Chapter 440: What Ten Thousand Ghost Soul Banner, Clearly It's My Human Emperor Banner

Chapter 440: What Myriad Ghost Soul Banner? It’s Clearly My Human Emperor Banner

After Ziyuan Ancestor left, the cave dwelling once again held only Qi Yuan alone.

He once more laid down all the formations anew.

After all, he did not wish to be spied upon at any moment by some old geezer.

“So, I need to acquire an offensive Creation Treasure?”

“And also comprehend a Supreme Principle?”

“Or train the Ancestral Blood Art to its peak, or else cultivate from the Purple Mansion to the Great Principle, before I can contend with that one from Taihuang Palace?”

Qi Yuan pondered—none of these tasks were simple.

“I’m still too useless. Without the Black Demon Ancestral Blood, perfecting the *Ancestral Blood Art* will take at least seventy more years.”

Qi Yuan reproached himself with guilt.

Back on Blue Star, in seventy years he’d be collecting a pension.

“What about an offensive Creation Treasure?”

Qi Yuan mused.

“The Myriad Ghost Soul Banner of Ghost Imperial Heaven is steeped in slaughter—it needs purification, a socialist reformation!

If Sadako can become the people’s Sadako, why can’t the Myriad Ghost Soul Banner become my Human Emperor Banner?”

“If it were a person, I’d be too lazy to reform it—I’d respect free will.

But it’s an unconscious Creation Treasure, so there’s no such worry.”

Many thoughts sprang up in Qi Yuan’s mind.

“My Human Emperor Banner, you have suffered.”

“It’s all because I’m too weak, unable to rescue you from fire and water in time.”

“Wait for me—I will come to save you!”

Qi Yuan’s justification for his strength gained another thread.

“As a person with high emotional intelligence, before that, I must first familiarize myself with my Human Emperor Banner.”

Given his current strength, Qi Yuan could only swallow his anger and refrain from going to Ghost Imperial Heaven to seize the Myriad Ghost Soul Banner.

But he had the Ten Thousand Soul Banner copied by Mona in his hands, from which he could glean a thing or two.

Taking out the Ten Thousand Soul Banner, Qi Yuan examined it closely.

[Ten Thousand Soul Banner: devours the spirits of all living beings, refines soul envoys. It contains several flaws. If all its soul envoys were changed to Heavenly Dao spirits, its power could increase a hundredfold or more.

When slaughtering living beings, arousing their desires, stirring emotions, etc., can also enhance its power.

Kill…]

“Stop—I’m a good person.”

Qi Yuan cast a spell, and a stream of rainwater washed into his eyes, cleansing them.

He even wanted to wash his brain, to forget this memory.

But he feared waterlogging his head might affect his clever mind.

Qi Yuan had always known that he was just an ordinary Blue Star person who grew rich through hard work, bearing five thousand years of fine traditions.

He knew he couldn’t resist temptation and feared straying onto the wrong path, forging an enhanced version of the Ten Thousand Soul Banner.

So he simply washed his eyes to forget all this.

“It seems that from today onward, I must look at the Ten Thousand Soul Banner and the Demon Luo Well every day to refresh the information.”

Every natural day, the hidden information Qi Yuan saw with his eyes was different.

Of course, he could exploit a bug by going to a world with a faster time flow.

But Qi Yuan felt it was unnecessary for now.

A month passed swiftly.

During this month, progress on the Black Demon Ancestral Blood was slow; at several discovered locations, the Black Demon Ancestral Blood had vanished.

The *Ancestral Blood Art* also stagnated.

The only good news was that over this month, he had gained a much deeper understanding of Creation Treasures.

He also had a faint idea of how to modify the Ten Thousand Soul Banner into the Human Emperor Banner.

The Ten Thousand Soul Banner contained infinite resentful spirits. If he could use great Dharma power to convert them, perhaps he could transform it into the Human Emperor Banner.

“Thus, after the Human Emperor Banner is successfully forged, if I slay an enemy and keep their soul, I must use the Great Forgetfulness Heart Sutra to brainwash them—no, educate and reform them.”

After reformation, send them to a doctor; even after being cured, they’d still drool.

“These cultivators in the Upper Realm… White Moonlight is truly too kind.”

“Their remnant souls enter my Human Emperor Banner to serve.”

