Daoist Competition

"Clang," the sword light was intercepted by a Jade Circle, emerging a White-haired Daoist, one Gang Cloud atop his head, faint as clear water. His robe was elegant and neat, meticulously tidy, as he bowed and said, "True Master Zhang, if you wish to go to Upper Extreme Heaven, you must first pass this checkpoint of ours."

His words just out, over ten figures stepped out from within the surrounding Demon Cloud, encircling Zhang Yan’s party tightly.

Zhang Yan glanced around with a slight smile, saying, "So it’s fellow Daoists from the Jiuling Sect, no wonder such a grandiose display."

The man’s face subtly changed, saying, "True Master, your eye power is impressive."

He retreated a step, and three distinct silhouettes, looking very much like Demon Cultivators, flew out, rushing toward Zhang Yan.

The cultivators on both sides simultaneously surged forth, and Xu, Zhang, Lu, and Shen, who followed, all braced themselves, each heading forward.

Elder Shen didn’t rush to charge, pondering for a moment before pulling out a stack of talisman paper from his sleeve, tossing them out, which instantly multiplied into tens, then hundreds, thousands, scattering above and below.

Being a seasoned fighting veteran, he worried about failure before considering victory, fearing any hidden method from the Demon Sect people that would be hard to guard against, thus executing this spell.

With these talismans, if the other side secretly attempted an ambush, it could first send out a warning, allowing Elder Shen to pre-emptively detect it.

At this moment, Dragon Carp Siren raised its head, swung its body and tail, with Demon Cloud surrounding, re-performing the Forbidden Locking Heaven and Earth Skill, making all the Demon Sect Practitioners and their Demon Spirits stiffen momentarily. But due to their numbers, the formation remained intact.

Zhang Yan chuckled, the Five-Colored Gang Cloud atop his head shook, casting down a torrent of water light like surging waves, as the incoming Demon Spirits, already bound by the Forbidden Locking Skill, could not hold their forms, tumbling inward with the water light’s wrap.

The White-haired Daoist did not anticipate Zhang Yan’s Daoist Skill to be so peculiar. Attempting to drive the Demon Spirits out for a match, suddenly a dazzling fiery glow flashed before him.

Unsure of its transformation, he dared not confront it head-on, letting out a low shout, offering the Jade Circle in his hand aloft to block, only to see a clear light affix to it, immovably suspending it in mid-air.

Then the fiery glow approached, merely flickered once, stripping away his Protective Treasure Light, followed swiftly by a sword light, penetrating the inner circle. Before he could comprehend, a sword lodged in his brain, his body wobbling, falling into the water light.

With his death, the two Demon Spirits lurking within the Demon Cloud lost their Tame Master, dropping downward from the cloud.

Zhang Yan’s thoughts surged, maneuvering the water light to sweep, similarly collecting them in.

Elder Shen, being a Nascent Soul Second Realm Cultivator with profound Daoist Cultivation, by this time had already repelled the frontal attackers.

At this moment, he took a moment to glance back, seeing that within mere moments, a Demon Sect Elder had been slain by Zhang Yan, feeling amazement and respect.

While the two engaged, Xu Daoist also found his opponent, concealing his form within the Yin Blade, feeling at ease in such an environment. In mere moments, he reached behind a Demon Sect Elder, delivering a downward slash.

The Demon Sect Elder seemed to sense something, shifting slightly, only losing a wrist to the blade’s slash.

A flash from his eyes, the other hand formed a spell cast, causing his severed hand to erupt into Blood Mist, with countless Blood Beads scattering.

By now, Xu Daoist had flown a hundred feet away, raising his hand to inspect his rotten robe sleeve, breaking out in cold sweat.

This robe was deemed a Magic Artifact; had he been greedy earlier, he might have been affected by the Blood Mist, resulting in his death.

His action left him somewhat distracted.

In this treacherous place, a single misstep could lead to death or defeat. Suddenly, from the Demon Cloud beside him, a vicious Bird Demon flew out, spreading its gray-feathered wings, striking at him fiercely.

Startled, he hurriedly dodged, unaware of the properties of that beak, which pierced his Protective Treasure Light, tearing away one of his arms.

Xu Daoist cried out in pain, countering with a slash, instantly splitting the Bird Demon in two.

Oddly, despite its death, the bird still clutched his severed arm, soaring into a light and disappearing.

The Demon Sect Elder with the severed wrist hummed, pointing a finger at Xu Daoist.

This is the Jiuling Sect’s Divine Skill "Drawing the Ground as a Prison," able to halt a person momentarily. If a drop of Essence Blood could be taken, even Mysterious Skill would be inoperable for a while.

Struck by a spell, Xu Daoist suddenly froze.

From the corner of his eye, he saw three muscular figures, each wielding a copper hammer charging at him. Though anxious, he was not panicked, channeling his mind to elevate a Treasure Mirror before him, desperately urging Mysterious Skill to raise his Protective Treasure Light with full force.

The Demon Sect Elder chuckled, grabbing Xu Daoist’s severed arm segment, reciting a spell, pointing at the severed arm, causing it to burst into Blood Mist.

Suddenly, Xu Daoist felt as though his organs were being squeezed, vomiting out fresh blood with fragments of shattered viscera within. His previously radiant Protective Treasure Light dimmed all at once.

The three Demon Spirits then converged, hammering wildly around him.

Under this ferocious assault, Xu Daoist’s Protective Treasure Light eventually couldn’t hold, fragmenting piece by piece.

Now exhausted and unable to evade, Xu Daoist sighed in resignation, closing his eyes, as his finger traced outward, seeming to send something flying forth.

"Snap," a hammer landed squarely on his head, brain matter splattering, dying instantly.

That Demon Sect Elder began to laugh, but as his mouth opened, he suddenly looked incredulous, observing his chest, using his hand to cover, with his upper torso flipping, organs spilling across the ground.

It was Xu Daoist who, dying, sent the Invisible Yin Blade slicing in from a hundred feet away, severing the Demon Sect Elder’s chest and abdomen, meeting mutual destruction.

Lu Mei Niang, witnessing this tragic scene, called out in shock, "Master Xu..."

...

...(To be continued. If you enjoyed this work, you’re welcome to visit Qidian (qidian.com) to cast recommendation votes, monthly votes. Your support is my greatest motivation.)