Daoist Competition
Chapter 123 - 26 Assessing the Situation Guangyuan Sword Cultivator

Chapter 123: Chapter 26 Assessing the Situation Guangyuan Sword Cultivator

"Even if the Water Country is in turmoil, Your Excellency is an envoy of the Mingcang Sect, and there are disciples from other sects here to celebrate the birthday. Could anyone in the Water Country deliberately make trouble for you?" Luo Xiao expressed her doubts, thinking that even if chaos erupted, Zhang Yan would likely remain uninvolved.

Zhang Yan waved his hand dismissively and replied, "Prince Zhen’s actions are careless, prone to trouble. If his Elixir Conference goes smoothly, it’s fine; but if he is deposed or imprisoned, even the smallest of past matters could turn into serious crimes. For example, borrowing the Golden Book today—once exposed, it makes a perfect charge. If I don’t leave now, should I just wait to get implicated?"

The topography of the Dang Domain Water Country is peculiar; no matter how high one’s cultivation may be, flying is impossible. If chaos arises, whichever faction seizes power will undoubtedly seal the eight exits to prevent important individuals from escaping. By then, one’s life or death would depend on others, something Zhang Yan was reluctant to see happen.

Luo Xiao’s expression grew serious, and she said, "Your Excellency speaks wisely; I will go prepare the ships immediately."

Zhang Yan stopped her, saying, "Not so fast. Before we leave, you should purchase a batch of beautiful fish demon concubines. I’ll bring them back to the island to enhance the scenery."

He had been pondering how to bring Luo Xiao into the sect. Now it occurred to him that this trip to the Water Country presented a perfect opportunity. Buying a batch of female demons and bringing them back to the sect could help disguise Luo Xiao’s identity and keep her openly by his side.

Luo Xiao’s clever eyes turned, understanding his intention immediately. She nodded and excused herself, leaving to carry out his orders.

Gazing at the shimmering lake surface under the night sky, Zhang Yan thought to himself, "Such a pity—only three breaths of Spiritual Energy are needed to break through to the Third Realm of Ming Qi. Now I must leave, but the Earth Vein’s Yin-cold energy here cannot go to waste."

He took a deep breath, meticulously drawing the cold energy rising from the depths of the water’s Earth Vein into his Qi Acupoint.

Currently, he possessed three Qi Acupoints: the first refined the Three Apertures Skill, the second stored Evil Qi and Yin Yang Poison, and the third was ideal for absorbing cold energy.

The cold energy within the third Qi Acupoint seemed sufficient to refine a drop of You Yin Heavy Water, which he planned to handle upon returning to the Mingcang Sect and finding another Yin-cold Cave Mansion.

An hour later, in Shuiyu Garden by the western side of Nanguai Palace, Jiang Yue pushed the door open. She saw her senior disciple brother Shen Yuefeng wiping a Flying Sword. Though his eyes were as calm as ever, his gaze held a sharp killing intent he could not conceal, and even his wrist trembled slightly.

Walking closer with concern, Jiang Yue asked, "Senior Brother, what’s wrong?"

Without lifting his head, Shen Yuefeng replied, "The people I sent to monitor Zhang Yan have returned with information. It’s said that tonight, after midnight, he lifted the prohibition of Biyun Pavilion and is currently searching for ships. It seems he intends to leave."

Jiang Yue was startled and asked, "Senior Brother, do you plan to..."

Shen Yuefeng calmly balled up the cloth in his hands, crushing it to shreds. "This is a good opportunity. Zhang Yan, as a disciple of the Mingcang Sect, holds grievances for slaying my younger brother. If I were to wait for justice, who knows when—or if—it would ever come? Now that destiny has offered me this chance, how could I let it slip through my fingers?"

Anxiously, Jiang Yue remarked, "But Senior Brother, in a few years, there will be the Sixteen Sects Sword Competition. I also wish to avenge Senior Brother Shen Jingyue, but why rush it?"

Shen Yuefeng firmly shook his head and said, "You’ve seen for yourself how quickly Zhang Yan’s Cultivation is advancing. He is already nearing the threshold of the Third Realm of Ming Qi. With the Mingcang Sect as a great sect backing him, if I wait several more years, who knows how formidable his skills will become? If I don’t kill him now, it will be impossible in the future."

Seeing that she could not dissuade him, Jiang Yue softly reminded, "Senior Brother, that female cultivator beside Zhang Yan also seems formidable. Are you confident you can manage her?"

Shen Yuefeng scoffed coldly. "I have the Primordial Talisman in hand, with Spiritual Energy flowing endlessly. What should I fear?" Rising to his feet, he swept his sleeves, causing clanging sounds to echo as six Flying Swords leapt from the table and entered his sleeve.

At dawn, Zhang Yan was preparing to set off. Luo Xiao had purchased over a hundred beautiful fish demon concubines in one go and arranged five hired ships in alignment across the expansive water surface. In the morning mist and breeze, the ships cleaved through the waves, heading towards the exit.

