Daoist Competition

Like Surging Wave Lake and Bixue Pond, Zhao You Heavenly Pond is a Cave Heaven Blessed Land. When the Three Pools Lake Demon was present, the array extended over a hundred miles outward.

However, after the Mingcang Sect took over this place, several Cave Heaven True Masters intervened, and since the array was left unattended, it was easily dismantled and ceased to exist. Although the array was later re-established, it was merely limited to protecting the Cave Mansion and no longer surrounded the area with a grand array, heavily guarded as it had been before.

This Zhao You Heavenly Pond used to belong to the Great Demon Gui Congyao but was later bestowed upon Zhang Yan by the Sect Leader. Many people, unaware of the truth, assumed the prohibitions here had also been dismantled. Little did they know that Zhang Yan had seamlessly taken over the entirety of the Cave Mansion.

Putting those factors aside, this Cave Mansion differs from others as it was originally constructed through the Little Pot Realm. As long as this treasure remains in hand, even if the Prohibition Array is destroyed, Earth Veins’ Spiritual Energy can be gathered again to recreate it.

At this moment, Zhang Yan issued a Command, and the Mirror Spirit, receiving the Dharma Decree, abruptly activated the array.

Instantly, Xiao He felt smoke and dust engulfing his vision, fierce winds and black fog swirling violently, sand and stones flying everywhere, rendering his eyes almost blind. His heart sank, realizing he had fallen into a Forbidden Array.

Still, his mind remained clear. Knowing that the array had just been activated, it was likely not a deadly Evil Formation. If he made a desperate charge outward, there was still a chance to escape. Thus, he frantically revolved his Golden Core, ready to force his way out in one breath.

Yet at that very moment, several streaks of black and white Rainbow Light shot toward him with chilling, fierce momentum that left no room for disregard. Helplessly, he paused his movements, formed a spell, and summoned a water wave to block in front of him. However, his body stalled, costing him the critical chance to escape.

The Absolute Fighting Duel was not restricted in terms of methods either side could use. Much like Tu Xuan planning to face Zhang Yan atop Luanming Rock, cultivators would employ every possible technique at their disposal.

Nonetheless, due to concerns over Prohibition Arrays, most would not actively provoke a fight at another’s Cave Mansion. If a duel were prearranged, it would always take place elsewhere.

But Xiao He, full of arrogance, assumed that being outside Zhao You Heavenly Pond meant he could act recklessly. Although he had suffered a small setback from the Mirror Light earlier, he failed to learn his lesson, thinking that with caution, Zhang Yan could not harm him again.

Moreover, after drafting the Challenge Letter, Xiao He’s fury flared. He was unwilling to appear weak, especially with spectators watching the duel, lest they mock him for a loss of prestige. Therefore, he remained stubbornly stationary, which allowed Zhang Yan to trap him effortlessly within the array.

Feng Zhen and Mo Daoist exchanged glances, stunned. They saw nothing in the shimmering Water Mirror as the light abruptly vanished. The pair couldn’t see the duel unfold, but they both knew what had occurred. Feng Zhen, in particular, grew agitated, leapt up, kicked over a low table, and cursed, "Xiao He, that fool—bringing disaster upon himself and ruining everything!"

Once the array was activated, he lost sight of the combat scene between the two, leaving him unable to discern what mysterious skill Zhang Yan had cultivated. His elaborate plans were rendered void. Frustration mounted in Feng Zhen’s heart, and he couldn’t help but harbor resentment toward Xiao He.

Mo Daoist remained silent, his lips trembling as if he wished to speak but found no words to utter.

Tʜe sourcᴇ of thɪs content ɪs 𝕟𝕠𝕧𝕖𝕝✦𝕗𝕚𝕣𝕖✦𝕟𝕖𝕥

Meanwhile, the Red-haired Daoist and his group arrived right in front of Zhao You Heavenly Pond, just in time to witness Xiao He being encircled by the array. The Red-haired Daoist’s face changed, and he muttered in a low voice, "Trouble! We’re a step too late!"

Nonetheless, he refused to abandon his objective. Xiao He, as a direct lineage of the Xiao Clan, could not simply be subdued by Zhang Yan. For the Xiao Clan’s honor, Xiao He should face judgment by his own family, not Zhang Yan. Thus, he roared thunderously, a voice akin to cracking lightning, shuddering as a radiant Nascent Soul enveloped in brilliant silver light flew from his crown. In a mere flicker, it reached the array gate. Stretching forth his hand, a massive Five-Colored Giant Hand formed from rosy clouds descended abruptly, piercing through the array and directly grabbing Xiao He.

The Red-haired Daoist’s face brightened with joy. With a snicker, he pulled back the hand, attempting to extract Xiao He.

Trapped within the array, Xiao He was initially filled with regret. But upon seeing someone come to his rescue, his spirits soared, and he urgently shouted, "Quickly! Get me out of here!"

Observing from within his Cave Mansion, Zhang Yan smirked coldly. Xiao He had sought to provoke him, yet remained unscathed thus far. How could Zhang Yan allow him to escape unscathed?

With a sweeping motion of his sleeve, Zhang Yan struck the Mirror’s surface, instantly releasing a dazzling beam of light straight toward the Red-haired Daoist.

At that moment, the Red-haired Daoist had no choice but to continue rescuing Xiao He, leaving him unable to evade. Initially, he remained unperturbed, for his "Golden Rosy Clouds Spirit Divine Hand" was a highly advanced Daoist Skill. Practiced to perfection, it could reach into the Nine Netherworld, scour mountain peaks, and resist External Qi’s assaults. Yet the radiance struck its Five-Colored Giant Hand, weakening its energy by more than half in an instant. Xiao He slipped through his grasp. Stunned, he shouted in alarm, "What kind of Dharma Treasure is that?"

His reaction speed didn’t falter. He swiftly activated another hand, forming another Five-Colored Giant Hand to seize Xiao He.

Just as he managed to clutch Xiao He, Zhang Yan burst into laughter and forcefully activated the array. Immediately, Xiao He was transported to a place unknown. Retrieving his hand, the Red-haired Daoist found nothing but a silk ribbon.

His face darkened with anger, and he bellowed, "Zhang Yan! How dare you capture my Xiao Clan people? Release him immediately, or I will raze your Cave Mansion to the ground!"

With a faint smile, Zhang Yan’s voice echoed from his palace to the Heavenly Pond. "Xiao He signed the Absolute Fighting Book; his life and death are now outside the Xiao Clan’s jurisdiction. If you wish to invade my Cave Mansion, you’re welcome to try. I, Zhang Yan, am waiting here. Let us see if the Mingcang Sect will stand idly by."

"You..."

The Red-haired Daoist’s words were merely bluffing, unwilling to escalate the matter further. Not only were he and Zhang Yan sect brothers, but Zhao You Heavenly Pond was officially bestowed by the Sect Leader. He wouldn’t dare invite calamity upon the Xiao Clan for petty reasons.

With a cold snort, his Nascent Soul flickered briefly before returning to his body. Turning sharply, he muttered gravely, "Zhang Yan, this matter won’t end so easily. Think carefully. Do what you must!"

A Nascent Soul cultivator himself, the Red-haired Daoist had lost face by failing to retrieve Xiao He from Zhang Yan’s grasp. With Xiao He now trapped, lingering any longer at Zhao You Heavenly Pond would yield no benefits. He needed to inform the Xiao Clan of the situation immediately. Leaving behind those words, he summoned Cloud Light to envelop his group, and they swiftly disappeared into the sky.

...

...(To be continued. If you enjoyed this work, please visit Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for recommendations and monthly votes. Your support is my greatest motivation!)