Promoting to the Million-Soul Banner

"How dare you, alien scum!"

Just as the cultivators of the Central State were prepared to fight to the death, a furious roar came from the horizon, its soundwaves churning the clouds and sky.

The next second, four colossal dharma bodies, each ten thousand feet tall, tore through the air. A pitch-black dark iron staff, carrying boundless oppressive might, hurtled straight toward the alien forces.

Moke furrowed his brow slightly, stepped into the void, and his iron hammer transformed in his hand. He swung it in a backhand strike. The two weapons collided violently, unleashing a terrifying shockwave.

Rumble—

The dark iron staff was knocked back, returning to Sun Zhantian's hand, and his entire body staggered back two steps.

"Not bad!"

Sun Zhantian's expression showed a hint of surprise as he regarded Moke with a new level of respect.

"Everyone, be careful. What follows will likely be a hard-fought battle." Master Tianji fixed his gaze on those seven quasi-emperor powerhouses, scanning the battlefield around him, a realization dawning in his heart.

"Has Daoist Liao fallen... or did we arrive a step too late?"

"Hmph, Daoist Liao will not have died in vain."

Yue Tianxing stared at the many alien cultivators, murderous intent blazing in his eyes. It was clear he could no longer suppress his killing urge.

If not for the seven quasi-emperors on the opposite side, he would have charged over and slaughtered them all already.

"It's the Former Sect Master of the Righteous Qi Sect! And the Master of the Celestial Secrets Pavilion! They've come out of seclusion! We still have hope!"

"The other two are unfamiliar, but standing together with them, they must also be quasi-emperor powerhouses!"

Just then, Mo Tianxiao arrived with twenty Saint-realm cultivators. His gaze locked onto Moke and the other aliens, and he shouted loudly, "Cultivators of the Demon Province have come to reinforce!"

"Cultivators of the Western Regions have come to reinforce!"

As soon as the words fell, from another direction, Monk Puxuan, the acting abbot of the Great Thunderclap Temple, arrived with over a dozen Saint-realm cultivators as well.

"He actually came."

Yun Sangyi looked at the reinforcements. With four quasi-emperor powerhouses among them, she let out a sigh of relief. Things were better than she had imagined.

Zhou Muxi, however, showed no signs of letting her guard down. "All Saint-realm cultivators, the moment battle begins, aim for the alien Saint-realm cultivators and kill them to the last. As for the traitors, kill them without mercy!"

"Kill! Kill! Kill!"

Although the Xuanhuang Realm side only had four quasi-emperor powerhouses, every single cultivator was now filled with fighting spirit. There was no fear of war, only the resolute determination to slaughter the aliens.

"Clap, clap, clap..."

Moke stepped forward, clapping his hands with a smile on his face. "So I underestimated you all. I didn't expect you to have four would-be Dao-enterers. So the previous information was deliberately leaked by you, wasn't it?"

At this, Mo Tianxiao stepped forward. A dark crimson longsword was held in his hand, and strands of sword-domain law aura emanated from the blade, mysterious and unfathomable, impossible to grasp.

"Since you already know, then I won't pretend anymore. This hidden card was prepared just for you. Are you all assembled now? Then I invite all you aliens to die."

He raised the sword, and an incomparably vast and powerful sword-domain aura surged from the Nine Calamities Immortal Origin Sword, causing even the four quasi-emperors of the Xuanhuang Realm to stir slightly.

"What power is this? Even I feel a lingering fear from it!"

Moke's expression changed drastically, and he retreated rapidly. "A top-tier treasure?"

Although the aura emanating from the longsword in Mo Tianxiao's hand was only at the level of a top-tier treasure, the sword-domain aura it carried was utterly terrifying. It instantly reminded Moke of that sword strike from years past.

"Seniors! Buy me time! Hold these aliens back! Today, I will bury every last one of them here!"

Mo Tianxiao's face twisted with ferocity. His Saint Origin aura surged wildly, as though he were desperately trying to unseal the power bound within the longsword.

