Cultivation: I Have a Golden Talisman

Fang Cheng had a flash of insight. "So the Undying Jade is the key to entering the Taixu Gate."

Feng Yan shook her head. "Not entirely. Some Ninth Tribulation Cultivators have entered the Taixu Gate alone. However, with the Undying Jade, it is indeed easier to enter than for other Cultivators."

She paused for a moment before continuing, "The true function of the Undying Jade is to act as a key to a certain space on that Immortal Ship. The trace of the Power of Light Yin it contains is of the same origin as the ship. It must have been passed down from within the Taixu Gate."

"The Beiming Immortal Race calls this treasure the Taixu Token."

Fang Cheng mused, "No wonder... Possessing this treasure is like receiving an Immortal Collection left by a Spirit Immortal from the Upper Realm. It's no surprise Beiming Yong was so determined to obtain it."

Feng Yan smiled faintly. "The matter I wanted to discuss with you, fellow Daoist, was to explore the Immortal Ship behind the Taixu Gate together. As long as we can acquire the Immortal Collection within, my chances of ascending to the Upper Realm will increase significantly. When that time comes, no matter how powerful the Beiming Immortal Race is, they won't be able to hinder my path of cultivation."

Fang Cheng asked curiously, "How much of your cultivation have you consolidated?"

Each time one passed a celestial tribulation, the Qi Sea and Dharma Aspect gained significant room for growth. Consolidating one's cultivation meant cultivating diligently to replenish the Magical Power in the Qi Sea and restore the Dharma Aspect.

Not long after Feng Yan successfully passed her tribulation and entered seclusion, the Beiming Immortal Palace came knocking to demand the Undying Jade.

Ironically, the palace Elders still assumed Feng Yan was unaware that the Undying Jade was the Taixu Token. They thought she only saw it as a protective artifact for tribulations. They had prepared a whole speech, planning to take advantage of the fact that she had passed the Nine Tribulations and would no longer need it, trying to tempt her with other benefits from the Beiming Immortal Race.

"I'm still about thirty percent short."

Feng Yan sounded slightly regretful. The Lingkong Celestial Ruins were fraught with danger, leaving almost no time for cultivation. She felt that heading into the expedition without being at her peak would leave things somewhat incomplete.

Fang Cheng said, "I'll help you."

As he spoke, a resonant Daoist hymn echoed from the void behind him. A fissure appeared, and within it stood a grand, towering portal, its two great doors wide open.

Immeasurably pure Spiritual Qi cascaded down, instantly flooding every corner of the great tomb.

Ascendant Feng Yan had long known of Fang Cheng's Divine Technique, which could draw Spiritual Qi from the Upper Realm to aid in cultivation. However, she had not expected him to have refined this Divine Technique into a Divine Power Relic and given it to his Spiritual Mechanism Incarnation.

To a Lower Realm Cultivator, the Circulation Qi Collection Technique was an unparalleled support-type Secret Technique. With this Divine Technique, one of the greatest worries when roaming the Outer Void was eliminated.

A hint of gratitude appeared on Feng Yan's face. She nodded at Fang Cheng in acknowledgment, then lowered her gaze and entered a meditative state, beginning to cultivate.

'The Lingkong Celestial Ruins are filled with masters, and the Beiming Immortal Race will surely not give up. They're probably already waiting in front of the Taixu Gate. The sooner Feng Yan recovers her peak combat strength, the better our chances on this trip will be...'

Fang Cheng calculated silently.

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「Beiming Heaven.」

On the summit of a majestic mountain, a middle-aged man with a large frame, a portly build, and a face as round as a full moon sat cross-legged on a rock. Beside him was a ten-thousand-zhang chasm. Frost-white mist billowed up from time to time, making it seem as if he were perched on a glacial, jade cliff.

This man's sleeves were as wide as sacks, fluttering loudly in the wind, yet his body was as unmovable as a mountain.

An Escape Light leisurely flew over through the clouds. Within it was a stunningly beautiful woman. She was graceful and elegant, dressed in a simple white Feathered Robe, and she trod upon a ripple of clear light that made her seem like a pure lotus, untainted by the mortal world.

The woman arrived at the summit and said softly, "My Lord, I have an urgent matter to report."

Her hair was like a cloud, her waist as slender as a willow. When she spoke, her beautiful eyes danced with life, evoking a sense of pity and affection.

The large, fat man opened his eyes. He glanced at the woman, a look of indulgence on his face. With a beckoning gesture of his hand, a tyrannical wave of Magical Power pulled the woman into his embrace. He asked with a chuckle, "What matter is so important that it made you come all this way yourself?"

The white-robed woman's pretty face flushed slightly, as if she were not used to being held so intimately. She only said softly, "My Lord, news has come from the Jade Flower Realm. Beiming Yong did indeed find clues about the Taixu Token. Unfortunately, though he personally led thirty-nine Tribulation Realm Cultivators to seize the treasure, he still suffered a crushing defeat. The other party cut down thirty-two of his people..."

The large, fat man caressed the beautiful female cultivator's round, perky bottom and chuckled. "Why is that unfortunate? This is wonderful news! How many years has it been since I've seen Beiming Yong suffer such a setback? Haha, excellent! Excellent! Where is the Taixu Token now?"

The white-robed woman replied, "The Taixu Token is in the hands of an Ancient Cultivator from the Jade Flower Realm. This person just returned to the Jade Flower Realm and passed the Ninth Celestial Tribulation. It's said she also has a helper who blocked all eighteen of Beiming Yong's arrows with a single strand of Sword Qi."

The large, fat man's belly was round. Hearing this, his eyes narrowed, and his already small eyes became two thin slits.

He mused, "To make the ever-arrogant Beiming Yong suffer such a huge loss, these two must be quite powerful. Is your information reliable?"

The white-robed woman said solemnly, "This all came from the people my Lord planted in the Beiming Immortal Palace in the Jade Flower Realm. It's absolutely true. It's said that Beiming Yong has persuaded a Supreme Elder to send an incarnation to the Jade Flower Realm, but they still haven't found a trace of those two. They must have already gone to the Lingkong Celestial Ruins by now."

The large, fat man said, "I have sat here in tedious meditation for five hundred years. Now that the Taixu Token has appeared, it's time for me to get out and about."

He looked up at the void beyond the sky and muttered to himself, "This Taixu Token... even if I, Beiming Yan, am not fated to have it, it must not, under any circumstances, fall into Beiming Yong's hands."