Daoist Competition

A few days after the Dragon Country’s Ship set sail, it crossed the maritime border and made landfall. However, it did not race into the clouds but hovered a hundred spans above the ground, heading towards the direction of the Mingcang Sect.

Traveling like this, it would be easily seen from afar. It was anticipated that people from the Demon Sect would come knocking soon, as the Wang Sisters, Zhao Yang, Shen Dong, and others intended to test their own skills. Yet, the journey went far more smoothly than they had expected.

Along the way, wherever the Dragon Country’s Ship passed, Demon Sect Practitioners would retreat three miles away, and no one dared to provoke them.

Instead, Xuanmen Sect Practitioners along the route sensed something different and sent their disciples to find out what was happening. Upon hearing that Zhang Yan had returned from the Outer Continent, they were all pleasantly surprised and sent disciples out to pay their respects.

Over the past hundred years, although there had been frequent battles between Xuanmen and demons, the most brutal was during the Eighteen Sects’ swordfight. The casualties were mostly Nascent Soul cultivators, not to mention many of the young talents among the Ten Sects of Xuanmen were also lost. After this battle, both sides have been cautious, avoiding large confrontations.

Zhang Yan, as a leading figure in swordfight, is often used by the teachers of the Ten Sects of Xuanmen to inspire the younger disciples. Especially since he is not from a noble family, nor does he have a Cave Heaven True Master as a teacher. Achieving this level alone, people are amazed and cannot help but feel reverence.

The Mingcang Sect’s disciples who have been training outside are mostly from the lineage of masters and disciples, and Zhang Yan is highly respected among them. Whenever they encounter formidable enemies and are forced to retreat, they would say how things might be if True Master Zhang were here. Over these years, his reputation has become unparalleled below the Cave Heaven level of Xuanmen.

Therefore, even before the Dragon Country’s Ship arrived at the Mingcang Sect, it had already gathered more than a thousand cultivators and disciples from all directions upon hearing the news. The grand crowd accompanied the ship northward, making it even less likely for Demon Sect Practitioners to dare provoke them.

Seeing this, Zhao Yang clicked his tongue in amazement. Previously, he had only heard Zhang Boyant talk about Zhang Yan’s prominent reputation in East Splendor Continent, but he had no direct impression. This time, he truly understood and exclaimed, "True Master Zhang is indeed impressive."

Shen Dong’s eyes revealed a peculiar light, fingers tightly clutching the ship’s railing, staring below without blinking.

Within the mountain gate of Bi Yu Sect, Sect Leader Yan Yuqing was frowning, silent.

The situation has been very strange in the past ten days. There have been fewer Demon Sect Practitioners coming from outside the mountain every day, and in recent days, there has been no activity at all. She suspected that the Demon Sect was scheming again, so instead of relaxing, she became increasingly vigilant.

Previously, when Mingcang Sect stationed disciples were present, various sects seemed united. Whenever one sect was attacked, neighboring sects would surely come to help. Over the past century, except for one sect that was annihilated due to weak foundations, the rest have been stable.

But since Mingcang Sect withdrew its stationed disciples years ago, without someone in the center to connect them, the sects have been fragmented into numerous small pieces, returning to the past state of individualism, and struggling to cope with the Demon Sect.

She had sent several letters to the Mingcang Sect, pleading for a few stationed disciples to be dispatched again, but it was like a cow sinking into the sea, without any response.

She made plans that if Mingcang Sect was indeed unreliable, then she would have no choice but to seek protection under the Nanhua Sect. Being a small sect, without the shelter of a great sect, it would definitely be impossible to survive this Demon Tribulation.

Suddenly, hearing noise from outside, she furrowed her brow, about to ask, when her son Yan Xiaoyang ran in excitedly, holding a Flying Book, shaking it cheerfully, said: "Mother, True Master Zhang has returned from the Outer Continent."

Yan Yuqing did not react at first, stunned: "True Master Zhang, which True Master Zhang?"

Immediately, she woke up to the realization, eyes sparkling, got up and urgently asked: "Could it be True Master Zhang Yan?"

Yan Xiaoyang punched his palm, excitedly said: "It is True Master Zhang Yan. Rumor has it that after the Xuanmo Sword Fighting Conference, True Master went overseas to travel, this time returned, surely his Divine Skills and cultivation surpass the past, then Du De alone would not be the one who decides."

Yan Yuqing quickly calmed down, said: "Is it really so?"

Yan Xiaoyang handed over the letter, said: "Mother doesn’t believe it, just read it yourself."

Yan Yuqing took the letter and examined it carefully.

Over the years of contending with the Demon Sect, she learned not to easily trust anything, fearing it was a trick from them, so she must be cautious.

But upon reading, she found the handwriting and seal to be genuine, finally believed it, secretly thought: "When True Master Huo supported us at Bi Yu Sect before, it was thanks to True Master Zhang’s assistance, who also guarded our small sect. Now that he’s returned, the situation might be turned around."