Dao Lord: Starting from a Top-grade Golden Core

A scroll painting spun out from his sleeve, expanding in the wind. In an instant, it blotted out the sky and descended, like a world of mountains and seas falling from the heavens. Once it settled over the land, the scenery transformed into a landscape of green hills and clear waters, and as for Mi Yuan Dao and Jin Yuanzai, they had both vanished inside.

"The Three Mountains and Sea Map!" Sima Zongfa's gaze shifted. "Jin Yuanzai actually brought it out? Is he not holding anything back at all?"

That treasured map was the reward Jin Yuanzai had received from the Taiyi Palace upon becoming one of the Ten Great Disciples. It was for this reason that both Sima Zongfa and his companion were not unfamiliar with its mysteries.

"The Three Mountains and Sea Map must draw upon the power of the terrain or of water to be activated. It might not be of any use after this formation." Chang Su'Er's brow furrowed as she sighed. "By using this map, Jin Yuan won't have to reveal his other techniques, and Fellow Daoist Mi has no room left to maneuver. It seems this round…"

Before Chang Su'Er's voice had faded, a muffled sound echoed from within the landscape. The scene immediately contracted, reverting to a scroll painting and revealing the ground's original appearance. Only then did a streak of rainbow light appear, carrying Mi Yuan Dao back toward the Jade Platform.

Jin Yuanzai calmly retracted the Three Mountains and Sea Map into his sleeve. With a flick of his robes, he summoned a streak of light and followed close behind Mi Yuan Dao, returning to the Jade Platform one after the other.

"Fellow Daoist Mi, I was fortunate to win." He strode confidently back onto the Jade Platform and cupped his hands toward Mi Yuan Dao. Mi Yuan Dao simply shook his head and replied, "I have been enlightened."

Jin Yuanzai gave a slight nod and returned to Da Ji Zhenren's side. Da Ji Zhenren impatiently beckoned to the Immoral Taoist. The Immoral Taoist, remaining unruffled, casually tossed over a pagoda-shaped treasure.

Da Ji Zhenren caught it, his expression first one of surprise, then satisfaction. He handed it over to Jin Yuanzai before shouting, "You immoral whelp! We each have one person left. Let's get on with it!"

The Immoral Taoist, not giving an inch, readily agreed in a loud voice. He then said to Chang Su'Er, "Young Friend Chang, the last round is all up to you."

Chang Su'Er nodded lightly and replied, "I will not fail you."

Sima Zongfa smiled slightly and cupped his hands. "I wish you a victorious return in advance, Junior Sister." He glanced at the other side's last contestant, as if her victory was a foregone conclusion.

After watching the last few rounds, he had gained a considerable understanding of both sides. 'This Pang Ban is just a Loose Cultivator. Although his cultivation progress isn't slow, and his talent may not be poor, how can he possibly compare to a true disciple of a major sect when it comes to Daoist arts and Divine Techniques?'

Chang Su'Er didn't respond, simply leaving the formation. She and Pang Ban took their positions in the air, facing each other. She performed a salute and said, "Fellow Daoist, please, after you."

Pang Ban's body remained motionless, and he offered no response. But suddenly! From the crown of his head, a blade-light as clear as a cold spring burst forth, slashing toward Chang Su'Er.

Pang Ban had actually attacked without saying a single word. The blade-light streaked through the air and sliced Chang Su'Er in two at the waist!

But obviously, Chang Su'Er could not be defeated so easily. As the blade-light struck, her form dissolved into a burst of phantoms that immediately scattered, only for several more Chang Su'Ers to materialize in the air.

Pang Ban's expression did not change. The blade-light above his head spun without pause, striking out in all directions in an instant. Yet, no matter how he slashed, Chang Su'Er would just dissolve into phantoms and reform her body. After a few exchanges, more than ten of her had appeared.

Seeing that the situation was not in his favor, Pang Ban had no choice but to halt his saber technique. With a soft laugh, the dozen or so Chang Su'Ers each picked up a silver leaf, tossed it downward, and they all spun through the air toward Pang Ban.

Pang Ban's eyes narrowed slightly. He formed a Magic Formula, and a pot-bellied, eyeless, noseless, earless fiend crawled up from his back. The fiend's massive mouth split open, and a long, wet, sticky tongue shot out to intercept the silver leaves.

Each of Chang Su'Er's avatars was like a phantom, but the silver leaves she threw were indeed real Magical Artifacts. Pang Ban's fiend's tongue, however, was not only flexible but also seemed as tough as metal. It moved so fast it was impenetrable, and with a symphony of CLANGS, it became clear that Chang Su'Er could not break through for the time being.

Chang Su'Er was in no hurry, continuing to direct her Magical Artifacts. The two fought for a long while before the Immoral Taoist suddenly let out a soft cry of surprise, drawing everyone's attention. They saw Pang Ban shake his shoulder as a Gangyun rose above his head. Within it, a blade-light flashed and suddenly shot toward an empty spot!

