Cultivation: I Have a Golden Talisman

The arrivals were none other than Zhao Wuji’s disciple, Mo Wu Yong, and the Eastern Wilderness’s Array Master, Lady Wei.

Lady Wei was a Loose Cultivator with an Early-stage Life Soul Cultivation. She served as an Honored Guest Elder for several major Cultivation Families, holding an esteemed and detached position, and rarely involved herself in the affairs of the East Desolate Cultivation World.

This time, Zhao Wuji had dispatched his eldest disciple, Mo Wu Yong, to personally visit Qianyang Mountain and invite her to help break the array, leaving nothing to chance.

Although Mo Wu Yong’s fame in the Eastern Wilderness couldn’t match Bing Wuyi’s, he was a genuine Life Soul Realm cultivator who held a high position in the Nine Nether Demon Sect. Now, however, he was reduced to running errands concerning the Outer Ancient Tomb.

The group exchanged a few pleasantries and introductions before sitting back down to drink tea and wait for the others to arrive.

According to Zhao Wuji, the Qianmu Demon King had also sent for a helper, who would be arriving shortly.

After about the time it takes an incense stick to burn, a muffled clap of thunder sounded outside the hall. An Escape Light descended from the sky, landing before the entrance.

A man then walked in. He was short and withered, bald on top, and dressed in hemp clothes and straw sandals. A dark iron tablet was tied at his waist.

Bing Wuyi quietly continued her introductions for Fang Cheng. "Fellow Daoist Fang, this is my master’s Demon Servant. His name is Xue Jiu."

Fang Cheng shot the man an interested glance. ’To think that one of Zhao Wuji’s Demon Servants actually possesses a Mid-stage Life Soul Cultivation. Within the entire Nine Nether Demon Sect, there are probably very few whose cultivation is higher than his.’

’This is Zhao Wuji’s great fortune!’

Subduing a Demon Servant with such a high Cultivation Realm was no ordinary feat.

After entering, Xue Jiu bowed to Zhao Wuji and said respectfully, "Master, the magical artifact has been borrowed."

Zhao Wuji said calmly, "Take it out for our fellow daoists to see."

Xue Jiu complied, then retrieved a great, brilliantly golden halberd from his storage bag. Instantly, a dazzling light filled the hall, almost too bright to look at.

The group looked closer and saw a Golden Flood Dragon coiled around the halberd. Its scales and spinal fins protruded sharply. The beast’s body wrapped around the long shaft, its head partially concealed behind the blade, giving it a ferociously cunning look. One of its claws tightly gripped the back of the blade, sinews bulging, emanating a palpable aura of savagery.

Zhao Wuji smiled. "This is the Profound Flood Dragon Breaking Forbidden Halberd, a third-grade top-quality magic artifact from the Red Flame Immortal Palace. With this treasure, breaking the array will be much easier for us!"

The Red Flame Immortal Palace was a great sect specializing in artifact refining. In addition to esoteric magical artifacts like Mechanical Battle Armor, they possessed many other traditions. Unlike other sects, the magical artifacts they forged were not focused solely on offense and defense.

The group passed around the Profound Flood Dragon Breaking Forbidden Halberd, and all praised it endlessly as they felt the sharp, barrier-shattering aura it emanated.

A short while later, two more Escape Lights arrived outside the main hall.

This time, the Cyan Rattan Demon King from the Valley of Ten Thousand Beasts entered, accompanied by an elderly man with an extraordinary presence.

The man had a fair, beardless face, appeared to be in his seventies, and wore a great robe of gray crane feathers. He leaned on a Golden Thunder Bamboo Staff, and perched on his shoulder was a Unihorned Demon Frog, which was clutching a small Purple Gold Gourd.

Upon seeing the man, the Qianmu Demon King immediately rose with a smile and said, "Black Dragon Daoist, it has been many years! Your cultivation has advanced yet again, a true cause for celebration!"

He then turned to the others and introduced him. "Everyone, this is the Black Dragon Taoist. His Cultivation and Divine Techniques are on par with my own."

He then introduced everyone in the hall to the Black Dragon Taoist one by one.

Only when facing Zhao Wuji did the Black Dragon Taoist take the initiative to cup his hands and declare in a booming voice, "Greetings, Master Zhao. I, Black Dragon, pay my respects."

