"We haven't seen him for barely a month. How could his strength grow so quickly?"
Heavenly Venerable Guizui was consumed with fury, his voice thick with bewilderment.
To a Yang God Heavenly Venerable, a month was no more than closing one's eyes and taking a few breaths of cool air.
Yet the Human Sovereign Palace Emissary—someone they had previously hunted down and chased relentlessly—could suddenly stand toe-to-toe with them.
More crucially, his bizarre ability to vanish left them completely unable to defend against him, forcing them into passively taking beatings.
"What grudge does this Human Sovereign Palace Emissary actually hold against you? Could it be... is the Ten Thousand Ghost Soul Banner truly connected to that Human Sovereign Banner?"
The envoy from Taihuang Palace spoke up, curiosity gleaming in his eyes.
Heavenly Venerable Guizui's expression hardened. "That person is merely spewing sophistry! The Ten Thousand Soul Banner is our intrinsic immortal treasure—how could it belong to someone else?"
Every cultivator of Guiyu Heaven possessed an intrinsic magical apparatus, which would subsequently be upgraded into a spirit instrument, an immortal instrument, and an immortal treasure.
That intrinsic apparatus was the Ten Thousand Soul Banner.
The more living beings slaughtered, the stronger the Ten Thousand Soul Banner became, and the higher the cultivator's cultivation rose.
Just then, Heavenly Venerable Guiyuan seemed to recall something and lowered his voice. "Could it be... the Ten Thousand Ghost Soul Banner?"
Heavenly Venerable Guizui's face grew solemn at those words.
The very foundation of Guiyu Heaven was the Ten Thousand Ghost Soul Banner.
This offensive Creation Treasure was controlled by the Banner Lord.
All the Ten Thousand Soul Banners forged and cultivated by other cultivators of Guiyu Heaven were modeled after that banner.
As for the origin of the Ten Thousand Ghost Soul Banner, they had no clear knowledge.
They only knew that it had once been acquired by a Supreme Venerable.
When that Supreme Venerable mysteriously perished, the Ten Thousand Ghost Soul Banner fell into the hands of the current Banner Lord.
Could that Supreme Venerable... have been the Lord of the Human Sovereign Palace?
Seeing the shift in mood, the three Great Ultimate Principles present fell silent.
Anything involving the Banner Lord was beyond what they had the right to discuss.
"Regardless of who he is or what his motives are, seizing our Ten Thousand Soul Banners means making an enemy of Guiyu Heaven. He must be slain!" Heavenly Venerable Guizui snarled.
He felt a suffocating sense of crisis.
After this encounter, he abruptly realized that Guiyu Heaven had no effective way to handle this Human Sovereign Palace Emissary.
"We must discuss this matter with great care. We can no longer treat him as an ordinary alternative Yang God!" one Great Ultimate Principle warned.
At the beginning, they hadn't feared the Human Sovereign Palace Emissary in the slightest. After all, sending out any single Great Ultimate Principle would have been enough to capture him.
Yet now it was painfully clear that aside from their few Great Ultimate Principles, any other Yang God in Guiyu Heaven would shatter on contact if they crossed paths with him.
Heavenly Venerable Guiyuan turned his gaze toward the emissary from Taihuang Palace, his intent unmistakable.
"Lord Emissary, the Human Sovereign Palace Emissary constantly lurks at our flank, biding his time. With him around, our hands are tied at every turn in this war against the Black Demon Abyss..." Heavenly Venerable Guiyuan said with a look of troubled reluctance.
This war had the backing of Taihuang Palace.
Otherwise, Guiyu Heaven would never have provoked the Black Demon Abyss, who possessed Hei Jian.
After all, if Hei Jian stepped into the Great Ultimate Principle realm, Guiyu Heaven's end would be miserable.
"This man disrupted Taihuang Palace's plans. He truly deserves to die!" Killing intent flashed in the envoy's eyes.
The plot against Hei Jian had been practically foolproof, prepared to succeed in one fell swoop.
Who could have foreseen that this Human Sovereign Palace Emissary would charge in out of nowhere and ruin everything just before the finish line?
