Daoist Competition

As the rising sun gradually ascended, Gongsun Mian and four others arrived at Jurong Mountain aboard a flying boat. Gazing ahead, they saw the Baofeng Temple's grand hall perched atop the mountain peak, serene and tranquil. Before the temple, ancient trees stood densely, and the sounds of birds singing and flowing water from the forest rang clearly in their ears.

Chu Shaohong, noticing no signs of anyone below, glanced at Gongsun Mian and sneered, "Brother Gongsun, it seems that this Daoist Li doesn't regard us highly at all—or perhaps he's unaware of our visit. Why else would not even a single person come to greet us?"

This time, Gongsun Mian had invited these individuals with the intention of fostering goodwill with Zhang Yan.

In his view, having a few allies to mutually support one another during the Treasure Meeting was certainly preferable to fighting alone.

If Zhang Yan were to appreciate the effort, considering his display of generosity in giving away spirit grass so casually, he surely wouldn't treat him poorly. Since Gongsun Mian had connections with these people, he took the initiative to invite them over and introduce them to Zhang Yan.

Yet Chu Shaohong was unaware of his true intentions, merely assuming that Zhang Yan had invited Gongsun Mian to host a banquet for them, seeking acceptance into their circle and hoping for some assistance during the Treasure Meeting.

Among these individuals, Chu Shaohong was faintly regarded as the leader, and thus naturally adopted a superior attitude. Upon first hearing that Zhang Yan was held in high regard by Yue Hongzhang, he had already felt jealous. Now, seeing such an apparent "cold reception," his dissatisfaction deepened, as he mentally plotted how to teach Zhang Yan a lesson later.

Gongsun Mian shook his head and said, "Brother Chu, we are cultured cultivators unbound by worldly conventions. Why should we take offense at such mundane formalities? Most of the people in this Baofeng Temple are ordinary Taoists. Us arriving here in a flying manner is already an extraordinary and startling act. Brother Li naturally has good reasons for not making a grand display, which is understandable."

Senior Brother He chuckled and chimed in, "Indeed, indeed. Isn't Daoist Li a loose cultivator? And he's merely staying at the Daoist temple of one of his senior brothers. It wouldn't be appropriate for him to behave too ostentatiously. Now, Brother Chu, as a Great Sect disciple, always accompanied by servants and powerful warriors wherever you go, must you really be so demanding? What do you think, Junior Sister Ke?"

Turning his head, he addressed this last question to the female cultivator. She glanced at Gongsun Mian, then at Chu Shaohong, faintly smiled, and said, "Senior Brother He speaks wisely."

Chu Shaohong snorted and dropped the matter. Looking at the empty space in front of the Baofeng Temple's main hall, he waved the token in his hand, causing the flying boat to descend.

At this moment, footsteps echoed from within the temple as Zhang Pan emerged to greet them. Bowing respectfully, he said to the five, "Honored guests, my master has been awaiting you in the hall for quite some time."

Chu Shaohong, upon seeing Zhang Pan's unsightly visage and realizing he was a spirit monster in transformed form, felt disdain and thought, "What kind of wild Daoist would use a demon as a personal servant? Others choose spirit beasts or immortal birds, yet you employ some unknown spirit monster. With a servant like this, it can only mean the master is equally unimpressive."

With that thought in mind, he spoke even more impolitely, reprimanding, "You, little servant! We traveled here from afar, and yet your master has the audacity not to greet us personally?"

Zhang Pan was taken aback. Sensing the situation deteriorating, Gongsun Mian quickly stepped forward, coughed lightly, and said, "Young servant, please lead the way."

Zhang Pan, lacking sophistication and worldly tact, failed to sense any tension. After another polite bow, he stepped aside and gestured, "Honored guests, please follow me."

Gongsun Mian shot Chu Shaohong a reproachful look before striding toward the inner hall. The other three exchanged glances among themselves before following.

Chu Shaohong ignored Gongsun Mian's gaze entirely. Confident in his close ties with several Taihao Sect disciples, he felt no need to consider Gongsun Mian's favor. Snorting coldly, he swung his sleeve dramatically and stepped inside.

When the five entered the temple, they looked up and saw a towering, imposing figure standing within the main hall. His entire presence exuded the majesty of a soaring mountain, solitary and unyielding. As the group entered, the man smiled and clasped his hands in greeting, saying, "Fellow Daoists, my apologies for not personally welcoming you from afar."

Apart from Chu Shaohong, the others, upon seeing his commanding presence, extraordinary composure, and aura as deep and unfathomable as the ocean, dared not slight him. All promptly returned his courtesy with respectful bows.

Gongsun Mian straightened up and spoke with a smile, "Brother Li, let me introduce these fellow Daoists to you."

He brought the group forward, introducing them one by one with their backgrounds.

Senior Brother Cheng was named Cheng Hao, a loose cultivator from the Changshan Sect.

As for Senior Brother He, his name was He Renxuan, a member of Qili Mountain Wujin Cave, whose previous cave master had been a disciple of the Nanhua Sect.

And that female cultivator? Her name was Ke Xiu Jun. Among the three—excluding Chu Shaohong—she hailed from the most prestigious lineage. Her mother had once been a disciple of the Peng Yuan Sect, while her father was under the Five Smoke Mountain Jingyuan Immortal Mansion. Her mastery of Daoist skills was inherited directly from her family.