Cultivation Starting from Full Talent

Chapter 272: Chapter 270: Third-tier Green Fox Demon Chapter 272: Chapter 270: Third-tier Green Fox Demon Within the city, cultivators filled the skies, coming and going in an endless stream.

Clothed in a fluttering green robe, Ning Daoran drifted over to the Southern City Wall and saw a portion of the wall had collapsed. The relentless roars of demon beasts echoed from beyond, and already, many of the city’s resident cultivators had joined the battle.

“Senior Ning!”

Not far away, two figures appeared within a few breaths. It was Nolan Canghai and his wife.

Nolan Canghai was brimming with energy, having reached Perfect Foundation Establishment and was only a step away from Core Formation. Over the years, this couple had established themselves with puppets and the Alchemy Dao. They had managed their affairs diligently, achieving great results. With a Dust-falling Pill, Nolan Canghai was most likely to achieve Golden Core.

As for Chen Qian, she retained her youthful appearance, most likely thanks to the Solid Color Pill; decades had passed, yet she seemed younger and more radiant than ever.

“It turns out to be the two Fellow Daoists.”

Ning Daoran greeted them with a cupped fist and a smile, “Have you also been conscripted?”

“Indeed!”

Nolan Canghai spoke helplessly, “We are all Foundation Establishment Cultivators. With Immortal White Dragon City in imminent danger, being conscripted is to be expected. However, I did not anticipate that Lord Xu would conscript even Golden Core Cultivators.”

He lowered his voice, “Initially, I thought Golden Core Cultivators would not follow the summons…”

Chen Qian chuckled softly and cast a sidelong glance at her husband.

“Actually, there are surely those who refused.”

Ning Daoran spoke, “But I feel that since I’m free anyway, it’s better to lend a hand in defending the Immortal City. After all, having lived so many years in the White Dragon Immortal City, I’ve enjoyed its beneficence.”

“Senior Ning speaks wisely!”

Nolan Canghai turned to look at the damaged portion of the wall behind him. “Senior, my wife and I are responsible for the defense of this section of the wall. Please find your own place to fend off the enemy.”

“Alright.”

Ning Daoran nodded and left with Big Stupid Deer in tow.

Shortly after, the man and the deer arrived at a gatehouse that had sustained severe damage. An old Late-stage Foundation Establishment Cultivator was using a Flying Sword to fend off an attack from a group of demon beasts, among which were Second Order Demon Beasts, pushing the old Sword Cultivator to the brink; his Flying Sword was notched from use, and his legs bore bite marks, signaling his precarious state.

“Fellow Daoist, please step back. This place will be handled by me.”

Ning Daoran rose into the air, his hands summoning strands of Flying Swords. As the Liangyi Sword Technique surged through him, the swords rained down like eyes that could see from the sky.

“Puff puff puff~~~”
In an instant, dozens of Wolf Demons attacking the gatehouse perished. One was even a Second Rank Mid-stage Wolf Demon, but it couldn’t withstand Ning Daoran’s Flying Sword and was pierced through the skull in a blink.

“It turns out to be Array Master Ning, Senior…”

As if granted a reprieve, the old Foundation Establishment reached out to his injured arm, limping down from the gatehouse with an awkward smile. “I’m ashamed to say my cultivation is meager, and I nearly let these beasts break through.”

While speaking, he looked up at the Purple Lightning Frost Array above: “The Array seems to be nearly ineffective now.”

“Mm.”

Ning Daoran nodded. “The Array is severely damaged and indeed can no longer serve its purpose. Fellow Daoist, go and heal your wounds. I will handle things here, rest assured.”

“Thank you, Senior.”

The old Foundation Establishment sat down not far away to recuperate.

He was one of the city’s defenders, and although there was no need for him to fight to the death, having lived most of his life in the White Dragon Immortal City and being someone who cherishes memories, he could not bear to watch the place he considered home be breached.

Up on the gatehouse, Ning Daoran kept one hand behind him, directing the Flying Swords with only his left hand.

