Absolute Destiny Game.

Chapter 582 Sacred Relics, Divine Artifacts, and Magical Treasures

Of everyone present, only Xiao Jie was a "player," so the "illegal job" of looting corpses naturally fell to him. Although he had some reservations, he was mostly filled with uncontrollable anticipation—this was the first kill loot from a god-level BOSS!

"Fellow Daoists," Xiao Jie cleared his throat, trying to sound less urgent, "Although the Underworld Emperor has been defeated, the aftershocks have not yet subsided, and many matters still need to be dealt with. However, the matter of the spoils of war should not be delayed for too long, lest it create unnecessary complications. Why don't we first inventory and distribute the Underworld Emperor's lost items, and then discuss other matters?"

Without waiting for their response, he walked straight towards the pile of remaining fragments of white bone armor, which emitted a faint white glow and an aura of death. Reaching out to touch them, a list of shimmering, virtual items visible only to him instantly appeared before his eyes.

As expected, his pickup permission was ranked last, indicating that although he contributed something in this battle, it wasn't much.

However, Xiao Jie was willing to accept at least one item, as it was better than going home empty-handed.

The one ranked first is Yan Jun Qin Chuan. He fought Zhao You alone in the early stages and took away nearly half of Zhao You's health. His looting privileges are undoubtedly ranked first.

Lin Xuance is ranked second, and the third is the Martial Immortal. Miaofa Yuanjun did not appear in the loot list because she did not participate in the direct battle.

The loot list displayed a dazzling array of over a dozen items, all of exceptional quality and gleaming brightly.

Among them are five or six legendary treasures that glow with an orange light, and seven or eight purple epic quality treasures. Their quality is beyond question. Any one of them would be enough to cause a stir among players.

However, for Xiao Jie, who had already ascended to the celestial realm, ordinary equipment attributes were no longer of any interest. His gaze was like lightning, quickly sweeping over the purple and orange equipment, and instantly locking onto the four items in the list that truly contained immense value.

The first item, with its peculiar shape—neither a ruler nor a compass—was entirely a dark, somber black, as if it could absorb all surrounding light. It hovered silently at the top of the list, emanating an ancient and majestic aura, a power that held sway over rules and defined yin and yang.

【The Mysterious Rules of the Underworld (Sacred Object of the Netherworld)】

Usage: Upon activation, it allows temporary formulation or modification of Netherworld Laws within a small area. The duration and intensity of the effect are based on the user's understanding of Netherworld Power and their own cultivation level. It also allows viewing the true names and data panels of the deceased within a specific area.

Item Description: This is one of the materialized manifestations of the authority of the underworld. It was not forged but was born along with the order of the underworld. Shaped like a black jade ruler, it is engraved with ancient and unspeakable underworld script, symbolizing the supreme authority to measure good and evil, divide yin and yang, and determine the intervals between reincarnations.

Only those who gain the approval of the Netherworld's origin can initially wield its power. The Netherworld Emperor Zhao You forcibly seized control of it through extraordinary means, and now, with his defeat and death, it has once again become ownerless.

The second item was a pale, jade-like bone sword with an ancient design. Its blade was long and narrow, and the edge shimmered with a chilling, desolate light. It was the terrifying weapon that Zhao You had just used, the one that had almost killed Xiao Jie.

[Silent Extinction Within a Foot (Fourth-Rank Divine Artifact)]

Attack power: 120 for slashing, 110 for thrusting.

Equipment requirement: Scattered Immortal Realm.

Weapon Effect 1: Blade of Annihilation. Passive. Infuse the power of annihilation of this sword into every attack, causing your attacks to ignore all armor, damage reduction, resistance, defense, block, and most spell-based damage reduction effects when they hit an enemy, dealing 100% pure true damage.

Weapon Effect 2: Soul Devouring Power. Passive/Active. This sword will continuously and automatically absorb and devour unclaimed souls within a certain radius, converting them into experience points to level up the sword spirit. Every 10 levels the sword spirit gains, a bonus function is unlocked.

Current Blade & Soul level: 57.

Bonus features: automatic target acquisition, autonomous attack, enhanced sword control, enhanced ghost spell, enhanced sword aura.

Weapon Effect 3: Cursed Sword. Those who forcibly wield this sword without the sword spirit's approval or whose cultivation is insufficient will suffer 333 points of Yin attribute soul burning damage per second. If the sword spirit approves, it can deal 333 points of Yin attribute damage to the target with each hit and apply a stack of curse reduction effect, reducing all of their advanced attributes by 10 points. This effect can stack up to 20 times.

