Daoist Competition

That person didn’t notice his expression and laughed lightly, saying, "Brother, your words are wrong. Granted, Brother Zhang Yan entered the path late, but his Flying Sword skill is exceptional, and he has the Dharma Treasure Five Spirit White Carp Lock to aid him. Though his chances of victory are slim, it’s not certain he’ll lose! Why not spar against those noble family disciples?"

Ren Mingyao snorted coldly and turned to walk away.

The reason for his dissatisfaction stemmed from the fact that he was once selected by Qi Yuntian, but for some unknown reason, the matter fizzled out.

He, merely a registered disciple of True Master Meng, was not like Fan Changqing, one of Qi Yuntian’s trusted aides, so he naturally couldn’t discern the true reason behind it—sect rivalry. Instead, he wrongly suspected Zhang Yan had taken a seat meant for him, and his heart could not accept this.

As the gathered disciples each found their place and settled down, Qi Yuntian instructed a child to light the incense burner. He then took a Dharma Scroll from the child’s hands, untied the soft rope binding the scroll, spread it on the desk, and silently recited the spell. After a brief moment, he pointed his finger, and a beam of golden light shot forth, revealing countless golden runes, which soared into the skies like the wisps of azure smoke. He proclaimed aloud, "Disciples, welcome the arrival of the True Masters’ Dharma Chariot."

Suddenly, a loud sound echoed from the clouds, celestial music played harmoniously, and the skies shimmered with vibrant hues. Thousands of auspicious clouds and radiant lights illuminated the heavens, vaguely revealing several figures. Each was separated in different directions, their boundaries distinct, not gathered together.

ᴛʜɪs ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ ɪs ᴜᴘᴅᴀᴛᴇ ʙʏ novel-fire.ɴet

Zhang Yan knew the Cave Heaven True Masters of the sect had arrived. However, the turbulent airflow within the clouds and the dazzling radiance obscured their features, making it impossible for him to discern exactly how many had arrived.

On Ten Peaks Mountain, the disciples who witnessed this miraculous scene hurriedly bowed or knelt to pay homage, all chanting in unison, "Disciples greet the honored True Masters."

A distant voice descended from the clouds, saying, "Disciples, rise."

Qi Yuntian straightened his posture and continued, "Honored True Masters above, all the sect’s disciples have arrived. May the grand competition commence? We humbly request your guidance."

After a moment’s pause, a deep voice declared, "Proceed."

Instantly, the solemn gong of Mingcang Sect’s mountain gate sounded once more, its thunderous resonance spreading far and wide, lingering in the skies and rousing countless spirit birds that splashed in the waters. Flocks and flocks of them took flight over Dragon Abyss Marsh.

At the same time, beyond Ten Peaks Mountain, tens of thousands of disciples had already gathered, all eager to witness the glory of the Top Ten Disciples.

Though they were quite distant from the arena, and cultivators’ eyesight is extraordinary, even the sharpest eyes could only vaguely discern the scene.

Standing on the Flying Boat, Liu Yan Yi, Qiu Hanyue, Tian Kun, and the Wang Sisters observed from afar because their own master had joined the gathering at Ten Peaks Mountain.

Liu Yan Yi, chatting and laughing with Qiu Hanyue, suddenly noticed a streak of smoky light approaching, landing on the Flying Boat, where a graceful figure appeared.

Everyone turned to look and saw Qi Mengjiao standing there with a radiant smile.

Liu Yan Yi exclaimed in delight, "Senior Sister, why aren’t you participating in the grand competition and have come here instead?"

Qi Mengjiao smiled and shook her head, saying, "I lack sufficient cultivation. Joining would only disgrace my master, so it’s better to stay out of it."

Qiu Hanyue walked up, linking arms with Qi Mengjiao, and laughed playfully, "Senior Sister, it’s good you’re not going. I know you possess a Dharma Treasure that can view scenery from hundreds of miles away. Surely you’ve brought it with you today?"

Qi Mengjiao’s eyes flickered momentarily, and she sighed, saying, "Junior Sister, you’ve guessed correctly."

With a flick of her hand, she retrieved a silver mirror from her sleeve. Her slender finger tapped its surface, and it emitted a gentle cloud light, expanding to three feet in size. The mirror’s luminous reflections flickered and, in no time, revealed the current scene within Ten Peaks Mountain.

Everyone gathered around instinctively to observe, seeing that a child of about six or seven had entered the arena. His demeanor was solemn, and his movements and conduct exuded an exceptionally precocious air.

Wang Caiting let out an intrigued "Hmm" and said in surprise, "Why is there a child participating in the sect’s grand competition? How peculiar."

Qi Mengjiao whispered in response, "Junior Sister, be mindful of your words. This person is Xun Yihe, Master Xun, the sect’s Flying Sword technique expert. He is highly esteemed, with profound cultivation, and is serving as the arbiter of this grand competition."

Everyone gasped softly and instinctively focused their attention on him.

In front of Ten Peaks Mountain.

Zhang Yan glanced at Ning Chongxuan, noticing that he hadn’t shown any intention of entering the fray yet. As Zhang Yan pondered whether to step forward himself, a figure suddenly rushed out, loudly declaring, "Ren Mingyao, a registered disciple under Master Meng, seeks guidance from Senior Brother Fang!"

Standing atop his Flying Kite, dressed in a green robe with his sleeves billowing in the wind, Ren Mingyao’s striking appearance instantly drew attention.

Ren Mingyao did not practice one of the Five Merits but later acquired a sword plate painstakingly crafted over a lifetime by a Yuan Yang Sect elder. He found it quite fitting and requested True Master Meng to modify a cultivation technique for him, granting significant power, and believed his cultivation was not lacking.

By being the first to enter the competition, Ren Mingyao didn’t necessarily expect to defeat Fang Zhenlu but aimed to spar with him, exchanging blows evenly. At best, he hoped to defeat a few fellow disciples and earn recognition from the attending elders, achieving his aspirations.

During the sect’s grand competition, unless it involved the reassignment of Top Ten Disciple statuses, the Top Ten rarely acted personally. Instead, they sent their protégés to participate while they observed and provided guidance.

Years ago, Huang Fuzhou, upon being confronted by Xiao Tang, resolved the challenge with mere words, never lifting a hand. This naturally earned admiration from many noble family disciples at the time.

However, Ren Mingyao hadn’t anticipated Fang Zhenlu’s reaction. Upon hearing someone challenge him, Fang Zhenlu initially wanted to refrain from entering the arena. But after reconsidering, he decided that the first match of the grand competition shouldn’t be too lackluster. Thus, he waved off a fellow disciple who intended to step forward and stood up confidently, saying, "I’ll personally face him in this round. The rest of you need not intervene."

...

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