Nine-Turn Seven-Flame Sword of Fiery Talismans

Overnight, dozens of enormous lotus flowers blossomed upon the surface of Bright Lake. The emerald leaves, jade-like in their sheen, floated across the water like vast circular carpets, creating a singularly striking vista.

This was the handiwork of Jin Yuege. The third princess of the Crimson Gold Flood Dragon clan had now established her underwater palace beneath Bright Lake, rarely emerging from her secluded abode.

Pang Yue sat cross-legged upon one of the lotus leaves, silently cultivating.

The Flame Talisman Sword Manual was one of the seven supreme arts of the Flame Demon Hall, and the only sword technique among them. The Demon Talisman Sect, founded upon the art of talismans, showcased its prowess most fully in this discipline.

Unlike traditional sword arts, this method condensed countless runes into a single strand of sword aura, generating infinite transformations. Though its killing power fell short of tangible, material treasures such as flying swords, its unpredictable variations were unmatched.

Successive masters and elders of the Flame Demon Hall had ceaselessly refined this art, melding the seven greatest true flames of the world into the Sword Manual, elevating its power to a terrifying new height.

The seven great true flames—Lunar, Pure Yang, Qian Blaze, Li Blaze, Bing Spirit, Tai Ding, and Samadhi—had all been gathered by the Flame Demon Hall. Inner disciples could exchange their merit for these flame seeds.

Pang Yue had only recently entered the inner sect and spent ten years in the Outer Sea, so his merit was insufficient to exchange for a true flame. That matter would have to wait.

With the aid of the Primordial Infinity Stele, Pang Yue cultivated the Flame Talisman Sword Manual at a pace far beyond ordinary practitioners. In merely nine days, he had condensed a radiant sword aura!

This strand of sword aura gleamed with crimson gold, containing innumerable runes as fine and intricate as strands of hair. Each rune was shaped like a minuscule flying sword.

These delicate sword runes were grouped in nines, forming arrays. Countless arrays combined into larger formations, layer upon layer, until finally they merged into a single sword aura, one yard in length, brimming with fierce intent and flowing light.

The sword aura, like a lively serpent, danced and coiled around Pang Yue, displaying endless transformations and emanating a terrifying heat that seemed capable of incinerating all things.

“Third Turn!”

With a thought, Pang Yue sent the talisman sword crashing into his own body, where it vanished from sight.

He had refined this talisman sword to the Third Turn, rivaling a high-grade flying sword artifact. If it could contain a true flame, it would immediately ascend to the Fourth Turn, akin to a supreme-grade artifact. At the ultimate Ninth Turn of the Sword Manual, it would be comparable to a fifth-tier magical treasure!

It was said that a Golden Core elder of the Flame Demon Hall had once cultivated the Flame Talisman Sword Manual to the Eighth Turn. Forty-nine talisman swords, each matching the might of a fourth-tier treasure, swept through the world with few rivals.

This was one of the reasons Pang Yue chose to prioritize the cultivation of the Flame Talisman Sword Manual.

The next day.

Bloodrock Island.

This island’s terrain was peculiar, strewn with massive red rocks as if stained by blood. The Demon Talisman Sect had laid formations upon this isle, making it the preferred site for contests between disciples and elders. Over the millennia, many cultivators had indeed shed blood here, earning the island its name.

The contest between Pang Yue and Qu Zi Yang was secretive; neither had spread word of it, so apart from the Law Enforcement Hall, no other disciples were aware.

Lu Ji, clad in black armor and standing atop drifting clouds, hovered above Bloodrock Island, gazing into the distance, his mind wandering beyond the corporeal world.

From the horizon, a dim blue light flickered and, after a few flashes, arrived nearby. The glow faded, revealing a tall, handsome man. Draped in feathered robes, he possessed an elegant and refined demeanor; every gesture carried the subtle rhythm of the Dao, revealing profound cultivation.

“Senior Brother Lu!” Qu Zi Yang greeted.

“Junior Brother Qu,” Lu Ji replied, returning the courtesy with a smile. “Have you brought the wager?”

Qu Zi Yang nodded, producing a dark talisman decree and handing it to Lu Ji.

Lu Ji examined it, keeping it in his hand rather than returning it.

“It is indeed the Demon Devouring Hall talisman… Junior Brother Qu, this talisman must remain here for a while. We will settle it after the contest.”

“As it should be,” Qu Zi Yang replied with a carefree smile.

After a pause, he added, “I must thank Senior Brother Lu. Were it not for your intervention, that Daoist Xu might not have agreed to this contest.”

In his view, to have a Dao Foundation Third Layer cultivator like Daoist Xu face himself, a Seventh Layer practitioner, mere possession of a Demon Devouring Hall talisman decree was far from sufficient. Pressure from the Law Enforcement Hall was also needed.

Lu Ji said noncommittally, “Daoist Xu has already advanced to mid-stage Dao Foundation. Since he agreed to the contest, he must feel some confidence. You should exercise caution, Junior Brother Qu.”

Qu Zi Yang snorted, “He is but an ignorant fool. He thinks that by fluking a victory over Ning Dao Yu, he can swagger about the inner sect—but he is gravely mistaken.”

“The only member of the Xu family I truly fear is Xu Wentian of the Primordial Demon Hall; the others are mediocre at best.”

Speaking of Xu Wentian, Lu Ji’s expression showed respect.

This ancestor of the Xu family was a true disciple of the Primordial Demon Hall. Though he had no hope of breaking through to the Golden Core and his lifespan was limited, his combat prowess was unmatched within the Primordial Demon Hall, ranking even among the top five true disciples of the entire Demon Talisman Sect.

As the two conversed, a fiery light streaked across the sky, resolving into two figures—a man and a woman. The youth wore gray robes, his temples lightly touched with white, and his eyes were deep and unfathomable, like bottomless pools. If one looked closely, strange lights flickered within, as though he harbored a world inside.

The other was a beautiful woman of exquisite bearing, not only blessed with enchanting looks, but also marked by a tripartite plum blossom on her brow, lending her an air of noble elegance.

These two were Pang Yue and Qin Shuyi.

Upon seeing Qin Shuyi, Qu Zi Yang’s expression soured. He was well-versed in women and could plainly see Qin Shuyi was no longer untouched…

“Excellent, very good! Xu Liming… you’ve done well, truly treating my words as empty air!”

Qu Zi Yang pointed at Pang Yue, his anger barely masked by a mocking smile, his gaze predatory.

Qin Shuyi’s snowy cheeks flushed, her expression complex as she looked at Qu Zi Yang. In a soft, low voice, she said, “Fellow Daoist Qu, now that things have come to this, our fate is at an end. Perhaps it is better to cancel the contest.”

Qu Zi Yang’s eyes widened in fury, speechless as he stared at her. The thought of this enchanting beauty being freely ravished by Daoist Xu ignited a rage within him, battering his reason.

“Xu Liming… dare you face me in battle?!”

Qu Zi Yang shouted.

Pang Yue smiled calmly. “Since we are here, why wouldn’t I dare?”

Qu Zi Yang looked to Lu Ji.

Lu Ji sighed, indicating Bloodrock Island. “Please enter the island, both of you.”

Qu Zi Yang summoned a gust of cold wind, flashing down to the island. Pang Yue followed, descending in a stream of fire.

Lu Ji formed seals with his hands, activating the great formation upon the island. Runes shimmered in the air, coalescing into a vast dome that covered Bloodrock Island.

“Today, you two shall contest. I will officiate. The Demon Devouring Hall talisman and Qin Shuyi are both present… Now, please begin!”

No sooner had his words faded than the two on the island made their moves.