Chapter 1360: Xu Beiyan's Death

As Zhou Yuan and Xu Beiyan clashed, the Sages outside the Stone Dragon Secret Realm also turned their attention to them.

"What's going on?" The Sages furrowed their brows, clearly perplexed by Zhou Yuan's sudden aggression towards Xu Beiyan. With the great enemy having just retreated, such an act seemed utterly foolish and would invite ridicule.

Sage Green Willow's expression darkened. He turned directly to Cang Yuan, accusing, "Great Venerable Cang Yuan, your disciple is truly arrogant. Has he just achieved a great feat and is already using it to lord over others?!"

Other Sages looked at Cang Yuan, whose face remained calm, with a hint of mockery in his eyes. Their hearts stirred. As Sages, they were no fools. Zhou Yuan's usual demeanor was quite rational; his sudden outburst surely had a reason.

"Sage Green Willow, just watch quietly," Cang Yuan said, his voice flat. "Your disciple has more schemes than you can imagine." He didn't bother to explain further to Green Willow.

Green Willow's face was grim. He turned his gaze to Venerable Jin Luo, but found the latter equally composed and silent, which made his heart sink even further.

The Sages all directed their attention towards the Stone Dragon Secret Realm, and simultaneously, the reasons for the dispute reached their ears.

"Xu Beiyan actually ambushed Zhou Yuan earlier, leading to him being severely wounded by Taixuan and knocked into the ground?!"

"Such a thing happened?!"

"I did notice that Zhou Yuan's body seemed to momentarily freeze before he entered the barrier. I initially thought it was due to insufficient Genesis Qi, but now it appears there was a hidden agenda?!"

"This... Xu Beiyan is truly so malicious?"

The Sages, being far from ordinary individuals, pondered deeply. With their capabilities, they naturally began to discern some inconsistencies from earlier events.

Great Venerable Green Willow's face was grim, his eyes flickering. Finally, he gritted his teeth and said, "Venerable Jin Luo, this matter is, after all, only Zhou Yuan's side of the story. Although Xu Beiyan's contributions aren't as significant as his, he shouldn't be slandered so casually. Otherwise, who will be willing to exert themselves for the Heavens in the future?"

Cang Yuan said calmly, "That statement, on the contrary, should come from me. Zhou Yuan has made such an immense contribution; if he is still wronged, it will truly discourage everyone. Xu Beiyan's intentions are vile, and his crime is heinous and unforgivable!"

"You! Cang Yuan, this matter has not yet been decided. By what right do you declare Xu Beiyan guilty?!" Great Venerable Green Willow's face flushed with anger.

Cang Yuan gazed deeply into the Stone Dragon Secret Realm. Just then, Zhao Mu Shen and the two others appeared. Looking at the Devouring Vortex in Zhao Mu Shen's hand, he simply said, "Then let us continue to watch."

All the Sages, their expressions unreadable, turned their gaze.

Dragon Head Battlefield.

When Zhao Mu Shen held up the Devouring Vortex, everyone watched with grave expressions. Some had already begun to look at Xu Beiyan differently; after all, Zhao Mu Shen's unwavering confidence suggested certainty.

Conversely, Xu Beiyan's current pale complexion no longer displayed the righteous indignation he had shown moments before.

"Zhou Yuan, first secure his escape route, just in case he tries to flee," Zhao Mu Shen instructed Zhou Yuan before opening the Devouring Vortex.

Zhou Yuan nodded subtly at the instruction. With a sweep of his sleeve, the Genesis Qi of heaven and earth began to condense behind Xu Beiyan, showing signs of forming a Genesis Qi prison.

Zhao Mu Shen raised his palm, and the Devouring Vortex unfolded like a blooming lotus, peeling back in layers. The wisp of divine soul power ensnared within was about to emerge.

Xu Beiyan fixated on the divine soul power enveloped by the devouring force. That wisp of soul power had clearly been refined by Zhao Mu Shen, stripping away its unique attributes, leaving Xu Beiyan unable to sense it in the slightest.

"This scoundrel must be trying to scare me!"

Xu Beiyan's eyes were bloodshot, and his heart pounded faster. His intuition told him that Zhao Mu Shen was very likely bluffing.

But... what if it's true?!

Xu Beiyan was extremely unnerved at this moment, for he alone knew the truth of what he had done. If the wisp of soul power captured by Zhao Mu Shen truly belonged to him, Zhou Yuan might erupt and instantly kill him.

Given Zhou Yuan's current strength, Xu Beiyan was utterly defenseless.

