Chapter 83: Earth-Rank Upper Grade, Birth of Intelligence

In the first year within the Holy City, you used the Human Sovereign Banner to absorb and refine over a thousand Remnant Souls, among them no shortage of mid-stage Spirit Transformation Remnant Souls.

“Boss, that Soul-Refining Banner of yours is about to advance, isn’t it?” asked Wan Da, the Nascent Soul cultivator who followed you.

You slapped Wan Da across the back of his head, and said viciously, “How many times have I told you? This is the Human Sovereign Banner! Not the Soul-Refining Banner those deviant cultivators carry!”

Wan Da hastily clutched his head, staring at the “Human Sovereign Banner” in your hand that was pouring out black qi, and the corner of his mouth twitched.

“This little brother misspoke. It’s the Human Sovereign Banner.” In the end, under your show of force, Wan Da yielded.

You nodded in satisfaction. After a year of unremitting effort, the Human Sovereign Banner in your hand had grown greatly in power. Before long, it would advance to Earth-rank high-grade, and when that time came, it would be another great asset.

“Boss, a big one’s coming!” Wan Er’s voice came from not far away. Behind Wan Er, a group of Remnant Souls was in hot pursuit.

You looked at the Remnant Soul behind Wan Er, one comparable to late-stage Spirit Transformation, and the corner of your mouth couldn’t help but twitch.

You could refine mid-stage Spirit Transformation Remnant Souls, but that was already you going all out, barely managing it. Now a late-stage Spirit Transformation Remnant Soul had shown up. You didn’t want to die here just like that.

“Run!” Without another word, you took Wan Da and started fleeing.

Wan Da couldn’t help but erupt into a silent storm of profanity at Wan Er behind him. “You idiot, you actually lured a late-stage Spirit Transformation Remnant Soul over here! Are you trying to get us killed!”

“Boss, wait for me! I don’t want to die!” Wan Er ran madly after you both, sprinting for his life.

You had wandered the Holy City for a year, so for this kind of sudden situation, you still had a way to respond.

In a certain corner of the Holy City, you were the first to burst into a narrow little house. After Wan Da and Wan Er behind you entered, bang — the door slammed shut, blocking the late-stage Spirit Transformation Remnant Soul outside.

“Thank goodness they can’t get through the door. Otherwise I really would have died here today,” Wan Er said, panting heavily.

You backhanded Wan Er across the face and asked, “What’s going on? How did you lure a late-stage Spirit Transformation Remnant Soul over here?”

“Boss, this Wan Er has ill intentions. He definitely wanted to use a borrowed knife to kill us!” Wan Da fanned the flames from the side.

“I’ve been wronged, Boss! I really didn’t do it on purpose!” Seeing the unfriendly look in your eyes, Wan Er hurriedly dropped to his knees, weeping and begging for mercy.

“The Remnant Souls over at the City Lord’s Mansion have started rioting. The one chasing us is the one from the City Lord’s Mansion entrance!”

“What?!” You were somewhat shocked. You had seen that Remnant Soul at the City Lord’s Mansion entrance before. A year ago, it had still been at mid-stage Spirit Transformation strength. Now, after a year, it had actually risen to late-stage Spirit Transformation.

After the Spirit Transformation Remnant Soul outside the door left, you headed to the City Lord’s Mansion to investigate.

Boom——————!

Outside the Holy City’s City Lord’s Mansion, over a hundred Remnant Souls were locked in a great battle, attacking and devouring one another to strengthen themselves.

In the great battle, you discovered three late-stage Spirit Transformation Remnant Souls, and one of them was the very one that had chased you earlier.

These three Remnant Souls seemed to have developed intelligence. They vaguely formed a triangular formation, encircling the hundred-plus Remnant Souls.

In the second year you were trapped in the Holy City, the great battle at the City Lord’s Mansion entrance did not stop. It even intensified.

The massive commotion attracted quite a few Remnant Souls from the surrounding area.

