Qin Fengming had previously heard Elder Pang say that entering Yellow Springs Palace this time did not guarantee they would become Banner Wielders. They still had to undergo a selection.
Now that he heard the old woman before him say this, how could he fail to understand? Those allotted Banner Wielder spots merely held the qualifications to compete. To become actual Banner Wielders, they had to strengthen the wisp of soul essence in their possession.
And the only way to strengthen it was to let it absorb cultivators' blood essence.
Whose blood it would absorb went without saying. These prospective Banner Wielders selected by the various great sects would have to slaughter one another, taking their opponents' blood essence to strengthen that soul essence.
Having finished speaking, the old woman paid them no further attention. Leading the other two middle-aged cultivators, she turned and vanished into the roiling black mist.
Only after the three disappeared did Qin Fengming finally discover a dark opening concealed by a restrictive spell within the roiling black mist. The three had entered that opening.
The black mist already concealed auras, and with the additional protection of the restrictive barrier, the opening was exceedingly difficult to detect.
Once the three had left, the Sun family old man's expression seemed to ease slightly. Without speaking, he beckoned to the five, turned, and flew off in one direction.
"That Madam Su is a direct descendant of one of our Yellow Springs Palace's Supreme Elders. She cultivates the Withered Bone Malevolent Yin Art. If you encounter her in the future, be especially courteous. If you displease her, no one will intervene even if she kills you."
Only after they had flown a considerable distance did the Sun family old man speak in a low voice. Their journey together had