Xu Beiyan's eyes flickered wildly.

"No, I can't stay here. Zhou Yuan is too powerful right now. If I'm wrong, I could be killed. If I can get back to my master's side, even if the truth comes out, with his protection, I'll at least save my life, even if I face severe punishment. I can plan for the future then!"

In a flash, Xu Beiyan's thoughts raced. Finally, just as the wisp of divine soul power was about to breach the Devouring Vortex, he made his ultimate decision.

Boom!

Powerful Genesis Qi suddenly erupted from Xu Beiyan's body, instantly shattering the nascent Genesis Qi prison. His figure then shot skyward, attempting to flee the Stone Dragon Secret Realm.

Xu Beiyan's sudden, violent outburst stunned the experts of the Heavens, who then turned furious, as his actions in that moment had confirmed everything.

"Damn it, Xu Beiyan, you've disappointed us all!" some Heaven's experts roared in anger.

Zhou Yuan's gaze was profound as he watched Xu Beiyan's retreating streak of light. He knew precisely what the other intended: to escape and rely on his master's power for protection.

"You wretch, what a waste of your talent."

Zhou Yuan said calmly. He then stretched out his palm and clapped it, seemingly at the air.

A colossal spatial rift suddenly tore open in the void. From it emerged a nine-clawed purple-gold dragon claw, vast enough to obscure the sky. Wielding immense power, it instantly sealed off the area and slammed down heavily onto Xu Beiyan.

Boom!

The void shattered, and Xu Beiyan's figure plummeted, carving a massive crater in the ground.

Pfft!

Xu Beiyan spewed blood. Before he could even react, the purple-gold dragon claw whistled down and pinned him firmly. At that moment, he felt as if countless mountains were pressing down on him, rendering him utterly immobile, his very Genesis Qi completely sealed.

This left Xu Beiyan utterly terrified. Had the gap between him and Zhou Yuan truly become so vast?

"Xu Beiyan, what are you afraid of?" Zhao Mu Shen asked, his expression impassive.

At that moment, the Devouring Vortex in his hand completely dissipated. A wisp of invisible divine soul power was indeed held between his fingertips, but it did not drift towards Xu Beiyan. Instead, it directly entered Wu Yao's smooth forehead.

Everyone understood then that it was not Xu Beiyan's divine soul power after all.

"You were indeed bluffing me?!" Xu Beiyan roared, enraged.

He had suspected this before, but his guilt ultimately prevented him from risking his life to verify it.

After his outburst, Xu Beiyan looked at Zhou Yuan, whose eyes were now alight with murderous intent, and shrieked, "Zhou Yuan, you cannot kill me! Even if I am guilty, it is for the Sages to judge, not you!"

Zhou Yuan's face remained impassive as he walked step by step towards Xu Beiyan.

Seeing this, fear finally surfaced in Xu Beiyan's eyes, and he hastily cried out, "Master, save me!"

The void suddenly vibrated. Zhou Yuan halted, sensing the emergence of a great power. Simultaneously, Venerable Jin Luo's voice resonated: "Zhou Yuan, Xu Beiyan is guilty. Hand him over to the Genesis Shrine for judgment, and we will certainly give you a proper accounting. How about it?"

The gaze of all the Heaven's experts converged on Zhou Yuan.

Zhou Yuan was silent for a moment. He looked at Xu Beiyan's expression of immense relief and slowly said, "I previously escorted eighteen people back to the barrier. They were all my team members. Although I don't even fully remember their names, I was their captain, and it was my responsibility to bring them back safely. However, because of Xu Beiyan's insidious tactics, out of eighteen team members, only Zhao Mu Shen and two others survived. The other fifteen, right before my eyes, were blasted into a mist of blood by Taixuan."

His words were low, yet imbued with an unmistakable ferocity.

Then, Zhou Yuan raised his head, staring into the void, and declared, word by word, "I failed to protect them, so I want them to die in peace. This accountability, no one else needs to give. I will provide it myself!"

The instant his final word fell, Zhou Yuan unhesitatingly activated his power. The purple-gold dragon claw suppressing Xu Beiyan violently erupted, unleashing an overwhelmingly domineering torrent of Sacred Dragon Qi into Xu Beiyan's body. The very next moment, it exploded with world-shattering force!

Heaven and earth vibrated and howled.

Xu Beiyan's scream never even escaped his lips. That terrifying power utterly annihilated him, from the inside out.

The experts of the Heavens watched the scene in shock...

At this moment, they understood that Xu Beiyan had indeed been utterly destroyed by Zhou Yuan.