Chapter 178

The overwhelming pressure of the top favorite to win the Top Hundred tournament was truly terrifying!

Qin Shi's gaze condensed slightly; in his perception, Zhou Yuanchen's momentum was extremely vast and solid, as if connecting with the heavens, like a towering snow peak that had not melted for ten thousand years, emitting waves of chill that froze all things.

"From spirit to physical body, both hammered to such perfection — no wonder the Central City Education Bureau took a fancy to him and strongly pushed him to become a Supernova!"

His steps toward the stairs halted; the Self-Cultivation Furnace operated on its own, dense radiance wrapping the Hundred Bones, erupting substantial blazing red flames.

Almost in a single instant, Qin Shi pushed his Qi Life Force to the utmost; airflow was stirred up, his windbreaker fluttered backward, the Perfect Grade Electric Shock Military Saber buzzing and trembling.

"The Nanhuang Dojo's disciple... his performance is quite a bit higher than the rating the Ying Clan gave."

Zhou Yuanchen likewise narrowed his eyes, as if sensing a threat, and thought to himself:

"Ji Yuqi struck away 600,000 of my medical insurance quota with one palm; to heal and recover to peak condition would cost a lot of money. Fighting this kid again, the funds consumed to cross this Copper Mountain would inevitably increase.

Even with money, it can't be squandered like this!"

His eyes flickered; he lowered his hostility slightly, planning to ascend to the "mountain peak" for the final battle and fulfill the Ying Clan's conditions.

So he spoke:

"Classmate Qin Shi, the Core Area isn't just you and me. Zheng Xu, and also Xia Hong and Xia Ying, the two siblings, haven't arrived here yet. How about we conserve our strength and save it for fighting later?"

This meant a truce?

Qin Shi frowned slightly; although Zhou Yuanchen had taken a hit, his injuries weren't serious, his condition still maintained very well — yet he actually proposed a cease-fire so readily?

He pondered for a moment, then nodded lightly:

"I've heard Senior Brother Zhou's legendary deeds until my ears grew cocoons. Everyone says you're the most hardworking and outstanding graduate of Qiguang Heng University in recent years, perennially first on the Virtual Combat Room leaderboard. Since Senior Brother Zhou has no intention of fighting, I won't take advantage of your peril.

This Copper Mountain itself is also a trial ground; let's temporarily compare heights here!"

Zhou Yuanchen threw back his head and laughed:

"You walk the Old Martial Arts' Limit Breaking Path; your physical body is indeed powerful. But this Copper Mountain's magic nature runs deep — the more your flesh vitality surges, the easier it is to attract its 'attention'. I advise you to be careful, don't end up targeted like Ji Yuqi!"

His gaze enveloped Qin Shi, discovering that this high school student who had for some reason offended the Ying Clan and suffered suppression possessed Qi Life Force so surging it was shocking, almost filling his tendons and bones, like strands of radiance interwoven, brilliant as rosy clouds.

"Truly a monster! This mortal body alone is worth ten billion!"

A faint trace of envy stirred in Zhou Yuanchen's heart; if he had such talent, he wouldn't be in so much debt.

"Spiritual Field Power is also terrifyingly strong, spanning two paths... no wonder the Ying Clan regards him as a thorn in the eye, a splinter in the flesh. Making an enemy of such a genius boy — in three to five years, if he grows smoothly, they'll suffer terribly!"

On the massive Copper Mountain's waist, the two were tiny as ants, gazing at each other for a few moments, each exclaiming "the other is truly fierce," then choosing to coexist peacefully and continue climbing.

"This top favorite doesn't seem like the type with outstanding talent and externally displayed endowment; with the keen five senses of my Spiritual Residence Inner Landscape, I can't see anywhere he's different."

Qin Shi rested briefly, suppressing his restless, boiling flesh vitality; this Copper Mountain seemed like a living thing — a powerful physical body and surging Qi Life Force instead made it easier to be "noticed," drawing the residual will of Gro Xux.

