A broken flag? Useless?
Ning Yin was skeptical.
The treasure of Lingxiao Immortal Lord, sealed with a mark that only a Nascent Soul cultivator could unlock—how could that be something useless?
“I don’t believe it. If it really were just a broken flag, why would it appear here? Generally speaking, the more inconspicuous something is, the more extraordinary it turns out to be. It’s like the rusty sword you got from Ye Shangqiu. Who would have thought it might be Lingxiao Immortal Lord’s Life-bound Sword from a thousand years ago? You didn’t even know what it was, so you just spoke nonsense?”
“If you want to know what it really is, you’ll find out eventually. It’s getting late. Take your treasure; we’ll return to Xiuxia Town first.”
“My treasure? You don’t want it?”
“You killed the Snake Demon; I didn’t contribute, so the treasure naturally belongs to you. It’s what you deserve.”
“But Ye Shangqiu led the way, and when we killed the Snake Demon, it was thanks to him using the special Realgar Powder made from twenty-three kinds of spirit herbs. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have been able to slay the Snake Demon so easily. We should split the treasure with him.”
“If you want to share, then give him his part.”
Just then, Ye Shangqiu burst into the cave like a gust of wind, excitement shining from his face as he shouted, “Found it! I found the way to break the seal!”
But the next moment, his voice abruptly stopped, eyes locked on the open wooden chest atop the stone platform and the few treasures resting silently inside.
Ye Shangqiu froze in place, disbelief written all over his face: “The seal… has been broken?!”
However, the shock quickly faded. He took a deep breath, his eyes slightly reddening as he slowly approached the stone platform and stared at the treasures inside the chest.
Eight years. A full eight years. He had finally found the world’s greatest treasures on Jiuyi Mountain!
The rumors were true. Lingxiao Immortal Lord really did leave supreme treasures on Jiuyi Mountain, awaiting a destined person in later generations.
He was that destined person!
“Elixirs. I’ve heard that the pills Lingxiao Immortal Lord took were all personally refined by himself. The Double Fish Jade Pendant, the Divine Dragon Cover…” Ye Shangqiu’s hands trembled as his emotions surged uncontrollably.
“These… these are all Heaven-grade Magic Treasures! Over the years, anyone who found even a single Earth-grade Magic Treasure on Jiuyi Mountain caused a stir throughout the cultivation world. Now, we’ve found three Heaven-grade Magic Treasures! If news of this spreads, who knows how many cultivators will rush to Jiuyi Mountain for treasure!”
“There’s one more thing,” Ning Yin said, playing with the broken flag Yan Hanzhou had mentioned. “Do you recognize this Magic Treasure?”
Ye Shangqiu’s gaze fell on the flag. “This flag… is this also from the chest?”
Ning Yin nodded, and he carefully took it, inspecting it closely.
There was only one intricate golden rune on the flag. The pattern shimmered and flowed, identical to the seal mark on the treasure chest.
“That’s not right…” Ye Shangqiu muttered, confusion deepening on his face.
“Lingxiao Immortal Lord’s Life-bound Treasure—I’ve read his biographies inside and out. I should know them well. But this flag… I’ve never seen it before.”
He couldn’t make sense of it and was lost in thought when he suddenly looked at Yan Hanzhou. “Brother Yan, perhaps you’ve figured something out?”
Yan Hanzhou remained expressionless. “Why do you say that?”
“I’ve been selling goods at Xiuxia Town for eight years. I can read people pretty well. Back then, when you held that rusty sword on my stall, the look in your eyes was exactly the same as now. If you know the origin of this flag, you could just tell us straightaway. It would broaden our knowledge.”
Before Yan Hanzhou could speak, Ning Yin interjected, “Is it true? You know the origin of this flag? Yan Hanzhou, be honest. Don’t lie to me.”
“…I do.”
Ning Yin’s eyes lit up. “What origin?”
“You really want to know?”
“Of course. Something so plain, hidden under so many seals in Jiuyi Mountain, must have an extraordinary history. Who wouldn’t want to know?”
Yan Hanzhou fell silent for a moment, then said, “A thousand years ago, Lingxiao once slaughtered the Three Sects and Nine Clans in a single day, all with the help of this flag. No one in the world knows its true origin. After all, anyone who saw it died.”
“This flag?”
“The Banner of Ten Thousand Souls.”
“…” Ning Yin murmured, “If you don’t work hard as a young cultivator, you’ll end up in the Banner of Ten Thousand Souls.”
Ye Shangqiu looked solemnly at the Banner in his hand. “You’re saying this is the Banner of Ten Thousand Souls? The one that can refine a person’s soul?”
“Usually only demons and villains use such things, right? Lingxiao Immortal Lord…” Seeing Ning Yin’s horrified expression, Yan Hanzhou frowned deeply and tried to say something, but Ning Yin seemed to have made up her mind.
She said firmly, “I get it now. It must be that the leaders of the Three Sects and Nine Clans were corrupt or had fallen to the Demon Dao. That’s why Lingxiao Immortal Lord used this to deal with them.”
Yan Hanzhou couldn’t help but laugh. “Aren’t you afraid?”
“Afraid of what?”
“This Banner has refined the souls of countless people from the Three Sects and Nine Clans.”
Ye Shangqiu put the Banner of Ten Thousand Souls back into the chest.
