Backlash

The young cultivator's expression was one of shock—how could this demonic cultivator's strength have surged so much in just a few days?

He was practically a different person.

What should have been a six-to-four split in the outcome had instantly pulled even.

And faintly, it seemed he was being suppressed by this Qi Refining Third Layer demonic cultivator before him.

The three-foot flying sword was wielded with full force, its energy at its peak, yet it could not break through the demonic cultivator's defenses.

That ten-foot-tall ghost-faced banner should also be an extraordinary Dharma artifact, at least of mid-grade rank.

Thinking of the two deserted villages, the young man immediately understood where the demon's Soul Banner had come from.

It must have been refined from the blood and slaughter aura of three or four hundred sacrificed people to forge a mid-grade artifact.

"Demon, you cannot be spared!"

The young man's eyes flashed with sharp light as he roared in fury.

He pressed his index and middle fingers together into a sword gesture, bit them open, flicked a talisman from his pouch, and touched the bloodstained sword fingers to the talisman.

With a whoosh, smoke and fire swirled.

Flames wove into a great net, sealing off Zhao Shixian's path forward.

Seeing the net of fire closing in, Zhao Shixian showed no panic at all, sneering, "Low-grade talisman, mere parlor tricks."

"Break for me."

Demonic power surged into the Soul Banner, and the massive banner surface that had been wrapped around the pole suddenly unfurled.

It flapped loudly in the wind.

The evil ghost painting on the banner was lifelike—a green-faced, fanged, red-haired demon opened its mouth and spewed black mist that wrapped around the Soul Banner.

In Zhao Shixian's hands, the Soul Banner now possessed an irresistible momentum.

With a few swings, it tore through the net of fire before him.

The young man's expression grew heavy and dark.

This Blood Fiend Sect demon's Soul Banner was quite formidable; with his Qi Refining Fourth Layer power, even bolstering his flying sword and talismans, he could not break the spell and had instead fallen into a disadvantage.

If he delayed any longer, he would surely be suppressed.

"I have no choice but to risk my life."

"Spirit Light Sword!"

He guided his sword fingers, drawing the three-foot spirit sword into his hand.

With a pfft, he spat a mouthful of tongue-tip essence blood onto the blade. The once-dull spirit sword instantly flashed with light, brimming with vitality.

The young man's face turned pale. His left hand slid to his waist, pulling out a neat green stone block, which he gripped tightly.

His pallid complexion regained a bit of color.

With the spirit sword in hand, the young man no longer retreated.

His sword technique was impenetrable.

Light flickered as he moved, stirring up sand and stones, spirit light flashing.

Under the drive of his power, the spirit sword was like a divine weapon, reducing the earthen walls and withered trees around him to rubble.

Tu Shanjun held back, ready at any moment, waiting for the right opportunity.

A Qi Refining Third Layer yin spirit ghost would be suppressed by a cultivator of the same rank. Rushing to face Zhao Shixian directly might lead to a stalemate, but he wouldn't be a match.

So Tu Shanjun kept waiting. Even if he couldn't secure victory himself, he needed to create an opening for that righteous young man to kill Zhao Shixian.

Tu Shanjun wasn't too fixated on who would end up with the Soul Banner in the future. As long as Zhao Shixian died, he could borrow anyone's strength.

Even facing a righteous Qi Refining stage immortal master, if he revealed a hint of the Soul Banner's divine nature, that young man would likely carry the banner and cultivate alongside it for the sake of his immortal path.

In this world, killing wasn't the only way to seize souls—there were plenty of places to gather slaughter aura and living souls.

The two were locked in an increasingly heated struggle. One green stone block after another crumbled, and both the young man and Zhao Shixian showed signs of exhaustion.

Hidden within the Soul Banner, Tu Shanjun could see the sweat soaking through Zhao Shixian's robes.

His hair was disheveled, a complete mess.

Both were panting like oxen, gulping down air, with none of the bearing of immortal masters.

A vicious glint flashed in Zhao Shixian's triangular eyes. Seizing a moment when the righteous young man relaxed, his power flickered, and three daggers at his waist were suddenly thrown.

The young man tensed, ready to block.

"Night Parade of a Hundred Ghosts!"

Tu Shanjun's expression shifted instantly: "Not good!"

Zhao Shixian used the three daggers to draw the young man's attention, then unleashed his hidden move, 'Night Parade of a Hundred Ghosts,' to directly attack the soul.

Even though Tu Shanjun was only at Qi Refining Third Layer now, inside the banner were forty ordinary living souls, plus one Qi Refining First Layer living soul.

