Chapter 223: Resolving

Hundred Fragrances Pavilion.

This is an eatery located in the Outer Mountain range. For many Outer Mountain disciples, it's a place offering excellent benefits. While the delicious dishes are secondary, the main draw is the exceptionally high-grade ingredients, which not only satisfy one's appetite but also aid in cultivation.

Of course, enjoying a meal here requires payment in Genesis Jade. Therefore, in the initial stages, very few disciples can afford to splurge here.

At this moment, Zhou Yuan, along with Yao Yao, Tun Tun, Shen Wanjin, Xiao Tianxuan, and a group of other prodigies from the Cangxuan Continent, had reserved a table here. It was a celebration of his breakthrough to the Primordial Realm.

However, the most important reason was that when they approached the entrance just now, Tun Tun suddenly charged inside like a madman, completely unstoppable...

"Hehe, I saw this Hundred Fragrances Pavilion yesterday, but I didn't dare to go in," Shen Wanjin said with a greasy smile. "Today, thanks to Brother Yuan, I can finally try it." Having just arrived at the Cangxuan Sect, everyone was starting from scratch, no longer the favored prodigies they once were. Thus, initially, they couldn't afford places like this.

Zhou Yuan smiled, though his smile carried a hint of pain. He had discovered while ordering that the ingredients here primarily consisted of Fourth-grade Genesis Beasts, and some of the secret spiritual soups used various rare genesis materials as supplementary ingredients. During his Meridian Opening period, he had once consumed their royal "Nine Beast Soup," but compared to the food here, it truly paled in comparison.

Naturally, good food came with a high price; this meal alone cost Zhou Yuan ten pieces of Genesis Jade. Thinking of this, he couldn't help but glare fiercely at Tun Tun, who was next to him, mouth agape, tail wagging, and drooling.

"Brother Yuan is truly impressive today! Let's see if they still dare to look down on our Cangxuan Continent now," said a pretty, oval-faced girl smiling from the side. Her name was Shui Xi, and her family was also a dominant force in the Cangxuan Continent. The others also nodded with smiles.

It was evident that they had completely shed their previous psychological burdens and had truly begun to center themselves around Zhou Yuan. Clearly, in the past two days, they had realized that competition within the Cangxuan Sect was fierce, and if they didn't stick together, they would only be bullied and exploited. Now, Zhou Yuan and Yao Yao were the only two First-grade disciples from their Cangxuan Continent, and being the strongest, they were naturally regarded as the core.

Zhou Yuan glanced at them and said, "Shen Wanjin told me that other disciples have been forming groups these past two days, but no one from the Cangxuan Continent has been acknowledged. In truth, you've all been implicated because of me." He chuckled softly and continued, "I don't have much interest in forming groups, but ultimately, we all come from the Cangxuan Continent, so if possible, we will naturally look out for and help each other."

Shen Wanjin raised his wine cup and was the first to say, "With those words from Brother Yuan, that's truly enough." As he spoke, he suddenly nudged Xiao Tianxuan, who had been silently refraining from speaking. The latter's expression was a bit stiff. He looked up at Zhou Yuan, hesitated for a moment, and then said, "When I left the Cangxuan Continent, my father told me he had sent an invitation to the Great Zhou Dynasty, seeking an alliance with them."

Zhou Yuan was slightly taken aback. Would the City Lord of Saint Remains City actually do something like that? One should know that Saint Remains City was among the strongest forces on the Cangxuan Continent, not much weaker than the Great Wu Dynasty. For Xiao Tianxuan's father to do this, it must be because he was aware of the past grievances between Zhou Yuan and Xiao Tianxuan. Was this his way of resolving them?

"What a bold move, a remarkable man," Zhou Yuan mused inwardly. The City Lord of Saint Remains City had actually chosen to ally directly with Great Zhou for his sake. Although Saint Remains City was far from both Great Zhou and Great Wu, and distant water couldn't quench nearby fire in case of trouble, it would clearly create a deterrent. This would cause Great Wu to be somewhat distracted whenever they planned anything against Great Zhou. Therefore, Zhou Yuan truly couldn't help but feel grateful for the City Lord of Saint Remains City's actions. Zhou Yuan couldn't help but sigh inwardly, realizing why Saint Remains City had grown increasingly powerful under that City Lord's command.

