Daoist Competition

When he walked up, he saw someone had just managed to retrieve a Dharma Treasure, their eyes instantly filled with ecstatic joy. But before they could savor their triumph for long, another cultivator nearby also appeared to have succeeded. Their expression shifted as they hastily rushed toward another unclaimed Magic Artifact, securing that spot before relaxing.

Upon reaching the fourteenth level, Zhang Yan noticed the Spiritual Artifacts placed on the surrounding altars.

He glanced around and found this floor much less crowded than below — only a handful of cultivators were present. What caught his attention, however, were several empty altars where treasures had clearly already been taken, judging by the fresh marks left behind.

As Zhang Yan ascended, a nearby Xuan Guang Practitioner noticed the faint wisps of mist swirling around him, recognizing him as a Hua Dan Cultivator. Their expression tightened slightly in caution, quickly averting their gaze.

Then Zhang Yan suddenly heard voices coming from the floor above. The tone of the conversation was casual, almost leisurely, suggesting the speakers weren’t concerned about the treasures before them — undoubtedly, they had to be elite disciples from a Great Sect.

Ascending the stairs to the fifteenth level, he stepped inside and saw over a dozen cultivators, men and women alike, gathered together. They were pointing and discussing a Magic Artifact that resembled a jade flute. His gaze shifted, and he couldn’t help but feel surprised, thinking to himself, "How is it that Fang Zhenlu is here as well? He arrived far earlier than I; I had assumed he’d reached the First Peak by now."

A month ago, when the Treasure Light first appeared over Bronze Mountain, though the Array Gate had become visible, no one dared to rush in recklessly. Only after various sects employed Secret Techniques to probe the situation did they begin entering cautiously, delaying many for some time. In truth, most had entered only a day or two before Zhang Yan.

Moreover, the base of the mountain was riddled with Prohibitions. Zhang Yan hadn’t encountered them because the earlier arrivals had cleared the way.

Thus, their progress had been slow, resulting in this convergence.

Fang Zhenlu suddenly burst into laughter and said aloud, "Brother Kang, being a high disciple of the Shaoqing Sect, I’m sure breaking Prohibitions would be a simple task for you!"

A young Daoist in a flowing green robe merely chuckled lightly. With a sudden flash of sword light, everyone’s eyes locked onto the altar where the Prohibition had been swiftly eliminated. They couldn’t help but voice their admiration.

The young Daoist gestured with a finger, smiling as he said, "How does my swordsmanship appear to Senior Brother Fang?"

Fang Zhenlu expressed his praise, saying, "Excellent," though a subtle trace of disapproval flickered in his gaze, evidently unimpressed.

The young Daoist smiled faintly and reached into the altar, flicking the jade flute with his finger, splitting it cleanly into two halves.

The crowd’s expressions all shifted dramatically, even Fang Zhenlu froze in astonishment!

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This man didn’t just slice through the Prohibition with a single sword light — he split the very treasure into two!

The thought crossed everyone’s mind: if this sword were aimed at them, who among them could withstand its edge?

On this level, there were also two stunningly beautiful female crowns whose lips parted slightly. Even their gaze toward Brother Kang shifted to one of admiration.

Fang Zhenlu, as a disciple of a Great Sect, recovered quickly from his surprise and remarked, "Brother Kang, your flying sword is truly sharp—surely it is the refined ’Slaughter Sword.’"

Brother Kang nodded and admitted openly, "Senior Brother Fang has keen eyes. Among the Shaoqing Sect’s Three Veins, only the Slaughter Sword aligns with my temperament!"

Zhang Yan observed quietly from the side. As someone skilled in Flying Sword techniques himself, he alone noticed the nuances within Kang’s swordsmanship and thought to himself, "So it turns out he is a high disciple of the Shaoqing Sect — no wonder he carries himself so boldly."

Fang Zhenlu suddenly spoke, "Brother Kang, speaking of Flying Sword techniques, one of our sect’s Top Ten Disciples, Junior Brother Zhang Yan, is also skilled in this art. Have you heard of him?"

Brother Kang’s interest visibly piqued as he replied, "Oh? Is that the Zhang Yan, the one proficient in the Sixteen Swords of One Breath Division, whose elixir formation ranks first grade?"

Fang Zhenlu nodded and confirmed, "That’s correct."

Brother Kang fell silent for a moment before sighing.

"Why the sigh, Senior Brother?" Fang Zhenlu asked in surprise.

Brother Kang lamented, "It’s a pity. Such an extraordinary talent, yet he does not belong to our Shaoqing Sect. Without knowledge of the method for cultivating sword balls, even the finest innate talent cannot elevate the Flying Sword technique to its pinnacle."

Fang Zhenlu replied with a meaningful smile, "But isn’t the Shaoqing Sect’s spell freely accessible to all who seek it?"

Brother Kang raised an eyebrow and declared loudly, "Indeed! The secrets of our Shaoqing Skills are not forbidden knowledge. If this Daoist Zhang wishes to see them, he is welcome — provided he can defeat the Flying Swords of my fellow brothers and sisters first."

Fang Zhenlu chuckled at this and left the topic.

It was widely known that the Shaoqing Sect’s cultivation arts were theoretically open to observation but required challengers to defeat its Mountain Guarding Disciples first. Since the Shaoqing Sect claimed the position of the foremost Xuanmen Great Sect, very few dared to ascend its Mountain Gate for a swordfight.

A millennium ago is one thing, but within these last thousand years, only Nanhua Sect’s True Master Fei Ju and Mingcang Sect’s Luo Qichen had attempted it. Even they did not venture into the actual Mountain Gate; they merely engaged the sect in sword duels outside, resulting in a draw before departing.

Brother Kang pointed forward and said to Fang Zhenlu, "Senior Brother Fang, that Dharma Treasure up ahead isn’t bad — why not retrieve it for a closer look?"

Fang Zhenlu turned his gaze and saw the treasure — a hammer-like artifact. His eyebrows furrowed slightly; he understood that Brother Kang was issuing a subtle challenge.

As one of the Mingcang Sect’s Top Ten Disciples, Fang Zhenlu outranked Brother Kang in status within his sect. He wouldn’t tarnish Mingcang Sect’s reputation by appearing inferior, so he smiled confidently and said, "Very well, Brother Kang. Just wait a moment while I retrieve it."

Fang Zhenlu approached the Prohibition surrounding the artifact, secretly concluding, "Given Brother Kang’s earlier display, I mustn’t fall short either."

Being a resourceful and quick-thinking individual, he quickly devised a strategy.

...

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