Item Description: This magical weapon was forged over countless years using the spiritual bones of an ancient ghost immortal as its primary material, supplemented with the annihilating mystical ice from the extreme cold of the Nine Netherworlds. On the day it was completed, countless souls wept, and the netherworld trembled. Its blade can not only sever metal and stone, but also cut off life and annihilate souls. Even the immortal bodies of gods and immortals cannot completely withstand its contained intent of ultimate annihilation.

"What a treasure!" Xiao Jie thought to himself, impressed. The [Suppression Between Rulers] was clearly of a higher grade than the [Demon-Slaying Sword] he had used before. He had long since returned the Demon-Slaying Sword to the Peerless Hero, and now he was in need of a sufficiently powerful main weapon. The weapon's passive effect reminded him of the "Suppression Blade" in his [Illusionary Annihilation Blade Technique], both dealing true damage that ignored defense. However, the Suppression Blade could only activate once, while this sword's passive effect was permanent, which was extremely terrifying.

This means that with this sword, each of his normal attacks is comparable to the armor-breaking effect of some ultimate moves, making it extremely effective against enemies with thick skin or strange damage reduction abilities.

Although he has become an immortal and can transform into forms such as the Golden Crow and the White Dragon to fight, having such a powerful and handy weapon is still much more convenient. He can't just reveal his true form every time he fights some small monsters, can he? That would consume too much spiritual energy.

The third item was a scroll made of some kind of unknown animal bone, with dense, profound and obscure black runes engraved on the white jade-like bone fragments. Just by glancing at it, one could almost feel a sense of the return of all things to stillness and the desolation of eternity.

【The Mysterious Scripture of Eternal Nirvana】

Reading: May trigger comprehension of the [Law of Annihilation]. Specific conditions must be met or relevant traits must be possessed for full interpretation.

Usage conditions: True Immortal Realm.

Warning: Those whose cultivation level is insufficient may trigger the Calamity of Annihilation if they force themselves to read this.

Item Description: This is suspected to be a secret manual written in the later years of the ancient ghost immortal 'Tongxuan Sanren'. It records his research and summary of the mysterious power of 'Eternal Annihilation', attempting to glimpse the ultimate mystery beyond the cycle of life and death.

The book's premise, "Eternal annihilation, the primordial chaos, the cycle of life and death, all ultimately return to nothingness," is startling. It argues that all things will eventually face complete annihilation, rather than a simple cycle of reincarnation, and attempts to find ways to survive and even control this annihilation.

It's a good product! Unfortunately, the requirements are too high, and it seems to have nothing to do with my career path.

The fourth item was a black banner that Xiao Jie recognized—the very same [Ten Thousand Souls Banner] that Zhao You had just used to summon countless vengeful spirits. Now, it had shrunk in size; the banner itself was black, and the distorted, pained faces on its surface had vanished, replaced by countless constantly flowing and shifting profound runes, faintly radiating a strange power that seemed to draw in souls.

【The Banner of Ten Thousand Souls (Magic Treasure/Grade 5 Divine Artifact)】

Usage requirements: Scattered Immortal Realm.

Special Effect 1: Soul Collection Ritual. Passive/Active. In passive mode, it automatically and slowly absorbs weak, wandering souls nearby, converting them into Soul Spirit Value. When activated actively, it can forcibly collect the souls of a specified target (must be a soul or spirit body) within a certain range, with higher conversion efficiency. The more powerful the soul, the more Soul Spirit Value is converted.

Special Effect 2: Summon Soul Guardian. Active. Consumes Soul Points to create one undead creature to serve you (lasts until destroyed or dismissed). Choose from three undead creature templates:

(1): Wandering Soul Scout. Consumes 100 Soul Points. Skilled in stealth and reconnaissance.

(2): Shadow Assassin. Consumes 500 Soul Points. Specializes in assassination and surprise attacks.

(3): Ghost General. Consumes 1000 Soul Points. Skilled in direct combat and commanding low-level undead.

法宝特效3：告死之魂。主动。释放出1-500个（可手动设定具体数量）告死之魂对一个范围内的敌人进行自动追踪攻击，每个告死之魂需要消耗10点魂灵值，可对命中目标造成100点阴属性灵魂伤害。

When multiple Death Souls hit the same target within a short period, the [Soul Explosion] effect is triggered, creating an explosion within a certain range and increasing the damage received by the target. Current Soul Value: 3129/10000.

