Chapter 959: Joint Effort

Deep within the iceberg, on the ice-rock above the ice lake.

Zhou Yuan sat quietly, cross-legged, his eyes gently closed. His mind, however, was immersed in his Divine Dwelling, where a mass of Genesis Qi pulsed. Within the Genesis Qi, glistening fragments were visible. These were precisely the fragments of the Five-Spirit Pagoda.

Previously, Lu Hai and his group needed to combine their strengths to summon the Five-Spirit Pagoda. However, Zhou Yuan's Genesis Qi reserves far surpassed theirs, allowing him to accomplish it alone. Yet, he could only summon it once in a short period.

Zhou Yuan circulated his Genesis Qi, nurturing the fragments. After roughly the time it takes an incense stick to burn, he finally opened his eyes.

On the massive ice-rock where they were located, Yuan Kun sat beside him, devouring numerous pieces of dried meat he had pulled from his Cosmos Bag. Next to him, the Earth God Bull, which had been brought along, was also feasting heartily.

Seeing Zhou Yuan open his eyes, Yuan Kun grinned and offered him some roasted meat. Zhou Yuan shook his head, declining. He then looked up towards the distance, where Jiugong's graceful figure moved silently through the air. Cold mist enveloped her, obscuring her form, and each time she landed, she left behind numerous Genesis Runes. She was setting up a Genesis Rune barrier.

The Fallen Fiend Shadow before them posed an extreme threat. Even with the three of them working together, they couldn't be certain of victory. Thus, none of them held back, dedicating themselves to preparing their most powerful techniques. Zhou Yuan was fully focused on nurturing the fragments, Yuan Kun had even brought in the Earth God Bull, and Jiugong was diligently setting up some of her most formidable barriers.

Jiugong busied herself for a good part of the morning before finally returning, her chest gently rising and falling as she panted.

As she landed, she saw Zhou Yuan sitting cross-legged and Yuan Kun frantically eating roasted meat nearby. Her eyebrows immediately furrowed. These two scoundrels truly had no compassion for her; they just watched her busy herself without anyone offering to help.

"Are you ready?" Zhou Yuan asked with a smile.Jiugong snorted coldly.

Zhou Yuan squinted his eyes, glancing at the void. "Impressive," he said. "In such a short time, you've set up an eight-layered Genesis Rune barrier. If it were to enter, even the Fallen Fiend Shadow, with its seventy million Genesis Qi reserves, would likely be trapped for a moment."

Jiugong looked at him with a hint of surprise. Her eight-layered Genesis Rune barrier was designed with one layer concealing another, yet Zhou Yuan had seen through it clearly. This showed that his mastery of Genesis Runes was indeed extraordinary, no wonder he had been able to break her Meridian Golden Light Barrier.

She tilted her pale chin slightly. "At least you have some discerning vision," she said, rather haughtily.

Zhou Yuan smiled, then said seriously, "Also, I should remind you that my sealing technique requires you to trap it for an instant beforehand. If it dodges, getting a second chance will be difficult. So, we must succeed with a single strike."

When Yuan Kun and Jiugong heard Zhou Yuan's words, they didn't show any disappointment. Instead, they imperceptibly breathed a sigh of relief. If Zhou Yuan's sealing technique could truly be used perfectly as he claimed, it would be an unguardable and extremely dangerous weapon. Given that they were all competitors in the Nine Regions Grand Meeting, they naturally didn't want Zhou Yuan to possess such a capability.

"When we act, Yuan Kun will take it head-on and seize the opportunity to lure it into the barrier. I will use the barrier to entangle it, and Zhou Yuan will find an opening to activate his sealing technique. Any objections?" Jiugong asked.

Zhou Yuan nodded, while Yuan Kun's face tightened. As the one taking it head-on, he was clearly going to take a beating, making his role the most unfortunate. However, he knew this was his part in the plan and couldn't avoid it.

"If everything's ready..." Zhou Yuan took a deep breath, his gaze slowly sharpening. "Then let's make our move!"

Yuan Kun got to his feet, patting his stomach, which rippled. But a dangerous glint slowly appeared in his narrowed eyes. A powerful surge of Genesis Qi erupted from him.

"Beast Devil Body!" Yuan Kun roared. His entire body of fat instantly turned pitch black, like cast iron. He stomped his foot, and his figure shot downwards like a cannonball, unleashing a punch in mid-air.

The force of the punch, like a surging flood, heavily struck the ice block where the Fallen Fiend Shadow was hidden.

The ice block exploded instantly, and a piercing shriek suddenly echoed, its sound waves grating and rolling forth, surprisingly stirring up massive waves on the ice lake. The ice waves were suddenly torn apart, and a phantom-like light figure shot out, appearing directly in front of Yuan Kun.