When entering the Water Country, they had followed the southern highlands downstream. Now, to exit, they had to navigate upstream, looping around to the northern exit along a river.

After the ships had sailed for over an hour, the towering steep cliffs gradually lowered, the lake rose higher, and the sky opened wide. A pale white moon still hung above, not yet faded away.

After traveling several more miles and turning through several river channels, it was already early morning; the sun had begun to rise, its rays dancing like a tapestry. Smoke and clouds dispersed under its golden brilliance.

Ahead, a massive cliff came into view, with a cavern in its belly soaring over sixty zhang in height. Torrential water flowed rapidly from the cavern, producing a roaring sound. Occasionally, a few immortal cranes would cry out as they passed.

Luo Xiao observed, "Beyond this river, we will officially leave the Dang Domain Water Country. Without the Earth Vein Magnetic Force, flying will be possible once again."

Suddenly, she turned around to glance behind and said, "Your Excellency, look—there’s a boat that has been trailing us all this time."

Zhang Yan turned his head and saw a ship approaching from afar. Soon it was within sixty to seventy zhang of them. Standing at the bow of the ship was a cultivator in a green robe. Zhang Yan immediately recognized him as the Xuan Guang Realm Cultivator he had briefly encountered at the posthouse in Nanguai Palace.

Noticing Zhang Yan’s gaze, the man’s expression darkened as he pointed forward. A flash of sword light streaked through the air, forcing Luo Xiao to step forward in defense. With a burst of black Xuan Guang from her body, she blocked the Flying Sword like a screen.

Unable to push through, the Flying Sword quickly retracted with a "whoosh."

Zhang Yan shouted across the distance, "Your Excellency, who might you be?"

The cultivator in the green robe bellowed, "Zhang Yan, do you remember Shen Jingyue?"

Zhang Yan nodded and replied, "Of course, I remember Brother Shen."

The green-robed cultivator’s voice turned harsh. "I am Shen Jingyue’s elder brother, Shen Yuefeng. You caused my younger brother to spit blood and perish under Dangyun Peak. Today, I’ve come to collect your life!"

Zhang Yan threw his head back and burst into laughter.

Shen Yuefeng froze for a moment, then angrily demanded, "What’s so funny?"

With a cold smirk, Zhang Yan retorted, "Those who kill shall be killed in turn. You aim to kill me today, yet fail to see that I can kill you today as well."

Incensed, Shen Yuefeng roared, "You wretch—today I’ll show you my true power!"

With a sweep of his robe sleeve, several streaks of sword light shot forth like ribbons.

Luo Xiao’s Xuan Guang surged, wrapping around one Flying Sword. As yet another sword light cleaved towards her, her Xuan Guang expanded, intercepting it. However, four more sword lights followed closely behind. Forced back a half step, she produced a Dharma Sword to fend off three Flying Swords. By the time the sixth sword light struck, she could no longer resist and had to retreat out of its way.

Without a suitable weapon in hand, she found herself forced to retreat step by step under the relentless assault of six Flying Swords, finding herself in increasingly critical danger.

Zhang Yan, seeing this, immediately tossed an object her way, calling, "Luo Daoist, catch!"

Luo Xiao quickly reached for the item, and upon receiving it, her spirit steadied. When the next sword light descended, she swung the object in her hand, striking and shattering one Flying Sword with a "clang," the sword’s spiritual light extinguished completely. Using this opening, she performed a spell and commanded, "Go!"

The Dharma Treasure in her hands flew up into the air. With a deafening metallic crash, it shattered another Flying Sword head-on, then swung sideways to break yet another.

Seeing three of his Flying Swords destroyed in succession, Shen Yuefeng was visibly alarmed. Noticing the red-glowing hammer-like object in Luo Xiao’s grip, he recognized it as a Dharma Treasure specialized for breaking Flying Swords. Hastily, he recalled the remaining swords, but Luo Xiao gave chase with her Heart-Hitting Hammer, smashing another Flying Sword into the roaring river water, where it vanished from sight in moments.

When Shen Yuefeng gathered his remaining Flying Swords, he found only two were intact. Snorting coldly, he declared, "Incomplete swords are of no use to me!" Exerting force, with two audible "crack" sounds, he snapped both swords and discarded them onto the deck.

With razor-sharp focus, his gaze locked onto the opposite ship. Chanting a spell, a golden light emerged from the center of his forehead. Pointing forward with his fingers, he shouted, "Kill!"

Luo Xiao’s expression shifted slightly, crying out urgently, "Your Excellency, step aside—that’s a Sword Pill!"

Cultivators who achieve Xuan Guang can further refine refined gold into a Sword Pill. Through blood rituals, the Sword Pill merges with the cultivator’s spirit, allowing the Xuan Guang to reside within it. It can be remotely commanded for killing purposes.