Six-Desire Demon Banner

Three days passed in the blink of an eye.

Outwardly, Wang Ping sat cross-legged inside the quiet chamber, his hands forming seals. The Six-Desire Chaos Demon sat behind him, its wind-and-thunder breathing endlessly echoing through the room.

As the product of the Six-Desire Beasts merging into one, the Six-Desire Chaos Demon possessed six supernatural traits as well.

The first was called [Breath Intake], inherited from the Whale Swallower, as its name implied: it breathed in spiritual energy, then fed it back to him, its master.

The reason the Six-Desire Chaos Demon could produce the effect of a Defective Spiritual Root was due to this supernatural trait. Unfortunately, its efficiency was limited, nowhere near that of a True Spiritual Root.

As he breathed in and out spiritual energy, the abnormalities on Wang Ping's body became increasingly apparent. His skin gradually changed from its initial pale yellow into a jade-like budding yellow. Under the sunlight, it even gave the illusion that it had been cast from gold. Beneath that golden skin, his veins and channels also became distinctly visible.

This strange state continued for roughly half an hour.

Only after Wang Ping stopped his Breath Intake did it gradually fade away. Then, with a slight stretch of his limbs, his entire body erupted in crackling pops.

"Ding-a-ling!"

The summoning silver bell rang again. Wang Ping did not dare delay, immediately rising to his feet and striding into the inner sanctuary, anticipation appearing on his face.

"The Immortal Sect..."

Even now, his understanding of the Immortal Sect was limited to the Daoist temple where You Daoist Nun resided. He had never seen what a true Immortal Sect looked like.

And there was also the power of cultivators.

All along, he had harbored a small doubt as to whether the Immortal Sect's lineage truly surpassed Great Shun's Martial Dao by so much. This trip was the perfect opportunity to verify it.

Beyond that, there was the [Five Thieves Steal Heaven Myriad Transformation Divine Talisman] that You Daoist Nun had mentioned.

"An Immortal Sect cultivation method... If it can be spread so widely, its grade must be quite high. Otherwise, it would not have become the target of those so-called Marauder Cultivators.

It sounded as though it was somehow fated with me!

Entering the inner sanctuary within the painting, Wang Ping quickly saw You Daoist Nun standing beneath a tree. She raised her eyes toward him, her gaze remarkably kind.

"Here?"

"Greetings, my lady." Wang Ping bowed, though inwardly he quietly raised his guard. After all, You Daoist Nun had previously said she had a surprise for him.

Could you translate for me just what the hell a surprise was supposed to mean?

The next moment, You Daoist Nun reached into her sleeve and drew out a long staff. Black and gold radiance coiled around it, mingling into one mass.

"For you."

With a casual toss, You Daoist Nun threw the staff into Wang Ping's arms. Then the radiance billowed outward, black and gold separating like clear and murky vapors rising and sinking.

The dazzling golden radiance rose like clear qi, fluttering in the wind before transforming into a banner. Countless seal-script characters and talismans that Wang Ping could not understand were inscribed upon it. The dark-black radiance sank like murky qi, merging into the staff in Wang Ping's hands. Amid the shifting light, faint wails of ghosts and howls of wolves could be heard.

"This is the [Six-Desire Demon Banner]."

You Daoist Nun smiled. "There are six hundred and sixty-six demons within the banner. It perfectly suits your cultivation method, and it is a protective artifact I specially refined for you these past few days."

This was the fucking surprise?

Looking at the black-and-gold treasure banner in his hands, Wang Ping's heart thumped wildly—had he misunderstood this group of Immortal Sect disciples? Was You Daoist Nun actually a good person?

Though his instincts still told Wang Ping something was off.

But... what if?

"Either way, the [Otherworldly Celestial Demon] has already finished cooling down. This trip to the Immortal Sect has secured the guaranteed minimum. Any further gains will be pure profit."

With that thought, Wang Ping let go of his reservations.

"Come, to my room."

You Daoist Nun's seductive voice sounded again. Though she was some distance away, it felt as if she were whispering into his ear, making Wang Ping shudder violently.

"You have never seen an artifact before, have you?"

"I'll teach you how to refine it."

Wang Ping fell silent for a moment before smoothly following her lead. "Thank you for your favor, my lady."

Following You Daoist Nun, Wang Ping soon arrived at a quiet chamber in the inner sanctuary. The moment the door opened, densely packed seal-script characters and secret talismans filled his sight.

Yet Wang Ping's gaze did not settle on those inscriptions. Instead, he stared fixedly at a jade slip placed in the center of the chamber. At first glance, there was nothing remarkable about it, yet it drew in his gaze like a black hole, making his mind unconsciously tumble toward it...

"Wake up!"

A thunderous shout jolted Wang Ping awake. Only then did he realize that, without knowing when, he had taken three steps toward the jade slip. Cold sweat immediately poured down his body.

"This is..."

