Daoist Competition

Zhou Qingyun came to Yao Yin Peak under instructions from Zhou Huang. The excuse of seizing the talisman was merely a pretext. Thus, after escaping the Dragon Carp Demon’s trap, she remained standing there and did not leave. Now seeing Zhang Yan approaching, her expression remained indifferent, acknowledging him with a slight courtesy.

However, her heart was far from as calm as it appeared on the surface.

To defeat Zhang Yan, she felt she had some confidence. However, to eliminate him, just that Dragon Carp Demon was a significant obstacle.

After considering briefly, she pondered, "Senior Brother is right. Since Zhang Yan is a disciple of Zhou Chongju, he is a major enemy of my Zhou Clan. In just a hundred years, he’s grown to this extent. If we do not find a way to eliminate him, when his mana becomes more refined and his influence within the Mountain Gate stronger, he will be even more difficult to kill. However, with his Flying Sword at hand and expertise in Escape Skill, he can retreat far away if he misses his target, making pursuit difficult. Only by trapping him can he be defeated."

With a plan in mind, she flipped her delicate hand, lifted the token talisman, and said, "True Master Zhang, the token talisman is here. Do you truly wish to compete for it?"

Zhang Yan stood with hands behind his back, laughing clearly, "This is my Yao Yin Talisman; how could I offer it to others?"

Zhou Qingyun nodded slightly, her phoenix eyes sweeping over, speaking coldly, "Since it’s your choice, my hand shall not show mercy."

Upon finishing her words, she raised her light sleeves, and with a pinch of the spell in her hand, a radiant Spiritual Pearl flew out from the Gang Cloud above her head. Instantly, a beam of light shot out, extremely dazzling, instantly covering the surrounding landscape within a dozen miles.

As soon as this light was emitted, it was retracted in the blink of an eye, and unlike thunderbolts, it lacked any sound.

When everyone opened their eyes to look again, the sky was completely empty, and both figures had disappeared.

Huo Xuan, upon seeing this scene, his expression darkened, and he thought, "Yun Han One Breath Sky? Could Zhou Qingyun possibly have a past grudge with Junior Brother Zhang, to employ this divine skill?"

"Yun Han One Breath Sky" is one of the sixteen divine skills of the Yuxiao Sect, possessing a similar function to the confinement technique of a Nascent Soul Third Realm Cultivator, using a Lifebound Star Bead to manifest a small realm, drawing the cultivator into battle within.

Outsiders wishing to intervene could find no entrance.

Typically, disciples of the Yuxiao Sect employ this divine skill only in life-and-death struggles.

Although there are many grievances between the Zhou clan and Zhang Yan, the Zhou Family People have never actively publicized it for certain considerations.

In the Mingcang Sect, only two are aware of this matter.

The Lower Court Dean, Shi Shoujing, has long passed away, and the other is Ai Clan’s disciple Ai Zhongwen, who remains in the dark about the internal affairs, and as Zhang Yan never mentions this matter, no one would proactively bring it up to avoid causing trouble, hence no one knows.

Elder Ying Ya, seeing Zhou Qingyun utilize this divine skill, was also unclear about the matter, shocked and amazed, shaking his head repeatedly.

Though the Yuxiao Sect sent a Flying Book declaring their intent to seize the token talisman, was there a need to battle to the death?

After pondering for a while, he said, "Senior Brother, who do you think will win this round?"

The elder beside him stroked his beard and sighed, "It’s hard to say. True Master Zhang’s mana is profound, and with a Flying Sword at hand, even an average Nascent Soul Second Realm Cultivator might not take him down; and that Master Zhou is no simple character either. Since she can employ the ’Yun Han One Breath Sky’ divine skill, she must have cultivated ’Heavenly Universe Realm Book’. This method is divinely mysterious and unpredictable, and she likely has many strategies. Who will emerge victorious is difficult to predict."

After the flash of light, Zhang Yan found the scenery before him suddenly changed, surrounded by a billowing white sea of clouds.

The divine passage skills of the Yuxiao Sect, he had heard Zhou Chongju elaborate upon, with a single thought, he already guessed the nature of this divine skill.

The auspicious clouds in the sky parted, and Zhou Qingyun appeared, starlight dazzling around her, commanding from above, "Zhang Yan, within my skills, no one can save you."

In the Yuxiao Sect, there are a total of six Mysterious Skills entitled "Four Qi and Two Techniques." The cultivation technique she practices is the most superior among the Four Qi, ’Heavenly Universe Realm Book’.

This cultivation technique can only be learned by disciples of the Zhou Clan, with a song’s words: "Spirit Pearl Transformation Method, Sixteen Skills all collected, Gathering Pure Energy True Skill, Reverse Star Formation."

Disciples cultivating this method, if free from calamity and loss, typically refine a Life Pearl every hundred years and achieve Seven Stars Gathering, with the opportunity to step into a Grotto Heaven.

What is especially formidable is that if a cultivator has no time to practice Divine Power, they can settle with a Life Pearl, condense a talisman, and temporarily borrow the divine skills for use.

In this way, disciples can focus on advancing, and even in duels, they aren’t short of strategies.