Back in the day, the great swindler, the Ten Thousand Souls Banner, tricked the Earth Spirit silly, distributing its own spiritual nature to all spirit artifacts under heaven.

Then, the Ten Thousand Souls Banner swindled all the spirit artifacts again, telling them that spirit artifacts should be their own masters and not rely on others.

Thus, it triggered an unprecedented, massive rebellion of spirit artifacts.

In this rebellion, less than one in ten spirit artifacts were persuaded by their original owners to stay and continue serving as artifacts.

Those nine out of ten awakened spirit artifacts ultimately gathered together.

They shouted the great slogan, "Overthrow the tyranny of humanity, the world belongs to spirit artifacts!"

Then they were promptly suppressed by various human big shots.

After all, they were forged by humans; martial artists found it quite easy to handle spirit artifacts.

Seeing that they remained defiant even after suppression, and since you couldn't exactly fight while holding a potential traitor in your hand every day—what if it suddenly turned on you?—the big shots had to propose a compromise.

"Stop causing trouble, you're disrupting our normal cultivation, production, and daily lives. If you want to make trouble, go to Xiliang. That land is ruined by cults anyway, so it's not worth keeping."

Thus, the awakened spirit artifacts, full of backbone, withdrew from the Central Plains, Eastern Wastes, Northern Frontier, and Southern Borderlands, and concentrated in Xiliang.

They went to war with the three religious nations of Xiliang, whose martial strength was the weakest among the Five Regions, seized political power, and achieved the unification of Xiliang.

Over twenty years ago, the spirit artifacts formally established the Spirit Artifact Nation.

Throughout this whole process of rebellion, attacking Xiliang, and founding a nation, it had little impact on ordinary people, at most serving as an amusing story to hear.

The spirit artifacts were still relatively simple; they didn't engage in indiscriminate killing of innocents. They simply wanted to "be themselves."

As for casualties on the battlefield, well, you couldn't blame anyone for those.

After the Spirit Artifact Nation was founded, there were still many humans in Xiliang, who nominally became subjects of the Spirit Artifact King.

Initially, the people of Xiliang were somewhat afraid of the spirit artifacts.

These non-human things are ruling us, is that good or bad?

Then, the common folk of Xiliang suddenly discovered.

Holy crap! No taxes?! Because spirit artifacts don't eat!

Holy crap! No corvée labor?! Because spirit artifacts don't care where you live while alive or where you're buried when dead!

Furthermore, because the spirit artifacts couldn't understand all those weird and bizarre things the cults were into, cult development hit rock bottom here, freeing many common people from yet another shackle!

The spirit artifacts especially couldn't stand martial artists. The first decree they issued was that martial artists were not allowed to eat without paying!

This, this, this...

It was like stumbling into paradise!

Only then did the people of Xiliang realize with a start: the spirit artifacts have come, Xiliang is saved! The spirit artifacts have come, Xiliang has its blue sky!

Before you acted, you first gathered all this information clearly.

"Little Wan, these spirit artifacts have actually done a pretty good job with Xiliang. Even though they don't understand how to govern a country, not governing doesn't seem to be a problem either, as long as no external enemies attack them."

To the west of Xiliang is the great sea, to the east is the Central Plains.

Even if the Demon Tribe attacked, it would be the Central Plains bearing the pressure; Xiliang would hardly face external threats.

As long as they acknowledged the Central Plains as the legitimate authority, were willing to submit, and clung tightly to the Central Plains' thigh, they really could enjoy peace in a remote corner.

"What's that got to do with anything! That's still my imperial throne!"

"So we need a peaceful transition, can't be too violent. Otherwise, we'd lose the people's hearts, and that wouldn't be good either."

"The people's hearts? What use do I have for the people's hearts? I want their souls! *Heavy breathing*!"

"If you're going to do that, I won't help you ascend the throne anymore. Brother Pot, are you interested in the position of Great King of the Xiliang Kingdom?"

Before the Demon Refining Pot could speak, the Ten Thousand Souls Banner immediately changed its tune.

"The ancients said!!! Water can carry a boat, but it can also capsize it! Since I, the Emperor, will obtain the throne, I will certainly love the people as my own children, sympathize with their sentiments, share joy with the people..."

You took the Ten Thousand Souls Banner and headed straight for the capital of the Spirit Artifact Nation.

On the way, while you were sword-riding, you caught a glimpse of a passerby who looked somewhat familiar.

Thanks to your "Photographic Memory," you remember even the most minor characters you've ever seen.

"He seems to be that brother who was running from the poison with me back at the Shen Family, eliminated in the first round."

You descended from the sky, landing right in front of him.

Seeing you could fly, he knew you were highly skilled and immediately became extremely respectful.

"This old man pays his respects to you, Senior."

This old brother was also quite old.

"Your name is... Shen Huan, right?"

Shen Huan was very surprised.

"Have I met you before, Senior?"

"You've forgotten? The Shen Family of the Starry Domains, the Mirror Wielder selection."

Upon hearing this, Shen Huan staggered back two steps, waving his hands repeatedly.

"I... I didn't hear anything..."

"The Shen Family forbids you from telling outsiders you've been to the Starry Domains, right?"

Shen Huan just nodded, not daring to say anything more.

"After you were eliminated, you were just sent back down like this?"

Shen Huan nodded again.

He also pointed to his storage pouch.

Ordinary martial artists rarely possess storage-type spirit artifacts.

This thing was probably a perk from the Shen Family for those eliminated, and it surely contained some martial cultivation resources inside.

This was essentially hush money.

"I understand. Farewell!"

You rose on your sword, soaring through the air.

Shen Huan blinked his old eyes, his face full of envy.

"The Shen Family is actually pretty decent..."

Before the Founding Ancestor performed soul possession, he would give the person the Qiankun Mirror, making the one to be possessed experience a lifetime's worth of illusions in an instant, avoiding the pain of possession and making them think they died of old age.

After the Founding Ancestor performed soul possession, he would help the other party fulfill their unfinished wishes.

For the eliminated descendants of the Dust Lineage, the Shen Family would send them back to the surface, not making things difficult for them, nor silencing them.

"Although soul possession isn't honorable, the Shen Family's conduct is still relatively open and aboveboard."

This gave rise to a question for Chen Yi.

In the third simulation, Shen Qingshan was taken away. Why didn't he come back?

If he had been eliminated, he should have been sent back like Shen Huan and the others.

Could it be that Shen Qingshan won, and was possessed by the Shen Family Founding Ancestor?

But Chen Yi didn't think his Third Brother-in-law had such strong comprehension.

Shen Qingshan's innate talent wasn't high either, the same as Chen Yi's current level: High-Grade.

Shen Jia also had High-Grade Bone Structure, and she still managed to cultivate to the Spirit Sea realm.

Shen Qingshan had been busy his whole life; over eighty years old and still only at the Golden Body realm.

This showed his comprehension wasn't even as good as Shen Jia's.

"There's another possibility: Shen Qingshan met with some accident during the selection and died..."

Chen Yi frowned in thought.

He was considering whether to have Shen Qingshan go to the Starry Domains in the next simulation to try?

To see what was really going on. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶

You held the Ten Thousand Souls Banner aloft, demonic energy billowing, descending upon the capital of Xiliang's Spirit Artifact Nation, Great Artifact City!

The Ten Thousand Souls Banner fluttered in the wind, its demonic energy covering the entire city like dark clouds pressing down on the sky.

From atop the demonic clouds, the voice of the Ten Thousand Souls Banner spread across the heavens, resounding throughout the city!

"Who! Bestowed wisdom upon you—"

"Who! Showed you the way—"

"Who! Stands atop these clouds—"