Chapter 160: Chapter 138: Breakthrough to Life Talisman, Sword Light Shocks the Heavens

On the Jade Couch, Fang Cheng was as still as an old monk in deep meditation, his breathing long and steady, completely motionless.

The aura of energy around him, however, was growing more and more active.

Then, at a certain moment.

A series of ancient, profound-black Sword Talismans suddenly materialized out of thin air before him!

In a daze, tens of millions of varied Sword Talismans appeared around the first one, flickering between reality and illusion, their light indeterminate.

These Sword Talismans were seen overlapping, gathering, colliding, and annihilating one another, releasing all kinds of Sword Intents—a dazzlingly complex and ever-changing display.

A moment later, the Sword Talismans converged once more, forming a single, magnificently radiant and ancient Sword Talisman.

A golden halo emerged around the Sword Talisman.

Within the halo, innumerable pin-sized runes flickered in and out of existence, seeming to contain the ultimate principles of heaven and earth. They interwove and danced, spiraling around the Sword Talisman like a golden ring.

An aura of flawless, perfect completion emanated from the Sword Talisman.

Fang Cheng slowly opened his eyes. Looking at the Sword Talisman before him, he felt a sincere and unrestrained joy.

’I’ve finally formed my Life Talisman!’

He looked at his Life Talisman, a little puzzled. It was slightly different from what was described in the Netherworld Sword Technique. The strangest part was the golden halo surrounding it.

’It looks a bit like the halo around the Celestial Dew... Could it be because I consumed it?’

Just as Fang Cheng was wondering, a tremendous suction force erupted from the Life Talisman!

The Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi inside the Quiet Chamber surged madly into the Life Talisman. In just a few moments, all the Spiritual Qi in the chamber was devoured, turning it into a Land Without Spirit.

Fang Cheng hurriedly took out ten Upper-Grade Spirit Stones, from which a pure and dense Spiritual Qi immediately emanated.

The Sword Talisman quivered slightly as if it had received a tonic. Its Devouring Power grew even more ferocious, and the Profound Patterns on it lit up, flickering as if breathing.

At the same time.

Above Cyan Demon Cliff, an invisible vortex a hundred feet in diameter slowly appeared. The Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi on Cangwu Mountain transformed into specks of multi-colored light, floating out from the vegetation, rocks, and the void itself before swarming into the invisible vortex.

A moment later, a seven-colored Spiritual Qi vortex appeared above the Jade Tower.

All the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi for miles around began to converge here, and the phenomenon only grew more intense.

Startled by the phenomenon, Ye Yan and Die’Er hurriedly flew out of the Jade Tower to investigate.

There, they saw a beautiful woman clad in a Feathered Robe, her bearing one of infinite grace, already standing in the void. Her lovely eyes were fixed unblinkingly on the Spiritual Qi vortex in the sky.

"Mother, you’re here." Seeing the beautiful woman, Ye Yan immediately flew over to her.

Madam Ye had clearly taken great care in her appearance today. She wore a dangling headpiece and jade earrings, her figure curvaceous. A small plum blossom mark on her forehead added a touch of noble air to her stunning beauty.

She looked at her daughter and smiled faintly. "He’s at a critical moment in condensing his Life Talisman. Don’t disturb him."

A delighted look appeared on Ye Yan’s face. "Could this be my husband’s breakthrough phenomenon?" she asked in surprise. "It seems a little different from the legends."

Madam Ye nodded, a strange light glinting in her beautiful eyes. "It is indeed different," she said slowly. "This phenomenon is larger and more complex than that of an ordinary Cultivator’s breakthrough."

The vast majority of Cultivators show no phenomenon at all when breaking through to the Life Talisman Realm.

Only a small number of geniuses can resonate with the Celestial Dao and produce a phenomenon when they break through.

It is a symbol that the Cultivator has comprehended their Lifebound Technique to an extremely high level!

As soon as Madam Ye’s voice fell, shimmering rays of light suddenly appeared both inside and outside the Jade Tower, falling like colorful rain.

Within the light, countless Profound Patterns flowed, brimming with the rhythm of the Dao.

On the ground outside the Cyan Demon Cliff Jade Tower, a clear light spread. Golden Lotus Seedpods quietly emerged from the earth and, in an instant, vied with one another to burst into bloom.

Lotus leaves swayed as a dense Spiritual Qi rippled outward like a tide, surging up into the Spiritual Qi vortex in the sky.

The Spiritual Qi vortex seemed to be connected to a bottomless pit, endlessly devouring the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi.

Neither Ye Yan nor Die’Er had ever witnessed such a phenomenon. They stared, dumbfounded, at the miraculous scene, feeling their Magical Power become unprecedentedly active as a potent life force welled up from within their very blood essence.

In just a few short moments, they had benefited immensely.

Ye Yan extended a slender, snow-white hand, catching a fragment of the shimmering light in her palm. Gazing at the tiny, intricate runes within, she felt a sense of mesmerized wonder.

The light melted upon touching her skin, instantly invigorating her. The circulation of her Magical Power abruptly accelerated with an indescribable smoothness. If she could maintain this state for long, her Cultivation would surely advance by leaps and bounds.

At this moment, even Madam Ye’s face showed utter shock, leaving her speechless.

A Spiritual Qi vortex, and Golden Lotuses gushing from the earth!

’Just what kind of extraordinary figure is this son-in-law of mine?!’

...

The phenomenon above Cyan Demon Cliff naturally didn’t escape the notice of the other Ye Family Cultivators.

Many were secretly watching Cangwu Mountain, while some Cultivators flew over directly. Upon seeing Madam Ye standing guard in the sky, they halted their Escape Lights from a distance and began to observe.

