Demon Sword Sect’s Undercover
Chapter 641 - 641 640 Outperforming the Golden Core

641: Chapter 640: Outperforming the Golden Core 641: Chapter 640: Outperforming the Golden Core Hesitation hesitated for only an instant before he understood that winning this magical duel was paramount.

As he activated the Bright Light, he threw a magic plate called the Light Splitting Disk, which served to split and shadow the light, accumulating power and transforming the chaotic Bright Light into an orderly threat.

Once the disk was thrown, it immediately started absorbing a significant amount of the mana reserves held by the Daoist in black, causing the Bright Light to surge like a newly risen sun.

The three spectators watched tensely, aware of the fearsome power of the Light Splitting Skill which doubled the intensity, leaving its wielder unable to control it—if it accidentally killed the Sword Cultivator, how would they ever explain it to the Sikong Mansion?

Not using an ultimate skill meant no victory, but using it brought endless troubles afterward…

With the arrow on the bow, it must be shot.

Why couldn’t this stubborn Sword Cultivator just back down when dueling with a Golden Core Cultivator?

Could he afford to lose face?

You, a mere practitioner of the Natural Realm, refusing to back down, and yet expecting a Golden Core Upper Cultivator to retreat voluntarily?

In a battle of magical powers, the most fearful are those who do not know when to advance or retreat.

The crowd felt uneasy, unable to intervene nor let it continue unchecked…but the convergence of the Light Splitting Disk was so rapid, it allowed no time for further consideration.

Amid the gathering and scattering of light, Shaking Light was about to emerge.

Hou Niao nodded secretly; such a technique of Shaking Light Opening Screen was impossible to block merely by holding a longsword.

The real disparity between the Natural Realm and the Golden Core Realm existed, and since this wasn’t open battle, transforming into a Body Sword was unsuitable, so…

The flying sword deftly made a turn above the Light Splitting Disk, and suddenly, a bolt of lightning struck down, causing the entire Light Splitting Disk to explosively shatter, resembling a huge firework blooming in the sky.

Hou Niao sheathed his sword and stood upright while the Daoist with the black beard stood dumbfounded.

He couldn’t comprehend why his powerful converging Light Splitting Disk was so fragile under the strike of lightning.

After a moment, with a conflicted expression, he said, “I’ve lost.”

As he admitted defeat, the expressions of the remaining three Daoists from the Langzhong Sect became grave.

Lan Zaitian dared not come forward since he was the weakest—the extent of his Ming King’s Screen could only be reduced to nineteen strikes, clearly insufficient in power, leaving the matter to his two senior Daoist uncles.

The Daoist with the mottled beard stepped forward with no hint of previous disdain, presenting a salute between equals according to proper rituals, “I am Lan Xiangli, presumptuously seeking a lesson from you, Capital Commandant.”

Hou Niao maintained the younger generation’s politeness, “There are no distinctions in Daoist teachings, only respect for the elder and younger, please impart your teaching.”

The mottled-beard Daoist straightened his back.

His ability, the Ming King’s Screen, blossomed like a peacock’s feathers into eight Bright Lights behind him, just one less than the Daoist with the black beard, suggesting their powers were almost equal; however, the control differed significantly.

The nine Bright Lights of the black-bearded Daoist had formed not long ago and operated with difficulty and obstruction; they didn’t follow thoughts fluidly.

But his eight Bright Lights had been perfected over more than a decade and felt as if they truly grew on his back, like having an additional eight arms emerging out of thin air.

The Sword Cultivator managed to fend off the nine Bright Lights of the black-bearded Daoist, but might not withstand his eight!

He was confident of this, with his only concern being…

The mottled-beard Daoist now dazzled with Bright Light like fans; as he was about to strike out with his converging force, Hou Niao did not passively wait this time.

For a Sword Cultivator, the most taboo situation in any duel is passively reacting to attacks.

Since the secret of the Ancient Thunder Talisman had been exposed once, whether it was once or twice, it couldn’t always be kept hidden.

As the Daoist with the mottled beard’s Bright Light was about to strike, the flying sword already shot forth.

Simultaneously, a bolt of lightning descended, causing the Bright Light behind the mottled-beard Daoist to shatter explosively under the force, leaving a scattered, broken spectacle like a mirror smashed under sunlight.

