Daoist Competition-Chapter 986 - 233: Riding the Carp Across the Sea, Returning to East Splendor

Zhang Yan waited for more than ten days. When he went to see the Dragon Carp again, he was surprised. It seemed Zhang Boyant had used some means, for the old demon had lost its viciousness, submitted tamely, with its head bowed obediently. Zhang Yan was pleasantly surprised and said, "Master Zhang, you truly have talent. Even such a fierce demon can be tamed so obediently. This time, my request for you came at just the right time."

Actually, bringing this Dragon Carp back to Zhao You Heavenly Pond wasn’t difficult, but keeping it restrained within Water Element True Light required mana suppression. While the demon was weak now, this solution wouldn’t hold once its mana began to recover.

During this time, he had visited the Ancestor Master Hall once and asked True Master Tao for a taming beast ring, preparing to use it in case Zhang Boyant was unable to subdue the demon. He planned to capture the creature and deal with it after returning to the sect. Surprisingly, the old demon truly had some skill.

Zhang Boyant, not humble, proudly said, "This is nothing. When I was serving as the Director of the Punishment Court in the Nether Spring Sect, countless disciples who violated sect rules passed under my hand. They knew that telling the truth would lead to certain death, yet still wouldn’t confess. But nobody ever escaped from me."

Zhang Yan said in surprise, "I heard the Demon Sect has a Soul Searching Technique. Lies are always exposed, so what’s the difference between confessing and not confessing? Isn’t it just needless suffering?"

Zhang Boyant chuckled and said, "Ah, fellow Daoist, you don’t know. As long as our Demon Sect disciples don’t betray their masters, no matter what sect rule they break, if they refuse to confess, and can endure the punishment set by the Punishment Court, it’s as if they didn’t commit the deed. Moreover, there are immense benefits. Unfortunately, since the founding of the Nether Spring Sect, only three individuals have endured all two hundred and thirty-two types of torture. The rest only sought quick death."

Zhang Yan couldn’t help but laugh. He took Zhang Boyant under his wing for another reason: to learn many Demon Sect secrets from him without having to go elsewhere to gather information.

Years ago, he had secretly sent Su YiAng to spy on the Demon Sect, but it had only been a few decades.

That young man could, at most, be an entry-level disciple, with limited knowledge of sect movements. How could he compare to Zhang Boyant, an elder of the Demon Sect? This hidden asset might be useful in the future but not at this moment.

After conversing a few more words with Zhang Boyant, Zhang Yan slowly walked to the Dragon Carp, looking at it calmly.

The old demon trembled all over, realizing the time had come, forced out a trace of Essence Blood from its heart, and swore an oath.

Zhang Yan felt a slight tremor in his body, and seemed to perceive something new in his heart and spirit. Silently sensing the thoughts and intentions of the Dragon Carp flashing through his mind, he knew from this moment onward, he was the master of this Great Demon. He let out a sigh of relief.

In the Mingcang Sect, only Qi Yuntian had a Dragon Carp, and now he had one as well. He wondered which one had a deeper Daoist Cultivation.

Zhang Boyant, standing nearby and watching, secretly breathed a sigh of relief, saying, "With this demon as a protective spirit beast, it shouldn’t be difficult for Daoist Zhang to safeguard his life at the Dharma Assembly."

After establishing the oath, Zhang Yan couldn’t command it to die, but engaging in a battle array with an enemy was an honorable action, which it couldn’t defy.

He was genuinely worried that Zhang Yan might encounter formidable adversaries he couldn’t withstand and might instead have to send him out on such tasks. Now, he felt much more at ease.

After half a month, feeling ready to return to East Splendor, Zhang Yan entered the Ancestor Master Hall on Xuanling Island to bid farewell to True Master Tao.

After a secret discussion for an hour in the hall, he descended the mountain, riding the clouds.

On the island’s beach, he saw the large form of the Dragon Carp quietly lying on the sand, its entire golden scales shining brilliantly in the sunlight, with its blood-red coral-like horns glistening atop its head.

After these days of recovery, having consumed many elixir pills, its injuries had healed completely. Even its broken tail fin had regrown.

As Zhang Yan was about to approach, he saw from a distance a tunneling light circling outside, spiraling ceaselessly, and with its intermittent presence hardly discernible, he shouted, "Is that Daoist Xu arriving?"

The disciple standing guard knew Zhang Yan was an honored guest of the Ancestor Master’s Sect and recognized the visitor, promptly opening the prohibition to let the tunneling light enter.

The tunneling light sought the entrance, dashed inward, spun around the air once, then restrained its glow, and Xu Daoist appeared, slowly drifting from the cloud, greeting Zhang Yan, and then looking at the Dragon Carp beside him. Surprised, he said, "True Master Zhang has subdued this old demon? Ha, I originally thought it was a tough character, but it turned out to be a coward after all."