Chapter 1176: The King of Arcane Arts

Boom! Boom!

In the colossal ancient ruined city, two figures clashed like lightning in mid-air, exchanging thousands of blows in mere moments.

Each collision unleashed a terrifying blast of Genesis Qi, flattening countless dilapidated buildings below.

The sheer ripple effects from such a high-level clash were enough to severely wound Heaven Sun stage experts with less than 3.5 billion Genesis Qi reserves, clearly demonstrating the ferocity and intensity of their battle.

After another forceful impact and a burst of Genesis Qi, Xu Lei appeared in mid-air. His face was expressionless, but his eyes were exceptionally sharp and cold.

His Genesis Qi reserves surpassed Zhou Yuan's by over 100 million, and the Genesis Qi he cultivated, the Golden Firmament Thunder Tribulation Qi, was a rank eight technique renowned for its immense destructive power, fierce and potent. Yet, despite this, he hadn't gained a significant advantage in the preceding clashes.

"The quality of this guy's Genesis Qi is probably even superior to my Golden Firmament Thunder Tribulation Qi..." This realization startled Xu Lei. Even among rank eight Genesis Qi, his was considered top-tier.

Genesis Qi of this caliber would undoubtedly be considered peak-tier in the Lower Five Heavens. As for true rank nine Genesis Qi, it was exceptionally rare, not only in the Lower Five Heavens but even within the Sacred Race.

So, when he perceived the remarkable strength of the platinum Genesis Qi Zhou Yuan cultivated, he couldn't help but feel bewildered.

Although it wasn't rank nine Genesis Qi, it was definitely at the pinnacle of rank eight!

Furthermore, the mottled black brush in Zhou Yuan's hand likely bordered on being a Saint Artifact. Otherwise, it couldn't have withstood a direct clash with his Scarlet Thunder Staff without being at a disadvantage. It was important to note that his Scarlet Thunder Staff was personally refined for him by a Saint from the Sacred Ancestor Heaven, and given time and opportunity, it might even ascend to the level of a true Saint Artifact.

It was precisely due to the quality of the opponent's Genesis Qi and the mottled black brush that his previous attacks had been repelled.

"In that case..."

Xu Lei's eyes turned icy. The next moment, his hands abruptly formed a seal.

A golden radiance erupted from the top of his head, gathering directly above him to form a golden thundercloud. Within the cloud, golden lightning snaked and coiled, releasing a terrifying might that shook heaven and earth.

"Golden Thunder Body Severing Art!"

As Xu Lei roared, streaks of golden lightning instantly descended from the thundercloud, violently striking his body.

However, the golden lightning caused him no harm. Instead, his internal Genesis Qi surged at an astonishing rate under the continuous bombardment of the lightning strikes.

In just a few breaths, Xu Lei's Genesis Qi reserves reached 4.8 billion!

An increase of nearly 400 million!

Xu Lei stood in the void, golden lightning constantly flickering around him, making him appear like a god of thunder, radiating astonishing power.

Xu Lei looked down at Zhou Yuan, a hint of arrogance in his expression: "Zhou Yuan, this secret art of mine is considered top-tier even among the Heaven Sun stage experts of my Sacred Race. For you to force me to use a secret art to defeat you, that's a testament to your ability."

When one's strength reached their level, it was almost the peak of the Heaven Sun stage. At this point, ordinary secret arts had little effect. Yet, Xu Lei could still boost his Genesis Qi reserves by 400 million. This secret art was indeed formidable.

"A secret art that can increase Genesis Qi reserves by 400 million is truly impressive."

Zhou Yuan exclaimed in admiration. Immediately, an ancient, obscure rune on the mottled body of the Heavenly Yuan Brush in his hand suddenly lit up, and Genesis Qi from heaven and earth surged wildly towards him.

"Promotion!"

In that instant, Zhou Yuan's Genesis Qi reserves also soared dramatically!

Directly increasing from 4.3 billion to 4.8 billion!

A full 500 million increase in Genesis Qi reserves!

Before Zhou Yuan broke through to the late Heaven Sun stage, activating "Promotion" could have provided him with an increase of 700 million or even more Genesis Qi reserves. However, as Xu Lei had mentioned, as they entered the late Heaven Sun stage, they were gradually reaching the peak of this realm. At that point, further improvements naturally became much more difficult than before.

Thus, Zhou Yuan's "Promotion" had also been somewhat weakened, now providing 500 million.

But even so, the arrogance on Xu Lei's face abruptly froze.

"A 500 million increase in reserves?! How is that possible?" Disbelief filled Xu Lei's eyes. What kind of secret art could achieve such a significant boost?