The twelve Flying Swords were all Silver Moon Flying Swords, Second-tier top-grade spiritual artifacts. As a Golden Core Early Stage Cultivator using such artifacts, it was perfectly reasonable.

As for the Golden Silk Sword, it was best to avoid using it to prevent drawing attention. After all, it was the Independent Practitioner Jianjia who was known for slaying enemies with the Golden Silk Sword. Ning Daoran needed to protect this very convenient disguise.

With the Silver Moon Flying Swords and the indiscernible essence of the Liangyi Sword Technique, slaying ordinary Second Order Demon Beasts was like cutting through melons; there was no challenge at all.

For a time, the old Foundation Establishment sitting in the distance couldn’t help but envy what he saw.

Is this the might of a Golden Core Ancestor? Slaying Second Order Demon Beasts as easily as plucking an item from one’s bag!

At that moment, along the entire length of the Southern City Wall, the skies were filled with Human Clan Cultivators locked in a bloody battle with demon beasts. Many looked over with envy, for among all the cultivators within White Dragon Immortal City, very few could dispatch Second Order Demon Beasts with such ease as Ning Daoran.

“Array Master Ning!”

A figure flew over, the Lord of the Immortal City, Xu Yuan, dressed in a white robe, who greeted him with a respectful smile. “Fellow Daoist, your willingness to join the battle against the demon beasts is truly commendable. I, on behalf of the White Dragon Immortal City, thank you!”

“Lord Xu, you are too courteous.”

Ning Daoran responded, “I have cultivated in the White Dragon Immortal City for many years and consider it my second home. With the onslaught of the beast tide, it is only right for me to lend a hand!”

“Your righteousness is as vast as the heavens; I admire you, Fellow Daoist!”

After exchanging a few more pleasantries, Xu Yuan left with a group of the city’s cultivators.

In the crowd, Xu Xinghe clasped his fists and bowed with an expression of respect, yet he failed to recognize Ning Daoran as the Independent Practitioner Jianjia whom he had once tricked at sea.

After the crowd left, Ning Daoran simply glanced from afar.

Back at sea, he had almost been killed in an ambush set up by Ancestor Xu. It seemed that Xu Xinghe couldn’t be entirely uninvolved in that matter.

However, it was a pity that with his current strength, Ning Daoran was unable to kill a Nascent Soul. As such, the people of the Xu Family were untouchable for now, but that didn’t matter. Once he reached the Gold Core Late Stage, he should have a chance to grapple with the Nascent Soul Early Stage cultivators, and by then, even if he couldn’t kill Ancestor Xu, it would be no problem to completely eradicate all those related to the ambush at sea.

…

Dusk.

“Boom~~~”
Accompanied by a thunderous explosion, just as Ning Daoran had predicted, the Third-tier Middle-grade Purple Lightning Green Frost Array stretching across the sky finally couldn’t withstand the assault of the beast tide. The Array Flags and Array Plates buried outside of the city exploded one by one, not just damaged but self-destructed.

Instantly, the purple and green ripples in the sky disappeared, and the airspace above Immortal White Dragon City was left unshielded.

“Launch the flying boats to the sky, we must not allow the Demon Clan to launch an aerial assault!”

Within the city, a Golden Core cultivator raised his arm and shouted, and immediately, several flying boats each several zhang in length soared into the sky. The flying boats carried cultivators or strong and well-armored soldiers holding bows and crossbows, continuing to protect the Immortal City from the air.

Ning Daoran frowned. There were shadows of demon birds lurking outside the city; these demon birds could fly at extremely high altitudes, and it was not impossible for them to plunge down from the stratosphere at supersonic speeds to attack the city. With Immortal White Dragon City covering such a vast area, it was impossible to keep it completely defended.

This also meant that with the Purple Lightning Frost Array broken, Immortal White Dragon City was fully exposed with no barrier left.

“Roar—”
Outside the city, a large number of demon beasts sensed the collapse of the array and revealed their elated looks as they swarmed over from faraway hills and fields. Under the starlight, countless figures of demon beasts charged towards them.

