Daoist Competition

What could she do? The Yan Family was guarded as tightly as a fortress and refused to admit her, though several of her children were taken into the sect.

When Xiao Han came to seek the Four-Season Water, Lu Junbai deliberately sought to establish a connection, hoping to serve as a Guest Elder under the Xiao Family. But unexpectedly, Xiao Han, sensing that the situation might take a turn, abruptly turned his back on him. This sudden change made Lu Junbai feel deeply disappointed—even a bit chilled.

Lu Junbai sighed and recounted Xiao Han's actions on Crane Island in complete detail to Zhang Yan. At the end, he also added, "I've been away for half a month now. My elder sister has surely been captured by Xiao Han's uncle, Xiao Mousui. For the sake of her safety, I had no choice but to come here. Originally, Xiao Han ordered me to take your life, fellow Daoist, but I can see he's merely using me as a pawn to kill with borrowed knives. So I wish only to persuade you to withdraw."

Having said this, his tone grew a touch more severe, "But if you refuse to retreat, fellow Daoist, then for the sake of my elder sister's safety, I may have no choice but to take harsh measures against you."

"I see."

Hearing Lu Junbai's thinly veiled threat, Zhang Yan remained utterly unfazed. After pondering for a moment, he opened his mouth and said, "I have a plan that could rescue Senior Bai Qiong. Do you dare to try it, fellow Daoist?"

"What?"

Lu Junbai was startled, his gaze carrying a hint of suspicion. However, seeing Zhang Yan's confident smile and recalling the high praise for Zhang Yan in Yan Zhengting's letters, he couldn't help but say, "Tell me more."

Unexpectedly, Zhang Yan asked a seemingly unrelated question instead, "Let me ask you first, fellow Daoist—when will the Four-Season Water descend?"

Lu Junbai glanced at him skeptically and replied, "If it does not come by mid-October, then it will certainly arrive in November."

Zhang Yan's gaze flickered, and he nodded slightly. "I know the Four-Season Water must be collected using the Jade Bottle to prevent it from touching the ground. When this water appears, it lasts for three hours. Xiao Han will surely come in person for such an endeavor, guarded by his entourage. From what you've said, fellow Daoist, he only has three companions on this mission. To ensure success, he will undoubtedly have the Nascent Soul cultivator at his side, leaving Senior Bai Qiong under the watch of Daoist Zi Mei. That presents us with an opportunity."

Lu Junbai's body trembled slightly. After a moment of deep thought, he nodded slowly and said hesitantly, "This plan seems feasible. However, Daoist Zi Mei's cultivation is comparable to mine—we're both at the First Realm of Hua Dan. Furthermore, he has a Dharma Treasure for protection and may have placed some sort of prohibition on my elder sister. To take him down in one move, it would require at least two Hua Dan cultivators acting together. Otherwise, don't even think about it. I might be able to invite another friend to aid us, but even if I do, our chances of success would only reach seventy percent."

Seeing his uncertainty, Zhang Yan thought for a moment and then said, "I'll handle the matter of the Dharma Treasure. If we add a Small Golden Core cultivator to help, what are our odds then, fellow Daoist?"

Lu Junbai raised his head in surprise and asked, "May I ask, fellow Daoist—who might this person be?"

Zhang Yan smiled faintly and said, "His name is Guo Lie. Have you heard of him?"

Lu Junbai exclaimed in shock, "You mean True Master Tao's senior disciple, Guo Lie?"

Zhang Yan nodded and replied, "Precisely."

Lu Junbai couldn't contain his joy. "Although Daoist Guo's cultivation is at the Small Golden Core level, he has spent centuries in cultivation, and his skills are of the True Sect. If he could assist us, our chances of taking down Daoist Zi Mei would rise to eighty percent! But where is this Daoist Guo now?"

Zhang Yan glanced toward the Treasure Pavilion and said, "He's right here—aboard my sea boat."

Lu Junbai clenched his fists tight, his body trembling slightly with excitement. After a moment, he released a long breath and said gravely, "My elder sister is close friends with the Yue Jun Demon King and is only four thousand kilometers away. I'll go there at once. A hundred kilometers south of this location lies a Nameless Island Reef shaped like a fish's spine. Please wait for me there, fellow Daoist. I will meet you in a maximum of half a month, or as little as five days."

With that, he cupped his hands, turned, and leaped into the air, transforming into a streak of radiant light.

Being a spirit-born heron, he excelled at Flying techniques. He needed no sea boat to traverse the vast ocean, gliding effortlessly through the skies. Zhang Yan saw a white streak flash before his eyes, and Lu Junbai was gone without a trace.

Taking hold of the Jade Bottle, Zhang Yan smiled coldly in his heart. No matter how precious the Hundred-Twenty-Year Four-Season Water might be, it couldn't rival the freshness of newly collected water. How could he let Xiao Han take it so easily?

Even with a Nascent Soul cultivator as protection, Zhang Yan would find a way to challenge him.

After standing on the spot for a while, Zhang Yan turned and walked toward the inner rooms on the first level of the Treasure Pavilion aboard the sea boat. Upon reaching the corridor, he saw the Peng Bird brought by Guo Lie leisurely grooming its feathers. When Zhang Yan approached, the bird chirped a greeting—not with hostility, but with a hint of admiration.

Zhang Yan chuckled and shook his head. When he had carried the unconscious Guo Lie into the quiet room days ago, the Peng Bird hadn't caused any fuss either. Though it was master and servant with Guo Lie, its temperament was entirely opposite to its master's bold and fiery disposition. Zhang Yan couldn't fathom how Guo Lie had managed to tame it.

Guo Lie had passed out due to extreme exhaustion of his Primordial Qi. Recklessly activating his cultivation technique for a duel against Zhang Yan without proper rest for Qi gathering had pushed him to his limits, causing a complete collapse of his inner energy and his light of cultivation. In other words, he had utterly worn himself out.

Rumor had it that Guo Lie was originally the senior disciple of Tao Zhenhong's sect, known for his fearlessness and aggressive tendencies—even to the point of disregarding his own life in contests.

Guo Lie had been poised to achieve Hua Dan cultivation. However, someone, aware of his fiery temperament, deliberately sabotaged him by challenging him to a duel during his Solidifying Pill process. Unable to suppress his urge to fight, Guo Lie accepted, resulting in the disruption of his process. He failed to condense the pill and ended up with only a Small Golden Core. Despite suffering such a major setback, he hadn't learned his lesson.

As Zhang Yan walked slowly, nearing the quiet room, he suddenly heard voices from within, their tone full of dissatisfaction: "Kid, I heard everything you said to Lu Junbai just now! Although you spared me last time, don't expect me to assist you."

Zhang Yan smiled to himself quietly and stopped in the corridor. He responded, "No need to refuse so hastily, fellow Daoist. I wouldn't expect you to busy yourself for nothing; there's certainly a benefit for you."

Loud laughter echoed from within. "Let's hear it! If the benefit is truly worth it, Grandpa Guo here doesn't mind taking on the likes of the Xiao Family or Di Clan."

Zhang Yan smiled slightly. "What if I told you I have a way to dissolve your Small Golden Core and help you return to the path of the Great Dao?"

The moment the words left his mouth, there was a loud "boom!" as the door shattered, and a figure about his size stormed out.

...

...(To be continued. If you enjoy this work, feel free to visit Qidian.com to vote for recommendations and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation.)