Chapter 167: Reunion

Chapter 168: Another Encounter

In the ruined forest, Zhou Yuan slowly opened his fingers. In the previous head-on clash, his opponent had not gained any advantage.

Clearly, after Zhou Yuan activated the Golden Profound Python Scale and the third-grade Genesis Rune "Black Gold Palm Mark," he possessed the strength to directly contend with a quasi-Primeval Stage expert.

Just as Zhou Yuan was secretly pleased, Lü Luo suddenly spoke from behind. "Hey, fight properly, don't be a hooligan."

Zhou Yuan paused, stunned, and looked blankly at Lü Luo, who was glaring at him with a flushed face. "Huh??"

"I'm a girl, how can I compare hardness with you?" Lü Luo said, her face flushed and her tone serious.

Zhou Yuan felt as if he'd been struck by lightning, utterly scorched inside and out. He stared dumbfounded at Lü Luo, his face alternating between green and white. After a long moment, he finally burst out in exasperation, "Shut up!"

He was clearly talking about the hardness of his fists, but Lü Luo had somehow misinterpreted it completely!

Lü Luo made a face, thinking, "And he's so fierce for a hooligan."

Meanwhile, Zhu Ying, not far away, had also heard Lü Luo's words. Her already displeased expression instantly grew even uglier. Her full chest heaved, like a powder keg about to explode.

"Boy, I will kill you today!" Zhu Ying roared sharply.

Crimson Genesis Qi erupted from her body like blazing flames. The ground beneath her feet began to melt, radiating incredibly high temperatures.

"Crimson Demonic Hand!"

With a thought from Zhu Ying, the crimson, flame-like Genesis Qi formed a colossal fiery hand, which slammed down fiercely towards Zhou Yuan's head.

Zhou Yuan dared not be slow. Dark golden Genesis Qi surged up from the top of his head, like a magnificent canopy.

Boom! Boom!

The fiery hand continuously slammed down, causing the dark golden Genesis Qi canopy to tremble incessantly. However, though ripples constantly spread across the canopy, it managed to hold firm and was not torn apart by the fiery hand.

After more than ten clashes, Zhu Ying gradually calmed down, a hint of solemnity appearing in her eyes.

The previous exchanges had made her realize that the youth before her, who seemed to only possess the strength of the Heavenly Pass Stage early-phase, was not simple.

His Genesis Qi was robust and refined, far surpassing the early-phase Heavenly Pass Stage and even comparable to the late-phase Heavenly Pass Stage.

Furthermore, the quality of his dark golden Genesis Qi was exceptionally high. Therefore, even in direct Genesis Qi clashes, he had not been at a significant disadvantage.

"Hmph, I refuse to believe that I, Zhu Ying, can't even defeat someone in the Heavenly Pass Stage!" Zhu Ying's temper was also ignited. She immediately clenched her delicate hand, and a fiery red feather fan appeared.

The fan's surface was covered with flame patterns, and each feather burned with blazing fire. It was clearly made from fire-attributed flying beasts.

"Try my Five Beast Fire Fan!"

Zhu Ying's delicate hand flicked, and the feather fan swayed. Blazing crimson Genesis Qi surged out, transforming into immense flames, which then formed a sky-filling rain of fire, overwhelmingly shooting towards Zhou Yuan.

Each droplet of fire rain concealed violent fluctuations, and would explode upon contact, creating powerful destructive force.

As the fire rain enveloped him, the Heavenly Yuan Brush in Zhou Yuan's hand also expanded. He shook his arm, and the snow-white bristles surged, twisting and coiling as if forming a shield of bristles.

Bang! Bang!

The fire rain collided with the bristly shield, creating violent explosions, and even the air seemed to be scorched.

The explosions continued for a moment, and the snow-white bristles turned crimson.

However, Zhou Yuan flicked the brush tip, and the bristles retracted, returning to the tip and quickly resuming their normal appearance.

Although the Heavenly Yuan Brush was currently only a Profound Origin Weapon, its raw materials were extremely powerful. Thus, attempting to burn its bristles was clearly impossible.

After blocking the sky-filling fire rain, Zhou Yuan did not hold back. He shot forward, the snow-white bristles forming a lotus-bud-like spear tip, and thrust it with lightning speed towards Zhu Ying.

Zhu Ying used her fan to block horizontally, deflecting the spear tip. She opened her red lips, and a ball of crimson Genesis Qi, like a fireball, fiercely shot towards Zhou Yuan's face.

Dark golden Genesis Qi surged from Zhou Yuan's nostrils, directly blocking the crimson Genesis Qi ball.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

The two clashed with lightning speed, the brush tip and fan continuously colliding and emitting metallic sounds. As sparks flew, both fought ruthlessly, but their attacks were completely parried by the other.

While the two were locked in fierce combat, Lü Luo ran to the bound Xiao Han's side. She placed her small hand on it, and astonishing cold air immediately emanated from Xiao Han's body, beginning to erode the fiery red whip.

