Chapter 1166: A Flawed Great Formation

As Zhou Yuan’s voice echoed through the area, countless shocked gazes immediately turned towards him.

The shock then gradually transformed into glimmers of surprise. All the forces from the Five Heavens stared expectantly at Zhou Yuan, for his words, in this moment of utter despair, undoubtedly offered them a renewed sense of hope.

“Zhou Yuan, what do you mean?” Bai Xiaolu couldn't help but grasp Zhou Yuan's sleeve, her dark eyes reflecting the desperate hope of someone drowning reaching for a lifeline.

Guan Qinglong and the others also fixed their gazes on Zhou Yuan, unconsciously holding their breath, as if fearing they might scare away the subtle glimmer of hope that had just appeared.

Facing their gazes, Zhou Yuan simply stared calmly at the vast barrier formation enveloping the distant landscape. “This barrier is indeed far grander and more immense than I imagined,” he said. “It is truly the work of a Saint from the Sacred Race. If it were in its complete form, I doubt I could grasp any of its intricacies.”

“But unfortunately…” He paused, then looked at Bai Xiaolu. “You mentioned earlier that the intelligence your Qiankun Heaven received indicated the Sacred Race hadn't fully completed the ‘Saint Evolution World Formation.’ You were absolutely right; this formation before us is not truly complete.”

“It still has flaws!”

“And Jiatu must also be aware of these flaws. That's why he attempted to undermine the morale of our Five Heavens with his words, hoping we would retreat voluntarily. He's cautious and concerned about an unexpected turn of events.”

Zhou Yuan's gaze swept across the crowd, taking in their hopeful expressions. “Simply put,” he said, “this grand barrier formation, meticulously set up by the Sacred Race, is not an impregnable fortress. We... still have a chance!”

As his words resonated, a fervent passion ignited in the eyes of countless individuals from the Five Heavens. The earlier resentment and despair gradually morphed into an intense fighting spirit.

Ultimately, they were unwilling to simply retreat. Most who had made it this far were resilient individuals. They didn't fear death in battle; what they feared was dying without hope.

The colossal formation before them was indeed terrifying, enough to induce despair. But Zhou Yuan's words had now dispelled that despair.

Bai Xiaolu, Guan Qinglong, and the others felt a sense of relief as the fighting spirit surged once more. If Jiatu's few words had truly shattered their morale, they would have faced severe repercussions upon returning to their respective Heavens, possibly even widespread condemnation.

But... how had Zhou Yuan discerned the flaws in this grand formation? A barrier like this, meticulously designed by multiple Saints, was incredibly complex. Even an individual whose Spirit had reached the Roaming God stage might not possess such insight, let alone him. Was Zhou Yuan truly so certain, or was he merely speaking wildly to stabilize morale? If the latter, it would be like drinking poison to quench thirst; once exposed, it would devastate morale even further.

Zhou Yuan, however, paid them no mind. His gaze remained fixed on the figure standing atop the mountain within the grand formation. Indeed, based solely on his Spirit cultivation, it would be impossible for him to discern the barrier's flaws. But fortunately, even with his insufficient Spirit cultivation, he possessed the Barrier-Breaking Saint Rune.

While this Saint Rune offered little in terms of combat power, its ability to pierce through illusions had brought Zhou Yuan numerous pleasant surprises over the years.

And now, it was proving its worth once again.

As Zhou Yuan's gaze fixed on him, Jiatu, on the mountaintop, showed no discernible emotion. A hint of interest seemed to flicker in his eyes as he looked at Zhou Yuan and said, “It appears there are indeed some insightful individuals among these lower Five Heavens.”

“Heh, heh, you are correct. This barrier formation is indeed not yet truly complete.”

He had actually admitted it voluntarily, which immediately brought expressions of immense joy to Bai Xiaolu and the others.

Observing their joy, Jiatu tilted his head slightly, a playful, mocking expression on his face. “Your earlier analysis was quite accurate,” he said. “I am a cautious person, and my previous words were indeed an attempt to persuade you to retreat.”

“Because I prefer not to take unnecessary risks.”

“But now, it seems you've disrupted that intention.”

A smile touched Jiatu's lips, but it held no warmth, instead sending a chill down their spines. “However,” he continued, “do you know the probability of the risk I wished to avoid?”

He raised a single finger.

“One percent.”

“You have a one percent chance of potentially breaking through the ‘Saint Evolution Barrier.’”

The smile on his lips grew even more radiant. “And with a ninety-nine percent probability... the main forces of your Five Heavens will all be buried right here.”

The joy on the faces of the Five Heavens' forces slowly receded. Countless individuals exchanged glances, their expressions growing slightly heavy.

“One percent?” A faint smile touched Zhou Yuan's lips. “That's alarmist talk. I believe the probability of breaking this formation is fifty percent. And even if we step back and say it's only one percent, what then?”

“Our Five Heavens have come here bearing the future of all races. We seek nothing more than a fight to the death.”

Vast and powerful Genesis Qi erupted from his body. Holding the Sky Origin Brush, his slender frame exuded a majestic aura that subtly trembled the very air around him, as if he knew no fear.

Behind him, countless eyes from the Five Heavens converged on his back, their previously somber expressions gradually firming with resolve.

“Only a fight to the death!”

“A fight to the death!”

Scattered, low roars soon grew into a deafening clamor, coalescing into immense sound waves that surged skyward, shattering the clouds. A formidable will to battle was clearly taking shape.

Jiatu observed the scene with a faint, indifferent smile, yet a cruel intent flickered in the depths of his eyes.

He knew his words would no longer have any impact.

No matter. It was merely a casual attempt. Since it proved ineffective, he would let them crash against the formation until they bled. He mused that the sight of countless corpses strewn across the battlefield would be quite pleasing.

Thus, he gave Zhou Yuan a faint smile. “Fifty percent probability? Never mind. Ignorance is bliss. Their deaths will all be on your head. Rest assured, I'll temporarily spare your worthless life so you can collect their bodies and bury them.”

Frankly, he held no regard for the Five Heavens. Their fighting spirit, in his estimation, was nothing more than the desperate roar of ants challenging a giant.

But would a giant concern itself with such things? A single stomp would suffice.

Jiatu shook his head, and his figure gradually faded away, his emotionless voice reverberating across the land.

“Bring your forces. If you can truly reach me, perhaps I might even take you as a slave.”

Boom! Boom! As his voice ceased, the immense formation enveloping the world suddenly underwent dramatic changes. Space twisted violently, layer upon layer, and countless new landscapes vaguely appeared within it: towering mountains, vast deserts, and ethereal floating palaces...

However, the surge of killing intent began to send shivers down everyone's spines.

Zhou Yuan watched the scene, his lips pressed tightly together, his gaze sharp.

He knew that the “Saint Evolution Barrier” had now truly activated.