Cultivation: I Have a Golden Talisman

Fang Cheng watched for a moment, clicking his tongue in amazement. "To think such a marvelous sight exists within the Yun Country."

Feng Ziang smiled. "The greatest marvel of this desert lies underground. The number of Ancient Ruins here is astounding. It’s said that tens of thousands of years ago, this place was a vast ocean, and many great families and sects resided on islands. Now, it’s all buried beneath thousands of feet of yellow sand..."

As the two were talking, Fang Cheng’s eyes suddenly flashed, and he glanced to the side.

Feng Ziang, a moment slower, also seemed to sense something and turned to look.

In the distant sky, the sound of a Jade Chime rang out. Then, dozens of piercing rays of firelight streaked across the horizon. At first glance, the lights seemed scattered and chaotic, but upon closer inspection, a profound pattern could be discerned.

Within each ray of firelight, a Fire Crow danced.

The dozens of Fire Crows converged, transforming into a single, intensely dazzling, magnificent flame that descended from the sky, ultimately blocking the path of the Yinluo Flying Ship.

A beautiful woman appeared within the firelight. She looked to be in her thirties, with a curvaceous figure and a slender waist. Her brows were faintly arched, and her hair was styled in a Flying Immortal Bun. She wore a long, flowing dress with a flame pattern, its water-like sleeves fluttering in the wind, giving her a celestial air.

She stood poised in the sky, single-handedly blocking the Flying Boat’s path. In a pleasant voice, she said, "I am Mu Xuanyu of the Flame God Palace. By order of the Palace Master, I am standing guard here. The area ahead is a restricted zone of my Flame God Palace. I must ask our friends from the Yinluo Sect to please take a different route."

Fang Cheng’s expression turned strange. He hadn’t expected to run into his recent opponent here.

The most vivid memory he had of their battle was the dazzling, snow-white skin and enchanting physique revealed after he had shattered the beautiful woman’s dress with a single punch.

Right now, this Flame God Palace Elder carried herself with a calm and collected demeanor. Her beautiful eyes swept over the Cultivators on the Yinluo Flying Ship without a hint of panic, a clear testament to her confidence in her own cultivation and combat strength.

Cai Li had not appeared on deck.

Fang Cheng thought to himself, ’If this Flame God Palace Elder were to see Cai Li, or even sense her aura, I wonder how she would react?’

’The Flame God Palace’s Fire Crow Escape Technique is marvelous, but I doubt it’s faster than Cai Li’s sword light.’

’Or could it be that a Flame God Palace Earth Elder is also hiding nearby?’

On the deck, Huang Shen and Xiao Qi had the highest cultivation.

Both were at the same stage as Mu Xuanyu.

Huang Shen spoke up, "Since when did this place become the Flame God Palace’s territory? What if we decide to force our way through?"

Mu Xuanyu replied, "Then it will depend on whether your esteemed sect has the ability to get past me."

Huang Shen looked at Mu Xuanyu and chuckled. "I heard that not long ago, you fought an Early-stage Life Talisman Loose Cultivator in the Abyssal Marsh and were carelessly defeated. It’s truly strange that your esteemed sect would still dare to send you to block our path!"

Mu Xuanyu’s expression remained serene as she said faintly, "You need not concern yourself with my abilities, Mr. Huang. As long as I can stop all of you, that is enough."

Huang Shen chuckled lightly. "I don’t believe the Flame God Palace sent only you. Why don’t the others come out as well? Let me see what you’ve all got."

Mu Xuanyu gave a slight sneer but didn’t respond.

Huang Shen looked at Xiao Qi and asked, "Old Xiao, you or me?"

Xiao Qi smiled. "Mr. Huang, you go first. You’re known as the Female Subduing Sect Leader of Abyss Lake. This female cultivator is a perfect match for your title. I will cover you."

Huang Shen sighed helplessly. ’Our senior sister is here,’ he thought, ’what do I need your cover for?’

He was about to step forward when Fang Cheng stopped him.

"Elder Huang, let me give it a try."

Fang Cheng said, cupping his hands. He was wearing his Suanni mask.

Because they were on sect business, he addressed his second senior brother as Elder.

Huang Shen considered it for a moment, then said gently, "Alright. If you’re outmatched, someone will step in to help you."

Fang Cheng smiled, and with a flicker of his body, he flew off the Yinluo Flying Ship.

Among the Yinluo Sect group, he was the one who best understood Mu Xuanyu’s capabilities.

Last time, he had let her leave after she conceded defeat. Now that they’d met again, he couldn’t just let her go so easily.

Mu Xuanyu was slightly surprised to see an Early-stage Life Talisman Cultivator fly out from the opposing Flying Boat, but her vigilance didn’t falter in the slightest. Instead, she raised her guard completely and, without a word, attacked with her full power.

She summoned her Primordial Yang Ruler and with a light wave, a sky full of flowing fire surged toward Fang Cheng.

The sky instantly brightened, the light so intense and dazzling that it was hard to look at directly.

A clear, high-pitched sword hum rang out.

Then, a chillingly cold sword light appeared.

