The dangers in Guyuan Heaven were evident.
After half a day of thrilling journeying, Zhou Yuan and the others arrived at the area indicated on the map fragment. It was an extremely barren mountain range with no end in sight. Huge peaks stretched up from the ground and towered into the clouds. However, there seemed to be little vitality throughout the entire mountain range. It was hard to find a fleck of green, and only bare boulders and rocks were visible.
Everyone stared at Zhou Yuan, including Qin Lian.
Zhou Yuan broke the silence with a cough and scanned the vast mountain range. It will take a few days to explore the entire mountain range. He waved his hand and said, "Why are you all standing in a daze? Dig up the ancestral qi vein!”
Seeing him raise his voice, the Heavenly Sun troops had no choice but to shrug their shoulders and assemble into their assigned team formation and advance towards the mountain range.
Boom!
As the troops acted, rumbles echoed from the mountains. Every little team circulated their Genesis Qi and turned it into a pointed spiral to drill into the ground. Deep pits appeared one after another, and the ground was riddled with holes in minutes.
This group of Heavenly Sun experts were first-class in causing destruction.
Zhou Yuan watched with arms folded, then shifted his gaze to Qin Lian. “Why do you keep staring at me?”
Qin Lian said snappily, “Oh mighty grand elder Zhou Yuan, I would like to ask, do you really think we can harvest anything in this place?”
Qin Lian was bitterly disappointed to the core when she had arrived at the mountain range because the place was extremely barren and didn’t look like a place rich in ancestral qi. It should be said that a place with intense ancestral qi should give birth to many ancient beasts, but they hadn’t seen even half the shadow of a beast.
Zhou Yuan smiled. “We’re here already, so let's search around first.”
Qin Lian sighed and had no other choice but to do as he said. Without saying anything more to him, she soared into the air and scanned their surroundings while keeping her guard up.
Zhou Yuan also turned his attention to the barren mountain range. A Saint rune circulated in the depths of his eyes, but even after running his eyes over the mountains again and again, he didn’t notice any place with a large concentration of ancestral qi.
However, he wasn’t surprised. The mountain range was too vast, and his Decoder Saint Rune couldn’t search everything at a glance. However, he believed in the Decoder Saint Rune’s power and knew that an ancestral qi vein had to be hidden within the seemingly barren mountain range.
Moreover, when he previously surveyed this area from the white-jade mirror, he found that although the pale yellow aura was weak on the surface, there were specks of light in the depths of the ground. This strangeness wasn’t seen in the other locations, which was why he had told Qin Lian to choose this place.
“I will find you,” muttered Zhou Yuan. Placing one hand behind his back, he stepped forward. Every step he took was equal to tens of feet, and every time he took a step forward, he carefully observed the surroundings.
Rumor has it that the ancestral qi vein possessed a special spiritual intellect to seek good fortune and avoid danger, so it wasn’t easy to find. Therefore, Zhou Yuan slowly walked into the mountain range, scanning the surroundings with every step.
The great army was also in the mountains, searching carefully as they advanced. Rumbles echoed throughout the entire mountain range.
The day flew by in the blink of an eye.
Hovering high up, Qin Lian assumed an angry countenance because they hadn’t detected the slightest trace of ancestral qi after almost an entire day, let alone the ancestral qi vein.
Mu Youlan, Bian Buji, Han Jinhe and other deputy captains also darted over to Qin Lian's side and shook their heads, indicating that they had found nothing in their areas.
Qin Lian grew increasingly annoyed.
If they were to return empty-handed, the Wanzu Region would no doubt ridicule them. More importantly, it would be a huge blow to the troops’ morale.
“Where’s Zhou Yuan?” Qin Lian asked.
Mu Youlan pointed to the depths of the mountains. "I saw him go there by himself.”
When Qin Lian heard this, she transformed into a stream of light and sped into the depths. She finally saw Zhou Yuan standing on an ordinary hill after searching in the mountains for a good while, and she immediately landed next to him.
"We have searched the entire day and found nothing.” Qin Lian stared at Zhou Yuan and said helplessly, "This time we are probably going to return without any harvest.”
