The enemies seemed to be unafraid of death. Not only had they become more powerful, their injuries were also rapidly recovering. If this continued, the situation would only become increasingly dire.
If one looked down from above, one would see the entire Tianyuan Region army being pushed back.
Several immeasurable presences were stationed at an elevation so high that ordinary people would likely never see in their lives. The Law Domain experts on both sides were observing the battle.
One of the presences on the Tianyuan Region side stirred a little but ultimately restrained itself. However, one could faintly feel a sense of anxiousness and anger.
...
While both sides’ experts continued to clash in battle, a figure appeared within the shadow of a tent deep inside the alliance camp.
Zhou Yuan raised his head and looked at the mysterious crystal tower.
Chapter 1021 Bottom of the Tower
“So this is their toy…”
Hidden in the shadows, Zhou Yuan observed the giant crystal tower that rose from the ground. It was covered in extremely complex and cryptic Genesis Runes and was clearly created by someone with a terrifying mastery over Genesis Runes.
He did not even get the chance to observe the runes with his Spirit; a single glance of them made him feel a stabbing pain in his Spirit, causing him to hurriedly shift his gaze away.
Light beams continuously shot out from the top of the tower to boost the Great Five Alliance Army.
It seemed to have bottomless power.
Zhou Yuan stared at the crystal tower for a moment but did not advance a step farther. His senses told him that a dozen Transformative Spirit experts were scanning the crystal tower’s surroundings, and there was even an extremely hidden but powerful presence somewhere nearby.
It must be a Nascent Source expert!
The Great Five Alliance had left a Nascent Source expert to guard this place!
From this, one could see just how important this location was to them.
“How troublesome…” Zhou Yuan muttered under his breath as his expression turned grave. The crystal tower’s power should originate from the Heavenly Fire Tree King. To put a stop to this, he needed to save the Heavenly Fire Tree King.
This was obviously no simple feat.
No matter how difficult it was, Zhou Yuan had to try. After all, he could not idly sit by and watch the Tianyuan Region be defeated at the Chiyun Prefecture battlefront because their defeat would surely impact the overall situation and further reduce his slim hope of obtaining the Ancestral Dragon Lantern.
Huu.
Zhou Yuan breathed out deeply and said in a low voice, “Heavenly Punishment Saint Rune.”
Bzz!
A five-foot Law Domain swiftly expanded from Zhou Yuan.
The Law Domain was formless, but Zhou Yuan was still able to sense its existence. Within it, he felt a god-like sense of power over the domain. However, he understood that it was merely a misconception. The half-foot Law Domain’s power originated from the Heavenly Punishment Saint Rune, and he did not have much control of it. Truthfully speaking, despite its tiny size, a Law Domain was not something Zhou Yuan could touch with his current strength.
Hence, he was not invincible in the five-foot Law Domain. But with the right timing, it could be a powerful trump card.
Take this moment for example. With the five-foot Law Domain enveloping him and with the Celestial Shadow Art, he was likely to escape the detection of even a Nascent Source expert even while moving in front of one. Of course, these were precisely the reasons why Zhou Yuan had dared to take on this risky operation.
Zhou Yuan’s figure moved, disappearing into the shadows once more. He swiftly leaped between the shadows as he rapidly approached the crystal tower.
As he neared, Zhou Yuan felt several Spirits carefully scanning the area. However, there was no response when they swept over Zhou Yuan’s body. Amidst the Law Domain, he had essentially fused with the land.
Zhou Yuan stomped his foot at a certain distance from the crystal tower, and his figure turned into a faint black blur as he burrowed into the ground like a black snake.
His Law Domain reached out in the ground, causing the soil to seemingly separate on its own as Zhou Yuan quickly advanced towards the crystal tower.
From what he could tell, the crystal tower’s power likely originated from deep in the ground.
His advance continued for several dozen breaths.
The soil before Zhou Yuan’s eyes parted, and the enormous bottom of the tower appeared within his sights. Innumerable giant chains reached out from its middle, each covered in ancient Genesis Runes. At the center where all the chains converged, Zhou Yuan saw a giant ball of light.