"Once the Linya Molt begins, he will inevitably perish. His true spirit won't even shed its shell, leaving him without even the chance to enter the Sole Palace!" the Taihuang Palace envoy declared grandly.
At this, the three Great Ultimate Principles of Guiyu Heaven breathed a collective sigh of relief.
With Taihuang Palace's promise, their minds were set at ease.
With a Supreme Venerable taking action, no matter how strong the Human Sovereign Palace Emissary was, he would undoubtedly meet his end.
Not to mention, this Supreme Venerable was the one presiding over the Linya Molt.
"Let him run rampant for a little while longer!" Heavenly Venerable Guizui barked stiffly.
The Linya Molt was due to begin soon; time was running out for the Human Sovereign Palace Emissary.
Yet the moment those words left his mouth, Heavenly Venerable Guizui's expression suddenly froze.
"Insolent cur, how dare you!"
He unleashed a terrifying roar.
The other two Great Ultimate Principles widened their eyes as well, their previously tranquil hearts roiled by towering waves.
Within Ghost Pass, blood-red light inundated the sky, accompanied by a sweeping, bone-chilling killing intent.
Looking into the Astral Realm, one star suddenly flared to its absolute limit of brilliance before abruptly dimming and crumbling into ruin.
No, it was not just one—another star exploded immediately after.
At that very moment, a cold, raspy voice reverberated across Ghost Pass.
"Pardon me, I'm back again!"
"Good thing I returned, or else... how could I have heard you talking trash behind my back?"
"Stealing my Human Sovereign Banner and slandering me behind my back—truly unforgivable!"
A tall, slender figure stood clad in eerie blood-red armor, the sinister blood sword in his hand chilling to the soul.
Enveloped in crimson radiance, the man looked like a god of slaughter. His indifferent gaze sent an inexplicable chill through every cultivator in Guiyu Heaven.
They had barely begun to recover from the shock of the recent battle and the upheaval here, yet... he was back again.
And... he had killed two more Yang God Heavenly Venerables!
Those were Yang God Heavenly Venerables, not cheap cabbages from a market stall!
For many of these cultivators, the total number of Yang God Heavenly Venerables they had seen in their entire lifetimes didn't even match the number that had... died today.
"You..." Heavenly Venerable Guizui choked, at a loss for words.
The remaining Yang God Heavenly Venerables were either fleeing in panic or hiding in terror, while the stronger ones glared warily at Qi Yuan.
Beside them, the Taihuang Palace envoy's eyes flickered. "Friend, could you do me a courtesy and sit down to talk things through with our fellow daoists from Guiyu Heaven?"
Evidently, he wanted to stall the Human Sovereign Palace Emissary for now and settle scores once the Linya Molt began.
"Why should I do you any courtesies? What, are you Daniel Wu or Eddie Peng?" Qi Yuan glared at the Taihuang Palace envoy, showing him no face whatsoever.
"Just a moment ago, you were the little prick talking the most ruthlessly behind my back. I hold grudges more than anyone—your guilt is identical to that of these thieves who stole my Human Sovereign Banner!"
The Taihuang Palace envoy turned livid, disbelief written across his face. "Do you know who I am? Do you know whose will I represent?"
"You already want to kill me, and you expect me to give a damn whose will you represent?" Qi Yuan replied, speechlessly.
He felt the Taihuang Palace envoy must have water sloshing in his brain.
Though, based on his years of experience walking the path of cultivation, people with water in their brains were a dime a dozen.
Feeling the unmasked killing intent directed at him, the Taihuang Palace envoy felt a twinge of dread, but he still boldly declared, "The Linya Molt is imminent. Daoist, do not ruin your own future. Otherwise... as vast as the Sixth Heaven is, there will be no place left for you to hide!"
As an envoy of Taihuang Palace, he naturally had the backing to feel arrogant.
"How about I give you a suggestion? Sleep with Heavenly Venerable Guizui and Heavenly Venerable Guiyuan tonight. Otherwise... heheh, you know what will happen."
The threat in Qi Yuan's words was palpable.
Furious, Heavenly Venerable Guizui and Heavenly Venerable Guiyuan lashed out simultaneously, lunging to attack Qi Yuan.