But she had no intention of blaming Zhou Yuan, and instead, she said in a comforting voice, “It’s our first time in Guyuan Heaven. We don’t have much experience, so it's not surprising that we made a misjudgment. You don’t need to be upset.”
Zhou Yuan smiled. "Don't you think this mountain range is too barren? Also, we’ve been searching for half a day, but we haven't found a single ancient beast.”
Qin Lian frowned. “That doesn't mean anything, right?”
Zhou Yuan stamped his feet and lifted his hand into the air. Suddenly, hundreds of shadows swept out and turned into stone pillars. They scattered throughout the area like nails.
“Earth Suppression Pillar? Zhou Yuan, what are you doing?" Qin Lian exclaimed. The Earth Suppression Pillar could only be used after finding the ancestral qi vein. Their function was to suppress the vein and prevent it from escaping.
Could it be—
Qin Lian looked around and then felt more carefully, but she still found no signs of ancestral qi.
"Call everyone here." Zhou Yuan didn't explain too much and just instructed Qin Lian.
Although confused, Qin Lian didn't ask any more questions. She turned around and left. A moment later, there were countless piercing noises in the distance, and all troops from the Tianyuan Region gathered around the hill where Zhou Yuan was.
However, everyone surveyed the surroundings in bewilderment because they also couldn’t feel anything strange here.
Facing the countless doubtful gazes, Zhou Yuan calmly pointed to an area. “Dig. The ancestral qi vein should be right below there.”
Chapter 1089 Capture the Vein
“Dig here?!”
The entire team stared at the ordinary-looking hill and then exchanged surprised glances with one another. They didn't sense any unusual energy undulations, let alone the so-called ancestral qi.
Mu Youlan, Bian Buji, Han Jinhe and the others displayed some hesitation and then cast a look in Qin Lian’s direction.
Qin Lian pondered for a moment, then said through gritted teeth, “Dig.”
But there was obvious worry in her eyes. If Zhou Yuan was right, he would develop trust in everyone’s hearts, but if he failed, it would undoubtedly affect his prestige.
After all, there were many unaffiliated cultivators in their team, and they all came not to win glory for the Tianyuan Region, but for their own benefits. If Zhou Yuan repeatedly acted wilfully and ordered them to do things without any benefits, the unaffiliated cultivators, who were like employed soldiers, might retreat or even join other forces.
But seeing Zhou Yuan so persistent, Qin Lian didn’t try to persuade him.
Boom!
Following Qin Lian's order, the numerous teams no longer hesitated, and they erupted with bursts of Genesis Qi. Their Genesis Qi transformed into countless swirling drills and burrowed into the ground.
The earth quaked, the ground split apart, and a pit began to expand. After a while, a huge dark pit appeared in front of everyone, but the expected ancestral qi vein did not.
Faint commotions broke out in the team. After a whole day of unfavorable events, many were unable to bear it any longer. Although they didn’t dare to disobey orders, they couldn’t stop themselves from grumbling complaints.
Seeing this, Qin Lian scrunched her brows and was about to scold them. Zhou Yuan wav
ed his hand and stopped her. He stared into the depths of the giant pit as a Saint rune flowed in the depths of his eyes.
"Interesting, the vein is like a living thing and knows how to hide,” he chuckled. No matter how everyone dug madly, there wasn’t a glimpse of the ancestral qi vein. But it wasn’t that nothing was in this area—the vein was just constantly hiding from them.
Generally speaking, in such a situation, one could only cast a wide net to form a containment zone. Although the efficiency of this method wasn't particularly good, as long as they could discover a little flaw, they could detect its whereabouts.
Moreover, the vein seemed to have a strong spiritual intellect.
As Zhou Yuan stretched out his hand, snow-white hair swept out of his palm like a wave and transformed into a python-like torrent.
Swoosh!
Wrapped in mighty power, the white python sped down, breaking through the thick soil and rocks. It madly tunneled into the depths of the earth.
Boom!
