Chapter 476: We Are Not Bystanders

Chapter 476: We Are Not Bystanders

With the enhancement of the Sighing Talisman, the battle erupted in an instant.

The Ten Thousand Ghost Soul Banner enveloped the area, confining the combat between the two to a single location.

The Banner Master's face was filled with confidence.

Without the Great Supreme Enlightenment, the Emperor Palace Envoy was nothing more than a large fat pig in his eyes.

With a single strike, his Immortal Spirit Power surged, and he could easily destroy the world with a casual attack.

"Die!"

Energy was annihilated, and space shattered and re-formed.

Such a terrifying attack would make even an ordinary Great Supreme Enlightenment tremble.

At that moment, the sound of a sword ringing filled the air, and a blood-red longsword flew out, emitting various dazzling lights and auras.

A particularly evil and ominous aura permeated the atmosphere.

The two auras collided, like a battle between two great villains.

Boom!

The clash ended, and the outcome was not unexpected to the onlookers.

The Banner Master had the upper hand, while the Emperor Palace Envoy was slightly weaker.

The White Dragon Spring Lord narrowed his eyes, "If the Banner Master had the assistance of Taihuang Palace, he might have been able to seal this Emperor Palace Envoy."

"Speaking of this, I'm also curious. Why did he come out when he could have stayed hidden in the Mystic Land?" The Sovereign of Divine Luo Heaven was astonished.

"Perhaps, he didn't expect the Sighing Talisman either."

"It seems he isn't one of us from the Six Heavens Holy Land."

These Yangshen Venerables discussed among themselves, each with their own speculations.

Meanwhile, on the other side, the battle continued.

In the blink of an eye, a hundred rounds of combat had passed.

Throughout these hundred rounds, the Banner Master maintained the upper hand, but he couldn't inflict even a scratch on the blood-red figure.

The Banner Master narrowed his eyes, his expression filled with surprise, "He has some strength. I'll have to show my true abilities!"

After the initial probing, the Banner Master no longer held back and unleashed his full power.

He had already tested that his opponent did not possess the Great Supreme Enlightenment.

However, even with his full strength, he could only inflict damage on his opponent.

Moreover, it would take a long time to defeat him.

Therefore, he decided to use the Ten Thousand Ghost Soul Banner.

The last time, the Ten Thousand Ghost Soul Banner had stood at the Ghost Gate, and it was snatched away by the Emperor Palace Envoy.

This time, with the Ten Thousand Ghost Soul Banner in his hands, there was no such worry.

After all, to some extent, he and the Ten Thousand Ghost Soul Banner were one entity.

"Hand over the Ten Thousand Ghost Soul Banner, and I can give you a dignified death," the Banner Master declared.

As the Banner Master spoke, the Ten Thousand Ghost Soul Banner trembled, blocking out the sun and sky, and stretching across the heavens.

An icy chill pierced through hearts, and the sound of howling winds followed, along with countless ghostly shadows.

In the dim light, the ghostly shadows moved, reaching out with their hands, baring their teeth and claws, like vengeful spirits seeking vengeance.

Their eyes, bloodshot or lifeless, stared at Qi Yuan, as if looking at their mortal enemy.

Qi Yuan immediately felt the overwhelming killing intent and hatred sweeping through the sky.

It was clear that under the Banner Master's refinement, the souls within the Ten Thousand Ghost Soul Banner had already considered the Banner Master's target as the murderer of their loved ones or kin.

With the Ten Thousand Ghost Soul Banner's enhancement, the soul attacks, along with the Banner Master's assault, came swiftly.

Qi Yuan immediately sensed the danger of death.

Without hesitation, he responded.

"You have the Ten Thousand Ghost Soul Banner, but I have the Emperor Soul Banner!" Qi Yuan shouted, and with a shake of his hand, a tattered and bloodstained Emperor Soul Banner appeared.

The width of the banner was unknown, covered in intricate patterns, profound and ancient.

Unlike the Ten Thousand Ghost Soul Banner's ominous aura, the Emperor Soul Banner, despite being tattered, radiated a brilliant light, like a vast ocean of righteousness.

Under this light, Qi Yuan's blood-red armor became even more eerie, and he himself seemed infinitely sacred.

