Chapter 468: Tiankun Strange Land, Yin Souls Patrol the Sky

Chapter 468: The Strange Land of Tiankun, Wandering Souls Patrol the Sky

A distant land.

Ancient cities lay scattered.

Within the market, a few sparse buildings stood; the night was pitch black, and scarcely any cultivators could be seen.

Qi Yuan was shrouded entirely in darkness, his face obscured from view.

Sweeping his divine sense across this market, he murmured to himself.

“This market has far too few people—unlike the Sixth Heaven.”

In the Sixth Heaven, where the path of immortals flourished, which market wasn’t packed to overflowing, veiled in celestial vapors?

Here, it was eerie and desolate, long fallen into decay.

The roads of the market were neither clean nor tidy.

Stone slabs lay shattered, scattered in the mud, and a faint stench of urine could be detected.

Just as Qi Yuan stepped into the market, a ghostly flame flickered in the gloom ahead.

Suddenly, a short figure appeared, like a hunched-over old crone, cloaked in a dusty gray robe, a mask covering her face.

“Young man, are you also heading to the Strange Land of Tiankun to try your luck?” The gray-robed female cultivator’s voice was hoarse, like the sound of a throat scraping together, quite unpleasant.

Qi Yuan glanced at the female cultivator. “I’m going to the Strange Land of Tiankun, but not to try my luck.”

“This old woman advises you: though the treasures in the Strange Land of Tiankun are many, it harbors countless dangers. Don’t die inside and leave your loved ones grieving.” The gray-robed female cultivator spoke gloomily, standing beside Qi Yuan like a frail elder at the end of her days, making one suspect she might perish at any moment.

“Thanks for the warning. Rest assured, even if the Sixth Heaven collapses, I won’t die.” Qi Yuan was brimming with confidence.

“You young fellow, not even fully grown, yet you speak so boldly. In the Strange Land of Tiankun, things are eerie and unfathomable; wandering souls patrol the sky, specifically claiming lives. Don’t die in vain within.” The gray-robed female cultivator said darkly.

“Hey, who’s not fully grown?” Qi Yuan couldn’t hold back. “You little sister, not learning good things, harassing me on the street, are you? Opening your mouth with all that ‘not grown’ talk—why don’t you check if your own hair has grown in?”

“Ah?” The gray-robed female cultivator let out a startled cry. “How did you… see through my disguise?”

Her voice was no longer hoarse, but crisp as a spring striking stone, clearly very young.

The gray robe on her was a family heirloom treasure, one that even a legendary Yang God would find hard to penetrate.

Yet this young cultivator before her had easily seen through her disguise.

How could she not be shocked?

Even if a legendary Yang God Venerable tried to see through her disguise, her heirloom treasure would react, and she would know.

But just now, the heirloom treasure had shown no response at all.

How had he done it?

If he could bypass the heirloom treasure to see her true form, could he also see her body?

And as for whether her hair had grown in—could he see that too?

At that thought, her expression changed drastically. She quickly covered herself and fled in terror.

Qi Yuan watched the gray-robed female cultivator’s retreating figure, utterly speechless. “How bizarre. Lucky for her she ran into me; if it had been some other Great Principle Realm Yang God, that treasure on her wouldn’t have stayed on her person.”

Qi Yuan’s eyes could see informational disparities, so he naturally recognized the treasure concealing the female cultivator’s aura as a Creation-level artifact.

An ordinary Yang God might not detect it, but it couldn’t escape the eyes of a Great Principle Realm Yang God.

If she had met someone ruthless, they might have casually slain her.

If they were kind-hearted or had some moral scruples, they might have offered some immortal jade under the guise of a lucky find and bought the Creation treasure.

Qi Yuan was different.

He had his own strict principles.

That female cultivator seemed not yet fully grown, which didn’t meet the standards of his Moonlight Codex.

Though Qi Yuan was born with the ability to love, he wasn’t a playboy who loved everyone.

His love came with conditions.

She had to be a moonlight.

