Chapter 298: Shocking the Entire Audience

Eight Origin Beast Origin Qis roared and surged forth. A fierce, malevolent aura pulsed, and the sky itself seemed to darken as a foul wind howled, creating a terrifying momentum.

No one had expected Zhou Yuan to unleash such a terrifying killing blow at this instant.

Nor had anyone imagined that Zhou Yuan had cultivated the Nine Dragons Scripture to such a degree.

By the stone platform, Zhang Yan's expression froze slightly. The sudden change in the arena was beyond his expectations; Zhou Yuan's counterattack was so fierce it was startling.

He wondered if Cao Shi could withstand such a fierce counterattack.

Around the stone platform, all eyes anxiously watched the scene.

Cao Shi's face, too, grew extremely solemn at this moment. He could feel the ferocity of the eight roaring Origin Beast Origin Qis; the pressure made his scalp tingle.

However, he knew he couldn't retreat now, and immediately, a fierce glint flashed in his eyes.

“What if they are eight dragons? I refuse to believe that you, a second-layer Alpha Origin Stage practitioner, can unleash their full power!”

Cao Shi gritted his teeth and said, “I think you’re just putting on a show, strong on the outside but weak within!”

As his voice fell, he slammed his palms together, and the Origin Qi within his body also circulated completely, without any reservation.

Silver-frost-like Origin Qi swept out from the top of his head, resembling a massive silver dragon coiling above him. As the Origin Qi rotated, it formed a silver halo.

The halo slowly rotated. The next instant, thousands of sword cries suddenly echoed from within it, and then numerous disciples saw countless silver sword shadows, covering the sky and earth, whistling out from the halo.

“High-grade Lesser Heaven Origin Art, Sea Sword Song!”

Countless silver sword shadows shot out, like a continuous sea of swords. Their cries converged, echoing through heaven and earth, and their sharpness seemed capable of piercing the void.

Seeing Cao Shi's counterattack, many disciples' expressions subtly changed, becoming solemn.

“Senior Brother Cao Shi is going all out; he even used the Sea Sword Song. That's his most powerful killing move.”

The disciples watched the arena intently. Evidently, Zhou Yuan's counterattack made Cao Shi sense danger, so he no longer held back and immediately unleashed his killing blow.

Now, it was just a matter of whose killing move was more formidable!

Buzzing!

Under the gaze of countless fervent eyes, the sea of swords howled forward, finally colliding with the eight astonishingly fierce Origin Beast Origin Qis.

Boom! Boom!

Violent Origin Qi raged, tearing cracks into the stone platform.

The first Origin Beast Origin Qi lasted only a dozen breaths before being torn apart by the countless swords. But the second Origin Qi followed immediately and was soon broken by the sea of swords as well.

In mere tens of breaths, one seemingly fierce Origin Beast Origin Qi after another continuously shattered.

This scene startled many disciples, leaving them somewhat astonished. They had clearly not expected the seemingly formidable Origin Beast Origin Qi to be so easily defeated.

“How can this be?” Even Zhou Tai couldn't help but exclaim. “Both the Nine Dragons Scripture and the Sea Sword Song are high-grade Lesser Heaven Origin Arts; they shouldn't have been broken so quickly, should they?”

Zhang Yan’s tense face relaxed as he smiled, “It seems Junior Brother Zhou Yuan is short on Origin Qi. After all, he’s only at the second layer of the Alpha Origin Stage.”

Many disciples shook their heads repeatedly. They had thought Zhou Yuan’s counterattack was formidable, but it seemed he was just putting on a facade.

Around the stone platform, only Yao Yao's pretty face remained calm, unperturbed. Of course, Shen Taiyuan, seated at the highest point, also had a subtle flash in his eyes, lost in thought.

“Haha, Junior Brother Zhou Yuan, is this all you’re capable of?” Cao Shi burst out laughing at this moment, his earlier tension completely gone. He scoffed, “The Nine Dragons Scripture, in your hands, is turning into the Nine Worms Scripture!”

He assumed Zhou Yuan simply lacked sufficient Origin Qi and had forcefully used the Nine Dragons Scripture, which caused his Origin Qi to disperse. This, he believed, made all eight Origin Beast Origin Qis appear strong but hollow, easily broken upon contact.

However, Zhou Yuan was unfazed by his ridicule. With a thought, the remaining few Origin Beast Origin Qis continued to surge forth aggressively.

Boom! Boom!

But the result remained the same: one Origin Beast Origin Qi after another was torn apart by the sea of swords. In the blink of an eye, seven Origin Beast Origin Qis were completely shattered, with only the last one remaining, coiling in the void.

“Let’s finish this once and for all, Junior Brother Zhou Yuan. For now, you should just stay put!” Cao Shi let out a long cry, and the vast ocean of sword qi swept forth, directly aiming to obliterate the last Origin Beast Origin Qi.

Once this last Origin Beast Origin Qi was crushed, Zhou Yuan's offensive would naturally be broken, and the battle would be decided.

The sea of swords howled, heading straight for the last Origin Beast Origin Qi.

The eighth Origin Beast Origin Qi coiled in the void, and within it, a faint, python-like phantom could be seen. At this moment, that phantom seemed to be trembling slightly.

A pair of tightly closed serpent pupils slowly opened at this very moment.

The instant those serpent pupils opened, a violent and fierce Origin Qi abruptly erupted.

Boom! Boom!

The Origin Beast Origin Qi, which was originally about a hundred feet long, suddenly expanded at this moment to over five hundred feet. Its Origin Qi's power was even stronger than the previous seven Origin Qis combined!

