Chapter 363: Selection Before

When the day of the Purple Sash Selection finally arrived, the entire Cangxuan Sect seemed to erupt with excitement. The fervor was so intense that it even caused the primordial qi of heaven and earth to stir restlessly.

Even though only a small fraction of the Cangxuan Sect's disciples participated in the Purple Sash Selection, this did not diminish its status as a grand annual event. The disciples' attention to this event was almost unmatched, surpassed only by the year-end competition for the chief disciple position across the peaks. After all, everyone knew that even if they weren't yet qualified for the Purple Sash Selection, that day would eventually come. Furthermore, it was the essential path for their advancement within the sect.

Purple Sash disciples were considered the true elite and pillars of the Cangxuan Sect. It was also the ultimate goal for every Cangxuan Sect disciple. Upon becoming a Purple Sash disciple, their status and benefits would far exceed those of other disciples, making them the envy of many. Hence, it was no surprise that the Purple Sash Selection garnered such immense attention.

At the Purple Origin Cave, Zhou Yuan, fully prepared, watched Yao Yao emerge from the small building, his eyes involuntarily brightening. Today, Yao Yao was dressed in a light blue top and trousers. The top subtly outlined the curves of her upper body, her slender waist appearing delicate enough to grasp. The long trousers accentuated her remarkably long and lithe legs. Her usually flowing dark hair was now elegantly swept up and secured with a jade hairpin, revealing her fair, graceful neck, which seemed to glow. This attire made Yao Yao appear somewhat youthful and vibrant today, a slight departure from her usual cool and indifferent demeanor.

Yao Yao, holding Tun Tun, slowly approached, her eyes casting a faint glance at Zhou Yuan.

"Truly beautiful," Zhou Yuan praised unreservedly.

Yao Yao, however, remained unmoved by the praise. Her red lips parted slightly as she asked, "How is your research on the Peach Blossom Brew coming along?"

Zhou Yuan's expression immediately stiffened upon hearing this. He awkwardly replied, "I'm still researching... This Peach Blossom Brew is far from simple. I've looked into it, and the required source materials are all exceptionally rare."

"Centennial Dragon Blood Peach, Pure Spirit Rice, Profound Sea Springwater..." At this point, Zhou Yuan couldn't help but click his tongue. These source materials were extremely rare; he had searched for them in the sect's Treasure Pavilion but found none. Clearly, the nameless immortal brew Yao Yao had unearthed from the Spirit Rune Hall was no ordinary concoction. Such high-grade requirements suggested ingredients that could even be used to refine extraordinary elixirs. Of course, given Yao Yao's discerning taste, ordinary brews probably wouldn't captivate her.

However, despite Zhou Yuan's complaints, Yao Yao's beautiful face remained calm. She simply stroked Tun Tun's soft fur with her delicate hand and asked in a faint voice, "So?"

Her seemingly light words, however, made Zhou Yuan sense a hint of danger. He immediately plastered a smile on his face and declared, "Therefore, I will work even harder to find these brewing ingredients and strive to brew this 'Peach Blossom Brew' for you, Sister Yao Yao, as soon as possible!"

In Yao Yao's arms, Tun Tun shot Zhou Yuan a disdainful look, as if thinking, 'This guy really has no backbone!'

Yao Yao, however, was quite satisfied with Zhou Yuan's attitude. Her red lips curved slightly as she asked, "Today is the Purple Sash Selection. Are you fully prepared?"

Zhou Yuan nodded with a smile, a flicker of confidence in his expression. "Don't worry," he said. "I'm also eager to see what those from Sword Cometh Peak, after putting in so much effort, will manage to achieve today." They had painstakingly built momentum for him, pushing him into the limelight, but this wasn't out of genuine kindness. Today, their true intentions would be revealed. No matter how they tried to scheme, Zhou Yuan was ready for it.

Yao Yao nodded slightly.

