Chapter 1458: Colorful Lotus Fairy

North Xinjiang, Saint Talisman Palace.

True Monarch Tianfu grew up in the Saint Talisman Palace. Five generations of his ancestors were disciples of the palace, giving him a strong sense of belonging. Throughout his nine centuries of cultivation, the Saint Talisman Palace provided him with immense assistance.

The Saint Talisman Palace's rise and fall were both intrinsically linked to talismans.

True Monarch Tianfu's nine hundredth birthday celebration was grandly organized by the Saint Talisman Palace. The event served several purposes: to showcase their strength, to seek allies for the palace, and to gauge the attitudes of other forces towards them. Any potential threats could then be identified and eliminated early.

A straight mountain peak rose abruptly, piercing the clouds, enveloped in spiritual energy. At its summit, a resplendent golden palace was faintly visible. On a golden plaque, three large silver characters spelled out "Saint Talisman Hall".

Inside the hall, True Monarch Tianfu sat on the main seat, his gaze solemn.

A fair-faced, middle-aged scholar stood by his side, smiling broadly.

"Senior Martial Brother Liu, all the guests have arrived. It's time for you, the esteemed birthday celebrant, to make an appearance."

True Monarch Tianfu nodded, sighing softly to himself. The Saint Talisman Palace had fallen to such a state that it needed to host a Nascent Soul cultivator's birthday celebration just to display its strength. He felt ashamed before the palace's ancestors.

The Nine Nether Sect never held birthday celebrations for Nascent Soul cultivators, and even their Nascent Soul formation ceremonies were rare. Who would dare question the Nine Nether Sect's power? As long as no Soul Transformation cultivators intervened, the Nine Nether Sect remained the foremost sect in North Xinjiang—a fact well-known throughout the North Xinjiang cultivation world.

A bluestone plaza, spanning over a hundred mu, was bustling with guests.

The main seats floated in mid-air. Wang Qingshan sat in a prominent position. Across from him sat a young maiden with skin as white as snow and a beautiful, radiant face. She wore a shimmering five-colored treasure robe, and a colorful lotus mark adorned her brow. Five-colored rays of light shimmered around her, giving her an ethereal aura.

This was Fairy Cai Lian, True Monarch Tianyue's sole descendant and North Xinjiang's most beautiful woman.

With True Monarch Tianfu not yet present, Fairy Cai Lian became the focus of the guests' attention. Who wouldn't want to befriend a Nascent Soul cultivator skilled in divination?

When searching for rare treasures, one could ask Fairy Cai Lian for a divination to determine auspiciousness or ill fortune. She could also be consulted regarding the future fate of families or sects.

"Fairy Cai Lian," Wu Chang said enthusiastically, "my seventh grand-uncle will celebrate his seven hundredth birthday soon. If you are free, please come to Fengming Villa for a few drinks."

Not only the Wu family, but other forces also extended invitations to Fairy Cai Lian.

Fairy Cai Lian smiled slightly and replied, "Thank you all for your kind invitations. If I have time, I will certainly pay a visit."

Her beautiful eyes shifted to Wang Qingshan. With a charming smile, she asked, "Fellow Daoist Wang, I have long heard of the Azure Lotus Immortals. Why have you come alone? Are the Azure Lotus Immortals in the North Xinjiang cultivation world?"

"My Uncle Nine and Aunt Nine are currently in the South Sea," Wang Qingshan replied sincerely. "If you are interested, Fairy, you are welcome to visit our Azure Lotus Island. They would surely be delighted. They have long heard of your great reputation and repeatedly instructed me to invite you to our island if I ever met you."

Wang Qingshan's tone was sincere.

Fairy Cai Lian was too popular; it was unlikely she would visit Azure Lotus Island.

"I was actually planning to travel to the South Sea cultivation world for a while," Fairy Cai Lian said with a smile. "Would Fellow Daoist Wang be willing to accompany me?"

She explained that practicing divination consumes a certain amount of lifespan with each attempt. If she spent extended periods with cultivators possessing great fortune, she could leverage their good luck to reduce the consumption of her own lifespan.

