The Genesis Art competition on Azure Mountain finally concluded, but the excitement it generated kept the entire Outer Mountain buzzing for several days. As a result of this event, Zhou Yuan's name completely resounded throughout the Outer Mountain.
Although initially many disciples knew Zhou Yuan's name, that knowledge was tinged with mockery and disdain, as they merely regarded him as a first-class disciple who had pulled strings. However, now, when speaking of Zhou Yuan, the casual disdain in their words has been replaced by awe. After all, not everyone can achieve this, defeating an Inner Mountain disciple in a Genesis Art competition...
After that day, some eager individuals debated the rankings, all believing that the current Zhou Yuan, in terms of strength, should be able to rank among the top five among the many Outer Mountain disciples. Not being able to rank higher was because the Ethereal Transformation Art Zhou Yuan cultivated was, after all, only geared towards speed, and his own strength was only at the first layer of the Alpha Origin stage. If he were to truly fight against those top-ranked Outer Mountain disciples, people felt that Zhou Yuan might not necessarily win. However, if Zhou Yuan had truly defeated Zhu Yue in direct combat, he would probably be ranked first among Outer Mountain disciples now, and no one would object... Nevertheless, the current Zhou Yuan has become a force to be reckoned with in this Outer Mountain.
***
Scripture Pavilion, Back Mountain Lecture Hall.
Zhu Yue had been sent back to the back mountain, so his lecture hall was vacant. Elder Zong Ming then assigned the lecture hall to Zhou Yuan, allowing him to teach the disciples the Ethereal Transformation Art there daily.
The lecture hall was packed with people. Zhou Yuan sat cross-legged in the center, holding the Heavenly Yuan Brush. Its snow-white bristles extended, wrapping around each disciple's wrist, while the disciples, for their part, looked respectful and solemn. Although there were many people in the lecture hall, it was completely quiet.
Zhou Yuan closed his eyes, his perception extending along the bristles, his Divine Soul flickering between his brows. With Zhou Yuan's Divine Soul breaking through to the Reality stage this time, he could also perceive that sensing the meridians within everyone's bodies had become much easier, and it no longer fatigued him as it used to. Similarly, the efficiency of his perception also increased.
Zhou Yuan kept his eyes closed for a long time. At a certain moment, he suddenly opened them, guiding the Origin Qi within the disciples to strike against a specific point within their bodies.
Faint, subtle sounds could be heard, and expressions of joy appeared on the faces of many disciples, who had clearly sensed a meridian within their bodies being opened at that moment. Inside the lecture hall, there was a burst of cheer.
Zhou Yuan waved his hand and said, "Today's cultivation ends here. Go back and refine your meridians, making them perfect and fluid."
Hearing this, the disciples all rose, cupped their fists respectfully to Zhou Yuan, and bowed. Then, with excited expressions, they gradually dispersed.
Zhou Yuan stretched, flexing his bones. Teaching others to cultivate every day was indeed a tedious task. If not for the Origin Jade, he truly wouldn't bother to keep it up. The most crucial thing was that this reduced his own cultivation time. That's why, these past few days, the twelve meridians he had opened in one go during his competition with Zhu Yue had not yet been fully refined.
In the lecture hall, all the disciples had dispersed. Only a graceful figure in red remained still; naturally, it was Gu Hongyi. She looked at Zhou Yuan with a smile and said, "Hey, everyone else opened their meridians today, but mine hasn't moved yet..."
Zhou Yuan gave her a helpless look and said, "You've already entered the first stage. Sensing your meridians is naturally more troublesome than for others."
Gu Hongyi had fully opened thirty-six meridians two days prior, entering the first stage of the Ethereal Transformation Art. However, she was clearly not satisfied with this, so she still wanted to continue pushing for the second stage with Zhou Yuan's guidance.
Gu Hongyi looked at Zhou Yuan pitifully and said, "But you promised me."
"Stop pretending." Zhou Yuan shook his head irritably. Gu Hongyi's personality clearly didn't suit playing the pitiful role at all.
Gu Hongyi glared at him with her beautiful eyes, then placed her hands on her slender waist and pretended to be fierce, saying, "Boy, if you stand me up, see how I'll deal with you." By the end of her sentence, she couldn't help but chuckle.
Zhou Yuan sighed, too lazy to argue with her. He stood up and headed out of the lecture hall, saying, "I'll give you special guidance later. You're truly impossible to deal with."
