Daoist Competition

This prohibition originally served as a means for disciples to traverse up and down within this mountain gate in the past. Merely activating the spell was enough to ascend to the high halls and pavilions, avoiding the need to climb step by step. However, now that no one here understands its intricacies, it has become an impenetrable obstacle.

One person sighed and said, "The one who constructed this domain surely belonged to a great sect from thousands, even tens of thousands, of years ago. Judging by the intact prohibition arrays, there must still be countless treasures left. Fellow Daoists, what do you think?"

Someone echoed loudly, "What this fellow Daoist says is absolutely correct. Fortunately, what we seek differs from the great sect disciples, so there’s no need to be overly eager."

Everyone nodded repeatedly in agreement.

If this place truly is a relic of a great sect from years past, who can predict how much it has preserved? Disciples from smaller sects like theirs generally focus on cultivation techniques, Dharma Treasures, and Spirit Pills, while those great sect disciples set their sights on Immortal Mansions, palaces, and Earth Evil Spirit Veins. They cannot hope to compete for such things.

At that moment, Zhang Yan stepped forward and approached the stele alone, his gaze fixed intently upon the prohibition, seemingly absorbed in thought.

Someone offered kindly advice, "Fellow Daoist, there’s no need to rush. Let’s wait for half a day. By then, many of our fellow cultivators will have arrived, and together we can break it."

Zhang Yan paid no mind to the suggestion. After standing silently before the stele for a brief moment, he discerned that breaking through the prohibition would not be particularly challenging. Taking a single step forward, he charged ahead with his body as sturdy as iron, crashing through with a loud "boom," causing the great hall to tremble. In the next instant, his figure disappeared.

The disciples in the crowd were all stunned. One observant person smacked their forehead, leaped up, and exclaimed joyously, "So that’s how it is!"

Unable to contain his excitement, he rushed forward, mimicking Zhang Yan by standing still for a moment. Then, gathering all his might, he charged headlong at the stele. A loud "bang" echoed, and he stumbled backward, landing flat on his back and staring at the sky, his forehead bleeding profusely.

Everyone at the scene exchanged bewildered glances, at a loss for what to say.

Zhang Yan emerged from the forbidden array and found himself standing on a small square, about an acre in size.

To his left was an abyss reaching thousands of feet deep, while to his right loomed a sheer cliff. Raising his gaze, he saw a cool pavilion perched precariously against the cliffs, built along the mountainside, blending seamlessly with the rugged rock formations. The sight was impressively perilous. A cascading waterfall thundered down nearby, producing a deafening noise.

Not far ahead, a Golden Gourd hovered in midair, releasing a dense mist-like cloud from its spout. Upon the cloud sat a Daoist, his hair tied neatly into a bun, holding a Magic Artifact resembling deer antlers. His eyes were shut, motionless, but the blood staining his chest revealed he was injured.

A disciple stood guard beside him. Upon seeing Zhang Yan, the disciple spoke coldly, "A moment ago, traces of a Devil impersonating a Xuanmen Sect Practitioner were spotted here. Which sect do you belong to? State your name swiftly to avoid unnecessary trouble!"

Zhang Yan swept his gaze over the scene and bowed, saying, "I am Xuan Yuanzi, a Loose Cultivator from the East Sea. May I ask how fellow Daoist is addressed?"

The young cultivator studied Zhang Yan closely, as though searching for flaws. After a long pause, he let out a dry laugh, sheathed his sword, and returned the courtesy. "I am a disciple of the Tai Hao Sect, from the Shicui Mountain branch. The one before you is my sect elder. Not long ago, a Devil appeared here and caused havoc, engaging us in battle for quite some time before retreating with injuries. Fellow Daoist, be vigilant."

Zhang Yan smiled faintly and asked, "Ah, Tai Hao Sect. Thirty years ago, I crossed paths with your sect’s True Master Han Guzi while in the outer seas. It’s been many years—how fares the True Master?"

The young cultivator hesitated, then quickly answered with a smile, "Well, very well. Before I departed from the mountain, I even met with the True Master myself."

Squinting slightly, Zhang Yan remarked, "Which Demon Lord’s disciple might fellow Daoist really be?"

The young Daoist’s expression remained unchanged, but his brows furrowed as he replied, "What do you mean by this, fellow Daoist? Do not jest about such matters!"

Shaking his head with a sigh, Zhang Yan said, "Fellow Daoist, if you’re going to impersonate a Tai Hao Sect disciple, you ought to know that Han Guzi is a member of Ningbi Prefecture and has never left the sect for the past century. How would it be possible for us to have met thirty years ago?"

"Beyond that, your flaws are far too numerous. One can tell this was hastily laid out. While it may deceive the ignorant, it cannot fool me."

The young Daoist froze for a moment after hearing this, then burst into wild laughter. As his laughter echoed, the Daoist’s image atop the gourd dissipated entirely—it had been nothing but a conjured illusion.

Though his appearance seemed genuine, the Daoist had used this method to exploit Loose Cultivators’ trepidation toward great sect disciples. In doing so, he had harvested Essence from several individuals while seizing their Magic Artifacts, capitalizing on the ruse.

Such a profitable trick had become second nature to him. Alas, these cultivators who could breach the prohibitive array were undoubtedly skilled, yet they had met mysterious ends within this place, losing their lives.

Straightening his robes, the young Daoist bowed and introduced himself, "I am Cai Shen, a True Disciple of the Jiuming Sect. May I know your true name, fellow Daoist?"

Zhang Yan stood with hands clasped behind his back, smiling faintly. "Mingcang, Zhang Yan."

Meanwhile, a bald Daoist seated in meditation a hundred miles away on Bronze Mountain slowly opened his eyes. Beside him stood Xu Gongyuan, vigilantly keeping watch.

After a moment, Xu Gongyuan hurriedly asked, "Master Zhang, what news?"

The bald Daoist chuckled darkly, "The body I seized earlier has yielded all the secrets. Indeed, this place was once the location of the Yao Yin Mountain Sect. My deceased martial uncle didn’t deceive me after all."

His eyes gleamed green as he said, "Now that Qiankun is shifting and my Spirit Sect is on the rise, the appearance of this Demon Palace is fitting with the workings of fate. If I can obtain its legacy, I, too, can follow in Tao Zhenhong’s footsteps—establish my sect overseas and achieve a Grotto Heaven."

Xu Gongyuan drew a sharp breath and hesitated. "A few nights ago, while I was inadvertently observing, I saw three Nascent Soul cultivators from the great Xuanmen sects also entering Bronze Mountain..."

Irritated, the bald Daoist retorted, "With me here, what is there to fear?"

Xu Gongyuan stepped back submissively but murmured quietly, "What does Master plan to do?"

The Daoist threw his head back, laughing loudly. With a sweep of his arm, he struck out as if wielding a blade and sneered, "What else can I do? I’ll kill them all!"

...

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

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