Chapter 205: Beast Soul Banner First Shows Its Might!

Mid Golden Core?!

Liu Yanfeng and Wang Fengbai both saw He Clan Ancestor He Wen strolling leisurely into midair, feeling his surging magical power, their jaws nearly dropping.

Actually, they had already been very careful.

Because they feared the strength He Wen had shown last time, even though it consumed his lifespan, they still waited another twenty years before finally unable to restrain themselves and came to the vicinity of the He Clan base.

Not only that.

Before arriving here, they each used their clan's power to suppress the He Clan's methods, mines, and other industries to some extent, judging from the He Clan's reaction whether He Clan Ancestor He Wen was still alive.

Even so, to obtain more accurate information, they spent a considerable price to bribe several cultivators inside the He Clan.

Thus, they almost, in a virtually risk-free situation, cautiously approached the He Clan's Mountain-Protecting Grand Formation.

But the two never expected this.

That He Clan Ancestor He Wen was still alive was bad enough, but he, who had stagnated at Early Golden Core for hundreds of years, reappeared having actually reached Mid Golden Core!

How could he not only not die but his cultivation base even breakthrough?

Most importantly.

After his cultivation base breakthrough, He Clan Ancestor He Wen now shows no signs of aging decline; instead, he appears vigorous, even bearing a hint of growing more demonic with age.

That surging magical power fluctuation also gave the two a considerable threat.

The two's near‑instinctive exclamation naturally did not escape the He Clan cultivators present.

They all froze on the spot, dumbstruck.

After a while, someone finally slowly reacted.

Mid Golden Core!!

A person's voice rang out beside the silent He Clan cultivators, like a thunderclap making everyone's bodies jerk, snapping them back to awareness, revealing looks of delight.

"Old, Ancestor, has he broken through to Mid Golden Core?"

"Mid Golden Core! The Ancestor actually broke through!"

"I never thought the Ancestor, after all these years of silence, was actually attempting to break through the Mid Golden Core bottleneck!"

The rising and falling exclamations echoed throughout the vast He Clan base and quickly spread through the entire He Clan.

This news was undoubtedly a stimulant for the cultivators who had sensed the He Clan's impending decline.

Even Clan Chief He Yuanlin's face was filled with a complex expression of shock and joy, as he looked at the Ancestor standing in midair with hands behind his back, calm and composed, his robes fluttering, his eye sockets reddening.

Only he himself knew how much pressure he had borne as Clan Chief these years.

Only he understood what the Ancestor's breakthrough to Mid Golden Core meant for the entire He Clan.

Although He Clan Ancestor He Wen originally had little lifespan left, it is certain that after his cultivation base breakthrough his lifespan will necessarily increase.

Thirty years? Fifty years?

No one can be certain.

The only thing certain is that, in the remaining time, they the He Clan will surely continue to survive peacefully on this vast South Lodging Island.

It also gave the He Clan more breathing time.

Perhaps, by borrowing these decades and with the He Clan's full effort in cultivation, they could cultivate a Golden Core cultivator.

Even if, in the future, the Ancestor passes away, the He Clan would not be utterly destroyed even if it faces marginalization and suppression.

Because of Yunhe's appearance, and because of the news that he had broken through to Mid Golden Core, the changes brought to the entire He Clan are enormous.

Of course, He Yuanlin also noticed that, upon learning the Ancestor not only didn't die but his cultivation base had increased, some people showed not joy but fear, their faces turning pale.

For these people, He Yuanlin narrowed his eyes, having already devised a plan to deal with them.

However, this is not the current focus.

Everyone's gaze fell upon the three figures in the air.

The Ancestor's breakthrough to Mid Golden Core means that what should have been a disaster for the He Clan this time should have been safely survived.

Regarding the He Clan cultivators' changes of heart and appearance, Yunhe naturally does not take them to heart, but he still pays considerable attention to Liu Yanfeng and Wang Fengbai not far away.

One sees him narrow his eyes and slowly approach the two.

