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

Chapter 475: He is a Demon and Must Be Vanquished!

In Ghost Pass, powerful figures gathered, their auras periodically pulsing through the air. Even the starlight from the Star Realm seemed drawn to the area, casting an ethereal glow upon the usually gloomy Ghost Pass. Within a short half-day, the grim and oppressive atmosphere was replaced by an almost celestial ambiance, as if it had transformed into a sanctuary of immortal energy.

As the old saying goes, “A mountain need not be high if there is a deity residing upon it.”

"Master of Shenluo Heaven, it's been ages, and yet your elegance is unshaken,” spoke the Abyss Lord of the Endless Abyss, an amorphous creature stretching beyond sight. His race dwelled in the Abyss, one of the most mysterious realms in the Sixfold Heaven.

The Master of Shenluo Heaven gazed at him in surprise. "And you, old friend, have finally reemerged?"

The Abyss Lord hadn’t appeared since the last Linya Transformation. “A Grand Supreme Truth hasn’t fallen in ages, so I thought I’d join in the excitement,” he replied. The last Supreme Truth to fall had been the Great Sunlight Buddha of the Buddhist Kingdom.

The Yang God Sages around them fell silent, some casting subtle glances at the Supreme Truth of the Sky Loft. The Sky Loft was known as one of the strongest of the three heavens and was home to a Supreme Sovereign who had deep ties to the fallen Buddha, having taught him for a brief time before he attained enlightenment. It was likely this connection that preserved the Buddhist Kingdom; without a Grand Supreme Truth to safeguard it, Taihuang Palace could have easily snuffed it out.

The Supreme Truth from Sky Loft maintained a composed demeanor, appearing unaffected by the Abyss Lord’s words. The White Dragon Abyss Lord then remarked, “I’ve heard a new Buddha has emerged in the Buddhist Kingdom. Perhaps this Linya Transformation will bring forth another Grand Supreme Truth for them.”

In the Sixfold Heaven, there are the powers of One Hall, Two Palaces, Three Heavens, Four Abysses, and several Sacred Lands. If the Buddhist Kingdom were to gain another Supreme Truth, it would undoubtedly rise among these ranks.

“This Linya Transformation is once again under Taihuang Palace’s direction. The Buddhist Kingdom…is in danger,” the Abyss Lord commented with quiet implications.

“Humph! Taihuang Palace may preside over the Linya Transformation, but that does not grant them the right to unjustly kill,” scoffed an aged voice with unyielding authority. The speaker was a Yang God from the Council of Supreme Truths. The Council had been the leading force in the previous Linya Transformation, pursuing a vision of countless Supreme Truths. Thanks to their balancing influence, the number of Yang Gods who fell had been relatively low last time.

At this, the Banner Lord of Ghost Heaven spoke up. “This so-called Envoy of the Emperor’s Hall has mercilessly slain many of our Yang God Sages in Ghost Heaven. I wonder when the Council will bring justice and execute this Envoy?” His tone was thick with mockery, signaling Ghost Heaven’s alliance with Taihuang Palace and, consequently, opposition to the Council. In this Linya Transformation, Taihuang Palace’s second goal, aside from promoting Yang Gods to the One Hall, was to curb the Council’s influence and cement its position as the dominant power in the Sixfold Heaven.

The Council’s Supreme Truth merely sneered in response, remaining silent. To the Council, Ghost Heaven was like a malignant tumor within the Celestial Realm, a force they would have eradicated long ago if not for Taihuang Palace’s support.

The White Dragon Abyss Lord turned to the Banner Lord with interest. “I’m curious, Banner Lord. How do you intend to defeat this Envoy of the Emperor’s Hall? Is it possible Taihuang Palace’s Supreme One has deigned to descend in person?”

Only an Upper Sage could hope to kill a Grand Supreme Truth.

The Banner Lord smiled mysteriously. “Heaven’s secrets are not to be revealed.”

The White Dragon Abyss Lord chuckled. “This Envoy of the Emperor’s Hall... I’m curious about his origins.”

Recently, this Envoy had turned Ghost Heaven upside down, attracting the attention of many top cultivators. Rumors about his identity ran wild, and several Sacred Lands even hoped to establish friendly ties with him, though without knowing where to start.

“Perhaps...he is an old friend of ours,” suggested the Master of Shenluo Heaven, casting a shrewd gaze around the assembly. The Sixfold Heaven was merely enjoying a calm before the storm; once the Linya Transformation began, the furnace of contention would ignite.

