Daoist Competition

If it were someone else in this situation, they might suspect that they took a wrong step in the formation, but his expression remained unchanged, his face calm as if he was unaware, his steps still firm, continuing forward. He was navigating the obstacles by clever means, not by the righteous path, so facing some hardships was within his expectations. However, as long as it didn’t endanger his life, it was of no consequence.

After walking a few dozen steps further, the rapid sounds suddenly dispersed, the turmoil gradually subsided. He activated his Mysterious Skill, and the wounds on his body suddenly closed up.

When he looked up again, he found that he had already stepped out of the Great Array, reaching the top of Turtle Snake Mountain. The place he stood was only five zhang square, and ten steps away there was a white strange stone, massive and round, without edges or corners, resembling an egg, with the upper half protruding into the blue sky.

He looked up and saw above his head sharp Gang Winds whirling and intertwining, seemingly within reach.

Standing at the peak, he shouted and then summoned the Heroic Festival Fish Drum into the air.

This Dharma Treasure, upon appearing, suddenly vibrated, transforming into a radiance, instantly breaking through the Gang Qi, soaring above the Heavenly Cloud.

Within a few breaths, suddenly there was the roar of thunder, shaking heaven and earth, the Gang Wind swirling, suddenly tearing open a rift in the sky, revealing the Outer Heaven Void. There lightning and thunder bolts, wild like dancing dragons and snakes, carried innumerable green sand shards, rushing into the Fish Drum.

After a while, suddenly there was a clear sound like a dripping spring, as a piece of lustrous Green Jade fell from the rift.

Zhang Yan caught it in his hand, feeling it smooth as oiled fat, shimmering like condensed dew. Even without absorbing it into his body, he could feel the immeasurable and astounding Primordial Qi within.

Having undergone the refinement of the Fish Drum, it had now completely lost its violent nature, calm and peaceful, ready for use.

This Green Sun Gang Spirit was originally scattered star debris from outer heaven, prohibited from falling into the world by the swirling Gang Wind above the Extreme Sky, and thus wandered above the Extreme Sky.

And those steep peaks towering into the heavens, higher than the Extreme Sky, became its only places of attachment. After being illuminated by sun, moon, and stars for millennia, it absorbed the purest Energetic Qi from the void, finally becoming refined.

The Central Pillar Continent was the highest of the Nine Provinces in terms of terrain, and this Kunyu Turtle Snake Mountain stood atop the pillar. Since the opening of the Nine Provinces, it had gathered countless Green Sun Gang Spirits, accessible only to cultivators above the Nascent Soul stage.

The Yu Gu True Spirit dispersed the Gang Qi, suddenly emerging from the rift, loudly saying, "Nephew Zhang, this Green Gang Yang Ying cannot be tainted by worldly mundane air, quickly refine it. I will find another piece for you."

Zhang Yan no longer hesitated. He sat down cross-legged, holding the Green Jade in his hand. As he activated his techniques, in an instant, an extremely pure Essence Qi entered his body, his whole body’s Mana immediately swelling, almost reaching the point of bursting.

Such abundant and full Essence Qi delighted him immensely, but this emotion only arose for a moment before he erased it from his heart, focusing his full attention on refining, quickly closing off his senses, leaving only his Inner Breath to guide the Qi Mechanism, as if dying and being reborn, entering meditation.

As he absorbed the Green Sun Gang Jade, he was completely unaware of the events outside. Down Turtle Snake Mountain, Zhong Xin initially monitored Zhang Yan day and night, almost like a statue, unmoving. As time went by, he became lax, reporting daily at first, then once every ten days, and later, once a month.

One day, feeling bored, he suddenly noticed someone standing in front of him, startling him. He looked up and hastily said, "The young servant greets Second Master."

Hong An responded with a sound "hmm," glanced at the substitute left by Zhang Yan, and said, "Did this Daoist Zhang give any instructions before entering meditation?"

Zhong Xin bowed his head and replied, "Reporting to Second Master, no, after entering meditation, he has yet to awaken."

Hong An gestured for silence, saying, "I will speak a few words with Daoist Zhang, step aside and wait."

Zhong Xin did not dare disobey and said, "Yes, I’ll wait outside."

Hong An’s eyes glinted, a slight smile on his face, as he approached Zhang Yan, stopping a zhang away, raised his hand in a Daoist salute, and said, "Fellow Daoist Zhang, Hong An is here to visit."

Zhang Yan remained silent and motionless.

Hong An was surprised, looked at him again, said another word, but still received no response. He hesitated and tested, "Since fellow Daoist is unavailable, I shall come again another day?"

He waited for a while, seeing that Zhang Yan was still silent, shook his head, and turned to leave, but a bit of suspicion arose in his mind.

He paused his steps, slowly turned back, scanned Zhang Yan’s face, his eyes rolling, moving lightly, he walked closer, stood for a moment, then reached out a hand, touched Zhang Yan’s shoulder, and his expression changed abruptly.

His face showed alternating cloudiness and clear skies for a long time, his fists clenching and unclenching several times before returning to normal, as if nothing had happened, he went out, waved for Zhong Xin, and instructed, "This Daoist Zhang is at a critical juncture of his derivation, do not disturb him, otherwise it will ruin major events. Even if you are Senior Brother’s disciple, I will take your life."

Zhong Xin kneeled on the ground, saying, "I dare not defy Second Master’s affairs."

Hong An glanced back and then stepped away, outside the mountain, leaped, transforming into a long stream of smoke and flew away. Soon he exited Kunyu, lifted his sleeve, and a Flying Talisman vanished without a trace.

He gritted his teeth and said, "Senior Brother, don’t blame me either. If you and I have this treasure, how can it be kept safe?"

The talisman, once released, flew far into the sky, crossing myriad mountains and waters in an instant, finally reaching a valley surrounded by reflections of green mountains and wrapped in green waters.

After circling a few times, like someone guiding it, it dived into a Cave Mansion, landing in the hands of an old Daoist of ancient age.

This old Daoist had crane-like hair and youthful visage, wore a Nine Beam Crown, clad in a Sun and Moon Purple Gold Robe, with a swirl of Gang Cloud above his head. He opened the letter and said coldly, "This Hong An is truly incompetent. Even tasked with guarding a treasure, he cannot hold it. I, Old Daoist, want to see, what item the Lie Xuan Sect seeks, who dares to take it!"

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...(To be continued. If you like this work, please support it at Qidian (qidian.com) by voting with recommendation tickets and monthly tickets, your support is my greatest motivation.)