Artifact Refining: Soul Cleansing Banner

The turmoil in Ren Family Town had temporarily subsided, but the shadow of the Black Fiend Sect still hung over Uncle Nine and Mo Yuan like dark clouds. This secretive organization of evil cultivators had deep-rooted influence and vast ambitions. They would never give up after a single failure. Increasing their strength was imperative.

Mo Yuan turned his attention to the two new treasures in the system space: <Divine Dragon Body Refining Art (Fragment · Beginner)> and that wisp of [Thin Progenitor Dragon Will].

At the same time, a thought became increasingly clear in his mind: he needed a true magic item of his own, one that could grow alongside him. The Peach Wood Sword was good, but it was more suited to restraining evil entities, and it had been given to him by his master. The Lightning Struck Wood Sword Embryo had considerable potential, but it was still only an embryo, and its material leaned toward masculine lightning arts.

He recalled the black banner used by the evil cultivator during their battle, the one capable of controlling ghosts. Though sinister, its principles of commanding yin souls and amplifying evil arts gave Mo Yuan an idea.

In this Age of Dharma Decline, soul power and lingering thoughts or obsessions were not uncommon. If he could use orthodox methods to forge a magic item similar to a soul banner, one that could contain, purify, and even command ownerless wandering souls or resentful thoughts, it could help them find release while also proving remarkably effective against enemies.

It might be especially useful against opponents like the Black Fiend Sect, who excelled at driving evil spirits and manipulating ghosts. Perhaps he could use their own methods against them.

"A Soul Refining Banner..." Mo Yuan muttered as he opened Detailed Explanation of Basic Artifact Refining and carefully studied the essentials of forging soul-type magic items. An orthodox Soul Refining Banner was not like an evil Soul Devouring Banner. Its core lay in "containment" and "purification," and its materials needed spirituality, inclusiveness, and stability.

"System, check in!" Before beginning the artifact refining, he decided to check in once more and see whether he could obtain suitable materials or inspiration. This time, he chose the ancestral hall of the mortuary. It housed the spirit tablets of generations of Maoshan patriarchs, where incense and faith gathered in a solemn, dignified atmosphere.

[Ding! Check-in successful! Congratulations, Host! You have obtained the following at "Maoshan Mortuary · Patriarchs' Ancestral Hall": Soul Nourishing Wood (Hundred-Year) x1, Starlight Sand (Trace Amount) x1, Hundred Souls Record (Fragment) x1, and a remnant aura from the Primordial World: Purity Bamboo Spirituality (One Wisp)!]

[Soul Nourishing Wood (Hundred-Year)]: A spirit wood that gently nourishes soul bodies, making it an excellent material for forging a soul banner's pole or core.

[Starlight Sand (Trace Amount)]: Contains the power of stars and can improve a magic item's stability and spiritual energy transmission.

[Hundred Souls Record (Fragment)]: A fragment of an ancient text recording the characteristics of various souls, as well as soul-calming and purification incantations.

[Purity Bamboo Spirituality (One Wisp)]: A wisp of spiritual aura from the primordial innate spirit root, Purity Bamboo. It can purify evil entities and calm the mind and spirit.

"Wonderful!" Mo Yuan was overjoyed. The check-in rewards had practically been tailor-made for him! The Soul Nourishing Wood could serve as the banner pole, the Starlight Sand could reinforce its structure, and the Hundred Souls Record could provide theoretical support. Most importantly, the wisp of Purity Bamboo spirituality could serve as the "purification" core of the Soul Refining Banner, ensuring that it remained on the righteous path and would not suffer backlash from the resentment of soul bodies!

With the materials ready, Mo Yuan immediately got to work. He explained to Uncle Nine that he wanted to forge a magic item called the "Soul Cleansing Banner," then showed him the materials he had obtained from the check-in, only saying that they had come from a fortunate encounter.

Uncle Nine carefully inspected the materials. When he sensed the pure aura of the Purity Bamboo spirituality, surprise flashed through his eyes. In the end, he nodded and reminded him, "The path of soul refining places the greatest emphasis on one's state of mind.

"Remember, a magic item is merely a tool. Used righteously, it is righteous; used wickedly, it is wicked. What you seek to forge is a banner of salvation, not an instrument of enslavement."

"This disciple understands!" Mo Yuan promised solemnly.

Inside the artifact refining room, Mo Yuan steadied his breath and focused his mind. He first used that faint wisp of Innate Spiritual Energy to ignite the spirit fire, then carefully refined the Soul Nourishing Wood into a dark brown banner pole about three feet long and of suitable thickness. Its natural grain formed profound patterns, and it felt warm and smooth to the touch.

Next, he melted the Starlight Sand and gradually fused it into the banner pole as though inscribing runes, enhancing its ability to communicate with Heaven and Earth Spiritual Energy as well as its structural strength.

Then came the most critical step—refining the banner cloth. Rather than using ordinary silk or talisman paper, he took out the various basic talismans he had drawn during his daily practice, each containing spiritual power, such as the Soul Calming Talisman and Purification Talisman. He refined and purified them with spirit fire, producing a mass of "talisman essence" filled with pure spiritual power.

