Daoist Competition

He let out a cold laugh; originally, he was afraid that once the seal was broken, it would alarm the people in Shouming Palace, hence he was cautious in his actions. Now, however, he was free from such concerns.

If Zhang Yan didn’t come to stop him, it would take no more than half a day to break through here before the Mingcang Cultivators arrived, thus escaping alive.

Should Zhang Yan come, then the other entrance was unguarded, allowing him to dispatch another True Demon Blood Essence to break the seal there.

The Array Gate was under fierce attack, immediately sending out warning signs, to which Zhang Yan, also in the Demon Cave, immediately responded.

Liu Nasong caused such a commotion that his intention was not hard to guess. After a brief thought, Zhang Yan devised a plan, twisting his form to employ the Dharma technique from the True Fixing Chapter, leaving a Fake Body in place while concealing his presence. He then utilized the Five Elements Escape Technique to traverse through the earth towards that destination.

After bombarding the Forbidden Array for a while and sacrificing Essence Blood, Liu Nasong activated the copper mirror to secretly observe Zhang Yan, only to see him sitting there, undisturbed, causing a bit of doubt in his mind: "Could it be that he believes I cannot break this sealing? Or is he playing some kind of mysterious trick?"

Upon pondering further, even though the Xuanmen had no disguising technique, it was not something to be ignored. So he shook his body, transforming into several dozen Blood Essences flying to the route and setting ambushes all around, the furthest being a hundred miles away.

This move was not for attacking the enemy but was aimed at vigilance. He thought, if Zhang Yan truly used the strategy to mislead under the sky and across the sea, he would certainly be detected by his Blood Essences, enabling him to take precautions in advance.

After completing this task, he believed there were no oversights and thus focused his entire strength on attacking the sealing before him.

However, he never imagined that Zhang Yan would travel using Earth Escape Technique, and the Blood Essences could not detect his traces.

Although Zhang Yan’s Earth Escape was not as swift as sword escape, he did not need to navigate through winding caves, and it did not slow him down much. In about half a day, he arrived nearby and sensed more than a hundred identical Qi Mechanisms within a thirty-mile radius.

With so many Blood Essences, he could confirm that Liu Nasong’s True Body was hiding among them, so he did not check each one individually. Instead, he shouted loudly, boldly unleashing the Heaven and Earth Locking Skill, and in an instant, a massive spiritual mechanism enveloped them, suppressing all those Qi Mechanisms.

Then, with a shift of thought, dozens of sword lights shot out like shooting stars, slashing in all directions, destroying every Blood Essence they passed.

Liu Nasong, seeing the sealing Array about to be broken, was initially delighted but suddenly felt his body stiffen, trapped by a massive spiritual mechanism, immediately knowing something was wrong.

Never had he thought that Zhang Yan could suppress the spiritual mechanisms of dozens of miles at once. Seeing that the Flying Sword would soon locate him, he couldn’t hesitate and quickly used all his body power, employing the Blood Transformation Escape Technique to flee.

But this movement immediately exposed his location. Zhang Yan’s eyes swept like cold lightning; he let out a cold shout, instantly merging his body and sword into one, transforming into a blazing sword light, charging straight ahead. All the stone blocks and rock walls in the path were pierced through effortlessly as if they were rotten wood or decayed soil, unable to hinder the advancing Sword Qi in the slightest.

Though Liu Nasong had Superior Escape Technique on him, the difference in mana between the two was vastly significant. His tunneling was like moving through mud, sluggish and ethereal. Just half a mile out, still unable to break away from Zhang Yan’s sweeping power, he was caught.

Seeing the sword light approach, and unable to dodge, his whole body trembled. He immediately shook down the three Gang Clouds above his head, protecting his chest, then summoned a Ghost Face Jade Talisman, releasing overlapping Treasure Lights to block the path.

The sword light arrived in a flash, like a rainbow arrow, shattering the Jade Talisman into dust with a crack. Simultaneously, the three Gang Clouds scattered, and a deep blood hole appeared in Liu Nasong’s chest, sending him flying backward.

Though severely injured, he managed to save his life from this shocking blow, barely catching a breath. He hurriedly activated a Secret Technique, turned his Divine Soul, enveloping his entire body with essence blood. A blood light flashed from his pineal gland and shot out at an incredibly fast speed toward Zhang Yan, while his body shriveled like a punctured sack at a speed visible to the naked eye.

This Dharma technique is called "Han Yang Life Release Technique," which can be used at the cost of life span, shooting like a blood arrow. If it strikes the opponent, it could immediately destroy their Divine Soul. If one’s cultivation is deeper than the opponent’s, they can even seize the body.

Seeing it coming, Zhang Yan’s eyes flashed, he slightly opened his mouth and let out a breath of Purple Qi, suddenly leaping into a purple lightning strike, hitting it midway. With a thunderous sound, the blood light exploded into countless scattered Essence Qi, slowly dissipating into the world.

At the same time, a hundred miles away.

A white-clothed monk was stealthily moving in the small demon cave’s depths, but suddenly, he clutched his throat, letting out a painful sound and falling from the air. His clothing flickered with numerous talismans, releasing wisps of black smoke that converged into seven streams, entering through his orifices. He struggled and convulsed for a while before stopping.

After dozens of breaths, he slowly stood up again, but the expression in his eyes seemed like another person, softly saying, "Liang’er, don’t blame me for taking your body. If you don’t die, Liu Songnan has no way to survive."

This was his last resort, called "Blood Soul Transformation Skill," which could be used on a disciple, attaching a Divine Soul fragment. If his own body were destroyed, he could seize the disciple’s body within moments, avoiding calamity.

This white-clothed monk was carefully selected from among his clan, sharing the same bloodline and possessing considerable aptitude. If not, he wouldn’t have brought him here. If he could escape, and with a few hundred more years, he might slowly restore his cultivation.

However, currently, he only had Hua Dan Cultivation. Even if Zhang Yan did not come searching, he could not leave this place temporarily and could only hide with a Dharma Treasure until a future opportunity arose.

...

...(To be continued. If you enjoy this work, you are welcome to vote for it on Qidian (qidian.com) with recommendation and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users can read on m.qidian.com.)