He could barely make out what seemed to be flames within the light, and amidst the flames was the silhouette of a giant tree that gave off an ancient and boundless aura.
Endless Genesis Qi was being extracted from the light ball and sent out through the chains.
The extracted Genesis Qi was extremely pure and filled with life energy. It felt very similar to the light beams that were connected to the backs of the powerful experts from the Five Alliance Army.
“Is this the Heavenly Fire Tree King?”
Zhou Yuan’s heart shook a little. The Heavenly Fire Tree King was indeed an extraordinary existence. He had heard that it was a mystical creature of nature that was born from heavenly fire. It had a very long lifespan, and if one were to purely compare based on Genesis Qi, it would likely match Law Domain experts.
Unfortunately, it was very difficult for such a creature to develop its own consciousness. As a result, it was unable to properly utilize its true power.
However, it was very adept at avoiding danger and seeking fortune. Even grand elder Mu Ni had failed to find it despite personally searching the entire forest. Who knew how the Great Five Alliance had managed to capture it?
Zhou Yuan sighed before looking above the countless chains. Many stone platforms floated in the air, each occupied by a seated figure. From their Genesis Qi undulations, they were all Heavenly Sun experts.
A gray-robed elder sat on the platform at the very center. It was a Nascent Source expert!
The security here was very tight.
Evidently, the Great Five Alliance had invested an unimaginable force into the Chiyun Prefecture battlefront. It was very likely that they had already been eyeing the Heavenly Fire Tree King from the very beginning, and it had been the reason why they had made this place a battlefield.
However, no one on the Tianyuan Region side had realized this. Perhaps, it was because even grand elder Mu Ni had failed to find the Heavenly Fire Tree King years ago that they hadn’t thought of it. Hence, everyone believed that it would also be impossible for the Great Five Alliance’s Law Domain experts.
But they had found it.
Moreover, they had even discovered the method to utilize the Heavenly Fire Tree King’s power...
In the shadows, Zhou Yuan’s gaze flickered in thought. He, too, did not believe the Great Five Alliance had such capabilities. Supreme sovereign Wan Zu might be behind this. Only someone like him had the power to locate the Heavenly Fire Tree King.
“That old bastard!”
Zhou Yuan hatefully gnashed his teeth. All of his plans should have succeeded, but they had been foiled by supreme sovereign Wan Zu just as he was about to collect the rewards.
However, Zhou Yuan understood that he was just an ant in the eyes of such an existence, and there was no use no matter how angry he grew. Hence, he needed to focus on resolving the problem before him.
Zhou Yuan glanced at the defenses on the stone platforms. He was not worried about them. With his five-foot Law Domain and the Celestial Shadow Art, they would be unable to detect him even if he moved about right under their eyes.
However, how could he take away the Heavenly Fire Tree King?
Zhou Yuan was silent for a brief moment. Soon after, he turned into a s
hadow and stealthily flew through the air. He latched onto one of the chains and traveled through its shadow, swiftly approaching the ball of light.
In a short moment, he arrived at the source.
However, Zhou Yuan did not dare to advance any farther. At the end of the chain, he could sense several exceedingly powerful Genesis Runes. These runes possessed a unique power...Saint Fire!
The same Saint Fire that only a Sant expert could create!
Zhou Yuan had felt it from patriarch Cang Xuan before.
Saint Fire could burn even the Law Domain.
So it is supreme sovereign Wan Zu! Zhou Yuan cursed in his heart. The Great Five Alliance had no Saint expert after all.
Worry rose within him. Although there was only a tiny remnant trace of the Saint Fire, his five-foot Law Domain might be revealed if he approached.
What should I do?
Retreat? Definitely not!
While such thoughts were swirling in Zhou Yuan’s head, he suddenly felt a vague, foreign mind reach out towards him.
Had he been discovered?
Zhou Yuan’s heart shivered. The Law Domain stirred as he began to withdraw.
However, just as his body was about to move, his eyes suddenly flashed as they flooded with amazement.
