Longevity by Grinding Skills

Chapter 436: Chapter 436: All Heaven Star Official, Beidou Divine General

He gently stroked the ghastly ghost-face pattern on the banner’s surface.

If this Blood Banner were to be nurtured with the Blood Sacrifice Technique, it would surely become one of the Demon Dao’s ultimate treasures in time. It might even be possible for it to ascend to the rank of a Spiritual Treasure.

’Still,’ he mused, ’as powerful as this banner is, it’s ultimately an evil object. Using it is like drinking poison to quench a thirst.’

Once the banner was refined, it would need to be constantly fed with Blood Evil Qi. To advance it further would require the slaughter of entire cities and nations.

At that point, not only would the Primordial Demon Sect covet it, but the Wansheng Sword Sect and Puchen Pure Land—Sects that fancied themselves protectors of the Righteous Dao—would surely use every means at their disposal to hunt him down.

’But if I were to take a different path...’

A sharp glint flashed in Xu Yunfan’s eyes.

The Primordial Sect, of course, had a method for refining the Ten Thousand Souls Banner that could transform vicious ghosts and fiends into Dharma Guardian Generals.

Although the spirits within the banner were tainted by Blood Evil Qi, they had also retained the combat instincts they possessed in life.

’If I can cleanse them with Taiyin Star Power and then transform them using the Black Tortoise True Intent...’

’By following the path of refining essence to nurture the spirit, I might one day be able to raise an army of Celestial Soldiers and Generals.’

"It’s still an evil thing, a desperate measure with terrible consequences. Best to be rid of it."

Xu Yunfan spoke with righteous conviction. As True Martial Magical Power flowed from his fingertips, the Blood Evil Qi on the banner’s surface instantly melted away like snow under the scorching sun.

For this banner to become a Spiritual Treasure, it would require the blood sacrifice of tens of millions of living beings. Even several Foundation Establishment Daoist Masters would have to be consumed in the process.

He suddenly unfurled the banner. Under the light of his True Martial Magical Power, the pained, twisted faces on its surface faintly showed expressions of relief. Then, as the True Martial Magical Power continued its cleansing, the Blood Evil Qi transformed, reforging the spirits into armored soldiers of a Daoist Sect.

This discovery made Xu Yunfan’s breath catch in his throat. Perhaps one day, this evil banner could truly be transformed into a Divine Artifact capable of commanding Celestial Soldiers.

’When the three hundred and sixty-five Star Monarchs have all returned to their posts, what need will there be for some crude Evil Technique like a blood sacrifice?’

"True Martial Demon Suppression! Profound Nether Transformation Fiend!"

Xu Yunfan swept his Sword Pointing gesture across the banner pole. A phantom image of an intertwined turtle and snake—the Black Tortoise—spiraled out from his sleeve and spat a clear, cold light from its mouth.

The cold light sank into the skull ornament at the banner’s top. The eyes of the once-ferocious skull suddenly lit up with two points of green light, and its fanged jaw slowly closed, transforming it into a simple, ancient Black Tortoise Seal Button.

The remnant souls of the Foundation Establishment Cultivators entrenched within the banner had long been completely corroded by the Blood Evil Qi, their consciousness all but erased.

Xu Yunfan repeatedly scoured them with his True Martial Magical Power, but in the end, he only managed to awaken the lingering consciousness of two of the cultivators.

The other five Foundation Establishment souls let out piercing shrieks in their final moments. Within those roars, filled with resentment, one could faintly discern the obsessions and frustrations of their former lives.

Xu Yunfan hesitated no longer. The Black Tortoise Illusion suddenly swelled, the intertwined turtle and snake devouring all the tainted souls and converting them into nourishment for the banner.

’It’s done.’

He unfurled the flag, which had now turned a profound black. Not a trace of its former bloody aura remained on its surface; instead, it shimmered with a dim light, like a deep, starry night sky.

The cultivator souls once tainted by Blood Evil Qi had now transformed into specks of starlight embedded upon the banner. Harmonized by the True Martial Dao Rhyme, they had formed a complete celestial Star Map.

’All Heaven Star Officials, Beidou Divine Generals...’

Xu Yunfan naturally hoped to cultivate them to that level. Although he was still a long, long way from that, it was good to have a goal.

At this moment, Zhang Ziyang’s Spirit Body had already disintegrated below the waist. The phantom of his green-robed figure looked like a strip of thin gauze being ripped apart by a fierce wind.

Seeing this, Xu Yunfan immediately unfurled the Black Banner. The Star Map on its surface suddenly flared, transforming into thirty-six chains of green light that wrapped around the dissipating Spirit Body.

