Chapter 562: One Palm Strike to Death

"Kill him!"

The moment Zhou Yuan's calm voice fell, a fierce glint appeared in the eyes of the surrounding disciples, who had long been displeased with Lei Qinghai's attitude. How dare this paltry Lei Sect, merely a first-rate faction, flaunt its power before their Cangxuan Sect now? Did they truly think the Cangxuan Sect was made of mud?

Powerful and wild Genesis Qi erupted from their bodies. The next instant, it roared forth, tearing through the void and explosively striking Lei Qinghai's figure like lightning.

Genesis Qi clashed fiercely, and the resulting shockwaves raged outwards, tearing apart the surrounding ground.

All eyes turned towards the raging Genesis Qi, thinking that even though Lei Qinghai was powerful, he surely couldn't withstand the combined assault of so many people.

As the smoke and dust gradually dispersed, many gazes converged, and then their expressions shifted.

For where the ground was torn, Lei Qinghai's figure was nowhere to be seen. Instead, only a silver iron sphere, flickering with lightning, hovered there. The sphere was covered in cracks, then dimmed, fell, and turned to dust.

Zhou Yuan's expression remained calm and unperturbed. At this moment, he merely raised an eyebrow slightly, looked up at the distant void, and said, "No wonder you dared to come alone; you do have some skill."

Gu Hongyi, Zhou Tai, Lu Yan, and others looked over, seeing a flash of silver light. Lei Qinghai's figure materialized out of thin air, though his face was visibly grim.

"Heh, what a Cangxuan Sect. A dignified one of the Six Giant Sects, completely disregarding all decorum?" Lei Qinghai snarled.

He had never imagined that Zhou Yuan would dare to directly order other disciples to focus their attacks on him. Did this guy have no sense of his position as the chief disciple of the Cangxuan Sect?

Zhou Yuan glanced at him, then shook his head, too lazy to waste words. Since Lei Qinghai had set his sights on them, there was no need for him to adhere to any so-called etiquette.

Zhou Yuan was not a pedantic person. If he could eliminate Lei Qinghai using the most direct and simple method, he naturally wouldn't bother with elaborate tactics. The struggles within the Mystical Origin Heavenly Cave were truly a matter of life and death.

However, what he found slightly regrettable was failing to eliminate Lei Qinghai immediately.

But it didn't matter; he was just someone who had recently reached the ninth layer of the Primordial Beginning Stage...

Lei Qinghai, observing Zhou Yuan's indifferent demeanor from the sky, also turned pale. He finally realized that Zhou Yuan didn't seem to regard him with much importance.

"Although I don't know what methods you used to become the chief of Saint Genesis Peak, what audacity do you have to be so arrogant in front of me with your mere seventh-layer strength? Do you truly believe that your status as Saint Genesis Peak's chief will still be effective in this Mystical Origin Heavenly Cave?!" Lei Qinghai gnashed his teeth, his voice chilling.

He simply assumed that Zhou Yuan's confidence stemmed from his identity as a chief disciple of the Cangxuan Sect.

"Originally, out of respect for the Cangxuan Sect, I intended to have a proper discussion with you. But now it seems you prefer a forced drink over a toast!"

"In that case, don't blame me for showing no regard for the Cangxuan Sect's reputation!"

The moment his voice ceased, a low rumble of thunder instantly sounded, and powerful silver Genesis Qi surged upwards from above his head, transforming into silver clouds streaked with flashes of lightning.

Meanwhile, at the base of the mountain, the impatient forces from various factions also witnessed the surging silver Genesis Qi. It was the signal Lei Qinghai had arranged with them earlier.

Clearly, Lei Qinghai's negotiation with Zhou Yuan had collapsed.

"Hmph, it seems the chief of Saint Genesis Peak truly believes the Cangxuan Sect's name still holds sway in this Mystical Origin Heavenly Cave," someone sneered, their eyes glinting fiercely.

"Naïve boy. In this Mystical Origin Heavenly Cave, only power matters, not status. Regardless of his background, if his strength is insufficient, he'll still be torn apart here!"

Within the Mystical Origin Heavenly Cave, there was an unwritten rule: survival of the fittest. If a major sect like the Cangxuan Sect were to fall here, it would only indicate the inadequacy of their current generation of disciples. News of such a defeat would only invite ridicule from other powers and damage their reputation.

