“However…”
Yaoya suddenly paused, staring at Zhou Yuan as she said, “His life has been smooth sailing since young, his triumphs and rapid progress naturally making him arrogant.”
“But from what I can see, compared to him, the you that broke free from your hopeless situation and never felt inferior as you earnestly worked hard to move forward, is even more outstanding than him.”
Zhou Yuan was taken aback, a smile involuntarily forming on his face. “Are you praising me?”
This was far too rare. Given Yaoyao’s standards, Zhou Yuan had never seen her praise in such a tone.
Yaoyao’s red lips lifted slightly. “It can be considered praise.”
Zhou Yuan nodded. “Thank you.”
Burning battle intent rose in his eyes. Like Yaoyao had said, Wu Huang’s strength originated from the smooth road king Wu had paved for him, an easy road of triumphant progress.
On the other hand, he had to face despair since young. His eight meridian channels had been nowhere to be found, making it impossible for him to cultivate.
He had ultimately created his own path through these tribulations one step at a time.
He had never felt that he was any less a person than Wu Huang.
Zhou Yuan took in a deep breath, calming the emotions in his heart. In the next instant however, their expressions suddenly changed slightly as they stood up and cast their gazes at the sky outside Saint Remains City.
At this current time, six shooting star like objects were streaking past the horizon as vast and indescribably mighty auras filled the land, enveloping the entire city.
The Genesis Rune boundary above Saint Remains City began to open at this moment.
A powerful voice rang out across the entire city.
“Saint Remains City, Xiao Tianluo , respectfully welcomes the envoys of the six sacred sects!”
Chapter 138 Barefoot Uncle
The arrival of the envoys from the six sacred sects had undoubtedly become the most discussed topic in the city. The blood of every prided genius was boiling, the eyes on their raised heads filled with anticipation. Everyone had heard of the famed six sacred sects; entering any of them to train was akin to ascending the heavens in the single step.
The six sacred sects were just too powerful, the overlords of this world. Even an enormous continent like this was merely akin to a remote corner in their eyes.
However, the envoys did not show themselves after arriving at Saint Remains City. It was said that even the city lord Xiao Tianluo was unable to meet them in the city lord residence.
After all, the disparity in status between them was just far too great.
Even if one party was only an envoy, it was still far from what a mere lord of a city could compare to.
Although the envoys from the six sacred sects did not reveal themselves, it did not hinder the gradual rise in excitement within the city. At the very least, everyone knew that the arrival of the envoys meant that the opening of the Saint Remains Domain was fast approaching.
Unlike everyone else, Zhou Yuan paid no attention to the arrival of the envoys. All his attention had been invested into learning grade 3 Genesis Runes.
Under his nearly fanatical studying, the grade 3 Genesis Runes Yaoyao taught him were gradually being mastered at the elementary level.
At this current point in time, it had already been five days since the envoys from the six sacred sects had arrived at Saint Remains City.
...
House of Geniuses.
Inside a certain restaurant.
Zhou Yuan sat alone next to a window. Yaoyao had been dragged out by Luluo and Zuoqiu Qingyu again.
He had spent yet another day immersed in the study of grade 3 Genesis Runes, and was currently taking a little time off.
After drinking two cups of the restaurant’s wine, Zhou Yuan shook his head in dissatisfaction. Having spent so much time with Yaoyao, he had now grown to become exceptionally picky about his alcohol.
He seemed to fall into thought for a moment, before retrieving a jade bottle from his Universe bag. It was part of the ‘good stuff’ he had collected for Yaoyao, and it just so happened that this was a good time for him to have a secret sample.
As such, Zhou Yuan enjoyed his drinking alone, his tense mental state slowly relaxing in the process.
The truth was, his zealous practicing for the past few days had indeed been due to the pressure from Wu Huang. It would indeed be a joke if the lead that the latter had accumulated over the years was so easily surpassed.
“Even though my Spirit has already stepped into the advance Illusory stage, I still stand no chance against Wu Huang.” Zhou Yuan’s gaze faintly flickered in thought. Of course, it was true that he might be able to put up a fight if he were to borrow Silver Shadow’s strength. However, that was only to be used in the worst case scenario, because once he used Silver Shadow, Zhou Yuan did not know how long he would be unconscious. Being unconscious for too long in a place like the Saint Remains Domain was practically suicide.
