Daoist Competition-Chapter 256 - 96: Dispelling the Clouds to Find the Sun and Moon, Looking Up to See the Blue Sky (Part 2)
Chapter 256: Chapter 96: Dispelling the Clouds to Find the Sun and Moon, Looking Up to See the Blue Sky (Part 2)
Master Sun didn’t respond to his words. Seeing that Zhang Yan seemed about to take his leave, he smiled faintly and said, "Zhang Yan, you may remain here. There’s no need to return."
Although Zhang Yan knew this place was far too conspicuous, he found it difficult to go against Master Sun’s intentions and so remained motionless.
The many disciples, upon seeing Zhang Yan standing beside Master Sun, clearly valued greatly though they knew he was a man as good as dead, couldn’t help feeling envious.
After about an hour had passed, True Master Zhu opened his eyes and said, "Brother Yan has arrived."
A gentle breeze swept across, carrying countless emerald leaves from some unknown direction. A delightful fragrance filled the air as waves of Clear Qi spiraled upward. Thousands of green bamboo shoots rose from the ground, forming a sprawling sea of bamboo swaying in the wind. As this vision dissipated, a Kushou Daoist could be seen standing amidst a splendid golden Hua Gai. He bowed respectfully toward both True Master Zhu and Master Sun.
True Masters Zhu and Sun stood to return his courtesy. The three of them then sat down, maintaining a respectful distance of less than ten feet apart without speaking to each other.
Before sitting, however, True Master Yan cast a faint glance at Zhang Yan and let out a soft snort.
If it were any other disciple present, they might have already been overwhelmed with fear and anxiety. Yet Zhang Yan’s expression remained unchanging, as if he hadn’t noticed.
After another hour passed, the several hundred disciples suddenly heard the loud roar of water. The sound soon escalated into thunderous torrents, prompting everyone to look southward in astonishment. The entire lake of Nandang Swamp had been inexplicably stirred, the waters rising to a height of a hundred yards before surging toward Bamboo Island.
Save for a few select individuals, nearly all the disciples turned pale. Just as the massive wave, seemingly poised to engulf the island, was about to descend, it suddenly dissipated out of thin air, revealing a middle-aged Daoist with three black strands adorning his chin, a scholarly demeanor, a Pure Yang Crown upon his head, and an Eight Diagrams Daoist Cloud Robe draped across his figure.
When True Master Zhu saw how effortlessly this water surge was commanded and withdrawn, his expression subtly shifted. He thought to himself, "Indeed, Senior Brother’s mastery of the Beiming True Water has inherited our master’s true teachings. This dharma form must have reached the realm of perfection."
True Master Yan, however, merely stroked his beard in silence, his thoughts inscrutable.
Qi Yuntian led over a hundred disciples to bow with deep reverence, all saying in unison, "Eternal longevity to the teacher." The five hundred disciples in attendance also chorused, "We respectfully welcome True Master Meng."
True Master Meng smiled warmly, nodded, and motioned for everyone to rise. He then entered the resplendent Purple Cloud Hua Gai and took his seat. True Masters Yan, Zhu, and Sun approached to pay their respects and exchanged brief formalities before returning to their respective places.
Master Sun leaned forward slightly and asked, "Senior Brother, shall I go ahead to observe the array?"
True Master Meng smiled and said, "Hold a moment, Junior Brother. There is still one more to arrive."
Master Sun pondered briefly and, understanding the implication, gave a subtle nod.
Not long after, a soft sound of flowing water came from an indiscernible direction. It was akin to unwinding silk, delicate and continuous. Before long, countless clear springs descended from the sky, halting three feet above the ground before converging into a single point.
The water, like drizzling spring rain or a brook dancing against stones, soon pooled into a water mirror spanning five miles in diameter. From its surface, clusters of white lotus buds with pinkish hues began to rise, one after another, blooming sequentially. At the heart of the highest lotus, as its petals unfurled, emerged a Daoist Nun with delicate willow-like brows and cherry-red lips, her figure slender and graceful. Her features were exquisitely crafted, her nose like polished jade, yet her sharp and icy gaze radiated an overwhelming presence, making it impossible for anyone to approach her lightly.