The white python-like waterfall set off tremendous tremors, and even the entire mountain seemed to be overturning. Everyone helplessly watched the earth being turned upside down, but they couldn’t understand why they still couldn’t see the ancestral qi vein. It was as though Zhou Yuan was chasing an invisible target.
However, Zhou Yuan paid no attention to the countless doubtful and puzzled gazes, and he focused on manipulating the torrent into the earth’s depths.
This was because he could see that the ancestral qi vein was constantly avoiding his encirclement as he gazed at it with his Decoder Saint Rune. Fortunately, he had locked the area with the Earth Suppression Pillar. As a result, the ancestral qi vein couldn’t escape and could only hide and evade in the constantly shrinking area.
The ancestral qi vein would be caught sooner or later.
Stronger experts like Qin Lian or those who had some achievements in Spirit finally noticed something strange as Zhou Yuan closed in on the ancestral qi vein. Their eyes widened.
“I finally caught you.” After ten breaths, the corners of Zhou Yuan's lips curved upwards, and he pressed his hands together.
Boom!
The white python-like torrent smashed through the underground boulders, and an indescribable ancient qi erupted like a volcano amidst countless shocked gazes.
In the depths of the earth, a pale yellow current flowed out. The current seemed illusory, but vaguely, it transformed into a long dragon-like silhouette. It was clearly just a current of qi, but many people felt an ancient spiritual nature and intellect. Moreover, everyone felt the Genesis Qi in their body surge when they laid eyes on the pale yellow current, a sign of extreme desire and covetousness.
Roar!
The pale yellow current seemed to be roaring.
"It's the ancestral qi vein!" someone exclaimed.
“We really found it?!”
Everyone cast surprised gazes towards Zhou Yuan’s slender figure one after another, and they were all at a loss for words. The outcome was evidently unexpected. They would never have thought that an ancestral qi vein would exist in such a barren area.
Qin Lian, Mu Youlan and the others also stared at Zhou Yuan in amazement.
"You...how could you perceive the ancestral qi vein so clearly?" Qin Lian couldn't help asking in shock.
The ancestral qi vein was extremely difficult to detect, and even they needed to rely on the Qi Observation Platform to perceive the general direction before they could gradually search for it. But even if the ancestral qi vein was perfectly concealed and they had exhausted everything and failed to find the slightest trace, Zhou Yuan had managed to capture it precisely.
They couldn't see what happened underground, but it was obvious Zhou Yuan was chasing the ancestral qi vein.
But how could he detect it?!
Zhou Yuan smiled. He naturally wouldn’t expose the Decoder Saint Rune, so he just let them think that his Spirit perception was especially strong.
"Prepare the altar and connect it to Hunyuan Heaven, then guide the ancestral qi vein into it,” Zhou Yuan commanded.
Boom!
But just as his voice faded, the ground began to vibrate.
“What’s happening?” Qin Lian increased her guard.
Zhou Yuan wrinkled his brows and immediately shifted his gaze towards the huge pit’s depths where the ancestral qi vein was. With his Decoder Saint Rune, he saw countless strange auras surging in the ground’s depths like a tide.
"Is it an ancient beast born from this ancestral qi vein?”
Zhou Yuan ran his eyes across the barren mountain range in deep thought. The reason they couldn’t see a single ancient beast—there likely wasn’t any—was because this mysterious ancient beast underground had swallowed them all.
"All teams, be alert! Prepare to fight!" Zhou Yuan roared.
The torrent-like aura underground exuded a dangerous atmosphere and should not be underestimated.
But this only made Zhou Yuan even more curious. He only chose this area on the Observation Qi Platform because he had detected a vague abnormality with the ancestral qi vein through his Decoder Saint Rune. Perhaps the ancient underground beast would have some answers to these anomalies.
Hearing Zhou Yuan's order, everyone increased their guard and erupted with mighty Genesis Qi one after another. Genesis weapons emitting chilling aura flashed to their hands.
The ancestral qi vein was right in front of them. As long as they could eliminate this last obstacle, they could enjoy the nourishment from the ancestral qi. This would be their opportunity and blessing, and so, their fighting spirit was extremely high.