"This is the [Five Thieves Steal Heaven Myriad Transformation Divine Talisman]." You Daoist Nun's delicate brows furrowed as she said softly, "Your cultivation is too low. You cannot yet withstand its temptation."

Obediently, Wang Ping took a step back.

Yet thinking of the temptation of an Immortal Sect cultivation method, he could not help asking curiously, "This cultivation method is so formidable. Judging from its name, could it be related to theft?"

"Do not ask."

You Daoist Nun's tone was calm. "Do not be curious, and do not investigate. The knowledge related to it is itself an extremely terrifying poison."

"The more you know, the easier it becomes for it to influence you."

"Otherwise, why do you think that expelled disciple called himself the Heaven-Stealing Thief and displayed his cultivation methods and divine abilities openly? It was to plot against those who knew of them."

Having said that, You Daoist Nun waved her hand impatiently.

"Enough. Go over there."

Wang Ping followed the direction of her pointing hand and looked. That area was packed with so many seal-script characters and secret talismans that it was frightening. Anyone with eyes could tell something was wrong.

"...Ah."

Wang Ping sighed, casting aside the last thread of fantasy in his heart. He no longer bowed. Straightening his back, he turned and calmly looked at You Daoist Nun.

The stunningly beautiful Daoist nun before him now appeared incomparably cold, frost cloaking her lovely face. Seeing that Wang Ping did not move—and even dared raise his head to look directly at her—her once-seductive voice became imposing. Each word fell like rolling thunder through the sky. "What? You no longer want this rare opportunity?"

The Daoist nun, usually tender and seductive, had changed into an aloof, merciless figure. Yet that only made her even more alluring.

Unfortunately, the prettier a woman was, the better she was at lying.

"It is not that I do not want it. I simply do not dare."

Before his words had faded, Wang Ping moved—his true body did not move, but the shadow beneath his feet abruptly stretched toward the [Five Thieves Steal Heaven Myriad Transformation Divine Talisman].

"...Insolence!"

Before the words had faded, heaven and earth shook, and all phenomena collapsed. The quiet chamber in Wang Ping's vision became like a torn canvas at that very moment, crashing apart!

The formerly seamless chamber shattered into countless fragments, which then pulled away from each other. The distance between objects turned from inches into horizons. A space barely ten paces across instantly became a vast world. Within it, Wang Ping was as tiny as an ant.

Wang Ping was completely stunned.

The shadow beneath his feet, the Six-Desire Chaos Demon, could extend at most ten meters away. If it used its supernatural traits, it could move freely within a hundred-meter radius.

Yet what was this situation?

Just moments ago, the [Five Thieves Steal Heaven Myriad Transformation Divine Talisman] had been fewer than ten paces away. Now, in his vision, it was only a tiny black dot.

It was at least ten kilometers away by his estimate!

And as time passed, the distance continued to stretch. In the end, it directly left the range of his Spirit Sense, vanishing without a trace.

"A frog at the bottom of a well, ignorant of the vastness of heaven and earth."

The chilly voice drifted over. Wang Ping abruptly turned around, only to see that You Daoist Nun had somehow appeared behind him and slowly extended a finger toward him.

He wanted to dodge, yet although he was clearly leaping backward, the distance between him and You Daoist Nun did not increase in the slightest. Instead, it kept shrinking. Rather than You Daoist Nun pointing a finger at him, it was more like he was actively crashing into her finger. It was simply inconceivable!

What kind of spell was this?

Before Wang Ping could react, You Daoist Nun's finger had already landed on his brow. Another wave of dizzying disorientation followed, with countless lights and shadows shifting around him.

When he regained his senses.

Everything that had just happened seemed like an illusion. He had returned to that quiet chamber no more than ten paces wide, standing firmly amid countless seal-script characters and secret talismans.

"Stand still."

Wang Ping instinctively tried to move, only to feel as if his entire body had been shackled. Even strength sufficient to split stone could not break free in the slightest.

"This is [Body Binding]."

Standing before Wang Ping, You Daoist Nun chuckled. "The one just now was called [Scene Transposition]. They are both spells I have mastered, so do not dream of breaking free."

Having said that, You Daoist Nun waved her hand.

The next moment, more than a dozen jade boxes appeared in the previously empty chamber. Beautiful treasure light flowed from every single one.

"Look, I prepared all of these for you." You Daoist Nun hummed a little tune, her tone relaxed. "I originally thought I would need to raise you for several years before harvesting you. Who would have thought your comprehension was so high? You cultivated the Six-Desire Chaos Demon in only three months, forcing me to adjust my original plans."

"If I had had a few more years, I could have slowly accumulated enough incense money. But time waits for no one, so I could only borrow a sum from the Heaven and Earth Pavilion first."

"For these precious materials, I nearly had to sign a contract selling myself."

For every sentence You Daoist Nun spoke, she opened another jade box. Multicolored radiance filled the quiet chamber, brilliant treasure light illuminating Wang Ping's face.