But thinking of this, Qi Yuan let out a faint sigh. “The moral decay in the cultivation world runs too deep, ingrained in everyone. Seeing that girl, the first thought that came to my mind was how other Yang God Venerables would kill for treasure!”

Though this was Qi Yuan’s conjecture, it certainly wasn’t his fault.

The fault lay with… the cultivation world.

“Once I’m strong enough, I must restore a clear and bright sky to this Sixth Heaven!”

Qi Yuan mused deeply.

He continued, heading deeper into the market.

The entrance to the Strange Land of Tiankun lay at the market’s depths, in a rather inconspicuous spot.

Elsewhere, in a hidden cave dwelling.

An old crone, ancient and decrepit, chuckled. “Who’s been bullying our Yun’er?”

Tianyun wore a gray robe, yet it couldn’t hide her ethereal, refined aura.

“Aunt Luan, there’s a strange man in the market!” Tianyun recalled the black-robed man, torn between worry and anger.

“The Strange Land of Tiankun is full of spiritual treasures; it’s normal for cultivators to go treasure hunting.

Yun’er, you’re too kind-hearted, always warning them… As the saying goes, good advice is wasted on the damned. If he wants to go into the Strange Land of Tiankun to die, let him!”

When Aunt Luan mentioned the Strange Land of Tiankun, a complex glint flickered deep in her eyes.

In truth, she and Tianyun were originally natives of the Strange Land of Tiankun.

But some scoundrel had usurped their home, claiming the Strange Land for himself. She had fled with Tianyun, barely saving their lives.

That scoundrel’s strength was immense; their clan had been nearly wiped out.

Fortunately, the scoundrel dared not enter the Sixth Heaven, or they would have been doomed even hiding here.

“Aunt Luan, today is different from before. That man… seemed to see the family heirloom treasure on me!” Tianyun recounted what had just happened to Aunt Luan.

Aunt Luan’s expression shifted sharply. “What did you say? He saw it?”

“Yes. With the family heirloom treasure concealing me, he shouldn’t have been able to see my identity, but he did!” Tianyun said.

Aunt Luan’s face grew grave. “To see through the family heirloom treasure, he must be…”

Her expression was terrified, laden with deep worry.

He must be a Great Principle!

A powerhouse of that level, having discovered the treasure on Tianyun, how could he let it go?

And now, Tianyun was still alive—could he be planning something big?

Aunt Luan stood up, her chest heaving with emotion, her divine sense sweeping in all directions. “Senior, are you here? I am willing to offer the treasure with both hands; please spare our lives!”

She shouted loudly, her tone sincere.

If such a powerhouse were lurking nearby, she would never detect him, and he could slay her in an instant.

Tianyun's expression suddenly changed, turning pale.

She realized something.

But all around was silent, with no one answering her.

Luan Yi also detected no powerful beings nearby.

Could it be... she was overthinking?

After about a hundred breaths, Luan Yi let out a sigh of relief.

"Could it be that we've encountered a senior with the demeanor of a gentleman?" Luan Yi mused.

If it were her, she feared she could hardly suppress the greed in her heart.

At the very least, she would have compensated a little, in the form of picking up leftovers.

Hearing this, Tianyun's earlier embarrassment faded, her dislike of Qi Yuan dissipated, and she began to feel some admiration: "So it was a senior of noble character and integrity, only... only..."

As she spoke, she blushed a little.

But then she thought, since the major principles were intact, a small flaw in private conduct was nothing.

"Luan Yi, will that senior be in danger going into the Tiankun Strange Land?" Thinking of something, Tianyun asked anxiously.

Within the Tiankun Strange Land, there was the Holy Light Clan.

Precisely because the Holy Light Clan was there, almost no Yang Gods in the Sixth Heaven would set foot in the Tiankun Strange Land.

Those who went to pick up leftovers were mostly Yin Gods and lower-level cultivators.

Hearing this, Luan Yi's gaze grew complicated: "If it were an ordinary cultivator, stepping into the Tiankun Strange Land would likely mean certain death.

