Divine Banner

Internal Qi was completely transformed into Magic Power.

Under the nourishment of Magic Power, the meridians became tougher.

The original cracks disappeared.

Even many of the old hidden injuries were significantly healed.

Although Qi Cultivators haven't reached the point of extending lifespan, it greatly increased the upper limit of lifespan that was originally compressed.

If he didn't engage in combat from now on, living past a hundred years old would absolutely not be a problem.

He could even potentially live to one hundred and twenty or thirty.

But none of this was important to Old Man Xiang.

What was important was that he, he now possessed power.

Power that ordinary people found hard to match.

Don't look down on just being at Qi Condensation Third Layer; as long as his Magic Power and physical strength weren't exhausted, no master from the secular martial world could kill him.

Not even Xue Yi.

Soldiers forming a Military Formation couldn't either.

[Bind Banner Master?]

"Yes."

Tu Shan Jun let out a sigh of relief. He had finally nurtured another Banner Master.

Although he was a bit regretful that Old Man Xiang hadn't converted all his Internal Qi into Magic Power, resulting in his strength not being particularly high.

However, Qi Condensation Third Layer was enough to wield the Venerable Soul Banner and sustain his ghost body in combat.

With his strength at Qi Condensation Sixth Layer, as long as Old Man Xiang was careful and didn't court death, he could walk sideways in Liang Capital.

As Magic Power penetrated the Venerable Soul Banner.

The Soul Banner immediately grew back to three feet. The ghost face on the banner surface grinned ferociously, no longer like the small toy it once was.

"I don't know the original name of this Magic Treasure, but it needs a name. I can't just keep calling it 'Magic Treasure'."

"I think, let's call it the Ghost Face Divine Banner."

Banner Name: Ghost Face Divine Banner

Banner Master: Xiang Hu

Grade: High-Grade Magic Tool

Soul Banner Integration (Passive Solidification): Absorbing Sha Qi and Living Souls can enhance the Soul Banner's abilities and Grade.

Backlash (Passive Solidification): When the Banner Master's strength and Spiritual Sense are insufficient to suppress the Soul Banner's Master Soul, the Soul Banner's Master Soul can actively backlash against the Banner Master, refining them into a Banner Slave.

Soul Absorption: Extract Living Souls from dead bodies and absorb Living Souls and Yin Ghosts with strength lower than the Master Soul. (Current Master Soul Strength: 'Qi Condensation Sixth Layer').

Spirit Storage: The Soul Banner can store Yin Soul Ghost Creatures. Currently stored (194/1000).

Repair: Consuming a certain amount of Sha Qi and Living Souls can repair the Soul Banner and the Master Soul.

Night Parade of a Hundred Ghosts: All a thousand ghosts in the Soul Banner can be released, converging into a Night Parade Soul Technique for impact.

Soul Gathering into Pills: The Soul Banner absorbs wandering Yin Souls and Sha Qi to condense Yin Soul Pills. Yin Soul Pills can assist the Banner Master's cultivation (one pill/twelve hours). Swallowing Sha Qi Yin Ghosts can accelerate the process of condensing Yin Soul Pills.

After the battle in Eight Directions Prefecture City, the number of Living Souls and Yin Ghosts, including the Living Soul of Li Qing Feng absorbed at the end, was one hundred and nine.

Later, Old Man Xiang killed twenty-three Wild Dog Gang gutter rats.

Over a month, he also collected sixty-two Living Souls from the prison, which brought the total to one hundred and ninety-four.

However, the Living Souls of ordinary people have limited effect on Tu Shan Jun's strength enhancement. They only caused a slight loosening in his Qi Condensation Sixth Layer strength, still far from the Seventh Layer.

Tu Shan Jun also understood that to become stronger, he needed to find Ghosts with profound cultivation and strange abilities.

Otherwise, he had to kill Qi Cultivators and absorb their souls into the banner.

There was no other way.

Old Man Xiang looked inside the Soul Banner.

It was a small world filled with gray mist.

Countless Yin Soul Ghost Creatures stood densely packed together.

In the center of this world, a tall Evil Ghost stood.

Wild red hair was scattered unrestrainedly.

A damaged black robe covered most of its body, but one could still see the Evil Ghost's heavily muscled, strong physique.

A solemn green face, with ghost horns growing from its forehead.

Although its expression was indifferent, its Scarlet Ghost Eyes were exceptionally lively, clearly indicating considerable intelligence.

One could notice him with a single glance among the many Yin Soul Ghost Creatures with identical expressions and vacant stares.

"It's him!"

Old Man Xiang recognized him at a glance, a look of slight surprise on his face, yet feeling it was within expectations.

The tall Evil Ghost was the one who had taught him the cultivation method on the Cultivation Cliff in his dream, and also shown him the black bead...

Old Man Xiang didn't know how to address him.

Ghost, or human?

Let's call him human for now. With the Red-Haired Ghost's level of consciousness, there was no difference from a human.

At first, Old Man Xiang was very wary, fearing it was a Ghost entering his dream to take his life.

Later, he gradually came to trust him.

Regardless, when he was at his wit's end, this was the only one who extended a helping hand.

Whether human or ghost, he was ultimately indebted to him.

Don't look, can you see flowers blooming from staring? Tu Shan Jun thought to himself.

However, since the Banner Master had reached Qi Condensation Third Layer, Tu Shan Jun still taught Old Man Xiang the two techniques, 'Spirit Official Dharma Eye' and 'Banner Control Technique'.