A huge shock gripped his heart, still unwilling to give up, he stimulated his Dantian to gather light again, and as the Shaking Light was just forming, another bolt of lightning slashed down from the sky…

Three times like this, the Daoist with the patchy beard turned pale, bowed his head, and retreated without uttering a word.

Clearly, such blows had led him to doubt his own learning for the first time in his life.

If a cultivator from the Low Natural Realm could render his Bright Light powerless, how could this skill ensure the Langzhong Sect’s continued existence in the continent’s Cultivation World?

Only one Daoist remained, the Silver-bearded Daoist, whose Bright Light radiated from behind him—there were only three beams!

This was already very close to the Nascent Transformation Realm, likely making him the most powerful cultivator currently existing within the Ancient Langzhong Sect.

Would the power of the thunder remain invincible, or would the skill of Bright Light Peacocking prevail?

This was the answer everyone anticipated, yet the Silver-bearded Daoist did not reveal it.

As the screen of light closed, the three beams of Bright Light were retracted into his body, and he sighed deeply, “I am powerless against this bolt of lightning.

Young friend, your sword technique is exceptional, and the lightning is sharp; I am not a match…”

The Silver-bearded Daoist conceded without even fighting?

This was unexpected for everyone; what could be the reason for his withdrawal at the critical moment—was it genuinely because he believed he could not contend with the lightning, or did he not want to lose the last face of the Ancient Langzhong Sect here?

No one knew, and no one dared to ask.

Even more unexpectedly, the Sword Cultivator made an unanticipated request, “This skill of Bright Light Peacocking, would the elder be willing to impart it?”

The Daoist with the black beard narrowed his eyes sharply, “Capital Commandant, must you be so overbearing?”

However, Hou Niao ignored him, saying, “This skill must not end here.

I am sincere, and I hope the elder will fulfill this request.”

The Daoist with the black beard was about to argue further, but was stopped by the Silver-bearded Daoist, “If the Capital Commandant wishes to learn, how could I refuse to share everything I know?”

Watching the Sword Cultivator leave, the hall remained silent for a long time until the Daoist with the patchy beard broke the silence, “Elder brother?”

The Silver-bearded Daoist sighed deeply, “There is truth in what he said.

Since my ancient Langzhong can no longer survive independently, we always need to rely on something, whether it be the Shan Sect or the Daoist Sect.

Insisting on tradition is becoming inappropriate; since he is willing to learn our Langzhong skills, does it not represent an attitude?

Will the Daoist Sect learn them?

They will not.

They will only throw at us a pile of Daoist Skills, and as the years pass, we will lose everything.”

The Daoist with the black beard asked, “Has elder brother decided?”

The Silver-bearded Daoist couldn’t help but smile bitterly, “Everything is fate, none of it is up to us!

For the past century, my Ancient Langzhong Sect intentionally bet on both sides to get past the crucial period of contract fulfillment and transformation, keeping the Shan Sect at bay and appeasing the Daoist Sect, was it not to see clearly some underlying factors?”

Although we cannot say that we have seen everything clearly yet, we no longer have time.

The Nascent Transformation patriarch of the Ancient Langzhong Sect had set a strategy for his disciples and grand-disciples to determine the final direction of the Daoist tradition when he ascended; all moderately farsighted forces on the continent were preparing for the great change, and they were no exception.

Were they to steadfastly stand with the Shan Sect or switch to the Daoist Sect during the great change?

This decision would have a profound impact on this land, thus needs to be taken meticulously.

The approach they adopted was to intentionally distance themselves from the Shan Sect and get closer to the Daoist Sect, in order to observe the reactions from all sides.

The outcome is now pretty much determined.

The Shan Sect adhered to the agreement, not interfering violently in the affairs of the Mu Shuai Mansion during the contract period, and despite various complaints, they ultimately sent a Natural Realm cultivator to resolve the issue according to their rules—albeit a bit forcefully, but that was typical of the Shan Sect’s style.

The Daoist Sect, however, treated them merely as a tool for seizing resources, disposable at any time.

The Silver-bearded Daoist’s expression became resolute, “So be it, report to the Sima Mansion in Jade Capital, please have a new Mu Shuai take office, and ensure that not more than half of our people remain in the Mu Shuai Mansion… Additionally, tell the disciples, from today onwards, whether to follow the Langzhong or Shan Daoist tradition, let them decide for themselves.”