Chapter 452: Righteous Reformation

Chapter 452: Righteous Reformation

The stellar projections of the two Yang Gods transformed into the character “female.”

How astonishing and bewildering this was.

Even the mighty ones at the Great Principle Realm had no idea what had transpired.

“This…”

“Why, for what reason?”

Countless Yang Gods murmured, their minds trembling with a hint of fear.

This matter was too bizarre and abstract, even surpassing their cognition and understanding.

At that moment, within the Strange Land.

Qi Yuan gazed at the two figures before him, his expression complex.

“Expelled from male status—how did they become female?”

This was not good.

Though what the Eastern Depot could not do, the Western Depot would.

What male status rejected, female status would accept?

What about other genders?

The Divine Blood Celestial Venerable’s face was filled with terror, his voice shrill and laced with a feminine tone: “What have you done to me?”

He, a dignified Yang God of the Principle Realm, capable of shaking the Six Heavens, had never been so powerless before.

As for the Great Joy Celestial Venerable, she had long since become the Great Weeping Celestial Venerable.

“You slandered me, dragging down the average moral baseline of humanity. I expelled you from male status—don’t you understand?” Qi Yuan looked at the Divine Blood Celestial Venerable, lost in thought. “And don’t raise your voice at me. You’re just a biological female now.”

Qi Yuan felt the ethics involved were too complex to untangle.

Even a biological male could not raise his voice at him.

Qi Yuan looked at Divine Blood, and this time he hesitated no longer.

“Better… dead!”

Now, the Divine Blood Celestial Venerable, within this Strange Land, possessed only the combat power of a Great Heavenly Rank.

With Qi Yuan’s strength, even without deploying the Supreme Principle, relying solely on the power of the Myriad Dao Martial God, he could easily slay him.

After all, with the Myriad Dao Martial God present, the Strange Land was his domain.

Moreover, after cultivating the Ancestral Blood Art, the Myriad Dao Martial God’s power had surged wildly, and Qi Yuan was no longer the same as before.

His formidable body surged forward, space trembled and collapsed, and a domineering fist struck without mercy.

“Become fertilizer for my Netherworld!”

A single punch struck.

Qi Yuan’s massive hand abruptly transformed into a sci-fi-like grinding machine, its enormous maw devouring the Divine Blood Celestial Venerable, who was bound by chains.

“Ah!”

The Divine Blood Celestial Venerable let out a miserable shriek.

Giant millstones and blades ceaselessly shredded her body and her soul.

Finally, amid a roar, a heap of feed emerged.

The Great Joy Celestial Venerable, watching nearby, swallowed hard, utterly terrified.

Having lived so many years, what had she not seen?

But today… this she had truly never seen?

Qi Yuan, looking at the Divine Blood Celestial Venerable reduced to fertilizer, was also stunned: “It seems this Supreme Principle cannot be used recklessly, especially during the bridal chamber.”

Qi Yuan felt a lingering fear.

For now, the use of the Supreme Principle had exceeded his foresight.

What if, used during the wedding night, it turned into something unspeakable and horrifying?

Yet Qi Yuan knew this was because he had just comprehended the Supreme Principle and could not fully control it.

Once he reached the realm of the Moon Goddess Yuanjun, he could wield it freely.

Having slain the Divine Blood Celestial Venerable and stored the fertilizer in the Netherworld, Qi Yuan’s gaze fell upon the Great Joy Celestial Venerable: “You… take your own life!”

“No!”

The Great Joy Celestial Venerable, holding the Ten Thousand Ghosts Soul Banner, glared with eyes wide and tearing.

The Ten Thousand Ghosts Soul Banner trembled, and countless wronged souls emerged from it, their hands clutching the Great Joy Celestial Venerable’s arms.

She was already bound by the Tribunal and the Judges, and under the influence of Qi Yuan’s Supreme Principle, she could not resist.

Her body was dragged into the Ten Thousand Ghosts Soul Banner, torn into countless fragments.