But... since he dares to enter, he must have confidence.

We are weak and small, so we should not rashly speculate on the thoughts of such a great figure."

Tianyun blinked: "Does that mean that senior might have a chance to drive away the villains, or even kill them? Could we go home?"

Mentioning this, Tianyun grew excited.

The Tiankun Strange Land was originally her home; if the villains fell, wouldn't she be able to return?

Luan Yi shook her head: "The Holy Light Clan is not so easy to destroy. That senior, I fear, can only barely protect himself within the Tiankun Strange Land. If he encounters the Holy Light Clan, he too might be in danger."

Though she said not to speculate rashly, she couldn't help but guess.

The Holy Light Clan was nearly an unsolvable problem in the Sixth Heaven.

Their methods were too bizarre; even those who grasped the supreme principles of the Great Principle found them hard to counter.

Hearing this, Tianyun felt a little disappointed.

...

"The natives here are called the Tian Clan?"

Within the Tiankun Strange Land, Qi Yuan found a suitable spot and lay down leisurely.

There were quite a few cultivators in this strange land.

Qi Yuan casually grabbed a few who were blind to his presence, asked a simple question, and gained a deeper understanding of the Tiankun Strange Land.

The Tiankun Strange Land was also known as the Tiankun Treasure Land.

This strange land was rich in some peculiar treasures.

These treasures were also called strange treasures.

There were offensive types, auxiliary types, all kinds.

It was even rumored that there were treasures comparable to creation-level exotic treasures.

In Qi Yuan's hand was a bell.

It was obtained from an elderly young man.

After entering the Tiankun Strange Land, that elderly young man tried to charge Qi Yuan a treasure-hunting fee. Qi Yuan refused, resorted to force, and ended the man's life.

This bell was a strange treasure that appeared in the Tiankun Strange Land.

[Black Jade Strange Bell, a special creation, forged using the Black Wind Forging Method.

According to... when the bell is rung, the warriors ahead might hear the sound of their homeland.]

Qi Yuan held the bell and rang it according to the technique recorded on it.

Instantly, an aged and kind voice sounded in Qi Yuan's ear.

It seemed to cross the river of history.

"The third month has come; is Fanqi safe and well? Home is still fine, no need to worry. The armor woven by Ling and me at the Heavenly Goods Bureau has been sent to the front lines... The divination is auspicious; Ling and I await your safe return..."

Inside the Black Jade Strange Bell was an unopened letter from home.

Since Qi Yuan could hear it, it meant that Fanqi, stationed at the front, had never received the greetings from his homeland.

"Is this a past history of the Tiankun Strange Land, or..."

Qi Yuan pondered.

"This Black Wind Forging Method seems quite interesting. Since time flows faster in the Tiankun Strange Land, I have plenty of time. I'll take a look at these strange treasures every day, learn the forging methods within them, and master a craft!"

Mastering a craft was important.

And these strange treasures were all related to some forging methods.

Qi Yuan had nothing better to do, and more skills wouldn't weigh him down.

"But this strange land is still not as good as... the Sixth Heaven. The speed of cultivating the 'Ancestral Blood Art' has directly slowed down by a hundred times, not even allowing me to exploit a bug."

Qi Yuan cast these thoughts aside.

He shifted to a comfortable position and began to gaze through the gaps at the distant Ten Thousand Ghost Soul Banner.

If it were any other cultivator, so far away, they naturally wouldn't be able to see the Ten Thousand Ghost Soul Banner.

But Qi Yuan was different; his strength was great, his breathing speed fast, and he could see farther.

Instantly, information came to his eyes.

[Ten Thousand Ghost Soul Banner, offensive creation-level exotic treasure, related to the Ghost Extinction Heavenly Lord...]

"More useless information. I want a loophole, or a way to enter."

Qi Yuan thought for a moment and then stopped looking.

No gain on the first day was normal.

"But it's fine; there are still these strange treasures. Since I'm very idle, I'll master another technique."

