Daoist Competition

The three Cave Heaven True Masters of the Southern Continent had originally intended to first join forces to put on a show of strength, so that the visitor would harbor some fear. But after half a day passed and they still could not suppress the person opposite them, they feared that if this continued it would really turn into a fight. Thus they all voluntarily withdrew their Mana together and returned to their original forms. Gan Shouting walked out from within and said loudly, "Which True Master is it on the other side who has come here?"

Within Heaven a spiritual mechanism turned, the Clear and turbid energy separated, Shen Baishuang withdrew his dharma form and replied, "This poor Daoist is Shen Baishuang. Several hundred years ago I once traveled to East Victory for a visit. I wonder if you fellows have ever heard of me?"

The three of them had all heard of this name. Gan Shouting seemed suddenly enlightened and said, "So it is Master Shen. I have long admired your name, long admired." As he spoke, he cupped his hands toward the front.

Though his face appeared relaxed, because he had personally witnessed the scene of Shen Baishuang scattering Zheng Weixing’s dharma form, he knew that the person before him was extremely difficult to provoke, and so in his heart he raised his vigilance to the utmost.

To the side, although Hang Yu Yan was a female cultivator, her temperament was fierce. Unwilling to let their own momentum weaken, she said coldly, "This place is the territory of our Kuxin Sect. Master Shen came here without first informing us. Is this not somewhat inappropriate?"

Gan Shouting shot her a look and then chuckled, saying, "Daoist Hang speaks too gravely. Master Shen is a Cultivator from the Outer Continent, and likely is not clear on the geography of our East Victory. There is no boundary stele upon this South Guanghai, so there is no need to be overly harsh."

Shen Baishuang, however, said calmly, "I know well what place this is, and I also know that this is under the jurisdiction of your Kuxin Sect. This trip of mine is precisely to pay a special visit to you few."

"Oh?" Gan Shouting was somewhat surprised, then his expression gradually grew solemn. With a few hidden hints of wariness, he said, "So fellow Daoist Shen came specifically to see us. I do not know what important matter it is that required fellow Daoist to personally come here?"

Shen Baishuang cast his gaze toward the three of them and said, "Within Southern Martial Mountain there is a certain Gantang Temple that long ago placed itself under my Han Yuan Sect. Yet your Fengxiang Sword Sect sent people to slaughter the elder disciples of that temple and destroyed its Spirit Vein. This matter I must demand an explanation for."

Gan Shouting was taken aback. Gantang Temple? Was that temple not a Lower Sect under his Fengxiang Sword Sect? How had it become a subordinate of Han Yuan Sect?

Rather, he felt that this matter was too minor, not worth a Cave Heaven True Master personally stepping out. In the final analysis, Gantang Temple’s disciples were not of the main line of Fengxiang Sword Sect. If they had come with a sealed letter, explaining things somewhat and asking for a favor, he would not have refused to give face.

Thinking it over more carefully, he then came to his senses. Would a Cave Heaven True Master truly muster up such a commotion for this kind of matter? Clearly not. This was merely being used as a pretext to come to the door and demonstrate power.

True Master Ji there said with a grin, "It seems Master Shen has come to punish and demand accountability."

Gan Shouting, intending to break off relations, did not bother to argue over right and wrong within, and after weighing his words said, "Then how does Master think this should be handled?"

Shen Baishuang said bluntly, "From now on, everything north of the Five Dragon River shall be under the jurisdiction of my Han Yuan Sect."

Once these words were spoken, his stance was already clear, indicating that Han Yuan Sect intended to take Northern Continent into its bag, and that with him sitting behind the scenes, the Southern Three Sects should no longer harbor any designs upon it.

Hang Yu Yan had wanted to speak several times, but had been stopped by Gan Shouting’s glances. This time she could no longer hold back and said sharply, "And what if we refuse?"

Shen Baishuang said lightly, "I have already killed one person, and I do not mind killing a few more."

These words brimmed with killing intent, causing Hang Yu Yan’s brows to darken as though she were about to flare up. But after thinking it over, in the end, constrained by Shen Baishuang’s strength, she gritted her teeth and held herself back.

Gan Shouting felt that he alone could not make the decision, so he withdrew inside, discussed with the other two for a while, and then came back out to say, "We can agree to this proposal of Master Shen’s, but we also have a condition. If your sect has any disciples entering under the jurisdiction of our Southern Continent, they must also inform us in advance."

Shen Baishuang said faintly, "Let it be so then." He swept a glance over the three, and with a turn of his body, one saw a wisp of Clear Qi rise up, and his figure was already gone without a trace.

Gan and Hang had originally wanted to use the Observing Qi Method to see where he had gone, but after looking, they were shocked to discover that they could not sense in the slightest where his person was.

Their expressions were both quite unsightly. This meant that the other party possessed a method to conceal his Qi Mechanism, allowing him to enter and leave the Southern Continent at will without being detected.

They usually did not gather in one place. If this person bore murderous intent, then it would be extremely easy to break them apart one by one.

Ji Xiangping at this moment yawned and said, "Since nothing more is happening here, I will return to the mountain as well. The two of you need not see me off."

He cupped his hands, then raised a strand of Clear Cloud and flashed eastward.

Once he left, Hang Yu Yan turned her head to look over and said, "Do you truly intend to agree to that Daoist Shen?"

Gan Shouting nodded and said, "Naturally. If I did not intend to comply, why would I have promised? Besides, you saw it as well—this person’s Divine Skills are extraordinary; he can hide his own Qi Mechanism. Such an opponent is best not provoked."