Chapter 191: Chapter 14: Life Talismans Under Heaven, Late Stage of Level 1

Fang Cheng was unaware that Cen San Niang and Shopkeeper Tang were looking for him.

That day, just before the spiritual explosion had struck, he activated the Vertical Earth Golden Light Talisman gifted to him by Madam Ye. A golden light enveloped him, and in an instant, he fled thousands of miles toward the Abyssal Marsh, making a narrow but safe escape.

’This talisman truly is one of the fastest Escape Talismans in the Cultivation Realm!’

As Fang Cheng marveled at this, he couldn’t help but think once more of Madam Ye’s kindness.

This talisman, which contained the full measure of Madam Ye’s Magical Power, was a supreme-grade Tier Two Talisman. It had cost her countless hours of painstaking effort, and he never imagined he would be forced to use it here.

「Afterward.」

Fang Cheng was still shaken, now deeply wary of the disciples from the Demon Buddha’s lineage.

’The world is vast, filled with countless masters and prodigies. I absolutely cannot become blindly arrogant just because I have a Golden Finger, thinking all the world’s luck is on my side and that I’m invincible.’

’That is the path to ruin!’

Gao Chong’s words still echoed in his ears. The single word ’respect,’ while seemingly simple, was in fact the key to how long one’s path of cultivation would be.

’Respect your masters and fellow disciples, for you can always learn something from them. By learning from their strengths to shore up your own weaknesses, you can avoid many winding paths.’

’Respect your partners, wives, and concubines. A harmonious household brings peace of mind and body, allowing you to focus on the Great Dao.’

’Respect strangers. Set aside your arrogance, foster good relationships, and avoid being tripped up by an unexpected foe.’

’And respect your enemies. When dealing with an enemy, you must be ruthless, use your full strength, and kill decisively. You cannot relax your guard in the slightest or show a shred of hesitation!’

’Even a lion uses its full strength to hunt a rabbit. That is the greatest respect you can show your foe.’

Fang Cheng collected himself, activated a Concealing Breath Talisman, and passed cautiously through the Southern Mang Mountains, returning to the Abyssal Marsh.

「Yinluo Island. Demon Lion Peak. The Law Enforcement Hall.」

Nearly two months had passed. The trees and grass around the Law Enforcement Hall were a vibrant green, and the ancient hall stood as imposing as ever, almost completely unchanged.

Fang Cheng descended from his Escape Light and walked to the front of the hall.

The hall doors opened without a sound. Senior Sister Cai Li sat primly upon a jade mat, her calm gaze fixed upon him.

"Senior Sister, I have successfully completed my mission."

After bowing, Fang Cheng retrieved a box from his storage bag containing the head of the Thousand-Faced Insect.

Cai Li opened the box and inspected its contents carefully before nodding. "Good. It is indeed the Thousand-Faced Insect."

A curious expression then appeared on her face. "Inner Sect Disciple Yun Feiyu returned some time ago and reported what happened that day," she said. "I heard you had a conflict with three Tribulation Cultivators. Why did it take you so long to return?"

Fang Cheng answered calmly, "After I killed the three Tribulation Cultivators, I was delayed in the Immortal City for several days by a personal matter."

Cai Li nodded and asked no more questions. She had Fang Cheng take out his Identity Token and transferred the Merit for killing the Thousand-Faced Insect to him. "You can use this Merit at the Scripture Hall and Merit Pavilion on Celestial City Peak to exchange for Secret Techniques, precious materials, Magical Artifacts, medicinal pills, and so on," she instructed. "It will be quite useful in the future."

Fang Cheng thanked her.

He had earned a total of thirty-five thousand Merit for killing the Thousand-Faced Insect.

This Merit was different from the minor points awarded to Inner and Outer Sect Disciples; this was a true reward from the Yinluo Sect itself!

Celestial City Peak was the seat of cultivation for the Sect Leader’s lineage. It housed important sect grounds such as the Scripture Hall, the Merit Pavilion, and the Ancestral Hall. The Yinluo Sect’s foundational legacies and the Sect Treasure Vault were all located there.

The truly valuable items could only be obtained using the Merit on the Identity Tokens of True Disciples and Inner Sect Elders!

If the sect didn’t have a desired item, one could also use Merit to post a mission, allowing other sect members to accept it and fulfill the request.

Within the entire Yinluo Sect, only two individuals could dispense Merit at will; everyone else was subject to its limitations!

One was the Sect Leader, and the other was the Supreme Elder.

The mission to kill the Thousand-Faced Insect had been posted by the Sect Leader himself, and the Merit for it was also set and allocated by him.

If Merit were a currency, then the two most powerful people in the Yinluo Sect controlled the mint, while the other Peak Masters and Inner Sect Elders merely held the power to distribute the funds.

A thought flickered through Fang Cheng’s mind. ’What if I used these thirty-five thousand Merit to post a mission to search for Dao Pattern Spirit Jade?’

However, he quickly dismissed the idea.

Many eyes were on him, both inside and outside the Yinluo Sect. If someone were to notice something amiss... the loss would far outweigh the gain.

Besides, an item like Dao Pattern Spirit Jade could only be chanced upon, not actively sought. It wasn’t something one could find simply by having a high level of Cultivation.

It was far more reliable to have the Ye Family’s merchant caravans search for it.

He had already established his persona as someone with a "refined hobby" of collecting Dao Pattern Spirit Jade. He just needed to maintain appearances. If he tried too hard, he couldn’t guarantee that some attentive individuals wouldn’t take notice.

With their official business concluded, Fang Cheng looked at Cai Li, hesitated for a moment, and then said, "Senior Sister, I encountered a formidable enemy on this journey. If it weren’t for the Sword Light Talisman you granted me, I’m afraid I wouldn’t have returned in one piece. I was wondering... could you possibly grant me another Talisman Decree?"

He was slowly getting a handle on Cai Li’s personality, so he decided to be direct and see if she would agree. 𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚

Upon hearing his request, Cai Li gave him a mild look. She reached out and made a gentle grasping motion in the air. A flash of incomparably sharp sword light appeared, then shrank and twisted in her fair, slender palm, finally condensing into a Magical Talisman that pulsed with spiritual light.

Sword Qi coiled around the Magical Talisman, its sharpness almost palpable. On its surface, glowing patterns flowed and flickered—profound, mystical, and ever-shifting.

With a gentle push, she sent the Magical Talisman floating toward Fang Cheng.

Fang Cheng quickly accepted it with both hands. "Thank you, Senior Sister!"

Cai Li said in a low voice, "Creating this talisman may look easy, but it cost me three years of my Magical Power. Unless you face a true life-or-death crisis, you’d best be frugal with it."

A glint flashed in Fang Cheng’s eyes as his expression turned solemn. "I understand."