Chapter 75: The Eighth Vein

In the inn.

Following the recent events, a solemn air had settled over everyone. They clearly understood that the alliance between Prince Qi's Residence and Black Venom City would undoubtedly be the greatest obstacle to their mission.

"General Wei, what are your chances against the Black Venom King?" Zhou Yuan asked Wei Canglan, his expression grave.

Hearing this, Wei Canglan hesitated before slowly replying, "We are both at the second layer of the Primordial Nine Heavens, so if we were to fight, we'd be evenly matched... However, the 'Miasma Demonic Qi' that the Black Venom King cultivates was acquired through a stroke of luck. It's an exceptionally potent Fourth-Grade Origin Qi, and its toxicity is overwhelming. When I faced him before, I was unknowingly afflicted by it, which led to my defeat."

"That Miasma Demonic Qi is a real headache."

"Still, despite my apprehension about the Miasma Demonic Qi, I'm confident I can keep the Black Venom King occupied when the time comes," Wei Canglan quickly added, clearly fearing a drop in morale.

Zhou Yuan's expression turned thoughtful. This wasn't a foolproof plan; any mishap could put them at a severe disadvantage.

He pondered for a moment, then suddenly turned to Yaoyao, a smile on his face. "Sister Yaoyao, could you perhaps conjure up a solution?"

Yaoyao, who had been holding Tun Tun and examining the black jade tablet, raised her exquisite face, cast a sharp glance at Zhou Yuan, and stated, "I knew you were trying to get something out of me."

She had felt Zhou Yuan's gaze on her continuously throughout their journey back.

However, understanding the gravity of the situation, after her glare, she reached into the Spatial Pouch at her waist and retrieved a green scroll, placing it on the table. "This is the 'Myriad Wood Toxin Ward Rune'," she explained. "It's a top-tier Third-Grade Origin Rune. When activated, it can repel all manner of poisons. The Miasma Demonic Poison shouldn't be able to penetrate it."

"A top-tier Third-Grade Origin Rune?" Wei Canglan, Wei Qingqing, and the others stared at Yaoyao in astonishment. Could this young woman, who appeared to have no Origin Qi fluctuations whatsoever, truly possess such profound mastery of Origin Runes?

Runes of this caliber were considered paramount even within their Great Zhou Empire.

It was only then that Wei Qingqing truly understood why Zhou Yuan insisted on keeping this seemingly cumbersome young woman by his side.

"Excellent! With the aid of this Origin Rune, the Black Venom King poses no threat to me whatsoever. I can attack without inhibition, utterly suppress him, and even find an opportunity to slay him!" Wei Canglan exclaimed, gripping the scroll, his face flushed with excitement.

He had long harbored a deep-seated hatred for the Black Venom King, relentlessly seeking ways to eliminate him. However, his caution regarding the Miasma Demonic Poison meant he had always suffered quietly in their past skirmishes.

Now, armed with the top-tier Third-Grade "Myriad Wood Toxin Ward Rune," the Black Venom King's primary reliance held no threat for him.

Observing Wei Canglan's renewed confidence, the other occupants of the room visibly relaxed.

Zhou Yuan nodded with a smile. "Since General Wei is confident, I can rest easy. We've gathered sufficient intelligence, so we can depart tomorrow for the War Puppet Sect ruins."

Upon hearing this, no one raised any objections.

As night descended, the gates of Demon Prisoner City sealed shut. Beyond the city walls, in the surrounding mountain forests, countless Origin Beasts roared, making the Black Abyss even more perilous under the cloak of darkness.

Inside his inn room, Zhou Yuan sat cross-legged on the bed, eyes closed. His body subtly vibrated, and faint draconic roars could be heard. Simultaneously, the Origin Qi in the surrounding environment rippled, seemingly transforming into fine white threads that flowed into his body with each breath.

Since his encounter with Qi Hao and the Black Venom King earlier that day, Zhou Yuan had felt a sense of impending crisis. Though protected by an elite force, he knew that his own strength was the most dependable safeguard.

With only seven meridians opened, his current power was proving somewhat insufficient for the Black Abyss. Thus, it was time for him to advance into the Qi Nourishing Realm.

Zhou Yuan's chest gently rose and fell as streams of Heaven and Earth Origin Qi surged through his meridians, continuously assailing the increasingly yielding eighth meridian. After relentless daily cultivation, he could feel that breaking through the eighth meridian was likely just moments away...

Within his meridians, Origin Qi surged without cease.

Suddenly, Zhou Yuan's body jolted. Activating the Dragon Absorption Art, another stream of Heaven and Earth Origin Qi transformed into a white thread, drawn into his body like a powerful wave, surging fiercely against the final obstruction.

It was as if a thin membrane had been pierced in that instant, followed by a faint sound.