Zhao Wuji gave a slight nod. "I have long heard of your fame, Daoist. We will have to rely on your help for this trip to the Western Wilderness."

The Black Dragon Taoist quickly replied, "Master, you are too kind. I wouldn’t dare hold anything back."

However, when the introductions turned to the others, an indifferent and impatient expression appeared on the Black Dragon Taoist’s face.

He too was at the Mid-stage Life Soul Cultivation and possessed powerful treasures. He could associate with the leader of the Valley of Ten Thousand Beasts—one of the three great Sacred Lands of the Demon Race—as an equal. The others in the hall were beneath his notice.

When it was Fang Cheng’s turn, the Black Dragon Taoist’s expression flickered. With a smirk, he said, "So, you’re Fang Cheng of Yinluo. I hear my good friend, the Evil Maitreya, died at your hands?"

Fang Cheng replied calmly, "That’s right. The Evil Maitreya overestimated himself and attacked my mountain. I cut him down with a single stroke of my sword."

The Black Dragon Taoist’s gaze went cold. In a deep voice, he said, "Someone so arrogant must have some real skill. Why not let me test you? When we go to the Western Wilderness, it will be better if we have an understanding of each other’s capabilities. We’ll cooperate better."

The Qianmu Demon King quickly interjected, "Black Dragon Daoist, let’s not forget our real business here. Whatever grievances you have with Fellow Daoist Fang, perhaps you can settle them after this affair is over."

The Black Dragon Taoist stared at Fang Cheng, a vicious light glinting in his eyes. He said nothing, but his silence was thick with provocation.

Zhao Wuji simply watched the two of them with a detached expression, saying nothing.

Fang Cheng remained seated and let out a soft sneer. "The Black Dragon Daoist speaks truly. We Demon Cultivators are fond of making friends through contests of Divine Techniques. Your proposal suits me perfectly."

The Black Dragon Taoist sneered, "This is no place to fight. I’ll be waiting for you outside."

With that, his figure blurred and transformed into a streak of Profound Light, shooting outside.

Fang Cheng let out a hearty laugh and followed him out.

On his shoulder, the avatars of Jingyuan and Jingxuan both wore excited expressions. Getting to watch a battle between Mid-stage Life Soul Cultivators up close with their father was truly exhilarating.

Inside the Celestial Crane Palace, the rest of the group also filed out of the hall to watch.

They saw Fang Cheng, hands clasped behind his back, standing upon the sea of clouds in a standoff with the Black Dragon Taoist.

The Black Dragon Taoist wasted no time on words. With a stamp of his Thunder Rod, Thunder Light flared, and a Thunderous Grand Bell formed around him.

A defensive move before any attack.

Then, the Unihorned Demon Frog on his shoulder let out a CROAK and lifted the Purple Gold Gourd it was holding.

In the next instant, a torrent of impossibly cold black energy surged from the gourd, slashing through the air toward Fang Cheng.

With a wave of his wide sleeve, Fang Cheng unleashed a Netherworld Hand Seal.

The hundred-zhang-wide hand seal collided with the black energy, instantly erupting into a sky-filling spray of black liquid. A lifelike dragon burst forth from the black water, baring its fangs and brandishing its claws as it lunged at Fang Cheng.

’So that’s the origin of the Black Dragon Taoist’s name,’ Fang Cheng thought.

’The Purple Gold Gourd is incredibly powerful. My Netherworld Hand Seal would have shattered an Early Stage Third Rank Celestial Demon, yet he blocked it with a single stream of that profound energy. No wonder the Qianmu Demon King held him in such high regard. He does have some skill.’

Fang Cheng said calmly, "I have a few little toys of my own. Let’s have them keep you company for a bit, Daoist."

As he spoke, three streaks of pitch-black Demonic Light shot out from the void. Three Resentment Celestial Demons materialized from them, slowly closing in on the Black Dragon Taoist.

One of the Resentment Celestial Demons opened its mouth and exhaled, sending a thousand-zhang pillar of Demon Flame soaring into the sky. The raging black flames blocked the Profound Water Black Dragon.

Wisps of black energy spread out and collided with the Demon Flame born from the Li Hen Demon Light. Flames and ice crystals intertwined, creating a magnificent, momentary spectacle.

The other two Resentment Celestial Demons closed in on the Black Dragon Taoist, attacking him in concert.

