Daoist Competition

Xu Jing hesitated for a moment, stepped forward, took it, bowed, and said, "Thank you, Pavilion Master."

Zhang Yan conversed with him a few more sentences before addressing the main topic, "Summoned you here for one matter; even though there are patrol disciples outside the Mingcang Mountain Gate, it is still difficult to guard against the prying of the Demon Sect. Hence, I intend to place a hundred Dharma Platforms within a thousand-mile radius, and this task is entrusted to you. Whatever you need, you may go and tell Jing You; he will arrange it for you."

Xu Jing solemnly accepted the order, saying, "The little Daoist will certainly be diligent and will not disappoint the Pavilion Master’s generous favor."

Zhang Yan slightly nodded, waved his hand to dismiss him, and after repeatedly pondering, thinking at least there were no oversights for the time being, he went to the couch to sit and meditate, waiting for tomorrow’s banquet.

Around midnight, the Little Pot Mirror flashed on its surface, and the Mirror Spirit suddenly emerged quietly, reporting in a low voice, "Master, there are two people outside the gate; the leader is a child, saying he’s visiting on Sect Leader’s orders."

Zhang Yan opened his eyes, thought briefly, but couldn’t think of anything, so he said, "Show him in."

After a while, two people entered the cave, one was the palace foreman boy seen in the Floating Heavenly Palace, and the other surprised him—Peng Yuzhou, who was captured by Yun Tian, albeit with a dark face and a displeased expression.

The Daoist boy stepped forward, bowed, and presented an item, saying, "True Master Zhang, this is a letter from the Sect Leader for your perusal."

Zhang Yan took it to look and couldn’t help but raise his brows.

The Daoist boy said, "The Sect Leader decreed to punish Peng Yuzhou with sixty years of labor under the Zhao You Sect to atone for past crimes." Saying this, he paused and continued, "Naturally, the Sect Leader mentioned, if the True Master is unwilling, it won’t be forced. We’ll lock him back in the Upper Extreme Hall’s prisoner cell until after the True Master vacates the position, then release him."

Upon seeing the letter that also included a Dharma Contract, established by Peng Yuzhou, clearly stating that he was in a guilty status; if not following the decree, he could be disposed of at one’s discretion. Zhang Yan smiled slightly and said, "The Sect Leader’s intention, the disciple understands. Elder Peng can stay."

The Daoist boy smiled and said, "Then this child will go report back now."

Zhang Yan nodded and said, "Jing You, see the guest off for me."

The Daoist boy bowed and then retreated.

Zhang Yan turned his eyes, seeing Peng Yuzhou standing there motionless, waved his sleeve to lift the sealing talisman from him, saying, "Elder Peng, please sit down and speak."

Peng Yuzhou, relieved of the sealing talisman, could finally move, snorted, sat aside, and indifferently said, "What does True Master Zhang want Peng to do?

Serving under Zhang Yan’s command, although extremely unwilling, he had no choice. He’s nearly six hundred years old, and if punished to retreat for hundreds of years, it would sever his path to the Great Dao, and the noble family people would certainly not pay him any attention.

Compared to this, it was merely losing face; years ago, to save his life, he avoided the swordfight, already lost face once, and losing it again now did not mean much.

Moreover, the Sect Leader promised him that if he achieved merit, he would still be rewarded with honors in the sect, offering some hope.

Zhang Yan did not mind his attitude, having a Dharma Contract in hand; he was not afraid of Peng Yuzhou causing trouble.

Internally, Zhang Yan praised the Sect Leader’s brilliant move; once this person served under him, even achieving great honors in the great tribulation, the noble family people would certainly not trust him again. Since he’s under his command, it would only be right to use him to the fullest, so he said, "Right now, there is something only Elder Peng can accomplish." He proceeded to share his recent plans with him.

Originally, he planned for Senior Brother Han Wangke and his brother to attack directly while Zhang Boyant supported from the side, hoping to greatly damage and siege the Demon Sect practitioners surrounding Linqing Temple. However, with Peng Yuzhou, a Nascent Soul Third Realm cultivator on the scene, it became different; releasing the Forbidden Locking Heaven and Earth Skill would likely capture them all at once.

Peng Yuzhou, upon hearing this, couldn’t help but frown deeply, saying, "Junior Brother Zhang doing this may easily trigger unforeseen consequences; have you considered it thoroughly?"

Handling a few Demon Sect practitioners was nothing to him; presently, most of the battles are Hua Dan cultivators clashing, and while both sides have Nascent Soul cultivators in the fight, direct duels are rare. Yet, once the sect sends out Third Realm Great Cultivators, the Demon Sect will likely retaliate fiercely.

At that point, his opponents might be Demon Sect elites with cultivation akin to his own, which worried him.

He knew a few of the Demon Sect’s Third Realm cultivators, such as Yu Wen Hongyang from Nether Spring Sect, Baili Qingyin from Blood Essence Sect, and Chao Yue from Jiuling Sect—none were ordinary. He wished to attain merit but did not want to lose his life for it.

Zhang Yan smiled indifferently, saying, "If they dare to come out, that’s the best. Let’s see if they have the courage."

It’s been just over two hundred years since the Demon Tribulation, and the Four Great Demon Caves haven’t surfaced, with the Demon Sect’s power not yet at its peak. If they dared to show their claws now, he wouldn’t mind severing them one by one; the Nine Capturing Demon Scroll he’d possessed for some time had not been used.

Peng Yuzhou, detecting the hidden murderous intent in his words, was startled, then thought further, realizing his intentions: "Zhang Yan, being one of the Ten Great Heads for less than a hundred years, clearly seeks to provoke the Demon Sect into acting early, earning himself substantial credit. If successful, upon his future departure, the sect will surely assist him in entering the Grotto Heaven, but I will inevitably become his stepping stone."

Zhang Yan observed his grim expression, naturally understanding his thoughts, and said with a smile, "Elder Peng, please be assured; we share the same sect, and I would not purposely send you to your death. Should great enemies arise, I shall handle them, no need for your involvement."

Peng Yuzhou didn’t believe him, but bound by the oath, he had to comply with Zhang Yan’s orders. Standing up, he said, "Since Junior Brother Zhang arranged it this way, let it be so; however, I will report this matter to the Sect Leader."

Zhang Yan laughed and said, "That’s your prerogative." Then his tone subtly shifted with a hint of coldness, "Yet, remember, Elder Peng, this matter must not leak any information, or don’t blame me for disregarding sect brotherhood."

...

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