After all, the Six Giant Sects inherently held an advantage in both quality and quantity. If they still succumbed to other forces despite this, then there would truly be no one to blame but themselves.

Whoosh! Whoosh!

All the various forces now shot skyward, propelled by Genesis Qi, surrounding the mountain peak from all directions. Their combined presence was quite intimidating.

Those who could enter the Mystical Origin Heavenly Cave were also proud talents nurtured by various powers. While there might be a gap compared to the elite disciples of the Cangxuan Sect, it wasn't significant. Now, gathered here and leveraging their numerical advantage, they showed no apprehension, boldly staring at the vigilant Cangxuan Sect disciples.

On the mountaintop, the Cangxuan disciples also watched the approaching figures with solemn expressions. Clearly, the enemy's numbers exceeded their expectations.

"So many people have been drawn here without us realizing it..." Zhou Yuan murmured, his brow slightly furrowed as he watched the figures. It seemed the commotion they caused was indeed significant.

If they want to come, let them come. Zhou Yuan had already realized that it would be impossible to quietly gather Mystical Origin Essence in this Heavenly Cave unless he could display true power and utterly intimidate those with malicious intentions.

Since that was the case, he would just have to make a name for himself.

And for now, whether it was Lei Qinghai or the others, they would serve as stepping stones.

High above, Lei Qinghai observed the figures completely encircling the mountaintop, a cold sneer appearing on his face. He then fixed his gaze on Zhou Yuan and said, "Zhou Yuan, I'll give you one last chance: let us ascend the mountain to collect Mystical Origin Essence, and furthermore, you'll hand over seventy percent of what you've already gathered to us!"

On the mountain peak, all the Cangxuan Sect disciples showed anger.

"This guy is truly too much!" Gu Hongyi, standing nearby, gritted her teeth and said.

"He truly thinks I'm only at the seventh layer of the Primordial Beginning Stage," Zhou Yuan chuckled. Clearly, Lei Qinghai genuinely believed he only possessed seventh-layer strength, which was why he was being so aggressive.

He shook his head, rose to his full height, and with a grip of his hand, the Heavenly Yuan Brush flashed into existence.

The black brush expanded, its sharp tip angled towards the ground.

Zhou Yuan raised his head, gazing at the figures in the sky whose eyes gleamed with greed. His gaze finally settled on Lei Qinghai as he said calmly, "I'll say this one last time: if you know what's good for you, leave now. While my Cangxuan Sect doesn't abuse its power to bully others, if anyone is truly foolish, then don't blame us for lacking compassion."

In the sky, many figures erupted in mocking laughter. Someone shouted, "Kid, if it were the chief of your Cangxuan Peak or Thunder Prison Peak speaking like this, it might carry some weight. But you, with your seventh-layer cultivation, should stop making a fool of yourself!"

Zhou Yuan's expression remained unruffled; he didn't get angry at their mockery. He merely nodded slightly, his eyes filled with indifference.

At this moment, his figure quietly began to blur.

He took a step forward.

In the sky, the face of the person who had just mocked him suddenly changed. Zhou Yuan's figure had appeared directly before him like a ghost.

"You're seeking death!"

He roared, not in panic, but with powerful Genesis Qi surging forth. Judging by its intensity, he was also a master who had reached the seventh layer.

He unleashed a punch, and the rolling Genesis Qi brought with it astonishing pressure.

However, Zhou Yuan simply lifted his eyelids. His entire skin glowed with a jade-like radiance, and a faint silver light shimmered deep within his body. He raised his palm and lightly slapped it down, with the casualness of swatting a fly.

Zhou Yuan's palm collided with the powerful Genesis Qi fist print, freezing for a brief moment. The next instant, a piercing sonic boom suddenly echoed, and the air exploded. Then, to the horror of all observing, the seventh-layer master let out a bloodcurdling scream, his entire arm erupting into a mist of blood. His body then arced through the sky like a bird with a broken wing, plummeting into the distant forest...

The entire sky fell silent at that moment.

All gazes, filled with shock, froze on Zhou Yuan. They had never imagined that Zhou Yuan, without even activating his Genesis Qi, would simply slap a seventh-layer master into an unknown state of life or death?!

As they looked at Zhou Yuan's indifferent expression, a sudden tremor ran through their hearts, and a faint sense of unease began to rise.

This chief disciple of Saint Genesis Peak, whom they had dismissed as merely a seventh-layer cultivator, seemed far from as simple as they had imagined...