Black Fiend Sect

His cultivation had broken through, and his magical artifact had taken shape. Mo Yuan's mind felt clear, and an aura of sharp determination naturally radiated from him. Uncle Nine clearly sensed the change in his disciple. It was not merely an increase in cultivation, but a confidence and sense of responsibility born from his Dao heart.

"Master, the Black Fiend Sect's malicious intentions remain unchanged. Rather than wait for them to come to us, it would be better to take the initiative.

This disciple wishes to travel abroad. On one hand, I can temper myself; on the other, I may be able to find more clues about the Black Fiend Sect." Mo Yuan requested permission from Uncle Nine.

Uncle Nine pondered for a moment. Looking at Mo Yuan's resolute gaze, he knew that a fledgling eagle would eventually have to spread its wings and soar.

He sighed. There was concern in his eyes, but also gratification. "With your current strength, as long as you do not encounter some old Foundation Establishment monster, you should have no problem protecting yourself. The world is dangerous, and people's hearts are unfathomable. It is far less simple than the funeral home.

You must remember this: when Daoist arts are used righteously, they serve all living beings; when used wickedly, they lead one onto the demonic path. Think thrice before acting, and never try to show off your strength."

"This disciple will remember Master's teachings!" Mo Yuan bowed.

"Go." Uncle Nine took an ancient jade pendant from his robes and handed it to Mo Yuan. "This is a Thousand-Mile Communication Talisman I used in my early years. If you encounter an emergency, crush it, and I will be able to sense your location.

Also, if you pass through a town where fellow Maoshan cultivators are stationed, you may visit them with my token. You might receive some help."

"Thank you, Master!" Mo Yuan solemnly accepted the jade pendant. Feeling the warm spiritual power within it, he was deeply moved.

After bidding farewell to Uncle Nine, Wen Cai, and Qiu Sheng, who were reluctant to see him go, Mo Yuan donned a blue cloth Daoist robe, carried the Soul Cleansing Banner carefully wrapped in a cloth sack on his back, hung the Lightning Struck Wood Sword Embryo at his waist, and stepped out of the funeral home.

His first stop was Blackwater Town, the abandoned ancient town a hundred li away that Uncle Nine had mentioned, where the Black Fiend Sect had once shown signs of activity.

Along the way, he circulated the Divine Dragon Body Refining Art. He traveled swiftly yet steadily, and his surging blood energy faintly formed a weak force field around him, keeping ordinary venomous insects and snakes from approaching. At night, while meditating, he would take out the Soul Cleansing Banner and attempt to sense any wandering ghosts nearby.

That night, Mo Yuan stayed in a dilapidated Mountain God temple. Deep into the silent night, he lit a bonfire and sat cross-legged. The Soul Cleansing Banner stood at his side, its clear radiance enveloping him and warding off all evil. He released his divine sense and carefully probed his surroundings.

Sure enough, shortly after midnight, a chilling wind rose outside the temple, accompanied by faint, indistinct crying. Several blurry white shadows wandered before the temple doors. They were lonely ghosts lingering in the mortal world for various reasons, drawn by the yang energy of a living person, yet too fearful of the Soul Cleansing Banner's aura to approach.

With a thought, Mo Yuan activated the Soul Cleansing Banner. Clear light flowed across its surface, producing a gentle suction while releasing a soothing intent.

The wandering ghosts were initially terrified, but they sensed no malice within the clear light. Instead, it carried a warm serenity, like returning to a mother's embrace. After hesitating briefly, the weakest ghost was the first to be drawn into the banner.

Within the Soul Cleansing Banner, the ghost found itself in a space filled with the spirituality of Purity Bamboo. The resentment and obsessions clinging to it were slowly purified, while its hazy consciousness gradually became clear and calm. Through the magical artifact, Mo Yuan could sense its state—a peace like liberation.

"Dust returns to dust, earth returns to earth. Your obsession has faded, so enter reincarnation." Mo Yuan used his spiritual power to communicate with the space within the banner and recited a simple Soul Calming Incantation.

The purified ghost sent him a trace of gratitude. Then its soul body gradually faded, dispersing into the cycle of reincarnation in accordance with the laws of heaven and earth.

"It worked!" Mo Yuan was delighted. The Soul Cleansing Banner could not only contain souls; it could truly guide the dead to salvation. This proved that his refining concept had been correct. In a single night, he guided seven or eight wandering ghosts onward, and his use of the Soul Cleansing Banner became even more proficient.

"System, sign in at the outskirts of Blackwater Town!" As he approached his destination, Mo Yuan immediately signed in.

[Ding! Sign-in successful! Congratulations, Host, for obtaining: Medium-Grade Spirit Stone x10, Evil-Slaying Talisman (Enhanced) x5, *Ghost Shadow Footwork* x1, Primordial World residual aura: Mystic Yin Evil Qi (one wisp)!]

[*Ghost Shadow Footwork*]: An unpredictable movement technique, adept at concealing oneself and launching surprise attacks in environments filled with yin energy and evil qi.

[Mystic Yin Evil Qi (one wisp)]: Pure yin-attributed evil qi. It can be absorbed and converted by the Soul Cleansing Banner, or used to cultivate certain yin-attributed spells (Warning: refine with caution).]

The rewards suited his needs once again! The Ghost Shadow Footwork perfectly made up for the shortcomings of his movement technique in certain environments. As for the Mystic Yin Evil Qi, Mo Yuan considered it and did not absorb it directly. Instead, he tried guiding it into the Soul Cleansing Banner.

The spirituality of the Purity Bamboo within the banner stirred slightly, and it truly began slowly yet steadily breaking down the evil qi and converting it into pure yin-attributed energy. This energy nourished the space within the banner, making it more stable and even slightly enhancing its ability to nurture yin souls.

