Chapter 579: Three-headed Spirit Ghost Python

When the disciples of the three sects stood on the high ground, looking down at the vast, endless six-colored lake before them, they all held their breath, their eyes filled with uncontrollable fervor and excitement.

A six-colored treasure land like this was a rare sight for ordinary disciples. Typically, such an extraordinary place would only appear deep within the Mystic Origin Grotto-Heaven, a domain reserved for the numerous Holy Sons and Chief Disciples. Those of their cultivation level were simply not qualified to enter.

To encounter it here, then, was truly a stroke of fortune.

Although the greatest opportunities would undoubtedly fall to their leaders, even getting a small share would be satisfying enough for them.

Of course, while they had indeed seen the six-colored lake, how much of its bounty would ultimately reach them depended entirely on another battle yet to come.

At this moment, all the disciples of the three sects turned their hopeful gazes to the very front, where the Chief Disciples of the three sects had stepped forward.

Throughout their journey here, the disciples had fought fiercely, carving a path through the beast tide. They had exerted every effort to ensure their Chief Disciples preserved their full combat strength.

They all knew that what followed would be the battlefield for the Chief Disciples of each sect.

This battle would determine the ownership of this six-colored treasure land.

Under many eager gazes, Zhou Yuan and Jin Zhang stood at the front of their respective teams. They stared at the six-colored lake, sensing an invisible repulsive force emanating from it.

However, the four-colored Divine-Building peculiar treasures within their Qi Mansions began to pulsate, gradually resisting and pushing back against that repellent force.

"Deep within this six-colored lake, there are subtle but powerful Genesis Qi fluctuations," Jin Zhang said to Zhou Yuan, his expression grave. "If my guess is correct, it should be the guardian beast of this treasure land."

"We're just not sure of its rank or strength..."

"We'll know once we try," Zhou Yuan replied, then looked towards the other two directions. He saw Fan Yao, Tang Xiaoyan, and others also casting their gazes, clearly sharing the same idea.

The next moment, all three parties attacked simultaneously. Torrents of Genesis Qi roared out with overwhelming momentum, like colossal pillars, violently smashing into the tranquil six-colored lake.

The lake surface exploded, sending massive waves surging upwards.

At that very moment, a sharp hiss suddenly echoed from the depths of the six-colored lake. Immediately after, everyone saw a colossal shadow emerge from the depths of the lake, finally breaking through the surface. It appeared in everyone's sight, emitting astonishing Genesis Qi fluctuations.

When they saw the immense Genesis Beast that had appeared, everyone gasped, their faces betraying expressions of fear and apprehension.

There, a gigantic black python coiled in the lake. Its body was somewhat dark, and its triangular vertical pupils gleamed with a malevolent light. What truly changed the expressions of Zhou Yuan, Fan Yao, and Tang Xiaoyan was that beside the black python, two somewhat ethereal black python shadows hovered. These two shadows would sometimes merge into the black python's body, and when its massive head rose, it appeared as if it had three heads.

An extremely violent and chilling Genesis Qi fluctuation swept out from its body like a storm. The sheer pressure made the faces of the three sects' disciples turn pale.

"A Three-Headed Spirit Ghost Python!"

Fan Yao stared at the odd python, his expression grim, enunciating each word slowly.

This was a rather rare Genesis Beast. Its original form was a Spirit Ghost Python, but Spirit Ghost Pythons had a mutated form: if one developed sentience prematurely within its mother's womb, it would hatch first, devour and refine its siblings. When it was born, two phantom python shadows would constantly accompany it. As the phantom python shadows grew, they would also gradually acquire power.

When faced with danger, these two phantom python shadows could merge with the main body, dramatically increasing its strength.

The Three-Headed Spirit Ghost Python before them possessed astonishing combat power. Even if a Holy Son from one of the three sects were here, they might find themselves powerless against it.

Although there were six Chief Disciples present, slaying it would likely come at an extremely heavy cost, with perhaps half of their number perishing in its jaws.

In mid-air, Zhou Yuan, Fan Yao, Tang Xiaoyan, and the other six Chief Disciples remained silent for a few breaths. Then, they unexpectedly retreated in unison, falling back directly outside the range of the six-colored lake.

In the massive lake, the Three-Headed Spirit Ghost Python's vicious pupils fixated on them. It didn't pursue them but gradually sank, clearly unwilling to leave the six-colored lake.

The disciples of the three sects in the distance, seeing this scene, felt as if cold water had been thrown over them. Their previous excitement vanished, clearly awestruck by the appearance of the Three-Headed Spirit Ghost Python.

Faced with such a formidable beast, it was doubtful that even the six Chief Disciples combined could guarantee victory.

For a moment, the atmosphere grew solemn.

In mid-air, Zhou Yuan, Fan Yao, Tang Xiaoyan, and the others also drew closer.

"I never expected it would be a Three-Headed Spirit Ghost Python..." Tang Xiaoyan bit her lower lip with her pearly teeth, her gentle, pretty face now looking rather troubled.

"What should we do?" Zhao Ru, standing nearby, couldn't help but ask. The six-colored treasure land was within reach, yet it was blocked by this Three-Headed Spirit Ghost Python, which was truly unacceptable.

