Chapter 421: Want to Die?

On the scorching red earth, where temperatures soared, many sounds of rushing wind suddenly echoed. From afar, numerous figures, powered by Origin Qi, swept through the air and eventually halted just outside the battle zone.

These figures belonged to various factions from outside the core area. As time progressed, conflicts among all sides were nearing their conclusion. Then, news reached them of a fierce confrontation between the Sacred Palace and the Cangxuan Sect taking place here, causing them to flock to the site, eager to witness a grand battle between these major powers.

Su Duan, the young sect master of the Blazing Cauldron Sect, and Zuoqiu Qingyu were also among the crowd.

They then saw Zhou Yuan, who had ventured into the battle zone…

Zuoqiu Qingyu’s delicate face was the first to change, a hint of anxiety and worry flashing in her eyes. She hadn't expected Zhou Yuan to rush in so foolishly.

It was clear that the Sacred Palace held the absolute upper hand here, and Yang Xuan's strength was unexpectedly formidable.

Even Bai Li and Qin Hai from the Cangxuan Sect had been defeated; what could Zhou Yuan possibly change?

Yang Xuan, standing before them, was far beyond anything Su Duan could compare to.

Compared to Zuoqiu Qingyu’s anxiety, Su Duan had a hint of secret glee in his eyes. Although Zhou Yuan had previously dealt with him, instilling some fear and making him wary of further provocation, if he could see someone else handle Zhou Yuan, he would naturally feel his resentment discharged.

"Hmph, an ignorant fellow who doesn't know his place. Is a figure like Yang Xuan someone you can provoke?"

In the distance, Li Qingchan also heard the voice from her transmission stone. Her pupils immediately contracted, and she exclaimed, "Zhou Yuan? What are you doing here!"

Her voice already carried a hint of annoyance. The current situation was already extremely disadvantageous, and Zhou Yuan barging in like this was truly irrational.

After all, with his strength, interfering in a battle of this caliber would only make him a burden.

She halted in mid-air, her beautiful eyes fixed on the distance, spiritual light surging within them. Immediately, the battle unfolding on the distant ground came into her view.

She then saw Zhou Yuan stepping into the battle zone.

"Senior Sister Qingchan… after all, I am also a member of the Cangxuan Sect," Zhou Yuan's voice came from the transmission stone, sounding as if he was smiling. "At a time like this, it wouldn't be quite right to hide outside, would it?"

Li Qingchan paused slightly, then let out a bitter laugh. Zhou Yuan’s intentions were indeed good, but reality was always cruel.

"Hmph, you're doing a disservice with good intentions," Zhao Zhu's voice suddenly rang out. "If you don't have the ability, don't get involved in matters beyond your scope, or you'll only make things worse." Clearly, he was even more displeased by Zhou Yuan's appearance.

In his view, Zhou Yuan's rash behavior would only further enhance Yang Xuan's prestige.

He was about to say more, but Li Qingchan suddenly waved her hand, stopping him.

"Zhou Yuan, this is your choice," Li Qingchan said slowly. "Then you must understand the price you will pay. Yang Xuan is ruthless, so be careful. If you can't win, retreat early."

"Yes," Zhou Yuan replied with a smile, and then his voice fell silent.

Zhao Zhu appeared beside Li Qingchan, glancing at her. He said in a deep voice, "This Zhou Yuan is truly too ignorant of his own limits. You shouldn't have brought him on this mission in the first place. If you had chosen another seasoned disciple, the situation might not have deteriorated to this extent."

Li Qingchan said blandly, "Even Bai Li and Qin Hai, working together, were defeated by Yang Xuan. Do you think adding another seasoned disciple would have made a difference?"

Her voice paused, then she gazed at the young figure in the distant horizon. "Zhou Yuan isn't a reckless person," she continued. "His appearance might indicate some plan. What if a miracle truly occurs?"

Although she knew the probability of such a miracle was extremely low, this was also the only way to comfort herself.

Hearing this, Zhao Zhu pursed his lips, likely finding Li Qingchan's idea far too naive.

"A miracle? Relying on his turtle shell?" he scoffed.

He shook his head, his voice full of derision.

Li Qingchan did not reply. She glanced at Wang Li and Cao Jinzhu, who were still blocking their path, and her expression gradually calmed.

However, within her calm, there was a hint of resolute determination.

