Daoist Competition

Zhang Yan glanced a few times and smiled inwardly. He couldn’t let Xiao He act so recklessly, so he extended a finger, and a sword ball leaped out from between his brows, heading straight for Xiao He’s face.

Xiao He suddenly caught a glimpse of a sword light slicing through the air toward him with a momentum far beyond what Liu Yan Yi could muster. Startled out of his wits, he no longer dared to strike forcibly and had to raise his sleeves, conjuring a wall of water with all his strength to shield himself.

The chilling and menacing sword light circled around him once. Seeing that it had forced him to withdraw his hand, it then disappeared without a trace.

Fearful of Zhang Yan’s sword ball, Xiao He was unable to fully let loose. With the Forbidden Array present, he couldn’t even capture Liu Yan Yi. At this moment, he guessed what Zhang Yan was planning, but even understanding it, he felt powerless. He couldn’t possibly allow Liu Yan Yi to attack him freely, for even if her strikes couldn’t wound him, it would still be utterly humiliating to be grazed.

The black-clothed scholar, seeing Zhang Yan observing the duel in the mirror, hunched his back slightly and whispered, "Master, why not strike a deal with Xiao He? Promise him that as long as he teaches your disciple comprehensively, you’ll let him out in three years. Wouldn’t that work?"

As Zhang Yan turned to look at him, the scholar bowed again and added, "What I mean is, three years later, his body is destined for Xiao Yi anyway. If we deceive him just this once and secure his thorough assistance, won’t it be worth it?"

Zhang Yan laughed and said, "Your idea is not bad, but it cannot be used now."

The black-clothed scholar, puzzled, asked, "Forgive my ignorance, Master, but why is that?"

Zhang Yan replied, "Xiao He’s temperament is impulsive, and he is both proud and ambitious. I’ve trapped him for a year, and no one has come to rescue him. Now his confidence is shaken, and his courage falters—he has lost his strength of will. You saw how he acted just now; he was restrained and dared not truly harm anyone. But if you make such a suggestion, he would regain hope, believing someone from the Xiao Family is coming to save him. His actions would become unrestrained again, his old ways revived. Though you could operate the Forbidden Array to protect Yan Yi, it would be detrimental to her swordsmanship training."

The black-clothed scholar suddenly understood and said, "So that’s it! Master’s foresight is unparalleled."

Zhang Yan glanced a few more times at the duel. Seeing Liu Yan Yi’s sword light weaving and turning while Xiao He, wary of Zhang Yan’s interference, relied solely on defense and retaliated only occasionally, he concluded that there was no need for further attention. With the Mirror Spirit present, it was sufficient to handle the situation. Satisfied, he stopped observing, returned to the jade couch, sat cross-legged, reached into his sleeve, and grasped the Broken Jade, letting his heart and spirit sink into it.

At this moment, within his Sea of Consciousness, only two paths remained. Having deduced to this point, if fortune favored him, he might randomly choose one and happen upon the ultimate path.

However, as he progressed in his deductions, he realized that each time he severed a branch of possibility, his insight into the true path grew clearer within his Sea of Consciousness.

Thus, he believed that this deducing technique was not about choosing a single path in the end but about fully exploring all possibilities. Only by cutting through all six paths could he exhaust their essence, trace back to the source, and uncover the ultimate Xuanji.

Smiling slightly, he cast aside distracting thoughts, randomly selected one of the two remaining paths, and began using the Nine Number True Scripture to deduce further.

Meanwhile, on Yangyue Island, within the Cave Mansion on Huayin Peak, a Daoist of about thirty years with long brows extending into his temples awoke from meditation.

He extended his hand, and a stream of light darted between his fingers like fireflies or shooting stars. Sighing, he said, "Forty-five years of painstaking cultivation have finally borne fruit."

With a loud laugh, he shook out his robe and stood up. Pushing open the door, he stepped out. Outside, a Daoist boy, who had been dozing off, caught sight of him and froze for a moment before bursting with joy and sprinting away, yelling, "Senior Uncle is out of seclusion! Senior Uncle is out of seclusion!"

His shout immediately startled everyone on the island. In an instant, dozens of tunneling lights streaked through the sky, and within moments, a large circle of people had gathered around the Daoist, their faces alight with excitement, all shouting, "Senior Brother!"

The Daoist glanced at the crowd, his face breaking into a smile. He cupped his hands and said, "Junior Brothers, forty years ago, I was too impatient for progress and recklessly sought to compete for a spot among the Top Ten Disciples despite my incomplete divine skills. As a result, I faltered halfway and failed to fulfill our master’s last wish. This was my fault."

Someone in the crowd fumed, "How can you blame Senior Brother? Xiao Tang himself didn’t dare fight you head-on and instead sent Luo Yuanhua to test your strength. It was underhanded trickery."

The Daoist shook his head and said, "Not so. It was only later that I understood. At that time, with my abilities, even if I had faced Xiao Tang directly, I would undoubtedly have been defeated—miserably so. He wasn’t afraid of me but rather dismissed me, finding me unworthy of a duel."

His name was Huang Fuzhou, a disciple under the same elder as the others in the sect. Though not a True Disciple, he had once, by chance, obtained an ancient Immortal Technique, which he trained in painstakingly until he finally reached the Hua Dan Realm.

At the time, he was conceited and eager to compete for a spot among the Top Ten Disciples. During the sect’s Grand Competition, he openly challenged Xiao Tang, ranked fifth among the Top Ten Disciples. However, his challenge was intercepted by Xiao Tang’s subordinate, Luo Yuanhua. After a grueling seven-day and seven-night battle, Huang Fuzhou emerged victorious.

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Though he wished to continue his challenge, Xiao Tang refused to engage, instead remaining seated on a high rock, pointing out the flaws and deficiencies in Huang Fuzhou’s cultivation techniques one by one, even detailing how to counter them. Huang Fuzhou was drenched in cold sweat, his spirit crushed. Admitting defeat, he retreated.

Yet he felt deeply indignant. Had it not been for his impatience and his failure to master his most powerful techniques, how could such an outcome have occurred?

Thus, he secluded himself in the sect for over forty years, dedicating his efforts entirely to cultivation, hoping to showcase his abilities again in the Grand Competition.

Huang Fuzhou clasped his hands and said, "Back then, I was able to achieve Core Formation thanks to my junior brothers who ventured out to gather herbs for me. I can’t express my gratitude with words; please accept my bow."

Saying this, he bowed deeply.

Those around him hastily moved aside. Someone said, "Senior Brother Huang, among the master’s disciples, you have the highest cultivation level. As long as you can claim a spot among the Top Ten Disciples, you will do justice to everyone’s dedication."

Huang Fuzhou smiled proudly and said, "Rest assured, my junior brothers. Now that I have nearly mastered the Immortal Technique, even facing divine skills, I will not fear. Relying solely on my own power, whom should I dread?"

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