Countless eyes filled with fighting spirit locked on the giant pit’s depths.
The vibration grew increasingly violent, and at a certain moment, the pit’s depths were suddenly torn apart. A black torrent gushed out with an ear-piercing sonic boom and ferocity.
Chapter 1090 Rat Tide
Jiji!
The black torrent gushed out from the ground. A fiendish aura wreaked havoc as it sped towards the Tianyuan Region team standing outside the giant pit with lightning speed.
It was only when the sun illuminated the black torrent that everyone saw its true appearance. It was a swarm of ancient rodent beasts. Their bodies were tremendous, their fur dark, their eyes scarlet. Ancient runes were flashing all over their claws and teeth. Although the ancient rat beasts resembled rats, they exuded an indescribable ancient fierceness from their bodies, like panthers.
"Attack!" Qin Lian's cold voice rang out.
Boom!
The next moment, the 2000 Heavenly Sun experts struck back with full strength. Mighty Genesis Qi turned into thousands of waterfalls and bombarded the black torrent as if boulders breaking into a mountain.
The black torrent was severed in an instant, but soon, the rats again rushed out in endless numbers. They charged out of the huge pit and approached the nearby Tianyuan Region team members.
Bang!
Caught off guard, some Heavenly Sun experts were blasted into the distance, and the ancient rats’ sharp claws slashed at them.
Fortunately, everyone present was an elite. They soon snapped out of their shock, and in formations of small teams, they used all sorts of means to rapidly sever the swarm of ancient rats.
Based on strength, the ancient rats were at most at the Divine Dwelling stage, but when they gathered in numbers, they were particularly terrifying.
Bian Buji, Mu Youlan, Han Jinhe and the other deputy captains rushed onto the battlefield and killed the nearby ancient rats with explosions of Genesis Qi.
However, the endless swarm was too terrifying. In just a few breaths, the black torrent had occupied the barren mountain range and surrounded the entire Tianyuan Region team.
Zhou Yuan and Qin Lian hovered in the sky with solemn expressions. Guyuan Heaven is indeed full of danger. Even the ancient beasts born from an ancestral qi vein are very difficult to deal with.
“There’s too many!" Qin
Lian exclaimed. It’s no wonder this mountain range is so barren. Those ancient rats are the culprit.
Zhou Yuan narrowed his eyes. "Something is controlling them...that thing in the deepest place should be the rat king. The group of rats will scatter once we kill it.”
He looked at Qin Lian, and they both nodded decisively.
Boom!
Mighty Genesis Qi exploded as the two sped down simultaneously. They tunneled down into the deep pit and shattered the ground surface with Genesis Qi.
Rumble!
But they didn't rush too far down, as when they felt the rocks collapsing, a spacious underground palace had appeared below them.
Chi!
The two immediately noticed a gust of wind whizzing towards them from both sides the moment they arrived in the underground palace. Then, their gaze met two pairs of scarlet and ruthless eyes.
Their offensive was fierce, but Zhou Yuan and Qin Lian had both fought countless battles. Genesis Qi gushed forth from their bodies and formed several tough Genesis Qi barriers in front of them. At the same time, they opened their mouths and roared out torrents of Genesis Qi.
The claws stretched out from the darkness tore down their layers of defense, but the two domineering Genesis Qi torrents battered them repeatedly during their brief moment of stillness.
Bang!
The two giant beasts were blasted upside down, and they smashed into the ground, tearing long tracks into the ground.
Zhou Yuan and Qin Lian followed the tracks and saw two giant rats with golden fur. Each had two wings on its back. They shone coldly like blades.
The two flying golden rats seemed to be a male and a female pair, and they should be the king and queen of the ancient rats.
Golden runes gathered on their foreheads, and even their claws and teeth were a pale golden color. Saliva trickled down their mouths and corroded the ground.
"What tough bodies," Zhou Yuan couldn't help complimenting out loud. Even though he and Qin Lian hadn’t held back their Genesis Qi attacks and had seemingly battered the two golden rats, they had failed to inflict much harm.
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