He tilted his head to watch Zhou Yuanchen likewise sitting cross-legged, calming his injuries, and mysteriously felt a bit strange.

Usually speaking, a genius with half a foot already across the Professional Grade threshold should have long since revealed his talents and specialties without doubt.

For example Ji Yuqi, Pei Han — they either had sturdy physical bodies, could take hits and hit back, recovered quickly; or their muscle group coordination and recruitment speed were exceptionally outstanding, convenient for cultivating corresponding textbooks.

But the feeling Zhou Yuanchen gave Qin Shi was that all his numerical values were rather ordinary, merely developed in place and excavated thoroughly.

"Belongs to high level, but numerical values not considered supermodel."

Qin Shi concluded.

All manner of stray thoughts merely flashed by; he muttered a couple of sentences to himself, not delving deeper.

No matter what kind of ability Zhou Yuanchen relied on to become the Supernova strongly pushed by the Education Bureau.

One undeniable point: he is a strong enemy!

"Pei Han! Ji Yuqi! How did you two end up like this?"

At the "mountain foot," a tall figure rushed over.

Pei Han said listlessly:

"Zheng Xu, your eyes aren't blind either — can't you tell? Old Ji was beaten by someone; as for me, I exhausted my strength climbing and couldn't keep my footing, rolled down."

The tall man named Zheng Xu wore a black hardshell jacket, wide-leg work pants, a wolf-tail short hairstyle, his gaze full of aggressiveness, giving a sense of unruliness.

He smiled:

"Both ate dirt at Zhou Yuanchen's hands, right? I heard he doesn't fall short even in single combat against Professional Grade, tough as nails. Pei Han, call me Brother, and I'll avenge you later — how about it?"

Pei Han sneered:

"Go up and get kicked to death by the Nanhuang Dojo disciple, then you'll behave. Qin Shi fought his way here from the Outer Area; I remember your Zheng Family cooperated with the Ying Clan, and besides you there's also Zheng Jun, right?

For the sake of our acquaintance, listen to a piece of advice, Zheng Xu — don't provoke Qin Shi. That kid's five senses are sharp, like the autumn wind sensing the cicada; the moment you reveal a trace of hostility, he'll definitely use lethal force."

Zheng Xu grinned, shook his head and said:

"Pei Han, you're getting more and more useless. At any rate you're a known figure at Qiguang Heng University, yet you're afraid of a high school student still wet behind the ears."

He lifted his military boots, stepped over the fallen Pei Han and Ji Yuqi, and strode straight up the Copper Mountain stairs.

"I came prepared too! Never mind the Nanhuang Dojo disciple — even Zhou Yuanchen can't stop me!"

Pei Han's eyes were strange; he knew Zheng Xu inside out — his Qi Life Force was on par with his own, low nineties, and he grasped two S-Grade Textbooks.

Placed in the School, that counted as top-tier, but wanting to wrestle with Zhou Yuanchen was simply wishful thinking.

"Zheng Xu, I'll wait for you down here — if you can survive."

Pei Han shouted.

Zheng Xu didn't turn back to answer; he was brimming with confidence, able to fight Zhou Yuanchen.

In this day and age, only poor bastards rely on self-cultivation.

The truly rich have long since advanced by leaps and bounds under the assisted training of medicines and technology!

"The Life No. 1 and Brain Domain Activator provided by the Ying Clan are enough to temporarily boost my combat power by a large margin."

……

The sun sank beneath the Great Rift Valley, temperature plummeting, cold air surging wildly, clusters of water vapor condensing into fat snowflakes stretched into strips of cotton wool.

Zhou Yuanchen, having already reached the five hundredth step, continued maintaining a slow moving speed.

He had implanted the Soul of Ice Skin and cultivated the Ten Directions Freezing Demon Path; his adaptability to extreme cold climate was quite high.

