My Golden Core is a Star, do you call this cultivating?

He felt fortunate that Ghost Heaven had aligned itself with Taihuang Palace. If Black Sword were to reach his full potential, Ghost Heaven would face an exceedingly difficult future.

“Knowing your own limits, surrender the Black Demon Ancestral Blood, and I’ll spare you when next we meet.” Black Sword’s voice was cold, and he held the thin black sword with an air of divine indifference.

Guiyuan smirked. “The Lynia Transformation is just around the corner. There’s no telling if you’ll survive to reach the Great Supreme Truth.”

His words carried an unfiltered murderous intent, almost as if he were predicting that, during this next Lynia Transformation, one of the newly emerging Supreme Truths might very well be him.

“You’ll be among the fallen,” he seemed to imply.

“Enough talk. Show your strength!” snapped Purple Fate Ancestor, impatient and unreserved. Without further words, he took action.

In the astral realm, stars shimmered, and Purple Fate’s enormous avatar emerged—so vast it dwarfed even entire worlds.

The colossal golden hand, with enough force to crush a sun, reached out toward the two Great Supreme Truths.

A battle of this magnitude would tear Demon Pass asunder if it were held there. However, here in this outer realm, only the faintest whispers of its energy reached the Yang Gods, enough to send shivers down their spines.

“Purple Fate, let me be the one to test your mettle!” Guiyuan shouted, calling upon his own avatar.

The two colossal figures collided in a fearsome clash of Supreme Truth techniques, filling the astral realm with explosions of energy that even the dense outer realm struggled to contain.

Black Sword stood motionless, gripping his slender black sword.

“Fifth Brother, I leave Ghost Zui to you!” he instructed an elder beside him with a calm voice.

The Fifth Patriarch of Black Demon Abyss, an elder from Yin Soul Heaven, stood with an inscrutable gaze and an ominous expression. He gave a slow, wicked grin. “Even if we go all out, it’d be pointless. How about we sit down and have a chat?”

Yin Soul Heaven’s Fifth Patriarch then took a seat, crossing his legs in the void.

Not far off, Ghost Zui grinned. “There’s sense in that. Without an offensive artifact, even tearing apart the heavens wouldn’t give us an edge.”

Above them, Purple Fate and Guiyuan engaged in fierce combat, their avatars locked in close quarters. The force of each exchange left the average Yang God trembling. Though Purple Fate appeared to have a slight advantage, he seemed unable to overcome Guiyuan completely.

The wind brushed against Black Sword’s robes as he looked solemnly at the Fifth Patriarch. His voice, heavy with regret, cut through the air. “Fifth Brother… we came from the same roots. Why betray Black Demon Abyss?”

The Fifth Patriarch looked directly at Purple Fate Ancestor, an unspoken hatred boiling over in his eyes. “I only wish to see my bloodline live on. I want… to see Moon God Ancestor dead!”

Mentioning Moon God Ancestor brought a flash of murderous intent to the Fifth Patriarch’s gaze, his hatred unmistakable.

“In the last Lynia Transformation, Black Demon Abyss was small, and we had only five Great Supreme Truths, yet we were brothers, united in hardship. Now, as the Lynia Transformation looms again and Black Demon Abyss grows stronger, we tear ourselves apart…” Black Sword’s tone grew sorrowful.

The Fifth Patriarch looked at Black Sword, a mocking smile on his face. “Even if you become a true Supreme, you’re still pitifully tied to your bloodline.”

Black Sword sighed. “Tell me, aside from you, who else wishes to leave Black Demon Abyss? Who orchestrated all of this?”

Ghost Zui, seated nearby, listened to the conversation with an amused look.

The Fifth Patriarch remained silent. Black Sword then stated, “I won’t stop you from leaving Black Demon Abyss.”

He continued, his tone deadly serious, “But in return, the Black Demon Ancestral Blood is coming with me.”

Though he resented seeing Black Demon Abyss fragmented, Black Sword had no intention of forcibly stopping anyone.

“That won’t do…” The Fifth Patriarch’s gaze shifted to Purple Fate Ancestor, murder blazing in his eyes. “He must stay.”

