Chapter 78: The Talisman Duel, the Calculations

And at this moment, within the void of the cosmos.

Two streaks of flame-light were chasing and fleeing, moving with astonishing speed, swiftly passing through layers of mountains and rivers.

They were now drawing near to Fuyu Lake.

“Old Monster Miao Nan! If you still have sense enough to turn back now, surrender at once—I may yet spare your life! Otherwise, don’t blame me for being merciless!”

From the rear flame-light came a low, furious growl from the Master of Huaiwu Cave, his tone laced with underlying fear.

At this moment, the old man with white hair and a stern face bore none of his earlier composure; his brows were tightly knitted, his gaze icy and lethal, his killing intent ready to burst forth!

He coldly pointed a finger, and his sleeve flung out a cluster of Fourfold Shattering Bone True Flame, hurtling toward the figure racing ahead—faster than a falling star!

This Fourfold Shattering Bone True Flame was one of his signature Dao arts, acquired from the ruins of a former hermit cultivator, and ranked among the highest tiers.

The flame burned fiercely and blazing, like a red sun hanging overhead, illuminating all directions! Though it could not compare to the primordial Great Sun Divine Light, a supreme Dao art even among the upper echelons.

Yet its scorching intensity was more than enough to burn mountains and smelt iron!

Especially when wielded by the Master of Huaiwu Cave at his Cultivation Base of Dongxuan Second Layer, it resembled a blazing sun shot forth, vaporizing every cloud along its path!

Yet facing this furious strike, the figure ahead did not dodge or evade—only let out a dark, prolonged laugh, and from his crown emerged a three-foot-long magic banner, glowing with radiant light, adorned with illustrations of flowers, birds, and fish talismans.

No manipulation was needed.

As the Fourfold Shattering Bone True Flame drew near, the three-foot banner simply unfurled once, effortlessly shattering the true flame before it could unleash even a whisper of its power, dissolving completely.

And as this radiant banner appeared, the spiritual tides within a hundred li surged and danced, like a whale drinking water, all rushing into it, causing sudden changes in the heavens—wild winds erupted!

“Hahaha! Old Dog Huaiwu! You broke into my mountain gate, killed my disciples—what a glorious, mighty display! And now? I’m right before your eyes, within arm’s reach—what can you possibly do to me?!”

Seeing the Fourfold Shattering Bone True Flame effortlessly shattered,

The figure ahead, still flying at breakneck speed, burst into loud laughter:

“With the aid of Shengyang, if you so much as scratch my skin, I’ll change my surname to yours!”

As he spoke, the radiant banner swayed slightly, and the countless flower-bird-fish talismans on its surface came alive, writhing and rolling; from within the banner emerged a young, nascent voice.

“Old Monster Miao Nan, don’t worry! With little master here, this damn cave master can’t even sniff your ass! Once we reach that damn Fuyu Lake, we’ll team up and flip his whole home upside down!”

As the words ended,

The man and the banner exchanged wicked grins, their laughter shaking the heavens, rumbling across the land, making the pursuing Master of Huaiwu Cave’s face darken.

“Old Monster Miao Nan! The Five-Directional Shengyang Banner!”

The Master of Huaiwu Cave tore off the palm-sized crimson talisman from his waist and hurled it forward—whereupon a mass of crimson mist materialized dozens of zhang ahead.

The mist, obedient to his will, unleashed hundreds of thunderbolts, raining down upon the man and banner, thunderous roars echoing endlessly, immense and overwhelming!

Yet beneath this torrential barrage of lightning, the Five-Directional Shengyang Banner merely unleashed a single, vast, river-like surge of golden light, effortlessly blocking all hundreds of thunderbolts; no matter how fiercely the crimson mist struggled, it could not break through—only noise remained, empty and futile.

Another half-minute passed.

In this chase, Fuyu Lake was now less than twenty li away; the islets upon its surface were faintly visible, along with pavilions and towers, blurred and indistinct.

