Cultivation: I Have a Golden Talisman-Chapter 48: The Trial Begins

The Feng, Wang, Ye, and Dong families were considered the most powerful clans due to their profound heritage and an endless supply of experts.

Not only did their members serve as True Disciples and Inner Sect Elders in the Yinluo Sect, but the families themselves also boasted no shortage of Life Talisman Realm Cultivators.

The numerous clans outside of the four great families were a mixed bag. Some were flourishing while others were in decline, and you could count the number of Life Talisman Cultivators among them on one hand.

And so, in this trial for Outer Disciples, only five clans aside from the four great families were involved in carving up the available spots!

Fang Cheng soon spotted Wang Xingzhi in the crowd.

The Wang Family had sent over twenty disciples to this trial. Gathered together, the children of the various great families made for an imposing sight.

Of the nine participating clans, the Wang Family had the largest contingent.

Furthermore, Fang Cheng also spotted a familiar face: Zhou Huaijin...

The young master of the Zhou Family was dressed in magnificent robes, standing with a dozen or so other Zhou disciples. His expression was calm and carefree, showing no sign that he had suffered a crushing defeat at the Ye Family’s Sword Fighting Conference just a few months prior.

His arm had been reattached and looked perfectly fine.

’I wonder if that kid Dongfang Xiong’s arm has been fixed yet?’

The thought surfaced in Fang Cheng’s mind. He wondered about the young Loose Cultivator who had been out making a name for himself, with no idea where he might be now.

He wondered if the boy had had his fill of hardship and returned to the embrace of his gentle senior sister...

As the time approached, more and more Cultivators gathered on Cloud Whale Mountain. Some were not participating in the trial but had come to watch the spectacle and gain experience.

It was said that the Elder presiding over the trial would cast a spell to create a massive water mirror, allowing everyone to observe the proceedings.

Fang Cheng waited patiently, calm and unhurried.

Suddenly, a streak of Thunder Light flashed across the horizon. The sound of rolling thunder followed, its momentum immense.

A phantom of lightning was seen streaking across the sky, landing on the peak of Cloud Whale Mountain and revealing an ordinary-looking young man.

He stood atop a Bronze Shell Leaf, clad in an indigo Thunder Patterned Robe. With his hands clasped behind his back, his presence alone made the disciples of the great families look on with apprehension and keep their distance.

It was none other than Qian Shaoning!

Though it had been many days, his Cultivation was still at the Seventh Layer of Sensing, but his aura felt much deeper and more powerful than it had during the Sword Fighting Conference.

Fang Cheng had learned through the Ye Family’s intelligence network that Qian Shaoning had a fortuitous encounter in his early years as a Spirit Servant for the Dong Family. His Cultivation had advanced by leaps and bounds, allowing him not only to buy back his Servant Contract but also to successfully enter the Yinluo Sect as a Servant Disciple.

Later, he won the favor of a Loose Cultivator at the Late-Life Talisman Realm, securing a powerful backer. As a result, he no longer feared the disciples from ordinary clans and even dared to openly challenge the core disciples of the Dong Family.

’I didn’t expect him to be here.’

A trace of wariness flashed in Fang Cheng’s eyes.

The Taiyi Thunder Pill that Qian Shaoning refined with the Bronze Shell Leaf had power comparable to a Life Talisman Cultivator. It was a deadly weapon that one must be careful to avoid.

However, now that he had mastered the Li Hen Demon Light and possessed the First-rank top-grade flying sword, the Cold Wave Radiance Sword, he wasn’t necessarily afraid of him.

’Passing the Outer Disciple trial is the number one priority. I can worry about competing and fighting later...’

Fang Cheng withdrew his gaze, no longer paying Qian Shaoning any mind.

「7:00 AM」

A Jade Chime Spirit Sound rang out from the Bone Daoist Palace in the sky, instantly silencing the entirety of Cloud Whale Mountain. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝙬𝙚𝓫𝒏𝓸𝓿𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝙤𝓶

From within the Bone Daoist Palace, a gentle voice sounded:

"All disciples, listen. Before this session of the Outer Disciple trial officially begins, this old man will state a few rules. Anyone who violates these rules will have their status as a Servant Disciple revoked and will be expelled from the Yinluo Sect."

All across Cloud Whale Mountain, the Cultivators held their breath, their gazes fixed on the massive White Bone Palace in the sky as they listened intently.

