Daoist Competition

When these hundred cultivators appeared, the entire golden platform instantly fell silent.

On and off the platform, more than ten thousand cultivators had gathered from all directions for the banquet. Seeing those who had arrived, they knew it must be someone important as even the Zhongtai Sect Leader came out to greet them personally. Most guessed the identity of the newcomers and watched the sky intently, eager to see what the legendary person looked like.

He Yizhu directed his gaze towards the leading figure, a young Daoist cloaked in a mysterious robe, who had an imposing demeanor and piercing eyes filled with divine light. Spiritual tides surged around him continuously, while above, the Gang Cloud parted and converged, gathered and scattered, in an extremely peculiar manner.

His expression became stern as he thought to himself, "Judging by appearance, Daoist Zhang seems to have power equivalent to entering the Third Realm within a hundred years. With someone like him supporting Zhongtai, it might be difficult to gain any advantage on the Dragon Pillar this time."

Thinking of this, his heart inevitably filled with concern, as if this person were to ally with Zhongtai, it would pose a significant threat to the Southern Three Sects, prompting him to ponder how to strategically distance them.

After Chen Yuan had sized up Zhang Yan for a few moments, he directed his attention to the two similar-looking young women behind him.

He observed the two women to have graceful appearances, fair skin with raven hair, and excellent qualities, similar to Fan Yinghui, he sighed and said, "Daoist Zhang surely has accepted two outstanding disciples."

This time, Zhongtai’s banquet was meant to host the East Victory sects, so Zhang Yan was not visiting alone, the thirty-six sect leaders from Divine House Mountain were also accompanying him. As direct disciples of Wang Yan, the Wang Sisters were also present out of courtesy.

The two of them were originally citizens of the Nine Cities, having resided in the Mingcang Sect since their ancestors’ time. Nurtured by spiritual essence from a young age, they had exceptional qualities unmatched by ordinary people.

Zhang Yan emerged from the Da Wei Cloud Palace, surveyed his surroundings, waved his sleeves, and a radiant light emerged from his feet, descending gracefully.

Sect Leader Qiao stepped forward quickly, bowing repeatedly, and said, "Sect Leader Zhang, my Zhongtai Sect has been awaiting your arrival for a long time."

Zhang Yan smiled, returned the salute, and said politely, "My Han Yuan is but a remote little sect, undeserving of such grandeur."

Sect Leader Qiao hurriedly replied, "You are deserving, you are deserving."

While they were conversing, a voice suddenly asked, "May I ask True Master Zhang, what are those celestial palaces in the sky, and where did the True Master acquire them?"

Zhang Yan followed the voice and saw the person speaking appeared ordinary, unremarkable, yet had three clusters of spiritual clouds above his head, loosely concealed like buds. He asked, "Might I know this Daoist’s name?"

Qiao Huanjuan gestured graciously, smiled, and said, "Let me introduce, this is True Master He, the sect leader of the Kuxin Sect."

"Ah, Sect Leader He." Zhang Yan raised a salute, then smiled and said, "For Sect Leader He’s knowledge, that object is called ’Da Wei Cloud Palace,’ it can serve as a transport and a cultivation cave mansion. It was crafted by a talented individual from my humble sect."

He Yizhu raised his brows and said, "As far as I know, to craft such treasures, one must possess extraordinary skills and require a place like an Earth Fire Sky Furnace. Within our current Four Great Sects of East Victory, there’s nothing of that kind, True Master Zhang, you are rather modest calling yourself a small sect."

Mao Wuwei then said, "Sect Leader He, have you perhaps forgotten that True Master Zhang and Master Shen Baishuang’s are from the same sect, and Master Shen founded a sect in East Victory several hundred years ago, thus considered an East Victory cultivator."

He Yizhu feigned displeasure and said, "Daoist Qiao, you speak wrongly; the Python Clan also stands within the Beimo Sea Realm, but does it also mean they are East Victory cultivators?"

Seeing the two in chorus, their words subtly emphasized Zhang Yan’s complicated background, implying he was not a native cultivator of this continent and thus not to be easily trusted. Especially speaking loudly so that the cultivators below the stage could hear, revealing their intentions.

Sect Leader Qiao initially frowned, then relaxed, coldly said, "Demons are demons, people are people, whether near or far, Qiao can clearly distinguish, Han Yuan still follows the Xuanmen path, not akin to those evil and alien beings, both sect leaders are overthinking."

Zhang Yan then laughed aloud and said, "According to what I know, in the past ten thousand years of East Victory Continent, only two ancestor masters have emerged: one is the Da Mi Ancestor, who ascended and left behind Zhongtai and Xuanyue sects; the other is the Jing Cang Ancestor, who founded the Little Cang Realm, and the rest of the major sects are outsiders from other continents. In comparison, my Han Yuan is merely one step behind."

He Yizhu’s expression froze; indeed, only the two families Zhang Yan mentioned are native to East Victory, while their Three Sects Practitioners arrived from Donglai Continent several thousand years ago, crossed the sea, established sects, and if analyzed thoroughly, might not even be considered native to this continent. Even several already wiped-out evil sects were established earlier than these three sects.