Chapter 1406: Each Showcasing Their Skills, Peak Battle of Magic

The Sacred Lotus Bud slowly ascended. As it emerged, all sound across the heavens and earth seemed to halt. The vast Genesis Qi in the world roared with an unusual sound, as if offering reverence.

An indescribable majesty emanated from the Sacred Lotus Bud. At that moment, every living being in Cangxuan Heaven felt an inexplicable sense of profound weight.

This Sacred Lotus Bud became the most focal point in all of Cangxuan Heaven.

Zhou Yuan's expression also grew incredibly solemn and wary with the appearance of the Sacred Lotus Bud. Given his current strength, the secrets of the Saint realm were no longer a mystery to him, so he understood precisely what this Sacred Lotus Bud signified.

The Saint realm is divided into three stages, each marked by a distinct lotus form.

The lotus, specifically the Sacred Lotus Flower, represents the ultimate form achieved through a lifetime of Genesis Qi cultivation. Only upon its formation does one truly enter the Saint realm.

Palace Master Shengyuan was previously considered a Half-Saint, but his power had clearly advanced over the years. Thus, although he hadn't yet condensed a true Sacred Lotus Flower, he had already cultivated the Sacred Lotus Bud...

This was the embryonic form of the Sacred Lotus Flower. Once the bud fully blossomed, Palace Master Shengyuan would truly enter the Saint realm, shedding his Half-Saint status.

In essence, the condensation of the Sacred Lotus Bud marked a significant step closer to the Saint realm for Palace Master Shengyuan.

However, at this advanced stage, the Sacred Lotus Bud could not be easily deployed. It required continuous nourishment with essence, qi, and spirit, and constant tempering with Saintly power, without a moment's pause. Any interruption to this process could potentially introduce flaws into its refinement.

Therefore, Palace Master Shengyuan's sudden deployment of the Sacred Lotus Bud clearly indicated his profound rage and murderous intent, intending to decisively end the battle.

Palace Master Shengyuan's murderous gaze locked onto Zhou Yuan. It was evident he was furious, as the prolonged stalemate of the battle had entirely exceeded his expectations.

Moreover, activating the Sacred Lotus Bud would incur some cost to him.

Nevertheless, Palace Master Shengyuan understood the priorities. Killing Zhou Yuan and securing the other portion of the Cangxuan Saint Seal was paramount. As long as he completed the mission assigned by the Saint Race, the ensuing rewards would far eclipse any drawbacks from using the Sacred Lotus Bud.

As these thoughts formed, the murderous intent in Palace Master Shengyuan's eyes intensified. With a mental command, the Sacred Lotus Bud, radiating myriad colors, began to tremble subtly.

Wisps of divine light circulated across the lotus bud, then abruptly burst forth.

A single beam of divine light pierced the sky. In that instant, the heavens and earth plunged into complete darkness, as if the entire world contained only that solitary brilliance...

Countless eyes gazed at the divine light, captivated. It seemed to possess an indescribable essence, representing the most formidable power in all of existence.

It was the lifelong aspiration of countless cultivators.

The zenith of Genesis Qi.

The divine light tore through the void, sweeping down fiercely towards Zhou Yuan. As it descended, the space around Zhou Yuan completely sealed off, trapping him like an insect encased in amber, utterly unable to escape.

As the divine light descended, Zhou Yuan felt an immense crisis looming. Without hesitation, a low, dragon-like roar escaped him, and his eight silver arms crossed above, forming multiple layers of impenetrable defense.

The divine light swept past, yet surprisingly, there was no earth-shattering collision. This left countless observers bewildered, seemingly unaware of what had just transpired.

However, Zhou Yuan's expression grew considerably grim. As the divine light swept over him, he could distinctly feel four of his silver arms rapidly dimming and becoming mottled...

Furthermore, the vast Genesis Qi surging around him seemed to diminish slightly, and a palpable sense of depletion arose within him.

It felt as though that divine light had chipped away at his very Genesis Qi foundation...

"What a domineering Sacred Lotus Divine Light!"

Zhou Yuan's wariness intensified. Was this truly the power of a Saint? Even if Palace Master Shengyuan hadn't fully entered the Saint realm, both his Saintly might and this Sacred Lotus Divine Light possessed extraordinary, unimaginable mystical properties.

That single sweep, if directed at an ordinary expert in the third stage of the Law Domain, would likely have completely obliterated all their Genesis Qi, leaving them too weak to resist.

Zhou Yuan's ability to withstand it, losing only a small portion of his Genesis Qi, was due to the exceptionally high quality of his own Genesis Qi. Even if the Nine-Grade Sacred Dragon Qi had a gap compared to true Saintly power, it was not easily subdued.

Palace Master Shengyuan watched the grim-faced Zhou Yuan with an indifferent gaze, yet a hint of surprise registered within him. Zhou Yuan's refined Genesis Qi had also exceeded his expectations.

But it was merely a fleeting surprise. If one sweep couldn't cripple him, then he would try again, or ten times!

However, before Palace Master Shengyuan could make another move, Zhou Yuan initiated his own offense. He unleashed a punch, sending vast Genesis Qi, resembling a dragon, directly through the void, charging ferociously towards Palace Master Shengyuan.

Upon seeing this, Palace Master Shengyuan simply offered a faint smile. With a thought, divine light erupted from the Sacred Lotus Bud, sweeping down upon the dragon-like fist light.

