Zhang Yan pointed with his finger, and the golden smoke coiled once more, shredding the Primordial Spirit into nothingness and wrapping up the Sleeve Bag, which he casually retrieved and stored away.
He glanced around and saw Lu Mei Niang and her brother, as well as Demon King Jun Yue, still entangled in combat with Xu Gongyuan and his wife.
Lu Mei Niang and her brother worked in seamless coordination, evenly matching Xu Gongyuan. However, Demon King Jun Yue had the upper hand against the woman in the Feather Robe. Nonetheless, she remained resilient, relying on her colorful ribbon, refusing to admit defeat.
Zhang Yan narrowed his eyes and smiled faintly. His entire body transformed into a wisp of smoke, and in the blink of an eye, he appeared behind the woman.
She saw a wisp of smoke darting toward her but did not realize it was Zhang Yan. Sensing malice, she panicked.
Already at a disadvantage, her moment of panic left her defenses open. Demon King Jun Yue seized the opportunity without hesitation. His Silver Spear, like a venomous snake striking from its lair, pierced her shoulder in an instant.
The woman let out a scream of agony. Unable to continue the fight, she wrapped herself in her ribbon and immediately transformed into a plume of mist, fleeing the scene.
Xu Gongyuan noticed the situation and frowned deeply, his gaze flickering with indecision. Now left alone, despite his hidden trump cards, he couldn’t delude himself into thinking he could take on three Hua Dan Cultivators all at once. Realizing that the odds were against him, he let out a disdainful grunt and waved his hand. From his sleeve, a yellow smoke billowed forth, inside which manifested a ghastly ghost face, its enormous mouth open in a savage roar, as if it were seeking to devour its prey.
"Nine Nether Forest Qi?"
Lu Mei Niang and her brother were startled, quickly retreating to the side. Xu Gongyuan snorted arrogantly, conjuring an expansive fog from thin air as he ascended to the clouds with ease.
"Whelps, keep your heads on your shoulders for a few days longer. Old Daoist here will come back to collect them!"
As his voice rumbled and echoed across the sea, the fog cloud carrying him had already vanished far into the distance.
Zhang Yan chuckled indifferently, paying no mind to such hollow threats. He descended gently through the clouds, landing back on the Immortal Mansion, and looked around with calm eyes.
At this moment, Guo Lie’s area remained embroiled in heated battle. However, since he had formed a protective formation with his disciples, there was no danger of being overwhelmed. Meanwhile, Zhao Zhengcheng and Wang Yingfang were locked in intense combat with several elite disciples of the Wudang Spirit Hall. It appeared that no clear victor would emerge anytime soon.
In the distance, the six Demon Kings clashed fiercely, Evil Qi surging, figures darting through the air, and Divine Weapons colliding in endless cacophony. The fight had reached a fever pitch.
Zhang Yan had no intention of intervening in the conflicts of others. His only duty was to safeguard the token talisman in his possession, fulfilling True Master Tao’s commission.
With that thought, he greeted the Lu siblings and Demon King Jun Miao briefly, then sat cross-legged in the Immortal Mansion and began breathing exercises.
As he meditated, he observed the Golden Core within his abdomen. Despite just an hour of fighting, the Golden Core had already shrunk by a quarter, and the remainder had dimmed significantly.
He reflected to himself that the Golden Core could probably only be used two or three more times before it fully dissipated. While its strength diminished with each use, it remained a valuable trump card in critical situations.
Zhang Yan meditated through the night, uninterrupted. No one dared challenge him further. After all, he had slain over a hundred people and, in the end, even injured the Jiu Kui Demon King with a single sword strike. To those present, his might was terrifying and revered.
Moreover, with three Hua Dan Cultivators stationed alongside him, only a select few could muster the courage to confront them, let alone the scattered Loose Cultivators on the periphery, who wouldn’t dare provoke them. Thus, he maintained a peaceful night’s vigil.
When the sun finally rose, Zhang Yan heard a gentle and cordial voice beside his ear: "Daoist Zhang, thanks to your help, I have successfully fulfilled my tribulation today. If there is any disturbance shortly, please do not be alarmed."
As soon as the words were spoken, a thunderous rumble shook the mountains and rivers, as though the heavens and earth were overturning. Zhang Yan saw Daoist Qiu spitting blood, like a star plummeting from the sky. His Nascent Soul bore cracks like spider webs, with golden fragments shedding ceaselessly. The three other True Masters nearby fared no better, their disheveled appearances and tilted Daoist buns telling of their humiliation.
Before the thousand-strong crowd of cultivators at sea could react, an ethereal chime reverberated through the air, and an immense Dharma Image erupted from beneath Zhang Yan’s Immortal Mansion, bridging heaven and earth. Within the Dharma Image swam two black-and-white fish, tails biting their heads, while outside, the Black Tortoise subdued waves, and Flood Dragons coiled amidst their auras. Countless Heavenly Cranes soared in harmony, and waves of mountain-crashing and sea-roaring sounds surged forth like a relentless tide.
At that moment, a scarlet sun leaped above the sea’s horizon, golden radiance flooding the skies, merging with the boundless Dharma Image. It seemed to manifest the cycle of heaven and earth, nurturing the myriad spirits. A voice from the clouds sang in the distance:
"Amidst contesting radiance, the Dharma Image rises at dawn,
Qiankun aligns to shape Hong Tu’s grand vision.
Today, I transcend calamity and ascend to celestial halls!"
As the song concluded, True Master Tao had already refined the Immortal Mansion, dispelled the illusions, overcome his tribulation, and advanced into the Cave Heaven True Master Realm!
The disciples of the Qingyu Sect erupted with joyous excitement at seeing their ancestor master’s perfection. In stark contrast, the opposing Loose Cultivators were so terrified their souls scattered, utterly at a loss for what to do.
Amidst the awe-inspiring Dharma Image’s movements, a wave of spiritual glow cascaded down from the heavens, transforming into countless heavenly beasts and Spirit Birds that descended toward the crowd. The three Nascent Soul True Masters and numerous disciples suddenly felt themselves seized by an overwhelming force, pulling them into the Dharma Image’s embrace.
Once it had gathered everyone, the Dharma Image gradually dissipated, leaving behind a refined and elegant Daoist figure. He sat cross-legged atop the clouds, a horsetail whisk in hand, smiling gently. "Today, the Qingyu Sect formally establishes its foundation. I shall guide the Immortal Mansion westward to the Far Sea, near the Three Mountains, in search of a Spirit Cave to become our sect’s Mountain Gate. Any who wish to follow me may freely do so."
Even Demon King Xuan Tong and the other six Demon Kings found their hearts swayed, unable to resist. Without hesitation, they all cried out in unison, "We are willing to follow the True Master!"
They had never anticipated such a drastic turn of events and inwardly rejoiced at their wise choice of allegiance.
The Far Sea was a place only True Masters could tread. For instance, True Master Mi from Chongyue True Temple had already retreated to the Far Sea long ago, cultivating in solitude and avoiding mundane affairs. To journey there under True Master Tao’s guidance presented them with an unparalleled opportunity—how could they refuse?
The Lu Mei Niang siblings and Demon King Jun Yue looked on with envious eyes. While True Master Tao’s offer was tempting, they understood that aiding in moments of crisis was far more valuable than mere opportunistic alliances.
Comparatively, Zhang Yan’s Zhao You Heavenly Pond was no inferior choice. Additionally, it seemed he shared a favorable relationship with True Master Tao. Why then should they abandon the near for the distant?
... (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, please visit Qidian (qidian.com) to vote with recommendations and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation.)