Chapter 475: Fourfold Heaven

A golden pillar of Genesis Qi shot straight into the sky, its dazzling golden light radiating an immense Genesis Qi pressure.

Countless eyes watched this scene in astonishment, their gazes fixed on the depths of the collapsing mountain. They found it hard to believe that Zhou Yuan, after enduring such a brutal fight, would choose this moment to make a breakthrough!

Such a breakthrough wouldn't occur without cause.

After all, one usually senses an impending breakthrough. Therefore, it was likely all part of Zhou Yuan's plan. His initial intention might have been to use this brutal battle to temper himself, allowing for a more perfect and miraculous breakthrough.

Everyone knew that the opportunity for a breakthrough was most easily felt during battles where one's essence, energy, and spirit were fully condensed and highly focused.

"This Zhou Yuan... he's truly cunning!" a disciple couldn't help but exclaim. An ordinary person, upon subtly sensing such an opportunity, would likely try every means to break through immediately, without much concern for perfection.

After all, once such a breakthrough opportunity appeared, there was no telling when the next one would come.

Only someone with absolute self-confidence would dare to settle down, quietly refine themselves, and wait for the perfect moment to break through, just as he was doing now.

The towering pillar of Genesis Qi was both majestic and pure, radiating a powerful pressure that could even rival someone at the eighth layer. Its profound foundation was self-evident.

The expressions in countless disciples' eyes were complex. They now understood why Zhou Yuan, despite being only at the fourth layer, possessed a Genesis Qi foundation no weaker than someone at the eighth layer.

This was because his cultivation methods were extremely rigorous. Even for breakthroughs, he wasn't hasty but waited for the absolute perfect moment.

Such resilience and self-confidence were truly exceptional.

Amidst the countless astonished gazes across the land, Yuan Hong, suspended above the peak, watched the scene with a fluctuating expression. He had never imagined that he would become Zhou Yuan's whetstone.

This fellow had likely planned it all along, using this battle against him to achieve a perfect breakthrough.

The more brutal the preceding fight, the greater the benefits Zhou Yuan reaped.

However, to dare to temper himself in a battle of this caliber, Zhou Yuan's courage was truly exceptional.

Yuan Hong took a deep breath, his eyes darkening. The air he exhaled was hot and sharp, and sword qi surged between his fingers.

At this very moment, he had completely lost his former composure. Zhou Yuan had shattered his limits repeatedly, and with this breakthrough, he might truly be able to catch up.

The golden Genesis Qi grew even more magnificent and brilliant.

Within the pillar of Genesis Qi, everyone witnessed a figure slowly ascending, eventually standing high above.

It was none other than Zhou Yuan!

At this moment, the bloodstains on his body had already vanished. Although his clothes were somewhat torn, all his injuries had miraculously healed. His skin glowed with a jade-like luminescence, and deep within his bones, a faint silver light shimmered.

His eyes, in particular, gathered golden Genesis Qi, resembling golden pupils that radiated an imposing pressure.

Observing Zhou Yuan in his current state, even Yuan Hong's pupils contracted slightly, clearly sensing an extremely dangerous aura for the first time.

All eyes in the world were now fixed on Zhou Yuan.

He briefly closed his eyes, sensing the surging Genesis Qi within his Qi Manor, and a faint smile appeared at the corner of his lips.

"Four thousand Genesis Qi stars."

With this breakthrough to the fourth layer, the number of Genesis Qi stars in his Qi Manor had grown to over four thousand.

It was important to note that when he first broke through to the third layer, his Qi Manor contained only 1,200 stars. Reaching the peak of the third layer gradually increased that number to 2,000.

This breakthrough, however, had undeniably doubled that amount.

If this number of Genesis Qi stars were revealed, it would likely shock many, as even some disciples at the eighth layer might not possess such a quantity.

Thus, purely in terms of Genesis Qi foundation, Zhou Yuan was likely no longer inferior to Yuan Hong.

Zhou Yuan gazed at Yuan Hong, his expression unruffled. The individual who had previously posed an extreme threat in his eyes now seemed less dangerous, the threat level rapidly diminishing.

"Since I've broken through, it's time for this confrontation to end, isn't it?" Zhou Yuan remarked with a faint smile.

Yuan Hong's eyes hardened. "Big words! Do you truly believe breaking through to the fourth layer will change anything?!" he retorted.

Indignation surged in Yuan Hong's heart. This guy was truly too boastful. With that statement, it was as if all of Zhou Yuan's previous disadvantages in the fight had been merely endured for the sake of this breakthrough.

Zhou Yuan said no more. He clasped his hands and swiftly changed his hand seals.

Within his body, Genesis Qi surged, and an oppressive aura spread, causing the very void to tremble slightly.

The air around him abruptly grew scorching hot.

Yuan Hong's expression was grim, yet he dared not be careless. His eyes were crimson, radiating equally hot and sharp fluctuations. With the Heavenly Flame Sword integrated into his body, his Genesis Qi now possessed both fiery and sharp attributes.

He was now the Heavenly Flame Sword, and the Heavenly Flame Sword was him!