Within the Ten Thousand Ghosts Soul Banner, these ghostly spirit envoys’ eyes blazed, chaotic and brimming with murderous aura.

These ghosts were condensed from the souls of cultivators, refined as the Ghost Control Heaven’s cultivators annihilated one realm after another.

It could be said that the Ten Thousand Ghosts Soul Banner was the pinnacle of murderous aura, steeped in heinous sin.

One banner held more innocent souls than the entire population of Blue Star.

“What a pity, swallowed by the Ten Thousand Ghosts Soul Banner, not becoming feed for the Netherworld.”

Qi Yuan sighed as he looked at the banner.

Then, his hand shot forward to grab it.

“Come back, my family’s soul banner!”

This banner was a mere avatar of the true Ten Thousand Ghosts Soul Banner.

Though its power was not even a tenth of the original, it could barely be considered an offensive creation treasure.

The Ten Thousand Ghosts Soul Banner trembled incessantly.

Black qi billowed forth.

The ferocious spirit envoys and endless soul envoys stared at Qi Yuan, extending ghastly arms, wailing like ten thousand ghosts.

This sight would frighten even the bravest to death.

Seeing this, Qi Yuan thought that if he returned to Blue Star and used this banner to open an escape room, it would be quite amusing.

These ghosts were especially grotesque, far more terrifying than those in TV dramas—twisted into heaps, indescribable; one glance might reveal a pile of arms, or a pile of heads.

Watching these soul envoys, Qi Yuan recalled his plan.

He cleared his throat and said softly, “Perhaps everyone fears you, dreads you, but I think your forms are rather handsome.”

Qi Yuan began his brainwashing endeavor, aiming to transform the Ten Thousand Ghosts Soul Banner into his dream banner.

The first step was to reform the soul envoys and spirit envoys within, turning them into ghosts of the people.

Thus, at the very beginning, Qi Yuan employed the Great Forgetfulness Heart Sutra and Absolute Adaptation to reform the Ten Thousand Ghost Soul Banner.

Although the ghosts within the banner had committed heinous deeds, their original selves were innocent and blameless.

Therefore, Qi Yuan intended to brainwash and transform them all.

This transformation was a reversal.

It was akin to how the Ten Thousand Ghost Soul Banner hunted living beings, extracted their souls, and forged them into ferocious soul envoys and spirit envoys.

This ferocity was pure, devoid of intelligence.

Now, Qi Yuan sought to reshape them into righteous soul envoys and spirit envoys.

Indeed, upon hearing Qi Yuan’s words, the ghosts in the banner were momentarily stunned, bewildered, and their roars and wails diminished by more than half.

Seeing this, Qi Yuan quickly continued, “Do not blame yourselves, do not fear, do not be afraid. No one is born evil. In truth, you are also beautiful!”

Qi Yuan spoke slowly as he gazed at the terrifying ghosts piled together before him, assembled into a giant-like form.

He also slowly walked toward the Ten Thousand Ghost Soul Banner.

“This world is filled with evil and filth, and it needs righteous souls like you to save it, to restore clarity to this realm.

You have all witnessed darkness, so you cherish light all the more.

Whatever thoughts you have, you may share with me.

Any ill thoughts, I will delete.”

Qi Yuan drew closer.

The Great Forgetfulness Heart Sutra activated.

Absolute Adaptation activated.

Qi Yuan’s form began to twist.

In the eyes of those ghosts, he appeared as a twisted, shapeless crimson shadow.

He seemed like the king of all ghosts, the progenitor of all specters, enough to instill fear and submission in these ghosts.

Yet this indescribably twisted blood shadow radiated holy light.

This left the black-smoke-shrouded ghosts both terrified and bewildered.

“Children, reach out your hands, and together let us build a beautiful world!” Qi Yuan extended his arm first, his expression benevolent, like a heavenly father.

Within the Ten Thousand Ghost Soul Banner, countless ghosts witnessed this scene, trembling in fear.

