Chapter 232: Chapter 143: Are Cultivators Such a Big Deal?

In the past, Cultivators had dealt with the natives of this world on countless occasions. As a result, their experience and techniques in this regard were honed to perfection.

He never expected, however, that this time, when he waved the Ten Thousand Souls Banner, the Martial Artists’ Divine Souls wouldn’t leave their bodies and become fodder for the banner as they had in the past.

Not only that, but when the Martial Artists gathered, their combined Essence, Qi, and Spirit coalesced into a towering battle intent, which could even clash with the myriad Ghost Souls within the Ten Thousand Souls Banner!

’When did the Spiritual Power of these natives get so strong?’

The Cultivator was puzzled.

But that didn’t matter. The Ten Thousand Souls Banner in his hand was a Magical Treasure he had spent a lifetime refining, having devoured countless souls.

Although most of these souls had belonged to ordinary people in the Lower Realm, an immense quantity would naturally trigger a qualitative change.

Seeing that a casual wave failed to eradicate these cockroach-like pests, the Cultivator snorted, a trace of annoyance finally showing.

He planted the Soul-Calling Banner in the ground and gave it a violent shake.

Instantly, more than a dozen Ghost Souls with terrifying auras emerged from the Soul-Calling Banner. They let out piercing shrieks. The Martial Artists, who had been able to hold their own against the lesser wraiths, suddenly felt their scalps go numb. Their heads throbbed with excruciating pain, as if being stabbed by a thousand needles.

After another howl,

the dozen or so terrifying Ghost Souls rushed toward the Martial Artists as if let loose on a buffet. With a single inhale, they sucked the souls right out of the bodies of several dozen men in the blink of an eye.

Because these Martial Artists had cultivated their minds and souls,

their souls were far more robust than those of ordinary people. A quick estimate suggested that devouring a single Martial Artist was equivalent to devouring dozens, or even nearly a hundred, ordinary people!

The surprise was quickly followed by a surge of excitement in the Cultivator.

’If there are thousands, or even tens of thousands, of Martial Artists like this,’ he thought, ’then my trip to the Lower Realm won’t be a loss. I might even turn a massive profit!’

At this thought, the Cultivator snorted. He was just about to inquire about the current situation of this world when he saw nearly a hundred more Martial Artists charging toward him, weapons in hand.

Instead of being alarmed, the Cultivator was overjoyed!

More and more Ghost Souls swarmed from the Ten Thousand Souls Banner, nearly transforming the sky into a midnight Ghostly Realm. If these Martial Artists dared to charge in, they would be entering the banner’s personal hunting ground, allowing it to feast until it was bursting!

Moreover, the Ten Thousand Souls Banner didn’t require much of his own Spiritual Power to devour souls.

This would greatly conserve his energy.

However, when this new group of Martial Artists reached the edge of the Ten Thousand Souls Banner’s influence, they didn’t charge headlong inside as the Cultivator had anticipated.

Instead, they all stopped and began beating drums just outside its range.

“BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!”

The dense, thunderous drumbeats hammered at everyone’s hearts.

The souls of the Martial Artists who had just been ripped from their bodies began to struggle violently. A few with stronger Divine Souls managed to break free from the Ghost Souls’ grasp and swiftly returned to their bodies.

Although their souls were damaged and their faces were deathly pale,

they had escaped with their lives!

As for the majority of Martial Artists with weaker Divine Souls who couldn’t break free, the drumbeats inspired them to a final, desperate act. They chose mutual destruction, shattering their own Divine Souls and blasting the Ghost Souls of the Ten Thousand Souls Banner point-blank.

This sudden turn of events not only interrupted the Ten Thousand Souls Banner’s meal, but also inflicted some damage on the Ghost Souls the Cultivator had so carefully nurtured.

This was clearly beyond the Cultivator’s expectations. He turned to look at the drum-beating Martial Artists in the distance, his expression turning somewhat savage.

By now, no matter how slow he might be, even he could see the problem.

’This drumbeat… it was specifically designed to counter the Ten Thousand Souls Banner!’

’Someone made preparations beforehand. They’re deliberately targeting me…’

’Who could it be, and how much have they prepared? Could it be the work of that World-Devouring Whale?’

’No, that World-Devouring Whale is grievously injured. It also needs blood and souls from a slaughter to mend itself.’

’Even if it truly wanted to act, it would have to wait until I’ve mostly cleansed this world and my Spiritual Power is nearly exhausted.’

’Whether considering its own interests or our relative strengths, as long as that World-Devouring Whale isn’t suicidally foolish, it would never try to stop me before I begin the cleansing!’

’But if not the World-Devouring Whale, then who else in this Lower Realm could possibly threaten me?’

Baffled and increasingly exasperated, the Cultivator felt a surge of fury.

He hadn’t wanted to act personally. After all, the Spiritual Qi in the Lower Realm was thin, and every last drop of Spiritual Power stored in his body had to be spent wisely.

But now, not only had the souls he’d all but captured flown the coop, but many had also exploded on the spot, causing the Ten Thousand Souls Banner to tremble violently.

He could finally no longer hold back.

No one saw how he moved.

He merely took a single, soft step, but the nearly one hundred Martial Artists in the distance immediately felt a terrifying sense of oppression.

The Cultivator’s step manifested as a colossal phantom of Spiritual Qi in midair.

It stomped down heavily upon them.

“BOOM!!”

The muffled impact made the very ground tremble.

Like crushing ants, the Cultivator’s phantom foot stomped the nearly one hundred Martial Artists into a paste of blood and gore. As blood flew, he shook the Ten Thousand Souls Banner again. Thousands of Ghost Souls surged forward, swarming the pile of mangled flesh to find and devour any fragmented souls.

This time, there were no accidents. The Ten Thousand Souls Banner feasted with delight.

The Cultivator’s expression, however, was anything but pleased.

He still had no idea where these Martial Artists came from, nor who was leading them, yet he had already been forced to expend his own Spiritual Power just to deal with them.

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