"So it is True Master Qin who has arrived," the four True Masters stood simultaneously and bowed in welcome.
With a graceful step, True Master Qin approached, her lotus feet moving lightly upon the air. She returned their salutes with a bow of her own, her cherry-red lips parting slightly as she said, "Nephews, there is no need for excessive formalities."
Her slender finger pointed downward, and the lotus beneath her transformed into a lotus platform. Yet before she took her seat, she cast a piercing gaze toward Zhang Yan, her phoenix-like eyes brimming with majesty.
Zhang Yan, his Dao Heart steadfast as ever, met her gaze with calm composure—neither fierce nor timid. Internally, he thought to himself, "Though you all stand atop the clouds today, one day, I will surpass you in mana and Divine Skills." fгee𝑤ebɳoveɭ.cøm
For reasons unknown, the one among them who ought to bear the heaviest enmity toward Zhang Yan—True Master Qin—suddenly smiled faintly. Her smile was akin to a hundred flowers blooming, seemingly draining the colors from heaven and earth. She then withdrew her gaze and seated herself upon the lotus platform, lowering her eyelids in meditation without further word.
Once all five True Masters were present, Bamboo Island became enveloped in a swirling mist of immortal energy, with wondrous phenomena manifesting everywhere. The earlier transformations of water and fire, the floral scents wafting through the air—these were all outward reflections of the dharma forms of the True Masters.
Having established a dharma form, one possesses boundless mana capable of waging battle without even moving. Such displays were an unprecedented spectacle for the observing disciples, who couldn’t help but marvel in awe, feeling as though their horizons had vastly expanded.
True Master Meng spoke in a solemn tone, "With True Master Qin here, the disciples will remain safe. Fellow Junior Brothers, accompany me to observe the array."
The three True Masters responded in unison, "As Senior Brother commands."
Each of the four True Masters revealed their dharma forms and stepped onto the clouds. Instantly, gales swirled, and half the sky became overtaken by dazzling phenomena and celestial glows.
On the opposite side, over the Perch Eagle Land Continent, a sea of clouds spanning ten thousand miles surged upward, brimming with murderous intent and strewn with ferocious auras. In the four cardinal directions, mystical Divine Beasts formed from array energy began to reveal their images. From the distant heavens, the muffled beat of war drums seemed to reverberate, as if a host of golden spears and armored soldiers lay hidden.
Apparently sensing the movement here, the Demon Kings standing guard over their Great Array also unleashed their dharma forms to confront the four True Masters from afar, showing no sign of backing down.
True Master Meng scanned the scene and saw that in the true east, there was a ferocious black-scaled serpent in a churning black cloud, interspersed with thunder and lightning. Following closely behind were a thousand Jiao Snakes. To the true south, a golden carp with glistening fins was leaping upon waves of green water, seemingly on the verge of ascending to the Dragon Gate, its demon energy surging to the heavens and splitting the clouds below.
In the northern direction, a dense mist of icy fog hung low, rising and falling as a massive Mystical Turtle loomed within. It exhaled spiritual energy as its immense figure appeared and disappeared, indistinct and mysterious.
Such dharma forms belonging to the Demon Lords, if not inherited from the ancient times, were often manifestations of their original forms enhanced through Borrowing Qi. True Master Meng paid them little attention, turning his gaze instead toward the true south. He focused intently, aware that this particular individual had been singled out by the Sect Leader to keep under close watch. But upon closer inspection, his brow furrowed deeply.
At that location, the dharma form displayed a boundless mystical domain—the palaces and terraces were resplendent, celestial music resounded harmoniously, and nothing betrayed its origins in the slightest.
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...(To be continued. If you enjoy this work, please visit Qidian (qidian.com) to contribute recommendation votes and monthly votes. Your support is my greatest motivation.)
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