Chapter 1016: Chapter 435: Supreme Treasure, Ten Thousand Souls Banner; Duan Shuang’s Divine Sense Breakthrough_2

"Ugh!"

The specter let out a scream mixed with pain and fury.

Its surrounding Yin energy exploded like a bomb, frantically assaulting Xu Ping’s Divine Sense suppression.

The Restriction runes within its soul body lit up with a blinding radiance, fiercely clashing with its rebellious force, emitting a teeth-grinding sizzling sound.

Its strength had greatly advanced, and now, bursting with anger, its resistance force far exceeded the past.

Although Xu Ping’s Divine Sense was immense, he faintly felt an uncontrollable sensation by himself.

The scarlet ghost eye stared at him with ferocity and provocation, continuously impacting the defenses of his Divine Sense.

During this stalemate, the Nine Nether Elder’s eyes flashed with ghostly light.

The next moment.

The Nine Nether Elder’s terrifying Divine Sense, carrying true Divinity Transformation Level Dao charm, joined the fray, combining with Xu Ping’s Divine Sense to suppress ruthlessly.

Boom!

Like ice-cold water pouring into boiling oil, the specter’s violent resistance momentum suddenly paused.

Under the combined suppression of two masters whose Divine Sense far surpassed ordinary Nascent Soul practitioners, its newly ascended, yet-to-stabilize Supreme Treasure power was finally forcibly suppressed.

In the scarlet ghost eye, madness and savagery were gradually replaced by pain and unwillingness, and the soul body trembled violently, emitting a whimpering wail, with its surrounding Evil Qi beginning to retract.

Xu Ping dared not delay.

He seized the opportunity, exerting his Divine Sense fully, his hands skillfully forming seals, reinforcing the Divine Sense suppression.

Under the dual suppression and the re-strengthened Restriction, the specter’s struggles became weaker and weaker.

Eventually, the scarlet light completely faded from its eyes, replaced by a forced submission and profound fear.

It lowered its gigantic head, no longer daring to meet Xu Ping’s gaze.

Only then did Xu Ping truly breathe a sigh of relief, a faint sweat appearing at his temple.

If he had faced this backlash alone, even if he could ultimately suppress it, he would likely have paid a substantial price.

"Many thanks to Senior Nine Nether for the assistance."

Xu Ping retracted the Ten Thousand Souls Banner, solemnly bowing towards the Nine Nether Elder.

If it weren’t for the Nine Nether Elder’s key assistance with a Divinity Transformation level Divine Sense at the critical moment, the outcome would have been uncertain.

The Nine Nether Elder waved his hand, his face showing no joy nor anger: "It’s a minor matter."

"The successful ascension of the Ten Thousand Souls Banner is extraordinary in rank and will be a great aid in our upcoming confrontation with the Star Palace Saints. I couldn’t stand by and watch it backlash against its master."

He looked up at the sky, which had already returned to clear, though still lingering with traces of destructive aura, and his tone turned grave:

"The disturbance here is too great; although the array conceals the aftermath, it’s hard to guarantee that it won’t attract the attention of certain entities."

"This place isn’t suitable for a long stay; we must leave quickly."

Xu Ping and Hongyi both nodded solemnly.

The three of them no longer lingered, transforming into three unobtrusive Escape Lights, swiftly leaving this desolate sea area where a violent Supreme Treasure had just been born, disappearing into the vast outer sea.

...

Four months later.

Xu Ping quietly returned to Blood Bone Island, everything as it was before, as if he had merely ventured out for a brief journey.

Whereas the Nine Nether Elder and Hongyi had once again submerged into the Star Palace.

Though the clouds of war grew increasingly heavy, they had yet to completely break the facade, thus their hidden piece still held irreplaceable value.

A crucial betrayal at a pivotal moment might achieve unexpected results.

In the underground chamber, Restrictions were activated layer by layer.

The first thing Xu Ping took out was the newly transformed Ten Thousand Souls Banner.

Holding the banner no longer felt bone-chilling as before, but rather carried an inward heaviness and coldness akin to an abyss.

When his Divine Sense probed inside, the internal space had evolved into what seemed like a real ghostly underworld.

Mountains and rivers were condensed from pure Soul Power and Evil Qi, billions of ferocious souls howled and wandered within yet remained orderly, ruled by that terrifyingly aura-filled specter at its core.

"The level of a Supreme Treasure is indeed extraordinary."

Xu Ping sensed it carefully, joy surging in his heart.

With this banner in hand, he indeed had the bare minimum confidence to contend and withstand against Divinity Transformation cultivators.

However, he also clearly sensed that deep within the specter’s core, the backlash intent suppressed by layers of Restrictions hadn’t been entirely eliminated, just temporarily dormant.

In the short term, it was imperative to restrict it from devouring more living souls to avoid provoking its ferocity and triggering the Restrictions once more.

"The internal space possesses the inclination to evolve into a small world... If it continues to elevate, might it truly become a unique ghostly realm one day?"

A fanciful thought flashed through Xu Ping’s mind, but he promptly shook his head.

Such a state of existence was still far beyond him at the moment.

He put away the Ten Thousand Souls Banner, and with a flip of his palm, the Canghua Divine Wood Sword silently appeared.

Through years of nurturing with "Spirit Descending Art," consuming his own blood essence and life span, the Canghua Divine Wood Sword had undergone a transformation in its aura.

The sword’s blade was still a lush green, but the color was deeper and more restrained, as though it harbored a whole expanse of boundless vitality, ample with prolific life energy.

The intent conveyed by the sword spirit was clear and lively, full of rich vitality and eager anticipation.

Its spiritual essence had faintly surpassed the limit of a Heaven-Reaching Spiritual Treasure, brushing against the intangible barrier leading to the Supreme Treasure realm.

"Not bad."

"Following this trend, it won’t be long until the Canghua Divine Wood Sword can also attempt to invoke Thunder Tribulation and ascend to a Supreme Treasure," Xu Ping’s face lit up with a genuine smile.

His Lifebound Magical Treasure was connected to his mind; once ascended, its power would multiply, enabling him to wield his Sword Dao skills to the utmost.

By then, with the Sword Intent development and the Supreme Treasure level Canghua Divine Wood Sword, he would have a broader range of tactics against Divinity Transformation cultivators, posing an even greater threat.