The Taihuang Palace envoy's face flushed between red and white.
He had clearly felt the bone-piercing murderous intent in the Human Sovereign Palace Emissary's voice.
He was already regretting why he had suddenly suffered a lapse of judgment and tried to show off.
Facing the assault of three Great Ultimate Principles, Qi Yuan smiled brilliantly. "I need to save my energy to come back again later, so I won't play with you deepest white moonlights for now. Bye-bye!"
Even among white moonlights, there were tiers of quality.
Great Ultimate Principles like these were the deepest white moonlights.
The moment he finished speaking, Qi Yuan vanished on the spot without the slightest hesitation.
"Aaaargh!" Heavenly Venerable Guizui bellowed in fury.
The other Yang God Heavenly Venerables were weighed down with heavy hearts.
Those at the Heavenly Position Realm were genuinely terrified.
After all, in this brief span of time, they had witnessed the quiet demise of six Yang Gods.
If they included the one from a month ago, that made seven in total!
For Guiyu Heaven, this was a severe blow to the marrow!
Just then, a hushed voice spoke up: "Heavenly Venerable Guizui, Ghost Pass is currently riddled with vulnerabilities. If we continue lingering here, our lives will hang by a thread from morning to night..."
The implication was crystal clear: they wanted to return to Guiyu Heaven and refuse to stay in Ghost Pass.
Who knew whether that lunatic of a Human Sovereign Palace Emissary would suddenly materialize again?
In fact, even if he appeared right this second, they would find it completely normal.
After all, the interval between his last two ambushes hadn't even been a hundred breaths.
The Yang God Heavenly Venerables were anxious and on edge, remaining on high alert at all times, terrified that danger would descend at any moment.
"Staying here is far too dangerous!"
"Indeed! We came here to oppose the Black Demon Abyss. Before achieving any meritorious deeds, several of our fellow daoists have already perished!"
Murmurs broke out among them, their words tinged with a desire to retreat.
Hearing this, Heavenly Venerable Guizui looked exceptionally grim, having no idea how to console them.
Because in truth, he had absolutely no counter against the Human Sovereign Palace Emissary.
What were they supposed to do—have all these Yang God Heavenly Venerables conjoin together and cultivate side-by-side every single day?
Right then, a vast, ethereal voice echoed in the hearts of the many Yang God Heavenly Venerables.
"A phantom of the Ten Thousand Ghost Soul Banner will envelop Ghost Pass. All of you may set your minds at ease."
Hearing that voice, every Yang God Heavenly Venerable present took on a reverent expression, their spirits settling firmly.
"We thank the Banner Lord!"
Evidently, the owner of that voice was none other than the stabilizing pillar of Guiyu Heaven—the Banner Lord.
Now, the Banner Lord had cast the phantom of the offensive Creation Treasure, the Ten Thousand Ghost Soul Banner, over Ghost Pass to shield it from the Human Sovereign Palace Emissary's harassment.
The Banner Lord appeared swiftly and vanished just as fast.
Within the boundless expanse of Ghost Pass, an enormous, chilling Ten Thousand Ghost Soul Banner abruptly manifested. Boundless and immense, it seemed capable of sweeping across and scouring the entire starry sky.
Deep within the colossal Ten Thousand Ghost Soul Banner, terrifying entities could faintly be seen lurking, guarding all eight directions to hold down Ghost Pass.
Seeing this, the Yang God Heavenly Venerables felt a wave of relief.
"With the Ten Thousand Ghost Soul Banner stationed here, the Human Sovereign Palace Emissary certainly cannot enter!"
"Even if he manages to slip in, it will trigger an alarm. We have nothing to fear!"
"Sigh... but this isn't a long-term solution!" another Yang God Heavenly Venerable lamented.
As long as the Human Sovereign Palace Emissary remained uneliminated, they could never truly rest easy.
He was far too bizarre, liable to appear at any given moment.
Against those who had not attained the Ultimate Principle, the Human Sovereign Palace Emissary could wipe them out with effortless ease.
"Fellow daoists, rest assured—this Human Sovereign Palace Emissary won't be prancing around for much longer!" the Taihuang Palace envoy declared haughtily.
