Chapter 296: Competition

The contest between Zhou Yuan and Cao Shi still caused some ripples on Saint Origin Peak, but disciples from the Lu Song and Lu Hong factions undoubtedly saw it as nothing more than a bit of fun and paid little attention to it.

This was understandable, as even within Elder Shen's lineage, few held high hopes for Zhou Yuan, despite him being the top-ranked new disciple from the Mountain Selection Ceremony. After all, Cao Shi was a genuinely seasoned disciple, at the fifth layer of the Primeval Realm, his strength far exceeding Lu Feng's. To many veteran disciples, Zhou Yuan's contest against Cao Shi was clearly a case of biting off more than he could chew.

With many disciples holding this sentiment, five days passed in the blink of an eye.

On a mist-shrouded peak, a large stone platform stood. By this time, the stone platform was surrounded by spectators, with even Shen Taiyuan himself seated above. Given that it was Zhou Yuan's contest against Cao Shi today, he naturally had to be present to oversee it and prevent any unforeseen incidents. In addition to them, some disciples from the two other factions were also present, clearly eager to witness the spectacle. Of course, the "good show" they anticipated was likely Zhou Yuan being humbled. After all, Zhou Yuan's prominence was significant, having placed first in the Mountain Selection Ceremony. Yet, as a new inner-mountain disciple lacking seniority, others were naturally pleased to see someone put him in his place.

On one side of the stone platform, Cao Shi wore a faint smile, surrounded by numerous disciples who flocked around him like stars orbiting the moon. He appeared quite relaxed, clearly not taking today's contest too seriously.

A cloud of Genesis Qi swiftly arrived from a distance, landing on one side of the platform. It was Zhou Yuan, and beside him, Yao Yao stood elegantly, her demeanor as cool and ethereal as an immortal. Her stunning beauty drew numerous admiring gazes.

"Elder Shen," Zhou Yuan said, glancing around. He noticed the mocking gazes but paid them little mind, instead turning to Shen Taiyuan and cupping his fists in greeting.

Shen Taiyuan nodded back, his expression somewhat complex. He held high hopes for Zhou Yuan's potential and was therefore reluctant for Zhou Yuan to clash with Cao Shi at this particular moment. However, he also knew that his excessive favoritism towards Zhou Yuan had caused other veteran disciples to feel resentful and unfairly treated, leading them to target Zhou Yuan. Yet, why couldn't these fools understand that if they had just been more capable, he wouldn't have needed to stake everything on Zhou Yuan? If Zhou Yuan were to lose this contest today, he would inevitably have to lie low and maintain a low profile for some time afterward. In that scenario, he would likely be unable to secure the Purple Origin Cave Dwelling. Without access to such resources, it would undoubtedly become even more challenging for Zhou Yuan to catch up with the seasoned purple-belt disciples.

With emotions swirling, Shen Taiyuan eventually sighed. He nodded to Zhou Yuan, then turned to Cao Shi and said, "This is an internal sect competition; you must know when to stop."

Upon hearing this, Cao Shi offered a dismissive smile and replied, "Elder Shen, please rest assured. After all, we are fellow disciples; I will show mercy." As he finished speaking, he moved, landing on the stone platform. With a playful glint in his eye, he looked at Zhou Yuan and said, "Junior Brother Zhou Yuan, if you concede now, you might spare yourself some pain. After all, exchanges of blows can be quite unpleasant."

Zhou Yuan offered no reply, stepping onto the stone platform himself, where he stood opposite Cao Shi, his expression utterly calm. Yet, as their eyes met, a cold glint flickered in both their gazes.

Below Shen Taiyuan, the various purple-belt disciples from his lineage also watched the standoff between the two.

"Heh, Senior Brother Zhou Tai," Zhang Yan said with a smile to Zhou Tai beside him, "our junior brother certainly has potential, but he's a bit unruly. I just hope that after today, he'll learn to temper himself, and at the very least, understand the importance of showing respect and deference to his seniors."

