Ziyang's once-a-decade Fighting Talisman Competition has finally begun. Outside, demonic beasts and demonic cultivators attack and harass the city, while within, a group of Jindan masters compete for demonic energy. This talisman gathering is very different from previous ones.
But the only constant was the enthusiasm of the lower-level cultivators. Perhaps reeling from the depression of the war, the cultivators seized this opportunity to liven up the atmosphere. In the days leading up to the Talisman Festival, daily talisman competitions, alchemy, and magic duels took place on the high platform of the city gate square. Every day, there were always busy events, including the outer city market, which was relocated to the surrounding area of the square.
All kinds of people, from those who came to watch the fun, to those who came to buy things, and to watch the magic battles, gathered here. Originally, Zhang Fan, after defeating Zhang Ping in the city gate square, had become very interested and had begun to attend every match here, openly competing with the Zhang family cultivators in talisman drawing. Each match attracted a large number of cultivators.
"Zhang Fansheng!"
As the competition host shouted loudly, the monks watching below all shouted loudly.
"Zhang Fan! Zhang Fan! Zhang Fan!"
Zhang Fan was sitting on the high platform, calm and composed. He made no unnecessary movements and just nodded slightly.
"Humph! Zhang Fan clearly doesn't take my Zhang family's side branch seriously!"
The defeated monk from the collateral branch fiercely smashed the table in front of him. He hadn't cared less about watching Zhang Fan defeat other monks in public, but when it came to his own lineage, he was immediately embarrassed.
"Haha, isn't he also from a collateral branch? Even though we are from a collateral branch, our ancestors weren't from the direct line. It's just that our ancestors didn't work hard, so we were buried."
This person was more direct and started complaining about his ancestors right away.
But none of this mattered to Zhang Fan. He gradually grew to enjoy the adoration of the crowd. As for the other cultivators from the side branches, he didn't care. His goal was to achieve first place in the Ziyang Talisman Association and legitimately become a direct descendant of the Ziyang sect. Originally, he became a direct descendant because of his uncle, but within the sect, his identity was often questioned.
Therefore, he secretly vowed from the bottom of his heart since he was a child that he must be upright and become a direct descendant of the Ziyang Zhang family. The only way to do this, besides becoming a Jindan cultivator, was to win first place in the Dou Fu Conference.
"Xing'er, how about it, are you ready?"
In the Worship Hall, Lin Chengsi was cheering Xu Xing on. His junior Xu Xing lived up to everyone's expectations and easily defeated all his competitors by drawing talismans, becoming the only candidate to represent the Worship Hall in the talisman meeting.
“It’s ready!”
Xu Xing's face was also full of determination. He knew that this victory was not only for getting the first place, but also for clearing the name of their former Ziyang family, the Xu family.
"During this period, Ziyang City will be in turmoil. This is the best opportunity for our Xu family to obtain the Divine Stone. You must take first place and get close to the Divine Stone."
Lin Chengsi finished speaking, his heart filled with regret. God knows what his family had sacrificed to truly obtain the Divine Stone. He had devoted his entire life to establishing a presence in Ziyang City, where the Divine Stone was most easily obtained.
They hope that after obtaining the magic stone, their clan will be able to truly take off.
Finally, when the time for the talisman meeting arrived, the climax of the Ziyang Talisman Meeting, the competition between the Worship Hall and the side branches, began.
The entire sky of Ziyang City was ablaze with sunshine and a clear, blue sky. It could be said that all the cultivators of Ziyang City had gathered in the city square. The cultivators of the Demon Suppression Division had been kept busy during this period.
Lin Feng and Ling Tong haven't slept for several days.
"Captain, many of our brothers can't stand it anymore."
One of Ling Tong's close teammates came up to the captain with a tired look on his face and said.
"I know you brothers have been working hard lately. After today, you can have a good rest."
Jiang Yun also arrived at the square at the city gate early. There was already an uproar here. In order to accommodate more cultivators, some houses around the square were also demolished. After all, for cultivators, the speed of building houses is much faster than that of ordinary people.
Away from the platform, huge jade screens were installed to prevent the monks from crowding in front of the platform. Instead, monks from the Demon Suppression Division would guide the monks to different viewing areas based on their cultivation level, reputation, and so on.
The monks from the Offering Hall didn't have to squeeze into the crowd below like the other monks. Instead, they had dedicated viewing areas. This was especially true for Jiang Yun, the Foundation Establishment Monk from the Offering Hall. Upon arriving at the competition arena, a monk warmly greeted him.
"Senior Jiang, please!" Jiang Yun heard a familiar voice and looked up. It was Huo Feng. Ever since his identity was exposed and he had returned to his true form, he had stopped participating in the gatherings of Huo Feng's small group. He didn't expect to see him here again.
"Brother Huo, just call me Jiang Yun. I'm still the same Mu Lin!"
Jiang Yun's words made Huo Feng even happier. The reason why he hadn't seen Jiang Yun in these years was that he felt that it was not very decent for the other party to hide his identity and they were all kept in the dark.
On the other hand, if Jiang Yun becomes a foundation-building person, he will not be like before, hiding himself and playing along with the younger generation.
But seeing Jiang Yun's temper, Huo Feng immediately called out to him affectionately.
"Brother Jiang." He immediately led Jiang Yun to the front of the dedicated area of the worship hall. This was right next to the fighting platform. Further ahead was where the judges and the master were seated.
"Grandmaster Sima has arrived!"
"Master Fu has arrived!"
As the spectators took their seats, the presiding monk called out to the grandmasters of the talisman path, one by one, as they approached the judges' seats. The presiding monk called out each name, drawing cheers from the crowd below. Jiang Yun watched with rapt interest, feeling it all resembled a talent show from his past life.
"Huh?"
After all the judges were seated, Jiang Yun realized that Elder Cao Zishi, whom he had known before, was not among them. The other party had clearly favored Zhang Fan, so they should have arrived earlier.
He immediately turned his gaze to Lin Chengsi, who sat in front of him. He sat in the front row with a calm expression, nodding frequently to the referees beside him.
"Brother Jiang, you don't know yet!" At this moment, Hu Ming, who was sitting next to Jiang Yun, quietly came over and said softly.
"A few days ago, Cao Zishi, the originally designated referee, was suddenly attacked by an unknown cultivator and was seriously injured. He had to withdraw from the Dou Fu refereeing."
"Oh, I see!" Jiang Yun's eyes fixed on Lin Chengsi. Lin Chengsi seemed to sense something, turned his head to see Jiang Yun, and nodded at him with a smile.
It seems Hu Ming also knows what happened between Jiang Yun and Xu Xing at Cao Zishi's residence. Thinking of this, Jiang Yun asked curiously.
"Then the collateral branches won't take advantage of the opportunity to cause trouble?"
Hu Ming chuckled when he heard this and said softly:
"You don't know, recently, that Zhang Fan has been the object of everyone's dislike in the side branch. It's good enough that the side branch doesn't take advantage of him. Who would stand up for him, relying on his expressionless guard?"
Hu Ming finished his words, glancing disdainfully at the stern-faced monk sitting across from him on the platform. It was none other than Zhang Yuming, the man Jiang Yun had once battled with. The other man's wind magic had truly opened Jiang Yun's eyes.
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