Huo Liancheng had fainted but was not dead. His bones were shattered and his meridians severed, much like Huo Lu when he was a living dead man.

Lu Xingzhou calmly assessed his condition, not killing him, but merely letting out a soft sigh, silent.

Shen Tang walked over, her slender hand gently clasping his. She could feel a slight tremor, indicating that Lu Xingzhou’s heart was not at peace at this moment.

Shen Tang understood this feeling perfectly.

The vendetta for his family’s extermination was the driving force that kept Lu Xingzhou alive, both when he was used as a human medicine and later after being expelled from the Hall of Yama. The reason Lu Xingzhou could still bravely persevere was partly due to Ah Nuo’s companionship, and partly due to his obsession with revenge.

Recalling the time when Ah Nuo was suspected of being “critically ill,” Lu Xingzhou, who had always been so composed, instantly lost his composure, as if the world was about to collapse.

Now, with the goal Lu Xingzhou had pursued for half his life suddenly achieved, the emptiness of having completed a major life event and temporarily lost his objective was enough to cause temporary confusion.

For cultivators, this was also a spiritual cleansing, a perfect culmination of aspiration and practice, which could potentially lead to a breakthrough.

Everyone could see that after a moment of silence, Lu Xingzhou’s aura subtly began to grow, peacefully and linearly, rising steadily from mid-second rank all the way to the first rank. Then, after a slight pause at the first-rank threshold, he broke through with a single surge.

People also understood this concept very well: a spiritual fulfillment achieved by reaching a long-term fundamental goal could indeed lead to a major breakthrough. Lu Xingzhou’s breakthrough to first rank was, theoretically, a slight waste; it would have been more cost-effective to use it for breaking through to transcending rank.

Of course, he was still very young, far from transcending rank.

In fact, all the previous accolades of “youngest in the world” would now have to be revised.

Lu Xingzhou, at twenty-one years old, breaking through to the first rank, was the youngest first-rank cultivator since the nine-rank grading system was established.

If one considered the time when his cultivation officially began to skyrocket, it had only been a little over a year, which was even more terrifying. Before that, due to severed meridians, he had been stuck at the seventh rank, unable to make any progress. However, that could also be considered a period of accumulating strength, not that he had only cultivated for one year; otherwise, people might question their own lives.

But this also meant that if his leg problem had been resolved earlier, he might have reached first rank even sooner, perhaps even aiming for transcending rank by now…

Thinking this, several people’s gazes turned to Yuan Muyu.

Yuan Muyu originally had a joyful expression, feeling that she had participated in a “family battle” and achieved important interception. But at this moment, with several gazes turning her way, her heart skipped a beat, and she suddenly realized what everyone was looking at.

Her joyful expression froze on her face, which grew even paler.

Lu Xingzhou also looked at her at this moment. Yuan Muyu subtly recoiled half a step, her eyes pleading.

Yet, Lu Xingzhou smiled gently: “Thank you, Elder Sister.”

Yuan Muyu let out a slight sigh of relief, but her shoulders slumped slightly. She wanted to say something but held it back.

He seemed not to care anymore… but sometimes, she felt she would rather he did care.

It seemed some things, no matter how hard one tried, could not be remedied.

Lu Xingzhou looked up at the sky and whispered, “Can we get involved in the Qianyuan battle?”

Theoretically, it would be difficult.

Huo Liancheng’s transcending rank was problematic, which was why first and second-rank cultivators could deal with him.

Gu Zhanting’s Qianyuan was likely fine. Such a critical breakthrough would create an incredibly vast gap in combat power, making it highly probable that Huiyang cultivators couldn’t get involved, let alone those at first or second rank.

Especially since they lacked information and didn’t know the exact difference between Qianyuan and Huiyang, they couldn’t even make an estimate. Rashly getting involved might result in injuries from even stray energy.

The only expert here was Jiang Duxu, who himself had suppressed his Qianyuan rank and knew the strength of Qianyuan better than anyone.

At this moment, Jiang Duxu, in conjunction with Feng Ziliu, had defeated Gu Shaoli. Gu Shaoli was straightforward, directly discarding his sword and surrendering: “Might makes right. If I lost, I lost. I, Gu, only sought to prolong my life, and aside from this formation, I was not involved in anything else. But speaking of which, no matter how perfect your victory here is, if the Qianyuan battle is lost, everything will still be reversed. Do you have a contingency plan?”

For matters of pure strength, there was no contingency plan. All strategies ultimately came down to strength; if you could win, you could win; if you couldn’t, you couldn’t.

Jiang Duxu looked towards Lu Xingzhou, who, along with the others, was eagerly awaiting his answer.

Jiang Duxu said, “Each individual’s cultivation is different… Some at the peak of Huiyang can indeed contend with Qianyuan for a few moves, while others would die from a mere breeze. And some Qianyuan cultivators are incredibly formidable, while others are just average. I don’t know Gu Zhanting’s specifics, so I don’t want to get involved recklessly, nor do I recommend you try. After all, not all interventions are helpful; some might be counterproductive, distracting the Tianyao Holy Master instead.”

Lu Xingzhou nodded. Not directly going up to help was certainly not because he feared death, but precisely because he worried about being counterproductive. “Does Senior Jiang have any other good suggestions?”

“The safest option is to rely on powerful magical artifacts rather than entering the fray yourself,” Jiang Duxu suddenly pulled out a small mechanical puppet. “Like this.”

