Daoist Competition

Three days later, a beam of spirit light rose from Shouming Palace and headed straight towards Zhao You Heavenly Pond. Upon reaching the gate, the Mirror Spirit opened the Array Gate, allowing it to proceed deep into the Cave Mansion.

Under Zhang Yan’s instruction, Jing You had been paying close attention to the situation at the small demon cave these past few days, reporting daily without a hint of negligence. When he saw the spirit light enter, he knew today’s letter had arrived. Upon examining it, he was taken aback and hurriedly went into the Cave Mansion, bowing and saying, "Master, the disciple guarding the Sea Eye has reported that over twenty disciples who entered the demon cave to cultivate last night have suddenly gone missing."

Upon hearing this, a hint of coldness flashed in Zhang Yan’s eyes. Inside the demon cave, devils could tempt the hearts of people. If the disciples’ mindsets were not firm, it was inevitable some would fall prey. However, for over twenty people to go missing overnight could not be explained by ordinary reasons. He said deeply, "Let me see it."

Jing You quickly handed the letter over.

After reading it, Zhang Yan tossed the letter onto the desk and said coldly, "Who was responsible for inspecting the demon cave the month before?"

Jing You quickly replied, "It was Xue Song, a disciple of True Master Peng."

Zhang Yan sneered because controlling the Sea Eye was not a small matter. Fearing that Demon Sect Practitioners among them had not been completely eradicated, he had ordered disciples to inspect the area. However, Peng Yuzhou had vowed confidently that with his disciples guarding it, there would be no problems, and he had blocked those Zhang Yan sent.

Peng Yuzhou was also one of the Top Ten Disciples in the past. If he could not handle even this small matter, it would be a joke. It’s highly likely that he disregarded the lives of his fellow disciples. Zhang Yan said, "Issue a decree, commanding Zihong to protect those disciples in the demon cave." After a slight pause, he added, "Also, summon Caiwei and Caiting here."

Jing You promptly went to relay the orders.

Before long, the Wang Sisters entered the cave and paid respects upon approaching him.

Zhang Yan tossed a token from his sleeve and said, "You two, take this First Seat Token and go capture Peng Yuzhou’s disciple Xue Song. If anyone obstructs you, don’t hesitate to take them down."

Wang Caiwei accepted the token with both hands. After pondering, she bowed and asked, "May I ask, Master, what should the disciple do if Elder Peng intervenes?"

Zhang Yan replied, "I will make arrangements. You two can proceed without worry."

The Wang Sisters asked no further questions and, after a salute, withdrew.

Zhang Yan sat for a moment. Then, with a wave of his sleeve, he picked up a pen and swiftly wrote two letters on the desk. Infusing them with mana, two beams of spirit light flew up, heading out of the mansion together.

Watching the flying books depart, his gaze flickered slightly. The Day Sky Hall is one of the three Upper Halls, and Peng Yuzhou, being an elder there, held a position he could not directly control. However, it doesn’t mean there’s no one who could restrain such people.

Above Dragon Abyss Marsh, Peng Yuzhou rode within a Flying Carriage, pulled by a twin-headed red-winged Vermilion Bird, soaring through clouds and winds towards Shouming Palace.

There was a hint of a smile on his face. Within this month, he had successively visited several Clan Leaders of the noble families within the sect. Several families had promised to create a public sentiment in his favor. Many clan sects valued his status as an elder of the Day Sky Hall and had sent their disciples to serve him.

He felt that in these past few hundred years, never had there been such a favorable situation as the current one.

With Du De gone and Zhang Yan assuming the position of one of the Ten Great Heads, it was foreseeable that the noble families would be firmly suppressed by the lineage of master and disciple in the coming century. At this time, stepping out was, as one might say, the perfect maneuver because, aside from him, there was almost no one in the noble families capable of contending for supremacy.

He sneered. Others feared Zhang Yan, but he did not.

When Qi Yuntian was the Leader of the Ten Disciples, he was already in the third generation of disciples with high Daoist cultivation and had made significant contributions in the Sword Fighting Conference for the sect. He had the support of the Sect Leader and the entire lineage of the Cave Heaven True Master, leaving no one who dared to show disrespect.

And Huo Xuan, to ascend to this position, relied on four Great Clans. Later, Du De was in a similar situation.

However, from Peng Yuzhou’s perspective, although Zhang Yan had cultivated to the Nascent Soul Third Realm and was first among the Eighteen Sects’ sword fighters, unmatched among his peers, compared to Qi and Huo, he lacked the major advantage of having Cave Heaven True Masters above him; therefore, from his position as an elder in the Day Sky Hall, Zhang Yan had no way to control him.

Now, with the emergence of the Demon Cave, if he could make a major contribution to the sect, regain the favor of the noble families, and thereby suppress Zhang Yan, he could capitalize on his achievements and contend against Huo Xuan for the position of Hall Master of the Day Sky Hall.

Thinking of this, he couldn’t help but be filled with ambition. At this moment, out of the corner of his eye, he caught sight of a Tunnel Smoke approaching. It appeared to be none other than his disciple Xue Gao. He ordered the disciple at the front to slow the Flying Carriage. When Xue Gao boarded, he immediately asked, "Didn’t I instruct you to focus on cultivation in the Cave Mansion for a few days? Why are you here?"