The move was incredibly sudden. With a sound like tearing silk, Chang Su'Er's figure materialized in the air. She was clutching her lower abdomen with one hand, but she couldn't stop the blood from gushing out.

At some point, a veiled hat had appeared around Chang Su'Er, but it had already been slashed open by Pang Ban's blade-light. Seeing this, a flicker of recognition passed through Pang Ban's eyes, and he thought to himself, 'So it's you.'

But he immediately cast the stray thought from his mind. The veiled hat was clearly what Chang Su'Er had been using to conceal her true form. Now that he had broken it, she could no longer use the same trick again.

Pang Ban was well-versed in the art of pressing an advantage, so he immediately struck again. As the blade-light flew out, a faint, almost illusory blade shadow preceded it, striking Chang Su'Er. Her body visibly stiffened.

"Catching the wind and grasping at shadows, wounding the spirit by questioning the heart…" The Immoral Taoist grimaced and muttered, "This kid really does have some powerful backing."

Xuzhuang, listening from the side, suddenly focused his consciousness and asked, 'Fellow Daoist Bitu, do you know the origin of what True Deficient Virtue was talking about?'

This time, Bitu did not make things difficult. A deep, sonorous voice echoed directly in his mind, replying, 'That seems to be the saber style of a malevolent weapon from the Innate Demon Sect's past, the Yuan Gu Mingkong Saber. However, I heard that this cursed weapon disappeared along with a Zhenren from the Innate Demon Sect…'

'Is that so…' Xuzhuang looked back at the arena. As the phantom blade struck Chang Su'Er, Pang Ban's subsequent physical blade-light flashed past. Chang Su'Er's head flew high into the sky!

Pang Ban's expression tensed. 'I know we both have Zhenren Talismans. My attack shouldn't be powerful enough to bypass one, so she's probably not dead yet.'

And indeed, as Chang Su'Er's head flew into the air, the expression on her face finally changed. First, she looked as if she were waking from a stupor, then she let out a piercing shriek, crying out, "Come back!"

At her cry, her body seemed to spring back to life, wobbling unsteadily as it flew toward her head. At the same time, black lights flashed across the sky as Demon Snakes materialized out of thin air. Biting each other's tails, they coiled into a circle, trapping Pang Ban and the dozen or so phantom avatars inside.

Pang Ban's expression changed instantly. Realizing he couldn't break free, he abruptly flicked a hand sign. The blade-light spinning outside shot toward Chang Su'Er's head. At almost the same instant, Chang Su'Er's dozen or so phantom avatars exploded with a BOOM. A Demon Cloud rose up, swallowing Pang Ban in a flash.

"This?" Sima Zongfa's expression darkened, his eyes fixed on the arena. "Junior Sister's Immortal Consciousness of the Demon Body has not yet reached perfection. I'm afraid she can't block that strike…"

But Chang Su'Er's Daoist art had clearly been brewing for a long time. Could Pang Ban withstand such a thunderous strike?

At this point, the crowd also realized that a mutually destructive outcome was highly likely, and everyone watched with rapt attention.

Sure enough, in less than a breath, two beams of spiritual light broke through the Demon Cloud and returned to the Jade Platform, one after the other. Pang Ban and Chang Su'Er appeared, neither looking well. They simply turned to look at the assembled Zhenrens—Immoral, Jide, and Da Ji.

The Jide Taoist took two steps forward, patted Chang Su'Er's shoulder, and asked Da Ji Zhenren in a low voice, "How do we score this round?"

Da Ji Zhenren pondered for a long time before saying, "Chang Su'Er was a hair faster than Pang Ban…"

The Immoral Taoist's brow shot up and he stepped forward to speak, but Da Ji Zhenren suddenly changed his tune. "However, in practical terms, it was mutual destruction. Let's just call this round a draw."

𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢

He stroked his beard and asked in return, "But according to our original agreement, the winner of a round ascends the Spirit Root to pick a Pearl Fruit. In your opinion, fellow Daoist, should these two both be considered winners, or both be considered losers?"

"This…" The Jide Taoist frowned. As he was pondering, Chang Su'Er recovered her composure and said in a low voice to him, "Zhenren, although Pang Ban and I both suffered defeat, my Demon Body was damaged, while he was protected by his talisman and is unharmed."

It wasn't that the Jide Taoist didn't know this; even if he hadn't, he would have sensed the shift in fortune. It was just that these genius cultivators they had invited were not here to be ordered around at will. This was an exchange of favors, a chance to build good connections, so he had to take their own opinions into account.

However, since Chang Su'Er herself had said so, the Jide Taoist understood. He turned to Da Ji Zhenren and said, "In my opinion, it is better to count them both as defeated."

Da Ji Zhenren snorted softly and replied, "Fine. Then so be it."

He gestured toward the Jide Taoist's side, indicating Zhong Shenxiu and Xuzhuang. Then he pointed to his own people—Jin Yuanzai, Li Chengzhen, and Yao Liqing. A triumphant look spread across his face as he announced, "The two from your side, and the three from mine, shall ascend the Cyan and Purple Tribulation Plant together to pick the Pearl Fruits!"