The towering blood-red figure, bathed in endless radiance, held the blood-red sword, resembling a heavenly god, or a hellish demon.

"Demonic spirits, be gone!"

With a single sword strike, the Emperor Palace's pure light washed away the darkness.

The countless ghosts within the Ten Thousand Ghost Soul Banner let out a pitiful howl.

The Emperor Soul Banner, born of light, represented justice and the grand cause of humanity.

It was the antithesis of the Ten Thousand Ghost Soul Banner, which refined the souls of the deceased, and it could not compete with the Emperor Soul Banner.

"The Emperor Soul Banner?"

"An offensive Creation Artifact! How does he have it?"

"Why haven't I heard of this offensive Creation Artifact?"

The observing Yangshen Venerables were shocked.

In the Six Heavens of the Immortal Realm, while Creation Artifacts might be numerous, offensive Creation Artifacts were always known by name.

Offensive Creation Artifacts, unlike ordinary Creation Artifacts, were forged by the Great Supreme Enlightenment over countless ages and with immense effort.

At this moment, the Banner Master's eyes widened, and his face revealed disbelief, "How can he have the Emperor Soul Banner?"

Each time the Emperor Palace Envoy came to the Ghost Gate, he proclaimed that all banners in the world belonged to the Emperor Soul Banner.

The Ten Thousand Ghost Soul Banner, which dominated the Ghost Gate, was owned by the Emperor Palace.

The Banner Master, of course, did not believe these words.

After all, the Ten Thousand Ghost Soul Banner was refined by the previous Banner Master, and he had no connection to the Emperor Palace.

"Where there is injustice in the world, a banner will sweep it away!"

Qi Yuan paid no heed to the Banner Master.

Holding the sword in his left hand, he exuded killing intent, and with the banner in his right, he emanated light.

The eerie blood-red sword and the radiant, holy banner complemented each other.

"Kill!"

With a sword strike and a banner wave, the battle intensified.

The Banner Master's expression changed abruptly.

His Ten Thousand Ghost Soul Banner, when faced with the Emperor Soul Banner, was like a mouse encountering a cat, and not a pet cat, but a wild one.

The flag of the Ten Thousand Ghost Soul Banner trembled, and the souls within cried out in fear, as if facing their mortal enemy.

At this moment, the Banner Master grew anxious.

His opponent lacked the Great Supreme Enlightenment, and with the Ten Thousand Ghost Soul Banner, he could easily subdue him.

But he hadn't expected his opponent to also possess an offensive Creation Artifact.

He couldn't penetrate the defenses of the offensive Creation Artifact, so how could he harm the Emperor Palace Envoy?

Moreover, the most crucial thing was that he felt himself at a disadvantage.

At that moment, Qi Yuan, holding the Emperor Soul Banner, spoke with a mighty voice, like a messenger of justice, "Ten Thousand Ghost Soul Banner, you've suffered.

Born of evil, it's not your fault."

As Qi Yuan spoke, the Ten Thousand Ghost Soul Banner's flag trembled, as if something extraordinary was happening.

The Banner Master's expression froze, "What did you do?"

"This is the Ten Thousand Ghost Soul Banner he has been refining, and it resonates with his heart and soul."

"I'm here to rectify the cultivation world and bring about righteous reform!" Qi Yuan said calmly.

The state of the cultivation world has deteriorated.

Otherwise, how could such a thing as the Ten Thousand Ghost Soul Banner come into existence?

As he spoke, he continued to gaze at the Ten Thousand Ghost Soul Banner.

"Banner, I know you've done many wrong things, but it's not your fault. It's the fault of this world."

"Are you willing to return to the embrace of the Emperor Soul Banner and follow me to change this world?"

The Great Forgetfulness Scripture was activated, and a persuasive voice, empowered by the Emperor Soul Banner, reached out to the Ten Thousand Ghost Soul Banner.

The Banner Master's expression changed drastically, and he was filled with terror.

Because, to his surprise, the soul messengers within the Ten Thousand Ghost Soul Banner had hesitated for a moment, as if truly moved by the words.

"Shut up!" The Banner Master, embarrassed and furious, launched an attack on Qi Yuan.

