Cultivation: I Have a Golden Talisman-Chapter 52: Encountering Qian Shaoning Again

From the eighth Stone Stele onward, disciples from the great families lay in wait at each subsequent one, ready to intercept challengers.

Fang Cheng challenged them one by one, sweeping away all opposition.

After his Red Feather Sword shattered, he brought out the Cold Wave Radiance Sword that Ye Yan had given him.

This Flying Sword was a Tier One Top Grade weapon, its power far surpassing that of the Red Feather Sword.

Combined with his Swordsmanship, almost no one could withstand a single exchange.

Every time he struck, he swept his opponents aside using only his Poison Gu and Flying Sword.

Powerful Demon Beasts also began to appear near the Trial Steles, evidently because the few people who had passed through earlier hadn’t spent time killing them.

And from the residual auras of battle left in the area, it was clear that five people were ahead of Fang Cheng.

The most domineering aura still belonged to that Cultivator who practiced a Fire Element Technique.

The second was likely Qian Shaoning, who practiced a Thundering Technique.

Although Fang Cheng had started slow, he was now gradually closing the distance between himself and the five people ahead.

...

「Outside Cloud Whale Mountain.」

Atop a magnificent Cyan Jade Flying Ship, auspicious light danced amid billowing clouds, hanging steadily and silently in the sky.

Ye Yan and Die’Er stood on the deck, their eyes glued to the water mirror above the mountain.

Die’Er’s bright, almond-shaped eyes sparkled as she excitedly counted on her slender, snow-white fingers, "Young Master has already defeated the Xu Family, the Li Family, the Zhao Family, the He Family... After eight more Trial Steles, he’ll successfully enter the outer sect of the Yinluo Sect!"

"Only five people are ahead of Young Master now. It looks like he’ll catch up to them soon..."

A smile graced Ye Yan’s exquisite, beautiful face. ’My husband must be thinking of me,’ she thought, ’that’s why he’s using the Flying Sword I gave him to fight his enemies.’

A wave of sweetness washed over her at the thought.

When Fang Cheng had killed the members of the Zhou Family earlier, he hadn’t been near a Stone Stele, so she didn’t know that the Red Feather Sword had shattered. She assumed Fang Cheng was using the Flying Sword from his beloved wife for some kind of ritualistic purpose, to sweep through the trials and remain undefeated.

Die’Er glanced at her lady and asked with sudden curiosity, "Miss, Young Master is so powerful. If you were to spar with him, who do you think would win?"

Ye Yan chuckled. "He would definitely let me win."

The implication was that she already admitted Fang Cheng was the stronger of the two.

Die’Er bit her red lip, looking puzzled. "Miss, your Cultivation is a layer higher than Young Master’s, and your Divine Techniques aren’t necessarily any weaker than his. Why...?"

Ye Yan smiled faintly. "A battle isn’t decided simply by comparing the levels of one’s Cultivation. Young Master’s mastery of his Sword Technique is extremely high. I estimate that only the most powerful among the Inner Sect Disciples could block his Flying Sword."

Die’Er was stunned for a moment, then said joyfully, "So based on what you’re saying, Miss, the next few stages won’t be a problem for Young Master at all?!"

After all, the disciples from the great families lying in wait at the next few stages were all from the four major families, and their strength was considerably greater than those from the earlier stages.

Ye Yan shook her head and said,

"We disciples of the great families can be roughly divided into four tiers. The first tier are people like my cousin Feng Ling—exceptionally gifted, brilliant talents who have been nurtured by their families as ’Dao Seeds’ since childhood, with the goal of cultivating one of the nine great cornerstone arts of the Yinluo Sect."

"The second tier is for people like me. Our talent isn’t on par with my cousin’s, but our innate aptitude is compatible with our family’s Cultivation Techniques. If we cultivate diligently, we can also advance to the Life Talisman Realm."

"The third tier consists of those with some talent, but whose bodies are not very compatible with their family’s Cultivation Techniques. They are unwilling to practice low-level techniques, so they also wish to enter the Yinluo Sect. Once they become Inner Sect Disciples, they can cultivate other High-level Techniques of the Yinluo Sect. While those techniques aren’t as good as the nine great cornerstone arts, they are no worse than the core techniques of the four major families."

"The fourth tier... their talent and aptitude are both average. That’s why they are sent by their families to intercept other Cultivators. They’re merely tools of their families."

Ye Yan pointed to the water mirror above Cloud Whale Mountain and smiled. "The people participating in the trial now are all third and fourth-tier disciples. But Young Master... he is comparable to a first-tier disciple of the same rank!"

