Chapter 271: Chapter 269: The Plot Forced Me to Rebel

This was the highest-grade Soul Refining Treasure among the soul banners of the Demonic Path. The Ten Thousand Souls Banner in her hand now emanated a sinister black energy, casting a grim and terrifying shadow over Celeste Grant’s once-beautiful face.

"Do you know what this is?"

"Allow me to introduce you." She smiled, gesturing to the banner in her hand. "This is called the Ten Thousand Souls Banner, a Magic Treasure beloved by all Demon Cultivators. However, it’s nothing like those subpar soul banners you find on the market in the Cultivation World. The one I’m holding is an Emperor Level Ten Thousand Souls Banner, a supreme treasure of the Demonic Sects. It’s the kind of artifact countless cultivators would fight to the death for, something they could only dream of seeing."

After all, among all the Demonic Sects, only Javier Sinclair possessed an Emperor Level Ten Thousand Souls Banner.

Therefore, the Ten Thousand Souls Banner in her hand could command all the spirits in the world, and none dared to disobey. As for those who refused? They died. It was just that unreasonable. This was why the moment the Ten Thousand Souls Banner appeared, all spirits would be forced to submit.

An ordinary soul banner could only imprison and refine souls, but the Emperor Level Ten Thousand Souls Banner could also grant salvation to the dead.

Celeste Grant stared at Jocelyn Grant with a friendly expression. Looking at them, one would never guess they were enemies. Instead, they seemed like long-lost sisters, happily reunited.

Then, she spoke. "I see you’ve become a Wisp with nowhere to go. Consider yourself honored. I’m preparing to invite you for a long-term stay inside. There are plenty of soul servants that Javier Sinclair refined in the past who can keep you company. Your ’ghost life’ won’t be lonely."

With every word Celeste Grant spoke, Jocelyn Grant’s soul body, immobilized before her, trembled.

Her face was now a mask of pure terror.

Of course she knew about a vicious and wicked Magic Treasure like the Ten Thousand Souls Banner. It was what those Demon Cultivators used for Soul Refining.

The soul banners she had seen in the past had never posed a threat to her, so she’d never paid them any mind.

But the moment this soul banner appeared in Celeste Grant’s hand, her soul body felt a crushing pressure, and she began to tremble instinctively. It was an unconscious reaction; the Ten Thousand Souls Banner was the ultimate bane of all soul bodies.

’I don’t want my soul to be annihilated.’

At this thought,

she tried to speak, but discovered that she couldn’t utter a single word under the banner’s overwhelming pressure. She could only remain trapped in place, completely immobile.

Seeing Jocelyn’s mouth move without a sound coming out,

Celeste Grant laughed. "Look at you, you’re so happy you’re speechless." She raised a finger, her expression full of mock understanding. "I get it. You don’t have to say a thing."

"Your eyes tell me that you’re immensely grateful I found you such a wonderful new home. After all, we’re old acquaintances. It’s the least I could do."

’What could she possibly understand!’

’That bitch!’

’She’s doing this on purpose. She must be thrilled to see me in such a pathetic state, just overjoyed, isn’t she?’

Jocelyn Grant trembled with rage, but even stronger was her soul body’s primal fear of the Ten Thousand Souls Banner.

Finally, Jocelyn Grant managed to force the words out, her voice trembling.

"No... I don’t want to!"

"Celeste Grant, let me go! I promise I’ll never bother you again."

"That’s right... I won’t dare to, not ever again! I won’t go in. I don’t want my soul to be annihilated!"

’Even with a Divine Soul at the Nascent Soul Stage, I’d surely have my Primordial Spirit completely destroyed if I entered that Ten Thousand Souls Banner.’

Celeste Grant ignored her pleas. With a light flick of her finger, she said, "In you go."

As she spoke, Celeste Grant activated the Ten Thousand Souls Banner and sucked Jocelyn Grant straight inside.

