Cultivation: I Have a Golden Talisman

The old man was none other than the Flame God Palace’s other Celestial Elder, Ye Tianlan.

Xu Tianci’s gaze was as aggressive as fire as he stared directly at the old man. "They’re beating down our door, Martial Uncle. Surely you don’t expect me to cower like a turtle in its shell?"

Ye Tianlan said in a low voice, "Let’s not respond just yet. Let him wait a few days to wear down his edge, then we can plan our next move. Even if he has a few tricks up his sleeve, I doubt he can break our Sect Protection Array, can he?"

Xu Tianci sneered. "Martial Uncle, you’ve gotten old. What you say makes sense, but the Yinluo Sect has gone too far. How can I just stand by and do nothing?"

He paused, a hint of ridicule in his eyes, and continued, "Ever since you broke through to the Life Soul realm, Martial Uncle, you’ve lost your heart for brave advancement. You’re timid and hesitant in everything you do. That’s why your cultivation has stagnated for so many years. This is the greatest taboo for people like us."

Ye Tianlan’s expression was calm. He retorted, "And if you rush out to fight recklessly, would that be a wise move?"

Xu Tianci didn’t speak. He simply reached out and grasped with his large hand. The Red Sun Divine Tree, as majestic as a mountain, suddenly erupted in brilliant firelight. Its trunk rapidly shrank until it was only a few feet tall, resembling a blinding sun hovering in his palm.

"My enmity with the Yinluo Sect runs deep. If I give it my all today and still can’t defeat him, then I’ll certainly have no chance of victory in the future. What’s the point of ’planning our next move’ then?"

"Rather than live in frustration beneath another, I’d prefer to fight to my heart’s content! Brute force overcomes all schemes. No matter what tricks and plots he has, I’ll just refine him into ash!"

As his voice fell, the Celestial Elder of the Flame God Palace transformed into a blinding, fiery rainbow and shot toward the heavens.

Ye Tianlan stared at his departing figure for a long while before finally letting out a sigh.

The sky suddenly brightened as if a great golden sun had appeared, bathing the firmament in red gold light so brilliant one could hardly open their eyes to look at it.

Amid the dazzling golden radiance, a sharp, cutting sword light tore through heaven and earth, clashing violently against it.

From a distance, the phantom of a divine tree appeared. Countless streams of fire transformed into a myriad of colorful rays—a truly spectacular sight.

On the other side, a great black banner, carrying with it a sky full of Yin Souls and a monstrous demonic aura, swept across the firmament like a colossal, furious wave.

"So it’s the Netherworld Banner."

Ye Tianlan murmured, his eyes fixed on the two fighting in the sky.

Just then, a cluster of brilliant clouds flew up from below, arriving behind Ye Tianlan.

Standing on the cloud was a woman dressed in men’s clothing. She had a slender waist and a tall figure, her hair tied in a simple bun. Her nose was straight, her skin fair, and her lips exceedingly thin. Though her features were exceptionally beautiful, her eyes held a piercing, murderous glint.

"Great-grandfather, why didn’t you stop Elder Xu?" the woman asked, confused.

The woman’s aura was powerful and profound; she was actually a Late-stage Life Talisman Cultivator.

Ye Tianlan looked at the stunning woman before him and sighed once more.

This woman was his great-granddaughter, the most talented of all his many descendants.

Not only were her Divine Techniques astounding, but her temperament was also exceptional. In the future, she was expected to inherit his legacy and become the second Life Soul Cultivator in the history of the Ye Family.

This woman was the current Palace Master of the Flame God Palace, Ye Lingxiu, the only Cultivator who did not use one of the Flame God Palace’s four designations: "Heaven, Earth, Profound, Yellow."

"Those whom the heavens would destroy, they first make mad. Even if Tianci is not defeated today, he will not escape defeat in the future. You will take command of the Fire Crow Array. I will go out to support him, just in case."

Ye Tianlan said slowly.

Ye Lingxiu nodded. "Great-grandfather, you must be wary of an ambush."

Ye Tianlan said, "It’s not that serious. If the Yinluo Sect truly had such formidable methods, they wouldn’t have been on the brink of annihilation last time. Besides, I won’t stray too far from the sect’s Grand Array. At this distance, I’ll have no trouble protecting myself."

With that, he gracefully flew out of the Fire Crow Array.

High in the dome of the sky, the two were already locked in an inseparable battle. Waves of terrifying energy pulsed outwards, and the aftershocks of their duel were enough to send a chill down one’s spine.

In particular, both had brought out Fourth-rank Magical Artifacts: the Red Sun Divine Tree and the Yinluo Sect’s Netherworld Banner. One righteous, one demonic, they fought with extreme ferocity.

Not far from the Oasis, a Yinluo Flying Ship hovered motionless in the sky. Onboard, a young man in wide-sleeved robes leisurely watched the two Life Soul Cultivators fight.

Ye Tianlan flew out of the Fire Crow Array. After seeing Fang Cheng, he couldn’t help but study him for a few moments. His brows furrowed, and he thought to himself, ’This man is quite impressive, but I doubt he could pose a threat to my Flame God Palace... Or could it be that Sun Fuguo has some other trick up his sleeve?’

