In a distant land.
Ancient cities were scattered across the expanse.
Inside the market fair, only a few isolated buildings stood beneath the pitch-black night, with barely any cultivators to be seen.
Qi Yuan was shrouded entirely in darkness, obscuring his facial features.
Sweeping his divine sense across the market fair, he murmured, "There are far too few people in this market fair. It doesn't look like the Sixth Heaven at all."
In the Sixth Heaven, the Immortal Dao flourished; which market fair wasn't bustling with crowds and swirling with immortal mist?
This place was gloomy and eerie, having fallen into decay long ago.
The roads through the market fair were neither clean nor tidy.
Broken flagstones lay strewn amidst the muck, and a faint stench of stale urine hung in the air.
Just as Qi Yuan stepped into the fair, will-o'-the-wisps danced ominously in the gloom ahead.
Suddenly, a diminutive figure appeared, hunched over like an old crone. She was draped completely in a dusty gray robe, her face concealed beneath a mask.
"Young man, are you heading to the Tiankun Curious Land to try your luck as well?" The gray-robed female cultivator's voice was hoarse and grating, sounding like dry friction scraping against a windpipe.
Qi Yuan glanced at her. "I am heading to the Tiankun Curious Land, but not to try my luck."
"This old woman offers you a word of advice: treasures may abound in the Tiankun Curious Land, but... countless perils lurk within. Do not throw your life away in there, leaving your kin to grieve in vain," the gray-robed woman said in an ominous tone. Standing beside Qi Yuan like a decrepit soul on the brink of the grave, she gave the impression that she could drop dead at any moment.
"Thank you for the warning. Don't worry—even if the Sixth Heaven collapses, I won't die," Qi Yuan said with supreme confidence.
"You young punk, your hair hasn't even grown in yet, yet you talk so big! Inside the Tiankun Curious Land, bizarre horrors lurk everywhere. There are yin souls patrolling the sky, claiming lives wherever they go. Don't perish there in vain," the gray-robed woman said sullenly.
"Hey, whose hair hasn't grown in?" Qi Yuan couldn't hold back. "Little sister, picking up bad habits already? Sexually harassing people right on the open street, are we? 'Hair, hair, hair' the moment you open your mouth—why don't you check whether your own hair has grown in yet?"
"Ah?!" The gray-robed woman let out a cry of shock. "How did you... see through my disguise?"
Her voice was no longer hoarse, but crisp and clear like a mountain spring splashing against pebbles, unmistakably belonging to someone very young.
The gray robe she wore was an ancestral heirloom that even legendary Yang Gods would find difficult to see through.
Yet the young cultivator before her had effortlessly penetrated her disguise.
How could she not be astonished?
Even if a legendary Yang God Heavenly Venerable tried to see through her disguise, her ancestral treasure would react, alerting her immediately.
Yet just now, her ancestral secret treasure hadn't reacted in the slightest.
How had he done it?
If he could bypass her ancestral secret treasure to perceive her true self, wouldn't he also be able to see her body?
As for whether her hair had grown in or not, wouldn't he be able to see that too?
At that thought, her complexion changed drastically. Clutching her robe tightly around herself, she fled in sheer panic.
Watching the gray-robed woman's retreating figure, Qi Yuan was completely speechless. "Utterly baffling. Consider her lucky that she ran into me. If she had crossed paths with any other Great Ultimate Principle Realm Yang God, that treasure on her body would never stay hers."
Qi Yuan's eyes could discern information disparities, so he naturally saw that the aura-concealing treasure she wore was a Creation Treasure.
An ordinary Yang God might fail to notice it, but it could never escape the eyes of a Great Ultimate Principle Realm Yang God.
If she encountered someone ruthless, they might kill her on a whim to seize it.
If she ran into someone kind-hearted or principled, they might offer some Immortal Jade under the pretext of striking a lucky bargain and buy the Creation Treasure from her.
Qi Yuan was different.
He had his own principles.
That female cultivator looked like her hair hadn't even grown in yet, falling well short of the standards in his White Moonlight Handbook.
Though Qi Yuan was born with the capacity to love, he was no player who loved just anyone.
His love came with conditions.
She had to be a white moonlight.
Thinking of this, however, Qi Yuan sighed softly. "The morals of the cultivation world are truly degenerate to the core. Just seeing that girl, the first thought that popped into my head was how other Yang God Heavenly Venerables would murder her for her treasure!"
