Chapter 772: Eight Million

Above Xuanzhou City, two formidable figures faced each other, drawing the attention of countless spectators.

The atmosphere within the city became incredibly fervent. Initially, everyone had assumed that the Qiu family would win the governorship today, but no one had anticipated such a dramatic turn of events. Zhou Yuan, who was initially dismissed as ordinary, had revealed himself to be a hidden powerhouse, a furious Asura with concealed strength. Now, countless people in Xuanzhou City were curious to see who would ultimately prevail when Zhou Yuan and Mo Yuan finally clashed.

High above, two vast surges of Genesis Qi continuously ascended, each claiming half of the sky. Where the two energies met, the void trembled violently, accompanied by faint sounds of wind and thunder. Zhou Yuan and Mo Yuan's gazes met, and sparks seemed to fly from their intense battle intent.

"Since I entered the late Divine Dwelling stage years ago," Mo Yuan said with a chilling grin, revealing his white teeth, "it's been a long time since I encountered anyone in the mid Divine Dwelling stage who dared to stand before me. I've also slain higher-ranked enemies in the past. I never thought that today, someone would attempt the same against me."

The moment his words faded, a burst of Genesis Qi shook the void, and his figure instantly appeared above Zhou Yuan. Amidst his wild laughter, he brought down a black iron staff, brimming with immense power. The staff's shadow swept across the sky, seemingly reflecting millions of stars, a rough count revealing seven million. Previously, the staff strike that defeated Yi Qiushui and Liu Zhixuan had possessed eight million Genesis Qi stars of power, but that was due to the amplification from a high-grade Heaven Genesis Art. This time, however, the power was solely derived from his inherent foundation. A Genesis Qi foundation of seven million Genesis Qi stars was more than enough to eclipse countless cultivators in the late Divine Dwelling stage.

"If you intend to use me as a stepping stone to hone your skills, then let's see if you're even worthy!" As Mo Yuan's wild laughter echoed, the colossal staff's light-shadow, large enough to obscure the sky, plummeted towards Zhou Yuan amidst countless horrified gazes, shattering the void as it descended.

"A foundation of seven million Genesis Qi stars... truly a prodigy from Hunyuan Heaven." Zhou Yuan's eyes narrowed slightly, and he chuckled softly, "If the Ancestral Dragon Scripture hadn't broken through this time, my Genesis Qi foundation truly wouldn't have been able to match yours..."

At this moment, Zhou Yuan was still only in the mid Divine Dwelling stage. Despite his extraordinary encounters, his previous Genesis Qi foundation had barely reached five million. However, with the breakthrough of his Ancestral Dragon Scripture and the evolution of his Genesis Qi into the seventh-grade Heaven Serpentine Suppression Qi, the Genesis Qi foundation within his Divine Dwelling had experienced a massive surge. This massive increase was precisely why he had been able to decisively defeat Qiu Ling with a single punch earlier. Zhou Yuan knew that without the evolution of his Ancestral Dragon Scripture Genesis Qi, even he would have been forced into a bitter struggle against someone like Mo Yuan, who was ranked on the Divine Dwelling List. But alas... in this world, there are no "what ifs."

Zhou Yuan gripped the Heavenly Yuan Brush tightly. Its formerly snow-white bristles had transformed into a deep, glossy black, and the brush vibrated the void as he thrust it directly towards the descending, vast light-shadow. "Myriad Whales!"

The ancient song of whales echoed across the land, as numerous phantoms of colossal whales appeared seemingly from nowhere, circling in the void. The brush shadow and staff shadow collided with a thunderous roar, a metallic clang echoing like a storm across the land. Visible shockwaves rippled out from the point of impact. The entire Xuanzhou City trembled from the force.

Countless shocked eyes watched the sky. The colossal staff's light-shadow, which had been crashing down, was now miraculously suspended in mid-air. Beneath it, a large, black, mottled brush, seemingly insignificant, held it firmly in place, preventing its descent. Around the black brush, ancient whale phantoms circled, their overflowing Genesis Qi reflecting in the void and revealing countless Genesis Qi stars.

A staggering eight million!

Inside and outside Xuanzhou City, gasps of astonishment erupted. All the various factions stared, dumbfounded by the sight. Eight million Genesis Qi stars in foundation? It was even stronger than Mo Yuan's own Genesis Qi foundation! This was simply beyond comprehension! Moreover, the most crucial point was that Zhou Yuan was still only in the mid Divine Dwelling stage! If he were to advance to the late Divine Dwelling stage, his Genesis Qi foundation might directly reach a terrifying ten million! While a pure Genesis Qi foundation doesn't equate to absolute power, it undeniably represents a significant advantage.

