Chapter 18: Sword Sutra of the Flame Talisman
Page (1/3) 018 Flame Talisman Sword Scripture
Pang Yue held the Demon-Refining Jar in his left hand and the Primordial Yang Axe in his right. Gray divine light swept down, and Jin Yuege’s vast demonic power instantly plummeted! Late Foundation Establishment... Mid Foundation Establishment... Early Foundation Establishment... She nearly fell out of the Foundation Establishment realm. A strange sense of powerlessness struck her, her beautiful eyes widened in shock, and for the first time, she revealed a panicked expression.
The divine spear’s aura was effortlessly blocked by Pang Yue with the Primordial Yang Axe. The dark golden spear light, which could easily pierce the protective spiritual radiance and supreme magical artifacts of late Foundation Establishment cultivators, was intercepted by the gray-white stone axe with ease.
Pang Yue flicked his finger, and the Flame Demon Immortal-Slaying Sword appeared before Jin Yuege’s fair and exquisite forehead.
Cruel hands destroy beauty!
At this moment, Jin Yuege’s demonic power was in disarray. She barely managed to gather a strand of golden energy before her forehead, but it was still easily pierced by the sword’s light, the sharp, bone-chilling sword intent causing a burst of agony in her mind!
In a flash, an unexpected change occurred!
A blinding golden light emerged from Jin Yuege’s body! The red-white sword light seemed to freeze in time, suspended in place.
The golden light coalesced into a tall, majestic figure. He wore a ceremonial crown and dark golden robes, exuding the authority of an unrivaled king descending upon the world, inspiring awe and reverence.
“Who dares to harm my daughter?”
The golden figure looked toward Pang Yue, his massive hand like a small mountain, pressing straight down.
“Damn, a Nascent Soul demon’s avatar!”
Meng Zitao watched in terror, golden light flashing over his body as he vanished instantly. He had seen Nascent Soul avatars before, but this demon clan Nascent Soul seemed even more powerful than his own family’s ancestor!
In the arena, Pang Yue faced the golden hand without hesitation, cleaving with the Primordial Yang Axe!
A dazzling white axe shadow appeared out of nowhere, slashing onto the golden hand. Simultaneously, a bronze tripod appeared; Pang Yue’s figure blurred as he slipped within.
Boom!
An earth-shattering spiritual explosion erupted.
A blinding radiance burst forth on Dragon Scale Island, draining all color from the world. Within the light, everything within a hundred miles was annihilated.
The violent shockwave swept up monstrous tides, spreading outward in rings.
At the epicenter, only the Dragon Scale Fruit Tree, the Mountain-River Tripod, and Jin Yuege, encased in golden light, remained untouched.
After a long while, the radiance faded.
The golden figure was about to dissipate. He gazed at the Mountain-River Tripod and spoke with commanding authority: “Do not kill my daughter, or I will exact bloody vengeance upon the Demon Talisman Sect!”
Pang Yue stepped out from the Mountain-River Tripod.
All he saw was vast sea and sky, serene and empty.
The courtyard, the island, the formations, the demon beasts—all were gone.
The Dragon Scale Fruit Tree remained unscathed, but only a three-zhang patch of land beneath it survived, standing lonely in the sea, now a minuscule islet.
On the distant waves, the woman in the dark golden dress floated with the tides, seemingly unconscious.
Pang Yue sat cross-legged beneath the Dragon Scale Fruit Tree, quickly swallowing several pills to restore his spiritual power, quietly observing the woman on the waves.
She seemed related to the Redblood Golden Jiao he had slain years ago... clearly of some notable lineage, though her exact identity was unknown.
But with a Nascent Soul demon’s avatar guarding her and leaving a threat, it seemed he could not kill her for now.
Half an hour later.
Pang Yue had restored thirty percent of his spiritual power. He moved to the side of the woman in the golden dress.
He pointed a finger, sending a stream of scarlet fire into her forehead.
Immediately, he formed successive seals with both hands, setting restrictions within her soul and dantian.