“It seems that I need to find a chance to ascend to the Heaven Gate stage in the Saint Remains Domain.” Zhou Yuan’s heart churned.
While Zhou Yuan was lost in thought, he suddenly sensed some activity beside him. He lifted his head to look, only to find that a middle-aged man was now seated in front of him. This man’s appearance was pretty unkempt and was even barefoot, while green smoke wafted from the pipe in his hand.
He looked exactly like an old farmer that had just left his fields.
At this current moment, the man was anxiously staring at the jade bottle full of excellent wine that stood before Zhou Yuan as he forced a smile and said, “Youngin, your wine is not bad.”
Zhou Yuan was stunned, somewhat unable to figure out where this barefoot middle-aged man had come from. He was unable to sense much Genesis Qi undulations from the latter’s body.
Even so, Zhou Yuan was no petty person. The sight of the man’s anxious appearance made him smile as he pushed the bottle over.
The old farmer like man hurriedly received it upon seeing this, and poured a cup for himself. A mouthful later, an enchanted look filled his face.
“Not bad, not bad.”
“If uncle likes it, I’ll give it to you.” Zhou Yuan chuckled.
The middle-aged man’s eyes immediately brightened as he excitedly responded, “Then I’ll give you my thanks youngin.”
He took another mouthful before picking up his pipe again and drawing in a deep breath. Green smoke rolled out, its acrid flavor causing the surrounding geniuses to frown.
The unkempt middle-aged man enjoyed a puff of smoke as he remarked, “Youngin, there’s something amiss about the way the others look at you.”
Zhou Yuan shot a glance at his surroundings. The various geniuses were looking at him as if they were looking at a dead person. He knew that it was because news of the grudge between him and Wu Huang had already begun to spread.
From their point of view, he was only a Qi Nourishing stage practitioner, and yet he had an enemy like Wu Huang. This was undoubtedly akin to having half a foot in the grave.
Zhou Yuan smiled and said, “I have a life or death enemy called Wu Huang, and they likely believe that I’m screwed.”
“Wu Huang?” The middle-aged uncle seemed to have heard of this name. His gaze immediately filled with pity as he looked at Zhou Yuan and said, “Then you are indeed rather pitiful…”
Zhou Yuan laughed, unoffended. He was already used to such a response.
However, the middle-aged uncle quickly crowded over and said in a low voice, “Moreover, I’ve heard that the envoy from Sacred Palace has already met Wu Huang and is very satisfied with him. As long as Wu Huang is able to distinguish himself in the Saint Remains Domain, he will be accepted into Sacred Palace and become their disciple.”
“Sacred Palace?”
Zhou Yuan’s heart shook a little. By this current point in time, he had already gained some knowledge with
regards to the six sacred sects. It was said that Sacred Palace was the strongest amongst the six sects.
He never imagined that the envoy from Sacred Palace had already met with Wu Huang…
Zhou Yuan’s eyes flickered, before eventually returning to calmness. He stared at the sloppy looking uncle and asked, “Does uncle work at the city lord residence?”
Outsiders would not be privy to such information. Only those in the city lord residence might catch some scraps.
The slovenly uncle chuckled and continued to drink his wine. He sucked on his pipe and breathed out swirling green smoke as he shot a sideways glance at Zhou Yuan. “Youngin, if you wish to take your revenge, the Saint Remains Domain will be your final chance.”
Zhou Yuan nodded, not saying anything else.
“I’ll be taking this wine, don’t drink too much.” The uncle grinned as he kept the bottle into his sleeves. He breathed out a puff a smoke as he looked towards Zhou Yuan. “Youngin, the Saint Remains Domain will open tomorrow. There’s someone who has great expectations of you, so you better put in some effort. If your performance ends up terrible, it will really be a little embarrassing.”
Zhou Yuan was taken aback, somewhat confused. There seemed to be a deeper meaning within the uncle’s words. Plus, how did he know when the Saint Remains Domain was opening?
