Chapter 882: Zhou Yuan Battles Lu Xiao

On the mountaintop, two immense waves of Genesis Qi clashed, and thunder reverberated. Some of the unleashed shockwaves raged outwards, directly shattering nearby boulders with astonishing force.

Zhou Yuan and Lu Xiao stood on separate massive rocks, their gazes gradually turning sharp and icy.

On the backs of Zhou Yuan's hands, Wind Spirit Runes and Fire Spirit Runes slowly emerged.

As the two Genesis Runes were activated, the Genesis Qi surging from Zhou Yuan's body instantly soared. The number of Genesis Qi stars reflecting in the void climbed steadily, eventually reaching a formidable twenty-eight million.

Facing an opponent of Lu Xiao's caliber, Zhou Yuan had no intention of testing the waters. He knew that only by going all out could he gain the upper hand.

Seeing this, Lu Xiao's expression remained indifferent. He too, without hesitation, activated the Fire Spirit Rune and Mountain Spirit Rune, causing his Genesis Qi reserves to instantly surge by six million. This, combined with his inherent twenty-three million, brought his total to twenty-nine million!

Countless onlookers were filled with shock. Both Zhou Yuan and Lu Xiao's Genesis Qi reserves were now close to thirty million. Such a high level of Genesis Qi caused many powerful experts, also in the later Divine Dwelling stage, to show bitter expressions.

Zhou Yuan and Lu Xiao simultaneously shot into the sky, their immense Genesis Qi transforming into torrents around them, which then roared outwards.

A green and a purple Genesis Qi torrent vibrated the void, carrying a shocking power that would make the scalp of an ordinary late Divine Dwelling stage expert tingle. They collided ferociously in mid-air.

Boom! Boom! Mixed green and purple Genesis Qi shockwaves erupted. Countless boulders below were ripped from the ground, and even the void itself was torn with faint spatial cracks.

Both Zhou Yuan and Lu Xiao's figures trembled slightly, and their eyes instantly grew solemn. With this first exchange, they sensed the powerful Genesis Qi of their opponent, which was in no way inferior to their own.

Zhou Yuan opened his mouth, and a sword pellet shot out. Sword light erupted, and countless sword shadows flashed forth, their sharp aura piercing the clouds.

"Demon-Slaying Sword Pellet Art, Sword Torrent!"

Zhou Yuan formed a single-handed seal, and thousands of sword shadows converged, transforming into a mighty torrent that surged forward. Wherever the sword torrent passed, the void was torn apart, its irresistible momentum seemingly intent on shredding anything in its path.

Lu Xiao sneered as he watched the roaring sword torrent. His Genesis Qi surged, showing no intention of yielding.

"Purple Wave Hand!"

Rolling purple Genesis Qi roared, transforming into a massive purple wave. From within the wave, a gigantic purple-glowing hand reached out, capable of shattering the earth with a single strike.

The sword torrent and the gigantic purple hand collided, filling the entire world with thunderous roars. Violent Genesis Qi shockwaves raged relentlessly.

Wave after wave of attacks erupted on the mountaintop, causing the entire Qingtian Mountain to tremble violently.

Countless onlookers stared dumbfounded at the intensity of this clash. Only now did they truly understand that neither Zhou Yuan nor Lu Xiao had exerted their full strength when they previously faced Han Yuan and Mu Liu.

On the mountaintop, another fierce collision occurred.

Zhou Yuan's hands rapidly formed a seal: "Grand Mystery Saint Spirit Art!"

A mysterious light figure appeared outside his body, its wings spread, devouring the vast Genesis Qi of the world. With the Grand Mystery Saint Spirit Art activated, the Genesis Qi fluctuations within Zhou Yuan's body surged once more. He clenched his hand, and the sword pellet flew through the air. As Genesis Qi poured into it, a hundred-zhang light sword extended from Zhou Yuan's grasp, its blade fluctuating and radiating chilling light in all directions.

"Cut!"

Zhou Yuan's roar was like thunder, and the light sword cleaved down with immense force. Even before the light sword landed, a deep sword mark had already appeared on the mountaintop. A massive mountain cliff was cleanly sliced off by the single sword strike and plummeted with a thunderous roar into the abyss.

Zhou Yuan's sword strike, powered by twenty-eight million Genesis Qi stars, combined with the might of two high-grade Heaven Genesis Arts—the Grand Mystery Saint Spirit Art and the Demon-Slaying Sword Pellet Art—had a destructive power that made the eyelids of countless Divine Dwelling stage experts twitch wildly. Under this single sword, it seemed even ten ordinary late Divine Dwelling stage experts would be reduced to dust.

As the immense sword light descended from the sky, Lu Xiao's expression grew solemn. He brought his hands together, and brilliant purple light emanated from his palms, eventually forming a purple barrier that enveloped his body. On the surface of the barrier, a mysterious figure seemed to be silently seated in meditation.

"Immovable Ming King Purple Light Shield!"

