Golden Core is a Star, and You Call This Cultivation?

An enraged roar tore through Ghost Heaven, echoing across millions of miles. It reverberated with a burst of dark light, blindingly intense yet incomprehensible. Heaven and earth trembled, spirit energy rippling like tidal waves, as countless cultivators shivered in fear or stood frozen in awe.

“This power level…”

“What caliber of strength are we witnessing here?”

One of the Yang God Sages muttered in astonishment. “Is that… Ghost Heaven? The Banner Lord has made a move?”

“Could it be… the Envoy of the Emperor’s Hall again?”

“Wait—where’s the Ten Thousand Ghosts Banner?”

In the void, a Yang God Sage blinked in shock, his mind whirling with bewilderment. Over in Demon Pass, cultivators had also turned their gaze toward Ghost Heaven.

“Damn, the Envoy of the Emperor’s Hall really pulled it off—he took the Ten Thousand Ghosts Banner!” Purple Fate Xue muttered in disbelief, even as she absentmindedly snacked on mushrooms.

“Doesn’t this mean it’s the perfect time for us to launch an attack on Ghost Heaven?” An Xunlu, though prone to romantic daydreams, was also practical and immediately added, “A guy like that Envoy of the Emperor’s Hall—and Blood Robe dares to compare himself?”

Purple Fate Lu shot An Xunlu a glare, twisting her robe anxiously as she struggled to think of any way to defend Brother Blood Robe. The moment the Ten Thousand Ghosts Banner vanished, Purple Fate Lu had an inkling it was tied to her past mission for Brother Blood Robe, where she’d discovered how the Heavenly Earth Mystical Land could access the Ten Thousand Ghosts Banner.

Surely, Brother Blood Robe must know the Envoy of the Emperor’s Hall! His stunning feat—there had to be a contribution from Blood Robe and, indeed, her own major efforts! Still, she kept her mouth shut, her promise to Blood Robe silencing her. If only An Xunlu knew the truth, she would be floored!

Purple Fate Lu glanced at Ice Sword, who sighed. “If it were any other time, we’d have charged in without hesitation, but right now, with Black Demon Abyss bowing to Taihuang Palace, what reason do we have to act?”

The chaos at Demon Pass would be ideal for striking under cover. But with their Abyss Master now lying low, they risked marching straight into death. An Xunlu’s eyes glowed with resolve. “When Brother Black Sword ascends to Grand Supreme Truth and commands Black Demon Abyss, we won’t endure such humiliation!”

The other young warriors murmured in agreement. It was clear they had faith in Black Sword. He was the one true hope of Black Demon Abyss, though his growth was still underway. Until he reached his full strength, the Abyss would have to endure and wait.

“One Envoy of the Emperor’s Hall can shake all of Ghost Heaven. If Brother Black Sword reaches the Grand Supreme Truth level, even Taihuang Palace would have to respect us,” said one warrior.

Indeed, murmurs had spread through the Black Demon Abyss: the Abyss Master had bowed to Taihuang Palace to give Black Sword the time to grow. In Linya’s Transformation, without someone at the level of Grand Supreme Truth, they were mere pawns, lacking any true voice. The Abyss Master’s temporary retreat would secure a stronger future, allowing them to transcend. After all, while disturbances plagued weaker sects, the ancient powers led by Grand Supreme Truths remained still as mountains.

Now, even the Yang God Sages were captivated by the thought of the Emperor’s Hall Envoy seizing the Ten Thousand Ghosts Banner—a treasure of such magnitude that every Yang God Sage couldn’t help but be astonished. No other Sacred Land would allow one of its supreme weapons to fall into enemy hands, and yet the Envoy had pulled off this unimaginable feat, inspiring both awe and dread.

“This Envoy of the Emperor’s Hall is indeed mysterious!”

“He’s being overly bold; when Linya’s Transformation begins, Taihuang Palace will undoubtedly deal with him first!”

“No historical records even mention his sect.”

<hr>

Back in the Heavenly Earth Mystical Land, Qi Yuan sighed in relief. “Good, I made it back safely.”

Excitement sparked in his eyes as he gazed at the third of the Ten Thousand Ghosts Banner that he now possessed. Combined with his half-finished Emperor’s Banner, he was almost ready to forge a powerful offensive artifact. With it, his Ultra-Grand Plan was within reach.

Wasting no time, Qi Yuan focused his attention on refining the Ten Thousand Ghosts Banner. Suddenly, a terrifying figure emerged from within it, emitting a menacing aura and rushing to attack him. Even the low-level cultivators in the Mystical Land felt a foreboding sense of impending doom.

“What’s happening?”

“Is that… the aura of a Yang God Sage?”

But Qi Yuan merely laughed at the Ten Thousand Ghosts Banner’s defiance. “You’ve entered my house, yet you still want to defy me?”

A vast pressure swept through the land, and Qi Yuan effortlessly nullified the power of a Grand Supreme Truth-level strike. He stomped on the banner, pinning its spirit in place. The artifact struggled, but its weakened state left it unable to break free.

To ease any unrest, Qi Yuan called out, “Don’t worry, everyone! I’m just refining a treasure. It might get a little noisy, but you’ll be fine. If you can’t sleep, just think ‘sleep,’ and I’ll help you fall right to sleep!”

