"Weak," Ruo Xianxue hissed, her voice carrying a tone of profound boredom. "Just because the eras have changed, a mere hunk of wood possessed by mortal hatred dares to call itself a calamity of the heavens?"

  Ruo Xianxue slowly clenched her fist. As she did, the red threads of the Ancient Devil Monument suddenly tightened, coiling around the black wooden pole of the Banner with a crushing force capable of shattering the laws of space. The sound of dry wood splintering echoed throughout the hall—TACK—KRAK—followed by a spray of thick, pitch-black liquid: the primal essence of the ancient demon hidden within.

  The Calamity Banner attempted a final stand. Its tattered silk suddenly blazed with purple flames containing soul-poison, trying to incinerate Ruo Xianxue’s red threads. However, the Sacred Ancient Devil only offered a thin smile—a smile that radiated absolute coldness.

  "You wish to burn my mental foundation?" Ruo Xianxue chuckled softly, the sound like the chiming of silver bells bringing death. "Even the suns of the Nine Heavens would not dare touch my shadow, let alone a small spark from this grave pit."

  The Sun and Moon within Ruo Xianxue’s dual pupils glowed simultaneously. A wave of black-gold energy exploded outward, instantly extinguishing the purple fire and turning the dark red silk into meaningless tatters.

  The primordial consciousness within the Banner let out a final shriek—a long wail of deep despair—before its core essence was forcibly dragged out by the Ancient Devil Monument.

  Zhi Xuan, beginning to recover with the aid of the Heavenly Samsara Wheel, watched the scene with bated breath. He saw a sphere of pitch-black light with a face of agony within it being absorbed into the monument in Ruo Xianxue’s hand. As the sphere entered, the Ancient Devil Monument vibrated with satisfaction; its cracked surface seemed to close slightly, showing significant restoration.

  The Heavenly Demon Calamity Banner was now nothing more than a black wooden pole and a wide, dull gray flag. The pillar of light was gone; the karmic suction had vanished. The hall suddenly fell into a heavy silence, leaving only the sound of red liquid trickling from the pillars, which had now stopped dripping.

  Ruo Xianxue turned around; the Ancient Devil Monument vanished back into her invisible grasp. She looked at Zhi Xuan, who was struggling to stand, wiping the silver blood drying on his lips.

  "This object is now cleansed of its original consciousness," Ruo Xianxue said, gesturing toward the rotten wood with her chin. "However, I have spared this Heavenly Demon Calamity Banner, for it shall become a banner that commands a legion."

  "You already know how to form that legion," Ruo Xianxue continued coldly. "Within the remaining cloth, there are enough soulless demonic soldiers stored—remnants of the will I traced when I absorbed the Banner. This will serve as a fine artifact."

  Zhi Xuan steadied his breath, staring at the black wooden pole that no longer emitted a foul aura, but instead radiated a dense soul-aura. Though he felt incredibly weak from his spiritual wounds, his eyes regained their cold sharpness. "Thank you, Great Saint."

  "Keep your thanks," Ruo Xianxue cut him off flatly, her spiritual form beginning to fade. Her nine tails flickered slowly as if sweeping the remnants of her presence from the physical world. "Do not make me emerge again anytime soon just because you are too arrogant, trying to swallow the world in one gulp. Remember, your divine body is still a fragile sprout."

  Ruo Xianxue’s figure vanished completely into his inner world, leaving a suffocating silence at the base of the Grave of Rusted Swords. Zhi Xuan staggered for a moment, but forced his legs to remain upright. He stepped toward the remains of the artifact lying silent on the red earth.

  The black wood now felt cool, like ice taken from the bottom of an eternal abyss. The silk, once blood-red, was now a somber gray, yet beneath its tattered texture, Zhi Xuan could feel the pulse of dozens of soulless demonic soldiers now stored within.

  "Calamity Banner," Zhi Xuan whispered. He pressed his left palm against the black wood. Instantly, his twilight-gray essence crept inside, binding his blood essence to the artifact.

