Chapter 1188: Fourth Sacred Rune

A vast galaxy swirled around Zhou Yuan, slowly contracting. Each contraction brought with it an indescribable surge of power from all directions. Under this immense force, the Genesis Qi swirling around Zhou Yuan was steadily pushed back. A terrifying pressure enveloped his body, causing his flesh to crack and blood to flow.

This power, which ground down everything like a galaxy, was truly terrifying.

Zhou Yuan's expression was grim. Gatou's Sacred Pupil had reached the Five-Star stage, and the technique it unleashed was even more fearsome than Xu Lei's Calamity Lightning from before.

Feeling the terrifying power constantly compressing from all sides, Zhou Yuan took a deep breath. A ten-foot Law Domain immediately unfolded, encompassing and protecting him.

The Heaven Punishing Law Domain!

The appearance of this Law Domain significantly diminished the terrifying force generated by the contracting galaxy. Yet, Zhou Yuan's expression remained devoid of any ease; instead, it grew even graver, for the Heaven Punishing Law Domain was time-limited and could not be maintained indefinitely.

And purely in terms of the profundity of Genesis Qi, Zhou Yuan knew he couldn't match Gatou's 5.6 billion Genesis Qi reserves. Consequently, if the fight devolved into a stalemate, he would undoubtedly be the first to lose.

Gatou clearly understood this as well. Therefore, when Zhou Yuan deployed his ten-foot Law Domain to resist the galaxy's grinding power, Gatou showed no surprise or anger; instead, a cold sneer appeared on his face.

Zhou Yuan's actions had already revealed that he was at his wit's end.

Gatou slowly clasped his hands together, and the galaxy continued its unhurried contraction. Ripples began to appear within the ten-foot Law Domain surrounding Zhou Yuan.

Anyone could see from this scene that Zhou Yuan was beginning to be pushed to the brink.

Inside the Sacred Evolution Grand Array, the forces of the Five Heavens watched Zhou Yuan, trapped within the galaxy, their faces deathly pale and their eyes filled with despair. They knew Zhou Yuan had exhausted all his strength, but Gatou was simply too formidable.

Even Zhou Yuan's four astonishingly powerful rainbow sword lights had failed to slay him. Facing such a formidable enemy, they themselves would likely have lost all will to fight by now.

Not only them, but even the top figures of the Five Heavens, like Bai Xiaolu, felt their hearts sinking. The galaxy manifested by Gatou's Sacred Pupil was simply too terrifying. Unless Zhou Yuan could unleash those four sword lights again, he would likely find it impossible to escape.

Countless gazes converged on the figure within the galaxy. The Sacred Race forces were all mocking, while the forces of the Five Heavens were gradually being enveloped by despair.

As time passed.

The Law Domain around Zhou Yuan vibrated with increasing intensity, even beginning to fade—a clear sign that it was on the verge of dissipating.

Gatou stood outside the galaxy, his hands clasped behind his back, gazing indifferently at Zhou Yuan's figure. "You look truly miserable," he remarked. "I'd like to see how long you can last under my galaxy's grinding power once you lose that tiny Law Domain."

*Crack!*

As his voice faded, the Heaven Punishing Law Domain around Zhou Yuan's body finally reached its limit, gradually dissolving into nothingness.

With the Law Domain gone, the incredibly terrifying power surged back with full force.

*Rip!*

Cracks instantly tore open on Zhou Yuan's body, despite the glazed profound light surging across his skin. Though this light enhanced his defenses, it was still unable to resist the galaxy's grinding power.

"Great Blazing Demon!"

With cold eyes, Zhou Yuan manifested crimson patterns on his body, and a high temperature began to rise.

"Taiyi Azurewood Mark!"

Ancient marks emerged from his flesh, bursting with majestic vitality and continuously repairing the injuries within his body.

At this moment, Zhou Yuan had unleashed virtually all his techniques, striving to resist the galaxy's destructive power. Yet, it was clear these were not enough.

His flesh was crumbling piece by piece, and his bones were faintly visible, slowly shattering. The injuries on his body were utterly gruesome. His body seemed to continuously emit creaking sounds. He looked utterly disheveled, as if on the verge of being completely crushed by an overwhelming force.

His face covered in blood, Zhou Yuan slowly closed his blood-red eyes, appearing as if he had given up.

