Chapter 317: Method

Deep within the Origin Pond, massive water columns intertwined, forming a giant net that trapped the thousand-zhang water beast. The beast struggled with all its might, its immense body repeatedly crashing against the water net, pulling the water columns into terrifying arcs.

Zhou Yuan stood outside the water net barrier, his expression grave as he watched the thousand-zhang water beast continuously crashing against it.

Fortunately, the Tier 4 Origin Pattern barrier, set up by Ye Ge with all his might, was quite effective, allowing it to withstand the thousand-zhang water beast's impacts time and again.

"It is a top-tier Tier 4 Origin Pattern barrier after all," Zhou Yuan sighed.

It should be noted that a Tier 4 Origin Pattern barrier and a Tier 4 Origin Pattern are two different concepts.

An Origin Pattern barrier is not merely formed from a single Origin Pattern; rather, it is extremely complex, linking together numerous Origin Patterns of varying grades. If an Origin Pattern is just a single component, then an Origin Pattern barrier is a complete machine.

Thus, while sketching an Origin Pattern is easy, constructing an Origin Pattern barrier is not.

Moreover, this is a top-tier Tier 4 Origin Pattern barrier. According to Zhou Yuan's estimation, even a Genesis Stage ninth-heaven expert would likely be trapped if they fell into it.

Clearly, Ye Ge had gone to great lengths to trap this thousand-zhang water beast.

"Though this Origin Pattern barrier is powerful, it will eventually be broken by the thousand-zhang water beast." Zhou Yuan gazed at the beast, which was frantically crashing against the water net again and again, and fell into thought. With a grip of his hand, the Heavenly Yuan Brush appeared in his grasp, rapidly transforming into its martial form.

Swish! Zhou Yuan flicked his arm, and the snow-white bristles at the brush's tip suddenly shot out like a streak of white silk. The tip pulsed with profound light, incredibly sharp.

The snow-white bristles pierced the thousand-zhang water beast like lightning, creating a hole. However, this was completely ineffective against the beast's massive body.

"Nine Dragons Scripture, Eight Dragons!" Zhou Yuan's eyes narrowed slightly as he formed hand seals and let out a fierce shout.

Boom! Boom! Eight streams of beast-shaped Origin Qi shot out from the crown of his head, swirling and roaring. They finally connected head to tail, surged through the water net, and struck the beast's body.

Violent tremors spread out, stirring up massive waves.

However, once the waves subsided, Zhou Yuan's brows furrowed again, as he found that even with the Eight Dragons unleashed, he couldn't inflict much damage on the thousand-zhang water beast.

But that was normal, considering that although the thousand-zhang water beast was severely wounded, its inherent power could still contend with a Genesis Stage ninth-heaven expert.

As for Zhou Yuan, he could, at most, only deal with an opponent at Genesis Stage fifth-heaven.

Under Zhou Yuan's repeated attacks, the thousand-zhang water beast grew somewhat restless. It furiously darted out, continuously crashing against the water net barrier.

Under its frantic impacts, ripples began to appear in the water net barrier.

Clearly, the water net barrier was close to giving way.

"Must I resort to using the Silver Shadow?" Zhou Yuan muttered to himself, frowning. The thousand-zhang water beast had previously been severely wounded by Kong Sheng's sword, greatly reducing its combat power to roughly that of a seventh-heaven expert. If Zhou Yuan activated the "Silver Shadow," he thought he might be able to contend with it.

However, the Silver Shadow was his hidden trump card. There were too many people here, making it conspicuous, so he did not want to use it unless absolutely necessary.

Therefore, he stared at the water net barrier before him, pondering.

Meanwhile, on the surface of the sea.

Kong Sheng stood on the water, his black longsword swinging down. A hundred-zhang black sword-light raged forth, sending the incoming lotus-shaped jade blades flying.

The sea surface was torn open by the aftershocks, leaving a huge mark that only gradually filled with seawater after a long while.

Kong Sheng was expressionless. He glanced toward the seabed and said with a smile, "Li Qingchan, that water beast is about to break through the water net barrier. The boy you're relying on seems quite helpless."

Li Qingchan's willow-like brows furrowed slightly. She had naturally also noticed the commotion in the sea, and from Zhou Yuan's appearance, he truly seemed to have no way to deal with the thousand-zhang water beast.

This made her feel a bit helpless. Earlier, when she saw Yao Yao's confident demeanor, she had indeed held some hope for Zhou Yuan, but now, it seemed this hope was simply too unrealistic.

After all, Zhou Yuan was only at the Genesis Stage second-heaven. With his strength, he was actually not qualified to be present in such a battle.

A hint of disappointment flashed in her beautiful eyes, but it did not show on her face.

Kong Sheng, meanwhile, smiled slightly. "If that water beast breaks through the barrier and dives into the depths of the Origin Pond, I'm afraid both of us will return empty-handed today... Junior Sister Qingchan, if you yield to me this time, I will certainly remember this favor."

His subsequent words were full of sincerity.

However, Li Qingchan's pretty face remained cold and unmoved. Clearly, Kong Sheng's previous alliance with Ye Ge against her had long since angered her, so she would certainly not make things easy for Kong Sheng now.

She would rather neither side gain anything than let Kong Sheng have his way.

Li Qingchan's beautiful eyes glanced towards the depths of the Origin Pond, her silver teeth gently biting her red lips. Of course, deep down, she still hoped for a miracle.

What if Zhou Yuan had a way to deal with the thousand-zhang water beast?

Seeing Li Qingchan's cold demeanor, Kong Sheng felt a surge of annoyance in his heart. He immediately said indifferently, "It seems you still haven't given up, placing your hopes on that Genesis Stage second-heaven boy?"

"Junior Sister Qingchan, when did you become so naive...?"

Li Qingchan ignored him. Her powerful Origin Qi surged out, and her attacks grew even more ferocious.

Deep within the Origin Pond.

Zhou Yuan stood his ground, gazing at the Origin Pattern barrier before him. He fell into a long period of contemplation, his eyes flickering slightly.

"Hey, can you do this or not? If not, just let this beast go and part ways with them!" Just as Zhou Yuan was pondering, a cold voice suddenly pierced through the seawater, wrapped in a stream of Origin Qi and precisely reaching his ears.

Zhou Yuan's expression shifted slightly. He looked up towards the sea surface; the sender of the voice transmission was clearly Li Qingchan.

Clearly, she must have also thought Zhou Yuan had no plan, so she decisively urged him to release the beast.

Zhou Yuan smiled, and also used Origin Qi to transmit his voice outward: "Senior Sister Li, never ask a man if he 'can' or 'cannot' in the future, because that is the greatest insult to him."

On the sea surface, Li Qingchan's pretty face alternated between green and white, and she clenched her silver teeth so hard they nearly shattered.

"Pervert!" she fumed. "Go ahead and be stubborn; I'd like to see what you can do against that water beast!"

Deep within the Origin Pond, Zhou Yuan chuckled. He seemed able to visualize Li Qingchan's enraged and embarrassed expression at that moment. But he quickly suppressed his distracting thoughts, gazing with a profound look at the Origin Pattern barrier before him, his slender fingers gently tapping the back of his hand.

"To deal with this thousand-zhang water beast... it's not entirely without a way..."