A deep sense of unease gnawed at Black Sword. His intuition told him that some unseen plot was in play, growing by the moment.

“It seems we have no deal.” Black Sword quickly sent a warning to Purple Fate Ancestor to be on guard.

“Whether he agrees or not isn’t up to him,” the Fifth Patriarch replied with an icy smile.

He lifted his hand, producing a porcelain-white jade bottle that shimmered with a faint red glow.

Everyone heard a steady, throbbing heartbeat emanate from the bottle.

The calm expression Black Sword wore was replaced by genuine alarm.

“Primordial Demon Blood!”

Even Ghost Zui flinched at the sight, a hint of unease coloring his face. “Primordial Demon Blood, indeed!”

Ghost Zui knew the Fifth Patriarch was prepared to betray Black Demon Abyss, yet the appearance of Primordial Demon Blood had taken him by surprise.

Primordial Demon Blood was a terrifying weapon, especially deadly for those in the Supreme Truth realm. It could trigger the calamity known as the Primordial Demon Tribulation, and without proper defenses, the afflicted had little chance of survival.

For someone like Purple Fate Ancestor, who had long suppressed his cultivation, a sudden onset of the Primordial Demon Tribulation would likely be fatal.

Hovering above, Purple Fate Ancestor sensed the blood and shivered involuntarily, feeling a wave of imminent danger.

Guiyuan cackled, “Purple Fate, seems this will be your last battle.”

“Hmph!” Purple Fate snorted coldly, his attacks fierce and unwavering despite his inner anxiety.

To think his enemies had brought out Primordial Demon Blood just to eliminate him!

Bitterly, he reflected on the irony of finally obtaining the revised Ancestral Blood Manual, only to face such a calamity.

Black Sword’s slender sword quivered in his grip as he looked at the Fifth Patriarch with trepidation.

The Fifth Patriarch, bottle in hand, strolled toward Ghost Zui, a maniacal grin on his face.

Ghost Zui mirrored his glee, elation gleaming in his eyes.

Victory was within their grasp.

With Guiyuan restraining Purple Fate Ancestor, the latter had no chance to escape. With the Primordial Demon Blood nearby, there was nowhere for Purple Fate to run.

But then, at that critical moment, Black Sword’s voice rang out, his aura shifting to a razor-sharp edge.

He shouted at the Fifth Patriarch, “Now! Attack!”

The Fifth Patriarch’s defection was a ruse, a scheme concocted by their master and the Fifth Patriarch himself to lure out and kill one of Ghost Heaven’s Great Supreme Truths.

Before departing, Black Sword had only just learned of the plan.

He surged forward, ready to strike at Ghost Zui.

But the Fifth Patriarch’s lips curved into a cold smile, and he whispered softly, “Now.”

It was the same phrase Black Sword had just used.

Ghost Zui’s smile deepened as he heard the words.

A Soul Banner appeared, exuding an overwhelming, terrifying aura as it unfurled.

It felt as though the banner could extinguish entire worlds.

Within it, a Supreme Truth killing technique bestowed by the Banner Master himself was aimed directly at Black Sword!

Black Sword’s mind went blank as realization struck. An overwhelming dread filled his heart.

The thought that filled his mind was horrific.

The Banner Master’s killing technique, carried by an offensive divine treasure, was directed… at him!

Black Sword’s body seized up momentarily, and his thoughts came to a dead halt.

Purple Fate Ancestor, witnessing the scene from afar, was struck with horror. “How dare you!”

It dawned on him that he was never their target—Black Sword was.

They had masked the intricacies of this plan so well that even he had been kept in the dark, a mere bystander.

Furious, he tried to break free, but Guiyuan blocked his way, leaving him unable to intervene.

The Fifth Patriarch’s smile turned radiant. “Dear Brother Black Sword, it seems you never realized our goal was always you. Even our master was deceived. Hahaha…”

The Fifth Patriarch laughed in satisfaction.

Ghost Zui called out urgently, “Use the Primordial Demon Blood now! The Supreme Truth killing technique will only hold him for half a breath!”

