Chapter 4: These Days, Even the Ten Thousand Souls Banner Needs Packaging

Behind this Void-Return cultivator stood twelve Soul-Transformation cultivators and seventy-two Nascent Soul cultivators.

A soft click sounded as the facial armor automatically opened, revealing a strikingly handsome face.

Xiao Ning of the Supreme Dao Sect!

As a newly elevated Void-Return cultivator, he was required to station himself at the Sword Sect’s Ancient Cultivator Liaison Division for a century.

Gazing at the fading crimson array patterns below, he was about to scan with his spiritual sense when a streak of light shot from nowhere, slicing through the sky and halting before him.

Within a hazy white glow was a palm-sized jade talisman shaped like a sword.

“Uncle, isn’t this…?” A Soul-Transformation cultivator behind him hesitated.

“Yes, it’s a Sword Sect talisman.”

The Sword Sect talisman is used by Sword Sect Elders and above to communicate with Sword Sect disciples.

Upon hearing this, all those behind him grew indignant.

“The Sword Sect is going too far!”

“Our Supreme Dao Sect is also a celestial sect—they’ve always looked down on us with their noses! Now they dare treat us as subordinates!”

“Uncle! Why not crush it outright and report to the sect? Demand an explanation from the Sword Sect!”

They spoke one after another, appearing righteous and furious—but none of them moved to touch the talisman hovering in midair.

Each had mastered the essence of “cautious conduct.”

Xiao Ning was speechless.

Yet in the span of these few words, the Sword Sect talisman seemed to grow impatient—it flashed white, then shot straight into Xiao Ning’s third eye.

Everyone gasped in alarm, scrambling backward, leaving Xiao Ning standing alone.

The talisman contained only one message.

“The cultivator who emerged in Xuanjian City is one of our Sword Sect members—no need to worry.”

A booming voice echoed; the jade talisman shattered, transforming into a swirling violet blade of sharp energy that circled within his spiritual core.

Grand Void Exorcism Sword Qi.

Only a cultivator beyond Void-Return could forge such a blade—it was precisely the material he desperately needed for his cultivation method, and until now had been unattainable. Now it had come to him on its own.

Was this an advance payment?

But at least tell me what I’m supposed to do!

“Uncle, are you alright?” Another Soul-Transformation cultivator called out loudly.

Watching his nephews retreat far from him, Xiao Ning’s eyebrow twitched.

In recent years, something had happened within the Supreme Dao Sect—a trend of “cautious cultivation” had taken root, influencing many.

More cultivators had begun practicing concealment techniques and body-splitting arts.

Not to mention, among the nephews who came with him, some might already have clones.

“The Sword Sect is a righteous celestial sect; our relationship with them has always been good. You needn’t be so cautious.”

“Uncle is right.”

“Still, someone might be impersonating them—better to be careful.”

Who would dare impersonate a Sword Sect talisman?

Xiao Ning muttered inwardly.

Enough.

“This Sword Sect talisman is a Purple Sword Talisman—the cultivator who emerged nearby is a Sword Sect member. We only need to inform the city mayor.”

The Purple Sword Talisman is a high-tier talisman, just one step below the Ancestral Sword Talisman.

Clearly, the one who emerged holds a high status.

One of the Sword Sect’s Four Elders? Or perhaps some unknown Sword Sect Supreme Elder? “Yes!”

They all responded in unison, then followed Xiao Ning down toward the city below.

…………

Outside Xuanjian City, as the city-protection array shut down, a young man in white sportswear walked in slowly and calmly.

He had an ordinary face and a sunny, approachable aura that instantly inspired goodwill.

But after only a few steps, he suddenly stopped and looked up toward the distance.

One Void-Return, twelve Soul-Transformation, seventy-two Nascent Soul.

“Not bad—not bad. All celestial sect disciples, their spiritual essences pure.”

It was worth it—three years ago, he used his bloodline as a catalyst to trick his foolish brother into dying, securing all the materials at once. Otherwise, in this age, obtaining a high-quality Void-Return life-soul without risk would be nearly impossible.

