Battle

"Master, we've received an unencrypted message from them. They're demanding that we leave." Inside Zhou Yuan's distant spacecraft, the intelligent assistant informed its owner.

"Head straight over. With so many Universe Crystals, just kill him." A burly man with horns on his forehead spoke, his eyes filled with greed and cruelty.

He was Iron Blood of the Blood Fiend Race. His Universe Level 8 strength, along with his comprehension of the fifth level of Domain, made him utterly dismissive of Zhou Yuan's warning despite Zhou Yuan only being Universe Level 2.

Zhou Yuan's judgment had indeed been correct. The other side had likely discovered the existence of the Universe Crystal mine as well. They ignored the warning message Zhou Yuan had sent and flew straight toward him, accelerating faster and faster. Clearly, they had no intention of giving up such an immense resource easily.

Zhou Yuan's expression instantly turned grave. He had no idea how many people were coming or how strong they were, but there was no way he could simply abandon so many Universe Crystals.

He could only hope they were not too strong. He gripped the Earth-Splitting Blade tightly as the Earth Origin Law within his body slowly began to circulate, ready for battle at any moment.

As the distance between both sides continued to shrink, the other spacecraft stopped as well. Its hatch opened, and seven burly men shot out like cannonballs.

They were tall and powerfully built, their skin dark red as though it had been soaked in blood. Their pupils were blood-red. They were members of the Blood Fiend Race branch of the Human Race, notorious for their brutality and savagery.

All seven were at the Universe Level. The strongest was Universe Level 8, another was Universe Level 7, and the remaining five were Universe Level 6.

After leaving the spacecraft, the seven men formed a half-encirclement and flew toward Zhou Yuan. The violent aura radiating from their bodies seemed almost tangible, sending ripples through the starry sky.

Zhou Yuan stopped as well and coldly assessed the seven men before him. There was not the slightest trace of fear in his eyes; instead, they brimmed with fighting spirit. It seemed today's battle was unavoidable.

"You people are being rather unreasonable, aren't you?" Zhou Yuan called out. Of course, sound could not travel through space, so they communicated through spiritual transmission. His voice was calm and imposing, as steady as the earth itself.

"Rules? Who made them?" Iron Blood, the Universe Level 8 brute, said disdainfully. "You're only Universe Level 2. Get lost if you know what's good for you. If you don't, this place will be your grave." In his eyes, Zhou Yuan was nothing more than an ant he could crush at any time.

Hearing this, Zhou Yuan's gaze turned even colder. He knew there was no choice but to fight. Although the enemy outnumbered him and stood two levels above him, his thirtyfold genes meant his true strength was equivalent to the peak of Universe Level 6.

Besides, he had already grasped the threshold of the Earth Origin Law. With his current comprehension of the law, there was no need for him to fear them. This was the perfect chance to test his strength.

"Looks like there's no room for negotiation. Then let's see whether you have what it takes to swallow this up." Zhou Yuan swung the Earth-Splitting Blade, and the Earth Origin Law within him began operating at full force. Even the starry sky beneath his feet seemed to grow heavy. Without hesitation, he charged forward, deciding to strike the weakest first and break them one by one.

A dense power of the Earth Origin Law gathered around Zhou Yuan's Earth-Splitting Blade as he slashed at a Universe Level 6 Blood Fiend Race warrior. The slash appeared slow, yet it carried the weight and steadiness of the earth, as though the power of the entire starry sky had converged into that single blow.

That Universe Level 6 Blood Fiend Race warrior also used a blade. He did not take Zhou Yuan, a mere Universe Level 2, seriously at all, believing Zhou Yuan's attack would be no more than a tickle. He snorted disdainfully and raised his blade to meet it head-on.

"Ah!"

A miserable scream rang out. The disdain on the Universe Level 6 Blood Fiend Race warrior's face instantly turned to terror. How could he possibly block the Earth Origin Law contained in Zhou Yuan's strike?

