Chapter 354: Source Pattern Battle (Part 2)

Rumble!

When Xia Yu grasped the purple Genesis Rune Brush, the massive mountain beneath her feet suddenly trembled violently. The next instant, rocks shattered as a stone dragon roared out from the mountain's depths, charging directly at Zhou Yuan.

The stone dragon's aura was ferocious; as it roared, the Genesis Qi of the heavens and earth stirred in response.

As the shadow of the stone dragon loomed, Zhou Yuan's expression turned grim. Xia Yu controlled the nexus of this barrier, allowing her to harness its power, which was clearly astonishing.

Zhou Yuan's Heavenly Yuan Brush swept across, forming a Genesis Rune that instantly dissipated, transforming into a fierce gust of wind that swept his figure skyward.

The stone dragon lunged, missing its target.

However, it immediately roared upwards, continuing its charge towards Zhou Yuan.

Zhou Yuan ascended by means of Genesis Runes, his Genesis Rune Brush continually striking, forming numerous Genesis Marks in the void.

"Ice Peak Rune!" A colossal ice peak emerged from the Genesis Rune, radiating biting cold as it violently collided with the stone dragon.

"Dragon Bind Rune!" The ice peak shattered, and the stone dragon was repelled, but immediately, Genesis Qi swirled around the stone dragon, transforming into massive chains that bound its limbs.

Zhou Yuan's two successive Genesis Runes were both Fourth Grade, and their coordinated effect would have trapped even an ordinary sixth-layer disciple.

The young woman on the mountaintop watched this scene calmly. Unfortunately, the stone dragon, able to draw upon the barrier's power, was not so easily dealt with. As long as the Genesis Rune hidden deep within it remained undamaged, the stone dragon's pursuit would not cease.

Just as Xia Yu predicted, the stone dragon suddenly roared, unleashing a burst of violent Genesis Qi that forcibly shattered the Genesis Qi chains, sending it hurtling towards Zhou Yuan once more.

Zhou Yuan immediately dodged by riding the wind, his brow furrowing slightly. This stone dragon was practically no weaker than a sixth-layer disciple...

"The stone dragon is also formed from Genesis Runes; only by destroying the Genesis Rune within it can it be defeated," Zhou Yuan's eyes flickered. However, that Genesis Rune was deeply hidden and impossible to locate, making its destruction exceedingly difficult.

However... this wasn't too big a problem for him.

He took a deep breath, and deep within his eyes, an ancient Saint Rune slowly emerged.

The Rune of Breaking Barriers. It could perceive every flaw.

As the Saint Rune spun, the roaring stone dragon gradually became transparent in Zhou Yuan's eyes. Immediately after, Zhou Yuan spotted a slowly circulating Genesis Rune at a certain spot in the stone dragon's abdomen.

That Genesis Rune was precisely the source of the stone dragon's power.

"It's here then..." Zhou Yuan murmured.

At the same time, the stone dragon roared closer, but Zhou Yuan, who had been retreating rapidly, suddenly stopped.

The stone dragon's massive claw slammed down, shaking even the very space around them.

"Great Mire Rune!" The Genesis Rune Brush in his hand traced a mark, transforming into a Genesis Rune that absorbed the Genesis Qi from the surroundings, instantly expanding into a vast swamp around him.

The dragon's claw struck down, sinking into the swamp where it was continuously dissolved. However, the stone dragon's power was extraordinary; by the time it pierced through the swamp, it still retained enough force to strike Zhou Yuan's body.

Zhou Yuan's figure shot down like a cannonball, heavily impacting a mountain peak, causing the entire mountaintop to collapse at that moment.

In mid-air, the stone dragon roared, continuing its merciless dive downwards.

However, just as it lunged down, its massive body suddenly trembled violently, and huge stones began to tumble off it.

A hint of surprise appeared on Xia Yu's delicate face as she looked towards the stone dragon's abdomen. There, a Genesis Rune light sword had appeared, seemingly out of nowhere, plunged directly into its belly.

This light sword was precisely impaled on the Genesis Rune within the stone dragon.

Consequently, the Genesis Rune began to shatter, and the massive stone dragon rapidly cracked apart, finally dissolving with a crash.

Xia Yu's rosy lips parted slightly, and a trace of surprise flashed in her eyes. She turned to look at Zhou Yuan, who was slowly rising from the collapsed mountaintop, and murmured, "How did he know where the Genesis Rune was located?"

That Genesis Rune was hidden so deeply, yet Zhou Yuan had clearly sensed it; otherwise, he wouldn't have deliberately halted, allowing the stone dragon to expose its weakness.

Zhou Yuan slowly ascended, dusting off his clothes as he met Xia Yu's gaze.

"Senior Brother Zhou Yuan, to be able to break my stone dragon rune with your initial Spirit Realm spirit, you truly surprise me," Xia Yu said softly, her bright eyes fixed on Zhou Yuan.

Zhou Yuan smiled, saying, "Junior Sister Xia Yu's mastery of Genesis Runes is also admirable. This stone dragon rune is truly extraordinary."

This single Genesis Rune alone was enough to entangle a sixth-layer disciple.

Xia Yu lightly chuckled, her lips pursed, then slowly stated, "Without this barrier, perhaps if this stone dragon rune were broken, I would fall into a disadvantage. But here... my power is far greater than you imagine."

"So..."

Xia Yu slowly raised her hand, her slender, pale fingers suddenly clenching.

The surrounding mountain peaks suddenly cracked, and as rocks tumbled, four stone dragons slowly rose, circling Zhou Yuan from all directions.

A smile bloomed on Xia Yu's delicate face. Her eyes on Zhou Yuan, she said, "Therefore, Senior Brother Zhou Yuan, please concede. You won't be able to pass through here."

In front of the Spirit Rune Hall.

Numerous gazes were also fixed on the fierce battle between Zhou Yuan and Xia Yu within the Genesis Qi mirror, everyone unable to help but exclaim in admiration.

"Zhou Yuan's Genesis Rune mastery isn't low either; he's actually able to contend with Junior Sister Xia Yu like this..."

"We underestimated him a bit. But unfortunately, Junior Sister Xia Yu has the geographical advantage; Zhou Yuan can't win."

The disciples of Spirit Rune Peak, being experts, understood just how sharp Zhou Yuan's previous counterattacks were. To achieve this much relying solely on Genesis Runes was already extremely impressive.

Ye Ge also cast a casual glance at the Genesis Qi mirror displaying Zhou Yuan's battle. Even when he saw Zhou Yuan destroy the stone dragon, there was no ripple of emotion in his eyes.

"He certainly has Genesis Rune mastery, but Zhou Yuan is, after all, only at the initial Spirit Realm. If Xia Yu gets serious, he will ultimately be defeated."

His insight was far keener than ordinary people's; naturally, he could see that Zhou Yuan's previous tactics were essentially among his trump cards, while Xia Yu had only just finished warming up.

Therefore, the battle here was not a concern.

Ye Ge then withdrew his gaze and turned to another Genesis Qi mirror, which displayed the fierce battle between Yao Yao and Jin Zhang.

The battle there, both in terms of momentum and intensity, was far beyond what Zhou Yuan's side could compare to.

As Ye Ge watched the clash between the two, his brow suddenly furrowed slightly, and a hint of surprise and doubt flashed in his eyes.

"Why does it feel... a bit off..."