Closer, ever closer.

The Huangqu River twisted and turned, its waters surging violently, vast and carrying torrents of mud and soil. As it surged, mud and soil flew about, and it covered a vast area.

Upon the protruding yellowish rock clusters grew ancient, verdant trees, brimming with vitality. In their vicinity, clusters of Spiritual Medicines bloomed, releasing a rich, clear fragrance.

As he neared the verdant isle, the river beneath it suddenly formed a reverse vortex, and from it strode out a terrifying, savage Nine-tailed Crocodile Dragon.

The Nine-tailed Crocodile Dragon’s entire body was golden, as if cast from solid gold. It gleamed dazzlingly, its eyes so bright they seemed to pierce one’s own, and an explosive power pulsed within it.

This was a colossal creature: a golden body, dense scales like armor radiating a golden brilliance, a True Dragon’s head, a crocodile’s body, and nine tails, each hundreds of zhang long.

Its appearance alone conveyed the Nine-tailed Crocodile Dragon’s terror.

This was a Desolate Beast!

"A Nine-tailed Crocodile Dragon!?"

The confusion in Hong Yuan’s eyes deepened, like dark clouds that refused to disperse.

He recalled from his dream that Han Jiuming’s junior martial sister, Kun Rong, had been gifted a Nine-tailed Crocodile Dragon Desolate Beast by Master Heavenly River for her protection.

Encountering a Nine-tailed Crocodile Dragon again, that peculiar sense of déjà vu left Hong Yuan somewhat dazed.

"COO COO COO..." The Nine-tailed Crocodile Dragon cooed softly at Hong Yuan, its savage expression softening.

It slowly submerged into the river, continuing to guard the verdant isle.

Hong Yuan fell silent, his hand gripping the Flood Gathering War Banner involuntarily tightening.

Did this Nine-tailed Crocodile Dragon recognize him!?

"Sigh... ’Things will sort themselves out.’ Overthinking is useless. Let’s keep moving." Hong Yuan let out a light breath, casting aside superfluous thoughts.

With his Demon Essence circulating, Hong Yuan, cautious as a great bird, entered the verdant isle.

The verdant isle seemed to welcome its master’s return; its Holy Array deactivated on its own. The flowers, grass, and trees on the island swayed in the wind, emanating pleasant scents.

Involuntarily, Hong Yuan’s mind calmed considerably.

He walked slowly on the island, the astonishment in his eyes intensifying.

"Han Kui’s palace..."

"Kun Rong’s garden..."

"Han Jiuming’s training room..."

Seeing these familiar scenes, an absurd feeling arose in Hong Yuan’s heart, leaving him momentarily bewildered.

Before Hong Yuan had time to ponder, the stone door of Han Jiuming’s training room creaked open, as if pushed by an invisible hand, completely revealing everything inside.

The spartan training room had walls as white as frost. On the floor lay only a Taoist Mat and an Azure Blue Flag.

"Wait, the Azure Blue Flag!?"

Hong Yuan looked up sharply. The dark red Flood Gathering War Banner in his hand radiated an urgent desire to devour.

This Azure Blue Flag was remarkably similar in form to the Flood Gathering War Banner. The only difference was that it depicted images of the Four Images Divine Beasts, such as the Green Dragon and White Tiger, and the True Dragon’s Nine Offspring. It even bore images of Emperor Artifacts like the Mountain and River Pen and the Soul Killing Banner.

These images were so vivid it seemed they might break free from the banner and reappear in the world at any moment.

Hong Yuan felt a growing certainty in his heart:

This Azure Blue Flag before me must be the Flood Gathering War Banner Han Jiuming used, but its rank has probably already reached the Holy Artifact tier!

"HUM HUM—"

The Azure Blue Flood Gathering War Banner sensed Hong Yuan’s arrival, its fabric fluttering with immense joy.

A gentle breeze passed, and it suddenly began to weather, gradually decaying as if the irresistible power of the River of Time was stripping away its Great Power.

But the next moment, the Azure Blue Flood Gathering War Banner suddenly erupted with brilliant light, as if wanting Hong Yuan to witness its true power.

BOOM! RUMBLE! RUMBLE!

Terrifying, dreadful, and magnificent scenes unfolded before Hong Yuan’s eyes.

The Four Directions Divine Beasts streaked freely through the starry sky, trailing myriad streams of light as they shattered Stars.

A figure, part human and part dragon, wielded the Mountain and River Pen, striking at the River of Time and stirring up countless ripples.