That would absolutely deal massive damage to the exhausted young man.

It might even succeed in one strike.

A fierce ghostly howl rang out.

Forty souls condensed into a green-faced, fanged, red-haired evil ghost that leaped out of the Soul Banner, claws bared as it lunged straight at the young man.

The young man was not intimidated; surprise flickered across his face.

On alert, his spiritual power surged.

"I was already prepared for your backup move."

"Go!"

The young man formed a seal with both hands before his dantian, twisting his palms into claw-like shapes as a spirit-light sword spun rapidly between them.

A dragon-like, sword-singing roar split the air.

The flying sword shot straight toward Zhao Shixian, who was waving the Soul Banner.

Tu Shanjun roared, "Perfect timing."

"Rebel!"

Just as Zhao Shixian was about to swing the Soul Banner in defense, his face twisted in fury and shock.

His body froze.

An evil ghost drilled out from the Soul Banner and passed cleanly through his head.

The ghost did not leave; it immediately burrowed into his Sea of Consciousness, aiming to destroy his awareness and soul outright.

"Beast, how dare you rebel!" Zhao Shixian bellowed.

Vaguely, a massive presence seemed to condense into a beastly roar.

Under that roar, the ghostly Tu Shanjun stiffened for a moment, his ferocious face filled with rage and hatred: "The one I'm killing is you."

Zhao Shixian's face twisted in shock: "It's you?!"

"You still retain your consciousness."

"Die!"

A sharp ghostly shriek echoed.

Tu Shanjun dared not delay. He did not know why Zhao Shixian's soul carried such heavy pressure, but he had to kill him while he was distracted.

In the Sea of Consciousness, Tu Shanjun, at Qi Refining Third Layer, shot up like a weed from dry ground, his ghostly claws grabbing hold of Zhao Shixian's living soul.

Zhao Shixian did not even react. In a flash, Tu Shanjun yanked Zhao Shixian's living soul out of the Sea of Consciousness and seized it in his grasp.

"Clang."

At the same moment, the flying sword pierced Zhao Shixian's heart.

Zhao Shixian's face twisted in agony as he fell stiffly backward.

He died with his eyes open.

Even in death, he still clutched the Soul Banner tightly, his eyes filled with unwillingness and fury, staring blankly at the sky.

Tu Shanjun carried Zhao Shixian's living soul back into the Soul Banner.

With his great revenge achieved, Tu Shanjun laughed heartily.

Ghostly howls echoed within the Soul Banner.

Like a boat cutting through the current, unceasing and surging.

Now that Zhao Shixian was dead, that righteous young man could survive, and Tu Shanjun could finally walk the path of immortality.

A feeling of vindication and relief washed over Tu Shanjun.

From now on, freed from the cage, the sky high for birds to fly, the sea wide for fish to swim, composing a song...

But then he remembered he was already dead, refined into a soul banner as its main soul, and the soaring ambition that had just risen instantly faded.

Better to take it one step at a time.

Inside the Soul Banner, a total of forty-five yin souls were stored.

Zhao Shixian at Qi Refining Third Layer, and an unknown ghostly entity at Qi Refining First Layer.

The remaining forty-three villagers were yin souls and ghostly entities born from resentment in the Blood Sacrifice Array.

Tu Shanjun had even used Zhao Shixian, at the peak of Qi Refining Third Layer, to break through to the strength of Qi Refining Fourth Layer.

If not for Zhao Shixian being the banner's master, the Soul Banner might not have been able to subdue this Qi Refining Third Layer living soul, let alone use it to reach greater heights.

The clash of souls was truly perilous.

Because Tu Shanjun had seized the initiative and struck by surprise, catching Zhao Shixian fully focused on dealing with the righteous young man, he secured victory in one battle.

As his ghostly body grew, the green tint on Tu Shanjun's skin faded considerably, returning to a paler white.

His two fangs seemed to have grown longer, now resembling a great serpent's fangs, able to fold and retract.

The evil ghost illustration on the Soul Banner's surface became more intricate.

Satisfaction.

Power, abundant and seemingly inexhaustible, surged from within his body.

After devouring Zhao Shixian, Tu Shanjun felt himself grow even stronger.

Perhaps, for a ghostly being, it would be more accurate to say he had become more formidable.

[Successfully devoured the initial banner owner.]

[Skill learned: Soul Inquiry]

He opened the crimson attribute panel.

Tu Shanjun fixed his gaze upon the newly appeared skill.