Daoist Competition

Within the Song Country’s imperial family, many royal family disciples have entered the sect, so worldly power and cultivation sects in this province are already inseparable, merged into one.

As for the Zhenluo Alliance, it originally comprised cultivators from various provinces unwilling to be restrained, coming together to form a loose alliance. They do not open doors to accept disciples, and even if they acquire external items, they use them for themselves. Members of this alliance mostly consider their own interests, so despite their numbers, they have always been at a disadvantage when contending with the Lie Xuan Sect.

After Zhang Yan learned everything he wanted to know, he took a step back and said to Lu Guo, "Fellow Daoist Lu, I have finished my inquiries. If you wish to take revenge, you may proceed now."

Lu Guo took a deep breath and stepped forward. Seeing his resentful gaze, Guo Mingde knew he could not escape this calamity. His face went ashen, and he let out a soft sigh, closing his eyes to await death.

Lu Guo snorted and raised his hand. Just as he was about to strike, a pleasant voice rang out: "Lu Daoist, please spare him for now!"

He turned to see that the speaker was the young girl who had previously threatened to refine him into a Powerful Warrior.

She approached with a graceful salute and earnestly said, "Lu Daoist, before you act, could you spare a moment to hear me out?"

Lu Guo, though unwilling to listen, nonetheless paused due to his inherently kind nature, replying stiffly, "Speak."

The young girl offered him another graceful bow and said, "Brother Lu, as you know, Pingdong Land is divided into three. Our Lie Xuan Sect occupies one part, and my name is Bi Ran. My Bi Family is a Southeastern Great Clan, and I have some influence within the sect. If you are willing to release my master, I am willing to offer all the wealth of my family for your use."

Lu Guo snorted and angrily said, "The hatred of a brother’s murder is irreconcilable and cannot be discussed. Spare me your words; I will not release this old thief. I don’t want your things. Go away, I am about to act."

Bi Ran stepped forward, closer to Lu Guo, and softly said, "Brother Daoist, why be so stubborn? The deceased cannot be revived, even if you exact revenge for them. Moreover, if you kill my master, how can you escape the Lie Xuan Sect’s retribution? Is it worth risking your life for this? I am willing to support your cultivation with the full power of my family. Wouldn’t that be better?"

Lu Guo stubbornly said, "I do not care. Besides, who knows if you’re telling the truth? Go away." By the end, he was waving her off.

Bi Ran bit her lip and softly murmured, "If you’re worried I might go back on my word, I am willing to serve you personally, always by your side, and swear a deadly oath. What do you think of this?"

As she spoke, she drew closer, gently leaning her delicate body against Lu Guo, her pretty face flushing with a rosy hue, adding to her beauty.

Lu Guo, having cultivated for over three hundred years, had never stepped foot outside Kunyu, much less encountered such a situation. He immediately stood dumbfounded, pushing her away with both hands, retreating a few steps, his face beet red, speechless.

Zhang Yan watched coldly from the side, not interrupting.

He had captured this man solely for the Divine Beast Embryo. As long as Lu Guo fulfilled his promise, he would leave the decision to him, even if he succumbed to temptation and released Guo Mingde. Zhang Yan would not intervene.

After a while, Lu Guo’s emotions settled. As a cultivator, he quickly regained his composure and said calmly, "Miss Bi, you should leave. My brother treated me like a father. How can I be human if I don’t avenge him? No matter what you say, the result will be the same. Don’t waste your words."

With that, he turned abruptly, acting decisively. With a sweep of his sleeve, a wisp of smoke flew out, striking Guo Mingde’s forehead with a "puff," piercing his skull. Another wave of his sleeve, and amid Bi Ran’s muffled scream, his Primordial Spirit was scattered, leaving him gone from the world.

Having done all this, Lu Guo took a deep breath, tears flowing down his face, and said to the sky, "Elder Brother, your vengeance is taken, though it’s hateful that Hong An, that scoundrel, has escaped. But rest assured, Elder Brother, no matter where he flees, even across the Nine Provinces, I will surely take his head and place it before the Ancestor Master Tablet."

Zhang Yan looked at him, walked slowly closer, and smiled, "Fellow Daoist Lu, since I have taken the treasure from your temple, I hope you will not bear any grudge."

Lu Guo turned back, raised his hands in a great salute to Zhang Yan, and said with emotion, "True Master Zhang, I understand. This treasure is not something I can guard. My elder brother’s cultivation was more than ten times mine, yet he also lost his life. My brothers and I have been here for over three hundred years and could not break the formation, yet as soon as the True Master arrived, the treasure was obtained. Clearly, it is destined for you. Now that the True Master has avenged me, as stated earlier, this item rightfully belongs to you. How could I bear any grudge?"

Zhang Yan nodded in admiration, "Fellow Daoist Lu is indeed trustworthy."

The reason for all his efforts was due to a mysterious feeling that this Divine Beast Embryo would cause great entanglements, regardless of overt or covert attempts to seize it. But once the promise was fulfilled and he received the Haohang Dao Palace disciple’s direct promise of gifting, it became his own, free from further concern.

At this moment, Lu Guo bowed deeply again and said, "True Master Zhang, there is something I am unsure whether to say."

Zhang Yan, in a good mood, laughed, "Please feel free to speak, fellow Daoist."

Lu Guo, a bit embarrassed, pointed to the thousand disciples and said, "These people came here on orders from the sect, and they’re not inherently evil. Heaven has the virtue of nurturing life. I wish to release them, but I fear the Lie Xuan Sect will learn of this and involve you, leaving me uneasy..."

Zhang Yan smiled and said, "Since fellow Daoist Lu has a kind heart, I will gladly comply. As for the concern of involvement, you worry too much. Years ago, I destroyed one of Lie Xuan Sect’s sub-platforms, already offending them. Now that I have become a Nascent Soul, I worry about not having an opponent to test my sword against. If they wish to cause trouble, let them come."

Upon becoming a Nascent Soul, one can ascend to the Extreme Sky, using the Gang Wind to fly thousands of miles daily with ease. To catch up requires another Nascent Soul True Master. Yet within the Lie Xuan Sect, those with similar cultivation are unlikely to dare come alone for revenge, and as for those with profound cultivation, I’d like to meet them. Regardless, possessing the Star Pivot Palace, I fear no assault, even by a group.

Lu Guo couldn’t help showing envy in his eyes.

Reaching Zhang Yan’s level of cultivation, apart from Nascent Soul Third Realm cultivators and Cave Heaven True Masters, few can deal with him, allowing him to roam freely, bound by little!

...

...(To be continued. If you like this work, feel free to visit Qidian (qidian.com) and vote for recommendations and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation.)