Daoist Competition-Chapter 1036 - 258: A Grotto Heaven Hidden in the Furnace

Xu Daoist’s cultivation level was not high. Earlier, when he saw the scene of sword light crisscrossing during Zhang Yan and Shen Baishuang’s confrontation, he felt shocked and his heart trembled. Just the thought of being struck by any sword light, resulting in his corpse lying on the ground, made him break out in cold sweat.

Now, seeing Shen Baishuang and Wang Xiangrong retreat, he assumed that Zhang Yan had won. He eagerly came forward, putting on a delighted expression, and flattered, "True Master Zhang indeed has extraordinary swordsmanship, worthy of being the first Sword Immortal in the sect."

Master Qiao hated his sycophantic demeanor and snorted, replying grumpily, "Where is the token?"

Xu Daoist hurriedly brought out the token, and Master Qiao snatched it over, saying, "And the spell?"

"Right, right, there’s also the spell." Being restricted by the sect rules, Xu Daoist couldn’t recite it aloud, so he took out a talisman, bit his fingertip, quickly wrote a line of incantation, and handed it over, before licking his finger, his eyes flickering uncertainly.

After Master Qiao reviewed it, he silently recited a few phrases, feeling the token in his sleeve gently tremble, confirmed the spell was correct, flicked his finger, turning the talisman into fragments that flew away, and said to Zhang Yan, "True Master Zhang, you may enter the forbidden array now."

Xu Daoist quickly shouted, offering, "Let me lead the way, please."

Outside the Earth Fire Sky Furnace, numerous forbidden arrays were set up. Without a token, flying here was impossible, especially at the front path, which was full of twists and turns, not to mention the hundred-zhang high stalagmites everywhere, supporting a vast stone forest that reached the sky, all of which were array gates.

These differed from the copper pillars in Fang Chen Courtyard. Each was over ten zhang wide, even if Zhang Yan used his sword to cut, it would take some time without solving the problem. Its array power was extraordinary, Zhang Yan pondered that once activated, this array could probably destroy a Nascent Soul cultivator, with prohibitions being extremely strict.

Master Qiao, being a seasoned expert in the way of arrays, would comment at every spot, pointing out where the vulnerabilities were, where false arrays laid, where to skillfully break through, and where to avoid.

Zhang Yan continuously nodded, remembering everything he said.

He was already thinking of rearranging the array of Zhao You Heavenly Pond when he returned, so he could engage in sword duels with peace of mind in the future.

Xu Daoist, however, appeared indifferent.

Master Qiao, seeing his expression, felt frustrated at his incompetence and scolded, "Xu Jing, my senior brother was a grandmaster in arrays, and you, as his disciple, have neglected this path, truly disgracing him."

Walking ahead, Xu Jing sneered, seeming quite disdainful.

Master Qiao was even more dissatisfied, pointing at his back, saying, "Apologies to True Master for the embarrassment. My martial nephew’s talent in arrays exceeds even mine. If he were to delve deeply, his future achievements would surpass ours. Yet, now he foolishly pursues those Divine Power Skills, which pains Old Daoist deeply."

Upon hearing that Xu Daoist had such high talent, Zhang Yan felt stirred and his gaze flickered slightly.

Unexpectedly, Xu Daoist, hearing these words, clenched his fists for some reason, suddenly grew agitated, and loudly exclaimed, "Yes, Uncle is not wrong, I did disgrace my master’s name, but what can I do? When my teacher was killed by the Great Demon of Beiming Continent, we couldn’t even recover his Primordial Spirit. Where were you, uncle, and the senior brothers then? After my teacher’s death, I knew that although array formations can protect the Mountain Gate, they cannot safeguard oneself. Without Divine Power Skills, how can one follow the path to the Immortality Dao?"

The last sentence, shouted with all his might, resounded through the stone forest.

Zhang Yan glanced sideways at him, not expecting that Xu Daoist, who seemed thoroughly ignoble, also had a heart that longed for the Immortality Dao.

Master Qiao was stunned, silent for a while, then said with difficulty, "It was not that uncle didn’t want to save him back then. I was ordered to guard a great array and couldn’t leave unauthorized..."

Xu Daoist coldly laughed, "Uncle needn’t explain, even if you had gone, what difference would it have made? Just another added to the loss. I merely want uncle to understand that I, Xu Jing, will never tread the same old path!"

Master Qiao seemed touched on a personal matter, his expression somewhat dejected, and remained silent all the way, until nearing their destination when he regained a bit of energy.

The three had unconsciously reached the highest peak of the Land Continent. Due to the earth fire, no grass or trees grew here.

In front stood nine jade high platforms, each an acre in size, carved with water patterns and star diagrams, surrounding the peak. On each platform stood a ten-zhang high Mystic Water Black Banner, fluttering in the wind with a constant rustle. At the center was a deep pit with no bottom in sight, leading directly to the Earth Lungs, emitting constant red clouds and black smoke. Looking up from here, the sky was dusky, appearing like a gathering of thunderclouds swirling with evil Qi.