Chapter 850: Wood and Willow Visit

No secret can be kept forever among the four pavilions. So, as soon as the Wind Pavilion's first day of soul training concluded, the dismal results quickly spread throughout all four pavilions.

"Haha, Zhou Yuan is really dreaming! Does he truly believe that with the Wind Pavilion's weak foundation, they can compete with my Fire Pavilion at the Heavenly Flame Festival?" Zhu Lian, in the Fire Pavilion Master's building, couldn't help but burst into laughter upon hearing the news, his face full of mockery.

The other vice pavilion masters also wore playful smiles. In just a few months, Zhou Yuan had indeed brought significant changes to the Wind Pavilion, even creating the Four-Mother Mark. If this trend continued, the Wind Pavilion certainly had the potential to grow stronger. However, soul cultivation could not be improved overnight. After all, in previous Heavenly Flame Festivals, the Wind Pavilion had simply been coasting along! Now that Zhou Yuan suddenly wanted them to rise, how could it be so easy?

Lu Xiao's expression remained calm. "Although the Wind Pavilion has a poor foundation in soul cultivation, that Zhou Yuan is somewhat unpredictable; we still shouldn't underestimate him."

Zhu Lian nodded. "Don't worry, Pavilion Master. Our Fire Pavilion has also begun training. I will keep a close eye on things." Previously in Yuzhou, he had been so terrified by Zhou Yuan that he fled in a panic. Reflecting on it now, it was utterly humiliating. Yet, he knew that in terms of combat strength, he was far inferior to Zhou Yuan. Under normal circumstances, regaining his prestige would be incredibly difficult, but the upcoming Heavenly Flame Festival offered him a golden opportunity. In this festival, where soul power reigned supreme, his role would even surpass Lu Xiao's. This time, he could finally avenge his past humiliation and thoroughly disgrace Zhou Yuan! Although Zhou Yuan possessed considerable ability, the Fire Pavilion held an absolute advantage in this Heavenly Flame Festival. Faced with such overwhelming momentum, no matter how much Zhou Yuan struggled, he would be suppressed.

"By the way, what about the Wood Pavilion?" Zhu Lian asked, looking at Lu Xiao. He was naturally referring to their plan to unite with the Mountain Pavilion and Wood Pavilion to suppress the Wind Pavilion at the Heavenly Flame Festival.

Lu Xiao said indifferently, "No response yet, but I think Mu Liu is a smart person. He should know that our Fire Pavilion is determined to suppress the Wind Pavilion this time. If he's not discerning, he shouldn't blame us for dealing with them as well."

Zhu Lian nodded slightly. This was forcing Mu Liu to choose a side. If Mu Liu remained indecisive, then once they had dealt with the Wind Pavilion, the Wood Pavilion would be their next target. In past Heavenly Flame Festivals, the Fire Pavilion hadn't been so ruthless, usually leaving some scraps for the Wood Pavilion. But this year was different. If the Wood Pavilion wasn't sensible, they would end up like the Wind Pavilion, left with nothing but scraps — no, this year... they wouldn't even get a drop of soup!

Over the next period, the four pavilions became much quieter, as everyone prepared for the upcoming Heavenly Flame Festival by training their souls. In the Tianyuan Region, Grand Elder Cang Yuan had established two highly attractive cultivation benefits to draw in numerous rogue cultivators and prodigies from Hunyuan Heaven. The first was naturally the Four Spirit Origin Tower, and the second was this annual Heavenly Flame Festival.

The Four Spirit Origin Tower depended on individual cultivation, while the Heavenly Flame Festival leaned more towards group effort. This was clearly intentional on Grand Elder Cang Yuan's part, perhaps to foster a sense of teamwork. However, as a lure used by the Tianyuan Region to attract prodigies from other regions, the Heavenly Flame Festival's effects were naturally exceptionally good. Ninety-nine Heavenly Sun stage experts would pour all their effort into providing Heavenly Sun Flame, and after being amplified and purified by the Heavenly Sun Cauldron, the flame's effects would be enhanced to an unimaginable degree.

Once absorbed and refined, this Heavenly Sun Flame could not only temper the physical body but also refine Genesis Qi, making it purer and more potent. Faced with such a valuable cultivation resource, typically only accessible to Heavenly Sun stage experts, even someone as powerful as Lu Xiao coveted it, let alone others. Furthermore, for many members of the four pavilions, the attraction of the competition for the Chief Pavilion Master position might not even be as high as that of the Heavenly Flame Festival.

While the Chief Pavilion Master competition certainly determined the highest honor, only a handful of people could contend for it. Ninety-nine percent of them would merely be spectators. The Heavenly Flame Festival, however, was different; it was a grand event for everyone. They all participated in the struggle. Therefore, although the four pavilions had quieted down during this period, everyone could sense the undercurrents swirling beneath the surface.

Ten days later.

Wind Pavilion, on the rooftop of the Pavilion Master's building. The sky was darkening, but on the surrounding training grounds, Wind Pavilion members were still practicing soul cultivation. After these ten days of training, most of them had finally shown some progress, at least no longer as clumsy as they were ten days ago. However, from Zhou Yuan's perspective, their soul control was still very rough; at best, they could barely condense their souls into long needles for attack. Of course, Zhou Yuan knew he shouldn't judge them by his own standards, as these people didn't cultivate Genesis Runes, and their use of soul power was naturally minimal.

