Daoist Competition

Duan Liao rode the golden light down to the sky, passing through the Gang Cloud all the way, directly falling onto the peak of the Taihao Sect.

After a moment of disorientation, he came to his senses, looked at himself, and saw that following the dispersal of the golden light, the token talisman had completely disappeared.

With this talisman gone, only seventeen token talismans remain in the sky.

Feeling a slight regret, he relaxed, thinking that despite not capturing the Junyang Essence in the Star Stone journey, not losing the Jade Purple Sun Seed was a major achievement. The sect likely wouldn’t blame him too harshly.

As for the death of his fellow sect member Tong Yingyuan, he felt no sadness.

Their enlightenment years differed by a century, and they had no closeness in normal times. His form was bulky and obese, while Tong Yingyuan was a graceful and handsome young man who never considered him worthy. His death today inexplicably brought him some joy.

Aside from Nie Gui, who was gravely injured and unconscious, he was the first swordfight Disciple to actively escape from the Star Stone, prompting inquiries from various sect elders about the current situation above the heavy sky.

After recounting the events, he was dragged to a secluded spot by a Taihao Sect elder, who asked coldly: "Nephew Duan, did you manage to retrieve those two Jade Purple Sun Seeds?"

Duan Liao hurriedly produced the two Jade Purple Sun Seeds and respectfully handed them over, saying, "Nephew risked his life to retrieve them..."

Before he could finish, the elder had already snatched the seeds and put them into the Sleeve Bag. His expression softened slightly, and he said, "Though you did not obtain the Junyang Essence, you did not lose the sect’s heavy treasure, so your merits cancel your faults. I will speak on your behalf."

With that, the elder, seeming disinclined to converse further, turned and left.

Duan Liao relaxed in expression, reaching into his sleeve to clutch the secretly retained seed, feeling immensely excited within.

Tong Yingyuan had a high status in the sect, and after exchanging the Jade Purple Sun Seed for a token talisman, he did not inform the sect elders. If not involved in fighting, he would not have known, and now that he had obtained it, he had no intention of handing it over.

However, there remained an unresolved worry that the Yang couple might reveal the truth. Secretly, Duan Liao decided that if the couple survived, he would make contact, even paying a price to ensure their silence.

Within the Star Stone, a clear sword light turned and finally stopped on a Flying Peak. Zhang Yan stood on the rock, drifting slowly with the peak stone beneath his feet, observing the changing scene.

Yet, after scanning around, he sensed an odd atmosphere. The Heaven and Earth Spirit Mechanism seemed partially obstructed, akin to a drop of ink on pristine white paper, jarringly out of place.

This scene seemed familiar; after a brief thought, he mused, "This should be the ’Yun Han One Breath Sky’ skill, which only Zhou Huang can use. Daoist Shen has been gone long; likely, luck was unfavorable, encountering him."

He contemplated; the Yuxiao Sect’s Divine Power is very subtle, challenging for an outsider to unravel. If he had mastered the Five Elements Escape Technique, he might attempt to resolve it, but currently was powerless. Elder Shen’s survival hence depended on his fate.

Turning his thoughts again, since no solution could be found by waiting, he planned to search for the Junyang Pot. Having decided, he prepared to move, but upon summoning the sword ball, he paused, raising his head to gaze intently at the sky.

After about ten breaths, the celestial spiritual mechanism suddenly turned chaotic, clouds collapsed, and a dazzling golden light shot out, piercing the Heavenly Vault.

Initially a fine thread, the light transformed into numerous strands, and within a moment, became dozens, even hundreds of rays, bursting forth like a brilliant sun in the void.

Moments later, Elder Shen flew out in a tunneling light, appearing rather battered.

Zhang Yan glanced at the pursuers behind Elder Shen, seeing streaks of radiant Thunder Pearl chasing him. Smiling slightly, he did not advance but stood still, forming a spell with a flick of his fingers. Several purple lightning bolts shot from the Gang Cloud overhead, shattering the Thunder Pearl with explosive sounds.

Elder Shen turned his gaze, delighted upon seeing Zhang Yan’s figure, steering his tunneling light towards him. Approaching, he descended the light, saying, "Thank you, True Master Zhang, for saving me."

Zhang Yan laughed, "There’s no need for formalities, Daoist Shen. Your skills are impressive; even the ’Han Yun One Qi Sky’ couldn’t trap you. I’m no match for you."

Elder Shen sighed, "True Master Zhang jests. Master Zhou’s Divine Power Skill is indeed superb, far surpassing mine. Without the ancestor master’s ’Golden Luo Earth Axis Talisman,’ this Old Daoist couldn’t have escaped."