Daoist Competition

"When this person first arrived at the mansion, no one in the clan was familiar with him. I intentionally befriended him multiple times, and after a few encounters, we developed a bit of rapport. Once, when he was drunk, the conversation inadvertently turned to the Pavilion Master, and unexpectedly, he showed some resentment towards the Pavilion Master!"

In the side hall of Zhao You, Xiao Yi recounted the situation one by one.

Zhang Yan heard this and merely smiled, saying, "Your Xiao Clan members resenting me is not something new."

Not to mention Xiao Mousui and Xiao Han, who, according to rumors, went missing because of him. Speaking of that Mystical Artifact, the Five Spirit White Carp Shuttle, which he had also schemed to acquire, how could the Xiao Clan show him any pleasant expressions?

Xiao Yi quickly explained, "It’s not like that. He also said that someone would come to deal with the Pavilion Master soon. However, he was tight-lipped, and after several attempts, I couldn’t get anything more out of him. Thinking of the Pavilion Master’s great kindness towards me, I came to report it."

"Oh?"

Zhang Yan turned his gaze toward him, glanced at his face, and said, "You do have good intentions."

Xiao Yi did not dare to meet his eyes, quickly lowered his head, and said, "I dare not. Were it not for the Pavilion Master’s guidance, I wouldn’t be where I am today."

Zhang Yan lightly smiled, waved his sleeve, and said, "I am aware now. You should go back early to avoid suspicion from the clan."

Xiao Yi got up, bowed, dared not say more, and hurriedly took his leave.

After he left, the Mirror Spirit came forward and said, "Master, although this person swore an oath that day, he must be unwilling in his heart. Could he really be so kind-hearted?"

Zhang Yan sneered, "He is certainly not that kind-hearted, but how could I not see through his little schemes? He came here probably fearing that I’d suffer a loss and later trouble him. However, just for this reason, he wouldn’t come to me so urgently. I guess it’s that Xiao Ao in the clan who has threatened his current position, thus he is eager to seek me, hoping I would teach that person a lesson, allowing him to rest easy."

He clearly dissected the situation, and the Mirror Spirit suddenly understood. The more he thought about it, the more he felt it was indeed so, and couldn’t help but voice his admiration, "Master truly has sharp insight, seeing through his heart at a glance."

However, moments later, he turned worried and said, "According to what that person said, someone might come to trouble you. I wonder who it might be?"

Zhang Yan stood up, flicked his sleeve, and chuckled, "Whether I know or not, I will handle it the same way. Why bother to think about it? Just make sure you guard the Cave Mansion well."

The Mirror Spirit immediately complied.

After Zhang Yan gave his instructions, he did not go to the main hall for a banquet but returned to the Little Pot Mirror to continue deducing the Wood Element True Light.

Three months later, a sword light, resembling a cool moonlight, streaked across the sky a thousand miles away from Zhao You Heavenly Pond, towards this place.

Liu Yan Yi was riding her sword in the sky. After nearly twenty years apart, she had finally found various Hua Dan External Medicines, and returned from her travels with great hardship.

She wore a bamboo-colored skirt, her black hair like a waterfall cascading over her shoulders, tied with a silver ring, her demeanor softer and more serene than when she left the mansion back then.

As she was flying, she suddenly felt a sense of alarm, slightly furrowed her delicate brows, quickly redirected the sword light to the side, and saw a plume of smoke pass across the front, causing her clothes to flutter.

The sneak attacker, seeing the attack missed, did not make a sound and instead maneuvered a large cloud to envelop her. Just as it was about to descend, Liu Yan Yi felt a tightness surrounding her, as if she had fallen into an icy cocoon, with cold winds forming icy whirlpools.

She looked around and saw that the cloud extended for more than ten miles, making it impossible to escape quickly.

She immediately guessed that the opponent came prepared, so it was not advisable to forcefully fly away. Instead, she invoked the Mystical Artifact gifted by Zhang Yan, the "Boat Mooring Bag," which transformed into a crystalline cloud to resist, calmly saying, "Which fellow Daoist is here to trouble a young girl?"

The cloud suddenly parted, and a middle-aged Daoist Nun appeared, her eyes scanning Liu Yan Yi’s face twice, expressionless she said, "Liu Yan Yi, I’ve been waiting for you here for many days. Come with me now."

Liu Yan Yi saw that the other was wearing a Mingcang Sect Daoist robe and seemed to be a Hua Dan Cultivator, so she remained courteous, bowed, and said, "Which elder from the sect is here, and where do you intend to take Yan Yi?"

The middle-aged Daoist Nun said indifferently, "I am Yue Longshan from the sect, counted as your elder. Hearing that you are an outstanding disciple of our sect, I would like to invite you to stay at my Linglang Cave Heaven for a few days. If you quickly put away your Dharma Treasure and follow me, you can suffer less."

Liu Yan Yi became alert upon hearing the mention of Linglang Cave Heaven, gripped her sword ball, and said, "Elder, please allow me to report. I have traveled outside for many years and haven’t seen my mentor, and I need to return to the mansion to pay my respects. After the formalities, if my mentor permits, I will visit your esteemed residence."