Daoist Competition

Zhang Yan unfolded his Moving Divine Ability, retreated more than ten miles, and put some distance between himself and the Essence Qi Small Sword. Seeing it temporarily unable to catch up, he took out a blinding Mystic Shuttle from his sleeve.

This was the White Tiger Shuttle lent to him by Huo Xuan. Upon it was a White Tiger Spirit Soul formed by Western Gold Qi, a type that amalgamates divine essence and is particularly effective against vicious and evil entities.

Holding the shuttle in his hand, he slightly cast his Mana and threw it outward. It immediately transformed into a white light, flying toward the small sword. Suddenly it emitted a radiant splendor; a white tiger with glistening eyes emerged from thin air, roared fiercely, pounced forward, and tore off a wisp of turbid Qi from the sword’s body. The originally crystalline sword body immediately dulled somewhat.

Seeing the shuttle’s essence taking effect, a gleam of interest flashed in Zhang Yan’s eyes. He pointed a few times, and the tiger, guided by him, leaped back and forth a few more times, ripping away most of the Evil Thought from the sword. But despite this, the last wisp remained, continuing to guide the small sword with determination.

Zhang Yan noticed the situation, slightly turned his mind, and pinched a spell. The White Tiger shook its whole body, letting out an earth-shattering roar, pounced forward, and bit down. The small sword quivered at the sound, and in this moment of stasis, it was already firmly gripped in the tiger’s mouth, endeavoring to shake itself free but unable to escape.

Pinching another spell, the Gang Cloud above rustled, releasing a golden glow. With a sharp sound, where the light fell, the last wisp of filthy thought was cleanly cut away.

Although this sword was formed from Ding Qun’s Essence Qi and divine spirit, without the support of the hostile spirit, it had nothing to rely on, leaving only a mass of the most pure Essence Qi, slowly dispersing like smoke. Without intervention, it wouldn’t take long before dissolving into thin air.

Zhang Yan’s thought turned slightly, his intention rising, and from the center of his brow surged a bright misty light. Within it was an object that directly took the scattered Essence Qi, circled once in the void, then swallowed it, uttering a clear striking sound, before returning to the acupoint between his eyebrows.

After handling this matter properly, he looked around to see an empty surrounding, Yan Huixin had escaped, leaving no trace of where he went.

Zhang Yan contemplated for a moment. His fight with Ding Qun had taken no more than half a moment, so the latter couldn’t have run far. Flipping his hand, he took out the "Moon Washing Mirror," aiming it towards the escape direction. A mirror light shot forth, and shortly thereafter, he saw in the mirror a tunneling light fleeing hurriedly north.

He chuckled lightly, received the Treasure Mirror, and, summoning the sword light, flew forward.

The Escape Techniques of Jiuling Sect were not impressive; Yan Huixin had not fled too far. Shortly, Zhang Yan could faintly see the tunneling light dashing ahead in escape.

Yan Huixin fled continuously, his attention always behind him. Seeing the Flying Sword approaching, he understood Ding Qun had been defeated by Zhang Yan. The Demon Spirit, seldom unleashed and entrusted with high hopes, had unexpectedly been quickly slain, stirring regret within him. Had he known he couldn’t stall this long, he might have activated the talisman to escape the Star Stone at once.

With the sword light drawing closer, he knew he could no longer delay. In desperation, he summoned Lu Muqiu in his Heart and Spirit, desperately pleading, "Junior Lu, quickly move me away, or do you truly intend for me to perish here?"

After a moment, a sigh from Lu Muqiu resonated from within, carrying an embedded helplessness. He replied, "Brother Yan, it’s not that I refuse to help you. Zhong Muqing and Luo Qingyu from Mingcang Sect are besieging the Prohibition. Although I wish to assist, I genuinely lack the ability. You must fend for yourself now."

Yan Huixin wished to argue further but sensed something extracted from within, realizing the "Heart Shadow Same Light" technique had been removed. He felt startled and furious.

Reaching this stage, utterly unable to escape, urgency drove him. Resolutely setting his mind, abandoning flight, he turned, threw the "Thousand Spirit Life-taking Knot" once more, unfurling wide like a net, enveloping heaven and earth.

Having encountered this treasure before, Zhang Yan was naturally disinclined to engage directly. With a twist of sword light, he bypassed around it.

Secretly, Yan Huixin activated the "Drawing the Ground as a Prison" technique. With this Divine Ability against adversaries, if his Mana surpassed his opponent’s, he could immediately immobilize them, freely slaying. However, if his Mana fell short, he must sustain it momentarily to effectuate it.

Given Zhang Yan’s formidable Mana, fearing a hasty exertion may fail to restrain him, Yan Huixin continuously urged the Mysterious Skill. Simultaneously, he concealed a "Soul Seizing Heart Mantra" within the Ancestral Acupoint. This spell, a secret technique of Jiuling Sect, upon release, infiltrates from a cultivator’s eyes, assailing their Divine Soul. If one’s Mana is sufficiently potent, it could seize their body, refining it under the Banner into a Demon Spirit.