Sheep or Wolf

The Evil Ghost Banner was one of the Yin Sha Sect's signature Flying Magic Tools. At the same time, it was also one of the most notorious magic tools in the entire Cultivation World. This was because the primary material used to refine an Evil Ghost Banner was the Living Souls of cultivators. A Living Soul referred to the complete soul of any human below the Nascent Soul Realm, forced from its body either at the moment of death or while still alive. The Living Souls of ordinary mortals scattered without cohesion, vanishing into smoke in no time. Only those burdened by deep obsessions, or those in cold, yin-ridden places, could gradually condense and become Yin Souls. Yet without the support of a physical body, and with mortals having never tempered their physiques, they would often soon forget everything from their lives, leaving behind only beastly instincts and a thread of obsession. Even after becoming Yin Souls, this remained true.

Cultivators, however, were different. Cultivation was a process of continually tempering both body and soul. Even after a Living Soul left the body, it would never disperse immediately. Its consciousness and memories would remain exceptionally clear; it could even relocate on its own or temporarily attach itself to some spiritual object, waiting for a chance to seize another body. If one possessed a ghost cultivator Cultivation Method and was surrounded by abundant Sha Qi, one might even have the chance to convert into a ghost cultivator. Of course, a cultivator's Living Soul would not last forever either. It would slowly fade away and might even lose its memories. It was simply that the stronger the cultivator's Living Soul, the less easily it would perish.

The state of a cultivator's Living Soul described above was usually the result of exceptionally good fortune. When many cultivators died, enemies were nearby. And enemies would never leave you even the slightest chance to seek revenge later. Just as when Lei Dong killed Zhou Minghua, he had likewise commanded a Ghost Soldier to devour Zhou Minghua's Living Soul.

The Yin Sha Sect's Cultivation Methods, techniques, and tools were mostly related to Ghost Souls and Sha Qi. Naturally, using cultivators' Living Souls as materials for refining artifacts was nothing strange. The Evil Ghost Banner was precisely a Flying Magic Tool refined from cultivators' Living Souls.

The more powerful the cultivators' Living Souls used, the stronger the Evil Ghost Banner refined from them became. Not only did this thing serve as a Flying Magic Tool, it could also be used against enemies. Of course, using it against enemies did not mean directly attacking them as one would by summoning Ghost Soldiers. Rather, once Living Souls had been refined into an Evil Ghost Banner, their sky-soaring resentment would condense into an almost tangible spiritual assault, making one feel involuntary terror and bone-deep dread in one's very soul, thereby weakening one's reactions and speed and affecting combat strength.

In truth, Evil Ghost Banners were far from the only use the Yin Sha Sect had for cultivators' Living Souls. The sect possessed quite a few treasures of that kind. The Evil Ghost Banner was merely one of them. As for how powerful it was, that depended on the quality and number of Living Souls used during refinement. However, judging by the Ugly Youth's cultivation, which seemed to be Qi Refining Level Six, this Evil Ghost Banner should not be overly powerful. Otherwise, not only would he be unable to control it, but he might even suffer a backlash from the evil ghosts.

But no matter what, someone of such a young age and cultivation level who could use a magic tool as difficult to obtain as an Evil Ghost Banner was certainly no simple figure. With his strength, it was impossible for him to collect the Living Souls of powerful cultivators himself. Most likely, he was greatly favored within his master's lineage. Only someone favored to the degree of Ding Wanyan could possibly be granted such an item, or have an ancestor personally refine one for him.

The youth stood upon the Evil Ghost Banner with his hands clasped behind his back, looking down at Lei Dong from above. His expression was supremely arrogant, his upturned nose raised high as he snorted. "Whose disciple are you? Don't you know this is the territory of our Ghost Fiend Mansion?"

Lei Dong's Mind Power had turned over countless possibilities, and he guessed that this Ugly Youth was at least a Personal Disciple of the Ghost Fiend Ancestor of Ghost Fiend Mansion—perhaps with an even closer relationship. Keeping his expression calm, he said, "Senior Brother, I am from Extreme Yin Cave. I came to capture some Yin Souls and try my luck." His gaze swept over the two women beside him. Both were young girls in the bloom of youth, yet their clothing was revealing and bewitching, and a faintly flirtatious charm seemed to ripple between their brows. They apparently shared some special relationship with the youth. From time to time, they would tease him with their eyes, or, while he spoke, cast him a timely glance brimming with seduction and admiration, as if the youth beside them were the manliest of men in their hearts.

