Chapter 189: Fighting with Life on the Line

The dark-gold python let out a long hiss, its massive mouth wide open, and then, under countless trembling gazes, it swallowed the rapidly approaching Three-legged Golden Crow in one gulp.

That scene was quite stunning.

Inside and outside the Sacred Remains City, gasps of astonishment erupted because of this.

"Zhou Yuan's methods are quite strong."

"Their Genesis Qi is likely both fifth-grade; otherwise, it would be difficult to achieve this level of materialization."

"I thought Zhou Yuan would be defeated quickly, but it seems he might last a while longer."

"Haha, I don't think so. Wu Huang's strength is immense. No matter what, Zhou Yuan is at a disadvantage due to his lower cultivation level. If he were in the Alpha Origin Stage, Wu Huang probably couldn't defeat him. What a pity..."

High in the sky outside the Sacred Remains City, the six envoys and representatives from various forces across the Cangmang Continent were all intently watching the light mirror.

When Zhao Pan saw the dark-gold python swallow the Three-legged Golden Crow, his eyes narrowed slightly, and a cold smile appeared at the corner of his mouth as he said, "This Zhou Yuan really has a big appetite, but isn't he afraid of bursting?"

His discerning eye naturally saw that both possessed fifth-grade Genesis Qi; this level of Genesis Qi was considered extraordinary.

However, even though both had fifth-grade Genesis Qi, Zhou Yuan was only in the Skygate Stage, while Wu Huang was in the Alpha Origin Stage. There was a significant gap in their Genesis Qi cultivation.

Previously, Zhou Yuan could gain an advantage in battles against others with his fifth-grade Genesis Qi, but facing Wu Huang, he wouldn't be able to leverage that advantage.

Hearing Zhao Pan's words, the other envoys nodded slightly. They naturally also saw that in such a head-on Genesis Qi clash, Zhou Yuan clearly wouldn't have the upper hand.

Mu Wuji didn't speak this time. He simply stared at the dark-gold python in the light mirror that had swallowed the Three-legged Golden Crow, his brows slightly furrowed.

Under their gaze, above the white jade plaza, the dark-gold python that had swallowed the Three-legged Golden Crow suddenly hissed. It was as if crimson flames were surging out from within its body.

"Zhou Yuan, you're too arrogant. You have fifth-grade Genesis Qi, but so do I."

"Your Genesis Qi is powerful, but mine is even more powerful than yours!"

"And now, you dare to forcibly swallow my Genesis Qi? You're truly courting death!"

Wu Huang stared coldly at Zhou Yuan, a mocking sneer appearing at the corner of his mouth as he formed a hand seal with one hand.

*Whoosh!*

Crimson flames suddenly erupted from within the dark-gold python. As the flames blazed, they directly incinerated the dark-gold python into nothingness. Then, within the crimson flames, the Three-legged Golden Crow reformed. Although much smaller, its power was still astonishing.

"Be burned to ashes by my Golden Crow Skyflame!" Wu Huang roared. The Three-legged Golden Crow swooped down, directly aiming at Zhou Yuan.

This scene immediately drew countless exclamations from inside and outside the Sacred Remains City.

A scorching heat swept over him. Zhou Yuan raised his head; there was no trace of fear on his clear-cut face as he watched the Three-legged Golden Crow rapidly expanding in his eyes.

"In a direct Genesis Qi confrontation, I might indeed be a bit weaker than you," Zhou Yuan said calmly. "However... anything swallowed by my Profound Python, no matter what it is, won't escape so easily."

He slowly extended his palm, aiming it at the incoming Three-legged Golden Crow.

Wu Huang's pupils suddenly contracted at this moment.

Because he saw that at this moment, strange blood-red lines suddenly appeared on the Three-legged Golden Crow. Those blood lines wriggled, emitting an extremely chilling aura.

*Hiss!*

The blood lines emitted a faint glow. The Three-legged Golden Crow, which had been ferociously pouncing on Zhou Yuan, seemed to let out a mournful cry, and the blazing flames covering its body rapidly dimmed at an astonishing speed.

When it was still several tens of feet away from Zhou Yuan, the Three-legged Golden Crow finally exploded, turning into a shower of fiery rain that fell from the sky.

Above Zhou Yuan's head, dark-gold Genesis Qi formed a propitious cloud, completely blocking the fiery rain.

"Oh?"

Outside the Sacred Remains City, several envoys let out surprised exclamations.

The cold smile on Zhao Pan's lips stiffened slightly, and his expression turned a little unsightly. He clearly hadn't expected that Wu Huang's initial advantage would be so easily neutralized by Zhou Yuan.

