Daoist Competition

The thousand disciples of the Lie Xuan Sect were eventually escorted out of Kunyu by Lu Guo.

With Zhang Yan, this Nascent Soul Great Cultivator, overseeing them, not one dared to entertain any stray thoughts. They obediently withdrew from the place, then fled as if escaping a great calamity toward the nearest sub-platform of the Lie Xuan Sect.

In these twenty-odd years, the Lie Xuan Sect had established several sub-platforms in Pingxi, but even though the Zhenluo Alliance had retreated to the deep mountains, their power hadn’t diminished much. If any flaw were revealed, it couldn’t be guaranteed they wouldn’t come back, hence each sub-platform was managed with great care.

In doing so, they actually tied up most of the Lie Xuan Sect’s power from top to bottom, leaving the root land in Pingdong rather vulnerable.

The Lie Xuan Sect did not intend to maintain this situation for long. Their main goal was that Divine Beast Embryo, and once it was acquired, they intended to feign defeat and slowly retreat all forces back to Pingdong land. Outwardly, it would seem they had suffered a great loss, but in reality, they quietly obtained a Divine Beast to stabilize their fortune.

Yet when these thousand disciples returned, they brought back shocking news.

Two Nascent Soul cultivators had been slain, both by the hand of a single individual!

The Lie Xuan Sect had sent five Nascent Soul True Masters to Pingxi. Coupled with the protection of the Ancestor master’s Divine Statue and an array formed by tens of thousands of cult members, it was a formidable force, capable of defending the sub-platforms with ease.

But with two gone, the remaining defense was stretched thin.

As Zhang Yan had anticipated, upon hearing this news, the remaining three True Masters did not intend to seek him out for trouble.

Firstly, they were wary of Zhang Yan who had killed their two peers, lacking confidence in victory and fearing being trapped themselves.

Secondly, with the two Nascent Soul cultivators gone, the Lie Xuan Sect’s power in Pingxi significantly weakened, a situation that would soon be detected by the Zhenluo Alliance, risking a massive counterattack. Thus, they could only focus on their own safety, and aside from sending this information to the Main Temple through a Flying Book and waiting for instructions, they took no action.

A month later, atop the Turtle Snake Mountain Peak.

Zhang Yan sat cross-legged, in front of him lay the Divine Beast Embryo.

The Divine Beast was responsive to the innate spiritual nature, born from the essence of Heaven and Earth. How this embryo ended up here, the doing of some Great Power Expert from Haohang Dao Palace, was to absorb the essence of the sun, moon, stars, and the Xuanqing Qi from the Extreme Heaven to nurture a trace of Spiritual Truth.

However, this was just the first step. Now, with the original embryonic form not yet developed, the nature of the Divine Beast was still unfixed.

Situated in the center of the Nine Provinces, Central Pillar Continent had no dominant spirit from any direction. Thus, while the Primordial Qi was sufficient, it wasn’t enough to form a shape. Further movement toward any of the directions—east, south, west, or north—was needed to resonate with the star constellations above and the Earth Qi below, allowing it to emerge in due course.

In other words, whether the Divine Beast Embryo can ultimately be nurtured, and what form of Spiritual Object it will become, entirely depended on where Zhang Yan would take it next.

Yet, in the past month, as Zhang Yan earnestly sensed it, he discovered the embryo was in chaos, empty inside.

He couldn’t help but frown, for if even a trace of Innate Spiritual Truth hadn’t sprouted yet, taking it would be pointless. It needed to absorb more of the Heaven and Earth Essence, and await the opportune moment, which could take a thousand or even ten thousand years, with no way of knowing.

Could it be he should just give up?

Yet when he formed his Nascent Soul, he distinctly sensed a remote spiritual resonance with himself. Though fleeting, he hadn’t overlooked it.

He pondered for a moment, deciding to try a few more times. If it still didn’t work, he would have to take it back to the Cave Mansion and reconsider.

At that moment, he suddenly heard a golden bell ringing from below the mountain, its clear and delightful sound reaching his ears. Zhang Yan raised his eyebrows and said in a deep voice, "Is it Zhong Xin? Come up and speak."

The Daoist boy Zhong Xin climbed tremblingly up the mountain path. Upon seeing Zhang Yan, he knelt at a distance and said, "True Master Zhang, the lord requests an audience."

This young boy, without a master now, was much more earnest.

Zhang Yan shifted his gaze, and Zhong Xin immediately lowered his head in submission, not daring to meet his eyes.

With Duanmu Mian and Hong An gone, Lu Guo had assumed the position of Master of Haohang Dao Palace due to the site’s proximity to the Extreme Heaven, making it convenient for cultivation. Thus Zhang Yan was residing there to stabilize his cultivation.

He pondered briefly, nodded, and said, "Invite Master Lu up here."

Zhong Xin, as if granted amnesty, retreated hurriedly.

A short while later, footsteps sounded, and Lu Guo approached, bowing to Zhang Yan. Just when he was about to say something, he paused, his lips moving, words unspoken...