Daoist Competition

On the morning of the second day, Liu Yan Yi bade farewell to Zhang Yan and re-entered the peak to face the trial. She encountered no opponents along the way, easily passed through two array barriers, and made her way directly to the Nineteenth Peak.

Standing atop the summit, she gazed into the distance.

Beneath the solitary high peak lay a broad valley. To the east stood more than a dozen towering ancient trees, their trunks so thick it would take several people to encircle them. Their branches stretched wide, and verdant leaves cascaded like streams of emerald light.

To the west lay an open expanse of land, meticulously cleared of fallen branches and withered foliage. A semicircular stone platform protruded from the mountainside, approximately thirty zhang in width, and neatly polished. In its center stood a tripod incense burner as tall as a person.

Behind the stone platform was a three-tiered pavilion embedded into the mountain wall. Vines clung to its facade, branches nesting among the eaves. Crimson pillars supported its structure, and black tiles adorned its roof. On one side of the pavilion, three cascading waterfalls cut through the crevices in the mountain, converging in the valley below into a sparkling stream that split the valley into two halves, resembling the division of Yin and Yang.

Several disciples who had arrived earlier and crossed into this peak were already seated on the platform.

Descending lightly on the breeze, Liu Yan Yi drifted gracefully to the front of the platform. Her eyes swept over the group and noted she was the seventh arrival. The other disciples glanced briefly at her, then quickly looked away, maintaining their meditative posture and composure.

This peak was guarded by five elders, each hailing from the Spirit Mechanism Institute, Shangming Institute, Merit Institute, and Zhengqing Institute, seated together on a high dais before the pavilion.

The elder sitting at the center appeared to be in his forties, with a straight nose and square mouth, an upright air about him. His silkworm-like brows framed a face adorned with a long beard that flowed down to his abdomen. His gaze carried an imposing authority. Beside him, a young attendant announced loudly, "Elder Ji of Shangming Institute is present. Disciples entering the valley, quickly report your names!"

Liu Yan Yi stepped forward, bowed with one knee to the ground, and said, "Disciple Liu Yan Yi greets Elder Ji."

Elder Ji slightly opened his eyes upon hearing the name, glanced at her momentarily, and said, "Sit aside and wait."

Liu Yan Yi chose an empty cushion and sat down. She quickly counted the seats, realizing that including herself, there were sixteen places, confirming the number of participants in this final trial.

By noon, several more disciples arrived, completing the count of sixteen. Apart from Weng Zhiyuan, Yuan Yanhui, Liu Yan Yi, and a disciple named Zhu Qingsong, the rest were True Disciples from Xuanmen families.

Elder Ji, seeing all participants present, announced in a loud voice: "Seal the gate!"

As his voice fell, the mountains echoed with the sound of a golden bell. A Flag Gate emerged from the green mist, and once it appeared, the array barrier sealed the entrance to the valley, blocking further entry for latecomers.

Elder Ji stood up and briefly looked skyward before stating, "Masters of the families, if you wish to address your disciples, do not delay too long. After inspection, disciples may enter the valley for the final trial."

The final trial required masters to inspect their disciples for any traces of talismans, curses, or insect-borne hexes before sending them into the last barrier gate.

This tradition stemmed from Mingcang Sect’s founding era, during fierce battles with demons from the northern regions of East Splendor Continent. Even during trials, disciples had to remain vigilant, with their masters providing long protection.

Though the sect had since thrived for ten thousand years, becoming a dominant force in East Splendor, and no one dared attempt such underhanded acts anymore, the tradition persisted.

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After speaking, Elder Ji waved his horsetail whisk, and atop the peak, a stone screen parted to reveal another realm hidden within. Joining the other four elders, he ascended upon clouds into the space and disappeared. Only two Steward Daoists remained, guarding the barrier gate from either side.

Amid this, nine auspicious clouds dispersed from the sky, spiraling downward to encircle each disciple. The clouds lightly carried them upward.

Liu Yan Yi surrendered herself to the gentle mist, ascending toward the heavens, and soon descended onto a Flying Couch.

Zhang Yan sat calmly upon it, nodding and smiling as he said, "Yan Yi, I shall escort you through this final gate as your master."

He raised a finger, and a stream of smoke shot forth, lifting her gently as it mingled with the breeze, guiding her into the valley.

After sending his disciple into the array gate, Zhang Yan scanned the heavenly expanse. Among those present, apart from Elder Zhu and another Elder Hu, all other Hua Dan Cultivators hailed from the Five Great Families and Twelve Great Families. However, the Prominent Families of Sheng Sect were entirely absent.

In the noble hierarchy, the Five Great Clans stood at the pinnacle, followed by the Twelve Great Families, then the Prominent Families of Sheng Sect. The rigid ranking was deeply entrenched, such that the spoils from the sect’s trials were never enough for the Seventeen Clans to share, leaving the others no opportunity to compete.

Zhang Yan smirked inwardly, realizing that this arrangement excluded the smaller families from participation under the guise of tradition.