Cultivation: I Have a Golden Talisman

"Thank you for going easy on me, Yan Lan."

Su Qin said slowly, a smile on her face.

Even she hadn’t expected to win so easily.

Yun Yanlan’s almond-shaped eyes were wide as she stared coldly at Su Qin, her face a mask of indignation, but she said nothing more.

At that moment, the three Life Soul Cultivators standing before Taixu Mountain’s Flying Celestial Palace exchanged a look and flew out together, approaching Su Qin.

One of them, a female cultivator, said in a heavy voice, "Fellow Daoist Su, this golden rope doesn’t seem to be a Magical Artifact from your esteemed sect, does it?"

The smile vanished from Su Qin’s face. With a thought, the Brocade Ribbon binding Yun Yanlan moved behind her.

She said coolly, "Whether it is or not, what does that have to do with this duel?"

The female cultivator smiled, saying unhurriedly, "If it is not a Magical Artifact of your sect, then Fellow Daoist Su is suspected of cheating. The duel just now does not count, and you must start over."

Su Qin’s delicate brows furrowed. A hint of anger on her face, she said, "When was it ever said that Magical Artifacts from other sects couldn’t be used in a duel?"

Another Life Soul Cultivator, an old Daoist, stroked his long beard and chuckled. "Fellow Daoist Su, you may not be aware, but this is a tradition in our Cang Country. Duels are a matter of fairness and integrity. Using a borrowed Magical Artifact for a surprise attack is not the way of the Righteous Path."

The old Daoist’s hair and beard were completely white, but his eyes were bright and full of spirit. Cradling a duster in his arm, he had the air of a celestial immortal.

Beside him stood a burly, middle-aged cultivator with a thick beard and a broad face. He was currently glaring at Su Qin with ill intent, a vicious glint in his eyes.

’This is bad,’ Su Qin thought. Outwardly, however, she wore a gentle smile. "Fellow Daoists, are the three of you planning to use your numbers to make things difficult for me?"

The old Daoist smiled. "Not at all. We were entrusted by Elder Hu to witness this duel. Your victory just now was dishonorable. You should put down that golden rope Magical Artifact and compete against Fellow Daoist Yun again."

Su Qin’s beautiful eyes flickered. Wary of the three, she asked without turning her head, "Yan Lan, what do you think?"

Yun Yanlan said coldly, "If you had defeated me fair and square, I would have nothing to say and would have handed over the stakes. But just now, I wasn’t defeated by you, but by this Magical Artifact..."

Su Qin bit her lip, her expression wavering with indecision.

The other elders and disciples of the Profound Jade Sect were filled with righteous indignation and wanted to speak, but they were so oppressed by the auras of the Life Soul Cultivators that they could hardly breathe, let alone open their mouths.

The burly, broad-faced cultivator said impatiently, "Fellow Daoist Su, release Fellow Daoist Yun and start over. Or must I personally administer justice?"

’These people must have been bought off by Taixu Mountain long ago!’

The thought flashed through Su Qin’s mind. Amidst her anger, she felt a sense of helplessness.

’Without the Immortal Binding Rope, what are my chances of winning?’

’It’s clear Taixu Mountain is determined to crush the Profound Jade Sect today.’

Just as Su Qin was about to speak, a brilliant Profound Light surged toward her. She waved her long sleeves, her figure flashing back in a hasty retreat until she was in front of the Ten Thousand Flowers Vine.

In the blink of an eye, the three of them had snatched Yun Yanlan back.

The old man waved his duster, exposing Su Qin’s Brocade Ribbon and revealing Yun Yanlan’s graceful figure, tightly bound by the Immortal Binding Rope.

Then, the female cultivator stepped forward. Holding a Jade Ruyi, she pointed it at Yun Yanlan. The spiritual imprint Su Qin had left in the Immortal Binding Rope shattered, and the brilliant golden rope immediately fell from Yun Yanlan’s body.

The female cultivator sneered. "Just as I thought, a borrowed Magical Artifact with an unstable foundation. What a waste of such a treasure."

The thick-bearded, broad-faced middle-aged cultivator laughed loudly, grabbing the Immortal Binding Rope. Holding it in his hand, he announced, "For the sake of fairness, I will hold onto this treasure for the time being."

Laughing and talking amongst themselves, the three had completely reversed the situation.

Yun Yanlan, her Magical Power restored, waved a delicate hand. The sky-full of blue sand burst into light once more, transforming into a blue rainbow that danced back to her side.

