Soul of the Revered Banner

The young cultivator looked startled, how did this demonic cultivator grow so powerful in just a few days?

It was as if he was a different person altogether.

What had once been a clear sixty-forty advantage was now neck and neck.

Worse still, he felt as though he was gradually being suppressed by this third-layer Qi Refining demonic cultivator.

His three-foot flying sword surged with power, yet it could not break through the opponent’s defenses.

The tall ghost-faced banner that towered a full zhang in height was clearly no ordinary tool, it must at least be of mid-grade quality.

As thoughts flashed through his mind, he remembered the two desolate villages. Realization struck.

That soul-reaping banner must have been forged through the sacrificial refinement of the blood and resentment of three-four hundred lives.

“You vile demon, I cannot allow you to live!”

The young cultivator’s eyes blazed with fury as he shouted.

He pressed his index and middle fingers together in a sword gesture and bit down hard. Blood welled up, and he flung out a talisman from his pouch. His bloodstained fingers tapped against it.

With a whoosh, smoke and fire roiled forth.

A net of flame unfurled, sealing off Zhao Shixian’s path forward.

Seeing the fiery net descend, Zhao Shixian remained unbothered. He sneered, “A low-grade talisman? A mere child’s trick.”

“Break!”

He channeled his mana into the Revered Soul Banner. The great banner unfurled with a thunderous whoosh, like sails catching a fierce wind.

The ghostly faces on the banner fluttered to life, an image of a green-skinned, red-haired fiend bared its fangs and spat out black mist, enveloping the banner.

In Zhao Shixian’s hands, the Soul Banner exuded overwhelming power.

With just a few sweeps, he tore through the flaming net.

The young cultivator’s expression turned grim.

This Soul Banner from the Blood Fiend Sect was no ordinary object. Despite being at the fourth layer of Qi Refining, even with his flying sword and talismans, he was completely suppressed.

If this dragged on, he would surely be overwhelmed.

“There’s no other choice but to gamble everything.”

“Luminous Sword!”

His sword fingers drew down, summoning his three-foot spirit sword to hand.

With a spurt of blood from his tongue tip onto the blade, the once-dim weapon gleamed with radiant light.

The young cultivator’s face turned pale, but he reached to his waist and grabbed a neatly carved green stone, which he crushed in his palm.

A flush of color returned to his face.

With sword in hand, he no longer retreated.

His sword techniques wove together like a silken cocoon, impenetrable.

Light flashed and wind howled. Stone and dust flew in all directions.

Under the power of his spirit sword, the surrounding earthen walls and withered trees crumbled like sandcastles.

Within the Soul Banner, Tu Shanjun remained still, waiting for the right moment.

A third-layer ghost would normally be suppressed by a cultivator of the same rank. To directly face Zhao Shixian would be suicide and at best a stalemate.

So he waited. If he couldn’t secure victory himself, then he had to create a chance for the righteous cultivator to do it.

Tu Shanjun cared little for who ultimately wielded the banner. As long as Zhao Shixian died, anyone’s power could be borrowed.

Even if it was a righteous cultivator, if Tu Shanjun revealed a glimpse of the Soul Banner’s wonders, for the sake of his cultivation path, the righteous youth would likely keep him around.

After all, there were countless ways to gather resentful spirits and baleful energy, it didn’t always require killing.

The battle reached its climax. One by one, the green stones shattered.

Both sides were starting to falter.

Inside the Soul Banner, Tu Shanjun could see Zhao Shixian’s sweat soaking through his robes.

His hair was a mess, utterly disheveled.

Both men were gasping like beasts, drawing in huge breaths of air. The elegance of cultivators was long gone.

Then Zhao Shixian’s triangular eyes flashed with vicious light. Catching the youth off-guard, his waist flickered and three daggers flew out in a sudden burst.

The young cultivator tensed, ready to intercept,

“Night Parade of a Hundred Ghosts!”

Tu Shanjun’s expression changed drastically. “Not good!”

