Chapter 441: Nomination Confirmed

The next day, after making some quick preparations, Zhou Yuan planned to go directly to Elder Xuan. However, just as he was leaving his cave dwelling, a disciple rushed over to inform him that he needed to go to the Hall of Seeking Dao.

This was because an Enforcement Elder from the sect would be arriving at Saint Genesis Peak today to confirm the participant list for the chief disciple competition among the various lineages.

Only those officially recorded by the Enforcement Elder would truly be qualified to compete for the position of chief disciple.

After all, the chief disciples were considered the true elites among the current generation of Cangxuan Sect disciples, and future elders of the sect might very well emerge from their ranks. This held immense significance. Therefore, the Cangxuan Sect placed great importance on the chief disciple competition.

Upon hearing this, Zhou Yuan understood the importance of the matter and decided to postpone his visit to Elder Xuan for now.

"Let's go to the Hall of Seeking Dao first," he said, cupping his fist at the informing disciple.

At this moment, Yao Yao also emerged. Holding Tun Tun, she said, "I'll come and watch too."

Speaking of which, Yao Yao was arguably the most unique person in the entire Cangxuan Sect. Strictly speaking, she wasn't truly a disciple of any specific peak to this day. After all, the various grand elders above were all vying for her, which had led to a stalemate with no final resolution.

While others might have felt frustrated by this, Yao Yao actually preferred it this way and had no objections. Thus, she maintained her unique free status within the Cangxuan Sect.

Naturally, Zhou Yuan had no objections. He immediately set off, taking Yao Yao directly to the Hall of Seeking Dao.

By the time they arrived at the Hall of Seeking Dao, the area was already bustling with people, as disciples from all three lineages of Saint Genesis Peak had gathered there. The scene was quite lively.

Zhou Yuan led Yao Yao towards the direction where Shen Taiyuan and his group were. Shen Taiyuan, seeing the two, nodded at them.

Zhou Tai, for his part, waved to Zhou Yuan, who then went to his side. Zhou Yuan's gaze fell upon the front, where a grey-haired old man stood on a stone platform.

"That's Elder Lu," Zhou Tai whispered. "He will be the referee for our Saint Genesis Peak's chief disciple competition this time. He's here now to first confirm the participant list for each lineage, and then report it to the sect master."

Zhou Yuan nodded slightly, his gaze sweeping across the area. Not far away were the disciples of Elder Lü Song's lineage, led by Elder Lü Song himself. However, it was clear that the most imposing presence belonged to the group directly opposite.

At the head of that group was Elder Lu Hong. Behind him were large numbers of his disciples, whose numbers were almost greater than the other two lineages combined. Their presence was truly formidable.

"Three Elders, everyone is here," Elder Lu said with a smile, looking at Shen Taiyuan, Lu Hong, and Lü Song. "Now, please have your respective lineages confirm their participants for the chief disciple competition."

All three elders nodded and stepped forward.

"Only three from my lineage will participate this time," Elder Lü Song was the first to say with a smile. He then waved his hand, and three figures darted onto the stone platform.

"Lü Yan, Deng Tong, Mu Shenglei."

Of the three figures, Lü Yan led the way. She stood gracefully on the platform, her slender figure exuding a heroic and spirited aura that captured attention.

The three of them were quite well-known on Saint Genesis Peak, and also the strongest among Elder Lü Song's disciples. Therefore, it was no surprise that they were representing Elder Lü Song's lineage in the chief disciple competition.

Seeing this, Shen Taiyuan said, "My lineage also has three participants."

"Zhou Tai, Zhang Yan..." As his voice fell, Zhou Tai and Zhang Yan stepped onto the stone platform, eliciting many cheers. As pillars of Elder Shen Taiyuan's lineage, these two were indeed qualified.

"And... Zhou Yuan."

However, as soon as Shen Taiyuan spoke these words, it predictably sparked murmurs. Aside from Elder Shen Taiyuan's own lineage, many other disciples looked on with surprise and doubt.

Although Zhou Yuan had risen to prominence in the Cangxuan Sect over the past year or so, he was still, after all, just a new disciple. Was it not too soon for him to participate in the chief disciple competition? Would he not be lacking in experience?

Under numerous gazes, Zhou Yuan calmly stepped onto the platform.

"They actually sent him to participate in the chief disciple competition?" Lü Yan's pretty eyes glanced over, and she muttered to herself. Although she no longer underestimated Zhou Yuan, she still felt it was quite unreliable to send him to participate.

But in the end, she said nothing. After all, this was Elder Shen Taiyuan's lineage's business. If Zhou Yuan embarrassed himself, it would have nothing to do with them.

"Heh heh, Elder Shen, has your lineage fallen so low now?" Lu Hong said to Shen Taiyuan with a mocking smile, his gaze sweeping over Zhou Yuan. "Sending a disciple at the Fourth Heaven stage to participate in the chief disciple competition—aren't you afraid of losing face?"

His words were clearly full of sarcasm.

As soon as Lu Hong spoke, the disciples of his lineage burst into laughter, making the disciples of Elder Shen Taiyuan's lineage look rather upset.

Shen Taiyuan, however, remained expressionless and said, "This old man's old face isn't worth much, so there's no need for Elder Lu to worry about it."

"Instead, Elder Lu should be careful," he continued. "If something truly unexpected happens then, I'm afraid you'll face more than just losing face."

Lu Hong's lineage had been transferred to Saint Genesis Peak by Sword-Comes Peak's Peak Master Ling Jun, who had gone against many objections and invested great effort to do so. Their objective was clear: to seize control of Saint Genesis Peak's main lineage.

