The Destruction of the Liu Family

Driven by his will, the Ten Thousand Souls Banner behind Ye Chuan began to tremble violently. Countless spectral figures of resentful souls wailed madly on the banner's surface, while thick crimson light erupted like molten lava, dyeing the entire sky a bloody hue.

After devouring the soul of the Egg-Protecting Immortal earlier, the power of this Ten Thousand Souls Banner had surged dramatically. The chains hanging from its edges now gleamed with a sinister light, and the surrounding space warped faintly under its malevolent aura.

"Hmph, Human Emperor's Sacred Banner, unfold!" Ye Chuan commanded coldly.

"Human Emperor's Domain, open!"

A thousand-zhang expanse of crimson light engulfed the entire Liu Family estate with overwhelming force, forming a blood-red domain that sealed it like an inverted bowl.

At the edges of the domain, intricate runic ripples shimmered like solid barriers, trapping the mansion completely. Any Liu Family disciples who tried to flee crashed into the barrier and were instantly corroded into wisps of smoke by the crimson light, not even given a chance to scream.

"What’s happening?! What is this blood-red light?!" A Liu Family steward in embroidered robes turned deathly pale, watching in horror as his clansmen dissolved into smoke, too terrified to step forward.

"Disaster! Inform the family head—" Before the words could leave his mouth, an invisible force choked the speaker’s throat.

More Liu Family disciples stood frozen, staring blankly at the crimson-stained sky, their eyes filled with terror and confusion.

They had never witnessed such a grotesque scene. The stench of blood and the wails of resentful souls in the air made everyone feel as if they had plunged into an icy abyss.

The next moment, countless fissures split open in the void, and inky-black chains shot out like venomous snakes. Their sharp tips glinted coldly, piercing precisely through the brows of the Liu Family disciples.

Amidst the rising chorus of screams, translucent souls were yanked out by the chains, converging midair into a surging river of spirits. Glowing with an eerie blue light, they poured into the Ten Thousand Souls Banner in Ye Chuan’s hand.

Having absorbed this deluge of souls, the banner’s crimson radiance grew even more intense. The spectral figures on its surface became clearer, their twisted, agonized faces now visible.

Ye Chuan watched silently until the last scream faded. Only then did the crimson light slowly recede, revealing the devastated estate and his cold, unmoving figure.

Elder Lingxu stood nearby, his throat bobbing nervously, his expression a mix of dread and disbelief.

He had witnessed this atrocity firsthand. Ye Chuan’s methods were ruthlessly cruel, and the aura emanating from the Ten Thousand Souls Banner was more chilling than even the most infamous artifacts of the forbidden realms.

At this point, he no longer believed Ye Chuan was a cultivator from a sacred land. He might as well be a demonic fiend who had escaped the forbidden realms—or worse, a remnant of the demonic race!

Yet, recalling how effortlessly Ye Chuan had slain a Dao Comprehension realm expert, Elder Lingxu swallowed his words before they could escape his lips.

"I can’t afford to offend him," he thought, terrified that a single misspoken word would doom him to the same fate as the Liu Family.

"Some of the Liu Family… might be innocent," Elder Lingxu finally ventured after a long silence, driven by a sliver of compassion.

"Innocent?" Ye Chuan turned his gaze, his icy eyes boring into the elder.

That gaze held no warmth—only the chill of eternal frost. Elder Lingxu shuddered and instinctively took half a step back. "N-no, they’re not innocent."

"Earlier, the Liu Family disciples acted disrespectfully, insulting my wife and mocking us. I let it go after killing a few of them," Ye Chuan said, his tone eerily calm, though the air around him grew colder.

"But when I borrowed their teleportation array, they conspired with outsiders to ambush me, seeking my life."

He paused, glancing at the Ten Thousand Souls Banner. "I’ve been merciful. I didn’t shatter their souls—just allowed them to serve within my Human Emperor’s Banner."

A chance to atone, reunited in the banner.

Human Emperor’s Banner…

Elder Lingxu’s lips twitched, barely suppressing the urge to scoff.

The so-called "Human Emperor’s Banner" was clearly this blood-drenched, soul-devouring abomination!

He had never heard of any sacred land’s Human Emperor’s Banner being powered by souls. This was undeniably a treasure of the demonic path!

But no matter his thoughts, he could only nod in agreement, not daring to voice a single objection.

Yes, yes, of course. Whatever you say.

"Now that my wife has been teleported away, how do I reactivate the array to follow her?" Ye Chuan’s attention shifted to the nearby teleportation formation, its faint glow still lingering.

The array disk was covered in intricate runes, though many had dimmed.

Was it still functional?

It should be…

Elder Lingxu hurried forward, inspecting the formation carefully. His fingers traced the activation disk, but his expression soon turned grim. "Young friend, this teleportation array… is likely broken."

The moment those words left his mouth, Ye Chuan’s brow furrowed, and the pressure around him intensified.

"Broken?"

What about Bai Qianshuang?

She had been sent to an unknown location alone. If she encountered danger… A surge of unease rose in Ye Chuan’s chest. Though he knew Bai Qianshuang was strong, in this treacherous world, he couldn’t help but worry.

Maybe he should drag out the souls of the Egg-Protecting Immortal and Liu Canglan and beat them again.

It wouldn’t be enough to vent his frustration.

"Was it damaged during the battle?" Ye Chuan pressed. "Can it be repaired?"

"Not by the battle’s aftermath," Elder Lingxu shook his head, pointing at the faded runes. "These teleportation runes have been completely erased. The last activation must have been this broken array’s final use."

Ye Chuan fell silent.

Standing beside the array, he stared at the runes. Did this mean he and Bai Qianshuang would be separated?

If she had truly arrived at the Donghua Divine Continent, how could he reach her?

"Are there other teleportation arrays nearby?" Ye Chuan asked, a trace of urgency seeping into his voice. "Or any formation masters who can repair this one?"

Elder Lingxu could sense Ye Chuan’s concern—understandable, given his wife’s sudden disappearance.

"From what I know, most teleportation arrays were destroyed after the ancient wars," Elder Lingxu said hesitantly.

"To find a functioning one, you’d need to search ancient ruins or inquire at distant major sects. Perhaps you could first visit a nearby city for information? Or…"

He trailed off at "or," shaking his head as if dismissing the thought.

"What other method?" Ye Chuan caught the elder’s hesitation and pressed immediately. He wouldn’t overlook even the slimmest hope.

The moment Bai Qianshuang vanished, his heart had clenched.

Though the Tianxuan Continent was her homeland, she had unknowingly carved a place for herself in his heart.