Chapter 231

Over the next few days, Gu Hongyi, having experienced the benefits, came to the stream almost daily for Zhou Yuan's assistance with her Art of Illusion cultivation.

With Zhou Yuan's help, Gu Hongyi's Art of Illusion advanced by leaps and bounds. In just three or four days, the number of opened acupoints increased from ten to twenty-five.

It's worth noting that these acupoints become harder to sense the further one progresses. Under normal circumstances, Gu Hongyi would probably only be able to open four or five in three or four days.

With Zhou Yuan's guidance, the speed at which Gu Hongyi's Art of Illusion improved startled even herself. Therefore, despite her proud nature, she began to show a hint of respect in her words when she saw Zhou Yuan over the past few days.

However, Zhou Yuan didn't pay much attention to her change in attitude. After all, he had already obtained the Genesis Jade he wanted.

What bothered him, however, was that this amount of Genesis Jade was still quite far from what he needed to exchange for the superior small Heaven Genesis Art, the "Nine Dragon Scripture."

By the gurgling mountain stream.

Zhou Yuan sat cross-legged on a blue stone, cultivating with his eyes closed. Gu Hongyi was also nearby.

Suddenly, Zhou Yuan opened his eyes. A wisp of white mist slowly exhaled from his mouth. At that moment, peculiar fluctuations emanated from Zhou Yuan's body.

Then, his body gradually began to dematerialize, becoming faintly transparent.

"You... you've mastered the first level of the Art of Illusion?!" a shocked voice came from beside him. Gu Hongyi opened her beautiful eyes, gazing at Zhou Yuan, her small face filled with astonishment.

Being able to dematerialize half one's body clearly required reaching the first level of the Art of Illusion.

Zhou Yuan's expression remained unchanged. He glanced at her and said, "You've already opened twenty-five acupoints. Is it strange for me to reach the first level?"

Gu Hongyi paused, puffing out her cheeks, because she felt her astonishment was a bit foolish. But then she thought, such a reflexive shock was normal. After all, mastering the first level of the Art of Illusion in such a short time was indeed extremely rare.

"With the first level of the Art of Illusion mastered, any attack landing on me will be nullified by almost thirty percent." Zhou Yuan looked at his dematerialized hand, his eyes filled with satisfaction.

Don't underestimate this thirty percent. In many situations, it would be enough to turn the tide of battle.

Of course, this nullification isn't absolute. Some special techniques can still counteract it. Otherwise, the Art of Illusion wouldn't just be a middle-grade small Heaven Genesis Art; it would be enough to call it a true Heaven Genesis Art.

But overall, having the Art of Illusion would significantly enhance one's safety.

"You're quite low-key..." Gu Hongyi, watching Zhou Yuan from the side, suddenly smiled and said, "Although you appear to be only at the first layer of the Alpha Origin Stage, after these past few days, I believe you deserve a spot among the newly announced top ten outer mountain disciples."

It had been nearly half a month since the many disciples arrived at Cangxuan Sect. Those who needed to adapt had gradually done so, and wherever there are many people, there are naturally disputes and comparisons.

Therefore, after some evaluation and general consensus, the so-called "Top Ten Outer Mountain Disciples" were selected. This had been a hot topic over the past two days, becoming the biggest discussion point in the outer mountain.

Unsurprisingly, the top outer mountain disciple was Lu Feng.

Gu Hongyi was ranked second.

Of these top ten outer mountain disciples, seven were prodigies from the Saint Continent itself, while only three were from other continents. Qiao Xiu, whom Zhou Yuan knew, happened to be ranked tenth.

As for Zhou Yuan... he was clearly not considered at all. After all, his first layer of the Alpha Origin Stage seemed too far behind those disciples who had reached the third layer.

However, Gu Hongyi clearly didn't think so, which was why she made that comment.

In her opinion, Zhou Yuan was too good at concealing his strength. If he truly wanted to compete, a spot among the top ten outer mountain disciples would surely be his.

Hearing this, Zhou Yuan smiled and said, "What's the point of competing for the top ten? The Mountain Selection Ceremony doesn't consider this."

He indeed had no interest in the widely discussed top ten outer mountain disciples. After all, no matter how high one's ranking, wouldn't it be even more embarrassing to be surpassed at the Mountain Selection Ceremony?

Furthermore, the so-called top ten outer mountain disciples list didn't even include Yaoyao. This made Zhou Yuan increasingly scoff at its actual value, because he knew that if Yaoyao were to make a move, even Lu Feng would likely be no match for her.

Gu Hongyi pouted her red lips and said, "We're all young people. If we don't have high aspirations and strong spirit, how can we strive for the peak? You, on the other hand, at such a young age, act like a little old man."

Zhou Yuan could only roll his eyes helplessly at this. *'Must I engage in such pointless rankings with you all?'*

"Hmm?"

Just as Zhou Yuan was about to speak, his expression suddenly changed. He looked up towards outside the mountain stream, where hurried sounds of air being cut could be heard.