“Their bodies descend into the underworld to become fertilizer.”

“The immortal jade and techniques in their storage pouches are mine to spend freely!”

“Everyone is frugal and thrifty, just like me.”

Qi Yuan mused.

After a moment, he sent a message to Jin Li.

“Are you going to this Supreme Principle Discourse Meeting?”

The Supreme Principle Discourse Meeting was about to begin, and Qi Yuan would soon set off.

These days, he had also obtained the authority over Creation Treasures from Ziyuan Ancestor, allowing him to chat with Jin Li.

“I’m in the Demon Abyss—I can’t go,” Jin Li replied, her tone tinged with disappointment.

“Will your Moonflower Heavenly Venerate attend?” Qi Yuan asked.

Last time, Longyue Heavenly Venerate of Moon God Palace had told Qi Yuan that Moonflower Heavenly Venerate would attend the Supreme Principle Discourse Meeting.

The Moon Token left to Qi Yuan by his master Ruan Yixi was related to the previous generation’s Moon God Primordial Lord.

To learn news of his master, he could only ask Moonflower Heavenly Venerate or the Moon God Primordial Lord.

“She will—she’s already set out,” Jin Li answered, then added, “Don’t reveal your identity…”

She referred to his identity as the Ten Suns Heavenly Venerate.

“Don’t worry, I won’t.”

Ending the conversation, Qi Yuan turned his gaze to the game jade slip.

“Indeed, the stronger one’s power, the longer it takes to load a new game.”

Still, the game was already more than half loaded; it would likely be accessible soon.

Qi Yuan looked forward to the new game.

And then there was that strange creature, forever unable to speak, uttering only a voiceless sound.

Could it be... blind?

Otherwise, why would it be as mute as a dummy?

Speak of the devil, and he appears—Qi Yuan heard the voiceless sound once more.

Within it, he sensed a surge of joy.

“Let me tell you some good news: in a little while, I’ll come play your game. When that happens, maybe I can get the Two Emperors of Suddenness to open a hole in your head?”

No sooner had he spoken than he regretted it.

It felt a bit unlucky—Chaos had fallen after its apertures were opened.

“Enough of this. Bye-bye.”

He ought to tidy up and head to the Black Demon Heaven assembly for the Supreme Principle Discourse.

...

In the Black Demon Heaven, within the great hall,

Inside and outside were sharply divided.

Outside, only fifteen disciples had gathered, each one the most gifted in the Black Demon Abyss.

Bing Jian, clad in a blue robe, gazed toward the inner hall, his eyes blazing with battle intent: “I hope next time, I’ll be inside, not out.”

Within the inner hall sat the Yang Gods, including the prodigy Hei Jian.

“If this Supreme Principle Discourse had been held a bit later, my sister might be sitting in there,” said Ziyuan Daxue.

Among the fifteen disciples, only two were from the Purple Edge Heaven: Qi Yuan and Ziyuan Daxue.

“All are equal, Sister Oxhorn. If you want to go in and sit now, you can—sitting anywhere is your right,” Qi Yuan couldn’t help but say.

“Can my big butt sit on your head?” Ziyuan Daxue’s words were as grating as ever.

Qi Yuan glanced at her firm backside, chose not to answer, and silently noted it.

“Also, don’t call me Sister Oxhorn anymore!”

“What’s wrong?”

“I’ve changed my name. I’m thinking of calling myself Black Robe, or Blood Sword. Which do you think is better?”

“Huh?” Qi Yuan was baffled, unable to follow Sister Oxhorn’s train of thought.

“Look, among the younger generation of our Black Demon Abyss, there are two peerless prodigies: one named Hei Jian, the other Xue Pao. And then there’s a filler, Bing Jian. See any pattern?” Ziyuan Daxue asked.

Not far away, Bing Jian cast a dark glance at Ziyuan Daxue, seemed about to speak, then decided to pretend nothing happened.

This Ziyuan Daxue, like Xue Pao, was best avoided—she could make you lose all face.

“What pattern?” Qi Yuan had no idea he shared anything with Hei Jian.

“Black and red are both colors; sword and robe are both objects.

Could it be that because your names are so fitting, your talents are so high?”

Thus, Ziyuan Daxue had chosen the names Black Robe and Blood Sword.

“...” Qi Yuan decided to ignore her—she was being too abstract.

