Chapter 254: Showing Tactics

Qiao Xiu worked with extreme efficiency. By the afternoon, he had invited all the leading disciples from other continents who were currently among the outer mountain disciples.

In the mountain stream beside the small building, Zhou Yuan sat cross-legged on a bluestone. In front of him, dozens of young figures were also seated, each radiating powerful Genesis Qi fluctuations. Their words and actions conveyed a certain arrogance. After all, most of those invited were elite first-class disciples. They were usually surrounded by many followers, enjoying the feeling of being admired, so a certain level of arrogance was natural.

At the very front, there were two figures: a man and a woman. The woman wore a dark blue long dress, her black hair cascading down to her slender waist. Her face was beautiful, her skin as white as snow. Her name was Song Wanxi, and she had considerable renown among the outer mountain disciples. Coupled with her delicate beauty, she also had many admirers. The man, on the other hand, wore a crimson-gold robe with his hair unbound. His face was unruly, exuding an air of wild abandon. His name was Zhao Kun. Both of them were currently ranked among the top ten outer mountain disciples. They were considered rare individuals among the disciples from other continents who could truly contend with the native disciples of Shengzhou.

Song Wanxi appeared much calmer, but her beautiful eyes subtly glanced at Zhou Yuan with a hint of scrutiny. Zhao Kun, however, was much more overt, openly sizing up Zhou Yuan as if trying to discern his true capabilities.

"Brother Zhou Yuan, why did you ask Qiao Xiu to summon us?" Song Wanxi asked softly. The many disciples present also turned their gazes towards him. Two months ago, if Zhou Yuan had tried to summon them, probably no one would have responded. However, Zhou Yuan's recent rise to prominence made people wary of underestimating him, which was why they decided to show up after hearing Qiao Xiu's message.

Zhou Yuan's expression was calm. He looked at everyone and, without much formality, said indifferently, "I presume you're all aware that Lu Feng has claimed the top ten spots for the Mountain Selection Ceremony, correct?" Hearing this, everyone subtly pursed their lips.

Zhao Kun sneered, "This matter, incidentally, has something to do with you, Brother Zhou Yuan."

"Are you implying that if Lu Feng hadn't had a grudge against me, he would have been more lenient with you?" Zhou Yuan looked at Zhao Kun, his eyes slightly cold. He said chillingly, "Are you hoping that others will show you mercy and throw you some scraps? Is your dignity really that cheap?"

Qiao Xiu and Shen Wanjin, who were nearby, were startled, surprised by Zhou Yuan's sharp words right from the start. As expected, the moment Zhou Yuan spoke, many disciples murmured, looking at him with some anger. Their proud dispositions clearly could not tolerate such words from Zhou Yuan.

Zhao Kun's face also turned green. He gritted his teeth and said, "You're good at talking. Why don't you go say that to Lu Feng himself?"

Song Wanxi's pretty face also showed slight displeasure. "Brother Zhou Yuan, you know how strong Lu Feng is. What can we do besides tolerate it? If you called us here just to humiliate us, then we're leaving."

Zhou Yuan looked at the indignant crowd, his eyelids slightly lowered. "It seems you still have some spirit. Otherwise, there would be no point in me calling you here." He shook his head, said no more, and looked directly at them. "I called you here simply to tell you that I intend to contend with Lu Feng for first place at the Mountain Selection Ceremony. If you don't want to fight among yourselves for those two pathetic spots, then follow my command when the time comes."

Qiao Xiu covered his face. Zhou Yuan's words were simply too direct; it seemed he hadn't considered speaking kindly to these people at all. Indeed, as Zhou Yuan's voice fell, the many disciples exchanged glances, followed by low snickers.

"What arrogance! You, at the first layer, want to contend with Lu Feng for first place?" Zhao Kun was the first to lose patience. "Do you think winning against Zhu Yue in a Genesis Art competition makes you so inflated? Naive. My cultivation time is precious; I don't have time for your fanciful ideas here." Zhao Kun snorted coldly and stood up, preparing to leave. Song Wanxi also shook her head slightly, feeling that Zhou Yuan seemed overly arrogant.

Zhou Yuan watched the rising Zhao Kun with a cold expression. He knew that speaking kindly to these unruly individuals was useless. To make them submit, there was only one way: to utterly defeat them until they were convinced. Immediately, he said indifferently, "Take one strike from me. If you do, I'll apologize on the spot."

"Presumptuous!" Zhao Kun's eyes widened, and he laughed in anger.

However, Zhou Yuan bothered no more with words. He formed a hand seal with one hand and suddenly unleashed a palm strike. A powerful surge of Genesis Qi abruptly erupted at that moment, like a golden torrent roaring out from Zhou Yuan's palm. As the golden torrent shot forth, it vaguely transformed into a colossal lizard, seemingly covered in dragon scales, and a dragon's roar seemed to echo. An extremely astonishing aura burst forth. This palm strike of Zhou Yuan's was clearly the "Nine Dragons Scripture"! The Genesis Qi vaguely taking the form of a giant lizard was precisely the Dragon-attributed Source Beast's essence blood that Zhou Yuan had refined. It appeared somewhat blurry because he had not yet fully assimilated it. Even so, when this strike was unleashed, its momentum was ferocious, tearing the ground apart.