"Rule one: During the trial, you are forbidden from using Magical Artifacts, Talismans, pills, or Arrays that exceed Tier One."

"Rule two: During the trial, there shall be no cheating or impersonation."

"Rule three: All participants must fly one circuit around the Abyssal Marsh in the order of east, south, west, then north. You may not reverse this direction."

"Furthermore, fighting and killing are not forbidden during the trial. However, if you wish to preserve your life, you may crush your Trial Talisman."

In the Bone Daoist Palace, the gentle voice paused for a moment, then said:

"Very well. Begin!"

The moment the voice fell, hundreds of Escape Lights rose from Cloud Whale Mountain, flying straight towards the distant sky.

Among them, five or six Escape Lights were extremely fast. In the blink of an eye, they far surpassed the main group and disappeared over the horizon.

Qian Shaoning’s signature lightning Escape Light was among them.

Fang Cheng took out a Talisman Decree that looked like a Jade Pendant, hung it at his waist, and also flew into the sky. He followed the crowd at an unhurried pace, concealing his aura and hiding himself amongst them.

After the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, the Escape Lights in the sky had already thinned out and spread far apart, no longer looking as dense as they did at the start.

The nineteen Trial Steles were randomly distributed along the thirty-thousand-li-long shoreline, making them difficult to find. Many people slowed their Escape Lights, flew low over the forests, and scattered to begin their search.

Fang Cheng gradually increased his Tunneling Speed, turning into a streak of cyan Escape Light that shot across the sky, maintaining a position in the top fifth of the group.

Thanks to the perception of his Sword Heart, he was quite sensitive to the auras of Cultivators. As long as someone ahead found a Trial Stele, there would be a fluctuation, and he could just head over then.

...

「Above Cloud Whale Mountain」

Nineteen beams of watery light flew out from the Bone Daoist Palace, each transforming into a zhang-sized water mirror in the sky, hanging motionless.

Within the mirrors were images of ancient, towering Stone Steles standing amidst the forests!

In the dense forests, swamps, and caves beside these Stone Steles, the figures of Demon Beasts could be vaguely seen...

The Cultivators remaining on Cloud Whale Mountain at this moment were mostly Servant Disciples of the Yinluo Sect.

They all looked up at the water mirrors in the sky, observing the trial.

At this moment, a Magnificent Jade Ship, entirely cyan-green in color, flew in from the horizon. Auspicious light danced around it, and it was buoyed by clouds and mist, giving it a truly immortal air.

The Jade Boat hovered in the sky. Two beautiful women walked out of the cabin onto the deck and looked towards the nineteen water mirrors.

It was Ye Yan and Die’Er.

"Miss, the Young Master has already started the trial."

Die’Er looked around curiously at the scene on the mountain as she spoke.

Her features were as pretty as a painting, and she had a fine figure, her entire being overflowing with a graceful, youthful vitality.

Beside her, Ye Yan was dressed in a magnificent palace gown. Her face was stunningly beautiful, her skin fairer than snow. Her cold, glamorous aura also contained a trace of elegance and serenity. Compared to Die’Er, she possessed an even more captivating charm.

Her delicate brows furrowed slightly. "It’s all Mother’s fault. She insisted on keeping me to practice my Magic, making me miss my husband’s big event... I wonder if he’ll resent me for it?"

"Miss, the Young Master is easygoing, he definitely won’t blame you," Die’Er comforted her softly. "Once he passes the trial and becomes an Outer Disciple, you can celebrate with him properly. Your relationship as husband and wife will surely be as good as new."

A smile appeared on Ye Yan’s exquisite, beautiful face. She said teasingly, "You little vixen, always saying what I want to hear. While I’ve been away, have you been serving the Young Master well?"

Die’Er’s pretty face flushed red. She stammered, "The Young Master has been in closed-door Cultivation in the secret chamber. I haven’t even been able to see his face..."

"So stupid. I created the opportunity for you for nothing." Ye Yan rolled her eyes at her and said, "Weren’t you the one who begged me to let you... you know... with the Young Master? How come you couldn’t do it when the chance was right in front of you?"

Die’Er stomped her foot in embarrassment, pleading, "Aiyah, Miss, please stop talking!"

She and Ye Yan had grown up together since childhood. Although they were master and servant, their bond was like that of sisters. Both were only seventeen or eighteen years old now, so their way of acting was naturally a bit naive.

In Fang Cheng’s previous life, this would be the age of a high school student...