Daoist Competition

Within Zhao You’s Mansion, the room was filled with green hues, and hundreds of thousands of rays of brilliance burst forth from Zhang Yan’s body, shimmering in overlapping waves, illuminating the interior and transforming it into a myriad of threads, as if a layer of jade had been brushed onto the cave walls.

Zhang Yan opened his eyes and carefully examined these smoke-like emerald glows, resplendent with green life, seeming to contain an boundless force eager to burst forth, uncontrollable. He withdrew the spell, no longer suppressing it.

The green light, suddenly uncontained, expanded outward with a booming sound, causing the walls and floor to tremble as if threatening to push open the cave mansion, prompting the Mirror Spirit to quickly activate the array restriction to stabilize the space.

Zhang Yan’s expression showed delight; he practiced the True Light for a while more before collecting it with a technique, taking only a moment to completely absorb it within his body.

Moments after this joy arose, he calculated with his fingers and his expression turned solemn.

In this seclusion, a mere moment had passed, yet seven years had gone by. Though quicker than he had originally anticipated, the Wood Element True Light had seen minor accomplishment, yet now only fifty-seven years remained until the swordfight, time growing ever urgent.

The next step was to reverse engineer the Cultivation Technique using the Nine Number True Scripture.

From the current perspective, with the assistance of the Broken Jade, it would take at most a year and a half to fully deduce the Daoist Technique of Wood Element True Light.

However, there was still no solution for the Gold and Fire Qi.

Before Liu Yan Yi left, he had specifically entrusted him to seek these two Qi’s.

Based on his understanding of his head disciple, as long as entrusted with the matter, he would certainly endeavor to complete it, calculating the days, his return was imminent, so for now there was no urgency.

If all went smoothly, the remaining two True Lights could be mastered within twenty years after his head disciple’s return.

Thus achieving the unity of the Five Elements, following which, he would strive to condensate the True Imprint of Dharma Power, stepping into the Third Realm of Hua Dan.

Nearly only thirty years remained for him now.

The difficulty of "Sleeping Yin Storage" required consuming massive quantities of the pure Qi of Heaven and Earth, a slow process with no shortcuts, and even the assistance of the Broken Jade was of little use.

Figures like Du De, Xiao Ti, Zhuang Bufan, and Luo Qingyu had all long stepped into this realm, but found themselves stuck at this hurdle, indicative of its difficulty.

This was not due to a lack of diligence, but the higher the grade of Elixir Formation, the longer it took.

Zhang Yan considered his First-class Elixir Formation would only take even longer, making it almost impossible to reach the Nascent Soul Realm in such a short time.

After pondering for a long time, he suddenly remembered, why bother solving such issues alone? Perhaps he could seek advice from the Sect Leader, to see if there was any solution.

Thinking of this, he rose and left the mansion, heading to the Floating Heavenly Palace.

Borrowing the Dharma Talisman to fly, he soon arrived at a side hall he had visited before, reporting his name. The child recognized him and immediately went inside to report. After waiting a moment, he came out and said the Sect Leader had summoned him inside.

Inside the hall, Zhang Yan stepped forward, bowing, and said, "Disciple greets the Sect Leader."

Sect Leader Qin’s warm voice descended from above, saying, "Zhang Yan, why are you not cultivating well in your cave mansion, and instead come here to me?"

Zhang Yan replied, "Disciple has doubts and specifically came to seek the Sect Leader’s guidance."

Sect Leader Qin said, "Speak then."

Zhang Yan did not hide, revealing the matter concerning Cai De Yan from that day, omitting many details, finally saying, "Disciple is unsure if this matter is true or false."

Upon hearing, the Sect Leader laughed and said, "You clearly already know it to be true, so why ask me? But as the time is not right, it’s inconvenient to disclose to the sect. You must not recklessly spread it outside."

Zhang Yan bowed, saying, "Disciple wishes to attend the Sword Fighting Conference but encounters a Dao difficulty, asking the Sect Leader for advice on the pathway."

Sect Leader Qin gave him a look, pinching the horsetail whisk as though considering something. Shortly after, seemingly making a decision, he said clearly, "Since you already know of this matter, it’s your opportunity, destiny so dictates. I shall direct you a path: if you can gather the True Imprint of Dharma Power within twenty years, you may come to this Floating Heavenly Palace for cultivation. Remember, I give you only thirty years; whether you succeed depends entirely on your own creation."

After speaking, he gently waved the horsetail whisk, signaling him to withdraw.

Upon hearing, Zhang Yan couldn’t help but feel joy; the Floating Heavenly Palace is one of the ten Spiritual Eyes of the East Splendor Continent, where only the Hall Master of the Three Halls and the Supreme Elder can cultivate, its Spirit Sha Qi endless, far beyond the typical Grotto Heaven.