Daoist Competition
Chapter 44 - 20 Chongxuan Approaches, Demon Snake Points the Way (Part 2)

Chapter 44: Chapter 20 Chongxuan Approaches, Demon Snake Points the Way (Part 2)

Lin Yuan burst into hearty laughter, lifting Chen Lan up and saying, "No need for such formality, junior brother. Our friendship is beyond compare to others’.

They exchanged a few more pleasantries and sat down again. Chen Lan casually asked, "I wonder, what happened to the Python Spirit that killed my disciple?"

"I’ve heard that it’s being relentlessly pursued by Ning Chongxuan from our sect, and there’s been no news yet."

"Ning Chongxuan?" Chen Lan thought for a moment, as if recalling the person. "Rumor has it that he possesses exceptional aptitude, achieving the Xuan Guang Stage in just forty years of cultivation and is just one step away from the Hua Dan Realm. Is this true?"

Lin Yuan snorted, saying, "No matter how powerful he is, he is still just a rootless cultivator. In the sect, it’s still us noble family disciples who hold the fort."

Nearby Cangwu Mountain, two streaks of light flashed by like lightning, one before the other.

In the front was a black Xuan Guang, within which a large black-armored python surged restlessly. Behind it, a white sword light sped swiftly in pursuit. Upon the sword light stood a stern-faced young cultivator, who shouted coldly, "Dare you still ride the clouds before me, Ning Chongxuan?"

A green light split from the white sword light, piercing through the mist ahead with a swish, darting back and forth several times. The Python Spirit let out a miserable howl, as a few drops of thick blood splattered out, thinning its enveloping black light.

Severely injured, the Python Spirit knew it couldn’t gain an advantage in the air, and helplessly descended from the cloud head, opening its mouth to spew a rolling demon cloud to shield itself. The pitch-black cloud soon engulfed the mountain below.

"Such petty tricks, and still dare to show off?"

Ning Chongxuan coldly smirked, his eyes narrowing, as two dazzling golden rays shot out. This was the Breaking Barrier Spiritual Light, only achievable by those in the late-stage Xuan Guang. The light swept away the demon cloud as if the scorching sun melting snow!

The Python Spirit saw this and couldn’t help but speak, but its first words were a barrage of curses, "Pah, this Ning Chongxuan has reached the ’Xuan Guang Penetrating Objects’ stage after just over forty years of cultivation, while I, Luo Xiao, have cultivated for over two centuries and have barely stepped into ’Spiritual Light First Illumination’. How unjust is the Heavenly Dao!"

Though it wished to temporarily avoid confrontation, now heavily wounded, it moved sluggishly and could only keep expending True Yuan, exhaling plumes of black mist in a vain attempt to obscure its True Body. Alas, as soon as Ning Chongxuan released his spirit light, it immediately became exposed.

Panicking and lost, the Python Spirit scurried through the stone forest and timber, seeing hope in the form of mountains and flowing water in the distance, hastily winding towards it.

Searching for a long time, it still couldn’t find an Earth Cave or crevice, and as its True Yuan gradually depleted, just one slash from Ning Chongxuan’s sword would spell a certain death, despair etched on its face, "No good, there’s no cover or Earth Acupoint here. Am I, Luo Xiao, to die here today?"

Just then, its gaze caught sight of a mountain stream flowing into a crevice, without a moment’s thought, it used its last remaining True Essence to shrink its three-zhang-long body to merely a foot, plunging into the water, and swam into the crevice, burrowing deeper into the mountain’s belly.

The sword light circled the mountaintop several times before descending. Ning Chongxuan’s figure landed steadily atop the peak.

Frowning, realizing the Python Spirit had suddenly vanished, surely having burrowed underground, unless he could cleave the entire peak, there’s no way to get it at the moment. But even if he had such ability, he couldn’t cause massive destruction here, for it was already within the Lower Court’s territory of the Mingcang Sect.

He traversed down the mountain path, yet found no trace of the Python Spirit. At that moment, he suddenly sensed a Xuanmen Sect aura, muttering in surprise, "Hmm, such a desolate place, could there be a Lower Court Disciple cultivating here?"

Following the Qi Mechanism, he soon saw a young cultivator meditating on a protruding cliff rock.

The person seemed to sense someone’s approach but calmly gathered his energy before turning around.

Ning Chongxuan nodded, showing appreciation, and asked, "Who are you?"

The young cultivator cautiously glanced at Ning Xuanchong, cupped his hands, and said, "Lower Court Disciple of the Mingcang Sect, Zhang Yan. May I know the senior brother’s name?"

"I am Ning Chongxuan of the Upper Court, pursuing a Snake Demon here. The demon has slain several of our Upper Court’s True Disciples. Have you sensed anything amiss?"

Zhang Yan shook his head, saying, "I have not."

Ning Chongxuan asked further, "Why are you the only one around here?"

"I am an entry-level disciple, hence able to live alone on a peak."

Zhang Yan had not moved to a different Cave Mansion, yet no one dared reside nearby, everyone sought elsewhere to live. This Star Gazing Peak was secluded, and he was the only one left, so he didn’t need to confine himself to the Cave Mansion, instead meditating halfway up the mountain.

Hearing this, Ning Xuanchong frowned, coldly saying, "You are an entry-level disciple?"

"I am."

Ning Xuanchong’s face involuntarily showed a look of disdain. Lower Court Disciples were almost all from noble families, and upon entering the Upper Court, they could monopolize a Cave Heaven Blessed Land and enjoy sect benefits without engaging in conflicts, whereas ordinary disciples like him had to risk life for everything, only occasionally receiving some elixir pills from mentors. Therefore, he bore significant resentment toward them.

Saying no more, he scoffed, controlling his sword to rise, disappearing in the blink of an eye.

Zhang Yan watched him disappear into the sky, eyes showing slight envy, wondering when he could cultivate to that level?

Yet, as soon as this thought arose, he quickly discarded it.

One’s path is one’s own, others have their paths, what is there to envy? As long as one firmly holds onto their own heart and moves forward, there will be a day for flying and escaping!

Zhang Yan glanced once more at the vast night sky, smiled slightly, and turned to descend the peak.

Retracing along the plank path, he soon returned to the Cave Mansion, but as he pushed open the door and stepped in, he suddenly paused.

Ever since watching the Star Tablet that day, he had remained sensitive to changes in Qi Mechanism, able to perceive even slight environmental changes. He distinctly sensed an unusual Qi Mechanism lurking within the Cave Mansion, his gaze finally settling on that bronze cauldron.