Item Description: This is a sinister magical artifact crafted by the Underworld Emperor Zhao You through cruel methods, collecting countless souls and fusing them with various underworld treasures. It can imprison and refine souls, transforming them into soul guards driven by the Banner Master, and can also condense the power of souls into the most vicious Death Strike.

This banner possesses immense power, yet it is contrary to the natural order. Holding it easily invites the backlash of resentment, and those with weak wills may have their minds corrupted by the evil thoughts of the myriad spirits within. Even gods and demons are wary of the malevolent power contained within this banner.

It's also an excellent item! Although its grade is slightly lower than [Silent Annihilation], its value as a functional magic weapon is undeniable, especially its summoning and area-of-effect damage abilities, which can be surprisingly effective in certain situations.

In particular, the damage from this "Deathly Soul" can stack, theoretically dealing up to 50000+ Yin attribute damage in one go, which is absolutely terrifying.

What a pity, what a pity, seeing it doesn't mean you can touch it. Xiao Jie reluctantly shifted his gaze from the list, and very tactfully looked at the three big shots beside him, cupping his hands and saying, "Fellow Daoists, the fact that we were able to slay this fiend this time is entirely due to your efforts. I only contributed a little from the side, so the three of you should choose the dropped items first."

Upon hearing this, Lin Xuance laughed and said, "Hehe, Fellow Daoist Suifeng, why be so modest? You also made significant contributions in this battle."

"Haha, fellow Daoist, you flatter me. I know my own limitations." Xiao Jie laughed it off, but in his heart he was thinking, "If it weren't for this damn system rule that allocates permissions based on contribution, I would definitely use my silver tongue to first persuade... uh, let's discuss picking one item first!"

The three exchanged token gestures of polite deference. Finally, it was indeed the ruler of this place, Yan Jun Qin Chuan, who spoke first. His gaze fixed intently on the [Netherworld Emperor's Profound Rules], he said in a deep voice, "In that case, I shall accept it without further ado. This [Netherworld Emperor's Profound Rules] is a sacred object of my Netherworld, symbolizing a portion of the Netherworld's authority. It was precisely with this object that the traitor Zhao You was able to disrupt Yin and Yang, causing this great calamity. By all accounts, this object should be taken back by me and returned to the control of the Senluo Palace."

As he spoke, he gestured, and the dark black ruler transformed into a streak of light, flying into his sleeve and disappearing. This thing was key to restoring order for Qin Chuan, but for Lin Xuance and Wu Qingyue, two immortals who were not from the Netherworld system, it was indeed of relatively little significance.

“Since that’s the case, then I’ll choose this [Suppression Between Feet].” Lin Xuance said, raising his hand to take the pale bone sword into his grasp. The sword emitted a slight hum upon entering his hand, seemingly resisting, but it was quickly suppressed by Lin Xuance’s immense immortal power. He casually twirled the sword, sensing the annihilating sword intent it contained, before slung it over his shoulder. Xiao Jie watched curiously; was this guy going to switch to a dual-sword style?
The Martial Immortal's gaze swept over the remaining [Ten Thousand Souls Banner] and the *Eternal Annihilation Mystic Scripture*. He first shook his head disdainfully at the sinister-looking Ten Thousand Souls Banner, clearly looking down on this unorthodox magical artifact. Then, looking at the white bone slips, he shrugged and said, "This damned *Eternal Annihilation Mystic Scripture* sounds incredibly sinister. It's probably something that Tongxuan Sanren created after he went mad. But since it's a relic of an old friend, perhaps there's something of value in it? I'll take it back and consult some knowledgeable fellow Daoists to prevent it from spreading its poison to the world."

Finally, everyone's attention fell on Xiao Jie and the [Ten Thousand Souls Banner].

“Since that’s the case, then this junior will accept the offer without hesitation and choose the Ten Thousand Souls Banner.” Xiao Jie was quite accepting of this result.

Magical artifacts are easy to equip and use.

However, as soon as he finished speaking, Lin Xuance frowned slightly and advised, "Fellow Daoist Suifeng, this Ten Thousand Soul Banner is filled with malevolent energy and deep resentment; it is undoubtedly an evil object. The process of its creation is also against the natural order. Holding it may cause a backlash from the resentment, which will be of no benefit to cultivation and may even erode your mind. In my opinion, why not choose something else? The armor and mount of the Underworld Emperor Zhao You are both of superior quality, and among the items he left behind, there are also some remarkable items. Perhaps there is something suitable for you, Fellow Daoist."

