Dao Lord: Starting from a Top-grade Golden Core

The second match.

Cen Fenghong versus Li Chengzhen!

Unfurling the talisman from Da Ji Zhenren, Jide Taoist couldn't help but show a hint of surprise.

He was a master of the Way of Fortune. And while fortune was fickle, it was precisely this quality that made it difficult for heavenly secrets to be swayed by great auspices or terrible calamities.

Therefore, his choice was based solely on his own calculations; he hadn't actually anticipated whom the other side would choose.

Without thinking too much about it, Jide Taoist said nothing and simply gave Cen Fenghong a light pat on the shoulder.

Cen Fenghong's expression tightened.

Li Chengzhen—the Daoist of the Spirit Treasure Sect, the greatest faction in the Cyan Sky Realm. He had formed his Golden Core in fifty years, reached the Nascent Soul realm at two hundred, and was now on the verge of mastering the Nascent Soul stage.

He was, without a doubt, the true number one of the Cyan Sky Realm's younger generation.

Cen Fenghong also cultivated in the Cyan Sky Realm. As a contemporary of Li Chengzhen, he was keenly aware of his opponent's strength, even without ever having fought him before.

But no matter what, he couldn't be intimidated before the fight even began. Only after a true battle would they know who was superior.

Cen Fenghong said nothing more. He gave a slight nod, glanced at Li Chengzhen, and then summoned a streak of escaping light, becoming the first to leave the Jade Platform atop the peak.

Seeing this, Li Chengzhen snapped his folding fan shut. With a light tap of his foot, he rode the wind and soared into the air, an image of absolute grace.

Just then, the Immoral Taoist suddenly blurted out, "Da Ji, you whelp!"

He and Jide Taoist had agreed to take turns choosing the matchups. But Jide Taoist had directly selected the combatant, leaving him no room to speak. Although he wasn't optimistic about the outcome of this match, he couldn't very well voice his complaints. After holding it in for a good while, he suddenly burst out with, "Zhong the Kid won the first match! What about the prize you promised?"

Da Ji Zhenren raised his long eyebrows, then suddenly broke into a pleasant smile. With a wave of his sleeve, an object flew out and landed in Zhong Shenxiu's hands. He said warmly, "I am a man of my word. How could I go back on it? Young friend, take this and keep it safe."

A flicker of surprise passed through Zhong Shenxiu's eyes. He tucked the item into his sleeve and bowed with his hands clasped. "My thanks for the Zhenren's gift."

The Immoral Taoist had sharp eyes. Seeing what the object was, he was immediately puzzled. 'Da Ji, that whelp, is actually being so generous?' he thought.

He had originally planned to find some fault with the prize, but seeing this, he could only swallow his words. Instead, he started to worry. 'Cen the Kid studied the Dao under Master Qingyuanzi, so his skills aren't bad. But compared to Li Chengzhen, his chances of winning are probably slim.'

'That whelp Da Ji was so generous. If we lose this match, I'll have to bleed a little to pay up, and he'll surely mock me for it…'

On the other side, Xuzhuang suddenly asked, "Fellow Daoist Mi, what exactly is the connection between the Cyan Sky Realm's Spirit Treasure Sect and the Profound Yellow Realm's Spirit Treasure Sect?"

Initially, when Xuzhuang learned that the number one sect in the Cyan Sky Realm was the Spirit Treasure Sect, he had simply assumed it was one organization with influence spanning both realms. Whether the Spirit Treasure Sect actually possessed such power was not something a mere Nascent Soul Cultivator like him could fathom.

However, as Xuzhuang traveled through the Guangyuan Realm, he gradually dismissed this idea. The Spirit Treasure Sects of the Cyan Sky Realm and the Profound Yellow Realm even operated separate Treasure Pavilions in Weiyun Immortal City! And both were among the eleven Heaven-Reaching Treasure Pavilions endorsed by Weiyun Immortal City.

Not only that, but even the style of Daoist Robes worn by their disciples and the Stewards in their pavilions were not entirely the same. Such subtle distinctions revealed differences between the two realms' Spirit Treasure Sects in every aspect.

Mi Yuan Dao made no attempt to hide anything, simply saying, "To be honest, I don't know the full details either. Back when I was still practicing Profound Yellow Cultivation, I knew even less about the Cyan Sky Realm's Spirit Treasure Sect. It was only after coming to the Guangyuan Realm that I learned that the Profound Yellow Realm's Spirit Treasure Sect seems to share a common origin but a different path with its Cyan Sky counterpart. Some of the Zhenrens from both sides even address each other as peers..."

"But as far as I know, although their Daoist arts have many similarities, they don't share or exchange developments in their peripheral branches. Furthermore, their secret, esoteric arts are completely unrelated."

Xuzhuang nodded thoughtfully. Based on what Mi Yuan Dao said, the two Spirit Treasure Sects seemed like branches that had split from the same lineage. It was like the Five Domains Great Sects of the Celestial Waterfall Realm; with the passage of time, even if some goodwill remained, they could no longer be considered part of the same school.

Cen Fenghong led the way, flying a thousand li in a single breath with Li Chengzhen following close behind. Suddenly, Li Chengzhen's ears twitched as a faint sentence drifted from ahead: "Fellow Daoist Li, be on your guard!"

A strange glint flashed in Li Chengzhen's eyes. Sure enough, in the next instant, Cen Fenghong's streak of light wheeled around in the air. He formed a Magic Formula with his hands, flung up his wide sleeves, and waved toward the sky.

Over a hundred faint green lights shot out from his sleeves. Some flew straight, others spiraled and coiled, all of them streaking across the sky in every direction. In a flash, they seemed to form a massive net that filled the heavens, closing in to ensnare and kill Li Chengzhen.

Cen Fenghong didn't stop. There were no pleasantries; he attacked directly!

But Li Chengzhen remained as calm as ever. He simply changed his flight path, his speed suddenly increasing several times over as he broke through a gap in the net.

The sky-full of green lights gave chase. Seeing that they couldn't catch Li Chengzhen, Cen Fenghong's expression remained unchanged. He merely did his utmost to command the green lights, making them crisscross to block Li Chengzhen's path.

Li Chengzhen seemed oblivious, breaking out in the very direction Cen Fenghong was herding him. A sharp glint flashed in Cen Fenghong's eyes. He pointed down with a flick of his sleeve, and another hundred-plus green lights shot out like a torrent, rushing straight for Li Chengzhen!

However, Li Chengzhen had already anticipated this. He simply flicked his finger, sending a piece of talisman paper flying. It ignited in mid-air, and in an instant, it generated a fierce Gang Wind that billowed upward. Although it was shredded by the green lights in a flash, that single moment of obstruction was all Li Chengzhen needed to escape the closing gap.

But in this situation, a faint smile appeared on Cen Fenghong's face. He smoothly changed his Magic Formula. The two clusters of green light converged, swooping upward and then scattering down like a vast shower. A rain of green light poured from his sleeves, completely enveloping Li Chengzhen within it!