The Fallen Fiend Shadow made no elaborate moves; it simply unleashed a direct punch. The punch created a sonic boom, causing ripples of shock to spread through the void.

Yuan Kun roared, crossing his arms in front of him. *Boom!* The Fallen Fiend Shadow's punch landed, unleashing violent ripples in the void and once again stirring up massive waves in the ice lake.

Yuan Kun, however, let out a cry of pain as his massive body was sent flying backward. He crashed onto the ice lake, skidding across the surface, leaving long trails of disturbed water, and smashing all the ice chunks in his path into powder. *Pfft.* When he finally steadied himself, a mouthful of blood gushed out. Blood flowed from his arms, revealing the stark white bone beneath.

"This damn thing is too fierce!" Yuan Kun cursed angrily, fear in his eyes. He considered himself quite resistant to blows, yet he had nearly been killed by a single punch. Was this Fallen Fiend Shadow, with its seventy million Genesis Qi reserves, truly that powerful?!

On the high ice-rock, Zhou Yuan and Jiugong couldn't help but change expression upon witnessing this scene. The ferocity of the Fallen Fiend Shadow was somewhat beyond their expectations.

"Brother Bull!" On the ice lake, Yuan Kun's scalp tingled as he watched the Fallen Fiend Shadow suddenly shoot towards him again. He immediately roared.

High in the air, the Earth God Bull also let out a bellow. Its four hooves moved, causing the void to tremble, as if it had transformed into a terrifying steel torrent, carrying an indescribable impact force, rushing directly towards the Fallen Fiend Shadow to collide with it.

That collision was powerful enough to cleave a mountain in half.

The Earth God Bull was incredibly fast. The Fallen Fiend Shadow turned and clenched, and a mighty Genesis Qi roared forth, forming two massive Genesis Qi hands that directly seized its two sharp horns.

The void vibrated violently, and the Earth God Bull's charge was forcibly halted.

Yuan Kun's figure appeared on the Earth God Bull's back. His hands covered in blood, he frantically formed seals, then slapped the bull's back, yelling, "Ox Devil God Horn Art!"

*Buzz!* The Earth God Bull's two horns suddenly turned an ominous black. As the horns vibrated, cracks appeared in the void, and a terrifying power erupted. The two massive Genesis Qi hands instantly shattered, and the Earth God Bull roared as it slammed heavily into the Fallen Fiend Shadow's body.

The Fallen Fiend Shadow was directly sent flying, crashing violently into a massive ice wall, causing huge cracks to spread across it.

Zhou Yuan watched this scene, his eyelid twitching slightly. He glanced at Yuan Kun and the Earth God Bull. When the man and beast combined forces, their combat strength was indeed terrifying, capable of even sending the Fallen Fiend Shadow flying.

However... it seemed to be of little use. Because on the ice wall, the Fallen Fiend Shadow slowly slid down, staggering. It shook its head, and the immense Genesis Qi fluctuations from its body showed no signs of weakening.

It seemed somewhat enraged, letting out a piercing shriek. Its Genesis Qi fluctuations suddenly surged, and it charged towards Yuan Kun once more.

Yuan Kun's scalp tingled at the sight. He immediately slapped the Divine Bull. "Brother Bull, run!" he exclaimed. He had finally confirmed that he truly couldn't defeat it alone!

The Earth God Bull, understanding his intent, immediately moved its four hooves and shot towards the sky. The Fallen Fiend Shadow pursued relentlessly. The man and bull fled madly ahead, with the fiend shadow close behind.

After more than ten seconds, Yuan Kun rushed into the multi-layered barrier. However, at that moment, the fiend shadow suddenly slowed down, as if it had sensed something.

From their hidden positions, Jiugong and Zhou Yuan's hearts immediately sank upon seeing this scene.

Yuan Kun also noticed the Fallen Fiend Shadow's deceleration. He gritted his teeth, then slapped the Earth God Bull's head. "Brother Bull, unleash your ultimate move!" he yelled.

The Earth God Bull swung its tail, and dozens of black, iron-egg-like spherical projectiles shot out, striking the Fallen Fiend Shadow's body fiercely like arrows.

The black projectiles emitted a strange odor, seeming to induce a heightened emotional state. The Fallen Fiend Shadow's eyes appeared to turn crimson at that moment. The next instant, it no longer hesitated and shot forward, stepping into the multi-layered barrier.

Zhou Yuan and Jiugong remained silent for a breath, then the former quietly spoke. "The big fish is in the net..." "Time to reel it in..."