Xiao Jie was speechless for a moment, thinking to himself: What the hell are you talking about! Of all the drops, only these four are true divine artifacts. The other purple and orange items might have decent stats for ordinary players, but for immortals, the added power is almost negligible; they're more like fancy toys.

Do you really think I, a new immortal, don't know what's good for me? I can see the quality of equipment directly.

Although this Ten Thousand Souls Banner is evil, it is powerful and exactly what I need now.

Moreover, compared to the passive effect of the Cursed Sword of Annihilation, and the description of the Annihilation Eternal Mystic Scripture having a chance to trigger the Annihilation Calamity, the side effect of this Myriad Soul Banner is only mentioned in the item description, so the side effect is relatively small.

There's no other way; the Underworld Emperor drops all this kind of trash, so we can't just leave empty-handed.

Moreover, he had endured so much lingering resentment from demonic spirits back then, so he didn't take the mere resentment of magical artifacts seriously.

His expression immediately turned serious, and he retorted loudly, "Fellow Daoist Lin, you are mistaken! How can power be divided into good and evil? The key lies in the person wielding it and how it is used. Just like His Majesty Yama, who governs the Netherworld, he also uses the extremely yin and cold power of the Netherworld, yet he can maintain the order of reincarnation, which is righteous. It can be seen that power itself has no good or evil; good and evil reside in one's heart. Fellow Daoists, please rest assured, I am well aware of the advantages and disadvantages involved, and I will use it with caution and prudence. I will never use this banner to do evil or fall into the evil path."

His words were forceful and resounding, and by citing Yama as an example, Lin Xuance found it difficult to offer further advice. Wu Qingyue nodded, saying nothing more. Qin Chuan nodded slightly, seemingly agreeing with Xiao Jie's words. Seeing that none of the immortals objected further, Xiao Jie stopped talking and stepped forward to take the shrunken Ten Thousand Souls Banner into his hand. The banner was icy cold to the touch, and the moment he held it, a sudden surge of resentment arose in his mind. Xiao Jie knew this must be the backlash from the Ten Thousand Souls Banner. He composed himself and banished the resentment from his mind.

Apart from that, there's nothing particularly special about it.

The four then divided up the remaining loot. Xiao Jie took one orange-grade item and two purple-grade items, intending to give them away later.

Just then, a streak of light descended from the sky, revealing an exquisite white jade flying boat. Standing aboard the boat was none other than the Myriad Dharma Sovereign, Su Zhiqing. In her hands, she held a huge, crystal-clear magical pearl, inside which were three or five shrunken, hideous little demons struggling and frantically crashing against the pearl's walls, yet unable to break free no matter what they did.

Miaofa Yuanjun, looking slightly tired, said, "I killed six or seven of the seventy-two ghost kings. The rest scattered when they saw the situation was not good. I was overwhelmed and only managed to capture the three or five who ran the slowest. The rest scattered like birds and beasts, and I couldn't catch them." Su Zhiqing said with a hint of regret.

While Xiao Jie and the other three were besieging the Underworld Emperor Zhao You, she was not idle. Instead, she was responsible for intercepting and dealing with the seventy-two Ghost Kings. However, there were quite a few Ghost Kings among them who were highly skilled and cunning. As soon as they saw that the Underworld Emperor was about to be defeated, they immediately used their supernatural powers to scatter and flee. It was indeed difficult for her to capture them all by herself.

Upon hearing this, Yan Jun Qin Chuan laughed heartily and comforted him, "Fellow Daoist Su, there's no need to worry. These Ghost Kings each harbored their own ulterior motives, and they were only able to temporarily unite because of Zhao You's strong suppression and enticement. Now that Zhao You has been executed, the tree has fallen and the monkeys have scattered. These Ghost Kings have lost their leader and their courage has vanished. They have all fled back to their lairs, and they will hardly be able to pose a threat in the future, nor will they be a major threat to the Underworld. When I restore order to the Underworld in the future, I will send out elite ghost generals to eliminate and capture them one by one. Not a single one will escape."

He paused, then solemnly bowed to the four immortals again: "In this catastrophe in the Underworld, I am deeply grateful for the great help of the four immortals, and the entire Senluo Ghost City is also grateful for your kindness. Now that the war has just ended, the city is in ruins and there are still many miscellaneous matters that need to be taken care of, so I must take my leave first. Once things have settled down, I would be honored if the four of you would grace us with your presence at the Reincarnation Palace, so that I may host a banquet to express my gratitude."

