Gentlemen, it's time to enter the Banner of Ten Thousand Souls.

Chapter 248 As Fate Predicted

Black Whirlwind, like a black lightning bolt, sped through the deafening battle cries of Green Coffin Mountain.

Chen Ye sat upright, his divine sense spreading out like a tide, his senses pushed to their limits. Wherever a fight broke out, he would rush there quickly.

Not far ahead, a bamboo forest had been set on fire and had long since turned into scorched earth.

A group of ferocious ghosts were tearing at several young disciples of the Incense Burning Sect. They looked to be only a little over ten years old, with shallow cultivation, and were completely powerless against such malevolent creatures.

By the time Chen Ye arrived, the children had already been reduced to a mass of indistinct flesh and blood.

Chen Ye sighed softly, and a captivating bell sound rang out around him.

An invisible sound wave spread out, and the vengeful ghosts who were enjoying the blood feast were struck as if by a heavy hammer. They all let out a shrill scream, their bodies trembled violently, and their movements became sluggish.

Immediately afterwards, Chen Ye took out the Myriad Soul Banner and shook it gently.

Whether it was the ferocious ghosts or the souls of the children who had just died tragically, they were all collected into the Ten Thousand Souls Banner.

Although his Ten Thousand Souls Banner has no restrictive power, as long as the supernatural power of the Eighteen Levels of Hell is poured into it, the Ten Thousand Souls Banner becomes another level of hell, and no yin spirit can escape.

Just as he finished collecting the souls, two demons flew out from the side and roared at Chen Ye, "We saw these first! There's a proper order to collecting souls..."

But before he could finish speaking, two crimson serpents pounced out and swallowed the two demons whole, also taking them into the Myriad Souls Banner.

With the Red Serpent by his side and the Ten Thousand Souls Banner in his hand, Chen Ye killed people swiftly and decisively, making him more like a demon than others.

So much so that wherever Chen Ye went, the fighting demons and traitors couldn't help but stop and want to back down.

But Chen Ye didn't care whether they hid or not. Wherever his gaze fell, the red-striped snakes opened their mouths and swallowed them whole, leaving no one alive.

For the first time, Chen Ye truly felt the power of being the number one person in the Tongxuan Realm.

Chen Ye's cultivation level was already far superior to that of other cultivators at the same level, enough to overpower the five major sects, let alone those demons who had been hiding underground for many years.

At most, they might possess one or two crudely made magical artifacts and have learned three or five unorthodox spells. They might be able to gain some advantage by resorting to various insidious and vicious methods of sneak attacks and ambushes, but once they encounter Chen Ye, they are utterly powerless to fight back.

In terms of supernatural powers, spiritual energy, and magical treasures, Chen Ye is far superior.

In a short while, the Ten Thousand Souls Banner in Chen Ye's hand began to turn black and smoke.

Because Chen Ye not only killed many demons and traitors, but also snatched the Ten Thousand Soul Banners from their hands and swallowed the vengeful spirits inside.

A single Ten Thousand Souls Banner can contain anywhere from a dozen to over a hundred vengeful spirits. Over time, Chen Ye's Ten Thousand Souls Banner accumulated to over a thousand vengeful spirits.

A cold wind howled, shadows loomed large, and Chen Ye acted with unbridled ruthlessness, slaughtering countless people.

Moreover, it wasn't just that he was ruthless in killing; the ghost soldiers Chen Ye unleashed were equally formidable.

Yang Chongguang and the other Yin soldiers were no longer ordinary vengeful ghosts. They had devoured a large amount of incense and had cultivated their soul techniques for a long time. They had long since lost their human form. When they fought, they formed an array that ordinary cultivators could not resist.

Then there's Mo Ci, the daytime wandering god. When he runs, he's truly just an inconspicuous golden light. By the time you see his face clearly, his head might already be gone.

Back then, Wang Wancheng used the Qinghe Sword Technique to chase after Mo Ci, but Mo Ci still managed to escape. How could anyone else possibly keep up with Mo Ci's agility?

