Chapter 81: Battle in the Valley

Deep in the valley, the Fiery Spirit Spikes radiated a crimson light, like a miniature sun. They drew the complete attention of both groups of people above the valley, their eyes filled with fervent desire and covetousness.

Qi Hao finally managed to tear his gaze away from the depths of the valley, his eyes betraying undisguised greed. He then turned his head, his sinister gaze falling upon Zhou Yuan and his companions on the other side of the valley.

“Zhou Yuan, I advise you to leave now,” Qi Hao said grimly. “Otherwise, it might be too late when you regret it later.”

Zhou Yuan glanced at Qi Hao expressionlessly, not bothering to acknowledge such nonsense.

Seeing that Zhou Yuan completely ignored him, a chill flashed in Qi Hao's eyes. “Since you insist on seeking death,” he said, “then I shall grant it to you today!”

“Lord Hei, it’s time for you to make your move,” Qi Hao said, turning to Black Venom King.

Black Venom King let out two sharp, hoarse laughs. “Since you’ve paid the price of three prefectural cities,” he rasped, “then naturally I will help you to the very end.”

As his voice trailed off, Black Venom King’s body trembled. A vast black mist roared directly from the top of his head, like a black cloud, enveloping him. A foul, fishy stench permeated the black cloud, clearly indicating it contained potent poison. This was the “Miasmic Demonic Qi,” Black Venom King’s cultivated Origin Qi, a fourth-grade type.

Black Venom King had obtained this Miasmic Demonic Qi through a fortunate encounter. With it, he not only entered the Genesis Realm but also dominated many masters in the Black Abyss. Even Wei Canglan had repeatedly suffered setbacks at his hands.

As Black Venom King displayed his menacing power, Wei Canglan stepped forward on Zhou Yuan’s side. He stared coldly at Black Venom King, and a formidable surge of Origin Qi similarly roared forth from the top of his head. The Origin Qi cultivated by Wei Canglan was dark gold, emitting an aura reminiscent of iron horses and golden spears, filled with sharp killing intent. This was the “Golden Spear Qi,” also a fourth-grade Origin Qi, which was sharp, keen, and quite overbearing.

“Wei Canglan, you’ve repeatedly failed to gain an advantage against me,” Black Venom King said with a sinister laugh. “I didn’t expect you’d still have the guts to challenge me. I truly admire your courage!”

A strong killing intent flashed in Wei Canglan’s eyes. “This time,” he said, “I will surely slay you, to avenge the torment my son has suffered over the years!”

“Haha, I’m just afraid you don’t have the ability!” Black Venom King roared with laughter. Immediately, the swirling Miasmic Demonic Qi in the sky roared down, coiling around his body and sweeping him into mid-air. He stood on the Miasmic Demonic Qi, black mist roaring and surging behind him like a demon, his presence terrifying.

“Your Highness, I will deal with this venomous creature; for everything else, I can only rely on you all,” Wei Canglan said. The dark golden Origin Qi also roared forth, and he shot into the sky, stepping on the energy.

In the sky, two powerful Genesis Realm experts confronted each other, their astonishing auras constantly clashing.

Wei Canglan made the first move. With a clench of his palm, the dark golden Origin Qi swirling around him roared out like a golden war spear. With a whoosh, it pierced the air and shot towards Black Venom King.

“Cackle.” Black Venom King let out a strange laugh. With a clap of his hands, the black Origin Qi formed a rapidly spinning black tornado, deflecting the incoming dark golden Origin Qi.

On both sides of the valley, Zhou Yuan’s and Qi Hao’s forces watched the battle in the sky with solemn expressions.

“Come, Wei Canglan, try my Miasmic Demonic Prison again!” Black Venom King waved his sleeve, and two streams of black Origin Qi flew out, shooting forth and rapidly descending from the sky. They formed a constantly shrinking cage around Wei Canglan. As the black cage continuously shrank, the black poisonous mist within it churned and compressed towards Wei Canglan.

“Golden Spear Slash!”

Wei Canglan’s expression was icy cold. With a clench of his hand, a large golden saber suddenly appeared in his grasp. The saber was covered in Origin Runes, radiating powerful fluctuations. It was clearly a Profound Origin Weapon. Wei Canglan gripped the long saber and chopped down fiercely.