Even if this was only Qi Yuan's conjecture, it certainly wasn't his fault.
The fault lay with... the cultivation world.
"Once I become strong enough, I must restore a clear sky and clean world to this Sixth Heaven!"
Qi Yuan pondered this deeply.
Lost in thought, he made his way deeper into the market fair.
The entrance to the Tiankun Curious Land was located deep within the fair, tucked away in an inconspicuous spot.
***
Meanwhile, inside a concealed cave dwelling.
A decrepit, doddering old woman asked with a chuckle, "Who bullied our little Yun'er?"
Tian Yun was dressed in the gray robe, yet it could not hide her refined, ethereal grace.
"Aunt Luan, a weirdo came to the market fair!" Remembering the black-robed man, Tian Yun felt a mixture of worry and indignation.
"The Tiankun Curious Land is rich in spirit treasures, so it is only natural for cultivators to hunt for treasures there.
"Yun'er, your heart is simply too soft, always warning them... As the saying goes, 'Kind words cannot dissuade a ghost determined to die.' If he wants to enter the Tiankun Curious Land to throw his life away, just let him!"
When Aunt Luan mentioned the Tiankun Curious Land, a complicated expression flickered deep in her eyes.
In truth, she and Tian Yun were originally natives of the Tiankun Curious Land.
However, scoundrels had usurped the territory and claimed the curious land as their own. She had escaped with Tian Yun only to preserve their lives.
Those scoundrels were exceedingly powerful, nearly wiping out their entire clan.
Fortunately, they did not dare enter the Sixth Heaven; otherwise, even hiding here, Aunt Luan and Tian Yun would not have escaped death.
"Aunt Luan, today was different from the past. That man... seemed to see through the ancestral secret treasure on me!" Tian Yun recounted what had just happened.
Upon hearing this, Aunt Luan's expression changed abruptly. "What did you say? He saw through it?"
"Yes! With the ancestral secret treasure disguising me, he shouldn't have been able to tell my identity, but he saw right through it!" Tian Yun said.
Aunt Luan's expression turned grave. "To see through our ancestral secret treasure, he must surely be..."
Her face was stricken with terror and deep foreboding.
He must be a Great Ultimate Principle!
How could a powerhouse of that caliber ever let an exposed treasure go?
Now that Tian Yun was still alive, could he be plotting something even bigger?
Aunt Luan rose to her feet, her voluptuous bust prominent as she swept her divine sense across the surrounding area. "Is Senior present? This concubine is willing to offer the treasure with both hands; I only beg Senior to spare our lives!"
She called out loudly with utmost sincerity.
If such a powerhouse were lurking around her, she would never be able to detect him, and he could strike her dead in an instant.
Tian Yun's expression shifted drastically, turning deathly pale.
She realized what was at stake.
Yet all around them remained utterly silent; no one answered her.
Aunt Luan did not detect the presence of any expert nearby either.
Could it be... that she was overthinking things?
After about a hundred breaths had passed, Aunt Luan breathed a sigh of relief.
"Could it be we encountered a senior with the demeanor of a true gentleman?" Aunt Luan murmured in wonder.
If it had been her, she likely wouldn't have been able to suppress the greed in her heart.
At the very least, she would have offered some modest compensation under the guise of finding a bargain.
Hearing this, Tian Yun's earlier awkwardness vanished, and her distaste toward Qi Yuan dissolved, replaced by a touch of admiration. "He really is a senior of noble character and integrity... It's just... just..."
As she spoke, her cheeks flushed slightly.
Still, thinking about it, as long as his major virtues were intact, a minor flaw in personal conduct didn't matter much.
"Aunt Luan, that senior went to the Tiankun Curious Land... Could he be in danger?" Remembering something, Tian Yun asked anxiously.
The Holy Light Clan was inside the Tiankun Curious Land.
It was precisely because of the Holy Light Clan's presence that almost no Yang Gods in the Sixth Heaven dared set foot in the Tiankun Curious Land.
Those who went in to scavenge treasures were mostly Yin Gods and lower cultivators.
Aunt Luan's gaze turned complicated. "If an ordinary cultivator enters the Tiankun Curious Land, they would hardly escape death.