Liu Yanfeng and Wang Fengbai also recovered from their initial shock; they clearly understood what He Wen's breakthrough to Mid Golden Core meant. After exchanging a glance, they let out a long sigh and simultaneously saluted Yunhe, saying:

"Fellow Daoist He, long time no see, I never expected your cultivation base to have advanced to Mid Golden Core. Liu (Wang) merely represents the Liu (Wang) Clan in offering congratulations; we will later have someone send congratulatory gifts."

They, in effect, yielded.

"Oh?"

Yunhe raised an eyebrow, the corner of his mouth curling into an arc.

"Congratulatory gifts?"

"Today we have rudely disturbed you; please, Fellow Daoist He, do not take offense. We two will take our leave first."

As the words fell, surging magical power rose from the two's bodies.

"Leaving?"

Yunhe burst into unrestrained laughter; the magical power he had been preparing surged forth. As he flipped his hand, a black banner about a zhang long suddenly appeared in his grip, dense yin energy and terrifying aura instantly expanding.

Beast Soul Banner!

As he vigorously waved that banner, a surging tide of panicked yin energy rolled out from the flag like a wave, sweeping toward the two.

At the same time he said:

"Two fellow Daoists, in my view, you two are the greatest 'congratulatory gift'."

"So, you two had better not leave!"

Twenty years ago, the matter of the two being blocked by Wang Lou of the Wang Clan, Yunhe has not forgotten.

As Liu Yanfeng and Wang Fengbai, who had been preparing to leave, had not yet escaped into evasion, they were enveloped by that surging black wave.

Sensing the threat hidden within the thick, oppressive gloom, the pressure from the Beast Soul Banner in Yunhe's hand, and hearing his arrogant words, the two's expressions changed again, sinking sharply.

Liu Yanfeng let out a long, angry shout:

"He Wen, what are you trying to do?!"

What are you doing?

Yunhe smiled without answering.

He'll explain with action.

He pinched a finger with one hand, his eyes narrowing, and inserted the technique into the Beast Soul Banner.

"Now!"

"Roar!!!"

As his words fell, a fierce roar suddenly rang out from the thick black mist.

Immediately after.

A powerful wolf-like Beast Soul burst out from within.

"Third-stage Beast Beast Soul!"

Wang Fengbo let out a startled cry and immediately summoned his "Yun Water Pearl" to block it.

Although it was a Third-stage Beast Soul, it was not a true beast, and Wang Fengbo and his artifact Yun Water Pearl managed to block it.

On the other side, Liu Yanfeng also faced an attack from a Third-stage Beast Soul.

If the two still did not understand what kind of artifact the large banner in Yunhe's hand was, they were unworthy of being called Nascent Core cultivators.

But precisely because of this, a deep doubt rose in their hearts.

Whether it's a Third-stage Beast or a Cloud Beast, neither is easy to hunt. How did He Wen, in just twenty years, not only achieve a breakthrough in his Cultivation Base but also forge this banner that contains two Third-stage Beast Souls?

Could it be that He Wen has been hiding his skill?

But there is no time for the two to think; the situation now is not favorable for them.

"Daoist He! If you retreat now, the two of us can treat this as never having happened!" Liu Yanfeng shouted.

Wang Fengbo also said, "Daoist He, we admit that after your Cultivation Base advanced, you are indeed strong, but have you considered that our clan does not consist of only the two of us Nascent Core cultivators? Have you thought about facing my elder brother in a few days?!"

In both of their families there is more than one Nascent Core cultivator, and the other Nascent Core cultivator of the Wang Clan, who is also a mid-level Nascent Core cultivator, is Wang Fengbo's elder brother Wang Fengsong.

"Moreover, Daoist He, are you really confident you can keep the two of us? This is an endless, deadly situation!"

Liu Yanfeng continued.

The two echoed each other; although they felt the pressure, they did not think He Wen truly intended to kill them.

Listening to them, Yunhe gave the two a sidelong glance and said lightly:

"Noisy."

Having said that, the large banner in his hand quivered again.

The next second.

Sensing a change within the rolling black mist.

