Chapter 356: Enough, Self-Destruction!

Bai Qiulan had gotten what she wanted.

Lu Ye really did kill his master in front of everyone, witnessed by all under the Nine Heavens!

Unfortunately, it would not be Lu Ye forever branded as a disgrace, but Bai Qiulan.

The Dark Origin instantly yanked back its heavenly projection.

Bai Qiulan was a dead woman.

The moment Lu Ye found her, she was already dead—the Dark Origin could not save her and had no choice but to abandon her.

But even in abandonment, it couldn’t just slink away quietly.

After all, why had the Dark Origin been dragged into mutual destruction by Lu Ye before its rebirth? Wasn’t it because it had been so busy rubbernecking that it got overly excited, exposing its true form’s location, allowing Lu Ye to take it down?

That’s the Dark Origin for you—always sticking its nose where it doesn’t belong.

Moreover, Bai Qiulan’s death throes had, in the end, provided it with an immense amount of energy.

The moment the Dark Origin retreated, black lightning went haywire across the world.

Unfortunately, the Dark Origin fled too quickly, and it got away clean.

But Shen Xitong just shrugged—it was enough, more than enough.

She was satisfied. The Dark Origin could be struck by lightning anytime, but this kind of prime-time drama wasn’t something one could encounter so easily.

This time, the Dark Origin had finally done something right by Shen Xitong.

For now, she’d let it slide this time.

To be honest, Bai Qiulan’s death was something far too many had wished for.

Providence, Lu Ye, Yue Hongling, everyone in the Nine Heavens—even the Dark Origin had known Bai Qiulan would die and had helped things along.

In all the Nine Heavens, perhaps only Sun Ruowei hadn’t wanted Bai Qiulan to die.

But she was still stuck down in the Fourth Heaven.

Yue Hongling was already half-gone, her soul burning up.

It was a shame that the scene of her colluding with the Devourbeast to trash the Fourth Heaven wasn’t shown—but then again, since the projection was released by the Dark Origin, even if it had been displayed, the Dark Origin might have cut it out.

Whatever.

The moment the scene of Bai Qiulan controlling the Chaos Venom was revealed, the show had already peaked.

The rest was just cleanup.

The Human Emperor Banner gave a triumphant flutter.

Bai Qiulan got sucked straight into the Human Emperor Banner.

The two Lunar Marrow Worms were making a break for it when Lu Ye shut them down mid-scramble.

The Heaven-Locking Seal trapped both Lunar Marrow Worms—though they were of high rank, they were still in their juvenile stage.

Eh, screw it. Might as well kill them too and let them keep Bai Qiulan company inside the Human Emperor Banner.

The Vermilion Bird True Flame roared to life.

The two Lunar Marrow Worms let out piercing shrieks, disintegrating slowly into ash in Lu Ye's hand.

To be honest, there was even a distinct smell of charred meat, like grilled grasshoppers.

The souls of the two Lunar Marrow Worms were drawn into the Human Emperor Banner, where the purple mist churned wildly, pouring into Bai Qiulan.

Another main soul was born. Previously, the Human Emperor Banner had been belching uncontrollably after absorbing all the souls of the demons and those within the Soul Banners in people's hands. Now, with Bai Qiulan's entry, it finally relieved some of the pressure.

The souls of Chu Ling and Jiang Die floated before Bai Qiulan, looking pleased.

Excellent—fresh blood for the sisterhood.

Bai Qiulan's ghostly figure contorted painfully. Though she would no longer suffer from the afflictions of the Chaotic Lunar Constitution, the Human Emperor Banner had no place for weaklings.

Every soul entering the Human Emperor Banner would undergo soul-rending metamorphosis.

Moreover, to strengthen the banner's combat power and better protect this greater collective, the souls inside would endure brutal tempering sessions at regular intervals.

As the saying goes, "When Heaven is about to place great destiny upon a cultivator, it first tests their resolve, exhausts their body, starves their flesh, and disrupts their actions." The Human Emperor Banner was doing this for the sake of these souls.

Having settled these matters,

Lu Ye's attention shifted at last to Yue Hongling.

Yue Hongling was also looking up at him, her gaze vacant.

"Senior brother... I've always adored you..."

Lu Ye frowned deeply.

Yue Hongling had lost her mind.

No matter. After all, Yue Hongling had never provoked him before, so there was no need to kill her now.

Lu Ye turned to leave.

Yet, unexpectedly, Yue Hongling suddenly reached out and clutched desperately at his sleeve.

"Senior brother, put me in the Ten Thousand Soul Banner, please! Don’t cast me aside! I know I was wrong—put me in the Ten Thousand Soul Banner!"

At this moment, Yue Hongling was lucid in her madness.

She was begging Lu Ye to take her into the Ten Thousand Soul Banner!

"You owe me nothing. Live well." Lu Ye's voice was steady, cold as jade.

He sliced through the fabric without hesitation and strode away.

"No!"

"No! Senior brother!"

"Put me in the Ten Thousand Soul Banner, put me in the Ten Thousand Soul Banner, I beg you!"

Yue Hongling crumpled like a broken doll, her qi in complete disarray.

She screamed until her voice cracked.

"Senior brother!"

"Senior brother!"

"Senior brother!"

Her voice sounded like it was bleeding with grief.

Yet Lu Ye never turned around, his figure vanishing from sight.

As long as she hadn’t provoked him, he wouldn't kill - not even if she begged for death.

Lu Ye had already sensed that from now on, his life would become a storm.

The rebirth of a Celestial Lord carried immense deterrence, but the allure was downright irresistible. Some had long gone completely unhinged chasing enlightenment. Now that Lu Ye’s identity was exposed, it was like sharks smelling blood in the water.

What came next would be pure madness.

But what did Lu Ye fear?

In his world, stealth wasn't in his vocabulary—he didn't do cautious.

Enemies came? He'd fight. Couldn't win? He'd scheme. If scheming failed, he would flee. If fleeing was impossible, he would die.

He lived loud and died proud!

Besides, with the Great Sage of the Nine Heavens standing guard here, who'd be stupid enough to try anything?

That was the Great Sage of the Nine Heavens—an absolute badass who had once single-handedly cleaned house during the darkest era. Back then, there were no protective mechanisms. Sometimes, killing a single World Realm cultivator could bring an Emperor's wrath down on you.

To grow under such circumstances and become a Great Sage, the rules written by someone like that—you didn't need to be a genius to figure out how terrifying they must be.

Still, he had training to do.

Now that his head was finally clear, it was the perfect time for cultivation.

Wait—no, he still had to have that philosophy debate with Emperor Daohen. He had almost forgotten.

Then he would go discuss the Dao first. Discussing the Dao was also a form of cultivation.

Lu Ye’s figure flew once more toward the outer realms. Truth be told, all this back-and-forth was eating up time.

Yue Hongling stood frozen at the spot where Lu Ye had disappeared.

To be honest, life had lost all meaning for her.

The love she'd idealized had sought to harm her. The master who had treated her so kindly had destroyed each other. The senior brother who had cared for her the most had been left broken by her betrayal.

What purpose did she have left in this world?

Enough… enough. She'd do it herself.

At this moment, Yue Hongling had resolved to die.

She raised her palm, a glowing sigil taking shape within it.

"Senior brother, I’m sorry!"

"Senior brother, goodbye!"

"Senior brother, I loved you...so much..."