"However... since he dared go in, he must have confidence.
"Our strength is feeble, so we shouldn't recklessly presume to guess the thoughts of such a major figure."
Tian Yun blinked. "Does that mean this senior might have a chance to drive the scoundrels away, or even kill them? Could we go home?"
At the mention of this, Tian Yun grew excited.
The Tiankun Curious Land was her home. If the scoundrels perished, wouldn't she be able to return?
Aunt Luan shook her head. "How could the Holy Light Clan fall so easily? That senior can probably only protect himself in the Tiankun Curious Land at best. If he encounters the Holy Light Clan, even he might be in peril."
Although she had said not to presume, she couldn't help speculating.
The Holy Light Clan was practically an unsolvable problem in the Sixth Heaven.
Their methods were far too bizarre; even a Great Ultimate Principle who commanded a Supreme Ultimate Principle found them difficult to handle.
Tian Yun felt a wave of disappointment at her words.
***
"The natives here are called the Tian Clan?"
Inside the Tiankun Curious Land, Qi Yuan had found a comfortable spot and was lying down leisurely.
There were quite a few cultivators in this curious land.
Qi Yuan had randomly caught a few blind fools, asked some casual questions, and gained a deeper understanding of the Tiankun Curious Land.
The Tiankun Curious Land was also known as the Tiankun Treasure Land.
This curious land yielded an abundance of peculiar treasures.
These treasures were known as curious treasures.
There were offensive types, auxiliary types, and all sorts of variations.
There were even rumors of treasures comparable to Creation Treasures.
In Qi Yuan's hand was a small bell.
He had acquired it from an elderly boy.
After entering the Tiankun Curious Land, that elderly boy had tried to collect a treasure-hunting fee from Qi Yuan. When Qi Yuan refused, the boy turned violent, only to be snuffed out by Qi Yuan.
This bell was one of the curious treasures that had appeared in the Tiankun Curious Land.
[Mystic Jade Curious Bell: A special construct, forged using the Mystic Wind Forging Method.]
[Ring the bell according to... and warriors at the front line may hear the sound of their homeland.]
Holding the bell, Qi Yuan rang it according to the recorded technique.
Instantly, an aged, gentle voice echoed in Qi Yuan's ear.
It seemed to span the long river of history.
"The third month has arrived. Fan Qi, are you safe and well? All is well at home, so do not worry or fret. The armor Ling and I wove at the Bureau of Heavenly Objects has been sent to the front line... The divination was auspicious; Ling and I await your safe return..."
Inside the Mystic Jade Curious Bell was an unopened letter from home.
Since Qi Yuan could hear it, it meant Fan Qi on the front line had never received this greeting from his hometown.
"Is this the past history of the Tiankun Curious Land, or something else...?"
Qi Yuan pondered.
"This Mystic Wind Forging Method seems quite interesting. It just so happens that time flows fast in the Tiankun Curious Land and I have plenty of time. Taking a daily look at these curious treasures and learning the forging methods within them can count as mastering a trade!"
Mastering a trade was very important.
And these curious treasures were all connected to various forging methods.
Qi Yuan had nothing else to do anyway, and skill never burdened the bearer.
"Still, this curious land doesn't compare to... the Sixth Heaven. The speed of cultivating the Ancestral Blood Art has slowed down by over a hundred times, not even letting me exploit any bugs."
Qi Yuan cast these thoughts aside.
Shifting into a more comfortable position, he began peering through a gap, gazing toward the distant Ten Thousand Ghost Soul Banner.
If it were any other cultivator, they naturally wouldn't be able to see the Ten Thousand Ghost Soul Banner from such a distance.
Qi Yuan was different; his strength was immense, his intake of cold air was swift, and his vision reached far.
Instantly, information flowed into his eyes.
[Ten Thousand Ghost Soul Banner: An offensive Creation Treasure, connected to Heavenly Venerable Guimie...]
"More useless information. I want vulnerabilities or a way to enter."
After a moment's thought, Qi Yuan stopped looking.
Having no harvest on the first day was completely normal.
"Fortunately, there are still these curious treasures. Since I'm so free, I might as well pick up another technique."
Qi Yuan shifted his gaze back to the curious treasures.
Before long, a technique titled *Minor Whirlwind Mold Setting Method* entered his vision.