Qi Yuan turned his gaze back to the strange treasures.

Instantly, a technique called the "Small Whirlwind Solidification Method" caught his eye.

The solidification method, as the name suggests, was to fix the strange treasure, making it more stable.

The crafting of strange treasures involved complex and intricate processes.

Selecting materials, tempering, forging, setting the mold, fixing the pattern... and so on.

Time passed swiftly, and before he knew it, nine months had gone by.

In the outside world, not even a single day had elapsed.

A look of delight shone in Qi Yuan’s eyes.

“After so many viewings of the Ten Thousand Ghost Soul Banner, I’ve finally spotted some flaws—not bad, not bad at all.”

Of course, relying solely on this flaw to slip silently into the Ghost Pass was still impossible.

Moreover, Qi Yuan harbored great ambition and patience, wondering if there was a way not only to infiltrate the Ten Thousand Ghost Soul Banner but also to claim that phantom shadow for himself, as his own Human Emperor Banner.

“Lucky day today—I’ve finally mastered the Xuanfeng Forging Method... What a pity there’s no suitable material here, or else my craftsmanship would surely shine.”

“Back on Blue Star, with this skill of mine, I could make knockoffs of secondhand phones and sell them on Zhuanzhuan—I’d rake in a fortune!”

Qi Yuan mused.

Life in Tiankun Qidi had always been leisurely.

Just then, a boy came over carrying a bowl of something like a zongzi.

“Master, my mother asked me to bring this to you!” The boy, about twelve or thirteen, looked somewhat malnourished.

This boy was named Shi Pan, a native of Tiankun Qidi.

In Tiankun Qidi, disasters abounded; there were many refugees, homeless, spending their entire lives in migration.

Shi Pan’s mother was a true native of Tiankun Qidi—Qi Yuan had seen her, a woman with delicate features but weathered by hardship.

Shi Pan’s father was a cultivator who came to Tiankun Qidi seeking treasures... yes, a man who loved “freedom”—he left a seed and ran off, later dying.

This group of refugees had no fixed abode.

Three months ago, they settled near Qi Yuan.

First, because Qi Yuan was a great cultivator and seemed kind.

Second, because some evil cultivators, intimidated by Qi Yuan’s power, dared not come here to do harm.

These refugees felt both gratitude and fear toward Qi Yuan.

Qi Yuan took the zongzi-like food, peeled off the broad bamboo leaves, and a fragrance of grass wafted over.

“Not bad—you folks can afford meat now,” Qi Yuan said, eating the zongzi and commenting. Inside the zongzi was a generous portion of meat, clearly fresh, unlike the pre-made ones on Blue Star, and not smothered in heavy salt or spice to mask any off-flavor.

“All thanks to your blessing, Master. Without your... deterrence, we would have struggled too,” Shi Pan said, gazing at Qi Yuan with a hint of longing.

Qi Yuan’s entire body was shrouded in a black robe, his face unclear.

But Shi Pan held immense admiration for Qi Yuan, and in his heart stirred a different desire—even hoping that the man might take a liking to him and accept him as a disciple.

That way, he wouldn’t have such a miserable life.

Perhaps he could even protect his mother and his kin.

“Master, this is a shirt my mother wove for you... If it doesn’t fit, you can use it as a footrest,” Shi Pan said, recalling something, and handed a shirt to Qi Yuan with a nervous expression.

Qi Yuan did not take the shirt.

“I appreciate the thought, but I don’t need the clothes,” Qi Yuan refused.

Hearing this, disappointment flickered in Shi Pan’s eyes.

“I’m a straightforward man—I know what you’re thinking. I have a Dao companion,” Qi Yuan said bluntly.

He didn’t want to string anyone along, giving false hope.

In this refugee settlement, the most beautiful person was Shi Pan’s mother.

Otherwise, no powerful cultivator lord would have taken an interest in her back then.

Now, these refugees had also started scheming, hoping to use Shi Pan’s mother to curry favor with Qi Yuan.

