Daoist Competition

Chapter 1371: Chapter 72: True Light Divine Escape Breaks Ten Thousand Rings (Part 2)

Chunyu Ji cautiously replied, "That person is of the same lineage as Shen Baishuang, and is by no means an incompetent. However, Guardian Jin Ling possesses the Ring Escape Technique, and even if the battle turns unfavorable, he can withdraw promptly. I believe the odds of victory or defeat are about equal."

Standing amidst the clouds, Zhang Yan bowed and said, "Greetings, Daoist Jin Ling."

Old Jin Ling, seeing Zhang Yan approach, scrutinized him for a moment and then suddenly shouted sharply, "So it’s True Master Zhang of Han Yuan Sect; one of our elders in the Xuanyue Sect was killed by Shen Baishuang. We can’t find the whereabouts of Daoist Shen now, but I’ve long heard you share the same lineage. I might as well take your head back to pay homage."

Zhang Yan was slightly surprised, then chuckled, clasping his hands, saying, "Thank you, Daoist Jin Ling, for informing me that we are enemies. In that case, I must not let you return. I shall strive to take your life."

Though he spoke as though joking, there was a murderous intent brimming in his words. Jin Ling felt an inexplicable chill as his Qi Mechanism resonated with Zhang Yan’s, quickly steadying his heart and spirit, he retorted, "Such arrogance! Whose hand shall claim the other’s life is yet uncertain."

Though his words seemed confident, inwardly, he was far from relaxed. With a sweep of his sleeves, he retreated dozens of yards. Then he raised the Golden Ring, focusing his thoughts, and numerous identical golden rings manifested, dispersing into the Heavenly Vault. As he urged the Mysterious Skill, the rings grew denser, appearing thousands upon thousands, indistinguishable between real and illusion.

The Illusion Palace Ring he refined numbered 512, only the principal ring where his heart and spirit merged was the most powerful. During fighting, it was hidden among numerous subordinate and illusion rings, ready to strike the enemy at any time. Besides this, he could use any ring to fly away, making defense nearly impossible; just one moment of the opponent’s carelessness could lead to death.

After completing the transformation, he pointed a finger, and a golden light spun swiftly.

Having observed Jin Ling’s fighting technique, Zhang Yan had largely discerned the man’s tactics, and thus had devised a strategy for defeating him.

Overcoming this person was not difficult, but taking his life would require effort.

Xuanyue Sect had seized numerous mountain tops, holding the advantage of terrain. For the Zhongtai cultivators here, flying through the void was greatly restricted. If Jin Ling sensed trouble, he could immediately hide within this area.

In this brief moment, even if Zhang Yan had the Sword Escape Technique, he couldn’t timely chase and kill. Hence, if he acted, he must aim to swiftly kill the enemy.

At this moment, seeing the Golden Ring approaching, Zhang Yan neither dodged nor evaded, allowing it to fall.

Jin Ling was initially stunned by this, then wildly delighted, quickly manipulating the spell to apply the True Ring, believing once ensnared, Zhang Yan could be strangled, just like Chen Shougu.

At this moment, Zhang Yan loudly shouted, and behind him suddenly appeared a spectacular five-colored cloud. As it flashed, a green light suddenly soared, full of vital energy, keeping the falling Golden Ring at three feet’s distance, regardless of its intense buzzing and binding force, it could not penetrate.

Since refining the Illusion Palace Ring, Jin Ling had never seen anyone use pure Dao Technique to catch this ring without a Dharma Treasure, which greatly shocked him.

His expression changed several times, then with a gesture, thousands of Golden Rings in the sky moved as one, closing in from all directions toward Zhang Yan.

Seeing this, Zhang Yan smiled slightly, and the green light behind him exploded with intensity, instantly splitting into thousands of rays, resembling a towering tree reaching into the Heavens. It sent out branches and tendrils, twisting and curling, each branch locking a ring.

Jin Ling’s expression drastically changed; he kept urging his cultivation technique, creating ring after ring, dividing Qi after Qi. Yet, for every additional ring, the green light would equally display a flourishing Qinghua. Regardless of reality or illusion, all were held outside, and soon the entire sky was filled with green. Moreover, the radiance expanded outward aggressively, forcing him to continually consume mana to resist it. Consequently, he was drawn into a mana contest he was least skilled at.

Zhang Yan’s mana was extraordinarily abundant, unmatched among peers. Upon full activation, it surged like an endless tide. Jin Ling barely sustained it for a moment before finding it overwhelming. The numerous golden rings scattered in the sky gradually vanished, dissipating into spiritual energy, and then the subordinate rings began snapping one by one. In mere breaths, more than half were ruined.

Cold sweat poured from Jin Ling, his heart both startled and frightened, pondering, "What cultivation technique has this Daoist practiced to achieve such formidable mana? Even compared to Master Rong, he may be not much inferior."

He realized continuing this would deplete his mana to exhaustion, making even escape impossible. Thoughts of revenge for his sect members had long been cast out beyond the Nine Heavens Cloud.

As soon as he hesitated to retreat, Zhang Yan immediately sensed it, a faint cold smile appeared, and with a loud shout, he first drew back his mana slightly. Allowing the Golden Ring to tighten inward, then with a powerful shake of his arms, the Wood Element True Light behind him surged fiercely. With a crisp crack, he shattered the ring encircling him, simultaneously shattering the sky-full of rings to fall downward in unison. Stepping forward, he vanished from the spot.

With the collapse of his mind and spirit-bound rings, Jin Ling felt as if struck by lightning, a surge of blood rising, spurting up with a puff. Fortunately, his mind remained clear, almost at the instant he sensed trouble, he initiated a spell, intending to escape.

Yet at that moment, an immense force engulfed him, pinning him to the spot. His body trembled violently, and he spat an additional mouthful of blood, fear and horror flashing on his face, exclaiming, "Forbidden Locking Hea..."

Before he could finish, Zhang Yan emerged from the void, stood before him, and with a clang, unsheathed his Dharma Sword at his waist. Then, with a fierce downward swing, a clear beam sliced through the heavens, severing a head that soared skyward.

Reaching out, Zhang Yan caught the head, casting a gaze at it, noticing the expression still carried some shock and disbelief. He smirked, rolled up his sleeve, picked up the head, and rode the Gang Cloud, descending back downwards.

...

...(To be continued. If you like this work, please visit Qidian.com to cast recommendation votes and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to read.)