire
Black Flame City. Every genius from the various factions now knew that a disciple called Zhou Yuan had
opened ten high quality essence flames in the rock gambling area, and there was even a thousand year
one amongst them...
Furthermore, even Su Duan, the junior sect master of the Flame Cauldron Sect, had lost to him in flame
rock gambling...
2074
This became a topic of interest for a time. As such, every faction now knew the individual known as Zhou
Yuan.
Meanwhile, when elder Wu of Cangxuan Sect called for Li Qingchan, Zhao Zhu and the other disciples to
gather together and discuss their strategy for the upcoming fight, they realized that Zhou Yuan was
absent.
“Zhou Yuan mentioned that he was going into secluded cultivation for the next three days.” Said Li
Qingchan.
Zhao Zhu asked in an indifferent voice, “He was so full of energy last night. Is he hiding now to avoid the
growing attention? Or is he trying to make a last ditch attempt to become a little stronger?”
Qin Hai and the other Sword Cometh Peak disciples began to laugh in a hushed manner.
There was an unhappy expression on elder Wu’s face. He was naturally aware of what happened last
night. However, in his opinion, the art of gambling rock was merely a frivolous skill. Moreover, Zhou Yuan
was not very strong, and yet he was skilled at these useless games. From what elder Wu could see, Zhou
Yuan was clearly unreliable and useless.
Although he never had high expectations of Zhou Yuan, such frivolous behavior was quite infuriating.
Nonetheless, he did not say anything on this matter. Instead, he waved his hand and nonchalantly said,
“Leave him be. If he won’t even help himself, he will only have himself to blame.”
His opinion of Zhou Yuan had clearly lowered once again. In fact, he was even considering giving Zhou
Yuan a bad grade after the fight for the Essence Flame Vein.
“Let’s begin the discussion.”
Time stealthily passed as the atmosphere in the chaotic Blame Flame City became more and more heated
Three days unknowingly passed.
2075
Chapter 410 First Signs of Taiyi’s Power
When the third day arrived, a blanket of restlessness seemed fall over the entire Black Flame City. Many
factions from the Black Flame Province were currently gathered in this place, all of them clearly here for
the Essence Flame Vein.
Although the Cangxuan Sect had evaluated it to be a grade 6 vein, one must remember that the Cangxuan
Sect was one of the strongest factions in the entire Cangxuan Heaven. For a top tier faction of the Black
Flame Province like the Flame Cauldron Sect, this single vein was more than enough to sate them several
times over.
Normally speaking, once a hegemon level sect decided to get involved, ordinary local factions like the
Flame Cauldron Sect would no longer have any say. However, the current situation was quite different
from the norm. This essence flame vein was not under the jurisdiction of any of the hegemon level sects,
thus making it an ownerless resource. Moreover, the four hegemon level sects were keeping each other in
check, with no one wanting to let anyone else take advantage. As a result, the ordinary local factions were
the ones who ended up benefiting. If not, they would not even have any soup left to drink after the four
hegemon level sects were done.
Even so, the richest part of the vein was already reserved by the four hegemon level sects.
But this was fine, because the local factions were willing to settle for second best. Occupying any of the
outer areas of the essence flame vein was already a huge haul for them.
Hence, during these short three days, nearly ninety percent of the factions in the Black Flame Province
had dispatched their elites to Black Flame City to wait for the day of the allocation battle…
In a certain room.
Zhou Yuan was seated on his bed, his body completely still. Dark mottled wooden beads rotated between
his palms as strands of pure Yimu Qi were continuously extracted before being sent into Zhou Yuan’s
body.
Dark green light continuously flashed on the surface of Zhou Yuan’s body. If one were to take a closer
look, one would discover that these flashes of light originated from deep within his flesh, a rather magical
sight indeed.
Wisps of aura rose from his body, filled with abundant life energy.
Crack!
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A faint crack was suddenly heard. Cracks had appeared on the wooden beads between Zhou Yuan’s hands
as they rapidly began to dim before turning into dust...
All of the Yimu Qi within had been depleted.
When these beads turned to dust, Zhou Yuan’s tightly shut eyes slowly cracked open.
As he watched the dust flutter down, a look of regret flitting across his eyes. After absorbing all the Yimu
Qi contained inside, the Genesis artifact was now ruined.
On the bright side, it had not been destroyed for nothing...
Zhou Yuan lowered his head to look at his body where shimmering specks of green light could be seen on
half of it. These light spots seemed to call out to each other, as threads of light spread between them,
linking them up.
If one took a step back, one would see what appeared to be an extremely ancient and cryptic pattern.
However, it appeared to be incomplete.
“The Taiyi mark is half done…”
Zhou Yuan felt both joy and regret. Regret that he had not managed to complete the Taiyi mark even after
absorbing all of the Yimu Qi from the thousand year wood bracelet, but also happy that some of the Tiayi
Green Wood Mark’s powers were beginning to manifest.
Zhou Yuan could clearly feel the surging life aura inside his body. Under its glow, every part of his body
felt as if it was overflowing with vitality.
In fact, even the Genesis Qi in his body felt as if it would last longer than before.
Zhou Yuan slowly clenched his left hand, that was part of the half covered by the Taiyi mark. His gaze
flickered faintly as he retrieved a sharp knife, cold light slowly swimming along its blade.
A flash of icy light swept past, leaving a trail of blood.
A sinister looking wound had appeared on Zhou Yuan’s arm, so deep that bone could be seen while blood
flowed out.
However, dark green specks of light began to flash in Zhou Yuan’s flesh moments after the wound
appeared. Rich life energy surged towards the wound, instantly stopping the flowing blood.
The deep wound slowly wiggled as new flesh grew. In a few minutes, the wound had fully recovered...
Zhou Yuan could not conceal the joy in his eyes when he saw this.
2077
Though the Taiyi mark was not fully complete, its power was already beginning to reveal itself. At the
very least, Zhou Yuan’s recovery ability was already comparable to the external cultivators who focused
on using Genesis Qi to nourish their physical bodies.
When the Taiyi mark was perfected, his recovery ability would surely soar again.
The most terrifying thing about this was that it was only the beginning… once the Taiyi mark was formed,
Zhou Yuan would be able to transform the absorbed Yimu Qi into the Taiyi Green Wood Mark.
When this technique reached the advanced level in the future, Zhou Yuan would possess... an undying
body.
When that happened, as long as he did not receive an attack that instantly vaporized him, he would be
able to recover from even the most serious of injuries...
Such recovery ability would undoubtedly give him a huge advantage in a true life or death battle.
Zhou Yuan nodded in satisfaction. His three days of secluded cultivation were indeed quite fruitful.
*Knock knock*
A knocking sound was heard at this moment, and Zhou Yuan hurriedly got off the bed to open the door.
Li Qingchan stood at the entrance, her gorgeous face covered in a layer of frost as usual. She glanced at
Zhou Yuan and said, “If you still didn’t come out, we would have went ahead without you.”
Although her tone was indifferent, it was not hard to hear the faint trace of disapproval within it.
After all, besides that one time flame rocking gambling, Zhou Yuan had basically locked himself in his
room for the entire time. Such an attitude was definitely not going to earn him any brownie points.
Zhou Yuan’s spot on the team had basically been protected by her this whole time, but now, even elder
Wu seemed as if he had something to say about it. If not because he respected her as a Chosen, he would
have likely even chided her about this decision.
Zhou Yuan also felt somewhat awkward upon hearing this, and hastily apologized.
He too understood that though he had told them he was going into secluded cultivation, others would
only view it as an excuse. After all, how much could one possibly achieve in a short three days? It was
obviously some kind of last-ditch effort.
However, he could not possibly reveal any the Taiyi Green Wood Mark. Thus, he could only apologize
without explanation.
2078
Li Qingchan merely let out an almost inaudible snort at Zhou Yuan’s apology as she shook her head and
said, “Let’s go. The essence flame vein fight is about to begin, and we need to get ready.”
“Besides this, though you’ve been allocated an area outside the core region this time, don’t even think
about complaining. The district you’ve been tasked with is still considered a contribution.” Warned Li
Qingchan.
The core region she mentioned was naturally the area with the richest essence flame vein, and where the
fighting would also be the most intense. It was basically the battleground of the four hegemon level sects.
However, Zhou Yuan was not going to be sent in, and was instead tasked with some other location
outside the core region by elder Wu where the factions from Black Flame Province would be duking it
out, and fighting would naturally be less intense.
Of course, his contribution would also naturally be less than the others.
Zhou Yuan gave a faint nod, his expression remaining rather calm.
Li Qingchan did not say anything else and turned to leave.
Zhou Yuan hurriedly followed behind her.
When Zhou Yuan and Li Qingchan arrived at the top floor, elder Wu, Zhao Zhu, Bai Li and the rest were
already waiting.
Qin Hai looked towards Zhou Yuan with a wide grin and teasingly said, “Hehe, junior brother Zhou Yuan’s
three days of secluded cultivation must have been very beneficial, right?”
Zhou Yuan merely glanced at him without replying.
Elder Wu could not help but sigh as his gaze paused on Zhou Yuan for a moment, likely also feeling his
presence to be quite troublesome.
Placing Zhou Yuan outside the core region was was basically giving up land in the core region.
But he had no choice. Zhou Yuan’s strength was nowhere near enough for him to vie with the others.
With a wave of elder Wu’s sleeve, ten dots of light shot out towards Zhou Yuan and the rest.
Zhou Yuan and the rest caught the object, only to find that it was a small thumb-sized piece of jade. The
jade flickered with a peculiar gleam, and a Genesis Rune had been carved into it.
“This is a communication jade which will allow one to briefly communicate within a thousand mile
radius. I’ve given one to each of you to be used inside the essence flame vein to share information.” Elder
Wu explained.
2079
Li Qingchan, Zhao Zhu and the rest nodded before placing the jade into their ears.
Upon seeing this, elder Wu waved his sleeve as Genesis Qi spread from under his feet. It took on the
shape of a cloud that encompassed Li Qingchan, Zhao Zhu, Zhou Yuan and the rest of the team.
“Let’s go.”
As his voice faded, the Genesis Qi cloud had already brought the group into the sky.
Meanwhile, countless glowing figures rose into the sky from the giant Black Flame City. Like a swarm of
locusts, they flew towards the far away Black Flame Mountain Range.
The battle to decide the allocation the essence flame vein in the Black Flame Province was finally about to
begin.
2080
Chapter 411 Essence Flame Vein
In the depths of the Black Flame Mountain Range.
An extremely enormous and majestic mountain stood in this place. The peak of the mountain was sunken
in, forming a volcano like mouth. Searing heat rose from the mouth, making the surrounding area feel
unbearably hot.
All of the trees within a several hundred mile radius of this mountain had already been burnt to ashes,
turning the place into a glaringly barren land.
This mouth of this very mountain was the entrance to the essence flame vein.
Swish! Swoosh!
At this current moment, countless glowing figures were descending from the sky, landing around the
mouth of the volcano. It was quite a grandiose scene.
When the gazes of these figures met, hostility would appear in their eyes. Once they entered the essence
flame vein, anyone from another faction would be a competitor.
A surge of Genesis Qi descended from the sky at this moment, landing closest to the mouth of the volcano.
When the Genesis Qi scattered, a group led by elder Wu appeared.
As the Cangxuan Sect team revealed was revealed, the teams from Sacred Palace, Hundred Flowers Fairy
Palace and North Sea Dragon Subduing Hall also quickly appeared near the mouth of the volcano.
Zhou Yuan swept a glance at the Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace team, finding Zuoqiu Qingyu prettily
standing among them. She quickly noticed his gaze, responding with a crafty wink.
It seemed that Zuoqiu Qingyu was also going into the essence flame vein.
Zhou Yuan replied with a small smile, before casting a glance towards the Sacred Palace group. They were
also led by an old man who was clearly an elder of Sacred Palace. Behind him stood Wang Chi and Cao
Jinzhu.
At their side was Yang Xuan, who was dressed completely in white.
When Zhou Yuan looked over, he realized that Yang Xuan was already looking at them. Their gazes met in
the air as a faint smile appeared on Yang Xuan face. However, not a single ripple could be seen in his eyes,
similar to the silent cruelness displayed by a predator that was hunting for its prey.
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“Everyone shall we start the battle for the essence flame vein?” The elder from Sacred Palace smiled as he
looked towards elder Wu and the other two elders from the overlord sects.
Elder Wu and the rest were expressionless as they nodded.
Upon seeing this, the Sacred Palace elder’s gaze swept towards the many restlessly stirring factions
present, before raising his hand and gently letting it fall.
“Everyone, whatever portion of the essence flame vein you obtain shall depend on your abilities.”
“Let’s get started.”
Rumble!
The Genesis Qi began to churn violently the instant his voice rang out as countless figures shot forth,
seemingly covering the sky as they bolted towards the giant mouth of the volcano, and dived into it.
The sound of rushing wind was unceasing for a time.
“Let’s go too.” Li Qingcahn looked towards the team, her gaze pausing on Zhou Yuan for a moment as she
said, “After entering, we’ll head for the areas we’ve been allocated.”
Everyone nodded.
A split second later, everyone’s Genesis Qi erupted as they dashed into the air.
Their figures soon appeared above the mouth of the volcano. A wave of searing heat pulsed from within
it, but was completely blocked by the Genesis Qi around their bodies.
“Go!”
Ten figures dived into the gaping mouth of the volcano.
The entrance led deep into the ground where a world of crimson red slumbered. Li Qingchan, Zhou Yuan
and the rest fell for several minutes before the scenery in front of their eyes abruptly widened.
What appeared before them was a seemingly endless red land. Magma would occasionally rise from the
ground, making the place appear exceptionally hot.
It was an underground world of its own.
Innumerable glowing figures descended from the mouth of the volcano, before swiftly flying off in all
directions. Berserk explosions of Genesis Qi soon began to erupt all over.
The battles had already begun.
2082
Li Qingchan also orientated herself, before leading the team straight towards the central region.
The group flew at high speed. After an incense stick of time, they realized the land below them was
beginning to grow increasingly red. A giant vein grew out of the ground somewhere in the distance, red
essence flame swimming within it.
Zhou Yuan gradually slowed down.
Any further and it would soon be the core region. The area he had been tasked with was on route with Li
Qingchan and the rest.
“Be careful Zhou Yuan.” Cautioned Li Qingchan as she shot a glance at him.
In contrast, Zhao Zhu, Qin Hai and the rest had a sliver of contempt in their eyes. Looks like insisting on
participating in this Heaven task had only ended up inviting shame to himself.
Zhou Yuan smiled as he nodded at Li Qingchan. Without further ado, his figure turned and began flying in
another direction.
Li Qingchan bit her lip as she watched his figure disappear. However, she knew that this was not the time
to be distracted. Once they entered the core region, they would meet the other three hegemon level sects,
and an intense battle would soon erupt.
Hence, she waved her hand and led the rest towards the core region.
Zhou Yuan flew past the hot and arid red land, holding a map in one hand as he searched for the district
he had been assigned. At this current time, more and more members from the other factions were
beginning to appear in the vicinity, displaying caution and vigilance whenever they got too close to one
another.
These individuals saw Zhou Yuan were momentarily stunned at the sight of Zhou Yuan, clearly
recognizing the disciple from the Cangxuan Sect that had become famous a few days ago in Black Flame
City. Aren’t the Cangxuan Sect disciples suppose to duke it out in the core region? Why has he come all
the way here...
Zhou Yuan was unconcerned by these confused gazes. After searching for about half an incense stick of
time, he finally found the area he had been tasked with.
A scarlet-red vein rose from the ground below him like multiple hills. However, these hills were filled
with red flame rocks.
Although this area could not compare to the core region, it was considered a pretty rich vein in the outer
region.
2083
Zhou Yuan’s figure fell from the air, landing on one of the taller hills. He retrieved his flag and poured
Genesis Qi into it, causing it to rapidly expand to a height of several dozen feet.
Zhou Yuan firmly stuck the flag into the ground. With a surge of Genesis Qi, a pillar of light swiftly
emerged from the top of the flag and began spreading in a circular fashion.
The circle of light quickly expanded to cover a hundred miles.
This was a marking that represented that the area within a hundred miles already belonged to someone.
Others who saw this marking and still insisted on entering were basically saying they wanted to contest
for this area. When that happened, a battle would naturally be unavoidable.
Zhou Yuan stood beside his flag, his expression calm as he looked up.
Although he was treated differently from the others, he did not resent anyone. Since this was the mission
he had been tasked with, he should first ensure that his job was done properly.
However… he was ultimately still a tiny bit unhappy at being looked down on to such an extent.
His grasped the flag as his fingers rhythmically drummed against it.
Zhou Yuan’s gaze lowered slightly as an icy light flashed within them.
From now onwards, the area within a hundred miles was his territory. Anyone who dared to enter...
Should be prepared… for all the frustration that had accumulated within him since the start of this trip...
2084
Chapter 412 A Hint of Evolution
On a red hill littered with rocks, a pair of red eyes swept out from one of the crevices, a savage look
within them as they locked onto a young figure seated at the top of the hill.
It stealthily moved from shadow to shadow, gradually approaching the figure. In the end, gruesome red
fangs were suddenly revealed as it shot forth like a bolt of lightning, leaving a stench in its wake.
Ch!
However, it was met by a sharp brush tip. The snow-white hairs were bunched together like the tip of a
spear, ripping apart even the air as Genesis Qi flowed along it.
Plop!
Genesis Qi swirled around the sharp brush tip as it instantly pierced the giant creature’s head. Fresh
blood flowed out, the beast already dead before it could let out a single cry.
Zhou Yuan turned his head and looked at the giant beast behind him. It was a giant lizard fully encased in
a shell of red armor, a searing and savage aura spreading from its body.
This was a Heavenly Flame Lizard.
A grade 4 Genesis Beast that was native to the essence flame vein, which was no weaker than an Alpha-
Origin practitioner.
However, it does not pose much of a threat towards Zhou Yuan.
Zhou Yuan rose to his feet and dug out a red crystal from the lizard’s head. Inside the crystal, the
silhouette of a lizard could be seen.
It was a Beast Spirit Crystal.
Zhou Yuan placed the grade 4 Beast Spirit Crystal on the Heavenly Yuan Brush. Light began to emerge
from the brush as it forcibly extracted the lizard silhouette inside and devoured it.
The crystal soon began to dim, before shattering.
To Zhou Yuan’s surprise, the mottled body of the brush seemed to become a little brighter after absorbing
the Beast Spirit Crystal as a faint buzzing noise emerged.
A feeling akin to desire suddenly spread from the Heavenly Yuan Brush.
Zhou Yuan was stunned, before a look of joy appeared in his eyes.
2085
He could not help but blurt out in happiness, “The fifth rune is about to awaken!”
After awakening the fourth rune, Zhou Yuan had continued to nourish the brush with Beast Spirit
Crystals everyday. However, there had been no response from the fifth rune all this time.
He never imagined that it would suddenly begin to stir today.
Normally speaking, the brush would only be able to absorb a limited number of Beast Spirit Crystals
everyday. Only when a rune was close to awakening would it turn into a starving beast that would devour
Beast Spirit Crystals without restraint to build up its energy in preparation to awaken the next rune and
evolve to the next level...
“The Heavenly Yuan Brush is currently a high grade Black Genesis Weapon. If the fifth rune is awakened,
it may rank up to the Heaven tier!”
Zhou Yuan’s stared at the brush with glowing eyes. For Genesis Weapons, the Heaven tier was huge leap.
Every Heaven Genesis Weapon possessed power that far surpassed those of high grade Black weapons.
Back when king Qi had attacked the city in the Great Zhou Empire, Su Youwei had borrowed the power of
the Heaven Genesis Weapon in her body to slay a second layer Alpha-Origin expert.
What’s more, she had merely been at the Qi Nourishing stage.
Of course, though a Heaven Genesis Weapon was alarmingly powerful, it was also extremely valuable.
Even in a place like the Cangxuan Sect, only a tiny handful of disciples would own one.
As such, if Zhou Yuan’s Heavenly Yuan Brush could evolve to become a Heaven Genesis Weapon, his
battle power would undoubtedly be greatly boosted.
This was the main reason why Zhou Yuan had been so happy.
“But all my Beast Spirit Crystals have already been used up…”
Zhou Yuan stood up, his burning gaze sweeping across the hundred mile district as he tightly grasped the
Heavenly Yuan Brush. Fortunately, there were quite a number of Heavenly Flame Lizards in the essence
flame vein. He could take their Beast Spirit Crystals to nourish the Heavenly Yuan Brush to complete its
awakening and evolution.
“It just so happens that I’ve nothing to do now. Guess I’ll be borrowing all of your Beast Spirit Crystals.”
Although many fights had broken out in various spots in the essence flame vein, it was currently still
peaceful here. Hence, he could make use of this time to hunt the Heavenly Flame Lizards within a
hundred mile radius.
Zhou Yuan immediately got to work, his Spirit vibrating as his senses spread.
2086
In a split second, he found a somewhat berserk Genesis Qi undulations in the ground nearby.
“I’ll start from you guys.”
Zhou Yuan’s body leaped into the air, before hurtling back down like a cannonball. His slammed into the
ground, causing it to crack open as several angry Heavenly Flame Lizards charged out roaring, their giant
mouths snapping at Zhou Yuan.
Bzz!
With a shake, Genesis Qi flowed along the brush’s snow-white hairs as it fearlessly clashed with the
Heavenly Flame Lizards.
Zhou Yuan spent the next incense stick of time as a god of slaughter, rampaging through the hundred mile
area he had been tasked with securing. Even the Heavenly Flame Lizards hidden deep in the ground were
found and killed.
When he was done, he found himself with a few dozen grade 4 Beast Spirit Crystals.
All of these crystals ended up being absorbed by the Heavenly Yuan Brush.
However, Zhou Yuan was beginning to realize that there was a problem. Even after absorbing so many
Beast Spirit Crystals, the brush was still giving off a strong feeling of desire.
The amount of energy needed to reach the Heaven tier clearly exceeded Zhou Yuan’s estimation.
Zhou Yuan’s looked at the pulsing Heavenly Yuan Brush in his hands. The fifth ancient Genesis Rune was
blinking, evidently in the process of accumulating that last bit of energy needed for its evolution.
“It’s like a bottomless hole…” Zhou Yuan let out a bitter laugh. Practically all of the Heavenly Flame
Lizards in this hundred mile distract had already been exterminated by him. He would likely have to
leave this area to hunt more of them.
But this was the area he was supposed to occupy. Once he left, the other factions would surely swoop in.
As such, Zhou Yuan found it rather difficult to leave.
He fell into thought for some time, before ultimately making his decision.
“I’ll do another sweep of this area before heading to other places to hunt the Heavenly Flame Lizards. If
someone else dares to occupy this area while I’m gone, I’ll just return to kick them out after the Heavenly
Yuan Brush has evolved.”
2087
Hence, Zhou Yuan hesitated no further as his figure shot forth once again.
However, after half an incense stick of time, only about ten Beast Spirit Crystals had been collected when
he was half way through...
He could only helplessly shake his head at this outcome.
“Looks like I’ll have to go somewhere else once I’m done here.” Zhou Yuan sighed softly. However, his
eyes suddenly narrowed at this moment as he lifted his head, only to find several glowing figures
approaching in the air.
In the end, these figures intruded into Zhou Yuan’s hundred mile territory.
Zhou Yuan slowly rose into the air with narrowed eyes, stopping the intruders.
He looked at the figures and slowly sadi, “This area is already occupied, I hope that you guys can
withdraw.”
These figures were clearly part of the same faction. They looked towards Zhou Yuan, bewilderment
flashing across their eyes when they saw the token hanging from his waist.
“Oh, it’s brother Zhou Yuan from the Cangxuan Sect…”
They exchanged a look, before cupping their fists together with a smile. “We are truly sorry to have made
this mistake. We’ll be leaving now.”
After speaking, they turned and left.
Zhou Yuan frowned slightly at their decisiveness. He had a sinking feeling that something was amiss.
After pondering about it for a moment, he landed next to the giant flag and decided to wait here for a
while.
A hundred miles from Zhou Yuan’s territory.
Several glowing figures landed on a certain hill.
“Brother Su Duan, the rich vein area in front is indeed being guarded by Zhou Yuan from the Cangxuan
Sect.” The figures looked towards the to of the hill where another figure was standing with his hands
behind his back. It was the junior sect master of the Flame Cauldron Sect, who had played a game of flame
rock gambling with Zhou Yuan a few days ago, Su Duan.
Su Duan nodded as a cold smile was revealed on his face. “The other members of the Cangxuan Sect are
fighting in the core region, while Zhou Yuan has been sent all the way out here. It seems that his strength
is quite lacking.”
2088
One of the figures asked with some hesitation, “Brother Su Duan, are you really going to seize that rich
vein from him? Though Zhou Yuan is not useful to them, he’s still a disciple of the Cangxuan Sect. If we
take it from him, won’t we making the Cangxuan Sect look ugly? I’m afraid that their Chosens won’t let
the matter rest when that happens.”
“Humph, the Chosens of the Cangxuan Sect are currently being kept in check by the Chosens from the
Sacred Palace, and have no time to deal with other matters. How can they possibly come all the way to the
outer area for this small matter?” Su Duan icily snorted.
However, he was not a brainless fool after all. His eyes narrowed slightly as he fell into thought for a
moment, before he said with a smile, “Moreover, we do not need to personally deal with that brat…”
“What do you mean?”
With a wave of his sleeve, a bottle appeared in Su Duan’s hand. He gently dusted it off as he said, “This is a
bottle of Flame Lizard Saliva that is extremely enticing to the Heavenly Flame Lizards in this essence
flame vein. You guys only need to sprinkle it in the area Zhou Yuan is at, and then we’ll go stir up the
Heavenly Flame Lizards and draw them towards him.”
“When that happens, we would not need to do anything. Can a fourth layer Alpha-Origin withstand a
beast wave of that level?”
“He will surely be forced to flee. After he’s gone, we’ll exterminate the beast wave and occupy that area…
we won’t be taking it from him, but from the mouths of the Heavenly Flame Lizards.”
“This will show how useless Zhou Yuan is, and even the Cangxuan Sect can’t place the fault on us. They
can only berate Zhou Yuan for being useless.”
The eyes of the others immediately brightened when they heard this, before raising their thumbs to Su
Duan. “Su Duan’s ideas are amazing. Zhou Yuan is really going to suffer this time.”
Upon hearing the encouragement from the group, Su Duan softly chuckled. His eyes narrowed slightly as
his cold gaze turned towards a certain distant location.
“Zhou Yuan… since you humiliated me in the fair, I will make sure to pay you back in full today!”
“So what if you’re a disciple of the Cangxuan Sect. I still have ways to deal with you if I want to!”
2089
Chapter 413 Qingyu’s Warning
A giant flag that towered over the red land. A pillar of light rose from the flag, radiating a halo of light that
encompassed the surrounding hundred mile area.
Beside the flag, Zuoqiu Qingyu lazily stretched her back, displaying her enchanting curves, before
listlessly looked around for the umpteenth time. Although the four overlord sects were currently fiercely
competing for territory in the core region, she was not going to be a part of the struggle. She was after all
still a new disciple, and solely here for experience unlike Zhou Yuan...
Hence, the Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace elder had not dispatched her to compete in the core region,
instead placing her in the outer region like Zhou Yuan. Zuoqiu Qingyu was not unhappy with this
placement, because it was indeed true that she was still not strong enough to vie with the others in the
core region.
The area she had been tasked with was home to quite a high class vein, though it was still some ways
from reaching Zhou Yuan’s. Although the vein elder Wu had sent Zhou Yuan after was substantially worse
than the core region, it was definitely top tier in the outer region.
As such, things were quite peaceful for Zuoqiu Qingyu, especially because she was also an enchanting
little beauty from the Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace. Hence, the other factions did not approach to
disturb her when they saw her stationed here alone. It was after all not worth it for them to offend an
overlord sect like the Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace for a mere high class vein.
These various reasons led to the area around her being rather peaceful despite the battles that were
happening all over. In fact, it was so peaceful that she was nearly about to fall asleep.
Zuoqiu Qingyu when in the midst of yawning when her expression suddenly changed a little. Cupping her
hands like binoculars over her eyes, she looked towards a certain spot in the distance where she had felt
some faint activity.
Zuoqiu Qingyu pondered for a brief moment, before her foot gently pushed off the ground, sending her
body drifting forward like a phantom, as if she was walking on wind.
In a short few minutes, she had already appeared on one of the hills nearby. She looked towards her
front, and found two figures there. However, what puzzled her was that these two individuals had no
intentions of contesting for this territory with her. Instead, they were holding a bottle from which a
strange fragrance wafted.
Rumble!
2090
Next, Zuoqiu Qingyu saw the ground begin to shake as red Heavenly Flame Lizard after lizard popped out.
These lizards greedily stared at the bottles in the two individuals’ hands, and began chasing the duo in a
crazed manner.
The two individuals immediately turned and ran, a huge hoard of lizards now at their heels.
Zuoqiu Qingyu was somewhat dazed as she watched. These people had come all the here not to challenge
her, but to draw away the Heavenly Flame Lizards? Were they actually so kind?
“So kind-hearted?” Mumbled Zuoqiu Qingyu.
However, she had a faint feeling that there was something amiss about this matter. After briefly
contemplating about it, her figure dashed forth, quickly catching up to the two figures without them
noticing.
After tailing them for a while, she was finally able to piece together their motive from scraps of their
conversation.
She hid behind a boulder as she watched the horde of Heavenly Flame Lizards with a grave expression.
These guys were planning on luring all of the lizards to Zhou Yuan’s location.
“So it’s Su Duan who is behind this.” Zuoqiu Qingyu’s brows furrowed slightly. Soon after, she pushed off
the ground and soared into the air top her Genesis Qi.
“I need to inform him as soon as possible.”
From the exchange between the two, she had found out that there were others who were also luring
Heavenly Flame Lizards. The scale of this operation was certainly not small, and Zhou Yuan would surely
be in danger if he were to face this beast wave alone.
As for the territory she was tasked to secure, she would just leave it here for the moment. It’s not like
their Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace really cared about it anyways.
...
Zhou Yuan immediately felt Zuoqiu Qingyu’s aura when she stepped into the range of his senses. He
immediately stood up, confused as he watched the lovely figure dressed in green rapidly approaching
from far away.
Zhou Yuan curiously asked, “Why have you come all the way here?”
Zuoqiu Qingyu landed on the ground, her chest heaving slightly as she drew in two deep breaths, before
anxiously saying, “Quick, you’ve got to leave. Su Duan is gathering Heavenly Flame Lizards from all over
to create a wave of beast to send against you!”
2091
Zhou Yuan was stunned when he heard this. His frowned slightly as he recalled the individuals he had
encountered earlier. He had already felt that there was something wrong with their gazes. It seems like
they were scouts...
“Herding Heavenly Flame Lizards? How are they doing it?” However, instead of panic, Zhou Yuan was
more concerned about a certain part of her earlier words.
“They seemed to be holding something that was very desirable to the Heavenly Flame Lizards.” Upon
seeing how relaxed Zhou Yuan was, Zuoqiu Qingyu anxiously said, “You idiot, what are you still standing
around for, you’ve got to leave now!”
From what she could see, Zhou Yuan was currently at the fourth layer Alpha-Origin stage, and was likely
on this mission for experience like herself.
The Heavenly Flame Lizards were grade 4 Genesis Beasts which were no weaker than the Alpha-Origin
stage. With the advantage of numbers, even a seventh layer Alpha-Origin would have no choice but to
retreat.
If Zhou Yuan ended up trapped with nowhere to escape, things would definitely become extremely
dangerous.
Zhou Yuan’s gaze flickered slightly in thought. Soon after, he began to rub his chin in an odd manner.
“A wave of Heavenly Flame Lizards huh…”
He lowered his head to look at the Heavenly Yuan Brush in his hand, to be more precise, the fifth ancient
Genesis Rune that was rapidly blinking. Desire endlessly pulse from it, as if urging Zhou Yuan to hurry up
and feed it.
However, all of the Heavenly Flame Lizards in the area had been wiped out by him.
That’s why he had been troubling over how to feed this seemingly bottomless brush. If he gave up on this
district to roam about and hunt, it would definitely become extremely troublesome for himself, and he
may even end up clashing with the other factions.
Who could have expected such a huge gift to fall from the sky just as he was beginning to mull over this
problem.
Although a wave of Heavenly Flame Lizards would indeed by quite an inconvenience, it was not
impossible for him to deal with...
Moreover, this many lizards should be enough to satisfy the Heavenly Yuan Brush, right?
“This Su Duan…” Zhou Yuan licked his lips.
2092
“Eh?” Zuoqiu Qingyu’s bright eyes looked towards him.
“Is truly a samaritan. I feel that he may even be my legendary fated benefactor.” Said Zhou Yuan as if
deeply moved.
When he needed Yimu Qi, Su Duan gave him a thousand year ancient wood bracelet. When he now
needed Beast Spirit Crystals for the Heavenly Yuan Brush to evolve, Su Duan had racked his brains to
gather a wave of beasts for him...
With regards to someone who so whole-heated took care of his every concern, Zhou Yuan was honestly a
little touched.
Zuoqiu Qingyu: “......”
“Zhou Yuan!” She glared at Zhou Yuan.
“Hehe, relax. I know what to do.” Zhou Yuan chuckled.
Zuoqiu Qingyu shot a suspicious look at him, evidently unable to understand how a fourth layer Alpha-
Origin like him was so confident. However, due to her trust in him, she ultimately did not say anything
else.
Zhou Yuan stood up and stretched his body with a wide grin, “Thanks for rushing here to warn me. Since
they’re going to send me such a huge gift, I should prepare to properly receive my awesome benefactors.”
He winked at Zuoqiu Qingyu.
“Since brother Su Duan is so hospitable, I can’t possibly let him be disappointed…”
2093
Chapter 414 Attack of the Beast Wave
Outside the territory occupied by Zhou Yuan.
Su Duan stood with his hands behind his back on a certain hill, a confident look on his face as he peered
into the distance. Traces of amusement tinged his smile, as if he had full control over the situation.
Swish!
Several glowing figures flew over from far away and landed on the hill.
One of the figures reported, “Brother Su Duan, we’ve lured over all the nearby Heavenly Flame Lizards.”
The ground began to tremble the moment the words left his mouth. Su Duan watched as a tide of red
surged over from the edge of the horizon, made up completely by Heavenly Flame Lizards. From the
looks of it, there were likely several thousand of them.
In the face of a beast wave of such scale, even Su Duan and the rest turned a little solemn. Although most
of these Heavenly Flame Lizards were only equivalent to the first or second layer Alpha-Origin stage,
when enough of them were gathered, they could become an extremely terrifying force.
If trapped in this beast tide, even they would likely meet their end.
“Excellent!”
However, joy soon washed over the slight fear in Su Duan’s eyes. The more lizards there were, the more
likely his plan would succeed.
Zhou Yuan was merely a fourth layer Alpha-Origin after all.
“It’s been hard on you guys. I’ve already sent a few people in to secretly sprinkle the Flame Lizard Saliva
inside. Next, we only have to wait for the show to begin.” A slight smile hung from Su Duan’s lips.
The others also smiled upon hearing this with gloating looks in their eyes.
Rumble!
While they were conversing, the red tide of Heavenly Flame Lizards rapidly approached. Just as Su Duan
had said, the Heavenly Flame Lizards with crazed looks in their eyes paid no heed to the few individuals
on the hill, their red eyes looking instead at a certain location to the front. With a thunderous rumbling
noise, they charged into Zhou Yuan’s hundred mile territory.
Su Duan and gang laughed again when they saw this, before rising into the air and secretly following
some distance behind.
2094
...
“It’s here…”
Under an enormous flag, Zhou Yuan suddenly opened his eyes and peered into the distance. He could
already feel the ground trembling slightly. It seems that Su Duan and gang had succeeded in luring the
beast tide over.
Beside him, Zuoqiu Qingyu’s peach blossom like eyes were still filled with worry.
“Don’t worry, I will leave the moment I feel things aren’t going well.” Zhou Yuan consoled her with a
smile.
Zuoqiu Qingyu gave a faint nod as she said, “I will stay here. If you encounter any problems, I will be able
to immediately bring you away.”
She was extremely quick and though her battle prowess could not match Zhou Yuan’s, if it was fleeing,
even he was not as fast as her.
Zhou Yuan nodded, not rejecting her kind intentions.
The two were silent for a moment, before they saw a red tide appear at the end of their sights. The tide
was composed entirely of red armored Heavenly Flame Lizards with crazed expressions.
At the sight of this, Zuoqiu Qingyu’s hands clenched slightly, feeling somewhat nervous.
Zhou Yuan’s expression was rather calm in comparison. In fact, a look of desire had even surged out in
the depths of his eyes.
This many Heavenly Flame Lizards should be enough for the Heavenly Yuan Brush to complete its
evolution, right?
Rumble!
The red tide of Heavenly Flame Lizards gave off an alarmingly imposing aura. After several dozen
breaths, they finally neared the area Zhou Yuan was in.
Some distance behind the beast tide, the smiles on Su Duan and the rest grew increasingly wider.
“Let’s see whether that brat will run…”
Zhou Yuan stood on the hill, the Heavenly Yuan Brush in his hand as he watched the red tide rapidly
approach and gauged the distance between them. When most of the Heavenly Flame Lizards had entered
a certain boundary, the brush in his hand suddenly slammed into the ground.
2095
Bzz!
It was as if an invisible shockwave erupted from under his feet.
Faint rays of light began to emerge from several of the boulders in the vicinity. At closer inspection, one
would discover that the light was from complex Genesis Runes that were linking to each other.
When these Genesis Runes were activated, the menacing Heavenly Flame Lizards suddenly fell into chaos,
and began frantically running about like headless flies.
This sight told Zhou Yuan that the Genesis Runes he prepared earlier were working. Though they are
unable to do much damage to the lizards, the runes could hinder their senses, temporarily turning these
lizards blind and deaf...
As a result, the Heavenly Flame Lizards were now unable to work together against him, bringing the
threat level of the beast tide to its lowest. Now, he only needed to begin the slaughter.
This change was naturally detected by the watching Su Duan and gang, causing their expression to
change slightly.
“He was prepared for them!” A stormy look filled Su Duan’s eyes.
“The disturbance we caused when gathering the Heavenly Flame Lizards may have been too big.” Said
someone.
“What do we do now?”
Su Duan’s gaze flickered faintly. Soon after, he let out an icy chuckle and said, “No need to worry. He must
have used some kind of method to block the Heavenly Flame Lizards’ senses. Even so, it will only be
temporary. Unless he succeeds in exterminating all of the lizards, they will still become a huge problem
when they gradually regain their senses.”
Everyone else nodded when they heard this. There were thousands of Heavenly Flame Lizards, and it was
impossible for Zhou Yuan to kill them all alone.
Meanwhile, as Zuoqiu Qingyu watched this chaotic scene, she could not help but ask, “Though you have
sealed off their senses, how will you resolve this situation? Are you going to kill them one by one?”
With such a crazy number of Heavenly Flame Lizards, Zhou Yuan would likely be far from done even after
using up all of his Genesis Qi.
Zhou Yuan merely responded with a mysterious smile, not answering her questions.
His figure shot forth under Zuoqiu Qingyu’s bewildered gaze, swiftly etherealizing as he turned into a
wisp of smoke that dashed into the chaotic beast herd.
2096
Zhou Yuan’s figure darted around in the beast herd like a phantom as the Heavenly Yuan Brush in his
hand vibrated. The snow-white brush hairs faintly clickered as they drifted out, undetectable by the
naked eye.
These hairs moved with the wind, noiselessly entering the Heavenly Flame Lizards bodies through their
nostrils as they heavily panted.
Zhou Yuan’s phantom like figure covered every inch of the beast pack, giving the Heavenly Yuan Brush in
his hand a light flick from time to time.
Of course, Zhou Yuan was not so foolish as to kill these lizards one by one, as that was far too exhausting.
Hence, he went with the most direct and efficient method.
The Erode Rune of the Heavenly Yuan Brush.
The ultimate goal of the Genesis Runes he had prepared was not making the lizards fall into chaos, but to
dull their senses, allowing the brush hairs to stealthily invade their bodies.
“What is he doing? Does he think he’s some kind of jumping god?” Su Duan and the rest looked at each
other in confusion. From what they could see, Zhou Yuan did not seem to have any intentions of killing
the lizards.
All they saw was Zhou Yuan randomly jumping about like a headless fly. It was a rather comical sight
indeed.
Su Duan was also a little lost for words. Soon after, he sneered and said, “He’s just screwing around! If he
manages to deal with all of these Heavenly Flame Lizards today, I’ll eat all of their corpses!”
The others nodded in agreement. Given Zhou Yuan’s strength, it was obviously an impossible task for him
to exterminate so many Heavenly Flame Lizards.
As such, Zhou Yuan’s figure continued to shuttle about in the pack for an entire half an incense stick of
time under their mocking gazes, before he finally flew onto a nearby hill.
Beads of perspiration could be seen on his forehead, while the originally snow-white hairs of the brush
had also dimmed somewhat. Sending out so many brush hairs also taken quite a toll on it.
Zuoqiu Qingyu peered into the distance. The Heavenly Flame Lizards were still full of energy as they
charged about in a chaotic manner, no signs that they had received any attacks.
Thus, she turned to look at Zhou Yuan in a strange manner and said, “Is this what you were planning?”
Under her skeptical gaze, Zhou Yuan smiled mysteriously, before grasping the Heavenly Yuan Brush with
both hands and slamming it into the ground.
2097
“Next, it’s time for the real performance.”
2098
Chapter 415 Evolution of the Heavenly Yuan
Brush
Bzz bzz!
The instant Zhou Yuan’s voice sounded, the Heavenly Yuan Brush began to shake violently as if
summoning something. It was also at this moment that the numerous Heavenly Flame Lizards in the
vicinity suddenly let out miserable shrieks.
Ao! Ao! Ao!
Zuoqiu Qingyu hastily looked over, only to see that Heavenly Flame Lizards madly rolling about on the
ground as blood flowed from their orifices. In a few breaths, she watched in shock as the originally lively
lizards began to fall dead wave by wave...
It was as if the wind of death had blown past, granting instant death to all the Heavenly Flame Lizards...
The red land that had originally filled with the sounds of hissing had turned deathly silent at this moment.
In the distance, Su Duan and the rest were dumbstruck as they watched this scene. It was as if they had
seen a ghost, their faces filled with horror and fear.
The lizards’ deaths had been far too bizarre.
Due to the distance and how hard it was to properly see what was happening with the Heavenly Yuan
Brush, they naturally did not know what Zhou Yuan had done. All they had seen was Zhou Yuan jumping
around amongst the Heavenly Flame Lizards, before they began to fall like flies.
Normally speaking, such Genesis Beasts were basically as tenacious as cockroaches. And yet, they were
now dropping one after another as they had received a fatal blow.
Such a strange situation made the hairs of Su Duan and gang stand on end.
“What the heck did he do?” Asked a trembling voice.
Su Duan’s expression fluctuated in confusion. In the next instant, his pupils suddenly shrank as he
involuntarily cried out, “What is that?”
Everyone looked over, and saw the corpses of the Heavenly Flame Lizards suddenly began to tremble as
fine cow hair like glowing threads slowly rose from them.
Every snow-white hair was wrapped around a Beast Spirit Crystal. The crystals sparkled under the light,
creating an extremely mesmerizing scene.
2099
“It’s those hair like things!” Su Duan’s gaze flickered rapidly in thought, finally realizing why the Heavenly
Flame Lizards had died.
Su Duan gnashed his teeth and said, “What a cunning kid! He placed those Genesis Runes to hinder the
lizards’ senses, before secretly sending these hairs into their bodies. Once he gave the command, the hairs
wreaked havoc in the lizards’ bodies. No matter how tenacious these lizards are, they can’t possibly
survive such fatal injuries.”
The others understood in a flash as amazement filled their hearts. Their fear finally faded, because the
unknown was the most terrifying thing of all, and they was nothing to be afraid of now that they knew
Zhou Yuan’s method.
Although it was quite an unorthodox skill, it was only effective against Genesis Beasts.
On the hill, Zhou Yuan’s eyes were burning with desire as he watched the hairs bringing along all the
Beast Spirit Crystals as they returned.
There were likely nearly a thousand Beast Spirit Crystals in total.
“These should be enough for the Heavenly Yuan Brush to evolve, right?” Zhou Yuan lightly pushed off the
ground as countless snow-white hairs zoomed towards him and the brush in his hand.
Pring! Prang!
The crystals shattered the moment they touched the brush, while the Beast Spirits within were instantly
devoured.
Ray after ray of light began to emerge from the brush, causing it to grow brighter and brighter like a sun,
the rays even engulfing Zhou Yuan’s body.
Zuoqiu Qingyu swiftly backed away, bewilderment filling her pretty eyes as she stared at the dazzling ball
of light before her. She could faintly sense extremely powerful Genesis Qi undulations brewing within it.
“His brush seems to be absorbing the Beast Spirit Crystals?” Muttered Zuoqiu Qingyu in an astonished
voice.
Only now did she understand why Zhou Yuan had not panicked when she told him Su Duan was gathering
a beast tide to send against him, appearing quite excited instead. From what she could see, he seemed to
be in dire need of these Beast Spirit Crystals...
In the distance, Su Duan and the rest were also stunned by this scene. They looked to one another as their
expressions gradually turned ugly.
They were clearly also beginning to realize that all their effort in gathering the beast tide had instead
been a gift that Zhou Yuan had happily received with open arms...
2100
“Blasted!”
By this time, even Su Duan could not help but curse as he angrily punched a boulder in front of him,
causing cracks to rapidly spread.
He felt both extremely embarrassed and furious. Just moments ago, he had been feeling so pleased with
how perfect his plan had been, but the cruel reality now showed him that his so-called ‘perfect plan’ was
akin to throwing a meat bun at a dog to chase it away...
Whoo Woo!
While Su Duan was boiling with rage and shame, the surrounding Genesis Qi seemed to turn much more
violent. Everyone could only watch as all of the Genesis Qi in the area began surging towards Zhou Yuan.
The Genesis Qi quickly took the shape of an enormous funnel that was wide at the top and small at the
bottom, a rather astonishing sight indeed.
“What is he doing?” Su Duan and gang were alarmed by this turn of events. They could also sense the
shockingly powerful Genesis Qi undulations brewing within it.
“This is a sign that a Heaven Genesis Weapon is being born!” As the junior sect master of the Flame
Cauldron Sect, Su Duan had a wealth of experience. A single look was all it took for him to identify the
phenomenon that was occurring before their eyes.
“However… although ordinary Heaven Genesis Weapons will create some disturbance, it should not be as
extreme as this!” Su Duan’s eyes were glued to the brightly shining ball of light as greed rose within them.
“This is definitely no ordinary Heaven Genesis Weapon!”
Though he was the junior sect master of the Flame Cauldron Sect, and had seen Heaven Genesis Weapons
before, there was no way that such a huge commotion would be caused by an ordinary Heaven Genesis
Weapon!
However, he also felt a slight heartache. From the looks of it, if they had not so painstakingly gathered so
many Genesis Beasts for Zhou Yuan and allowed him to collect so many Beast Spirit Crystals, he would
not have been able to form this Heaven Genesis Weapon.
The realization that he had contributed to this effort almost made Su Duan vomit a mouthful of blood.
Woo woo!
This lasted for quite some time, before the dazzling light that enveloped Zhou Yuan finally faded away.
The funnel shaped Genesis Qi storm above rapidly descended, pouring completely into the mottled deep
black brush silently hovering beside him.
2101
The enormous commotion had stealthily died down.
Zhou Yuan looked towards the Heavenly Yuan Brush floating beside him as he slowly reached out and
closed his hand around it.
Next, he felt the tremendous power surging within it.
A trace of excitement and happiness appeared on Zhou Yuan’s face.
After several years in his hands, the once Sacred tier Genesis Weapon had finally evolved to the Heaven
tier today...
2102
Chapter 416 Might of the Heavenly Yuan Brush
Zhou Yuan silently stood on the red hill, the mottled pitch-black Heavenly Yuan Brush quietly hovering
beside him. Faint pulses of light flowed along the body of the brush as an almost undetectable but
powerful undulation spread.
Zhou Yuan was overwhelmed by emotion as he stared at the Heavenly Yuan Brush. He could clearly feel
how much different it was now compared to before.
There may only be a word of difference between a Heaven Genesis Weapon and a Black Genesis Weapon,
but the disparity between them was akin to the gap between the heavens and the earth.
His hand slowly unfurled as the Heavenly Yuan Brush rapidly shrank, ultimately turning into a thread of
light that flew into Zhou Yuan’s body and out from his other palm.
After advancing to the Heaven tier, Zhou Yuan no longer needed to hang the brush from his waist.
Instead, he could now keep it in his body, allowing it to be nourished by Genesis Qi at all times.
This would also allow the connection between the two to ascend to the next level.
Moreover, Zhou Yuan could also feel his battle power soar rapidly when he held the Heavenly Yuan
Brush.
The Heavenly Yuan Brush should currently be a low grade Heaven Genesis Weapon, but with regards to
power, Zhou Yuan felt that even mid grade Heaven Genesis Weapons may not be able to surpass it.
When all was said and done, the Heavenly Yuan Brush was once a Sacred Genesis Weapon after all.
“So you were using these Beast Spirit Crystals to evolve your Heaven Genesis Weapon!” Zuoqiu Qingyu
approached as she rolled her eyes at Zhou Yuan.
Fancy that she was still worrying earlier. Who could imagine how elated Zhou Yuan had been when he
saw the beast tide.
Zhou Yuan chuckled, before his eyes narrowed slightly as they peered into the distance. “Since the beast
tide has been dealt with, it’s time to resolve other problems.”
He had already sensed Su Duan and gang when they approached earlier. His Spirit senses were after all
the most powerful amongst everyone present.
He knew that the mastermind behind the beast tide was Su Duan.
2103
Although the former had done him a huge favor by luring this beast tide over, Zhou Yuan was not
someone who would remain passive after being schemed against. Since Su Duan had displayed hostility,
he was naturally an enemy.
“We’ve been discovered.”
The hiding Su Duan and gang immediately felt it Zhou Yuan’s gaze. Everyone looked to each other, before
turning towards Su Duan.
Su Duan’s eyes were tinged with a sliver of greed as he stared at the Heavenly Yuan Brush in Zhou Yuan’s
hand and sneered, “So what if we’ve been discovered? Would a mere fourth layer Alpha-Origin dare to act
arrogantly before us?”
Although Zhou Yuan’s method of dealing with the beast tide earlier had been rather alarming, after
understanding how he had done it, the initial fear Su Duan and gang felt had weakened substantially.
After all, Zhou Yuan’s method may have worked against dumb Genesis Beasts, but it was likely going to be
ineffective against them.
“But he’s still a Cangxuan Sect disciple…” Said a worried voice. If they angered Li Qingchan or Zhao Zhu,
the ones who ended up suffering would be them instead.
“The Cangxuan Sect team is likely having trouble protecting themselves at this time.” Su Duan’s lips
curled. “And this essence flame vein fight basically hinges upon one’s own ability. Even if Zhou Yuan is
defeated, the Cangxuan Sect will likely be too ashamed to come after juniors like us. In fact, Zhou Yuan
may even be punished for his defeat when he returns.”
“Without the threat of the Cangxuan Sect, what is a mere fourth layer like him?”
The others nodded at Su Duan’s words as the restraining fear in their eyes receded. Their gazes were now
filled with contempt when they looked towards Zhou Yuan again. It was exactly as Su Duan had said,
without the layer of tiger skin that was the Cangxuan Sect, Zhou Yuan’s strength was really not even
worth mentioning.
Although they were unable to compare to the likes of Li Qingchan, Zhao Zhu and the other Chosens, all of
them had at least reached the sixth layer Alpha-Origin, while Su Duan had already stepped into the
seventh layer.
Such strength would make them elites even amongst the purple sash disciples of the Cangxuan Sect.
The latter was after all the junior sect master of the Flame Cauldron Sect, and the cultivation resources he
received would not be less than a Cangxuan Sect purple sash disciple.
Upon seeing this, Su Duan smiled in a satisfied manner. His figure moved, no longer bothering to conceal
his presence as he rose into the sky and began slowly approaching Zhou Yuan.
2104
Su Duan looked down upon Zhou Yuan and said, “Zhou Yuan, you really are quite remarkable… I can’t
believe that even the beast tide failed to stop you.”
Zhou Yuan looked at the figure that had appeared and smiled. Although the other party was clearly an
enemy, he could not help but feel a little good-will to the former due to all that he had done for Zhou
Yuan.
“Brother Su’s gift is really generous. If not for it, I would have needed to toil a lot today.”
The corners of Su Duan’s mouth twitched as rage appeared in his eyes. “Sharp-tongued brat. Zhou Yuan, I
advise you to scram from here now, because we will be taking over this area!”
Zhou Yuan chuckled as he shook his head. “I’m afraid I can’t comply.”
“The current you does not have the qualifications to say no!” A savage smile rose from the corners of Su
Duan’s lips as he suddenly raised his hand and icily said, “Do it!”
Rumble!
Behind him, streams of Genesis Qi abruptly rose into the air. They surged forth like a flood, tearing apart
the ground as they passed.
The others still concealed behind Su Duan had sent out a barrage of attacks.
They did not show even the slightest shred of mercy, nor did they hold back despite ganging up on him.
Their combined attack clearly aimed to destroy him with the first move.
“Careful Zhou Yuan!”
Zuoqiu Qingyu’s expression changed when she saw this, and quickly began activating her auxiliary body
technique in an attempt to save him.
On one side, was the exceptionally ferocious combined attack of several sixth layer Alpha-Origin experts.
On the other, was a fourth layer Alpha-Origin Zhou Yuan that would surely be crushed in a direct clash.
However, just as Zuoqiu Qingyu was about to move, she saw Zhou Yuan extend his hand and gently snap
his fingers.
Swish!
The Heavenly Yuan Brush hovering beside Zhou Yuan instantly shot forth. Like a streak of light as it
hurtled towards the berserk flood-like wave of Genesis Qi.
“Arrogant! Do you think that a Heaven Genesis Weapon will give you the qualifications to face five sixth
layers?!” Su Duan let out a sinister laugh when he saw this.
2105
Pchla!
However, his voice had barely faded when the faint sound of something breaking was heard. Su Duan’s
pupils shrank slightly when he saw the five streams of Genesis Qi being instantly pierced by the mottled
pitch-black brush...
It was as if the brush had pierced a thin piece of paper.
“How can this be?!” Behind him, the expressions of the five sixth layer experts abruptly changed.
The black brush seemed to possess a strange power that made any Genesis Qi turn extremely weak
before it.
Swish!
While their expressions were changing, the Heavenly Yuan Brush closed in on them like a phantom. The
snow-white brush hairs separated from its tip, turning into five snow-white whips.
Ch!
The whips seemed to pierce through space itself, quickly wrapping around the bodies of the five
individuals like five white pythons.
The Genesis Qi in the bodies of the five sixth layer experts immediately erupted in an attempt to blow
away the brush hair ropes.
However, the ropes completely ignored their Genesis Qi defenses, and abruptly tightened. The five
individuals were tightly bound a split second later, their movements now completely restricted.
The frantically struggled, but the snow-white brush hairs appeared to be unaffected no matter how hard
they tried. Instead, the bindings became tighter and tighter, causing creaking noises to emerge from their
bodies.
Zhou Yuan flicked his finger, causing the snow-white ropes to move. They flung themselves high into the
air, before mercilessly smashing the bodies of the five individuals into the ground.
Boom!
The ground shook as a giant pit appeared with five bloody figures lying within it. No one could tell if they
were dead or alive.
The snow-white brush hairs swiftly returned as the Heavenly Yuan Brush appeared back in front of Zhou
Yuan in a flash. The brush seemed to sway slightly, as if it was showing off.
2106
In the air, the corners of Su Duan’s eyes twitched when he saw this scene. Who could have imagined that
without Zhou Yuan doing anything, the mysterious mottled black brush would already defeat five sixth
experts after a single exchange...
How could an ordinary Heaven Genesis Weapon possibly possess such capabilities?!
2107
Chapter 417 Fifth Rune: Genesis Breaker
A giant pit had appeared on the ground. Inside the pit lay five figures, no one able to tell whether they
were dead or alive. No one would have guessed that just a few dozen breaths ago, these five figures had
been sixth layer Alpha-Origin experts...
At this current time, however, they had already been finished off by a brush.
Though Zhou Yuan’s expression was calm as he gazed at the Heavenly Yuan Brush floating in front of him,
a sliver of amazement and happiness flitted across the depths of his eyes.
The power displayed by the brush had clearly surpassed his imagination.
Zhou Yuan reached out, slowly closing his hand around the brush as excitement glimmered in his eyes. It
had been several years since this once Sacred Genesis Weapon had landed in his hands, and it had finally
begun to reveal glimpses of its extraordinary power.
To him, the brush was undoubtedly akin to wings on a tiger.
In the air, Su Duan looked towards the five bodies as his eyelids twitched uncontrollably. After a moment
of silence, he finally cast his chilling gaze at Zhou Yuan. The former never imagined that everything he
tried against Zhou Yuan would turn out so disastrous. This truly made raging bonfire rise in his heart.
“I refuse to believe that the great junior sect master of the Flame Cauldron Sect will fail to subdue an
ordinary Cangxuan Sect disciple like yourself!”
Rumble!
Vigorous Genesis Qi dashed out from the top of Su Duan’s head like a plume of smoke along with his yell.
The Genesis Qi pressure from it was indeed far stronger than the five individuals from before.
Su Duan’s expression was chillingly icy as his hands slowly began to approach each other.
Crackle!
Berserk and scorching Genesis Qi was frantically compressed between his palms, ultimately turning into
a fireball the size of a aheadl. Inside the fire ball, the blurry silhouette of a cauldron could be seen.
“Flame Cauldron Technique!”
Sheeong!
The fireball rose into the air, before suddenly exploding. The burning cauldron within rapidly grew until
it was a hundred feet tall, before violently smashing down towards Zhou Yuan.
2108
Su Duan did not show even the slightest shred of mercy. This Flame Cauldron Technique was was a
renowned high grade little Heaven Genesis technique of his Flame Cauldron Sect.
The flaming cauldron rapidly descended, but the expression in Zhou Yuan’s eyes did not even ripple. He
grasped the Heavenly Yuan Brush as deep black runes slowly began to appear on the sharp snow-white
brush tip.
In a short few breaths, the originally snow-white tip had become ink black.
With a jerk, the brush dashed forward like a dragon, its pitch-black tip flashing like the night as it pierced
through the air. In the most unyielding possible manner, it collided against the falling flaming cauldron.
Clang!
A clear clang echoed.
A sneer rose from the corners of Su Duan’s lips when he saw this as he formed a hand seal and shouted,
“Explode!”
An extremely berserk undulation suddenly pulsed from the flaming cauldron.
However, just as the cauldron was about to explode, black light seemed to sweep past. Next, the sneer on
Su Duan’s face froze as he watched the flaming cauldron being cleanly cut into two by the deep black
brush tip...
“How can this be…” Su Duan cried out in horror as his pupils abruptly shrank. His flaming cauldron was
made from pure Genesis Qi and was suppose to be insanely volatile. The slightest touch should have set it
off, causing it to explode with even more destructive power.
And yet, it had been chopped into half by a single strike from Zhou Yuan’s brush?
It was as if the cauldron made from his Genesis Qi had turned extremely frail in the face of the brush...
“I refuse to believe this!”
Su Duan’s expression began distort. With a yell, his hands slapped together as a wave of red Genesis Qi
swept out, transforming into four flaming cauldrons in front of him. Every cauldron pulsed with berserk
undulations.
“Smash him to pieces!”
The four flaming cauldrons descended one after another. Before they landed, the ground had already
began to fracture. From this, one could see just how powerful Su Duan’s attack was.
A wave of heat rushed at Zhou Yuan, lifting his hair.
2109
He raised his head to gaze at the rapidly falling cauldrons, but his expression remained completely
unchanged. The Heavenly Yuan Brush in his hand drew a flash of icy light in the air, strange runes
flickering on its deep pitch-black brush hairs.
Clang! Clang!
The brush left behind a streak of black as it seemed to transform into four after images that
simultaneously thrust at the four falling cauldrons.
Ch! Ch!
The four flaming cauldrons seemed to freeze in mid-air at this moment.
Next, the glimmering black brush tips pierced the cauldrons, as black light began to spread like electricity,
noiselessly disintegrating the four flaming cauldrons...
Zuoqiu Qingyu could not help but cover her mouth when she saw this. She never expected that Su Duan’s
powerful Genesis technique would become as weak as paper before Zhou Yuan.
No one knew why, but Zhou Yuan seemed to have some kind of unique destructive power against these
Genesis Qi attacks!
In the air, Su Duan’s expression was somewhat dazed. He had clearly suffered a huge psychological blow
from seeing his prided attack so easily unravelling at Zhou Yuan’s hands.
“Why is this happening?!” He mumbled to himself. In all the battles he had ever fought, no one had even
dared to approach his flaming cauldrons, because the most terrifying part of the technique was the final
explosion.
However, when Zhou Yuan clashed with the flaming cauldron earlier, a mysterious force seemed to have
suppressed the volatile Genesis Qi within it, before silently neutralizing it.
“It’s that black brush!” Su Duan’s heart shook as he stared at the Heavenly Yuan Brush in Zhou Yuan’s
hand. There was bizarre black light flickering on the brush tip.
The thing that had so effortlessly torn apart his Genesis Qi attacks seemed to be this black light.
Zhou Yuan lifted his head, letting out a soft chuckle as he gazed at Su Duan’s ashen expression. With a
sudden jerk of his hand, the Heavenly Yuan Brush within it transformed into a streak of light as it dashed
into the air.
Swish!
The brush turned into a flash of black as it thrust towards Su Duan like a bolt of lightning, so quick that it
left behind faint after images behind it.
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As an incomparably sharp force pounced towards Su Duan, his cheeks suddenly billowed. A split second
later, red Genesis Qi spouted from his mouth, like surging flames as it swiftly turned into thick shields in
front of him.
Ch!
The pitch-black brush tip slammed into the Genesis Qi shields. Black light flashed, and Su Duan’s pupils
rapidly shrunk as he watched his Genesis Qi defenses gradually disintegrating under the black light as if
being infected by something.
The black light seemed to specialize in destroying any kind of Genesis Qi.
Swish!
While this thought flashed in Su Duan’s head, his scalp rapidly turned numb as his figure quickly
retreated. However, it was at this very moment that his Genesis Qi shields completely shattered.
The foot long black brush rapidly shrank, returning to its normal state. However, its speed rose to an
extremely alarming level. Even Su Duan only managed to catch a glimpse of a blurry shadow flashing
past.
“So quick!”
Su Duan’s was nearly scared out of his skin. This speed had already surpassed the scope of his senses.
Before he could react, he felt something cold aimed at his throat, causing his retreating figure to freeze on
the spot, not daring to move at all.
Cold sweat flowed down his forehead. A slender black brush was noiselessly floating half an inch from his
throat, blick light shimmering at its tip.
It would only take a fraction of a second for this black brush to pierce his throat.
The aura of death washed over his heart.
Su Duan swallowed, trying to smile as he said in a trembling voice, “You win, this place is all yours. We’ll
get out immediately.”
He looked towards the slim figure below with fear in his eyes. How could he not know by now that the
seemingly fourth layer Zhou Yuan was actually a wolf in sheep skin!
That fourth layer Alpha-Origin cultivation was merely a disguise!
Upon hearing Su Duan’s words, Zhou Yuan displayed a warm and friendly smile. He then beckoned with
his hand, and the Heavenly Yuan Brush shot back and landed on his palm.
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He gently rubbed the brush’s mottled body with a finger, ultimately reaching the fifth ancient Genesis
Rune as a look of amazement flashed in his eyes.
The main reason why all of Su Duan’s Genesis techniques had been broken by a single brush because of
the existence of this fifth Genesis Rune.
Fifth rune of the Heavenly Yuan Brush...
Genesis Breaker!
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Chapter 418 Sacred Palace Moves
Genesis Breaker’s power was to destroy any Genesis Qi under the sky. In the face of a Genesis Qi attack,
the Genesis Breaker Rune would unleash a certain power that specialized in restraining and destroying
that Genesis Qi.
Simply put, any Genesis Qi would be greatly weakened against Genesis Breaker.
This was the main reason why Su Duan’s full power attack had appeared so pathetic before Zhou Yuan.
In the face of the Genesis Breaker Rune, all of Su Duan’s Genesis Qi attacks and defenses became rather
ineffective.
This was the fifth rune of the Heavenly Yuan Brush, Genesis Breaker.
Of course, this did not mean that all Genesis Qi attacks and defenses would become useless against Zhou
Yuan, because Genesis Breaker had its limits too. A limit that was based on Zhou Yuan’s current strength.
The stronger he was, the stronger Genesis Breaker would be.
If he faced an opponent whose strength far surpassed his own, Genesis Breaker would at most be able to
slightly weaken the other party’s Genesis Qi. Although this was already amazing from a certain point of
view, it would be nowhere near as overwhelming as it had been against Su Duan and his lackeys.
With the help of the Genesis Beaker Rune, the challenge from Su Duan and gang was swiftly dealt with. In
the end, Su Duan could only bring his gravely injured friends as they miserably escaped from Zhou Yuan’s
territory, leaving behind a scattered mess and a ground covered in beast corpses.
Zhou Yuan did not do anything to Su Duan. Although the latter had repeatedly used petty tricks to against
him, the truth was that someone at that level was already no longer able to enter his eyes.
Even without the Heavenly Yuan Brush’s evolution, it would not have taken much for Zhou Yuan to deal
with Su Duan.
Zhou Yuan was actually quite forgiving towards individuals that posed no threat to him.
After chasing away Su Duan, the Heavenly Yuan Brush transformed into stream of light as it tunnelled
into his palm. It ultimately ended up silently hovering in his Qi Dwelling, breathing the Genesis Qi inside.
Zuoqiu Qingyu walked over with light steps from behind, her limpid eyes tinged with amazement as she
stared at Zhou Yuan and said, “It seems that I was worried for nothing. Su Duan was clearly not your
match.”
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She was clearly a little astonished inside. Though Su Duan had only recently stepped into the seventh
layer, Zhou Yuan was merely at the fourth layer. Despite this, Su Duan was not able to even put up a fight
against Zhou Yuan.
Just how powerful was Zhou Yuan?
She had previously been worried that Zhou Yuan would fade into mediocrity after entering the Cangxuan
Sect. There were after all far too many geniuses in such a hegemon level sect. Zhou Yuan may have been
able to distinguish himself in the Cangmang Continent, but such an achievement would only be
considered ordinary in a place like the Cangxuan Sect.
But now, it appeared that her worry was unnecessary.
The individual before her seemed to be outstanding no matter where he went.
Zhou Yuan chuckled when he heard this.
Zuoqiu Qingyu lightly dusted off her hands as she smiled and said, “Alright then, since you’ve resolved the
matter, I’ll be returning to defend my insignificant territory.”
“Thank you. Come and find me if you encounter any problems on your side.” Zhou Yuan smiled. Since they
were already well acquainted, he felt no need to be overly courteous.
Zuoqiu Qingyu frowned slightly. She propped up her chin with a hand and proudly said, “Tch, you’re just
a brute that only knows how to solve problems through force… truth be told, my beauty is even more
powerful than your Heaven Genesis Weapon.”
Zhou Yuan was speechless. Zuoqiu Qingyu’s beauty was indeeed an irresitable force to many men. Hence,
it was quite normal for them to be so infatuated that they would prostrate themselves at her feet.
In a certain manner of speaking, it was indeed a ‘weapon’ comparable to ordinary Heaven Genesis
Weapons.
“Bye.”
With a wave, Zuoqiu Qingyu’s body shot forth. Her figure was graceful and enchanting, like a hundred
flowers drifting with the breeze, and yet also nearly impossible to catch, swiftly disappearing from Zhou
Yuan’s sights in a second.
After seeing Zuoqiu Qingyu leave, Zhou Yuan sat down beside his giant flag. Since his Heaven Genesis
Weapon had evolved, he no longer needed to go around hunting Heavenly Flame Lizards.
Moreover, after defeating Su Duan and gang, the other factions should no longer dare to have any designs
on the territory Zhou Yuan was occupying.
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Thus, it should become extremely peaceful for some time.
“Guess I’ll continue practicing the Heavenly Sun God Record…”
Mumbled Zhou Yuan to himself as he sat down. With a wave of his sleeve, blood-red magma-like liquid
began rising in front of him, It was obviously the essence flames he had won in the rock gambling area a
few days earlier.
These essence flames could increase the power of fire-type Genesis Qi or Genesis techniques, which
included the Heavenly Sun God Record.
The breath of Heavenly Sun Flame from the Heavenly Sun God Record was currently at the initial stage.
Upon reaching the advanced level, the white flame should change to deep azure.
If he could perfect stage, the Heavenly Sun Flame would transform from deep azure to dark gold. At that
time, a single breath would possess the power to incinerate entire mountains.
Zhou Yuan had started practicing the Heavenly Sun God Record again ever since he obtained the essence
flames. In fact, his white Heavenly Sun Flame had already grown much more domineering than before.
However, he still needed to put in more effort if he wanted to reach the advanced level.
Zhou Yuan stared at the slowly flowing essence flames before him, before gently inhaling. Strands of
blood-red fire threads began rising from the liquid, before flowing into his body through his nose.
Heat immediately began spreading in his body, causing him to feel as if he was boiling.
However, Zhou Yuan’s expression remained unchanged, enduring the scorching pain as he began
circulating the Heavenly Sun God Record. White flames rose inside his body, continuously absorbing the
strands of blood-red fire.
As the white flame was being refined, specks of azure light began to appear within it.
Zhou Yuan silently sat on the red land, searing heat spreading from the essence flame flowing in front of
him.
Time flowed, and half a day quickly passed.
The essence flame before Zhou Yuan gradually began to dim, a sign that it had been completely depleted.
In the end, it turned into a wisp of fire before fading away.
Zhou Yuan’s tightly shut eyes slowly opened at this moment as he turned his senses towards the interior
of his body. The azure specks in the white flame had grown increasingly deeper...
“Just a little more.”
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Zhou Yuan deeply exhaled. After consuming the several hundred year essence flames, his breath of
Heavenly Sun Flame had clearly begun nearing the advanced stage.
“Looks like this trip has been quite beneficial.”
Mumbled Zhou Yuan to himself. He would obviously have no way to obtain these essence flames if he had
stayed in the sect, and the Heavenly Sun Flame would still be stuck at the initial stage.
Chit chit!
While Zhou Yuan was sighing, a faint ‘ch’ noise suddenly sounded by his ear.
He was initially stunned by the noise, but soon recalled that he had a communication jade in his ear. It
had slipped from his mind because it had emitted no noise for quite some time.
“Senior sister Li Qingchan, senior brother Zhao Zhu… someone from Sacred Palace has entered my
territory!” An anxious voice sounded from the communication jade. It sounded like one of the Sword
Cometh Peak disciples.
The communication jade was silent for a moment, before Li Qingchan’s voice sounded, “Xu Bin, how many
Sacred Palace disciples are there?”
The disciple called Xu Bin swiftly replied, “One.”
“You only need to concentrate on defending.” Upon hearing that it was only one person, Li Qingchan
breathed a small sigh of relief. Besides Wang Chi and Cao Jinzhu, the other members of the Sacred Palace
team should be about equal strength to her teammates. If it was just one person, Xu Bin should not be
defeated.
The communication jade fell silent once again.
However, this silence only lasted for about ten minutes before it was broken once again. A shocked and
weak voice sounded through the jade, “Senior sister Li, I’ve failed to defend my spot. The other party is
very powerful, far stronger than myself!”
“I’m retreating towards senior brother Lu’s area, but the enemy is right on my heels…”
This immediately triggered a series of responses from the others, turning the situation rather chaotic.
“How can that be? The Sacred Palace team should be on the same level as us. How were you defeated so
quickly?” It was Qin Hai’s voice.
Bai Li immediately asked, “Could Wang Chi and Cao Jinzhu have taken action?”
Zhao Zhu’s voice also sounded, “Xu Bin, who was it?”
2116
“It wasn’t Wang Chi or Cao Jinzhu…” Xu Bin’s voice sounded rather weak, a clear sign that he had
sustained rather serious injuries. “It was Yang Xuan!”
“Yang Xuan?” Li Qingchan and Zhao Zhu’s voices sounded a little confused. They usually only paid
attention to the Chosens of Sacred Palace, and Yang Xuan was clearly not at that level.
Li Qingchan swiftly commanded, “Xu Bin, withdraw to where Lu Liang is and work together.”
“Understood.” Xu Bin responded.
After which, the communication jade fell silent.
Zhou Yuan’s brows were slightly furrowed. Yang Xuan was indeed no ordinary individual. He wondered
whether Xu Bin and Lu Liang would be able to defend the area...
He waited in silence for quite some time, before a voice was suddenly transmitted from the
communication jade at his ear.
“Senior sister Li, senior brother Zhao. Xu Bin and I have lost to Yang Xuan.” The voice should belong to Lu
Liang, his words causing the communication jade to fall silent again. Everyone knew by now that
something was wrong.
Li Qingchan’s voice had turned rather grave as she said, “Everyone, retreat immediately and gather at Bai
Li’s area. Yang Xuan is likely Sacred Palace’s secret weapon.”
“The rest of you should gather together first, before finding a chance to counter attack. Zhao Zhu and I
will wait for the right moment to strike.”
By this time, it was clearly useless to continue defending their respective areas. They needed to first face
Sacred Palace in battle.
“Roger!”
Several voices sounded from the communication jade before it returned to silence.
Zhou Yuan’s gaze faintly flickered in thought, a rather grave look on his face. It seems that Sacred Palace
had finally began act...
2117
Chapter 419 Yang Xuan
The core region of the essence flame vein.
Seven figures were gathered on the red land, led by Bai Li and Qin Hai. At this current time, their
expressions were extremely grave as they peered towards the distance.
The figures behind the two were all ready and waiting.
At the very back, two figures were seated on the ground, their pale complexions a sign that they had been
seriously injured. It was Lu Liang and Xu Bin, who had both been defeated by Yang Xuan earlier while
defending their territory.
Qin Hai glanced at the two injured individuals at the very back, as he remarked in with a grave
expression, “Xu Bin and Lu Liang are at the seventh layer Alpha-Origin stage, and either of us would have
to expand a tremendous amount of effort in order to defeat them. I never imagined that Yang Xuan would
be so powerful!”
“It seems that he has concealed his strength.” Bai Li nodded in agreement. Her long hair had been tied up
into a ponytail, making her appear rather heroic and dashing. However, her brows were also tightly
knitted together at this moment.
“If so, Yang Xuan’s strength has likely already reached the advance seventh layer level, making him that
tiny bit stronger than either of us.”
The two individuals exchanged a glance, seeing the wariness and fear in each other’s eyes. If Yang Xuan
was really that powerful, they would indeed be under a huge amount of pressure this time.
“They’re coming!”
All of a sudden, Bai Li’s eyes flashed while staring into the distance.
The expressions of the disciples behind her tensed as Genesis Qi began surging around their bodies.
Every gaze turned towards a certain spot in the distance where the sound of rushing wind could be
heard. Several figures arrived on their Genesis Qi, ultimately landing in front of Bai Li and the rest.
They were the disciples of the Sacred Palace.
At the head of the group stood a young man in white with his hands behind his back. He exuded an
extraordinary aura and wore a smile on his face, however, not even the slightest ripple could be seen in
his eyes.
It was Yang Xuan!
2118
…
Meanwhile, at the entrance of the essence flame vein.
Elder Wu was seated on a hill, Genesis Qi taking the form of a mirror in front of him. The images within it
depicted Bai Li and the rest facing off against Yang Xuan and gang.
Elder Wu’s old face filled with alarm and anger as he watched everything play out in the Genesis Qi
mirror. In the end, he lifted his head, eyes ice-cold as he looked towards the Sacred Palace elder nearby
and said in a chilling voice, “Isn’t the Sacred Palace being far too overbearing this time!”
“In a competition for resources, the winner is always right.”
The Sacred Palace elder laughed mockingly, before he continued, “At the end of the day, your Cangxuan
Sect was being too greedy. If you were a little better behaved, you would have done the same as the
Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace and the North Sea Dragon Subduing Hall, and be satisfied with a small slice
of the pie. Who knew that you guys would compete for the lion’s share with my Sacred Palace?”
“Do you really believe that your Cangxuan Sect is the same sect from the past?”
The Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace and the North Sea Dragon Subduing Hall had only sent one Chosen
each this time, showing that they had no intention of fighting for the biggest chunk of meat. On the other
hand, the Sacred Palace and the Cangxuan Sect refused to give way to each other, and had pretty much
prepared themselves for a huge war. Thus, it was natural that they would clash.
Elder Wu darkly said, “We’re still not certain who will win!”
“Then we’ll wait and see.” The Sacred Palace elder let out a hearty laugh as a look of disdain appeared on
his face.
“Hehe, it seems like everyone is already here. Not bad, this will save me the trouble of having to look for
you one by one.” Yang Xuan’s ten fingers interlocked together, smiling widely as he gazed at Bai Li, Qin
Hai and the rest.
There was a polite look on his face, as if he was merely visiting instead of challenging them.
“Actually, I only wanted to discuss something with all of you…”
“In this fight for the essence flame vein, besides the two territories occupied by your two Chosens, you
may also occupy another hundred mile area… which is the land all of you are currently standing on.”
“Of course… besides these three territories, I hope you guys will no longer think about occupying
anywhere else.”
2119
Yang Xuan smiled and said, “Because every other territory belongs to our Sacred Palace.”
Although he said he was here to talk things over, his tone indicated that there was no room for
discussion. It was instead more similar to declaring the final verdict.
Bai Li and Qin Hai’s expressions turned rather ugly.
Their Cangxuan Sect had originally planned on occupying at least six hundred mile territories in the core
region, which was six hundred miles of the richest produce, a substantial fortune indeed. However, Yang
Xuan had just declared that he was going to take away half of that amount.
If they only managed to acquire three hundred mile territories, it would be a pretty terrible result..
“What a bold declaration, do you really think you can eat half of our territories?” Qin Hai’s rage turned to
laughter.
Yang Xuan merely shook his head in response as he sighed and said, “It seems that you guys do not
agree.”
He displayed a smile that gradually turned somewhat sinister. “Since you’re rejecting our good will, don’t
blame me for not leaving your Cangxuan Sect any face today.”
“Break their legs and throw them out.” He extended a hand and gave a light wave.
“As for Bai Li and Qin Hai, leave them to me.”
The Sacred Palace disciples behind him turned their evil gazes towards the few Cangxuan Sect disciples
behind Bai Li and Qin Hai.
Genesis Qi surged from under Yang Xuan’s feet, slowly lifting him into the air. His gaze locked onto Bai Li
and Qin Hai as he said, “It will be best for both of you to come at me together. Otherwise, you guys will
really have no chance.”
Bai Li and Qin hai exchanged a look, before looking towards the rest of the party. “You guys stop the
others.”
Next, they rose into the air on their Genesis Qi to stand opposite Yang Xuan.
From the information they had received earlier, Yang Xuan was indeed a very formidable foe that either
of them would not be able to defeat alone. Since their opponent was looking down on them, they would
naturally make use of this opportunity.
In the air, Yang Xuan gazed at the slightly flickering eyes of Bai Li and Qin Hai, and suddenly laughed.
“Although the two of you will have a tiny chance if you work together, your odds of victory is still almost
negligible.”
2120
“Then we’ll just have to try out luck!” Bai Li displayed an icy smile.
Qin Hai also let out a cold snort as vigorous Genesis Qi slowly pulsed from his body. It felt sharp without
equal, as if sword aura was swimming within it.
Jade light surfaced on Bai Li’s skin as she tightly clenched her fists, terrifying power gathering in her tiny
body. She was from the Hongya Peak, and specialized in external cultivation. Since her Genesis Qi was
used to nourish her flesh and muscles, all of her battle power naturally originated from the body itself.
Yang Xuan cocked his head as he watched the two individuals turn serious, before he smiled slightly and
said. “I’ve been in the Sacred Palace for four years. Back when I first joined, I was known as a famous
genius, but less and less people remembered me as time passed…”
“In their eyes, I had only managed to grow from the first layer to the fifth layer during these few years, a
truly unremarkable speed indeed.”
“Do you two know the reason why?”
Bai Li and Qin Hai’s brows furrowed. Yang Xuan did not seem anything like a fifth layer, but an advanced
seventh layer.
“It was because I sealed my own Genesis Qi.”
Yang Xuan displayed a strange smile towards the two of them as he slowly lifted his arm. His sleeve fell,
revealing a bizarre and glaring tattoo that slowly began to crack.
Rumble!
It was at this moment that Bai Li and Qin Hai were shocked to feel the Genesis Qi in Yang Xuan’s body
suddenly rise rapidly like a rocket.
It instantly reached the perfect seventh layer, and now only half a foot from the eighth layer!
Berserk Genesis Qi swept out from his body like a storm, along with an overwhelming pressure.
Yang Xuan watched Bai Li and Qin Hai’s expressions changed drastically, as the smile on his face
gradually turned sinister.
“Now then, shall have a little fun?”
2121
Chapter 420 One‐sided
“Perfect seventh layer!”
When Li Qingchan heard Bai Li and Qin Hai’s cries of surprise, her pretty face turned somewhat ugly. She
had likewise not expected Yang Xuan, who was not very well-known in the Sacred Palace, to possess such
strength.
If Yang Xuan was only at the advanced seventh layer, Bai Li and Qin Hai’s combined might may be able to
match up to him. However, this seemingly tiny raise had now left the Bai Li duo with basically zero
chance at victory.
Yang Xuan was obviously the Sacred Palace’s secret weapon for this mission!
“Zhao Zhu, let’s go.” Said Li Qingchan in an icy voice. If she and Zhao Zhu did not interfere, Bai Li and the
rest would soon be utterly defeated.
When that happened, even if the two of them managed to defend their allocated territories, it would only
amount to two hundred miles in total, an amount that would be less than even the Hundred Flowers Fairy
Palace and the North Sea Dragon Subduing Hall.
This would undoubtedly be a substantial blow to the Cangxuan Sect’s reputation.
From the communication jade, Zhao Zhu’s acknowledged in a low voice.
Swish!
Their figures soared into the air, powerful Genesis Qi sweeping outwards as they turned towards the
direction Bai Li and the rest were located.
However, mere moments after rising in the air, two figures appeared and stood in their way. It was Wang
Chi and Cao Jinzhu of the Sacred Palace.
Cao Zhi grinned as he looked at the two of them, a dreadful heat pulsing from the red metal balls in his
hand as he said, “Isn’t it rather inappropriate for people of your status to interfere?”
Li Qingchan’s eyes turned a little icier as she curtly said, “Wang Chi, scram!”
Wang Chi shook his head and smiled, “Chosens should face Chosens. If the two of you are itching for a
fight, both of us will accompany you till the end. As for everyone else, let them decide things on their
own.”
Li Qingchan’s eyes turned increasingly frosty. She knew that the Wang Chi duo definitely was not going to
move aside. Since this was the case, they could only resort to force.
2122
She exchanged a look with Zhao Zhu. Both were expressionless as powerful Genesis Qi light pillars
dashed out from the top of their heads. The light spread to cover the sky, as two earthshaking auras
unfurled.
Rumble!
Two thousand feet wide Genesis Qi floods descended like meteors streaking across the night sky, thunder
loudly rumbling in their wake
In response to Li Qingchan and Zhao Zhu’s decisiveness, Wang Chi and Cao Jinzhu’s eyes narrowed. Both
of them immediately took a step forward, as Genesis Qi rapidly converged towards their palms, before
ultimately transforming into two enormous Genesis Qi disks.
Boom boom!
Two Genesis Qi torrents smashed into the glowing Genesis Qi disks, causing devastating shockwaves to
unfurl. The ground below crumbled, hill after hill obliterated to dust in an instant.
It could be said that this was an earth-shattering clash.
In the sky, Li Qingchan and Zhao Zhu faced off against Wang Chi and Cao Jinzhu. Vigorous Genesis Qi
churned churned like a raging storm behind each individual, some scorching hot, some bitingly cold...
The disturbance was so great that it was even sensed by those from the far away Hundred Flowers Fairy
Palace and North Sea Dragon Subduing Hall. Feng Ying and the Chosen from the North Sea Dragon
Subduing Hall immediately moved, appearing some distance from the battle field.
“So they’ve really ended up fighting…” Feng Ying’s eyes widened a little. Normally speaking, since the
Chosens from the various factions were able to easily defend their respective areas, no one would
challenge them. It could be said to be an unspoken rules of sorts.
And yet, the Chosens from the Cangxuan Sect and the Sacred Palace had begun fighting.
The North Sea Dragon Subduing Hall Chosen approached Feng Ying and said in a low voice, “I’ve heard
that the Sacred Palace mounted an attack on the territories guarded by the Cangxuan Sect, and have
pushed them all the way to their last remaining territory.”
Feng Ying frowned slightly. A deep grudge existed between the Cangxuan Sect and the Sacred Palace.
Moreover, one was once the number sect in Cangxuan Heaven, while the other was the current number
one sect. As such, there was naturally going to be a lot of friction between them.
In this battle for the essence flame vein, the Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace and the North Sea Dragon
Subduing Hall had no plans of contesting for a larger portion due to how far away their headquarters
were from this place. Hence, they were willing to take a step back, and naturally did not have too huge of
a conflict of interest with the Sacred Palace.
2123
However, the Cangxuan Sect had no intentions of giving in, while the Sacred Palace was usually very
domineering due to always wanting the prime meat. Thus, there was sure to be conflict when these two
factions met.
Though Feng Ying was on good terms with Li Qingchan, it was not appropriate for her to interfere in this
matter. After all, it was already beginning to implicate on the grudge between two overlord sects.
“Wang Chi and Cao Jinzhu are clearly here to stop the Li Qingchan duo, preventing them from coming to
the aid of their teammates. Now… we can only hope that the other Cangxuan Sect disciples will be able to
defend against the Sacred Palace’s attacks.”
She shook her head and sighed.
Bang!
On the red land, three streams of Genesis Qi violently collided. A patch of ground immediately collapsed
as a shockwave that could be seen with the naked eye unfurled, sweeping up dirt and rocks.
Urgh!
Two groans were heard as the shockwave spread. Soon after, two figures were flung backwards, their
feet leaving long and deep marks on the ground. Any boulders they briefly touched was immediately
shattered to pieces by a tremendous force.
The two figures forcibly stabilized their bodies. It was Bai Li and Qin Hai.
However, these two individuals currently sported rather dishevelled looks. Their expressions were quite
pale, while blood dripping from their fingers. The Genesis Qi around their bodies had also turned
somewhat chaotic.
A figure in white slowly walked out from the dust. Yang Xuan gazed at the two Cangxuan Sect disciples
and said with a faint smile, “Hehe, I told you that you guys have no chance of victory. Why insist on being
so stubborn?”
Genesis Qi rose around him like thick smoke, heavy, solid and concentrated.
“Obediently scram from this essence flame vein. Your Cangxuan Sect cannot compete with us this time.”
There was a disdainful smile hanging from the corners of Yang Xuan’s mouth.
“In your dreams!”
However, he was answered with a furious surge of Genesis Qi from Bai Li and Qin Hai that rapidly
cumulated into a powerful attack that blasted towards Yang Xuan like a storm.
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“Reckless fools.”
Yang Xuan shook his head as a tremendous amount of Genesis Qi slowly rose from his hands.
“Since neither of you has any common sense, I’ll just have to break your legs and throw you out…”
At the entrance of the essence flame vein.
Atop a hill, elder Wu was watching the two floating Genesis Qi mirrors before him. One of them depicted
the face off between the Li Qingchan duo and the Wang Chi duo.
In the other mirror was the scene of Yang Xuan easily suppressing Bai Li and Qin Hai.
From the looks of it, Bai Li and Qin Hai would not last much longer.
Elder Wu’s expression was extremely ugly. In accordance to his original evaluation the Sacred Palace
disciples, he had tasked Li Qingchan and her team to take over at least six hundred miles of the richest
vein.
However, he never imagined that the Sacred Palace would play such a dirty trick by sending a disciple
who had sealed his strength. This had disrupted all of elder Wu’s plans.
From the looks of it, the Sacred Palace intended on taking all of the territories the Cangxuan Sect was
currently occupying.
This was too much!
Rage churned in elder Wu’s eyes as he looked towards the nearby Sacred Palace elder. The latter merely
responded with a disdainful smile.
Around the mouth of the volcano, the other factions began to break out into hushed whispers. They also
had Genesis Qi mirrors, and were naturally able to view the situation in the essence flame vein.
From the gazes they continuously cast towards elder Wu, it was obvious that they too knew of the
Cangxuan Sect’s current predicament.
This battle may appear to be a contest for the essence flame vein on the surface, but in reality, it was a
clash between the two titans, the Sacred Palace and the Cangxuan Sect. From the looks of it, the Sacred
Palace had taken the absolute upper hand.
If so, the Cangxuan Sect would end up being knocked down a peg by the Sacred Palace this time.
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Thump! Thud!
The intense battle on the red land continued. Wave after wave of berserk Genesis Qi exploded, the
aftershocks of the fight turning the entire area into a mess.
Huu!
Bai Li and Qin Hai tightly gritted their teeth, bitterly persisting as sweat dripped down their faces.
The Genesis Qi around them was already growing weaker and weaker.
Their gazes looked towards the front where a figure in white was slowly walking towards then. However,
they did not cower but instead gritted their teeth again as their figures shot forth like lightning with an
explosion of Genesis Qi.
Boom!
However, their figures were soon sent flying once again.
At the mouth of the volcano, the various factions softly sighed. These Cangxuan Sect disciples were
tenacious, but unfortunately, tenacity was not enough to fill the gap between them and their opponent.
Elder Wu’s hands were tightly clenched, veins popping up on his arms. Murder surged in his eyes as he
stared at the Sacred Palace elder.
Outside the core essence flame region.
Zhou Yuan was seated under a giant flag with his gaze slightly lowered. He made no noise, merely
listening to Bai Li and Qin Hai’s voices from the communication jade grow weaker and weaker.
The situation was anything but encouraging.
There was clearly no longer any hope to be seen for Bai Li and the rest in the core region.
He lifted his face, his eyes narrowing slightly as he peered into the distance. His fingers gently tapped his
knee as he fell into a long moment of silence. In the end, he raised his head to the sky and let out a deep
breath.
“God damnit…”
“You guys are going to make me fail this mission…”
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If all their territory was snatched away by the Sacred Palace, the mission would undoubtedly be
evaluated as a failure. When that happened, it would no longer be possible to obtain a Heaven Credit.
He sighed. Though he did not really have any complaints with regards to elder Wu and the others
neglecting him, for the sake of his Heaven Credit, he could no longer sit by and do nothing.
Thus, Zhou Yuan’s lips curled a little as he slowly stood up.
The individual that had been ‘exiled’ to the outer region and basically forgotten, was finally going to get
involved.
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Chapter 421 Team Wiped?
“Sword Tiger Bite!”
Powerful Genesis Qi swept forth as a giant wave of sword light unfurled. The sword light was akin to a
giant tiger lunging with its sinister looking fangs, the combination of ferocity and deadly sharpness
powerful enough to crush a mountain.
Sword light swept forth along with an unmatched aura of sharpness as it furiously slashed down towards
the confident looking Yang Xuan.
“Daluo Mystic Gold Palm!”
A petite figure followed behind the sword light like a shadow. Her hand was suffused with golden light as
it thrust forward, palm winds akin to thunder that caused even space itself to ripple a little.
Both Bai Li and Qin Hai had pushed their battle power to the limit at this moment.
The duo’s ferocious attacks were reflected in Yang Xuan’s pupils, the incoming force making his hair
dance in the wind. However, not even the smallest ripple could be seen in his eyes. Instead, there was a
sliver of mockery.
Yang Xuan shook his head slightly, before he took a step forward and stretched out his hands. Surging
Genesis Qi rose, forming a foot wide circle of light.
The glowing disk was covered in countless mysterious patterns, making it an extremely mystical sight.
“Sacred Disk Technique!”
Bang!
The the giant tiger like sword light slammed into the sacred disk. The disk immediately began to spin as a
terrifying power was unleashed, shattering the formidable sword light.
Boom!
A hand suffused with golden light swatted downwards, cracks appearing in space itself as if it were made
from glass. In the end, the palm also slammed into the sacred disk.
Yang Xuan twisted his palm as the sacred disk began to spin in reverse.
Dong!
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The power from the reverse spin shattered the golden light on Bai Li’s hand. The faint sound of bone
crunching was heard as pain flashed across her pretty face.
Her figure was sent flying, smashing into a hill, causing it to crumble.
Urgh.
A mouthful of blood was spat out from her mouth.
Qin Hai hurriedly began to descend when he saw this. The moment he moved, however, Yang Xuan’s
figure had already appeared behind him like a phantom. A fist was sent out along with a torrent of
Genesis Qi akin to a roaring giant python.
Qin Hai hastily turned around and crossed his arms in front of him. Genesis Qi frantically surged out,
transforming into layer after layer of defense.
Boom!
However, his Genesis Qi defenses were instantly blown apart. Qin Hai paled, vomiting a mouthful of fresh
blood as his figure was sent shooting backwards.
It had only taken a short period for the two of them to be seriously injured.
In the air, Yang Xuan stood with his hands behind his back, looking down upon the two of them from
above as he smiled and said, “I told you that you will only humiliate yourselves, but you just refused to
believe me.”
Bai Li’s eyes were spitting fire as she glared at Yang Xuan while shakily struggling to her feet.
Yang Xuan merely smiled slightly when he saw this. “How tenacious.”
With a flick of his finger, a blast of Genesis Qi shot out like a cannonball and smashed into Bai Li’s
shoulder. Blood sprayed in the air as she was sent flying again.
“Yang Xuan!” With mad roar, Qin Hai charged towards Yang Xuan.
However, Yang Xuan did not even turn around, merely waving his sleeve as a torrent of powerful Genesis
Qi flooded out, blowing away the charging Qin Hai.
Qin Hai was once again sent flying backwards as he vomited another mouthful of blood.
Qin Hai body was embedded into a boulder as he vomited another two mouthfuls of blood. The intense
pain from his entire body caused his eyes to gradually dim while feeling of powerlessness rose within
him.
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He knew that even after joining forces, Bai Li and himself were not Yang Xuan’s match.
He bitterly shook his head as he mumbled in a low and hoarse voice, “Senior sister Li, senior brother Zhao
Zhu, we’ve… done our best.”
While the Wang Chi duo were facing off against the Li Qingchan duo, they heard Qin Hai’s hoarse voice
from the communication jade, causing their hearts to sink.
The situation over there was obviously very terrible.
The iciness in Li Qingchan’s eyes was nearly about to solidify into a block of ice. However, she really could
not think of any solution. After all, Wang Chi and Cao Jinzhu were not to be underestimated, and if they
truly wanted to delay herself and Zhao Zhu, there was nothing the two of them could do about it.
“Hehe, no need to be too hung up about it, we’re just following orders too. If both of you retreat, we will
not touch the last two hundred miles of territory you guys still have.” Wang Chi smiled at Li Qingchan.
Li Qingchan replied in a voice so cold that it cut straight into the bone, “I do hope that you guys will try,
and see who ends up paying a more painful price in the end.”
Feeling the murder from Li Qingchan’s voice, Wang Li waved his hands and said with a smile, “Peace,
peace. No need to go so far for a mere few hundred miles of essence flame vein.”
Li Qingchan’s gaze was ice-cold. By this time, it was no longer about how many much of the essence flame
vein they occupied, but how the Sacred Palace intended to humiliate the Cangxuan Sect!
Even if she knew this, she was powerless with regards to the current situation, and could only boil with
anger inside.
At the mouth of the volcano.
Elder Wu watched the situation grow increasingly unfavorable towards them as his face filled with rage.
He could hear the whispers from the other factions, and the strange looks in their eyes when they looked
towards him.
These gazes suddenly made elder Wu’s heart shiver a little as he abruptly realized something. His chilling
gaze immediately looked towards the Sacred Palace elder. It seemed that the Sacred Palace was planning
on sticking their hand into the Black Flame Province.
This was why they had been so secretive. It was all for the sake of stepping on the Cangxuan Sect’s face in
front of the many factions of the Black Flame Province to both awe and intimidate them.
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After all, if even a hegemon level sect like the Cangxuan Sect were to repeatedly suffer at the hands of
Sacred Palace, it would show just how powerful they were.
With this opening, numerous options would open up for the Sacred Palace to ‘invade’ the Black Flame
Province, ultimately turning this area into another base of operations for them...
Such ambition was not small at tall.
“How scheming of them!”
Elder Wu’s expression darkened, unable to release the stifling frustration and anger in his heart. Even if
he now know what they were up to, he was powerless to do anything. After all, he could not interfere or it
would become a clash of an even higher level.
Crack.
Yang Xuan cracked his neck, a look of what appeared to be pity in his eyes as he looked at the Bai Li duo,
who were now incapable of even standing. He shifted his gaze to another direction, finding that things
were not going well either for the other Cangxuan Sect disciples. The Sacred Palace side had the
advantage of numbers after all.
If this continued, the Cangxuan Sect would soon face complete defeat.
Yangxuan chuckled at the Bai Li duo, as he said with some melancholy, “It appears that your entire
Cangxuan Sect team will soon be wiped out…”
*Spit*
Bai Li spat out an arrow of blood that contained some Genesis Qi. The arrow cut through the air, viciously
shooting towards Yang Xuan’s face.
The Genesis Qi in Yang Xuan’s body instantly created shield around him.
The Genesis Qi in the blood arrow was scattered, but a few drops still managed to splash onto Yang
Xuan’s handsome face.
He frowned as he wiped away the blood on his face before he smiled helplessly and said, “Although killing
you will cause me a bit of trouble, you shouldn’t blame me after doing that.”
A helpless look rose in his eyes as Genesis Qi converged on his hand. It turned into a glowing Genesis Qi
spear, the tip flickering with an icy light.
Swish!
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Yang Xuan was expressionless as he flung the spear. It swiftly shot forth, heading straight for Bai Li’s
head.
Bai Li gritted her teeth, refusing to close her eyes as she fearlessly glared at the incoming spear.
“Senior sister Bai Li!” A Cangxuan Sect disciple cried out nearby.
Swish!
The glowing Genesis Qi spear rapidly grow in Bai Li’s eyes. An instant before it landed, countless glowing
white threads suddenly surged over from above, forming a white net that rapidly interweaved in front of
Bai Li.
Ch!
The spear struck the net, making it stretch at a disturbingly alarming angle.
However, the spear slowly came to a stop half a finger from Bai Li’s face. A wave of sharpness blew out
from the glowing spear, cutting a tiny wound between her brows.
The faint feeling of pain from between her brows caused Bai Li to return to her senses. She abruptly
raised her head, only to discover that a black brush had appeared above her at some unknown time. The
snow-white brush hairs at its tip weaved downwards, creating a white net in front of her body that had
helped her block the fatal blow...
Yang Xuan was also stunned by this scene. Soon after, he helplessly chuckled as he tilted his head
backwards, looking towards a certain spot behind him as he said, “Looks like another death seeker has
rushed all the way here. Your Cangxuan Sect is truly amusing.”
A slim figure was gradually revealed, his ethereal body slowly growing clearer and clearer as he walked
towards them.
Bai Li stared at the figure in a daze.
“Zhou… Zhou Yuan?”
Her expression changed drastically a split second later as she anxiously shouted, “Are you an idiot? Quick!
Leave!”
Even she and Qin Hai had been defeated. What else could Zhou Yuan possibly achieve here besides being
quickly dealt with? He would only be an extra side dish!
She never imagined that the safely hiding Zhou Yuan would walk straight into their enemy’s net. This was
far too irrational.
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Zhou Yuan smiled at Bai Li, but did not reply to her. Instead, his gaze turned towards the confident
looking Yang Xuan as he beckoned with his hand. The Heavenly Yuan Brush swiftly returned, before
being raised into the air, directed straight at the latter.
“Ain’t I still here… isn’t it a little too early for you to talk about wiping out the entire team?”
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Chapter 422 Want to Die?
Heat rose from the vast red land. All of a sudden, rushing wind noises were heard as a number of figures
flew over, ultimately stopping outside the battlefield.
These figures belonged to members of the other factions in the core region. As time passed, the various
fights had reached a result, and after hearing that the Sacred Palace and the Cangxuan Sect were facing off
here, they had swarmed over like flies in hopes of catching an exciting battle between titans.
The junior sect master of the Flame Cauldron Sect, Su Duan and Zuoqiu Qingyu was also amongst this
crowd.
As such, they were soon treated to the sight of Zhou Yuan stepping into the battlefield...
Zuoqiu Qingyu’s expression was the first to change, a look of worry flashing in her eyes. She never
imagined Zhou Yuan would so foolishly charge in.
One must know that the Sacred Palace clearly had the absolute upper hand, and Yang Xuan was just too
overwhelmingly powerful.
Even the Cangxuan Sect’s Bai Li and Qin Hai had been defeated. What could Zhou Yuan possibly change?
Yang Xuan was obviously far more powerful than the likes of Su Duan...
In contrast to Zuoqiu Qingyu’s worry, a look of joy arose in Su Duan’s eyes. He had been taught a lesson
by Zhou Yuan earlier, making him too afraid to provoke the latter again. But if he could see someone else
take care of Zhou Yuan, it would naturally relieve some of the pent up frustration in his heart.
“Humph, that ignorant and arrogant fool. Do you think Yang Xuan can be challenged by the likes of you?”
Far away, Li Qingchan also heard the voice from the communication jade. Her pupils immediately shrank
as she said, “Zhou Yuan? What the hell are you doing here!”
There was a trace of fury in her voice. The situation was already extremely terrible, and blindly charging
in like this was obviously very idiotic of Zhou Yuan.
After all, someone like him would only be a burden in a fight of this level.
Her figure paused in mid-air as she peered into the distance. Spirit light surged in her eyes, immediately
allowing her to see the battlefield far away.
She immediately caught sight of Zhou Yuan who had just stepped into the battlefield.
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Zhou Yuan voice was transmitted from the communication jade, “Senior sister Qingchan… I’m still a
member of the Cangxuan Sect. Hiding outside at such a time won’t look good at all.”
Li Qingchan was a little stunned. Soon after, she let out a bitter laugh. Zhou Yuan’s intentions may be
good, but reality was often cruel.
“Humph, your good intentions will only end up making things worse. If you’re not capable enough, don’t
try and dabble in affairs beyond your level. Otherwise, it will only cause more harm than good.” Zhao
Zhu’s voice suddenly sounded, clearly in disapproval of Zhou Yuan’s appearance.
From what he could see, Zhou Yuan’s foolish actions would only build up Yang Xuan’s reputation even
more.
Just as Zhao Zhu was about to speak again, Li Qingchan suddenly stuck her hand out to stop him.
Li Qingchan slowly said, “Zhou Yuan, this is your decision, and you must know that there will be a price
to pay. Yang Xuan is very ruthless, so you’d better be careful. If you are not his match, retreat as fast as
you can.”
“Understood.” Answered Zhou Yuan with a smile, before the communication jade fell silence once more.
Zhao Zhu appeared beside Li Qingchan, looking towards her as he said in a low voice, “Zhou Yuan is too
ignorant, and you should never have brought him along on this mission. If any other veteran disciple had
taken his place, things might not have gotten so bad.”
Li Qingchan flatly said, “Even Bai Li and Qin Hai’s combined might lost to Yang Xuan. Do you think having
an additional veteran disciple would make a difference?”
She paused for a moment, before casting her gaze into the distance to look at a certain young figure.
“Zhou Yuan is not a rash person. The fact that he chose to appear here might mean that he has some kind
of plan. What if a miracle happens?”
Although she knew that the odds of such a miracle was far too low, this was the only way left to console
herself.
The corners of Zhao Zhu’s mouth turned downwards when he heard this, most likely feeling that Li
Qingchan was being far too naive.
“A miracle? How? What that turtle shell of his?”
He shook his head, his voice full of mockery.
Li Qingchan did not respond. She shot a glance to the front where Wang Chi and Cao Jinzhu were still
obstructing their way as her expression gradually turned to calmness.
2135
However, there was a certain resolve within that calmness.
She had already decided that if the situation became even worse over there, no matter how steep of a
price they would have to pay today, she will drag the other party to the grave even if she had to sacrifice
herself.
This matter now infringed upon the reputation of the Cangxuan Sect, and she would protect it even if she
had to pay with her life.
Elder Wu was also stunned for quite some time when he saw Zhou Yuan suddenly appear and insert
himself into the battle. In the end, elder Wu could only secretly simmer inside. “This Zhou Yuan is really
an ignorant idiot!”
Though elder Wu did admire Zhou Yuan just a tiny bit for how he had chosen to bravely step forward in
this situation, he was ultimately far too weak. At the end of the day, he would only make Yang Xuan’s
battle achievements appear even more glorious.
Such actions were truly somewhat unsuitable for the situation.
The other factions also began to whisper again, clearly trying to find out about this new Cangxuan Sect
disciple that had appeared. However, when they realized that he was only at the fourth layer Alpha-
Origin stage, they could not help but be baffled.
When even outstanding disciples like Bai Li and Qin Hai had lost, the appearance of this fourth layer
disciple was only asking for trouble.
As such, they shook their heads one after another. It seems that the Cangxuan Sect was really going to be
knocked a peg down by the Sacred Palace this time.
Under the attention of numerous gazes, Yang Xuan could not help but burst out into laughter when he
heard Zhou Yuan’s words. The former had already withdrawn his gaze, not even bothering to look at
Zhou Yuan again.
“Your fellow Cangxuan Sect disciple is quite an interesting guy…”
He grinned at the deathly pale Bai Li and Qin Hai, before waving towards one of the Sacred Palace
disciples nearby. “Take care of him. I feel breaking one of his legs is enough to teach him a little lesson.”
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He could not even be bothered to personally deal with Zhou Yuan. In Yang Xuan’s opinion, that was too
huge of an honor for a mere fourth layer disciple.
The Sacred Palace disciple he gave the instructions to was a seventh layer Alpha-Origin stage expert,
whose Genesis Qi undulations appeared to be even stronger than Su Duan’s. At this current time, the
Sacred Palace disciple was smiling sinisterly as he looked towards Zhou Yuan.
“Kid, no one would have bothered to deal with you if you had obediently hidden outside, and yet you just
had to blindly run here like an ignorant fool. You really can’t blame us for what’s about to happen.”
Rumble!
A burst of vigorous Genesis Qi exploded as the Sacred Palace disciple shot forth like a bolt of lightning,
heading straight for Zhou Yuan.
As Yang Xuan felt the burst of Genesis Qi behind him, he began to walk towards Bai Li and Qin Hai again.
He intended to utterly crush them such that the mere thought of him would make them tremble in fear.
An eerie smile slowly appeared on his lips.
Dong!
However, the moment he lifted his foot, the sound of Genesis Qi colliding was heard from behind,
followed almost instantly by a miserable shriek.
A shadow flew past him, before crashing into a group of boulders, nearly the entire body buried under
the rubble.
This unexpected event stunned everyone. They quickly looked towards the rubble, only to find an
extremely pitiful blood-soaked figure.
Bai Li, Qin Hai and gang were initially filled with rage when they turned towards the figure, before
suddenly realizing that something was wrong. That was not Zhou Yuan!
But the Sacred Palace disciple?!
Yang Xuan’s foot slowly came to a stop at this moment. He was silent for a moment as he gazed at the
bloody body of the Sacred Palace disciple, before slowly turning around.
He was just in time to see a slim figure weilding a black brush slowly walk out from the crumbled remains
of the ground.
Bai Li and Qin Hai’s pupils abruptly shrank.
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They were truly unable to believe that it only taken Zhou Yuan one move to defeat a seventh layer Sacred
Palace disciple.
The surroundings had fallen rather silent.
One could imagine the countless gazes filled with astonishment as they watched this scene.
The situation seemed to have developed in quite a different direction than they had imagined.
“Shouldn’t you at least respect me a little? Do you really think that I’m just another dish for you to eat?”
Zhou Yuan smiled at Yang Xuan.
Yang Xuan was silent for a moment, before he nodded with a smile.
“How interesting… can’t believe that I made such a mistake…”
“Over the years, I’ve always been rather fond of disguising myself as a sheep to devour the wolves. I never
expected to meet someone whose even better than myself this time…”
He sighed, staring at Zhou Yuan as he said in a rather regretful voice,
“I originally intended on breaking only one of your legs, but it now seems… that you really…”
“Want to die?”
Towards the end, Yang Xuan’s expression turned chillingly eerie, a sight so frightening it would make the
hairs of anyone who saw it stand on end.
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Chapter 423 Zhou Yuan VS Yang Xuan
By the time the final word was spat out from Yang Xuan’s mouth, his previously smiling face had already
transformed into an eerily chilling expression. Even the temperature seemed to abruptly plummet at this
moment.
Anyone could sense the piercingly cold killing intent spreading from Yang Xuan’s eyes.
He was clearly both embarrassed and angered by his earlier error in judgement. From start to end, he had
never paid much attention to Zhou Yuan, merely viewing the latter as an ant that could be easily
squashed whenever he wanted to.
However, the fact that Zhou Yuan had defeated that Sacred Palace disciple in a single exchange was
already enough proof that was not as weak as Yang Xuan had imagined.
The feeling of something leaving his control made murder surge in Yang Xuan’s heart.
Others in the vicinity were likewise able to sense the murder in Yang Xuan’s eyes, causing them to
immediately cast gloating gazes at Zhou Yuan. It seems that this guy had managed to completely enrage
Yang Xuan.
Zhou Yuan’s expression was unexpectedly calm. As his gaze clashed with Yang Xuan’s, even the air itself
seemed to solidify.
Extremely powerful Genesis Qi began to rise from Yang Xuan’s body. His Genesis Qi had an ash-like luster,
and gave off a strangely ominous aura.
Yang Xuan’s Genesis Qi undulations rose steadily, bringing with it a tremendous pressure.
In a short few breaths, the Genesis Qi undulations around Yang Xuan reached the peak of the perfect
seventh layer as the ground below his feet gradually began to crack...
Boom!
In the next instant, Yang Xuan made his move. Ash-white Genesis Qi swept forth like a raging flood. The
Genesis Qi was akin to a roaring white python, snaking and coiling in the air around Zhou Yuan with a
swoosh.
An ominously icy aura spread.
Countless long Genesis Qi needles slowly began to form from within the ash-white Genesis Qi. These
needles were half a foot long, an ominously icy aura swirling around their thin, pale white bodies.
“Bone Needle Storm!”
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A cold and cruel look filled Yang Xuan’s face as he slapped his hands together. One could only watch as
the countless bone needles abruptly descended like a storm, covering every inch of visible space in a
certain area at which Zhou Yuan stood at the center.
Yang Xuan clearly had no intentions of engaging in any form of probing, giving Zhou Yuan no chance to
evade from the get go.
These bone needles were not only made from his Genesis Qi, but also infused with remnant bone marrow
from numerous Genesis Beasts. Hence, they possessed a kind of death Qi that was extremely corrosive in
nature. Once struck by the needles, the death Qi would quickly spread throughout the body while causing
widespread destruction, making it an extremely vicious and domineering attack.
As such, when the onlookers saw Yang Xuan unleash such a deadly move at the very start, they secretly
wet their lips, pitying Zhou Yuan a little more in their hearts.
Zhou Yuan raised his head and looked at the ash-white shadows that practically filled his entire vision.
His eyes narrowed slightly as he felt the ominously cold aura swirling around them, before his hands
abruptly slapped together.
Resplendent golden Genesis Qi exploded from his body.
It looked as if a golden python was dashing into the air, before swooping down to coil around Zhou
Yuan’s body like a giant golden bell.
“Mystical Python’s Great Golden Bell!”
In the wake of Zhou Yuan’s shout, a giant golden bell enveloped his body.
Swish!
Countless ash-white needles fell like rain, bombarding the golden bell, creating an unending stream of
clear ‘cling clang’ noises.
The ground within a fifty feet radius was riddled with pitch-black holes, each hole so deep that its bottom
could not be seen. Meanwhile, the smell of decay spread as wisps of black smoke rose from the land that
was previously brimming with vitality.
The rising black smoke partially obstructed everyone’s view.
The ash-white needles continued their assault for quite some time, before the last needle finally fell.
Countless gazes were immediately cast over.
“Zhou Yuan has likely been pierced by ten thousand needles…”
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“Only a handful of individuals amongst the seventh layer will be able to survive this attack. That fourth
layer Zhou Yuan must surely have met a pitiful end.”
“……”
Numerous whispers spread. Everyone was clearly in awe of Yang Xuan’s overwhelming attack.
Zuoqiu Qingyu’s hands were tighly clenched, her clear peach blossom like eyes filled with worry.
Excitement was revealed in Su Duan’s eyes as he gnashed his teeth and said, “Let’s see how you’ll survive
this!”
Under the innumerable watching gazes of the crowd, the black smoke was gradually blown away as
glimmers of faint golden light appeared. A golden bell silently towered within the fading smoke, covered
in ash-white bone needles like a porcupine. These needles only managed to penetrate half way through,
unable to completely pierce through the defenses of golden bell...
Numerous pupils shrank slightly at this moment as many individuals involuntarily blurted out, “Such a
strong defense?!”
The golden bell’s defense had clearly surpassed their expectations.
Bai Li, who had been closely watching from start to end, breathed a sigh of relief. Zhou Yuan’s turtle shell
was thankfully as sturdy and solid as before.
Yang Xuan was also a little taken aback, seemingly unable to comprehend why his attack had failed. In the
end, he shook his head and said, “No wonder you had the balls to come here. So it’s because of this
defense Genesis technique?”
Zhou Yuan’s defense technique was admittedly rather extraordinary to have blocked Yang Xuan’s strike.
However, though it had managed to withstand the barrage once, would it be able to hold up a second
time?
Rumble!
However, the moment his voice rang out, the golden bell abruptly dissipated as a faint dragon roar
echoed. Nine Genesis Beasts made from Genesis Qi dashed into the sky, rippling with savage auras.
“Nine Dragons Canon, ninth dragon!”
Nine Genesis Qi Beasts swiftly fused into one. The giant behemoth roared as it dived downwards,
charging towards Yang Xuan with unmatched ferocity.
Zhou Yuan had evidently begun his counter attack.
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Not a single ripple could be seen in Yang Xuan’s eyes as watched the enormous Genesis Qi Beast rapidly
approach. Instead, a small mocking smile began to rise from the corners of his mouth.
He extended a hand, ash-white Genesis Qi swirling on his palm as he sent a thrust towards the roaring
Genesis Qi Beast.
Boom!
A devastating shockwave unfurled as cracks rapidly grew from under his feet like a spiderweb...
Yang Xuan’s figure was unmoved from the spot.
In contrast, the Genesis Qi Beast that had been forced to a stop by his palm released a miserable howl,
before exploding into a million specks of light.
The watching onlookers sucked in a breath of cold air, nearly unable to believe how overwhelming Yang
Xuan was...
Zhou Yuan’s counter attack had been nothing but praise worthy. Even so, it had failed to even shake Yuan
Xuan’s body. Instead, it had ended up being scattered with a single thrust of his palm.
The Genesis Qi of both parties were on completely different levels.
Yang Xuan raised his eyelids slightly, the contempt in his smile growing as his chilling gaze locked onto
Zhou Yuan.
“Is this all you have?”
Zhou Yuan’s eyes widened a little. This was the first time his opponent had so easily neutralized the ninth
dragon. Yang Xuan was indeed an overwhelmingly powerful foe.
No wonder even Bai Li and Qin Hai’s combined might had been crushed at Yang Xuan’s hands.
“If that is all you have, your fate today… will be rather gruesome.” Only indifference was visible in Yang
Xuan’s gaze as he stared at Zhou Yuan.
Swish!
Before his words could fade, Zhou Yuan’s figure had already etherealized as he shot forward like a wisp of
smoke.
Disdain flashed in Yang Xuan’s eyes at the sight of Zhou Yuan stubborn persistence.
“Fine, if you insist on seeking death, I shall gladly fulfil your wish…”
2142
Ash-white Genesis Qi surged between his palms, pulsing with alarming undulations.
All it took was a few breaths for Zhou Yuan to appear in front of his opponent, his expression
frighteningly calm as his hand tightened around the rapidly growing Heavenly Yuan Brush.
The snow-white brush tip curved at a sharp angle, tricky and ruthless as it thrust towards Yang Xuan’s
throat.
As the snow-white tip cut through the air, a soft voice sounded in Zhou Yuan’s heart.
“Heavenly Yuan Brush, Genesis Breaker!”
An ancient rune on the brush’s mottled body slowly began to light up. Glowing black runes rapidly
emerged and extended on the snow-white tip, turning it pitch-black in the blink of an eye.
Black light streaked past, along with a cryptic, unreadable light.
The Heavenly Yuan Brush had withdrawn all of its sharpness, seemingly returning to a state of
ordinariness. However, Yang Xuan’s eyes suddenly widened at this instant, his instinct whispering that
something was off.
The reflection of a pitch-black brush tip rapidly grew in his pupils.
He suddenly twirled his hands a split second later, ash-white Genesis Qi erupting out to form a glowing
circle.
“Sacred Disk Technique!”
Chla!
A flash of black arrived the moment the disk was formed, the brush tip stabbing the glowing disk.
Black light seemed to surge at the point of contact.
Next, Yang Xuan’s pupils violently shrank as he watched the black tip of the brush tear through the
glowing disk as if it was thin paper.
“How?!”
He involuntarily cried out in his heart. Even the Bai Li duo had been unable to break the Sacred Disk
Technique earlier. Why had it been so easily pierced by the fourth layer Zhou Yuan?
The flash of black went directly for Yang Xuan’s throat. At this juncture of life and death, Yang Xuan
violently jerked his hands as the Sacred Disk Technique abruptly began spinning in reverse. An even
stronger surge of power blasted out, ultimately managing to nudge the black flash at the final moment.
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A wave of Genesis Qi unfurled, devastating the surroundings.
Two figures crossed each other, exchanging places.
Not a single one of the countless gazes blinked as they watched.
Next, grasp after gasp was heard. They had seen fresh blood dripping from the tip of the black brush in
Zhou Yuan’s hands.
A sinister looking wound had appeared on Yang Xuan’s shoulder, the blood instantly soaking into his
clothes.
An uproar exploded, sweeping across the entire place.
No one had expected Yang Xuan… to be injured by Zhou Yuan!
Behind the two fighters, Bai Li and Qin Hai were also dumbstruck as they stared at this scene. Their bitter
struggle against Yang Xuan earlier had not yielded even a single wound from him. On the other hand,
Zhou Yuan had made Yang Xuan see blood in a short span of time!
“How can this be?!” They stared in shock at Zhou Yuan’s figure.
Zhou Yuan lowered his head to glance the blood on the tip of his brush, as a sliver of regret flashed in his
eyes. He had originally planned on piercing Yang Xuan’s throat. Unfortunately, the latter was just too
slippery, managing to deflect the trajectory of Zhou Yuan’s thrust at the very last moment.
Fresh blood splattered onto the ground with a light shake of the Heavenly Yuan Brush.
He did not look back at Yang Xuan as he said, “It seems that you’ll have to work a little harder if you want
me to die here…”
Under the attention of the innumerable watching gazes, Yang Xuan slowly turned his head to look at the
wound on his shoulder. His face seemed to twitch faintly as an extremely vicious and sinister look flooded
out little by little.
“I’m going to…”
“cripple you today!”
Rumble!
The murderous rage felt almost solid as it charged into the sky, causing the hearts of countless
individuals to shiver as dread rose in their eyes.
Yang Xuan seemed to have gone mad with anger.
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Chapter 424 Zhou Yuan’s Prowess
Rumble!
Wave after wave of ominous ash-white Genesis Qi violently pulsed from Yang Xuan’s body. A pillar of
Genesis Qi light rose into the sky like smoke, seemingly filled with howls of death.
The expressions of the numerous onlookers changed slightly when they felt the unmatched power of the
Genesis Qi, gazes filled with fear and terror as they looked towards Yang Xuan.
Bai Li could not help but shout from behind, “Careful Zhou Yuan!”
It was obvious that Yang Xuan had already gone mad with anger.
After the previous exchange, even Bai Li had no choice but to admit that Yang Xuan was indeed an
extremely troublesome opponent. What’s more, it was more than likely that the latter had not once been
completely serious against Qin Hai and her earlier.
But now, after sustaining an injury from Zhou Yuan due to carelessness, Yang Xuan was now in a state of
full on rage.
Woowoo!
Yang Xuan’s chillingly eerie gaze locked onto Zhou Yuan as his hands clapped together and formed a hand
seal. The ash-white Genesis Qi in the sky immediately crashed down like a wave, its immensity and
vastness shaking even the land itself.
Moreover, countless shadows seemed to be swimming within this Genesis Qi torrent, some appearing like
beasts, while others appearing human like. It was a very bizarre sight indeed.
The Genesis Qi Yang Xuan cultivated was known as the Thousand Bone Genesis Qi, and required one to
fuse the death Qi from numerous bones with one’s body. The Genesis Qi formed by this process contained
death Qi, which was able to swiftly decay the flesh of anyone it infected, making it extremely domineering
in nature.
Swish!
Zhou Yuan's eyes widened slightly as he raised his head to gaze at the howling flood of ash-white Genesis
Qi. In the next instant, his foot slammed into the ground, unexpectedly neither trying to avoid nor dodge,
but instead leaping up to meet it head-on.
The Heavenly Yuan Brush in his hands vibrated as the surrounding Genesis Qi whizzed over and poured
into the brush.
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Meanwhile, Zhou Yuan’s Genesis Qi undulations began to rise at a steady pace.
Zhou Yuan was a fourth layer Alpha-Origin stage expert, and even if his foundations were comparable to
the seventh layer, there was still a gap between him and the perfect seventh layer Yang Xuan.
However, with the boost from the newly upgraded Heavenly Yuan Brush, Zhou Yuan was in a way already
able to match Yang Xuan in Genesis Qi.
Ch!
The thousand feet wide Genesis Qi flood descended, making Zhou Yuan’s figure appear like an ant in
comparison. However, he showed no fear as he jerked the Heavenly Yuan Brush, causing its snow-white
tip to gradually turn pitch-black again. A deep, cryptic light gathered, a sign that Genesis Breaker’s power
was being activated once more.
“Break!”
The pitch-black brush tip thrust towards the Genesis Qi flood. The entire world seemed to fall silent for
an instant, before countless gazes watched in shock as the giant Genesis Qi flood began to fall apart.
Zhou Yuan’s figure continued its ascent, destroying the ash-white Genesis Qi wherever he passed.
With the power of Genesis Breaker, as long as the other party did not have an absolute advantage in
Genesis Qi, all their Genesis Qi attacks would become substantially weaker.
Humph!
Yang Xuan’s expression turned even darker when he saw this. His hand seal changed and several torrents
Genesis Qi immediately surged forth, linking up end to end as they blasted at Zhou Yuan in succession.
Yang Xuan was obviously refusing to believe this was happening.
Zhou Yuan’s figure flashed past in the sky as the Heavenly Yuan Brush shuddered. Brush shadows pierced
through the air, each one striking and tearing through a torrent of Genesis Qi.
Surprise appeared in the countless gazes watching the figure flicker in the sky above. No one expected the
fourth layer Alpha-Origin Zhou Yuan to be capable of scattering all of Yang Xuan’s Genesis Qi attacks.
Far away, light surged in Li Qingchan’s eyes as these scenes also entered her sight, causing a look of
amazement to appear on her beautiful face.
“How did Zhou Yuan suddenly become so powerful?”
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She mumbled to herself. The current Zhou Yuan was clearly much stronger than when they had left the
Cangxuan Sect. Given his strength back then, it would have been nearly impossible for him to receive a
single one of these attacks.
By the side, Zhao Zhu’s expression fluctuated indeterminately. In his opinion, though Zhou Yuan was very
prominent amongst the newest batch of disciples, this was only limited to ‘ordinary’ disciples. In fact, it
should take him several years to establish a place for himself amongst the purple sash disciples.
However, who could have guessed that Zhou Yuan was actually capable of going toe to toe with the
perfect seventh layer Yang Xuan. This was inconceivable to Zhao Zhu.
After some observation, Li Qingchan finally understood as she muttered in a soft voice, “It must be that
black brush he’s using…”
“If my guess is not wrong, that black brush has likely reached the Heaven Genesis Weapon level.”
The Genesis Qi surrounding Zhou Yuan’s body was indeed weaker than Yang Xuan’s, but the brush
wielded by the former was extremely bizarre, and seemed to possess a unique power that allowed Zhou
Yuan to repeatedly achieve the greatest power with the smallest effort, destroying all of his opponent’s
Genesis Qi attacks.
“A Heaven Genesis Weapon?”
Zhao Zhu was taken aback. A Heaven Genesis Weapon was no ordinary item. Even in the Cangxuan Sect,
only Chosens like them would be bestowed one by the sect.
As for ordinary disciples, even those with powerful backgrounds may not own such a weapon of that
level.
“So that’s how…”
...
The numerous factions watched the images reflected on their Genesis Qi screens as they gasped in
surprise and alarm. The development of the situation had evidently surpassed their expectations.
Elder Wu was like somewhat rather stupefied as he watched.
“This kid…”
His old face filled with astonishment as he watched Zhou Yuan shatter powerful Genesis Qi light pillar
after pillar. The elder would never have imagined that when it seemed as if all hope was lost, the one who
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would step forward to save them, would be the same person he had sent away from the core region at the
very beginning...
“How is he actually so powerful?” Elder Wu could not help but mutter. Zhou Yuan was clearly only at the
fourth layer Alpha-Origin stage, and yet he was somehow able to exchange blow after blow with Yang
Xuan.
After observing for a long time, his gaze ultimately focused on the black brush in Zhou Yuan’s hands.
“No wonder…”
It had obviously realized something.
However, elder Wu did not care how Zhou Yuan had done it, because only result mattered. As such, a
sliver of expectation began to appear in the elder’s gaze as he continued to watch Zhou Yuan’s figure.
The only thing he could do now was hope for the best, and pray that Zhou Yuan would succeed in
stopping Yang Xuan.
Elder Wu did not expect Zhou Yuan to defeat Yang Xuan, but hoped he could at least hold off the latter as
long as possible. This would create some breathing room for the others, and prevent them from being put
into an even more miserable situation.
“Kid… you gotta do your best. If you managed to stall Yang Xuan long enough, I’ll give you an excellent
evaluation after this mission is over!”
...
Bang! Bang!
Torrent after torrent of ash-white Genesis Qi continued to descend from the sky. Each powerful blast
packed with enough destructive energy to level an entire mountain.
However, Zhou Yuan’s figure continued to zip about amongst them, torrent after torrent of Genesis Qi
scattering with each point of the black brush, making it appear as easy as cutting through butter with a
hot knife.
Yang Xuan’s expression grew stormier and stormier.
Even Bai Li and Qin Hai together had been unable to withstand this same barrage of Genesis Qi attacks
earlier. And yet, they seemed to pose no threat towards Zhou Yuan.
“Is it that black brush…” His dark gaze locked onto the mysterious mottled black brush in Zhou Yuan’s
hands.
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Bang!
Another blast of Genesis Qi was pierced. Iciness flashed in Zhou Yuan’s eyes as his figure instantly
etherealized, seemingly teleporting as he appeared behind Yang Xuan like a phantom.
“Genesis Breaker!”
A mysterious light surfaced on the pitch-black brush tip, rippling even space itself as it passed through.
The sharp tip thrust towards a fatal spot on Yang Xuan’s back at an extremely crafty angle.
Pah!
Yang Xuan’s palms slapped together as ash-white Genesis Qi surged out, creating several layers of thick
Genesis Qi defenses around his body.
Pchla!
However, the brush tip that pulsed with black light quickly swept past, tearing through each layer as if
they were thin pieces of paper.
“Now!”
Sharpness gathered in Zhou Yuan’s eyes as he jerked his fist, causing the brush tip to transform into a
streak of black aimed straight at Yang Xuan’s fatal spot.
Gasp after gasp sounded in the area. Zhou Yuan had finally found a chance after waiting for so long, and
clearly planned on seriously injuring Yang Xuan with this strike.
Bai Li, Qin Hai and the rest of the Cangxuan Sect disciples had eyes wide open.
Whoo!
The brush tip swept past.
However, a split second before it could pierce Yang Xuan’s body, an ash-white shadow suddenly flew over
and collided against the brush tip.
Clang!
Sparks flew in all directions.
Berserk Genesis Qi shockwaves erupted, scattering even the nearby clouds.
Zhou Yuan’s pupils shrank slightly at this moment.
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The jolt from the brush tip caused a feeling of pain to be transmitted from his hands. His unstoppable
momentum had finally been stopped...
He raised his eyes, looking towards the end of the brush tip, where a bone whip was blocking it.
The bone whip had a deathly pale sheen, and strange patterns had been carved on along its body. Every
slight movement seemed cause a piercing shriek to be emitted from it.
The surrounding Genesis Qi surged towards the bone whip.
With the bone whip in hand, Yang Xuan’s aura began to raise to an alarming level.
He lifted his head at this moment, sending a death glare towards the nearby Zhou Yuan as an eerily
sinister smile appeared from the corners of his mouth.
“A Heaven Genesis Weapon… did you think that I didn’t have one?!”
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Chapter 425 The Tenaciously Troublesome Yang
Xuan
In the sky, the black Heavenly Yuan Brush had clashed against a deathly white bone whip. The Genesis Qi
undulations that spread caused the space around them to tremble faintly.
Clang!
A burst of Genesis Qi exploded with a jerk of the bone whip, pushing away the Heavenly Yuan Brush along
with Zhou Yuan’s figure.
Yang Xuan did not give chase, merely continuing to stand there in the air as his dark gaze stared at Zhou
Yuan. Ash-white Genesis QI swirled around the bone whip in his hand, as piercing shrieks were emitted.
The aura around him continued to rise.
Countless gazes gathered on Yang Xuan at this moment, ultimately focusing on the deathly white bone
whip in his hand as their eyes widened.
“Another Heaven Genesis Weapon?!”
“My god, to think that Yang Xuan has actually been forced to this extent… even Bai Li and Qin Hai
combined might had failed to achieve this earlier!”
“What a pity. Zhou Yuan had only been so overwhelming earlier because of his Heaven Genesis Weapon.
Since Yang Xuan now has one too, the situation is likely going to change.”
“……”
Amidst the numerous whispers, a grim look appeared in Zhou Yuan’s eyes as he stared at Yang Xuan.
From that brief clash earlier, he could sense that the bone whip in his opponent’s hand had indeed
surpassed the Black Genesis Weapon level.
However, it was not a true Heaven Genesis Weapon.
To be more precise, it could only be considered a quasi-Heaven Genesis Weapon.
Even so, Zhou Yuan’s advantage had begun to fade the moment Yang Xuan took out this weapon. After all,
the Heavenly Yuan Brush’s Genesis Breaker was most effective against pure Genesis Qi attacks.
When pitted against the opponent’s Heaven Genesis Weapon, Genesis Breaker’s power would be much
weaker.
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Zhou Yuan slowly tightened his grip around the Heavenly Yuan Brush as deep night black light flowed on
its pitch-black tip.
Swish!
His eyes suddenly widened a split second later, because Yang Xuan’s figure had abruptly appeared in
front of him. The deathly white bone whip transformed into countless shadows that seemed to fill the sky
as they attacked.
Every whip shadow was accompanied by a sharp shriek that seemed to pierce straight into your ears.
In fact, it even affected the Genesis Qi in one’s body, causing it to become a little chaotic.
Zhou Yuan hurriedly circulated his Genesis Qi in an effort to defend against the piercing shriek. With a
swing, Genesis Qi surged as the Heavenly Yuan Brush rose to meet the attacks.
Clang! Clang!
Two figures danced in the sky like flashes of lightning, countless brush and whip shadows colliding time
and time again. Every clash would cause a thousand feet tall wave of Genesis Qi to erupt that shake the
sky around them.
This clash could be said to have reached the limits of both intensity and ferocity.
This time, however, anyone could see that Zhou Yuan had lost his unstoppable momentum from earlier
against Yang Xuan, who was now armed with a quasi-Heaven Genesis Weapon.
Though Yang Xuan’s bone whip was indeed unable to compare to the Heavenly Yuan Brush in terms of
quality, his Genesis Qi foundation far exceeded Zhou Yuan’s. Hence, after borrowing the power of the
bone whip, the former was once again about to gradually reverse the situation.
Gaze after gaze anxiously watched the battle between the two figures in the sky.
In a short few minutes, they had already exchanged over a hundred blows.
Clang!
After yet another fierce clash, Zhou Yuan’s body was forced backwards, his expression growing
increasingly grave. A Heaven Genesis Weapon was a game changer. Yang Xuan was clearly much harder
to deal with than before.
At this current moment, Zhou Yuan could feel a growing piercing pain from his hands.
“Weren’t you bragging so much earlier?” Yang Xuan looked over as mockery appeared from the corners
of his mouth.
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“It will be better for you to celebrate after we’re done fighting.” Zhou Yuan responded with a cold smile.
“Let’s see how long you can keep up your smart-assness!” An icy look flashed in Yang Xuan’s eyes as the
bone whip in his hand suddenly jerked. The whip dashed into the sky as an icy piercing shriek rang out.
The surrounding Genesis Qi rapidly surged over and poured into the bone whip as a stifling pressure
began to spread.
“Heavenly Bone Whip, Heavenly Bone Phantasm!”
Roared Yang Xuan as he made a hand seal.
Deathly white Genesis Qi exploded from the bone whip, before gathering around the whip to form a giant
phantasm made from white bones.
The phantasm appeared to be some sort of chimera created by the amalgamation of countless humans