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The woman floated in the seawater, drenched, her dark golden dress clinging to her slender, graceful body, the alluring curves painting a scene that stirred the blood.
Pang Yue waved his sleeve, collecting the woman into the Mountain-River Tripod.
He glanced back at the Dragon Scale Fruit Tree, his companion of ten years, feeling a surge of emotion.
Just as he was about to leave, a flash of golden light appeared at the horizon, and a figure landed beside the Dragon Scale Fruit Tree.
It was Meng Zitao.
The two locked eyes in silence for a moment.
“The Earth Traversing Golden Light Talisman truly is extraordinary.”
Pang Yue was surprised—he hadn’t expected Meng Zitao to return.
“Master Xu... Brother Xu, you are the true hidden dragon! I, Old Meng, am utterly convinced today; please accept my bow of brotherhood!”
Meng Zitao bowed respectfully.
Pang Yue waved his hands repeatedly, “What are you doing? You entered the inner sect before me; you should call me junior brother!”
“Brother Xu is older than me, and your cultivation is a hundred times deeper. Let me shamelessly call you elder brother; don’t take offense, Brother Xu!”
As he spoke, Meng Zitao produced the bottle of Hun Tian Pills, offering it with both hands: “This is a token of my respect; please guide me in the future!”
Pang Yue could not help but laugh, “Zitao, you’re too polite. Here, I won’t take advantage of you. These are three bottles of Heavenly Dust Pills—your place is in ruins, keep these for use.”
Meng Zitao accepted the pills and replied with a bitter smile, “There’s not even a place to rest here anymore; I’ll have to apply to the sect for a change of assignment.”
…
Zhuoguang Mountain.
Demon Talisman Sect Merit Hall.
Pang Yue, just back from the outer sea, walked slowly into the side hall, handing the task token and storage pouch to the elder on duty. “Elder, the disciple has completed the task and comes to turn it in.”
The elder’s hair and beard were white, his purple robe draped over frail shoulders, and his eyes were clouded and dim—an old man near the end of his days.
He took Pang Yue’s token, sensed it carefully for a moment, then slowly inspected the storage pouch for the Dragon Scale Fruits, finally taking three and saying, “Task completed. You are entitled to one of the seven great divine abilities of the Flame Demon Hall. Take your token to the Scripture Hall and make your selection.”
“Thank you, Elder!”
Pang Yue accepted the Dragon Scale Fruits and turned to leave.
The elder sighed softly, producing a talisman, and spoke into it, “The one you mentioned has returned; the task was completed successfully.”
He flicked his finger, and the talisman transformed into a streak of lightning, vanishing.
Pang Yue arrived at the Scripture Hall, passed the elder’s inspection, and entered an ancient stone chamber.
Within, seven murals lined the walls, each shrouded in dense spiritual light, obscuring their images.
These were the seven great divine abilities of the Flame Demon Hall—
Great Strength Flame Demon Fist, Flame Talisman Sword Scripture, Flame Sparrow Grand Formation, Flame Demon Transformation, Heaven-Scorching Finger, Flame Demon Great Hand Seal, and Flame Demon Descent Technique.
These seven abilities were created by generations of Flame Demon Hall’s Golden Core and Nascent Soul masters based on the True Demon True Talisman, and were mandatory for inner sect disciples.
The sect would not grant these techniques for free, but required disciples to exchange merit for them.
The Great Strength Flame Demon Fist was a body refinement technique, powerful, fierce, and unrivaled.
The Flame Talisman Sword Scripture was a sword art, gathering sword light with talismans, existing between form and formlessness, mysterious and profound.
The Flame Sparrow Grand Formation was a killing formation; once mastered, it could condense endless flame sparrows with spiritual power, forming a grand array that scorched heaven and earth, the greatest in power of the seven abilities.
The Flame Demon Transformation was an external avatar technique, amplifying the cultivator’s power, gathering the world’s energy, elevating one’s combat strength—Foundation Establishment could rival Golden Core.
