Chapter 111: The Power of the Spirit Talisman Revealed

Starfeather Mountain, Molding Immortal Terrace.

The turbulence stirred by Nie Han’s challenge had momentarily subsided. Many disciples of the Windfeather Sect remained, their eyes filled with shock and confusion—not merely due to the thrilling clash between Xu Xuan and Nie Han, but also the mystery surrounding the identity of the enigmatic white-haired elder.

"That battle just now was truly heart-stopping. I wonder who held the upper hand?"
"It seemed like a draw, didn't it?"

Many disciples cast inquisitive and curious glances toward Xu Xuan.

Xu Xuan remained silent, but his palm still throbbed with a faint, stinging pain that seemed to seep into his very bones and spirit. Nie Han was truly a once-in-a-century genius of the Sword Sect, deserving of the high praise even from the remnant soul of his past life.

Watching Nie Han’s crestfallen departure, Le Feng chuckled, "Regardless of the outcome, I can be certain of one thing: Nie Han came to the Windfeather Sect to challenge us, but not only did he fail to gain any advantage, he had his arrogance severely bruised."

"Hahaha! That’s right. It’s a joy to see Nie Han looking so dejected for the first time."

Everyone nodded in agreement. When Nie Han arrived, he was high-spirited and disdainful, looking down on everyone. When he left, his face was grim, his demeanor sunken, and he didn't utter a word.

As the person directly involved, Xu Xuan did not feel relaxed. He understood that Nie Han possessed a terrifying, relentless drive. While this defeat might have wounded his pride, it would just as likely ignite and push the limits of his potential.

The Windfeather disciples were jubilant and animated, flocking toward Xu Xuan to offer flattery. "Junior Brother Xu, you truly are one who 'does not speak until you sing, but once you do, you startle the world.' We are all in awe."

"No, that’s not quite right. Since Junior Brother Xu entered the sect, when has he not surprised us? During the campaign against the Blood Spirit Bandits, he was like a god of war. And I heard that after entering the secret realm, he displayed immense power, slaying the Demonized Bat King..."

"Junior Brother Xu is a rising star of our sect. It won't be long before he makes a name for himself in Yellow Dragon City."

"It’s foreseeable that Junior Brother Xu becoming a core disciple of our sect isn't far off. Congratulations in advance..."

The crowd surrounded Xu Xuan like stars around the moon, offering endless praise and sycophancy. At this moment, even Senior Brother Yun and Le Feng were somewhat sidelined.

Yang Xiaoqian watched the young man standing out from the crowd with a dark, lost expression in her beautiful eyes. Her heart felt unsettled; she felt he was drifting further and further away, until one day she would no longer be able to see him. This was the exact opposite of what she had imagined before entering the secret realm.

Xu Xuan responded to the inner sect disciples' flattery with indifference. Internally, he felt a measure of worry: today’s forced confrontation with Nie Han had exposed far too much of his strength, which was not conducive to his survival within the immortal sect.

As the saying goes, the tree that stands above the forest is the first to be broken by the wind.

Given the strength and potential Xu Xuan had displayed, what would the senior disciple, Yun Yuanhang, think of him? The struggles within this immortal sect were far from simple.

Yun Yuanhang gave Xu Xuan two faint glances without showing any reaction, his expression seemingly lost in thought.

"Senior Brother, do you know the background of that white-haired elder? I’ve seen him preaching and teaching in the sect before, but the Masters and Elders all turned a blind eye to it," Le Feng asked, voicing his confusion.

"That senior... is likely a founding patriarch left behind by the original 'Starfeather Sect,'" Yun Yuanhang said with a grave expression.

A founding patriarch!

At these words, everyone was stunned. That senior’s seniority was so high that even the Windfeather Sect Master and the Starfire Sword King were mere juniors to him?

Returning to his small pavilion on the North Cliff, Xu Xuan first meditated to recover, reviewing the battle with Nie Han to consolidate his experience and insights.

That night, Xu Xuan circulated his Primal Energy to temper his body, absorbing the True Fire from his furnace, and in one stroke, elevated his cultivation to the fifth level of Qi Refining!

It seemed that the dangerous clash during the day had provided a massive stimulus and boost to his cultivation realm.

"Fifth level of Qi Refining! My cultivation has finally caught up to Le Feng and the others. It seems my choice to focus on body tempering was definitely the right one."

Xu Xuan felt a surge of joy. Ever since he had opened the gates to ancient body cultivation, his progress had been swift, advancing by leaps and bounds.

Over the next two days, Xu Xuan began planning a trip to "Yellow Dragon City."

Healing his father’s leg injury and finding the "Three-Spirit Deer Blood" were his most urgent desires. Furthermore, with his ample capital, he needed to go to Yellow Dragon City to acquire a batch of fire-attribute spirit materials, along with other useful cultivation resources for long-term practice.

During these two days, Xu Xuan traded for a storage bag within the sect. He certainly didn't harbor hopes of using the one left behind by the powerful Condensation-stage expert. A common storage bag, roughly the size of a water vat, was sufficient for his needs, and he used it merely as a cover.

In addition to the bag, he acquired several magical tools, hundreds of low-grade spirit stones, and common cultivation supplies, all of which he tucked into the bag.

"Hmm, that should be enough."

Xu Xuan now looked like a true cultivator, equipped with all the essentials. However, he always felt he lacked a suitable weapon. Common magical tools felt far too light in his hands; they lacked impact, and were less effective than his own fists.

