Chapter 1426: Duel Upgrades

An eerie black light pierced through multiple defenses, lunging directly at Zhou Yuan's face and vanishing in a flash.

Zhou Yuan's expression was grim. The entire Genesis Qi of heaven and earth stirred restlessly at this moment, as layers of thunderclouds gathered above his head, forming a massive vortex of thunderclouds stretching for hundreds of thousands of miles.

Simultaneously, the Saint Dragon Qi within him roared into action, guarding all directions, ready to suppress any unusual movement immediately.

However, the expected anomaly showed no signs of activity in the short time that followed. Zhou Yuan's Spirit perception spread to every part of his body, but he still couldn't find any clues.

It was as if the previous scene had merely been a temporary illusion.

But Zhou Yuan knew that was impossible!

With his current strength and having taken control of Cangxuan Heaven's authority, no action within this world could escape his notice. Although the eerie black light appeared suddenly, Zhou Yuan had reacted quickly. Yet, the black light still passed through him effortlessly. Such a method was definitely not simple.

It could be said that even an ordinary Saint would be unable to do this!

"That black light came from the shattered altar... Is it a hidden method of the Saint Race? But what is its purpose?" Zhou Yuan's eyes flickered. He dared not relax in the slightest due to the current calm, because he understood that even though he was now the Heaven Master of Cangxuan Heaven, if it came to actual strength, the beings within the Saint Race capable of suppressing him were probably too numerous to count on both hands.

Over the years, he had clashed with the Saint Race many times. Although he had mostly emerged victorious, frankly, the Saint Race's heaven chosen whom he had defeated were at most just some outstanding pawns within the Saint Race.

The power of the Saint Race was self-evident. Even though the Saint God was in slumber, the existence of the seven Ancient Saints kept the Heavens firmly suppressed.

If the Heavens weren't protected by the "Primordial Annihilation Saint Formation," Zhou Yuan felt that for the Heavens to enjoy so many years of peace would have been a fantastical pipe dream.

Zhou Yuan's eyes were deep and full of vigilance. In the past, he might have been considered a minor character, not particularly noticed by the Saint Race's high echelons. But now it was different. With him taking control of Cangxuan Heaven, in a sense, he was also qualified to be called a major figure among the Heavens, standing on equal footing with the Saints.

A former pawn had now stepped onto the chessboard, becoming a player.

Therefore, his current status was enough to draw the attention of the Saint Race's high echelons...

What's more, by eliminating Shengyuan this time, he had effectively disrupted the Saint Race's long-standing schemes in Cangxuan Heaven. At this point, any retaliation would not surprise Zhou Yuan.

So, that eerie black light from earlier must have had a reason.

It was just that the method was too sophisticated, so much so that even with his current strength, he found it difficult to discern any clues in a short time...

However, the Saints of the Heavens were also watching this place. They should have noticed the previous activity.

"Zhou Yuan, immediately activate the 'Primordial Annihilation Saint Formation' with the Cangxuan Saint Seal! The Saint Race has probably targeted you!" Just as this thought crossed Zhou Yuan's mind, a familiar, ethereal voice suddenly entered his ears.

It was the voice of Ancient Sovereign Jin Luo, but this time, his voice carried a hint of solemnity.

Zhou Yuan's heart jolted. He immediately sat cross-legged in the void, and an ancient stone seal emerged from his palm.

With a thought, at that instant, he sensed the boundary wall of Cangxuan Heaven, where an indescribably massive formation appeared faintly.

Within that grand formation, countless ancient Genesis Runes circulated. Each rune seemed to have formed at the dawn of creation, and divine light continuously surged from within, every ray containing vast power that would alarm even an ordinary Saint.

This formation could be said to be the most terrifying barrier Zhou Yuan had ever witnessed.

Clearly, this must be the "Primordial Annihilation Saint Formation" that had protected the Heavens for countless years!

However, now, this grand formation covering the outside of Cangxuan Heaven was operating slowly, appearing somewhat stagnant. Zhou Yuan understood that this was Shengyuan's doing.

As the current Heaven Master of Cangxuan Heaven, holding its authority, a single sweep of his perception allowed him to understand where the problem lay.

The "Primordial Annihilation Saint Formation" covered all Heavens. However, the formations outside each Heaven Domain were normally independent. Therefore, the formation outside each Heaven Domain needed to extend its tendrils deep within its respective Heaven Domain to draw power and maintain operation.

This portion of the grand formation outside Cangxuan Heaven, however, was slightly isolated from Cangxuan Heaven's boundary wall. This was likely achieved by Shengyuan using the majority of the Cangxuan Saint Seal fragments. Without the support of some of Cangxuan Heaven's power, this part of the Primordial Annihilation Saint Formation naturally fell into disarray.

However, for Zhou Yuan, who now controlled Cangxuan Heaven, this was not a major issue.

With a thought from him, the Genesis Qi within Cangxuan Heaven immediately began to vibrate. At the boundary wall, countless torrents of Genesis Qi surged upwards, like billions of Genesis Qi tentacles, slowly extending into the Primordial Annihilation Saint Formation outside the boundary.

RUMBLE!

At this moment, a low, terrifying thunder seemed to emanate from beyond the heavens.

Countless powerful beings who heard this thunder felt an immense dread. Their Spirits trembled, and one by one, they looked up with fear-filled expressions at the endless depths of the void.

In Zhou Yuan's perception, as Cangxuan Heaven pulled, the Primordial Annihilation Saint Formation was slowly drawing nearer. Terrifying streams of light spread out, intending to envelop Cangxuan Heaven.

At this time, powerful beings from both the Heavens and the Saint Race were observing this scene.

In the void where Ancient Sovereign Jin Luo was, he noticed that the Saint Race Ancient Saint entangled with him suddenly intensified his assault. Vast Genesis Qi swept forth, seemingly carrying countless small spaces, and thousands of galaxies shattered within it.

Ancient Sovereign Jin Luo's eyes were grave. The Saint Race's actions seemed somewhat off. Now that Cangxuan Heaven was controlled by Zhou Yuan, even though the Primordial Annihilation Saint Formation had been chaotic before, it inherently possessed counter-restraints against the Saint Race. Therefore, if the Saint Race were to forcefully act, let alone an ordinary Saint, even an attack from an Ancient Saint might not be able to penetrate the formation.

What exactly did they intend to do?

Thoughts raced through his mind, but Ancient Sovereign Jin Luo's actions were swift. He no longer held back. A golden light shot up from his crown, directly transforming into an ancient golden bell. In that instant, golden sound waves vibrated, shattering the starry sky.

While Ancient Sovereign Jin Luo was locked in fierce combat with the Saint Race's Ancient Saint, in another part of the void, Ancient Sovereign Dilong and Ancient Sovereign Chiji of the Ruins of Dimensions Divine Hall were also intercepted by two Ancient Saints from the Saint Race.

The battles caused numerous spatial rifts.

After a period of silence, both sides directly erupted into even more intense clashes.

Ancestral Saint Heaven, at the Saint Mountain.

Inside the ancient hall atop the mountain.

Four Ancient Saints gazed indifferently at the void before them. They saw Ancient Sovereigns Jin Luo, Dilong, and Chiji entangled in battle, and also the Primordial Annihilation Saint Formation gradually enveloping Cangxuan Heaven, along with the newly appointed young Heaven Master within Cangxuan Heaven.

Immediately, they exchanged glances and faintly smiled.

"The location has been locked. We can proceed."