Daoist Competition

In front of Feihe Tower at Shouming Palace, Qin Nan was waiting with a young girl.

The girl’s facial features were exquisite, her hair styled in a double snail bun, wearing a cross-necked Jiao Ling Ru Qun, cuddling a fluffy short-nosed white dog in her arms, occasionally teasing it. She looked up into the sky and said, "Master, isn’t Uncle Zhang arriving soon?"

Qin Nan nodded and replied, "Your Uncle Zhang is a Nascent Soul Third Realm Great Cultivator. If he uses the Sword Escape Technique, he can arrive here in at most half a moment."

The girl couldn’t help but show a look of admiration and longing, "Flying and escaping, how carefree and leisurely. I don’t know when I’ll be able to do that?"

Qin Nan thought seriously and said, "Not difficult, with your aptitude, Qing Qin, and if you cultivate diligently for more than ten years, you may also achieve it."

The girl exclaimed, her head drooping in frustration, "That long, huh."

They were talking when suddenly, the sound of Sword Qi breaking through the air was heard. A swift sword light came from the west, instantly getting closer. When it reached above Shouming Palace, it suddenly halted. The floating clouds in the sky were torn apart by the Qi Gang, making the sky clear as if washed, and then the tunneling light collected, revealing a Daoist enveloped in a protective clear light. His large sleeves fluttering, he gracefully floated down on the clouds.

The girl widened her beautiful eyes, staring unblinkingly at the sky, thinking in her head: "Senior Sister always says that Master Peng is elegant and outstanding, a dragon among men. Hmph, Uncle Zhang looks even better than him." While she was lost in her thoughts, she heard a voice in her ear, "Qing Qin, aren’t you going to greet Uncle Zhang?"

Only then did she come back to her senses, her pretty face flushed, she hurriedly came forward and bowed, speaking in a soft and sticky voice, "Niece Meng Qingqin, pays respect to Uncle."

Qin Nan said, "Elder Brother, this is the new disciple I recently accepted, just joined a year ago, not understanding the rules. If there’s any offense, I hope Elder Brother won’t mind."

Zhang Yan glanced briefly, noting her delicate bones and clear skin, her internal spirit radiant, she was surely chosen with great care by Shouming Palace, so he nodded slightly to her, then looked at Qin Nan and said, "Junior Sister mentioned in your letter that True Master Peng has agreed to the opening of the Sea Eye, but there are still some words he wanted to say to me face to face, may I know why?"

Qin Nan softly replied, "Master mentioned it, in the past, disciples going to the Sea Eye each had to pay five hundred Spiritual Shells. Now, for the greater plan of the sect, this rule can be changed, but those whose cultivation hasn’t reached Hua Dan cannot remain on the island, and entering the Sea Eye to subdue demons requires paying a hundred Spiritual Shells, I cannot defy Master’s orders and hope Elder Brother will understand."

After that day, she reported this to True Master Peng’s father, and, as expected, True Master Peng did not oppose it but was quite supportive.

Though Shouming Palace has a Cave Heaven True Master sitting here, it’s ultimately impossible to handle everything personally, and there are few disciples in the palace. In the past, the task of suppressing devils was left to the Top Ten Disciples, it doesn’t matter even if disciples from other sects come.

However, once the Sea Eye is open, many low-level disciples will surely flock here. Shouming Palace is a place for quiet cultivation, not to be disturbed, hence this rule was established.

Zhang Yan smiled and said, "I see, this proposal is reasonable, even if True Master doesn’t say it, I’d have also intended it as such."

The purpose of opening the Sea Eye was to temper the disciples’ mental state and cultivation to handle the Demon Tribulation. If it’s granted too easily, there might be a lack of appreciation for this opportunity among some disciples, putting some restrictions is indeed the right approach.

Qin Nan smiled sweetly, "I knew Elder Brother wouldn’t be unreasonable."

Hearing this, Zhang Yan was slightly moved, sensing that there seemed to be more behind this, but since it had been agreed, there was no need to delve further. He brought up another matter, "Over the years, do you remember the names of the disciples who entered the Demon Cave for cultivation?"

Qin Nan smiled, "I remember."

She gently raised her hand, took a petal, traced a circle in her smooth and white palm, and it became a talisman, which she then handed over, saying, "Elder Brother, the names of all disciples who entered the Sea Eye for training over two hundred years are all recorded here."

Zhang Yan accepted it, glanced at it, memorized all the names, then said, "Junior Sister, I will head to the Sea Eye now, farewell."

He bowed, casually glanced toward Shouming Palace, then activated the Five Elements Escape Skill, turning into a clear light and diving into the water.

Inside a Flying Pavilion of Shouming Palace, two people were seated. One had a high crown and broad belt, looking elegant and refined, with a gloomy face, staring intently at the direction of Feihe Tower.

Opposite him sat a fifty-year-old Daoist, wearing a leisurely scarf, dressed in an open cross-necked robe, his chest exposed, eyes half-open, half-closed, slightly drunk. Seeing his companion staring outside, he also glanced over, squinted his eyes, and intentionally said, "Brother Daoist Peng, True Master Zhang indeed is extraordinary, within less than three hundred years, he’s reached the Nascent Soul Third Realm, truly remarkable, remarkable."