259: I am invincible!

Before the words faded, the soul devouring banner violently shook, and its surface surged like a black tide.

A figure, incredibly solid and exuding the powerful aura of the Mid-stage Golden Core, slowly stepped out from the boundless soul mist!

This person's face was stern, yet carried a hint of gloom and deathly stillness. The Imperial Dynasty Dragon Qi and the soul banner Ghost Qi strangely merged around him. If it wasn't Ji Ruge, the Old Ancestor of the Ji Clan Immortal Dynasty, then who could it be?!

"Ji Ruge! How could it be you!?" Cheng Qingxuan's pupils contracted sharply, and he started his face-changing routine again, his voice even changing pitch. "Also, how... how did you become a Banner Spirit!"

This was the Old Ancestor of the Ji Dynasty, who had been famous alongside him for hundreds of years, yet now he had become the Main Soul of a Devil Head's banner!

This completely overturned his understanding!

Moreover, hadn't Ji Ruge died at the hands of that Devil Head?

This was the disadvantage of having restricted information. Cheng Qingxuan only knew that the Immortal Dynasty had been destroyed by that Devil Head, so he subconsciously assumed Ji Ruge had also died.

Even if he became a Banner Spirit, he should have become the Devil Head's Banner Spirit. Why did he end up here?

True Person Tianxing, on the other side, saw this scene but maintained a normal expression, looking as if he had known all along.

He had personally witnessed how Lu Ming had refined Ji Ruge into a Banner Spirit.

If not for this, given Cheng Qingxuan's extremely cautious nature, if the three of them had visited together, he definitely would have kept the Sect gates tightly shut and refused to come out.

Therefore, the two of them devised this method: pretending to be weak to lure the enemy in—the tactic of "Inviting the Gentleman into the Jar"!

Of course, destroying a "Dao Outside Incarnation" just because of Cheng Qingxuan wasn't really worth it.

But Lu Ming also had his own considerations, because Ji Ruge had already been listed on the golden book, and he couldn't accurately gauge whether the other party had completely eliminated their malice toward him.

To prevent him from encountering an Opportunity later, using it to break free from the constraints of the "Dao Outside Incarnation," regaining his freedom, and subsequently turning against Lu Ming himself.

Therefore, to eliminate future troubles, it was better to solve the problem once and for all by refining him into a Banner Spirit!

In this way, not only could his loyalty never betray him, but he could also be controlled effortlessly, like moving an arm with a finger. Furthermore, due to the Mid-stage Golden Core Banner Spirit taking residence, the grade of the soul devouring banner leaped forward, instantly becoming a Third Grade Medium Grade Magic Treasure!

Since it was a matter of killing many birds with one stone, Lu Ming quickly made his decision!

"Die!"

Ji Ruge's spiritual eyes were hollow, and his voice was cold, devoid of any emotion. He attacked directly with a palm strike; Dragon roars and ghost wails coexisted in the palm wind, truly giving the impression of a Ghost Monarch of the Underworld.

"Hmph! What if there is one more person! In the Qingxuan Sect, this Old Man is invincible!"

Cheng Qingxuan roared sharply, forcefully suppressing the unease in his heart.

Too many things today were beyond his expectations, but the sentiment remained the same: this was his home ground!

He pointed his fingers together, and a green ancient sword instantly whistled out from the depths of the Sect. Sword Qi crisscrossed, piercing the Void Realm as it slashed toward the three of them.

It was truly the Qingxuan Sect's Sect-Guarding Magic Treasure, the Qingxuan Sword!

At the same time, Cheng Qingxuan continuously mobilized the power of the great formation, transforming it into streaks of green chains, attempting to restrain the movements of the three individuals.

The great battle completely erupted!

True Person Tianxing activated the circumference of heavenly stars ring; starlight rained down, simultaneously resisting the great formation's light barrier and bombarding Cheng Qingxuan.

