Chapter 152: Measuring the Source Qi

Chapter 153: Measuring Genesis Qi

Buzz! All eyes across the mountains and plains turned towards the sky, where a dark golden pillar of Genesis Qi shot straight up, continuously rising.

This scene was familiar to everyone present, as it was a common occurrence when cultivating to the Heaven Gate Stage.

This phenomenon, known as "Qi Rushing the Heaven Gate," is measured in *zhang* (a unit of length).

Simply put, the greater the number of *zhang*, the more abundant and powerful one's Genesis Qi. This measurement is influenced by various factors, including the quality of the Genesis Qi itself and the quality of one's Qi Manor.

While a higher *zhang* count doesn't guarantee greater future strength, it certainly indicates a significant advantage at this particular stage.

In a sense, it represents a deep foundation; individuals with a more profound foundation achieve a higher *zhang* count during the Qi Rushing the Heaven Gate process.

"That kid actually broke through to the Heaven Gate Stage..."

"It's over 40 *zhang* now, which isn't bad..."

"Is it still rising?"

"It should be reaching its limit soon."

Amidst the whispers, the dark golden Genesis Qi pillar continued its steady ascent. After a dozen breaths, the whispers faded as everyone's expressions subtly changed.

Unbeknownst to them, the dark golden Genesis Qi pillar had already reached over 70 *zhang*.

This measurement surpassed many of those present.

"Hmph, he has some capability," Gu Ling muttered, her pretty face slightly cold. When she reached the Heaven Gate Stage, she only achieved just over 70 *zhang*. Now, this Zhou Yuan was actually matching her.

Xiao Tianxuan remained silent, his gaze fixed on the dark golden pillar. His eyes shifted, a hint of unease in them. He noticed that even now, the dark golden pillar remained solid and showed no signs of dissipating, which meant Zhou Yuan likely still had reserves of strength.

And indeed, just as he predicted, the dark golden pillar not only maintained its ascent rate but began to accelerate...

A wave of exclamations swept across the mountains and plains, and every gaze was filled with shock.

The dark golden pillar continued to rise. Ten breaths later, to Xiao Tianxuan's ashen face, it broke through 90 *zhang* and directly reached 100 *zhang*!

At this point, many faces began to show a hint of emotion. One hundred *zhang* of Genesis Qi—this could almost rival the top prodigies...

Did this Zhou Yuan actually possess such talent and potential?

"It's already 100 *zhang*, it must be over now, right?" someone muttered, wiping cold sweat from their brow.

However, as if it had heard the words, the dark golden pillar suddenly accelerated at the moment it broke past 100 *zhang*. Before, it had risen one *zhang* at a time; now, it surged forward by tens or even dozens of *zhang* at once...

Whoosh! Whoosh!

Consequently, gasps of astonishment erupted across the land, wave after wave, without cessation.

Xiao Tianxuan and Gu Ling's expressions grew increasingly grim.

One hundred thirty *zhang*, one hundred fifty *zhang*, two hundred *zhang*...

In just a few dozen breaths, the dark golden pillar reached a full 200 *zhang*!

All gasps of astonishment ceased, and every face was filled with disbelief.

"It hasn't stopped yet?" a trembling voice whispered, eyes staring as if at a monstrous talent. On the Boundless Continent, those who could reach 200 *zhang* during Qi Rushing the Heaven Gate were incredibly rare!

And every single one of them was renowned across the Boundless Continent.

Under those trembling gazes, the dark golden Genesis Qi continued to climb, finally reaching its limit and stopping at an astonishing height of 484 *zhang*!

Four hundred eighty-four *zhang*!

The entire mountain forest fell into complete silence.

Cold sweat broke out on everyone's foreheads, as they had never heard of anyone reaching such a height during Qi Rushing the Heaven Gate!

How incredibly vast must one's Genesis Qi be to achieve that?

It was known that even some late-stage Heaven Gate experts present might not be able to achieve this, yet Zhou Yuan did so precisely when he had just broken through to the Heaven Gate Stage...

