Daoist Competition-Chapter 1022 - 251: Hidden Schemes Amidst the Banquet Dispute

The changes in the field happened as swiftly as lightning, within mere breaths Elder Hu was severely injured by Zhang Yan. Even those with intentions to intervene could not make it in time.

Elder Yu was utterly shocked, but fortunately, he reacted quickly and sent out a ray of light to catch Elder Hu, preventing him from falling to his death.

Despite this, Elder Hu was in a terrible state, slashed and pierced through by fifteen strands of Sword Qi, his entire body soaked in blood. Though he still had a breath of life, recovery was impossible and he could only be sent for rebirth as soon as possible.

Mrs. Chen remained composed. After a few glances, she realized this person was beyond saving. She shouted to the maid beside her, "What are you waiting for? Quickly fetch a Spirit Protecting Elixir!"

The Huan River evening banquet was meant for dueling and skill-testing, so many spiritual elixirs were indeed prepared. The maid dared not delay, hurriedly ran to Elder Hu’s side, and took out a Jade Bottle, just as she was about to hand it over, Elder Yu pushed it aside and said coldly, "I dare not use anything from your Mingcang Sect."

The maid was a descendant of the Chen Clan, with high standards. Though she had to act according to Mrs. Chen’s demeanor, she was not afraid when facing elders from other factions. She scoffed, "True Master Yu, the two of you were having a fair duel just now. Why direct such unwarranted anger at a mere servant? This is upon the orders of True Master’s Junior Brother, not the maid’s. The elixir is placed here, whether to use it or not is entirely up to you."

With that, she dropped the porcelain bottle on the ground and turned away.

Elder Yu was stunned, not expecting such a strong temperament from a maid and was rendered speechless, his face reddened, wanting to lash out but feared losing his dignity. He turned and exclaimed in a hateful tone, "True Master Zhang, it was merely a duel, why did you strike so heavily?"

Zhang Yan smiled faintly, "Elder Yu, you may ask Elder Hua from your esteemed sect, he might know the reason."

Elder Yu snorted, glaring fiercely at Elder Hua, then said no more, taking out elixir pills to try and make Elder Hu swallow them.

This pill could sustain a breath of Primordial Qi, protect the Primordial Spirit from dispersing, and keep the body undamaged within three days, but returning to the Mountain Gate was impossible. The best option was to find a nearby place to escort him for rebirth, whether he can pursue cultivation in the next life depends entirely on his own destiny.

Elder Hua’s face turned red and white, now realizing that the previous sword strike from Zhang Yan was actually just probing, not a real attempt to kill. If he had remained calm then, holding his position, Elder Hu wouldn’t have been so easily defeated by Zhang Yan.

This junior brother was indirectly killed by him.

But regretting now was too late, he was frustrated with no outlet, and turned around to scold his disciple, "You foolish student, despite my explicit instructions to guard properly, how is it that you are utterly unusable at the crucial moment, of what use are you to me?"

Wu Han Cheng also felt wronged, that previous instant was truly a moment of extreme crisis. Even if he could have acted in time, how could he block the thunderous strike of a Nascent Soul True Master? Wouldn’t that be seeking his own death?

The sword strike Zhang Yan made earlier was indeed marvelous, given Elder Hu’s cultivation, engaging with him head-on would not have been so lackluster, even the Protective Treasure Light would not be so easily breached, yet due to the Dharma Spirit going and coming, caused Elder Hu to be greatly outmatched before and after, allowing Zhang Yan to take him down effortlessly.

Thus it can be seen, in cultivator dueling, it is not merely about comparing the two sides’ Dharma Treasure Divine Skills but more about grasping the opportune moment. No matter how good one’s Daoist Skill Cultivation Technique is trained, without the harsh tempering of life and death struggles, a slight negligence in facing a battle array could result in defeat and death.

Huo Xuan looked on coldly, standing there without a sound.

His insight and vision were beyond ordinary, he could see that Elder Hu and Elder Hua had privately manipulated things earlier. If Zhang Yan hadn’t discovered the deceit and disrupted it, it would certainly have been a strenuous fight.

Both sides had agreed not to use external force, yet Elder Hu violated the rules right in front of him, even if he were slain on the spot, it could not be blamed on Mingcang Sect.

However, Zhang Yan’s actions were indeed a bit too severe. Huo Xuan could tell that with Zhang Yan’s ease of maneuvering his Flying Sword cultivation, withdrawing at the right moment should have been possible. Although it wasn’t technically wrong, if the Pingdu Sect clung to this point, it would present a considerable trouble.

Based on his understanding of Zhang Yan, he vaguely sensed that this junior brother’s actions weren’t merely for short-term thrill, there must be another purpose. He pondered quietly, "Junior Brother Zhang, what exactly are you scheming?"