Daoist Competition

Zhang Yan entered the Forbidden Array and looked around, seeing that the place was vast and indistinct, with no distinctions between heaven and earth, shrouded by endless mist that obscured the direction he should take.

He was prepared for this, and took out Prince Ying’s Treasure Map, aiming it upward as if holding a torch in the night, a beam of light reaching the heavens. After a moment, countless golden talismans descended, drifting back and forth in the sky.

These talismans were the array gates leading inward, though only ten of them were the correct path. The others, if touched, would trigger prohibitions and forcibly eject him.

With the secret map in hand, he was naturally faultless, selecting one of the talisman gates without hesitation and leaping in.

Numerous talisman gates passed by, one after another, and although he relied on the map, it took him almost ten seconds to pass through all of them. Finally, his view brightened, and he found himself before a palace square, knowing he had reached the destination.

Threatening Luo Mengze via the hands of five Cave Heaven True Masters to obtain the True Treasure was actually a spur-of-the-moment bold idea.

According to his previous plan, he invited True Master Tao over for support. When Guo Monarch attacked, this Cave Heaven True Master would face him directly, and then he would use the Beiming Sword to cut him down.

However, there were too many variables beyond his control, so he could only try to push things forward from behind. Whether it would succeed was left to fate, not having strong expectations.

Yet he never imagined things could go so smoothly, indeed allowing him to arrive here.

About to proceed forward, he suddenly paused and looked back, thinking to himself, "Those few obviously had no secret map of the Forbidden Array, yet managed to find the exact route in such a short time. How did they do it?"

Thinking of this, he smiled, attributing it to the skills of Cave Heaven True Masters. Someday when he reached that cultivation level he would understand its mysteries. For now, there was no need to overthink it, so he set it aside and proceeded into the hall.

Not long after walking, a ten-foot high Dharma Platform appeared ahead, on which lay a splendidly shining Great Axe. Its dazzling brilliance filled the hall, painfully bright. A Demon Flood Dragon coiled on the axe, its scale armor and spiked spine protruding sharply, its body wrapped around the long handle, head half-hidden behind the axe, appearing extremely fierce. At the front, one claw gripped the axe spine tightly, its muscles bulging, exuding a brutal aura.

Just as he was about to step forward, a spirit light suddenly rose from the axe, revealing a young warrior in a mysterious robe and ink armor. He had fine brows reaching his temples, a straight nose, a majestic demeanor, and a beard on his chin. He glanced dismissively at Zhang Yan and said, "Leave, you are not the person I am waiting for."

He was about to turn back, but Zhang Yan’s next words made him stop involuntarily.

"Did you see that True Master who just entered? They are already discussing how to capture you together. If they truly come here, how will you resist?"

The young warrior raised his eyebrows, thinking he could handle one or two people, but if four came at once, the outcome would not bode well.

He slowly turned around, stubbornly saying, "At worst, we both perish. If I don’t exert force, what can they do?"

Zhang Yan smiled slightly and said, "If taken out forcibly, it won’t be up to you. Once you leave the barriers of this place, if you do not choose a master to perform sacrificial refinement on the True Spirit, how long can you remain in the world?"

This statement hit the mark. Even a True Artifact, if not refined for centuries, cannot eternally maintain its True Spirit. Upon reaching this stage, it often seeks a master outside.

This treasure has been unclaimed for thousands of years, yet hasn’t left this immortal city. Zhang Yan guessed Da Mi Ancestor performed some method here.

The young warrior sneered and said, "You’ve said so much, but isn’t it just to make me acknowledge you as the master? Yet you only have Nascent Soul Cultivation; unwilling to follow others makes it even less likely to follow you."

Zhang Yan observed the young warrior’s slightly vexed expression, knowing he’d struck a chord. He feared the warrior might ignore him entirely, but since he was willing to talk, things became easier. He smiled and said, "How about this? I don’t need you to follow me. Just assist me in eliminating a demon, and afterward, whether to stay or go will be up to you."

In his mind, slaying Guo Monarch was the primary task. He never considered making the treasure meekly submit.

Though his cultivation didn’t match the external Cave Heaven True Masters, the conditions he could offer were unparalleled. And with True Spirit currently facing external threats and having no internal path of retreat, it was highly likely to be convinced by his proposal.