His blade was cut in two in an instant. Like slicing through tofu, Zhou Yuan's Earth-Splitting Blade cleaved him directly in half. His body exploded in the starry sky, becoming a cloud of blood mist.

"Be careful! He has already comprehended part of the Earth Origin Law!" Iron Blood, the Universe Level 8 warrior, changed expression and hurriedly warned the others. He had not expected Zhou Yuan to have comprehended the Earth Origin Law already, much less to possess such deep insight into it. No wonder Zhou Yuan had dared to mine the Universe Crystal mine here alone.

The moment he finished speaking, he spread out his own Domain. A violent blood-fiend power filled the area, beginning to restrict Zhou Yuan's movements.

The Universe Level 7 Blood Fiend Race warrior was a telekinetic master. He controlled telekinetic weapons and launched them at Zhou Yuan. Countless blood-red telekinetic throwing knives shot toward Zhou Yuan like a torrential downpour, every one of them containing violent power.

The other four Universe Level 6 Blood Fiend Race warriors attacked as well. Wielding their weapons, they launched a frenzied assault on Zhou Yuan. In an instant, Zhou Yuan was surrounded, attacks coming from every direction. The situation was extremely dangerous.

Zhou Yuan's expression did not change. He snorted coldly, and the starry sky beneath his feet instantly seemed to solidify. His Earth Domain spread out at full force, and a heavy, steady power of the Earth Origin Law filled the surroundings, colliding with Iron Blood's Fire Domain.

Boom!

The two Domains collided with an earthshaking roar. It was as though a storm had erupted in the starry sky, countless waves of energy spreading in every direction.

Zhou Yuan's Earth Domain had already reached the ninth level, and it was further enhanced by the power of the law. Although his origin force was inferior to Iron Blood's, the strength of Zhou Yuan's Domain far surpassed Iron Blood's. Under the suppression of the Earth Domain, Iron Blood's Fire Domain was completely suppressed.

Zhou Yuan ignored the incoming telekinetic throwing knives. Under the Domain's suppression, they could no longer harm him. He swung the Earth-Splitting Blade again, slashing toward a Universe Level 6 Blood Fiend Race warrior. The Earth Origin Law contained in this strike was even denser, like a mountain crashing down upon him.

The Universe Level 6 Blood Fiend Race warrior's face changed drastically. Sensing the terrifying might of the strike, he hurriedly raised his blade to block. But the gap between his strength and Zhou Yuan's was far too great. Though he was also at the Universe Level, he had not comprehended either a Domain or an Origin Law. Before Zhou Yuan, he was as fragile as paper.

Crack!

With a crisp sound, the Universe Level 6 Blood Fiend Race warrior's blade was cut apart again. Zhou Yuan's Earth-Splitting Blade did not slow in the slightest and cleaved directly into his body. He was instantly split in two, utterly dead.

"Courting death!" Seeing his clansman killed by Zhou Yuan, Iron Blood swung the massive axe in his hand and chopped toward Zhou Yuan. The axe contained terrifying fire origin force. Empowered by the Fire Domain, it seemed capable of splitting the entire starry sky apart.

Zhou Yuan's eyes narrowed. He did not dare be careless as the Earth Origin Law in his body circulated at full force. A dense earthen-yellow glow gathered around his Earth-Splitting Blade, and he turned to meet Iron Blood's massive axe with a slash.

Boom!

The Earth-Splitting Blade collided with the massive axe in an earthshaking explosion. Zhou Yuan felt an enormous force crash into him, forcing him back again and again. His chest tightened painfully, and he nearly spat out blood. Iron Blood was also knocked backward by Zhou Yuan's slash. He stared at Zhou Yuan in shock, never expecting Zhou Yuan's strength to be so great.

"I didn't expect you to be this strong, but you'll still die today." Iron Blood spoke coldly, his eyes filled with killing intent. He swung his massive axe at Zhou Yuan once more, this attack even more violent and terrifying than before.

