Chapter 198

Yan Buji finally got a full taste of the terror of the Human Emperor Banner.

Even though mortals have all sorts of underhanded tricks, under the surging popularity bestowed by the Human Emperor Banner, Yan Buji is like a destined emperor—everywhere he goes he has help, he has never lost a battle, and all the great talents and capable people who come and go are fiercely loyal.

Even the capital of the Great Xuan Kingdom in the final battle fell easily to Yan Buji, who took the supreme throne.

"Your Majesty, we present ourselves!"

"Your Majesty!"

Yan Buji, clad in a yellow robe, felt no ripple in his heart.

How should I put it?

It feels great!

He has suffered for so many years in his life, and for the first time feels the world aligning with his will, as if he were the destined son of this world, seizing every advantage.

Precisely because it feels great, it makes him feel increasingly unreal.

"It's as if everything I did in Hu Shan Cheng was a joke. Sigh!"

Yan Buji let out a heavy sigh.

This is him—Yan Buji's disdain for false glory and his discontent with the harsh reality.

It's all fake, all of it is fake.

Yan Buji is not attached to these worldly privileges; to him, power is less valuable than the effect of a Spiritual Stone.

Moreover, this is all happening inside the Human Populated Tower, where he claims kingship—how laughable.

Yan Buji recalled a childhood game, where a group of kids gathered around an ant hill, watching the ants diligently carry food to build their own homes.

Outside the Human Populated Tower, do others see him the same way?

Or beyond this world, might there be others watching all living beings?

Overthinking.

Yan Buji walked to the rear palace and saw Li Daoren sitting before a pavilion; he shed his yellow robe and sat down.

"Kid, two days left, you're doing well."

Yan Buji said lightly, "I only want the Great Human Origin Pill."

"Don't worry, the Great Human Origin Pill will be given to you."

"How is your business going?" Yan Buji asked.

He hasn't been in contact with Li Daoren for a month, so Yan Buji is unclear what Li Daoren has been doing.

But so many cultivators have entered the Human Populated Tower that someone might be watching him in secret.

And he obtained the Human Emperor Banner through Li Daoren; such a cheat-worthy item is bound to be coveted and cannot withstand scrutiny.

But now, regardless, Yan Buji has unified the world, the popularity has peaked, and as long as he gets the Great Human Origin Pill, his trip to the Human Populated Tower will not be in vain.

"Follow me."

Li Daoren said, leading Yan Buji all the way to the cold palace of the imperial palace.

Yan Buji was stunned for a moment, suddenly noticing the architectural style here... how is it identical to the Gan Dao Imperial Palace outside?

"What is this place?"

Li Daoren pointed ahead: "You passed through the Human Emperor Banner's illusion without being corrupted by popularity; all the popularity entered the true Human Emperor Banner. This place is the spot in the Human Populated Tower where the popularity is heaviest."

"Why is it here?"

Yan Buji was curious, but Li Daoren had already begun to manipulate his technique, so he didn't ask.

In a moment, Yan Buji saw a palace within the cold palace suddenly vanish!

Following Li Daoren, he discovered a pitch‑black opening, its floating specks of phosphorescence causing Yan Buji's pupils to contract.

"This isn't..."

Li Daoren, fully prepared, activated his technique to shield himself: "Kid, be careful. Pass through this tunnel and you'll reach the place we truly intend to go this time!"

Yan Buji squinted, grasped the Human Emperor Banner, and stepped inside.

In an instant, a wave of chilling yin energy surged forward, confirming Yan Buji's suspicion.

He looked at Li Daoren and asked, "Senior, why is this place so heavy with yin energy? Could it be that we've entered the Youming Jie?"

"Youming Jie? Hahaha, you really dare to think that. Even a Nascent Soul true monarch wouldn't dare step in lightly; you and I have no right to enter the Youming Jie."

"Oh, then what's going on here?"

Li Daoren sneered, "It's just that those Xuan sects are trying to create an independent small reincarnation cycle. Otherwise, why wouldn't you see a lone wandering soul here?"

Yan Buji was stunned, exclaiming, "The small reincarnation cycle inside the Human Populated Tower... is like this? What a grand scheme!"

Li Daoren hummed, "With the Human Emperor Banner protecting you, you're not afraid of the yin infiltration; otherwise, with your Lianqi Phase cultivation, even having Martial Dao True Origin wouldn't let you withstand it."

Yan Buji's complexion changed, and he nodded, "Thank you, senior, for the clarification."

Now he's being polite.

"Hmph, kid, when I retrieve the treasure later, that will be your death!"

Since Yan Buji dared to follow, he obviously knows that once Li Daoren obtains what he wants, Yan Buji will be useless.

"But what's the point?"

He has now restored his magical power!

Moreover, this place still harbors yin energy, which can replenish the stone sphere; at worst, we can make another trip to the Youming Jie!

Entering the passage, the phosphorescence emitted by the yin energy was insufficient to illuminate, but they were all cultivators; darkness meant no difference from daylight for them.

After walking for a while, Li Daoren led Yan Buji to an underground plaza, where eight stone pillars stood around; Yan Buji was somewhat surprised.

"Why is there such heavy demonic energy on these stone pillars?"

"Demonic energy? That's the dragon clan's dragon energy!" Li Daoren retorted bluntly.

"Dragon energy?"

Yan Buji wasn't quite clear, after all he hadn't even seen a monster, let alone discern dragon aura.

After carefully sensing, the aura contained in these stone pillars was about the same as what he had felt near the hall in Treasure Dragon Land before.

Yan Buji nodded, noting down this knowledge.

There's no way; cultivation without a guide is like this.

Understanding nothing, everything has to rely on deceit and guesswork to comprehend the meaning of what he has witnessed.

This is also why Yan Buji wants to join a major power; after all, a loose cultivator like him, struggling in the cultivation world his whole life, would never amount to anything.

Following Li Dao Ren, though dangerous, he indeed learned many things he had never heard of before.

"These eight Dragon-Setting Stone Pillars were erected to suppress the Remnant Dragon Tree, and the one at the center is the true form of the Human Emperor Flag."

Yan Buji looked over and saw the genuine Human Emperor Flag!

A tattered banner ten meters tall stood in the center of the square, the eight Dragon-Setting Stone Pillars arranged in the Eight Trigrams, each locking one of the eight coils wrapped around the flagpole.

The flag surface moved on its own, as if sentient, sensing Yan Buji's arrival. It fluttered lightly, and the dragon pattern on the banner danced along, lifelike, as if truly alive. The dragon on the flag surface wound and swayed, sometimes coiling, sometimes extending, each motion full of power and majesty. Its scales flashed with mysterious light, its eyes revealing an ancient, profound wisdom. As the dragon moved, a mighty aura enveloped the whole space, leaving one awestruck.

In an instant, the illusory Human Emperor Flag before Yan Buji shot toward the genuine Human Emperor Flag, and Li Dao Ren's eyes lit up as he turned to look at Yan Buji!

The hand seal he had prepared erupted, a black-flame giant dragon lunging at Yan Buji, bared fangs and claws, its bloody maw open to swallow him whole!

"Kid, die!"

Yan Buji widened his eyes, never expecting Li Dao Ren to strike at this very moment.

However, Yan Buji snorted coldly, reacting swiftly to produce the Netherworld Book and stone ball!

In the blink of an eye, Yan Buji vanished!

Li Dao Ren watched his technique hit empty air, the scene of Yan Buji's disappearance leaving him incredulous.

"Damn kid, you actually have a backup plan, have you been guarding against me all along?!"