Chapter 321: The Lure

Somewhere in the Origin Pond.

Towering peaks divided the sea surface, forming verdant, lush valleys. These valleys were shrouded in clouds and mist, giving them an ethereal, otherworldly appearance.

In a stone pavilion atop a peak, Yao Yao sat cross-legged on a meditation cushion, holding a jade flask in one hand, pouring and drinking for herself, appearing utterly relaxed and at ease. Her dark hair cascaded down, and her luminous, flawless complexion, tinged with a slight blush from the wine, enhanced her already perfect features. Female disciples around the stone pavilion couldn't help but discreetly cast their gazes upon her, their eyes filled with awe. It was likely their first time seeing someone within the Cangxuan Sect whose beauty and temperament were in no way inferior to Li Qingchan's.

Across from her, Li Qingchan sat upright, her robes gracefully outlining her exquisite figure, which was slender and captivating. She glanced at the distant, mist-shrouded sea and said, "You seem quite carefree, but tomorrow the Origin Pond closes, and the Thousand-Foot Water Beast is still nowhere to be found."

This area was Li Qingchan's territory. The day after she made an agreement with Zhou Yuan, she brought him and Yao Yao here. Every day since then, Zhou Yuan had been diving into the Origin Pond, searching for traces of the Thousand-Foot Water Beast. However, after several days, he had found nothing. With the ten-day opening period of the Origin Pond nearing its end, if Zhou Yuan still couldn't find the Thousand-Foot Water Beast, his Origin Marrow cleansing would only reach the Seven-Dragon level. Although a Seven-Dragon cleansing was highly coveted by all disciples except for the Ten Great Saint Seeds, Zhou Yuan's ambition was clearly not small; otherwise, he wouldn't be searching so diligently for the Thousand-Foot Water Beast.

"'This was his own choice,' Yao Yao said with a clear, melodious voice. She glanced at Li Qingchan and added unhurriedly, 'As for you, you've received such a great favor from him, yet you haven't given him much help in return.'"

Li Qingchan calmly replied, "I've already said that even if he can't find the Thousand-Foot Water Beast, I will help him search for it in the future until I can repay him with a Thousand-Foot Dragon Marrow Crystal."

"I just hope someone doesn't forget all about this once they achieve the Eight-Dragon cleansing," Yao Yao said leisurely, gently swirling the jade cup in her delicate hand.

"Such petty thinking!" Li Qingchan scoffed coldly.

Outside the stone pavilion, the female disciples secretly gasped upon hearing the two women's words, which seemed calm but were actually filled with tension. They wondered who this incredibly beautiful woman was, daring to speak to their Senior Sister in such a manner. And judging by Senior Sister's demeanor, it seemed she harbored some apprehension toward the beautiful woman.

While the two women were at loggerheads, deep within the Origin Pond, a figure streaked through the water, propelled by golden Origin Qi, constantly venturing deeper. It was Zhou Yuan.

"Tomorrow the Origin Pond will close. If I still can't find the Thousand-Foot Water Beast, I'll have to settle for a Seven-Dragon cleansing," Zhou Yuan thought, his eyes flickering slightly as he continuously sensed the movements in the water. Although a Seven-Dragon cleansing was already astonishing, since he now had the chance to advance further, he naturally wished to pursue perfection. After all, he was not yet a Purple Sash disciple, so if he left now, it would be a long time before he could re-enter the Origin Pond.

"It seems I have to take a drastic approach," he mused.

Zhou Yuan frowned in contemplation, then flicked the creature Tuntun on his shoulder and said, "Ordinary methods won't draw out the Thousand-Foot Water Beast anymore. I plan to use myself as bait, but that will definitely attract a large number of water beasts. Can you hold them off for me?"

Tuntun proudly snorted, then slowly extended a paw and made a gesture indicating "eight-two." It was indicating that it would take eighty percent of today's Dragon Marrow Crystals. Zhou Yuan glared at the opportunistic creature through gritted teeth, but ultimately nodded in agreement. He didn't need ordinary Dragon Marrow Crystals anymore; he only needed one Thousand-Foot Dragon Marrow Crystal as a catalyst to boost his cleansing to the Eight-Dragon level.

