Cultivation: I Have a Golden Talisman

Fang Cheng knew the nun before him was in disguise. Hearing her words, he gave a dry chuckle. "You’re quite confident. I’m not worried about your big talk, though. I’m worried you have nothing to back it up. So tell me, how much is this clue of yours worth?"

The demure-looking nun walked closer, her eyes on the Spirit Pills on the Jade Disc. "How about this," she said. "I’ll offer one piece of information. If you think it’s worth it, I’ll take one Spirit Pill. If not, I’ll turn and leave. What do you say?"

Fang Cheng listened, then nodded. "A fine idea."

The nun spoke via voice transmission, "During the Late Ancient Era, the Demon Lord invaded this realm and corrupted the world. Spirit Immortals from the Upper Realm descended to vanquish him, ultimately suppressing the Demon Lord across the five domains. They then left behind their legacy, tasking the Tribulation Realm Cultivators of the Red Profound Realm with guarding the seal. This was the genesis of the Red Profound Association."

She paused. "Is that piece of information worth one Spirit Pill?"

Fang Cheng considered it for a moment. Without a word, he simply nodded.

The nun picked up a Spirit Pill and continued, "Over time, the Red Profound Association became a loose organization centered on exchanging favors and mutual interests. Its members are all Tribulation Realm Cultivators. Typically, once a cultivator breaks through to the Tribulation Realm, they’ll naturally receive an invitation... However, certain exceptionally talented Dharma Cultivators who show promise of reaching the Tribulation Realm might also be recruited early. The Mingxiao Domain’s branch of the Red Profound Association is located in..."

At this, she stopped and looked at Fang Cheng.

Fang Cheng nodded and gestured for her to take another from the Jade Disc.

With a faint smile, the nun took another Spirit Pill.

She said slowly, "The Heaven Crossing Hall."

She then fell silent again.

Fang Cheng asked, "Where is the Heaven Crossing Hall?"

The nun pointed to the seven remaining Spirit Pills on the Jade Disc and said, "That question is worth seven."

Fang Cheng sneered. "You certainly know how to do business."

The nun gave a sly wink. "It’s just business. A willing buyer and a willing seller. If you think it’s too expensive, you’re free not to buy."

Fang Cheng snorted. "Go on."

The nun stifled a giggle, a girlish air about her. She reached out, took the remaining Spirit Pills, and said slowly, "The Heaven Crossing Hall is carried on the back of a thousand-foot-tall Five-Colored Divine Ox. It roams the heavens with no fixed location. Other than members of the Red Profound Association, only those who hold a Red Profound Order can reach it."

"That Five-Colored Divine Ox is an Immortal Seed from beyond this realm, with power comparable to a Six-Tribulation Great Power. The number of people in this world who can find it directly can be counted on one hand."

Fang Cheng sighed softly. "And if I were to ask where I could find a Red Profound Order, I suppose that would require another payment?"

The nun smiled. "That’s right."

Fang Cheng’s gaze grew sharp. He stared directly at the nun, a hint of demonic intent in his eyes, and said, "Where did you get this information? How can I trust you?"

The nun was unperturbed. "My master is a member of the Red Profound Association. Whether you believe me or not is none of my concern."

As she spoke, her delicate brows knitted together, giving her a feisty, headstrong air. ’Her real age can’t be that high,’ Fang Cheng guessed.

Besides, her tone didn’t sound like she was lying. ’She’s probably the direct disciple of some major power, sneaking into this black market for fun.’

Fang Cheng’s mind raced. He took out another bottle of Tier Four Spirit Pills. "Tell me how to get my hands on a Red Profound Order, and this bottle of pills is yours," he said. "And no more games."

The nun put her palms together, feigning a pious look. "Amitabha Buddha," she intoned. "I know a Red Profound Order is due to appear soon, but I can’t guarantee you’ll be the one to get it. Plenty of people in the Mingxiao Domain have their eyes on the Red Profound Order, hoping to find their own fortuitous encounter in the Heaven Crossing Hall."

’This must be the "special opportunity" Xi Yinglong was talking about,’ Fang Cheng thought.

This kind of secret information was known to very few. Even a cultivator like Xi Yinglong had to ask his master, Ascendant Red Bright, to get a clear picture.

’I wonder what kind of background this young woman has?’

He said bluntly, "Just tell me the exact location where the Red Profound Order will appear."

After saying this, he tossed the Jade Bottle containing the Spirit Pills to the nun.

