Chapter 162: Encounter

A streak of dark golden Genesis Qi shot across the sky, descending onto a mountaintop. As the light dissipated, Zhou Yuan's figure was revealed.

His expression was somewhat grim. After a day of travel, he had continually sought information but still found nothing about Yao Yao. This Sacred Remains Domain was simply too vast.

"Searching blindly like this is too inefficient," Zhou Yuan mused, frowning. To gather more intelligence, he clearly needed to go where people congregated.

"Along this route, everyone in this area is heading southwest," he continued. "Apparently, a Golden Pool has appeared there, radiating boundless golden light and shrouded in mystery—a manifestation of a supreme creation." Zhou Yuan's face showed deep contemplation. "Many prodigies will gather there, making it a hub for information. If I go there, I should be able to get news about Yao Yao."

With a flicker in his eyes, Zhou Yuan no longer hesitated. His Genesis Qi surged, and he transformed into a streak of dark golden light, soaring skyward once more.

Half a day later, a continuous mountain range emerged into Zhou Yuan's view. Thick fog perpetually shrouded the peaks, obscuring what lay within. Faint Genesis Qi fluctuations emanated from the mist, hinting at a lurking danger. Yet, deep within the seemingly boundless mist, a faint, mysterious golden light shimmered, appearing and disappearing.

At the edge of the mountain range, countless figures continuously streamed in from all directions, creating a rather spectacular sight. Clearly, news of the "Golden Pool" and its creation had already spread far and wide.

Zhou Yuan descended directly towards the mountain's edge, wary of entering the thick fog himself, lest he provoke unknown creatures. He landed in the deep forest, on the mountain's outer perimeter. He observed numerous figures pressing deeper into the range and followed suit, periodically stopping people to ask questions. His inquiries yielded some scraps of information, but most people only vaguely recalled seeing Wu Huang and his companions in pursuit, with no knowledge of their specific direction or whereabouts. This caused Zhou Yuan's brows to furrow even deeper.

Zhou Yuan maintained his pace. The surrounding mist grew denser, and in the distance, he could hear numerous beast roars and howls, accompanied by faint, violent Genesis Qi fluctuations.

Zhou Yuan emerged from the dense forest into a flat expanse. His steps, however, suddenly halted, as a figure had appeared before him, seemingly out of nowhere. The figure wore clothes subtly adorned with skull-like patterns, and an intensely chilling aura emanated from them, making the surrounding air grow cold.

Zhou Yuan frowned slightly as he observed the figure. Without speaking, he prepared to turn and leave. But as he turned, the figure raised a hand. A burst of gray gas shot from their sleeve with a chilling shriek, sweeping towards Zhou Yuan like lightning. Zhou Yuan countered with a swift punch. Dark golden Genesis Qi surged, vibrating the air, and with a single blow, he shattered the extremely sinister gray Genesis Qi.

As the gray Genesis Qi shattered, Zhou Yuan felt a chilling aura penetrate his body. Where it passed, his blood flow seemed to slow, and his muscles stiffened. Yet, just as the gray Genesis Qi began to seep deeper, a surge of blood-red aura swept over, instantly devouring it.

"Huh?" The figure uttered a faint sound of surprise.

Zhou Yuan looked at him with tightly furrowed brows and asked, "Who are you?" Zhou Yuan didn't recognize this person, yet the stranger had attacked on sight, clearly aiming for him.

The figure slowly turned, revealing an exceedingly pale youth whose face was utterly devoid of color. His eyes, grayish-white, seemed to exude a bone-chilling aura of death. He coughed softly and slowly said, "Yanluo Sect, Zhen Xu."

"Zhen Xu?" Zhou Yuan paused, then looked at the youth's pale complexion. He nodded and remarked, "You certainly look a bit 'empty.' You should get some nourishment..."

The pale-faced youth stared at him expressionlessly.

