Daoist Competition-Chapter 1011 - 245: Opportunity Beyond the Heavens Must Not Be Missed (2)

This matter carries a sense of mystery.

Zhang Yan pondered for a moment, then picked up the gong hammer, lightly tapped it on the four pieces of Jade Chime, and soon Wang Caiwei arrived in the hall, knelt, and said, "Disciple greets Master."

Zhang Yan pointed at Ma Shouxiang, saying, "Follow Master Ma there, keep watch on someone, and find out their origins without making any mistakes, understood?"

Wang Caiwei solemnly replied, "Disciple understands."

At that moment, a clear sound echoed as a Xiaoze Golden Sword, shimmering with golden light, flew into the hall.

He reached out and caught it, immediately recognizing it as coming from the Elixir Cauldron Institute, pondering, "So it’s Senior Brother Zhou summoning me; it’s been a while since I last visited, I should go again."

Zhou Chongju wouldn’t seek him if there was no reason, so he didn’t delay and after dismissing the two of them with a few words, he moved his sleeve, opened the Array Gate, and flew out from the Cave Mansion, riding a gentle breeze towards the Elixir Cauldron Institute.

Not long after, he was already above the lake within the institute.

Zhou Chongju was waiting at the Fish Tower outside early on, with a solemn expression visible on his brow.

Zhang Yan raised an eyebrow, slowly descended from the cloud, landed on the boat, saluted, "Junior brother is late; apologies for keeping brother waiting."

Zhou Chongju was lost in thought but upon seeing Zhang Yan arrive, he was about to speak but suddenly paused, his face full of disbelief.

With his cultivation, he could naturally see Zhang Yan’s current cultivation level. After a while, he appeared slightly excited, grabbed Zhang Yan’s wrist, and exclaimed with delight, "Junior brother, have you already cultivated the Nascent Soul?"

Zhang Yan slightly smiled, and with a thought, a mass of Gang Cloud surged atop him, causing the Fish Tower to slightly sway.

This movement came because the large fish beneath the boat sensed the release of Gang Qi, but fortunately, it had been around Zhou Chongju for a long time, so it wasn’t too alarmed and soon settled down.

Zhou Chongju’s heart was filled with joy, and he suddenly laughed, "Junior brother, since entering the sect, I have thought day and night about how to exact my revenge. Today, seeing you advance further, I believe the day to eliminate my inner conflicts isn’t far off."

He assumed that with his lifespan, he might not endure until Zhang Yan had the strength to eliminate the Zhou Clan, but now he saw a glimmer of hope.

Zhang Yan shook his head and said, "Senior brother, I’ve just stepped into the Nascent Soul Realm, with only a single mass of Gang Cloud. To deal with the Zhou Family, it still requires time."

Zhou Chongju was quite optimistic, stroking his beard with a smile, "Junior brother, there’s no need for modesty. You’ve achieved such in less than a hundred years, making you unparalleled in the Mingcang Sect, even for me in those days within the Zhou Clan. Although I considered myself talented, it took me 130 years to achieve the Nascent Soul, which is not comparable to you."

Zhang Yan seldom heard Zhou Chongju discuss his past affairs; hearing about Senior Brother Zhou’s crossing into the Nascent Soul Realm in just over 130 years left him greatly impressed.

He then felt some regret; if Zhou Chongju hadn’t been set up and had his foundation ruined, he might have achieved Grotto Heaven after these three hundred years.

His hatred towards the Zhou Clan had a reason.

Zhou Chongju, invigorated, invited Zhang Yan inside to sit, and after they settled, he gradually calmed his heart and asked, "Junior brother, I heard you also received an invitation to the Huan River Night Banquet?"

Zhang Yan nodded, saying, "Indeed, does Senior Brother have any advice?"

Zhou Chongju snorted, "A banquet with ill intent, a show of force, nothing good comes from it. If you are only at the Hua Dan Realm, it’s best not to go, but now..." He chuckled coldly, "As long as you don’t make certain people too embarrassed, it’ll be fine."

He knew Zhang Yan had mastered the Supreme Mysterious True Light and was confident in him.

Zhang Yan smiled, "Is this the reason why Senior Brother urgently summoned me?"

Zhou Chongju shook his head, and after a moment of silence, he said, "This Sixteen Sects Sword Competition is truly perilous, especially because that item needs to be retrieved from the Extreme Sky; I originally thought advising you not to go would be the best tactic, but now that you’ve entered the Nascent Soul Realm, I’m rather hopeful you’ll go. If you need any assistance, just say so."

Zhang Yan nodded inwardly, understanding Zhou Chongju’s concern—fearful he might overestimate himself and lose his life. Zhang Yan thought for a moment and suddenly asked, "Senior Brother, do you know what the object actually is?"

Zhou Chongju was a Direct Lineage Disciple of the Zhou Clan and knew some secrets.

He hesitated, pondering something, and after a while, he replied solemnly, "Before, I didn’t want to discuss it because it was pointless, merely disturbing your Dao Heart. Now since you’re attending the Dharma Assembly, it should be clarified."

His lips moved lightly, using voice transmission to reveal the item’s origins, finally reminding, "Once it arrives, regardless of the sword contenders, even those whose Daoist Cultivation is insufficient to reach the Extreme Sky, as long as their Dao Heart is clear, they might benefit somewhat. Therefore, the sword competitors may not only consist of our East Splendor Continent’s Sixteen Sects; cultivators from overseas might also bring their disciples to participate, so you should be cautious."

When Zhang Yan heard the origin of the item, his gaze flickered, his heart was turbulent, like rivers and seas, eventually calming down.

He pondered for a moment, then said gravely, "This item indeed affects the future fortune of our Xuanmen; it’s a treasure desired by all sects. If I miss this opportunity, I might not get another for a thousand years; I must not miss this Sword Fighting Conference!"

...

...(To be continued. If you enjoy this work, you are welcome to visit Qidian.com to vote for recommendation and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation.)