  Once, this Banner was a Calamity; now, it was merely a tool in Zhi Xuan’s hand. He lifted the banner and stored it within his storage pouch before immediately kneeling beside Li Chen. His companion was still unconscious, his breath ragged, his face showing signs of extreme mental exhaustion from forcing the forbidden Heavenly Ocean technique.

  "Xiao Die," Zhi Xuan called hoarsely. The Heavenly Trifold Reincarnation Cauldron, which had previously struck the banner, now hovered beside him, glowing softly. "Come out."

  From within the low-hovering cauldron, a soft jade-green light radiated, forming the small figure of a girl with translucent, glowing wings. Xiao Die appeared with a face full of worry, her fine hair trembling with her inner anxiety. She immediately flew toward Zhi Xuan, but her clear eyes were instantly drawn to the silver burns marring her master's divine body.

  "Senior... your wounds..." Xiao Die whispered, her voice like the rustle of wind in a spring forest. Her tiny hands immediately emitted life-giving pollen from her rainbow dust.

  "Wait, Xiao Die," Zhi Xuan interrupted, pointing to the helpless Li Chen. "I will stabilize myself with the Law of Four Seasons stored within this Cauldron. You give enough life essence to my companion. Just enough—do not exhaust yourself."

  Xiao Die nodded obediently, though her eyes still shimmered with sadness at Zhi Xuan’s tattered condition. She floated slowly over Li Chen, flapping her translucent wings. From her fingertips fell grains of light carrying the scent of morning dew, seeping into Li Chen’s pale skin.

  Zhi Xuan closed his eyes, focusing his remaining consciousness into deep meditation. Before him, the Heavenly Trifold Reincarnation Cauldron began to rotate with a majestic rhythm. The four seasonal patterns carved into its depths brought forth a soothing Law of Spring, radiating a light that healed and clarified.

  Under the influence of the Law of Spring, the cracks in his meridians slowly closed, like parched earth soaked by the first rain. The twilight-gray essence that had been roiling wildly now flowed calmly again, purging the residual demonic toxins.

  He moved his fingers and recovered his left arm, which had returned to its pitch-black color with the silvery glow of the Slaughter Seal; the deep sea-blue veins of the Kun Peng flowed beneath, forming a powerful and sturdy frame. He knew that if he did not hide this body, he would be perpetually hunted by greedy cultivators.

  On the other side, Xiao Die continued to sprinkle life pollen over Li Chen. The face of the youth from the Heavenly Ocean faction slowly regained the color of life. The furrow in his brow vanished, replaced by steady, deep breaths.

  "Egh..." Li Chen groaned shortly, his eyelids fluttering before finally opening slowly.

  The first thing he saw was the soothing green light and the figure of a small girl floating above him. He was stunned for a moment, thinking his soul had reached a peaceful afterlife, but the sharp scent of rust and the cold sword-floor quickly dragged his consciousness back.

  Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

  "W-what is this?" Li Chen gasped and sat up abruptly, startling Xiao Die. "This aura... a Heavenly Moth?"

  Li Chen stared at Xiao Die in disbelief. As a cultivator from a major sect in the Southern Region, he had extensive knowledge of ancient spiritual entities. However, seeing a Thousand Feathered Moth that possessed high-level consciousness and had successfully transformed was something he never expected from Zhi Xuan.

  Xiao Die immediately backed away several zhang, floating back to the side of the cross-legged Zhi Xuan. She folded her arms, staring at Li Chen with a gaze that was innocent yet firm and cautious.

  Zhi Xuan opened his eyes. His sapphire pupils were clear once more, though a trace of fatigue remained. He stopped the rotation of the Heavenly Trifold Reincarnation Cauldron and stored it back into his inner sea with a calm mudra.

  "You are awake, Brother Li," Zhi Xuan said, his voice now carrying a weight that seemed to merge with the silence of the tomb hall.

  Li Chen turned to Zhi Xuan. "Brother Gu, you... Is that your spiritual beast? From the aura and the essence she releases, that is a Thousand Feathered Moth."

