Daoist Competition

After considering for a long time, she raised her head and asked, "Where has True Master Zhang reached?"

Yan Xiaoyang replied, "The letter was sent from Beichen yesterday, and today True Master Zhang is probably thousands of miles away."

Yan Yuqing immediately made a decision and said, "My child, call Xi Yue and go with mother to pay respects to True Master Zhang."

Yan Xiaoyang was taken aback, saying, "Rushing over now, True Master Zhang might have already returned to Dragon Abyss Marsh, he might not have time to see us."

Yan Yuqing smiled and said, "Wouldn’t that precisely show our sincerity? Go quickly."

Yan Xiaoyang hurried down to make preparations, and after gathering the gifts, the three of them departed the mountain gate using an escape skill, heading toward Zhao You Heavenly Pond.

Dragon Abyss Marsh, Rongyan Island, Fire Roar Palace.

Xiao Tang raised his wine cup, made a toast toward Du De, and smiled, "Brother Du, I heard Junior Brother Zhang has returned to the mountain, should we arrange for disciples to go and greet him?"

Du De said indifferently, "Junior Brother Zhang is one of our Top Ten Disciples. He has been out for a century, and although his return is worth celebrating, it is also quite ordinary, there’s no need to gather the troops."

He said to a disciple beside him, "Transmit my decree, no sect disciple is allowed outside without permission, violators will be severely punished."

Xiao Tang tapped his wine cup matter-of-factly and said meaningfully, "Junior Brother Zhang’s reputation is extremely high now, it’s reasonable not to greet him, but restricting the disciples might make Brother Du appear intolerant."

Du De replied coldly, "When have I, Du De, ever cared about others’ words?"

Xiao Tang chuckled, tilted his neck and drank the wine, then bid farewell casually, went outside, and was supported onto the carriage by disciples. He seated himself on the soft seat, and with a gesture from the disciple, the flying carriage soared into the sky.

Leaving Fire Roar Island, the disciple looked back and said, "Master is wise, in this way, no one will say Master neglects the camaraderie among the sect, even if True Master Zhang seeks trouble, he won’t come for Master."

Another disciple said, "Uncle Du can’t compare to Master, isn’t he just being outmaneuvered today by Master? I think the position of Ten Disciples Leader should be held by Master."

The previous disciple immediately echoed the sentiment.

Xiao Tang smiled and shook his head, saying, "Do you think Brother Du really doesn’t see my intentions? He understands very well." Pausing, he rarely sighed, "Being the Ten Disciples Leader is not easy."

Zhao You Heavenly Pond.

On the Jade Lotus Platform, Liu Yan Yi sat cross-legged, eyes closed, cultivating in the cave.

She was clad in a plain wide-sleeved Daoist robe, her long hair tied with a silver ring, her beauty was pure and her skin like icy jade. Above her, two wisps of Gang Cloud flowed like water, clear and serene, rotating gently, as if there were sounds of tides rising and falling, echoing against the cave walls.

Suddenly, footsteps were heard outside, and disciple Lin Suxue, full of joy, rushed into the cave without the usual soft voice, instead calling out from outside the door, "Master, Master, there’s a letter from outside the mountain gate saying the ancestor is coming back."

Upon hearing this, Liu Yan Yi opened her eyes, revealing surprise and joy, she flicked her sleeve and opened the cave door, saying, "Is it really true?"

Lin Suxue entered the cave, bowed and said with grievance, "When have I ever dared to deceive Master?"

Liu Yan Yi lightly tapped her head, scolding, "Stop being cheeky, has there been any report from Master Luo’s direction?"

Lin Suxue widened her eyes and said, "Master, have you forgotten? Master Luo has a heart-blood connection with the ancestor, he probably knows by now."

Liu Yan Yi shook her head and said, "Even if so, it’s right to inform him."

Lin Suxue began to ponder, nodded vigorously, and said, "It’s a lapse, I’ll arrange it shortly." She wiped her sachet and handed over a flying book, saying, "The letter is here."

Liu Yan Yi took it, scanned it briefly, and then descended from the lotus seat. She paced a few steps and said, "Calculating the travel time, the mentor will be back at the mountain gate in half a day, after you go down, call the younger disciples, and come with me to welcome."

Lin Suxue performed a Daoist bow and replied joyfully, "Yes, Master."

Zhang Yan has been away for more than a century, and now in the sect, not counting the Second Generation Disciples, just the Third Generation Disciples number over ten, with Lin Suxue, Zuo Han Zhang among them having their own disciples, along with the lineage of demon cultivators such as Luo Xiao and Shang Shang, totaling about thirty people. Having received Liu Yan Yi’s command, they all left the mountain gate together, heading to the top of Zhao You Mountain.

Once Liu Yan Yi reached the top of Zhao You Heavenly Pond, she looked up and saw stars filling the sky, the moon hanging in the western heavens, still midnight.

At this moment, a cloud of Tunnel Smoke suddenly flew in from Mingcang Mountain Gate, and everyone looked in surprise.

When the Tunnel Smoke approached, they realized it was a Hua Dan Cultivator wearing a True Disciple’s robe, who lifted the jade talisman in his hand and said, "True Master Du has commanded, all Mingcang disciples must guard the mountain gate without venturing out, violators will be severely punished."

Fearing the Zhao You disciples might ignore him, he also shook his hand and sent a letter forward, saying, "Here is the token from Fire Roar Palace, True Master Liu, please have a look."

Liu Yan Yi lightly raised her delicate hand to take it, after reading, her expression did not change, she casually tore the letter and said indifferently, "My mentor returns home, as the Senior Disciple of Zhao You Sect, it is unthinkable not to welcome him. If True Master Du wants to punish, I, Liu Yan Yi, am always ready."

The disciple saw her act this way and dared not utter a word.

Liu Yan Yi is well-favored by Qi Yuntian and Ning Chongxuan’s disciples, sisterly with Qin Nan, and directly instructed by Sect Leader Qin in Divine Passage Skill. Plus, she is Zhang Yan’s eldest disciple and has repeatedly slain Demon Sect Practitioners over the years. Even if the elders of Zhengqing Institute were present, they would probably turn a blind eye, how could he dare to intervene, so he hastily made a Daoist bow and left.

Although Zhao You Heavenly Pond is under Mingcang Sect, because the cave mansion is outside the mountain gate, it is less restricted by the sect rules. Many younger generations are fearless, but there are also those who worry, among the Third Generation Disciples, there is one named Jin Honglian, who is Han Zuocheng’s disciple, saying, "What are we afraid of, the ancestor is returning, if anything comes up, there will be others to make decisions for us."

Everyone agreed upon hearing this, feeling uplifted, turning their eyes towards the east with anticipation.

Night passed quickly, the dark hue of the sky faded, and the sun rose slowly. Soon, everyone felt a flicker before their eyes, witnessing a massive ship hundreds of meters long emerging from the sunrise, carrying vast clouds and beaming countless rays of light, heading directly towards them.

...

...(To be continued. If you enjoy this story, you are welcome to vote for recommendations and monthly tickets at Qidian (qidian.com). Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to read.)