Chapter 972: Three Kings' Battle

In the depths of the starry sky, atop the most ancient stone statue, a vast expanse unfolded. This place was even vaster than where Zhou Yuan and his group had been previously. Standing on it, one felt as if they were on an immense plain, stretching out endlessly as far as the eye could see, with only the brilliant starry sky overhead.

On the plain, Zhao Mu Shen, Wu Yao, and Su Youwei stood in a triangular formation. Zhao Mu Shen gazed at the two extraordinarily beautiful women, each with her unique charm. A hint of admiration appeared on his face, sculpted with handsome lines as if carved by a chisel. He had never imagined that among this generation, those capable of contending with him would be two women of such unparalleled grace and beauty.

Even the deeply proud Zhao Mu Shen held them in high regard. "Must you two contend with me for this stone statue?" Zhao Mu Shen asked softly. "If you two were to withdraw, I, Zhao Mu Shen, would owe you a favor today. Henceforth, should you have any requests, I would not refuse." Although his voice was soft, it carried across the plain, clearly reaching the ears of Wu Yao and Su Youwei.

Wu Yao slightly raised her phoenix-like eyes and said, "What? Has the formidable number one on the Divine Dwelling List, the so-called Divine Dwelling King, lost even the courage to fight?" Wu Yao's voice had a slightly magnetic rasp, less delicate and more sharply resolute compared to other women's voices. Su Youwei said, "Having endured countless hardships to reach this place, what reason would we have to yield without a fight?" Her voice was clear, elegant, and gentle, giving one the feeling of being bathed in a spring breeze, a stark contrast to Wu Yao's.

Unmoved by the two women's subtle taunts, Zhao Mu Shen merely offered a helpless smile. "You two worry too much," he said. "I merely thought that you are both as pure and beautiful as goddesses, a delight to behold. If you were to be defeated by me in the end, it would be somewhat discomfiting and evoke pity." He shook his head. "Since my suggestion does not interest you two... then let us just begin the fight."

The moment his words fell, Zhao Mu Shen lightly waved his sleeve, and a dazzling radiance erupted from his body, causing the space around him to violently churn. In the void, countless Genesis Qi stars began to appear. Their number was seventy-five million! The appearance of so many Genesis Qi stars immediately caused the Genesis Qi between heaven and earth to surge violently, with faint echoes of their collisions resounding.

Outside, countless spectators could not help but gulp. The seventy-five million Genesis Qi foundation—it was terrifying, especially since he had not even used a secret technique yet! One must remember that a typical Heaven Sun Stage expert who had just broken through only possessed a hundred million Genesis Qi stars. Now, Zhao Mu Shen, at the peak of the Divine Dwelling Stage, was already approaching that figure. These top talents, often referred to as "Little Heaven Suns," were truly formidable. Faced with such a level of Genesis Qi foundation, even figures like Yuan Kun and Jiu Gong felt a profound sense of powerlessness.

However, on the beautiful faces of Wu Yao and Su Youwei, standing before Zhao Mu Shen, there was no ripple of shock, only a calmness as profound as a still pond. Wu Yao formed a seal with her slender, jade-like fingers before her chest. Black lightning roared forth from the top of her head, its thunder shaking heaven and earth. Within the lightning, countless Genesis Qi stars also flickered into existence—seventy-four million! Compared to Zhao Mu Shen, it was only a million stars less! Wu Yao's deep Genesis Qi foundation was equally astonishing.

Countless gazes expressed awe, then unanimously turned towards Su Youwei. Everyone in Hunyuan Heaven knew that if Genesis Qi foundation alone were the measure, Su Youwei of the Violet Heavens Region was undeniably the foremost. Under the focus of countless eyes, myriad purple lights emerged behind Su Youwei, as if evolving into a violet starry sky. Within that sky, purple stars shimmered, dazzling and brilliant.