"That kid has probably stopped by now; with such a huge day-night temperature difference, he must consume an enormous amount of calories to guarantee blood and qi circulation……"

Thinking of this, Zhou Yuanchen turned to look, then got a fright.

"You walk without sound?"

Qin Shi's young face had actually appeared right behind him.

"It's that your perception is too dull."

Qin Shi was only a few steps behind Zhou Yuanchen.

He had to admit, the magic nature contained within this Copper Mountain was indeed growing stronger and stronger.

The war cries and roars of the elephant-headed human-bodied figure continuously impacted the spirit.

Every few minutes, the body would be covered in a layer of rust-green light.

If not for the Ru Shen Ti's ample reserves, dispersing it time and again.

He might have met the same fate as Ji Yuqi.

"Lao Zhou, have you felt that there seems to be something hidden inside the Copper Mountain?"

Qin Shi called out.

Lao Zhou?

Are you that familiar with this kid?

Zhou Yuanchen's expression was displeased; considering this was not the best moment to act, he suppressed his anger and said:

"Didn't need you to say it. Like a giant pulse akin to a heart beating, there must be a source. This Copper Mountain is the concretized residual will of a Netherworld Great Demon; it's said He arrived halfway before a certain Grandmaster Level shattered Him, leaving half a mountain peak.

Pity, I've carefully sensed for a long time but couldn't capture the exact direction, establish a connection."

Qin Shi's mouth corner hooked up, he coughed lightly twice.

Zhou Yuanchen looked at the other's slightly smug appearance, suspicious:

"You discovered some clue?"

"No."

Qin Shi answered.

"I……"

Zhou Yuanchen wanted to speak but stopped, nearly blurting out a string of national profanity.

This kid is teasing me!

"But actually it's not hard. As long as I actively approach Gro Xux's residual will, I can very easily capture the pulse source."

Qin Shi raised an eyebrow and said.

"Aren't you afraid of being controlled by Gro Xux's mind, having your mortal body possessed?"

Zhou Yuanchen's face showed surprise.

That was a Netherworld Great Demon's residual will.

Even a Jiang Jun might not dare touch it!

"Said it and you wouldn't understand either; New Martial Arts finds it hard to understand."

Qin Shi considered his Spiritual Residence inner landscape, plus the Void Meditation Method's blessing, completely capable of handling the elephant-headed human-bodied Gro Xux.

"If you're willing to provide help, I can swear a pledge, absolutely won't take the opportunity to scheme, harm you."

Zhou Yuanchen suddenly said.

"I believe your character, Lao Zhou. Between you and me, no need for oaths as guarantee!"

Qin Shi laughed heartily.

Such an attitude made Zhou Yuanchen freeze.

Could Qin Shi not know that I've reached cooperation with the Ying Clan to deal with him?

Are Old Martial Arts all this simple and naive?

Trusting others so easily?

"You…… really trust me?"

Zhou Yuanchen asked with hesitant tone.

"Of course!"

Qin Shi nodded, then closed his eyes, actively "summoning" Gro Xux's residual will.

Using action to express, his trust in Zhou Yuanchen.

"Sigh, friendship is friendship, business is business. If I didn't owe over ten billion in debt, maybe I'd be shaken by your conduct, but…… forget it, wait till the summit, fair fight, decide victory!"

Zhou Yuanchen's face tightened, yet complex emotions surged in his heart.

He deeply knew the weight of this trust, extremely heavy.

Everyone is in a competitive relationship, yet the other party can rest assured entrusting his safety to him.

"At least, before reaching the summit, I won't betray your trust."

Zhou Yuanchen thought secretly.

"University students are truly clear and pure, a few words and they're hooked."

Qin Shi appeared to enter samadhi, but actually his spiritual power spread, covering several meters around him, ensuring he could react swiftly facing any attack.

He had climbed the Copper Mountain this long, long ago sensed the source location through spiritual perception.