With a ripping sound! A golden saber light, about a hundred feet long, shot forth, tearing even the air apart. The continuously shrinking cage was instantly cut in two by that golden saber light.

As the cage broke, a stream of black mist suddenly appeared behind Wei Canglan. Black Venom King’s figure flashed out and he slapped his palm towards Wei Canglan’s back. Black mist swirled on his palm, clearly containing potent poison. A foul wind surged from behind, and Wei Canglan countered with a punch. Golden light permeated his fist, and golden rays shot out, as sharp as thousands of blades and swords.

Fist and palm clashed heavily. The nearby air exploded, deafening sonic booms rang out, and visible airwaves rolled outwards. Both figures were sent flying backward from the impact.

Black Venom King stabilized himself, his face somewhat contorted. His palm was continuously dripping blood; Wei Canglan’s overbearing Golden Spear Qi had pierced through it in their previous clash. However, despite his pierced palm, Black Venom King stared at Wei Canglan with a sinister, poisonous glint in his eyes. “Wei Canglan,” he said coldly, “you truly never learn your lesson. How dare you still clash directly with my Miasmic Demonic Qi? Have you forgotten the taste of toxic qi corroding your body?”

In the previous clash, while his palm was indeed pierced, he had also managed to inject a stream of Miasmic Demonic Qi into Wei Canglan’s body. However, what surprised Black Venom King was that Wei Canglan’s expression remained indifferent. Wei Canglan slowly raised his palm, and faintly visible green light patterns emerged on its center. Then, Black Venom King watched with a grim expression as a wisp of black mist was slowly expelled by the green light patterns. His Miasmic Demonic Qi had actually been expelled!

“Did you really think I had no means to prevent you from injecting your poison into my body?” Wei Canglan scoffed. The green light patterns were, of course, the “Ten Thousand Woods Poison-Warding Runes.” When activated, this Origin Rune could protect the body, preventing poison from invading it.

Black Venom King’s face was as dark as water. In this way, he had suffered a great loss, having one of his palms pierced by Wei Canglan.

“Father is gaining the upper hand!” Wei Qingqing exclaimed joyfully as she witnessed this scene above the valley.

Zhou Yuan also breathed a slight sigh of relief. Fortunately, he had made preparations; otherwise, Wei Canglan might still find it difficult to gain the upper hand.

On Qi Hao’s side, however, the atmosphere grew tense. He frowned, clearly not expecting Black Venom King to suffer such a significant loss.

“Young Master, Black Venom King probably can’t win; he can only hold Wei Canglan back,” Qi Ling whispered.

Qi Hao’s expression was cold, his eyes flickering slightly. “It’s fine,” he said indifferently. “As long as he can hold Wei Canglan back, that’s enough. Next, it’s up to our own methods.” He raised his head, looking towards Zhou Yuan’s side, a mocking curve appearing at the corner of his mouth.

“It seems they already think victory is in their grasp. If that’s the case, let’s give them something extra…”

Just as his voice fell, the ground beneath them suddenly began to tremble. In the valley, the earth was abruptly torn apart, and amidst the swirling dust, a colossal creature slowly emerged.

Zhou Yuan and his companions’ pupils instantly constricted as they gazed at the suddenly appearing behemoth. Under the sunlight, a roughly dozens-of-meters-long dark black giant python was coiled in the valley. Its snake eyes were crimson, and its body bore numerous patterns, radiating an unparalleled ferocious aura.

As Zhou Yuan looked at the giant python, his expression also became extremely solemn. Had this ruins guardian finally appeared?

He raised his head, his gaze sweeping towards Qi Hao and his companions, who were closer to the giant python, but he frowned. He saw no trace of tension or unease on Qi Hao’s face; instead, the latter’s eyes were filled with fervent excitement and anticipation as he looked at the war puppet python.

“What’s going on?” Zhou Yuan’s eyes narrowed slightly.

As if sensing Zhou Yuan’s gaze, Qi Hao turned his head and gave him a strange smile. At the same time, a cold voice drifted from afar.

“Zhou Yuan, I told you to leave earlier. Now… you will all die here!”