The Ten Billion Soul Banner was the accumulation of the Netherworld Sect over thousands of years. Otherwise, even if the creatures of the Greenwood Domain were numerous, slaughtering ten billion at once would have caused quite a stir.
But if ten billion were divided over several thousand years, killing a little each year, it would hardly raise any eyebrows.
The Netherworld Sect rarely used the Ten Billion Soul Banner, as the karma of such slaughter was far too severe. Once exposed, it would easily provoke a united attack from the so-called righteous factions. This was also why Wang Yan hadn’t brought it when attacking the Sword Sect.
They feared that if they did, the Sword Sect would rally the world’s heroes to besiege the Netherworld Sect.
Soon, a blood-red Soul Banner, taller than two men, was grasped in the hands of the Netherworld Old Monster. It seemed to be entwined with countless wraiths, and from time to time, densely packed human faces would emerge upon it—utterly chilling.
As the Ten Billion Soul Banner appeared, the disciples of the Netherworld Sect recoiled in horror, keeping their distance from the Netherworld Old Monster. The resentment emanating from the banner was too overwhelming; any disciple with weaker cultivation who drew near would feel the resentment invade their body, their soul nearly freezing solid.
With the Ten Billion Soul Banner in hand, the Netherworld Old Monster’s confidence swelled. He sneered at the Sword Sect members outside, who were desperately attacking, and immediately commanded, "Open the mountain-protecting array!"
At his order, the protective formation rumbled open.
Outside the mountain gate, the Seven Sword Masters paused in confusion, unsure of what was happening—until they caught sight of the banner in the Netherworld Old Monster’s grasp. Their faces instantly paled.
"Such overwhelming resentment—this is the Ten Billion Soul Banner!" Chu Jingchen exclaimed, his expression darkening.
"The Netherworld Sect is truly ruthless, daring to refine such a thing! Aren’t you afraid of being hunted down by the righteous factions if this gets out?" Nangong Xue said, her face grim.
Gu Qingfeng, however, was slightly puzzled. He studied the banner, sensing only an eerie malevolence—gazing at it was like staring into hell itself.
"Hahahaha—!" The Netherworld Old Monster burst into maniacal laughter. "Exposed? Who would spread the word? You lot are already dead!"
"Soul Banner—go!"
With a furious roar, he swung the Ten Billion Soul Banner violently. In an instant, endless resentment surged from it, spreading across the heavens and earth in the blink of an eye. A storm of resentment formed dark clouds that blotted out the sky.
Wails and howls filled the air as billions of wraiths poured out from the banner in a frenzied rush.
Within moments, the entire world seemed to transform into a living hell!
The sky was filled with an endless tide of specters, so densely packed that no horizon could be seen.
The faces of the Sword Sect members twisted in horror.
Gu Qingfeng, however, seemed lost in thought. Do the wraiths in this banner count as demonic entities?
But the problem was that the Netherworld Old Monster was human—which was annoying. Unless the Soul Banner, like the Emperor Demon Sword, was considered a living entity, an independent being that could be classified as demonic.
But how could the Soul Banner compare to the Emperor Demon Sword? That was an Emperor’s weapon!
"Run! The power of the Ten Billion Soul Banner rivals that of a Heavenly Monarch!" Chu Jingchen bellowed, already turning to flee.
A vicious glint flashed in the Netherworld Old Monster’s eyes. "You think you can escape after seeing the Ten Billion Soul Banner? Kill them all!"
In an instant, a frigid wind howled, and the endless tide of wraiths engulfed the Sword Sect members, surrounding them completely.
From all directions, swarms of specters pressed in.
Seeing no escape, the group could only reactivate the Seven Swords Immortal-Slaying Formation, fighting desperately. Yet the wraiths seemed inexhaustible, surging forward relentlessly.
The Netherworld Old Monster watched with the cruel amusement of a cat toying with mice, seeing the Sword Sect members as nothing more than trapped prey.
"Gather!"
At his command, a terrifying vortex formed amidst the sea of wraiths, devouring the surrounding specters with terrifying speed.
In mere moments, a monstrous ghostly figure, a thousand zhang tall, loomed before them.
