The previous Taiji Heavenly Emperor Soul-Slaying Sword could only slay demons and immortal cultivators who had not condensed their primordial spirits, with a maximum limit of S-class. After the second form was unlocked, it could even kill immortals, meaning those above S-class who had condensed immortal spiritual primordial spirits.
At this moment, Yu Zhibo's realm and weapon were crushing. Even though the power he used did not exceed S-class, his comprehension of laws and souls had far surpassed others. Therefore, with a single sword strike, he caused the Ghost Emperor to completely perish.
As the Ghost Emperor died, the Soul-Seizing Town Prison Banner completely became ownerless, emitting a dense ghost aura. Accompanying it was a mysterious and chilling will that began to awaken.
"Is this the banner spirit's consciousness?" Yu Zhibo frowned slightly. With a casual wave, he drew the Soul-Seizing Town Prison Banner into his hand and, without any prior instruction, refined all the restrictions on it.
The will that sought to awaken then subsided.
"The Soul-Seizing Town Prison Banner not only suppresses and seizes souls but is also one of the ancient immortal artifacts used to suppress the Nine Netherworld. No wonder its name contains 'Town Prison.' Furthermore, it can summon the gates of hell and release the residual evil spirits from it. It's a pity that the cycle of reincarnation has perished, and hell is no longer as feared by the immortals as it was in ancient times..."
Yu Zhibo murmured, refining the Soul-Seizing Town Prison Banner not only allowed him to know all its functions but also brought a breakthrough in his comprehension of soul refinement.
"The heavenly mandate has changed, divine artifacts change hands, and they return to the virtuous. This is the natural order. When your soul body was complete, you were still no match for me. What can a mere obsession do to me?"
Earlier, he had thought the Ghost Emperor was truly gone. However, after refining the Soul-Seizing Town Prison Banner, Yu Zhibo sensed a powerful obsession lingering where the Ghost Emperor had died. He couldn't help but let out a scoff.
Holding the Town Prison Banner, he waved it slightly. In an instant, all of the Ghost Emperor's obsessions were annihilated. Then, he looked around, his right hand holding the Soul-Seizing Town Prison Banner tightening slightly.
"Wooo..."
The Soul-Seizing Town Prison Banner let out a hollow, distant wail, and its dark banner body began to flutter in the wind, accompanied by waves of dark light.
In an instant, all the released evil spirits seemed to be drawn by an unknown energy, flying back at a faster pace than before, finally disappearing into the Soul-Seizing Town Prison Banner.
Yu Zhibo glanced at the ghost kingdom below. He shook the great banner again, and gusts of chilling wind carrying the laws of hell swept through like a storm. Wherever they passed, all the evil spirits were scattered into nothingness.
"It should be about done..."
Yu Zhibo released the souls of the Dragon Country people from the banner, sending them back to their country for resurrection. Then, his divine sense once again enveloped the entire planet. Sensing that there were still many Eternal Night creatures between level 90 and 99, he wondered if he should leave them for Earth's espers to practice against.
"Forget it, I'll kill them all."
After a moment's hesitation, he moved his thoughts, and avatars formed from the essence of laws such as "Earthmen," "Woodmen," and "Watermen" appeared across the globe, eliminating all hidden dangers.
A few minutes later, the highest level of demon races and Eternal Night beasts on the entire Earth did not exceed level sixty. Such low-level demon beasts and exotic beasts were not enough to bring about a devastating blow to Earth. Leaving them would serve as practice for Dragon Country's espers.
Afterward, he floated up and stood near the atmosphere. He brought his hands together, and countless substances were generated in his mind, perfectly replenishing the atmosphere. Then, he used the essence of spatial laws to fill all the rifts connecting to the Eternal Night world, finally breathing a sigh of relief.
"The trend of the two realms merging is irreversible. With my current strength, I can at most maintain Earth's peace for two hundred years. This time is but a fleeting moment compared to the long history of the Eternal Night world. But for me, it might be possible to advance further. I'll come back to check then."
It was hard to leave one's homeland. Not all Earthlings were willing to ascend to the upper realm, which was filled with myriad races and crises. Therefore, Earth should be preserved. It could serve as a cradle for talent reserves for the Liberation Sect.
