Chapter 377: Power Struggle with Xu Yan

Eight hundred feet of dark green Genesis Qi soared into the sky, churning the winds and clouds. Fierce sword aura emanated, filling the entire world with the clang of swords.

As soon as Xu Yan made his move, he displayed the astonishing power of the Seventh Layer of the Absolute Beginning Stage.

Zhou Yuan's expression grew increasingly solemn. He gripped the Heavenly Yuan Brush tightly, daring not to show the slightest contempt in the face of such a formidable opponent.

And at the very moment Xu Yan's Genesis Qi surged skyward, nine powerful bursts of Genesis Qi suddenly erupted from the peaks of the other nine mountains, each clearly demonstrating the strength of the Seventh Layer of the Absolute Beginning Stage.

Clearly, battles were also commencing on the other nine peaks.

However, compared to Xu Yan's display, those nine powerful Genesis Qi bursts seemed to hold back slightly. Evidently, just as Xu Yan had said earlier, they would give some face to these junior disciples.

But Xu Yan clearly had no such intention.

Even the many disciples outside the mountain range could perceive this.

But they could only sigh regretfully at this. Who made Zhou Yuan so unlucky as to just happen to encounter Xu Yan from Sword-Comes Peak? If he had met someone from another peak, there might have been some leniency.

In the river outside the mountain range, Lu Xuanyin rose from the water and landed clumsily on the bank. She looked up at the fierce Genesis Qi erupting from the peak, and a hint of hatred flashed in her beautiful eyes.

Earlier, in front of Zhou Yuan, she had completely lost face.

However, amidst her resentment, there was also a hint of fear. Zhou Yuan's merciless and fierce gaze, which had lashed out earlier, made her heart feel a slight chill.

This made her lose some courage to oppose Zhou Yuan again, but perhaps Heaven's favor for Zhou Yuan had run out, as he was unlucky enough to encounter Xu Yan this time.

"Zhou Yuan, don't get too smug," she muttered. "Senior Brother Xu Yan will show you how foolish it is to offend our Sword-Comes Peak! In this Purple Sash selection, don't even dream of advancing another step. As for being the leader, you can forget about it!"

On the peak, Xu Yan sneered and abruptly clasped his palms together.

The eight-hundred-foot dark green Genesis Qi suddenly split apart, transforming into dozens of streaks of Genesis Qi light that shot downwards. Shaped like swords, they whistled as they emitted an incomparably sharp aura.

Their speed was as swift as a lightning bolt.

The sound of rushing air resounded overhead. Zhou Yuan's figure instantly blurred, retreating like a wisp of smoke, swift as lightning.

*Boom! Boom!*

Streaks of green Genesis Qi shot down; when they hit the ground, they plunged in like massive swords, leaving deep sword marks.

Each time a streak of green Genesis Qi landed, it would stir up enormous waves.

Zhou Yuan's blurred figure was like a small boat amidst the waves, swaying with the wind, extremely perilous. The slightest carelessness could lead to capsize.

As the last streak of green Genesis Qi whistled down, Zhou Yuan's feet scraped the ground, leaving long tracks as he slid back. His expression was extremely solemn, as faint traces of blood were faintly appearing on his body surface.

That was caused by the sword aura carried by the green Genesis Qi as it swept past him earlier.

"As expected of an experienced Purple Sash disciple."

Zhou Yuan wiped a streak of blood from the back of his hand. Xu Yan's Genesis Qi cultivation was not only powerful, but the quality of his Genesis Qi also reached the sixth-grade level. That sharpness, even with a slight touch, would erode into the body. If it weren't for the higher quality of his own Profound Python Qi, perhaps just the sword-aura-like Genesis Qi that had infiltrated his body would have given him an extreme headache.

According to his estimation, Xu Yan's Genesis Qi should be a low-grade Sixth-Grade.

But fortunately, his Profound Python Qi was top-tier Sixth-Grade, which was perhaps one of his few current advantages.

"Is your Genesis Qi quality not low? You actually withstood my low-grade Sixth-Grade 'Green Moon Sword Qi'," Xu Yan said, raising an eyebrow as he looked at Zhou Yuan, who had some blood marks on his body but whose Genesis Qi was not disordered in the slightest.

Clearly, Zhou Yuan had completely dispelled the Green Moon Sword Qi that had infiltrated his body.

"In that case, even better," Xu Yan said with a slight sneer, his voice chilling. "Lest I worry about breaking you if I don't hold back..."

The moment his voice fell, Xu Yan suddenly stomped his foot.

*Boom!*

Green Genesis Qi, like a shockwave, swept out from beneath his feet, instantly filling the entire world.

