Chapter 980: Self-harm

Dust and smoke billowed across the plains.

A deep gully had been ripped open. At its end, the ground had collapsed and was severely cracked.

Countless eyes from all directions converged on this spot, filled with shock. After all, it had been rare in recent years to see Zhao Mushen in such a disheveled state.

However, Zhou Yuan, standing in the air, showed no sign of joy. His eyes, cold beneath his silver armor, were fixed on the collapsed ground. While his previous attack was fierce, to think it would be enough to defeat Zhao Mushen would be underestimating this King of the Divine Dwelling stage.

At the end of the gully, the ground suddenly fractured, and an arm reached out, slowly pushing against the earth as a figure began to rise.

At this moment, Zhao Mushen’s upper garment was torn, a trace of blood stained the corner of his mouth, and his eyes appeared exceptionally grim.

He wiped away the blood from his mouth, and with a sudden tremor of his body, his torn clothes disintegrated into dust, revealing his robust upper body. Faint glowing patterns could be seen on his skin, forming a net-like layer that covered his physique.

Moreover, a faint yellowish hue appeared on Zhao Mushen's skin, and an extremely powerful force surged within his physical body.

Evidently, Zhao Mushen had also cultivated a Genesis Art for physical enhancement.

Zhou Yuan's gaze was fixed on the mystical glowing net on Zhao Mushen's skin. It was this net that had absorbed most of his power earlier.

Zhao Mushen said calmly, "This is my Ten Thousand Ancestors Domain's 'Primal Magnetism Profound Net Art,' a top-tier defensive technique. So, your sneak attack had little effect on me."

"Furthermore, touching my body is not a good thing for you."

As his words fell, his hands suddenly formed a seal.

A roar of Genesis Qi resonated through the heavens and earth. Zhou Yuan abruptly looked up and saw a massive golden light formation appear a thousand feet above his head. The formation spun, drawing in Genesis Qi from its surroundings and emitting extremely terrifying fluctuations.

"Lesser Saint Art: Golden Light of Descent!"

The golden light formation roared, and the next instant, a massive golden beam erupted, shooting down towards Zhou Yuan with astonishing speed, like an enraged golden dragon.

Boom! Boom!

Wherever the golden light passed, the void cracked open with fissures, and fragments of space were carried along by the light, further amplifying its power.

Zhou Yuan's pupils constricted slightly at this sight. Zhao Mushen truly lived up to his reputation as a prodigy cultivated with the full might of the Ten Thousand Ancestors Domain. The Lesser Saint Arts he wielded seemed endless. In terms of treatment and resources, Zhao Mushen clearly surpassed even Zhou Yuan, the personal disciple of the Grand Elder of the Heavenly Abyss Territory.

As the golden light descended, Zhou Yuan clearly felt the terrifying power it contained. He instantly flickered, transforming into a shadow and vanishing into thin air.

However, even though he disappeared, the golden beam's descent did not slow, continuing to twist and turn through the void.

Zhou Yuan's expression in the shadows slightly darkened, as he realized that no matter how he dodged, the golden beam could always precisely pinpoint his location.

"It must have been when I made physical contact with him earlier; he used some special method to pinpoint my location."

Zhou Yuan sighed inwardly. This Zhao Mushen was truly like a hedgehog; no wonder that guy said touching his body wasn't a good thing.

Boom! Boom!

In the void above, the golden beam, like a light dragon, continuously changed direction, leaving streaks of light in its wake. Witnessing this, everyone knew Zhao Mushen was enraged and had immediately used a deadly counter-move to force Zhou Yuan into a hurried retreat.

Meanwhile, disciples from the Ten Thousand Ancestors Domain, like Liu Qingshu, secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Earlier, when Zhao Mushen was sent flying by Zhou Yuan's punch, their hearts had been in their throats. But fortunately, Zhao Mushen's power was immense; not only was he unharmed by Zhou Yuan, but he had also seized the opportunity to mark Zhou Yuan and activate the "Golden Light of Doom."

This Lesser Saint Art was renowned in their Ten Thousand Ancestors Domain, and Zhao Mushen, having immersed himself in it for many years, wielded it with extraordinary power.

