Cultivation: I Have a Golden Talisman-Chapter 38: Defeating the Enemy

Above the Cloud Viewing Platform, high over a sea of clouds, Fang Cheng and Qian Shaoning stood in mid-air, locked in a standoff.

Both were Servant Disciples of the Yinluo Sect.

The difference was that Qian Shaoning, who began as a Spirit Servant for the Dong Family, had later experienced a fortuitous encounter that allowed him to soar to prominence. His experience was quite legendary, and he had made a name for himself long ago.

One could say that as long as the Dong Family didn’t suppress him, Qian Shaoning was destined to enter the Yinluo Sect’s Inner Sect, and perhaps even become a True Disciple!

Even the arrogant scions of the great families were extremely wary of him.

On the third floor of Illusion Heart Hall.

A mature, beautiful woman, radiating grace and nobility, watched the two remaining contestants. Her lovely eyes turned to the purple-robed young woman beside her as she asked slowly, "Yan’Er, what do you think of these two?"

A faint smile touched the young woman’s delicate and coolly beautiful face. She said lightly, "Whether in terms of magical inheritance or cunning, Qian Shaoning is the most formidable contestant in this Sword Fighting Conference. If he were nurtured by our Ye Family, there’s a seventy to eighty percent chance he would break through to the Life Talisman Realm in the future."

Then, her gaze shifted to Fang Cheng. She smiled. "As for this Fang Cheng... hmm. While his cultivation and strength are average, his looks are of the highest caliber."

The beautiful woman smiled. "Don’t tell me you’ve taken a liking to this Fang Cheng?"

The young woman lowered her gaze and said softly, "I will abide by the family’s arrangements."

The beautiful woman sighed softly. "For the Ye Family, both Qian Shaoning and that Dong Fangzhuo were top-tier choices. Now that Dong Fangzhuo has fallen for a scheme and withdrawn, Qian Shaoning is the clan elders’ only option. This Fang Cheng... his cultivation is just too lacking. I’m afraid he can’t possibly defeat Qian Shaoning."

The young woman looked outside, saying no more.

...

Above the Cloud Viewing Platform.

Qian Shaoning formed a spell with his hands. The Bronze Shell Leaf beneath his feet trembled lightly, erupting in a dazzling, clear light. Countless runes swam and spun within its glow, emitting a profound Spiritual Mechanism.

The sky suddenly darkened as a dense cloud dozens of yards across gathered, and the sound of rolling thunder filled the air.

RUMBLE!

A bolt of lightning as thick as a water bucket struck down.

Sensing it in advance with his Sword Heart, Fang Cheng’s figure flashed, and he dodged it with ease.

Then, with a sharp cry, a brilliant crimson sword light flared to life. It shot across the sky in an instant and slashed down!

The thundercloud above was instantly torn asunder, allowing daylight to break through.

On the Cloud Viewing Platform, many spectators couldn’t help but cheer.

Qian Shaoning sneered. The spell in his hands shifted, and the thundercloud instantly reformed. Then, bolts of lightning, even more powerful than before, began to rain down ceaselessly.

It was like the wrath of the heavens!

Fang Cheng’s brow furrowed. His figure flickered continuously as he relied on his Sword Heart Clarity to perceive the changes in the lightning’s aura ahead of time, allowing him to dodge with ease.

With a flick of his Sword Technique, the Red Feather Sword moved like a nimble Spirit Fish. It carved a dazzling path through the deluge of lightning, passing through the Thunder Light unscathed, and in a flash, it was before Qian Shaoning!

"Others may fear your Flying Sword, but I do not!"

Qian Shaoning scoffed. A dense ball of Thunder Light rose from the Bronze Shell Leaf at his feet, forming a perfectly round Thunder Mirror that enveloped him completely.

The layers of Thunder Light were stacked like a mountain range. Though small, they gave the illusion of being as indestructible and majestic as a great mountain.

The Red Feather Sword slashed viciously at Qian Shaoning again and again. Crimson sword light and azure Thunder Light flashed and intertwined, but the sword was unable to break through.

Suddenly, a glint flashed in Qian Shaoning’s eyes. With a mere thought, a bolt of lightning struck Fang Cheng with pinpoint accuracy!

The bolt of Thunder Light was swift and sudden, its trajectory strange and unpredictable. It had finally managed to bypass Fang Cheng’s Sword Heart Clarity.

On the Cloud Viewing Platform, everyone assumed the duel was about to reach its conclusion...

A moment later, the Thunder Light dissipated.