Mu Wuji, on the other hand, let out a sigh of relief. So Zhou Yuan had his own means, which was why he dared to confront the Genesis Qi head-on.

"This kid's Genesis Qi seems to contain an extremely overbearing and sinister aura..." Mu Wuji mused to himself. Clearly, Wu Huang's Three-legged Golden Crow had been contaminated by that aura while inside the dark-gold python, leading to its rapid collapse.

Mu Wuji smiled. Originally, in a pure Genesis Qi contest, Zhou Yuan was inferior to Wu Huang, as his cultivation level was suppressed. But if Zhou Yuan had the assistance of that overbearing and strange aura, perhaps Wu Huang wouldn't be able to do anything to him in this regard either.

"What is that?!" Wu Huang stared chillingly at Zhou Yuan, clearly having also detected that overbearing and strange aura.

Zhou Yuan slowly extended his palm, facing Wu Huang. In his palm, a crimson mass slowly wriggled, emitting a heart-pounding aura of resentment.

"Have you forgotten?" Zhou Yuan said indifferently. "Isn't this the gift your royal father left for me?"

Wu Huang's pupils contracted. "This is... the Resentful Dragon's Poison?!"

He naturally knew that when his royal father had taken the Sacred Dragon's Fortune from Zhou Yuan's body years ago, he had also sealed the resentment generated by the Sacred Dragon's Fortune within Zhou Yuan's body. This formed the Resentful Dragon's Poison, which continuously devoured Zhou Yuan's vital essence, intending to completely cripple him.

But looking now, Zhou Yuan not only hadn't died from the Resentful Dragon's Poison, but had even turned it into a powerful asset for himself.

In fact, when he previously encountered Xiao Tianxuan and Gu Ling, he had detected the overbearing nature of this poison. But at that time, the Resentful Dragon's Poison in their bodies was too diluted, so Wu Huang hadn't paid much attention.

But now, witnessing it firsthand, he finally understood its terror.

"You really are lucky to have survived this," Wu Huang said chillingly.

"I haven't returned these 'gifts' to your Wu family one by one yet," Zhou Yuan said lightly. "How could I bear to die?"

"Is that so?"

Wu Huang's eyes turned cold and sinister. The Golden Crow Spear in his hand suddenly shot out, transforming into a crimson streak of light, carrying incredibly violent power, and striking Zhou Yuan like lightning.

Zhou Yuan's Heavenly Yuan Brush vibrated in his hand and shot into the air. He kicked its end fiercely, and the Heavenly Yuan Brush instantly transformed into a streak of light, shooting out.

The spear and brush clashed heavily in mid-air. An earth-shattering bang resounded, and both were sent flying backward, obliquely embedding themselves into the white jade plaza. The nearby ground cracked open.

Wu Huang landed on the tip of his spear. He stared at Zhou Yuan's figure with murderous intent, his hands rapidly forming seals, and crimson Genesis Qi surged forth.

He took a deep breath, and then suddenly exhaled.

*Blaze!*

Crimson Genesis Qi spewed out like a crimson rainbow, then rapidly spun in front of him, finally forming a crimson glowing orb about the size of a human head.

Within the orb, a Golden Crow seemed to be coiled, and incomparably violent Genesis Qi fluctuations emanated from it.

"Zhou Yuan, you didn't die back then. I think you can die now!"

"Minor Heaven Genesis Art, Golden Crow Blazing Orb!"

Wu Huang roared. He stomped his foot, and the Golden Crow Spear bent sharply. With a sudden tremor, Wu Huang's figure instantly appeared in front of Zhou Yuan.

His eyes surged with murderous intent as the spinning crimson orb in his palm slammed down fiercely towards Zhou Yuan.

The ground beneath his feet instantly shattered at that moment.

High temperatures permeated the air. Zhou Yuan watched Wu Huang, who had appeared directly above him. A hint of violence suddenly surged in his eyes at this moment.

"You despicable Wu family! You bullied me when I was young. Today, I'll use you, a worthless wretch, to settle that debt first!"

Zhou Yuan's clear-cut face seemed to become distorted with ferocity.

The murderous intent that had been suppressed in his heart for years erupted at this moment.

So, facing Wu Huang's fierce incoming attack, Zhou Yuan neither dodged nor retreated. He clenched his palm, his sleeve ripping open, and a ball of lightning, wreathed in wind and thunder, appeared in his palm.

"Minor Heaven Genesis Art, Great Wind-Thunder!"

He was actually fighting with his life on the line!