Not to mention the vast number of auxiliary souls.

With the Seven Celestial Sects jointly governing, even at his current realm, he dared not slaughter commoners en masse.

“Sigh~”

With a sigh, the youth pulled forth a small silver-white banner, its surface shimmering with radiant light, dragon and phoenix silhouettes leaping as if a legendary immortal artifact.

This was the Ten Thousand Souls Banner—a classic demonic artifact.

But due to changing times, even the great demonic cultivators had improved it.

Otherwise, the original version, thick with sinister dark energy, would have drawn the attention of righteous sect elders before he even began refining it.

“Refining a magic treasure really isn’t easy.”

Now wasn’t even the best time—ancient cultivators were emerging; who knew what realm they were?

If it were a monster like a Celestial Sect Supreme Elder, he might be swatted dead in one blow.

But the opportunity was too rare…

He had planned this Ten Thousand Souls Banner for a long time—even his own younger brother had been sacrificed into it.

The Supreme Dao Sect’s Void-Return cultivator stood right before him; his spiritual essence alone equaled two ordinary Void-Return souls.

If he used this Xiao Ning as the main soul to forge this Ten Thousand Souls Banner, he was certain he could ascend to the next realm within a century.

In a flash of thought, he withdrew two dark purple beads glowing with a mysterious light, refined them with spiritual power—their purple glow faded, turning pure white.

He released them; the pure white beads fell to the ground but did not shatter—they melted directly into the earth.

The beads sank deeper, plummeting, until they seeped into the foundation of the city-protection array.

A soft hum sounded; a faint, ethereal light rose from the foundation, shooting skyward.

“Three hundred and sixty-four more.”

No sooner had he spoken than a series of phantom figures emerged from his body, racing toward the city—more precisely, toward the array foundations within it.

Had the city-protection array not just been activated, he could never have reversed its nature so easily.

…………

At Xuanjian City’s Third Middle School, with the city-protection array shut down, many who had been in classrooms now stepped outside.

“Notice: Void-Return cultivator Xiao Ning, accompanied by the Ancient Cultivator Liaison Team, has arrived in the city.”

“The city-protection array has been deactivated.”

“To ensure the safety of all citizens, please remain within the school and all sect outposts until further notice.”

The announcement echoed across the entire city.

Instantly, the tense atmosphere in Xuanjian City eased considerably.

After all, with a Void-Return cultivator stationed here, even if the emerging ancient cultivator truly caused chaos, stopping him would be easier.

Zhang Yunlu stepped outside the classroom, sensing the gradually calming spiritual energy, and gazed into the distance.

She saw countless beams of clear light rising into the heavens, forming two colossal phantom shapes—a dragon and a phoenix—circling above Xuanjian City, weaving through clouds, magnificent beyond compare.

“No wonder Void-Return cultivators make such grand entrances,” she murmured in admiration.

“Grand entrance?” Xu Xing walked beside her, looking up at the dragon and phoenix shadows enveloping the entire city, “This isn’t something Xiao Ning created.”

“Huh?”

Not Xiao Ning?

Then who?

“Among demonic cultivators, there’s a particularly vile magic treasure, easy to forge, requiring many life-souls and one or more high-cultivator spiritual essences as the main soul.”

“You mean… the Ten Thousand Souls Banner?”

This forbidden artifact hadn’t been forged by any cultivator in a long time.

“Correct,” Xu Xing nodded, continuing, “But gathering life-souls—whether the vast number of auxiliary souls or hunting powerful cultivators’ spiritual essences—is prone to exposure. So demonic greats designed a special array.”

Hearing this, Zhang Yunlu recalled ancient history she’d seen on the Spirit Net, her heart tightening.

“Soul-Subjugation Array? You’re not suggesting…”

“Quick thinker,” Xu Xing praised, his gaze still fixed on the dragon and phoenix shadows, “The one above us is the Soul-Subjugation Array—and it’s an improved version.”

These days, even the Ten Thousand Souls Banner needs packaging—made to look like a celestial artifact.

Request data, request support!! (End of Chapter)