Chapter 334: The Master of Self-Destruction

"What kind of cultivation method is this?"

This scroll was a golden treasure, extremely difficult to damage. It contained few words, with the scattered ones being very brief, such as "Magpie Bridge," "Profound Guidance," and "Divine Crossing," whose meaning was unclear.

Ban Gongcuo's gaze fell upon the illustration on the first page of the golden treasure scroll. It depicted a resplendent, magnificent heavenly court. The golden light that had just illuminated the entire courtyard was emanating from this very illustration of the heavenly court.

Although it was merely a drawing, it was so incredibly realistic that it seemed as if a true heavenly court was hidden within the book.

In front of the heavenly court lay a broken bridge, and a god-like figure stood at its end.

Ban Gongcuo paused, slightly taken aback, as the scene seemed familiar. He then looked around the illustration, seeing the sun, moon, and Five Stellar Gods, finally confirming: "This is the Divine Bridge Divine Treasure! This god-like figure must be the Primeval Spirit! Why does this golden treasure scroll depict this? Isn't the Divine Bridge in Wuyou Township complete? Why is this illustration still broken?"

Besides this illustration, there were other diagrams depicting various cultivation routes, the circulation of vital qi within the Spirit Embryo, how to control the Five Energies within the Five Stellar Gods Divine Treasure, how to stabilize the heavens and earth, how to connect the Seven Stars, how to integrate soul and vital qi to solidify the Primeval Spirit, and how to pass through life and death to perceive Youdu.

The eighth illustration again depicted the Divine Bridge Divine Treasure. Ban Gongcuo's heart suddenly pounded several times. He saw that the groundwork laid by the previous seven illustrations had led to a wondrous transformation of vital qi by the eighth illustration. All vital qi seemed to be drawn by an unknown force, spreading forward along the broken bridge like magpies.

"The Magpie Bridge!"

Ban Gongcuo's heart hammered. This was the cultivation method for the Magpie Bridge. The Magpie Bridge Art, recorded in this golden treasure scroll, could reconnect the broken bridge if cultivated!

At this point, the vital qi circulation route underwent another wondrous change, creating an inexplicable connection with the heavenly court. The vital qi was drawn to fly towards the heavenly court, where a bridge was also slowly forming.

"Profound Guidance Art!"

This page, the last in the golden treasure scroll, depicted the Divine Crossing Art. Activating this cultivation method allowed the Primeval Spirit to fly across, moving from one end of the Divine Bridge to the other, thus entering another profound realm!

"How was such a complex cultivation method created?"

Ban Gongcuo suppressed the urge to cheer. The technique recorded in this golden treasure scroll was incredibly complex. If it were he, he wouldn't be able to devise such a complex and ingenious method to connect the Divine Bridge. Yet, the people of Wuyou Township had actually created this cultivation method, which was truly astonishing!

"A single golden treasure scroll surpasses all my accumulations from my previous life! What does it matter if that brat Qin stole some of my past life's wealth? With this golden treasure scroll, I can break through to the Divine Bridge realm and become a god!"

Ban Gongcuo stood up, feeling dizzy. He knew his mind was overly excited, to the point that his Dao heart was also impacted by this immense good news. Although he was an old monster who had lived for ten thousand years, he was still overwhelmed by this great joy, finding it difficult to calm his Dao heart.

"As long as I cultivate to the Divine Bridge realm and open the Divine Bridge Divine Treasure, becoming a god will be effortless! I need to quickly increase my cultivation!"

Just then, the Witch Venerable reported from outside the Golden Palace's sacred hall: "Great Venerable, the front lines are tense. Khan Luan Di sent word that the Imperial Preceptor of Eternal Peace has arrived. In the past two days, someone called the Heavenly Devil Cult Master also appeared. His sword techniques are god-like; he demonstrated them, and the sword light was like a sea, controlling the battlefield for hundreds of miles around."

Ban Gongcuo was surprised and chuckled, "Is Luan Di crazy? The Heavenly Devil Cult Master is just that little brat Qin. How could he possess such immense power? Sword light controlling hundreds of miles? Even in my previous life, I didn't have such a method! The Imperial Preceptor of Eternal Peace might not have such a method, and he's also injured. Nonsense, sheer nonsense."

