Cultivation: I Have a Golden Talisman

In front of Canglan Cave.

A middle-aged Daoist with a refined face and three wisps of a black beard stood with his hands clasped behind him. He wore a tall crown and a Daoist’s Brocade Cloud Robe.

Fang Cheng walked out of the Cave Mansion, bowed to the Daoist, and said, "Master."

Sun Fuguo gazed at the scenery on Demon Lion Peak and said, "I am going to the Flame God Palace. Would you like to come with me?"

Fang Cheng’s heart stirred. He asked, "Will it be just the two of us, Master?"

Sun Fuguo chuckled. "I am only going to issue a challenge to Xu Tianci. The two of us should be enough."

Xu Tianci was one of the two Celestial Elders of the Flame God Palace. He had a Life Soul Cultivation and, along with another great cultivator named Ye Tianlan, was responsible for anchoring the Flame God Palace’s destiny.

Fang Cheng knew from Ren Yan’s memories that Ren Yan had painstakingly plotted within the Flame God Palace back then. When the time was right, he revealed the secret that the Yinluo Sect was facing a great calamity, instigating Xu Tianci to launch a surprise attack on them.

Sun Fuguo’s trip to the Flame God Palace to issue this challenge was surely to avenge that past disgrace.

Sword Cultivators placed the greatest importance on maintaining a clear Dao Heart, free from any lingering attachments. The Yinluo Sect had been schemed against by multiple parties back then, nearly having its entire foundation destroyed. How could Sun Fuguo not harbor any rage in his heart?

Now that he had broken through to the Life Soul Realm, it was time to test his blade.

Fang Cheng had originally thought Su Miao and Sun Fuguo would secretly plot a major counter-attack, an eye for an eye. He never expected Sun Fuguo to go alone.

Fang Cheng said solemnly, "I am willing to go with you, Master."

Sun Fuguo’s voice lowered, and his gaze fell upon Fang Cheng. He asked softly, "That technique of yours... can you still use it?"

Fang Cheng knew he was asking about the Dream Spirit Incarnation, so he answered vaguely, "I still have some."

Sun Fuguo nodded. "Excellent. If we can slay Xu Tianci on this trip, his body and storage pouch are all yours."

Fang Cheng smiled faintly.

The master and disciple already had a tacit understanding. With Su Miao needed to hold down the fort at the Yinluo Sect, Fang Cheng was the most suitable person in the entire sect to support Sun Fuguo in battle.

With Fang Cheng there, Sun Fuguo could fight without restraint and unleash the full power of his sword, just as he had when he slew the Southern Mang Demon King.

With just a few words, the two of them had settled a momentous matter. Afterward, Sun Fuguo summoned a Yinluo Flying Ship, and he and Fang Cheng departed from the Yinluo Sect, flying straight toward the West Shore of the Daze.

...

The scorching sun blazed high in the sky over a vast, endless desert of yellow sand.

Looking down from high above, the undulating sand dunes resembled frozen ocean waves, stretching all the way to the horizon.

Within this desert, an Oasis hundreds of li across stood majestically in the sea of sand.

The Oasis was lush with vegetation and dotted with mountains. Among them were five magnificent peaks that stood like giants between heaven and earth.

Atop each of the five great mountains sat a cluster of palaces, bathed in golden light and shining brilliantly.

In the center of the five mountains grew a colossal tree that reached for the very heavens.

This giant tree stood in the center of the Oasis, over a hundred zhang wide and a thousand zhang tall. Its canopy spread out like a dome, and its fiery leaves radiated a brilliant light.

From a distance, the canopy looked like a blazing sun.

A majestic Celestial Palace was suspended beneath the tree’s canopy. Though silent, it exuded an aura powerful enough to swallow heaven and earth, inspiring an overwhelming urge to prostrate oneself in worship.

The Red Sun Divine Tree.

A Fourth-rank Magical Artifact with a long history in the Flame God Palace.

Inside the Celestial Palace, the floor, paved with Red Gold, was smooth, level, and spotless.

In the center of the floor, a fiery Great Sun Totem looked incredibly lifelike, radiating scorching heat.

A majestic man in a golden robe sat cross-legged in the center of the totem, as motionless as a mountain. His body was wreathed in an intense fiery light, amid which auspicious clouds and propitious vapors faintly drifted.

Countless lifelike Fire Crows, each as small as a grain of rice, danced within the fiery light and auspicious clouds.

Suddenly, the man opened his eyes and frowned, looking outside the hall.

Through the hall doors, he seemed to sense a murderous intent approaching, and a premonition of danger surfaced in his mind.

Just then, from high above the clouds outside the Oasis, the long, drawn-out cry of a sword rang out.

A bone-chilling, Heaven-Slaying Earth-Cracking Sword Aura descended from the sky, slashing down abruptly toward the Oasis.

Above the Oasis, flames erupted from the void. Countless giant Fire Crows, each ten zhang in size, beat their wings and formed a profound Grand Array, enveloping the five peaks and the Red Sun Divine Tree.

The Fire Crow Array!

The heaven-shaking sword light fell. In an instant, countless Fire Crows were annihilated, turning into streams of fire. The flames surged like a tide, spreading across the firmament and engulfing half the sky. The sword light itself seemed to have been half-melted, slowly dissipating within the blaze.

A deafening, earth-shattering explosion rumbled without end, startling countless Flame God Palace Cultivators who flew out of their Cave Mansions and palaces to look up at the sky.

A moment later, the sky-filling flames and Sword Aura dissipated.

A Magical Boat hovered silently in the sky, with two figures standing upon it.

One of the figures spoke, his voice indifferent. "I have long heard of the astonishing Divine Techniques of Fellow Daoist Xu from the Flame God Palace. Though I may be untalented, I have come today to witness your profound skills. I hope you will not deny me this lesson."

His voice was calm and gentle, yet it spread for a hundred li in every direction. It was audible to all, near and far, as if the very heavens and earth were echoing his words.

Inside the majestic Celestial Palace beneath the Red Sun Divine Tree, Xu Tianci, dressed in opulent golden robes, was surprised for a moment before breaking into a dismissive smile.

The fiery light and auspicious clouds around him abruptly retracted, and in an instant, he was outside the Celestial Palace.

But he saw that a white-haired elder had appeared at some unknown point beneath the Red Sun Divine Tree, blocking his path.

The elder wore brocade robes with large sleeves, a wide formal crown, and raised shoes. He had an imposing and dignified air, and his aura was shockingly scorching. He was, surprisingly, also a Life Soul Cultivator.

"Tianci, be careful. This could be a trap," the elder cautioned. "Sun Fuguo is an expert in Slaughter Techniques. Even back when he was only in the Life Talisman Realm, it was said he could clash with Life Soul Cultivators. For him to come and challenge you today, he must be completely confident. You absolutely must not let your guard down."