But Ziyuan Daxue was enthusiastic: “Xue Pao, how did you manage to earn enough merits for this Supreme Principle Discourse? Did you use a back door?”

Blunt as ever, her question drew the attention of many prodigies present.

Xue Pao had only recently joined the Black Demon Abyss; logically, he should have missed this Discourse.

When An Xunlu learned that Xue Pao was on the list, she was so angry she couldn’t sleep.

“Though you’ve been diligent lately, taking tasks every day, even if you finished them all... it still wouldn’t be enough, would it?” Ziyuan Daxue asked curiously.

Her question was sincere.

If anyone else had asked, Qi Yuan might have suspected malicious intent, a deliberate challenge.

But coming from Ziyuan Daxue, it made perfect sense.

After all, after spending so long in the Purple Edge Heaven, Qi Yuan found himself... qualified to crown himself the most emotionally intelligent person there.

“Because I’ve cultivated the Ancestral Blood Art to a high level,” Qi Yuan replied, equally sincere.

“Relying solely on the Ancestral Blood Art, you’d need at least the sixth or seventh layer. Brother Xue Pao only just arrived in the Purple Edge Heaven—could he already be at the sixth or seventh?”

A male cultivator couldn’t help asking.

After all, Xue Pao had been in the Purple Edge Heaven for barely a year.

In that time, even Hei Jian had only reached the fourth layer.

It simply didn’t add up.

“Sixth or seventh? You underestimate me. I’m already at the eleventh layer,” Qi Yuan said earnestly.

As his words fell, the hall fell into utter silence, everyone staring at him in disbelief.

Eleventh layer?

...

What nerve!

Why not claim to be an Ultimate Principle?

In the current Black Demon Abyss, fewer than twenty people had cultivated the Ancestral Blood Art to the eleventh layer.

And among those twenty, the lowest realm was Ultimate Principle.

No one believed him; they took it as a joke.

“You, this guy...” Ziyuan Daxue laughed. “Hurry up and reach the fifteenth layer, take care of that one. I’ll wash my backside every day, waiting to be your concubine.”

“Shameless woman, don’t call yourself Blood Sword—you’re defiling my name!” Qi Yuan was exasperated.

With someone like Ziyuan Daxue, he truly had no recourse.

Just then, a voice rang out, rather somber.

“For this Supreme Principle Discourse, I, Ku Rong, shall be the chief, with Hei Jian as deputy.

Since you’ve all arrived, come with me!”

A sinister, hunchbacked old man approached, his aura vast as the sea.

“This old man is so pretentious—he’s already a Celestial Venerable, yet still hunched over,” Ziyuan Daxue transmitted to Qi Yuan.

“I think he walks pretty steadily. Since your big butt wants a place to sit, why not sit on his back?” Qi Yuan replied seriously.

The Shadow Soul Heaven, where Celestial Venerable Ku Rong belonged, had a strained relationship with the Purple Edge Heaven.

Shadow Soul Heaven was also the faction allied with the Grand Radiance Palace and at war with the Moon Goddess Palace.

“Get lost! Why don’t you sit there?” Ziyuan Daxue rolled her eyes at Qi Yuan.

“I respect my elders,” Qi Yuan transmitted.

“That’s the funniest joke I’ve heard all day,” Ziyuan Daxue replied.

Amid a flurry of voices, over a dozen Yang God Venerables and a dozen prodigies stepped into the protective formation together.

This protective formation combined defense, travel, and attack into one, and could even enter teleportation arrays.

The Black Abyss relied on this formation for their journeys.

At the moment, the Yang Gods sat apart, eyes closed in meditation, separated from the young prodigies.

After all, who among them had not once been a prodigy?

Only Black Sword, clad in white robes with a refined demeanor, conversed with the young prodigies, answering their questions.

"The Ultimate Truth Discourse Conference is not just about the Ultimate Truth; there are also the Heavenly Rank Discourse Conference, the Yang God Discourse Conference, and the Yin God Discourse Conference. These will all be held before the Ultimate Truth Discourse Conference.

If you are interested, you can first go to the Mythical-level and Heavenly Rank-level gatherings for exchange."

Black Sword spoke calmly, his voice like a spring breeze.

Qi Yuan’s eyes lit up upon hearing this.

He was currently at the Purple Mansion stage and had not yet decided on the path for the Yin God.