The nun caught the Jade Bottle, then tossed it back. Staring at Fang Cheng, she said, "I want to trade this information for a life. Do you dare to make that trade?"

Fang Cheng toyed with the Jade Bottle, glanced sideways at the nun, and asked, "Whose life? And what is their cultivation?"

The nun’s expression turned serious, her eyes filled with killing intent. She said, word by word, "Yin Yang Sect’s Supreme Elder, Nangong Chilong. Late-stage Dharma Realm Cultivation."

The motion of Fang Cheng’s hands faltered for an instant before returning to normal.

The Yin Yang Sect was one of the seven great sects of the Demon Dao in the Mingxiao Domain. Its disciples were infamous for draining the Magical Power and life force of others to bolster their own cultivation. Their Divine Techniques were strange and immensely powerful, and their prowess in battle was on par with any of the other six Demon Sect factions. They were a top-tier power in the modern era.

However, there was one thing. Although the Yin Yang Sect had produced Tribulation Realm Great Powers in its history, they had all later fallen to heavenly tribulations.

Today, the Yin Yang Sect had no Tribulation Realm Cultivator watching over it!

Fang Cheng couldn’t be bothered with whatever grudge the nun had with the Yin Yang Sect. As long as the target wasn’t someone who "couldn’t be killed," he’d have no qualms about it.

As a Demon Sect cultivator with standards, Fang Cheng’s standards weren’t particularly high.

A flash of light appeared in his hand, and he put away the Jade Bottle. "Alright. I’ll take the job."

The nun secretly sighed in relief. She took out an ancient animal hide and said, "Then let’s establish a Magic Contract!"

Fang Cheng’s expression flickered. In a brief moment, he had been shocked twice.

First, the beast hide in the nun’s hand was a Fifth-rank Magical Artifact, which all but confirmed her status as the heir to a Tribulation Realm expert!

Second, the moment the nun opened her storage bag, the Creation Golden Talisman in Fang Cheng’s sea of consciousness trembled violently. The reaction was more intense than ever before!

Clearly, something in the nun’s storage bag held a powerful attraction for the Creation Golden Talisman.

Fang Cheng looked at the hide in the nun’s hand and said without a change in expression, "A fine treasure. A Fifth-rank Magical Artifact. You truly have an extraordinary background!"

As the nun traced characters onto the beast hide with her finger, she said, "The feeling’s mutual. You’re no common cultivator yourself."

With that, she handed the inscribed hide to Fang Cheng.

Fang Cheng took it and read it. The contract stipulated that the signatory must assist the other party in killing the Yin Yang Sect’s Supreme Elder, Nangong Chilong, when the time was right. Backing out or making excuses was forbidden.

After reading, Fang Cheng let a drop of his essence blood fall onto it. It felt as if a weight had been lifted from his heart. He couldn’t help but laugh. "Nangong Chilong is a dead man. Not even a Spirit Immortal from the Upper Realm could save him. Mark my words."

Saying this, he handed the hide back.

His comment made her cover her mouth and chuckle. "In half a year," she said, "the Feathered Immortal Tree will emerge in the Illusory Sun Sea. The Heaven Crossing Hall has hidden a Red Profound Order within its canopy as a gift to the fated. With your great abilities, you’ll surely be able to secure that token."

Fang Cheng committed this to memory. "Let’s hope your words prove true," he said. "If I get what I’m after, I’ll have another gift for you as thanks."

The nun was noncommittal and added, "I’ve set a trap. I’m seventy to eighty percent confident I can lure that Nangong Chilong out of the Yin Yang Sect. When the time comes, I expect you to abide by the Magic Contract. Otherwise... you know the consequences of provoking a Fifth-rank Magical Artifact."

Fang Cheng smiled and said, "When do we make our move?"

The nun’s eyes flickered. She thought for a moment and said, "One month from now. We’ll meet in Room 9 of the Celestial Armor Room at Feipu Qingyin Tower in the Yin Yang Sect Marketplace."

"Alright." Fang Cheng nodded. He couldn’t help but feel a little eager to see the nun’s true appearance.

Seeing the nun was about to leave, he asked again, "Do you have any Dao Pattern Spirit Jade on you?"

"Dao Pattern Spirit Jade?" The nun started, then shook her head. "No," she said, looking puzzled. "What would you want that for?"

"Just a collector’s hobby. I was just asking," Fang Cheng deflected. But he was puzzled. ’If it’s not Dao Pattern Spirit Jade, then what in her storage bag is making the Creation Golden Talisman tremble?’