Gu Hongyi's talent was indeed excellent, and her background was strong. In the future, she would clearly be a key figure in the Cangxuan Sect. Moreover, her personality was also quite good, so Zhou Yuan was willing to befriend her. Gu Hongyi then let out a satisfied chuckle. Seeing Zhou Yuan's helpless expression, the corners of her lips couldn't help but curl up slightly. Although Zhou Yuan was fierce and decisive when fighting, most of the time, he was quite agreeable.
"I'm going to the Scripture Pavilion first to exchange for a Genesis Art."
Zhou Yuan headed straight for the Scripture Pavilion. Clearly, his goal this time was the superior-grade Minor Heaven Genesis Art he had long set his sights on, named "Nine Dragon Scripture." As the Ethereal Transformation Art progressed to the second stage, Zhou Yuan could clearly feel his progress slowing down. Even with the assistance of the Barrier-Breaking Saint Rune, it would still take a considerable amount of time to cultivate it to the third stage. So now, Zhou Yuan could free up energy to cultivate the "Nine Dragon Scripture."
It had now been almost two months since they arrived at the Cangxuan Sect. There was only about a month left until the so-called Peak Selection Ceremony. It was said that only the top ten disciples in the Peak Selection Ceremony would be qualified to choose which peak to cultivate on. Therefore, Zhou Yuan had to ensure he ranked in the top ten; otherwise, if he were assigned to another peak, it would clearly be much more troublesome to then go to Saint Origin Peak to obtain the second Saint Rune.
"I'll go with you!" Gu Hongyi, with her small hands behind her back, bounced lightly on her toes and followed.
The two passed through the back mountain and directly entered the Scripture Pavilion. Zhou Yuan's purpose was clear; he went straight for the "Nine Dragon Scripture." The jade slip for the "Nine Dragon Scripture" was still there, untouched by many, because the price of a superior-grade Minor Heaven Genesis Art was much higher than a mid-grade one, so very few disciples would choose it.
"One borrow, six hundred Origin Jade."
Zhou Yuan clicked his tongue in surprise at the price. This price was far higher than that of the Ethereal Transformation Art; if he hadn't gained so much from teaching Genesis Arts, he probably wouldn't be able to afford to cultivate it. However, as he held the jade slip, Zhou Yuan's eyes grew fervent. Compared to the Ethereal Transformation Art, which focused on speed, this Nine Dragon Scripture was purely an offensive art with astonishing power. If he could master it, it would surely greatly enhance his combat strength.
"You really know how to choose," Gu Hongyi said, slightly surprised, seeing Zhou Yuan choose the Nine Dragon Scripture. "It's said that this Nine Dragon Scripture is extremely powerful and very difficult to cultivate. Even among Inner Mountain disciples, not many have mastered this art."
Zhou Yuan smiled and said nothing more. He took the jade slip and prepared to register it.
The two chatted and laughed as they approached the registration counter. Zhou Yuan's steps suddenly paused. There, he saw Lu Feng, dressed in white, standing like a jade tree in the wind. He seemed to also be there to choose a Genesis Art. Hearing the movement behind him, he slightly turned his head and saw the two of them walking together.
Lu Feng's grip on the jade slip seemed to tighten abruptly. He narrowed his eyes slightly, then offered Gu Hongyi a gentle smile. Gu Hongyi, seeing him, lightly pursed her lips and nodded briefly. Lu Feng's gaze did not fall on Zhou Yuan. He simply withdrew it, took the jade slip, and strode out of the Scripture Pavilion.
Zhou Yuan could sense Lu Feng's deliberate disregard, but he showed no displeasure. He calmly stepped forward and handed the Nine Dragon Scripture jade slip to the middle-aged man behind the counter. The middle-aged man was clearly surprised to see him wanting to borrow the Nine Dragon Scripture, but he eventually processed the registration for him.
After putting away the jade slip, Zhou Yuan and Gu Hongyi left the Scripture Pavilion. After agreeing on a location for their evening cultivation, they parted ways.
Zhou Yuan walked leisurely along the mountain path. Suddenly, his steps halted. His gaze fell forward, where a white-robed figure stood with hands behind his back on the mountain path. Who else could it be but Lu Feng?
Lu Feng slowly turned around. His eyes, usually indifferent, now emitted a startling chill. He stared at Zhou Yuan, and a faint voice echoed on the mountain path.
"Zhou Yuan..."
"Do you think that by winning against an Inner Mountain disciple in a Genesis Art competition, you actually have the guts to step on Lu Feng's head?"
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