After all, a soul is much more fragile than a physical body.

If a soul were damaged, even slightly, recovery would be exceedingly difficult.

That was why so many Cultivators got stuck on the final layer of Qi Refining, with no hope of ever reaching Foundation Establishment.

Qi Yun had finished taking stock of his gains. He knew full well that he had already far exceeded the objective of his trip.

The Relic left behind by Little Monk Ming Xin after his passing was likely the key to controlling the Earth Temple’s Dao Soil, and it had already been taken by Qian Xin Master.

Before long, the senior uncles from the Holy Sect outside would surely make their next move.

They would bring this immeasurably valuable Dao Soil completely under the Holy Sect’s control.

But before that happened, he had to get himself out of the center of this vortex.

With the Earth Temple changing hands, the Yellow Springs Netherworld, the Cyan Sect, and Fengduo would never let the matter rest.

If they discovered he had played a crucial role in the process,

even a mere suspicion would attract endless trouble and resentment.

’Time to leave.’ Qi Yun reined in his aura, completely concealing the Treasure Light of the Buddha Beads. He once again adopted the low-key, gloomy appearance of "Zhang Mazi."

However, the surging Hundred Acupoints Spiritual Mechanism within him was momentarily difficult to conceal completely.

He turned and walked toward the tightly shut, dusky doors of the Main Hall, which were covered in intricate carvings.

He placed his palm on the door and pushed lightly.

CREAK—

The heavy doors slowly opened a crack, allowing a sliver of dusky light from outside—a stark contrast to the void-like darkness within—to filter in.

However, the moment the doors cracked open, Qi Yun froze.

Shadowy figures loomed outside the door.

A dozen figures had gathered outside the doors at some unknown point.

Their attire was varied, but they were clearly disciples from the Yellow Springs Netherworld, the Cyan Sect, and Fengduo—the Three Sects.

Among them were the female Cultivator from Fengduo whose arms he had crippled and then healed, as well as the Cyan Sect disciple with the profound aura who had unraveled the mystery of the Soul Refining Banner with a single remark!

The moment he pushed the door, all eyes snapped to him.

Their gazes were filled with scrutiny, greed, suspicion, and a blazing, undisguised killing intent!

The air froze.

Qi Yun met the dozen pairs of scorching eyes, clearly feeling a pressure and hostility so palpable it was almost tangible.

The feigned numbness on his face stiffened for a second before he spoke slowly.

"If I said... I didn’t do anything in here, just took a look around... would you believe me?"

"Like hell we do!"

Unable to contain her rage and greed any longer, the female Cultivator from Fengduo let out a piercing shriek!

Flames erupted around her as the phantoms of a hundred Spiritual Birds materialized once more. They converged into a torrent of crimson fire, far more condensed than before, rushing toward Qi Yun with the power to scorch the heavens and boil the seas!

His words were utterly unconvincing.

His sudden spike in aura was all the proof they needed!

Her attack was the signal!

"Get him!"

"Take him down! Force the secrets of his fortuitous encounter out of him!"

"Don’t think you can have it all for yourself!"

In an instant, the waiting Cultivators of the Three Sects all struck at once.

Yin Thunder Talismans rained down, baleful Ghost Fire coalesced into giant biting pythons, and shrieking phoenix phantoms tore through the air. A storm of multicolored lights from Magical Artifacts, mixed with an onslaught of devastating Magic, descended upon Qi Yun from all sides.

They had made up their minds: even if Qi Yun hadn’t obtained the ultimate prize, the secrets he carried and that bizarre Black Banner were more than enough reason to attack.

Such were the rules of the Northwest Cultivation Realm!

He faced an assault that could have instantly obliterated any ordinary Qi Refining Eighth Layer Cultivator.

The wry smile on Qi Yun’s face vanished, replaced by an icy calm.

HUMMM—!

He slammed the Soul Refining Banner into the ground with a heavy THUD.

