Daoist Competition-Chapter 206 - 72: The True Form Wanders Freely, The Situation Shifts Again_2

The Eel Demon Huang Peng had been guarding this place because he could see that the mystical fruit was about to ripen. He planned to take the spell and leave, but unexpectedly, Zhang Yan arrived and ultimately ended his life and cultivation.

Zhang Yan contemplated silently. This spell was indeed extraordinary and could not be wasted on others, yet he still had to visit another island and could not linger here for long.

After some thought, he walked out of the cave mansion, took a set of array flags from his sleeve bag, then retrieved a jade scroll and silently reviewed the array formation technique. Rising up in flight, he crossed the island to the southeast, southwest, northwest, and northeast directions, setting the array flags in place before activating the prohibition.

In this way, unless one understood the spell to activate the formation, no one would be able to enter for now. Furthermore, disciples of the Mingcang Sect were unlikely to arrive here at this time. By the time he exterminated the demon cultivators on Ma’an Island, the fruit here would likely be fully ripe.

Seeing his arrangements complete, he wasted no more time. He summoned Ao Tong, stepped onto its back, pulled on the rope loop, and departed straight for another demon island.

Ma’an Island and Xishuo Island were not far apart. After flying for an hour, the island became visible in the distance.

At that moment, a beam of light rose from the island, though its color was impure and carried a strong demonic energy. Seeing Zhang Yan approaching on the flood dragon, the owner of the light seemed startled and, after hesitating briefly, turned tail and fled.

The tunneling light of the demon cultivator was quite swift. Although Zhang Yan could have quickly caught up with them, his mind was preoccupied with the green vine red fruit. Since the other party willingly vacated the cave mansion, he had no desire to pursue them. Upon reaching Ma’an Island, he circled around the four directions, cast down the array flags, and left.

After Zhang Yan departed, the demonic light timidly returned again.

When the light gathered, it revealed an old man, only half a foot tall with white eyebrows and white hair. Seeing the prohibition array flags set down on his island of cultivation, he bitterly sighed and thought to himself, "This person came from the direction of Xishuo Island; it seems Daoist Huang has met a fatal end. Now that the Mingcang Sect is hunting down Bixue Pond demon cultivators, I cannot afford to provoke them. It’s better to find another place to cultivate than to have hundreds of years of effort destroyed in one swoop."

After speaking, he covered his face with his sleeve. A streak of Xuan Guang enveloped him as he headed southeast.

When Zhang Yan returned to Xishuo Island, coming and going had taken another hour.

He had set out at midnight; now it was the middle of the early morning hours, with the sky beginning to brighten.

Descending from Ao Tong, he retrieved the jade scroll and silently chanted the mantra to open the prohibition as he walked into the cave mansion. Yet, upon looking up, he froze at the sight before him.

The green vine was completely withered, its leaves dried into ash, its formidable stature utterly gone. On the ground, however, lay a fruit, overly ripe to the point of rotting.

Zhang Yan chuckled and said, "What perfect timing. Gain and loss, drinking and swallowing—indeed, all things have their destined course."

If he had chased after the fleeing demon cultivator, he would have been delayed in returning. The seed might have fallen to the ground, taken root, and sprouted. In that case, who knows how many years it would take to obtain the spell again.

Extending his hand, he summoned the fruit into his grasp, carefully peeled away the pulp, and revealed the seed inside. Scanning it with his gaze, he saw densely packed minute script on its surface. Realizing he now held the crucial mantra, he felt a surge of joy in his heart. With a flick of his wrist, he placed it into his sleeve bag.

With the spell finally in hand, there was no reason to linger here. Striding out of the cave mansion, he summoned Ao Tong, lifted his tunneling light, and returned toward Bamboo Island.

It was only at the beginning of dawn that Zhang Yan arrived back at Bamboo Island. However, he noticed that the atmosphere now felt very different from when he had left. Looking down from the sky, he saw two Spirit Core Flying Palaces docked on the island, wondering which Hua Dan cultivators from the sect had come this time.

Hovering in the clouds, he identified Fan Changqing’s flying palace before descending and entering.

Upon stepping into the grand hall, he saw that Ning Chongxuan was nowhere to be found. Instead, a middle-aged cultivator with black whiskers reaching down to his chest sat with eyes closed in the main seat. None of the others were present either, so it seemed Zhang Yan was the first to return and submit his report.

Sensing Zhang Yan’s arrival, the middle-aged cultivator opened his eyes slightly and asked in a deep voice, "Who are you?"

Zhang Yan didn’t know who this man was, but judging by his imposing aura and the immense power coursing around him, he recognized him as a Hua Dan cultivator. Responding respectfully, he said, "Disciple Zhang Yan."

"Hmm? So you’re the True Disciple Nephew Qi brought back from the Demon Cave?"

Upon hearing his name, the middle-aged cultivator’s eyes shot open, his expression turning stern. He said coldly, "Cultivation must proceed step by step, laying a solid foundation. How can you walk such crooked paths? If not for the sect’s consideration, would you have today’s achievements? Remember this: in cultivation, haste and impatience are grave mistakes. Do not aim too high or far above your station. Go now. I will have further arrangements for you tomorrow."

Without giving Zhang Yan a chance to respond, he waved his hand dismissively, pushing him out of the hall.

Feeling somewhat bewildered after leaving the flying palace, Zhang Yan couldn’t understand why this man had suddenly reprimanded him. His gaze soon caught sight of a figure not far away. Raising his eyes, he saw Fan Changqing waving at him, prompting him to quicken his steps and approach.

As he drew near, Fan Changqing grinned and said, "Junior Brother Zhang, were you also scolded by Master Ge? Don’t let it bother you; that’s just his personality. He’s not singling you out."

"Master Ge?"

Zhang Yan thought for a moment and recalled who this person was. He was a disciple of one of Du Zhen Hall’s elders and had cultivated for nearly three hundred years, belonging to the same generation as several True Masters. Known for his rigid and serious demeanor, he was infamous for lecturing about rules and principles, much like Zhuang Bufan, which made him deeply unpopular among the sect’s disciples.

Still puzzled, Zhang Yan asked, "With Master Ge here, where is Brother Ning?"

Fan Changqing sighed lightly and replied in a low voice, "The sect assigned Brother Ning to return, citing other important duties. Thus, Master Ge was sent to take his place. Even I don’t know what changes have occurred."

...

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