He then stretched and extended this mass of essence, completely merging it with a wisp of Purity Bamboo spirituality. In the end, it formed a pale green banner cloth, as thin as cicada wings yet extraordinarily tough, radiating a faint clear glow.

Finally came the fusion of spirituality and the engraving of arrays. He joined the banner cloth to the pole, using his own essence blood as a guide and his spiritual power as a brush to inscribe the complex Spirit Gathering Array, Soul Purification Array, and Soul Command Seal onto the cloth. The seal was not one of enslavement, but an equal contract; once the power of faith dissipated, the souls could leave on their own or be sent into reincarnation. The entire process demanded extreme concentration and precise control over spiritual power. Mo Yuan focused completely, pushing his Primordial Comprehension to its limits to ensure that every rune was flawless.

When the final contract seal was completed, the entire banner trembled slightly as clear light burst forth! A gentle, inclusive aura spread through the room. The patterns in the Soul Nourishing Wood pole seemed to come alive, while the clear glow on the banner cloth flowed and shifted, carrying a faint power that soothed the heart.

Low-Grade Magic Item—Soul Cleansing Banner, complete!

Though it was only a Low-Grade Magic Item, its materials were special, and its core was primordial spirituality. Its potential was enormous. Mo Yuan could sense a small, pure space within the banner that could house soul bodies and slowly nourish and purify them.

Having completed the magic item, Mo Yuan did not rest. He began preparing for an even greater challenge: refining that wisp of [Thin Progenitor Dragon Will] and cultivating the Divine Dragon Body Refining Art.

He chose to do so beside the Dragon Locking Well in the dead of night. The residual dragon aura there might prove helpful. Mo Yuan sat cross-legged, first adjusting himself to his peak condition before cautiously drawing upon the wisp of Progenitor Dragon Will in his sea of consciousness, which radiated an aura of primordial majesty and dominance.

Boom!

The instant the will entered his body, Mo Yuan felt as though a colossal dragon had roared through his mind! The terrifying dragon's might nearly crushed his divine sense to pieces! Wild, arrogant, and contemptuous of all beneath heaven, that will battered his mind without restraint!

"Guard your spiritual platform! My path is the path of transcendence. How could I be intimidated by a mere wisp of residual will?!" Mo Yuan gritted his teeth, veins bulging on his forehead as he circulated the Basic Qi Refining Manual with all his strength. At the same time, he mobilized the wisp of Innate Spiritual Energy within his Dantian to protect his heart meridians and sea of consciousness.

Though weak, the Innate Spiritual Energy possessed an extremely high rank. It did not fall behind even when confronting the Progenitor Dragon Will, stabilizing his foundation like a needle that calmed the sea.

His Primordial Comprehension was also frantically analyzing the fragments of power and insight contained within the Progenitor Dragon Will—supreme applications of strength, the toughness of the physical body, the combat instincts of the dragon race...

This was an agonizingly painful and lengthy process, like dancing on a blade's edge. Mo Yuan's clothes were soaked with sweat, and his body trembled faintly, but his eyes grew brighter and more resolute.

No one knew how long passed before that wisp of violent Progenitor Dragon Will gradually calmed. His powerful determination and Innate Spiritual Energy had initially tamed it, transforming it into a stream of pure yet domineering energy that fused into his limbs and bones.

At the same time, the method of the Divine Dragon Body Refining Art began to circulate on its own, guiding that energy to temper his body!

Crack, crack... Subtle sounds came from within his body as his muscles, bones, and blood underwent transformation beneath the wash of dragon aura.

The pain remained intense, but alongside it came a rapid surge in strength! His skin faintly took on an extremely pale bronze sheen, his muscles became more streamlined and powerful, and his blood and qi surged and roared like a mighty river!

When the eastern sky began to brighten, Mo Yuan suddenly opened his eyes. A golden gleam, sharp as a dragon's gaze, flashed through them! He rose to his full height, feeling explosive power fill every inch of his body. With every movement, it seemed as though dragon roars accompanied him.

Qi Refining Layer Five—breakthrough!

Moreover, his physical strength far surpassed that of others at the same level, even rivaling some body cultivators in the later stages of Qi Refining!

He had successfully refined the Progenitor Dragon Will and used it to achieve beginner mastery of the Divine Dragon Body Refining Art. His physical body had undergone earth-shaking changes.

At that moment, Mo Yuan held the newly forged Soul Cleansing Banner in his left hand, its clear glow flowing; his right hand was lightly clenched, his blood and qi like a dragon and filled with terrifying power; within his Dantian, his spiritual power was purer and more abundant, while Geng Metal Sword Qi stirred restlessly.

Standing in the morning light, he felt stronger than ever before. The threat of the Black Fiend Sect still existed, and the fog of the Age of Dharma Decline had yet to disperse, but he now possessed enough confidence and strength to face the storms ahead.

"It is time to take the initiative and meet that Black Fiend Sect." Mo Yuan looked into the distance, his gaze as sharp as a sword.