"So many immortal-path precious materials!"

Wang Ping had no doubt that if You Daoist Nun threw any one of the precious materials she had taken out into the [Peace Scripture], it would be enough to add a blank scripture scroll for him!

At the same time, he understood what You Daoist Nun intended to do.

"You want to refine me into an artifact?"

You Daoist Nun smiled and nodded. "It cannot be helped. High-grade Force Servitors are simply too expensive. After thinking it over, I decided it would be better to buy a suitable person and refine one myself."

"Originally, buying someone suitable for making a high-grade Force Servitor would have been best. But the Guardian Court has always strictly controlled people of that grade. My connections are not sufficient, so I had to settle for a more ordinary candidate... but you gave me quite a pleasant surprise."

At that, You Daoist Nun licked her full red lips.

"A natural Desire-Realm Celestial Body, with high comprehension as well. Yet you have no hope of the Great Dao, and you will die violently here. The resentment you produce at the end will surely be exceedingly heavy."

"Paired with these precious materials I prepared."

"You have a sixty percent chance of ultimately becoming a [Six-Desire Demon King]. You may even cultivate a spell and finally be refined into a high-grade artifact!"

"Good. Truly good!"

After hearing You Daoist Nun's words, Wang Ping suddenly felt heat spreading through his body. A dim haze gradually dyed his vision, and a powerful sense of vertigo rose within him.

That beast had already acted while she was talking!

"Do not be afraid. Feeling dizzy is normal." You Daoist Nun chuckled.

Wang Ping let out a long breath. "What Immortal Sect? This is plainly a demonic path."

You Daoist Nun did not care in the slightest. "Only mediocre mortals would call such a practice the demonic path. In the Immortal Sect, we generally call it efficiency."

"Besides, mortals are tools for Immortal Sects such as ours. You have merely changed from one kind of tool into another, better kind of tool. Why complain?"

"At least I did not treat you as disposable material to be discarded after use. You should be thanking me."

"Moreover, I have increased the value of your life as livestock a hundredfold. Without me, you could only have lived out this life in mediocrity, free from want and worry."

"If you truly wish to blame someone, blame yourself."

"After all, it was not I who forced you to cultivate immortality."

"..."

For a moment, Wang Ping was so angry that he laughed.

Rumble!

At that moment, the seal-script characters and secret talismans around Wang Ping abruptly lit up. Their light then blended into one mass, transforming into soaring, blazing fire.

Immediately afterward, the black-and-gold treasure banner Wang Ping had long ago thrown away rose into the air from nowhere. Shimmering with radiance, it landed steadily at the center of the seal-script characters and secret talismans, then wrapped around Wang Ping. He felt as if his body were melting, and amid the agonizing pain, he sensed his life force steadily draining away.

"Urgh..."

Wang Ping gritted his teeth, his hands forming seals. The Six-Desire Chaos Demon immediately strode out from the shadow beneath his feet, transferring all the injuries upon him to itself.

You Daoist Nun nodded slightly at the sight.

"Very good. The quality is indeed exceptional."

With that, she poured the full dou of Gold-Grained Starshatter Sand she had mentioned into the formation. Like fierce fire doused with oil, it instantly intensified Wang Ping's agony.

The Six-Desire Chaos Demon also let out a wail.

Yet in the next instant, the Six-Desire Chaos Demon's body suddenly trembled. Its skin then split open, and like a snake shedding its skin, it cast off its body.

With that shedding, even the injuries it had transferred from Wang Ping were shed away. Beneath the shattered shell was flawless, uninjured skin!

You Daoist Nun's expression became even more satisfied. "A supernatural trait taken from the Rock Serpent: [Armor Shedding]. It uses molting to reduce injuries and restore one's condition. Very good."

Immediately afterward, Wang Ping began struggling again.

Under his control, the Six-Desire Chaos Demon first rose into the air, attempting to fly out of the quiet chamber. When it found that it could not fly out, it swung its fists, trying to shatter its restraints.

Then its figure began flickering.

In the end, it condensed an incomparably sharp battle axe in its hand. Cold light flashed from it as it repeatedly hacked at the restraints, but still achieved nothing.

"Heaven Carving's [Skyflight], Deep Ape's [Ten-Thousand Jun]."

"Rock Serpent's [Armor Shedding], Whale Swallower's [Breath Intake]."

"Bandit Leopard's [Divine Speed], Steel Flood Dragon's [Flood-Dragon Battle Axe]."

You Daoist Nun rubbed her hands together, somewhat excited. "Its supernatural traits cover flight, strength, recovery, spiritual energy, speed, and weaponry. Its quality can be called perfect."

"Could it be that this time, I can refine a top-grade artifact?"

"If so, with a top-grade [Six-Desire Demon Banner], I will surely be able to learn [Soul Pursuit] and [Soul Seizure]. That Great Divine Ability will then be within reach..."