“Light the fires! Illuminate!”

Within the city, the garrison commander ordered loudly.

The strong bowmen atop the city walls ignited fire arrows and shot them beyond the city, immediately setting alight the piles of dry wood and oil-soaked wood stacks that had been prepared outside the city. In an instant, hundreds of bonfires rose outside of the city.

Under the glow of the fires, the charging demon beasts looked even more ferocious and terrifying.

Only a small number of low-level demon beasts feared the fire and stopped before the city’s moat, but those that reached the First-tier Middle Stage could overcome this instinct and charged through the flames, launching a frenzied assault on Immortal White Dragon City.

“You must hold your ground!”

Hovering above the ramparts, Xu Yuan, in a white robe, pointed gently upwards, and a fiery red star appeared above him. In the next moment, countless scarlet flying swords burst forth, shooting down a flock of demon birds in the sky!

But more demon beasts surged past the flames and became entangled in a bloody melee with the armored soldiers and cultivators outside the city. Human Clan cultivators continuously fell in battle, their skulls gnawed away, their bellies torn open – a sight too gruesome to behold.

The Demon Clan and Human Clan are natural sworn enemies, with no chance of ever shaking hands or making peace. This towering hatred was etched deep into their bones.

“Defend the city!”

A cultivator shouted hoarsely as the entire Immortal White Dragon City united in shared enmity.

…

“Go!”

Ning Daoran raised his hand, and the Twelve Silver Moon Flying Swords turned into silver stars in the night sky, weaving and darting through the air like a group of nimble fish. In no time at all, the bodies of demon beasts piled up layer upon layer in front of his position.

“Yo-ho!”

Big Stupid Deer stood firmly beneath the gatehouse, but each time it raised its head to cast a spell, tides of Wind Blades, Fierce Flames, Earth Spurs, and other Five Elements Techniques erupted on the battlefield ahead, slaughtering groups of demon beasts and leaving blood everywhere.

Before long, a prolonged howl came from the distant woods, signaling the arrival of a Third-tier Middle-level Three-tailed Green Fox. Suddenly, countless fox demons appeared in the woods, their eyes fixated in the direction of Ning Daoran.

“Yo-ho~~”
A figure with an alluring posture emerged from the woods, none other than a woman in a green skirt with exquisite beauty. Yet her alluring eyes were filled with seduction. She stepped out of the woods, and her long and fair legs were particularly eye-catching under the reflection of the firelight.

“I wondered who was here, turns out it’s such a young and handsome lad.”

The corner of the Green Fox Demon’s mouth lifted slightly as she plucked a burning stick from the bonfire outside the city and gently blew it out, her expression turning cold in an instant as she sneered, “Immortal White Dragon City is already a prize within Ten Thousand Beasts Mountain Range’s grasp. Even Xu Changyang, that old fool, has died within Ten Thousand Beasts Mountain Range. What makes you trash think you can defend Immortal White Dragon City?!”

She rushed forward fiercely, the burning stick in her hand, wrapped in demonic power, transformed into a bolt of lightning aimed at Ning Daoran’s throat.

A Third-tier Middle-level Demon Beast indeed was extraordinary!

…

“Pang!”

The movements of Ning Daoran drawing and swinging his sword were fluent as flowing clouds and water. The Third-tier Magical Treasure, the Qiushui Sword, instantly split the burning stick and the dense demon Qi in two. Following that, with a light pat on his Storage Bag, several Array Flags and Array Plates flew out, quickly setting up a Second Order High Grade Killing Array of All Heavens Hidden Thunder Array in front of him!

“Come.”

He beckoned to the Three-tailed Green Fox with a thick smile.

“Hmph…”

A flash of coldness in the fox’s eyes indicated her awareness that the Golden Core Early Stage cultivator before her was not simple. She showed she could yield when necessary, retreating into her body and disappearing into the night in an instant. From deep within the woods, her coy laughter could be heard.

“Young lad, don’t be hasty. The time isn’t right now, but when it comes, this lady will come back for you~~”