A mold-setting method, as the name implied, was used to fix a curious treasure in place, making it sturdier.
The crafting of curious treasures involved complex, intricate processes.
Material selection, tempering, forging, mold setting, inscription stabilization... and so forth.
Time flew by, and in the blink of an eye, nine months had passed.
To the outside world, not even a single day had elapsed.
A joyful expression surfaced in Qi Yuan's eyes.
"After examining the Ten Thousand Ghost Soul Banner so many times, I've finally spotted a few flaws. Not bad, not bad at all."
Of course, relying on these flaws alone wasn't enough to slip silently into Ghost Pass.
Furthermore, Qi Yuan harbored immense ambitions as well as patience; he wanted to see if there was a way not only to infiltrate the Ten Thousand Ghost Soul Banner, but also to seize this phantom for himself and turn it into his own Human Sovereign Banner.
"My luck is pretty good today. I've finally mastered the Mystic Wind Forging Method... A pity there are no suitable materials here; otherwise, my craftsmanship would truly shine.
"If I returned to the Blue Star with this technique, making imitation second-hand smartphones and selling them on Zhuanzhuan would definitely rake in a fortune!"
Qi Yuan mused.
Life in the Tiankun Curious Land had been exceptionally leisurely.
Just then, a young boy approached, cradling a bowl of food that resembled a zongzi.
"My lord, my mother told me to bring this to you!" The boy was around twelve or thirteen years old, looking somewhat malnourished.
The boy's name was Shi Pan, and he was considered a native of the Tiankun Curious Land.
Disasters ran rampant in the Tiankun Curious Land, leaving many displaced refugees who had no fixed abode and spent their entire lives migrating.
Shi Pan's mother was a genuine native of the Tiankun Curious Land whom Qi Yuan had seen before—a delicate-looking woman weathered by hardship.
Shi Pan's father had been a cultivator who came to the Tiankun Curious Land to hunt for treasures... Right, a man who loved "freedom," who abandoned them after planting his seed, and later died.
This group of refugees had wandered without a home.
Three months ago, they had settled down near Qi Yuan.
First, Qi Yuan was a mighty cultivator who appeared very kind.
Second, evil cultivators were intimidated by Qi Yuan's strength and dared not cause trouble here.
These refugees viewed Qi Yuan with both gratitude and fear.
Qi Yuan accepted the zongzi-like food and peeled back the broad bamboo leaves, instantly releasing a fresh, grassy aroma.
"Not bad at all—you even get to eat meat now," Qi Yuan commented as he ate the zongzi.
The zongzi was packed with a generous portion of meat that looked exceptionally fresh, entirely unlike the pre-packaged meals from the Blue Star, and free of heavy salt or chili used to mask off-flavors.
"This is all thanks to your grace, my lord. If not for your... deterrence, it would be difficult for us to..." Shi Pan trailed off, looking at Qi Yuan with a hint of longing.
Qi Yuan was draped in a black robe from head to toe, his face concealed.
Yet Shi Pan held boundless reverence for him. A secret wish lingered in the boy's heart—he hoped this master might take a liking to him and accept him as an apprentice.
If that happened, his life would no longer be so miserable.
Perhaps he would even be able to protect his mother and kin.
"My lord, this is a shirt my mother wove for you... If it doesn't fit, you can even use it as a footcloth." Remembering something, Shi Pan handed a garment to Qi Yuan, looking nervous and uneasy.
Qi Yuan did not accept the garment.
"I appreciate the thought, but I'll pass on the clothes," Qi Yuan declined.
Hearing this, disappointment flickered in Shi Pan's eyes.
"I've always been straightforward, and I understand what you're thinking. I already have a Dao Companion," Qi Yuan said plainly.
He had no desire to lead people on or give false hope.
In this refugee settlement, the prettiest woman was Shi Pan's mother.
Otherwise, a powerful cultivator wouldn't have taken an interest in her back then.
Now, these refugees had gotten ideas, hoping to use Shi Pan's mother to curry favor with Qi Yuan.
To outsiders, a woman like Shi Pan's mother trying to seduce Qi Yuan was a pipe dream, pure delusion.
Yet Qi Yuan treated it seriously, rejecting it outright rather than dangling them along, unlike grand deities who paid no heed to the thoughts of mortal ants.
Hearing this, the disappointment in Shi Pan's eyes deepened.
