Chapter 396: Big Golden Bell

On the side hall plaza, many figures descended from the sky and gathered, their curious gazes all fixed on the two figures confronting each other in the arena.

These two figures were not strangers to them. Wang Lei was a highly experienced purple-sash disciple from Sword Coming Peak, with a reputation even slightly greater than Xu Yan's. Zhou Yuan, though a newly promoted disciple, had shown remarkable prowess over the past six months or so, displaying the potential to become a leading figure among the current generation of Cangxuan Sect disciples, and was now naturally a prominent individual within the sect.

With the two now confronting each other, it was naturally a compelling spectacle.

Under the gaze of the many onlookers, Wang Lei appeared relaxed. He looked at Zhou Yuan and chuckled, saying, "Junior Brother Zhou Yuan, I know you have good talent, but one must walk step by step. Being overly ambitious isn't a good thing."

Zhou Yuan smiled, simply replying, "Please enlighten me, Senior Brother Wang Lei."

Seeing this, Wang Lei shook his head regretfully and said, "I didn't want to embarrass you in public, but since you insist on bringing trouble upon yourself, don't blame me for bullying the younger generation."

A glint of ferocity flashed in his eyes.

The next moment, a powerful surge of Genesis Qi erupted directly from the top of his head, soaring skyward like a thousand-zhang beacon of smoke. Waves of Genesis Qi pressure enveloped the area, causing the very air to tremble slightly.

The moment Wang Lei made his move, he revealed an extraordinary Genesis Qi foundation, indeed stronger than Xu Yan's.

Outside the plaza, the many spectators let out low gasps of surprise.

Wang Lei slowly extended his palm. His hand was slightly long and somewhat dark, but faint flashes of lightning seemed to flicker within it, radiating a fierce sensation.

"Junior Brother Zhou Yuan, since it's a one-move agreement, I won't hold back... With this palm strike, your outcome might not be very good," Wang Lei said in a low voice.

Zhou Yuan's eyes narrowed slightly, and he brought his hands together, his internal Genesis Qi also beginning to surge.

Seeing this, Wang Lei's lips curved into a sneer. The next instant, his internal Genesis Qi surged violently, and a torrent of Genesis Qi gathered in his palm, with lightning bolts actually leaping within it.

An extremely violent wave of energy emanated from it.

The lightning-infused Genesis Qi spread, eventually causing a faint lightning sword to form within Wang Lei's arm and palm, its blade merging with his palm, sharp and ferocious.

The ground beneath Wang Lei's feet directly collapsed and cracked at this moment.

Around the plaza, the disciples watching this scene all subtly changed their expressions.

"It's actually Sword Coming Peak's 'Sword-Lightning Palm'!"

"It's said that this 'Sword-Lightning Palm' is famously fierce and powerful in Sword Coming Peak. This technique consumes a massive amount of Genesis Qi, and its attack power is formidable. Even someone at the seventh layer of the Initial Establishment stage would find it difficult to use it again quickly after one strike."

"Wang Lei is too cunning! What 'one-move agreement'... It's clear that after he uses this 'Sword-Lightning Palm,' he won't have any strength left to attack again."

"This is a notoriously 'one-shot' Genesis technique... Either the opponent is obliterated in a single strike, or the user's combat power wanes due to excessive Genesis Qi consumption."

Many disciples whispered among themselves, finally understanding why Wang Lei had proposed the so-called one-move agreement.

On the steps, Li Qingchan's pretty face turned several shades colder at this moment. She looked at Zhao Zhu and sneered, "So, this was your plan all along."

She had previously thought Wang Lei was being overconfident by suggesting a one-move agreement, hoping Zhou Yuan could exploit the opening. But now, it was clearly a trap set intentionally by Zhao Zhu and Wang Lei.

With Wang Lei's fighting style, it seemed he would only ever need one move, no matter who he faced.

Because that single move would either give him a decisive advantage or force him into a disadvantage if it failed.

Upon hearing this, Zhao Zhu smiled faintly and said, "Senior Sister Li, if you're up against those from the Sacred Palace, they won't clearly tell you how they're going to fight you."

Beside Li Qingchan, Bai Li also shook her head, looking at the awe-inspiring Wang Lei in the arena. How could Zhou Yuan, who had previously struggled even against Xu Yan, possibly withstand such a fierce palm strike from Wang Lei?

This confrontation, once Wang Lei unleashed the 'Sword-Lightning Palm,' was essentially decided.

However, it was for the best. If Zhou Yuan lost, he would presumably have no face to insist on that spot anymore. In that case, they would be rid of a burden.

As their thoughts diverged, a thunderous roar suddenly echoed across the plaza. Wang Lei let out a loud laugh, stomped his foot, and shot skyward, looking down at Zhou Yuan in the arena.