The Heaven-Scorching Finger was a finger technique, strange and unpredictable, its power concentrated to a point, unmatched in lethality.
The Flame Demon Great Hand Seal was derived from the ancient demon art—Heaven Demon Great Hand Seal. Among the seven abilities, it had the lowest cultivation threshold but the highest potential power.
It could be practiced by those in the Qi Absorption realm up to the Nascent Soul, usable in combat at every stage.
The final ability, Flame Demon Descent Technique, summoned a flame demon to the world, commanding it in battle, its power unfathomable, but extremely prone to losing control and suffering backlash.
Pang Yue had long settled on the Flame Talisman Sword Scripture; after reviewing the other six abilities, he still stood before its mural.
He raised the task token; a ray of light emitted from the token and struck the mural.
The spiritual light covering the mural instantly dissipated.
Pang Yue’s eyes glimmered with a ghostly light, standing motionless before the mural.
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Half a day later.
A streak of red fire light flew out from the Merit Hall, leaving Zhuoguang Mountain, heading toward Ming Lake Island.
…
Within a lavish, resplendent cave residence.
Zhuang Buxiu, clad in luxurious robes, sat upon a jade bed, with two beautiful female cultivators draped in gauze and brimming with charm nestled at his side.
One of the women, holding a spiritual fruit in her mouth, leaned close to Zhuang Buxiu’s face; he responded in kind, his large hand caressing and roaming over both women.
As the three enjoyed their merriment, a slender streak of lightning darted in from outside, transforming into a talisman that stopped before Zhuang Buxiu.
“Hm?”
Annoyed at the interruption, Zhuang Buxiu’s face darkened; he flicked his finger, and the talisman burst into lightning, a hoarse voice resounding.
“The one you mentioned has returned; the task was completed successfully.”
Smack!
Zhuang Buxiu smashed the jade bed’s armrest with a palm, his expression turning grim.
“Master, please calm your anger!”
The two female cultivators hurried to comfort him.
Zhuang Buxiu waved his sleeve, sending both women tumbling away.
“Out!”
His interest vanished, his voice cold and fearsome.
The women dared not protest and quietly withdrew.
Zhuang Buxiu sat on the jade bed, recalling what Ning Daozhen had told him a year ago before departing.
Ning Daozhen was undertaking a sect mission and would be gone for five years. Before leaving, he summoned Zhuang Buxiu and gave him a few instructions.
“If that Xu fellow manages to return, settle him for me... The sect forbids murder among disciples, but not duels.”
The white-robed cultivator was calm in demeanor, yet possessed a commanding authority that brooked no resistance.
He gazed steadily at Zhuang Buxiu, seemingly indifferent, but Zhuang Buxiu knew well the consequences of refusal.
“If he truly returns, I won’t fail you!”
He had replied without hesitation.
“Be careful. If he survived Zheng Peng, the Joyful Sect, and the Redblood Golden Jiao, perhaps his strength is even more deeply hidden.”
“Senior brother has done great favors for me; I am willing to serve you!”
“Good. If things go awry, use this divine thunder.”
“Geng Metal Divine Thunder?! Senior brother, this—”
Returning to himself, Zhuang Buxiu flipped his palm, revealing a golden orb spinning in his hand, threads of lightning crackling, radiating terrifying power.
The Geng Metal Divine Thunder Ning Daozhen had given him, once activated, would obliterate everything within a ten-mile radius!
Even a Golden Core cultivator, if not killed, would be severely maimed!
“Let’s hope it won’t come to this!”
Zhuang Buxiu secretly thought, but his heart lacked confidence.
That Daoist Xu had actually returned?
The Zheng family, Joyful Sect, Redblood Golden Jiao... none had managed to keep him in the outer sea.
Just how strong was he?
But having promised Ning Daozhen, how could he dare shirk?
Zhuang Buxiu pondered for a moment, then moved to leave the cave residence.
Fortunately, he had prepared over the years, quietly connecting Qin Shuyi with a certain member of the Qu family; this time, he could use the Qu family to test the waters first.