However, the Ten Thousand Ghost Soul Banner in his hand didn't respond as smoothly as he had anticipated.

In this confrontation, he found himself at a disadvantage.

"Do you see? The Ten Thousand Ghost Soul Banner in your hand doesn't want to harm me.

Banner Master... do you know you're wrong?"

Qi Yuan stood firm like an unyielding ocean.

"You...!" The Banner Master, enraged, lashed out frantically.

He was now in a state of panic.

When the Emperor Palace Envoy took out the Emperor Soul Banner, he knew he couldn't defeat the Envoy.

This was no longer the time for killing; instead, his Ten Thousand Ghost Soul Banner was behaving strangely.

If this continued, his Ten Thousand Ghost Soul Banner... might even change hands.

He was now filled with regret, his face anxious. At this moment, he put on a thick face: "Everyone, come and help me, I have a creation artifact to give you!"

The Banner Master could only seek help from the other Great Ultimate Principles.

But he was destined to be ignored.

These Great Ultimate Principles were simply enjoying the spectacle.

Only the three Great Ultimate Principles who had followed Guiyuetian stepped in to join the battle.

Even with three more Great Ultimate Principles, he was still at a disadvantage under the Emperor Soul Banner.

Rip!

In an instant, the Banner Master's expression turned to terror.

His Ten Thousand Ghost Soul Banner had torn, with one-fifth of it drifting towards the Emperor Soul Banner.

His eyes widened in shock.

This was his offensive creation artifact, his very means of survival.

"No!"

He roared, but to no avail.

The surrounding Great Ultimate Principles' expressions changed from their usual calmness.

"Could this Ten Thousand Ghost Soul Banner truly be a part of the Emperor Soul Banner?"

"This Emperor Palace Envoy's scheme is truly sinister. He planned all this just to force the Banner Master to use the Ten Thousand Ghost Soul Banner and fight, only to devour it!"

"If the Banner Master continues like this... the offensive creation artifact on his body will likely... be completely gone."

One of the Great Ultimate Principles spoke up, their eyes filled with anticipation.

If the Banner Master lost his Ten Thousand Ghost Soul Banner, he would fall from the second tier of Great Ultimate Principles to the third.

As they spoke, the Banner Master's Ten Thousand Ghost Soul Banner emitted another ripping sound.

More and more of the banner's surface flowed into the Emperor Soul Banner.

This wasn't a battle between offensive creation artifacts; it was... a prodigal son returning home!

"Knowing your mistakes and correcting them is a virtue.

Banner Master, look at your Ten Thousand Ghost Soul Banner; it has such good judgment, correcting its past mistakes.

Can you follow their example, end your life, and join my Emperor Soul Banner? I'll give you a position among the soul messengers."

"You..." Now the Banner Master truly regretted his decision.

If he had known, he wouldn't have bothered with the Sighing Talisman.

Currently, under the influence of the Sighing Talisman, he couldn't escape and could only fight the Emperor Palace Envoy, without even the option to flee.

He could only watch helplessly as the Ten Thousand Ghost Soul Banner was slowly torn apart and absorbed into the Emperor Soul Banner.

The battle continued for an unknown duration.

The Banner Master's Ten Thousand Ghost Soul Banner was almost entirely gone, with less than a quarter of it remaining.

Suddenly, a brilliant light filled the air.

The Banner Master's face lit up with relief: "True Essence Venerable, help me remove the Sighing Talisman!"

In a 1919 book, I saw no mistakes!

A projection of the True Essence Venerable appeared.

All the Great Ultimate Principles, upon seeing the True Essence Venerable, had their expressions change.

This was the Great Ultimate Principle of Taohuang Palace.

The True Essence Venerable's eyes flashed with determination, and he finally spoke: "Disperse!"

The effect of the Sighing Talisman was limited.

Even if he hadn't come, it would have dissipated soon anyway.

As he spoke, the Sighing Talisman instantly vanished.

The Banner Master's face showed relief after the ordeal.

Although the Ten Thousand Ghost Soul Banner was shattered, as long as he had a piece of it, he remained a second-tier Great Ultimate Principle.

Even within the second tier, he was one of the lowest-ranked.

He frantically tried to escape from Qi Yuan.