Though, to outsiders, Shi Pan’s mother trying to seduce Qi Yuan was a pipe dream, a delusion.

But for Qi Yuan, he took it seriously and refused outright, rather than dangling hope or, like some lofty deities, ignoring the thoughts of mortal ants.

Shi Pan’s disappointment deepened at this.

“Shi Pan, you probably don’t want an extra father, so this is a good thing,” Qi Yuan offered casually in comfort.

Hearing this, Shi Pan stared at Qi Yuan with his young eyes: “If that father were you, I’d be willing to have one!”

At these words, Qi Yuan couldn’t help but laugh.

He suddenly thought of Chen Huan, who had almost wanted to become his adopted son.

“No, I’m still young—I don’t want to be a father,” Qi Yuan declined gently.

Shi Pan, hearing this, felt utter disappointment, but the feeling came and went quickly: “Master, tonight is Yin Soul Night. The yin souls will patrol the sky. It’s dangerous outside—even those cultivator lords have to take shelter in the Wind Caves to avoid their edge.”

At the mention of Yin Soul Night, Shi Pan’s face filled with terror.

Every year on Yin Soul Night, armies of yin souls patrol the heavens, claiming lives.

If one doesn’t return to a Wind Cave in time, the yin souls will snatch their spirit and take their life.

“Oh, it’s tonight? Time flies,” Qi Yuan said without concern—in fact, he was quite interested in the yin souls here.

“Master, you must be careful. The other cultivator lords will also hide in the Wind Caves tonight. There are several Wind Caves nearby,” Shi Pan reminded again.

“Mm-hmm, I understand. You all go pack and head to the Wind Caves,” Qi Yuan replied casually.

He certainly wasn’t going to the Wind Caves.

He would stay here to watch the yin souls.

Of course, he wouldn’t say this to Shi Pan.

Otherwise, it would turn into another drawn-out, exhausting drama.

Shi Pan, holding the shirt his mother had woven, slowly walked away.

This area was left with only Qi Yuan again.

“Continue cultivating the forging method.”

Since he had nothing else to do, Qi Yuan kept practicing the forging method, or else compiling the *Qi Yuan Scripture*.

Time ticked by, second by second.

Before long, night fell.

The entire land grew silent.

Even the chirping of insects seemed to vanish.

It was as if he were in a desolate realm.

Feeling the chilly night breeze, Qi Yuan yawned: “This weather is perfect for sleeping.”

A chill wind blew, and a layer of mist rose at that moment.

A bone-penetrating cold swept in.

Qi Yuan lay on the cold lounge chair, his expression calm.

Just then, a streak of light flashed past: "Fellow daoist, flee quickly—the ghostly patrol is about to begin. Hurry to the wind cave."

Having given this warning, the cultivator did not linger a moment longer, but rushed hastily into the nearest wind cave.

Qi Yuan remained utterly composed.

His Purple Mansion was infused with purple qi and the netherworld—why should he fear these specters?

It was the specters who ought to fear him!

If they dared provoke him, he would simply lock them into the Human Sovereign Banner for righteous reformation and put them to work.

About a hundred breaths passed.

The air around him grew ever darker.

The world fell into dead silence.

Gazing outward, the darkness reigned, and everywhere black smoke billowed in frames.

The silent night was torn apart by the steady tramp of marching footsteps.

Tramp, tramp, tramp!

It was as if the souls of hell were on the march.

These specters wore tattered battle garments, still stained with what seemed to be blood.

Their bodies were broken, their eyes vacant.

They drifted aimlessly, like homeless phantoms.

"Souls… without a home…"

The low, mournful voice sounded bleak and desolate.

[Eroded ancient battlefield spirits, who fell guarding the border—the land shattered, their souls with no place to return.]

As this information flooded in, Qi Yuan immediately recalled the voice he had heard in the Mysterious Jade Strange Bell.

It had been a letter from home, sent to the front lines.

If the two were connected, it now seemed that the soldiers in that battle had lost—the land was broken, and all had died in combat.

Souls without a home, how could their bones ever be buried?