Their exchange took no time at all.

“Understood,” the Fifth Patriarch said, his laughter fading as he flung the Primordial Demon Blood toward the immobilized Black Sword.

The ominous, pulsating blood surged toward Black Sword.

Stuck in place, Black Sword’s thoughts spun wildly. Had their master truly been outwitted? Or was this…

But there was no time to wonder.

If he fell here, Black Demon Abyss’s future in the Lynia Transformation would be bleak.

The Fifth Patriarch’s face lit with cruel satisfaction. “This Lynia Transformation will see a Supreme fall, and it will be the young Supreme, by my own hand.”

But then his smile froze.

Ghost Zui’s eyes widened in shock.

Instead of reaching Black Sword, the Primordial Demon Blood veered sharply away, making a ninety-degree turn as if it had sensed a kindred spirit. It collided with the void where the Black Demon Ancestral Blood lay.

The air shattered, and out stepped a man clad in blood-red armor, holding a bowl as though he’d been scooping Ancestral Blood. A flicker of surprise passed through his cold gaze.

The Primordial Demon Blood slithered toward him, vanishing into his blood armor like a snake returning home.

The man—Qi Yuan—frowned, embarrassed at having been caught red-handed stealing Black Demon Ancestral Blood.

But he quickly masked his feelings, adopting a composed and detached demeanor.

Following the wise words Qi Yuan had once read on Blue Star:

When you’re in the right, argue the rules. When you’re in the wrong, muddy the waters.

Seeing that his opponents had reacted first, Qi Yuan spoke with indignant fury:

“How typical of you Ghost Heaven scoundrels, attacking me with a vile substance like Primordial Demon Blood while I was merely passing through the void! Now… I have a terrible stomachache!”

The armored man—Qi Yuan, of course—hid his bowl behind him as he spoke.

Fifteen days of recovery had restored Qi Yuan’s strength. Planning to steal a portion of the Black Demon Ancestral Blood, he’d only just arrived when the Primordial Demon Blood had struck.

But he wasn’t bound by Supreme Truth, nor was he a Yang God, so he had no calamity or tribulation to fear.

All it did was cause a mild itch, which he’d promptly subdued, tucking the blood safely away in his Human Emperor Banner for future study.

Seeing this, the Fifth Patriarch’s eyes bulged in fury and horror.

The Primordial Demon Blood was gone!

Vanished!

Ghost Zui, equally furious, shouted, “You’re courting death, Human Emperor Hall envoy!”

Without hesitation, he attacked Qi Yuan directly.

“No, the ones courting death are you! You stole my Human Emperor Banner and ambushed me. I’m taking this Black Demon Ancestral Blood as your compensation!”

Having been caught, Qi Yuan decided to proceed openly. He brought out a few bowls and scooped up the Ancestral Blood as casually as if he were collecting soup.

Just as he finished, a tremendous blow hurtled toward him.

Ghost Zui and the Fifth Patriarch had joined forces in their assault on Qi Yuan.

The combined power was enough to shred reality itself.

In his current state, Qi Yuan could barely handle one Great Supreme Truth opponents; two were beyond him.

Just then, however, a calm, scholarly voice called out.

“My friend, allow me to assist you!”

As the voice rang out, Black Sword emerged from the Supreme Truth killing technique’s grasp. He raised his slender sword, its glint slicing through the void, positioning himself squarely between Qi Yuan and the Fifth Patriarch.

Black Sword’s gaze bore into the Fifth Patriarch, tinged with unrelenting fury. “Fifth Brother… there’s another accomplice, isn’t there?”

The slender sword in his hand pulsed with a power that conveyed unyielding strength.

The Fifth Patriarch’s face betrayed fear mixed with rage, while somewhere beneath, an ominous resignation surfaced.

Today’s carefully laid plans had turned to dust.

Without the Primordial Demon Blood, even if the Banner Master himself intervened, they’d be unable to trap Black Sword and Purple Fate Ancestor here.