But perhaps under Qi Yuan’s influence, their black smoke began to shift, transforming into holy light.

Qi Yuan was well-versed in such matters.

The once-blazing Sword of Radiance, which had surged with bloodlust, had also been reformed by him into holy light.

Now, turning black smoke into white smoke… shouldn’t be too hard, right?

At that moment, the terrifying ghosts within the banner, anxious yet seemingly swayed by Qi Yuan, extended their ghastly hands one after another.

In an instant, ten thousand pale arms reached toward Qi Yuan.

The chief spirit envoy was a fearsome monster, seemingly having birthed a sliver of intelligence.

Now, it lurked among them, its face expressionless.

Wary, fearful, savage, murderous.

Finally, hesitantly, it too extended its furry, ghastly hand.

Qi Yuan’s expression was kind as he looked at these hands.

“All good children…”

But just then, suddenly, the chief spirit envoy’s arm erupted with a surge of black smoke, violently striking toward Qi Yuan’s face.

Smack!

The hand slammed into Qi Yuan’s illusory face, producing a sharp sound.

Indeed, an illusion—

a phantom shaped by Absolute Adaptation.

The resounding slap echoed strangely.

All the ghosts froze, halting their movements.

The wailing and howling ceased.

Then, a voice, both gentle and gleeful, suddenly rang out.

“Oh my, you touched my little face!”

The phantom chuckled, seemingly with a hint of coyness.

Seeing this, the ghosts seemed to find their resolve, or perhaps were infected by Qi Yuan.

Their black smoke shifted, transforming into white light.

And at that moment, Qi Yuan approached the chief spirit envoy, his expression benevolent.

“You’re quite nice, touching my little face. I’ll touch yours in return.”

For some reason, the chief spirit envoy sensed a terrifying aura and let out a dreadful roar.

“Roaring so happily—are you welcoming me?”

Qi Yuan’s voice was gentle as he pinned the chief spirit envoy to the ground.

“Lie still; I’ll give you a massage!”

“Oh, your spine is poisoned—let me remove it for you!”

“Don’t roar so joyfully; I know you’re delighted!”

“Come, let me touch your little face too, and give you a prettier one!”

Qi Yuan sat atop the chief spirit envoy, tearing off its face.

Its spine, its bones—all were ground to dust.

“Your bones are too black, unfit for a righteous envoy. Today, I’ll replace them with white ones for free!”

Qi Yuan began a grand reformation.

Meanwhile, he did not forget to preach.

The ghosts kept their distance, peeking at Qi Yuan.

Time passed minute by minute.

Under the influence of the Great Forgetfulness Heart Sutra, these ghosts transformed from eerie and fearsome to radiantly white.

Their original bones and skeletons now wore festive red garments.

The jumbled hands and kneecaps were reassembled into human forms.

After who knows how long, Qi Yuan looked at the ghosts before him and said with pride, “See? Doesn’t it look like a Human Emperor Banner, with not a single withered bone inside!”

The Demon Eye Venerable glanced over.

Behold, upon a withered skeleton, tiny red flowers bloomed in profusion, and a red scarf still hung around its neck.

A trembling ghost, its body as white and flawless as jade, its eyes blazing with white light as if fitted with laser beams.

If one were to describe it—

The ghosts in the Ten Thousand Ghost Banner before had a certain Western horror about them, with twisted visages and countless, densely packed mouthparts.

But now, they stood neatly dressed in clothes, at first glance like ordinary humans.

Yet upon closer inspection, their expressions were numb, their eyes vacant, and they made no sound.

And yet, they were especially terrifying, like ghosts from Chinese horror.

“Though they look human, for some reason, they give me the creeps,” Demon Eye Venerable replied earnestly.

“Is that so?”

Qi Yuan glanced at them.

Indeed, they did feel quite frightening.

“That’s simple—just give them a big-eye effect!”

Qi Yuan acted directly, unleashing boundless magical power.

He applied a cute big-eye effect to all these ghosts.