The souls of the traitors and demons who were killed were all captured and sent to Chen Ye, making Chen Ye's Ten Thousand Soul Banner even more powerful.

As a result, Chen Ye's side became the biggest contributor to suppressing the rebellion. Many disciples of the Burning Incense Sect were rescued by them and began to slowly gather together, forming a group of dozens or even hundreds of people.

They didn't know who Chen Ye was, only that Chen Ye claimed to be a disciple of the Seven Star Hall.

Regardless of why Chen Ye is more like a demon than a demon, now that life and death are at stake, Chen Ye is willing to protect everyone, so what is there to doubt?

The war between cultivators gave Chen Ye the feeling that it was a chaotic mess.

Perhaps because flying is too easy, and the buildings inside the Incense Burning Sect are too varied in height, this is a three-dimensional war in a three-dimensional space.

Those high-level cultivators were like large, fast-moving legions; when they fought, they left vast scorched earth.

The remaining cultivators with low cultivation levels were just scattered soldiers. When they occasionally met, it would be a fierce battle, but there was no strategy or plan, and it was unknown how long the battle would last.

Chen Ye always felt that the period of peace had lasted too long.

Not only do the righteous sects not know how to fight, but even the demonic sects have forgotten how they used to conduct sect wars.

Despite having gathered dozens or even hundreds of disciples from the Incense Burning Sect on Chen Ye's side, they were ultimately a disorganized mess, lacking not only cultivation levels but also the ability to coordinate effectively.

If Chen Ye leaves them alone, they certainly won't survive.

After thinking for a moment, Chen Ye decided to continue playing the role of a Seven Star Hall disciple and order these Incense Burning Sect disciples to obey his commands.

"Now that the Incense Burning Sect has been destroyed, our cultivation levels are too low, and staying here would only be a burden. It would be better to retreat first. Take all the treasures that the sect can use with you, and then follow my Yin soldiers to leave the Incense Burning Sect."

This was an order given to them by Chen Ye, who also hoped they would lead Chen Ye's men to collect various treasures.

Whether it's materials, magical artifacts, or various precious scriptures, these disciples of the Incense Burning Sect certainly know better which storeroom contains the best items.

Taking everything is impractical, so you should choose the most valuable items to take with you.

No one would refuse this order. In the face of danger and peril, wouldn't it be human nature to run away with the treasure?
With this group of guides, Chen Ye's plundering became even more efficient.

Just as Chen Ye was taking advantage of the chaos, Green Coffin Mountain suddenly began to shake violently without warning.

As if the earth had turned upside down, countless magnificent palaces and pavilions collapsed and crumbled like paper in the violent tremors.

Huge boulders rolled down the mountain peaks like raindrops, and dust filled the air, obscuring the sky and making it seem as if the entire mountain range was about to break apart.

Chen Ye suddenly sensed an immense pressure and turned to look into the distance.

A verdant peak split open from the middle, and several dark blue-black spikes emerged from the crack. Upon closer inspection, however, they were not spikes at all, but rather several sharp fingernails.

Fingers, like towering pillars, burst forth from the mountain, reaching out to grasp at the sky.

The entire mountain peak shattered instantly, and countless tons of rocks shot out in all directions like meteors.

This was a volcanic eruption without fire, yet it possessed a devastating power.

The roaring sound made Chen Ye's ears ring.

Only when the hand was fully extended did Chen Ye see its pitiful appearance.

The giant hand's skin was covered in cracks, each scar resembling a small river, constantly flowing with scarlet blood.

Each finger was still wrapped with countless thick chains, but at this moment, most of these chains had broken off and were hanging limply like a dying python, instead becoming decorations for the giant hand.

When blood falls onto these chains, it transforms into thousands of ferocious demons that begin to frantically gnaw at the remaining chains.

If even blood can possess such miraculous power, then it is undoubtedly the hand of the Demon Lord Wujiu.

"The Demon Lord Wujiu has really been resurrected?!"