The confident expression returned to the face of this extraordinary female cultivator in her flowing white dress.

Just then, something unexpected happened!

A flash of light erupted from the Immortal Binding Rope. It suddenly shot out like a crazed snake, binding the thick-bearded, broad-faced cultivator tightly.

Then, the cry of a sword rang out.

Before anyone could see what happened, a formless, piercing Sword Aura flashed across the broad-faced cultivator’s neck.

The sword strike was impossibly fast. By the time anyone reacted, the middle-aged cultivator was already dead, his breathing ceased.

A jet-black Demonic Light, brimming with monstrous demonic intent, then descended from the sky. It landed on the middle-aged cultivator, engulfing his body in raging Black Fire.

Yun Yanlan, the female cultivator, and the old Daoist sensed grave danger. They retreated in unison, their faces filled with dread.

The Black Fire was tyrannical and fierce, burning the broad-faced cultivator to ashes in an instant.

A gentle voice drifted down from high in the heavens. "Fellow Daoist Su, this man tried to claim my Magical Artifact as his own. My hand slipped, and I accidentally killed him. Please forgive me."

Everyone looked toward the source of the voice. They saw a tall, handsome figure standing atop a cloud. He wore wide robes with long sleeves and carried himself with a refined, elegant air. Yet, he couldn’t conceal the monstrous demonic intent radiating from him, as if a peerless Celestial Demon was hidden within his body.

Su Qin gave a bitter smile. "Fellow Daoist Fang, was this really necessary?"

’He was an Elder from one of the nine great Mystic Sects! You killed him right in front of the Profound Jade Sect’s gates. How are we supposed to maintain our footing in the future?’

"A Demon Cultivator?!"

Yun Yanlan and the two remaining Life Soul Cultivators were shocked. Their hearts filled with horror, and they focused their senses, raising their guard.

The thick-bearded cultivator was from the Heaven-Mending Sect, and his strength was undoubtedly the greatest among those present. To be slain so easily was simply unbelievable.

The old Daoist frowned at Fang Cheng and demanded, "Are you the legendary Netherworld Swordsman?"

Fang Cheng looked down upon the three from his high vantage point and smiled faintly. "Indeed. I am he."

The old Daoist sighed. "So, Fellow Daoist Su found you as her backer. Do you know who you just ambushed and killed? Today, you have offended both Taixu Mountain and the Heaven-Mending Sect, two of the nine great Mystic Sects of the Cang Country. I’m afraid your days ahead will not be easy."

Fang Cheng’s eyes gleamed as he looked at the three of them. He spoke slowly, "Is that so? If you don’t tell anyone, who else would know I killed him? Fellow Daoist Su, will you tell?"

Su Qin’s expression shifted, as if she understood his implication. She lowered her gaze and said, "I naturally will not say a word."

Fang Cheng nodded. "Then that settles it. Allow me to grant you all release."

As his voice fell, a beam of sword light leaped into the field. It instantly split into thousands of sharp Sword Auras, forming a chilling, ghastly scroll that enveloped Yun Yanlan and the other two.

The old Daoist shouted in shock and anger, "What audacity! How dare you—"

His words were cut short.

The old Daoist desperately resisted the sword light, unable to utter another word.

In the sky, a sword diagram as vast and cold as the sea slowly unfurled. Its Sword Intent was ethereal, its killing intent chilling. Three blinding clusters of light struggled within the diagram, trying to break free.

But the sea of swords was endless, its power vast and enduring. One by one, the three clusters of light were extinguished by the sword light.

Elsewhere, the many disciples from Taixu Mountain were aghast. Once they realized what was happening, they scrambled to flee in all directions, only to be caught by a heaven-shaking Demonic Light that spread out like a ring.

Wherever the Demonic Light passed, the bodies of these Life Talisman Realm disciples from Taixu Mountain erupted in Black Fire. Within a breath or two, they were turned to ash.

Not a single one was spared.

「A moment later.」

Fang Cheng retracted the sword light and the Immortal Binding Rope, then leisurely strolled over to the Ten Thousand Flowers Vine.

Su Qin and the disciples of the Profound Jade Sect stared, dumbfounded. An instinctual fear arose in their hearts, sending a chill down their spines.

Four Life Soul Masters from the Mystic Sects, along with a host of Taixu Mountain disciples, had all fallen in a matter of moments.

’This refined and handsome man before them was no idle guest accompanying his wife and concubines on a scenic tour.’

’He was a peerless Demon Monarch, a generational fiend!’

