Cultivation: I Have a Golden Talisman

Morning.

At the edge of the horizon where water met sky, a red semicircle slowly appeared. It rose and fell with the waves, gradually growing larger.

Before long, the morning sun broke free from the waves, revealing a crimson, cloud-like half-orb that floated above the azure waters at the world’s edge.

A myriad of light rays shot into the distant sky, which transformed from the pale white of a fish’s belly to the first light of dawn.

The many high clouds above the great marsh reflected the sunlight, turning the sky into a tapestry of golden haze. The sun’s slanted rays painted the water’s surface gold. The light of the sky and the color of the sea merged into a fantastic, radiant display.

The great sun rose, brightly illuminating the cloudy sky.

The magnificent and unparalleled spectacle of the Abyssal Marsh unfolded before Ruan San Niang and Elder Yingya.

Their Flying Celestial Chariot appeared near Yinluo Island. The two of them stared from afar at the Yinluo Sect Mountain Gate, which was bathed in the morning light. A sharp glint flashed in Ruan San Niang’s eyes as she said, "Fellow Daoist Ying, please make your move."

Elder Yingya nodded. He opened his hand, and a spiritual light flickered in his palm. A simple, unadorned Four-sided Treasure Cauldron materialized.

This Treasure Cauldron was called the Primordial Image Cauldron. It was one of the six Sect’s Treasure Artifacts of the True Flame Sect from the Jin Country, a Fourth-grade Middle-grade Magical Artifact.

This cauldron devoured the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi, refining it into the ethereal bodies of Ancient Primordial Beasts. It could reproduce a fraction of the power of these Ancient Wild Beasts.

Elder Yingya had been invited by Ruan San Niang from the Jin Country to deal with the Yinluo Sect. Although it was a small sect in a remote region, he didn’t dare to be careless.

He was well aware of the Ten Thousand Transformations Sect’s power. If an opponent couldn’t be handled by their ordinary Life Soul Cultivators, they were certainly no small fry!

At that moment, he channeled his vast and profound Magical Power into the Primordial Image Cauldron. A burst of white light shot out from the cauldron toward the heavens. As it descended, it transformed into two hundred-zhang-tall ethereal Spiritual Apes, their auras ferocious to the extreme.

Upon closer inspection, one would discover that both ethereal Spiritual Apes originated from ancient primordial mutant species. One was a Can Shui Divine Ape, and the other was a Sun-Devouring Divine Ape.

Spiritual light flowed over the bodies of the two ethereal Spiritual Apes. Their fur was lifelike, their expressions animated, and they radiated an immense and terrifying pressure.

A smile touched the corners of Ruan San Niang’s mouth. These two ethereal Spiritual Apes were comparable to two Tier Four primordial beasts. In terms of both Divine Techniques and Magical Power, they could rival a Dharma Stage master.

This was the strongest fighting force the Ten Thousand Transformations Sect could currently muster!

The appearance of the two ethereal Spiritual Apes above Yinluo Island immediately caused a disturbance in the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi for hundreds of miles around. The Elders and Disciples on the island all sensed the violent fluctuation almost simultaneously.

People emerged from their Cave Mansions, and their eyes fell upon two colossal, hundred-zhang-tall Divine Apes. A terrifying pressure descended like a great mountain, making it hard to breathe.

On Yinluo Island, a Demonic Light slowly rose, transforming into a canopy that enveloped and protected the entire island.

Three figures appeared at the edge of the Sect Protection Array: Su Miao, Sun Fuguo, and Xun Yuanchu.

The three of them stared in shock at the two enormous Divine Apes outside the array, their brows tightly furrowed.

Su Miao’s gaze fell on Elder Yingya and Ruan San Niang. He asked in a low voice, "Fellow Daoist Ruan, my Yinluo Sect has already had a duel with your Ten Thousand Transformations Sect. If you’ve come again over the matter of the last wager, doesn’t that make your esteemed sect seem like you’re going back on your word? It’s hardly befitting of a major sect’s reputation."

Ruan San Niang giggled and said nonchalantly, "I have come this time only to have another match with Fellow Daoist Fang Cheng. He hid his true strength before, pretending to be weak to catch a bigger prize. His victory wasn’t exactly honorable, you know."

Sun Fuguo’s eyebrow twitched, and killing intent swirled around him. He sneered, "So you went and found a Dharma Cultivator to duel with a Life Soul Cultivator from our sect? Heh, so this is the true character of the Ten Thousand Transformations Sect!"

Ruan San Niang was unfazed. She just chuckled and said, "Enough with the sharp tongues. Just bring Fang Cheng out. If he hides and refuses to show himself, I’ll blockade the Yinluo Sect Mountain Gate today and then slowly grind down this Sect Protection Array of yours."