Chen Ye was utterly shocked; the power of that single hand alone filled him with dread. If the Demon Lord Wujiu were truly resurrected, he could perhaps turn this entire 800-mile-long Green Coffin Mountain into a wasteland with a mere wave of his hand.

Could it be that Lu Xingzhou is truly powerless to suppress this Demon Lord?!
Chen Ye, no longer concerned with reaping further benefits, immediately ordered, "Hurry up and evacuate immediately!"

Meanwhile, on another part of the mountain range.

The once pristine Demon Suppression Palace is now mostly collapsed, resembling a post-war ruin.

These nails, originally meant to suppress the demon lord Wujiu's head, are now shattered beyond recognition. This shows that the seal of the Burning Incense Sect on the demon lord Wujiu has been largely broken.

Deep within that underground palace, in the mind of the Demon Lord Wujiu, Lu Xingzhou was confronting a small figure of soul fire.

At this moment, Lu Xingzhou had long lost his grandmaster demeanor. His face was as pale as paper, and there was a broken arrow emitting a blue light at his ankle.

The broken arrow pierced his heel, yet caused no wound, as if it were an illusion.

The soulfire figure in front of Lu Xingzhou looked even more miserable. Its original human-shaped body was now mostly gone, with only half a head and an arm remaining, and its body was only a third of its original size. If it were a living person, it would have been dead long ago.

But at this moment, the little soulfire figure laughed loudly: "Lu Xingzhou, you've finally fallen for my trick. How does my Thousand-Year Flowing Light Arrow taste?"

Lu Xingzhou said coldly, "You won't survive either."

The little soul fire figure said smugly, "You're wrong, I can't die. Even if you burn my soul body to ashes, I can still come back to life in a few hundred years."

“I am Master’s eldest disciple. Although I have not yet cultivated my Eight-Nine Arcane Arts to the point of eternal immortality, rebirth from a drop of blood is not difficult for me. But you are out of luck. You originally had another one or two hundred years to sustain yourself, but now, like Zhang Qi, you will either ascend to immortality or be completely annihilated!”

Lu Xingzhou did not refute it; what the Soulfire Little Man said was the truth.

Despite being extremely careful, I still couldn't dodge the arrow. This Arrow of Time wouldn't cause any harm; on the contrary, it would bring many benefits to the person struck by it.

If a cultivator who has just condensed his Qi Sea is hit by an arrow, his Qi Sea will be overflowing in an instant, allowing him to cultivate to the next realm.

Time flies like an arrow, passing in the blink of an eye.

This is the supernatural power of the Soulfire Little Man, a completely unreasonable supernatural secret technique. Once you are hit by this arrow, your years will pass by more rapidly.

Using it on others would have a mediocre effect, at most consuming some lifespan. Cultivators, who often live for hundreds of years, might actually increase their cultivation after being hit by an arrow, which could be a good thing.

It was also thanks to this supernatural power that the Soulfire Little Man always maintained a place in the underground demonic sect. He could consume his disciples at will, and if all else failed, he could just grab someone with a little talent, speed up their time, and they could quickly become proficient.

As for whether he will have a short lifespan or an unstable foundation, none of these are within the scope of the Soulfire Little Man's consideration.

Chen Ye had previously sensed that the Nascent Soul Realm demon Huai Yue was extremely weak, unlike a normal cultivator. The reason for this was that the Soulfire Little Man had forced Huai Yue to grow stronger, making him ridiculously weak.

But no matter how great the side effects are, this supernatural power still has extremely powerful uses.

Lu Xingzhou was hit by this arrow, and his days were numbered.

This was a secret technique that the Soulfire Little Man had prepared specifically for those in the Dao Integration Realm, but he still underestimated Lu Xingzhou's abilities. Despite it being a sneak attack, and despite releasing hundreds of Time Flow Arrows at once, he still thought he could send Lu Xingzhou away in one go.

In the end, he was only hit by one arrow, giving Lu Xingzhou a chance to counterattack.

