Chapter 199: Xuan Gen Dao's Long Suffering

Yan Buji frowned and entered the Youming Jie.

"How should I face the situation ahead?"

At present he is inside Renyan Tower; although he has hidden in the Youming Jie, he cannot stay here long and must eventually return to the living world.

Take a moment to think.

"Li Daoren, Emperor Bao Cheng, and Zhao Zhen—Xuan Gen Dao all act for Renyan Tower. Xuan Gen Dao controls Renyan Tower, but its grip on the Huang Du Lingyu must have gaps; that is Emperor Bao Cheng and Zhao Zhen's advantage. Li Daoren currently only has Foundation Establishment Stage strength, yet he carries mysterious arts that let him evade detection, so he remains hidden—this is his advantage."

"Xuan Gen Dao stands alone, with a Nascent Soul True Lord stationed, so they naturally fear no petty schemers. Thus even if they have an escape method after achieving their goal, any commotion now would not dare rouse Xuan Gen Dao."

Yan Buji pondered for a moment; the situation was actually simple.

Whether it's Emperor Bao Cheng and Zhao Zhen, or Li Daoren, both sides' goal must be a supreme treasure inside Renyan Tower; perhaps Li Daoren's target is the Human Emperor Banner, and once he obtains it he can leave.

But Emperor Bao Cheng and Zhao Zhen's objective remains unknown; after all, there has been little contact with them, and now foreign cultivation forces are present, making both the overt and covert situation complex.

It can be assumed that there are many like Yan Buji, waiting to fish in the murky waters; thus his advantage of moving in and out of the Youming Jie lets him avoid the first wave of Chaos!

What Yan Buji lacks is strength, which is his greatest weakness.

Recalling the previous series of events, Yan Buji was scribbling on the ground when a hidden line suddenly emerged!

"No, since this world is still decided by cultivators, does that line represent the existence of a mortal martial force, or is it merely a bait set by Emperor Bao Cheng?!"

"And the local forces of Gen Dao and the foreign forces—since they know Renyan Tower will open, their early arrival must be either to follow Xuan Gen Dao in guarding the orthodoxy or have ulterior motives..."

"Even the identity of that opera‑singing beggar is not simple..."

Yan Buji looked at his own writing; this Ascension Assembly of Gen Dao in the imperial capital Lingyu truly feels like a grand play opening!

Given his current situation, he cannot intervene, and even survival is difficult. He worries that once he returns to his original spot, he'll immediately face a crowd of cultivators battling for Renyan Tower's treasures.

Suddenly a Lianqi Fourth Layer emerges; can it not hit the powerful nor him?

But on Emperor Bao Cheng's side...

"Wait, it's Renyan Tower's popularity!"

Yan Buji's eyes lit up; a bold idea suddenly struck him!

Perhaps... the way to break the deadlock lies here!

Inside Renyan Tower.

Li Daoren searched around but still could not find Yan Buji's trace, feeling somewhat heavy.

"What method did that kid use? With such massive popularity inside Renyan Tower, even the legendary teleportation technique couldn't escape the suppression of a Six‑Turn Immortal Accumulation Device, unless he's some Nascent Soul True Lord."

Recalling that kid's confident look—'I know you want to kill me, but you definitely can't'—its source was here!

Li Daoren stayed on guard; although that kid practiced Martial and Law Dual Cultivation and his Lianqi Phase strength wasn't weak, he was still merely a Lianqi Phase cultivator.

Even if he hides some formidable backup, does that mean I have none?

Moreover...

Tactically, Li Daoren despises a mere Lianqi Phase cultivator, yet secretly he still grips a technique, cautiously moving toward the Human Emperor Banner on the plaza, bound by eight fixed dragon stone pillars and chains!

The Human Emperor Banner remained still; although Yan Buji's phantom banner carried the popularity accumulated over fifty years in Renyan Tower back into it, it still could not awaken this prime human treasure of the barbaric age!

Li Daoren looked at the gap on the flagpole and the tear on the banner, feeling a bit regretful: "At least it was left by our human ancestors; the later generations were unable to prevent its severe damage, so it remains unrepaired today."

But Li Daoren only sighed that, as one of the three great human treasures of the barbaric age, the Human Emperor Banner contains the clearest, most complete human principles of that era, regrettably entirely different from his own path.

Thus he does not seek to take the banner; if he truly moved it, the True Lord of Xuan Gen Dao would surely be unable to sit still.

At present, Li Daoren had long calculated this opportunity; originally he hadn't planned to come, but if that kid hadn't warned him early about Emperor Bao Cheng and Qing He Fairy's movements, he wouldn't have dared to venture into Renyan Tower.

But now, the outside Lingyu must already be in great turmoil.

Li Daoren chuckled, raised his hand and several Accumulation Devices flew out from his sleeves—swords, needles, plants, calligraphy...

A multitude of Accumulation Devices swirled around the Human Emperor Banner, drawn by the surging popularity, converging in midair to a point, accompanied by a booming ancient barbaric bell!

"Human race, arise!"

Li Daoren let out a light shout; in an instant all Accumulation Devices flew toward the eight fixed dragon stone pillars, flashing bright light, and the eight chains entwining the Human Emperor Banner began to tremble.

As the chains' tremor grew more violent, from a light quiver to a sway, the eight Accumulation Devices simultaneously emitted dazzling light!

Crack!

Bang!

At the moment the Accumulation Devices exploded, the eight chains shattered with a roar, and the bound Human Emperor Banner suddenly unleashed a terrifying aura, a will of ancient ancestors—unyielding, rebellious—reappearing in the world!

The rolling popularity spread inexorably; Li Daoren stood within it, his fish‑shaped jade pendant at his waist emitting thin yin‑yang glows that shielded him, leaving him untouched by the popularity.

At this moment, Li Daoren felt satisfied, pulling the eight fixed dragon stone pillars one by one from the plaza and stowing them away!

"Let this humble Daoist lend a hand, Gen Dao cultivators have suffered Xuan Gen Dao for ages!" Li Daoren sneered maliciously.

Within the Lingyu, as Li Daoren expected, a earth‑shaking battle had erupted!

Strangely, the battle saw Wu Feng himself step forward, only to have his path blocked by an unknown woman.

Wu Feng looked at the other's youthful cheek and sighed, "Senior Sister Qing He, why do you do this?"

"Hehe, little Wu Feng, still serving those mountain folk as a dog? Better join me, senior sister, and rebel against them!" The newcomer was none other than Princess Zhao Zhen, who was once a Golden Core Real of Xuan Gen Dao, the Qing He Fairy!

Qing He Fairy's words made Wu Feng's face flush with anger; he glared at her: "Senior sister, the master knows your cultivation is hard, pardons you for the crime of stealing the Human Emperor Banner and allows you to re‑enter the cycle! I didn't expect to see you again, and you still hold this view! Then today, don't blame me, your junior brother, for disregarding sect ties and clearing the master's doors!"

"Hahaha, just you? Come, let me see how much you've progressed over the years!"