Zhou Yuan frowned and asked, “Who are you?”
The slovenly uncle did not reply, merely waving his hand as he puffed out another ring of green smoke. His bare feet walking on the ground as he unhurriedly made his exit.
Zhou Yuan’s eyes were filled with confusion. This barefoot uncle was not as simple as he had thought.
However, he did not dwell too much on this event, spending a little more time sitting alone, before rising and returning to the room.
Not long after he returned, news that shook the entire Saint Remains City began to spread.
The Saint Remains Domain was opening tomorrow!
In the room, Zhou Yuan was dazed by this news. The unkempt uncle had been right… just who exactly was he?
Chapter 139 Attack
By the time the next day arrived, the entire Saint Remains City was already boiling with excitement.
Especially when six streaks of light flew out from the city lord residence and headed directly for the Saint Remains Domain. The countless geniuses inside the city also rose into the air, treading on Genesis Qi as they shot forth, covering the sky and earth like locusts.
Zhou Yuan gazed upon this magnificent scene, before turning his head towards Yaoyao, Luluo and Zuoqiu Qingyu. “We should go too.”
Zuoqiu Qingyu had practically attached herself to Yaoyao for the past few days. Yaoyao could not be bothered to explain, while Luluo was purely waiting for the fun to start when the truth was revealed. This was why Zuoqiu Qingyu had yet to realise that the beautiful man in her eyes was actually a fake.
Yaoyao and the rest naturally had no objections. Hence, the group also moved, heading towards the Saint Remains Domain.
The Saint Remains Domain was about thirty miles from Saint Remains City. At full speed, it did not take much time for the group to reach their destination.
Zhou Yuan peered into the distance, where a giant, practically endless basin had appeared at the end of his sight. Mist shrouded the sky above the basin, giving off faint but strange undulations that made one’s heart shiver.
Under the mist was an incomparably large river. Light glimmered on the surface of the river’s calm and rippleless waters that gave one a feeling of depthlessness.
This should be the holy river that encircled the outer region of the Saint Remains Domain.
Countless figures descended, extending all the way to the end of one’s sight. No one knew just how many people had come.
Outside the Saint Remains Domain were six titanic stone platforms on which figures were landing one after another.
Zhou Yuan’s group also landed on one of the platforms.
Above the platforms, six powerful Genesis Qi torrents whizzed about like storms. Within the storms, one could just barely discern six seated figures.
Zhou Yuan inquired in a low voice, “Are those the envoys from the six sacred sects?”
Luluo nodded and replied, “Yes, it is said that all six are experts that have reached the Divine Dwelling stage.”
“Six Divine Dwelling stage practitioners.” Zhou Yuan could not help but sigh in admiration. These experts were top class even in the Cangmang Continent.
Zuoqiu Qingyu was making a ‘binoculars’ with her hands as she said with a grin, “I heard that the one above this stone platform of ours comes from Sacred Palace.”
“Sacred Palace…” Zhou Yuan’s eyes narrowed slightly. The barefoot uncle from yesterday had mentioned that the Sacred Palace envoy had already taken a liking to Wu Huang. As long as the latter’s performed well in the Saint Remains Domain, he would be accepted into Sacred Palace, ascending the heavens in a single step.
While these thoughts swirled in Zhou Yuan’s mind, he suddenly lifted his head and looked towards a certain spot in the distance where a golden figure was standing with his hands behind his back. A strong and powerful aura pulsed from his body, making it such that none of the surrounding geniuses dared to approach.
That pressure naturally originated from Wu Huang.
Wu Huang also tilted his head at this moment, his emotionless gaze sweeping across Zhou Yuan before pausing.
“His Spirit has reached the advance Illusory stage.” Wu Huang’s eyes rippled faintly. The crippled dragon of the Zhou clan did have some ability.
“Truly a troublesome fly.” Mumbled Wu Huang as a strange light suddenly appeared in his eyes.
It was at this very moment that Zhou Yuan suddenly felt all the hairs on his body stand as an indescribable feeling of danger surged in his heart.
His eyes firmly locked onto Wu Huang.
