Daoist Competition-Chapter 1003 - 241: Disciples in the Residence (Part 2)

Chapter 1003: Chapter 241: Disciples in the Residence (Part 2)

After Zhang Yan landed in front of the three, he withdrew the sword light and walked out, standing with hands behind his back, he spoke gently, "Are you Zhao Chong?"

Zhao Chong felt puzzled, clasped his fists in respect, and said, "Indeed, how does the Daoist know my humble name?"

Zhang Yan smiled and said, "I saw you once when you were young, but you do not remember."

When Zhao Chong was brought back by Luo Xiao to the mansion, he indeed met Zhang Yan once, but at that time, he was still young and had not started cultivation, so his memory of that appearance was somewhat blurred.

Although Zhang Yan could call out his name, Zhao Chong was prudent and dared not easily believe, cautiously saying, "I have already sent a message, if the Daoist is an old acquaintance of the mansion, please wait a moment, Senior Sister Liu will arrive shortly."

Just as the sound stopped, a white mist like frost and snow flew up from Zhao You Heavenly Pond, heading this way.

The young man and woman both displayed faces of excitement, saying, "Master has arrived."

Zhang Yan turned his eyes to look and saw Liu Yan Yi with silver rings binding her hair, dressed in deep clothes with embroidered water cloud sleeves, her waist tied with willow green silk, and stepping out on the mist.

She ignored her two apprentices, directly came to Zhang Yan, took a deep breath, subdued her full-hearted joy, and slowly knelt on the cloud, saying, "Your disciple greets Master upon returning to the mansion."

After saying this, she respectfully bowed her head.

Seeing their own master kneel, the young man and woman were shocked and only then realized who was standing before them; they followed suit, kneeling and kowtowing, saying, "Grand-disciple greets Grandmaster."

Zhao Chong was stunned but then exclaimed, "So the Pavilion Master has returned to the mountain, forgive my blindness," and hurriedly knelt down too.

Zhang Yan smiled slightly and said, "No need for such formalities, rise."

The four followed his words and stood up.

Zhang Yan’s gaze fell, carefully examining Liu Yan Yi’s cultivation, and noticed her body’s spiritual energy was round and flawless, realizing she had overcome the most difficult Shell Barrier and reached the Second Realm of Hua Dan.

If her cultivation deepened further, she could attempt to condense the True Imprint of Dharma Power, nodding in satisfaction, pointing behind her, said, "Yanyi, are those two your apprentices?"

Liu Yan Yi lowered her head and said, "Please forgive your disciple’s transgression, according to the sect rules after mastering Hua Dan, one must choose disciples from Nine Cities, but without Master’s permission, your disciple dared not make decisions, hence these two were only temporarily registered as disciples."

Zhang Yan nodded slightly, casually asked for their names, learning the young man named Zuo Han Zhang was a descendant of the Founding Duke Zuo Gongchang of the Da Wei Dynasty, brought to Nine Cities due to ancestral ties with Mingcang Sect disciples, giving him current opportunities.

The young woman named Lin Suxue, though not from a Great Clan, had lived in Nine Cities for generations.

Zuo Han Zhang and Lin Suxue heard Zhang Yan and Liu Yan Yi speak of them, standing with bowed heads, not daring to breathe heavily.

They grew up hearing tales of Grandmaster Zhang Yan’s repute, stories even mentioned that among the Top Ten Disciples, except for the three who became Nascent Souls, none were his match, yet they had never seen this Grandmaster since joining the sect, feeling it was regrettable, now stealing glances.

After asking their origins, Zhang Yan said no more, smiled slightly, and said, "Follow me back to the mansion."

With a wave of his sleeve, the array gate shifted, they felt a flash before their eyes, then upon reopening them found themselves standing inside the great hall.

Zhang Yan looked around, found the mansion somewhat unpopulated, feeling curious because usually either Luo Xiao or Shang Shang would greet him, but neither appeared now.

Liu Yan Yi explained, "Master, lately Miss Shang’s clansmen reached a critical juncture in cultivation, needing someone to guard, she alone was insufficient, so Junior Luo went to assist, it may take some time before emerging from seclusion."

Zhang Yan replied, "Yanyi, remember not to disturb them, it’s not too late to see them after they exit seclusion."

Liu Yan Yi responded softly, and curtsied, "Master, allow your disciple to summon the junior disciples."

She stepped down to the hall steps, picked up the gong hammer, and struck the Jade Chime lightly, instantly, a clear sound spread throughout the cave mansion.

In just a moment, the array gates on both sides boomed open, several tunneling lights fell onto the great hall.

As the light scattered, Tian Kun, the Wang Sisters, Jiang Zheng, Wei Zihong, and other disciples appeared, seeing Zhang Yan, all with vibrant expressions and joy, knelt, and kowtowed, all saying, "Disciples greet Master."

Zhang Yan scanned his eyes over each of his apprentices.

Over thirty years passed, Tian Kun and the Wang Sisters, though their cultivation was less than Liu Yan Yi, had steadily entered the Xuan Guang Realm. 𝕗𝗿𝕖𝐞𝐰𝗲𝕓𝐧𝕠𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝐨𝚖

Although Tian Kun seemed slow in cultivation, with Great Demon Gui Congyao arranging his cultivation technique, he was the least worrisome. As for the Wang Sisters, their dispositions still needed honing; slower cultivation was not a bad thing.

His gaze lingered a little longer on Jiang Zheng, then moved on to the last valiant young man.

This one had a vertical mark on his brow like an eye, a white-haired old ape sat on his shoulder, it was his sixth disciple Wei Zihong.

When Zhang Yan left the sect, this disciple was already in his twenties, at that time he had reached the Ming Qi Realm, now he was in the Xuan Guang Third Realms.

Liu Yan Yi spoke beside him, "Master, Sixth Junior Brother has exceptional talent and a firm heart in seeking Dao, recently returned from searching for medicine, now ready to condense Medicine Transformation Elixir."

Among his disciples, in terms of talent, Liu Yan Yi and Wei Zihong were the highest, this progress was within his expectation.

Zhang Yan joyfully said, "Excellent, Yanyi, in a few days you will guard and assist your junior brother in solidifying the pill."

Though Liu Yan Yi showed surprise in her eyes, she did not hesitate to reply, "Your disciple will respectfully follow Master’s command."

As Zhang Yan’s cultivation advanced, he did not personally manage everything; if transmitting Dharma techniques, his senior disciple Liu Yan Yi would pass them on behalf.

In the hall besides Zhang Yan’s six disciples, there were two others, originally Elder Zhu’s disciples Weng Zhiyuan and Yuan Yanhui.

Both had considerable talent, and during the competition among Xuan Guang Disciples, ranked just behind Liu Yan Yi, their cultivation techniques were arduously sought by Elder Zhu and had reported going out for medicine, now both achieved Hua Dan cultivation.

Behind them followed five Spiritual Disciples, Zhang Yan didn’t know if any of these was Elder Zhu’s reincarnation.

Yet after reincarnation, previous memories are dissipated, not considered the same person, thus he merely glanced briefly and skipped.

The gong was struck to summon the mansion’s disciples, but Zhang Yan did not see Lu Mei Niang or Jing Miaojun, asking, "Yanyi, are Bai Qiong Demon King and Jun Yue Demon King in the cave mansion?"

Liu Yan Yi sighed softly, "Reporting Master, Demon King Jing could not enter Nascent Soul Realm, passed away due to lifespan limits six months ago, Lu Demon King went to send her Primordial Spirit for reincarnation."

...

...(To be continued. If you like this work, please visit Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for recommendations and monthly tickets, your support is my greatest motivation.)