Cultivation: I Have a Golden Talisman

High in the firmament, the view was open and stretched for a thousand li.

Across the azure sky, a spindle-shaped shuttle with two pointed ends streaked across the horizon, its speed astonishingly fast.

A layer of silver light coated the shuttle, shimmering and dancing under the sun, making it exceptionally dazzling.

A closer look would reveal that the shuttle moved without a sound. With every flicker, it traversed dozens of li. After just a few breaths, it vanished over the horizon.

A Fourth-rank Magical Artifact, the Ruyi Celestial Escape Shuttle.

The space inside the shuttle was spacious, its furnishings elegant and comfortable. Fang Cheng sat leisurely, contemplating the matter of the Ten Thousand Transformations Sect.

The information he had gleaned from Ruan San Niang’s Spiritual Memory was quite limited.

The Master of Ten Thousand Transformations Sect had a mysterious background, lived a reclusive life, and rarely showed his face.

When Ruan San Niang first met him, she was just a Loose Cultivator in the Life Talisman Realm. It was under his patronage that she raised her Cultivation step by step, eventually breaking through to the Life Soul Realm and taking charge of a great deal of power within the sect.

Including Ruan San Niang, the Master of Ten Thousand Transformations Sect had a total of four Daoist companions, all with Life Soul Cultivation.

He also had five personal Disciples who had all broken through to the Life Soul Realm.

These nine individuals were the fruit of nearly five hundred years of the sect master’s efforts, and they were the pillars of the Ten Thousand Transformations Sect!

Among them, the eldest Disciple, Luo Xiao, was the oldest and had the strongest Cultivation. He had already solidified his place at the Peak of Life Soul Realm fifty years ago.

His principal wife, Shang Shang, was the most talented. Having cultivated for less than a century, she possessed a Late Stage Life Soul Cultivation and was extremely famous on Mu Tianyuan.

Dharma Realm cultivators enjoyed a lifespan of twelve hundred years. Such a long time was more than enough for him to lay out his plans at his leisure.

He might have more than one pawn like Elder Yingya of the True Flame Sect.

Currently, the Ten Thousand Transformations Sect remained a hidden power, and none of the rumors about it had been confirmed.

Many factions even doubted whether the organization truly existed.

Fang Cheng had also learned from Ruan San Niang’s Spiritual Memory that the Ten Thousand Transformations Sect’s lair was located on Mu Tianyuan in the Jin Country.

Mu Tianyuan was a vast plateau, its total area even larger than the Yun Country.

There were no top-tier powers on the entire plateau, but there were eight great Life Soul-level Cultivation Families. These eight families had formed an alliance of interests, occupying over eighty percent of Mu Tianyuan’s Spirit Veins, Spiritual Ores, and resource-rich lands.

The remaining twenty percent was left for smaller families and Loose Cultivators.

The eight great families had jointly built a Market Immortal City named Heaven Shepherd City. They had chosen a Life Soul Loose Cultivator to be the City Lord—and this City Lord was none other than the Master of Ten Thousand Transformations Sect.

On paper, the City Lord of Heaven Shepherd City only had a Late Stage Life Soul Cultivation, putting him on equal footing with the Noble Ancestors of the eight great families.

The major and minor affairs in the city were all managed by the City Lord’s Daoist companion, Shang Shang, and his second disciple. In addition, three Life Soul Realm Honored Guest Elders and the Rotating Elders from the eight great families stood guard. The few large-scale Beast Tides the Immortal City had encountered were all weathered with fright but no real danger.

Using his four Daoist companions and five great disciples as a foundation, the Master of Ten Thousand Transformations Sect radiated his influence. Through various means, he controlled numerous smaller sects and families, forcing countless Cultivators to refine Talismanic Coins for his cultivation.

The Cultivation Technique he practiced was one of enslaving legions of cultivators to nourish a single person. As long as he had enough Talismanic Coins, he could infinitely increase his physical strength and power, eventually reaching a terrifying state comparable to the gods and buddhas of the heavens.

He hid cautiously on Mu Tianyuan, avoiding the eight great Cultivation Giants of the Jin Country and silently accumulating power. He was likely waiting for the day he cultivated to the Tribulation Realm, after which he would sweep across the world and vie for supremacy over the Jin Country and even the entire East Cyan Domain.

...

