Daoist Competition

On the south bank of Shang River, the population is sparse, mostly ancient towering woods, and between the undulating mountains, there are only a few mountain paths leading into Wei Country.

However, tens of thousands of demons rampage through, no matter if there is a road or not, breaking through mountains and filling rivers, like a flood, leaving the land plowed wherever they pass, beasts fleeing pell-mell, birds soaring in panic, and the demon energy rising skywards that can be seen over a hundred miles away.

Chui State is the largest city in the northwest of Wei Country, and Master Yang Pi is considered a capable official. At this moment, the city walls are full of soldiers and officers, crossbow mechanisms poisoned water, rolling wood and stone are all prepared.

Additionally, there are some Daoists on the city walls busy at work, using wooden swords to pick up talismans, chanting unknown spells, all summoned from the nearby Dao Palaces to help defend the city.

A few days ago, news came that Yong State City had become a ghostly realm, with seventy thousand townsfolk devoured entirely by invading demons, thus the entire city must be on guard.

Beside Master Yang stands a young Daoist in coarse blue cloth, with a scholarly appearance. He glanced a few times and said worriedly: "Master Yang, these fellow Daoists usually draw talismans to catch ghosts, bless and treat illnesses, which is fine, but against these demons it seems quite insufficient."

Master Yang values this Daoist greatly, and on hearing this, he smiled wryly and said: "Jiang Daoist, how can I not know? However, some help is better than none, otherwise, before the demons even arrive, it seems the soldiers would run away completely. They can flee, but I cannot, nor can all the city’s people."

Jiang Daoist sighed: "It’s a pity, my mana is weak. If my mentor were here, this group of demons would not be allowed to run rampant."

Master Yang knows the abilities of this Jiang Daoist, not to mention anything else, just seeing him fly across the sky without relying on any magic artifacts. Among the Taoists he has seen, only this one. Hearing him mention his own teacher, he couldn’t help but ask: "I don’t know which Immortal your teacher is? Could you possibly invite him to rescue the people here?"

Jiang Daoist showed a forlorn expression, slowly shaking his head.

Master Yang couldn’t help feeling disappointed, thinking Jiang Daoist’s cultivation is already unimaginable, his mentor’s mana must be unbelievably high?

Yet such a divine-like figure cannot save the people from disaster, he couldn’t help but murmur: "The Immortal’s tracks are hard to find, yet what have the people done wrong, to suffer this calamity?"

Jiang Daoist is also powerless. On that day, his mentor only taught him the cultivation method. Later, by sheer chance, he stumbled upon the cave mansion of a long-immortalized cultivator deep in the mountains, allowing him to condense Xuan Guang.

But he does not know which cultivator his mentor was, nor where he is at this moment. He only remembers that transcendent, majestic figure like an immortal, how can he answer?

A staff below saw the Master so despairing, stepped forward to salute, and said: "Master, don’t worry, I have a method that can stop the demons."

Master Yang looked up surprised, his spirit a bit lifted, and eagerly said: "If you have an idea, then quickly speak."

The staff pointed to the torrent of river water five miles outside the city, and said: "Master, please look, this is the Long River, the water is surging, flowing constantly, this kind of great power of earth and water is ten times more than the demons. If you seize the moment the demons cross the river and order someone to dig open it..."

He hadn’t finished speaking, and Master Yang’s expression changed suddenly, shouting: "Silence!"

The staff, having put forward this idea, had already steeled himself, showing no fear, and knelt with a "thump," saying: "Master, although the homeland of the people is hard to preserve, it can surely stop them from heading south. Master, sacrificing one state, it can save the people of the world..."

Master Yang knows this method is feasible, but once the Long River is opened, within a thousand miles, it will become a swamp, countless people will perish in this flood alone. Moreover, he bears the infamy throughout history, fearing he would not be at peace even underground.

No matter how the staff pleaded bitterly, he just didn’t listen and ordered to have him dragged down, with his mouth blocked by cloth.

At this moment, fifty miles outside Chui State City, Demon King Quan He stands on a mound, encircled by over ten Demon Generals.

Behind him, the hills teem with the Quantu Tribe demons.

He is dressed in a mysterious robe with golden embroidery, looking mighty and vigorous, with steely brows and starry eyes, his face showing no trace of demon energy, gazing at the faintly visible waters of Long River, saying: "I hear this Chui State City is the largest city in the northwest territory, with twenty thousand people, a fine piece of meat, but crossing the river isn’t easy. General Han, lead your trusted aides to seize this city for me, capture the flesh and distribute it to the lads."

General Han, five zhàng tall, with a rude appearance and protruding teeth, is a Power Dao Practitioner capable of altering his body’s size, though he particularly enjoys his immensely robust state. Responding with a booming voice: "Your Majesty, rest assured, without competition from those other tribes this time, the people of this city are assuredly our meal."