Chapter 299: Movement

The result of the competition between Zhou Yuan and Cao Shi quickly spread throughout Saint Origin Peak, undoubtedly causing another sensation. Many people had regarded this match as a mere farce orchestrated by Zhou Yuan.

After all, even though Zhou Yuan was first in the Mountain Selection Ceremony, that was only among the outer mountain disciples. Cao Shi, on the other hand, was a veteran Golden Sash Disciple, an expert at the fifth layer of the Alpha Origin Stage. Their strengths were clearly not on the same level.

Therefore, many people simply laughed off this match. But who could have imagined that the final outcome would be like this...

"What? Zhou Yuan defeated Cao Shi?!"

When Lu Yan heard this news, she was with Elder Lu Song. Disbelief immediately appeared on her pretty face, and she repeatedly asked, "How is that possible? You must have misread it, right?"

The disciple who had come to report forced a bitter smile and replied, "The news has already spread, and so many people witnessed it themselves. Zhou Yuan did indeed defeat Cao Shi."

Lu Yan's pretty face felt somewhat flushed. After all, she had previously been certain that Zhou Yuan would lose, and this result was indeed a bit of a slap in the face.

"Hehe, it seems you also underestimated Zhou Yuan," Elder Lu Song said with a smile.

Lu Yan bit her lip lightly and snorted, "Who knows if this isn't just a play put on by their Shen lineage? Perhaps Elder Shen forced Cao Shi to lose to Zhou Yuan."

She still found it hard to believe. Zhou Yuan was only at the second layer of the Alpha Origin Stage, right? Even if he defeated Lu Feng, who was at the fourth layer, during the Mountain Selection Ceremony, Lu Feng was still far inferior to Cao Shi.

Elder Lu Song shook his head and said, "I know Old Man Shen's temperament. He's old-fashioned and stubborn; even if he highly favors Zhou Yuan, he wouldn't resort to such methods to help him."

The reporting disciple also added, "It seems that Zhou Yuan has cultivated the Nine Dragon Manual to the eighth dragon level."

"Oh?" Elder Lu Song, who was watering a pot of origin materials, paused upon hearing this and said with some surprise, "This young man is quite capable! Even among inner mountain disciples, very few can cultivate the Nine Dragon Manual to this extent. When he fought Lu Feng earlier, he was only at the fourth dragon level..."

"I had heard before that Zhou Yuan has exceptional talent and comprehension in Origin Arts. I didn't expect him to truly be so extraordinary," he remarked with a sigh.

Seeing Elder Lu Song continuously praise Zhou Yuan, Lu Yan pouted and said, "If you think so highly of him, why don't you take him as your disciple?"

Elder Lu Song sighed, "Lu Hong is coming on strong now, and I no longer have the heart to contend with him. Only Old Man Shen is too stubborn to admit defeat. Since that's the case, why should I compete with him over Zhou Yuan? Let him have this hope."

"What if Zhou Yuan truly turns out to be an extraordinary genius and manages to obstruct Lu Hong's lineage? That would be a good thing for us; otherwise, we might not be able to hold our heads high in the future."

Lu Yan's eyes darted around. "Since Zhou Yuan defeated Cao Shi, he will be one of the participants in the Cave Examination a month from now. Grandpa, who do you think will win the Purple Origin Cave Dwelling?"

Lu Song smiled and said, "Zhou Yuan's talent is indeed not weak, but he has only just entered the inner mountain. Being able to defeat Cao Shi this time already required him to use all his strength. If I'm not mistaken, once he unleashes the eighth dragon of the Nine Dragon Manual, he probably won't have much Origin Qi left to continue fighting."

The disciple nearby immediately said, "Master Lu's predictions are divine! After Zhou Yuan used that move, his Origin Qi consumption was indeed excessive. I think if Cao Shi had gritted his teeth and endured it, Zhou Yuan would have likely been the one to lose."

Lu Song nodded. "After all, he's still only at the second layer of the Alpha Origin Stage, so his foundation is somewhat lacking. Therefore, even if he replaced Cao Shi, it wouldn't be of much help to Elder Shen's lineage."

"It is said that Lu Hong's side has dispatched Wei Youxuan, Feng Yu, and Cheng Ying for this Cave Examination. These three are all elites among his Golden Sash Disciples, and their strength is formidable. Wei Youxuan, in particular, seems to have hidden depths."

"So for this Cave Examination, even if a Zhou Yuan has suddenly emerged, Lu Hong's lineage still likely has the greater odds of winning."