*Whoosh! Whoosh!*

The Genesis Qi throughout the world swiftly converged towards him. His mouth suddenly puffed out, and in the next instant, azure flames, like a sea of fire, erupted violently from his mouth.

The rolling azure inferno surged forth like lightning, hurtling towards Yuan Hong.

The entire area instantly became scorching hot.

"Heavenly Sun Fire?" Yuan Hong paused for a moment, clearly having anticipated this. He immediately sneered, "You think you can defeat me with just this?"

Zhou Yuan paid no heed. Just as the last plume of azure flame was about to erupt from his mouth, he suddenly expelled a faint, dark-golden light. This radiance merged into the azure sea of fire, and in an instant, the azure flames transformed into a dark golden hue.

The dark golden inferno roared past, its terrifying temperature surging dramatically. The forests on Chief Peak below caught fire, and the ground itself began to melt.

"Heavenly Sun God Record, third layer: Dark Golden Heavenly Sun Fire!"

As the dark golden inferno swept in, Yuan Hong's expression finally shifted dramatically, a look of horror appearing in his eyes.

"He actually cultivated the Heavenly Sun God Record to the Grand Accomplishment stage!" Horror surged within Yuan Hong. The Heavenly Sun God Record was a low-grade Heaven Genesis Art with three stages. Who would have thought that Zhou Yuan would cultivate it to the Grand Accomplishment stage in less than a year?

Even he, after years of cultivation, had not managed to bring a single Heaven Genesis Art to Grand Perfection.

As the terrifying temperature roared closer, Yuan Hong dared not hesitate. He clasped his hands, and a resounding sword hum erupted from within him. Then, crimson light swept forth, transforming into an overwhelming torrent of scarlet sword shadows behind him.

It was like an ocean of sword shadows.

*Whoosh! Whoosh!*

In the next instant, countless crimson sword shadows shot forth, directly colliding with the dark golden Heavenly Sun Fire.

*Poof! Poof!*

However, the crimson sword shadows evaporated into thin air the moment they touched the dark golden inferno. Yet, by sheer numbers, they managed to hold the dark golden sea of fire at bay.

But as more and more sword shadows evaporated, signs of scorching began to appear on Yuan Hong's body. These sword shadows were powered by the Heavenly Flame Sword; thus, the sword being seared also caused damage to Yuan Hong's physical form.

At this point, there was no retreat.

A fierce glint appeared in Yuan Hong's eyes, and his mouth suddenly puffed out. In the next instant, he violently opened it wide.

"Sword Flame Torrent!"

A torrent of crimson energy erupted from his mouth, radiating a sharp aura. It was composed entirely of sword qi. This sword qi swept forth, clashing with the dark golden inferno, and finally, by virtue of its piercing sharpness, tore through the sea of fire.

However, the crimson hue in Yuan Hong's eyes dimmed slightly, evidently indicating a significant expenditure of energy.

However, Yuan Hong, having pierced through the dark golden inferno, had no time to catch his breath before he suddenly felt the space above his head vibrate. He abruptly looked up to see a figure flash into existence.

Zhou Yuan looked down from above, his eyes cold and distant.

In the next instant, he suddenly lunged downwards, his aura surging immensely, like a lion or tiger launching its final pounce on its prey.

"Jade Skin!" As the figure descended like lightning, Zhou Yuan's skin emitted a jade-like glow.

"Silver Bones!"

"Profound Dragon Scales!"

"Fourth Layer!" Inside his Qi Manor, four thousand Genesis Qi stars erupted with dazzling light, and surging Genesis Qi poured forth.

"Myriad Transformations!" White hairs emerged from Zhou Yuan's body, coiling around his arms and fists, forming what appeared to be white gauntlets.

These were the hairs of the Heavenly Yuan Brush!

"Source-Breaking!" The white-haired fists instantly transformed into a mysterious, profound, pitch-black color.

At this moment, Zhou Yuan's aura was terrifying beyond description.

Yuan Hong's reflection was mirrored in his eyes, and eventually, a fierce grin spread across Zhou Yuan's lips.

"Ten Thousand Whale Pattern!"

At this moment, his most powerful, long-酝酿 attack finally struck down with devastating force.

The entire void trembled, and Chief Peak below began to crumble.

This single punch seemed capable of shifting mountains and changing the course of rivers!

Faced with this punch, even Yuan Hong's expression drastically changed, a hint of fear surfacing in his eyes. Yet, he was no ordinary man and was not completely intimidated.

He roared, a fierce glint in his eyes. At this critical moment, he knew that a single step back would signify absolute defeat.

"Heavenly Flame Sword!"

He roared, clenching his fist, and unleashed a punch. Crimson light erupted wildly, and faint sword shadows appeared within his arm. These sword shadows, combined with his own power, exploded forth.

At this very moment, he could only risk everything in one final, desperate struggle!

*Boom! Boom!*

And so, under countless astonished gazes, high above the crumbling Chief Peak, the two most powerful attacks, unleashed with full force, collided with unparalleled ferocity.

It was like two meteors colliding.

Countless disciples were deeply affected.