Zhou Yuan opened his eyes. He gazed down at his palms, feeling as though his body had become translucent and remarkably light.

It was a sensation akin to shackles and restraints suddenly shattering.

Origin Qi from the heavens and earth surged uncontrollably into his form.

His physical constitution was also rapidly strengthening.

The eighth meridian was finally opened!

Zhou Yuan's body trembled slightly, an indescribable emotion swelling within him. After more than half a year of diligent effort, he had at last opened all eight meridians within his body.

After more than a decade, his eight meridians were once again fully unblocked.

Zhou Yuan took two sharp breaths, willing himself to calm down. He then closed his eyes. With his eight meridians now open, it was time to directly establish his Qi Mansion.

Only by establishing the Qi Mansion could one be considered to have truly entered the Qi Nourishing Realm.

"Here we go!"

Zhou Yuan's gaze was fervent, his eyes brimming with anticipation. He had waited far, far too long for this day.

Faint draconic roars once again emanated from within Zhou Yuan. This time, however, the power of the Dragon Absorption Art he employed surged dramatically. The Heaven and Earth Origin Qi in the room vibrated intensely, eventually condensing into thick white threads that Zhou Yuan, with an open mouth, swallowed into his body.

The Origin Qi within his body swiftly converged towards his lower abdomen, forming a ceaselessly rotating vortex.

As the rotation reached its zenith, Zhou Yuan instantly perceived an origin point materialize at the vortex's core. Within this origin point, a mysterious space seemed to flicker in and out of existence.

Infinitely minuscule, yet infinitely vast.

With the emergence of this origin point, the Origin Qi flowing within his body seemed to be drawn by an unseen force, immediately swirling through his meridians before every last wisp poured into the origin point.

As Origin Qi flowed in, life seemed to emerge from chaos within the origin point, initiating the evolution of space and thereby forming the "Qi Mansion."

At this very moment, Zhou Yuan's Qi Mansion was finally established. The Origin Qi he cultivated daily now had a dedicated storage place, allowing it to accumulate and grow more potent over time, unlike before when most of the Origin Qi that entered his body would dissipate after merely strengthening his physical constitution.

Zhou Yuan's Spirit entered the Qi Mansion. In his perception, it appeared as a peculiar space where Origin Qi continuously surged. Then, he witnessed a verdant light blossom, directly painting the entire Qi Mansion green.

Upon establishment, Qi Mansions form in four grades—colorless, green, purple, and gold—depending on an individual's innate bone structure and talent.

Zhou Yuan's Spirit anxiously observed the evolving Qi Mansion.

He knew that while the quality of one's Qi Mansion wasn't an absolute indicator of future accomplishments, a higher-grade Qi Mansion invariably offered a significant advantage.

The green light intensified, eventually giving way to a nascent violet glow. This purple light then expanded, transforming the entire Qi Mansion into a vibrant violet hue.

"A violet Qi Mansion."

Upon seeing the Qi Mansion solidify into violet, Zhou Yuan finally nodded, clearly quite satisfied.

With his Qi Mansion stabilized at the violet grade, Zhou Yuan inwardly exhaled in relief and prepared to withdraw from it.

However, at that precise moment, his Qi Mansion suddenly trembled. Zhou Yuan keenly sensed a surge of Origin Qi from its depths—a power that felt utterly alien, yet strangely familiar.

The sheer purity of that Origin Qi astonished Zhou Yuan. Furthermore, this stream carried a hint of primordial essence, akin to a wisp of innate Origin Qi generated at the dawn of creation, untouched by impurity.

"What is this Origin Qi?!" Zhou Yuan's greater shock, however, stemmed from the mysterious Origin Qi's source, for he could clearly sense that it was not something he had cultivated.

Yet, why did it feel familiar?

A myriad of thoughts flickered through Zhou Yuan's mind. Abruptly, a realization seemed to dawn on him, and he murmured in shock, "Could it be... this Origin Qi is from when I was born, when my eight meridians naturally opened and connected to the Qi Mansion, and this innate Origin Qi then concealed itself deep within it?"

At Zhou Yuan's birth, his eight meridians had already opened spontaneously. Under normal circumstances, his Qi Mansion should have established itself automatically then. However, due to the subsequent calamity, while the Qi Mansion wasn't fully opened, a wisp of innate Origin Qi had hidden itself deep within it to evade the disaster. Now, with Zhou Yuan's Qi Mansion successfully established, this innate Origin Qi, having lain dormant for fourteen years, sensed his presence and resurfaced.

Zhou Yuan stood stunned, absorbing the sensation of that pure Origin Qi, his emotions a complex mix.

At this moment, that wisp of innate Origin Qi also surged into the Qi Mansion. Subsequently, Zhou Yuan was once again astonished to witness a golden gleam, like a rising sun, slowly blossom within the Qi Mansion's dense violet light.