The divine light swept past, and the fist light simply vanished into thin air. The residual divine light then swept over Zhou Yuan, who was unable to evade, further diminishing the Genesis Qi surrounding him. This directly caused the silver patterns on his body to gradually fade, and his originally towering form, dozens of feet tall, began to shrink inch by inch.

At this moment, countless eyes across Cangxuan Heaven, fixed on the unfolding battle, began to sense Zhou Yuan's predicament. It was evident to all that he had fallen into a complete disadvantage.

Beam after beam of divine light continuously descended. Zhou Yuan was unable to evade, forced to let them land upon him. The consequence of this was the relentless depletion of his Genesis Qi.

The entire atmosphere across Cangxuan Heaven grew oppressive at this moment.

In the viscous blood sea below.

Within a certain space.

Streaks of turbulent Genesis Qi rose like wolf smoke as two factions clashed in a fierce and brutal struggle.

Two Law Domains collided, with Green Sun and Blood Lightning violently intertwined.

Sect Master Qingyang stood suspended in the air, his face stern as he stared into the distance. There, Jiang Leijun was enveloped in blood lightning, exuding a monstrous malevolent aura.

Both figures were visibly wounded, testament to the battle's ferocity.

Jiang Leijun wiped blood from the corner of his mouth, then raised his head. His gaze pierced through the spatial distortion, observing the high-level confrontation overhead. He sneered, "Qingyang, your highly esteemed alliance leader appears to be on the verge of collapse."

Sect Master Qingyang cast a focused glance before calmly stating, "You'd do well to worry more about yourself. Zhou Yuan was chosen by our master, and our master's judgment is never wrong."

Jiang Leijun scoffed, "In my presence, do you still believe Cangxuan's judgment was sound?"

Sect Master Qingyang slowly replied, "Therefore, I will slay you here. That way, the only person our master ever misjudged can be utterly erased."

His words were calm, yet the murderous intent contained within them caused the very void to subtly warp.

"Truly a fine disciple."

Jiang Leijun revealed a sinister smile. "What a pity, though. Once Zhou Yuan is slain, your Cangxuan Alliance will scatter like frightened beasts. Don't worry, when the Sacred Palace gains ascendancy, I will personally take over the Cangxuan Sect. Although, by then, its name might have to be... altered."

"What do you think of 'Leijun Sect'?"

As his voice trailed off, a vast azure sun abruptly ascended into the heavens, its azure flames erupting and surging mightily towards Jiang Leijun.

"So much rage? What good will it do?"

Jiang Leijun burst into laughter. He cast one final glance at the overwhelming battle outside, then brandished his formidable blood lightning, meeting Qingyang's furious assault amidst a sky-wide roar.

Swish! Swish!

Beams of divine light relentlessly descended from above, sweeping over Zhou Yuan's body with unavoidable precision.

At this very moment, the Genesis Qi surging around Zhou Yuan had grown incredibly thin, and the silver-patterned battle armor covering his body was now extremely dim.

His originally towering body, dozens of feet in height, had reverted to its normal size.

"Zhou Yuan... you've lost."

Palace Master Shengyuan gazed indifferently at Zhou Yuan, who was now at a significant disadvantage. At this stage, the outcome was unmistakably clear.

In Zhou Yuan's current condition, it was highly improbable he could pose any further threat.

Nevertheless, Palace Master Shengyuan did not cease his technique. Maintaining caution, he once more activated a divine light to sweep down.

As the divine light descended, the last trace of Genesis Qi on Zhou Yuan's body also dissipated.

Within the Cangxuan Alliance, countless eyes were now filled with sorrow.

Had this battle, destined to determine the fate of Cangxuan Heaven, truly ended like this?

Crack!

The silver-patterned battle armor covering Zhou Yuan's body also completely dimmed at that moment, then began to disintegrate, finally dissolving into countless ascending silver light particles.

However, just as the silver-patterned battle armor vanished, Palace Master Shengyuan's pupils abruptly contracted. He saw that within the battle armor, there was nothing but emptiness!

Only a wisp of spirit power was slowly dissipating. Zhou Yuan's true body wasn't there?!

All this time, the silver-patterned battle armor had contained merely a spirit clone of Zhou Yuan?!

So, his true body...

Shengyuan abruptly looked up, witnessing a section of the void above suddenly shatter, revealing a small, hidden spatial pocket.

And at that very moment, a figure with a piercing gaze was locking onto him from the rift in that small space!

Zhou Yuan!

Shengyuan's expression drastically changed.

Zhou Yuan's five fingers curled inward, forming a hand seal. In his palm, dark crimson patterns seemed to spread and intertwine, forming unsettling markings.

Zhou Yuan directed a smile at Palace Master Shengyuan, a smile brimming with chilling intent.

"The Sacred Lotus Bud, is it?"

"It truly is formidable... but since you dared to reveal it, I'll ensure it never blossoms again!"

As his words concluded, strands of hair on Zhou Yuan's forehead startlingly turned snow-white. Yet, from his palm, a dark crimson light erupted like an enraged dragon.

Within the dark crimson light, faint, mysterious patterns flickered into and out of view.

The crimson light pierced the void, directly encompassing the Sacred Lotus Bud. Simultaneously, Zhou Yuan's faint whispers seemed to emerge.

"This is..."

"The Heaven-Sealing Saint's Forbidden Seal!"