The Ugly Youth seemed to enjoy their admiration and submissiveness immensely. Drawing a satisfied breath, he grew even more haughty and said coldly with disdain, "Try your luck? You don't try your luck by Extreme Yin Cave, yet you came to try it at the gates of my Ghost Fiend Mansion. What exactly do you mean by that?" What he never expected was that, while the two beautiful girls displayed their adoring expressions, they were subconsciously stealing glances at Lei Dong. Lei Dong's looks were ordinary, but his build was fairly good. Standing there neither servile nor overbearing, calm and composed, he possessed an uncommon bearing. He was rather pleasing to the eye—at the very least, many times more pleasing than the man beside them.

That sight secretly amused Lei Dong. Having lived two lives, and especially given that such things had been everywhere in his previous life, he naturally knew exactly what thoughts stirred in the hearts of those two glamorous girls, and what they pursued.

Over these four months, Lei Dong had traveled through more than a dozen places. It was not as though he had never encountered disciples from other Cave Mansions. But firstly, Lei Dong's cultivation was not weak, so those with lower cultivation did not dare provoke him. Even those stronger than him were unwilling to stir up trouble for no reason. Secondly, Lei Dong acted cautiously and usually avoided them. He had not stayed long in any one place, so no major mishaps had occurred. Who would have thought that just before leaving, he would run into such a situation?

Drawing a deep breath, Lei Dong smiled calmly. "If Senior Brother is willing, you can also capture Yin Souls near our Extreme Yin Cave. We are all disciples of the Yin Sha Sect. Why draw the lines so clearly?"

"Hmph, you make it sound easy." The Ugly Youth seemed to have been angered by Lei Dong. "Why should I let a brat like you capture Yin Souls on my territory? If you know what's good for you, hand over the Soul Nurturing Pagoda, then get back to your Extreme Yin Cave." Perhaps he believed that his magic tools were excellent and his cultivation was one level higher than Lei Dong's, so there was no need for courtesy. Or perhaps he was simply a spoiled brat who had never understood what courtesy meant.

"This... I'm afraid that won't do." Lei Dong shook his head somewhat foolishly. "The Yin Sha Sect's rules strictly forbid disciples from robbing one another."

The Ugly Youth froze for a moment, then burst into laughter with the beautiful girls beside him. Pointing at Lei Dong, he said, "So he's an idiot! You've already landed on this young master's turf, and you still dare lecture me about the Yin Sha Sect's rules?" After saying that, he stared down at Lei Dong again, brimming with superiority as he spat, "Looks like you refuse a toast only to drink a forfeit. Watch this young master pull out your Living Soul and refine it alive into the Evil Ghost Banner." Feeling himself utterly majestic, he smugly glanced around at the two beautiful girls beside him. Sure enough, the two girls giggled, and their eyes gained a trace more contempt as they looked at Lei Dong.

Lei Dong sighed faintly to himself. It seemed he would have to fight again. The tree wished to stand still, but the wind would not cease. Though the other side had three people, Lei Dong did not even count the Bewitching Girl at Qi Refining Third Layer and the other at the initial stage of Qi Refining Level Four as opponents. If they truly had ability or ample wealth, how could they possibly cast aside even their dignity to cling to this Ugly Youth?

"Senior Brother, please don't attack yet." Only then did Lei Dong's face turn pale as he cried out in apparent fear, "I surrender, I surrender. This is my Soul Nurturing Pagoda..." As he spoke, he summoned that High-grade Soul Nurturing Pagoda from his Storage Belt.

The Ugly Youth had originally been sneering inwardly at Lei Dong for being all bark and no bite, lacking even a shred of heroic spirit and begging for mercy before they had even fought. But the moment he saw the Soul Nurturing Pagoda wreathed in Black Qi and clearly extraordinary, he froze. Greed appeared on his ugly face. "A High-grade Soul Nurturing Pagoda?"

"Senior Brother, I'll give you the Soul Nurturing Pagoda. Please, spare my life. I don't want to be refined into the Evil Ghost Banner." Lei Dong looked like a frightened White Rabbit, his pupils constricted as he cast a terrified glance at the Evil Ghost Banner.

"Then erase the Spiritual Sense imprint you left after refining it yourself, and save me the trouble." The Ugly Youth stared at the Soul Nurturing Pagoda with mingled surprise and delight. Though his status in Ghost Fiend Mansion was far from ordinary, High-grade items were not something one could obtain casually.

"Alright, alright, I'll erase it right now." Sweat covered Lei Dong's forehead as he formed hand seals and recited an incantation. Nothing happened. He checked it again in a panic, then continued forming seals. A Ghost Soldier appeared out of thin air before them all.