Daoist Competition

But instead of being startled, he was delighted. His gaze remained fixed upon the rapidly approaching figure, steadying his heart and spirit. At the very instant the opponent was about to make contact, his brow twitched, and a streak of purple-black radiance burst forth suddenly, carrying a grandiose force that seemed capable of splitting the heavens and earth, slicing through the void with lethal intent!

Taiheng Ancestor’s heart trembled, and he secretly let out a sigh.

From the moment that sword’s light took flight, he knew he had no chance of blocking it—it was entirely unblockable. Even if he were currently in the Phenomenon Realm, he would still need to retreat several paces before such a strike, let alone his current state in the Nascent Soul Realm. In such close quarters, evasion was simply impossible!

That streak of sword light flashed like a deafening thunderclap, instantly slicing the Demon Flood Dragon into two halves!

However, at that moment, a strand of Divine Soul suddenly escaped from the Nascent Soul. With a twist, it avoided the sword’s edge, and with a quick dart, it burrowed directly into his brow!

Zhang Yan’s body trembled uncontrollably.

Once inside the body, Taiheng Ancestor wasted no time and rushed directly toward the Sea of Consciousness.

He had planned beforehand that even if his Nascent Soul were severed, it was of little consequence. Zhang Yan’s physical body had even more potential than Yue Yuji’s, coupled with a longer lifespan. Though his cultivation was weaker, it was merely a matter of spending more time to restore his previous strength through cultivation.

Breaking through multiple barriers, including Zhang Yan’s Protective Talisman and the radiance of his treasure clothes, Taiheng Ancestor employed a Demonic Secret Technique. However, this was not without its price—his own Divine Soul inevitably grew weaker as a result. But Zhang Yan was merely a Hua Dan Cultivator and a member of the Xuanmen Sect. How could he possibly compete with Taiheng Ancestor in this domain?

In mere moments, Taiheng had barged into the Sea of Consciousness. Lifting his gaze, he saw an expansive celestial sky, shimmering with starlight. A young Daoist sat elevated within the void. Seeing Taiheng’s arrival, the Daoist stood up with a faint smile and bowed slightly, addressing him, "Senior Taiheng, I have been awaiting you for quite some time."

Taiheng Ancestor furrowed his brow, let out a cold snort, and remarked, "Feigning mystery!"

His frame shook abruptly, and in an instant, he towered a thousand feet tall, transforming into a ferocious Demon Flood Dragon. It bared its teeth and claws, lunging forward, bringing with it a boundless tidal force to crush Zhang Yan’s Divine Soul in one strike.

Zhang Yan laughed heartily, and from his body arose a golden light, thick and vast, akin to towering mountains. With but one gesture of suppression, the water’s force was quelled, blocked outside his body.

Although he seemed to repel the attack effortlessly, inwardly, Zhang Yan could feel the pressure threatening to disband his Divine Soul. Yet, relying upon his unyielding Dao Heart, he forcibly resisted.

Taiheng Ancestor’s expression shifted to one of astonishment—he had assumed Zhang Yan would be easily defeated. However, Zhang Yan’s Divine Soul proved far stronger than that of ordinary Xuanmen Sect practitioners. Though still inferior to Taiheng in strength, it was not something he could conquer in a matter of moments.

His gaze became sinister and cruel. So what? This was merely desperate resistance before death!

He spoke coldly, "Daoist Zhang, though your Divine Soul is stable and far superior to most, let us see how long you can endure!"

With a shout, his colossal frame quivered, unleashing endless Demonic Qi, transforming into black smoke and Heavenly Fire, surging forth with an overwhelming momentum as if to incinerate Zhang Yan completely.

Fixating on the staggering display of power, Zhang Yan remained undeterred, laughing loudly, "Senior Taiheng, if it’s merely a battle of Divine Souls, this junior cannot contend with you. It appears I have no choice but to summon assistance."

He waved his hand, and suddenly, a clear resonance of immortal music was heard. Out of nowhere, a Jade Scroll transformed into a streak of jade-colored radiance, swiftly appearing before Zhang Yan.

The scroll spiraled and hovered above his head, emitting countless auspicious clouds, dazzling golden light, layers of ethereal mist, and cascading celestial blossoms.

More remarkably, regardless of how the Demonic Qi was propelled, upon making contact with that golden light, it was entirely absorbed. In turn, trails of Clear Qi descended, flowing into Zhang Yan’s head.

Surging Essence Qi replenished his Divine Soul, invigorating Zhang Yan’s spirit. Under the immense pressure, he slowly stood upright. Shaking his body, in the blink of an eye, he transformed into an enormous figure towering thousands of feet high. Casting his gaze downward, he thundered, "Taiheng, today, this place shall be where you bow your head in defeat!"

His voice boomed, shaking the surrounding realm.

Taiheng Ancestor stared at the Jade Scroll, seemingly an Immortal-class Dharma Treasure, with shock etched across his face. The Demonic Qi and Heavenly Fire—manifestations of his own Divine Soul—were incrementally siphoned away with no chance of restoration within Zhang Yan’s Sea of Consciousness.

A sense of foreboding overcame him. Zhang Yan’s possession of such a treasure revealed today’s confrontation was premeditated, crafted to ensnare him. Yet at this point, retreat was impossible. With a roar, thunder crackled, splitting the heavens and shattering the earth. Summoning an even more formidable force, Taiheng lunged ferociously, sinking his fangs into Zhang Yan’s shoulder.

The inherently brutal conflict between Divine Souls offered no middle ground—either one side perished or the other. Zhang Yan might have made preparations beforehand, but allowing such a fiend to invade his own body for a clash was a choice he was forced into only under dire circumstances.

Even with the aid of the Demon Suppression Scroll, victory was far from certain.

But now, with paths cut off, both sides had no choice but to fight to the death.

Zhang Yan let out a sharp chuckle, reaching out with one hand to grasp the Demon Flood Dragon’s head, while the other clenched its body. With a mighty exertion, he tore the dragon into two halves.

Though the Demon Flood Dragon’s form scattered, in mere moments, it coalesced back together, resuming its shape and lunging forward relentlessly.

The two battled fiercely, tumbling and colliding as Zhang Yan’s Divine Soul drew strength from the Jade Scroll while Taiheng’s essence weakened. Still, Taiheng’s attacks remained ferocious, unyielding, and entirely devoid of retreat or fear.

Ultimately, Zhang Yan’s advantage from the Nine Capturing Demon Scroll ensured that unless Taiheng subdued him in one clean strike, Zhang Yan would only grow stronger. With this imbalance, over time, Taiheng Ancestor’s Divine Soul began to dissipate, his resistance faltering.

Who could say how long they fought? But when Zhang Yan again tore apart the Demon Flood Dragon’s body, Taiheng Ancestor’s exhausted shadow slowly dissipated, accompanied by a profound sigh. The dragon’s silhouette fragmented, vanishing into nothingness.

Zhang Yan’s body quivered slightly. As he reopened his eyes, it was as though lightning coursed through the void, brilliance flashing forth.

Before him stretched the distant silhouette of Cang Mountain and forests surging like waves. A large archway stood proudly in front.

Though time seemed to stretch infinitely within the Sea of Consciousness, in the outside world, only a fleeting moment had passed.

After briefly contemplating, Zhang Yan flicked his sleeve and closed the Array Gate. Rising into Yun Tian, he surveyed the ground below.

Before him lay Taiheng Ancestor, clutching a fragment of bone as he sat cross-legged on the earth, his body devoid of life force.

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