Daoist Competition

Zhang Yan smiled slightly and bowed, saying, "Brother Ning, Brother Luo, greetings to you both."

Luo Qingyu looked Zhang Yan over for a while before expressing his amazement, "After True Master Shen returned, he once said that you would return to the sect within one or two hundred years. Yet, unexpectedly, you have returned before a hundred years have passed. What do you think, Junior Brother Ning?"

Ning Chongxuan’s eyes gleamed with spirit light, but it soon faded away. He nodded and said, "Indeed, a Nascent Soul Third Realm cultivation."

Luo Qingyu shook his head and sighed, "With such talent, Junior Brother, I am truly impressed," then waved his sleeve and said, "But let’s not talk about this today. We have come here to discuss another important matter with you."

Zhang Yan could somewhat guess their intentions and said, "Please, my two senior brothers, go ahead."

Luo Qingyu slowly said, "Now that you possess the Third Realm cultivation, the chief position among the Top Ten Disciples should rightfully be yours."

Zhang Yan’s eyes flashed, and after a moment’s thought, he asked, "Is this the intention of the Senior Brother?"

Luo Qingyu glanced at Ning Chongxuan and said, "This is the wish of the Senior Brother, as well as mine and several other junior brothers’."

Zhang Yan nodded slightly, noticing that the two mentioned True Master Shen earlier; undoubtedly, there are several Cave Heaven True Masters supporting this move from behind the scenes, or else Ning and Luo would not have come here together. After a moment of thought, he asked, "What is the current situation?"

Luo Qingyu, seeing that he did not outright refuse, relaxed slightly and said, "After Brother Huo stepped down, Junior Brother Chen Feng took over, while at Brother Zhong’s place, Junior Sister Feng Yao from True Master Qin’s sect took the position. They both are new among the Top Ten Disciples, lacking influence and weight in their words, and their cultivation is temporarily below ours. Brother Ning, Junior Brother Zhuang, Junior Sister Qin, and I all support you. As long as you nod, this matter is secure."

In another few decades, he and Zhuang Bufan would step aside for their juniors, who were from the same sect, to take over. But now, during the Demon Tribulation, if the chief position is still held by the noble families, it could be problematic.

Zhang Yan is different; although not of the direct student line, he won’t lean towards the noble families. If everything goes as expected, he could sit securely in this position for over a hundred years. With his Nascent Soul Third Realm cultivation, if he can become the head of the Top Ten, his position would be unassailable. By the time he steps down, his fellow disciples who replace him would likely be capable of standing on their own.

At this moment, Ning Chongxuan also looked over and said in a deep voice, "Junior Brother Zhang, with your profound Daoist cultivation, none of the Top Ten can compare; the chief position should be yours without doubt!"

The next day, three white-haired Daoists descended in front of the Fire Roar Palace on Rongyan Island. These three held high ranks in the four great families and bore the title of elder on duty in the Day Sky Hall.

The three were led into the palace’s main hall by a Duty Disciple, where Du De had long been waiting. After they were seated, the elder in the lead softly asked, "True Master Du, may we ask why you have called us here?"

Du De calmly said, "I intend to resign from the position of chief among the Top Ten and have specially informed you esteemed elders."

The leading elder was taken aback and exclaimed, "What, resign from the chief position?"

The other two elders showed incredulous expressions and exchanged glances, with one frowning, "Is this True Master Du’s private decision, or the Du Family’s stance?"

Du De did not answer directly, only saying calmly, "I have held this position for over three hundred years and have no ambitions for the remaining decades, so I might as well abandon it."

The leading elder waved his hand and said without hesitation, "Absolutely not!"

Realizing his tone was too harsh, he coughed before saying, "True Master Du, why would you have such thoughts? Think of how during True Master Huo’s time, he continually retreated step by step against the student line, leading to a significant reduction in cultivation resources and spirit land Cave Mansions compared to before. Although Master Chen might not say much on the surface, we can all see his great disappointment. Right now, we are relying on you to strengthen and pull through these decades. In such critical times, how can you lightly speak of leaving your position?"

Unmoved, Du De only said, "Yesterday, when Junior Brother Zhang returned to the sect, I commanded the disciples not to go out to welcome him. You might know the outcome yourselves, esteemed elders."

The three fell silent. On the day Zhang Yan returned to the mountain, Luo Qingyu and Ning Chongxuan disregarded Du De’s decree and went out to greet him. Shortly after, Qin Nan and Zhuang Bufan also visited Zhao You Heavenly Pond. The deeper implications of these actions were not lost on them.

Yet, to make them give up the chief position among the Top Ten, how could they bear to do so?

After a while, the leading elder slowly said, "They are five on their side, and there are also five on True Master Du’s side. If there were a contest, the outcome is still uncertain."

When he said this, his confidence was already wavering because this matter essentially depended on the strategic decisions of several Cave Heaven True Masters. Ever since Shen Baishuang achieved the Cave Heaven, Qin Yu has been less inclined to speak, and whether or not she will stand with them now is hard to predict.

At this moment, a light suddenly flared up on the Jade Platform in the palace, and it seemed as if a person was standing within it. A resonant voice came forth, saying, "Du De, I approve your resignation."

Everyone present immediately became solemn, standing up to respectfully greet, "Greetings to True Master Du."

True Master Du gave a cold laugh and said to the three, "You have lived all these years in vain and cannot see as clearly as Du De does. Now, with Zhang Yan’s return to the Mountain Gate, the Teacher and student line wish to elevate him. This is Meng Zhide and a few others using their influence to compel us, so we must temporarily step back."

One elder, unwilling to concede, bolstered his courage and said, "Why not let True Master Du and True Master Zhang compete against each other? We are unwilling to let them take over so easily!"

True Master Du suddenly became silent and, after a moment, said, "That Zhang Yan is a natural genius; he is already a Nascent Soul Third Realm cultivator, and Du De is not his match."

"What?"

The three elders were all shocked. One, as if realizing something, exclaimed, "This, this Zhang Yan hasn’t even cultivated for three hundred years?"

Their minds were somewhat in a daze, achieving First-class Elixir Formation in a hundred years, reaching Nascent Soul in less than three hundred years; throughout the ages, such figures are exceedingly rare.

Du De’s eyes flickered suddenly, as he said, "Back then, Senior Brother Luo didn’t compete with me for the chief position among the Top Ten; in hindsight, it seems they had planned this long ago."

True Master Du gravely said, "Ever since Shen Baishuang saw Zhang Yan in East Victory, he returned and made these arrangements. None of us anticipated this; this round, the Teacher and student line won."

The three elders exchanged bewildered glances. Years ago, after Huo Xuan stepped down, both Luo Qingyu and Du De had a chance for the chief position. Yet, since their cultivations were equally matched, it was unclear which one would prevail. Thus, the noble families paid a significant price to have them voluntarily withdraw. But hearing these words now, it seems as if it was intentional?

True Master Du said, "Over years of administration, the Du Family has brought considerable benefits to your families. Now, the offenses were handled by us. Stop pestering!"

After saying this, a storm sprung up in the hall. The three elders felt their hearts and spirits sway as if in a trance, and before regaining clarity, found themselves outside Rongyan Island. The leading elder sighed deeply and said, "Alas, the chief position among the Top Ten, for just over two hundred years, is falling back into the hands of the Teacher and student line."

...

... (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, you are welcome to vote for recommendation tickets and monthly tickets on the qidian.com platform. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to read.)