Chapter 1697: Champion

"You're here," Zuan chuckled sheepishly. "That Yun Jianyue is truly cunning; she actually kidnapped her beforehand to ensure her disciple's victory."

Pei Mianman was startled, instantly pulling away from Zuan's embrace. For some reason, she always felt a little flustered whenever she saw Chu Chuyan.

She then thought to herself, *I've spent much more time with Ah Zu, so why do I still feel guilty?*

Logically, it made no sense, but the guilt was undeniably real.

Yan Xuehen smiled wryly, "If that demoness knew you were talking about her like this behind her back, she'd probably come looking for trouble with you."

"With Sister Yan protecting me, I'm not afraid of her." Zuan thought to himself that he still hadn't settled scores with Yun Jianyue. Yesterday, they had indulged in passionate intimacy in this very room, trying out various challenging positions, yet she hadn't told him that Mianman was also hidden here.

A hint of surprise appeared in Chu Chuyan's eyes. Although she had previously heard her master mention their experiences among the demon race, their tone with each other seemed a bit too familiar.

However, she didn't dwell on it. Instead, she went over and helped Pei Mianman up, asking if she had sustained any injuries or illnesses. After all, Pei Mianman was one of her few friends over the years.

Sensing the concern in Chu Chuyan's voice, Pei Mianman secretly sighed, *Chu Chuyan, if only you were a little bit less virtuous, I wouldn't have to feel so conflicted.*

Just then, other members of the Daoist sects also followed. Huoling Shitai, having received the news, burst in frantically. Seeing Pei Mianman safe and sound, she rushed forward in one swift motion, embracing her tightly, too emotional to speak.

Seeing the faint teary glint in her eyes, Zuan reflected that he had previously harbored some resentment towards her, but she was genuinely good to Mianman.

Mianman had a unique background; although she came from the Pei family, she had essentially never experienced the warmth of familial affection.

"Now that the Demonic Cult's demoness's plot has been thwarted and Miss Pei has been found, it's a joyous occasion for all," Guan Chouhai said with a smile. He quickly thought of another problem: "But how should we determine the champion of this grand competition?"

Huoling Shitai glared, "My Mianman has already reached the finals. Her opponent, the demoness from the Demonic Cult, ran away, so the champion is naturally Mianman's."

At this point, Feng Wuchang interjected, "That doesn't seem right. In my opinion, the last person to fight the demoness should be the substitute. Wu Xiaofan's character and cultivation are widely recognized. I think it would be more appropriate for him to enter the finals in Qiu Honglei's place."

Mudongzhu said in a deep voice, "Shi Dingtian of our Taixuan Cave also only lost to that demoness. Why can Wu Xiaofan directly substitute into the finals, but our Shi Dingtian cannot?"

Wang Wuxie finally spoke, "We can let Wu Xiaofan and Shi Dingtian have a match. The winner will enter the finals."

At this point, Wantongtian sneered, "What a joke! Everyone has their reasons. Can't I also say that Wan Guiyi only lost to Wu Xiaofan because he was severely injured beforehand? In a fair fight, he might not have lost. If we're reconsidering the finalists, why not let Wan Guiyi also have a match?"

Hearing him, members of other sects also began clamoring, and the room instantly became as noisy as a marketplace.

Xie Daoyun, huddled in a corner, quietly stuck out her tongue. Before coming to Mount Zi, she had thought these Daoist elders were all serene and ethereal, like immortals. But after getting to know them, she found them not much different from the common vendors and peddlers in a marketplace.

Li Changsheng cleared his throat lightly, "In my opinion, why not let Chu Chuyan take the demoness's spot and have a match with Miss Pei?"

His disciple, Lou Wucheng, had previously lost fairly to Shi Dingtian, so he had no standing to propose another match.

But Chu Chuyan was also from White Jade Capital; as long as the championship and the Wordless Heavenly Book were brought back to the sect, it would still be keeping the benefits within their own fold.

As soon as he said this, the scene immediately quieted down. They quickly realized that Chu Chuyan was indeed the most suitable candidate.

Firstly, her popularity among the Daoist sects had always been high. Secondly, everyone had witnessed her recent fierce battle with Qiu Honglei, so her strength was absolutely unquestionable.

Just then, Chu Chuyan spoke, "I don't want to participate in the competition. My previous task was to duel with the Demonic Cult's Saintess, and I have already completed that."

Whether it was because of Zuan or her relationship with Pei Mianman, she didn't want to fight this match, as it would sour their harmony.

