Daoist Competition

Yangyue Island was brimming with joy and laughter as the disciples celebrated Huang Fuzhou’s emergence from seclusion.

In their eyes, years ago their senior brother Huang was not defeated by Xiao Tang due to inferiority, but rather because Xiao Tang had resorted to tricks. Otherwise, why would he have refused to come out for a duel?

As for Huang Fuzhou’s humble words, the disciples simply took it as an act of modesty and did not dwell on them.

After their master’s passing, the disciples on Yangyue Island always felt lacking in confidence when speaking in the sect, often even looked down upon. Consequently, these disciples were the most closely-knit among all disciples in the Mingcang Sect. If one of them was bullied, the others would often band together to seek justice.

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Thankfully, the island still had the central figure of Huang Fuzhou. He was, after all, a Hua Dan Realm cultivator and had even once defeated the Sword Immortal Luo Yuanhua. Others, intimidated by his formidable reputation, didn’t dare go too far. Even in any form of conflict, boundaries would be respected.

For nearly a Jiazi, the disciples on the island had pooled all the cultivation external objects they acquired to support Huang Fuzhou, in hopes that he would secure a place among the Top Ten Disciples. Should he succeed, they too would bask in his triumph and perhaps would no longer need to endure such hardships in their cultivation moving forward.

After reconnecting with his junior disciples, Huang Fuzhou smiled and asked, "I’ve been in seclusion for over forty years. Have there been any changes within the sect?"

One disciple immediately replied, "There have been several major events. The demon from Three Pools Lake has been driven away by our Mingcang Sect. Speaking of which, I must mention a remarkable figure from our lineage—this individual goes by the name Zhang Yan and is under the tutelage of Dean Zhou, the head of the Elixir Cauldron Institute..."

Huang Fuzhou exclaimed in surprise, "Oh? He is under Dean Zhou?"

Nodding slightly, he continued, "It is said that Dean Zhou was once a disciple from a great clan and also a Nascent Soul cultivator. The students he cultivates would surely be exceptional."

"That’s not all..."

The disciple excitedly recounted Zhang Yan’s deeds with great enthusiasm, concluding, "Senior brother, that Brother Zhang is actually a True Disciple! I imagine you’ll be able to see him during the next grand competition."

The disciple’s admiration for Zhang Yan largely stemmed from the rumors spread by Feng Zhen in recent days. These rumors mentioned Zhang Yan engineering the deaths of Xiao Han and his nephew, later trapping Xiao He in an array, leaving his fate unknown—all while the Xiao Family could do nothing about him.

Years ago, Huang Fuzhou had been verbally forced to retreat by Xiao Tang, and thus harbored deep resentment toward the Xiao Family. Zhang Yan’s actions brought immense satisfaction to the disciples on Yangyue Island.

"What? This person is a True Disciple?"

Huang Fuzhou’s expression became serious. If he had previously been indifferent, he was now fully alert and respectful.

He was well aware that since the major upheaval within the sect, the lineage of their master had gone a hundred years without a True Disciple. If what his junior disciple claimed was true, this Zhang Yan was undoubtedly extraordinary. Even just thinking about it seemed inconceivable.

Suddenly, he felt a profound sense of pressure and thought to himself, "I’ve been in seclusion for over forty years. Although I’ve mastered some Mysterious Skills, it is certain that the sect has produced many talented individuals during this time. I must not let arrogance blind me, lest I repeat the mistakes of the past."

With this thought, he stroked his long beard and slowly stood up, saying, "I must leave the island for some time. At most half a month, at least three to five days. I’ll return soon."

The disciples quickly inquired, "Senior brother, where are you headed?"

Huang Fuzhou replied solemnly, "Now that I’ve emerged from seclusion, I should pay a visit to Brother Qi."

Upon hearing this, the disciples all nodded in agreement, expressing their support. Their late master had passed away early, and on that day, it was with the backing of Qi Yuntian that Huang Fuzhou managed to challenge and aspire for a position among the Top Ten Disciples. Now that he had emerged, it was both reasonable and courteous to visit him.

However, none of them knew that after hearing about Zhang Yan, Huang Fuzhou now harbored a sense of unease in his heart.

This Zhang Yan had only risen within the last twenty-some years. What about earlier times? Could there be others of such caliber waiting in the wings?

For cultivators, forty-six years was but an instant. Yet Huang Fuzhou understood that under the guidance of a capable teacher, countless brilliant talents could emerge within such time.

Would Brother Qi still offer him the same level of support as back then?

There was no guarantee.

Thus, his leisurely mood vanished. After bidding farewell to his junior disciples, he ascended into the sky, transformed into a streak of smoke, and headed toward the Mystic Water Zhen Palace.

Time flows differently in the mountains. Zhang Yan, after entering seclusion, had already spent another six months isolated.

At this critical juncture within Zhao You’s Mansion, Zhang Yan had reached a pivotal point in his calculations. As a trace of Elixir Evil was exhausted, the energy within his body surged, as though breaking through a barrier. In his Sea of Consciousness, the final path suddenly crumbled in a thunderous crash!