The Master of Huaiwu Cave gritted his teeth and pushed his true qi further—the thunderbolts from the mist instantly doubled in number, and his heart grew ever more frantic.

“Damn! Damn! Miao Nan isn’t even Foundation Establishment Third Layer—when did he break through to the Purple Mansion? And this Five-Directional Shengyang Banner—”

He had been certain that, with his Dongxuan-level cultivation, capturing a mere Miao Nan would be effortless, a sure thing—yet he never anticipated such a twist.

Miao Nan had long ruled over Miao Nan Peak, plundering and pillaging, accumulating great wealth, and was infamous as a demonic cultivator, stained with countless blood debts.

Targeting such a villain promised not only profit but also a fine reputation—a perfect, high-return venture.

Who could have imagined that Miao Nan was a master of deception? He was already a Purple Mansion cultivator, yet pretended to be a lowly Foundation Establishment cultivator.

And the Five-Directional Shengyang Banner he wielded was no mere superior talisman—it was a magic treasure! A mid-tier magic treasure that had already birthed a true consciousness, even surpassing the rank of his own Huaiwu Cave!

Such magic treasures, once possessing true consciousness, required no master’s command—they possessed immense power of their own, their martial prowess fierce and brutal, capable of shaking heaven and earth, forcing countless cultivators to tremble in submission!

Even Golden Core or Nascent Soul True Persons could not ignore them—let alone a mere Dongxuan Alchemist like himself.

Moreover, the Five-Directional Shengyang Banner was a weapon of extreme offensive power.

Even though the Master of Huaiwu Cave had received some rare opportunities and had been personally tutored by his wife, he could barely hold his own against Dongxuan disciples from the Red Ming Sect or the Jade Jade Sect.

Yet for now,

He could not easily overpower the Five-Directional Shengyang Banner, let alone break through its protective seals to slay its master, Master Miao Nan, on the spot…

He could only wear it down slowly, gradually draining its vigor, to achieve victory.

“Damn it. I’ve spent my life hunting sparrows—today, the sparrow has blinded me… I meant to capture this old monster and hand him to my wife as a feast—now it’s turned into a humiliation.”

The Master of Huaiwu Cave sighed inwardly.

Even if Miao Nan and the Five-Directional Shengyang Banner were formidable, he was still a Dongxuan Alchemist—eventually, he would subdue them.

But this man and banner were fleeing recklessly, heedless of everything, heading straight for Fuyu Lake—and that sent a chill through the Master of Huaiwu Cave’s heart.

The ceremony was approaching; not only were emissaries from major sects and countless hermits gathered here, but also…

“My wife is in the midst of a demonic obsession—she’s so fierce I dare not approach her closely, which is why I opened Huaiwu Cave to let her feast on cultivation seeds and quell her hunger… If this battle disturbs her, the situation will become dire!”

The Master of Huaiwu Cave’s expression flickered between dark and pale.

He was no disciple of the Six Demon Sects.

Some disciples of the Six Demon Sects, to cultivate their Dao arts, required the bones and blood of heavenly demons, deliberately performing summoning rituals to lure demons from beyond the heavens and keep them as “demonic pets,” flaunting their power without restraint.

Though he was a Dongxuan Alchemist, to the great sects he was merely a slightly larger insect—crushed underfoot, not even worth a second thought.

To harbor or conceal a heavenly demon was to openly defy the greatest taboo of the world—he would instantly become a hunted rat, reviled by all.

Those who had dined and laughed with him yesterday, like the Five-Light Sect, would immediately rise to exterminate him as a demon!

As Miao Nan entered Fuyu Lake, the clash of the Five-Directional Shengyang Banner repelling thunderbolts had already terrified the cultivators on nearby islets; some, unable to bear it, screamed and shouted, hastily fleeing in all directions like headless flies.

This chaotic scene, as Miao Nan flew onward, spread like ink spilled into water, rapidly expanding.

The Master of Huaiwu Cave, in desperation, disregarded his true qi depletion and forced the crimson mist to swell violently, trapping the man and banner deep within the heart of the thunderstorm.