The nun rolled her eyes at him, said "See you later," and then turned and left.

’It won’t be too late to investigate further when we meet again...’

Fang Cheng mused that his gains for the day had already far exceeded his expectations. All that was left was to head back to the Drunken Immortal Tower and ask about this "Feathered Immortal Tree."

The matter of the Creation Golden Talisman could wait.

Just as he was about to leave, unexpectedly, the nun returned.

She took out an exquisitely beautiful pink sachet from her storage bag. It was bulging with something inside.

She said, "Since we’ve become acquainted, how about you do me a small favor? See if you can open this box for me."

Fang Cheng took the sachet, a sweet, subtle fragrance wafting from it. It was clearly something she kept on her person.

Inside the sachet was a square copper Treasure Box, only about an inch in length, width, and height. But its surface was engraved with a dense, countless number of ancient runes, each smaller than the tip of a needle.

Fang Cheng’s Divine Sense was powerful, making it easy to see the runes. But the moment he scanned the Treasure Box, a vast and endless sea of symbols flooded his mind, like a "password" hundreds of millions of characters long.

The Treasure Box itself was a seamless whole, emitting a faint, mysterious glow.

At this moment, the Creation Golden Talisman trembled violently again!

The one hundred thirty thousand creation points Fang Cheng had accumulated on the Golden Talisman vanished in the blink of an eye.

At the same time, a mysterious perception flooded his sea of consciousness—

The six faces of the Treasure Box—top, bottom, left, right, front, back—each was missing one rune!

As long as he found these six runes and engraved them in their corresponding positions, he could open the Treasure Box.

The Creation Golden Talisman could only point out the six empty rune positions on the Treasure Box, which were difficult to see with the naked eye. As for what runes were missing, it could not deduce them.

Runes are the very traces of heaven and earth. These six missing ones were certainly no ordinary runes.

And the item inside the Treasure Box was likely no ordinary object either!

Fang Cheng studied it carefully for a long time, then finally smiled. "I know how to open this, but I can’t just tell you for free."

The nun was taken aback for a moment, then she lifted her chin and huffed, "Liar. I don’t believe you for a second."

Fang Cheng tossed the Treasure Box to her and said, "Whether you believe me or not is your business."

Her dark brows knitted together as her beautiful eyes widened. "You can really open it?"

Fang Cheng put his palms together, assuming a pious and solemn expression. "Amitabha Buddha. A monastic never lies."

The nun was both exasperated and amused, inwardly laughing at Fang Cheng’s pettiness. Her expression turned serious. "This is called the Immortal Copper Treasure Box. It’s a treasure jointly refined by the seventy-two sages of the Ancient Human Race. Legend says it hides a world-shaking secret. Even a Tribulation Realm patriarch of the Ancient Evil Race couldn’t break it open with the Immortal Slaying Axe, a Fifth-rank Magical Artifact. You’d better not be deceiving me."

Hearing this, Fang Cheng immediately dropped his playful attitude, his expression turning solemn. "Such a treasure... how did it end up with you?"

The nun was silent for a moment before saying, "Perhaps you are its true fated owner... After we kill Nangong Chilong, how about I give you this Treasure Box?"

Fang Cheng’s gaze was deep, but he said nothing.

The nun said no more, turned, and left. Soon, she reached the edge of the Buddha’s Palm and leaped off.

Her figure rapidly fell into the Mirror Lake at the giant Buddha’s feet, vanishing in a flash without so much as a ripple.

Fang Cheng also descended from the Buddha’s Palm, riding his Profound Light, and submerged himself in the lake.

After his whole body was submerged in the lake water, it was as if space had inverted. He slowly rose again, breaking through the shimmering water.

Before him was a quiet and secluded scene. He had reappeared in the pond of that small courtyard.

The pond’s surface shimmered, reflecting the gentle sway of the moonlight and starlight.

Inside the main house, three Buddha Statues were shrouded in auspicious, colorful light, appearing serene and majestic.

The nun was still sitting there in meditation. Beside her stood a White Jade Lamp Holder, its Buddha Fire glowing with a steady flame.

Everything he had just experienced felt like a dream.

The young Monk in the Yellow Monk Robe approached, placed his palms together, and said softly, "Honored guest, since you have returned, it is time to depart. When the Buddha Realm opens again, you may come back with your token."

Fang Cheng nodded, said no more, turned and walked out of the small courtyard, heading straight for the Drunken Immortal Tower.

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