Chapter 258: Guidance

After the confrontation on Mount Yuan that day, the atmosphere in the Outer Mountain grew increasingly tense in the following days. Various conflicts between Shengzhou native disciples and those from other continents constantly unfolded.

However, the only change was that disciples not native to Shengzhou no longer tolerated oppression from Shengzhou native disciples. Instead, they rose up and fought back, catching the Shengzhou disciples by surprise.

After all, Shengzhou native disciples had always held a superior position, largely because Lu Feng's dominance prevented other disciples from objecting. However, after Zhou Yuan's confrontation with Lu Feng on Mount Yuan, many non-Shengzhou native disciples suddenly realized that they, too, had a hidden talent among them.

If that was the case, why should they continue to tolerate and indulge these individuals?

Consequently, in the days leading up to the Selection Ceremony, conflicts between the two sides continuously erupted, with each party eager to overpower the other.

As for these conflicts among disciples, the Outer Mountain of the Cangxuan Sect did not intervene, allowing them to develop freely, as this was an unspoken rule of the Cangxuan Sect.

After all, although the Cangxuan Sect was a titan in the Cangxuan Heaven, competition was necessary to maintain vitality. Otherwise, a stagnant pool would become lifeless.

The competition between Shengzhou native disciples and disciples from other continents would instead temper each other, prompting both sides to cultivate diligently. To some extent, this also served as a motivation for cultivation.

As for disciples who could not adapt to this competition, they would ultimately be eliminated.

However, as these conflicts continued, Zhou Yuan's reputation began to rise at an astonishing speed. Eventually, he was almost on par with Lu Feng, being called the most likely contender for the chief disciple position among the Outer Mountain disciples of this generation.

Of course, these were clearly the opinions of many non-Shengzhou native disciples, while the Shengzhou native disciples were utterly disdainful. In their view, if Chen Yuan had not arrived to intervene on Mount Yuan that day, Zhou Yuan would likely have been defeated by Lu Feng and exposed for what he truly was.

Regardless, in the Outer Mountain now, Zhou Yuan's fame was clearly no less than Lu Feng's.

As for which of these two Outer Mountain prodigies would become the true Outer Mountain chief disciple, that would depend on the upcoming Selection Ceremony...

Currently, Zhou Yuan still taught the Void Transformation Art daily. Of course, he increasingly dedicated more time to his own cultivation.

Lu Feng was no ordinary person. Although detestable, his strength was indeed formidable; even Zhou Yuan could not deny this. Therefore, he would not allow himself to slack off.

Besides cultivating himself, Zhou Yuan also began to fulfill his promise to Qiao Xiu, Zhao Kun, Song Wanxi, and others, guiding them in their cultivation of Genesis Arts.

After all, having gathered these individuals, he would need their assistance during the Selection Ceremony. Thus, helping them improve their strength would also benefit him.

**Mountain Stream.**

Zhou Yuan sat cross-legged on a bluestone. His gaze first fell on Zhao Kun, and he asked, "The Genesis Art you cultivate, is it the Heavenly Astral Hand?"

The Heavenly Astral Hand was a mid-grade Small Heaven Genesis Art. It was fierce and sharp; when unleashed, astral winds accompanied it, making even metal as fragile as tofu. When cultivated to mastery, cleaving mountains was effortless.

Zhao Kun's spirits lifted. Song Wanxi and the others beside him also showed anticipation in their eyes.

After waiting for several days, Zhou Yuan had finally begun to guide them in Genesis Arts.

In recent days, they had indeed been troubled because they had vaguely heard that Lu Feng, leveraging his connections, had arranged for some lecturers to specifically guide Qin Zhen, Lei Hongtao, and other high-ranking disciples, leading to a rapid improvement in their strength.

This made them feel uneasy, as if the gap widened, they would certainly be no match for the opposing side at the Selection Ceremony. By then, it would be difficult to even secure a spot in the top ten.

However, they did not have the kind of connections Lu Feng had, making it impossible for those lecturers to specifically guide them. Thus, they could only place their hopes on Zhou Yuan.

But for the past few days, Zhou Yuan hadn't brought it up, so they could only endure it. Now that Zhou Yuan had finally taken the initiative to mention it, they were naturally delighted.

However, amidst their joy, there was also a hint of skepticism. After all, although they knew Zhou Yuan seemed to possess astonishing talent in Genesis Arts, the Genesis Arts cultivated by everyone present were quite different. Could Zhou Yuan truly be proficient in all of them?

Therefore, regarding Zhou Yuan's promise to guide them in Genesis Arts, they had always believed they needed to see it to believe it.

"Junior Brother Zhou Yuan, can you really guide me on the Heavenly Astral Hand? You haven't seen the cultivation method for the Heavenly Astral Hand, have you?" Zhao Kun asked, a little apprehensive.

Zhou Yuan nodded and said, "I haven't."

He indeed had not seen the cultivation method for the Heavenly Astral Hand, but he possessed the Omega Saint Rune, which allowed him to clearly discern the shortcomings and flaws of any Genesis Art. Therefore, he only needed to point out these areas, which would naturally enable them to avoid detours and accelerate their cultivation efficiency.

This was something no lecturer could achieve.

Of course, he could only do this much. Further cultivation still depended on the cultivator's own comprehension, as the Omega Saint Rune was not omnipotent after all.

