Chapter 1872: Starry Battle Flag

"Not relying on his own power? But what kind of power could withstand such a terrifying sword formation?" Ji Xun was truly astonished.

Demon Feather Celestial laughed and said, "I'm afraid... this kid has a deep connection with Celestial Immortal Lin!"

Ji Xun's heart jolted, and a sense of sudden realization dawned in his mind.

Just then, the sword light receded, and Ye Yuan's figure reappeared, still in the same posture.

Everyone held their breath, sensing that something major was about to happen!

"A... Celestial Artifact! He's going to obtain a Celestial Artifact!"

Before this, no one had expected that Ye Yuan could break through the ninth-level sword formation.

But since he had broken through, it meant that Ye Yuan would obtain a Celestial Artifact.

This was something that drove countless people to madness!

Ye Yuan slowly opened his eyes, and the sword intent within him burst forth, nearly materializing.

His Sword Dao Law had ascended to a new level, reaching the late stage of the Fifth Heaven!

As Demon Feather Celestial had guessed, he had been comprehending the sword all along.

"Congratulations on passing the Heaven-Slaying Sword Formation. Now, you will receive a Celestial Artifact... the Starry Battle Flag!"

A beam of light descended from the sky, landing in Ye Yuan's hand, transforming into a small black flag.

The small flag emitted intense fluctuations, causing the eyes of all the martial artists to burn with fervor.

Ye Yuan flicked his wrist, and the small flag vanished instantly.

Then, he slowly walked toward the teleportation array.

With a flash of light, Ye Yuan's figure appeared on the other side of the Heaven-Slaying Sword Formation.

Whoosh!

In an instant, a blurry figure dashed into the Heaven-Slaying Sword Formation.

By the time the others reacted, it was already too late, and they were all filled with regret.

"Damn it, that guy beat us to it!" Several True God experts stamped their feet in frustration.

Ye Yuan had already passed the Heaven-Slaying Sword Formation and entered the other side.

Now, whoever succeeded in crossing the formation first would have a chance to seize the Celestial Artifact.

At such a critical moment, the sooner one got over, the better.

And the first to enter the formation was Ji Xun.

The great formation had been activated, and the first three levels were nothing to him.

As soon as Ye Yuan's figure appeared, the atmosphere on the other side of the formation changed instantly.

"Xu Xing, I've tried this formation, and it's nothing special. You didn't even dare to attempt the seventh level—how weak!" Ye Yuan seemed oblivious to the change in atmosphere, looking at Xu Xing with a half-smile.

Xu Xing's expression stiffened, recalling the big talk he had made earlier, and wished he could find a hole to crawl into.

Ye Yuan's crossing of the Heaven-Slaying Sword Formation had utterly crushed him!

Xu Xing simply couldn't figure out how Ye Yuan had managed to cross it.

Just then, Xu Xing felt a pat on his shoulder. Turning around, who else could it be but Ji Kang?

Suddenly, he realized something.

So what if Ye Yuan had crossed the Heaven-Slaying Sword Formation?

An innocent man may possess a jade, but it becomes a crime!

By obtaining the Celestial Artifact, Ye Yuan had become the enemy of everyone.

He swept his gaze around and found that everyone was staring at Ye Yuan like hungry wolves.

"Heh, so what? You're about to die, and you still have time to bicker with me here," Xu Xing sneered.

Ji Kang looked at Ye Yuan and said calmly, "Hand over the Celestial Artifact, and I'll give you a quick death."

"Ji Kang, are you trying to monopolize the Celestial Artifact?"

At that moment, several other late-stage True God experts surrounded them, their expressions hostile.

Ji Kang's face remained calm as he said flatly, "Do you dare to oppose the Gaotian Imperial Capital?"

"Hahaha... Ji Kang, are you joking? In this secret realm, you're trying to scare us with the Imperial Capital? Once we obtain the Celestial Artifact, who dares to say we can't break through to the Celestial realm? Then who would care about your Gaotian Imperial Capital?" said a True God expert.

Faced with a Celestial Artifact, no one could remain composed.

Ji Kang frowned and snorted, "Just you few think you can compete with me for the Celestial Artifact? Haven't you noticed that after crossing the Heaven-Slaying Sword Formation, the realm suppression is gone?"

Boom!

Ji Kang's terrifying World Force erupted, causing all the True God experts to change color.

True God Ninth Heaven!

This was a genuine True God Ninth Heaven!

The Heaven-Slaying Sword Formation was a watershed; after crossing it, everything seemed to return to normal.

With his true strength restored, Ji Kang had a huge advantage.

None of these True God experts, even those at the Eighth Heaven, were his match.

"There are many of us; what's there to fear? He's at True God Ninth Heaven, not a Celestial realm expert. If we join forces, he might not be our match!" said the same True God expert again.

Ji Kang's gaze burned as he looked at the few True God experts under the Gaotian Imperial Capital and said, "What about you? Are you going to join them against me?"

The few exchanged glances, hesitating.

Their current position was very awkward.

It would be a lie to say they weren't tempted by the Celestial Artifact.

But once they made a move, there would be no turning back.

Boom!

Just then, another terrifying World Force erupted, able to rival Ji Kang's momentum!

Another True God Ninth Heaven!

"Heh, Ji Kang, you're indeed from the Gaotian Imperial Capital, but you're just a True God Ninth Heaven. What right do you have to make them all back off? The Celestial Artifact belongs to whoever is fated to obtain it. Your Gaotian Imperial Capital is way too overbearing!" said the True God Ninth Heaven.

For the first time, Ji Kang's face showed a flicker of emotion.

"Yang Yidao! So, you've been hiding your strength!" Ji Kang's pupils contracted.

The others were all astonished. This Yang Yidao was a strong rogue cultivator who had always appeared as a True God Seventh Heaven.

But now, he had directly reached True God Ninth Heaven!

Clearly, he had concealed his strength, fooling everyone.

Yang Yidao smiled smugly and said, "Ji Kang, now do I have the qualifications to contend with you for this Celestial Artifact?"

Then, he turned to Ye Yuan and said, "Kid, your talent is impressive. It would be a pity to die here. Hand over the Celestial Artifact to me, and I'll guarantee your life!"

Ji Kang's gaze hardened and said, "Ye Yuan, if you give me the Celestial Artifact, I'll take you into the Gaotian Imperial Capital and give you focused training! With your talent, you're bound to shake the world in the future!"

Ye Yuan's talent was evident to all; there was no faking that.

In their hearts, they had long acknowledged Ye Yuan.

But in such an environment, with treacherous hearts, what use was talent?

"Hmph! True God Ninth Heaven is nothing special? The two of you talk as if you're full of hot air, taking Ye Yuan for a fool? Ye Yuan, hand the Celestial Artifact to me, and we'll join forces to keep you alive! I, Zuo Pan, mean what I say and can swear a Heavenly Dao oath!" said the earlier True God Eighth Heaven expert.

For a moment, the three major factions were deadlocked, all threatening Ye Yuan to hand over the Celestial Artifact.

Ye Yuan, who had been silent all along, suddenly smiled.

"I say, are you all overthinking things? When did I ever say I would hand over the Celestial Artifact to you?" Ye Yuan's words were full of mockery.