But just then, two beams of light suddenly blocked his path.

The Banner Master's face turned angry: "Who's there?!"

Because, as he tried to escape, two Great Ultimate Principles had secretly stopped him for half a breath.

But in that half-breath, Qi Yuan's Great Forgetfulness Scripture and Emperor Soul Banner descended upon him again.

The remaining Ten Thousand Ghost Soul Banner on the Banner Master was also absorbed by Qi Yuan.

"No!" The Banner Master was in agony.

But this wasn't the time for agony.

Because, having lost the Ten Thousand Ghost Soul Banner, the Emperor Palace Envoy was still powerful enough to seal him, even if he couldn't kill him.

Filled with hatred, the Banner Master frantically tried to escape.

The Great Ultimate Principles who had witnessed the battle heard him and their expressions changed from joy to seriousness.

"Banner Master, it wasn't me who attacked."

"It wasn't me either."

"Nor was it me."

Among the Great Ultimate Principles who had come to witness the battle, many were delighted to see the Banner Master fall from the second tier.

With that, the battle came to an end, with the Banner Master losing his banner and fleeing.

The other Great Ultimate Principles took a deep breath, glanced at Qi Yuan, and their eyes flashed with complex emotions.

Some even considered reaching out to the Emperor Palace Envoy.

After all, since the last Lin Ya Transformation, nothing like this had happened in the Six Heavens.

The Banner Master's Ten Thousand Ghost Soul Banner had been completely stripped away.

This was an offensive creation artifact.

And yet, there weren't many such artifacts in the Six Heavens.

They knew this was likely an isolated incident.

(End of Chapter)

Even they suspected that the Banner Master's Ten Thousand Ghost Soul Banner might have truly originated from the Emperor Soul Banner; otherwise, why would it be targeted like this?

At this moment, Qi Yuan looked at the True Essence Venerable with profound eyes, "Assisting criminals to escape, you're guilty!"

Upon hearing these words, all the Great Supreme Enlightenments in the room were startled.

This Emperor Palace Envoy dared to speak to the Yangshen of Taohuang Palace like this.

What audacity!

The White Dragon Abyss Lord's eyes stirred, deep in thought.

The Great Supreme Enlightenments of the Ultimate Principle Council had a glimmer of excitement in their eyes, seeming rather delighted.

At this moment, the Endless Abyss Master, with a relaxed demeanor, spoke up, "Emperor Palace Envoy, do you know who he is? He's the Third Palace Master of Taohuang Palace!"

"Hmph, when the Emperor breaks the law, he's no different from a commoner.

He's a Supreme Venerable, and if he commits a crime today, he's still guilty!"

Qi Yuan's voice remained calm.

Upon hearing this, the Great Supreme Enlightenments in the room slightly shifted their gazes.

Among them, a few who had initially planned to secretly befriend the Emperor Palace Envoy now abandoned the idea.

The True Essence Venerable's projection looked at Qi Yuan with a calm gaze, "This old me wants to see how you'll punish my Taohuang Palace!"

Qi Yuan stretched lazily, his demeanor becoming more relaxed, "Once my divine power reaches its peak, I'll personally go to your Taohuang Palace to demand justice!"

In TV dramas, the defeated and pathetic villain often makes bold threats.

Qi Yuan wasn't pathetic, nor did he discriminate against such characters; he merely borrowed their words.

"Hmph, I'll be waiting for you in Taohuang Palace!" The True Essence Venerable revealed a disdainful smile, and his figure disappeared in an instant.

The other Great Supreme Enlightenments also felt that the Emperor Palace Envoy was a bit thick-skinned.

He even dared to go to Taohuang Palace to demand justice.

That's the mighty Taohuang Palace!

After witnessing the True Essence Venerable's disappearance, the other Great Supreme Enlightenments took a deep look at Qi Yuan before gradually dispersing.

If it weren't for the Emperor Palace Envoy's later challenge to the True Essence Venerable, they might have chosen to stay and befriend the Emperor Palace Envoy.

Even the Great Supreme Enlightenment from the Ultimate Principle Council seemed to leave to avoid any potential conflicts.

The once bustling area was now left with only Qi Yuan.

With a flash of his figure, he appeared outside a dilapidated town.

