Chapter 96: Battle Challenge

King Qi's rebellion and declaration of the Great Qi undoubtedly caused immense turmoil within the Great Zhou Dynasty. Everyone feared a repeat of past events, leading to widespread panic.

It was at this critical moment that Wei Canglan, in his capacity as the Grand General of the Great Zhou Dynasty, appeared in Great Zhou City, declaring King Qi a rebel and vowing to lead an expedition against him.

Wei Canglan held considerable prestige in the Great Zhou Dynasty. However, years of staying within Canglan Commandery had fueled rumors of his discord with the imperial family. His sudden appearance now debunked these rumors and brought a measure of reassurance to the anxious citizens of Great Zhou.

Following Wei Canglan, King Black Venom also appeared, announcing that he would lead Black Venom City in allegiance to Great Zhou.

This news immediately caused an uproar. Everyone knew Black Venom City had a notorious reputation for frequently encroaching upon Great Zhou's borders. Yet, no one expected such a formidable figure to choose to pledge loyalty to Great Zhou at this crucial juncture.

While this outcome astonished countless people, it also instilled greater confidence in the Great Zhou imperial family, allowing public sentiment to stabilize.

In contrast to the Great Zhou Dynasty, which had seen its prestige significantly boosted by the addition of Wei Canglan and King Black Venom, there was no reported movement from the Great Qi. They continued to prepare their forces, seemingly unaffected by these developments.

King Qi Yuan even directly issued a challenge:

"In ten days, our army will arrive at Great Zhou City."

This declaration immediately caused widespread commotion. It appeared Qi Yuan intended to strike directly at the heart of the capital. It was clear that if Great Zhou City fell, the Great Zhou imperial family would inevitably be overthrown.

The Great Zhou Dynasty was on the verge of a complete change.

What puzzled everyone, however, was Qi Yuan's confidence in issuing such a challenge, given that Great Zhou City currently had three Genesis Stage experts guarding it.

"In ten days, our army will arrive at Great Zhou City..."

In a courtyard, Zhou Yuan gazed at the challenge in his hand, a pensive look in his eyes. This challenge clearly indicated Qi Yuan's confidence.

Without such confidence, a defeat would only damage Qi Yuan's own reputation.

"It seems he has received substantial support from the Great Wu Dynasty."

A cold glint flashed in Zhou Yuan's eyes as he muttered grimly, "That Great Wu Crown Prince, who stole my destiny, clearly doesn't want me to have peace."

Regardless of the support King Qi had, Zhou Yuan was prepared to face any challenge that came his way.

Zhou Yuan took a deep breath, suppressing his emotions. His most important task now was to cultivate the first level of the Ancestral Dragon Scripture, "Heavenly Profound Python Qi."

Only by mastering this Genesis Qi could he truly be considered to have formally embarked on the path of Genesis Qi cultivation.

He had no time before, as he rushed back to Great Zhou City. Now, however, was the opportune moment.

"Are you ready?" A pleasant voice came from beside him. Yaoyao sat there, holding Tun Tun, watching Zhou Yuan.

Zhou Yuan nodded firmly without hesitation. He tapped his Qiankun Pouch, and several rays of light shot out, landing on the stone table before him:

"Heavenly Gold Marrow," "Nine Nether Profound Spring Crystal," "Source-Swallowing Stone," and "Fourth-Grade Python Beast Soul."

Gazing at the four Genesis materials before him, Zhou Yuan couldn't help but sigh in relief. After so much effort, he had finally gathered them all.

A fervent anticipation gradually surged in his eyes.

Since the day he acquired the "Ancestral Dragon Scripture," Zhou Yuan had been looking forward to this moment.

Zhou Yuan looked at Yaoyao, nodding softly at her. Then, with a solemn expression, he tapped his Qiankun Pouch, and a slightly mottled, mysterious bone fragment appeared in his hand.

An indescribable aura emanated from the fragment.

Tun Tun, in Yaoyao's arms, suddenly leaped aside, letting out a low growl. Its fur bristled, and a faint red glow circulated around its body, as if it was about to transform into its combat form.

Even with prior experience, Tun Tun still displayed profound apprehension towards this mysterious bone fragment.

Zhou Yuan glanced at the bristling Tun Tun. If even a mysterious Genesis Beast like Tun Tun was so wary of the Ancestral Dragon bone fragment, one could only imagine the immense power of the legendary Ancestral Dragon.

"To obtain the Ancestral Dragon Scripture contained within the Ancestral Dragon bone, one must use dragon-aligned destiny as a key to unlock it..."

Zhou Yuan raised his hand, where the Resentful Dragon Poison coiled, his gaze somewhat uneasy. His original Sacred Dragon destiny had been stolen by the Great Wu's python-sparrow. Now, he could only attempt to unlock it with the Resentful Dragon Poison. If he failed, the Ancestral Dragon Scripture would forever be beyond his reach.

"Don't worry, if I say it will work, it will!" Yaoyao said, her lips curling slightly as she noticed his hesitant gaze.

Zhou Yuan gave an awkward smile, then composed himself. Without further hesitation, he slowly grasped the Ancestral Dragon bone fragment with the hand where the Resentful Dragon Poison coiled.

The moment the Ancestral Dragon bone touched the Resentful Dragon Poison in his palm, Zhou Yuan immediately felt faint light patterns subtly emerge on the mottled fragment.

These light patterns pulsed, as if breathing, strengthening and weakening intermittently.

The crimson Resentful Dragon Poison coiled in Zhou Yuan's palm seemed to be drawn by something. It quietly began to writhe, and tendrils of crimson seeped from his palm, burrowing into the Ancestral Dragon bone fragment.

The light patterns on the Ancestral Dragon bone intensified, and faintly, an incredibly ancient dragon's roar seemed to pierce through time and space, emanating from within the bone.

All sounds in the entire courtyard fell silent.

The Ancestral Dragon bone began to tremble violently. The next instant, a beam of profound light suddenly burst forth from it, piercing through space with a whoosh and striking Zhou Yuan's glabella.

A low hum resonated in Zhou Yuan's mind at that very moment.

Zhou Yuan's spirit vibrated as if he were in a chaotic world, before heaven and earth were separated. In that chaos, a being suddenly emerged, its body so immense that it was beyond sight.

It was the Ancestral Dragon!

The Ancestral Dragon let out a long roar, its cry shattering the chaos as if it were creating the world itself.

The Ancestral Dragon slowly lowered its head, its colossal dragon eyes glinting with chaotic light. It seemed to have spotted Zhou Yuan, and in the next instant, chaotic light burst forth from its eyes, rapidly shooting towards him.

As the chaotic light struck, Zhou Yuan's spirit immediately began to dissipate.

Zhou Yuan's tightly shut eyes snapped open, his body drenched in sweat. What he had witnessed in his spirit, though he didn't know if it was real, the sheer oppressive sensation had nearly driven him to collapse.

If he hadn't regularly practiced the "Chaos Divine Grinding Contemplation Method" to overcome fear and temper himself, his spirit might have been directly shattered by the Ancestral Dragon's gaze.

Nevertheless... he had endured it.

Zhou Yuan extended a slightly trembling finger, gently touching his glabella, and a hint of excited smile involuntarily appeared at the corner of his lips.

This was because, at that moment, a cultivation method was flowing through his mind: "Heavenly Profound Python Qi."

He had finally obtained the Ancestral Dragon Scripture.