After consulting the remnant soul of his past life, Xu Xuan learned that body cultivators were best suited for heavy-duty magical treasures.

Heavy-duty magical treasures?

Xu Xuan had yet to see a true heavy-duty treasure. According to ancient records, such items were undoubtedly earth-shattering, capable of splitting mountains and cleaving land.

"In the future, when you encounter magical treasures, prioritize heavy ones, as well as those with auxiliary divine abilities. These are highly practical for body cultivators," the remnant soul advised.

Xu Xuan nodded. A truly powerful body cultivator would treat every part of their body as a potent weapon, allowing them to stand their ground in any environment even without a treasure.

The next morning, Xu Xuan descended the mountain alone, embarking on his first real journey far from home.

Yellow Dragon City was over a thousand miles away from the Pinghua Town area. For a low-level cultivator, such a trip was no easy feat. After all, a Qi Refining immortal had only just reached the point of controlling objects to hover; flying the entire way was unrealistic. Only by reaching the Spirit Refining stage could one truly control objects for flight and travel quickly.

As he walked alone to the foot of Starfeather Mountain and passed through a patch of forest, Xu Xuan’s body suddenly stiffened.

Throughout the journey, he had felt a vague sensation of being watched. That intangible sense of crisis was just like the time he had been ambushed by Xu Dahu in the mountains.

Xu Xuan’s thoughts raced, his focus heightened. He wondered, who could he have offended?

On Starfeather Mountain, his most direct enemy, Wan Fushan, had already died in the secret realm. Besides, with his strength, Wan Fushan was hardly a threat. Aside from him, there were only two or three people with whom he had conflicts or conflicting interests.

In a flash, Xu Xuan identified a suspect. His eyes turned cold and sharp: those who offend me must be punished!

Xu Xuan pretended not to notice and continued to descend the mountain quickly. On Starfeather Mountain, his pursuer was very cautious, completely suppressing their murderous intent, seemingly hesitant to strike due to some reservations.

It wasn't until he descended the mountain and entered a wild forest that Xu Xuan suddenly sensed a surge of killing intent; clearly, his follower had run out of patience.

"Heh, what kind of rat has been following me so sneakily? Why don't you show yourself?"

Xu Xuan turned abruptly, smiling with deep disdain and mockery. He would not give the other party the chance for a sneak attack.

Hearing this, the person hiding in the shadows was startled, then grew extremely irritated.

*Swish!*

A red figure flashed down from a tree over ten yards away.

The visitor was a man of forty or fifty, dressed in a light red robe. His face was gloomy and angry, his eyes flashing with intense killing intent. As he breathed, he emitted a powerful spiritual pressure, making the surrounding woods feel suddenly stifled and hot.

It was none other than the sect’s Manager Zheng!

"Ignorant brat, you probably didn't know that the one tracking you would be me, did you?" Manager Zheng looked on with a mocking, playful expression, his posture that of one who held certain victory.

With his ninth level of Qi Refining, approaching the Spirit Refining stage, was it not more than enough to kill a martial cultivator at the fourth or fifth level?

"Heh, I had guessed it was you, Manager Zheng."

A mysterious smile appeared on Xu Xuan’s face. Facing such a terrifying presence at the ninth level of Qi Refining, he showed not a hint of panic.

"Hahaha... Knowing it was me, yet you still dare to stand your ground? It seems you truly don't know the meaning of death!"

Manager Zheng threw his head back and laughed wildly, a sharp light flashing in his eyes. His mana surged as he flicked his finger toward his storage bag, producing a crimson fire fan. Judging by its aura, it was a high-grade magical tool, even superior to Le Feng’s Wind-Fire Fan.

*Whoosh!*

As Manager Zheng poured his mana into it, the red fan grew to over a yard in width, erupting with raging crimson flames. The trees above were instantly scorched black and withered in the heat. The powerful spiritual pressure and searing heat wave made Xu Xuan’s chest feel tight.

If he were to fight head-on, with his meager fifth level of Qi Refining, he would naturally not dare to challenge an immortal at the ninth level.

However, Xu Xuan possessed more than just cultivation; he had deep, hidden assets.

*Hum!*

A pale blue spiritual talisman appeared in his palm. Activated by his Primal Energy, a water-blue light shield instantly encased him.

Seeing this, Manager Zheng paused, slightly surprised: "A second-grade spiritual talisman, the Water Spirit Shield!"

This second-grade talisman was obtained from the storage bag found in the lake-center secret palace.

"Good lad, so you have a talisman in hand. But do you think a mere second-grade talisman can help you escape today?"

Manager Zheng smiled coldly, swinging the red fire fan, sending a snake-like wave of flame surging toward Xu Xuan.

Xu Xuan chuckled, and three or four more second-grade spiritual talismans appeared in his hand, causing Manager Zheng’s expression to stiffen.

*Puff! Whoosh!*

Xu Xuan activated one of the cyan talismans. A cyclone of cyan wind, over a yard wide, roared and howled as it unleashed violent wind blades, charging toward Manager Zheng.

"Gale Wind Blades..." Manager Zheng was horrified. The snake-like flame wave he had unleashed was torn to shreds in an instant.

The violent cyan gale and the sky-filling wind blades surged forward, causing his protective light to creak and crack.

An ordinary second-grade talisman possessed the power of an attack from a Spirit Refining master; even at the ninth level of Qi Refining, he could not withstand it head-on.

Manager Zheng’s face turned ashen, his heart filled with shock and rage. Where did this brat get so many precious second-grade spiritual talismans?!