In truth, Celeste Grant didn’t know the first thing about Soul Refining, but that didn’t stop her from tormenting Jocelyn Grant a little.

「Inside the Ten Thousand Souls Banner.」

Countless soul servants flew about, wailing and weeping.

They looked terrifyingly powerful.

As the newcomer, Jocelyn Grant was immediately surrounded. Ghastly faces drew close, sniffing at her again and again, practically drooling. It was clear they wanted to devour her and strengthen themselves.

"A newcomer."

"A female."

"A Nascent Soul Stage Divine Soul. What a nourishing prize!"

"She smells delicious."

"No soul servant mark. She can be devoured."

"Get away... Scram!"

Seeing the soul servants swarm closer, Jocelyn Grant immediately attacked. But how could she, a newcomer, possibly fend off these long-time residents? Roaring with fury, they knocked her to the ground. One by one, they descended upon her, viciously tearing at her very soul.

"AHHHH!"

"Help me!"

"Stop!"

「Meanwhile, outside.」

Holding the Ten Thousand Souls Banner, Celeste Grant could clearly see the scene unfolding inside.

It took only an instant. Without her even having to activate the banner’s power, Jocelyn Grant was completely devoured by the soul servants inside.

’No wonder they say the Ten Thousand Souls Banner is terrifying,’ she thought. ’It truly is. Even without using the banner’s own power, the soul servants inside can easily devour any cultivator who enters.’

Seeing this, Celeste Grant drew a sharp breath.

’Is Jocelyn Grant just... gone like that?’

The next moment, she felt the space around her shift, and in the blink of an eye, everything reset.

Jocelyn Grant’s soul body was once again trapped before her, staring with the same terrified expression at the Ten Thousand Souls Banner in her hand.

Just as she was about to pull Jocelyn Grant back into the Ten Thousand Souls Banner, the entire space around her froze solid.

She alone remained unrestricted.

Celeste Grant raised her gaze slightly, looking at the snowflakes suspended motionless in the air.

’What’s this now?’

As she was frowning slightly,

a flustered and exasperated voice echoed from the sky.

"You... you... you... How utterly outrageous!"

"It’s bad enough that you, the villainess, refuse to follow the plot, but you actually killed my female lead again! You outsider are far too arrogant! Don’t you forget that you, just like the female lead, are a character in this story! And I am The World’s Will! Do you really think there’s nothing I can do to you?"

Hearing this voice, Celeste Grant raised an eyebrow.

’The World’s Will really is everywhere.’

’It’s shown up again.’

’Looks like it won’t disappear until the male and female leads are both dead for good.’

At this thought, she looked into the void and smiled faintly. "You still dare to show your face... No, no, I should say, you actually managed to escape from the Heavenly Dao?"

Sure enough, her words made The World’s Will completely lose its composure.

"Who said I escaped? The Heavenly Dao and I coexist! We’re one and the same! I can come and go as I please!"

"You detestable outsider, shut your mouth! Do you really think I can’t defeat the Heavenly Dao? This world was supposed to be mine! If that newborn Heavenly Dao hadn’t stolen the position that was rightfully mine, I would’ve struck you dead long ago...!"

Before The World’s Will could continue its rant, Celeste Grant cut it off.

"Look at you, getting so flustered. I barely said anything and you’ve already lost your cool. You need to get one thing straight: this world is real now. A mere story’s will that only knows how to revolve around the female lead wants to become the Heavenly Dao? In your dreams. You want to strike me dead? Who do you think you are, the Heavenly Dao?"

"Don’t push me."

The voice...

It seemed to come from the far horizons,

yet suddenly it was right beside her.

It seethed with rage.

"Push you? Hahaha, you’ve got it all wrong. It’s always been you pushing me. All of you, and this damned plot, pushing me! When I first arrived in this world, I wanted nothing to do with the female lead. I just wanted to avoid the plot and live a quiet life. Wasn’t it the plot that forced me to fight back every step of the way?"