Daoist Competition

Zhang Yan opened the book and let his gaze fall on the pages, where he saw the initial entries were a rough narrative by Shen Chong.

Shen Chong began cultivation at the age of ten, formed a Second Grade Golden Core at forty-six, and achieved Nascent Soul at two hundred. At seven hundred and twelve, he accomplished the Cave Heaven Technique. Unlike others of his generation, he spent most of the next two thousand years traveling, only returning to his sect just before his ascension to write this handwritten book.

In just a few hundred words, the entire cultivation journey of an Ascended True Master unfolded before the reader.

Perhaps because this book was intended for younger disciples in the sect, the section detailing how he achieved Cave Heaven was written with exceptional detail.

More importantly, he annotated several methods for achieving Cave Heaven, listing their advantages and disadvantages.

After reading through, Zhang Yan felt he had greatly benefited.

Yet when he looked further, he found dozens of blank pages.

Setting down the book, he mused that there must be further mysteries within, likely beyond his current cultivation level to decipher, but he was not in a hurry. With the book in hand, he could slowly comprehend it in the future.

Putting the book back into its wooden box, he flicked his sleeve and stored it away.

After tidying up, he pondered briefly, pointed his finger, condensed qi to draw a talisman, and then transmitted it through the air to the Wang Sisters, saying, "You two have done well this time. This method I derived from the Nine Number Mysterious Scripture, previously taught only to Yanyi, and now I bestow it upon you both."

The barrier-breaking threshold can be simple or difficult. The Wang Sisters formed a Fourth Grade Elixir Formation; their previous method for breaking the barrier was obtained by Zhang Yan from the Jingluo Courtyard, while this technique derived from Broken Jade and involves many transformative methods.

The sisters received this Dharma technique joyfully and, upon careful reflection, understood its transformations. They realized that if they mastered this technique deeply, breaking through the Dan Acupoint would be effortless, and they both expressed their gratitude: "Thank you, Master, for the bestowed technique."

Zhang Yan nodded with a smile: "Return and study it well, and when it’s time to break the shell, I will personally protect you both."

The sisters acknowledged, bowed again, and departed.

After they left, Zhang Yan called Jing You over, saying, "Has an outside guest arrived in the sect?"

Jing You replied: "Yes, Master. Recently, the Zhongtai Sect drove Chunyu Ji’s group to the sea. In the Northern part of East Victory, this sect now reigns supreme. To celebrate, they are banqueting for cultivators from various sects. A messenger came to invite Master to the feast."

Zhang Yan asked: "Which people have arrived?"

Jing You answered: "There are two: Sect Leader’s Wife Zhao Ru, oh, and her eldest son Du Shixun, they’ve both come."

Zhang Yan shook his head slightly, saying: "No, I observe three strong qi mechanisms on the mountain below. Besides Mrs. Zhao and True Master Du, there is another person."

Jing You hurriedly said, "I will try to investigate further."

Zhang Yan waved his hand, saying, "No need."

He closed his eyes and quietly sensed his surroundings.

As his cultivation deepened, he could see the qi mechanisms within several miles around him when focusing.

If he reaches the Third Realm, regardless of the person’s cultivation—as long as it is below his—once they enter the sphere of the heaven-and-earth lock, he could immediately detect them.

Mrs. Zhao and Du Shixun’s qi mechanisms need not be mentioned; one is as vibrant as a flower, with deep nuances, the other fierce, brave, and robust. He could discern them distinctly.

But the third person’s qi mechanism was intriguing, elusive, unpredictable, hard to pin down—not someone he was familiar with, yet seemed somewhat familiar.

Reflecting further, he recalled it bore a resemblance to Shao Zhongxiang, who was defeated by him.

Thinking on this person’s background, Zhang Yan could roughly deduce his origins, his gaze flickering slightly. He asked, "Jing You, has anything unusual happened recently in East Victory Continent?"

Jing You scratched his head, thought for a moment, and replied: "Master, there is one thing. It’s rumored the prohibition of the Dragon Pillar is weakening, revealing a Stone Mansion below. Zhongtai wants to monopolize it, but the Southern Three Sects also wish to stake a claim, leading to a deadlock. They have yet to investigate what’s inside."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Yan linked the cause and effect in his mind, concluded that Mrs. Zhao was unlikely here solely for a banquet, and he laughed: "Guests are guests. Jing You, go convey the message—I will host a banquet tonight for the three fellow Daoists."