His lightning-flashing palm slowly rose, his gaze coldly locking onto Zhou Yuan below.

"Sword-Lightning Palm!"

The instant his low roar resounded, Wang Lei slammed his palm down. Thunder instantly boomed across the heavens and earth, and brilliant lightning erupted from his palm.

A tearing sound filled the air.

A lightning palm print, roughly a hundred zhang in size, roared downwards.

Within the palm print, a faint sword shadow was forming.

Sharp and fierce.

Even before the ferocious palm print landed, the plaza below had already begun to crack apart.

Standing in the arena, Zhou Yuan also looked up. A violent gale roared towards him, causing his robes to flutter. He gazed at the lightning palm print rapidly expanding in his pupils and took a deep breath.

"What a fierce and violent Genesis technique..."

His expression slightly tightened, but surprisingly, there was no panic on his face; instead, a hint of eagerness appeared.

"It's just right to test my Sky-Reaching Profound Python Qi..."

After breaking through to the fourth layer of the Initial Establishment stage, Zhou Yuan's Genesis Qi foundation had soared. And with the increasing depth of his Genesis Qi, the profound mysteries of his Sky-Reaching Profound Python Qi were gradually being unlocked.

Zhou Yuan slowly brought his hands together and gently closed his eyes. Within his Qi Dwelling, over a thousand Genesis Qi stars burst forth with brilliant light at this moment, and surging golden Genesis Qi flowed out like a torrent, coursing through Zhou Yuan's limbs and bones.

Golden Sky-Reaching Profound Python Qi shot up from within Zhou Yuan's body, and faintly, a colossal python could be seen hissing skyward within it. The python, covered in golden scales, swooped down and eventually coiled around Zhou Yuan in layers.

The giant python coiled.

As the giant python coiled layer by layer, it faintly seemed to transform into a massive golden bell.

That golden bell was ancient and solid, impenetrable and indestructible.

"Sky-Reaching Profound Python Qi, Profound Python Great Golden Bell!"

A low voice slowly emanated from Zhou Yuan's mouth at this moment.

This Genesis technique was the latest and most powerful defense derived from the advancement of his Sky-Reaching Profound Python Qi.

Boom!

And just as the golden bell formed by the giant python took shape, the thunder-sword-like ferocious palm print roared down. Finally, under the many solemn gazes, it violently slammed into the golden bell formed by the golden python.

A clear clang of a bell echoed across the heavens and earth.

Immediately after, an incomparably violent shockwave raged outwards. The entire plaza collapsed at this moment, stone slabs cracked, and dust filled the air.

The surrounding disciples quickly retreated.

However, their gazes remained fixed on the arena.

In mid-air, Wang Lei stood atop his Genesis Qi. He looked at the dust below, satisfied with the destructive power he had unleashed.

"This brat, not knowing his place, actually dared to directly take my strike." He gave a chilling smile. He presumed that even if Zhou Yuan managed to withstand this move, he would surely be severely injured, making him ineligible for the upcoming Heaven-level mission.

A gentle breeze blew, stirring up the dust, and the plaza gradually became clear.

Numerous gazes remained locked on the spot.

As the dust settled, the entire plaza was revealed to be in a state of collapse, with massive cracks spreading across it. The terrifying destructive power made many disciples inwardly click their tongues in awe.

This Sword-Lightning Palm truly lived up to its reputation as Sword Coming Peak's overbearing technique.

"Zhou Yuan was indeed too overconfident... Even someone of Xu Yan's strength would be injured by Wang Lei's palm, let alone Zhou Yuan..."

"Wang Lei probably intended to severely injure Zhou Yuan with one strike from the start, so Zhou Yuan wouldn't be able to participate in this Heaven-level mission, and his spot would naturally be forfeited."

"Ultimately, he's still a bit too aggressive. He's only a newly promoted purple-sash disciple; a Heaven-level mission is still a bit too far for him."

Numerous whispers spread around.

And at that very moment, all the dust in the plaza completely dissipated.

All eyes turned to the center of the collapsed plaza.

And then, the whispers abruptly ceased.

In mid-air, the smile on Wang Lei's face slowly froze, and disbelief filled his eyes.

On the steps, both Li Qingchan and Bai Li let out exclamations of surprise.

Zhao Zhu's pupils also slightly contracted.

Because as the dust receded, they saw that at the very center of the collapsed plaza, an area several zhang wide was completely undamaged!

And Zhou Yuan stood upon that intact ground.

At this moment, his eyes were slightly closed, and around him, the golden bell formed by the colossal golden python stood steadily, thick and indestructible.

Everyone's eyes were wide with shock.

No one had expected that Wang Lei's earth-shattering palm strike would ultimately be received by Zhou Yuan without a single scratch...