"The Soul Cleansing Banner can actually convert evil qi? Its potential seems even greater than I imagined!" Mo Yuan was pleasantly surprised.

Three days later, Mo Yuan arrived at Blackwater Town. The town was indeed desolate, with crumbling walls, ruined buildings, and weeds growing everywhere. A faint stench of decay and yin evil qi filled the air. According to the vague information Uncle Nine had provided, the Black Fiend Sect had once established a temporary stronghold here, seemingly to conduct some evil ritual related to an ancient tomb.

Mo Yuan circulated the Divine Dragon Body Refining Art, drawing in the fierce yang aura of his blood energy. At the same time, he used the Ghost Shadow Footwork he had just learned. His figure moved like a ghost, silently weaving through the ruins. His spiritual power was focused to its limit as he sensed the energy fluctuations around him.

Suddenly, outside a half-collapsed ancient residence, he sensed faint traces of magical power and a familiar evil aura! It came from the same source as the Black Fiend Sect disciples he had fought at the funeral home!

"Found them!" Mo Yuan's gaze sharpened as he quietly approached. Through the broken window lattice, he saw three black-robed figures gathered around a dry well, arranging something. Dense bloodlust and resentment seeped from the mouth of the well.

A sinister formation had been carved into the ground, with several objects stained by dark red marks placed at its core.

"Hurry up! The elder is pressing us. We must draw out the Earth Yin Vein here and refine it into Evil Corpse Pills before the night of the full moon!" a hoarse voice urged.

Mo Yuan's heart tightened. Evil Corpse Pills? They sounded like something exceedingly wicked. He could not wait any longer!

He made his decision instantly, kicked the broken wooden door open, and shot inside like lightning!

"Who goes there?!" The three black-robed figures were startled and immediately turned around.

"I'm here to take your lives!" Mo Yuan shouted coldly and attacked like the wind! He did not use the spectacular Geng Metal Sword Qi. Instead, he poured spiritual power into his legs and pushed the Ghost Shadow Footwork to its limit. In an instant, he closed in on one of them and drove a dragon-powered fist fiercely into the man's face!

Bang! The black-robed man did not even have time to react. The evil qi protecting his body was like paper and shattered under the blow. He was sent flying into the wall, his fate unknown.

"Courting death!" The other two were shocked and furious. One swung a poisoned dagger at him, while the other rapidly chanted an incantation and summoned two vicious ghosts, which pounced at Mo Yuan with bared fangs and claws.

"Soul Cleansing Banner, emerge!" With a thought from Mo Yuan, the cloth sack on his back burst apart, and the Soul Cleansing Banner, gleaming with clear radiance, appeared in his hand.

He waved the banner, and clear light swept forward. The two vicious ghosts seemed to have encountered their nemesis. They let out shrill screams, their forms twisting as the suction released by the banner forcibly dragged them inside!

"What? A soul-refining banner?!" The black-robed man with the dagger was horrified, and his movements stalled.

Mo Yuan seized the opportunity. The shaft of the Soul Cleansing Banner shot out like a spear, striking the man squarely in the chest. The gentle power of the Soul Nourishing Wood instantly invaded his body, yet it carried irresistible force, sending him flying backward while coughing up blood.

Seeing that the situation had turned unfavorable, the last spellcaster turned and tried to leap into the well to escape.

"Where do you think you're going!" Mo Yuan planted the Soul Cleansing Banner into the ground. Clear light fixed the surroundings in place, preventing the man from fleeing. At the same time, he formed hand seals and shouted, "Heaven and earth without limit, borrow the power of yin and yang! Freeze!"

It was a simple immobilization spell, but empowered by his pure spiritual power and formidable mental strength, it was remarkably effective. The spellcaster's body stiffened, and his movements slowed for an instant.

In that instant, Mo Yuan had already arrived like a shadow. He pointed two fingers like a sword and struck an essential point on the man's back, sealing all of his evil cultivation.

In the blink of an eye, the three Black Fiend Sect disciples had been reduced to two dead and one captured!

Mo Yuan quickly searched the scene. On the spellcaster and beside the dry well, he found several letters, materials for evil arts, and a token carved with a ferocious ghost head. The letters were fragmentary, mentioning words such as "main altar," "Holy Maiden," and "Awaken the Ancient Tomb Corpse King," leaving Mo Yuan with a heavy heart. The Black Fiend Sect's scheme seemed far greater than he had imagined.

He dealt with the scene according to the law, then began interrogating the captured spellcaster. Under the illumination of the Soul Cleansing Banner's clear light and Mo Yuan's methods, the spellcaster suffered a mental collapse.

He intermittently revealed some information: the Black Fiend Sect's main altar was hidden in an ancient tomb complex deep in the mountains to the southwest. Their mission this time truly was to guide the Earth Yin Vein in preparation for refining Evil Corpse Pills, which were important resources for the Holy Maiden to cultivate some secret art or awaken some ancient existence.

After obtaining the key information, Mo Yuan fulfilled his duty as a righteous cultivator. He crippled the man's evil cultivation and handed him over to the local authorities who arrived after receiving word, having contacted the local outer Maoshan forces through Uncle Nine's token.

Standing outside Blackwater Town, Mo Yuan gazed toward the southwest, his eyes deep and thoughtful. The Black Fiend Sect's main altar, the Holy Maiden, the Ancient Tomb Corpse King... the road ahead seemed more dangerous, but also clearer.

"The ancient tomb complex in the southwest... that will be my next stop. Before that, I need to further increase my strength." Mo Yuan touched the Lightning Struck Wood Sword Embryo at his waist, then sensed the energy being converted within the Soul Cleansing Banner. "Perhaps I can try combining the Soul Cleansing Banner with the sword embryo, or... find better materials and refine a true Dragon Fiend Sword?"