Pei Mianman was stunned by her words, and her gaze towards Chu Chuyan immediately became complex.

Hearing that she didn't want to fight, many people immediately grew anxious, urging her to change her mind.

However, Chu Chuyan was like a block of ice; no matter how these people tried to persuade her, she showed no reaction.

"Since Chu Chuyan is unwilling, don't force her," Yan Xuehen said. She naturally understood her disciple's thoughts, thinking to herself, *That Zuan boy is quite lucky; even though the women around him might contend, they are quite kind at heart.*

Hearing her say this, the others quickly ceased their arguments, finding it inappropriate to press the matter further.

Only Guan Chouhai mumbled, "But if Miss Chu doesn't participate, it will be hard to find another candidate who will command respect."

Zuan chuckled, "What's so difficult about that? Just declare Miss Pei the champion."

Pei Mianman's face flushed. If not for the others watching, she probably would have tugged at his sleeve. She herself hadn't even thought of taking first place.

Guan Chouhai said with dissatisfaction, "Although Miss Pei's cultivation isn't weak, she advanced this far mostly through byes, relying on luck. That won't convince many people."

Huoling Shitai retorted angrily, "Hmph, her defeat of your disciple was genuine and undeniable. Are you trying to say your disciple is much weaker than the other chief disciples?"

Guan Chouhai instantly choked, while Zhuyin, too, wore a resentful expression. He had just managed to recover from that defeat in recent days, and now the painful memory was being dragged up again.

Zuan said, "What's wrong with relying on luck? Cultivation depends on personal effort, and secondly, on luck. Miss Pei's victory over Zhuyin proved her strength, and her numerous byes along the way demonstrated that her fortune surpasses that of ordinary people. Clearly, her future is limitless. Choosing her as the champion will absolutely not diminish the prestige of your Daoist sects."

Seeing others still hesitating, Zuan added, "If you truly let Wu Xiaofan or Shi Dingtian, who genuinely lost to Qiu Honglei, become the Daoist sect's champion, won't you be ridiculed by the Demonic Cult endlessly?"

Hearing him say this, all the Daoist sect members suddenly came to their senses and no longer had the desire to contend.

And so, Pei Mianman somehow became the champion of this Daoist Grand Competition. Perhaps because her victory wasn't achieved through direct combat, the awards ceremony was notably subdued.

Everyone's reaction was not as enthusiastic as expected. Many disciples were actually not convinced by Pei Mianman taking first place; she had only fought one strong opponent, Zhuyin, from beginning to end. Which of the other chief disciples hadn't endured arduous battles all the way through?

Sensing the resentment cast from all directions, Zhuyin became even more resentful. However, he then thought that his only loss was to the current champion, which suddenly seemed not so difficult to accept.

At the awards ceremony, Wang Wuxie distributed various rare treasures and prizes to the top ten contestants. Although these items were precious, they held little attraction for Zuan in his current state.

Knowing that the Daoist sects had handed the Wordless Heavenly Book over to the Azure Nether Palace, Zuan finally took a closer look.

The book's exterior was unremarkable; made of an unknown material, it even looked like a book carved from stone. With his current divine sense, he could perceive the area around Pei Mianman.

As expected, there wasn't a single word on the book, but a profound and mysterious rhythm permeated its entire form.

He wondered if he could find an opportunity to examine it up close to see if he would gain any insights.

In contrast, the reactions of the other Daoist sect members were much calmer. After all, the Wordless Heavenly Book had been circulating among the Daoist sects for over a thousand years, and countless brilliant individuals throughout that time had failed to uncover its secrets. Many even suspected that the book held no secrets at all.

The young monk Jiese asked the old monk beside him, "Master, do you know the secret of the Daoist sect's Wordless Heavenly Book?"

"If I knew, I'd be the leader of the Daoist sects," Jianhuang Dashi retorted grumpily, seemingly annoyed that his disciple had asked such a foolish question.

"Do we in Buddhism have anything comparable to the Daoist sect's Wordless Heavenly Book?" Monk Jiese asked, looking at the distant heavenly book with immense envy.

"Of course there is. The *Buddhist Sutra on Palm Leaves* is spoken of in the same breath as the Daoist sect's Wordless Heavenly Book," Jianhuang Dashi's expression suddenly darkened. "Unfortunately, even I have only heard its name and never seen the actual item. In fact, it's likely no Buddhist disciple in this world has ever truly seen it."