Chapter 224: Transformation Technique

On the table, Qiao Xiu looked at Zhou Yuan's expression, smiling slightly. "It's clear, Junior Brother Zhou Yuan, that you are also an ambitious person. You wouldn't be content to remain a Black Belt Disciple, the lowest rank, after entering one of the Seven Peaks."

The disciples of the Cangxuan Sect were subject to a strict ranking system, designed to motivate them. Disciples with higher ranks not only held greater status but also received far more cultivation resources than others. For everyone, these resources were undoubtedly crucial for gaining an advantage.

Sometimes, a single slow step could lead to constant delays. Perhaps just one such instance could leave you perpetually suppressed. Thus, no disciple was willing to easily forgo the opportunity presented by the Peak Selection Ceremony.

"My team, including myself, has five first-rank disciples. In terms of strength, we rank among the top non-Sacred Province native disciple teams," Qiao Xiu said, looking eagerly at Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao. "If Junior Brother Zhou Yuan and Junior Sister Yaoyao join us, we should be able to attract even more disciples. By then, we wouldn't be inferior even when facing teams from the Sacred Province."

He then looked at Shen Wanjin and the others. "At that point, others from the Boundless Continent can also join."

However, Shen Wanjin, Xiao Tianxuan, and the rest remained silent, looking only at Zhou Yuan, clearly awaiting his decision.

Zhou Yuan held his wine cup, silent for a moment. Finally, under Qiao Xiu's eager gaze, he gently shook his head. "I'm afraid I can't join Senior Brother Qiao Xiu's team."

He had declined Qiao Xiu's invitation because he knew that while a large team might mean greater strength, it also brought the potential for disputes and trouble. Zhou Yuan's primary goal in coming to the Cangxuan Sect was to break through to the Divine Dwelling Stage as quickly as possible. Only then could he truly confront the Great Wu Dynasty. The Great Wu Dynasty was currently striving to stabilize its surroundings, and once King Wu was free, he would certainly find a way to target Great Zhou. Therefore, Zhou Yuan had to reach the Divine Dwelling Stage before that happened. He did not want to needlessly waste his cultivation time on team disputes or internal scheming.

Upon hearing Zhou Yuan's refusal, Qiao Xiu's expression showed some disappointment, but he wasn't angry; he only felt a great sense of regret.

"Although I can't join your team, I'd certainly like to be friends with Senior Brother Qiao Xiu," Zhou Yuan said with a smile. "If you ever need assistance in the future, we can help each other out." He didn't want to get overly involved in the team's affairs, but he was willing to befriend Qiao Xiu, whose character he found agreeable.

Hearing this, Qiao Xiu also smiled, heartily saying, "Perfect! I couldn't ask for anything more." He didn't force Zhou Yuan, as he had some confidence in his own judgment. Zhou Yuan, at first glance, seemed to have just reached the First Layer Alpha Origin Stage, yet Qiao Xiu had a feeling that Zhou Yuan was not as simple as he appeared.

"Even if Junior Brother Zhou Yuan doesn't wish to join, if they are interested, they can certainly join us," Qiao Xiu said, pointing at Shen Wanjin and the others with a smile. Shen Wanjin and his companions were only third-rank disciples, so in terms of strength, Qiao Xiu naturally had little interest. However, he was good at managing relationships and knew these people were Zhou Yuan's friends, so he gave Zhou Yuan some face by allowing Shen Wanjin and the others to join.

Upon hearing this, Shen Wanjin and the others were somewhat tempted. They were aware of the situation among the many outer mountain disciples; generally, third-rank disciples without a strong background were often bullied. Although Zhou Yuan had recently deterred others, they naturally wanted to connect with more people who could help them.

Still, they didn't nod immediately, instead looking at Zhou Yuan. Zhou Yuan saw this and nodded with a smile. He wanted to focus on his cultivation and worried he might not be able to look after everyone, so having Qiao Xiu's help now would ease his mind.

"Then I thank you, Senior Brother Qiao Xiu," Zhou Yuan said, raising his wine cup.

Qiao Xiu smiled, knowing that Zhou Yuan appreciated the favor.

"By the way, Junior Brother Zhou Yuan," Qiao Xiu asked, unable to contain his curiosity now that their relationship had grown closer, "I'm very eager to know, when you first channeled your Genesis Qi, it caused such a huge stir. Just how many Genesis Qi stars did you condense?"

Shen Wanjin and the others also perked up their ears, clearly just as curious.

Zhou Yuan smiled, picked up his wine cup, and drained it. "Just about a hundred."