The latter suddenly raised his hand at this moment, his five fingers tightly clenching into a fist, before throwing a punch at Zhou Yuan.
Rumble!
Scarlet-red Genesis Qi whizzed forth like a scorching sun, swift as thunder as it shot towards Zhou Yuan.
“Wu Huang, you’re too much!” Luluo and Zuoqiu Qingyu detected the attack and immediately shouted out in anger, vigorous Genesis Qi exploding from their bodies.
Iciness also flashed across Yaoyao’s eyes as the Spirit on her bright forehead began to shake.
Tuntun also released a low roar from her arms.
However, just as they were about to stop the attack, an overwhelming pressure suddenly descended from the sky, forcing all of their Genesis Qi back into their bodies.
“The Sacred Palace envoy?!” Luluo’s and Zuoqiu Qingyu’s pretty faces changed. The pressure had come from the Sacred Palace envoy seated in the sky above.
Meanwhile, the scarlet-red fist of light had already arrived before Zhou Yuan. Even an advance Heaven Gate practitioner would fear the immense power contained within it.
“That guy is dead.” One of the geniuses in the vicinity sighed. No one had expected that Wu Huang would suddenly attack, not to mention his mercilessness. He clearly intended to kill Zhou Yuan with a single punch.
Scarlet-light filled Zhou Yuan’s eyeballs, the ferocious undulations that swept towards him naturally making his pupils tighten. However, he did not panic at this critical juncture, but instead suddenly took half a step forward.
He crossed his arms in front of him as a rune of light appeared on them.
“Grade 3 Genesis Rune, Mighty Tortoise Armor Rune!”
In the wake of the yell in Zhou Yuan’s heart, light began to weave together in front of him, forming a dim gray tortoise shell that was a few feet wide. The mottled shell gave off a feeling of sturdiness as if it was capable of withstanding a heavy blow that could shatter a mountain.
Boom!
The scarlet-red light fist smashed into the tortoise shell, scarlet-red light raging as cracks began to appear on the shell. In
the end, the shell only managed to bitterly endure for several breaths before shattering with a boom.
The remains of the scarlet-red light fist slammed into Zhou Yuan’s arms.
Thump!
His body shot backwards, his legs smearing long scars on the ground as dust filled the air.
Countless gazes looked over as several people frowned. Wu Huang’s actions were really somewhat ugly. His strength was clearly far beyond Zhou Yuan’s, and yet the former still had to resort to such tactics.
“Zhou Yuan is probably dead, right?” Numerous voices rang out as they looked towards the dust cloud.
Somewhere else far away, Xiao Tianxuan, Gu Ling and the rest involuntarily burst out into laughter when they saw this scene. The sight of Zhou Yuan had finally become too irksome to Wu Huang.
Wu Huang’s expression remained indifferent, as if his previous action had merely been akin to swatting an annoying fly.
Everyone stared as the dust settled. Next, their expressions suddenly changed. They had discovered that a figure was still standing within the falling dust. The stone floor beneath his feet had fractured, and green scales could faintly be seen on his crossed arms. However, the scales were currently in bits and pieces.
Fresh blood flowed down along his arms, dripping onto the ground below.
Zhou Yuan’s expression was serene, but the killing intent that swelled within his eyes were practically akin to a bursting dam.
If not for his elementary mastery of a defensive grade 3 Genesis Rune and the defensive powers of the Magical Python Scales, Wu Huang’s punch would have killed him.
“Zhou Yuan, are you alright?!”
Yaoyao, Luluo and Zuoqiu Qingyu rushed to Zhou Yuan’s side.
Tuntun jumped out from Yaoyao’s arms and roared, its tiny body rapidly growing as it transformed into a mysterious giant beast. Black light pulsed from its enormous mouth as it glared at Wu Huang.
It was extremely intelligent, and although it normally treated Zhou Yuan with disdain and dislike, in Tuntun’s eyes, Zhou Yuan was the closest person to it besides Yaoyao. It was fine for it to bully him, but the fact that this person had suddenly attacked was truly unforgivable.
Dragon Prince Yuan c1-1251 Page 81