He tried to be considerate, knowing the chaos and noise might disrupt even the regular folk of the Mystical Land. Hearing his reassuring words, the inhabitants felt a sense of relief.

“It’s the master himself!”

“Is he crafting some grand treasure?”

The days that followed were eventful. Every day, sounds resembling heavenly music filled the air. Thousands of sages seemed to debate their philosophies, tens of thousands of Buddhas chanted sutras, and the land resonated with ghostly howls. The first six months brought trepidation, but eventually, even the strange sights and sounds of the northeast became a familiar, albeit otherworldly, spectacle.

“It’s indeed a Yang God weapon—truly awe-inspiring!”

“The tiniest whiff of that aura could throw all of Heaven’s Lands into chaos.”

“It feels… familiar somehow, like the Ten Thousand Ghosts Banner of Ghost Heaven.”

“Could this master actually be a Ghost Heaven cultivator?”

In Ghost Heaven, meanwhile, the Banner Lord floated high in the void, eyes blazing with menace as the Ten Thousand Ghosts Banner trembled under his control. The nearby Yang God Sages averted their gazes, cowed by the Banner Lord’s seething rage.

“Do you think hiding in a mystical land can keep you from me?” he growled. From his connection to the Ten Thousand Ghosts Banner, the Banner Lord sensed the Envoy of the Emperor’s Hall was hiding somewhere in the Mystical Lands. Although the exact location was unknown, he would find it soon enough.

“Taking the Ten Thousand Ghosts Banner will come at a high price!” Reaching out to Taihuang Palace for assistance, he decided to put the Envoy of the Emperor’s Hall down for good—if not to kill him, then to imprison him permanently.

Moments later, a spectral figure materialized above Ghost Heaven. Every Yang God Sage bowed deeply.

“Welcome, True Origin Sage!” the Banner Lord intoned respectfully.

True Origin Sage was, beneath Taihuang Palace’s Great Sun himself, their mightiest figure.

“The Great Sun has confirmed that the Envoy of the Emperor’s Hall is no Grand Supreme Truth,” True Origin Sage stated, his voice like a resonant bell.

The gathered Yang God Sages were shocked.

“He’s not a Grand Supreme Truth?”

“How can that be? If he isn’t, how could he kill a Supreme Truth so easily?”

“If he isn’t a Grand Supreme Truth, what am I?” one Supreme Truth Yang God muttered bitterly.

The Banner Lord looked incredulous. Had the Envoy of the Emperor’s Hall not been a Grand Supreme Truth, he couldn’t have escaped from their clutches.

“The number of Grand Supreme Truths has neither increased nor decreased. Furthermore, I’ve observed that he lacks the Supreme Mark. He may be an anomaly from outside the Celestial Realm—capable of wielding the power of a Grand Supreme Truth without actually being one,” True Origin Sage concluded.

This news made the Banner Lord’s eyes flash with lethal intent. “No Supreme Mark… does that mean… I could kill him?”

For those at the Grand Supreme Truth level, the Supreme Mark connects them deeply to Celestial Dao itself, making it impossible to harm each other under normal circumstances. Only offensive celestial artifacts could carve a crack in another Grand Supreme Truth’s Supreme Mark. Of course, an Upper Sovereign could simply erase it and kill them outright.

The Banner Lord shook his head, however. Catching the elusive Envoy of the Emperor’s Hall would still be nearly impossible.

“This is a Taisie Talisman. It creates an eternal instant—a brief eternity, if you will. If he lacks true Supreme-level strength, he will be bound and unable to leave,” True Origin Sage said, handing him a seemingly ordinary talisman.

The surrounding Yang Gods were taken aback.

“A Taisie Talisman!”

“The Great Sun created this talisman himself. The Envoy of the Emperor’s Hall… he’s as good as dead!”

Accepting the talisman, the Banner Lord’s eyes gleamed with determination. “Rest assured, True Origin Sage. With this Taisie Talisman, I will personally execute him!”

The Banner Lord would trap and slowly grind the Envoy down with his offensive celestial weapon if he had to. True Origin Sage nodded, his shadow disappearing, and the Banner Lord turned to his followers with confidence.

“Invite our allies from the four corners—I am going to execute the Envoy of the Emperor’s Hall!”

The announcement sent waves through the celestial realm. From various sacred territories, leaders planned to attend the Banner Lord’s gathering, though many Grand Supreme Truths themselves kept their distance, wary of being drawn into conflict.

<hr>

Meanwhile, in the Mystical Land, Qi Yuan was wholly absorbed in his work. Oblivious to the plans against him, he pressed forward with the Emperor’s Banner. The once dark and tormented spirits within it now glowed with a majestic light, transformed into holy sentinels. Their negative energy had been cleansed and replaced with a radiant, righteous energy.

At last, Qi Yuan finished.

“Heavenly Battalion of Shadows, hear my command!”

As he called out, the legions of spirit soldiers radiated a holy glow, transforming from grim reapers to resplendent warriors guarding the celestial realm.

"Enter my Emperor’s Banner, defend our realms!”

Their thunderous cries resounded as they entered the Emperor’s Banner. The artifact blazed with light, appearing tattered and blood-stained, yet radiating an enduring spirit of power.

He grinned with satisfaction. “This banner will leave bruises when it strikes.”

At long last, Qi Yuan possessed a celestial weapon of his own, one that would let him face the dangers of the Sixfold Heaven with new confidence.

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