Daoist Competition

Twenty days later.

A gold-plated eagle wing flying carriage arrived in front of Divine House Mountain, but was stopped by a forbidden array outside the mountain, having to land outside.

A deep, magnetic voice came from inside the carriage, "Manager Fu, are we there yet?"

Xiang Zhanfu went to the back of the carriage and, through the carriage curtain, said: "Your Highness Prince Ying, we’ve arrived at Divine House Mountain. However, a prohibition dharma platform has been set up here, preventing the flying carriage from crossing. I’ve asked Immortal Master Hu to find out why."

"We have reached Divine House?"

The carriage curtain lifted, revealing a man in a long robe. This man had a distinguished appearance, a feathered crown tied on his head, and a carefully groomed mustache on his lip. Admiring the majestic mountain scenery before him, he expressed his awe, "The clouds adorn it gracefully, rising majestically into the sky, truly worthy of the name Divine House."

At this moment, a beautiful woman covered in fox fur also descended from the carriage, draping a great cloak over him, saying, "Your Highness, the wind outside is strong, don’t catch a cold."

Footsteps approached, and a daoist came over. Xiang Zhanfu stepped forward to ask, "Hu Daoist, how did it go?"

Hu Daoist ignored him and instead bowed to Prince Ying, saying, "Your Highness Prince Ying, the forbidden array ahead was set up by the command of True Master Zhang of Divine House Mountain’s sect. After I reported our purpose, they allowed us to pass through the prohibition and proceed."

Prince Ying looked at the distant mountains a few times, shaking his head, "Thanks to True Master Zhang’s words, we were rescued from entrapment. Since we came to offer our thanks, I should disembark and travel on foot to show sincerity."

The woman immediately exclaimed in surprise, "Your Highness..."

The daoist showed astonishment; although they had reached the front of Divine House Mountain, there were still thousands of miles to Cangzhu Peak, with surrounding towering mountains and impassable chasms. Some places had no roads at all. Even though this prince practiced Dan cultivation, he could not compare with a cultivator. Traveling by land, who knows how long it would take to reach the place.

Xiang Zhanfu quietly advised, "Your Highness, besides coming to thank and pay respects, you are also entrusted with a serious task by Mrs. Zhao. This is not just a personal matter, so it cannot be delayed."

Prince Ying, reminded by this, hesitated for a moment and finally gave up the idea, saying, "Manager Fu is right, I cannot delay the important matter."

Xiang Zhanfu finally breathed a sigh of relief, saying, "Please return to the carriage, Your Highness."

Prince Ying nodded silently, took the woman’s hand, and once again sat back in the carriage, letting down the curtain.

Hu Daoist took out a token, gave it a shake in his hand, and the carriage lifted off, flying into Divine House Mountain.

Hongyu Mountain, Guangchi Peak, Soaring Palace.

Chen Yuan, the Sect Leader of Fengxiang Sword Sect, sat on the Xuanhe Jade Platform. A man of forty, wearing a dark robe and black crown, with a dignified and solemn demeanor.

At this moment, he was holding a letter, reading it with eyes as cold as icy water, not a sound coming from any of the five elders below him.

After an unknown amount of time, he shook the letter in his hand, looked down from the platform, and asked, "This Zhang Daoist, with a Nascent Soul Second Realm cultivation, was able to defeat Rong Junzhong, and also slew more than twenty fighting cultivators from Xuanyue. What kind of person is he? Why have I never heard of his name before?"

Great Elder Long Jingcheng cupped his hands in reply, "Senior Brother, I’ve made inquiries. This person is the leader of a small sect in West Divine House, not from our East Victory, but from the Outer Continent. There are also rumors that he is from the same sect as that Daoist Shen Baishuang from several hundred years ago."

"Shen Baishuang?" Chen Yuan mused, "I’ve heard of this person."

He turned his head to look at an elder below, with messy hair almost covering his face, and said, "Elder Xu, it seems you’ve met this person before?"

The elder’s body moved slightly, two sharp rays of light shone from beneath his disheveled hair, and he spoke in a deep voice, "Yes, I once met him briefly."

Across from him, a young cultivator let out a cold laugh, "Sect Leader, you do not know, but Shen Baishuang had no friendship with our sect, rather there was some grievance."

Chen Yuan was surprised, "Grievance? How come I never knew?"

The young cultivator said, "Years ago, Daoist Shen was searching for spiritual objects throughout our East Victory, reported to be for refining a Dharma Sword. Because his daoist cultivation was profound, he seemed to be adept with the sword. At that time, Senior Brother Xu had just acquired the ’Spring-cutting Sword’ and went to exchange pointers. But after only losing by one move, he said that our sect’s sword skills were nothing compared to Shaoqing and inferior even to Yuanyang, which was a great insult. Consider what kind of sects Shaoqing and Yuanyang are! I’ve never even heard of them. Senior Brother Xu has a good temper, but if I had known about this back then, I would certainly have used my ’Absolute Light’ to challenge him and see if he dared to boast."%

Chen Yuan furrowed his brow; whatever with Shen Baishuang, the matter had passed hundreds of years ago. Why bring it up again?

The strength Zhang Yan displayed in the battle at the Dragon Pillar was truly formidable and terrifying. Such a person, even if not to befriend, should not be provoked rashly. If this word got out, it would undoubtedly attract a formidable foe for no reason.

Long Jingcheng, understanding his thoughts well, said, "Junior Brother, it’s in the past, and Zhang Daoist is not Shen Baishuang, not the same at all."

The young cultivator snorted twice and said no more.

Long Jingcheng then said to Chen Yuan, "Sect Leader, since Xuanyue’s defeat, Zhongtai can be said to dominate the north, commanding nearly a hundred immortal cities. If Xuanyue’s disciples were to surrender, their strength would surely increase dramatically, which would be disadvantageous for us. Perhaps we should send someone as a congratulatory gesture and present a gift, which would also provide an opportunity to observe their current situation."

Chen Yuan pondered for a moment, then nodded, "That should be done. Who would be appropriate to send?"

Long Jingcheng’s gaze shifted and finally settled on a woman below, with a slender neck and waist, smooth skin, and eyebrows like willow leaves.

This woman sat there straight-backed, with a calm, determined gaze, exuding a heroic aura, and by her knee lay a four-foot long, appearing and disappearing Dharma Sword.

"Junior Sister Fan shares a lineage with Junior Sister Zhao, how about sending Junior Sister?"

...

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