A heaven-propping giant stood in the Reverse River, furiously raising the Soul Killing Banner to assault the Gate of Life and Death.

The Thunder Palace, built atop a mountain tens of millions of zhang high, passed judgment upon the world and enslaved all living beings.

The sky slowly opened its silver-white eyes, gazing dispassionately upon the mortal realm as boundless, scorching flames descended, forming an unceasing Fire Region.

A demonic sovereign sat cross-legged upon a sea of blood, amidst bobbing white bones and corpses.

Nine dragons pulled a coffin, their backs turned to all beings, before the Reincarnation Stele...

A vast, mystical sound arose, and the hazy images receded.

Witnessing these scenes, Hong Yuan gulped and roared internally:

A Heaven-rank Holy Artifact! Definitely a Heaven-rank Holy Artifact, perhaps even bordering on an Emperor Artifact!

CRACK! CRACK! SNAP!

A series of fracturing sounds echoed as the Azure Blue Flood Gathering War Banner dissolved into a rain of light, drifting with the wind and vanishing, leaving only a pool of Azure Blue Fluid where it had been.

This pool of Azure Blue Fluid was clearly the most refined essence of the Azure Blue Flood Gathering War Banner.

Under the merciless blade of the River of Time, no matter how stunningly talented or matchless one might be, all achievements eventually turn to dust.

Gazing at this pool of Azure Blue Fluid, the dark red Flood Gathering War Banner in Hong Yuan’s hand hummed and trembled, expressing an urgent desire to devour it.

Hong Yuan’s eyes drooped as he thought, Has its nature been tainted by the Blood Tao from devouring too much blood and essence of Demon Beasts? It seems I must accelerate the refinement of my Life Tao Seed, the Great Moon Virtual Mirror.

The Flood Gathering War Banner was originally a fifth-rank Water Tao Tao Species. However, due to Hong Yuan’s manipulations, it had, to some extent, taken on the role of a conduit.

Perhaps from devouring too much blood and essence of Demon Beasts, the Flood Gathering War Banner had become impure.

In this world, impurity is the greatest taboo in cultivation due to the eternal problem of Tao Mark Contradiction!

"Go."

Hong Yuan loosened his grip. The dark red Flood Gathering War Banner pounced like a starving wolf on a meat bun, lunging for the Azure Blue Fluid to devour it.

However, the fundamental difference between the two was too vast.

One was a Holy Artifact on the verge of becoming an Emperor Artifact; the other was merely a Tao Species with some minor Holy Artifact characteristics.

The dark red Flood Gathering War Banner was like someone who had entered a Gold Mountain but lacked the strength to carry away its treasures.

Looks like I still have to intervene, Hong Yuan sighed inwardly.

He stepped forward slowly and unleashed several hundred black Refining Tao Marks to help the dark red Flood Gathering War Banner devour the Azure Blue Fluid.

With Hong Yuan’s assistance, the dark red Flood Gathering War Banner began to gulp down the fluid voraciously, its ’appetite’ seemingly immense.

[Water Tao +10,000]

[Water Tao +10,000]

[...]

[School: Water Tao (Grandmaster 2%) → School: Water Tao (Grandmaster 15%)]

Hong Yuan, in his Demonic Body, shared a bond with the dark red Flood Gathering War Banner akin to that between a Sword Cultivator and their Sword Embryo. As the banner strengthened, Hong Yuan received feedback and grew stronger in tandem.

Perhaps because both Flood Gathering War Banners shared the same origin, the dark red one’s transformation became increasingly obvious. Its dark red color gradually faded, returning to an azure blue.

A profound aura, capable of suppressing all directions, emanated from it.

It was advancing towards becoming a Holy Artifact!

Just an hour later, the Flood Gathering War Banner, now restored to its azure blue form, once again appealed to Hong Yuan for help. It still had about a cupful of the Azure Blue Fluid left unabsorbed.

Hong Yuan understood that if it could absorb all the Azure Blue Fluid, it would undoubtedly evolve into a Holy Artifact.

Are my Refining Tao Marks still too few? Hong Yuan mused.

Suddenly, he sensed something and focused his intent slightly on his proficiency panel.

The next moment, an unfamiliar purple-gold Tao Mark materialized from his proficiency panel and floated out.

Hong Yuan’s pupils instantly widened, and he exclaimed in shock, "Extraterrestrial Tao Marks!?"