The Witch Venerable said, "Khan Luan Di's intention is to request that you, Great Venerable, mobilize the experts of the Golden Palace to assist on the front lines."

Ban Gongcuo was in a good mood and chuckled, "That boy Luan Di is a bit too timid. I've already ordered the entire grassland to send a hundred khans to assist him. Over a hundred tribes and a hundred khans from the grassland have gone to lend him a hand, and the cultivation strength of these khans is not weak. Moreover, Langjuxu Nation is also attacking Hantie Pass in the north, scattering Eternal Peace's forces, yet he still wants to borrow the power of my Golden Palace."

The Witch Venerable hastily said, "Great Venerable, how should we reply to Khan Luan Di? What he said about the sword light being like a sea doesn't seem like a pretense."

Ban Gongcuo stood up, pacing back and forth, and said, "Sword light like a sea, sword light like a sea... I've seen this kind of sword technique before! Heh heh, it seems *that* person has arrived. The old Human Emperor isn't very peaceful, even before his death."

The Witch Venerable shivered. "The old Human Emperor?"

"If the old Human Emperor has appeared, then it will be much easier to handle."

Ban Gongcuo chuckled, "This is a great opportunity for my Golden Palace to make a name for itself. You go to the Divine Mountain of the Western Lands, burn incense, and invite the people of the heavens to come. Tell them the old Human Emperor has walked out of the Great Ruins. I will lead the experts of the Golden Palace ahead of you to assist at the border."

The Witch Venerable's expression changed dramatically, and he blurted out, "Great Venerable, please reconsider! If the old Human Emperor has arrived, with such divine sword techniques, I fear our Golden Palace..."

Ban Gongcuo calmly said, "My Golden Palace is a sacred land after all. Why should we fear that old geezer? Now the Imperial Preceptor is crippled, Emperor Yanfeng is also crippled, and Dao Master Rulai is old and frail. Neither the Dao Sect nor the Great Thunderclap Temple has anyone in charge. That brat Qin, the Heavenly Devil Cult Master, is just a mere child, utterly useless, and Eternal Peace deserves to be destroyed."

The Witch Venerable paused, slightly stunned, then hastily said, "Great Venerable, Eternal Peace should not be underestimated."

Ban Gongcuo tucked the golden treasure scroll close to his body, walked out, and chuckled, "You overestimate them. My Golden Palace is not to be trifled with either; we have over a dozen cult master-level experts, plus over a hundred grassland khans. We don't fear Eternal Peace. In fact, as soon as the old Human Emperor appeared, the fate of Eternal Peace was sealed. The heavens are very happy to help us destroy Eternal Peace. This time, the old Human Emperor has stirred up a huge mess!"

He burst into laughter, walked out of the sacred hall, and summoned all Golden Palace experts at the Celestial Being, Life-Death, and Divine Bridge realms to march towards the border.

The Witch Venerable dared not hesitate and immediately set off for the Western Lands.

This time, Ban Gongcuo brought only masters, those who had cultivated a Primeval Spirit. They traveled on a treasure ship, with a Witch King at the Celestial Being realm transforming into bird wings, flapping them to pull the treasure ship, moving at lightning speed.

Even so, it took them five or six days to reach the border.

Behind the border pass, sheep and cattle covered the mountains and plains. Khans from various parts of the grassland had brought their respective troops and were slaughtering cattle and sheep for meat.

Eternal Peace was weak, and following the principle of "striking when the enemy is down," Ban Gongcuo personally ordered the various grassland tribes to unite under Khan Luan Di and attack Eternal Peace. At the same time, he contacted Langjuxu Nation to invade from the north, planning to divide the territory after conquering Eternal Peace.

The grassland army was blocked at Qingmen Pass. As more troops and experts were dispatched by both sides, and Qingmen Pass also received a continuous stream of reinforcements, the battle fell into a stalemate.

When Qin Mu and the others arrived, it was a critical period in the struggle for the Duck Tongue territory. The Village Chief's single move, "Sword Treaded Rivers and Mountains," calmed the battle.

