Chapter 432: Sensational

When Zhou Yuan put away the two jade plates representing his heavenly achievements, the many disciples in the hall were still in a dazed state. Zhou Yuan paid no attention to this, merely glancing at Xu Yan, Wang Lei, Lu Xuanyin, and others whose expressions were rigid.

These individuals had clearly come specifically to mock him, but they never expected the final outcome to be so different from their expectations.

"Senior Sister Qingchan, since the mission is over, I'll return to Saint Genesis Peak. Thank you for your care this time," Zhou Yuan said, cupping his hands towards Li Qingchan.

Li Qingchan nodded slightly and said, "There's no need to be so modest. We all know who contributed the most this time."

Zhou Yuan smiled, waved to Bai Li and the others, then, under the gaze of many eyes, he directly left the hall and ascended into the air, stepping on Genesis Qi.

Having been out for two months, he felt a little nostalgic for Yao Yao and Tun Tun.

As Zhou Yuan departed, the atmosphere in the hall gradually returned to normal. However, the expressions of many disciples were still peculiar, evidently unable to comprehend how Zhou Yuan had managed to claim the primary merit.

Xu Yan, Wang Lei, and others quickly approached Zhao Zhu, unable to help but ask, "Senior Brother Zhao Zhu, could there be a mistake? Even you didn't get the primary merit, so how could Zhou Yuan?!"

Beside them, Li Qingchan's small, red lips curled slightly. She glanced at Zhao Zhu and then walked away.

Bai Li and the others also looked at Wang Lei and the rest with sympathetic eyes, then quickly followed Li Qingchan.

Wang Lei and Xu Yan, however, found these gazes rather perplexing and were about to ask more questions, but then saw Zhao Zhu glare fiercely at them and say, "All of you, shut up! Don't embarrass yourselves here!"

He flicked his sleeve, casting aside Wang Lei and the others, and walked out expressionlessly.

Wang Lei and the others were thoroughly reprimanded. Their faces showed their frustration as they exchanged glances, all feeling extremely vexed.

Leaving the Mission Hall, Zhou Yuan returned directly to Saint Genesis Peak and landed outside his own cave dwelling.

However, just as he arrived, he saw a plump figure lying leisurely outside the cave dwelling. Upon closer inspection, it was none other than Shen Wanjin.

When he heard the whooshing sound, Shen Wanjin lazily lifted his head. Upon seeing Zhou Yuan, he was startled, quickly scrambled up, and joyfully exclaimed, "Little Yuan, you're finally back!"

Zhou Yuan asked, puzzled, "Why are you here? Where's Yao Yao?"

Shen Wanjin chuckled, "Sister Yao Yao left a few days after you departed from Cangxuan Sect."

"Left?!" Zhou Yuan was startled by the news and hastily asked, "Where did she go?!"

"Sister Yao Yao also accepted a Heaven-tier mission. She asked me to look after the cave dwelling before she left, so I often stay here," Shen Wanjin replied.

Zhou Yuan frowned slightly, feeling an uncontrollable worry in his heart. Although Yao Yao was stronger than him, her identity was mysterious, and if anything happened, what then?!

How would he explain it to Master Cang Yuan then?

"Little Yuan, don't worry. Sister Yao Yao is unfathomable. Even a Heaven-tier mission probably won't pose much danger," Shen Wanjin comforted him.

Zhou Yuan nodded with a wry smile. At this point, he could only wait patiently and hope that Yao Yao would be safe.

He chatted with Shen Wanjin for a while, then waved his hand and entered the cave dwelling to rest, as the long journey back to the sect had left him quite exhausted.

During the half-day Zhou Yuan rested, he was unaware that the news of him achieving primary merit in the Heaven-tier mission had spread like wildfire throughout the entire Cangxuan Sect, causing a huge stir.

Initially, most disciples were clearly skeptical. Some even suspected it was because of Li Qingchan, as how could a character who was almost ignored at the beginning of the team ultimately secure the primary merit?

Or, perhaps... Li Qingchan had given her merit token to Zhou Yuan?

This thought made people even more displeased. Li Qingchan was the most beautiful woman in Cangxuan Sect, desired and admired by countless disciples, as cold as ice, and no male had ever been able to approach her. So, if Li Qingchan would go so far for Zhou Yuan, what did that imply? Could it be that this ice queen of Cangxuan Sect had developed feelings for Zhou Yuan?

If that were true, it would truly be something that angered both men and gods.

These rumors quickly caused an uproar within the sect and eventually reached Li Qingchan's ears, making her slightly annoyed. However, before she could make an appearance, the Mission Hall preemptively released the detailed information about the Heaven-tier mission, including Zhou Yuan's many exploits in the Blazing Marrow Vein, such as his battle against Saint Palace's Yang Xuan, and how he ultimately turned the tide and reversed the situation.

As soon as this information was released, it instantly caused an uproar among countless disciples within the sect, leaving them utterly shocked.

They found it incredibly hard to believe. After all, before Zhou Yuan left Cangxuan Sect, his combat record was merely on par with Xu Yan, whose strength was clearly inferior to Bai Li and the others.

However, Saint Palace's Yang Xuan was someone even Bai Li and Qin Hai couldn't defeat when they teamed up. It was even said that Yang Xuan had faintly reached the Eighth Heaven stage. This level of strength, even among the Purple Sash disciples of Cangxuan Sect, was absolutely top-tier, granting him the qualifications to contend for the chief disciple position of various peaks.