Before he could even smile, a golden light surged like a coiling dragon, bursting forth—instantly shattering the mist into fragments.

Within the golden light of the Five-Directional Shengyang Banner, Miao Nan still grinned, calm and composed.

As the crimson mist shattered, all thunderous roars ceased; only a cracked crimson talisman flickered weakly before falling helplessly from the clouds.

The Master of Huaiwu Cave’s hand trembled—he completely abandoned any thought of claiming the Five-Directional Shengyang Banner for himself.

He snatched up the broken talisman, turned toward the Five-Light Sect’s encampment, bowed deeply, and called out helplessly:

“Master Wang! Reveal yourself! Come and subdue this demon!”

From a distant islet covered in colorful falling petals, a loud laugh rang out as the Master of Huaiwu Cave bowed.

Immediately, a colossal hand, seemingly forged from the roots of a yellow mountain, extended from the islet.

In one reach, it spanned several li, blotting out half the sky—turning daylight into a world of yellow heavens!

“The Six Yellow Heavenly Virtue Palm of the Five-Light Sect?!”

At last, the spirit of the Five-Directional Shengyang Banner cried out in terror, its youthful, defiant voice now trembling with fear.

Before the words had fully left its mouth,

The massive yellow hand descended in a flash, bearing crushing, ten-thousand-ton force!

The Five-Directional Shengyang Banner barely managed to shield the stunned Miao Nan before being struck hard, nearly tumbling into the lake, its spiritual light scattering.

“Huh? The Five-Directional Shengyang Banner? Your prior injuries—have your seals not yet been fully repaired?”

A soft murmur followed; beside the Master of Huaiwu Cave, light flickered, and a beautiful youth with red lips, white teeth, and a long sword at his waist appeared, shaking his head in surprise.

“Master Wang.”

The Master of Huaiwu Cave, startled by this invisible appearance, bowed again hastily.

“You brat—you’re just as presumptuous as your master! Trying to hoard this mid-tier magic treasure for yourself? Just like your old man—greedy as ever! That old ghost used to trick me several times over petty gains—you two are cut from the same cloth!”

Master Wang glanced at the Master of Huaiwu Cave with a half-smile.

“So now you finally need me to cover your back? Why didn’t you just ask earlier? Now you’ve lost face.”

“Yes, yes…”

The Master of Huaiwu Cave’s brow glistened with sweat.

Though he knew Master Wang had ties to his late master and had shown him favor,

A Golden Core True Person had already achieved perfect harmony of true qi, granted a heavenly body—his thoughts alone summoned wind and thunder, allowing him to freely traverse the azure heavens and the yellow springs, wander the void and outer realms.

Even if he bore no ill will toward him, their fundamental natures were worlds apart—this distance was like a fox or rabbit standing beside a lion or tiger; even if the lion merely rolled over, it would terrify the small creature to death.

“Treasures belong to those with destiny—I am merely your humble servant; you, Master, are the one destined to claim it!”

After steadying his nerves, the Master of Huaiwu Cave flattered.

Master Wang merely chuckled, saying nothing further.

At this moment, the Five-Directional Shengyang Banner, like a headless fly, darted wildly with Miao Nan, unleashing countless brilliant golden rays that illuminated mountains and rivers alike!

Yet no matter how the banner twisted and turned, how fiercely it unleashed its power, it remained trapped within a one-li radius, unable to break free.

“I’ve already sealed the space and heavens—where can you possibly escape? The Five-Directional Shengyang Banner—a mid-tier magic treasure. I haven’t seen one in ages… You once belonged to Master Feng Yu, I hear. That Daoist, foolishly overconfident, challenged Master Xiang Junyao of the Jade Jade Sect to a duel—and was slain by a single finger.”

Watching the banner’s frantic flight, Master Wang sighed.

After Feng Yu was slain by a single finger, most of his belongings were destroyed by divine thunder—and the Five-Directional Shengyang Banner vanished without a trace.

