Was it deliberately allowed to run free so it would help him?
Though Kindling Flame Banner's answer had shocked him somewhat, on careful reflection, it was not all that surprising.
From the moment it appeared, the Book of Life and Death had been different from every supreme treasure he had encountered. Its reactions had been calm. Though it knew Li Su's circumstances, it had seemed detached.
Compared to the Mythical Realm, the Primordial World, and the foreign evils, what it cared more about was the underworld—suppressing the souls that had accumulated over countless ages.
"Because we won, it loosened its hold over the underworld?"
"No..."
Kindling Flame Banner shook its head. "After the Near-Saint of those dead souls failed, it refused to accept defeat. It intended to sacrifice its entire race and continue seizing the underworld. That was why the Book of Life and Death stepped in to suppress it—to make it and its race continue dealing with the overflowing souls."
Li Su could not help but freeze for a moment. Somewhat astonished, he said, "Are Near-Saints that easy to suppress?"
Hearing Li Su's words, Kindling Flame Banner seemed even more surprised. "The Book of Life and Death isn't injured, and it has the underworld to rely on, with ample energy. Is suppressing a mere Near-Saint really that difficult?"
Listening to Kindling Flame Banner, the corners of Li Su's mouth twitched. Was it really so easy for a supreme treasure to suppress a Near-Saint?
He had not seen that at all.
"Kid, are you thinking something disrespectful?" Kindling Flame Banner narrowed its mind's eye, a trace of menace entering its voice.
Li Su immediately shook his head. "No. How could I?"
Kindling Flame Banner gave him a long, deep look, but said nothing more.
Li Su sighed, somewhat rueful. "So