Chapter 771: Qingjiao vs. Demon Ape

Zhou Yuan’s strike was swift as lightning, seemingly over before it had even begun.

So when countless people in Xuanzhou City heard the commotion and cast their bewildered gazes over, they saw the deep cracks on the ground...

...and Qiu Ling, lying on the ground covered in blood, struggling to get up but unable to move.

The stunned gasps that Mo Yuan had previously caused instantly froze.

What happened? Why was Qiu Ling on the ground? What did Zhou Yuan do?

These three questions echoed in countless minds, leaving them utterly bewildered.

However, some people had indeed witnessed the brief scene earlier, and hushed voices began to murmur: "It seems Zhou Yuan just attacked... and defeated Qiu Ling with a single punch?"

Their voices trembled with deep uncertainty; clearly, they suspected they had seen things.

But the stark, gruesome marks on the ground were undeniable.

These whispers spread, bringing another wave of silence as countless people stared, dumbfounded, at the young figure in the arena who had been almost entirely overlooked until now.

The Yi family, whose spirits had been low due to Yi Qiushui and Liu Zhixuan's defeat, now watched this scene in disbelief.

Even Yi Qianji and Liu Tianying showed signs of shock in their eyes.

"This Zhou Yuan, he actually defeated Qiu Ling with one punch?" Liu Tianying couldn't help but exclaim.

One must know that while Qiu Ling was not as strong as Mo Yuan, he was still undoubtedly a prodigy. Given time, he might have even made it onto the Divine Palace Ranking. Yet, who could have imagined that he couldn't even withstand a single move from Zhou Yuan?

How profound must his Genesis Qi foundation be? And crucially, Zhou Yuan was only at the intermediate Divine Palace stage!

To be able to directly overpower and defeat a late Divine Palace stage cultivator like Qiu Ling while only at the intermediate Divine Palace stage was extremely rare, even within the Divine Palace realm across the entire Hunyuan Heaven.

Such a person, once they reach the late Divine Palace stage, is certain to appear on the Divine Palace Ranking. With a little more refinement, it wouldn't be impossible for them to even rank among the top contenders.

It was precisely because of this that even powerful Heavenly Sun stage experts like Yi Qianji and Liu Tianying couldn't help but be shocked. Had they misjudged such a person?

Earlier, both of them had thought Zhou Yuan was intimidated by Qiu Ling and dared not move. But now, it was clear Zhou Yuan simply hadn't bothered to make a move.

Liu Ming and some of the younger members of the Yi family, who were standing nearby, only now recovered from their shock. Listening to Yi Qianji and Liu Tianying's conversation, their faces flushed.

Liu Ming, in particular, felt her face burning. She had previously been irritated by how highly Yi Qiushui regarded Zhou Yuan and had been the most mocking. But now, it was clear her own understanding was superficial, and she had failed to recognize a true talent.

Faced with the formidable power of Zhou Yuan's punch that defeated Qiu Ling, no matter how arrogant she was, she couldn't find any excuse. She knew perfectly well that Qiu Ling's strength was in no way inferior to her brother Liu Zhixuan's. If Zhou Yuan could defeat Qiu Ling with one punch, he could naturally do the same to Liu Zhixuan...

Liu Ming stammered, red-faced: "He... he was just too good at hiding his strength."

Yi Qianji and Liu Tianying also nodded, sighing: "Who would have thought that other heavens also produce such prodigies."

Both then brightened, their earlier despondency fading slightly: "In that case, the Yi family might not necessarily lose after all..."

Based on the power of that single punch, they knew Zhou Yuan was capable of contending with Mo Yuan.

Therefore, in today's battle for the Prefecture Lord position, their Yi family had not yet lost!

In contrast to the Yi family's sense of relief, the Qiu family members all looked grim. Qiu Long, the head of the Qiu family, glared furiously at Zhou Yuan.