The colossal entity's interior seemed hollow, a void of collapsed space.

Within it "grew" a blood-red crystal resembling a heart.

By visual estimate, it was the size of a village millstone.

Its surface flowed with crystalline patterns, like the veins of flower petals.

The moment Qin Shi's spiritual field power touched it, a "hunger" like a starving ghost seeing food welled up spontaneously.

He could not wait to seize it, open his mouth and swallow it, operate the Self-Cultivation Furnace and instantly refine it.

But before he could react, the elephant-headed, human-bodied demon shadow instantly condensed, roughly five or six meters tall, holding a war spear and iron shield, and on the spot swept away and annihilated that strand of spirit!

"To pluck that 'Blood Flower', one person cannot do it. There must be someone to lure it away, restrain Gro Xux, so that I can get the thing."

Precisely because of this, Qin Shi brought up the topic, pulled Zhou Yuanchen over, hoping to have him help "work".

"Lao Zhou, I've already captured the location. Inside Copper Mountain there is a 'Blood Flower', extremely rare! But it is guarded by Gro Xux's residual will; unless defeated, the trial passed, it cannot be obtained."

A moment later, Qin Shi opened his eyes and explained in detail.

"Although the Old Martial Arts faction has declined, the upright and honorable atmosphere hasn't been severed. This Nanhuang Dojo successor, not a word mentioning his own contribution, his character surpasses those New Martial Arts fellows by far too much."

Zhou Yuanchen glanced over Qin Shi's slightly pale young face, his heart stirred.

The other party contending with Gro Xux's residual will, vying for control of the mortal body, must have consumed no small amount.

"Gro Xux! If it's just a great demon's residual will, I'm not unable to contend! I'll drag him down, you pluck it, can it work?"

Zhou Yuanchen sighed inwardly, readily accepting the heavy task of restraining Gro Xux's residual will.

"Lao Zhou, that's a Netherworld great demon. If he arrives, combat power absolutely won't be inferior to a professional-grade; you..."

Qin Shi's tone hesitated.

"Rest assured! I haven't not beaten a professional-grade before!"

Seeing the concern in Qin Shi's eyes, Zhou Yuanchen's hot blood seemed to burn within him, he waved a big hand and said:

"You just pluck it! The rest, hand over to me!"

The two discussed and finalized it.

Qin Shi retreated a few steps, distancing himself from Zhou Yuanchen.

Only to see this Top Hundred tournament championship favorite, suddenly mobilize Qi Life Force, stimulate Flesh Vitality.

Incomparably dense rust-green light, almost instantly enveloped down.

"Still not enough!"

Zhou Yuanchen shouted loudly, every strand of hair like barbs, standing upright.

The complete release of ninety-nine points of Qi Life Force caused the light radiance within his body to rush skyward, like a half bright moon, leaping from the sea, illuminating all directions!

Dong!

The entire Copper Mountain trembled!

As if trampled by elephant feet as thick as mountain peaks!

Gro Xux's residual will was attracted by Zhou Yuanchen, condensed out of thin air, wanting to seize this excellent mortal body!

"You go!"

Zhou Yuanchen shouted, then was struck flying by the elephant-headed, human-bodied magic-nature figure's long trunk, heavily smashed into the steps!

"Go for it! Lao Zhou!"

Qin Shi didn't delay either, spiritual field power dispersed to the limit, penetrating deep into Copper Mountain's interior.

Strands upon strands interwoven like a net, falling toward that bewitching, gorgeous, crystal-clear "Blood Flower"!

【156】 Chi chi chi!

【157】 His mental power, like a ladle of ice-cold snow water splashed on a stove surface, continuously evaporated.

This kind of pain, no different from cutting flesh with a knife, extremely clear and agonizing.

Qin Shi breathed deeply, spirit merging with mortal body, large sections of Dragon Snake Script imprints Spirit Sea, suppressing the strangeness, sweeping away discomfort.