Now that Zhou Yuan was marked, the Golden Light of Doom would inevitably strike him. It would surely give him a tough time and allow Zhao Mushen to regain his lost ground from earlier.

Liu Qingshu gritted her teeth and said, "Don't dream of defeating Senior Brother!"

In her mind, Zhao Mushen was virtually invincible. Over the years, no matter how powerful his opponents, they had all ultimately fallen before him, adding to his formidable reputation. This time would surely be no exception!

Over on the Heavenly Abyss Territory side, Ye Bingling, Yi Qiushui, Lu Xiao, and others also wore expressions of intense nervousness. Their gaze followed the golden beam, which resembled a light dragon, as it twisted and turned. A Genesis Art of the Lesser Saint Art level was something they rarely even had a chance to encounter in their daily lives, illustrating that its power was absolutely not to be underestimated.

Whoosh! Whoosh!

Zhou Yuan's figure continuously transformed into a shadow and darted about, but as time passed, he noticed that the "Golden Light of Doom" was accelerating.

"Is it unavoidable?"

Zhou Yuan muttered to himself, but he showed no sign of panic. His previous evasions weren't merely an escape; he was also making preparations to launch a counterattack.

And now, it was almost time.

"You're not the only one who knows Lesser Saint Arts."

Zhou Yuan's hands formed a seal, and the Genesis Qi within his body surged, roaring like a torrent.

Boom! Boom!

Suddenly, thunder boomed across the heavens and earth.

Countless figures watched as Zhou Yuan's form suddenly reappeared in the void.

"Not dodging anymore?" Zhao Mushen's eyes glinted with coldness.

The golden beam plummeted with a roar, emitting a strange buzzing vibration. The sound waves possessed the power to shatter one's spirit. Had it been someone with a weaker spirit present, their spirit might have been shattered by the golden light even before it fully descended.

The golden beam rapidly expanded in Zhou Yuan's eyes.

When the beam was barely a hundred feet above his head, Zhou Yuan suddenly flicked his sleeve, and thunder boomed across the heavens and earth.

"Yin-Yang Thunder Pattern Mirror!"

Everyone watched as a black-and-white divine thunderbolt shot directly from Zhou Yuan's sleeve. The black-and-white divine thunderbolt surged against the wind, instantly expanding to a thousand feet, resembling a black-and-white thunder dragon. The thunder dragon coiled and roared upwards, continuously tearing through the void with terrifying power.

Rumble!

The golden beam and the black-and-white thunder light collided with immense force.

The entire world seemed to freeze for a moment. The next instant, rolling waves of light spread out, overwhelming everything, and the void violently trembled.

In the void above, the two Lesser Saint Arts furiously clashed over a hundred times. Each collision was earth-shattering, creating a terrifying momentum.

Ultimately, however, neither of the two Lesser Saint Arts could overcome the other. As their Genesis Qi was depleted, they gradually dissipated into the heavens and earth.

Zhao Mushen watched this scene, his brow furrowed slightly. He hadn't expected even the "Golden Light of Doom" to be blocked. This guy was truly troublesome.

It seemed he would have to resort to more ruthless methods.

Zhao Mushen's expression was indifferent. He stared at Zhou Yuan, who stood in the distant void, then suddenly opened his mouth. A golden halberd shot skyward, coiling in the void like a golden python, creating a sharp sonic boom.

The golden halberd danced like lightning, then suddenly shot downwards.

Zhao Mushen raised his palm, as if to catch the golden halberd.

"Something's wrong!" Zhou Yuan's pupils suddenly constricted as he sensed something amiss. The golden halberd was descending in a straight line, its momentum showing no signs of slowing.

Though he didn't know what Zhao Mushen was up to, Zhou Yuan instinctively waved his sleeve, sending a torrent of Genesis Qi directly towards the golden halberd.

A peculiar smile curved Zhao Mushen's lips.

The golden halberd's descent suddenly accelerated.

Thwack!

Finally, before countless horrified gazes, the golden halberd brutally pierced straight through Zhao Mushen's chest, pinning him forcefully to the ground. A grotesque bloody hole appeared in his flesh, from which blood flowed profusely.

Zhao Mushen lay on the ground, allowing the blood to flow freely. At the center of his brows, the glowing lotus once again began to flicker.

"Sacred Lotus..."

"...Reversal Art!"