Daoist Competition
Chapter 57 - 28: Riding the Momentum, A Swan Soars Amidst the Lustrous Clouds

Chapter 57: Chapter 28: Riding the Momentum, A Swan Soars Amidst the Lustrous Clouds

As the sun dipped below the horizon, a small golden sword, vibrating faintly, flew into Zhang Yan’s cave mansion.

Zhang Yan reached out to catch it, opened the attached letter, and remarked in surprise, "Requesting me to move out from Star Gazing Peak to practice cultivation at Moon Capture Peak?"

He chuckled softly and casually tossed the letter aside.

He understood Du You’s hidden intentions at a glance—nothing more than trying to force him off Cangwu Mountain in disgrace. But he was entirely indifferent, even taking pleasure in toying with the small golden sword.

This must be the legendary Xiaoze Golden Sword.

During the Xuanwen Conference, Ai Zhongwen once suggested that Zheng Xun use the Xiaoze Golden Sword to invite Zhang Yan into battle against Mo Yuan. However, Zheng Xun and the other disciples dismissed Zhang Yan, considering him born of mere mortal origins and not worth summoning with such a precious sword. Thus, they all declined.

But now, Zheng Xun had ascended to the Upper Court, and Du You, now the top Senior Disciple of the Lower Court, had used the Xiaoze Golden Sword to deliver a letter, requesting Zhang Yan to relocate his cultivation site. Although the purpose differed, it was enough to reveal that Zhang Yan was no longer the same as before and had garnered genuine attention from these noble Xuanmen family disciples.

In just a matter of months, he had risen from an obscure registered disciple to ascend during the Dharma Assembly, becoming an entry-level disciple. Even noble family descendants like Du You, wary of his potential backing, dared not move against him recklessly. They had no choice but to use their position as Senior Disciples to indirectly force him down the mountain instead.

Yet every step Zhang Yan took, though fraught with danger, was executed by capitalizing on the moment, never leading himself into an inescapable dead end.

"Golden Sword, oh Golden Sword, you didn’t come before, but in the end, you still must pass through my hands."

Zhang Yan was fully aware that Ai Zhongwen had suggested using the sword to invite him once. Now he used the sword as a metaphor to express that anything destined to belong to him could never escape and would eventually return to his hands.

As for these so-called "gifts" from the Upper Court, he completely dismissed them with disdain. He had walked this far alone; when had the Upper Court ever lent him the slightest assistance?

However, his recent rise seemed to have attracted too much attention—a troubling sign.

That said, he’d long intended to rely on the Shell King’s True Dew in the Earth Cave mentioned by Luo Xiao to achieve Opening Meridians. The process for entry-level disciples to descend the mountain was often complicated, and he had been fretting over finding a reasonable excuse. This turn of events came as a stroke of fortune—allowing him to avoid others’ scrutiny while giving him a valid reason.

It only proved that fortune and misfortune were never absolute. A boon could turn into trouble, and trouble could transform into an opportunity.

Once he succeeded in Opening Meridians, his status would undergo even greater changes, leaving him entirely unfazed by the Lower Court’s opinions.

Having made up his mind, he collected the golden sword and declared in a clear voice, "Luo Daoist, it seems I shall have to make a trip down the mountain."

Luo Xiao’s charming eyes sparkled as a pitiful expression took over her face. She looked at him imploringly and said, "Now that I am a person with no home to return to, I beg you, young master, to take pity and not abandon me..." Her teary eyes and reddened cheeks were almost convincing, had Zhang Yan not known her true nature.

He burst into laughter. "Luo Daoist, your unique way of offering comfort is unmatched. Do you assume I’ve been forced down the mountain? Absurd. Over the last two months, I’ve diligently studied the Xuan Yuan Secret Book and feel I’ve unlocked its secrets. I am now ready to seek the Shell King’s True Dew and attempt Opening Meridians."