Seeing Zhou Yuan's honesty, Zhao Kun couldn't help but give a wry smile and say, "The Heavenly Astral Hand has three stages. I've currently mastered the first stage, but I haven't been able to complete the second stage for a long time."

"Qin Zhen, whom you suppressed that day, also cultivates this art. But these past two days, I've heard his progress isn't slow, and he might reach the second stage by the time of the Selection Ceremony."

"It's said that Lu Feng used his connections to find some lecturers to specifically guide them."

At this point, Zhao Kun clenched his teeth resentfully. In terms of background, these disciples from Shengzhou native always had an advantage over them.

Zhou Yuan nodded slightly upon hearing this. He had naturally heard this news before.

This news had also unsettled Zhao Kun, Song Wanxi, Qiao Xiu, and the others. That's why he decided to start acting today. Otherwise, if he delayed any further, even Zhao Kun and his group would likely become demoralized, let alone the other disciples.

Clearly, this was another tactic employed by Lu Feng, intending to destroy everyone's confidence in this manner.

"Execute the Heavenly Astral Hand," Zhou Yuan said directly, without further explanation.

Seeing Zhou Yuan's calm demeanor, Zhao Kun's apprehension lessened a bit. It seemed Zhou Yuan might actually have some confidence.

He said nothing more, took a deep breath, and his Genesis Qi vibrated within him. Then, his palm visibly swelled slightly, enveloped in Genesis Qi light, forming luminous patterns on his hand.

Streaks of astral wind coiled around his palm, tearing even the air apart.

With a fierce shout, Zhao Kun chopped down with his palm. Immediately, astral winds raged, carving a mark tens of feet long on the ground in front of him. Even rocks were split in two, sharp and domineering.

The surrounding disciples secretly sighed in admiration, remarking that the Heavenly Astral Hand was indeed fierce and domineering.

"The Heavenly Astral Hand is differentiated by the intensity of its astral winds. It is said that the second stage can cleave over eighty feet, but currently, I can only achieve just over thirty feet," Zhao Kun said with some regret.

"But now, my cultivation progress is very slow. After several days of arduous practice, I can only extend the astral winds by about an additional foot. At this rate, reaching the second stage would take at least half a year."

"Junior Brother Zhou Yuan, what do you think I should do here?" He looked at Zhou Yuan, a hint of hope in his eyes.

The others also looked nervously at Zhou Yuan. If Zhou Yuan could solve Zhao Kun's problem, then the others would naturally gain much confidence.

Zhou Yuan narrowed his eyes slightly, ancient light patterns faintly visible in their depths. When Zhao Kun had demonstrated the Heavenly Astral Hand earlier, he could clearly see how the opponent's Genesis Qi flowed through their meridians and various acupoints.

And when the Genesis Qi flowed through certain meridians and acupoints, Zhou Yuan could feel the speed becoming somewhat sluggish.

While Zhou Yuan remained silent, everyone else was also silent. The atmosphere was almost frozen and extremely oppressive.

A moment later, Zhou Yuan finally withdrew his gaze. He looked at the solemn faces of the crowd, smiled, and said, "It's nothing, quite simple actually."

Everyone was startled. Zhao Kun was a bit disbelieving. For a moment, no one spoke.

Zhou Yuan didn't mind. Holding the Heavenly Yuan Brush, its snowy white bristles shot out, swiftly tapping several spots on Zhao Kun's body. He instructed, "When Genesis Qi circulates through these points, increase the speed by thirty percent and the intensity by forty percent."

Zhao Kun was stunned for a moment. Although filled with doubt, he still nodded and skeptically began to circulate his Genesis Qi. And when the Genesis Qi flowed through the points Zhou Yuan had indicated, his mind stirred, and he accelerated the speed and intensity of his Genesis Qi as Zhou Yuan had instructed.

From Zhao Kun's palm, astral energy erupted. He abruptly chopped down with his palm.

The ground before him was once again torn by astral winds.

However, Song Wanxi, Qiao Xiu, and the others' eyes suddenly widened at that moment.

Because they saw that the crack was an astonishing forty-three feet long!

It was a full eight feet longer than Zhao Kun's previous attempt!

Gasps of shock echoed one after another. Everyone looked at Zhou Yuan with wide-eyed astonishment. No one had expected that with just a few casual pointers from him, Zhao Kun's improvement would be so astonishing.

Zhao Kun was also dumbfounded. After a long moment, he finally stammered with trembling lips, looking at Zhou Yuan with burning eyes. At this moment, despite his proud and fierce nature, he trembled as he said, "Brother Yuan, I, Zhao Kun, am convinced."

The other disciples immediately turned their fervent gazes toward Zhou Yuan.

Song Wanxi gazed at Zhou Yuan with her beautiful, sparkling eyes, and softly said, "Junior Brother Zhou Yuan, I'd like to ask you to guide me with my Profound Yin Scripture as well."

"Brother Yuan, I beg you to guide me with my Blazing Thunder Force!"

"Mine, my Myriad Waves Scroll!"

In the mountain stream, fervent voices erupted one after another, almost drowning out the sound of the flowing creek.

With someone like Zhou Yuan, who possessed terrifying talent in Genesis Arts, among them, the many disciples immediately gained boundless confidence for the upcoming Selection Ceremony.

Perhaps, in this Selection Ceremony, they might actually be able to secure six out of the top ten spots!