Fang Cheng was revealed, standing in the void completely unharmed. His robes were tattered, his upper body bare, revealing muscles that looked as if they were cast from steel. The lines of his physique displayed a raw, masculine beauty, and every muscle seemed to brim with explosive power.

A faint fiery glow swirled around him, and he radiated waves of searing heat from his powerful, imposing aura.

Celestial Fire Body Forging Technique!

It turned out that when the lightning had struck, Fang Cheng had instinctively activated this Body Refining Divine Technique. He used the lightning to temper his body; not only was he unharmed, but he had actually benefited from the strike.

Qian Shaoning, on the other hand, activated his spell again after his attack failed, calling down several more bolts of lightning.

Fang Cheng calmly circulated his Celestial Fire Body Forging Technique, neutralizing the lightning.

He was not idle, however. He secretly activated his Poison Gu, and an invisible, colorless toxic gas spread out to assail Qian Shaoning.

A talisman materialized on Qian Shaoning’s person. It rose slowly, shedding motes of green light that enveloped him.

Outside the green light, a layer of black gas swirled and lingered, refusing to disperse.

It was a First-rank top-grade talisman: a Rejuvenation Talisman!

"I was prepared for this little trick!"

Qian Shaoning smiled faintly, his eyes locked on Fang Cheng. While maintaining his lightning assault, he simultaneously considered a strategy to defeat his enemy.

’The Rejuvenation Talisman can block the toxic gas, but it won’t last long. If I don’t end this battle quickly, I’ll be in danger.’

’If only I had another Taiyi Thunder Pill...’

He sighed inwardly. Unfortunately, Taiyi Thunder Pills were incredibly difficult to refine, and he had already used his to intimidate and force Dong Fangzhuo’s withdrawal.

Across from him, a sharp glint appeared in Fang Cheng’s eyes, as if he had made a decision. He took a deep breath. His Magical Power surged, but his face instantly turned pale.

The Magical Power in his Qi Sea converged, and he drove the Red Feather Sword forward in a powerful slash.

A crimson rainbow shot across the sky, viciously striking the lightning barrier in front of Qian Shaoning.

The Red Feather Sword struck again and again. The blazing sword rainbow slammed into the layers of Thunder Light, emitting a piercing, high-pitched shriek that lingered in the air.

Guided by his Sword Heart Clarity, Fang Cheng overdrafted all his Magical Power—even risking damage to the very foundation of his Qi Sea—to deliver nine slashes in a single, explosive flurry!

After nine slashes, the Bronze Shell Leaf beneath Qian Shaoning’s feet seemed to hum and groan, and a fine crack appeared in the layered lightning barrier.

The next moment.

Two streaks of golden light shot out, seizing the opportunity to dart through the crack!

Qian Shaoning’s Protective Spiritual Light flickered but failed to stop the two Vajra Gu in the slightest. The ferocious Gu Insects tore through his skin and flesh, burrowing into his body and making a beeline for his internal organs!

Qian Shaoning’s expression froze, replaced by a look of utter disbelief.

He was a decisive and intelligent man. Without a moment’s hesitation, he hastily cast a spell, bringing a bolt of Thunder Light down upon himself.

BOOM!

His internal organs shuddered, and he spat out two clots of blood. He then immediately turned and fled into the distant sky.

In the blink of an eye, he was gone.

From within the two clots of blood, two Vajra Gu suddenly emerged, beat their wings, and flew back to Fang Cheng’s side.

At this point, Fang Cheng’s Magical Power was depleted and his mind was exhausted. A sharp, throbbing pain emanated from between his eyebrows; he had reached the very brink of collapse.

He waved his sleeve, recalling the Red Feather Sword and the Vajra Gu, then drifted lightly back down to the Cloud Viewing Platform. 𝒻𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝘯𝘰𝑣ℯ𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝘮

He landed with his clothes in tatters and his upper body bare. Though his vitality was still vigorous, the flow of Magical Power within him was weak to the extreme.

The spectators on the Cloud Viewing Platform spontaneously took a step back, clearing an open space for him.

Everyone looked at him with a mixture of expressions: envy, wariness, curiosity, and amusement.

Almost no one had expected that a previously unknown Servant Disciple would be the final winner of the Sword Fighting Conference.

Just then, a young woman in a pale yellow dress drifted gracefully down from the third floor of Illusion Heart Hall.

Her eyes were picturesque, her figure was lovely, and she radiated a graceful, youthful energy.

The young woman sized up Fang Cheng with curiosity and said, "I am my lady’s personal maid. Young Master, please come with me."