Chapter 243: Wind and Thunder Speed

Above the Green Mountain, Genesis Qi gales raged, whistling past like wind blades and tearing the very air apart.

Under the gaze of countless eyes, Zhou Yuan and Zhu Yue stood at the foot of the Green Mountain. Their eyes met, and a cold glint appeared in both.

"Zhou Yuan, I admit you have some talent," Zhu Yue said, his eyes cold. He then gave a frosty laugh. "In a few more years, you might truly secure a place in the Cangxuan Sect. However, your mistake is in jumping out now."

"You don't have the qualifications yet!"

Zhou Yuan chuckled and replied, "Say that again when you reach the top of the Green Mountain before me."

"Obstinate."

Zhu Yue shook his head, a hint of mockery flashing in his eyes.

The next moment, mighty Genesis Qi erupted almost simultaneously from both Zhou Yuan and Zhu Yue. Then, their figures transformed into streaks of light and they surged into the Green Mountain, which was enveloped by violent Genesis Qi.

The instant they entered the Green Mountain, both Zhou Yuan and Zhu Yue's movements faltered slightly.

This was due to the suppressive force formed by Elder Zongming's Genesis Qi, which made the air feel like a quagmire. An ordinary person entering it would have their movements restricted, making it difficult to advance.

"Void Transformation Art!"

Both Zhou Yuan and Zhu Yue let out a low cry.

Consequently, under the gaze of countless eyes, nearly half of their bodies gradually became ethereal. Simultaneously, their speed surged dramatically.

They moved like lightning.

Around the Green Mountain, waves of exclamations rose, clearly expressing astonishment at the speed Zhou Yuan and Zhu Yue displayed.

"Though this Void Transformation Art is merely a middle-grade Lesser Heaven Genesis Art, it does have its merits," Yang Xiu said, his eyes slightly narrowed as he watched the two figures swiftly moving across the Green Mountain.

Lu Feng's expression was indifferent as he said, "No matter how fast they run, they're just rabbits. In the eyes of a true leopard, they're still prey."

"Who do you think will win?" Yang Xiu asked.

Lu Feng said calmly, "That depends on how much Zhu Yue has been hiding."

As they spoke, the two figures on the Green Mountain sped along as if accompanied by clouds and mist. At this point, the Genesis Qi enveloping the Green Mountain once again revealed its fierceness, howling as it formed countless blades of light.

Those light blades covered the sky and ground, sweeping down directly towards the two figures.

*Whizz! Whizz!*

The Genesis Qi light blades whistled in; Zhou Yuan and his opponent couldn't evade them at all and could only withstand them with their physical bodies.

Consequently, within mere tens of breaths, blood began to seep from their bodies, revealing numerous bloody marks.

However, everyone could see that both Zhou Yuan and his opponent were using their etherealized parts to endure the Genesis Qi light blades' attacks. So, although they appeared terribly bloody and pathetic, most of the Genesis Qi light blades' power was being dispelled by their Void Transformation Art.

Both figures consistently maintained the same horizontal level.

In just a few minutes, both had already reached the halfway point of the mountain.

Yet, at this moment, they were still neck and neck.

Zhu Yue's peripheral vision swept over Zhou Yuan, then a cold glint flashed in his eyes, and a slight smirk appeared at the corner of his mouth.

"Next, I'll show you the gap between us!"

With a thought from Zhu Yue, the apertures within his body were suddenly illuminated instantly. In just a few breaths, the number of activated apertures in his body abruptly increased from over thirty to forty-five.

Clearly, he was beginning to reveal his hidden strength.

As more and more apertures were opened, everyone could see that Zhu Yue's body became increasingly ethereal, with faint mists subtly emanating from him.

His speed surged, and in a single breath, he surpassed Zhou Yuan, shooting towards the top of the Green Mountain, facing the sky full of Genesis Qi light blades.

Zhu Yue's sudden burst immediately caused exclamations around the Green Mountain.

"Zhu Yue really did hide his strength!" many disciples exclaimed in awe. They naturally sensed that Zhu Yue's Void Transformation Art had become even more formidable.

Gu Hongyi's delicate hands clenched tightly, her pearly teeth lightly bit her red lips, and her beautiful eyes fixed on the trailing figure in the Green Mountain.

"Hongyi, it's over. Zhu Yue's mastery of the Void Transformation Art is far superior to Zhou Yuan's," Han Qiushui, who was beside her, couldn't help but say. "From the looks of it, Zhou Yuan's first layer of Void Transformation Art simply can't compare to Zhu Yue's."

Gu Hongyi didn't speak. She just stared at the figure, believing that Zhou Yuan wouldn't lose so easily.

On the other side, Shen Wanjin, Qiao Xiu, Xiao Tianxuan, and others also watched the two figures, now separated by a growing distance on the Green Mountain, with extreme tension, their eyes filled with anxiety.

"Brother Yuan, come on!"

But they could do nothing about it and could only continuously pray in their hearts.

