Daoist Competition

Hearing how formidable Xiao Tang’s Divine Skills were, the Wang Sisters turned pale with fright.

Wang Caiting was even more flustered, grabbing Qi Mengjiao’s sleeve and crying out, "Senior Sister Qi, what do we do? You have to think of something!"

Qi Mengjiao shook her head and gave a bitter smile, saying, "Junior Sister, you place far too much faith in your elder sister."

Liu Yan Yi, however, remained exceptionally calm, her expression unmoved as she said, "No need to worry, Junior Sisters. Our master has weathered countless storms since entering the sect, facing hardships and dangers beyond measure. How could he hastily agree to such a wager without first understanding his opponent? He most certainly has hidden methods prepared, though we may not be privy to them."

Qi Mengjiao pondered this, her eyes lighting up slightly as she nodded, "Yan Yi’s words do hold some truth. We are mere spectators. Who can say what Junior Master Zhang has planned? Until the very last moment, no one can predict the outcome."

Zhang Yan’s participation in this grand match had been part of his broader machinations. However, upon seeing the noble family attempting to obstruct Ning Chongxuan’s path, he suddenly conceived another plan. A suspicion crept into his mind, but he could not fully confirm it yet. He needed to observe how the master-disciple sect would respond before deciding his next steps.

It was clear that his individual strength alone was insufficient to counteract the larger forces at play. Yet, he could adapt, leveraging external momentum to carve out his own advantage within the situation.

For now, it was better to wait and see. By tomorrow night, the master-disciple sect’s intentions would likely be revealed, and then it would not be too late to make his decision.

As for today, all he aimed for was a draw.

Even if his guess proved wrong, it would matter little — he could fight again tomorrow and settle the matter then.

Elder Xun, seeing both participants had made up their minds, stepped aside and closed his eyes, adopting a stance of indifference.

Xiao Tang gestured toward Zhang Yan with a courteous "please" and said amicably, "Since I was the one to propose this challenge, it’s only right for Junior Brother Zhang to make the first move."

With that, he retreated several feet, his body quivering once before emitting a sound like clashing metals — a ringing, resonant noise.

Zhang Yan gave Xiao Tang a long look, noting his composed demeanor as his robe swayed in the breeze, exuding effortless grace.

Silently nodding to himself, Zhang Yan found himself curious to see how Xiao Tang intended to counter his many techniques.

After a brief moment of contemplation, Zhang Yan invoked his spell with a flick of his fingers. With a thunderous roar, three hundred and sixty-five drops of You Yin Heavy Water soared into the air, each drop suspended over his head.

High above the clouds, a few True Masters from the master-disciple sect spectated the duel. Upon seeing Zhang Yan once again deploy the Heavy Water, True Master Meng remarked, "Junior Brother Sun, earlier, I noticed this item but wasn’t certain. Now, upon closer observation, isn’t this the very You Yin Heavy Water you used in your youth?"

Master Sun’s eyes brightened slightly, nodding as he said, "Senior Brother observes well. Indeed, it is the You Yin Heavy Water. I didn’t expect Zhang Yan to refine it into a complete Circulation — he must have poured significant effort into mastering it."

Once Zhang Yan stabilized the water, he pointed outward with his finger, sending the Heavy Water into a torrent that surged forward in a violent cascade, crashing toward Xiao Tang with unstoppable force.

Xiao Tang, unhurried, invoked his spell and activated his Mysterious Skill. Instantly, a faint golden radiance coalesced and ascended into the air.

This light was as thin as cicada wings, resembling an ethereal veil. Mysterious and elusive, it shimmered with resplendent brilliance, its true form difficult to discern.

The Heavy Water arrived in mere moments, colliding with the radiance. Rippling outward, wave upon wave of concentric patterns appeared, much like raindrops falling into a pond, creating endless ripples. It absorbed a small portion of the Heavy Water’s force, diminished its power, then deflected the remaining droplets one by one. Every disciple present witnessed the sequence clearly and vividly.

Zhang Yan, unsurprised by the outcome, merely saw this as a preliminary trial. He invoked his spell to retract the Heavy Water in its entirety.

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Then, with a loud shout, a vast, thirty-zhang-wide hand of radiant yellow emerged from the crown of his head, reaching downward and grasping Xiao Tang, swiftly enveloping his entire figure, making him vanish completely.

Witnessing this, Xiao Tang’s disciples showed a momentary flicker of panic, while disciples in the arena erupted in astonished cries.

However, Zhang Yan’s eyes glimmered as he continued observing, his expression lacking any sign of triumph. Internally, he admired his opponent’s skill — ranked fifth among the Top Ten Disciples, Xiao Tang’s abilities were truly remarkable.

Previously, Zhang Yan had used the Xuanhuang Great Hand to capture numerous cultivators, and no matter how formidable they were, none could survive its grip. Once caught, they were crushed to death without fail.

This time, however, was markedly different. What Zhang Yan grasped was not a person but rather an elusive, robust, and impenetrable bubble. No matter how much force the great hand exerted, it simply could not burst or compress it.