Netherworld Retrograde

The soul banner unfurled again, its blood-red meridians spreading out from beneath, transforming into a sinister and complex talisman, and even more black ghosts surged forth from the banner.

These were the spiritual bodies collected by Black Umbrella, and also one of the soul banner’s methods!

In an instant, countless black ghosts scattered in all directions!

He was making a desperate last stand!

But a terrifying force descended from the sky, directly destroying all the meridians and slaughtering all the black souls.

Countless wails of despair echoed across the battlefield, dealing a heavy blow to Black Umbrella, sharply reducing his spiritual energy strength.

The seventh generation Champion merely struck with a single sword, completely disintegrating Black Umbrella’s final offensive.

It plunged Black Umbrella into the deepest despair, but he still did not give up, continuing to struggle for survival.

The entire soul banner was retracted, once more transforming into a charge, but not to escape the battlefield — instead, it hurtled toward Li Yelai!

He was fighting a desperate battle, forcefully trying to possess Li Yelai’s body. Even if he were ultimately to fail, he intended to take Li Yelai down with him!

To take down this man who had driven him to a dead end!

”Night General!!!”

Black Umbrella screamed and roared, only to see Li Yelai draw the Golden Bone Sword, his hand brushing across his cheek, the Face of a black elephant-like bird appearing.

Switching Faces, Hated Earth・Li Yuanba!

In the next moment, the Golden Dharma Image appeared!

”Divine General Dharma Image!”

Black Umbrella was astounded, the Champion Members ready to strike revealed surprise, and even the seventh generation Champion raised an eyebrow slightly.

In the next instant, the gigantic Dharma Image swung its sword, cleaving Black Umbrella into the ground.

This blow completely destroyed Black Umbrella’s last resistance.

Even as a Sixth-Sense Spiritual Ability User, having endured the disconnection of the Corpse Puppet, attacks by the Champion, and exhaustion of all spiritual bodies, he was utterly powerless.

Black Umbrella was embedded in the ground, covered in dust, only able to tremble slightly.

”You.... can’t kill me!”

Black Umbrella struggled to roar, being a part of the Taboo Items, to kill him, one must destroy the taboo object.

And Taboo Items represented certain rules and powers, quite a number of them are indestructible.

Even if destroyed, it might bring forth a disaster or attract the attention of a formidable being from the Void Realm.

Just as with the Heart of Slaughter, if forcibly destroyed, it might invite a powerful Great Demon from the Blood God.

Therefore, both the Giant City and the Forbidden Zone choose to contain and suppress Taboo Items.

As long as the Taboo Items are not destroyed, Black Umbrella would not die.

What does winning matter? At most, he would be imprisoned in the Black Prison or a containment unit. He would eventually find a way to escape!

But he had no chance anymore.

Li Yelai once again switched his Face, Xiang Yu, the Overlord of Western Chu, with frightful Heavy Pupils appearing.

Then, Li Yelai approached Black Umbrella, carrying the Golden Bone Sword.

”What are you going to do?” Black Umbrella bellowed: ”You dare to destroy...”

He suddenly remembered, the reason he had made contact with the Night General was that he had once destroyed a Taboo Item, the Ghost Immortal Altar!

And even repelled that powerful Ghost Immortal!

This realization sent shivers down Black Umbrella’s spine.

Li Yelai walked up to Black Umbrella, looking down at the wretched figure. He raised the ancient Golden Sword in his hand. He had long vowed to kill all these beasts, so what if they hid inside Taboo Items?

Li Yelai wasn’t one to have never cut through them!

”You... are you just going to watch him destroy a Taboo Item?” Black Umbrella shrieked, trying to get the Ye Boshous to stop Li Yelai.

But the Ye Boshous sneered coldly: ”He is the Chaos Chosen, what’s the use of telling us? Tell it to the Blood God!”

”Then kill him!” Black Umbrella roared: ”A Divine Chosen stands before you, are you going to remain indifferent? I have much technology and knowledge! Kill him, and I am willing to provide Giant City with this knowledge!”

”You die first,” the Ye Boshous replied indifferently, their emotions towards Li Yelai were complex, being unclear on friend or foe, but as for Black Umbrella... heh, they wouldn’t mind scattering his ashes!

However, the seventh generation Champion spoke up: ”Wait a moment, junior.”

Li Yelai stopped, a glimmer of hope rising in Black Umbrella.