A collective gasp immediately echoed from the table. Shen Wanjin and the others were dumbfounded. They, too, were currently in the First Layer Alpha Origin Stage, yet they had only condensed a little over thirty Genesis Qi stars in their Qi Dwellings. Qiao Xiu also gaped, finally letting out a bitter laugh.

Let alone Shen Wanjin and his group, even he, at the Third Layer Alpha Origin Stage, currently only had around a hundred stars. This meant that if he were to simply compete with Zhou Yuan in terms of Genesis Qi reserves, his Third Layer Alpha Origin Stage might not necessarily guarantee victory over Zhou Yuan. This left him filled with admiration. He simply couldn't imagine why Zhou Yuan's Genesis Qi would be so abundant. However, this also made him quite glad. It seemed his judgment was indeed correct. This young man before him was truly extraordinary. Although he was currently unknown, Qiao Xiu had a premonition that in the future, everyone in the Cangxuan Sect would surely know his name.

The next day.

In the early morning, Zhou Yuan naturally did not miss his cultivation session on Origin Mountain. However, this time Yaoyao was too lazy to go again and simply handed Tun Tun over to him, telling him to place Tun Tun on her cultivation platform. Thus, a peculiar scene unfolded on Origin Mountain that day: on Yaoyao's cultivation platform, a small beast lay sprawled, its mouth wide open, greedily devouring rolling Genesis Qi, much to the envy of many other disciples.

After the cultivation session on Origin Mountain, Zhou Yuan carried Tun Tun directly down the mountain and headed straight for the Scripture Pavilion. He had been itching to visit this place since yesterday.

The Scripture Pavilion was a majestic ancient building, towering amidst a range of mountains. Disciples constantly streamed towards it, soaring on their Genesis Qi, making it undoubtedly one of the most popular places in the entire outer mountain. The Scripture Pavilion was vast, divided into three floors. The first floor housed Profound Genesis Arts, while the second floor contained Lesser Heavenly Genesis Arts. It was said that the third floor held true Heavenly Genesis Arts, but the rental price was exceedingly high, far beyond what current disciples could afford.

So, Zhou Yuan headed directly to the second floor. Lesser Heavenly Genesis Arts were already quite appealing to him at this stage. The number of disciples on the second floor was significantly smaller because, although the Lesser Heavenly Genesis Arts here were powerful, they were also more difficult to cultivate. Most disciples currently had limited Origin Jade, so they didn't want to waste it and planned to return once they had ample supplies.

The second floor was more refined than the first. On rows of white jade platforms, jade slips floated, each emitting light that projected various characters onto the empty space before them.

"So many Lesser Heavenly Genesis Arts..." Zhou Yuan gazed at the jade slips, somewhat stunned. A rough count showed at least a hundred. This greatly shocked him; such Lesser Heavenly Genesis Arts, if placed on the Boundless Continent, would be considered ultimate treasures for any major force. Yet, here, they were so common. This demonstrated the formidable heritage of the Cangxuan Sect.

Zhou Yuan licked his lips, his eyes burning with eagerness, and stepped forward, passing by each white jade platform.

"Lower-grade Lesser Heavenly Genesis Art, Earth-Covering Finger Seal.""Lower-grade Lesser Heavenly Genesis Art, Sword Heart Aura.""Mid-grade Lesser Heavenly Genesis Art, Iron Demon Origin Body."

Zhou Yuan's gaze swept over the texts projected from the jade slips, and he noticed that these Lesser Heavenly Genesis Arts were meticulously categorized by grade. Based on his assessment, the "Great Wind and Thunder" art he obtained in the Sacred Remains Domain was likely a mid-grade Lesser Heavenly Genesis Art.

"What I need most right now is a movement-type Genesis Art," Zhou Yuan mused to himself. The Dragon Steps he had cultivated earlier were now somewhat outdated, as they were only Profound Genesis Arts. Therefore, Zhou Yuan had always sought a movement-type Genesis Art of the Lesser Heavenly Genesis Art level.

His steps slowly moved, and after about half an incense stick's time, he finally stopped before a white jade platform, his eyes burning as he looked at an ancient jade slip before him.

"Mid-grade Lesser Heavenly Genesis Art, Illusory Shift Art.""Body like a phantom, difficult to discern reality from illusion, like mist, impossible to grasp."

Zhou Yuan's heart stirred. This Illusory Shift Art was clearly extraordinary. Without a moment's hesitation, he reached out his hand towards the jade slip. However, just as his palm closed around it, a hand as smooth as congealed fat also reached out from beside him, grasping the other corner of the jade slip.

Zhou Yuan was momentarily stunned. He turned his head and saw a pair of bright eyes staring at him. Upon closer inspection, who else could this long-legged girl in striking red clothes and a fiery figure be but Gu Hongyi?