The other Yang God Heavenly Venerables felt reassured once more.
"With Taihuang Palace backing us, this Human Sovereign Palace Emissary is indeed not worth mentioning!"
"The moment the Linya Molt begins will be the date of his execution!"
Flattered by the group of Yang God Heavenly Venerables who deliberately heaped praise upon him, the Taihuang Palace envoy felt somewhat elated.
After a few dozen breaths of discussion, the Yang God Heavenly Venerables dispersed, each returning to their quarters.
Heavenly Venerable Guizui and Heavenly Venerable Guiyuan prepared to depart as well.
Right then, the Taihuang Palace envoy suddenly recalled the Human Sovereign Palace Emissary's advice, and an inexplicable chill welled up in his heart.
"Hold on, you two! Would you like to sleep together... no, play a game of chess together?"
In truth, he was genuinely terrified and thoroughly unnerved.
Even with the Ten Thousand Ghost Soul Banner present, it was better to be cautious.
***
Meanwhile, in a distant place.
Qi Yuan gazed out toward Ghost Pass, disappointment showing in his eyes.
"Utterly lacking in martial virtue!"
"Blocking me with an offensive Creation Treasure—how am I supposed to get in now?"
Granted, he could technically still enter.
However, entering now meant he would definitely be detected.
And once detected, a sneak attack wouldn't work.
When it came to running away, those Yang Gods weren't any slower than him.
This was quite normal; Qi Yuan had heard tales of a certain Dou Qi Continent where a Dou Master fleeing from a Dou Emperor didn't need to panic, simply because the Dou Emperor's horse was slower than his.
He looked toward the Ten Thousand Ghost Soul Banner, vigilance surfacing in his eyes.
*【Phantom of the Ten Thousand Ghost Soul Banner: Forged from countless billions of living souls. Particularly proficient in soul-targeted attacks. Under the right conditions, it can trap a Great Ultimate Principle.】*
Qi Yuan's eyes picked up some useful information.
"Aiyaya, why didn't I see a flaw in the Ten Thousand Ghost Soul Banner instead?"
Qi Yuan sighed.
Every day, his eyes revealed different information when examining an object.
Sometimes he could spot flaws or other critical insights.
Today, the information he saw regarding the Ten Thousand Ghost Soul Banner was useless to him.
If it had provided actionable details pointing out a flaw, that would have been wonderful.
Perhaps he could have bypassed the banner, slipped back inside, executed a few more criminals, and reclaimed his Human Sovereign Banner.
After some thought, Qi Yuan placed the newly reclaimed Ten Thousand Soul Banners onto the ground and began to cleanse and subject them to righteous remodeling.
Roughly an hour later, Qi Yuan exhaled a breath of relief.
"Adding in that one-tenth of the Ten Thousand Ghost Soul Banner, it's finally taking rudimentary shape."
Last time, he had snatched quite a lot from Heavenly Venerable Guizui.
Combined with these extra Ten Thousand Soul Banners, his Human Sovereign Banner was now quite substantial.
In terms of sheer might, it could even rival some of the weaker Creation Treasures.
"Not bad. It looks much better than that gloomy, ghost-infested Ten Thousand Ghost Soul Banner."
Holding the Human Sovereign Banner, Qi Yuan felt bathed in boundless radiant light.
Suddenly, the Human Sovereign Banner in his grip seemed to turn into a dog, barking furiously toward that Ten Thousand Soul Ghost Banner as if straining to break free from Qi Yuan's arm and devour it whole.
As the master of the Human Sovereign Banner, Qi Yuan could feel its ravenous desire to swallow the other banner.
Qi Yuan's eyes lit up at the sight.
"Bold and resourceful—truly worthy of being my Human Sovereign Banner!"
"Treasures resemble their masters. It just shows how outstanding I am!"
"You've inherited all my finest virtues!"
"Now, I assign you a mission: go devour that Ten Thousand Ghost Soul Banner!"
Saying so, Qi Yuan let go.
He figured he was the one holding the Human Sovereign Banner back, shackling it. If he hadn't constrained it, it would have already charged over and slaughtered the Ten Thousand Ghost Soul Banner.