You also took the opportunity to secretly use the Human Sovereign Banner to absorb and refine quite a few. The signs of the Human Sovereign Banner in your hand breaking through grew ever more obvious.

You hid in the shadows, watching the distant battle. After a year of observation, you found that whenever a mid-stage Spirit Transformation Remnant Soul appeared, it would be jointly slain by the three late-stage Spirit Transformation Remnant Souls watching from the sidelines.

Raising gu, is this. You murmured to yourself. At this rate, these three late-stage Spirit Transformation Remnant Souls would probably break through to peak Spirit Transformation before long.

The fifth year. The Human Sovereign Banner in your hand drifted with black qi, and the number it could contain within the banner had already reached a saturation point.

“Get in here!” You manipulated the Human Sovereign Banner to absorb three early-stage Spirit Transformation Remnant Souls once more.

After a round of refinement, they were completely bound to the Human Sovereign Banner in your hand.

On the Human Sovereign Banner in your hand, fine cracks began to appear, and a dark, sinister aura surfaced from within the banner.

The aura of the Human Sovereign Banner began to climb. The cracks on the banner increased, already vaguely showing signs of shattering.

“Brother, the materials used to refine that Human Sovereign Banner of yours aren’t good enough. I’m afraid it’ll be hard for it to advance to Earth-rank high-grade!” Wan Da, keeping his distance, transmitted his voice to you.

You frowned, looking at the Human Sovereign Banner that could shatter at any moment. Having never refined a spiritual artifact before, you had no refining materials on hand either.

To prevent the Human Sovereign Banner from shattering, your cultivation at the sixth layer of Nascent Soul erupted in full, using your own vast spiritual power to forcefully suppress the Human Sovereign Banner.

A quarter of an hour later, the dust settled. The Human Sovereign Banner’s impending shattering was forcefully suppressed by you.

“Although it broke through to Earth-rank high-grade, because the spiritual artifact itself is about to shatter, its power has greatly diminished. What a pity.” After sensing the Human Sovereign Banner, you couldn’t help but sigh.

The only thing that comforted you was that even damaged, its power was still far greater than an Earth-rank middle-grade spiritual artifact.

“Congratulations, Brother, on obtaining a supreme treasure!” Wan Da and Wan Er hurried forward to congratulate you.

The tenth year. Outside the City Lord’s Mansion, the three late-stage Spirit Transformation Remnant Souls once again tore apart a mid-stage Spirit Transformation Remnant Soul. After devouring its power, they actually broke through at the same time!

Three peak Spirit Transformation Remnant Souls had appeared! And in the first instant, they discovered you hiding in the shadows!

The three peak Spirit Transformation Remnant Souls actually looked toward you at the same time!

After sensing their gazes, your heart suddenly jolted. The power of Heavenly Lightning surfaced beneath your feet, and you instantly vanished from where you stood.

Roar————!

The moment your figure reappeared, you were attacked by a peak Spirit Transformation Remnant Soul.

You looked back and saw that one of the Remnant Souls that had just broken through, a peak Spirit Transformation Remnant Soul, had chased after you!

You cursed inwardly, not daring to take it head-on, and hurriedly dodged.

The power of Heavenly Lightning surfaced beneath your feet. In an instant, you arrived at your hiding place, hastily opened the door, and slipped inside.

“Boss, what happened?” Wan Da hurriedly asked. This was the first time he had seen you so anxious.

“Don’t talk.” A golden light surfaced in your eyes. You activated the Martial Dao Formation Eye, and you saw the peak Spirit Transformation Remnant Soul outside the door.

The Remnant Soul prowled outside the door for a long time, and even began attacking the house you were hiding in.

The entire house swayed, as if it could fall apart at any moment.

Fortunately, the house ultimately withstood the Remnant Soul’s assault. The Remnant Soul raged in impotent fury, then unwillingly departed.

“This house won’t hold much longer. It seems I must figure out a way to get out!”