"But even if they had won, now… they ought to be dead," Qi Yuan mused.

Just as his gaze fell upon these specters, their eyes also saw him, and from their numbness surged a thick, murderous intent.

At that moment, a contemptuous voice rang out.

"The ghostly patrol is underway, and yet there's still some ignorant fool lingering here—courting death!"

Behind the army of specters, a sedan chair appeared.

The chair was extremely luxurious, and the voice came from within.

Qi Yuan looked toward the sedan: "This Tiankun Strange Land isn't your property—do you have a property deed? Why can't I stay here?"

"Sorry, but in this Tiankun Strange Land, our Sacred Light Sect is the one and only king!" The voice from the sedan was overbearing, clearly accustomed to arrogance. "You see me and don't even bow, and you dare talk back? Your body and soul shall become food for these ghost servants!"

At the voice from the sedan, the hundreds of specters on the field all turned and marched toward Qi Yuan in unison.

Every specter exuded a terrifying and eerie aura, enough to make one's heart tremble.

"Heh, even a Mythical Realm cultivator would die if he met my ghost servants. Kid, don't be reborn into my path in your next life!" the cultivator in the sedan said lightly.

These specter troops, as if controlled, their eyes glowing red, charged at Qi Yuan.

Qi Yuan lay still, watching the advancing army, and suddenly spoke: "I am your supreme commander—how dare you harm me?"

The Great Forgetfulness Sutra activated at that moment.

Qi Yuan began his righteous reformation.

Indeed, his voice seemed to carry a magical power.

The specter troops' footsteps faltered slightly, and a flicker of confusion passed through the depths of their eyes.

The cultivator in the sedan, seeing this, was startled and quickly shouted: "Attack at once! Slay him!"

As he spoke, he took out a bell and shook it violently.

The specter troops' eyes turned dull again, forming a battle formation as they charged at Qi Yuan.

Such a momentum could easily crush a Mythical Realm cultivator.

Even a Yang God at the Heavenly Position stage, entering this strange land, would find it hard to escape being slain by this specter army.

The cultivator in the sedan smiled, thinking: in the Sixth Heaven, he was merely an ordinary Purple Mansion cultivator of low status.

But here in Tiankun Strange Land, even those Yin Gods he once had to look up to, or even Mythical Realm experts, he could easily kill.

But soon, his smile froze.

He didn't know when, but a figure clad entirely in a black robe had appeared inside his sedan.

The shadow held the bell in his hand, staring at it with curiosity.

"Is this how you control them?"

The specter envoy's face filled with terror: "How… how did you get in!"

That was a specter army—even a Heavenly Position Yang God entering would have his realm suppressed and be slain by these troops.

But now, this man had directly bypassed the specter army—how could he not be shocked!

"You… you can't kill me. I am a sacred envoy of the Sacred Light Sect. This bell was bestowed by the sect master. If you take it, the sect master will never let you go!

Our sect master is of the Sacred Light Clan—do I need to tell you how terrifying the Sacred Light Clan is?" The specter envoy, terrified, kept talking.

Only by relying on the Sacred Light Sect did he feel any sense of safety.

"I hate it when people threaten me. And… don't try to show off—you'll get struck by lightning."

Without any hesitation, Qi Yuan reached out and pressed down.

A flash of purple lightning, and the Sacred Light Sect's envoy was instantly annihilated.

Qi Yuan held the bell, looking at it curiously.

At that moment, the specter army roared and charged at him.

Qi Yuan remained calm: "How dare you! I am your general—do you not recognize me?"

The Great Forgetfulness Sutra activated, and the specter army halted again, a flicker of confusion passing through their eyes.

Qi Yuan, holding the bell, continued.

"Long ago, I stood guard at the border with all of you—have you forgotten?"

His voice, like a thunderclap, spread in all directions.

Without the interference of the bell, his Great Forgetfulness Sutra soon took effect.

These ghostly armies hesitated even more.