As the Golden Core Banner Spirit inside the soul devouring banner, Ji Ruge could mobilize the tens of thousands of Yin Souls collected within the banner, forming an overwhelming Ghost Tide that continuously impacted and eroded Cheng Qingxuan's Protective Spiritual Light and Sword Momentum.

Lu Ming, without thinking much, instantly saw his aura surge after activating the Soul Burning Lamp Lighting Method.

However, the terrifying side effects of burning Essence, Qi, and Spirit and consuming the Golden Core Origin were silently transferred to Cheng Qingxuan via the golden book!

Cheng Qingxuan, who was fully dealing with the pincer attack from Ji Ruge and True Person Tianxing, suddenly felt his Golden Core Origin inexplicably restless, and his Divine Soul felt as if it were ignited. A wave of weakness struck him, causing his circulation of magical power to become somewhat sluggish.

He was both shocked and enraged, yet he didn't know the reason, so he could only attribute it to one of his opponents using some strange method.

Lu Ming gave him no chance to catch his breath. At the same time, he drew his bow and notched an arrow. The Scarlet Flame Arrow instantly appeared like a Golden Crow hanging in the air, plummeting down fiercely.

Occasionally, it would also fuse with the Three Yin Nether Fire, shooting out strange arrows containing both Yin and Yang Qi.

The four fought in a chaotic melee. Magic Treasures collided, Spells roared, and an energy storm swept across the entire sky above the Qingxuan Sect, causing mountains to collapse, the earth to crack, and palaces to shake.

If it weren't for the great formation's protection, perhaps a small portion of the entire Sect would have been leveled.

Of course, this was also thanks to the three of them holding back their power; otherwise, even if they took down the Qingxuan Sect, they would only acquire a place where the Earth Veins were shattered and the Spiritual Veins degraded.

In that case, there would be no difference from staying in Heavenly Star Immortal City.

Heavenly Star Immortal City had suffered successive great battles, and the affected area was so vast that it had already shaken the foundation of its Third Grade Spiritual Vein.

Although it hadn't been downgraded yet, it couldn't reach its peak state. This didn't matter much to other Cultivators, but it was very difficult for a Golden Core Immortal Master!

This was the fundamental reason why True Person Tianxing coveted the Qingxuan Sect.

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

Spells arose one after another, and the violent Spiritual Qi surged like waves.

On Cheng Qingxuan's side, although Lu Ming secretly transferred the side effects, his strength was greatly reduced. Under the siege of the three, he became flustered and faced mortal danger repeatedly.

But he managed to hold on, relying on the geographical advantage and the great formation.

Seeing that the battle dragged on without a clear victory, a cold light flashed in Lu Ming's eyes, and he decided not to delay any longer.

Just as Cheng Qingxuan used all his strength to parry a combined heavy blow from the three, his old strength was exhausted, and his new strength had yet to be generated.

Suddenly, a figure walked out from within Lu Ming's body, identical to his Main Body in appearance and aura!

It was precisely his dharma body!

The dharma body appeared without any warning, manifesting directly in front of Cheng Qingxuan without causing the slightest ripple.

The dharma body did not use any Spell. He merely pointed his fingers like a sword, and a point of Destructive Brilliance, condensed to the extreme, gathered at his fingertip, which he then lightly tapped toward Cheng Qingxuan's glabella.

This attack had been brewing for a long time. From the moment they entered the Qingxuan Sect, the dharma body had been condensing magical power within the main body's Golden Core.

This could be said to be the strongest strike condensed by a Golden Core Immortal Master, draining all the magical power from their entire body!

By the time Cheng Qingxuan noticed the newcomer, his pupils were already reflecting that rapidly enlarging deathly brilliance.

His face was filled with endless terror and disbelief.

"How could... No!!!"

He wanted to evade, he wanted to resist, but the other three wouldn't give him the chance, simultaneously employing methods to restrict and bind his body.

"Pfft!"

There was no deafening roar, no multicolored radiance.