Upon hearing that Ban Gongcuo had arrived with the experts of the Golden Palace, Khan Luan Di immediately led many grassland khans to personally welcome him. Although Ban Gongcuo was nominally his son, his true identity as the Great Venerable filled Khan Luan Di with more delight than sadness.

"Greetings, Great Venerable!" Khan Luan Di led his followers in a bow, shouting loudly.

Ban Gongcuo quickly stepped forward, personally helped him up, and chuckled, "You are my father in this life, there's no need for such formality. I already know about the sword light like a vast ocean that you mentioned. My purpose in coming here is to put your mind at ease."

Khan Luan Di stood respectfully, bowing slightly, and shivered as he recalled the overwhelming sword light like a vast ocean. He said, "The Heavenly Devil Cult Master's abilities are extraordinary, and his sword techniques are unrivaled. With him inside Qingmen Pass, it's enough to prevent our grassland elites from advancing even an inch! Great Venerable..."

"The Heavenly Devil Cult Master?" Ban Gongcuo burst into laughter, stomping his feet repeatedly before finally stopping. He said, "The Heavenly Devil Cult Master is just a sixteen-year-old brat! His abilities are shallow. What virtue or capability does he have to warrant such importance from you? You don't need to worry about him. Since he's on the other side, I'll go meet him and put your mind at ease."

Khan Luan Di sighed in relief, "If we can receive the assistance of the Great Venerable and the Witch Kings, we are sure to achieve a crushing victory and pacify the Central Plains!"

Ban Gongcuo led his followers into the pass, then the city gates in front of it opened wide. He led his followers out of the formidable pass and walked towards the Duck Tongue territory. Reaching the center between the two formidable passes, Ban Gongcuo ordered someone to shout, "Heavenly Devil Cult Master Qin Mu, the Great Venerable has arrived to speak with you. Do you dare to come out of the city and meet?"

The person shouting was a cult master-level Witch King whose resonant voice echoed throughout Qingmen Pass.

Qin Mu was in the midst of refining Divine Firmament Rings with others when he heard the voice and said in surprise, "That scoundrel Ban Gongcuo still dares to show himself? If we just kill him, his Soul-Worshipping Witchcraft will be eradicated! It's a pity Grandpa Butcher isn't here, otherwise he'd certainly be happy to kill him."

The Imperial Preceptor of Eternal Peace had already come to Qin Mu's side, alongside Cripple, the Village Chief, and many other military generals of Eternal Peace. Qin Mu took out his drawing of Ban Gongcuo's Soul-Worshipping Diagram; the depicted god-devil was lifelike.

"I haven't seen it," the Village Chief said, shaking his head.

Cripple also shook his head. The military generals also shook their heads one after another, saying, "This god-devil is strange; we haven't seen one like this."

Qin Mu looked at the Imperial Preceptor of Eternal Peace, who showed a thoughtful expression and said, "When my wife and I were invited to Little Jade Capital, I saw a similar god-devil sculpture there, but I didn't inquire further."

Another shout came from outside.

Qin Mu put away the drawing, stood up, and chuckled, "If we kill Ban Gongcuo, there'll be no need to go to Little Jade Capital! Grandpa Village Chief, you come too; if things don't go well, we'll just eliminate him!"

The Village Chief shook his head, "I am the Human Emperor; I cannot interfere in secular disputes, otherwise no one will listen to the Human Emperor."

"Then what's the use of this Human Emperor Seal?" Qin Mu wished he could throw away the Human Emperor Seal; it was truly useless and imposed so many restrictions. However, if he threw it away, the Village Chief would be sad, and since he hadn't yet defeated the Village Chief in the same realm, he had to keep it as per his promise.

Qin Mu was seething with anger and fiercely said, "That beast Ban Gongcuo dares to steal something from my Qin family and then flaunt it in front of me? Isn't that like singing and dancing on my own ancestral grave?"

"Grandpa Cripple, come with me! We'll steal him bankrupt!"

Cripple's eyes lit up, and he chuckled slyly, "Let's go, us two, and see who's the true master thief!"