In other words, in terms of the sheer abundance of Genesis Qi, Zhou Yuan, at the early Heaven Gate Stage, might not be weaker than someone at the late Heaven Gate Stage!

How was Zhou Yuan capable of this?!

Amidst the pervasive silence, Xiao Tianxuan's expression became distorted with ugliness. He had never truly paid much attention to Zhou Yuan, seeing him only as a bothersome little rat.

Yet now, this "little rat" in his eyes was clearly demonstrating the immense gap in talent and potential between them...

After all, even Wu Huang would be suppressed by a height of 484 *zhang*.

Gu Ling also clenched her silver teeth. Zhou Yuan's ascendancy was clearly not something she wished to see, but even so, her heart trembled slightly. This scene made her realize that Zhou Yuan's future was bound to be limitless.

This person's talent should not be underestimated.

"This child... he must be killed," Xiao Tianxuan suddenly spoke indifferently beside Gu Ling. The intense killing intent in his voice made even Gu Ling tremble.

She turned her head. Xiao Tianxuan's face had regained its composure, but Gu Ling clearly saw a flicker of fear in his eyes, which was immediately replaced by ruthless determination.

Previously, Xiao Tianxuan had only regarded Zhou Yuan as a mere rat, but it was clear that he now perceived a threat, and an extraordinary one at that.

Someone who could achieve 484 *zhang* of Genesis Qi at the Heaven Gate Stage demonstrated profound foundation and talent. If such a person's future path was smooth, their accomplishments would undoubtedly be astonishing.

And this would pose a tremendous threat, not only to him but also to Shengji City.

Since their enmity was already established, it had to be completely severed.

"Kill Zhou Yuan, and the bounty is five million Genesis Crystals," Xiao Tianxuan's grim voice slowly resonated.

In the mountains, the eyes of many figures gleamed with greed. Five million Genesis Crystals was by no means a small sum. It seemed Xiao Tianxuan's killing intent towards Zhou Yuan had reached its peak.

However, while many were tempted, there were also shrewd individuals among them. After careful consideration, they decisively retreated from the mountain forest, clearly no longer intending to meddle in the feud between Xiao Tianxuan and Zhou Yuan.

Previously, Zhou Yuan was merely a small fry at the Qi Nurturing Stage, so they wouldn't mind casually helping Xiao Tianxuan eliminate him. But the situation was different now.

Zhou Yuan had broken through to the Heaven Gate Stage and displayed terrifying potential. In an instant, he had transformed from a small fry into a leviathan...

If such a person could truly be killed here, then all was well. But if he managed to escape and grew stronger in the future, seeking revenge would undoubtedly be a disaster.

Those present were considered outstanding among the younger generation from various factions, so there weren't many who, after weighing the pros and cons, wouldn't make a sensible choice.

Xiao Tianxuan watched the retreating figures, his face twitching slightly, and then the killing intent in his eyes intensified.

Many still remained in the mountain forest, but none acted rashly, choosing instead to observe cautiously.

Just then, a clear whistle suddenly echoed from within the mountain. The whistle soared upward, and then the mountaintop fractured, as a figure shot out, slowly descending.

He landed on the mountaintop and, opening his mouth, inhaled sharply.

Instantly, the dark golden Genesis Qi, towering at 484 *zhang*, roared downwards, finally being swallowed whole by that figure.

Boom! Boom!

Powerful Genesis Qi fluctuations erupted from within that figure, its surging aura causing even the air to vibrate.

With his robes fluttering, the young figure turned around and looked towards Xiao Tianxuan's location. That face, naturally, belonged to Zhou Yuan.

He stared at Xiao Tianxuan, a half-smile appearing on his face.

"Five million Genesis Crystals—that's quite a generous sum. It almost makes me want to hand over my head to you..."

He slowly clenched his fingers, and his voice paused.

"However, before that, I think we should settle our accounts first..."