Die’Er’s small, cherry-red mouth fell slightly open. Hearing Ye Yan’s detailed analysis, she finally had a clear understanding of her Young Master’s strength.

In fact, Ye Yan had learned this analysis from a conversation with Madam Ye.

Madam Ye was aware of her son-in-law’s strength, so she didn’t pay too much attention, nor did she notify the Ye Family to make special arrangements for Fang Cheng like they did for other Ye Family disciples.

It was, to some extent, a way of using the outer sect trial to test Fang Cheng.

At this moment on Cloud Whale Mountain, Fang Cheng had become the center of everyone’s attention.

Every time he appeared on the water mirror, he would stir up discussion. As he continued to break through the stages, the name of the Cyan Profound Sword grew ever more famous.

The more observant people on Cloud Whale Mountain had already noticed that among the nine great families who had set up blockades, eight were already in position, but there was no trace of the Zhou Family disciples.

Could they have gotten lost?

However, this thought was quickly cast aside.

At this moment, everyone’s gaze was fixed on the thirteenth water mirror...

Above the thirteenth Trial Stele, Qian Shaoning and a group of Dong Family Cultivators were locked in a fierce battle.

Qian Shaoning had a fortuitous encounter and now practiced a Thundering Technique. With every move, a ball of lightning accompanied him, fierce and domineering.

He fought against nineteen Dong Family Cultivators all by himself, yet he wasn’t at a disadvantage in the slightest.

Die’Er watched with rapt attention, then suddenly pointed and cried out, "Miss, look! Young Master has also reached the thirteenth Trial Stele!"

...

When Fang Cheng arrived near the thirteenth Stone Stele, he happened upon the Dong Family Cultivators blocking Qian Shaoning.

Qian Shaoning stood on the Bronze Shell Leaf, wreathed in Thunder Light. He unleashed one Thunder Magic after another, clashing fiercely with the Dong Family Cultivators.

The leader of the Dong Family disciples responsible for this interception mission was named Dong Fangyu. Among the younger generation of the Dong Family, he was ranked seventeenth.

Even Dong Fangzhuo would have to address him as "Seventeenth Brother."

However, Dong Fangyu’s status in the family was not as high as Dong Fangzhuo’s. The latter could be sent directly into the Inner Sect of the Yinluo Sect by the family, without even needing to participate in the outer sect trial...

In Ye Yan’s words, Dong Fangyu belonged to the fourth tier of great family disciples.

Dong Fangyu had cultivated for twenty-nine years, yet he only had a Seventh-Layer Sensing Cultivation. He and the other eighteen disciples of the Dong Family had joined forces to form a Talisman Array, which enveloped the area outside the Trial Stele.

Among the four great families of the Abyssal Marsh, the Dong Family was the most skilled in the way of Talismans.

Each of the nineteen people had produced a First-rank top-grade talisman. Together, they formed the towering, solid illusion of a mountain that emanated wisps of Profound Yellow Qi, filling the surrounding area.

This array excelled at defense; Qian Shaoning had been attacking for quite some time without being able to break through it.

Meanwhile, Dong Fangyu remained composed, calmly directing the Talisman Array’s operation and taking the opportunity to release offensive Talismans in an attempt to severely injure Qian Shaoning.

Qian Shaoning roamed the sky, looking for an opportunity to find a flaw in the Talisman Array. The sky filled with faint flashes of Thunder Light from his attacks, creating a spectacular scene.

Both sides noticed when Fang Cheng arrived.

Qian Shaoning withdrew his Thunder Magic, leisurely retreated, and ceased his attack.

Dong Fangyu, however, remained on high alert, not daring to relax in the slightest.

Qian Shaoning turned to glance at Fang Cheng and smiled. "Fellow Daoist Fang, how about you and I join forces to break this array?"

Before Fang Cheng could speak, Dong Fangyu spoke up first, asking, "Am I facing Fang Cheng of the Cyan Profound Sword, the worthy son-in-law of the Ye Family?"

Seeing that the Dong Family member was being so polite, Fang Cheng also cupped his hands in a salute and said, "I am he."

Dong Fangyu nodded, then turned to a Dong Family disciple beside him and asked, "Does he match the description in the files?"

The disciple replied, "More or less, but he’s slightly more handsome than the description."

Dong Fangyu grunted in acknowledgment and said aloud, "Fellow Daoist Fang, I had originally hoped to take this opportunity to spar with you. However, today is not convenient. Please, come forward and complete your induction at the Trial Stele. Our main task today is to intercept Qian Shaoning."

...