In this situation, one Zhou Yuan wouldn't be able to change anything.

Only after hearing what Lu Song said did Lu Yan nod in satisfaction.

Seeing this, Lu Song couldn't help but smile and said, "He didn't provoke you, so why can't you stand to see others do well?"

Lu Yan paused, then puffed out her ample chest and said righteously, "Who told him to be first in the Mountain Selection Ceremony?"

Lu Song shook his head helplessly. How could he not know that his granddaughter greatly admired Chu Qing, the current head of the Ten Great Saints, who also happened to be first in a previous Mountain Selection Ceremony?

In Lu Yan's mind, it was obvious that no other first-place winner of the Mountain Selection Ceremony could compare to Chu Qing. Therefore, to prove her own thinking was correct, she naturally adopted that attitude towards Zhou Yuan.

"Don't underestimate Zhou Yuan too much. No one can say for sure what the future holds. Perhaps one day, he might truly catch up to Chu Qing," Lu Song said, glancing at Lu Yan.

He was, in fact, displeased with his granddaughter's irrational admiration for Chu Qing, so he actually held a few reservations about Chu Qing himself.

However, upon hearing this, Lu Yan said disdainfully, "There are countless geniuses who want to catch up to Senior Brother Chu Qing, and Zhou Yuan will likely find it impossible to even come close. Grandpa, something like that will never happen."

"Besides, for now, he should first focus on how to pass the Cave Examination a month from now. He shouldn't work so hard to secure a spot only to go up there and make a fool of himself."

"That Cave Examination isn't like today's internal competition. If he loses there, the entire Cangxuan Sect will probably know about it, and he'll lose a lot of face."

"As for catching up to Senior Brother Chu Qing..."

Lu Yan quietly moved to the doorway, then made a face at Lu Song, and instantly slipped away. Her graceful figure vanished into the distance, with her voice carrying back from afar.

"Grandpa, go dream your pipe dreams!"

Seeing this, Lu Song was so annoyed that he puffed out his beard.

"That ill-mannered girl!"

The result of the competition eventually reached Lu Hong's lineage as well.

Inside a stone pavilion.

Wei Youxuan was pouring tea. Beside him were Feng Yu, Cheng Ying, and some other disciples from Lu Hong's lineage.

"Elder Shen's lineage is really becoming more and more useless," Cheng Ying said playfully. "A newly inducted disciple can defeat a veteran Golden Sash Disciple. This Cao Shi... he's just too incompetent."

"Zhou Yuan being able to defeat Cao Shi suggests he might be somewhat capable," Feng Yu said slowly, taking a more cautious tone.

Cheng Ying scoffed. "What capability? I already know the details of their fight. It was nothing more than a desperate gamble, a last-ditch effort. Zhou Yuan has some talent in Origin Arts, and he cultivated the Nine Dragon Manual to the eighth dragon level during his recent seclusion. That's how he narrowly defeated Cao Shi."

"However, once he uses that art, Zhou Yuan's Origin Qi is completely exhausted, leaving him unable to fight again."

"Frankly, he's just a one-trick pony."

Feng Yu nodded slightly upon hearing this. "If that's the case, then there's nothing to fear. As long as we block that move, Zhou Yuan will naturally be useless."

He shifted his gaze to Wei Youxuan, who was pouring and drinking tea by himself, and smiled, "What do you think, Senior Brother Wei?"

Wei Youxuan toyed with his jade cup and smiled. "No matter what games their lineage is playing, they have no chance in this Cave Examination. I've had my eyes on that Purple Origin Cave Dwelling for a long time."

Though his words were light, they carried an unshakeable air, as if with a single pronouncement, he had already decided the ownership of the Purple Origin Cave Dwelling.

Yet, Feng Yu and Cheng Ying surprisingly didn't refute his words. Instead, they revealed gloating smiles.

"It seems Senior Brother Wei is getting serious..."

"Ah, well. Senior Brother Wei, once you take this Purple Origin Cave Dwelling, you should hurry and ascend. We've been coveting this top spot among Golden Sash Disciples for a long time..."

The two raised their jade cups and said with a laugh, "We'll be here, wishing Senior Brother Wei success in achieving your goal."

Wei Youxuan smiled and clinked cups with them, then raised his head, narrowing his eyes as he looked into the distance.

"Cao Shi, Pan Song, Zhou Yuan..."

He shook his head and let out a faint smile.

"Just three pieces of trash."