She had already made up her mind: if the situation worsened there, then today, no matter the cost—even if it meant perishing here—she would drag her opponents down with her.

This concerned the reputation of the Cangxuan Sect, and even if it meant sacrificing her life, she would protect it.

Outside the volcano.

Elder Wu also saw Zhou Yuan suddenly appear and intervene in the battle. He was stunned for a moment, then finally said with suppressed anger, "This Zhou Yuan, he's truly a hothead!"

Although Zhou Yuan stepping forward in such a situation made Elder Wu sigh with emotion, his strength was ultimately too weak. Even his appearance would only serve to make Yang Xuan’s record more glorious.

Such an act truly showed a lack of understanding of the situation.

The other factions were also whispering, clearly inquiring about the suddenly appeared Zhou Yuan. However, when they finally learned that Zhou Yuan was merely at the fourth layer of the Alpha Origin stage, their expressions became somewhat strange.

Even excellent disciples like Bai Li and Qin Hai had been defeated, so this fourth-layer disciple's appearance was undoubtedly an invitation to trouble.

So they all shook their heads. It seemed that this time, the Cangxuan Sect was indeed going to be suppressed by the Sacred Palace.

In the battlefield, where many eyes were focused, Yang Xuan couldn't help but smile when he heard Zhou Yuan's voice. His gaze had already been withdrawn; he didn't even bother to look back at Zhou Yuan, who had appeared behind him.

"Your Cangxuan Sect disciples are truly interesting…"

He smiled at the pale-faced Bai Li and Qin Hai, then waved his hand at a Sacred Palace disciple nearby and said, "Deal with him. Break a leg; consider it a small lesson."

He didn't even consider acting himself, because in his opinion, that would be truly overestimating a fourth-layer disciple.

The Sacred Palace disciple's strength had also reached the seventh layer of the Alpha Origin stage; judging by his Origin Qi fluctuations, he was slightly stronger than Su Duan. At this moment, he looked at Zhou Yuan with a sinister grin.

"Kid, if you'd stayed hidden outside, no one would bother with you," he sneered. "But you were foolish enough to actively rush in, so don't blame us now."

Potent Origin Qi erupted, and the Sacred Palace disciple's figure shot out like lightning, heading straight for Zhou Yuan.

Sensing the Origin Qi fluctuations behind him, Yang Xuan once again lifted his foot and walked towards Bai Li and Qin Hai. He intended to utterly defeat them, ensuring that from then on, they would tremble in fear at the mere thought of him.

A chilling smile faintly appeared at the corners of Yang Xuan's mouth.

However, just as he took that step, a low thud of Origin Qi collision came from behind, immediately followed by a scream.

A dark figure flew past Yang Xuan and heavily crashed into a pile of rocks, the person almost completely buried under the rubble.

This sudden turn of events stunned everyone. Their gazes turned to the pile of rocks, where a figure lay covered in blood, looking utterly miserable.

Bai Li and Qin Hai looked at the figure, at first with some anger, but then they suddenly noticed something was amiss, because they realized that figure was not Zhou Yuan!

It was the Sacred Palace disciple instead?!

Yang Xuan’s steps slowly halted at this moment. He looked at the Sacred Palace disciple, who lay unconscious or gravely injured, and fell silent for a moment, then slowly turned around.

In the collapsed ground, a slender figure holding a black brush slowly walked out.

Both Bai Li's and Qin Hai's pupils contracted.

They truly found it hard to imagine that Zhou Yuan had utterly defeated a Sacred Palace disciple who had reached the seventh layer of strength with just one move.

A slight silence fell over the world.

One could imagine countless gazes filled with astonishment now fixated on this spot.

Because it seemed the situation was not what they had expected.

"At least show me some respect, won't you?" Zhou Yuan said, smiling at Yang Xuan. "Did you really think I was here to be fodder?"

Yang Xuan was silent for a moment, then also nodded with a smile.

"Interesting… I actually misjudged you…"

"For all these years, I've always liked to pretend to be weak to deceive stronger opponents," he mused. "I didn't expect that this time, I'd meet someone even better at playing the part than me…"

He sighed, staring at Zhou Yuan, his voice tinged with regret.

"Originally, I only intended to break one of your legs," he said. "But now it seems… you truly are…"

"Seeking death, aren't you?"

By the end of his words, Yang Xuan's face had become utterly cold, causing a spine-chilling sensation.