A violent aura surged forward, causing Zhao Kun's expression to change drastically. In his eyes, it was as if a high-grade Rank 4 Source Beast was roaring towards him, threatening to stomp over everything. He dared not delay. With a furious roar, the Genesis Qi within his body also erupted, clearly displaying his Third Layer strength. He stomped his foot, and his figure shot out like a streak of light, colliding with the roaring giant lizard Genesis Qi. Gusts of fierce wind raged, and cracks spread across the surrounding ground.

However, under everyone's stunned gazes, Zhao Kun, who had charged forward so forcefully, was instantly blasted backward by the giant lizard Genesis Qi. He crashed heavily into the mountain wall, causing cracks to spiderweb across it.

The entire mountain stream fell silent. Zhou Yuan's face was devoid of expression. He waved his sleeve, and the giant lizard Genesis Qi immediately retracted, re-entering his palm.

*Pffft.*

Zhao Kun detached from the mountain wall and fell to the ground, spitting out a mouthful of fresh blood. He looked up at Zhou Yuan with a horrified expression, clearly not expecting that his Third Layer strength wouldn't even withstand a single move from Zhou Yuan. Song Wanxi's red lips were slightly parted, her ample chest gently rising and falling. She gazed deeply at Zhou Yuan.

"Does anyone else want to leave?" Zhou Yuan's voice was calm and unperturbed.

The entire area fell silent. The disciples present were all as quiet as cicadas in winter, not daring to utter another sound. The scrutiny in their eyes had completely vanished. After all, Zhao Kun was ranked seventh among the top ten outer mountain disciples, yet even he was defeated by a single palm strike from Zhou Yuan. How terrifying was that combat power? They had always thought that even if Zhou Yuan was strong, he would at most be slightly stronger than them. But now, it seemed they had been too conceited.

"Can you listen to me properly now?" Zhou Yuan's gaze swept over them. Those whose eyes met his quickly lowered their heads, looking embarrassed.

Song Wanxi's red lips slightly parted, and she spoke apologetically, "We were short-sighted earlier, Brother Zhou Yuan. Please don't blame us."

Zhao Kun wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth. He was quite straightforward; despite being utterly defeated by Zhou Yuan's strike, he didn't leave. Instead, he sat back down and said, "You're formidable. I was blind earlier. What do you want to do?" The strength Zhou Yuan displayed had subdued them, and this, in turn, sparked a new idea in their minds: perhaps Zhou Yuan truly had the ability to contend with Lu Feng...

Qiao Xiu secretly let out a sigh of relief. Indeed, these fellows were stubborn; they wouldn't listen to polite words and only submitted after a beating.

Zhou Yuan glanced at Zhao Kun and said, "Firstly, we do not accept their proposed distribution of eight spots for them and two for us among the top ten." Everyone exchanged glances. Of course, they didn't want to accept such a distribution, but...

"What about Lu Feng then? He said if we have objections, we should go talk to him," someone asked.

Zhou Yuan's expression was indifferent. "Who does he think he is? Spread the word: out of the ten top spots, we want six, and the native Shengzhou disciples can only have four."

Zhao Kun and the others broke into a cold sweat. Even Song Wanxi slightly twitched her lips and chuckled dryly, "I'm afraid Lu Feng won't agree."

"If he doesn't agree, then we'll settle it at the Mountain Selection Ceremony," Zhou Yuan said casually.

"The native Shengzhou disciples are generally stronger than us in terms of quality. I'm afraid we won't gain an advantage then," someone said weakly.

Zhou Yuan's gaze swept over them. He said lightly, "For the next month, I will personally guide you in your Genesis Art cultivation. While I can't promise massive breakthroughs, it will certainly improve your current abilities. And in return for my assistance, at the Mountain Selection Ceremony, you must all follow my command. Whoever I tell you to fight, you will fight. Any objections?" Zhou Yuan asked slowly.

At this, everyone shook their heads in unison, their eyes burning with fervor.

Behind them, Qiao Xiu and Shen Wanjin secretly admired the scene. Zhou Yuan's approach was truly brilliant: first, a thunderous display of power to intimidate, then an incentive. As a result, these usually unruly and outstanding disciples were immediately subdued and became obedient. Thus, within the outer mountain, Zhou Yuan's status instantly transformed from a lone figure to one capable of standing against Lu Feng, who had gathered the native Shengzhou disciples.

Qiao Xiu licked his lips, his eyes also growing somewhat fervent. It seemed that a good show was about to unfold at the Mountain Selection Ceremony a month later.