「A short while later.」

The Ruyi Celestial Escape Shuttle flew into the skies above Mu Tianyuan. Fang Cheng flashed out of the shuttle and, with a flick of his hand, performed a Spell that shrank it to the size of his palm before tucking it into his sleeve.

Looking down, an endless plain of ten thousand li stretched out before him. Green Spirit Grass grew in lush abundance. A great river snaked through the land like a jade belt, its calm waters reflecting the blue sky and white clouds.

He concealed his aura and leisurely rode a beam of Profound Light toward Heaven Shepherd City.

In less than half a day, a magnificent Immortal City appeared on the plains ahead.

Atop the city walls, which stood over thirty zhang tall, a watchtower rose every few li. Inside the city, tall buildings and continuous palace halls formed a bustling, prosperous scene.

The entirety of Heaven Shepherd City was enveloped in a curtain of light. Even the city walls themselves flickered with countless giant, zhang-sized runes, a constant guard against invasions by High-tier Demon Beasts.

The Immortal City had four gates—north, south, east, and west. Before each gate, numerous Escape Lights, Spirit Beasts, and Flying Celestial Chariots rose and fell. All manner of lights flashed, creating a sense of order amidst the haste.

Fang Cheng used the Xuanyuan Illusion Body Technique to change his appearance, transforming into a refined and world-weary middle-aged scholar with a Late-stage Life Talisman Cultivation. He arrived at the south gate of the Immortal City, and after paying ten Lower-Grade Spirit Stones, the guards respectfully allowed him to pass.

The city’s streets crisscrossed like a chessboard. On either side, shops and buildings stood in dense rows, stretching as far as the eye could see.

Compared to an ordinary marketplace, this Immortal City was several times larger. It was filled with numerous Cultivators coming and going, creating a lively and bustling atmosphere.

The Master of Ten Thousand Transformations Sect was inside the City Lord’s Mansion, located in the center of the Immortal City. According to Ruan San Niang’s speculation, he was likely within a Pocket World Spiritual Building in the mansion, which no one could enter except his principal wife, Shang Shang, and his first disciple.

No one else even knew the specific location of that Pocket World Spiritual Building.

The Talismanic Coins gathered from all over were funneled through secret channels set up by the Ten Thousand Transformations Sect, converging at a shop in the city called the Immortal Jade Pavilion. Afterward, Cultivators from the City Lord’s Mansion would secretly retrieve them.

Fang Cheng rented a Beast Vehicle and leisurely wandered through the city’s streets and alleys, observing the situation covertly.

The Arrays and restrictions around the City Lord’s Mansion weren’t particularly strong, only at the third rank. However, the atmosphere within was stern and imposing, clearly indicating other arrangements were in place.

If he used a Breaking Charm to force his way in, he would inevitably alert the Cultivators inside the mansion, and in turn, the Master of Ten Thousand Transformations Sect.

In a direct confrontation, Fang Cheng had no absolute confidence in defeating this unfathomably strong opponent whose Cultivation had reached the Late Dharma Stage.

On the contrary, the risk was enormous.

The safest method was a sneak attack—an assassination.

He still had a few Dream Spirit Incarnations on hand. If he were to launch a sneak attack, he might not even need to act personally to completely settle this grudge.

As Fang Cheng pondered his strategy while wandering aimlessly, he suddenly saw a familiar building ahead and had the Beast Vehicle come to a stop.

The tall, luxurious building was nearly identical in appearance to the one in the Yinluo Sect Marketplace, only much grander.

Miaoxiang Tower.

Among the Jin Country’s Five Sects, Two Towers, and One Hall, Miaoxiang Tower’s history was long, not inferior to any of the five major sects.

The tower spanned several countries, its influence immense, with a foothold in almost every marketplace.

If one were to ask whose intelligence network was the best in the entire Cultivation Realm, the answer would undoubtedly be Miaoxiang Tower.

’I’ll go in and gather some intelligence...’

Without a second thought, Fang Cheng stepped out of the Beast Vehicle and walked straight into Miaoxiang Tower.

Not just anyone could enter this tower. Upon seeing an unfamiliar face enter, several Maids in the first-floor hall immediately came forward to greet him. They led Fang Cheng to a Quiet Chamber and served him Spirit Tea with warm hospitality.

Soon after, a woman with a noble air entered. After exchanging pleasantries with Fang Cheng, she appeared to be making small talk but was secretly assessing his Cultivation, background, origins, appearance, demeanor, conversation, and talents...

