Chapter 1225: Seven Inches

When Zhou Yuan emerged from the lava cauldron, a month had already passed. As he stepped out, cracks immediately appeared on the cauldron, eventually causing it to completely collapse into a sky full of steaming rubble. The immense power that had been condensed within it also completely dissipated into the world.

Zhou Yuan merely glanced at it before his gaze shifted to a large tree by the lake. Yaoyao was casually seated on a branch, holding an emerald-like wine gourd in one hand, her expression slightly languid. “You’re finally out,” she said, looking at Zhou Yuan. She stretched, and her graceful figure was quite captivating.

Zhou Yuan took a step, instantly appearing beside Yaoyao. “It seems you’ve gained quite a bit,” Yaoyao remarked. Although Zhou Yuan’s expression didn’t show it, she could discern the pleasant surprise in his eyes. “Of course, it’s a lot,” Zhou Yuan exclaimed.

Putting aside the two Saint Origin Arts for a moment, the moment he stepped out of the cauldron, Zhou Yuan felt a significant increase in his Origin Qi foundation. His Origin Infant, originally 6.3 inches, had directly surged to 7 inches! Having undergone numerous trials, Zhou Yuan naturally understood that this was no minor improvement. For an ordinary Origin Infant stage cultivator, such a leap would require years of arduous training, yet here, it only took a single month. Of course, he also knew in his heart that although the cauldron seemed to have been casually forged by Yaoyao, she must have invested considerable effort and cost into it.

Noticing Zhou Yuan’s gaze, Yaoyao smiled faintly and said, “Don’t worry, this kind of thing doesn’t happen often.” Indeed, it was rare. To ensure Zhou Yuan could improve without any side effects and unlock the Origin Art treasures within the Ancestral Dragon Scripture, Yaoyao had expended divine material. Such a divine item was something even she could not frequently squander. Furthermore, if other Saints knew she had used such a precious item on an Origin Infant stage cultivator, they would undoubtedly be pounding their chests in dismay, crying out about the waste.

Zhou Yuan sat down and gently held Yaoyao’s soft hand. He didn’t utter any pleasantries; indeed, there was no need for meaningless words between them. He could give everything for her, even his life. He knew this, and Yaoyao surely knew it too. Otherwise, with her cool, almost indifferent personality, how could she possibly have let her heart be tied to him?

“What Saint Origin Arts did you obtain?” Yaoyao asked with interest. Although she had provided Zhou Yuan with subtle assistance, what he ultimately gained still depended on his own fortuitous encounters, as she could not interfere further.

“One is a Saint Origin Art called ‘Heavenly Dragon Golden Bell Chant’,” Zhou Yuan said with a hint of helplessness. “I’m not sure why I had an affinity for such a seemingly ordinary Saint Origin Art. Perhaps it’s because of my Heavenly Dragon Qi.” Yaoyao, hearing this, was not surprised. “Your guess is correct. But don’t underestimate it. While it may seem like an ordinary Saint Origin Art, it’s the most compatible with Heavenly Dragon Qi. When wielded with Heavenly Dragon Qi, its power is actually no weaker than a Great Saint Origin Art.”

“Is that so?” Zhou Yuan felt somewhat relieved after hearing Yaoyao’s explanation. “There’s also another one, called ‘Ancestral Dragon Sky-Shifting Art’.” Yaoyao’s hand, holding the jade gourd, paused slightly. Her eyes glinted, and then she let out a soft chuckle. “Then this effort wasn’t in vain.” “This Origin Art doesn’t have a specified rank,” Zhou Yuan said, a little puzzled.

Yaoyao seemed to be in a good mood, breaking into a smile. “Indeed, ordinary rankings can hardly measure it. Such an Origin Art would entice not only Origin Infant and Law Domain experts but even Saint-level powerhouses. As for why, you’ll naturally understand when you someday reach the Saint stage.” Zhou Yuan was somewhat astonished that Yaoyao’s evaluation of this Origin Art was so incredibly high.

