Daoist Competition-Chapter 1073 - 276: Sword from the West, Waters Flow East_2

Zhou Huang raised an eyebrow and suddenly said, "I heard that our brother-in-law is now ranked just below Zhong and Luo in the Mingcang Sect."

Zhou Qingyun replied calmly, "So what? He indeed has extraordinary talent, but he’s not from a great clan, nor has he apprenticed under any Cave Heaven True Master. His future achievements are limited, and the fact that he can’t come for the sword duel speaks volumes."

Zhou Huang laughed heartily and said, "Qingyun is absolutely right, but what if he came? Under Zhou Chongju, that waste has only one disciple, weak and powerless; how could he compete with others?"

The disciples from the Ten Sects of Xuanmen who came for the sword duel were all accompanied by elders from their sects.

In the Yuxiao Sect, besides these three of Zhou Huang, there were nine protective elders, making a total of twelve Nascent Soul cultivators.

The Mingcang Sect was equally formidable. Huo Xuan hails from the Chen Clan, the leading noble family of the Mingcang Sect, with profound roots, and to protect him alone, they sent four Nascent Soul True Masters.

Adding the six Nascent Soul Elders behind Zhong Muqing and Luo Qingyu, Mingcang Sect has thirteen Nascent Soul cultivators this time, one more than the Yuxiao Sect.

However, whether these two sects or the ones who arrived earlier, the highest cultivation was only Nascent Soul Second Realm; none had achieved the Nascent Soul Dharma Body.

After reaching the Nascent Soul Third Realm, further advancement leads to Grotto Heaven. These Great Cultivators are rare even in the three great Xuanmen sects, not comparable to ordinary cultivators, and aren’t easily sacrificed. They cannot be easily commanded or dispatched; every sect tries to protect them, and they are seldom sent out of the sect.

At this moment, the Mingcang and Yuxiao sects were moving forward together into Chengyuan Gorge, accompanied by gang wind stretching over a hundred miles, covering the sky, creating an overwhelming presence.

Disciples from preceding sects were all alarmed, and Ying Ya Daoist personally came down from Qingdan Peak to welcome them.

Yang Bi and Zhu Xin watched with secretly alarmed hearts; although the Yuan Yang Sect has grown stronger over the past century, they thought it wasn’t much lesser than the three great sects. Yet now they see a considerable gap.

Cao Minrou mused, "Both of you, shall we go down and meet the fellow Daoists of Mingcang and Yuxiao?"

Yang Bi and Zhu Xin both nodded, and the three of them descended with the gang wind.

As they reached the base of the peak, they noticed tunneling lights rising atop various peaks, heading towards the river’s heart, indicating others shared their intention.

On the river, the disciples of the various sects gathered for greetings, which took a full hour, then dispersed to settle atop their respective peaks.

Elder Ying returned to Qingdan Peak, stroking his beard with delight, saying, "Today, having seen the disciples of each sect, they are indeed outstanding. It seems the fortune of our Xuanmen remains prosperous, and in this duel among all sects, there is nothing to fear from those evil demon outcasts."

But no sooner had he finished speaking than everything suddenly darkened before him. Looking up, he was startled to see thousands of thick clouds, emerging from nowhere, converging and gathering from all directions, covering the sky. The previously clear and bright day instantly turned into dim skies, with darkness all around.

Elder Ying could not help but change his expression, quickly taking two steps and grabbing the talismanic script, suddenly seeing six gray-white streams of light leaping from it.

Names such as Nether Spring Sect, Hun Cheng Sect, Jiuling Sect, Yuan Shen Sect, Blood Essence Sect, and Haiyin Sect appeared one by one.

The Six Demon Sects had arrived together!

At this moment, the sky seemed to be dyed with ink, as rolling demon clouds fell from above, drifting over the peaks, engulfing the hills, spreading over the land, and immersing into rivers, turning them jet-black and blood-red in just a moment. Within appeared countless white bones and skulls, the howls and wails of devils and specters echoing hauntingly and shaking the heavens.

The ten thousand Xuanmen Sect Disciples at the bottom of Chengyuan Gorge were all intimidated by the overwhelming demonic flames, rendering it eerily silent, with some of the less accomplished cultivators trembling with fear.

However, just at this moment, a streak of clear light shot from thousands of miles away, fearlessly tearing through the demonic qi, piercing straight into Chengyuan Gorge. Wherever it passed, the dark clouds split apart, and the black sky seemed sliced open. As the light moved past, the sound of sword chanting echoed through the mountains.

Ying Ya Daoist’s spirit lifted with joy, exclaiming, "Good, it’s Master Xun from the Shaoqing Sect who has arrived!"

At this point, the demon cloud swirled once again, reforming as if untouched.

After a short while, a tender white snowy lingzhi slowly emerged within, with fine blood streaks running across its stem. A woman, as small as a palm, with a delicate waist akin to willow, elegant and alluring to the bone, appeared on its top. She jokingly said, "Daoist Xun, you’re too reckless, insisting to pass from my side, almost destroying my magic artifact. You must know the sword duel has yet to begin."

On the mountaintop stood a green-robed Daoist with a sharply defined face and a high-bridged nose. A sword light circled him like thunder. He seemed impatient to converse with the woman, shouting over several peaks, "I find this gloom and foulness detestable. Since the sects have arrived, Elder Ying, when can we fight?"

Elder Ying Ya nodded, just about to speak, but suddenly noticed something strange beneath his feet. Peering down, he saw the entire river within Chengyuan Gorge gently trembling. Moments later, he heard a thunderous roar, as if waves were shaking mountains, and the sound of thousands of drums. Layer upon layer of water surged upstream, rolling tumultuously, pressing forward with overwhelming force.

All the cultivators there were bewildered, unaware of who else might have arrived. Daoist Xun, Zhou Huang, Yang Bi, and others were also mystified, except for Huo Xuan, who seemed to perceive something, stood up suddenly, staring intently at the eastern sky.

At this point, a middle-aged cultivator shouted, pointing at the talismanic script, "Senior Brother, look!"

Ying Ya Daoist instinctively glanced, and after the arrival of the Six Demon Sects and the disciples of the three great Xuanmen sects, the talismanic script already showed seventeen in number. Yet now, another golden light shot into the sky, dazzling and bright, with two words shimmering: "Yao Yin"!

...

... (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, you are welcome to vote with recommendation tickets and monthly tickets on Qidian (qidian.com). Your support is my greatest motivation.)