Daoist Competition
Chapter 306 - 20: Nine Qi Fly and Gather at Ghost Water (Part 2)_2

Chapter 306: Chapter 20: Nine Qi Fly and Gather at Ghost Water (Part 2)_2

After eight arduous months, Zhang Yan finally stepped into the Second Realm of Xuan Guang, the realm of "Day-like Night"!

At this stage, the Xuan Guang accumulated within his chest not only doubled compared to before, but also achieved a perfect balance of hardness and softness, flowing seamlessly at his will, guided entirely by his intent.

He had no intention of waiting passively any longer. Standing atop his Xuan Guang, he strode toward the entrance of the earth gully. Gazing downward, he let out a cold sneer. "You’ve trapped me here for nine months. Today, I shall trace the source of this current and sever it at its root. Zhang Ju, come with me!"

He stood in place for a moment, then suddenly looked up. Above the void, precisely three hundred and sixty-five droplets of You Yin Heavy Water hovered, suspended in midair!

An hour later, he reached the bottom of the gully. Looking up, he saw fine threads of black water, draped like cobwebs, clinging to the cracks in the stone walls. Their ominous aura and unfathomable depths sent uneasy reverberations through his senses.

For days and nights, Zhang Yan tirelessly condensed Heavy Water. However, as time passed, the Nether River Water became increasingly difficult for the Yin Wind to strip away. After three long months, he finally sensed an emptiness before him. The oppressive Qi had completely dissipated. Looking ahead, he saw that all the Nether River Water in this place had been thoroughly refined, not a single drop remaining.

He rose and took flight, swiftly arriving at the edge of the great array. He bellowed sharply toward its interior, "Zhang Yan, what are you howling about? You’re nothing but a bird in a cage now! Do you really think you can escape?"

His gaze flickered, his shoulders quivered, and a stream of Xuan Guang shot toward the Ghost Water. Yet the moment the light touched it, it vanished without a trace as if absorbed into the abyss. He mused silently, "As I thought."

With the three layers of Netherworld Qi dissolved, the next wave brought the sinister onset of the Yin Wind. Zhang Yan observed over a dozen drops of Nether River Water being carried within it. In the past, he would have retreated in the face of such a threat. But now, laughing heartily, he exclaimed, "Perfect timing!" The sourc𝗲 of this content is fre(e)webn ovel

Zhang Yan gave a faint, fleeting smile. Now, there was no longer any need for verbal duels with his opponent. With his breakthrough into the Second Realm of Xuan Guang, the tides of strength had decisively shifted. All that remained was to refine the Nether River Water below. From there, he could storm through the Life Gate and emerge from the array to face Lu Ge in one final decisive battle.

As his words fell, the three hundred and sixty-five droplets of Heavy Water instantly merged into a roaring torrent, crashing violently into the stone walls. The impact resounded like primal thunder, as if heralding the Creation of Heaven. Amid the crumbling rocks, an incomparable sword light erupted, tearing through the Nine Qi, shattering the Yin Ming, and surging forth unrestrained!

Having completed this series of steps, the Yin Wind eventually dissipated, but Zhang Yan seemed far from satisfied.

Just a few months ago, he had confidently sparred against Zhang Yan. But now, after half a year had passed, even though Zhang Yan was still trapped within the array, he had stubbornly refused to die. Unease crept into Lu Ge’s heart as he vaguely sensed that his opponent might eventually break free, disrupt his plans, and ruin everything. Contemplating further, he muttered to himself, "Could practicing this grand and formidable Dharma technique truly invite calamity to obstruct me?"

With his hands folded behind his back, Zhang Yan recited aloud, "Nine Qi gather and summon Ghost Water, upending rivers and mountains to display heavenly might."

After speaking, he brandished his horsetail whisk, reigniting the power of the array once more.

The stone walls holding the Nether River Water were made of Earth Yin Stone, likely crafted by a predecessor cultivator who had transported the water here. The two shared the same origin, maintaining a symbiotic cycle. Unified as one, they were impervious to a single Xuan Guang’s power.

