Starting Cultivation During a Trip

As expected, what he said was indeed true—for him, there was no difference between being here or outside.

Rumble…

The cage was burst apart by Fang Changle's overwhelming aura; his arm shot forward, springing like a spear, thrusting straight at Zhang Fan.

Buzz…

Almost at the same instant, Zhang Fan's body trembled, dappled with clouds of radiant light, as if starlight descended from that North Pole Profound Heaven.

"Mother of Stars, Dou Mansion Venerable King!"

"Celestial Mother Heart Curse!?"

Fang Changle's eyes darkened minutely, yet he recognized it instantly.

"This technique ended up in Zhenwu Mountain's hands, and only Xia Weisheng ever mastered it—are you a disciple of Zhenwu Mountain!?"

Fang Changle's perception and insight were as terrifying as his aura, yet before Zhang Fan could reply, his spear-like arm fell onto Zhang Fan's body. The starlight quaked like a suit of armor, repelling him away instantly.

"What a powerful physique!?"

Zhang Fan's brow lifted—Fang Changle's body was so astoundingly strong it could withstand the Celestial Mother Heart Curse with mere flesh and blood.

However, if one examined him with their Primordial Spirit, they would see faint runes coursing beneath Fang Changle's skin and flowing in his blood. These runes writhed like tiny worms, not only filling his blood and merging with his skin, but even branding themselves on his very sinews and bones.

"Maoshan's secret art, Spirit Talisman Refining Dharma Body!?" Sui Chunsheng's eyes widened, and this Maoshan Taoist Skill exploded into his mind.

It is said this method uses Maoshan's secret Thirty-six Talismans to temper the body's skin and hair, flesh and bone, organs and viscera…all the way to reach the Realm of Spiritual Profound Truth.

Yet this art is perilous—it remakes the body, a baptism of fire and bone, and one working this cultivation faces near-certain death without great courage and fortune.

Boom…

Fang Changle attacked again. As his fist fell, runes flickered on his knuckles, stirring up heavy ripples.

Zhang Fan circulated the [Celestial Mother Heart Curse], starlight flowing and gathering at his hands. He too punched out to kill.

Rumble…

Their two silhouettes collided; cracks snaked outwards in the ground, and the terrifying impact whipped up violent gusts that pressed upon everyone's chest—they could barely breathe.

"What an incredible curse skill!"

Fang Changle let out a long howl, then abruptly pointed through the void, sketching in mid-air.

"Heaven round, earth square, nine laws in command—by my brush's stroke, ten thousand ghosts are suppressed!"

Mid-air Talisman Painting—the signature skill of Maoshan.

Rumble…

Suddenly, with a stroke, Fang Changle traced an unusual talisman in the air, its shape like dragon and snake ascending the land; murder intent surged between heaven and earth.

Roar…

The onlookers shuddered. In a trance, they saw Fang Changle's Primordial Spirit about to emerge. In that mystical moment, a ball of fire flickered from his spirit and mirrored itself onto that strange talisman, causing it to blaze with dazzling light.

"That's… the Red Dragon Fire Talisman!?"

Sui Chunsheng's gaze trembled, a look of utter disbelief on his face.

He had long heard that Maoshan possessed an ancestral treasure, called the Red Dragon Fire Talisman.

According to legend, in ancient days, a strange fire fell from the sky upon West River Mountain. At that time, the Maoshan Ancestral Master passed by, seeing a pillar of red light shooting skyward, ceaseless as the days. Entering the mountain's depths, he discovered an ancient well filled with flames; dragon roars echoed within, so terrifying that the mountain beasts fled in fright.

The Maoshan Ancestral Master, wielding vast Great Divine Techniques, entered the ancient well himself.

That night, as the bright moon hung high, those present heard a dragon's roar shake the heavens; peering over, they saw a crimson glow streak across the sky, like a dragon's form.

From then on, that ancient well was never seen again.

Upon returning to Maoshan, the Ancestral Master left behind a dragon-shaped Celestial Talisman, containing infinite mysteries. Descendants transformed it into the Red Dragon Jade Talisman.

"It's long been rumored: Fang Changle was exceptionally gifted, gaining the Ancestral Master's favor at thirteen and inheriting the Red Dragon Fire Talisman…"

Sui Chunsheng's face was solemn.

"No wonder his Primordial Spirit is unlike any other."

Fang Changle's Primordial Spirit was like a mass of crimson flame, burning eternally. Deep within, a mysterious phantom coiled, and with its terrifying power, the talisman he crafted turned to True Flame, striking down like the red dragon's rebirth, blazingly intense.

"A fine Fire Technique—yet I have a skill as well."

At that moment, Zhang Fan's eyes blazed. His chest heaved, and with a single exhale, he spewed out torrents of True Flame—like dragon, like sword, exuding mysterious might.

"Fire Dragon Pill Sword!?" Fang Changle's eyes narrowed, a faint chuckle escaping him.

"Though that technique is marvelous, it cannot withstand my Red Dragon Fire Talisman!"

His Primordial Spirit was already fused with this treasure; as the talisman formed, head of the Fire Dao, ordinary true flames could never compare.

Rumble…

Indeed, as the red dragon descended, erupting flames became razor-sharp fangs and claws, eager to rend Zhang Fan's conjured fire dragon asunder.

"Threefold Flame!"

Right then, Zhang Fan formed a seal with one hand and uttered a crisp cry.

In that instant, the fire dragon he summoned let out a sword's hum, then split into three.

Lately, Zhang Fan had studied the [Fire Character Sticker] and absorbed the Centennial Ginseng King, long since raising the power of the [Fire Dragon Pill Sword] by several tiers, creating far more variations.

Threefold Flame was one of them—a union of three fire dragons in concert.

"The Pill Fire begets three wonders!?"

All those present revealed astonished expressions—even Fang Changle's brow quirked up.

Zhang Fan's fire dragon multiplied into three, their bodies soaring. The ambient temperature surged sharply, the terrifying aura distorting the very scenery before their eyes.

In the next instant, the three fire dragons attacked from different directions, encircling like a spiraling drill—and tore the ferocious red dragon to shreds then and there.

Rumble…

The red dragon dissolved, and the talisman formed from the void instantly shattered, becoming a flurry of scattering sparks.

Swoosh…

Almost at that very moment, Zhang Fan drew in a breath, and the once-fierce trio of fire dragons whirled around him, dispersing as ceaseless currents of wind.