  Zhi Xuan did not answer immediately. He stood up slowly, every movement radiating an aura that made the surrounding air feel denser. "Yes, that is correct, Brother Li. She is a Heavenly Moth, ranked fortieth on the list of Ancient Insects."

  Li Chen nodded vaguely. He tapped his waist, and from his storage bag, a cage artifact appeared, revealing a spider. "This is the Northern River Spider. I found it when I was still in the Organ Transformation realm. I know it is a Heavenly Insect ranked fifty-first, but it has fallen into a deep slumber due to severe injuries."

  "My purpose for coming here," Li Chen continued, looking at the cage artifact with a gentle face, "is because my teacher said that this place holds more than just the Heavenly Demon Calamity Banner. There is a hidden Spring of Life within this Ancient Demon Land."

  "Northern River Spider!" Xiao Die cried out in a tiny voice. She darted forward, her round eyes staring innocently at the cage in Li Chen’s hand—the instinct of a Heavenly Insect meeting its own kind. "By the Heavens, he is so badly hurt!"

  Xiao Die moved her fingers, channeling life essence and condensing the level of a Verdant Titan beast to try and heal the insect. "He is gravely injured. Even though an Azure King possesses a Tree of Life within their body much like a human cultivator, that tree is nearly withered. It would have died if Senior Li hadn't kept it within this cage artifact."

  Li Chen was stunned to see Xiao Die so enthusiastic yet pained while looking at his spider. The warmth of the life essence she channeled immediately caused the stiff, blackened Northern River Spider to move its tiny legs and emit a low hiss.

  "Verdant Titan aura?" Li Chen murmured under his breath. He looked at Zhi Xuan with a gaze that became increasingly difficult to interpret. "Brother Gu, your Heavenly Moth... no wonder she has transformed into this shape. The Northern River Spider has been trapped with me for a long time; it is only at the Azure King level, and its lifespan is almost at its end."

  "And what of the Heavenly Demon Calamity Banner?" Li Chen continued, turning his head toward where the Banner had disappeared, leaving only crushed dust. "Did it consume Taixuan entirely and then vanish?"

  Zhi Xuan shook his head slowly. He tapped his waist, and in his hand appeared the Banner, now with its gray flag. "The Heavenly Demon Calamity Banner was destroyed and transformed into this. While you were unconscious, it shattered upon impact with my artifact."

  Zhi Xuan twirled the black wooden pole with a flick of his hand, letting the tattered gray cloth dangle for a moment before returning it to his storage bag. "This object is now nothing more than an empty vessel waiting to be refilled. The feared Calamity has vanished along with Taixuan’s mad ambitions."

  Li Chen stared intently at the banner. Though he felt something was odd in Zhi Xuan’s explanation—specifically how an ancient demonic artifact could turn gray and appear tame—he chose not to argue. In the world of cultivation, everyone has secrets buried deeper than a grave, and after witnessing Zhi Xuan’s power, Li Chen knew that questioning further was unwise.

  "I see," Li Chen exhaled deeply, his eyes returning to his spider, which now looked calmer after receiving Xiao Die’s essence. "Losing Taixuan might be a hidden blessing for the Southern Region. I did not come here for that Calamity, but to seek the Spring of Life to heal my spiritual beast."

  Zhi Xuan looked at Li Chen with an unreadable expression. On one hand, he appreciated the youth's loyalty to his spiritual beast—a trait rarely found among cultivators who usually view other living beings as mere tools. On the other hand, the mention of a Spring of Life in the middle of this rotting land sounded like a sharp irony.

  "A spring in the middle of a grave pit," Zhi Xuan murmured, his voice echoing low in the silent hall. "Your teacher gave you a dangerous riddle, Brother Li. This Ancient Demon Land is not a part of the living. If there is a spring here, it must be guarded by something more terrifying than a Yin Corpse Dragon."

  Li Chen smiled bitterly, his hands trembling as he put the cage artifact back into his storage bag. "I know. But for those walking a dead-end path, even an illusion must be chased like reality. This spider has accompanied me since I was an insignificant outer disciple. I will not let it simply wither away."