And Zhou Yuan, he could actually defeat someone of that caliber?!

In just one or two months, he had actually improved to this extent?

But no matter how unbelievable they found it, the information released by the Mission Hall was beyond doubt; it had to be true. Thus, within a mere half-day, Cangxuan Sect, which had finally been quiet for a month or two, became abuzz once more due to Zhou Yuan's return.

"This Zhou Yuan, he can actually defeat an opponent at the Eighth Heaven?!"

On Saint Genesis Peak, in Elder Lu Song's lineage, Lu Yan's beautiful eyes were wide with disbelief, her pretty face filled with astonishment. She had clearly heard the news from the Mission Hall.

Elder Lu Song held his teapot, his aged face showing some surprise, then he sighed, "This young fellow is truly inscrutable."

He glanced at Lu Yan and chuckled, "Do you still dare to underestimate him now?"

Lu Yan pouted her small mouth and said, "Yes, yes, yes, I know he's capable, alright?"

She paused, then added, "But I heard that Zhou Yuan obtained a Heaven-tier Genesis Weapon, and it was only by relying on its power that he could ultimately contend with Saint Palace's Yang Xuan."

"To obtain a Heaven-tier Genesis Weapon is also his fortune, and naturally counts as a form of strength," Elder Lu Song said with an amused smile. "Looking at it this way, perhaps this Zhou Yuan truly has the qualifications to participate in our Saint Genesis Peak's upcoming 'Chief Disciple Competition.'"

"Heh heh, it seems you'll have one more opponent."

Upon hearing this, Lu Yan merely scoffed lightly and said, "I admit he has good talent, but if his reliance is merely a Heaven-tier Genesis Weapon, and he expects to contend for our Saint Genesis Peak's chief position, then he's probably a bit too naive."

Elder Lu Song chuckled, then let out a soft sigh, because compared to Zhou Yuan, it was clear that Lu Hong's lineage was the biggest problem in this Chief Disciple Competition.

If Lu Hong's lineage were to claim the chief position, then in the future, the main lineage of Saint Genesis Peak would be theirs, and the other two lineages would undoubtedly see their cultivation resources significantly reduced.

This was certainly not good news for them.

At Saint Genesis Peak, in Lu Hong's lineage.

"This brat is truly restless, causing trouble as soon as he returns to the sect," Lu Hong sneered in a stone pavilion after hearing his disciple's report.

"Master Lu, I heard that Zhou Yuan's strength has greatly increased, to the point where he can even fight opponents at the Eighth Heaven," Wei Youxuan said solemnly from outside the stone pavilion, the same Wei Youxuan who had previously lost to Zhou Yuan in the cave trial.

"If he's truly that strong, then perhaps Elder Shen Taiyuan will send him to participate in this Chief Disciple Competition."

Upon hearing this, Lu Hong's lips curled into a mocking sneer. He looked at the figure seated before him—a man as sturdy as an iron tower, with an indifferent expression and an aura of oppression emanating from him.

This was his most senior disciple, Yuan Hong.

He was also the strongest contender for Saint Genesis Peak's chief disciple position this time.

"Yuan Hong, what do you think?" Lu Hong asked.

Yuan Hong looked up and said indifferently, "That Yang Xuan merely managed to reach the Eighth Heaven; his own Genesis Qi is unstable. He's only capable of suppressing people like Bai Li and Qin Hai."

"Zhou Yuan's victory over him was simply due to the advantage of his Heaven-tier Genesis Weapon. If he truly dares to participate in the Chief Disciple Competition, perhaps he'll realize that a single Heaven-tier Genesis Weapon probably won't be enough to protect him." Yuan Hong's voice was devoid of any emotional fluctuation; Zhou Yuan's prominent achievements in the Heaven-tier mission, as reported by the Mission Hall, were clearly not worth mentioning to him.

Upon hearing this, Lu Hong smiled. He was clearly very satisfied with this senior disciple whom he had painstakingly nurtured, and Yuan Hong had not disappointed him. After following him to Saint Genesis Peak, Yuan Hong had likely long become an an insurmountable mountain in the hearts of many disciples from the other two lineages.

"This Zhou Yuan, though talented, still lacks experience. There's no need to worry."

"Yuan Hong, you must not fail in this year's Chief Disciple Competition. Peak Master Ling Jun has repeatedly emphasized this... as long as our lineage wins the chief position, then our lineage will become the main lineage of Saint Genesis Peak in the future..."

"At that time, Saint Genesis Peak's cultivation resources will also be reallocated by our lineage. The other two lineages will no longer have the qualifications to compete with us. As for that Zhou Yuan, what if he is talented? We'll find an excuse to seize his cave dwelling, reduce his cultivation resources. Can he really turn the world upside down? A genius disciple? Heh heh, in my Cangxuan Sect, what we least lack are those." Lu Hong said, a sneer playing on his lips as he looked at Yuan Hong.

"Presumably, by then, he will also regret why he didn't join my lineage and instead chose that useless old man Shen Taiyuan."

Yuan Hong nodded, his eyes cold and arrogant.

"Master Lu, rest assured. The other two lineages of Saint Genesis Peak are not worth worrying about. The chief position belongs to me and no one else."