Chapter 339: The Great Black Demon

Zhou Yuan stood on the stone platform, a faint blue light swirling around his fists, from which light blue scales emerged, making them appear extraordinarily unusual.

He glanced down slightly, noticing some scratches on the scales of his fists. These were clearly left by Wei Youxuan earlier. Although Wei Youxuan's "Origin-Shattering Hand" was formidable, it only targeted Genesis Qi. Thus, it not only failed to penetrate the Profound Python Scales but also resulted in his finger bones being shattered by Zhou Yuan's mountain-heavy punch.

"Profound Python Scales..." Zhou Yuan's fingers gently brushed over the faintly visible light blue scales, and a satisfied smile appeared on his lips.

Compared to the previous Profound Serpent Scales, the transformed Profound Python Scales significantly enhanced both defense and power. Otherwise, he wouldn't have been able to shatter his opponent's finger bones with a single punch earlier.

"I heard Sister Yaoyao say that if my Heaven-Reaching Profound Serpent Qi could evolve further into the seventh-grade World-Suppressing Heavenly Python Qi, then these Profound Python Scales would transform again, becoming true Heavenly Python Scales."

"With these scales, I would be able to defend against attacks from Divine Dwelling stage experts. They possess numerous profound mysteries, almost allowing one to genuinely transform into a human-like Heavenly Python, truly reaching the pinnacle of might."

"If, one day, I can cultivate the Ancestral Dragon Scripture to its third stage, achieving the ninth-grade Universe Saint Dragon Qi, that would be even more extraordinary. The Profound Serpent Scales would transform into Saint Dragon Scales, and I can only imagine their immense power."

Thinking of this, Zhou Yuan felt a surge of excitement, but he quickly suppressed it. He knew that step was still extremely far off for him. For now, he had to proceed one step at a time, strengthening his foundation and inner reserves.

He looked up, gazing at Wei Youxuan, whose expression across from him was gradually turning grim. These immediate enemies were the best stepping stones for strengthening his foundation and inner reserves.

"I never expected my Origin-Shattering Hand would be broken one day," Wei Youxuan said icily.

As he spoke, the dark, night-like Genesis Qi around Wei Youxuan violently surged, hissing and agitating the void, revealing the anger in his heart.

Clearly, Wei Youxuan, who had been smiling from the start, was finally enraged.

Wei Youxuan's still-bleeding hand slammed onto the ground, and dark Genesis Qi, like a viscous swamp, spread out like lightning from beneath his palm.

"Dark Swamp!" The entire massive stone platform floor was instantly covered by the swamp formed from dark Genesis Qi. Simultaneously, countless snake-like streaks of energy shot out from the swamp, coiling towards Zhou Yuan.

Zhou Yuan's figure rapidly blurred, like a wisp of smoke, swiftly darting over the black swamp and evading all attacks.

Plop! From within the swamp, countless viscous black lights shot out, forming a giant net that descended upon Zhou Yuan.

Zhou Yuan's eyes narrowed slightly. He flicked his sleeve, and a massive Wind Thunder Sphere condensed in his palm, emitting violent Genesis Qi fluctuations.

"Great Wind Thunder!" The Wind Thunder Sphere in his hand slammed down violently onto the black swamp.

The Genesis Qi, imbued with wind and thunder, raged violently, forcibly shattering the black swamp covering the ground. The pervasive blackness quickly receded.

And the viscous giant net that had descended upon him also shattered into countless specks of light.

As the specks of light danced, a sharp tearing sound echoed through the air. A cold gleam, carrying a chilling aura, pierced through space, aiming directly at Zhou Yuan's throat.

It was a black halberd.

Zhou Yuan gripped his hand, and the Heavenly Yuan Brush appeared in his grasp. With a slight shake, it expanded, its pure white bristles whistling out to form a white net.

The black halberd struck the white net of bristles, tearing a shocking arc through it. The sharp halberd tip was barely an inch from Zhou Yuan's throat but could never break through that final barrier, ultimately being suddenly repelled by the bristled white net.

Having repelled the black halberd, Zhou Yuan's ethereal figure shot forth, the Heavenly Yuan Brush in his hand transforming into countless cold gleams as it directly enveloped Wei Youxuan, who was hurtling forward from behind.

