Daoist Competition
Chapter 141 - 36: Siege on Carp Demon - Cursing Fang Zhen_2

Chapter 141: Chapter 36: Siege on Carp Demon - Cursing Fang Zhen_2

Most demonic cultivators lack access to secret Daoist books, and their progression along the path of Qi cultivation falls far behind human cultivators. Instead, they survive by tempering their physical bodies, which plays to their strengths.

However, after Zhang Yan later studied the "Primordial Life Golden Fruit Book," he realized that the Power Dao wasn’t so simple. Especially the superior Power Dao techniques, which not only required intricate cultivation of mysterious skills but also the essence blood of ancient great demons. The external resources required were no fewer than those for Qi cultivation. Thus, for ordinary demonic cultivators without foundations, choosing this path was often a matter of necessity rather than preference.

As Qu Chang rushed forward aggressively, Xie Zongyuan remained calm and unhurried. From his sleeve, he retrieved a small green tablet and commanded, "Go!"

The small tablet hovered midair and immediately transformed into a massive object three zhang in size, descending directly toward Qu Chang.

In an instant, a strange force seemed to envelop the area. Qu Chang, who had been speeding forward, suddenly plummeted from midair. As he struggled to get up, he found himself unable to move freely no matter how much effort he exerted. He staggered shakily, as though trapped in quicksand.

Suddenly, the sky darkened. The giant tablet crashed downward. Qu Chang shouted and raised his saber with both hands to block. After a thunderous clash, he managed to stop the tablet but seemed unable to withstand its immense pressure, his body gradually being forced lower.

From above, Feng Ming exclaimed in shock, "Senior Brother Fang, what kind of Dharma treasure is this? How can it be so powerful?"

Fang Zhen snorted and said, "This treasure is called the Sea Suppressing Tablet. It is a spiritual artifact. However, Xie Zongyuan’s cultivation is only at the Ming Qi Second Realm, so he cannot even unleash one-tenth of its power. Otherwise, this demonic cultivator would have been crushed to death long ago, with no chance to resist."

Xie Zongyuan, seeing that Qu Chang seemed on the verge of collapse, smirked faintly. He quietly formed a spell and watched the massive tablet slowly shrink. Its power seemed undiminished, leaving Qu Chang immobilized. When it had shrunk to just one chi in size, Xie Zongyuan drew from his sleeve a short blade radiating brilliance—clearly no ordinary weapon—and handed it to a Xuan Guang practitioner beside him. "You, finish him off."

The practitioner bowed, took the blade, and approached Qu Chang step by step. Though Qu Chang was panting heavily like an ox, he could not escape the tablet’s suppression. Snickering coldly, the practitioner raised the blade and thrust it downward.

The disciples watching from the mountain slope assumed this strike would kill the ferocious demonic cultivator instantly. Who could have expected a sudden reversal? Qu Chang raised his head, his face twisted in a vicious grin. He caught the blade-wielding practitioner’s arm with one hand. With his other, he swung the back of his beast-faced great saber upward, striking the practitioner’s skull with a crisp "smack." Red and white matter splattered everywhere.

Xie Zongyuan exclaimed in disbelief, "How can this be?!"

Qu Chang stood back up, shaking his head. His eyes gleamed with a ferocious light as he fixed his gaze on Xie Zongyuan, seeming utterly unaffected by the Sea Suppressing Tablet’s power.

The tablet continued to hover in midair but emitted a low, mournful sound. Upon closer inspection, beneath its base lay a small talisman that seemed to have anchored it in place, preventing it from descending further.

At this critical moment, only two Xuan Guang practitioners were left by Xie Zongyuan’s side. Seeing Qu Chang approaching with a malevolent grin and saber in hand, one of them urgently shouted, "Fourth Young Master, run! We will cover your retreat!"

Xie Zongyuan’s face turned slightly pale, yet he did not flee. Standing straight and firmly rooted, his expression darkened fiercely. He looked toward the sky and cupped his hands. "Senior Brother Fang, I know you have a Dharma treasure. Please assist me in slaying this demon. The Xie Family will reward you handsomely afterward!"

Fang Zhen and Feng Ming, who had initially been enjoying the show, were not displeased to see Xie Zongyuan in such a predicament. However, upon witnessing Qu Chang’s terrifying power, they sensed the situation turning dangerous and grew wary. When Xie Zongyuan pleaded for assistance, Fang Zhen coldly smirked, dismissing him outright. He waved the talisman in his hand and prepared to leave.

Zhang Yan’s eyes gleamed as he observed the scene. He guessed that Fang Zhen held significant status among their sect, given Feng Ming’s deference towards him. However, Zhang Yan had overheard Fang Zhen scheming against him earlier. Thinking quickly, Zhang Yan decided to make an opportunity to inconvenience him.

He maneuvered his flying boat to block Fang Zhen’s path. "Senior Brother Fang, where are you going with a mighty foe before us?"

Fang Zhen was startled, then scowled angrily. "Zhang Yan, why are you stopping me? Xie Zongyuan is just a noble family disciple; if he dies, so what? Why meddle in others’ affairs?"

Zhang Yan spoke seriously, "Senior Brother Fang, you misunderstand. I am not stopping you for Xie Zongyuan’s sake."

He pointed downward and declared loudly, "Look below! Hundreds of disciples from our sect stand there. They have no flying boats, nor can they escape by flight. If you leave and Xie Zongyuan falls, won’t this demon unleash its fury on them? These disciples will be helpless sheep awaiting slaughter! Though this demon is a Xuan Guang practitioner, I have heard you possess a Dharma treasure. If we join forces, we might not be its match. Why not fight together and slay this beast?"

Zhang Yan’s reasoning struck a chord. Fang Zhen’s face twitched, and he reluctantly said, "This demon is formidable. We must report back to the sect for further instructions."

With that, he steered his flying boat besides Zhang Yan’s blockade and flew away, turning his head no more. Feng Ming hesitated, casting a complicated glance at Zhang Yan. While persuaded by Zhang Yan’s words, he felt powerless to act alone. Thus, he remained silent.

Zhang Yan smiled faintly and shouted after Fang Zhen’s retreating figure, "Fang Zhen! You, a disciple under True Master Yan of Weiguang Cave Heaven, have fled battle, leaving your fellow sect members to their fate! You forsake the honor of your master and disgrace our sect! Are you shameless? Are you without honor? What use does the sect have for someone like you? I, Zhang Yan, am ashamed to share the same sect as you!"

His thunderous voice carried in all directions, heard clearly by the disciples below. All wore varying expressions of astonishment and indignation.

Fang Zhen’s face flushed crimson at Zhang Yan’s scorn, his head lowered in mortification as fury churned within him.

Feng Ming’s face, too, burned with embarrassment and guilt. Hesitantly, he said, "Senior Brother, perhaps we should..."

Fang Zhen shouted, "Tch! Let Zhang Yan throw away his life if he wants! Do you also wish to die? Yes, I have a Dharma treasure, but I simply will not help them! And what of it?"

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PS: Thank you, dear readers, for your concern. I’m feeling much better after taking medicine. This is the first Chapter for today; another will be posted later tonight, though it might come a bit late.