Just a simple soft sound, like a chopstick piercing a watermelon.

Cheng Qingxuan's body suddenly stiffened, the light in his eyes instantly dimmed, and the surging magical power around him began to dissipate like floodwaters released from a sluice gate.

He opened his mouth, but ultimately couldn't say anything, and his body plummeted straight down from the air.

Cheng Qingxuan, the Grand Elder of the Qingxuan Sect and a Mid-stage Golden Core Cultivator, had fallen!

In an instant, the entire Qingxuan Sect fell into a deathly silence.

The expressions on the faces of all the Disciples watching the battle froze, transforming from excitement and mockery into utter confusion, terror, and disbelief.

"The... Grand Elder... lost?"

"Dead? The Old Ancestor has fallen! How is that possible..."

"This is impossible, absolutely impossible! I've seen through everything, this is an Illusion Technique, hahahahaha!"

"..."

Panic spread quickly through the Qingxuan Sect like a plague.

Lu Ming was expressionless, not even glancing at the chaos below. With a wave of his hand, he seized Cheng Qingxuan's corpse and immediately put it into his Storage Pouch.

This was agreed upon by the two of them before they arrived: not only did Cheng Qingxuan's corpse belong to him, but ninety percent of the Qingxuan Sect's resources also belonged to him.

Don't look at how much Lu Ming took; True Person Tianxing obtained an undamaged Spiritual Mountain Blessed Land!

In the long run, it's hard to say who profited and who lost!

"The aftermath of this matter is left for Fellow Daoist to handle." After tossing the Qingxuan Sword into the Storage Pouch, Lu Ming turned and said to True Person Tianxing.

He then waved a hand toward the side, and Ji Ruge immediately stepped over, standing beside True Person Tianxing.

"The Banner Spirit will temporarily stay by Fellow Daoist's side. Any dirty or strenuous work can be handed over to him."

Anyone who believed that would be a fool; everyone understood what was truly happening.

True Person Tianxing looked at Ji Ruge, who stood beside him like a loyal guard, took a deep breath, and suppressed the distracting thoughts in his heart.

Forget about just sending the Banner Spirit to follow him; True Person Tianxing was now also worried that this Fellow Daoist Han might temporarily change his mind and try to monopolize the Qingxuan Sect.

The opponent had three Golden Cores!

Thinking of that mysterious "dharma body," True Person Tianxing felt a wave of trepidation.

It was probably better to send someone to monitor him now; this way, both sides could be reassured, and at least the attitude was clear.

He nodded solemnly: "Fellow Daoist, rest assured, this Old Man will definitely handle the subsequent matters properly and will not disturb you."

Lu Ming nodded slightly and continued.

"Once you're finished here, contact the Cloud Thunder Pavilion. When I emerge from seclusion, it will be time to go to Ji Imperial City and deal with that Devil Head."

After thinking for a moment, he added: "Keep what happened here concealed if possible. Don't let the Cloud Thunder Pavilion worry."

Lu Ming's words were not aimless. If the Cloud Thunder Pavilion knew that the two of them had killed Cheng Qingxuan at the Qingxuan Sect, this already fragile Alliance would instantly collapse.

Lu Ming didn't want any unexpected issues later, so he reminded True Person Tianxing.

Seeing him nod in agreement, Lu Ming no longer delayed. His figure flickered, and under the escort of his "dharma body," he transformed into a streak of light and headed straight toward the Qingxuan Sect's Scripture Pavilion.

He was definitely going to leave the Southern Wilderness Region eventually. Before that, he needed to squeeze out the last bit of value from this region.

He didn't care for resources; even the best resources were not as tempting as a Golden Core Cultivator.

Therefore, he planned to read the Daoist Scriptures and Classics of the major Sects in the Southern Wilderness Region, drawing on the strengths of a hundred schools and integrating ten thousand techniques into himself.

The day he felt that staying here could no longer bring him any progress would be the day he departed.