Daoist Competition

However, both noticed the other was no ordinary person and were wary, so neither was willing to make the first move.

The Kushou Daoist saw no one was impeding him at this moment, and his heart stirred, knowing the opportunity had come. He emerged from the banner, leapt with tunneling light, and again rushed towards the token talisman.

Below, Zhang Boyan and Xu Daoist saw Luo Canghai leaving and immediately sensed an opportunity.

Zhang Boyan looked at Wu and Lady Qi, who were left there at the moment, and whispered, "Pavilion Master, why don’t Daoist Xu and I take care of these two first?"

Zhang Yan, however, motioned to stop them, smiling as he said, "No need, just watch my methods, both of you."

He slowly stood up, and as his body straightened, a mighty Gang Wind swept across the mountain top, rustling the leaves, and the broken stones and sands on the peak started to tumble down.

He raised his voice in a long chant to the sky, and the Gang Cloud above him shook. With a boom, it surged into the Yunxiao, reached the top of the sky, then unfolded and stretched, soon transforming into a thousand-zhang cloud mass. Initially shrouded in five colors, it was now filled with Purple Qi, within which electric snakes danced wildly and Thunder Radiance darted, faintly emitting a rumbling sound.

This commotion was very much like the Heavenly Extreme appearing directly above, drawing all cultivators in the gorge to look up. Many who saw Zhang Yan casting spells couldn’t help recalling the earlier tremendous hand, turning pale-faced.

Zhou Huang had already retrieved the token talisman and returned to the peak. He suddenly turned back, his gaze freezing as he exclaimed in surprise, "Purple Cloud Divine Thunder?"

Luo Canghai also wore a solemn expression. Being a disciple of a fierce sect, he naturally recognized this Divine Skill. With such a phenomenon arising, this strike must have been brewing for some time, and once it fell, it would be earth-shattering, not easily resisted.

In a quick thought, his heart sank, realizing Zhang Yan wasn’t unwilling to fight but intended to take down all that came at once.

He was neither from the Xuanmen nor the Demon Sects; this place was certainly not a place to linger. If he hesitated and retreated now, the chance to seize the token talisman would diminish greatly.

With this realization, his face twisted into a fierce expression. The more this was the case, the less he could allow Zhang Yan to carry out this method. He needed to strike while Zhang Yan couldn’t spare any attention elsewhere, to stop him.

He roared furiously, swept his sleeve, and unleashed a shiny silver flying shuttle. Halfway there, amid a dragon’s roar, it transformed into a majestic Azure Dragon, coiling auspicious clouds, soaring into the sky, its long body shaking off wind and smoke, directly charging towards the mountain peak.

This scene was witnessed by three disciples of the Mingcang Sect, all showing a look of surprise and doubt in their eyes.

Huo Xuan turned his head, saying to Luo Qingyu and Zhong Muqing, "Could it be the Four Symbols Sky Shuttle technique of our Mingcang Sect?"

Though Luo Qingyu usually spoke little, his reaction at this moment was especially intense. His gaze sharpened abruptly, and he said, "Two Senior Brothers, this person must be a disciple of that fierce sect. Since we are Mingcang disciples, we must finish him!"

Huo Xuan pressed his hand on his shoulder, saying in a deep voice, "Junior Brother, stay calm. With Junior Brother Zhang’s Divine Passage Skill, he’s fully capable of dealing with this person. Just guard against his escape. You and Junior Brother Zhong should secure the gorge’s entrance, then we won’t have to worry about his escape."

Luo Qingyu understood, nodding repeatedly. With prohibitions guarding the peaks on both sides of Chengyuan Gorge, there was no fear of him flying over the top. As long as the gorge’s entrance was secured, the man would be like a turtle in a jar.

After a few more words, Luo and Zhong descended from the peak, soon vanishing from sight.

Zhang Yan saw the Azure Dragon charging and merely smiled slightly. A flash of brilliance appeared above him, and the Qiankun Leaf flew out, soft as a fluttering leaf, shooting out golden radiance.

This treasure, having undergone prolonged Sacrificial Refinement, was now in Unity of Heart and Spirit with him, unlike when it was first acquired, not yet smooth and Ruyi.

Among the dragon’s roars, the Azure Dragon charged down with the might to shatter mountains and crack peaks, transmitting a great bang. Although the Qiankun Leaf was shaken with a burst of golden stars and trembled incessantly, it still held firmly in place, not retreating in the slightest.

Zhang Yan’s body remained unmoved as his Sword Intent rose in his heart. A sword light imbued with chilling energy swept sideways from beneath the Qiankun Leaf, slashing into mid-air.

Luo Canghai was just about to dodge when suddenly his body stiffened, as if gripped by someone, his face changing. He then realized that this space was locked by the Dragon Carp.

He cursed endlessly within his heart; this technique was employed with such speed, clearly something Zhang Yan had prepared long ago.

Yet with the situation critical, there was no time for further thoughts. He hastily summoned four dazzling flying shuttles to protect himself.

As soon as the four flying shuttles entered the air, the images of four Divine Beasts seemed to appear, only to flicker briefly before the charging sword light vanished.

At this moment, Wu Huanchen and Lady Qi also felt their bodies trapped as if in mire, struggling to move, knowing they couldn’t escape. They could only summon their Protective Dharma Treasures, both looking at the thunderclouds swirling in the void, filled with dread.

Zhou Qingyun felt as though her body was bound, gently chanting. A lustrous Jade Pearl emerged from the Gang Cloud above, descending with a brilliant starlight to protect her form. Then, taking advantage of Luo Canghai’s inattentiveness, she seized the token talisman.

Zhang Yan paid her no heed, solely focusing on urging his mana. In just a moment, the Gang Cloud seemed to have reached its peak capacity.

He shouted mightily, suddenly releasing his mana!

In an instant, the world was filled with crackling lightning, flashing with dazzling brilliance. Hundreds of purple bolts struck down ferociously from the Gang Cloud, as if the sky were collapsing and the earth shattering. Mountains in the gorge shuddered, rivers surged, and those with shallow cultivation were already covering their ears and crouching on the ground.

Amid these thunderous blows, the Kushou Daoist was the first unable to hold on, letting out a tragic cry, disintegrated into ashes along with his banner.

Wu Huanchen was appalled and hastily summoned the ’Huanxuan Lamp,’ releasing a cloud of gray mist to envelop himself.

This treasure could originally protect both people, but in his terror, he only had time to take care of himself. Lady Qi, initially intending to receive protection from him, was a step too slow, blocked outside, her face showing astonishment.

When Wu Huanchen realized something was wrong and tried to address it, he saw a flash ahead, braved the stinging pain to look, witnessing Lady Qi struck by dozens of bolts, immediately reduced to nothing, her bones vanished. His heart flinched as if grabbed by someone, trembling violently until the thunder echoed in his ears.

...

...(To be continued. If you like this work, please visit Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for recommendations or monthly votes. Your support is my greatest motivation.)