Chapter 1341: One Step

Streaks of light, imbued with terrifying power, descended from the sky. From a distance, it looked as though the firmament had shattered, and a heavenly waterfall was plunging down.

Faced with an attack of this magnitude, Zhao Mu Shen, Wu Yao, Su Youwei, and the others instantly turned pale. No matter how astonishing their talent and potential were, they had yet to even enter the Law Domain Realm. Confronted with such an assault, all they could do was close their eyes and await death.

Thus, they watched helplessly as the destructive light crashed down.

In that instant, countless emotions surged in their minds.

Just as they had resigned themselves and thought of their last words, space above them distorted, and a figure materialized like a phantom. A low roar, like thunder, resounded, immediately followed by an astonishing burst of Source Qi, which violently collided with the descending streak of light.

The shockwave raged outwards.

Wu Yao, Zhao Mu Shen, Su Youwei, and the others below were caught in the blast, and all of them spat out a mouthful of blood. However, instead of panic, a hint of pleasant surprise appeared in their eyes.

"Your Highness!"

Su Youwei recognized at a glance that the figure who had suddenly appeared was none other than Zhou Yuan.

Wu Yao and Zhao Mu Shen's expressions were more complex. Unbeknownst to them, they had been saved by him once again.

In mid-air, the two forces clashed for several seconds before the destructive streak of light finally gradually dissipated.

Zhou Yuan's chest heaved, and his breathing grew heavier. The apprehension in his eyes deepened; Tai Xuan's casual attack had forced him to use his full power to withstand it, revealing the immense disparity between their strengths.

However, he had no time to think further. With a flick of his sleeve, he swept up Su Youwei, Wu Yao, Zhao Mu Shen, and the others below, pushing his speed to the limit as he rapidly shot towards the defensive barrier.

As he fled with the others, Tai Xuan's indifferent gaze cast from the distant void settled on Zhou Yuan.

"This is the one who was peeking at me earlier, isn't it?"

"A bit familiar..."

Tai Xuan's eyes flickered slightly as if searching through his memories. A few seconds later, he suddenly smiled. "I remember now," he murmured, "his name is Zhou Yuan. My junior brother Gatu was defeated by him in the Ancient Origin Heaven. He's quite a legendary figure, no wonder..."

"Very well, since you've shown yourself, I'll just avenge junior brother Gatu."

He extended his palm, and terrifying Source Qi gathered within it.

And just as Tai Xuan was gathering Source Qi, Zhou Yuan, who was swiftly fleeing with Su Youwei and the others, felt an abrupt chill in his heart. All the hairs on his body stood on end; the sensation was as if he had been targeted by a primeval beast. He knew he had been singled out by Tai Xuan.

This made Zhou Yuan curse under his breath, but he dared not show the slightest slack. With a burst of Source Qi, he pushed his speed to the absolute limit, fleeing madly.

In this short time, most of the All-Heavens army had already passed through the defensive barrier.

The many third-stage Law Domain experts who had been protecting from above were also beginning to retreat inside.

As for the tragic scene at the rear, where people were constantly being eliminated, everyone could only watch with wide, bloodshot eyes, yet were powerless to offer rescue.

Xu Beiyan, using his authority, controlled the maintenance of the barrier's opening. He watched as more and more teams surged in, then looked at the terrifying aura rapidly approaching from afar, and declared, "We need to start closing the barrier entrance!"

Xi Jing urgently said, "Wait a little longer!"

She saw Zhou Yuan rapidly approaching.

Xu Beiyan said expressionlessly, "If Tai Xuan also charges in, who will be responsible?"

Xi Jing froze, clenching her teeth.

The other third-stage Law Domain experts also nodded silently. Abandoning some people at this point was unavoidable, because if Tai Xuan were allowed to charge into the barrier, it would only lead to far more severe consequences.

Seeing this, Xu Beiyan's mind stirred, and he activated his authority. The rift at the barrier's entrance began to slowly close.

Zhou Yuan, speeding from afar, saw this scene, and his expression subtly changed. He immediately frantically urged his Source Qi, further increasing his already maximum speed.

In just a dozen seconds, Zhou Yuan was already extremely close to the barrier.

However, at this very moment, the space above him suddenly shattered, and a massive fist print descended from the sky. The fist print contained immense power; as it descended, it was like the wrath of a deity, seeking to annihilate all life on this land.

It was none other than Tai Xuan making his move!

The destructive power engulfing him from above made Zhou Yuan's scalp tingle. That power was even more terrifying than the previous streak of light; if he were struck, even he would have little chance of survival!

At this moment, with the closing barrier ahead and the destructive fist print above, he was truly in a precarious situation.

His gaze was fixed on the rapidly approaching barrier. And as he carried them, Su Youwei, Wu Yao, Zhao Mu Shen, and the others also stared with wide eyes, their heartbeats quickening.

Inside the barrier, Xi Jing clenched her hands tightly and murmured, "Faster! You can make it!"

Zhou Yuan's figure streaked through the void, leaving afterimages. He calculated his speed, and a hint of joy appeared in his eyes.

According to his calculations, he should be able to step into the barrier just before Tai Xuan's fist print landed. Once the barrier closed, it would naturally block the shockwave from the fist print.

Inside the barrier, countless gazes watched Zhou Yuan, carrying the others, rush towards the closing gap in the barrier, all of them holding their breath in anxious anticipation.

Xu Beiyan watched this scene with calm eyes. A deep, subtle light flickered in the depths of his eyes, and his finger in his sleeve subtly twitched.

Zhou Yuan appeared outside the barrier, about to plunge into it through its last remaining gap.

But in that very instant, his pupils sharply constricted. He felt a wisp of invisible power appear before him—a power that was not aggressive but was like a spiderweb, delaying his movements for just a split second...

His expression drastically changed.

This split second would normally be insignificant, but at this moment, it was the difference between life and death.

Under countless gazes filled with terror and despair, the destructive fist print descended like a falling star, violently slamming directly onto Zhou Yuan's body.

A mouthful of fresh blood spurted out, his body seemed to twist, and countless bones shattered.

Zhao Mu Shen and the others, who were under his protection, also simultaneously spat blood. Some unlucky ones were even instantly blown into a bloody mist by the permeating force.

Zhou Yuan's figure directly plummeted into the earth. In that moment, a chasm tens of thousands of miles long appeared on the ground. The abyssal fist print seemed to have no end, deep and dark, completely burying Zhou Yuan's figure...

With that single punch, it seemed no one could have survived.

And at this point, the last gap in the barrier also completely closed.

Silence fell between heaven and earth.

Countless gazes stared dumbfounded at the massive abyss that had appeared in front of the barrier, from which no trace of life could be felt.

He was clearly just one step away...

Countless people's eyes dimmed; this tiny step, in hindsight, was the difference between life and death.

Had the young man, who had once created many miracles in the All-Heavens and gained great renown, truly perished before their very eyes like this?