Daoist Competition

Inside the Demon Storage, Zhang Yan let out a long breath and, with a thought, the Mechanism Gold Seal hovering mid-air fell into his palm, where he tightly gripped it.

After nine days, he had performed a preliminary sacrificial refinement on this Golden Seal, even faster than he had anticipated by one day. If he wished, he could now activate the Array Gate and leave this small realm.

However, his ultimate goal in coming here was yet to be achieved. Whether it was due to the sect leader’s secret orders or his own ambitions, he had to find a way to kill Demon Tai Heng before he could rest.

Although such a move was truly a Nine Deaths scenario for him, if he could succeed, the God Contract Technique would surely allow his strength to leap forward by a significant margin.

Thus, when the Demon Tribulation arrived, he would have some means of self-preservation.

The opportunity lay before him—how could he let it slip away? No matter the risk, he had to attempt it.

After waiting quietly through the night, dawn approached, and the first ray of morning light fell upon the glazed tiles and jade stones of the Tower Pavilion. The entire mountain peak slowly soaked in golden brilliance, vibrant with the thriving energy of plants and trees—it marked a new day’s beginning.

Zhang Yan swept his broad sleeves, rose with a flourish, his gaze gleaming with spirited brilliance, imbued with resilience and solemn determination.

Standing for a moment, he pulled two Dharma Talismans from his sleeve bag, studying them closely before he nodded slightly.

Of the three Dharma Talismans bestowed by the sect leader, the Demon Extermination Talisman had already been used. These two remained—one was a Protective Talisman and the other, a Flying Escape Talisman.

It was because he still had these two talismans in hand that he had the confidence to risk his life and fight Taiheng Ancestor. Otherwise, he might as well have exited this small realm immediately, with no need to tarry here.

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With utmost caution, he raised his hand and activated the Protective Talisman. At once, a clear light like water rose from the shattered talisman and enveloped him like a cocoon, wrapping him securely. It felt as if he had been submerged in warm water, a soothing warmth coursing through him.

Once his preparations were complete, a confident smile rose on his face. He stepped out of the Demon Storage slowly, without a glance back, his broad sleeve sweeping behind him. The Demon Storage rumbled as it shot up from the ground, spun mid-air, and transformed into energy before flying into his sleeve bag.

Zhang Yan strode leisurely out of the Tower Pavilion, lifting his gaze to survey his surroundings. The mountain was silent and devoid of life; even the birds were nowhere to be seen. Taiheng Ancestor’s figure was nowhere to be found.

Although he could not see his opponent, Zhang Yan knew that Taiheng Ancestor was undoubtedly hiding nearby, watching his every move. As soon as Zhang Yan attempted to exit the Array Gate, Taiheng Ancestor would surely emerge to block his path.

Zhang Yan smiled faintly and began channeling his mana. With a turn of the Mechanism Gold Seal, a deafening rumble echoed, and a towering archway appeared a hundred meters away!

Almost simultaneously with the activation of the Array Gate, Zhang Yan triggered the Flying Escape Talisman. A streak of streaming light shot out like a flash of lightning.

Activating both the Flying Escape Talisman and Protective Talisman at once—this was Zhang Yan’s full play of cards.

He knew he was not arrogant enough to believe he would have two chances to kill the Old Demon. Therefore, this was an all-or-nothing gamble, leaving no room for retreat for either himself or his enemy.

If he didn’t force the other into an inescapable situation, he would simply never find an opportunity to strike!

Taiheng Ancestor stood afar, a slight look of regret flashing across his face.

Knowing full well his opponent might have means to counter him, the safest strategy was to eliminate Zhang Yan from a distance. For this, he had even retrieved several Dharma Treasures from a Stone Box. Yet Zhang Yan had not left a single flaw in his actions.

Taiheng Ancestor had anticipated this situation and considered a countermeasure in advance. If Zhang Yan possessed Dharma Treasures for protection, making it difficult to breach his defenses, then Taiheng Ancestor would simply ignore him.

As long as he rushed out ahead when the Array Gate opened and escaped this small realm, he would be free amidst vast skies and boundless seas.

But Zhang Yan’s Flying Escape Talisman eliminated this possibility entirely; rushing ahead first was now impossible.

This left only one path—to move forward and find a way to block him.

These thoughts flashed through Taiheng Ancestor’s mind in an instant. He burst into laughter, his body unmoving as the Demon Flood Dragon Nascent Soul surged out from his crown, transforming into a streak of black radiance that shot forward with deadly speed, charging straight ahead in an attempt to intercept Zhang Yan!

In the blink of an eye, two tunneling lights raced toward the Array Gate a hundred meters away, like two streams of dazzling starlight about to collide.

Zhang Yan suddenly felt a piercing chill as Taiheng Ancestor’s aura surged forward, his overwhelming murderous intent rolling in like a tempest, vast and suffocating as if it could drown out everything.