Myriad Ghost Banner

Myriad Ghost Ancestor wiped away the Spiritual Sense imprint Lei Dong had left on the ordinary Soul Nurturing Pagoda in one go, then hurriedly cast an appraisal technique on the sole Yin Soul remaining inside. The golden radiance nearly covered most of the Yin Soul's body. In an instant, his tense face revealed ecstatic joy, and after confirming it several times, he burst out laughing: "Sure enough, it's Upper Grade, an Upper Grade Spirit Ghost."

When he looked at Lei Dong again, no matter how he saw it, this kid seemed pleasing to the eye, even more so than Ding Wanyan, whom he usually found most agreeable. After all, Ding Wanyan only had excellent aptitude. Lei Dong, on the other hand, had directly brought him an Upper Grade Spirit Ghost. However, as a figure of the Ancestor level, after experiencing the initial uncontrollable ecstasy, he also feared losing face too much in front of a junior like Lei Dong. His expression gradually calmed, and he only said to Lei Dong with a kind tone: "Not bad, it truly is an Upper Grade Spirit Ghost. Lei Dong, take it and perform a proper Blood Sacrifice; in the future, it will become your greatest aid."

Lei Dong knew full well that the Ancestor wanted to save face and was putting on an act. If he were truly tactless enough to take it back, he might not live to see the next day's sun. Steadying his mind, he knelt again with a solemn expression and said: "Reporting to Ancestor, this disciple is dull-witted by nature and had no great prospects. In youthful impulsiveness, I stirred up great trouble outside, and it was only thanks to the Ancestor's backing that I survived to this day. Yet, despite my mediocre aptitude, the Ancestor did not abandon me, accepting me as a personal disciple, holding lectures every month, teaching diligently, like a father and teacher. Though this disciple is not good with words, I have kept it all in my heart, silently resolving to serve the Ancestor wholeheartedly, to repay even a fraction of the Ancestor's great kindness. Now, having chanced upon this mere Spirit Ghost, if it can be of even a little help to the Ancestor's advancement to Nascent Soul, this disciple will be fully content." These words were spoken with utmost sincerity, from the depths of his heart. Not only did Ghost Slave nod in approval on the side, but the Ancestor also showed a very satisfied expression.

Filial piety, this was true filial piety. The Ancestor was also somewhat moved. Over seventy years, he had taken in many personal disciples, yet none had ever given him an Upper Grade Spirit Ghost. Even if someone occasionally obtained one, they would surely perform a Blood Sacrifice in secret, hiding it from him. Lei Dong, however, even while also cultivating the Ghost Taming Art, was unwilling to refine this Upper Grade Spirit Ghost for himself and insisted on giving it to him. Hearing him say that he was like a father and teacher, such filial piety made the Ancestor feel a trace of affection for him. After all, Lei Dong could have refined the Spirit Ghost without a word. Who would have known he had an Upper Grade one?

Back then, the Ancestor himself had obtained a Top Grade Spirit Ghost at the fifth layer of Qi Refining Stage and only revealed it after reaching the Golden Core Stage. Hadn't no one known about it in the meantime?

Thus, Lei Dong must truly be loyal and grateful to him. Otherwise, no one else could bring themselves to give away something like an Upper Grade Spirit Ghost. Myriad Ghost Ancestor thought to himself that he absolutely could not do it either. Thinking of this, he felt even more affectionate toward Lei Dong: "Lei Dong, you've given the Upper Grade Spirit Ghost to the Ancestor. Don't you feel reluctant?"

Lei Dong smiled awkwardly: "Ancestor, this disciple certainly feels reluctant. However, I know my own limited aptitude; reaching the Foundation Establishment Realm in this life would already be more than satisfying. Refining an Upper Grade Spirit Ghost would be a waste for me. But the Ancestor is gifted with extraordinary talent and has a great chance of stepping into the Nascent Soul Stage in his lifetime. After some inner struggle and weighing things for a few days, this disciple made this decision."

Myriad Ghost Ancestor relaxed inwardly, thinking that this made sense. Still, Lei Dong's filial piety was truly commendable. Otherwise, if this Upper Grade Spirit Ghost were properly nurtured, it could become far more powerful than Lei Dong himself. After seeming to ponder for a moment, he reluctantly said: "If This Seat refuses again, it would hurt your good intentions. Very well, the Ancestor guarantees your entry into Foundation Establishment. Once you have achieved Foundation Establishment, you may return home and establish a clan. With the Ancestor backing you, I can ensure a lifetime of glory for you. Of course, if you wish to pursue the Golden Core Path, it's not impossible, but given your aptitude, it would be too difficult. This Seat gives you another promise: if one day I achieve the Indestructible Nascent Soul, I will find a way to guide you into the Dao of the Golden Core. If not, I can still ensure the well-being of your descendants."