and beasts. It was a very strange sight indeed.
Whoowoo!
An alarming amount of Genesis Qi gathered around the titanic bone chimera phantasm. It suddenly made
its move a split second later, diving towards Zhou Yuan at an astonishing speed.
Zhou Yuan’s pupils shrank a little as he looked towards the bone chimera phantasm, evidently sensing
the power of Yang Xuan’s attack.
With a deep breath, Zhou Yuan let go of the Heavenly Yuan Brush. It dashed into the sky as it began
absorbing Genesis Qi. Resplendent golden light immediately exploded from the brush.
“Heavenly Yuan Brush, Million Whale!”
The wail of an ancient whale echoed from the Heavenly Yuan Brush as Zhou Yuan’s hand seal changed,
Genesis Qi surging around the brush like a maelstrom.
An enormous silhouette of a whale appeared, towering above Zhou Yuan’s figure.
Quickly followed by another...
Whale after whale continued to appear, ultimately reaching a total of five!
When the Heavenly Yuan Brush evolved to a Heaven Genesis Weapon, the power of the Million Whale
Rune was also upgraded. At most one whale would appear when used by Zhou Yuan in the past, but that
number had now multiplied five fold!
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Each whale possessed overwhelming power, and with five of them gathered, their combined might was
likely enough to overturn the sea.
In response to Yang Xuan’s increasingly alarming attacks, Zhou Yuan had also begun to use his full power.
“Go!”
Roared Zhou Yuan as the Heavenly Yuan Brush shuddered, releasing a buzzing sound. Next, it pierced
through the air, give whale silhouettes spiraling around it as the wail of a whale filled the land.
Countless gazes watched with rapt attention, unable to turn away.
The giant bone chimera descended from the sky, while the Heavenly Yuan Brush led five whale
silhouettes as it dashed upwards. In the end, both forces fiercely collided under the numerous nervous
watching eyes.
Boom!
A several thousand feet tall shockwave of Genesis Qi exploded. Even the hills some distance away began
to crumble, as giant fissure grew on the land...
In the sky, the whale silhouettes were torn to shreds, while the bone chimera phantasm disintegrated
inch by inch.
As the two closest individuals to the clash, Zhou Yuan and Yang Xuan were the first to be struck. The
terrifying shockwave violently blew them away, flinging their tumbling figures like rag dolls.
In the end, both individuals crash landed onto two red hills.
Rumble!
The two hills collapsed, tumbling boulders burying the two of them.
However, the boulders were sent flying a split second later as two figures dashed into the sky, facing each
other as they landed two still intact hills.
The many onlookers immediately shifted their gazes.
Both individuals now had rather tattered clothes, while traces of blood were visible at the corner of their
mouths. They had evidently sustained some minor injuries in the previous clash.
Unexpectedly, both of them appeared to be equally match.
An uproar swept across the area, gaze after gaze filled with shock as they stared at Zhou Yuan’s figure...
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They had originally believed that Yang Xuan would soon turn things around after taking out a quasi-
Heaven Genesis Weapon. Who could have expected that Zhou Yuan would be so tenacious, forcibly taking
on each and every one of Yang Xuan’s powerful attacks.
In the sky far away, a look of joy flashed across Li Qingchan’s face when she saw this result, the frosty
look that originally filled her face thawing a little at this moment.
“He really is full of surprises.” She sofly mumbled under her breath. There was a hint of praise in her
words.
By the side, Zhao Zhu frowned a little as he said, “I’m afraid he may already be on his last dregs.”
Li Qingchan frowned slightly as she replied, “Junior brother Zhao Zhu, although Zhou Yuan may have
some disagreements with your Sword Cometh Peak, we should be united against the outsiders at this
time. I hope that you will stop with your pessimistic remarks, because neither of us will be able to escape
punishment if Zhou Yuan loses.”
After being chided by Li Qingchan, Zhao Zhu could only resentfully shut his mouth.
Opposite Li Qingchan and Zhao Zhu, the Sacred Palace’s Wang Chi and Cao Jinzhu were also observing the
battle far away. Their expression had been rather relaxed in the beginning, but had now gradually begun
to turn a little ugly.
Like everyone else, they too never imagined that Yang Xuan would be stopped by a mere fourth layer
Alpha-Origin disciple...
“What the hell is Yang Xuan doing?” Said Cao Jinzhu with a frown.
“There’s something strange about that Cangxuan Sect disciple Zhou Yuan.” Wang Chi slowly said, “His
Genesis Qi foundations appears to be inconceivably strong.”
They had also realized that even without that strange black brush, Zhou Yuan’s Genesis Qi foundations
were no weaker than ordinary seventh layer experts. This meant that his Genesis Qi foundations were
crazily strong for his cultivation level.
“If Yang Xuan wishes to win, he has to use his full power”
Wang Chi icily glanced at the Li Qingchan duo, before his voice thundered across horizon with the aid of
Genesis Qi.
“Yang Xuan, stop holding back!”
His voice boomed across the sky, echoing between the hills where Zhou Yuan and Yang Xuan stood.
Yang Xuan frowned when he heard Wang Chi’s voice as a look of hesitation flitted across his eyes.
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In the end, this hesitation turned into resolution.
The rules of the Sacred Palace were very strict. If he made a mistake this time, he would definitely be
punished when he returned. His cultivation resources would also be taken away, which would have
serious repercussions on his future cultivation.
Therefore, he absolutely could not lose today.
A savage look surged onto Yang Xuan’s face.
He sent a chilling eerie glance at Zhou Yuan, before tearing apart his clothes, revealing his bare chest. A
circular blood-colored rune enclosed the spot where his heart should be. The rune appeared to be
covered in faint ancient patterns, and seemed to squirm within Yang Xuan’s flesh.
It appeared to be some kind of seal.
“I originally prepared this seal to vie for one of the twelve chief disciples seats of the twelve halls. I truly
never expected that I would have to end up using it on you today…”
“You’ve spoiled my plans.”
“So don’t worry, after I defeat you, I will slowly crush every bone in your body to sate the hatred in my
heart!”
Yang Xuan’s eerily chilling voice was filled with intense maliciousness as it sounded.
Pu!
Yang Xuan bit the tip of his tongue, and spat out a mouthful of essence blood onto his hand, before
smearing it on the blood-red seal. Smoke immediately began to rise from the seal as it began to unravel.
Rumble!
The instant the seal was completely undone, everyone felt a frightening Genesis Qi undulation erupt like a
volcano that had been suppressed for a millenium!
The hill under his feet violently shuddered as it began to crumble.
Countless gazes looked towards his figure in horror.
As Yang Xuan’s Genesis Qi rose, he broke past the boundary of the seventh layer, steadily climbing to the
realm of the eighth layer!
In response to this scene, the expressions of Bai Li, Qin Hai and the rest changed one after another.
2156
Even Zhou Yuan’s pupils had abruptly tightened as his expression turned extremely grave.
To think that Yang Xuan… had such a shocking trump card!
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Chapter 426 Eighth Layer?
Boom!
Berserk Genesis Qi erupted from Yang Xuan’s body, seemingly covering the entire sky, as countless
shocked and horrified gazes were drawn towards him. No one had imagined that even at this stage of the
fight, Yang Xuan had still been hiding such an astonishing trump card.
The Genesis Qi undulations that pulsed from his body had already broken past the perfect seventh layer
level, faintly stepping into the eighth layer!
Although it was still somewhat unstable, everyone could clearly sense that it had risen.
“God damnit!”
Bai Li and the other Cangxuan Sect disciples could not help but curse with pale faces. Yang Xuan’s
strength had greatly surpassed their expectations.
One must know that the eighth layer Alpha-Origin stage had the qualifications to compete with the chief
disciples of the various peaks in their Cangxuan Sect.
Far away, Li Qingchan’s hands could not help but clench tightly when she saw this. This turn of events
had instantly snuffed the sliver of hope she had earlier.
This was the eighth layer Alpha-Origin stage! In the face of such a huge gap in cultivation, it would be
basically impossible for even Zhou Yuan to make a comeback.
Zuoqiu Qingyu lightly stamped her foot as she gnashed her teeth and said, “This is too shameless!”
Though she said so, she also knew that this was no child’s game, but a true life or death struggle. The
ability to conceal one’s power was also part of one’s skill.
It was only because she had a closer relationship with Zhou Yuan, and naturally hoped for his victory.
But from the looks of it, that was now going to be a little difficult to achieve.
Amidst the countless gasps that seemed to fill the sky, Zhou Yuan’s expression turned extremely grave.
The powerful Genesis Qi ripples spreading from Yang Xuan’s body made the former feel a tremendous
amount of pressure.
The eighth layer was just far too powerful.
While Zhou Yuan was tense and waiting, Yang Xuan slowly raised his gaze that was filled with cruelness,
as he locked onto Zhou Yuan like a tiger finding its prey.
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Due to the whims of fate, Yang Xuan had once obtained a peculiar sealing technique.
This sealing technique could seal one’s Genesis Qi, allowing it to condense time after time inside one’s
body. When the day finally came for the seal to be broken, all of the sealed Genesis Qi would suddenly
grow at an explosive rate.
This final seal had originally been prepared for the chief disciple selection of the twelve halls, but Zhou
Yuan had forced him to break it here and now...
Breaking the seal ahead of time would naturally lead to repercussions. This was the main reason why his
eighth layer Alpha-Origin stage was not stable.
If he had been allowed to wait a little longer, his Genesis Qi foundations would surely have risen to even
more amazing heights.
Unfortunately… everything had been ruined by Zhou Yuan.
“I will make you beg for death today!”
A chilling voice escaped from the cracks between Yang Xuan’s teeth. In the next instant, he made a
grabbing motion with his hand, and the Heavenly Bone Whip swiftly landed within it. An even more
terrifying burst of Genesis Qi immediately exploded from his body.
Swish!
He took a step forward, and his figure instantly disappeared.
Zhou Yuan’s expression changed the moment he saw his opponent’s figure disappear, as he rapidly began
to retreat.
Just as he was about to move, however, a frightening Genesis Qi undulation pulsed behind him, causing
even space itself to tremble.
Zhou Yuan cast a glance from the corner of his eye, and saw that Yang Xuan had appeared behind him. A
flood of Genesis Qi surged from the bone whip in his hand, its presence so overwhelming that it made
one’s scalp turn numb.
Zhou Yuan tightly gripped the Heavenly Yuan Brush with both hands as he swung it horizontal to his
body.
Clang!
The whip slammed into the mottled body of the brush, creating a thunderous clang. The air within a ten
thousand feet radius exploded, as a piercing boom resounded across the land.
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Zhou Yuan’s body was sent flying as if struck by a heavy blow, travelling over a thousand feet before
managing to forcibly steady his body.
When he finally managed to stabilize himself, the spot between his thumb and index finger had been
ripped apart, turning his hand into a bloody mess, while even the skin on his arms had split open at
several places. Fortunately, a dark green light emerged from his flesh, causing it to squirm as his wounds
recovered.
After a single blow, Zhou Yuan had fallen into a completely disadvantageous situation.
Numerous sighs of pity sounded across the area. As expected, when Yang Xuan approached the eighth
layer, Zhou Yuan was no longer able to contend.
Yang Xuan’s eyes were filled with cruel savagenes as he stared at Zhou Yuan. There were traces of blood
on the deathly white bone whip from when blood had splattered from Zhou Yuan’s arms earlier. Yang
Xuan gave the whip a little jerk to shake of the blood as he said in an eerie voice, “What do you think?
How many strikes of my whip will it take to shatter all the bones in your body?”
However, Zhou Yuan did not answer. His body swiftly began to etherealized as he immediately turned
around and fled like a wisp of smoke.
*Uproar*
Zhou Yuan’s actions immediately caused an uproar to sweep over the area.
No one had expected him to flee when faced with a clearly much more powerful Yang Xuan.
Bai Li bit into her lips when she saw this. Although she knew that this was the best choice of action, her
eyes still dimmed a little in disappointment.
The morale of the other Cangxuan disciples also plummeted at this moment.
In contrast, the Sacred Palace disciples roared with laughter, laughter filled with mockery and disdain.
An amused look emerged in Yang Xuan’s eyes as he watched Zhou Yuan’s fleeing figure, before he shook
his head and said in a cold, emotionless voice, “Isn’t it a little too late for you to run?”
“I’ve already said that I will make you pay a painful price today!”
Swish!
Yang Xuan’s figure abruptly disappeared as his voice faded, turning into a blur as he gave chase. He
clearly had no intentions of letting Zhou Yuan off.
As such, two figures streaked across the sky under countless watching eyes.
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After a few dozen breaths.
The two figures appeared several dozen miles away.
Yang Xian had become quite impatient. The bone whip in his hand transformed into a flash of light as it
lashed out, tearing through the air as it darted towards Zhou Yuan’s head.
Zhou Yuan gave the Heavenly Yuan Brush a slight shake. Its snow-white brush hairs streamed out, swiftly
interweaving into a thick white net behind him that was covered in Genesis Qi.
Ch!
The bone whip struck the white net, causing it to stretch at an alarming angle. With its outstanding
flexibility and toughness, it ultimately managed to stop the bone whip.
However, the force that seeped through was still able to lash at Zhou Yuan’s back, jerking him forward as
a sinister looking wound appeared on his back.
Yang Xuan made use of this opportunity to appear in front of Zhou Yuan, cutting off his path of escape.
With a grabbing motion, the bone whip returned to Yang Xuan’s hand. He pointed it at Zhou Yuan, as a
cruel smile akin to a cat toying with a mouse appeared from the corners of his mouth.
“Little mouse, did you really believe you would be able to escape?”
Yang Xuan smiled a little, before he continued, “If you break both your legs and kneel, I may consider
letting you keep your life. How about it?”
In the face of Yang Xuan’s suffocating pressure, Zhou Yuan took in a deep breath. He ignored the former’s
mocking words, a grave expression on his face as his hands slowly came together.
The ground under his feet began to faintly tremble.
Numerous rays of light burst out from under the ground, swiftly joining together as they enveloped the
area within a thousand feet.
Rumble!
Thunder boomed as the temperature began to rise.
Yang Xuan looked downwards at the ground as he focused. His expression soon turned frosty as he said,
“A boundary? So you were planning on luring me here?”
Zhou Yuan did not reply. With a sudden stamp of his foot, an icy and serious look filled his eyes.
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“Rise!”
In the next instant, lightning and fire began to pour out.
2162
Chapter 427 All Cards on the Table
Rumble!
The surrounding Genesis Qi immediately began to churn violently when Yang Xuan stepped into the
range of the boundary. Lightning and fire appeared, ultimate deadliness contained under their
magnificent forms.
When this scene landed in the eyes of the countless watching onlookers, cries of alarm and surprise
began to spread.
Only now did they realize that Zhou Yuan was not running, but feigning weakness to lure Yang Xuan into
a boundary that had been set-up earlier.
“What a crafty kid!” The crowd could not help but click their tongues.
No one had expected Zhou Yuan to have made such preparations before hand. Such rich battle experience
was truly praiseworthy.
Bai Li and the rest of the Cangxuan Sect disciples were also stunned for a moment, before their faces
quickly turned a little red. They had genuinely believed Zhou Yuan was intending to escape earlier, and
had felt somewhat disappointed inside. However, it was now clear that they had been too quick to jump
to a conclusion, making them feel quite ashamed.
“A boundary huh?”
Yang Xuan stood amidst the lightning and fire, his expression completely unchanged. Ash-white Genesis
Qi slowly swirled around his body as an astonishing pressure pulsed.
He lifted his head to look towards Zhou Yuan as he said in an emotionless voice, “You’ve really made me
feel a whole new level of respect for you.”
He had originally thought nothing of Zhou Yuan, a mere fourth layer Alpha-Origin who should have been
easily swatted away like a fly. However, Yang Xuan never imagined that this ‘fly’ would be able to push
him to this extent.
In fact, he had even been forced to remove all of his seals, causing him to pay a tremendous price. After
all, they had originally been the trump cards he had prepared for the twelve halls chief disciple selection.
But now, his seals had failed to reach their perfect state, naturally causing all of his efforts to go to waste.
“You’ve also been very surprising.” A sky full of lightning and fire was reflected in Zhou Yuan’s pupils as
he shrugged helplessly. The truth was that he had likewise not taken Yang Xuan too seriously either.
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After all, it was not like he had never fought a seventh layer Alpha-Origin practitioner before.
He had been under the impression that victory would come easily with the help of the Heavenly Yuan
Brush, but who could have expected Yang Xuan to have so many trump cards… and had now even
seemingly reached the eighth layer.
Yang Xuan lifted a hand as ash-white Genesis Qi gathered on his palm. He stirred the Genesis Qi with a
finger as he said, “Stop this so-called resistance, these cheap tricks of yours won’t be able to change
anything.”
Although lightning and fire were violently surging around him, there was basically no fear in his eyes.
In response to Yang Xuan’s indifference, Zhou Yuan merely smiled and said, “It wasn’t easy for me to set
this up, I should at least give it a spin, right?”
His smile instantly receded a split second later, replaced by a solemn look. Zhou Yuan slapped his hands
together, deciding that the time for words was now over.
Rumble!
The brewing lightning and fire reached their peak in an instant. Under countless shocked gazes, they
descended like a stream of fire that could cover the entire sky, bombarding towards the spot Yang Xuan
was standing at.
Yang Xuan coldly watched the lightning and fire descend. With a stomp of his foot, ash-white Genesis Qi
rose from the surface of his body, rapidly bellowing outwards like an icy fog.
“Corpse Bone Fog!”
Frost gradually began to grow from the ground beneath his feet.
Plop! Plop!
Fire and lightning rained down, fearlessly charging into the ash-white fog. The moment they touched the
fog, however, lightning was instantly destroyed, and fire extinguished...
The ash-white fog contained a freezing coldness that was obviously very tyrannical.
However, there was still a lot more lightning and fire that endlessly rained down without showing any
signs of weakening, but Yang Xuan’s Genesis Qi was also going strong, his ash-white fog appearing equally
inexhaustible.
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As such, the lightning and fire was continuously neutralized by the freezing coldness. In contrast, the
nearby ground was bombarded full of holes, making it look like an extremely messy sight.
Numerous gazes anxiously watched the ferocious clash. Although there were no loud booming sounds,
everyone knew how dangerous such a clash was. It was clear that neither Zhou Yuan nor Yang Xuan was
holding anything back.
Far away, a look of worry appeared on Li Qingchan’s face as she watched. Zhou Yuan’s boundary was by
no means weak, but it was very unlikely for him to defeat Yang Xuan with only this.
Wang Chi and Cao Jinzhu had clearly also realized this. Their expressions gradually returned to their
earlier relaxed looks, a faint hint of mockery in their gazes as they watched.
“Zhou Yuan, you can do it!” Zuoqiu Qingyu, Bai Li and the rest were secretly cheering for Zhou Yuan.
However, no matter how hard their cheered, the ash-white fog around Yang Xuan remained as thick as
before, clearly going strong even in the face of the endlessly falling lightning and fire.
In contrast, the lightning and fire that originally filled the entire sky was gradually beginning to thin.
Countless individuals let out soft sighs of pity. Sure enough, even after trying to hard to lure Yang Xuan
into a boundary that had been prepared in advance, Zhou Yuan was till unable to pose much of a threat
towards the latter.
The eighth layer was just far too powerful.
The fog rippled, revealing Yang Xuan’ face. He icily stared at Zhou Yuan, a look in mockery in his eyes akin
to a lion watching the final struggles of its prey.
However, Zhou Yuan ignored Yang Xuan’s mocking gaze. With a deep breath, his hands swiftly formed a
series of seals as the Genesis Qi in his body whizzed out.
An extremely hot undulation spread from his body.
His mouth suddenly ballooned a split second later as his face rapidly turned red. Smoke rose from the top
of his head as the temperature around him soared.
Yang Xuan also sensed this activity as his eyes narrowed slightly.
“Heavenly Sun God Record, Heavenly Sun Flame!”
A shout rang out in Zhou Yuan’s heart as a mouthful of churning Genesis Qi turned into flames that
violently spouted from his mouth, shooting towards Yang Xuan like a dragon’s breath.
These flames were different from the white flames of the past. They were now azure in color!
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Evidently, after absorbing the essence flames, Zhou Yuan’s Heavenly Sun Flame had progressed, reaching
the azure second level. Its power was naturally also much greater than before.
Azure fire blew past, instantly melting the boulders on the ground.
*Gasp*
The azure fire caused the surrounding temperature to rise rapidly, while the numerous onlookers gasped
again when they saw this scene. Only now did they realize that Zhou Yuan real trump card was not the
boundary, but this domineering azure fire!
The boundary had merely been an attempt to exhaust his opponent.
Cackle!
Azure fire swept forth like a dragon’s breath as Yang Xuan’s expression turned a little grave. Even he
could feel a hint of danger from the azure flames.
“So this is your final trump card!”
Yang Xuan expression was dark and stormy. However, he did not dare to wait a moment longer. His
hands quickly came together as ash-white Genesis Qi burst out from his body. The Genesis Qi swiftly
condensed on the surface of his body, rapidly transforming into an eerie looking white bone armor.
“Heaven Genesis technique, Demon Bone Armor!”
The bone armor grew, covering Yang Xuan’s entire body. It's sinister bone-whiteness was paired with a
chilling aura that would freeze one’s blood.
“Once I block this final trump card of yours, I’ll be able to do whatever I want to you today!” Under the
bone armor, a pair of eerie eyes stared at Zhou Yuan.
Numerous gazes nervously watched. Everyone could see that this was the climax of the fight. Victory and
defeat would soon be decided in an instant.
Would Zhou Yuan’s azure fire truly be able to deal with Yang Xuan’s bone armor, which clearly possessed
astonishing defensive capabilities?!
Cackle!
Under the attention of the crowd, the azure flames finally reached Yang Xuan, quickly swallowing his
figure amidst gasps that filled the sky...
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Chapter 428 A Breath of Azure Fire Burns the
Bone Armor
Cackle!
The azure flames swallowed Yang Xuan’s body with matchless tyranny, burning even the surrounding air.
Every gaze in the area anxiously looked over at this moment.
They knew that this was likely Zhou Yuan’s strongest move. If it failed, he would soon face Yang Xuan’s
extremely terrifying counterattack.
At the same time, the fight would finally reach its conclusion.
Bai Li, Zuoqiu Qingyu and the rest could not help but clench their hands tightly, their eyes not daring to
even blink for a split second.
Far away, Li Qingchan, Zhao Zhu, Wang Chi and Cao Jinzhu subconsciously held their breaths, the gazes of
all four individuals staring at the same direction. Since the highest level fighters were currently in a
stalemate, they knew that the deciding factor would instead be between Yang Xuan and Zhou Yuan...
Even elder Wu had stood up at this time, his gaze fixed on the Genesis Qi mirror. He could sense the
nearby Sacred Palace elder’s breathing weaken a little, evidently also very focused on the outcome of the
clash.
Even further away, the other factions were no exception.
The battle between these two young men in the essence flame vein had drawn nearly everyone’s
attention at this moment...
Because behind these two individuals stood the Cangxuan Sect and the Sacred Palace, the former and
current overlord of Cangxuan Heaven.
Cackle!
Under the countless watching gazes, the azure fire continued to burn, melting the land the boulders upon
it into glowing red magma that flowed on the ground.
Yang Xuan’s figure stood within the azure fire, the bone armor on his body releasing an extremely cold
aura to defend against the heat from the flames.
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Ch ch!
Sizzling noises were emitted when azure fire and bone armor met, a thin mist rising from the edges of
their contact.
The two forces fell into a deadlock.
Time swiftly flowed.
The bone armor gradually began to melt, the rising ash-white Genesis Qi immediately incinerated by the
azure flames, while armor slowly began to grow thinner.
A look of joy flashed across Zhou Yuan’s eyes when he saw this.
Yang Xuan seemed to have sensed the joy in Zhou Yuan’s eyes, the corners of his lips immediately raising
a little with a hint of contempt.
Next, Zhou Yuan’s eyes abruptly widened.
He had discovered a faint hint of blood-red suddenly appear from the melting bone armor like boiling
blood. The blood-red liquid quickly flowed out, instantly coloring the eerily white bone armor in a blood-
red hue.
It now looked extremely strange and sinister.
Blood-red covered the bone armor seemed to be able to withstand the azure fire for a time. A blood-red
glow interweaved with the azure flames, a chilling yet bizarrely beautiful sight.
As time flowed, the azure flames began to weaken.
Yang Xuan lifted his head and looked towards Zhou Yuan, the mockery and contempt on his lips
intensifying as his voice rang out, “It seems that I am still the one who has the final laugh.”
The numerous watching gazes also sensed the weakening fire at this moment, causing them to sigh in
pity. How regretful, Zhou Yuan’s breath of azure fire was ultimately unable to stop Yang Xuan.
Swish!
Under the gazes of pity from the crowd, Zhou Yuan’s eyes narrowed slightly. In the next instant, his figure
abruptly etherealized as it shot forth.
He was headed straight for Yang Xuan in the azure flames.
*Uproar*
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An uproar swept across the area. Zhou Yuan was clearly planning on breaking the cauldrons to sink the
boat.
“Rushing to your death?” A sinister smile rose from the corners of Yang Xuan’s mouth.
Zhou Yuan’s etherealized figure dashed into the flames as a path opened for him, before suddenly
erupting a split second later, the raging azure flames squeezing out their final burst of power.
A terrifying heat spread.
Countless gazes had their sights obstructed by the strong flames.
However, even more individuals shook their heads inside. When Zhou Yuan dashed towards Yang Xuan, it
meant that he was already out of tricks. After all, Yang Xuan was obviously still going strong.
The gap between the two was ultimately too large.
Bai Li tightly clenched her jaw as her eyes gradually dimmed.
Swoosh!
Amidst the azure flames, Zhou Yuan’s figure appeared in front of Yang Xuan, killing intent surging as their
gazes met.
“Fool, you’re dead this time!” Yang Xuan let out an evil laugh. His five fingers quickly clenched into a fist,
before he threw a punch covered in blood-red bone armor. Ash-white Genesis Qi surged out, blasting
towards Zhou Yuan in an exceedingly domineering manner.
This punch contained practically all of Yang Xuan’s eighth layer power.
The air was blasted away by a force that could split mountains.
However, in the face of such a ferocious punch from Yang Xuan, Zhou Yuan showed zero signs of dodging.
Instead, a fierce light appeared in his eyes as he too clenched his fist, choosing to meet the attack with a
punch of his own.
This was basically putting his life on the line.
Yang Xuan merely laughed mockingly. He was currently wearing the Demon Bone Armor that boasted the
most powerful of defenses, and yet Zhou Yuan still chose to engage him head on? This was basically
throwing all rationality out the window.
As such, Yang Xuan did not back down, the fist winds of his attack growing increasingly sharper instead.
Their fists tore through the air along with surging Genesis Qi.
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With Yang Xuan’s sinister face mere feet away, Zhou Yuan’s lips moved slightly an almost inaudible voice
was quietly spat out.
“Silver Shadow!”
Right before both parties were about to clash, silver light suddenly exploded from Zhou Yuan’s body.
Liquid silver rapidly spread, turning into a sleek set of silver battle armor in the blink of an eye that
covered Zhou Yuan’s entire body.
Boom!
In that very moment, an astonishing aura abruptly exploded from Zhou Yuan’s body.
Yang Xuan’s pupils violently shrank.
But there was no time for him to react, the two fists containing the strongest might of both individuals
had already clashed at this moment.
Boom!
A muffled boom abruptly rang out.
The ground below their geet crumbled, giant crack after crack swiftly growing like a spiderweb. An
enormous shockwave spanning several thousand feet swept outwards, flattening all the nearby hills...
Azure fire dashed into the sky, gradually weakening before ultimately being extinguished.
Every gaze immediately looked over, quickly finding two figures connected at their fists...
The two figures were as still as statues, but anyone could sense the desperation and ferocity in their final
punches.
The silver and blood armor on their bodies had faded along with the azure fire.
Such a scene of desperation caused the surroundings to become completely silent. Everyone held their
breaths as they stared at the two figures. No one knew who had won the desperate and direct clash.
A breeze blew past.
Zhou Yuan’s eyes moved slightly, his entire arm now a dripping, bloody mess. However, his expression
remained impassive as he lifted his head to look at the face of the nearby Yang Xuan.
“It seems that… you started laughing too early.” His voice sounded somewhat hoarse.
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Yang Xuan’s gaze was glued to his arm, disbelief seemingly flooding out from the depths of his eyes. In the
next instant, his arm suddenly exploded.
Flesh, blood and bone seemed to turn into tiny chunks at this moment.
His entire arm was gone, bone and all.
Blood and bits of flesh splattered everywhere.
Countless gasps of horror immediately rang out.
Under those innumerable shocked gazes, Yang Xuan’s body slowly fell backwards towards the ground, a
look of disbelief still present on his face...
He had silently kept a low-profile for so many years, his true power sealed as he patiently waited for the
day he would shake the Sacred Palace.
He should have flown to the heavens in a single leap.
But how? How had he lost to a mere fourth layer disciple of the Cangxuan Sect?!
What was that silver armor that had appeared at the very last moment?! How had it raised Zhou Yuan’s
power to such a terrifying level?!
This was really hard to accept!
His eyes were filled with an unresigned look as darkness slowly descended, ultimately filling his entire
sight.
2171
Chapter 429 Against All Odds
Yang Xuan’s body fell to the ground, the muffled thud upon contact echoing across the entire area, while
countless gazes watched as if frozen in time...
In the distance, the mouths of Zuoqiu Qingyu, Bai Li, Qin Hai and the rest slowly fell open.
The Sacred Palace disciples seemed to have turned into statues.
The other onlookers were forcefully rubbing their eyes.
This atmosphere lasted for quite some time, before someone finally regained his senses. He immediately
blurted out in a shocked voice.
“Yang Xuan… has lost?!”
*Uproar*
His trembling voice was akin to a spark that quickly set everyone on fire. In an instant, horrified voice
after voice exploded.
“How can this be?! How could Yang Xuan have lost after reaching the eighth layer?!”
“Exactly, he had absolute upper hand just a while ago!”
“What the hell did Zhou Yuan do at that final moment?!”
“……”
Everyone’s faces were filled with confusion. When Yang Xuan’s bone armor turned red earlier, even Zhou
Yuan’s tyrannical azure flames had been incapable of stopping the former. Who could have known that
Zhou Yuan’s final strike of desperation would lead to such an outcome...
Moreover, anyone could see that Yang Xuan’s entire arm had been blown to bits, evidently due to some
kind of terrifying force, but what kind of force could have possibly done that to Yang Xuan in his eighth
layer red bone armor state?!
Uncertain gaze after gaze turned towards Zhou Yuan, tinged with a sliver of fear.
In the sky far away, Li Qingchan, Zhao Zhu, Wang Chi and Cao Jinzhu had just returned to their senses
from the astonishing scene, their faces still a little dazed from the shock.
Wang Chi and Cao Jinzhu looked to each other, seeing the disbelief and confusion in the other party’s
eyes. The final result had clearly surpassed their expectations.
2172
They expressions slowly turned ugly. Since Yang Xuan had lost to Zhou Yuan, wouldn’t it mean that the
situation had now completely spiralled out of control?!
Iciness flickered in the duo’s eyes as they looked towards Zhou Yuan’s figure.
“What a vicious kid, I can’t let you off!” Wang Chi’s chilling voice sounded. In the next instant, his figure
abruptly shot forth, vigorous Genesis Qi erupting along with an alarming pressure.
Since Yang Xuan had already been defeated, the only way to save the situation was to finish off Zhou
Yuan.
Swish!
However, a beautiful figure appeared in front of him the moment he shot forward. A hand thrust towards
him, accompanied by churning Genesis Qi and cold Qi that froze even the air itself.
Wang Chi did not dare to be careless in the face of such a deadly attack. His figure hurriedly came to a
stop as he responded with his full power.
Boom!
Genesis Qi swept outwards as Wang Chi’s figure hastily retreated a dozen steps. He lifted his head and
saw Li Qingchan’s beautiful yet frosty face. She stood in front of him, blocking his path.
“Oh? Didn’t you say earlier that Chosens should only fight against other Chosens?” There a cold smile on
Li Qingchan’s lips.
Wang Chi’s face turned an angry green as he icily growled, “Scram!”
“That’ll depend on whether you have the ability.” Ice-cold Genesis Qi slowly rose from Li Qingchan’s body,
her eyes tinged with ridicule as she stared at Wang Chi.
Even someone like Li Qingchan could not help but feel good inside at the sight of Wang Chi’s angry face.
This just so happened to be the perfect opportunity for them to return all of the frustration from being
held up by the latter earlier.
Li Qingchan lightly touched her ear as her voice was transmitted into the communication jade, “Pretty
well done, Zhou Yuan. Are you alright?”
Her voice had become unprecedentedly gentle.
Due to Yaoyao, she had staunchly stood her ground against the majority to bring Zhou Yuan along. As a
result, she had faced a huge amount of pressure ever since the mission began, especially from elder Wu.
Although he did not rebuke her due to her status as a Chosen, he had ultimately dispatched Zhou Yuan to
the outer region for the sake of the big picture.
2173
This was already a form of disapproval towards her.
Li Qingchan could not say anything in the face of all this opposition, and had no choice but to silently
endure them. This naturally led to some frustration in her heart, causing her to be a little meaner and
colder than usual with regards to Zhou Yuan, though he probably felt she treated him exactly the same as
she had before.
All of these pent up feelings had vanished like smoke the moment Yang Xuan fell to the ground.
She never imagined that when all hope seemed lost, the one who had been abandoned at the beginning,
Zhou Yuan, would be the one to step up, and against all odds defeat Yang Xuan.
She peered at the young figure far away, her heart involuntarily rippling a little. Only now did she begin
to understand why Yaoyao had so much faith in Zhou Yuan.
This guy seemed to always create miracles at the most crucial juncture.
He clearly did not look very strong, merely someone whose cultivation was at the fourth layer, but he had
too many cards up his sleeve that no one seemed to be capable of guarding against.
A sliver of curiosity rose within Li Qingchan’s heart for a time. Just how many secrets was he hiding?
Cries of shock and surprise filled the place, everyone evidently also astonished by the outcome of the
fight between Zhou Yuan and Yang Xuan.
“Good kid!”
Elder Wu loudly slapped his thigh, his face slightly flushed as happiness spilled from his eyes, clearly
unable to contain his joy. After all, he was already mentally preparing for their Cangxuan Sect to be
humiliated by the Sacred Palace. Who could have imagined such a turn of events in the blink of an eye?
Elder Wu raised his head and looked towards the nearby ashen-faced Sacred Palace elder. In the end, the
latter lost control, looking towards the former as he angrily yelled, “Impossible! Your Cangxuan Sect
cheated!”
However, elder Wu merely responded with a disdainful chuckle, not bothering to answer such an
outrageous claim.
The gap in cultivation between Zhou Yuan and Yuan Xuan was tremendous, and yet, the former had
ultimately clinched victory against all odds. What did this mean? It could only mean that the Sacred
Palace disciples were useless.
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Elder Wu’s gaze turned back to the Genesis Qi mirror, his usually stern face turning into a kindly one as
he gazed at the young figure within it. He stroked his beard as he grinned. “I never imagined that I would
be the blind one this time. This kid has concealed his abilities very deeply indeed.”
“After we return, I’ll definitely give you the best evaluation!”
He had previously taken Zhou Yuan to be a useless tag along, and had thus not paid much attention to
him. Who could have imagined that the one who ultimately save them against all odds would be this very
disciple elder Wu had neglected from the start.
Though it was a little shameful for him to have made such an error in judgement, elder Wu would
obviously choose such shame any day over being stomped on by the Sacred Palace and soiling the
Cangxuan Sect’s reputation.
When Li Qingchan’s voice was transmitted from the communication jade, Zhou Yuan gradually came back
to his senses. He lowered his head to look at his arm that had been gruesomely torn in many places due to
the resultant force of his attack. Dark green light was spreading from his flesh, causing flesh to regrow as
the entire arm swiftly recovered in a few dozen breaths.
Although the Taiyi mark was not complete, it had already began to reveal its amazingness. Zhou Yuan’s
regenerative ability had already far surpassed that of ordinary practitioners.
He glanced at the battered body of the one-armed Yang Xuan . This guy had indeed been a very difficult
opponent who had forced him to use even Silver Shadow in the end.
Fortunately, no one else had discovered its existence. Silver Shadow was one of his most valuable trump
cards after all, that he had not used at all in the sect. The fewer who knew about it, the better.
With a deep breath, he calmed the surging Genesis Qi in his body, before replying through the
communication jade, “I’ll be okay.”
“That’s good to hear. Since Yang Xuan had been defeated, you guys should quickly take back our
territory.”
“Bai Li, Qin Hai and the rest shall follow Zhou Yuan’s lead. We’ll stop the two Chosens on their side.”
Li Qingchan’s voice rang out again, shockingly handing command to Zhou Yuan.
Bai Li and Qin Hai looked over with complicated expressions. If it was before, they would definitely have
voiced their disapproval, because they would have believed Zhou Yuan did not have the qualifications to
give them orders. However, after personally witnessing his battle with Yang Xuan, such thinking had
already been flung out the window.
2175
Even their joint effort had failed to triumph over Yang Xuan, while Zhou Yuan had defeated the former…
one could easily imagine just how much battle power Zhou Yuan was hiding.
Such strength was already enough to contest for the chief disciple seat of the various peaks in the
Cangxuan Sect.
But Zhou Yuan had not been this strong before leaving the Cang Xuan Sect… during the purple sash
selection, he had clearly been unable to obtain victory against Xu Yan.
Zhou Yuan gave a faint nod. With a grabbing motion, the Heavenly Yuan Brush appeared his hand. Soon
after, his figure appeared in front of Bai Li, Qin Hai and the other Cangxuan Sect disciples.
As they looked at his figure, complicated expressions arose in their eyes. It was no longer the previous
casual indifference, but a little fear and admiration.
“Is everyone still able to fight?”
Zhou Yuan grinned. Upon seeing Bai Li and gang nod, he raised the Heavenly Yuan Brush and pointed
towards the already panicking Sacred Palace disciples.
“If you can fight… follow me to take back our territory.”
Bai Li blinked as she gazed upon his slim figure. For the very first time, the guy she had looked down
upon all along seemed to be rather dashing...
2176
Chapter 430 Perfect
Yang Xuan’s defeat marked the appearance of an insane reversal in the battle for the essence flame vein.
The disciples dispatched by the Sacred Palace and the Cangxuan Sect were roughly of equal strength, an
equilibrium which was subsequently broken by the abnormality that was Yang Xuan. However, no one
would have imagined that he was not the only irregular...
The one who had been overlooked by everyone since the very beginning, Zhou Yuan, was in actuality and
even bigger irregularity.
As such, Yang Xuan was defeated and Bai Li, Qin Hai and the other Cangxuan Sect disciples led by Zhou
Yuan easily crushed the other Sacred Palace disciples, causing their morale to hit rock bottom as they
retreated again and again.
All of the territory that had been snatched away previously was taken back by Zhou Yuan and gang one
by one.
In the end, an area that spanned a whole eight hundred miles became the battle spoils of the Cangxuan
Sect, while the retreating Sacred Palace disciples were left with only three hundred miles of the less rich
veins.
This could be said to be a crushing defeat.
Two Sacred Palace Chosens, Wang Chi and Cao Jinzhu, were practically spitting fire from their eyes when
they saw this scene, their faces ashen as they did battle with Li Qingchan and Zhao Zhu.
The fight between the Chosens was even fiercer and grander than Zhou Yuan and Yang Xuan’s. Torrent
after torrent of Genesis Qi blasted through air like raging dragons, causing the land to tremble faintly.
However, such a fight was bound to have no outcome, because neither side was willing to risk their lives
and the difference in strength between them was not big. Hence, the duel ultimately ended in a stalemate.
Even so, anyone could see that the Sacred Palace had made a huge miscalculation in the fight for the
essence flame vein.
Far away in the sky, the Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace Chosen, Feng Ying, and the North Sea Dragon
Subduing Hall Chosen watched as territory after territory was enveloped by a glowing barrier, before
looking to each other, seeing the astonishment in the other party’s eyes.
The development of the situation was likewise exceeded their expectations.
2177
“Zhou Yuan is quite an interesting one…” Mumbled Feng Ying to herself. She had honestly believed him to
be a new disciple that was here for experience since the beginning, and only remembered him because of
his friendship with Zuoqiu Qingyu.
How could she have possibly predicted that the individual, who had zero presence in the Cangxuan Sect
team, would ultimately single handedly turn around the entire situation.
Such strength and charisma would make anyone sigh in amazement.
“It seems that that the Cangmang Continent has produced several amazing individuals this generation.”
Feng Ying sighed. Without mentioning Zhou Yuan, even Zuoqiu Qingyu and Luluo had displayed
extraordinary talent after entering the Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace. In the future, they would surely
become elites in the sect.
“Mmm, there’s a disciple from the North Sea Dragon Subduing Hall called Ning Zhan who is also from the
Cangmang Continent. His remarkable talent even caused quite a fight amongst several elders.” Said the
Chosen from the North Sea Dragon Subduing Hall.
Feng Ying was quite surprised when she heard this. In the past, not even half a genius would appear from
a remote continent like the Cangmang Continent. She never expected that an entire swarm to emerge all
at once.
“This Cangmang Continent must have been blessed by a little luck and destiny this generation.”
She sighed as she gradually withdrew her gaze from the on-going battle. By this point in time, everything
was basically set in stone. The Cangxuan Sect had occupied eight hundred miles of the richest veins,
which essentially made them the biggest winners this time.
In contrast, the originally overbearing and aggressive Sacred Palace had fell flat on their faces, and was
bullied by the Cangxuan Sect till they were left with only three hundred miles of veins. This was quite a
humiliating result for them indeed.
Most surprisingly, the one who ended up in the limelight was not the Chosens of the various sects, but
instead an unknown ordinary disciples from the Cangxuan Sect...
She clapped her hands and lazily said, “Looks like it’s about time for us to call it a day…”
...
Just as Feng Ying had predicted, the outcome of the essence flame vein fight was ultimately decided once
the territories of the Cangxuan Sect team led by Zhou Yuan reached eight hundred miles.
The two Sacred Palace Chosens were unable to extract themselves from their fight with Li Qingchan and
Zhao Zhu, while the other Sacred Palace disciples were barely able to put up any resistance against Zhou
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Yuan and gang. As a result, the Sacred Palace team was left with no choice but to repeatedly retreat,
giving up mile after mile of territory.
In the end, eight flags were thrust into eight hundred mile territories, and an enormous screen of light
rose into the sky. This magnificent scene caused a look of respect to rise in the eyes of the various Black
Flame Province factions who were also in the essence flame vein.
At this current moment, there was no longer anyone who dared to send out a challenge to this eight
hundred miles of territory.
As the time limit gradually approached, the fighting Chosens in the far away sky began to back off.
Wang Chi and Cao Jinzhu’s expression were extremely ugly. They had been so certain of their
overwhelming victory earlier, but who could have imagined such a reversal to occur in the blink of an
eye.
The duo’s gazes looked over from afar, locking onto Zhou Yuan. The iciness surging in their eyes was
practically about to solidify and freeze the latter.
However, Zhou Yuan merely smiled nonchalantly under their gazes.
Wang Chi turned his dark gaze towards Li Qingchan as he frostily said, “Humph. Li Qingchan, you guys
may have been lucky this time, but our Sacred Palace will not forget this matter!”
“The words of a loser are nothing to fear.” Retorted Li Qinghchan in an indifferent voice.
Wang Chi icily chuckled. “Don’t be too happy. This essence flame vein fight is merely a small squabble. I
hope you will still be able to smile when the next Mythic Utopia opens.”
Li Qingchan’s eyes narrowed. “The day we meet in the Mythic Utopia will likely be the day you die.”
Wang Chi let out a sinister laugh. “Unfortunately, it’s your Cangxuan Sect Chosens are the ones who have
been dying in the Mythic Utopia for the past few years!”
Intense killing intent surged in their eyes, the air between them turning colder as their gazes clashed.
However, both individuals ultimately let out an icy snort, before Wang Chi flew away with Cao Jinzhu.
Li Qingchan and Zhao Zhu’s figures moved towards where Zhou Yuan, Bai Li and the rest were gathered.
Upon seeing the two Chosens, Bai Li, Qin Hai and the rest hurriedly walked forward to greet them.
Li Qingchan cast her indifferent gaze at Zhou Yuan, as a faint smile appeared on her usually frosty face.
Her smile was akin to a snow lotus blooming on a freezing land, a sight of extraordinary beauty.
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“Zhou Yuan, we should all be thanking you this time.” Li Qingchan’s eyes were filled with approval as she
continued, “You should get the chief credit for this mission.”
By the side, Zhao Zhu’s expression looked a little uncomfortable. The Sword Cometh Peak was not a good
terms with Zhou Yuan after all, causing the former to speak up, “Senior sister Li, elder Wu should be the
one who decides who gets the chief credit.”
In past Heaven level missions, the chief credit would basically be split between the two team leaders. If Li
Qingchan made such a declaration, won’t it mean that Zhao Zhu would not get anything either?
Upon hearing this, Bai Li could not help but speak up, “If not for Zhou Yuan, we would have failed this
mission. Do you think we’ll even have the luxury of discussing our contributions?”
The expressions of the other Sword Cometh Peak disciples were also quite awkward. They could not
possibly deny Zhou Yuan’s earlier contributions, but they were still disciples from the Sword Cometh
Peak, making it very difficult for them to weigh in on this discussion.
Li Qingchan flatly said, “I will naturally make my report to elder Wu on this matter. There is no need for
junior brother Zhao to worry.”
Zhao Zhu resentfully shut his mouth. From the silence of the other disciples, he understood that Zhou
Yuan had already won all of them over. If not, let alone chief credit, wanting to give Zhou Yuan even the
tiniest bit of acknowledgement would surely draw much criticism.
He swept a glance at Zhou Yuan, the latter’s calm appearance making him feel even more sullen inside.
Zhao Zhu had originally believed Zhou Yuan’s stubborn insistence on participating in this Heaven task to
be nothing more than seeking his own humiliation.
Who could have expected that he would instead become the chief contributor.
It was easy to imagine the uproar this incident would surely cause when news of it spread back to the
sect.
Who could have thought that this Heaven task would elevate Zhou Yuan to even greater heights.
Clang!
While they were conversing, the loud and clear sound of a bell suddenly rang out in the essence flame
vein. Upon hearing it, the expressions of the Cangxuan Sect team involuntarily relaxed.
The bell represented the end of the essence flame vein fight.
Moreover...
The Cangxuan Sect was obviously the biggest winner.
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As such, it was basically a perfect completion of their Heaven task.
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The essence flame vein fight that affected the entire Black Flame Province ended with the Cangxuan Sect
as the biggest winner.
News of the crazy battle between Yang Xuan and Zhou Yuan also swiftly spread, making the numerous
factions in the Black Flame Province remember this Cangxuan Sect disciple called Zhou Yuan.
At the very beginning, not a single person had expected what appeared to be certain victory for the
Sacred Palace to ultimately be single handedly snatched away by an existence everyone had basically
overlooked...
In fact, Zhou Yuan’s performance in his battle with Yang Xuan had made countless people gasp in
admiration.
Besides this, the other factions also gained an even deeper respect for the titan known as the Cangxuan
Sect. After all, not just anyone could nurture a disciple that was not only low-key but also possessed such
immeasurable strength. From this, one could see the strong foundations of the sect that was once number
one in Cangxuan Heaven.
Although the Sacred Palace was at the peak of their power and still growing increasingly powerful, the
Cangxuan sect was not to be underestimated.
This realization made several of the Black Flame Province factions, who were originally planning on
throwing their lot in with the Sacred Palace, waver somewhat. For a time, they no longer dared to choose
a side so easily even with the Sacred Palace reaching out to them.
Although Zhou Yuan’s victory over Yang Xuan allowed the Cangxuan Sect to occupy eight hundred miles
of the richest veins, this was only part of the harvest. The bigger part was how they had disrupted the
Sacred Palace’s attempt to stick their hand into the Black Flame Province.
Due to this setback, it would take the Sacred Palace a lot more effort and energy to take over the Black
Flame Province.
Thus, Zhou Yuan’s victory had created far greater ripples than what could be seen on the surface.
...
After the curtain fell on the essence flame vein fight, the various factions that had swarmed towards this
place gradually left one after another. This caused the previously bustling Black Flame City appear rather
desolate in comparison to before.
Zhou Yuan and his team did not leave immediately. They had to rest for several days after such an intense
battle.
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Black Flame City, outside a certain lodging.
Zhou Yuan looked to his front where the enchanting Zuoqiu Qingyu stood. Feng Ying and the other female
disciples from the Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace were waiting nearby, their gazes glancing over from
time to time.
Zuoqiu Qingyu and the rest were returning to the Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace today, and Zhou Yuan
had specially come to send her off.
“I originally believed that I had managed to shorten the gap between us. Who could have expected that
you will still be as abnormal as before, and are already able to fight against an eighth layer expert.”
Zuoqiu Qingyu sighed.
“He wasn’t a real eighth layer Alpha-Origin.” Corrected Zhou Yuan with a smile.
Zuoqiu Qingyu rolled her eyes at him as she softly snorted and said, “But don’t be too happy. Luluo and I
are very valued in the Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace, we’ll definitely have a chance to catch up to you in
the future.”
Zhou Yuan nodded with a smile. Zuoqiu Qingyu was actually amazingly talented, which could be seen
from how she was permitted to tag along for such a high level mission though it had not been long since
she joined the Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace.
One could easily imagine how the future Zuoqiu Qingyu would surely shine brightly in the Hundred
Flowers Fairy Palace.
After a little more chit chat, Zuoqiu Qingyu said in a low voice, “I sent a message back to the Zuoqiu clan
to tell my father to show a little more concern for the Great Zhou Empire, and lend them some aid if
possible.”
She knew that Zhou Yuan had joined the Cangxuan Sect to become even stronger such that he would be
able to face the looming threat of the Great Wu Empire. After all, since Wu Huang had joined the Sacred
Palace, the Cangxuan Sect would not risk breaking the rules to help Zhou Yuan directly.
The struggle between the two would likely still depend on who would be able to grow faster.
The current Great Zhou Empire was still much weaker than the Great Wu Empire. Though the Zuoqiu clan
was not afraid of the Great Wu Empire, it would not be appropriate for them to clash against the latter so
openly. Thus, they could only help the Great Zhou Empire in secret, and try to delay or restrict the Great
Wu Empire.
Zuoqiu Qingyu clearly understood that Zhou Yuan still needed more time.
Zhou Yuan was quite touched by her actions. He ultimately did not try to reject out of pride, and instead
solemnly nodded as he said, "Thank you, I will remember this debt."
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What he needed now was indeed more time.
King Wu was a Divine Dwelling stage expert, an existence that the current him still could not contend
against.
More importantly, Wu Huang's entry into the Sacred Palace had greatly restricted the help Zhou Yuan
could enlist from the Cangxuan Sect.
There were after all certain rules between hegemon level sects. One of which was that a sect would not
directly intervene in a grudge between their disciples.
The sect could only provide cultivation resources and opportunities, and at the end of the day, the
disciples had to resolve their disputes through their own power. In a certain sense, this was also a kind of
training for the disciples.
Zuoqiu Qingyu did not say anything in response, merely offhandedly waving her hand, before turning
around to leave, her graceful and slender figure filled with youthful energy.
"Let's part ways here. Say hi to Yaoyao for me when you return."
The young lady walked towards the setting sun, joining the other Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace disciples,
before rising into the sky on Genesis Qi under the many reluctant gazes in the vicinity.
Zhou Yuan also watched her leave, his unmoving figure silently standing there for a long time.
This lasted till a fragrant breeze arrived at his side as a cool voice sounded, "You're quite the player aren't
you? How does Yaoyao tolerate you when you have so many lovers everywhere?"
Zhou Yuan turned his head and saw Li Qingchan standing beside him. He was immediately struck by a
wave of embarrassment as he helplessly explained, "We're just friends."
Li Qingchan did not comment, her lips merely pulling outwards as she said, "Let's go. Elder Wu has called
for us, likely to discuss the individual credit for this mission."
She turned around and left after finishing.
Zhou Yuan felt a surge of energy when he heard this. Wasn’t this what they had spent the last two days
waiting for? As the elder overseeing the mission, elder Wu was naturally the one who decided the worth
of everyone's contribution.
Only by obtaining a contribution token from elder Wu would they be able to return to the sect and hand
in the mission.
Zhou Yuan turned around and quickly caught up to Li Qingchan as they hurried to elder Wu’s room.
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By this time, Zhao Zhu, Bai Li and the rest were already gathered here. As such, every gaze turned
towards Zhou Yuan when he walked in. After Zhou Yuan defeated Yang Xuan against all odds, there was
no longer a single person present who dared to view him as transparent.
This was the case even for Zhao Zhu. Though there was still some scrutiny in his eyes, the previous
disdain and disregard had dwindled substantially.
Elder Wu was seated at the head of the group. At the sight of Zhou Yuan, the former chuckled as he
beckoned them to have a seat.
“This mission has been perfectly completed thanks to everyone here.” Elder Wu did not beat about the
bush, going straight for the main topic.
“Since the mission is complete, it is time to discuss your individual contributions and credit.”
Zhao Zhu and the rest looked over with shining eyes.
Zhou Yuan was naturally no exception. Though one only needed to complete a Heaven level mission to
receive a Heaven Credit, it must be mentioned that Heaven Credit rewarded was also split into four
different ranks.
Chief credit, upper credit, lower credit and the worst of the bunch, no credit.
Chief credit was the most difficult to achieve, but once awarded one would be able to receive twice the
rewards from the sect, which was two Heaven Credits.
An upper credit appraisal was worth one Heaven Credit, while the lower credit rating could only be
exchanged for half a Heaven Credit.
As for the last rank… it was exactly as its name implied; no credit. In other words, the entire mission
would have been a waste of time. If Zhou Yuan had not stepped forward towards the end, and instead hid
away in the outer region, this would have likely been his final evaluation.
Elder Wu smiled a little as he looked at their luminous gazes, before he said, “This mission was perfectly
completed, therefore, no one received a no credit evaluation.”
These words immediately caused everyone to breathe a sigh of relief.
“As for lower credit…” Bai Li, Qin Hai and the rest fidgeted restlessly.
“There’s also none…” Elder Wu chuckled.
Bai Li, Qin Hai and the other disciples could not help but burst into cheers. Normally speaking, they
should receive lower credit ratings, but due to how perfectly the mission had been completed this time,
their appraisals had been raised to the next rank.
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This single rank was the difference between half a Heaven Credit and a full Heaven Credit.
“As for upper credit… there’s Bai Li, Qin Hai…” Name after name slowly emerged from elder Wu’s mouth.
This continued for seven names, before he paused and looked towards Li Qingchan and Zhao Zhu.
“Both of you will also receive an upper credit rating.”
Li Qingchan’s gorgeous face was calm as she gave a faint nod of acknowledgement. She was not as
overjoyed as Bai Li and the rest, because as team leader, an upper credit was basically hers as long as the
mission was complete.
Zhao Zhu on the other hand did not look too good. The two team leaders would usually get a chief credit
appraisal, but elder Wu had clearly not given him one.
Although he did not feel comfortable about this inside, his rationality told him not to voice any objections
because it would only be fruitless.
Li Qingchan and him had only managed to stop the other party’s Chosens, which was what they were
supposed to do anyways. They essentially had no part in everything else that had happened, so it was
quite within reason for elder Wu to give them an upper credit rating.
Elder Wu’s gaze finally turned towards Zhou Yuan, as a kind smile involuntarily appeared on his usually
stern face.
“Zhou Yuan, you get the chief credit this time.”
His gaze shifted towards the others. “Do you guys have any objections?”
Li Qingchan shook her head.
Bai Li and the other non Sword Cometh Peak disciples immediately shook their heads, their gazes filled
with gratitude when they looked towards Zhou Yuan. If not for him, the mission would not have been
rated as a perfect completion, and they would never be given an upper credit appraisal.
In other words, they were basking in the light of Zhou Yuan’s success, and would naturally not have any
objections towards elder Wu’s decision.
Zhao Zhu’s expression fluctuated indeterminately. He was about to speak up when he saw the flickering
gazes of the Sword Cometh Peak disciples, which told him that it would be too much of him to ask them to
object too.
Qin Hai and the rest were likewise indebted to Zhou Yuan.
Hence, Zhao Zhu ultimately chose to remain silent. Zhou Yuan had been too perfect this mission, making
it impossible for anyone to find even the smallest fault with him.
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Elder Wu nodded in satisfaction when he saw that no one had spoken. With a wave of his sleeve, ten
flashes of light shot out and landed towards the group.
In each bundle of light was a token.
These tokens were of different colors. Li Qingchan and the rest had silver tokens, while the one in Zhou
Yuan’s hands was gold, representing the chief credit.
As he grasped the golden token, Zhou Yuan let out a long sigh of relief inside as if a heavy burden had
been lifted from his shoulders. He had finally got his Heaven Credit, and it was even a chief credit! Since
this was the case, he would have an extra Heaven Credit after giving old Xuan one.
Now, he could finally return to the sect perfectly contented.
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Chapter 432 Returning to the Sect
The Cangxuan Sect. Mission Hall.
The misty peak was as bustling as it usual, countless figures arriving from all directions, and landing in
front of the grand hall at the top of the mountain.
It was at this time that Zhou Yuan and gang returned to the Cangxuan Sect after two months.
The first place they headed to was naturally the Mission Hall.
When the group led by Li Qingchan and Zhao Zhu stepped into the hall, excited gaze after gaze
immediately shot towards them.
“It’s senior sister Li Qingchan and her team!”
“Have they completed their Heaven level mission?”
“Looks like it. With the two Chosens senior sister Li Qingchan and senior brother Zhao Zhu leading the
team, even a Heaven level mission is no challenge.”
“How envious. From the looks of it, Bai Li, Qin Hai and the rest will soon have a Heaven Credit in their
pockets.”
“……”
Numerous whispers spread in the grand hall, before several of the watching gazes suddenly paused. They
had discovered Zhou Yuan positioned right behind Li Qingchan and Zhao Zhu.
This position was very close to the core of the group, second only to Li Qingchan and Zhao Zhu.
The crowd recalled that Zhou Yuan had been stationed at the back of the team when they left the
Cangxuan Sect, a position that would basically be overlooked by everyone because of his lack of value to
the team.
So why was Zhou Yuan now standing so near to the core?
This was way too shameless of him!
Several individuals secretly curled their lips. Zhou Yuan had only managed to obtain a spot on the team
previously due to Li Qingchan’s strong support, a fact which made many veteran purple disciples pretty
unhappy. From what everyone could see, Zhou Yuan hoping to get a freebie Heaven Credit by shamelessly
clinging onto Li Qingchan.
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Such actions were truly disgraceful.
“Humph, his skin is still as thick as before. But let’s see how long he’ll be able to keep this up. Even if he
did manage to become a member of the team, the only thing he’ll be able to do is be a freeloader in a
Heaven level task. In fact, he likely ended up having zero contributions, and was given a ‘no credit’
appraisal.”
These words quickly drew approval from several others. A Heaven level mission was not over once you
got a place on the team. If your performance was not up to par during the mission, you would still fail to
obtain a Heaven Credit.
In their opinion, the only thing Zhou Yuan had was the turtle shell defensive technique he had revealed in
the duel against Wang Lei. However, just that technique alone was clearly not going to cut it in a Heaven
level mission.
Many of the Sword Cometh Peak disciples in particular, had mocking looks on their faces, as if eagerly
waiting for the show to start.
Bai Li was walking beside Zhou Yuan, and likewise sensed the whispers around them. She smiled
playfully at him and said, “It seems that many people are waiting to see you be embarrassed.”
Zhou Yuan chuckled helplessly. This was nothing but normal. A newly promoted purple sash disciple like
himself managing to participate in a Heaven level mission should make everyone else envious.
“But I’m afraid they will be very disappointed once they find out.” Bai Li was clearly enjoying the
situation.
Some of the other team members laughed, while Qin Hai and the other Sword Cometh Peak disciples
lowered their heads in embarrassment. Most of the surrounding disciples waiting to watch Zhou Yuan
humiliated were from the Sword Cometh Peak.
Li Qingchan swept a backward glance at Zhou Yuan from the front. Everyone was currently crowding
around the latter, a little like the moon surrounded by the stars. Their attitudes towards him were clearly
much better after returning from the mission.
Back when they had just left for the mission, the others were clearly not too fond of Zhou Yuan. Even Bai
Li had only talked to him on account of her friendship with Li Qingchan, though it had admittedly been
quite a half-hearted effort.
The reason behind this was undoubtedly because they had felt Zhou Yuan would only be a burden to
them, and was not worthy of their attention.
However, Zhou Yuan’s battle with Yang Xuan had clearly awed Bai Li, Qin Hai and the other veteran
disciples.
2189
Only then did they realize that this person, whom they had all neglected, was actually hiding so many
astonishing trump cards.
It was this very reason that led to Zhou Yuan transformation from an always overlooked character to the
star of the show on their way back. To be honest, Bai Li was definitely being way too friendly.
Li Qingchan rolled her eyes Bai Li for her lack of shame, before walking straight towards the counter for
handing in missions.
At this moment, several figures stepped forward from the crowd. It was Xu Yan, Wang Lei, Lu Xuanyin
and other Sword Cometh Peak disciples.
“Hehe, congratulations senior brother Zhao Zhu on your triumphant return!”
Xu Yan cupped his fists together with a wide smile, fully appearing as if he was here to give his
congratulations. However, their gazes occasionally glanced behind towards Zhou Yuan, not bothering at
all to conceal the gloating looks within them.
These people were obviously waiting here to watch Zhou Yuan lose face.
By the side, a sliver of malignant pleasure flitted across Lu Xuanyin’s eyes. She no longer dared to cause
trouble after being taught a painful lesson by Zhou Yuan during the purple sash selection, but she was
still naturally more than happy to watch him suffer.
A single glance was all Zhao Zhu needed to understand their aim, causing the corners of his lips to twitch
slightly. He couldn’t really say anything at this time and place, and thus chose to brush past them with an
expressionless face.
Xu Yan, Wang Lie and the rest were stunned. However, they did not give this strange behaviour much
thought, and instead turned their mocking gazes towards Zhou Yuan.
“Junior brother Zhou Yuan, I wonder what kind of evaluation you received for this Heaven level mission?”
Said Wang Lie with a superficial smile. If he had not fallen for Zhou Yuan’s trick in that one move wager
back then, it would have been him on the team instead.
Zhou Yuan glanced at him, before walking past without answering.
More and more disciples began to crowd over as whispers continued to spread. Everyone was clearly
waiting for the entertainment to begin.
Li Qingchan approached the counter for handing in missions, retrieved a jade scroll and handed it to the
middle-aged attendant behind it. The latter received the scroll and sent out his senses. Surprise surged on
his face as he sent a strange look towards Zhou Yuan.
2190
He shook his head before walking out. With a wave of his hand, a Heaven level mission appeared on the
glowing wall to the side. It was the Black Flame Province mission undertaken by Zhou Yuan and the team.
The attendant’s gaze swept about the area as he said, “The Black Flame Province mission has been
perfectly completed.”
Envious gasps immediately sounded all around. However, the crowd was not overly surprised, because
there were two Chosens leading the team after all.
The attendant continued, “For this mission, the upper credit receivers are; Li Qingchan, Zhao Zhu, Bai
Li…”
Name after name was read, stopping at a total of nine.
The numerous surrounding disciples were rather confused. They could not figure out why Li Qingchan
and Zhao Zhu were only given an upper credit rating. They should be given the chief credit, right?
“Heh heh, I knew that Zhou Yuan wouldn’t get an upper credit!”
The eyes of Xu Yan, Wang Lei and the other Sword Cometh disciples brightened as they could not help but
burst into laughter.
The other disciples also shook their heads, a little contempt in their eyes when they looked towards Zhou
Yuan. He had racked his brains so hard in order to get into the team, but it only ended up as a waste of
time.
They clearly believed that Zhou Yuan’s absence amongst the upper credit receivers could only mean that
his performance had been too lackluster. As for the chief credit… don’t even joke about it!
With two Chosens on the team, what chance did the others have?
The attendant glanced at the laughing Sword Cometh Peak disciples and secretly shook his head. There
was a slight trace of pity in his eyes as he said, “Chief credit receiver, Zhou Yuan.”
The noisy hall instantly fell quiet.
The grins on Xu Yan, Wang Lei, Lu Xuanyin and the rest’s faces froze, their eyes nearly popping from their
sockets as they stared at the attendant as if having misheard him.
The attendant ignored them, and turned towards Zhou Yuan and the rest. “Kindly pass me your credit
tokens.”
Li Qingchan, Zhao Zhu and the rest walked forward one by one and took out their silver tokens.
Next, under the staring eyes of the crowd, Zhou Yuan walked forward and fished out a golden token...
2191
*Gulp*
The sound of swallowing was rather loud in the silent hall. This was not an unfamiliar sight to them. The
golden token represented the chief credit.
Zhou Yuan had actually obtained the chief credit in the Heaven mission?!
Dazed gaze after gaze looked towards Zhou Yuan’s figure, disbelief flooding out from the depths of their
eyes.
Xu Yan, Wang Lei, Lu Xuanyin and gang were also swallowing, their faces burning as they could not help
but say,
“Chief credit, Zhou Yuan?!”
“How can this be!”
The middle-aged attendant received the tokens, before taking out several jade tiles. Peculiar patterns
adorned every tile, each one representing a Heaven Credit.
He then passed Li Qingchan, Zhao Zhu and the rest one tile each.
As for Zhou Yuan, he was handed two jade tiles.
This represented two Heaven Credits.
By this time, the corners of Xu Yan, Wang Lei and the gang’s mouths were trembling uncontrollably as
they despaired inside. The Heaven Credits had already been out, which meant that there was definitely
no mistake...
Though they could not believe it, reality was also rather cruel.
They looked at each other, seeing the dull, glazed looks in each other’s eyes. Originally, they had
personally came here to be entertained. Who could have expected that they would end up voluntarily
sticking out their cheeks out again for Zhou Yuan to give them a nice, hard slap...
They sighed deeply inside. Once news of what happened here spread, the recently returned peace in the
sect would be broken once again...
2192
Chapter 433 Commotion
Numerous disciples inside the hall were still in a dazed state even after Zhou Yuan was done keeping his
two jade tiles. He paid no attention to them, mere casting a glance at the rigid Xu Yan, Wang Lei, Lu
Xuanyin and gang.
This group had obviously specially made a trip here to watch him make a fool of himself, but they never
would have imagined that the final outcome would surpass their expectations in such a manner.
Zhou Yuan cupped his fists at Li Qingchan and said, “Senior sister Qingchan, I’ll be returning to Saint
Genesis Peak since the mission is over. Thanks for taking care of me during the trip.”
Li Qingchan gave a faint nod in response. “No need to be so humble. All of us know who the biggest
contributor was.”
Zhou Yuan chuckled, before waving his goodbyes to Bai Li and the rest. Under the attention of the crowd,
he walked out of the grand hall and rose into the sky on his Genesis Qi.
He had begun to miss Yaoyao and Tuntun a little after two months.
After Zhou Yuan’s departure, the atmosphere in the hall slowly recovered. However, many disciples still
had strange looks on their faces, evidently unable to imagine how Zhou Yuan had been given the chief
credit.
Xu Yan, Wang Lei and gang quickly arrived at Zhao Zhu side, unable to stop themselves from asking,
“Senior brother Zhao Zhu, is there some kind of mistake? If even someone like you did not get the chief
credit, how could Zhou Yuan possible obtain it?!”
By the side, Li Qingchan frowned a little. She swept a glance at Zhao Zhu before walking away.
Bai Li and the rest shot a look of pity towards Wang Lie and gang, before quickly following Li Qingchan.
Wang Lei, Xu Yan and the rest were rather baffled by these gazes. Before they could ask, Zhao Zhu threw a
vicious glare at them and growled, “All of you shut up. Stop being so disgraceful!”
With a wave of his sleeve, he left Wang Lei and the rest behind, walking away with an expressionless face.
Wang Lei and gang were clearly a little resentful after being receiving such a scolding. They could only
look to each other as they felt depressingly frustrated inside.
...
After leaving the Mission Hall, Zhou Yuan directly returned to Saint Genesis Peak, landing just outside his
cave dwelling.
2193
When he arrived, however, he saw a roly-poly figure leisurely lying right outside the cave. When he took
a closer look, who else did he find but Shen Wanjin.
Upon hearing the sound of rushing wind, Shen Wanjin lazily lifted his head. He seemed to jerk a little at
the sight of Zhou Yuan, before hurriedly climbing to his feet as he joyfully said, “Little Yuan bro, you’re
back at last!”
Zhou Yuan was rather puzzled. “Why are you here? Where’s Yaoyao?”
Shen Wanjin revealed a simple grin as he said, “Boss sister Yaoyao also left a few days after your
departure.”
“Left?!” Zhou Yuan was immediately alarmed, and hastily asked, “Where did she go?!”
“Boss sister Yaoyao also took on a Heaven level mission, and tasked me to take care of the cave dwelling
right before she left. That’s why I’m usually here.” Replied Shen Wanjin.
Zhou Yuan frowned a little, unable to stop himself from becoming somewhat worried inside. Although
Yaoyao was stronger than him, her identity was very mysterious. What would he do if something
happened!
How would he be able to explain himself to master Cang Yuan?
“Don’t worry little Yuan bro, boss sister Yaoyao has immeasurable strength, and even a Heaven level
mission should not be too dangerous for her.” Consoleded Shen Wanjin.
Zhou Yuan smiled bitterly as he nodded. Since everything had already happened, all he could do was try
to relax as he waited, while hoping that nothing bad would happen to her.
After chatting with Shen Wanjin for a while, he waved goodbye and entered the cave dwelling to rest. The
long journey back had been very tiring after all.
While Zhou Yuan was resting, he was unaware of how news of him obtaining the chief credit was
spreading throughout the entire Cangxuan Sect as if it had wings, causing a huge commotion.
Most of the disciples were very doubtful in the beginning, some even suspecting if Li Qingchan was the
reason behind it. After all, how could a practically negligible existence in the team ultimately end up with
the chief credit?
Or maybe… Li Qingchan herself had given her credit token to Zhou Yuan?
But such a thought was immediately met by even stronger feelings of rejection. Li Qingchan was the
number one beauty in the sect, who was adored by countless disciples. She was as cold as ice, and never
allowed anyone from the opposite sex to get close. What would it mean If she had indeed went so far for
Zhou Yuan? Could their ice goddess have feelings for him?
2194
If this was true, it would definitely draw public anger.
These opinions quickly caused giant waves in the sect, and eventually made their way to Li Qingchan’s
ears. It naturally made her quite outraged, but before she could make a statement, the Mission Hall beat
her to the punch by publishing the details of the mission, including how Zhou Yuan had battled against
the Sacred Palace’s Yang Xuan, and miraculously turned the tides against all odds.
Once this information was released, an uproar swept over the countless disciples of the sect, everyone
completely flabbergasted.
This was obviously extremely difficult for them to believe. After all, before Zhou Yuan left for the mission,
his battle accomplishment had been limited to a controversial draw against Xu Yan, while the latter was
clearly not as strong as Bai Li and the rest.
On the other hand, Yang Xuan was an existence that even the combined might of Bai Li and Qin Hai had
failed to defeat. What’s more, the former was even said to have nearly reached the eighth layer level. Even
among the purple sash disciples of the Cangxuan Sect, such strength was absolutely top tier, and gave one
the qualifications to contend for the chief disciple seat of the various peaks.
Zhou Yuan was actually able to defeat someone like this?!
Had he really grown so strong in a short two months?
No matter how much in disbelief they were, information from the Mission Hall was unquestionable. As
such, the rare peace that had descended on the Cangxuan Sect for the past two months had once again
been disrupted due to Zhou Yuan’s return.
...
“Zhou Yuan defeated an eighth layer opponent?!”
Saint Genesis Peak, elder Lu Song’s faction.
Lu Yan’s eyes were extremely round, disbelief dyeing her entire face. She had obviously just heard the
newly released information from the Mission Hall.
There was also some surprise on elder Lu Song’s face as he held a teapot in his hands. Soon after, he
sighed and said, “It is truly impossible to estimate that little one’s abilities.”
He then looked towards Lu Yan and asked, “Do you still dare to underestimate him?”
Li Yan’s pouted. “Yes yes yes, I know that he’s very capable. Is this enough?”
She paused for a moment, before continuing, “However, it also says that Zhou Yuan obtained a Heaven
Genesis Weapon, and only managed to put up a fight against Yang Xuan by borrowing its powers.”
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“Obtaining a Heaven Genesis Weapon is his luck and fate, which is naturally also a type of strength.” Elder
Lu Song chuckled. “At this rate, Zhou Yuan may really have the qualifications to participate in our
upcoming Saint Genesis Peak chief disciple selection.”
“Hehe, looks like you’ve got another competitor.”
Lu Yan softly snorted when she heard this. “I admit that he is quite talented, but it will be a little too naive
of him to believe that he will be able to contest for the chief disciple seat with just a Heaven Genesis
Weapon.”
Elder Lu Song laughed, before softly sighing. Compared to Zhou Yuan, Lu Hong’s faction was clearly going
to be the greatest obstacle for the upcoming chief disciple selection.
If they allowed Lu Hong’s faction to win the chief disciple seat, his faction would likely become the master
faction of Saint Genesis Peak in the future. When that happened, their other two factions would
undoubtedly be given less cultivation resources and bullied even more.
This was not good for them at all.
...
Saint Genesis Peak, elder Lu Hong’s faction.
In a certain stone pavilion, after hearing the report from his disciple, elder Lu Hong sneered and said,
“This brat really does not know his place. Can’t believe he stirred up such a sensation the moment he
returned.”
Outside the stone pavilion, Wei Youxuan, who had lost to Zhou Yuan in the cave match, said with a grave
expression, “Teacher Lu, I’ve heard Zhou Yuan has grown much stronger and is now able to fight against
an eighth layer opponent.”
“If he has really grown so powerful, I’m afraid that elder Shen Taiyuan will send him out to participate in
the upcoming chief disciple selection.”
A mocking smile rose from the corners of Lu Hong’s lips when he heard this, before he looked towards a
figure seated in front of him. The figure was tall and muscular like a metal tower, wore a cold look of
indifference on his face, and a powerful pressure pulsed from his body.
It was elder Lu Hong’s first disciple, Yuan Hong.
And also the strongest contender for the upcoming chief disciple selection.
“Yuan Hong, what do you think?” Asked Lu Hong.
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Yuan Hong lifted his head, his voice cold and indifferent as he responded, “Yang Xuan can just barely be
considered an eighth layer Alpha-Origin expert. His Genesis Qi was unstable and can suppress the likes of
Bai Li, Qin Hai and the rest.”
“Zhou Yuan’s victory was undoubtedly due to the advantage of his Heaven Genesis Weapon. If he dares to
participate in the chief disciple selection, he will soon understand that a Heaven Genesis Weapon will not
be able to protect him.” Not the slightest shred of emotion could be detected in Lu Hong’s voice. Zhou
Yuan’s amazing battle accomplishment in the Heaven mission was clearly not even worth mentioning in
his eyes.
A smile was revealed on Lu Hong’s face when he heard this, evidently extremely satisfied with this first
disciple he had poured all his effort in grooming. Yuan Hong had not disappointed his teacher. After
following elder Lu Hong to Saint Genesis Peak, Yuan Hong had become an insurmountable mountain in
the hearts of the disciples from the other two factions.
“Though Zhou Yuan has talent, he is still lacking in experience. There is no need to worry about him.”
“Yuan Hong, you absolutely cannot fail in the upcoming chief disciple selection this year. In fact, peak
master Ling Jun has also repeatedly reminded me about this matter. As long as our faction takes the chief
disciple seat, we will become the master faction of Saint Genesis Peak…”
“When that happens, we shall reallocate all of Saint Genesis Peak’s cultivation resources, and the other
two factions will no longer have any right to compete with us. As for Zhou Yuan, so what is he’s talented?
We’ll make up some excuse to take away his cave dwelling and cut his cultivation resources. Let’s see
what he’ll be able to do then. So what if he’s a genius? Hehe, that’s the only thing our Cangxuan Sect
doesn’t lack the most.” A disdainful smile rose on Lu Hong’s lips as he looked towards Yuan Hong.
“When that time comes, I am certain he will regret not joining our faction back then, and instead choosing
that useless old coot Shen Wanjin.”
Lu Hong nodded, cold pride in his eyes.
“Don’t worry teacher Lu, there’s nothing to fear from the other two factions of Saint Genesis Peak. The
chief disciple seat will definitely be mine.”
2197
Chapter 434 Participating in the Chief Disciple
Selection
The next day.
After a night of rest, Zhou Yuan was full of energy again.
In the early morning, he walked out of the cave dwelling and rushed straight to the Dao Seeker Hall. Since
he was now back from the mission, he needed to report to Shen Taiyuan while also resuming his
cultivation sessions.
Outside the Dao Seeker Hall.
Many senior brother and sister disciples were currently hurrying towards this place. When Zhou Yuan
arrived, he immediately drew every gaze in the area that quickly filled with surprise and amazement.
Zhou Yuan was a little confused by their gazes, evidently still unaware that the details of the Heaven
mission had already been revealed.
“Haha, junior brother Zhou Yuan, your performance in the mission has improved the reputation of our
faction the the sect once again.” While Zhou Yuan was feeling puzzled, a hearty laughter was heard,
before he saw Zhou Tai quickly walking over.
Only then did Zhou Yuan understand. So his deeds in the Black Flame Province had already spread.
Zhou Yuan smiled as he offhandedly said, “I was lucky.”
However, Zhou Tai strongly patted the former’s shoulders, clearly very excited as he continued to speak,
“You’re being way too humble. You are clearly only at the fourth layer, but even the Sacred Palace’s Yang
Xuan couldn’t beat you. In my opinion, your current strength already qualifies you to participate in Saint
Genesis Peak’s chief disciples selection that will be held in two months.”
“Ha.”
A sarcastic laugh rang out from the side just as Zhou Tai’s words faded. Zhou Yuan tilted his head slightly,
only to find a group of people walking over, led by the one and only Zhang Yan.
Senior brother Zhang Yan’s popularity was second only to Zhou Tai in elder Shen’s faction. The former
was also quite talented, and although he had joined a little later than Zhou Tai, he was already gradually
catching up to the latter.
Back when Zhou Yuan joined Shen Taiyuan’s faction, Cao Shi and the rest had tried to make things
difficult for Zhou Yuan. The truth was that they were being secretly supported by Zhang Yan.
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As such, Zhou Yuan and Zhang Yan’s group did not have a close relationship.
Zhang Yan led his gang over as he swept a glance at Zhou Tai and Zhou Yuan and said in an indifferent
voice, “Although junior brother Zhou Yuan did pretty well this time, it’s a separate matter for him to take
part in the chief disciple selection. I feel he is still lacking in experience.”
“After all, that Yang Xuan he defeated is not a genuine eighth layer Alpha-Origin. Moreover, junior brother
Zhou Yuan only managed to win due to his advantage of having a Heaven Genesis Weapon. Without it,
junior brother Zhou Yuan’s true strength will barely be able to compete with a seventh layer.”
He paused for a moment, casting a glance at Zhou Yuan as a slight smile appeared on his lips. “I’m only
stating the facts, I hope that junior brother Zhou Yuan will not be too unhappy after hearing them.”
Zhou Tai frowned. Just as he was about to speak, Zhou Yuan smiled and shook his head, before looking
towards Zhang Yan. “Senior brother Zhang Yan’s points are indeed logical… however, isn’t there still two
months till the chief disciple selection?”
“The circumstances after two months should be something that senior brother won’t be able to predict,
right?”
Mockery rose from the corners of Zhang Yan’s mouth. What could possible change in two months?
“Then I wish junior brother Zhou Yuan all the best in fulfilling your grand aspiration.”
He shook his head, no longer bothering to talk any further on this topic as he brushed past Zhou Yuan,
leading his group into the Dao Seeker Hall.
“Ignore him junior brother Zhou Yuan. If you want to participate in the chief disciple selection, I will
support your decision. Winning or losing isn’t important, just take it as experience.” Consoled Zhou Tai.
Evidently, even Zhou Tai was not particularly optimistic about Zhou Yuan’s odds. The former merely
hoped for Zhou Yuan to give it a try and gain some experience in the process.
Zhou Yuan smiled and nodded, before entering the Dao Seeker Hall with Zhou Tai.
The hall was already filled with numerous figures, while Shen Taiyuan was already seated on the highest
seat. His lightly shut eyes slowly cracked open when Zhou Yuan stepped into the hall as he revealed a
faint smile to the latter.
Zhou Yuan walked to his place, before cupping his fists together to greet Shen Taiyuan. “Greetings teacher
Shen.”
A smile appeared on Shen Taiyuan’s face. “It’s good that you’re back.”
His eyes were filled with satisfaction when he looked at Zhou Yuan.
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“Zhou Yuan, you’ve done very well for the Black Flame Province mission. Sect master even called for me
yesterday to sing praises about you. If not for you miraculously saving the day, the reputation of the
Cangxuan Sect would have been damaged.” Said Shen Taiyuan with a kindly expression.
The other disciples in the hall cast envious gazes at Zhou Yuan, clearly not expecting even sect master
Qing Yang to know of this matter. This was truly rare indeed.
Zhou Yuan was also rather surprised, likewise not expecting such news to have spread to even the sect
master’s ears. Soon after, he chuckled and said, “I’m also a disciple of the sect. It’s only natural for me to
fight for our dignity.”
Shen Taiyuan smiled. “You’ve done a great service to us. Feel free to let me know if there’s any reward
you want.”
Zhou Yuan’s heart shook when he heard this. He quickly cupped his fists together and said, “No need for a
reward, but if possible, I hope that teacher Shen will permit me to participate in the Saint Genesis Peak
chief disciples selection.”
These words immediately caused commotion to arise, numerous bewildered gazes shooting over. It was
clear that no one had imagined Zhou Yuan would actually be gunning for the chief disciple selection.
Such an appetite was not small at all.
Zhang Yang was the first to sneer as he said, “Junior brother Zhou Yuan, the chief disciple selection is no
children’s game, and represents the dignity of our faction. Though you are quite talented, isn’t it still a
little too early for you to participate in such an event?”
The other disciples nodded in agreement. Although Zhou Yuan’s string of achievements over the past
year was quite amazing, he still lacked the experience and maturity to participate in the chief disciple
selection.
After all, only the best among the purple sash disciples would be able to represent their factions,
individuals that were only stronger than Yang Xuan. whom Zhou Yuan had defeated in the Black Flame
Province.
A look of deep thought rose on Shen Taiyuan’s face. He was aware of the more specific details with
regards to Zhou Yuan’s feats in the Black Flame Province. The black brush Heaven Genesis Weapon
played no small part in his victory against Yang Xuan, but even so, Zhou Yuan in that state was still not
enough to take on the chief disciple selection.
In their faction, only Zhou Tai and Zhang Yan had the qualifications to participate in this event, while the
other experienced purple sash disciples were likewise lacking.
As for Zhou Yuan, he was not even in Shen Taiyuan’s considerations.
2200
If one performed badly in the chief disciple selection, it would definitely be a blow to the dignity of their
faction.
If any other disciple made such a request, Shen Taiyuan would immediately reject. However, he hesitated
somewhat in the face of Zhou Yuan, who had been able to create miracles time and time again.
“Zhou Yuan, there’s no need for you to rush. Given your talent, if you wait a year more, the chief disciple
seat will already be in the bag.” Said Shen Taiyun.
“So won’t you wait a year before you try?”
Zhou Yuan was silent. In the end, he shook his head and said, “I still hope that teacher Shen will be able to
grant me this request. I will definitely do my best, and not bring shame to our faction.”
Shen Taiyuan could only let out a soft sigh. After pondering over it for a while, he said in a solemn voice,
“Since you are determined, it will not be appropriate for me to hinder you from giving your all. You may
participate in the upcoming chief disciple selection.”
In any case, their faction did not have much dignity left. It would not be a substantial blow to them even if
Zhou Yuan lost.
Whispers spread in the hall as Zhang Yan and his gang watched with cold, detached eyes. There was no
way they would be happy with this development. Shen Taiyuan was obviously far too bias towards Zhou
Yuan, even agreeing to such an irrational request.
“Fine, you can’t blame anyone else if you’re so insistent on making a fool of yourself…”
Zhou Yuan ignored everyone else. Joy subconsciously rose on his face when he saw Shen Taiyuan give his
approval, before Zhou Yuan quickly solemnly cupped his fists together in respectful thanks.
This was the final hurdle between him and the sealed main peak, where he would at long last be able to
begin his search for the hidden second Saint Rune...
He had been waiting for this day for a very long time.
However, Zhou Yuan also understood that winning the chief disciple selection was not going to be easy.
Thus, it was time for him to go full throttle in his training for the next two months.
2201
Chapter 435 Cashing in the Heaven Credit
After the cultivation session in the Dao Seeker Hall was over, Zhou Yuan parted ways with Zhou Tai. The
former stood within the swirling mists on the mountain with a thoughtful look on his face.
Although Shen Taiyuan had promised to allow his participation in the chief disciple selection, Zhou Yuan
understood that it was going to be very challenging. Without borrowing the power of the Heavenly Yuan
Brush, his current battle power would at most be able to match the likes of Bai Li, Qin Hai and the rest.
As for the other disciples who possessed the qualifications to take part in the chief disciple selection, even
if they may not have real Heaven Genesis Weapons, they should be able to prepare quasi-Heaven Genesis
Weapons.
If that was the case, the advantage of his Heavenly Yuan Brush would be greatly diminished.
Most importantly… even senior brother Zhou Tai and Zhang Yan of their faction had genuinely reached
the eighth layer, a realm that far surpassed the half-baked eighth layer Yang Xuan had reached.
Hence, for Zhou Yuan to distinguish himself in the year end chief disciple selection, he needed to make
full use of these final two months to grow as much as he could.
“I should first go hand one of the Heaven Credits to old Xuan.” After some thought, Zhou Yuan pushed
away his worries for the time being. His figure soared into the sky, heading towards the main peak of
Saint Genesis Peak.
After half an incense stick of time.
His figure landed before the simple temple at the foot of the mountain. A hunched, elderly figure could be
seen on the plaza in front of the temple, still holding a broom as he slowly swept away the fallen leaves on
the ground.
Upon hearing the sound of rushing wind, he weakly lifted head. A smile seemed to appear on his face
when his murky eyes spotted Zhou Yuan. “Little one, it seems that you’re a man of your word.”
“I was beginning to think you were planning on renegading on our deal. An old man like me with one foot
in the grave is not the least bit intimidating after all.”
Zhou Yuan’s lips curled when he heard this. Go ahead and keep on pretending. Given your seniority and
status in the Cangxuan Sect, as long as you open your mouth, even sect master Qing Yang won’t be able to
reject.
“Here’s the Heaven Credit I promised.” A jade tile appeared in Zhou Yuan’s hand. He touched it for a brief
moment as an extremely pained look appeared on his face. This jade tile represented a Heaven Credit that
could be exchanged for a Heaven Genesis technique anytime he wanted.
2202
But there was no choice. This was the price for the Taiyi Green Wood Mark.
Though he was not certain whether old Xuan would really take away the half completed Taiyi mark he
had cultivated if he did not give the former a Heaven Credit, Zhou Yuan obviously did not want to take
this risk.
Old Xuan reached out a gnarly hand and caught the jade tile Zhou Yuan threw over. With an offhand
glance, the former kept the tile in his sleeve before turning back to still miserable looking Zhou Yuan who
appeared to be mumbling something under his breath, as a smile flitted across his murky eyes.
Zhou Yuan did not want to stay here any longer after handing over the jade tile. His voice sounded rather
dispirited as he said, “Since I’ve already given the Heaven Credit to you, neither of us owes the other
anything now. Goodbye.”
He turned around, intending to leave this place as soon as possible.
Just as Zhou Yuan was about to leave, old Xuan’s voice faintly echoed, “You seem to be very keen on
entering the sealed main peak? Are you interested in this place?”
Zhou Yuan’s footsteps paused, not a single hint of change visible in his expression as he replied, “Saint
Genesis Peak was the place where patriarch Cang Xuan once cultivated, and he was once the number one
expert in Cangxuan Heaven. I believe that there’s no one who won’t be interested in the place where he
trained, right?”
Old Xuan slowly sat down on the stone steps, placing the broom by his side as he said, “You plan on
participating in the year end chief disciple selection, right? Only the chief disciple of Saint Genesis Peak
will be permitted to enter the sealed main peak.”
Zhou Yuan nodded, and did not deny it. News of this had already spread after all.
Old Xuan patted his knees as he leisurely said, “Although the declining Saint Genesis Peak only has three
factions, given your current strength, it’s going to be a very difficult task indeed to vie for the chief
disciple seat.”
Zhou Yuan unhappily said, “There’s no need for you to worry about such matters.”
Old Xuan continued, “I’ve heard that you obtained the chief credit in the Heaven mission? Doesn’t that
mean that there’s another Heaven Credit in your possession?”
Zhou Yuan immediately became on guard. He placed a hand on the Universe bag at his waist as he
cautiously stared at old Xuan and said, “Don’t even think about taking my last Heaven Credit away too.”
He knew by now just how rare a Heaven mission was. Moreover, even if he was lucky enough for one to
appear again, he would have to fight numerous other competitors for a spot, and even if he did succeed in
the end, it would not be certain whether he’ll be rewarded a Heaven Credit.
2203
If he encountered an exceedingly difficult Heaven mission, he may ultimately be given a ‘no credit’
appraisal and end up wasting his time.
Hence, Zhou Yuan deeply treasured his remaining Heaven Credit, and did not dare to easily use it.
Old Xuan did not know whether to laugh or to cry at the sight of Zhou Yuan’s appearance. He shook his
head and said, “This toy is only a treasure to you disciples. It's useless in my eyes.”
“I merely find you to be quite a promising kid and hope to give you a small pointer, so stop being so
tactless.”
Only then did Zhou Yuan relax his hand, half doubtful and half convinced as he continued to stare at the
old man before him.
“What do you want to advise me about?”
Old Xuan indifferently said, “That Heaven Credit will only be a useless piece of jade if you keep holding on
to it. Thus, it will be best for you to exchange it for something that will benefit you, for example, a Heaven
Genesis technique to raise your strength.”
“On this note, I have items you may exchange it for here.”
Zhou Yuan was taken aback. “I can exchange it for a Heaven Genesis technique from you?”
There was a skeptical look in his eyes as he hesitated. “I think it will be a little more logical for me to do it
at the sect’s Hidden Scriptures House…”
He could not read this old man, and did not dare to bet the only Heaven Credit he had.
Old Xuan was a mix of amusement and anger when he heard this, clearly not expecting the brat to have
such a look of hesitation in the face of his kind intentions.
One must know that the things he had were something that even the elders of the sect greatly desired!
“If you don’t want them, hurry up and leave.” Said old Xuan with a wave of his hand.
Zhou Yuan pondered for a while, and chose not to leave in the end. He gritted his teeth as he stepped
forward and handed over the jade tile.
He said with gritted teeth, “Fine, I’ll trust you this once!”
“Show me what kind of Heaven Genesis techniques you have.”
Old Xuan unhurriedly received the jade tile and glanced at the nervous Zhou Yuan, before reaching a hand
into his sleeves.
2204
In the end, he fished out a jade scroll. The scroll gave off several rays of light that turned into small light
screens on which letters began to appear.
“Little Saint Spirit Art?” Zhou Yuan was stunned when he saw these words. He did not know why but they
seemed to be rather familiar.
“How is this little Saint Spirit Art related to the Omega Saint Spirit Art only the chief disciples of Saint
Genesis Peak is qualified to learn?” However, he quickly recalled why they appeared familiar.
Back when he had joined Shen Taiyuan’s faction, the latter had told him that the Cangxuan Sect once had
a Saint Genesis technique. However, the technique was split into seven parts, each of which were
safeguarded by each of the seven peaks.
The technique safeguarded by Saint Genesis Peak was the high grade Heaven Genesis technique, the
Omega Saint Spirit Art.
Old Xuan shot a surprised glance at Zhou Yuan, clearly not expecting the latter to be so sharp. He
immediately chuckled and said, “At least you know your stuff. This little Saint Spirit Art is indeed related
to the Omega Saint Spirit Art…”
“This technique is the simplified version I created from the Omega Saint Spirit Art. Although the process
lowered the rank of the technique to the mid grade Heaven tier, it has also become easier to learn.”
“If you manage to master the little Sains Spirit Art, and subsequently obtain the Omega Saint Spirit Art in
the future, the latter will become much easier to master.”
Zhou Yuan was dumbstruck, before his eyes instantly began to light up with burning desire as he stared
at the jade scroll, saliva even dripping from his mouth.
Never in his wildest dreams would he have imagined that the Heaven Genesis technique from old Xuan
would be the simplified version of Saint Genesis Peak’s strongest Omega Saint Spirit Art.
Zhou Yuan swallowed repeatedly and said, “Elder, you’re way too amazing…”
A strange smile appeared from the corners of old Xuan’s lips when he saw this, before he raised his hand.
Jade scroll after scroll began to fly out from his sleeve, reaching a total of six before stopping.
These six jade scrolls hovered in front of him as rays of light spread from them.
“I still have other options, want to continue looking?”
Zhou Yuan looked over as his gradually turned slack-jawed. His breathing became extremely ragged as
his eyes turned a crazed red.
“Little Mythic Body Art!”
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“Little Azure Sky Art!”
“Little Lightning Prison Art!”
“......”
All six of the jade scrolls began with the word little, and these names all gave Zhou Yuan a feeling of
familiarity.
His voice had even begun to tremble as he mumbled, “All of these… are the simplified versions of the
seven Cangxuan Arts?!”
Old Xuan nodded with a grin.
Zhou Yuan felt a warm sensation from his nose, unable to stop himself from having a nose bleed.
At this very moment, he had the impulse of grabbing these jade scrolls and running.
2206
Chapter 436 Little Mythic Saint Body
Seven glowing jade scrolls floated in the air. Their light was reflected in Zhou Yuan’s eyes, causing his
breath to turn ragged and his eyes to turn a crazy red as his heart violently thudded.
He clearly understood just what these seven jade scrolls represented...
Although they were not the real seven Cangxuan Arts but the simplified versions, they were obviously
still incomparable to ordinary Heaven Genesis techniques. Once mastered, any of the seven Cangxuan
Arts one subsequently obtained in the future would be learnt in the shortest possible time.
Thus, even someone, who was usually able to keep level-headed like Zhou Yuan, felt his mind go blank for
a time in the face of the seven hovering jade scrolls. In fact, he even felt the urge to snatch them and run.
Fortunately, this urge quickly passed and Zhou Yuan gradually regained his wits.
Although old Xuan did not seem to have any Genesis Qi, his frightening seniority was in the open for all to
see. If Zhou Yuan were to try grabbing the scrolls and running, he would most definitely be kicked out of
the sect on the very spot.
Zhou Yuan licked his lips. When he looked towards old Xuan again, the originally vigilant look in his eyes
were gone, replaced by a flattering smile.
“So? Is this satisfactory?” Asked Old Xuan as he smiled from ear to ear.
“Satisfactory! Absolutely satisfactory!” Zhou Yuan rapidly nodded like a little chick, practically drooling
with desire as he said, “Elder, are these seven jade scrolls for me?”
If he could obtain all of them, wouldn’t he become the only person in the Cangxuan Sect to have gathered
all seven Cangxuan Arts? Though they were admittedly the simplified versions...
However, old Xuan merely cast a disdainful glance at the former. He did even bother replying to the
question, merely letting out a sarcastic laugh, “Haha.”
Such a huge appetite… wasn’t this kid afraid of dying from bloatedness?
From old Xuan’s sarcastic laughter, Zhou Yuan understood just how naive his question had been, causing
him to chuckle awkwardly in response. After all, there was likely no disciple in the sect who could remain
calm in the face of the seven Cangxuan Arts.
Old Xuan ignored Zhou Yuan’s delusional thoughts and lazily said, “Pick one of them.”
2207
Zhou Yuan immediately began to frown deeply when he heard this, his gaze continuously sweeping left
and right across the seven jade scrolls. He was clearly very conflicted for a time, because such a choice
was truly too difficult to make!
These seven jade scrolls were a simplified version of the seven Cangxuan Arts. Each one possessed
mysterious and wondrous abilities, making it insanely difficult to eliminate any one of them.
“Should I select the little Saint Spirit Art?” Zhou Yuan hesitated. This could prepare him for when he
obtained the Omega Saint Spirit Art in the future.
After mulling over it for a long time, Zhou Yuan gritted his teeth and reached for the little Saint Spirit Art.
When old Xuan saw this, he said, “If i were you, I will not make this selection.”
“Why?” Zhou Yuan was taken aback.
Old Xuan rolled his eyes at Zhou Yuan. “Won’t you be able to obtain the real Omega Saint Spirit Art after
you distinguish yourself in the upcoming chief disciple selection? When that happens, won’t these two
Heaven Genesis techniques overlap?”
Zhou Yuan blinked repeatedly. There seemed to be some logic behind this reasoning.
Old Xuan leisurely said, “If you trust this old man, allow me to give you some advice.”
“Of course I trust you!” Said Zhou Yuan without the slightest shred of hesitation. After seeing old Xuan’s
collection, the former no longer dared to look down on the latter.
Old Xuan pointed, and a jade scroll drifted towards Zhou Yuan.
Zhou Yuan hastily received it. His gaze swept across it as he muttered, “Little Mythic Saint Body?”
Zhou Yuan was stunned. This appeared to be the simplified version of Hongya Peak’s Mythic Saint Body,
and should be an external cultivation technique that specialized in cultivating one’s body.
“Elder, this is an external cultivation technique, and I’ve never cultivated my physical body before.” Said
Zhou Yuan with some hesitation. He had never practiced any Genesis techniques that would temper his
body. Instead, he mostly walked the path of inner cultivation, which focused on growing the breath of
Genesis Qi in his abdomen.
Old Xuan indifferently said, “Little one, both inner and outer cultivation have their own marvels, but a
true expert will walk the complete path. Only by mastering both inner and outer cultivation would one
become truly powerful.”
2208
“Most importantly, you’re already practicing the Taiyi Green Wood Mark, which bestows boundless life
force onto your body, and gives you incredible recovery abilities… with the Taiyi Green Wood Mark as the
base, you will be able to practice external cultivation at a rate that far surpasses any ordinary individual.”
“Where did you think the amazingness of the Taiyi Green Wood Mark lay in? It does not directly bestow
overwhelming power, but is priceless to anyone who practices external cultivation.”
Zhou Yuan was a little moved by these words. So this was the greatest advantage of the Taiyi Green Wood
Mark.
The bodies of external cultivation practitioners would often easily sustain damage. Thus, a good amount
of natural cultivation treasures and resources were required to repair the body, nourish it, heal injuries
and strengthen one’s vital energy. All of these headache inducing problems to others were easily solved
in Zhou Yuan’s case.
The Taiyi Green Wood Mark allowed Zhou Yuan to fearlessly temper and strengthen his body.
As such, the little Mythic Saint Body was indeed the most suitable technique for him at this current time.
He fell into thought for a brief moment as he tightly grasped the jade scroll. “Alright, then I’ll be choosing
the little Mythic Saint Body!”
Old Xuan nodded and kept the other six scrolls with a wave of his sleeve. When he lifted his head again,
he saw Zhou Yuan’s gaze glued to his sleeve, as if nothing would be able to shift it away.
Hence, old Xuan could not help but scold with a smile. “Greedy brat.”
Zhou Yuan smiled resentfully, before reluctantly withdrawing his gaze.
Old Xuan shot a glance at Zhou Yuan and asked, “Little fellow, your Taiyi Green Wood Mark has yet to be
completed, right?”
Zhou Yuan smiled bitterly as he nodded. “It’s only half complete… Yimu Qi is not easy to find.”
Old Xuan frowned a little. “Since you’ve never practiced any external cultivation techniques before, I’m
afraid your body won’t be able to handle a technique on the level of the little Mythic Saint Body at this
point in time. You need to complete the Taiyi mark before you can start practicing it.”
Zhou Yuan awkwardly scratched his head, feeling rather distressed about the situation. To complete the
Tiayi mark, he needed rare ancient wood that contained Yimu Qi. Such things were not easy to find.
Old Xuan helplessly shook his head when he saw this. “How troublesome.”
“I do know where you can find rare ancient wood, but whether or not you’ll be able to obtain any will
depend on your ability.” He slowly staggered to his feet using the broom.
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Zhou Yuan was overjoyed at this news, and hastily cupped his fists together. “Thank you, elder!”
Old Xuan waved his hand before walking forward.
As Zhou Yuan gazed upon the hunched figure, he hesitated for a moment, before he suddenly asked,
“Elder, why are you helping me?”
How could he not feel it by now? Regardless of whether it was allowing him to exchange a Heaven Credit
for one of the seven simplified Cangxuan Arts that ordinary disciples would never have the chance of
seeing, or pointing him in the right direction to find rare ancient wood, these were clearly all blessings
that the old man was giving him.
They did not have any close relations, and had only met thrice before. Therefore, Zhou Yuan did not know
why the old man would shower him with such favors.
Old Xuan’s footsteps paused as he said, “Little one, if you did not return as agreed after obtaining a
Heaven Credit, the truth is that I will not have been so cruel as to cripple the Taiyi mark you practiced.”
“I believe that you also faintly had the inkling that this would be the case…”
“However, you ultimately chose to honor our deal, something that did surprise me a little… that is why I
allowed you to see the simplified Cangxuan Arts.”
“You have control over your desires, are able to keep your promises, and did not stoop so low as to trick
an old man like myself…”
“Truth be told, these blessings are the fruits of your decisions.”
Zhou Yuan was taken aback, his heart slightly shaken. If this was the case, the Heaven Credit promise
between him and old Xuan had been a test of sorts. If he had ultimately been reluctant to part with the
Heaven Credit, though he may have been able to preserve the Taiyi Green Wood Mark, his ties with old
Xuan would have ended there and then.
As a result, he would naturally never be able to see the simplified Cangxuan Arts.
The thought of this made him rejoice inside. Truthfully speaking, he had considered renegading on the
Heaven Credit promise since someone as senior as old Xuan would most likely not do such a cruel thing
to a junior like himself.
But in the end, he had thrown out such thoughts, because he too had a sense of pride in his heart. Pride
that would only make him despise such a deceitful act.
If he wanted something, he would naturally do his best to obtain it instead of resorting to such scummy
methods.
2210
And now, it seemed that his pride had prevented him from losing out on a tremendous opportunity.
When a Heaven Credit was put on a scale with the unfathomable old Xuan, the latter undoubtedly had
more value.
“Follow me.”
Old Xuan beckoned with a hand as he walked towards the giant mountain covered in mist behind them.
His murky eyes were fixed to the front, not turning towards Zhou Yuan behind. The truth was that there
was one most important factor he had not mentioned earlier.
The initial reason he had given such a test to Zhou Yuan… was because he had faintly sensed a hint of a
familiar presence from the latter’s body.
2211
Chapter 437 Dragon Scale Chinese Scholar Tree
Giant misty mountain was filled with silence.
Rustle!
The faint sound of someone stepping on dried leaves was suddenly heard. One could only watch as two
figures, one old and one young, slowly walked over from far away, unhurriedly traversing the mountain
forest.
These two figures naturally belonged to old Xuan and Zhou Yuan.
Zhou Yuan curiously observed his surroundings. They were already beginning to near the sealed main
peak which ordinary disciples had been barred from approaching.
“Follow my exact steps and don’t make any mistakes. If not, no one will be able to save you.” Old Xuan’s
voice suddenly sounded from the front.
Zhou Yuan’s heart shivered when he heard this as he looked to his front. Sure enough, he saw the several
spots in space faintly distort as an indescribable feeling of danger caused his hairs to rise.
Zhou Yuan could not help but ask, “We can’t be going into the sealed area, right?”
Old Xuan nodded.
Cold sweat immediately appeared on Zhou Yuan’s back. The sealed main peak was said to be extremely
dangerous. If one recklessly entered, let alone the Alpha-Origin stage, even Divine Dwelling and Heavenly
Sun stage experts would be instantly killed by the seal.
“Relax, nothing will happen as long as you keep to the path.” Old Xuan consoled before walking into the
region where space was faintly distorting.
Zhou Yuan hesitated a little before he gritted his teeth and quickly caught up. Every step was very
carefully placed on the footprints left by old Xuan, not daring to make even the tiniest of mistakes.
As such, the two individuals advanced into the depths of the mountain.
After an incense stick of time, cold sweat was continuously dripping from Zhou Yuan’s forehead, a sign
that he was clearly under a tremendous amount of pressure. He softly asked, “Elder, how long more?”
However, old Xuan ignored him, leaving him no choice but to shut his mouth and follow.
2212
This continued for quite a lengthy amount of time before old Xuan extended a finger and gently swung it
in the air. The mist to the front immediately scattered as the originally warping space began to return to
normal.
“Alright.”
Upon hearing old Xuan’s voice, Zhou Yuan’s tensed body slowly began to relax. He quickly scanned the
surroundings. Sure enough, he found that the dangerous aura was starting to fade.
There was a sliver of astonishment in Zhou Yuan’s eyes as he could not help but ask, “Elder, you can
control the seal on the main peak?”
Old Xuan shook his head and said, “The seal on the main peak was personally made by master back then.
How can I possibly control it? After staying here for way too many years, I’ve become capable of just
barely avoiding some of the dangers.”
Zhou Yuan was a little disappointed. If old Xuan was truly able to control the seal, wouldn’t it be super
convenient?
“The thing you want is to our front.” Old Xuan pointed to the front.
Zhou Yuan hurriedly raised his head and cast his gaze over. The ground some distance to their front had a
deep black hue, making it look similar to a swamp. At the center of this giant swamp was an enormous
ancient tree.
The ancient tree gave off a timeless aura as it silently towered there. Its thick and strong trunk was
covered in some kind of scale like things, while a faint but mighty pressure pulsed from it.
The ancient tree’s lush branches stretched out, nearly covering the entire sky in the area, while the twigs
silently hung from them.
As he gazed upon the ancient tree, Zhou Yuan felt the half complete Taiyi mark in his body begin to shake
violently as a feeling of intense desire spread from it.
This desire was even stronger than when faced with Su Duan’s ancient wood bracelet from before.
“Elder, what is this?” Asked a somewhat excited Zhou Yuan. The Yimu Qi contained within this ancient
tree was clearly extraordinary.
“It’s a Dragon Scale Chinese Scholar Tree that master transplanted here many years ago, an extremely
rare ancient tree. If you manage to obtain a bit of its wood, completing your Taiyi mark will not be a
difficult matter.” Said old Xuan with a smile.
Zhou Yuan was overjoyed by this information.
2213
However, before any happiness could reveal itself on his face, old Xuan continued, “But I should first give
you a warning. After living for so long, this Dragon Scale Chinese Scholar Tree has already gained some
sentience, and has an extremely violent nature. It just so happens to currently be in a deep sleep, which
makes this your only chance.”
“When it wakes up, let alone someone like yourself, even Heavenly Sun stage elders will not be able to
approach.”
Zhou Yuan’s expression changed slightly, his gaze now filled with fear as he looked towards the peaceful
ancient tree again. He never imagined that an ancient tree could be so terrifying.
Zhou Yuan cautiously asked, “Since its in a deep sleep, there shouldn’t be any danger, right?”
Old Xuan replied, “Although it is in a deep slumber, anything that has reached its level will naturally have
some sort of danger sense. If a strong enemy approaches, it will naturally be aroused from its sleep.
Fortunately, you’re way too weak to awaken it.”
Zhou Yuan felt rather awkward. Was being too weak really fortunate?
“Of course, even if it won’t be awoken by you, it will instinctively attack any life form that approaches…
your task will be to withstand its attacks and dig out a little of the scales from its trunk.”
Old Xuan sat down with his broom as his raspy voice sounded, “Whether or not you succeed will depend
on your ability. In any case, I’ve already done what I can by bringing you here. If you fail, it will only mean
that it was not fated.”
Zhou Yuan smiled bitterly and shook his head as he gazed at the giant Dragon Scale Chinese Scholar Tree
and felt its faint but overwhelming pressure. The opportunity before his eyes did not seem easy to grasp
at all.
“So? Do you dare? You should just go back if you’re not confident, because it will become more difficult to
return when it gets dark.” Old Xuan fished out an old yellow tobacco leaf, rolled it up and lit it. Spicy
smoke rose from it as his murky eyes peered at Zhou Yuan through the smoke.
Huu.
Under his gaze, Zhou Yuan deeply exhaled as a resolute look appeared in his eyes. There was no reason
for him to give up on the chance before his eyes.
“Since we’ve already come all the way here, how can I possibly return empty handed.” Said Zhou Yuan.
Old Xuan seemed to smile, though no one could read the emotion on his old, wrinkly face. With a wave of
his sleeve, a black shadow flew towards Zhou Yuan.
“Since you have the guts, go ahead and give it an attempt. Talk is useless after all.”
2214
Zhou Yuan reached out to catch the object, only to be slightly stunned when he looked towards it. It was a
black wood chopping knife. The knife was mottled and did not appear to be sharp, while there seemed to
be some faint traces of old blood marks on its blade.
Old Xuan placed the tobacco leaf between his lips and said, “Given your strength, you won’t be able to
chop off a single scale even if the tree just stood there to let you hack at it… I’ll lend you this knife. Back
then, it chopped off countless scales that were used to brew tea for the master, and has some restrictive
power on the tree.”
Zhou Yuan nodded as he placed the black knife into his waistband, before his gaze locked onto the Dragon
Scale Chinese Scholar Tree with a determined look in his eyes.
No matter how terrifying the tree was, he still had to try today.
Otherwise, his Taiyi mark would not be completed, and an incomplete Taiyi mark meant that he would be
unable to practice the little Mythic Saint Body. This would surely affect his chances in the year end chief
disciple selection.
There were times when you just had to do your best to seize the opportunity that appeared before you!
Swish!
In the next instant, Zhou Yuan’s eyes hardened as his foot pushed off the ground. His figure swiftly drifted
towards the Dragon Scale Chinese Scholar Tree like a wisp of smoke.
2215
Chapter 438 Retrieving the Scales
Swoosh!
Zhou Yuan’s figure dashed towards the Dragon Scale Chinese Scholar Tree, the dried leaves on the ground
completely undisturbed as his body blew past like a wisp of smoke.
In a short few breaths, he was already fast approaching the area within a hundred feet of the tree.
Everything was still peaceful and silent as before.
However, Zhou Yuan’s body grew increasingly tense, while a vigilant look filled his face. His gaze was
glued to the tree, making sure to catch every movement it made.
The tree’s powerful pressure made Zhou Yuan understand just how powerful an existence it was. In the
face of such a strong living being, he did not dare to be even the slightest bit negligent.
Fortunately, there was still no reaction from the Dragon Scale Chinese Scholar as Zhou Yuan neared.
This caused joy to rise in Zhou Yuan’s eyes. It appeared that because he was as weak as an ant to an
existence as mighty as the Dragon Scale Chinese Scholar Tree, he so insignificant that even its base
instincts perceived no threat from him.
“Almost there, almost there… I just need a chop off a few scales!” Zhou Yuan’s heart violently thudded as
his burning gaze looked towards the peculiar faintly glowing scales on the tree trunk.
Swish!
However, Zhou Yuan’s Spirit suddenly trembled at this moment, sensing danger. His dashing figure
immediately paused as he stepped to the side at a strange angle.
A flash of black light that gave off an extremely sharp aura arrived the instant his body twisted, silently
slicing through even the air itself. In the end, it brushed past Zhou Yuan’s body and flew off.
Pch!
The black object pierced into the ground, creating seemingly bottomless hole. Zhou Yuan’s gaze shivered
as it swept to the side, because that flash of black earlier had been a black vine. The vine was covered in
countless fine scales that flickered icily under the light.
It was the Dragon Scale Chinese Scholar Tree’s vine!
Zhou Yuan raised his head with a grave expression, and found countless black vines slowly slithering in
the air like pythons, their sharp, pointed ends all aimed at him.
2216
Every one of these vines gave off an extremely dangerous aura.
“Still been discovered huh…” Zhou Yuan sighed helplessly. He had originally hoped to escape detection
with his Ethereal Form technique, and stealthily approach to chop off a few tree scales.
Swish!
While Zhou Yuan was sighing, the countless vines suddenly descended, leaving faint marks in the air,
their sharp auras directed straight at Zhou Yuan.
Zhou Yuan stomped on the ground as golden Genesis Qi exploded. The Genesis Qi swiftly transformed
into a giant golden bell that covered his entire body.
Although these vines were merely an instinctive response from the tree, they were a huge danger
towards Zhou Yuan. Hence, he did not hesitate in activating his strongest defense.
Clang! Clang!
Countless vines ferociously stabbed at the golden bell, creating a cacophony of loud clanging sounds.
Golden light violently rippled as faint cracks began to appear on the surface of the bell.
A look of horror flashed in Zhou Yuan’s eyes. His Mystical Python’s Great Golden Bell boasted astonishing
defenses, and yet signs of breaking had begun to appear so quickly. Wasn’t the Dragon Scale Chinese
Scholar Tree’s vine attacks a little too frightening?
*Shatter*!
More and more cracks appeared on the golden bell, before it ultimately shattered. Zhou Yuan’s figure shot
forth once again at that very moment, pouncing straight towards the tree.
Vine after vine darted through the air like lightning, like an inescapable net that was about to trap Zhou
Yuan in its confines.
“Heavenly Sun Flame!”
His mouth ballooned as azure Heavenly Sun Flames poured out.
The vines quickly shrank back when licked by the flames, but soon after, the scales on the vines slowly
emitted a glow as robust Genesis QI flowed out to cover them.
Ch ch!
2217
As such, the vines that were now wrapped in green Genesis Qi no longer feared the Heavenly Sun Flames.
They lashed out together, ripping apart the flames as they ruthlessly shot towards Zhou Yuan.
The attacking vines seemed to cover the entire sky, and seemed very ferocious in nature. Though Zhou
Yuan wanted to advance, he had no choice but to retreat.
The tree appeared to be almost within reach, but this small gap was akin to a great raging river that was
nearly impossible to pass.
In the face of the countless attacking vines, Zhou Yuan was unable to advance, and was clearly in a very
difficult situation.
Further away, old Xuan breathed out a mouthful of smoke, watched Zhou Yuan’s sorry situation as he
nonchalantly said. “As time passes, more and more vines will awaken, while the Dragon Scale Chinese
Scholar Tree will also slowly be roused from its deep slumber.”
“The longer you delay, the lesser your chances.”
Old Xuan’s voice was transmitted into Zhou Yuan’s ears, causing his expression to change. The tree was
an extremely dreadful existence. If it awakened, even a Heavenly Sun stage expert would have his hands
tied, let alone a fourth layer Alpha-Origin like himself.
When that happened, obtaining scales from the tree would become a fantasy.
However, he was not holding back either. The tree’s vines were just too terrifying, causing him to be
unable to advance even half a step...
Obtaining scales from the tree was clearly not going to be as easy as he had imagined.
Zhou Yuan gritted his teeth as the Heavenly Yuan Brush appeared in his hands. The brush tip
transformed into numerous after images as it defended against the attacking vines. However, every clash
would force him a step back.
Piercing pain could be felt from his entire hand. Even the skin between his thumb and index finger had
been torn, causing fresh blood to flow out.
The pain from his hands suddenly lit up a fire of anger inside Zhou Yuan’s heart as a somewhat savage
look filled his eyes. With a deep breath, an ancient Saint Rune appeared in the depths of his pupils and
slowly began to spin.
Decoder Saint Rune!
When the Saint Rune surfaced, the countless attacking vines seemed to pause for a brief second. He could
see Genesis Qi flowing in the vines, Genesis Qi that originated from the Dragon Scale Chinese Scholar
Tree.
2218
This was the main reason why the attacking vines were so formidable.
“If I can block the circulation of Genesis Qi for a moment, these vines will be briefly incapacitated.” Zhou
Yuan’s eyes flickered in thought. Through the power of the Decoder Saint Rune, he was able to observe
the flow of Genesis Qi from the tree.
Ch ch!
In Zhou Yuan’s eyes, the vines merely paused for an instant, before continuing their terrifying and savage
onslaught.
However, there was a determined look in Zhou Yuan’s eyes this time. Instead of staying on the defense, he
took the initiative as his foot pushed off the ground, sending his figure dashing towards the vines.
Swish! Swish!
With a jerk, the Heavenly Yuan Brush transformed into countless brush shadows. Every brush shadow
moved at an extremely precise trajectory, hitting certain spots on the vines.
These spots just so happened to be the part of the circulation pathways from which the tree was sending
its Genesis Qi into the vines. The invading force caused the circulating Genesis Qi to become stuck for a
moment.
Zhou Yuan’s figure landed on the ground.
Countless vines continued to shoot towards him, their reflections rapidly growing in his eyes. However,
his figure remained completely still, as if ignoring all of these deadly attacks.
The vines suddenly froze a split second before they were about to pierce his body. In the end, they fell
from the sky like puppets whose strings had been cut, landing on the ground around him.
The surroundings fell silent once again.
Some distance away from the battle, old Xuan had been attentively observing Zhou Yuan’s figure. When
he saw this scene, his old, bark like face trembled slightly for a moment, before he lifted his head and
sucked in a breath of spicy smoke, as a deep and unreadable look appeared in his eyes.
Zhou Yuan secretly breathed a sigh of relief at the sight of the falling vines. The Saint Rune in his eyes
withdrew as he quickly walked forward and appeared beside the tree trunk.
He grasped the black wood chopping knife and began hacking.
The knife fell as palm-sized tree scale after scale was separated from the trunk. Light seemed to flow on
the scales, as if they were precious stones, a rather beautiful sight indeed.
2219
Zhou Yuan happily chopped and hacked away with excited eyes, managing to hack off a about a dozen
tree scales in a short period, before he sensed the Dragon Scale Chinese Scholar Tree begin to emit a
glow.
A terrifying undulation slowly emerged, as if something was awakening.
“Greedy brat, if you don’t start running, prepare to be left here as fertilizer.” Old Xuan’s voice sounded.
A chill swept through Zhou Yuan’s heart. Only then did it dawn upon him that the tree was about to
awaken!
His scalp immediately turned numb. There was no hesitation at all as he swiftly grabbed the scales before
turning to flee.
Roar!
A dreadful burst of Genesis Qi exploded behind him, flinging his body into the air. The vines on the
ground roared back to life, and shot towards Zhou Yuan like lightning.
Old Xuan helplessly shook his head when he saw this, and opened his mouth to spit out a mouthful of
smoke.
The smoke rushed forth, sweeping up the black knife in Zhou Yuan’s hand. Flashes of knife light were
swung from its blade, cutting all of the incoming vines.
Thud!
Zhou Yuan’s body crashed into the ground at old Xuan’s feet, grimacing as he climbed to his feet. He
turned around, and found vines filling the air behind, seemingly hissing at him like giant snakes.
However, they did not dare to approach due to the black knife.
Old Xuan looked at the giant Dragon Scale Chinese Scholar Tree as he unhurriedly said, “Come on, why
are you being so petty. All we wanted was a few of your scales.”
The tree swayed back and forth, causing the surrounding Genesis QI to shake. Even though the dreadful
pressure did not spread, it still made Zhou Yuan’s heart beat loudly in his chest.
In the end, the tree slowly withdrew its terrifying Genesis Qi as peace gradually returned.
Old Xuan chuckled. He cast a glance at Zhou Yuan, before turning to leave.
Upon seeing this, Zhou Yuan hurriedly followed.
The two retraced their original path back, and eventually left the mountain.
2220
After standing at the foot of the mountain for a long time, old Xuan looked towards Zhou Yuan and slowly
said, “You may return. Come here and find me again when your Taiyi mark is complete. I will teach you
how to practice the little Mythic Saint Body.”
Zhou Yuan was elated. However, he could sense that there was something amiss about old Xuan’s mood,
and thus did not say anything in response. He only nodded before rising into the air on his Genesis Qi.
Old Xuan stood outside the forest, his murky eyes watching Zhou Yuan leave. After a long time, he seemed
to breathe a sigh of relief as if a heavy burden had been lifted from his shoulders as a soft murmur echoed
in the misty mountain.
“So it is as expected…”
2221
Chapter 439 Yaoyao Returns
When Zhou Yuan returned to his cave dwelling, the first thing he did was take out the tree scales he had
hacked off from the Dragon Scale Chinese Scholar Tree.
He sat on a stone platform, eyes burning with excitement as he stared at the tree scales. There were a
total of eleven of them, the light faintly glimmering on their dried deep black bodies seemingly forming
ancient looking patterns.
Even without touching them, Zhou Yuan could clearly feel the thick Yimu Qi pulsing within.
Such concentration and purity levels were better than the ancient wooden bracelet he had gotten from Su
Duan previously.
“With these scales, the Taiyi mark will definitely be completed.”
Zhou Yuan was somewhat giddy with joy, the haul this time clearly exceeding his expectations. He had
not only exchanged the little Mythic Saint Body from old Xuan, but also received guidance to obtain these
tree scales.
All of this was only possible because he had fulfilled his promise and handed a Heaven Credit to old Xuan.
Zhou Yuan rejoiced at his decision once again, before raising one of his hands. Genesis Qi wrapped
around a tree scale, slowly lifting it to the spot between his palms.
“I should begin the process of completing the Taiyi mark.”
Zhou Yuan slowly closed his eyes. Only two months remained till the year end chief disciple selection, and
he needed to make every second count. According to what old Xuan had said, Zhou Yuan needed to first
master the initial stage of the Taiyi Green Wood Mark before his body would possess enough vital energy
to begin practicing the little Mythic Saint Body.”
The scale between his palms slowly began to revolve as strand after strand of pure dark green Qi slowly
flowed out. The Qi moved towards his palms and fused into his flesh.
Yimu Qi surged into his body, pulsing with strong life energy that caused his flesh and blood to release
greedy undulations.
Rich life energy melded into his flesh, blood and bones. Under Zhou Yuan’s control, the Qi began to
condense into tiny glowing dark green dots that little by little began to complete the half done Taiyi mark.
It was a very slow process.
2222
Hence, Zhou Yuan did not step out of his cave dwelling for the next five days, fully devoting himself to
absorbing the Yimu Qi in the tree scale to complete his Taiyi mark.
Under his tireless efforts, the Taiyi mark in his body slowly approached its complete state. When the
eighth tree scale was used up, the Taiyi mark was finally completed.
In a certain cave dwelling.
Zhou Yuan was seated on a stone platform, a dark green glow rising from his body. Rays of light emerged
from his flesh, suffusing his skin with a fluorescent glow.
Rich life energy pulsed from his body, causing the weeds and vines near the stone platform to become a
beautiful, healthy emerald green as they rapidly grew.
If one took a closer look, one would realize that the dark green light from Zhou Yuan seemed to be form
strange and complicated glowing pattern that covered his entire body that faintly gave off a mysterious
and profound sensation.
Zhou Yuan’s tightly shut eyes slowly began to open at this moment. He lowered his head to look at the
faintly glowing pattern on his skin as delight lit up his eyes.
“The Taiyi mark is finally complete!”
After over two months of hard work, he had at long last completed the most important first step of the
Taiyi Green Wood Mark.
Only after the Taiyi mark was complete would he be able to fuse even more Yimu Qi into his flesh and
blood, and eventually achieve the so-called ‘immortal body’.
Zhou Yuan lightly shut his eyes as his senses turned inwards. Vital energy was currently surging inside
his body like a giant river, filled with rich life force. It felt as if he would be able to quickly recover even
from the most serious of injuries.
“Little Yuan bro!”
While Zhou Yuan was overjoyed by the completion of the Taiyi mark, Shen Wanjin’s voice suddenly rang
out outside the cave dwelling.
Zhou Yuan was startled. He kept the remaining three scales, before quickly walking out of the cave where
he found Shen Wanjin and asked with a smile, “What is it?”
Shen Wanjin was trembling with excitement as he replied, “Boss sister Yaoyao is back! She’s currently at
the Mission Hall!”
Zhou Yuan was elated by this news, the lingering worry in his heart finally fading away.
2223
“It’s good that she’s back.” Said Zhou Yuan with relief. He decided to tell Yaoyao that if she wanted to go
on any missions in the future, he would have to tag along.
“Let’s go welcome her back.” Zhou Yuan grinned at Shen Wanjin.
Shen Wanjin nodded, but suddenly moved closer as he mysteriously said, “Little Yuan bro, do you know
who else has returned with boss sister Yaoyao besides Ye Ge?”
“Who?” Zhou Yuan was a little taken aback.
Shen Wanjin replied in a low voice, “Chu Qing!”
Zhou Yuan’s eyes widened slightly. Ever since coming to the Cangxuan Sect, this name had quickly
become very familiar to him. Chu Qing was the number one disciple of this generation, and the head of
the ten Chosens. No one in the sect could match his popularity.
However, though it had been nearly a year since Zhou Yuan had joined the sect, he had yet to see this
famous individual. He never imagined that the chance to do so would finally come.
With regards to the one who stood at the apex of all the Chosens, Zhou Yuan was actually quite curious.
“You should be careful little Yuan bro. As the one who managed to become the leader of the Chosens, Chu
Qing is surely no ordinary person. Boss sister is so outstanding and blessed with extraordinary charm.
What if she catches his eye? It’ll be the appearance of a formidable love rival!” Said Shen Wanjin in a tone
that seemed both serious and sincere.
Zhou Yuan’s lips pulled outwards as he rolled his eyes at the former. He gave no response as Genesis Qi
rose around them, carrying the two into the air, before swiftly flying in the direction of the Mission Hall.
There was already a sea of people present when the duo arrived, while more and more disciples were
also rushing over from all over. Most of them were the female disciples of the sect, and were filled with
nervousness and excitement, evidently here for Chu Qing.
“Is Chu Qing really so charismatic?” Shen Wanjin jealously said when he saw this scene.
Zhou Yuan was also a little surprised, but did not make any remarks. He quickly landed and pushed his
way into the bustling Mission Hall.
The Mission Hall was currently filled with a giant black mass of people. Zhou Yuan’s gaze looked towards
the center, and sure enough, he saw that most attention grabbing figure.
It was naturally Yaoyao.
2224
She was dressed in a light green long skirt, her fine black hair tied up, while her gorgeous face glowed
beautifully. Her features were akin to a painted fairy, those clear yet empty looking eyes a sight that one
would find very difficult to look away from.
Like an otherworldly, ethereal fairy.
The mere act of standing there made her become the focal point of countless gazes in the Mission Hall.
There was a familiar figure beside Yaoyao, the famous Ye Ge of Spirit Rune Peak. However, his handsome
face appeared somewhat pale, as if he had sustained some injuries.
Zhou Yuan’s gaze swept past Ye Ge, ultimately pausing at a certain spot to the side where a slender, eye
catching figure stood. The first glance of this figure made Zhou Yuan involuntarily gasp in surprise.
The figure was extremely handsome, his chiselled features making him look threateningly dashing.
However, there was a certain look of laziness between his brows that made him appear lazy and lacking
in energy. Even so, this lazy aura paired with his dashing good looks gave off a peculiar charm.
“Is that Chu Qing?”
Zhou Yuan rubbed his chin as he nodded. Handsome, definitely very handsome… however...
He exchanged a look with Shen Wanjin. Both of them raised their gazes, looking towards senior brother
Chu Qing’s head as they fell into thought.
Senior brother Chu Qing’s head was smooth and shiny, not even a single strand of hair to be seen. It was
basically a lightbulb that seemed to shine glaringly under the light from the hall.
Why...
Was senior brother Chu Qing a baldy?!
To make matters worse, when they took a closer look, they found that senior brother Chu Qing’s
eyebrows were a little thicker than normal. His eyebrows were drawn!
An eyebrowless baldy!
This picture caused the corners of Zhou Yuan’s lips to twitch for a moment.
Shen Wanjin swiftly went around to gather information, before returning and quietly whispering to Zhou
Yuan, “I’ve heard rumors that because of a technique senior brother Chu Qing is practicing… he doesn’t
have a single hair on his body.”
“Not a single hair on his entire body?”
2225
Zhou Yuan and Shen Wanjin exchanged another look as they fell silent. They then shifted their gazes back
in unison to give senior brother Chu Qing a quick up and down scan, before swiftly withdrawing their
eyes again.
Both of them shivered.
The famous leader of the Cangxuan Sect Chosens seemed to be… quite an exceptional character.
2226
Chapter 440 Chu Qing
Yaoyao stood at the center of the grand hall with a calm look on her beautiful face. She carried Tuntun in
her arms as numerous awed gazes were continuously cast at her, unable to shift away.
She lowered her head and nudged Tuntun, somewhat longing for their tiny little cave dwelling while she
wondered if he was back...
*Cough*
A soft cough was heard from the side as Ye Ge looked at Yaoyao and smiled, “It’s mostly thanks to junior
sister Yaoyao this time. Otherwise, we wouldn’t have been able to escape from the encirclement by the
Chosens from the Sacred Palace and the Heavenly Ghost Sect…”
“Ye Ge, has your head been knocked around too much…” Beside Ye Ge, the extremely handsome but
shiningly bald as a light bulb youth swept a glance at the former, before looking towards Yaoyao as he
listlessly said, “If she hadn’t secretly went off to steal the treasure while we were facing off against the
Sacred Palace and the Heavenly Ghost Sect Chosens, they wouldn’t have ganged up on us in the first
place.”
“We could have properly talked things over, but we ended up fighting instead. *Sigh*. Fighting is so tiring,
won’t things be so much better if everyone just sat down and discussed how we could divide the
treasures?”
He rubbed his shiny head with a pained expression as he lamented, “So troublesome.”
“If they were willing to split the treasures with you, you wouldn't have sent out an aid request. Given your
character, you’ll do anything extra if you don’t have to.”
Ye Ge chuckled. “Junior sister Yaoyao merely slipped away so she could secretly establish a Genesis Rune
boundary. Moreover, didn’t all of us successfully return in the end?”
Chu Qing patted Ye Ge’s shoulders with sympathy. “You were almost finished off, and you call it a
success? She was purely using us as bait!”
“Well there will always be risks no matter what you do, right?” Ye Ge shrugged, not seeming to mind it.
Even more pity filled Chu Qing’s eyes. “You’re done for Ye Ge. I already told you that this woman is a
heartless witch! You’ll never be able to make her submit!”
By the side, Yaoyao’s pretty face remained as calm as water from start to end, basically ignoring the two
of them. The mission had indeed been quite dangerous, because they had faced numerous Chosens from
the Sacred Palace and the Heavenly Ghost Sect, and even several ruthless unaffiliated cultivators of the
Shengzhou Continent.
2227
To resolve these annoyances, Yaoyao had secretly set-up a boundary while using Chu Qing and Ye Ge as
bait. In the end, they managed to force all of these ruthless individuals to retreat, allowing the trio to
escape in one piece.
Of course, Chu Qing and Ye Ge had to pay the price of fighting a bitter battle, while Ye Ge had even
sustained some injuries.
However, Yaoyao did not feel apologetic. She was cold and distant by nature, and if she felt the need to,
abandoning the two of them to secure her safe retreat was not out of the cards.
Furthermore, she could sense that Chu Qing was indeed very powerful, though he was excessively lazy
and often did not use his full power in a fight. As such, Yaoyao had no qualms about using his skiving self
as bait.
However, Chu Qing constantly called her a heartless witch, to which she felt was an unreasonable
appraisal.
While Chu Qing was speaking, he looked towards the unmoved Yaoyao as he muttered in his heart, “I’ve
only been away for half a year, how the hell did such a witch appear in the Cangxuan Sect?”
Not only did she possess astonishing strength, she was also astonishingly indifferent and cold!
In fact, she was even colder than Li Qingchan.
Although Li Qingchan was cold as ice on the outside, she hid a warm interior. Yaoyao on the other hand,
though her tone did not have the same frostiness as the former, there was a certain indifference in her
voice as if she viewed all things like the grass on the ground.
Such indifference seemed to originate from the soul and bloodline.
This girl was indeed outrageously pretty, but she was just far too indifferent. During the two months they
had been on the mission together, Chu Qing had not seen her smile a single time.
“Maybe she doesn’t know how to?” Such was Chu Qing’s thinking.
However, just as this thought flashed past in his head, he saw something seem to awaken on Yaoyao’s