Below, the members of the Yi family—including Yi Qianji, Liu Tianying, and Yi Qiushui who was still on the field—were similarly stunned. They had tried to estimate Zhou Yuan's strength as high as possible, yet no one had expected him to possess such an incredibly profound Genesis Qi foundation.

The Qiu family's expressions also darkened. Patriarch Qiu Long's eyes were gloomy as he gritted his teeth and muttered, "We underestimated this boy. To possess such a foundation in the mid Divine Dwelling stage, who knows how many fortuitous encounters he's had. However, while a Genesis Qi foundation is important," he continued, "Mo Yuan is a direct disciple of the Heaven Spirit Sect. Once he employs his true methods, the disparity cannot be bridged by just an extra million Genesis Qi stars!" Other Qiu family elders nodded in agreement. Possessing a strong Genesis Qi foundation was one thing; knowing how to wield it effectively was another.

High above, Mo Yuan watched the scene, his pupils slightly contracting. A flicker of solemnity finally appeared on his usually arrogant face. "Eight million Genesis Qi stars as a foundation... Impressive. If you were to reach the late Divine Dwelling stage, I would be inferior to you. However, a pure Genesis Qi foundation doesn't necessarily represent everything!"

Within the Divine Dwelling stage of Hunyuan Heaven, Mo Yuan knew that if it were solely about Genesis Qi foundation, the super prodigy Su Youwei from Zixiao Domain would likely be unparalleled. This was because, during her Qi Nurturing stage, she had opened the rare Yin-Yang Qi Dwelling, and after entering the Divine Dwelling stage, her Divine Dwelling mutated, leading to the creation of the world-rare Mutated Ten Divine Dwellings! Her Genesis Qi foundation, among all Divine Dwelling stage cultivators of this era, was unmatched. Even Zhao Mu Shen and Wu Yao, who ranked higher than her on the Divine Dwelling List, were slightly inferior in this regard. However, in a genuine fight, Zhao Mu Shen and Wu Yao's combat prowess would likely not be weaker than hers.

Mo Yuan's eyes sharpened. He let out a long cry to the heavens, and his hands rapidly formed seals. Vast and boundless Heaven and Earth Genesis Qi gathered like a storm above him, coalescing into a chilling, crescent moon about a hundred feet wide. The crescent moon shed endless moonlight, which transformed into pure Genesis Qi and flowed into Mo Yuan's body, seemingly inexhaustible.

"That's the Heaven Spirit Sect's high-grade Heaven Genesis Art, the Origin Moon Art! This art provides the user with an unending supply of Heaven and Earth Genesis Qi. With it, Mo Yuan gains a significant boost to his Genesis Qi foundation!"

Within Mo Yuan's body, his Genesis Qi fluctuations continuously surged. He clasped his hands, but his actions didn't cease, as he roared again, "Mountain Shaker Heaven Ape Transformation!" Tremendous Genesis Qi surged forth, manifesting an unimaginably massive light-shadow resembling an ancient, ferocious ape. It then began to expand relentlessly, its ferocity far surpassing what he had displayed during his earlier battles with Yi Qiushui and Liu Zhixuan. A Genesis Qi storm swept across the entire world.

Countless people's expressions changed. Mo Yuan truly lived up to his ranking on the Divine Dwelling List, consecutively unleashing two high-grade Heaven Genesis Arts. This showcased the formidable foundation he possessed as a direct disciple of the Heaven Spirit Sect. After all, high-grade Heaven Genesis Arts were considered exceedingly rare and powerful, even within the Heaven Abyss Territory. For instance, families like the Qiu and Yi, despite their vast resources, each possessed only a single one.

"Haha," Mo Yuan roared, "to make me, Mo Yuan, simultaneously unleash two high-grade Heaven Genesis Arts against an opponent—even if you lose today, it will be enough to make your name known throughout the Heaven Abyss Territory!" With both high-grade Heaven Genesis Arts activated, Mo Yuan felt a destructive power surge through his body, and a wave of heroic pride swelled within him. He stood suspended in the void, gazing down at Zhou Yuan with disdain, his laughter echoing across the heavens and earth. Only then did he finally manage to suppress the apprehension caused by Zhou Yuan's eight-million Genesis Qi foundation.

Zhou Yuan looked at the imposing Mo Yuan and smiled back, his grin bright. "Then I must thank you for helping me make a name for myself," he responded.

Mo Yuan advanced through the air, his piercing roar shaking the void. "Wait until you survive today to say that!"