In all her years of cultivation, this was the first time Su Qin had truly witnessed what it meant to be "invincible within one’s realm."

She looked at Fang Cheng and sighed again, "Fellow Daoist Fang, was this really necessary..."

Fang Cheng replied, "Fellow Daoist Su, I have imposed on you for some time now. It is time for me to leave."

Su Qin gave a bitter laugh. "Today, we have made enemies of Taixu Mountain and the Heaven-Mending Sect. From now on, my Profound Jade Sect will surely know no peace. What are we to do?"

Fang Cheng glanced at the massive Ten Thousand Flowers Vine and said, "Why don’t you move your sect away from here, Fellow Daoist Su?"

Su Qin’s beautiful eyes gleamed as she looked directly at Fang Cheng. "If we leave Cang Country, my sect will be like a tree without roots. How could we establish ourselves? Fellow Daoist Fang, your Divine Techniques are vast. I wonder if you would be willing to take in my sect?"

After saying this, a sudden realization dawned in her heart.

’So this man was never a benevolent person from the start. His coming to the Profound Jade Sect wasn’t as simple as just wanting to help...’

’Unfortunately, there was no turning back now.’

’If they remained in Cang Country, how could the small Profound Jade Sect possibly withstand the wrath of Taixu Mountain and the Heaven-Mending Sect? The fate of the entire sect would likely be even more grim.’

’Fortunately, there was still a path to survival today.’

*

*

*

「Half an hour later.」

A strange light blossomed from the enormous Ten Thousand Flowers Vine as it began to slowly shrink, until after a short while, it was only a hundred zhang in size.

Then, the sphere of vines rolled gently across the sky, parting clouds and stirring the air. In an instant, it transformed into a blurry shadow and fled into the distant void.

Its speed was already terrifying to behold.

In the blink of an eye, the Ten Thousand Flowers Vine vanished over the horizon.

The speed of its Void Escape was comparable to that of a Dharma Realm cultivator.

After discussing it, Fang Cheng and Su Qin decided to use the Ten Thousand Flowers Vine for travel.

He had been away with Ye Yan and Feng Ling for quite some time now. Soon, it would be time for the opening of the Void Ghost Marketplace, an event that occurred once every ten years.

A feeling of homesickness welled up in Fang Cheng, so he had Su Qin pilot the Ten Thousand Flowers Vine high up in the sky, soaring across the sea of clouds, heading straight for the Celestial Cloud Mountain Range on the border of the Jin Country.

Inside the vine sphere.

The sea of flowers was fragrant and radiant, the interior stable and quiet.

Although the sphere was rolling at high speed, the space within was perfectly steady, completely unaffected.

Su Qin had stored all the splendid jade pavilions and towers into another Pocket World Spiritual Building, leaving only the Yingxian Tower where Fang Cheng resided standing in the center of the flower sea.

Su Qin led her disciple, Lan Xin Ye, into the Jade Tower. The latter was dressed in a simple, elegant skirt that revealed her every curve. She was graceful and carried herself with a gentle poise.

Although her cultivation was not as high as her master Su Qin’s, her beauty and temperament were in no way inferior to the beautiful woman. Both master and disciple had received the true teachings of the Profound Jade Sect and possessed a unique, quiet beauty.

"Fellow Daoist Fang, this is my young disciple, Xin’Er. She is the inheritor of my legacy and will be in charge of the Profound Jade Sect in the future."

Su Qin brought Lan Xin Ye to visit Fang Cheng, getting straight to the point with her very first sentence.

Lan Xin Ye, however, had an air of reserved shyness about her.

Fang Cheng offered a few pleasantries, praising Lan Xin Ye a little in his capacity as an elder.

Then, Su Qin continued, "Fellow Daoist Fang, after witnessing you slay several of the Profound Jade Sect’s greatest adversaries with such thunderous might, my young disciple has developed feelings for you out of admiration. I have come this time to ask for a position as a concubine for her. In the future, our two families can be eternally allied, and everyone in the Profound Jade Sect can live out their days cultivating in peace."

Fang Cheng looked at Lan Xin Ye, feeling a bit more admiration and appreciation for this beautiful woman who was "sacrificing" herself for her sect’s survival.

Lan Xin Ye met Fang Cheng’s gaze for a moment before lowering her eyes, a charming mix of shyness and embarrassment on her face.

Fang Cheng said leisurely, "Why don’t both you, Fellow Daoist Su, and Miss Lan marry into my Fang Family? To be honest, it was love at first sight for me with you, Fellow Daoist Su..."

...