Zhou Yuan held his wine cup, pondered for a moment, and then raised it towards Xiao Tianxuan, saying, "Let's put our past grievances behind us now." Xiao Tianxuan's antagonism towards him in the Saint Remains Realm was mainly due to the ancient spirit's secret instigation. However, he gained nothing from it and was instead tormented by Zhou Yuan to the point of near death. Now that they had left the Cangxuan Continent and arrived at the Cangxuan Sect, Zhou Yuan's perspective had broadened, and Xiao Tianxuan no longer posed any threat in his eyes. Since the City Lord of Saint Remains City intended to resolve the animosity between them, Zhou Yuan saw no need to quibble over it.

Xiao Tianxuan's lips moved, but he said nothing in the end, simply downing the wine in his cup. As the two resolved their past grievances with a cup of wine, the atmosphere at the table immediately lightened and became lively. Everyone was young, far from home in a strange place, and their camaraderie quickly grew warmer.

The delicious dishes were served one after another, and everyone couldn't hold back, beginning to feast heartily. Tun Tun's eating was the most terrifying; with one enormous gulp, it swallowed food several times larger than its own body. Yao Yao was the most elegant, merely sampling some vegetarian dishes and showing no interest in the rich meat dishes. As the many nourishing dishes entered their stomachs, everyone's faces flushed, their bodies grew warm, and they felt hot Genesis Qi flowing within them, rapidly surging into their Qi Palaces.

"Haha, Brother Zhou Yuan is quite generous. Not many disciples come to the Hundred Fragrances Pavilion to dine these days," a laughing voice remarked from nearby as everyone enjoyed their meal. Zhou Yuan looked up and saw a young man standing nearby, smiling as he watched them. It was Qiao Xiu, who had previously spoken up to help Zhou Yuan on Genesis Mountain. Zhou Yuan had a favorable impression of him, so he immediately stood up, cupped his fist, and said, "It's Brother Qiao Xiu." Among disciples of the same rank, age determined seniority, and Qiao Xiu was clearly older than Zhou Yuan.

"Would you like to join us?" Zhou Yuan could tell Qiao Xiu had something to say, so he gestured to the seat beside him. Qiao Xiu readily agreed, sat down, chatted and laughed with everyone for a bit, then looked at Zhou Yuan and said, "Brother Zhou Yuan, would you be interested in bringing everyone to join us?" He didn't beat around the bush but stated his purpose directly. Shen Wanjin, Xiao Tianxuan, and the others quieted down. Zhou Yuan's expression showed little surprise, as he had clearly anticipated Qiao Xiu's intention.

Qiao Xiu smiled. "Brother Zhou Yuan should know that competition in the Outer Mountain is extremely fierce. Many small and large groups have formed among the numerous disciples here." He continued, "It's always better to stick together than to fight alone. Furthermore, the disciples native to Saint State have too great an advantage; they are too strong. Any disciple not from Saint State will face some suppression from them." Qiao Xiu stared at Zhou Yuan and slowly said, "It is said that for this Mountain Selection Ceremony, the native Saint State disciples have already declared that they will claim all ten of the exclusive Gold Belt spots. They are very overbearing."

"Gold Belt spots?" Zhou Yuan's brows furrowed slightly.

"It seems Brother Zhou Yuan isn't aware of this," Qiao Xiu chuckled. "We are currently Outer Mountain disciples. If we pass the assessment and enter one of the Seven Peaks, we become Inner Mountain disciples. Inner Mountain disciples are also divided by rank, from highest to lowest: Purple Belt disciples, Gold Belt disciples, and Black Belt disciples. Disciples of higher rank have vastly different statuses within the Seven Peaks and receive different cultivation resources. In each Mountain Selection Ceremony, those who make it into the top ten can directly become Gold Belt disciples, bypassing the Black Belt disciple rank. Moreover, only disciples who enter the top ten are qualified to choose which peak they wish to cultivate on. Other disciples are assigned by the sect."

Upon hearing this, both Zhou Yuan and Yao Yao frowned. They had come to the Cangxuan Sect specifically to enter the Saint Genesis Peak and obtain the second "Sacred Rune" sealed within it by Old Ancestor Cangxuan. If they were forcibly assigned to another peak, wouldn't their efforts be in vain?

Zhou Yuan's eyes narrowed slightly. It seemed... that he and Yao Yao would each have to secure one of those top ten spots in the Mountain Selection Ceremony. If that were the case, they would have to snatch food from the tiger's mouth—that is, compete against the native Saint State disciples.