A figure swiftly approached. Their rotund figure immediately told Zhou Yuan who it was.

It was naturally Shen Wanjin.

Shen Wanjin was drenched in sweat. Upon seeing Zhou Yuan, he urgently called out, "Brother Yuan, Zhu Feng has brought many people here! It seems they mean trouble."

"Zhu Feng?" Zhou Yuan narrowed his eyes. These brothers, as expected, couldn't hold back.

He knew that after taking Gu Hongyi away from Zhu Yue, that guy definitely wouldn't swallow his pride.

"Has Zhu Yue come?" Zhou Yuan asked.

If Zhu Yue had come, he would have to go and get Tun Tun first. After all, a wise man doesn't fight when the odds are stacked against him. No matter how arrogant he was, he wouldn't directly confront Zhu Yue, who was already an inner mountain disciple, while he was only at the first layer of the Alpha Origin Stage.

"No," Shen Wanjin shook his head.

Zhou Yuan smiled dismissively. If Zhu Yue wasn't here, Zhu Feng alone wouldn't be able to stir up much trouble.

Shen Wanjin, however, was quite worried by Zhou Yuan's nonchalant demeanor. After all, even if Zhu Feng wasn't among the newly announced top ten outer mountain disciples, he was definitely among the top ranks of the first-class disciples. His strength was far beyond that of Han Shan.

As they spoke, sounds of rushing wind could already be heard from the mouth of the mountain stream. Then Zhou Yuan saw more than ten streaks of light approach, landing not far from the stream.

The one leading them was indeed Zhu Feng.

At this moment, Zhu Feng glared at Zhou Yuan with an unfriendly expression and said coldly, "Zhou Yuan, I don't know what sweet talk you used to fool Junior Sister Hongyi, but I advise you not to play these tricks anymore. Otherwise, if you mislead Junior Sister Hongyi, you won't be able to bear the responsibility!"

Hearing this, Gu Hongyi's pretty face immediately turned cold. She angrily rebuked, "Zhu Feng, where I cultivate is none of your business! Get lost!"

She looked sharply at Zhu Feng and the others with her bright eyes. Faced with her imposing aura, Zhu Feng and his companions' momentum faltered.

However, Zhu Feng was not deterred. He bit the bullet and said, "Junior Sister Hongyi, we are doing this for your own good. Don't believe this kid's sweet talk."

Gu Hongyi laughed in extreme anger, saying, "Sweet talk? Do you fools even know what level I've reached by cultivating the Art of Illusion with him?"

"I've already opened twenty-five acupoints! If I had followed Zhu Yue, I probably wouldn't even have fifteen by now!"

Zhu Feng's expression subtly changed. The other disciples also stared at Gu Hongyi in disbelief, exclaiming, "Twenty-five? How is that possible?!"

But they also knew that with Gu Hongyi's character, she wouldn't bother lying to them.

Could Zhou Yuan really possess such ability?

Zhu Feng's eyes shifted, and then he looked disdainfully at Zhou Yuan, saying, "We all know Junior Sister Hongyi's talent. So, even if she managed to cultivate the Art of Illusion to this extent in just a few days, it's not entirely unexpected for us."

"But if you want to claim credit for this, I'm afraid you're not qualified."

His implication was clear: he believed that Gu Hongyi's progress was solely due to her amazing talent and had nothing to do with Zhou Yuan. Gu Hongyi was merely speaking up for him.

The others, upon hearing this, secretly nodded in agreement.

After all, they were more willing to believe that Gu Hongyi possessed incredible talent than to believe that a mere boy at the first layer of the Alpha Origin Stage could have such abilities.

Gu Hongyi was so angry she didn't know what to say. These scoundrels were too good at making assumptions.

She was about to rebuke them further, but Zhou Yuan stopped her with a raised hand.

"It's useless to waste more words on them," Zhou Yuan said helplessly.

Gu Hongyi glared at Zhou Yuan. If it weren't for speaking up for him, she wouldn't have become so talkative.

"When you encounter such people, why say more..."

Zhou Yuan smiled at Gu Hongyi. Something seemed to slowly emerge in his eyes. He said, "What did you just say about me? That I'm like a little old man?"

"It's just spirit, isn't it? I have it too..."

His gaze turned to Zhu Feng and his group. A smile bloomed on his lips, carrying a sharpness like a blade.

"You came knocking, didn't you, just to cause trouble..."

"Come on, you bunch of wastes. Shall I fight all of you alone, or will all of you fight me alone..."

"You pick."

As the last word fell, Zhou Yuan's face turned completely cold. Violent Genesis Qi, like a storm, suddenly erupted from his body.

Behind him, Gu Hongyi watched Zhou Yuan, who had instantly become fiercely sharp and aggressive. A glint of surprise appeared in her beautiful eyes.

At this moment, Zhou Yuan seemed like a completely different person from the gentle young man who usually taught her.