Zhu Wuwang's eyes were filled with murderous intent. Without further hesitation, he flipped his hand and a Soul Refining Banner, entirely black and covered with hideous ghost faces, suddenly appeared!
As soon as the banner appeared, Yin Wind howled, and countless souls wept, as if the entire Crimson Flame Peak had transformed into Netherworld Ghost Domain.
"It's the Myriad Souls Banner, Zhu Wuwang's natal Natal Artifact!"
"Jiang Ling is in deep trouble now. The Soul Refining Banner is specifically designed to counter the Soul Path. No matter how strong her Sword Intent, she is ultimately born of an evil spirit, and her soul is controlled!"
"What a pity. If she had a few more years, her Sword Bone would have been fully developed, and she might have been able to fight him..."
In the sky, several figures stood suspended in mid-air, all of them Peak Master, watching the battle with great interest and discussing amongst themselves.
A flash of ferocity appeared in Zhu Wuwang's eyes, and the Soul Refining Banner in his hand suddenly swelled.
"Jiang Ling, do you think you can contend with me with just a Sword Bone and a few remnants of the Sword Sect techniques?"
His voice was icy, filled with undisguised arrogance and mockery. "Today, I'll show you what true Soul Refining Sect Divine Ability are!"
Before he finished speaking, he waved his banner, and ten thousand Soul Shadow, like black dragons emerging from the abyss, swept towards Zhang Lingyun, covering the sky and the earth.
Each Soul Shadow was twisted and ferocious, emitting a piercing shriek, and wherever it passed, even the air was corroded, hissing black smoke.
"Myriad Souls Devour the Heart--!"
A cruel smile curled at the corner of Zhu Wuwang's lips, as if he could already see Zhang Lingyun being torn apart by ten thousand souls and annihilated, her Divine Soul destroyed.
He was confident that with his Cultivation Fifth Rank Land Immortal, supplemented by his Natal Artifact, the Myriad Souls Banner, not to mention Third Rank cultivators, even ordinary Sixth Rank cultivators would have to give way!
Zhang Lingyun stood holding her sword, its blade gleaming with Blood Light. Yet, before the overwhelming tide of souls, it seemed as insignificant as a firefly before the bright moon.
"Boom--!"
The countless souls surged like a tide, instantly engulfing her!
Black mist surged, and Soul Shadow intertwined. Faintly, the sound of sword blades cutting through the air and mournful howls of souls could be heard from within. But in just a few breaths, the sword light completely dimmed and fell silent.
"It's over."
Zhu Wuwang stood with his hands behind his back, his expression indifferent, as if he were merely crushing an ant with a casual flick of his wrist.
He didn't even bother to glance at the black mist again, instead turning his gaze to Zhang Yu, whose face was pale below, a flash of murderous intent in his eyes:
"Next, it's your turn, you arrogant brat."
But the moment his words fell—
"Buzz--!!!"
The churning black mist suddenly burst forth with a dazzling Golden Light!
The Golden Light, like the blazing sun at dawn, was dazzling and carried a sacred, vast, and righteous aura that cleansed all evil spirits, instantly melting away the countless Soul Shadow in the sky like ice and snow!
"Ah--!!!"
The ten thousand souls screamed in unison, and under the Golden Light, they all turned into green smoke and dissipated.
Even the jet-black Soul Refining Banner emitted a sizzling sound, its ghostly face twisting and howling, showing signs of cracking!
Amidst the Golden Light, a figure slowly emerged—
Zhang Lingyun's Red Dress were still stained with blood.
At this moment, however, she was enveloped in a layer of golden light like Glazed Glass, within which countless fine golden Runes could be vaguely seen flowing, radiating a heart-palpitating Merit Power!
Golden Body of Merit!
"This... how is this possible?"
Zhu Wuwang's pupils contracted sharply, and the arrogance and confidence on his face froze instantly, replaced by disbelief and horror.
"Golden Body of Merit?"
How could Jiang Ling, a bloodthirsty evil spirit, possibly condense Golden Body of Merit?
Am I seeing things?
Are the disciples of the Soul Refining Sect condensing Golden Body of Merit?
This is fucking a joke!
"Has the heavens gone blind? A Peak Master of a demonic sect actually possesses Golden Body of Merit?"
In the sky, the Peak Master who had been watching the spectacle were now dumbfounded, and their discussions erupted like a boiling pot.
"The Golden Body of Merit is the best at vanquishing evil spirits; the Myriad Souls Banner is nothing but scrap metal before her!"
What exactly has Jiang Ling been doing all these years?
Isn't she an evil spirit?
Where did this Merit come from?
"Zhu Wuwang messed up... With the appearance of the Golden Body of Merit, his Myriad Souls Banner is now useless."