"Shi Pan, you probably don't want an extra father anyway, so this is a good thing," Qi Yuan offered as casual comfort.
At these words, Shi Pan stared at Qi Yuan with youthful eyes. "If that father were you, I wouldn't mind having an extra one!"
Qi Yuan chuckled involuntarily at that.
He was suddenly reminded of Chen Huan, who had nearly tried to take him as a foster father.
"Don't. I'm still young; I don't want to be a father," Qi Yuan tactfully declined.
Shi Pan felt completely deflated, though the feeling came and went quickly. "My lord, tonight is Yin Soul Night. The yin souls will patrol the sky, and it's extremely dangerous outside. Even the cultivator lords must retreat into the wind caves to take shelter from the brunt of it."
Mentioning Yin Soul Night, Shi Pan wore a look of terror.
Every year on Yin Soul Night, an army of yin souls patrolled the sky, claiming lives.
Anyone who failed to return to the wind caves in time would have their soul hooked away by the yin souls, forfeiting their life.
"Oh, is that tonight? Time really flies." Qi Yuan wasn't worried in the slightest; if anything, he was quite interested in the local yin souls.
"My lord must be careful! The other cultivator lords will also hide in the wind caves tonight. There are several wind caves nearby," Shi Pan reminded him again.
"Mm-hmm, I know. Hurry back and pack up for the wind cave," Qi Yuan replied casually.
He certainly had no intention of going to a wind cave.
He wanted to stay here and watch the yin souls.
Naturally, he wouldn't say this to Shi Pan.
Otherwise, it would turn into another exhausting back-and-forth drama.
Holding the clothes his mother had woven, Shi Pan slowly walked away.
Once again, Qi Yuan was the only one left in the area.
"Back to cultivating the forging method."
Having nothing better to do anyway, Qi Yuan continued practicing the forging method, or working on compiling the *Qi Yuan Scripture*.
Time ticked away, minute by minute.
Before long, night descended.
The entire world fell dead silent.
It seemed as though even the chirping of insects had vanished.
It felt like standing in a desolate forbidden zone.
Feeling the chilly night breeze, Qi Yuan yawned. "This kind of weather is perfect for sleeping."
Gale winds carrying yin energy blew in gusts as a layer of mist rose at that moment.
A bone-chilling cold swept over.
Qi Yuan lay calmly on the icy recliner, his expression placid.
Right then, a streak of light flashed past. "Fellow Daoist, run! The yin soul patrol is about to begin—get to a wind cave, quickly!"
Having given this warning, the cultivator didn't linger for a second, rushing headlong into the nearest wind cave.
Qi Yuan remained completely composed.
His Purple Mansion housed purple qi and the Netherworld; why would he fear yin souls?
The yin souls should be afraid of him!
If they dared provoke him, he would directly lock them into his Human Sovereign Banner for some righteous reform, putting them to work for him.
About a hundred breaths passed.
The surrounding air grew darker and darker.
The world became deathly still.
Looking out, darkness enveloped everything, with thick black smoke billowing up everywhere.
The silent night was shattered by orderly, marching footsteps.
*Clack, clack, clack!*
It sounded like legions of souls marching straight out of hell.
These yin souls wore tattered armor, seemingly still stained with blood.
Their bodies were broken, their eyes hollow and lifeless.
They drifted aimlessly, looking like homeless wandering ghosts.
"Souls return... with no abode..."
A low, mournful chant rang out, sounding bleak and desolate.
[Corrupted souls of an ancient battlefield: Perished while guarding the frontier pass; their mountains and rivers shattered, their souls have no home to return to.]
As this information flooded his mind, Qi Yuan instantly recalled the voice he had heard from the Mystic Jade Curious Bell.
That had been a letter from home, sent to the front line.
If the two were connected, it seemed the soldiers at the front line had lost that ancient war; their mountains and rivers had crumbled, and all had died in battle.
With no home for their souls to return to, how could their corpses ever be laid to rest?
"Still, even if they had won, by now... they probably would have died of old age anyway," Qi Yuan mused with a sigh.
Just as he laid eyes on these yin souls, their eyes turned toward him as well, thick murderous intent surging from their numbness.
At that moment, a disdainful voice called out:
"The yin souls patrol the skies, yet someone actually has the death wish to linger here? Truly seeking your own doom!"