His gaze fixed on the Heavenly Yuan Brush in Zhou Yuan's hand. From it, he faintly sensed a subtle, almost imperceptible pressure.

That pressure... it was somewhat like a true Saint Artifact!

However, its power was far weaker than a full Saint Artifact.

"Could it be a former Saint Artifact?" Xu Lei, with his vast knowledge, quickly guessed the answer, and his expression instantly darkened slightly.

While Xu Lei was filled with doubt, Zhou Yuan looked at him with a trace of playfulness at the corner of his mouth: "Do you think this is over?"

He crouched slightly and clapped his palm against the ground. A Saint Rune appeared in his palm.

"Earth Saint Rune!"

The earth trembled, and visible ripples spread outwards.

The next moment, an incredibly dense and raw Genesis Qi surged violently from deep within the earth into his body.

Beneath Zhou Yuan's skin, it was as if tiny snakes were writhing, trying to burst out, but they were ultimately firmly restrained by his resilient physical body.

And Zhou Yuan's Genesis Qi, once again, continued to increase at a steady rate under Xu Lei's astonished gaze.

5 billion!

Another 200 million increase!

"You!" Facing the terrifying pressure emanating from Zhou Yuan at that moment, even Xu Lei was speechless, his widened eyes revealing his inner shock.

At their level, ordinary secret arts already had little effect. But Zhou Yuan possessed two?! And two that didn't conflict with each other?

Zhou Yuan raised his head, looking at the stunned Xu Lei, the playful smirk at his lips deepening: "My apologies, you can call me... the King of Secret Arts!"

As soon as his voice fell, without waiting for Xu Lei's reply, his figure abruptly shot through the air.

A sonic boom echoed, as if an invisible ripple had erupted.

Zhou Yuan's speed was originally inferior to Xu Lei's, but now, under the forceful activation of 5 billion Genesis Qi, his instantaneous burst of speed actually surpassed Xu Lei!

So by the time Xu Lei reacted, Zhou Yuan had appeared before him as if teleporting.

Boom!

"Myriad Whales!"

Ancient whale cries echoed through heaven and earth. The mottled brush body seemed to transform into a sky-reaching pillar, carrying indescribable power, and smashed fiercely towards Xu Lei.

Xu Lei was no ordinary person either. In that critical moment, he let out a long roar, and the scarlet-gold staff radiated brilliant lightning. He too exerted his full strength, with thousands of golden lightning bolts bursting forth behind him, majestic and domineering, as he directly met the attack.

The sound of metal clashing exploded, and the void was directly torn open.

However, immediately afterward, a figure was sent flying backward in disarray, crashing into the ruined ancient city. The impact tore a deep crack several thousand feet long, and along the way, countless buildings were shattered into dust.

When the figure emerged from the ruins once more, his face became clear: it was Xu Lei!

At this moment, his expression was somewhat grim. In the previous clash, he had been completely suppressed by Zhou Yuan.

"Good..." His eyes were cold.

However, before he could finish speaking, the void before him shattered again. Zhou Yuan emerged from the air like a savage beast, and a terrifying Genesis Qi offensive rained down upon him.

Faced with Zhou Yuan's aggressive assault, Xu Lei also roared in defiance. Lightning coiled around his body as he refused to show weakness, meeting the attack with all his might.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Above the ruined ancient city, the two figures fiercely attacked each other, transforming into countless afterimages.

Each ripple that spread tore the void and leveled vast areas of ruins.

But no matter how unwilling Xu Lei was to admit it, in this head-on clash relying on Genesis Qi, he had truly fallen into a disadvantage.

Zhou Yuan's 5 billion Genesis Qi reserves had put him at a complete disadvantage.

And so, in yet another forceful impact, Xu Lei was sent flying back in disarray. This time, however, he didn't recklessly charge forward again, for he knew it was futile; continuing to clash based on Genesis Qi reserves would only worsen his injuries.

Xu Lei took a deep breath, his palms crossing in the void before him, tracing mystical trajectories that caused the starry sky to tremble.

Boom! Boom!

Behind him, the void trembled, and golden lightning roared furiously. Countless lightning bolts intertwined, seemingly forming an ancient thunderous pattern. Within this pattern, a giant appeared to be roaring skyward, like a god of thunder.

An extremely terrifying aura of danger enveloped heaven and earth.

Zhou Yuan's figure also paused, his eyes showing a hint of solemnity.

"This move..."

As Zhou Yuan tensed his entire body, Xu Lei's voice, cold and laced with intense killing intent, resonated through heaven and earth, accompanied by the rumble of thunder.

"Saint Genesis Art, Nine Palace Thunder Roar!"

Zhou Yuan's pupils sharply contracted.

As expected... a Saint Genesis Art!

It seemed this guy had truly been provoked.