"Who am I?" Ying Chen sneered.
"You are not qualified to know!"
"You only need to know that 'you will prostrate upon seeing me'!"
Ying Chen had originally thought that the Chi You Banner truly possessed formidable followers, but he never expected that the moment the three thousand Tian Fang Chi Witches appeared, their essence was instantly seen through by him.
The so-called three thousand Chi Witches were merely illusions that were infinitely close to reality!
And this illusion originated from the sorcery within the Thirty-Six Chapters of Tian Fang!
Tai Wu Light Splitting Technique!
Originally, this sorcery was used to differentiate light and shadow, and weave formations. However, it was later modified to be able to split the human body.
As long as the sorcery was activated, it could create the grand illusion of "three thousand avatars."
And if the cultivation realms were not vastly different, it would be impossible to distinguish!
This was why Elder Guo and the High Priest, among others, believed it to be true and knelt in worship.
In fact, it wasn't just Elder Guo, the High Priest, and others; even other Xuanmen masters would have been fooled.
This was because the Tai Wu Light Splitting Technique could not only create three thousand avatars but also generate a powerful oppressive aura.
Even if someone suspected the avatars were fake, upon feeling the intense pressure, they would unconsciously suppress their doubts and kneel in worship.
However, this sorcery could fool others, but it could not fool its ancestor, Ying Chen!
It was even Ying Chen who modified the Tai Wu Light Splitting Technique to achieve the effect of "manifesting three thousand avatars"!
The successor of the Chi You Banner had truly performed the act of "showing off skills before an expert" and "teaching one's grandmother to suck eggs"!
He had played smart with his own ancestor!
"See me and prostrate?" Upon hearing Ying Chen's extremely arrogant words, the successor of the Chi You Banner's voice trembled with anger.
"What do you think you are! How dare you speak such words before our Chi You Banner!"
"Three thousand Tian Fang Chi Witches, obey my command!"
Boom!
Following the command of the Chi You Banner successor, all three thousand Tian Fang Chi Witches turned their heads to face Ying Chen.
"Slay this wretch!"
"Uphold our banner's honor!"
As the last word of "honor" from the Chi You Banner successor hung in the air, the three thousand Tian Fang Chi Witches launched a full-scale assault, surging towards Ying Chen like a vast army.
A terrifying oppressive force swept in like a tide, causing the walls and floor of the entire palace to reverberate!
Elder Guo and the High Priest, who had initially believed Ying Chen's words, were instantly shocked when they witnessed this scene.
They couldn't help but complain in their hearts.
The High Priest, in particular, repeatedly cursed, "You blind scoundrel, how dare you slander the dignified Tian Fang Chi Witches as fake! Humph, I say your mind is clouded by pig fat and your eyes are covered by dog skin! You better kneel down and apologize quickly, perhaps the Chi Witch adults can spare your life if they see your sincere regret!"
"Otherwise... otherwise, if you die, don't drag us down with you!"
The last sentence finally revealed the High Priest's true intentions.
He did not want to be buried along with Ying Chen because of a single ignorant remark!
However, Ying Chen paid him no mind.
He stood in place, unmoving, allowing the three thousand Tian Fang Chi Witches to surge forward.
Just as the three thousand Tian Fang Chi Witches were about to engulf Ying Chen, he suddenly pointed a finger at them.
As if a general commanding an army.
Where his finger pointed, there was immediate obedience!
Swish, the three thousand Tian Fang Chi Witches instantly froze in place!
Not a single one dared to step forward, not a single one dared to move!
"What... what is happening?" The High Priest, who had been vigorously cursing, was dumbfounded.
Before he could understand what was happening, Ying Chen pointed again.
Then, the three thousand Tian Fang Chi Witches simultaneously turned around, their momentum even more fierce than before, their speed faster than before, all pouncing towards the depths of the cave!
Without hesitation, without looking back!
It was as if they did not belong to the Chi You Banner, but to Ying Chen!
"This works too?"
Elder Guo also widened his eyes and exclaimed in disbelief.
"No!" A cry of alarm echoed from the depths of the cave.
It was the successor of the Chi You Banner!
"Retreat! Retreat for me!"
"Tian Fang talismans, manifest myriad forms!"
"Split light and shadow, obey my command!"
The Chi You Banner successor continuously shouted, and judging by his voice, he was clearly using some kind of talisman to cast a spell!
In other words, Ying Chen was not wrong; the so-called three thousand Tian Fang Chi Witches were indeed manifested through sorcery!
They did not truly exist!
"I thought you could actually perform the arts of Tian Fang in this age of declining magic, but it turns out you are just using inherited talismans!"
"However, this talisman of yours has only one use left, right? Once all the uses are exhausted, what else will you use to command these three thousand Tian Fang Chi Witches?"
Ying Chen's eyes flickered, as if he could see through the darkness to the situation in the depths of the cave.
Indeed, the commands of the Chi You Banner successor were useless.
The three thousand Tian Fang Chi Witches continued their relentless advance towards the depths of the cave without stopping.
Their mighty aura was like the gale from the nine heavens, causing the cave to shake violently, as if it would collapse at any moment!
"No, save me, save me!"
"I will give you whatever you want!"
"Spare my life!"
The Chi You Banner successor pleaded repeatedly.
However, Ying Chen ignored him, seemingly determined to put the Chi You Banner successor to death.
At this moment, the Chi You Banner successor seemed to recall something. He suddenly knelt down with a thud and kowtowed repeatedly towards Ying Chen's location.
"Greetings, Old Ancestor, greetings, Old Ancestor!"
He had finally remembered Ying Chen's words, "you will prostrate upon seeing me"!
And this action, at the critical moment, saved his life.
Ying Chen waved his hand casually.
The three thousand Tian Fang Chi Witches stopped simultaneously, and then slowly dissipated into the air.
They were indeed illusions!
As the illusions vanished, a thin old man kneeling in the depths of the cave was revealed.
Surprisingly, the old man did not possess any trace of "Chi Witch aura" and did not seem like a noble successor of the Chi You Banner.
He was even inferior to the High Priest, appearing like an old farmer!
The old man had one arm severed, and in his remaining right hand, he held a yellowed talisman.
And as the three thousand Tian Fang Chi Witches vanished, the talisman slowly crumbled between the old man's fingers, turning into pieces of paper.
The old man's last reliance was gone!
A flicker of pain flashed in the old man's eyes, but he did not dare to raise his head. He merely continued to kowtow towards Ying Chen.
Clearly, he had been completely subdued by Ying Chen's incredible means!
"Is... is this real?"
The High Priest looked at the old man, at the lone Chi You Banner cave, and fell into a daze.
He seemed to hear something collapsing and shattering within his heart.
It was his faith.
A faith he had held for decades, established since he was ten years old.
"My condolences." Elder Guo patted the High Priest's shoulder sympathetically, then got up and chased after Ying Chen.
"Actually, there's no need to be sad. If you think about it, since he could be a Chi You Banner successor, maybe you can too! Next time, if you trick others like that, you'll transfer your pain, and happiness will return?"
Master Gui offered a terrible suggestion.
The High Priest glared fiercely at Master Gui.
He would never do such an inhuman and treacherous act!
However, there were indeed a few children around ten years old in the village...
Bah, bah, bah!
What was he thinking?
Control yourself!
Be self-aware!
Be human!