Chapter 1190: Comeback

At the core of the Saint Genesis Barrier, the emaciated Zhou Yuan stood facing Jiatu from a distance. However, the aura between them had undergone a dramatic shift; Jiatu had lost his previous composure, his fluctuating expression revealing the terror in his heart.

He couldn't help but feel terrified. Although the flame Zhou Yuan emitted seemed as small as a candlelight flicker, Jiatu, as the strongest Heavenly Sun Stage expert in Saint Ancestor Heaven, possessed extraordinary experience. Therefore, he knew exactly how terrifying that wisp of flame was. It was Sacred Flame, which only Saints could condense! Legend had it that it could even incinerate Law Domains! Though Zhou Yuan's Sacred Flame was extremely weak, it was still Sacred Flame. This was not a power that Heavenly Sun Stage cultivators like them could touch.

“Zhou Yuan, you are truly ruthless,” Jiatu said, his voice filled with shock and anger. “You burned your flesh, spirit, and Genesis Qi... just to create this wisp of Sacred Flame. This power is not something you can wield; you will pay an extremely heavy price.” Although he didn't understand how Zhou Yuan had conjured this Sacred Flame, he could feel that Zhou Yuan's flesh, spirit, and Genesis Qi were all in a state of incineration. In other words, the Sacred Flame Zhou Yuan summoned was also using him as fuel. At this rate... Zhou Yuan would be burned dry.

Jiatu took a deep breath, his eyes shifting as he slowly said, “Zhou Yuan, I must admit you are a formidable opponent. I am willing to take a step back now. I will allow you to lead the forces of the five Heavens out of the barrier, and in the end, I can even leave you three main ancestral qi veins.” He continued, “You have infinite potential in the future, so there’s no need for us to perish together here.”

It was clear that Jiatu had retreated, forced into making concessions. In Jiatu's view, the current Zhou Yuan was a madman making a final desperate gamble. If they truly fought, even he wasn't confident he could escape unscathed from the Sacred Flame's power.

Jiatu’s voice echoed directly into the ears of everyone within the Saint Genesis Grand Formation. Faced with his concession, even the Saint Race forces remained silent, offering no objections. This was because they, too, had sensed how terrifying Zhou Yuan was at that moment.

The forces from the five Heavens also watched the scene in silence. That Jiatu had been pushed to this point was entirely due to Zhou Yuan's own strength, for which he had paid an immense price. If, as Jiatu claimed, Zhou Yuan was now practically burning his life away. Thus, they were in no position to make any choices. Countless gazes converged on that emaciated figure.

Under those gazes, there was not the slightest ripple on Zhou Yuan's alarmingly gaunt face. Only in the depths of his eyes did a faint flicker of fire dance, a wisp of light beneath which even heaven and earth seemed to tremble and wail in fear. “Your Saint Race is arrogant and cruel; such words only invite ridicule,” he said. He gently shook his head, stating plainly, “In my opinion, a good Saint Race is a dead Saint Race.”

Zhou Yuan’s answer was clearly evident. His current state indeed required an extremely heavy price, and his time was limited. He sensed that Jiatu had likely surmised this, which was why he deliberately used this as bait, attempting to buy time. Once his current state faded, Jiatu would probably immediately move to kill him completely. Rather than that, it was better to finish things cleanly. The price had already been paid; there was no reason to retreat.

Jiatu's face darkened as he slowly said, “Are you truly willing to sacrifice this life? Under the Sacred Flame, your very spirit will not endure; you will completely vanish from this world.”

Zhou Yuan then ignored him. Within his gaunt body, a faint glow of fire subtly flickered. He opened his mouth, from which smoke ascended. The next instant, several sparks shot out. As soon as these sparks appeared, they converged, forming a single wisp of candlelight. The flame flickered slightly, then vanished into thin air. But at that very moment, Jiatu's hair stood on end. An indescribable aura of death enveloped him directly.

“Sacred Eye Technique, Star River Divine Armor!” Jiatu's figure shot back, simultaneously roaring. The Sacred Eye between his brows split into tiny fissures, from which blood seeped out, appearing utterly terrifying. Evidently, Jiatu had unleashed all his power, because he knew that the seemingly ordinary flame possessed the power to utterly destroy him.

Boom! Boom! The void shattered, and streaks of stellar rivers appeared out of nowhere, incredibly dazzling. These rivers wrapped around Jiatu's body, then covered him, forming a suit of armor radiating starlight. This was Jiatu's ultimate life-saving trump card!

And just as the Star River Divine Armor appeared, the void around him silently fractured, and sparks of fire flew out, landing directly on the starlight armor. Then, countless observers watched in utter horror as Jiatu's strongest defense began to melt where the sparks landed.

Jiatu’s pupils contracted, and his body trembled slightly. The aura of death brought by those sparks actually made him feel a sense of suffocation. At this moment, he understood that any of his methods were as fragile as tofu under the Sacred Flame's sparks. Jiatu dared not move an inch, for he knew that if he moved even slightly, those sparks would utterly destroy him. However, even staying still would only slow the flame's spread. He had already entered a death countdown.

Now, Jiatu could only stare fixedly at Zhou Yuan's emaciated figure, a profound sense of regret welling up in his eyes. If he had known this would be the outcome, he would have undoubtedly done whatever it took to kill Zhou Yuan immediately upon entering the Ancient Source Heaven.

“I never thought I, Jiatu, would fall into your hands,” Jiatu said. He had been extremely cautious, yet who would have thought he would still capsize. “However, you will also die!” Jiatu’s face contorted into a ferocious grimace.

In his perception, Zhou Yuan's flesh, spirit, and Genesis Qi had all turned into fuel, so the latter was almost identical to him, entering a death countdown. Zhou Yuan still ignored him. With a flick of his sleeve, he shot out over a dozen formation flags, which landed in various directions within the core area. Finally, he moved, appearing atop the majestic mountain where Jiatu had previously sat. This spot was precisely the core point of the Saint Genesis Barrier.

“Zhou Yuan! How dare you ruin my Saint Race's great plan! My Saint Race’s Saints will surely grind your bones to dust and obliterate everyone connected to you!” Seeing this, Jiatu’s pupils turned scarlet as he threatened sternly. He couldn't help but take a step, and immediately, an expression of pain appeared on his face. A wisp of fire directly penetrated the Star River Armor, instantly turning one of his arms into nothingness.

At this point, the Saint Race forces within the Saint Genesis Barrier finally panicked, their faces etched with fear. Countless shrill screams resounded. However, no one but Jiatu could enter the core, and now that the core was in Zhou Yuan's hands, they could only watch helplessly. “Ah! Ah!” Thus, countless roars of fury, despair, and terror erupted.

Once Zhou Yuan reversed the barrier, a devastating outcome was inevitable. Unlike the almost frenzied Saint Race forces, the forces from the five Heavens watched the scene with complex emotions. Deep reverence welled up in their eyes as they looked at the emaciated figure.

Swish. The next moment, countless figures bowed their heads in that direction, their hands clasped over their hearts, performing a solemn ancient rite passed down from antiquity. What Zhou Yuan had done today was enough for his name to be spread throughout the five Heavens.

It was at this very instant that Zhou Yuan, under the despairing and furious gazes of the Saint Race, plunged the formation flag in his hand onto the mountaintop. He smiled at Jiatu. “My apologies...” he said. “I’ve turned the tables again.”