Cultivation: I Have a Golden Talisman

An Inner Sect Elder flashed to the disciple’s side and performed a healing art, allowing him to catch his breath.

He sputtered weakly, "Quick... Go... Save... Junior Sister Zhu..."

Just then, an arrogant, raspy voice echoed from outside. "Amitabha Buddha. Since your esteemed sect is unwilling to let this old monk in for the feast, I will have to invite a few of your female patrons to contemplate the profound mysteries before the Joyful Buddha. Consider it my way of congratulating you on your grand opening."

Everyone in the hall turned to look at Fang Cheng.

Fang Cheng remained composed. He scanned the crowd and said, "My apologies for the disturbance, everyone. Our sect is new to this area, and I fully expected some unwelcome guests to arrive. Does anyone present know who this is?"

Bing Wuyi smiled faintly. "Based on the thunder and fire on your sect’s disciple, those appear to be the Divine Techniques of the Nuhai Loose Cultivator, Evil Maitreya. This man cultivates the Divine Techniques of both the Buddhist Sect and the Demon Sect. He reached the Life Soul Realm a hundred years ago and has a terrible reputation for being perverse and cruel."

Fang Cheng nodded and said, "Please, everyone, remain seated. I will be right back."

With that, his figure blurred, transforming into a streak of sharp sword light that instantly vanished from the hall.

The guests exchanged glances, then hurriedly turned to look outside the hall.

They saw the sky erupt with the sound of wind and thunder. The air filled with lightning and fire, punctuated by a series of deafening booms, as if the heavens themselves were collapsing. It was, indeed, the aura of a Life Soul Level expert.

Then, a blinding flash of sword light flared and vanished in an instant. For a moment, the world was illuminated!

With the appearance of this sword, the Spiritual Qi between heaven and earth seemed to solidify. The sky-rending thunder and fire slowly dissipated. The clashing auras had barely erupted before they disappeared completely.

Overcome with curiosity, the cultivators all rose and flew out of the great hall to look up at the sky.

There, a man stood high in the sky, hands clasped behind his back. His gaze was fixed on the distance, and his body radiated a chilling Sword Intent.

On the Jade Platform outside the Daoist Palace, a beautiful woman sat slumped on the ground. Next to her lay two halves of a corpse. Judging by its features, it was unmistakably a fat monk with large ears.

"It really is the Evil Maitreya!"

The cultivators exchanged horrified glances, staring at the Evil Maitreya’s body in disbelief. A hush fell over the crowd.

This was a Life Soul Realm cultivator, yet he had been slain by a single sword strike.

And the one who had struck him down was a mere Life Talisman Cultivator!

While there were cases in the Eastern Wilderness of Life Talisman Cultivators managing to defeat those in the Life Soul Realm, to do so this cleanly and decisively was simply unheard of.

Even the few Life Soul Cultivators among the guests wore grave expressions. They stared at the sharp, lingering Sword Intent on the Evil Maitreya’s corpse, their brows furrowed in thought.

Bing Wuyi and Master Buxu exchanged a glance, communicating secretly. ’This Sword Technique... is it him?’

’Yes. And he’s gotten stronger.’

Bing Wuyi’s expression was complicated as she looked up at Fang Cheng in the sky, her delicate brows knitting slightly.

’Against a cultivator like the Evil Maitreya—one who had Life Soul Cultivation but mediocre Divine Techniques and no Third-tier Magical Artifact for protection—she and Master Buxu could also have won. But... it would never have been this effortless.’

’She had a faint feeling. The Rakshasa Sect wanted to probe the Yinluo Sect’s strength, but wasn’t the Yinluo Sect, in turn, using this as an opportunity to establish its dominance?’

’Forget everyone else; that single strike was a stunning shock even to genius cultivators like her and Master Buxu.’

’He really is the Fierce Tiger Taoist!’

’The "Loose Cultivator" from the Sanzong Mountain Secret Realm, the one who defeated the Female Sword Immortal of the West Desolate Spirit Moon Sect.’

Xun Yuanchu and Cai Li stood side by side. The former stared at the mangled corpse on the platform without a word, while the latter sighed and said, "Junior Brother’s strength... even I can’t quite fathom it anymore. I thought his cultivation speed was already fast enough, but I never imagined he’d be this fast."

Xun Yuanchu nodded. "He’s even more formidable than your master was in his prime... I’ve never in my life seen such a piercing Netherworld Sword Technique."

Just then, Fang Cheng’s voice boomed from the heavens, directed at the distant sky. "Are you two also here to stir up trouble? Why not show yourselves? Skulking about like this is beneath the dignity of Life Soul Cultivators!"

"What an arrogant junior."

A voice like a booming bell echoed from afar. Immediately after, a hundred-zhang beam of yellow light descended from the sky. A tall, red-robed elder appeared within the light. He had white hair, a silver beard, and held a White Jade Duster.

From another direction, emerald flames billowed forth. A woman clad in black gauze emerged from within them, her demonic aura shockingly potent.

Both of them possessed Life Soul Cultivation.

Fang Cheng’s expression remained placid. The Youhong Sword circled him, its Sword Intent exuding a serene, cold stillness.

Having cultivated to the Peak of Life Talisman, the Magical Power in his Qi Sea was already comparable to that of an ordinary Life Soul Cultivator. However, his Life Talisman had not yet evolved into a Life Soul, so the quality of his Magical Power and his Divine Power were inferior to those of a Life Soul Cultivator.

If the Magical Power of a Life Talisman Cultivator was a hemp rope, then the Magical Power of a Life Soul Cultivator was a steel cable.

But there are exceptions to every rule. When Fang Cheng completely unleashed the power of the Youhong Sword, a Tier Three Flying Sword, it was more than enough to compensate for his deficiencies.

Life Soul Loose Cultivators like the Evil Maitreya paid the price for their carelessness and for underestimating their opponent.

On Taiyue Mountain, some had already recognized the identities of the newcomers.

"It’s the Corpse Venerable Elder and the Blood Feather Sect Leader! Didn’t they both fall thirty years ago? Why have they appeared here today?!"

"I heard a rumor that they didn’t die, but became Honored Guest Elders for the Rakshasa Sect..."

"Both of them made their names over two centuries ago. Their Cultivation Divine Techniques are no weaker than the Evil Maitreya’s, and they also possess Third-tier Magical Artifacts. I wonder if the Yinluo Mansion Master can hold them off."

"No need to worry. The Yinluo Sect’s Life Soul Cultivators haven’t even appeared yet. What’s more, there’s still a Mountain Demon on the mountain. I fear only figures on the level of the Ten Great Experts of the Eastern Wilderness could pose a threat to this sect."

Meanwhile, high in the sky, the Corpse Venerable Elder glared at Fang Cheng and said in a cold voice, "The Evil Maitreya only captured one of your sect’s Life Talisman Cultivators, yet you struck to kill without hesitation. Do you truly believe there is no one left in the Wilderness?"

Fang Cheng sneered. "Oh? Do you intend to avenge the Evil Maitreya?"