Chapter 212: Rosong

Zhou Yuan and Yao Yao followed Mu Wuji out of the dwelling. Mu Wuji turned, smiled at them, and said, "I'm going to turn in my mission now. You two will be staying here for the next three months."

"Thank you, Uncle Mu, for guiding us all this way," Zhou Yuan said with a solemn expression, bowing respectfully to Mu Wuji. Although Mu Wuji's journey to the Cangxuan Continent was a sect mission, it was, in essence, an act of kindness.

Moreover, when the Saint Palace envoy became aggressive, it was Mu Wuji who stepped forward.

Thus, Zhou Yuan felt a great deal of goodwill towards this somewhat unkempt, barefoot man.

Yao Yao, standing beside him, also bowed her head slightly. Although she hadn't interacted much with Mu Wuji, she could sense that he was a broad-minded person, not arrogant towards these new disciples. Overall, he seemed like a good person.

Mu Wuji waved his hand and smiled, "I cultivate on Heavenly Cang Peak. If you ever run into any trouble later, you can come directly to me."

He glanced into the dwelling and whispered, "That Chen Yuan and I don't get along very well. This time, I made him give up two first-class disciple slots, so he's probably quite annoyed."

"While he wouldn't dare do anything extreme, the competition among new disciples is indeed fierce. You two need to be careful; those selected from various continents to come here are all formidable individuals."

"Therefore, it's not uncommon for first-class disciples to have their status taken away in the past..."

"But don't let that make you hesitant. If someone causes trouble, don't hold back. As long as you stay within the rules and you have this token, even if it goes all the way to the sect master, they will have to show respect to the token's owner," Mu Wuji warned.

Zhou Yuan nodded, accepting the advice.

Mu Wuji said a few more things, then waved his hand casually at them, rose into the air on a wisp of green smoke, and vanished among the towering mountains in the blink of an eye.

Watching him depart, Zhou Yuan let out a long breath. He gazed at the unfamiliar surroundings, knowing this would be his home, perhaps for a very long time.

Because here, he could become stronger.

"Let's go. There's nothing to be afraid of in a mere Cangxuan Sect..." Yao Yao gently stroked Tun Tun in her arms, her red lips slightly parted as she said, "At least, you still have me and Tun Tun."

Tun Tun also opened its beast eyes, looked at Zhou Yuan, and extended a paw to pat his arm, as if saying, "Don't worry, I've got your back."

Zhou Yuan couldn't help but smile, a warmth spreading through his heart. Looking back, it seemed that, without realizing it, Yao Yao and Tun Tun had been by his side for almost two years now...

However, when they first met, he was merely a weak youth who couldn't even open his eight meridians. Yet now, he had already left the Cangxuan Continent and entered a colossal sect like the Cangxuan Sect...

Two years had indeed changed many things.

Nevertheless, Zhou Yuan knew that the real challenges might only just be beginning. Establishing himself in this vast sect would likely be more difficult than he imagined.

But fortunately, he wasn't alone.

Just as Yao Yao said, he still had her and Tun Tun...

Zhou Yuan looked up, the daylight falling upon his young face. He smiled broadly, his expression radiating confidence.

So what if it's the Cangxuan Sect...?

So what if the competition is fierce...?

He had endured moments of such despair in the past, so what was this now?

"Let's go."

Zhou Yuan said to Yao Yao, then took the lead and walked towards the bustling, massive plaza ahead.

The vast plaza was already teeming with people. Everywhere one looked, there were young figures, all vibrant and energetic, exuding youthful vigor and filling the air with excitement.

This place gathered the elites from numerous continents within Cangxuan Heaven. However, it was clear that even among these elites, distinct social circles had already formed.

The most eye-catching area was at the very front of the plaza, where various groups, large and small, had gathered. What they all had in common was a proud-looking young man or woman at the center of each circle...

Powerful Genesis Qi fluctuations emanated from their bodies, far surpassing those around them.

"Brother Yuan, over here!"

As Zhou Yuan and Yao Yao walked back onto the plaza, a familiar voice called out from not far away. Shen Wanjin, with his plump figure, stood out prominently, waving at him.

Zhou Yuan walked over.

Behind Shen Wanjin were several other figures, including Xiao Tianxuan and the other prodigies from the Cangxuan Continent.

However, at this moment, these prodigies who had been renowned on the Cangxuan Continent began to appear somewhat uncomfortable here. This was because they realized their once-proud advantages had completely vanished in this new environment.

