Chapter 122: 杂鱼

Inside the Soul Devouring Pagoda, Zhou Yuan, Yaoyao, and Luoluo walked amidst the pale black mist that permeated the area.

Yaoyao's steps suddenly stopped. Her red lips slightly parted, and she said, “They’ve found us. They’re probably going to attack us.”

Zhou Yuan's eyes narrowed, and Genesis Qi surged around him.

Luoluo’s big eyes, however, lit up slightly, and she looked eager to fight.

The three stopped and waited for a moment. Then, the pale black mist in front of them swirled, and three figures slowly descended, landing before them.

The leading figure, gaunt and withered, was none other than Gu Qiu, the patriarch of the Gu family.

“I never thought anyone could uncover the secret of my Gu family's Soul Devouring Pagoda,” Gu Qiu said slowly, his sunken eyes fixed on Yaoyao like those of a malevolent spirit.

“Aren't you afraid of news spreading, using such methods to enhance your Spirit?” Yaoyao asked calmly.

Gu Qiu rolled his eyelids, his voice hoarse. “Before entering, my Gu family warned that there were risks inside. If you still chose to enter, who can you blame? Moreover, my Gu family acts with discretion; we only take the Spirits of a few people each year, and most others actually benefit from absorbing the Soul Refining Mist.”

Luoluo made a face, exclaiming, “How shameless!”

Yaoyao said, “That’s merely a temporary benefit. Your Soul Refining Mist contains a hidden toxin; those who absorb it will suffer a deficit in their Spirit in the future, making progress difficult.”

Gu Qiu chuckled. “What happens in the future is no concern of our Gu family.”

Zhou Yuan glanced at the three of them and slowly said, “It seems you intend to keep us here permanently.”

Otherwise, they wouldn't be talking to them like this.

Gu Qiu nodded with a smile. “Here, a few deaths are perfectly normal.”

He sighed, saying, “If you must blame someone, blame yourselves for being too clever.”

Luoluo snorted lightly. “Big talk. This wretched place of yours probably can’t keep anyone.”

Beside Gu Qiu, an elder sneered, “This Soul Devouring Pagoda has long been set up with a Genesis Rune barrier by our Gu family. Here, we can continuously replenish our strength, while you are already prey caught in a net!”

“No need for more talk with them; just kill them quickly!” another elder said in a deep voice.

Gu Qiu nodded. Potent Genesis Qi erupted from his body, and a light flickered at his glabella, indicating considerable mastery in both Genesis Qi and Spirit.

The other two elders also activated their Genesis Qi, and immediately, three astonishing auras spread out.

Yaoyao watched this scene, then suddenly turned to Zhou Yuan and said, “We’ll stay here and deal with them. You go deeper and find the core of the Soul Devouring Pagoda. There should be the central hub of the Genesis Rune barrier there. Destroy it, and the Soul Devouring Pagoda will lose its effectiveness.”

“The Gu family only has three cultivators in the Initial Heaven Stage, and that important place is probably guarded personally by Gu Ling of the Gu family. That guy is in the Mid-Heaven Gate Stage…” Luoluo suddenly interjected. Her clear, black-and-white eyes swept over Zhou Yuan. Although she didn’t finish her sentence, her implied meaning was clear: with Zhou Yuan’s late Qi Cultivation Stage strength, he didn’t seem to be a match for the opponent.

However, Zhou Yuan paid no attention to her gaze. He simply smiled at Yaoyao and said, “Then you two be careful.”

Without the slightest hesitation, he shot forward, heading deeper into the pagoda.

Seeing this, Gu Qiu and the other two initially wanted to stop him, but after realizing Zhou Yuan's strength, they paused. He was merely a small minnow in the Qi Cultivation Stage, not worth their attention.

Yaoyao gently tossed Tun Tun from her embrace. Instantly, the little creature's body began to swell, and crimson light surged, eventually transforming it back into the enormous fierce beast.

Enveloped in crimson light, its four hooves seemed to tread on flames, and black light swirled within its massive mouth.

It was mysterious and powerful.

An astonishing fierce aura slowly emanated from Tun Tun's body.

Feeling this fierce aura, Gu Qiu and the other two couldn't help but change their expressions. Clearly, they hadn't expected that the small creature, which had seemed like a mere pet, possessed such power.

