Chapter 1040: Great Progress in Strength

The past month has not been particularly peaceful for the Tianyuan Region. At its core, this was naturally due to the Dual-Tower Contest against the Five Great Alliances, scheduled for a month later. While many were still unaware of the profound implications of this conflict, they could sense that it might even influence the ongoing war between the two colossal powers.

However, what truly stirred up internal commotion within the Tianyuan Region was the preliminary release of participant quotas. Numerous Heavenly Sun Realm experts collectively appealed, attempting to persuade the higher echelons to revise these quotas. However, their pleas were ultimately suppressed. This forceful suppression, paradoxically, fueled even greater indignation, leading to widespread and relentless clamor.

The uproar also provided ample entertainment for other forces in Hunyuan Heaven, who couldn't help but lament the Tianyuan Region's apparent decline from its former glory.

Regardless, the Dual-Tower Contest undeniably became the focal point of attention for all powers within Hunyuan Heaven during this period. These factions, with their keen senses, also subtly perceived that this confrontation between the two sides was far from simple. After all, they had recently been engaged in a fierce, large-scale war, fighting to the death. Yet, seemingly overnight, they were suddenly proposing a seemingly benign tower contest? The underlying complexities were undoubtedly significant. They had a premonition that this tower contest might lead to profound changes in the overall landscape of Hunyuan Heaven.

Such a momentous event naturally drew various forces to converge at the Dual Towers. For a time, the two border regions of the Tianyuan Region became a focal point of intense activity.

Within the Tianyuan Cave-Heaven, deep beneath the earth, lay a lava lake. Terrifying temperatures permeated the underground space, causing the surrounding rock walls to continuously melt.

Surprisingly, the enormous lava lake, which once occupied this space, had now shrunk dramatically, transforming into a mere puddle of magma. In the center of this puddle, a figure sat quietly, cross-legged, allowing the scorching, fiery magma to flow over their body. Crimson, ancient patterns, resembling fiery scales, faintly covered their body, extending across their form.

This figure was, of course, Zhou Yuan.

However, he had clearly undergone a dramatic transformation. His body seemed to have swelled several times in size, his skin crimson, with faint hints of magma appearing to flow beneath it. An extremely potent, yet subtle, ripple of power brewed within his flesh and blood, causing even the surrounding void to undulate with each tremor of his body. Moreover, a closer inspection would reveal that the flowing magma was being gradually absorbed by Zhou Yuan's body. With each absorption, the lava level diminished further.

It turned out that the massive lava lake had, astonishingly, been completely consumed and absorbed by Zhou Yuan's physical body!

Gurgle!

In the silent depths, a strange gurgling sound suddenly emanated, surprisingly, from Zhou Yuan's own flesh and blood. At that moment, Zhou Yuan's body radiated a crimson glow. His long-closed eyes suddenly snapped open, revealing pupils filled with a fiery red hue, like a tempestuous world of flames. Yet, this intense power did not disturb Zhou Yuan's composure. Instead, his mind remained in a state of absolute calm. He could feel the terrifying power surging within him.

Zhou Yuan opened his mouth and drew a deep breath. The remaining magma immediately surged upwards, forming a crimson arc that he swallowed completely in a single gulp.

Hiss!

Upon consuming the magma, thick white mist billowed from Zhou Yuan's body. This mist evidently carried an extreme temperature, causing the very air around him to visibly distort. Meanwhile, his body, which had swelled several times its original size, began to slowly shrink. The crimson, ancient patterns on his skin also gradually receded. Eventually, he returned to his normal appearance.

Zhou Yuan lowered his gaze, slowly clenching his fingers into a fist.

Gurgle!

To his surprise, crimson magma began to seep from his fist, eventually engulfing his entire arm. Zhou Yuan unleashed a punch, and the ground beneath his feet instantly cracked open. Fissures spread in all directions, causing the entire underground chamber to shake violently as massive boulders tumbled down. The lava cavern was directly collapsed by Zhou Yuan's single punch. Furthermore, the potent and terrifying magma forcibly melted a massive crater into the ground.

“What formidable power,” Zhou Yuan grinned. In terms of destructive capability, the power of this Great Blazing Demon far surpassed that of the Profound Sacred Body. The magma-based power was surprisingly destructive.

Indeed, after nearly a month of cultivation, Zhou Yuan had finally achieved the initial mastery of the 'Inferno Great Blazing Demon'! This speed was astonishingly rapid, yet it was also somewhat expected. Zhou Yuan had poured vast amounts of Law Domain Essence into this endeavor. For almost an entire month, he had constantly focused on visualizing the Great Blazing Demon. Few others who had cultivated this art could afford such extravagance. Beyond this primary factor, Zhou Yuan's innate talent and the cultivation environment specially created by Xi Jing were also indispensable.

Zhou Yuan composed himself, then shot straight upwards. The rock wall melted into a deep tunnel, and in a few blinks, Zhou Yuan's figure burst forth from underground, appearing in the sky.

Gazing once more at the vast expanse, Zhou Yuan felt a surge of exhilaration throughout his body, then let out a long howl towards the sky. The howl resonated like thunder, echoing across the heavens and earth.

As the howl reverberated, a sudden whooshing sound pierced the air. A streak of light then materialized, hurtling directly towards Zhou Yuan. Zhou Yuan saw the approaching streak of light, and his eyes welled up with an even greater ecstasy than before. Through their shared connection, he naturally recognized the mottled black brush within the streak of light:

The Heavenly Yuan Brush!

Moreover, the Heavenly Yuan Brush now felt incredibly profound to him, as if it had undergone a complete metamorphosis compared to its previous state.

Buzz!

The Heavenly Yuan Brush transformed into a shimmering blur, circling Zhou Yuan with compelling spiritual energy. The Origin Qi of heaven and earth surged towards it, entirely absorbed by the Heavenly Yuan Brush.

Zhou Yuan extended his palm, and the mottled black brush slowly settled into his hand under his delighted gaze. He closed his fingers around it, pouring Origin Qi from his body into the brush. The snow-white bristles of the Heavenly Yuan Brush immediately coalesced with an incredibly dense glow of Origin Qi. The next instant, a stream of Origin Qi burst forth, shaking the void and instantly reducing a distant mountain to dust. The amplification of Origin Qi had become even more potent.

Zhou Yuan flicked his finger, and the Heavenly Yuan Brush integrated into his body. He could sense the numerous profound mysteries within the Heavenly Yuan Brush. He closed his eyes slightly, and the next moment, snow-white bristles began to extend from his back, forming a pair of pristine white wings. With a flap of the wings, Zhou Yuan's figure vanished from his original position.

Ten thousand zhang away in the void, Zhou Yuan reappeared. With a clench of his palm, the snow-white bristles condensed, forming a long sword of white filaments in his hand. A single swing unleashed a monstrous torrent of sharp sword light.

Zhou Yuan chuckled softly, his eyes revealing unconcealed satisfaction. The Heavenly Yuan Brush's current spiritual essence was far beyond what it had been. Its myriad transformative abilities would provide him with a wealth of combat options.

With a flick of his sleeve, the Heavenly Yuan Brush materialized before him, silently hovering. Zhou Yuan's gaze swept over the ancient runes inscribed on the brush's body, finally settling on the seventh. Previously, this rune had been dim and indistinct, but now, the one that Zhou Yuan had long coveted shone with dazzling brilliance:

The seventh imprint: Promotion.