To Lei Dong, this promise from Myriad Ghost Ancestor was extremely valuable. The guarantee of reaching Foundation Establishment was already a huge surprise. In the Ancestor's seventy years, among all his personal disciples, only five had reached Foundation Establishment. Clearly, advancing to Foundation Establishment was no easy matter.

Of course, if he didn't have the Heaven-Defying Exotic Treasure in hand, even having a chance at Foundation Establishment in this life would be immense luck. The best outcome, as the Ancestor said, would be to establish a Cultivation Family back home after Foundation Establishment, raise descendants, spread his lineage, and live a glorious life. Though this ideal was lofty, it was still realistic. As for the Golden Core, even with the Ancestor's help, he feared it would be beyond his reach. Who among those who achieved the Golden Core wasn't someone with extraordinary aptitude like Ding Wanyan? Even for Ding Wanyan, the Ancestor only hoped she might one day enter the Golden Core Stage, without any guarantee. A fifty or sixty percent chance was already enough to warrant attention.

But Lei Dong was different now. With the Soul Devouring Pagoda, a rare treasure in hand, though it couldn't directly raise his cultivation level, it could greatly enhance his combat power. As long as his strength was sufficient, he would have an advantage in competing for resources in all aspects. Though the path of the Golden Core was far too distant and difficult for him, he would still walk it, step by step, never turning back.

"Thank you for the Ancestor's great kindness. This disciple is truly overwhelmed." Lei Dong felt that the Ancestor's promise was already quite good. If it were some stingier Ancestor, they might just give a few small favors and send him off. As for dissatisfaction, who would care about the complaints of an ordinary ant at the sixth layer of Qi Refining Stage?

"Rise. Ghost Slave, take Lei Dong to pick two Upper Grade Magic Items, plus ten thousand Spirit Stones." The Ancestor, perhaps feeling that his promise wasn't enough, added another sentence. But he was probably eager to go refine and carefully nurture the Upper Grade Spirit Ghost he had just obtained. With the Ancestor's strength, perhaps just one Blood Sacrifice would elevate that Upper Grade Spirit Ghost to the Ghost Guard level.

Ghost Slave accepted the order and led Lei Dong to the treasure vault of the Myriad Ghost Cave, instructing him that he had one hour to make his selections.

For two Upper Grade Magic Items and ten thousand Spirit Stones, Lei Dong was quite satisfied. Entering the vault, he saw rows of shelves filled with all kinds of magic items, at least several hundred in number. But most were Middle Grade, or rare Lower Grade ones. He naturally ignored the Middle and Lower Grades.

Even so, the Ancestor's stock of Upper Grade Magic Items numbered at least several dozen. These Upper Grade Magic Items were worth anywhere from one or two thousand Spirit Stones to as many as ten thousand. Just from this vault, one could see that the Ancestor's wealth was indeed considerable. With plenty of time, he carefully examined each of the dozens of Upper Grade Magic Items one by one. None were ordinary goods; some shimmered with Black Qi, others glowed with spiritual light. He fancied one but couldn't bear to part with another, struggling to decide.

Finally, as time was running out, Lei Dong made up his mind after some deliberation. His first choice was an Upper Grade Myriad Ghost Banner. The Myriad Ghost Banner was one of the magic items he had long planned to obtain. It was a very special item; a newly refined Myriad Ghost Banner had almost no power at all.

To increase its power, one had to continuously use it to capture Wild Ghost Soldiers or the Living Souls of cultivators. The more Ghost Souls it collected, the greater its power. Legend spoke of the most powerful Myriad Ghost Banner, capable of summoning ten thousand ghosts, darkening heaven and earth. Of course, the ghosts within were of mixed quality, their consciousness erased, leaving them dull-witted with only a remnant instinct for blood and flesh.

Even so, once the Myriad Ghost Banner took shape, with its numerical advantage, its power was absolutely extraordinary. Lei Dong, who practiced the Ghost Taming Art and had decided on a summoning path, could never overlook a powerful Myriad Ghost Banner. Especially when capturing Yin Souls, most Wild Ghost Soldiers ended up as food for Ghost Soldiers, which was quite wasteful. Refining the Myriad Ghost Banner was the best choice.

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