Luo Xiao let out a faint "Oh?" Her enchanting eyes fixed on him with surprise. "It seems Zhang Daoist shows no signs of frustration."

Zhang Yan smiled broadly and replied, "Why should I be frustrated? I should laugh heartily instead! The Lower Court is merely a temporary abode on my cultivation journey. Do you really think I would grow attached to this place? My sole focus now is on Opening Meridians, passing the gate of ascension, and reaching new heights. When I return, the Upper Court doors will open for me!"

Hearing Zhang Yan’s words, Luo Xiao immediately shed her prior dainty demeanor and said earnestly, "Zhang Daoist truly has an extraordinary mindset and grand ambition! Indeed, external disturbances are but fleeting smoke and clouds; obsession only leads to confusion and loss of clarity. One must stand steadfast on the Spirit Platform to part the clouds and reveal the True Spirit."

Zhang Yan, hearing her words, felt they echoed the teachings of Ning Chongxuan from not long ago, subtly containing a hidden meaning and mutually reinforcing one another. A thought stirred in his heart—could this be an indirect hint pointing to potential challenges awaiting him during Opening Meridians?

Since neither of them was willing to elucidate further, it was clear it could not be communicated in mere words. Thinking about it now would only create added turmoil. As long as his resolve remained unwavering, there was no need to dwell on these matters.

"Luo Daoist, surely you recall the path to the Shell Field and can guide the way?" Zhang Yan remembered that Luo Xiao had previously mentioned her discovery of the Shell Field near Yingyun Shell Field.

Back then, the Mingcang Sect had yet to fully take control of the Shell Field, so their guard was likely lax. However, current circumstances might have changed significantly. If they were to set out on foot, they risked encountering disciples stationed by the Mingcang Sect.

Zhang Yan voiced his concerns, but Luo Xiao dismissed them with a confident wave of her hand and replied with full assurance, "This is no problem. I remember the Earth Cave’s entrance being beside a large marsh. If Mingcang sect disciples are guarding it, we can submerge ourselves and approach via the water route. They would never detect us. Furthermore, while I had been pursuing those five Upper Court disciples, I was fearful of losing my way and left a drop of my Essence Blood at the location. By sensing it through my bloodline, finding the cave entrance won’t be an issue."

She frowned slightly and said, "My only concern is the Shell King itself. Although the longer its cultivation, the more beneficial its True Dew is for Opening Meridians, its temper is wild and unpredictable. It could stir significant Earth Acupoint disturbances, possibly alerting Mingcang Sect disciples."

Zhang Yan replied with a smile, "It’s pointless to speculate before seeing the Shell King. We’ll make plans once inside the Earth Cave."

Luo Xiao nodded. "Precisely."

Zhang Yan then asked, "By the way, how many days will it take us to travel from Cangwu Mountain to the Shell Field?"

"Why would we walk? Zhang Daoist, you underestimate me." Luo Xiao waved her delicate hand, a hint of pride flashing across her fair face. "I’ll personally guide us with Xuan Guang."

Zhang Yan scrutinized her complexion and replied with a gentle smile, "Luo Daoist, you seem still unwell from your injuries. We have ample time—don’t strain yourself unnecessarily."

Luo Xiao let out a faint snort. "Though my injuries haven’t healed completely, I have condensed a thread of Xuan Guang. Flying for two or three hours a day shouldn’t be an issue. The earlier we reach the destination, the sooner I can recover with the aid of the Shell King’s True Dew."

Saying this, she sighed, standing up from her cushion as she circled the Dragon Star Sand Tripod several times, lamenting, "Leaving this Treasure Tripod here feels like such a waste. If I weren’t injured, bringing it along would be a trivial task. Now, I’m powerless—a true pity. If only it were a Dharma Treasure class item, I could resize it at will without much fuss."

Zhang Yan, unbothered, responded nonchalantly, "Just bury it in a nearby valley. We can retrieve it later."

"That’ll have to do."

