Xu Yi did not understand why Elder Qin was so stubborn about leaving no debts between them. He hurriedly said, "This junior is the one who owes you, Senior."
Elder Qin gave a cold snort and pointed at the Soul-Summoning Banner in Xu Yi's hand. "Why does this banner carry a faint air of sorrow?"
Xu Yi froze for a moment, then answered honestly, "When I refined this banner, I infused it with the essence of utter sorrow."
"I see."
Elder Qin nodded. For once, he didn't respond with a barbed remark. "The essence of utter sorrow? The banner's material is ordinary, but that essence has given it a soul. Take good care of it. Perhaps it will achieve something remarkable one day." With that, he vanished on the spot.
Xu Yi couldn't even call out to him in time. He mulled over the meaning of Elder Qin's words, but couldn't make head or tail of them. A doubt also surfaced in his mind: he had indeed melded the essence of utter sorrow into the Soul-Summoning Banner, but when it came to actual combat, its power seemed not to have manifested.
Xu Yi racked his brains but couldn't work out what was going on. He knew, however, that this was no place to linger. He set off, retracing his route.
Less than half an incense stick later, he spotted the rainbow bridge in the distance. Deputy Envoy Cen had indeed stayed nearby and was standing at the bridgehead.
Xu Yi didn't hurry over. With a thought, the Crystal Jade Skeleton appeared in his hand, and he tossed it straight into the dense woods.
He had long since noticed how highly Elder Qin valued this Crystal Jade Skeleton. And indeed, in this world, where resentful spirits were restrained and slaughter was