Killing intent filled Sun Fuguo’s face, and Sword Intent flowed around him. He was about to take his Bone Daoist Palace out to test their strength.

Su Miao quickly grabbed him and urged in a low voice, "Don’t be reckless. Send someone to get Fang Cheng immediately."

Sun Fuguo sighed softly. Looking down, he saw his disciples, Huang Shen and Feng Ziang, nearby and said, "You two, make a trip to the Fang Family!"

He then added via voice transmission, "Our visitors have ill intentions. You must inform Fang Cheng about the Fourth-rank Magical Artifact and the two ethereal bodies of Tier Four Demon Beasts. Tell him to make plans quickly. It would be best if he laid low for now and took the opportunity to flee."

Huang Shen and Feng Ziang accepted their orders. They slipped quietly through the Island Defense Array and flew south.

Ruan San Niang and Yingya saw this but did not stop them.

Although Ruan San Niang had her suspicions, her ultimate goal was all the Cultivators in the entire Abyssal Marsh. If she could make them submit without a fight, that would be for the best.

...

Huang Shen and Feng Ziang used their full speed for their Flying Escape, arriving at Primordial Qi Celestial Island in short order.

After entering and explaining their purpose, they learned that Fang Cheng was in seclusion.

Left with no choice, the two of them, along with Ye Yan, struck the Jade Chime outside the secret chamber to call Fang Cheng out.

After hearing what his two senior brothers had to say, Fang Cheng shook his head and said, "I’ll go and meet him. The Ten Thousand Transformations Sect acts like a demonic sect; we cannot simply back down."

Besides, if the skin is gone, what will the fur attach to?

If Fang Cheng were merely a Loose Cultivator, he could have just left and avoided the conflict.

But the Fang Family had already put down roots in the Abyssal Marsh. How could he just hand over such a fine territory?

And another thing... the Fang Cheng of today wasn’t necessarily afraid of a Dharma Cultivator!

’Now I’ll see for myself what difference there is between a Dharma Cultivator from the Red Profound Realm and those Demon Marquises!’

He walked out of the main hall and summoned the Feather Divine Soldiers. A hundred-zhang-tall Mystic Iron Giant appeared above Primordial Qi Celestial Island, causing Jingyuan and Jingxuan to become excited once more, their faces showing an almost blind adoration.

Not to mention the other members of the Fang Family, who were filled with even more shock and curiosity about this treasure.

Fang Cheng flew calmly into the Feather Divine Soldiers. Then, on the body of this massive, indigo-colored mystic iron creation, divine light flowed across its simple yet majestic golden armor, and the twin wings on its back slowly unfurled.

The next moment, the Feather Divine Soldiers flapped their wings and shot into the air. A heaven-shaking Thunder Light erupted from its body, instantly draining the color from the sky!

The Thunder Light exploded mid-air, and the hundred-zhang giant vanished in a flash.

Outside Yinluo Island, a sudden, massive clap of thunder was heard from the horizon, rolling in like a tide with terrifying force.

The crowd of Cultivators on the island looked toward the sound. They saw a streak of Thunder Light approaching from the horizon at an incredible speed.

At first, it was just a small speck of light, but in the blink of an eye, it had become a ball of radiance as brilliant as the scorching sun.

Elder Yingya stared at the Feather Divine Soldiers within the Thunder Light, a fervent and unusual glint in his eyes. He said, "What a fine treasure. I’ve never seen such an Artifact Refining Technique. To think that a remote place like the Yun Country would possess such an artifact refining legacy? Truly bizarre!"

A voice boomed from the heavens: "Fang Cheng of the Yinluo Sect asks for your instruction!"

The voice had barely faded when the Feather Divine Soldiers arrived directly above Ruan San Niang and Elder Yingya. Without another word, a sky full of blinding Thunder Light crashed down on the two of them!

Ruan San Niang was already prepared. She immediately summoned a Golden Great Banner. Countless golden rays spread out, enveloped her tall figure, and instantly teleported her ten li away, outside the battle’s area of effect.

Elder Yingya, however, stood unhurriedly in the chariot. Holding the Primordial Image Cauldron, he gently formed a hand seal. One of the two Divine Apes, the Can Shui Divine Ape, let out a long cry. A Water True Light spread out from its back and fearlessly collided with the sky-shaking Celestial Thunder unleashed by the Feather Divine Soldiers.

BOOM!

A violent explosion echoed through the air.

An invisible, furious shockwave spread across the sky, instantly clearing away the sea of clouds and revealing the azure firmament.

The Feather Divine Soldiers stood proudly in the sky. Behind it, thousands of Thunderous Sword Auras rained down like a waterfall, enveloping both Divine Apes.

...