“Such a treasure is beyond my control. I won’t take it. But Brother Yan, how did you know this Banner was the tool Lingxiao Immortal Lord used to slaughter the Three Sects and Nine Clans in a day? I’ve collected all records I could find about Lingxiao Immortal Lord from every sect and region of Jiu Zhou, but this Banner has never been mentioned.”
“From the Wild History of Lingxiao Immortal Lord.”
Ye Shangqiu was stunned. “Wild History?”
“I knew you got it from the Wild History. Talking about the Banner of Ten Thousand Souls slaughtering the Three Sects and Nine Clans in a day—some of that is just fan fiction. Even if this is the Banner of Ten Thousand Souls, it’s doubtful.”
“Fan fiction?”
“Weren’t you the one swearing that the records in that book are all backed by evidence and not baseless rumors? Like, Lingxiao Immortal Lord’s fiancée—”
“He really had a fiancée!”
“What?! Lingxiao Immortal Lord had a fiancée?!” Ye Shangqiu was shocked. “Brother Yan, do you know where I can buy this book?”
“He didn’t have a fiancée.”
“He did… Ah, forget it. Whether this is the Banner of Ten Thousand Souls or not, set it aside for now. Let’s divide the treasures first.”
“That’s right!” Ye Shangqiu eagerly agreed, eyes fixed on the three Magic Treasures.
“Whether or not it’s the Banner of Ten Thousand Souls, it’s beyond our ability to wield. No need to waste time on it. It’s already an incredible opportunity to have found three Heaven-grade Magic Treasures today. Let’s just divide them.”
“I didn’t contribute much, so the treasures aren’t mine. The Snake Demon was slain by Ning Yin. You take one, and the rest go to her. How’s that?” Though framed as a question, the tone left no room for negotiation.
Ye Shangqiu was smart. Knowing the unusual identities of the two, he had shamelessly followed them into Jiuyi Mountain and, as a result, found the treasures without trouble.
He knew when to stop.
“That’s only natural!” Ye Shangqiu cupped his hands toward Ning Yin. “Slaying the Snake Demon was a great feat of Ning Daoist. You deserve the lion’s share. Ning Daoist, you choose first. I’m fine with whatever’s left.”
“I think all the treasures are good. You choose first.”
At Ning Yin’s words, Ye Shangqiu was overjoyed. “Then I won’t be polite!”
He held the Double Fish Jade Pendant in his palm.
“This pendant can harmonize yin and yang, stabilize the Dao foundation, and prevent the danger of spiritual power imbalance or going mad during cultivation. Such a supreme treasure—I’ve coveted it for a long time! To be honest,” Ye Shangqiu inhaled deeply, his eyes filled with deep obsession and a subtle trace of bitterness,
“I’ve been stuck at the peak of Foundation Establishment for over fifty years. The bottleneck is as solid as a rock, impossible to overcome. This pendant is my only hope to break into the Golden Core.”
“Over fifty years?” Ning Yin exclaimed. “So many years without breaking through?”
Yan Hanzhou said gravely, “The cultivation path is long and arduous. Throughout history, countless geniuses have perished in the river of time. Of all cultivators, nine out of ten never get past the late Foundation Establishment stage. Don’t be fooled by the novels where the protagonist breaks Golden Core in seven days or awakens Nascent Soul in dangerous trials. The truth is most cultivators struggle endlessly.”
“Sorry.”
Ye Shangqiu laughed heartily. “Ning Daoist, no need to apologize. I’m just mediocre. If I hadn’t awakened my Heavenly Spiritual Root, I’d already be dust. If this Double Fish Jade Pendant can’t help me break through, then my cultivation road ends here.”
“With this treasure’s help, you’ll definitely break through Foundation Establishment.”
“I’ll borrow your auspicious words then. Since we’ve found the treasures today, I imagine Ning Daoist is tired. Let’s return to Xiuxia Town to rest before planning further.”
“That sounds good.”
The three left the Ten Thousand Snakes Cave as dusk settled.
All around Jiuyi Mountain, piercing howls of unknown origin echoed from the shadows, sharp and eerie, reverberating through the dark forest valleys.
During the day, one could still find the way, but at night, the endless towering ancient trees blocked all sight.
What made it worse was the restrictions over Jiuyi Mountain—cultivators could not fly on their swords. To leave Jiuyi Mountain, one had to rely on their own two legs.
After walking for an unknown length of time, with the moon now high among the branches, Ning Yin couldn’t help but ask, “Ye Shangqiu, are you sure we’re not lost?”
Ye Shangqiu looked at the path ahead with some confusion.
Though he had traveled from Xiuxia Town to Ten Thousand Snakes Cave many times, even with his eyes closed, he should have found it.
But tonight, no matter how he tried, he couldn’t find the Jiuyi Mountain entrance.
“That’s impossible. This is the right way. By now, we should have reached the entrance.”
As Ye Shangqiu said this, Ning Yin and Yan Hanzhou exchanged glances, both seeing the heaviness in each other’s eyes.
“Could there be demons causing trouble?”
Ye Shangqiu frowned. “I’ve been to Xiuxia Town for eight years. Every day I entered the mountain, encountering countless beasts—mostly at the Soul Condensation stage. Only once did I face a Demon King-level beast. That time, an Elder at late Golden Core perished along with seventeen others. Only I escaped death. Since then, I haven’t seen any beasts above Demon King level.”
“But this situation now, to trap us without a trace, must be caused by a beast at least at Demon King rank or above.”
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