Soul of the Revered Banner
Chapter 41: Choice
Old Xiang lit an incense stick.
Then, he bowed once more to the Soul Banner.
After that, he channeled his internal energy through the meridians in his palm into the Revered Soul Banner.
After swallowing a Yin Soul Pill, Old Xiang indeed became stronger.
He desperately hoped to obtain a second one.
Since the treasure needed internal energy, then he would supply it with internal energy.
Until all of his internal energy was exhausted. The small black banner once again spat out a black bead the size of a chicken egg.
Old Xiang carefully cupped it in his palm.
This undoubtedly strengthened his belief, the treasure truly could produce rare and precious spiritual items that increased one’s power.
All of it, however, was based on one premise: internal energy.
“Not bad. You’re on the right track,”
Tu Shanjun was quite satisfied with Old Xiang’s understanding.
If this continued, once his spiritual power was sufficient, Tu Shanjun could cast the Dream Infiltration Technique and pull Old Xiang into the dream realm.
He cooked, and ate.
The medicinal herbs he normally couldn’t bear to consume were also stewed into decoctions.
Old Xiang looked at the medicines he had prepared to replenish qi and blood, his expression somewhat dazed.
These had all originally been meant to help Xiang Wen lay a solid foundation.
But now, they were no longer needed.
After replenishing his qi and blood and eating some food, he regained his strength.
Once some of his internal energy had recovered, he lit the heated brick bed and sat cross-legged atop it in the “Five Hearts Facing Heaven¹” posture.
Old Xiang once again took a Yin Soul Pill.
A piercing, bone-chilling cold stabbed into his core.
It felt as if his flesh and blood were being frozen into solid ice.
The rising heat of the brick bed steamed up, surrounding Old Xiang.
The contrast of hot and cold balanced each other out, and Old Xiang activated his family’s inherited martial cultivation technique.
Internal energy surged through his meridians.
A pure, unknown force integrated into his meridians, settling in his dantian and transforming into internal energy.
Old Xiang did not pass out.
He endured the erosion of the Yin Soul Pill.
The internal energy within his dantian visibly grew stronger.
Internal energy fed back into his body, nurturing hidden ailments while simultaneously strengthening his physique.
The newly gained strength flourished and directly merged into his internal organs.
“Boom!”
Old Xiang felt as though he had opened a door.
A door he had long hesitated to enter.
The Organ-Refining Stage.
That is, a first-rate expert in the world.
Two Yin Soul Pills had directly allowed an aging second-rate expert past his prime to ascend into the ranks of first-rate, stepping into the Organ-Refining Stage.
His internal energy flowed endlessly, his five viscera and six bowels forming a complete circulation.
Old Xiang suddenly opened his eyes wide, a sharp gleam flashing within them.
Though he only had one arm left, his body was exceptionally coordinated, as if a finely tuned machine had fully activated.
His flesh was resilient, his bones and blood surged, and his internal organs pulsed without cease.
“A rare first-rate expert in the world, the Organ-Refining Stage!”
“I’ve done it.”
Old Xiang felt no joy, this had not come easily.
Without the support of vengeance in his heart, the first time he took the black pill, he would have frozen to death on the spot.
His success had been built upon the deaths of his wife and child.
If possible, Old Xiang would rather have never broken through, if only his wife and child could have remained safe.
“If only I had gained power sooner…”
Old Xiang’s eyes reddened, and he clenched his fist.
Had he acquired strength earlier, even in old age, as an Organ-Refining expert, the Embroidered Guards would not only have refrained from stripping him of his hereditary position as a Baihu Commander, he might even have advanced further.
But alas, the most unattainable thing in this world is an "if."
Tu Shanjun looked at Old Xiang but said nothing.
Cheap sympathy was useless.
People are often slow to recognize the role of power.
They don’t realize that it is precisely because they possess strength that the world around them is beautiful.
Only then do others treat them kindly.
As for being “too late”? Not necessarily.
Because it’s exceedingly rare for a person to gain power beyond their own comprehension.
Tu Shanjun sighed quietly, his thoughts churning, if only he had obtained power earlier.
But thinking too much was meaningless.
Tu Shanjun cleared his mind of distractions.
He prepared to select a foundational cultivation technique.
Since Old Xiang had already become a first-rate expert and his internal energy had increased substantially, he now had the opportunity to perform the Dream Infiltration Technique.
The only question was, which of the Qi Refining techniques in hand would suit Old Xiang best?
Without a doubt, Nether Spirit Art surpassed the other techniques.
However, the Nether Spirit Art only had three layers of incantations, in the future, either he would have to switch techniques or find the complete method.
So, further consideration was needed.
But that’s a separate matter.
One night to lose his entire family, one day and night of cultivation.
Even as an Organ-Refining expert, Old Xiang still felt fatigue.