Hearing this, An Shouchang and the other three did not hesitate. They swung their weapons and charged straight at the alien quasi-emperors.

"Don't get into a fight! Run!"

Moke had no intention of staying. The power of that sword strike was something they could not withstand.

Not a single one of the seven quasi-emperors doubted him. They followed their young master and fled immediately, while the remaining few dozen Saint-realm aliens and human traitors were stunned for a moment, then scattered in all directions.

If you don't run now, when will you?!

"Kill!! Kill these traitors! Don't let them escape!"

The cultivators of the Central State surged forth, charging at the million-strong army. The cultivators sent by the Demon Sect and the Western Regions also shot out, encircling the traitors of the Xuanhuang Realm and the Saint-realm cultivators of the Shamo Clan.

Before long, the four quasi-emperor powerhouses returned, carrying the corpse of an alien quasi-emperor who had already been severely wounded.

"Young Mo, they got away. But we did kill one who was too slow to flee."

Mo Tianxiao glanced at the dead alien and laughed. "No matter. They ran, so be it. As long as we took down one, we've come out ahead."

"Tianxiao, you were just bluffing them, weren't you?" An Shouchang saw through Mo Tianxiao's earlier ploy, as this method had been used once before within the Demon Sect.

"Correct. Whether or not we actually have a killing move, as long as the aliens believe we do, that's what matters. That's how we keep them on edge, slowly find their weaknesses, and pick them off one by one." Mo Tianxiao admitted openly.

"Young Mo is indeed decisive. This move has helped us considerably."

Master Tianji stroked his beard, full of admiration.

If the aliens had truly decided to fight to the death just now, there was no doubt that the Xuanhuang Realm would have been the one to lose.

"Damn, kid. I was already ready to take on two at once, and you ruined it."

Sun Zhantian slung his iron staff over his shoulder, looking somewhat displeased.

"Daoist Sun, it's better to be prudent. Though the aliens are detestable, their strength is nothing to scoff at. Better to tread carefully." Master Tianji comforted him.

"Yes, Brother Sun. That was the conservative play. Otherwise, the Central State would have been soaked in blood today."

"Ah, I was just saying. That lead alien is indeed no pushover. I just hope that the next time we cross swords, he'll be left to Old Sun."

Sun Zhantian patted his head, unconcerned.

From that earlier strike, he had certainly felt that Moke's strength was out of the ordinary.

"Naturally. Since Daoist Sun volunteers to take on the strongest enemy, the rest of us have no objections."

"Seniors, shall we first deal with these Saint-realm aliens and the traitors of the Xuanhuang Realm before discussing what happens next?" Mo Tianxiao cut in, the Soul Banner of Humanity already clutched in his hand.

Never mind the rest for now. Today, the Soul Banner of Humanity must be fed to its fill!

"Well said. Let's deal with these scum first and reduce the aliens to a commander without an army."

Everyone agreed and immediately launched attacks on the few dozen Saint-realm powerhouses of the Shamo Clan. A few who reacted quickly had fled, but those who hadn't stood no chance of escaping now.

"Over a million traitors... Though their reasons may be understandable, reality is cruel. Standing on the wrong side comes with a price."

With a look of feigned compassion, Mo Tianxiao gently stroked the Soul Banner of Humanity. "Today, I'll let you break through to become a million-soul banner."

"Go!"

He instantly activated the Soul Refining Grand Array, and the temperature across the entire battlefield dropped several degrees, carrying a biting chill.

"Heh heh heh heh heh heh heh heh...!"

The cackling laughter filled the entire battlefield.

"Damn! What the hell are these vengeful spirits?!"

"Everyone, don't let these traitors off easy! If we just kill them, they can still be reincarnated. Instead, let's seal their souls and curse them to never be reborn, so they understand the price of betraying humanity and the Xuanhuang Realm!"

Mo Tianxiao's voice rang out, sending chills down the spines of every traitor present.

"Everyone, run! Whatever you do, don't fall into his hands!"

"Great! Why didn't I think of that! As expected of the demonic cult's leader — this time, I'm on the demonic side!"