The Black Dragon Taoist’s expression faltered, his eyes turning grave. His Golden Thunder Bamboo Staff erupted with blinding Thunder Light, and the Golden Thunder Giant Bell protecting him grew even more solid.

The two Resentment Celestial Demons swung their arms, creating hundreds of fist-afterimages that hammered relentlessly against the Golden Thunder Giant Bell, making it shudder violently as if about to shatter.

Just then, Fang Cheng struck out with his palm once more.

Endless Demonic Light surged from the void. A hundred-zhang-wide hand tore through space, wreathed in that same boundless light, and gently slapped down from afar.

BOOM!

This Palm Seal descended like an avalanche, several times more powerful than the last. It instantly shattered the Black Dragon Taoist’s Protective Thunderlight Grand Bell.

The Palm Seal, its momentum unchecked, slammed into the Black Dragon Taoist.

PUH!

The Protective Spiritual Light around the Black Dragon Taoist flared violently. He coughed up a mouthful of blood, his face a mask of savagery and terror.

Immediately after, the two Resentment Celestial Demons lunged forward. One seized his shoulders and the other his legs. With a savage heave, they ripped him in two.

The Unihorned Demon Frog shrieked. In a flash of Profound Light, it clutched the Purple Gold Gourd and shot away, attempting to flee deep into the void.

Fang Cheng reached out his hand. An immense, invisible force enveloped the frog, trapping it in mid-air.

"Fellow Daoist Fang, show mercy!"

At that moment, the Qianmu Demon King couldn’t help but cry out.

Fang Cheng seemed not to hear. He let the two Resentment Celestial Demons each take a half of the Black Dragon Taoist’s bisected body and devour it.

The Profound Water Black Dragon in the sky docilely retreated into the Purple Gold Gourd held by the Unihorned Demon Frog. Just like that, the duel was over.

Everyone had expected a fierce battle between the two. Who would have thought it would be over in just a few moves?

There was an absurd feeling that it had all ended before they were even prepared for it to start.

One Resentment Celestial Demon presented the Black Dragon Taoist’s storage bag to Fang Cheng before vanishing.

The other two dissipated where they stood.

Fang Cheng accepted the Black Dragon Taoist’s storage bag and turned to the Qianmu Demon King, a hint of an apologetic look on his face. "I am not very skilled at controlling these Celestial Demons. I carelessly allowed the two creatures to end Black Dragon Daoist’s life. Please forgive me, Demon King."

The corner of the Qianmu Demon King’s eye twitched. Hearing Fang Cheng’s words, he sighed. "Fellow Daoist Fang... sigh. Did it have to come to this!"

The others—Lady Wei, Xue Jiu, the Cyan Rattan Demon King, and Mo Wu Yong—all wore grave and fearful expressions. They clearly hadn’t expected Fang Cheng to be so bloodthirsty.

Even more so, they hadn’t expected his methods to be so brutal and domineering.

The Qianmu Demon King had just declared that the Black Dragon Taoist’s cultivation was on par with his own, only for the man to be killed almost instantly. The great Demon King had lost significant face, but he didn’t dare say anything more.

Only Zhao Wuji remained as calm and composed as ever. In a mild tone, he said, "The Black Dragon’s abilities were all tied to that gourd. Now that Fellow Daoist Fang has it, it makes no difference whether the Black Dragon Taoist is here or not."

After a pause, he added, "Fellow Daoist Fang is truly a credit to our Demon Sect. So decisive and direct. I am impressed."

Fang Cheng smiled and said no more.

He grabbed the Unihorned Demon Frog and examined it for a moment, then placed several restrictive seals on it before casually tossing it into the Lingxiao Three Sceneries Talisman for the two Jingyuan brothers to study and play with.

The Qianmu Demon King took a deep breath. His fear of Fang Cheng intensified, and he couldn’t shake the feeling that he had just let a wolf into his den.

’This Fang Cheng’s power... it seems to be no less than that of the Blood Demon Zhao Wuji...’

’If I didn’t have this Celestial Crane Palace, I’m not sure I would dare to travel alongside him.’

"Everyone, there’s no time to waste. Let’s head to the ancient tomb now!"

the Qianmu Demon King said in a heavy voice.

The group returned to the Celestial Crane Palace. With a heart full of complicated emotions, the Demon King spurred the magnificent palace onward, and it flew swiftly toward the western sky.

...