The Fifth Patriarch looked sharply at Ghost Zui and transmitted his thoughts urgently: “Quick, we must call upon the Banner Master!”

Qi Yuan was indeed not powerful enough to resist a Great Supreme Truth; still, his mysterious means and ability to vanish without a trace made him infuriatingly elusive prey. For the Fifth Patriarch, ensuring Qi Yuan’s capture and recovering the Primordial Demon Blood now became the top priority.

Ghost Zui nodded in agreement, understanding this critical need. He prepared to signal for aid but was suddenly struck by an unexpected presence—a shiver ran down his spine.

A surge of raw, chaotic energy saturated the realm, an overwhelming force that seemed intent on bringing the world to its knees.

“Hold!” shouted Ghost Zui, exhilaration seeping into his voice as he recognized the presence.

“There’s no need to summon him. The Banner Master’s Supreme Truth killing technique has already arrived!” he cried.

In that instant, the overwhelming presence of an unstoppable force engulfed the area. It was a killing technique forged by the Banner Master, the peak of Supreme Truth, one that could ensnare all reality within its grasp.

Even Black Sword and Purple Fate Ancestor couldn’t mask the sense of dread that washed over them; they too could feel the impending, unavoidable assault.

The killing technique honed in on Qi Yuan with a vengeance.

“Beware! This is the Banner Master’s Supreme Truth killing technique, capable of freezing all time and space!” Black Sword called out to Qi Yuan, his warning urgent.

Purple Fate Ancestor, for his part, couldn’t hide his worry for the Human Emperor Hall envoy.

After all, the envoy had just saved Black Sword’s life.

For himself, though the Banner Master’s Supreme Truth killing technique would briefly restrain him, only something like Primordial Demon Blood could actually pose a fatal threat. Injuries were the worst he would endure, not death.

But Qi Yuan was different; he wasn’t a Great Supreme Truth. If trapped within this killing technique, survival would be virtually impossible.

Even as Black Sword shouted his warning, the killing technique zeroed in on Qi Yuan, capturing him in its crushing grip.

Ghost Zui’s face broke into a triumphant smile.

“Let’s see you escape this one, boy,” he sneered.

With the Banner Master’s killing technique active, Ghost Zui felt assured. Qi Yuan was caught, no longer able to evade their grasp, his fate sealed by the Banner Master’s powerful killing technique.

Seizing the moment, Black Sword lunged forward, intending to shield Qi Yuan, buying him even a sliver of time. Yet, the Fifth Patriarch blocked him like an immovable mountain, thwarting his attempt.

“Ghost Zui, recover the Primordial Demon Blood!” the Fifth Patriarch called out, urgency edging his tone.

With malicious glee, Ghost Zui unfurled the myriad-ghost Soul Banner. “Into the Soul Banner with you, brat! You’ll make an excellent soul wraith!”

He set the Soul Banner loose, brimming with dark, malignant energy. Normally, Ghost Zui wouldn’t expose himself in such a reckless, all-offense tactic without defense. However, confident in the Banner Master’s killing technique, he assumed Qi Yuan was powerless to resist.

Yet as Ghost Zui’s attack neared, something unexpected happened.

Qi Yuan—the Human Emperor Hall envoy they all thought immobilized—smirked.

The shock deepened as he reached out and clasped the Soul Banner’s segmented banner in his hand.

His voice rang out with a peculiar brightness, “Thank you, Nature, for your generous gifts!”

And with that, he vanished, Soul Banner and all.

Ghost Zui’s eyes widened in disbelief.

The Soul Banner—the one containing the Banner Master’s killing technique, capable of binding reality itself—had disappeared!

Aghast, he whispered, “Impossible.”

How could anyone move under the Banner Master’s Supreme Truth killing technique?

Ghost Zui was at a complete loss, his mind reeling with confusion and rage.

Even Black Sword was visibly stunned, unable to comprehend what he had just witnessed.

How could someone like Qi Yuan—a mere Yang God, not yet a Great Supreme Truth—have such immunity to the Banner Master’s power?

For all present, this mystery remained unsolved, a secret as deeply veiled as the very cosmos itself.