Zhao Shixian had used the daggers as a distraction, his true move was the ghost technique, aimed directly at the youth’s soul.

Though Tu Shanjun was only at the third Qi Refining layer, he commanded forty ordinary spirits, and even one at the first layer of Qi Refining.

Together, they could do massive damage to a worn-out opponent.

Perhaps even win the fight outright.

A shrieking wail echoed.

Forty spirits surged out of the Soul Banner, forming a terrifying red-haired fiend that lunged at the righteous youth.

But the young cultivator was not shaken. Surprise flickered across his face.

With caution and resolve, his mana surged forth.

“I’ve long prepared for your sneak attack!”

“Go!”

His hands formed seals before his dantian. His palms rotated like claws, spinning the luminous sword between them.

With a piercing screech like a dragon’s cry, the flying sword shot straight for Zhao Shixian.

Tu Shanjun roared, “Now!”

“Backlash!”

Just as Zhao Shixian raised the Soul Banner to defend, his face twisted with rage and horror.

His body wouldn’t move.

A ghost shot out from the Soul Banner and plunged through his skull.

It didn’t leave it dove into his sea of consciousness, aiming to annihilate his soul and mind.

“Bastard! You dare turn on me?!” Zhao Shixian shouted.

A vague, massive beastly roar formed from his willpower.

Under its force, the ghost Tu Shanjun stiffened for a moment. His contorted face filled with hatred. “I came to kill you!”

Zhao Shixian’s expression turned to terror. “It’s you?!”

“You still retained your mind?!”

“Then die!”

A vicious scream echoed.

Tu Shanjun dared not hesitate. He didn’t know why Zhao Shixian’s soul had such oppressive force, but he had to act now to strike while Zhao was distracted.

Within the mindscape, Tu Shanjun lunged like a predator, his ghostly claws grabbing hold of Zhao Shixian’s soul.

Before Zhao could react, Tu Shanjun yanked it free from his sea of consciousness.

At that exact moment-

Schlk!

The spirit sword pierced through Zhao Shixian’s chest.

His face contorted. He collapsed straight back.

Dead, yet unyielding.

Even in death, he clutched the Soul Banner tightly, eyes filled with hatred and disbelief, staring blankly into the sky.

Tu Shanjun dragged Zhao Shixian’s soul back into the banner.

His vengeance complete, he laughed heartily.

Ghostly howls echoed within the banner.

Like mighty waves crashing forward.

And now that Zhao Shixian was dead, the righteous youth would survive and Tu Shanjun could finally walk the path of cultivation again.

Joy surged within him.

He was free from his cage. The heavens vast above, the oceans boundless below, his future full of promise…

But then he remembered, he was already dead.

Refined into the Soul Banner. Its primary soul.

That rising tide of ambition vanished like mist.

For now, it was best to take things one step at a time. Within the Soul Banner now resided forty-five ghosts:

Zhao Shixian at Qi Refining third layer, an unnamed ghost at Qi Refining first layer, and forty-three villagers, turned into vengeful spirits through the blood sacrifice formation.

By absorbing Zhao Shixian, Tu Shanjun had broken through the bottleneck and reached Qi Refining fourth layer.

Had Zhao not been the banner’s master, it would’ve been impossible to subdue such a strong soul, let alone gain so much from it.

Soul battles were deadly.

Tu Shanjun had only succeeded because he struck first, ambushing Zhao Shixian while he was fully focused on the fight outside.

His ghostly form grew stronger, his greenish hue fading back toward white.

His fangs lengthened, now resembling those of a serpent, able to retract and extend at will.

The image of the ghost on the banner became more intricate, more lifelike.

He was satisfied.

Power surged through his ghostly form as if endless and unstoppable.

After devouring Zhao Shixian, Tu Shanjun felt himself growing even stronger. For a ghostly entity, this meant becoming even more formidable.

[You have successfully devoured the original banner master.]

[Comprehended skill: Soul Inquiry.]

A crimson status panel unfurled.

Tu Shanjun focused on the newly appeared skill.

(Chapter End)