Except... the instant Qi Yuan released his grip, the Human Sovereign Banner's reckless vigor vanished without a trace. Its fabric drooped limply and listlessly, devoid of every ounce of its previous arrogance.
Qi Yuan was rendered utterly speechless.
"Cowardly to this extent?"
"How is it that you haven't inherited a single one of my virtues?"
Cursing under his breath, Qi Yuan stuffed the Human Sovereign Banner back into his storage bag so it wouldn't stay out and embarrass him any further.
***
Within Demon Pass.
Ziyuan Daxue was nibbling on a mushroom, her expression filled with disappointment.
"Looks like we won't get to watch stars shattering today."
Beside her, the other prodigies still had not recovered from their shock.
"The Human Sovereign Palace Emissary is truly... terrifying to such an extreme! He treats Ghost Pass as if it were unpopulated ground!"
"In just one day, six stars have fallen! This is simply horrific!"
"Sigh, does our Black Demon Abyss possess such an extraordinary figure?"
The prodigies sighed in admiration.
They had confronted Guiyu Heaven for so long without managing to slay a single Yang God.
Yet the moment the Human Sovereign Palace Emissary appeared, he casually reaped Yang Gods as if harvesting leeks.
Yang Gods, mighty and towering, had been treated like ordinary cabbages.
Such a spectacle was virtually unimaginable.
"Everyone, watch your words. It is better not to discuss him," An Xunlu warned from the side.
"What, we aren't defaming him, merely praising him. Could that possibly displease him?" someone asked in confusion.
"Hmph, none of us have ever interacted with that Heavenly Venerable. Who knows what his temperament is like? What if... he assumes our praise is laced with malice?" An Xunlu reasoned.
The other prodigies nodded at her words.
When a superior was unknowable, their authority was immeasurable.
Many Heavenly Venerables acted whimsically, bound by no standard rules, which only made their subordinates fear them even more.
"True, we had better avoid discussing him."
The prodigies nodded in agreement.
Yang Gods were mysterious and unfathomable; who knew where that Human Sovereign Palace Emissary might manifest next?
Opinions varied wildly concerning his true identity.
"Sigh, the Linya Molt has not even commenced, yet such an enigmatic figure has already emerged. Who knows how many hidden, lurking Heavenly Venerables will surface once the molt actually begins?" Bing Jian chimed in calmly. "In fact, I am quite curious about where that Ten Suns Heavenly Venerable—the one who manifested ten suns in the sky back then—is currently hiding."
Having stepped into the realm of a Yang God Heavenly Venerable, Bing Jian had grown increasingly poised.
After all, the lower a profile he maintained now, the more stunning he would appear before everyone when Taihuang Palace inspected the myriad heavens.
When that time came, the astral river would cascade like a waterfall, and everyone who had once mocked him would...
"I'm not interested in the Ten Suns Heavenly Venerable; I'm only interested in you," Ziyuan Daxue said, glancing over at Bing Jian. "I want to see when you'll step into the Yang God realm, and see how a Yang God's egg differs from an ordinary egg."
The corner of Bing Jian's mouth twitched, leaving him momentarily speechless.
He resolved to work hard during this coming period to disguise his astral projection thoroughly.
Otherwise... Ziyuan Daxue would laugh at him for a hundred years.
"Sigh, I really envy you all—eating, drinking, and having fun every day, while I have to cultivate with my heart in my throat." Right then, Qi Yuan's figure appeared.
His face looked deeply fatigued.
Although hunting Yang Gods in Ghost Pass seemed dashing and carefree, his mind had to stay strung taut every single moment, like a mortal dancing on a tightrope where a single misstep meant eternal damnation.
"Senior Brother Blood Robe, you're back!" Ziyuan Xiaolu beamed with delight.
An Xunlu shot Qi Yuan a sideways glance and remained silent.
"Senior Brother Blood Robe, you saw him make a move back in the Huayue curious land. What did he look like?" one prodigy couldn't resist asking.
"Take a look at my face, then imagine me in a suit of blood armor, and that's him," Qi Yuan replied candidly.
"Huh?" The prodigy blinked, stunned.
An Xunlu couldn't help but interject, "You'd also have to imagine that person as a mute, or else...
