Daoist Competition

Two Demon Sect practitioners fled all the way for thousands of miles. After circling around a dense forest, they finally came to a stop.

The dry and skinny Daoist summoned smoke for flying. Before long, he caught a deer and threw it at his feet.

The strange-faced cultivator coughed up two mouthfuls of fresh blood consecutively, then pulled out a Jade Bottle from his sleeve, poured a few crimson medicine pills into his hand, chewed them, and immediately reached out to grab the deer. With a casual motion, he jabbed his finger, creating a bloody hole, and tilted his head back to gulp down the blood mixed with the medicine residue.

He circulated his Mysterious Skill, and once the medicinal power dissolved and his injuries slightly improved, he exhaled a long breath.

Wiping the bloodstains at the corner of his mouth, he remarked with deep shock, "This Zhang Yan, merely ranked ninth among the ten disciples of the Mingcang Sect, already carries three Mystical Artifacts and wields grand Daoist Skills. If he’s this capable, I can’t imagine how formidable Huo Xuan and Zhong Muqing must be."

The dry and skinny Daoist remained silent for a good while before finally speaking, "It’s too soon to make conclusions. Judging by Zhang Yan’s hurried demeanor, he must be rushing to handle some major affair, which is why he’s so equipped. If we were to confront him without holding back, the odds of us losing aren’t necessarily guaranteed."

The strange-faced cultivator nodded. The two had just been forced to flee in embarrassment under Zhang Yan’s pressure, and at the moment, neither offered comforting words.

Since leaving their sect, they had confidently targeted the Mingcang Sect first. However, things had turned disadvantageous from the outset, and it dampened their spirits.

After a brief silence, the strange-faced cultivator took the initiative to ask, "Senior brother, what shall we do next?"

The dry and skinny Daoist thought carefully before replying in a serious tone, "Though Zhang Yan has discerned our identities, he doesn’t know what we’ve come here for. Let’s proceed with the original plan."

The strange-faced cultivator lamented, "We only brought six sets of the Sky Covering Cotton Handkerchief for use against the three sons of Shaoqing. Who would have thought we’d need to expend one on Zhang Yan already? Things have gotten tricky now."

The dry and skinny Daoist patted the flying shuttle and said, "With the Secret Shuttle in hand, five sets of Cotton Handkerchiefs should suffice."

He pondered for a while before taking out paper and a brush, writing several paragraphs in a flowing style. With a flick of his sleeve, the writings lifted into the air. He then retrieved an Ink Jade Scroll, shook it lightly, and the text poured into it before vanishing entirely.

This Sixteen Sects Sword Competition was a clash between the Six Demon Sects and the Ten Sects of Xuanmen. Zhang Yan’s boundless potential meant he would most likely attend the swordfight event. Thus, the dry and skinny Daoist meticulously recorded their entire encounter with Zhang Yan, so their sect disciples could strategize effectively.

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Three days later, Zhang Yan arrived at Bronze Mountain.

Hovering in the skies, he gazed downward.

The entryways to Yao Yin Mountain were already sealed, and the Mountain Protection Array seemed operational. Breaking in from the outside would be immensely difficult, so even great cultivators who came to investigate had achieved little.

Nevertheless, many cultivators lingered nearby, unwilling to leave, hoping to stumble upon some opportunity.

Intending to avoid attention, Zhang Yan explored a few locations only to find several Nascent Soul True Masters standing atop the mountain peaks, surveying the surroundings. His brows furrowed at this discovery.

If he activated the Array Gate now, the commotion caused by the appearance of the archway would undoubtedly alert them. Entering might be easy, but exiting would become perilous.

He reconsidered and knew he needed another method.

Retrieving the Golden Seal, he was just about to open the Great Array Gate. As Spiritual Energy converged within it, an overwhelming surge of Mana burst forth, drawing his own energy to break eighteen layers of prohibitions in an instant. Within moments, the Golden Seal was completely refined, and its operation was now instinctive.

A mixture of astonishment and joy overcame him. Originally, his cultivation level required half a year to fully refine the Golden Seal. But this surge of Mana made the process effortless.

It must be a blessing left by the Sect Leader, aiding him at the critical juncture.

Furthermore, as the Spiritual Energy broke the prohibitions, he faintly perceived subtle insights regarding Mana circulation. The Sect Leader must have deliberately used this opportunity to guide him.

Understanding this change deeply, future refinements of similar treasures would no longer be riddled with challenges for Zhang Yan.

Especially now that the Golden Seal was thoroughly refined, he no longer needed to risk entering upfront. Even outside the Yao Yin Mountain Sect, he could effortlessly control the Mountain Protection Array without fear of detection.

With a flick of his Flying Sword, he sought out a secluded peak nearby, lowered his cloud, and stopped within a mountainside. Sitting cross-legged on a rock, he took hold of the Golden Seal and delved his Heart and Spirit into its depths.

It turned out the Golden Seal governed eighty-one arrays, cycling endlessly. Moreover, each gateway split into thirty-six entry and exit points, forming nearly three thousand Array Gates throughout Bronze Mountain, interconnected like paths, seamlessly integrated. No wonder the gates, when opened, seemed omnipresent.