Daoist Competition

Now that the pretense was gone, Zhang Yan hesitated not for a moment. His gaze flickered, and a flash of sword light soared into the sky, striking down.

Xie Ke Ming shouted and conjured several dozen "White Magnetic Gold Needles" from his sleeve to counter the approaching flying sword.

Zhang Yan raised his brows, aware that these could attract sword Qi, so before they collided, he sank the sword force downward to avoid the needles.

Zhou Qingyun had once used these needles against Zhang Yan, but at first encounter, her flying sword was brushed aside. It wasn’t because the needles were ineffective, but because she was too focused on cultivating her Dao Technique to master this skill.

Xie Ke Ming, however, was different. He had invested considerable thought into this set of Dharma Treasure. With a slight command, dozens of gold needles radiated light, generating a powerful suction. Even the sword ball, which had gone more than ten feet, was drawn slightly off course.

Xie Ke Ming’s face showed a hint of joy. He let out a low roar, and pointed from afar, causing the clustered gold needles to suddenly explode, shooting out in all directions. If each needle could maintain its position and his mana remained uninterrupted, no matter how the sword ball transformed, it would be trapped in the strong suction between the needles, unable to escape.

Zhang Yan would not give him such an opportunity. With a mere thought, the sword light suddenly sped up, breaking free and flying skyward. Upon reaching the zenith, the sword light pulsed, aiming downward. With a light tremor, it split into over ten beams, not entering the inner circle, but orbiting outside, creating dazzling trails in the sky.

Xie Ke Ming felt an immediate sense of tension. If even one flying sword were to suddenly strike inside, it would disrupt his formations, followed by a relentless assault like a storm. Though Zhou Qingyun and the others might escape with the "Complete Heaven Square Inch," he hadn’t mastered such Divine Skills. His only response was to hold his defense steady, hence he dared not dispatch the White Magnetic Gold Needles to pursue but scattered them around to guard himself.

But by doing so, he also lost the initiative.

Elder Shen hadn’t rushed in before, but now sensing an opportunity, he gently flicked his wrist, sending forth a sword talisman. In an instant, a swift light zipped through a gap.

Unlike the sword ball, this sword talisman required gathering energy before it could be used again. However, its power was immense, capable of breaking through any Protective Treasure Light with one strike, only Dharma Treasures could withstand it.

Xie Ke Ming was a top disciple of Yuxiao; he wouldn’t let something so unknown strike. With a thought, a black light descended from the Gang Cloud, latching onto the sword talisman securely.

Elder Shen was taken aback, urgently casting a spell, but the sword talisman seemed unresponsive, unable to be recalled, causing him to be secretly astonished, thinking, "Such formidable Daoist Skills."

Xie Ke Ming was not from the Zhou Clan, so he couldn’t learn the "Heavenly Universe Realm Book." He practiced one of the Four Qi, the "Inner Yuan Balance Chapter."

Cultivating this technique didn’t give practitioners much advantage in the Xuan Guang Realm compared to their peers, but upon reaching the Hua Dan Realm, through continual cultivation, they could nurture three paths of Dharma energy in their Dan acupoint.

These three Qi possess three colors: the black "Stabilizing Energy," when a Dharma Treasure or Spiritual Artifact approaches, it can stabilize and hold firm, making escape difficult;

The red "Judgement Energy" which can defend and attack; upon contact, it nullifies Daoist Skills and spells;

The frosty "Leaving Qi," affecting the body like an ailment, causing limbs to go numb and speech difficult, leaving one at others’ mercy;

As a cultivator deepens their practice, and their mana improves, the power of these Three Qi grows ever stronger.

In Chengyuan Gorge, Xie Ke Ming dared to confront Zhang Yan after witnessing his formidable mana because he relied on these three Qi, believing he had a chance of winning.

Elder Shen’s thoughts raced, but his hands didn’t slow. With a flick of his sleeve, hundreds of dazzling golden talisman papers floated out, forcing Xie Ke Ming to let go.

Xie Ke Ming sneered, shook his body, swayed the "Judgement Energy" within his abdomen, and opened his mouth, emitting a vermilion brilliance towards the hundreds of talisman papers. Upon contact, they emitted a sizzling sound, like hot iron plunged into boiling water, raising clouds of white smoke, the spiritual nature of the talismans dissipated, turning into a pile of waste paper that scattered to the ground.

Though he outmaneuvered Elder Shen in this move, it also divided his concentration. In just that fleeting moment, a sword light had already pierced through the formation, splitting into several paths halfway, repeatedly striking the Protective Treasure Light, breaking through in one swift motion!

Xie Ke Ming yelled, his "Moon Balance Treasure Robe" emitted a halo of bright moonlight, narrowly blocking the sword light outside.

Elder Shen’s three Gang Clouds atop his head trembled, his mana surged. Being a Nascent Soul Second Realm Cultivator, his mana far surpassed that of Xie Ke Ming. With a strong push, the sword talisman broke free from the "Stabilizing Energy." With another spell, it transformed into a swift light, cutting against the treasure robe, causing a loud explosion.

Xie Ke Ming’s body shuddered. Although protected by a Mystical Artifact and unharmed, the force of the sword talisman caused him to tumble backward.

Zhang Yan stepped forward, beneath his feet, waves surged endlessly, sweeping away all White Magnetic Gold Needles, clearing the path ahead. With a cold smile, he waved his hand, intent arising, twelve sword lights converging from all directions, aiming straight for the center.

Xie Ke Ming was shocked and his complexion changed drastically; even though the "Moon Balance Treasure Robe" was a Mystical Artifact, he had no confidence in withstanding such a ferocious sword force. His shoulder shook, the "Leaving Qi" within his belly activated, expelling red light from his seven apertures, enveloping him densely, resembling a red cocoon. Although this action severely drained his mana, he couldn’t afford to worry amidst the crisis.

Elder Shen visibly relaxed slightly. He had a keen eye and knew that at this stage, powerful spells were unnecessary. As long as the assault continued, no matter how many Dharma Treasure Xie Ke Ming possessed, if no one came to rescue him, he would eventually face death. Holding a talisman in hand, Elder Shen circulated his mana, explosively sending out a talisman paper golden light to strike along with the sword lights.

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