Behind the army of yin souls, a sedan chair was being carried.
The sedan was extraordinarily luxurious, and the voice came from within.
Qi Yuan looked toward the sedan. "This Tiankun Curious Land doesn't belong to your family. Do you have a deed to the property? Why can't I stay here?"
"Pardon me, but in this Tiankun Curious Land, our Holy Light Sect is the sole king!" The voice from the sedan was supremely overbearing, clearly accustomed to rampant arrogance. "To see me and not bow, and even dare talk back—your flesh and soul shall serve as nourishment for these ghost servants!"
At the command from the sedan, the several hundred yin souls present turned in unison and advanced toward Qi Yuan.
Terrifying and bizarre sounds emanated from every single yin soul, striking dread into the heart.
"Heh, even a Mythological would die facing my ghost servants.
"Kid, make sure you don't run into me in your next life!" the cultivator inside the sedan said nonchalantly.
Under some form of control, red light flared in the eyes of the yin soul army as they lunged to slaughter Qi Yuan.
Qi Yuan lay without moving. Looking at the advancing army of yin souls, he suddenly barked, "I am your direct superior! How dare you harm me?!"
The Great Oblivion Heart Scripture activated at that very moment.
Qi Yuan initiated righteous reform.
Sure enough, his voice seemed to carry magical power.
The footsteps of the yin soul army hesitated slightly, and a flicker of confusion seemed to cross the depths of their eyes.
Seeing this, the cultivator inside the sedan was taken aback and shouted hurriedly, "Strike at once! Cut him down!"
As he spoke, he produced a bell and gave it a violent shake.
The eyes of the yin soul army turned muddled once more, and they formed a military formation to charge at Qi Yuan.
Such terrifying might could easily crush a Mythological.
Even a Heavenly Position Realm Yang God who entered this curious land would hardly escape being suppressed and slaughtered by this army of yin souls.
The cultivator inside the sedan smiled. In the Sixth Heaven, he was merely an ordinary Purple Mansion cultivator of lowly status.
Yet in this Tiankun Curious Land, he could easily slaughter Yin Gods and even Mythologicals whom he once had to look up to.
Very quickly, however, the smile on his face froze.
At some point, a black-robed figure had appeared inside his sedan chair.
Holding the bell, the shadowy figure was staring at it with immense curiosity.
"Did you use this bell to control them?"
Terror seized the Yin Soul Emissary's face. "You... how did you get in here?!"
That was an army of yin souls! Even a Heavenly Position Realm Yang God would suffer a drop in cultivation and be slaughtered by them.
Yet this person had completely bypassed the yin soul army—how could he not be terrified?!
"You... you cannot kill me! I am a Holy Emissary of the Holy Light Sect, and this bell was bestowed by the Sect Master! If you take it, the Sect Master will never spare you!
"Our Sect Master belongs to the Holy Light Clan! I don't need to tell you how terrifying the Holy Light Clan is, do I?" the Yin Soul Emissary blurted in sheer dread.
Only by leaning on the Holy Light Sect could he find a shred of security.
"What I hate most is people threatening me. Also... don't act pretentious, or you'll get struck by lightning."
Without the slightest hesitation, Qi Yuan pressed down his palm.
A flash of purple lightning flared, and this Holy Emissary of the Holy Light Sect was extinguished on the spot.
Holding the bell, Qi Yuan examined it curiously.
Meanwhile, the army of yin souls roared and charged toward him.
Qi Yuan remained utterly calm. "Audacious! I am your commanding general—do you not recognize me?!"
The Great Oblivion Heart Scripture surged. The yin soul army halted once more, confusion flashing across their eyes.
Holding the bell, Qi Yuan continued loudly:
"Back then, this sovereign guarded the frontier pass alongside you all—have you forgotten?!"
Qi Yuan's voice rumbled like thunder, reverberating in all directions.
Without the bell's interference, his Great Oblivion Heart Scripture took effect swiftly.
The army of yin souls grew even more hesitant.
Qi Yuan pressed on: "Back then, foreign enemies invaded from all sides! To ensure this heaven could never again blind our eyes, to ensure this earth could never again bury our hearts... Alas, we were defeated! I have failed the elders of Jiangdong!"
The yin soul army was visibly swept up in the narrative, though they looked slightly perplexed upon hearing "the elders of Jiangdong."
