Cultivation Starting from Full Talent-Chapter 623 - 621: Encounter with Talisman Master Lin

"Swish~~~"

A thought stirred, and strands of azure-blue water vines appeared midair in front of Ning Daoran.

The water vines were densely covered in thorns, their sharp spikes hiding crystalline droplets of water. A deep, enigmatic haze wrapped around the droplets—a haze that was the true danger of the water vines, as it contained intensely concentrated Gui Water Essence Qi!

Gui Water Essence Qi is a rare fortune, coveted by countless individuals throughout the Cultivation World for its corrosive power.

Whether for breaking formations or combat techniques, Gui Water Essence Qi possesses unrivaled potency.

In previous instances of overcoming higher-level opponents, Ning Daoran had leveraged Little Blackie’s Gui Water Essence Qi as his focal point, eroding their armor before delivering a decisive blow.

Now, there’s no longer a need for Little Blackie to risk having its head smashed to employ Gui Water Essence Qi against opponents. The water vines Ning Daoran refined bore a striking resemblance to its properties, yet the concentration of Gui Water Essence Qi they contained surpassed Little Blackie’s cultivation results by a significant margin!

"Not bad."

Ning Daoran nodded serenely, evidently satisfied with the fruits of his five-year seclusion training.

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"Master."

At this moment, a figure darted into the Spirit Garden Cave Heaven—it was Little Bai.

"Little Bai, what’s the matter?"

"Fairy Ming Yu is about to hold her Nascent Soul celebration. Presumably, City Lord Ning intends to make it a grand event. Numerous Nascent Soul cultivators in the city have already received invitations, and so have we."

"Oh?"

Ning Daoran accepted the invitation and chuckled, "I’ve been in seclusion for far too long and know nothing of the outside world. When did Ming Yu successfully form her Nascent Soul?"

"About a month ago."

Little Bai grinned, "Fairy Ming Yu’s breakthrough caused quite the commotion—half the city was alight with thunder and lightning, a total of seven golden tribulations descended. It garnered heaps of praise from the city’s cultivators, and I hear many prestigious sects have sent envoys to extend their congratulations, evidently keen to foster ties with City Lord Ning."

"Hmm."

Ning Daoran glanced at the date, "The celebration is three days away. Looks like we need to prepare a fitting gift."

"Precisely."

Little Bai smiled, "Do you have something in mind for the gift, Master?"

"I do."

Ning Daoran pointed toward a nearby patch of Golden Silk Bamboo swaying in the breeze. "Recently, three stalks of Golden Silk Bamboo have reached the threshold of fifty thousand years. What do you think of me forging a flying sword from them as a gift for Ming Yu? Would that count as an adequate offering?"

"It certainly would!"

Little Bai replied, "But time is tight—if you truly intend to craft a flying sword, you’d better make haste."

"Alright."

Without delay, Ning Daoran cut down three stalks of Golden Silk Bamboo and stepped into the Artifact Refining Room, immersing himself entirely in crafting a treasured gift for Ning Mingyu.

...

Three days later, at dawn.

Ning Daoran emerged from the Artifact Refining Room, his face exuding exhaustion, sweat drenching his brow. The tightly scheduled flying sword crafting was finally complete.

In his hands lay a flying sword, twice as large as ordinary Golden Silk Swords. A coiling dragon design stretched across the blade, the result of Ning Daoran infusing a portion of the Black Dragon’s lifebound essence blood during quenching, giving rise to a dragon-soul-derived sword spirit within.

Still, being merely a flying sword, untouched by Big Stupid Deer’s hammering and chiseling, its grade remained at Low-grade Spirit Treasure. Nonetheless, the treasure essence Qi far exceeded that of any blade in Ning Daoran’s Golden Silk Sword set, marking it as the pinnacle of its grade, standing just one step shy of Mid-grade Spirit Treasure.

Offering a Spirit Treasure as a gift was downright unprecedented.