The once grim ghosts instantly became adorable and endearingly silly.

“How about now? Do they look like the righteous spirits in the Human Emperor Banner?” Qi Yuan asked.

Demon Eye Venerable blinked, staring at a cute female ghost, and said, “Can I take her home as a wife?”

“Get lost!”

Qi Yuan kicked Demon Eye Venerable, satisfied with his own transformation.

Now, even if the original owner of the Ten Thousand Ghost Banner came, they wouldn’t recognize it.

“Now, this is my Human Emperor Banner.

Once my divine skill is perfected, I’ll take down Ghost Emperor, turn the heavens upside down, devour the main banner, and be done!”

Qi Yuan held the Human Emperor Banner, quite pleased with himself.

This ambush had been a bountiful harvest.

Especially this Human Emperor Banner, which had shown Qi Yuan the path ahead: to forge his own offensive Creation Treasure.

After all, without an offensive Creation Treasure, to become invincible in the Six Heavens, he would have to cultivate in the Gate of Principle for decades or millions of years.

That was far too long.

After all, with a million years, who would bother cultivating? Go to Blue Star, work in an electronics factory with a monthly salary of three thousand, and earn 36 billion—instant financial freedom, and even break into the top 100 richest in the country!

So, to not delay becoming a top hundred billionaire, spending that time on cultivation was too wasteful—better to forge an offensive Creation Treasure.

“Time to go back.”

……

In the Black Demon Abyss.

Murderous aura filled the air.

Black Sword’s elegant white robe was stained with blood, his aura deep as the ocean.

“Ghost Emperor is audacious beyond measure, daring to ambush Black Sword—he deserves death!” a Great Principle spoke, his voice brimming with killing intent.

“Fortunately, the Ancestor expended his own vitality to rescue Black Sword!”

Black Sword had fallen into danger, entering a strange land, and in the end, the Ancestor used a Creation Treasure to divine and personally helped Black Sword escape.

Black Sword’s expression was refined, revealing nothing of his thoughts: “For this matter, I thank the Ancestor!”

He bowed deeply toward Black Demon Mountain.

“Without the Ancestor, facing the ambush of two Great Principles, my fate would have been dire.”

Having been ambushed by two Great Principles, Black Sword spoke lightly, his eyes showing not a trace of fear.

As if nothing had happened.

Those Yang Gods not present knew the peril involved.

They were at the Great Principle realm, so they understood the vast gap between a Great Principle and an ordinary Yang God.

Though Black Sword had comprehended the Supreme Principle, he had not yet entered the Principle realm; facing a Great Principle, lasting even a single breath was extremely difficult, let alone two.

“I heard that Blood Robe junior brother was also ambushed by Ghost Emperor. How is he?” Black Sword’s tone carried a hint of disappointment.

Clearly, he did not hold out hope for Blood Robe’s fate.

Though Blood Robe was strong, facing Ghost Emperor’s ambush, his chances of survival were slim.

Hearing this, the Great Principles present changed expression slightly.

Finally, the fifth elder spoke slowly: “This matter… we are actually quite curious as well.”

“Curious?”

“According to the information we received, those who ambushed Blood Robe were likely Great Joy Heavenly Lord and Divine Blood Heavenly Lord.”

“Divine Blood? A Principle?” Black Sword was somewhat surprised.

His outlook on Blood Robe’s fate grew even bleaker.

That was a Principle realm Yang God.

“Their star projections turned into… the character ‘woman,’ and then… exploded.”

“What?” Black Sword blinked, puzzled.

Then the fifth elder waved his hand, and in the vast star realm, two star projections blazed with light, shifted wildly, and abruptly transformed into the character ‘woman.’

Finally, with a sudden roar… they exploded.

Every scene was baffling and eerily strange.

Black Sword stared at this, his expression complex: “Could it be that Blood Robe junior brother also has a Supreme Venerable backing him?”

The other Great Principles fell into deep thought.

Even they could not understand such matters—it must be related to a Supreme Venerable.

(The End)