Even the disciples from Wuwang Peak and Crimson Flame Peak below were dumbfounded, their mouths agape, unable to utter a word for a long time.
The Soul Refining Sect is a legitimate demonic sect; which of its disciples isn't burdened with karmic debts and brimming with Sha Qi?
It would be a miracle if they didn't get struck by Heavenly Thunder, let alone cultivate Golden Body of Merit?
This is truly Astonishing Wonder of the Ages in the history of Demonic Dao!
Zhu Wuwang's face was ashen as he stared intently at the golden aura surrounding Zhang Lingyun, his eyes filled with disbelief and resentment.
"You... you are an evil spirit, burdened with countless grievances, how could you possibly have forged Golden Body of Merit?!"
Zhang Lingyun simply stared at him coldly, her voice as icy as ice:
"Zhu Wuwang, do you really think I've been 'enjoying a peaceful and comfortable life' for the past thousand years?"
She slowly raised the broken sword in her hand; on the blade, Blood Light and Golden Light intertwined, radiating a chilling pressure.
"Today, I will show you what true Merit Slaying Karma really are!"
Before she finished speaking, she moved like lightning, slashing out with her sword.
Next, Zhang Lingyun, relying on the sacred power of the Golden Body of Merit, pressed forward step by step.
Wherever the Golden Light passed, the sinister and ghostly Ghost Qi of the Myriad Souls Banner melted away like ice and snow, Zhu Wuwang retreated repeatedly, his face turning ashen.
"Jiang Ling, you forced me to this!"
A ruthless glint flashed in Zhu Wuwang's eyes. The Myriad Souls Banner in his hand trembled violently, and the ghostly face on the banner twisted. He forcibly pulled out Vengeful Soul at the Heavenly Human Realm Peak and used it to block in front of him!
The Vengeful Soul spirit was blurry, but its face was still vaguely discernible—it was Qing Mu, Zhang Lingyun's head Steward left at Crimson Flame Peak!
"Qing Mu--?"
Zhang Lingyun's pupils shrank suddenly, her sword Sword Force faltered, and her face was filled with disbelief and anger.
"Peak Master... save me..."
Qing Mu's Remnant Soul emitted a faint sound, its eyes filled with resentment and pain.
But that wasn't all. Zhu Wuwang waved his banner again, and one familiar soul after another flew out from it—
They were all disciples of Crimson Flame Peak back then, the Vengeful Soul and evil spirits under Zhang Lingyun's command!
"Zhu Wuwang --!!!"
Zhang Lingyun's eyes were bloodshot and her gaze was fixed on him, her voice trembling with rage:
"You actually refined all the Crimson Flame Peak disciples into the Myriad Souls Banner... You deserve to die!!"
Her Golden Body of Merit shone even brighter, and with a single sword strike, Golden Light surged forth like a tide.
But Zhu Wuwang sneered and pushed the soul of a Crimson Flame Peak disciples in front of him!
"Laugh--!"
The soul instantly dissolved under the Golden Light of Merit, letting out a shrill scream.
"You--!"
Zhang Lingyun felt a sharp pain in her chest, and her Sword Force slowed down.
"If you have the guts, then slaughter every single one of your Crimson Flame Peak disciples!"
Zhu Wuwang sneered, constantly waving the Myriad Souls Banner in his hand, using the souls of the Crimson Flame Peak disciples as human shields in front of him.
"This Zhu Wuwang is shameless..."
"Shameless?"
Isn't shamelessness a fundamental duty of us disciples of the Demonic Sect?
"Exactly! I think Jiang Ling's Golden Body of Merit is the real 'rebellious' one!"
In the sky, the Peak Master watching the battle commented and made their opinions, enjoying the spectacle even more.
They were unconcerned about Zhu Wuwang's shameless methods, but had reservations about Zhang Lingyun's Golden Body of Merit.
"I want you dead--!!!"
Zhang Lingyun had gone completely mad, with no more hesitation in his eyes. The Golden Light of Merit and the blood-red Sword Intent intertwined, and he ignored the Crimson Flame Peak souls blocking his way and slashed out with his sword!
"Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh!"
The Golden Light of her Merit purified souls, Sword Qi cleaved through their Soul Body, causing the souls of the Crimson Flame Peak disciples to vanish under her sword.
With each kill, the hatred in her eyes intensified, yet the sword in her hand grew ever more resolute.
Zhu Wuwang's expression changed slightly. He hadn't expected Zhang Lingyun to be so ruthless, even capable of harming her own people!
"That old bastard is despicable, kill him!"
Below, Zhang Yu was furious and couldn't help but shout.
But this shout attracted Hao Buren's attention.
"You little bastard, I'll kill you first--."
A fierce glint flashed in Hao Buren's eyes, and he moved like lightning, rushing straight at Zhang Yu.