Daoist Competition

In no time, arriving at the spot, he hesitated for a moment, took out a Jade Pill, pristine and transparent like glazed tile, with a Blood Bead faintly visible within, drifting about.

Looking at the item reluctantly, he finally sighed, placed it in the palm, gently blew a few breaths, transforming it into a mighty deer with a proud head and horns, graceful bones, handsome and robust, with powerful hooves.

This deer was a congratulatory gift given by the Little Cang Realm for his five-hundred-year birthday, always cherished as a treasure; originally from Beiming Continent, a Strange Beast able to change size at will, capable of fighting Nascent Soul cultivators, especially with a pair of sharp antlers on its head that could pierce gold and stone, tear pythons and flood dragons; releasing it now as a secret assistant.

Rong Junzhong stroked its back, leaned close to the deer’s ear and whispered: "Hide beside, wait for my call before coming out."

The deer glanced at him momentarily, released a bleating cry, leapt into the clouds, and instantly vanished.

Soon, the clouds parted ahead, and a winding sword light flew over; after a turn in mid-air, it headed straight to attack him.

Rong Junzhong knew the sword light was sharp, dared not contend its edge, focused solely on spinning his Mana, urging the Treasure Tree above, spreading like an umbrella canopy; Treasure Qi overflowed, dazzling, keeping the sword light at bay.

He steadied his Heart and Spirit while sword light slashed outside, striking like a torrential rain, yet remained motionless. This Treasure Tree was a protective Mystical Artifact from Xuanyue Sect, named "Green Night Plant," formerly used by Cave Heaven True Master He Zhuxiang, not a Supreme Treasure, very difficult to break through, and even encountering six famous swords of Fengxiang Sword Sect, it might not prevail in an instant.

After only several breaths, dozens of sword lights flew from afar; upon approaching, they didn’t fall but spun in the air, then abruptly merged, and a young Daoist emerged from the sword light, handsome and elegant, sleeves breezing, sharp-eyed like lightning, glanced over with a faint smile: "Rong Daoist, are you not leaving?"

Rong Junzhong showed no sign of weakness, waved a hand, and the Three-fingered Fork flew up, blocking the sword light cutting again, pointed at the ground below, and said: "I have long awaited you, fellow Daoist, come see, is this place suitable for your burial?"

Zhang Yan smiled slightly, did not contend in banter, glanced behind Rong Junzhong, saw him relying on the mountain valley terrain, and understood his intention.

He raised an eyebrow, if letting him escape this time, unsure how long it would take to capture him, forced into a long-drawn-out mystical battle; though he had no fear, upon realization, couldn’t allow the other to act.

Having pondered briefly, he devised a strategy, raised a hand, flicked a finger, and a deep purple Thunder Light burst across two to three hundred zhang, striking the auspicious light of the Treasure Tree, resembling a hammer smashing a Golden Shield; instantly countless fiery fragments and flowing lights scattered.

Rong Junzhong was shaken by the strike, body quivered involuntarily, yet Zhang Yan pressed the advantage, sending dozens of Thunder Lights continuously.

Under this series of strikes, Rong Junzhong seemed affected, staggered, the Treasure Light faintly collapsing; with trepidation, he thought he couldn’t just watch idly, pointed skyward, raised the Three-fingered Fork overhead, and stabbed remotely toward Zhang Yan.

Zhang Yan glanced, and with a gaze greeting, a point of Clear Light flew from the brow’s core, heading towards the Three-fingered Fork.

Rong Junzhong saw the inconspicuous Clear Light yet perceptively noticed something awry, so stealthily moved the Three-fingered Fork aside to avoid; indeed, the Clear Light twisted and adhered again, he sneered, persistently retrieved the Three-fingered.

Moments later, both were within a hundred zhang; upon seeing, Rong Junzhong shouted, grasped with five fingers, and employed Ten Thousand Catties of Solidification Divine Power, instantly immobilizing the Clear Light in mid-air; simultaneously captured the spiritual mechanism, swiftly activating Forbidden Locking Heaven and Earth to suppress Zhang Yan, and initiated an attractive force, vibrating the Three-fingered Fork mid-air, transforming into Smoke Arrow, piercing through clouds to attack.

Even then, he didn’t pause, flicked his left sleeve, fully activated "Three Sounds and Three Void Thunders," directed forward.

After all actions, he didn’t observe the result, retreated swiftly.

He never intended to engage Zhang Yan fiercely; if this round injured the opponent, that would be perfect. If not, as long as he entered the mountains, he could make a comeback next time.

Zhang Yan heard the thunder tide rolling, roaring over, composed sternly, turned Mysterious Skill, body abruptly enlarged to thirty zhang, suddenly rushed forward without dodging, swept his gigantic hand horizontally, scattering the attacking Thunder Cloud Arrow Head with a slap.

Let the myriad Thunder Lights descend, I alone will subdue!

Rong Junzhong never anticipated Zhang Yan’s transformation, shocked, quickened the Escape Skill.

Seeing his escape attempt, Zhang Yan’s eyes flashed brilliance, concentrated breath within chest, shouted mightily forward, Rong Junzhong’s mind thundered, dizziness swept, steps staggered.

Just as Zhang Yan was about to advance, suddenly winds churned leftward, a Spirit Light flew in, turning to see—a giant deer comparable in size, bowed its head, muscles surged, hooves stepping through clouds like wind, rushing furiously behind like booming thunder, a moment arrived before him.

He chuckled, stretched a single hand, easily twisted the deer’s antlers, toppling it effortlessly.

Then reached out, caught a mass of black qi, operating turned into an enormous axe, raised it to split the giant deer dead.

He stepped forward with a foot, wielded the axe with both hands, raised high, and then fiercely cleaved the Mountain Ridge; with a cracking sound, instantly the mountain quaked and ground trembled, rocks flew; this mountainside was cleaved open by him, then stepped forward again, left hand clenched, formed a colossal hammer, soared with a whistling sound, swung toward the heavenly suspended tunneling light.

With a bang, the sky seemed like shattered glazed tile, exploded into dazzling rays, golden lights and silver stars scattered; amidst the chaos was faintly visible a distorted human figure slanting down toward the mountain’s base.

...

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