The Myriad Soul Banner spun rapidly in the air, its surface surging with formidable power. The thick explosion clouds gradually dispersed under the wind's force, revealing a scene of utter devastation.

Within the chasms of the earth, the Ancient Flood Dragon had reverted to its true form. Its massive serpentine body was covered in wounds, scales torn off, blood dripping everywhere. Though it had survived by relying on the dragon's resilient physique, it now lay on the brink of death.

The dragon lay motionless in the ruins, breathing weakly with closed eyes, seemingly unconscious. Around it were scattered fragments of various magical artifacts. Wisps of spiritual essence emerged from the ruins, swiftly drifting toward the Myriad Soul Banner. As these spirits continuously poured into it, the banner's glow grew increasingly brighter.

Li Xuanxiao crouched in a safe spot, murmuring incantations. With each low chant, the spirits from the banner surged into his body like an unending tide. These spirits rapidly gathered within him, intertwining and entangling with each other.

Over time, the spirits gradually fused together, forming a massive energy sphere. Li Xuanxiao endured tremendous pain as this sphere churned and compressed within him. Through relentless effort, it finally condensed into a Golden Core.

A look of ecstatic joy appeared on Li Xuanxiao's face. He had successfully formed his Golden Core, achieving the Dao of Golden Core cultivation!

"It's done! It's done!!" Li Xuanxiao felt the Golden Core within him. From having his cultivation foundation destroyed to now successfully forming his core—all in less than a year. The Myriad Soul Banner truly lived up to its reputation.

Li Xuanxiao withdrew the banner back into his body and vanished from the scene.

".........."

The old guard captain's face was as pale as paper, cold sweat dripping from his forehead as his body trembled from excruciating pain. His upper body had been utterly mangled in the explosion, leaving only half his torso barely connected. With great difficulty, he stood up, then froze in place.

His gaze fixed blankly ahead at the deep, hideous chasms marring the distant ground—black and terrifying. An indescribable fear welled up in his heart. He knew these scars were the handiwork of that explosion, and he himself had narrowly escaped death. His caution had saved his life.

"Remnants of Mount Shushan...!" The old captain shuddered with dread. He only had half a year left before his transfer—no need to throw his life away here. But just as he turned to leave, his eyes met another's gaze.

"........"

Li Xuanxiao had just located the Myriad Soul Banner's position from Zhao Lu's palace. Tracking it to Jiangnan, he hadn't even entered the region before spotting his own wanted poster. Though he'd awoken from thirty years of slumber, his cautious nature remained unchanged.

After leaving Di Nü Feng's place, he'd taken every precaution to avoid exposure. Seeing the wanted notice, Li Xuanxiao was utterly baffled. "Huh? Me?" Though confused, he instinctively activated his disguise technique. However, his silver hair proved impossible to conceal—no magic could hide it. So he simply disguised himself as an elderly man with silver hair.

Then came the explosion's roar, and Li Xuanxiao silently made his way to the epicenter. Even he was shocked by the blast's power. His clone hid within a tree while another lurked underground, observing everything.

".........."

Just as the old captain turned away, he suddenly felt an intense gaze locked onto him. Whirling around, his eyes met those of the watcher—deep, sharp, cold as winter stars, yet carrying a subtle hint of mockery and wicked charm.

The silver-haired Li Xuanxiao made no attempt to hide, standing directly opposite the captain. His hair danced wildly in the wind, seemingly merging with the sinister aura radiating from him. The sword energy and dark qi in his hands twisted together like two venomous serpents.

With a swing of his arm, Li Xuanxiao sent the intertwined energies streaking toward the captain like lightning, carrying overwhelming force.

"Remnants of Mount Shushan!" The old captain knew evasion was impossible. He formed hand seals, golden light bursting from his fingertips to shred the incoming attack. Biting his tongue to draw vital blood, he performed dual seals—lightning gathering at his left hand, hellfire blooming in his right palm.

"BOOOOM—!!"

Meanwhile, the hidden Li Xuanxiao watched this battle between "himself" and the captain, an absurd feeling gripping his heart. "Huh? Another me in this world?" His first thought was identity theft, but this notion vanished when the fighting Li Xuanxiao raised his hand—and summoned the Myriad Soul Banner.

"The... Myriad Soul Banner!?" Li Xuanxiao's expression drastically changed. First seeing his doppelgänger, then witnessing him wield the banner? With a furious swing, the other Li Xuanxiao brought the banner crashing down toward the captain.

The banner traced a deadly arc through the air, howling as it descended. The old captain hastily raised a defensive treasure to block. With a resounding "CLANG!", the collision shook the surrounding earth.

"..........."

The hidden Li Xuanxiao's mind nearly short-circuited. He couldn't comprehend what was happening. An exact replica of himself was using the Myriad Soul Banner? This left him utterly bewildered. Instead of intervening, he concealed himself even more carefully, observing the battle.

Wielding the banner, the other Li Xuanxiao pressed the attack, forcing the captain into steady retreat. A crisp "CRACK" sounded as the impostor's iron-like fingers clamped onto the captain's skull and slammed it downward. The captain's forehead smashed into the ground with a dull thud.

"Struggling pointlessly, fellow Daoist," the impostor Li Xuanxiao sneered. "Why not join my banner now?" The captain's body convulsed weakly—his injuries from the explosion left him too damaged to resist.

"Mercy... have mercy..." the captain wailed. He'd been so close to retirement, to peaceful twilight years. But his pleas were in vain as his spirit was torn away, drawn into the Myriad Soul Banner as strands of soul energy.

........

Watching this from the shadows, the real Li Xuanxiao knew he had to act. Regardless of who this impostor was, he needed to reclaim the banner immediately. There was no time to ponder how the other had obtained it despite the sword spirit's protection.

No matter what... Li Xuanxiao formed hand seals, setting his clones into motion.