Clutching the Revered Soul Banner, he collapsed into sleep.
“Enter the dream.”
Wind and clouds surged atop the cultivation cliff. Overhead, the sky was bright and blue.
Old Xiang looked bewildered.
He stood there, lost.
Everything was unfamiliar, yet incredibly real.
Wisps of pale gray mist dissipated, and a tattered black robe fluttered in the wind.
Old Xiang saw a tall figure.
A greenish face, blood-red eyes.
Frightening, yet solemn.
Crimson hair wildly disheveled.
The hem of the black robe was torn, as if shredded by claws.
Powerful. Imposing beyond measure.
Like a living Ghost King.
“Evil spirit!”
Old Xiang trembled.
He had seen ghosts before, but none possessed the terrifying pressure of this being.
This evil spirit with horns on its forehead-
“A ghostly intruder in my dream? Or did a demon sneak into my home?” Old Xiang stayed vigilant.
He raised his fists, preparing to use his internal energy.
He couldn’t die yet.
Tu Shanjun could indeed enter the dream realm and even alter his own appearance.
But once the banner master could summon him with spiritual power, it would definitely be his true body that emerged.
If the two sides did not align, it would breed mistrust. Thus, Tu Shanjun decided to appear in his true form now.
Better to scare him now than scare him later.
Tu Shanjun said nothing, just opened his hand.
A ghostly green hand, oval-shaped dark red nails, coarse and without palm lines, in the center rested a black bead.
Old Xiang’s eyes widened instantly.
He clearly recognized the bead.
Wasn’t it the one he had consumed?
“But why would this tall evil spirit before me also possess a black bead?” Old Xiang couldn’t understand.
Since Old Xiang had recognized the Yin Soul Pill, it confirmed Tu Shanjun’s identity.
He conjured the Nether Spirit Art and the Blood Fiend Grand Method from black mist.
Both could rapidly increase power.
One was balanced and stable, but also allowed quick improvement.
The other required blood fiend energy.
The best method was to use a Baleful Qi Gathering Formation.
Tu Shanjun thought the Blood Fiend Grand Method could indeed be used.
With so many death row prisoners in the dungeon, refining a batch would immediately yield great power.
“A cultivation technique?”
“An immortal master’s technique.”
Old Xiang had lost count of how many times he’d been shocked.
It was simply beyond his comprehension.
The evil spirit not only had the black bead, but also produced two cultivation manuals.
“What’s this? You’re making me choose one of the two?” Old Xiang examined the strengths and weaknesses of the techniques.
After comparing, he chose the Nether Spirit Art.
The Blood Fiend Grand Method was indeed powerful, but its aura of bloodlust could affect the mind.
He didn’t want to become like that. If possible, he preferred to keep his sanity for the sake of revenge.
Of course, this was because he had a choice. If he didn’t, then only one path would remain.
Tu Shanjun crushed the Blood Fiend Grand Method and passed the Nether Spirit Art to Old Xiang.
After memorizing it by heart, Old Xiang looked at Tu Shanjun: “What do you want?”
He believed that even if goodwill existed in this world, it couldn’t come from monsters and demons, the other party must have some scheme.
So Old Xiang simply asked outright.
Tu Shanjun was taken aback, he didn’t expect Old Xiang to still be so wary of him, even proactively asking about his demands.
After a moment’s thought, Tu Shanjun formed words from black mist:
“Souls.”
“Powerful souls.”
“The death row inmates in the dungeon.”
Old Xiang’s mouth dropped open in shock.
This red-haired evil spirit… was terrifyingly clever.
He actually knew about the prisoners on death row.
And he specifically asked for strong souls.
So that meant… he needed to kill in order to gain power?
Given the intelligence this evil spirit had just displayed, Old Xiang felt a chill run down his spine.
Tu Shanjun didn’t explain further and directly expelled Old Xiang from the dream.
Since the cultivation method had been chosen, he just needed to train step by step, there was no reason to remain at the cultivation cliff.
Old Xiang jolted awake, throwing off his blanket.
He saw the familiar ceiling, bed, and room.
It was reassuring.
“Was it a dream?”
Old Xiang muttered in doubt.
If it was a dream, it had felt far too real. As if it had truly happened.
He subconsciously opened his hand, only to realize that he had been clutching the Revered Soul Banner the entire time.
Old Xiang swallowed hard and picked up the Soul Banner.
Suddenly, he recalled the black mist text that had once appeared on it.
“The writing on this banner… could it have been from him!?”
(Chapter End)
¹ Five Hearts Facing Heaven, it means all five "hearts" your two palms, two soles, and the crown of your head are facing upward directed toward the heaven, opening oneself to spiritual cultivation. It's a pretty common meditation posture seen in movies, here's a pic of it