Daoist Competition-Chapter 1015 - 247: A Secret Edge at the Moonlit Banquet (Part 2)

Mrs. Chen suddenly felt displeased, but Huo Xuan was unconcerned. He chuckled and said, "Junior Brother Ning has arrived."

He knew that although this Junior Brother Ning’s cultivation time couldn’t be considered very long, he had now reached the Third Realm of Hua Dan. Moreover, he was the only person in the sect cultivating the "Yunxiao Thousand Sword Scripture". Although this Killing Dao Skill hadn’t yet shown its might, once he crossed into the Nascent Soul Realm, who knows who could be his match? Therefore, it couldn’t be underestimated at all.

Ning Chongxuan had just taken his seat when a gold and a red tunneling light quickly flew in from the clouds, swift as a bolt of lightning. As soon as they were seen, two Daoists immediately appeared in front of the hall.

On the right, a Daoist with black hair and a stately beard stood with a dignified presence. Standing to the left was another Daoist with a straight nose and thin lips, eyes cold and clear, dressed in spotless white robes.

Huo Xuan got up to welcome them, walked a few steps, and respectfully said, "Junior Brother Du and Junior Brother Xiao, you have arrived just in time. Please enter the hall and be seated." 𝕗𝗿𝕖𝐞𝐰𝗲𝕓𝐧𝕠𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝐨𝚖

Du De and Xiao Ti were not enthusiastic about the swordfight conference, nor were they keen on exchanging skills with the elder disciples of the Pingdu Sect. They were originally not inclined to come, but being noble family disciples of the Mingcang Sect, they had to give some face to Huo Xuan.

After a round of polite exchanges, the two took their seats.

The top ten disciples of the sect, aside from the cyclic competition every twenty-four years, seldom appeared before their brethren. Among the thousands of low-level disciples outside the hall, at least half had only heard of their fame but had never seen them in person. Now, seeing five of them all at once, they couldn’t help but widen their eyes, feeling that this trip was worth it.

Huo Xuan thought to himself, "With Junior Brother Zhuang and Junior Sister Qin not attending the banquet, it leaves Junior Brother Luo and Junior Brother Zhang yet to arrive."

Since Zhuang Bufan had been defeated by Luo Qingyu in the last competition decades ago, he had been wholeheartedly cultivating in his Cave Mansion, never stepping off the island, currently still in seclusion.

As for Qin Nan, it is said she is cultivating Divine Skills under the guidance of True Master Peng, so she has no time to come.

By the end of Xu hour, a sheet of green light spread over the horizon, initially accompanied by the sound of wind sweeping through flying leaves. But in just a few breaths, thunder roared, causing everyone to stand up and marvel, looking out of the hall, unsure who was coming with such momentum. Those who recognized shouted, "It’s Master Luo arriving."

Huo Xuan rose from his seat, stepping out of the hall for the first time, looking skyward. Mrs. Chen hesitated for a moment but soon followed suit.

Luo Qingyu sat within an azure Ni Yu Flying Carriage, his Daoist bun was high and imposing, with youngsters standing on either side, one holding Thunder Branch, the other Bamboo Leaves, accompanied by dozens of Powerful Warriors.

The thousand disciples outside the hall all watched enviously, riding a flying carriage and traveling with children, this was the demeanor of a Nascent Soul True Master within the sect.

Luo Qingyu descended the carriage before the hall steps, stepped out, with a smile at the corner of his lips, and greeted True Master Huo saying, "Greetings, Brother Huo."

Huo Xuan returned the greeting. Although he didn’t have much connection with Luo Qingyu, he was a Nascent Soul True Master, thus maintaining proper etiquette and personally escorting him to his seat. This kind of courtesy wasn’t something others could compare to.

Just as Huo Xuan turned back, the hall burst into noise, the disciples exclaimed continuously, pointing towards the sky, saying, "The elders from Pingdu Sect have arrived!"

A cloud raft floated over from a distant sky, with three old Daoists seated in a triangular formation. Beside them was another person, with clear eyebrows and eyes, dressed in a moon-white lan shan, ranked second among the top ten disciples, Zhong Muqing. All four had Nascent Soul Cultivation, their Gang Qi continuously spilling forth, causing the river surface below to churn and roll with the wind.

Behind them were more than ten disciples, Wu Han Cheng among them, along with the Island Master of Yangyue Island, Huang Fuzhou, and his wife.

Huo Xuan and Mrs. Chen dared not be disrespectful, stepping up and ascending the clouds, exchanging greetings with the three elders in the sky for quite some time before returning to the hall and dividing the seats of host and guest.

This grand hall was deliberately arranged by Mrs. Chen to distinguish status and hierarchy, thus shaped like a terraced platform, divided into three layers.

Huo Xuan’s main seat was the highest. The first seat below his left hand was occupied by Zhong Muqing and Luo Qingyu, sitting opposite the three elders from Pingdu Sect.

More than ten disciples from Pingdu Sect and the remaining members of Mingcang Sect, all with Hua Dan Cultivation, sat on the second-layer platform.

Further down were the disciples of independent sects and sidelines, who, during the toasts and banquets, had to look up in admiration.

At this moment, the dozen disciples from Pingdu Sect were evaluating the people of Mingcang Sect, their eyes showing barely hidden fighting spirits.

Pingdu Sect and Mingcang Sect were allies, but only at the previous generation’s level. The current generation of disciples didn’t mingle much, unfamiliar with each other. This night banquet inherently held the intention to probe Mingcang Sect’s depths.

However, the likes of the three Nascent Soul True Masters, Huo, Zhong, and Luo, they knew better not to provoke, focusing most of their attention on Du De, Xiao Ti, and Ning Chongxuan instead.

Elder Hu casually glanced around and noticed an empty seat opposite. Taking a brief look at those present from Mingcang Sect, he smirked and signaled to a disciple beside him, who understood, immediately asking loudly, "I heard there is a disciple in your sect with a First-class Elixir Formation, will they be present today?"

Huo Xuan said, "That would be my Junior Brother Zhang Yan, invited to this banquet, though he has not yet arrived."

The man abruptly chuckled, sarcastically saying, "Could it be he heard of our arrival for a skill showdown, and dared not come?"

Wu Chenghan looked surprised, not understanding why this fellow disciple said such things, clearly intending to provoke.

This disciple’s words weren’t entirely baseless, firstly full of arrogance and conceit, secondly, Elder Hu had specifically instructed it secretly.

Mrs. Chen was notably displeased, summoned a nearby maid and asked, "With guests present, how come Zhang Yan hasn’t arrived yet, is there any explanation?"

The maid shook her head, saying she didn’t know.

Mrs. Chen, discontented, said, "What is Junior Brother Zhang doing? The invitations were sent three months ago, even if there were unforeseen circumstances, logically he ought to send someone to inform us. How can he remain silent? So lacking in etiquette."

...

...(To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to cast recommendation votes and monthly votes on Qidian (qidian.com). Your support is my greatest motivation.)