A moment later, he paid Fang Cheng no more mind, turning his attention back to the duel between Sun Fuguo and Xu Tianci.

Xu Tianci had achieved the Life Soul realm long before Sun Fuguo, yet in their fight today, it was impossible to determine a winner.

This revealed the depth of Sun Fuguo’s foundation.

The two fought for over a thousand exchanges, neither able to gain the upper hand. Xu Tianci grew more valiant with each strike, his killing intent burning like a fire that threatened to incinerate the very heavens.

The ultimate techniques of the Flame God Palace, like the Celestial Fire Demon-Slaying Sword Technique and the Fiery Sun Divine Burst, unleashed astonishing power in his hands.

Sun Fuguo, however, was unhurried. He used a pitch-black Great Banner to block the Red Sun Divine Tree, calmly deploying his sword light to clash with Xu Tianci, his one sword breaking ten thousand techniques.

Fang Cheng could see clearly. He knew Sun Fuguo was waiting for an opening to appear in Xu Tianci’s defense. Then, with a single slash, he would decide life and death, and the battle would be won.

Xu Tianci, on the other hand, was trying to first exhaust Sun Fuguo’s Magical Power...

The two fought for several hundred more exchanges. Sun Fuguo deliberately feigned an opening, trying to bait Xu Tianci into a reckless advance, but his opponent saw through the ruse and ignored it.

Immediately after, however, Sun Fuguo concealed a Talisman Decree within his sword light. Using the gap created by the "opening," he sent the Talisman Decree right in front of the Red Sun Divine Tree.

The next moment.

The Talisman Decree erupted in brilliant light, flashing to reveal a colossal Buddha as majestic as a mountain. Its body shone with dazzling golden light, illuminating the endless land.

"A Fourth-rank Talisman!"

Seeing this, Ye Tianlan’s expression changed. ’This is bad,’ he thought. He quickly summoned the Flame God Palace’s Sect’s Treasure Artifact—the fourth-rank Red Flame Divine Chain—and lashed it toward the giant Buddha.

However, an ethereal and tranquil sword light materialized from thin air. With Swordsmanship at the peak of profound skill, it flicked the Red Flame Divine Chain away, sending it flying several dozen yards so that it slid past the giant Buddha’s side.

It was Fang Cheng, who had summoned his Mechanical Battle Armor and used the Youhong Sword to neutralize the attack.

When Ye Tianlan saw Fang Cheng completely encased in Bronze Armor, the corner of his eye couldn’t help but twitch.

The aura coming from the man was already no weaker than his own!

The Flame God Palace was considered a master of Artifact Refining, but this Mechanical Battle Armor before him was something he had never even heard of. Its profound mysteries surpassed the imagination of this Life Soul Cultivator.

It all happened in a flash.

The giant Buddha threw a punch toward the Red Sun Divine Tree. Instantly, thick, ancient golden runes materialized on its body as an immense force erupted. Wherever the fist’s radiance passed, it was as if space itself was collapsing and all things were being annihilated!

The Red Sun Divine Tree was struck so hard it shuddered violently. Its firelight scattered, its leaves flew in all directions, and its Spiritual Mechanism faltered, its power diminished by more than half.

Seizing the opportunity, a Yin Soul from the Netherworld Banner charged straight in, tearing through Xu Tianci’s Defensive Divine Techniques and allowing a peerlessly sharp sword light from Sun Fuguo to pour through.

Xu Tianci activated his Protective Magical Artifact and Divine Techniques to block with all his might, but Sun Fuguo’s Flying Sword slashed down relentlessly, one strike after another. The chilling sword rainbow struck the layers of firelight, emitting a piercing, high-pitched cry that lingered in the air.

After a hundred consecutive slashes, a crack appeared in the overlapping layers of firelight. A moment later, a sword thrust into it.

Victory and defeat were decided in that instant.

Xu Tianci’s life force was snuffed out in a flash!

Ye Tianlan let out a long sigh, recalled the Red Flame Divine Chain, and turned to flee back into the Fire Crow Array.

A moment later, a world-shaking Magic Spell echoed from the Oasis. The Red Sun Divine Tree abruptly transformed into a blaze of roaring flames, knocked the giant Buddha aside, and plunged into the Fire Crow Array.

The giant Buddha’s golden light dimmed, and it slowly dissipated into a sky full of scripture before vanishing moments later.

Seeing Sun Fuguo victorious, Fang Cheng couldn’t help but smile.

Although that Buddhist Talisman was a one-time use item, its power was truly terrifying, seemingly even greater than his Dream Spirit Incarnation. He had never seen Sun Fuguo use this talisman before. He must have traded for it with other Life Soul Cultivators from the Jin Country during the recent Life Soul Ceremony.

’Master is truly wise and calculating. He was already planning for this moment back at the Life Soul Ceremony.’

Fang Cheng thought to himself.

’It’s just a shame the Flame God Palace managed to retrieve the Red Sun Divine Tree...’

He glanced toward the depths of the Fire Crow Array.

...