Daoist Competition
Chapter 150 - 42: 5 Attributes of Cloud Sand, Supreme Mysterious True Light

Chapter 150: Chapter 42: 5 Attributes of Cloud Sand, Supreme Mysterious True Light

Xie Zongyuan asked this question, and Liu Tao’s gaze followed closely, looking over as well.

Zhang Yan smiled freely and said, "We cultivate for immortality, which is to defy the heavens. Tribulations and dangers are but trials. Now that a convenient path lies ahead, how could we not take it?"

Xie Zongyuan was overjoyed and said, "Excellent! Brother Zhang is straightforward; let’s agree on it then."

Liu Tao interjected, "However, entering the Sea Eye Demon Cave requires some deliberation, and haste is inadvisable. Preparation is necessary. For instance, the female immortal of Shouming Palace would not let you go without reason; each person must pay five hundred Spiritual Shells."

Xie Zongyuan waved his hand dismissively and said, "A mere sum; no need to concern yourselves, I’ll handle it as your junior brother."

The Xie family ranked second among the Twelve Great Families, and Xie Zongyuan was a direct lineage disciple. A thousand Spiritual Shells meant little to his words, and this also served as a way to involve Zhang Yan and Liu Tao—a deal worth making by all accounts.

Liu Tao then stood up and bowed to Zhang Yan and Xie Zongyuan, saying, "I’ll not hide from you; I know a Daoist friend who has already surpassed the Ming Qi Third Realm. However, limited by his aptitude, it took him three years to congeal the Xuan Guang Seed, and he still has not broken through. He also has plans to join us this time."

Xie Zongyuan was briefly stunned but quickly dismissed it, saying, "Since he’s Brother Liu’s friend, he must also be trustworthy. Let him join us. The Demon Cave will be fraught with danger, and an extra hand means extra strength."

Liu Tao laughed and said, "Naturally, I wouldn’t have Brother Xie incur the cost in vain. This person hails from the cold list lineage, though his family has long declined. Yet, he has an ancestral Dharma Treasure known as the ’Chenxiang Boat,’ capable of diving into thousand-foot deep pools. As the Sea Eye Demon Cave lies beneath the great marshes, going underwater without it would exhaust True Essence. With this Treasure Boat, we could travel in without worry."

Xie Zongyuan was delighted and said, "Wonderful. Brother Liu is thorough in his considerations. Upon returning to my clan, I shall mobilize the family to see if any rumors of the Demon Cave can be uncovered."

He then slapped the table and pulled Liu Tao back to sit down to drink together.

Once matters were settled, the three of them abandoned their reservations and indulged in fine wine and delicacies. When the revelry reached its peak, Zhang Yan noticed the moonlight shining brightly above, and the tides surging across the great marshes. Stretching out his hand, he gestured, and a Fish Maid Beauty swam up from the water.

He lowered his head to whisper a few words, and the Fish Maid Beauty nodded with delight before diving back into the water and disappearing from sight.

Xie Zongyuan quizzically asked, "Brother Zhang, what arcane trickery are you conjuring?"

Zhang Yan smiled faintly and said, "Please wait, and you’ll see."

Soon after, the surrounding waters suddenly lit up with radiant brilliance. Glimmers of light flickered and floated amidst the water, appearing and disappearing. Gazing upon it, Xie Zongyuan and Liu Tao felt as if they were drifting through the Star River in a boat, surrounded by a galaxy of shimmering stars. Upon closer inspection, they saw over a hundred Fish Maid Beauties surfaced, each holding aloft a glowing Bright Pearl that mirrored the moonlight overhead.

Xie Zongyuan’s eyes sparkled. He tapped his chopsticks against his wine cup and exclaimed in admiration, "Marvelous! Marvelous! Such a view calls for a drink." With that, he rolled up his sleeves, raised a wine flask, and took a hearty swig.

Liu Tao sighed and said, "I suppose this must be the Water Country’s spectacle, ’Fish Maiden Holding Pearl.’ To think we could witness it within the mountain gate. Bah, if Zhuang Bufan keeps acting recklessly, such a magnificent sight would be lost to us entirely."

Xie Zongyuan glared at him in dissatisfaction and said, "A fine moment and scenery like this, why bring him up to ruin it? A drink as punishment!"

Liu Tao chuckled, took a wine cup, and drained it in one gulp.

The three reveled deep into the night, the hosts and guests all delighted.

After setting the next meeting date, Zhang Yan bid farewell to Liu Tao but kept Xie Zongyuan behind for a private word.

He bowed and said, "Brother Xie, I must ask you for a favor."

Xie Zongyuan generously replied, "No need for formality, junior brother. Speak freely."

Zhang Yan produced a scroll and placed it on the table, saying, "This book is titled the ’Red Cloud Pill Fire Scroll.’ It was the wager I won from Wang Pan during a contest the other day. I now wish to return it to the Wang Family and pledge to never let its contents leak out. I ask that Brother Xie act as my intermediary."

Xie Zongyuan glanced at the scroll, his smile receding. He nodded slightly and said, "What condition does junior brother intend to propose?" He understood clearly that Zhang Yan wouldn’t return the scroll without a reason. If he intended to do so, he would’ve returned it long ago.

Zhang Yan replied, "I need one superior Fire Attribute Cloud Sand."

Xie Zongyuan chuckled and said, "A mere Cloud Sand, no problem at all. I’ll personally handle it; three days at most, and there shall be news."

He didn’t query Zhang Yan’s use for the Fire Cloud Sand. In his eyes, such matters were mere details. Everyone has their secrets, and he never pried into the affairs of others.