calm face as tiny glimmer rose within those rippleless eyes.
Her red lips seemed to raise a teensy bit, as an almost undetectable angle appeared.
In that moment, even Chu Qing felt his breath being taken away.
He was somewhat shocked as he followed Yaoyao’s gaze, only to find a young man walking out from the
crowd and waving towards her.
2228
The changes in Yaoyao’s expression was clearly due to this young man.
The young man was naturally Zhou Yuan.
The calmness on Yaoyao’s face faded slightly at the sight of Zhou Yuan, ignoring Chu Qing and Ye Ge as
she walked towards him with Tuntun.
When the two met, Chu Qing saw the lazy little creature in Yaoyao’s arms jump onto Zhou Yuan’s
shoulder, a sign that it was quite intimate with him.
“Who is he? I can’t believe he made that witch smile?!” Blurted Chu Qing in shock.
Ye Ge felt somewhat complicated as he watched this scene. “He’s the new disciple called Zhou Yuan I told
you about… in less than a year, he has already become a purple sash disciple, even faster than you were
back then.”
Chu Qing stroked his bald head as he mumbled, “Amazing.”
Ye Ge nodded. “He is indeed very talented. In fact, he may even catch up to you in the future.”
Chu Qing said, “I’m saying he’s really amazing for subduing that witch!”
His tone was genuinely filled with admiration. In Chu Qing’s opinion, Yaoyao was an evil, heartless witch
that no one could subdue, and yet, the impossible had happened. Someone who could make her less
indifferent had appeared.
Ye Ge was stunned, before he unhappily said, “You’re the leader of our Cangxuan Sect Chosens, why are
you so against her?”
Chu Qing rubbed his chin as he responded, “After so many years, she’s the first person that used me as
bait. What I hate the most is being forced to fight!”
Ye Ge laughed helplessly. It seemed that Chu Qing held quite the grudge.
On the other side, Zhou Yuan also cast his gaze over, before exchanging a smile and nod with Ye Ge.
However, Zhou Yuan was rather surprised when the equally eye catching Chu Qing also smiled at him in a
rather casual manner. None of the pride shown by Kong Sheng, Zhao Zhu and the other Chosens could be
seen.
What slighly puzzled Zhou Yuan was that Chu Qing’s smile seemed to say, ‘Brother, you’re goddamn
awesome, I’m seriously in admiration of you.’
However, before he could go over to say hello, Yaoyao turned around to leave.
2229
“Let’s go back to our cave dwelling.”
As such, Zhou Yuan hurriedly followed with Tuntun in his arms.
Chu Qing watched the duo leave, before shrugging at Ye Ge. “I feel that you have no chance…”
“Why not stop living in your delusions… it’s just a girl after all. Look at me, I no longer have any feeling
towards pretty girls and my heart is as calm as water.” Chu Qing beamed.
Ye Ge softly snorted. He glanced at the former and indifferently said, “Do you think I don’t know the
reason why?”
Chu Qing let out a hollow laugh as he guiltily robbed his shiny bald head.
Ye Ge watched Yaoyao’s figure disappear, before also withdrawing his gaze as he said in a disappointed
voice, “I’m going back to recuperate. You should also return to the Cangxuan Peak. Since you’re constantly
missing all year long, I’m sure sect master has prepared some punishment for you when you return.”
As he spoke, he waved and turned around to leave.
A look of agony rose on Chu Qing’s handsome face. In the end, he let out a long sigh.
“What a bother!”
2230
Chapter 441 Lively Cave Dwelling
After leaving the Mission Hall, Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao headed back to their cave dwelling.
As they stepped into the peaceful cave, Zhou Yuan could feel Yaoyao’s body quietly relax a little, while a
trace of gentleness appeared in her bright, indifferent eyes.
Now that they were back, Yaoyao left Tuntun to Zhou Yuan, and walked into the little house.
Zhou Yuan sat down in the stone pavilion in front of the little house and placed Tuntun on the table. The
latter dragged its body towards him and released a little whimper as it pointed towards its fatty tummy
with a paw, before rubbing it with a sulky look.
Zhou Yuan could not help but chuckle when he saw this. Looks like Tuntun had suffered quite a lot on the
mission with Yaoyao. At the very least, its appetite had not been sated.
When he recalled how Tuntun had lost essence blood in order to help him suppress the Dragon’s Resent
Poison previously, Zhou Yuan grandly gestured with his hand as he generously declared, “I’ll get the
Hundred Fragrances House to send you an entire table of food later so you can eat your fill.”
Tuntun’s eyes immediately glowed brightly as it stretched out a pink tongue towards Zhou Yuan in a
fawning manner.
While Zhou Yuan was playing with Tuntun, Yaoyao unhurriedly walked out from the house. She had
evidently taken a bath, her soft black hair still glistening under the light, while a healthy and clow exuded
from her beautiful face. Long, slender legs, a slim, tiny waist, a full, ample bosom, plus that misty, ethereal
aura. For a time, even Zhou Yuan’s eyes were nearly about to pop out from their sockets.
It truly felt as if all the blessings and fortunes of the world had been gathered in a single person.
Yaoyao was long used to such a gaze from Zhou Yuan. She entered the stone pavilion and sat down,
propping one cheek with a hand as she lazily said, “You didn’t make me lose face on the mission, right?”
Zhou Yuan grinned and replied, “How could I. In fact, I was even awarded the chief credit.”
Surprise flitted across Yaoyao’s eyes. She retrieved a jade bottle and poured herself a small cup of wine,
before she asked with interest, “Tell me about it.”
Thus, Zhou Yuan began to recount the tale of his mission in the Black Flame Province. When he reached
the point where he had encountered Zuoqiu Qingyu, Yaoyao gave a faint nod and said, “It seems that she
and Luluo are doing quite well in the Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace.”
After listening to the entire story, a very faint smile rose on her lips. “Your performance was pretty good.
It’s good that you didn’t make me lose face in front of Li Qingchan.”
2231
She was after all the one who had forced Li Qingchan to give Zhou Yuan a spot on the team. If Zhou Yuan
performed terribly, it would undoubtedly make Yaoyao look bad too.
“What about you?” Asked Zhou Yuan as he chuckled.
Yaoyao gently patted her Universe bag, causing a bundle of light to rise from it and hover in front of her.
Inside, one could see a foot long piece of brown wood. There were extremely profound and mysterious
patterns on the wood that resembled a giant coiling dragon, while a faint dragon roar seemed to echo
from it.
“This is the Dragon Suppressing Wood, one of the main ingredients needed to draw your Dragon
Subduing Rune.”
Zhou Yuan pursed his lips, feeling a surge of warmth in his heart. The fact that someone as cold and
distant as Yaoyao would specially take on a mission for him was already enough proof that his status in
her heart was different from others.
“Was the mission dangerous?” Asked Zhou Yuan with concern.
Yaoyao nonchalantly replied, “It wasn’t too bad. There were several Chosens from the Sacred Palace and
the Heavenly Ghost Sect, and even more unaffiliated practitioners, none of which were pushovers. In the
end, quite a grand battle broke out.”
“While Chu Qing and Ye Ge were confronting the others, I took the opportunity to secretly retrieve the
Dragon Suppressing Wood. Next, I used them as bait to lure everyone into a boundary, which allowed us
to successfully escape.”
Zhou Yuan was stunned. Soon after, he let out a helpless chuckle. The matter was obviously not as simple
as she had described. Chu Qing and Ye Ge had likely been tricked by Yaoyao.
Zhou Yuan curiously asked, “What do you think of Chu Qing?”
He was quite interested in the one who was called the leader of the Cangxuan Sect Chosens.
Yaoyao cocked her head and pondered for a moment, before she said, “He’s very strong, but he’s too
mischievous and lazy. He often thinks about how to minimise his efforts in battle, if he can get away with
using thirty percent of his battle power, he will absolutely refuse to use forty percent…”
“In fact, he may have even completed this mission alone, but it would force him to pay quite a substantial
price. Thus, he chose to call for help instead of relying on himself.”
Zhou Yuan was speechless. To think that Senior brother Chu Qing was such a peculiar person.
“He’s the complete opposite of you…”
2232
“When you’re in battle, you always force yourself to the limit. If you can give your hundred percent, you
will never hold back ten percent…” Said Yaoyao.
Zhou Yuan released a bitter laugh. “It’s likely due to the environment I grew up in. I was born in the Great
Zhou Empire that was plagued by internal problems while also under great external pressure. If I did not
use everything I had to grasp at that tiny chance to live, how could I possibly have arrived here today?”
Chu Qing could be mischievously lazy because he had the qualifications to be so. In comparison, when had
Zhou Yuan ever been in a situation where he did not have to struggle with everything he had? If he had
entertained any thoughts of preserving his strength, he would not be standing here today.
Yaoyao nodded. The two of them had been born into different environments, and naturally exhibited
different behaviours. Chu Qing’s methods did not suit Zhou Yuan, because the things he carried on his
shoulders were far heavier than Chu Qing’s.
Zhou Yuan raised his head to look at Yaoyao as he said, “You must bring me along if you go on such
missions again. I worry when you go alone.”
“What use will bringing you be?” Yaoyao appeared to smile in amusement.
Zhou Yuan softly said, “I promised master Cang Yuan… that even if I’m unable to protect you, at the very
least… those who want to hurt you will have to first walk over my dead corpse.”
Yaoyao was taken aback. Her gaze lowered slightly, causing her long black hair to cover half her face,
creating a soul stirringly beautiful silhouette.
“Okay.”
In the end, she gave a faint nod, the usually aphetic eyes filling with vibrant life and emotion for a
moment.
After finishing her wine, Yaoyao pulled back her hair and unhurriedly went to her most beloved garden
where she began to tend to the plants she had left behind for the past two months.
Zhou Yuan smiled slightly as he watched her figure amongst the flowers.
Only after Yaoyao’s return did the cave dwelling become full of life once more.
Zhou Yuan was in no hurry to meet old Xuan again during the next two days. Instead, he focused on
absorbing the few remaining tree scales.
Now that his Taiyi mark had already taken shape, the Yimu Qi absorbed by it would finally be condensed
into the Tiayi Green Wood Mark that Zhou Yuan had constantly dreamt of.
2233
Deep inside the cave dwelling.
Zhou Yuan happily lifted his hand. He could sense dark green light blossoming from his flesh and blood as
a faint, ancient mark slowly emerged.
This mark seemed as if it had grown naturally from his flesh. Perfect, flawless and filled with rich life
energy.
“The first Taiyi Green Wood Mark has finally been created…”
Although there was currently only one Taiyi Green Wood Mark, it continuously gave off rich life energy
that soaked into Zhou Yuan’s blood, flesh and bones.
With this Taiyi Green Wood Mark, Zhou Yuan’s arm could be regrown even if it was cut off, saving him the
painstaking effort of finding some rare Genesis resource that could produce the same effect.
In addition, the Taiyi Green Wood Mark also caused Zhou Yuan’s vital energy to grow increasingly
abundant.
If Zhou Yuan were to begin practicing the little Mythic Saint Body in this state, his progress would surely
be rather swift.
“Looks like I can go meet old Xuan tomorrow and begin practicing the little Mythic Saint Body.”
Mumbled Zhou Yuan to himself as excitement and anticipation appeared in his eyes.
2234
Chapter 442 Confirmation
The next day, Zhou Yuan prepared himself to head over to old Xuan’s place. However, moments after
leaving the cave dwelling, he was intercepted by a disciple who told him to go to the Dao Seeker Hall.
A law enforcement elder was coming to Saint Genesis Peak to confirm the participants of the chief
disciple selection.
Only by having one’s name recorded by the elder, would one officially be recognized as a participant of
the selection.
After all, the chief disciple of each peak represented the true elites amongst their generation, a group
from which the future elders of the sect would likely come from. Hence, the selection was an extremely
significant event, which was very important to the sect.
Zhou Yuan naturally understood the importance of this matter, and thus decided to temporarily put aside
his visit to old Xuan.
“Let’s go to the Dao Seeker Hall then.” He cupped his fists together towards the messenger disciple in
thanks.
Yaoyao also walked out carrying Tuntun at this moment and said, “I’ll also tag along to have a look.”
Yaoyao was basically the most unique individual in the Cangxuan Sect. Till now, she was strictly speaking
still not a disciple of any of the peaks. All the bosses were fighting over her, ultimately resulting in a
deadlock without outcome.
Others may feel miserable about this situation, but Yaoyao preferred it somewhat. Hence, she did not
raise any complaints and continued to maintain her unique status in the Cangxuan Sect.
Zhou Yuan naturally did not have any objections towards her decision, and brought Yaoyao along as they
rushed to the Dao Seeker Hall.
By the time they arrived, the place was already filled with countless figures. The disciples from all three
factions of Saint Genesis Peak were gathered here, making the place extremely lively.
Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao landed near Shen Taiyuan and the rest. The latter gave them a nod of
acknowledgement upon seeing them.
Zhou Tai beckoned towards Zhou Yuan, to which the latter responded by coming over. His gaze looked
towards the front where an elder with gray hair could be seen on the stone stage.
2235
“That’s elder Lu, the one who will be acting as the judge for the upcoming chief disciple selection of our
Saint Genesis Peak. He’s here today to confirm the participants of the selection, before reporting it to the
sect master.” Said Zhou Tai in a low voice.
Zhou Yuan faintly nodded, before his gaze shifted elsewhere. Elder Lu Song’s faction was nearby, but the
one with the greatest presence was still the group directly opposite...
Elder Lu Hong stood at their head, while row after row of disciples stood behind him. Their numbers
were even greater than the other two factions combined, creating an intimidating sight.
Elder Lu looked towards Shen Taiyuan, Lu Hong and Lu Song and said with a smile, “Since all three elders
and their disciples are here, let me invite each faction to begin confirming the participants for the
upcoming chief disciple selection.”
The three elders nodded and walked forward.
“Three of my disciples will be participating this time.” Elder Lu Song smiled and beckoned as three
figures jumped onto the stage.
“Lu Yan, Han Yan and Han Yu.”
Three figures stood on the stage with Lu Yan at their head. Her tall, slim figure and dashing aura making
her quite an eye-catching sight.
This trio was extremely well known in Saint Genesis Peak, and were also the strongest amongst the
disciples under Lu Song. Hence, no one was surprised that they were representing Lu Song’s faction.
Upon seeing this, Shen Taiyuan said, “There will also be three participants from my faction.”
“Zhou Tai, Zhang Yan…” As he said their names, Zhou Tai and Zhang Yan landed on the stage, drawing
numerous cheers. As the pillars of Shen Taiyuan’s disciples, these two individuals were indeed qualified
to participate.
“And… Zhou Yuan.”
However, it was no surprise that Shen Taiyuan’s last few words immediately caused whispers to spread.
Besides his faction, the other disciples were clearly filled with confusion.
Although Zhou Yuan had been rapidly rising as a star in the sect for the past year, he was still a new
disciple at the end of the day. Wasn’t he still lacking in experience to participate in an event such as this?
Under numerous gazes, Zhou Yuan calmly ascended the stage.
2236
“They actually sent him to participate in the chief disciple selection?” Muttered Lu Yan as she looked over.
Though she no longer looked down on Zhou Yuan, she still felt that he was not dependable enough to
stand on this stage.
However, she did not say anything in the end. After all, this was an affair of Shen Taiyuan’s faction, and it
would not affect her if Zhou Yuan ended up humiliating himself.
Lu Hong swept a glance at Zhou Yuan, before displaying a superficial smile to Shen Taiyuan. “Hehe, elder
Shen, has the quality of your disciples really fallen so far? Aren’t you afraid that sending a fourth layer
disciple to participate in the chief disciple selection will hurt your reputation?”
His words were clearly full of acidic sarcasticness.
Lu Hong’s words were also accompanied by roaring laughter from his disciples, while the expression of
Shen Taiyuan’s disciples turned somewhat ugly.
Shen Taiyuan, however, remained expressionless as he responded, “This old face of mine isn’t worth
much anyways, there is no need for elder Lu to worry on my behalf.”
“I feel that you should be the one who should be careful instead. If something unexpected happens, it will
likely not be as simple as losing face for you.”
Peak master Ling Jun had spent a tremendous amount of effort and brainpower to shift elder Lu Hong’s to
Saint Genesis Peak against the wishes of the majority. Their goal was clear; becoming the master faction
of Saint Genesis Peak.
If Lu Hong failed, they would most definitely be recalled by peak master Ling Jun and become such a
disgrace that they would likely no longer dare to raise their heads in the sect.
Lu Hong could not hold back his laughter when he heard this, before glancing at Zhou Yuan in a disdainful
manner.
“Something unexpected? So this is what elder Shen is hoping for? Well then, I can only say that you’ll be
disappointed…” Lu Hong shook his head, before clapping once.
Swish! Swish!
His clap was immediately followed by the sound of rushing wind. Next, the crowd watched as six figures
appeared behind Lu Hong.
These six figures were led by the tall, muscular and indifferent looking Yuan Hong. As he stood there, a
faint pressure seemed to spread.
The other five disciples behind him also gave off powerful Genesis Qi undulations. Everyone could tell
with a single glance that they were not here to make up the numbers.
2237
A total of six participants!
The expressions in Shen Taiyuan and Lu Song’s eyes changed slightly, as their faces turned a little ugly.
They had poured all their efforts into nurturing their disciples, only to end up with three that had the
qualifications to participate.
In contrast, Lu Hong sent out six participants with a casual wave of his hand. This truly was a show of
how his faction alone could rival the combined might of the other two.
It could be said that his faction was overflowing with talent.
On top of this, the most worrying thing for Shen Taiyuan and Lu Song was still the disciple called Yuan
Hong. He had already made quite a reputation for himself back in Sword Cometh Peak, and though he had
become very low-key after coming to Saint Genesis Peak, everyone knew that it was because he felt it
beneath him to mingle with the disciples here.
In the upcoming chief disciple selection, elder Lu Hong’s faction had the absolute upper hand in both
quantity and quality.
The two elders were not the only ones who could see this, even their disciples fell a little silent at this
moment.
Lu Hong’s disciples, on the other hand, grew even more arrogant as they roared with laughter. Their
gazes were filled with ridicule when they looked towards the other two factions, causing the latter to
become rather angry.
But anger was ultimately only anger. The cruel reality was not something that could be changed by mere
words.
Lu Hong’s eyes seemed to smile as he looked at the six figures behind him and gave a satisfied nod. He
then turned back to Shen Taiyuan, casting a quick glance at Zhou Yuan, as he said, “Does elder Shen still
feel that something unexpected will happen?”
Shen Taiyuan’s expression turned stormy, but he did not reply.
Lu Hong’s smile grew even wider when he saw this, his pleased appearance clearly showing that he
already felt the chief disciple seat was in the bag.
Elder Lu merely swept his gaze about the place without saying anything, though he did cast a pitying
glance at Shen Taiyuan and Lu Song. These two had been so bitterly trying to support Saint Genesis Peak
for so many years, only to end up being thoroughly suppressed by Lu Hong, who had basically appeared
out of nowhere.
2238
Nothing could be done about it. Lu Hong was from Sword Cometh Peak, and was even supported by peak
master Ling Jun, making the former a force that Shen Taiyuan and Lu Song could not possibly hope to
match.
If Lu Hong’s faction managed to become the master faction in the future, one could easily imagine how
the other two factions would be even more miserably bullied. From then on, Lu Hong’s faction would
quickly become the master of Saint Genesis Peak.
Elder Lu raised a jade scroll. Light blossomed from the scroll, reflecting onto the participating disciples
from the three factions. As such, the participants of the chief disciple selection were formally confirmed.
“I hope that everyone will do their best in two months.”
Lu Hong, Shen Taiyuan and Lu Song cupped their fists together.
Lu Hong was all smiles as he swept yet another glance at Zhou Yuan, before turning to Shen Taiyuan in a
teasing manner. “Elder Shen, I’ll be waiting to see what kind of surprise you’ll have for us in two months. I
do hope that it will make things a little more exciting.”
With one last loud laugh, he turned around and left.
Yuan Hong’s emotionless eyes also swept a glance at everyone, pausing on Zhou Yuan for a moment as he
said, “I hope that you guys will really have some kind of surprise. Otherwise, the chief disciple selection
will be far too boring.”
As his words faded, he turned around and left. The other five disciple also chuckled softly, their laughter
filled with contempt.
Zhou Tai and Zhang Yan’s complexions turned an angry green.
Rage could also be seen on Lu Yan’s pretty face as she glared at Yuan Hong’s back. In the end, she walked
over, glanced at Zhou Tai and Zhang Yan, before looking towards Zhou Yuan as she resentfully said,
“What the heck are you guys doing? Can’t you even gather three people? Did you really have to pull this
kid over to make up the numbers?”
Zhou Tai felt rather awkward. Lu Yan was always overly direct when she spoke, showing no regard for
anyone. How could she say such things when Zhou Yuan was right in front of her.
However, Zhou Yuan expression remained calm. He merely glanced at Yuan Hong’s leaving figure, before
turning to cup his fists together at Shen Taiyuan. After which, Zhou Yuan also took his leave.
Instead of grumbling and complaining here, it would be far better to spend his time training.
Since Lu Hong’s faction was so fond of surprises, he would have to work a little harder. It would not be
nice of him to disappoint them too much, right?
2239
Lu Yan stomped her foot in anger at how Zhou Yuan had basically ignored her, pouring her rage onto
Zhou Tai and Zhang Yan.
“Look at this! A few accomplishments has already made him so proud. Does he really think the likes of
him is qualified to participate in the chief disciple selection?”
She gnashed her teeth, indignation boiling within her.
“Humph, when the chief disciple selection beings, I’ll be waiting to see what right he has to act so
arrogantly!”
2240
Chapter 443 Water and Fire Tempering Dragon
Stage
Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao left the Dao Seeker Hall.
Yaoyao offhandedly said, “That Yuan Hong from Lu Hong’s faction seems to be pretty powerful. Even with
the Heavenly Yuan Brush, the current you will not be his match.”
Zhou Yuan did not deny her words, nodding instead as he said, “He’s the first disciple Lu Hong has poured
all his efforts into after all. I’ve heard that Yuan Hong was even personally dispatched by peak master
Ling Jun. Someone like that is naturally no ordinary person.”
“It’s clear that Lu Hong’s faction is very determined to obtain the chief disciple seat.”
Zhou Yuan’s expression had turned rather grave as he spoke. If the chief disciple seat landed in Lu Hong’s
hands, they may ultimately succeed in undoing the seal on the main peak.
If they did, the main peak would fall under the control of Lu Hong’s faction. When that happened, it would
become much more difficult for Zhou Yuan to find the second Saint Rune.
In the worst case scenario, Lu Hong’s faction may even discover the second Saint Rune. Getting them to
hand it over when that happened would be near impossible.
Zhou Yuan declared in a solemn voice, “No matter what, we cannot allow Lu Hong’s faction to obtain the
chief disciple position.”
Even giving it to elder Lu Song’s faction would be far better.
Yaoyao nonchalantly said, “Shall I step forward then. There will be no difficulty in obtaining the chief
disciple position.”
Zhou Yuan smiled helplessly when he heard this. “If you did, Lu Hong’s faction will certainly go crazy.
Moreover, you’re strictly speaking not part of Shen Taiyuan’s faction.”
“Besides…”
“This is a challenge I have to face. If I depend on you for everything, what would be the point of coming to
the Cangxuan Sect in the first place?”
The road of cultivation required one to defeat numerous formidable foes. If Zhou Yuan were to seek
Yaoyao’s help every time he encountered a little trouble, he would only end up slowly disappearing into
the crowd.
2241
Yaoyao glanced at Zhou Yuan as a faint smile appeared on her lips. “At least you’re aware of your own
situation.”
These were the challenges that belonged to Zhou Yuan. If he were to rely on her all the time, it would be
disappointing for her too.
Zhou Yuan rolled his eyes. All these tests that were being given to him all the time were really tiring.
Amidst their conversation, they arrived at the foot of the main peak.
The foot of the main peak was covered in mist all year round. When Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao landed
outside the old temple, they immediately saw an old figure sweeping the fallen leaves.
Old Xuan lifted his murky gaze and looked at Zhou Yuan, before turning towards the beautiful and
graceful Yaoyao.
Old Xuan’s eyes seemed to widen slightly the moment he caught sight of her. He had lived far too long,
and had seen way too many people. However, this otherworldly beautiful young lady before him gave him
an ungraspable and unreadable sensation.
Although he had seen Yaoyao once when Zhou Yuan and the other new disciples arrived for the first time
in Saint Genesis Peak, old Xuan had only given them a casual glance back then. It was only now in such
close proximity that this sensation had grown stronger.
Zhou Yuan cupped his fists together and asked, “Elder, she won’t be a disturbance if she comes along,
right?”
Old Xuan slowly withdrew his gaze and shook his head, before his raspy voice sounded, “It is not a
problem.”
His gaze shifted towards Zhou Yuan, looking him up and down as he said, “You seem to be overflowing
with vital energy like a boiling stove. It must be due to reaching the initial stage of the Taiyi Green Wood
Mark, right?”
Zhou Yuan nodded. After creating the first Taiyi Green Wood Mark the day before, the flesh and blood in
his body had been in a kind of constantly excited state. A little nudge was all it took to abundant energy to
pour out, making it near impossible to feel tired.
“If that brat Gu from Hongya Peak saw you in this state, I’m afraid he might really abduct you to the
Hongya Peak to train in their external cultivation techniques. In his words, you are what he would call a
genius of external cultivation.” Old Xuan chuckled.
Zhou Yuan also laughed. The brat Gu the former spoke of was likely peak master Gu of Hongya Peak. With
regards to seniority, beside the peak master of Lightning Prison Peak, old Xuan was likely the only one in
the Cangxuan Sect who could address peak master Gu in such a manner.
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However, Zhou Yuan was also once again enlightened on how amazing the Taiyi Green Wood Mark was.
Merely practicing this technique would make one a genius of external cultivation. There was no need to
say how awesome this was.
Of course, it must be said that this was only the beginning. To progress even further in the future, Zhou
Yuan still needed to reach even higher levels in the Taiyi Green Wood Mark. A single Green Wood Mark
would only give him an advantage in the initial stages of external cultivation.
“Follow me.”
The broom in old Xuan’s hands swished across the ground as he turned around.
Zhou Yuan glanced towards Yaoyao, seeing her give a faint nod, before both of them caught up.
Under old Xuan’s lead, they once again stepped into the sealed main peak. Fortunately for them, old Xuan
acted as their guide, allowing the group to avoid activating the seal.
This made Zhou Yuan wet his lips. It was likely that even in the entire Cangxuan Sect, only a handful of
individuals besides old Xuan had entered this sealed main peak before.
The group of three walked for about half an incense stick of time.
Old Xuan’s footsteps finally stopped. Zhou Yuan lifted his head and looked to the front, as a look of
surprise appeared on his face.
A giant river had appeared with a stone pillar standing in the middle like a platform.
Two stone dragons could be seen on the cliffs on both sides of the pillar. The dragons coiled around the
cliffs, their giant mouths facing the pillar from the left and right.
Zhou Yuan curiously asked, “What is this?”
He looked towards the two stone dragons upon the cliffs. In their giant mouths, he could just barely make
out several faintly glowing runes that gave off peculiar undulations.
Old Xuan also gazed at the two stone dragons as a reminiscent look flitted across his eyes. “This is the
Water and Fire Tempering Dragon Stage.”
“Water and Fire Tempering Dragon Stage?” Mumbled Zhou Yuan.
“These two stone dragons represent fire and water. Ancient Genesis Runes have been carved inside them
that reach deep into the ground, where they are able to draw on fire and water Qi. Once activated, fire
and water Qi will simultaneously pour out from their mouths…” Explained old Xuan.
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“The water Qi will be extremely cold, while the fire Qi extremely hot. When the body is placed between
them, it will be placed under the most intensive of tempering. Of course, the pain one has to endure will
naturally also be extraordinary. As such, someone without sufficient willpower is forbidden from
entering the stage.”
Zhou Yuan shivered slightly when he heard this, as if already imagining that dreadful scene.
“If you wish to master the little Mythic Saint Body, this will be the best place.” Old Xuan chuckled.
“Moreover, this was also where master trained back then.”
Zhou Yuan was quite surprised. “Patriarch Cang Xuan also trained here?”
Old Xuan nodded. “Do you see the stone scales on the foreheads of the two dragons? There are a total of
eighteen of them, and every one that lights up represents an increase in the level of intensity. The highest
is naturally level eighteen.”
“Back then, master would place himself at level eighteen all the time. When that happened, half of the
Cangxuan Sect would be at the mercy of extreme heat, while the other half would be miserably cold.”
“Of course, that’s still too unimaginable for you. Let alone the eighteenth level, just being able to endure
the first level alone should be enough for you to reach the initial stage of the little Mythic Saint Body.”
Zhou Yuan sucked in a mouthful of cold air. Eighteenth level… what kind of inconceivable horror was
that? He would surely be instantly vaporized if he were to face it.
Old Xuan grinned as he watched the changing expression on Zhou Yuan’s face, before pointing a gnarly
finger at the stone stage.
“So? Do you dare to give it a little try?”
Zhou Yuan licked his lips. Though his eyes were filled with a grave expression, not even the slightest trace
of fear could be seen.
Because he understood that he needed to grow stronger if he wanted to put up a fight against Lu Hong’s
faction in the upcoming chief disciple selection. Otherwise, Yuan Hong would be a giant mountain that lay
in his path, stopping anyone who wished to cross.
Since old Xuan had presented an opportunity to him, there was no naturally no way Zhou Yuan would
back down because of some pain.
Hence, he displayed no hesitation in response to old Xuan’s teasing question. The tip of his foot pushed
off the ground as his figure agilely leaped forward. He landed on the stone stage and sat down.
He directly used his actions to show his determination.
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Old Xuan softly chuckled when he saw this. Without further ado, the broom in his hand made a gentle
sweeping motion. The two giant stone dragons on the cliffs immediately began shaking. Zhou Yuan
watched as burning steam began to rise from one, while cold Qi spread from the other, rapidly creating a
layer of frost around it.
Roar!
The ground shook as the river churned violently.
In the next instant, what seemed to be a deep dragon roar was heard. One could only watch as a hundred
foot wide torrent of white burst out from one of the dragon’s mouths along with chillingly cold Qi.
From the other, a scarlet-red magma like flood poured out.
Ch!
The two torrents ultimately met on the stone stage, instantly swallowing Zhou Yuan’s figure.
AHHH!
A miserable shriek rang out in the mountain forest at this moment.
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Chapter 444 An Exchange of Words
AHHH!
A miserable shriek echoed in the mountain forest. Fortunately for the group, this location was part of the
sealed area that no one was allowed to enter. If not, that cry alone would have drawn numerous
busybodies over.
Ch ch!
Zhou Yuan was seated on the stone stage as two torrents of water and fire spouted from the mouths of
the stone dragons on his left and right, ruthlessly drowning his body.
Mist could be seen rising from the surface of his body.
In the mist, Zhou Yuan’s face was warped in pain, making it look extremely hideous. It was clear that he
was under exceedingly intense pain.
Half of his body was an icy blue, cold mist seemingly pouring from his pores, while the other half was a
red hot with rippling burning heat rising from it, as if his blood was boiling inside.
High heat and extreme cold invaded his flesh, causing every inch of it to tremble uncontrollably as fire Qi
and water Qi washed over layer after layer of skin, blood and flesh.
The challenges faced by those on the path of external cultivation was unimaginable.
By the edge of the cliff, old Xuan’s murky eyes narrowed slightly as he watched Zhou Yuan being
tempered by fire and water. “When are you going to start circulating the little Mythic Saint Body
cultivation method to absorb the fire and water Qi to temper your body?”
His voice was transmitted into Zhou Yuan’s ears. The latter tightly gritted his teeth, his mind clearing a
little as his hands came together to begin circulating the unique cultivation method of the little Mythic
Saint Body.
It was as if the irritable water and fire Qi was being drawn by something. The Qi began flowing on the
surface of his skin as it slowly seeped into his body.
Zhou Yuan could feel the water and fire Qi begin to rise within his body, most of their power poured into
his skin.
He was not the least bit surprised by this. There were three stages to the little Mythic Saint Body, jade
skin, silver bone and golden blood. Jade skin was the first step of slowly transforming the body starting
from the outside.
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However, it was no easy matter to master the jade skin, and one needed to experience an enormous
amount of pain in the process. Just imagining it already made Zhou Yuan shiver uncontrollably.
But since he had already begun, there was naturally no way he would back down. He immediately
guarded his mind as he gritted his teeth, tenaciously enduring the pain from the fire and water
tempering, while the veins under his skin wiggled continuously.
ARHHH!
After about half an incense stick of time, Zhou Yuan finally reached his limit. His figure quickly dashed
into the air, before miserably crashing onto the edge of the cliff.
He felt that if he were to continue, half of his body would be charred to cinders, while the half would be
frozen solid.
Zhou Yuan was crumpled on the ground, drenched in sweat as his body trembled unceasingly.
“Half an incense stick of time on your first try. That’s not bad.” Old Xuan eyed the miserable looking Zhou
Yuan with a wide grin.
“By this point, an ordinary person will have no choice but to call it a day, but as someone who has the
Taiyi Green Wood Mark that enriches you with vigorous vital energy, you only require some rest for your
body to slowly recover and continue training.”
The corners of Zhou Yuan’s mouth could not help but twitch.
However, he did not say anything in the end, merely gritting his teeth as he nodded. Next, he seated
himself on the ground and closed his eyes.
Faint dark green runes began to appear on the surface of his body as a cooling aura spread within him,
swiftly recovering the damage and pain.
Strong vital energy rose, as Zhou Yuan’s skin began to return to normal.
After a short span of a few dozen minutes, Zhou Yuan opened his eyes again. There was a rejuvenated
look within them, all of the tiredness and pain from before now completely eliminated.
“The Taiyi Green Wood Mark is truly amazing!” Even Zhou Yuan could not help but become a little
overwhelmed when he felt the changes in his body. With the astonishing recovery abilities of the mark,
he could basically practice external cultivation techniques without restraint. There was no need to worry
about injuring the body due to excessive training.
Such effectiveness was several times better than ordinary individuals!
No wonder old Xuan had advised him to select the little Mythic Saint Body.
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Now that his body had recovered, Zhou Yuan stood up again. He grinned at the silently watching Yaoyao,
before casting his gaze towards the stone stage.
Swish!
Although there was still a little residual pain, there was no longer any hesitation in Zhou Yuan’s eyes. His
body leaped forward and landed on the stage, before he seated himself.
Rumble!
The mouths of the two stone dragons rumbled open again, torrents of fire and water flooding out.
……
By the edge of the cliff, old Xuan gave an almost undetectable nod as he gazed upon the twisted face of the
bitterly persisting Zhou Yuan.
The willpower of this young man was rather surprising.
Yaoyao was elegantly seated on a run down stone pavilion on the cliff. Her bright eyes looked towards old
Xuan’s hunched figure as she asked, “Does elder want to come over and have a seat?”
Old Xuan turned around, looked towards Yaoyao and chuckled. He walked over with his broom, sat down
in the stone pavilion, and sighed, “I’ve lived for so many years, and have seen many geniuses in the
Cangxuan Sect. But there’s never been someone like you who gives me this heart palpitating feeling.”
“Even in our Cangxuan Sect, the appearance of someone like yourself makes me feel as if a phoenix is
perching on a small withered tree.”
Yaoyao retrieved a wine pot and cup as a faint smile rose on her lips. “Elder is quite the comedian. The
Cangxuan Sect was once the number sect in Cangxuan Heaven, how can you call it a withered tree?”
Old Xuan sighed again. “I’m not joking. I may have lived for a long time, but I can’t fake this feeling.”
Yaoyao’s eyes turned towards Zhou Yuan as she suddenly asked, “I’ve heard that you’ve never bothered
about any matter in the sect, so why have you now chosen to help Zhou Yuan?”
Back in the Saint Remains Domain, Yaoyao and Zhou Yuan had met a spirit fragment of patriarch Cang
Xuan, and he had told them of his suspicions that his death may have had something to do with the
Cangxuan Sect. Hence, Yaoyao maintained a certain vigilance against anyone who had been alive back
then, even this super low-key and nearly unnoticeable old Xuan.
As such, Yaoyao naturally intended to probe old Xuan about the abnormal care he had shown Zhou Yuan.
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Old Xuan lifted his wrinkled eyelids, and was silent for a long time, before he slowly said, “I’ve been
waiting for many years.”
“What are you waiting for?” Asked Yaoyao.
“Waiting for someone who can break the status quo…” Old Xuan lifted his head and looked at the sealed
main peak. “The Cangxuan Sect has been too quiet, like a deep, dead pool. Some ripples are needed to
startle the fish.”
“There are many matters to which I too wish for an answer.”
Crystal clear wine flowed from the pot in Yaoyao’s hand, pouring into the cup as she softly said,
“Regardless of what you are planning, I only hope that you will not harm Zhou Yuan. Otherwise, these
pointers you have given will not be enough.”
She pushed the filled cup towards old Xuan as she spoke.
Old Xuan gave Yaoyao a deep look. He could detect the warning in her words. Normally speaking, he
would merely shake his head and laugh at such a warning from a disciple.
However, this impossibly beautiful girl before him made it rather hard for him to laugh.
In the end, he took the cup with a bitter smile. “Little lass, it is really not easy to get a drink from you.”
Yaoyao faintly nodded as she smiled and said, “There are indeed not many who may drink a cup from
me.”
Her words were extremely arrogant, but old Xuan chose to believe them. Due to certain reasons, his
senses were unparalleled in the Cangxuan Sect, and even sect master Qing Yang the rest could not
compare.
Perhaps, even sect master Qing Yang and the rest would be unable to sense that heart palpitating aura
hidden so deep within this girl that even she herself was likely unaware of it. However, old Xuan could
just barely detect it.
The girl before his eyes was terrifyingly mysterious.
He truly did not know whether it was a blessing or a disaster for her to appear in their Cangxuan Sect.
While his mind churned with various thoughts, old Xuan lifted the cup and downed its contents.
Yaoyao also lifted the cup to her red lips. Just as she was about to drink, a piercing shriek suddenly
sounded, causing her hand to shake. Wine spilled from the cup, wetting a corner of her skirt.
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Yaoyao’s eyebrows raised slightly as she lifted her beautiful face. A sliver of anger surfaced in her clear
eyes as she gazed upon the weeping and howling Zhou Yuan atop the stone stage.
Old Xuan finally laughed when he saw this expression. Compared to the icy indifference from before that
emanated from the depths of her soul, the girl felt genuinely alive at this moment.
Like a real person.
He turned his head to look at Zhou Yuan’s figure as he clicked his tongue in amazement.
Perhaps it was indeed true in this world that everything has a weakness.
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Chapter 445 Discussions
While Zhou Yuan continued to temper his body on the Water and Fire Tempering Dragon Stage to
practice the little Mythic Saint Body, the participants of the chief disciple selections for each peak were
finalized and announced.
The peace that had shrouded the Cangxuan Sect for the past few months began to fracture, as slowly
brewing excitement took its place.
Everyone knew that the chief disciple selections were the grandest event in the Cangxuan Sect every year,
and even the earlier purple sash selection was not on the same level.
The birth of every chief disciple represented the very best of each peak, the ones who could truly be
called the number one disciple of their peaks. They were second in status only to the ten great Chosens.
The current chief disciples of each peak had to face numerous challenges from countless talented
disciples during the selection each year. To maintain their positions as chief disciple, they naturally had
to work hard and continuously improve themselves.
On the other side, disciples that were eyeing the chief disciple seat were constantly preparing themselves
to replace the chief disciple.
Hence, the start of the chief disciple selections each year was always a heart pounding time. Several
normally low-key disciples may suddenly sprout wings and soar, becoming swift dark horses that quickly
left their numerous fellow disciples in the dust.
Such overnight celebrities would often draw gasps of admiration and respect from countless disciples.
Due to these various reasons, the chief disciple selections was the grandest yearly event in the Cangxuan
Sect. Powerful disciples were eager to take on the challenge, while those who felt themselves lacking
would become audience members that cheered on and encouraged their peers from the sidelines with
respect. The onlookers would often gaze upon their amazing senior brother and sister disciples with
envious eyes as they looked forward to the day that they too would be able to step on this glorious stage.
Hence, the announcement of the participant list immediately drew the attention of innumerable disciples
in the sect, becoming a hot topic for a time.
Every name on the list caused many fierce debates. The participants were after all the most outstanding
disciples of each peak that were naturally rather well known figures.
While numerous disciples were discussing the list, they suddenly caught sight of a certain name.
Saint Genesis Peak, Shen Taiyuan’s faction, Zhou Yuan.
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This was quickly followed by an unsurprising uproar.
“Isn’t this Zhou Yuan the one who was recently promoted to purple sash? Is he really going to participate
in the chief disciple selection so soon?”
“I’ve heard that he did pretty well in the recent Heaven mission, and was shockingly awarded the chief
credit. He even defeated Yang Xuan from the Sacred Palace, meaning he’s clearly quite formidable in
battle.”
“Even so, isn’t this a little too premature? All of the other participants have trained hard for several years,
and are no ordinary individuals either.”
“It seems to me that Zhou Yuan is a little too arrogant.” Those who made such comments were usually
jealous people. After all, Zhou Yuan had progressed far too rapidly in the past year, a fact that would draw
out envy in nearly anyone.
“It seems that he believes Saint Genesis Peak to be the same as it had been before… hehe, but this year’s
chief disciple selection will not be as remarkable as previous years. Elder Lu Hong’s faction was ranked
amongst the top five factions back in Sword Cometh Peak, while Yuan Hong is no simple individual, and
has even received personal guidance from peak master Ling Jun before.”
The surrounding disciples nodded in agreement.
“The upcoming chief disciples selection of Saint Genesis Peak will definitely be won by elder Lu Hong’s
faction. The other two factions don’t even have the qualifications to compete. As for Zhou Yuan, he’s
probably only there to make up the numbers, so there’s no need to pay any attention to him.”
“Hehe, I agree. Elder Lu Hong’s faction alone has a formidable line up of six participants, while the other
two factions combined were barely able to gather six, Zhou Yuan included. The quality of both parties are
on completely different levels.”
A voice of sympathy spoke up, “If elder Lu Hong’s faction takes the chief disciple position, and
subsequently succeed in unsealing the main peak, they will become the master faction of Saint Genesis
Peak.”
“When that happens, elder Lu Hong’s faction will be able to command both elder Shen Taiyuan and elder
Lu Song’s factions.”
“These two factions are actually quite pitiful. They’ve been trying so hard to sustain Saint Genesis Peak
for so many years, and yet they’re still unable to escape the fate of being replaced by someone else. The
disciples of these two factions will be put in a rather awkward position in the future.”
“They have no one to blame but themselves. They may have persevered for many years, but they
ultimately failed to unseal the main peak. We can only say that it isn’t fated. As such, it will be better for
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someone else to take on this important task. Once the main peak is unsealed, numerous cultivation
resources will become accessible, so things may not be all that bad for them.”
“……”
Similar discussions were held in every inch of the Cangxuan Sect. It was clear that the majority favored
elder Lu Hong’s faction.
They were after all unable to imagine how Shen Taiyuan and Lu Song’s factions would be able to match
Lu Hong’s lineup.
As such, almost everyone treated Zhou Yuan as someone who was just there to make up the numbers,
quickly forgetting about him after a good chuckle. After all, in the face of Lu Hong’s formidable lineup, a
mere Zhou Yuan had neither the qualifications nor strength to change anything.
Sword Cometh Peak.
“He really knows how to stir up a fuss. It’s barely been a few months since he’s been promoted to a purple
sash disciple and he’s already planning on participating in the chief disciple selection?” Beside a stone
table atop a cliff, Zhao Zhu smirked as he looked at the piece of paper in his hand. The participants of the
chief disciple selections had been recorded on the paper, and included among them was a certain name
that made him feel very irritated.
To Zhao Zhu’s front, Kong Sheng, dressed entirely in white, had his head lowered as he cleaned his sword.
He did not look up as he remarked, “You seem to be a little overly concerned about him.”
Zhao Zhu let out a snort. The mere thought of the previous Heaven mission, where Zhou Yuan had
somehow landed himself the chief credit, filled the former’s stomach with the embers of anger. Although
Zhou Yuan deserved some recognition for defeating Yang Xuan, if it were not for Zhao Zhu and Li
Qingchan’s efforts in warding off the other party’s Chosens, Zhou Yuan would have been instantly
pulverized by them.
That’s why Zhao Zhu felt that he and Li Qingchan’s were more deserving of the chief credit.
Moreover, he was the vice leader, and the unspoken rules said that the chief credit should belong to them.
But Zhou Yuan obviously lact any form of tact or discernment. Zhao Zhu could not believe that the former
actually had the gall to accept the chief credit, this was just far too arrogant.
That Li Qingchan as well! He could not comprehend why she insisted on siding with Zhou Yuan.
Otherwise, if the two leaders were to object, Zhou Yuan would never be able to touch the chief credit no
matter how much he contributed.
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In their Cangxuan Sect, almost every chief credit would end up in the hands of the the team leaders. And
yet, Zhou Yuan just had to snatch it away from Zhao Zhu. In his opinion, this was a complete loss of face
that was very difficult to swallow.
Kong Sheng put down the white cloth, before he raised his head and looked towards Zhao Zhu with a
smile, “It’s only a single Heaven mission, there’s no need to be so concerned… as for Zhou Yuan, he
doesn’t have many happy days left.”
“Elder Lu Hong’s faction is determined to obtain the chief disciple seat of Saint Genesis Peak, and from the
looks of things, there are unlikely to be any surprises.”
“You only have to wait till elder Lu Hong’s faction becomes the master faction. If you’re still unhappy
then, you only need to say the word and elder Lu Hong will naturally make Zhou Yuan suffer.”
From the casual way he spoke, it was clear that he blieved Lu Hong’s faction would surely become the
master faction of Saint Genesis Peak.
Zhao Zhu’s expression relaxed somewhat as he nodded. It would not be too late to vent his pent up anger
when that happened.
“Right, Chu Qing has returned. Didn’t you say you were going to challenge him again? What was the
outcome?” Asked Zhao Zhu.
Kong Sheng’s handsome face immediately darkened. The sword in his hand slammed into the table as he
hissed through gnashed teeth, “That bastard! I have no idea where he’s hiding. The duel requests I sent
were all thrown away by him!”
Zhao Zhu was speechless, and could only let out a hollow laugh in the end. Given Chu Qing’s character, it
was more than likely that he would sigh upon receiving the duel request and grumble about how
troublesome it would be, before immediately finding somewhere to hide.
Over the years, with the exception of a few unavoidable situations, every duel request sent by Kong Sheng
had been evaded by Chu Qing with all kinds of illogical reasons.
No matter how harsh, rude or provoking Kong Sheng had written these requests, the latter had always
been able to receive them with a grin, admire them for a moment, before casually tossing them away. He
just refused to accept any of Kong Sheng’s challenges.
The was how extreme Chu Qing was with regards to things he viewed as inconveniences, causing
numerous individuals in the Cangxuan Sect to be stuck between crying and laughing.
Zhao Zhu had a deep understanding of Kong Sheng and knew just how cunning and intelligent the latter
was. However, Chu Qing would always manage to leave Kong Sheng boiling with anger, and completely
helpless about the situation.
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To face Chu Qing and defeat him in a real battle had already become Kong Sheng’s sole purpose.
A certain location in the Genesis Reservoir.
Li Qingchan and Bai Li were soaking in a hot spring, their seductive curves just barely visible in the water
though wrapped by a thin layer of cloth.
Bai Li suddenly asked, “Is Zhou Yuan really going to participate in the chief disciple selection?”
Li Qingchan lazily opened her eyes and looked at Bai Li. “The amount of times you’ve mentioned him has
multiplied many fold after returning from the Black Flame Province. Could you have fallen for him?”
Bai Li rolled her eyes. “I owe him a debt.”
Li Qingchan’s hand skimmed across the water, pondering in silence for a moment, before she said, “But
this is too impatient of him. Lu Hong’s faction was dispatched to Saint Genesis Peak by peak master Ling
Jun with the aim of becoming master faction. As a result, Lu Hong’s faction has amply prepared
themselves, and their momentum is practically unstoppable. The other two factions really do not stand
any chance at all.”
“As for Zhou Yuan… although his battle power will not lose to any veteran purple sash disciple when
wielding that black brush of his, every individual who can participate in the chief disciple selection will
not be weaker than that Yang Xuan he fought in the Black Flame Province.”
At this point, she shook her head in pity.
“If Zhou Yuan was given a year, he may be able to stop Lu Hong’s faction…”
“But at this point in time… Zhou Yuan’s efforts will only be akin to a praying mantis trying to stop a cart in
the face of Lu Hong’s invincible lineup.”
Bai Li let out a soft sigh.
“It truly is… a pity.”
2255
Chapter 446 Discussion Hall
Day after day flowed by in the Cangxuan Sect, as everyone became more and more excited about the chief
disciple selections. As the grandest yearly event in the sect, the amount of interest garnered by the chief
disciple selections far surpassed that of the purple sash selection.
In fact, even sect master Qing Yang and the other five peak masters had turned their attention towards
this event, the list of participants already placed on the desks of these big shots since quite some time
ago.
After all, the chief disciples of each peak were basically the ones who stood at the apex of their respective
peaks, existences whose talent and attitude were essentially top tier. If properly nurtured, they would
most definitely become important pillars that supported the sect in the future.
This was what the so-called new blood referred to, and its importance was obvious.
As such, even the few big bosses of the Cangxuan Sect had differing opinions about this event.
...
The discussion hall.
This was essentially the place of greatest power and authority in the Cangxuan Sect. Mist swirled around
the large and majestic hall that stood on the tallest peak of Cangxuan Peak. It was a place that even
ordinary elders did not have the qualifications to enter.
In the hall, Snow Lotus Peak master Liu Lianyi said, “I feel that the situation in Saint Genesis Peak for the
upcoming chief disciple selection is not appropriate. Elder Lu Hong’s faction was basically inserted in
from nowhere, and while the other two factions may have failed to show much result after so many years,
they have toiled hard and put in their best effort for Saint Genesis Peak. Therefore, I propose we postpone
the chief disciple selection for Saint Genesis Peak and hold it next year instead.”
In her hand was the list of participants for the various peaks. At this current moment, her gaze was on the
portion for Saint Genesis Peak, which had the smallest number of participants. However, it was obvious
that Lu Hong’s faction had an overwhelming advantage.
Sword Cometh Peak master Ling Jun frowned when he heard this. “All of us agreed to transfer Lu Hong’s
faction back then, why are raising such objections now?”
“In addition, if elder Lu Hong’s faction successfully secures the chief disciple position, it will naturally
lead to the quicker unsealing of the main peak. Once the seal is broken, we can let more disciples enter
Saint Genesis Peak in the future, allowing it to flourish once more.”
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Liu Lianyi icily chuckled. “I’m afraid that Saint Genesis Peak will instead become the second Sword
Cometh Peak when that happens.”
Peak master Ling Jun’s handsome and youthful face darkened as he slammed his hands onto the table.
“Liu Lianyi, don’t go overboard!”
Peak master Liu Lianyi’s icy gaze shot over. “Oh? Has speaking about your sore spot made you angry?”
A sharp look rose in peak master Ling Jun’s eyes. The surrounding Genesis Qi began to stir restlessly, as
ripples that could be seen with the naked eye spread.
The spreading ripples seemed to form a giant domain, in which silver sword Qi rapidly condensed into
swords that filled the entire sky. In that moment, it was as if the entire place was under peak master Ling
Jun’s control.
Law Domain!
In this sword Qi Law Domain, peak master Ling Jun was basically a god that had control over the life or
death of any living being inside.
The Genesis Qi of the entire Cangxuan Sect began to tremble at this moment.
“Oh? You plan to retort with force?!”
Liu Lianyi’s gaze turned frostier when she felt the looming sword Qi Law Domain. She clenched her hand
as snow-white Genesis Qi rays dashed into the sky, before rapidly extending outwards with her at its
center.
The world turned to ice and snow, as if a wintry Law Domain had descended. The temperature of the
entire Cangxuan Sect plummeted at this moment, as if winter had suddenly arrived.
These abrupt changes caused numerous disciples to be filled with bewilderment and fear.
The confrontation between two Law Domains caused the sky to gradually darken. Only a Law Domain
could match another.
However, the clash between Law Domains was an extremely terrifying thing.
Although both individuals had been angered, they were still rational enough to restrain themselves.
Otherwise, fully bringing out their two Law Domains would turn the area within a hundred thousand
miles into a world of snow, ice and millions upon millions of swords.
Thump!
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While peak master Liu Lianyi and Ling Jun’s eyes were growing increasingly frosty, an old hand loudly
slammed onto the table. Ten thousand peals of thunder seemed to boom together at that moment as
violent undulations swept outwards, forcibly creating a world of thunder and lightning between the two
clashing Law Domains.
“Both of you had better not push the rules too far!”
A deep booming voice thundered. The stern and solemn looking black robed elder seated beside sect
master Qing Yang had opened his eyes. It was as if there was a world of lightning within these eyes, a
sight so glaringly bright and dazzling that it would shake anyone’s heart.
It was Lightning Prison Peak master Lei Jun.
Peak master Lei Jun was the most senior in the Cangxuan Sect, and even sect master Qing Yang was
respectful towards him. In addition, he was in charge of the rules and punishments, making him the most
intimidating and imposing of the hegemons.
Sect master Qing Yang helplessly shook his head, waving his sleeves as he scolded, “Are the two of you
still not going to withdraw your Law Domains?!”
Only then did peak master Ling Jun and Liu Lianyu let out an icy snort. With a grasp of their hands, the
dreadful Law Domains rapidly shrank, turning into halos of that withdrew into their bodies.
The temperature returned to normal, while the agitatedly stirring Genesis Qi also quietened down.
In the discussion hall, the other peak masters also helplessly shook their heads. These two were always
bickering with each other. Master was still able to control them somewhat when he was still around, but
the situation had only grown increasingly worse after master’s death. If not for sect master and peak
master Lei Jun, the two of them would have come to blows countless times.
Sect master Qing Yang already had a headache. He pondered for a bit, before looking towards peak
master Lei Jun. “What does peak master Lei Jun think? Should we postpone Saint Genesis Peak’s chief
disciple selection?”
Peak master Lei Jun calmly replied with a solemn face, “Since we previously agreed on this, how can we
make last minute changes?”
“Though Shen Taiyuan and Lu Song have worked hard in Saint Genesis Peak for many years, they were
ultimately unable to achieve any results. Since this is the case, we’ll let someone else take on this task to
unseal the main peak as soon as possible. Only then can we allow more disciples to enter Saint Genesis
Peak to cultivate.”
Sect master Qing Yang nodded. “I too am of the same opinion.”
2258
He then looked towards the frosty face of peak master Liu Lianyi and said, “Junior sister, this matter
concerns the reopening of Saint Genesis Peak, and is of utmost importance to our Cangxuan Sect. We
should not allow our personal feelings to influence our decisions.”
Peak master Liu Lianyi was expressionless. She pointed at the participant names from Shen Taiyuan and
Lu Song’s factions and said, “How has such decisions ever given any chances to these two factions?”
Lu Hong’s faction was on a completely different level than the other two. Hence, she felt that there was
basically no point in Saint Genesis Peak’s chief disciple selection.
Although Lu Hong’s faction should no longer have any relation with Sword Cometh Peak, at the end of the
day, they could not change the fact that they were from Sword Cometh Peak, and would naturally lean
towards peak master Ling Jun even in the future.
Though Lu Hong lacked the qualifications to become the peak master of Saint Genesis Peak, his status
would become much higher than ordinary elders if he obtained the peak master seal.
If so, peak master Ling Jun’s influence and authority would rise.
Peak master Ling Jun indifferently said, “There is no such thing as absolute fairness in this world. It’s not
like we haven’t given these two factions any chances, but they were ultimately unsuccessful in unsealing
the main peak. Hence, they naturally cannot blame anyone else.”
“Moreover, I also made a wager back then. If Lu Hong’s faction fails to obtain the chief disciple position, it
will naturally mean that my Sword Cometh Peak is incompetant. We will not only give up a fifth of our
cultivation resources to be split among the other peaks, but also restrict ourselves to half of our original
quota for the next disciple recruitment…”
“My Sword Cometh Peak has already taken on such risks, and now peak master Liu Lianyin wants to
invalide everything just as we’re about to succeed?”
Peak master Liu Lianyi fell silent. They had naturally argued over which peak should send their disciples
to Saint Genesis Peak back then, but Ling Jun had ultimately been the most ambitious.
He had put a fifth of Sword Cometh Peak’s cultivation resources and half their disciple recruitment quota
on the line. The other peak masters were not people who liked to make a fuss, and thus backed down
upon seeing peak master Ling Jun’s resolve. As such, Sword Cometh Peak ended up being the ones to send
a faction to Saint Genesis Peak.
From the looks of things, the chief disciple position of Saint Genesis Peak would most likely end up with
Lu Hong’s faction. In other words, peak master Ling Jun was basically about to win his grand gamble.
This was why peak master Lianyi did not feel comfortable about this situation.
2259
Sect master Qing Yang gave a slight nod, before letting out a sigh. He was the sect master after all, and
needed to mediate the relationships between the various peaks. As such, he waved his hand and said to
peak master Lianyi, “There shall be no more discussions about this matter. Everything will proceed as we
had agreed on previously.”
“If Ling Jun loses this wager, he will have the price in accordance to what he promised before.”
Peak master Lianyi’s face was ice-cold. She glanced at peak master Ling Jun and sneered, “Don’t celebrate
too early. In the thousand in one chance that something unexpected happens, I’ll see if you’ll still be
smiling.”
After finishing, she stood up and left the hall.
At the sight of her leaving, the others in the hall chuckled helplessly.
Peak master Ling Jun did not appear to mind her final words. He reached out to flick the list in his hand as
his gaze indifferently swept across the participants of the other two Saint Genesis Peak factions. In the
end, the corners of his lips curled slightly into a mocking and disdainful smile.
“Something unexpected?”
“With these participants? What a joke.”
2260
Chapter 447 Jade Skin Stage
Time quietly flowed as a month and several days unknowingly passed by.
Meanwhile, the date of the chief disciple selection also swiftly approached.
The Cangxuan Sect grew increasingly abuzz with excitement as the big day neared, every discussion in
every corner of the sect basically somehow related to the upcoming chief disciple selections.
The participant list had already been thoroughly analyzed by numerous disciples, before they used all
kinds of methods to evaluate the odds of each participant.
Towards the end, some of the richer disciples even began setting up betting stands that instantly drew
swarms of disciples over. After various evaluations, the most popular contenders for each peak was
decided by majority opinion.
Without doubt, Saint Genesis Peak’s most popular contended was naturally Lu Hong’s first disciple, Yuan
Hong.
As for the other two factions, neither Zhou Tai nor Lu Yan came anywhere close to Yuan Hong in
popularity. It was obvious that most of the disciples fancied Yuan Hong’s odds.
When even Zhou Tai and Lu Yan faced such treatment, even less needed to be said about Zhou Yuan.
His name had not even appeared among the ranks of most popular contenders. In fact, the most amusing
thing was that his betting odds were the highest of all the participants… hitting an all time high even in
the rich history of the Cangxuan Sect.
One could easily see just how pathetic that was.
Such odds even became a popular joke in the sect for a time, people often joking about throwing in a
thousand Genesis jade pieces. In the million in one chance that Zhou Yuan managed to go against all
expectations and emerge as the winner, wouldn’t you have made a killing?
However, no one ultimately made such a low odds gamble, because many people felt that it would purely
be a waste of Genesis jade...
Boom!
Two torrents of fire and water spurted out from the giant stone dragon mouths, ultimately meeting on
the stone stage. The two forces crashed into each other, creating a pocket of extreme cold and heat from
which steam instantly rose.
2261
On the stone stage now filled with fire and water, a figure silently sat.
This figure naturally belonged to Zhou Yuan.
In contrast to how he had let out a piercing shriek each time the fire and water Qi surged towards him a
month ago, after a month of being subjected to this tempering, Zhou Yuan had gradually accustomed
himself to it.
Although the pain was still unbearable, he was ultimately able to endure it.
Boundless fire and water Qi endlessly burrowed into his body, converging under his skin as they
continued to slowly sink in and temper his body...
Zhou Yuan’s eyes were currently shut, several clear lines visible on his bare upper body. Although no
bulging muscles could be seen, every tremble of his flesh and skin seemed to contain an extremely
explosive power.
Zhou Yuan’s skin in particular had a faint jade hue. Jade light seemed to flow upon it, making it appear
glossy and sleek, as if a tiny flick would crack it.
Only those with powerful senses would be able to feel just how tough and unbreakable this layer of jade
skin was.
If one took a closer look, one would discover small dark specks under Zhou Yuan’s jade like skin, a sign
that it was not fully complete.
Fire and water Qi flowed within his skin, continuously tempering it. The residual specks left behind were
the most stubborn impurities inside his skin that were evidently not going to be easily cleared away.
Zhou Yuan’s tightly shut eyes slowly cracked open at this moment.
He glanced at this skin as a small frown arose on his face. After more than a month of tempering, his little
Mythic Saint Body was on the verge of attaining the first level jade skin stage.
However, these final impurities seemed to have also grown accustomed to the fire and water Qi. With the
current intensity, it was going to be somewhat difficult to remove them.
Of course, these impurities would eventually be removed as long as he continued to expose them to
tempering of the fire and water Qi. However, with the chief disciple selection fast approaching, what Zhou
Yuan lacked the most was time.
“I need to increase the intensity of the fire and water Qi…”
A determined look flitted across Zhou Yuan’s eyes. He then lifted his head and looked towards old Xuan
on the cliff as he shouted, “Elder, can you raise the water and fire Qi by one level?”
2262
There were a total of eighteen stone scales on the heads of the stone dragons and each one that lighted up
represented an increase of one level. Old Xuan had previously mentioned that back when patriarch Cang
Xuan was still around, he would place the water and fire Qi at the highest level at all times.
What’s more, even the highest eighteenth level would only feel a little cozy to patriarch Cang Xuan.
Of course, that was only so to an existence like patriarch Cang Xuan. As for Zhou Yuan, even the weakest
first level was already a torturous and painful experience.
It had not been easy for him to slowly accustom himself to it, and the decision to challenge a higher level
at this point required no small amount of courage from him.
Hence, the lounging old Xuan was taken aback when he heard this request. He stared at Zhou Yuan’s
figure in shock and said, “Are you sure, little fellow? The second level of water and fire Qi is going to be
several times stronger than the first.”
The pain from being tempered by this water and fire Qi would surely be even more frightening than
before.
Zhou Yuan did not reply, the unwavering look of determination in his eyes already telling old Xuan his
answer. As the old man gazed upon the youth, a look of appreciation involuntarily rose within his eyes.
Such willpower and courage was indeed quite extraordinary.
“Since you have the resolve, this old man will naturally fulfil your request.” A ripple spread with a sudden
sweep of the broom in his hand. Next, one could only watch as the second unlighted scale on the stone
dragon heads slowly began to brighten.
Rumble!
The land began to shake at this moment. Zhou Yuan could clearly feel two extremely vigorous Genesis Qi
undulations echoing from giant cliffs that the two stone dragons were coiled around.
“Be careful, it’s coming. If you can’t endure, make sure you quickly get out of there!” Cautioned old Xuan.
Huu.
Zhou Yuan took a deep breath, his entire body tensing up as jade light flowed on his skin.
Rumble!
The glow of water and fire appeared from the mouths of the stone dragons on both sides. In the next
instant, two enormous torrents of fire and water blasted out.
2263
The moment the fire and water Qi appeared, it felt as if half the place had turned hot, while the other half
was filled with a freezing cold.
The magnitude was on a completely different scale.
Ch ch!
Two giant jets of fire and water Qi blasted out, and collided on the tempering dragon stage,
simultaneously engulfing Zhou Yuan’s body from the left and right.
Hss!
Indescribable intense pain flooded through him, causing Zhou Yuan to violently suck in a breath of cold
air. Half of his body felt as if it was boiling, while the other half felt as if it had been instantly frozen...
He did not dare to even hesitate and immediately started circulating the little Mythic Saint Body
cultivation method.
Fire and water Qi churned around him, piercing into his flesh and blood, the majority surging towards his
skin.
Water and fire Qi rapidly spun under Zhou Yuan’s skin, as if trying to melt and freeze it away. From a
distance, he was merely a silhouette wrapped by fire and water.
Within the water and fire, a figure trembled violently.
A grave look rose in old Xuan’s eyes as he watched, prepared to interfere at any time to stop Zhou Yuan
from being melted away by the water and fire Qi...
Fortunately, although old Xuan could sense the figure violently trembling inside the water and fire, the
figure’s life force did not weaken, but instead grew increasingly powerful.
Water and fire continued to churn around the figure for an incense stick of time.
Until a certain moment, when the surrounding Genesis Qi suddenly shuddered, before rapidly receding
like the tide, converging towards the stone stage where Zhou Yuan was seated.
The water and fire around him gradually faded away, revealing his bare upper body.
The surrounding Genesis Qi madly surged over at this moment, as it was swiftly devoured by Zhou Yuan’s
skin...
The entire place seemed to fall silent for an instant.
A split second later.
2264
Zhou Yuan’s tightly shut eyes abruptly opened as a dazzling jade glow burst out from the surface of his
body. A warm and pure jade like luster covered every inch of his skin.
All the tiny dark specks within the jade glow from before completely disappeared at this moment.
His skin was now akin to a perfect and flawless piece of white jade.
Zhou Yuan lowered his head to look at his jade like skin, emotion rippling in his eyes as his hands slowly
clenched. Even without circulating any Genesis Qi, there was already a dreadful power gathering inside
his body.
After more than a month of painful training, Zhou Yuan had finally reached the jade skin stage of the little
Mythic Saint Body...
2265
Atop the tempering dragon stage, Zhou Yuan was widely grinning from ear to ear. A warm jade glow
emanated from his body, making him a rather eye-catching sight when paired with his slim body and
delicate features.
Of course, Zhou Yuan was not someone who was overly concerned about his appearance. Instead, he was
more interested in the overwhelming power secretly surging inside his body like a giant flood.
His five fingers slowly closed. Even without circulating any Genesis Qi, he could feel a strong force swiftly
gathering, a force that originated from his flesh.
This was a feeling Zhou Yuan had never felt before.
After all, he had never practiced any real outer cultivation techniques. This was his first time he had
developed the power of his body.
According to Zhou Yuan’s estimates, even though his cultivation was still at the fourth layer Alpha-Origin
stage, with the power of the little Mythic Saint Body, he now possessed the qualifications to tackle Yang
Xuan in a direct fight without borrowing the strength of the Heavenly Yuan Brush.
After all, achieving the jade skin stage had not only vastly improved Zhou Yuan’s strength, but also
bestowed him with strong defensive powers. Simply put, it would be very difficult for Yang Xuan to break
through Zhou Yuan’s current defenses without a Heaven Genesis Weapon.
Various emotions churned in Zhou Yuan’s heart, only slowly calming after a long time. With a thought, the
flowing jade light on his skin gradually receded, withdrawing deep into his body.
His toes pushed off the stage, his figure leaping into the air, and landing on the cliff.
However, he was clearly still rather unaccustomed to his new found strength. As a result, the rocks on the
ground where he landed were shattered and crushed, leaving behind deep footprints.
“Not bad, you managed to achieve the first level jade skin stage in roughly a month.” Old Xuan nodded,
evidently very satisfied by Zhou Yuan’s progress.
“Ordinary speaking, a normal person would take a year to reach this stage, and that’s only if he or she has
numerous precious Genesis resources to nourish the body.”
“It’s all thanks to elder’s guidance.” Zhou Yuan’s eyes were filled with gratitude as he cupped his fists
together at old Xuan. If not for the latter’s advice, Zhou Yuan would not have chosen the little Mythic Saint
Body.
2266
Without the little Mythic Saint Body, the Taiyi Green Wood Mark would not be able to bring out its true
potential either.
Old Xuan waved his hand and said, “If you lacked the willpower, you would have failed to endure on the
water and fire tempering dragon stage. If so, it would not matter how much guidance I give.”
Old Xuan clearly understood the pain one had to endure on the water and fire tempering dragon stage.
What’s more, as someone who was attempting an external cultivation technique for the first time, Zhou
Yuan had surely experienced terrifying pain. However, he ultimately managed to persevere, even having
the charisma and courage to raise the intensity a level. In the end, he succeeded in pushing the little
Mythic Saint Body to the jade skin stage.
Truthfully speaking, even old Xuan quite admired his boldness.
“There’s still some time till the chief disciple selection, and I intend to make good use of it by training
here. I hope that elder won’t be too bothered.” Zhou Yuan grinned. Although he had achieved the jade
skin stage, his ambitions clearly did not stop here.
Old Xuan glanced at Zhou Yuan in surprise, evidently not expecting him to be so ambitious. To think that
he planned on challenging even greater heights… the pain that awaited him was going to be several times
greater than what it was now.
Old Xuan slowly said, “Since you have the resolve, this old sack of bones will naturally be unafraid of
guiding you through this mountain path.”
Zhou Yuan was overjoyed by this response. After all, he definitely required old Xuan help in order to get
to the water and fire tempering dragon stage. Otherwise, it would be far too risky to recklessly enter the
sealed area himself.
Zhou Yuan innocently scratched his head as he awkwardly said, “There’s also something else I hope elder
can aid me with…”
“Speak.”
“Can you spare some time to take me to that Dragon Scale Chinese Scholar Tree again… I’ve used up all
the tree scales from before, and practicing the little Mythic Saint Body for the past month has drained the
single Taiyi Green Wood Mark I have.”
Upon hearing this, old Xuan immediately shot a sullen glance at Zhou Yuan. “You’re really a little too
ballsy. Do you genuinely feel that the Dragon Scale Chinese Scholar Tree is your cultivation resource
warehouse?”
2267
Zhou Yuan let out an embarrassed chuckle. He too felt quite helpless about this situation. Practicing the
Taiyi Green Wood Mark required rich Yimu Qi, but he currently lacked the means to secure sufficient
ancient wood.
Hence, he could only place his hopes on the Dragon Scale Chinese Scholar Tree.
And to harvest its tree scales, old Xuan’s protection was absolutely crucial.
Old Xuan helplessly sighed under Zhou Yuan’s pleading gaze, before turning around to leave with his
broom.
“Fine, as the saying goes, one should help till the end. Since I’ve already helped you so much, a little more
wouldn’t hurt. Go back today and rest, I’ll bring you to chop some tree scales tomorrow…”
“Let’s hope that violent tree won’t go crazy.”
Zhou Yuan was overjoyed. He hurriedly caught up and snatched away old Xuan’s broom with a fawning
expression.
“Elder is truly a good person. I’ll help you carry this so you won’t become too tired.”
Zhou Yuan’s attitude made old Xuan unsure whether he should laugh or cry. He could only shake his head
and play along with the little fellow.
After leaving the sealed area, Zhou Yuan bid his goodbyes to old Xuan, before soaring into the air on his
Genesis Qi. He passed by several peaks, and eventually arrived in front of his cave dwelling.
His figure descended as he somewhat tiredly stretched his back. Although spending an entire day
tempering his body did not exhaust his vital energy, the mental stress due to the intense pain still took
quite a toll on him.
Moments after he landed, however, his eyes suddenly paused as he caught sight of a figure anxiously
walking to and fro in front of his cave dwelling. The figure seemed to be about to call out into the cave
several times, only to shrink back time and time again.
“What is it?”
Zhou Yuan’s voice rang out. He had recognized the visitor as a disciple from the same faction, though not
a very well known one.
The disciple hurriedly jerked his head around upon hearing the voice. His eyes immediately lit up with
joy at the sight of Zhou Yuan, as he hastily ran over and said, “You’re back at last senior brother Zhou
Yuan! Quick, you’ve got to go save Shen Wanjin!”
“Shen Wanjin?” Zhou Yuan was taken aback, before he soon began to frown. “What’s going on?”
2268
The disciple sighed and answered, “I believe senior brother Zhou Yuan should be aware of what the
atmosphere has been like recently in our Saint Genesis Peak.”
Zhou Yuan nodded. Due to the fast approaching chief disciple selection, the atmosphere over Saint
Genesis Peak had turned exceptionally tense, mainly because of Lu Hong’s faction.
Lu Hong’s disciples were basically acting as if the chief disciple position was already theirs. In their
opinion, they would surely become the master faction of Saint Genesis Peak in the near future.
Once they became the master faction, their status would increase. In contrast, the other two factions
would be reduced to mere secondary factions, creating a rift of status between the former and the latter.
As a result, Lu Hong’s faction had gradually grown more and more arrogant and unbridled over the past
month.
The disciples of the other two factions were naturally very irritated by this change in attitude. As such,
the number of conflicts in Saint Genesis Peak was even greater than it had been in the past six months
combined.
“While we were training on a cultivation platform today, one of Lu Hong’s disciples was accidentally
struck by stray strike from the spar between Shen Wanjin and someone else. In the end, a huge group of
Lu Hong’s disciples chased us away and captured Shen Wanjin, refusing to let him go no matter what we
said.”
“The one leading them was Wu Hai…”
“Wu Hai?” Zhou Yuan’s eyes narrowed slightly. He had heard this name before. Wu Hai was quite famous
in Lu Hong’s faction, and was also one of the six participants in the upcoming chief disciple selection.
However, why would someone like that make things difficult for a bunch of ordinary disciples?
“Shen Wanjin is quite timid, and is not one to provoke others. And yet Wu Hai and gang were clearly
targeting him…” Zhou Yuan softly chuckled. “It seems that they have an ulterior motive.”
In Saint Genesis Peak, there was no one who did not know that Zhou Yuan had close ties with Shen
Wanjin. Instead of going after others, Lu Hong’s disciples were clearly focused on Shen Wanjin… the
implication behind this was obvious. They were after Zhou Yuan himself.
As for Shen Wanjin, he had merely been implicated.
The disciple nodded with a bitter smile when he heard this, and said in a hushed voice, “Wu Hai said to
you have to personally go over to claim Shen Wanjin back. If you do not arrive by sun down, he will throw
Shen Wanjin off the mountain.”
Zhou Yuan could not help but chuckle. Lu Hong’s faction had truly become quite arrogant recently.
2269
“Senior brother Zhou Yuan, shall I go inform senior brother Zhou Tai first?” Asked the disciple in a
hesitant manner. He had also guess that the other party was after Zhou Yuan, and was afraid the latter
would not be able to handle the situation.
Zhou Yuan waved his hand.
“There’s no rush, I’ll go and have a look first.”
With a wave of his sleeve, Genesis Qi rose from under his feet as he soared into the air.
“I’m interested to see just how capable this Wu Hai thinks he is to dare to throw my friend down from the
mountain!”
A faint voice echoed, tinged with a trace of iciness.
To think that Lu Hong’s faction had already grown so arrogant. Did they really believe that they would
definitely win the chief disciple selection?
2270
Chapter 449 Wu Hai
Saint Genesis Peak.
A certain cultivation platform on one of the peaks.
Quite a crowd had already gathered here, while more and more figures were arriving from all directions
and landing nearby.
The new arrivals had clearly split themselves into three different groups. The group with the greatest
presence was completely made up of Lu Hong’s disciples. At this current time, all of them wore mocking
expressions as they looked to the front, while occasionally bursting into loud laughter as they talked.
They clearly showed no respect for the other two groups.
As a faction originally from Sword Cometh Peak, they were already looking down on the sorry Saint
Genesis Peak even before coming here. In addition, the chief disciple selection was just around the corner.
Once this important event was over, their faction would become the master faction of Saint Genesis Peak,
making their status surpass the other two factions.
Thus, under Lu Hong’s indulgence, his disciples had gradually grown more and more arrogant ever since
the list of participants had been announced.
For the past month, most of the conflicts between Saint Genesis Peak disciples had started because of Lu
Hong’s faction, and to make matters worse, the majority of these disagreements had ended up with Lu
Hong’s side as the victors. After all, regardless of whether it was quantity or quality, Lu Hong’s faction
was indeed number one in Saint Genesis Peak.
Their repeated victories in these small squabbles only served to further fueled the embers of arrogance in
Lu Hong’s faction… in this brief period of a month, it was as if Saint Genesis Peak was filled with
gunpowder, even the slightest spark could cause an explosion.
At the front of Lu Hong’s numerous disciples stood a youth in blue with his hands behind his back. He
wore a purple sash around his waist, his expression appearing rather cold and stern. His brows were like
blades that gave off a cold and haughty aura.
This person was called Wu Hai, and was quite well known in Lu Hong’s faction. In fact, he was among one
of the six chosen participants to participate in the chief disciple selection. From this information, one
could tell just how powerful he was.
Wu Hao cast an indifferent glance to the side where Shen Wanjin was being physically restrained by
several disciples. From his bloodied and batter face, it was clear that he had suffered quite a bit.
2271
“Shen Wanjin, it seems that Zhou Yuan is a coward. I can’t believe he doesn’t even dare to protect his
brother.” A mocking smile rose from the corners of Wu Hai’s lips.
There was a bitter look on Shen Wanjin’s face as he replied in deferential manner, “Senior brother Wu
Hai, there’s no need for a great man like you to lower yourself to the same level as a small fry like myself.
I’ve apologized earlier, and I really did hit your junior sister by mistake. How about I add in a little
Genesis jade as compensation too?”
Wu Hao chuckled and said, “Compensation? That sounds like a good idea. A hundred thousand Genesis
jade pieces will do.”
The surrounding disciples roared in laughter.
Shen Wanjin smiled awkwardly as he replied, “Senior brother Wu Hai, I’m merely a lowly black sash
disciple, where can I possibly find so much Genesis jade.”
Wu Hai’s eyes slowly turned frosty. “Since you don’t have it, shut your mouth. If Zhou Yuan does not
personally come here to collect you before sundown, I’ll throw you down the mountain.”
“Relax, you won’t die, though you’ll probably break half the bones in your body.”
Shen Wanjin hurriedly opened his mouth to speak again.
*Slap*!
However, Wu Hai suddenly swung his palm, sending a force ripping through the air and loudly slapping
onto Shen Wanjin’s soft face. A fresh red hand print immediately appeared.
Wu Hai icily said, “Shut up.”
Shen Wanjin’s fists tightened for a moment as anger flitted across the depths of his eyes. In the end, he
slowly lowered his head.
Wu Hai was not someone the likes of him could afford to offend.
Upon seeing this, Wu Hai let out an icy chuckle as he crossed his arms. He was dying to see whether Zhou
Yuan dared to come today. If he did not, Wu Hai would spread word of what had happened, causing Zhou
Yuan to lose all face. After all, how capable could someone who could not even protect his dear brother
be?
Some distance away was a group of Shen Taiyuan’s disciples. Their eyes also flashed with anger when
they saw Shen Wanjin being beaten as they stared daggers at Wu Hai.
However, they did not dare to take action. Ordinary disciples like them could not take on someone like
Wu Hai afterall.
2272
“Quick, go find senior brother Zhou Tai or Zhang Yan…”
“Someone has already gone to find them.”
“What about senior brother Zhou Yuan?”
“No response… it seems that no one has found him yet.”
“Tch, he can’t have hidden away because he has already caught wind of this matter, right? Shen Wanjin
has done so many things for him, does he not care now that his brother is in trouble?”
“I’m afraid that it will be useless even if he came. Wu Hai is no ordinary individual…”
“……”
These disciples whispered among themselves, clearly quite panicked about the situation. If Shen Wanjin
was really thrown down the mountain by Wu Hai, it would be a big slap on their faction’s face.
At another corner of the place was elder Lu Song’s disciples. Quite a number of them were already
gathered here, but since it was a conflict between Lu Hong and Shen Taiyuan’s faction, they naturally did
not interfere.
Swish!
Several figures flew over and landed in the area where Lu Song’s disciples were. A pretty figure was
revealed, that familiar slender body and long, slim legs could not belong to anyone else but Lu Yan.
She was evidently also aware of the situation. She looked towards Wu Hai and frowned as she said, “Has
Zhou Yuan shown up?”
A disciple nearby answered, “Not yet.”
Lu Yan’s lips curled. “Not showing up is rational. Wu Hai is clearly targeting him. That Shen Wanjin is
merely an excuse.”
If her guess was correct, Wu Hai was likely on orders to probe Zhou Yuan, because the upcoming chief
disciple selection was just far too important for Lu Hong. Thus, even the lowest odds participant like
Zhou Yuan was not neglected by Lu Hong. He intended to find out everything about Zhou Yuan such as to
prevent any surprises from happening.
As such, Zhou Yuan being a no show would instead cause Wu Hai to fail in his mission.
However, even though Lu Yan knew this, she still shook her head in disappointment. Wouldn’t Zhou Yuan
be a little too cunning and heartless if he could restrain himself even at such a time?
2273
Everyone present were youths at their prime, who would naturally view such tolerance as weakness
instead.
“Senior sister, shall we take action? Lu Hong’s faction is becoming more and more arrogant.” Said a
disciple in an indignant tone.
Lu Yan fell silent for a moment, before she said, “Let’s wait a little longer. It’s almost sundown, and if Zhou
Yuan still doesn’t appear till the end, I will move to save Shen Wanjin.”
They were currently in a temporary alliance with Shen Taiyuan’s faction. Hence, since she had seen it, she
would naturally not stand by and let Lu Hong’s faction grow even more unbridled.
The sun slowly descended as the three groups waited.
However, Zhou Yuan was still not appearing.
Wu Hai could not help but shake his head. A disdainful smile rose from the corners of his mouth as he
said to Shen Wanjin, “It seems that you’ve been abandoned. What a pitiful worm.”
Next, he waved his hand with cold, indifferent eyes.
“Since Zhou Yuan is so heartless, there’s no need for us to hold back. Throw him down.”
The disciples grabbing Shen Wanjin immediately grinned upon hearing this. Regardless of how violently
Shen Taiyuan struggled, they lifted him up and threw him off the cliff.
“Stop!” Shen Taiyuan’s disciples hastily shouted, but no one paid any attention to them.
Shen Wanjin’s figure was thrown as he let out a miserable shriek.
Lu Yan shook her head in disappointment. Looks like Zhou Yuan had also guessed Wu Hai’s objective, and
had thus chosen not to make an appearance.
“Zhou Yuan’s morality appears to be a little questionable.”
She indifferently said, before moving to catch Shen Wanjin’s falling body.
Swish!
However, a split second before she could take action, the sound of rushing wind was suddenly heard. One
could only watch as a flash of black zipped across the horizon, before embedding itself into the cliff wall.
Snow-white hairs transformed into ropes that wrapped around Shen Wanjin’s waist, catching him as he
jerked and began swaying from side to side.
2274
Countless gazes looked over. They saw a black brush embedded into the cliff, its snow-white brush hairs
extended to wrap around Shen Wanjin.
The familiar black brush immediately caused a series of gasp to ring out.
“So he was unable to restrain himself in the end.” Wu Hai softly chuckled, before raising his head. A
Genesis Qi cloud was rapidly approaching from some distance away. In the end, it landed on the
cultivation platform under the innumerable watching gazes.
There was a slim figure on the Genesis Qi cloud. Who else could it be but Zhou Yuan!
“Senior brother Zhou Yuan!” The disciples from Shen Taiyuan’s faction immediately cried out in joy,
before worry quickly appeared in their eyes. Since Zhou Yuan had appeared, the other party would not
easily let things go today.
“I had thought you would continue hiding in your turtle shell.” A wide grin was plastered over Wu Hai’s
face. However, there was no warmth in his smile, only mockery.
“It’s wonderful that you’re willing to show yourself. Your friend hurt my junior sister, but since he
couldn’t pay a hundred thousand Genesis jade, you can settle the debt on his behalf…”
Wu Hai cocked his head, staring at Zhou Yuan as he continued, “I believe you will obediently hand over
the compensation, right?”
“Elder Lu Hong sent you to feel me out, right?” There was a faint smile on Zhou Yuan’s face.
Wu Hai’s eyes narrowed slightly. “For the likes of you?”
Zhou Yuan shook his head, no intention on continuing this discussion as he displayed two fingers instead.
“Twenty thousand? That’s not enough.” Said Wu Hai.
Zhou Yuan sighed, before his voice rang out on the cultivation platform.
“I’m saying that you have two options…”
“Either you voluntarily jump down from here…”
“Or, I break your legs, and then throw you down.”
“So which will you choose?”
Little by little, the smile on Wu Hai’s face turned rigid.
2275
Wind blew across the cultivation platform.
Countless gazes were stupefied as they stared at the young figure that had just landed, clearly stunned by
Zhou Yuan’s earlier words.
No one had expected that Zhou Yuan would not only show no indication of being submissive towards the
clearly trouble seeking Wu Hai, but instead retort in an even more uncompromising manner.
One must know that Wu Hai was ranked among the top five in Lu Hong’s faction!
Shen Taiyuan’s disciples looked at each other. Zhou Yuan was usually quite a good-natured person, but
the current Zhou Yuan clearly had nothing to do with good-natured at all.
However… though such an uncompromising approach felt great, it would only serve to make Wu Hai
angrier.
“His balls aren’t small at all.”
Lu Yan stared at this scene in a dazed manner, before she softly exhaled. It seems that she was the one
who had been wrong earlier. Zhou Yuan obviously did not know the meaning of fear.
“Although he has courage and backbone, these alone will not solve the problem. His words have only
made this matter even more irreconcilable.”
The disciples beside Lu Yan nodded in agreement. “Zhou Yuan truly is someone who refuses to take a
loss.”
“Senior sister, will you still step in later?”
Lu Yan crossed her arms as she pondered. She stared at Zhou Yuan and jokingly said, “On account that his
bravery has surprised me, I will lend my aid when the situation becomes disadvantageous for him later.”
The fact that Zhou Yuan had been unafraid to take Wu Hai’s bait had surprised her a little. Hence, she did
not mind lending a hand at the right moment.
Of course, she felt that she should first let Zhou Yuan suffer a little. Though he was talented, he was
admittedly a little too prideful. She planned to let Wu Hai first teach him that a sharp tongue alone would
not be able to change anything.
Under numerous astonished gazes, the smile on Wu Hai’s face completely receded. A playful look rose
from the corners of his lips as he glared at Zhou Yuan.
2276
Wu Hai slightly tilted his head to look at the numerous disciple behind him as he chuckled and asked,
“Did you guys hear what he said earlier?”
The disciples burst into laughter.
“It seems that he has gone crazy due to anger…”
“Does he believe senior brother Wu Hai is anything like the opponents he faced before?”
“Well you have to admit he has a little courage, though it’s kind of wasted when paired with such
stupidity.”
“……”
The gazes of Lu Hong’s disciples were filled with mockery, not a single one treating Zhou Yuan seriously
at all, because the one standing in front them belonged to the highest class in their faction.
Zhou Yuan’s expression remained impassive in the face of their laughter. With a flick, Shen Wanjin’s
figure was lifted by the snow-white hairs and sent behind the former.
“Are you alright?” Zhou Yuan shot a glance at him.
Shen Wanjin foolishly scratched his head as he said in embarrassment, “I’m alright little Yuan Bro, how
about we quickly escape from here?”
Zhou Yuan did not reply, his gaze merely pausing on the glaringly red hand print on the former’s face. His
eyes turned even icier, before he waved at Shen Wanjin.
“You stand back first.”
Shen Wanjin could only let out a bitter laugh. He clearly wanted to say something more, but ultimately
swallowed the words back into his stomach. In the end, he looked at Zhou Yuan’s back with deep
gratitude.
How could he not know that Zhou Yuan intended to stand up for him.
Although Shen Wanjin was quite a thick skinned person that did not really mind that he had been
humiliated, he could not help but sniff a little when he looked towards Zhou Yuan’s back at this moment.
Zhou Yuan lifted his head, staring at Wu Hai as he chuckled, “Have you made your decision?”
Wu Hao also laughed, as he extended a finger and waved it at Zhou Yuan. “Brat… you’re quite the
interesting one.”
Boom!
2277
In the next instant, vigorous Genesis Qi abruptly swept out from Wu Hai’s body like a storm, forcing
numerous of the surrounding disciples to take several steps back.
A powerful Genesis Qi pressure pulsed from him.
This pressure was not the slightest bit weaker than Yang Xuan in the Black Flame Province. In fact, it even
felt a little stronger.
Wu Hai’s expression turned ice-cold as the corners of his lips rose at a disdainful angle. “Fool!”
His five fingers reached out and suddenly clenched.
One could only watch as Genesis Qi dashed into the sky, transforming into several hundred sword
shadows. Sharp and deadly sword aura rippled, causing everyone to feel a chill run down their spines.
Swish! Swish!
Several hundred Genesis Qi sword shadows shot forth like bolts of lightning, thrusting directly towards
Zhou Yuan’s fatal spots at extremely fast speeds.
Every single sword shadow would terrify a sixth layer disciple, and with several hundred of them
together, even a seventh layer would not dare to underestimate this attack.
“Senior brother Wu Hai has attacked. Looks like he’s really angry.” Lu Hong’s disciples could not help but
smile when they saw this.
In contrast, looks of worry rose on the faces of the nearby Shen Taiyuan disciples.
Swoosh! Swoosh!
As the sword shadows zipped through air, Zhou Yuan finally began to move. His figure swiftly turned
ethereal as he dashed forward like a wisp of smoke.
Ch ch!
The sword shadows brushed past this wisp of smoke, leaving deep sword gorges in the solid ground
below.
Zhou Yuan was as swift as a phantom, avoiding all of the sword shadows in a flash.
Upon seeing this, Wu Hai raised his eyes and moved his finger.
Even more Genesis Qi sword shadows filled the sky and began shooting towards Zhou Yuan.
Beside Lu Yan, a disciple asked as he watched, “Senior sister, can Zhou Yuan withstand this barrage?”
2278
Lu Yan replied, “Without that Heaven Genesis Weapon, Zhou Yuan will not be Wu Hai’s match in a direct
clash. Although he may be able to avoid the attacks, he will not be able to keep this up for long.”
“Once he shows an opening, Wu Hai’s attacks will drown him like a storm.”
“At the end of the day, his Genesis Qi cultivation is lower… this is his fatal weakness.”
At this point, she felt that it was such a pity. If Zhou Yuan’s Genesis Qi cultivation rose again, he may
perhaps really become a dark horse in the chief disciples selection.
Unfortunately, he was currently still lacking.
Pch pch!
Countless sword shadows darted towards the smoke like figure as it slipped forward, instantly piercing
numerous holes in the ground.
Zhou Yuan raised his head and looked towards the mockingly smiling Wu Hai nearby. The former’s eyes
narrowed slightly as a faint jade glow appeared from his skin.
Thump!
His foot smashed into the ground, cracking it as his figure swiftly shot towards Wu Hai.
It was an abrupt and rapid increase in speed!
Sword shadow after sword shadow descended, but not a single one was able to keep up with Zhou Yuan.
“Oh? Increased your speed huh?” Wu Hai merely sneered as his hands suddenly came together.
Vigorous Genesis Qi gathered, creating a three foot long sword in front of him. Lightning seemed to curl
around its blade as thunder boomed from it.
“Lightning Sword Shadow!”
Wu Hai swung his palm as the lightning sword whistled forward, leaving a sonic boom in its wake.
The reflection of the lightning sword rapidly grew in Zhou Yuan’s eyes. However, he showed no signs of
dodging, only calmness visible on his face as he reached out to grab at the lightning sword.
“You’re courting death!” A sinister smile rose on Wu Hai’s face.
“Idiot!” Lu Yan could not help but cry out as well, her expression changing slightly. She never imagined
that Zhou Yuan would not only not use his Heaven Genesis Weapon, but even dare to meet Wu Hai’s
Genesis technique with his bare hand.
2279
Pch!
Amidst countless gasps, Zhou Yuan’s hand finally reached the lightning sword, his five fingers stretching
out to enclose around the sword’s tip.
Many disciples could not help but close their eyes. They could already see Zhou Yuan’s entire hand being
sliced a split second later.
Pchla!
Hand and sword finally met, causing sparks to fly. However, Wu Hai’s twisted smile suddenly froze at this
moment, as his pupils abruptly shrank.
He had failed to see any blood spattering. Zhou Yuan’s hand had firmly caught the tip of the lightning
sword, as if the formidable sword aura from it was completely ineffective against him.
*Creak*!
The lightning sword was unable to escape Zhou Yuan’s hand no matter how it struggled.
“What?!” Numerous cries of alarm and shock immediately rang out on the cultivation platform.
Lu Yan was also stunned, an inconceivable look emerging on her pretty face.
She could not believe it. Even without the power of his Heaven Genesis Weapon, Zhou Yuan was able to
grab Wu Hai’s deadly attack with his bare hand?
Crack!
Under the numerous astonished gazes, jade light surged on Zhou Yuan’s hand as he suddenly tightened
his grip, forcefully crushing the lightning sword without a single change in his expression.
Swish!
In the next instant, his body dashed forward once again and appeared in front of Wu Hai.
Zhou Yuan was expressionless as his five fingers clenched into a fist and punched.
Jade light blossomed from his entire arm, while the Genesis Qi in his body roared like a flood.
A terrifying power abruptly erupted like a volcano.
The faint sound of cracking was heard from the space around it as the punch blasted through the air.
All of Wu Hai’s hairs stood on end as he hastily formed a hand seal. Genesis Qi immediately whizzed out,
rapidly forming countless layers of Genesis Qi defenses in front of him.
2280
Crang!
However, these defenses were instantly crumbled in the face of Zhou Yuan’s fist.
All the defenses were shattered before a single breath could be taken.
Boom!
Next, a piercing sonic boom was heard as Zhou Yuan’s fist slammed into Wu Hai’s chest.
Zhou Yuan’s expression was still unchanged.
In contrast, horror surged in Wu Hai’s eyes.
Thump!
A ripple that could be seen with the naked eye unfurled. Under countless shocked and horrified gazes, Wu
Hai vomited a mouthful of blood as his body was sent flying like a cannonball.
Thump! Thump! Thump!
The ground was ripped apart.
In the end, Wu Hai crashed into the wall of a cliff. Cracks spread across the entire cliff, causing it to fall
apart, the falling rubble burying his body.
The entire place was deathly silent.
The jade light slowly receded as Zhou Yuan lifted his head to look at the now collapsed cliff. He grinned as
a soft voice echoed.
“Idiot…”
“I already told you to jump down yourself…”
“What a waste of my time.”
2281
Chapter 451 The Uncompromising Zhou Yuan
Deep rends had been torn open on the cultivation platform, making it an exceptionally wretched sight. At
the end of these rends, a cliff continued to crumble, as boulders tumbled down.
The entire place was completely silent.
Every gaze stared at the tumbling boulders in a dazed manner.
Lu Hong’s disciples had been laughing just moments ago, thus their smiles were still currently frozen on
their faces, creating an extremely comical scene.
The faces of Shen Taiyuan’s disciples had been filled with panic at the sight of Zhou Yuan attempting to
grab at Wu Hai’s lightning sword with his bare hand, only to find Wu Hai being sent flying a split second
later...
The disciples around Lu Yan had likewise fallen silent, even Lu Yan herself dazedly staring at the young
figure who was still in his punching posture.
Everyone had not expected Zhou Yuan’s counter attack to be so ferocious.
“How can this be?” Mumbled Lu Yan.
Her eyes were filled with bewilderment. From what she could sense, Zhou Yuan’s Genesis Qi undulations
had barely grown any stronger than before. So why? Why had such a terrifying power exploded from his
earlier punch?
Although Wu Hai had admittedly been somewhat caught off-guard by Zhou Yuan’s sudden explosion of
power at the final moment, the layers of Genesis Qi defenses created by the former should still have been
capable of easily defending against any attacks below the eighth layer.
And yet, all of these defensive layers had appeared as frail as paper in the face of Zhou Yuan’s punch.
Moreover, Zhou Yuan had not even used his Heaven Genesis Weapon. That black brush of his was still
embedded in the cliff wall.
From the information released by the Mission Hall about the Black Flame Province mission, Zhou Yuan
had only been able to contend against the Sacred Palace’s Yang Xuan due to his Heaven Genesis Weapon.
Without it, the former could not possibly have been a match for the half step into eighth layer Yang Xuan.
But… Zhou Yuan had not used his Heaven Genesis Weapon in this fight!
Lu Yan’s gaze was tightly glued to Zhou Yuan. She could faintly sense that though the latter’s Genesis Qi
undulations were the same as before, there was something different about him.
2282
Under the numerous stunned gazes, Zhou Yuan slowly withdrew his fist as his glowing skin gradually
returned to normal.
A look of amazement flitted across his eyes as he lowered his head to look at his fist. The little Mythic
Saint Body was tyrannical indeed. Though he had just achieved the jade skin level, the amplified power it
gave had already reached very alarming levels.
The jade skin combined with his Genesis Qi gave him the power to directly face initial eighth layer
opponents.
As for Wu Hai, he had likely just barely reached the initial eighth layer stage.
Due to his carelessness, he had allowed Zhou Yuan to close in and deliver a punch that contained all of the
power of his body and Genesis Qi. To be honest, Wu Hai deserved to be blasted away by the punch.
Most practitioners would make sure to keep their distance against an external cultivator with Genesis Qi
attacks, because these external cultivators would only be able to bring out the superiority of their strong
physical bodies at close range.
Zhou Yuan raised his head and looked towards the crumbling cliff, before his figure moved and appeared
amidst the rubble. With a wave of his sleeve, Genesis Qi swept forth to blow the shattered rock away.
As the rock was blown away, the buried figure underneath was revealed.
Wu Hai was drenched in blood, making him an extremely pitiful sight. However, his eyes were still open
as he glared at Zhou Yuan. Unfortunately, the former was unable to circulate any Genesis Qi due to Zhou
Yuan’s ferocious punch from earlier.
There was only indifference in Zhou Yuan’s gaze as he looked down from above and said, “You’re the one
who hit Shen Wanjin’s face earlier?”
Wu Hai icily retorted, “Don’t be too happy Zhou Yuan! I was merely caught off-guard earlier!”
However, Zhou Yuan ignored him, merely extending his hand and swinging it.
*Slap*!
Genesis Qi whizzed forth, transforming into a palm that viciously slapped Wu Hai’s face, causing a sharp
and clear slap to echo.
A fresh, glaring red palm print appeared on Wu Hai’s face.
Wu Hai seemed to have been knocked silly by Zhou Yuan’s slap, but quickly returned to his senses a split
second later. A hideous look immediately arose on his face as he roared, “You dare to slap me?!”
2283
He was normally such an untouchable and high up existence in Lu Hong’s faction that enjoyed flattery
from everyone. Never in his wildest dreams would he have imagined that Zhou Yuan would actually dare
to slap him in public!
*Slap*!
However, the only response he received was another slap.
“Zhou Yuan, I’m going to kill you!”
*Slap*!
“Bastard, you’re dead!”
*Slap*!
*Slap*!
Before Wu Hai could make any noise, Zhou Yuan sent yet another slap at the former, the loud and clear
sound continuously echoing without being broken.
Around the cultivation platform, the disciples from the three factions were dumbstruck as they watched.
As the saying went, when beating someone, one should not hit the face. Zhou Yuan was obviously not
planning on leaving Wu Hai even the slightest shred of dignity.
When some of the onlookers saw the icy light in Zhou Yuan’s eyes, they understood that the way Wu Hai
and gang had humiliated Shen Wanjin earlier had indeed angered the former.
The faces of Lu Hong’s disciples were a mix of white fear and green anger. They wanted to shout out for
Zhou Yuan to stop, but the sight of his chilling eyes made them subconsciously shrink back, leaving them
no other option but to hurriedly say, “Quick, go call for reinforcements!”
Back on Zhou Yuan’s side, after a few dozen slaps, Wu Hai’s face had swollen to look like a pig. The
Genesis Qi that attempted to gather in his body was dispersed by Zhou Yuan, making it impossible for
him to put up any resistance.
“Stop! Stop!” The intense burning pain pulsed from Wu Hai’s face paired with the giddiness from being
rapidly knocked left and right finally broke him, causing even his voice to change. “I’m no longer saying
anything!”
Zhou Yuan’s hand paused as he indifferently said, “Sorry, I didn’t hear that.”
His hand continued to raise again.
2284
Wu Hai’s heart shivered as he hurriedly said, “Stop hitting me, I apologize!”
He could no longer endure the merciless Zhou Yuan. If this beating continued, Wu Hai’s face would really
be beaten to a pulp.
Zhou Yuan’s gaze lowered a little. “Is an apology enough?”
“What else do you want?”
Zhou Yuan thought for a bit, before he said, “Genesis jade compensation. One hundred thousand pieces.”
Wu Hai nearly vomited a mouthful of blood. He had used the same amount of a hundred thousand
Genesis jade pieces to make fun of Shen Wanjin earlier. Who could have imagined that Zhou Yuan would
now turn it on him. Wu Hai pushed down the sullen feeling in his heart and said, “I don’t have a hundred
thousand Genesis jade pieces.”
Zhou Yuan expressionlessly lifted his hand.
Wu Hai hurriedly said, “No please, no. I don’t have a hundred thousand, but I have thirty thousand.”
He patted his spatial bag and Genesis jade immediately poured out. The jade filled the ground, gleaming
dazzlingly under the light.
Only then did Zhou Yuan’s hand come to a halt. With a jerk of his sleeve, a surge of Genesis Qi swept up all
the Genesis jade and sent it towards Shen Wanjin. “Keep them.”
Shen Wanjin was stunned, his eyes glowing as he stared at the heap of Genesis jade. In the end, he clearly
struggled inside as he said, “Little Yuan bro, I think it will be better that you take them.”
“You’re the one who was beaten, not me. Take it as a little compensation.” Said Zhou Yuan in an annoyed
manner.
Shen Wanjin swallowed repeatedly as he mumbled, “Thirty thousand Genesis jade pieces for a beating?”
His eyes suddenly began to glow as he looked towards Wu Hai. “How about… senior brother Wu Hai beat
me again?”
The corners of Wu Hai’s mouth twitched.
Zhou Yuan also rolled his eyes. This guy’s skin was surprisingly thick… he had previously been worried
about whether Wu Hai and gang’s actions would cause lasting psychological damage to Shen Wanjin, but
from the looks of things, Shen Wanjin’s mental fortitude had surpassed his expectations.
With a sigh, he turned back to Wu Hai and pointed at the edge of the cliff. “Are you going to jump off
yourself?”
2285
Wu Hai’s expression turned rigid. “I still have to jump?”
Zhou Yuan was expressionless as he responded, “I can always throw you down.”
Wu Hai could not help but gnash his teeth in anger. “Zhou Yuan, don’t take things too far!”
Zhou Yuan’s eyes narrowed slightly as he slowly raised his hand again.
At this moment, however, the sound of rushing wind was heard as several figures descended from the sky
and landed nearby. A powerful Genesis Qi pressure immediately spread, looming over the area.
“Zhou Yuan, let him go.” An ice-cold voice rang out. There was clearly no intent of discussion, as if it was a
command given by one of higher status to a lowly being.
Numerous disciples looked over, only for their expressions to change.
In contrast, Lu Hong’s disciples were overjoyed.
“Senior brother Yuan Hong!”
Zhou Yuan lifted his head, and saw several figures standing nearby. The one leading them was a tall and
muscular gorilla-like figure. A powerful Genesis Qi pressure rippled from his body, causing fear and alarm
to rise in the eyes of several disciples in the vicinity.
It was the first disciple of Lu Hong’s faction, Yuan Hong.
“To think that Yuan Hong has come!” Lu Yan’s expression changed slightly as wariness filled her eyes.
Under the many respectful and fearful gazes, Yuan Hong stood with his hand behind his back. His
indifferent eyes looked towards Zhou Yuan as he said, “You’ve played enough. Let him go and return the
Genesis jade. We’ll take it as this matter never happened today.”
Behind Zhou Yuan, Shen Wanjin had a nervous expression, no longer daring to continue keeping the
Genesis jade.
After all, Yuan Hong had quite a fearsome reputation in Saint Genesis Peak.
Countless gazes turned towards Zhou Yuan. In the face of the strongest contender for the upcoming chief
disciple selection, he should yield no matter how domineering he was, right?
However, while such thoughts were swirling in their heads, Zhou Yuan withdrew his gaze from Yuan
Hong’s figure and turned back towards Wu Hai.
Wu Hai laughed in a sinister manner. “Are you regretting your actions now? Let me tell you, it’s too late…”
2286
Just as a smile was forming on his face, Wu Hai saw Zhou Yuan suddenly take a step forward as a ruthless
punch was slammed into Wu Hai’s stomach. Violent power flooded into his body, dispersing the gathering
Genesis Qi once again.
Next, Zhou Yuan grabbed Wu Hai’s hair and fiercely swung. His body was sent flying, falling from the cliff
with a miserable cry.
Wu Hai’s terrified shriek continued to echo on the cliff.
Zhou Yuan dusted off his hands as he muttered under his breath, “Told you to jump and yet you kept
wasting so much time.”
He then lifted his head and looked towards Yuan Hong with a faint smile as he said, “Senior brother Yuan
Hong, what were you saying earlier?”
The surroundings of the cultivation platform was deathly silent.
Everyone, including Lu Yan, was dumbstruck as they stared at Zhou Yuan. No one had expected that even
after Yuan Hong appeared, the former would not only display no indication of trying to settle this matter
peacefully, but instead throw Wu Hai down the cliff right before Yuan Hong’s eyes...
This was way too uncompromising!
Innumerable gazes shifted towards Yuan Hong. Sure enough, they saw his indifferent face gradually
darken. A pair of tiger-like eyes locked onto Zhou Yuan as a dreadful pressure slowly surged from out
from Yuan Hong’s body.
“Zhou Yuan, are you provoking me?”
The scalps of numerous disciples turned numb. As expected, Yuan Hong was now mad!
2287
Chapter 452 Yuan Hong’s Strength
As Yuan Hong’s deep voice boomed across the cultivation platform, a heart palpitating Genesis Qi
pressure slowly spread from his body.
Crack!
Crack after crack began to grow from the ground under his feet.
Yuan Hong’s clothes loudly flapped without wind.
Some of the nearby figures could not help but back away to create some distance, their eyes filled with
terror.
Pleased looks flowed out in the eyes of Lu Hong’s disciples as they viciously glared at Zhou Yuan. To think
that this foolish kid actually dared to act so arrogantly before senior brother Yuan Hong. This truly was
seeking one’s own humiliation.
In comparison, worried looks appeared on the faces of Shen Taiyuan’s disciples.
“Zhou Yuan is way too reckless.” Lu Yan could not help but remark. Throwing Wu Hai down the cliff in
front of Yuan Hong was basically a clear provocation.
Although it was very relieving to watch, angering Yuan Hong was obviously not a rational choice.
Though she did not know how Zhou Yuan had defeated the unprepared Wu Hai, Yuan Hong and Wu Hai
were clearly on different levels.
Zhou Yuan could likewise feel the pressure pulsing from Yuan Hong’s body, causing his eyes to narrow
slightly. The one who managed to become the strongest and most popular contender for the upcoming
Saint Genesis Peak chief disciple selection was indeed a formidable individual.
However, Zhou Yuan did not give in.
He had been relatively compliant in the past, but it seemed that his tolerance had instead been viewed as
a display of weakness, which led to Wu Hai and gang actually daring to do such a thing to his close friend.
If he so easily let Wu Hai off today, such incidents would never stop. Hence, even when Yuan Hong
appeared, Zhou Yuan had no intentions of patching things up but instead chose to proceed in the most
uncompromising manner.
Jade light flowed on the surface of Zhou Yuan’s body as Genesis Qi star after star began to light up in his
Qi Dwelling, surging towards his four limbs.
2288
Meanwhile, he made a grabbing motion with his hand, causing the Heavenly Yuan Brush to fly over from
its snug spot in the cliff.
In the face of an opponent like Yuan Hong, Zhou Yuan clearly did not dare to show any negligence.
The tip of the brush was pointed towards the ground at an angle as Zhou Yuan calmly said, “Senior
brother Yuan Hong, since Wu Hai has done something wrong, he will naturally have to pay for his actions.
This is something no one can change.”
A faint hint of mockery rose from the corners of Yuan Hong’s mouth. “Even if a disciple from our faction
has done something wrong, we will naturally be the ones to discipline him. What right do you think you
have?”
“Even Zhao Tai and Zhang Yan do not dare to be so unbridled before me. What more the likes of you?!”
“You dare to throw my junior brother down the cliff in front of me? Since that is the case, you shall
accompany him at the bottom!”
Boom!
The instant Yuan Hong’s final words thundered, an extremely powerful surge Genesis Qi abruptly
exploded from his body. It transformed into a several hundred feet wide giant hand that ferociously
swung down onto Zhou Yuan.
The surging power within it was enough to split mountains.
The Genesis Qi hand swatted with matchless violence, creating a palm print on the ground even before it
landed.
Yuan Hong’s attack revealed his astonishing strength. In the face of this hand attack, the expressions of
every disciple present changed.
Zhou Yuan’s eyes widened slightly, similarly feeling the overwhelming power in Yuan Hong’s attack. The
former tightened his grip around the Heavenly Yuan Brush, ready to meet this formidable foe with his full
might.
“Stop!”
However, just as Zhou Yuan was about to take action, a loud yell once again sounded from above the
cultivation platform.
A glowing figure swiftly flew over and landed in front of Zhou Yuan. It was Zhou Tai.
“Scram!” However, Yuan Hong showed no indication of stopping, his Genesis Qi palm attack growing
increasingly ferocious instead with an icy shout.
2289
Anger erupted in Zhou Tai’s eyes when he saw this. With a stomp of his foot, torrential Genesis Qi dashed
out from the top of his head, also transforming into a Genesis Qi hand that thrust forward.
Boom!
Two giant Genesis Qi hands clashed viciously in mid-air. A devastating shockwave unfurled, causing crack
after crack to grow on the cultivation platform.
While the two Genesis Qi hands pushed against each other, Zhou Tai was the first to let out a groan. His
expression was extremely grave as Genesis Qi continued to surge out, because Yuan Hong’s Genesis Qi
hand was slowly but surely inching forward.
Yuan Hong clearly had the upper hand in this clash.
A storm seemed to churn in Yuan Hong’s eyes as he coldly said, “Zhou Tai, did you really think that you
will be a match for me? Is this all your faction has?”
Behind Zhou Tai, Zhou Yuan tightly gripped the Heavenly Yuan Brush as he prepared to back up his
senior.
“Humph, Yuan Hong, you are too arrogant. Did you think there’s no one else in our faction?”
But before he could move, another icy shout was heard. A glowing figure appeared beside Zhou Tai,
revealing itself to be Zhang Yan.
Although Zhang Yan and Zhou Tai were usually at odds with each other, the former naturally could not
idly sit by and watch Zhou Tai suffer when Yuan Hong was bullying their faction.
Rumble!
Zhang Yan’s sleeves flapped as two hundred feet long Genesis Qi streams poured out. Like two hissing
giant pythons, they slammed themselves into the giant Genesis Qi hand.
Cah cah!
With Zhang Yan inserting himself in, the three Genesis Qi attacks clashed in the air. In the end, all three
attacks simultaneously destroyed each other with a boom, causing a shockwave to sweep outwards.
Yuan Hong waved his sleeve, scattering the shockwave as he frostily stared at Zhou Tai and Zhang Yan
with a mocking smile, “Are the two of you planning to join forces?”
“Haha, fine then, show me how capable both of you are!”
He laughed as he took a step forward in an imposing and eager manner, not the slightest bit afraid of
Zhou Tai and Zhang Yan.
2290
In the face of the overbearing Yuan Hong, Zhou Tai and Zhang Yan’s expressions turned grave as vigorous
Genesis Qi spiralled around their bodies.
The numerous disciples watched this scene in shock and awe. Were the top disciples from these two
factions really going to go at it even before the start of the chief disciple selection?
Three figures stood facing each other, as the surging Genesis Qi around them grew stronger and stronger.
“Hey, the law enforcement group is coming, are you guys still going to continue fighting?” While the trio
bristled with hostility, a clear voice sounded. It was the nearby Lu Yan who had spoken.
The trio’s Genesis Qi paused as they lifted their heads to peer into the distance. Sure enough, they saw
several glowing figures flying towards them.
Yuan Hong frowned as the Genesis Qi around him receded.
Zhou Tai and Zhang Yan breathed a small sigh of relief when they saw this as the Genesis Qi around them
shrank back into their bodies.
“The two of you are quite lucky. I originally planned on crippling you guys here so your faction will no
longer need to participate in the chief disciple selection next month.” Said Yuan Hong with an
expressionless face.
Zhang Yan laughed loudly in anger, “What big words!”
Zhou Tai followed up, “We will naturally seek you out in the chief disciple selection to have a taste of your
skills.”
Yuan Hong merely chuckled. His fierce tiger-like gaze turned towards Zhou Yuan behind as he extended a
finger and waved it in the air.
“Zhou Yuan if you have even a shred of rationality left, voluntarily seal your Genesis Qi and jump off the
cliff. Once that is done, I shall consider today’s matter settled.”
“Or else… even if you managed to escape this time, you won’t be so lucky next time.”
“If we meet in the chief disciple selection… it will be far too late for regrets.”
His tone was calm, without even the slightest hint of anger, as if he was talking about an insignificant
manner. It was obvious that he had never viewed Zhou Yuan as a threat since the very beginning.
Countless gazes were cast towards Zhou Yuan. Given Yuan Hong’s status and strength, anyone would be
tremendously pressured by such words.
2291
Zhou Yuan could not help but laugh when he heard this, before he slowly said with a small pause between
each word, “Senior brother Yuan Hong, we’ll see each other in the chief disciple selection.”
Yuan Hong’s sharp gaze stared at Zhou Yuan. Moments later, he smiled, but it was a smile devoid of all
warmth, making anyone who saw it feel chills ripple in their bodies.
“Zhou Tai, Zhang Yan. It seems that a tough one has emerged from your faction…”
“I only hope that he will still be as tough when we meet in the chief disciple selection…”
He indifferently withdrew his gaze, not giving a single glance more to Zhou Yuan as he waved his hand.
“Let’s go.”
His figure rose into the air as the other Lu Hong disciples quickly followed.
As Lu Hong’s faction left, the tense atmosphere on the cultivation platform slowly faded away.
Zhou Tai and Zhang Yan watched Lu Hong leave, before they looked to each other, finding the same sliver
of graveness in the other’s eyes. Although the earlier exchange had been brief, they had clearly felt the
tremendous pressure brought by Yuan Hong.
It seemed that a bitter fight was unavoidable in the upcoming chief disciple selection.
Zhou Tai turned his head towards Zhou Yuan and asked, “Junior brother Zhou Yuan, are you alright?”
Zhou Yuan responded with a smile and a shake of his head.
Zhang Yan let out a cold snort. “You’re not very capable and yet you have quite a temper. Do you think the
likes of you can afford to offend Yuan Hong?”
He left these words behind as he turned around to leave. There was after all not much friendship between
them, and he had only interceded earlier because Yuan Hong was looking down on their faction.
Zhou Yuan could only chuckle upon seeing this. There was no point bickering about this matter.
Zhou Tai patted Zhou Yuan’s shoulder in consolation, before he too bid his goodbyes. However, Zhou
Yuan could see the sliver of worry in the former’s eyes, a sign that he was feeling the pressure even more
after today’s brief exchange with Yuan Hong.
Zhou Yuan looked towards the direction Yuan Hong had left in, as his eyes narrowed slightly for a
moment.
Yuan Hong was indeed a very formidable foe.
2292
Zhou Yuan’s fingers clenched tightly as he lowered his head to look at his glowing skin.
It seems that he needed to redouble his training for this final stretch.
2293
Chapter 453 Ripples
The events that had transpired on the cultivation platform in Saint Genesis Peak ultimately spread in the
rest of the sect. After all, any news related to the participants of the chief disciple selection at this
juncture was sure to draw everyone’s attention.
What’s more, one of the individuals involved in the affair was the person with the lowest betting odds in
the history of the Cangxuan Sect.
However, after hearing the details about the matter, the disciples originally prepared for some comic
relief were so shocked that their eyes nearly popped from their sockets.
“What? Zhou Yuan defeated Wu Hai from elder Lu Hong’s faction in a single punch?”
“That Wu Hai is an initial eighth layer practitioner. Though his breakthrough was quite recent, he’s still
stronger than Yang Xuan from the Sacred Palace.”
“Plus, Zhou Yuan didn’t even use his Heaven Genesis Weapon?”
“Wu Hai is far too useless…”
“Wu Hai isn’t useless, but overly careless. He likely never expected Zhou Yuan to grow so much over the
past month. If Wu Hai had gone all out from the start, it would definitely not be an easy fight for Zhou
Yuan.” Another disciple stated his logical analysis.
“No matter what, you have to admit that Zhou Yuan does have some ability.”
“......”
All kinds of discussions started based on this information, however, the matter ultimately did not cause
big splashes. After all, neither Zhou Yuan nor Wu Hai were key figures in the chief disciple selection.
Hence, the battle between them only managed to garner a tiny bit of attention, before quickly being
forgotten by everyone.
At the end of the day, the countless gazes in the Cangxuan Sect focused once again on the hottest
contenders for the various chief disciple selections.
Compared to such dazzling existences, the likes of Zhou Yuan and Wu Hai were really akin to small
splashes.
...
Saint Genesis Peak, Lu Hong’s faction.
2294
In a certain hall.
On the chief chair, Lu Hong’s old face was rather stormy as he icily stared at the fearful and angry face of
Wu Hai, who was standing with his hands behind his back. “How useless. I can’t believe a small errand
like probing Zhou Yuan’s abilities can result in such an accident.”
“And you still have the gall to return after being defeated in a single punch by a fourth layer Alpha-Origin
practitioner.”
Wu Hai’s face burned as he said, “Zhou Yuan seems to have grown substantially stronger over the past
month. I only suffered because I was caught off guard.”
Lu Hong ignored the former’s explanation, as he grabbed a fist sized jade rock from a disciple beside him
and poured Genesis Qi into it. A projection immediately appeared, displaying the fight between Zhou
Yuan and Wu Hai.
This was a kind of projection stone that could make temporary recordings.
Lu Hong glued his eyes to Zhou Yuan’s figure. A long while later, when Zhou Yuan closed in on Wu Hai
and punched, the former’s eyes flickered faintly for a moment.
“The brat’s punch is unexpectedly powerful…” Remarked a disciple beside Lu Hong.
“Although junior brother Wu Hai was unprepared, he managed to create numerous Genesis Qi defenses in
that split second, but they were still destroyed by Zhou Yuan’s punch. From the previous information we
gathered, he should not have such strength.”
“The strange thing is that Zhou Yuan’s Genesis Qi undulations are still at the fourth layer. Though they
have risen slightly, it has yet to reach the level of power he displayed…”
The other disciples in the hall nodded in agreement, equally puzzled by this observation.
The rays from the jade stone in Lu Hong’s hands slowly withdrew as the projection dissipated, before the
stone shattered into tiny pieces.
“There’s nothing strange about it…” Lu Hong’s tone was that of indifference. “It’s because he learnt some
kind of external cultivation technique that powered up his physical body. The reason why that punch was
so powerful was because it contained the combined might of his Genesis Qi and physical body.”
He was a Divine Dwelling stage expert after all. Though others had failed to understand the secret behind
Zhou Yuan’s punch, Lu Hong had figured it out in a single glance.
“An external cultivation technique?”
The crowd was first stunned, before being struck by a flash of understanding.
2295
No wonder Zhou Yuan’s punch had been so powerful. It turns out that he had learnt an external
cultivation technique to strengthen the power of his physical body.
“What an ambitious kid… to think that he plans to practice both internal and external cultivation. Isn’t he
overestimating his abilities?” A mocking smile rose from the corners of Lu Hong’s mouth.
Genesis Qi cultivation was split into two paths, internal and external.
Internal cultivation was to absorb and accumulate drop after drop of Genesis Qi in one’s Qi Dwelling. In a
fight, one’s Genesis Qi would be as boundless as the ocean with immeasurable might that could to move
mountains and overturn the seas.
On the other hand, external cultivation was to use the absorbed Genesis Qi to temper one’s flesh and
blood. When the time came, the power of the body would be able to crush mountains and split the earth
in an exceedingly tyrannical manner.
Each path had their advantages, but overall, most cultivators chose to focus on one.
Because concentrating on both internal and external cultivation would only lead to slower progress in
both of them.
At the same time, practicing external cultivation techniques requires one to have abundant vital energy at
all times, and replenishing this vital energy was one of the biggest problems faced by all external
cultivators, because it would expand a tremendous amount of time and energy.
Normally speaking, very few individuals would select dual inner and outer cultivation. It would only
make the two paths even harder to traverse, and progress would be far slower than focusing on one.
Due to these reasons, Lu Hong could not hold back his laughter when he discovered Zhou Yuan was
engaging in inner and outer dual cultivation.
In his opinion, only those who bit off more than they could chew would foolishly believe that dual
cultivation would make them exceptional.
In the hall, numerous disciples shook their heads as ridicule rose in their eyes. Even Wu Hai spat out a
breath, before he gritted his teeth and said, “So it was because I carelessly allowed him to close in on me.
If we fight again, I only need to obstruct him with Genesis Qi attacks, and make him exhaust all of his vital
energy. When that happens, he will be incapable of bringing out the power of his body.”
Lu Hong’s expression gradually returned to indifference. After understanding the truth behind the
matter, he no longer had any intentions of paying further attention to Zhou Yuan.
“The chief disciple seat must end up with our faction.” Lu Hong looked towards the many disciples in the
hall. At the very front, were the six disciples who would be representing them in the upcoming chief
disciple selection.
2296
“Peak master Ling Jun has placed great emphasis on this matter. I also see no harm in letting all of you
know now that peak master actually made a wager back then with sect master and the other peak
masters to allow us to shift to Saint Genesis Peak.”
“If our faction fails to win the chief disciple position, Sword Cometh Peak will have to cough up a fifth of
its cultivation resources… I’m sure all of you should know how huge this is.”
His words caused even the usually indifferent Yuan Hong to have a change in expression. The other
disciples were overwhelmed, their eyes filled with shock.
A fifth of Sword Cometh Peak’s cultivation resources… it was a scale that they could not even imagine.
Lu Hong’s expression turned solemn. If they failed, peak master Ling Jun would surely be furious. It was
due to this very reason that he had instructed Wu Hai to scout out Zhou Yuan, whom he usually could not
even be bothered to give a glance...
He needed to ascertain the true strength of the participants from the other two factions to prevent any
accidents from occuring.
Lu Hong slowly said, “... if we fail, we will be transferred back to Sword Cometh Peak. When that happens,
our lives will definitely not be pleasant.”
His eyes turned frosty and stern as he stared at the crowd.
“That’s why, we must obtain the chief disciple seat!”
“Yes!” Wu Hai and the rest respectfully responded.
Yuan Hong also solemnly nodded his head, as an eerie smile emerged on his lips.
“Don’t worry teacher Lu, besides Zhou Tai, Zhang Yan and Lu Yan, who have a little ability, the other
participants are useless and nothing to be worried about.”
“As for Zhou Yuan…”
Yuan Hong laughed, his eyes tinged with disdain. From the start, the fast rising newcomer over the past
year had never once entered his eyes.
Lu Hong nodded, a gratified look in his eyes as he looked towards Yuan Hong. The latter was the
culmination of his many years of sweat and blood, and the most reliable presence in the upcoming chief
disciple selection.
He firmly believed that with Yuan Hong on the team, no one from the other two factions would be able to
contend.
2297
Chapter 454 Third Level
On a certain misty mountain.
Zhou Yuan was seated on the water and fire tempering dragon stage. His body was currently drenched in
sweat as it faintly tembled without end. It was obvious that he had just endured another session of the
fire and water Genesis Qi.
The fight with Wu Hai had long been thrown to the back of Zhou Yuan’s mind. He paid no attention to the
ripples it caused, and instead buried himself in his training deep within the mountains.
The chief disciple selection was getting nearer and nearer, and he could no longer afford to relax.
“Oww…”
Groaned Zhou Yuan. His body had grown much stronger after reaching the jade skin stage, causing the
first level of water and fire Qi to become much less effective.
Hence, Zhou Yuan had gritted his teeth and moved straight to the second level.
Though the tempering effect would be more effective, the pain he had to endure would also far surpass
the first level.
Zhou Yuan got to his feet with some difficulty, and leaped onto the cliff before falling back down on his
butt.
However, he did not take a rest, but instead retrieved a mottled tree scale from his clothes. Rich Yimu Qi
spread from it, causing him to feel a surge of energy.
The day before, he had managed to chop off over twenty more tree scales with old Xuan’s help. Due to the
heavy consumption of vital energy during his body tempering sessions, the single Taiyi Green Wood Mark
in Zhou Yuan’s body had been pretty exhausted by his recent training. If he did not replenish it, it would
have likely disintegrated.
Without the Tiayi Green Wood Mark, Zhou Yuan obviously could no longer undergo such intense daily
physical tempering. If that happened, his cultivation progress would slow to a crawl.
Zhou Yuan closed his eyes as the scale began to float between his palms. Strand after strand of dark green
energy rose from it and streamed into his body.
Dark green specks of light glimmered faintly in his flesh, as a somewhat faded ancient pattern started
absorbing the light, slowly recovering its shine.
Bit by bit, vigorous vital energy and life force surged once again in Zhou Yuan’s body.
2298
His originally somewhat pale complexion gradually returned to a healthy red, while the intense pain from
earlier also stealthily faded away...
Two hours later.
Zhou Yuan opened his eyes as the tree bark between his palms turned to dust. The Yimu Qi within it had
already been completely absorbed.
As he felt the replenished vital energy in his body, Zhou Yuan spat out a deep breath.
“There’s only slightly over twenty days till the chief disciple selection.”
His eyes narrowed as a look of thought flitted across them. At his current strength, there was no longer
any need to fear an opponent on the level of Wu Hai. Even so, it was still clearly not enough.
Because the most troublesome opponent was Yuan Hong.
In their brief encounter previously, Zhou Yuan had felt a dangerous aura from Yuan Hong. He was most
definitely going to be the biggest obstacle in the upcoming selection.
Even though he had achieved the jade skin stage of the little Mythic Saint Body, it was still not enough
according to Zhou Yuan’s estimates. He would only feel confident if he managed to progress in the little
Mythic Saint Body again and reach the silver bone stage.
However, it clearly won’t be easy to reach the silver bone stage.
It was already amazing for him to have mastered the jade skin stage in a month, while the silver bone
stage was obviously going to be a much higher mountain to climb.
In fact, even though he had raised the water and fire Genesis Qi to the second level, his bones still showed
no indication of transforming.
While Zhou Yuan was lost in thought, old Xuan’s voice sounded from the side, “Kid, hurry up and continue
training since you’re done resting, what are you wasting time?”
In the broken stone pavilion beside him, old Xuan was grinding leaf tobacco into powder between his
fingers and pouring it into his pipe. He lit the pipe and puffed, causing smoke to rise, while his murky eyes
seemed to pierce through the smoke and lazily look towards Zhou Yuan.
Zhou Yuan’s gaze faintly flickered in thought. A hint of struggle could be seen for a moment, before
quickly being replaced by determination.
He raised his head, looked towards old Xuan and said, “Elder, I plan to raise the water and fire Qi to the
third level.”
2299
The old hand holding the pipe shook as rarely seen astonishment appeared in old Xuan’s eyes. “Do you
not value your life? The second level is already very unbearable to your current self, and yet you still dare
to challenge the third level?”
He stared at Zhou Yuan, under the impression that this was just some whimsical request. However, he
was only met with Zhou Yuan’s determined gaze.
“Are you for real?” Old Xuan was a little in disbelief.
Challenging the third level was an act that required a tremendous amount of courage.
Zhou Yuan slowly nodded his head. Wasn’t all the tough training he had racked up over the past year for
the sake of the impending chief disciple selection? If he failed, he would have no choice but to wait for
next year...
But he clearly did not have that much time to wait.
Therefore, he needed to use the most extreme of methods to force out all of his latent potential… even if it
would be rather cruel.
At the end of the day, one needed to have the courage to boldly advance on the path of cultivation.
Back then in the Great Zhou Empire, his eight meridian channels had not appeared, making it impossible
for him to begin cultivation. At that time, if he had given up inside, there would not have been today.
He had not given up back then… and it was even more impossible for him to give up now.
Old Xuan pulled in a deep breath from his pipe. Smoke rose into the air as he stood up and looked at Zhou
Yuan with a solemn expression. “Kid, the third level is a little too strong for the current you. If you insist
on going through with this, you have to be prepared for a tremendous amount of pain.”
He placed extra emphasis on the words ‘tremendous amount of pain’, clearly trying to tell Zhou Yuan that
this was not going to be child's play.
Zhou Yuan merely smiled in response. His figure moved, appearing on the stone stage, before looking
straight at old Xuan. Zhou Yuan had already conveyed his answer through his actions.
Old Xuan was a little taken aback, as he gave a slight nod, while deep admiration seemed to surge out
from the depths of his murky eyes.
The road of cultivation was filled with countless difficulties and obstacles, and would never be a smooth
journey. He had seen amazingly talented geniuses over the years, but at times, willpower and courage
were more important than any talent.
2300
Old Xuan did not say anything else, merely gently waving the broom in his hand as a Genesis Qi ripple
pulsed.
Moments later, the third scale on the two stone dragon heads gradually brightened.
Rumble!
The entire land seemed to shake at this moment as high temperature and intense cold quietly spread,
filling half the horizon.
In the end, the two stone dragons opened their gigantic mouths as vast torrents of water and fire burst
out.
On the stone stage, Zhou Yuan’s seated figure was instantly engulfed. Half of the stage turned burning red,
while the other half was covered in frost.
At the same time, a desperately suppressed howl of pain hysterically rang out from the torrential water
and fire.
An incense stick of time later.
When the water and fire torrents finally began to wane, old Xuan hastily cast his gaze over, only to find a
figure emitting steam from every inch of his body. All of Zhou Yuan’s skin had split open, as if he had been
badly flayed. It was an exceedingly pitiful and torturous sight.
However, his eyes were tenaciously kept open as a very faint breathing sound was emitted from his nose.
His expression was extremely tense, finally reaching his limit when the water and fire stopped, and his
body fell from the stage.
He had evidently fallen unconscious.
A stream of Genesis Qi surged over, wrapping around Zhou Yuan’s falling body. It lifted him up and gently
placed him on the edge of the cliff.
Old Xuan gazed at the unconscious Zhou Yuan. The former could see faint dark green patterns emerging
from under his skin, pulsing with vital energy that sustained Zhou Yuan’s life force as his skin gradually
began to heal at a rate that could be seen by the naked eye.
Old Xuan’s gaze seemed to penetrate through Zhou Yuan flesh and blood, seeing a sliver of silver light
flash past.
Old Xuan wet his lips as he sighed inside, feeling a little admiration at the kid.
“What a crazy little lunatic…”
2301
…
While Zhou Yuan began his crazed training on the water and fire tempering dragon stage, time quietly
passed in the Cangxuan Sect as the date of the chief disciple selection grew ever nearer.
The atmosphere that had been brewing over the sect grew more and more volatile, as every gaze in the
entire sect converged towards the most major yearly event.
The chief disciple selection was fast approaching.
2302
Chapter 455 Yaoyao’s Anger
As the date of the chief disciple selection gradually neared, it felt as if the entire Cangxuan Sect had been
placed into a boiling cauldron. The various factions from the various were eagerly rubbing their hands
together in anticipation, their eyes set on a certain position.
After all, it was a position that represented the number one disciple of each peak, while also a road one
needed to traverse in order to become a Chosen...
From the very first day every Cangxuan Sect disciple entered the sect, the chief disciple position was the
target they would strive towards for many years to come.
Hence, when the chief disciple selection arrived every year, its magnificence would far surpass the earlier
It was known as the grandest event of the year after all.
...
Yaoyao leisurely walked through the mountain forest, her slim, beautiful figure looking as if it had
gracefully walked out from a painting. At her feet, Tuntun closely followed on its short stubby legs.
She advanced with the aid of several markings to avoid the seal. The forest before her soon became a
wide open space, as a cliff and the water and fire tempering dragon stage appeared in her sights.
The next thing that entered her eyes was an unconscious figure lying on the ground. It was Zhou Yuan,
except he was currently in an extremely sorry state, as if he had just been scooped up from a boiling pot.
All of his flesh seemed to be undergoing necrosis, and he had clearly sustained grave injuries.
Yaoyao was first taken aback, before her pretty face turned ice-cold as her eyes pointed towards the
smoking old Xuan like a sword.
She had not come here ever since the talk she had with old Xuan, but she never expected to see such a
situation today.
“What did you do to him?” Yaoyao's voice was as cold as ice.
Roar!
Tuntun also released a low roar, its beady eyes staring at old Xuan. Black light began to appear in its
mouth, its tiny body starting to grow as its ferocious aura was revealed.
Upon seeing this, old Xuan helplessly said, “It has nothing to do with me. He’s the one who insisted on
increasing the water and fire Genesis Qi to the third level.”
2303
Yaoyao let out an icy snort, before she quickly walked forward and placed a finger under Zhou Yuan’s
