Daoist Competition

Zhang Zhan was about to say something, but Zhang Yan merely smiled faintly, stood up, and walked away with a sweep of his sleeve.

Zhang Zhan froze. The brothers had been separated for years, and now reunited, he had countless questions to ask and words to say. Yet Zhang Yan left decisively, without a trace of hesitation. Instinctively, Zhang Zhan reached out his hand, but after a brief thought, he shook his head and lowered it again.

Zhang Chunde glanced at his father and said, "Father, I’ll go bring back Uncle!"

Before Zhang Zhan could even respond, Zhang Chunde quickly chased after him.

He thought he could catch up with Zhang Yan within a few steps. However, the figure ahead, though walking with an unhurried cadence as if strolling leisurely, always managed to stay out of reach despite Zhang Chunde’s eager pursuit. A growing sense of astonishment gripped his heart.

Zhang Yan was walking toward a cliff. Seeing the distance between them growing greater and greater, Zhang Chunde grew anxious and shouted loudly, "Uncle, please stop! Straight ahead is a dead end!"

But Zhang Yan seemed not to hear, continuing onward. As he reached the edge of the cliff, he took a step into the void, and his footing appeared solid as if a path had materialized beneath him. He continued to walk a few more steps, then gently flicked his sleeves, transforming his form into a puff of smoke. In a flash, he ascended into the clouds. From the heavens came a song: "The gentle breeze lifts me to Nine Heavens, this journey wreathed in floating hues. Forever carefree is the Immortal Way, one dream spans a millennium’s gaze."

Seeing this, Zhang Chunde stood at the edge of the cliff in sheer awe, staring as the cloudborne figure faded into the boundless sky. For a long time, he was unable to recover his senses.

Zhang Yan had come merely on a whim after perceiving Zhang Zhan’s imminent peril, thus revealing himself to save him. Now that all matters were settled, he felt no inclination to linger in the mortal world. Rising to the clouds, it took him no more than half a day to return to the Zhao You Heavenly Pond.

Once seated again on the jade couch, he summoned the Mirror Spirit and instructed, "Go and call Yanyi to me."

At that moment, Liu Yan Yi had just returned to the mansion after slaying demons and was teaching the Wang Sisters how to decipher the Erosion Text. Upon hearing Zhang Yan’s summons, she did not hesitate for a moment and immediately made her way to meet him.

Passing through the Array Gate, she soon arrived at the Main Mansion. Upon seeing Zhang Yan, she respectfully knelt and saluted, saying, "Disciple greets Master. May I know what task Master has summoned me for?"

Zhang Yan asked warmly, "Yanyi, how has your Flying Sword Skill progressed?"

Liu Yan Yi replied, "Recently, I sought out demons to hone my swordsmanship. I believe I’ve made considerable progress."

Zhang Yan shook his head and said, "Demons differ greatly from us of the Xuanmen lineage. They lack Dharma Treasures, Magic Artifacts, and Divine Passage Skills, relying solely on their tough skin and brute strength. Battling them alone is insufficient for your growth."

Understanding that her master sought to personally train her, Liu Yan Yi promptly knelt again and said, "Disciple humbly seeks Master’s guidance."

Zhang Yan smiled, raising a hand to strike lightly upon the Little Pot Mirror. Instantly, the surface rippled, revealing a human figure sitting cross-legged within, breathing deeply and regulating their Inner Breath.

Liu Yan Yi watched curiously.

Zhang Yan pointed at the image and said, "This man is Xiao He, a cultivator of the First Realm of Hua Dan. Last year, I trapped him inside the array. If your swordsmanship allows you to exchange even a few moves with him, it will signify genuine improvement."

Liu Yan Yi’s eyes brightened with anticipation, and she said eagerly, "Master, your disciple is willing to try."

Zhang Yan chuckled lightly, then swept his sleeve, saying, "Then, do go forth."

Feeling herself gently lifted by an unseen force, Liu Yan Yi was involuntarily transported into the mirror realm. Stabilizing herself, she found herself within the very scene she had glimpsed moments earlier.

Since the day Xiao He had fought Zhang Yan, aside from the Mirror Spirit delivering life-extending elixir pills daily, no one had paid him any heed. Realizing that struggling was futile, he had resigned himself to meditating and training in solitude to pass the time.

After all, this was the Zhao You Heavenly Pond, the Cave Heaven Mansion, and Xiao He was naturally gifted. Having given up all thoughts of escape, he focused purely on cultivation, resulting in remarkable progress within a year. Even his previously irritable disposition had grown more temperate.

Sometimes, he found himself marveling at the irony—Zhang Yan had clearly imprisoned him, yet it seemed that his actions had indirectly benefited Xiao He.

Xiao He immediately sensed Liu Yan Yi’s arrival in the array. Initially, he thought it was Zhang Yan, his eyes gleaming with excitement as he stood up, prepared for a battle. However, upon recognizing the newcomer, his expression shifted to one of disappointment. He scolded loudly, "Zhang Yan, what tricks are you playing? Instead of coming yourself, you send a young girl here—is she meant to die in your place?"

Zhang Yan chuckled outside the mirror and said, "Brother Xiao, this is my eldest disciple, Liu Yan Yi. In two years, our sect will hold a grand competition. She seeks a worthy opponent to sharpen her swordsmanship. Your profound Daoist skills and cultivation make you a perfect match to guide her properly."

Xiao He froze and said, "Your disciple?"

A spark flickered in his expression as his thoughts churned. He mused to himself, "Has Zhang Yan gone mad? Sending his own disciple to spar with me? Hmph, I won’t harm her life, but if I capture her alive, let’s see if he dares to continue trapping me here!"

Liu Yan Yi was currently in the Xuan Guang First Realm. If they fought directly, Xiao He could easily defeat her with little effort. However, the array’s unique properties altered the situation—it could not harm or kill, but it could trap and obstruct, suppressing the use of Dharma Treasures and Daoist skills. It was remarkably ideal for sharpening swordsmanship.

Yet Xiao He was unaware of these intricacies. On the day he battled Zhang Yan, such methods were unnecessary, leaving him ignorant of the array’s potential beyond imprisoning foes.

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Having resolved on a plan, Xiao He did not rush to make a move. He held his ground, wary of scaring off Zhang Yan’s promising disciple prematurely.

Liu Yan Yi approached respectfully, bowing from a distance and saying, "Uncle Xiao, this junior salutes you. Please pardon any offense during the upcoming exchanges."

Xiao He examined her closely, his expression betraying a trace of surprise. Internally, he cursed, "Zhang Yan must be absurdly lucky to have picked a disciple like this. Such rare talent and beauty—she could sit idle at the Zhao You Heavenly Pond for decades and still ascend into the Hua Dan Realm effortlessly."

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...(To be continued. If you enjoy this work, please visit Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for recommendation tickets or monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation.)