Zhou Tai frowned slightly upon hearing this. He was a gentle and magnanimous individual, and while his talent wasn't outstanding, he commanded considerable respect among Shen Taiyuan's disciples. He could sense Shen Taiyuan's delight at Zhou Yuan's arrival, which filled him with a degree of self-reproach and shame. He felt that if he, as the senior disciple, hadn't been so inadequate, Elder Shen wouldn't have needed to place such hopes on someone else. Thus, he held considerable goodwill toward Zhou Yuan, sincerely hoping that their lineage could produce a distinguished figure.

However, it was clear that not all disciples shared his temperament. Zhang Yan, for instance, resented Elder Shen's favoritism toward Zhou Yuan. Therefore, while Cao Shi was the one appearing to take action, it was likely Zhang Yan who was instigating things from behind the scenes. Furthermore, Zhou Tai knew that Junior Brother Zhang Yan wasn't particularly deferential to him as the senior disciple. This was because Zhang Yan's talent surpassed his own, and despite entering the sect later, he was rapidly catching up, leading to a lack of genuine respect in their daily interactions.

"Junior Brother Zhang Yan," Zhou Tai said, "Junior Brother Zhou Yuan possesses immense potential. His arrival at Saint Origin Peak and under Elder Shen's tutelage can be considered a stroke of luck for our lineage. The cultivation resources currently provided to him will undoubtedly yield significant returns in the future."

Zhang Yan maintained his smile, though a hint of derision flickered in his eyes. He said, "Senior Brother Zhou Tai, that's quite an overstatement. He does indeed have some potential, I won't deny that, but I'm afraid he's not yet qualified to be called 'our lineage's good fortune.' What if he placed first in the Mountain Selection Ceremony? Does that guarantee him a spot among the Top Ten Saints? We've seen plenty of disciples who ranked first in the ceremony before, and many of them, after entering the inner mountain, ended up as nothing more than purple-belt disciples, just like us."

Zhou Tai frowned and said, "Elder Shen wouldn't value him so highly without good reason."

"Then let's wait and see," Zhang Yan replied noncommittally, his eyes narrowed as he gazed at Zhou Yuan on the stone platform. He added slowly, "I hope you can maintain that opinion after this battle. No matter how much potential he possesses, let's discuss it once he truly transforms that potential into actual strength. For now... I believe it's better for him to be more humble. For young people, experiencing a bit of hardship isn't always a bad thing."

As they spoke, Shen Taiyuan's gaze swept across the stone platform. He then spoke in a deep voice, "Begin."

The instant his voice faded, an astonishing surge of Genesis Qi erupted from Cao Shi's body, rising like a pillar of smoke directly into the sky. Cao Shi's Genesis Qi, like silver frost, exuded an extremely sharp aura. Where it surged, it left visible traces in the very air. A formidable Genesis Qi pressure also emanated from his body, like Mount Tai descending, enveloping Zhou Yuan. Many disciples around sensed this oppressive pressure, their expressions subtly tightening. Cao Shi's ability to previously secure a spot among the top three gold-belt disciples was well-earned; his profound Genesis Qi was considered quite strong, even among those at the fifth layer of the Primeval Realm.

Zhou Yuan's eyes narrowed slightly as well. The Genesis Qi pressure emanating from Cao Shi was significantly stronger than Lu Feng's.

Cao Shi observed Zhou Yuan's expression, then smiled playfully. "Junior Brother Zhou Yuan," he said, "you were the one who proposed this contest a few days ago. Have you perhaps lost your courage already?"

Zhou Yuan's expression remained calm. With a thought, golden Genesis Qi surged upward from the crown of his head, forming a vast, shimmering canopy. Within it, the faint image of a colossal python emerged, emitting a soft hiss. He fixed his gaze on Cao Shi, and a sharp glint gradually appeared in his eyes. In that instant, Zhou Yuan's aura erupted like a sword drawn from its scabbard, no longer concealing its keenness and chilling edge.

"Come then," he challenged, "Let me see what's so extraordinary about a veteran gold-belt disciple!"

The moment his challenge ended, his figure shot forward, taking the initiative, and torrents of Genesis Qi surged forth with a roar. Around the stone platform, all eyes were intently fixed on the unfolding scene. They, too, wished to know if Zhou Yuan, as the top-ranked new disciple from the Mountain Selection Ceremony, truly deserved the immense importance Elder Shen placed upon him.