The others remained silent. In truth, if they were to fight head-on, they might not be entirely incapable of battling the Three-Headed Spirit Ghost Python, but such a confrontation would inevitably lead to casualties.

Clearly, no one wanted to be among those casualties.

After a moment of silence, Zhou Yuan slowly said, "Once the Three-Headed Spirit Ghost Python's forms merge, its combat power will surge dramatically, to the point where even a Holy Son would be helpless against it. If we want to deal with it, we must separate them."

Fan Yao scoffed, "The phantom python shadows have been inseparable from the Spirit Ghost Python since birth. I've never heard of anyone being able to separate them."

Zhao Ru even let out a cold snort, clearly thinking Zhou Yuan's words were nonsense.

Zhou Yuan's expression remained calm, ignoring their reactions. He simply stared at the six-colored lake and said, "Just because you are ignorant doesn't mean everyone else is too."

Stung by Zhou Yuan's retort, both Fan Yao and Zhao Ru's faces darkened.

Tang Xiaoyan, however, stared at Zhou Yuan with bright eyes, saying, "Does that mean Chief Disciple Zhou Yuan has a solution?"

Zhao Ru was startled, but her eyes were still full of doubt.

Zhou Yuan mused for a moment, then said, "I know a labyrinth array barrier; it might be worth a try."

What he referred to was naturally the Heavenly Maze Barrier that Yaoyao had taught him. Back then, all the disciples of Sword-Coming Peak had been trapped within it. Although he didn't possess Yaoyao's mastery, he believed he could still trap the Three-Headed Spirit Ghost Python for a while.

Furthermore, the Heavenly Maze Barrier possessed disruptive power. Once trapped inside, even if the Three-Headed Spirit Ghost Python and its shadows had a special connection, it would be difficult for them to rejoin quickly.

Upon hearing this, Tang Xiaoyan was immediately overjoyed.

Fan Yao and Zhao Ru, however, remained somewhat suspicious. But with no other options, Fan Yao said, "Since you have a method, go ahead and try it."

Zhou Yuan glanced sideways at them, then casually remarked, "I can try, but first, I think we need to divide the six-colored lake."

Fan Yao stared coldly at Zhou Yuan. "What do you want?"

"For the six-colored lake, our Cangxuan Sect takes forty percent, and your two parties each take thirty percent," Zhou Yuan stated.

As soon as he said this, Fan Yao was the first to react, scoffing, "You? You think you're qualified to take forty percent?"

In his view, their Sacred Palace was the strongest among the three parties, so they should rightfully claim the largest share of the six-colored lake. Giving Cangxuan Sect twenty percent would already be an act of generosity from him. Yet now, this Zhou Yuan dared to demand forty percent, even more than their Sacred Palace?!

Tang Xiaoyan remained silent; thirty percent was within her acceptable range. Zhao Ru, who was about to speak, was stopped by her.

"If we can't agree, then I'll take my people and leave," Zhou Yuan said with a faint smile.

Fan Yao's eyes grew cold. Before seeing the Three-Headed Spirit Ghost Python, if Zhou Yuan had said he would leave, Fan Yao would naturally have been delighted. But now, with the Three-Headed Spirit Ghost Python proving so troublesome, without Zhou Yuan's method to separate it, they truly had no viable solution this time.

"Boy, you dare to bargain with me right now?" Fan Yao said darkly.

Zhou Yuan's expression remained undisturbed. "You have one minute to consider."

Fan Yao stared intently at Zhou Yuan. After a long moment, he suddenly chuckled. "Fine, it's just forty percent. I agree..."

Seeing this, Zhou Yuan smiled and said to Jin Zhang, "Come with me, we'll set up the barrier."

Jin Zhang nodded, and the two cautiously descended to the edge of the lake in the distance, observed by many eyes.

From behind, Fan Yao watched Zhou Yuan's receding figure with cold, flickering eyes.

"Are we really giving him forty percent?" Wang Yuan whispered, feeling somewhat unwilling.

Fan Yao's eyelids drooped slightly. He said flatly, "That depends on whether he lives to claim it. For now, we'll endure him and extract every bit of his usefulness."

In the distance, Jin Zhang also whispered, "Zhou Yuan, this deal might be a loss for you. Fan Yao's word means nothing. Do you really think he'll be sincere?"

In his opinion, a verbal agreement between the two parties was simply too childish.

Zhou Yuan took out the Heavenly Yuan Brush and gave Jin Zhang a brilliant smile. "Chief Disciple Jin Zhang, everything needs a legitimate reason. If Fan Yao genuinely accepts this, how could I then consider other plans?"

"What do you mean?" Jin Zhang was puzzled.

Genesis Runes began to form under Zhou Yuan's brush. He glanced at the distance from the corner of his eye and sighed. "Forty percent... I'm not satisfied with that either. There are old acquaintances in the Hundred Flowers Immortal Palace, so it wouldn't be right to act against them..."

Jin Zhang's eyes widened, and he gasped.

It dawned on him that this person had been eyeing the Sacred Palace's share from the very beginning...

His audacity and ambition were simply too great!

(Two updates today.)