If Lu Hong failed then, he would certainly be recalled by Peak Master Ling Jun. Such a disgrace would truly make it hard for him to show his face in the Cangxuan Sect.

Upon hearing this, Lu Hong couldn't help but chuckle. Then, his gaze, tinged with disdain, swept over Zhou Yuan.

"An 'unexpected' event? Is Elder Shen actually hoping for something like that? You'll truly be disappointed then..." Lu Hong shook his head, then clapped his hands.

As his clap resonated, several whooshing sounds suddenly echoed, and everyone saw six figures appear behind Lu Hong.

Of the six figures, the one at the forefront was Yuan Hong, with his robust build and indifferent expression. Standing there, he subtly exuded a sense of oppression.

And the other five disciples behind him also emanated powerful Genesis Qi fluctuations around them. Clearly, they weren't just there to make up numbers.

A full six people!

The expressions of both Shen Taiyuan and Elder Lü Song changed slightly at this moment. Their faces looked somewhat grim. Both their sides had poured all their effort into cultivation, only to finally produce three qualified participants for the chief disciple competition.

In contrast, Lu Hong's lineage presented six participants right away. Truly, a single lineage was able to contend with their two combined.

They were truly brimming with talent.

Furthermore, what worried Shen Taiyuan and Lü Song most was the disciple named Yuan Hong. Even when he was at Sword-Comes Peak, he was quite renowned. After arriving at Saint Genesis Peak, although he became more low-key, everyone knew it was because he disdained interacting with the disciples of the other two Saint Genesis Peak lineages.

In this chief disciple competition, Lu Hong's lineage held an absolute advantage, both in terms of quantity and quality.

Not only did the two elders clearly see this, but even the disciples from their two lineages fell into a slight silence at this moment.

Meanwhile, the disciples of Lu Hong's lineage grew arrogant, bursting into laughter and frequently casting glances full of mockery, which angered the disciples of the other two lineages.

But anger aside, the reality was this: no words could change it.

Lu Hong's gaze, filled with satisfaction, swept over the six figures behind him, and he nodded contentedly. Then, he looked at Shen Taiyuan, his peripheral vision catching Zhou Yuan, and said, "Now... does Elder Shen still think there will be any 'unexpected' events?"

Shen Taiyuan's face was grim, and he didn't answer.

Seeing this, Lu Hong's smile deepened. His triumphant demeanor clearly indicated that the chief disciple position was firmly within his grasp.

Elder Lu's gaze swept around. He said nothing specific, but merely looked at Shen Taiyuan and Lü Song with a hint of regret. The two had struggled to hold on in Saint Genesis Peak for so many years, but unfortunately, they were now firmly suppressed by Lu Hong, who had arrived as an outsider.

There was no helping it; Lu Hong came from Sword-Comes Peak and had the backing of Peak Master Ling Jun. He was simply not comparable to Shen Taiyuan and Lü Song.

In the future, once Lu Hong's lineage secured the status of the main lineage, it was conceivable that the other two lineages would be continuously suppressed. From then on, Saint Genesis Peak would be controlled by Lu Hong's lineage.

Elder Lu picked up a jade slip. A glow emanated from it, illuminating all the disciples from the three lineages who had stepped onto the platform. The list of participants was then finalized.

"The chief disciple competition will be two months from now," he announced. "I hope each lineage will do its utmost."

Lu Hong, Shen Taiyuan, and Lü Song, the three elders, all cupped their fists.

Lu Hong was all smiles. His gaze swept over Zhou Yuan in the back, then he said to Shen Taiyuan playfully, "Elder Shen, I'll be waiting. Two months from now, let's see what 'unexpected' events you can provide to entertain me."

He let out a loud laugh, then turned and left.

Yuan Hong, too, cast an emotionless glance at everyone, then paused his gaze on Zhou Yuan and said flatly, "I hope you can indeed create some 'unexpected' events; otherwise, this chief disciple competition at Saint Genesis Peak will be truly boring."

As his voice fell, he turned and left. Beside Yuan Hong, the other five disciples let out soft chuckles, their laughter filled with disdain.

Zhou Tai and Zhang Yan's faces turned ashen.

Lü Yan's pretty face also showed anger as she glared at Yuan Hong's retreating back. Finally, she walked over, glanced at Zhou Tai and Zhang Yan, then looked at Zhou Yuan and said, somewhat complainingly, "What's going on with your lineage? Can't you even gather three people? Did you just grab this kid to make up the numbers?"

Zhou Tai felt a bit awkward. Lü Yan always spoke so bluntly, with no regard for others' feelings. How could she say such things right in front of Zhou Yuan?

Zhou Yuan, however, remained calm. He merely glanced at Yuan Hong's retreating back, then cupped his fist at Shen Taiyuan and turned to leave.

Instead of wasting time complaining here, it would be better to just go cultivate.

Since Lu Hong's lineage seemed to enjoy "unexpected" events so much, then he would put in the effort. He couldn't let them be too disappointed, could he?

Lü Yan, seeing that Zhou Yuan completely ignored her, was so angry that she stamped her foot and directed her frustration at Zhou Tai and Zhang Yan.

"Look at that boy!" she fumed. "Just because he's achieved a little, he's become arrogant to the heavens! Is he even qualified to participate in this chief disciple competition?"

She gritted her teeth, seething with indignation.

"Hmph, once the chief disciple competition begins," she vowed, "I'll see what qualifications he truly has to be so arrogant!"