Yet Qi Yuan's voice choked with tears, filled with raw emotion and devoid of any pretense, prompting them to believe him instantly.
"Yet the green mountains remain unchanged, and the green waters flow on forever! Though we were defeated in the past and our bodies died, our souls endure! We may yet stage a comeback!
"I am not only your commanding general, but also your Sovereign! As long as you pledge your loyalty to me once more, V me 50, my subjects—I believe ultimate victory will belong to us!"
Qi Yuan delivered his speech with all his might.
Pity he suffered from social anxiety; his oratory skills couldn't compare to a certain King of Knowing-It-All, or he would have had this army of yin souls dancing in the palm of his hand.
Fortunately, with the reinforcement of the Great Oblivion Heart Scripture, it was more than enough to convince these mindless yin souls.
Within just a few minutes of his speech, the army of yin souls was completely won over, bowing down to prostrate before him.
"We pay homage to our Sovereign!"
They truly seemed to revere Qi Yuan as their Human Sovereign, a sharp edge rekindling in their eyes.
"Do you know? To make our comeback, you must first enter my Human Sovereign Banner!
"I forged this banner with painstaking effort; I still require your aid!"
Qi Yuan proclaimed once more, drawing out the Human Sovereign Banner as he spoke.
The yin soul army stared at Qi Yuan's Human Sovereign Banner with yearning, a touch more sentience gathering in their eyes.
It seemed that the moment Qi Yuan issued the command, they would rush inside to charge into battle on his behalf!
Qi Yuan was immensely pleased. "No rush for now. Once the shackles placed upon you by the enemy are broken, I will let you enter the banner."
Evidently, this army of yin souls had been corrupted.
The corrupter was very likely that expert of the Holy Light Clan.
He had used the bell to control this army of yin souls, seemingly to achieve some unspeakable agenda.
Until that corruption was erased, Qi Yuan wouldn't allow these yin souls into his Human Sovereign Banner.
What if they polluted his banner?
"Following me means you've finally found the right man.
"You must understand that good jobs in this world, much like AIDS, are transmitted in three ways: mother-to-child, bloodborne, and sexual transmission... Oh wait, if your abilities are extraordinary and your luck is amazing, that's another story.
"But as for you lot... you've ended up as yin souls, so your luck certainly isn't great, and your abilities are pretty mediocre too."
Qi Yuan continued:
"Go quickly and help me find the other Yin Soul Emissaries. I'll retrieve your former brothers and reunite you all.
"Don't panic, don't rush. I know you're eager to counterattack the enemy, but as the saying goes, 'To do good work, one must first sharpen one's tools.' If you aren't strong, how can you defeat the enemy?
"I have an extraordinarily badass troop-training method here called the Thirty-Sixth Set of Radio Calisthenics. Tomorrow, I'll lead you all through it!
"First, bring your brothers to me!"
At Qi Yuan's command, the army of yin souls scattered in all directions to locate where the rest of the yin soul forces were stationed.
"I really am a genius. With so many workers laboring for me, my Human Sovereign Banner's... strength will skyrocket!"
Qi Yuan was overjoyed.
He hadn't expected to encounter such a fortunate opportunity here.
He wondered if there were enough Yin Gods here to temper his Human Sovereign Banner into an offensive Creation Treasure.
***
Meanwhile, inside the wind cave.
The villagers sat in hushed silence, trembling with fear.
The faint, flickering candlelight cast an eerie glow.
Shi Pan huddled close against his mother, his heart pounding in his chest.
Outside, the terrifying roars of yin souls seemed to echo, enough to inspire dread.
"Alas, I heard my grandfather say that in the past, the yin souls patrolling the skies protected us and cleared away ghosts and monsters. I don't know when the yin souls turned into harbingers of death," an old man sighed, reminiscing about the past with nostalgia.
Hearing this, the other villagers nodded in agreement.
The yin soul patrol was originally supposed to be a good thing for the natives of the Tiankun Curious Land—a grand, solemn day of sacrificial rites. Now, it had become a day of doom.
At that moment, Shi Pan remembered something. Looking toward the cultivator resting not far away, he gathered his courage and asked, "My lord, did you happen to see a black-robed cultivator outside? Did he... head to a wind cave somewhere else?"
Chapter 466