Daoist Competition-Chapter 1018 - 249: Only Those Who Have Tested Their Sword May Be Seated Among Guests

After Zhang Yan greeted them, the people on the shore displayed varied expressions. Huo Xuan stepped forward from the crowd, focused his gaze on Zhang Yan, sized him up, and solemnly saluted, saying, "Greetings, Junior Brother Zhang."

Luo Qingyu glanced at the Dragon Carp, then looked deeply at Zhang Yan. After a moment of hesitation, he too stepped up and gave a Daoist bow.

Zhong Muqing took a deep breath, stepped forward, and silently returned the salute.

No matter their past relationships, since they were all Nascent Soul True Masters, they could not abandon their manners.

Above the Huan River Water Continent, the three Nascent Soul True Masters simultaneously returned Zhang Yan’s greetings.

The people had not yet recovered from the shock of Zhang Yan arriving on the Dragon Carp, when they witnessed this scene. Some began to vaguely speculate, though the conclusion seemed too unbelievable to immediately accept.

Outside Huan River Water Island, a thousand disciples burst into excitement upon learning his identity, their enthusiasm uncontainable, with a constant clamor arising.

They had often heard rumors about Zhang Yan, and now finally seeing him in person stirred their emotions, especially as Zhang Yan’s appearance was strikingly impressive. Standing atop the Dragon Whale, his mysterious robe fluttering in the wind, he resembled a true immortal.

Among the sect’s Top Ten Disciples, Zhang Yan was the only one not under the tutelage of a Cave Heaven True Master nor from any noble family, offering the low-level disciples a glimmer of hope, as if they too might one day ascend the Heavenly Path as he did.

Huo Xuan was exceedingly polite at this point, saying, "Junior Brother Zhang, I was just pondering if perhaps your dedication to cultivation made you forget the timing of the feast?"

Zhang Yan smiled faintly, "Since Brother Huo has invited me, how could I not attend?"

Huo Xuan nodded with a smile, stepped aside, and gestured, "Junior Brother, please, come inside."

Zhang Yan lightly touched his toe, gracefully stepping down from the Dragon Carp’s back, and followed Huo Xuan into the grand hall.

As Huo Xuan walked, he secretly pondered, "Senior Brother lent the Dragon Carp to Junior Brother Zhang, what could be the intention behind this?"

He had never encountered the Dragon Carp from the Mystic Water Zhen Palace and only assumed that Qi Yuntian had lent it to Zhang Yan, not considering that Zhang Yan might have obtained it from elsewhere, nor that he possessed the ability to subdue such a creature, merely thinking about the candidate for the sword fighting, and whether there would be changes within the sect.

Everyone present on the scene, not only him, mostly thought the same way, all pondering the deeper meaning in silence.

Zhong Muqing’s eyes flickered, falling back a few steps, his gaze turning aside, just as Elder Hua from Pingdu Sect was also looking over, smiling and nodding at him, giving Zhong Muqing a sudden sense of relief.

Everyone harbored private thoughts at this moment, hence their silent exchange of glances went unnoticed by anyone.

Elder Hu did not recognize Zhang Yan, only observing among the crowd, felt that this person’s appearance differed slightly from the rumored Qi Yuntian. When he announced himself, Elder Hu was shocked, "This person is Zhang Yan? How is he of Nascent Soul cultivation?"

Recalling the promise to Chen Qiao Ling, he hesitated. Handling a Hua Dan disciple was nothing significant, but a Nascent Soul True Master was an entirely different matter.

Before coming to the Mingcang Sect, he had already investigated thoroughly. Among the Top Ten Disciples, only Huo Xuan, Zhong Muqing, and Luo Qingyu had become Nascent Soul, qualifying to attend the Sword Fighting Conference, but now Zhang Yan suddenly emerged, riding Qi Yuntian’s steed, complicating matters greatly. 𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂

Being involved in Mingcang Sect’s internal rivalry, with its complexities in both winning and losing, was undesirable.

He even vaguely suspected Chen Qiao Ling had known about this and was secretly setting him up.

After considering carefully, he immediately decided to simply ignore the matter, avoiding trouble, and after the feast, he would leave with the Yang Talisman, avoiding any repercussions. What could Chen Qiao Ling possibly do then?

Before long, everyone arrived at the hall, but Huo Xuan suddenly realized that given Zhang Yan’s level of cultivation today, seating him at the lower tier would be inappropriate. Although moving a seat up was easy enough, the matter was not so simple.

Including himself, all seated on that tier were disciples heading to the Sword Fighting Conference, and only three were present. With three elders from Pingdu Sect observing, inviting Zhang Yan to sit would spark consequences he couldn’t afford.

Zhang Yan seemed to perceive his difficulty, smiled calmly, and sat himself down in the spot reserved for him.