"Definitely, definitely," Xiao Jie replied, his gaze sweeping across the surrounding battlefield. With the death of the Underworld Emperor and the escape of the Ghost King, the once mighty million-strong ghost army was now in chaos. Most of the fleeing Ghost Kings had not forgotten to take their core elite troops with them, so what remained were almost entirely low-level corpses and wandering souls with low intelligence and confusion.

Qin Chuan apologized and turned to stride towards the chaotic battlefield. With each step he took, his aura intensified, and a colossal, majestic, and sacred phantom of the Yama King slowly rose behind him. The phantom wore an imperial crown and a black dragon robe, its face blurred yet radiating supreme authority over life and death, and the judgment of all beings. Nine dark dragons circled and danced around its body, their roars echoing.

After he had walked a hundred steps, the Dharma image had grown to over a hundred feet tall, towering into the sky and standing firmly on the ground, seemingly becoming the sole center of this Netherworld battlefield. The terrifying pressure enveloped the surrounding area as if it were a tangible force. Those low-level undead who were originally roaring, howling, and tearing at each other were suddenly crushed as if by an invisible mountain. They trembled violently, and finally knelt on the ground, not daring to even raise their heads.

"You wandering ghosts!" Qin Chuan's voice resounded through his Dharma form, like thunder from the heavens, rolling across the entire battlefield, containing power that struck the very depths of the souls. "After death, unable to endure the torment of the cycle of reincarnation, unable to withstand the fear of life and death, your minds were clouded, causing chaos in the yin and yang realms. You joined the false emperor Zhao You, conquering cities and seizing territories, disrupting the order of the underworld! According to the law, you should be punished with the extreme penalty of your soul being scattered and never to be reborn!"

His voice suddenly shifted, taking on a tone that seemed to contain the compassion of reincarnation: "However, I, who rule the Netherworld, also possess the virtue of cherishing life and the heart of benevolence. Considering that most of you were coerced into following me and lacked complete intelligence, I will show you leniency today! Now that the false emperor has been executed, why don't you quickly lay down your weapons, kneel down and surrender, and await your fate? Once I restore the order of reincarnation and cleanse your resentment, I will naturally allow you to re-enter the cycle of reincarnation and be reborn as humans!"

"If there are still those who remain obstinate and stubbornly resist—" the voice suddenly turned cold, a chilling killing intent filling the heavens and earth, "their only fate will be annihilation, body and soul, returning to utter nothingness!"

Under the dual pressure of overwhelming divine power and the life-or-death choice, the remaining ghost army had no will to resist. They knelt down one after another like a tide, the sound of weapons falling to the ground echoing incessantly. In the blink of an eye, this battlefield, which had been filled with the shouts of battle, became completely silent, with only the faint sounds of countless ghosts prostrating and trembling.

Xiao Jie watched in stunned silence, inwardly thinking, "Damn! Was he faking being sent flying and coughing up blood earlier? He's so energetic and exudes such domineering aura; there's not a trace of injury on him. This Dharma form is far more powerful than when he fought Zhao You!"

Lin Xuance, standing to the side, also saw through the scheme and said speechlessly, "That old fox! He must have been holding back before, not going all out! He's putting on a good show, tricking us into giving our all for him!"

Wu Qingyue took it in stride and laughed, saying, "Alright, alright, he is, after all, the ruler of a realm and the Supreme Being of the Netherworld. He can't possibly take on every single task."

Besides, he did put in a lot of effort. Furthermore, we enter this world to save it and ensure its survival; if everyone else has to shoulder the burden of everything, what will be left for us? Now that this matter is settled, let's hurry back to Ginkgo Village to teach our apprentices. I wonder if those lads have been slacking off while I've been gone for half a day.”

“What Fellow Martial Arts says is absolutely right, that’s exactly right.” Lin Xuance nodded in agreement.

Having finalized their plan, the three immortals bid farewell to Xiao Jie. Lin Xuance casually waved his hand, tearing open a spatial rift leading to the mortal world. The three figures flashed and disappeared into it.

Xiao Jie didn't rush to leave. He put away the Myriad Soul Banner and turned his gaze to the city walls of the distant Senluo Ghost City—Ye Luo and I, who aspire to become immortals, were still there. For both personal and professional reasons, he needed to check on his two friends first.

(End of this chapter)