nose. Only after sensing his faint breathing did she breathe a small sigh of relief.
Her eyes proceeded to scan Zhou Yuan's bare upper body. Under the dying flesh, she could faintly see
dark green light emerging. As the light soaked into the body, black sludge poured out from his pores.
As the sludge dispersed, his body slowly recovered.
However, even in this unconscious state, his body was instinctively trembling. One could easily imagine
just how much pain he had endured earlier.
“Truly reckless!”
Yaoyao’s brows were furrowed, nearly shifting till they were vertical. So this was why he was returning
back to the cave dwelling later and later, and appearing weaker and weaker each time. It turns out that he
had raised the water and fire Qi to level three.
This was something he had not informed her about.
She turned her head and looked towards old Xuan as she frostily said, “He may not have fully understood
the severity of this, but can you say the same for yourself? If one over tempers the body, it will rapidly
break down! Can you afford to compensate him if his body is destroyed?”
Old Xuan opened and closed his mouth, clearly not expecting that he would receive such a scolding. He
did not know whether to laugh or to cry. However, old Xuan constantly felt an unexplainable feeling of
heart shaking fear of Yaoyao. Hence, he could only smile in an embarrassed manner as he said, “It’s not as
bad as it looks. He practices the Taiyi Green Wood Mark that allows him to swiftly recover from even the
most serious injuries. The only catch is that he has to suffer a little during the process.”
“You call this a little suffering?” Questioned Yaoyao.
To leave the tenacious Zhou Yuan in such a state, it was easy to imagine how terrifying the third level
water and fire Qi was.
Old Xuan resentfully shook his pipe, realizing that she was just being unreasonable. Hence, he
intelligently shut his mouth, sullenly hugging his broom as he squatted in a corner and gnawed on his
pipe.
Yaoyao coldly snorted, paying no further attention to old Xuan. She too could tell that although Zhou
Yuan’s injuries were extremely grave, the Taiyi Green Mark was rapidly repairing his body.
An incense stick of time passed as she stood there.
Only then did Zhou Yuan’s tightly shut eyes finally slowly crack open as a pained groan escaped from his
lips.
2304
He lay on the ground, facing the sky as waves of powerlessness pulsed through his body. The third level
had been too huge of a burden on his body, resulting in a drastic loss of vital energy.
Fortunately, the Taiyi Green Mark in his body was releasing vital energy to replenish this loss.
*Cough*
While Zhou Yuan was thinking about silently lying there, a dry cough sounded. It was from old Xuan.
Zhou Yuan powerlessly croaked, “Let me rest a little longer.”
“How long do you plan on lying there?” A clear as spring water like voice sounded.
Zhou Yuan was startled as he hastily turned his head, quickly spotting the graceful as a willow figure. He
immediately sat up and said, “Yaoyao?”
An awkward smile soon appeared on his face. “Why are you here?”
There was no expression on Yaoyao’s face. “If I came any later, I won’t even know when you will be
tortured to death.”
In the stone pavilion, old Xuan gloomily breathed out a mouthful of smoke. Countless individuals in the
Cangxuan Sect would die for his guidance, but it had become so unwanted and useless when mentioned
by Yaoyao.
Zhou Yuan glanced at the depressed old Xuan and hurriedly said, “I’m fine, I can manage this training.”
Yaoyao ignored him and said, “Pack your things and follow me back.”
The sight of Yaoyao’s frosty expression caused a chill to rise inside Zhou Yuan. He obediently climbed to
his feet, and nervously tidied himself the best he could.
“Kid, your recent training has been quite fruitful. Although you have yet to reach the silver bone stage, a
breakthrough should be just around the corner. You should be able to achieve your goal with a little more
effort.” Said old Xuan.
Zhou Yuan felt somewhat regretful. He did not expect that he would still fail to reach the silver bone stage
even after so much suffering. The road of external cultivation was indeed a difficult one to walk.
Yaoyao paid no attention to them as she turned around and walked away, clearly still very discontent
with old Xuan.
Zhou Yuan waved at old Xuan before quickly following.
2305
Old Xuan watched Zhou Yuan leave as he puffed out a breath of smoke and slowly said, “Kid, do your best
in the chief disciple selection tomorrow… Saint Genesis Peak has been sealed for so many years, and it
should be about time for it to see the light of day once more.”
Zhou Yuan’s footsteps paused as he turned his head and said, “Does elder hope that I will unseal Saint
Genesis Peak?”
However, old Xuan did not reply. His old face seemed to fade and reappear within the thick smoke,
making him seem quite mysterious.
Zhou Yuan did not ask again either, and turned back. However, just as he was about to step into the
forest, a voice echoed.
“Don’t worry elder, the chief disciple seat of Saint Genesis Peak will definitely be mine!”
The duo gradually faded into the distance. Old Xuan’s murky eyes pierced through the smoke to watch
them leave, before he lifted his head to gaze upon the misty main peak.
“It’s been so many years… it should be about time for Saint Genesis Peak to reopen, right?”
2306
Chapter 456 Chat
Two figures walked along the little mountain path, one in front and the other behind. Tuntun trotted
along between them, swivelling its head to cast a gloating gaze at Zhou Yuan. Evidently, even it could
sense that Yaoyao was in a bad mood.
Zhou Yuan rolled his eyes at it, before awkwardly scratching his head as he looked towards the graceful
figure in front of him. He clearly had not expected the usually uncaring Yaoyao to become so angry this
time.
Yaoyao did not say anything, while Zhou Yuan did not dare to start any conversation. Hence, the two of
them returned to the cave dwelling under this stuffy and gloomy atmosphere.
When they were back, Yaoyao indifferently said, “Go clean yourself up.”
Zhou Yuan took a sniff of his sweaty body, and let out an embarrassed laugh, before obediently
proceeding to wash up.
Yaoyao sat down in the stone pavilion by the cliff. She then retrieved a jade pot and poured herself a full
cup of wine. As she lifted the cup, her clear eyes gazed towards the drifting clouds beyond the cliff edge.
After some time, a cleaned Zhou Yuan walked over and seated himself opposite Yaoyao.
Yaoyao was still ignoring him, continuing instead to stare at the clouds in a daze.
A long while later, she slowly withdrew her gaze, no emotion whatsoever on her face as she looked
towards Zhou Yuan and said, “You…”
The moment she began spoking, however, Zhou Yuan cut out and said without the slightest bit of
hesitation, “I was in the wrong.”
Yaoyao was taken aback. She frowned a little and said, “Wrong…”
“Big sis Yaoyao is right!” Zhou Yuan immediately interjected again, his attitude incapable of being more
upright.
“What…”
“I’ll never do it again!”
Every time Yaoyao was about to speak, Zhou Yuan immediately displayed a submissive and conceding
appearance, as if ready to receive any kind of scolding or punishment.
Thump!
2307
After being cut off several times, the cup in Yaoyao’s hand slammed into the table with a little more force
than usual, creating a clear ‘thump’ sound. She stared icily at Zhou Yuan and said, “Shut up!”
Zhou Yuan immediately sealed his mouth.
By the side, Tuntun revealed a disdainful look at Zhou Yuan. Such spinelessness was practically
unwatchable!
Yaoyao glared at Zhou Yuan, the rage originally boiling inside her weakening a little after the many
interruptions. Frustrated, she downed the entire cup of wine in her hand.
Zhou Yuan breathed a sigh of relief when he saw the iciness on Yaoyao’s face slightly recede, and
hurriedly tried to pour Yaoyao another cup.
However, Yaoyao slapped away his outreached hands. She grabbed the jade pot and poured another
drink for herself.
After several cups, her eyes finally lowered slightly as she slowly said, “Zhou Yuan, you are rushing things
too much.”
Zhou Yuan could only sigh softly in response as he said, “Big sis Yaoyao, I cannot think of any reason to
relax. Like you said before, senior brother Chu Qing and I are different. He is fond of doing things half-
heartedly if he could, while I… need to give my hundred and twenty percent at all times.”
“The threat of the Great Wu Empire is still looming over the Great Zhou Empire, and no one knows when
the former will make their move, but once it happens, the Great Zhou Empire would definitely have to
pay a terrible price.”
“The Great Zhou Empire is currently incapable of facing the Great Wu Empire, while I am the Great Zhou
Empire’s only hope.”
Yaoyao gazed at the young man before her. Over the past few years, the originally powerless youth had
slowly transformed, while the tremendous burden on his shoulders had only grown heavier.
Even so, he had never showed any signs of carrying this burden in his daily life.
Yaoyao’s hand tightened around her cup as she softly said, “I know that you are the Great Zhou Empire’s
only hope, but what will the Great Zhou Empire do if something happens to you?”
She stared hard at the wine in her cup as she softly said, “When that happens, where will I go?”
There was a slight lost feeling in her voice. Her origins were so mysterious that even she herself had no
clue of who she was and where she came from. In the past, her only kin had been Cang Yuan.
2308
The same Cang Yuan who had entrusted her to Zhou Yuan. After living together for the past few years, her
cold and lonely heart had gradually begun to view Zhou Yuan as family. She could not even fathom what
she would do if something were to happen to him.
She had no feelings for the Cangxuan Sect, and had only stayed because Zhou Yuan was here too.
If Zhou Yuan was no longer around, she would naturally have no reason to stay any further.
When that happened, no matter how immense the world was, she would truly have nowhere to go.
She neither knew her parents nor had the means to discover who they were, and even if they did exist,
she could not feel anything in her heart towards them...
Zhou Yuan’s heart twisted in pain for a moment when he gazed upon the extremely rare sliver of
powerlessness and perplexedness in Yaoyao’s eyes. He reached out and gently grasped her tiny hands,
feeling their cold jade-like sensation, as he softly said,
“Big sis Yaoyao, I understand that you are likely involved in something beyond my imagination. After all,
even existences on the level of master Cang Yuan and patriarch Cang Xuan are somehow related to you.
Compared to them, the current me is as insignificant as an ant.”
“Over the years, you’ve been the one who has shielded me from all the dangers I encountered.”
“But I promised master Cang Yuan I would protect you, and I do not wish to ultimately be incapable of
fulfilling even this single promise…”
Zhou Yuan looked towards the perfect, flawless face before him, as he smiled and said, “Big sis Yaoyao,
there are two reasons why I’ve been training so desperately… first is to protect the Great Zhou Empire,
and second... is so that if you encounter danger one day, I will have the qualifications to help you fight for
even that slim chance of survival.”
“Even if the price will be my own life.”
There was an easy and carefree smile on his face, however, the eyes that looked straight at Yaoyao were
filled with earnesty.
Yaoyao was slightly stunned as she gazed into Zhou Yuan’s eyes. At this very moment in time, her usually
ice-cold eyes that viewed all things with indifference seemed to melt a little.
Hence, she did not swat Zhou Yuan away when he held her hands, but instead gently grasped them back
in return as she softly said, “If that day really comes, I hope that you… will try to stay alive.”
Sunlight peeked through the clouds at this moment, its rays gently embracing the two individuals in the
stone pavilion, illuminating the ethereal dust that danced around them.
2309
Zhou Yuan’s heart stealthily stirred due to Yaoyao’s words.
He gazed upon her seemingly glowing face as his heart throbbed a little harder. He stood up, looking
straight into her eyes, as he could not help but slowly inch his face nearer to hers.
Zhou Yuan’s face was reflected in Yaoyao’s bright eyes as she seemed to stiffen.
The two grew closer and closer, their breaths already gently brushing across the other’s face.
Ao! Ao!
However, a split second before they could touch, the sound of barking suddenly cut through the air.
Yaoyao instantly returned to her senses, as rarely seen panic flashed in her eyes. The cup in her hand was
splashed at Zhou Yuan’s face in reflex.
Zhou Yuan’s face was frozen on the spot, as wine flowed down towards his chin.
A blush appeared on Yaoyao’s face as she glared at Zhou Yuan, before hurriedly turning around to enter
the little house, tightly shutting the door behind her with a loud thud.
Zhou Yuan was left behind, dazed as a statue.
A long while later, he slowly wiped away the wine on his face, before turning around with a stormy
expression. He immediately found Tuntun, and growled through gnashed teeth, “Bastard, I’m going to eat
you today!”
He ferociously pounced towards Tuntun.
To think that this ingrate, that had eaten countless meals from him, would ruin things!
Such an atmosphere was already near impossible to encounter. Once Yaoyao regained her usual
indifference and nonchalance, Zhou Yuan would not dare make such a bold move again even if he grew
another ball. And now, such a rare opportunity had been ruined by Tuntun!
Man and beast began an ugly scuffle.
Some time later.
Zhou Yuan was lying on the ground, bloody claw marks covering every inch of his body. Tuntun rolled
about in a pleased manner nearby as it released a series of very human-like mocking snorts. It was
obvious that Zhou Yuan had ultimately been defeated in this short scuffle.
Zhou Yuan let out a deep grief-filled sigh. To think that he would be incapable of beating even a little
brute...
2310
While he was filled with grief and indignation, his eyelids gradually drooped with exhaustion, and he
soon fell into a deep slumber.
Tuntun blinked a few times when it saw that Zhou Yuan had directly fallen asleep there on the ground,
before it tiptoed towards his head. It lifted a leg, actually planning on pissing on Zhou Yuan’s head.
However, while its leg was being raised, a hand viciously pinched its ear and lifted it into the air.
Tuntun struggled, only to freeze when it saw Yaoyao’s clear as water like eyes, as a begging for
forgiveness expression instantly emerged in its eyes.
“Take him back.” Yaoyao glanced towards the figure lying on the ground.
Tuntun was thrown back down. It could only grow in size and pull Zhou Yuan onto its back, before
obediently sending him into the little house.
The next day, Zhou Yuan discovered that he was lying on his soft bed when he awakened from his deep
sleep. He gazed at the edge on his bed, as abundant vital energy spread in his body, allowing his condition
to slowly recover to its peak.
Gong!
The clear sound of an old bell suddenly rang out across the land.
A dazzling light shined in Zhou Yuan’s eyes, eager battle intent suging in their depths.
The chief disciple selection was finally here.
2311
Chapter 457 Chief Disciple Peak
Gong!
The sound of an old bell echoed in every corner of the Cangxuan Sect. The instant it sounded, it was as if a
bucket of cold water had been poured into a boiling deep fryer, instantly breaking the lingering peace
from the night before as an explosion of excitement permeated the air.
Countless glowing figures could be seen flying out in the sky, accompanied by the sound of rushing wind
as they swarmed towards the various peaks.
An intense and eager battle intent filled the Cangxuan Sect.
Zhou Yuan walked out of his little house and arrived at the entrance of the cave dwelling, where he saw a
pretty figure gracefully standing. With an aura as ungraspable as the mist, it was naturally Yaoyao.
Yaoyao currently had her head slightly raised as she gazed upon the bustling atmosphere of excitement
that had descended upon the sect. After accumulating for two months, everyone’s battle intent appeared
to have simultaneously erupted at this very moment. Today was clearly going to be an exceptionally
marvellous day for the Cangxuan Sect.
“Rested well?” She turned around, her body seemingly glowing as the morning rays shined onto her, a
sight that one would find very difficult to shift away from. However, her beautiful face had regained its
previous indifference, making it impossible to read the feelings in the depths of her heart.
Zhou Yuan nodded with a smile, regret filling his heart, before he sent a vicious glare at the nearby
Tuntun. This little bastard! I’ll remember this grudge!
“What are you looking at?” Yaoyao immediately saw the look in Zhou Yuan’s eyes, and shot an angry glare
at him.
Zhou Yuan coughed dryly twice.
“Let’s get ready… you’ve suffered quite a bit for the sake of today. Let everyone see the fruits of your
efforts.” Said Yaoyao.
Zhou Yuan exhaled a long and deep breath. These two past two months of training had not been easy
indeed, and today was the time to test the results of his hard work.
Burning battle intent rose in his eyes, without even the slightest trace of fear to be seen. No matter what
opponent he faced today, the chief disciple position of Saint Genesis Peak would definitely be his!
2312
WIth a stamp, Genesis Qi rose from under his foot, swiftly carrying Yaoyao, Tuntun and himself into the
air as they fly towards Saint Genesis Peak.
By the time the trio rushed there, they found the disciples from their faction already gathered. At the very
front, Shen Taiyuan stood with a solemn expression on his face, Zhou Tai, Zhang Yan and the rest
standing closely behind.
Zhou Yuan landed in front of them and respectfully cupped his fist together in greeting towards Shen
Taiyuan.
Shen Taiyuan acknowledged Zhou Yuan with a brief nod, before his gaze swept across the crowd. “Since
everyone is here, let’s get going.”
With a wave of his sleeve, Genesis Qi surged out, sweeping up everyone like a cloud. After roughly half an
incense stick of time, they landed on a giant stone stage.
A giant peak towered in front of the enormous strong stage. From how the mountain was already covered
in mist at its midway point, one could imagine just how titanic it was.
Shen Taiyuan pointed at the giant mountain before them and said in a solemn voice, “It is called the chief
disciple peak and is also the battlefield of the chief disciple selection. There are a total of seven such chief
disciple peaks in the Cangxuan Sect, and this one belongs to our Saint Genesis Peak.”
“This is where the chief disciple selection of Saint Genesis Peak will unfold.”
There was a look of thought on Zhou Yuan’s face as he gazed upon the mountain. If this was the case, it
would mean that the seven chief disciple selections were held separately, and the other six chief disciple
peaks were likely already the focus of tens of thousands of watching eyes.
Swish!
At this moment, the sound of rushing wind was heard from the sky. A Genesis Qi cloud descended and
landed on a nearby stone stage, revealing numerous figures.
At their head was elder Lu Song, while Lu Yan stood elegantly behind him.
Lu Hong’s faction had also arrived..
Not long after they appeared, the sound of rushing wind was heard again as Lu Hong’s faction made their
grand entrance, far surpassing the other two factions in both numbers and presence.
Lu Hong stood at the front of his numerous disciples with his hands behind his back. His indifferent gaze
swept across the other two groups, only pausing briefly on Zhou Tai, Zhang Yan and Lu Yan, the three
more renowned disciples. As for Zhou Yuan, all he received was a quick glance out of the corner of the
2313
former’s eyes that was almost immediately withdrawn in an uncaring manner. It was obvious that Lu
Hong did not view Zhou Yuan as a threat.
Behind him, the six disciples led by Yuan Hong gave off an imposing presence. This was a very strong
line-up.
The other two factions seemed to grow a little restless after Lu Hong’s faction appeared. Most of the
disciples wore extremely grave expressions, clearly under quite a bit of pressure.
As the hottest contenders, Zhou Tai, Zhang Yan and Lu Yan’s gazes were all gathered on the
expressionless Yuan Hong, wariness and fear flashing across their eyes.
They were unafraid of the other participants from Lu Hong’s faction. Only Yuan Hong gave them a
dangerous sensation.
Besides the members of these three factions, quite a number of disciples from the other peaks had also
rushed to this place. They landed in the vicinity of the chief disciple peak, whispers quickly beginning to
spread as they gazed upon the three groups.
“It seems that there won’t be any suspense in this chief disciples selection…”
“Yeah, Lu Hong’s side is too powerful, the other two groups really appear quite weak in contrast…”
“Looks like the chief disciple position will end up with elder Lu Hong’s faction.”
“......”
These voices were also transmitted into the ears of the many disciples from Shen Taiyuan and Lu Song’s
factions, causing them to worry even more. As long as one was not blind, the overwhelming might of Lu
Hong’s faction was clear as day.
In comparison, smiles were revealed on the faces of Lu Hong’s disciples when they heard these whispers,
causing them to grow even more proud and arrogant. The gazes they occasionally sent towards the other
two factions were filled with contempt.
At the sight of this situation, Shen Taiyuan and Lu Song exchanged a look, and ultimately faintly nodded
at each other.
Shen Taiyuan withdrew his gaze, looking towards Zhou Tai, Zhang Yan and Zhou Yuan as a voice wrapped
in Genesis Qi was transmitted into their ears, “Lu Hong’s side has an absolute advantage in this chief
disciple selection, it will be very difficult for a single faction to take them on alone.”
Zhou Tai was taken aback. He soon asked, “What is teacher Shen trying to say?”
2314
Shen Taiyuan indifferently replied, “Elder Lu Song and I have discussed this matter. After entering the
chief disciple peak, Zhou Tai and Zhang Yan, the two of you will join forces with Lu Yan to snipe Yuan
Hong. You must defeat him first.”
Zhou Tai and Zhang Yan looked at each other, clearly not expecting that they would join hands with the
other faction. After all, they were in a manner of speaking also competitors.
Even so, they ultimately nodded, because none of them had any confidence in facing Yuan Hong alone.
The best possible scenario was indeed working together to defeat and disqualify the strongest Yuan Hong
at the start.
“If the three of us are joining forces to deal with Yuan Hong, what about the other participants from Lu
Hong’s side?” Inquired Zhang Yan.
Shen Taiyuan looked towards Zhou Yuan. “Zhou Yuan, you and the two other disciples from elder Lu
Song’s side will obstruct Lu Hong’s five other disciples. Due to your disadvantage in numbers, you guys
will definitely be under substantial pressure. As such, there is no need for your group to face the other
party with your full power, but instead focus on delaying them as long as you can. If the situation turns
dire, you may admit defeat and withdraw from the selection.”
“You guys only need to endure until the other group manages to defeat Yuan Hong, and it will be
considered a success.”
Shen Taiyuan clearly felt that the main force this time was still Zhou Tai and Zhang Yan. Hence, he did not
have high hopes for Zhou Yuan, and only wished that he would be able to delay for time.”
In Shen Taiyuan’s eyes, allowing Zhou Yuan to participate was mostly to give him some experience in
preparation for the chief disciple selection next year.
Zhou Yuan was silent, but did not raise any objections. Instead, he only asked, “What happens if senior
brother Zhou Tai and the rest succeed in defeating Yuan Hong?”
“Once Lu Hong’s side is dealt with, who ultimately takes the chief disciple position will depend on one’s
capability.” Declared Shen Taiyuan.
Zhou Yuan nodded, no further questions. It was good as long as he was not forbidden from vieing for the
chief disciple seat.
“Okay, I understand.”
...
“If Zhou Tai, Zhang Yan and I join hands, it will not be too difficult for us to deal with Yuan Hong.” On the
other side, Lu Yan had found out about the plan from elder Lu Song.
2315
“However…” Her eyes swept towards Zhou Yuan’s figure as she frowned. “Are you certain that Zhou Yuan
and the other two from our side will be able to delay the five participants on Lu Hong’s side long
enough?”
She shook her head, evidently a little unsatisfied with the plan as she continued, “I feel that it will not
work out… this is a little unbecoming of elder Shen. He could have chosen any other time to give his
disciple the chance to gain some experience. Can’t believe he permitted that disciple of his to participate
when the stakes are so high.”
Lu Song smiled helplessly and said, “It’s useless to say anything at this juncture. As long as you, Zhou Tai
and Zhang Yan succeed in defeating Yuan Hong as fast as possible, the situation will fall under our
control.”
Lu Yan mumbled to herself, “I hope that he will not become a burden at the most critical point”
“Otherwise, I will not let him off.”
2316
Chapter 458 The Ten Chosens
While the seven chief disciple peaks began to boil with excitement, vast Genesis Qi churned high up in the
sky above the Cangxuan Sect. Countless disciples raised their heads, and saw the gathering Genesis Qi
transform into six giant glowing Genesis Qi lotuses.
Six figures were seated upon the lotuses, spreading their overwhelming and immeasurable presences.
They seemed to exude limitless power, causing respect to instinctively rise in everyone’s hearts.
They were naturally sect master Qing Yang and the other five peak masters.
When these six hegemons of the sect appeared, every disciple and elder in the Cangxuan Sect bowed their
bodies as their voices echoed in every corner.
“We respectfully greet sect master and the peak masters!”
Sect master Qing Yang and the other five peak masters would naturally not be missing from the grandest
and most important yearly event of the Cangxuan Sect.
At the center of the group, sect master Qing Yang gave a slight nod of acknowledgement. His expression
was gentle, and yet also like a bottomless pool or an immeasurable peak, giving off a sense of stability
that ordinary people could never possess, as if he would not be alarm even when the heavens began to
crumble.
“I hope that the disciples will give their all in this year’s chief disciple selection. Show us your ability, and
become a model for the numerous disciples of our Cangxuan Sect.” Sect master Qing Yang’s gentle yet
grand voice rang out in everyone’s ears.
“Yes!” The many disciples responded in unison.
Not long after the six hegemons revealed themselves, another ten mini glowing lotuses began to form
some distance to their front, as ten figures swept across the air and seated themselves on the lotuses.
When the ten figures were revealed, cheering swiftly arose from the countless disciples as they looked
over with fervent gazes.
Because these ten figures were the ten great Chosens of the Cangxuan Sect!
The ten Chosens were usually busy with their training or on missions, making it nearly impossible to see
all ten of them gathered in one place. Only during a grand occasion like the chief disciple selection, would
they all show up together.
In contrast to the untouchable, almighty and revered six hegemons, the numerous disciples undoubtedly
felt much closer to the ten Chosens, many even treating the group as targets of worship in their hearts.
2317
This was why the appearance of the ten Chosens resulted in such a scene.
“All ten Chosens present together…” Zhou Yuan was also quite amazed by this. After all, it had been
nearly an entire year since he came to the Cangxuan Sect, but he had to even see half of the Chosens
before this.
He stared at the ten glowing lotuses. At the center was the most eye-catching shiny bald head. Sunlight
reflected off its glossy surface, making it dazzle brightly.
It was the leader of the Chosens, Chu Qing.
As he looked at Chu Qing, Zhou Yuan swept a glance at Lu Yan from Lu Song’s faction. Sure enough, he
found a look of adoration on the latter’s face as she dazedly stared at Chu Qing, little stars even glittering
in her eyes. The usually arrogant manner she displayed was now nowhere to be seen.
On the left and right of Chu Qing were Kong Sheng and Li Qingchan, followed by the rest of the Chosens.
Every figure seemed to command the attention of the crowd.
After all, the fact that they could become Chosens was more than enough evidence of their talent. They
were the cream of the crop even among the numerous elites of the Cangxuan Sect.
Chu Qing yawned atop his lotus, before turning his head to see Kong Sheng icily staring at him. The
former immediately rubbed his shiny, bald head, displaying a dazzling smile as he said, “Ah, junior
brother Kong Sheng, it’s been so long since we last met.”
Kong Sheng’s eyes stabbed at Chu Qing like swords, as he coldly responded, “Chu Qing, I sent you
eighteen challenge letters. Why have you not responded at all?”
A shocked look appeared on Chu Qing’s face. “Eighteen challenge letters? Aiyyaa, why haven’t I seen a
single one… I’m sure of it, someone must have secretly thrown them away. I’ll go back and find out
exactly who has the gall to do such a thing.”
Kong Sheng icily chuckled. Fine, continue your acting.
With a wave of his sleeve, a challenge letter appeared in his hand, before being tossed towards Chu Qing.
“Regardless of whether you’ve seen them previously, I believe you won’t be able to avoid this one, right?”
The challenge letter whizzed through the air, heading straight for Chu Qing.
However, Chu Qing did not even move or cast a glance to the side, allowing the challenge letter to brush
past his face, before floating away into the distance.
Kong Sheng, “......”
Li Qingchan, “......”
2318
The corners of the other Chosens’ lips pulled outwards.
Veins could not help but pop out on Kong Sheng’s forehead, evidently not expecting that Chu Qing would
be so thick skinned as to directly ignore the challenge letter right in his face. Just how cheeky could this
person get?
Chu Qing looked towards Li Qingchan with a smile. “Junior sister Qingchan, let’s change places.”
Li Qingchan responded with an annoyed glance, completely ignoring his request.
Upon seeing that there would not be any response from her, Chu Qing helplessly shook his head and
turned back to the now black faced Kong Sheng with a smile, “Don’t be so rash junior brother Kong Sheng.
Sending out such a challenge letter with no warning will only hurt the relationship we have as fellow
disciples.”
“If you really want to compete, we can do it in any way.”
“What way?” Kong Sheng was expressionless.
“Wuu…” Chu Qing blinked several times, before a bright smile emerged on his face. “We can bet on the
chief disciple selection… hmm, let’s guess who the chief disciple of Saint Genesis Peak will be!”
“The loser will have to pay a hundred thousand Genesis jade!”
Kong Sheng’s eyes narrowed slightly. “And also accept a challenge letter!”
Chu Qing felt rather helpless and could only nod in agreement.
Only then did Kong Sheng let out an icy chuckle. “What’s there to guess, the chief disciple seat will
definitely end up with Yuan Hong.”
Lu Hong’s faction was from Sword Cometh Peak, and Kong Sheng naturally had a clear understanding of
Yuan Hong’s strength. There was no one from the other two factions who could put up a fight against him.
Chu Qing merely grinned and said, “I hold a different opinion.”
Kong Sheng laughed mockingly. “Oh? Are you supporting Zhou Tai, Zhang Yan or Lu Yan?”
Chu Qing pondered a little, before he said, “I feel that the chief disciple position might land in the hands of
Zhou Yuan.”
These words not only elicited another chuckle from Kong Sheng, but also caused the other Chosens to
look over. They had heard of this Zhou Yuan before, but no matter how amazing his achievements were
over the past year, he was ultimately a new disciple.
2319
When compared to Yuan Hong, the gap between them was quite huge.
So how could he possibly obtain the chief disciple seat of Saint Genesis Peak?
In fact, even Li Qingchan, who was more well acquainted with Zhou Yuan, frowned slightly, feeling that it
was going to be quite impossible. Although Zhou Yuan had defeated Yang Xuan, none of the participants
in the chief disciple selection would be weaker than Yang Xuan.
Let alone someone like Yuan Hong...
“I did not expect you to think so highly of him.” Remarked Kong Sheng.
Chu Qing sighed and said, “As the one who can make that monster Zhou Xiaoyao submit, Zhou Yuan is
definitely no simple individual…”
The corners of everyone’s mouths twitched. So this was the reason? This was why he felt Zhou Yuan
would obtain the chief disciple seat?
Upon seeing the strange looks on the faces of the other Chosens, Chu Qing immediately began explaining,
“You guys have never tasted Zhou Xiaoyao’s methods. She’s definitely a heartless witch who can sell you
away without even blinking. If Ye Ge did not keep insisting that she was a Cangxuan Sect disciple, I would
have suspected that she was sent from the Sacred Palace to cause trouble!”
His voice was filled with resentment, clearly recalling the Heaven mission previously, where he had been
forced by Zhou Xiaoyao to use his full power in battle. There had been no choice but to do so, just look at
how Ye Ge had nearly been killed...
Over the years, this was the first time that Chu Qing had been forced into such a situation by someone
else.
Kong Sheng let out an icy chuckle and said, “I don’t care what reason you have, but since you’ve chosen
Zhou Yuan, let us get ready to watch how things will unfurl. I hope that you will obediently accept my
challenge letter after you lose!”
After speaking, he withdrew his gaze and turned towards the distant Saint Genesis Peak. Disdain flitted
across his eyes as his gaze swept across a certain young figure.
Was Zhou Yuan thinking of taking the chief disciple seat from Yuan Hong?
How delusional!
2320
Chapter 459 Start of the Chief Disciple Selection
After the ten Chosens appeared, numerous elders began to arrive in the sky above. The scale of this
gathering was very impressive, showing just how important the chief disciple selection was to the
Cangxuan Sect.
As time passed, the sun rose high into the sky.
Sect master Qing Yang glanced towards the sky and nodded, before gently waving his sleeve.
Dong!
A loud ‘dong’ echoed across the land.
The atmosphere inside the Cangxuan Sect reached its peak at this moment. Everyone knew that the bell
marked the beginning of the chief disciple selection.
“Let the chief disciple selection begin. Disciples, I hope that you will fully display the fruits of your labor
over the past year!” Sect master Qing Yang’s powerful voice echoed by everyone’s ear.
It was quickly followed by a storm of cheering.
Go for it, senior brother Zheng Shi!”
“Senior sister Su Yun, you’ll definitely succeed!”
“……”
Countless disciples cheered for the participants they were supporting, creating quite an astonishing din.
The situation was the same on Saint Genesis Peak’s side. However, practically everyone from Shen
Taiyuan’s faction was cheering for either Zhou Tai or Zhang Yan. These two were the main force after all.
“Go little Yuan bro, I bet two hundred thousand Genesis jade on you taking the chief disciple seat!”
Someone suddenly yelled. The crowd looked over, only to discover that it was Shen Wanjin.
The declaration of his generous bet made quite a number of people jump in shock, as they could not help
but say, “Are you crazy? You’ve actually bet two hundred thousand Genesis jade? You could have used
that kind of money to treat us at the Hundred Fragrances House instead!”
Two hundred thousand Genesis jade was a fortune to even most purple sash disciples. Shen Wanjin had
only been able to accumulate it because Zhou Yuan had extorted it from Wu Hai previously.
No one had expected that Shen Wanjin would wager all of it on Zhou Yuan.
2321
In their eyes, this was undoubtedly the most foolish action anyone could take. You’ll at least get some nice
splashes if you threw them all into the river, throwing them onto Zhou Yuan, on the other hand, won’t
even net you a ripple!
Shen Wanjin did not mind the gazes that were looking at him as if he were a fool. In any case, Zhou Yuan
was the one who had gotten him these Genesis jade, so it didn’t matter even if he lost them all.
His thought process was very simple. As Zhou Yuan’s most loyal fan, how could he possibly not give his
support at such a time?!
Zhou Yuan was also rather alarmed by the huge wager, but was soon unable to hold back a chuckle as he
shook his head. He did not say anything, only waving at Shen Wanjin.
Shen Taiyuan looked over and said to Zhou Yuan, Zhou Tai and Zhang Yan, “Get ready.”
The trio nodded with serious expressions.
Swish!
In the next instant, the trio dashed into the sky together, stepping on Genesis Qi as they descended
towards the chief disciple peak.
At the same time, several figures also rose from Lu Hong and Lu Song’s factions amidst thunderous
cheers.
A total of twelve figures flew past in the sky, swiftly approaching the chief disciple peak.
When they were a certain distance from the chief disciple peak, Zhou Yuan felt a pressure spread from it.
Under this pressure, the flow of Genesis Qi turned somewhat slower.
In addition, it seemed that the closer they got to the summit, the greater the pressure.
However, Zhou Yuan did not panic, because Shen Taiyuan had already talked about this previously.
Genesis Runes had been carved into the chief disciples peak that made the surrounding Genesis Qi
heavier. When one was within range of the runes, one would feel as if there was a heavy mountain on
one’s back, and the closer one was to the summit, the greater the pressure one would feel.
In such an environment, one’s Genesis Qi would be consumed at a much faster rate in battle.
This was a test of sorts. Those without sufficient strength would not have the qualifications to even
ascend the summit.
Mists swirled around the giant mountain. Stone platform after platform had been chiselled into the
mountain, like giant stone steps that reached upwards all the way to the summit currently concealed by
mist.
2322
At a certain distance from the mountain, the onlookers saw the twelve figures suddenly begin to sink
rapidly. Genesis Qi quickly rose from their bodies to stabilize them.
After steadying themselves, their figures descended towards the stone platforms, using them as steps to
ascend the mountain.
Among the twelve figures, Yuan Hong was unsurprisingly in the lead. Right behind him, was Zhou Tai,
Zhang Yan and Lu Yan, while Zhou Yuan and the rest were further behind.
Zhou Tai, Zhang Yan and Lu Yan gradually approached each other as they exchanged a look, before
locking onto Yuan Hong’s figure at the very front and nodding faintly.
Swish!
Their speed rose sharply, as they attacked together a split second later. Three torrents of Genesis Qi
surged out, blasting towards Yuan Hong’s figure.
*Uproar*!
Their actions immediately caused quite a stir outside the chief disciple peak. Almost no one had expected
the two factions to join hands against Yuan Hong.
Yuan Hong naturally noticed the berserk Genesis Qi rushing towards him from behind. However, there
was no panic as a giant thousand feet long torrent of Genesis Qi whizzed out and, coiled around him like a
giant python.
Boom!
The three blasts of Genesis Qi arrived, shockwaves violently unfurling as Genesis Qi collided.
Further behind, the expressions of the other five participants from Lu Hong’s faction changed slightly, as
they sped up in order to provide support.
However, Zhou Yuan and the other two disciples from Lu Song’s faction now stood before them,
obstructing their path.
Wu Hai shot a chilling glance at Zhou Yuan, before shouting, “Will you have trouble senior brother Yuan
Hong?”
Yuan Hong swept a glance behind him, and waved his hand as he nonchalantly replied, “I’ll play with
them for a bit, you guys only need to finish off the three of them.”
He then looked towards the three figures that were rapidly surrounding him as a mocking smile rose
from the corners of his mouth. “You guys plan to join forces? Smart move, but do you really believe that
your combined might is enough?”
2323
“Follow me if you have the guts!”
With an icy laugh, his figure suddenly rose into the air and dashed towards the misty halfway point of the
mountain. He was evidently planning on pulling the battleground to a higher location.
Upon seeing this, Zhou Tai turned towards the Zhou Yuan trio and said, “Junior brother Zhou Yuan, we’ll
be troubling the three of you to delay the rest. We’ll come back to help you guys after finishing off Yuan
Hong.”
As his voice faded, the three of them had already soared into the sky, as they hurriedly gave chase.
For this chief disciple selection, they needed to first gather their strongest power to deal with the biggest
threat, Yuan Hong. Otherwise, neither of their two factions would have any chance of victory.
The four figures flew forward, swiftly disappearing into the mist.
Zhou Yuan’s expression did not change as he watched them leave, before turning his head to look at the
two disciples from Lu Song’s faction consisting of one guy and a girl.
The guy was called Han Yan. He had a large muscular frame, and looked like a straightforward person.
The girl was called Han Yu, and was quite a pretty dainty little thing.
The two of them were brother and sister.
Han Yan returned Zhou Yuan’s gaze with an honest smile, while Han Yu frowned a little. She and Lu Yan
were very close, and they could be considered best friends. Hence, she had naturally been influenced by
Lu Yan, and also felt that Zhou Yuan would be a burden.
“Brother Zhou Yuan, let’s do our best to delay them…” Said Han Yan.
Three against five, an absolute disadvantage in numbers. Once things started, the other side would surely
gain the upper hand.
Han Yu swept a glance at Zhou Yuan and said, “Since we’ve chosen to stay behind, we’ve already resolved
ourselves to fight to the bitter end, and have no intentions of retreating unscathed. It will be a success as
long as we can delay them and win a little more time for senior sister Lu Yan and the rest.”
The two of them were evidently planning to go down fighting.
“I’ll do what I can.” Said Zhou Yuan with a slight smile.
Han Yu was clearly not very satisfied by Zhou Yuan’s lack of resolution, but ultimately did not say
anything. She did not expect much from him in the first place after all.
2324
Genesis Qi rose from Han Yan and Han Yu, their expression turning grave and wary as they stared at the
five figures nearby.
Meanwhile, the five disciples from Lu Hong’s faction looked back with ridicule.
Wu Hai’s mocking gaze looked towards Zhou Yuan as he grinned and said, “So that’s what you guys are
planning. Delay us while concentrating your forces to deal with senior brother Yuan Hong?”
“I have to say…”
“That your plan is truly delusional.”
The rest of them burst out into laughter. From the looks of it, they were not the slightest bit worried
about Yuan Hong.
Wu Hai’s chilling gaze locked onto Zhou Yuan as he said to the other four, “Leave this one to me, I intend
to wipe away my previous humiliation.”
From start to end, he still believed that he had only been defeated by a single punch because he had been
caught off guard. If they were to duel again, it would not be so easy for Zhou Yuan to win.
The other four also understood that Wu Hai was intent on washing away his previous defeat, and
naturally had no objections.
“Go!”
Upon seeing this, Han Yan and Han Yu made their move, flying away towards another location.
“Be careful brother Zhou Yuan!”
The other four participants from Lu Hong’s faction merely laughed, before swiftly giving chase, as if they
were cats toying with a mouse.
In the wake of their departure, only Zhou Yuan and Wu Hai were left facing each other on the stone
platform.
Wu Hai stared at Zhou Yuan, as a sinister smile rose from the corners of his mouth.
“Zhou Yuan, do you know how I will torment you this time?”
2325
Chapter 460 One Strike
A sea of people surrounded the seven chief disciples peaks, their boiling hubbub of voices dashing into
the sky and scattering the clouds.
All of the participants had already entered the battlefield. Berserk Genesis Qi soon began to erupt, as
intensive battles broke out.
Compared to the other six chief disciple peaks, Saint Genesis Peak clearly had the least participants. After
all, they only had three factions, while the other peaks had at least several dozen...
Although they had the least participants, the attention on the Saint Genesis Peak chief disciple selection
ranked number one or two among the other selections. A lot was on the line after all, and even the six
hegemons would occasionally cast their attention over.
Due to the wager between Kong Sheng and Chu Qing, the former would also often cast his gaze over.
When he saw that Shen Taiyuan and Lu Song’s factions had joined hands, he merely released an icy
chuckle.
“These two factions at least have some brains.” Remarked Kong Sheng in an uncaring manner. With Lu
Hong’s faction at an overwhelming advantage, if the other two were to fight among themselves, the only
thing that awaited them would be a crushing defeat.
Since they had now joined forces, they would at least be able to put up a little resistance.
However, only a little...
He was not worried even if the two factions were working together. Though the numbers on both sides
were now equal, unfortunately for them… the gap in quality still existed.
His gaze shifted, homing in on a certain stone platform where two figures were facing each other.
Although Kong Sheng had previously heard of Wu Hai being caught off guard, and defeated by Zhou Yuan
with a single punch, it was most likely due to carelessness. Zhou Yuan would certainly not have such an
easy time winning this time.
As long as Wu Hai managed to delay Zhou Yuan, the other four should soon finish off the Han siblings.
When that happened, the situation would become completely stable.
As for Yuan Hong...
Kong Sheng softly chuckled. If they believed that numbers could deal with Yuan Hong, Kong Sheng could
only say that they were too naive.
2326
In any case, regardless of how he looked at it, the other two factions did not have even a sliver of hope.
The chief disciple seat would most certainly land in the hands of Lu Hong’s faction.
Under the countless watching gazes, atop the misty stone platform, Zhou Yuan gazed at the sinisterly
smiling Wu Hai. The former’s expression was impassive, his five fingers slowly clenched into a fist as he
smiled and said, “It seems that you didn’t suffer enough after the previous punch I gave you.”
Wu Hai’s expression darkened. A month ago, he had been caught off guard and defeated by a single punch
from Zhou Yuan, causing him to lose a tremendous amount of face. If Lu Hong had not been worried that
changing their line-up would affect their morale, he would have replaced Wu Hai right away.
This made Wu Hai hate Zhou Yuan even more.
Hence, he intended to wash away all that humiliation.
“I’m sure that you will be singing another tune when you’re kneeling before me later.” Wu Hai did not
want to waste any more time. Vigorous Genesis Qi swept out from his body like a storm, violently
churning around his body as an alarming pressure swept outwards.
Under this pressure, crack began to grow on the ground under his feet.
As Genesis Qi surged, Wu Hai made a grabbing motion, and a dark red broad appeared in his hand. When
it appeared, the surrounding Genesis Qi began to converge towards it.
Wu Hai’s Genesis Qi undulations began to climb.
It was a quasi-Heaven Genesis Weapon.
After suffering at Zhou Yuan’s hands previously, Wu Hai obviously no longer dared to show any
negligence. He immediately brought out the quasi-Heaven Genesis Weapon Lu Hong had given him,
allowing his battle power to reach its peak.
Wu Hai grew more and more confident as he felt the surging Genesis Qi in his body, while the gaze he
directed towards Zhou Yuan became icier and icier.
“Zhou Yuan, you managed to take advantage of my carelessness to defeat me in a single punch last time.
That’s why I’ll let you have a taste of what it felt like this time!”
Wu Hai’s body slowly rose into the air as the scarlet light on his dark red broadsword gradually grew
deeper. Terrifying power pulsed from the edge of the sword as it frantically absorbed the surrounding
Genesis Qi.
An alarming Genesis Qi ripple began to unfurl from his body.
2327
It was as if a whirlpool had formed around him, a spectacular and astonishing sight indeed.
This scene naturally fell into the eyes of the many watching gazes, causing gasps of surprise to sound.
Anyone could tell that this was going to be Wu Hai’s strongest attack, and he was obviously planning to
return an eye for eye.
Zhou Yuan had defeated him with a single punch, so he was going to finish off Zhou Yuan in a single move.
“Low grade Heaven Genesis technique, Light Slash!”
A thunderous roar boomed as the surrounding Genesis Qi poured into the scarlet red broadsword,
causing resplendent and powerful sword light to rapidly gather on its surface.
This strike was powerful enough to split mountains.
Ferocity filled Wu Hai’s eyes as he swung the broadsword in his hands.
Bzz!
An over eight hundred feet long arc of sword light suddenly appeared. It hacked downwards with
alarming power, furiously chopping towards Zhou Yuan below.
*Uproar*!
Countless disciples broke into an uproar outside the chief disciple peak as their expressions rapidly
changed. No one had expected Wu Hai to play his strongest cards at the beginning… He had not only
brought out a quasi-Heaven Genesis Weapon, but also used a Heaven Genesis technique.
Even an opponent of the same cultivation level would not dare to clash directly against such an attack.
Worry rose on the faces of Shen Taiyuan’s disciples when they saw this, even Shen Taiyuan’s old face
tensing with anxiety.
Wu Hai was here with vengeance, and had no intentions of trying to feel out his opponent.
On Lu Hong’s side, Lu Hong gave a faint nod of approval. At least Wu Hai wasn’t stupid. Since Zhou Yuan
practiced an external cultivation technique, there was no need to waste time. Send out a ruthless blow at
the start to cripple him.
“This Light Slash technique is quite a famous Heaven Genesis technique in Sword Cometh Peak, and
boasts astonishing power. With the power of the Scarlet Spirit Sword added into the mix, Zhou Yuan will
not be able to put up any resistance.” Remarked Lu Hong in a nonchalant manner.
The other disciples nodded one after another. Looks like Zhou Yuan would be the first to be eliminated.
2328
Bzz!
The giant arc of sword light swiftly descended as the stone platform began to crumble.
Zhou Yuan raised his head, his eyes narrowing slightly as he looked at the falling sword light. Wu Hai had
indeed grown smarter...
With a grasp of his hand, the Heavenly Yuan Brush appeared and transformed into its martial form. The
surrounding Genesis Qi rapidly surged over, pouring into the brush as his Genesis Qi aura swiftly began
to rise.
Not even a single ripple could be seen on his face as his hair danced wildly under the falling arc of sword
light. The corners of his mouth moved slightly as a soft voice was spat out, “Genesis Breaker.”
The lotus shaped snow-white brush hairs at the tip of the brush gradually took on a night-black luster,
appearing rather mysterious.
“Little Mythic Saint Body, jade skin!”
The skin all over his body began to emit a jade glow that rapidly swirl on the surface of his body.
The giant arc of sword light rapidly grew in his eyes, the sharp sword aura piercing thousands of holes on
the shattered stone ground.
Zhou Yuan’s hands tightened around the Heavenly Yuan Brush. In the next instant, a shout abruptly rang
out from his throat, “Million Whale Rune!”
The Heavenly Yuan Brush in his hand was forcefully swung, its night-black brush tip swinging straight at
the giant arc of sword light.
The silhouette of a giant whale seemed to appear around the Heavenly Yuan Brush as the cry of a whale
echoed.
Under the countless watching gazes, sword light and black brush tip crashed into each other.
Boom!
An enormous shockwave swept outwards, causing destruction in the surroundings. Sword light pulsed,
as the mist rippled violently. Dust rose from the stone platform, as more and more cracks appeared.
The entire stone platform had been split open. One could easily imagine how much destructive power
had been let loose in the clash.
Numerous disciples could not help but swallow at the sight of this scene. The strike from Wu Hai’s sword
was as fierce as could be, and yet, Zhou Yuan had not tried to avoid it, but instead taken it head-on.
2329
This was basically courting death!
A mocking smile appeared from the corners of Lu Hong’s lips. Looks like the first eliminee had finally
appeared.
Numerous gazes looked towards the rising dust in pity as the stone platform began to fall apart.
Wu Hai stood in the air, arrogantly looking down from above as a sneer emerged on his face.
The dust on the stone platform gradually dissipated.
Next, the view of the platform finally became clear again.
A figure holding a black brush silently stood on the broken remains of the platform. Jade light flowed on
the surface of his body, as golden Genesis Qi swirled around him.
*Uproar*!
Upon seeing the completely unharmed figure, a torrential uproar rose outside the chief disciple peak. The
faces of numerous disciples were filled with disbelief.
Several of the more observant onlookers even realized that Zhou Yuan’s feet had not even moved from
the spot.
In other words, he had not only received Wu Hai’s strongest attack, but had even done so with extreme
ease.
The mockery on Lu Hong’s lips turned rigid.
In the sky, the expression on Wu Hai’s face also solidified little by little.
“How is this possible…”
On the stone platform, Zhou Yuan slightly relaxed his grip on the brush, neither panic nor alarm on his
face as he lifted his head to gaze at Wu Hai with a slight frown.
“Was that your strongest attack?”
He shook his head, his tone completely indifferent.
“Time for you to leave then… stop wasting any more of my time.”
2330
*Uproar*!
To no one’s surprise, a torrential uproar exploded outside the chief disciple peak the moment an
unscathed Zhou Yuan appeared in the sights of the numerous watching gazes. Countless disciples were
stupefied by the outcome that had clearly exceeded their expectations.
Who could have thought that Wu Hai’s full power would not only fail to defeat Zhou Yuan, but from the
looks of it, not even pose any threat to the latter.
Countless people mumbled, “How can this be…”
After a brief shock, Shen Taiyuan’s disciples finally returned to their senses and quickly erupted into
thunderous cheers, numerous gazes looking towards Zhou Yuan in amazement.
Just a second earlier, they had been preparing themselves to see Zhou Yuan become the first participant
to be eliminated. Who could have expected such a twist towards the very end.
Shen Taiyuan’s tensed face slowly began to relax, gratification flooding his eyes as he gazed upon the
unmoving figure on the shattered stone platform.
In contrast to the celebratory mood on Shen Taiyuan’s side, Lu Hong’s faction had fallen chockingly silent.
Many disciples looked at each other, a little unable to believe the sight before their eyes.
Lu Hong’s stern and frosty face turned extremely dark, iciness blossoming in his eyes when he looked
towards Zhou Yuan’s figure.
High up in the sky, Chu Qing immediately clapped when he saw this and said with a grin, “Zhou Yuan has
indeed concealed his abilities very deeply.”
Kong Sheng frowned in silence for a moment, before he nonchalantly said, “It’s still a little early to make
such an evaluation.”
Chu Qing merely smiled, not commenting any further.
Even higher up from them, six figures were seated on gigantic glowing lotuses, pulsing with power that
made the surrounding area tremble faintly.
Their gazes seemed to flow with images as they viewed fight after fight. Likewise, the situation on Zhou
Yuan’s side was also seen by them.
“Oh?”
2331
The first to make a noise was the peak master Gu of Hongya Peak. The bulging muscles on his well-built
metal tower like body seemed to stir as if breathing, every breath they took accompanied by a muffled
rumble from his body. If he was not purposely suppressing the sound at all times, even the surrounding
space would begin to crumble under its might.
This was one of the phenomenons that occured when one’s physical body was cultivated to extremely
terrifying levels.
Hongya Peak specialized in external cultivation. As such, peak master Gu had the strongest physical body
Light swirled within his eyes as he stared at the flowing jade light on Zhou Yuan’s body and remarked in
surprise, “This is… the mythic jade skin?!”
“It can’t be… the mythic jade skin will only appear from the Mythic Saint Body.”
“But why is it so similar…”
Peak master Gu’s surprised voice was naturally heard by the other five.
Sect master Qing Yang also watched in amazement. The Mythic Saint Body was the one of the seven
Cangxuan Sect arts that was unique to Hongya Peak. A purple sash disciple from Saint Genesis Peak such
as Zhou Yuan should not have come into contact with it.
Sword Cometh Peak master Ling Jun indifferently said, “We’ll find out once we call him over and question
him.”
Sect master Qing Yang shook his head. “There is no need to distract him while the selection is still
ongoing. Although his body has achieved the jade skin, it is not the true mythic jade skin… if my guess is
not wrong, he is practicing an external cultivation technique that was developed from the Mythic Saint
Body.”
Peak master Gu spoke up in a bewilderment, “An external cultivation technique developed from the
Mythic Saint Body? Such a technique does not exist even in Hongya Peak, how can he possibly have one?”
To develop a Genesis technique from the Mythic Saint Body was obviously not something an ordinary
disciple could achieve.
Sect master Qing Yang chuckled and said, “Of course Zhou Yuan couldn’t have done it… the only one in the
sect who has contact with the seven Cangxuan arts, and is even able to develop techniques from them is
old Xuan, who currently resides deep in Saint Genesis Peak.”
“Old Xuan…”
Only then did peak master Gu understand. Everything made sense if it was him.
2332
Peak master Ling Jun frowned slightly. “This is a little inappropriate of venerable old Xuan.”
Peak master Liu Lianyi icily chuckled and said, “You’re worried that Zhou Yuan will become an
unpredictable factor, which may affect your plans for Saint Genesis Peak, right?”
Peak master Ling Jun’s expression did not change, long accustomed to how peak master Liu Lianyi’s
always pitted herself against him on a daily basis. He looked towards Lightning Prison Peak master Lei
Jun and said, “Peak master Lei Jun oversees the rules and punishment in the sect. Do you feel that old
Xuan’s actions are out of line?”
Peak master Lei Jun was dressed in his usual black robes, his stern face causing respect to rise in anyone
who looked towards him. He answered in an indifferent voice, “It is indeed a little out of line, but that
blasted old man is as stubborn as a rock. If you feel that he has acted inappropriately, go ahead and tell
him. My rules are likely unable to govern him.”
Peak master Ling Jun could only helplessly shake his head. Old Xuan and peak master Lei Jun were the
most senior members of the Cangxuan Sect. If even the latter had no way to deal with old Xuan, anyone
else would only be wasting their saliva.”
Sect master Qing Yang chuckled as he gently said, “It is Zhou Yuan’s luck to have obtained old Xuan’s
guidance. There is no need for us to interfere in this matter.”
This basically meant the matter was settled, and there was no longer any need for the other peak masters
to give their input.
Peak master Gu stared at Zhou Yuan with interest as he commented, “He should not have practiced any
external cultivation techniques the last time I saw him. I never imagined he would achieve the jade skin
stage so quickly… it seems that he has a lot of potential in external cultivation. If he were in my Hongya
Peak, there will likely be another Shang Chunqiu in a few years.”
He had evidently grown fond of Zhou Yuan’s potential. As for Shang Chunqiu, he was a disciple of Hongya
Peak, and was ranked four among the ten great Chosens.
Spirit Rune Peak master Bai Mei’s lips curled downwards as he said, “What’s the point in training your
arms and legs. The kid’s talent in Genesis Runes is pretty good too, and he will obviously have a brighter
future if he comes to Spirit Rune Peak.”
Most importantly, if Zhou Yuan came to Spirit Rune Peak, Zhou Xiaoyao would surely follow.
“What do you know!” Peak master Gu’s eyes bulged from their sockets as his muscles stirred agitatedly,
causing thunder to boom in the surroundings.
Old man Bai Mei’s white brows drifted upwards. Just as he was about to retort, sect master Qing Yang
raised his voice and said, “Don’t make a scene.”
2333
As such, the two could only snort before jerking their gazes away.
A sinister looking crack spread across the stone platform, practically splitting it into two.
Jade light surged on the surface of Zhou Yuan’s body, making him appear even more mystically handsome
than usual. With the Heavenly Yuan Brush in hand, he calmly raised his head and looked towards the
shocked Wu Hai in the air.
The other party’s previous attack had indeed been formidable, but unfortunately for the former, that
Genesis Qi attack was incapable of doing any harm to Zhou Yuan when he activated the Heavenly Yuan
Brush’s Genesis Breaker.
Wu Hai finally returned to his senses and immediately roared out in anger, “Impossible! How did you do
it!”
However, Zhou Yuan ignored the questions as he shook his head and said, “It seems that you don’t have
any intentions of leaving by yourself.”
Wu Hai’s expression darkened as he laughed loudly in anger. “Don’t be too pleased Zhou Yuan. No matter
how tough your tortoise shell is, I only need to delay you and wait for my teammates to finish off the
other two before coming back to support me. When that happens, let’s see if you’ll be able to withstand
the attacks from all five of us!”
After experiencing the cruel reality, he had no choice but to accept the facts. However, Wu Hai ultimately
did not lose his rationality. Since he had no way to deal with Zhou Yuan, he would have to change tactics
and delay the latter instead.
In any case, they still had the absolute advantage.
It was impossible for a single Zhou Yuan to change anything.
Zhou Yuan did not say anything in response. Instead, his legs slowly slid outwards, while his body leaning
forward like a cheetah that was about to pounce at its prey. It was an offensive stance.
He was obviously about to make his move.
Wu Hai’s expression immediately turned serious, his hands tightening around the scarlet broadsword as
Genesis Qi surged around his body. He did not dare to show any negligence.
He no longer held any thoughts of washing away his previous shame with Zhou Yuan’s defeat. As long as
he managed to delay Zhou Yuan, there would naturally be an opportunity for revenge in the future.
Thump!
2334
The ground under Zhou Yuan’s feet suddenly collapsed. Jade lick flickered on his body as a terrifying
power burst out like flood, flowing to his limbs and skeleton.
It felt as if an angry dragon was roaring in his body.
Swish!
In the next instant, vigorous Genesis Qi also exploded in his body as his figure shot forth, leaving
numerous after images behind as the ground rapidly shattered under his feet.
He was indescribably quick, like a flash of light zipping through the air. In a single breath, he appeared
within a hundred feet radius of Wu Hai.
“Heavenly Sword Wings!”
Wu Hai’s pupils tightened as Genesis Qi rushed out from his body, forming a pair of giant sword Qi wings
on his back. The glowing sword Qi wings spread outwards, before wrapping around him like a shield.
This was the strongest defensive technique he knew.
He had failed to use it in their previous encounter due to being caught off guard, since he was prepared
today, there was naturally no way he would allow a repeat of the last time.
“Humph, I’d like to see if you are able to break my defense!” Wu Hai sneered.
He was a hundred percent confident in himself this time.
Swish!
Under the countless watching gazes, Zhou Yuan’s figure appeared in front of enormous glowing sword Qi
wings like a bolt of lightning, before clenching his fist and throwing a punch.
Jade light appeared on his fist, as if it were made from jade.
“Omni Python Qi, Heavenly Serpent Scales!”
While he punched, a deep voice rang out in Zhou Yuan’s heart.
Ch ch!
Scales emerged on his skin, covering his entire fist.
The power of the punch began to rise once again, reaching completely new heights.
This was the perfect combination of Zhou Yuan’s little Mythic Saint Body and Omni Python Qi.
2335
Boom!
Though his expression remained impassive, a sharp light surged in his eyes. A fist which contained
extreme power blasted through air, ultimately smashing into the sword wings under the watching eyes of
the crowd.
THUD!
An alarmingly loud noise echoed at the instant of impact.
Storm like ripples unfurled, causing destruction all around. The stone platform below was unable to bear
such power, swiftly disintegrating to dust.
Countless gazes converged towards the place where fist met wing.
Next, everyone’s eyes violently shrank.
Crack!
Behind the fist, cracks had begun appearing on the sword wings at an astonishing pace, instantly covering
the entire wings.
Behind them, horror began to flood Wu Hai’s face.
Boom!
A berserk without equal fist wind swept forth as the sword wings finally shattered, transforming into
countless specks of light.
The terrifying fist wind seemed to pierced through space itself, as a punch landed on the horrified Wu
Hai’s body.
AHHH!
A miserable shriek rang out.
Wu Hai’s body was forcefully blown out of the chief disciple peak, before crashing into another mountain,
his entire body embedded into the rock.
Boulders tumbled down as the mountain started to crumble.
It was completely silent outside the chief disciple peak, numerous gazes watching this scene as if in a
daze...
Wu Hai… had once again been sent flying by a single punch...
2336
Chapter 462 First Victory
Giant rocks continued to roll down from a certain mountain, where a figure was embedded deep into the
side of a cliff. As the rocks fell, the figure was slowly buried...
The entire place turned silent at this moment.
Gaze after gaze blankly stared at this scene, unable to return to their senses for quite some time. Who
could have imagined… that even after such ample preparation, Wu Hai would still end up being sent
flying by a single punch from Zhou Yuan...
He may have been able to say he was caught off guard previously, but there was no longer any excuse for
what happened this time.
Wu Hai had clearly brought out his full defense, but it was still unable to block Zhou Yuan’s unmatched
punch. The power of this punch was something that many eighth layer disciples would not dare to
underestimate.
The silence lasted for a long time, before ultimately being broken by thunderous, earth-shaking cheers.
With the exception of Lu Hong’s disciples, the disciples from every other peak generously cheered their
hearts out. Zhou Yuan’s victory was just too damned breathtakingly beautiful.
One must know that Zhou Yuan’s odds had been lowest before the start of the chief disciple selection,
with practically no one supporting him. In fact, several people even felt that he would be the first to be
eliminated.
However, the reality before their eyes caused everyone who had looked down on him to tightly shut their
mouths at this moment.
Fear and respect rose in the hearts of the crowd as they gazed upon the youthful figure standing amidst
the rubble that was once a stone platform,
While cheers filled the sky, Lu Hong’s faction was deathly silent. Ugly expressions could be seen on the
faces of numerous disciples. It was obvious that none of them had expected the first eliminee to come
from their faction.
At the very front, Lu Hong’s face was akin to ominous black clouds. His eyebrows trembled, a sign that he
was filled with rage inside.
“Useless trash!”
In the end, Lu Hong could only curse through gnashed teeth, pouring all of his anger onto Wu Hai.
2337
This idiot had basically made him lose all face.
Lu Hong icily looked towards Shen Taiyuan, finding that the latter was beaming brightly, unable to
contain his joy.
Upon detecting Lu Hong’s gaze, Shen Taiyuan turned his head and responded with a carefree grin.
Lu Hong let out an icy snort, before taking in a deep breath to suppress the anger in his heart. Although
Wu Hai’s defeat had been unexpected, the overall advantage was still with their side.
Without mentioning Yuan Hong’s side for the time being, the other four disciples alone were pretty much
overwhelming the two participants from Lu Song’s faction, and victory was only a matter of time. Once
they were free to deal with Zhou Yuan, it will be a tall task for him to escape the fate of being eliminated
regardless of how he struggled.
Lu Hong cast a dark gaze at Zhou Yuan’s figure, brimming with stern iciness.
“I’ll let you celebrate for the moment…”
“You’ll understand sooner or later that against my faction, you are merely akin to a mantis trying to stop a
cart.”
“When the time comes, you will naturally realize the meaning of despair!”
...
High up in the sky, the scene of Zhou Yuan blasting away Wu Hai naturally landed in the eyes of the ten
Chosens, immediately causing gasps of surprise to be heard.
“He… seems to have grown stronger again.” Li Qingchan stared at Zhou Yuan in astonishment. As her gaze
swept across Zhou Yuan’s glowing body, she muttered, “An external cultivation technique?”
Nearby, the Hongya Peak’s Shang Chunqiu was also staring intently at Zhou Yuan in amazement. As the
Chosen of the Hongya Peak, he was naturally also a practitioner of the true Mythic Saint Body.
Hence, the jade glow from Zhou Yuan’s body felt a little familiar to him, while also puzzling him
somewhat. Zhou Yuan was a disciple of Saint Genesis Peak, and it was impossible for him to have the
qualifications to practice the Mythic Saint Body. So what was this external cultivation technique he had
learnt?
Seated at the very end, Zhao Zhu’s expression was not looking too good. He clearly favored Lu Hong’s
faction, and also had a small grudge with Zhou Yuan due to the Heaven mission. Of course he did not wish
for Zhou Yuan to fall under the limelight.
2338
“Amazing…” Chu Qing sighed in admiration. “Defeating even an eighth layer with the cultivation of the
fourth layer. Junior brother Zhou Yuan’s Genesis Qi foundations are even stronger than when I was at the
fourth layer.”
People like Chu Qing and the other Chosens were naturally able to fight opponents above their cultivation
level. However, even they had not been as ferocious as Zhou Yuan when they were at the fourth layer.
“Junior brother Kong Sheng, it seems that my odds of winning the wager have increased.” Chu Qing
grinned cheekily.
Kong Sheng remained expressionless as he nonchalantly said, “It is a little early for you to celebrate, a
mere Zhou Yuan cannot affect the overall situation.”
Although he had been somewhat surprised by how Zhou Yuan had overwhelmed Wu Hai, that was as far
as it went, because Lu Hong’s side still held the absolute advantage.
Chu Qing rubbed his chin as he grinned, “Then shall we add on to the wager!”
Kong Sheng flatly said, “Not interested. My only goal is to make you accept my challenge. Once I defeat
you, there shall no longer be any reason for us to interact in the future.”
Chu Qing sighed as he sadly said, “Throwing me away after using me, you’re too heartless. That’s why I
don’t like playing with you, Ye Ge treats me so much better.”
Li Qingchan and the other Chosens cringed slightly.
Ye Ge shot an angry gaze over and said, “Do you want to die Chu Qing, don’t drag me into this.”
Chu Qing revealed a dazzling smile and waved at Ye Ge.
The veins on Kong Sheng’s head twitched erratically, before he took in a deep breath and cast Chu Qing
out of his mind, shifting his attention instead to the intense ongoing battles in the seven chief disciple
peaks.
...
On the crumbled remains of the stone stage, Zhou Yuan looked in the direction Wu Hai had flown away in.
He lightly exhaled as the jade light on his body slowly withdrew. He could feel countless gazes on him, but
did not feel pleased with himself at all, because he clearly understood that this was only the beginning.
Lu Hong’s faction was still at an overwhelming advantage.
Zhou Yuan mumbled to himself, “I wonder how senior brother Zhou Tai and the rest are doing.”
2339
Theirs was the most important battle. If even the three of them joining forces failed to defeat Yuan Hong,
the latter would really be a little too shockingly powerful.
However, he did not need to think about such things for the time being. Regardless of the situation over
there, he had to make use of this opportunity to eliminate the four other participants from Lu Hong’s
faction.
If they were allowed to join up with Yuan Hong, his chances of obtaining the chief disciple position would
become abysmally small.
“Four left…”
Zhou Yuan’s eyes narrowed slightly as he lifted his head to peer into the distant mists. He could sense
some Genesis Qi undulations far away, which likely originated from Han Yan, Han Yu and the rest.
“Since the other side has superior numbers, I should first make some preparations.”
Zhou Yuan’s eyes flickered in thought. Soon after, his toes pushed off the ground as his figure soared into
the sky like a great peng, and swiftly disappeared into the mist.
To him, only now did the chief disciple selection truly begin.
2340
Chapter 463 Three Left
Boom!
Streams of berserk Genesis Qi collided on a misty stone stage. At the instant of impact, one of the Genesis
Qi streams was barbarically torn apart, while the figure behind was swept away by the remnant force.
The figure was sent flying while vomiting blood, leaving a long mark on the ground as he slid across the
stone stage. He was clearly in an exceptionally sorry state.
“Heh heh, Han Yan, is that all you have?”
A participant from Lu Hong’s faction sneered as he sent out a bunch. Genesis Qi surged and roared,
shredding through the air with a shrill noise as it viciously blasted towards the figure.
Han Yan rolled to his feet as he hastily crossed his arms in front of him, while Genesis Qi poured out to
protect his body.
Thump!
The blast struck his arms, causing his body to jerk violently, as his entire body was sent sliding
backwards once again. His arms looked somewhat twisted, a sign that he had clearly sustained heavy
injuries.
Urgh
Yet another mouthful of blood hurled out from his mouth.
Han Yan’s face was covered in blood, but he merely wiped away the blood at the corner of his mouth
without a word, a fierce glint still shining in his eyes as he glared at the two figures to his front.
They were the two participants from Lu Hong’s faction.
Up against two opponents, it was obvious that he had soon fallen into a disadvantage.
The two disciples from Lu Hong’s faction stared at Han Yan like cats toying with a mouse. It was
impossible for someone like him to contend against the two of them alone.
While Han Yan was wiping away the blood on his face, another figure landed behind him, and stumbled to
his side.
The petite little figure naturally belonged to Han Yu.
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However, she was currently not in a much better state than Han Yan. The other two disciples from Lu
Hong’s faction grinned from ear to ear as they moved to surround the two siblings, ensuring that they
would not be able to escape.
Han Yan gazed at Han Yu and asked with a bitter smile, “Are you alright?”
Han Yu gritted her teeth and shook her head.
“Looks like the two of alone won’t be able to stop the four of them.” Han Yan sighed. Both of them had
done their best, but the outcome was evidently not as good as expected.
“Let’s persevere a little longer. Zhou Yuan is dueling with Wu Hai, and I heard that he previously defeated
the latter before. If he attains victory again this time, he will be able to come to our aid. When that
happens, a three versus four scenario will be much easier than now.”
Han Yu shook her head when she heard this, her lips curling as she said, “You’re placing your hopes on
him? Zhou Yuan only managed to defeat Wu Hai previously because the latter was careless, and would
definitely not give Zhou Yuan the same chance in a match like this. So stop deluding yourself that we’ll
eventually receive support.”
Han Yan was a little speechless, a pained look visible on his face. In the end, he took in a deep breath and
said, “I’ll force open a gap for you, while you will run as fast as you can. Don’t try and take them on
directly, and delay them as long as you can.”
Han Yu bit her lips, her eyes filled with unwillingness. She knew that Han Yan would likely immediately
come under focus fire when he did so. When that happened, he would not only suffer more, but also be
eliminated.
“You’re faster than me, and more suited to delaying them. It’s decided then.” Han Yan waved his hand, his
tone firm.
Han Yu gritted her teeth even harder as she reluctantly nodded.
Boom!
Vigorous Genesis Qi zoomed out from the top of Han Yan’s head, reaching nearly a thousand feet. It
quickly split into four torrents that transformed into glowing Genesis Qi seals and whizzed towards the
four figures.
This was basically an all or nothing attack. He had squeezed out every drop of power he had left, making
it an especially ferocious sight.
Hence, even Lu Hong’s four disciples were a little taken aback. Genesis Qi rose around them, accompanied
by sharp whistles as they met the attack head on.
2342
Rumble!
While the Genesis Qi collided, Han Yan sternly shouted, “Go!”
Han Yu did not dare to waste the opportunity Han Yan had given everything to create. Genesis Qi surged
as her figure transformed into a blur that swiftly shot forth.
Bzzbzz!
The four torrents of Genesis Qi only lasted for a few dozen breaths, before Han Yan’s Genesis Qi
shattered. Follow up attacks rapidly arrived, blasting onto his body.
The stone stage crumbled, burying Han Yan’s figure in the rubble. He violently spat out mouthfuls of
blood, evidently gravely injured and very close to being eliminated.
Han Yu’s eyes turned red when she saw this from the corner of her eye. However, she did not dare to
pause, Genesis Qi throttling even harder in her body as she raised her speed to the limits.
However, just as she was about to dash into the mist, Genesis Qi rippled in front of her and a figure
appeared like a phantom, blocking her path.
An ice-cold mocking laughter was transmitted into her ears, “You’re pretty quick, but unfortunately not
as quick as me!”
The figure was revealed to be one of the four participants from Lu Hong’s faction.
He smiled coldly as he stared at Han Yu, while his figure rapidly closed in like a phantom. A hand reached
out like an eagle’s claw, sinister sword aura flowing upon it as it grabbed Han Yu’s throat.
Han Yu’s body turned rigid, as she gritted her teeth and viciously glared at the person before her.
However, powerlessness and disappointment also appeared in her eyes.
“Still not going to admit defeat? Although I won’t destroy a flower like you, if you really force my hand, it
won’t end well for you either.” The disciple said with a wide grin.
In the distance, the other three disciples also laughed mockingly when they saw this.
They turned towards the heavily injured Han Yin in the rubble and said, “Hoping to stall the four of us
with just the two of you? Aren’t you guys looking down on us too much?”
Han Yan’s body was drenched in blood as he powerlessly lay on the ground. He could only let out a bitter
laugh when he saw the now captured Han Yu. They had already done their best. He hoped that senior
sister Lu Yan and the rest had managed to defeat Yuan Hong by now...
2343
Outside the chief disciple peak, numerous disciples burst out in to noise when they saw that Han Yan and
Han Yu had been captured.
Lu Song’s disciples had ugly looks on their faces, while elder Lu Song was frowning. Though he had long
anticipated this result, Lu Hong’s disciples were going a little overboard.
In contrast, Lu Hong’s faction were loudly cheering, the awkward and stifling atmosphere from before
due to Wu Hai’s defeat had been swept away completely. They knew that once these four senior brothers
were free, Zhou Yuan will no longer be able to make any splashes.
All of the face their faction lost previously would definitely be taken back from Zhou Yuan later on.
Lu Hong’s stern and frosty expression eased slightly at this moment. His gaze turned towards the other
two factions as he let out an icy chuckle.
...
“Concede junior sister Han Yu.”
The disciple from Lu Hong’s faction smiled as he stared at the unresigned Han Yu, before he playfully
said, “Junior sister Han Yu may commit my name to memory. I am Chen Gong, and I welcome junior sister
to come seek guidance from me any time if you’re unwilling to accept this defeat.”
“However, there’s no time for such things now…”
Genesis Qi frantically gathered on his other hand. In the end, he threw a punch, clearly intending on first
seriously injuring Han Yu to cripple her battle power.
As Han Yu gazed at the incoming attack, she closed her eyes in despair.
Boom!
However, just as Chen Gong’s blow was about to hit his target, his brows suddenly furrowed slightly. He
seemed to have heard the faint sound of rushing wind.
The sound was extremely faint, but a split second later, it suddenly exploded like thunder above him.
The mist above was abruptly torn open.
An ethereal figure swiftly descended, vigorous Genesis Qi erupting as jade light flowed on its body. The
figure pulsed with terrifying power, ramming into Chen Gong’s body before he could come back to his
senses like a swift and deadly thunderbolt.
Swish!
2344
Everyone could only watch as Chen Gong’s figure fell from the sky like a cannonball. He was ultimately
stomped into the stone stage, causing dust to rise as the entire stage slowly began to crack open.
This scene instantly gave rise to thunderous cries of alarm.
On the stone stage, the expressions of the other three disciples from Lu Hong’s faction changed rapidly.
Genesis Qi drummed through the air, blowing away the dust. Next, they saw Chen Gong’s body lying
amidst the rubble in a very sorry state indeed.
A figure was stepping on Chen Gong’s body.
Gaze after gaze looked over, only to be startled.
The three disciples from Lu Hong’s faction cried out in unison, “Zhou Yuan?!”
In the air, Han Yu was still a little dazed. All she had seen previously was a blur from the corner of her
eye, before Chen Gong was sent hurtling downwards...
She slowly lowered her head, and saw the youthful figure stepping on Chen Gong’s body below. Her
mouth hung slightly ajar as she mumbled to herself in disbelief, “...Zhou Yuan?”
She never imagined that Zhou Yuan would be the one to appear at the final juncture to save her.
“Zhou Yuan, get off him!” The three disciples angrily shouted, the rising Genesis Qi around them locking
onto Zhou Yuan.
However, Zhou Yuan paid no heed to them. He merely lowered his head to gaze at Chen Gong. The latter’s
entire face was a bloody mess, but he still managed to viciously stare at the former and roar, “You dare to
attack me from behind! You’re dead meat!”
Zhou Yuan’s chuckled, before he raised his leg with an indifferent look in his eyes.
“You should also remember my name… if there’s time in the future, feel free to come to me for some
guidance.”
Next, Genesis Qi swirled around his foot as he ruthlessly stomped at Chen Gong’s face.
Thud!
The ground below shattered as Chen Gong was directly knocked unconsciously.
The faces of the three disciples nearby turned ashen.
Zhou Yuan patted his hands together as he lifted his head and grinned at them. “Three left...”
2345
Chapter 464 Gradually Turning the Tables
Outside the chief disciple peak, countless individuals were dumbstruck as they stared at the young figure
standing on Chen Gong’s body, unable to stop themselves from swallowing repeatedly.
No one had expected Zhou Yuan to suddenly appear at this juncture.
In that split second earlier, his falling figure had been akin to an almighty god descending onto the mortal
realm.
Phew.
At the sight of this scene, Shen Taiyuan silently breathed a sigh of relief. If Han Yu had also been
eliminated, Zhou Yuan would have to face four opponents by himself, which was undoubtedly a very
disadvantageous scenario.
Zhou Yuan’s sneak attack had been both extremely decisive and swift as thunder. He had struck at the
most timing, leaving Chen Gong almost no time to respond. As a result, the attack had been
overwhelmingly successful, resulting in the latter being knocked unconscious and eliminated.
There was naturally no one who would fault Zhou Yuan for his sneak attack in a battle like this. The other
party had the numbers advantage after all, and choosing to take them on directly would only be foolish.
“Him again!” Lu Hong’s expression darkened. The two disciples from Lu Song’s faction had been moments
away from being eliminated, but Zhou Yuan just had to barge in and make a mess. Lu Hong needed no
reminder about how vile this felt.
He did not know why, but Lu Hong kept feeling that when the situation looked to be headed towards
certain victory, Zhou Yuan’s appearance would somehow tilt things a little off course.
“Tch, how can it be? Does he think he can reverse the situation with his abilities? Who the hell does he
think he is?!”
However, such thoughts were immediately thrown out by Lu Hong as he snorted disdainfully. It was
clearly impossible for him to admit that Zhou Yuan possessed such capabilities.
In the face of the absolute advantage they had, Zhou Yuan was merely akin to a mantis trying to push a
cart!
“Humph, I’ll let you be happy for now. When my faction becomes the master faction of Saint Genesis Peak,
I will naturally make all of you suffer.”
With a stormy look on his face, Lu Hong began to think of how he would repay these debts in the future.
Once they became the master faction, his status would be the highest in Saint Genesis Peak. When that
2346
happened, it would be an easy matter for him to cut and shrink the cultivation resources of the other two
factions.
He was already itching to find out what Zhou Yuan could do without the support of sufficient cultivation
resources.
Humph. So what if you’re a genius, I’ll make you understand that if you chose the wrong team, even a
genius will end up as a dusty pearl that will never see the light of day!
...
On the stone stage.
The three disciples from Lu Hong’s faction stared at Zhou Yuan with ugly expressions. Soon after, they
took in a deep breath as a serious look gradually emerged in their eyes.
Zhou Yuan’s sudden appearance had indeed been out of their expectations.
The first to speak was a disciple called Chu Yang, whose strength was second only to Yuan Hong in Lu
Hong’s faction. He darkly stared at Zhou Yuan as he demanded in a low voice, “Where’s Wu Hai?”
Zhou Yuan lowered his head to look at the unconscious Chen Gong, before lifting his head and replying in
an offhand manner, “Eliminated.”
The pupils of the Chu Yang trio shrank slightly. Wu Hai was not weaker than them, and yet he had fallen
so quickly by Zhou Yuan’s hands? They knew full well that after being defeated by Zhou Yuan previously,
Wu Hai would definitely not underestimate his opponent this time.
In other words, Zhou Yuan had beaten Wu Hai in a direct clash.
If so, they could not afford to underestimate him either.
A petite figure landed beside Zhou Yuan, as Han Yu cast a complicated glance at him. She had likewise not
expected that the one to save her would be the same person she had zero expectations since the
beginning.
Zhou Yuan did a quick sweep of her and asked, “Are you alright?”
Han Yu nodded. “I can still fight.”
“That’s good.” Zhou Yuan nodded, before casting a glance at the unconscious Han Yan. Due to the heavy
injuries he had sustained, he was basically out of the fight.
Han Yu hesitated for a moment, before she asked, “What do we do next?”
2347
Zhou Yuan had dealt Wu Hai and crushed Chen Gong in the blink of an eye, saving her in the process. Han
Yu obviously no longer dared to show the same neglect towards him.
“What else can we do… we’ll fight.” Zhou Yuan chuckled.
Although Han Yan had been eliminated, the odds were slowly turning in their favor. After all, there were
only three participants left on the other side.
“What big words!” Chu Yang could not help but let out an icy laugh upon hearing Zhou Yuan’s words.
“Though I do not know how you defeated Wu Hai, we will not make the same mistake.”
“Junior brother Zhu Qing, you deal with Han Yu, while junior brother Liu Xiang and I will work together to
finish off Zhou Yuan!” Said Chu Yang in a low voice. The truth was that he had already felt their advantage
being slowly nibbled away, all because they had underestimated Zhou Yuan. If they had left two more
people behind with Wu Hai previously, Zhou Yuan would have likely been eliminated long ago.
Hence, he no longer had any intentions of taking on Zhou Yuan alone. What they needed to do now was to
concentrate their forces, and expel this uncertainty factor called Zhou Yuan from the chief disciple peak.
The other two nodded, as they carefully watched Zhou Yuan and Han Yu.
Worry rose in Han Yu’s eyes as she softly said, “The two of them have trained together for many years,
and are extremely compatible in both Genesis Qi and Genesis techniques. Their teamwork will likely be
flawless, making them very challenging to deal with. Will you be okay?”
Though Zhou Yuan had defeated Wu Hai, neither Chu Yang nor Liu Xiang was weather than the former.
Most importantly, they were especially good at joint attacks, and their combined might would surely be
greater than the sum of their parts.
Zhou Yuan merely smiled when he heard this, before he said to Han Yu, “You should be careful. If you’re
no match for your opponent, just try to stall for time.”
As his voice faded, his figure had already dashed away.
Chu Yang and Liu Xiang let out an icy chuckle when they saw this. Their figures also shot forward a split
second later, chasing Zhou Yuan.
Han Yu watched the three figures disappear into the mist as the expression in her eyes grew increasingly
complicated. By drawing away the strongest two, he had undoubtedly eased the pressure on her.
“Zhou Yuan, please persevere a little longer. When I’m done here, I’ll go help you straight away!”
A solemn look filled her eyes. As she stared at the remaining disciple, Genesis Qi began to rise around her
body.
2348
...
“Wow, he’s quite the bold one. To think that he would dare to face the two of them alone.” High up in the
sky, Chu Qing could not help but chuckle in surprise when he saw the scene of Zhou Yuan drawing away
the two disciples.
“He’s merely a reckless fool.” Remarked Kong Sheng in an indifferent manner.
He had heard of Chu Yang and Liu Xiang before. They seemed to have an extremely good relationship
ever since joining the sect. Hence, their teamwork had always been exceptional when paired together.
With the two of them joining hands against Zhou Yuan, there would naturally no longer be any variables.
Chu Qing lazily said with a smile, “Junior brother Kong Sheng, haven’t you realized that the five disciples
from Lu Hong’s side are gradually losing their initial advantage?”
Kong Sheng was silent. How could he not have realized that what was originally an absolute advantage of
five disciples was now reduced due to two being eliminated.
In contrast, only one participant from the other two factions had been eliminated.
All of this was because of Zhou Yuan’s existence...
If Zhou Yuan really managed to deal with the Chu Yang duo, Lu Hong’s entire team, with the exception of
Yuan Hong, would essentially have been singlehandedly wiped out by Zhou Yuan...
Just what kind of achievement would this be?
Kong Sheng’s eyes narrowed slightly. Moments later, he slowly said, “Don’t worry, against the combined
might of Chu Yang and Liu Xiang, he will definitely be hard pressed this time!”
As long as Chu Yang and Liu Xiang did not underestimate their opponent, it will not be easy for Zhou Yuan
to take on the two of them by himself!
Chu Qing stared at the misty chief disciple peak as he placed a knuckle beneath his chin and chuckled.
“We shall wait and see.”
2349
Mist swirled around a giant mountain.
Ch!
The mist was suddenly torn apart as a glowing figure shot out. Two glowing figures were right on his
heels, surging Genesis Qi pulsing outwards to scatter the nearby mist.
The figure at the front was naturally Zhou Yuan.
While the two chasing him were Chu Yang and Liu Xiang from Lu Hong’s faction.
Zhou Yuan cast a quick glance behind him as he suddenly tightened his grip. The Heavenly Yuan Brush’s
snow-white hairs instantly took on a deep black luster, making it appear exceptionally mysterious.
Swish!
The brush shot forth as the surrounding Genesis Qi rapidly converged towards it, transforming into a
thousand feet long tail of light. In the end, the brush pulsed with extreme sharpness as it thrust towards
Chu Yang like a bolt of lightning.
Chu Yang’s eyes widened slightly as his hands formed a seal, causing a pillar of Genesis Qi light to dash
out from the top of his head. The silhouette of a sword cried out from within the pillar, before moving to
meet the Heavenly Yuan Brush.
Clang!
The sound of metal on metal rang out, the sound wave blasting apart the nearby cliff walls.
The sword silhouette was a quasi-Heaven Genesis Weapon. For the sake of this chief disciple selection, Lu
Hong’s preparations had been perfect, even giving each of the participants a treasure like a quasi-Heaven
Genesis Weapon.
However, it was after all only a quasi-Heaven Genesis Weapon, and there was still some disparity
between it and the low grade Heaven tier Heavenly Yuan Brush. As a result, the sword was knocked away
after the clash.
In addition, when the Heavenly Yuan Brush’s deep black tip swept past, it tore apart the Genesis Qi
around the sword.
2350
After pushing aside the sword, the brush once again began to draw in the surrounding Genesis Qi as if it
had a mind of its own, before darting towards Chu Yang like lightning.
However, when it was dozen feet from Chu Yang, another sword shot over and collided with the brush.
It was Liu Xiang this time, also using a quasi-Heaven Genesis Weapon.
The brief obstruction allowed the other sword to recover and return to the fray. As the weapons clashed,
earth-shaking Genesis Qi explosions occurred.
Upon seeing this, Zhou Yuan beckoned with his hand, causing the Heavenly Yuan Brush to return. As it
landed in his hand, he frowned slightly while gazing at Chu Yang and Lui Xiang, who were only ten steps
away.
Their teamwork was indeed very solid.
Moreover, they were extremely cautious, and refused to split up. Both attacking and defending were done
with great coordination, and even while defending, their sharp eyes would constantly search for an
opening. Once found, they would commit to a joint attack without any hesitation.
This was quite a problem for Zhou Yuan.
His gaze flickered in thought. Soon after, his speed suddenly increased as he dashed into the mist.
Behind him, Chu Yang and Liu Xiang let out an icy chuckle, before quickly giving chase. They had also
realized that Zhou Yuan seemed to be quite powerless in the face of their formidable teamwork.
As long as they continued to maintain their vigilance while finding an opening, there would eventually
come a chance for them to defeat this foe.
Hence, the three figures ended up shuttling through the mist at lightning quick speeds, fighting then
pausing, then fighting again. Even so, anyone could tell that Zhou Yuan seemed to be quite powerless in
the face of the formidable duo’s teamwork, unable to achieve the same overwhelming effect he had
previously.
“Looks like Zhou Yuan has finally kicked an iron plate…”
“The Chu Yang duo are really smart. If this continues, it will only be a matter of time before Zhou Yuan
breaks. Once he shows an opening, the Chu Yang duo will surely strike like thunder.”
“That’s normal, Zhou Yuan is at most equal to either of them in strength. As long as he’s not given the
chance to take them by surprise, how can he possibly achieve anything in a one versus two scenario?”
“…”
2351
Numerous disciples whispered outside the chief disciple peak, feeling that it was such a pity for Zhou
Yuan. Looks like this was where the furthest the dark horse Zhou Yuan could go.
When elder Lu Hong, who was closely watching at all times, saw this, a cold smile appeared on his face as
he said, “Brat, this is the end of the road for you.”
Swish! Swish!
Three figures zipped past in the mist at lightning quick speeds, one a little to the front, while the other
two were right on his heels.
Chu Yang’s gaze was locked on to Zhou Yuan as a voice wrapped in Genesis Qi was transmitted into his
ears, “Zhou Yuan, you currently resemble a stray dog that has lost its home.”
However, the figure in front did not appear to be the least bit affected by such taunting, instead fully
focused on dashing forward.
The mockery that hung from the corners of Chu Yang’s lips grew even greater. He turned his head to the
side to exchange a look with Liu Xiang, as both of them increased their speed. They intended to be right
on Zhou Yuan’s tail till the end.
Swoosh!
Their figures charged into the mist once again.
At that very instant, however, they suddenly felt a strange disturbance from the surrounding Genesis Qi.
Mist began to swirl around them as the scenery rapidly changed.
In the process, the two of them lost sight of each other’s figures.
“A Genesis Rune Boundary?!”
Chu Yang’s expression immediately changed. This was clearly a Genesis Rune Boundary!
His expression turned somewhat ugly. That crafty Zhou Yuan! He had made it seem as if he was fleeing,
but it turns out that he had in prepared a trap and was merely luring them into it!
Rumble!
Extremely berserk Genesis Qi rapidly began to converge as lightning and fire surged out from nowhere,
looming towards him from all directions.
2352
Chu Yang’s brows were tightly furrowed as a thousand foot pillar of Genesis Qi soared into the sky. The
pillar blocked the lightning and fire as a sword shadow dashed forward and viciously slashed at the space
in front of him.
Ch!
It was as if space itself had been torn open, revealing a crack that Chu Yang’s figure swiftly flew towards.
Once he was out, the surrounding Genesis Qi returned to normal as the familiar mist appeared once more.
Chu Yang breathed a sigh of relief. Looks like he had managed to break out of the Genesis Rune Boundary.
The trap Zhou Yuan had set turned out to be rather frail.
“Liu Xiang?”
However, he suddenly realized that something was amiss a split second later and violently turned his
head around. The mist was churning wildly behind him, thunder rumbling and fire cackling madly, while
he could just make out a silhouette trapped deep within.
It clearly was Liu Xiang.
It turns out that the boundary’s power was focused on Liu Xiang, hence why Chu Yang had managed to
escape so easily.
“You’re finally alone.”
A calm voice echoed from in front of him. Chu Yang raised his head with a dark expression, only to find
Zhou Yuan standing in the air, his emotionless eyes glued to the former.
He had set-up this Genesis Rune Boundary after defeating Wu Hai earlier with the intention of utilizing it
to limit the numbers advantage the other side possessed.
Chu Yang glanced at the Genesis Rune Boundary behind him as he sneered and said, “Do you really
believe your boundary will hold Liu Xiang for long?”
He clearly understood Liu Xiang’s strength, and although the boundary was no pushover, Liu Xiang
should soon be able to free himself.
Zhou Yuan chuckled. “Though it will not last for too long… it is enough to deal with you.”
Bzz!
His figure shot forward the instant the final word was said. Jade light surfaced on his body, the Heavenly
Yuan Brush in his hand buzzing as its snow-white hairs rapidly turned pitch-black.
2353
“Heavenly Serpent Scales!”
The silhouette of a giant whale appeared above the brush as scales quickly grew on Zhou Yuan’s glowing
skin.
Dreadful energies surged.
Zhou Yuan was holding nothing back in this attack.
As the brush was swung downwards, the mountain below split apart.
Chu Yang’s expression turned exceedingly grave at this moment, clearly sensing the terrifying power in
Zhou Yuan’s attack. He did not dare to waste any time. A sword slowly rose as he grasped it in his hand.
The blade of the sword was as thin as a cicada's wing, gleaming icily under the light in an eerie manner.
“Low grade Heaven Genesis technique, Heavenly River of Swords!”
Genesis Qi whizzed out as the surface of the sword seemed to swirl, turning it into a torrential river of
sword Qi. The river ferociously charged into the sky, smashing mercilessly into the Heavenly Yuan Brush.
Chu Yang was clearly using his full power too.
Clang!
Two frightening attacks collided, causing a wave of destruction to unfurl. The nearby mountain tops were
instantly destroyed, rocks blasting in every direction.
Bang!
The river of sword Qi was smashed to pieces by the brush, the sword letting out a miserable wail as it was
sent flying.
Urgh!
Chu Yang was also caught in the aftershocks, his face turning pale as he vomited a mouthful of blood. His
figure was tumbled through the air, while a horrified look filled his eyes.
When Zhou Yuan displayed his true power, Chu Yang finally understood how terrifying the former was.
It was no wonder that Wu Hai had been defeated.
Swish!
2354
However, while Chu Yang’s figure was still hurtling through the air, Zhou Yuan appeared in front of him
like a phantom. The latter’s cheeks abruptly ballooned, as a low voice quickly followed.
“Heavenly Sun Flame!”
Azure flames shot out, spouting towards Chu Yang along with a dreadful heat.
Chu Yang’s expression rapidly changed when he felt the intense heat from the azure flames. He had no
time to bother with the injuries he had just sustained as he hurriedly began circulating his Genesis Qi.
Chilling sword aura poured out and clashed with the azure flames.
Ch ch!
As the two forces clashed, the space around seemed to distort.
Flames suddenly emerged on the mountain below them, melting even the solid rock.
“Blasted!”
Chu Qing’s complexion was an ugly shade of ash gray. Zhou Yuan’s attacks were both relentless and
ferocious, forcing the former into such a miserable position after a brief exchange.
“I can’t face him directly, but stall for time instead. Liu Xiang will soon break free from the Genesis Rune
Boundary. I need to hang on till he’s done so we can join forces and reverse this situation!”
With such thoughts in mind, Chu Yang took in a deep breath as the Genesis Qi stars in his Qi Dwelling
began to shake one after another. Vigorous Genesis Qi streamed out, swiftly leaving his body to defend
against the encroaching azure flames.
However, while the chilling sword Qi was doing it best to push back against the azure flames, an arm
suddenly reached out from behind the flames. Scales gleamed on the arm as it grabbed at him.
Sword Qi ripped through the air, but only managed to tear off a few of the scales. Jade light quickly
appeared beneath the scales, blocking the sword Qi.
The five fingers at the end of the arm clenched tightly as it punched through the Genesis Qi, accompanied
by a sonic boom as it rapidly enlarged in Chu Yang’s pupils.
Layer after layer of Genesis Qi defenses were shattered one after another.
Thump!
Chu Yang was basically unable to do anything else as the fist filled with frightening power slammed into
his chest.
2355
Urgh!
Chu Yang wildly vomited a mouthful of blood, his complexion deathly pale and his eyes seemingly frozen
in place as he stared straight ahead. The azure flames slowly retreated, revealing the slim figure standing
within.
“See, didn’t I say that there’s enough time.” Zhou Yuan raised his head, displaying a dazzling smile as he
looked at Chu Yang.
Chu Yang’s face was filled with agony, and his heart filled with regret. Zhou Yuan was far too cunning and
crafty. They should have sent the majority of their forces after him from the beginning to expel him from
the selection as quickly as possible.
Unfortunately… the overwhelming advantage they had was already lost.
“Zhou Yuan… don’t be too happy. So what if you manage to beat us? You’ll never be able to get past senior
brother Yuan Hong!”
“None of you will never be his match!”
Chu Yang held Zhou Yuan’s wrist in a death grip, as a mocking smile flowed out from the corners of his
mouth. In the end, his eyelids slowly fell, falling unconscious due to his heavy injuries.
Zhou Yuan’s eyes remained indifferent as he grabbed Chu Yang and lifted him up.
“It is too early for you to say whether or not I’ll get past him.”
Boom!
On the stone stage, the Genesis Rune Boundary suddenly exploded.
A figure flew out from within, revealing himself to be Liu Xiang. He charged out of the boundary,
accompanied by a stern roar, “Zhou Yuan, did you really think a mere boundary can stop me?”
He raised his head and looked to the front, only for his pupils to abruptly shrink.
A figure was seated on the edge of a cliff, his legs hanging off the edge, while a black brush leaned against
his shoulder, its snow-white brush hairs dangling from its tip like white chains.
At the end of the brush hairs was a pitiful looking bounded figure. It was impossible to ascertain if he was
dead or alive at a single glance.
Chu Yang!
2356
The young figure seated on the cliff slightly lowered his head, calm indifference in his eyes as he gazed at
Liu Xiang, who had just managed to break out from the boundary. The figure slowly stood up, casually
flinging the bounded Chu Yang to the side as he looked down upon Liu Xiang from above.
“Finally out?”
“Since you’re out, get ready to accompany your senior brother.”
2357
Chapter 466 Who is Finished?
The battle with Liu Xiang was surprisingly quick. Fear had rapidly taken root in him when he realized
that Chu Yang had been defeated in such a short span of time. As such, it did not take long for Zhou Yuan
to utterly crush the former.
In the end, Chu Yang was eliminated due to serious injuries.
Zhou Yuan was seated on the crumbled remains of a mountain top, the Heavenly Yuan Brush sticking out
from the ground in front of him. Its snow-white brush hairs flowed from the tip of the brush, hanging
over the cliff like white chains. At the ends of the chains were two unconscious heavily injured figures.
Chu Yang and Liu Xiang.
In contrast to the aggressive manner in which they had chased down Zhou Yuan earlier, the two were
now clearly experiencing what it was truly like to be stray dogs that had lost their homes.
Zhou Yuan was in no hurry to leave after dealing with the Chu Yang duo. He had just been through three
intensive battles in quick succession, and they had been highly taxing on his Genesis Qi. If not for his
variant blood-red Qi Dwelling that boasted abundant Genesis Qi and recovery abilities beyond the norm,
these three battles would have sucked him dry.
Huu.
The sound of breathing emerged from Zhou Yuan’s nose, gradually growing louder and louder as the faint
roar of a dragon echoed in accompaniment.
The Dragon Breathing technique!
The surrounding Genesis Qi transformed into surging white mist, before being further condensed into
white threads that were swallowed into his body one after another. The threads were quickly refined in
his body, and then cast into his Qi Dwelling.
As he felt the slowly replenishing Genesis Qi in his body, Zhou Yuan lifted his head to gaze at the top of
the misty chief disciple peak.
With the exception of Yuan Hong, Lu Hong’s entire team had basically been wiped out.
However, there was one thing Chu Yang had been right about. At the end of the day, they were merely the
side dishes. The true trump card of Lu Hong’s faction was still the immeasurable Yuan Hong.
“I wonder how senior brother Zhou Tai and the rest are doing…” Zhou Yuan’s eyes narrowed slightly.
However, he soon pushed away such thoughts. He needed to first recover to his peak condition, and then
finish off the final participant besides Yuan Hong.
2358
As for Yuan Hong, if he was really so formidable, they would eventually meet in the end.
While Zhou Yuan was recovering his Genesis Qi, he was unaware of how his elimination of the Chu Yang
and Liu Xiang duo was already causing giant waves outside the chief disciple peak.
No one had expected Zhou Yuan to have secretly prepared a Genesis Rune Boundary in advance, lure the
duo in, split them up, and then defeat them individually.
Such strength and tactics had finally forced everyone to begin viewing him as a serious contender.
Outside the chief disciple peak.
A seemingly endless uproar was still sweeping back and forth.
Shen Taiyuan’s disciples had excited looks on their faces as they continuously whispered to each other,
admiration rising in their eyes when they looked towards the recovering figure in the chief disciple peak.
Zhou Yuan had defeated four of the participants from Lu Hong’s faction in a row… an achievement that
was simply breathtaking.
In the very beginning, there had been no lack of individuals among them who were critical of Zhou Yuan’s
participation. After all, Zhou Yuan did feel somewhat lacking in experience and maturity in comparison to
several of the more seasoned purple ash disciples.
But by this point, such skepticism and doubts had already completely faded away.
Yaoyao was elegantly seated on a rock by the cliffside with Tuntun lying on her lap. Her bright eyes
would occasionally look towards a certain figure in the chief disciple peak, as her red lips curled just an
eensy little bit.
It had already been a year since Zhou Yuan first arrived at the Cangxuan Sect.
Over this year, he had clearly grown at an astonishing rate.
The young man who had walked out from the Great Zhou Empire back then had finally begun to find the
light that belonged solely to himself, and allowed it to blossom, becoming a dazzling sight that drew
everyone’s eyes.
In contrast to the atmosphere of excitement hanging over Shen Taiyuan and Lu Song’s disciples, Lu
Hong’s disciples had fallen into a stifling silence. Disciple after disciple wore ugly expressions, while also
stuck in deep disbelief.
2359
Who amongst them had ever taken Zhou Yuan seriously over the greater part of the year? And yet, it was
this very person who had single handedly forced their team into such an awkward and embarrassing
position.
Black, ominous storm clouds hung over Lu Hong’s elderly face, making it easy for anyone to see just how
furious he was. The surrounding disciples stealthily made themselves scarce, praying hard that he would
not take any notice of them.
Lu Hong took in two deep breaths, suppressing the boiling rage in his heart and trying his best to make
sure he did not appear overly affected.
By now, even he had no choice but to admit that the newcomer he had always looked down on, had
somehow unknowingly grown to this level...
If they waited another year, Lu Hong would really be worried about the chief disciple position.
Fortunately, the heavens were ultimately standing on his side, allowing the chief disciple selection to
begin this year instead…
The numerous disciples, Shen Taiyuan, Lu Hong, and the other elders were not the only ones who were
closely following the situation here. In fact, even sect master Qing Yang and the other five hegemons at
the highest spot in the sky had already discovered the current situation.
Sect master Qing Yang sighed and said, “Zhou Yuan is truly a good sapling. He has a high chance to
become a Chosen in the future.”
Every Chosen of the Cangxuan Sect was the culmination of a tremendous amount of effort and grooming,
and could be said to be the future backbones of the sect. As such, sect master Qing Yang’s assessment was
high praise indeed.
The other hegemons faintly nodded in agreement.
Snow Lotus Peak master Liu Lianyi cast a sideway glance at peak master Ling Jun as she said, “Looks like
someone is going to become a little nervous.”
Peak master Ling Jun’s handsome face was impassive. He swept a glance at the distant chief disciple peak
and calmly said, “He is indeed rather talented. Unfortunately, this year’s chief disciple seat will not be
his.”
Peak master Ling Jun did not even care that Wu Hai and the other three had been defeated by Zhou Yuan,
because he understood that none of these individuals were even contenders for the chief disciple
position.
2360
They were merely tagging along to make the line-up appear more impressive. The true trump card still
lay with Yuan Hong.
Half an incense stick of time later.
Zhou Yuan stood up as his hand closed around the Heavenly Yuan Brush. His figure rose into the sky, the
brush hairs tightly wrapped around the two unconscious figures.
On another misty stone platform some distance away.
An intense battle was still ongoing here.
Two figures clashed ferociously, as powerful Genesis Qi swept outwards, leaving mark after mark on the
stone stage.
Bang!
The two figures retreated after yet another clash.
Han Yu wiped away the blood at the corner of her mouth as she gritted her teeth and stared at her
opponent, a young man called Zhu Qing.
The two of them were roughly equal in strength. As such, no one had managed to gain the upper hand
even though they had been fighting for quite some time.
Zhu Qing grinned as he gazed at Han Yu and mockingly said, “You seem to be rather desperate to defeat
me. Why? Are you planning on going to help that guy?”
He could clearly sense the urgentness and anxiety in Han Yu’s attacks. It was this same anxiety that had
instead allowed him to find several openings. If not for her speed, Han Yu would have lost long ago.
Han Yu’s expression sunk a little.
“Hehe, it’s already been so long. I feel that he has most likely already been dealt with.” Taunted Zhu Qing.
“How much despair do you think you’ll feel when Chu Yang and Liu Xiang return?”
Han Yu bit hard into her lips as iciness rose in her eyes. She did not bother responding as Genesis Qi
surged out with intent of continuing her offensive.
She needed to defeat Zhu Qing as quickly as possible, and then proceed to support Zhou Yuan. Otherwise,
they would soon be utterly defeated.
2361
However, she suddenly heard the sound of rushing wind just as her figure was about to move.
Zhu Qing also raised his head, peering towards the distant mist as a wide grin grew on his face. “Looks
like you’re finished.”
Han Yu lifted her face, turning somewhat pale as she looked towards the rippling mist.
The mist was soon torn apart as a figure slowly descended.
Next, the mocking look on Zhu Qing’s face solidified bit by bit.
In contrast, Han Yu’s mouth slowly opened wider and wider.
“Zhou… Zhou Yuan?!”
The one who had appeared was naturally Zhou Yuan. He smiled at Han Yu, before shifting his gaze
towards Zhu Qing as he gave the Heavenly Yuan Brush a gentle swing. Two bodies tumbled towards the
latter, ending up lying at his feet.
“Who did you say… was finished?”
Zhu Qing was dumbstruck as he stared at the two figures before him. A chill quickly rose from the bottom
of his feet, surging straight towards his scalp.
Intense fear and dread rapidly surged out from the depths of his eyes.
2362
Chapter 467 Tiger Obstructing the Path
When Chu Yang and Liu Xiang’s unconscious bodies came to a stop at Zhu Qing’s feet, his entire body
began to tremble faintly, the fear in his eyes no longer concealable.
He looked towards Zhou Yuan with some difficulty, his face filled with terror and disbelief.
He would never have imagined even in his wildest dreams that the combined might of Chu Yang and Liu
Xiang would ultimately end in them being beaten by Zhou Yuan...
Just how strong was he?
Zhu Qing was not the only one who was shocked. Han Yu’s pretty face was likewise overwhelmed by
astonishment. She had clearly not expected that Zhou Yuan would defeat the Chu Yang duo and safely
return.
Just how strong did one need to be in order to subdue the two of them alone?
Han Yu swallowed with some difficulty. At the very beginning, she had been quite hard stuck on the
notion that Zhou Yuan would be a burden. Hence, the current reality made her a little panicky.
If Zhou Yuan had not swooped in to save them from this crisis, the ones lying unconscious on the ground
would likely be herself and Han Yan instead.
Zhu Qing felt an ice-cold sensation spread throughout his entire body. If Liu Xiang could be said to have
some will to battle earlier, Zhu Qing had completely lost all of his will to fight, because from the looks of it,
all four of the other participants from his team had been defeated at Zhou Yuan’s hands...
Hence, Zhu Qing’s figure suddenly shot backwards in retreat a split second later, surprisingly not even
having the courage to fight, selecting to retreat instead.
“He is too strong, I cannot try to face him. Quick! Gotta go to senior brother Yuan Hong!”
Fear suged in Zhu Qing’s eyes as he pushed his speed to the limits in hope of escaping from this area.
The moment his figure moved, however, the nearby Zhou Yuan had already etherealized, transforming
into a wisp of smoke as he vanished from the spot.
Boom!
A berserk Genesis Qi ripple quickly followed, spreading behind Zhu Qing as terrifying fist winds
ruthlessly blasted towards him. Jade light flickered as scales gleaming with eerie light appeared on Zhou
Yuan’s arm.
2363
Surging Genesis Qi shook the air like a peal of thunder.
Zhu Qing also sensed the vicious attack. Without a moment to waste, Genesis Qi frantically whizzed out
from his body, forming layer after layer of Genesis Qi defenses around him.
Boom!
However, the glowing fist instantly shattered every Genesis Qi defense, its reflection rapidly glowing in
Zhu Qing’s pupils, before eventually slamming into his body.
Urgh!
It was as if a ferocious beast had rammed into Zhu Qing. Terrifying, earth-shaking power flooded out,
causing him to violently vomit a mouthful of blood as his figure was sent arcing through the air.
Zhu Qing’s eyes were frozen with horror as they stared straight ahead, where Zhou Yuan’s figure was
slowly appearing. That seemingly thin looking body seemed to take the form of a vicious ancient beast in
Zhu Qing’s eyes.
The explosive power earlier had been enough to destroy mountains.
Only now did he understand why Wu Hai had been crushed by a single punch from Zhou Yuan...
When Zhou Yuan’s Genesis Qi and physical power was layered on top of each other, destructive power
would surge with every wave of his fist.
Zhou Yuan tightly gripped the Heavenly Yuan Brush as he watched Zhu Qing being blown away. No
emotion could be seen in the former’s eyes as his figure dashed forward once more, glaring sparks
appearing as the snow-white brush tip swept across the ground.
The snow-white hairs slowly turned a deep mysterious black.
Bzz!
The brush tip darted forward, tearing through the air as it transformed into a shadow that thrust towards
Zhu Qing.
The shadow rapidly grew in Zhu Qing’s pupils, causing the final bit of courage he had left to crumble as he
anxiously shouted with a deathly pale face, “I admit defeat!”
Bzz!
The sharp brush tip stopped half an inch before Zhu Qing, the residual force cutting several shallow
wounds on his face.
2364
Zhou Yuan indifferently looked towards the dazed Zhu Qing, and slowly withdrew the Heavenly Yuan
Brush. The latter was clearly no longer a concern to him.
Perhaps because of this nonchalant attitude, a wave of shame and anger surged through Zhu Qing. He
immediately gritted his teeth and said in an icy voice, “Zhou Yuan, don’t be too happy. You’ll soon have a
taste of everything I have experienced now!”
“Senior brother Yuan Hong will make you understand the meaning of fear!”
Zhou Yuan merely chuckled when he heard this. “I do plan on seeking his guidance.”
After speaking, he paid no further attention to Zhu Qing, and cast his gaze towards Han Yu instead.
Han Yu had yet to recover from the shock of seeing Zhou Yuan’s overwhelming attack. She had pulled all
the stops earlier, only to be stuck in a deadlock with Zhu Qing. In comparison, Zhou Yuan had crushed
Zhu Qing in a flash.
The gap between them was clear as day.
Zhou Yuan gazed at the absent-minded Han Yu and said, “I’m heading to the peak.”
Han Yu finally returned to her senses. Her brows soon furrowed deeply as she worriedly said, “I wonder
how senior sister Lu Yan and the rest are doing.”
Although they had obtained a great victory here, she knew that decisive battle was still the one occurring
at the peak. If even the combined might of Lu Yan, Zhou Tai and Zhang Yan failed to defeat Yuan Hong,
Han Yu was truly unable to imagine who could possibly be capable of stopping him.
Even Zhou Yuan… should not be up to the task, right?
“We’ll know once we have a look.”
Zhou Yuan’s eyes narrowed, before his figure soared into the sky once again, dashing past layers of mist
as he headed directly to the peak.
Han Yu hesitated for a moment, before swiftly following.
Since they were already at this point, she felt that she should go and take a look.
The two figures flew past stone platform after platform, gradually ascending the peak under the countless
watching gazes. As they climbed, broken stone platforms began to enter their sights.
It was clear that an extremely intense battle had erupted here.
2365
Han Yu’s face grew increasingly nervous when she saw this. Such destructive power was far beyond
them.
Furthermore, the most alarming observation was that she was still unable to sense any Genesis Qi ripples
as they steadily approached the peak. Did this mean that the battle was already over?
Had senior sister Lu Yan’s side won?”
Han Yu’s pretty face fluctuated indeterminately.
Swish!
The two figures ultimately pierced through the mist, landing on the mountain top of the chief disciple
peak. Thick mist covered their surroundings, greatly hindering their senses.
Zhou Yuan gazed to the front, no fear visible on his face as he walked forward.
There was a vast, giant plaza on the peak that was completely silent as Zhou Yuan slowly walked within
it. After some time, his footsteps suddenly came to a halt as he gazed straight ahead.
With a wave of his sleeve, Genesis QI surged out to sweep away the thick mist.
As the mist was swept away, the surroundings finally became clearer.
Next, Zhou Yuan and Han Yu saw a towering stone throne at the center of the plaza. It was the chief
disciple seat.
At this current moment, a figure was reclining on the throne.
Zhou Yuan’s brows slowly began to furrow as he gazed upon the figure, while Han Yu’s face had turned
deathly white.
Because the figure belonged to Yuan Hong from Lu Hong’s faction!
“Yuan Hong, where are senior sister Lu Yan and the others?” Han Yu’s voice was trembling.
On the stone throne, Yuan Hong lightly tapped the back of the throne, as he slowly raised a pair eyes that
were filled with savagery and ferocity, making him look like a terrible violent beast.
He seemed to be a little surprised when he saw the Zhou Yuan duo, but soon began to laugh, revealing his
eerily white teeth as if he were a wild beast.
Next, he raised a finger and pointed behind him.
2366
If one looked over, one would see that the ground had fissured, and a good chunk of the mountain top had
collapsed. Three bloody figures lay amidst the rubble, releasing weak breathing sounds.
Han Yu hands were tightly clenched over her mouth.
Yuan Hong slowly cracked his neck. He did not appear to be very interested in the two individuals before
him as he waved his hand at them as if trying to chase away flies.
“Though I am rather surprised that you two were able to come here…”
“It will be best for the both of you to admit defeat and withdraw.” Yuan Hong leaned against the back of
the throne, indifference on his face as he slowly closed his eyes.
Han Yu trembled as fear rose in her eyes. She looked towards Zhou Yuan, only to find that the latter
seemed to be smiling.
Zhou Yuan slowly walked forward with firm and steady steps, showing no fear at all.
He gave a small twist to the Heavenly Yuan Brush, causing a buzzing noise to emerge as he slowly raised
it and pointed towards Yuan Hong.
“Senior brother Yuan Hong, won’t you come down and play with me?”
“I too want to have a seat on that throne.”
2367
Chapter 468 The Final Yuan Hong
Outside of Saint Genesis Peak’s chief disciple peak.
Countless gazes were currently gathered on the misty mountain top. Even sect master Qing Yang and the
others high up in the sky had cast their attention towards Saint Genesis Peak.
Sect master Qing Yang looked at the well-built figure seated on the stone throne as he sighed and said,
“Yuan Hong is quite a capable disciple. With his strength, he will likely be a formidable contender for the
chief disciple seat even in Sword Cometh Peak.”
While Zhou Yuan had successively defeated Chu Yang and the gang, an even more intense battle had
erupted on the top of the mountain.
This fight was naturally observed by sect master Qing Yang and the others.
The battle had been extremely intense. Zhou Tai, Zhang Yan and Lu Yan were after all elites amongst the
numerous purple sash disciples. Unfortunately, they had ultimately ended up being defeated by Yuan
Hong.
Because Yuan Hong’s strength had surpassed their expectations.
The Zhou Tai trio had reached the mid eighth layer level, while Yuan Hong was at the peak of the eighth
layer, with only a single step separating him from the ninth layer.
This obviously far surpassed the Zhou Tai trio.
Therefore, they had lost in the end.
Peak master Ling Jun indifferently watched this scene as he said, “Yuan Hong had already displayed his
impressive talent back in Sword Cometh Peak. It is not strange for him to have such battle
accomplishments.”
Peak master Lian Yi snorted as she interjected, “I’ve heard that you even lowered yourself to personally
give him quite a few pointers.”
She was obviously trying to ridicule peak master Ling Jun for even personally stepping in to ensure Lu
Hong’s faction would win the chief disciple seat of Saint Genesis Peak.
Peak master Ling Jun calmly said, “He used to be a disciple of my Sword Cometh Peak. When I saw his
outstanding talent and willpower, I naturally could not stop myself from trying to help him.”
2368
He glanced at peak master Lianyi and chuckled. “There’s no need to be so anxious peak master Lianyi,
isn’t the outcome yet to be decided. That disciple called Zhou Yuan has just ascended the peak. Who
knows, he may be able to accomplish what Zhou Tai and the other two failed to do earlier.”
However, a joking tone accompanied the words from his mouth.
Although Zhou Yuan had defeated Chu Yang and the other four, it was nothing when compared to Yuan
Hong’s victory over the Zhou Tai trio. Because any one of the trio would be able to accomplish exactly
what Zhou Yuan had done.
And yet, their combined might had ultimately lost to Yuan Hong. One could easily imagine just how much
stronger he was than everyone else...
Peak master Ling Jun’s words were in truth a display of his absolute faith in the victory of Lu Hong's
faction.
How could peak master Lianyi not understand the true meaning behind his words. Anger appeared on
her beautiful face, but receded just as quick as she let out an icy snort, unable to refute peak master Ling
Jun.
From what they had seen, though Zhou Yuan’s performance had been remarkable, Yuan Hong’s was just
so much more frightening.
“To think that Zhou Yuan managed to reach the peak. He’s quite the capable one.” At the area where the
ten Chosens were seated, Kong Sheng looked towards the distant mountain peak as he smiled.
Although he was praising Zhou Yuan, there was a look of amusement in his eyes.
“I hope that Yuan Hong will not leave too much psychological damage, he’s a good sapling after all…”
Kong Sheng looked towards Chu Qing with a faint smile.
Chu Qing rolled his eyes at the former, before helplessly rubbing his bald head, finally showing that he
was a little worried. Zhou Yuan’s five successive victories may have been pretty good, but Yuan Hong’s
achievement was even more astonishing. He had single handedly taken on the Zhou Tai trio, and walked
away as the winner.
Even in the other six peaks, such strength was absolutely top class.
By the side, Li Qingchan’s brows were slightly knitted together, worry clouding her pretty face. What
awaited Zhou Yuan was nothing like the opponents he had faced earlier.
If he failed to overcome Yuan Hong, all his previous battle achievements would be worthless.
2369
She was considerably close to Zhou Yuan, and naturally did not wish for the latter to receive such a huge
blow. However, in the face of the giant obstacle that was Yuan Hong, she was unable to muster much
confidence towards Zhou Yuan.
At this point in time, she could only hope that Zhou Yuan would not be too affected if he were defeated.
Outside the chief disciple peak, Shen Taiyuan and elder Lu Song’s factions were feeling a little depressed.
The source behind this atmosphere was naturally the defeat of Zhou Tai, Lu Yan and Zhang Yan.
No one had expected Yuan Hong to be so powerful.
As such, none of them could feel any anticipation when they saw Zhou Yuan defeat the five other
participants and ascend the mountain top. Instead, they could not help but sigh softly in disappointment.
Zhou Yuan’s performance had already been very spectacular. Unfortunately, the final test that awaited
him was far too difficult.
The faces of the two elders, Shen Taiyuan and Lu Song, were stretched taunt. When Lu Yan, Zhou Tai and
Zhang Yan were defeated earlier, despair had begun creeping up in their hearts.
Although there was still Zhou Yuan, the situation was already at the worst possible scenario.
Nearby, Lu Hong’s originally ugly expression had gradually returned to normal. He cast a sideways glance
in Shen Taiyuan and Lu Song’s direction, as the mocking smile on his face grew even wider.
What’s the use of being so happy earlier?
So what if Zhou Yuan had defeated five opponents? Before this final checkpoint, all of earlier efforts were
nothing but laughable.
On the peak that was currently the center of attention.
When Zhou Yuan’s voice was transmitted into Yuan Hong’s ears, his shut eyes finally began to open. He
glanced at the former in an amused manner, before he half heartedly asked, “Play?”
“Are you sure you can afford to play with me?”
His fingers lightly tapped against the back of the throne. The sound echoed across the plaza, making one
feel a tremendous amount of pressure.
2370
“While I’m still feeling too lazy to move, take this chance to admit defeat and withdraw. Otherwise, don’t
blame me later if you end up being scarred for life.”
Behind them, Han Yu had already subconsciously taken a step back, the terror in her eyes plain for all to
see.
Zhou Yuan helplessly sighed when he heard this and said, “You… talk too much crap.”
“If you don’t want to fight, shift that butt of yours away.”
The corners of Han Yu’s mouth twitched.
Yuan Hong’s fingers fell for the last time as the amused expression on his face receded. The savage aura in
his eyes began to converge little by little, before he slowly stood up.
Boom!
A terrifying presence exploded, engulfing the entire place.
It was as if a monstrous prehistoric tiger had opened its drowsy eyes, and bared its chillingly sinister
fangs.
When Zhou Yuan saw this, he finally smiled and said, “Now this is right, there was no need to pretend that
you were a generous and kind senior brother, right?”
Yuan Hong extended a finger and pointed at Zhou Yuan as he revealed a threateningly sinister set of
eerily white teeth.
“You foolish and ignorant thing, if I do not break both your legs and make you crawl down the mountain
today, my name shall be reversed in the future!”
Boom!
Waves of berserk Genesis Qi erupted from his body like a volcano.
Under this pressure, the surrounding ground began to crack inch by inch.
2371
Chapter 469
Waves of Genesis Qi violently swept out from Yuan Hong’s body like a storm, stirring the mist on the
entire mountain peak as a dreadful pressure spread.
Under this Genesis Qi pressure, Zhou Yuan’s expression gradually turned solemn. From the pressure
alone, he could tell that Yuan Hong was nothing like the likes of Wu Hai and the rest from before.
Behind them, Han Yu had already withdrawn long ago, fear covering her entire face. All her courage had
already been scattered, not that she was prepared to fight Yuan Hong either. Hence, it was clearly
impossible to expect any help from her.
The pressure surged in all directions in a spectacular manner. However, it failed to even crack Zhou
Yuan’s courage, and instead caused burning battle intent to rise in his eyes.
His hands slowly tightened around the Heavenly Yuan Brush, a buzzing noise emerging as it swayed
slightly.
He had suffered untold hardships, and trained tirelessly for a year to finally reach this place. All he
needed now was one final step to become the chief disciple of Saint Genesis Peak. Hence, Zhou Yuan was
not going to back down regardless of who was standing in his way.
“Junior brother Zhou Yuan… be careful…”
While battle intent was surging in his heart, an extremely faint voice was suddenly transmitted towards
him. He was a little stunned as he shifted his gaze, finding the three bloody figures struggling up from the
rubble nearby. The one who had spoken was Zhou Tai.
Zhou Tai, Zhang Yan and Lu Yan had been gravely injured, making them disqualified according to the
rules.
The awakened trio stared at Zhou Yuan with complicated expressions, especially Zhang Yan and Lu Yan.
They had been the ones who thought the least of Zhou Yuan, and thus never imagined that he would
manage to appear here.
They understood that the fact that he had made here meant that the other five participants from Lu
Hong’s team had already been eliminated.
They had a very clear grasp of Han Yu and Han Yan’s strength. Hence, the only one who could have
accomplished such a feat was undoubtedly the biggest variable, Zhou Yuan.
Zhang Yan leaned against a rock as he looked at Zhou Yuan. In the end, he powerlessly said, “You’re
already very amazing to have made it here. That’s why you shouldn’t force yourself.”
2372
Although Zhou Yuan’s appearance had been surprising, in Zhang Yan’s opinion, challenging Yuan Hong
would still be asking for trouble.
Zhou Yuan chuckled. He knew that Zhang Yan did not have any ill intent, but instead hoped to prevent a
potentially crippling setback. As such, Zhou Yuan smiled and said, “I should give it a try first, right? What
if that million and one chance happens?”
Upon hearing this, Lu Yan nearly laughed out in mockery like she always had before. However, the
intense pain from her injuries made her bite into her lip as she sullenly hissed, “Are you dreaming?”
It was not that she was looking down on Zhou Yuan, but since even the three of them working together
had lost to Yuan Hong, she was truly unable to believe that Zhou Yuan had the qualifications to fight the
latter.
The only outcome that awaited him would surely be a one-sided crushing defeat. What’s more, it may
even leave a shadow in his heart that may impede his cultivation progress in the future.
Zhou Yuan shook his head, not bothering to continue the conversation. He withdrew his gaze, and
concentrated on Yuan Hong again.
Yuan Hong indifferently said, “It seems that they failed to dispel your death wish.”
Bzz!
However, the only response he received was a buzzing noise from the Heavenly Yuan Brush. A sharp light
rose in Zhou Yuan’s eyes, along with a jade glow from his body. His figure rapidly etherealized,
transforming into a wisp of smoke that disappeared from the spot.
He had chosen to take the initiative!
Yuan Hong merely watched with an expressionless face. With a grasp of his hand, torrential Genesis Qi
unfurled, transforming into a thousand foot wide giant Genesis Qi hand that mercilessly swatted
downwards.
Boom!
An enormous shadow loomed as the entire peak shuddered under the giant Genesis Qi hand.
A deep voice rang out.
Zhou Yuan’s figure appeared with a flash and gazed at the giant Genesis Qi hand falling from the sky. The
hairs of the Heavenly Yuan Brush turned pitch-black as the Genesis Qi in his body churned wildly.
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Jade light gleamed across his skin as scales emerged.
Swish!
The Heavenly Yuan Brush streaked upwards like a shooting star, clashing directly against the enormous
hand.
Boom!
A berserk shockwave of destruction immediately unfurled at the instant of impact. Zhou Yuan’s eyes
hardened as the pitch-black brush tip released a unique power that neutralized the Genesis Qi from the
giant hand.
In the short span of a few breaths, the Heavenly Yuan Brush’s ptich-black tip had penetrated deep into
the hand.
However, the neutralization effect did not last for long. It felt as if the tip of the Heavenly Yuan Brush
encountered solid metal, stopped in its tracks by the robust and berserk Genesis Qi.
Genesis Breaker had failed to destroy the giant Genesis Qi hand.
Zhou Yuan’s expression sunk slightly. Although Genesis Beaker possessed the unique power of
neutralizing Genesis Qi, it had its limitations. That limitation depended on his strength and cultivation.
The Genesis Qi attacks of Wu Hai and the rest had been easily neutralized by Zhou Yuan earlier, but when
faced with Yuan Hong, its effectiveness had been diminished because his Genesis Qi was stronger and
more concentrated.
“Your Heaven Genesis Weapon is rather strange. Can’t believe it can neutralize so much of my Genesis
Qi.” Yuan Hong stood with his hands behind his back, somewhat surprised by this scene.
He had sensed the black brush break through numerous layers of Genesis Qi in the giant hand, a feat that
the Zhou Tai trio from before had barely managed to achieve. From how Zhou Yuan had managed to
accomplish this alone, one could observe just how peculiar the black brush was.
“Unfortunately, the gap between us is far too great!”
Yuan Hong let out an icy chuckle as his hands suddenly came together.
Rumble!
Rays of light exploded from the giant Genesis Qi hand as a frightening power poured out and slammed
into Zhou Yuan’s body.
Thump!
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Countless gazes could only watch as Zhou Yuan’s figure was sent flying, his feet ripping open two long
and deep scars on the ground.
The scales on his body had shattered and cracked, while the flowing jade light had also dimmed slightly.
Receiving a direct blow from Yuan Hong had clearly injured Zhou Yuan.
Zhou Yuan’s face turned extremely grave. He was clearly on the losing end after the very first clash. Yuan
Hong was a tough foe indeed.
“I’ve heard that you even practice an external cultivation technique? Good, allow me to shatter your turtle
shell inch by inch today. Let’s see if you’ll still dare to act so arrogantly in the future!”
Yuan Hong clawed at the air with his hands as robust Genesis Qi whizzed forth. The Genesis Qi lifted up
an entire cliff, before viciously smashing it towards Zhou Yuan below.
Even the air was blasted away at this moment.
Zhou Yuan tightly gripped the Heavenly Yuan Brush with both hands as he swung with all his might.
Genesis Qi surged around the brush as the silhouette of a giant whale appeared.
Boom!
Heavenly Yuan Brush and cliff collided. The tip of the cliff was immediately torn apart, causing boulders
to rain down upon the plaza.
Swish!
A torrent of Genesis Qi pierced through the rain of boulders like thunder, heading straight for Zhou Yuan.
Genesis Qi poured out of Zhou Yuan’s body, emitting a dazzling golden light as a giant python seemed to
coil around him and transform into a golden bell.
Clang!
The torrent of Genesis Qi struck the golden bell, causing a loud clang to echo. Cracks rapidly began to
spread on the bell, before it ultimately exploded with a bang.
Even Zhou Yuan’s strongest defensive technique had been incapable of enduring for long in under the
assault of Yuan Hong’s overwhelming Genesis Qi attack.
Shatter!
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The golden bell burst apart as Zhou Yuan’s body was sent flying as if struck by a heavy blow. He crashed
into a rock wall, causing boulders to tumble down and bury half his body.
More and more scales had shattered, while the jade glow on his skin turned even dimmer.
Blood appeared from the corner of his mouth.
The countless onlookers could not help but sigh at this sight. Though Zhou Yuan was strong, Yuan Hong
was clearly even stronger. The disparity between these two was still far too large.
“Is that fool still not going to give up?” Lu Yan’s brows were tightly knitted together as she gritted her
teeth.
From what they had seen, it was impossible for Zhou Yuan to win.
Bang!
The rubble was blown away by Genesis Qi as Zhou Yuan’s figure flew out. He wiped away the blood at the
corner of his mouth as he gazed at Yuan Hong and grinned. “Is this all you have? It’s far from sufficient.”
Yuan Hong’s eyes narrowed slightly as he indifferently looked towards the still so lively Zhou Yuan.
“Looks like you haven’t suffered enough.”
His hands abruptly clapped together as vigorous Genesis Qi soared out from the top of his head. Like
billowing smoke, it descended towards Zhou Yuan from above.
Bang! Bang!
The ground on the mountain top continuously cracked open.
However, Zhou Yuan showed no indication of avoiding the violent attack, and instead rose to meet it
head-on.
Bang!
Every blast tossed Zhou Yuan’s figure about like a doll. The flood of Genesis Qi possessed enough power
to destroy a mountain...
As such, everyone watched as Zhou Yuan’s body was thrown around like a sandbag on the mountain top,
the miserable sight making several people involuntarily close their eyes.
They were truly unable to understand who Zhou Yuan would insist on being so stubborn when he was
clearly not his opponent’s match, choosing to fight in such a desperate manner...
2376
“Is he… crazy?” Lu Yan was flabbergasted. Zhou Yuan’s actions were basically courting death.
Cries of bewilderment filled the surroundings of the chief disciple peak.
The seemingly unstoppable Zhou Yuan from before appeared to have finally encountered a foe who was
even tougher than himself.
However, no one had realized that as Zhou Yuan’s body was blasted away again and again, and the jade
glow on his skin grew dimmer and dimmer, a faint, almost undetectable glimmer of silver light was
flashing in the deep within his flesh and blood.
2377
Chapter 470 Are You Done?
Boom!
A torrent of berserk Genesis Qi whizzed out, rising up like a giant dragon, before ramming into a frail
looking figure with terrifying power under the many shocked watching gazes.
The figure was immediately sent hurtling through the air, before crashing into a rock wall. Cracks grew
across the entire wall, with the figure now deeply embedded within.
Boulders began to crumble and fall, completely burying his body.
It was a scene so pitiful and miserable, that it was unbearable to watch.
Outside the chief disciple peak, the countless onlookers sighed in pity when they saw this scene.
It was a essentially one-sided fight. Zhou Yuan was being dominated by Yuan Hong, showing that the two
were obviously on completely different levels.
“Why is he still not admitting defeat?”
“He’s really very tenacious… unfortunately, such tenacity will do nothing for him here.”
“To have come this far is already an amazing achievement. It won’t be shameful if he loses to Yuan Hong.”
A disciple sighed deeply, a sliver of respect in his tone.
After all, even the trio of Lu Yan, Zhou Tai and Zhang Yan had been beaten. Even if Zhou Yuan were
defeated, it would not hurt his reputation.
Over at the area Shen Taiyuan’s faction was occupying, numerous disciples were silent as they watched
Zhou Yuan being blasted away by Yuan Hong time and time again, tenaciously gritting his teeth each time,
and stubbornly charging forward once more. Soon, they began to grow angry as they turned their gazes
towards Yuan Hong.
“Zhou Yuan!”
No one knew who had suddenly shouted.
“Zhou Yuan!”
“Zhou Yuan!”
More and more of Shen Taiyuan’s disciples began to roar, the sounds ultimately gathering together to
boom across the land like thunder.
2378
This was the method they chose to cheer and encourage Zhou Yuan.
As their roars grew louder and louder, Lu Song’s disciples looked at each other, before also beginning to
shake their arms and yell.
“Zhou Yuan!”
“Zhou Yuan!”
“……”
More and more voices began to gather, alarming everyone. Even the disciples from the other peaks cast
their gazes over, complicated expressions rising in their eyes when they saw the tenaciously fighting
figure.
A sight like this would always touch the hearts of the people.
The disciple called Zhou Yuan was teaching them the meaning of being unafraid.
Yaoyao sat on a boulder, listened to the booming voices echoing around her, as her clear eyes focused on
the chief disciple peak far away.
Roar!
Tuntun released an angry roar from her lap, as its tiny body began to show signs of growing. Ferocity
swirled in its eyes as it stared at Yuan Hong’s figure.
Although it often fought with Zhou Yuan and looked down on him, it was likely that no one could truly
comprehend the inborn pride in its heart. The nobleness flowing in its blood gave it the right to ignore
ordinary humans.
Hence, taking the time to play with Zhou Yuan showed that Tuntun had already accepted the latter.
In its heart, only Cang Yuan, Yaoyao, and now Zhou Yuan were the only ones that it had accepted.
Hence, Tuntun felt that though it may bully Zhou Yuan, others were absolutely forbidden from doing so,
because such an act would be a challenge to its dignity.
Yaoyao gently caressed Tuntun’s head, calming the somewhat out of control rage in its body. The
expression on her gorgeous face was completely unchanged, but when her gaze swept across Yuan
Hong’s figure, a faint icy light flashed past in her eyes.
2379
Lu Hong’s disciples were rather taken aback by the sudden thunderous cheering. They tried to cheer on
Yuan Hong too, but their voices were immediately drowned out by the din.
Lu Hong merely watched with indifferent eyes as he laughed, completely unfazed by it.
These were merely the cries of despair that belonged to the weak.
But even if all of you broke your throats cheering, Zhou Yuan will still be incapable of turning the tables!
He must pay the price for his earlier arrogance!
As Lu Hong gazed upon the pitiful figure on the mountain top, a pleased smile slowly crept up from the
On the messy mountain top.
Zhou Tai, Zhang Yan and Lu Yan’s expressions turned somewhat ugly as they watched the bitter scene.
Zhou Tai's jaw was tightly clenched, his eyes practically spitting fire as he glared at Yuan Hong. If not for
his elimination, he would have dragged his heavily injured body over to duke it out with the latter.
Zhang Yan’s expression was likewise rather ugly. He clearly could see that Yuan Hong was merely toying
with Zhou Yuan. As a disciples from their faction, being toyed in this manner was naturally akin to
stepping on their faces.
Lu Yan was also watching the with a complicated expression. Zhou Yuan tenacity had touched even her
heart, while also making it feel extremely unbearable to watch.
She softly mumbled, “Please don’t get up anymore… and admit defeat.”
As long as he admitted defeat, Yuan Hong would no longer be able to intentionally humiliate him in this
manner.
In addition, admitting defeat at his juncture would not sully his reputation, because his performance was
already extremely perfect.
At this current moment, the thunderous voices from outside the chief disciple peak faintly echoed on the
mountain top.
“Zhou Yuan!”
“Zhou Yuan!”
2380
“……”
As if hearing these voices, the rubble began to move as a figure slowly crawled to his feet once more,
while fresh blood dripped from the surrounding rocks.
Lu Yan tightly gritted her teeth as she looked away, unable to continue watching.
“Junior brother Zhou Yuan… please, ad… admit defeat!” Zhou Tai eyes had already turned red.
Zhang Yan was also tightly clenching his jaw. Although he had always found Zhou Yuan to be an eyesore,
the latter’s tenacity had begun to stir even his heart a little.
Yuan Hong stood in the air with his arms across his chest. His indifferent gaze looked towards the moving
rocks, before he tilted his head slightly, as if listening to the noise faintly echoing from outside the chief
disciple peak.
Yuan Hong seemed to chuckle as he said, “It seems that you’re quite popular.”
He shook his head and said, “However, I feel that you do not deserve this as the loser.”
“I’ve had my fun. If you still refuse to admit defeat, I can only break one of your legs and see whether
