Daoist Competition

Since Zhao Houzhou and the others were fellow Daoists from outside the sect, caution was required. Liu Yanyi, meticulous and prudent, did not open the array gate for them but instead guided them over the waters of the Heavenly Pond, leading them to enter from the main entrance.

Zhao Houzhou raised his eyes and looked around. The scene here was veiled in misty haze, with leaping fish and soaring birds, the water blending seamlessly with the sky. He couldn’t help but feel envious — how could the scenery within their own caves compare to this?

She Yutang walked alongside him, speaking in a voice so low that no one else could hear: "Even outside the mansion, the spiritual energy is so abundant. It truly deserves the reputation of a grotto heaven. I wonder if Daoist Zhang’s residence has an artifact refining furnace? If treasures could be refined here, it would certainly surpass the efficacy back at the mountain gate."

Zhao Houzhou nodded slightly but refrained from further comment since Zhang Yan had yet to appear. Discussing such matters now was premature.

Jin Qiongniang, however, was less restrained and said, "Junior Yan, tell me, how does the Feixing Stone of Hai Zhen Temple compare to this place?"

Yan Zhongjie was the most recent to enter the sect and, since beginning his cultivation, had never left the mountain gate until this outing with Zhao and She for experience. He had always been close with Jin Qiongniang and her sister. Hearing this, he promptly replied without thinking, "Feixing Stone belongs to Junior Master Li’s Daoist Field. I’ve only been there once and didn’t see it in its entirety. But Junior Master Li is a Nascent Soul True Master, while Daoist Zhang is just a Hua Dan Cultivator. In my humble opinion, no matter how remarkable Zhao You Heavenly Pond may be, it likely cannot rival Feixing Stone."

Leading the way from the front, Liu Yanyi overheard this and chuckled inwardly but chose not to argue, letting her expression remain neutral.

Zhao Houzhou, however, furrowed his brows, his face darkening as he reprimanded, "Quiet! If you lack insight, speak less; do you not feel ashamed?"

Yan Zhongjie froze, unsure what he had done wrong. She Yutang shook her head and let out a soft sigh. First, she shot Jin Qiongniang a reproachful glance, then stepped forward, tugged at Yan Zhongjie’s sleeve, and whispered something in his ear. His face immediately flushed with embarrassment, and he coughed several times to mask his discomfort.

Liu Yanyi led the group in flight for less than an hour before they arrived at a water-bound realm encircled by seven floating stones. With a wave of her hand, a dark, swirling vortex emerged below, revealing an abyssal water cave of indeterminate depth. Despite their eyesight as cultivators from Hai Zhen Temple, they could not see the bottom.

Jin Qiongniang craned her neck for a glance and couldn’t help but exclaim softly, "Ah!" A trace of apprehension crossed her features.

Liu Yanyi stepped aside with a gesture of invitation and smiled, "Fellow Daoists, please proceed first."

With a laugh, Zhao Houzhou folded his arms behind him and stepped forward, striding into the vortex. In the blink of an eye, his figure vanished.

Without any outward indication, She Yutang gave Jin Qiongniang and Yan Zhongjie a gentle push on their backs. The two let out slight cries as they found themselves involuntarily moving forward.

Nᴇw novel chapters are publɪshed on novel⸺fire.net

They felt their bodies sink downward, cushioned by a soft force that guided them into a steady descent. Though surrounded by water, their clothing remained bone-dry. Peering below, they noticed that beneath each of their feet, two golden carps with wing-like fins carried them deeper into the depths. Curious, they took several glances at their peculiar aquatic transport.

About half an hour later, the four suddenly felt a brightness ahead, as a shimmering path appeared before them. At the end of this road stood a tall archway, its eaves soaring and corners curling upward, adorned with shimmering glazed tiles and golden roofs. Copper bells hung high, flanked by crystalline water curtains. Coral lake pearls and turtle shell shells were scattered across the scene, while countless fish maid beauties frolicked and played within the water. Their bell-like laughter echoed lightly through the air.

The four of them grew increasingly astonished as they proceeded. Never had they imagined that Zhang Yan’s mansion would exhibit such grandeur.

This Zhao You Heavenly Pond Array Formation Restriction was originally arranged by Gui Congyao using the Little Pot Mirror. It was filled with profound, mysterious ingenuity, capable of shifting between lavish extravagance and simplicity at a moment’s thought. No ordinary cave mansion could achieve such breathtaking splendor; the scenery here was exquisitely refined, beyond measure.

Though Zhao Houzhou maintained a stoic outward demeanor as he walked, a hint of worry was concealed in the depths of his gaze. He had come prepared to pay a considerable price to persuade Zhang Yan, but seeing this grandeur left him uncertain of success. His confidence wavered slightly.

She Yutang noticed her senior brother’s unease and whispered gently, "Senior Brother, you have yet to meet Daoist Zhang. How can you be so sure?"

Startled, Zhao Houzhou realized his anxiety had rendered him overly fixated, leading to doubt and apprehension. This mindset, if carried into his interaction with Zhang Yan, could allow the latter to dominate the conversation. Being deeply cultivated himself, he quickly adjusted his disposition, raised his chin, and smiled, "You speak wisely, Junior Sister."

After passing through the archway, the five of them crossed several layers of bead curtains and entered a grand hall. Radiant light streamed in all directions, auspicious qi converged, and a luminous haze filled the air. Precious jade gleamed in abundance, and the atmosphere carried a distinct clarity. The circulation of Qi Mechanism subtly quickened. This majestic view was beyond the scope of mere words.