Cultivation: I Have a Golden Talisman

A luxurious and magnificent Beast Vehicle slowly rolled into the City Lord’s Mansion.

Inside the vehicle, Fang Cheng sat leisurely across from the beautiful woman of the Feather Race, looking calm and composed.

In fact, thanks to the information Yan Shutong had given him about the Demon City’s key figures over the past few days, the identity of the beautiful Feather Race woman before him was all but certain.

The daughter of Marquis Li, Ling Yan!

She was also one of the three Demon Marshals in Profound Celestial Demon City who wielded a Tier Four Feather Divine Soldier.

Most of the surviving Feather Race Cultivators lived in seclusion within Marquis Li’s Demon City. Today, the number of active Feather Race Cultivators in the Xuanyu Realm could be counted on one hand, and the one with the strongest cultivation and greatest reputation was none other than the daughter of Marquis Li.

She was the most accomplished of Marquis Li’s many children. Not only did she wield a Feather Divine Soldier, granting her terrifying combat power comparable to a Dharma Master, but she was also a peerless beauty whose looks outshone all others in the Xuanyu Realm.

Shortly after the Beast Vehicle entered the City Lord’s Mansion, an incomparably tyrannical Demon Sense descended upon them.

Fang Cheng’s expression flickered. He looked up at the sky outside the vehicle and saw a mountain-sized, pitch-black Demon Snake coiled above the City Lord’s Mansion. Its cold, serpentine eyes met his.

Its aura was comparable to a Tier Four Celestial Demon, perhaps even stronger than the one he had previously slain.

A Void Demon Snake!

But this wasn’t the Void Demon Snake’s true body. It was an illusion—or rather... a Dharma Aspect.

’So that’s it,’ Fang Cheng realized. ’The Divine Techniques that Madam Qi, a Dharma Cultivator, practices must be related to the Void Demon Snake.’

As their auras clashed, a startling demonic intent surged from his body.

The faint image of a withered skeleton, wreathed in pitch-black Demonic Light and flames, slowly materialized behind him.

Its empty eye sockets stared back at the Void Demon Snake, meeting its gaze without flinching.

Inside the vehicle, a hint of surprise appeared in Ling Yan’s beautiful eyes. She glanced at Fang Cheng but said nothing.

Soon, the Spirit Beast Vehicle arrived before a magnificent, resplendent palace.

Fang Cheng and Ling Yan walked into the main hall and saw a beautiful woman seated on a throne in the center.

She wore a gorgeous platinum-colored gown. Her bearing was noble, dignified, and graceful, and every glance from her beautiful eyes was captivating.

Standing beside her was a middle-aged man in a dark gold robe. Though his features were plain, he exuded an air of nobility and authority.

His aura was similar to Ling Yan’s; he also had a Late-Stage Life Soul Cultivation.

Sensing the unfathomable demonic intent radiating from the beautiful woman, Fang Cheng knew she was the master of the Demon Snake phantom that had appeared above the City Lord’s Mansion.

It was the first time he had come face-to-face with a Dharma Cultivator.

He bowed and said in a low voice, "I am Fang Cheng, an unaffiliated cultivator. I pay my respects to you, Madam."

Madam Qi smiled faintly. "It has been over fifty years since anyone last picked a Cang Ling Fruit," she said. "I never expected that the one to do so today would be a cultivator from another realm. Young friend Fang, are you perhaps from the Li Hen Dojo in the Mo Luo Realm?"

Among the twenty-seven Tribulation Realm Ancestral Kings of the Mo Luo Realm, one of the most powerful was world-renowned for his mastery of the Li Hen Demon Light. The Li Hen Dojo he presided over was one of the top factions in the Mo Luo Realm.

The purity of the Resentment Demonic Intent emanating from Fang Cheng made it reasonable for Yan Shutong, Madam Qi, and others to mistake him for a member of the Li Hen Dojo.

Fang Cheng nodded, deciding to play along.

But the middle-aged man beside Madam Qi snorted, his voice dripping with arrogance. "A parasite who stowed away between realms dares to come and pick the Cang Ling Fruit?"

Fang Cheng’s brow furrowed. "And you are?" he asked coolly.

The man’s expression was openly provocative. "Profound Celestial Demon Marshal, Senluo," he said flatly.