Its aura was overwhelming—comparable to a Heavenly Monarch!
With a deafening roar, the ghostly figure lashed out, its resentment and killing intent boiling as it swung a colossal claw toward Gu Qingfeng and the others.
The Sword Sect members met the attack with desperate slashes, their swords blazing with radiant light, filling the void with divine brilliance and splitting the sky with cracks.
Yet it was all futile.
Every sword beam that struck the ghostly claw was instantly annihilated by the overwhelming resentment.
Boom!
The claw descended, shattering the sword light and breaking the formation.
A storm of resentment erupted!
Chu Jingchen and the others were sent flying as if struck by lightning, their faces pale, blood spraying from their mouths. A single blow had left them grievously wounded.
The Ten Billion Soul Banner was truly terrifying!
"Hahahaha—!" The Netherworld Old Monster couldn’t contain his laughter. "Today, the Sword Sect’s most outstanding prodigies will die by my hand! Glorious!"
Chu Jingchen and the others listened to his mad laughter, their expressions bleak, despair creeping into their hearts. Are we truly doomed to perish here?
But then—
The Netherworld Old Monster’s laughter abruptly cut off, as if someone had choked him.
His eyes locked onto the center of the resentment storm, where the dark energy slowly dissipated, revealing a figure of striking elegance.
Gu Qingfeng.
"You… why aren’t you down?" the Netherworld Old Monster stammered, his voice tinged with shock.
Chu Jingchen and the others turned in disbelief—Gu Qingfeng stood completely unharmed, untouched by the devastation.
While the others had been blasted away by the storm, Gu Qingfeng hadn’t moved an inch, his figure hidden within the swirling resentment.
Suddenly, realization dawned in the Netherworld Old Monster’s eyes, replaced by greed. "I see! It must be a protective treasure on your person that saved you! That’s how you withstood my Netherworld Shattering Finger earlier. As expected of the Sword Sect’s Imperial Scion—to possess such a treasure!
"Hahaha! But now, it will all belong to me!"
Yet Gu Qingfeng paid no attention to his taunts. Instead, he muttered under his breath, his voice low and feverish.
"So… the Soul Banner does count as demonic. Though its grade is inferior to the Emperor Demon Sword, the wraiths within are demonic entities, and its power is formidable. A single strike has already pushed me to the peak of the Earthly Profound Realm…"
As he spoke, the greed in his eyes grew more intense, his smile twisting into something monstrous.
"Brat, what are you muttering about?!" The Netherworld Old Monster felt an inexplicable unease at Gu Qingfeng’s eerie murmuring.
"What am I muttering?"
Suddenly, a voice dripping with demonic madness erupted from Gu Qingfeng’s lips.
He raised his head, his divine-demonic eyes locking onto the Netherworld Old Monster with a crimson glow.
In that instant, the Netherworld Old Monster’s face twisted in horror.
What he saw was a face contorted with savage glee, eyes brimming with insatiable hunger.
"Kehahaha—!" Gu Qingfeng’s laughter was wild, unrestrained.
"I’m thanking you! Thanking you for delivering such a magnificent gift to me!"
His gaze remained fixed on the Ten Billion Soul Banner in the Netherworld Old Monster’s grasp—his desire boundless.
At this moment, the Netherworld Old Monster felt as if he was being stared down by a true demonic god from the depths of hell.
But then it occurred to him—this opponent was nothing more than an ant at the Earth Yuan Realm, relying solely on the protection of a supreme treasure.
Feeling the greed in the other's gaze, he roared, "You dare covet this venerable one's Soul Banner? With what strength?
That pathetic sword formation you lot were so proud of couldn’t even scratch me. What can you possibly do alone now?"
"Keh keh keh..." Gu Qingfeng's laughter grew even more delighted at his words, so much so that he couldn’t help but clap.
"Well said! Truly a worthless sword formation—it’s been holding this venerable one back all this time. Now that it’s broken, I can finally stretch my limbs!"
His grin turned savage as he locked eyes with the Netherworld Old Monster, enunciating each word with chilling clarity:
"Tell me... are you prepared to meet your end?"
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