Daoist Competition

The setting sun had just fallen, and the horizon was streaked with a line of vermilion blood, radiating endless killing intent amidst the transition of Yin and Yang.

Dozens of cultivators soared through the air, sweeping away the clouds and mists, stirring the great atmosphere, pressing down with a force as if to engulf the moon and swallow the sun.

But the cultivators at the forefront suddenly saw a blinding white light burst out over the sea, so dazzling it caused them to shut their eyes. In that fleeting moment of confusion, something resembling sharp Essence Qi flashed past. Before they even realized it, their heads were severed and tumbled from their necks down into the clouds.

From a distance, the others saw a streak of white rainbow light sweep by the front ranks, and several bodies were already headless. A chill shot through their hearts, and they hastily halted their advance, raising their eyes to look ahead. There, under the Heavenly Vault, stood Zhang Yan with his hands behind his back, his wide robes billowing in the wind. Behind him, sixteen sword balls emanated a cold, crystalline brilliance, like stars illuminating the night. Their icy gleam resembled frost, exuding an atmosphere of cutting chill and lifelessness.

A female cultivator could not help but feel a deep fear arise in her heart, timidly murmuring, "This man's flying sword is terrifyingly powerful. I'm afraid we are no match for him."

Hearing her words, many others showed faint hesitation on their faces.

Noticing the crowd wavering, Zeng Han's eyelid twitched as he roared, "Fellow Daoists! He's merely one man—how could he stand against the hundreds or thousands of us? Don't panic! Surround him, and when we all strike together, do you think he can still escape alive?"

After speaking, Zeng Han cast a glance at his fellow sect members, then leapt up, his tunneling light flaring with murderous intent as he charged toward Zhang Yan. Behind him followed a dozen or so of his sect brothers, and further back were the disciples of the Wudang Spirit Hall, who silently trailed behind without saying a word.

Spurred by his rallying cry, some opportunistic Loose Cultivators also mustered their courage and once again took to tunneling light, rushing in for the kill.

Zhang Yan's gaze was icy, his chest already boiling with murder intent.

Lifting his head to look at the sky, he saw the stars shifting positions amidst gathering winds and clouds. Spiritual mechanisms surged within him at the sight. In a sudden burst, he cried out with an earth-shattering shout, merging his form with his swords. He transformed into a streak of radiant light rising into the sky, and the remaining sword lights followed closely like stars trailing a comet. Without evading or retreating, they charged straight into the gathered crowd!

A blue-robed cultivator suddenly saw the sword light appear directly in front of him. Preparing to defend himself, he had only just summoned his Dharma Treasure when, in a flash, the brilliance swept over him, and his head was severed by a single blow.

His nearby comrades hadn't even reacted when this sword light cleaving the azure skies swept through them. All of them were cut into two, their lives extinguished in a blink.

The cultivators a little farther away witnessing this scene were terrified beyond measure. Panic-stricken, they released Dharma Treasures to protect themselves. Yet the sword light shifted course, zigzagging unpredictably before flashing elsewhere.

Seeing Zhang Yan kill as if slaughtering chickens, the crowd was struck with terror. No one dared gather close anymore, scattering to prepare their Magic Artifacts for a long-range assault.

Among them, a female cultivator from the Wudang Spirit Hall, relying on her spell to steady her vision of the sword's movements, held up a flower basket in her hands, waiting for the right moment to strike.

Suddenly, her vision blurred as the sword light vanished from her sight. A chill surged through her heart, and the next moment, the sword light astonishingly appeared right before her eyes. Before she could react, a golden flash glinted, and her head was severed instantly.

Her nearby fellow sect members were stunned into fright. Not daring to pursue Zhang Yan, they hurriedly withdrew their Xuan Guang Magic Artifacts, fumbling to protect themselves.

Zeng Han and Shen Minggu, being the highest in cultivation among the group, pursued Zhang Yan relentlessly. In their minds, they inadvertently elevated Zhang Yan to their greatest enemy in this lifetime.

As cultivators themselves, they understood that leaving a threat like him alive would only bring endless trouble. Today was their best chance to eliminate him, and under no circumstances could they afford to retreat.

Yet Zhang Yan maneuvered with his sword light, striking where the enemy was weakest while avoiding direct confrontation. He targeted those lower in cultivation, cutting them down one by one.

He sneered coldly in his heart, thinking, "Have your fun while you can. Once I've slaughtered this entire lot, it'll be your turn to meet your end!"

Just then, he caught sight of a familiar face. It was Qiu Ju, a disciple of the Nanhua Sect whom he had encountered before entering the outer sea. A chilling frost filled his eyes. In today's battle, regardless of whether they were Great Sect disciples or otherwise, anyone who dared join the attack on him would be slain without mercy!

Qiu Ju had originally been following behind Zeng Han, but after losing his flower falcon, his strength was reduced to less than seventy percent. Coupled with his mediocre tunneling light abilities, he lagged further and further behind during the pursuit of Zhang Yan.

At this moment, he saw Zhang Yan's sword light looping back toward him. Terrified to the point of his Divine Soul nearly leaving his body, all his bravery fled. He turned to escape, but how could he be faster than the sword light? Before he could even raise his tunneling light, a streak of Rainbow Light flashed past. With a miserable scream, he was split in half at the waist in mid-air.

After killing Qiu Ju, Zhang Yan's figure didn't pause for a moment as his sword light streaked away. In the blink of an eye, it had traveled dozens of meters further.

With his Body and Sword as One, the elegant yet deadly sweep of his sword light darted back and forth, flashing in and out of visibility. At times it appeared in the front, then suddenly behind. Wherever it passed, blood and gore spilled like rain, and severed limbs fell in torrents.