When Lu Xingzhou made his move, the Soulfire miniature was completely unable to withstand it.

The feather fan in the hands of this Incense Burning Sect leader seemed capable of burning away heaven and earth; with just one move, it burned away most of his body.

Now, with just a gentle breath, the Soulfire figurine would vanish into thin air, but Lu Xingzhou was unable to move.

Time flies like an arrow, and Lu Xingzhou's time is passing by rapidly.

Those at the Dao Integration Realm should ascend to the Immortal Realm; forcing them to remain in the mortal realm requires using everything to resist this ascension force. Even someone as strong as Zhang Qi couldn't withstand it. Lu Xingzhou was far inferior to Zhang Qi to begin with, and with the accelerated passage of time, two or three hundred years had already passed for him.

Lu Xingzhou felt the pressure exerted on him by the Heavenly Dao from head to toe; if he was not careful, he would shatter the void.

Therefore, Lu Xingzhou dared not move and could only barely maintain the current state.

However, a stalemate is not a good thing, because the Soulfire Little Man had already broken the seal of the Demon Lord Wujiu when he entered Green Coffin Mountain.

The Demon Lord Wujiu was already on the verge of resurrection, and as soon as this breach appeared, his corpse reacted.

The Soul-Cleansing Flower in his brain began to grow and bloom wildly, and the soul of the Demon Lord Wujiu was reviving.

Just now, the Demon Lord Wujiu's hand was able to move again, breaking the seal and seeing the light of day once more.

It's just a hand now, but Lu Xingzhou knows in his heart that this "senior brother" will be fully resurrected in no more than a day.

At that time, the Incense Burning Sect will surely be destroyed.

Although the end of the world was imminent, Lu Xingzhou was not too surprised.

Many years ago, Pang Duoduo told her that the Incense Burning Sect would have such a day.

Even without knowing the specific details, Lu Xingzhou had already made preparations.

By allowing the Longevity Hall to collect Soul Cleansing Flowers on a large scale, the real purpose was to cultivate the most Nascent Soul Realm cultivators in the shortest amount of time, and then select trustworthy disciples to help them escape this calamity.

Although doing so would turn those loyal leaders into traitors, Lu Xingzhou didn't care about that anymore.

Even if I do nothing, they will betray me sooner or later.

Because Demon Lord Wujiu was originally a disciple of the Incense Burning Sect, Lu Xingzhou wasn't the only one who had received his favors. The Spirit Beast Hall and the Hundred Crafts Hall were both passed down from Demon Lord Wujiu's lineage.

At first, they didn't know these secrets, but over the past few centuries, they have come to guess the truth of what happened back then.

The betrayal of these people was expected, and Lu Xingzhou successfully sent away all the trustworthy disciples.

Now, only one last arrangement remains.

It means that Lu Xingzhou will use his own soul to seize the body of the Demon Lord Wujiu, and then he will ascend directly, taking the Demon Lord Wujiu's body with him as he leaves the mortal realm.

Although the Demon Lord Wujiu is said to be reborn from a drop of blood and eternally indestructible, there is still a limitation to his supernatural power.

That is, there will always be only one Wujiu Demon Lord.

As long as Lu Xingzhou brings the corpse intact to the Immortal Realm, and Wujiu Demon Lord is reborn there, his bloodline remaining in the mortal realm will automatically die off, and a second Wujiu Demon Lord will not grow.

This isn't really a restriction, since everyone wants to be unique, and who wants another version of themselves to compete for the world?

Therefore, once the possession is complete, everything will be over!
But now Lu Xingzhou is unable to move, and he is afraid that if his soul makes the slightest movement, he will be forced to ascend.

Therefore, he still needs help from others.

Lu Xingzhou took a deep breath and called out, "Fellow Daoist, you've been watching for so long, it's time to show yourself."

In the dark underground palace, Qu Heng's figure slowly appeared.

Qu Heng said to Lu Xingzhou, "Hehe, Sect Leader Lu, it's been a long time. How have you been?"

(End of this chapter)