Chapter 827: Able to Bend and Stretch

Several days had passed since the Pavilion Master meeting.

In the Wind Domain.

Behind the azure wind layer, Zhou Yuan's spirit sat cross-legged. In the void before him, the black brush flowed smoothly, eventually forming a mysterious source pattern.

Zhou Yuan's spirit energy surged, condensing a wisp of scorching aura that settled into the core of the source pattern.

That source pattern immediately burst forth with a crimson glow.

Zhou Yuan took out a jade slip and imprinted the source pattern onto it. The red light gradually receded, and a jade slip inscribed with a fiery red source pattern appeared before him.

Zhou Yuan reached out and took it, a satisfied smile appearing on his lips.

“The Fire Mother Pattern is a success.”

Indeed, it wasn't the Wind Mother Pattern, but the Fire Mother Pattern.

Activating this source pattern while cultivating in the Fire Domain could accelerate the completion speed of the Fire Spirit Pattern's source traces.

Its efficiency was equal to that of the Wind Mother Pattern, with the highest quality able to boost progress by 50%.

With a thought, Zhou Yuan's spirit moved, and two more jade slips appeared in his hand. One was emerald green, the other grayish-yellow.

The Wood Mother Pattern and the Mountain Mother Pattern.

In the past few days, Zhou Yuan had not only refined a large quantity of Wind Mother Patterns but also a batch of the other three source patterns.

The refining process had gone smoothly, just as he had initially envisioned. As long as he had the 'mother bodies' of the four ancient source patterns, he could mimic their mother pattern aura to serve as the core for the other three source patterns.

Zhou Yuan played with the jade slips, a faint smile on his face.

Once these three source patterns were revealed, there would likely be no need for the Trace Capturing Patterns in the Four Pavilions.

Zhou Yuan's spirit energy surged forth, sweeping up all the jade slips and swiftly descending.

In a valley in the Wind Domain, a cluster of spirit light descended from the sky, entering the physical body that sat cross-legged there. Zhou Yuan's tightly shut eyes slowly opened.

He stretched, put away all the jade slips, and then his figure shot up into the sky.

Wind Island, Pavilion Master Building.

When Zhou Yuan appeared at the Pavilion Master Building, Ye Bingling and Yi Qiushui immediately appeared before him.

“You’re finally out! Do you know? Rumor has it that in the area where this year's new recruits are staying, whispers have been spreading the past two days, relentlessly disparaging our Wind Pavilion, saying it’s a garbage dump!”

“And they’re saying that Lu Xiao, the Fire Pavilion Master, will become the Chief Pavilion Master of the Four Pavilions in four months, leading all of them!”

“Now, our Wind Pavilion probably doesn’t have a good impression in the minds of those new recruits!”

Zhou Yuan stopped, his brows furrowed tightly. He said, “The Fire Pavilion’s tactics are truly despicable.”

Clearly, all of this was orchestrated by the Fire Pavilion.

Yi Qiushui sighed helplessly, saying, “Though despicable, they are indeed effective.”

A cold sneer played on Zhou Yuan’s lips. This Lu Xiao was indeed just as he had expected. Well, since they were resorting to such unscrupulous methods, he wouldn't hold back in his own actions.

“How is the quality of this year’s new recruits?” Zhou Yuan asked.

“The quality is quite good,” Ye Bingling said with a hint of admiration. “According to our investigation, a full thirty-four of this year’s new recruits are listed on the Divine Dwelling Ranking, though most of them are barely on the list.”

“Oh?” Zhou Yuan was a little surprised.

He knew that these individuals didn't have strong backgrounds; most were independent cultivators from various regions of Hunyuan Heaven. They likely came to Tianyuan Region aiming for the Four Spirits Returning to Source Pagoda.

Achieving such a level as independent cultivators was enough to prove their excellence. If they joined the Four Pavilions later, their strength would undoubtedly improve even faster, and perhaps some might even break into the top hundred of the Divine Dwelling Ranking in the future.

Being in the top hundred of the Divine Dwelling Ranking was already equivalent to Ye Bingling’s current strength.

“Although the Newcomer Ceremony isn’t until tomorrow, the other three pavilions have already secretly contacted these thirty-plus individuals, hoping to recruit them in advance. In your absence these past few days, we also tried this method, but the effect was minimal. As soon as these people hear 'Wind Pavilion,' they become hesitant.”