you’ll still be able to stand…”
Alarming Genesis Qi frantically converged towards the tip of Yuan Hong’s figure as a loud rumbling noise
began to shake the ground.
Bzzbzz!
As the Genesis Qi gathered, an enormous Genesis Qi sword slowly appeared in front of Yuan Hong.
The moment the sword appeared, a torrential flood of sword Qi of matchless sharpness ferociously
unfurled, tearing open deep gorges on the surrounding ground.
Anyone could see that this sword would be able to cleave even a giant mountain into two. If it landed on
Zhou Yuan’s body, the latter would surely be unable to bear its power.
Zhou Tai, Zhang Yan and Lu Yan’s expressions changed drastically.
“Stop!” All three of them yelled out in unison.
However, a trace of mockery merely rose from the corners of Yuan Hong’s lips as he ignored them and
flicked his finger.
Bzz!
2381
Everyone could only watch as a flash of sword light sliced across the land.
Such speed was as fast as lightning.
Many people could only see the ground being torn open rapidly torn open, as the countless boulders
scattered near the wall split apart, revealing interiors that were smooth as mirrors.
A flash of sword light headed directly for the figure that was still struggling to its feet.
It arrived in an instant.
“It’s over.” Yuan Hong nonchalantly declared.
Sword light swept past, splitting countless boulders as it charged into the wall.
Sword Qi swept outwards, devastating the surroundings. A smooth, glossy cut seemed to instantly appear
on the wall, before he began to fall apart.
A cloud of dust rose in the air.
Countless individuals could not help but close their eyes, unable to watch on.
Yuan Hong shook his head, and proceeded to turn around to declare the end of the chief disciple
selection.
Boom!
However, just as he was about to turn, Genesis Qi suddenly exploded from the mountain of rubble,
blowing countless rocks away.
Countless gazes immediately looked over in astonishment.
Yuan Hong was a little stunned as he muttered in surprise, “You still have some strength left?”
He lifted his head to look towards the shattered remains of the wall. The pile of rocks had already been
blown away, revealing a standing figure.
Amidst the dust, it could be seen that the figure’s hands were outstretched, tightly grabbing something in
front of it.
A glow appeared, revealing the ‘something’ to be a giant Genesis Qi sword!
Yuan Hong’s pupils violently shrank at this moment.
The sword was obviously the attack he had sent out earlier. But why… was it being firmly grabbed by
Zhou Yuan with his bare hands?
2382
Why had it not chopped off his arms?
“How can this be?!” Confusion flashed in Yuan Hong’s eyes.
A clamour rose from the area like a wave.
*Spit*
Zhou Yuan’s entire body was drenched in blood, his lacerated flesh a gruesome sight to behold. He spat
out a mouthful of spit mixed with blood, before slowly lifting his head. Silver light seemed to slowly swirl
in the depths of his pupils, making him look extremely mysterious.
“Are you…”
As he panted, a voice was slowly spat out from between his bloody teeth.
“done attacking?”
When the final word sounded,
Crack!
He clenched harder as the space around his hands seemed to slightly distort. Next, countless gazes stared
in shock as the enormous Genesis Qi sword shattered with a loud bang in Zhou Yuan’s hands!
At the same time, Zhou Yuan’s chilling voice rang out.
“If you’re done…”
“It should be my turn, right?!”
2383
Chapter 471 Silver Bone Stage!
Bang!
The enormous Genesis Qi sword shattered due to the sudden force exerted by Zhou Yuan. Sword Qi
violently swept outwards, slicing deep cuts in the ground around him.
Zhou Yuan stood amidst the destruction, still as a statue.
His body was still covered in blood, making him look extremely pitiful, but as his back gradually
straightened at this moment, an exceedingly terrifying undulation seemed to slowly pulse from his body.
A faint silver glow emerged from the depths of his flesh and blood.
There appeared to be something different about the current Zhou Yuan...
The scene of him crushing the giant sword naturally landed in the eyes of the countless onlookers outside
the chief disciple peak. A torrential uproar immediately exploded, innumerable disciples dumbstruck,
their eyes overflowing with disbelief.
They could not understand how Zhou Yuan, who was basically being steamrolled moments earlier, had
suddenly released such power.
Based on their senses, Zhou Yuan’s Genesis Qi had not grown stronger. So where had this power come
from?
Only the six imposing figures high up in the sky released low gasps of surprise.
Hongya Peak master Gu was the first to speak in a voice filled with amazement. “This power… comes
from the body. This kid… has achieved the silver bone stage?”
The second stage of the Hongya Peak’s Mythic Saint Body was known as the silver bone stage, which the
external cultivation technique practiced by Zhou Yuan clearly originated from. Of course, it naturally
could not be compared to the true divine silver bone, but its power was still clear for all to see.
“Tch tch, to think that this kid has managed to achieve the silver bone stage in such a short amount of
time. He’s basically a genius of external cultivation!” Peak master Gu was full of praise, his eyes filled with
approval as he looked towards the bloody figure on the mountain top.
He clearly understood how difficult the path of external cultivation was. What’s more, the technique
practiced by Zhou Yuan originated from the Mythic Saint Body, making it even harder to master than
ordinary external cultivation techniques.
In the Hongya Peak, only Shang Chunqiu alone had been able to reach the divine silver bone stage.
2384
Sect master Qing Yan also slowly nodded and said, “He had not reached the silver bone stage earlier. If
I’m not wrong, he had intentionally chosen to endure Yuan Hong’s ferocious attacks with his body to
temper it, forcing him to his limits to achieve a breakthrough.”
He then exclaimed with a sigh of admiration, “Such decisiveness and boldness is truly praiseworthy.”
The other peak masters, with the exception of peak master Ling Jun, faintly nodded in agreement. A
disciple that could display such traits was indeed very amazing.
Peak master Lianyi glanced at the now frowning and less certain peak master Ling Jun, as she softly
chuckled and said, “It seems that the situation has begun to change?”
Peak master Ling Jun took in a deep breath, his youthful and handsome face maintaining its calm as he
replied, “It’s a little too early to say such things. A breakthrough of such nature is extremely taxing on
one’s vital energy. I’m afraid that Zhou Yuan does not have much strength left.”
However, anyone could tell that he no longer completely neglected Zhou Yuan like he had in the
beginning.
It was likely that the chief disciple selection of Saint Genesis Peak had only truly begun at this moment.
On the peak that was currently the focus of nearly the entire Cangxuan Sect.
Yuan Hong gazed at the bloody figure before him with a somewhat dark expression. The astonishing
power displayed by Zhou Yuan was likewise out of his expectations.
The feeling of things slipping out of his control caused fury to surge in his heart.
At the same time, he was also quite puzzled. Zhou Yuan appeared incapable of putting up any resistance
at all just moments earlier, so how was he suddenly able to block that attack?
What exactly had he done?
Nearby, Lu Yan, Zhou Tai and Zhang Yan were also watching with uncertainty, confusion and surprise.
Zhou Yuan wiped away the blood at the corner of his mouth. Silver light flowed in the depths of his eyes
as he lifted his head and looked towards Yuan Hong, while he stretched and twisted his body a little,
releasing cracking noises.
Dark green light glowed faintly as a warm energy spread, swiftly replenishing the depleted vital energy in
Zhou Yuan’s body.
“You seem to be very surprised?” Zhou Yuan grinned, revealing a set of sinisterly white teeth.
2385
Yuan Hong’s expression darkened even further as he icily smiled. “It’s just some kind of trick!”
“I am very interested to find out whether this confidence you have is just a pretense!”
His foot slammed into the ground as torrential Genesis Qi rose around him, transforming into ten giant
swords. Every sword gave off an alarming sharp sword Qi.
Bzz!
Ten swords soared into the sky, lining up one after another as their tips faced downwards. It was an
impressive sight indeed.
Yuan Hong had evidently been angered for real, and no longer planned on playing around.
Swish!
Ten swords rapidly grew in Zhou Yuan’s pupils. He lifted his head, and took in a deep breath as silver
light emerged from the bones in his body. If one were to take away all of his flesh and skin at this
moment, one would discover that Zhou Yuan’s skeleton appeared to be made from silver, a very peculiar
sight indeed.
Silver bones shook faintly as a frightening power surged.
Zhou Yuan tightly clenched his five fingers into a fist and punched.
Silver light blossomed in his flesh.
Boom!
A sonic boom accompanied his punch as cracks rapidly grew on the ground below his feet, as if a giant
invisible hand was tearing it apart.
Silver light spread, causing Zhou Yuan’s outstretched arm to appear as if it was made of silver.
Little Mythic Saint Body, Silver Bone Stage!
Bang!
Under the countless watching gazes, Zhou Yuan’s silver punch smashed into the descending swords,
causing a shockwave to violently unfurl.
The shockwave spread, wreaking havoc around them.
Crack!
2386
A faint crack sound was heard from where fist and sword met. Every could only watch in shock as cracks
began to appear on the sword before it ultimately shattered with a bang.
After shattering the first sword, the silver light continued along its path, slightly distorting even the air
itself as the second and third swords were destroyed in succession!
By the time the silver light was done, all ten swords had crumbled to pieces.
Torrential cries of shock rang out once more.
Yuan Hong’s expression had turned extremely ugly. Even if the previous time could be said to be a fluke,
the power Zhou Yuan had displayed this time made it clear that he was already capable of facing Yuan
Hong directly.
In addition, it also proved that Zhou Yuan was not trying to put up an act.
“The power is from his body!” At this moment, Yuan Hong finally understood where the sudden explosion
of power had come from. It originated from that external cultivation technique!
Yuan Hong’s face turned so dark and ominous, it was as if rain would start falling from it at any moment.
He knew that Zhou Yuan’s body had not been so powerful half an incense stick ago!
And yet, after a vicious beating from him, Zhou Yuan’s body appeared to have been reforged.
It was obvious. A breakthrough had happened right under his nose.
Zhou Yuan had made use of Yuan Hong’s power to temper his body in hopes of breaking through his
limits.
Yuan Hong on the other hand had been totally in the dark as he helped Zhou Yuan complete this process...
In the face of a situation he had personally created, even Yuan Hong could not help but feel his heart
churn with regret. If he had known earlier, how could he possibly have intentionally humiliated his
opponent? He should have used his strongest attack to utterly crush Zhou Yuan, giving him no chance to
turn recover!
In a manner of speaking, Zhou Yuan’s transformation had been Yuan Hong’s handiwork.
Rumble!
While regret was churning in Yuan Hong’s heart, Zhou Yuan’s body lowered slightly into a crouching
position, like a cheetah that was about to pounce at this prey. Inside his body, his bones flickered with
silver light as a terrifying power gathered.
In the end, the gathering power erupted with magnificent force.
2387
Swoosh!
The ground under his feet crumbled as his figure instantly disappeared.
So fast that countless disciples were unable to see anything with their naked eyes.
Even Yuan Hong merely saw a shadow flash pass at a speed that made his pupils shrink.
There was no hesitation whatsoever as Yuan Hong immediately shot backwards. The current Zhou Yuan
made him feel a dangerous sensation. As such, he no longer dared to look down on the latter like before.
Boom!
However, mere moments after he began to retreat, the air exploded behind him as a blurry figure
appeared.
Thump!
Resplendent silver light exploded. Zhou Yuan wielded the Heavenly Yuan Brush, his gaze cold and sharp
as a blade as he swung his arms, causing the brush to sweep towards his opponent with dreadful power.
The ground under them was ripped open, revealing a deep, dark crack.
The black brush descended, the terrifying power within causing Yuan Hong’s expression to change
drastically.
All the Genesis Qi in his body immediately burst out without reservation.
“Low grade Heaven Genesis technique, Sword Shield!”
Genesis Qi gathered in the wake of his roar, taking the shape of a giant Genesis Qi sword shield in front of
him. The shield pulsed with chilling sword Qi, possessing both a strong defence and reflective properties.
Thud!
However, when the falling black brush landed on the shield, a shattering sound seemed to emerge from
space itself. Next, everyone saw cracks swiftly grow on the sword shield, before it exploded with a loud
bang!
A flash of black descended the moment the shield was shattered, slamming hard into Yuan Hong’s waist.
Thud!
2388
A muffled thud was heard as Yuan Hong vomited a mouthful of blood. His figure was sent hurtling
through the air, bouncing several times off the ground as he left a deep thousand foot long trail along the
way...
Both the mountain top and outside it was very quiet at this moment.
Countless gazes blankly stared at this scene...
This was the first time Yuan Hong had fallen into a disadvantageous position ever since the start of the
chief disciple selection.
It was clear that the situation had finally begun to change at this very moment.
2389
Chapter 472 Everyone Shocked
The mountain top was a mess. A deep, dark crack ran through the middle of the plaza, nearly splitting it
into two. At the end of the crack, Yuan Hong’s figure lay amidst a pile of rubble.
It was deathly silent outside the chief disciple peak.
Every gaze could only blankly stare at this scene in shock. Yuan Hong had been so calm and unruffled
since the start of the chief disciple selection, and had not been the least disadvantaged even against the
trio of Zhou Tai, Lu Yan and Zhang Yan.
In comparison with Zhou Yuan, Yuan Hong had truly seemed invincible.
Hence, when the numerous disciples were shocked to the core at the sight of the seemingly unstoppable
Yuan Hong being blown away by a punch from Zhou Yuan.
One must know that Zhou Yuan was being completely overwhelmed by Yuan Hong a short period ago.
But it was this very short period of time in which Zhou Yuan seemed to have undergone a complete
metamorphosis.
Who could have anticipated that Zhou Yuan would be able to release such terrifying power?
At Shen Taiyuan’s faction, without even mentioning the ordinary disciples, even Shen Taiyuan himself
could not help but be slack jawed, as he stared at this scene in a daze.
Shen Taiyuan had honestly lost all hope when Zhou Tai and the other two had been defeated earlier. After
all, although Zhou Yuan was doing pretty well, there was still a substantial gap between him and Yuan
Hong.
Hence, Shen Taiyuan had already been prepared for defeat.
He never would have imagined that the situation would suddenly take such an unexpected twist.
A surprise like this had truly caught him a little off guard.
But as the surprise began to pass, Shen Taiyuan could only look towards the glowing silver figure on the
mountain top with unequaled gratification, as a rejoicing mood infected his heart.
He was rejoicing his choice of standing his ground against the majority back then to select Zhou Yuan and
give him the greatest support possible.
In the very distant future, this choice of his would perhaps become the most successful decision he had
made over the years.
2390
While Shen Taiyuan was sighing deeply with emotion, the nearby elder Lu Song was breathing a soft sigh
of relief. Though he had already chosen to back down in this chief disciple selection, he still felt his heart
stir a little when he saw Zhou Yuan blowing away Yuan Hong.
After all, he too had felt a small desire to recruit Zhou Yuan as his disciple back then, but had ultimately
chosen not to fight with Shen Taiyuan such as to maintain a friendly relationship.
He was now beginning to feel a little regret at that decision back then.
If Zhou Yuan truly succeeded in obtaining the chief disciple seat, Shen Taiyuan’s faction would gain the
possibility of becoming the master faction of Saint Genesis Peak. Shen Taiyuan’s status would also rise,
surpassing Lu Song’s.
“That old fogey…”
He sighed as he looked towards Shen Taiyuan with envy.
“His foresight is really something.”
Even further away from them, the celebratory atmosphere over Lu Hong’s faction had once again turned
to silence, the faces of numerous disciples overwhelmed with shock. This was the first time they had seen
Yuan Hong in such a position for so many years.
And the one who had created this scene was merely a newly promoted fourth layer purple sash disciple.
The disciples sneaked quick glances at Lu Hong, only to discover a stormy and somewhat twisted
expression on the latter’s old face. He quietly grinded his teeth as he stared at the figure atop the
mountain with both alarm and seething rage.
Zhou Yuan had never really entered his eyes. In fact, Lu Hong had not been too worried even when the
former defeated Wu Hai and the other four, because there was still Yuan Hong.
In Lu Hong’s opinion, when Zhou Yuan encountered Yuan Hong, he would naturally understand the
tremendous gap between them.
When that happened, Yuan Hong would naturally take back all the face they had lost.
But Lu Hong never expected the situation to take such a turn...
The sudden explosion of power from Zhou Yuan had stunned everyone, including Lu Hong.
He took in a deep breath, the sure-win attitude he had from before already beginning to crack a little.
Fortunately, the worst scenario had yet to occur.
It would not be so easy for Zhou Yuan to take the chief disciple seat from Yuan Hong.
2391
“Show me just how capable you are!”
Lu Hong gnashed his teeth, an ominous light flashing in his eyes as he stared at the figure on the peak.
On the peak, Zhou Tai, Zhang Yan and Lu Yan’s mouths were hanging wide up, the astonishment on their
faces not fading even after so long. The sudden turn of events had truly shocked them to their core.
Who could have imagined that Zhou Yuan would send Yuan Hong flying with a punch...
One must know that even the trio's combined efforts earlier had failed to even put a single dent on Yuan
Hong. And yet, Zhou Yuan had achieved what they had failed to.
So what did this mean?
It meant that Zhou Yuan’s strength had surpassed their combined might.
The trio had dull, sluggish looks on their faces, especially Lu Yan and Zhang Yan. The two of them had
nitpicked on Zhou Yuan the most, and even genuinely felt that he would be a burden in this chief disciple
selection.
Never in their wildest dreams would they have imagined that the very person they had looked down on,
would actually possess strength that surpassed even the trio’s combined might.
This made their expressions turn extremely complicated.
Zhou Yuan brandished the Heavenly Yuan Brush, its sharp tip pointed towards the ground at an angle as
Genesis Qi pulsed from it.
His tranquil gaze looked towards the glaring deep crack, pausing on the pile of rubble at the very end.
Though his earlier attack had been rather swift and fierce, and had made Yuan Hong suffer somewhat, the
former could sense that the latter had not sustained any fatal injuries.
This opponent was also unexpectedly difficult for Zhou Yuan.
However, Zhou Yuan also felt that he had nothing to fear. After all, he had succeeded in pulling through
the most dire juncture earlier. What’s more, the situation was already beginning to turn.
The newly acquired silver bone stage, plus his Genesis Qi and the Heavenly Yuan Brush made it such that
Zhou Yuan’s true battle power was no weaker than Yuan Hong’s peak eighth layer strength.
“You’ve already lost your final chance by choosing not to crush me earlier.”
2392
Iciness surfaced in Zhou Yuan’s eyes. In the next instant, his foot powerfully pushed off the ground,
sending his figure shooting forward and appearing above the pile of rubble.
“Are you only able to hide like a mouse now?”
Zhou Yuan let out an icy laugh as he swung the Heavenly Yuan Brush. Dreadful power poured down,
instantly turning the countless rocks below to power.
A pitch-black brush fell with unmatched force, causing the surrounding ground to crumble as it darted
towards the depths of the crack.
Swish!
As the brush descended with terrifying power, a ray of scarlet light suddenly soared out from the pitch-
black darkness, and ultimately collided with the brush.
Clang!
A loud and clear sound of metal striking metal echoed.
A frightening shockwave of Genesis Qi unfurled, devastating the surroundings. It was as if the giant plaza
had been relentlessly plowed, as cracks continuously appeared on the mountain top.
Some distance away, Zhou Tai, Zhang Yan and Lu Yan were caught in the aftershocks, causing their
figures to be swept away as blood spurted from their mouths.
However, they ignored their injuries and focused instead on the clash.
Zhou Yuan’s figure was flung backwards, his feet drawing two long marks on the ground.
He stared to the front, where Yuan Hong’s figure emerged once again from the scattering dust.
His clothes were in tatters and hair a mess, making him cut quite the sorry figure. However, his eyes were
currently akin to wild beast’s, filled with savageness and ferocity.
Vigorous Genesis Qi rose around him, causing a tremendous pressure to spread.
The most eye-catching thing, however, was the object he was tightly gripping with both hands, a scarlet-
red edgeless broadsword that seemed to tower in front of him.
Intense heat spread from the sword, that was seemingly capable of melting the ground.
Yuan Hong’s hands rested on the pommel of the sword as the surrounding Genesis Qi frantically
converged towards him, causing his aura to rise.
2393
Countless gazes looked towards the broadsword in Yuan Hong’s hands, as their pupils shrank slightly .
“Low grade Heaven Genesis Weapon, Heaven Flame Sword!”
Several cries of surprise rang out across the area.
High up in the sky, peak master Lianyi let out an icy chuckle when she saw this, turning towards peak
master Ling Jun as she said, “From what I know, that Heaven Flame Sword should belong to Sword
Cometh Peak, right?”
Peak master Ling Jun’s eyelids lowered slightly as he nonchalantly replied, “Due to the spectacular ability
displayed by Yuan Hong in Sword Cometh Peak, I bestowed this sword to him before he left for Saint
Genesis Peak.”
Peak master Lianyi coldly snorted, her tone filled with mockery.
Outside the chief disciple peak, Lu Hong breathed a sigh of relief, before gritting his teeth once more.
“Blasted brat… since you’ve forced Yuan Hong to bring out even the Heaven Flame Sword, you should
prepare yourself to pay a very painful price!”
From what he could see, bringing out the Heaven Flame Sword meant that Yuan Hong was finally going to
use his true power.
2394
Chapter 473 Desperation
Clang!
A loud and clear ‘clang’ echoed across the mountain top. The Heavenly Yuan Brush in Zhou Yuan’s hands
drew a line of dazzling sparks on the ground as he gradually steadied his body.
His eyes narrowed slightly as he stared to the front, where a somewhat ragged looking Yuan Hong stood
holding a scarlet-red broadsword.
Wave after wave of Genesis Qi pulsed powerfully from Yuan Hong’s body, causing a grave look to streak
across Zhou Yuan’s face.
“Low grade Heaven Genesis Weapon…”
Zhou Yuan was naturally able to sense the Genesis Qi in Yuan Hong’s body steadily rising when he held
the sword. It was obviously a real Heaven Genesis Weapon, and nothing like the quasi-Heaven Genesis
Weapons used by Wu Hai and the rest before.
A Heaven Genesis Weapon could absorb Genesis Qi from the surroundings to augment the user’s
strength. As such, Yuan Hong’s battle power had grown even higher after taking out the Heaven Genesis
Weapon.
This was something Zhou Yuan had clearly experienced in their most recent exchange of blows.
In other words, the Yuan Hong was now using his true power.
Under the countless watching gazes, Yuan Hong wielded Heaven Flame as he stared at Zhou Yuan with
the feral eyes of a tiger. Wave after wave of Genesis Qi continuously pulsed from the former’s body,
rippling space around him.
“I truly never expected that there would actually be a day where I would be forced so far by a fourth layer
disciple.” Yuan Hong revealed a set of eerily white teeth, his voice filled with iciness.
There was a sliver of anger in the depths of his eyes. Being pushed so far by Zhou Yuan had clearly made
him feel humiliated.
Yuan Hong had never once viewed Zhou Yuan as a threat. Even though the latter had achieved several
impressive battle accomplishments, Yuan Hong had always looked at him like a senior looking at a
newcomer.
However, he would never have imagined that this newcomer he often overlooked or neglected, would
actually force him into such a miserable state in the chief disciple selection.
2395
This was clearly something that Yuan Hong could not accept.
Hence, he needed to display true power that would let Zhou Yuan understand the gap between them.
The feral look in Yuan Hong’s eyes grew more and more ferocious. In the next instant, berserk Genesis Qi
exploded from his body, as his figure suddenly appeared high in the sky.
Genesis Qi surged out, pouring into the Heaven Flame Sword in his hand. Everyone could see its originally
scarlet-red blade grow brighter and brighter.
A terrifying head spread from within, causing even the space around it to distort a little.
“Flame Light!”
Yuan Hong’s roar was akin to thunder. His hands formed a seal as the Heaven Flame Sword transformed
into a flash of scarlet light as it shot forth. Scarlet-red waves of fire churned around it, as if it was falling
from the sky while dragging along a sea of fire, quick as rushing thunder as it viciously chopped
downwards at Zhou Yuan below.
Swoosh!
Patches of forest on the chief disciple peak began to burn, and even the boulders started to melt.
The expressions of countless disciples changed at the sight of this attack.
After being augmented by the power of a Heaven Genesis Weapon, Yuan Hong had obviously become
even more frightening.
No one knew if Zhou Yuan would be able to withstand such a terrifying attack...
Zhou Yuan stood on the ground, the stone floor beneath his feet slowly turning scarlet-red. He lifted his
head as the sea of fire rapidly grew in his eyes.
Huu.
He took a deep breath. Though his expression was grave, not the slightest trace of fear could be seen.
Yuan Hong had brought out even his hidden Heaven Genesis Weapon, and clearly no longer dared to hold
anything back. Since this was the case, the subsequent struggle would be a test of their true skills.
However, no matter what, Zhou Yuan was absolutely not going to yield the chief disciple position to Yuan
Hong today!
Boom!
2396
A cold glint flashed in Zhou Yuan’s eyes as he slammed his foot into boiling hot scarlet-red ground,
causing it to crumble. His figure turned into a wisp of smoke as it rose into the air.
His hands tightly gripped the Heavenly Yuan Brush as Genesis Qi star after star in his Qi Dwelling began
to light up. Genesis Qi endlessly surged out, flooding his four limbs and skeleton.
“Jade skin stage!”
His skin began to give off a jade glow.
“Silver bone stage!”
Silver light emerged from his bones.
Zhou Yuan pushed the little Mythic Saint Body to its limits at this very moment.
Physical power and Genesis Qi gathered, allowing every swing of his fist and feet to be accompanied by
an explosion of terrifying power.
Rumble!
The Heavenly Yuan Brush dashed towards the sky, bringing with it Zhou Yuan’s strongest power as it
collided with the scarlet light and sea of flames.
Clang!
The two Genesis Weapons smashed into each other, causing a loud ‘clang’ to sound. A ripple that could be
seen with the naked eye swept outwards, as faint cracks appeared in the surrounding space.
Zhou Yuan’s figure was forced back, but he managed to stabilize his body with a jerk of the brush.
The scarlet light also forced back, the sea of fire scattered as the light transformed back into a sword and
orbited around Yuan Hong.
Neither side had gained the upper hand in the ferocious clash.
Zhou Yuan and Yuan Hong’s gazes met in the air, iciness flickering in their eyes. In the next instant, the
Heaven Flame Sword roared forth once more, scarlet light sweeping across the land as it transformed
into countless sword shadows that began to attack Zhou Yuan.
In response to Yuan Hong’s aggressive offensive, Zhou Yuan howled at the sky, brandishing the brush as
he shot forward to meet the attacks head-on.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
2397
Genesis Qi clashed in the sky above the mountain top like thunder, sending out wave after wave of
destruction.
Yuan Hong controlled the Heaven Flame Sword with his Genesis Qi, sending it cutting through the air
along with waves of fire. Scarlet-red sword shadows transformed into frightening attack after attack, like
the relentless rage of a fire god.
On the other hand, Zhou Yuan wielded the Heavenly Yuan Brush with raw physical force and Genesis Qi
like a titan, every swing shaking even space itself.
In the sky, every clash between the two would cause destructive shockwaves to unfurl, making the giant
mountain below tremble.
Both parties poured out of their power, anger seemingly growing with each strike.
Outside the chief disciple peak, countless gazes watched the intense clash with shock. No one had
expected Saint Genesis Peak’s selection to reach such intense levels.
In a certain manner of speaking, the intensity here was already not the least bit inferior to the other six
peaks.
Gaze after gaze stared unblinkingly at the sky above the chief disciple peak, neither Shen Taiyuan nor Lu
Hong’s factions daring to breathe too loudly.
On the mountain top, Lu Yan, Zhou Tai and Zhang Yan had huddled together to avoid the aftershocks of
the battle happening above them. When they looked up to watch the dancing black brush wielded by a
young figure in the sky, their expressions turned extremely complicated.
All of the doubts and skepticism from before had already faded away.
Rumble!
Under the countless watching gazes, Zhou Yuan and Yuan Hong fought over a hundred rounds in the sky
at lightning speed. They gave their all in every single exchange, not holding anything back.
Boom!
After yet another ferocious clash, the Heaven Flame Sword rose into the air and revolved around Yuan
Hong, its scarlet light appearing somewhat dim.
Zhou Yuan steadied his body, blood dripping from his hands as he gripped the Heavenly Yuan Brush.
Cold sweat had appeared on the foreheads of both individuals, and breathing had turned rather ragged.
The intensity of the previous clashes was clearly exceedingly taxing on both of them.
2398
From this, one could see how fierce and desperate the exchanges had been.
Zhou Yuan wiped away the blood on his hands as his brows knitted together. Yuan Hong was indeed an
incomparably difficult opponent. The former had not expected to be incapable of defeating the latter even
with the silver bone stage of the little Mythic Saint Body.
While such thoughts swirled in Zhou Yuan’s mind, he was unaware that flames of rage in Yuan Hong’s
heart were burning even hotter. In fact, fire was nearly spewing from his eyes as he glared at Zhou Yuan.
He had brought out even the Heaven Flame Sword to claim back the face he had lost. However, he was
still unable to crush Zhou Yuan in a convincing manner that would teach him the gap between them. This
was very hard for Yuan Hong to swallow.
“Zhou Yuan!”
Yuan Hong’s expression darkened.
Meanwhile, high up in the sky above the Cangxuan Sect.
While he watched the slugfest, peak master Ling Jun’s eyes turned as deep as the night as a strange light
flickered in his eyes. A long finger reached out from his sleeves as he gently trapped in the air.
In that same moment.
Yuan Hong suddenly sensed the Heaven Flame Sword emit a peculiar buzzing noise, as what seemed to
be a strange glowing rune appeared on its body.
Yuan Hong’s pupils shrank slightly when he saw this. He cast an unnoticeable glance towards the sky
above as a sliver of hesitation flitted across his eyes. However, the hesitation ultimately faded, replaced
by resolve.
His hands came together as he made a strange hand gesture.
Buzz!
The Heaven Flame Sword began to vibrate as it moved to hover above his head. It then began to sink little
by little, making it appear as if it was inserting itself into Yuan Hong’s head from a distance.
Zhou Yuan frowned when he saw this scene, as a faint sense of unease rose within them.
However, before he could do anything, the Heaven Flame Sword had already completely submerged into
Yuan Hong’s head in a bizarre manner.
2399
Yuan Hong stared at Zhou Yuan, and said with cold indifference, “Zhou Yuan, I’ll admit that you’re very
capable to have pushed me so far, but unfortunately for you, you never had a chance in this chief disciple
selection!”
His eyes slowly closed at this moment.
A deep, indescribable berserk sensation seemed to quietly echo, causing the surrounding Genesis Qi to
instantly turn hot as if placed in a furnace.
“Sword! Feeding! Technique!”
2400
Chapter 474 Sword Feeding Technique
Buzz!
The entire area seemed to turn hot the instant the scarlet-red broadsword fully submerged into Yuan
Hong’s head. At the same time, the deep cry of a sword echoed across the land.
The sword cry felt eternal and unending, seemingly transforming into omni present sword Qi that filled
the area within a several thousand feet radius of Yuan Hong.
Ch ch!
Yuan Hong stood in the air as countless scars were cut open on the ground below his feet, revealing
insides that were smooth as mirrors.
The pressure from Yuan Hong’s body steadily grew more and more powerful.
These changes were naturally immediately detected by Zhou Yuan. His expression instantly changed,
because Yuan Hong’s Genesis Qi now felt extremely scorching and deadly.
It was completely different from before.
“What’s going on?” Confusion flashed in Zhou Yuan’s eyes.
On the mountain peak, Lu Yan, Zhou Tai and Zhang Yan’s expression fluctuated indeterminately in
confusion, evidently also sensing the changes in Yuan Hong.
Outside the chief disciple peak, countless gazes also watched in confusion.
Elder Shen Taiyuan and Lu Song’s brows were tightly furrowed, their eyes rapidly flickering in thought as
they stared at Yuan Hong’s figure. A long while later, they seemed to recall something as their pupils
shrank a little.
“It’s the Sword Feeding Technique?”
Their expressions turned ugly. The Sword Feeding Technique was a rather unorthodox Genesis technique
of Sword Cometh Peak. It fed one’s flesh and blood to the sword, allowing one to temporarily achieve a
pseudo state of ‘sword and man as one’. In this state, the wielder’s strength would be augmented, while
also being bestowed the powers of the sword...
However, this Genesis technique was extremely damaging to the wielder, and would leave serious
repercussions. In fact, even the sword would be tainted by a demonic aura that would make it difficult to
control in the future.
2401
It was precisely because of this high price that very few disciples would attempt learning it. Moreover,
even if they did, they would not resort to it unless it was a life or death situation.
No one had expected Yuan Hong to activate at this juncture...
Numerous disciples broke out into whispers, many criticizing Yuan Hong. The latter’s methods were
clearly quite unscrupulous.
High up in the sky, sect master Qing Yang frowned slightly when he saw this scene.
“Humph, it’s only a match between disciples of the same sect, and yet he even used such a technique that
would even harm himself. What a vicious disciple.” Peak master Lianyi swept a cold glance at peak master
Ling Jun.
The other peak masters also shook their heads as if they had something to say about the matter.
Peak master Ling Jun’s expression remained unchanged as he said, “Yuan Hong’s thirst for victory is
indeed a little too strong. After this is over, he shall be reprimanded for such actions. However, the rules
do state that one must do one’s best, and has never restricted or forbidden such techniques.”
Sect master Qing Yang fell into thought for a brief moment, and could ultimately only shake his head in a
helpless manner. Though this action of Yuan Hong was quite unsightly, it did not break any rules. Hence,
it was not appropriate for him as sect master to be overly critical.
He looked towards Zhou Yuan’s figure on the mountain top with some pity. The fact that Zhou Yuan, a
newly promoted disciple, had been able to push Yuan Hong to this point was already more than proof of
his ability. This had perhaps been a little too difficult to swallow for the latter, forcing him to use such a
sacrilegious technique.
Given Yuan Hong’s current state, things would likely become quite dangerous for Zhou Yuan.
Buzz buzz!
The humming of a sword continuously echoed across the area.
Yuan Hong’s originally muscular body began to shrivel at a speed that could be seen by the naked eye.
Scarlet light surfaced in his pupils, making him look quite the terrifying sight.
Zhou Yuan could sense an increasingly dangerous aura from Yuan Hong’s body, causing him to tightly
grip the Heavenly Yuan Brush as he focused all his attention on the latter.
2402
“I truly never imagined… that the first time I use the Sword Feeding Technique would be because of you.”
Scarlet light surged within Yuan Hong’s pupils, his voice turning eerie and raspy as he stared at Zhou
Yuan.
Zhou Yuan did not respond, merely continuing to watch his opponent with cold eyes, while his body
tensed up in high alert.
“I’ll make you understand the meaning of fear!” The corners of Yuan Hong’s mouth were lifted, creating a
sinister smile.
Swish!
His foot powerfully slammed into the ground, the hum of a sword seemingly echoing as his body
strangely disappeared from the spot.
“So quick!”
Zhou Yuan’s pupils shrank a little. Yuan Hong was undoubtedly much faster than before.
Buzz!
Just as Zhou Yuan began to retreat, the sound of a humming sword was suddenly heard above him. He
abruptly lifted his head, to find Yuan Hong’s gangly figure appear, staring at him with a chillingly eerie
gaze as a bony hand ferociously chopped downwards.
Swoosh!
As the knife-hand fell, scarlet light spouted out, transforming into a glowing thousand foot long sword.
Intense heat and power pulsed from it, as if it were an legendary evil sword that had just been pulled
from a volcano.
Sword light rushed past, leaving scars in the fabric space itself.
Every motion and every attack was even fiercer and more powerful than when he had been wielding the
Heaven Flame Sword earlier.
Scarlet light rapidly grew in Zhou Yuan’s pupils. He did not dare to waste any time as the tip of the
Heavenly Yuan Brush swiftly turned pitch-black. SIlver light flickered in his body as he drew upon every
ounce of his power and swung with all his might.
Clang!
The glowing scarlet sword hacked onto the tip of the Heavenly Yuan Brush, causing a loud clang to
explode. A scarlet-red shockwave unfurled, causing a violent gale to sweep across the area.
2403
Everyone watched as Zhou Yuan’s figure was sent hurtling away from the scarlet light. He landed hard on
the ground, his feet rapidly crushing the floor below him as his sleeves were ripped apart by an invisible
force.
After sliding a hundred feet, Zhou Yuan finally managed to stabilize his body as his expression turned
extremely grave. Blood dripped from his hands, while the web between his thumb and index figure had
been torn.
“What a terrifying attack.”
Zhou Yuan gritted his teeth. Yuan Hong’s strength was far too alarming in this state. In contrast to how
they had been almost equal earlier, Zhou Yuan was now clearly being overwhelmed again.
The chief disciple selection was much more difficult than expected.
The many trump cards he had prepared were being forced out one after another.
In the sky, Yuan Hong’s savage scarlet pupils turned towards and locked onto Zhou Yuan. In the next
instant, his body plunged from the sky, clearly intent on properly finishing off the latter in this state.
Boom!
Sonic booms were heard as his figure rocketed through the air.
Swoosh! Swoosh!
At the same time, a flurry of chops were thrown by Yuan Hong, creating giant scarlet sword after sword
that seemed to fill the entire sky as they rained down, a sight that made the scalps of the countless
watching disciples turn numb.
In the face of Yuan Hong’s crazy offensive, Zhou Yuan also felt his scalp grow numb. However, there was
already nowhere to escape. He could only tightly grip the Heavenly Yuan Brush as he low roar left his
throat.
“Jade skin!”
“Silver bone!”
“Million Whale!”
“……”
2404
Frightening power erupted from Zhou Yuan’s body without any reservation. In the face of Yuan Hong’s
attacks, Zhou Yuan had no choice but to squeeze out every bit of power he possessed.
This was going to be a clash of their strongest power!
2405
Chapter 475 Breakthrough!
Boom! Boom!
Under countless horrified gazes, the attacks from both parties collided on the chief disciple peak, as an
enormous explosion of energy swept outwards. The top of the mountain had finally began to crumble at
this moment.
Boulders continuously tumbled down as stone platform after platform collapsed.
The entire mountain began to fall apart layer by layer.
It was a clash that could be said to be earth-shattering.
The destruction caused the scalps of countless disciples to turn numb.
A giant cloud of dust rose from the wreckage, covering the sky.
Every gaze was glued to the collapsed mountain top. The frightening attacks from before should finally
mark the end of the chief disciple selection, right?
Under these watching gazes, the dust cloud gradually dissipated.
Next, numerous disciples saw a thin figure floating in the air. It was Yuan Hong!
Berserk and powerful scarlet-red Genesis Qi continuously pulsed from his body as he stood in the air,
while blood dripped from his hands.
The gazes shifted downwards, only to find that the mountain top had completely crumbled. Amidst the
rubble was a deep, bottomless black hole that appeared to pierce straight through the giant mountain...
It was clear that Zhou Yuan had been blasted deep into the chief disciple peak by Yuan Hong’s frightening
bombardment.
This scene made the Shen Taiyuan’s disciples turn deathly pale. They were truly unable to imagine just
how terrifying Yuan Hong’s attacks had been.
But they knew that even Zhou Yuan had not been able to withstand that relentless and crazed explosion
of power.
In contrast, Lu Hong’s disciples breathed a sigh of relief as if a heavy weight had been lifted from their
shoulders. There were really too many twists and turns in this battle.
2406
Lu Hong faintly trembled as he wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, his tense body finally allowing
itself to slowly relax, as a cold smile appeared from the corners of his lips.
Although it had been quite a rollercoaster, the ones who were able to laugh in the end was his faction!
Lu Hong mumbled with a slightly clenched jaw, “He shouldn’t be able to make any more comebacks,
right?”
The countless onlookers sighed in pity when they saw this scene. Zhou Yuan had only needed one more
step to create a miracle.
What a pity that he had failed at the final moment.
It truly was quite regretful.
Yuan Hong stood in the air, his chilling gaze staring at the ruins of the mountain top. His senses told him
that the Genesis Qi undulations deep in the mountain had indeed become very weak.
His opponent had evidently been gravely injured, making him the ultimate victor in this battle!
In the dark newly created depths inside the mountain.
Zhou Yuan's blood-drenched body was buried in the rubble. If he had not attained the silver bone stage,
he would have been knocked out due to heavy injuries.
Even so, he could feel pain radiate from all over his body.
Yuan Hong’s earlier attacks had been rather unbearable despite achieving the silver bone stage.
Zhou Yuan’s hoarse voice echoed in the darkness.
His gaze penetrated the cracks amidst the rocks, catching a faint glimpse of the scarlet-red silhouette in
the sky.
Though there was a tired look in his eyes, it was dwarfed by a burning unyielding flame.
Even in such a terrible situation, it was impossible for him to give up!
He had suffered untold hardships to come this far, how could he allow himself to fall at the final step?!
Zhou Yuan’s burning eyes slowly closed at this moment, as the faint breathing of a dragon echoed from
his nose.
2407
The dragon breathing grew louder and louder, as if a giant dragon was breathing. While he breathed, the
surrounding Genesis Qi began surging over, transforming into white mist that was sucked into Zhou
Yuan’s body.
Dragon Breathing!
The breathing grew more and more hurried as it became louder and louder.
In the end, the entire interior of the mountain was filled by boundless Genesis Qi that frantically poured
into Zhou Yuan’s body.
Zhou Yuan’s hand slowly began to clench tightly once more. Robust Genesis Qi flowed into his body,
before being swiftly refined and cast into his Qi Dwelling.
The Genesis Qi in his Qi Dwelling swiftly began to grow.
In the darkness, Zhou Yuan’s eyes slowly opened as a seemingly inexhaustible bright light shined in his
eyes.
He had been stuck on the fourth layer Alpha-Origin for a long time, and had already faintly sensed the
signs of a cultivation breakthrough while training on the water and fire tempering dragon stage.
However, those signs had been extremely weak. Hence, Zhou Yuan chose to suppress them instead of
forcibly attempting a breakthrough.
But he was also preparing for it at all times, and after the bitter, desperate battle earlier, the indications of
a breakthrough were finally slowly becoming clearer...
A natural feeling akin to the creation of a canal where water flowed.
Three months of slowly building his foundations bit by bit, and an intense battle to solidify it...
The feeling of a breakthrough finally reached its peak at this very moment.
The final trump card Zhou Yuan had prepared for the chief disciple selection was quietly being flipped
open at this moment…
In the sky above the chief disciple peak.
Yuan Hong raised his head and looked towards the sky, clearly waiting for the final verdict to come. He
was already the last man standing, and the position of Saint Genesis Peak chief disciple should soon fall
upon his shoulders.
2408
However, after waiting for some time, he realized that there appeared to be no movement from the six
grand figures in the sky.
This was likewise detected by numerous disciples, causing them to burst out into confused noises.
According to the rules, shouldn’t it be time to announce that Yuan Hong had obtained the chief disciple
position of Saint Genesis Peak?
After all, he already had no opponents left.
Roar!
While Yuan Hong and the numerous disciples were confused, a weak, barely audible dragon roar
suddenly echoed.
Yuan Hong was slightly stunned, before he abruptly threw his gaze towards the depths of the mountain,
where he had sensed a powerful Genesis Qi undulation begin to gather at an alarming speed.
“How can this be?! He still has strength to fight?” Yuan Hong’s pupils shrank as disbelief and shock
flooded his face.
It should have already been concluded, how could the situation change once more?!
Rumble!
Everyone watched as an enormous thousand foot light pillar of golden Genesis Qi suddenly erupt from
the depths of the mountain.
One would faintly see a giant python hissing in the Genesis Qi pillar, as a powerful aura engulfed the area.
Countless gazes were dumbstruck as they stared at the violently churning Genesis Qi. This was not an
unfamiliar sight to them, the same thing would happen to them during a Genesis Qi breakthrough.
In other words...
Zhou Yuan’s Genesis Qi cultivation had ascended to the next level!
2409
Chapter 476 Fifth Layer!
A golden Genesis Qi light pillar charged straight into the sky, emitting dazzling golden light and a
powerful Genesis Qi pressure.
Countless onlookers watched in shock as gaze after gaze stared hard at the depths of the collapsed
mountain top. They were truly unable to believe that Zhou Yuan would suddenly have a cultivation
breakthrough after experiencing such a desperate battle.
It was impossible for such a breakthrough to occur out of the blue.
After all, one would faintly be able to sense an imminent cultivation breakthrough. Hence, all of this had
likely been within Zhou Yuan’s expectations. From the very beginning, he may have been using the
desperate fight to temper himself, and allow a miraculous cultivation breakthrough to perfectly appear.
Everyone knew that it was easiest to find that breakthrough opportunity in a battle of such high intensity
and concentration.
“Zhou Yuan… is so meticulous in his strategy!”
Several disciples could not help but sigh in amazement. An ordinary person would likely do everything
possible to reach for a breakthrough the moment the signs appeared. As for whether it would be perfect,
that was definitely not a priority.
After all, no one would know when such a chance would appear again.
Only those who had absolute confidence in themselves would dare to calm their hearts, and silently
polish themselves further as they waited for the most perfect timing.
Which was precisely what was happening now.
The Genesis Qi light pillar was robust and pure. In addition, it gave off a powerful Genesis Qi pressure
that was comparable to the eighth layer. From this, one could easily see how crazily solid his foundations
were.
Complicated expressions rose in the eyes of countless disciples. It had finally dawned upon them why
Zhou Yuan was clearly ascending to the fifth layer, but his Genesis Qi foundations were no weaker than
the eighth layer.
Because the latter’s training was extremely harsh and stringent. Even a widely sought after cultivation
breakthrough was not rushed, instead waiting for the most perfect timing to seek it.
Such discipline and confidence far exceeded the norm.
2410
In the sky above the peak, Yuan Hong’s expression fluctuated indeterminately as he watched this scene.
He never imagined that he would become a mere grindstone for Zhou Yuan.
This opponent of his had likely planned everything in advance, making use of the battle to induce a
perfect cultivation breakthrough.
The more desperate the earlier fight, the more benefits Zhou Yuan would receive.
However, the fact that he dared to use a battle of this level as a training tool only showed his remarkable
gutsiness.
Huu.
Yuan Hong took in a deep breath with a dark look in his eyes. The expelled breath had a fierce burning
aura as sword Qi began to surge between his fingers.
He had finally completely thrown away the composure from before. Zhou Yuan had surpassed his limits
time and time again, and this time, it was very likely that he would catch up to Yuan Hong.
The golden Genesis Qi grew increasingly dazzling and vigorous.
Everyone could see a figure slowly rising within the glowing Genesis Qi pillar, before eventually coming
to a stop in the sky.
It was Zhou Yuan!
All traces of blood had already been shaken off from his body. Although his clothes were still quite
tattered, the injuries on his body were now fully healed. Jade light glowed from his skin as faint silver
light shimmered in the depths of his bones.
Golden light gathered in his pupils, as if they were golden pupils, while an intimidating pressure spread.
At the sight of the current Zhou Yuan, Yuan Hong’s pupils shrank slightly, evidently feeling an extremely
dangerous aura for the very first time.
Every gaze in the area converged onto Zhou Yuan’s body.
His eyes were lightly shut, feeling the surging Genesis Qi in his body as a smile rose from the corners of
his lips.
“Four thousand Genesis Qi stars.”
After reaching the fifth layer, the number of stars in his Q Dwelling had grown to over four thousand.
2411
One must know that he had about a thousand two hundred stars in his Qi Dwelling when he rose to the
fourth layer, which had slowly increased to two thousand at the peak of the fourth layer.
This cultivation breakthrough had doubled that number.
If this number was made public, many people would be astonished. After all, even some eighth layer
disciples may not even have four thousand Genesis Qi stars.
Hence, if one were to talk solely about Genesis Qi foundations, the current Zhou Yuan was already no
weaker than Yuan Hong.
Zhou Yuan gazed at Yuan Hong with faint indifference. The danger levels of the extremely high threat
opponent from before had already begun to plummet in his eyes.
“Since I managed to achieve my cultivation breakthrough, it should be time for us to end this fight, right?”
Said Zhou Yuan with a slight smile.
Yuan Hong’s eyes turned frosty as he retorted, “What boastful words! Do you truly believe ascending to
the fifth layer will change anything?!”
Fury surged in Yuan Hong’s heart. These words were just far too disrespectful. It was as if all the times he
had been down in the earlier fight was merely him patiently enduring for his cultivation breakthrough.
Zhou Yuan did not continue the exchange of words. His hands came together as he rapidly made a series
of hand seals.
Genesis Qi churned in his body, as a pressure spread, causing even the fabric of space to tremble faintly.
The air around him abruptly heated up at this moment.
Yuan Hong’s expression darkened. He did not dare to be negligent as a similarly powerful and sharp
burning aura spread. The Heaven Flame Sword that had been fused into his body had bestowed his
Genesis Qi with fire properties.
He was currently the Heaven Flame Sword, while the Heaven Flame Sword also him!
Whoosh!
The surrounding Genesis Qi swiftly gathered towards Zhou Yuan as his cheeks abruptly ballooned. A split
second later, azure flames ferociously spouted from his mouth like a sea of fire.
The azure sea of fire swept towards Yuan Hong like lightning, causing the surrounding temperatures to
rise rapidly.
2412
“Heavenly Sun Flame?” Yuan Hong was a little taken aback by this sight, but was evidently prepared for it
as he sneered and said, “You intend to defeat me with just this?”
Zhou Yuan acted as if he had not heard anything. As the last bit of flame was blown out from his mouth,
he suddenly spat out a very faint dark golden light. The light fused into the azure sea of flames, instantly
dyeing in a dark golden hue.
A dark golden sea of flames charged past like a raging bull, the terrifying heat rapidly climbing higher and
higher. The forest on the mountain below began to burn, while the ground started to melt.
“Heavenly Sun God Record, third level, dark golden Heavenly Sun Flame!”
Yuan Hong’s expression finally changed at this moment as fear rose in his eyes.
“He has achieved the advance stage of the Heavenly Sun God Record!” Shock flooded Yuan Hong’s heart.
The Heaven Sun God Record was a low grade Heaven Genesis technique which comprised three stages.
No one would have expected Zhou Yuan to reach the advance stage in a single year.
One must know that even Yuan Hong himself had not managed to reach the advance stage in any of his
Heaven Genesis techniques.
As the dreadful heat rapidly approached, Yuan Hong did not dare to waste any more time. He clapped his
hands together as the cry of a sword loudly erupted from his body. Scarlet light unfurled, transforming
into a sky full of scarlet swords behind him.
It was basically another sea, but one made of swords.
Swoosh! Swish!
In the next instant, countless scarlet-red swords shot forth and clashed with the dark golden Heavenly
Sun Flames.
Ch! Ch!
However, the swords were instantly evaporated upon contact with the sea of flames, though they did
manage to halt the advancing flames with sheer numbers alone.
But as more and more of the swords were evaporated, several burns began to appear on Yuan Hong’s
body. These swords were part of the Heaven Flame Sword’s power, and burning them would also cause
harm to Yuan Hong’s body.
However, there was nothing else he could do at this time.
An ominous glint surfaced in Yuan Hong’s eyes as his cheeks abruptly ballooned, before his mouth
suddenly opened a split second later.
2413
“Sword Flame Torrent!”
A scarlet torrent spouted forth from his mouth, the sharp aura pulsing from it evidence that it was
actually composed entirely of sword Qi. Sword Qi swept forth, colliding with the dark golden sea of
flames. With the sharpness of the sword Qi, the sea of flames was finally split apart.
The scarlet-red in Yuan Hong’s pupils began to wane, a sign that this move had greatly exhausted him.
Before Yuan Hong could breathe a sigh of relief, however, he suddenly sensed space rippling above him.
He abruptly jerked his head upwards, and discovered a figure appearing with a flash.
Zhou Yuan looked down at his opponent from above with a gaze with cold indifference.
He suddenly pounced a split second later, an overwhelming torrential presence surging from him like a
tiger that was about to deal the killing blow to its prey.
“Jade skin!” His figure descended like a bolt of lightning as a jade glow blossomed from his skin.
“Silver bone!”
“Magical Serpent Scales!”
“Fifth layer!” Dazzling rays exploded from the four thousand Genesis Qi stars in his Qi Dwelling as
torrential Genesis Qi flooded out.
“Myriad Transformations!” Snow-white hairs tunnelled out from Zhou Yuan’s body and twisted around
his arm, creating a snow-white gauntlet over his fist.
These were brush hairs from the Heavenly Yuan Brush!
“Genesis Breaker!” The snow-white gauntlet instantly turned a deep, mysterious pitch-black.
At this current point in time, Zhou Yuan’s aura had reached an indescribably terrifying level.
With Yuan Hong’s figure reflected in Zhou Yuan’s pupils, a twisted, sinister grin appeared from the
corners of his lips
In this very moment, the strongest blow he had prepared was finally unleashed with bold, unstoppable
momentum.
The fabric of space around him rippled violently as the remains of the chief disciple peak below began to
collapse once more.
2414
This punch was far too great, possessing overwhelming power that could reshape the very land itself!
In the face of such a punch, even Yuan Hong’s expression changed drastically as terror flooded his eyes.
However, he was also a person of extraordinary calibre, and was thus not completely paralyzed.
ARHHHH!
He roared as ferocity swelled in his eyes. He knew that only defeat awaited him if he allowed himself to
yield even half a step.
“Heaven Flame Sword!”
With a furious roar, his fingers clenched tightly into a fist that was sent blasting forth. Scarlet light
frantically surged as the silhouette of a sword superimposed itself on his arm, the sword’s power and his
own fully erupting at this moment.
At this point in time, he could only pour all of his power into this final clash!
Rumble!
Under attention of countless shocked gazes, the mightiest, full-power attacks of the two individuals
clashed in the sky above the chief disciple peak with unequaled ferocity.
It was akin to a meteor collision.
A flurry of emotions colored the faces of countless disciples as they watched.
2415
Chapter 477 Aspiring for First
Boom!
Two powerful attacks, each at the pinnacle of their respective user’s strength, flew towards each other in
the sky above the chief disciple peak, while countless gazes watched in shock.
Everyone could feel that the two individuals had already squeezed out every drop of their power, making
these attacks their strongest possible strikes.
Outside the chief disciple peak, both Shen Taiyuan and Lu Hong were unable to turn their gazes away,
even forgetting to breathe for the moment.
They knew that both Zhou Yuan and Yuan Hong were basically at their limits by this point in the fight,
and the final outcome was soon to appear.
Lu Hong’s expression was the uglier of the two, because he never imagined that the very same person he
had originally believed they need not pay any attention to, would be the one to force Yuan Hong so far.
What’s more, even bringing out a trump card like the Sword Feeding Technique had actually failed to
achieve a crushing victory.
“God damnit!”
A curse was spat out from the cracks between Yuan Hong’s teeth, his eyes filled with regret and
frustration. If he had known what a problem that brat would be, they would have immediately changed
their strategy to concentrate all their power into dealing with Zhou Yuan.
However, it was already too late for regrets, and even Lu Hong could only nervously wait for the eventual
result.
Under the countless watching gazes, Zhou Yuan’s black brush hair covered fist plowed through the sky,
blasting away the surrounding air as it ruthlessly collided with Yuan Hong’s scarlet-red sword
superimposed fist.
Clang!
At the instant of impact, the entire world seemed to freeze for a moment.
Next, a several thousand feet large Genesis Qi storm exploded from the point of collision, madly sweeping
outwards.
2416
Even the numerous disciples outside the chief disciple peak could clearly feel the berserk energies within
a storm of this scale. Cracks spread across the entire peak as the mountain top crumbled once more.
At the epicenter, Yuan Hong’s scarlet-red eyes were locked onto Zhou Yuan, who was mere inches away,
as he roared through gritted teeth, “A new disciple dares to stop me from becoming the chief disciple?
Delusional!”
Genesis Qi frantically gushed out from his body as he roared, rippling the space around him.
The scarlet-red silhouette of a sword superimposed on his arm grew clearer and clearer, making it
appear as if his arm was the Heaven Flame Sword itself, as increasingly deadly and hot undulations
pulsed from it.
However, Zhou Yuan’s expression remained calmly indifferent in response to roaring from Yuan Hong’s
twisted face. The former’s fist clenched even harder, the pitch-black hairs wrapped around it like a
gauntlet gleaming with a deep, bottomless luster.
“Get! Out! Of! My! Way!”
A bellow rang out from Zhou Yuan’s throat, his fist slightly pulling back, before brazenly punching
forward a split second later.
Clang!
The first that seemed to be covered by a black gauntlet smashed into Yuan Hong’s fist like metal striking
metal, as an enormous shockwave unfurled once more.
Yuan Hong’s pupils violently shrank at this moment. He had felt an indescribable boundless power rush
towards him. As the power poured out, faint red cracks began to appear on his sword-like arm.
Crack!
His entire arm seemed to shatter at this instant.
Next, countless gazes watched in astonishment as Yuan Hong’s figure hurtled down from the sky like a
cannonball.
Wind rapidly rushed past his ears as a look of fear and shock appeared on Yuan Hong’s face. It was as if
he never expected Zhou Yuan’s punch to have reached such a frighteningly powerful level!
The Heaven Flame Sword in his body seemed to emit a mournful cry.
Boom!
2417
His body landed on the mountain top, followed by several loud booming sounds, as the already crumbling
mountain top fully collapsed.
Yuan Hong’s body pierced into the mountain, ultimately stopping deep in its bowels.
The body of the mountain began to cave in as the entire peak started to crumble.
The sight of such destructive power caused the numerous watching disciples to suck in a cold breath of
air.
The entire place was completely silent.
Countless gazes shifted away from the collapsed chief disciple peak in shock, to find Zhou Yuan’s figure
standing in the air as the brush hairs on his fist swiftly receded.
Blood flowed down his hand, dripping from his fingertips.
The earlier punch had been unequaled in ferocity. As a result, the resultant force had also been extremely
frightening. If not for his progress in external cultivation, Zhou Yuan’s arm would have been torn to
pieces.
He looked downwards with a frosty gaze at the still collapsing chief disciple peak. His gaze followed the
tumbling rubble, and found Yuan Hong’s figure lying amidst numerous boulders in the bowels of the
mountain.
His entire body was drenched in blood, his somewhat crooked arm clearly broken in quite a number of
places.
A look of terror was still present on Yuan Hong’s face as he struggled to lift his head. His gaze penetrated
the falling boulders to find the figure high up in the sky.
He emitted a struggling hiss from his throat as he reached out to grab at the figure with some difficulty.
His eyes were filled with an intense unresigned look.
He never imagined that he would actually lose to Zhou Yuan...
A new disciple he had never even registered as a threat… had managed to defeat him?! The almighty Yuan
Hong?!
The gazes of two individuals met amidst the falling boulders.
“I... I refuse to accept this!! How can you possibly have defeated me?!” A hoarse howl of rage was
accompanied by a gush blood.
2418
His body glowed with scarlet light. In the end, a sword shot out, wailing as it stabbed into the ground
beside him. It was the Heaven Flame Sword.
The Heaven Genesis Weapon had already turned extremely dim, a sign that it had also sustained serious
damage.
After the Heaven Flame Sword left his body, the light in Yuan Hong’s eyes began to waver. He stared at
the cold eyes of the young figure in the sky, as his outstretched hand slowly began to fall...
No matter how unresigned he was, Yuan Hong understood that in this chief disciple selection...
He had lost.
Boulders continued to tumble down, covering the giant pit.
Urgh.
In the air, Zhou Yuan spat out a mouthful of blood and saliva as the Genesis Qi around him gradually
weakened. The intense battle had been an extremely difficult one for him.
If he failed to ascend to the fifth layer at the end, he would have no choice but to bring out Silver Shadow.
Currently, by borrowing Yuan Hong’s power, Zhou Yuan had not only mastered the silver bone stage, but
also stepped into the fifth layer, a very satisfactory and perfect end indeed.
Zhou Yuan wiped away the blood at the corner of his mouth and raised his head to glance at a certain
spot in the distance, where Zhou Tai, Lu Yan and Zhang Yan were gathered, staring at him with gazes that
were a mix between shock and horror.
It was as if they had seen a ghost.
Due to their close proximity, they had witnessed how Zhou Yuan had made a comeback from a near
hopeless situation, and ultimately crushed Yuan Hong under his heel.
The resultant shock was so intense that it was impossible to increase it any further.
Lu Yan swallowed again and again, a complicated expression on her pretty face.
How could she have ever imagined that the new disciple she always looked down on would end up
defeating Yuan Hong, doing something that even the combined efforts of the three top tier purple sash
disciples had failed to achieve.
“Junior brother Zhou Yuan… this is… too fierce, right?” Mumbled Zhou Tai.
2419
Zhang Yan was silent, but the shock in his eyes was unconcealable. In fact, there was even a trace of
respect in his gaze when he looked at Zhou Yuan.
Zhou Yuan smiled at them, before turning to the side towards the still dazedly standing Han Yu. The only
person left who had yet to be eliminated was her.
“Senior sister Han Yu, shall we have a little bout?” Zhou Yuan grinned.
Once he eliminated Han Yu, he would be the only remaining participant, and the chief disciple position
would naturally become his.
Han Yu was first stunned by these words, before she anxiously backed away as if having seen some kind
of terrifying creature. In the end, she fainted.
Basically scared out of consciousness.
Zhou Yuan was stunned by this sight for a moment, before he awkwardly scratched his head, split
between whether to laugh or to cry. It seems that watching him beat Yuan Hong earlier had terrified her
too much, making Han Yu unable to bear the physiological stress of facing Zhou Yuan now.
However, being unconscious meant that she was now disqualified.
He was the only remaining participant in the entire chief disciple peak.
At this thought, even Zhou Yuan felt his heart begin to rise in his chest.
He lifted his head, looking towards the sky as he cupped his fists together.
“The Saint Genesis Peak chief disciple selection is over, will sect master please bestow the title onto me.”
His clear and powerful voice sounded in the silent surroundings.
2420
When Zhou Yuan’s clear voice echoed across the land, the silence over the place was finally broken as
dazed gaze after gaze slowly returned to their senses...
The onlookers looked towards the still slowly collapsing chief disciple peak, where Zhou Yuan was
standing in the air. Although he tattered clothes made him cut quite a sorry figure, the faint presence that
spread from him made several disciples freeze for a second.
Only at this very moment did they finally realize that what many had viewed to be a mere new disciple,
had already grown to such an astonishing level in a short year...
So much so, that even a veteran disciple like Yuan Hong had been beaten!
At this moment, the crowd finally understood that they could no longer view Zhou Yuan with the same
lenses they had before… anyone who dared to adopt a high and mighty attitude due to seniority or
experience, would only be seeking his or her own humiliation.
Outside the chief disciple peak, the three Saint Genesis Peak factions also returned to their senses.
Shen Taiyuan’s disciples were in disbelief. They looked at each other, and timidly asked, “We… won?”
The pressure brought by Lu Hong’s faction had been far too overwhelming. Hence, even at such a time,
they found the impossibly beautiful outcome before them rather hard to accept.
The usual stern and strict look on Shen Taiyuan’s old face was currently disappearing little by little, as
intense, unconcealable emotions surged out in his eyes. He forcefully nodded as he said in a trembling
voice, “Yes, Zhou Yuan has won! We’ve won the chief disciple selection!”
With regards to such an outcome, even someone like Shen Taiyuan could no longer remain calm.
When the Zhou Tai trio had failed to defeat Yuan Hong earlier, Shen Taiyuan had already begun to
despair inside. Yuan Hong had just been too overwhelming and unstoppable.
Although Zhou Yuan had repeatedly surprised them, Shen Taiyuan felt that he was still too new, and his
chances against an experienced disciple like Yuan Hong were anything but optimistic.
Never would he have imagined that Zhou Yuan, whom no one had supported, would ultimately be the one
to do it...
In the end, he had even gone against all odds to obtain victory against Yuan Hong!
2421
Gratifications filled Shen Taiyuan’s eyes as he gazed upon the youthful figure. He was very happy that he
had insisted on taking Zhou Yuan in back then, and even repeatedly supported him against the majority
opinion.
Now, Zhou Yuan had reciprocated in the best way imaginable.
In the wake of Shen Taiyuan’s words, the nearby disciples finally returned to their senses. Zhou Yuan had
really defeated Yuan Hong, and obtained the chief disciple position of Saint Genesis Peak!
As such, literal earth-shaking cheers erupted a split second later.
“Little Yuan bro is invincible!” An excited to the max shriek was heard.
The crowd jumped at this voice, quickly looking over, only to find that Shen Wanjin’s round face had
flushed red with excitement, as if he was about to pass out from happiness.
“I… I put two hundred thousand Genesis jade on him!” Shen Wanjin trembled with emotion.
These words caused the group to fall silent once more, before their eyes began to turn red, and their
breathing ragged as they stared at Shen Wanjin. Only now did they recall that he had bet two hundred
thousand Genesis jade on Zhou Yuan taking home the chief disciple seat!
Just how much was he going to get back in return?!
They had previously teased Shen Wanjin for basically ‘throwing away’ his wealth, but who could have
expected such an outcome? After calculating the betting odds, how much Genesis jade did he win?
Such a fortune would stun even purple sash disciples.
Numerous disciples suddenly felt their hearts ache as they stared at the flushed Shen Wanjin. Was this
little fatty going to become one of the richest disciples in the Cangxuan Sect?
What kind of luck was this!
While the many disciples on this side were cheering, somewhere nearby, elder Lu Song was the first to
begin clapping, as he sent Shen Taiyuan a congratulatory smile.
His disciples also returned to their senses as they erupted into thunderous cheers. After all, compared to
Yuan Hong becoming the chief disciple, they undoubtedly favored Zhou Yuan much much more.
The cheering of these two factions converged together, booming across the area like thunder.
Amidst their cheering, Lu Hong’s faction was covered in a stifling atmosphere as if someone had died.
Numerous disciples, including Wei Youxuan and the others who had once dueled with Zhou Yuan, had
deathly white complexions as they watched this scene.
2422
They never imagined that the seemingly invincible Yuan Hong would fall at Zhou Yuan’s hands!
This was a devastating blow to their morale.
Amidst the heavy silence was an ashen faced Lu Hong. His body trembled as his legs turned to jelly,
causing him to fall, butt first, into the chair behind him.
“How can this be…” Mumbled Lu Hong.
“How could he have defeated Yuan Hong?!”
Lu Hong’s gnarly hands tightly gripped the arm rests of the chair, the tremendous force crushing them to
splinters. This outcome had clearly far exceeded his expectations.
Yuan Hong was his greatest disciple that he had poured all his heart into nurturing, and had even
received tutelage from peak master Ling Jun. There should have been no one who was capable of
matching him in Saint Genesis Peak.
He was also the source of Lu Hong’s confidence in obtaining the chief disciple position. However, the
scene current before his eyes caused all of this confidence to fall apart at this moment.
His mind was a mess, because he dearly understood the heavy responsibility they carried by coming to
Saint Genesis Peak.
It was a gamble between peak master Ling Jun and the other peak masters.
If they failed, Sword Cometh Peak would suffer a tremendous loss, a loss that even an elder like him could
not possibly shoulder.
He had followed peak master Ling Jun for many years, and clearly understood the ambitions in the
latter’s heart. It was to make Sword Cometh Peak the most powerful peak in the Cangxuan Sect.
However, all of that plotting had now ended in failure.
Lu Hong did not even dare to look up at this moment. He could already imagine how much rage there was
in peak master Ling Jun’s heart...
With a glazed look in his eyes, Lu Hong gazed at the figure floating above the chief disciple peak, as
endless regret suddenly began to flood his heart. If he had known this would happen, he would have done
all his best to recruit Zhou Yuan back then.
However, Zhou Yuan had been of practically zero concern to him back then. He did not feel that there was
anything noteworthy about this new disciple… in addition, because of Lu Xuanyin, he had even beared a
little animosity towards Zhou Yuan.
2423
If he had just recruited Zhou Yuan and then thrown him to the side, today’s events would at the very least
not have occured!
However… as he recalled this memory, Lu Hong finally understood the meaning of regret.
“It’s over…” He mumbled as his body turned ice-cold.
2424
Chapter 479 Chief Disciple Seat
Shocked noises continued to reverberate outside the Saint Genesis Peak chief disciple peak, before swiftly
spreading at an alarming pace, quickly spreading to the other six chief disciple peaks.
All of the disciples who received the news were without exception, stunned and shaken to the core.
A rapidly growing uproar washed over the Cangxuan Sect.
Everyone had clearly been astonished by this outcome. It was after all common knowledge that Saint
Genesis Peak had fallen into hard times, and could not match the other six peaks. Moreover, Lu Hong’s
faction was originally from the rapidly rising Sword Cometh Peak, and had even established a place for
themselves there back then.
Many people believed that the chief disciple position of Saint Genesis Peak would most certainly end up
with Lu Hong’s faction, mostly because of their unshakable confidence in Yuan Hong.
Even back in Sword Cometh Peak, Yuan Hong would have been a strong contender for the chief disciple
position.
After being transferred to Saint Genesis Peak, obtaining the chief disciple seat should have been a mere
formality.
Hence, the news had thoroughly stunned everyone who heard it.
“My god, Yuan Hong really lost?!”
“Isn’t Zhou Yuan the one who recently joined the sect last year?”
“Who else in Saint Genesis Peak is called Zhou Yuan?”
“Is he really so amazing? To think that even Yuan Hong was not his match.”
“Looks like everyone has underestimated him…”
“……”
Countless disciples could not stop sighing. Although Zhou Yuan had a growing reputation in the Cangxuan
Sect, the public opinion was that he was still a new disciple, and needed more training before he could
begin challenging a veteran disciple like Yuan Hong.
No one had expected that Zhou Yuan would defeat Yuan Hong at such a time, and seize Saint Genesis
Peak’s chief disciple position.
2425
While sighing, numerous disciples committed Zhou Yuan’s name to memory. They also subconsciously
felt a little respect for him, and no longer viewed him as a new disciple.
After all, once he became the chief disciple of Saint Genesis Peak, Zhou Yuan’s status would be vastly
different from before.
Outside Cangxuan Peak’s chief disciple peak.
Gu Hongyi was likewise stunned when she heard the news, but a happy smile soon blossomed on her
beautiful face, as she cast her gaze towards the far away Saint Genesis Peak.
The truth was that she had not been optimistic about Zhou Yuan’s chances either, and thus could not
bring herself to go over and watch. She was worried that she would see Zhou Yuan’s faction being
crushed, and never imagined that he would instead end up tiumphanting over all the odds.
Gu Hongyi laughed softly, displaying an enchanting smile. Though it was somewhat regretful that she had
not been there to personally witness it, Zhou Yuan’s victory was still the best news of all.
“Hongyi, that guy called Zhou Yuan is quite capable. To think that he managed to defeat even Yuan Hong.”
Around Gu Hongyi, several senior and junior sisters from the Cangxuan Peak also released surprised
noises.
They knew that Gu Hongyi was quite close to Zhou Yuan.
Gu Hongyi earnestly said, “He wasn’t ordinary from the start, anyone who underestimates him will surely
pay the price.”
Gu Hongyi was obviously very popular in the Cangxuan Peak. As such, there were always quite a number
male disciples crowding around her like stars to the moon, who all adored her greatly.
Therefore, their lips curled in jealousy when they saw how highly she thought of Zhou Yuan. Some of the
more senior disciples even wanted to step forward to compare themselves with him, but ultimately chose
to shut their mouths. They realized that when Zhou Yuan obtained the chief disciple position of Saint
Genesis Peak, his status was no longer that of a new disciple.
If they talked carelessly, it would instead make them appear like overly arrogant braggarts.
Hence, they could only look at each other in the end, and shake their heads in frustration.
“What?! Zhou Yuan beat senior brother Yuan Hong?!”
When the news reached Sword Cometh Peak, it caused the biggest reactions of all. Numerous disciples
were dumbstruck, clearly unable to accept this reality.
2426
Lu Xuanyin in particular, stared at the disciple who had told them the news with round eyes, and an
ashen face, as a dispirited look filled her eyes.
Her voice was somewhat panicked. She knew full well that it was precisely because of herself that Lu
Hong had been so critical of Zhou Yuan at the start. If not for her, Lu Hong would surely have seriously
considered recruiting Zhou Yuan.
She had even been quite pleased with herself back then, and felt good that Lu Hong was avenging her.
After today, however, that pleased feeling had turned to panic.
Because she clearly understood why Lu Hong’s faction had gone to Saint Genesis Peak.
It was on peak master Ling Jun’s instructions.
Lu Hong’s failure today would surely draw peak master Ling Jun’s wrath. When that happened, Lu Hong
would not be the only one to receive punishment. Lu Xuanyin knew that she would also be implicated.
The thought of such an outcome caused Li Xuanyin’s face to turn deathly pale.
She never imagined that the country bumpkin she looked down on back then would come to possess such
power and status in the Cangxuan Sect after a short year.
High in the sky where the ten Chosens were seated.
Chu Qing’s bald head gleamed brightly as he gazed at the collapsing mountain peak in the distance.
Surprise flitted across his handsome face as he slowly said, “This junior brother Zhou Yuan of ours is no
simple individual…”
These words were no longer teasing in nature due to Yaoyao, but genuinely complimenting Zhou Yuan
himself.
It had only been a year since he joined the Cangxuan Sect, but he had already become the chief disciple of
one of the peaks. Though it was in the pitiful Saint Genesis Peak, it was still enough to show how
extraordinary Zhou Yuan was.
Li Qingchan also looked at his figure with a complicated expression in her eyes. She had realized that no
matter how highly she viewed him, she always seemed to end up underestimating him a little.
This meant that she was still wrong about Zhou Yuan.
2427
Li Qingchan turned towards another direction where a beautiful figure was elegantly seated. The latter
seemed to sense the former’s gaze, and slightly tilted her head over in response, before raising a cup with
a soft chuckle.
It was obviously Yaoyao.
Li Qingchan’s lips curled slightly, easily picturing Yaoyao asking her whether she was wrong again.
“He is quite the monster…” Muttered Li Qingchan as she glanced towards Zhou Yuan’s far away figure.
The fact that Zhou Yuan could draw such words from a Chosen such as herself showed how highly she
regarded him.
Beside Li Qingchan, Kong Sheng was completely silent, but anyone could see the thick layer of frost
covering his face. Nearby, Zhao Zhu had already begun cursing.
Who else could he be cursing but Yuan Hong for being useless.
At the sight of Kong Sheng’s appearance, the other Chosens could only chuckle inside, not daring to
provoke him at such a time.
Only Chu Qing sighed, before he looked over and said, “Junior brother Kong Sheng, it looks like I was a
step ahead of you again. When will you be passing me the Genesis jade?”
Veins popped out on Kong Sheng’s forehead.
Chu Qing rubbed his bald head as he displayed a dazzling smile, “No hurry, no hurry. Junior brother Kong
Sheng can always write me an IOU first if you can’t pay up for the moment.”
A chilling voice shot out from the gaps between Kong Sheng’s teeth.
“Scram!”
Even higher up in the sky.
Six majestic figures were seated in the sky. However, even these six figures were likewise a little out of it
as they gazed upon the collapsing mountain top.
One could easily imagine how unexpected this was if it could affect even individuals like them.
Cough!
2428
Sect master Qing Yang was the first to recover. He coughed softly, before looking towards peak master
Ling Jun. The latter was no longer able to maintain his usual faint smile, and his face was currently a little
ugly.
On the other hand, peak master Lianyi was grinning from ear to ear as she said, “This year's chief disciple
selection has been quite a rollercoaster. Hehe, peak master Ling Jun, we’ll be gladly receiving the
resources of your Sword Cometh Peak.”
Though the other peak masters did not say anything, the corners of their lips were clearly twitching a
little.
Back then, peak master Ling Jun had gone against the majority opinion, and transferred Lu Hong’s faction
to Saint Genesis Peak. He had also promised them that if Lu Hong’s faction failed to obtain the chief
disciple seat, Sword Cometh Peak would give a fifth of their cultivation resources as compensation to the
other peaks.
That was a tremendous amount of cultivation resources. Even to people like them, losing such an amount
would be very painful.
Peak master Ling Jun’s expression akin to a frozen lake, his tightly clenched hands betraying the boiling
anger inside.
Sect master Qing Yang waved his hand, stopping peak master Lianyi’s gloating provocations. He fell silent
for a brief moment, before ultimately deciding to speak, “The chief disciple position of Saint Genesis Peak
has ended up with elder Shen Taiyuan’s group, while Lu Hong’s faction has failed.
“In accordance with the meeting we had before, peak master Ling Jun promised to give up a fifth of Sword
Cometh Peak’s cultivation resources next year. I hope that peak master Ling Jun will be understanding in
this matter.”
Although he pitied peak master Ling Jun a little, sect master Qing Yang naturally needed to be impartial.
Hence, he had to be slightly heartless this time even if it was akin to cutting off peak master Ling Jun’s
flesh.
After all, it was a promise peak master Ling Jun personally made to all the other peak masters. If he failed
to adhere to it, the other peak masters would certainly not let this matter rest.
Peak master Ling Jun took in a deep breath. He did not say anything, and merely slowly nodded his head.
Sect master Qing Yang did not say anything else on this matter. His gaze shifted towards the collapsing
mountain top as he waved his sleeve, causing the collapsing to stop.
A mysterious power seemed to descend from the sky. Countless disciples could only watch in
astonishment as the giant mountain began to repair itself at this moment.
2429
Boulders rose into the air as greenery grew once more.
In a short span of a few dozen seconds, the crumbling mountain peak had returned to its original state.
Exactly the same as before as it continued to tower over the land.
One could only gasp in amazement at this sight.
To destroy a mountain was an easy task that one could accomplish at the Alpha-Origin stage, but to
return a destroyed mountain to its original state was a feat that required a completely different level of
power.
This was basically akin to shaping the land.
A boulder carrying the heavily injured Yuan Hong slowly rose into the sky and gently landed on the
mountain top.
Zhou Yuan was similarly shocked by what he had just seen, as respect rose in his eyes. The power to
shape and change the land itself had surpassed the boundaries of his imagination.
Sect master Qing Yang looked down from high up in the sky with a kind gaze.
A stone throne slowly rose behind Zhou Yuan, the two words ‘chief disciple’ inscribed upon it.
Zhou Yuan heart churned with emotion as he stared at the throne. He bowed towards the far away sect
master Qing Yang, before seating himself on the throne amidst countless envious gazes.
The moment he was seated, a ray of light arose from the throne and soared into the sky, standing on the
mountain like a glowing pillar that supported the heavens, allowing the entire Cangxuan Sect to clearly
view it.
At the same time, sect master Qing Yang’s grand voice echoed across the land.
“Saint Genesis Peak’s chief disciple selection has concluded.”
“And their chief disciple is Zhou Yuan!”
Innumerable disciples looked towards the young figure seated upon the stone throne, respect flowing out
in their eyes, as they bowed towards him.
Countless voices rang out in an orderly fashion.
“Congratulations chief disciple Zhou Yuan!”
2430
Chapter 480 The Seven Great Chief Disciples
Sect master Qing Yang’s grand voice continued to echo within the sect.
Seated on the stone throne, Zhou Yuan could not help but feel overwhelmed inside when he heard the
countless disciples congratulating him. His hands clenched tightly, clearly unable to contain his emotions.
His main reason for joining the Cangxuan Sect was to grow stronger, and reach the level where he could
match king Wu. Becoming the chief disciple of Saint Genesis Peak had been his first target...
Once he became the chief disciple, he would be able to openly enter the sealed main peak to find the
second Saint Rune left behind by patriarch Cang Xuan.
A Saint Rune was a fragment of the divine artifact, the Cangxuan Saint Stamp, and possessed
unimaginable power. It was basically a miraculous blessing to anyone who could come to own it.
To obtain it, Zhou Yuan had not wasted even a single second resting over the past year, taking on risk
after risk, and challenge after challenge. All of his efforts were finally being repaid at this very moment.
He was clearly growing closer and closer to his goal.
Zhou Yuan took in a deep breath, suppressing the churning emotions in his heart, before he raised his
gaze and looked towards a certain boulder far away, where a certain graceful figure was seated.
Yaoyao was currently holding Tuntun as she lifted her gorgeous face, causing their gazes to meet for an
instant.
Next, Yaoyao’s red lips raised slightly, forming a faint, yet elegant angle.
She gently lifted the wine pot in her hand, and made a toasting gesture, as if she were both praising and
affirming the year of hard work he had put in.
Because she clearly understood just how much effort Zhou Yuan had invested over the past year.
The current glory was something he had every right to possess.
Zhou Yuan smiled in response, before withdrawing his eyes. His gaze shifted towards the other six chief
disciple peaks, where the battles had yet to end.
Unlike Saint Genesis Peak that only had three factions, the other peaks had at least several dozen. Hence,
their chief disciple selections naturally would not be decided as quickly.
As such, Zhou Yuan needed to wait for the other six peaks to be done before the chief disciple selection
would be officially over.
2431
Only then would they be bestowed the reward for becoming the chief disciple, the only technique that the
chief disciples of each peak had the right to learn… the seven Cangxuan arts!
For Saint Genesis Peak, it was the Omega Saint Spirit Art!
A high grade Heaven Genesis technique!
At this thought, even the usually composed Zhou Yuan felt his breathing grow heavier as his eyes turned a
little red. It would be the highest level of Genesis technique he had ever come into contact with till now.
Even the little Mythic Saint Body he had learnt was merely an offshoot of the Mythic Saint Body, one of
the seven Cangxuan arts.
It was difficult to imagine how powerful a true high grade Heaven Genesis technique would be.
Zhou Yuan ultimately quelled his roaming imagination. He changed to a cross-legged position on the
stone throne, and closed his eyes as he began recovering his Genesis Qi.
The earlier battle had after all been extremely exhausting.
Time swiftly flowed while Zhou Yuan recovered. Outside the other six peaks, earth-shaking cheers would
explode from time to time, a clear indication of the increasingly intense battles.
This continued till the sun was setting in the sky.
Dusky red light shined from the sky, draping a rose-red cloak over the land.
Dong! Dong!
When the sound of a bell echoed across the mountains, torrential cheering erupted in the Cangxuan Sect.
The battles on the other six peaks had finally come to a conclusion.
At the same time, sect master Qing Yang’s booming voice descended from the sky once more.
“Cangxuan Peak’s chief disciple selection is over, their chief disciple, Tang Muxin.”
“Snow Lotus Peak, chief disciple, Su Yao.”
“Hongya Peak’s chief disciple, Chen Ze.”
“Spirit Rune Peak’s chief disciple, Jin Zhang.”
“Lightning Prison Peak’s chief disciple, Xie Yan.”
“Sword Cometh Peak’s chief disciple, Bai Liche.”
2432
When each chief disciple was announced, deafening cheers would erupt from the disciples of each
respective peak. All of them chanted their chief disciple’s name, an incredible sight that far surpassed
Saint Genesis Peak in magnitude. After all, every other peak had an absolute advantage in numbers.
Zhou Yuan opened his eyes and looked towards the mountain tops of the other six chief disciple peaks in
the distance. A figure was currently seated in each of the chief disciple thrones at the top of each
mountain.
These six individuals were obviously the six chief disciples of their respective peaks.
Among these six individuals, some were old chief disciples, while others had knocked down obstruction
after obstruction, fighting all the way to the top where they ultimately defeated the old chief disciple.
Regardless of whether they were old or new chief disciples, every one of these six individuals were true
elites that had distinguished themselves from countless Cangxuan Sect disciples.
Their status was second only to the ten great Chosens!
A mountain-toppling wave of noise converged, growing louder and louder until even the mountains
began to tremble.
These noises were clearly congratulating the seven newly promoted chief disciples, who were currently
the center of attention.
“Will the seven chief disciples come forward.”
Sect master Qing Yang’s gentle yet grand voice echoed above the other six peaks. Six figures shot forth in
unison, landing on a giant mountain at the center of the seven peaks under the countless watching gazes.
This giant mountain was the location where the chief disciples received their rewards each year.
The tip of Zhou Yuan’s foot pushed off the ground as golden Genesis Qi formed a cloud below him. It
carried him into the air, and ultimately arrived on the top of the giant mountain.
When he landed, six gazes immediately looked over with interest and curiosity. There was of course also
some skepticism within them.
“Junior brother Zhou Yuan, it’s only been a year since you’ve joined the sect, and yet you’ve already
become a chief disciple. Such a rapid rise is unprecedented in our Cangxuan Sect.” A male disciple
chuckled as he sighed in admiration.
The man was called Jin Zhang, and was the chief disciple of Spirit Rune Peak. He had previously dueled
with Yaoyao a while back during the boundary trial of Spirit Rune Hall.
2433
However, he appeared to be quite a magnanimous person, and held no prejudice towards Zhou Yuan
despite losing to Yaoyao. In a manner of speaking, he had been subdued by Yaoyao’s might.
Zhou Yuan could feel Jin Zhang’s goodwill, and quickly replied with a humble smile.
“Jin Zhang, you’re exaggerating things. Don’t you know how much easier it is to become the chief disciple
of Saint Genesis Peak?” However, a faint laughter was heard at this moment, laughter that was tinged
with mockery.
Zhou Yuan lifted his head, his gaze tracing the voice to its source, only to find a young man in blue robes
wearing an indifferent expression on his face, while standing with his hands behind his back. The
markings of Sword Cometh Peak could be seen on his sleeves.
This person was evidently the chief disciple of Sword Cometh Peak, Bai Liche.
Bai Liche’s indifferent gaze swept towards Zhou Yuan, eyes filled with skepticism and frostiness.
However, his attitude towards the latter was quite normal, because Zhou Yuan had defeated Yuan Hong,
and humiliated Sword Cometh Peak.
There was no one in the entire Cangxuan Sect that did not know Lu Hong’s faction had transferred to
Saint Genesis Peak on peak master Ling Jun’s instructions.
After the failure of Lu Hong’s faction today, peak master Ling Jun would definitely be infuriated.
Hence, as a member of Sword Cometh Peak, this chief disciple naturally greatly disliked Zhou Yuan.
Zhou Yuan’s expression remained unchanged in the face of the mocking and hostility. After all, he knew
that Sword Cometh Peak would surely have an extremely unfavorable opinion of him the moment he
defeated Yuan Hong.
“Hehe, Bai Liche, your words are quite biased. Though Saint Genesis Peak is currently not in the best of
states, Lu Hong’s faction used to be quite high ranking in Sword Cometh Peak, while Yuan Hong would
have been a strong contender for the chief disciple position in Sword Cometh Peak. If even he ended up
losing to Zhou Yuan, his abilities can’t be too far off from the real deal.” Soft tinkling laughter sounded
from the side.
Zhou Yuan looked over, and found a pretty young lady grinning at them. From the patterns on her
sleeves, she should be chief disciple of the Cangxuan Peak, Tang Muxin.
Zhou Yuan was a little surprised that she had spoken up for him.
As if sensing his surprise, Tang Muxin smiled and said, “Junior sister Hongyi has been enthusiastically
spreading your name in the Cangxuan Peak. From what I can see, you’re indeed a little different from the
rest.”
2434
Zhou Yuan was struck by a flash of understanding. Tang Muxin had spoken up for him because of Gu
Hongyi.
Bai Liche frowned when he saw that both Jin Zhang and Tang Muxin would speak up for the newly
promoted chief disciple, Zhou Yuan. In the end, he coldly snorted with a slight wave of his sleeves.
The other chief disciples did not join in, merely looking at Zhou Yuan with interest, before withdrawing
their gazes.
On the mountain top, seven figures silently stood with their hands by their sides.
They soon felt a vast presence descend from the sky, as glowing lotuses slowly landed on the mountain
top.
Zhou Yuan and the other six raised their heads, and found six imposing figures seated on the glowing
lotuses, their gazes as deep as the sea. Six immeasurable existences that were basically akin to gods.
2435
Chapter 481 Omega Saint Spirit Art
Several glowing lotuses landed on the giant mountain. The vast, imposing auras spreading from the six
figures seated atop them caused the seven chief disciples to grow increasingly respectful. As young
practitioners that had recently stepped onto the ‘main road’ of cultivation, the six individuals before
them, who were already at the grandmaster level, were the goals they would strive towards in the future.
“We respectfully greet sect master and the peak masters.” The seven respectfully bowed.
Sect master Qing Yang smiled as he gazed upon these seven individuals, and nodded in approval. With a
wave of his sleeve, seven rainbow clouds slowly rose from under their feet and lifted them into the air.
Zhou Yuan curiously observed the cloud he stood on. It seemed to be made purely from Genesis Qi, while
a strange power churned within it.
“I created these seven rainbow clouds in my free time. They can fly people around with amazing speed
that can catch up to the moon and stars. Besides this, they will also be able to protect you from a fatal
blow once.”
Sect master Qing Yang chuckled and said, “Hehe, let them be a little gift for the seven of you, and a reward
for your hard work during the past year.”
Zhou Yuan and the other six were overjoyed, happiness appearing in their eyes as they looked down at
the rainbow clouds below their feet. Not only would they be able to travel faster in the future, but more
importantly, it could block a fatal blow for them once, which was basically akin to having a protective
treasure.
Though it may only be a small gift to sect master Qing Yang, to them, it was an important treasure that
could save their lives.
“Thank you sect master!” The seven bowed once more in thanks.
They never expected to receive such a big present so quickly.
Sect master Qing Yang laughed, before he said, “Some of you were previous chief disciples, while others
are newly promoted. The reward I’m about to give next will not be relevant to the former chief disciples,
so your respective peak masters will give you another reward later on.”
“For the newly promoted chief disciples…”
He paused, a slight smile appearing on his face when he saw their fervent gazes, before he said, “You will
be given what you desire the most.”
What was it they most desired? The seven Cangxuan arts of course!
2436
“Will the newly promoted chief disciples kindly step forward.”
Upon hearing this, Zhou Yuan immediately urged his rainbow cloud forward.
Beside him, the Snow Lotus Peak chief disciple, Su Yao, and the Hongya Peak chief disciple, Chen Ze, also
drifted forward. They were likewise newly promoted chief disciples.
It was not easy to replace a chief disciple in the Cangxuan Sect, because a newly promoted chief disciple
would receive one of the seven Cangxuan arts. Once this technique was learnt, it would become very
challenging for someone else to take the chief disciple’s place.
Fortunately, the seven Cangxuan arts were very difficult to learn, and many chief disciples would fail to
reach the elementary level even after a year of practice.
Hence, the usual strategy was to challenge the current chief disciple before he or she managed to learn
the technique. Otherwise, one would most likely have to wait for the old chief disciple to finish their three
year term and retire from the position.
This was also precisely why Su Yao and Chen Ze had succeeded. Their former chief disciples had failed to
learn the Cangxuan art within their one year tenure, allowing Su Yao and Chen Ze to catch up...
Snow Lotus Peak master Liu Lianyi and Hongya Peak master Gu looked towards Su Yao and Chen Zu,
before making a grabbing motion as two ancient jade books appeared in their hands.
The jade books slowly floated into the air, hovering in front of the Su Yao duo as a mysterious light pulsed
from them.
Su Yao and Chen Ze’s eyes were overflowing with emotion as they respectfully reached out with
trembling hands to receive the books. Each of these books contained one of the seven famous Cangxuan
arts.
Sect master Qing Yang looked towards Zhou Yuan and said, “Due to Saint Genesis Peak not having a peak
master, I’ve been the one who has been keeping the Omega Saint Spirit Art, which I shall confer to you
today.”
A simple jade book appeared in his hand, before drifting towards Zhou Yuan.
Zhou Yuan respectfully received it. A cool sensation entered his hands, but his heart was boiling hot with
excitement. This was a high grade Genesis technique, the highest level of Genesis technique he had ever
come into contact with.
“Thank you sect master.”
2437
Sect master Qing Yang nodded, before he cautioned, “All of you will have to work hard in practicing the
seven Cangxuan arts. If you fail to master it after a year, and your position is taken by another disciple, do
be warned that these manuals will be taken back.”
Everyone earnestly nodded in acknowledgement.
It should have been over after awarding them the seven Cangxuan arts. However, sect master Qing Yang
fell silent for a moment, before he looked towards Zhou Yuan and said, “Zhou Yuan, as the chief disciple of
Saint Genesis Peak, you will have to enter the sealed main peak and attempt to unseal it.”
Zhou Yuan suddenly jerked to attention. It was finally here.
However, before he could respond, a calm voice suddenly sounded, “Sect master, all of the past Saint
Genesis Peak chief disciples have failed to unseal the main peak, and his chances will likely not be high
either. Saint Genesis Peak is the patriarch's most beloved place, and should not be left to rot like this. I
propose we allow all seven chief disciples to enter Saint Genesis Peak in hopes that their numbers will
finally allow us to succeed in unsealing the peak.”
Zhou Yuan’s pupils shrank slightly. He lifted his head, and found that it was peak master Ling Jun who had
spoken.
Peak master Ling Jun’s handsome face was calm, his eyes looking only at sect master Qing Yang, not
giving even a single glance to Zhou Yuan.
Sect master Qing Yang and the other peak masters were a little taken aback, evidently not expecting peak
master Ling Jun to make such a suggestion.
Peak master Lianyi glanced at peak master Ling Jun and said, “You seem to be very concerned about Saint
Genesis Peak.”
Peak master Ling Jun nonchalantly responded, “Saint Genesis Peak is where the patriarch spent most of
his time back then, while also the only place that has been preserved after his death. There are certain
clues we need to uncover within it.”
“Including… the Cangxuan Saint Stamp!”
The last three words caused the mountain top to fall silent. An indescribable pressure seemed to engulf
the place, causing one’s heart to beat harder.
Sect master Qing Yang’s expression also turned solemn.
“The Cangxuan Saint Stamp is too important. If it is once again held by our Cangxuan Sect, we will no
longer need to fear the Sacred Palace, and will even be able to make them pay for what they did back
then.”
2438
Peak master Ling Jun slowly said, “If such a divine artifact were to fall into the hands of the Sacred Palace,
their palace master will become the new Heaven Master of Cangxuan Heaven, and wield the almighty
power of this land… when that happens, billions of its inhabitants will become slaves of the Sacred race.”
“This is we need to reopen the main peak of Saint Genesis Peak as soon as possible, and ascertain
whether the Cangxuan Saint Stamp is somewhere inside.”
In the face of peak master Ling Jun’s words, even peak master Lianyi had nothing to say.
Peak master Lei Jun said in a deep and raspy voice, “His words are reasonable.”
Sect master Qing Yang fell silent as he looked towards the other peak masters. None of them raised any
objections, because this matter was indeed far too important.
The Cangxuan Saint Stamp was the ultimate treasure of Cangxuan Heaven!
However, Zhou Yuan began panicking inside as if his heart was on fire. He was certain that the Cangxuan
Saint Stamp was not in Saint Genesis Peak. There was only the Cangxuan Saint Rune hiding somewhere
inside!
But he obviously could not reveal this information.
If all seven chief disciples were really allowed to enter, even if he managed to find the Saint Rune, it
would surely cause some sort of disturbance that would most likely be discovered by the others. What
could he do when that happened?
If the Cangxuan Sect was truly united, he would be fine with taking a step back, and giving it up for the
greater good. But patriarch Cang Xuan had warned him to be extra cautious in the Cangxuan Sect, and not
allow the Saint Rune to be discovered by anyone else.
However, the six hegemons were currently discussing the topic, and a mere chief disciple like himself
obviously did not have the qualifications to participate. Moreover, if he showed too much anxiety, it
would only draw suspicion to himself.
While Zhou Yuan was worrying inside, and trying to come up with a plan, an elderly voice suddenly
sounded on the mountain top, forcibly inserting himself into the discussion between the six hegemons.
“The rules of Saint Genesis Peak were personally set by master back then. If you insist on trying to
circumvent them, the only path you can take is over my dead body.”
This sudden voice alarmed everyone as they quickly lifted their heads.
Next, they saw an old man dressed in simple clothes holding a broom in his hand, who had somehow
appeared on the mountain top at some unknown time. A pair of turbid eyes icily stared at sect master
Qing Yang and the rest.
2439
It was the caretaker of Saint Genesis Peak, the venerable old Xuan!
2440
Chapter 482 Old Xuan Appears
Everyone was stunned by old Xuan’s appearance on the mountain top. No one had expected the one who
would always only be found in the deep mountains of Saint Genesis Peak to appear here today.
“Hehe, it is very rare for old Xuan to appear.” Sect master Qing Yang chuckled as he cupped his fists
together towards old Xuan.
Although old Xuan was an old servant of patriarch Cang Xuan, even direct disciples like them had not
spent as much time at their teacher’s side as him. Hence, even sect master Qing Yang viewed old Xuan as a
venerable elder.
With the exception of peak master Lei Jun, the others also cupped their fists together in greeting.
Old Xuan waved his hand and said, “No need for all these pleasantries. With regards the matter of the
seven chief disciples entering Saint Genesis Peak, I will never agree to it.”
Sect master Qing Yang smiled helplessly, clearly not surprised by old Xuan’s response. The latter was
after all famously stubborn and inflexible. The rules of Saint Genesis Peak were set down by patriarch
Cang Xuan long ago, and old Xuan treated all of teacher’s rules as divine decrees.
Peak master Ling Jun calmly said, “Old Xuan, isn’t it better for us to reopen Saint Genesis Peak as soon as
possible? It’s not like you’re unaware of how many times the chief disciples of Saint Genesis Peak have
failed over the years.”
Old Xuan stamped the ground several times with his broom and said, “I only know that the rules set by
the master cannot be broken.”
Sect master Qing Yang sighed and said, “How can disciples such as us possibly dare to break the rules set
by teacher. However, there are certain worrying undercurrents in Cangxuan Heaven at this time, and
though our Cangxuan Sect is still one of the six hegemon sects, the Sacred Palace is always closely
watching us, while the even more dangerous Sacred race is also secretly helping them. To prevent the
Sacred race from interfering in the matters of our Cangxuan Heaven, we need to gain control of the
Cangxuan Saint Stamp.”
A frosty look appeared on peak master Lianyi’s beautiful face as she said, “And if the Cangxuan Saint
Stamp comes into our possession again, we will be able make the Sacred Palace pay for what they did to
teacher back then!”
“Although it was the Sacred race that ultimately did the deed, if not for those Sacred Palace dogs, how
could the Sacred race have even meddled with Cangxuan Heaven!”
Hatred surfaced in the eyes of the other peak masters.
2441
Old Xuan fell silent.
Lightning Prison Peak master Lei Jun said in a low voice, “Old Xuan, to avenge Cang Xuan, we need to find
clues to the whereabouts of the Cangxuan Saint Stamp. If we allow it fall into the hands of Sacred Palace,
Cangxuan Heaven will likely soon be invaded by the Sacred race.”
In the Cangxuan Sect, only peak master Lei Jun was as senior as old Xuan. One of them was an old servant
of patriarch Cang Xuan, while the other was an old friend that knew him from the very beginning.
Peak master Ling Jun faintly nodded and said, “I hope old Xuan will be able to give us your support.”
Old Xuan fell silent. A long while later, he raised his head and glanced towards Zhou Yuan, as he slowly
said, “Give the disciples of Saint Genesis Peak one more chance. If they fail to unseal the main peak again
this year, I will allow disciples from all seven peaks to try together next year.”
Peak master Ling Jun frowned a little. “Why must you delay this for another year?”
His gaze nonchalantly swept across Zhou Yuan as he said, “Although Saint Genesis Peak produced a pretty
good chief disciple this year, it will not be easy for someone of his strength to reopen the main peak. Old
Xuan should know better than anyone how many times they have failed in the past.”
Old Xuan replied with an expressionless face, “This is my final concession. If you disagree, I will not
permit any disciple from the other peaks to enter the main peak of Saint Genesis Peak.”
The seal on the main peak had been placed by patriarch Cang Xuan, and old Xuan was the only one who
had some understanding of it. Even sect master Qing Yang would be hard pressed to break the seal unless
he used brute force to destroy the entire Saint Genesis Peak.
Sect master Qing Yang fell into thought for a moment. In the end, he waved his hand to stop the peak
master Ling Jun, who still wanted to try and persuade old Xuan, and said, “Since that is old Xuan’s
decision, we naturally have no objections.”
“We’ll give Saint Genesis Peak one more chance this year. If they fail again, the disciples from all seven
peaks shall enter next year and give it a try.”
The other peak masters nodded upon hearing this. “Agreed.”
Peak master Ling Jun had nothing else to say. His indifferent gaze swept across Zhou Yuan, before
shooting towards old Xuan. “Old Xuan, what you’re doing is useless. Saint Genesis Peak has fallen too
much, and needs to be rebuilt from the ground up.”
“The remaining two factions are hopeless and are only able to barely hang on. They are only wasting time
and opportunity, so you should stop trying to give them consideration.”
2442
Sending the disciples from all seven peaks in Saint Genesis Peak’s main peak would undoubtedly be akin
to declaring the Saint Genesis Peak’s disciples were useless, and unable to even reopen their peak. This
would naturally cause the two factions from Saint Genesis Peak to lose all face.
Old Xuan icily snorted. “It was a disciple from these same two ‘useless’ factions that crushed your Sword
Cometh Peak disciples.”
Peak master Ling Jun frowned.
Sect master Qing Yang waved his hand to stop them as he said, “Since we’ve already decided, there shall
be no further discussions.”
He raised his head and looked towards the countless Cangxuan Sect disciples around them, as his
powerful voice boomed across the land.
“The chief disciple selection is officially over!”
Countless disciples released slightly discontented cheers as if they were still hungry for more action. The
chief disciple selections had been far more amazing then they had expected.
Sect master Qing Yang looked towards Zhou Yuan and said, “Since old Xuan has insisted, you shall
represent Saint Genesis Peak for the final attempt at unsealing the main peak three days later.”
“I pray for your success. Reopening Saint Genesis Peak will allow our Cangxuan Sect to return to its full
capacity of seven peaks.”
Zhou Yuan breathed a deep sigh of relief inside, as his heart filled with gratitude towards old Xuan. If not
for his interference, the six hegemons would have very likely decided to send all seven chief disciples into
the main peak.
If that happened, it would undoubtedly become much more difficult for him to search for the second Saint
Rune.
He could not ensure there would not be any spies among the chief disciples.
“Disciple will surely do his best.” Zhou Yuan cupped his fists together.
It was not only for the second Saint Rune. Zhou Yuan would do everything in his power to preserve the
face of their faction. Otherwise, if they ended up borrowing the help of the disciples from the other peaks,
none of them would be able to ever raise their heads again in the Cangxuan Sect.
Sect master Qing Yang nodded. After a brief conversation with old Xuan, he transformed into a streak of
light as he soared into the sky.
The other peak masters also left one after another.
2443
After a short span of time, the mountain peak had become rather empty.
Under the setting sun, countless streaks of light flew in all directions, as the disciples from the various
peaks returned to their abodes.
Although it was over, the atmosphere of excitement would clearly linger for some time, putting the entire
Cangxuan Sect in a rather festive mood.
Zhou Yuan took in a deep breath, looked towards old Xuan and cupped his fists together. “You are mostly
to thank for helping preserve the face of our Saint Genesis Peak.”
Old Xuan waved his hand and said, “I can only delay it for a while. Saint Genesis Peak has been sealed for
far too long after all…”
His murky eyes stared at Zhou Yuan as he slowly said, “In three days, whether or not Saint Genesis Peak
will reopen will depend on you.”
“If you fail, it will be as Ling Jun said earlier, Saint Genesis Peak will have to be destroyed and then rebuilt
from scratch…”
2444
Chapter 483 A Great Feast
Although the chief disciple selection was over, the resultant waves continued to wash over the Cangxuan
Sect, bathing it in an excited afterglow.
The most surprising part of the chief disciple selection was undoubtedly the super dark horse from Saint
Genesis Peak, Zhou Yuan.
At the start of the chief disciple selection, not a single person would have imagined that a new disciple,
that had joined a year ago, would rack up such astonishing battle accomplishments during the selection
in such a bold and fierce manner.
From an ordinary disciple to a chief disciple in a year. This was a speed that undoubtedly broke all of the
sect’s past records.
Through this battle, Zhou Yuan truly became a famous and influential figure in the Cangxuan Sect.
The end of the great fight left Shen Taiyuan’s disciples in wild ecstasy. The entire affair had been a huge
boost of reputation for their faction, and it had been a very very long time since they had been under the
limelight like this.
As such, the ‘overnight millionaire’ Shen Wanjin had boldly booked the entire inner mountain Hundred
Fragrances House with a wave of his hand, and invited all his fellow disciples to take part in the
celebration.
Shen Wanjin had also carefully made sure to invite Lu Song’s disciples. After all, their two factions had in
a manner of speaking been on the same team during the chief disciple selection. Although the initial goal
of the alliance had ended up in failure, it had undoubtedly brought the two factions closer together.
With regards to Shen Wanjin’s invitation, Lu Song’s disciples were initially somewhat hesitant. In the end,
elder Lu Song had to speak up so they would accept it.
Elder Lu Song was evidently displaying goodwill towards the now rising faction of Shen Taiyuan’s.
Hence, the grand feast grew even grander with the addition of Lu Song’s disciples.
Hundred Fragrances House.
The disciples from the two factions were gathered together, creating an endless din amidst the lively
atmosphere.
2445
Seated at the large table at the very center, Zhou Yuan’s figure was akin to a moon surrounded by the
stars. Yaoyao sat beside him with Tuntun on her lap as it voraciously devoured all delicious food on the
table.
Many disciples were already used to Tuntun’s endless appetite. Hence, everyone merrily ate and drank
without disturbing it, because whoever dared to even reach a hand its direction would be met by a
ferocious, fangs-barred Tuntun, though that ‘menacing’ appearance in its mini form instead made it even
cuter.
As the star of the event, Zhou Yuan was naturally the busiest of all. However, he also understood how
excited the disciples were, and did not reject anyone wanting to engage him, making the atmosphere even
livelier.
On the other hand, Yaoyao basically ignored everyone, seemingly existing in a space of her own as she
leisurely drank from her little wine cup. No one dared to disturb her either.
There was after all not a single soul in Saint Genesis Peak that did not know her special status. Although
she was not a Chosen, she was no weaker than any of them. If she had taken part in the chief disciple
selection, no one would doubt that she would win it all.
After quite an amount of alcohol had been consumed.
Lu Yan suddenly stood up, her pretty face somewhat flushed due to excessive drinking. She stared
straight at Zhou Yuan and said with a tipsy slur, “Zhou Yuan, you used to be quite an eyesore to me, but I
now realize that it was I, Lu Yan, who was blind. We mostly have you to thank for preserving the final
dignity of our Saint Genesis Peak, so please accept this toast as an apology from me!”
The moment she was finished, the large bowl in her hand was downed in a single gulp. Some of the
alcohol spilled over, flowing down her neck and wetting her clothes a little. However, her boldness and
openness drew a series of cheers.
Zhou Yuan felt a little awkward. In the end, he could only let out a bitter chuckle as he lifted a bowl of
alcohol and poured its contents down his throat. Lu Yan had always been quite critical of him, constantly
stating that he did not have the qualifications for this and that. There were indeed times when he was a
little annoyed by her, and he had ultimately chosen to keep a respectful distance. Despite this, there was
honestly not much of a grudge between them.
Zhou Yuan looked towards the other disciples and solemnly said, “All of us are disciples of Saint Genesis
Peak, and although we compete at times, we are more often united. I hope that Saint Genesis Peak will be
able to regain its former glory in the future.”
The disciples from the two factions paused their laughter and merrymaking, as everyone lifted their cups
into the air before downing it in a single go. The gazes that looked towards Zhou Yuan were a little more
respectful than before.
2446
Zhou Yuan was now the chief disciples of their Saint Genesis Peak, and his status was vastly different
from before.
“Hehe, what boastful words, you truly are foolish and ignorant.” An icy chuckle was suddenly heard at
this moment.
Anger appeared on the disciples’ faces as they rose to their feet and demanded, “Who?!”
Rumble!
However, they were answered by a powerful Genesis Qi pressure. The pressure swept over them like the
sea, causing their expressions to change drastically as they were forced back into their seats.
The sound of footsteps was heard from the stairs as a group slowly walked down. The one at the very
front was the Chosen from Sword Cometh Peak, Zhao Zhu, while several Sword Cometh Peak disciples
followed behind him, staring at the crowd in an unfriendly manner.
The expressions of the Saint Genesis Peak disciples could not help but change upon seeing Zhao Zhu as
they hurriedly swallowed the curses brewing in their mouths.
As one of the ten great Chosens, Zhao Zhu’s status and strength was clearly far beyond ordinary disciples
like themselves.
Zhou Yuan frowned a little when he saw Zhao Zhu and said, “I recall that we’ve reserved Hundred
Fragrances House for tonight?”
The corners of Zhao Zhu’s mouth curled into a smirk, while a Sword Cometh Peak disciple behind
sneered, before he mockingly said, “Chief disciple Zhou Yuan, do you not know that the top floor of
Hundred Fragrances House is exclusively reserved by Chosens? You may be able to book everything
below, but do you think you can book even the top floor?”
Another Sword Cometh Peak disciples sniggered and said, “It’s been many years since Saint Genesis Peak
has a Chosen after all, it’s only natural that they are unaware of such matters.”
The rest of the disciples roared with laughter.
Ugly expressions appeared on the disciples from the two factions below, but no one dared to retort due to
Zhao Zhu’s presence, causing the atmosphere to turn rather stifling.
Zhou Yuan’s eyelids lowered slightly as he said, “Senior brother Zhao Zhu, I’ve heard that due to elder Lu
Hong’s faction failing to obtain the chief disciple position, Sword Cometh Peak will lose quite a large
amount of cultivation resources, is this true?”
2447
Zhao Zhu’s expression immediately turned rigid, as he shot a frosty glare at Zhou Yuan. He was naturally
aware of this matter, which the entire Sword Cometh Peak viewed as a great humiliation. The main
reason why he had appeared here was also to release some of his frustrations.
Zhao Zhu icily said, “Junior brother Zhou Yuan, your balls seem to be extraordinarily large. You are aware
of this matter and yet you still dare to try and stick your hand in?”
Zhou Yuan grinned and replied, “We’re also from Saint Genesis Peak, so doesn’t it also involve us? If you
have any complaints, you can go ahead and petition to sect master to strip us of our right to a share.”
“Sharp-tongued brat!” Zhao Zhu’s eyes turned ice-cold.
His eyes swept about the place, but not a single disciple dared to meet his gaze. In the end, he waved his
sleeve and mocked with a sneer, “A few puppies and kittens like yourselves dare to talk about returning
Saint Genesis Peak to its former glory? This is the joke of the century!”
“I can’t believe a mere chief disciple even warrants such a celebration. I feel that your Saint Genesis Peak
should first think about how to get yourselves a Chosen. After so many years, Chosens are basically
extinct in your Saint Genesis Peak!”
His harsh words caused the expressions of the many disciples to turn steely-green with anger. Lu Yan
slammed her palms onto the table, on the verge of erupting, but was quickly held back by another disciple
beside her.
Zhao Zhu laughed mockingly when he heard this, before heading towards the exit. He was itching to see
whether anyone still had the mood to celebrate after such a debacle.
Zhou Yuan’s eyes narrowed slightly as he gazed upon the former’s back. Just as he was about to speak, a
clear as a mountain spring, but cold, yet beautiful voice sounded from the side.
“Is a Chosen… really that amazing?”
Every gaze in the Hundred Fragrances House converged towards this spot as Zhao Zhu’s footsteps came
to a slow halt. He turned his head, his gaze ultimately pausing on the graceful and beautiful figure beside
Zhou Yuan.
2448
Chapter 484 Subduing Zhao Zhu
Inside Hundred Fragrances House.
Numerous gazes were cast towards Zhou Yuan’s side at Yaoyao, who had currently had a nonchalant
expression on her face. She did not look at Zhao Zhu, merely continuing to stare at the ripples inside the
cup in her hand.
Zhao Zhu’s eyes narrowed slightly as he stared at Yaoyao. He had naturally heard of the latter’s unique
reputation in the Cangxuan Sect. This otherworldly beauty was known as the Chosen outside the ten
great Chosens...
However, he had never fought her before, and was naturally somewhat doubtful of such rumors.
In his opinion, Yaoyao’s fame had most likely originated from her gorgeous looks. After all, anyone would
sing praises and flatter someone who was so pretty.
“Oh? Does junior sister feel that the Chosens of our Cangxuan Sect are nothing amazing?” Said Zhao Zhu
in an offhand manner. However, his words were quite vicious, implying that Yaoyao was criticizing all of
the Chosens.
Yaoyao raised her bright eyes and replied, “I’m not sure about the others, but you I definitely look down
on.”
Zhao Zhu’s expression darkened. Being openly looked down on by a girl in front of so many people was
really pushing his buttons.
Inside the building, the other disciples looked at each other, not daring to say anything. After all, the only
one here who would dare to say such things to Zhao Zhu was Yaoyao.
“What shameless boasting. Do you really believe you’re actually someone noteworthy just because a few
people have flattered you?!” Zhao Zhu stared at Yaoyao with eyes as cold as the edge of a blade, while
sharp and robust Genesis Qi slowly swirled around him.
At the sight of this, the expression of the many disciples from the two factions changed, fear rising in their
eyes. They could not gather up much courage in the face of a Chosen.
Shen Wanjin hurriedly walked over with a large smile as he said, “Please senior brother Zhao Zhu, there’s
no need to get so worked up. A great Chosen like you should not lower yourself to squabble with ordinary
disciples like us. How about I apologize with a drink?”
He offered his cup in a humble and lowly posture.
2449
However, Zhao Zhu merely shot him an icy glare. With a wave of his sleeve, a stream of Genesis Qi swept
out and sent Shen Wanjin flying into a table and breaking it.
Zhao Zhu frostily said, “Who do you think you are? You think the likes of you has the qualifications to
drink with me?”
“Zhao Zhu!”
Zhou Yuan’s eyes widened in anger as the Heavenly Yuan Brush appeared in his hands.
Zhao Zhu playfully said when he saw this, “Oh? Does the chief disciple of Saint Genesis Peak plan to
challenge me?”
Zhou Yuan slowly said, “I’m quite interested to find out how formidable the Chosens of the sect are. It just
so happens that senior brother Zhao Zhu is ranked last among them, and maybe I’ll have a chance at
pulling you down.”
Zhao Zhu’s eyes were ice-cold. “Go ahead and try.”
Zhou Yuan tightly gripped the brush. Just as he was about to move, a fair hand reached out from the side.
He turned his head, and saw Yaoyao sending an indifferent glance at him.
“You’ve already showed off enough today, are you still planning on snatching away this moment too?”
Zhou Yuan froze for an instant, before he helplessly rolled his eyes. He knew that his chances against
Zhao Zhu were quite abysmal, but it would not be too shameful as long as he was not defeated too
quickly.
However, it appeared that Yaoyao had no intentions of letting him fight.
“Oh? Are you guys swapping?” Zhao Zhu’s lips curled in mockery when he saw Yaoyao stop Zhou Yuan. “It
doesn’t matter, I’m ready to play no matter what games the two of you have in mind.”
However, Yaoyao shook her head and said, “You don’t have the qualifications to duel me, and I'm not
interested in toying with you either.”
Zhao Zhu’s expression abruptly darkened. His gaze swept about the building as he disdainfully said, “Is
there anyone else here besides you who dares to stand before me?”
The disciples from the two factions visibly shrank back. Even Lu Yan, Zhao Tai and Zhang Yan did not
dare to challenge Zhao Zhu though they were pretty enraged.
The latter was a Chosen after all, someone who was much stronger than the likes of Yuan Hong.
2450
Yaoyao paid no attention to Zhao Zhu. She merely extended her hand, as her slender fingers pounced at
the still ravenously eating Tuntun, whose little body was nearly fully concealed by the giant plate, and
picked it up.
“If you can beat it, you might have the qualifications to fight someone else.”
Scraps of meat were visible around Tuntun’s mouth while it was held up by the scruff of its neck. There
was a look of innocence in its black eyes as it struggled slightly for a moment, its short stubby legs kicking
in the air, clearly unhappy that Yaoyao had disturbed its meal.
The numerous surrounding disciples were stupefied, clearly not expecting that Yaoyao was going to send
Tuntun to deal with Zhao Zhu.
Zhao Zhu was also stunned, but his face soon turned an angry green.
“You dare to mock me!”
From what he could see, Yaoyao was undoubtedly shaming him by sending a little beast to fight him.
However, Yaoyao remained oblivious to the former. She raised Tuntun to eye-level as she said, “If you
can’t settle him, you will no longer need to eat.”
After finishing, she threw the dumbfounded Tuntun at Zhao Zhu
Rage violently brewed in Zhao Zhu’s eyes as he laughed loudly in anger. “Fine, since you don’t understand
what’s good for you, I’ll chop this little bastard into mincemeat.”
He made a grabbing motion, and robust Genesis Qi converged towards him, transforming into a several
foot long sword that pulsed with dreadful sword Qi. With a swoosh, it mercilessly hacked towards the
still flying Tuntun.
Ch!
The piercing sound of rushing wind rang out.
Tuntun finally returned to its senses at this moment. However, it paid no heed to Zhao Zhu’s attack, its
tiny body cowering as it recalled the words Yaoyao had just said.
To think she would use a threat on the terrifying level of forbidding it to eat...
Roar!
Thus, an angry roar immediately sounded from Tuntun’s throat as its tiny little body instantly began to
expand. An indescribably terrifying and ferocious aura erupted, engulfing the entire building.
2451
The expressions of the surrounding disciples instantly changed.
One could only watch as a mysterious giant creature appeared from the dark golden light, while a giant
scaly paw ruthlessly swatted at the sword.
Hss!
The giant paw instantly tore the sword apart as if it were frail paper.
Roar!
A thunderous roar shook the entire Hundred Fragrances House.
After smashing apart the sword, the giant beast charged towards Zhao Zhu under his horrified gaze. It
appeared in front of him in a flash, and let loose another booming roar. Black light swirled around a giant
paw as it mercilessly swung down from above.
Zhao Zhu’s pupils violently shrank as an indescribable feeling of danger rose in his heart.
The Genesis Qi in his body spewed out without reservation at this moment, as his five fingers
straightened into a knife-hand. Genesis Qi converged towards his fingertips, creating an extremely sharp
blade.
His hand chopped out like an axe, using offense as defense. If struck by this chopping attack, even
someone like Yuan Hong would be heavily injured.
Clang!
Amidst the shocked and frightened gazes of the numerous onlookers, a beast paw and knife-hand
powerfully collided, causing a destructive shockwave to sweep outwards.
Rumble!
The interior of the entire Hundred Fragrances House was immediately turned into a mess.
The crowd quickly looked over, as their pupils violently shrank. They had caught sight of Zhao Zhu’s
figure being flung away like a rag doll.
He was sent flying outside of the building, before landing on the ground.
His landing shattered the ground around him.
Blood appeared on his hand, dripping from his fingertips.
2452
There was a grim look on Zhao Zhu’s face as he watched the blood falling from his hand while completely
still, as if startled by this outcome. He had clearly not expected to be hurt by a mere beast...
It was completely silent both inside and outside of the Hundred Fragrances House.
The Sword Cometh Peak disciples felt a chill rush through their bodies at the sight of this scene, disbelief
flooding their eyes. A Chosen from their Sword Cometh Peak had been injured by a little creature that
only knew how to eat?!
The disciples from both Saint Genesis Peak factions were also stunned. To think Tuntun, who did not
nothing but eat and eat, would actually be such a terrifying existence?
After sending Zhao Zhu flying with a swipe, Tuntun rapidly shrank as it turned around and darted back to
the table. It lay flat on the table, ignoring everyone else, as it continued to eat.
Yaoyao lifted her bright eyes that seemed to be akin to frozen lake as she stared at the grim-faced Zhao
Zhu and leisurely said, “What’s so amazing about a Chosen like you if you can’t even beat Tuntun? Do you
still have anything to say?”
Zhao Zhu’s expression rapidly changed, feeling so sullen inside that he nearly puked blood. He had
originally planned on intimidating the Saint Genesis Peak disciples and lowering their morale. Who could
have imagined that he would instead suffer at the hands of a bastardly beast.
The strange gazes that were directed at him caused the anger inside to burn even hotter. There was no
way he could stay here any longer. He sent a chilling glare towards Zhou Yuan, before turning around to
leave with a swish of his sleeves.
However, his figure seemed a little sorry.
Upon seeing Zhao Zhu leave in defeat, the Sword Cometh Peak disciples hurriedly followed with ugly
expressions.
In the wake of their departure, the disciples in the Hundred Fragrances House burst into cheers, as they
looked towards Yaoyao with even more respect than before.
Likewise, there was much more amazement in their eyes when they looked towards the Tuntun on the
table, who was still desperately gorging itself.
Zhou Yuan exchanged a look with Yaoyao, and could not help but chuckle. Zhao Zhu was quite unlucky.
He had originally intended on intimidating and scaring them with his strength, only to end up viciously
slapping himself in the face.
However, it was Tuntun who had beaten him earlier, why the hell did he send Zhou Yuan such a
venomous glare when he left...
2453
Zhou Yuan helplessly shook his head. Looks like Zhao Zhu was going to hold another grudge against him.
2454
Chapter 485 Sacred Palace’s Wu Huang
The northern area of the Shengzhou Continent was a vast land of unmatched beauty, and was flooded
with natural energies.
People often said that the sixty percent of Cangxuan Heaven’s blessing was monopolized by the
Shengzhou Continent. If so, the flourishing northern area was most likely blessed with thirty percent of
Cangxuan Heaven’s blessings.
This beautiful land and thirty percent of Cangxuan Heaven’s blessings supported an overlord sect… the
famous Sacred Palace.
For many years, the Scared Palace had merely been an unremarkable sect in the vast Shengzhou
Continent. During that era, the Cangxuan Sect had still been an untouchable existence in Cangxuan
Heaven.
No one could precisely pinpoint when exactly, but the Sacred Palace had begun growing at an astonishing
pace. In a short span of a hundred years, it had risen to become one the strongest sects in Cangxuan
Heaven.
It was also during this period that the master of Cangxuan Heaven, patriarch Cang Xuan, was attacked
and killed by several mysterious experts, putting the entire Cangxuan Heaven in a state of shock. As a
result, the once number sect in Cangxuan Heaven began to fall into decline, no longer able to retain its
title as number one.
The Sacred Palace was the entity that took its place, aspiring to be the strongest hegemon sect in
Cangxuan Heaven. The Sacred Palace occupied the northern land of Shengzhou Continent, enjoying thirty
percent of Cangxuan Heaven’s blessings as they reigned superior over everyone else.
Till today, the Sacred Palace was akin to a giant rising sun in the Shengzhou Continent, with power that
could sweep away anyone on this land.
With regards to the increasingly powerful Sacred Palace, even the five other hegemon level sects felt a
certain amount of wariness.
...
Extreme north of the Shengzhou Continent.
It was ice and frost all year round, a land blanketed in pure-white snow. Amidst the snow, an enormous
and seemingly endless boundary rose from the ground, creating a vibrant paradise of lush mountains and
clear streams.
2455
Magnificent mountains towered, white cranes dancing in the air, while waterfalls fell like silver rivers. It
was a scene from the land of immortals.
Countless giant white palaces and halls were built amidst the mountains in a neat and orderly manner,
giving off a feeling of tight security.
This was the location of the current strongest sect in Cangxuan Heaven.
The Sacred Palace.
Deep within the Sacred Palace stood a grand palace atop a giant peak. At this current point in time, there
was a seemingly bottomless pool of blood inside the palace. Opposite the pool were mats on which
several figures sat, immeasurable presences pulsing from their bodies.
At the very center was a man with long silver hair that draped over his shoulders. The man had a warm
smile, while his pupils were the same silver as his hair, making him appear rather mysterious and
unfathomable.
This silver-haired man was the master of the Sacred Palace, known to many as palace master Sheng Yuan,
and one of the most famous hegemons in Cangxuan Heaven.
Several figures were seated beside him. From their presences, they were clearly the upper echelons of the
Sacred Palace, each an individual of extraordinary status.
Plop
All of their gazes were focused on the blood pool at this very moment. Bubbles rose from the pool as a
whirlpool swiftly began to form. In the end, the naked body of a man slowly rose from within.
Faint blood-colored runes were visible on his body. The runes seemed to wiggle within his flesh, a rather
bizarre sight. If one took a closer look, one would discover that these blood runes resembled sinisterly
twisted faces.
Strange and frightening.
As one’s gaze slowly shifted upwards, a handsome chiselled face appeared.
This was not an unfamiliar face. If Zhou Yuan was present, he would instantly recognize this individual,
because it was his greatest enemy from back then, Wu Huang!
However, Wu Huang’s body had been slain by Zhou Yuan in the Saint Remains Domain, and only his Spirit
had managed to escape. But it now appeared that Wu Huang possessed a physical body again.
Wu Huang’s tightly shut eyes slowly opened at this moment. Blood-colored light faintly flashed within
them before slowly fading away.
2456
He stood up in the blood pool, kneeled down before palace master Sheng Yuan, and respectfully said,
“Many thanks to palace master for reconstructing my body!”
The silver-haired and silver-pupiled palace master Sheng Yuan smiled slightly as he gazed upon Wu
Huang. His eyes scanned the numerous strange blood runes on the latter’s body as he nodded and said,
“Not bad, this Blood Asura Body is extremely compatible with you.”
Wu Huang tightly clenched his hands, feeling the astonishing power surging within his body as he said, “I
can feel that this body’s power is even greater than my previous one.”
Palace master Sheng Yuan smiled and said, “Naturally. We invested a lot of resources to make this body
for you.”
Wu Huang licked his lips, savagery surfacing in his eyes as he lowered his head to look at his hands and
mumbled, “Zhou Yuan, I bet you you never have imagined this. So what if you destroyed my physical
body? I’ve become even stronger now!”
“The next time we meet, I will definitely make you have a thorough taste of what it’s like to have your
body destroyed!” Endless hatred flowed on his face.
Palace master Sheng Yuan chuckled and said, “Zhou Yuan is doing rather well for himself in the Cangxuan
Sect. I’ve heard that he has already become a purple sash disciple.”
“But now that you have the Blood Asura Body, you’ll be able to unleash its power once your Spirit and the
body has perfectly fused. When that time comes, killing Zhou Yuan and avenging yourself will be no
problem at all.”
Wu Huang respectfully cupped his fists together. “Many thanks for helping me!”
Palace master Sheng Yuan smiled and nodded, before he waved his hand, signalling for Wu Huang to
leave.
Wu Huang respectfully withdrew from the room, causing it to fall silent once more.
A white-haired elder beside palace master Sheng Yuan slowly said, “Is it worth it for palace master to
have spent so much effort to help Wu Huang craft the Blood Asura Body?”
“Although Wu Huang is quite talented, there are disciples in our Sacred Palace who can easily match him.
Pouring so much resources into him will make the other disciples complain.”
Palace master Sheng Yuan softly chuckled. “Complaints are for the powerless. If there’s anyone like that
in the Sacred Palace, expel him or her from the sect.”
His eyes turned as deep as the night as he watched Wu Huang’s departing figure. “He holds the sacred
dragon blessing after all.”
2457
“Didn’t we already investigate this matter? The sacred dragon Blessing in his body belongs to Zhou Yuan,
while Wu Huang is merely a fake dragon.” Said one of the other upper echelons.
Palace master Sheng Yuan smiled and said, “What is a fake dragon? As long as he kills and devours Zhou
Yuan, he will naturally become a real dragon.”
“As for Zhou Yuan, though he bears the sacred dragon blessing, he does not seem to possess the sacred
dragon’s destiny. Otherwise, his blessing would not have been stolen the moment he was born.”
“But he is admittedly quite a tenacious one. To think that he managed to fight his way out from such
despair, and even snatched back half of Wu Huang’s sacred dragon blessing. Truth be told, he is quite
capable.”
An elder puzzledly asked, “What use is this sacred dragon blessing to our Sacred Palace?”
Palace master Sheng Yuan’s eyes narrowed slightly, light flickering within his silver pupils as he slowly
said, “The sacred dragon blessing will aid us in finding the Cangxuan Saint Stamp hidden away by
patriarch Cang Xuan.”
The figures in the hall were stunned.
“The Cangxuan Saint Stamp is a divine artifact that was born from Cangxuan Heaven that can resonate
with the land, while the sacred dragon blessing was also born from this land, and those who possess it are
naturally considered the prided geniuses of this world.”
“We only need to wait till Wu Huang matures, slays Zhou Yuan and devours the half his blessing. When
that time comes, I will be able seize the opportunity to break patriarch Cang Xuan’s concealment, and
locate the Cangxuan Saint Stamp.”
“As for these real and fake dragons, they will no longer be of any importance to me…”
Palace master Sheng Yuan’s silver pupils gazed upon the blood pool. The color of blood was reflected in
his eyes as a fanatical smile slowly emerged from the corners of his lips.
“When that happens…”
“I will become the supreme heaven master of Cangxuan Heaven…”
“And the Sacred race… will rule over Cangxuan Heaven once more.”
2458
Chapter 486 Nine Divine Dwelling
The festivities of Saint Genesis Peak lasted for three whole days.
However, Zhou Yuan waved the white flag on the second day, and hid away in his cave dwelling. He had
experienced several desperate battles one after another, and was tired both in body and mind, so he
really no longer had the energy for another bout of wild celebrations.
Moreover, his attempt at unsealing the main peak would begin three days later, a matter which not only
affected the future of the entire Saint Genesis Peak, but also the second Saint Rune he deeply yearned for.
Hence, he locked himself away on the second day to adjust his condition, in order to ensure he was at
peak performance three days later.
The peaceful and cooling cave dwelling was lush with greenery.
Zhou Yuan had just completed his daily training, and had changed into a set of comfortable, loose-fitting
robes. He sat in a stone pavilion, leisurely sipping on fragrant tea, as he admired the view before him.
It was the view of a flower garden, where hundreds of beautiful flowers vied for attention. At this current
time, a slim and graceful girl with her hair pulled back into a bun, was wandering about in the garden as
she tended to the many plants with a look of concentration.
Light sprinkled down from above, shining on her perfect face. The light made her skin glow, making it
impossible for anyone to turn away.
This scene was even more enchanting than a hundred beautiful flowers.
Under Zhou Yuan’s admiring gaze, Yaoyao completed her inspection, before stretching her back,
revealing her soul-stirring curves.
She leisurely walked out of the flower garden, and sat down in the stone pavilion. Upon realizing that
Zhou Yuan’s gaze was still fixed on her, her eyes turned a little frosty.
Zhou Yuan immediately let out an awkward laugh as he withdrew his gaze, and hurriedly poured Yaoyao
a cup of tea.
Yaoyao ignored him, and instead retrieved a letter from her sleeve and placed it on the table. “Shen
Taiyuan sent someone to deliver this while you were training earlier. It seems to concern the Cangmang
Continent.”
2459
Zhou Yuan’s expression trembled faintly when he heard this. He had previously been informed that
although the Cangxuan Sect could not directly interfere, they would help him observe the situation in the
Cangmang Continent.
He speedily tore open the letter, before carefully reading it.
Moments later, Zhou Yuan breathed a small sigh of relief as he looked towards Yaoyao and said, “Over the
past year, the Great Wu Empire has begun slowing their other campaigns, and are clearly turning
attention towards the Great Zhou Empire.”
“It seems that king Wu has finally begun to take note of the Great Zhou Empire he had once forgotten.”
Yaoyao said, “You nearly killed Wu Huang, of course he no longer dares to neglect the Great Zhou
Empire.”
Zhou Yuan nodded and said, “However, the Great Wu Empire is still being cautious. They’ve offended
quite a number of top tier empires during their earlier campaigns, and do not dare to take action against
the Great Zhou Empire till they are absolutely certain.”
“But it’s only a matter of time.”
Zhou Yuan let out a long, drawn-out sigh as his expression turned focused. “There’s isn’t much time left…”
Yaoyao slowly said with a tone of warning in her voice, “But you cannot rush things. Your progress is
already very swift, and if you attempt to speed things up, your hardfought foundations will end up being
destroyed by you instead.”
Zhou Yuan nodded. There was naturally no way he would be so short-sighted.
His fingers gently tapped the surface of the table and suddenly asked, “How strong are the Chosens of the
Cangxuan Sect?”
Yaoyao shot a glance at. “Oh? Turning your sights to the Chosens so soon after becoming a chief disciple?”
“They’re the next step.” Zhou Yuan grinned. Though a chief disciple was strong, a Chosen was the true
ultimate goal.
Yaoyao propped up her chin with a hand, making herself appear lazy as she said, “You’d better not think
about Chosens for the time being. Even the tenth ranked Zhao Zhu is far beyond your capabilities.”
“So powerful?” Asked Zhou Yuan in a skeptical voice. His Genesis Qi cultivation was currently at the fifth
layer, but his foundations were extremely strong, making him no weaker than ordinary eighth layer
disciples.
2460
When the power of his physical body was added into the mix, Zhou Yuan felt that he might be able to
match even a ninth layer disciple.
Yaoyao slowly said, “The gap between the eighth and ninth layers is the biggest in the Alpha-Origin
stage.”
“How many stars do you currently have in your Qi Dwelling?”
“Four thousand.” Replied Zhou Yuan.
“To have reached such a number at the fifth layer, your Genesis Qi foundations are indeed extraordinary.”
“But do you know how many stars ordinary ninth layer disciples have?”
She looked towards Zhou Yuan as she extended a single slender finger.
“Ten thousand.”
Zhou Yuan’s heart shook a little, somewhat shocked. Ordinary eighth layer disciples should only have
about four thousand Genesis Qi stars, but a ninth layer actually reached the realm of ten thousand?
This did seem to be a rather large gap.
“Although Zhao Zhu is ranked last among the Chosens, the fact that he was able to become one is more
than evidence of his outstanding talent. As such, his foundations will be stronger than ordinary disciples,
which means that he will also have more Genesis Qi stars.” Yaoyao’s clear eyes looked towards Zhou
Yuan. “That’s why your current chances against him are very slim.”
Zhou Yuan let out an awkward laugh. Only now did he truly understand why Yaoyao had stopped him