He had realized that the mind was sending out a message—a cry for help.
The source of this message...
Zhou Yuan looked towards the end of the chain. It was clearly the trapped Heavenly Fire Tree King!
Chapter 1022 Unexpected Surprise
In a chain’s shadow, Zhou Yuan’s eyes flickered indeterminately as he stared at the nearby fire-like ball of light. The consciousness that had reached out was sending a signal for help. Although the message was somewhat vague, it was not difficult for him to understand.
The Heavenly Fire Tree King was asking him to save it?
Has it gained awareness?
Although an existence like it had an endless life force and Genesis Qi, wasn’t it supposed to be very difficult for it to gain awareness?
Zhou Yuan’s eyes flickered in thought. Perhaps it had not gained a mind of its own but possessed unimaginable senses due to its innate ability to survive. Zhou Yuan’s five-foot Law Domain might be able to hide from the Nascent Source expert above, but it was unable to escape the Heavenly Fire Tree King’s detection.
Moreover, its instincts might be able to discern that Zhou Yuan could possibly save it...
You think too highly of me. Do you think that I’m a Law Domain expert? Zhou Yuan muttered in his heart but soon gritted his teeth. No matter what, he had to give it a try. Saving the Heavenly Fire Tree King was secondary, but he definitely needed to stop the alliance from using its power against the Tianyuan Region.
With his decision made, Zhou Yuan no longer hesitated. However, he did not move but instead used his Spirit senses to observe the Heavenly Fire Tree King’s surroundings. Space was warped around the tree and flowing with faint traces of Genesis Runes. It was evidently some kind of suppressing boundary.
The boundary was extremely formidable. Most importantly, there were traces of Saint Fire aura on the Genesis Runes in its core region. The Heavenly Fire Tree King was unable to escape because of this aura.
The aura was the power of a Saint expert.
The Saint Rune in Zhou Yuan’s eyes rotated, allowing him to clearly view the hidden ancient boundary surrounding the Heavenly Fire Tree King. After some careful consideration, he frowned deeply as he looked towards the stone platforms above, especially the one where the Nascent Source expert was seated.
These stone platforms were providing a steady stream of power to maintain the Saint Fire aura at the boundary’s core.
“Too troublesome…”
Zhou Yuan had a headache. To save the Heavenly Fire Tree King, he needed to fulfill two conditions. The first was to create a tiny hole in the Genesis Rune boundary around the tree to destroy its suppressive effect.
Although such a small hole was insignificant, the Heavenly Fire Tree King could capitalize on it. After all, Zhou Yuan could only create a small opening for it, and the rest would still depend on the tree.
With the Decoder Saint Rune’s help, it was not too difficult for him to open a tiny hole in the boundary. The problem lay with the Saint Fire aura. Even though it was extremely faint, it was still far too terrifying to someone like Zhou Yuan, making it very difficult for him to approach.
Once he fulfilled the first condition, there was still the second step: forcing the Nascent Source expert off the main stone platform. Once the expert left, the entire boundary would loosen, allowing the Heavenly Fire Tree King to break free.
These two conditions were as difficult as ascending the heavens. Zhou Yuan was merely at the initial Heavenly Sun stage, and he had relied on the five-foot Law Domain to appear here. Even with the five-foot Law Domain, he would be put in a perilous position if he dared to appear in front of a Nascent Source expert.
“I’ll take care of the first step first!” Zhou Yuan gritted his teeth. Spirit power stealthily flowed out from him and kept low as it approached the giant ball of light under the cover of the five-foot Law Domain.
However, when Zhou Yuan’s Spirit reached a certain point, the Saint Fire aura finally surged out.
Zhou Yuan’s Spirit immediately felt an indescribable burning sensation. The pain seemed to spread from within his Spirit itself, wanting to burn it from the inside out.
Zhou Yuan tightly clenched his jaw as he frantically circulated his Spirit power.
Tiny wisps of fire began to appear around the Spirit seated between his brows. The flames were exceedingly tiny, but they gave off an indescribable pressure. Under the fire, Zhou Yuan’s Spirit slowly began to dim.
