Daoist Competition

Zheng Weixing shook his head, casually drew a talismanic script, and tossed it over, saying, "After I go, if nothing happens, that’s fine. But if something does occur, activate this talisman; it might aid you somewhat." He then sighed deeply, "Heaven’s will toys with people, Heaven’s will toys with people..."

After saying this twice, he closed his eyes.

Qiao Huanjuan took the talismanic script but was still somewhat at a loss. As he tried to get a clearer understanding, he looked up and saw that Zheng Weixing was slumped with his head down, motionless, evidently lifeless.

While Zhang Yan was traveling underground, he too sensed the commotion in the heavens. But being cautious, he didn’t rise to inspect, only quickening his pace. After half a day, he returned to the Earth Fire Sky Furnace.

He first carefully probed and confirmed no abnormalities before leaping out to the surface, flying into the air, and deploying the seventy-two Ten Thousand Beasts Sleeping Moon Banners all at once. Nearly three hundred thousand demon soldiers streamed out, and following his command, each took their position to form the Six Return Formation, enclosing the Earth Fire Sky Furnace securely within.

Having completed the arrangement, he descended to the ground and leisurely glanced at the furnace, noticing that the internal fire grew more intense, though the smoke rose smoothly, without any swirls or disturbances. There seemed to have been no unusual activities during his absence.

At this moment, True Master Tao was fully focused on controlling the fire, so Zhang Yan did not go over to disturb him. With a brief consideration, he sat down on the Dharma Platform within the array, adjusting his breathing.

Three days passed without disturbance, no one arriving externally, but from below the Earth Furnace came rumbling sounds, causing stones on the ground to tremble slightly as if a giant beast was crashing around.

True Master Tao waved his sleeve, and the smoke in the sky suddenly gathered as if gripped by an invisible giant hand, pressing it inward into the furnace.

An hour later, the sounds gradually weakened until they completely vanished. His expression relaxed slightly, placing the Ruyi into the crook of his arm, and slowly stood up.

Zhang Yan descended gracefully from the Dharma Platform, riding a cloud to approach closely, asking, "True Master, what has become of things below?"

True Master Tao smiled, "Just now, it was merely that demon knowing its fate was sealed, making a last desperate struggle. I’ve already subdued it. For now, I’m allowing it to live one more night; by tomorrow, its Divine Soul will be refined away, completely resolved."

"Wait for a day?" Zhang Yan pondered slightly, "Is it because of the Lifebound Primordial Pearl?"

True Master Tao replied, "Indeed. It coincides with a major catastrophe. Without the Divine Soul to guide it, the Lifebound Primordial Pearl would drift outside. If captured by evil demons and refined into a treasure, it would be highly disadvantageous for our Xuanmen. Even without capture, this pearl, sustained by its residual Essence Blood, can absorb Sun and Moon Essence Qi, slowly re-forming a body, nurturing a soul. In a thousand years, it could reemerge and wreak havoc. That’s why I’m deliberately stalling to lure it back, dealing with it all together to prevent future troubles."

Zhang Yan said, "True Master’s concerns are justified, but since our arrival, three days have passed. Those fellows might be unable to sit idly."

True Master Tao glanced meaningfully, "They probably won’t come here."

Zhang Yan’s heart stirred, "Could it be related to that noise?"

True Master Tao chuckled softly, "No need for me to disclose the situation; fellow Daoist will understand in due time."

Zhang Yan noticed his reluctance to elaborate further, so he did not pursue the question, respectfully bowing before rising on a cloud back to his seat atop the Dharma Platform.

Although True Master Tao spoke confidently, until the very end, no one could guarantee what turns events might take, so Zhang Yan remained vigilant, faithfully guarding the Array Gate.

A day quickly passed just as True Master Tao had predicted, with no disturbance and no one arriving from outside.

Suddenly, an unusual sound arose in the heavens, as a crystal line streaked straight through the Gang Cloud, directly towards the Earth Fire Sky Furnace.

True Master Tao chuckled lightly, "I’ve been expecting you for some time."

He stood leisurely, picked up the Ruyi, holding its tail end, pointing its head downward, as a streak of Clear Qi shot swiftly underground.

Simultaneously, from below the furnace came a shrill scream, the lingering sound piercing like a sharp blade. True Master Tao winced slightly, stepping back while quickly summoning Mana to suppress the discomfort. Yet his hand remained steady, continuously sending ten more strands of Clear Qi downward until the spiritual mechanism inside was completely extinguished.

At the sound’s onset, Zhang Yan was atop the Dharma Platform, where the Mountain and River Map before him emitted a flash of Spirit Light as the Array Gate turned, transforming into four mountain walls rising up. Yet in the next instant, they seemed struck, shattering to pieces.

With the break of these four mountains, four more great mounds rose to protect, and after piercing through dozens of array gates, the sharp sound’s force was finally exhausted, being isolated outside.

The crystal rainbow in the heavens had been swift as an arrowhead, but suddenly lost its pull; it slanted down from the sky with a crash, hitting the mountain wall, opening a deep pit while rocks rolled extensively around before settling.

As everything calmed, Zhang Yan knew the demon was dead, so he waved his sleeve to unlock the Array Restriction, descending from the Dharma Platform.

True Master Tao saw him arrive and respectfully bowed.

Zhang Yan was slightly taken aback, stepping sideways, surprised, "True Master, why is this?"

True Master Tao sighed, "I thought the demon was akin to a fish cooking at the pot’s base, but I overlooked something. The demon possessed another Secret Technique, causing slight damage to my dharma body. Had Daoist Zhang been here, you might have suffered considerable harm."

His Mana was precisely controlled, neither spending too much nor too little, refining precisely Primordial Monarch’s wisp of Divine Soul just as the Lifebound Primordial Pearl reached the Earth Furnace. Yet he was unguarded against the demon’s remaining trick, intending a reversal upon the pearl’s arrival. Fortunately, Zhang Yan acted cautiously, hiding early in the array to evade this calamity.

Zhang Yan was unconcerned and smiled, "True Master overestimates."

True Master Tao, however, shook his head, pointing the Ruyi at the mountain wall, "Within this pearl, there’s a group of Junyang Essence beneficial greatly to fellow Daoist, you may take it." Pausing, he added, "As for the contents in the furnace, I’m ashamed to take them."

...

...(To be continued. If you enjoy this work, please visit Qidian (qidian.com) to cast your recommendation and monthly votes. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please visit m.qidian.com to read.)