  Xiao Die floated back to Zhi Xuan’s shoulder, her small face looking somber. "Senior, what Senior Li says is true. That spider carries a seed of life that is nearly rotten. Without that spring, within three moon cycles, its soul will return to the dust."

  Zhi Xuan fell silent for a moment. He felt the pulse of the Calamity Banner in his storage bag—an artifact of death that must now coexist with a search for life. "We cannot linger at the bottom of this abyss. Your mental essence has just stabilized, and the Yin aura here will begin to erode our defenses again within hours."

  "Then, what is your plan, Brother Gu?" Li Chen asked, trying to stand tall despite his weak legs.

  Zhi Xuan turned his gaze toward the towering walls of the abyss, where millions of rusted swords seemed to watch them with thousands of dead eyes. "We will follow the remnants of the Law of Karma from this Banner. Ancient demonic artifacts are usually not created in places that are entirely dead; they require balance to reach the peak of their power. If this Banner was the pinnacle of 'Death,' then at the point exactly opposite to it, there must exist 'Life'."

  Li Chen frowned, trying to digest the logic. "You mean... Extreme Laws will give birth to opposing poles?"

  "Exactly," Zhi Xuan replied. He stamped his foot, triggering a wave of gray essence that swept across the hall floor. "This Grave of Rusted Swords is a massive formation. If Taixuan saw this place as an altar of sacrifice, then the spring you seek is the vessel of purification that should exist on the other side of this tomb."

  "Xiao Die, come here," Zhi Xuan commanded. Xiao Die nodded, transforming into a small moth and hiding behind the collar of Zhi Xuan’s robe.

  Without wasting time, Zhi Xuan shot into the air, his divine body cleaving through the black mist that was beginning to creep back into the hall. Li Chen followed behind, using his remaining energy to keep pace among the collapsed black metal pillars.

  As they flew past the gaps of giant swords, Zhi Xuan began to feel a shift in energy. The stinging scent of iron was slowly replaced by a strange aroma—the scent of damp earth and remnants of incredibly pure spiritual energy, hidden behind a very thick layer of illusion.

  "Wait," Zhi Xuan ordered suddenly. He stopped right in front of a sword-wall that appeared denser than the others. There, a broken white jade sword was thrust into the ground, yet it bore not a single speck of rust.

  Zhi Xuan’s Heavenly Eye glowed gold. Behind the sword-wall, he saw a vortex of energy spinning calmly, radiating a soft blue-green light. "This is no longer part of the Sword Grave. This... is like a remnant of civilization."

  Zhi Xuan reached out, his fingertips touching the surface of the broken white jade sword. Instantly, a pure vibration pulsed through his meridians, triggering a reaction from the Heavenly Samsara Wheel, which hummed in harmony. This sword was no ordinary weapon; it was a formation stake sealing the boundary between rotting death and hidden life.

  "The boundary between two worlds," Zhi Xuan murmured. He pressed the jade sword deeper into the metal wall.

  KREEEEK—!

  The sound of thousands of blades shifting created a deafening screech. The once-dense wall of rusted swords slowly opened, revealing a long corridor whose walls were overgrown with glowing blue moss. At the end of the corridor, a glow of light appeared—so clear it stood in stark contrast to the pitch darkness they had just traversed.

  Li Chen stepped forward cautiously, his hand still gripping the storage bag where his spider rested. "This aura... it’s not just spiritual energy. This is life essence that has been purified through a process of thousands of years. Brother Gu, does this truly exist within the Ancient Demon Land?"

  "This world always seeks balance, Brother Li. Where there is a Calamity capable of killing the heavens, there is also a drop of dew capable of awakening the earth," Zhi Xuan said as he stepped into the corridor.

  As they emerged from the end of the corridor, the sight before them caused Li Chen to freeze, dropping his jade fan in shock. In the middle of an abyss that should have been a giant grave pit, lay a hidden, small valley.