The puppet transformed into a streak of light, heading straight into the sky, its purpose unknown.

Yuan Muyu suddenly handed Lu Xingzhou a crystal core: “For you.”

Lu Xingzhou took it, feeling the peak Huiyang aura it contained. His first thought was that it perfectly suited the Myriad Souls Banner: “This is… that Netherworld Ghostflame from earlier?”

“Yes.” Yuan Muyu looked at him expectantly: “Give me the Myriad Souls Banner, how about I re-refine it for you?”

Lu Xingzhou turned and glanced around, then took out the Myriad Souls Banner amidst the gaze of countless high officials and important ministers.

Sheng Qingfeng: “…”

A year ago, if you had pulled out that thing in front of me, you’d probably be in jail. Now you’ve tricked my daughter away and you’re showing off, huh? In front of all the civil and military officials, you’re admitting you’re a demonic cultivator using evil arts, huh?

Just you wait, I’ll cultivate a new account and then have a talk with you.

A small, dark flame demon drilled out of the Myriad Souls Banner, its mouth practically watering as it looked at the crystal core in Lu Xingzhou’s hand: “My beloved master, your loyal Black Flame is willing to give everything for you! Just let me have a tiny, tiny bit of that crystal core to eat…”

God knows how a flame demon could drool. Yuan Muyu, however, looked a little stunned.

This Myriad Souls Banner was different from what she knew… Where did this little flame demon come from?

Though this flame demon was weak, its potential was not weak at all. This was a demon of forbidden arts, a sky-devouring black flame that consumed everything!

Lu Xingzhou was asking for her opinion: “Can I feed it?”

Yuan Muyu said woodenly, “What I gave you is yours. Feed it to whomever you like.”

The flame demon was ecstatic. It swooped down, wrapping the crystal core in its flames.

Under everyone’s watchful eyes, the crystal core grew smaller and smaller. A faint phantom of the previous flame demon flickered within the flames, slowly being integrated and devoured.

The aura of the sky-devouring black flame grew increasingly savage and violent. People standing far away could feel a sense of world-ending terror rising in their hearts.

The crystal core was soon completely consumed, leaving only a tiny residue. The flame demon ingratiatingly smiled: “I understand, I understand. I am a mature main soul now; I will refine the soul banner myself, Master, please wait.”

Then, the crystal core residue was swept onto the pole, and the black flame attached itself and burned. Before long, the pole of the soul banner became as clear as black jade, as if its entire material had been upgraded.

Yuan Muyu: “…”

This soul banner instantly became a Huiyang-level magical artifact. Its soul-burning effect likely had strong untapped potential, which was currently unknown.

Lu Xingzhou looked down at the unconscious Huo Liancheng, revealing a toothy grin.

Many civil and military officials recoiled half a step.

The soul banner lightly unfurled, and Huo Liancheng’s阴魂 (yin soul) floated aimlessly, drawn into the banner.

The biggest difference between a Huiyang soul and earlier yin souls was that earlier ones generally had no consciousness, allowing their master to command them. However, Huo Liancheng’s yin soul, though not entirely a Huiyang soul, could still retain a bit of consciousness, gnashing its teeth and cursing: “Lu Xingzhou, you cultivate souls with evil methods; you will surely incur the wrath of the world, and you will die a terrible death!”

Lu Xingzhou said, “Oh?” and replied, “Dealing with a traitor like you might not incur the wrath of the world; it might even be praised by it. Still stubborn at a time like this, Xiao Hei, burn him.”

The black flame grinned menacingly, enveloping Huo Liancheng’s yin soul. The screams of the soul roared out.

Lu Xingzhou smiled broadly: “No matter how you curse, once you’re in my Human Emperor Banner, do you still expect to have any autonomy? Now go, bite your former master.”

Huo Liancheng’s yin soul, which had been contorted with anger, suddenly looked somewhat confused, becoming muddled.

Then, anger surged again, but no longer against the “current master.” Instead, it was replaced by anger towards the “former master” for not treating him as a human, for making him take the blame his whole life, and for not even guiding him on a proper path.

The master of the Myriad Souls Banner could naturally easily interfere with all the consciousness of the yin souls within the banner, amplifying a corner of their thoughts and effortlessly taking over everything.

Huo Liancheng’s yin soul suddenly let out a roar, then shot up into the sky.

Lu Xingzhou lightly unfurled his soul banner, and the black flame quietly followed.

The scene fell silent. Everyone stared blankly at Lu Xingzhou, who had always given the impression of being gentle and refined, a “gentleman like jade,” now revealing an unprecedented demonic nature.

They looked at Shen Tang; she seemed utterly unconcerned, still holding his hand, as if comforting him.

Crazy. Why would a demonic cultivator like him need comforting…

Yuan Muyu looked at their tightly clasped hands, the light in her eyes growing dimmer.

From beyond the nine heavens, Gu Zhanting’s furious roar suddenly echoed: “Huo Liancheng, you too betray Us!!”

Huo Liancheng’s soul voice resonated for miles: “Gu Zhanting! You bastard, when you killed Minister Zhang, I framed him for you; when you killed General Xie, I poisoned him for you; you raised demons, and I took the blame; you embezzled money, treasures, and the Birthday Tribute, you undertook vast construction to build altars, you planted demons as officials everywhere—I did it all for you! My whole family died, and you told me not to act rashly! I bore a lifetime of infamy and endured family revenge for you, and in the end, you even misled me about my cultivation path. Go to hell!”