On the steps, there were numerous corpses.

These corpses were ordinary people casually killed by the Banner Master.

At this moment, these ragged commoners retained their pre-death appearances.

Qi Yuan closed his eyes, and in an instant, past scenes flashed before him.

These ordinary people, before their deaths, had been struggling for their livelihoods, carrying hundreds of pounds of goods up the steps to the mountain's Daoist temple.

"It's good that I'm kind-hearted and leave room for others."

Qi Yuan sighed.

After reaching the level of Great Supreme Enlightenment, Qi Yuan's courage had grown.

Whenever he encountered cultivators, he secretly marked them with the Netherworld's imprint.

Of course, this was limited to low-level cultivators; for Yangshen and above, killing them was easy, and leaving imprints would be discovered and removed.

As he passed by here, he casually left the Netherworld's imprint on the bodies of the living beings around him.

This meant that as long as the Netherworld had sufficient resources, these people could be revived.

"I'll provide you with food and shelter."

Qi Yuan spoke, his expression turning solemn.

The corpses on the ground also disappeared in an instant.

At this moment, a slightly surprised voice echoed, "Fellow Daoist, what are you doing?"

A cultivator shrouded in a gray robe appeared, making it difficult to discern their face, and their voice was also indistinguishable as male or female.

Qi Yuan glanced at the speaker.

[White Dragon Abyss Lord, Great Supreme Enlightenment Realm, bearing the White Dragon bloodline.]



"I'm helping them find work," Qi Yuan said indifferently.

To be honest, he didn't want to get too close to the White Dragon Abyss Lord.

What if this fellow stripped naked, took off their eye mask, and glared at him? What if he got pregnant?

"I didn't expect Fellow Daoist to be so kind-hearted," the White Dragon Abyss Lord sighed.

Naturally, she believed that Qi Yuan was giving these people a proper burial.

As for resurrection?

There was no need to think about it.

Even if they were revived, they wouldn't be the same person who had died.

She sighed.

After all, in her past, she had also been kind-hearted.

But after thousands of years in the immortal cultivation world, she seemed to have seen through everything, becoming increasingly numb and losing interest in everything.

"Why are you here?" Qi Yuan asked.

At this moment, an aged voice sounded, "I wish to invite you to join the Ultimate Principle Council and become a guest advisor."

The Great Supreme Enlightenment from the Ultimate Principle Council appeared, unlike the White Dragon Abyss Lord, he didn't hide his identity.

As a member of the Ultimate Principle Council, he was bolder and more confident than the White Dragon Abyss Lord.

"No, thank you," Qi Yuan shook his head.

The Great Supreme Enlightenment was slightly startled, then said, "Fellow Daoist, by opposing Taohuang Palace together with the Ultimate Principle Council, we can achieve a win-win situation!"

The Great Supreme Enlightenment boldly spoke, even with another Great Supreme Enlightenment nearby.

Qi Yuan shook his head, "I'm too lazy to join your Ultimate Principle Council. Otherwise, if I find out that your Ultimate Principle Council also engages in deceitful and corrupt practices, my heart will stir with compassion, and how will I face my Emperor Soul Banner?"

These words surprised the White Dragon Abyss Lord and stunned the Great Supreme Enlightenment.

For him, the distinction between good and evil in this world wasn't clear, and it was more about conflicts of interest.

He had initially thought that the Emperor Palace Envoy dared to make bold statements against Taohuang Palace because they might have had a longstanding grudge.

As for the Emperor Palace Envoy's previous mentions of sins and evils, he didn't take them seriously.

They were just words, or perhaps a front.

"Could Fellow Daoist's words be true?" the Great Supreme Enlightenment asked nervously after some hesitation.

"I rarely lie, so it's true," Qi Yuan shrugged, "With the Emperor Soul Banner in hand, my wish has always been to rectify the immortal cultivation world, but we... are not on the same path."

The Great Supreme Enlightenment looked at Qi Yuan's sincere words and eventually sighed, "I've been too hasty, alas."

The White Dragon Abyss Lord looked at Qi Yuan with stirring eyes, deep in thought.

At their level, there was no need to lie.

So... the Emperor Palace Envoy... truly had such intentions?

(End)

Chapter end