In an instant, the heavens grew cold, a chilling aura assailing the senses. A grim sword light tore through the sky, twisting and turning with deadly grace as it plunged into the sea of firelight.

This sword light was incomparably fast, its movements miraculously unpredictable. Accompanied by the dull roar of Sword Qi Thunder Sound, it instantly shattered all the flowing fire and shot toward Mu Xuanyu.

Mu Xuanyu was immediately startled. ’He seems to be extremely familiar with my Divine Techniques.’

She twirled the Primordial Yang Ruler in her hand, and a phantasmal image of the ruler flew out to intercept the incoming sword light.

CLANG!

The sword light suddenly split apart. In an instant, an infinite number of Sword Auras erupted, shooting toward Mu Xuanyu.

A blinding flame burst from Mu Xuanyu’s body, instantly transforming her into a Flame Giant!

It seethed like boiling fire, its brilliant flames stretching for a hundred zhang, resembling a blazing sun.

The Flame Giant spread its massive hand, and a huge golden fireball materialized, moving to block the Sword Auras.

An extreme heat surged forth, powerful enough to refine even the Sword Auras that rushed into it!

Just then, a pitch-black Demonic Light appeared without a sound. In a flash, it traversed the void, passing through the Flame Giant’s body completely unscathed and emerging behind Mu Xuanyu.

Within the Demonic Light, Fang Cheng’s figure calmly emerged. He swiped with his finger, and an incomparably sharp sword light sliced through Mu Xuanyu’s Protective Spiritual Light.

Immediately after, a brightly gleaming golden rope shot out like lightning, instantly wrapping around Mu Xuanyu several times, tightly binding the beautiful woman with her proud, full-figured, and mature body.

A formless, immense power surged from the Immortal Binding Rope, instantly suppressing the beautiful woman’s Magical Power and Divine Sense, causing her cultivation to plummet.

The sky-filling firelight and the Flame Giant vanished in an instant, like an illusory dream.

Fang Cheng grabbed the beautiful woman, seized her Primordial Yang Ruler, and was just about to take her back to the Yinluo Flying Ship when a warning siren suddenly blared in his mind, and an incredibly dangerous feeling washed over him.

The next moment, a Golden Fire Sword Qi, as magnificent as the sun, suddenly illuminated the heavens and earth, crossing thousands of feet of open sky to strike.

The aura of this Sword Qi was so overwhelming that his eyelids twitched. He knew he couldn’t face it head-on.

But then, from the Yinluo Flying Ship, a chillingly cold sword light cleaved through the air, appearing in front of the Golden Fire Sword Qi in an instant and shattering it into a shower of golden firelight.

It was Cai Li who had made a move.

Fang Cheng seized the opportunity to use the Yin Yang Heaven Escape Technique, returning to the Yinluo Flying Ship as if he had teleported.

The hidden Flame God Palace expert, despite having numerous techniques at their disposal, had no time to use them.

Neither the Yinluo Sect nor the Flame God Palace had anticipated that Mu Xuanyu would be defeated in such a short amount of time.

It had truly caught both sides off guard, even causing the two Late-stage Life Talisman Cultivators who were intently watching the battle to fumble.

Huang Shen, Xiao Qi, and the Seven Fierce of the Law Enforcement Hall stared as Fang Cheng returned to the Yinluo Flying Ship with Mu Xuanyu in tow, all of them dumbfounded.

A strange question surfaced in everyone’s mind: ’Just who is the real Female Subduing Sect Leader?’

An angry snort echoed through the void, clearly furious that Mu Xuanyu had been captured so easily.

What was supposed to be a probing action against the Yinluo Sect had inadvertently cost them a Profound Elder...

Even if one of the Yinluo Sect’s Inner Sect Elders had attacked, it would have been impossible to decide the victor in such a short time.

Mu Xuanyu’s defeat was simply too unbelievable.

A moment later, the light from the Golden Fire Sword Qi finally dissipated.

The sky returned to its calm, azure state.

On the deck of the Yinluo Flying Ship, Fang Cheng stored the proud and graceful Mu Xuanyu inside the Water Cloud Bead, then stood there nonchalantly, as if what had just happened was a trivial matter.

He had placed seven different restrictive seals all over Mu Xuanyu’s body, sealing her soul, physical body, Magical Power, and Qi Sea.

Only then did he retract the Immortal Binding Rope.

’This woman is a Mid-Life Talisman Stage expert. She’s still useful alive; it would be a waste to kill her.’

The Yinluo Sect’s Flying Boat continued onward, and soon, an Oasis of about a hundred acres appeared ahead!

A lake and a lush, vibrant forest came into everyone’s view.

Within the Oasis were numerous palaces and manors, brimming with potent Spiritual Qi and vibrant life.

Floating above the Oasis was an octagonal Celestial Palace with two main halls, connected by golden bridges and iron chains. A thick ring of firelight circled the palace, while auspicious clouds and fortunate energies drifted all around.

Surrounding the Celestial Palace, countless giant Fire Crows, each about ten feet in size, flew in circles, enveloping the entire Oasis and faintly forming a massive array.

Everyone recognized it at a glance: the Flame God Palace’s Fire Crow Array.

...