Chapter 1184: Strong Gato

The moment Zhou Yuan stepped into the spatial vortex, the space before his eyes instantly changed.

His gaze swept across, revealing a massive floating landmass. Mountains and rivers stretched across it to the horizon, ancient and majestic.

With Genesis Qi infused into his eyes, he could even discern other floating landmasses in the distant void.

In the boundless sky above, both sun and moon appeared simultaneously, a strange and unpredictable phenomenon.

Zhou Yuan, however, paid little attention to the changing environment. His gaze immediately fixed on a towering mountain in the distance, resembling a pillar propping up the heavens. It pierced through the clouds, so grand that it made one feel incredibly small.

Atop a green pine tree on the mountain's summit, a figure sat quietly.

He ignored Zhou Yuan's arrival, instead gazing up at the sun and moon in the sky. He remained silent, yet an indescribable pressure permeated the entire world, making Zhou Yuan's body feel heavy.

"Jiatu..."

Zhou Yuan stared at the figure, killing intent surfacing in the depths of his eyes.

As if sensing his rising killing intent, the figure finally lowered his head and looked at Zhou Yuan, offering a slight smile. The dragon-phoenix earrings at his ears swayed gently. "I didn't expect you would actually manage to reach me."

"For someone from the Lower Five Heavens to achieve this, you are truly an extraordinary talent."

"Therefore, I am willing to give you one last chance... Serve me, and I can request a Saint of my Sacred Race to modify your bloodline, making you a descendant of our race."

Zhou Yuan's eyes slightly lifted. "Compared to that, what I really want to do is... beat you to death."

Jiatu shook his head, a hint of regret in his voice. "You lowly ants from the Lower Five Heavens are always so unappreciative and deluded."

"Very well, since you're so eager to die, I can only grant your wish."

He looked around the node space. "Now that the Saint Genesis Array's Genesis Qi is chaotic, everyone within the barrier should be able to see this place... You must be carrying the hopes of everyone from the Lower Five Heavens, aren't you?"

A playful smirk curled his lips. "What do you think will happen when they realize their last hope is utterly useless? Will they resent your weakness and futility?"

"Sometimes, the shattering of hope can drive people to desperate madness."

"You talk too much," Zhou Yuan said expressionlessly, taking a step forward.

Three Celestial Suns flickered indistinctly behind him, gradually becoming clearer. The manifestation of the Divine Dwelling's Celestial Sun indicates a more acute connection with the Genesis Qi of the world, revealing Zhou Yuan's apprehension towards Jiatu.

His Genesis Qi foundation of 4.3 billion burst forth without reservation.

But it didn't end there.

"Promotion!"

"Earth Saint Rune!"

With two secret techniques activated simultaneously, Zhou Yuan's Genesis Qi foundation surged. Platinum Genesis Qi roared towards the sky, and a faint, ancient dragon's roar echoed throughout the world.

Five billion Genesis Qi foundation!

Faced with such a formidable enemy, Zhou Yuan had no intention of making any tentative moves.

Countless eyes from the Five Great Heavens watched this scene, all somewhat shocked. Even through the obstruction of spatial nodes, they could still feel the immense Genesis Qi pressure emanating from Zhou Yuan.

"Seven-Claw Celestial Sun?" Jiatu gazed at the ancient dragon patterns on the three Celestial Suns around Zhou Yuan, raising an eyebrow slightly.

"To reach this stage with the resources of the Lower Five Heavens and as a lowly human, you are indeed a true prodigy. No wonder even Xulei couldn't stop you."

Zhou Yuan still didn't reply. He formed a hand seal with one hand and flicked his sleeve.

Boom!

A tremendous thunderclap resonated from his sleeve. The next instant, a black and white lightning bolt roared forth, as if piercing through heaven and earth. It streaked towards Jiatu with unimaginable speed, carrying astonishing power.

Yin-Yang Lightning Pattern Mirror!

The black and white lightning pierced through the world, but Jiatu watched it with unperturbed eyes. Only when the lightning was barely ten feet from him did he open his mouth wide and gently exhale.

A wisp of dark white airflow shot out.

The moment the airflow appeared, the temperature of the entire world plummeted. The space around Jiatu seemed to freeze instantly, and countless ice crystals materialized in the air.

The dark white airflow collided with the black and white lightning. The next moment, the lightning was instantly frozen, and then, as it reached Jiatu, it was shattered into countless specks of light by an invisible yet powerful force.

Within the Saint Genesis Array, countless people from the Five Great Heavens watched this scene, a chill rising in their hearts. Zhou Yuan's powerful offensive had been effortlessly neutralized by Jiatu...