The banner’s surface billowed madly, and a black miasma, thicker and more sinister than ever, erupted skyward like a signal flare!

WUUUOOO—!!!

This time, it wasn’t hundreds of Resentful Souls that charged from the churning black mist. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺

Instead, dozens of vicious Main Souls emerged, their power having surged after devouring one another!

Their forms were more corporeal, their ghostly claws sharper, and their howls contained a power that could shatter a Divine Soul. They took the initiative, charging headlong into the torrent of Magic!

Ghostly claws tore at the phoenix phantoms, the black mist corroded the Yin Thunder, and the Resentful Souls fearlessly threw themselves at the Spiritual Light of the Magical Artifacts!

The Netherworld Ghost Realm formed by the Soul Refining Banner withstood the first furious onslaught. It even surged back, engulfing several disciples from the Yellow Springs Netherworld who had rushed too far ahead.

The sickening CRUNCH of bones and a few brief, blood-curdling screams instantly followed.

"His Soul Banner... How did it get even stronger?!"

A disciple from the Yellow Springs Netherworld stared, his face pale with horror, at the ferocious Main Souls flickering within the black mist, their auras comparable to the Qi Refining Late Stage.

He glanced at his own Ghost Dao Magical Artifact—one he had painstakingly refined—its Spiritual Light rapidly dimming under the assault of the Resentful Souls. For a moment, he was completely dazed.

’Between the two of us... who’s the real Ghost Path Cultivator?!’

But it wasn’t over!

Qi Yun’s eyes were like ice as his hand seals changed.

Nether Spring Bone Technique!

One hundred and eight White Bone Skulls cackled eerily as they formed a pale torrent, crashing into the crowd. The Soul Fire in their eye sockets blazed as they spewed Corpse Poisoning Yin Fire, their jaws snapping at the Cultivators’ Protective Spiritual Light with a hair-raising CRACK!

The Soul Refining Banner led the main assault while the Nether Spring Bone Technique controlled the field and picked off targets!

One against many, Qi Yun drew upon his abundant Qi Refining Eighth Layer True Essence to fuel the two Evil Skills, shockingly pushing back the dozen-plus Cultivators and forcing them into a steady retreat.

Black mist and white bone intertwined as resentful wails and cracking skeletons echoed in unison. It was as if a lord of the dead had descended!

The Cyan Sect disciple, who had been observing coldly from the sidelines, finally revealed an incredibly grave expression.

He could see that Qi Yun was far stronger than he had initially judged.

That bone-controlling Magic, in particular, was bizarre, unpredictable, and terrifyingly powerful.

He slowly raised a hand and grasped the hilt of the cyan-gray Ancient Sword on his back.

A condensed Sword Intent began to rise from him, locking onto Qi Yun.

He was preparing to make his move. Perhaps only his sword could shatter this evil presence.

But just as his Sword Intent reached its peak, at the very instant the Ancient Sword was about to leave its sheath—

Qi Yun’s gaze, like two bolts of cold lightning, shot across the chaotic battlefield and landed precisely on him!

Their eyes met.

The Cyan Sect disciple saw a profound calm in Qi Yun’s indifferent eyes, as placid as the water in an ancient well.

And beneath that placid surface, an indescribable flicker of "intent" was gathering.

CLANG...

The hand grasping his sword hilt froze.

His once-fluid motion to draw the blade came to an abrupt halt!

In that single moment of hesitation, Qi Yun seized the opportunity. With a fierce sweep of the Soul Refining Banner, he forced back two Cultivators at his side.

His figure flickered backward like a phantom and vanished into the shadows beside the Main Hall.

He left behind nothing but a scene of chaos and a group of stunned, horrified, and bewildered Cultivators from the Three Sects.

The Cyan Sect disciple stared blankly at the empty entrance to the hall. He slowly relaxed his grip on his sword, his palm slick with a cold sweat.

’That fiend... he also knows a Sword Skill he hasn’t even used yet?’

...