It was fitting, precisely in line with Ning Daoran’s intentions.

As the saying goes, the strokes of a pen cannot omit the character Ning twice. At heart, Ning Daoran merely wanted to publicly reaffirm his excellent relations with Ning Tianyi and Ning Mingyu. Gifting a Spirit Treasure as a congratulatory present was simply customary.

"Master, the celebration is about to start. We... should set off."

Little Bai had begun urging.

"Alright."

Ning Daoran rummaged through his Storage Bag and eventually pulled out a particularly exquisite sword box. He swiftly added a sword sheath to the newly christened Spirit Treasure, the "Golden Feather Sword," sheathed the blade, and placed it in the sword box. Handing it to Little Bai, he said, "You’ll present the sword."

"Understood!"

Thus, Ning Daoran, accompanied by Little Bai, transformed into two streaks of tunneling light, speeding toward the City Lord Mansion.

Morning, under gentle sunlight.

The City Lord Mansion was a sea of people. The celebration venue was a lofty platform with hundreds of steps leading up to it, and below it lay tiered platforms of varying heights, each hosting seats.

Guiru City maintained a rigid hierarchy—every cultivator’s seating location was meticulously ordered. At the summit of the high platform sat City Lord Ning Tianyi and Ning Mingyu. This Divinity Transformation Stage Great Cultivator unmistakably aimed to demonstrate, through seating arrangements, that Guiru City was no place for wantonness. Upon entering its bounds, one must uphold its rules!

"Fellow Daoist Ning!"

Below the high platform, Ning Daoran spotted True Monarch Du’e and True Monarch Liu Yun.

These two great cultivators were both Nascent Soul Middle Stage and had established cave mansions within the city, naturally listed as distinguished guests by City Lord Ning Tianyi.

Additionally, numerous cultivators from across the Eastern Wasteland Cultivation World had gathered.

City Lord Ning Tianyi’s beloved daughter successfully forming her Nascent Soul was undoubtedly a major event within the Eastern Wasteland Cultivation World!

"Brother?"

Just then, a familiar voice emerged.

Lin Xuyan!

"Ah?!"

Ning Daoran turned and spotted three familiar figures—Master Qi Xing had brought Lin Xuyan and Liu Wushuang with him to the celebration.

The trio represented the Liangyi Sect, which had long-standing friendly ties with Guiru City. Their presence at the celebration was perfectly understandable!

"Long time no see!"

Ning Daoran stepped forward, clasping his fists, "Master Qi Xing!"

"Hmm."

True Monarch Qi Xing squinted, smiling, "You’ve already reached the Nascent Soul Stage—perhaps you can change your address and call me Senior Brother Qi Xing instead."

"Certainly not!"

Ning Daoran frowned, "A single address lasts a lifetime. Besides, Master Qi Xing has always extended great kindness to me. I’ve long been dissatisfied with the unwritten rule in the Cultivation World that elevates a person’s rank based purely on their realm. Master Qi Xing will always remain my Master Qi Xing, even if one day I am fortunate enough to reach the Divinity Transformation Stage."

"Well said!"

True Monarch Qi Xing stroked his beard with an approving smile.

Indeed, cultivators like Ning Daoran were rare in the Cultivation World. Many, upon forming their Nascent Soul, grew arrogant and egotistical. A warrior as powerful and yet humble and respectful as Ning Daoran was exceptional and endearing.

Ning Daoran turned his gaze to Lin Xuyan.

Years had passed, yet this youngster had already reached the Nascent Soul Middle Stage. Such rapid progression made Ning Daoran speechless. Was this the gap between a top-tier talent and a second-rate one?

Despite Ning Daoran’s formidable combat ability, his one regret had always been the sluggish pace of his realm advancements. If he improved at Lin Xuyan’s pace, he should’ve already reached the Nascent Soul Middle Stage by now!

"Good lad, Nascent Soul Middle Stage, huh!"

