Daoist Competition

Shang Qingjun appeared in the air, and with a wave, caught the Hundred Shadow Sword, yet his face showed a look of surprise and suspicion.

Earlier, when he saw an object flying from outside the sky, others might have examined it, but his proud and thoughtless nature led him to strike with the sword without thinking. Unexpectedly, his Hundred Shadow Sword failed to make any impact and was even repelled back, leaving him feeling quite embarrassed.

Hearing the commotion outside, Dean Wu Suquan and two Pavilion Masters also ascended and went into the air. Looking at the collapsed corner of the main hall, they were at a loss, and Wu Suquan turned his head to say, "Envoy, what... what happened here?"

The clash just now lasted only a fleeting moment, and Shang Qingjun had not seen clearly what the flying object was, but was too prideful to admit not knowing, so he pretended to be composed, snorting, and said, "A ghostly object came just now. I have wounded it, and it now flees underground. Find it for me, and don’t disturb the important task of lifting the prohibition!"

Wu Suquan and Shen Chuyu exchanged a glance, humbly acknowledged, cupped their hands, and retreated.

Returning to the hall, Wu Suquan quietly stopped Shen Chuyu, saying, "Junior Brother, why do I feel uneasy in my heart?"

Shen Chuyu said, "Senior Brother, the miasma is dispersed, so once the prohibition is lifted, our duty is fulfilled. Besides, with the Envoy here, what else could happen?"

Wu Suquan shook his head and said, "This miasma came mysteriously, and left unexpectedly. Now another strange object has appeared. Who knows what might happen in a few days? For the sake of our sect, we need to prepare."

Shen Chuyu asked, "Then, according to Senior Brother, what should I do?"

Wu Suquan said, "A few days ago, I invited Daoist Zhang for a drink and moon viewing. From his words, it seemed like he intended to leave. I want to request him to take a few disciples of excellent aptitude to the Northern Continent, along with the Daoist Books of our sect. If any changes occur here, this way, Gantang Temple can preserve its Daoist Inheritance."

Shen Chuyu was slightly surprised, saying, "Senior Brother, things haven’t reached that point, have they?"

Wu Suquan looked at the damaged grand hall behind him and said, "It’s never wrong to leave a way out."

Shen Chuyu bowed his head in thought, and after a long time said, "I will go and discuss this with Daoist Zhang."

As he was about to leave, a sudden whistling arose in the sky; the two looked up in surprise, and saw a green light flying from the sky, piercing the clouds and descending.

Not yet landed, the Hundred Shadow Sword swiftly rose up, clashing with it several times in the sky, scattering countless sparks like bursting fireworks. This time it seemed that their side still suffered, as the green light forcibly broke the sword circle and plunged into the underground.

However, this momentary delay allowed all sharp-eyed individuals to clearly see the assailing object, which was a glistening bright Treasure Bead.

Shang Qingjun, having been breached twice by the Treasure Bead, was both frustrated and infuriated, shouting, "Wu Suquan, quickly summon people to dig open the underground for me!"

At this moment, in the high pavilion, Zhang Boyant had a ghostly light twinkle in his eyes. With those two objects entering the underground, the miasma couldn’t be felt at all, yet the sense of crisis deepened. Hence, he judged in his heart, "This bead may be related to the changes that have occurred recently. It seems there will be significant upheaval here soon, and Pavilion Master must be informed first."

After pondering deeply for a while, he took paper and pen from his Sleeve Bag, writing down everything he saw here, then sealed it and sent it out,

Zhang Yan descended into the pit, following the passage deeper into the Earth Cave for about two hours, until he arrived inside a large underground palace.

Entering within, at a glance, he saw over ten thousand Daoists sitting cross-legged on the ground, in three inner and three outer layers, surrounding a Dharma Platform in the center.

The Dharma Platform was about three zhang high, with a canopy draped down, a golden gourd tied at the top, and half-foot-sized Spiritual Beast Jade pieces hung at the four corners, representing White Flood Dragon, auspicious phoenix, Green Sheep, and Golden Carp. The curtains were adorned with golden jade flowers, Qingli Chongya, Bright Pearl Spirit Shells, shimmering and splendid, with several vague figures faintly visible within.

He lightly tapped his feet, flying over, and in the blink of an eye ascended the Dharma Platform. Upon landing, he saw broken jade fragments scattered all over the ground, some faintly discernible as their original shapes, probably once used to hold Elixir Pills.

After taking a few glances, he pondered briefly and then waved his sleeve, stepping forward a few paces to lift the canopy, revealing a dazzling sight leaping into his eyes. Less than five steps away, crouching, was a Golden Toad, with limbs on the ground, bulging eyes, and a swollen belly, holding a radiant Treasure Bead in its mouth, which shone brightly like flames, dazzling within the inner chamber.

Opposite it was a copper furnace shaped like an immortal crane with a curved neck, from whose long beak wisps of smoke still emanated.