Daoist Competition

Qifeng Island lies exactly between the inner and outer seas. Beyond this island, one reaches the realm of East Splendor Continent, which is also considered the territory of the Ten Great Profound Sects.

However, now that the demon calamity has arisen, sea sects are unavoidably affected. Zhang Yan is unsure of the situation here, so he is not in a rush to proceed forward but calls Zhao Yang alone and says, "You have entered the Hua Dan Realm, have you practiced the Netherworld Escape Technique?"

Zhao Yang honestly replies, "Though I have learned it, I am only roughly familiar with it."

Zhang Yan smiles and says, "That is good enough. I have a task for you, go to the inner sea to gather details and report back to me."

Zhao Yang, puzzled, says, "Disciple is not from East Splendor Continent and unfamiliar with the situation here. Why does True Master not send the two senior sisters instead?"

He is not unwilling to go; he believes the Wang Sisters, being natives of East Splendor, could travel with ease and gather news more conveniently than himself. He wonders if there is some hidden reason behind this.

Zhang Yan indeed has other plans but does not intend to disclose them to him. He merely says, "After the demon calamity rose, most sea sects are closed and won’t venture out. Those wandering outside are mostly under the Demon Sect. The escape skill you learned is from the Nether Spring Sect, a major faction among the Six Great Demon Sects, strong and powerful. You should find it easier to inquire around."

Zhao Yang suddenly understands, willingly accepts the task, turns around, and exits the cabin. With a firm step, a thin yellow smoke rises underfoot and flies towards Heaven.

Shortly after he leaves, a voice outside says, "Master, Shen Dong requests an audience."

Zhang Yan solemnly says, "Let him in."

Shen Dong enters the cabin and bows deeply to him.

Zhang Yan calmly asks, "What brings you here?"

Shen Dong raises his head and says, "Disciple saw Brother Zhao venturing into the sea, might I ask if he is going to scout for news?"

Zhang Yan glances at him and asks, "Why do you ask?"

Shen Dong, cupping his hands, says, "Disciple believes my escape skills are not inferior. I wish to compete with Brother Zhao to see who can gather more news."

Saying this, he pauses, then cautiously asks, "Should I be fortunate enough to win, may I request True Master’s guidance on a cultivation difficulty?"

Zhang Yan looks deeply at him, thinks for a moment, and nods slowly, saying, "You may go."

Shen Dong breathes a sigh of relief. Though the Gui Spiritual Daoist Inheritance is in his hands, without Wu Suquan’s care, there is no one to guide him. His true intention is not to compete with Zhao Yang, but to test if he can earn an opportunity to seek advice through meritorious service in the future.

He was prepared to be refused, but fortunately, Zhang Yan did not reject him outright; otherwise, he would have had to think of another plan.

He gives a heavy bow, exits the cabin, and rides a drifting spirit smoke that changes unpredictably, disappearing into the clouds in the blink of an eye.

Zhao Yang used the escape skill and turned for an hour over the vast sea but saw nothing, as if there were no cultivators at sea.

Seeing this path was futile, he decides to take a risk, stops wandering around aimlessly, discerns the spiritual mechanism, and carefully seeks out a place with abundant spiritual energy.

Yet upon consecutively scouting several islands with dense spiritual energy, he finds them either collapsed or long abandoned. Helpless, he decides to search further.

At this moment, suddenly he hears a soft voice calling him, "Fellow Daoist, are you seeking a way out?"

Zhao Yang’s heart trembles, immediately turns his head and looks around, but finds no trace of that person. Then he hears the voice again, "Fellow Daoist, do not panic. You have merely entered my Chaotic Dust Formation. It is not difficult to get out; just follow my guidance."

Zhao Yang breaks out in cold sweat, realizing he fell into a formation without knowing it. If the other party intended harm, they would have succeeded, and he silently warns himself that this is no longer East Victory but the treacherous East Splendor Continent, and he must be extremely cautious. He calms his heart and spirit and asks, "How do I get out?"

The person says, "Fellow Daoist, heed my instructions: ten steps to the left, you will see a Black Stone Reef, then nine steps to the right, at the bottom lays a small mirror..."

Zhao Yang hesitates a bit, unable to judge the truth of the person’s words. If the other party has no means to deal with him now but deceives him with words into stepping into a killing prohibition, what would he do?

After quickly weighing his thoughts in his mind several times, he finally decides to act according to the instructions.

Fortunately, the person did not play tricks. After executing the moves for a few dozen breaths, he arrives at the Central Palace position and sees a short, chubby old Daoist sitting on a reef, resembling a withered tree stump. Upon his entry, the old Daoist stands up, smiling broadly, and bows to him, saying, "I recognized that escape skill, fellow Daoist. Are you a distinguished disciple of the Nether Spring Sect?"

Zhao Yang puts on a relaxed facade and says, "Fellow Daoist has good eye power. What I used was indeed the Netherworld Escape Technique."