Tu Shanjun opened the crimson attribute panel.
Banner Name: Revered Soul Banner
Banner Master: Zhao Shixian
Rank: Mid-grade Magical Tool
Banner-Soul Unity (Passive): Absorbing fiendish qi and living souls enhances the banner’s power and rank.
Backlash (Passive): If the banner master’s cultivation and spiritual sense cannot suppress the banner soul, the soul may devour the master and refine them into a Banner Slave.
Soul Harvest: Extracts souls from the dead and traps ghostly spirits below the banner soul’s strength. (Current primary soul level: Qi Refining Second Layer)
Soul Storage: Stores ghostly souls within the banner. (Current count: 14/100)
Repair: Consumes fiendish qi and souls to mend the banner or heal the soul.
Night Parade of a Hundred Ghosts: Releases all stored ghosts within the banner to unleash a coordinated soul-art assault.
Having absorbed sufficient fiendish qi and a Qi Refining first layer ghost soul, the Revered Soul Banner advanced to a mid-grade magical tool and awakened a new divine ability, Night Parade of a Hundred Ghosts.
As the primary soul, Tu Shanjun immediately grasped the nature of this spell.
The stored souls within the banner could unite through the banner’s spiritual thread, manifesting as a spectral army to deliver a synchronized and devastating assault.
Its precise power remained unknown, but Tu Shanjun knew it was formidable.
Magical tools of this grade were already powerful in offense. A soul-targeting spell like this was even more terrifying than ordinary physical techniques.
Yet even with this fearsome ability, Tu Shanjun kept his silence, feigning ignorance, showing no signs of abnormality.
As long as Zhao Shixian believed him dead, he would remain unguarded and that moment of negligence would be Tu Shanjun's chance to strike back.
Zhao Shixian was elated. Under the surge of spiritual power, the soul banner shrank from over a zhang long to a mere foot, like a mortal commander’s pennant.
However, he remained perplexed.
He had never heard of magical tool embryos evolving in grade after refinement, nor of treasures that could do so independently.
Even if such legends existed, they were distant tales beyond his reach.
Yet, here it was.
After consuming the fiendish qi from the mass grave and the baleful stone he carried, the banner had advanced by an entire grade and the primary soul’s strength had risen in tandem.
How could he not be both amazed and afraid?
If this kind of treasure could continuously ascend with enough baleful energy, could it evolve into a supreme-grade artifact? A magical treasure? A spiritual treasure?
Zhao Shixian dared not imagine further, he didn't even know the names of the higher tiers.
“This is fate! My chance! The chance for me, Zhao Shixian, to ascend to the Dao!”
He burst into laughter.
His eyes burned with fervor. He made up his mind, under the pretext of refining the magical tool, now that he was outside the sect, he would not return.
With this Revered Soul Banner, even as a loose cultivator, he could carve out his path.
As a pseudo-spirit root with four elemental affinities, he had little standing in the sect.
He joined the sect in his twenties, and after four years, had barely reached Qi Refining third layer. With such talent, a Foundation Establishment Pill was forever out of reach, not to mention any hope of cultivation support from the sect.
Without the pill, for someone like him, the immortal path was cut off entirely.
But now everything had changed.
With this treasure that could rise in grade by consuming fiendish qi, would he ever lack cultivation resources again?
Exploring dangerous places, killing and seizing treasures, looting resources...
All of it was better than rotting away in the outer sect as a mere steward, wasting a lifetime.
“I mustn't rush it. I need to test it again, maybe this upgrade was a one-time thing.” Zhao Shixian clutched the banner, suppressing his excitement.
He even considered selling the banner to obtain a Foundation Establishment Pill.
But such an artifact was far too bizarre. If word got out, powerful figures might silence him to keep it a secret.
Besides, he had to verify whether the banner could continue upgrading. If this was a fluke, then it would become a glorified paperweight.
He still needed to return to the sect. He still needed resources. Without continued upgrades, this treasure would lose much of its value.
Inside the banner, Tu Shanjun observed Zhao Shixian’s shifting expressions, growing suspicious that the demonic cultivator had discovered something.
Though Zhao Shixian was weak and untalented, he was a diligent cultivator. Beyond daily meditation, he tirelessly practiced spells.
In two days, he had wiped out another village. Using the same method, he lured the village head with white buns and silver coins into a formation.
A sweep of his spiritual power activated the array, refining all the mortals within into blood and fiendish qi.
Tu Shanjun had considered saving them, but at Qi Refining second layer, a premature backlash against the third layer Zhao Shixian would only lead to his own demise.
For vengeance, he watched it all unfold.
To achieve greatness, one must endure!
The more horrors he witnessed, the harder his heart became.
Silently, Tu Shanjun vowed:
"I will refine Zhao Shixian into a soul slave. I will avenge all of you... and myself."
With the infusion of fresh fiendish qi and thirty more souls, the banner did not ascend further in grade but Tu Shanjun broke through, nearing Qi Refining third layer.
Zhao Shixian was now convinced the banner could evolve by absorbing fiendish qi.
Although it hadn't upgraded again, the banner’s surface had become more refined. The ghost faces on it looked nearly lifelike.
The shaft had grown smoother and more polished, purging further impurities.
Now, even among mid-grade magical tools, the Revered Soul Banner stood above the average.
Its primary soul had reached Qi Refining third layer.
Who would’ve thought that just two days ago, this was a mere magical tool embryo? A low-grade magical tool with a primary soul at first layer?
Zhao Shixian caressed the banner in delight. It no longer felt cold and stiff, it was like a piece of icy jade, exuding a faint chill.
“A fine treasure indeed. With a third layer soul, I’ve gained a companion equal to my strength.”
“Demon! I’ve finally found you!”
The roar exploded like thunder in his ears.
Zhao Shixian’s expression darkened instantly. That voice, he knew it too well.
It was the righteous cultivator who had been pursuing him relentlessly.
Wielding the banner of justice, he had clashed with Zhao Shixian again and again. The wounds on Zhao’s body were the work of this man’s flying sword.
Inside the banner, Tu Shanjun sighed helplessly.
Why shout? Zhao Shixian was off guard, happy and relaxed, one sneak attack could have ended it.
But the pursuer had blown his cover, squandering the perfect chance.
Zhao Shixian sneered coldly, “You’ve chased me long enough. We won’t part peacefully. Since you insist on death, I’ll oblige you.”
Clutching the Revered Soul Banner, fully recovered and unafraid, he faced the approaching righteous cultivator, who was at Qi Refining fourth layer.
“Draw your sword!”
The pursuer was a young man, no more than twenty.
Without another word, he pulled the hairpin from his crown and flung it forward. It morphed midair into a three-foot azure flying sword that circled protectively around him.
With a surge of spiritual power, the sword shot toward Zhao Shixian’s head.
Zhao Shixian raised the Soul Banner. Blood light surged forth as it expanded to over a zhang.
Its ghostly face was twisted and terrifying, the banner rippling like the war flag of a ghost general.
Gripped in Zhao’s hand, the banner shaft shone with power. The fabric wrapped tightly around it, resembling a polearm locked in fierce battle against the azure flying sword.
The clash of metal rang out unceasingly.
Rather than retreat, Zhao Shixian pressed forward. Within moments, he closed the gap between him and the righteous youth.
Inside the banner, Tu Shanjun’s spirit surged.
So long as they fought, Zhao Shixian would inevitably drop his guard.
That moment would be Tu Shanjun’s chance to strike, his opportunity to retaliate.
(Chapter End)