"They can barely manage some simple defense and attack," Zhou Yuan murmured to himself. If he directed them during the event, they might even form some large-scale soul offensives. But Zhou Yuan was well aware that this alone would not be enough to compete with the Fire Pavilion. Fortunately, Zhou Yuan hadn't actually placed his hopes of victory entirely on them. The key to winning this time lay with the "Soul Lantern Art" he was preparing.

Recalling the Soul Lantern Art, Zhou Yuan drew his gaze back from afar and began to focus on this Genesis Art, one of the Seven Arts of Cangxuan, which he had been diligently studying for the past ten days. The Soul Lantern Art was quite unique because it was a special Genesis Art that operated on soul power. Its activation method relied not on Genesis Qi, but on the soul itself. These ten days of study made Zhou Yuan constantly marvel at the profundity of the Soul Lantern Art. It was this deepening understanding that gave Zhou Yuan some confidence in his ability to overcome superior opponents at the Heavenly Flame Festival.

Leveraging the profits from the sales of the Four-Mother Marks, Zhou Yuan directly instructed Yi Qiushui to prepare ten sets of materials needed to cultivate the Soul Lantern Art. In these ten days, Zhou Yuan had attempted it three times, all ending in failure. However, Zhou Yuan was not discouraged. As long as he learned from his failures, he was confident he could initially master the Soul Lantern Art before the Heavenly Flame Festival arrived. As Zhou Yuan pondered, he closed his eyes again, continuing to mentally deduce the cultivation method of the Soul Lantern Art.

However, just as he closed his eyes, a flash of soul light appeared between his brows. He opened his eyes and looked at the forest beyond the Pavilion Master's building. "Since Pavilion Master Mu Liu has arrived, why not show yourself?" As Zhou Yuan's voice faded, the forest there rippled slightly, and a figure seemed to slowly emerge from within a tree. With a flicker, it appeared on the rooftop. It was indeed the Wood Pavilion Master, Mu Liu.

"It's so late. Why has Pavilion Master Mu Liu come to my Wind Pavilion?" Zhou Yuan asked, somewhat surprised.

Mu Liu still had his impeccably clean, unblemished appearance; even his hair looked as if it had been washed many times, making him seem handsome and otherworldly. At this moment, he scratched his head helplessly. "I've thought about it for many days, and I decided to come find you."

"What's wrong?" Zhou Yuan asked, puzzled.

Mu Liu pursed his lips. "Lu Xiao has allied with the Mountain Pavilion. This Heavenly Flame Festival, they intend to suppress the Wind Pavilion with all their might, likely to prevent you from making further progress. Lu Xiao must truly be enraged this time; he even approached our Wood Pavilion."

"He offered us a 30% share of the Heavenly Sun Flame if the Wood Pavilion allied with them to ensure the Wind Pavilion's crushing defeat!"

"Zhou Yuan, if the three pavilions unite, no matter what methods you have, it'll be impossible to turn the tide."

Zhou Yuan's pupils constricted slightly at this. He hadn't expected Lu Xiao to be willing to pay such a price just to curb his progress. Just as Mu Liu said, if the three pavilions joined forces, with such an overwhelming advantage, any method, including the Soul Lantern Art, would be useless.

"Zhou Yuan, although I don't like that Lu Xiao fellow, I have to consider the interests of the Wood Pavilion members. He offered a significant benefit," Mu Liu stated.

"Understood." Zhou Yuan nodded. His friendship with Mu Liu wasn't particularly deep; for Mu Liu to come and warn him was already very generous. However, Zhou Yuan had no intention of truly letting the Wood Pavilion be swayed by Lu Xiao.

Zhou Yuan pondered, then said, "The Fire Pavilion's offer is good, but I wonder, Pavilion Master Mu Liu, if you're interested in making a bigger gamble?"

"What do you mean?" Mu Liu raised an eyebrow slightly.

Zhou Yuan's eyes narrowed, a cold glint appearing within them. He enunciated each word clearly: "Our two pavilions unite, defeat the Fire Pavilion and the Mountain Pavilion, and split the Heavenly Sun Flame equally!"

Mu Liu's face registered surprise. "Even if we unite, we can't defeat the Fire and Mountain Pavilions."

Zhou Yuan calmly replied, "Leave the Fire Pavilion to my Wind Pavilion. The Wood Pavilion only needs to tie down the Mountain Pavilion."

"How could the Wind Pavilion possibly contend with the Fire Pavilion?" Mu Liu couldn't help but ask.

"We'll just have to try, then," Zhou Yuan said with a faint smile.

Mu Liu slowly said, "This feels like trying to smash a rock with an egg; it's too crazy. I doubt I can convince the other members of the Wood Pavilion."

Zhou Yuan's eyes lowered slightly. "If the Wood Pavilion agrees, then for this Heavenly Flame Festival, regardless of the final outcome, I can provide your Wood Pavilion with three hundred high-quality Four-Mother Marks each month at the price of regular Four-Mother Marks."

Mu Liu gasped, his eyes suddenly burning with fervor. "Are those the Four-Mother Marks rumored to have a fifty percent effectiveness increase?!" He had long heard about these high-quality Four-Mother Marks, but unfortunately, they were only supplied to certain high-ranking members of the Wind Pavilion and were never leaked or available for purchase!

Zhou Yuan nodded slightly. Mu Liu's gaze flickered. He struggled for a dozen breaths, and finally, a hint of ruthlessness flashed in his eyes. That bastard Lu Xiao, did he think throwing out a few bones would make Mu Liu yield? He truly underestimated Mu Liu!

"Since you dare to propose such a crazy plan, you must have something up your sleeve. My instincts have always been accurate, so be it..."

"This time, my Wood Pavilion will go crazy with you!"

"Let's do it!"