“What?!”

That level of Origin Qi power instantly shook many disciples, their faces filled with disbelief and uncertainty. They couldn't understand why this last Origin Beast Origin Qi was so incredibly strong.

Zhang Yan’s expression also subtly changed. After a moment's thought, he understood, and his heart trembled. With shifting eyes, he said, “This Zhou Yuan, he’s truly cunning!”

The reason the previous seven Origin Beast Origin Qis were so weak was not because Zhou Yuan lacked Origin Qi. Instead, it was because he had concentrated all his Origin Qi onto the eighth Origin Beast Origin Qi!

And Cao Shi, who had exerted great effort for a decisive strike, expended a considerable amount of Origin Qi. However, the only effect he achieved was breaking a few decoy-like Origin Beast Origin Qis.

Zhou Yuan's true killing move was hidden within the eighth one!

Amidst the numerous exclamations, the eighth Origin Beast Origin Qi roared downwards. It actually opened its massive mouth, as if to blot out the sky, and swallowed the surging sea of swords in one gulp.

Whoosh! Whoosh!

In a single gulp, the sea of swords was instantly swallowed.

And the silver sword shadows that entered the Origin Beast Origin Qi's body were immediately obliterated by the fierce Origin Qi...

Everyone was stunned.

Including Cao Shi.

“How is this possible?! How can his Origin Qi be so strong?!” Cao Shi’s face turned ashen. He had previously believed victory was assured, but in the blink of an eye, the outcome had reversed, knocking him from heaven.

Around the stone platform, silence reigned. Many disciples exchanged glances; they too had not expected such a rapid turn of events.

Zhang Yan’s expression was also constantly changing, his brows tightly furrowed. He had originally thought Cao Shi was guaranteed to win...

Zhou Yuan gazed expressionlessly at Cao Shi, then waved his sleeve. The Origin Beast Origin Qi roared downwards, and a torrent of fierce, malevolent energy surged directly towards Cao Shi, startling him into a hasty retreat.

“I, I lost!” The fierce aura rushed towards him, making Cao Shi's heart clench. Especially upon seeing Zhou Yuan's cold gaze, his heart trembled, and he dared not delay, quickly calling out.

Otherwise, if he were struck by the Origin Beast Origin Qi, he would surely be severely injured.

The instant his voice fell, the Origin Beast Origin Qi, only a few yards from him, suddenly burst apart. But the violent gust of wind still sent Cao Shi staggering back dozens of steps in disarray.

Zhou Yuan cast an indifferent glance at the terrified Cao Shi, then slowly exhaled a plume of white mist. The Origin Qi around his body gradually receded, appearing somewhat depleted. Evidently, unleashing the Eight Dragons of the Nine Dragons Scripture earlier had completely exhausted the Origin Qi within his body.

Everyone could see this, but this time, no one dared to say anything more. The power Zhou Yuan had just displayed had deeply astonished them all.

After all, Zhou Yuan was currently only at the second layer of the Alpha Origin Stage. Yet, even Cao Shi, at the fifth layer, had suffered a significant loss at his hands. Such combat prowess was truly terrifying.

Moreover, Zhou Yuan was clearly stronger now than he had been during the mountain selection ceremony.

This kind of progress was simply astonishing.

“Thank you for the concession,” Zhou Yuan said calmly, cupping his fists.

Cao Shi’s face alternated between green and pale, looking utterly dreadful. He, too, had not anticipated this outcome.

Around the stone platform, disciples from Master Shen's lineage, as well as those from the other two lineages who had come to watch the spectacle, stared at Zhou Yuan with astonished eyes. Their previous scrutiny had vanished, replaced by a hint of apprehension.

In the past, many senior disciples hadn't paid much attention to Zhou Yuan's supposed first place in the mountain selection ceremony. After all, Zhou Yuan was just a newcomer to the inner mountain, and everything still depended on actual strength. However, now, Zhou Yuan had undoubtedly proven to them...

In that quiet atmosphere, Shen Taiyuan stroked his beard, a gratified smile appearing on his stern, aged face. Zhou Yuan's victory had also been somewhat unexpected for him.

He had initially thought Zhou Yuan was merely reckless and easily provoked due to his youth. But looking at the current situation, it was clear he had underestimated Zhou Yuan.

He chuckled softly, his gaze sweeping across his many disciples.

“Zhou Yuan has won this battle. According to our prior agreement, he will be the third participant in the cave examination one month from now. Do any of you have objections?”

Upon hearing this, many disciples shook their heads.

Seeing this, Shen Taiyuan nodded and looked at Zhou Yuan, saying, “In that case, you will be the third participant. One month from now, you will represent our lineage in the competition for the Purple Origin Cave Abode.”

“Yes,” Zhou Yuan replied, cupping his fists.

On the outer perimeter of the stone platform, Shen Wanjin and the other newly admitted disciples cheered excitedly. Zhou Yuan's victory undoubtedly brought honor to these new disciples.

Zhang Yan's mouth twitched as he watched this scene. He knew that after this battle, Zhou Yuan had firmly established himself in the inner mountain. In the future, attempts to suppress him based on seniority would likely fail to garner much support from other disciples.

After all, the strength Zhou Yuan displayed in this battle was enough to awe everyone.

He glanced at the ashen-faced Cao Shi, and ultimately could only curse under his breath.

“Useless trash.”

He had originally intended for Cao Shi to step forward and curb Zhou Yuan's sharp edge, thereby reducing Master Shen's regard for him. However, it now seemed that Cao Shi had ruined everything.

Ultimately, Zhou Yuan had still managed to gain a firm foothold.