“But unfortunately, I only obtained the initial cultivation method for this Origin Art,” Zhou Yuan added with regret. When the dragon scales shattered earlier, he had only managed to capture a fragment, not the complete method.

“There’s nothing to regret,” Yaoyao said. “With your current strength, being able to glimpse this art is already an immense stroke of luck. Everything is difficult at the beginning. Now the path has appeared; though it’s rough and hard to climb, when your strength eventually reaches a certain level, you’ll naturally have the opportunity to see its full scope.”

Zhou Yuan nodded. He wasn’t one to dwell on things. Since the opportunity had passed, he wouldn’t fret over it, as it wouldn’t help. Besides, the gains from this experience were indeed immense. With his current Origin Qi foundation, if he were to face Lu Tai, ranked third on the Origin Infant list, Zhou Yuan was confident he could defeat him, even if Lu Tai was in peak condition. This meant that, with his current strength, he had begun to enter the top echelons of the Origin Infant stage in Hunyuan Heaven. And it was worth noting that he had been in the Origin Infant stage for no more than half a year, at most.

Such progress was enough to make those who had lingered in the Origin Infant stage for many years incredibly envious.

Yaoyao elegantly flipped down from the tree, hung the jade gourd on her slender waist, and lightly stroked her hair. “Since you’ve finished cultivating, it’s time for us to depart.” “Are we heading to All-Beast Heaven?” Zhou Yuan asked, also descending, a hint of anticipation in his voice. Although Zhou Yuan often expressed disdain for Tuntun, he clearly harbored deep affection for the creature. In a sense, both it and Yaoyao had accompanied him for many years, witnessing his rise step by step.

Yaoyao nodded lightly. “We are currently in the Heavenly Mystery Domain, which has a Heavenly Mystery City. Within the city, there’s a cross-domain transfer array, but it can only be activated once every six months and requires a Law Domain expert to preside over it,” Zhou Yuan explained. Having spent these years in Hunyuan Heaven, he was quite familiar with the situation in various domains. Given Yaoyao’s current strength, it wouldn’t be impossible for her to set up a cross-domain array herself, but Zhou Yuan didn’t intend to do so. Cang Yuan had previously warned him not to let Yaoyao use excessively powerful abilities, as it could accelerate the recovery of her divinity.

“A Law Domain expert, you say… It should be fine for me to use Law Domain-level power now,” Yaoyao replied. She had no objection to this, having followed Zhou Yuan’s lead throughout their journey. With their decision made, the two wasted no time. Their figures blurred, and they vanished from their spot, leaving only the large lake basin still emitting steaming heat.

Meanwhile, the Origin Beasts that had been hiding in the mountains and forests returned one by one as the pair departed. When they arrived at the lake, they all let out roars of wild joy. Although most of the power there had dissipated, the remnants were still a great opportunity for them.

By the time Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao arrived at Heavenly Mystery City, three days had passed. As expected, they found the majestic cross-domain array within the city. However, the array was heavily guarded by the Heavenly Mystery Domain’s forces. But with Yaoyao’s intervention, no one detected their stealthy infiltration. It was only when Yaoyao activated the array that the guards around it cast panicked glances, bewildered as to why the array had suddenly activated, especially since their own Law Domain expert hadn’t even arrived yet!

As the entire Heavenly Mystery City fell into disarray, the array had already been activated. Brilliant light enveloped their figures, and space twisted violently. Watching the void gradually twist and shatter before him, Zhou Yuan could vaguely sense the aura of a Law Domain expert rapidly approaching, presumably the Heavenly Mystery Domain’s Law Domain expert. But clearly, it was too late. A powerful light surged forth, filling his vision. At that moment, Zhou Yuan grinned. All-Beast Heaven… Tuntun, you little rascal, your master has truly arrived!