Daoist Competition

Zhang Yan raised his hand slightly, smiling as he said, "Senior Brother Luo, please, remain seated." Then he turned to Jing You and said, "Go and invite Junior Sister Qin over."

Jing You promptly took his leave.

Before long, the sound of tinkling ornaments and a fragrant breeze announced the arrival of a young woman with bright eyes and white teeth, standing gracefully at the door. Her hair was styled in twin buns, and she wore a light cloud-shaped flowing robe with wide sleeves, a greenish-blue silk sash around her waist, adorned with a delicate jade ring. Her long skirt reached her feet, with a wisp of a gang cloud gently floating above her head, reminiscent of newly woven rosy clouds, radiant and splendid.

Her bright eyes scanned the room and lit up. She offered a respectful bow with happiness, saying, "Senior Brother Zhang, it’s been a long time." She then bowed to Luo Qingyu, saying, "So Senior Brother Luo is also here."

Zhang Yan smiled, got up, and said, "Junior Sister, no need for formalities. Please have a seat so we can talk."

Luo Qingyu also rose and returned the bow.

Qin Nan was naturally innocent and pure-hearted. Although she had not seen Zhang Yan for many years, there was no trace of estrangement. Once seated, her curiosity piqued, she began inquiring about matters concerning East Victory Continent.

Zhang Yan was neither annoyed nor impatient, and with a smile, he gave a brief account of his experiences on East Victory Continent, sparing only the details of the Heavenly Demon matter due to its connection to the ancestral master’s sealing.

Luo Qingyu, unaware of Zhang Yan’s experiences over the years, was greatly surprised and filled with awe upon hearing that he had clashed with several Nascent Soul Third Realm cultivators.

After more than an hour, Qin Nan uttered a small exclamation and lowered her head, somewhat embarrassed, saying, "I almost forgot the reason for my visit today. I wish to ask Senior Brother for a favor."

Zhang Yan smiled gently and said, "Junior Sister, please feel free to speak."

Qin Nan said, "My master secluded himself to cultivate fifty years ago, leaving the task of guarding the Demon Cave to me. However, as the demons have increased over the years, I’ve felt increasingly powerless. I dare not disturb my master’s cultivation over this, so after much thought, I come to you for help."

She was on good terms with Liu Yan Yi, having sought her assistance some time ago. However, amidst the current Demon Tribulation, even after clearing out demons, they soon reappeared, becoming unmanageable — a source of constant distress for her.

Zhang Yan, being now the leader of the top ten disciples, was obligated to address the matter, thus he nodded, saying, "This is indeed my responsibility as a brother."

Qin Nan stood up from her seat and offered a bow, joyfully saying, "Thank you, Senior Brother, for your assistance."

Luo Qingyu furrowed his brow, saying, "In the past, Junior Brother Zhuang could suppress the small demon cave for sixteen years with just Hua Dan Cultivation, yet now Junior Sister Qin, with her Nascent Soul Cultivation, finds it difficult. It seems that as the Demon Tribulation deepens, the demons here grow ever stronger. I once asked my master why he didn’t think of eradicating them completely for good, but he told me there was a reason for it we needn’t concern ourselves with."

Qin Nan nodded, "I asked my master the same, and he gave a similar reply."

They were perplexed, but Zhang Yan, having read the Jade Scroll, knew the reasoning behind it.

The small demon cave at Shouming Palace had existed since the time of the fourth-generation sect leader. Any other sect might have hastily sealed or destroyed it, but Mingcang Sect did not. For thousands of years, it has been guarded by a Cave Heaven True Master, ostensibly to suppress the demons, but secretly to draw in and concentrate vast amounts of Dull Yin Spirit Qi from all directions.

The intent is for it to become a veritable demon cave during the Demon Tribulation, and because it is within the sect’s mountain gate, it could be quickly and easily eradicated before the Six Great Demon Sects can react.

According to Zhang Yan’s knowledge, Mingcang Sect is not alone in this; the Yuxiao Sect does the same, while only the Shaoqing Sect disdains to do so.

Without elaborating, Zhang Yan smiled and said, "No need to ponder it, since the True Masters mentioned it, there must be their own reasoning behind it." After a pause, he continued, "These are unusual times, and merely deploying a few cultivators to suppress it is no longer suitable; alternative methods should be found."

Qin Nan curiously asked, "What does Senior Brother think should be done?"

Zhang Yan sternly replied, "Now that the demon’s flames are rampant, we can open the Demon Cave at the sea bottom and send our lower-ranking disciples there for training. Use the method from the Merit Institute, rewarding those who can kill enough demons. This way, we can both enhance our divine skills and eradicate demons."

Luo Qingyu was momentarily taken aback and then secretly admitted to the cunning of this plan — defeating the demons was secondary. In the Mingcang Sect, except for the true disciples who could own a Spirit Island Cave Mansion, the rest struggled with cultivation, often having to attach themselves to the guidance of mentors or family, sometimes with dozens to hundreds of people in one place.

And that small demon cave could be comparable to a Cave Heaven Blessed Land; if they could truly open its gates, then it could serve as both a place to earn merits and an excellent location for cultivation. Disciples would flock there eagerly. Noble family disciples might be indifferent, but those under the teacher-disciple lineage would surely feel grateful to Zhang Yan, easily winning their goodwill.

As for how to pass through the Sea Eye, that was a minor detail; any one of them would have the means to send disciples inside.

Qin Nan joyfully said, "Senior Brother, that’s an excellent idea. My master is not an unreasonable person, and he’s likely to agree."

Luo Qingyu reminded, "Junior Brother, those demons are not ordinary creatures or Demon Sect practitioners. Killing them to count merits has no precedent; the Merit Institute may not agree."

Zhang Yan declared boldly, "That place, I will personally explain to them."

Luo Qingyu thought it over: this initiative would benefit the low-level disciples throughout the sect; the Merit Institute might not dare oppose it, though its dean might fret over how to reward them.

Zhang Yan recalled a matter and asked, "Junior Sister Qin, have you seen anything unusual beneath that small demon cave?"

Qin Nan thought for a moment, and shook her head.

Zhang Yan’s gaze flickered; the small demon cave had existed for thousands of years, and word of it had long since leaked out. He couldn’t believe the Demon Sect wouldn’t guess Mingcang Sect’s intentions and make some arrangements. The more normal things seemed, the greater the issue might be.

Thus he said, "In the past, your brother entered the Demon Cave twice, each time encountering Demon Sect disciples. Although I killed several, many years have passed since, and it’s very probable that other Demon Sect practitioners have infiltrated. Therefore, before opening the Sea Eye, I must personally investigate to avoid unforeseen problems."

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