from fighting Zhao Zhu the day before. It turned out to be because of the gap between them.
Yaoyao unhurriedly said, “Do not underestimate the Chosens of the Cangxuan Sect… the higher ranking
few are much more powerful than you imagine. Do you really believe that they’re unable to step in to the
Divine Dwelling stage after so many years of training?”
“What do you mean?” Zhou Yuan was a little taken aback.
“From what I can see, Chu Qing and the rest can choose to enter secluded cultivation and advance to the
Divine Dwelling stage any time they wish to. They are merely unwilling.”
“But why?” Zhou Yuan was quite confused.
“Because they are proud individuals that refuse to have an ordinary breakthrough.” Yaoyao laughed
softly, before she continued, “Elder Shen Taiyuan should be the one telling you this after you reach the
ninth layer, but I can inform you about it in advance.”
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“The Divine Dwelling stage is the evolution of the Qi Dwelling. The Divine Dwelling can contain more
Genesis Qi, for instance, if your current Qi Dwelling is akin to a river, the Divine Dwelling will be the
sea…”
“Do you recall the different grades of Qi Dwelling back when you opened yours? The Divine Dwelling is
naturally the same…”
“The Divine Dwelling stage is also known as the Nine Heavens Divine Dwelling stage, but is usually
simplified to Nine Divine Dwelling… because when the Qi Dwelling evolves, different changes would
occur according to one’s Genesis Qi foundations.”
“When an ordinary person experiences a breakthrough, three heavens at most would form in the Divine
Dwelling, which is called a Three Divine Dwelling.”
“The stronger one’s foundations, the more heavens would form during a breakthrough, with nine as the
maximum!”
“Chu Qing and the rest have refused to advance, because they are continuously strengthening their
foundations in hopes of evolving a higher grade Divine Dwelling.”
“Their goal is likely above the Six Divine Dwelling, the high class Divine Dwelling.”
“For this target, they have patiently accumulated Genesis Qi for many years.”
“Hence, the most important thing to do at the ninth layer Alpha-Origin stage is to accumulate more
Genesis Qi and strengthen one’s foundations. However, when one reaches that level, one’s foundations
would already be extremely sturdy and compact, making further strengthening it as difficult as ascending
the heavens. Thus, one would also require a substantial amount of luck.”
Zhou Yuan’s expression slowly turned solemn. It seemed that he had severely underestimated the
Chosens. It turns out that the reason why they had been unable to advance for many years, was not
because they lacked the ability, but because they were purposely suppressing a breakthrough...
After so many years of accumulation, how solid would their foundations be now?
“Is a Nine Divine Dwelling very difficult to achieve?” Asked Zhou Yuan in a hesitant manner.
Yaoyao took a small sip of her tea, before she unhurriedly said, “In the history of the Cangxuan Sect, no
more than three individuals have succeeded in attaining the Nine Divine Dwelling, while patriarch Cang
Xuan was the first amongst them. So what do you think? Is it difficult?”
Zhou Yuan gasped a little. Only now did he truly feel the difficulty of the Nine Divine Dwelling. Even in
such an old sect, only three out of the innumerable geniuses had been able to attain a Nine Divine
Dwelling?
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Exactly how crazy of a foundation did one require at the Alpha-Origin stage to achieve a Nine Divine
Dwelling?
Looks like he still had a ways to go in the Alpha-Origin stage!
However, what he needed to do now was to first calm his heart, and prepare to unseal the main peak.
As Yaoyao gazed upon the now silently thinking Zhou Yuan, the corners of her mouth raised slightly. How
could she not tell that he had become a little relaxed after winning the chief disciple seat.
Hence, it was time to give him a knock on the head to make him understand the gap between himself and
the Chosens. Only then would he sincerely train with a clear mind.
2463
Chapter 487 Challenging the Main Peak
While the entire Cangxuan Sect was still soaking in the afterglow of the chief disciple selection, the three
day deadline quietly arrived.
On this day, Saint Genesis Peak became lively once again.
Because today, Zhou Yuan would be taking on his first task as chief disciple. It was the most important
mission of ascending the main peak of Saint Genesis Peak, breaking the seal and reopening its main gates.
Reopening Saint Genesis Peak’s main gates was a goal everyone shared for many years. Generation after
generation of disciples and elders had strived towards it, only to end up failing each time.
Only by reopening the main gates and unsealing the main peak would Saint Genesis Peak truly become
the seventh peak of the Cangxuan Sect. They would then be able to boldly recruit talented disciples and
flourish, instead of declining year after year like now.
Moreover, if Saint Genesis Peak was to fail again this year, sect master will allow the chief disciples of the
other six peaks to participate in attempting to unseal the main peak next year.
If one’s own disciples failed to reopen the main peak and had to instead rely on the other peaks, even
after being reopened, it would not be a happy occasion for the two factions of Saint Genesis Peak. Hence,
they were placing all of their expectations onto Zhou Yuan, hoping that the young miracle worker would
once again surprise everyone...
...
Deep in Saint Genesis Peak.
The dilapidated plaza of the majestic misty main peak welcomed its most busy day of the year. Practically
every disciple of Saint Genesis Peak was gathered here today.
The disciples from the three factions were split into two groups on the plaza.
Shen Taiyuan and Lu Song’s disciples were clearly much closer due to the wild celebrations over the past
few days, even making light chat, before they cast equally hostile gazes opposite them, where Lu Hong’s
disciples stood with frosty gazes.
The atmosphere over here was clearly quite gloomy. Their failure in the chief disciple selection had
clearly placed them under a tremendous amount of stress.
The Sword Cometh Peak disciples had also grown very critical of them, firmly believing that it was their
uselessness that resulted in the Sword Cometh Peak’s huge losses.
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The disciples from the other peaks, on the other hand, viewed them with mockery. After all, Lu Hong’s
faction had been so full of confidence when they initially transferred to Saint Genesis Peak, and were
absolutely certain that the chief disciple position was already in the bag.
But who could have imagined that they would fail in the end?
If one were to look back now, the initial confidence of Lu Hong’s faction would now seem like a joke.
Lu Hong’s expression was rather stormy as his gaze swept across the place, before coming to a pause on a
young figure akin to a moon surrounded by the stars, as a look of hatred flashed in his eyes.
“Humph, I’ll let you guys be happy for now!”
“Do you really believe the main peak will be so easy? Zhou Yuan, you may enjoy the cheering now, but the
sounds of disappointment will only be even more painful when you fail!”
...
At the very front of the two factions, elder Lu Song smiled as he gazed at Zhou Yuan and said with a sigh,
“Zhou Yuan, whether or not our Saint Genesis Peak is reopened will depend on you.”
“You old fellow, you’d better not crush him with your expectations.” Shen Taiyuan glared at elder Lu
Song, before saying to Zhou Yuan, “Do your best, and don’t burden yourself with such responsibilities.
Although this matter is very important, it should not be shouldered by you alone. There have after all
been so many talented disciples who have failed before this, so there’s nothing anyone can say even if you
don’t succeed.”
Zhou Yuan felt a warm feeling in his heart when he heard these words. Shen Taiyuan may normally
appear as a strict and inflexible old man, but there was nothing to criticize about him. Even at such a
juncture, he was doing his best to ease Zhou Yuan, and make him feel less pressured.
When the hopes of an entire peak was placed on a single person, the pressure felt would surely be as
heavy as a mountain.
“Don’t worry teacher Shen, I will naturally give my all.” Zhou Yuan cupped his fists together. Even if he
were to disregard how important this matter was to Saint Genesis Peak, Zhou Yuan had prepared and
planned a very long time for this, and would not easily allow himself to fail.
Shen Taiyuan reached out and gently patted Zhou Yuan’s shoulders, eyes filled with happiness.
This disciple had brought him many pleasant surprises since joining a year ago, while also allowing him
to proudly show his face more and more in the sect.
..
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Countless figures were standing on Genesis Qi clouds in the sky above the plaza. If one took a closer look,
one would discover that they were the disciples from the other peaks. In the past, not many of these
disciples would come to watch, because Saint Genesis Peak declined far too much in the Cangxuan Sect,
and the disciples from the other peaks would often even forget the existence of this seventh peak.
However, the current Saint Genesis Peak was clearly somewhat different than before.
Due to Zhou Yuan’s performance in the chief disciples selection, the other disciples no longer dared to
underestimate Saint Genesis Peak, which only had three factions. Hence, the number of disciples who
came to watch today was much more impressive than usual.
After all, the current Zhou Yuan was quite an famous figure in the Cangxuan Sect, and everything he did
naturally drew the attention of others.
Clang!
As more and more disciples arrived, a gong reverberated across the land. Next, all the disciples saw six
glowing lotuses descend from the sky as a vast aura spread, rippling the surrounding space.
It was sect master Qing Yang and the other five peak masters.
These six hegemons would appear here every year when the chief disciple challenged the main peak.
After all, Saint Genesis Peak had been the place where patriarch Cang Xuan would often lock himself away
in secluded cultivation.
“I wonder whether Saint Genesis Peak will be reopened this year.” Sect master Qing Yang gazed at the
giant misty mountain as he sighed softly.
The other five fell silent as they stared at the giant peak before them. They could still remember that
when patriarch Cang Xuan established the Cangxuan Sect long ago, there had only been a single peak,
which was this very peak that still stood before their eyes.
All of them had once cultivated here.
However, due to the passage of time, their teacher, who once taught and led them by example, was now
dead, and many many changes had happened in the world around them.
Sect master Qing Yang gently tidied his sleeves as he withdrew his emotions, making them no longer
visible. His deep gaze was cast towards the dilapidated plaza below as he said, “Zhou Yuan, you may begin
if you’re ready.”
Every gaze converged towards the young figure at this moment.
Under the numerous watching eyes, Zhou Yuan cupped his fists towards sect master Qing Yang and the
rest, before slowly walking forward.
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Before the large ancient hall stood old Xuan in his simple clothes, holding his bamboo broom. A faint
glimmer flashed in his murky eyes as he looked towards Zhou Yuan.
“Are you confident?” Asked old Xuan in his raspy voice.
Zhou Yuan chuckled, before he replied with a calm expression, “There is no such thing as absolute
confidence, but I will neither be afraid nor retreat in the face of any difficulty.”
Old Xuan nodded. He gaze Zhou Yuan one last deep look, before suddenly swinging the broom his hand..
Whoo whoo!
Wind suddenly rose, and countless gazes watched as a crack was gently torn open in the mist that clothes
the main peak all year round.
Inside the crack, one would just barely be able to make out an old mountain path.
However, space also seemed to twist and distort inside.
Old Xuan slowly said, “Go, follow this path…”
Zhou Yuan stared at the ancient mountain path within the mist, as he took in a deep breath and tightly
clenched his fists. In the end, all hesitation dissipated from his eyes, replaced by the firm light of
determination.
He had come to the Cangxuan Sect and endured tough training for a year. Wasn’t all of it for this very
moment...
Therefore, he would not shrink back no matter what kind of challenges awaited him on this path.
Amidst the innumerable gazes all around, Zhou Yuan’s figure slowly walked forward and stepped into the
mist. As his foot landed on the old mountain path, the mist surged towards him, blocking everyone’s
vision.
2467
Chapter 488 The Mountain Trial
“The mountain trial.”
As they watched Zhou Yuan’s figure disappear into the mist, high up in the sky, sect master Qing Yang
sighed and said, “The mountain trial is treacherous and unpredictable, while filled with countless
dangers. No one knows what kind of test he will encounter…”
“Back when teacher was still in control of the Cangxuan Sect, any disciple that managed to pass the
mountain trial would be able to ascend the peak, and receive guidance from him. However, there were
rarely any disciples who succeeded even in our golden age.”
“I wonder how Zhou Yuan will fare.”
By the side, old man Bai Mei stroked his long eyebrows as he said, “Due to its location within the seal
placed by teacher, even we cannot know what is happening inside. It seems that we can only wait for the
Xuan bell to ring.”
“The Xuan bell can sound nine times, and six bells signifies that the participant has passed.”
Patriarch Cang Xuan had placed an ancient bell in the main peak. It would ring when the mountain
challenger was done, and give an assessment of the participant.
The best evaluation was naturally nine bells.
However, one would have considered to pass as long as one reached six bells. Even so, generation after
generation of chief disciples had failed to reach the sixth bell.
The best had been five bells, which had been a very regrettable result.
The Snow Lotus Peak master Lianyi said with a wide smile, “The little guy seems to be quite lively, and he
may be able to reach six bells.”
She cast a glance at the peak master Ling Jun as she spoke, who had been keeping silent from the start.
The latter had clearly not been feeling good over the past few days, because a fifth Sword Cometh Peak’s
cultivation resources had already begun to be handed over. This was a tremendous loss to Sword Cometh
Peak.
Peak master Ling Jun indifferently said, “Six rings of the Xuan bell. Not many have achieved it even in our
era.”
His meaning was clear. He did not believe Zhou Yuan would be able to achieve it.
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“Weren’t you singing the same tune before the chief disciple selection?” Asked peak master Lianyi as her
lips curled.
Peak master Ling Jun’s eyes turned slightly frosty as he coldly snorted.
“We shall wait and see.”
...
Zhou Yuan felt the world around begin to change the instant he stepped into the mist. A split second later,
he found himself standing below an old mountain path.
On the two sides of the path was a dense, impenetrable fog. The long stone path reached upwards like a
stone dragon, ultimately disappearing into the mist.
When he stood alone at the bottom of the path, Zhou Yuan appeared very very small indeed.
“Is this the mountain trial?”
Mumbled Zhou Yuan to himself as he gazed upon the path.
“The mountain trial is filled with unpredictable danger. Be cautious.”
While Zhou Yuan was observing the old mountain path, an emotionless, robotic voice suddenly echoed.
Zhou Yuan blinked a few times. This voice seemed to be a little familiar. After pondering for a while, he
suddenly jerked in surprise. Wasn’t this old Xuan’s voice? However, it didn’t sound as elderly as usual.
Was old Xuan the one who had left this voice when the mountain trial was constructed?
Zhou Yuan secretly chuckled inside, casting away these thoughts as he prepared to take a step forward.
“Remember what you said earlier.”
However, just as he was about to lift his foot, a soft murmur seemed to enter his ears.
Zhou Yuan was a little stunned. This was old Xuan’s voice...
He blinked, but did not say anything. Old Xuan had likely transmitted it in secret.
However, what did he mean?
Zhou Yuan pondered over this for a brief moment, before setting it aside for the time being. He gathered
his calm as he gaze swept around, but did not discover anything out of the ordinary.
The mountain path before him seemed to be nothing but ordinary.
2469
But Zhou Yuan knew that this was impossible. Otherwise, the many previous chief disciples of Saint
Genesis Peak would not have ultimately failed to reopen it.
He muttered to himself for a while. In the end, he lifted his foot and stepped forward, fully vigilant.
A foot landed on the stone steps, but nothing happened. After a brief hesitation, Zhou Yuan continued to
advance.
However, there was only silence around him after several dozen steps, no activity at all.
“Is the mountain trial broken?” Mumbled Zhou Yuan in bewilderment.
However, the instant his voice rang out, Zhou Yuan’s pupils abruptly shrank. At this very moment he had
indeed felt that something was wrong.
But the wrongness was not from the outside, but instead from inside his body.
He could feel a Genesis Qi star in his Qi Dwelling dim somewhat, as if some Genesis Qi had stealthily
disappeared.
It was not being consumed or depleted, but as if some unknown entity had devoured it, causing it to be
lost forever...
“What is going on?!”
Shock thundered through Zhou Yuan’s heart, his expression fluctuating rapidly as he stared at the
extremely quiet old stone path before him. The latter now made him feel a heart-palpitating strangeness.
He raised his head and gazed at the path that snaked into the mist.
“Could it be… am I supposed to reach the end before my Genesis Qi disappears?” Zhou Yuan’s eyes
flickered in thought. Soon after, he took in a deep breath. Hesitating here was pointless. He needed to first
find out what kind of test this mountain trial was giving him.
After making his decision, Zhou Yuan cast away his hesitation and boldly stepped forward, advancing
step after step on the long stone path.
With each step he crossed, Zhou Yuan could clearly feel shining star after star in his Qi Dwelling dim one
after another, before ultimately disappearing into nothingness.
Disappear, not deplete.
The Genesis Qi that spread from his body weakened little by little.
2470
Zhou Yuan’s expression was rigid as still water, tightly clenching his hands, while feeling a mix of
negative emotions inside. No one would be able to calm, while helplessly feeling the Genesis Qi in one’s
body strangely disappear.
After all, every drop had been the fruits of his effort.
As his Genesis Qi disappeared bit by bit, Zhou Yuan’s pace grew faster and faster.
Nearly an incense stick of time later.
A sliver of paleness had already appeared on Zhou Yuan’s face. More than half of the four thousand stars
in his Qi Dwelling had already disappeared...
In such a bizarre situation, anyone with lesser mental fortitude would have already lost himself to panic
and fear.
Huu.
Zhou Yuan took in a deep breath of air. The mountain trial’s reputation was well-deserved indeed. It was
a fearfully strange test.
“Another hundred stars…”
Zhou Yuan pursed his lips, an unreadable look in his eyes as he stared at the winding path that reached
into the mist. In the face of such a situation, even he felt his heart begin to tremble at this moment.
He was not certain if he would be able to reach the end before all his Genesis Qi disappeared.
Moreover, his greatest worry was that… even if he did manage to walk to the end, would it be over?
In the face of this incomparably bizarre mountain trial, unease began to surge out in Zhou Yuan’s heart.
2471
Chapter 489 Strength of Heart
The winding stone dragon like mountain path stood alone in this misty land. Thick fog swirled around it,
impossible to see through, making everything appear strange and mysterious.
At this current time, a lone figure was slowly climbing the long mountain path.
This figure naturally belonged to Zhou Yuan.
His face was currently deathly pale, nearly devoid of blood. The Genesis Qi around him had become
extremely feeble, because the originally four thousand brightly shining Genesis Qi stars in his Qi Dwelling
was now reduced to the final three hundred...
All his years of hard work to cultivate his Genesis Qi had now strangely disappeared.
If one was unable to differentiate between reality and illusion at this moment, such a situation would be
extremely terrifying.
Anyone else with a less steady heart and mind would have collapsed long ago, unable to advance.
However, Zhou Yuan did not stop. He tightly gritted his teeth, his unwavering gaze fixed to the front. He
had already come so far, wouldn’t he have suffered for nothing if he were to shrink back now?
“Will three hundred Genesis Qi stars last me till the end?”
Zhou Yuan’s lips were tightly pursed. No matter what, something should change when the last bit of
Genesis Qi was gone.
With such thoughts in mind, Zhou Yuan stepped forward once more.
Step after step passed by under his feet.
Star after star in his Qi Dwelling began to disappear in quick succession...
Half an incense stick of time later, the final three hundred stars were nearly all gone.
Zhou Yuan’s foot paused on a stone step, his expression fluctuating indeterminately. The very last star in
his Qi Dwelling had begun to slowly dim at this moment, before completely fading away.
All of his Genesis Qi was gone at this very moment.
In this moment, an endless feeling of powerlessness surged in his body, powerlessness that Zhou Yuan
had not felt for a very long time...
2472
Back when he had been incapable of opening his eighth meridian channels, this had been the same feeling
that filled his body.
Power he had worked hard for many years to obtain had faded into oblivion at this very moment.
Zhou Yuan closed his eyes, and took in a deep breath, before opening them as he turned around to gaze at
the long path behind him. He was silent for a moment, as a certain notion flowed through him.
If he were to return along the path, all his Genesis Qi would return to him.
However, it would also mean that he would fail the mountain trial.
Perhaps...
He should continue forward...
Zhou Yuan lifted his head to look at the path, still unable to find any traces of where it ended. He no
longer had any Genesis Qi, which also caused the power in his physical body to begin weakening.
If he continued, he would undoubtedly have to bear an increasingly growing burden. Would his Genesis
Qi eventually return? It was a question he was incapable of answering.
So what choice would he make?
Zhou Yuan stood there in silence for a long time, as the hesitation in his eyes slowly faded away.
“Does it matter whether this is real or fake? I had not given up even when I was unable to open my eighth
meridian channels. Even if I do lose my Genesis Qi, I can always cultivate it back!”
“At the very least, I still possess the ability to cultivate.”
“Didn’t I manage to wait for the light even when I was so lost back then? What is all this in comparison?”
A resolute look emerged in Zhou Yuan’s eyes. Next, he lifted his now heavy foot once again without the
slightest shred of hesitation, and firmly placed it on the next step.
Even without Genesis Qi, there was no way he would give up!
What was needed on the road of cultivation was the courage to boldly press forward. If one was
constantly afraid of even the slightest of things, it would be a tall order to succeed on this path.
One’s heart needed to be firm and unwavering, before one could achieve success.
Zhou Yuan’s figure slowly began to climb the mountain path. Although every step was difficult and heavy,
each one grew increasingly clear, no longer containing any of the hesitation or fear from before.
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In their place, was an unshakable determination.
His foot was raised time and time again, even though each movement felt as heavy as a mountain.
While Zhou Yuan struggled step by step, he did not see the dazzling rays of light that suddenly shot out
from the ancient stone path behind him.
Step after step began to fade away, transforming into strands of light that rose into the sky.
Golden light danced in the air behind him, before dashing towards the slowly climbing figure, and
pouring into his body.
Zhou Yuan’s body jolted violently.
He finally sensed something and jerked his head around, and saw the golden light dancing in the air like
birds darting through the woods as it rushed into his body.
The Genesis Qi stars that had originally disappeared from his Qi Dwelling began to appear one after
another, emitting a radiant glow.
Vigorous Genesis Qi filled his body once more.
The feeling of power had finally returned!
Zhou Yuan’s face glowed brightly, a relieved smile appearing as if a heavy burden had been lifted from his
shoulders. He had finally understood. The mountain trial had been testing his heart.
An ordinary person would have definitely felt panic and fear upon losing all their head earned Genesis Qi,
something that even Zhou Yuan was no exception to.
However, what would one do in such a situation?
Would one give up on advancing, and become cautious and conservative, or would one continue pressing
forward with courage?
Genesis Qi was not the most important factor to become truly powerful, but a persevering and
unwavering heart. Because when one possessed the latter, the former would naturally always come back.
Though the loss of his Genesis Qi had been brief, it was a form of training that had been deeply etched
into his heart.
Zhou Yuan closed his eyes as the long stone path behind him slowly disappeared. Golden light gracefully
danced in the air as it streamed into his body, only gradually coming to a stop after some time.
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When all of the golden light had entered his body, Zhou Yuan turned his senses inwards for a moment, as
his eyes abruptly opened, revealing pleasant surprise.
At this very moment, the number of dazzling Genesis Qi stars in his Qi Dwelling had soared to five
thousand!
In addition, every star shined brightly and stably, no sign that they had been hastily formed.
His Genesis Qi cultivation had grown a thousand stars in such a short period!
This was basically equivalent to months of training for Zhou Yuan!
It was evidently a reward for passing the test.
The smile that hung from the corners of Zhou Yuan’s mouth widened substantially. The suffering and fear
he had experienced earlier had not been in vain.
The mist around him began to ripple as the robotic voice that belonged to old Xuan echoed once again.
“First of the three trials, pass.”
When this voice sounded, Zhou Yuan saw the long stone path below his feet start to fade away as the
world around him gradually changed.
He did not panic as he stood there, waiting for the change to complete.
Zhou Yuan raised his head, and observed the warping world around him. So this was only the first trial. It
was definitely extremely strange and dangerous, and it was no surprise that so many chief disciples had
failed.
However, if the first trial was already so difficult, what should he do about the next two?
While in this focused and alert state, the shifting scenery around him finally stopped moving.
Yet another immense change had occurred to the world around him.
2475
Chapter 490 The Tyrannical Divine Grindstone
When focus returned to Zhou Yuan, a tremendous change had occurred to his surroundings.
The misty mountain path had disappeared, and in its place was an endless yellow desert. He was
currently standing on a dune, while heat rippled around him, making even the surrounding Genesis Qi
appear rather vexed.
A golden sun burned high in the sky, strand after strand of its golden rays pouring onto the ground.
“Is this the second trial?” Mumbled Zhou Yuan as he gazed at the yellow desert.
“I wonder what the test is this time.”
While Zhou Yuan was thinking out loud, the golden rays of sunlight from the sky landed on his body.
However, no change could be felt in his physical body or Genesis Qi.
“Not the body or Genesis Qi..”
“Then…”
Zhou Yuan’s eyes narrowed slightly before he could finish his sentence. He had felt a burning pain from
the Spirit between his brows, as if it had been placed onto a burning stove.
“The trial is targeting the Spirit…”
Zhou Yuan quickly sat down, and formed a seal with his hands. Genesis Qi surged out, creating a
protective layer around his body in an attempt to defend against the golden sunlight.
However, it was clearly ineffective. The golden sunlight completely ignored his Genesis Qi defenses, easily
penetrating his body to shine its rays on his Spirit.
Zhou Yuan dispersed the Genesis Qi, and began to focus on his Spirit, urging it to rise from between his
brows and float in the air above.
Zhou Yuan’s Spirit had already stepped into the mid Corporeal stage, and looked no different from him,
though it gave off a misty feeling as if it had no solid form.
His Spirit sat down in the air, fully concentrated as it released Spirit power to protect itself.
Golden sunlight continuously poured down, seemingly growing increasingly hot as time flowed by, while
the burning pain felt by Zhou Yuan’s Spirit slowly intensified.
This continued until even the surface of his Spirit began to ripple.
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Zhou Yuan’s expression was extremely grave. This was a very dangerous situation. If his Spirit were to
reach its limit, it could possibly be destroyed, leaving his physical body an empty husk.
While he would also disappear from this world.
Due to the previous trial, Zhou Yuan knew that these trials were filled with danger, and the slightest slip
may result in irreparable damage.
“The golden sun in the sky appears to be slowly shrinking…”
Zhou Yuan was carefully observing the changes around him, while he endured the burning pain, and he
had just discovered that the golden sun was gradually shrinking.
“Is this a test of whether I will be able to last until the golden sun shrinks and eventually disappears?”
Zhou Yuan fell into thought for a brief moment. In the end, he took in a deep breath. Since that was the
case, he just had to stubbornly endure till it was over.
Invisible halos pulsed around Zhou Yuan’s Spirit. These halos were made from his Spirit power, and
continuously dissolving as they clashed with the golden sunlight...
However, just as he resolved himself to persevere through the pain, he suddenly felt a violent shudder
from his Spirit.
“What’s going on?!” Zhou Yuan was immediately alarmed. Had his Spirit reached its limit so soon? How
could it be? It was at the mid Corporeal stage!
Zhou Yuan hurriedly concentrated, and quickly sensed a mysterious light flickering between the brows of
his Spirit, as a boundless noise began to emerge.
A noise akin to grinding stone.
A brand appeared between his Spirit’s brows, shaped exactly like a divine grindstone.
“It’s the divine grindstone brand master Cang Yuan left me…”
It was the existence of this brand that enabled Zhou Yuan to practice the Primal Chaos Divine Grindstone
Visualisation Method. But Zhou Yuan had not activated it, so why had it suddenly appeared?
Bzz! Bzz!
The divine grindstone brand began to vibrate as a circle of light erupted. The circle swept outwards,
blowing up the sand as the surroundings rapidly began to change.
The desert disappeared, replaced by an endless starry sky.
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However, the giant golden run was still suspended high up in the sky, emitting its golden rays.
Rumble!
Zhou Yuan’s Spirit stood within the starry sky, as a loud noise echoed from the darkness behind it. Next,
an endless shadow loomed over the entire space, as an abyssal primal chaos divine grindstone slowly
emerged along with a boundless pressure.
However, the grindstone was not heading towards Zhou Yuan, but the giant golden sun.
It was as if a giant dragon had discovered a feral wild beast that had entered into its territory, and was
proceeding to exterminate the trespasser.
Zhou Yuan was a little speechless as he awkwardly scratched his head.
The golden sun seemed to have angered the divine grindstone brand?
The primal chaos divine grindstone slowly rotated across the starry sky, as its infinite mass descended
upon the golden sun.
The golden sun seemed to sense that it was being challenged, causing its spreading golden rays to
abruptly spike in intensity, turning into a cloak of golden flames around it that began burning the
approaching grindstone.
Zhou Yuan’s Spirit could feel a dangerous sensation from the golden flames.
However, the primal chaos divine grindstone was not the least bit impressed. It continued its slow but
unstoppable crushing motion, allowing the golden flames to burn as they pleased. The immovable giant
grindstone turned, extinguishing every last wisp of golden fire.
Zhou Yuan’s jaw hung from his mouth. The divine grindstone brand was really something… and to think
that even the golden sun of this trial was unable to stop it. Come on… the latter was something left behind
by patriarch Cang Xuan back then...
The grindstone slowly rolled across the sky, arriving in front of the giant golden sun. As the divine
grindstone turned, the two bizarre entities ferociously collided.
Boom!
A shockwave violently rippled through the fabric of space, causing the entire sky to appear as if it were
about to shatter.
The light of the golden sun grew dimmer and dimmer, clearly unable to withstand the crushing force
from the divine grindstone. In the end, both entities seem to shudder for a moment, before the grindstone
pushed through and the golden sun shattered to pieces...
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The starry sky and divine grindstone began to fade, as a desert reappeared around Zhou Yuan.
Zhou Yuan dazedly stared at the sky, where the shattered remains of the golden sun drifted, no longer
able to emit its scorching golden rays...
He scratched his head, a little out of it as he mumbled to himself, “Is this… considered a pass?”
This trial should have been a test of Spirit tenacity, but even Zhou Yuan himself would not have imagined
that the divine grindstone brand in his Spirit would be so easily irritable and tyrannical. It seemed to
have been drawn out by the presence of the golden sun, and smashed it to pieces in an annoyed manner.
With the golden sun now gone, would he be able to proceed with the test?
Zhou Yuan stared at the empty sky, feeling rather lost for a time.
2479
Chapter 491 Golden Light Stream
Zhou Yuan stood on a dune in an endless desert, a blank look on his face as he gazed upon the peaceful
land around him, while feeling rather lost inside.
The golden sun in the sky had already been smashed to bits by the divine grindstone, taking away the
burning pain his Spirit had felt. Everything now felt extremely serene.
Zhou Yuan scratched his head. Compared to the difficulty of the previous trial, this trial felt as if it had
ended even before it began...
Bzz bzz!
While Zhou Yuan smiled bitterly, a strange noise suddenly sounded from the sky. He raised his head to
look, and found a stream of golden light descending from above as it swiftly approached him.
The stream of golden light flowed like water, arriving in front of Zhou Yuan.
“What is this?” Zhou Yuan stared in wonder at the golden stream. His Spirit had begun to tremble
violently the moment it had appeared, releasing a feeling of extreme desire.
As if it could not wait to devour the former.
Zhou Yuan had a certain feeling that if he absorbed the golden light, his Spirit cultivation, which had
remained stuck for half a year, would begin to progress once more, and soar straight to the advanced
Corporeal stage!
“Is this golden light the remnants of the shattered golden sun from earlier?”
Zhou Yuan licked his lips. He quickly retrieved a jade bottle, and began collecting the strange liquid-like
golden light. Since he could not determine its origin for the time being, it would be best for him to bring it
back for Yaoyao to inspect.
Moreover, it was neither the appropriate time nor place for him to attempt a Spirit cultivation
breakthrough.
Golden light flowed into the transparent jade bottle, glittering dazzlingly as if it were gold.
Zhou Yuan carefully kept the bottle with a happy look in his eyes. He had not expected to receive such a
surprising gift...
Not long after keeping the golden light, the great desert began to tremble faintly.
“Second mountain trial, pass.”
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A grand yet emotionless voice echoed across the place.
Upon hearing this voice, Zhou Yuan finally breathed a sigh of relief as if a heavy burden had been lifted
from his shoulders. He had genuinely been afraid that he would fail the test due to breaking the golden
sun. If that happened, he won’t even have a place to cry.
The desert started to distort as the voice continued to echo. After experiencing this phenomenon once,
Zhou Yuan was quite calm as he silently stood and waited for the change to complete.
The final trial should be coming up next.
He should succeed once he passes it, right?
The sand retreated as the scenery before Zhou Yuan’s eyes transformed. He appeared to now be standing
in a majestic ancient hall.
He did a quick 180, before his gaze paused in front of him, where three giant stone pillars towered. The
pillars were mottled with the scars of time, and gave off an ancient aura.
Zhou Yuan’s gaze slowly moved upwards along the stone pillars, his eyes suddenly widening when he
reached their peaks.
Three figures were seated atop these pillars.
Their eyes were tightly shut, their bodies completely still as if they were statues. They gave off no
presence, as if they were inanimate puppets.
Words had been carved into the upper regions of the pillars.
“Heavenly Sun… Divine Dwelling… Alpha-Origin?”
Muttered Zhou Yuan. Did these words represent the strength of these three figures? The one on the left
was a Heavenly Sun stage practitioner, the middle the Divine Dwelling stage, while the right one an
Alpha-Origin.
“The third trial. Spin the needle in front of the three stone pillars to select your opponent.”
“You have two chances to spin, and are allowed to choose a new opponent.”
A robotic voice echoed in the hall.
“So that’s the test.”
Zhou Yuan’s expression turned a little ugly. He had not expected the third trial to be so frightening. Out of
the three choices, only the Alpha-Origin would give him a chance at victory.
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As for the other two, even without taking into account the Heavenly Sun stage, the Divine Dwelling stage
would already be certain death for Zhou Yuan.
He was currently at the fifth layer Alpha-Origin stage, and though his true battle power did not lose to an
eighth layer disciple, there was still a tremendous disparity when compared to the Divine Dwelling stage.
Fortunately, there were two tries, which gave him a higher probability of selecting an Alpha-Origin stage
opponent.
Zhou Yuan let out a bitter laugh. He truly did not know what to do if he ended up with a Heavenly Sun or
Divine Dwelling opponent.
He shook his head and made a quick prayer, before walking forward to the center of the three stone
pillars, where a stone needle was found.
Zhou Yuan gripped the stone needle as he took in a deep breath to suppress the anxiety in his heart. In
the end, he fiercely gritted his teeth and gave the needle a powerful push.
Bzz bzz!
The needle began to spin, rapidly turning between the three stone pillars.
As time passed, the needle gradually started to slow down.
Zhou Yuan’s gaze was glued to the end of the needle.
In the end, it slowly came to a halt.
Zhou Yuan’s expression was quite ugly as he slowly lifted his head. A numbing sensation seemed to
explode across his scalp as his hands and feet turned ice-cold. The needle was pointing at the Heavenly
Sun pillar!
He had been unlucky enough to select the strongest one.
“God damnit!”
Zhou Yuan clenched his jaw as a curse escaped from the cracks between his teeth.
The power of the Heavenly Sun stage could squish him with a single swat. There was no way in hell that
he would pass.
Zhou Yuan gloomily raised his head and gazed at the figure atop the Heavenly Sun stage pillar. Although
the latter was akin to a statue, merely looking at it made him feel a tremendous amount of pressure.
“I can’t possibly beat that…” Zhou Yuan shook his head.
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“Fortunately, I still have another chance…”
Zhou Yuan slowly lifted his hand and grasped the stone needle once more with the intention of pushing it
to reselect his opponent.
He gripped the rough stone, but just as he was about to push, he suddenly remembered old Xuan’s words
when he first entered the mountain trial.
“Remember what you said earlier.”
Zhou Yuan’s hand paused.
Old Xuan would obviously not tell him something unimportant.
“What I said earlier…”
Zhou Yuan fell silent. He had begun to recall his earlier words.
“Are you confident?”
“There is no such thing as absolute confidence, but I will neither be afraid nor retreat in the face of any
difficulty."
Zhou Yuan’s expression fluctuated indeterminately as he mumbled, “Be unafraid?”
He admitted that fear had risen in his heart when the needle pointed towards the Heavenly Sun pillar
earlier, because he had felt that it was an unwinnable opponent.
Hence, his very first response was to spin the needle again.
But if he were to spin it again and go for the retry, it would also mean that he had been afraid and
retreated in the face of the Heavenly Sun stage.
Was retrying really the correct choice?
Would this test really give him a second chance?
Or… was the so-called ‘second chance’ merely a trap?
There was only silence in the ancient hall.
Zhou Yuan’s hand lay on the stone needle, but was ultimately unable to make himself push it. After a long
silence, he finally raised his head and let out a drawn-out sigh, before releasing his grip little by little.
He took two steps back, looking at the pressuring figure atop the stone pillar as he muttered,
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“If I die, I die… Heavenly Sun stage, do you think I’m afraid of you…”
He abruptly raised his finger, and pointed at the figure as a thunderous shout boomed in the hall.
“Heavenly Sun stage!”
“I shall be you!”
2484
Chapter 492 Heavenly Sun
Zhou Yuan’s shout echoed in the ancient hall. It was as this very moment that the presence less figure
atop the Heavenly Sun pillar faintly trembled.
The eyes that had been shut for only god knew how long slowly opened at this moment.
Boom!
The entire hall began to shudder the instant they opened, as a dreadful Genesis Qi pressure engulfed the
place. Under this pressure, even space itself began to warp and distort.
Zhou Yuan’s expression changed drastically as he stumbled several dozen steps back. He forcibly steadied
his body, an incomparably ugly expression on his face as he looked towards the figure.
The pressure from the latter’s body felt as heavy as a mountain.
“Is this the terror of the Heavenly Sun stage?”
Zhou Yuan tightly gritted his teeth as a horrified noise escaped from the crevices between them. In the
Cangxuan Sect, elder Shen Taiyuan and the rest were experts at this level, but they usually restrained
their presences, giving Zhou Yuan no chance to gauge their might.
But with the figure now beginning to release the full presence of the Heavenly Sun stage, Zhou Yuan
finally realized how tiny and weak he was before it.
Under Zhou Yuan’s extremely grim gaze, the figure slowly stood up on the stone pillar. Eyes completely
devoid of emotion were cast towards Zhou Yuan, and a cold, empty voice rang out, “Are you the one who
wants to challenge me?”
A drop of cold sweat appeared on Zhou Yuan’s forehead as he replied with a forced smile, “Not really.”
If it was not because he had been forced, there was no way he would challenge a Heavenly Sun stage
expert unless he was tired of living!
However, the figure obviously paid no heed to Zhou Yuan’s answer, because the choice was already fixed
once he was activated.
His empty, soulless eyes locked onto Zhou Yuan as his clothes began to flap loudly without any wind. His
foot slammed into the ground, causing the entire hall to shake.
Rumble!
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The terrifying Genesis Qi pressure grew greater and greater, like a ten thousand ton tsunami that could
shatter a mountain, as pulse after pulse hammered against Zhou Yuan’s body.
Crack!
The stone tiles under Zhou Yuan’s feet cracked and shattered, the pressure nearly forcing him to his
knees, as eerie creaking noises emanated from his bones.
His expression was a mix of fear and terror, as the Genesis Qi in his body frantically surged out in an
attempt to defend against the pressure.
He never imagined that a Heavenly Sun stage expert would not even need to do anything else. Just the
pressure alone had nearly extinguished all the fight he had in him.
Even taking a single step forward at this moment was going to be unbelievably difficult, let alone
exchanging blows with the Heavenly Sun stage expert under this tremendous pressure.
This trial was basically hopeless!
“Back down.”
The figure on the stone pillar looked down from above, its soulless eyes watching Zhou Yuan bitterly
struggle.
These words made Zhou Yuan bite down even harder, his fists clenching tightly, as slivers of red slowly
appeared in his eyes. He had experienced so many hardships and tribulations ever since arriving at the
Cangxuan Sect.
He had also invested so much blood, sweat and tears in order to become the chief disciple of Saint
Genesis Peak, and earn the opportunity to enter the sealed main peak.
Was everything really going to end here?
He refused to accept it!
He lifted his head with great difficulty, and stared at the figure looking down at him from above. His
breathing turned deeper and rougher as red colored the whites of his eyes. The Heavenly Sun stage was
indeed very terrifying, but even it could not make him willingly give up.
“It doesn’t matter how powerful you are. You may be able to defeat me with a casual flick of your hand,
but to make me willingly give up is… IM! POS! SI! BLE!”
As the final syllable was roared, Zhou Yuan pushed against the frightening pressure and took a step
forward, causing wounds to tear open on his skin.
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However, he paid no heed to them, merely continued to stare at the figure atop the pillar.
Another step, and another step.
The floor beneath his feet cracked and shattered as more and more wounds appeared on his body,
eventually covering nearly every inch of his skin. However, Zhou Yuan did not stop, but instead continued
his advance towards the stone pillar.
The figure atop the pillar watched him struggle with apathetic eyes, as if looking at an ant, but did not
make any move to stop the former.
“Are you not going to attack? Because you feel I’m not worthy?”
“Do you really believe this Genesis Qi pressure can scare me off?”
Zhou Yuan forced out step after step, his blood-drenched body ultimately arriving below the stone pillar.
He looked at the figure that was still staring at him with indifference, as a sinister smile appeared from
the corners of his mouth.
Though the pressure was terrifying, Zhou Yuan had a certain stubborn pride. If he were to lose his
courage even before the other party attacked, he would be shaming all the years of effort he had put in.
“Since you’re so arrogant… let me have a taste of just how powerful the Heavenly Sun stage is!”
His roar resounded in the hall as Zhou Yuan’s feet suddenly arched a little. In the next instant, all the
power in his body erupted without any reservation, crushing the floor below him as his figure charged
into the air against the dreadful pressure, heading straight for the figure looking down at him from above.
He was akin to a mad wolf, desperate to give his opponent a few bites even if he died.
Courage and ruthlessness were things that Zhou Yuan had never lacked.
Swoosh!
He figure soared into the air, ultimately arriving at the top of the pillar.
The eyes of the Heavenly Sun figure faintly rippled at this moment, as a seemingly cruel arc rose from the
corners of his lips. The figure slowly raised a hand and aimed it at Zhou Yuan.
An extremely terrifying attack condensed at the center of its palm.
This scene basically spelled despair.
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However, only surging red and ferocity could be seen in Zhou Yuan’s eyes. He did not care about the
Heavenly Sun figure’s attack, and only wanted to make the latter know that he would lose with dignity
even if he failed.
ARGGHHH!
Zhou Yuan roared as he unleashed a ferocious punch. Genesis Qi surged out, accompanied by a sonic
boom as it ruthlessly smashed into the outstretched hand of the Heavenly Sun figure.
Even though he knew he would receive a frightening counter attack in the next instant.
However, there were times that he must not back down.
At the very least, he would have forced the Heavenly Sun figure into action, instead of being forced to
kneel and losing all of his courage from that Genesis Qi pressure alone.
In the face of despair, the thought of conceding never once crossed Zhou Yuan’s mind. Instead, he only
thought of throwing everything he had to tear open a path amidst the crushing despair.
In this way, even if he failed, he would at least have no regrets.
Thud!
Fist and palm met at this moment.
The entire world seemed to fall silent.
However, while Zhou Yuan was waiting for the terrifying counter attack, he saw the Heavenly Sun figure
tremble faintly for a moment, before slowly disintegrating like a shadow under his fist...
The frightening counter he had expected did not appear.
Zhou Yuan’s fist landed on empty air as his body fell onto the top of the stone pillar. His face was filled
with confusion as he turned around to look at the still fading figure behind him.
The cruel smile on the Heavenly Sun figure had disappeared, replaced by what appeared to be a look of
gratification.
“You’ve passed.”
2488
Chapter 493 Third Trial Passed
Zhou Yuan’s figure stood atop the stone pillar, his face half dazed and half lingering ferocity, as he gazed
at the slowly disintegrating Heavenly Sun figure behind him, unable to return to his senses for quite some
time.
The Genesis Qi pressure from the figure had been so terrifying that Zhou Yuan had nearly been
overwhelmed, but why had it been broken in a single blow like the reflection of the moon in the water?
“Passed?”
Zhou Yuan lowered his head to look at the bloody wounds on his body. The earlier scene had not been an
illusion of any kind, and that dreadful pressure had been the real deal.
Zhou Yuan looked again at the disappearing figure with tightly furrowed brows. It was a long time later,
before the faint glow of understanding rose within him.
“This trial was perhaps not a test of whether I could defeat the Heavenly Sun figure, but if I had the
courage to attack even when faced with an expert at that level...”
In the face of that frightening pressure, an ordinary person would be overwhelmed by fear, and would
only try to desperately hang on or give up. For them to voluntarily initiate an attack, an astronomical
amount of courage was required.
One would also need a spirit that refused to bow down even in such a despairing circumstance, and the
tenacity to do all one could to find a sliver of survival.
If Zhou Yuan had decided to respin the needle earlier, he would have likely failed even if it landed on the
Alpha-Origin figure.
Of course, if Zhou Yuan had lost his courage, and chosen to back down in the face of the Heavenly Sun
figure, it would be a failure as well.
The road of the strong was paved with difficulties and countless desperate situations. If one lacked the
courage and ruthlessness to push oneself to the limits, won’t it be very difficult to break free from
encirclements and ascend to greater heights?
Zhou Yuan took in a deep breath as he calmed his churning emotions. Only now did he fully comprehend
the meaning behind old Xuan’s earlier words.
One could not be afraid in this trial.
If fear had existed while making a decision or when facing the Heavenly Sun figure, it would have been
impossible for him to pass.
2489
Fortunately, Zhou Yuan had ultimately succeeded.
Rumble!
While Zhou Yuan was tightly clenching his fist, a muffled rumble suddenly sounded behind him in the
hall. He raised his head, and saw the tightly shut bronze doors slowly begin to open.
“Third trial, pass!”
At the same time, a familiar robotic voice echoed.
The Genesis Qi in Zhou Yuan’s body vibrated, shaking off the blood on his body. With a push off his toes,
he gently landed on the ground and arrived in front of the bronze doors.
As he looked at the doors, he knew that behind them was the true entrance into the main peak.
After a year of tough training, the day had finally come where he would reap the fruits of his labours.
At such a time, even Zhou Yuan could not help but feel emotions well up in his eyes. He cast away all
hesitation as he walked forward and stepped inside.
“Second Saint Rune, here I come!”
Dong!
The instant his foot crossed the threshold, the sound of a loud ancient bell rang out, echoing across the
mountains.
Some time earlier while Zhou Yuan was still bitterly struggling in the third stage.
Numerous gazes in the Cangxuan Sect were focused on the main peak.
However, due to the seal, even sect master Qing Yang and the five peak master were unable to discern
what was happening inside.
Everyone could only wait patiently for the final outcome.
This wait was undoubtedly quite boring, causing numerous disciples to chat out of boredom.
“Is he really up to the task? It’s already been so long. All the previous chief disciples never took this long,
right?”
“That’s why all of them failed.”
2490
“Heh, as if taking a longer time equates to success.”
“I’ve heard that the three trials of Saint Genesis Peak were personally set by the patriarch back then. Any
disciple with great aspirations could challenge it, and receive the patriarch’s personal guidance if they
passed. One must know that this is the same guidance only sect master and the other peak masters would
enjoy back then!”
“Yeah, in the golden age of our Cangxuan Sect, innumerable geniuses have attempted the trial, but only
tiny number of them managed to pass.”
“It’s a trial that even the numerous geniuses of that era failed to pass, how difficult do you think it will be
for Zhou Yuan?”
“In my opinion, Saint Genesis Peak’s main gates will still remain tightly shut.”
“……”
Countless whispers continuously spread across the mountains.
On the dilapidated old plaza, Shen Taiyuan and Lu Song’s disciples wore grave expressions on their faces.
They were naturally itching to retort after hearing the many whispers, but the words were ultimately
unable to leave their mouths.
Because they clearly understood how difficult this trial was. If not, Saint Genesis Peak would not have
declined more and more with each passing year.
Zhou Yuan was indeed a very outstanding disciple, but even they did not believe that he would succeed.
The only thing they could do now was silently wait for the results.
In contrast to their anxious waiting, Lu Hong’s disciples watched with the cold eyes of a bystander, while
Lu Hong wore a sneer on his face. Zhou Yuan had been the cause of their current predicament, and Lu
Hong naturally hated the former. However, he did not dare to take any action due to the laws of the sect.
But if he could watch Zhou Yuan fail this trial, it would definitely release some of the negative feelings in
his heart.
Aren’t you supposed to be very awesome? You even managed to take the chief disciple position, but at the
end of the day, won’t it all end in failure?
Next year, the various chief disciples from the other peaks would be allowed to participate. When that
happened, what face would Saint Genesis Peak have left?
High up in the sky.
2491
Sect master Qing Yang and the five peak masters were seated on their glowing lotuses, their deep gazes
focused on the majestic misty main peak. They could naturally hear the spreading whispers, but did not
take any steps to curb them. After all, they likewise clearly understood the difficulty of passing three
trials.
Peak master Ling Jun suddenly remarked, “He seems to be taking a little too long.”
“What’s the rush?” Retorted peak master Lianyi in a nonchalant manner.
Sect master Qing Yang raised his hand to cut them off before it escalated any further, when his expression
suddenly concentrated as if trying to hear something. Moments later, he abruptly said, “The Xuan bell is
ringing!”
The eyes of peak master Ling Jun, Lianyi and the others widened slightly.
After a few dozen breaths of silence, the resonant ‘dong’ of an old bell slowly spread from the misty main
peak, and echoed across the land.
All the noises stopped at this moment.
Countless gazes were abruptly raised, staring at the main peak as they attentively listened for the bell.
They knew that the bell signified the end of the trials.
Only when the Xuan bell rang seven times did it mean that the challenger had successfully passed all
three trials. Over the years, innumerable disciples had been stopped before the seventh ring.
Elder Shen Taiyuan and Lu Song’s aged faces were filled with nervousness.
Amidst the silence, only the sound of a bell could be heard.
Dong!
Dong!
Dong!
……
A bell rang continuously, quickly reaching six rings.
Countless individuals held their breaths, not daring to breathe too loudly.
There was a slight pause after the sixth ring.
The sneer that hung from Lu Hong’s mouth abruptly widened as he breathed a deep sigh of relief inside.
2492
However, just as he was about to exhale a physical sigh from his mouth, another loud ‘dong’ unhurriedly
echoed from the main peak...
The seventh ring!
*Uproar*!
The entire place seemed to explode at this very moment.
2493
Chapter 494 The Xuan Bell Rings
Dong!
When the seventh ring echoed across the land, the entire Cangxuan Sect first froze for an instant, before a
torrential wave of noise and activity exploded.
Countless disciples were stupefied as they stared at the mist-shrouded main peak.
The seventh ring!
Seven whole rings of the bell!
Didn’t this mean that Zhou Yuan had passed all three trials?! The very mission so many Saint Genesis
Peak disciples had failed in the past, had now been successfully accomplished by Zhou Yuan?!
Just how much of a monster was this guy?!
On the dilapidated plaza, Shen Taiyuan and Lu Song’s disciples were stunned for a very long time. When
they finally returned to their senses, they immediately exploded into deafening cheers.
Shen Taiyuan’s entire body trembled with emotion, as tears flowed along the wrinkles on his face. Ever
since the patriarch died long ago, Saint Genesis Peak had gradually declined year after year, unable to
even reopen their main gates. Although they were currently still the seventh peak in name, if not for the
patriarch, their status as the seventh peak would have been revoked long ago.
For a long-time member of Saint Genesis Peak, this was absolutely unacceptable.
Hence, Shen Taiyuan had continuously worked towards unsealing the peak, but each failure that followed
caused his aspirations to grow weaker and weaker, so much so that he had even begun to despair a little.
The hope he reached for was just far too small.
It was too difficult to reopen Saint Genesis Peak.
When he heard that the champion of the peak selection had chosen Saint Genesis Peak, Shen Taiyuan was
in truth only thinking about giving it another try. He had faced a tremendous amount of pressure later on
due to the numerous cultivation resources and special treatment he gave Zhou Yuan, but he stubbornly
put down his foot on the matter.
Shen Taiyuan was currently overjoyed that he was a stubborn person..
If not for his stubbornness, his final hope may have left forever.
2494
By the side, elder Lu Song’s eyes were also a little red as he stared at Shen Taiyuan and sighed
emotionally. “Old chap, I have no choice but to bow down to your foresight this time.”
He was rather envious of the former. Back then, he did have a chance to recruit Zhou Yuan. However, the
many years of failure had left him quite dejected, plus he didn’t want to compete too harshly with Shen
Taiyuan’s faction, and thus ultimately decided to give in.
If he had chosen to fight a little harder back then, the glory of reopening Saint Genesis Peak may perhaps
now belong to his faction instead.
Shen Taiyuan laughed, no longer able to maintain his usual stern expression. Even his eyebrows had
spread apart, clearly unable to conceal the joy in his heart.
Compared to the euphoria of the two factions, Lu Hong’s side was deathly quiet. Every disciple had a look
of disbelief on their faces, while elder Lu Hong staggered unsteadily, nearly falling onto the ground.
“How can this be? How can this be!”
Mumbled Lu Hong, his old face deathly white. The psychological blow he received from this result was
not small at all. This had basically sealed his fate, the reopening of Saint Genesis Peak essentially meant
that their Sword Cometh Peak no longer had any chance.
He could already picture how enraged peak master Ling Jun would be by this.
“How could he possibly have done it!”
Lu Hong trembled as he blurted out. Endless regret suddenly rose in his heart. If he had known this
would happen, why would never have made things difficult for Zhou Yuan just to help Lu Xuanyin and the
rest take revenge. If he had just earnestly tried to recruit Zhou Yuan, none of this would have happened.
Due to that single misstep back then, he was now headed into the bottomless abyss.
High up in the sky.
Sect master Qing Yang and the five peak masters dazedly stared at the main peak.
“Zhou Yuan really managed to do it?” Said peak master Lianyi in surprise, her mouth hanging slightly ajar.
Though she had said that she was cheering for Zhou Yuan earlier, it was only so that she could pit herself
against peak master Ling Jun. In her heart, she did not believe that Zhou Yuan would achieve seven rings
of the Xuan bell, because she clearly understood just how difficult it was.
The other peak masters also had surprised looks on their faces. Only peak master Ling Jun’s was as rigid
as still water as he released a smothered snort.
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The other peak masters chuckled when they saw this, knowing that all of peak master Ling Jun’s plans
had now gone up in smoke due to the reopening of Saint Genesis Peak. Moreover, Sword Cometh Peak
had lost so much cultivation resources for nothing, basically making them the biggest losers of this affair.
At this moment, sect master Qing Yang’s eyes suddenly focused as he said, “It’s not over yet!”
The other peak masters were stunned, their pupils shrinking a little as they could not help but blurt out,
“It can’t be, right?”
Not over after the seventh ring? Wouldn’t that mean that he had reached the eighth ring?!
Eight rings of the Xuan bell was extremely rare even in the golden age of the Cangxuan Sect!
Dong!
The instant their words rang out, the eighth ring loudly sounded from the main peak, instantly cutting all
cheering and chatter.
The mouths of countless disciples hung wide open like ducks who had been pinched by the neck.
The eighth ring?
Their minds were a little blank, because in the history of the Cangxuan Sect, eighth rings were only
spoken of in legend...
The eighth ring echoed across the silent land.
The numerous disciples did not know what to say at this moment.
In the sky, sect master Qing Yang’s eyes shined brightly. Moments later, he slowly said, “There’s one more
ring.”
The expressions of the other peak masters changed.
Dong!
In the next instant, the ninth ring suddenly sounded.
All the disciples turned numb at this moment. They were truly unable to fathom exactly what Zhou Yuan
had done. How had he reached this level?!
Was this something someone could even achieve?!
Shen Taiyuan had basically blanked out, not knowing what to say as he stared at the main peak. This
outcome had far exceeded the realm of his imagination.
2496
In his eyes, reaching the seventh ring was already an exceedingly amazing achievement.
So what about the ninth ring?
With regards to such an extreme result, even he could not comment for a time.
By the side, Lu Song was likewise confused and in disbelief as he looked towards Shen Taiyuan. In the
end, he could only swallow repeatedly.
After a long time, the two of them arrived at an awkward conclusion. “Is the Xuan bell broken?”
“Nine rings of the Xuan bell…”
Sect master Qing Yang took in a deep breath, before he said, “How many years has it been since someone
has achieved this…”
The other peak masters were silent. Since the founding of the Cangxuan Sect, only a handful of individuals
have managed to achieve nine rings. How had Zhou Yuan done it?
“It seems that a dragon has been born in our Cangxuan Sect.”
Sect master Qing Yang stared hard at the majestic main peak. Soon after, he chuckled as he vertically
placed a hand in front of him and softly said, “Thank you patriarch for protecting our Cangxuan Sect.”
While the entire Cangxuan Sect was immersed in their shock, on the hall at the foot of the mountain, old
Xuan raised his head to look at the misty main peak. He sat on the stone steps, hugging his bamboo
broom as a faint smile appeared on his old, old face.
This little one was truly surprising.
“Master… our Saint Genesis Peak has opened again.”
2497
Chapter 495 The Green Jade Statue of the
Patriarch
“Nine rings…”
When Zhou Yuan stepped out from the large bronze doors, he heard the sound of a melodious old bell
echoing within the mountain. His mouth hung slightly ajar as shock appeared in his eyes.
Even the person himself had not expected that his results would reach the nine bell level.
“Is it because the divine grindstone smashed apart the golden sun? That’s why the evaluation is so
good…” Zhou Yuan awkwardly scratched his head. He did not feel overly proud, because he only needed
seven rings to achieve his goal.
Of course, the additional two rings would naturally not be rejected by him. It was after all still a form of
acknowledgement of his performance.
Now that he knew the outcome, he breathed a deep sigh of relief as if a heavy weight had been lifted from
his shoulders. The bell represented that he had successfully passed the three trials.
As Zhou Yuan suppressed the surging emotions in his heart, he raised his head and saw a mountain path
that snaked upwards, with streams flowing to its left and right.
There was no mist here, and Zhou Yuan was clearly already quite deep in the main peak.
By following this path, he should be able to reach his destination.
Zhou Yuan wet his lips as he cast away his hesitation and walked forward, slowly following the mountain
path.
After a few dozen minutes, his footsteps began to slow. The path had ended some distance to the front,
where an ancient large hall silently towered within the mist.
The hall looked quite simple, and was covered in the mottled scars of time.
This hall was the main hall of Saint Genesis Peak!
Zhou Yuan stood in front of the hall, as he looked upon it with burning eyes. The second Saint Rune he
deeply yearned for should be hidden somewhere inside.
After a quick scan of the surroundings, he was just about to step forward, only for his foot to come to an
abrupt stop. His gaze darted towards the front in amazement, where faint cracks could be seen in the air.
2498
An indescribable feeling of danger spread from it.
“There’s still such a terrifying seal outside the main hall?” Zhou Yuan’s expression was grave. The
dangerous aura from this seal was even more frightening than the ones outside the mountain.
He had no doubt that a brief contact with the undulations from the seal was all it would take to
completely obliterate himself from existence. In fact, even a Heavenly Sun stage expert would likely share
the same fate.
This seal was obviously the last defense of the main hall.
An awkward look appeared on Zhou Yuan’s face. It had not been an easy task for him to pass the three
trials, and he had thought everything would be smooth sailing from then onwards. Why had a seal
suddenly appeared? Was he going to have to call for sect master and the rest? But if they came, they
would likely discover the existence of the Saint Rune...
Zhou Yuan fell silent for a moment. A thought suddenly struck him all of a sudden as he smacked his head
and said, “I almost forgot about it.”
With a pat of the spatial bag at his waist, a glow rose from his palm. It was a white jade token, the signet
patriarch Cang Xuan had left him in the Saint Remains Domain.
Patriarch Cang Xuan had mentioned that this signet could undo the seal.
“I’ll just have to give it a try…” Although he did not know if it would work, there was nothing else Zhou
Yuan could think of.
He raised his hand as the white jade token slowly rose into the air. It moved towards the seal outside the
hall and slowly made contact.
Zhou Yuan nervously watched while on full alert. He was ready to dash off the moment he felt something
was wrong.
Warm, gently rays were reached out from the white jade token. As the light spread, the seal swiftly
dissolved like snow that had met magma.
In a short few minutes, the seal around the main hall had completely faded away.
The distorted space gradually returned to normal.
“So simple…”
Zhou Yuan was stunned, as he involuntarily wet his lips. He was thankful that the patriarch had left him
this signet. Otherwise, given his current strength, even breaking his head open would have been nowhere
near enough to even give this seal a tiny shake.
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He extended his hand as the white jade token fell back into it.
He looked towards the front again. There were no more obstructions outside the main hall. Hence, he
quickly walked forward and pushed open the heavy doors that had been tightly shut for who knew how
many years.
Creak
The doors slowly wobbled open as an ancient aura assaulted his senses.
The interior was very spacious and surprisingly still lit by burning altar lamps. The stone floor seemed to
gleam like a mirror, not a single speck of dust to be seen.
Zhou Yuan’s gaze paused at the center of the hall, where a green jade statue stood. It depicted a
handsome and mysterious young man whose looks were not unfamiliar to Zhou Yuan. It was the one and
only patriarch Cang Xuan he had met in the Saint Remains Domain.
The jade statue of the patriarch was very lifelike, its eyes appearing deep and kindly as a mysterious aura
spread from them. The statue also possessed an indescribable dignified presence.
As the once number one expert in Cangxuan Heaven, even a mere jade statue of him clearly possessed a
certain aura.
“Patriarch, we meet again…”
Mumbled Zhou Yuan as he gazed at the statue and sighed.
If he had not met the fragment of patriarch Cangxuan’s Spirit in the Saint Remains Domain, he may not
have come to the Cangxuan Sect. However, when he looked back now, he felt very grateful for the
patriarch’s guidance...
He bowed to the jade status, before raising his head to ask, “I’m here patriarch. Where’s the second Saint
Rune?”
There was no response from the statue, its warm and deep gaze merely continuing to stare at Zhou Yuan.
Zhou Yuan chuckled awkwardly. “So I have to find it myself?”
After speaking, he rose and began to wander about the hall. However, he failed to discover anything. In
the end, he arrived back at the statue, where he found a jade seal.
The jade seal gave off a simple glow, and felt extremely heavy when Zhou Yuan picked it up. On the seal
were two words, Saint Genesis.
2500
“Could this be the peak master seal of Saint Genesis Peak?” Zhou Yuan pondered to himself. It was
because this seal had been missing from Saint Genesis Peak that they had been unable to produce a peak
master for so many years.
Though the peak master seal was important, Zhou Yuan did not have much interest in it, and soon put it
back down.
He searched and searched, but failed to find any trace of the second Saint Rune.
This caused Zhou Yuan to grow rather anxious. Everything he had done so far was for the sake of the
second Saint Rune, but now that he was here, it was nowhere to be found.
“Patriarch, you can’t have tricked me, right?”
Soon after, he sat down on the mat in front of the jade statue with a miserable face as he stared at it.
Man and statue stared at each other.
For an instant, Zhou Yuan seemed to see the jade statue’s pupils flicker for a moment.
Zhou Yuan was a little taken aback. Soon after, a certain notion struck him. He steadied his breathing as
the Decoder Saint Rune slowly began rotating in the depths of his pupils with a shout in his heart.
The Saint Rune spun as changes began to occur to the jade statue. It gradually turned transparent as Zhou
Yuan slowly inspected it. In the end, his eyes paused on the statue’s outstretched hand.
A mysterious ancient glowing rune could be seen deep within the jade, silently sitting there as it gave off
a boundless aura.
Zhou Yuan’s heart began to beat like a drum the moment he saw it, as an excited look flooded his face.
The second Saint Rune was here after all!
2501
Chapter 496 Earth Saint Rune
The mysterious glowing rune pulsed with a mighty heart-palpitating power as it silently lay in deep
within the jade hand. Its familiar aura made Zhou Yuan absolutely certain that this was the second Saint
Rune he had been painstakingly searching for...
Zhou Yuan’s chest rapidly heaved, only gradually returning to normal after some time. However, the
burning fire in his eyes blazed strongly, impossible to be extinguished.
It was after all hard to reign in his emotions when the goal he had strived so long for was finally right
before his eyes.
He slowly walked forward, arriving in front of the jade statue as he reached out a trembling hand to
gently touch the statue’s hand.
A cooling sensation spread from his palm.
Light suddenly blossomed from the green jade hand as the Saint Rune slowly began to squirm.
Zhou Yuan circulated his Genesis Qi, very carefully sending strands of Qi to grab the Saint Rune.
Bzz!
However, the mysterious Saint Rune seemed to be aware of his intentions and suddenly shook, scattering
the Genesis Qi. With a swish, it left the green jade hand and zipped through the air.
Zhou Yuan was horrified by this sight. If he were to let it escape, he would not even have a place to cry.
Rumblw!
Vigorous Genesis Qi instantly exploded from Zhou Yuan’s body without any reservation, transforming
into halo after halo that reached towards the fleeing Saint Rune.
Bzz bzz!
However, the mysterious rune vibrated, and easily scattered the Genesis Qi.
This Saint Rune evidently possessed some kind of mysterious power. If it had offensive capabilities, Zhou
Yuan would have likely been in a tremendous amount of danger.
After scattering the Genesis Qi, the mysterious Saint Rune flew towards the entrance of the hall.
Beads of sweat dripped down the anxious Zhou Yuan’s head. He had not expected the second Saint Rune
to be so difficult to subdue. The patriarch had not told him anything about this back then!
2502
Bzz!
However, while Zhou Yuan was fretting inside as if he were on fire, the Decoder Saint Rune began to
revolve in the depths of his pupils. A mysterious light stream shot out, shining on the escaping Saint Rune.
Under the light, the untamable Saint Rune immediately froze, before slowly flying back and began circling
around Zhou Yuan as if sensing something familiar.
Zhou Yuan did not dare to even move as he anxiously watched the Saint Rune, afraid that it would
suddenly fly away again.
He sort of knew that this Saint Rune also possessed some kind of mysterious power, and would not be so
easily obtained. Even with the Decoder Saint Rune, he had only succeeded with the help of the divine
grindstone brand.
Hence, he required the aid of another divine object to subdue this Saint Rune.
From what he could see, the divine grindstone brand was not going to be of much use against this Saint
Rune. Fortunately, the Decoder Saint Rune had promptly taken action...
Under Zhou Yuan’s anxious gaze, the mysterious Saint Rune leisurely circled him twice, before gradually
descending due to the familiar power from the Decoder Saint Rune.
Zhou Yuan extended a hand as the Saint Rune landed in his palm.
It began to melt like water the moment it touched his hand, soaking into his palm and fusing with his
flesh.
Next, a mysterious, cryptic looking ancient Saint Rune appeared in Zhou Yuan’s hand.
Zhou Yuan quickly clenched his hand, afraid that it would run away again, while a wide grin emerged on
his face.
As the Saint Rune fused into his palm, information began to flow into his head.
“Earth Saint Rune, second rune of the Cangxuan Saint Stamp. Gives one power over the earth to absorb
earth Genesis Qi to augment the body.”
“So this Saint Rune is called the Earth Saint Rune.” Mumbled Zhou Yuan to himself. Soon after, he asked in
a puzzled voice, “Earth Genesis Qi? Augment the body?”
He awkwardly scratched his head. From the looks of it, this Earth Saint Rune belonged to the battle
category.
2503
However, there was currently no time to give it a spin. He closed his fist, causing the Earth Saint Rune
within it to slowly fade away. It concealed itself in his flesh, making it nearly impossible to detect.
The second Saint Rune was finally his.
Zhou Yuan took in a deep breath, a huge weight finally lifted off his mind. His first major goal had at long
last been achieved.
Bzz!
While Zhou Yuan was elated over obtaining the second Saint Rune, the rays of light suddenly beamed
from the jade statue’s eyes.
Zhou Yuan was startled, hastily taking two steps back.
The light converged before him, ultimately taking the shape of two ancient glowing words.
“This is?”
Zhou Yuan was stunned as he read them, “Mythic Utopia?”
“What is a Mythic Utopia?” Zhou Yuan frowned. Soon after, his eyes suddenly widened, “Could it be… a
clue leading to the third Saint Rune?”
Back then, patriarch Cang Xuan had told him that he would receive a clue that led to the third Saint Rune
when he obtained the second Saint Rune. From the looks of it, the third Saint Rune was probably
somewhere in this Mythic Utopia.
However, the term was very unfamiliar to Zhou Yuan. Looks like he’ll have to start doing some research.
The four Saint Runes were split off parts of the Cangxuan Saint Stamp, the number divine object of
Cangxuan Heaven. If there was a chance to gather them, Zhou Yuan would naturally take it.
The ancient glowing words slowly faded away as the jade statue returned to normal, no longer displaying
any strange activity.
A look of thought emerged on Zhou Yuan’s face, before he solemnly bowed towards the green jade statue
and said, “Don’t worry patriarch, I will do my best to gather the four Saint Runes.”
As long as the Saint Runes were in his possession, it would be impossible for the master of Sacred Palace
to become the master of Cangxuan Heaven even if he did obtain the Cangxuan Saint Stamp.
His roots were in Cangxuan Heaven after all, and he would naturally not want Sacred Palace to grow so
powerful. If they did, it would become extremely dangerous for him, who had the Saint Runes in his
possession.
2504
After he was done, Zhou Yuan slowly withdrew from the hall and stood outside.
Rumble!
Meanwhile, green light rose from the jade statue in the hall and soared into the sky. The green light
spread, slowly melting the seal over the main peak wherever it passed.
The mist that surrounded the peak also began to recede like the tide.
The long sealed main peak was finally going to see the light of day again.
Dong! Dong! Dong!
The resonant dong of an old bell rang continuously in the main peak, echoing in the surroundings as if in
celebration.
Outside the main peak, high above in the sky. Emotions surged across sect master Qing Yang’s face as he
watched the mist retreat from the main peak, before he stood up and bowed towards it.
“Congratulations on reopening, Saint Genesis Peak!”
Saint Genesis Peak where patriarch Cang Xuan often secluded himself. His bow was in truth a bow
towards the patriarch.
The five peak masters also stood up and earnestly bowed with solemn expressions.
“Congratulations on reopening, Saint Genesis Peak!”
Their grand voices echoed across the land, causing the countless individuals within the Cangxuan Sect to
look towards Saint Genesis Peak in shock.
From this day onwards, the seven peaks of the Cangxuan Sect shall reemerge in the world.
2505
Chapter 497 Genesis Reservoir Ceremony
As the sound of a bell loudly echoed in the Cangxuan Sect, countless disciples raised their heads and cast
astonished gazes towards Saint Genesis Peak.
Because they knew how huge this was to the sect...
Saint Genesis Peak was established by the patriarch long ago, and possessed a tremendous amount of
cultivation resources. However, due to the seal, these resources had been unable to see the light of day.
Now that Saint Genesis Peak was reopened, it would perhaps not be long before they would grow strong
once more, causing the Cangxuan Sect’s overall strength to rise.
Despite the significance of this event, numerous disciples were even more shocked and bewildered by the
one who was at the root of it… Zhou Yuan.
Although his performance in the chief disciple selection had been spectacular, most disciples had not
been optimistic about his attempt at challenging the mountain trials and reopening the main peak.
Only because the difficulty was far too great.
Hence, why the many disciples were so shocked and in disbelief when the final result was revealed.
No one had imagined that a disciple, who had joined the sect a year ago, would accomplish such an
amazing feat.
After all, an achievement on the level of establishing a peak was something shared by only the few peak
masters in the Cangxuan Sect. Although Zhou Yuan had only reopened Saint Genesis Peak, the shock value
of the deed was still rather high.
Zhou Yuan had done what so many chief disciples of Saint Genesis Peak had failed to in the past. This was
enough to show how outstanding he was.
After this matter, his status in the Cangxuan would likely surpass the other chief disciples, and maybe
even catch up to the ten great Chosens.
...
Snow Lotus Peak.
Li Qingchan gracefully stood on a certain mountain peak, her beautiful face directed towards the soaring
jade light from Saint Genesis Peak with a look of amazement appeared on her face.
“He really did it.” Mumbled Li Qingchan, as a complicated look arose in her eyes. She was someone who
had witnessed Zhou Yuan’s rapid progress over the past year.
2506
He was just like a sea sponge, frantically absorbing the sea water around it to enrich itself. No matter the
difficult or risk, nothing had been able to stop him.
Such tenacity made even Li Qingchan’s heart tremble a little.
She had previously been unable to understand why someone as amazing as Yaoyao would willingly stay
at Zhou Yuan’s side. In Li Qingchan’s opinion, someone as outstanding as Yaoyao should live in a
completely different world than Zhou Yuan.
No matter how she looked at it, Zhou Yuan did not deserve to stand at Yaoyao’s side.
As such, she always felt a pitying feeling like a flower was growing in dung when she viewed the two of
them. However, Zhou Yuan had repeatedly surprised and amazed her over the past year, slowly changing
her initial opinion.
Perhaps, what Yaoyao saw was the potential hidden within him.
...
Sword Cometh Peak
Three figures were seated facing each other in a stone pavilion.
Kong Sheng frowned slightly as he looked in Saint Genesis Peak’s direction and slowly said, “He does have
some ability.”
Zhao Zhu’s expression was quite ugly. He had previously stated that it was impossible for Zhou Yuan to
reopen Saint Genesis Peak, and he never imagined that the latter would actually succeed.
Beside the two of them was the newly promoted chief disciple of Sword Cometh Peak, Bai Liche.
He was currently frowning as he looked towards Saint Genesis Peak. As the chief disciple of Sword
Cometh Peak, Bai Liche felt Zhou Yuan to be his lesser.
In his opinion, a chief disciple, who fought his way to victory from those little kittens and puppies from
Saint Genesis Peak, had no right to stand shoulder to shoulder with him.
Even Yuan Hong, whose strength was at least acceptable, was an opponent that Bai Liche was confident
of suppressing. After all, he had always managed to do so in the past when the former was still part of
Sword Cometh Peak.
Hence, he was not at all concerned about Saint Genesis Peak’s chief disciple, Zhou Yuan.
However, the huge fuss Zhou Yuan had suddenly caused would cause his reputation to begin
overwhelming the other chief disciples, including himself, the chief disciple of Sword Cometh Peak.
2507
This made Bai Lichu feel quite uncomfortable.
Bai Liche looked towards Zhao Zhu and said, “Senior brother Zhao Zhu need not brood over such matters,
Zhou Yuan was just lucky that’s all.”
Zhao Zhu replied with a dark expression, “He has caused such a great loss to our Sword Cometh Peak,
that even peak master secretly erupted in anger a few times. He’s truly a pain in the neck and I feel that it
is time to teach him a lesson.”
He looked towards Kong Sheng and asked, “What do you think, senior brother Kong Sheng?”
Kong Sheng’s eyes narrowed slightly, considering for a moment, before he said, “Teaching our junior
brothers some humbleness is indeed what we senior brothers should be doing.”
His fingers gently tapped the table as he said, “This year’s Genesis reservoir ceremony should be about to
begin, right?”
Zhao Zhu and Bai Liche’s eyes brightened when they heard this.
The Genesis reservoir ceremony was naturally related to the Genesis reservoir. Normally speaking, only
purple sash disciples were allowed into the Genesis reservoir every two months, while ordinary disciples
could only watch with envy from the outside, or stay in the outer area to absorb some of the pure Genesis
Qi that leaked out.
However, there was an exception.
At the start of every year, the sect would open the Genesis reservoir to everyone without restriction. Any
disciple could enter to try their luck, as a sort of reward for the year of hard work they had spent in their
cultivation.
This was the so-called Genesis reservoir ceremony.
However, there were also certain rules in place. Dragon Genesis Essence was not obtained individually
but by the entire peak.
When the Genesis reservoir ceremony was over, the total amount of Dragon Genesis Essene obtained by
the various peaks would be evaluated by the sect, and then the disciples of each peak would be awarded
the appropriate level of Genesis Marrow Baptism.
The scale would be tremendous with disciples from all seven peaks entering the Genesis reservoir, which
would also naturally lead to conflicts between them. The upper echelons of the sect did not forbid such
conflicts as long as they were positive and competitive in nature. It was after all also a form of training for
the disciples.
2508
Kong Sheng looked towards Zhao Zhu and Bai Liche, before shifting his gaze towards the far away Saint
Genesis Peak as he smiled, “What portion of their final haul does Saint Genesis Peak pay to our Sword
Cometh Peak as tribute last year?”
“Twenty percent. We gave face to Lu Hong’s faction, and only collected a twenty percent protection fee
last year.” Zhao Zhu also smiled.
Every Genesis reservoir ceremony, the sect would stimulate the Origin Dragon vein, which would in turn
greatly boost the dragon Qi in the reservoir. As a result, the number of aquatic beasts would soar in both
numbers and strength, creating quite a challenge for the various peaks.
Fortunately, each peak was overseen by their respective Chosen, allowing them to deal with giant
swarms of aquatic beasts.
The only exception was Saint Genesis Peak.
Saint Genesis Peak was not only the weakest but also the least in number. In previous years, their
participation was essentially a joke, and a small mistake was it would take for them to be besieged on all
sides by aquatic beasts and losing their qualifications. Saint Genesis Peak grew smarter later on, and
seeked aid from the other peaks. In exchange, they would give up a portion of their Dragon Genesis
Essence as tribute. To be blunt, it was basically a protection fee.
This matter was one of the running jokes in the sect.
It just so happened that Saint Genesis Peak usually seeked aid from Sword Cometh Peak.
“Twenty percent huh…”
The corners of Kong Sheng’s mouth curled slightly as he said in an offhand manner, “Tell them that we
want fifty percent this year.”
Bai Liche began to laugh. “Saint Genesis Peak’s morale is at an all time high, and they even have a chief
disciple now. I’m afraid they won’t agree to these terms.”
Kong Sheng softly chuckled as a strange expression emerged in his eyes.
“If so, they will have to depend on that mighty chief disciple of theirs…”
“The waters of the reservoir are quite deep. I’m afraid that the chief disciple they have great expectations
of will not be up to the task…”
2509
Chapter 498 Search for the Stamp
The sound of a bell echoed across the mountains.
High up in the sky, sect master Qing Yang and the five peak masters exchanged a look, before descending
towards the ground, landing just outside the large ancient hall atop the main peak.
Zhou Yuan was already waiting here. He hurriedly bowed and cupped his fists together upon seeing sect
master and the rest.
“Greetings sect master and the five peak masters.”
Sect master Qing Yang kindly looked at Zhou Yuan as he nodded and said, “Zhou Yuan, you are the main
reason for Saint Genesis Peak’s reopening. In fact, we should be thanking you.”
Zhou Yuan hastily said, “As a disciple of Saint Genesis Peak, it is my duty to aid in its reopening.”
Sect master Qing Yang chuckled, before he looked towards the green jade statue in the hall with a solemn
expression and quickly walked forward, the five peak masters hurriedly following behind.
Six figures stood before the green jade statue of the patriarch and respectfully bowed.
“It’s been so many years since we’ve seen this statue.” Sect master Qing Yang sighed.
Peak master Ling Jun stared at the statue. Moments later, he said in a soft voice, “Shall we go ahead and
search?”
The others nodded with serious expressions.
Sect master Qing Yang took in a deep breath, before he bowed to the jade statue again and said, “Teacher,
sorry for the disturbance.”
The moment his words faded, the figures of the five peak masters disappeared from the spot, before
appearing at various locations in the giant main peak. Zhou Yuan immediately felt several terrifying
presences spread their senses, searching the main peak inch by inch.
Sect master Qing Yang remained standing in front of the statue, his eyes lightly shut, clothes fluttering as
his senses also spread out. Everything around him was clearly projected in his heart.
In the face of these six searching hegemons, it was near impossible for anything in the main peak to
escape their detection.
Zhou Yuan trembled a little in fear as he watched. If his guess was correct, sect master Qing Yang and the
rest should be searching for the Cangxuan Saint Stamp.
2510
It was after all the number one divine artifact of Cangxuan Heaven, and had been lost long ago when
patriarch Cangxuan died. If the Cangxuan Sect managed to get ahold of it once more, their strength would
undoubtedly so, and maybe even become the number one sect in Cangxuan Heaven again.
Saint Genesis Peak was the place where the patriarch often secluded himself while he was alive, plus it
had also been personally sealed by him. This undoubtedly made sect master Qing Yang and the others
feel that the Saint Stamp was somewhere within Saint Genesis Peak.
However, Zhou Yuan knew that it was not here. The patriarch had most likely sealed this peak in order to
protect the second Saint Rune.
Since the Saint Rune was now in his hands, there was nothing else to be found in Saint Genesis Peak.
Of course, there was naturally no way he would dare to reveal this information. Hence, he could only
watch as the six hegemons thoroughly searched the main peak.
The searching lasted for an entire half of an incense stick of time, before the space in the large hall faintly
rippled as five figures appeared that quickly shook their heads with grave expressions.
Sect master Qing Yang sighed softly when he saw this and said, “It appears that we were too naive.”
Lightning Prison Peak master Lei Jun’s brows were tightly furrowed as he said in a low voice, “Why
would Cang Xuan seal this place if there was nothing here? This is not normal.”
“Maybe teacher does not wish for the peace here to be disturbed?” Suggested Bai Mei as he stroked his
long white brows.
Peak master Ling Jun shook his head. His seemingly bottomless and sharp gaze swept across the hall,
before suddenly pausing on Zhou Yuan as his eyes grew even sharper. “You were the first to enter. Did
you not discover anything?”
Zhou Yuan was taken aback. Without a change in expression, he shook his head and answered, “Disciple
does not know what peak master Ling Jun is saying.”
Peak master Ling Jun indifferently said, “You’re clearly only at the fifth layer Alpha-Origin stage, but your
Genesis Qi foundations are exceptionally robust. I wonder what’s the reason behind this?”
Zhou Yuan calmly replied, “Disciple had some fortunate and blessed encounters over the years. However,
this does not seem to be peak master Ling Jun’s business? Is peak master Ling Jun making things difficult
for me because I foiled Sword Cometh Peak’s plans during the chief disciple selection?”
Peak master Ling Jun looked deeply at Zhou Yuan. “Don’t be so sharp-tongued. This is a matter of utmost
importance, and I feel you should be handed to Lightning Prison Peak for a proper inspection.”
2511
Zhou Yuan frowned slightly. He was not worried about being inspected, because it was definitely
impossible for sect master Qing Yang and the others to know about the Saint Runes. Even if the runes
were found, he would say that he had chanced upon them by luck.
However, being inspected for no reason was an uncomfortable feeling.
“Ling Jun, it seems to me that you’ve become overly infatuated with the Cangxuan Saint Stamp!”
However, an old, icy laughter suddenly rang out at this moment. Old Xuan’s figure leisurely appeared
from the mountain path, his eyes frosty as he stared at peak master Ling Jun.
“Zhou Yuan just did a great service to our Saint Genesis Peak, never mind if he’s not rewarded, you
actually want to send him to Lightning Prison Peak for an inspection? Come, tell me your rationale behind
this?!”
“If word of this spread, which disciple in our Cangxuan Sect will dare to do anything for the sect?”
Peak master Ling Jun said, “The Cangxuan Saint Stamp is too important, a single disciple having to suffer a
little should be understandable.”
Old Xuan laughed mockingly. “All of you should clearly know what kind of treasure the Cangxuan Saint
Stamp is. Do you think none of you would be able to sense an ultimate treasure like it if it were in his
possession? Is there even any need to go to Lightning Prison Peak?”
Peak master Ling Jun was unable to respond. The almighty undulations from an ultimate divine artifact
like the Cangxuan Saint Stamp could not be completely hidden even by individuals like them. A mere fifth
layer Alpha-Origin disciple would obviously be even more incapable of doing so.
Peak master Ling Jun glanced at Zhou Yuan and slowly said, “There are always exceptions.”
Old Xuan icily snorted as he looked towards sect master Qing Yang. “Does sect master intend for Zhou
Yuan to be sent to Lightning Prison Peak?”
Sect master Qing Yang chuckled as he shook his head and said, “Zhou Yuan has done a great service for
Saint Genesis Peak, there is absolutely no reason for him to be inspected.”
“But…” Peak master Ling Jun cut in.
Sect master Qing Yang waved his hand and sighed. “Peak master Ling Jun, I understand that the Cangxuan
Saint Stamp is very important, but teacher clearly did not leave it in Saint Genesis Peak. There is no need
to be overly suspicious for no good reason.”
“Zhou Yuan is a disciple of our Cangxuan Sect that had made several contributions. We cannot treat him
in such a manner.”
2512
Peak master Ling Jun could no longer say anything, and withdrew his gaze from Zhou Yuan.
“We’ve wasted our time again.” Lightning Prison Peak master Lei Jun stared at the jade statue as he
slowly said, “If the Cangxuan Saint Stamp isn’t here, where exactly is it? If it lands in the hands of Sacred
Palace, Cangxuan Heaven…”
Sect master Qing Yang and the rest fell silent. If the Cangxuan Saint Stamp landed in the hands of the
Sacred Palace master, the latter would very likely become the new heaven master of Cangxuan Heaven.
When that happened, he would be able to wield the power of Cangxuan Heaven.
In addition, there will no longer be any hope of avenging the patriarch.
In the end, sect master Qing Yang waved his hand, pulling himself together as he said, “Do not be overly
worried. Teacher must have made certain preparations before he died. It will not be so easy for the
Sacred Palace to find the Cangxuan Saint Stamp.”
Everyone nodded, they could only console themselves in this manner.
Zhou Yuan pondered by the side. He wondered if he would be able to sense the location of the Cangxuan
Saint Stamp when all four Saint Runes were gathered.
He had a feeling that this was what the patriarch intended when he cut off these four Saint Runes from
the Cangxuan Saint Stamp.
While he was submerged in thought, sect master Qing Yang’s gaze shifted over as he chuckled and said,
“Saint Genesis Peak’s reopening is a cause for celebration for the Cangxuan Sect, we should not brood
over such matters.”
“Since you’re the chief disciple of Saint Genesis Peak, you’ll have to work hard in the upcoming Genesis
reservoir ceremony. How much blessings the disciples of Saint Genesis Peak will end up obtaining will
mostly depend on you…”
“Genesis reservoir ceremony?”
Zhou Yuan was slightly taken aback, but still respectfully nodded in acknowledgement.
“Disciple will do his best.”
2513
Chapter 499 Master Faction
A major event like the reopening of Saint Genesis Peak naturally caused huge ripples in the Cangxuan
Sect, because the seven peaks were now not just in name.
It was also vital to Saint Genesis Peak. They would now be able to select some of the more talented
disciples when the new batch entered, unlike before, when they could only hope for leftovers after the
other six peaks were done, a situation that had caused them to grow weaker and weaker.
With the influx of more and more fresh blood, Saint Genesis Peak would strengthen little by little.
In addition, the peak master seal had been retrieved. Since Zhou Yuan was the main person responsible
for the reopening of Saint Genesis Peak, it was no surprise that the peak master seal was left in elder Shen
Taiyuan’s hands by sect master Qing Yang.
This meant that elder Shen Taiyuan was now the substitute peak master of Saint Genesis Peak.
As to why he was only a substitute, it was because the minimum requirement to become a peak master
was to first step into the Nascent Source stage.
The Nascent Source stage was basically the highest level in Cangxuan Heaven. Experts at this level could
establish a first class sect, and if put outside the Shengzhou Continent, they would even be able to lord
over several continents, becoming famous overlords.
Elder Shen Taiyuan was currently at the Heavenly Sun stage, and was still some ways from the Nascent
Source stage. Hence, it was not possible for him to become a true peak master even though the peak
master seal was already in his possession.
Even so, elder Shen Taiyuan’s status had rapidly soared, making all the other elders crazily envious. After
all, the cultivation resources he enjoyed as a substitute peak master would far surpass the other elders,
giving him a better chance of stepping into the Nascent Source stage.
Moreover, since elder Shen Taiyuan was the substitute peak master, the master faction position would
naturally fall upon the faction Zhou Yuan and the rest belonged to.
Henceforth, Shen Taiyuan’s faction would become the master faction and have the highest status in Saint
Genesis Peak. The other factions would view them as the head, and follow their commands.
Most importantly, the master faction would have a greater share of Saint Genesis Peak’s cultivation
resources, which would undoubtedly put them in a more advantageous position.
It was plain for all to see, Shen Taiyuan and his faction were the biggest winners in the sect.
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The many elders in the sect were very envious of Shen Taiyuan. In the past, he had been considered one
of the less well off among the elders. After all, the other elders felt that stubbornly clinging on in Saint
Genesis Peak was a fruitless endeavor, and anyone else would have requested to be transferred
elsewhere long ago. However, Shen Taiyuan was extremely stubborn, clinging obstinately to Saint
Genesis Peak and refusing to leave.
However, the numerous elders could not help but sigh at how lucky Shen Taiyuan was now. To think that
he would meet a miraculous disciple like Zhou Yuan, who would pull them out of the pitiful situation they
were in. Shen Taiyuan’s status had basically changed overnight, becoming one of the mightest figures in
the sect.
In fact, he may even become the seventh peak master in the future.
All because he had decided to stake it all on Zhou Yuan back then. The current Shen Taiyuan was clearly
very proud of this decision.
Several days after the reopening of Saint Genesis Peak.
“Chief disciple Zhou Yuan.”
On a certain day, Zhou Yuan had just finished his training and was returning to his abode, where he found
several figures standing outside. The one leading them appeared to be one of the stewards of Saint
Genesis Peak, who quickly smiled and cupped his fists together upon seeing Zhou Yuan.
Zhou Yuan hurriedly returned the gesture, his gaze sweeping over the group as he puzzledly asked, “Is
something the matter?”
The steward smiled and said, “Hehe, I was sent by elder Shen. As the chief disciple of Saint Genesis Peak,
this purple cave dwelling has become a little too shabby for you. After tidying up the main peak,
numerous previously unavailable cultivation dwellings have been discovered, and elder Shen has
specially reserved the best chief disciple cave dwelling for you.”
These past few days had been quite chaotic for Saint Genesis Peak. Shen Taiyuan had dispatched all the
manpower he could muster to thoroughly inspect the long undisturbed main peak.
After doing up an inventory, his first agenda was naturally to reserve the best cave dwelling for Zhou
Yuan, which was undoubtedly much better than any purple cave dwelling.
The steward had brought along such a big group, because they intended to help Zhou Yuan move.
“I informed Zhou Xiaoyao about this matter earlier, but she said to wait for your return before making a
decision.”
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Zhou Yuan was slightly taken aback, before he thoughtfully looked at the cave dwelling. It had been a year
since he began living here, and Yaoyao was essentially the one who had been taking care of it all along,
even the tiniest little detail inside were the fruits of her daily efforts. If they were to move, things would
undoubtedly be a little different.
Yaoyao was usually rather nonchalant by nature, but once she set her heart on something, it meant that
she was going to pour some of her feelings into it.
And there were obviously not many people or things Yaoyao would invest her feelings into. In addition,
Zhou Yuan did not know whether Yaoyao would still pour her feelings into the new place if they were to
move.
Zhou Yuan did not wish to see the Yaoyao from before, who was completely indifferent to everything.
Moreover, it was quite a fuzzy feeling to occasionally see Yaoyao attentively tending to her garden.
Zhou Yuan was silent for a while, before he slowly said, “Teacher uncle, let’s not rush into this matter for
the time being.”
Though the chief disciple cave dwelling was tempting, allowing Yaoyao to be just that tiny bit happier was
better in his opinion. After all, he could always work harder to make up for the former.
The steward was a little surprised, but seemed to understand somewhat as he observed Zhou Yuan’s
expression. The former immediately smiled as he said, “Chief disciple Zhou Yuan is a really considerate
person.”
“Since that is the case, I shall talk no further about this topic. We’ll reserve the chief disciple cave dwelling
for you to move in any time you wish.”
The steward chuckled, before he left with the group.
Zhou Yuan watched them leave, before turning around to enter the bright and peaceful cave. He found a
beautiful figure standing under a spirit peach tree beside the small stream, slowly absorbing every tiny
detail in the cave.
The spirit peach tree had been personally transplanted here by Yaoyao. It had initially been rather bleak
and lifeless, but after a year of nursing by Yaoyao, vitality had begun to flow in it once more.
He slowly walked over.
Yaoyao turned her head and looked at him, her clear eyes unreadable as her red lips parted slightly.
“When do we start moving?”
Zhou Yuan smiled and said, “There’s no need to move, I’ve already rejected him. This place is pretty
sweet, so let’s continue staying here a little longer.”
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Yaoyao was taken aback, her eyes unknowingly growing a little brighter. She gently bit her lip as she
stared at Zhou Yuan and said, “Why aren’t we moving? That cave dwelling should be better for your
cultivation.”
Zhou Yuan looked towards the nearby garden, where a hundred beautiful flowers spiritedly swayed as
they vied for attention, and slowly said, “Because you like it here.”
Yaoyao was stunned once again. A long while later, she curiously looked Zhou Yuan up and down. A sweet
fragrance followed as she inched a little closer and seemingly smiled, “Not bad, where did you learn this?”
Zhou Yuan rolled his eyes. However, he could tell that Yaoyao had become more spirited than earlier.
Zhou Yuan said in an unhurriedly manner, “If you really want to move, I can always let him know.”
Yaoyao’s eyes narrowed. “Oh? Can you repeat that one more time?”
Zhou Yuan felt a chill rush towards him, causing his head to subconsciously shrink back.
Yaoyao softly snorted, carrying Tuntun as she turned around. After a few steps, she turned her head
slightly, revealing her soul-stirringly beautiful side-face, as a rarely seen smile appeared.
“Zhou Yuan, I really like this place… thank you.”
Her soft voice stealthily brushed past his ear.
A smile appeared on Zhou Yuan’s face as he looked at the figure, whose steps were clearly a little more
spirited than before. What was losing some cultivation resources compared to making this little missy
happy.
He clearly knew what was more important between the two.
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Chapter 500 Peak Meeting
The next day.
While Zhou Yuan was training in the cave, a disciple came to the entrance and reported, “Chief disciple,
teacher Shen has sent me to inform you that there will be a peak meeting today, which you should be
attending as the chief disciple.”
Zhou Yuan nodded under the disciple’s respectful gaze, before a thoughtful look rose on his face.
A peak meeting was essentially an official meeting within the peak that only the peak master was
authorized to call for. There had not been a peak meeting in Saint Genesis Peak for many years, mainly
because they had neither a peak master nor the peak master seal.
With the retrieval of the peak master seal and Shen Taiyuan becoming the substitute peak master, this
was the first time in many years that a peak meeting was going to be held.
However, there were currently a million things to do in Saint Genesis Peak, and everyone was extremely
busy. Even Shen Taiyuan himself barely had any time to rest over the past few days, so why had he
suddenly called for a peak meeting?
Only important matters were discussed in a peak meeting after all.
Zhou Yuan’s eyes narrowed slightly, a certain thought striking him as his lips curled a little.
“Interesting, has teacher Shen finally decided to take action.”
Saint Genesis Peak. The main peak.
In a simple and sturdy meeting hall. Shen Taiyuan was seated in the chief’s chair, while a smiling elder Lu
Song and a gloomy looking elder Lu Hong were seated below on his left and right.
Below these two elders were some of the more outstanding disciples of Saint Genesis Peak such as Zhou
Tai, Zhang Yan, Lu Yan, Yuan Hong, and others...
Zhou Yuan’s position was a little lower down from the two elders, but higher than the numerous
disciples, clearly displaying his identity and status as the chief disciple.
The atmosphere in the hall was currently quite solemn.
Elder Lu Hong expressionlessly glanced up at Shen Taiyuan. The corners of his eyes twitched slightly as
envy and resentment swirled in the depths of his eyes.
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That position should have been his.
“Everyone is very busy due to the reopening of Saint Genesis Peak. May I be so bold as to enquire why
elder Shen has called for a peak meeting at such a time? If there’s nothing urgent, I still have many
pressing matters to attend to.” Said Lu Hong.
He purposely said elder Shen with a little more emphasis, since Shen Taiyuan was only a substitute peak
master, and not the real deal.
An abundant amount of very noteworthy cultivation resources had been rediscovered due to the
unsealing of the main peak, and Lu Hong intended to do everything in his power to grab as much of it as
possible. He would then slowly accumulate more and more to strengthen his faction, allowing him to one
day take over the master faction position. Regardless of everything, he had the support of Sword Cometh
Peak.
Although they had failed in the chief disciple selection, and he had received an angry scolding from peak
master Ling Jun, the latter understood that pointing fingers and blaming would only be a waste of breath,
but as long as Lu Hong’s faction stayed in Saint Genesis Peak, a chance would eventually arise.
Shen Taiyuan swept a calm gaze at him and slowly said, “There is indeed a rather important matter on
the agenda. In fact, it actually concerns you.”
“Oh?” Lu Hong raised an eyebrow.
Shen Taiyuan continued, “The main reason why elder Lu Hong’s faction transferred to Saint Genesis Peak
back then was to help reopen the main peak. Since Zhou Yuan has managed to achieve this instead, it
appears that there’s no longer any reason for elder Lu Hong’s faction to remain here. Hence, I hope that
elder Lu Hong will transfer your faction back to Sword Cometh Peak today.”
These words caused the entire hall to fall silent.
Lu Hong’s expression abruptly turned stern as he icily said, “Shen Taiyuan, what did you say? You want to
chase us out of Saint Genesis Peak?!”
Shen Taiyuan smiled faintly and replied, “Not chasing, but requesting…”
“Shen Taiyuan, you seem to be very brave. My faction transferred to Saint Genesis Peak on peak master
Ling Jun’s instructions. Have you informed him of your intentions?” Lu Hong sneered.
Saint Genesis Peak had been reopened, and the seal main peak was seeing the light of day once more.
There was an abundance of cultivation resources within the main peak that would make anyone drool,
making this the perfect chance to snatch up as big of a share as possible. Hence, there was no way that Lu
Hong would willingly withdraw from Saint Genesis Peak.
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Shen Taiyuan’s expression remained impassive as he said, “Saint Genesis Peak has reopened, while the
peak master seal has also been found. Peak master Ling Jun should not have any relation to the internal
affairs of the peak, so why do I need to report to him?”
Lu Hong froze. If it was before, a mere elder like Shen Taiyuan would have no right to touch the former’s
faction. However, with the peak master seal currently in his hands, he was considered equal in status to
peak master Ling Jun, and naturally had the authority to request the withdrawal of Lu Hong’s faction
from Saint Genesis Peak, especially since they had not been a part of Saint Genesis Peak in the first place.
Lu Hong gnashed his teeth as he retorted, “I will never agree to this. If you insist on forcing your way, I
will report this matter to the sect master! Don’t think for a moment that being the substitute peak master
will allow you to do as you please!”
Shen Taiyuan merely retrieved a golden letter from his sleeve and said, “No need to trouble yourself, I’ve
already reported this matter to the sect master, and he has agreed to transfer your faction back to Sword
Cometh Peak.”
He lifted his hand as the letter was sent drifting towards Lu Hong.
Lu Hong caught it, opened it and swiftly scanned it twice as his expression turned deathly pale. He raised
his head, glaring at Shen Taiyuan as he shouted, “Shen Taiyuan, you’re too vicious!”
Shen Taiyuan remained expressionless.
Lu Hong took in a deep breath, before he icily said, “Shen Taiyuan, Saint Genesis Peak only has three
factions at the moment. If we are transferred out, the only ones left will be the two of you. With the
Genesis reservoir ceremony just around the corner, are you going to let Saint Genesis Peak lose all face in
the ceremony?”
His frosty gaze shifted towards Zhou Yuan as he mocked, “Do you really think you can depend on this
chief disciple to lead your two factions in the Genesis reservoir ceremony?”
“From what I can see, they won’t last even a single day in the ceremony without us!”
Rage rose in the eyes of Zhou Tai, Lu Yan and the other disciples from the two factions, clearly hearing the
contempt in Lu Hong’s words.
Zhou Yuan also lifted his eyes and cast a glance at Lu Hong, but did not say anything.
“There’s no need for you to worry about such matters.” Shen Taiyuan waved his hand and calmly said,
“I’ve already given you sect master’s letter, and this matter is already set in stone. I hope that your faction
will move out of Saint Genesis Peak in three days and return to Sword Cometh Peak.”
Lu Hong’s eyeballs nearly popped from their sockets as fire spewed from his eyes. If they were chased out
of Saint Genesis Peak, they would no longer have any chance left. Moreover, being sent away with their
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tails between their legs would likely make them a laughing stock when they returned to Sword Cometh
Peak.
After all, they failed far too terrible in this mission.
Lu Hong nearly fainted from the anger in his heart. He never imagined that he would fall to such a dire
position in a single year!
“It’s all because of that blasted brat!” Lu Hong gritted his teeth, a sinister look in his eyes as he stared at
Zhou Yuan.
However, he did not dare to do anything in the end. He could only take in two deep breaths, before
looking towards Shen Taiyuan as he icily said, “Shen Taiyuan, you will regret this. Saint Genesis Peak will
definitely lose all face in the Genesis reservoir ceremony. Let’s see how you will explain things as the
substitute peak master then!”
He could not bear to stay a moment longer, and immediately rose and left with a wave of his sleeves.
His disciples silently followed in a dejected and crestfallen manner.
After their departure, the hall was silent for a while as the disciples from the two factions looked at each
other, before suddenly bursting into enthusiastic cheers that shook even the hall itself.
Lu Hong’s factions had been nothing but hostile towards the other two factions, like fire and water. Now
that they were finally chased out, Saint Genesis Peak could be peaceful again.
*Cough*!
On the chief seat, Shen Taiyuan coughed to suppress the cheering. His stern gaze swept across the crowd,
causing their necks to shrink back.
Shen Taiyuan’s gaze eventually paused on Zhou Yuan, becoming a little kinder as he slowly said, “Zhou
Yuan, as the chief disciple of Saint Genesis Peak, you have the duty of leading the disciples during the
Genesis reservoir ceremony to obtain some blessings.”
“I know that Lu Hong’s faction will only be a problem if they were to participate under Saint Genesis
Peak’s banners, so I’ve helped you deal with them today.”
“Whether or not our Saint Genesis Peak disciples will obtain any results in the Genesis reservoir
ceremony will likely depend on you.”
Zhou Yuan’s expression shivered a little. He was fully aware that allowing Lu Hong’s faction to stay
behind would only make it more difficult for him to control the overall situation. However, as the chief
disciple, he could not really say anything about this. He never expected that Shen Taiyuan would help him
resolve this potential problem.
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What’s more, Shen Taiyuan would also offend peak master Ling Jun, putting the former under a
tremendous amount of pressure.
In the hall, Zhou Tai, Zhang Yan, Lu Yan and the other disciples looked towards Zhou Yuan, as they bowed
and cupped their fists together. “We’ll be depending on chief disciple for the Genesis reservoir
ceremony.”
After the chief disciple selection, Zhou Yuan’s reputation had clearly reached the apex in Saint Genesis
Peak. With the exception of Lu Hong’s faction, all the other disciples viewed him as their leader and
would willingly listen to his commands.
Upon seeing this, Zhou Yuan’s expression turned solemn as he cupped his fists together towards the
crowd, and took in a deep breath.
“I will do my best.”
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The events of the peak meeting swiftly spread to the entire Saint Genesis Peak, causing the disciples from
the two original factions to cheer upon hearing it. They had after all suffered a great deal of grievances at
the hands of Lu Hong’s faction, unable to strike back before Zhou Yuan’s appearance due to the latter’s
overwhelming might. Moreover, Lu Hong’s faction had also never bothered hiding their disdain for the
other two factions.
This naturally created an irreconcilable grudge between the two parties.
The current situation was a drastic change from before. Zhou Yuan had seemingly appeared from the sky
and brought about a complete reversal. Lu Hong’s faction no longer dared to act as haughtily as before,
especially since even the chief disciple position had landed in Zhou Yuan’s hands.
In addition, elder Shen Taiyuan was currently in possession of the peak master seal, making him the
substitute peak master. As such, this faction’s status had also instantly risen.
Shen Taiyuan had even made the bold and daring move of using the authority of the substitute peak
master to request Lu Hong’s faction’s return to Sword Cometh Peak. This was naturally a very welcomed
development to the other two factions, because Saint Genesis Peak would finally be of one mind and heart
with the removal of this poisonous barb.
Although Saint Genesis Peak’s strength would fall substantially due to losing Lu Hong’s faction. The
disciples from the remaining two factions felt more confident than before. After all, didn’t they have a
chief disciple that had created several amazing miracles?
Who could dare say for certain that the Saint Genesis Peak with only two factions would not be able to
create a sensation once more in the Genesis reservoir ceremony?
Saint Genesis Peak, in a certain stone pavilion.
Zhou Yuan was seated within it, while Zhou Tai, Zhang Yan and Lu Yan sat opposite him.
“Who could have expected that the chief disciple position of Saint Genesis Peak would land on junior
brother Zhou Yuan’s head.” Zhou Tai gazed at Zhou Yuan and sighed. However, his words were mainly in
admiration. After all, the chief disciple position had been won by Zhou Yuan through his own strength,
and no one had any doubts about it.
He chuckled and looked towards Zhang Yan as he teased, “Junior brother Zhang Yan was the least
optimistic about junior brother Zhou Yuan before.”
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Zhang Yan immediately felt rather awkward as he let out a dry laugh. However, he responded in a
straightforward manner, quickly lifting his tea cup as he said, “I was indeed blind previously, and did not
realize junior brother Zhou Yuan’s abilities. I will use this tea in place of wine to apologize.”
He put the cup to his lips and downed it in a single fluid gulp.
He had previously felt ill will towards Zhou Yuan due to how Shen Taiyuan was giving so much attention
and emphasis to the latter. Zhang Yan had felt that Zhou Yuan did not deserve to be regarded so highly,
hence resulting in his previous attitude.
However, the eventual outcome made him understand the gap of judgement ability between himself and
Shen Taiyuan. In addition, he was not someone who refused to accept reality, thus why he had cleanly
apologized.
Zhou Yuan chuckled upon seeing this and returned the gesture by downing his own cup of tea.
By the side, Lu Yan bit her lips when she saw this, feeling somewhat ashamed and embarrassed. Her
beautiful eyes seemed to flow as she looked at Zhou Yuan, no longer overly fierce and critical like before.
“Saint Genesis Peak has recently reopened, and we’ll have to work together to make Saint Genesis Peak
stronger. There’s no need to worry over such small matters.” Said Zhou Yuan with a carefree smile.
“I’ve invited the three of you here with the intention of discussing the upcoming Genesis reservoir
ceremony. I’ve only been around for a year after all, and have yet to experience it, so I’ll be needing you
guys to help me understand its various intricacies.” Zhou Yuan went ahead with the main topic.
With the mention of the Genesis reservoir ceremony, the trio’s expressions turned serious.
Zhou Tai slowly said, “Though it had felt great when teacher Shen requested Lu Hong’s faction to leave
Saint Genesis Peak… without them, our strength has dropped drastically.”
“I believe chief disciple Zhou Yuan already has a rough understanding of the ceremony?” Asked Lu Yan as
she looked towards Zhou Yuan.
Zhou Yuan nodded.
“Every year, the sect will stimulate the Origin Dragon vein during the ceremony to increase the influx of
Origin Dragon Qi into the reservoir. This will result in more and stronger aquatic beasts, which also
makes it the most dangerous period in the Genesis reservoir.”
“This is a huge threat to the disciples from the various peaks, and a small mistake may even result in
being surrounded by the aquatic beasts and be team wiped.”
Lu Yan slowly said, “If a team is wiped out too early, the amount of Genesis essence collected will
definitely be extremely small, and the eventual evaluation will naturally not be good. You should
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understand that entering the Genesis reservoir may not be a big deal for people like us, but for the
disciples below purple sash, they only have this single chance over the entire year.”
“If we mess up, it will be a huge loss for them.”
“Hence, you need to pay extra attention to such matters this time. As the new chief disciple, let’s
disregard what the other peaks will say, but if we do poorly in the Genesis reservoir ceremony, the Saint
Genesis Peak disciples below purple sash will be very disappointed.”
Zhang Yan nodded in agreement as he sighed and said, “Junior brother Zhou Yuan, this responsibility is
very heavy.”
Zhou Yuan nodded with a solemn expression. He understood that many Saint Genesis Peak disciples had
placed their hopes onto the upcoming ceremony.
“Of course, doing well will also be tremendously beneficial. Due to the rapid increase in quantity and
quality of the aquatic beasts during the ceremony, a nine dragon baptism may even appear…”
“Do you know why the Chosens will be present at every Genesis reservoir ceremony? They’re hoping for
these very conditions, because a nine dragon baptism can only appear during the Genesis reservoir
ceremony.” Lu Yan hurriedly added on, afraid that she had dampened Zhou Yuan enthusiasm.
However, it was extremely difficult to attain a nine dragon baptism, and even Chu Qing had never enjoyed
one over the years.
“Nine dragon baptism huh?” Zhou Yuan was tempted. He had already tasted an eight dragon baptism,
making it and any baptism below less effective for himself. Hence, the nine dragon baptism had definitely
roused his interest.
It could strengthen his Genesis Qi foundations.
However, he quickly put away such thoughts. Although he had yet to experience the difficulty level of the
Genesis reservoir ceremony, there was no way that it would be easy. Moreover, Saint Genesis Peak’s
current state was indeed very pitiful, especially when compared to the other peaks that had several
dozen factions, vastly superior numbers, chief disciples and even Chosens.
On the other hand, all they had were a meagre two factions and a few hundred disciples in total. Their
chief disciple had only recently taken his position, and was still very fresh, while a Chosen was nowhere
to be seen.
Zhou Yuan was silent for a while, before he asked, “How has our performance been over the previous
years?”
The trio exchanged a look, clearly feeling rather embarrassed as they answered, “Usually a low grade
evaluation. Everyone will get a two dragon baptism, while our best is only a three dragon baptism.”
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The final appraisal at the end of the ceremony was divided into three ranks, low grade, mid grade and
high grade. Saint Genesis Peak usually ended up with a low grade two dragon baptism, which was at least
better than nothing.
“That’s only with Sword Cometh Peak’s help, although they charged twenty percent of our Genesis
essence as a protection fee.” Zhou Tai laughed bitterly. “However, I’m afraid Sword Cometh Peak won’t be
lending us any aid this year.”
Zhou Yuan had won the chief disciple position, causing a huge loss for Sword Cometh Peak. It would
already be very forgiving if Sword Cometh Peak did not hit them while they were down during the
ceremony, let alone hoping that they would lend a helping hand.
Lu Yan glanced at Zhou Yuan as she grinned cheekily. “I’ve heard you are on pretty good terms with
senior sister Li Qingchan of Snow Lotus Peak. How about you go over and suggest our Saint Genesis Peak
gives them a protection fee this time? Since you’re also quite handsome, maybe we’ll even get away with
ten percent.”
The corners of Zhou Yuan’s lips twitched. Wasn’t this some kind of pretty boy seduction tactic? That
would be too pathetic!
“Hehe, though there aren’t many people in Saint Genesis Peak, you guys seem to be quite busy…”
While they were conversing, a faint laughter was suddenly heard. Zhou Yuan and the rest lifted their
heads, to find a figure slowly walking over. In a few flickers and steps, he appeared inside the pavilion.
Zhou Tai and the rest were startled by the appearance of this individual, and could not help but blurt out,
“Bai Liche?!”
The visitor was the chief disciple of Sword Cometh Peak.
He paid no heed to Zhou Tai and the rest, merely sweeping them a faint gaze of disdain with unfriendly
arrogance in his eyes.
He sat down at the stone table, and poured himself a cup of tea. His attitude of showing no regard for the
others made a sliver of anger flash in the eyes of the Zhou Tai trio.
Lu Yan icily snorted. “This is Saint Genesis Peak, what’s a Sword Cometh Peak chief disciple like you doing
here?”
Bai Liche lifted his cup, continuing to ignore them as he took a sip. Only then did he cast an indifferent
gaze at the expressionless and silent Zhou Yuan, and displayed a faint but arrogant smile.
“I’m here of course to point out a way for you guys to preserve your dignity.”
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The originally harmonious atmosphere in the stone pavilion had become somewhat cold due to Baili
Che’s sudden arrival, the Zhou Tai trio staring at the former with hostility.
Zhou Yuan’s expression remained unchanged as he glanced at Baili Che and calmly asked, “What do you
mean?”
Baili Che put down his tea cup, looking at Zhou Yuan as he said, “Sword Cometh Peak can still protect you
guys, but there’s a condition.”
His attitude was haughty, while a mocking smile hung from the corners of his lips, as if he was giving
charity to the poor. This made anger flash on the faces of Zhou Tai and the rest.
“Tell me more.” Zhou Yuan appeared to be somewhat interested. Although Sword Cometh Peak’s
protection was not within his considerations, he was interested to hear what the chief disciple of Sword
Cometh Peak had to suggest.
Baili Che nonchalantly said, “I’ve heard that elder Shen has exercised his authority as substitute peak
master to force elder Lu Hong’s faction back to Sword Cometh Peak. Heheh, elder Shen seems to be quite
impatient. Does he really believe he’s already the peak master of Saint Genesis Peak?”
There was a sliver of mockery in his voice.
However, he did not wait for a reply. He waved his hand and stared at Zhou Yuan. “The first condition is
for junior brother Zhou Yuan to have a little chat with elder Shen and get him to withdraw his previous
command. After all, even if elder Lu Hong’s faction has not made any contributions, they have at least
worked hard in Saint Genesis Peak for the past year. Isn’t it a little too cruel to burn this bridge so fast
after Saint Genesis Peak has reopened?”
Zhou Tai, Lu Yan and Zhang Yan laughed in anger when they heard this. “What a nice way to put it. Lu
Hong’s faction has caused only chaos in Saint Genesis Peak while they were here. Do you really believe
they deserve such high praise?”
Baili Che swept an indifferent glance at them. “Who else can be blamed but yourselves for lacking
strength? If you guys could be relied on, how could Lu Hong’s faction have even transferred in the first
place?”
“You!” The Zhou Tai trio rose to their feet in anger.
Zhou Yuan stuck out his hand to stop them. Displaying anger in front of Baili Che would only make them
appear petty. Hence, he smiled faintly and said, “The command was personally given by teacher Shen,
how can it possibly be taken back so easily.”
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“It may be impossible for others, but the same cannot be said for you.” Baili Che smiled playfully as he
continued, “You’re basically the biggest benefactor of Saint Genesis Peak at the moment. If not for you,
elder Shen would likely not be in control of Saint Genesis Peak.”
Zhou Yuan did not respond but instead asked, “You mentioned the first condition, so there’s a second
one?”
“The second is much simpler…” Baili Che’s long fingers tapped the table as he said, “If you guys encounter
any danger in the Genesis reservoir ceremony, my Sword Cometh Peak will move to aid you, but when it’s
over, you’ll have to hand over fifty percent of your Genesis essence.”
Zhang Yan’s expression darkened as he angrily shouted, “Fifty percent?! You might as well be robbing
us!”
Zhou Tai and Lu Yan glared at Baili Che. Fifty percent would essential mean that Saint Genesis Peak
would be working for Sword Cometh Peak!
Sword Cometh Peak was being way too overbearing!
Baili Che leaned against the back of his seat in a relaxed manner. He paid no attention to the other three,
merly smiling superficially as he stared at Zhou Yuan and said, “Junior brother Zhou Yuan, you’ve
incurred the wrath of nearly everyone in my Sword Cometh Peak. If you do not agree to these conditions,
even I cannot guarantee that I’ll be able to reign in some of the Sword Cometh Peak disciples. It won’t be
good if they decide to cause trouble for you guys during the ceremony.”
Flames of anger surged in the eyes of the Zhou Tai trio. Baili Che was basically threatening them.
“There have always been conflicts during that ceremony, so no one will be able to raise any complaints.
At times, adapting to the situation is the most logical choice.”
Baili Che softly chuckled. “Since junior brother Zhou Yuan is a smart individual, I believe you should
know what’s the right choice to make, right?”
The Zhou Tai trio looked towards Zhou Yuan. He was after all the current chief disciple, and his decision
would represent the numerous disciples of Saint Genesis Peak.
Zhou Yuan rubbed his warm tea cup, as a faint smile appeared on his face. He looked at the seemingly
relaxed, yet arrogant looking Baili Che, as he extended a finger and gently moved it from side to side. “The
first condition, I refuse.”
“As for the second, we won’t be handing over even ten percent.”
His response was direct.
2528
The Zhou Tai trio breathed a faint sigh of relief. If Zhou Yuan had agreed, Saint Genesis Peak would
become a laughing stock.
Baili Che continued to lean against the back of the chair, his playful expression unchanged. He was
obviously not surprised by Zhou Yuan’s answer, as he dramatically sighed and said, “Junior brother Zhou
Yuan is truly akin to a newborn calf that is unafraid of a tiger. Such courage is indeed rather admirable.”
He stood up and smiled. “Does this mean the discussion is over?”
Zhou Yuan raised his cup and pointed towards the outside. “Please, if there’s no need to in the future,
senior brother Baili Che should minimise visits to Saint Genesis Peak. Our humble abode is far too shabby
for a great god like you.”
Baili Che’s eyes narrowed. His body leaned slightly forward, invading Zhou Yuan’s personal space as he
looked down at the latter from above and said, “Junior brother Zhou Yuan, although you’ve become the
chief disciple of Saint Genesis Peak, do you really believe you have the qualifications to speak to me in
such a manner?”
Boom!
The instant his final word rang out, a sharp and powerful wave of Genesis Qi violently erupted from his
body, its strength causing the Zhou Tai trio to stagger backwards.
Zhou Yuan’s clothes also began to flap violently, however, jade light instantly rose from his skin, as silver
light flashed within his body. His figure was akin to a mountain, towering majestically in the violent
storm.
Crack!
The table between them was unable to withstand the Genesis Qi pressure as countless cracks rapidly
appeared.
“Baili Che, this is Saint Genesis Peak, so don’t push your luck!” Yelled Zhou Tai, his complexion an angry
green.
Baili Che softly chuckled as the terrifying Genesis Qi undulations receded. He had no intentions of picking
a fight, and merely wanted to intimidate Zhou Yuan.
However, Zhou Yuan had remained untouched in the face of his Genesis Qi pressure, an observation that
slightly surprised Baili Che. To have defeated Yuan Hong, this fellow did have some ability.
Zhou Yuan rubbed his palms together as he lifted his head and said, “Does senior brother Baili want to
play a little?”
2529
Baili Che looked deeply at Zhou Yuan. “No need to be so anxious, I’m sure we’ll have our chance. When
the time comes, senior brother will let you know that there are rankings even amongst chief disciples.”
After finishing, he turned around and left the stone pavilion.
Zhou Yuan gazed upon the former’s back as he slowly said, “Senior brother Baili, go back and tell them
that Sword Cometh Peak should not be too bossy, and Saint Genesis Peak will not be depending on
anyone in the upcoming Genesis reservoir ceremony.”
“However, if Sword Cometh Peak is too overbearing, don’t forget that even a rabbit will bite when
cornered. Who knows, Sword Cometh Peak may end up worse off than before.”
Baili Che’s footsteps paused, tilting his head backwards as a mocking angle rose from the corners of his
lips.
“Since you know you’re a rabbit, wait obediently to be slaughtered. Trying to jump around and struggle
will only annoy others…”
“Besides, do you really believe that the likes of you has the qualifications to make my Sword Cometh Peak
suffer?”
With a soft chuckle, he disdainfully shook his head as he rose into the sky on his Genesis Qi.
Zhou Yuan’s eyes narrowed slightly, a dangerous gleam flickering within them as he watched the former
leave. Rather than coming here to discuss conditions, it had been more akin to declaring war.
Baili Che was clearly telling them that Sword Cometh Peak was in a bad mood, and was going to release
their wrath on Saint Genesis Peak during the Genesis reservoir ceremony.
“Sword Cometh Peak…”
Zhou Yuan’s finger tapped the table, causing it to shatter and turn into dust as his gaze turned cold and
deadly like a blade.
“If you want to play…”
“Do you genuinely think that I will be afraid?”
2530
Chapter 503 Appeal for Aid
The cooling night enveloped the land like a layer of gauze.
When Yaoyao returned to the cave dwelling from Spirit Rune Peak, she saw a sumptuous meal laid on the
stone table in the cave. With a glance, she discovered that they were all light dishes, which just so
happened to be the ones she liked.
By the tableside, Zhou Yuan was smiling as he looked at her and politely said, “You’re back at last big sis
Yaoyao. Quick, come and have a seat.”
Yaoyao cast a puzzled glance at him as she elegantly seated herself. “Suddenly fawning me for no reason,
what do you want?”
An awkward expression was immediately revealed on Zhou Yuan’s face. “Come on, you make me sound
so pragmatic.”
However, Yaoyao ignored him. She picked up a pair of chopsticks and casually sampled a dash. Her red
lips gleamed a little, making her even more enchanting as a lazy voice sounded from her mouth, “So
you’re really not going to ask for any favors?”
Zhou Yuan coughed softly and said, “Is big sis Yaoyao interested in the Genesis reservoir ceremony?”
Baili Che had come today to declare that Sword Cometh Peak was going to vent their frustrations on Saint
Genesis Peak, and someone like Zhou Yuan was naturally not going to easily yield, or let them have their
way.
Since both sides had burned the bridge between them, Sword Cometh Peak was definitely going to do
something during the Genesis reservoir ceremony that would make life difficult for Saint Genesis Peak.
As the new chief disciple of Saint Genesis Peak, if Zhou Yuan failed to guarantee some benefits for the
disciples in the ceremony, many of them would undoubtedly become very disappointed, and may even
begin to have doubts about their new chief disciple.
Zhou Yuan naturally did not feel much attachment to the position of chief disciple, but this did not mean
that he would allow Sword Cometh Peak to have their way.
Although Zhou Yuan was very unyielding, he had to face reality. Saint Genesis Peak was indeed too weak.
A mere two factions was not even a tenth other peaks.
Moreover, Saint Genesis Peak only had a single chief disciple to represent them, and no Chosen at all.
As such, their top tier power was extremely frail.
2531
Hence, if Zhou Yuan did not wish for Saint Genesis Peak to perform too badly in the Genesis reservoir
ceremony, he needed to bolster the forces on his side. After mulling over it, he came to the conclusion
that there was no power that was more dependable than Yaoyao.
Although the base of their power was still too weak, as long as he could pull Yaoyao into the ceremony, he
would no longer have to fear the other party’s Chosens, which would be a huge worry off his mind.
“So this is what it’s about.” Yaoyao seemed to smile as she glanced at Zhou Yuan.
The truth was that she had already heard wind of this in Spirit Rune Peak today. Everyone could clearly
feel the resentment oozing from Sword Cometh Peak at this time, and yet Shen Taiyuan still chose to
chase Lu Hong’s faction out of Saint Genesis Peak. This was undoubtedly akin to pouring oil into the fire.
The Genesis reservoir ceremony was essentially a competition between the various peaks. Thus, Sword
Cometh Peak was sure to make good use of the opportunity to teach Saint Genesis Peak a painful lesson,
and release some of the bitter feelings bottled up inside.
Even if peak master Ling Jun heard of this matter, though he would not openly show his support, he
would definitely not chide them for it, which was basically a form of silent approval.
It was obvious that peak master Ling Jun was also angry due to the recent events.
Since the other peak masters had eaten up a portion of Sword Cometh Peak’s resources, they would
naturally close one eye towards this matter. Hence, it would be very difficult for the allyless Saint Genesis
Peak to escape being taught a lesson by Sword Cometh Peak.
Zhou Yuan nodded as he looked towards Yaoyao with expectant eyes.
Yaoyao merely continued slowly chewing her food. Soon after, a slight smile emerged on her face as she
said, “I’m not very interested in the Genesis reservoir ceremony.”
Given her character, it was clear that she would prefer holing herself up in the Spirit Rune Hall or the cave
dwelling to study Genesis Runes. As for the Genesis reservoir ceremony where the various peaks would
be competing, it would certainly be a very chaotic and troublesome affair.
Zhou Yuan’s face turned rigid as a miserable look appeared. If Yaoyao did not wish to participate, it would
really be quite a headache for him.
Yaoyao did not even look at Zhou Yuan as she continued to eat tiny mouthful after mouthful. A long while
later, she finally put down her chopsticks in satisfaction and stood up, the corners of her lips curled a
little, when she finally looked at the distressed Zhou Yuan.
“Although I’ve no interest in the Genesis reservoir ceremony, on account that you didn’t choose to move
to a new cave dwelling previously, I will reluctantly make a trip down to the reservoir.”
2532
Upon hearing this, Zhou Yuan’s head immediately snapped up in happiness. “Really?”
Yaoyao teased, “What choice do I have? If I don’t go, you’ll likely become all mopey after being bullied by
those two Chosens from Sword Cometh Peak.”
Zhou Yuans’ face turned black. “Do you think I’m afraid of them?”
At such a time, he could not admit defeat even if he had to put up an act.
But his rationality told him that there was indeed a gap between his current self and the Chosens.
Yaoyao did not expose Zhou Yuan’s tough act. She slowly walked to the stream under the peach tree and
sat down on the simple swing hanging from one of its branches. As she gently swayed back and forth, she
said, “Even if I participate, I’ll only be able to deal with those two Chosens from Sword Cometh Peak. This
will not be enough to make up for the weak base of Saint Genesis Peak, so the final outcome will still
depend on your abilities.”
“At the very least… the chief disciple from Sword Cometh Peak will be a formidable adversary for you. To
have fought his way through the many geniuses of Sword Cometh Peak and won the chief disciple
position, Baili Che is no simple individual.”
Zhou Yuan nodded with a serious expression. Though he held no fondness towards Baili Che’s arrogant
attitude, he had to admit that the latter possessed the qualifications to back it up. Although Yuan Hong
used to be ranked quite high in Sword Cometh Peak, there was undoubtedly still a gap between him and
Baili Che.
Therefore, in Baili Che’s view, a chief disciple like Zhou Yuan, who had won his position by defeating Yuan
Hong, was not a huge threat.
“It’s a pity the Genesis reservoir is a body of water, or I will have been itching to try out the Earth Saint
Rune.” Said Zhou Yuan in a regretful manner.
He had already given the Earth Saint Rune a spin over the past few days. It could absorb the Genesis Qi
within the earth to augment his physical abilities, a domineering, forceful and straightforward power.
However, the rune had its limits. It could only bring out its full capabilities with the right terrain.
In the Genesis reservoir which contained only a few small islands, the Earth Saint Rune’s power would be
greatly diminished.
The extent of the Saint Rune’s powers were immeasurable, and limited only by their user. If Zhou Yuan
grew stronger in the future, he may be able to overcome the problem of terrain, but at this current point
in time, he was clearly far from being able to do so.
Without this powerful card, Zhou Yuan’s battle power was undoubtedly much weaker.
2533
“Looks like you’ll have to think of some way to raise your strength during these next two months. Though
Baili Che seems arrogant, he is no fool, and will definitely be well prepared for the Genesis reservoir
ceremony.” Cautioned Yaoyao.
Zhou Yuan nodded. After some consideration, his mind sent out a thought, and a transparent jade bottle
appeared in his hand. A golden glow shined from the bottle, as light seemed to flow within it.
It was the remnants of the golden sun that had been smashed to pieces by the divine grindstone brand
during the trial.
Zhou Yuan did not recognize the contents in the bottle, and thus did not dare to absorb it. This was the
perfect opportunity for him to let Yaoyao have a look.
Yaoyao received the bottle as surprise flashed across her face. She pondered for a brief moment, before
she said, “This should be the rumored Spirit Refining Saliva, a strange but rare item that is a great
supplement for the Spirit.”
“On the outside, a single drop can create a giant commotion. How did you manage to get so much of it…”
Joy faintly flashed across Zhou Yuan’s face. “Will it allow my Spirit to reach the advanced Corporeal
stage?”
“Of course.” A small smile rose on Yaoyao’s face. “However, it’s extremely tyrannical in nature and needs
to first be modulated before consumption. I will handle the process for you.”
“If I succeed, you will only require one third of it to achieve a breakthrough.”
“As for the rest…”
She placed the bottle into the sleeve and looked towards Zhou Yuan as she slowly said, “I’ll take it as a
respectful gift for me.”
Zhou Yuan helplessly grinned. However, there were no feelings of unwillingness. He was satisfied as long
as he could reach the advanced Corporeal stage, and he knew that someone like Yaoyao would not seize it
for no reason, so it likely had use to her.”
Phew.
Zhou Yuan let out a tiny sigh. Once he reached the advanced Corporeal stage, what would he have to fear
from Baili Che?
Of course, this did not mean that he could relax. During the next two months, he planned to begin taking a
dive into the recently obtained Omega Saint Spirit Art...
If he could master this technique, Baili Che would not be able to create even a tiny splash.
2534
Chapter 504 Saint Spirit Seed
Rumble!
Two violent torrents of fire and water Genesis Qi spurted out, ultimately meeting on an old stone
platform, where they powerfully slammed onto the figure seated there.
Searing heat and freezing cold assaulted the figure, as steam rose from their contact.
The figure was as still as a mountain as he endured the intense pain. A jade glow rose from the surface of
his body as silver light blossomed deep within his bones.
Fire and water Genesis Qi continued to interweave, only gradually slowing down and dissipating a long
while later.
The steam dispersed, revealing the seated figure.
It was obviously Zhou Yuan.
He was currently shirtless, defined lines and curves as if they had been carved with a knife visible on his
lean upper body. Although no menacingly bulging and eye-catching muscles could be seen, an extremely
explosive power brewed within that slim and lean body.
His little Mythic Saint Body was at the silver bone stage, while his body mastery at the initial level. This
was clearly much stronger than before.
He stood up and clenched his fist , feeling the roaring power inside his body as he sighed in comfort. It
was indeed a wondrous feeling to have one’s body filled with boundless life force.
“It’s a pity that there’s still no sign of the third level golden blood stage.” Zhou Yuan had not allowed
himself to relax in his training over this period. Unfortunately, not even the tiniest indication of the third
level golden blood stage was to be found.
Zhou Yuan shook his head. Without circulating any Genesis Qi, his foot pushed off the ground, catapulting
his body into the air, before landing on the edge of the cliff. The ground below him cracked a little when
he touched the ground.
He lifted his head to look at the stone pavilion, where old Xuan was napping. As if sensing Zhou Yuan’s
presence, old Xuan began to stir as he drowsily raised his head and glanced at Zhou Yuan, who had just
finished his daily body tempering.
Old Xuan lazily said, “Stop feeling regretful. Although you’re practicing the little Mythic Saint Body
instead of the true Mythic Saint Body, stepping into the golden blood stage is not as easy as you think.”
2535
Zhou Yuan smiled sheepishly and nodded, before walking over to seat himself in the pavilion as he said
with a grin, “Old Xuan, there’s something I hope you can help me with.”
Old Xuan shook his wide sleeves, before he slowly spat out, “What?”
Zhou Yuan made a grabbing motion as an old jade book appeared in his hand. It was the Cangxuan art
sect master had bestowed upon him when he became the chief disciple of Saint Genesis Peak, the Omega
Saint Spirit Art.