"Green Moon Sword Filaments!"

As the sky-filling green Genesis Qi vibrated, it actually split apart, forming countless fine green sword lights, like hairs. The next moment, billions of sword lights shot directly towards Zhou Yuan.

Under this attack range, no matter how fast Zhou Yuan was, he would be unable to dodge.

Gazing at the overwhelming green sword filaments whistling towards him, Zhou Yuan's pupils slightly contracted. The next instant, his body rapidly blurred, appearing somewhat transparent.

"Void Transformation Art!"

"Heavenly Python Scales!"

He let out a low cry, and pale green scales appeared on his body, covering him.

After completing these defenses, Zhou Yuan still did not stop. He rolled up his sleeve, revealing a Genesis Rune that appeared on his arm, shimmering with a faint luster. It was clearly already etched.

"Lapis Lazuli Golden Body Rune!"

As his cry fell, the Genesis Rune instantly spread, and a lapis lazuli color emerged, finally covering Zhou Yuan's body.

Under the lapis lazuli light, even the Heavenly Python Scales turned lapis lazuli.

At this moment, Zhou Yuan was like a statue, but the defensive power he possessed was astonishingly terrifying.

*Clang! Clang!*

Just as Zhou Yuan completed all his preparations, the countless green sword filaments also rained down overwhelmingly. Instantly, crisp collision sounds echoed on the peak.

Like a green sword rain, it furiously whistled down.

Outside the mountain range, countless disciples watched this scene, swallowing. On the other nine peaks, battles were only just warming up, but on Zhou Yuan's and Xu Yan's side, killing intent was already fully revealed. Both sides were striking without mercy.

"This Xu Yan is a bit too ruthless," a disciple sighed. "It's just the beginning, and he's already unleashed his specialty, the 'Green Moon Sword Filaments'. Even an ordinary Purple Sash disciple, upon encountering this move, would only be able to turn tail and flee."

"No choice," another responded. "Earlier, Zhou Yuan wiped out the disciples of Sword-Comes Peak. Now Xu Yan must make Zhou Yuan lose in the most pathetic manner to regain some face."

"I wonder if Zhou Yuan can withstand it..."

Amidst the numerous whispers, the overwhelming torrent of green sword filaments pouring down from the peak gradually thinned out and finally completely subsided.

Countless gazes turned to the ravaged ground.

There, on the ground, countless dense, deep holes appeared. These holes were only about the size of a pinky finger, but they were pitch black and bottomless.

And in the very center of that area, Zhou Yuan maintained a posture with his arms crossed in front of him. His body was covered in green sword filaments, making him look like a hedgehog and appearing utterly miserable.

Xu Yan watched this scene, his eyes slightly narrowed.

*Crack!*

On Zhou Yuan's body surface, there seemed to be a faint cracking sound.

The lapis lazuli-like scales began to rapidly crack. However, as the scales cracked, the green sword filaments embedded in them also fell off.

In just a few breaths, all the lapis lazuli-like scales fell off, and the color of Zhou Yuan's body returned to normal.

On his body surface, many faint red dots were visible, and faint traces of blood were seeping out, making him appear somewhat disheveled.

However, seeing this, Xu Yan let out a cold snort and sneered, "Your turtle shell is really hard, isn't it?"

These were merely superficial injuries. Zhou Yuan had clearly relied on the Void Transformation Art, the scales, and the final defensive Genesis Rune to successfully withstand this wave of his killer move.

This made Xu Yan's expression turn somewhat grim.

He had originally thought this move would be enough to pin Zhou Yuan to the ground, rendering him immobile.

Zhou Yuan looked at the many red blood dots on his arm, his expression also growing slightly cold. Since entering the Cangxuan Sect, this was the first time he had been suppressed to such an extent in a direct confrontation.

The Seventh Layer of the Absolute Beginning Stage was indeed formidable.

However, even if Xu Yan were truly a fierce tiger, if he wanted to bite this hard stone today, he would have to be prepared to break his teeth!

Zhou Yuan puffed out his mouth, and Genesis Qi whistled, forming a violent wind that swept up dust into the sky.

And his figure, at this moment, disappeared into the dust mist.

"So, the Void Transformation Art has reached great accomplishment... As expected, he's skilled in stealth," Xu Yan said, looking at Zhou Yuan's disappearing figure. He let out a cold laugh, and a bright cold light surged in his eyes.

"He actually dares to launch a counterattack," Xu Yan murmured. "He truly has courage..."

"Very well," he declared, "today I shall let you know what it means to be a 'mayfly trying to shake a great tree'!"