Clang, clang, clang! Wei Youxuan held the black halberd, dark Genesis Qi rising like wolf smoke around him. Halberd shadows whistled through the air, completely fending off the enveloping pure white brush tips.

Both had cold eyes, striking without mercy and aiming directly at each other's vital points, but their attacks were fully parried.

It was a truly fierce contest.

Around the cliffs, many disciples watched the two fiercely battling figures with trembling hearts. The combat fluctuations were so intense that any fifth-stage disciple who dared to interfere would likely be torn to shreds within three rounds.

Such an exchange was already no less intense than some contests between purple-sash disciples.

Brush tip and halberd tip collided, sending sparks flying. Violent Genesis Qi fluctuations surged forth, even shattering the air.

Both Zhou Yuan and Wei Youxuan's figures jolted, then shot backward.

The Heavenly Yuan Brush in Zhou Yuan's hand twirled a pure white spear flower. He felt the boiling Genesis Qi within him, his eyes slightly narrowed. Despite their intense clash earlier, he showed no sign of being at a disadvantage.

Clearly, after the Genesis Marrow baptism, his Genesis Qi foundation was robust enough to directly contend with a sixth-stage disciple.

Currently, there were over seven hundred Genesis Qi stars in Zhou Yuan's Qi Dwelling, whereas a normal sixth-stage disciple would typically have around eight hundred. However, Zhou Yuan's Heaven-Reaching Profound Serpent Qi was undoubtedly more profound, denser, and more sustained, so he was by no means inferior to a sixth-stage practitioner.

"So, the sixth stage of the Grand Primeval realm isn't that impressive, huh?" Zhou Yuan said with a faint smile, gazing at Wei Youxuan.

Wei Youxuan gave Zhou Yuan a cold glance but remained silent, for he too knew that although Zhou Yuan was only at the third stage, when it came to Genesis Qi, even he, a sixth-stage practitioner, held little advantage.

This Zhou Yuan was unexpectedly troublesome.

Yet, a disciple who had only recently joined dared to show off like this in front of him. Did he truly believe Wei Youxuan had no other means?

"Junior Brother Zhou Yuan, young people shouldn't be too arrogant. Since Elder Shen didn't properly teach you to respect your senior brothers, then I, your senior brother, shall teach you a good lesson on Elder Shen's behalf today!" Wei Youxuan's lips curled into a cold sneer.

He slammed the black halberd in his hand heavily onto the ground, embedding it.

His sleeve suddenly tore apart, revealing his arm, which was covered in black lines resembling earthworms.

These black lines converged, forming strange runes.

A chilling aura instantly emanated, causing the air around the stone platform to grow cold. A terrifying fluctuation began to surge and condense within Wei Youxuan's body.

Wei Youxuan's palms met, and the black lines on his arms spread out wildly. In just a few breaths, they seemed to burrow into all the flesh and blood of his body.

Wisps of black qi rose from the surface of Wei Youxuan's body.

Potent black Genesis Qi surged and coiled behind him, emitting a sharp whistling sound.

Around the cliffs, many disciples' expressions changed slightly, clearly sensing the sudden surge in Genesis Qi fluctuations within Wei Youxuan's body.

That kind of Genesis Qi fluctuation was by no means comparable to an ordinary Minor Heaven Genesis Art!

Clearly, Wei Youxuan was finally revealing his ultimate move.

As black qi ascended, Wei Youxuan's eyes, now pitch black, stared sinisterly at Zhou Yuan. He bared his teeth in a grin, revealing stark white fangs, and said, "Although I haven't fully mastered it yet, it should be enough to deal with you."

"Junior Brother Zhou Yuan, I hope you learn your lesson from this loss and don't get too arrogant in the future. You should know that in this inner mountain, there are plenty of people who can deal with you."

"Here, you're not qualified to be arrogant!"

The moment his voice fell, his palms slammed together, and a low, chilling sound echoed between the cliffs.

"Low-Grade Heaven Genesis Art, Great Dark Devil!"

Astonishing Genesis Qi, like a volcano, swept out from Wei Youxuan's body at this moment.

Around the cliffs, many disciples turned pale with fright.

Meanwhile, Lu Xuanyin, who had previously worn a grim expression in the stone pavilion, suddenly had her eyes light up with excitement at this moment, her fair hands tightly clasped together.

This reckless Zhou Yuan had finally forced out Wei Youxuan's trump card!

Did he really think no one could deal with him today?!