The two then left the cave, ascending on clouds of Genesis Qi, and headed directly to a large mountain on Saint Origin Peak. By then, nearly all the disciples from the three lineages of Saint Origin Peak had gathered there. For a major event like the Purple Sash Selection, even Arch-Sect Master Qing Yang and several peak masters would be in attendance. Consequently, the elders from each peak also brought all their disciples, marking it as an exceptionally high-profile occasion.

Thus, when Zhou Yuan and Yao Yao arrived, Elders Shen Taiyuan, Lu Hong, and Lu Song had already gathered there with the disciples from their respective lineages. The arrival of Zhou Yuan and Yao Yao undoubtedly caused a stir. After all, in a sense, they were currently the most renowned individuals on Saint Origin Peak.

Elder Shen Taiyuan's disciples, in particular, looked enthusiastic. Zhou Tai, Shen Wanjin, and other disciples who were friendly with Zhou Yuan flocked to him, surrounding him like stars around the moon.

"Haha, Junior Brother Zhou Yuan, I've placed a heavy bet on you this time—a full five thousand Genesis Jade! You absolutely must succeed, or I'll be cultivating on an empty stomach next month," Zhou Tai said with a hearty laugh.

"I also wagered two thousand Genesis Jade, basically my entire family fortune. Big Brother Yuan, whether I get rich or not depends entirely on you this time," Shen Wanjin said with a fawning smile, his plump face glistening.

Other disciples also chuckled, chiming in that they too had placed significant wagers. Zhou Yuan smiled and responded to each of them. As he had steadily built his reputation over the past three months, the disciples under Elder Shen Taiyuan had gradually begun to accept him and show him considerable goodwill. Evidently, Zhou Yuan's demonstrated talent and achievements had won them over. Now, they no longer felt any imbalance regarding the attention he received. Of course, this excluded the few disciples who still deferred to Zhang Yan.

While their group was lively, disciples from the other two lineages watched them with somewhat complex expressions. Lu Yan, too, cast her beautiful eyes towards Zhou Yuan, who was surrounded by many disciples in the distance, muttering to herself. She had been in seclusion for several days when Zhou Yuan and Yao Yao had caused a stir at Spirit Rune Peak, so she hadn't expected to emerge from cultivation only to hear about such a significant event caused by Zhou Yuan. Currently, Zhou Yuan's reputation within the Cangxuan Sect was soaring, showing great potential to become a dark horse. Although he couldn't yet compare to the Ten Great Saint Sons, he was, in a sense, considered a prominent figure within the sect.

"It's truly a pity," a disciple beside her lamented. "If Elder Lu had been more persistent back then, perhaps Zhou Yuan would have been a disciple of our lineage. Now the entire Cangxuan Sect knows about Elder Shen's lineage on Saint Origin Peak..."

Lu Yan glared at him, retorting, "What nonsense are you talking about? Can one Zhou Yuan alone change anything? He might have talent, but he's not that extraordinary yet. Furthermore, the incident at Spirit Rune Peak was primarily due to Zhou Xiaoyao; Zhou Yuan merely assisted. As for those recent rumors that exaggerate his abilities, who knows who started them." She snorted coldly, saying, "It would be fine if Zhou Yuan remains level-headed. But if he gets carried away by these rumors, then in this Purple Sash Selection, the higher he flies, the harder he'll fall." Although Lu Yan wasn't entirely clear about the whole situation, she was no ordinary disciple. She vaguely sensed an undercurrent targeting Zhou Yuan. Therefore, in this Purple Sash Selection, if Zhou Yuan isn't vigilant, he might pay a significant price.

While the disciples on Lu Yan's side whispered among themselves, those from Elder Lu Hong's lineage watched coldly from a distance. Wei Youxuan and the others, in particular, had gloomy expressions, concealing a hint of sarcasm beneath their somberness.

"Zhou Yuan, enjoy your moment of pride for now..."

"Once the Purple Sash Selection begins, you'll realize that today, you're nothing but a clown!"