"Which is why Big Brother Hei Jian is still far better suited for visualization!"
Ziyuan Xiaolu's eyes went wide, and just as she was about to bicker with An Xunlu as usual, Qi Yuan tugged on her sleeve.
"Xiaolu, I need your help with something."
Qi Yuan had come looking for Ziyuan Xiaolu specifically because he had an urgent request.
"What is it?" Ziyuan Xiaolu's face flushed slightly.
She recalled how she had wanted to call Senior Brother Blood Robe "Daddy" not long ago, only to be turned down.
She desperately wanted to tell him that she had just been joking and beg him never to tell anyone else!
"Come, let's find a secluded place."
Qi Yuan pulled Ziyuan Xiaolu along as he walked away.
What he needed to discuss could not be leaked, so they had to find a safe spot.
Several hundred breaths later, the two entered Qi Yuan's immortal's cave.
Looking at Ziyuan Xiaolu, Qi Yuan asked softly, "Do you know... where there is a curious land where time flows as fast as possible... and from which one can look into the distance and see... the Ten Thousand Ghost Soul Banner in Ghost Pass?"
"Huh?" Ziyuan Xiaolu was somewhat baffled, unable to fathom why Blood Robe would make such a request.
She couldn't shake the feeling that this was bizarre.
Still, she hurriedly replied, "Senior Brother Blood Robe, give me two hours... no, one hour! I'll bring you an answer."
She needed to consult their archives.
"Thank you," Qi Yuan said happily.
His search for such a curious land naturally served an important purpose.
Every day, his eyes revealed hidden information when observing the Ten Thousand Ghost Soul Banner.
However, in the Sixth Heaven, getting only one piece of information per day was far too slow.
What if there was a place where time flowed much faster?
He could look at the Ten Thousand Ghost Soul Banner from within that curious land.
Perhaps while a single day passed in the Sixth Heaven, a year would pass for him inside the curious land, allowing him to observe it 365 times and update a wealth of information.
With any luck, he might discover a flaw in the Ten Thousand Ghost Soul Banner.
He might even, provided his safety was guaranteed, exploit a loophole with the Gate of Ultimate Principle, allowing his Divine Infant to comprehend the principles within the Gate of Ultimate Principle inside another universe and bolster his strength.
***
Within Demon Pass.
Ancestor Ziyuan's expression was brooding and profound.
"Just who... is plotting against Hei Jian?"
Last time, Hei Jian had nearly been struck by the Root Demon Blood, facing the peril of death.
This gave Ancestor Ziyuan a strong sense of impending doom.
He felt as though an invisible, hidden hand within the Black Demon Abyss was orchestrating something insidious.
It gave him an overwhelming sense of crisis.
In particular, the Human Sovereign Palace Emissary's recent massacre in Ghost Pass had unnerved him even further.
Even before the Linya Molt had commenced, so many Yang Gods had already fallen.
Once it actually began, what kind of catastrophic war would unfold? It was beyond imagination.
After a moment of contemplation, his figure dissolved into a streak of light and vanished.
About a breath later, Ancestor Ziyuan came to a halt at the edge of Demon Pass.
Standing outside the pass, he appeared to be waiting for someone.
After roughly thirty breaths, a crisp chime of bells rang out, accompanied by the faint roar of a white dragon.
Ancestor Ziyuan's countenance turned respectful, and he bowed toward the open space ahead.
"Greetings, White Dragon Abyss Lord!"
"Little Ancestor, long time no see. You seem to have grown much better-looking. Compared to that master of yours, you're much easier on the eyes."
Amidst the chiming bells, a slender, graceful woman appeared, two dragon horns gracing her brow.
Most striking of all was the black cloth wrapped around her brow, concealing her eyes.
If that black cloth were ever uncovered, terrible catastrophes would follow, which was why the White Dragon Abyss Lord rarely unveiled her eyes.
Ancestor Ziyuan looked at her with deep reverence.
With the Linya Molt approaching, the leaders of various factions were secretly meeting with one another.
The White Dragon Abyss Lord had just concluded an audience with the Black Demon Abyss Lord.