Only by passing this "assessment" would one possibly be arranged to meet with one of the tower’s Female Cultivators.

As for whether things could go further, that would depend on Fang Cheng’s own abilities.

Fang Cheng was already intimately familiar with this routine and handled it with ease. Finally, he intentionally let slip a trace of a Life Soul Realm aura, which made the woman’s eye twitch in silent astonishment.

She took out a booklet and presented it to Fang Cheng, saying with a smile, "Sir, these are the ladies available in the tower today. Please, take a look."

Fang Cheng opened the booklet. Inside were portraits of stunningly beautiful Female Cultivators. Beside each, small text described their Cultivation and specialties, such as being skilled in poetry, painting, song and dance, chess, or wine tasting...

Fang Cheng asked lightly, "Are there any virgins?"

The woman’s eyes flickered at his words. She then nodded. "Of course. Wan’Er just arrived to begin her Refining the Heart in the Red Dust less than a month ago. She has yet to meet anyone who has captured her heart. Perhaps you could give it a try, Sir."

Fang Cheng turned to a page depicting a pure and spirited young woman with an Early Life Talisman Stage Cultivation. Her specialty was listed as being "adept at the flute."

He pointed at her and said, "This one, then. I’ll trouble you to make the arrangements, Madam."

The woman nodded in agreement and respectfully rose to leave.

She was merely an Outer Elder of Miaoxiang Tower. In the presence of a great Life Soul Cultivator like him, she had no imposing presence to speak of.

...

「An incense stick’s time later.」

A Maid escorted Fang Cheng to the seventh floor of Miaoxiang Tower, into a grand and exquisitely beautiful room.

The room was luxurious yet warm, serene and elegant. In the center was a pool several zhang wide, its surface shimmering with light.

In the pool was a round Jade Couch, complete with an embroidered brocade mattress and pillows. The air was filled with the sweet fragrance of osmanthus and orchids—a warm, alluring scent that was utterly intoxicating.

The young woman from the portrait sat by the edge of the pool, dressed in white. Her pair of snowy-white, jade-like feet were soaking in the water. Her delicate, melon-seed-shaped face was full of innocent charm, and her clean, bright eyes curiously sized up Fang Cheng.

The Female Cultivators of Miaoxiang Tower all had to undergo the trial of "Refining the Heart in the Red Dust." Only after completing their training and perfecting their Cultivation could they return to the headquarters.

This young woman before him was barely twenty years old, yet she had already cultivated to the Life Talisman Realm. With such high talent, she had a good chance of reaching the Life Soul Realm.

"Elder Liu said you are a Life Soul Cultivator, Senior... She told me to serve you well." The young woman’s clear, dark eyes gazed at Fang Cheng, a gentle smile gracing her lips.

She lifted her feet from the pool, her fair, slender, jade-like feet leaving wet prints on the floor as she invited Fang Cheng to sit.

There were two large chairs in the room. One was carved with over a hundred flood dragons, each with furious eyes and bristling whiskers. A closer look revealed that they seemed to be swimming and shifting slowly, as if they were alive.

The other large chair was carved with a colorful phoenix, just as lifelike.

The moment Fang Cheng sat down, he felt his entire body enveloped by a cool, refreshing Spiritual Qi. His senses sharpened, and his whole body felt comfortable and moisturized. Even the flow of his Spiritual Mechanism quickened significantly. He couldn’t help but inwardly praise the chair as a fine treasure.

The young woman said shyly, "This pair of Dragon and Phoenix Chairs is a treasure my master gave me. It’s said that cultivating on them has remarkable effects."

Fang Cheng immediately understood her meaning.

The so-called "cultivating" spoken of by the Female Cultivators of Miaoxiang Tower was naturally different from what ordinary people meant.

Her words meant she had consented to him being her first.

Fang Cheng said calmly, "I will help you with your ’cultivation,’ and you will help me inquire about a few things."

Wan’Er nodded lightly. "Although I’ve only just arrived in Heaven Shepherd City, I have many senior and junior sisters in the tower. Whatever you wish to inquire about, Senior, should be easy to handle."

Her beautiful eyes shimmered, holding a hint of budding affection and shyness.

Fang Cheng glanced at her exquisite, jade-like feet. He saw her pressing one foot over the other, a gesture that was rather charming.

He couldn’t help but smile, revealing a bit of his rakish nature as he said, "I’ve heard that you are highly skilled with the flute. Why don’t you let me see for myself?"

...