Moreover, Yu Zhibo vaguely felt that Earth, which needed to be protected by the "Zhou Tian Star Array," might hold many secrets unknown to him. This was a premonition, and his premonitions rarely erred, so Yu Zhibo chose to trust it.
Half an hour later, his body flickered, and he appeared above his villa in the capital.
This villa was adjacent to Wang Shouyi's villa. It was over a thousand square meters, low-key and luxurious, and equipped with many advanced formations. Yu Zhibo easily sensed the presence of his parents.
It had been more than ten years since they last met. His four-year-old brother, who was once so energetic, had now become a young man with thick eyebrows and bright eyes, his gaze agile and shining, showing a hint of cunning amidst his honest demeanor.
His parents had also become younger. With the accumulation of resources, they had successfully advanced to A-class. His father, being restless, wanted to kill enemies and earn merit with his newfound strength, carrying a more formidable aura. In contrast, his mother was more ordinary. Apart from her realm, she still had the aura of a housewife.
"Dad, Mom, I've grown up. Shi Tou (Chen Boyu and Yu Xiaoying's youngest son) is the same age as me and has already killed over thirty D-class exotic beasts. Big Brother hadn't awakened at my age. Am I weaker than Big Brother? They always make me deal with some E-class trash. Will my classmates look down on me like this?"
In the living room, Yu Zhihao was arguing with his parents.
"You scoundrel, do you know how many people are watching you? With your meager strength, a D-class human-demon could capture you. Haven't you learned your lesson from what happened when you were ten? Do you know how much manpower and resources the country spent to save you?" Yu Dad, clad in armor, berated Yu Zhihao with a stern expression.
"Alright, dear husband, you're lecturing Xiao Hao, but aren't you also Bobo's father? Weren't you captured during the Nanhai Battle? If it weren't for the life-saving measures Bobo gave you, the grass on your grave would be three feet high by now," his mother chided, showing no respect to Yu Dad.
Yu Dad's face immediately showed embarrassment. "How can that be the same? I was already B-class then. What level is Zhihao now? What use can a mere D-class little punk be on the battlefield? And his ability, you know it too..."
Yu Zhihao's ability was support-type. He could cast healing and enhancement buffs on teammates, and the effects were very powerful. However, the side effect was also very obvious: it could make the teammate receiving the buff feel like they were dying and dying, so much so that their legs would go soft. Although it only lasted for a short time, it was still dangerous in combat.
It was no exaggeration to call it a "poisonous heal."
Because of this, Yu Zhihao's teammates loved and hated him. Yu Zhihao had also tried casting buffs on enemies, but after the side effects, the enemies would become exceptionally fierce, causing great trouble for their teammates. Therefore, his ability was truly a double-edged sword. No one who had received a buff from him did not let out a strange cry.
"I don't care. I've recently comprehended a set of combat techniques. Even without using my ability, I can kill monsters!" Yu Zhihao stubbornly refused to yield.
"Kill your head. Stay home honestly and wait for your brother to come back. Maybe he'll have some good advice." Yu Dad directly suppressed Yu Zhihao with his mental power, feeling that none of his sons were easy to manage, including Yu Zhibo, who had caused them much worry.
"Big Brother? Oh right, why hasn't Big Brother returned yet? I miss Big Brother so much! My classmates all asked me to get their autographs." Mentioning Yu Zhibo, Yu Zhihao's face lit up with excitement.
As for any feelings of jealousy or the adolescent desire not to live in Yu Zhibo's shadow, they were completely absent because Yu Zhibo was simply too powerful.
"He should be back soon!" Yu Dad's eyes also showed a trace of longing.
He hadn't seen his son for over ten years. Even though his son was a max-level character, going to another realm was equivalent to entering a new version of the game. His son might not be the strongest. Therefore, upon learning that Yu Zhibo had returned to Earth, he was very excited.
Especially after seeing the news reports detailing his son's exploits, such as slaying the Dragon King, killing the Ghost Emperor, and repairing the atmosphere, he felt a sense of apprehension alongside his pride.
His son was so strong... wasn't he no different from the legendary immortals? With such strength, would he still possess the emotions that a carbon-based life form like a "human" should have?
As an A-class expert, he knew too well the impact of strength on one's state of mind.