They had, in essence, transformed from "prodigies" into ordinary people.

It was precisely this "gain and loss" mentality that made them instinctively gravitate towards Zhou Yuan when they saw him.

Xiao Tianxuan, with a complex expression, lingered at the back of the group, his gaze avoiding Zhou Yuan's.

"Brother Yuan, this Cangxuan Sect is truly astonishing! There are tens of thousands of new disciples here, all of them prodigies from various continents..." Shen Wanjin exclaimed, looking around in amazement.

"I've already asked around," he continued, "apparently, there will be over a hundred first-class disciples among this batch of new recruits."

Zhou Yuan was slightly surprised. Over a hundred first-class disciples? Didn't that mean all these people possessed strength nearly equivalent to the third layer of the Alpha Origin Stage?

"What an eye-opener," Zhou Yuan murmured. Such a grand spectacle could indeed only be witnessed in a place like this.

However, Zhou Yuan was also surprised that Shen Wanjin managed to gather such information so quickly. This guy, with his perpetual smile, certainly found it easy to socialize.

"Among those hundred-plus, Brother Yuan and Sister Yao Yao should definitely be included!" Shen Wanjin said with a grin. "In the future, you two will have to look out for your little brother."

Zhou Yuan couldn't help but smile at that. However, just as he was about to speak, an abrupt voice suddenly cut in from the side: "Heh, how could someone in the quasi-Alpha Origin Stage become a first-class disciple? You're taking this too lightly."

The sudden voice startled the group. They turned their gazes and saw a figure not far away looking at them.

It was a young man with a somewhat handsome face, smiling. Around him, a group of people clustered, like stars orbiting the moon.

Genesis Qi fluctuations emanated from within this youth, indicating he had reached the second layer of the Alpha Origin Stage.

When the young man saw Zhou Yuan and his group looking over, a suave smile instantly appeared on his face. However, it was clear to everyone that his gaze had been fixed on Yao Yao the entire time.

"I am Luo Song, from the Sky-Green Continent..." the youth said with a smile, clasping his hands in greeting. "We'll be fellow disciples from now on, so we can look out for each other."

He casually added, "I should be assessed as a second-class disciple this time. If I work harder in the future, I might even be able to strive for a first-class disciple spot."

Beside the youth, several people also chimed in, "Heh heh, it's your good fortune to meet Brother Luo."

They could, of course, tell that Luo Song's attention was entirely on Yao Yao. After all, the girl was simply too beautiful; ever since she appeared, many had been secretly inquiring about her.

Yet, despite Luo Song's somewhat fervent gaze, Yao Yao didn't spare him a single glance, merely playing with Tun Tun in her arms.

Zhou Yuan secretly chuckled. This Luo Song appeared mild-mannered, but his condescending tone was impossible to hide. So, Zhou Yuan shook his head with a smile and said, "We're from the Cangxuan Continent. There's no need for us to look out for each other."

Hearing that Zhou Yuan had actually rejected his offer, Luo Song was visibly stunned. He clearly hadn't expected this group to refuse him, and his expression stiffened slightly.

Meanwhile, those beside him frowned and spoke up directly, "What an ungrateful brat."

"It's your good fortune to earn Brother Luo's appreciation; don't be so ignorant of what's good for you."

Several young women with some charm, who were accompanying them, also cast disdainful glances at Zhou Yuan. They clearly found his behavior impolite and believed that a mere quasi-Alpha Origin cultivator was too insignificant to put on airs.

Luo Song let out a dry laugh. One had to maintain a certain demeanor in front of a beautiful woman, so he waved his hand, gave Zhou Yuan a deep look, and said, "My friend, this is no longer the continent you were on before. It's better to be more practical here, lest you suffer a loss..."

"Heh heh, if you change your mind later, you can still come find me."

Zhou Yuan let out a helpless sigh. He looked at Yao Yao and whispered, "We just arrived, and you're already attracting so much attention. How about you continue disguising yourself as a man?"

Yao Yao rolled her eyes at him. "No more disguises. What if I attract someone like Qing Yu again? That would be an even bigger headache."

Luo Song watched Zhou Yuan and Yao Yao whispering intimately, completely ignoring him. A flicker of anger crossed his eyes. Just as he was about to speak, a bell suddenly chimed across the plaza.

Then, they saw Chen Yuan slowly walk onto the high platform in the plaza, his calm voice resounding throughout the entire area.

"Everyone quiet down. Next, I will announce the rankings for the new disciples..."