To her knowledge, when the Azure Lotus Immortals formed their Nascent Souls, they triggered unusual phenomena. Such phenomena occurred in various parts of the East Bamboo Realm, signaling a warning from the Heavenly Dao that a major event was imminent. Cultivators who triggered these phenomena were fated to face a tribulation, possessing stronger fortune than ordinary individuals. If they overcame this tribulation, these fated individuals would gain immense fortune.

Fairy Cai Lian believed that spending more time with these fated individuals would aid her in practicing divination. While other fated individuals were singular, the Azure Lotus Immortals were a pair, which greatly piqued Fairy Cai Lian's curiosity.

The fact that the Wang family produced both the Azure Lotus Immortals and the Azure Lotus Sword Sovereign indicated their strong fortune, a force Fairy Cai Lian could leverage.

Wang Qingshan was momentarily stunned by Fairy Cai Lian's words. He had only spoken out of courtesy, not expecting her to accept.

Other cultivators present were also taken aback. In terms of heritage, the forces behind the cultivators seated there were far more profound than the Wang family, and in terms of strength, the Wang family was also significantly inferior.

Could there be a connection between the Azure Lotus Sword Sovereign and Fairy Cai Lian? One a young prodigy, the other a gifted beauty, they seemed well-matched. However, their conversation clearly indicated this was their first meeting.

Wang Qingshan agreed without hesitation, his face beaming with enthusiasm. "No problem at all," he said. "The scenery in the South Sea is splendid, especially the Five Dragon Sea Region. I will personally accompany you, ensuring Fairy Cai Lian's complete satisfaction."

From Fairy Cai Lian's words, it was clear she was quite curious about the Azure Lotus Immortals. This presented an excellent opportunity to befriend her.

From the void, a dignified male voice suddenly boomed: "The Azure Lotus Immortals are renowned throughout the South Sea; I have also heard of their fame. Fellow Daoist Wang, since you are a guest at our Saint Talisman Palace this time, please stay for a while longer, so we may fully extend our hospitality. Perhaps someday, if I have time, I will visit the Azure Lotus Immortals in the South Sea myself."

A gust of wind swept through, bringing with it a swirl of colorful talismans. With a flash of spiritual light, the talismans coalesced into a tall, ruddy-faced old man in a golden robe. His tiger-like eyes exuded an inherent majesty without needing to express anger. It was True Monarch Tianfu.

"Profound Talisman Spirit Evasion Art!"

A hint of surprise flashed in Wang Qingshan's eyes. This was the Saint Talisman Palace's unique divine ability, mastered only by its Grand Elder, allowing the practitioner to temporarily transform into a talisman.

"Greetings, True Monarch Tianfu," Wang Qingshan and the others stood up simultaneously, speaking in unison.

As True Monarch Tianfu was a late-stage Nascent Soul grand cultivator and the birthday celebrant, they naturally ought to be courteous.

True Monarch Tianfu nodded with a smile and said, "Thank you all for traveling thousands of miles to celebrate my birthday. There are so many guests, so please forgive us if our hospitality is lacking in any way."

"True Monarch Tianfu, you are too modest," Wu Chang politely replied. "As you are proficient in talisman arts, we still have much to learn from you!"

The Wu family's ancestors originated from the Saint Talisman Palace, making their relationship one of mutual prosperity or ruin. Without the Saint Talisman Palace's protection, the Wu family would not be where it is today.

The guests presented their congratulatory gifts one after another. Wu Chang's gift was the most substantial: a three-thousand-year-old Golden Wind Grass, an excellent material for refining fourth-tier talismans.

Wang Qingshan offered ten high-grade third-tier demon cores. He did not possess any fourth-tier demon cores, as such items were too precious and typically exchanged for other cultivation resources.

After presenting their gifts, True Monarch Tianfu and the guests raised their cups, drinking and chatting jovially.

The conversation somehow shifted to divination. True Monarch Tianfu looked at Fairy Cai Lian and asked with a smile, "Fairy Cai Lian, since you are proficient in divination, I would like to ask if it's possible to avoid an ill omen if one knows of it in advance?"

Fairy Cai Lian shook her head and replied, "No, everything is fated. Divination cannot change what is destined."