Chapter 97: Heaven-reaching Mysterious Python Qi

Is this the cultivation method for the first stage of the Ancestral Dragon Scripture, the "Heaven-Reaching Black Python Qi"?

In the courtyard, Zhou Yuan's closed eyes slowly opened. He savored the profound and abstruse cultivation method in his mind, his face alight with both wonder and excitement. After countless trials and tribulations, he had finally acquired the cultivation method for this first stage.

"Congratulations," Yao Yao said slowly, her beautiful eyes fixed on Zhou Yuan. "From now on, you are a cultivator of the Ancestral Dragon Scripture. However, you should also know that once you truly master the 'Heaven-Reaching Black Python Qi,' you will be unable to turn back. You will be bound to this incredibly difficult path, walking it relentlessly until... death."

Zhou Yuan was silent for a moment before nodding gently. Yet, in his eyes, there was no trace of wavering, only growing resolve.

"This world is fraught with too many dangers. Without sufficient power... perhaps one day, I too would become like the War Puppet Sect, one of the eighty thousand li beings effortlessly annihilated by others. I dislike such an outcome, and I refuse to see those dear to me suffer such a catastrophe. Therefore... I must become strong—strong enough to withstand any ordeal!"

Yao Yao gazed at Zhou Yuan's resolute eyes, eventually giving a slight nod of her delicate chin. "Since you are prepared, begin. I will protect you."

Zhou Yuan nodded firmly, no longer hesitating. He closed his eyes slightly, allowing the cultivation method of the "Heaven-Reaching Black Python Qi" to flow through his mind. He meticulously savored and comprehended it, and it was only after about an hour that he finally opened his eyes.

Zhou Yuan's body trembled slightly, his spine rippled, and his bones vibrated. Within him, a dragon's roar seemed to echo—a sign of the Dragon Absorption Art. However, when Zhou Yuan now performed the Dragon Absorption Art, he no longer needed to open his mouth. As he breathed, the Genesis Qi from heaven and earth transformed into fine white threads, continuously streaming in through his nostrils with each inhale, entering his body.

This was a manifestation of the Dragon Absorption Art having reached a certain level of mastery, allowing him to perform "Dragon Absorption" with each breath, drawing in and expelling the Genesis Qi of the world. However, Zhou Yuan's proficiency wasn't yet complete, and he couldn't maintain this state for long. If he were to achieve absolute mastery in the future, even his regular breathing would draw in and expel the world's Genesis Qi, allowing him to cultivate continuously.

Streams of Genesis Qi surged within Zhou Yuan's body, circulating along his eight major meridians before finally pouring into his Qi Dwelling. Within the Qi Dwelling, pure, crystal-like Genesis Qi floated like mist.

With a thought from Zhou Yuan, the Genesis Qi within his Qi Dwelling immediately vibrated. As if intensely agitated, it began to slowly rotate. In this rotation, the Genesis Qi gradually compressed and refined itself.

As the Genesis Qi in his Qi Dwelling began to circulate, Zhou Yuan extended his hand and grasped the "Sky Gold Marrow." It appeared like a brilliant, gold-like liquid drop in his palm. The moment the Sky Gold Marrow entered Zhou Yuan's palm, it was enveloped by Genesis Qi and directly merged into his body. It then traversed his meridians and entered his Qi Dwelling. Once in the Qi Dwelling, the Sky Gold Marrow was drawn into the swirling Genesis Qi vortex, instantly transforming into countless golden motes of light. Consequently, the previously pure Genesis Qi began to shimmer with a golden light. Faintly, a sharp aura emanated from the Genesis Qi.

"Nine Nether Profound Spring Crystal!"

Without a pause, Zhou Yuan grabbed the black Nine Nether Profound Spring Crystal, which landed in his hand. With a press of his palm, and Genesis Qi surging, the crystal shattered. Wisps of black cold qi, enveloped by Genesis Qi, entered Zhou Yuan's body and then surged into his Qi Dwelling, infusing into the continuously rotating golden Genesis Qi vortex. Consequently, the golden vortex gained streaks of intertwining black light.