Yi Qiushui said somewhat angrily, “It’s all because of the rumors spread by the Fire Pavilion!”

Ye Bingling’s pretty face was also filled with indignation, clearly disgusted by the Fire Pavilion’s move.

Zhou Yuan, however, remained relatively calm. After a moment of thought, he said, “There’s no need to rush. These individuals, having achieved what they have as independent cultivators, should be quite prudent. They won’t easily make a decision until the very last moment.”

“Everything will have to wait for tomorrow’s Newcomer Ceremony.”

Yi Qiushui nodded slightly, then gave a wry smile. “But even if we wait until tomorrow, the appeal of our Wind Pavilion is far inferior to that of the Fire Pavilion.”

Once the Four Pavilions appear tomorrow and information is fully disclosed, those new recruits will naturally know that the Fire Pavilion is indeed the strongest and offers the best treatment among them.

Ye Bingling’s pretty face also looked a little disheartened.

“That’s not necessarily true,” Zhou Yuan said with a smile.

Yi Qiushui, a bit anxious, said earnestly, “Zhou Yuan, if you plan to rely on the Wind Mother Pattern as your leverage against the Fire Pavilion, it won’t be enough. The Wind Mother Pattern can only be sold in the Wind Pavilion, while the Trace Capturing Pattern can still be sold in the other three pavilions!”

“If you keep using the Wind Mother Pattern to compete with them, you’ll only drag the Wind Pavilion down!”

Zhou Yuan smiled and nodded, saying, “Relying solely on the Wind Mother Pattern is indeed insufficient.”

“Then…” Yi Qiushui and Ye Bingling both frowned. Since he knew the Wind Mother Pattern wasn't enough, why was Zhou Yuan still so confident?

“What other tricks do you have up your sleeve? Tell us quickly!” However, seeing Zhou Yuan’s mysterious and confident expression, the two women knew he must be hiding something. Their eyebrows immediately rose, and they pressed him.

Seeing their demanding stance, Zhou Yuan chuckled dryly and no longer concealed anything. After all, everything would be revealed tomorrow, and if he didn't reassure them today, they probably wouldn't sleep soundly.

So, he directly pulled out three jade slips and handed them over.

“What are these?” The two women took them, a little confused.

“Wind Mother Patterns? They don’t look like it…”

Zhou Yuan chuckled softly, saying, “These are the Fire Mother Pattern, the Wood Mother Pattern, and the Mountain Mother Pattern.”

The two women’s small hands, which were turning the jade slips, suddenly stiffened. Then they sharply looked up, staring at Zhou Yuan in disbelief.

From the names alone, they already understood everything.

“These… these… their effects are the same as the Wind Mother Pattern?” Yi Qiushui’s voice trembled slightly.

“Exactly the same,” Zhou Yuan said with a smile, nodding.

Yi Qiushui and Ye Bingling fell silent for a moment. The next instant, a murderous glint flashed in both women’s beautiful eyes, and they simultaneously struck, each sending a fist towards Zhou Yuan’s face.

Zhou Yuan inexplicably took two punches, yet he looked utterly bewildered. He couldn't understand why, after he had created such a significant treasure, this was their reaction. Shouldn’t they be so excited they’d jump into his arms, overwhelmed with joy?

“You scoundrel! You had something that could turn the tide, and you kept it hidden, making us worry for so long for nothing!” Ye Bingling said, gritting her teeth.

“Hmph, were you enjoying watching us run around frantically like ants?” Even the usually gentle Yi Qiushui glared with widened eyes.

Zhou Yuan’s mouth twitched slightly. Were all women this terrifying?

Was there no reasoning with them anymore!

They needed to be taught a lesson! They had too little regard for him as the Pavilion Master!

He glared at them.

Ye Bingling said, “It seems tomorrow’s Newcomer Ceremony will have to be managed by him alone.”

Yi Qiushui added, “He can also handle all the Wind Pavilion matters by himself.”

Zhou Yuan coughed dryly, then lowered his gaze submissively and said gently, “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have kept it from you.”

Never mind, a man should be able to bend and stretch. Why argue over a temporary burst of anger?

Not far away, Xiao Hong, Liu Zhixuan, and the other Wind Pavilion commanders who had been observing, quietly turned away.