Luo Xiao had planned to use the tripod for concocting elixirs, but now she could only abandon the idea.

The two of them packed their belongings, buried the Treasure Tripod on a hillside at Star Gazing Peak, took all the remaining elixirs, and slipped down the mountain under cover of darkness without alerting anyone.

To avoid attracting the attention of Mingcang Sect’s Upper Court disciples, they refrained from flying for the first ten days. Only after they left Hongzhou, outside the Da Wei Dynasty’s borders and far from Cangwu Mountain’s sphere of influence, did they finally relax.

"From here, it should take roughly six more days to reach a tributary leading to Yingyun Shell Field by following the Qu River," Luo Xiao informed him with a playful smile, adding, "Zhang Daoist, hold tightly to me when the Xuan Guang takes off, and whatever you do, don’t open your eyes."

Without hesitation, Zhang Yan stepped forward, wrapping an arm around Luo Xiao’s waist. Beneath his touch, she felt soft and supple, smooth as jade, as though without bones.

Luo Xiao’s gaze turned coquettish, her cheeks hinting at a flirtatious glow as she glanced at Zhang Yan and softly commanded, "Ascend!"

A streak of Xuan Guang shot into the sky, heading straight north!

Half a month after Zhang Yan and Luo Xiao descended the mountain, Du You also received a letter from his family urging him to hurry to Yingyun Shell Field to attempt his Opening Meridians. Along with the letter arrived a "Cloud Perching Flying Boat" to aid his journey.

The flying boat was crafted by a Ming Qi Stage artifact-refining cultivator from the Du clan. It could ferry over a hundred passengers, withstand assault from Flying Swords, and its tunneling speed far surpassed that of ordinary cultivators. This time, the clan had sent it to give him an edge.

Accompanying Du You on his journey were not only Du Bo, but also two Ming Qi Stage disciples assigned by the family, along with ten Powerful Warriors and over fifty servants.

As the flying boat sped through skies surrounded by cloud-veiled peaks retreating rapidly behind him, Du You looked on with satisfaction, patting the vessel’s frame. "I hear this Shell Field is called Yingyun Shell Field. The name of this Cloud Perching Flying Boat is a good omen—surely implying that the Shell King is destined to be mine."

Du Bo glanced at him with a subtle smile, sitting comfortably atop the boat’s canopy.

After a day and night of flying, Du You, starting to feel bored, asked, "With Uncle Bo accompanying me, we’re certain to subdue the Shell King and extract the True Dew. But I’m curious—how powerful is the Shell King?"

Du Bo laughed heartily. "The higher the Shell King’s cultivation, the more potent the True Dew. It will ensure better quality for your Meridian formation. Frankly, I hope the Shell King here doesn’t disappoint."

Intrigued, Du You asked, "Uncle Bo, though you are already a master of the Xuan Guang Third Realm, I’ve heard the Shell King is notoriously ferocious. When hiding in its cave, its defenses are immense, its shells impervious even to Flying Swords. Do you have a plan to deal with it?"

Stroking his beard, Du Bo responded with a knowing smile. "Nephew, the Shell King is gluttonous by nature, particularly fond of a small aquatic creature known as the Silver Tear Fish. Simply capture some in advance and leave them at the cave entrance. The scent of their blood will lure the Shell King out. Once it emerges, it has no escape route and will be at our mercy."

"Really?" Du You questioned. "My mother has told me many tales about the Shell King, but I’ve never heard of this before. She claimed that whenever Upper Court disciples attempted Opening Meridians, they always needed the aid of Hua Dan Stage experts to subdue the Shell King."

Du Bo chuckled. "Ah, dear nephew, the Shell King may never have transformed due to its reliance on Earth Vein nourishment, but it possesses a hint of spiritual wisdom. This method of luring it out can only work once. If repeated too often, the Shell King would stop falling for it. However, since the Shell King at Yingyun Shell Field has never been subjected to such tactics, you needn’t worry. With me here, it will suffice!"

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