A hermit cultivator’s wealth was of no concern to Junyao, especially when he had just won the top prize at the “Dan Yuan Grand Assembly,” at the peak of his fame.

Everyone assumed the banner had been destroyed…

Some, unwilling to accept it, searched for years—yet found nothing, and finally gave up in despair.

Who could have imagined that this mid-tier magic treasure not only survived, but had hidden itself in the southern lands, choosing a Purple Mansion cultivator as its master—utterly absurd.

Any magic treasure, regardless of rank, possesses true consciousness, and each spirit has its own unique temperament.

To command them, one must either overpower them by force,

Or resonate with their nature, so the spirit willingly submits.

…

“You’re at least a mid-grade magic artifact—how could you submit to a Purple Mansion cultivator? How odd.”

Wang True Person sighed: “If you’d only submit to me, I wouldn’t just mend your broken seals—I might even reforge your form entirely. What do you think of the Five Directions Rising Sun Flag?”

His only reply was a cold sneer.

“What a pity.”

Wang True Person’s eyes turned icy; he flung his waist sword, and countless brilliant sword lights slashed down in unison, instantly dimming the Five Directions Rising Sun Flag’s spiritual radiance!

At this point, he had made up his mind: he would grind away the Flag’s true consciousness and forge a new spirit core—no longer holding back.

At that moment, on another islet, a soft, seductive laugh suddenly echoed.

Immediately, a swirling cloud of colorful mist shattered through the sky, pushing aside the stern swordlight and joining the struggle, locking horns with Wang True Person to suppress the Five Directions Rising Sun Flag.

“Finders keepers—surely Wang True Person doesn’t intend to claim it all for himself?”

The seductive female voice spoke coolly.

“A demon bandit from the Flower God Mansion dares challenge me in magical power? How presumptuous!”

Wang True Person sneered inwardly but said nothing.

Under the combined pressure of two Golden Core True Persons, the Five Directions Rising Sun Flag held out for only a few dozen breaths before beginning to falter.

Though a mid-grade magic artifact, it had taken a direct hit from Junyao’s Divine Thunder, its seals shattered by more than half, and had spent years hiding and fleeing—it was no longer the mighty force it once was.

Seeing its spiritual glow fade further, the Five Directions Rising Sun Flag sighed, pouring its last essence into Miao Nan the Old Monster’s body, reviving the man who had long since been stunned into unconsciousness by magical force.

“It seems… there’s nothing left to do…”

Miao Nan the Old Monster opened his eyes and saw the tattered flag surface; his lips trembled.

“Wasn’t this expected? That Huaiwu Cave Lord destroyed your mountain, cut off your income—we’ll give him something even worse!”

The Five Directions Rising Sun Flag paid it no mind: “We’ve reached Fuyu Lake now—you should be glad.”

“...It’s just been hard on you.”

The Five Directions Rising Sun Flag smiled but said nothing.

“Then let it be. Living’s got no point anymore! May we meet again in the next life—together, we’ll fuck men and kill women!”

Both man and flag burst into wicked laughter, their voices shaking the heavens, as the Flag’s body slowly shattered inch by inch, roaring with explosive sound—flames and light gushed wildly!

“...”

Wang True Person’s face turned ashen; he violently swept his sleeve, snatching away Huaiwu Cave Lord, cast a water escape spell, and vanished.

“Madman?!”

The Golden Core True Person from the Flower God Mansion was also stunned, cursed aloud, and a dazzling swirl of colorful mist shot upward, merging with empty space and vanishing.

In the blink of an eye.

Both True Persons had already fled over a hundred li away, taking with them the entire delegations of the Five Lights Sect and the Flower God Mansion.

Freed from the constraints of the void realm, the Five Directions Rising Sun Flag’s radiant glory was no longer hidden—a golden sun slowly rose into the sky, and before the stunned eyes of every Fuyu Lake cultivator, it exploded!

“This is—”

“A magic artifact’s self-destruction?!”

Someone screamed in despair.

The next instant, several nearby islets were instantly flattened by surging flames!