But then he heard the Champion say: ”Your Spiritual Energy is too weak, even with Weakness Perception, you can’t destroy it... So, use mine.”

The next second, a white treasure sword tore through the space, appearing before Li Yelai.

Black Umbrella’s eyes nearly popped out of his sockets, or rather he would have if he had any eyes now...

”Alright, Champion elder,” Li Yelai accepted the treasure sword filled with spiritual energy, with terrifying spiritual energy infusing the blade.

Indeed, it is the Overlord of the Divine Protection Path, still able to infuse spiritual energy into the Spiritual Ability Equipment and lend it to someone else.

Li Yelai raised his treasure sword, as if a sudden thought struck him. He spoke, ”By the way, the Heavenly Meteor Qilin you crafted for me is really quite good, though it isn’t very enduring as a mount...”

This made the horrified Black Umbrella flinch, crafted?

He had only crafted summoning items for the Ark Chosen Ones.

And... Heavenly Meteor Qilin?

He had only crafted one Heavenly Meteor Qilin, and that was for Copper Face...

Wait... Copper Face, Night General...

No.3 Border City, the information on the Night General...

All the pieces suddenly came together, and Black Umbrella had an epiphany.

Copper Face was the Night General, the Night General was Copper Face!

Thinking of his conversations and transactions with Copper Face, Black Umbrella was consumed by impotent rage.

”Damn it! You are Copper Face!” Black Umbrella roared, realizing that he had been played by this bastard!

To kill a man was one thing, but to crush his heart was another!

In the next instant, Li Yelai’s treasure sword descended, tracing the weak black line straight through the soul banner’s canopy and spokes.

At that moment, the Void Realm itself trembled, terrifying rules were unleashed... and then, they calmed, and all was offered up to some great being.

...

When Black Umbrella regained consciousness, he saw the strange mist and the starry sky in the distance.

He had reverted to his original form, the appearance he had when he was still human.

He looked at his human arms in surprise, unclear why he was here.

’I’m not dead?’

He felt a flicker of delight, but the next moment, his gaze turned to fear as he looked deep into the mist.

A terrifying, indescribable figure emerged.

”So, I hear you wanted to meet me?”

Mr. Shadow appeared with a hint of a smile, his massive, mountain-like, pitch-black tentacles stretched out from the mist. They reached towards the stars, seemingly grabbing something and dragging it into the mist.

This... was this the mysterious entity behind the Night General? What kind of level was this?

Black Umbrella was horrified, he retreated rapidly but was ensnared by a tentacle, unable to break free no matter how he attacked or struggled.

He was dragged into the depths of the mist, screaming.

The only thing left was the sound of chewing echoing here...

Then, a tentacle reached out, and a blank Face appeared within it.

...

Meanwhile, in a corner of the world, the Book Holder looked at the changes in the Book of Destiny and fell silent.

A rising star had fallen.

He was supposed to partake in many grand performances and find his place at the end, becoming an adjunct to some supreme being as one of the Taboo Items.

But now, he had exited the stage prematurely... The future supreme being had lost a trump card.

”Black Umbrella... what exactly happened to you? With your strength, you shouldn’t have been captured... Could it be... the Nether River Horn? Did you come into contact with the Nether River Horn ahead of time?” murmured the Book Holder, lost in thought.

...

Elsewhere, on an underground battlefield.

After Black Umbrella’s death, Li Yelai made a point of asking the Seventh Champion if there were any other survivors from different factions nearby.

After getting the answer, Li Yelai immediately revealed his identity as an undercover agent planted within the Church by Giant City.

The Divine Chosen were shocked, an undercover agent?

And the Seventh Champion spoke, ”Face? Did you use the Face to mimic the Divine Chosen?”

”Yes, you’ve seen it too. I haven’t been corrupted, and I’ve already communicated with headquarters. You can confirm with them,” replied Li Yelai, hiding nothing, now that only his people were present.

Black Umbrella and everyone from the Church’s side were dead.

And due to the Little Mad King’s intervention, Xue Yin’s brain was destroyed, so it couldn’t be revived by the horn, eliminating any risk of exposure.

Thus, he also shared the plan that lured Black Umbrella.

The Ye Boshou’s gaze turned to the Seventh Champion, as both her strength and identity made her the leader here.

All decisions rested in the hands of this Champion.

The Seventh Champion smiled lightly, her face bearing ferocious scars, yet they couldn’t hide her otherworldly charm.

”I refuse to believe that Champion Team One would have a traitor...”