"Madwoman, wait until I free Xiao Han, then I'll let you experience my true power," Lü Luo said through gritted teeth.

Zhu Ying also noticed Lü Luo's actions. Her willow-like brows furrowed in irritation. She had originally thought she could easily deal with Zhou Yuan, but to her surprise, he was so strong that he had her pinned down.

If Lü Luo managed to free the ice bird, and the two of them, human and beast, combined forces, she would undoubtedly be in a critical situation.

"I must eliminate this boy!"

A fierce glint flashed in Zhu Ying's eyes. She suddenly retreated, gripping her fiery red feather fan with her delicate hand and taking a deep breath. A cold light appeared in her eyes as she declared, "Minor Heavenly Genesis Art, Five Beast Fire!"

She bit the tip of her tongue, and a spurt of vital blood shot out, landing on the fan's surface before she vigorously waved it.

Blaze!

Crimson flames surged up, finally transforming into a fireball. On the fireball, five flying beasts could vaguely be seen soaring, with streaks of light patterns spreading across it, and an astonishing heat radiating outwards.

The moment this fireball appeared, the entire forest seemed to grow parched and hot, showing signs of combustion.

Zhou Yuan's expression also became extremely solemn at this moment. That fireball was incredibly violent, and its power was astonishing. Let alone those in the Heavenly Pass Stage, even a quasi-Primeval Stage expert struck by it would likely be incinerated to ashes instantly.

This Zhu Ying indeed possessed some capability.

"Zhou Yuan, quickly retreat! That's a Minor Heavenly Genesis Art, it's very powerful!" Lü Luo also sensed the danger and immediately cried out.

Zhou Yuan remained motionless. He stood in mid-air, treading on Genesis Qi, his eyes turning sharp. He extended his five fingers, and suddenly, lightning flickered and crackled in his palm.

"You can also try my Minor Heavenly Genesis Art!"

Battle intent surged in Zhou Yuan's eyes. After mastering the "Great Wind Thunder," this was his first time using it against an opponent, so he was eager to know its true power.

Crackle!

Wind and thunder gathered in Zhou Yuan's palm. After just ten or so breaths, a powerful Genesis Qi emanated, and a greenish-black thunderball, several feet in size, appeared in his palm.

"Great Wind Thunder!"

Zhou Yuan flicked his palm, and the greenish-black thunderball shot out with a rumbling sound.

The next instant.

The fire ball and the thunderball collided.

Boom!

An indescribable storm raged, intertwined with flames and lightning. The forest within several hundred feet was flattened, and the ground was scorched black.

Zhu Ying's figure flashed into view. She looked slightly disheveled. She had also been affected earlier, the violent impact causing her internal energy and blood to churn, and a trace of blood stained the corner of her mouth.

"He must be dead now, right?" Zhu Ying gritted her silver teeth as she looked forward.

The dust and smoke there gradually dissipated. However, Zhu Ying's pretty face immediately turned ugly again. She saw Zhou Yuan standing motionless at the same spot. In front of him, a tortoise-shell-like light shield had appeared, and it was this light shield that had withstood all the impact for Zhou Yuan.

"Zhou Yuan, well done!"

Not far away, Lü Luo cheered. Her large eyes were filled with surprise as she looked at Zhou Yuan. She had not expected Zhou Yuan's strength to have reached such a level since their last meeting.

The Zhu Ying before her was no weaker than herself, yet even so, she had not gained the upper hand in her clash with Zhou Yuan.

Clearly, since entering the Saint Remains Domain, Zhou Yuan's strength had been growing rapidly.

Zhu Ying, meanwhile, gritted her teeth in frustration. She stared at Zhou Yuan, her willow-like brows furrowed. "Zhou Yuan? That name sounds somewhat familiar..."

She thought for a moment, and finally remembered.

"So you're Wu Huang's rival, Zhou Yuan?"

Zhu Ying sneered, "So you're here. Perfect, your rival is here too. I'll call him over, and you two can have a good fight!"

As her voice fell, she waved her small hand. A burst of flame shot into the sky, then exploded, sending out an unusual fluctuation.

Seeing this, Zhou Yuan's eyes narrowed slightly. Wu Huang was here too?

Soon after Zhu Ying sent out the signal, Zhou Yuan sensed the rapid sound of rushing wind approaching. Finally, he saw the mist in the distance ripple, and two figures slowly emerged from it.

Of the two figures, one was clad in golden robes, and it was none other than Wu Huang.

The other person was dressed in black, and even their eyes were pitch black like whirlpools, giving off an indescribably eerie feeling.

Wu Huang walked out with his hands clasped behind his back. His gaze immediately fell upon Zhou Yuan, he paused slightly, and then a playful smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.

"Zhou Yuan, I didn't expect to meet you again..."