Daoist Competition-Chapter 196 - 67: Spirit Core Flying Palace Three Nights’ Stand_2

The Ming Qi Stage disciple picked up the jade token, received his orders, and left. Arriving outside the hall, he waved his hand, whereupon over a hundred Ming Qi disciples raised their flying boats and rushed down. About an hour later, the same person returned with the jade token.

The jade token, originally pristine and flawless, gleaming with a crystal-like translucence, now carried streaks of blood-red patterns flowing within.

This was the sect’s bestowed Capture Token. Each time a demon cultivator was killed, a wisp of its essence blood would be absorbed into the token, which could later be measured at the Merit Institute to account deeds by blood.

Zhang Yan had imagined they would face a fierce battle. Unexpectedly, although they encountered over a dozen demon cultivation tribes occupying various mountain peaks along their path, Fan Changqing merely tossed down a jade token each time, and Ming Qi disciples would descend to purge the area, entirely rendering his intervention unnecessary.

Even the Xuan Guang cultivators on the hall continued to meditate with closed eyes, completely disinterested in the slaughter occurring outside.

Fan Changqing turned with a cheerful smile and said, "Junior Brother, do you find this dull? Let me tell you—the first few days are indeed like this. The deeper we go into Bixue Pool, the richer the spiritual energy becomes, and the higher the Demon Race’s cultivation. But those located on the outskirts of the pool have only cultivated for a mere century or so. Even those with considerable mana who have managed to achieve a transformation are, in comparison to human cultivators, barely at the Opening Meridians level. If no Xuan Guang Realm demons emerge, they are not worth our effort."

Despite their vast numbers, demon cultivators have always been slower in cultivation compared to humans. This is because, after developing spiritual wisdom, they must spend their first hundred years or more, even centuries, focusing on transformation. Take Luo Xiao, for instance—after cultivating for over two hundred years, he has only managed to reach the Second Realm of the Xuan Guang Stage, the "Day-like Night" state. This was only achieved with the aid of Shell King True Dew, which allowed him to escapebeyond his initial shackles.

The disciples with exceptional aptitude in Mingcang Sect often reach this stage within a single Jiazi, highlighting the immense disparity between the two.

Demons on the outskirts of Bixue Pool are referred to as the "Wild Clan" within the demon cultivation ranks. Bixue Pool, guarded by a Demon King and teeming with abundant spiritual energy, attracts masses of demons who gather and settle here annually.

Mingcang Sect dispatches disciples yearly to purge these demons—partly as training, and partly to exterminate the demons to prevent them from contaminating the spiritual energy.

Fan Changqing has been engaged in this task for many years now. His team of Xuan Guang disciples have each had experience fighting the Three Pools demon cultivators.

With the flying palace’s swift travel, they swept over twelve mountain peaks and lake islands in a single day.

Zhang Yan mentally calculated that, excluding those who escaped, the demon race deaths caused solely by Ming Qi disciples likely exceeded three thousand. When added to the slaughter from the other two flying palaces, the number might surpass ten thousand. However, of this Demon Race, many were undeveloped Meng Demons—individuals with no significant prowess, whose deaths did not harm Bixue Pool even slightly.

During their battles, Ming Qi disciples uniformly used flying swords for offense and Dharma flags for defense. Yet, after repeated engagements, their magic artifacts suffered substantial damage.

By sunset, the flying palace hovered above a lake and came to a halt. Fan Changqing ordered the palace’s warehouse to be opened, distributing a batch of flying swords and Dharma flags to replenish the disciples. He also assigned guards to stay while dismissing the rest to rest and recuperate.

This Star Pivot Palace boasted pavilions and chambers, corridors and terraces, lotus ponds, and waterside alcoves—spacious enough to house over a hundred inhabitants without feeling cramped. As a Xuan Guang practitioner receiving Fan Changqing’s deliberate favor, Zhang Yan was also assigned a courtyard with five open chambers in front and behind.

Seated in a three-story pavilion, a single glance outward revealed a green lotus pond bordered by swaying willow branches. Amidst the sheltered verdure, vibrant pink lotuses exuded fragrant aroma, with white lotus roots delighting the eye while birds flitted to peck at them—all creating an illusion far removed from one’s presence amidst the clouds.

Yet, as beautiful as these external sights might be, they could never compare to the importance of improving one’s cultivation. Zhang Yan briefly took in the scene before withdrawing his gaze and beginning meditation.

By the following day, everyone gathered again in the grand hall. Mingcang Sect had yet to fully intrude past Bixue Pool’s borders and still remained within the permissible territory of the opponent. Consequently, they encountered no true adversaries and merely repeated the prior day’s methods.

For the next four days, things continued in the same manner, during which the demon race on the outskirts of Bixue Pool was nearly exterminated. However, as they progressed further, the sightings of demon cultivators dwindled—they had clearly realized that Mingcang Sect was serious this time. Some hid away, while others scattered.

After several consecutive days and nights of slaughter, twelve jade tokens had accumulated in Fan Changqing’s possession. Each of these tokens was now entirely blood-red. He distributed them among the team, ensuring nearly every Xuan Guang Realm cultivator received one.

Even Zhang Yan was given a token.

Each token contained five hundred strands of essence blood, signifying the slaying of five hundred demon cultivators. Turning it into the Merit Institute would earn one minor merit.

Zhang Yan hadn’t needed to lift a finger—by simply accompanying Fan Changqing, he had effortlessly earned a merit. Reflecting on the Ming Qi disciples who had fought tirelessly for days yet hadn’t received a shred of merit, he privately marveled at how starkly cultivation level and status divided fortunes. If he were not a True Disciple or Xuan Guang Realm cultivator, he likely would’ve been no different from those Ming Qi disciples, laboring and fighting for others, with no one caring even if he died.

Fan Changqing noticed Zhang Yan’s silence and, assuming him to be young and critical of these methods, patiently elaborated, "Junior Brother, do you think I’m being harsh to these disciples? You’d be wrong. These disciples joined our sect seeking the Great Daoist Methods, elixir pills, and magical artifacts. How could we hand these out freely? This operation provides them an opportunity, and without us, they couldn’t freely sweep through and slaughter the demon cultivators. This is all voluntary on their part, and moreover, it serves as a chance to temper themselves."

Zhang Yan smiled faintly and replied, "Senior Brother Fan speaks reasonably." He tucked the jade pendant into his sleeve.

Zhang Yan was far from noble. Although the five hundred demon cultivators were of modest skill, if he had to personally kill them, the task would’ve taken an indefinite amount of time. Since the merit could be collected with ease, why refuse?

Looking around, he noticed the other Xuan Guang Realm cultivators seemed equally accepting, all viewing the arrangement as entirely natural.

Having come here, one had to abide by the place’s rules. So long as no harm came to oneself, why act recklessly and stand out unnecessarily?

Fan Changqing froze briefly upon realizing Zhang Yan’s perceptiveness and tact, which contradicted his earlier assumptions, and he let out a relieved chuckle. "Junior Brother Zhang, get some good rest. Tomorrow, we will delve deeper into Bixue Pool, and Xuan Guang Realm cultivators will have to step forward."

...

...

PS: Due to exhaustion, I wrote until 3 or 4 AM yesterday, leaving a bit unfinished, so I’ve posted the edited work now. (To be continued. If you enjoy this story, you’re welcome to visit Qidian (qidian.com) and cast recommendation votes or monthly votes. Your support is my greatest motivation.)

Follow current novels on (f)reew𝒆bnovel