This was also a high-grade Heaven Genesis Art from the Heavenly Spirit Sect, known for its exceptionally formidable defense.

The immense sword light crashed heavily onto the thin purple barrier. The brilliant sword light flared almost like a rising sun, and violent shockwaves spread outwards, tearing countless deep marks into the mountaintop. The scattered massive boulders were shredded into powder by the sword qi.

The sword qi on the mountaintop raged for dozens of breaths before gradually dissipating.

Countless gazes immediately shot towards the spot. There, Lu Xiao stood suspended in the air, his purple barrier flickering faintly around him. Though it was covered in cracks, it had clearly withstood Zhou Yuan's stunning sword strike.

In the two ruined squares on the mountainside, Han Yuan and Mu Liu watched this scene with complex expressions. If that sword strike had been aimed at them, they weren't sure they could have withstood it.

Meanwhile, outside.

Zuo Ya, at the Fire Pavilion, couldn't help but stamp her foot, saying, "Why isn't Senior Brother Lu Xiao attacking? He's letting that guy jump all over the place!" She had been hoping Lu Xiao would crush Zhou Yuan decisively to vent her frustration, but now it seemed Zhou Yuan was taking the initiative.

Zhu Lian shook his head, saying somewhat helplessly, "Don't talk nonsense. Zhou Yuan is very strong. Didn't you see Senior Brother Lu Xiao putting his full effort into every response earlier? In clashes of this caliber, one can only seek opportunities through continuous confrontation."

Zuo Ya shot him an unhappy glance but ultimately said no more. She wasn't blind, and Zhou Yuan's successive astonishing attacks had made her heart pound. She knew that if it were her fighting, ten lives wouldn't be enough for Zhou Yuan to cut through. This Master of the Wind Pavilion truly had some ability.

"This guy..." Lu Xiao gazed at his nearly shattered purple barrier, a shadow of gloom crossing his eyes. He knew all too well how powerful this defensive Genesis Art was, yet it had reached its limit after withstanding just one of Zhou Yuan's strikes. This showed just how brutal Zhou Yuan's previous sword attack had been.

Lu Xiao's gaze suddenly shifted. To his right, the void rippled, and a sword pellet broke through the air, carrying sword light as it surged forward once more. Seeing Zhou Yuan's aggressive offensive, Lu Xiao's eyes grew cold. He flicked his sleeve, and a torrent of purple Genesis Qi swept out, deflecting the sword light.

However, just as he was resisting the sword pellet's assault, Zhou Yuan's figure appeared behind him like a ghost. At that moment, Zhou Yuan raised his hand, and an illusory lantern materialized within it.

Inside the lantern, a single flame flickered.

"Soul Lamp Art!"

Zhou Yuan took a deep breath and then blew fiercely into the lantern.

Whoosh!

In the next instant, rolling soul flame roared out from it, like a massive line of fire, surging directly towards Lu Xiao.

Soul flame could attack the spirit, and Lu Xiao's spirit was his weakness. If he were truly touched by the soul flame, he would undoubtedly be severely injured. Clearly, the previous attacks were mere feints; this Soul Lamp Art was the ruthless move Zhou Yuan had prepared for Lu Xiao.

As the soul flame surged forward, Lu Xiao's eyes narrowed. A wary look flickered in his gaze, but there was no hint of panic.

"Zhou Yuan, do you truly think I wouldn't guard against this move of yours?"

Lu Xiao rapidly formed hand seals. His mouth suddenly bulged, and purple light gathered within, accompanied by a faint scent of sandalwood.

*Splish!*

In the next instant, a stream of purple water erupted from Lu Xiao's mouth. The purple water surged like a torrent, carrying a peculiar aroma, and clashed with the soul flame. Immediately, both began to rapidly annihilate each other.

"Zhou Yuan, my Violet Sandalwood Soul-Suppressing Water was specifically prepared for your soul flame!"

Zhou Yuan frowned at the sight. Lu Xiao's stubbornness truly far surpassed Han Yuan's.

"Did you enjoy your offensive earlier? Now it's time to taste the show I've prepared for you, isn't it?" A chilling smile curled Lu Xiao's lips.

Zhou Yuan's heart tightened. He felt a strange fluctuation in the surrounding world and immediately retreated without hesitation.

"Where are you going?!" Lu Xiao laughed aloud, raising his hands abruptly. In the next moment, the entire mountaintop began to tremble violently. Below, nine massive boulders exploded, and nine beams of purple light shot into the sky, forming a gigantic cage. Simultaneously, nine ancient and furious roars of beasts echoed forth.

Outside, when Zuo Ya, Zhu Lian, and the others saw the nine purple lights, they were instantly startled, then exclaimed, "The Nine Beast Genesis Sealing Array?!"

Zuo Ya was ecstatic.

"So Senior Brother Lu Xiao was secretly preparing this move!"

"Haha, once this array is complete, Zhou Yuan surely won't be able to escape!"

"The outcome is decided!"