"Impossible!" Liu Yanfeng's pupils contracted sharply as he shouted in terror.

Wang Fengbo, though silent, showed a face full of disbelief, with profuse beads of sweat soaking his body, forehead, and tip of his nose.

Then, just as the two sensed something strange, from the black mist saturated with yin energy, dozens of Third-stage Beast Souls suddenly burst out!

How could there be so many?!

Most importantly,

Among them were also mid-level Third-stage Beast Souls!

These are Third-stage mid-level beasts comparable to mid-level Nascent Core cultivators.

Earlier, Yunhe summoning two Third-stage Beast Souls had already surprised the two, but now dozens more appeared, turning surprise into terror.

Besides those dozens of Third-stage Beast Souls, a massive number of Second-tier Beast Souls also surged out; at a glance, there were at least a hundred!

So many Beast Souls, so many powerful Beast Souls!

Could it be that

"This Beast Soul Banner is a top-grade Third-stage artifact?!"

Two Third-stage Beast Souls were within their capacity to handle, even double that would be barely manageable, but now it surged beyond two or three times that!

Most importantly,

Patriarch He, He Wen, was still watching hungrily.

That guy really intends to kill them!

He actually disregarded the threats from the other Nascent Core cultivators of the Liu and Wang families, attempting to slay the two here?!

Run!

The two spat out a burst of mana mixed with vital essence and blood, each using their fastest escape technique to flee.

By then, the two, who had previously been in cahoots, could no longer care about each other, only themselves.

Watching their actions, Yunhe remained unmoved and summoned a small earthen cauldron.

"Actually, killing one and sparing another is the best choice; it might even spark conflict between the two families. But that's something Patriarch He should do, not me."

"Moreover, if a stronger force is pulling the strings behind them, there's no need to spare anyone."

"So, after all, killing them all is cleaner."

The thought reached this point.

Yunhe, with no more restraint, let the banner in his hand emit a whoosh.

In an instant.

Killing intent burst from the dark clouds, and rolling Beast Souls surged toward the two, clashing.

Hum—

Yunhe's thick earth cauldron in his hand suddenly swelled, turning into a thousand-jin giant cauldron that slammed down.

Gazing at the two people frantically struggling, yet the disturbance they caused dwindled more and more, Yunhe merely stood there silently.

"Indeed, setting aside other factors, the Beast Soul Banner is the most suitable treasure for a Cultivator Body and a Demon Beast Body. Although this Beast Soul Banner has not reached the level of a third-stage supreme-grade magic treasure, it is at least a rare gem among third-stage upper-grade magic treasures."

And just as he was thinking to himself, Liu Yanfeng and Wang Fengbai had already fallen into a desperate situation.

But no matter how they struggled and resisted, it was to no avail.

Even consuming so many third-stage demon beast souls would be enough to exhaust them to death.

And the He family cultivators watching this also each raised their heads, clenched their fists, faces tense.

Although the ancestor had broken through to mid Golden Core, after all he was facing two Golden Core cultivators at once, so he shouldn't be at a disadvantage, right?

They simply hoped to end the duel as soon as possible.

Otherwise, the longer it dragged on, the greater the consumption for their ancestor.

However.

It did not keep the He family cultivators waiting long.

The dark clouds that had pressed down half the sky gradually gathered, being drawn back into the Beast Soul Banner.

What made the He family cultivators incredulous was that Liu Yanfeng and Wang Fengbai had actually vanished without a trace!

What is going on?

Had they retreated early, before they noticed, or...

All the He family cultivators' hearts jolted, their traitorous hearts pounding "thump-thump-thump" as if they would leap out of their throats.

Could it be... that the ancestor did in those two, those two Golden Core cultivators of the Liu and Wang clans?!

For a moment.

The vast He household fell silent, as if even a needle dropping to the floor could be heard clearly.

And in the air.

Yunhe's expression hardly changed; he turned his palm, putting away the Beast Soul Banner and the Thick Earth Cauldron, hands clasped behind his back, and walked down slowly.

(End of chapter)