Daoist Competition-Chapter 221 - 79: Murderous Intent and Bewildered Heart, Demon Curse Follow-Up_2

The ten disciples cried out in unison, simultaneously unleashing their Xuan Guang and launching a pincer attack on Zhang Yan and Tu Song.

Tu Song’s cultivation was mediocre at best; otherwise, Ge Shuo would not have tasked him with guarding Bamboo Island. Now, with fifteen disciples attacking together, even if not all their power was directed at him, he could not withstand it. Instantly, his body was struck by four or five streams of Xuan Guang, torn into pieces, and he died on the spot.

As for Zhang Yan, he faced a similar situation, with the majority of the Xuan Guang targeting him. What was puzzling, however, was that while Tu Song had at least struggled a little in the face of such peril, Zhang Yan didn’t even show a single sign of resistance. He allowed the Xuan Guang to fall upon him, his body ripped apart without protest. As the dozen or so streams of Xuan Guang swept over, his form was obliterated entirely, leaving not even a speck of dust behind.

The Bald Old Demon froze, muttering inwardly, "I thought he’d be a significant figure. How could he be killed so easily?"

However, since they had intruded into Bamboo Island, the life or death of a Xuan Guang Practitioner was hardly something he cared about. With a mere thought, he instructed the disciples to spread out and search for the Prohibition Jade Plate.

Strangely, though, the Jade Plate had clearly been in Tu Song’s hand earlier, yet now, after searching for so long, it was nowhere to be found.

The Bald Old Demon, a Great Demon of considerable experience, quickly put the details together and suddenly shouted inwardly, "Not good, I’ve been tricked by that little scoundrel!"

At this moment, Zhang Yan was already standing atop Heng Peak. His gaze was calm and tranquil, and in his hand, he held the Prohibition Token.

Just now, he had merely sacrificed a Fake Body that had only recently been refined, one that hadn’t even had Essence Blood incorporated into it. Using a Concealing Technique, he had safely escaped.

The disciples, blinded by killing intent and deluded by their emotions, failed to discern the real from the fake. As for the Bald Old Demon, he had only been observing through the vision of those disciples, not present in person, and his abilities were not superior enough to see through Zhang Yan’s extraordinary deception. Thus, he had been easily misled.

The Bald Old Demon, realizing the token was nowhere to be found, flew into a rage. With a single command, the fifteen disciples split into groups of two or three, heading toward all the areas on Bamboo Island where other cultivators resided.

Zhang Yan observed coldly as streaks of tunneling light scattered in all directions. A chilling killing intent filled his brow. He leapt into action, flying toward one of the locations where tunneling light had appeared.

These disciples were at most in the Xuan Guang First or Second Realm. They were nowhere near comparable to Ren Mingyao, a Xuan Guang Third Realm cultivator with inheritances from his master and Dharma Treasures at his disposal. The disparity between them was vast. Even if they attacked together, Zhang Yan had no fear whatsoever.

However, in that fleeting instant earlier, Zhang Yan had suddenly sensed that the minds of these dozen or so people had been tampered with almost simultaneously. It seemed as if they were under some demonic influence. Having cultivated within the Demon Cave before, Zhang Yan was especially attuned to such changes.

This was no simple matter. The methods of the Demon Sect were notoriously unpredictable and bizarre—who knew what undisclosed techniques were hidden here?

Thus, Zhang Yan made an immediate decision: sacrifice the Fake Body, snatch the token, and retreat to observe the peculiarities of these disciples before making a move.

On Bamboo Island, aside from one or two low-level Xuan Guang Practitioners, the remaining cultivators were over a hundred Ming Qi Disciples. The disciples whose minds had been tampered with were overwhelmed with murderous intent, unable to bear it unless they slaughtered every living being they saw. As a result, they showed no mercy upon encountering the Ming Qi Disciples, and soon the island was filled with howls and screams.

Zhang Yan followed three of them from a distance. Even as they butchered the Ming Qi Disciples, he did not rush to intervene. Watching closely for a time, he observed that their actions were repetitive and crude. Enveloped in their distorted minds, they showed no restraint—whatever energy they had, they expended without reserve.

He let out a cold laugh and said, "So this is all they amount to."

Not far away, several Ming Qi Disciples, knowing they were outmatched, were still putting up a valiant resistance. Among them, a tall disciple stepped forward, trying to shield the others behind him. Zhang Yan hesitated no longer. With a flick of his sleeve, a streak of blue light shot forth.

The three mind-altered disciples instinctively sensed danger as the sword light approached. Acting on impulse, they raised their Xuan Guang to block it.

A trace of mockery appeared on Zhang Yan’s face. How could the Star Sword Ball, now imbued with Golden Fire Mysterious Light, not be swift and nimble? In the air, it turned three tight loops, easily bypassing the Xuan Guang shields and severing their heads in one swift motion.

The remaining Ming Qi Disciples, who assumed they were moments from death, were stunned. Out of nowhere, a sword light as dazzling as the stars had descended, swiftly dispatching the three attackers.

A blur crossed their vision, and the next moment, Zhang Yan stood before them. He said calmly, "These people have already fallen into the demon realm and are wreaking havoc across the island. I must go rescue other disciples and cannot stay to protect you. Find a place to hide yourselves."

The tall Ming Qi Disciple stepped forward, clasping his hands in gratitude. "Thank you, Martial Uncle, for your aid."

Zhang Yan did not respond. With a slight nod, he transformed into a streak of long rainbow light, disappearing in a flash of blue brilliance.

The disciple watched with admiration, thinking to himself, "To ascend freely into the heavens, traversing Qingming and ruling over the world—only at such a level can one be called a true cultivator. If I had such cultivation, I wouldn’t have been at the mercy of others just now!"

In that instant, his sense of the Great Dao became unequivocally resolute.

The Bald Old Demon’s Divine Thought quivered suddenly, as though something had been lost. With a turn of his mind, he realized what had happened, and the fury in his heart flared brighter.

He could not spread his Heart and Spirit indiscriminately; at most, he could only monitor two or three places simultaneously. As luck would have it, the three disciples Zhang Yan had killed were not hosts for his Heart and Spirit. Thus, they had merely followed base instincts driven by their murderous intent, unable to use their full abilities. They relied solely on their cultivation realm to slaughter Ming Qi Disciples, leaving them vulnerable. Naturally, Zhang Yan had disposed of them effortlessly.

Gripping his fury tightly, the Bald Old Demon gritted his teeth and said, "Entering Bamboo Island only to be thwarted by a mere Xuan Guang First Realm junior—how could I face Jin Tanggong and the others later? It seems I have no choice but to use that technique."

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