This was a perfect chance to listen in; perhaps some brilliant mind would inspire him.

He had already planned to attend the Yin God Discourse Conference first, to understand the way of the Yin God, and then go to the Wall of Ultimate Truth to comprehend the Great Ultimate Truth.

His schedule was full.

"Brother Black Sword, the bloodline of our Black Abyss clan is powerful, but our comprehension is average. If one day we have the chance to go to the Wall of Ultimate Truth and end up comprehending only the lowest level of Ultimate Truth, what then?" asked a burly-looking prodigy.

His mind clearly seemed dull.

"Then strive to cultivate to the Great Ultimate Truth realm. Once you reach that realm, aside from the Supreme Ultimate Truth, the grade of other Ultimate Truths will hardly affect combat power," Black Sword said calmly. "Heaven-grade and Yellow-grade are not far apart."

Below the Supreme Ultimate Truth, all are equal.

At the Minor Ultimate Truth stage, the grades—Yellow, Profound, Earth, Heaven—could still influence combat power.

But at the Great Ultimate Truth stage, the difference becomes negligible; no one can kill another, and without a transformative Dao treasure of offense, even injuring an opponent is impossible.

"Brother Black Sword, your talent is unmatched. You must be aiming to comprehend the Supreme Ultimate Truth. May I ask which type you plan to pursue?" a young cultivator asked curiously.

The other prodigies looked on with envy.

Even Ice Sword regarded Black Sword with a hint of admiration.

For Black Sword was the only prodigy in the Black Abyss with hope of comprehending the Supreme Ultimate Truth.

Even Blood Robe, in their eyes, would likely only reach the Great Ultimate Truth at most, unable to grasp the Supreme.

"Absolute—unchanging, eternal, immutable;

Unique—unifying all things, supreme and paramount;

Cyclic—turning without cease, recurring endlessly;

Innate—the origin of all things, the true essence.

The Innate path relies too heavily on bloodline; my bloodline has nothing to do with it, so I fear I am not fated for it.

The Cyclic path is mysterious and unpredictable; a single misstep in its construction leads to death and oblivion. In the Six Heavens, it seems no one has walked the Cyclic path, leaving no reference.

The Unique and Absolute paths are the great Dao; I shall choose one." Black Sword answered seriously, without concealment.

Among the few in the Six Heavens who had comprehended the Supreme Ultimate Truth, most had chosen Absolute or Unique.

That one from the Taihuang Palace had chosen the Unique Great Sun.

Lady Moon Spirit, the Primordial Yin, was a rare case of the Innate path.

Hearing this, Qi Yuan had a sudden thought: "Is there anyone who can comprehend all four at once?"

At these words, everyone fell silent, staring at Qi Yuan as if he were an idiot.

Was that a human question?

The beings in the Six Heavens numbered in the billions, yet those who had comprehended the Supreme Ultimate Truth numbered fewer than two handfuls.

Asking that was like a high school boy on Blue Star asking his teacher, "Can I win the NBA championship, the women's gymnastics gold, the Nobel Prize in Chemistry, and the world Go championship all at once?"

Black Sword glanced at Qi Yuan and thought seriously: "In theory... yes."

Indeed, in theory, anything is possible.

Though no such precedent existed, it could still be unprecedented.

"Ah? Since it's possible in theory, then it exists.

Oh, it's so hard—how many Supreme Ultimate Truths should I comprehend this time? Too difficult to think about; my brilliant brain is going to suffer again!" Qi Yuan couldn't help sighing. "I'll need to add an extra meal tonight, eat another egg, to replenish my nutrition."

"..."

A dead silence fell; everyone was speechless.

"How about you ask Brother Ice Sword to lay an egg for you? He has the Ice Phoenix bloodline; his eggs are highly nutritious," Ziyuan Daxue finally broke the silence.

"Are you uneducated? You call him Brother Ice Sword—how can a brother lay eggs!" Qi Yuan felt he had won this round.

This Ziyuan Daxue was ignorant; males couldn't lay eggs—only females could.

"That's simple—I have a Dao technique that can make men lay eggs!" Ziyuan Daxue said.

Ice Sword: "..."

He had already tried hard to stay far away from these two.

And yet...

The others all looked at Ice Sword with expressions of pity and amusement.

(End of this chapter)