Without the Spirit Official Dharma Eye, it was like a Qi Cultivator having severe myopia.

If the Banner Control Technique was missing, his control over the Venerable Soul Banner would be very crude.

Now it was called the Ghost Face Divine Banner; Venerable Soul Banner had become an old name.

It was one thing if the Night Parade of a Hundred Ghosts wasn't used well, but if he didn't even understand how to summon Tu Shan Jun, he wouldn't be able to display his strength.

He shouldn't treat the Soul Banner as a melee weapon then.

Old Man Xiang saw the two techniques condensed into black mist on the Soul Banner.

Incantations, Magic Power circulation routes, Seal Techniques, and a series of auxiliary methods.

At the same time, he also understood the power of the Divine Banner.

The Night Parade of a Hundred Ghosts could actually release all the Yin Soul Ghost Creatures within the Divine Banner, causing a powerful impact.

The Divine Banner could also absorb scattered Sha Qi and Spiritual Qi to condense Yin Soul Pills.

If it could absorb Living Souls, this process could be greatly shortened.

Old Man Xiang gripped the three-foot Venerable Soul Banner; he had finally obtained the strength he had once yearned for in his dreams.

No one could stop him anymore.

At this moment, the sky was dimly lit.

The sunlight condensed into a point and bloomed.

It was like lifting the curtain of night, and the entire Liang Capital was bathed in the nascent sunlight.

It awakened the Liang Capital and also woke up the sleeping commoners.

Yesterday evening.

The Hall of Offerings welcomed a Sect Qi Cultivator.

The paulownia wood and green bricks flowed with a faint Spiritual Light, blocking the Qi Cultivator's steps.

But he didn't have to wait long.

Cultivators in the secular world were more sensitive to their own kind, and most could immediately discern whether someone was a Cultivator.

The Spirit Official Dharma Eye could see the approximate strength of this person's Spiritual Light.

Although the Spiritual Light strength of the Qi Cultivator who visited today wasn't particularly high, the visiting card bore the name of the Five Spirits Sect.

Although the Rogue Cultivators in Liang Capital were inexperienced, they understood the status of the Five Spirits Sect. It was not an exaggeration to say that it was the Sect standing behind the Great Liang.

However, the Five Spirits Sect did not interfere with the operation of the secular dynasty. They only received the Enshrinement from Great Liang and sent disciples to various Prefecture Cities to guard an area.

To show that they did not participate in secular affairs, they did not send disciples to guard the Liang Capital.

This, in turn, made the Great Liang imperial family breathe a sigh of relief.

Although they hoped the Immortal Masters would protect the borders and bring peace to the people, they did not want such a transcendent existence above the imperial family.

Sensing this, Great Liang established the Hall of Offerings to recruit Rogue Cultivators from the populace.

Offering Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures, scattered Spirit Stones, and cultivation method classics as rewards.

The one who came out to greet them at the main gate of the pavilion complex was the old man in the green robe. He cupped his hands and asked, "From which esteemed sect do you hail?"

"I am Mo Qi of the Five Spirits Sect. Greetings, fellow Daoist."

The Guardian Immortal Master, no, Mo Qi cupped his hands in return.

"I wouldn't dare, this humble Daoist is Lu Chengyi," the old Daoist in the green robe repeatedly said he wouldn't dare.

Mo Qi was too young, and his cultivation wasn't low. In a few decades, he might become a senior. Without further thought, he asked, "What brings you here, fellow Daoist?"

"I am the Guardian of Eight Directions Prefecture City. A month ago, I collaborated with fellow Daoists from the Hall of Offerings to eliminate a Demonic Cultivator. Unfortunately, two fellow Daoists perished, and I was also severely injured and fell unconscious, only recovering today. I have specifically come to pay respects to the two fellow Daoists and to confirm the Demonic Cultivator's cultivation method manuals, protective Magic Tools, and so on."

Hearing Mo Qi say this, Lu Chengyi immediately understood. It turned out the Guardian Immortal Master from Eight Directions Prefecture City had come to claim the spoils of war.

Logically, they should have given the other party a share, but they had already divided everything cleanly.

Rogue cultivators were already strapped for cash, and this was akin to snatching food from a tiger's mouth – it would inevitably lead to a falling out.

However, this esteemed Five Spirits Sect member was quite straightforward, stating his purpose directly without beating around the bush.

Either he hadn't experienced the complexities of the mundane world, or he was genuinely frank.

He was frank, but they found it difficult to speak. Lu Chengyi mused, "This..."

"Is there something inconvenient to say?"

"Please understand, esteemed one."

Mo Qi frowned. He could forgo other things, but the Venerable Soul Banner had to be taken.

Seeing Mo Qi frown, Lu Chengyi felt he couldn't handle this matter alone.

If the other party were to bring sect elders later, he alone couldn't bear the responsibility.

"How about this, esteemed one, please stay for now. Tomorrow, I will gather all fellow Daoists to be present, and we will explain this matter clearly to you."

Mo Qi had no other choice.

Lu Chengyi was an old fox, slippery and elusive, making no commitments and unwilling to take responsibility.

The other party simply intended to gather everyone together then.

The rogue cultivators who had benefited naturally wouldn't want to give in. With strength in numbers, it would be easier to talk.

Helplessly, Mo Qi could only nod in agreement. "Alright."