Having finalized the agreement, Zhou Yuan immediately sat cross-legged. He took a deep breath, a determined glint in his eyes, as the Sky-Connecting Profound Python Qi residing within his Qi Dwelling erupted without reservation. A low dragon roar seemed to resound, and the seawater surged violently. Golden Origin Qi roared out from the top of Zhou Yuan's head, forming a golden pillar of light hundreds of feet tall, piercing through the Origin Pond. Within the golden pillar of light, a massive golden python vaguely appeared. Its abdomen faintly showed dragon claws, and its forehead had a golden bulge, as if nurturing dragon horns.

The Sky-Connecting Profound Python Qi swept and roared, instantly causing a tremendous commotion deep within the Origin Pond. The seawater churned violently, and numerous somewhat transparent, massive forms began to break through the water, rapidly converging on Zhou Yuan's area from all directions. Their numbers were astonishing.

Ever since Zhou Yuan learned that his Origin Qi attracted water beasts, he had been suppressing it in the Origin Pond to avoid drawing more attention. But now, in order to lure out the Thousand-Foot Water Beast, he had no choice but to unleash all his Origin Qi, using himself as bait. However, this meant putting himself in grave danger. If Tuntun failed to protect him, he would suffer severe injuries. Yet, for the sake of the Thousand-Foot Water Beast, he had no choice but to risk it.

Gurgle! Gurgle! The seawater surged, and countless water beasts surged forward, their massive eyes glowing with greed and desire, locking onto Zhou Yuan. Tuntun also leaped from Zhou Yuan's shoulder, its body rapidly expanding into its ferocious, mighty combat form. Rampaging Origin Qi swept out like a storm. A terrifying pressure also emanated from it, like that of a king among beasts. As the pressure swept across, the countless water beasts were suppressed, becoming restless for a moment and daring not to advance.

However, as the emerging water beasts grew progressively larger, their greed for Zhou Yuan's Origin Qi gradually overcame their fear of Tuntun. Finally, amidst the roar of a massive water beast, countless water beasts surged forward. Anger flashed in Tuntun's beast eyes, as if it felt its kingly dignity challenged. With a roar, it opened its massive mouth wide, and black orbs of light shot out. Wherever the black orbs passed, they emitted a devouring force, annihilating water beasts one after another. The two sides clashed fiercely, and violent Origin Qi fluctuations erupted, shaking the depths of the Origin Pond.

In the stone pavilion atop the peak, Yao Yao's small hand, gripping the jade flask, suddenly stiffened. Her ethereal, clear eyes turned towards the Origin Pond, and her crescent-shaped brows, rarely furrowed, subtly creased as she murmured to herself, "That fellow is really reckless."

"What's wrong?" Li Qingchan also turned her beautiful gaze, asking in confusion.

Yao Yao put down the jade flask, elegantly held her jade cup, and took a delicate sip from it, saying indifferently, "Get ready to act."

Li Qingchan was startled and quickly asked, "What do you mean? Has Zhou Yuan found the Thousand-Foot Water Beast?" There was a hint of disbelief in her voice, as she knew very well how difficult it was to find a Thousand-Foot Water Beast. Until now, she had only considered Zhou Yuan to be boasting, not truly capable of finding one. However, Yao Yao did not reply, merely flicking the jade cup lightly with her slender fingers, producing a subtle, clear chime.

Deep within the Origin Pond, the battle was exceptionally fierce. Tuntun guarded the area within tens of feet around Zhou Yuan, its body turning into afterimages as it shredded every water beast that ventured into the zone. Zhou Yuan, meanwhile, remained unmoving, seated cross-legged at the center of the battlefield.

Until a certain moment, he suddenly opened his eyes and looked towards the deepest part of the Origin Pond. There, a colossal Thousand-Foot creature sliced through the water, rushing towards him with an accompanying shadow. It was indeed a Thousand-Foot Water Beast, fully powered for battle!

Zhou Yuan immediately stood up and shouted, "Tuntun, let's go!" Without hesitation, he turned and shot away, propelled by Origin Qi. To hunt a Thousand-Foot Water Beast, one first had to trap it; otherwise, if it tried to escape, no one could stop it. Tuntun immediately followed Zhou Yuan, its body shrinking as it leaped onto his shoulder. The man and beast sped away.

Behind them, the Thousand-Foot Water Beast roared, its greedy eyes locked onto Zhou Yuan, and its enormous body pursued them relentlessly at an astonishing speed.