His initial Transformative stage Spirit was about to combust just because he had approached some Saint Fire.
God damnit! Zhou Yuan cursed in his heart. The initial Transformative stage was too weak!
“What can I do?” Hundreds of ideas instantly flashed through his mind. In the end, he realized that temporarily retreating was the best option. If he could not withstand the Saint Fire aura’s burning power, saving the Heavenly Fire Tree King would be wishful thinking.
At this juncture, he had no choice but to take a step back and think of another plan.
With the decision made, Zhou Yuan did not dare to delay. A shadow squirmed as he began to retreat.
However, extremely pure energy suddenly surged towards him through the chain. Like a vine, the energy wrapped around the shadow...
This turn of events nearly made Zhou Yuan jump in fear. Was the Heavenly Fire Tree King trying to keep him here because it had sensed his intention to flee?!
Before he could react, he felt incomparably pure energy surge into his head.
The energy was so pure that it felt as if a celestial being had voluntarily revealed itself. It sprinkled onto Zhou Yuan’s dim Spirit, causing it to emit a mystical light.
Zhou Yuan then shockingly discovered that his Spirit, which had long stagnated at the initial Transformative stage, had slowly begun to swell.
“Is this the Heavenly Fire Tree King’s essence energy?”
Zhou Yuan’s heart trembled. The energy was extremely pure as if it had gone through countless eons of refinement. Moreover, the life energy contained within it refined both his Spirit and body.
The feeling intoxicated Zhou Yuan.
His Spirit glowed as his Spirit power grew at an astonishing rate.
It was the sign of an imminent breakthrough!
Zhou Yuan was not surprised by this. His Spirit had been stuck at the initial Transformative stage for a long time. Encountering such a blessed opportunity would naturally allow his Spirit to grow to the next level.
Fortunately for Zhou Yuan, he had the five-foot Law Domain, which he immediately used to conceal all undulations. Otherwise, the Nascent Source expert above him would have sensed something long ago.
The Spirit breakthrough ende
d extremely quickly. By the time the pure energy quietly withdrew, Zhou Yuan’s Spirit had already become bright and corporeal. The restlessly stirring and vigorous Spirit power was several times stronger than before!
The surroundings were reflected in Zhou Yuan’s heart as a sensation of clarity overcame him. He could observe even finer details now—a benefit brought by having a stronger Spirit.
This was the intermediate Transformative stage!
Unrestrainable joy filled Zhou Yuan’s heart. He had never imagined that he would receive such a blessing here, one that enabled his Spirit to ascend to the next level!
An intermediate Transformative stage Spirit could match the Heavenly Sun stage!
Zhou Yuan was dazed for a few seconds before he cast his gaze towards the flaming tree’s silhouette inside the giant light ball. He had not expected to receive such amazing benefits from the tree king. Hence, he bashfully coughed softly as he sent out a thought, Elder tree king, you are far too courteous...but if you still have anything else to give, don’t hold back so that I can begin risking my life to save you...
Chapter 1023 Bluff
Zhou Yuan had sent out a thought, but he did not receive any response.
This outcome made Zhou Yuan feel a little awkward, but he did not mind it too much. Of course, it would be best if he could receive more benefits, but even if he did not, the Spirit breakthrough was already more than enough to satisfy him.
“Hehe, please forgive me, tree king, I’m coming to save you now!”
With a thought, Spirit power began to extend towards the end of the numerous chains. Sure enough, he met the remnant Saint Fire aura once again. A feeling of terror flooded towards him as flames appeared around his Spirit in an attempt to burn it.
The flames were still as fear-inducing as before, but Zhou Yuan gritted his teeth and endured the pain.
Cackle!
Vigorous Spirit Fire gushed out from his Spirit, forming Spirit Fire armor around it. Zhou Yuan had not been able to do this at the initial Transformative stage because his Spirit Fire was not concentrated enough. After his previous breakthrough, his Spirit power had rapidly strengthened, giving him the ability to create this Spirit Fire armor.
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