Countless screams had barely begun before they fell silent. From afar, looking down from the clouds, one saw the lake’s waters violently sinking, exposing cracked, fissured lakebeds—ten thousand hectares of emerald waves pushed outward by a golden sun, churning into furious torrents!

…

In Chen Hang’s eyes.

He heard the thunder in the sky pause, just enough time to step out of the pavilion.

Dozens of breaths later, his vision was suddenly filled with blinding golden light and searing heat—he could no longer see a thing!

“This is—”

Behind him.

He faintly heard Qing Zhi’s cry: “Damn it! Is that a magic artifact self-destructing?!”

Magic artifact—

His heart lurched; he tried to move, but the overwhelming force crushing heaven and earth pinned him down—not even a finger could twitch.

That blazing golden light seemed to rise from the horizon, inching forward—but in an instant, it was already within a li of his body!

Scorching winds swept over, turning the entire lake into a furnace.

Chen Hang’s body hairs stood on end; an unprecedented terror surged in his chest—the chaos of life and death plunged him into an icy abyss, his blood freezing solid.

Not a True Realm. Not a mental projection.

If he died here.

It would be.

Truly, utterly dead…

His mind flickered for only a moment, then his gaze hardened into calm; behind him, Qing Zhi cried out again, as if trying to stop someone.

Chen Hang forced his gaze sideways and saw Wei Lingjiang holding the Golden Light Talisman, silently watching him.

Her lips moved slightly, as if to speak—but finally, she quietly raised the Golden Light Talisman, aiming it at Chen Hang.

“...”

In an instant.

Time stretched into excruciatingly slow fragments.

As the magic artifact’s explosion neared, as the talisman’s tip ignited—

Chen Hang’s Qiankun pouch suddenly stirred; a single Dou Lu slipped silently from the void and stepped forward.

Then—

Heaven and earth fell utterly silent—

Countless cultivators had not yet recovered from the terror of death, still reeling in shock.

They waited—several breaths, dozens of breaths…

Yet no pain came.

They raised their eyes, trembling, to see: the golden sun of the artifact’s explosion, the ten thousand hectares of surging waves—all vanished without a trace.

The sky glowed warm, the willow breeze gentle—

That terrifying, violent scene was like a nightmare—now awake, it had become nothing but foam.

After a few low sobs and gasps of wonder, a roar of jubilation erupted, thundering through the heavens!

…

A hundred li away.

Wang True Person halted, uncertain, turning to look at Fuyu Lake—his gaze froze.

“How… could a Primordial Spirit True Person have intervened?”

He frowned inwardly: “Was it a patrol Daoist from Yuchen Sect? The ones here weren’t Golden Core cultivators—could it be a senior?”

On Hongye Island, in the small pavilion.

Wei Lingjiang first blinked in surprise, then gasped, immediately halting the activation of the Golden Light Talisman.

“Hey! Are you alright?”

Outside the pavilion, seeing Chen Hang still slightly dazed, Wei Lingjiang grew anxious.

“I’m fine.”

Chen Hang shook his head, clenched his fingers slightly, lowered his gaze, and smiled at her.

Dou Lu…

So at the moment of life and death—

It activated on its own to protect me?

…

…

At the exact moment the Dou Lu activated.

Nan Chan Province.

The Primordial Demon Sect, the Waterborne Rongcheng Duming Celestial Grotto.

In the pavilion at the lake’s center.

The purple-robed, golden-crowned Yu Shu raised an eyebrow with interest, pinched his fingers, cast a divination, and after a short while, a faint smile touched his lips:

“Not Chen Ying. Not Chen Jin or Chen Daozheng… Hah! Chen Hang? So that’s his name.”

His beautiful, otherworldly face broke into a broader smile:

“The brat’s been hiding in Fuyu Lake of the Southern Reaches? What backwater wasteland—he’s good at hiding, made me search for ages!”

Half a stick of incense later.

After Yu Shu finished his divination,

Across from him, a woman spoke indifferently:

“Brother, what did you just divine?”

Two-in-one