Only by calling in an old favor had Ancestor Ziyuan managed to secure this private meeting with her.
"Please, White Dragon Abyss Lord, enter my cave abode for a conversation," Ancestor Ziyuan invited.
"Little Ancestor, I still have to travel to Shenluo Heaven to meet their ancestor. Time is tight, so speak plainly if you have business." The White Dragon Abyss Lord seemed to be a blunt, straightforward person.
Hearing this, Ancestor Ziyuan did not hesitate and said solemnly, "I wish to request that the White Dragon Abyss Lord... act as Blood Robe's Dao Protector!"
Ancestor Ziyuan bowed his head, his posture earnestly sincere.
As he spoke, he produced a damaged Creation Treasure.
The White Dragon Abyss Lord's gaze fell upon that damaged Creation Treasure, an unusual expression crossing her face.
There was quite a profound history behind that damaged Creation Treasure.
During the previous Linya Molt, the Black Demon Abyss Lord possessed no offensive Creation Treasure.
At the time, Ancestor Ziyuan had been the Yang God with the greatest potential in the Black Demon Abyss.
The Creation Treasure in his hands had even possessed the potential to evolve into an offensive Creation Treasure.
Regrettably, in the end... a dispute arose between Ancestor Ziyuan and the Abyss Lord.
The outcome was that the Abyss Lord gained an offensive Creation Treasure, while Ancestor Ziyuan's Creation Treasure was shattered.
What he held in his hands now was that very shattered offensive Creation Treasure.
Though damaged, it was still far superior to ordinary Creation Treasures.
Now, Ancestor Ziyuan was presenting this semi-finished offensive Creation Treasure solely to plead with the White Dragon Abyss Lord to serve as Blood Robe's Dao Protector.
He had faintly sensed dark, dense clouds gathering over the Black Demon Abyss; even he might find it difficult to guarantee Blood Robe's safety.
Therefore, he wanted to secure a Dao Protector for Blood Robe.
A Dao Protector, of course—not a master.
"Interesting." A smile touched the White Dragon Abyss Lord's lips. "Summon Blood Robe here. This venerable one must see... whether he matches the legends, and whether he is worth protecting."
She was indeed tempted by that semi-finished offensive Creation Treasure.
However, that alone wasn't enough.
Although she had long offended Taihuang Palace, she had no wish to push that enmity too far.
She still needed to see the extent of Blood Robe's talent.
If he was another Hei Jian... she might consider investing.
After all, that meant a future Supreme Venerable.
"Abyss Lord, please wait a moment!" Ancestor Ziyuan said, immediately transmitting a message to Qi Yuan.
The White Dragon Abyss Lord looked at Ancestor Ziyuan, her expression deep and complicated. "You truly dote upon this junior of yours, willing even to part with your prized treasure."
Saying so, she glanced at the semi-finished offensive Creation Treasure in Ancestor Ziyuan's hands, greed flickering across her gaze for an instant.
"A pity that the Black Demon Abyss's offensive Creation Treasure wasn't this one. Otherwise, you wouldn't need to bring it out today to plead with me. What a pity, what a pity," the White Dragon Abyss Lord remarked with profound wistfulness.
Sometimes, a single step of difference created a gulf as vast as heaven and earth.
In her view, Ancestor Ziyuan's fortune had simply fallen a bit short.
Ancestor Ziyuan's expression remained unchanged. "Everything has its own karmic destiny."
He had once felt rage, but by now he had long since let it go.
Nearly a hundred breaths passed before Qi Yuan, clad in his blood robe, finally appeared.
Looking at the two figures before him, curiosity danced in his eyes.
"Old man, what did you call me out here for?"
Qi Yuan was as bold as ever, facing two Great Ultimate Principles without the slightest sign of intimidation.
Behind her black silk ribbon, the White Dragon Abyss Lord's gaze fell upon Qi Yuan. A flash of intense excitement flickered deep within her eyes before vanishing into composure.
"Little brother Blood Robe... do you have a Dao Companion?"
Deep in the White Dragon Abyss Lord's eyes lay an intense, possessive yearning.
A yearning far deeper than when she looked at the semi-finished offensive Creation Treasure.
Chapter 464