Just how strong was this person?!

Zhou Yuan's expression was equally solemn. Jiatu, simply by sitting there, exuded immense pressure and a dangerous aura.

He felt that Jiatu was likely the most dangerous person he had encountered at the same cultivation level in recent years.

Jiatu stretched, then calmly stated, "Xulei was actually right when he told you that you shouldn't come before me. If you do, perhaps all your confidence will be shattered."

As he spoke, the void around him began to tremble violently.

A terrifying Genesis Qi fluctuation slowly rose from within him. Jiatu's Genesis Qi was a deep silver, seemingly shimmering with countless star sands, mysterious yet imbued with an extreme chill capable of freezing everything.

As his Genesis Qi surged behind him, three Celestial Suns slowly emerged.

When Zhou Yuan saw those three Celestial Suns, his pupils immediately constricted.

Because he saw familiar dragon patterns on them...

And more than the dragon patterns on his own Celestial Suns!

That was... an Eight-Claw Celestial Sun!

Zhou Yuan pursed his lips. Although his emotions were turbulent, he was not truly surprised. After all, he had reached the Seven-Claw Celestial Sun. As the strongest Celestial Sun Stage practitioner of the Sacred Race, Jiatu's resources and opportunities were unlikely to be inferior to his.

Jiatu's talent was also clearly undeniable; otherwise, he wouldn't be in this position.

Therefore, it wasn't inconceivable for him to achieve an Eight-Claw Celestial Sun, given his talent and sufficient resources and opportunities.

The solemnity on Zhou Yuan's face grew more intense, and his entire body tensed. Besides the Eight-Claw Celestial Sun, he could also feel that Jiatu's own Genesis Qi foundation had reached a terrifying level.

That had to be... a Genesis Qi foundation of 5.1 billion!

It's important to note that Zhou Yuan's current 5 billion foundation was boosted by two secret techniques, yet Jiatu's raw foundation alone had reached 5.1 billion—800 million stronger than Zhou Yuan's original foundation!

Jiatu watched Zhou Yuan with a playful smirk, then formed a hand seal with one hand.

Boom!

As heaven and earth quaked, Jiatu's Genesis Qi foundation began to surge once more.

Countless people across the Five Great Heavens watched this scene, their hearts trembling. They knew Jiatu had also activated a secret technique...

Even though he already had the upper hand in terms of Genesis Qi foundation, he still activated a secret technique. Clearly, this was intended to crush their spirits.

He truly wanted Zhou Yuan and everyone in the Five Great Heavens watching to experience true despair.

Under countless trembling gazes, Jiatu's Genesis Qi foundation continuously climbed, ultimately reaching 5.6 billion.

Terrifying Genesis Qi roared within the spatial node. The space around Jiatu seemed unable to withstand it, constantly twisting and even shattering...

The colossal, heaven-propping mountain beneath his feet also trembled slightly, and rocks tumbled down.

5.6 billion...

Faced with Jiatu in this state, even Zhou Yuan felt his scalp tingle for the first time. Was this the strongest Celestial Sun Stage practitioner of the Sacred Race? To be... monstrous to this extent.

"Are you trembling?" Jiatu gave Zhou Yuan a gentle smile.

"Too bad, I don't like giving people second chances."

The moment his last word fell, Jiatu's figure vanished from his original spot.

Zhou Yuan's expression changed, and his figure transformed into a shadow, rapidly retreating.

However, the instant he moved, the void before him shattered. A figure appeared in front of Zhou Yuan as if teleporting, then casually struck out with a palm.

That palm strike appeared effortless, but beneath it, terrifying Genesis Qi was gathered. With that single strike, the void directly shattered.

The entire world seemed to tremble because of it.

Faced with a palm strike that seemed to block all escape routes, Zhou Yuan had no chance to dodge. The palm wind was too fast; by the time he managed to cross his arms in front of him to form a defense, the palm print had already descended.

A massive, ten-thousand-foot wide halo of Genesis Qi shockwaves spread out from the void.

The space there exploded.

Zhou Yuan's figure was blasted backward and downward, crashing heavily into the earth. The entire ground was torn open, forming a deep, abyssal crack...

The mark resembled that of a meteor striking the earth.

Within the Saint Genesis Array, countless people from the Five Great Heavens watched this scene, their bodies growing cold, their eyes filled with rising horror and despair.

Who could have imagined that their Five Great Heavens' strongest Celestial Sun Stage practitioner, when facing the Sacred Race's strongest Celestial Sun Stage practitioner, would almost be...

Instantly killed with a single palm strike?