"Swallowing Genesis Stone!"

Having performed the previous steps, Zhou Yuan was now more proficient. The Swallowing Genesis Stone fell into his hand, was immediately crushed into powder, and wisps of dark, ethereal aura surged forth, collecting in his Qi Dwelling. After fully integrating these three Genesis materials into his Qi Dwelling's Genesis Qi, Zhou Yuan's solemn gaze turned to the final remaining material before him: the soul of a fourth-grade Python-type Genesis Beast.

"Be cautious when integrating this," Yao Yao warned at this moment. "This Genesis Beast soul is exceptionally violent; if you're not careful, it could even devour your own Divine Soul."

This was, without a doubt, many times more dangerous than the three previous Genesis materials.

Upon hearing this, Zhou Yuan simply offered a confident smile. "If it still possessed a physical body, I truly might fear it," he said. "But since only its beast soul remains, it poses no threat to me."

As his words faded, he sharply clapped his palms together, shattering the beast soul crystal. Simultaneously, a vicious, malevolent hiss echoed, and a faint, lightning-fast gleam shot directly towards Zhou Yuan's glabella. It was, indeed, the soul of the fourth-grade Python-type Genesis Beast.

"Hiss!"

The faint gleam, encompassing a shadowy python, surged into Zhou Yuan's glabella. It then streaked directly towards his seated, illusory Divine Soul, its massive maw opening wide, ready to devour it.

"You have no right to run wild in here!"

Zhou Yuan's Divine Soul sneered. His form flickered and then dissipated, immediately followed by the descent of a chaotic void. Boundless, endless chaotic divine mills slowly emerged from the heavens. The python shadow, upon witnessing this scene, was instantly terrified, clearly sensing immeasurable dread emanating from the seemingly endless chaotic divine mills. With a hiss, it turned to flee without hesitation.

However, the mottled divine mills seemed capable of traversing space and time. As they pressed down, the python shadow bizarrely appeared between the grinding stones. The divine mills passed over it, and the python shadow shattered instantly.

Zhou Yuan's Divine Soul reappeared. With an ethereal grasp, countless faint lights converged, forming a blurry python shadow in his palm. However, this python shadow now showed no trace of ferocity; its snake eyes were dull and lifeless, its remaining sentience clearly having been ground away. With a flick of his Divine Soul, Zhou Yuan sent the blurry python shadow into his Qi Dwelling, where it was likewise cast into the swirling Genesis Qi vortex.

All four Genesis materials were now contained.

With his mind focused, Zhou Yuan began to operate the Genesis Qi vortex according to the cultivation method of the "Heaven-Reaching Black Python Qi." Following a specific rhythm, he slowly initiated the process of merging and refining.

This process spanned seven days in the blink of an eye. During these seven days, Zhou Yuan's body remained completely motionless, his breathing becoming much fainter. Yet, dark golden light occasionally flickered across his skin. It seemed as though a unique aura was coalescing and forming within his body.

Throughout these seven days, Zhou Qing, Qin Yu, and Su Youwei all visited Zhou Yuan. However, seeing him at such a critical juncture in his cultivation, none dared to disturb him.

When the eighth day dawned, and the first ray of morning light spilled from the sky onto Zhou Yuan's body in the courtyard, his form, which had remained motionless for eight days, finally shuddered violently. Within him, it was as if a great python hissed, causing his blood and qi to boil and vibrate.

At that moment, Zhou Yuan's tightly closed eyes suddenly snapped open. Dark golden light surged forth from them, and tendrils of dark golden Genesis Qi erupted from within his body, coiling completely around him. As the dark golden Genesis Qi ascended, a massive golden python, formed from pure energy, emerged from Zhou Yuan's crown. It hissed skyward, its cry echoing like a clap of thunder.

On this day, Zhou Yuan finally mastered the first stage of the Ancestral Dragon Scripture: the Heaven-Reaching Black Python Qi.