Daoist Competition

After Zhang Yan freed himself from Luo Qingyu, he continued ahead but soon saw someone blocking the way.

This person had a peculiar appearance, with four-pupil eyes, a straight nose and square mouth, wearing a Primordial Crown on his head, wide sleeves, and cloud under his feet that rolled and swirled. His face showed an indifferent expression. He was Zhuang Bufan, one of the Top Ten Disciples.

Upon seeing this person, Zhang Yan raised his brows, not surprised. Since Luo Qingyu had found an excuse to duel with him, it was no surprise Zhuang Bufan came as well. He smirked, "Senior Brother Zhuang, are you also here to measure yourself against me?"

Zhuang Bufan coldly said, "I didn’t expect you to pass Junior Luo’s test, which shows your skills are impressive. No need for more words. If you can pass under my Divine Skill, then I will leave, and you are free to go to the Floating Heavenly Palace in the future."

As his voice fell, without waiting for Zhang Yan’s reply, he stretched his right sleeve, and from the sleeve flew a yellow Qi which, upon emerging, scattered instantly. Dust and sand rose, wind and clouds changed color, and rolling yellow smoke surged upward.

Zhang Yan reacted quickly, and before the yellow smoke approached, his Flying Sword transformed into light and flew out, shielding his body, ready to fly out of there.

However, upon entering the cloud, he found that the turbid smoke seemed to encapsulate a whole world, making escape impossible.

Zhuang Bufan shook his sleeve, and the yellow smoke rushed down. As it touched his body, Zhang Yan felt an irresistible force seize him. A moment later, he became disoriented, was flipped upside down, and involuntarily thrown towards the sleeve.

Seeing that he was about to be drawn into the sleeve, he refused to sit idle awaiting his fate. Hurriedly, he performed the Qi Jue and with a flick of his hand, there was a thunderous crack, like lightning in a drought sky. A Purple Cloud Divine Thunder split the air and fiercely struck the dense cloud and yellow smoke above.

This Divine Skill indeed possessed unparalleled might. With one strike, it blasted everything apart.

But as if anticipating this, Zhuang Bufan sneered coldly, withdrew his right sleeve, and then spread his left sleeve. The wide sleeve shook in the wind like a drop of ink spreading in water, continuously unfolding, expanding over several miles in a blink, resembling a dark cloud curtain, encompassing heaven and earth.

This Great Luo Heavenly Sleeve, when trained to the extreme, can capture nine mountains, seize the Four Seas, and move stars and moons. The previous strike was merely a diversion, preventing Zhang Yan from escaping smoothly—now was the real action.

As it descended, it immediately blocked all four directions, leaving Zhang Yan nowhere to hide. Within moments, he was wrapped into the encirclement.

Seeing this, Zhang Yan unleashed several Purple Cloud Divine Thunders, intending to break free. Though thunder roared continuously, echoing without end, it was like stones sinking into the sea, without causing any waves. In mere moments, his entire being was swept up by the overpowering turbid Qi and vanished into the sleeve.

With a blank expression, Zhuang Bufan gathered his sleeve, brushed it, placed one hand behind his back, and soared atop the clouds towards the horizon.

Although Zhang Yan was trapped in the sleeve, his mind remained clear. He opened his eyes to find himself in a chaotic world, bound like a cocoon by countless swirling yellow and turbid Qi. His body power seemed captured and restricted, difficult to maneuver.

If someone else were to fall into this situation, they would likely have no way out. However, Zhang Yan had mastered many Divine Skills and Strange Techniques, not one to be easily defeated without a solution.

He laughed coldly, and a fierce gleam erupted in his eyes. With his Mysterious Skill, a dim green light burst forth from behind him. This light opposed the yellow smoke, internally unleashing an infinite life force, akin to spring rejuvenating all things. It pushed the yellow smoke outward bit by bit. As it was about to break free, he roared sharply, tongue snapping like thunder. With a mighty push outward, a thunderous boom resounded, and he shattered the smoke, escaping!

Zhuang Bufan, upon capturing Zhang Yan, was amidst the clouds heading towards the gate. Suddenly, his arm shook unexpectedly, causing him to stumble mid-cloud unexpectedly. Looking at his sleeve, he found it torn wide open. His expression changed, and he looked up to see Zhang Yan standing a hundred meters away, bowing his hand and shouting, "Thank you, Senior Brother Zhuang, for getting me this far. Farewell!"

With that said, he merged his sword light, taking off with Wei Family’s mother and son. In an instant, they vanished beyond the horizon.

Zhuang Bufan watched him disappear with a cold face, powerless, huffed heavily, and stepped away, turning to leave.

Returning, Zhang Yan faced no obstacles. His sword light soared to the heavens, flying swiftly like lightning, smoothly reaching Zhao You Heavenly Pond.

Arriving before the Cave Mansion, he disbanded the tunneling light from his body and first instructed Wei Zihong to consume two Medicine Pills to resist the cold Qi of Zhao You Heavenly Pool Mansion. Once they absorbed the power of the pills, he rolled his sleeve and brought the two into the Main Mansion.