Gentlemen, it's time to enter the Banner of Ten Thousand Souls.

Chapter 181 The Secret of the Mirage Sect
Chen Ye stepped into the deep underground, which was the underworld of Fengdu.

Although it is only one floor, it is eerily ghostly and completely different from the mortal world.

Chen Ye arrived at the location of the Ten Thousand Souls Banner and reached out to grab the long pole.

With a slight thought, countless runes flowed across the banner, and thousands of warm golden rays flowed out from it.

This light, imbued with spiritual energy, touches every spirit intimately connected to this banner, conveying a clear message:

"By the sect leader's decree, all souls return to their places!"

Countless gray-black shadows rose up from all directions, gathering into a vast and unparalleled black tide, surging towards the fluttering banner of ten thousand souls.

Fengdu City had been established for a long time, and Chen Ye proved his promise with his actions. He gave these hundreds of thousands of wandering souls a place to rest, so that they would no longer have to wander and could continue to worship their ancestral spirits.

However, the ancestral spirit has now been renamed and is now called the City God.

Names don't matter. What matters is that you can eat and dress better than when you were alive, you don't have to worry about hunger or natural disasters, you can practice magic, and there are offerings to enjoy.

Although there was very little food in the offerings, and it was truly a roasted lamb shared by thousands of people, at least we could taste it.

Besides, life after death is actually better than life before death.

We must remember the source of our blessings; the sect leader gave us a new life, and his kindness in rebirth is heavier than Mount Tai.

Who dares disobey the sect leader's order? Besides, aren't ungrateful bastards afraid of being driven out of Fengdu City to bask in the sun?
Therefore, when Chen Ye gave the order, none of the ten thousand souls in Fengdu City dared to disobey.

After carefully putting away the Myriad Souls Banner, Chen Ye didn't dare to delay for a moment. He leaped onto the back of the Black Whirlwind once more. The spirit bird let out a clear and melodious cry and transformed into a streak of light, speeding towards the direction of Hundred Seas Valley.

Even at Black Whirlwind's maximum speed, he could barely make it back before the agreed time, and there was no room for complacency along the way.

On the way, Chen Ye had a moment to sense things and was immediately filled with many emotions.

The spirits within the Ten Thousand Souls Banner are no longer the same as before; many of them have cultivated divine soul techniques and have already forged corresponding magical artifacts.

The appearances of Yang Chongguang and other "veterans" have changed drastically, and some of them no longer look like humans.

This is probably related to the sins or personality traits committed in one's previous life. This divine soul technique can interrogate sins, and over time it will transform one into that tortured appearance.

The ghost that was accustomed to spreading rumors and hurting others with its words in life now has a morbidly elongated tongue, and a sinister hook for cutting off the tongue has been condensed in its mouth, enduring the self-inflicted punishment day and night.

Those who were dishonest and thieves in life transformed their hands into long whips covered with sharp spikes, while their souls were covered with layers upon layers of whip marks that were constantly being regenerated and scabbed over, as if they were covered with a strange and twisted layer of keratinous flesh.

Such changes are commonplace within the banner, with each spirit experiencing its own "purgatory."

Chen Ye knew this was not a good thing. Although the mutated Yin spirit had become more powerful, it was a sign that it was sinking into a sea of ​​suffering from which it could not be freed.

Only by thoroughly atoning for all sins and truly seeing through one's obsessions can one break free from this terrifying state and rebuild a pure soul.

Unfortunately, it's easier said than done.

Many people's claims of repentance are just self-deception.

Chen Ye couldn't help with this, as the Six Paths of Reincarnation were not yet complete, and they could only rely on their own comprehension.

Chen Ye carefully sensed the presence and found that unique one among the countless spirits.

A white shadow emerged from the Ten Thousand Souls Banner and respectfully said to Chen Ye, "Sect Master, Bai Yueguang has come as summoned." It was this guy; he should be of great help in the upcoming battle.

Chen Ye said to Bai Yueguang, "Have you ever heard of a disciple in the Mirage Sect named Lingguang Xian?"

Upon hearing this, Bai Yueguang's illusory figure trembled violently, and the light around him became somewhat disordered. He asked in surprise, "Where did the sect leader learn of this name?"

Seeing this, Chen Ye's suspicions deepened: "Oh? Judging from your reaction, could it be that you are acquainted with this Lingguang Immortal? But isn't your master Qin Ze?"

Chen Ye remembered that Bai Yueguang claimed to be the spirit of Qin Ze's magic weapon, but Qin Ze fell into his inner demons and simply destroyed his own mirage pearl, which is how Chen Ye got the benefit.

Bai Yueguang asked anxiously, "Sect Master, I do know this Lingguang Immortal very well, but why did you suddenly bring it up? Lingguang Immortal lives a secluded life and almost never leaves the Mirage Sect."