“Big Sister Yaoyao, your Tun Tun is really amazing!” Luoluo, beside them, also stared at Tun Tun with wide, shining eyes. Her drooling expression even made Tun Tun, in its combat form, shiver.

“Xiao Han!”

Luoluo stroked the ice-blue bird on her shoulder. The bird instantly erupted with ice-blue light, emanating extreme cold, and finally transformed into an ice-blue giant bird about ten zhang in size.

The giant bird's entire body, including its wings, seemed entwined with cold currents. As it flapped its wings, gale-force winds swept forth, freezing even the ground.

This ice bird, it turned out, also possessed the strength of the Initial Heaven Stage.

Tun Tun's beast eyes swept over, glancing at the fierce-looking ice bird. Under its gaze, the ice bird seemed to be deterred by something, and its aura immediately reined in slightly, shaking its icy feathers.

“Tun Tun, don’t bully Xiao Han,” Luoluo said, pouting, upon seeing this.

Gu Qiu and the other two grew solemn. Facing two Genesis Beasts comparable to the Initial Heaven Stage, they dared not be negligent.

“No wonder you dared to cause trouble for my Gu family; you had something to rely on,” Gu Qiu sneered. He exchanged glances with the two elders. The Genesis Qi around them grew increasingly violent, and simultaneously, patterns lit up on their bodies, clearly Genesis Runes etched upon their skin.

They followed the same path as Zhou Yuan, cultivating both Genesis Qi and Spirit.

However, Zhou Yuan's Spirit cultivation was achieved step-by-step through Soul Forging Arts, resulting in a stable and robust foundation. The Gu family, on the other hand, used insidious methods like the Soul Devouring Pagoda, which, while fast, led to an unstable foundation, making it difficult for them to achieve greatness.

Tun Tun and Xiao Han let out long roars, then shot out, carrying crimson and ice-blue Genesis Qi as they charged towards their opponents.

The two elders also dared not delay and immediately met them with full force.

Boom! Boom!

As the two sides clashed, violent Genesis Qi immediately swept out, causing the entire pagoda to shake.

Gu Qiu's gaze was fixed on Yaoyao. Due to his powerful Spirit, he could sense that the seemingly Genesis Qi-less girl emitted an aura of danger no weaker than that of the two Genesis Beasts.

Under Gu Qiu's chilling gaze, Yaoyao lightly tapped her Qiankun Pouch. The next moment, several scrolls appeared in her hand. On the scrolls, radiant patterns pulsed, emitting extremely violent fluctuations.

“Fourth-grade Genesis Runes!”

Upon seeing the scrolls, Gu Qiu's pupils contracted. He finally understood that the green-clad girl before him had a Spirit attainment no lower, perhaps even higher, than his own.

“However, within this Soul Devouring Pagoda, we have the home advantage. You are bound to lose!”

Deep within the Soul Devouring Pagoda.

Gu Ling gazed grimly at the mirror surface before him. The aftermath of the intense battle there was too powerful, preventing him from seeing the actual combat.

“Damn it, I didn’t expect that little wretch to be so formidable!” Gu Ling’s face was ashen. He had only considered Yaoyao a person without Genesis Qi, never imagining her Spirit attainment had reached such an astonishing level.

“Even if your strength isn’t weak, this is the Soul Devouring Pagoda. We have an endless supply of power; you will lose sooner or later.” A chilling glint flashed in Gu Ling’s eyes.

“Once you fall into my hands, I’ll seal your Spirit and show you how I’ll deal with you!” As if imagining that scene, a sinister desire flared within Gu Ling.

“Hmm?”

However, Gu Ling quickly stopped his wild thoughts, raised his head, and looked forward, a cold light appearing in his eyes.

There, the mist parted, and a young figure slowly emerged.

It was Zhou Yuan.

“Found it at last,” Zhou Yuan said with a smile, looking at what lay before him.

Gu Ling stared at Zhou Yuan expressionlessly, the scorn at the corners of his mouth no longer concealed. He gently twisted his neck, and a faint voice, imbued with cruel killing intent, echoed through the mist.

“My mood is quite foul right now, so… little Qi Cultivation Stage minnow, have you decided how you want to die?”