Daoist Competition

Winter departs, spring arrives—another year of changing seasons has passed.

Within the Zhao You Heavenly Pond Main Mansion, Zhang Yan held the Broken Jade in his hand, channeling his Divine Intent in visualization. In his Sea of Consciousness, only two paths now lay before him, one of which was the elusive method for commanding Divine Skill he had long sought.

His eyelids parted slightly, and he slowly withdrew from the Broken Jade, sitting upright as he began breathing and adjusting. After several dozen breaths, the fatigue on his body was entirely swept away.

Over the course of this year, he had already discarded four detours. By calculation, with another half year’s effort, he could reverse deduce the cultivation technique. Then, with another year of study and practice, he should be able to master it thoroughly before the grand competition.

Currently, a single day within the Broken Jade was equivalent to over forty days in the outside world. This year of time equaled forty years of progress in deduction.

But upon recalculating carefully, he found it was not so simple.

If others were deducing a cultivation technique, their Elixir Evil would hardly be as abundant and resilient as his. They would likely exhaust themselves quickly, needing to meditate and breathe slowly to restore their Primordial Qi. That would consume several times the effort, requiring possibly over a hundred years.

He shook his head and sighed inwardly. No wonder so few in the sect chose to study the Nine Number True Scripture. Without the aid of something like the Broken Jade, how many in the world could persist on this arduous path?

This Daoist Scripture differed from other cultivation techniques; deducing it would not only fail to increase one’s cultivation level but would also deplete Elixir Evil, wear down mental focus, and inevitably delay personal cultivation progress as a result.

After a hundred years of such delays, younger disciples would advance in cultivation and gradually catch up. Meanwhile, peers would surpass him and leave him far behind. Witnessing such circumstances, how many could truly embrace solitude, enduring patiently and unwaveringly to reach the end?

He paused in reflection, shook his head again, then laughed it off. With a wave of his long sleeve, a stream of mist flew out, sweeping up a measure of True Sand from beneath the Jade Couch. After grinding for a moment, the Evil Qi dissipated, and the condensed Essence Qi formed into a cluster. Tilting his head back, he inhaled it into his abdomen and began operating his cultivation technique to absorb it.

About an hour later, he emerged from meditation, his gaze now sharp and his spirit vibrant.

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Having secluded himself for a year, he had instructed beforehand that unless there was a pressing matter, no intrusion was permitted. Now, with a slight moment of leisure, he cast a spell to activate the Little Pot Mirror, surveying the various happenings within the cave mansion.

Among his disciples, Liu Yan Yi had the highest natural talent and was most decisive in her actions. She did not immerse herself daily in profound theories or isolating practices but frequently ventured out to slay demons and evil creatures. This not only helped her accumulate merit but also sharpened her Flying Sword Technique.

With the sword ball aiding her, she traveled freely during her flight, unhindered and unrestrained. Additionally, with the Protective Spirit Mushroom safeguarding her, even when encountering formidable demons, as long as she did not stubbornly seek battle, she could always manage an escape.

Thus, in a single year, the merit she had accrued exceeded what she had accomplished in the previous two decades combined, and her swordsmanship had become increasingly refined.

Beyond this, she never forgot Zhang Yan’s instructions. Each day, she first nurtured her sword ball and then allocated time to guide the Wang Sisters in deciphering the Erosion Text.

Zhang Yan nodded quietly. His eldest disciple required little of his concern. With a glance, he moved on, sweeping his sleeve to cause the mirror’s surface to ripple, revealing the figures of the Wang Sisters in another cave mansion.

Wang Caiting, with her bright eyes, gazed at the radiant Bright Pearl suspended overhead, resting her chin on her hands as she pondered her thoughts.

For over a year, she had been calculating and deducing the Erosion Text within the cave mansion daily without venturing outside. Given her originally lively and active nature, this extended confinement was unbearably stifling.

Beyond the underwater cave mansion, the Heavenly Pond stretched vast and boundless, its misty waves concealing numerous sublime and scenic spots. Disciples were even allowed to venture there for leisure.

However, Wang Caiting had yet to cultivate any techniques. Her body was only slightly stronger than an average person’s, requiring her to consume an Elixir Pill every two hours to refine her muscles and bones to withstand the cave’s icy conditions. Thus, she could not freely roam for relaxation.

Moreover, the Heavenly Pond housed several strange fish and exotic beasts, massive in form and frighteningly savage in appearance. Even just a glance at them would be enough to evoke shivers of fear. Without someone familiar guiding her, she dared not venture into their domain.

She had intended to seek out Tian Kun for some fun. Unfortunately, he was a stoic character, showing no kindness or change in his attitude stemming from their marriage bond. All day, he buried himself in cultivation within his cave mansion, even more diligent than Liu Yan Yi, paying her no heed. Frequently left facing a closed door, Wang Caiting often found herself bitterly frustrated.