Qi Yuan continued: "Back then, when foreign foes came, and we were surrounded on all sides, to ensure that the sky could no longer blind our eyes, and the earth could no longer bury our hearts... but alas, we failed. It is I who let down our people east of the river!"

The ghostly armies were clearly drawn in, yet at the mention of "people east of the river," they faltered again.

But Qi Yuan's voice was choked with emotion, so vivid and heartfelt it seemed no act, and in an instant, they chose to believe once more.

"Yet the green hills remain, and the rivers flow ever onward. Though we lost before, though our bodies died, our souls endure—there may yet be a chance to rise again!

I am not only your general but also your emperor. If you pledge loyalty to me anew, my subjects, I will give you fifty—I believe victory will ultimately be ours!"

Qi Yuan spoke with great fervor.

Unfortunately, he was a social recluse, his oratory no match for that know-it-all king, or else he could have spun these ghostly armies right around his finger!

Still, with the aid of the Great Forgetfulness Sutra, he managed to convince these mindless spirits.

After just a few minutes of speech, the ghostly armies were won over, bowing in submission.

"We pay homage to our emperor!"

They seemed to truly regard Qi Yuan as the Human Emperor! Their eyes gleamed with sharp light.

"Do you all know, if we are to stage a comeback, you must first enter my Human Emperor Banner!

This banner I crafted with all my heart and soul—I need your help to complete it!"

Qi Yuan said again, and as he spoke, he produced the Human Emperor Banner.

The ghostly armies gazed at the banner with longing, their eyes gaining a flicker of intelligence.

It seemed they awaited only Qi Yuan's command to enter it and charge into battle for him!

Qi Yuan was very pleased: "Not so fast—wait until the chains the enemy placed on you are broken, then I'll let you enter the banner."

Clearly, these ghostly armies had been corrupted.

The corrupter was likely that Saint Light clan's strongman.

He had controlled these ghostly armies with a bell, perhaps to fulfill some nefarious purpose.

Until that corruption was cleansed, Qi Yuan would not let them into his Human Emperor Banner.

What if they polluted it?

"By following me, you've chosen wisely.

You must know, in this world, good positions spread like AIDS—three ways: mother-to-child, blood, and sexual transmission... oh, no, if you're capable and lucky, that's another story.

But you lot—having ended up as ghosts, your luck can't be good, and your abilities are mediocre."

Qi Yuan continued.

"Go now—find me the other ghostly envoys. I'll go retrieve our former brothers, so you can all reunite."

"Don't panic, don't rush. I know you're eager to counterattack the enemy, but as they say, to do a good job, you must first sharpen your tools. If you're not strong, how can you defeat the foe?

I have an excellent training method here—it's called the 36th Set of Radio Calisthenics. Tomorrow, I'll lead you all in practice!"

"First, bring your brothers to me!"

At Qi Yuan's words, the ghostly armies scattered at once, searching for the location of Qi Yuan's other ghostly forces.

"How clever of me—so many people working for me. My Human Emperor Banner... its power will soar!"

Qi Yuan was overjoyed.

He hadn't expected such a fortuitous encounter here.

He wondered if there were enough ghostly spirits in this place to forge his Human Emperor Banner into a supreme offensive artifact.

Meanwhile, in the wind cave.

The villagers were silent, filled with fear.

A faint candle flickered, casting a terrifying gloom.

Shi Pan clung tightly to his mother, his heart in turmoil.

Outside, the howls of ghosts echoed, enough to strike terror into anyone.

"Alas, my grandfather told me that once, the ghostly patrols protected us, sweeping away evil spirits. But I don't know when they became messengers of death," an old man sighed, his voice wistful, as if recalling the past.

The other villagers nodded in agreement.

The ghostly patrol, once a grand and solemn festival for the natives of Tiankun Qidi, had now become a day of doom.

Just then, Shi Pan thought of something. He looked at the cultivator not far away and, summoning his courage, asked: "Sir, have you seen a cultivator outside dressed entirely in black robes? Did he go to... other wind caves?"

(End of chapter)