He had looked through the book over the past few days, and realized the difficulty was exceedingly high.
Zhou Yuan had originally planned on consulting Yaoyao, but she had told him that old Xuan was more
suitable, probably even the most suitable in the entire sect, which Zhou Yuan was very much in
agreement after he thought about it. As the creator of the simplified seven Cangxuan arts, there was no
doubt about old Xuan’s understanding of these techniques.
Old Xuan’s eyelids raised as he cast a glance at the jade book in Zhou Yuan’s hand. “Shouldn’t this be part
of Shen Taiyuan’s responsibilities?”
“Old Xuan… I’ve bled for Saint Genesis Peak and done great services for it!” Said Zhou Yuan with deep
conviction.
“I’m not an instructor! Can’t you give this old man a little peace?!”
“I’ve bled for Saint Genesis Peak and done great services!”
“You!”
Old Xuan huffed at his beard in exasperation, as he repeatedly jabbed his finger at Zhou Yuan. A long
while later, he finally conceded and sulkily said, “I’m really unlucky to have encountered a brat like you!”
Although he said so, a slight smile flitted across old Xuan’s murky eyes. He was after all extremely fond of
Zhou Yuan. In fact, even sect master Qing Yang could not make the stubborn old man willingly give
guidance to a disciple, and there was absolutely no way old Xuan would have relented due to a little
mischievousness from Zhou Yuan.
“Have you studied the Omega Saint Spirit Art?” Asked old Xuan.
Zhou Yuan nodded, a serious expression appearing on his face as he said, “The most important part of the
Omega Saint Spirit Art seems to be the creation of a ‘Saint Spirit Seed’ in the body?”
Old Xuan smiled and said, “Ninety nine types of Genesis Beast Spirits are required to create a Saint Spirit
Seed. From the ninety nine, nine will become the base, while the rest are supplementary. Once the
ingredients are gathered, you need to follow the processing method recorded in the manual to fuse the
ninety nine Genesis Beast Spirits, creating a unique amalgamation called the Saint Spirit Seed.”
2536
“Once the seed is formed, one only needs to visualize it for the seed to grow and take on a shape that will
become a tremendous aid in battle.”
“The difficulty of the technique lies in the refining and fusion of Genesis Beast Spirits. These Spirits are
vastly different, and will clash violently upon contact to devour each other. Forcibly fusing them will only
result in mutual destruction.”
“Only with the most precise control will one be able to complete the entire process, a very challenging
feat indeed.”
“It’s rather similar to the Nine Dragons Canon.” Zhou Yuan pondered to himself. However, the Nine
Dragons Canon dealt with essence blood, while the Saint Spirit Art involved Genesis Beast Spirits which
were clearly going to be far more difficult to deal with.
Old Xuan softly chuckled. With a jerk of his sleeve, two Beast Spirit crystals shot towards Zhou Yuan.
“Give it a try.”
Zhou Yuan caught the two crystals and nodded. His palms faced each other as the crystals shattered,
causing two translucent beast silhouettes to rise from within with tiny roars.
Genesis Qi surged out, enveloping the two Spirits as he slowly brought them together.
When they touched, a powerful backlash erupted, as if two vastly different elements were being forced to
fuse. In the end, there was a loud bang as the two Beast Spirits turned into smoke and quickly dissipated.
Zhou Yuan’s expression was rather ugly. After personally trying it did he realize how difficult it was to
fuse Beast Spirits.
Old Xuan unhurriedly said, “Those two were only grade two Genesis Beast Spirits. You should know that
to successfully cultivate a Saint Spirit Seed, the ninety supplementary Beast Spirits will be grade 4 at the
lowest, while the nine main ones need to be at least grade 5.”
“Moreover, if you use the lowest quality ingredients, the seed created will naturally be of a lower grade.”
“There are different grades of Saint Spirit Seeds?” Asked Zhou Yuan in surprise.
“There are two grades of seeds, low and high. The minimal level ingredients I mentioned earlier should
result in a low grade seed. As for the high grade seed, the nine base Beast Spirits need to be at grade 6.”
Zhou Yuan’s expression turned even more ugly. Grade 6 Genesis Beasts were existances that could
contend against Heavenly Sun stage human practitioners. Genesis Beasts that had reached that level were
extremely intelligent, and even an injured Beast Spirit would not be easy to deal with, let alone fusing
them together...
“What’s the difference between the low and high grades?” Inquired Zhou Yuan.
2537
“The form a high grade Saint Spirit Seed takes will of course be stronger than a low grade one. Moreover,
the former would also possess more transformations, which you will naturally learn about in the future.”
Old Xuan glanced at Zhou Yuan. “Given your strength, I feel a low grade seed is quite suitable.”
Zhou Yuan did not comment. Soon after, he realized another huge problem. If he were to continue in this
manner, he would need a tremendous amount of Beast Spirits to cultivate a low grade Saint Spirit Seed.
A high grade Spirit would even require grade 6 Beast Spirits!
In the Genesis Beast world, Genesis Beasts that had reached grade 6 were no longer ordinary beasts, but
known as Heaven Genesis Beasts.
A Beast Spirit Crystal from a Heaven Genesis Beast was not only rare but also extremely pricey, a cost he
was likely unable to afford. Think about it, someone at the Heavenly Sun stage could already become an
elder in the Cangxuan Sect. A Genesis Beast with such strength was definitely no push over at all.
“The ingredients will be very difficult to gather if I aim to cultivate a high grade seed.” Zhou Yuan sighed
deeply.
“Heh, how ambitious…”
Old Xuan lit his pipe and took a puff. Soon after, he nonchalantly said, “There’s no need for you to worry
about the ingredients. You’ve done a great service for Saint Genesis Peak, and have yet to be properly
rewarded. If you have the resolution, Saint Genesis Peak can provide some of the resources required for
cultivating the Saint Spirit Seed.”
“Of course, this will offset your contributions, so don’t come whining to me about how you’ve bled for
Saint Genesis Peak again.”
Zhou Yuan was first overjoyed, before rubbing his nose in embarrassment.
However, his spirits had been reinvigorated substantially. With old Xuan’s promise, he would no longer
have to fret about the resources needed for the Saint Spirit Seed.
Next, he could begin to attempt cultivating the seed.
As for whether it would ultimately end up as low or high grade, he would adapt according to the
situation. If high grade was impossible, Zhou Yuan would have no choice but to settle for something less...
2538
Chapter 505 Name List
Half a month after the end of the chief disciple selections, the commotion caused by the reopening of
Saint Genesis Peak gradually began to die down.
However, there was always something exciting happening in an enormous sect like the Cangxuan Sect
that would draw the attention of numerous disciples. For instance, the slowly approaching Genesis
reservoir ceremony.
This ceremony was rather unique in the sect, because it was not a competition between individuals, but a
contest of sorts between the various peaks. In other words, a match between the seven peaks.
The upper echelons of the sect had obviously designed the ceremony in this manner to stir up more
competition between the various peaks, making them pressure and push each other, promoting growth
for everyone.
It was also precisely because it affected all the disciples from the seven peaks that made this ceremony
the largest scale event in the Cangxuan Sect.
In addition, it was an event that numerous disciples looked forward to the most.
After all, regardless of whether it was the purple sash or chief disciple selection from before, the ones
who ended up benefiting were really only a small handful of outstanding disciples, while the majority
could only watch with envious gazes.
The Genesis reservoir ceremony, however, was different. Every disciple from the seven peaks needed to
play their part and contribute towards the final result of their respective peak.
This undoubtedly created a strong sense of participation in the many disciples.
As such, if one were to ask the bulk of the disciples what they looked forward to most in the Cangxuan
Sect, the most popular answer would be the Genesis reservoir ceremony.
Thus, the disciples from the various peaks intensified their training, while trying to scout out information
about the other peaks. After all, every other peak would be a competitor in the ceremony.
While such information was rapidly being spread in the sect, the most attention drawing was
undoubtedly Sword Cometh Peak’s unconcealed hostility that was directed straight at the recently
reopened Saint Genesis Peak.
With regards to this, the disciples from the other peaks were not the least bit surprised. Everyone knew
that Sword Cometh Peak had lost a tremendous amount of cultivation resources due to the failure of Lu
Hong’s faction during the chief disciple selection.
2539
In addition, Lu Hong’s faction was even chased back to Sword Cometh Peak by the new substitute peak
master Shen Taiyuan, making Sword Cometh Peak lose even more face.
Due to these various reasons, it was no surprise that Sword Cometh Peak was filled with resentment.
Sword Cometh Peak had not bothered to hide such feelings either, and were clearly intent on teaching
Saint Genesis Peak a lesson during the Genesis reservoir ceremony to vent some of their frustration.
As a result, the disciples from the various peaks expressed pity towards Saint Genesis Peak.
However, that was the limit of their concern. Everyone was going to be rivals in the ceremony after all,
and Sword Cometh Peak duking it out with Saint Genesis Peak was honestly a good thing for the other
peaks.
Although the majority did feel that Saint Genesis Peak did not pose even the tiniest threat to Sword
Cometh Peak.
Even with the recent addition of a chief disciple like Zhou Yuan, Saint Genesis Peak was still far too
lacking when compared to Sword Cometh Peak’s formidable lineup.
As for sect master Qing Yang and the rest, they were quite helpless even though they were aware of
Sword Cometh Peak’s resentment. They had secretly urged peak master Ling Jun to take action, but the
latter washed his hands clean of the affair, saying that these were the opinions of his disciples, and as
peak master, it would be best for him to respect their will.
This was obviously just an excuse, but even sect master Qing Yang could not do much about it. Sword
Cometh Peak had indeed sustained a giant loss recently, and it was only natural for resentment to build
up. As the ones who had benefited, sect master Qing Yang and the other peak masters were pretty
powerless if peak master Ling Jun refused to listen.
Amidst the busy atmosphere, the list of participating disciples for the ceremony was decided and
ultimately made public.
As the name list for each peak was revealed, it was to no one’s surprise that Saint Genesis Peak’s was
revealed to be the most pitiful. The participants from an entire peak did not even exceed five hundred, a
number that was not even a tenth of the other peaks...
The only thing that slightly surprised everyone was the name Zhou Xiaoyao on Saint Genesis Peak’s list...
This observation drew the interest of quite a number of people. After all, Yaoyao’s existence was very
unique in the Cangxuan Sect. She was the only individual that was not a Chosen, but possessed strength
equal to one.
Her addition into Saint Genesis Peak’s lineup would indeed bolster their power substantially.
2540
...
“I’ve been wondering why Zhou Yuan seemed so confident previously, is it because he managed to get her
help?” Inside a certain courtyard located in Sword Cometh Peak, Baili Che looked at the name list in his
hand as he smiled. However, his smile contained a slight trace of mockery.
Kong Sheng and Zhao Zhu were seated opposite him. The two of them also looked over the name list as
their brows furrowed slightly. “Zhou Xiaoyao is quite a troublesome individual.”
Kong Sheng said, “She foiled my plans in the Genesis reservoir last year, and is indeed pretty powerful.
Though her Genesis Qi is weak, her mastery of Genesis Runes is better than even Ye Ge.”
Zhao Zhu slowly said, “If she is also participating, we’ll also have to be cautious of the little creature that
follows her.”
He was naturally referring to Tuntun. In the brief exchange he had with Tuntun previously, Zhao Zhu had
realized that this seemingly cute looking little creature, that only knew how to eat, in actuality possessed
a terrifying strength.
The disdain in Baili Che’s smile receded as he said, “If so, Saint Genesis Peak now has two additional
Chosens.”
Kong Sheng’s handsome face remained unchanged as he said, “Saint Genesis Peak’s foundations are still
too frail. With just a mere few hundred disciples, what can Zhou Xiaoyao possibly change?”
“Zhou Yuan is a little too naive.”
He looked towards Zhao Zhu as he continued, “If that mysterious little creature were to participate, will
junior brother Zhao Zhu be able to stop it?”
Zhao Zhu nodded with a sneer. “It’s only a beast, and I was only caught off guard previously. If it dares to
come at me again, I’ll pluck out all of its hair!”
A small smile rose on Kong Sheng’s lips. “In that case, I will handle Zhou Xiaoyao.”
“She previously ruined things for me in the Genesis reservoir, a debt which I clearly remember and intend
to make her return.”
“Is senior brother Kong Sheng confident? Even I can’t seem to measure that Zhou Xiaoyao.” Muttered
Zhao Zhu.
Kong Sheng softly chuckled. “Relax, all she has are Genesis Runes, and I will naturally make my own
preparations.”
Zhao Zhu was relieved by these words.
2541
Kong Sheng’s gaze then shifted towards Baili Che. “As long as we manage to hold off Zhou Xiaoyao and
that creature, the rest will be free pickings. I’ll be handing over the task of venting our Sword Cometh
Peak’s resentment to you.”
Baili Che grinned as he nodded.
He knew that Kong Sheng was referring to Zhou Yuan.
“Don’t worry senior brother, I will let our beloved junior brother know how lacking he is as a chief
disciple, and make sure he remembers not to show his face again in the Cangxuan Sect.”
“Hehe, I’m interested to see whether the disciples of Saint Genesis Peak will still support him after they
watch him being utterly crushed so soon after becoming a chief disciple.”
“When that time comes, he will perhaps even become the most pitiful chief disciple in the history of our
Cangxuan Sect.”
2542
The Cangxuan Sect was wrapped in a busy and excited atmosphere.
However, Zhou Yuan paid no heed to any of this, hiding himself deep in the mountains as he poured all of
his heart and soul into practicing the Omega Saint Spirit Art.
The Omega Saint Spirit Art was a high grade Heaven Genesis technique, which was also the highest level
of technique he had ever come into contact with over the years. He was naturally filled with expectation
towards it, and was dying to witness its powers first hand.
...
Deep in the old mountains.
Zhou Yuan was seated atop a giant boulder overlooking a deep gorge. His expression was solemn as he
concentrated every fibre of being on the glowing ball of Genesis Qi between his palms.
Within the ball was a mysterious light that seemed similar to primal chaos, making it impossible to
clearly see inside.
The primal chaos like ball of light was the Saint Spirit Seed Zhou Yuan was attempting to create.
Ten Genesis Beast Spirits had already been refined and fused into this seed. Zhou Yuan had discovered
that the difficulty would increase with every Beast Spirit he successfully fused in.
As the number of fused Beast Spirits increased, the incomplete Saint Spirit Seed grew more and more
complex. All it would take was a slight mistake for the seed to collapse and fall apart.
If that happened, all of his hard work would go up in smoke.
Zhou Yuan gazed at the slowly stabilizing Saint Spirit Seed between his palms. With a wave of his hand,
another Beast Spirit crystal flew out from a copper chest beside him.
The copper chest was currently filled to the brim with Beast Spirit crystals.
Over the last ten days, Zhou Yuan used up many many Beast Spirit crystals. If not for Saint Genesis Peak’s
support, he would run out of resources long ago.
This made Zhou Yuan sigh somewhat. Cultivation resources were indeed far too important on the path of
cultivation.
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However, he was also quite horrified at his progress after using up so many Beast Spirit crystals. So far,
he had managed to fuse ten Beast Spirits into the seed, and was still very far off from ninety, let alone the
final nine core Beast Spirits...
Zhou Yuan looked at the floating crystal in front of him as he lamented. He had only managed to achieve
such progress due to his Spirit cultivation that was far more advanced than any ordinary person.
Otherwise, it would basically be impossible to achieve a fusion of ten Beast Spirits within ten days.
After lamenting a little, Zhou Yuan directed the Beast Spirit crystal to slowly descend towards the primal
chaos like Saint Spirit Seed, before they ultimately touched.
Bzz Bzz!
Chaotic undulations immediately erupted, causing Zhou Yuan’s expression to tense. His Spirit senses
rapidly circled around the seed, neutralizing and resolving the clashing undulations.
However, there were far too many clashing undulations, causing him to be a little flustered for a time.
“The Beast Spirit fusion process is far too complicated. It’s still crazily difficult though the wills of the
Beast Spirits have already been wiped clean.” A grave look flitted across Zhou Yuan’s eyes as he did all he
could to stabilize the seed.
While he was fully focused on eliminating the chaotic undulations from the seed, a thought suddenly
struck him.
“I wonder if… the Decoder Saint Rune will work…”
The Decoder Saint Rune was one of the four Saint Runes. It was not offense oriented, but more analytical
in nature, and was especially effective against Genesis techniques.
Previously, Zhou Yuan had just barely managed to control the situation with his Spirit senses, but as the
number of fused Beast Spirits slowly increased, things were becoming more and more difficult.
If Zhou Yuan had enough time to slowly work on the seed, he was confident that he would be able to
complete it in a year. However, with the Genesis reservoir ceremony fast approaching, he needed to raise
his strength as quickly as possible.
While such thoughts flitted across his mind, Zhou Yuan cast away his hesitation. With a thought, a
mysterious glowing rune began to flow out from the depths of his pupils.
The Decoder Saint Rune!
The world before him immediately began to change. Zhou Yuan stared at the primal chaos like ball of
light between his palms, as the previously unviewable places became impossibly clear in his eyes.
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Most importantly, he found the source of the seemingly endless chaotic undulations inside the bundle of
light, the resistance from two different Beast Spirits fusing.
It was due to this disharmony that made the fusion process become very problematic.
As long as he precisely eliminated and suppressed the sources of disharmony and chaos, the fusion
process would become smooth.
“It works!”
Zhou Yuan was overjoyed. Since he could now see the sources of disharmony, things would undoubtedly
become much simpler.
While Zhou Yuan was elated, his control over the seed weakened a little, allowing one of the chaotic
undulations to spread, causing a chain reaction that began a series of explosions.
Bang!
The ball of light between Zhou Yuan’s hands exploded, turning into smoke that quickly faded away.
The Saint Spirit Seed embryo was gone just like that.
Zhou Yuan was stunned, but did not feel any regret. Instead, a smile emerged on his face. His guess had
not been wrong, the Decoder Saint Rune had once again displayed its near magical abilities.
Next, he only needed to use the Decoder Saint Rune’s miraculous powers to cultivate the Saint Spirit Seed,
which would drastically improve his chances of success.
However, it was also good to note that the Decoder Saint Rune would only allow him to discover the
sources of resistance and disharmony in advance, and he would still have to rely on his own abilities to
suppress them before they spread.
Regardless, Zhou Yuan was now confident in cultivating the Saint Spirit Seed with the aid of the Decoder
Saint Rune.
Zhou Yuan lifted his head to look at the sky, before he nodded in satisfaction and rose to his feet. With a
wave of his sleeve, he kept the copper chest filled with Beast Spirit crystals as his figure soared into the
sky.
He left the mountains, heading straight back to his cave dwelling. Several dozen minutes later, the cave
dwelling appeared in his sights as his figure slowly descended.
However, he was a little startled when he landed, due to the three figures outside the cave dwelling. One
of them was naturally Yaoyao, while the other two surprisingly belonged to Li Qingchan and Ye Ge.
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Zhou Yuan walked to Yaoyao’s side, and curiously asked as he looked towards his two guests, “What are
you guys doing here?”
“Junior brother Zhou Yuan.”
Ye Ge smiled at him, a polite and gentle expression on his handsome face.
Zhou Yuan had a rather favorable opinion of this individual, because he could not sense any of the usual
arrogance of the Chosens from Ye Ge. Compared to the likes of Zhao Zhu and Kong Sheng, Ye Ge was
undoubtedly much better company.
The only gripe Zhou Yuan had was that Ye Ge seemed to have his sights on Yaoyao, and hoped to take her
away from Zhou Yuan.
Li Qingchan’s gorgeous face was frosty as usual, like a goddess of an icy mountain. She glanced at Zhou
Yuan and said, “Saint Genesis Peak seems to be in quite a pinch for the upcoming Genesis reservoir
ceremony.”
Zhou Yuan chuckled but did not comment.
Upon seeing his carefree appearance, Li Qingchan’s brows furrowed slightly as she said, “Don’t think for a
second that your Saint Genesis Peak will be able match Sword Cometh Peak just because you managed to
get Yaoyao on board.”
Zhou Yuan smiled and said, “What else can we do? Since they plan to vent their anger on us during the
ceremony, we can’t possibly idly sit by and wait for death, right?”
Li Qingchan exchanged a look with Ye Ge. “Our Snow Lotus Peak and Spirit Rune Peak may be able to
help.”
Zhou Yuan was quite surprised. Although the two of them were Chosens, the Genesis reservoir ceremony
affected all of the disciples from their respective peaks. If they chose to help Saint Genesis Peak, it would
undoubtedly pit them against Sword Cometh Peak, which did not seem to be worth it from the
standpoints of their two peaks.
Though he was on good terms with Li Qingchan, it had clearly yet to reach the level where she would go
against the majority to help Saint Genesis Peak.
Upon seeing Zhou Yuan’s surprise, Li Qingchan calmly said, “There’s a condition of course.”
“What condition? Do we have to pay a protection fee again?” Zhou Yuan’s eyebrows raised slightly.
“How much Genesis essence can you guys possibly collect…” Li Qingchan rolled her eyes at him before
turning towards Yaoyao. “The condition for our aid is for Yaoyao to join either one of our peaks after the
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Genesis reservoir ceremony. As for which peak, our two peak masters will discuss it when the time
comes.”
Zhou Yuan was taken aback. It turns out that Snow Lotus Peak and Spirit Rune Peak were after Yaoyao. In
fact, it appeared that this was the will of the two peak masters.
Li Qingchan stared at Yaoyao and slowly said, “I’m personally more than happy to help, but as a Chosen of
Snow Lotus Peak, I have to prioritise the interests of my fellow peak disciples, and thus cannot selfishly
choose to help on my own accord.”
There was no doubt that she greatly admired Yaoyao, and very much hoped that she would come to Snow
Lotus Peak. Their peak master would surely regard Yaoyao very highly, which would, in Li Qingchan’s
opinion, be countless times better than her current treatment here in Saint Genesis Peak.
“If junior sister Yaoyao needs me, I’m ready to risk facing punishment from my peak master to help out.”
Ye Ge softly chuckled as he calmly looked towards Yaoyao.
Li Qingchan immediately glared at him.
Zhou Yuan frowned and said, “Yaoyao is not a bargaining chip, and she can go anywhere she wishes.
Likewise, if she does not wish for it, I’ve zero interest regardless of how good a deal you offer.”
Li Qingchan looked at him in surprise, before she teased, “If you perform too badly in the Genesis
reservoir ceremony, your position as the chief disciple may draw criticism.”
Zhou Yuan let out a carefree laugh. “A mere chief disciple position can’t compare to even a single hair of
Yaoyao’s.”
Li Qingchan was immediately sickened by his cheesiness. “Enough!”
Yaoyao also shot Zhou Yuan a look, but a faint smile seemed to have appeared on her lips.
Li Qingchan looked towards Yaoyao. The former still wanted to know what the latter thought.
Under her gaze, Yaoyao gently shook her head, her eyes looking towards the cave dwelling as she spoke
with a rarely seen tenderness, “I like this place a lot, and don’t want to go anywhere else.”
As for how highly the peak masters regarded her, it could not match even a single blade of grass in the
cave dwelling.
Li Qingchan helplessly sighed upon hearing this, before she worriedly said, “Although you’re helping out,
Saint Genesis Peak cannot beat Sword Cometh Peak because your foundations are just far too weak.”
Yaoyao pulled back a strange of her black hair as her clear eyes turned a little cold.
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“I originally did not have much interest in the Genesis reservoir ceremony, but I keep hearing people say
that Sword Cometh Peak is impossible to overcome, I’m not a little more interested…”
“Fine, let’s see how Sword Cometh Peak intends to vent their anger on Saint Genesis Peak then.”
The beautiful girl’s clear voice sounded outside the cave dwelling, but instead of the usual listlessness in
her tone, there was a rarely seen firmness that startled both Li Qingchan and Ye Ge, who had never seen
this side of Yaoyao before.
Zhou Yuan’s mouth hung slightly ajar as he looked at her glowing face from the side, somewhat split
between wanting to laugh or to cry.
Yaoyao had previously agreed to participate on his behalf, but now, it seems that she had grown serious
about it...
A serious Yaoyao was a sight that even Zhou Yuan rarely saw.
However, Zhou Yuan could not help but raise his thumbs at this queen-like demeanor from Yaoyao as he
wildly cheered in his heart.
“Big sis Yaoyao, you’ve really got swag!”
2548
Chapter 507 Countermeasure
Ever since Li Qingchan and Ye Ge’s visit, Zhou Yuan found that Yaoyao had changed somewhat.
The biggest change was that she was spending even more time in the Spirit Rune Hall, and would even
return carrying numerous ancient Genesis Rune texts each time for more in depth research.
Zhou Yuan asked if she needed help, but Yaoyao would offhandedly send him away with a wave of her
hand.
In response, he could only shrug helplessly. Yaoyao’s seriousness was a good thing after all. She was
usually overly uncaring and uninterested in everything, and would only show a little emotion when
interacting with Zhou Yuan.
It seemed that she had been slightly angered by Sword Cometh Peak’s overbearing manner, an emotion
which undoubtedly made her more full of life.
Hence, Zhou Yuan allowed her to do as she pleased, not disturbing her anymore as he continued to pour
his attention into the formation of the Saint Spirit Seed.
Over the subsequent month, Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao busied themselves with their respective projects, one
immersing himself in his training, while the other deeply engaged in research.
The matter regarding Snow Lotus Peak and Spirit Rune Peak’s offer was ultimately unable to be
concealed, causing quite some debate when it spread. Numerous disciples felt that it was rather regretful,
because in their opinion, obtaining help from these two peaks would enable Saint Genesis Peak to achieve
better results in the upcoming Genesis reservoir ceremony. Moreover, they would also no longer have to
worry about the threat of Sword Cometh Peak.
However, Snow Lotus Peak and Spirit Rune Peak’s offer was aimed at Yaoyao, and other disciples
naturally had no say.
In addition, Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao were essentially viewed as the bosses who called the shots in Saint
Genesis Peak, and the other disciples would not intervene in the duo’s decisions. In any case, all everyone
else had to do was follow the two bosses’ lead.
Even so, as the date of the Genesis reservoir gradually approached, a nervous atmosphere began to brew
in Saint Genesis Peak. They were after all facing a titan like Sword Cometh peak, which honestly made
them appear tiny in comparison.
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Zhou Yuan was seated on a boulder overlooking a gorge. A glowing ball of Genesis Qi hovered between
his palms, it’s interior akin to a mass of primal chaos. It was a Saint Spirit Seed.
However, this seed appeared to be exceptionally robust and condensed, because it was the amalgamation
of seventy seven Beast Spirits...
A Saint Rune swirled in the depths of Zhou Yuan’s pupils, clearly viewing the countless chaotic
undulations inside the Saint Spirit Seed as he swiftly searched for their sources to suppress and stabilize
them.
With the magical powers of the Decoder Saint Rune, it had undoubtedly become much easier to cultivate
the Saint Spirit Seed.
Of course, this was only with respect to before. As the number of fused Beast Spirits slowly grew, Zhou
Yuan began to feel some pressure even with the Decoder Saint Rune.
At this current point time, it would basically take all of his concentration and energy to fuse another Beast
Spirit into the seed, and not a single mistake could be made. In addition, the process would take a good
half of the day.
Bzz bzz!
The embryonic Saint Spirit Seed buzzed faintly, before ultimately settling down, as the glow from the
seed grew a little brighter.
“A successful seventy eighth fusion.”
Joy surfaced in Zhou Yuan’s eyes. He was nearly there after an entire month of effort, and hitting ninety
was just around the corner.
Once he fused ninety Beast Spirits, the first step would be complete, and the high grade Heaven Genesis
technique would begin to display some of its amazing power.
“At this rate, I should be able complete the first step in another ten days!” Zhou Yuan excitedly thought to
himself.
“It seems that you’re quite capable, kid.”
While Zhou Yuan was celebrating inside, an elderly voice was heard. He quickly found old Xuan standing
nearby, staring at the embryonic seed in front of Zhou Yuan in surprise.
He had not visited over the past few days, only to be shocked by Zhou Yuan’s progress today.
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One must know that chief disciples, who had practiced this technique in the past, used at least half a year
or more to reach Zhou Yuan’s current stage of progress. On the other hand, he had achieved the same in a
single month. Just how talented was this kid?
Zhou Yuan chuckled, but did not explain. He had after all borrowed the miraculous powers of the Decoder
Saint Rune. Without it, it would be near impossible for him to progress so far in a single month.
“Old Xuan, I’ll be returning first.”
With a wave of his sleeve, he kept the chest of Beast Spirit crystals, before bidding his goodbyes to old
Xuan and rising into the air on his Genesis Qi.
Old Xuan chuckled as he watched Zhou Yuan leave. From the looks of it, the latter would likely become
the fastest person in the history of the Cangxuan Sect to master the Omega Saint Spirit Art.
It was a day that old Xuan quite looked forward to.
When Zhou Yuan returned to his cave dwelling, he immediately caught sight of the graceful figure
attentively flipping through an old text inside the stone pavilion beside the peach tree.
Zhou Yuan smiled. He had no intentions of disturbing her, and proceeded to stealthily slip away.
However, Yaoyao lifted her head at this moment and beckoned to him.
Zhou Yuan was a little stunned, before he walked over and seated himself beside her. As he breathed in
her faint enchanting fragrance, he smiled and said, “What are you researching? Do you have a plan for the
ceremony?”
Yaoyao responded, “The only advantages Sword Cometh Peak has over Saint Genesis Peak are their
stronger foundations and a greater number of disciples. Kong Sheng and Zhao Zhu alone are nothing to be
afraid of.”
Zhou Yuan rubbed his nose as he observed a moment of silence for Kong Sheng and Zhao Zhu. They may
be Chosens of the Cangxuan Sect, but they seemed to be not even worth mentioning in Yaoyao’s eyes.
Yaoyao slowly said, “Sword Cometh Peak’s advantage lies in their enormous number of disciples. If Saint
Genesis Peak faces them, Kong Sheng and Zhao Zhu would not even need to move a finger, for us to be
utterly defeated. As such, the situation will not change even if I manage to hold off Kong Sheng and Zhao
Zhu.”
Zhou Yuan nodded with a serious expression. This was a problem he had been constantly mulling over
recently. Saint Genesis Peak’s foundations were just far too weak. A single charge from Sword Cometh
Peak was all it would take to steamroll over the ordinary disciples.
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If that happened, it would no matter regardless of how he or Yaoyao resisted.
If all the other disciples were wiped out, leaving the two of them alone, their situation would be akin to
trying to put out a giant fire with a cup of water.
Yaoyao gently stroked the cover of the old book in her hand as she said, “Since that is the case, we will
just have to even the playing field.”
“Even the playing field?” Zhou Yuan was taken aback.
Sword Cometh Peak’s advantage lay in their near ten thousand disciples of which there were no lack of
elites. There was absolutely no way Yaoyao and him could ‘even the playing field’ by themselves, right?
With so many opponents, even if they stood there and allowed themselves to be hit without any
resistance, it would take insanely long to knock all of them out!
Yaoyao swept a glance at Zhou Yuan, her red lips curling slightly as if reading his mind. “Stupid, you only
know how to use brute force.”
She fished out one of the books from the pile and slowly flipped it open, causing an enormous ancient
Genesis Rune boundary to appear before Zhou Yuan’s eyes.
“I’ve studied the terrain of the Genesis reservoir, and searched the entire library of the Spirit Rune Hall
for a boundary that is most suitable to use in the reservoir. If we successfully set this up, we’ll be able to
take out nearly all of Sword Cometh Peak’s ten thousand strong army…”
“Once we achieve that, Sword Cometh Peak’s advantage will naturally disappear.”
As Yaoyao spoke in a nonchalant yet domineering manner, Zhou Yuan’s gaze paused on a certain spot of
the boundary diagram, where three ancient words jumped at him, causing his pupils to shrink slightly.
“Heaven Disorientating Boundary!”
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Chapter 508 Heaven Disorienting Boundary
“Heaven Disorienting Boundary…”
Zhou Yuan looked at the boundary diagram in the old book with a serious expression. A single cursory
glance already made him feel that it was super complex, and it was definitely no low grade boundary.
Yaoyao faintly nodded as she said, “It’s a large-scale boundary that can create a giant illusion, and it will
be difficult for anyone who falls in to escape.”
Zhou Yuan could not stop himself from asking, “It can trap ten thousand people?”
One must know the ten thousand disciples they were facing were no ordinary individuals. Every single
one of them had the strength of the Alpha-Origin stage, individuals who would be elites if placed
anywhere else.
Just think about how crazy it would be to trap these ten thousand disciples. Could the Heaven
Disorienting Boundary really achieve such a feat? Zhou Yuan was somewhat skeptical.
Yaoyao slowly said, “It may be a little difficult anywhere else, but with the unique environment of the
Genesis reservoir, we can make use of the right conditions to greatly amplify the powers of the Heaven
Disorienting Boundary.”
“Temporarily trapping ten thousand people is not impossible.”
“Temporarily?” Zhou Yuan immediately caught onto a certain word.
Yaoyao nodded again. “The numbers on the other side are too great, we cannot trap all of them for long.”
Zhou Yuan sighed. “Then there’s not much point if we’re only able to trap them. Once they escape, Saint
Genesis Peak will still be incapable of matching them.”
Yaoyao gently tapped her fingers as she said, “That’s why we need to eliminate them while they’re in the
boundary.”
“Can we really wipe them out with our meagre numbers?” Zhou Yuan smiled bitterly.
Yaoyao offhandedly said, “The small amount of manpower we have is naturally insufficient. However, we
can make use of external forces.”
“External forces? What external forces? I doubt the other peaks will help out.” Asked Zhou Yuan in a
puzzled manner.
Yaoyao rolled her eyes at him. “Aren’t the aquatic beasts in the reservoir the best external force?”
2553
“Have you forgotten how alluring the sacred dragon Qi in your body is to those aquatic beasts?”
Zhou Yuan naturally could not forget. He had been nearly swarmed to the death the first time he entered
the Genesis reservoir last year. If not for Tuntun’s support, he would not have even dared to enter the
waters again.
A look of thought was revealed on his face. Alarm soon appeared in his eyes as he stared at Yaoyao and
said, “You want me to lure the aquatic beasts, and borrow their power to quickly defeat most of the
Sword Cometh Peak disciples?”
Yaoyao’s red lips raised slightly as she said, “Correct. You will lure the aquatic beasts into the Heaven
Disorienting Boundary, and both parties will naturally begin to fight. When that happens, we will not only
be able to exhaust Sword Cometh Peak’s power but also use them to hunt aquatic beasts for us, killing
two birds with one stone.”
Zhou Yuan’s eyes turned round, clearly not expecting Yaoyao’s plan to be so cunning. They would not
only trap the other party, but even force them to help Saint Genesis Peak kill aquatic beasts, while the
latter could just sit and wait like a fisherman waiting to reel in the net.
“That’s quite ruthless.”
Muttered Zhou Yuan. Soon after, he grinned and said, “But I like it!”
Sword Cometh Peak was being far too domineering. Did they really believe Saint Genesis Peak was an
easy target? If this plan succeeded, it would surely stifle the former’s overweening attitude.
Moreover, since Saint Genesis Peak had recently reopened, it was an opportune time for them to pull off a
great victory, so the other peaks would no longer look down on them in the future.
At the sight of the excited Zhou Yuan, Yaoyao slowly said, “However, there are some issues with this
plan.”
“What issues?” Zhou Yuan immediately asked. He had originally been worrying over how they would be
able to face Sword Cometh Peak in the Genesis reservoir ceremony, and Yaoyao’s plan had undoubtedly
made him see some hope.
Yaoyao placed a hand on her chin as she explained, “This Heaven Disorienting Boundary is extremely
difficult to set-up. I’ll be hard-pressed to do it alone, so I’ll require some help.”
“What about me? Will I be able to help?” Zhou Yuan shamelessly recommended himself.
“Only someone whose Spirit has reached the advanced Corporeal stage will be of use.” Yaoyao glanced at
him as she softly chuckled. “Ye Ge seems to be a pretty good choice.”
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Zhou Yuan’s face turned rigid as he immediately dismissed the notion in a righteous manner, “He’s not
even from Saint Genesis Peak, plus Spirit Rune Peak has been coveting you too much. What if they try to
make use of this chance to force you to join Spirit Rune Peak? Nope, nope, I feel that this is a no go.”
Everyone could clearly see how Ye Ge fancied Yaoyao, and there was absolutely no way in hell that Zhou
Yuan would give him any opportunities.
A teasing angle rose from the corners of Yaoyao’s red lips as she shot a meaningful glance at Zhou Yuan.
Zhou Yuan forced out a smile in response. Soon after, he gritted his teeth and said, “Don’t worry, I will
work harder to reach the advanced Corporeal stage before the ceremony!”
Yaoyao pondered a little, before she unhurriedly said, “You’ll have to work hard then, if you fail, I’ll have
no choice but to ask Ye Ge for help.”
Zhou Yuan gritted his teeth and forcefully nodded.
Yaoyao could not help but laugh at Zhou Yuan’s appearance. She did not tease him any further as she
stretched her back and said, “I’m close to done with the Spirit Refining Saliva. When the modulation is
done, you can give it a try. It should be very beneficial to your Spirit cultivation.”
Zhou Yuan was elated by this news. With the Spirit Refining Saliva, his chances of a Spirit cultivation
breakthrough would naturally rise.
“Besides this, there’s still one more problem…”
Yaoyao’s tone changed again as her bright eyes stared at the boundary diagram. “Due to the
overwhelming number of people we plan to trap, the boundary’s power will become quite scattered. It
may be able to trap the ordinary disciples, but some of the more elite disciples of Sword Cometh Peak will
likely be able to escape.”
“If the elite disciples can free themselves, won’t that mean that the two Chosens Kong Sheng and Zhao
Zhu, plus the chief disciple Baili Che will be able to leave the boundary?” Zhou Yuan’s eyes widened.
Yaoyao nodded. “They will be the biggest problem. Once they escape, they will surely attempt to destroy
the boundary, and we allow that to happen, all of our hard work will be lost.”
Zhou Yuan’s eyes narrowed. If so, an intense battle would be unavoidable.
However, he was not afraid as battle hunger rose in his heart.
“You need not worry about Kong Sheng and Zhao Zhu. Tuntun and I will ensure that neither of them will
be able to move.” Yaoyao’s bright eyes looked straight at Zhou Yuan as she slowly said, “But you’ll have to
deal with Baili Che.”
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“If you fail and allow him to escape, the destruction of the boundary will cause a butterfly effect that will
lead to the failure of the entire operation. Once the Sword Cometh Peak disciples are freed, the small
number of disciples on our side will quickly be drowned by them.”
“So, can you stop Baili Che?”
An arrogant face flashed across Zhou Yuan’s mind as he softly chuckled.
“Don’t worry, if Baili Che manages to get past me, I’ll resign from my position as chief disciple.”
Yaoyao nodded. Since Zhou Yuan had said so, she was naturally going to place her trust in him. She slowly
folded the diagram as she said, “I’ll need to make other preparations for the Heaven Disorientating
Boundary, and will do my best to get ready over the next month.”
“And then…”
“We’ll just have to wait for the Genesis reservoir ceremony to begin… when the time comes, we’ll give
Sword Cometh Peak a nice big present.”
Yaoyao’s red lips curled upwards as a sliver of icy cruelness spread.
Zhou Yuan shivered a little at the sight of her smile, but soon began to gloat. Sword Cometh Peak was
really unlucky to have angered Yaoyao...
He was now somewhat looking forward to the Genesis reservoir ceremony.
On that day, the entire Cangxuan Sect would likely be shocked by Saint Genesis Peak once more.
2556
Chapter 509 Initial Stage Seed
Time stealthily flowed in the Cangxuan Sect, as another half a month quietly passed.
Atop a boulder, Zhou Yuan looked at the ball of light between his palms with a serious expression. Within
the ball was a primal chaos like mass from which mysterious undulations continuously spread. After a
month and a half, the Saint Spirit Seed was gradually approaching the initial stage.
“Eighty nine Beat Spirits have already been fused into it…”
Zhou Yuan licked his lips, his eyes burning with excitement. He had been pouring all of his energy into the
cultivation of the Saint Spirit Seed for quite some time, and the results were indeed pretty good.
Now, he only needed to successfully fuse the final Beast Spirit for the seed to reach the initial stage,
allowing it to merge into his body, and begin to display a little of the Omega Saint Spirit Art’s power.
Zhou Yuan very carefully cradled the ball of light as he beckoned with his other hand, causing a Beast
Spirit crystal to zip over. It was shattered with a single pinch as a roaring Beast Spirit rose from within.
Zhou Yuan swiftly destroyed the Beast Spirit’s conscience. With a deep breath, a resolute look flashed in
his eyes as he cast away all hesitation, and fluidly pushed the Beast Spirit into the Saint Spirit Seed.
Bzz bzz!
Berserk and chaotic undulations exploded the moment they touched. The originally stable Saint Spirit
Seed immediately began to swell, a sign that it was on the verge of exploding.
A Saint Rune rotated in the depths of Zhou Yuan’s pupils as his Spirit senses reached into the seed in a
practiced manner. He did everything he could to suppress and balance the many sources of disharmony.
With so many Beast Spirits already fused into it, the interior of the seed was extremely complex. Even
after spending a month and a half accustoming himself with the process, Zhou Yuan’s forehead was still
dripping with cold sweat at this moment.
However, he did not dare to relax even a little. He had invested more than a month of hard work on this
seed, and a tiny mistake was all that it would take for all his previous effort to turn into bubbles.
Zhou Yuan had experienced this several times prior, and it was certainly very depressing.
The cliff side was silent, and only the sound of the wind could be heard.
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Zhou Yuan had already blocked off all disturbances from the outside world, his eyes focused only on the
primal chaos like ball of light. In his eyes, countless chaotic undulations continuously emerged like
ripples, and immediately tried to spread. Zhou Yuan was basically akin to a firefighter, quickly darting all
over to put out these ‘fires’ by suppressing the chaotic undulations before they could completely unfurl.
This high speed firefighting pushed Zhou Yuan’s concentration to its limits, making it no less stressful and
intense than a fight with a top tier practitioner. In fact, Zhou Yuan began to feel exhaustion creep up on
him little by little.
However, he knew that he could not allow himself to relax even a tiny bit, and thus ruthlessly pushed
away the tiredness he felt.
As time flowed, the ball of light between Zhou Yuan’s palms grew brighter and brighter, as something
seemed to slowly grow inside the primal chaos like mass.
Nearby, old Xuan leaned against a tree trunk as he puffed smoke from his mouth. His murky eyes watched
Zhou Yuan as the amazement on his elderly face grew greater and greater.
“This kid…”
Time flowed and an incense stick of time swiftly passed.
Zhou Yuan was dripping with cold sweat that wet even his clothes. Veins wiggled on his forehead,
creating a somewhat sinister sight, while his breathing had grown rougher and more ragged.
He was evidently about to reach his limits.
“Stop spreading!”
A low growl suddenly erupted from Zhou Yuan’s throat as both his hands abruptly swung downwards,
heavily slapping onto the primal chaos like ball of light.
Thump!
With a muffled thump, the ball of light seemed to crack under Zhou Yuan’s palms as berserk undulations
exploded, jerking his body backwards and sending him flying.
He hurriedly stabilized himself as he stared at the center of the berserk undulations.
A ray of light slowly rose from within, spreading outwards as it began to form an indistinct glowing
figure.
The figure silently stood in the air as a mysterious aura pulsed from it.
“Kid, hurry up and use your blood to begin refining it!”
2558
While Zhou Yuan was in a daze, old Xuan’s shout was transmitted into his ears.
Zhou Yuan immediately dashed forward when he heard this, biting the tip of his tongue as he spat out a
mouthful of essence blood wrapped in Genesis Qi. The blood zipped forward, splattering onto the glowing
figure, and rapidly began to sink into it.
As the fruits of his labour, the Saint Spirit Seed was naturally extremely familiar to Zhou Yuan. Hence, the
integration process was swift and smooth.
When essence blood finished its work, Zhou Yuan felt a peculiar link between himself and the glowing
figure.
Swish!
But before he could even begin to savor the feeling, the glowing figure shot over with a swish,
transforming into a small flash of light as it charged into his body and entered his Qi Dwelling.
Zhou Yuan hastily looked inwards, and found a blurry glowing figure seated amidst the flowing golden
Genesis Qi in his Qi Dwelling. Strands of Genesis Qi surged towards it and was breathed in like air,
causing the blurry figure to grow a little brighter with each breath.
Zhou Yuan could feel an enormous power from the blurry glowing figure.
Zhou Yuan’s eyes widened with joy and surprise as he mumbled, “Is this… the initial form of the Saint
Spirit Seed?”
“I never imagined that you would complete the first form of the seed so soon…”
Old Xuan's voice rang out as he stared in Zhou Yuan in amazement. “Once you fuse in the nine core Beast
Spirits, the Saint Spirit Seed will reach its complete state and develop accordingly.”
Zhou Yuan wet his lips. Given how the ninety auxiliary Beast Spirits had already forced him to his limits,
how crazily difficult would fusing the nine core Beast Spirits be? The mere thought of it already made
Zhou Yuan shiver inside.
He let out a deep sigh. With regards to the final nine core ingredients, he would have to take it a step at a
time, and not rush things.
Old Xuan nodded as he advised Zhou Yuan not to be too anxious, “Your progress is already the fastest I’ve
ever seen among the disciples, and there’s no need to rush things for now. Moreover, the Omega Saint
Spirit Art can already begin to display some of its power in this state.”
“Let’s go, someone is waiting for you at the base of the mountain.” Old Xuan waved his hand.
2559
Zhou Yuan nodded in acknowledgement, before cupping his fists together in respect. Genesis Qi rose
under his feet, carrying him down the mountain, and he soon saw Zhou Tai, Zhang Yan and Lu Yan
waiting at the foot of the mountain.
Zhou Yuan landed and asked as he looked at the trio, “What is it?”
The trio exchanged a look, before Lu Yan’s lips parted slightly as she said, “Baili Che sent someone earlier
to tell us this is Saint Genesis Peak’s final chance. If you are feeling regretful about your decision, you
have to personally go down to Sword Cometh Peak to settle the matter.”
“If you don’t, Sword Cometh Peak will no longer show any courtesy.”
Zhou Tai said in a low voice, “That Baili Che is too much.”
If Zhou Yuan made a trip to Sword Cometh Peak, there would surely be much humiliation awaiting him.
Zhou Yuan chuckled as he said with a calm expression, “Send a disciple to Sword Cometh Peak to tell Baili
Che…”
“Tell him what?”
Zhou Yuan was already walking away as he voice echoed behind him.
“Tell him that this is the final chance I’m giving Sword Cometh Peak. If Baili Che doesn’t come to Saint
Genesis Peak to apologize, I will not show any courtesy in the Genesis reservoir ceremony.”
As Zhou Yuan left, Lu Yan, Zhou Tai and Zhang Yan looked at each other, clearly stunned by Zhou Yuan’s
domineering attitude.
Lu Yan could not help but ask, “Is he serious?”
“If this spreads, won’t Sword Cometh Peak blow their tops?”
Zhou Tai shrugged and said, “Junior brother Zhou Yuan is currently the chief disciple, and we only need to
follow his instructions. Moreover, I personally feel that it will be very relieving, haha!”
Lu Yan let out a bitter and helpless laugh, before she sighed.
She wondered whether Saint Genesis Peak would be able to withstand Sword Cometh Peak’s rage when
the Genesis reservoir ceremony began...
Because in her opinion, the current Zhou Yuan seemed as if he was smashing an already broken jar...
2560
Chapter 510 Scheme
Sword Cometh Peak.
Kong Sheng, Zhao Zhu and Baili Che were seated in a stone pavilion. The first two were concentrating on
their chess game, while Baili Che was looking at a disciple who had come to relay news in amusement.
Baili Che smirked as he looked at the disciple and said, “Did Zhou Yuan really dare to say that? He wants
me to go to Saint Genesis Peak and apologize, or he’ll no longer show any courtesy to us in the Genesis
reservoir ceremony?”
The disciple nodded. “That’s what the disciple from Saint Genesis Peak said earlier, it should not be false.”
Baili Che laughed as he waved for the disciple to withdraw, before turning towards the two individuals
playing chess. “This junior brother of ours is really…”
He pondered for a long time, before he smiled helplessly and said, “An ignorant fool.”
He was truly unable to imagine where Zhou Yuan found the courage to say a thing. Did he feel coming to
Sword Cometh Peak to admit his mistake was not punishment enough?
Once the Genesis reservoir ceremony began, Saint Genesis Peak would instantly be burned to ashes by
Sword Cometh Peak’s rage.
In the stone pavilion, Kong Sheng and Zhao Zhu were clearly unconcerned, evidently taking it as
nonsense. Their complete disregard was akin to the disdain of the strong towards a trash talking
weakling.
Baili Che sat down as he smiled faintly and said, “I plan on telling all the Sword Cometh Peak disciples
about Zhou Yuan’s words.”
Kong Sheng and Zhao Zhu’s game ended at this moment. Only then did they unhurriedly lift their heads
and nod. “Go ahead.”
They naturally understood Baili Che’s intentions. Sword Cometh Peak was already filled with resentment
towards Saint Genesis Peak and Zhou Yuan’s words would undoubtedly be akin to pouring oil into the
fire.
In such a situation, no matter how badly Saint Genesis Peak was beaten up later on, bystanders would
only say that they were asking for it.
Weaklings should obediently lower their heads and apologize, struggling and jumping around so much
was only asking for death.
2561
Baili Che chuckled. He was naturally going to add some spice to Zhou Yuan’s original words. That way,
even if Sword Cometh Peak’s two Chosens and chief disciple tried to step in to ask everyone to show a
little more mercy, the other disciples would not agree.
When that happened, Saint Genesis Peak would truly have no way out.
He raised his head, and looked in the direction of Saint Genesis Peak, as a mocking smile emerged from
the corners of his mouth.
The true goal of Baili Che’s earlier message was to anger Zhou Yuan. He never imagined that the latter
would be so cooperative, and even retort with such a perfect message. All he had to do now was to use
Zhou Yuan’s words to unify Sword Cometh Peak, and turn their targets towards Zhou Yuan and Saint
Genesis Peak.
Once the momentum began to build, let alone the two Chosens and chief disciple, even the many elders
would be powerless to stop Sword Cometh Peak’s rampaging rage.
There was already no longer any chance of changing the trajectory of the hammer that was swinging
down towards Saint Genesis Peak.
Baili Che softly chuckled. As the recently promoted chief disciple, he naturally needed to solidify his
position and grow his reputation. So how would he accomplish this? As long as he managed to viciously
stomp on Zhou Yuan and Saint Genesis Peak, his standing would naturally rise drastically. In fact, he may
even obtain peak master Ling Jun’s favor, giving him a better chance of becoming a Chosen in the future.
As such, the upcoming Genesis reservoir ceremony was going to be the best opportunity to show his
worth. If Saint Genesis Peak had conceded at such a time, he would instead be quite disappointed.
“Zhou Yuan ah Zhou Yuan, you’re still too inexperienced…”
“I’ve already sent someone to deliver the message to Baili Che. I’m certain he will add some flavor to it,
before spreading it to the entire Sword Cometh Peak to make them even more angry at us.”
In the peaceful and cooling cave dwelling, light shined down from the roof of the cave as Zhou Yuan
looked at Yaoyao and excitedly said, “With emotions running high, Sword Cometh Peak will most
absolutely make it their chief mission to trample over Saint Genesis Peak in the ceremony. Otherwise,
even their two Chosens, Kong Sheng and Zhao Zhu, will be incapable of appeasing the rage of the
disciples.”
“Only with them so impatiently itching to crush us, will we be able to smoothly draw them in, and then…”
He extended a hand and abruptly clenched it.
2562
“Catch them all!”
A smule hung from the corners of Zhou Yuan’s mouth. How could he not have guessed Baili Che’s
intentions. However, what the latter did not know was that Zhou Yuan was completely unafraid of Sword
Cometh Peak’s retaliation.
Instead, he was already scheming how he would trap this giant creature known as Sword Cometh Peak in
the Genesis reservoir ceremony.
Yaoyao had made numerous preparations for the Heaven Disorientating Boundary, and their goal was to
catch the entire Sword Cometh Peak in their net. Hence, they needed to ensure every single disciple
would take the bait.
Otherwise, if the boundary only managed to net a portion of the disciples, the rest would remain a giant
problem.
Thus, they needed to infuriate the Sword Cometh Peak disciples even more to make sure all of them
would be present for the main dish. Only then would they be able to trap them all.
Yaoyao nodded faintly as she said in praise, “You’re really adept at drawing their hatred.”
Since it was so rare for her to be serious about something, she naturally planned to make everything as
perfect as possible. If even a few of the Sword Cometh Peak disciples were not present, it would feel a
little disappointing even if they succeeded in the end.
Yaoyao playfully stared at Zhou Yuan and said, “However… with you acting so arrogant, aren’t you afraid
the Sword Cometh Peak disciples will attempt something underhanded in the future?”
Zhou Yuan lightly flicked one of the overhanging flowers as he replied, “When our plan succeeds, I believe
they will become somewhat fearful of us, and not dare to try underhanded tactics.”
Sword Cometh Peak currently looked down on Saint Genesis Peak, because they felt the latter was weak.
When the Genesis reservoir ceremony was over, they would likely no longer dare to have such thoughts.
“Of course… everything still hinges upon big sis Yaoyao’s Heaven Disorientating Boundary. If it fails, we’ll
really become a laughing stock.”
“And I’ll have no choice but to hide away in Saint Genesis Peak, not daring to take even a single step out.”
Zhou Yuan looked to his side at the girl so beautiful that even the nearby peach blossoms seemed to lose
their color, as earnestly said, “That’s why we’ll all be depending on you this time.”
Yaoyao lazily said, “There’s no need to worry about my side. You, on the other hand… since you’ve made
progress in the Saint Spirit Seed, you’d better spend the following two weeks working on your Spirit
cultivation. If you fail to breakthrough, you’ll have to go beg for Ye Ge’s help.”
2563
The corners of Zhou Yuan’s mouth twitched. How could he ever beg for Ye Ge’s aid! That would be utterly
humiliating!
Zhou Yuan gritted his teeth and firmly said, “Don’t worry, I’ll definitely reach the advanced Corporeal
stage before the ceremony!”
Yaoyao's lips raised a little as she tossed him a jade bottle.
Zhou Yuan hastily caught it, and found that it was filled with fluttering golden crystal dust. Every grain
gave off an extremely mysterious undulation that made the Spirit between his brows stir violently with
desire.
“This is?”
The modulated Spirit Refining Saliva… so you’d better not say I didn’t help you.” Yaoyao swept a glance at
Zhou Yuan, before gracefully turning around as her clear spring-water like voice sounded.
“You’d better start on your Spirit cultivation and study the boundary diagram.”
“It’s rare for me to take something seriously for once, so if you end up causing problems for my boundary,
just wait and see how I’ll deal with you!”
2564
The message Zhou Yuan sent to Baili Che quickly spread to the entire Sword Cometh Peak. To no one’s
surprise, the numerous disciples were instantly enraged. Sword Cometh Peak had been akin to a rising
sun for the past few years, plus the Genesis Qi they cultivated was mostly direct and aggressive in nature,
causing their characters to lean towards being a little more forceful and unyielding.
The Sword Cometh Peak disciples had always felt superior to Saint Genesis Peak, and they were honestly
not the only ones. The other peaks also had similar attitudes, because Saint Genesis Peak was after all just
too pathetic, with only two meagre factions.
Even when Zhou Yuan achieved several impressive battle accomplishments previously, most of the
Sword Cometh Peak disciples had not taken him seriously, until he defeated Yuan Hong in the chief
disciple selection, and took the chief disciple seat.
No one had expected a year old new disciple to reach such heights… a reality that the proud Sword
Cometh Peak disciples found rather difficult to swallow.
After all, Lu Hong’s faction originated from their Sword Cometh Peak.
In addition, peak master Ling Jun had lost his bet, causing Sword Cometh Peak to lose a tremendous
amount of cultivation resources. The disciples naturally did not dare to blame their peak master, and thus
directed all of their resentment towards Saint Genesis Peak and Zhou Yuan.
In fact, many disciples had declared that they would teach Saint Genesis Peak a lesson during the Genesis
reservoir ceremony to release their resentment.
In their view, teaching Saint Genesis Peak a lesson was the most logical and basic common sense, and if
the latter were tactful, they would obediently receive their punishment to let the matter pass.
To Sword Cometh Peak’s surprise, however, Saint Genesis Peak showed no indication of bowing their
heads. What’s more, the latter had refused to compromise even after chief disciple Baili Che personally
made a trip down to talk things out.
This made the Sword Cometh Peak disciples grow increasingly annoyed. Although Saint Genesis Peak had
recently reopened, their foundations were still far too frail, and yet they dared to challenge Sword
Cometh Peak? Shouldn’t this come at least a hundred years later after some time to grow and rebuild?
As such, some of the more radical disciples had already decided that they would humiliate Saint Genesis
Peak during the ceremony, letting the latter know that even after reopening their main peak, they were
still nothing in Sword Cometh Peak’s eyes!
2565
However, even before the ceremony could begin, Zhou Yuan had sent such a provocative message to Baili
Che...
As a result, every disciple in the entire Sword Cometh Peak erupted in anger.
They were truly unable to believe that Zhou Yuan would actually dare to provoke their Sword Cometh
Peak. Did he really think that defeating a mere Yuan Hong would allow him to look down on them?
Rage boiled in Sword Cometh Peak, every disciple angrily cursing, as the gazes that looked towards Saint
Genesis Peak turned exceptionally fierce.
They were now most definitely going to teach Saint Genesis Peak a very painful lesson during the Genesis
reservoir ceremony.
With regards to this situation, even sect master Qing Yang could only helplessly shake his head. It looks
like the only option was to let Sword Cometh Peak let out all of their anger during the ceremony.
But when that happened, Saint Genesis Peak would in for a very rough time indeed.
The news naturally spread to the entire Cangxuan Sect, stupefying the disciples from the other peaks.
They had likewise not expected the new chief disciple of Saint Genesis Peak to be so… arrogant.
“This is… a little too arrogant of Zhou Yuan. I can’t believe he actually dared to provoke Sword Cometh
Peak at this juncture.”
“Agreed. Sword Cometh Peak’s strength is something that the current Saint Genesis Peak cannot possibly
match. Sending out such a provocation at this time will only make them suffer more during the
ceremony.”
“With Sword Cometh Peak so angry, I don’t think anyone will be able to stop them anymore.”
“Chief disciples Zhou Yuan is really unlucky to encounter Sword Cometh Peak’s rage so soon after taking
his position… in this situation, it’ll be a miracle if they achieve good results in the Genesis reservoir
ceremony.”
“How pitiful. I wonder how bruised and battered Saint Genesis Peak will be after the ceremony.”
“……”
Similar conversations continued to be held amongst the other peaks, everyone clearly pitying Saint
Genesis Peak. At the same time, they were unable to understand why Zhou Yuan had sent such an
arrogant and provocative message.
2566
Such actions were truly irrational.
They were incapable of comprehending Zhou Yuan’s thoughts. In the end, everyone merely took it as him
being too young and immature, causing him to crack under Saint Genesis Peak’s tremendous pressure.
Li Qingchan had likewise heard the news and was also quite puzzled by it. Given her understanding of
Zhou Yuan, the latter was not a hot-headed individual who spoke irresponsibly.
However, she was also unable to understable why Zhou Yuan had provoked Sword Cometh Peak in this
manner. Had Yaoyao’s participation really made him so confident?
But no matter how strong Yaoyao was, what could she possibly accomplish against ten thousand Sword
Cometh Peak disciples?
“What exactly is he thinking?”
“Isn’t he afraid of being thoroughly humiliated during the ceremony after provoking Sword
Cometh Peak?”
The Cangxuan Peak.
“Junior sister Hongyi, your friend is quite the character.” Numerous disciples in the Cangxuan Peak were
aware that Gu Hongyi and Zhou Yuan were from the same batch of disciples that had joined the inner
mountains together, and were on pretty good terms. Hence, several people came to joke about the matter
when they heard about it.
Gu Hongyi was after all someone who had an extremely strong background in the Cangxuan Sect, while
also a great beauty. Although she was a little too fiery tempered, it did not stop her from becoming a
popular figure in the Cangxuan Peak.
Gu Hongyi constantly praised Zhou Yuan, causing several of the male disciples, who fancied her, to grow
jealous. However, none of them had been able to say anything due to his remarkable performance so far.
As such, it was nearly impossible to avoid them poking fun at Zhou Yuan the moment they heard the
news, in an attempt to weaken his position in Gu Hongyi’s heart.
Gu Hongyi blocked all of these jokes in a calm and indifferent manner, but when no one was looking, she
would gaze towards Saint Genesis Peak with worry in her beautiful eyes.
She too did not understand why Zhou Yuan would stir up Sword Cometh Peak. Did he not realize how
difficult things would become for him?
2567
…
While the many disciples in the Cangxuan Sect were gossiping over this topic, deep in his cave dwelling,
Zhou Yuan began his final stretch of training for the Genesis reservoir ceremony.
Zhou Yuan was seated on a stone bed deep in the peaceful cave.
His Spirit slowly rose from between his brows, its corporeal figure hovering above his head in a cross-
legged position.
With a gentle shake of a bottle, golden crystal dust drifted out, grain after grain shining dazzlingly under
the sunlight as they landed on the Spirit above Zhou Yuan.
Zhou Yuan Spirit faintly rippled when each golden crystal dust entered it, as it began to grow even more
condensed and corporeal.
Specks of light danced in the depths of the cave.
Time quietly flowed, as the date of the Genesis reservoir ceremony grew closer and closer...
2568
Chapter 512 Hearing about the Mythic Utopia
Dong! Dong!
The sound of an old bell melodiously echoed across the land, causing an astonishing wave of excitement
and noise to explode in the Cangxuan Sect. The rising clamor made the ancient cultivation holy land
become akin to a marketplace.
Because today was the date of the Genesis reservoir ceremony.
Saint Genesis Peak.
Zhou Tai and several disciples were anxiously waiting outside a certain cave dwelling, while Yaoyao
stood in front of them, carrying Tuntun with a calm, ordinary expression.
Zhou Tai could not help but look towards Yaoyao in a fluster, “Junior sister Xiaoyao, is junior brother
Zhou Yuan not ready yet? We really have to head to the Genesis reservoir soon. If he doesn’t hurry up, we
might not be able to make it in time!”
Yaoyao shook her head and replied, “He’s in closed cultivation, and will naturally come out when it's over.
None of you are allowed to disturb him.”
Zhou Tai and gang could only grimace in response. None of them dared to show any attitude towards
Yaoyao, because they knew that rather than chief disciple Zhou Yuan, she was the true bedrock of Saint
Genesis Peak.
Dong! Dong!
The resonant sound of a bell continued to echo, while Zhou Tai and the others worriedly paced back and
forth.
None of them dared to even imagine what a laughing stock they will be if Zhou Yuan failed to make it. If
that were to happen, Sword Cometh Peak would surely believe he was using this as an excuse to hide
from them.
Both Saint Genesis Peak and its chief disciple would then have to wear the hat of ‘gutless cowards’.
And would also be far too great of a blow to their reputation.
While more and more cold sweat emerged on their foreheads, a familiar voice finally sounded from the
cave, causing Zhou Tai and the rest to breathe a deep sigh of relief, as if a heavy burden had been lifted
from their shoulders.
“Hehe, sorry for making senior brothers wait.”
2569
Zhou Tai and gang hurriedly raised their heads, and saw Zhou Yuan slowly walking out of the cave.
He currently wore a faint smile on his confident face. His eyes in particular seemed especially bright like
stars, causing one to feel a slight piercing pain if one looked directly at them.
Zhou Tai could feel that there was something different about Zhou Yuan, but the former could not explain
it in words.
However, they had no time to think about such things at this juncture. Zhou Tai hurriedly said, “Let’s
hurry up and get moving. Our Saint Genesis Peak disciples are all waiting for you.”
Zhou Yuan nodded as he exchanged a look with Yaoyao. The latter’s eyes paused on the spot between his
brows for a moment as she said, “Not bad, you didn’t disappoint.”
Zhou Yuan chuckled, but did not say anything. With a wave of his sleeve, Genesis Qi rose, swiftly carrying
the group into the sky.
The Genesis Qi cloud zipped past in the sky. After several dozen minutes, it landed in front of one of the
halls in Saint Genesis Peak, where the disciples of the two factions were already gathered.
These disciples had clearly grown rather anxious while waiting. They immediately breathed huge sighs of
relief upon seeing Zhou Yuan as they quickly cupped their fists together.
“Greetings chief disciple!”
Zhou Yuan returned the gesture, before looking towards Shen Taiyuan. “I almost couldn’t make it in time.
I hope that teacher Shen will not blame me too much.”
Shen Taiyuan’s expression was calm, with no sign of any anxiety. He merely smiled as he waved his hand
and said, “Since you’re here, let’s get going.”
With a wave of his sleeve, Genesis Qi surged out, sweeping up the numerous disciples as they soared into
the sky.
Outside the Genesis reservoir.
A sprawling black mass of people completely filled all the nearby mountain peaks, while an endless
hubbub filled the area.
The disciples were clearly separated by their various peaks. At this current time, their gazes were all
looking towards Saint Genesis Peak’s direction, because all the other six peaks were already present, with
only Saint Genesis Peak still missing.
2570
As time flowed, whispers quietly began to spread.
“What’s Saint Genesis Peak doing? Look at the time, can’t believe they’re still not here.”
“Have they been frightened silly by Sword Cometh Peak? Are they going to give up on this Genesis
reservoir ceremony?”
“Eh… that may be possible. But if so, what face will they have left? I’ve never seen a peak that doesn’t
even dare to participate in the Genesis reservoir ceremony.”
“Hehe, in any case, they’ll only be slaughtered by Sword Cometh Peak inside…”
“It seems that chief disciple Zhou Yuan has not instilled much confidence in the Saint Genesis Peak
disciples.”
“……”
Similar conversations continued to spread.
Many disciples were already roaring with laughter over at Sword Cometh Peak’s side with arrogant
expressions. Saint Genesis Peak’s fearful stance had clearly made the former feel a strong sense of
satisfaction.
Kong Sheng, Zhao Zhu and Baili Che stood at the very front of the many disciples. They exchanged a look,
while an indescribable smile hung from the corners of their lips.
Was Saint Genesis Peak really so afraid that they were not coming?
“It seems that I’ve overestimated Zhou Yuan.” Remarked Baili Che in a nonchalant manner, his tone filled
with mockery. He obviously did not wish for Saint Genesis Peak to be a no show, because how would he
have a chance to show his worth if that were to happen?
Hence, he was instead a little angry that Saint Genesis Peak was still not here.
Zhou Yuan did not have much ability, but he was very good at pissing others off!
Swoosh!
However, while Baili Che was feeling very annoyed inside, the sound of rushing wind was heard. Next,
countless disciples saw a Genesis Qi cloud descend from the sky as several hundred Saint Genesis Peak
disciples landed on a nearby mountain.
When they appeared, the piercing gazes of many Sword Cometh Peak disciples immediately shot over.
2571
Shen Taiyuan lifted his head and looked at the sky, where six figures were giving off imposing auras, as he
said, “Reporting to sect master, Saint Genesis Peak’s disciples are here.”
In the sky, sect master Qing Yang looked down as he faintly nodded, before his powerful voice rang
boomed across the area.
“The Genesis reservoir comes from the Origin Dragon Vein under our sect, which has played no small part
in the sect being able to stand till this day. I hope that all of you will bear gratefulness in your hearts while
you’re inside today.”
Countless disciples nodded with solemn expressions, before they cupped their fists together and bowed
towards the mountains.
Sect master Qing Yang nodded. “I believe all of you are already aware about the rules of the ceremony. It
will be a competition of sorts between the various peaks, and the ones who ultimately obtain the most
Genesis essence will naturally receive a better appraisal.”
He paused for a moment, before he continued, “Besides this… I’ve sensed that the Mythic Utopia in the
Shengzhou Continent will resurface once again. It is a land of great blessing and fortune born from
Cangxuan Heaven, that the countless sects and factions greatly covet. Hence why a storm will sweep over
Cangxuan Heaven every time it appears.”
“As such, after discussing with the five peak masters, the spots to enter the Mythic Utopia shall be
awarded according to the performance of the various peaks during the Genesis reservoir ceremony.”
*Uproar*!
These words caused the entire place to explode. Let alone the ordinary disciples, even the Chosens of the
various peaks were no longer able to remain composed.
The Mythic Utopia!
The land of blessing they had waited so long for!
There was finally news about its opening!
In front of the many Saint Genesis Peak disciples, Zhou Yuan was also stunned as he involuntarily licked
his lips.
He never imagined that he would hear information about the Mythic Utopia again at this time and place.
From the clues revealed by the second Saint Rune...
The third Saint Rune seemed to be somewhere inside that Mythic Utopia!
2572
Chapter 513 Genesis Reservoir Opens Once More
The atmosphere outside the Genesis reservoir rapidly heated up with excitement due to sect master Qing
Yang’s announcement, as unconcealable desire surged out in the eyes of the countless disciples.
While there were countless opportunities in Cangxuan Heaven, for most practitioners at the Alpha-Origin
stage, nothing could shake the Mythic Utopia’s number one spot.
Why was this so?
Everyone knew that the Alpha-Origin stage consisted of building one’s Genesis Qi foundations. The
stronger these foundations, the higher the grade of the Divine Dwelling after a cultivation breakthrough.
Anyone with ambition would undoubtedly do everything possible to strengthen their foundations during
the Alpha-Origin stage, because it would create a solid base for their subsequent journey along the path
of cultivation.
The better the Divine Dwelling, the higher one’s limits will be in the future.
However, when many Alpha-Origin stage practitioners arrived at the ninth layer, they would realize how
increasingly difficult it became to strengthen one’s Genesis Qi foundations. Creating even one more star
in their Qi Dwellings would take a tremendous amount of time and effort.
By this time, it would feel as if one had reached one’s limits, and the only way to progress a step forward
would be through some kind of special encounter.
However, special encounters or blessings that could strengthen one’s foundations were very rare, and
would draw countless desperate competitors the moment it appeared. In Cangxuan Heaven, the Mythic
Utopia was the best place to find such such things.
It was said that someone had once obtained a great blessing in the Mythic Utopia. Without it, he would
have only been able to form a four heavens Divine Dwelling, but through it, he ascended the heavens in a
single step, ultimately developing an astonishing eight heavens Divine Dwelling!
This matter caused quite a commotion in Cangxuan Heaven back then. After all, even in the entire
Cangxuan Heaven, an individual with an eight heaven Divine Dwelling would only appear once every few
decades.
Due to this event, the Mythic Utopia became extremely popular, causing countless Alpha-Origin stage
practitioners to go crazy. Every time it resurfaced, a storm of blood would follow as countless experts
fought tooth and nail over a spot to enter.
Later on, the hegemon level sects interfered, and forcibly created an allocation system of sorts, allowing
the Mythic Utopia to have some semblance of rules.
2573
However, though the Mythic Utopia was said to contain the greatest of blessings, there was no fixed
period when it would resurface. At times, one would have to wait several or even dozens of years, causing
many Genesis Masters, who failed to wait it out, to be filled with endless regret.
This was why the numerous disciples of the Cangxuan Sect were so excited when they heard sect master
Qing Yang mention the Mythic Utopia was going to resurface.
Though even a top tier faction like the Cangxuan Sect was only given limited entry spots, there was at
least a chance now, right?
The Chosens and chief disciples of the various peaks in particular, were the most expectant towards the
Mythic Utopia. Nearly all of them were currently at the ninth layer Alpha-Origin stage, and thus urgently
needed such an opportunity to strengthen their foundations, creating a stronger bedrock for their
cultivation breakthrough in the near future.
As such, gaze after gaze burned so hot that even ice would melt under them.
Even the indolent Chu Qing was scratching his shiny bald head with a complicated expression on his
handsome face, split between anticipation and helplessly as he muttered, “The Mythic Utopia is finally
about to resurface? But it’s going to be so troublesome to fight for blessings there!”
“What should I do? I’m kind of looking forward to it too.”
“*Sigh*...”
Once the Mythic Utopia opened, the countless prided geniuses at the Alpha-Origin stage in Cangxuan
Heaven would likely swarm to it in droves. The level of competitiveness would give even someone like
Chu Qing a headache.
Because what he hated the most was trouble.
While the atmosphere was boiling with excitement, Zhou Yuan exchanged a look with Yaoyao. He had
naturally told Yaoyao about the clues revealed by the second Saint Rune. Hence, the latter was also aware
that the third Saint Rune was very likely somewhere in the Mythic Utopia.
It had previously presented quite a problem to them, since the Mythic Utopia’s reemergence did not
follow any kind of schedule. What would they do if it failed to appear for several years? But who could
have expected that the problem would suddenly be solved.
“What a coincidence…” Zhou Yuan muttered apprehensively inside. He could not help but harbor a
certain suspicion. Was the Mythic Utopia’s emergence this time somehow related to him finding the
second Saint Rune?
Patriarch Cang Xuan had been the master of Cangxuan Heaven after all, and possessed remarkable
abilities. In fact, he may even have control over a land of great blessing like the Mythic Utopia.
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Of course, this was only Zhou Yuan’s conjecture. There was after all no way to find out for sure since
patriarch Cang Xuan was already dead.
“So the spots to enter the Mythic Utopia will be allocated according to the results of the Genesis reservoir
ceremony, huh?” Zhou Yuan wet his lips. Looks like sect master wanted the disciples of the various peaks
to really go at it this time.
Everyone knew just how important the Mythic Utopia was. With more spots, more disciples from the
peak would have a chance to participate, and ultimately enjoy the benefits.
Zhou Yuan’s gaze swept to the side, seeing the burning desire in the eyes of Zhou Tai, Zhang Yan, Lu Yan
and several of the other stronger disciples. They stirred restlessly, clearly very enticed by sect master’s
words.
Zhou Yuan looked towards the other peaks, and found that elders were already flying forward to pull
aside the Chosens and secretly whisper them something. The elders were most likely telling the Chosens
to do their best, and achieve best results possible in the Genesis reservoir ceremony.
“*Sigh*...”
While the other peaks were stirring restlessly, elder Shen Taiyuan and elder Lu Song exchanged a look
and sighed softly.
In their view, the Mythic Utopia had come at a very unfortunate time, because Saint Genesis Peak was
currently at its weakest. How could they possibly achieve good results in the ceremony? In fact, not being
eliminated half way through would already be pretty good.
The sighs from the two elders splashed over the surrounding disciples like a bucket of cold water, causing
them to return to their senses. The excitement on their faces slowly receded when they began to realize
the current predicament of Saint Genesis Peak, as they hung their heads in disappointment.
If the spots were allocated according to the results of the Genesis reservoir ceremony, Saint Genesis Peak
was going to be in a very miserable situation.
Zhou Yuan could likewise feel the change in atmosphere, but he did not say anything. Everything would
have to wait till after they entered the Genesis reservoir. To prevent the plan from being leaked, he had
not even informed Zhou Tai and the rest.
Amidst the depressing atmosphere, Zhou Yuan suddenly felt several mocking gazes shoot towards them.
He lifted his head slightly, and saw Baili Che and other Sword Cometh Peak disciples looking over with
pity.
Upon seeing Zhou Yuan look over, Baili Che smiled slightly , before he opened his mouth as a voice was
noiselessly transmitted.
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“Are you regretting things now?”
“Unfortunately…”
“It’s already too late.”
Zhou Yuan’s expression remained unchanged as he cast a glance at the former, before withdrawing his
gaze.
At this moment, upon seeing that the numerous disciples had already digested the shocking news, sect
master Qing Yang waved his sleeve. With a loud ‘dong’, his powerful voice echoed across the area.
“Genesis reservoir, open!”
2576
Chapter 514 Run!
When sect master Qing Yang’s powerful voice boomed across the area, the entire place seemed to
violently shudder as the mists enveloping the Genesis reservoir swiftly began to recede at a speed that
could be seen with the naked eye.
An endless sea appeared within the disciples’ sights.
The purple sash disciples were still able to remain calm. After all, they had several chances to enter every
year. In contrast, the non purple sash disciples trembled with emotion, their heads raised in expectation.
In the past, they could only watch enviously from the outside because they did not have the qualifications
to enter.
High up in the sky, sect master Qing Yang watched the Genesis reservoir appear, as his hands suddenly
formed a seal. A vast, mighty force immediately descended from the sky, and enveloped the land.
Roar!
The earth shuddered as if an earth dragon was rampaging within, causing even the entire mountain range
to tremble violently. It was as if an ancient dragon roar was reverberating from deep down in the earth.
The numerous disciples did not know what was happening, but they could sense the terrifying
undulations beneath their feet.
Zhou Yuan’s eyes widened slightly. Due to the Dragon’s Resentment Poison in his body, plus the Ancestral
Dragon Scripture he practiced, he found the strange undulations rather familiar. They contained dragon
Qi, and if he was not wrong, it likely originated from the Source Dragon Vein beneath the Cangxuan Sect.
He raised his head and gazed at the Genesis reservoir, as he felt a vast power surge into it.
Rumble!
The sea began to churn madly, waves ten thousand feet high rising to blot out the sun.
In a short few breaths, the previously calm reservoir had gone berserk, a scene that made even the
expressions of the purple sash disciples change a little.
The reservoir had undoubtedly become much more dangerous than usual.
Ao! Ao!
As giant waves surged, everyone saw countless aquatic beasts wailing within the water. More and more
aquatic beasts were born as Source Dragon Qi surged in, while their bodies grew larger and larger.
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Dangerous presences stealthily rose in the endless Genesis reservoir.
Countless disciples quietly swallowed. The Genesis reservoir was clearly at its most dangerous, but of
course, within the danger lay opportunity.
These aquatic beasts contained Genesis essence that could be used for a Genesis baptism to strengthen
their cultivation foundations.
The influx of Source Dragon Qi caused tremendous changes within the Genesis reservoir. At this moment,
sect master Qing Yang finally nodded his head in satisfaction, before waving his sleeve. Torrential Genesis
Qi surged out, wrapping around the disciples of the seven peaks, and sending them all towards the many
islands in the outer regions of the Genesis reservoir with a whoosh.
As the disciples were sent into the reservoir, sect master Qing Yang’s powerful voice boomed.
“The Genesis reservoir ceremony shall begin!”
“Disciples, do your best.”
On the many islands, the eyes of the disciples from the various peaks slowly began to burn with
excitement.
The Sword Cometh Peak disciples immediately cast hostile gazes towards a nearby island, where the
Saint Genesis Peak disciples were currently gathered.
“Chief disciple Zhou Yuan, what should we do?” The Saint Genesis Peak disciples felt their scalps turn
numb under the gazes of ten thousand Sword Cometh Peak disciples, as their legs turned wobbly. The
other party’s advantage was far too great, and they would likely be instantly wiped out the moment they
were surrounded.
“What do we do?”
Zhou Yuan chuckled upon hearing this, before he said, “We’re running of course!”
“All of you better run as if your lives are on the line! Anyone who gets caught has only bad luck to blame!”
He exchanged a look with Yaoyao the moment the words left his lips, before taking the lead as he dashed
into the air. He immediately pushed his speed to the limit, and flew towards the deeper areas of the
Genesis reservoir.
Behind them, Zhou Tai, Zhang Yan and Lu Yan exchanged a glance, before letting out a bitter laugh. With a
surge of Genesis Qi, the hurriedly followed.
The other disciples grumbled, but did not dare to say anything outright, leaving them no choice but to
begin their desperate escape.
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Hence, while the disciples from the other peaks were still analysing the situation, the few hundred Saint
Genesis Peak disciples had already begun their frantic fleeing, disappearing from everyone’s sights in the
blink of an eye.
Their actions stunned the disciples from the other peaks.
Especially the Sword Cometh Peak disciples. A number of them who were preparing to cut off Saint
Genesis Peak’s escape routes were dumbstruck as they stared at the rapidly disappearing figures.
After being dazed for a brief moment, the Sword Cometh Peak disciples suddenly burst out into laughter.
Some of the disciples even clutched their stomachs, unable to stop themselves from laughing despite the
pain.
Saint Genesis Peak’s actions were really very pathetic.
Before they could even begin to move, the other side had already scrambled away like frightened birds,
led by their one and only chief disciple Zhou Yuan.
The disciples from the other peaks could not help but shake their heads. Was Saint Genesis Peak here to
make a fool of themselves?
Especially Zhou Yuan. Given his amazing battle accomplishments, no one had expected him to opt to flee
in the face of Sword Cometh Peak...
Li Qingchan frowned slightly, gently gritting her teeth as she watched. “He even acted so tough
previously. Does he really think this will be enough for them to escape from Sword Cometh Peak?”
This was obviously impossible. When Sword Cometh Peak also entered the deeper parts of the reservoir
and reorganized themselves, they would surely begin to encircle Saint Genesis Peak.
Saint Genesis Peak’s actions were only delaying the inevitable.
Moreover, who cares if Zhou Yuan brought shame to himself, why did he have to implicate Yaoyao as
well!
On Sword Cometh Peak’s side, Kong Sheng, Zhao Zhu and Baili Che were also surprised for a moment by
Saint Genesis Peak’s actions, but soon sarcastically said, “Zhou Yuan is quite a decisive individual.”
In truth, shamelessly fleeing with the other disciples was actually a sensible choice. The only catch was
that it was very humiliating.
The Kong Sheng trio looked towards the direction Zhou Yuan and the rest had fled in, as a toying look
akin to a cat playing with a mouse rose in their eyes. They were not worried about where Saint Genesis
Peak would escape to, because the latter’s actions were merely the final struggle before death.
2579
Kong Sheng and Zhao Zhu looked towards Baili Che and nodded to him.
The latter immediately understood, and turned his head to speak to the Sword Cometh Peak disciples,
“Ignore them for now. We’ll first rush towards the deeper areas of the Genesis reservoir, and set up a
base of operations to observe the movements of the aquatic beasts and hunt for Genesis essence.”
“Senior brother Baili, are we really going to ignore them?” Asked a disciple that was itching to teach Saint
Genesis Peak a lesson.
“What’s the rush…” Baili Che softly chuckled. “They can’t escape. We’ll let them work for us for the time
being, though they won’t be able to collect much Genesis essence.”
The other disciples nodded upon hearing this.
Baili Che raised his head and peered into the distance, as a playful smile hung from the corners of his lips.
“Go on Zhou Yuan, run. Let me see how long you’ll be able to keep running…”
...
Far away, Zhou Yuan was leading the dejected Saint Genesis Peak disciples as they fled. He seemed to
sense a gaze from behind, and tilted his head slightly, as a smile rose from the corners of his lips.
“Sword Cometh Peak…”
“Laugh while you can, because you’ll soon be crying.”
2580
Sunlight shimmered across the crystal clear water, as the enormous silhouettes of aquatic beasts
streaked past below the surface, causing giant waves to rise in their wake.
Several hundred figures zipped through the air, their gazes constantly scanning the area.
These figures naturally belonged to the Saint Genesis Peak disciples, with Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao leading
them from the front.
After entering the Genesis reservoir, the group had immediately headed for the deeper areas, not taking
even a single break in between.
While they advanced, Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao were constantly on the lookout for a suitable location,
where they would begin constructing the enormous Heaven Disorientating Boundary.
The other disciples were unaware of the duo’s plans, and could thus only gloomily follow in confusion.
After searching for two hours, the duo finally decided on an island which was quite suited to their needs.
With a wave of his hand, Zhou Yuan landed, and was quickly followed by several hundred figures.
Zhou Yuan was rather satisfied as he scanned the surroundings, before turning towards Zhou Tai and the
rest as he said, “This shall be our base of operations for the time being.”
Zhou Tai, Zhang Yan and Lu Yan looked at each other with bitter smiles, before they asked, “Chief disciple,
do we have some kind of plan?”
Saint Genesis Peak was indeed far too weak, their total strength of a few hundred disciples not even
worth mentioning when compared to the other peaks. They had also offended Sword Cometh Peak, and
would not be able to hide for long once the latter decided to start searching for them.
When it finally began, escape would be impossible, and all of the Genesis essence they painstakingly
collected would be taken away.
Saint Genesis Peak’s morale was clearly at a very low point at this time.
Zhou Yuan chuckled when he heard this, and said, “If you guys believe me, don’t probe any further. I
naturally have a plan to deal with Sword Cometh Peak.”
The several hundred disciples silently struggled for a time after hearing this. Although Zhou Yuan would
always deliver a surprising outcome, this was not a situation he could change alone. After all, Sword
Cometh Peak was a behemoth in their eyes.
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While the crowd was struggling, a voice suddenly rang out, “Since the chief disciple has said so, of course
we will put our faith in him. Otherwise, what other route can we take?”
These words immediately drew several nods of approval. It was true, they were already at a giant
disadvantage, so what if it got worse? Since Zhou Yuan had said so, they were naturally willing to believe
he was telling the truth.
Hence, the silence was broken as numerous disciples indicated their trust out loud.
Zhou Yuan smiled a little upon seeing the now appeased disciples, as his gaze quickly swept across the
crowd without anyone noticing. The voice from earlier had been very familiar. Who else could it be but
Shen Wanjin?
However, these were exactly the words needed to guide the struggling disciples.
Yaoyao and him needed to begin setting up the Heaven Disorientating Boundary, and could not spare
much effort to lead the group. If their hearts were not consoled, everyone would have lost the will to fight
before Sword Cometh Peak even came.
Without the Saint Genesis Peak disciples, they would likely be unable to catch all the Sword Cometh Peak
disciples in the net even if they succeeded in setting up the boundary.
Zhou Yuan looked towards the Zhou Tai trio and said, “Senior brother Zhou Tai, you three will lead the
disciples to hunt aquatic beasts ,while Yaoyao and I make some preparations.”
The Zhou Tai trio were quite puzzled by this. Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao were the strongest after all, and
should be the ones to lead the aquatic beast hunt. So why were they given this task instead? However,
they still nodded and accepted it.
Zhou Yuan also saw their confusion, but did not explain. No one could guarantee that none of the few
hundred Saint Genesis Peak disciples had been bribed by Sword Cometh Peak. If the plan was leaked, the
boundary would basically become useless.
Without the boundary, they would really be powerless against the ten thousand disciple strong Sword
Cometh Peak.
“You can bring Tuntun along. With it around, you guys will be able to handle even the thousand feet long
aquatic beasts.” Yaoyao threw out Tuntun as she spoke.
Zhou Tai and the rest breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this. They were aware of Tuntun’s strength,
as they had witnessed it hurt even the likes of Zhao Zhu. With such frightening battle power tagging
along, both the hunting effectiveness and safety level would increase.
After making the arrangements, Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao moved, quickly disappearing into the island.
2582
As these two key figures departed, the numerous disciples began to stir restlessly. Zhou Tai, Zhang Yan
and Lu Yan exchanged a look, before smiling bitterly as they shook their heads.
They did not know what Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao were going to do, but in their eyes, nothing the duo did
would make much of a difference against Sword Cometh Peak.
As the top purple sash disciples, they were more aware of how formidable Sword Cometh Peak was.
However, there was nothing else that could be done in this situation. They could only believe that Zhou
Yuan did have a plan. If not, Saint Genesis Peak was really going to be thoroughly humiliated this time.
Zhou Tai’s gaze swept across the disciples as he said in a solemn voice, “We’ll rest for a while first. When
we recover, we’ll form teams of ten to hunt aquatic beasts. If any of you encounter any problems,
immediately sound off to the others.”
“Understood!”
The disciples acknowledged, though their voices sounded a little weak. They were clearly still a little
affected by Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao’s departure.
...
While the Saint Genesis Peak disciples prepared to hunt aquatic beasts, Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao were
standing on a mountain deep inside the island.
“It seems that they don’t have much faith in us.” Zhou Yuan chuckled helplessly. How could not see the
skepticism and nervousness in the many Saint Genesis Peak disciples’ eyes. If not for his past
accomplishments, their morale would have crumbled due to doubt long ago.
“It’s useless to lament here.” Yaoyao swept a glance at him as she said, “A few hundred against ten
thousand. Isn’t it a little too foolish for them to have faith with just a few words from you?”
“If you want their faith, wait till the plan succeeds.”
With a wave of her hand, several jade scrolls flew towards Zhou Yuan. “These are the sections of the
boundary you’re responsible for. Leave the rest to me, while you provide assistance when required.”
“Are we starting now?” Asked Zhou Yuan as he caught the jade scrolls.
Yaoyao slowly said, “Yes, but not here.”
Zhou Yuan was taken aback as he involuntarily blurted out in surprise, “Not here?”
“We need six days to set up the boundary, and no mistake can be made in between. Although Sword
Cometh Peak may not have time to search for us, we cannot take that risk.”
2583
Yaoyao’s red lips parted slightly as she said, “The Saint Genesis Peak disciples here can divert Sword
Cometh Peak’s attention, while we set up the boundary somewhere else. I’ll select another location.”
Zhou Yuan fell silent for a moment, before he slowly nodded. Yaoyao’s plan was indeed less risky. After
all, they did need some time to make the preparations to give a warm welcome to Sword Cometh Peak.
“Let’s go then, we don’t have any time to lose.”
Zhou Yuan took a deep breath as a piercing look rose in his eyes.
“I’m already itching to give Sword Cometh Peak this big present.”
2584
Chapter 516 Sword Cometh Peak Surrounds the
Island
Although the Genesis reservoir was huge, the waters became busy with noise and excitement after the
disciples from all seven peaks entered.
Unlike the pitifully hiding Saint Genesis Peak, the other six peaks were very familiar with the Genesis
reservoir ceremony. Hence, they directly headed for the deeper areas after a quick check of their
bearings, and ultimately found six giant islands to use as bases of operations. Next, they began to spread
out in all directions to hunt aquatic beasts and obtain Genesis essence.
When viewed from above, one would realize that there was basically not a single calm spot within a ten
thousand mile radius of all six bases, nearly every mile filled with intense hunting and fighting.
In this stage of the ceremony, the various peaks were concentrating their efforts into collecting Genesis
essence. Although small conflicts would occasionally arise, most disciples would hold back somewhat.
Afterall, none of the six peaks were easy pickings like Saint Genesis Peak.
In a situation where both parties were of similar strength, even the powerful Sword Cometh Peak
exercised some restraint.
The only reason why they acted so overbearingly towards Saint Genesis Peak, was because the latter
neither had the qualifications nor strength to enjoy such courtesy.
As such, while the six peaks kept each other in check, several days quietly passed.
Although Sword Cometh Peak maintained some civility towards the other peaks, they had not forgotten
Saint Genesis Peak. While hunting aquatic beasts, they kept an eye out for any signs of Saint Genesis Peak.
With so many disciples, it was no surprise that a Sword Cometh Peak came to report to Baili Che on the
fourth day.
“Oh, we’ve found traces of Saint Genesis Peak?” A playful smile rose from the corners of Baili Che’s mouth
when he heard the report.
Kong Sheng and Zhao Zhu were each leading a team of disciples to search for thousand feet aquatic
beasts, leaving him stationed on the island that worked as their base of operations.
“Did you find Zhou Yuan and Zhou Xiaoyao?” Asked Baili Che in an offhand manner.
The disciples was clearly still a little shaken as he answered, “We didn’t see them, but we saw that
mysterious and powerful little creature. It managed to rush over while we were robbing a group of Saint
Genesis Peak disciples. If not for our quick reactions, we would have been robbed by it instead.”
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“Oh?” Baili Che raised his eyebrows. He was likewise quite fearful of the mysterious little creature, as it
had after all managed to injure even the likes of Zhao Zhu previously.
“Chief disciple, shall we go and encircle them?” Asked the disciple.
Baili Che fell into thought for a brief moment, before he shook his head and said, “There’s no rush. All six
peaks are currently investing all of their energy into hunting aquatic beasts, so there’s no need to waste
any time on Saint Genesis Peak for the time being.”
He paused as his eyes narrowed slightly, before he continued, “But where are Zhou Yuan and Zhou
Xiaoyao? This is rather strange.”
Baili Che pondered for a while, before he slowly said, “Although we can’t all go after Saint Genesis Peak
for the moment, we cannot completely ignore them. I will send about a thousand disciples to surround
them, and prevent them from scattering so we won’t have to waste time later on.”
“There’s nothing to fear from other Saint Genesis Peak disciples, and only that little creature will be quite
a problem. You guys will split up and disrupt the Saint Genesis Peak disciples as much as possible, but
retreat immediately when you see the little creature.”
“The constant disruptions will slowly chip away at their morale, and when the time comes, we may not
even need to do anything. The majority will turn on Zhou Yuan in anger due to his uselessness, causing
him to lose all face.”
“Find a chance to capture a few Saint Genesis Peak disciples and interrogate them to find out whether
Zhou Yuan and Zhou Xiaoyao are up to something.”
“Also, make sure to properly scout out that island and immediately report if you guys find anything!”
“Understood!”
The disciple respectfully acknowledged before withdrawing.
Baili Che raised his head, looked in the direction the disciple had reported to him about, and smiled, a
smile that had the same playful sensation as a predator toying with its prey.
In his eyes, Saint Genesis Peak was indeed a little rabbit he would hunt for sport.
“Zhou Yuan, let’s see where you can run this time.”
...
On the small island that was currently the base of operations for the Saint Genesis Peak disciples.
2586
Zhou Tai, Zhang Yan and Lu Yan were gathered by the seaside, worry visible on their faces. Half a day ago,
a disciple had come to report that they had encountered Sword Cometh Peak disciples.
This meant that their location would soon be revealed to Sword Cometh Peak.
This matter had also caused Saint Genesis Peak’s morale to drop. Moreover, chief disciple Zhou Yuan was
nowhere to be found, causing everyone to grow rather anxious.
“Sword Cometh Peak has already found us.” Said Zhou Tai in a heavy voice. “They will surely begin to
move.”
Lu Yan could not help but look towards the depths of the island. “Is Zhou Yuan still not ready?”
Zhou Tai smiled bitterly as he shook his head, indicating that he did not know. Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao had
not revealed themselves ever since the duo brought them here a few days ago.
Lu Yan resentfully said, “He’s the chief disciple, and the backbone of Saint Genesis Peak. With him not
even showing his face, who knows how low our morale has dropped recently. Moreover, Sword Cometh
Peak is already on our scent, causing many disciples to become very disheartened.”
Zhou Tai tried to defend Zhou Yuan. “Junior brother Zhou Yuan must have his reason for doing this.”
“I hope so.” Lu Yan sighed. This was the only way they could console themselves, though she was truly
unable to imagine how Zhou Yuan came up with would possibly be of use against Sword Cometh peak.
“Senior brother Zhou Tai!”
While the trio were conversing, a disciple suddenly hurried over from far away as he said in a panicked
voice, “Many Sword Cometh Peak disciples have come and have locked down the entire area!”
The Zhou Tai trio were greatly alarmed as they hastily rose into the air. Sure enough, they saw numerous
glowing figures surfacing at the end of their sights, forming an encirclement around them that covered a
hundred mile area.
From the spreading sharp Genesis Qi, they were definitely Sword Cometh Peak disciples.
Just as the trio had expected, Sword Cometh Peak had immediately taken action after finding them.
Zhou Tai’s gaze swept from left to right as he slowly said, “There should be about a thousand Sword
Cometh Peak disciples, they have not come in full force.”
“They’re clearly planning on trapping us first. Once they’re done collecting their Genesis essence, they
will most certainly come for us.” Lu Yan’s face had turned quite ugly.
“We can’t even leave now.”
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The trio fell silent. At this current time, team after team of Saint Genesis Peak disciples were fleeing
towards the island with anxious faces, chased by laughing Sword Cometh Peak disciples. They were
clearly toying with the former.
Ao!
While the numerous disciples were panicking, a deep beast roar suddenly sounded. Everyone looked
over, and saw alarming Genesis Qi undulations explode from Tuntun, who had been lazily lying on the
ground.
A pair of ferocious eyes locked onto the Sword Cometh Peak disciples.
The Sword Cometh Peak disciples nearly fell into the water in fear, but ultimately managed to steady
their bodies, before turning to flee, clearly well aware of Tuntun’s frightening strength.
Though the Sword Cometh Peak disciples had been scared away by Tuntun, the many Saint Genesis Peak
disciples were still dejectedly hung their heads as they sat on the ground. It was clear that none of them
could see any hope with Sword Cometh Peak so fixated on them.
In addition, both Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao were nowhere to be found, causing Saint Genesis Peak’s morale
to hit rock bottom.
The Zhou Tai trio watched this scene with heavy hearts, before turning towards the depths of the island
with worry in their eyes.
“Junior brother Zhou Yuan, do you really have a plan…”
2588
Numerous Sword Cometh Peak disciples stood in the air some distance from the island where the Saint
Genesis Peak disciples were stationed, watching the latter like tigers eyeing their prey.
A tall young man stood in front of them with his hands behind his back. He had a sharp gaze, while
powerful Genesis Qi undulations pulsed from his body.
This person was called Zhong Yun, and was no ordinary disciple. He had been one of the strongest
contenders for the previous chief disciple selection, but had ultimately lost to Baili Che, losing him the
chance of becoming chief disciple.
Although he lost to Baili Che, Zhong Yun was a proud individual that refused to accept the results. In
addition, he had some conflicts with Baili Che, and had thus been sent here by the latter to be excluded
from the main mission.
Zhong Yun gazed at the island from far away with a gloomy expression as he snorted and said, “Humph,
sending me here for a mere Saint Genesis Peak. Baili Che is too much!”
The surrounding disciples laughed awkwardly, not daring to openly agree. Zhong Yun may dare to curse
Baili Che but the same could not be said for them.
“Senior brother Zhong Yun, we’ve already surrounded them for two days, but there seems to be no
activity from Saint Genesis Peak…” A disciple hurriedly tried to change the topic.
Disdain and mockery were revealed on Zhong Yun’s face as he said, “What can the few hundred of them
do? Do they really believe they’ll be able to overturn the heavens because they have a chief disciple?”
“Zhou Yuan merely managed to beat Yuan Hong. If he was in our Sword Cometh Peak’s selection instead,
he won’t even make it to the top five.”
“If not for Zhou Xiaoyao and that mysterious little creature, I would have charged in and eliminated all of
them from the Genesis reservoir ceremony.”
Like Baili Che, Zhong Yun clearly did not think much of the Saint Genesis Peak chief disciple, Zhou Yuan.
Though they had both participated in their respective chief disciple selection, the difficulty of Saint
Genesis Peak’s was clearly not on the same level as Sword Cometh Peak.
The disciples around him voiced their agreement one after another. Soon after, someone remarked with
some hesitation, “But regardless of how we toyed with the Saint Genesis Peak disciples over the past two
days, Zhou Yuan and Zhou Xiaoyao still refused to show themselves. This is quite odd.”
Zhong Yun’s eyes narrowed slightly. He had clearly also made the same observation. He peered at the
depths of the island and muttered, “Zhou Yuan doesn’t have much ability, and is nothing to be feared, but
2589
Zhou Xiaoyao is someone that even our two Chosens do not dare to underestimate… holing themselves
inside and refusing to leave… they’re likely up to something.”
His eyes flickered brightly in thought. After a long time, he said in a low voice, “Wu Qingteng, you’ll lead
eight hundred disciples and feign an attack from the right to draw the attention of the Saint Genesis Peak
disciples and that mysterious little creature. I’ll use the diversion to lead two hundred elite disciples into
the island to ascertain what Zhou Yuan and Zhou Xiaoyao are up to inside!”
The other Sword Cometh Peak disciples were clearly bored out of their minds from being stationed here
long ago. They immediately jerked to attention upon hearing that Zhong Yun planned to attack the island,
and acknowledged in unison.
“Understood!”
Sword Cometh Peak’s attack began after one incense stick of time.
The disturbance immediately caused a flurry of activity amongst the numerous Saint Genesis Peak
disciples. In the end, Zhou Tai, Zhang Yan and Lu Yan led the disciples to meet the incoming attack,
causing a chaotic battle to break out on the surface of the sea.
Tuntun lazily joined the battlefield, but the Sword Cometh Peak disciples merely fled one after another
wherever it passed.
While the chaos ensued, the two hundred elite disciples led by Zhong Yun stealthily slipped into the
island, and swiftly began their search.
They finished searching the entire island after a few dozen minutes. To Zhong Yun’s surprise, they had
failed to find any traces of Zhou Yuan or Zhou Xiaoyao, neither were there any signs of the duo appearing
in the battle outside.
“The two of them aren’t here!”
Zhong Yun’s face was filled with astonishment, as a mocking smoke began to appear from the corners of
his lips. “Could the two of them have left the Saint Genesis Peak disciples behind to hunt for Genesis
essence on their own?”
“That’s pretty smart of them. Since they knew that the Saint Genesis Peak disciples are basically a lost
hope, why not hunt for more Genesis essence by themselves.”
Swish! Swish!
Zhong Yun lifted his head and looked in a certain direction, where Zhou Tai, Zhang Yan and Lu Yan were
hastily rushing back with a group of disciples, evidently realizing that the former had infiltrated the
island.
2590
An evil look flashed across Zhong Yun’s eyes when he saw this, before he loudly shouted, “Idiots from
Saint Genesis Peak, Zhou Yuan and Zhou Xiaoyao have already abandoned you useless fools long ago. It’s
laughable that all of you are still stupidly guarding this place!”
The Zhou Tai trio and the other disciples froze as they stared at the island in shock, clearly unaware that
the island they had so painstakingly guarded had been empty all along.
The other disciples looked at each other as defeated looks rose on their faces. The already low morale
began to crumble at this moment.
Zhou Yuan and Zhou Xiaoyao were their hopes for the Genesis reservoir ceremony. Not knowing where
the two of them were now was clearly quite a huge blow to everyone.
The Zhou Tai trio fell silent as they gazed at the defeated Saint Genesis Peak disciples with complicated
expressions.
Upon seeing this, Zhong Yun could not help but laugh to himself in a pleased manner. “I advise you guys
to voluntarily withdraw from the ceremony to prevent yourselves from being humiliated even further.”
“In addition, that chief disciple of yours seems to be really undependable.”
Zhong Yun laughed.
The other Sword Cometh Peak disciples around him also began to laugh, their gazes filled with ridicule as
they looked towards the Saint Genesis Peak crowd.
The Saint Genesis Peak disciples were unable to speak as they numbly accepted the other party’s
mocking.
Lu Yan’s pretty face turned ashen as she shouted, “Shut up!”
Zhong Yun disdainfully said, “I’ll give all of you one day. If you don’t voluntarily withdraw from the
ceremony, don’t blame us for not showing any courtesy.”
He beckoned with his hand, indicating for the Sword Cometh Peak disciples to leave.
However, just as he was about to turn around, a calm voice suddenly sounded in everyone’s ears, “Since
you’re already here, where else do you plan on going?”
Zhong Yun’s figure turned rigid as he jerked his head to the side, where a young figure had appeared at
some unknown time atop a cliff and was staring at him with an expressionless face.
Surprised noises erupted from Zhou Tai, Lu Yan and the other Saint Genesis Peak disciples. “Chief
disciples!”
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The figure belonged to Zhou Yuan, who had been missing for the past few days!
Zhong Yun also stared at Zhou Yuan in confusion. “Where did you pop out from?”
They had clearly searched the entire island earlier, but had not discovered any signs of Zhou Yuan.
Zhou Yuan did not reply, merely continuing to coldly stare at Zhong Yun. The former raised his foot, and
his figure suddenly appeared in front of the latter like a phantom as a punch was thrown.
“Fool!”
Zhong Yun’s expression immediately turned frosty upon seeing that Zhou Yuan actually dared to attack,
as a sinister smile was revealed, “Do you really believe that the chief disciple of Saint Genesis Peak is
worth anything in my eyes?!”
“Since you want to be humiliated, allow me to show you the gap between your Saint Genesis Peak and my
Sword Cometh Peak!”
Rumble!
Alarmingly powerful Genesis Qi abruptly exploded from his body.
Though he said so, Zhong Yun did not show any mercy. His hands came together, before abruptly pulling
away as a dark blue sword took shape between his palms, pulsing with an aura of endless sharpness.
“Blue Moon Shadow Sword!”
With a stern shout, the blue sword zipped forth, transforming into a blur of blue as it shot towards Zhou
Yuan at a speed that was nearly impossible to detect with the naked eye.
As sword light flashed past, even space itself was split apart.
This was essentially a killing move.
Blue sword light rapidly expanded in Zhou Yuan’s pupils. However, he remained expressionless as jade
light emerged from his skin, while silver light blossomed in his bones.
Genesis Qi rushed through his meridian channels.
Rumble!
Five fingers tightly clenched into a fist as a punch was thrown.
Snow-white brush hairs flew out from his sleeves and wrapped around his fist like a gauntlet that was
rapidly dyed black...
2592
Genesis Breaker!
Fist and sword light collided.
“You’re courting death!” Zhong Yun’s sinister voice sounded.
Crack!
However, his pupils abruptly shrank the moment the words left his mouth as horror rapidly flooded
them. Because he had just seen his blue sword light being shattered by the punch!
“How can this be?!” A terrified voice escaped from his mouth. He was unable to believe that his full power
attack would be shattered by Zhou Yuan’s punch.
The hairs on Zhong Yun’s body stood on ends as unease crept up within him. Zhou Yuan did not seem to
be as weak as he had imagined.
Swish!
His figure rapidly darted backwards in an attempt to avoid the attack.
The moment his body moved, however, he saw a fist hurtling through the air, the five fingers opening to
grab his throat like an eagle’s claw.
Zhou Yuan slowly lifted his head, expressionless as he looked at the raised Zhong Yun and offhandedly
said, “You don’t seem to be very strong, so why are you so boastful?”
The Saint Genesis Peak disciples burst into cheers upon seeing Zhou Yuan display his amazing abilities
and capture Zhong Yun in a single move. They finally felt a little better after being depressed for so many
days.
The ashen-faced Zhong Yun struggled as he sternly croaked, “Zhou Yuan, you’d better believe me when I
saw Sword Cometh Peak will declare war on you guys if you touch me!”
The Sword Cometh Peak disciples behind him also yelled, “Release senior brother Zhong Yun or our
Sword Cometh Peak will crush you guys!”
The cheering from the Saint Genesis Peak disciples immediately stopped, evidently feeling the pressure
from Sword Cometh Peak.
Ridicule flowed out in Zhong Yun’s eyes when he saw this. He viciously glared at Zhou Yuan and shouted,
“Release me!”
With Sword Cometh Peak behind him, he absolutely did not believe that Zhou Yuan dared to try anything.
2593
*Slap*!
However, the words had barely left his mouth when a palm viciously swung towards him, and slapped
him in the face, causing blood to drip from the corner of his mouth.
Zhou Yuan withdrew his hand, casually swinging it, as he frowned and said, “Don’t be so noisy.”
Zhong Yun was stunned. His face twisted a split second later as he looked towards Zhou Yuan and
howled, “You dare to hit me?!”
Thud!
The reply he received was a punch that could split a mountain. A sonic boom was heard as a fist slammed
into Zhong Yun’s chest and sent him flying. He smashed into several cliffs, before being buried by the
falling boulders.
The entire island and the area around it was completely silent.
Everyone stared in disbelief at this scene, especially the Sword Cometh Peak disciples. Never in their
wildest dreams would they have imagined that Zhou Yuan would be so bold as to pummel Zhong Yun
without the slightest shred of hesitation...
The Saint Genesis Peak disciples swallowed repeatedly, likewise awed by Zhou Yuan’s actions. While they
were in awe, a boiling sensation began to flow inside of them. Zhou Yuan had already used his actions to
show that he would not yield in the face of Sword Cometh Peak.
Zhou Yuan tilted his head slightly, looking towards Zhou Tai and the rest of the Saint Genesis Peak
disciples as he said, “Are you guys afraid?”
The numerous disciples looked at each other. In the end, someone gritted his teeth and said, “We’re not
afraid of Sword Cometh Peak as long as we have you, chief disciple!”
Zhou Yuan softly chuckled, before pointing towards the remaining Sword Cometh Peak disciples. “In that
case, make sure none of them leave this place.”
“From now on…”
“Saint Genesis Peak shall declare war on Sword Cometh Peak.”
As Zhou Yuan’s final word faded, all of the Saint Genesis Peak disciples felt the blood in their bodies begin
to boil.
2594
Chapter 518 Sword Cometh Peak’s Rage
As Zhou Yuan’s declaration of war sounded, fear rose on the faces of the nearby Sword Cometh Peak
disciples. Although they currently had the absolute advantage in numbers, Zhou Yuan’s presence made
them palpitate in terror.
Especially after seeing Zhong Yun being blasted away by a single punch from Zhou Yuan.
“Quick! Retreat!”
“Go back and report this to the two Chosens and the chief disciple!”
“……”
Nearly a thousand Sword Cometh Peak disciples hurriedly fled.
“Stop them!” Shouted Zhou Tai, Zhang Yan and Lu Yan in unison.
The several hundred Genesis Peak disciples released angry roars, as if spitting out all of the sullenness
from earlier. Though they felt Saint Genesis Peak declaring war on Sword Cometh Peak was akin to
smashing a rock with an egg, they were unafraid. As long as chief disciple Zhou Yuan did not back down,
they would naturally follow his lead.
Several hundred disciples dashed in all directions, pouncing at the Sword Cometh Peak disciples.
The sky was a chaotic mess for a time.
Zhou Yuan’s gaze turned towards the nearby Tuntun, glaring at it as he said, “Are you still not going to
help, if you keep skiving, I’ll starve you for a few days!”
Although he had left Tuntun behind, he had clearly underestimated the little fellow. Without him and
Yaoyao around, Zhou Tai and the rest were completely incapable of making it move.
Even when it did take action, it would do so in the laziest of manners. If not, the likes of Zhong Yun and
the rest would not have dared to come so near.
Only after being threatened by Zhou Yuan, did Tuntun finally release a roar. It shot Zhou Yuan an
dissatisfied look, before transforming into a flash of scarlet light as it shot into the midst of the thousand
Sword Cometh Peak disciples.
When it passed by, the leaderless disciples were rapidly defeated one after another.
As such, nearly ninety percent of the Sword Cometh Peak disciples were captured in time it took to burn
half an incense stick, only a few of the quicker and luckier ones able to escape.
2595
Zhou Yuan only gave orders, and did not participate in the action, because he knew that Saint Genesis
Peak’s morale was currently very low and a battle like this was exactly what they needed to recover.
On the island, numerous Saint Genesis Peak disciples were keeping watch over the captured Sword
Cometh Peak disciples. Although the former had sustained some injuries, all of them were clearly rather
excited, a complete contrast from the depressing mood they were in earlier.
Zhou Tai, Lu Yan and Zhang Yan sighed deeply when they saw this. A chief disciples was indeed the pillar
of support for the many disciples. When Zhou Yuan was absent, it had been impossible for them to cheer
up the disciples no matter how hard they tried.
And now, the morale began to rise once more the moment he appeared.
“Junior brother Zhou Yuan, how shall we deal with them?” Asked Zhou Tai.
Zhou Yuan cast a glance at the prisoners and said, “Take away their Genesis essence and then break their
seals to eliminate them.”
Every disciple would be branded with a seal when they entered the Genesis reservoir. The seal would
protect them once from a fatal attack, but also send them out of the reservoir once activated.
Zhou Tai was a little alarmed by this, because it would be akin to completely falling out with Sword
Cometh Peak.
Zhou Yuan knew what the former was thinking and calmly said, “Sword Cometh Peak has already left us
no choice. Since this is the case, we’ll openly do battle with them.”
Zhou Tai, Zhang Yan and Lu Yan looked at each other as they gritted their teeth and nodded. Sword
Cometh Peak had indeed made things clear, and would not relent so easily.
Since the other party wasn’t going to show any mercy, they did not need to be polite either.
Hence, the Zhou Tai trio turned around and forcefully nodded at the numerous Saint Genesis Peak
disciples.
In the next instant, blast after blast of Genesis Qi exploded. The angry curses from the Sword Cometh
Peak disciples were completely useless as they were swept up one after another by rays of light and
thrown out of the reservoir.
Zhou Yuan’s gaze swept across the area, before he looked at the excited Saint Genesis Peak disciples and
slowly said, “We’ve caused quite a huge loss to Sword Cometh Peak, so they’ll most likely send all their
forces to surround and wipe us out next.”
The numerous disciples fell silent, but their burning gazes remained fixed on Zhou Yuan.
2596
“Are you guys afraid?” Asked Zhou Yuan.
The disciples looked at each other as they broke into grins and said, “We’re basically akin to a broken jar
anyways, and have nothing to lose. Worst comes to worst, we’ll give up on this Genesis reservoir
ceremony.”
They had already figured things out. Rather than repeated giving in at every corner, and ending up with
barely anything, why not happily duke it out instead. At least it’ll tell that other peaks that though Saint
Genesis Peak was weak, they were not easy targets!
A sliver of gratification flitted across Zhou Yuan’s eyes as he nodded.
“Since you’re afraid, let’s have a real brawl with Sword Cometh Peak this time…”
On the giant island that was currently Sword Cometh Peak’s base of operations.
Baili Che’s face filled with shock when he saw the hundred miserably escaping Sword Cometh Peak
disciples. Soon after, fire began spouting from his eyes as he angrily demanded, “What’s going on?
Where’s Zhong Yun?!”
A disciple wailed, “Chief disciple, it’s Zhou Yuan. Senior brother Zhong Yun was injured by him, while the
other senior brothers were eliminated from the ceremony!”
Baili Che’s complexion turned ashen as he suddenly punched at the boulder beside him, instantly
shattering it. Losing several hundred disciples all of a sudden was a very substantial loss!
“What the hell was Zhong Yun doing?! I only asked him to watch Saint Genesis Peak, so why did he go so
close?!” Baili Che was furious. “Although Saint Genesis Peak is weak, they still have Zhou Xiaoyao, Zhou
Yuan and that mysterious little creature. Why did Zhong Yun dare to approach with a mere thousand
disciples?”
The disciple answered, “Zhou Yuan and Zhou Xiaoyao did not show themselves for several days. Senior
brother Zhong Yun suspected there was something amiss and thus took the risk to investigate. In
hindsight, this was likely all part of Zhou Yuan’s scheme!”
Baili Che’s expression darkened. “How vicious of him!“
The fact that Zhou Yuan had shown no hesitation in order the elimination of their Sword Cometh Peak
disciples showed that things were already beyond reconcilable.
Numerous Sword Cometh Peak disciples were rushing over at this moment, anger clearly stirring within
them due to hearing the news.
2597
“How dare he!”
“Saint Genesis Peak is way too arrogant, to think that they even dare to eliminate our Sword Cometh Peak
disciples!”
“We need to teach them a proper lesson!”
“Right, we can no longer tolerate their actions!”
“……”
The Sword Cometh Peak disciples were filled with rage. Due to Sword Cometh Peak’s rise in power over
the past few years, many disciples had developed dominant characters, and were naturally unable to
accept that even Saint Genesis Peak dared to commit such an act against them.
The disciples that had escaped gritted their teeth and said, “Zhou Yuan also left a message for us. He said
that Saint Genesis Peak has declared war on our Sword Cometh Peak!”
*Uproar*!
These words made all of the Sword Cometh Peak disciples burst out into angry laughter.
A mere Saint Genesis Peak with their few hundred disciples actually dared to declare war? This was the
joke of the century!
Baili Che was also laughing. Soon after, he chillingly said, “Chief disciple Zhou Yuan really does not know
what’s good for him.”
“I originally wanted to give them a little more time, but from the looks of it, since they’re spitting at our
kind gesture, don’t blame us for not leaving them any dignity!”
He took in a deep breath as a piercing look rose in his eyes.
“Send out the signal to notify the two Chosens and the other teams out hunting Genesis essence.”
“Since Saint Genesis Peak dares to declare war on us…”
“We’ll kick them out of the reservoir!”
Towards the end, Baili Che’s voice was already shaking with murder.
2598
Chapter 519 Sword Cometh Peak’s Army
Barely any time had passed since Baili Che sent out the signal, before teams of Sword Cometh Peak
disciples began to endlessly stream in from all directions. News that nearly a thousand Sword Cometh
Peak disciples had been eliminated by Saint Genesis Peak soon spread, causing the entire island to be
filled with angry presences for a time.
No one had expected the very same Saint Genesis Peak that they had collected a protection fee from last
year, to actually dare to declare war on them.
Just how arrogant was this?
Did Zhou Yuan really believe defeating Yuan Hong and obtaining the chief disciple position would put
them on the same level as Sword Cometh Peak?
All of the Sword Cometh Peak disciples were calling for Saint Genesis Peak to pay a painful price for their
chief disciple’s arrogance.
Under this atmosphere, Kong Sheng and Zhao Zhu also returned with their teams.
Atop a certain mountain on the giant island.
Zhao Zhu rested his arm on the pummel of the sword hanging from his waist, while wearing a mocking
smile on his face. Beside him, an expressionless Kong Sheng was gazing at the numerous angry Sword
Cometh Peak disciples.
“This junior brother Zhou Yuan of ours… I don’t know about his ability, but his balls are likely the largest
in the Cangxuan Sect.” Said Zhao Zhu with a smile, though his tone was filled with ridicule.
Kong Sheng calmly said, “Losing nearly a thousand disciples all at once will lower our Genesis essence
collecting substantially.”
He paused for a moment, before he said with a pause between each word, “Zhou Yuan really does not
understand the rules.”
In his view, Zhou Yuan should never have eliminated the Sword Cometh Peak disciples. The former could
have instead used them as hostages to secure certain conditions.
Although all of it would ultimately be taken back with interest.
“He’s truly an ignorant fool.” Zhao Zhu stabbed the tip of his sword into the ground as he smiled. His smile
gave off an aura of extreme danger.
“Now that they’ve declared war on our Sword Cometh Peak… what should we do?”
2599
Kong Sheng turned his head to look at Baili Che and said, “Gather the disciples and consolidate our forces.
Since they dare to declare war on us, we’ll show them just how laughable they are.”
“I will make Zhou Yuan the biggest joke in this Genesis reservoir ceremony.”
His voice remained calm till the end, but everyone could feel the chillingly icy aura flowing within it.
It made Zhao Zhu and Baili Che jump a little in fear. They knew that Sword Cometh Peak’s number one
Chosen had finally been angered by the foolish Zhou Yuan.
The gathering Sword Cometh Peak disciples naturally caused quite a disturbance that was quickly sensed
by the other peaks. They reacted immediately by sending out disciples to scout for information.
Every single one of the other five peaks were shocked when they heard the chief disciple of Saint Genesis
Peak had declared war on Sword Cometh Peak.
“Is Zhou Yuan crazy?”
“What chance do those few hundred disciples possibly have against Sword Cometh Peak?”
“Even though there’s Zhou Xiaoyao, what can a single person possibly do to change the situation?”
“Looks like Saint Genesis Peak intends on throwing it all away…”
“……”
The disciples from the various peaks shook their heads and sighed. After all, no one had expected the new
chief disciple of Saint Genesis Peak to be so unyielding. However, no matter how unyielding he was, he
should have first looked at the difference in strength between them.
Since both sides were obviously not on the same level, Zhou Yuan was essentially asking for trouble.
On Snow Lotus Peak’s island, Li Qingchan’s eyebrows knitted together when she heard the news as she
muttered, “What is Zhou Yuan doing?”
Saint Genesis Peak’s overall strength was far lower than Sword Cometh Peak’s. If they were to clash
directly, it would most certainly be akin to smashing a rock with an egg.
Even Yaoyao and Tuntun would only be able to hold off Kong Sheng and Zhao Zhu, while the rest of the
Sword Cometh Peak would instantly crush Saint Genesis Peak’s disciples...
She could not wrap her head around why Zhou Yuan would declare war like this.
2600
Wasn’t it better to drag for time while Sword Cometh Peak’s attention was somewhere else… Sword
Cometh Peak was now so angry that they had even thrown aside gathering Genesis essence, and were
clearly intent on finishing off Saint Genesis Peak first.
Things were obviously going to become very dangerous for Saint Genesis Peak in the face of Sword
Cometh Peak’s entire army.
Li Qingchan was not the only Chosen who was paying attention to this matter, as the Chosens from the
other peaks had also cast their gazes over. Of course, they were more interested in Zhou Xiaoyao. She was
after all the most mysterious existence in the Cangxuan Sect.
When the two peaks clashed, Kong Sheng would definitely exchange blows with her, allowing them an
opportunity to gauge her abilities.
As such, while the Sword Cometh Peak army was heading out, the other peaks also sent out some
disciples to observe...
The imminent clash of the two peaks quickly became the focal point of the Genesis reservoir ceremony.
On Saint Genesis Peak’s island.
Zhou Yuan was seated on a boulder by the sea, while Yaoyao stood behind him carrying Tuntun.
A scout hurriedly flew over as his voice rang out, “Chief disciple, the Sword Cometh Peak disciples have
already assembled and can come at us at any time!”
The other disciples began to stir restlessly upon hearing this, but slowly calmed down when they saw
Zhou Yuan’s calm expression.
Zhou Yuan nodded, acknowledging the message, before he turned towards the other disciples and said,
“Although we are not as strong as Sword Cometh Peak, we’ll at least show the other peaks that our bones
are very hard.”
“If they want to bite us, they’ll have to pay the price.”
Zhou Yuan’s calm voice was tinged with a wolf-like viciousness.
The other disciples nodded as fierce looks appeared in their eyes. Since there was no way out, they no
longer had any reason to be intimidated by Sword Cometh Peak. In any case, this was already the worst
possible situation.
“Junior brother Zhou Yuan, go ahead and instruct us how we should fight. Although we’ll soon be
eliminated, we’ll at least drag some of them along with us.” Zhou Tai gritted his teeth.
2601
He was ready to go down fighting.
Zhang Yan, Lu Yan and the rest nodded in agreement, revealing their ferocity as they rubbed their palms
together.
Zhou Yuan merely chuckled when he saw this. He knew that with the exception of himself and Yaoyao,
even Zhou Tai and the others did not feel that they had any chance of winning.
“Let’s reorganize first. When Sword Cometh Peak appears, follow my commands.”
He raised his head and gazed at the horizon, where dark clouds seemed to be gathering. A storm was
brewing.
Time quietly flowed.
As the atmosphere on the island grew increasingly tense, all of the disciples calibrated their conditions to
ensure that they would be in peak state when the fighting began.
At a certain moment
The surrounding Genesis Qi stealthily began to boil.
Seated on a rock, Zhou Yuan opened his eyes and calmly said, “They’re here.”
Every disciple’s expression changed slightly as they raised their heads and peered into the distance.
Countless glowing figures began to appear at the edge of the sea, seemingly covering the sky as they flew
towards the island.
This astonishing scene was accompanied by a terrifying pressure.
The sea began to churn as towering waves rose.
Sword Cometh Peak was here.
2602
Chapter 520 Sword Cometh Peak Besieges the
Island
On the Saint Genesis Peak island.
Countless glowing figures swarmed towards the island from the east, practically blotting out the sky with
their vast numbers. The Genesis Qi undulations that pulsed from each figure caused the sea below to
churn violently.
Nearly ten thousand figures ultimately came to a stop some distance from the island, as countless
piercing gazes shot towards the island, creating an alarming pressure.
On the island, the few hundred Saint Genesis Peak disciples nervously gazed at the great army. The other
side’s numbers were far too great, making it feel as if there was no end to them at a glance.
Cold sweat emerged on everyone’s palms. When had the declining Saint Genesis Peak ever seen such a
line-up?
Fortunately for them, Zhou Yuan was standing on a boulder in front of everyone, his calm face seemingly
possessing a unique power that gradually calmed the hearts of the flustered disciples.
Zhou Yuan lifted his head, his eyes narrowing slightly as he looked towards the crazy number of Sword
Cometh Peak disciples. He could also see a few figures even further away, who were most likely disciples
from the other peaks that had come to observe.
While Zhou Yuan swept his gaze across the place, three figures flew out from the giant army of disciples
and stopped some distance in front of them. It was Kong Sheng, Zhao Zhu and Baili Che.
Kong Sheng cast his indifferent gaze over, pausing on Zhou Yuan for a moment, before looking towards
Yaoyao, who was a little further behind.
It was obvious that he felt Zhou Yuan was not worthy of his attention. If not for Yaoyao’s existence, Saint
Genesis Peak would be nothing in his eyes.
Kong Sheng shot a glance at Baili Che, indicating that the former should step forward.
Zhou Yuan was merely a chief disciples, and did not have the qualifications to speak to him.
Baili Che immediately understood and slowly stepped forward. His piercing gaze looked towards the
guarded Saint Genesis Peak disciples as a thunderous voice boomed, “I’ll ask one last time. Do you Saint
Genesis Peak disciples really intend on declaring war on my Sword Cometh Peak?”
Bzz!
2603
The Genesis Qi in all the Sword Cometh Peak disciples abruptly began to circulate at this moment.
Countless pillars of aggressive Genesis Qi dashed into the sky, tearing apart the clouds.
An intimidating pressure engulfed the island, causing the numerous Saint Genesis Peak disciples to feel
difficulty breathing as their expressions turned exceptionally grave.
They finally had a taste of Sword Cometh Peak’s strength.
As such, the island turned stiflingly silent.
The corners of Baili Che’s mouth raised a little as he nonchalantly said, “Sword Cometh Peak does not
take advantage of others, nor wishes to bully weaklings. But since someone has done something foolish,
this person will naturally have to pay the price.”
“I feel that this price should be borne by the one who instigated this matter on his own, and not other
Saint Genesis Peak disciples.”
He softly chuckled, before he continued, “If you guys feel the same, you only need to take two steps back.
We will not only let you off, but even give you guys some Genesis essence to complete Genesis reservoir
ceremony.”
“Of course… we’ll require those few ringer leaders to give Sword Cometh Peak an explanation.”
The disciples from the other peaks could not help but grin when they heard Baili Che’s words. What an
underhanded tactic.
In this situation, if the Saint Genesis Peak disciples gave in the the pressure and stepped back, wouldn’t
that mean that they were handing over their chief disciple Zhou Yuan?
This would undoubtedly make Zhou Yuan a huge laughing stock.
How big of a failure would a chief disciple be if he was unable to win over his fellow disciples and end up
being sold off by them instead?
No one would be thick skinned enough to continue being chief disciples if this happened to them.
Baili Che’s voice also landed in the ears of the numerous Saint Genesis Peak disciples, causing them to
look at each other. However, none of them took even a single step back. Somewhere at front, Zhou Tai
laughed icily and said, “Baili Che, stop trying these petty tricks. We’ll gladly face whatever you’re going to
throw at us!”
“That’s right!”
“Do you think we’re afraid of you guys!”
2604
“Worst comes to worst, we’ll just give up on this Genesis reservoir ceremony!”
“……”
The other disciples shouted one after another. Baili Che was truly vicious. To think that he would attempt
such a tactic to divide them.
Baili Che raised his eyebrows, somewhat surprised as he glanced at Zhou Yuan. The former had not
expected the latter to already possess such popularity in Saint Genesis Peak.
Baili Che shook his head and said, “Since you refuse our generous offer, don’t blame us later on.”
With a wave of his hand, two thousand disciples began to spread out in a fan formation, before advancing
towards the island.
They did not stupidly charge forward because of Yaoyao. The latter was after all a master of Genesis
Runes, and could have easily set up several traps on the island. Blindly charging in would only result in
unnecessary losses.
The disciples from the other peaks sighed when they saw this. Baili Che was no simpleton. He showed no
impatience, and instead chose to push forward at a safe and steady pace. With such a huge advantage on
Sword Cometh Peak’s side, Saint Genesis Peak was basically helpless.
The Saint Genesis Peak disciples began to panic somewhat as they watched the two thousand Sword
Cometh Peak disciples slowly approach, before gaze after gaze turned towards Zhou Yuan.
They were not the only ones. Even the disciples from the other peaks were now closely observing Zhou
Yuan, hoping to find out how the new chief disciple of Saint Genesis Peak was going to deal with Sword
Cometh Peak’s encirclement.
In fact, even sect master Qing Yang, the five peak masters and the elders of the various peaks had cast
their attention towards this location.
In the sky east of the island, two thousand Sword Cometh Peak disciples slowly approached.
Zhou Yuan took in a deep breath as he watched this scene. He then turned towards the Saint Genesis Peak
disciples and slowly said, “Do you guys trust me?”
The disciples looked at each other, before nodding.
“Good.”
Zhou Yuan nodded and said, “Everyone prepare to withdraw in the southwest direction. We’re leaving
this place.”
2605
The disciples that were already prepared for their last stand were stunned as they stared at Zhou Yuan in
shock. Running away? What use was running at this juncture? It would only make them a bigger joke in
the eyes of the other peaks.
Lu Yan gently gritted her teeth and said, “Are we still going to flee? We can’t escape them.”
If not for Zhou Yuan’s past accomplishments, she would have begun to feel that he was a little too
cowardly.
Zhou Yuan looked at them and said in a low voice, “If you guys trust me, follow my orders. If the outcome
of the ceremony is unsatisfactory, I will give up my position as chief disciple.”
The disciples fell silent. In the end, their figures began to rise into the air.
“Yaoyao, you lead them while I cover our backs.” Zhou Yuan looked towards Yaoyao. The latter faintly
nodded as she rose into the air with Tuntun, taking the lead as she flew in the southwest direction.
Zhou Tai, Lu Yan, Zhang Yan and the rest immediately followed.
*Uproar*!
Their movements were immediately seen by the countless watching gazes, causing an uproar to sweep
across the area.
No one had expected this. Saint Genesis Peak was running again at this juncture?
Did they think they would be able to escape?
Sword Cometh Peak had only allowed them to flee previously because the former wanted to concentrate
on collecting Genesis essence. But this time, Sword Cometh Peak was clearly focused on finishing off Saint
Genesis Peak.
Running away was completely useless in this situation.
The disciples from the other peaks secretly shook their heads, clearly quite disappointed by this turn of
events. They had thought Zhou Yuan’s calmness stemmed from some kind of trump card. Who could have
expected that he would choose to retreat in the end?
Baili Che was also stunned by the sight of the Saint Genesis Peak disciples abandoning the island and
fleeing. He quickly looked towards Kong Sheng, and saw the latter seem to breath a small sigh of relief.
Kong Sheng calmly said, “I had originally thought they may have set up some kind of trap on the island.
But it appears that I was worrying for nothing.”
Although he did not fear any traps set by the other party, it would inevitably lead to losses on their side.
2606
Since the other side was abandoning the island, there was most likely no problem with it.
In that case, there was no longer any need for him to be wary.
Baili Che grinned. An eerily chilling look filled his eyes as he waved his hand and shouted in a thunderous
voice.
“Hear my command Sword Cometh Peak disciples! Chase them at full force. Eliminate every single one of
them from the ceremony!”
Rumble!
Countless Sword Cometh Peak disciples yelled as they surged forward.
On the island, Zhou Yuan’s eyes turned frosty as he watched the Sword Cometh Peak disciples shoot over
at full speed. He did not utter a single word as Genesis Qi rose from under his feet, launching him into the
air to catch up to the retreating Saint Genesis Peak disciples.
“Come Sword Cometh Peak…”
“I hope this giant present will not disappoint you guys…”
2607
Chapter 521 Boundary Open
Rumble!
Several hundred glowing figures zipped across the sky above the endless waters, accompanied by
muffled rumbling as the surging Genesis Qi rippled the fabric of space, the resultant discharge leaving
long trails on the sea below.
These figures were naturally the Saint Genesis Peak disciples.
They were currently advancing at full speed, while occasionally casting worried gazes behind them with
apprehensive looks on their faces.
Boom!
Far behind them, the clouds were ripped apart as a swarm of glowing figures appeared, practically
blotting out the sky. Sharp and powerful Genesis Qi violently split apart the waters, making them churn
for a long time before returning to calmness.
These were the pursuing troops of Sword Cometh Peak.
They closely followed the Saint Genesis Peak group, slowly but surely catching up inch by inch. From the
looks of it, they were obviously not going to stop until every single Saint Genesis Peak disciple was
eliminated from the Genesis reservoir ceremony.
Kong Sheng, Zhao Zhu and Baili Che were located at the front of the giant army, sneering expressions in
their eyes as they watched the fleeing Saint Genesis Peak disciples.
In their eyes, this was a silly game of a cat toying with a mouse.
All the accumulated resentment of Sword Cometh Peak would only be gone once they had their fill of fun.
“Keep following them. I want to make them unable to catch even a single moment of respite.”
“Also, make sure to be on alert the moment they near any of the islands.”
Kong Sheng’s calm voice was transmitted into every disciple’s ears. He was clearly maintaining his
vigilance due to Yaoyao’s existence. The latter was after a master of Genesis Runes, and they could not
omit the possibility of her leaving Genesis Rune traps on the islands.
To have become a Chosen of Sword Cometh Peak, Kong Sheng was clearly no ordinary individual.
As such, the two groups sped across the air above the Genesis reservoir.
2608
Even further behind, the scouts from the various peaks could not help but sigh in pity as they watched the
miserably fleeing Saint Genesis Peak, feeling that Sword Cometh Peak was indeed a little too much.
Time swiftly flowed as the chase continued.
After an incense stick of time, the Saint Genesis Peak disciples began to falter, their speeds slowing as
stragglers appeared.
Behind them, the Sword Cometh Peak disciples burst out into laughter, as amusement filled their eyes.
They knew that when Saint Genesis Peak finally reached their limits, this farce of a chase would finally be
over.
When that happened, they would be able to do whatever they wanted to Saint Genesis Peak.
As Zhou Tai looked at the many slowing disciples, he suddenly said, “Junior brother Zhou Yuan, you and
junior sister Xiaoyao should go ahead. As long as you two are around, Sword Cometh Peak will never be
at ease!”
He knew that they would be chased to exhaustion by Sword Cometh Peak if this continued.
“That’s right, you two leave first. We’ll stay behind and duke it out with them!” Lu Yan also gritted her
teeth. Rather than fleeing in this p