He was neither hurried nor impatient, spirit like extended tentacles, bit by bit moving forward.

Under this perception level, time flowed very slowly, every second exceptionally long.

He was unhurried and unflustered, his spirit like extending tentacles, inching forward bit by bit.

Outside, Zhou Yuanchen, like a sandbag, was being brutally beaten by Gro Xux's residual will.

Massive elephant foot stomped down hard, stepping that tiny human figure deep into Copper Mountain.

"I can't hold on anymore!"

Zhou Yuanchen vomited several mouthfuls of blood, this job was too difficult, completely unable to parry Gro Xux's violent offensive!

"Still a little short."

Qin Shi's mind tranquil, the hundreds of tentacles transformed from mental power, finally one strand wound around the "Blood Flower".

He gently tugged, a light "pop" sound, Copper Mountain's interior collapsed space rumbled and contracted.

As if wanting to retain this object.

But Qin Shi was faster, directly took it into Inner Landscape Floor!

"Settled! Lao Zhou!"

Qin Shi opened his eyes, just seeing the beaten Zhou Yuanchen operate "Ten Directions Freezing Demon Path", minimizing Qi Life Force to the lowest.

Gro Xux's residual will roared wildly, yet still unwilling to disperse.

Qin Shi opened his eyes, and saw Zhou Yuanchen, who was being brutally beaten, operating the Ten Directions Freezing Demon Path, minimizing his Qi Life Force to the lowest level.

Zhou Yuanchen, bruised and swollen, covered in wounds, looked at the "Blood Flower" in Qin Shi's palm, yet laughed heartily.

If consumed, digested, at least could save tens of millions grade of fund consumption.

Borrowing less money equals Blood Profit!

Dan Ruo Jiang Jun qi fu yong, xiao hua, zhi shao neng Tie Tie Gou jie sheng shu qian wan ji bie de zi jin xiao hao.

Shao jie qian, bian deng yu xue zhuan!

"Your Breath is so Weak; you must have overexerted your Spirit. Hard Work."

Zhou Yuanchen noticed Qin Shi's lips had turned pale, sweat beading on his forehead, and even his Breathing Rhythm was somewhat disordered.

"Rest first. Once you recover, you and I will split it evenly..."

Zhou Yuanchen hadn't finished speaking when his Gaze suddenly sharpened, Spiritually Locking onto the figure climbing upward with extreme speed below.

It was Zheng Xu!

"I'm not used to owing favors. You've paid a huge price, so I'll help you once."

Zhou Yuanchen strode across the steps, descending like a falling mountain peak.

"Zhou Yuanchen, why did you come down? Is that Qin Shi up there?"

Seeing Zhou Yuanchen, Zheng Xu couldn't help but reveal a smile; the two of them were both collaborators of the Ying Clan.

If they were Willing to join forces, let alone eliminating the Nanhuang Dojo Disciple, killing him on the spot wasn't impossible either.

"You came for him?"

Zhou Yuanchen asked.

"Naturally! The Ying Clan said: Dan Ruo the Nanhuang Dojo Disciple meets a Premature Death here, they will give a reward rich beyond imagination!"

Zheng Xu laughed.

"How about it, Zhou Yuanchen? You and I take out Qin Shi together! I can forgo competing for the Champion title of the Top Hundred..."

Zhou Yuanchen sighed, silently severing his inner conflict, his eyes turning Resolute once more.

"Trash like you who can't even reach the Ten Billion level — I originally didn't want to make a move. Who told me I owe That Kid a debt of gratitude!"

Ten Directions Freezing Demon Path, one hundred percent Operation!

A cluster resembling a bright moon of cold light rose up, enveloping a radius of several dozen meters all around!

"You're crazy! Zhou Yuanchen! We're in the same boat..."

Zheng Xu was greatly shocked.

The figure was swallowed by the surging cold current in an instant!

(Chapter End)