Daoist Competition

Guo Mingde saw his junior brother inexplicably defeated and killed, and even the Primordial Spirit did not escape. Unable to figure out what method Zhang Yan used, he couldn’t help but feel flustered.

However, he believed that the "Sorrowful Qi Net" had already restrained Zhang Yan, so he didn’t shrink back. Gritting his teeth, he began to chant a spell.

The mass of black smoke hung down like a bell jar, and at the rise of his spell, it suddenly contracted inward.

Zhang Yan felt a massive force wrapping around him, as if trying to bind and strangle both him and his Nascent Soul together.

He remained calm, sneering as he shook his shoulder. From the Nascent Soul, a full green light rose, holding off the Smoke Net. Then, the green light surged, like branches extending, continuously growing, faintly accompanied by crackling sounds. In just a moment, it forcefully propped open a gap in the "Sorrowful Qi Net" that could not be closed.

Guo Mingde was also startled by this situation. If the treasure were to be pushed aside, the advantage he had gained would be wiped away. How could he let Zhang Yan escape? He hurriedly used a spell to continuously drive mana, causing the "Sorrowful Wind Net" to tremble again and again, its streams continuously hanging down, stretching out, casting black mist over the clouds. As soon as one wave dissipated, it kept entangling inward.

Zhang Yan, seeing the pressure on him suddenly doubled, initially intended to employ the Wood Element True Light to expand it all at once. But just as he was about to exert more force, he hesitated, retracting some strength, only blocking it from enclosing, yet not breaking free.

As a result, this confrontation turned into a mana showdown.

Pang Mingde initially was not in a hurry. The current situation even fit his expectations quite well.

In facing an enemy in a battle array, it was evident that Zhang Yan had the upper hand in skill. However, he believed that Zhang Yan had just recently entered Nascent Condensation. His cultivation could not be as profound as his own, and over time, he would naturally be able to regain the upper hand easily.

But as time went by, he gradually noticed something amiss. Zhang Yan still remained calm and composed, showing no signs of weariness, while he felt short of breath and weak, having difficulty maintaining control.

Of course, this could be Zhang Yan putting on airs, but he dared not gamble with his life.

Especially since Zhang Yan was a cultivator from the Great Sect of East Splendor Continent, often heard to be formidable, Pang Mingde gave him higher regard and couldn’t help but feel uneasy. If his own mana was truly inferior, wouldn’t continuing like this be courting danger?

This is also due to the lack of experience of the Central Pillar Continent cultivators, leading to an unstable Dao Heart.

They often relied on external objects to gain victory. If even their handy Dharma Treasures couldn’t take down an opponent, they would lose confidence, reverting to their original state, doubtful and helpless. If it were a Mingcang Sect Top Ten Disciple instead, even without Dharma Treasures, they would dare to fight to the death.

Time passed, and the two remained in a deadlock. Pang Mingde was feeling mentally exhausted and struggling with severe mana depletion.

Seeing it becoming unsustainable, his heart filled with fear, he bitterly complained, "Are all East Splendor Continent cultivators so formidable? This person has clearly only recently become Nascent Soul, how is he so powerful?"

Thinking further, if this continued, he feared he would meet the same fate as his junior brother, Pang Yuzhong, making him somewhat agitated.

He took out a few Elixir Pills from his sleeve, but upon swallowing them, he found they only supported him for a brief moment.

Nascent Soul cultivators have immense mana, feeding on Heaven and Earth Essence Qi. During battles, they’re constantly depleting it. The power of mere Elixir Pills was merely a drop in the ocean, slightly replenishing some spiritual energy, but hoping to turn the tide with them was futile.

The spectating disciples saw him begin taking Elixir Pills, indicating he was at a disadvantage. They too grew anxious, wishing to assist in the fight, but Nascent Soul cultivator duels had Gang Wind and Qi Radiance swirling around. Those with lower cultivation, upon coming close, would be repelled far away, let alone stepping forward to intervene.

At this moment, no one noticed that when Pang Yuzhong was killed, Hong An had quietly retreated to a spot hidden from everyone’s sight. Ignoring the battle’s outcome, he fled towards the outside of Kunyu without looking back. In no time, he had left the Great Array, disappearing without a trace.

When Guo Mingde came out, he planned for a quick mission, never expecting to stay outside for long. As a result, he didn’t carry many Elixir Pills, and they soon ran out.

After thinking it over, he steeled his heart, shaking his body. With the sound of thunder, a mass of top cloud fell from his Nascent Soul, gently drifting down. Upon touching his skin, it instantly transformed into a stream of Essence Qi, merging into his body.