Chapter 581: Treasure Tree

Booming!

Within the barrier, an incredibly violent Genesis Qi raged like a storm, its aftershocks leaking out and stirring up monstrous waves on the six-colored lake.

Inside the Genesis Qi storm, the enormous body of the Spirit Ghost Python was dimly visible. Six streaks of light flickered in the void around it, as fierce and unparalleled Genesis Qi attacks rained down, assailing the Spirit Ghost Python's vital points.

The fierce battle between the two sides had been ongoing for some time. As Zhou Yuan and the others fought with their full power, the Spirit Ghost Python's situation gradually worsened. Dark blood seeped from its massive body, and more than half of its scales were shattered.

The Spirit Ghost Python's strength was slightly superior to that of Zhou Yuan, Fan Yao, and the others present. If it were a one-on-one fight, none of the six would likely gain much advantage. Unfortunately, when the six teamed up, the Spirit Ghost Python was gradually suppressed. Especially since Zhou Yuan had used the Sky-Blurring Barrier to separate the Spirit Ghost Python's most powerful abilities—its two accompanying snake shadows—this essentially sealed the Spirit Ghost Python's fate.

A dark Genesis Qi breath howled forth, carrying a putrid, venomous stench. Zhou Yuan extended his palm, where an ancient and obscure Genesis Rune appeared.

"Heavenly Gold Crystal Wall Rune!" The Genesis Rune quickly spread, absorbing Genesis Qi from the surroundings. Within a few breaths, it transformed into a golden crystal wall, roughly a thousand feet vast, beneath Zhou Yuan's palm. This defensive Genesis Rune was something Zhou Yuan had mastered after his spirit had advanced to the late Solid Realm. Its defensive power was astonishing, capable of withstanding a full-force attack from a powerhouse at the Ninth Heaven stage.

Sizzle! The Spirit Ghost Python's Genesis Qi breath collided with the crystal wall, erupting with a hissing sound. Meanwhile, Zhou Yuan's figure suddenly blurred, appearing like a phantom before the Spirit Ghost Python's massive body. He gripped the Sky Origin Brush tightly, and a dark color began to creep up its snow-white tip.

"Origin Break!" He let out a low roar. The brush tip swept past with a ripping sound, black blood splattering as a hideous gash was torn open directly on the Spirit Ghost Python's body.

The Spirit Ghost Python struggled wildly, suddenly letting out a sharp shriek. The moment the shriek sounded, Zhou Yuan's expression subtly changed. He sensed that the two snake shadows, trapped within the barrier, were now rapidly approaching this location. Clearly, the Spirit Ghost Python was summoning its accompanying snake shadows.

"The snake shadows are being summoned! They can't be stopped! Kill it quickly!" Zhou Yuan roared. Fan Yao, Tang Xiaoyan, and the others' expressions also changed upon hearing this. If the snake shadows were successfully summoned and the Spirit Ghost Python merged with them, its combat power would be comparable to that of a Holy Son. At that point, they would be the ones suppressed. Consequently, they all, without prior agreement, intensified their attacks. Waves of Genesis Arts attacks fiercely bombarded the Spirit Ghost Python.

The Spirit Ghost Python also understood their intent. It coiled its body, its dark scales shimmering with flowing light, making it appear like a black iron hill. Its defensive power greatly increased. Clearly, it intended to buy time; as soon as the two accompanying snake shadows arrived, it could reverse the situation.

Tang Xiaoyan, Fan Yao, and the others gritted their teeth, remaining silent as they relentlessly attacked. In the distance, the disciples of the three sects also noticed this scene. They immediately held their breath, knowing that if the two snake shadows returned, this hunt would essentially be a failure. At that point, let alone splitting the six-colored lake, it would be questionable if they could even retreat safely from the Spirit Ghost Python's fury.

Boom! Boom! Torrents of Genesis Qi crashed against the Spirit Ghost Python's massive body, producing deep thudding sounds. Black blood continuously flowed from the Spirit Ghost Python's body, and although it appeared heavily wounded, it still possessed vitality. This caused Fan Yao, Tang Xiaoyan, and the others' hearts to sink involuntarily. Clearly, the Spirit Ghost Python's vitality was far more tenacious than they had imagined.

Buzz! Buzz! And at that moment, they suddenly perceived the void behind them distorting. The next instant, two dark snake shadows hissed forth, rushing like lightning towards the coiled Spirit Ghost Python. "Stop them!" Jin Zhang hurriedly shouted. They attacked, but as sharp Genesis Qi swept past, the two dark snake shadows turned transparent. The Genesis Qi passed straight through them, unable to cause any harm... as if they were ghosts. They could not be stopped at all.