Throughout heaven and earth, countless gasps of cold air seemed to rise and fall. For they saw eighty-three million Genesis Qi stars shimmering within the violet starry sky behind Su Youwei. Eighty-three million! Many who gazed upon this even felt a sense of suffocation; such a terrifying Genesis Qi foundation truly inspired despair! The Ten Divine Dwellings were indeed terrifying!

Not only the spectators, but even Zhao Mu Shen and Wu Yao themselves gazed at the violet starry sky behind Su Youwei, a hint of emotion flashing in their eyes. Only they truly understood how incredibly difficult it was to increase one's Genesis Qi foundation at their level. Yet, Su Youwei managed to surpass them by a full eight million! This world-rare mutated Ten Divine Dwellings indeed provided Su Youwei with an immense advantage.

However, in a confrontation of their caliber, while a few million more Genesis Qi stars could offer some advantage, it was unlikely to be the sole determinant of victory. As the top talents from various regions, their hidden trump cards would be the decisive turning points.

On this plain, over a hundred million Genesis Qi stars flickered, causing the Genesis Qi between heaven and earth to rage like a storm. The battle had not even begun, but the pervasive pressure was so immense that even ordinary top talents would likely dare not step into it. The gazes of the three collided, and in that instant, the void itself seemed to tremble.

Countless Genesis Qi stars vibrated as three streaks of light shot out almost simultaneously. Their speed was like startling thunder, so fast that many could only perceive three blurred lines, their actual forms being almost imperceptible. In mere seconds, the three had traversed the vast, boundless plain, colliding in the center like three meteorites. Terrifying Genesis Qi shockwaves, like colossal, towering waves, swept outwards in layers in all directions.

Wu Yao clenched her slender, jade-like hand, and black lightning instantly formed a furious dragon-like lightning whip. The whip whistled, enveloping both Zhao Mu Shen and Su Youwei. As it lashed through the void, the void itself subtly cracked. Its destructive power was utterly overwhelming.

Zhao Mu Shen opened his mouth, and a streak of brilliant light flew out, rapidly expanding in the wind to become a dark golden halberd. Countless runes flickered on the halberd, and several lifelike dragon patterns, resembling living creatures, coiled around it. The moment this golden halberd appeared, dragon roars echoed throughout heaven and earth, and a sense of oppressive power permeated the air. It was clearly a top-tier Heaven Genesis Weapon!

Wielding the golden halberd, Zhao Mu Shen forcefully brought it down, shattering the void. He simultaneously cleaved apart the incoming black lightning whip. With a powerful downward strike, exhaling a myriad of sharp edges, he seized the moment while Su Youwei was also affected by the lightning whip and fiercely struck at her. With that single strike, the void shrieked.

Su Youwei's jade-like hands swiftly formed a seal. Purple Genesis Qi rapidly converged, transforming into two violet light wheels beneath her palms. Upon these light wheels, over eighty million stars shimmered, a magnificent and spectacular sight. She raised her jade hands, and the two violet light wheels simultaneously met the lightning whip and the golden halberd. Terrifying sounds resonated, and Genesis Qi shockwaves erupted. The plain below collapsed a layer in that instant!

The two violet light wheels spun furiously, neutralizing the two terrifying attacks. As the shockwaves swept through, all three paused for a breath, but in an instant, they shot out once more. The golden halberd, black lightning, and violet wheels clashed like lightning, each collision unleashing a storm.

Beneath the starry sky, countless eyes watched in immense shock at the battle raging deep within. Even with the Genesis Qi light membrane concealing it, the earth-shattering commotion could not be completely hidden. The ferocity of this battle was arguably the greatest seen in Hunyuan Heaven's Divine Dwelling Stage in recent years! Many felt their scalps tingle and their bodies tremble. To witness this battle of three kings made their journey to the Nine Regions Grand Meeting truly worthwhile!

Moreover, the mere thought of the ultimate victor emerging from this battle intensified their trembling... For they would undoubtedly bear witness to the birth of an era.