Almost every Cultivator in the Ye Family knew that Cyan Profound Sword Fang Cheng was about to break through to the Life Talisman Realm.

This son-in-law of Elder Ye was cultivating one of the nine great foundational techniques of the sect. To dare attempt a breakthrough after only two years in the Inner Sect was simply incredible.

It seemed Elder Ye had invested quite a lot in this son-in-law of his.

Once Fang Cheng successfully broke through to the Life Talisman Realm, he would become a True Disciple of the Yinluo Sect, and his status would be completely different!

At that time, only a handful of people in the entire Ye Family would be qualified to pull rank on him.

More and more onlookers gathered, even attracting Cultivators from other families who rushed toward Xiaocang Island.

Not a single person who saw the celestial phenomenon remained unstunned.

The gazes from the crowd were varied. Most were shocked, but there was no shortage of awe, fear, envy, jealousy, confusion, or thoughtful contemplation.

「In the Quiet Chamber.」

Fang Cheng took out another ten Upper-Grade Spirit Stones, and only then did he feel his Life Talisman was "sated."

With a gentle shake, the Life Talisman flew back into his Qi Sea.

The next moment.

The phenomenon outside the Jade Tower vanished in an instant, as if it were a mere illusion!

Once the Life Talisman entered Fang Cheng’s Qi Sea, it immediately took command of the various energies in his body and merged with his Magical Power.

His Cultivation aura skyrocketed, quickly breaking through a barrier and ascending to a new realm.

The Life Talisman in his Qi Sea trembled again, and an unprecedentedly powerful surge of Magical Power gushed forth.

If his previous Magical Power was like a surging river, what he had now was comparable to molten steel.

Its very nature was completely different!

This new Magical Power coursed through Fang Cheng’s entire body, further expanding his Qi Sea and bringing about a world-shaking transformation to his Divine Sense and physical form!

With a mere thought, he felt he could easily control his every idea. A thousand thoughts could be born and extinguished in the span of a finger-snap.

His control over his physical body and Magical Power had reached a microscopic level of precision.

He let out a soft cry, and the Dragon Abyss Sword floated gracefully before him, its entire blade glowing, exuding an unparalleled sharpness.

A cold, condensed, and deadly intent radiated from it.

Looking at the Dragon Abyss Sword, a flash of understanding hit Fang Cheng. He had mastered the third realm of the Sword Dao: Sword Light Division!

With a flicker of his body, he merged with the Dragon Abyss Sword as one and vanished from the Quiet Chamber.

「Outside the Jade Tower.」

The crowd saw only a brilliant beam of sword light, as radiant as the sun, rise from the top of the tower and shoot straight into the heavens!

The sword light unfurled, in an instant covering the sky for three miles. A magnificent, unparalleled cyan-green light filled the air, bathing the heavens in its glow.

In the next instant, the sword light suddenly turned chillingly cold, like a winter moon hanging in the sky, plunging the air above Cangwu Mountain into a Nether Hell.

The Netherworld Sword Technique!

A transcendent and unparalleled Profound Sword Intent appeared in the sky, captivating the soul.

When this sword appeared, even Madam Ye found it hard to withstand its edge and hastily retreated with Ye Yan and Die’Er.

Among the onlookers, every single one felt a chill run down their spines and a powerful sense of crisis well up in their hearts, not daring to look at the sword light again.

Within the sword light, a tall, handsome, and unrestrained figure appeared.

Fang Cheng stood in the void and looked around. The world was vast, all things possessed spirit, and life teemed everywhere. The sight moved him deeply.

With a wave of his sleeve, he retracted the sword light, and with a flash, he appeared inside the Jade Tower.

Madam Ye, Ye Yan, and Die’Er followed closely behind, flying inside as well.

The onlookers remained silent for a long time before finally dispersing.

...

Fang Cheng, however, did not know that the Sword Intent he had revealed on a whim had not only made the Life Talisman Elders of the Ye Family on Xiaocang Island wary, but had also attracted the attention of several people with profound Cultivation on Yinluo Island.

Those on Yinluo Island who could sense the Sword Intent of the Netherworld Sword Technique from so far away were all top-tier Life Talisman Realm Cultivators who had practiced this Sword Technique for many years.

On Demon Lion Peak of Yinluo Island, a middle-aged Daoist who was in seclusion suddenly opened his eyes, a look of surprise on his face as he gazed toward Xiaocang Island.

He summoned a young acolyte and gave him a few instructions.

Not long after, the acolyte returned and reported respectfully, "Master, that was Inner Sect Disciple Fang Cheng breaking through to the Life Talisman Realm. He was originally a Loose Cultivator, then became a Servant Disciple of our sect. He is now the live-in son-in-law of the Ye Family. After entering the Inner Sect, he also chose the Netherworld Sword Technique."

The middle-aged Daoist stroked his beard and said calmly, "Send a message to the other eight Peak Masters. Tell them this master is still short one disciple. I’m claiming this Fang Cheng. If any of them want to fight me for him, tell them to come find me on Demon Lion Peak for a sword duel."

The acolyte chuckled and said in a childish voice, "Master, you were already the strongest of the nine Peak Masters ten years ago. Who in the sect besides the Supreme Elder would dare try to snatch a disciple from you now?"

The middle-aged Daoist’s brow furrowed. "Enough with the flattery! Go send the message!" he barked.

The acolyte quickly replied, "Yes, sir!" and turned to leave.

The middle-aged Daoist took a Golden Sword from his sleeve, spoke a few words into it via voice transmission, and then released it.

A beam of incomparably sharp golden light shot out from Demon Lion Peak and vanished in an instant.

...

「End of Volume」