"Kid, you were so arrogant before. Now you know what it means to reap what you sow, don't you?" Zhu Feng said, watching this scene with excited eyes, then grinding his teeth as he laughed.

Around the entire Green Mountain, sighs echoed, while the disciples who had learned the Void Transformation Art from Zhou Yuan looked especially crestfallen.

However, most disciples watched with a spectator's mindset, even preferring to see Zhou Yuan suppressed. After all, if Zhou Yuan performed too outstandingly, wouldn't it make them seem useless?

Elder Zongming sat cross-legged on a tree. He watched Zhu Yue, who was far ahead, then looked at Zhou Yuan, who was falling behind. Suddenly, his eyes narrowed, and he murmured, "This kid's apertures..."

On the Green Mountain, Zhu Yue was far in the lead, while behind him, Zhou Yuan's figure remained unhurried...

It looked as if he would never catch up.

Many disciples secretly shook their heads. Indeed, there was no suspense in this competition. No matter how talented Zhou Yuan was, he had only practiced the Void Transformation Art for less than a month, whereas Zhu Yue had been practicing for nearly two years.

"Huh, Zhou Yuan's speed seems to be increasing..." some observant disciples remarked, somewhat uncertainly.

After this was pointed out, everyone then paid closer attention and indeed noticed that Zhou Yuan's speed was gradually increasing. Although it wasn't a sudden burst like Zhu Yue's, the acceleration was remarkably stable.

"He... his apertures seem to be opening one after another..." someone exclaimed in shock, as they could vaguely see faint points of light continuously appearing on Zhou Yuan's body.

Those who practiced the Void Transformation Art were familiar with this phenomenon; it was a sign of apertures being opened.

Elder Zongming smiled with great interest as he watched this scene. His discernment was extraordinary, and he saw the truth at a glance. Zhou Yuan's apertures must have been opened by him even before this, but perhaps due to insufficient time, they hadn't been fully linked. Now, as the Genesis Qi circulated, those apertures were beginning to connect...

Under the gaze of countless astonished eyes, the points of light on Zhou Yuan's body became more numerous, and his speed grew faster and faster. Mists surged around him, as if he were rising on clouds.

All eyes were fixed on the faint, flickering points of light on Zhou Yuan's body.

They represented connected apertures.

"Forty-three apertures already..." Gasps of cold air were heard intermittently. Many disciples were dumbfounded; no one had expected Zhou Yuan's Void Transformation Art to be so profound.

Moreover, the glowing points of the apertures were still increasing.

Tens of breaths later, the points of light reached forty-eight.

This number of apertures had already surpassed Zhu Yue's.

Consequently, most of Zhou Yuan's body was ethereal, exuding faint mists. His speed surged to its peak, and the overwhelming light blades of the gales, which covered the sky, passed directly through his etherealized body, leaving only faint traces of blood.

Zhou Yuan's figure reappeared a dozen or so yards behind Zhu Yue and was still rapidly catching up.

A roar of amazement!

Around the Green Mountain, countless astonished voices rang out. No one had expected Zhou Yuan to actually catch up!

"Damn it!"

Zhu Yue naturally also noticed the sharp whistling sound behind him. His glance caught Zhou Yuan drawing ever closer, and a flicker of irritation immediately crossed his eyes.

He took a deep breath, formed a hand seal, and then points of light representing apertures began to light up on his body as well.

"Zhou Yuan, do you think forty-five apertures are my limit?!"

Zhu Yue let out a low roar, and more points of light illuminated on his body.

Clearly, at this moment, Zhu Yue was also forced to go all out.

The two streaks of light, moving like lightning, sped across the Green Mountain, resembling two wisps of mist.

At this point, many disciples could only vaguely discern two blurry figures...

Everyone's eyes were wide, fixed intently on them.

"Zhu Yue has opened fifty-four apertures already..."

"Zhou Yuan also has over fifty..."

"This is too terrifying!"

Countless whispers arose as they gazed at the two blurry figures relentlessly clinging to each other, expressions of shock on their faces. At this point, less than one-third of the distance remained to the summit of the Green Mountain.

Zhu Yue's initial lead had been forcefully erased by Zhou Yuan...

Zhu Yue's expression turned extremely grim at this moment. Zhou Yuan's tenacity had exceeded his expectations.

"My fifty-eight apertures are now fully open. This is the strength I've hidden for a long time. It was originally meant to shine at the Seven Peaks Martial Meeting. I never expected to be forced to reveal it now!"

Zhu Yue gritted his teeth. Most critically, even though he was giving his all, he still couldn't overwhelm Zhou Yuan; instead, Zhou Yuan was tenaciously clinging to him.

"Zhou Yuan, you're forcing my hand!"

"This time, no matter the cost, I will crush you!"

Zhu Yue knew this concerned his reputation. If he lost to Zhou Yuan, he would surely face much ridicule upon returning to the inner mountain, so he had to win, no matter what.

A ruthless glint appeared in Zhu Yue's eyes.

He took a deep breath. A scarlet pill rolled out from under his tongue, and he swallowed it whole.