247: Why is the Emperor's Banner emitting black smoke?!

He used a command, rather than any other excuse, showing his sincerity.

Lu Ming was not particularly polite; he directly stated his desire to borrow from the Scripture Pavilion, to which True Person Tianxing agreed without the slightest hesitation.

However, when True Person Tianxing later mentioned wanting Lu Ming to be a Grand Elder of Heavenly Star Immortal City, Lu Ming immediately refused. He would not tie himself down to one place!

Moreover, his sights were already set beyond the Southern Wilderness Region. After dealing with Shen Yuan and his Senior Brother and gathering enough information about the outside world, he planned to depart.

True Person Tianxing felt somewhat disappointed by this, but it was also within reason.

He made this request merely to find a backer for Heavenly Star Immortal City.

He truly could no longer support a Golden Core power. If Heavenly Star Immortal City wished to maintain its original status and rebuild its original scale, it would either need to produce another Golden Core Cultivator or seek outside help.

However, since the other party refused, he would not press the matter further. He would take advantage of his old bones still being able to move and protect Heavenly Star Immortal City for some time.

The two did not chat for long. True Person Tianxing's injuries relapsed, so he took his leave first, but not before leaving behind a token.

It was not a Guest Elder token, nor an Elder token.

It was a tianxing token!

With this token, he could freely go anywhere in Heavenly Star Immortal City. Even if he wanted to visit Tianxing Peak, where True Person Tianxing was in seclusion, no one would stop him.

However, Lu Ming did not have that leisure. Now, only this small area of the Inner City remained. Although its area was still vast, it had shrunk too much compared to before.

One who didn't know might even mistake it for a super-large Cultivation market.

—

On this side, seeing True Person Tianxing leave, Ji Ruge collected all the supplies, including Shen Yuan's Physical Body, into a Storage Pouch and handed them to Lu Ming, then sought his opinion.

"Master, how should these people be dealt with?"

Lu Ming took the Storage Pouch, then looked up at the sound, his brow immediately arching.

He saw thousands of people gathered excitedly not far away. These were all the elites the Ji Family had brought to besiege Heavenly Star Immortal City this time.

During the great battle, they had retreated far away, only daring to approach after their Old Ancestor, in conjunction with an outsider, had slain that Demonic Path Golden Core Cultivator.

And their current excitement stemmed from the fact that their Ji Imperial Family was the ultimate victor!

In their eyes, the Old Ancestor's next step would inevitably be to seize Heavenly Star Immortal City's resources.

And as Foundation Establishment Cultivators and elite members of the Imperial City, even if they couldn't eat meat, they could at least get some soup following behind the Old Ancestor.

That would be enough for them to be swimming in wealth and make a fortune!

What they didn't know, however, was that their Old Ancestor was already someone else's puppet.

And Lu Ming would never order the plundering of Heavenly Star Immortal City, so they were destined for disappointment.

Besides, Lu Ming had no good feelings for these guys. When he was at Foundation Establishment, they kept causing him trouble, and it was also their doing that he was forced to leave Heavenly Star Immortal City.

Now that this matter was in his hands, he would certainly deal with them properly; how could he let them gain any benefits?

However, Lu Ming initially thought of killing them with a single palm strike to end it all, but after a moment's thought, he turned and asked Ji Ruge.

"How is that soul banner?"

Lu Ming had not forgotten Shen Yuan's Golden Core Magic Treasure; he was very interested in it.

Although Shen Yuan's Soul had escaped, all his resources remained on his person, which now all benefited Lu Ming.

"Reporting to Master, the Magic Treasure's spirituality is severely damaged. Although its third-tier Magic Treasure status remains, its grade has now fallen to the second-tier level."

Ji Ruge answered woodenly.

Lu Ming pondered for a moment, his gaze sweeping over the group of Ji Family Cultivators, and his eyes immediately lit up.

This kind of Magic Treasure inherently advances by devouring living Souls. Now that its spirituality is damaged, aren't these people excellent repair Materials?

Thinking this, Lu Ming smiled. He rummaged through his Storage Pouch, took out the soul banner, tossed it to Ji Ruge, and then commanded.

"You first refine the soul banner yourself, then handle your own family's affairs 'properly'."

Lu Ming thought again and again, still deciding not to refine this soul banner for now.

To be honest, he was a little wary of Shen Yuan, worried that he had left some hidden trap on it.

If it were a Cultivation Technique or something, he could just Cultivate it, but a Magic Treasure, an external object, couldn't transfer any side effects.

So, he would let Ji Ruge test the waters first. If anything happened, Ji Ruge would bear the brunt of it.

Moreover, now that the Magic Treasure's Realm had fallen, it was not as useful to him as the sunfall longbow. It was better to let Ji Ruge repair it first, and once it recovered its grade, he would take it back after killing Shen Yuan.

So he continued to instruct Ji Ruge: "After you've done all this, go to various places in the Southern Wilderness Region to collect 'Materials' for repair! Anyway, returning to the Immortal Dynasty now would just be walking into a trap."

"Remember, only seek out those greatly evil individuals, especially those Demonic Cultivators. Don't let a single one escape! We, Cultivators of the Righteous Path, must slay demons and eliminate evil!"

Lu Ming said very seriously, then, after a moment's thought, added with some mischievous delight.

"Since you are the Old Ancestor of the Ji Family Immortal City, then this soul banner shall be renamed the human emperor banner!"

"Yes, thank you, Master, for the bestowed name!"

Ji Ruge bowed respectfully. He was merely a Dao Outside Incarnation, he didn't care what it was called; whatever his Master commanded, he would obey.

So, after bowing, he took the human emperor banner and turned to walk towards the group of Ji Family Cultivators.

"Old Ancestor!"

"Greetings, Old Ancestor!"

"..."

Seeing Ji Ruge approach, all the Cultivators became excited.

Ji Wu was the most eager. He had lost a younger brother before, but hadn't gained any benefits, which angered him so much that he couldn't calm down to Cultivate for several days.

But now it was different. Heavenly Star Immortal City was utterly defeated, and their Ji Imperial Family had the last laugh.

As the Commander, after the Old Ancestor, he would definitely get the largest share of the spoils this time.

Hmm, if he could be a bit shameless, he could even secretly pocket a portion of the resources, claiming it was settlement money for his younger brother. Surely no one would object!

These people didn't care at all why True Person Tianxing didn't die, or why the Old Ancestor had to backstab that Demonic Path Cultivator, or why... why, why!

For matters concerning important figures, juniors should inquire less. Whatever the Old Ancestor commanded was correct.

Where the Old Ancestor's sword points, there our hearts shall follow!

This was the way of survival for lower-ranked Cultivators; this was wisdom!

So, the question is!

The Old Ancestor is now asking you to enter the human emperor banner to jointly comprehend the Great Dao, so why are you making excuses?

Didn't you say where the sword points, there your hearts shall follow?

Now that you're actually asked to follow your hearts, each of you is unwilling.

Ji Ruge was very angry about this!

A bunch of unfilial descendants, not even listening to the Old Ancestor's words!

Indeed, Master was right; this group of people only deserved to become nourishment.

Thus, in an instant, the human emperor banner danced, and thick black mist immediately permeated the heavens and earth, engulfing Ji Wu and all the Imperial Dynasty elites, their desperate wails and screams swallowed by the howling yin winds!

As for why the human emperor banner is emitting black smoke?

You colorblind fool, this is Profound Black!

Profound Black represents the origin of all things, representing emperors and authority; it is a symbol of holiness and nobility!