Chen Ye recounted how he had been harassed by Yu Xing and ended up on the stage, before asking, "Since you know so much about that Lingguang Immortal, could you tell me about his abilities? Knowing yourself and your enemy is the key to victory in every battle."

Bai Yueguang remained silent for a moment, whether recalling or hesitating, before finally saying to Chen Ye, "Sect Master, it's hard to say what Lingguang Immortal's abilities are. Her only specialty is creating illusions that appear real. You can think of it as a pinnacle of illusion magic, but its effect is indistinguishable from reality."

Bai Yueguang explained, "Everything he has seen, heard, thought, or even fictional things, characters, and even supernatural laws in his dreams... as long as his spiritual power is sufficient, he can conjure them up indistinguishably from reality, and their power is almost indistinguishable from their real existence."

Chen Ye's heart skipped a beat: "Such an incredible technique exists in this world? Is this his innate supernatural power?"

This is far too exaggerated. Doesn't it mean that if Lingguang Xian had witnessed Zhang Qi's swordsmanship, he could recreate it with illusions? Then who in the world could be his match?
“Innate supernatural abilities… perhaps that counts.” Bai Yueguang hesitated for a moment, then couldn’t help but ask, “Sect Master, are you really going to fight Lingguang Xian? Could you please show mercy and spare him?”

Chen Ye asked in confusion, "You hated the Mirage Sect to the bone before, but you pleaded for this Lingguang Immortal. Could it be that you two have a good relationship? No, you are the spirit of a magic weapon. Could it be that your previous master was this Lingguang Immortal?"

The White Moonlight repeatedly lamented the torment she suffered after being refined into a weapon spirit; otherwise, it wouldn't have turned against Qin Ze during the battle, allowing Chen Ye to win easily in the end. The only explanation is that the White Moonlight's previous master was Lingguang Xian, and they must have had a good relationship.

But Bai Yueguang shook her head and said, "No, Lingguang Xian doesn't possess any magical treasures; he has no need for any of the Mirage Sect's treasures. It's just that he..."

Seeing Bai Yueguang's expression of unspoken reluctance, Chen Ye became even more curious.

Just as he was about to ask again, Bai Yueguang knelt down in front of Chen Ye and pleaded, "Sect Master, if I help you, Lingguang Xian is no match for you. Sect Master, you saved my life, and so did Lingguang Xian. You are like my second parents. I really can't bear to see you fight each other. Can you concede defeat in this battle?"

Chen Ye was surprised that Bai Yueguang would be so excited. It seems that this Lingguang Xian and Bai Yueguang have a deep connection.

He remained silent for a moment, then shook his head helplessly: "If you can't bear it, I won't force you to help in this battle. However, this battle concerns the reputation of my Yellow Springs Sect, and I have no way to back down or hold back. All I can promise is to try my best to control my strength so as not to harm his life."

Looking at the still kneeling Bai Yueguang, Chen Ye softened his tone: "If you can tell me everything about him, understand his limits and weaknesses, perhaps I can more accurately control the situation at critical moments and avoid accidentally hurting him."

Bai Yueguang's voice was trembling with tears as she pleaded, "Sect Master, this duel concerns the reputation of the Mirage Sect. If he loses, he will likely face severe punishment from the Mirage Sect."

Chen Ye said doubtfully, "Is it really that bad? He is, after all, an outstanding disciple of the Mirage Sect. Qin Ze lost to me before, but he didn't seem to be punished. He just couldn't get rid of his inner demons and chose to go back to the sect for seclusion."

Bai Yueguang was truly anxious. "He is different from Qin Ze, and different from Yu Xing. They are all disciples of the Mirage Sect, but Lingguang Xian is a prisoner of the Mirage Sect."

"captive?"

Chen Ye was taken aback. This word couldn't be used carelessly. It couldn't be that the Mirage Sect kidnapped Lingguang Xian from elsewhere and brought him back to their sect, could it? That would be considered the righteous path.
Or perhaps, this Lingguang Immortal was once a member of the demonic path?
Bai Yueguang seemed to have decided to stop hiding it, so she said to Chen Ye, "Sect Master, this is a secret that the Mirage Sect dares not reveal to others. I dared not say more, lest the people of the Mirage Sect sense something. If they guess that I have not yet disappeared, they will probably send people to hunt me down immediately. But since you, Sect Master, are going to fight with Lingguang Xian, I have no choice but to tell you everything."

Bai Yueguang seemed afraid of being overheard even high in the sky, so she leaned close to Chen Ye's ear and whispered, "Sect Master, that Lingguang Immortal isn't human at all, but..."

Chen Ye's eyes widened immediately.

This news is terrifying!
(End of this chapter)