Zhou Yuan took a deep breath. He knew he could no longer remain on the defensive. He decided to unleash the strongest killing move he had comprehended from the Earth Origin Law. Slowly, he raised the Earth-Splitting Blade. The Earth Origin Law power around him grew increasingly dense, and even the surrounding starry sky seemed to turn earthen-yellow.

Earth-Splitting Slash!

Zhou Yuan shouted lowly, and the Earth-Splitting Blade came crashing down. A massive earthen-yellow blade aura slashed toward Iron Blood. It contained terrifying Earth Origin Law power, as though it could split the earth and sever the starry sky.

Iron Blood's face changed drastically. Sensing the terrifying power of the blade aura, he hurriedly swung his massive axe to block it. But the aura's might far exceeded his imagination. His massive axe was split apart instantly, and the blade aura continued onward, striking him directly.

"Ah!"

Iron Blood let out a miserable scream. The blade aura struck his body, leaving a massive wound as blood poured out without end. Though he was powerful, before Zhou Yuan's Earth Origin Law, he still seemed utterly vulnerable.

At that moment, the Universe Level 7 telekinetic master seized the opportunity and controlled his telekinetic weapon to attack Zhou Yuan's back. He intended to ambush Zhou Yuan and kill him in one strike.

It was as though Zhou Yuan had eyes in the back of his head. He spun around sharply and swung the Earth-Splitting Blade again. An earthen-yellow blade aura met the telekinetic weapon and shattered it instantly.

"You can die too." Zhou Yuan spoke coldly. His figure flashed, and he instantly appeared before the Universe Level 7 telekinetic master. The Earth-Splitting Blade came down without hesitation, cleaving his body directly in half.

Seeing this, the remaining three Universe Level 6 Blood Fiend Race warriors were frightened out of their wits. They had never expected Zhou Yuan to be so powerful. Even Iron Blood and the Universe Level 7 telekinetic master were no match for him. They immediately turned and tried to flee.

"Trying to run? Too late." Zhou Yuan said coldly. His figure moved like a ghost, instantly appearing behind one Blood Fiend Race warrior. With a swing of the Earth-Splitting Blade, he killed him outright.

The other two Blood Fiend Race warriors could not escape either. Zhou Yuan killed them one after another.

After dealing with all the enemies, Zhou Yuan looked at Iron Blood, his eyes filled with icy killing intent. Iron Blood was already severely wounded, his combat strength greatly diminished. He no longer posed any threat to Zhou Yuan.

"Y-You... don't come any closer." Iron Blood looked at Zhou Yuan, his eyes full of fear. He had never expected to fall at the hands of a mere Universe Level 2 brat.

"Now you know fear? Too late." Zhou Yuan spoke coldly as he walked toward Iron Blood step by step. With every step, the starry sky beneath his feet seemed to grow heavier.

Just as Zhou Yuan was about to kill Iron Blood, Iron Blood suddenly gritted his teeth fiercely, and his body began to swell. He actually intended to self-destruct and perish together with Zhou Yuan.

Zhou Yuan's expression changed. He had not expected Iron Blood to be so insane. He immediately retreated while spreading his Earth Domain to protect himself.

Boom!

Iron Blood's body exploded with an earthshaking roar. A terrifying energy storm erupted through the starry sky, instantly vaporizing the surrounding meteors.

Blood seeped from the corner of Zhou Yuan's mouth. Although he had retreated in time and protected himself with the Earth Domain, he was still caught by the energy storm and suffered minor injuries.

However, he had survived. Looking at the distant Universe Crystal mine, a relieved smile appeared on his lips. Though the battle had been brutal, he had gained greatly from it.

Not only had he protected the Universe Crystal mine, but he had also verified his combat strength in battle, giving him a deeper understanding of his own power.

Zhou Yuan adjusted his breathing in the starry sky for a while. Once his injuries stabilized, he collected the others' weapons, armor, and storage equipment before flying toward the Universe Crystal mine. He knew he could not remain here for long. He had to finish mining the Universe Crystal mine as quickly as possible.