Daoist Competition

As for Zhang Yan, he did not pay mind to the latter sentence.

The Demon Cave is filled with Devils; death is inevitable here. Even if the Demon Sect practitioners hiding here aren’t dealt with, who can discern whether they infiltrated from outside or were originally here during the chaos?

Moreover, he is an elder of Day Sky Hall. The leader of the Top Ten Disciples has no authority over him, so he need not concern himself.

After exchanging a few more words with the two, Zhang Yan took his leave. He escaped from the Sea Eye using tunneling light, emerged from the surface, and before stepping out of Feihe Tower, he saw a Spirit Light fly over and hover in front of him.

His expression shifted slightly. He took it down and opened it to find it was a letter from Huo Xuan, suggesting that if he had the time, they could arrange a meeting on Ten Peaks Mountain.

Regarding the matter of dispatching foreign stationed disciples, he had already sent a letter to meet Huo Xuan earlier. However, since Huo Xuan was currently cultivating in Day Sky Hall, which is controlled by a noble family, Zhang Yan, not being an elder of the sect, found it inconvenient to visit him there. Hence, he could only arrange to meet him outside.

No time should be wasted; Zhang Yan did not return to his mansion. He immediately wrote a letter, dispatched it to Heaven, then flew upwards, riding the tunneling light towards Ten Peaks Mountain. It wasn’t long before he reached the territory, descended, and stood on the mountaintop, waiting with hands behind his back.

About an hour later, a ball of golden flame light descended from the heavenly vault, reaching a hundred meters away before the light and energy separated deftly, and Huo Xuan emerged wearing a Vermilion Bird Sun Holding Robe, with a Floating Feather Dark Belt around his waist, walking out at ease. Above him, three Gang Clouds were now appearing as one unified cluster, clearly indicating he was about to enter the Third Realm.

Zhang Yan greeted with a bow and said smilingly, "Brother Huo’s cultivation is deepening; a breakthrough is imminent. When the time comes, please inform this junior brother, so I can offer my congratulations."

Huo Xuan shook his head, seemingly moved, saying, "Junior Brother Zhang, your goodwill has been appreciated by your senior brother, but without entering the Grotto Heaven, all is vanity."

Then, he looked carefully at Zhang Yan, sighed, "Junior Brother Zhang’s talent is indeed outstanding among our peers, far surpassing your senior brother."

Zhang Yan heard that after Huo Xuan entered Day Sky Hall, support from the Chen Clan for him was far less than before. Seeing his expression now, Zhang Yan believed the rumors had some truth.

Nevertheless, Huo Xuan had emerged unscathed after capturing the Junyang Essence at the Sword Fighting Conference and performed flawlessly in the leader’s position; even after stepping down, he still held the position of Hall Master of the auxiliary hall. With such an identity, regardless of the noble family’s attitude, the sect would certainly offer great support in the future. If no one contends with him, once he achieves the Grotto Heaven, the Hall Master’s position won’t elude him.

Huo Xuan raised his sleeve and produced an item, sending it forward, floating over, saying, "After I assumed the leader’s position, the names of disciples and their ranks used in over two hundred years are included, many of whom are noble family disciples but have the capability to tackle challenges on their own."

Zhang Yan received it, tucked it in his sleeve, smiled, "They all fall under our Mingcang Sect. Before the Demon Tribulation, what is the difference between noble family and teacher disciple?"

Huo Xuan nodded slowly and said, "Junior brother speaks rightly, but now the situation you face is more perilous than when your senior brother did. You must handle it carefully. If you need help, send someone to inform Day Sky Hall. Should your senior brother be of help, he won’t sit idly by."

Zhang Yan bowed, "Thank you, Senior Brother."

After parting with Huo Xuan, he returned to Zhao You Heavenly Pond. As the matter was urgent, he wasted no time and immediately sent out orders according to the roster, commanding all to come to Zhao You Heavenly Pond for orders.

Within half a day of dispatching the book, over a hundred Hua Dan disciples arrived, and none dared not come.

Many in the noble families were discontent with Zhang Yan seizing the leader’s position, but they didn’t dare say one thing and do another out of fear of his reputation. Moreover, besides this position, Zhang Yan also held the role of Lower House Master, making no one willing to easily offend him.

After everyone arrived, Zhang Yan encouraged them, then ordered them to return and prepare, needing to set off for the respective sects no later than the next day.

However, these people were not under his sect, each had their own teacher’s lineage, afraid of unintentionally offending, so he selected another hundred Hua Dan cultivators from within the sect, sending them as deputies together.

After arranging everything, Jing You came up and said quietly, "Master, Shen Dong seeks an audience outside."

Zhang Yan nodded slightly, saying, "Let him enter."

Shen Dong entered the hall, greeted respectfully, "True Master, disciple wishes to request Dharma decree to go outside and slay Devils alongside disciples from your esteemed sect."

Zhang Yan seemed to have expected this, allowed a smile, "Since you have the heart for it, I will certainly fulfill it for you. Whence do you wish to go?"

Shen Dong was overjoyed to hear Zhang Yan’s approval. He had already chosen his desired location after looking at the Mountain and River Map, and now bowed deeply, saying loudly, "Disciple wishes to go guard Linqing Temple."

Linqing Temple is far in West Land. Compared to other sects, it is the furthest from Mingcang. The surrounding sects have long been destroyed, making it practically isolated and subject to frequent Demon Sect practitioner invasions, nearly every ten days or half a month. If not for two Nascent Soul cultivators and continuous assistance from Zhao You Mansion, it would have been unable to sustain.

Zhang Yan nodded, "This journey counts as contributing to Mingcang. I shall treat you equally; if you achieve merit, the mansion will reward you. But if you retreat in the face of battle, I shall also impose heavy punishment on you. Do you agree to this?"

Shen Dong was extremely excited, "Disciple yearns for this."

Zhang Yan smiled, waved his sleeve, "Dismissed."

Shen Dong bowed again, then exited the hall.

After Shen Dong left, Zhang Yan pondered briefly and took out a letter to review. From Sect Leader Qin, he first learned that among the Four Great Demon Caves, one would emerge in decades. When that happens, there will surely be intense conflict between the Xuanmo and the righteous. Meanwhile, both sides will continue accumulating strength. As soon as he finishes arranging the sect’s affairs, he plans to take advantage of this time to go to Shaoqing for swordsmanship.

...

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