After exchanging a few more words, Xie Zongyuan took his leave.

Zhang Yan didn’t return to his Cave Mansion but instead poured himself drinks and contemplated Liu Tao deeply.

It was clear Liu Tao’s visit wasn’t a spur-of-the-moment decision but a premeditated plan. Yet, the people Liu Tao befriended seemed to be intentionally chosen for their usefulness in entering the Demon Cave. His friend possessed a Treasure Boat; Xie Zongyuan had wealth and connections. Zhang Yan himself, with modest cultivation and few worldly assets, puzzled over why Liu Tao seemed so concerned about his participation.

Even so, Zhang Yan discerned that Liu Tao, though calculating, bore no malicious intent. Still, caution was necessary, for the dangers of the Demon Cave were significant—a gambit of nine deaths and one survival. Zhang Yan resolved to make thorough preparations to prevent being caught off guard.

He thought to himself, "Senior Brother Zhou has spent over two centuries in the sect; he must know something about the Demon Cave. I should consult him tomorrow."

With that decision made, Zhang Yan rose and returned to his Cave Mansion to meditate.

The next day, as dawn broke, he bathed and dressed before departing on his Flying Boat to the Elixir Cauldron Institute to see Zhou Chongju. Once there, he told Zhou Chongju of his intention to travel to the Demon Cave.

"What? You plan to cultivate in the Sea Eye Demon Cave?"

Upon hearing this, Zhou Chongju frowned deeply, as if grappling with a difficult matter. He paced the pavilion before coming to a halt and looking back. "Junior brother, let me ask you—what attribute was the Cloud Sand bestowed upon you by Yan Gongzhen that day?"

Yan Gongzhen was the given name of True Master Yan. Zhang Yan hadn’t heard it before but knew immediately who Zhou Chongju was referring to. He replied, "It was a Golden Cloud Sand."

Zhou Chongju sneered and said, "I knew it! That man is petty indeed. You offended his disciple, and he wouldn’t be so gracious in return."

He then looked at Zhang Yan and continued, "Junior brother, don’t fault me for keeping quiet about his intentions. I had my reasons; I had plans in place that made me immune to whatever tricks he might conceive. But now, your venture into the Demon Cave has complicated matters."

Zhang Yan earnestly said, "Senior brother would never harm me. May I know what trouble lies ahead?"

"Hm." Zhou Chongju nodded and said, "Very well, I won’t hide it from you any longer. A predecessor once passed on a spell named ’Five Directions and Five Elements Tai Xuan True Light.’ It is not a cultivation technique but a powerful combative spell from millennia ago, left behind by the Supreme Mysterious Sect. It’s said to have enormous potency and was meant to be given to one with great providence. For over two centuries, I have not touched it."

He sighed before continuing. "Upon your entry to the Elixir Cauldron Pavilion, I took it out and examined it, only to discover one critical step—it requires gathering the Five Elements Cloud Sand before congealing the Xuan Seed prior to the Xuan Guang Realm. I intended for you to cultivate steadily and collect them gradually before giving it to you. Thus, when Yan Gongzhen handed you the Cloud Sand, I was content to let it be."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Yan felt enlightened. Though his aptitude was modest, and he had never revealed his practice of the ’Taiyin Golden Book,’ Zhou Chongju’s confidence in him seemed unwavering. Now, it was evident that this faith stemmed not only from the predecessor’s judgment but also because of this spell’s significance.

"But fate outstrips human plans. Your decision to cultivate in the Demon Cave has complicated things further. Currently, I’ve only managed to collect three Cloud Sands."

Zhou Chongju lifted his hand and produced three Brocade Boxes from his Sleeve Bag, opening them to reveal three Cloud Sands. Pointing to one verdant and lustrous Cloud Sand, he said, "This is Wood Attribute Cloud Sand, found fifty years ago in the Medicine Garden, and of excellent quality."

He gestured to another and said, "This one is Gold Attribute, recently obtained. Alas, compared to the one gifted by Yan Gongzhen, it pales considerably and isn’t worth mentioning."

Next, he picked up the last Cloud Sand, saying, "This is Earth Attribute Cloud Sand, purchased recently from the outside. But its quality is far from ideal—regrettably subpar."

Among the Cloud Sands, Earth Attribute ones are most abundant, even accessible in the Mortal World. However, their quality rarely reaches superior grade. Zhou Chongju, despite being the Dean of the Elixir Cauldron Pavilion, couldn’t secure better ones in such a short time.

Zhang Yan smiled and said, "Perfection is rare; having them is better than none at all. Senior brother need not be too demanding."

Zhou Chongju nodded slightly and sighed, "Yet we’re still short two—one Water Attribute, one Fire Attribute."

After contemplating for a moment, Zhang Yan said, "I might have a way to find Fire Attribute Cloud Sand. However, as for Water Attribute, I currently have no leads."

Zhou Chongju’s spirits lifted upon hearing this, and he eagerly asked, "Oh? You can procure Fire Attribute Cloud Sand? How likely is it?"

Zhang Yan considered and replied, "Eight to nine out of ten."

"Excellent! Excellent! Excellent!" Zhou Chongju exclaimed three times, his eyes gleaming with excitement. "Do you recall me mentioning Zhao You Heavenly Pond to you before?"

"Of course, I remember. But the last time I reached Zhao You Mountain, an encounter with demons forced Zhuang Bufan to drag me back prematurely."

Zhou Chongju said gravely, "Then you must go again. Beneath the Zhao You Heavenly Pond, a hundred fathoms deep, lies the Water Attribute Cloud Sand."