Daoist Competition

Zhang Yan’s gaze flickered slightly; perhaps others did not understand, but his heart was crystal clear.

The actions of the master-disciple lineage perfectly aligned with his prior deductions.

If this truly was the case, then his next move would be crucial, leaving no room for error. Should he succeed, he could ascend to the heavens in a single step!

Still, he understood that this move would require a measure of luck as well.

Yet in life, things rarely happen as perfectly as one wishes. One must exert every effort to strive; success or failure can be set aside for now. Hesitation and overthinking would only lead to inaction.

He took a deep breath, his eyes reflecting a firm resolve.

After Qi Yuntian finished his reminders, he waved his hand to dismiss the gathered disciples, leaving only Fan Changqing by his side.

The disciples all left with reluctance written on their faces. Ning Chongxuan approached Zhang Yan for a brief greeting before lifting the curtain and stepping out.

Zhang Yan observed carefully, but Ning Chongxuan’s face revealed no emotions, not a single clue to discern.

Once everyone had dispersed, Qi Yuntian glanced around and noticed Zhang Yan had yet to leave. He called him forward and said kindly, "Junior Brother Zhang, is there something you wish to say to me?"

Zhang Yan smiled faintly and said, "Indeed. Brother, you just mentioned that we should abandon the upcoming competition and not vie for ranking positions. However, I have a method that will guarantee Brother Ning becomes one of the Top Ten Disciples this time. Would you be interested in hearing it?"

Qi Yuntian showed a hint of surprise. He did not rush to ask but pondered for a moment, his sharp gaze fixed on Zhang Yan. He said, "If Junior Brother Zhang truly has this method, do speak of it. At the next competition, I promise to fight for your place as well."

Zhang Yan paid little regard to the next competition. Based on his earlier calculations, as long as he succeeded in this first step, everything afterward would follow naturally. There would be no need to wait another twenty-four years—he could still rise in rank.

He chuckled, clasped his hands, and said, "May I boldly ask, has Brother already held this position for over three hundred years?"

Qi Yuntian nodded and replied, "Indeed, three hundred and thirty-six years."

Zhang Yan then stood up, solemnly bowed toward Qi Yuntian, and declared loudly, "Then I humbly request Brother to retire early and yield the position. If this is done, Brother Ning will surely ascend."

"What?"

Fan Changqing, startled, leapt up and pointed at Zhang Yan, shouting, "Junior Brother Zhang, what kind of nonsense is this? Retract your words at once!"

Zhang Yan ignored him, keeping his gaze steadfastly on Qi Yuntian as he continued, "Brother, what do you think?"

Qi Yuntian, however, did not grow angry but instead showed a thoughtful expression.

Fan Changqing, being intelligent, calmed down after his initial shock and also began to grasp the implications.

He furrowed his brows and contemplated for a moment, his thoughts reaching some understanding but still failing to fully grasp key points.

He glanced at Zhang Yan, then turned to observe Qi Yuntian, who appeared deep in thought, and dared not interrupt.

After a prolonged silence, Qi Yuntian finally raised his head and said earnestly to Zhang Yan, "Junior Brother Zhang, this position holds great importance to others, but to me, it is merely a formality. There is no need to cling to it. Moreover, the Top Ten Disciples can only hold their position for three hundred and sixty years. In twenty-four more years, I will need to step down regardless. But if I relinquish it now solely for Brother Ning, would that not be a loss?"

If Qi Yuntian were to step down, a spot among the Top Ten Disciples would naturally open. Under such circumstances, Ning Chongxuan could easily take the position, with even the noble family True Masters unable to stop it.

However, among the master-disciple lineage, Qi Yuntian alone currently upheld the situation. If he were to relinquish his top seat, the balance would inevitably tip against them.

Furthermore, Huo Xuan, ranked second, was only one step away from entering the Nascent Soul Realm. If he achieved Nascent Soul, the disparity in power between the two sides would become even greater.

The noble family was likely taking considerable risks in the current competition to prevent Ning Chongxuan from ascending, aiming to stall for another twenty-four years. By then, with Qi Yuntian gone, the entire situation would shift dramatically.

Zhang Yan burst into laughter and said, "Brother need not worry about this. I have an idea to resolve the matter entirely."

He leaned forward, his lips trembling as he whispered a few words.

Even with Qi Yuntian’s deep experience, after hearing Zhang Yan’s proposal, he abruptly lifted his head and fixed his gaze on him before slowly looking away. With profound meaning, he remarked, "Junior Brother, you are truly remarkable."

Hearing the admiration in his tone, Zhang Yan felt assured in his previous deductions.

Advancing Ning Chongxuan was merely his first step; the second step represented his true aim.

At this point, Zhang Yan had said all that could be said and done all that could be done. What remained now was awaiting Qi Yuntian’s decision.

Qi Yuntian did not disappoint. After a moment of contemplation, he decisively stated, "If that’s the case, it is worth trying. If I yield this seat, so be it."

Zhang Yan’s spirits lifted as he added, "Brother, this plan must be executed with utmost secrecy to avoid alerting the True Masters and creating unexpected complications."

Qi Yuntian’s eyes gleamed with Divine Light as he solemnly replied, "Indeed, this must be so."

Earlier, when the two spoke, they used Mysterious Skill to isolate their conversation, so Fan Changqing could not hear the details. But upon hearing their intention to act alone and conceal the plan from the True Masters, he was incredulous and hurriedly exclaimed, "Brother, you must act with caution!"

He turned to Zhang Yan, his tone brimming with shock and anger, "Junior Brother, what nonsense are you feeding to Senior Brother?"

Qi Yuntian raised his hand to stop Fan Changqing from continuing and boldly declared to Zhang Yan, "Junior Brother, I understand your intentions fully. This plan is excellent; let’s proceed as you suggest. As the senior brother of the third generation disciples, I accept full responsibility. If the True Masters blame me afterward, I will take all the consequences upon myself—it will have nothing to do with you."

Upon hearing this, Fan Changqing froze. His lips trembled slightly before he sighed and remained silent.

Zhang Yan nodded discreetly. His entire scheme hinged on Qi Yuntian.

Chapters fırst released on novelꞁire.net

Nonetheless, making a decision of this magnitude was fraught with difficulty, as it could very well contradict the True Masters’ intentions. The pressure Qi Yuntian must bear was unimaginable. If the man lacked the courage to make this move, Zhang Yan had already prepared alternative measures.

But now, it seemed Qi Yuntian was precisely as Zhang Yan had predicted—a true leader among the third generation disciples, not only daring but decisive, with the boldness and vision befitting his position!

As Zhang Yan stepped off the long boat, he raised his head to see the bright moon looming over the river, its reflection shimmering amidst the waves. Today’s move had transformed his humble pawn into a chariot crossing the river; in the future, he would maneuver through the game with unmatched prowess, towering above all others!

...

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