Daoist Competition

Zhang Yan saw Han Suyi arrive and invited her to sit in the pavilion. He clapped his hands, causing ripples to emerge in the Heavenly Pool, accompanied by a silver bell-like chuckle. A Fish Maid Beauty stepped onto the water, holding a rain-drenched refreshing lotus leaf, gracefully bringing two Clam Cups to the stone table in the pavilion, each containing a pool of Qing Dew.

Han Suyi appeared serene and said, "Junior Brother Zhang, I don’t usually drink."

Zhang Yan smiled subtly, "Senior Sister misunderstands. This is the Jade Dew condensed from the Clear Shell in my Heavenly Pool, sweet and rich, not alcohol." He raised a cup, gestured as a toast, and said, "Please."

Han Suyi glanced at it, extended her slender fingers to pick up a Clam Cup, and with sleeves covering her face, drank the Jade Dew without moving her upper body.

Zhang Yan also picked up a Clam Cup and drank it down.

After drinking, Han Suyi immediately felt a cool sensation flow through her body, making her feel light and comfortable, her mind clear. She praised, "Not bad."

She was of a cold temperament, often retreated within her Cave Mansion to cultivate rigorously, rarely interacting with fellow disciples aside from sect cultivators.

Though she intended not to meet Zhang Yan during the Demon Tribe extermination; before setting out, Huo Xuan approached her, requesting that she deliver an item to Zhang Yan, to express solemnity.

Facing the Ten Disciples Chief, she could not refuse and had to agree, meeting Zhang Yan in person.

But she was not adept at beating around the bush and, after a moment of silence, she said directly, "Junior Brother Zhang, you are used to traveling alone and crossing winds and clouds, but now you are one of the Mingcang Sect’s Ten Disciples. This mission to exterminate the Demon Tribe serves to intimidate small sects. Without a vessel, it won’t be appropriate. Brother Huo commanded me to come forward first and deliver to you the Star Pivot Palace made by Baoyang Institute for your use."

She flicked lightly on a Jade Ring, a speck of starlight flew out and landed above the Heavenly Pool, instantly transforming into a structure two hundred and fifty zhang long and wide, resembling a small city with Jade Stairs and Copper Pillars, enveloped in clouds. In each of the four corners stood a Wang Que, and this Flying Palace had a grand and imposing main hall, surrounded by plantings of flowers, trees, and echoed with clear, long crane cries.

In this mission, the Mingcang Sect dispatched far more than just Zhang Yan and Han Suyi to eradicate the Demon Tribe. Besides disciples from the sect, many small sect disciples would also need to attend, as they represented the sect’s face and certainly couldn’t appear shabby.

Zhang Yan looked at it briefly and did not decline. He cupped his hands and said, "Then I’ll accept it graciously."

Having completed Huo Xuan’s assignment, Han Suyi was about to leave and asked, "When will Junior Brother commence the journey?"

Zhang Yan smiled, "If it does not inconvene Senior Sister, I’ll make brief arrangements and then proceed."

Han Suyi said no more, stood up, and bent her knees slightly. She stepped onto light smoke and ascended into the sky. At this time, a splendidly decorated Flying Palace emerged from the clouds, colorful and magnificent. She waved her water sleeves and floated inside, disappearing from sight.

Zhang Yan noticed that behind the Flying Palace, there followed numerous large ships, dense, numbering nearly a hundred. At this moment, all emitted radiance and smoke, stretching out over a hundred miles. Besides, there were many Feathered Warriors in ceremonial attire, riding cranes and driving beasts; their number was considerable.

He roughly estimated that this expedition involved five to six hundred sect disciples, not including the cultivators from the small sects.

Judging by this formation, Huo Xuan took this matter very seriously. It was also his first time dispatching disciples for external conquest. Perhaps there were elders with even higher status than him and Han Suyi overseeing it.

Zhang Yan sat for a while longer, drank a few more cups of Rain Dew, then stood up and flew into the air, heading towards his Flying Palace.

Once on the Flying Palace, he headed straight for the main hall, crossed three Jade Bridges before entering the hall.

Seating himself on the upper hall, he saw an incense burner, copper cranes, and pearl-adorned fixtures on the walls, comparable to those in his Cave Mansion, involuntarily reflecting. During the Three Pools expedition with Fan Changqing years ago, he rode in such a Flying Palace, but little did he know that years later, he would have his own.

However, the Flying Palace associated with Fan Changqing was made by the Spirit Mechanism Institute. Though the design was similar, it was quite crude. His was specifically made by the Baoyang Institute for the sect’s Top Ten Disciples. Only the Ten Disciples could ride them, far surpassing Fan Changqing’s then palace.

Ever since the sect’s grand competition years ago, Baoyang Institute had begun crafting this item. Although the institute was controlled by noble families, Zhang Yan had to go through some ordeals to obtain it smoothly, until this time, under Huo Xuan’s pressure, it was grudgingly brought forth.