Daoist Competition-Chapter 930 - 205: Only the Command Token Can Put One’s Mind at Ease

August 20, Feiyu Dao Palace.

In the grand hall, five elders were seated, with Great Elder Duan Hanfeng sitting at the head, and Second Elder Ouyang Xu at the second seat below. Elder Che Ziyi, whom Zhang Yan had interacted with before, was also present today.

Among those in the hall, several were seeing Zhang Yan for the first time, and their gazes towards him were filled with complexity.

Half a month had passed since the battle at Double Moon Peak, and flying books had been sent from various regions, spreading news of the event throughout the Central Continent.

What was most compelling about the matter was Zhang Yan. During this period, his "ferocious reputation" had spread far and wide.

Who could have imagined that he, with his sheer strength alone, would annihilate the invading enemies from Lie Xuan Sect, truly making others both fear and dread.

When counting carefully, Lie Xuan Sect had nine elders, including Guo and Pang, all slain by him alone, not to mention the Zhenluo Alliance traitor Shang Teng. Thus, the Nascent Soul True Masters who fell by his hand numbered ten.

Such achievements are truly astonishing.

Today, the five elders laid a feast to invite Zhang Yan, though ostensibly as a gesture of thanks for his vanquishing strong foes and securing Double Moon Peak in peace, there was actually another purpose - the command token bestowed by Master Cheng.

In possession of it, one could activate Double Moon Peak’s 800-mile forbidden array, calling upon water, fire, wind, and thunder. Even the Wing Cliff Ancestor Master’s divine statue would be suppressed instantly, unable to resist, let alone ordinary cultivators.

The Zhenluo Alliance now has only twelve elders remaining, and the reason they dared not all sit here today includes apprehension about the command token.

If Zhang Yan harbored ill will, those present would be hard-pressed to survive, though the possibility is extremely low; precautions must be taken just in case.

Without retrieving such a weapon, they would find it difficult to rest day and night.

Today’s guest of honor was Zhang Yan. Great Elder Duan Hanfeng, from the Great Clan, had a smooth cultivation journey without encountering ordeals. This person was quite straightforward, believing the elders just needed to speak some kind words for Zhang Yan to hand over the command token.

Yet those present, all Lords in their own right, did not view matters so simply.

They understood well that retrieving this item likely required some cost and did not depend on mere words, so they mostly spoke little, only occasionally joining the conversation.

Except for Elder Zhang Qianqiu, who repeatedly urged Zhang Yan to drink and showered him with flattering words.

"True Master Zhang hails from the East Splendor Continent, originally from the renowned righteous sect, with his cultivation dignified and upright. Those jesters from Lie Xuan Sect could hardly be a match for a True Master. This encounter was their own disgrace, the outcome long destined."

Zhang Yan smiled indifferently and said, "Master Zhang praises me undeservedly."

Duan Hanfeng raised his wine cup, toasting with one hand and said, "True Master Zhang, this is our unique Zhenluo Alliance celestial wine, named ’Moon Palace Zither Song.’ It resembles playing the zither under the osmanthus tree, the clear solitude with a faint fragrance, only by drinking fully can one savor its subtleties."

Zhang Yan did not decline, raised his cup in respect, and drank it down.

Duan Hanfeng laughed heartily and also drank his wine.

Zhang Yan glanced at him; this Great Elder from the Zhenluo Alliance was not yet aged, likely only entered the Nascent Soul Realm some decades ago. He was boisterous and unrestrained, carefree and uninhibited, unlike a cultivator, more akin to a Mortal World scholar.

He could discern that this person was void of scheming, rather fond of enjoyment, unsure how he assumed such a position.

His thoughts turned, surmising some reason why.

The Zhenluo Alliance’s dozen or so elders were from various parts of the Nine Provinces, probably discontent with each other, thus having someone without ambition and not high in cultivation sitting in this position seemed quite fitting.

Zhang Yan’s gaze shifted to Ouyang Xu in the second seat, observing him more. He appeared to be in his fifties, face square and eyes lively. He sat there with a straight posture, his every move disciplined, having said merely two words since taking his seat, above him three Gang Clouds swirled, yet a Nascent Soul Second Realm Cultivator.

Zhang Yan noticed the three clouds above him were grouped together and solid, perhaps his cultivation slightly surpassed that of Gongyang Sheng.

It was rumored this person originally came from a Military General Family. When young, during a bandit pursuit into the mountains, he accidentally lost his way, wandering for days and nights, inadvertently entering a senior cultivator’s Cave Mansion, thus through misfortune came fortune, gaining Enlightenment and mystical insight.

However, the reason Zhang Yan noticed him was due to his great fame within the Zhenluo Alliance, known as Pingdong’s "foremost in fighting."