Chapter 878: Han Yuan's Hidden Side

As Han Yuan and Zhou Yuan’s immense Genesis Qi swept across the world, the magnificent scene drew countless eager gazes. No one had expected that among the four Pavilion Masters, Han Yuan would be the first to condense three Genesis Runes!

At this moment, the vast Genesis Qi foundation of over 29 million roared into the sky, its pressure making the colossal peak seemingly tremble slightly. Many secretly clicked their tongues. Among the four pavilions, Han Yuan was actually quite low-key in his daily life, perhaps because his brilliance was entirely overshadowed by Lu Xiao. As a former rogue cultivator who became the Pavilion Master of the Mountain Pavilion, he was often overlooked by many.

They had thought Han Yuan was merely Lu Xiao's subordinate. But now, they realized that beneath his unassuming demeanor lay considerable ambition. At the very least, Lu Xiao himself had yet to fully condense this third Genesis Rune. This clearly showed how much effort Han Yuan had put into it. Of course, perhaps it was just as he claimed: lacking Lu Xiao's background, he could only dedicate himself to the Four Spirits Genesis Tower to improve his strength, pinning all his hopes on those four Genesis Runes. His seemingly "clumsy" method had now yielded significant results.

Initially, everyone believed that the hierarchy among the four had already been established on the Cloud Ladder, and that Han Yuan's encounter with Zhou Yuan would likely end poorly for him. However, it now seemed they had spoken too soon.

On the white jade plaza, black Genesis Qi and azure Genesis Qi clashed in the void, creating thunderous sounds and causing intense tremors. Around Han Yuan, his rising Genesis Qi resembled thick black smoke. The Genesis Qi he cultivated, called Heavenly Demonic Blight Qi, was also a seventh-grade art. This Genesis Qi contained extremely potent toxicity; if it infiltrated the body, flesh and blood would completely dissolve.

However, even after activating three Genesis Runes and boosting his Genesis Qi foundation to 29 million, Han Yuan's eyes, fixed on Zhou Yuan, were still filled with apprehension. This was because Zhou Yuan was not much weaker than him at this moment. This battle would undoubtedly be a tough one.

Han Yuan's eyes turned cold. As he abruptly clasped his hands together, the vast black Genesis Qi roared, instantly transforming into a thousand-foot-tall black poisoned hand. It descended powerfully towards Zhou Yuan, exuding an overwhelming stench. Black mist swirled around the colossal black hand; if it could penetrate Zhou Yuan's body, its toxic intent would surely injure him!

Watching the descending black poisoned hand, Zhou Yuan's eyes narrowed slightly. He was not careless enough to let the colossal hand get close to his body. One had to be extremely cautious with this type of poison-element Genesis Qi, otherwise, even with his partial mastery of his physical body, getting hit would be exceptionally troublesome.

He raised his palm, and a Sword Pill floated above it. Instantly, an immense sword hum resonated. The next moment, an incomparably sharp sword light shot skyward, carrying boundless keenness, and directly collided with the black poisoned hand. Where the sword light passed, the black poisoned hand, formed purely from Genesis Qi, was directly pierced through. Then, with a swing, the sword light divided into thousands of sword shadows, raining down like a storm towards Han Yuan's position.

Han Yuan retreated, his sleeves flapping continuously. A vast expanse of black Genesis Qi surged before him, layer upon layer, seemingly transforming into a deep black swamp.

Pfft! Pfft! Pfft!

Countless sword shadows pierced into the black swamp, continually pushing deeper. However, they were eventually eroded by the highly toxic Genesis Qi within, vanishing into nothingness when they were still roughly ten feet away from Han Yuan's body. Upon their initial exchange, both sides felt the other was a formidable opponent.

Han Yuan's brows furrowed slightly. The previous exchange was instantaneous, but despite his 29 million Genesis Qi foundation, he hadn't gained any advantage. Instead, he had been counterattacked by Zhou Yuan. The purity of Zhou Yuan's Genesis Qi and the power of his Genesis Arts both exceeded Han Yuan's expectations.

Zhou Yuan likewise let out a soft sigh. He had initially believed that after breaking through to the late Divine Dwelling stage, he could easily defeat Han Yuan and then conserve strength for a decisive battle against Lu Xiao. However, it now seemed he had truly underestimated this unassuming Pavilion Master of the Mountain Pavilion.

Nevertheless, this struggle, no matter what, could not become a protracted one. It had to be resolved quickly and decisively. The longer it dragged on, the greater the consumption of their own Genesis Qi, and there was a more intense battle still to come after this one. Therefore, this battle needed a quick resolution!

As Zhou Yuan's gaze flickered, Han Yuan exhaled a puff of white mist. His eyes also sharpened at this moment. His thoughts mirrored Zhou Yuan's; he too wished to advance to the final round, so he could not afford a prolonged battle with Zhou Yuan.

Since that was the case...

Han Yuan let out a long cry to the sky. Tapping his toes, his figure shot straight into the void. He spat out a mouthful of vital blood, his ten fingers becoming blood-stained, then swiftly formed countless hand seals. Black Genesis Qi surged forth, enveloping his figure like an endless black sea. Vaguely, a chilling aura began to condense within that viscous black sea.

Zhou Yuan watched this scene, knowing that Han Yuan intended to unleash a killing move directly. Not only did he not stop him, but he was quite pleased, as this was also his plan: both sides to finish quickly, the victor advances, the loser withdraws!

Zhou Yuan clenched his five fingers. Azure-gold Genesis Qi roared within his body, vaguely transforming into an azure dragon coiled outside his form, letting out a dragon's roar.

Outside, countless eyes were fixed intently on this spot. The clash between Zhou Yuan and Han Yuan proved to be even more fierce and intense than imagined!

The black Genesis Qi surged and churned. After several tens of breaths, the vast expanse of viscous black Genesis Qi suddenly stiffened, then began to roll back at an astonishing speed. As the Genesis Qi receded, everyone could feel a heart-palpitating fluctuation emerging from the center of what resembled a black sea. That fluctuation was filled with brutality and murderous intent.

Evidently, both Zhou Yuan and Han Yuan wanted to finish quickly to prepare for the second round, but it remained uncertain who would succeed in their wish.

The black Genesis Qi continued to recede, and as the last swirl dissipated, Han Yuan's figure finally reappeared. At this moment, his face was slightly pale, but his eyes were blazing with intensity. Countless gazes turned to the space behind Han Yuan. There, a black figure, roughly ten zhang tall, stood silently. The last wisp of black Genesis Qi was now entering its nostrils. In the shadow's hand, it held a black scythe, its blade shimmering with an unusual light. That boundless aura of brutality and murderous intent emanated from within the eerie black figure.

Han Yuan, his face pale, stared at Zhou Yuan, then grinned, revealing chilling white teeth.

“Pavilion Master Zhou Yuan...”

“This is the grand feast I’ve prepared for you. You can call it...”

“Black Heaven Demon!”