Zhou Yuan shrugged. "Just a joke. Why would the esteemed Young King Yanluo of the Yanluo Sect bother to block my path for no reason? We have no grievances whatsoever."

The youth named Zhen Xu stated flatly, "The Yanluo Sect once owed Sacred Remains City a favor."

Zhou Yuan finally understood. So, Xiao Tianxuan had enlisted him as a helper. That fellow truly had some pull, able to summon even a top prodigy like the Young King Yanluo.

"How did you find me?" Zhou Yuan asked curiously.

"Taking someone else's Qiankun Pouch isn't so easy," Zhen Xu replied, his voice devoid of any emotion.

Zhou Yuan nodded, understanding.

Zhen Xu glanced at Zhou Yuan. "Xiao Tianxuan is on the verge of death from the blood poison you inflicted," he said. "So I must take you to detoxify him." His voice always carried a sinister undertone that sent chills down one's spine.

"He brought it upon himself," Zhou Yuan said indifferently.

"I have no time for your grievances," Zhen Xu said dispassionately. "I only need to take you back to cure his poison; then, our Yanluo Sect and Sacred Remains City will be quits."

Zhou Yuan shook his head. "I have no time for your favors either," he countered.

"I said I would take you back; I didn't say I needed your permission." As Zhen Xu uttered his final word, his figure shot forward like a ghost, lunging directly at Zhou Yuan. His hand emerged from his sleeve, bone-like and grayish-black, seemingly exuding a horrifying stench. Sharp fingernails sliced through the air, tearing it apart.

Zhou Yuan's eyes narrowed, but he did not retreat. Clenching his fist, dark golden fist intent surged, and he unleashed a punch so powerful that the thick layer of leaves beneath his feet was instantly shattered by the force.

"Bang!" Fist met palm, two streams of Genesis Qi collided, and the ground beneath their feet instantly fractured.

"Corpse Poison Hand." A sinister glint flashed in Zhen Xu's eyes as a cold light appeared at his fingertips. He sharply swiped at Zhou Yuan's hand; his attack carried a corpse poison that would corrupt the flesh of anyone it touched.

*Screech!* Yet, his fingertips scraped past without drawing blood; instead, sparks flew. Golden scales had appeared on the back of Zhou Yuan's hand.

"Playing with poison? Try some of mine!" Zhou Yuan sneered. He unleashed a palm strike, and dark golden Genesis Qi whistled forth, directly condensing into a thin, bloody thread that shot with a soft *thwip* towards Zhen Xu's glabella. That bloody thread was, of course, the Resentful Dragon Poison. As the bloody thread swept past, faint, resentful dragon roars could be heard.

Zhen Xu's eyes narrowed. Knowing this was the same blood poison that had tormented Xiao Tianxuan, he dared not let it touch him. With a flick of his sleeve, sinister grayish-black Genesis Qi rapidly converged before him.

*Hiss! Hiss!* The strand of Resentful Dragon Poison was steadily eroded, finally dissipating into thin air when it was still about a foot from Zhen Xu. Two powerful Genesis Qi streams collided, snapping nearby trees at their trunks. Both Zhou Yuan and Zhen Xu were forced to recoil.

However, just as Zhen Xu's figure recoiled, his expression suddenly sharpened. From the corner of his eye, he caught sight of an ice-blue streak of Genesis Qi sweeping towards them. Wherever it passed, the ground instantly formed layers of ice crystals.

"Corpse Bone Finger!" Zhen Xu pointed a finger with lightning speed, and a surge of death aura erupted. The green leaves on the ground instantly turned to powder as the grayish-black Genesis Qi swept over them.

*Hiss! Hiss!* The finger light swept past, tearing apart the ice-blue Genesis Qi.

Zhen Xu turned his head, his gaze somewhat shadowed as he looked into the forest on his right. There, he saw a small figure with a smiling expression slowly emerge.

Zhou Yuan, too, saw the familiar figure and was instantly taken aback.

"Lu Luo?"