Hearing the deafening roar from below, Zhang Yan let out a cold laugh. Flicking his Xuan Guang into motion, brilliant golden fire descended like a torrential rain, mercilessly sweeping away the Netherworld Qi that had just begun to rise. With a shout, he summoned forth the Mountain and River Child. The Mountain and River Map and his Xuan Guang united in a dazzling assault, eliminating the trifecta of Netherworld Qi completely in less than a quarter of an hour.

He divided his Xuan Guang into multiple radiant streams, arranging them in layered formations. As the Nether River Water approached, the Xuan Guang surged forward to envelop it. Before the first layer could be eroded completely, subsequent waves of light advanced to replenish it. This relentless process continued without interruption until the Nether River Water was thoroughly refined.

The more he thought about it, the more irritable he became until, unable to suppress his frustration, he abruptly stood up and spat bitterly, "I refuse to believe it!"

Soon after, Zhang Yan heard the rushing sound of an approaching Yin Wind. Without sparing it a glance, he remained focused on the Earth Yin Stone. Once he saw a sliver of Nether River Water swept off the stone by the wind, he immediately sent his Xuan Guang to refine it. He then released the Heavy Water within him to devour the gathered Netherworld Qi, sending it back into his Qi Sea to extract its Essence Qi. This cycle continued until a droplet of Heavy Water coalesced. Releasing it again to absorb more Qi, he repeated the process endlessly, producing more and more You Yin Heavy Water.

His bold action stirred the spiritual mechanism surrounding him, causing flames of golden brilliance to surge wildly. With unstoppable momentum, he descended with deadly intent.

Meanwhile, Lu Ge, seated atop a ferry, heard the commotion from afar. He couldn’t help but feel a chill run down his spine. His complexion darkened, his gaze flickered, and he stroked his beard in silence, deep in thought.

After neutralizing the dozen drops of Nether River Water, Zhang Yan released the forty droplets of Heavy Water he had been refining over these past months, allowing them to absorb the surrounding Netherworld Qi. Returning to his Qi Sea, he extracted their Essence Qi and cycled through his cultivation technique. After several repetitions, he gained thirty-two additional droplets of You Yin Heavy Water.

With a commanding shout, Zhang Yan unleashed the Harmony Carrying Cover to protect himself, let the Xuan Guang create an opening through the Netherworld Qi, and leapt into the gully without hesitation.

With this realization, he resolved to repeat his prior tactics. The only difference being that, rather than waiting for the array to initiate the Yin Wind, he would actively summon it himself. "Zhang Ju, absorb all the Netherworld Qi in this place. You are not to stop unless I give the command."

The Mountain and River Child quickly responded, "Yes, my lord!"

Such skill in manipulating the Xuan Guang, blending hardness with softness, ensured not a single trace of effort was squandered. Compared to the unyielding and reckless collisions of the past, this strategy was on a much higher level.

But this posed no significant obstacle for Zhang Yan. Through months of battling against Lu Ge, he had long grasped the truth of this situation: the gully was riddled with countless empty channels. Once the Netherworld Qi within them was cleared, the Yin Wind would spontaneously rise, scraping small amounts of Nether River Water off the Earth Yin Stone.

The Mountain and River Child promptly bowed low, saying, "As you command, my lord." With that, he unfurled the Mountain and River Scroll and began devouring the Netherworld Qi with great vigor.

...

His patience had long been worn thin over the past nine months, and his words, sharper than intended, betrayed the panic lurking beneath his forceful exterior.

The Lan Yun Secret Volume said: "With a hundred drops of this water, a thousand armies would scatter before it." And now, it seemed the words were no exaggeration. Just imagining the scene of this Heavy Water descending like a locust plague was enough. Even he himself, without his sword ball, would have no choice but to retreat.

He remained silent. Unable to gauge Zhang Yan’s true state, Lu Ge only grew more unsettled by the ambiguous depths of his aura. Stamping his foot, he snarled, "Let’s see how long you can endure this!"

...(To be continued. If you enjoy this work, please visit Qidian (qidian.com) to vote with your recommendation votes and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation.)