Seeing this, Gatou threw his head back and laughed heartily, his laughter echoing through every corner of the Sacred Evolution Grand Array. "Hahaha, is *this* the strongest Heavenly Sun Stage expert in the Lower Five Heavens? You didn't believe me when I called you lowly ants, and yet with this pathetic power, you dare to challenge my Sacred Race?!"

Countless individuals from the Five Heavens clenched their fists tightly, their fingertips digging into their palms. Yet, the physical sting paled in comparison to the anger and despair raging in their hearts.

Bai Xiaolu watched this scene, a bitter smile, unbefitting her youthful appearance, appearing on her small face. "Even Zhou Yuan has been pushed to such an extent..." Even someone as proud as her acknowledged Zhou Yuan's strength, but now, if even Zhou Yuan couldn't stop Gatou, what hope was left?

"Zhou Yuan..." Wu Yao gazed at the bloody figure in the galaxy, falling silent for a moment before muttering, "How can someone like you fall here? I said I would be the one to defeat you in the future!"

"Your Highness..." Su Youwei lifted her beautiful face, stained with blood. Always strong, she couldn't help but redden her eyes and tremble uncontrollably. "I'm sorry, it's all my fault for being so useless. I can't help you at all..." She had originally believed that after years of cultivation, she would be able to stand shoulder to shoulder with Zhou Yuan and face anything. Yet, in the end, she discovered she was still not strong enough...

Zhao Mushen stared grimly at the void, gritting his teeth. "Zhou Yuan, Zhou Yuan, you at least defeated *me*. I don't believe you'll lose here!" "And... I really don't want to die here!" "I haven't had my fill of these Sacred Race bastards yet!" Yet, despite his words, even someone as proud as he was completely at a loss as to what Zhou Yuan could possibly do to break free against such a monstrous Gatou.

Perhaps he was simply putting his faith in the Zhou Yuan who had always been able to create miracles.

Hahaha!

Gatou's laughter still reverberated between heaven and earth. "Zhou Yuan, can you feel it? The despair of those ants from the Lower Five Heavens?" "They still seem to be hoping you can turn things around!" "Now, do you regret your arrogance in leading these fools to challenge the array?! If all these people die here, will your name, Zhou Yuan, become infamous throughout the Lower Five Heavens?" "Haha, their deaths will all be your doing!"

Gatou mocked him without restraint, his words cutting deep. After laughing for a while, Gatou stretched and smiled faintly. "It's about time," he said.

By now, the galaxy's contraction had reached its most intense point. On Zhou Yuan's body, his flesh was even falling off in chunks, immediately pulverized by the terrifying force.

"Huh?" At that moment, Gatou suddenly noticed Zhou Yuan's physical body beginning to wither, becoming shriveled and dry, as if all his blood had been drained. He looked like a mummified corpse. A hint of surprise and doubt flashed in Gatou's eyes, because this clearly wasn't caused by his galaxy-grinding power.

What was this guy doing now?

Gatou's eyes flickered, then turned ruthless. "Playing tricks, die!"

He clasped his palms together. The galaxy violently shook, like a giant halo suddenly contracting inward, with terrifying power surging in layers, crushing space itself before enveloping the area where Zhou Yuan was. Once that power descended, Zhou Yuan would surely be reduced to dust!

Countless gazes converged at that moment; no one dared to breathe a sound.

While that destructive power surged forward, Zhou Yuan still kept his eyes tightly shut, as if completely unaware of the approaching annihilation. However, if anyone could have seen the activity within his body, they would have noticed that all of Zhou Yuan's internal power was frantically converging toward a single point. He was even burning the power of his flesh and blood. Clearly, he had poured everything into this.

Because this was also his final resort. This technique was difficult to activate under normal circumstances. Only at this most critical, life-threatening moment could his essence, qi, and spirit be condensed to their absolute peak, supplemented by the power of his flesh and blood, and the desperate resolve born from facing certain death.

"Come out!"

A low roar echoed in Zhou Yuan's mind.

Inside his Divine Dwelling, on the rune light sphere, a mysterious light pattern that had remained dormant for years suddenly burst forth with brilliant light at this very moment.

That was...

The fourth Sacred Rune of the Cangxuan Saint Seal!