Daoist Competition

Zhang Yan nodded with a smile and said, "Tian Kun, my disciple, you may rise."

"Yes." Tian Kun stood up, dutifully standing aside.

The Wang Sisters noticed that Zhang Yan had not called on them to rise, so they dared not move and remained kneeling there, not even daring to breathe loudly.

Zhang Yan’s gaze swept over them. He saw that the two Wang Sisters had hair as black as ink cascading like waterfalls, skin as white as snow, slender figures, and an undeniable radiance. Though their appearance was striking enough, their innate talent was even more commendable. While they couldn’t compare to someone as naturally gifted as Liu Yan Yi, they were still chosen from among thousands, making Zhang Yan nod slightly.

To the ordinary eye, these two sisters were difficult to distinguish, but Zhang Yan’s keen perception allowed him to discern subtleties from their minor movements.

The girl on the left had steady eyes and an expression as cold as autumn frost. Since entering, her every move had been meticulous. Even after kneeling for a while, she remained motionless. Zhang Yan nodded subtly; this girl was undoubtedly the elder sister, Wang Caiwei.

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He then looked to the right. That girl had entered with swift steps, and after kneeling for a short while, her shoulders began to tremble slightly, and her eyelashes fluttered. It was evident she had a lively and restless nature—this must be the younger sister, Wang Caiting, who was betrothed to Tian Kun.

After observing them, Zhang Yan spoke sternly, "Today, I will take you sisters as registered disciples. After the formal apprenticeship ceremony in the future, you will be officially admitted into my sect. You must remember, now that you cultivate within the Zhao You Cave Mansion, you must adhere strictly to sect rules, cultivate diligently, and not leave without your master’s permission. Do you understand?"

The Wang Sisters, upon hearing Zhang Yan agree to take them as disciples—even though only as registered disciples for now—felt a sense of relief and replied in unison, "Disciple shall comply with Master’s instructions."

Zhang Yan slightly nodded and said, "You may rise."

During these three years, aside from his own cultivation and deducing cultivation techniques, Zhang Yan occasionally found time to instruct Liu Yan Yi, ensuring she could shine during the major competition. As for the two sisters, he planned to have them spend a year and a half studying Erosion Text first.

With a flick of his sleeve, a radiant talisman flew out and directly entered the center of the two girls’ brows. He said plainly, "This is the ’One Qi Cleansing Scripture’ cultivation method, along with the foundational calculations for Erosion Text. If you sisters encounter anything unclear, you may consult your Senior Sister Liu Yan Yi."

The two girls quickly turned to Liu Yan Yi and bowed deeply with the Wan Fu salute.

Zhang Yan added, "Yan Yi, as the Senior Sister, if you have time, do guide them as needed."

Liu Yan Yi promptly responded, "Disciple shall gladly alleviate Master’s burdens."

The ’One Qi Cleansing Scripture’ given by Zhang Yan was the original text written in Erosion Text. However, inherited interpretations had been derived by others afterward. Zhang Yan deliberately didn’t conceal these interpretations; he wanted to see if the sisters would follow his instructions or be tempted to prematurely cultivate the techniques. After a year, he would revisit them. Only with true root nature and discipline were they worth nurturing.

This was not an intentional difficulty imposed by Zhang Yan on his disciples. In many sects, original cultivation texts were written in Erosion Text. Yet, many cultivators, even if they could read them, were unwilling to spend extra effort studying and often referred to simplified explanations instead.

Skipping this step would result in a lack of personal insight. While it may not appear to matter initially, as one progressed in cultivation, even minute differences would become evident.

Liu Yan Yi had seamlessly entered the Xuan Guang Realm in just twenty years, thanks not only to her superior talent but also to her diligent study of Erosion Text when learning the ’One Qi Cleansing Scripture.’ She comprehended its mysteries thoroughly before beginning Qi Cultivation, thereby grounding herself with an exceptionally solid foundation.

The only exception in Zhang Yan’s sect was Tian Kun. His cultivation techniques had been meticulously arranged earlier by Gui Congyao, so Zhang Yan didn’t need to involve himself further and simply instructed him step by step.

After the sisters stood up, Wang Caiwei stepped forward and said, "Master, although our family is somewhat prosperous, today, my sister and I have prepared an apprenticeship gift."

Wang Caiting chimed in enthusiastically, "Yes, some of these were handpicked by your disciple to present to Master."

Zhang Yan smiled gently and said, "Since it is your filial gesture, then bring it forward."

The Wang Sisters had come with many servants attending to their daily needs and carried a variety of rare treasures—all painstakingly gathered by the Wang family. However, Zhang Yan hardly cared for these material offerings. Nonetheless, their intention could not be dismissed. He skimmed the gift list briefly and set it aside, about to speak when he suddenly felt his sleeve bag stir. Slightly surprised, he contemplated briefly before flicking his sleeve. A streak of white light shot forth straight toward Wang Caiwei.

Everyone watching was astonished.

Wang Caiwei had no time to react and only felt a gentle tremor at the center of her brow, followed by a peculiar sensation of discomfort, as if a frail woman dressed in white had entered her thoughts. The woman’s demeanor and aura bore an uncanny resemblance to her own. When she tried to observe more closely, however, the vision disappeared.

Confused, Wang Caiwei looked at Zhang Yan in bewilderment.

Zhang Yan studied her for a moment and sighed, "Who would have thought it was your destiny, Caiwei? Whether this is good or bad for you remains to be seen."

Smiling faintly, he said nothing further, flicked his sleeve, and left for the Main Mansion, vanishing in the blink of an eye.

Wang Caiwei, though seemingly blessed with a strange treasure, felt confused about its nature. Listening to her Master’s intonation, it didn’t sound entirely positive, leaving her slightly uneasy.

As she pondered, she felt her sleeve being tugged repeatedly. Turning her head, she saw her younger sister looking at her with wide, curious eyes. Annoyed, she said, "Fourth Sister, what are you staring at?"

Wang Caiting blinked and said, "Third Sister, don’t you find it strange?"

Wang Caiwei asked in surprise, "What’s strange?"

Wang Caiting began counting on her fingers, "Master has never met us sisters before, so how could he instantly tell you were the elder sister?"

Wang Caiwei herself felt doubts. She and her sister looked remarkably similar, and even their parents often struggled to distinguish between them. Having no idea how her Master had managed this, she speculated uncertainly, "It must be some wondrous Immortal technique."

Suddenly realizing something, she gently knocked Wang Caiting on the head and sternly said, "How dare you! Have you forgotten the rule? Never gossip about respected elders behind their backs!"

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