Daoist Competition-Chapter 195 - 67: Spirit Core Flying Palace Three Nights’ Stand

Eight days later, Chengwang Peak.

This place was a towering and perilous peak located on Yuan Cheng Island, near the northern exit of the Dragon Abyss Marsh, and over four hundred li further north lay Cangwu Mountain.

At this moment, clouds and mist churned in the sky above the peak, and a Star Pivot Palace hovered there in suspension. The flying palace was one hundred and fifty zhang in both length and width, with three-tiered pavilions adorning each of its four corners. Its eaves were covered with golden tiles atop black bricks, jade stairs led to golden copper pillars, and vibrant colorful auras swirled and rolled around it.

Fan Changqing sat in the center of the main hall of the palace. Below him, on either side of a row of grand golden copper pillars, a total of twenty Xuan Guang practitioners were seated, ten on each side. Outside the hall, over two hundred Ming Qi realm disciples stood in waiting.

At this time, however, dissatisfaction was apparent on the faces of the Xuan Guang practitioners, and they whispered complaints amongst themselves. Someone grumbled, "Just who is this Zhang Yan, and why has he kept us waiting this long? Senior Brother He and Senior Brother Nian’s flying palaces have already departed. If we delay any further, all the credit will undoubtedly fall to them."

"I heard he’s a True Disciple, only recently entering the Xuan Guang Realm, and gained Senior Brother Qi’s favor to rise to such prominence in one leap."

"True Disciple? Hmph. That lot who merely sits back and reaps the benefits of others’ labor. I bet he’s never even fought a Demon Cultivator before!"

"Every one of us here has followed Senior Brother Fan into life-and-death battles and crawled out from brutal bloodshed. What right does this brat have to be here?"

Seated to Fan Changqing’s lower right in the first position was a handsome cultivator wearing a Pure Yang Crown. Draped in a Feather Robe, with a wide sash and tall boots, he sat with a dignified and proud demeanor. By his feet rested a White Feathered Kite. Hearing the complaints, a faint mocking smile appeared on his lips. ƒгeewebnovёl_com

"Senior Brother Ren," a cultivator beside him leaned closer and spoke softly, "Has Senior Brother Fan lost his judgment? Why would he bring someone like this along on this mission?"

Senior Brother Ren raised an eyebrow and rebuked, "Mind your tongue! Senior Brother Fan surely has his reasons. Stay seated and don’t stir up trouble."

While his tone seemed harsh, his expression betrayed no true reproach, and even hinted at quiet agreement. The cultivator nodded and sat upright.

No matter the murmurs below, Fan Changqing remained on the high dais of the hall, eyes shut as if resting his mind. When noon arrived, his eyes suddenly snapped open, a flash of light gleaming within them. A smile spread across his face as he swung his sleeves and stood up, saying, "Junior Brother Zhang is here."

A streak of blue tunneling light flew in from outside, entering the grand hall. The light dissipated to reveal Zhang Yan’s figure. He cupped his hands and said with calm composure, "Greetings to Senior Brother Fan and all my senior brothers."

Fan Changqing smiled warmly and called out, "Come, come, Junior Brother, take this seat near me."

Following the instructions, Zhang Yan walked forward. His movements immediately drew a variety of gazes—some hostile, some disdainful, and others outright mocking. Yet, Zhang Yan paid no mind, maintaining an unperturbed demeanor until he reached the appointed spot and stood still.

By coincidence, Zhang Yan’s position was to the upper left of Fan Changqing, facing Senior Brother Ren. The latter frowned slightly and displayed a hint of displeasure, but refrained from speaking, letting out only a cold snort.

Zhang Yan responded with a faint smile, ignoring the reaction entirely.

With all personnel now present, Fan Changqing returned to his seat of honor. From his sleeve, he retrieved a Prohibition Token and, with a casual gesture, activated it. The Star Pivot Palace shuddered with a deep rumble, blasting through the sea of clouds to soar northward toward the Three Pools Territory.

This campaign against the Three Pools Territory had been divided into responsibilities: the master-disciple lineage was tasked with purging Bixue Pond, while the noble families within the sect would attack Surging Wave Lake. The two groups were instructed to avoid interfering with each other.

Once the Star Pivot Palace’s prohibitions were activated, even Nascent Soul cultivators could do little to harm it. Within the Killing Array it wielded, it moved with absolute freedom, making it an indomitable weapon of war.

The sect had dispatched three flying palaces in total for this operation. Each flying palace was overseen by a Hua Dan cultivator, maintaining communication across the fleet. Should one palace be ambushed, another would rush to its aid immediately.

These Star Pivot Palaces were crafted by the sect’s Spirit Mechanism Institute. So long as the necessary materials and manpower were available, the institute could construct three to four such palaces within half a year. Over the past ten-plus years of continuous conflict with the Three Pools Territory, despite some losses, the institute currently possessed thirty-seven such palaces. In contrast, to a second-class sect, a single flying palace was deemed an invaluable treasure. This spoke volumes to the strength of the Mingcang Sect as a Great Xuanmen Sect.

During the journey, Fan Changqing took the time to introduce each of the figures present to Zhang Yan. Though Fan Changqing treated him warmly and with good humor, the others—despite outwardly polite behavior—remained internally unpersuaded, harboring silent discontent.

At this moment, a Ming Qi disciple stepped into the hall and reported, "Senior Brother Fan, we’ve arrived at Five Dragon Creek. There are no Great Demons in this area, only a water serpent that has achieved spirit transformation, leading three to four hundred of its kin cultivating within the mountain."

Fan Changqing raised his hand, tossing down a Jade Token, and said coldly, "Exterminate them!"

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