"Ancestral Master, don’t resist!"

The moment the chains touched him, Zhang Ziyang felt a piercing pain all over. This pain wasn’t from an injury, but from the True Martial Magical Power forcibly restructuring his collapsing Spirit Body.

He saw his hands re-solidifying under the starlight. His fingertips, which had been washed away by the tide of Spiritual Qi, were now being meticulously woven back together by fine, black threads.

The Star Map on the banner suddenly began to spin, and the Big Dipper at its center erupted with a blinding brilliance.

Xu Yunfan bit the tip of his tongue and spat out a mouthful of Essence Blood onto the banner. The Blood Bead didn’t stain the cloth; instead, it was completely absorbed by the Star Map.

Nourished by the Foundation Establishment Essence Blood, the Black Banner let out a tremor like a dragon’s roar. The Black Tortoise Seal Button on the pole suddenly came to life, transforming into a palm-sized turtle. It bit onto the hem of Zhang Ziyang’s robes and slowly dragged him into the Black Banner.

"This is..."

Before Zhang Ziyang could react, he was completely submerged within the Black Banner.

In a daze, he felt as if he had fallen into a boundless, starry sky. His Spirit Body, once on the verge of collapse, was now gently enveloped by starlight. Every star channeled pure Soul Power into him.

The Ten Thousand Souls Banner was made of a special material. It could absorb Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi and channel Taiyin starlight to nurture a Spirit Body. A soul placed within it would naturally and continuously grow stronger over a long period of time.

Outside, Bi Yuan watched as the Black Banner gradually settled, Zhang Ziyang’s figure having completely vanished within it.

The Blood Banner, once reeking with an evil aura that shot to the heavens, now hovered silently in mid-air. A deep Profound Light flowed across its entire surface. The yingluo tassels hanging from its corners swayed without a breeze, emitting the clear, crisp sound of chiming jade.

’Success!’

Xu Yunfan was overjoyed. Although the Ten Thousand Souls Banner had lost most of its power by having the Blood Evil Qi purged, its foundation remained. There were still a considerable number of souls within.

’And the ones who remained are the elites!’

"He’s stabilized for now."

Xu Yunfan wiped the blood from his lips and beckoned the Black Banner back to his hand. As his fingertips touched the pole, the Black Tortoise Seal Button suddenly opened its eyes. On the turtle shell, an image appeared of Zhang Ziyang meditating with his eyes closed.

’However, completely restoring the Ancestral Master’s body is a distant prospect. The only way is to see if I can obtain some Heavenly and Earthly Treasures of the Innate Primordial Spirit type in the future. For now, he can only reside inside this banner.’

Xu Yunfan swayed the Ten Thousand Souls Banner slightly, watching the wisps of Black Qi that swirled across its surface.

He couldn’t help but let out a soft cough, and with a thought, he contained the Black Qi, letting it roil across the banner’s surface.

’Although I’ve made the Ten Thousand Souls Banner function like a Marching Banner, its core is still rooted in the Primordial Sect’s refinement method. The foundation is still intact.’

’Once someone enters the banner, their life and death are no longer their own.’

Inside the banner, Zhang Ziyang could clearly feel his Divine Soul bound by an invisible shackle. With a single thought from Xu Yunfan, his soul would be utterly destroyed.

But he also understood that Xu Yunfan had expended a great deal of effort to accomplish this. To create a suitable place for him to recuperate, Xu Yunfan had not hesitated to completely purge the Blood Evil Qi from the Blood Banner.

This was an act of utmost benevolence. Naturally, he was deeply grateful.

"Thank you, Daoist Master Xu!"

Hearing Zhang Ziyang’s thanks from inside the banner, Xu Yunfan smiled to himself. ’As expected of the man second only to Ancestral Master Chunyang. He’s sharp and knows how to conduct himself.’

Outwardly, however, he just waved his hand. "It was the right thing to do. There is no need for thanks, Ancestral Master."

Zhang Ziyang’s voice was solemn. "You have saved my life and given me a new one. From now on, if you have any need of me, you have only to give the command!"

’That’s what I was waiting for!’

Xu Yunfan couldn’t stop the corners of his mouth from curling into a grin.

"It’s nothing, really. Ancestral Master, please rest and recuperate. This Ten Thousand Souls Banner can nurture the Divine Soul and strengthen one’s spirit. It is truly a rare treasure."

After settling matters with Zhang Ziyang, Xu Yunfan turned to face the remaining old fossils.

"Everyone, take a look."

With a flicker of his will, the fog enshrouding the Hidden Star Concealing Moon Array slowly receded like a velvet curtain being drawn back.

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