In that brief moment, the two snake shadows were already close to the Spirit Ghost Python. At this point, the Spirit Ghost Python also raised its head, its vertical pupils gleaming with extreme ferocity as they locked onto Fan Yao and the others. That merciless gaze made their hearts tremble. "It's over!" Wang Yuan said, gritting his teeth unwillingly. Fan Yao's face was expressionless, his eyes flickering. He was already preparing to retreat first, knowing that once the Spirit Ghost Python successfully merged, the situation would change. Staying there any longer would be dangerous. It was clear that he wasn't the only one thinking this way; the attacks of the others had also begun to weaken at this point, apparently intending to conserve energy for retreat.

Under the gaze of many tense eyes, the two snake shadows were now extremely close to the Spirit Ghost Python, about to merge into its body. "Go!" Fan Yao coldly shouted, retreating without hesitation. Wang Yuan immediately followed. Tang Xiaoyan lightly bit her silver teeth. Though unwilling, she could only tell Zhao Ru, "Retreat!" Zhao Ru stamped her foot in anger but could only follow. "Zhou Yuan, let's go too!" Jin Zhang said anxiously, his brows furrowed.

However, Zhou Yuan did not follow him. Instead, his gaze was fixed on the Spirit Ghost Python's heavily wounded body. He could sense the Spirit Ghost Python's malicious vertical pupils locking onto him, seemingly filled with cruelty and mockery. Clearly, it also understood that the situation was about to be reversed. At that moment, it would torture and kill these annoying flies one by one. Zhou Yuan met its vertical gaze and slowly said, "Do you really think you can reverse the situation?" He extended his palm towards the coiled Spirit Ghost Python, a fierce glint flashing in his eyes as he roared, "Corrode!"

The instant his shout fell, countless tiny lights suddenly emerged from within the Spirit Ghost Python's massive body. Within those lights were countless fine hairs. Those were the fine hairs of the Sky Origin Brush, which had quietly infiltrated its flesh and blood during the repeated tearing of the Spirit Ghost Python's body earlier. Excruciating pain erupted from within the Spirit Ghost Python at this moment. It suddenly shrieked in agony, the sensation akin to being gnawed by billions of ants from within, all the while relentlessly constricting towards its heart. The Spirit Ghost Python shrieked, and the two snake shadows, now extremely close, rapidly enlarged within its vertical pupils... As long as the snake shadows merged with it, it would be able to suppress the fine hairs that had invaded its body.

However, Zhou Yuan watched this scene indifferently, uttering softly from his mouth. "Explode!" A low sound reverberated from within the Spirit Ghost Python's body at that moment. The Spirit Ghost Python's massive body instantly stiffened. The cruel glint in its vertical pupils rapidly faded, which also signified that its life force had been completely extinguished at this moment. The two snake shadows finally rushed into the Spirit Ghost Python's body at this point, but immediately after, they pierced through it again, lingering somewhat confusedly outside the Spirit Ghost Python.

The Spirit Ghost Python's massive body slowly plummeted, falling into the six-colored lake and splashing up monstrous waves. Zhou Yuan stood suspended in mid-air, with towering waves beneath his feet. He calmly gazed at the enormous serpent corpse, the Sky Origin Brush held diagonally in his hand, its tip shimmering with fine light.

In mid-air, Fan Yao, Tang Xiaoyan, and the others, who had been preparing to withdraw, suddenly froze. They gazed at the figure standing atop the massive waves, a hint of shock appearing in their eyes. They evidently hadn't expected that at this final moment, Zhou Yuan would directly strip the Spirit Ghost Python of its life force, causing its plan to merge to fail... "That guy..." Zhao Ru's pretty face changed. A trace of apprehension flickered in her eyes as she stared at Zhou Yuan's figure. Tang Xiaoyan also pursed her red lips, her beautiful eyes flickering. Fan Yao's eyes narrowed slightly. His gaze fell upon the Sky Origin Brush in Zhou Yuan's hand, and a shadow of gloom passed through his eyes. This guy's Heavenly Origin Weapon truly was somewhat strange.

In the distance, the disciples of the Cangxuan Sect, seeing Zhou Yuan slay the Spirit Ghost Python at the last moment, immediately erupted into excited cheers. The disciples of the other two sects were also somewhat restless, clearly amazed by Zhou Yuan's last-ditch kill.

Zhou Yuan also let out a deep breath. He raised his head, looking at Fan Yao and Tang Xiaoyan, and said teasingly, "Weren't you all leaving?" Tang Xiaoyan seemed a little embarrassed and gave a faint smile. Fan Yao, however, let out a cold snort. Though he knew Zhou Yuan was mocking him, he had no way to refute it.

However, just as Zhou Yuan was about to say something else, his expression suddenly shifted, and his gaze focused on the center of the six-colored lake. Tang Xiaoyan, Fan Yao, and the others also noticed, and immediately cast their gazes there.

Splashing sounds! The lake water there began to churn, seemingly forming a giant whirlpool. From within the whirlpool, an ancient tree, emitting dazzling multi-colored light, slowly ascended.

"That is...?" And when that dazzling ancient tree appeared in everyone's sight, the entire world was filled with gasps of astonishment. Those gazes almost froze, locked onto the magnificent ancient tree that seemed to grow from the lake, unable to move again.