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1

Chapter 1 Python and Sparrow Swallow the Dragon

Chapter 2 Genesis Runes

Chapter 4 The Power of Genesis Runes

Chapter 5 Qi Yue and Liu Xi

Chapter 6 The Ancestral Grounds Shrine

Chapter 7 A Mysterious Place

Chapter 8 Searching for the Eight Meridian Channels

Chapter 9 Emergence of the Eight Meridian Channels

Chapter 10 Tutelage of Destiny

Chapter 11 King Qi’s Appetite

Chapter 12 Genesis Food

Chapter 13 Unblocking the Meridian Channels

Chapter 15 Primal Chaos Divine Grindstone Visualisation Method

Chapter 16 Digging at a Corner of the Wall

Chapter 17 Lin Feng

Chapter 18 Culture and Martial

Chapter 19 Channel Opening

Chapter 20 Genesis Technique

Chapter 21 Dragon Step, Dragon Tablet Hand

Chapter 23 First Sign of the Excellence

Chapter 24 Show of Might

Chapter 25 Battling Lin Feng

Chapter 27 End of the Newcomer Exam

Chapter 28 The A Class

Chapter 29 Jade Spirit Waterfall

Chapter 30 Opening the Third Meridian Channel

Chapter 31 Establishment of Power

Chapter 32 Ice and Fire Genesis Gathering Rune

Chapter 33 The Two Girls Meet

Chapter 34 Jade Spirit Waterfall Conspiracy

Chapter 35 Jade Spirit Waterfall Battle

Chapter 36 Underhanded Tactic

Chapter 37 Double Breakthrough

Chapter 38 Black Forest Mountain Range

Chapter 39 Enemy Encounter

Chapter 40 That’s All That’s Left

Chapter 41 Auraflare Technique

Chapter 42 Thirty Six Beast Channel Opening Rune

Chapter 43 Learning the Auraflare Technique

Chapter 44 Su Youwei’s Progress

Chapter 46 Beginning of the Class Ranking Exam

Chapter 49 Battling Liu Xi

Chapter 51 Zhou Yuan VS Qi Yue

Chapter 52 True Power

Chapter 53 I Know This Too

Chapter 55 Wei Canglan

Chapter 57 Ancestral Dragon Scripture

Chapter 58 Genesis Resources

Chapter 59 Mid Illusory Stage

Chapter 61 Yin Yang Qi Dwelling

Chapter 62 Canglan County, Wei Qingqing

Chapter 63 Awe in a Single Move

Chapter 64 Master Ying

Chapter 65 Getting Rid of the Poison

Chapter 67 Thousand Poison Eroding Rune

Chapter 69 Revelation of Skill

Chapter 72 Black Venom King

Chapter 73 Into Blackwater

Chapter 74 The Black Jade Tile

Chapter 75 The Eighth Meridian Channel

Chapter 76 Opening the Qi Dwelling

Chapter 77 Jade Infant Fruit

Chapter 78 Method to Reach the Island