Daoist Competition-Chapter 1035 - 257: Life Cloud Water Sword (Part 2)

He gave his shoulder a shake, and the Gang Qi around his body suddenly split into two streams. One stream soared into the sky, transformed into a stream of Clear Qi that merged with the Heavenly Cloud. The other stream fell downwards, landing in the great marsh, and in an instant, torrents of waves surged up.

Both streams of Clear and turbid Qi covered the sky and the earth, and in that moment, Zhang Yan felt that the Spiritual Energy around him stagnated, as if a shackle had been placed over him. In surprise, he looked over, finding that this person had sealed off this part of heaven and earth with a Dharma Restriction in the blink of an eye!

In his memory, whether it was Shen Lintu from the Chongyue True Temple, or Dragon Carp Siren, they had both used this Dharma technique before, but none as effortlessly as Shen Baishuang, who almost seemed to wield it with a mere wave of the hand.

Shen Baishuang’s movements did not cease. He turned his wrist and tossed down the water ball from his palm, once again releasing that Life Cloud Water Sword.

But this time, it was not just a single attack. As the object fell, it immediately transformed into countless sparkling flying beads scattered widely. With a prompt from his Mana, a thousand sword streams surged and swept through the air, gathering densely like a forest, resembling a storm of stars, almost filling the entire field of vision.

Zhang Yan remained unafraid. He had been somewhat cautious dealing with the Cloud Water Sword earlier, but having found a method to counter it, he now faced it with much more composure. He watched as one after another of the sword lights exploded like the sun melting snow, continuously dissolving the sword streams.

Though trapped in this confined heaven and earth, relying on the Little All Heaven Moving Technique, he flickered and escaped frequently. Even though the thousand plus streams of water swords were numerous, they couldn’t corner him. With each sword swing, he inevitably sliced through one stream, and as the sword streams diminished, he managed to fight more freely and easily.

Shen Baishuang also noticed that the Dharma technique seemed to be a new insight Zhang Yan recently acquired. Seeing him master it in just a short span of time, despite his knowledge and experience, a faint complex expression flashed in his eyes.

He shook his head, thinking that the fight had reached this point; if there was no need for a life-and-death outcome, he could already stop. He extended a finger, dispersing all the sparse remaining sword streams to nothingness, and said, "Nephew Zhang, my Dharma Sword seems to be unable to handle you. Let it end here today."

Zhang Yan performed a polite half-bow and said, "Thank you, Master Shen, for your guidance."

Shen Baishuang nodded at Zhang Yan and then took to the skies. He looked back to see Wang Xiangrong still stunned there, and couldn’t help but laugh and said, "Nephew, why are you still lingering here? Come back with me to the mansion."

He unfolded his broad sleeve, and a dull yellow Qi flew out, enveloping Wang Xiangrong. Although this old man was a Nascent Soul True Master, when enshrouded by that yellow Qi, he could not struggle at all and was helplessly drawn up into the clouds, standing alongside Shen Baishuang, who then burst into laughter and transformed into light, flying up into the clouds.

Zhang Yan’s eyebrows raised; he recognized this Gate Dao Skill as one of the Twelve Divine Abilities of the sect, the Great Luo Heavenly Sleeve. To his surprise, Shen Baishuang could wield it, and was far more adept at it than Zhuang Bufan had ever been.

After watching the two disappear into the distance, he stowed away the sword ball, placed it in the palm of his hand, closed his eyes, and contemplated for a moment. Suddenly, he pointed, and the sword ball leaped, splitting into a bright sword light. With a gentle prompt, sixty-three fine sword lights shot out, twinkling like star points, looking very elegant. He observed for a moment, then with a thought, retracted all the sword lights back into one.

The number of sword lights he could split hadn’t actually increased; it remained at sixty-four. It’s just that previously, when he activated the sword lights, each could extend to a maximum of one zhang and shrink to the size of the sword ball. This change made his technique much more refined than before.

Unexpectedly, after a bout with Shen Baishuang, in the heat of the moment, he comprehended a wondrous application of the skill. Unfortunately, he hadn’t learned superior swordsmanship, so he could only rely on his own insights during battles with opponents, and he had taken quite a few wrong turns. He thought to himself that there was a need to visit the Shaoqing Sect after the Sword Fighting Conference.

Master Qiao rarely left the Mountain Gate. Never before had he engaged in a fight with anyone. After witnessing the exchange between the two, he couldn’t help but be dazzled and captivated, marveling at what he had seen. He approached Zhang Yan and clasped his hands in respect, saying, "Today, seeing True Master Zhang’s divine skills, no wonder you were able to slay Hu Yunzhong with a single sword."

Zhang Yan shook his head. A moment ago, as Shen Baishuang left, he revealed a technique, clearly indicating that he hadn’t exerted his full strength.

After all, this person is a Nascent Soul Third Realm expert, with a cultivation level far above his own. If they were to truly fight without any reservations, relying solely on Daoist techniques, Zhang Yan was aware that it would be very hard for him to win, especially against that Forbidden Locking Heaven and Earth Daoist Skill. He felt that he might be able to escape when facing Shen Lintu, but not against this person, whose execution of the technique was incomparably quick, almost completely restricting his Sword Escape Skill, unless he perfectly mastered the Five Elements Escape Technique, otherwise, it would be nearly impossible to break out.

Thinking of this, a determination shone in his eyes, and he secretly vowed, "Once this matter is resolved, I must devote myself fully to cultivating the Five Elements Escape Technique."

At this moment, Shen Baishuang and Wang Xiangrong were Flying atop clouds, heading back to Linglang Cave Heaven. Having traveled half the journey, Wang Xiangrong couldn’t help but ask, "Uncle, that Zhang Yan is no match for you, why didn’t you seek to defeat him?"

Shen Baishuang looked at her restless demeanor, chuckled, and shook his head, "I am a senior, and my cultivation is higher than his. Forcing him to abandon the Earth Fire Sky Furnace would be bullying the young. This young man is a disciple favored by the Sect Leader’s uncle, and he came here following a decree. Did you consider the implications if we recklessly captured him?"

Wang Xiangrong pondered the deeper meaning in Shen Baishuang’s words and shivered involuntarily, stammering, "But, but in that case, Nephew Zhong’s Cloud Que won’t have a place."

Shen Baishuang laughed heartily, "What’s so difficult about that? When I was one of the Top Ten Disciples in the past, I also had a Da Wei Cloud Palace. I haven’t used it in years; it’s of no use just sitting there, so I’ll give it to Nephew Zhong."

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