The other Supreme Truths exchanged curious glances, each pondering the mysterious identity of the Envoy of the Emperor’s Hall. Meanwhile, the Banner Lord concentrated on divining the location of the Ten Thousand Ghosts Banner.

Time flowed on, and the assembled Yang God Sages mingled, though undercurrents of rivalry ran deep. At length, a sharp gleam appeared in the Banner Lord’s eyes.

“Found him!”

Every Yang God Sage turned to him with eager anticipation.

“He’s in… the Heavenly Earth Mystical Land!”

The Yang Gods’ faces filled with astonishment.

“He’s in the Heavenly Earth Mystical Land?”

“But how? There’s a Holy Light Clan in there!”

The Supreme Truths were taken aback. Those among them who knew more understood that the real threat in the Heavenly Earth Mystical Land wasn’t the Holy Light Clan but the Remnant Robe Spirit. Both were beings few dared provoke.

“How did he enter that Mystical Land?”

“Banner Lord, you’ve got your work cut out for you with this one,” some other Supreme Truths laughed.

Unlike other Mystical Lands, the Banner Lord couldn’t simply waltz into the Heavenly Earth Mystical Land and kill the Envoy or absorb the Mystical Land itself. In this place, he was the one who would be in danger.

The Banner Lord’s expression hardened. “Let’s go to the Heavenly Earth Mystical Land. If he refuses to come out, I’ll seal the entrance and leave him there forever.”

With a sweep of his sleeves, the Banner Lord led the way to the Heavenly Earth Mystical Land. The Yang God Sages exchanged glances, each bearing varied expressions of amusement and concern, before following.

The White Dragon Abyss Lord smirked, clearly enjoying the spectacle; she was curious to see how the Banner Lord intended to navigate this impasse. She knew well that the entrance to the Heavenly Earth Mystical Land was not something that could be so easily sealed.

News of this gathering quickly spread across the Sixfold Heaven, reaching various Sacred Lands. Half a day later, Purple Fate Lu learned of the situation and turned deathly pale.

"The Envoy of the Emperor’s Hall… is really in the Heavenly Earth Mystical Land… This is terrible!”

Her nerves were frayed. Could this be a mere coincidence? It was far too convenient. “I just hope Brother Blood Robe isn’t with the Envoy of the Emperor’s Hall in the Mystical Land!”

She could only console herself with this thought; there was no one to turn to for help now. And even if she could reach someone, who could she trust? The higher-ups in Black Demon Abyss would likely be glad to see Blood Robe die. Even Senior Brother Black Sword was embroiled in schemes—how much less would they care about Blood Robe? With no other recourse, she could only pray for his safety.

Meanwhile, for half a day, a cluster of Yang God Sages waited outside the Heavenly Earth Mystical Land while the Banner Lord paced, still unwilling to act rashly. Within, the beings that dwelled there filled him with dread. His indecision evoked mixed reactions from the gathered Supreme Truths, some merely watching in amusement while others felt a measure of sympathy.

“No wonder this Envoy of the Emperor’s Hall is so audacious. He’s found himself quite a nest,” remarked the Abyss Lord of the Endless Abyss with a wry smile. If he could neutralize the Holy Light Clan and win the support of the Remnant Robe Spirit, he might consider moving his clan into the Mystical Land himself.

The Banner Lord’s face darkened as he surveyed the scene, his gaze eventually falling on the nearby marketplace. The area bustled with mortals and cultivators, their presence a nuisance in his eyes.

“Erase these insects!” he commanded. A single sweep of his hand obliterated tens of thousands of lives in an instant. To him, it was as easy as swatting a fly.

The other Supreme Truths remained unmoved, their expressions indifferent. Even those aligned with the Council of Supreme Truths, normally advocates of order, said nothing; it was unwise to provoke the Banner Lord over the lives of mortals. Besides, the Council’s aim was to protect the interests of Yang God Sages, not mortals and low-level cultivators. The dead had been exterminated in an instant, with neither pain nor warning.

“He can’t hide in there forever,” the Banner Lord muttered in frustration, already reaching out to Taihuang Palace for a way to break the stalemate.

“If I were him, I’d gladly stay hidden,” remarked the White Dragon Abyss Lord with a chuckle.