Fang Cheng chuckled dryly and cupped his hands. "So you are Demon Marshal Senluo, one of the wielders of the Feather Divine Soldiers. I’ve heard a great deal about you."

Senluo’s attitude was exceptionally cold. "You’ve come for the Feather Divine Soldiers too, I presume?" he sneered.

"Correct," Fang Cheng admitted freely.

Senluo sneered. "The Feather Divine Soldiers are the ultimate treasures of our Demon City. How could we possibly entrust one to an outsider like you?"

Fang Cheng turned to Madam Qi. After a moment of contemplation, he said, "If you also believe that the Cang Ling Fruit I picked is invalid, just say the word, and I will leave at once."

Madam Qi laughed softly. "Young friend, pay no mind to Senluo’s nonsense. The fact that you could pick the Cang Ling Fruit with only an Early-stage Life Soul Cultivation shows how astonishing your Divine Techniques and talent are. He speaks only out of jealousy. Don’t take it to heart."

Her voice was soft and pleasant. "If you were a cultivator from any other Demon City, I would have to be more cautious," she said with a smile. "But knowing you’re from the Li Hen Dojo puts me at ease. From this day forward, you shall serve as a Demon Marshal in this city. As for whether you can wield a Feather Divine Soldier, that will depend on your future contributions."

In Madam Qi’s experience, anyone capable of picking the Cang Ling Fruit was typically an exceptional individual at the Mid-Life Soul Stage, or even the Late-Life Soul Stage.

Cultivators of that caliber were the pillars of their respective Demon Cities and the most trusted subordinates of their City Lords. They wouldn’t casually defect to Profound Celestial Demon City.

If such a cultivator did show up, she would immediately suspect them of being a spy.

Yet Fang Cheng had picked the Cang Ling Fruit with only an Early-stage Life Soul Cultivation. The power of his Divine Techniques was truly astonishing.

More importantly, his identity and background were "clean."

Though he was a stowaway between realms, the Divine Techniques of the Li Hen Dojo were not something just anyone could imitate.

Such talent was worth winning over.

Seeing Madam Qi relent, Fang Cheng felt a little more at ease and offered his thanks.

Senluo, standing to the side, looked as if he wanted to protest but was silenced when Madam Qi raised a hand.

’Senluo’s status must be unusual,’ Fang Cheng mused. ’He can speak so freely in front of a Dharma Cultivator, while the daughter of Marquis Li hasn’t said a single word...’

Fang Cheng thought to himself that it was obvious his appearance had threatened certain interests within the city, which had earned him Demon Marshal Senluo’s immediate displeasure.

The man’s origins were a mystery. Even Yan Shutong hadn’t said much about him, other than that he was one of only three people in Profound Celestial Demon City who wielded a Tier Four Feather Divine Soldier.

’With a Tier Four Feather Divine Soldier, his combat strength is probably not much weaker than Madam Qi’s. No wonder he’s so arrogant and doesn’t even treat me as a peer.’

Fang Cheng considered this for a moment. He remained impassive on the surface, but inwardly, he sneered.

Just then, Madam Qi said, "Ling Yan, Fang Cheng will be temporarily assigned to your command. A storm is brewing, and with him, you’ll have another capable subordinate."

Ling Yan’s cold, beautiful face remained impassive. "Alright," she replied.

Madam Qi nodded. "You may both leave now."

Ling Yan glanced at Fang Cheng, then turned and walked out of the hall.

Fang Cheng quickly bade his farewell and followed her out.

「In the main hall.」

Senluo watched their departing figures and frowned. "Foster Mother," he asked, "are you really going to let him stay?"

Madam Qi’s expression was placid. "He is not one of Marquis Yan’s men," she said slowly.

Her tone was so certain it cut off whatever else Senluo was about to say.

After a pause, she added, "My end is near. It’s time to move forward with that matter. If he can be of use to me, he’ll be a significant asset. After all, not just anyone can master the Feather Divine Soldiers."

A dark look flashed in Senluo’s eyes, gone in an instant. He sighed. "I still feel there’s something off about him."

Madam Qi’s gaze drifted into the distance, her smile turning cold. "How could anyone from the Li Hen Dojo have small ambitions? This is merely a matter of mutual use. If he steps out of line, you may dispose of him."

Senluo nodded, lost in thought.

...