"That little bastard really knows how to hide his true abilities!" he muttered darkly.

He had seen the situation as decided, only for Zhou Yuan to suddenly disrupt everything. How could Qiu Long not be furious?

"Don't worry, family head," a Qiu family elder consoled him. "Although we underestimated that brat's strength, Mo Yuan is still here."

Qiu Long nodded, his eyes cold. With Mo Yuan present, even if Zhou Yuan was unexpectedly strong, he shouldn't be able to cause much trouble.

"Hmph, once this is over, that little bastard will pay!" Qiu Long's voice was full of killing intent, yet it also held a hint of apprehension. While Zhou Yuan might not be a major concern now, if he were to break through to the Heavenly Sun stage in the future, he would truly become a problem for their Qiu family.

So now that they had offended him, they had to find a way to eliminate this hidden danger.

"Heh heh, perhaps he'll die at Mo Yuan's hands soon enough," the Qiu family elder chuckled.

Qiu Long nodded faintly. Mo Yuan's earlier display of combat power, suppressing Yi Qiushui and Liu Zhixuan simultaneously, was indeed far superior to that of an ordinary late Divine Palace stage cultivator.

So he believed that Mo Yuan would have no trouble subduing Zhou Yuan.

In the deep pit, Yi Qiushui wiped away the blood from the corner of her mouth and struggled to her feet. However, her Genesis Qi fluctuations were weak, indicating severe injury, and she was clearly no longer able to fight.

"Zhou Yuan..."

Yet, at that moment, she paid no mind to her own condition. Her beautiful eyes intently watched the distant, slender figure, her heart surging with emotion.

She had also witnessed Zhou Yuan's strike.

"Qiushui, you truly have good judgment to have found such a helper," Liu Zhixuan said with a touch of bitterness.

Even with his proud nature, seeing Zhou Yuan's swift and powerful moves earlier, he understood that the latter far surpassed him. No wonder Yi Qiushui had held Zhou Yuan in such high regard.

Yi Qiushui smiled, pursing her lips. Others thought her judgment was sharp, but in truth, she had only taken a gamble. Even she hadn't been certain that Zhou Yuan truly possessed hidden talent.

But judging by the current situation, her intuition had been quite accurate.

Although she still didn't know if Zhou Yuan could contend with the ferociously powerful Mo Yuan, at the very least, he had provided a glimmer of hope...

From a distance, Zhou Yuan's gaze also fell upon her at that moment. He looked at Yi Qiushui, seemed to smile, and then, under the watchful eyes of countless people, slowly ascended into the air.

He hovered, parallel to Mo Yuan, confronting him from a distance.

Mo Yuan, with his iron staff on his shoulder, appeared remarkably slender, yet at this moment, no one would dare underestimate the terrifying power contained within that frame. He glanced at where Qiu Ling had fallen, then grinned at Zhou Yuan, a look of keen interest in his eyes.

"I didn't expect even I would be mistaken," he said. "You're the most troublesome person in this battle for the Prefecture Lord."

"Hahaha, but that's what makes it interesting!"

Mo Yuan threw his head back and laughed heartily, his aura ferocious. He stared disdainfully at Zhou Yuan, slowly raising the black iron staff in his hand and pointing it at Zhou Yuan from afar.

"I hadn't even truly started earlier, and those two couldn't hold up," he taunted. "I wonder if you'll be able to withstand anything?"

At this moment, Mo Yuan truly resembled a peerlessly fierce demonic ape, his domineering aura sending shivers down people's spines.

However, opposite him, Zhou Yuan's expression remained calm. Azure-gold Genesis Qi surged around his body, subtly forming into a coiling azure dragon, and an indescribably world-shaking power slowly rose from him.

He clenched his hand, and a dark, mottled black brush appeared within his grasp.

"I imagine I won't disappoint you."

In that instant, the gazes of the Azure Dragon and the Demonic Ape met, igniting an overwhelming killing intent.