The Supreme Truth of the Council nodded, smirking. “It seems, Banner Lord, that your banquet has been a miscalculation. Are you hoping to set a record for the longest feast in the Sixfold Heaven?”

The derision in his words was clear, and the Banner Lord’s face darkened. Just then, a familiar figure appeared at the entrance to the Mystical Land.

The figure, clad in armor like liquid blood and covered in thorny, violet crystalline armor, radiated an ominous, fearsome aura, with only his cold, merciless eyes visible beneath his helmet. A blood-colored sword glinted in his grasp, wrapped in an aura of greed, envy, and lust—a weapon that seemed steeped in the miasma of the underworld.

He looked like a demonic god emerging from hell.

In truth, his aura was even darker and more sinister than that of any hellish being.

Every Yang God Sage instantly focused on the blood-armored figure, their eyes filled with surprise and curiosity.

“This one reeks of sin… Greed, gluttony, murder. This Envoy of the Emperor’s Hall is the very incarnation of original sin,” commented the Abyss Lord.

“With such dense malevolent energy, he is indeed worthy of death,” intoned the Master of Shenluo Heaven.

The White Dragon Abyss Lord narrowed her eyes in curiosity. “Such a familiar feeling... Could he be an old acquaintance?”

No familiar names came to mind, but she couldn’t shake the sense of recognition.

“A demon of this magnitude... Xuqi, surely you have no objections if I cut him down?” the Banner Lord asked, addressing the Supreme Truth of the Council.

Council Sage Xuqi shrugged in resignation.

The blood-clad figure took in his surroundings, undeterred by the many formidable auras around him. Holding his blood-colored sword at the ready, he spoke. “Will you all be coming at me together?”

The Supreme Truths froze in shock, their amusement vanishing.

“Does this Envoy of the Emperor’s Hall imagine he can contend with all of us?”

The White Dragon Abyss Lord laughed. “You misunderstand, Daoist. We’re here to watch the show. Your opponent is the Banner Lord.”

The Banner Lord raised the Ten Thousand Ghosts Banner, eyes alight with killing intent. “You have chosen to step into hell’s gates yourself. Today…you will die!”

He exuded renewed confidence since learning that his opponent wasn’t a Grand Supreme Truth, and with the Taisie Talisman in hand, there was no need to worry about him escaping.

The blood-clad figure scanned the ruins around him, his expression inscrutable. After a brief pause, he sighed. “The cultivation world’s ethics… have fallen low.”

The carelessness of the powerful could shatter countless lives, reduced in historical texts to a mere line like “the famine year drove men to eat one another.”

The blood-armored figure held his sword with an expression as cold as ever.

Seeing him draped in an aura of dark energy even more sinister than his own, the Banner Lord sneered. “You have the gall to speak of ethics when you reek of evil more than I do? Do you believe you can provoke me and simply walk away?”

“You are about to learn the meaning of true power… of a Grand Supreme Truth!”

As he spoke, the starlight intensified. With a snap of his fingers, the Taisie Talisman fell, settling across the battlefield with blinding speed.

The Yang Gods gasped, each recognizing the formidable Taisie Talisman.

“So, the Banner Lord did come prepared!”

Surrounded by starry light, the blood-armored figure’s armor gleamed a deeper red. He observed the Banner Lord with intrigue. “Interesting talisman. You’re making me want to hit you more.”

The Banner Lord held the Ten Thousand Ghosts Banner aloft, his voice a mix of menace and glee. “Trying to stall, are you? Without a way to escape, you are dead today!”

The White Dragon Abyss Lord commented idly, “Even without an escape plan, I wonder if you can truly kill him.”

Several Supreme Truths shared the same doubt.

The Banner Lord looked at his foe with renewed confidence. “If he lacks the Supreme Truth Seal, he’s nothing but prey on the chopping block.”

At this, the gathered Supreme Truths fell into stunned silence. The man who had razed Ghost Heaven was not even a Grand Supreme Truth.

The blood-armored figure rolled his eyes, clearly unimpressed. “Can we cut the speeches and just fight?”

The Banner Lord narrowed his eyes. “You’ve no idea of true Supreme Truth power!”

With a flick of his wrist, the Ten Thousand Ghosts Banner unleashed a devastating blow. This was the full strength of his main body, a strike empowered by the Ten Thousand Ghosts Banner itself, reaching a terrifying magnitude.

Even a Grand Supreme Truth’s shield would crack under such an attack.