Ning Daoran slapped Lin Xuyan’s shoulder forcefully, praising, "At this rate, won’t you enter the Divinity Transformation Stage in a few years!"

"Brother... That hurt..."

Lin Xuyan exaggeratedly grimaced and joked, "I don’t have your body refinement... A few more slaps like that, and I might lose cultivation realms!"

"Bah!"

Ning Daoran shook his head dismissively, turning his attention to Liu Wushuang.

At this moment, Liu Wushuang had reached the Nascent Soul Early Stage, though her foundational Qi seemed unstable—clearly, she had only recently advanced to the Nascent Soul Stage.

Years ago during the border war’s fifth battle, Liu Wushuang had her Golden Core shattered and regressed to the Foundation Establishment Stage. Yet within merely 135 years, she had formed her Nascent Soul. Her cultivation speed was indeed extraordinary, and it was no wonder the Liangyi Sect lavished resources on her. Such rebirth and refinement of mental state were immeasurably precious, as Liu Wushuang’s talent undoubtedly rivaled Lin Xuyan’s.

"Junior Sister Wushuang!"

Ning Daoran clasped his fists in a warm smile, "Congratulations, Junior Sister, on regaining your realm and breaking through to reach the Nascent Soul Stage!"

"Senior Brother, long time no see..."

Liu Wushuang lightly pursed her lips, "Over these years, I truly missed you. I didn’t expect to see you again here in Guiru City—I’m very happy."

Her cheeks flushed slightly as she spoke.

"Oh, my!"

Lin Xuyan tilted his head, staring at Liu Wushuang’s shy face with wide eyes, teasing, "Whose young maiden gets blushy after two sentences? Wushuang, you couldn’t possibly have a crush on Senior Brother Ning, could you? That works splendidly! How about today’s reunion doubles as your wedding? We’ll celebrate here in Guiru City first, then throw a grand ceremony at Liangyi Sect later. The thought of drinking from two weddings makes me positively ecstatic."

"Senior Brother!!"

Liu Wushuang sent her Senior Brother flying with a punch, her cheeks even redder.

"Ahem..."

Ning Daoran interjected, "Junior Sister Wushuang is an extraordinary person—I wouldn’t dare presume to be worthy. More importantly, as her Senior Brother, I already have a Daoist partner and could never delay Junior Sister Wushuang."

"No worries, no worries, Junior Sister Wushuang can be the second wife!"

Lin Xuyan added cheekily, "Brother, the Daoist partner you mentioned is Lin Man, the Talisman Master, isn’t it?"

"Exactly—have you met her?"

"I truly have!"

Lin Xuyan turned animated, gripping Ning Daoran’s arm, "It happened on a snowy night in Li Country’s Cultivation World. That evening, I was playing the fool, suppressing my cultivation to ambush a band of robbery cultivators lurking in the woods. At an abandoned ancient temple, I unexpectedly crossed paths with Sister-in-law Lin Man, sheltering from the storm. Sadly, we exchanged barely a few words before the robbery cultivators attacked en masse. I battled all five hundred of them singlehandedly, protecting Sister-in-law flawlessly. That fight darkened both heaven and earth, plunging sun and moon alike into shadow."

"And then?"

Ning Daoran listened intently to his flamboyant tale.

"And then?"

Lin Xuyan scratched his head, "Then, I lost the fight. Sister-in-law intervened—she was already a Late-stage Nascent Soul Cultivator back then! She wiped out the robbery cultivators so thoroughly they fled in disgrace. Before I could even introduce myself, she was gone. From the robbers’ chatter, I gathered she was none other than the famed Lin Man, the Talisman Master of Li Country’s Cultivation World."

Ning Daoran fell into a moment’s melancholy silence—he hadn’t expected Lin Xuyan truly to have met Lin Man. She was undoubtedly leading an exciting life as she roamed the Eastern Wasteland Cultivation World, accompanied by Chi Shan. It must’ve been challenging, too.

With just a few words, his longing for her swelled even deeper.

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