Daoist Competition

Du De, at this moment using this Dharma Treasure, clearly had prepared in secret for quite some time.

Luo Yuanhua said in a deep voice, "I am aware of the mysteries of this fire, but I have observed Zhang Yan’s resolute heart; should he forcefully break through, I fear even this would fail to contain him."

Xiao Tang shook his head, stroked his beard and smiled faintly, "Junior brother, you are mistaken. Precisely because Brother Du has seen Zhang Yan’s many methods and recognized his difficulty to deal with, he resorted to using this treasure. Were I in his position, I would simply aim to stall him momentarily. No doubt, subsequent strategies will be prepared to subdue the opponent in one strike, making all prior preparations worthwhile."

Zhang Yan circled around, probing several times, eventually grasping a few truths about this fire’s origins.

This fiery energy, if not from the Elixir Evil, must be the legendary "Heart Fire." Though he had never seen it, he had long heard of its name.

Fires of this kind do not harm the physical body or scorch inner organs, but they can provoke intrusive thoughts and disturb the heart and spirit. If someone falters in their resolve, illusions will emerge before their eyes, entrapping them within their own delusions.

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However, those who are confident in their firm nature and clear Divine Intent can boldly proceed. Passing through such fire requires absolute mental focus, with no room for hesitation or panic. Should an adversary exploit its effects to strike during this moment, the consequences would be dire.

Thinking further, Zhang Yan came to a similar conclusion about Du De’s intentions as Xiao Tang. He chose not to forcefully break through and instead held onto his spell, waiting for the opponent’s next move.

Du De’s gaze fixed on Zhang Yan, his eyes deep and unfathomable. Without any overt actions, he lightly blew a breath forward.

Zhang Yan, maintaining his vigilant guard, saw no movement. Just as he felt puzzled, flames suddenly surged before his eyes. Observing his own body, he noticed a layer of fiery light burning on his frame. This flame clung tightly to him. Yet the treasure clothes he wore emitted a precise glow, keeping the flames five inches away.

From an outsider’s perspective, he appeared surrounded by a golden fire, burning as though he were a flame-consumed figure.

"This is bad!"

Seeing the scene projected onto the silver mirror, Qi Mengjiao exclaimed in shock.

The Wang Sisters, having been shaken multiple times already today, felt a chill at her words. Timidly, they murmured, "Senior sister..."

Qi Mengjiao gazed at the fiery brilliance, her eyes uneasy as she said in a low tone, "This spell is among the Twelve Divine Abilities of our sect, known as ’Bright Three Yang Qi.’ Few within the sect are capable of mastering it. Once this Divine Skill is formed, the generated Yang energy can incinerate anything. Even Dharma Treasures afflicted by it, if the fire extinguishing method isn’t found, will be burned through entirely, reduced to ashes before it stops."

Hearing of the spell’s terrifying power, the sisters’ faces paled instantly. Lacking confidence, Wang Caiwei said quietly, "Surely the master has a means to defend against it..."

Qi Mengjiao sighed softly. As the fire’s intensity grew, her doubts about Zhang Yan’s prospects deepened. Turning her head, she saw Liu Yan Yi standing silent and calm, prompting her to ask, "Junior sister, are you not worried?"

Liu Yan Yi gently shook her head, pointing towards Elder Xun. "Not so, senior sister. Look there, with such a formidable Dharma technique, if the master truly could not withstand it, would that elder stand idly by?"

Qi Mengjiao and the Wang Sisters turned their gazes in that direction and indeed saw Elder Xun, serene and composed, entirely without anxiety.

Upon reflection, the girls found Liu Yan Yi’s logic compelling.

Though injuries in the sect’s tournament were unavoidable, disciples were forbidden to face mortal danger. Observing the current scenario and Elder Xun’s calm demeanor, they felt reassured that Zhang Yan was not in serious peril, allowing their emotions to ease slightly.

Zhang Yan saw that the fire seemed to cling to him, burning vibrantly without any sign of extinguishing. In merely a few breaths, the glow on his treasure clothes had dimmed slightly, as though it had been consumed.

Reflecting carefully, Zhang Yan inferred the fire’s nature. Chuckling to himself, he murmured, "Its reputation precedes it; I didn’t expect it to be quite like this."

With a deliberate thought, he directed the Water Element True Light downward, swiftly sweeping away most of the fiery brilliance, leaving only a few scattered embers.

Yet, in the blink of an eye, those scattered embers spread like wildfire, again covering his form.

Zhang Yan experimented several times and found the result consistent. As long as a single ember remained, the flames would reignite instantly.

He shook his head and decided to stop bothering with it. Channeling his Mana, he expanded the glow on his treasure clothes outward, forcing the Yang Fire to remain a whole ten feet away.

Calculating silently, Zhang Yan realized there was only an hour left until the tournament’s conclusion. Smiling faintly, he ceased trying to extinguish the fire and let it rage outside while he sat atop a cloud cluster, closing his eyes peacefully.

Above the clouds, Master Sun furrowed his brows, displeased by Du De’s use of this Divine Skill. Seeing Zhang Yan endure the flames for such a long time, Master Sun twitched his fingers, seemingly prepared to intervene.

True Master Meng raised his eyelids and spoke in a calm yet firm tone, "Junior brother, be patient. It is not appropriate for us to intervene. It is better to observe and allow events to unfold naturally."

Master Sun nodded, holding back his action.

Much time passed before the resonant sound of a distant bell and chime echoed through the heavens. Elder Xun, who appeared to have awaited the moment, immediately stepped forward and addressed Du De with a stern tone, "The hour has come, Nephew Du. Withdraw your Divine Skills. The conclusion can be decided tomorrow thereafter."

Du De’s brows furrowed slightly, a trace of regret flickering across his expression. Extending his hand, he made a grabbing motion forward, extinguishing the golden flames.

When the flames dissipated, Zhang Yan’s figure emerged. Contrary to expectations, he appeared not the least bit haggard; instead, his aura was refreshed and composed, as though he hadn’t spent half an hour amidst the fiery ordeal.

Du De’s eyes narrowed sharply, gazing deeply at Zhang Yan. He flicked his sleeves, turning into a streak of smoke and retreating to his peak in an instant.

With his hands behind his back, Zhang Yan watched Du De retreat momentarily. This contest was indeed unresolved. If given another chance, it would certainly call for another decisive duel. Smiling faintly at the thought, he summoned his cloud mist and transformed into a radiant arc, departing as well.

...

...(To be continued. If you enjoy this work, please visit Qidian (qidian.com) to cast your recommendation votes and monthly votes. Your support is my greatest motivation.)